Gosh I do hope this isn't confusing :/ Mildly regret having two characters with the same name

Sorry if this one isn't exactly interesting either. I promise things will get more exciting soon.

5 November 1995

It was a Saturday and Minerva had gone to have dinner with her niece in Hogsmeade after the very long and tiring day she had had. It was the first time she had seen someone from her family for over a month.

The sun was only just setting over the rolling hills, and both Minerva and her niece were sitting outside Minerva and Elphinstone's small cottage on a wooden bench. Despite her strongest attempts to put the cottage on the market, Minerva still had not yet found the courage to do so.

Now, sitting outside with her niece, also called Minerva, Minerva began to wonder if she really did want to sell it after all. Perhaps Albus had been right last year, she thought.

"So, lifetime Quidditch ban?" the younger witch repeated, raising her eyebrows. "Is that even possible?"

Minerva sighed and brought her mind back to the present. "Regrettably so," she said. "But I would rather not think about it," she added. "How have you been, dear?"

"Fine," she replied, wrapping her gloved hands around her mug of tea. "Apart from the morning sickness and the fact that my robes won't fit by next week," she added, smiling gently again, and folded her legs. "Seems daft to be having a baby in these times. Especially when one of the parents has just been made redundant."

Minerva sighed, and folded her legs so that she and her niece were sitting in the exact same position. "I had heard that you were not on par with the Daily Prophet," she said.

"And lost my job by proving my allegiance," the younger witch finished. "I didn't properly live through the first war like you and dad," she said quietly. "But I can use my eyes, and my head. I believe Potter, and I believe Dumbledore. I know what's happening," she added. "And that you're involved."

Minerva frowned, "Involved?"

"You're part of the Order of the Pheonix."

Minerva sat up a little straighter. "How do you know about that?"

"Kingsley and Tonks approached me before I left. They asked me if I wanted to join."

"I hope you said no?" Minerva said, unable to hide the slight worry lines that creased her forehead.

"You didn't."

"That is very different," Minerva replied, pursing her lips. She then looked at her niece and raised her eyebrows, waiting to hear whether or not she had indeed joined the Order too.

Finally, the younger witch sighed. "I haven't joined," she said. "Though if not for Jules or this baby then I might have."

More than a little relieved, Minerva allowed herself to lean back on the bench again. The thought that her niece had considered joining, and would have, was more than a little worrying. The thought of any member of her family was worrying, in fact.

Minerva knew that Malcolm had considered it during the First Wizarding War. Similar to his niece now, the only reason he had decided not to join was because he had had a small child at the time and another baby on the way.

Minerva's other brother, Robert, had also considered joining. If Minerva was being entirely truthful Robert would have been a good addition to the group. He and his wife Florence had been senior members of the Wizengamot and as such knew much about what was happening inside the Ministry. However, the Death Eaters had got to them before they had even the chance to approach any members of the Order.

"I know you can't tell me much seeing as I haven't joined," Minerva's niece continued. "But, was Uncle Finn a part of the group?"

Minerva felt her fingers go unusually still around her mug. She swallowed. "Yes, he was," she said quietly.

"He used to tell me so many stories about you when you joined the Ministry," the younger witch continued. "They were part of the reason I wanted to join the Ministry, you know."

Minerva raised her eyebrows slightly. "Is that so?"

"It is. It sounded fascinating. You both did so much to help during the first war."

Minerva shook her head. "I left the Ministry before it had really started," she admitted. "But Elphinstone did do a lot," she added.

The younger witch smiled, though it disappeared slowly and was replaced with a slightly worried look. "I'm not really sure now, what I'm going to do. Jules is still working, of course, but I need to find something to do as well."

"Your father told me you might have to move away from London?" Minerva said.

"Yes, we might," her niece agreed. "Somewhere in Scotland we thought," she added. "It's much less expensive up here."

Minerva breathed in slowly, then looked back at the small cottage that was still in her possession. "You are more than welcome to move in here, in the meantime," she said finally.

"I thought you were selling it?"

Minerva shrugged mildly. "I was," she admitted. "But I have changed my mind."

"Really?"

Minerva nodded, more firmly this time. "Yes," she said, then smiled a little bit. "It really is only because I will be able to see more of you."

Her niece chuckled, then breathed in deeply and leaned in to give her aunt a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered softly.

Minerva patted her back gently before they came apart again. "I expect regular visits," she said, causing her niece to chuckled softly again.

"Dinner once a week on Fridays?"

Minerva smiled. "Sounds lovely," she said, just as her pocket watch whistled.

"Lesson?"

Minerva shook her head, starting to get up. "One of our professors is returning from a long break," she said, lying only somewhat.

Hagrid was due to come back this evening from his trip with Olympe. It was no secret that Dolores was less than kind to people like Hagrid, or Remus for that matter. As such, Albus wanted to discuss what the plans were going forward. Not only because Dolores would no doubt want to inspect Hagrid's class, and would most likely be harsher than usual, but also because Hagrid would need to have a plausible excuse for being away for so long.

Minerva and Albus also needed to speak to Hagrid asking him about that very matter as well, and about his trip in general.

Minerva straightened and brushed down her robes gently. "How are you getting home, dear?" she asked her niece.

"Disapparation," the younger witch replied, getting up too and putting a hand to her belly. "I'll make the most of it before I can't do it anymore."

Minerva smiled and gave her niece another hug. "Travel safely, dear," she said. "Let me know when you get back."

"I will. See you soon, Auntie."