Aw, thank you for the lovely reviews! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story :) Half-Blood Prince coming up soon, but not before a bit of summer drama.

I'm contemplating a double post this week, as well. But I'm not sure yet. So expect either another update this coming Friday or next Wednesday as per usual.

If you have any moments you are interested in reading about, just let me know and I'll try and slip it in in the upcoming chapters. Your wish is my command :)

20 June 1995

"It's been two days and she still hasn't woken up…the Healer said any longer and—"

"It won't come to that, Malcolm."

Minerva heard the scraping of chair legs on the floor as one of the two people in the room got up from their chair.

"She's strong, our Minerva," said the same voice, now seeming a little closer to where Minerva was lying. "She will come through, I'm sure of it."

Minerva's mind, slowed by the dozens of potions she had been given over the course of the last few days, finally placed Helen as the owner of the voice. Rather than reassure her, however, this only confused her more as she could not work out why Helen and her brother would be talking about her in such a way.

Slowly, she tried to move but a stabbing pain in her chest made her stop and recoil. The slight movement, however, seemed to have caught Helen and Malcolm's attention because they both stopped talking and looked towards Minerva.

"Did she—Minerva?" said Helen gently, moving away from her husband and crouching so that she was beside Minerva's bed. Helen turned back to face Malcolm. "She moved, didn't she?"

"I—I don't know, I didn't—"

"She did," Minerva cut in hoarsely. She opened her eyes and tried to smile at Helen however it turned more into a wince.

Helen stared dumbfounded at Minerva for half a second before promptly bursting into tears. "You're awake!" she cried, taking Minerva's cold hand and wrapping it between her own warm ones. "You're alive—Oh, Minerva you had us so worried…"

"How are you feeling?"

Minerva looked at Malcolm's blurry outline coming towards her. Without her glasses, she could not make out much of his facial expression. However, even with her poor eyesight, she was aware of Malcolm's haggard and worried look.

"What happened?" she mumbled, closing her eyes again as the room began to spin. The pain in her chest that she had noticed when she had first woken up was beginning to get worse, as though someone was pressing a thousand needles there. "Where am I?"

"St Mungo's," replied Helen, stroking her hand. "You were—"

Minerva groaned suddenly as her head began to spin again and the pain in her chest grew to the point that she felt completely winded. A worried expression crossed Helen's features, and she looked at Malcolm who appeared equally as concerned.

"Minerva?"

Minerva closed her eyes as a wave of nausea washed over her.

"I'll go and get someone," Helen said, looking worriedly at Minerva before turning to her husband. "I'll be back in a moment."

She gave Minerva's hand one last squeeze before hurrying out of the room. Malcolm then took Helen's place.

"Minerva?"

"How long have I been here?" Minerva managed, as the pain and nausea subsided. She opened her eyes to look at her brother who helpfully passed her her glasses.

"Two days—"

"Two days!" she interrupted. "I don't—I don't remember—"

"I'm not surprised," said Malcolm. "You were hit by four stunning spells, Minerva. If you hadn't woken up by the end of today they didn't think you were going to—" he stopped suddenly and breathed in sharply. "That woman Umbridge," he added. "She really got you."

Minerva closed her eyes again as slowly, the memory of what had transpired came back to her — Pomona, Hagrid, the lawn...

"How did you know to come?" she asked hoarsely.

"We got a message from Pomona and we came straight here," Malcolm replied. "They didn't let us come in and see you at first. In case..."

Minerva squeezed his hand gently. "It will take more than that woman to beat me," she said quietly. "I'll be all right."

"You might not have been," he said. "You were in a bad way, Minerva. Everyone was so worried you kept on—on reacting to the spells. Every time they woke you up you passed out again. It was—"

"Hush now, Malcolm," Minerva told him quietly as she tried to sit up. Malcolm helped her until she was leaning heavily on the headboard, panting slightly, and eyes tightly shut. "It could be worse."

"Apparently it wouldn't have taken much more for it to be so... You really scared us."

"I'm sorry."

Malcolm pressed his lips together and swallowed. "I'm glad you're all right," he whispered finally. He then leaned forward and gave her a long, tight hug.

"Gently," Minerva said quietly and Malcolm loosened his grip slightly, though he remained with his arms wrapped around her shoulders for another few minutes. Just as he let go, the door to the room opened admitting a healer followed by Helen who instantly rushed over to Minerva's bedside.

"I have never been so happy in my life," Helen said, wrapping her arms around Minerva's shoulders. "We thought we'd lost you."

Despite the pain in her body, Minerva did not wince and instead welcomed the hug from her sister-in-law.

"You won't get rid of me that easily," she murmured.

Helen laughed and wiped her tears away as she took a step back. The healer she had fetched stepped forwards.

"Could you both wait outside while I conduct some checks?" the Healer said.

Helen nodded as Malcolm got up.

"We'll tell the kids the good news," he said, leaning in to give Minerva a kiss. "We'll be back soon."