disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 7: The Pieces are Picked Up and Put Together

A family that used to be the life of the party was now just trying to get to the next day. Minerva was no longer the loving mother; she was a shell of a woman. All she did was lie in bed and stare at the wall. Albus too was a shell of himself. He was no longer the happily eccentric dad and headmaster, but a depressed drunk. He sat in front of his wife day in and day out drinking fire whisky and staring at her. Albus and Minerva were wasting away while their daughter and son did everything they could to keep the family going.

Correna did the cooking and went to the hospital everyday to see the little baby girl. She had named the twins Samuel and Tabitha after her mother's grandparents. Jonathan did the house work and took care of the animals. Uncle Aberforth and Aunt Mia came over everyday to help; Aberforth would play with the kids and take Corri to the hospital everyday. He also brought her home. Mia took care of the parents and made the excuses for why Correna couldn't come and see them.

Correna was the only one besides Mia Albus would let in to see his wife. The child came in everyday as soon as she got home from the hospital and slept with her mother. It may have been the only time Minerva gave even a hint of a smile. And so the days passed turning into weeks and months. The family that once was always there with an answer was now gone. The only thing that smiled in the home was Correna.

"Good morning Johnny!" Correna happily greeted as her brother sleepily made his way into the kitchen. He mumbled a greeting and set himself down at the table. "Sleep well?" she asked placing a plate of bacon and eggs in front of him. "Yeah, pretty good. What are we doing today?" he asked and starting eating. "Today's Christmas eve John. I want you to make sure you have everything ready for the morning and don't forget to go to bed on time," she said setting plates for the other children.

"Okay. What time are you coming home?" he asked watching her work. "I'm not sure, you know that," she said shaking her head, "but we will have Christmas in the morning." "Even if they don't come?" he asked staring through the hall to their parents' room. "Even with out them," she nodded. The two stayed silent for a few minutes till Aberforth and Mia came in the kitchen door.

"Good morning kids! You ready to go Cor?" Aberforth asked the five-year old. "Yes sir," she nodded, "I just finished breakfast." The elder wizard nodded as he took the child in his arms and they apparated to the hospital. He walked with her to the nursery and then left her with the nurses.

The nurses were so used to the young Dumbledore that they all nodded a greeting as she made her way to her sister's crib. Correna sat herself down in front of the crib and looked at the baby. Tabitha looked loads better now. She way almost seven pounds and was no longer fighting for her life. In all pretenses she looked like a perfectly healthy child, but was she?

Correna took little Tabitha's hand in hers and began singing, "You are my world my darling. What a wonderful world I see. You are my hope for always, you're my beautiful Melody." "I thought her name was Tabitha," a man in green robes with a cross on the front laughed. "It is Doctor Arbor, but her middle name is Melody," Correna said turning around to look at the man. He was tall with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

"Oh I see," he smiled as the baby grabbed his finger, "She's a cute kid." "She is," Correna agreed, "But Doctor when can she come home?" "Ah well that's 

what I was coming over here for," he grinned kneeling in front of the girl, "How would you like to have her home tomorrow?" "Really!?" she asked scarcely believing him. "Really," he nodded, "Tabitha is miraculously healthy and can go home with you today." The child launched herself into the wizard's arm exclaiming, "Thank you, thank you! Oh thank you so much!"

"I had nothing to do with it," he laughed pulling her back, "It was you Correna. You helped her pull through. You are a very special little girl." "Thanks," Correna blushed and went back to singing to her sister till Aberforth came back to collect them.

Christmas morning rolled around with lots of smiles and cheers. For everyone that is, except Minerva and Albus. They were still in their room not wanting to come out.

But today, Mia was not letting them sulk. She briskly walked into the bedroom and pulled threw the curtains opened letting in the morning sun. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Albus hissed from his chair, he had a terrible hangover. "I'm letting the sun in. You two have been like this for too long! You don't even spend time with your children! It's Christmas for Merlin's sake," she snapped.

"Can't you just leave us alone?" Minerva sniffed from under the covers. "No I won't. You will not desert your children on Christmas! Now…they're coming in here in five minutes so I suggest you two at least put on a face for them. They've been taking care of this house for two months now, and they're only babies! A five year-old and four three-year-olds should not be in charge of a baby and a house!" Mia screamed.

Minerva and Albus guiltily looked up at Mia. They knew she was right, but they just felt lost knowing that one of their children was probably dead. "Just please," Mia sighed, "Just please let them see you for five minutes. It is Christmas you know." The couple agreed and sat on the bed as Aberforth walked in with 

Samuel. He laid the baby in Albus' arms as four toddlers crawled onto the end of the bed. "Where's Correna?" Minerva asked looking at Aberforth,

"She's coming," he grinned, "It's just hard for her to walk with your Christmas present." "Why didn't you help her," Albus asked? "She was determined to do it on her own," Aberforth shrugged as Correna came in the room. She was walking very slow with a green blanketed bundle in her arms. When she reached the bed Aberforth lifted her and placed her in the middle of Albus and Minerva.

"Happy Christmas mummy," Correna greeted and removed some of the blanket to reveal a green-eyed baby with a tuft of auburn hair. Minerva's heart jumped to her throat as the little bundle was passed to her. She couldn't believe it, her baby was in her arms and alive!

"B-but I…" words alluded Albus as he stared at the baby in Minerva's arms. "The doctor told me last night…Tabitha is perfectly healthy and shouldn't have any lasting health problems. He said you should thank Correna," Aberforth explained, "the child has been down at the hospital everyday for two months singing to the baby. The doctors think it had something to do with her voice and presence.

"Thank you baby," Minerva choked, tears in her eyes, "Thank you so much!" "I love you mummy," Correna smiled wiping away the woman's tears as the family met in a group hug. They were back together and happy for however long it lasted.

a/n: this is sad and if you don't like it tough. Review please!!