1 May 1998
Minerva cursed as one of her books teetered off the already large stack of tomes she was holding, and then fell down face-first into a particularly grimy-looking puddle in the streets of Hogsmeade. She automatically bent to retrieve it but the movement led to another two books slipping from her arms.
Minerva paused for a brief moment, bit her lip, and looked to the sky. Typical, she thought. The first time in months that she was finally allowed to travel to Hogsmeade unsupervised, and she found herself grumpy, tired and irritated.
To top it all off, her heart gave a very painful twang as she attempted to retrieve her books from the puddle. Minerva gasped and pressed a hand to her chest as her heart fluttered uncomfortably in her chest.
"Bad day?"
Minerva looked up. "It has not been wonderful, Aberforth," she admitted in a strained voice. She straightened and struggled to disguise a wince as a sharp pain ran from her shoulder to her hip; another parting gift from Amycus in his desperation to catch the students from Hagrid's party. Seven days had passed between that night and now, yet Minerva could still feel the brunt of Amycus' anger affecting her body.
Her expression did not go unnoticed by Aberforth who quirked his eyebrow.
Minerva sighed. "Never you mind, Dumbledore." She winced as she tried to bend down to get her books again, and her hand went protectively to her chest and ribs.
Aberforth frowned. "Let me," he said. He picked up the soggy books from the puddle and Minerva was sad to see that the ink was now running and the pages had turned into sludge.
"Thank you," she said, taking the books. In a weary gesture, Minerva shook them gently so that steam wafted from the pages as they dried. The ink was a little smudged, which frustrated Minerva a little, however, she figures that a little smudged ink was better than a complete book of illegible print.
"Handy spell," Aberforth commented.
"Quite," Minerva agreed. "I am afraid I must return to the castle, Aberforth. Good day."
She began to walk away but noticed after the first few steps that she had not managed to leave Aberforth behind.
He fell into step beside her. "I heard of a bit of a skirmish at Hogwarts last week. The gamekeeper vanished, so I heard. Is that true?"
"There are details lacking but that is the general gist of what transpired last night," Minerva said tiredly. Her words did not invite further questioning on the topic. Minerva did not very much feel like divulging to Aberforth why it was that she was handling herself so delicately that morning, and why she was walking at a much slower pace as opposed to her usual brisk strides.
Minerva knew Aberfroth wanted to ask her about the awkward position of her arm against her chest. All other injuries had been easily healed by Poppy. it was only her heart that remained problematically temperamental; courtesy of the aftereffects of Dolores' spells in 1995. Minerva pursed her lips.
"I am quite all right, Aberforth," she said with a note of finality. "That is all I am going to say on the matter."
Aberforth hesitated, and for a moment Minerva saw a hint of worry in his light blue eyes. But in the end, he merely grunted. "Two peas in a pod, you and Albus," he said. "Fine. On your own head be it. But if it has anything to do with why my pub is now crawling with Death Eaters, I'd like to know."
Minerva sighed and stopped walking; partly so that she and Aberforth could have a proper discussion but it was mostly for her own benefit. Her heartbeat slowed and Minerva relaxed her hand slightly.
"Potter was caught along with Weasley and Granger at Malfoy Manor," she said. "They escaped and there are rumours they might be headed for Hogwarts, though goodness knows why. Frankly, that—that is all I really know about it." She neglected to mention the fact that Hagrid had subsequently decided to hold a party for Potter, which had resulted in the Carrows trying to dismiss both Hagrid and Minerva while also attempting to punish students who had decided to attend the party.
Minerva had only learnt of the details about Potter, Weasley and Granger when she had received word from Molly and Arthur Weasley that Ginny would not be returning to Hogwarts. Their house had been torn to the ground by Death Eaters following Ronald Weasley's sighting, and the realisation that the boy did not indeed have spattergroit. The Weasleys had gone into hiding, though neither Molly nor Arthur had given any specifics as to where - and quite rightly too.
"And they let you out of the castle after all of that? I'm surprised."
"Yes, well, I was sent to run some errands for our friends at Hogwarts," she explained. "The only reason I was let loose in Hogsmeade, I expect." She began moving again. "I am afraid I cannot delay, Aberforth. Questions will be asked."
Aberforth followed anyway. "I can carry your books."
Minerva did not argue with the man as he took some books from her considerable pile, and began walking alongside her again. They walked up the hill in silence together.
Not for the first time, Minerva noted how different Aberforth was compared to Albus. Certainly, he was not a talkative type, unlike his older brother. Or perhaps it was only with her that he did not communicate, Minerva thought. At times, she wondered how their relationship could be defined.
Minerva had met Aberforth through Albus, the latter having been one of her closest and dearest friends. She had known Aberforth for almost as long as she had known Albus. They had spoken on many occasions and following Albus' death they had kept each other company - sometimes that meant just sitting together without actually uttering a word.
He was loyal, in some ways. Similar to Albus, Minerva had noticed. And she had been comforted by his constant presence throughout the year. Minerva suspected that Aberforth felt the same way even if they had never said that out loud.
"Best we part ways now," Minerva said, at last, stopping a little way off from the school gates. "Lest we be seen together by some unsavoury characters."
Aberforth nodded and returned the books to her. "Watch yourself, Minerva." He hesitated, then proceeded. "I've heard rumours Potter was sighted near Hogsmeade - people in the pub have been talking. If Potter comes—"
"Don't let him come to the castle, Aberforth," Minerva interrupted seriously. "Send him away again while he still has time to save himself."
She held his gaze and Aberforth hers.
"Not very Gryffindor-like."
Minerva tutted angrily. "Really, Aberforth—"
"You can't protect them all forever, Minerva," he quickly interrupted. "And you won't be of any help to anyone if you get yourself killed."
"Would you rather I let Death Eaters takes their anger out on teenagers?" Minerva snapped. "What would you have me do, Abeforth? Ask that you encourage Potter to walk to his possible death?"
Aberforth was silent.
"I thought not," Minerva said. She hesitated, then reached into her pocket to retrieve a small letter addressed to her brother, Malcolm. "If anything should happen to—to me—would you deliver this to my brother on my behalf?"
"Why me?"
"You know Malcolm and—and others might not be available to bring the letter out of the school," Minerva said. "It is convenience, perhaps."
Aberforth nodded uncertainly and hesitantly took the letter. He stared at Minerva's clean handwriting and then, to Minerva's relief, pocketed the letter.
"Thank you," she said. "I appreciate it."
Aberforth pursed his lips. "Best hope it won't be needed. Take care, Minerva," was all he said.
Minerva nodded. "You as well, Aberforth."
