Thank goodness I checked this chapter before publishing! I realised I'd written Satan instead of Santa - a bit of a big difference... Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Also thank you so so so much for the lovely lovely review! It really means a lot and I am so glad that you are enjoying the story so far!

20 December 1996

"Already off, my dear?"

Minerva smiled and slowed her pace until she finally stopped in front of Albus in the Entrance Hall. "I am afraid so," she said. "But I will be back on Tuesday," she reassured him, "so no need to panic."

Albus smiled. "Well, that does put me at ease," he said. "Do send my regards to the family."

"Will do, Albus," Minerva said. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss goodbye. "Happy Christmas. Say hello to Aberforth for me."

"Of course, my dear. Merry Christmas."

Minerva smiled then, with one last wave, went on her way to leave the castle. As she stepped out of the doors and then through the winged-boar gates she could not help but feel glad that she had taken a few days off to spend time with her family. Though she was somewhat more nervous than usual to be travelling like this in the current climate, she did not think she could have left the trip any longer, particularly in the current climate.

Choosing a spot beside the path, Minerva secured the strap of her bag on her shoulder and then twisted firmly on the spot. A second later and she appeared in Caithness in the small clearing by the town hall. A little breathless, she smoothed down her robes and took a deep breath before then marching steadily towards the manse. It did not take long, barely 8 minutes, for Minerva to find herself knocking at the manse door.

The sound of hurried footsteps on wooden floorboards echoed from within the house. "Who is it?" came Helen's familiar voice.

"Minerva McGonagall," Minerva said, shifting her weight to the other foot as she shivered.

"Auntie Minerva!"

The doorknob rattled as someone eagerly attempted to open the door.

"Wait, Meg. Questions first," came Helen's muffled voice through the door. The doorhandle stopped moving. "Would you like to go first, Minerva?"

"All right." Minerva paused for a minute as she tried to come up with a question to ask Helen. "Can you tell me what happened the night before Robert and Florence's wedding?"

"We said we would never speak of it again, Minerva," came Helen's voice through the door.

Minerva smiled slightly.

"Florence persuaded me to do some karaoke with her," came Helen's reply. "I don't believe either of us was very good," she added, a statement Minerva and the rest of the wedding guests could have confirmed.

"Can we open the door now?" came Meg's voice.

"One moment, poppet," Helen said. "Erm... right... Minerva, after their last year at Hogwarts why did your brothers, Malcolm and Robert McGonagall, spend two weeks fixing the roof of your parents' house?"

"Because, after being caught by our mother drinking firewhisky on the roof with Robert, Malcolm slipped and fell. He took half of the guttering with him, which mother made both Robert and Malcolm fix without magic."

"One of the most frightening days of his childhood, so I'm told."

Minerva smiled slightly at the memory. "Yes, indeed. Though I rather think it was because he was caught and subsequently told off, not because of the fall from the roof," she added just as Helen opened the door.

She appeared tired, large bags circled the underside of her eyes. Yet, the warm and kind look Minerva associated with her sister-in-law remained in Helen's features.

"Hello, you," she said, her lips breaking into a smile. "I thought we'd never drag you away from school."

"Nonsense," Minerva said, though she smiled as Helen ushered her into the cottage and pulled her into a tight but comforting hug.

"Hey!"

Helen and Minerva broke apart to see Meg looking quite grumpy that she was being left out.

"Sorry, Meg," Minerva apologised, and she picked up the little girl, who giggled, and kissed her on the cheek.

Helen rolled her eyes. "Becoming a right young madam, this one," she teased, affectionately pinching Meg's cheek. "Bedtime was hours ago, but she insisted on staying up until you arrived. Didn't you, pet?"

"Gran let me eat some biscuits we made while we waited," Meg said, nodding happily. "I helped with the icing," she added just as she yawned widely. She tried to conceal it behind her hand, but Helen was not fooled.

"Bed," she said without hesitation.

Meg pouted as Minerva put her down. "But I want to talk to Auntie Minerva," she said, turning to look hopefully at her aunt.

Minerva smiled though she did not give in to her great-niece. "We will have plenty of time to talk tomorrow morning, Meg," she told the young girl. "In the meantime, I suggest you hurry up to bed so that Father Christmas has time to put some presents underneath the tree."

Helen caught Minerva's eye. Though not as young as her cousins, Meg was young enough to still believe in Santa Claus. As Minerva expected, the thought that she would be deprived of presents the next morning seemed to be enough of an incentive for Meg to want to immediately go to bed.

After quickly kissing her grandmother on the cheek, and giving her aunt another hug, Meg rushed up the stairs and slipped into the bedroom she shared with her younger cousin.

"Crafty," Helen said, with a sly smile. "Though it reminds me that I still have several presents to wrap. Could I persuade you to help?" she added hopefully.

"Only if I can have one of those biscuits Meg was talking about."

Helen chuckled. "Deal."

The two women walked to the kitchen, got some tea ready, and filled a small plate with biscuits before then settling themselves in the living room where a fire was happily warming the grate.

"Where are the others?" Minerva queried, once they were settled.

"They went to church," Helen replied. She picked up two books, some wrapping paper and snowflake-decorated tape. "Though I do believe they're going out after that for a small Christmas party in town. I'm not sure why it is always me who ends up babysitting," she added, knowing full well that it was she who had offered to babysit in the first place - she was always the first to as she loved spending time with her family.

Helen smiled and sent her eyes skywards before then returning to the task at hand and frowning at the two books. "Peter Pan is for Meg, and Alice in Wonderland is for Rosie," she finally said, handing Minerva one of the books to wrap. "Apparently Chloe and Isobel took Meg and Rosie to the local bookshop last week, and the girls nearly walked out with these books clutched in their hands - unpaid for."

Minerva smiled and waved her hand so that the Peter Pan book began to wrap itself. "Not for the first time, if I recall correctly."

"No, indeed. Then, this particular book made quite an impression on little Charlotte," Helen added, referring to the newest addition to the McGonagall family; Charlotte who was only several months old. Helen picked up a colourful book about rainbows and opened it. Instantly, sparkles burst forth from the pages to create a small but dazzling rainbow glittering above the book. "Flourish and Blotts," Helen said, "not the local library for this one."

"I can see why Charlotte was attracted to it," Minerva replied knowingly, nodding at the book. "Any more presents?"

"Only yours and I'm not about to show you that one until tomorrow morning," Helen answered, chuckling after at the look of surprise on Minerva's face. "Did you think we would forget about you?"

Minerva sighed and shook her head, though she smiled slightly. "You shouldn't have, Helen. I have all that I need."

"There's a difference between what you need, and what you should or would like to have," Helen said, adopting a wise tone. She then got up and gathered the presents to place under the Christmas tree in the living room, pecking Minerva's cheek as she walked past. "We all thought very hard about it, I can tell you that now."

"That's very kind."

Helen smiled. "You get us something every year," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "Now, shall I get some more biscuits? Malcolm and the others will be an hour or more yet, and you can tell me all about how you managed to get out of going to Professor Slughorn's Christmas Party—again."

Minerva suppressed a smile as her sister-in-law gave her a knowing look.

"Back in two tics."

And on that last note, Helen bustled back into the kitchen while Minerva let out a comfortable sigh - it felt good being back in Caithness.