A/N: Gosh, that took longer than I thought. My little sister was up so I had a distraction there, don't worry, she's gone back now lol, so updates may be a little quicker, although I re-wrote this twice, and all three are completely different. But I think we finally decided on something we like!

So, party next chapter I think. In fact, I'm going to set that in stone. Party next. Thank you to the squillions of people that let me know your thoughts on the three requests in the previous chapter. Bear in mind, I was only garnering interest in the third request, both sides of the argument had been put forward with most excellent reasons and now I'm stuck as to what to do, but I'm sure it will turn out for the best. Keep sending me reason for and against,.

I have a confession to make also…I have no idea how to prevent Minerva from being transported to the graveyard in the next story. If anyone has any ideas please send them. I have a few, but they're dependant on a few other things, and frankly if I tell you then I ruin the surprise really so, if you have anything I'd love the help.

By the by, welcome back , I've missed you, and as always, thank you to the wonderful Spin84, what would I do without you!

Right, onward and upwards as they say!

"So what do you want to do for your birthday Harry?"

The three of them were sitting around the breakfast table, and Harry was feeling a little awkward. He shrugged and went back to his porridge. Minerva frowned and raised an eyebrow at Sirius. He shrugged and shook his head. Neither of the adults had any idea what was going on. Minerva sighed and rubbed her head. She'd noticed Harry getting more distant over the last few days, ever since Sirius had decided to accept the situation between the two of them.

"Harry, leanabh [baby], what's wrong?" She frowned as he shrugged again, before shifting in his chair slightly.

"May I be excused?" Harry said quietly, not looking at either of them.

"Of course Harry," Minerva said, still frowning. Harry just nodded and left the table, leaving a rather confused Sirius and Minerva behind.

"Well, what was that about?" Sirius said leaning back in his chair sipping a coffee.

"I haven't the foggiest." Minerva replied as she stared at the door.

They'd been living together rather peacefully for a few days, Minerva taking care of some Hogwarts business while Sirius roamed the grounds with Harry, sharing snippets of James' life with him whenever he got a chance.

"Can't you feel it?" Sirius said quizzically. Minerva frowned.

"It's not so much that I can't, he's feeling something, something that makes it hurt, but I don't know what it is. We can only feel the feelings, not the logic behind them." She explained. "Did you say anything to him while you were out?"

Sirius sat for a moment, going over everything he'd told his godson, but he could not think of anything that would have upset him.

"I don't think so."

Minerva sighed gently and rolled her shoulders. The Hogwarts business had taken up far too much of her time and she missed her son.

"I think I shall go and have a chat with our Harry," she said absently, "will you please make sure you send those invitations out?" she asked as she reached the door. Sirius winked.

"Consider it done Minerva."

Studying the man for a moment she noticed the all familiar light in his eye and grinned as she left the room. She had better be on her guard; Sirius Black was back in form.

She reached Harry's door and closed her eyes for a moment, concentrating on their bond. She smiled as she felt his presence nearby and she knocked gently.

"Harry, may I come in?" There was no answer and she opened the door. "Harry?" She glanced around the room and noticed that there was nothing of his in the room at all, save for his school trunk at the bottom of his bed. "Harry, a bheil thu ceart gu leor [are you alright?], what's wrong baby?" She sat next to his prone form, stroking the hair on his head as he refused to move from his face down position on his bed.

"Nothing." He mumbled into the covers. He shook her hand off his head and her eyebrows shot to her forehead.

"Harry, what is the matter?" He shrugged again and Minerva sighed in frustrated.

"Sweetheart, tha mi airson faighinn a-mach [I want to know]." Harry groaned and got up, refusing to look at her, pacing the room as she sat back on the bed and waited for him to speak.

"I just, you don't, it's stupid, I'm stupid, I don't deserve, I just want to." Before he knew it Harry had tears rolling down his face and he was red with embarrassment. He had no idea what was wrong except that he was upset with Minerva.

Minerva rubbed the scar on her chest in discomfort as a flurry of emotions prickled through it. Seeing that Harry was too caught up in his ranting, she placed a hand over it and thought of how much she loved him, smiling gently as she watched his face soften and finally stop pacing, leaving him leaning against the wall, still crying, but a little less agitated.

"Baby, talk to me." She whispered. He sobbed openly and shook his head, hugging himself as he crawled into the corner of the room.

"You don't want me." He said quietly, refusing to meet her eye. Her heart broke as he heard his words

"What? Where did you get such a notion, Harry, chan eil mi 'tuigsinn [I don't understand]."

"I miss you." He whispered, looking up.

Minerva realised right then as she looked into his distraught eyes that the Hogwarts business she had attended to had caused her to completely neglected him over the last few days. She'd been so caught up in her work and her effort to let Sirius spend some time with him, she realised that not once had she hugged him or kissed him or even sent him her feelings; then again, he hadn't come to find her either. She knew though that even this long after being in the company of his Aunt and Uncle she knew he was still uncomfortable about showing his emotions.

"Oh mo gradh [my love]." She sat next to him and took his hand, stroking her thumb over his hand. "Tha mi duilich [I'm sorry]," She pulled him onto her lap and he cried into her neck. She started stroking his hair and whispering to him. "I love you so much mo mhac [my son], I am so used to being here on my own, and with Sirius here I was trying to give you some time with him, I completely didn't realise that I hadn't hugged you, or even really seen you." She sighed as he hugged her tightly, as if he was afraid she was going to disappear. "Oh Harry, I'm here now, it's okay, a dòigheil [it's alright]." She whispered into his hair.

They sat for so long, Minerva's legs were becoming numb sitting on the hard wooden floors. Harry had fallen quiet, but was not asleep. She kissed his hair and pulled him back so she could look at him. He was a sorry sight. His face was red and his hair was a mess, as usual, she thought with a small smile, but his green eyes were once again bright, like his mothers.

"I have to get off the floor leanabh [baby]." She whispered as she tried to stop his hair from standing up all over the place. "Help me up and we'll have a lie down together, how does that sound?"

Harry looked at her, studying her face before he nodded and helped her up. She transfigured his clothes into pyjamas before doing the same for herself, getting into the bed and opening her arms for him. He crawled wordlessly into them and held her tightly snuggling his face into her shoulder as she kissed his head.

"Let's not do this again, okay? Whenever you need me you come and find me, Sirius won't mind." She said gently smiling as he sighed and nodded but didn't look up. "That goes for school, if you're in class you just touch your scar and I'll find you if I can. If I can't I'll let you know how much I love you and at the first available time I'll be there. Okay?" He pulled back and looked at her.

"Really?" he asked, in a small voice. She nodded with a smile and he cracked a small smile in return.

"Really." She said gently, tracing his face with a finger. "Tha gaol agam ort mo mhac [I love you my son]." She whispered kissing his forehead before bestowing an Eskimo kiss on his nose. "You don't ever have to doubt that." He nodded a little embarrassed at the display he'd given her.

"Tha me duilich mathair [I'm sorry, mother]" he whispered against his shoulder. She smiled into his hair, breathing in his scent as he held onto her.

"None of that my lad, we are still both getting used to this. We were close before I grant you, but this is something entirely different. I am not a mother Harry, I don't know the first thing about being a mother, so you'll have to help me alright?" Harry pulled his face back from her embrace.

"I don't know what to do? I've never been a son before, so how do I know?" he said, once again a little distraught.

"Hey, it's alright, relax mo mhac," she frowned as he cried again. "Harry, what's wrong, we've sorted this out, why are you still crying?" Harry sobbed harder into her pyjamas and she smiled ever so slightly at the rather strange behaviour.

"I don't know, I just, with the birthday party, and I've never had one and you and Sirius has been great and my dad and I just," he hiccupped and Minerva smiled gently as she realised the poor boy was simply overwhelmed.

"A linbhin, you are so precious." She whispered as she let him cry.

They lay there until Harry fell asleep, his steady breathing providing ample time for Minerva to collect her thoughts. She knew this was never going to be easy, but she knew she would never change any of it. She sighed as she ran a hand through her own hair, remarking as she felt how soft it was today. Shaking her head at her vain thoughts she looked back at Harry, completely at ease as he slept in her arms. There was many things to do, things to organise. Sirius would take care of the invites, The Weasley's, Hermione, Remus of course and maybe Albus if he could find the time were all invited. Minerva grinned as she thought of her love. If it had not been for her cubs she would never have plucked up the courage to let him into her heart, and now here they were, lovers in every sense of the word.

She giggled a little, before blushing and immediately chastising herself at the completely out of character little display. She loved that man so much that it hurt sometimes. She wondered if they could ever be more than just lovers, if he would build a life with her and Harry. He seemed happy with Harry, he had always been close to the boy, but she wasn't sure whether he wanted that, whether he wanted a family. She knew part of his reluctance was due to the danger they all faced every day and in her heart of hearts she could tell it was only going to get worse. She looked down at her son again, sorrow filling her heart at how much this boy had been through, and how much Albus seemed to think he needed to go through.

Harry shifted and rubbed his chest over his scar and she realised her feelings were getting the better of her. She was here, with him and he was safe. There was nothing to worry about and indeed there was more things to celebrate and look forward to than to dread. Stifling a yawn she leant her cheek against his head, whispering to the empty room.

"Dionaidh mi seo, gu bràth ma mo cridhe [this I'll defend, forever in my heart]" she smiled as her eyes drooped, she was where she wanted to be.

"Màthair?" Minerva shifted in her sleep frowning as something poked her side. "Màthair you need to wake up." She grumbled and turned over in her sleep, eager to get away from the voice. "Màthair Albus is here."

That got her attention and Harry smiled as she shot up out of bed.

"What, where is he?" Harry laughed as she immediately transfigured her pyjamas back into her robes.

"I was joking Màthair, sorry." Harry said sheepishly, but with a tiny grin.

"Why you little." She said with a smile, jumping on the bed and tickling him mercilessly until he called a stop.

"hahaha, I can't, hehehe, okay I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He cried, falling back on the bed with a giggle. "I only wanted you to wake up, it's nearly lunch time." He said still wiping the tears from his eyes after his laughing fit.

"You little rogue." She said, ruffling his hair. Turning serious for a moment she knelt in front of him, noticing that for once, her knees seemed unaffected by the motion. "Are you alright now?" she asked genuinely.

He nodded and hugged her, kissing her cheek as he pulled away. She beamed knowing that ever kiss she got was a rare gift.

"Well, we'd best go and see to lunch, lest your godfather eat everything in the house." She said crisply, but with a wink, taking his offered hand and letting him pull her up, fully expecting a stab of pain from her knees, hips or back. Stretching a little, she realised that nothing was forthcoming and smiled rightly at her son, who was looking at her oddly. "Let's go."

They entered the dining room to find Sirius in a heated argument with Taran.

"Minerva tells this overgrown dishcloth that I can come to the kitchens and get something to eat whenever I like." Sirius said, glowering at the head elf. Taran rolled his eyes and turned to his mistress.

"Mistress, I found him with all the chicken for the week, all of it." He said opening his arms in a gesture of frustration.

"Gentlemen, if you don't mind." She said one hand on her hip. Harry smirked at his godfather, who looked a little paler at her tone. The Professor McGonagall persona was standing with them in the dining room. "Sirius, you will please have some respect for my house elves and Taran," she fixed her stare at the little elf, who glared back defiantly. "we have discussed this, Sirius is more than welcome anywhere he would like," she turned to Sirius, looking at him curiously, "although I am curious as to why you would need a whole week's worth of chicken Mr Black."

Harry saw Sirius grin a little before schooling his features.

"Um, well, Buckbeak was hungry." He said in a small voice.

Harry couldn't bite back the giggle he had and Minerva stared at him sternly before biting her cheek in order to stem her giggle as well, pretty soon they were all laughing outrageously, leaving Taran to shake his head and mumble something about Wizards and Witches and how he would never understand them.

"Seriously Sirius, I know Buckbeak is like family, but if you'd have told me, I would have had something else for him." Minerva said wiping a tear from her eye.

"I thought you were going to turn into a flobberworm," Harry giggled at his godfather, who glared at Harry.

"Alright you two, sit and eat something before I have to ground you both." That set them off again into more giggles and they joked and laughed their way through lunch.

"How about after lunch we get the brooms out?" Minerva said cheerfully as she watched Sirius and Harry tease each other across the table. Harry turned to her and smiled a full smile, warming her heart and Sirius nodded enthusiastically.

"Right." She said with a wink.

"You're coming too?" Sirius said incredulously. Minerva winked at Harry.

"Oh I think I could hold my own." She said mysteriously as Harry struggled to hold a giggle. Obviously, Sirius had never seen her fly.

"Can we fly around the boundary?" Harry asked, "I still haven't seen it." Minerva smiled and squeezed his hand.

"Whatever you want leòmhann beag [little lion]" she said with a wink.

Pretty soon they were standing in the courtyard all clutching brooms, Harry on his Firebolt and Minerva and Sirius on two from Minerva's rather neglected cupboard. They all set off, smiling as wind blew through their hair. Sirius challenged them to a race, which Minerva won, sending Sirius into a state of shock as Harry explained that Minerva was in actual fact, an outstanding Quidditch player.

"Well, you learn something every day." He said sulkily as they flew to the edge of Minerva's wards.

"Oh Sirius, you should never count out an old lady, we're full of surprises." She said with a wink at Harry who shook his head.

"You're not old Màthair," he said genuinely, but she merely smiled at him and indicated to them that they were coming up to the boundary.

As they flew towards it, Harry felt the scar on his chest pulse with magic and he looked at Minerva, who also felt it.

"You never did tell me why the same design is on the gates." He said as they flew, smiling as Buckbeak joined them.

"Ah, yes, well, Merlin, as you know was the first Wizard. The shield knot is a specific spell, originally created by weaving together dried pieces of flesh." Her eyes twinkled as Harry looked at her shocked.

"People's flesh?" he said, not sure whether she was having him on or not.

"Truthfully." She nodded "We all know Merlin was an amazing Wizard, but no-one ever said he was a saint." She said gently, knowing that not many people knew that Merlin was in fact a rather fierce man.

"Oh." Harry said looking down at his perfect broomstick.

"Originally it is said to literally be a shield for shields, but soon it was, let's say, adjusted, to help shield people from evil, or sickness, or bad luck. It's popular for muggle tattoo's I believe." She said absently, breathing deeply as a fresh summer breeze seemed to caress them as they flew on.

"So it's here to protect us?" Harry said, chewing his lip. Minerva shrugged.

"I honestly don't know mo mhac [my son]." She looked at him as he struggled with something. Placing her hand over her heart, she sent him all the love she felt for him, coupled with a tiny bit of reassurance. He smiled at her.

"Do you think if I was in danger you'd apparate to me?" he said quietly, Minerva leaning over to him to catch his words. She pondered for a moment.

"I honestly don't know my love." She ruffled his hair, "Don't give me a reason to find out." She said slightly reprovingly. He giggled.

"Yeah right, trouble seems to find me no matter where I go." Sirius flew closer as Buckbeak went off to hunt a few grouse that had taken flight as they flew over the heather.

"Ain't that the truth." He said nudging Harry, "Just like his father." He laughed as Minerva rolled her eyes.

Minerva guided them over to a grassy knoll where she had instructed Taran to set up a picnic. Clearly her head house elf was still smarting from the argument earlier because Kenna was standing waiting for them.

"Mistress I have everything you wanted, except," she toed the ground in embarrassment, "Taran said to tell you that there is no chicken." She leaned into her mistress, away from Sirius, "he said to tell you that if you didn't like it then you could take it up with Mr Black, but I don't really want to tell you." She said, before clamping a hand over her mouth, he eyes filling up with tears as she realised she'd done just that. "Oh, Mistress I is so sorry." She cried as she flung herself onto the floor, much to Minerva's amusement.

"Kenna get up please, it's fine. Taran is Taran and we would not change him for the world would we?" she said gently, patting the small house elf on the head as she shook his head. "You have both, once again, done exceptionally lovely work, and you can tell Taran that although we have all had this discussion, I shall indeed endeavour to remind Master Sirius about it." She said raising an eyebrow at Sirius, who was doing his best to look innocent. Kenna nodded gratefully and disappeared with a pop, leaving the humans to their picnic.

"Yum." Harry said as he grabbed a pastry. He hadn't eaten much this morning and he was starving.

"Slow down Harry, you'll end up swallowing your hand if you go any faster." Sirius said laughing as Harry turned red in embarrassment.

"Sirius Black, the way you used to eat would put an Weasley brother to shame." Minerva said with a wink to Harry. She was just please he was eating. After watching him all year at school, and taking not of how much he ate normally, she knew that he always ate a little less than he could, or probably should. She shook her head secretly at Sirius, who had the grace to look sheepish before tucking in as well.

After they'd eaten Sirius declared that if he tried to get on a broom now, it wouldn't take off with him on it, making the other two laugh, but neither were in any position to argue. The food had been divine.

"Can we try something?" Harry asked as they sat silently in the lush grass. Minerva nodded with a smile. Harry ushered them closer to him before lying on the grass, looking up at the sky. "Lit down with me and look for shapes in the clouds." He said with a shy smile. "I've always wanted to try this, but I never had anyone to do it with." He said quietly, making Minerva' heart clench.

"Of course mo gradh [my love]" she said lying on the grass with him, fixing Sirius with a pointed stare as he sat there, looking on in confusion. "What do we do mo mhac?" she asked at the looked up at the sky.

"Well, we lie here and look for shapes in the clouds. Like that one there, looks like a rabbit." He said pointing to a rather convincing looking rabbit in the sky.

"Good gracious me, you are correct." Minerva said frowning, paying closer attention to the clouds now she knew that the shapes were there.

"That one there looks like a Hinkypunk," Sirius piped up, earning him a grateful smile from Minerva.

"I don't see it." Harry said trying to work out which cloud looked like a magical creature he'd only seen three times in his life.

"I see a teddy bear." Minerva said softly pointing above their heads. Harry laughed and looked at her and she took his hand, squeezing it gently as their love washed over each other.

They watched the clouds for hours until Minerva noticed that the sun was setting in the sky.

"Goodness gracious, home time gentlemen." She said groaning a little as her bones clicked back into place as Harry helped her up off the floor.

"I don't really feel like flying again." Harry said softly, not meeting her eyes. How ridiculous that the youngest seeker in a century didn't want to fly. Minerva laughed and ran her hand through his hair.

"Me neither." She said with a wink. "Taran?" she called nodding to the head house elf as he appeared before her. "Could you please take us back to the house?" Taran glared at Sirius, but offered his hand anyway, whisking them all back to the manor, where dinner was already waiting on the table.

"Harry, I hope you don't mind, but we've organised a party for your birthday." Minerva said a little bashfully. Having neglected Harry, even unintentionally, she hadn't had a chance to talk to him about it, and they had sent the invitations out this morning, knowing that they invitees would need time to reply.

"Really?" Harry whispered. Minerva frowned, but nodded. Sirius and Minerva shared a look, Harry didn't want a birthday party.

"Is that alright mate?" Sirius said, trying to gauge his godson's reaction. Harry looked at his plate for moment before taking a deep breath and smiling at them with so much excitement in his eyes she thought he might explode.

"It's better than alright." Harry said, unable to contain the glee in his voice. "What are we doing? Where are we having it? Do I get presents? Will there be cake?" Minerva laughed loudly as she watched Harry's excitement skyrocket and his speech speed up that they were having trouble working out what he was saying.

"Whoa there pup." Sirius said with a calming hand on Harry's arm. "One thing at a time. We're just having a get together, here, with the people closest to you, that are allowed, or know about you and Minerva. There will definitely be presents, and definitely be cake, although I believe your," Sirius paused and looked at Minerva, who held his gaze for a moment, "well, Minerva is handling the cake." He said with an awkward shrug. Harry hadn't noticed his godfather's flinch, but Minerva sighed.

"Who's coming?" Harry asked excitedly.

"Well, we thought we'd invite all the Weasley's," Minerva said, smiling at Harry's happiness. It was so big it was making her scar pulse a gently heat engulfing her chest. "And Hermione of course, and then we thought we'd invite Remus if he is available. And Albus said that if he can get away he will come too."

"Although I think he's coming to see Minerva." Sirius whispered loudly, eliciting a giggle from Harry and receiving a napkin in the face for his cheekiness.

"We thought afterwards, Hermione and Ron could stay if you would like? After being with them all year it's odd to not see them in a week." Harry nodded his acceptance of the offer and hugged his godfather and his mother.

"Thank you." He whispered in both their ears, Minerva's hug lasting a little longer and being just a little tighter.

"You're welcome Harry." They both said, loving the honest and heartfelt smile on his face.

"Now, how you and I play a couple of rounds of exploding snap before Minerva sends you to bed." Sirius said, ushering Harry into the sitting room before Minerva could protest.

Minerva stayed at the table, listening to Harry's laugh after every explosion. She shook her head at the feeling of overwhelming love she now had for the boy and the more they lived this connection, the deeper it seemed to get. They had a long way to go, surely, but she smiled as she thought of the precious time they had spent together today. Even Sirius had smiled as they made pictures in the clouds.

"You're getting soft Minerva McGonagall." She said quietly as she sipped the remaining wine in her goblet and once again she pondered whether this was such a bad thing. She grinned evilly as she thought of Sirius and that cunning little look he had on his face that morning when she questioned the chickens. She knew it was only a matter of time before the pranks started, especially with the Weasley twins coming to the manor. She only prayed it would not get too out of hand, but it didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun. She giggled maniacally as Harry walked back in, giving her a funny look.

"It's alright prìseil [precious], I was just thinking of something funny." She said as he leant against her side.

"Can, can you come and lie with me for a while?" he asked awkwardly. Minerva tapped him on the nose.

"Of course I can mo mhac [my son], I'd love to." She let him pull her up and followed him to his bedroom, lying on his bed while he changed on the bedroom, letting him snuggle into her embrace when he got in.

"I love you Màthair." He whispered in between a yawn. She smiled down at his sleepy face and traced a finger over the scar on his forehead, kissing it lightly as he yawned.

"Tha gaol agam ort-fhèin leanabh [I love you too baby]" she whispered as his breathing evened out and he fell asleep. She kissed his hair and extracted her arms from his embrace, pulling the sheets up around him, smoothing the little frown he was wearing as she moved away. "oidhche mhath [good night]."

She closed the door behind her, sighing as she pressed a hand over her newly formed scar. It would be complicated, but it was worth it. And now she had presents to wrap, and a birthday cake to work out. The party was only the day after tomorrow and there was so much to do. Calling goodnight to Sirius, she retired to her room to plan everything, including a few surprises of her own.