Chapter 8: Surprise! Surprise!

The New Year started off well. Minerva and Rolanda had treated themselves to a day in Hogsmead; they had Poppy come along with them.

"Let's go look at robes, I have outgrown mine and I need more." Minerva said as they entered the shop.

"Hippogriff..." Rolanda said under her breath.

"Hey I heard that," Minerva said. "You are talking about yourself, right Ro." Minerva said with a laugh.

"If you ask me, I think both of you are Hippogriffs." Poppy said with a laugh.

"SHUT UP!!!" Both Minerva and Rolanda said in unison making Poppy laugh even more. Poppy wished she could be Hippogriff with them. Minerva was due sometime on March, and Rolanda was due at the end of June. Just the thought of babies made Poppy want her own child. Alastor works for the Ministry of Magic and he's an Auror, so he's not home often. Even though Poppy kept this to herself, Minerva knew how much her best friend really wanted a child of her own.

All three witches enter the robe shop. Minerva went straight for the emerald green robes. Before they even walked into the store, Poppy and Rolanda knew that Minerva was going to get emerald green robes.

"Min, you are so predictable when it comes to choosing a color." Poppy said with a chuckle. "Ro, you are just so unpredictable." Poppy said rolling her eyes at Rolanda. As they got their robes and walked out of the shop; Poppy and Rolanda noticed that Minerva was starring off into space. When they looked across the street they found out why. Harry and Athena were walking out of the coffee shop holding hands.

"Min, she looks just like you." Poppy said. Minerva looked up at her best friend and smiled. When she looked back over towards Athena and Harry, she noticed that there was a diamond necklace around Athena's neck. Poppy noticed the necklace too. "He's so good to her. I hope they end up getting married." Poppy said.

"I hope so too, he reminds me of Albus when we were younger and dating." Minerva said reminiscing.

"That's good." Poppy said.

"I thought he had a thing for that Weasley girl." Rolanda asked.

"Aquarius wouldn't be happy about that." Poppy said with a chuckle.

"No he wouldn't." Minerva said with a laugh.

Albus and Severus were running down the street to catch up with the three witches. By the time they did catch up with Minerva, Rolanda, and Poppy they were out of breath.

"Damn you three walk really fast." Severus said to Minerva, Rolanda, and Poppy. "Min, Ro, I'm shocked you two can walk at all, you look like Hippogriffs." Severus commented. Both witches glared at Severus. Poppy chuckled at the thought of what Minerva and Rolanda might do to him for saying that.

"Severus If I were you, I would shut up and do whatever they tell you to." Poppy said with a laugh. When Poppy looked up she saw someone else coming towards them. She realized that the person walking towards them was her Alastor. She then ran straight to him and squeezed him in a tight hug.

"You're back!!!...It's you...It's you...It's you!!!" Poppy said as she hugged her lover even tighter. The Ministry of Magic rarely lets Alastor go and visit his wife; she is at Hogwarts most of the time. "The Ministry finally let you have a break?" Poppy asked.

"No not exactly...I resigned from the Ministry of Magic." Alastor said with a smile knowing his wife would be shocked about his decision.

"You didn't really quit, did you? I mean you love being an Auror, Alastor." Poppy said starting to get worried.

"No sweetheart, I didn't resign for just any reason. My friend Albus Dumbledore over here offered me the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Now I can be with you all of the time." Alastor said thanking his best friend as he hugged his wife again. Poppy looked up at Alastor with excitement in her eyes.

"Oh my god....I can't believe it...Alastor, do you have any idea how happy you just made me?" Poppy said. Poppy and Alastor were about to walk off to the coffee shop to go make up for lost time.

"I will see you two later." Poppy said to Minerva and Rolanda before Alastor pulled her away. "Thank you Albus!" Poppy said as she and Alastor walked to the coffee shop.

"Well, she's now!" Rolanda said cheerfully breaking the silence.

"And you too are going to be very happy." Severus said as he put an arm over his lover's shoulder. He also gave her a pretty diamond necklace to add to her collection of jewelry; which was the engagement ring he gave her last year. Not to mention he also bought her a box of the finest chocolates he could find. Severus looked up at Minerva with a smile to let her know that he took her advice. It was very rare for Severus Snape to give anyone a genuine smile.

"Sevy, you're so sweet!" Rolanda said cheerfully as she kissed Severus.

"And that's not all, we are going out for dinner tonight," Severus said. "We have to start walking though; the reservation time is thirty minutes from now." Severus explained as he looked at his watch.

"What has gotten into him? It's not like Severus to be nice and kind towards others." Albus said commenting Severus' new personality. This earned him a smack from his wife.

"Albus, that was totally uncalled for!" Minerva said giving him one of those looks: the look that she gives her students when they say or do something bad. Albus recognizes the look and decides to play along.

"Sorry Professor McGonagall. What I said was uncalled for and I do need to be punished." Albus said with a mischievous smirk pretending to be one of Minerva's students. This made Minerva laugh.

"Mr. Dumbledore, you will serve you detention by accompanying me in the gardens this evening." Minerva said with a smirk playing along with her husband.

"Alright..." Albus replied as frowned and pretended to sulk. This made Minerva laugh even more.

"Mr. Dumbledore, am I really that bad of a teacher?" Minerva asked with a chuckle.

"No," Albus replied. "You are the best teacher and mother I have ever known." Albus said as he hugged his wife and rubbed her huge belly. This reminded Minerva of why they were going back to the school. The gardens were very peaceful.

"Albus is it okay if we picnic in the gardens," Minerva asked as she looked up at the sunset. "The weather and sunset are beautiful, and I wanted to discuss baby names with you." Minerva said dreamily while looking at the sunset.

"Sure, I would love to." Albus replied.

The two made their way to the school. Once they got to the school; Albus went into the Great Hall to get the food for the picnic. Minerva went to their quarter and got a blanket. By the time Albus was finished putting all of the food in the basket, Minerva was already waiting for him at the entrance of the Great Hall.