Chapter 10: The Proposal
"Katherine that lemon meringue pie was divine," Albus sighed pushing his plate away.
"Thank you Albus…but I confess that Minerva's the one that made it," Katherine grinned taking his plate.
Albus turned his eyes to Minerva smiling.
Minerva blushed stating, "I made it this morning before work…I just thought I'd try it."
"Well it was excellent you must have your mother's talent," Albus smiled brightly. Minerva blushed again as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Well I'm going up…Katherine?" Stewart asked with a glint in his eyes.
The cat eyed women smiled a charming smile as she nodded and disappeared through the door to the kitchen.
"Oh, oh Uncle Stewart can I go up too?" Ariana asked. The twelve year-old looked at the man with pleading large blue eyes and blonde braids.
"Would you care too?" Stewart asked with a grin. The girl nodded.
"Then I guess…you're coming with me!" Stewart laughed as he picked up the light weight girl and spun around with her in his arm. Ariana squealed and held out her arms like she was flying.
"You lot can entertain yourselves I'm sure," Stewart nodded heading out.
"Well I can guess what they won't be doing with the munchkin trailing after them," David laughed.
"Get you mind out of the gutter they're going upstairs to dance," Minerva huffed.
"Not the horizontal tango though," Aberforth laughed nudging his friend.
"Oh honestly," Isabel scoffed.
"Have any of you noticed mum getting a bit…sluggish lately?" Fergus asked.
"I have. She was taking a nap yesterday when I came home from work!" Kiara exclaimed, "She never takes naps."
"She dropped her least favorite Ming vase Tuesday and had a crying fit over it," Isabel added.
"Uncle Stewart got up really early this morning and was pulling weeds in the back yard like there was no tomorrow," fourteen year-old Daniel added.
"Mum crying, clumsy, and lethargic plus dad's gardening violently…" Fergus stopped and his head snapped up to look at Isabel.
"Surely not Fergus," Isabel shook her head.
"She is still in the age bracket," Fergus said nervously.
"What!? What is it?" Minerva and the others shouted.
"Mum might be pregnant," Fergus sighed.
"Isn't she too old?" Aberforth asked.
Isabel snorted and Kiara smiled.
"Well for a muggle yes but she's a very powerful pureblood witch. On the power scale alone she could still have them," Fergus explained.
"In any event if they do they'll kick some of us out," Isabel stated.
"No they won't. I was nine when Min was born and you were thirteen. They could have married you off and kicked you out but didn't. Plus…you're thirty-two! You really should get out," Fergus stated.
"You're twenty-seven and married you get out," Isabel snapped.
"Now wait a minute," Aberforth whistled, "There's no proof she is pregnant so…"
Just then they heard a loud voice exclaim, "WAHOOO!!!! WAAAHHHOOO!!"
A herded and pounding sound was heard as Stewart came back flipping into the kitchen with a mile wide grin.
"I'm going to be a daddy!" he shouted happily.
"You're already one," Fergus teased his father.
"Yes but you all are grown. Now I have another little one," the man stated before doing another back flip.
"Hard to believe he's fifty-seven isn't it?" Katherine laughed coming into the kitchen holding Ariana. Though the girl was twelve she was small and light weight for her age.
The others laughed before Stewart stopped his acrobatics and snatched the girl from the woman's arms.
"From this moment on you will not carry anything or do anything extraneous," Stewart stated.
"Oh don't be silly Stewart. I'm a perfectly healthy witch. I'm probably healthier than witches half my age," Katherine stated crossing her arms.
"I don't care. You aren't eighteen anymore so I want you to take it easy," Stewart said placing Ariana back on the floor. The girl looked up at him and ran back to Katherine.
"Girls if any of you marry a man like your father I want you to remember this. When ever a McGonagall wife is pregnant the man is never sane," Katherine stated looking at her daughters. Minerva and Isabel nodded.
"Forgetting the question of my sanity we must celebrate this!" Stewart stated calling attention back to himself, "Everyone take Saturday off…NO exceptions. We will pack a picnic and head to the river for a day in the sun."
They all nodded as Stewart brought some elfin wine to toast with.
Later that week on Saturday the family had gathered outside of the home.
"Father why are we taking a car?" Minerva asked staring at the muggle contraption in front of the house.
"Well your mother has learned to drive and I bought it for her in honor of the baby and I thought this would be a good time to try it out," Stewart explained.
"Why did you learn to drive? And who the bloody hell taught you?" Fergus asked his mother.
"Michael Abbott. You remember his son went to school with you. The boy was in Hufflepuff I think. Well he taught me. It's really quite fun," Katherine grinned.
"Looks like a metal death trap to me," Isabel snorted.
"Either way we're all getting in. So hurry up," Stewart stated as he went to crank the car.
Thirty minutes later they had reached their destination of Salazar's River.
Everyone climbed out of the car and found a lovely spot under a large willow. They set out the blankets and after a few minutes Daniel, Ariana, Albus, Aberforth, and David went for a swim leaving Katherine, Stewart, Isabel, Kiara, Minerva, and Fergus watching them.
"You know Albus is very much in love with you," Katherine stated staring down at her daughter. Minerva had her head in the woman's lap as Katherine ran her fingers through the long black hair.
"I am with him too," Minerva nodded.
"Really? Tell me my dearest child when you close your eyes what do you see in your future?" Katherine stated as she discreetly performed and old spell to allow her child insight into the future as she placed a hand to the girl's forehead.
Katherine knew that if the child saw it clear enough then it was her destiny; it was a spell rarely used by seers anymore because people abused the gift by changing the parts that displeased them which only made what they saw less clear in their dreams.
Minerva closed her eyes and at once a vibrant scene appeared before her.
A large yard with a dog and three cats was before her. Six children of varying ages from fifteen to three were running around tossing a flat disk to each other laughing happily. About four others were there as well but they were more blurry…however one did resemble Daniel Potter. They all stopped for a few minutes and waved at her before going back to their game.
"They're perfect Minerva," Stewart's old voice smiled.
She turned and saw her parents looking several years older but still there and smiling. Katherine was on her husband's lap.
Two strong arms wrapped around her and she realized her belly was heavy with child. She turned in the arms and saw Albus with flowing white hair and beard and a strange twinkle in his eyes.
He smiled and kissed her head saying, "Happy Anniversary my love."
Everything then went black.
Minerva's eyes snapped open and she saw her mother's cat eyes penetrating her.
"What was clear?" Katherine asked softly.
"Albus, you and father….six children at the very least," Minerva stated realize that the look her mother was giving her was one when she had done something to her child.
"Do you desire it?" Katherine asked.
"More than anything…but I could feel I was older and Albus' hair was white. Perhaps it means we are not going to be married for awhile," Minerva sighed sadly.
"Or perhaps you are not meant to have children early in life," Katherine suggested as she looked up and smiled.
Minerva turned to see what she had smiled at and smiled herself seeing Albus walking up to them. With his three week old beard, wet hair, and lean stomach he looked very delicious to the young ebony haired beauty.
"Katherine might I steal your lovely daughter for a swim?" Albus asked smiling.
"Of course darling," Katherine smiled with a wink Minerva never saw as she stood.
Stewart and Katherine watched as Albus and Minerva walked a few feet away before heading into the water and swimming off.
"Well I think I know what that swim will be about," Stewart laughed pulling Katherine into his lap.
"I'm sure you do," she smiled kissing his nose and then leaning to his ear.
Thirty-two years of marriage, three children, another pregnancy; and still he was turned on by his wife. Her hot sweet breathe on his ear and the smell of mint and cinnamon that was hers and hers alone.
"Its twins," Katherine whispered in a seductive voice.
Stewart's eyes widened and when she pulled back to look at him he devoured her lips in a hungry passionate kiss.
Minerva and Albus swam till they were far from everyone's sight and he helped her climb a large boulder so they sat basking in the sun.
"Minerva…what do you see in your future?" Albus asked.
"I'm hoping you," Minerva answered looking in his eyes.
"Do you know what's in that room we're not allowed in?" Albus asked.
"No…we never tried getting in. Mother is not a witch to make angry," Minerva stated.
"Well I saw in it. Your parents took me in and there was a mirror in the room," Albus stated.
"A mirror?" Minerva asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes…a mirror to show your desires. Your purest desire," Albus stated.
"What'd you see?" Minerva asked with curiosity.
"I saw you pregnant with our little one," Albus said as he tucked a black lock behind her ear.
"Really?" she breathed.
"Minerva you're my world…my goddess in human form. Marry me?" he asked softly as a red velvet box materialized in his hand. He opened it and she gasped at the ring.
"Th-that's my grandmother's!" Minerva gasped.
"Your parents told me I was to propose with this. They said they believed we were soul mates and the ring would have an inscription that would describe us," Albus stated, "So will you?"
"For ever and eternity," Minerva nodded as she leaned in for a kiss.
When they broke apart she took the ring out of the box and looked on the inside.
"What's it say?" Albus asked curiously.
"Forever in the Stars the Phoenix and Tabby," Minerva read.
"I like it…who knew the ring would know our animagus forms," Albus grinned as a certain brilliant twinkle appeared in his eyes.
"It's magic," Minerva grinned placing the ring on her finger and admiring it thinking the twinkle was what she had seen in her dream.
"It suits you," he stated pulling her between his legs and kissing her neck.
"It should. It's been in my family for years," Minerva laughed.
Albus chuckled and trailed more kisses along her collar and neck holding her close.