And so we had angst and drama....or is it just drama? you decide!

Chapter 14: Psyche Death Strikes Again

It was five months after the summer vacation; December. Just days till the Christmas holidays.

Katherine was at her home working in her private office. She'd worked from home that day because Ursula had come up with a bad stomach bug and Katherine hadn't wanted to leave her. Katherine looked up from the paper work when she heard the door opened and smiled.

"Minerva darling how are you?" Katherine asked laying down her quill and standing to embrace her daughter.

"I think I'm pregnant!" Minerva said bursting into tears.

Katherine patted the woman's back saying nonsense mothering words till the sobbing subsided and she thought Minerva had composed herself a little.

"All right now if you think you're pregnant why not ask Poppy to do the test?" Katherine asked. Even as she said the words her magic was slowly engulfing her child holding her and searching her.

"B-because I don't think it's a recent pregnancy …I think I got pregnant in Rome," Minerva said in a very fragile voice.

"That was five and a half months ago baby. Why did you come to me sooner?" Katherine asked as she led her daughter through a secret entrance in the book case and sat her down on a medical bed.

The room they were in was an exact replica of the room Katherine had years ago when she was a midwife and married to Stewart. Minerva had several memories of being in that other room when babies were born. Several of her first students had been born in that room.

"Any dizziness? Nausea? When was your last Period? Last time you had sex? Minerva don't look at me I have to ask it. Any vision trouble? Gained any weight? Odd Cravings?" Katherine asked whipping out her clipboard. She was going straight into her healer mode.

"Uh a little. No. Five days ago but it was spotty and stopped. This morning. No more than usual. Only about three pounds. Chocolate ice cream, lemon gum drops, and onions," Minerva answered.

"What!?" Katherine blinked.

"Chocolate ice cram, lemon gum drops, and onions," Minerva repeated.

"Mina that is disgusting. Never in my life have I heard of that combination. What the hell kind of craving is that?" Katherine exclaimed.

"How should I know? I just felt like having it at three o'clock every afternoon," Minerva shrugged.

Katherine gave her daughter a strange look as she marked on her clipboard.

"All right then strip down to your slip and lay down. I'm going to take a quick pick on Ursula and be right back," Katherine said leaving the room.

Minerva did as asked and laid back on the bed just as Katherine reentered. She had changed clothes as was now wearing a black track suit and gold colored tank top. Her hair was now in a ponytail with a headband.

"How's the baby?" Minerva asked.

"I think she's gotten over most of the bug. She should be back in preschool for her Christmas party in the morning," Katherine nodded as she rubbed her hand to warm them slightly. She lifted Minerva's slip up to her mind drift and started probing Minerva's stomach with her hands.

"How's Brian doing?" Katherine asked.

"Fine. He's growing very fast. He looks almost ten months and he's only six and a half months," Minerva replied.

"Good, good," Katherine nodded, "How's my Bella doing at school?"

"She's the sweetest most helpful Gryffindor I've had since Lily Evans and Carmen," Minerva smiled.

"Excellent. She's sent our gifts; apparently she's staying at the castle with her new friends," Katherine chatted.

"The twins and Honoria are staying as well. We're going to have a tea with them and Bella Christmas Eve and then come home for Christmas morning Dinner with you and Damien and my little ones," Minerva nodded.

Katherine pulled down her daughter's slip and pulled up her rolling stool by Minerva as she sat up and swung her legs over the side.

"Well I've got news…good or bad is your decision," Katherine sighed. Minerva bit her lip and nodded for her mother to continue.

"It appears you are pregnant. I got a reading the baby was conceived during our wild party night… so it makes you really about four and a half months. It's going to be a girl and…..I'm really sorry baby but she has no physical disabilities of the disease. She has the mental disabilities," Katherine stated.

"Th-that's okay though right? I mean it…it d-doesn't mean she's…"

"Baby it does mean that…I won't know exactly till she's born…but the chances of her having it are about 70 to 30 percent," Katherine said softly. Minerva sobbed putting her face in her hands.

Katherine sighed as she put her clipboard on the table and hopped up onto the table. Minerva laid her head in her mother's lap and cried. She cried till she fell asleep.

Damien came home from work with Athena and Annette. The two girls stayed with their grandparents during the school year. They took course at a muggle primary school in the Hollow till Hogwarts' called.

The girls went upstairs to see Ursula while Damien wondered into his wife's office. He found it empty and saw the door to her exam room ajar. Entering he found her sitting on the bed stroking Minerva's hair. It didn't take him long to figure out what might be going on.

"Baby…baby you want me to take her to bed?" Black asked entering the room.

"Please. I'm getting stiff. Take her to the green and cream room," Katherine nodded rubbing her sore neck.

He nodded and gently lifted Minerva noticing how light she felt. "She's as light as you," he smiled. Katherine laughed as she followed him out.

The couple entered the pleasant and elegant room with the cream walls and bedspread and green carpets and curtains.

Damien gently laid the woman on the bed pulled the comforter over her kissing her head. Katherine crawled in the other side and pulled Minerva to her. Damien watched as Minerva turned over and moved closer wrapping her arms around Katherine.

"I'll send a letter to Albus not to expect her and feed the kids," Black said softly.

Katherine mouthed the words 'Thank You' as he walked out.

Albus,

Kat would have told you herself but she's busy with Minerva. I only walked in on them. Bottom line son…I'm fairly certain Minerva is expecting a child with the disease full blown. You'll know more when Minerva talks to you…but don't expect her tonight….maybe not even until late tomorrow. I don't advise coming here because if she's like Kat she'll blame herself for it. Best to let her come to you. Sorry Albus.

You're other children are just fine though. Don't worry; I'm sure everything will work out.

D. Black

Albus finished the note and put his head in his hands and wept. For the first time all the portraits were silent as they watched their professors with sad expressions.