A/N: Thanks to all you lovely people whom have been reading along and also to those of you who have sent in your wonderful reviews. They are much appricated!
I'm posting a few days early as I am off school for the week and I found this much more interesting than the history of farming *wink*
This chapter is slightly shorted than the others, but I hope you enjoy it!
-CHAPTER FOUR-
Diagon Alley
The dreams and relaxation of the McDore trio lasted until two weeks before the start of the school year, when it was time for their trip to Diagon Alley.
"You ready, Min?" Albus was stood outside the bathroom waiting for his wife.
"Give me a minute!" Minerva was now nearly two months pregnant, and had started taking hours to get ready in the morning. She was always careful to choose robes that didn't show off too much of her figure, but just enough to make Albus drool. Walking out of the bathroom, Minerva watched as Albus' mouth dropped open.
"You tease."
"I know." Minerva giggled and spun around. She was wearing a low cut, floor length light blue dress. It hugged all the right places, and even showed a little amount of cleavage. Albus stood and took Minerva into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"You're beautiful."
"Thank you, good sir."
"Are you two coming?!" Marie called from the living room. She was dressed in a set of light green summer robes that her mother had brought her a couple of weeks back when Rolanda and Poppy took her shopping in Edinburgh. A few minutes later, Minerva and Albus walked from the bedroom, hand in hand.
"You ready little tabby?"
"All ready daddy."
***
Half an hour later, the trio were stood in the crowded streets of Diagon Alley.
"Where to first, little kitten?" Minerva and Albus were stood behind Marie in each others arms.
"Flroish and Blotts. I've got all my uniform. There's only a couple of books and general bits that I need."
"Come on then." Minerva moved to Maries' right side and held her hand. Husband and wife were still entwined while Marie was relaxing in her chair. As it drove itself.
A ten minute walk brought the family to Florish and Blotts.
"Lead the way, little tabby."
"Okay, dad." Marie slowed her chair slightly and head toward the Herbology section. She scanned the shelves but couldn't seem to find the book she needed. "Mom?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"I can't find One thousand magical herbs and fungi."
"Well, let's have a look." Minerva walked along the shelves, looking at every individual title. "Ah." Five minutes later, Minerva picked a book from the very top shelf on the far left side and handed it to Marie. "There you go."
"Thank you, mommy."
"It's okay, baby. Anything else that needs adding to the McGonagall library?"
"Magical draft and potions and The dark forces: A guide to self-protection."
"Ah, my dear, I think we really should start stocking up on a few other subjects."
"I believe you're right, Albus." Minerva laughed as the pair followed Marie quickly through the shop, having no problems in finding the other two books and eventually stopping in the romance section at the back of the shop.
"Can I have a new novel please, mom?" Marie was starring at a beautiful powder blue hard back book with gold lettering down the spin.
"Go on then." Minerva smiled at her daughter, she really did love her books.
"Thank you." Marie smiled at her parents and gently pulled the book from the shelf.
Looking over his daughters' shoulder, Albus red, "A place called hope by Audrey Howard. Hmm, sounds interesting."
Giggling, Marie placed it on top of her pile, looking down at it she said, "I'm going to read it when I start at Hogwarts."
"Mind if I read it after?"
"You've never been one to read romance novels dad. Only one to shower mom with it."
Minerva blushed and pulled herself to Albus, whispering in his ear, "And you're great at it."
"Get a room." Marie turned and headed to the checkout.
"Twelve galleons, please." The short blonde haired wizard behind the counter stated.
Marie handed over the required money said "Thanks." and with her books on her lap, headed over to her parents, whom were stood just outside the door.
"Where to now, honey bunch?"
"I've got left to get; a set of crystal phials, a telescope, a set of brass scales and my wand."
"Okay, well if we leave your wand until after lunch, we can go and get everything now."
"Okay dad."
Two hours later, the trio were sat at their favourite restaurant finishing off their ice-cream.
"That was lovely." Marie said as she looked up at her parents. Minerva and Albus had their hands resting on Minervas' stomach. They usually didn't show any affection for each other in public, but since the recent defeat of Voldemort, thanks to the Great Harry Potter. When they did, it was usually just a heat of the moment thing. Both of Maries' parents had lived most of their lives having to hide their affection for each other. It was taking them a while to get used to the freedom (if you like). "Mom!"
"Hmm?" Minerva looked up from her stomach.
"You okay?"
"Fine."
"Dad?"
"I'm fine, sweetie. What do want to do now?"
"Get my wand and go home, so we can talk about babies!"
"Come on, then." Albus stood and pulled Minerva with him, pulling her close he planted a soft kiss on her lips and snaked his arm around her still thin waist. "Lead the way, little tabby."
As the trio strolled down the street at a pleasurable pace. Glancing at his wife, Albus saw that unshed tears glistened in her emerald orbs. It was still hard for Minerva to talk about her new unborn child without crying or running out of the room. Pulling his tabby close, he kissed her temple and whispered, "You can let it out tonight." Minerva grinned and brushed her lips gently against Albus' in a sweet 'thank you'.
"Hurry up!" Marie was waiting outside Olivanders' wand shop as her parents slowly strolled down the street.
"Ahh, Miss McDore, what a pleasure. Headmaster, Professor." Olivander bowed to the trio before making his way behind his counter to collect the wand that his uncle had stored away when he had made Minervas. He handed Marie the wand, who held it loosely in her right hand and flick it gently. She could control her magic with ease and had been doing so wandlessly for as long as she could remember. A bright white light shot out of the end of the wand and wove itself around Marie and her mother.
"Extraordinary." Olivander said in a hushed whisper.
"It's perfect." Marie exclaimed, not noticing the surprise on both her parents faces.
"What wand is that, Olivander?"
"Redwood. Eighteen inches. The fairy which cried the tear for Miss McDores' wand, also cried the tear for the Professors' wand. It's an identical copy, Headmaster." Olivander nodded to the Professor who just handed the wand maker the money and briskly walked out of the shop.
"Thank you." Marie quickly said before racing off after her mother.
"Thank you, Olivander. I would stop to chat, but it seems the ladies have left me. I'll drop by soon, old friend."
"Of course, Albus. You look after those two."
"Always will, Olivander." Albus said over his shoulder as he walked back out into the crowded street. He had now doubt that Minerva would go to the apperating point and head back to the manor, and that Marie would follow, using the floo network to do so. Albus arrived at the Leaky Cauldron almost twenty minutes later and asked the bar tender if he had seen his girls. Nodding, the old man behind the bar said that Minerva had apperated as soon as she had set foot into the pub and that Marie went straight to the floo and didn't hesitate to follow her mother. Thanking Thom (for that was the name on his tag), Albus apperated straight into the master bedroom at the manor, finding a sobbing Minerva laying on her front on the bed, and an extremely upset and angry Marie in the doorway.
Minerva lifted her head slightly towards the door and choked, "Go away Marie." Marie fled to her rooms in a flood of tears.
Not knowing which to go to first, Albus now stood in the middle of the room, starring at the empty doorway.
