"Children! Stay close to me please!"
"But mother…"
"No! These streets are far too busy for you to be gallivanting about, now stick close. That's it. Straight line. Take my hand, Susan," she said, calling out orders.
"Mother can I have a broom?" pleaded an innocent pair of green eyes.
"No, Susan, you are far too young. Five year olds have no place around broomsticks," she sighed looking at the fine new models in the window.
Oh, to fly one of those again.
Who was winning in quidditch this year?
Oh… that's right… with all the diplomatic problems, the quidditch tourney had been cancelled this year. Too much political unrest.
"What are we doing here anyway mother?"
"Well, I couldn't very well leave all of you at home while I went out on my errands now could I?"
"My feet are tired!"
"Your feet are always tired, Nate,"
"Are not!"
"I have to go potty,"
"Oh, not again!"
"We've been twice already!"
"Now all of you hush so I can think a bit," she looked up from her daily list of things to do, "Ah good! Now I need some things for potions and we are going into this shop," she said turning around and speaking very clearly and carefully, "You will all be very well behaved won't you now? Don't touch anything, please. Especially you Elizabeth, which reminds me, we really must make a visit to Poppy today to make sure those warts are healing properly."
"Aunt Poppy?" They said with excitement in their voices all except poor Elizabeth who was examining small odd green welts on her hands with a remorseful look on her face.
"If you are all very good,"
--------------------------
"Why good afternoon, Mr. Pipfin,"
"'Tis a pleasure seein' you 'saways Ms. McGonagall. These your children again?"
She didn't meet his gaze but blushed a bright pink hue, "Yes sir. I am so sorry for the trouble they made last time, but you see…"
"Trouble? 'Twas no trouble at all! In fact," he said with a twinkle in his eye looking at the girl who's hands were clasped tight behind her back but whose eyes were obviously attracted elsewhere, "I think 'twas more trouble on her 'half than mine!"
She smiled, "You are much too kind. Can you please get me the things on this list?"
"All 'cept the Transylvanian Bat wing. Ran out of that last week,"
"Really?"
"Yes… the vampires were protesting again,"
"Were they?"
"Something about too much light in their living quarters,"
"Oh, is that so?"
"Didn't you hear about that?"
"No… we don't get the Prophet delivered,"
"You don't?"
"My husband reads the muggle papers,"
"Your husband,"
"And who would that be, now?"
She smiled mischievously "Ah! Wouldn't you like to know!"
"Oh! You are too good for me… I thought for sure I had you that time."
"Why is everyone so intent on knowing the deepest corners of my personal life?"
"Perhaps it is because it's so… sketchy. Oh come now my dear Minerva, walking the streets with five such well-behaved children," he said looking over her shoulder and giving the eye to young Elizabeth whose hands were itching to wander, "Does make one wonder,"
The mother looked back and also gave her the don't-you-dare-touch-anything-at-the-pain-of-a-good-spanking look. Completely unaware of what the adults were discussing but receiving their mother's harsh glare, the children placed all of their hands firmly behind their backs and returned a look that said "thank you, but no. I'd rather not have a 'good' spanking, whatever that is, much less a bad one."
She turned back to him and continuing the conversation said, "I'm sure it does… well, someday maybe, but it is too troublesome now,"
"What? The gossip that flies around? The stares? The glares? Keeping the mystery of the secret identity of your spouse?"
"Oh sir, you are too evil,"
"Well, we Ravenclaws can be a tricky folk,"
"Indeed,"
"Nine sickles and a Knut,"
"There you are. Any chance on getting in the bat wing anytime soon?"
"Wouldn't count on it. Could fetch you some Egyptian Bat Wing, works almost as well. Similar magical compounds, you know."
"Yes… but I need something from the north…"
"English?"
"No, won't do… I'll be back in a few weeks…"
"Ya! So good seein' you again Ms. McGonagall,"
She gave him a stiff smile, "Good bye!"
He chuckled and waved to the children as they left.
----------------------------------------------------
"Hello, Poppy!"
"Minerva dear! And the Children!"
"Aunt Poppy!"
She suddenly had five bright-eyed youngsters hanging from her arms and legs. No, that was an exaggeration. The Dumbledore children were not so devious. But it was true that they hugged on to her so tight that it made it very difficult to walk.
"Alright everyone! Sweets in the kitchen!"
"Yay!"
And they all crowded out into the kitchen except for the two women who stood embraced at the door.
"Really Poppy, you're going to spoil them!"
"Not if you have anything to do with it," her friend laughed.
"And how are you fairing?"
"I'm doing much better, thank you, after that bad spell last week, much better."
"Good, I'm glad to hear of it,"
"Children driving you crazy?"
"No,… yes… what can you expect?"
"I suppose. Alright, everyone out so I can make your mother some tea!"
The children filed out each carrying a Chocolate Frog in each hand.
"They're going to get sick with all that candy you know,"
"Non-sense, I never have enough to make them sick… besides, it's dark chocolate… it's good for them and children never know when you've charmed them," she said winking.
"Oh Poppy, you didn't,"
"Well, at least you won't have them bouncing off the walls, oh come on… being a healer has to have some perks, doesn't it?"
She sighed, "I guess you're right," she did a very cat-like thing and buried her face in her arms in thought.
"Minerva, dear, what's wrong?"
"Nothing,"
"Now, that's not true. How's Albus?" Poppy asked, sipping her tea.
"In London," she said looking up.
"Again?" said her friend placing down her cup, disappointed.
"Mmm-hmm," she nodded, her head back into her arms.
Poppy rested her head against her palm, "Well, when's he going to be back this time?"
"I don't know."
"Did he say what he was doing?"
She waved her hand nonchalantly, "Ministry things,"
"Really?"
"That's what he said,"
"What do you mean?" Poppy asked looking at her friend astounded.
Minerva looked straight into her friend's eyes, "I think he's having an affair."
Poppy drew back, aghast, "No! You don't mean…"
"I do,"
"Albus? Our Albus?"
She nodded.
"No… No, Minerva, I can't bring myself to think that lowly of him,"
"What am I to think? This has been the fourth extended trip to London this year and it's only March. Really, leaving me here… and Jane has left us, at least for a while, at least until she can settle down a bit… found a young man, you know…"
"Did she now?"
"Mmm-hmm,"
There was a pause.
"Anyway, he's taken to wearing his hair long,"
"What? The young man?"
"Tsk!"
"I know, I know. I've seen it and was wondering. Do you disapprove of it?"
"No… I sort of like having all that hair to run my fingers through… when I get to,"
"Oh, don't say that!"
"Well, a man is bound to get tired… what with being married to this lanky bean pole," she said sweeping her hand across her body.
"Minerva! I'm surprised at you! How could you think such dreadful things? About your own husband no less! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
She sighed, "I know,"
"Listen to me, Albus Dumbledore is a man of his word. He would never do anything that was dishonest. And besides, you are the most beautiful woman… you know… I've always envied your good looks," Poppy said pushing back a devilish strand of black hair from her friend's face.
"Really?"
"Honest."
"Thank you,"
"You're welcome,"
The twins ran excitedly into the kitchen, "Look! Look Mummy! We both got Daddy on our cards!"
"Did you?" she asked forcing a smile, "Those are new you know, just put him on them last week!"
They both grinned a toothy, toothless grin and ran back to join their siblings, leaving a card with her.
"Lost their two front teeth, both of them this week. Got into a wrestling match… I'm just glad they're only baby teeth,"
"Is it really so hard to take care of them all?"
"No, it isn't… not really… not after being Gryffindor Head for two years. Only I love all of them so much more and it makes it all the more difficult,"
She looked down at the card in her hand and fresh tears came to her eyes.
"Oh Minerva, darling, calm down… it's alright," Poppy said hugging the taller woman.
"I…c-can't help it!" she sobbed into Poppy's shoulder, "I just miss him so m-much… and w-worry a-a-a-about him even more,"
"Is mummy ok, Aunt Poppy?"
"Your Mummy is having a very bad day," said Poppy patting Minerva's back whose head was still buried in her friend's shoulder.
(A/N: Gaa! I'd write more, but it's 1:30 in the morning. Yes I know, Jerry (my muse) has a strange time schedule and is vastly irritating at any and all hours in the morning and night for that matter. So here's the deal: I did leave this chapter a bit of… well… let's face it, I did leave this chapter a cliff hanger… BUT the next chapter will come VERY soon IF (if if if) you all REVIEW a lot… so if you like what you are reading, or if you don't like it but want to keep reading or if you just plain don't like it (which is ok, you just aren't as refined as I thought you were) then leave a REVIEW tell me it's good, bad or ugly and maybe Jerry will keep me up later)