Posted a chapter on time for the first time in weeks - finally! I'm quite proud of myself for remembering. I hope you enjoy it. :) And, as always, thank you so much for the kind reviews.
10 January 1998
"Have you heard anything else about—" Minerva broke off and mouthed Luna Lovegood's name. Since her arrival at the Hog's Head that afternoon, she had found the two wizards sitting by the window to have been oddly silent. As though they were listening to her and Aberforth's conversation. Aberforth had cast a charm to stop anyone from overhearing their conversation, but neither he nor Minerva was entirely reassured despite the protective measures.
"Nothing. I'll tell you when I do hear anything," he said. He set down a glass and nodded towards Minerva's empty mug. "Another?"
Minerva straightened and tucked some stray hairs back into her bun. There were more grey hairs there now than she cared to admit - she attributed most of it to stress. She sighed and shook her head. "No, thank you. I rather think I had best get back to the castle," she added. "Poppy has fallen ill and I offered to watch over the Hospital Wing this afternoon."
Aberforth nodded and he leaned forwards to collect Minerva's plate and his own. Every other Saturday since December-time, she and Aberfroth would lunch together. Minerva had suggested it, suspecting that while he did not want to admit it, Aberforth missed his regular lunches with Albus.
"Take care, Minerva."
"You too, Aberforth." Minerva collected her belonging and got up from her seat. She made a move to leave the pub, but she had barely moved five paces from the stool she had been previously occupying when she spotted a familiar head of bubblegum pink hair.
Her eyes widened. "Tonks," she whispered, joining the girl who was standing a few tables away. She pulling her aside so that they were out of earshot from the two wizards who had been looking at her and Aberfroth suspiciously since she had first entered the pub. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be risking-"
"Neither should you," Tonks hissed back. "I doubt the new Headmaster would approve of you dining with Aberforth like this."
"Never mind me," Minerva said dismissively. She looked back at the two wizards, their eyes had followed her from the bar to the edge of the room. Minerva bit her lip then made up her mind and indicated to Tonks that they should leave. "Let's speak outside."
Tonks nodded and followed Minerva out of the shop. She shivered and Minerva, having noticed this, waved her wand so that gloves appeared on her companion's hands and a scarf wrapped itself neatly around her neck.
"You're just as bad as, Molly," Tonks said, though not without a smile. "I might be having a baby but I can still look after myself."
Minerva did not answer the smile. She was scanning the almost empty streets in Hogsmeade to make sure they were not being watched. For the moment she could not see anybody however that did not mean they was not anybody there. Minerva had the unsettling feeling that someone was nearby, just concealing themselves. It did not reassure her. Indeed, while Tonks was not 'wanted' per se, Minerva knew that the Death Eaters did not particularly trust Nymphadora either.
"It is not safe for you here," she told Tonks already guiding her away from the pub and towards a more open space in the village. "You must leave."
"It isn't safe for you either, Minerva," Tonks replied, looking directly into her eyes. "The Carrows have plans to remove you—"
"—They always have," Minerva interrupted. "And yet I am still at Hogwarts."
"Which, frankly, is baffling." Tonks sighed and stopped walking so that Minerva had to too. "I'm sorry, Minerva," she said, knowing that her words were most likely ones Minerva could have done without hearing. "But considering how close you were to Dumbledore if I were Snape, my natural next step when taking on the role of Headteachers would have been to remove opposition fairly quickly."
"Well, fortunately, that has not happened, Tonks," Minerva replied. "And while I appreciate the warning, I think it would be best if you heed my warning instead, and leave Hogsmeade at once. You should not risk your safety merely for an old teacher, like me. Coming all this way just to say that I am a wanted woman—it's foolish—"
"I know, and Remus and my mum will no doubt have my head when I get back home," Tonks interrupted. "But I did come for a reason. Molly and Arthur have gone into hiding with Ginny. They were attacked last week—they're fine," she hurriedly insisted, noticing Minerva's expression. "But the Burrow isn't in a good state. We thought we ought to let you know seeing as you will have one less student next term."
Two, Minerva privately corrected. Indeed, Luna Lovegood still had not yet been found.
"Do we know why the Burrow was attacked?" Minerva said instead.
Tonks shook her head. "No," she said. "But the Death Eaters seemed to know that Ron wasn't home and that Molly and Arthur had been lying to them. Ron must have been sighted or—well, we would know if he had been caught since Harry's probably with him."
Minerva nodded. Voldemort would have announced it to the world if Potter had been captured, she thought. "I am glad Molly and Arthur are safe," she said. "I will appear surprised when Miss Weasley does not return to school."
"Yes, I think that would be best."
There was the sound of a door slamming up the street. Minerva, pulled Tonks into a more concealed alleyway behind the Hog's Head.
"Tonks, you must leave, now," she insisted. "Are you all right to disapparate?"
"Yes, fine," Tonks reassured her. She rested her hand on her slightly rounded stomach. "I don't think we'll meet again for a while, Professor. Perhaps not until after this little one has decided to say hello."
"I believe that is likely," Minerva agreed. "Which is why I will send you my very best wishes, now. I hope that I will not see you here again any time soon?"
Tonks smiled weakly. "I promise," she said. "Thanks, Professor. Look after yourself."
Minerva nodded and took a step back. A second later, after waving, Tonk's had vanished into thin air.