Hiding from Mummy

Disclaimer: I don't own HP

Everyone noticed the absence of Minerva McGonagall to the High Table, but no one truly thought anything of it. They were accustomed to their teachers skipping meals for some reason or another, although these instances were few and far between. However, no one noticed as the staff entrance to the Great Hall opened behind the staff table at dinner one evening. It was not until Aurora Sinistra – who was seated on the end of the staff table – squealed in surprise that people began to notice the two new arrivals to the Hall.

Two toddlers with ebony hair were crawling under the staff table. Both little girls' tiny hands accidentally clutched the staff's feet as they moved. Students began to laugh as they watched the determined blue-eyed girl lead the nervous emerald-eyed girl. Once they reached their mother's chair, since there were no legs in front of it, they stopped.

Albus ducked his head under the table and asked, "What are you doing?"

The blue-eyed toddler whispered, "Hidin' from Mummy. Shh," she put a tiny finger to her lips.

"Hestia told me to," the green-and-wide-eyed three-year-old whispered.

"You're hiding from your mummy, Hestia?" Albus asked, an amused twinkle in his eyes.

"Yeah," the blue-eyed girl whispered. "She says it is bedtime. I don't wanna go."

"And you brought Demeter with you?" he asked.

"Yep," whispered the four-year-old, adding, "Demi was easy to get going."

Albus reached under the table and lifted Hestia into her mother's chair. He did it again with Demeter and sent a Patronus message to Minerva. The previously distraught but now relieved mother entered the Great Hall through the same door that her daughters had, and a few students and staff noticed this time.

Minerva reached her chair and picked up both daughters one at a time, placing them on her hips, "Thank you Albus. Apollo was so worried about them."

"He's six," Albus commented amused, "He's already protective of them at six?"

"That's an older brother for you," she sighed. She added so no one else could hear, "You're turn next. They listen to you so much better."

"They like me best," he smirked, that infernal twinkle still sparkling in his eyes.

"I love Mummy," Demeter said.

Minerva smiled warmly at her daughter despite their audience, "That means a lot to me. I love you too. And Hestia," she added, looking to her other daughter resting on her other hip.

"Are you mad at me?" the four-year-old asked with an exaggerated pout.

"No." She sighed, "But you must promise me you will never, ever scare me like that again." She said as she walked out of the hall, aware of every eye on her but not caring.

"Promise," Hestia grinned.

The students and staff, all but Albus, were shocked. None of them knew Minerva was a mother, and all of them wondered who the father was. They wondered if it was Albus, since he knew exactly who the children belonged to, but then, they thought, that was probably because she had to get permission to keep them in the school. No one ever knew the truth, but everyone made rumors. After a while, however, the topic wore itself out, as all rumors do, and the students eventually forgot their strictest professor had children.