Happy LGBTQ+ History Month!

Also just finished writing all the Prisoner of Azkaban chapters so there will most definitely be updates for the next 12 weeks at least (or even two updates a week if I'm feeling particularly generous)

Reviews are very much appreciated :)

31 August 1993

Minerva's hands were folded in front of her stomach as she looked through the dense forest to the path leading up to the castle. Her eyes glided back to Albus whom she had accompanied down a little while ago. Albus was now standing by the gates waiting to admit the new 'guests'. After a few more minutes she sensed rather than heard Severus come to stand beside her.

"They will be here any minute," she said quietly.

"How many?"

"Too many," she said gravely. "Some will be staying in Hogsmeade. A dozen will be here, surrounding the castle. Only until Black is found," she added.

Severus nodded and they stayed in silence, peering into the distance. A few moments later and suddenly the temperature dropped several degrees. Despite it being only August, icy shards began to wrap themselves around the blades of grass in front of the castle. A wind began to blow and Minerva felt her nose, then cheeks, begin to sting. It was always the way, the cold preceding the arrival of the cloaked hideous figures.

Minerva pursed her lips as she spotted the black capes of the Dementors through the trees. They floated eerily above the muddy ground, gliding slowly but steadily towards the wrought iron gates. Barely a second after she had spotted them, the frost and the wind were accompanied by a stifling sense of doom. Slowly Minerva felt a heavy sensation in her chest, then her stomach. With every passing minute, these sensations got more and more pronounced.

As her thoughts began to twist and toil, she felt her mind begin to settle on memories of her childhood; her parents arguing as she sat trying to comfort her brothers, her father, her mother, Elphinstone in St Mungo's... At that last memory, Minerva felt her throat constrict. Instantly she took her wand out and waved it. A blue tabby cat erupted from the end and almost immediately, she felt herself begin to return to normal.

Her eyes flicked to Severus who's cheeks were just slowly regaining colour too. Briefly, she wondered what memories he had been forced to relive in that short space of time.

Severus moved and Minerva looked back at the gates which Albus had now opened. Three ministry officials, two men and a woman, came through and even at this distance, Minerva could tell they were looking rather worse for wear. Only one electric blue eagle was protecting them from the effects of the Dementors. Either the others had decided not to produce Patronuses, or they could not.

The woman came through first, followed closely by the men. She nodded respectfully at Dumbledore and attempted to order the Dementors through but Albus held up his hand.

"He has decided the Dementors will not come any further than the castle gates," Minerva explained to Severus, who had been frowning. She and Albus had discussed it late last evening and had both decided that it would be not necessary for the Dementors to come too close to the castle. At the distance they had agreed, the Dementors would be able to do their job without affecting the students' too much.

"They may disagree with the Headmaster's decision."

"They will not," Minerva replied calmly. And as she said this, the woman nodded to Albus and held up her hand to stop the Dementors from coming any further. Her blue eagle perched itself on the top of a winged boar creating a shield between the cloaked figures and the people on the other side of the gate. It was joined a second later by Albus' dazzling blue phoenix and Minerva could not help herself from admiring the majestic bird for a bit.

The two patronuses worked well together and the Ministry officials looked more at ease now that there was added protection against the creatures. In her peripheral vision, Minerva saw Severus roll up his nose.

"I seem to recall you wanting them here," she told him.

"That does not mean I find them agreeable company," he replied coldly. "It is only important that they do their job."

Minerva looked at him and he pressed his lips together. "I may not like Potter but I would rather he not be murdered. Though knowing his potions work he might beat Black to it," he added quietly under his breath.

"This is no light matter, Severus."

"I am aware, Minerva. I was being entirely serious."

Minerva gave him a dark look. "I believe the Common Rooms have to be checked before the students arrive tomorrow. Could you see to that, please?"

Severus' head twitched slightly, then he nodded. "Of course."

Minerva watched him go, her lips slightly pursed, before turning around and waiting for Albus again. Possibly she had been a bit sharp with Severus, however, recently she had found his presence frustrating. Not least because he constantly found ways to irritate her, but mostly because his frequent bad moods were getting rather tiresome.

"Any surprises?" she asked, raising her eyebrows as Albus approached her.

"There were no disagreements," Albus assured her, folding his hands behind his back as they made their way back into the castle and down the corridor. "The Dementors will remain outside the castle gates until Black is found."

Minerva nodded. "Good," she said. "Now, I have spoken to Remus as well and he is happy to travel on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow as you requested. And Potter will be travelling to King's Cross with the Weasleys as well," she added.

Albus raised his eyebrows at her, an amused look in his eyes.

"It isn't like that," Minerva told him sternly. "I didn't ask if that is what you are implying. Molly Weasley wrote to me this morning. She mentioned it just to reassure me that we will not be needing to search for a flying car in the Forbidden Forest as we did last year."

"I am glad to hear that."

"I don't know why you would be," Minerva muttered. "As it was Hagrid and I who searched for it for hours."

Albus smiled slightly as they came to a slow stop by her office. His Patronus was still hovering above his shoulder, while Minerva's had stopped and sat down beside her. Minerva shivered as she thought of the cloaked figures outside.

"They will find him soon won't they?" she asked.Albus sighed. "We shall see."