24 December 1984

It was Christmas Eve and Minerva and Elphinstone, who had travelled up to Caithness for Christmas, had been charged with looking after the children and Isobel whilst Malcolm and Helen attended an evening service at their local church.

Currently, the kitchen table was strewn with balls of wool and papers depicting elaborate knitting patterns. Minerva, dressed in one of Helen's flower-patterned aprons, was watching over Elphinstone's shoulder as he struggled to complete a purl row.

Finally defeated, Elphinstone put down the knitting needles and turned to face Minerva. "I give up," he said. "Half an hour and all I've managed is a row."

"That is shameful, Elphinstone," said Minerva, failing to hide a smile. She put the wooden spoon she holding down and leaned over her husband's shoulder to demonstrate what he was supposed to do. "Look, you put the needle through this bit, wrap the wool around it, then push the needle out here and there we go," she stood back up and handed the needles back to him. "It's the opposite for a knit stitch."

"Show me?"

Minerva gave the vegetables a quick stir, turned down the gas, then pulled up a chair and sat beside him. "I think we made a mistake making you knit and me cook."

"I didn't think it would be this hard," Elphinstone said glumly. He rested his chin on his hand and watched the needles move expertly in front of him. "It's practically impossible to do without magic."

"Nonsense," answered Minerva with a faint chuckle and shake of the head. "Now, did you see that?"

Elphinstone took the needles back. "I think so… So, like this?"

"Precisely." Minerva got back up. "I can already see the makings of a professional."

"Are you talking about Uncle Finn," said Chloe, who had just walked into the kitchen as a ball of wool fell onto the floor. "Oh dear, Auntie Helen will never forgive you if you ruin her work of art." She picked up the wool ball then walked towards Minerva. "What are you making?"

"Shepherd's pie."

"Mm, looks delicious," said Chloe, taking a peek through the oven doors.

Minerva smiled triumphantly. "See, not everyone hates my cooking," she told Elphinstone, who smiled and rolled his eyes. "Where are the others?"

"Rob and Iz are playing exploding snap," Chloe replied, pulling up a chair opposite Elphinstone and sitting down.

"And Minerva?" asked Minerva, thinking of her third niece.

Chloe shrugged. "Reading upstairs, I think. She has an exam next week on Concealment and Disguise."

"Last one before she qualifies as an Auror then?" said Elphinstone, pleased to be engaged in a conversation he could understand.

"I think so. Mad-Eye is the examiner this year. Maybe you could talk to him?"

"That would be cheating," said Minerva, who was busy checking the pie in the oven.

Elphinstone nodded in agreement. "Anyway, I doubt your sister needs any help in that department. If you have good transfiguration knowledge you should pass the first time." He sighed suddenly and put the knitting down. "This is just beyond me."

Chloe laughed and moved up to sit next to him. "Give it here. It's really not that hard. Watch."

Elphinstone leaned forward and watched Chloe knit a row with ease.

"Who is it for anyway?" she asked, starting another row.

"Your Granny," answered Minerva, taking the hot shepherd's pie out of the oven. "The radiators aren't working at the moment and her room is getting a bit cold." She walked over and put her hands on Elphinstone's shoulder. "I'm going to have to interrupt, I'm afraid. Dinner is ready and the table isn't going to set itself."

"I think the kitchen table is beyond help," said Chloe, standing up. "Perhaps we could eat in the dining room? That way we can leave the wool out for Uncle Finn to carry on working on this evening." She smiled cheekily at Elphinstone. "I'll go and fetch the others."

Once the door swung shut behind Chloe, Elphinstone put his hands on Minerva's and looked up at her. "I believe that's our film night out of the window then?"

She smiled. "Hardly. Malcolm fixed the television yesterday so we can still watch our film." She patted his shoulders twice then went to collect some plates from the cupboards. "As for the knitting, I will have taken over it by then. Unless we want Helen to come back to a ruined blanket."

"You have so much faith in me," Elphinstone said, standing up too. He went to the cutlery drawer and began getting the knives and forks. "It's 8.15," he reminded her gently.

Minerva checked the clock. "So it is." She sighed and finished straining the vegetables. "I can't believe it has come to this."

Elphinstone rubbed her back sympathetically. "Would you like me to do it?"

"No," Minerva faltered. "No, I'll do it," she said finally. She wiped her hands on her apron. "Now, where..."

"Here." Elphinstone handed her a teaspoon and a bottle of antibiotics. "I'll take care of everything down here."

Minerva smiled appreciatively. "Thank you." She left the kitchen and walked down the hallway to the last room on the left. "It's Minerva," she said, knocking on the door.

"Come in," came Isobel's voice. It sounded croaky and tired, even to Minerva's ears.

Taking a deep breath, Minerva walked in. The room was dark, and it took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust. When they did, she could just about make out her mother's outline.

"I'm going to turn the light on," Minerva warned. She flicked the lamp switch on, and Isobel blinked several times. She looked small, sitting up in her bed with her back against the headboard for support. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. No more temperature." Isobel tried to smile however ended up caught in a coughing fit. Her hand tightened on the covers as she waited for it to pass.

Minerva twisted open the lid of the antibiotics and perched herself on the side of Isobel's bed. "We just need to tackle the cough now," she said, carefully handing Isobel the spoon. "I've made some dinner. I can bring some in for you?"

"Maybe later, darling. I'm not hungry just yet."

"All right. I'll come back in half an hour then." Minerva stood up and took another blanket out from the bedside table drawer and draped it over her mother. "And I'll make another hot water bottle. It's freezing in here."

"You don't need to trouble yourself," said Isobel quickly.

"It is no trouble, Mum," said Minerva. She put her hand on her mother's and squeezed it gently. "Can I get you anything else?"

"I have a book on the vanity."

Minerva went to collect the book. It was old. The pages were yellowing and the spine had been broken in several places. She smiled. "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd?"

Isobel smiled weakly. "One of your father's favourites."

"You must know how it ends? Didn't Dad force us all to read it the second after he did?"

Isobel glanced at her daughter over her spectacles. "He was certainly a true Agatha Christie fan." She took the book gratefully as Minerva sat back down on the edge of the bed. "How are the children?"

"Hardly children anymore, mother," said Minerva, smiling. "They've all graduated now and have lives of their own."

Isobel shook her head. "How did that happen?"

"Too quickly," answered Minerva. "Robert and Florence would be proud." She patted her mother's hand and stood up again. "Right, I'll fetch you a glass of water and a hot water bottle."

Isobel smiled. "Thank you, dear."

Minerva left the room just as Isobel was taken over by another coughing fit. As the door closed, she let her head fall back against the wall and covered her face with her hands.

"Aunt Minerva?"

Minerva dropped her hand quickly and looked up as Robert poked his head out of the dining room.

"Robert?" she said, trying to appear cheerful.

"Joining us for Christmas crackers? There are just enough left for all of us."

"Give me five minutes, Robert. I need to make a hot water bottle for Gran," she said, making her way to the kitchen. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as she passed. "Could you boil the kettle please, Finn?"

Elphinstone turned around and flicked the switch. He then put the water jug he was holding down and walked over to her. "How is she?"

Minerva shook her head. "Not good."

Elphinstone opened his arms and pulled her into a comforting hug. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Every time I think she's getting better…" she trailed off as she felt her throat constrict and tears pooled in her eyes. "I don't know what else we can do for her…"

"I think being here is the best thing we can do," he answered, rubbing her back. "I know we are meant to be going back on Tuesday, but I am sure Malcolm and Helen wouldn't mind if we stayed an extra few days."

They stood back up and Minerva gratefully accepted the hankie he was offering her.

"Are you sure?"

Elphinstone nodded. "Of course. Our house won't be going anywhere and I'm sure Albus would be more than happy to cover your lessons for a few weeks."

Minerva sighed and wiped her eyes again, allowing herself to be pulled back into a comforting hug.

Suddenly a loud bang echoed throughout the house, followed by several shrieks of laughter. Elphinstone grimaced as both he and Minerva turned their heads to see a faint trail of smoke crawl its way out of the dining room.

"I thought I saw Chloe disappear with the firewhisky," he said.

Minerva rubbed the back of her neck. "Or they've enchanted the Christmas crackers to pop with a bit more-"

"Force," finished Elphinstone. "I thought it was only teenagers who behaved this way?"

Minerva smiled. "Evidently you have never met their parents then," she said, thinking back to the time when her brothers were in their early twenties. "Would you mind checking none of them has blown a hole in the roof? I just need to finish up a few things here."

Elphinstone smiled too and gave her a kiss. "Already going," he said, picking up the water jug and heading towards the source of the mini-explosion.