A first chapter for an idea that screamed into my head.

September 25th 1983. 2352hrs.

Minerva was asleep in her quarters at Hogwarts when she was awoken by a pounding on her door. Grumbling she looked at the clock to see that it was almost midnight. The next day was Monday and she would have to be awake and aware for classes. Whomever was wakening her had better have a very good reason or they would be a tribble until morning.

Opening the door Sybil Trelawny fell into Minerva's arms. Her face was soaked from tears as she racked heaving sobs. Her entire body shivered and trembled like a pudding on a wobbly table.

"Minerva. Minerva you must go. Gather Potter. Take him and go. Gather with the ones who shall be saved. Take as many supplies as you can and go to Helston in Cornwall. Do not ask questions but go now. Go NOW!" Sybil grabbed Minerva's arms and shook them.

Minerva was going to sniff the divination professor's breath when she noticed the woman's eyes were rolled back in her head so far that only the whites were showing. Minerva had no idea what was going on with the woman so she shook her gently, more gently than her grumpiness deserved.

Sybil seemed to wake up as she shook herself. Her sobbing stopped as she stared at the Scott's woman. "Oh. Hello. Minerva. Is something wrong?"

"You were sobbing and telling me I needed to get someone and go to Helston in Cornwall." Minerva tried to sound patient but at six minutes to midnight that was difficult.

"Really? I wonder why I would do that?" she blinked looking like a fish through her thick glasses.

Minerva sighed, "Perhaps you should go back to bed Sybil. It will be Monday in a few minutes and that is a class day. The students? You do remember them?"

Sybil smiled, "Oh yes. I remember them quite well. Good night Minerva."

Minerva watched the strange woman turn and stagger off. She slammed her door and went to go back to bed. She paused as a shiver went through her. Sybil Trelawny did like her Sherry and was an odd duck but she had not smelled of Sherry tonight. The way she had been acting when the door opened was not her usual flighty empty headedness. That was someone whose terror had overwhelmed her sense of rational thought. She had seen that before in the war with Voldemort.

Minerva hurriedly used her wand to dress and pack her things into a tartan backpack. She pulled several class books and other items from her office quickly and bagged it as well. She slung it over her shoulder and headed for the headmaster's quarters. Finding him not in residence she headed out of the castle.

It was a fine clear night as she walked the lane. Far overhead stars twinkled,as a few of the muggle airplanes flew over with their lights blinking a steady rhythm. It seemed like a fine fall night but the chill in Minerva's bones had begun to grow. Something felt wrong and that sensation was growing far worse.

She reached the gates and turned back. She sent a patronus telling Filius what she was doing and what Sybil had said. She hoped he would be able to understand what it meant. She stepped across and apparated to Little Whinging.

===xxx September 26th 1983. 1205hrs.

Arriving at Little Whinging she stood outside the house of the Dursleys. She had not thought this was a good place for young Harry but Albus had managed to convince her it was for the best. That this would be the safest place for him. She stared at the house squatting darkly in the shadowy night as if the street light's warm glow failed to reach it.

She strode to the door and casting an alohamora opened it quietly. She cast a homenium revelio and narrowed her eyes as the cupboard under the stairs indicated a person was asleep within. She moved to the cupboard and glared when she saw the bolt on the door.

Opening it she cast lumos to see a small toddler curled up on a cot shoved against the wall. Spider webs and dust hung around him. She cast a health diagnosis spell and saw he was underfed but otherwise well. He must have heard the door or the light caused him to stir. He looked up at her in confusion, blinking slowly.

"Hello Harry. I'm Minerva. I was a friend of your parents." She softly said.

Harry stared back up at her with a blank stare. He did not seem afraid of her but he also did not seem interested in what was going on.

"We need to go for a trip. Do you mind?" She was not going to leave him here now, no matter what. Even if Sybil's random warning was nothing more than an addled dream she would not leave this boy in this squalid condition.

She bundled him into a blanket after transforming some of the curtains into a nice set of pajamas for him. He did not appear to have any other belongings, not even a teddy bear.

She was just carrying harry out of the house when the air raid sirens went off. Their howling wail sending chills down her spine. She had been a young child in Edinburgh during the Second World War. Germany had focused most of their attention in the south but there had been a few times when Scotland had suffered the blows of the Hun. She had been in Diagon Alley shopping with her mother once during an attack as well. She huddled Harry tighter as she turned and spun sideways. A brilliant sunrise formed in the direction of London just as she vanished with him.

===xxx September 26th 1220hrs.

Stumbling as she landed in Helston she immediately sent a patronus towards Hogwarts for her friend Filius. Another immediately followed for Poppy. She did not alert Albus as he should have been aware of it.

She checked Harry who was looking at her wild eyed. "That was an apparition. It is magic. We need to go someplace safe."

"Minerva!" She heard someone calling her name to find Pandora Lovegood. The tall willowy blonde Ravenclaw was walking towards her.

"Pandora. Can you tell me what is going on?"

"Yes, as we head for safety. Xenophilus and I have already gathered the Weasleys and the Longbottoms. You are the last who shall come tonight." The woman declared then turned and started walking down the lane. As they walked a brilliant flash lit the north-eastern horizon like a sudden sunrise.

"What was that?" Minerva gasped.

"That was the city of Plymouth vanishing. The muggles are having their final war." Pandora said sadly.

"What?"

"The cities shall burn as the sun rises at night. The trees shall fly. Brother slays brother from afar. The darkness will be at noon and the fields shall freeze." She intoned as they walked.

Minerva was not sure she wanted to understand Pandora's comments as another brilliant flash came from the direction of Portsmouth.

===xxx September 26th 1245hrs..

Pandora led Minerva and Harry into a large medieval manor house with turrets on the ends. When they had entered the antechamber portcullis rattled down as the doors slammed shut behind them. Large wooden bars slid into place as they continued walking through the entry hall. Harry was looking around in astonishment but otherwise remained silent. Minerva was becoming a bit concerned by his silence.

They went down a set of stone stairs into a cellar. Minerva heard a few voices coming from the Undercroft ahead. She saw Augusta Longbottom and her son, Pandora was speaking with her husband who was holding their daughter. The Weasleys appeared to be all there, or at least most of them. Minerva knew the two eldest Weasley children were at Hogwarts.

"Minerva. I am pleased you were able to make it. And who is your small companion?" Xenophilus said striding forward.

Minerva looked around before setting harry on the floor so he was standing. He held her hand tightly but did not flinch from all of the people around him. "This is Harry Potter."

Xenophilus looked impressed and pleased, "Ahh, the Harry Potter?"

"Yes indeed. Please do not make a fuss about him. I believe he may still be troubled by what happened." Minerva said. She did not want to discus the Dursleys, especially if the brilliant flash that she had glimpsed before apparating out was one of those explosions they would not be alive.

Molly Weasley was sitting with her children. She looked up, "If you want I can help look after him Minerva. He's about the same age as my Ronald."

"Yes that might not be a bad idea while I gather some more information." Minerva looked around, "Where is Arthur?"

"He was going to Hogwarts to get Bill and Charlie. He hasn't come back yet." Molly said worriedly. She was trying to keep it buried in front of the children, all looking up at her.

Minerva nodded, Hogwarts was in a valley far enough from Edinburgh that they should be safe. The Scottish Highlands had hidden quite a few people for many years. "I'm sure he'll be alright."

"I know. SO. Hello Harry. Would you like to meet Ronald and the others?" Molly said brightly holding her hand out. Harry looked up at Minerva who nodded at him. He let go of her hand and unsteadily walked to the chubby redheaded woman.

===xxx September 26th 1983 0100hrs

Minerva was taken by Xenophilus to the former servant's hall which seemed to have been turned into a command center. There were maps on the walls, with stacks of papers and notebooks on the long table.

"I am very glad you arrived safely. Pandora was not sure you would."
"Perhaps you could explain what is going on in the world? How you seem so well prepared for this." Minerva's nerves had reached a breaking point as the rush of being awakened and running to retrieve Harry. Now that she was safe, and more importantly so was he, her body was shaking and on edge.

"Of course Minerva. Perhaps some tea, with a wee dram?" The blonde man offered.

"That would be greatly appreciated." Minerva sighed.

"Nishka, would you please bring Minerva a cup of tea with some Ogden's?" Xeno called out. A moment later a house elf appeared with a cup for Minerva.

"Thank you." Minerva said as the elf returned to the place he had come from. "Now let's start with where are we?"
"This is my wife's ancestral home, Pandora's family came here in the 12th century from Greece. They built this keep and over the centuries enhanced and expanded it. Today it consists of the original hall the front wings and the underground chambers. During the muggle wars Pandora's family fortified this and prepared should they have to suffer a siege. It turned out to be very good as a safe house during the war with Voldemort."
"So we are safe here?" Minerva asked sipping her hot tea with its warming additive.

"As much as can be expected. The manor is warded against most things, muggle repelling, notice me not, strengthening charms on the windows and walls, but their nuclear weapons are something that magic has never had to deal with. No-one knows what would happen should a direct hit occur. Much less the byproducts of these explosions the muggles call fallout." Xeno explained.

Minerva frowned. Muggles and their weapons of war had never interested her. She tried to keep current on what muggle society was doing in fashion, and other tools, so she could relate to the muggle-borns more readily. "So how long before we can leave?"

Xeno smiled sadly, "It may be some time. The muggles recommend at least a few days to weeks."

Minerva looked at him askance, "A few days to weeks?"

"Yes and that is assuming that we do not have any direct hits, close calls or heavy fallout. It could be much longer. I have read some of the books the muggles have published on their weapons. We could be here for a great deal of time." Xeno said apologetically.

Minerva sighed trying to comprehend this. In the previous wars the all clear would usually be sounded after a few hours. She would have to trust Xeno and Pandora. That did not make her entirely comfortable.

"Don't worry Minerva we should have enough food to last a year or two. If we are careful at least and do not try to save too many people. The manor has in its dungeon a fresh water well. There are also chickens, rabbits, and planets in the atrium. We should be mostly well."

"And this fallout stuff? What about it?"

"Well I have several books from the muggles about it. I acquired one of their detector devices so we will do our best to muddle through. One thing they repeatedly say is that you should not breathe it in or allow it to contaminate your living areas." Xeno considered for a moment. "I am not entirely certain beyond that. I did manage to acquire one of their detector devices."
Minerva nodded, "Did you activate the anti-apparate wards for the house?"
"Yes the moment you arrived. The Floo was also deactivated. The only way in our out is through the antechamber of the gatehouse." Xeno explained. "I remember Gervais teaching us defense. Even if he did not ever think of something like this occurring."

Minerva leaned back, "What if Arthur is covered in this dust?"
Xeno shrugged, "Then we will see how magic does react with this radioactivity. As for Arthur himself, I do not know. We have a great many unknowns we are dealing with Minerva. We will clean him as much as possible, but any health issues we will have to consider how likely he is to recover."
"Because there are not infinite resources." Minerva stated.

Xeno nodded sadly.

N0wa5t3r: I don't hate for something minor like that. Hate takes too much energy to waste on the little things. It is a bit of a common theme in other shows too. I think Babylon 5 pulled it off among the better ones I've seen. But then that describes most of Babylon 5 overall. Lol. Glad you enjoyed it.