It didn't happen often, but that day Minerva just couldn't focus on her work. She kept feeling the pressure of the quickly passing days. The increasing worry that the school would not be ready for reopening by the start of the new term. And then, suddenly, she could see a strange flash of light out of her window. It was as if it had come from Hagrid's cabin, but when she looked again, there was nothing more than the foggy afternoon light, and the cabin's curtains were still drawn. Still, she couldn't believe she had just imagined it. Not after Sybill had claimed to have seen the same. If Hagrid had indeed left something behind unattended, Minerva thought she'd better look in to see how dangerous it was exactly. So she put down the last of her French books and made her way downstairs. But before she reached the Entrance Hall, a screech owl landed right before her feet, almost making her trip.

Immediately her heart lifted and she crouched to take the small piece of parchment the owl was carrying, expecting an answer from one of the people she had contacted about the ghosts.

'Dear Minerva,' it read,

'It was such a pleasure hearing from you. It really has been too long. You should come to London soon. Berthilda would be so happy to see you. She tells me to congratulate you on your appointment as Headmistress of Hogwarts. No one could be more deserving of this position. It is, of course, sad that it should happen under such circumstances, but still. The school is lucky to have you.

As for the problems with the ghosts, I am afraid I cannot help you. I do, as a matter of fact, remember a case or two involving temperature issues involving spirits, but never any of such a magnitude. I doubt any of the charms we used would be of use to you. My best advice for you would be to isolate the ghosts in a small area, and then setting up a thermal barrier, shielding the rest of the castle from their influence.

But, seeing as this confinement would not be pleasant, I do understand if you would not want to use such a method on former students. And heroes of The Battle of Hogwarts no less. They should be accorded any courtesy we can give them and never be made to feel like they are a burden to the living.

As Elphinstone would have said…'

And then Clinton Acker went on and on, reminiscing about Minerva's late husband. With a sigh she put the letter aside before she had read all the way to the end. The last thing she needed now was for Elphinstone's ghost to come haunt her thoughts as well. As much as she cherished every memory of him, dwelling on what he would have said made her wish too badly that he was still there to discuss the problem. Surely she would have come to a solution days ago with his help. And if she thought of how proud he would have been that she had become Headmistress…

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. The barrier was in fact an idea she could work with. She wouldn't even consider imprisoning the ghosts in a small room, but if there was some way she could make a separate barrier around every ghosts… Though it would be hard to cast a spell over something that wasn't solid, and there was still the question of whether such a barrier would keep them from gathering the necessary energy.

Her thoughts seemed to be going round in circles and suddenly Minerva felt a strong need to talk to someone. Being distracted from the problem for a while might be all she needed for a solution to form. At least, that was what she told herself as she wheeled round and climbed the stairs again. In fact, she suspected that her sudden urge to see Sybill was more specific than that. In a stressful time like this, Clinton's kind words about Elphinstone had hit a nerve they normally wouldn't have. And it was Sybill who had been such a great support when Minerva had only just returned to the castle. It had been strange how lost she felt after adapting her life to fit a second person for only a few years. Too few years. In those days she had blamed herself constantly for not accepting Elphinstone's first proposal, for not taking happiness when it was offered to her on a silver plate. But Sybill had been around constantly, ready to shake her out of those gloomy thoughts.

Still, their friendship was rather different these days. For a moment, Minerva hesitated on the landing to the third floor. In fact, she could also talk to Dumbledore's portrait. She didn't really have to disturb Sybill from whatever she was doing - probably involving liquor or the inside of eyelids. And yet she found that she really wanted to.

When she finally reached the trapdoor on the seventh floor of the North Tower, she knocked quietly, telling herself that she would return to her office if there was no answer. But to her surprise, a rather squeaky voice said: "Come in!"

Confused what Sybill could possibly have done to her voice, Minerva pulled herself up only to come almost nose to nose with a small, beaming face.

"Miss will be very pleased that the Headmistress is visiting her," the house-elf squeaked and did a sort of curtsey. "Winky will go tell Miss that the Headmistress is here." And with that the small elf turned around and padded across the classroom, lifting up her very colourful and sparkly garments so as not to trip on them.

For a moment, all Minerva could do was stare at the elf's back, before she finally pulled herself through the trapdoor. What was she doing here? And what was she doing… here? Minerva had sent all the house-elves away. And when she had been up here to cast the heat-repelling charms, there had been no sign that Sybill had enjoyed the services of a house-elf.

Minerva had to think for a moment before she realised why she knew the small creature's face. It was the one that had caused so much trouble in the kitchens when she had only just been hired. The one that had been called in when it turned out that the colleague they had all trusted for almost a full school year had been no other than Bartemius Crouch Junior.

"Minerva!" Sybill exclaimed as she appeared in the door to her private rooms. "What… What are you doing up here? Are you casting another spell? I'm afraid I have been taking some of my things out again. I really couldn't manage without them."

"No, no, it's fine," Minerva said, still rather baffled. Sybill somehow looked healthier than usual. "I was just… I felt like… talking."

"Oh... " Sybill seemed completely taken aback by this. "Well… in that case, why don't you come through? It's so much cosier in the sitting room."

"Yes." Minerva looked around, hardly believing what she saw. Even the decorative shawls were hanging elegantly rather than giving the impression that a wardrobe had once exploded in the room, and the crystal balls were shining brighter than she had ever seen. "Yes, I noticed," she nodded, more to herself than to Sybill, before she looked at her colleague. "How long exactly has Winky been staying with you?"

"Winky has been serving Miss for exactly 25 hours and 34 minutes," the house-elf said proudly.

Sybill considered for a moment, then nodded. "That sounds about right," she said, then gestured to a chair in front of the fire. "Would you like a cup of tea? And perhaps some biscuits?"

"I… That would be wonderful," Minerva nodded, sitting down while still trying to process the information. "But… Winky is working for the school. I don't understand…"

"The school doesn't need Winky," the elf said, smiling adoringly up at Sybill. "Miss needs Winky. Winky is happy to serve Miss."

Minerva couldn't help but smile a little. "I see. But… Why were you still here, Winky?"

"Winky had nowhere to go," Sybill said. "So she had been staying in the kitchen." There was just a hint of accusation in her tone.

"I am sorry, Winky," Minerva said, bending forward a little to direct herself to the elf. "I assumed that everyone had left the castle. But it was rather dangerous of you not to alert me of your presence." Minerva found that she avoided Sybill's gaze. If something had happened to Winky, it would indeed have been Minerva's fault. Without thinking much about it, she had presumed that the elves had all followed her implied order and left the castle. The kitchen's furniture had not needed another heat-repelling treatment and the house-elves would have tidied up, so she hadn't seen the need to check it closely enough to find Winky. It was a mistake she could not forgive herself lightly.

Winky just shrugged and puttered off to get the tea.

Sybill watched her with a frown. "I think," she said, keeping her voice to a level Winky wouldn't hear, "that she was hiding. That she was hoping to get caught in the spell. She seemed quite depressed."

Minerva pressed her lips together into a thin line. "I am truly sorry to hear that working at Hogwarts made her so unhappy. When the other elves are back, I promise I will pay more attention to their well-being."

"Oh, I think they are fine," Sybill said. "But Winky is not suited to that kind of life. She needs someone to care for. She's a very kind and affectionate little creature."

Minerva nodded slowly. "She does seem happier than I have ever seen her. But it's also obvious that she's already attached to you. If you keep her around now, I don't think she can handle being sent away later."

"Why would I send her away?" Sybill asked, sounding rather shocked. "Winky does not get in my way. She has actually been quite helpful."

At that moment, Winky returned, balancing a large tray with tea, cups and several plates filled with a wide variety of biscuits.

"Thank you, Winky," Minerva said as she accepted her cup and one of the biscuits, which was still slightly warm. She offered Sybill another smile. "I think having some company is indeed very good for both of you."

Sybill smiled and looked down at the cup Winky handed her. It almost seemed like she was blushing a little.