15 May 1985

Minerva noted down two more topics she needed to cover again with her NEWT students before putting her quill down and looking over at her niece. "I don't think you have turned a single page since we sat down."

Isobel grimaced and put down the book she had been attempting to read for the last half hour. "I know. So much for needing to stay behind to work," she said, shaking her head. "When will the others be back?"

"Not long now. Although saying that you know what your uncle is like when he gets into a plant shop. It may still be a while yet before Robert and your cousins manage to drag him out."

Isobel smiled, then sighed and rubbed her eyes. "I didn't think working for the Daily Prophet would be this hard!" she complained.

Minerva peeked at the title of the book Isobel had been reading – no doubt written by Xenophilius Lovegood with a title like Nargles, she thought. Putting her papers away, Minerva then stood up. "I believe a little break might be warranted," she said, clearing a space on the table. "How does tea and cake sound?"

Isobel smiled. "Delicious," she replied. She spun in her chair as Minerva started boiling some water and getting the tea things out. "But I think Uncle Finn might have eaten the last of the chocolate cake."

"I thought he looked guilty when he left the kitchen this morning," Minerva replied, not at all surprised. "He feels that he can blame visitors if a cake mysteriously disappears. I can tell you now that I am not so easily fooled." She moved to the back of the kitchen, then went on her tiptoes to remove a circular tin from the back of a cupboard and handed it to her niece.

"Don't tell me," Isobel said, raising her eyebrow in a very Professor McGonagall like fashion as she pried open the box, "You keep an extra tin when you have guests?"

Minerva smiled and began getting some plates out. "It's from that coffee shop down the road," she said, "Elphinstone can't get enough of them."

Isobel giggled. However, just as they were about to settle down and enjoy the victoria sponge, a series of loud knocks on the door interrupted them. Minerva frowned – Elphinstone had taken the key, and as far as she could remember, they were not expecting any visitors. She made a move to stand up however Isobel beat her to it.

"It's Chloe," she explained. "She left her purse upstairs before she went out." Isobel rolled her eyes and took out the forgotten item from her pocket. "I knew she would be back for it soon. I'll be just a minute."

Minerva nodded and went back to preparing the tea and cake. She had barely started pouring the tea into Isobel's mug when she heard hurried footsteps in the corridor. Suddenly the kitchen door blew open admitting Chloe and her cousin Minerva who were wheezing. Isobel was at their heels.

Minerva started to get up. "What—"

"It's uncle Finn," interrupted Isobel, taking over from the other two who were still trying to catch their breath. "Robert's with him at Bilbo's Botanicals. It's—it isn't good. They've alerted St Mungo's."

Minerva saw Malcolm walk through the doors of the relative's room. She had sent Chloe, Minerva, Isobel, and Robert to get him once they had arrived at the plant shop to find Elphinstone gone and the shopkeeper nowhere in sight. It was Rosmerta, the one who had contacted St Mungo's, that had told her what had happened. Now twenty minutes later, Minerva was sitting in St Mungo's waiting room. It was taking all of her strength to keep herself together.

Malcolm looked left and right before finally spotting her and making his way towards her.

"How is he?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed and expression worried as he sat down.

Minerva shook her head. "I—I haven't seen him yet. They—he—" she stopped suddenly and pressed her trembling fingers to her eyes, waiting for her emotions to get under control. "A Venomous Tentacula bite at his age is—well, it isn't good. They are still trying to get him stable."

Minerva felt Malcolm put his arm around her and pulled her into a tight hug. At this moment she was glad that he did not probe her into giving more details. She was sure that if she had to say anything else about it she would promptly burst into tears.

After another ten minutes passed a Healer finally walked into the room. Minerva sat up immediately looking expectantly at the Healer who bit her lip and pulled her clipboard towards her chest.

"Minerva Urquat?"

Minerva could not find it in her to correct the witch. She stood up and looked briefly at her brother who nodded and squeezed her hand.

"For Elphinstone Urquat is it?" asked the Healer.

"Yes," replied Minerva, hoarsely.

"Right this way, please."