25th March 1984
It was a sunny March afternoon and Minerva and Elphinstone had travelled to Caithness to celebrate mother's day with the family. With card exchanges over, Helen having placed them dotingly on top of the fireplace, the McGonagall family were now busy enjoying a traditional Sunday roast.
"Pass the potatoes please, Isobel," said Helen, nudging her youngest daughter.
Isobel passed the bowl to her mother then turned back round to finish her conversation.
"Then what happened?" prompted Elphinstone.
"The firework shot out of Tim's pocket and exploded," Isobel said, gesturing animatedly. "Right in the middle of breakfast. Professor Flitwick was livid. He said usually it's the Gryffindors who get involved in things like that."
Minerva, who was sitting between Isobel and Elphinstone, nodded as she took a sip of her drink. "That, I can confirm."
Elphinstone smiled. "Well, in my day we Hufflepuffs caused a fair share of incidents if I say so myself. Breaking into the kitchens, sneaking around the castle after hours… We even had one boy who managed to ride the Giant Squid."
"No way!"
Minerva shook her head. "Now don't start getting ideas. If I find you, Isobel, riding the Giant Squid after half term-"
"You can blame uncle Finn!" interrupted Isobel, giggling.
Minerva glanced at Elphinstone who had the decency to look slightly ashamed. "I certainly will," she said.
Elphinstone's apologetic look was short-lived, however. When Minerva looked away, he glanced at Isobel and coughed suddenly, "She doesn't have any classes Wednesday afternoon."
Isobel laughed and Minerva hit Elphinstone on the shoulder. "Cheeky."
Just then, the older Isobel got up from the table. She seemed to struggle with her walking stick and Malcolm, who was sitting next to her, moved his hand so that it was hovering behind her back. Isobel shook her head.
"I'm all right, dear," she said, brushing Malcolm's hand away. "I just need to check something."
Malcolm caught Minerva's eye and she nodded. She waited a few moments so that Isobel had time to leave the room, before getting up from the table too.
"Everything all right?" asked Elphinstone, clearly having missed the moment.
Minerva nodded. "Back in a moment," she whispered, squeezing his shoulder gently.
Elphinstone watched her go with a mildly concerned expression on his face before turning back around again. As Minerva left the room, she heard her niece's excited giggles again, as Elphinstone no doubt recounted his story of how his friend managed to climb onto the Giant Squid.
"Mum?" Minerva poked her head in the kitchen, however, found it empty. She walked in and picked up some bits of rubbish that had fallen out of the bin. As she went to wash her hands, she spotted through the window the older Isobel ease her way slowly down the grassy slope in the garden towards the wooden bench Helen and Malcolm had built earlier that year.
Drying her hands with a tea towel, Minerva left the kitchen and made her way out into the garden.
"Needed a bit of fresh air?"
Isobel looked up as Minerva came and sat down next to her. "I'll be back in a moment," she said.
"Just as well. Helen has made lemon and raspberry tart for dessert and I don't think you want to miss that." Minerva's smile faltered and she laid her hand over Isobel's and squeezed it. "Malcolm said you went to see the doctor on Wednesday. Did he-"
Isobel removed her hand from Minerva's. "Everything is well, Minerva," she said, brusquely. "You needn't worry about me."
Not vexed by the gesture or the words, Minerva tried to catch Isobel's eye. "We do worry, Mum. You would tell us if something was wrong, wouldn't you?"
"Of course, dear," said Isobel, reassuringly. She sighed and held Minerva's hand again. "Sorry for snapping."
"That's all right."
Isobel leaned back on the bench, with only a small amount of wincing. "How the roles have reversed. It used to be me who worried about you all, you know. You're all so grown up now." She smiled sadly then picked up her walking stick. "I think we should get back inside before we catch a cold."
Minerva smiled and got up. "Or before all of Helen's tart is gone. Here," she said, leaning forward and wrapping her arm around Isobel's shoulders.
"Thank you, dear," said Isobel, leaning into Minerva as they walked up the hill.
Minerva raised her eyebrows but didn't comment. It was rare for Isobel to ask for any sort of help, let alone thank anybody for it.
They stopped outside the back door and, as Minerva fumbled with the door handle that had grown accustomed to getting continuously stuck, Isobel placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about me, Minerva, really. Everything will be all right. It-It's just old age."
The door finally gave in and swung open. Minerva looked at Isobel before walking in.
"You won't consider any other type of doctor?"
Isobel pursed her lips and regained her stern, usual manner. "No," she said, flatly. "St Mungo's is out of the question. M-Magic-I don't belong-"
"Come on you two, the cake's on the table. Everyone's waiting." Helen bustled into the kitchen and collected the pile of plates stacked up on the counter. "Could one of you grab the spoons?"
Minerva held Isobel's gaze for a moment longer before springing into action. "Of course, Helen. We're right behind you."