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22 May 1985
Despite it being spring, dark grey clouds drifted in the sky above and the distant echoes of thunder announced that a storm was fast approaching. Although it reflected how Minerva was feeling, the storm could not have chosen worse a day. The freshly picked orchids adorning Elphinstone's final resting place fluttered in the wind. Every now and again a petal would detach itself and fly away.
Feeling Malcolm's eyes on her, Minerva cleared her throat. "I just need a moment, Malcolm," she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
Her brother's cheeks flushed, the red contrasting the black robes he was wearing. "Of course." He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. "Take all the time you need."
Minerva waited until she heard the creak of the wrought iron gate swinging shut behind him. Only once she did, did she finally allow herself to let go. Slowly all the emotions she had tried to fence away seeped through the cracks of the wall she had built.
She sank to her knees and touched with one hand the freshly piled earth in front of the gravestone. Bouquets of flowers surrounded the area and, resting on the light grey stone slab stood a small black and white photograph. In it, Elphinstone had his arm around her waist as they smiled at the camera in front of their small cottage.
It was all so surreal. The unexpected nature of the incident, the randomness, and the speed at which things had progressed still baffled Minerva. Her mind had still not fully caught up with the turn of event. Slowly, it began to rain yet Minerva could not even find it in her to pick up her wand to protect herself.
After a few minutes of sitting there, she felt rather than heard someone come and stand next to her. They crouched down beside her and pulled her into a one-armed hug. With their spare hand, they swished their wand so that an invisible umbrella sprouted from the tip sheltering both of them but also protecting the flowers and picture from further damage.
Minerva could not pull her eyes away from the photograph now damp from the rain that had scattered across its surface. She reached out and pulled it towards her. Elphinstone smiled brightly at the camera before excitedly unlocking the door to the cottage and showing the photographic version of Minerva the inside of their new home.
She brushed Elphinstone's lively face with the tip of her index finger. "He deserved better."
Dumbledore rubbed her arm. "He did," he said softly.
Minerva bit her lip and shook her head. She tore her eyes away from the photograph and looked up at the sky, hardly able to form words. "A plant of all things," she said finally. "After You-Know-Who and the Order–a plant!"
"I am so sorry Minerva."
Minerva willed the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes to stay put. She could not bear to break down in front of Albus like this. Not because she was embarrassed but because she was sure that once she started she would not be able to stop.
"I'd like to move back to my old quarters if that is still possible?" she asked when she had regained some of her composure. "I know what you are thinking – Malcolm thinks it is too soon but," she swallowed and took a moment. "I can't bear coming back to an empty house anymore it's–I just can't."
"There is no need to explain, Minerva," Dumbledore said gently. "You are more than welcome to come back when you are ready."
"Thank you," she said, her voice breaking slightly. She tried to cover it up by turning away and clearing her throat but Dumbledore was not fooled.
He put down his wand and now wrapped both of his arms around her. Minerva did not protest. She let herself be pulled into a tight hug and closed her eyes causing two single tears to trickle down her cheeks.
"Where are you staying tonight?" he asked.
Minerva thought of her small cottage, dark, quiet, and cold since Saturday. The cake she and Isobel had been about to tuck into probably still sitting on the kitchen table - she had not managed to set more than a few steps into the cottage after she had returned from the hospital. Elphinstone's belongings, his potted plants, his cloak still hanging up in the hallway… It had been too much.
Bells suddenly chimed in the distance. Minerva pulled her mind back to the present. There would be a time when she would have to think about packing up her belongings but this was not that time. "I'm staying with my brother. We're taking the train to Caithness. I can't be late."
She got up and wiped her eyes with the palm of her hand. She could not bear looking at the tidy gravestone again so she turned away from it and made a scene of picking up her bag and smoothing down her robes.
Dumbledore walked with her to the gate where Malcolm was waiting. He opened it clumsily and stepped aside to let Minerva and Albus through.
"I will see you in a few weeks, my dear," said Albus. "Let me know when you get home safely," he added, his eyes flicking towards Malcolm who nodded.
Minerva and Malcolm waited until Dumbledore was halfway up the street before making a move towards the train station in Hogsmeade. Minerva could not see herself frequenting the town again for a while yet.
