I promise you things will be getting more exciting soon and a lot of familiar names will be popping up :) I hope you like this chapter! Drop in a review if you can :)
February 16th1977
"Anything else?" Moody looked around the room, his left eye whizzing in its socket. When nobody spoke, he pushed back from the table and stood up, "Right then, I think we can call it a night."
There was a hum of general agreement, as the rest of the Order members got up and started to gather their things. Popping her hat and gloves on, Minerva then picked up her notebook and slipped it into her cloak pocket. As she was about to turn and leave, Elphinstone caught her eye from the opposite side of the room and waved her over.
"I didn't know you were going to be here today," he said, as he gave her a brief hug.
Minerva shrugged and began to watch the rest of the members file out of the room. "It wasn't my original plan," she said eventually.
"What was your original plan?"
Minerva sighed and looked back at Elphinstone. "Mainly to enjoy a quiet evening at home."
He chuckled and Minerva allowed herself a small smile. "Well," he said, "even if it meant sacrificing one night, I'm glad you changed your mind. We've missed you these past few weeks." Elphinstone smiled sympathetically at her before putting his hat on, "Anyway, I'd best be off and get a bit of shuteye while I still can." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, "I think Albus is trying to catch your eye by the way."
"Isn't he always," answered Minerva rolling her eyes. "See you next week." Elphinstone waved before exiting the Hog's Head.
Fastening her cloak, Minerva looked around the room and spotted Albus and Alastor Moody who were making their way towards her. Their grave expressions told Minerva that something bad had happened so with increased weariness she braced herself for the worst.
"The Minister for Magic has just been ousted from office," said Moody without preamble. "We're thinking Harold Minchum is going to take her place."
"Sorry," Minerva shook her head as she tried to process the information, "Eugenia Jenkins is gone?"
Moody nodded, "We've always known this was going to happen. It was only a matter of time." He stopped suddenly to allow Aberforth, the last Order member in the room apart from themselves, join the small circle they had formed. Then, continued, "The attack in London this morning seems to have spurred a group of Ministry members to overthrow Jenkins. Clearly they didn't think she was fit for office."
Minerva sighed in frustration and put a hand to her forehead. "That's three Ministers gone in the space of 2 years. If the wizarding community cannot work together then we don't stand a chance against Voldemort. When did you say this happened?"
"An hour ago. I've only just been sent word," Moody sighed and adjusted the strap of the eye he still had not got used to. "Damn thing," he muttered impatiently, as he struggled to fit the strap in the correct place. "Anyway," he continued, after his brief struggle, "I should be getting back to the Ministry. I'll keep you both updated."
With a brief wave, Moody stomped towards the exit and left Aberforth, Minerva and Albus standing silently together.
After a few minutes, Albus cleared his throat. "I think we had best be getting back to the school, Minerva," he said, speaking for the first time that evening. He placed his hat on his head and nodded curtly to Aberforth who gave a brief grunt before turning away and clearing the room with a few swishes of his wand.
It was ten minutes later when the two of them finally got back to the castle. Feeling quite tired, Minerva nevertheless went straight to her quarters to sit at her coffee table by the fire and catch up on some marking. Despite feeling disheartened after hearing the news about the Minister and the three names of previous students who had also joined the Death Eaters, Minerva nevertheless was glad that she had managed to push herself to go the Order meeting. Although she had been very unsure about whether or not she should go, now that she had been her determination to put an end to Lord Voldemort's horrors had increase and although she still felt responsible for what had happened to Robert and Florence, her hatred towards the Death Eaters and their leader was enough for her to get involved in the Order of the Phoenix once more.