Chapter 38: The Cracks in the Friendship Widen
School continued on and by February Margaret; with Katherine's help, had convinced Minister Fudge and Dumbledore to seize Ron's rat.
"Be smart about it though," Albus warned, "You're the Creatures teacher find a plausibly story. They're in Minerva's room right now and she's keeping an eye on the rat. I can't hold off Cornelius forever."
"If he's smart he'll wait," Katherine stated, "I'll go get Black."
Katherine disappeared into the floo network and Margaret hurried out of the office.
"Now to change the rabbits into tea cozies we simply…"
A knock was heard at the door interrupting the Transfiguration lesson.
"Come in!" Minerva called. The door opened and their stood eight month pregnant Margaret McGonagall.
"Professor we have a serious problem. I need Harry and Hermione McGonagall as well as Ron Weasley to come with me at once. They need to bring their pets and you need to come as well," Margaret said calmly.
"Class dismissed. You three hurry up then," Minerva stated.
"What's going on here?" Ron asked as he held the squirming rat tight in his hands as they walked to the headmaster's office.
Harry shrugged although he and Hermione knew what was going on. At this moment they did not care if the Weasleys hated them for this. What mattered most was clearing an innocent man.
The group rode the spiraling staircase up and entered to find Albus Dumbledore with Katherine Gryffindor, Sirius Black, Minister Cornelius Fudge, Molly and Arthur Weasley, Head Auror Alastor Moody, and two Dementors.
Hermione and Harry quickly released their animals and grabbed Minerva from behind.
"Katherine if you would please secure the Deputy and those two children," Albus requested.
Katherine nodded and pulled her wand. She waved it in a lasso motion shouting, "Expecto Pratronum!" A giant lioness shot from her wand and circled the trio keeping the Dementors at bay.
"Now then Mr. Weasley if you will give Madam McGonagall your rat," Albus stated.
Ron looked around at everyone and held the rat closer to him.
"Ron give her the rat," Molly stated.
"Why? He's my rat!" Ron shouted indignantly.
"Give me the bloody rat you ungrateful boy!" Katherine shouted as she came up to him and snatched the rat out of his hands.
"No Scabbers! Leave him alone! He didn't do anything! Scabbers!" Ron shouted as Margaret held the boy back.
"Hurry up Alastor and do it," Katherine shouted as she put the rat on Albus' desk and the headmaster quickly froze it.
"What exactly is this all about anyway?" Fudge asked.
"Peter Pettigrew is alive and well. The Rat that betrayed the Potters is right here," Katherine stated looking at the tiny creature with disgust.
"What evidence do you have to suggest of this?" Fudge frowned.
"Do you honestly want to argue with me?" Katherine asked as thunder rumbled out side.
"W-well M-Moody hurry up then," Fudge stammered back up slightly. Moody snorted and limped up to the desk. After a few complicated wand movements the rat slowly transformed into a pudgy balding man with a rat like face and long finger nails. He was missing a finger.
"By Jove it is Pettigrew!" Fudge gasped.
"And a bit of Verituserum will tell us the truth about that night twelve years ago," Margaret added.
"Right…does anyone have some?" Fudge asked twisting his bowler in his hands.
"I do!" three voices stated. Margaret, Katherine, and Alastor looked at each other oddly.
"Well…never hurts to be prepared," Margaret shrugged.
"Right," Alastor nodded taking the small vial out of his pocket. Albus undid the bind on the man. As soon as he was released the man shot up and tried to race to the door. Margaret released Ron and caught the man by the scruff of his shirt. Peter whimpered and shook ducking his head.
"Apparently he remembers how you treated cowards in school," Sirius chuckled. He stood by Arthur far away from the Dementors. Arthur eyed him but said nothing.
"Then he should remember what I used to do to those that ran," Margaret snapped practically throwing him back onto the floor. Ron stood in the back confused and annoyed and upset. His pet had been a man all along?
Alastor grabbed the man before he could run off again and quickly poured the serum down his throat.
"Granny what does that stuff do?" Harry asked quietly in their shield.
"It forces you to tell the truth dear. It's very painful if you try to lie," Minerva answered. Harry and Hermione nodded staying safely behind the shield Katherine had made. Ron was forced in it before the questioning began.
"What's your name?" Alastor gruffed.
"Peter Walter Pettigrew," the man answered.
"Are you an unregistered animagus?" Albus asked.
"Y-yes," Peter shivered.
"Were you the real secret keeper to the Potters?" Margaret asked.
"I…I…y-yes," Peter gagged.
"Were you the one that betrayed them?" Fudge asked.
"Yes! Yes I did it! The Dark Lord promised to spare me if I did!" Peter cried.
"Who murdered all those muggles in the street?" Albus asked.
"I did! I framed Sirius so I could hide!" Peter stated.
Everyone gasped and turned to Sirius.
"Sirius lad it appears we made a grave error. You shall come with me and we'll get this all cleared up at once," Fudge stated.
"Yes sir," Sirius nodded.
Alastor tied up Peter and they went through the floo. Sirius followed and Cornelius did as well after promising to get rid of the Dementors by nightfall. The Dementors flew off.
This left the Weasleys, Dumbledore, and the McGonagalls together. The shield dropped with a wave of Katherine's hand.
Hermione and Harry ran to their mother and embraced her warmly.
"You did it mum. He's free now," Harry grinned. Margaret smiled tiredly at them.
"What the bloody hell is going on!?" Ron shouted.
"Ron watch your mouth!" Molly scolded.
"Mr. Weasley you were harboring a mass murder for twelve years. Now you've assisted in his capture. You and your family will be commended," Katherine stated.
"You took my rat! The only pet I had! You knew it all along didn't you?" Ron shouted angrily pointing an accusing finger at Harry and Hermione.
"Ron please listen to reason. We couldn't tell you in case he tried to escape," Hermione stated.
"We had to keep it secret to save my godfather," Harry stated.
Ron just glared at them before stomping out of the office.
"Oh I'm so sorry about that. I don't know what's wrong with him," Molly sighed.
"It's all right Molly dear," Katherine sighed, "He's a child. He'll come around eventually I believe."
"I hope so," Molly sighed.
"Thank you though for this. I had no idea about the rat," Arthur stated.
"It's you we have to thank," Katherine smiled.
"At least now Sirius is okay and the Dementors will be gone," Margaret stated before bending over.
"Mummy are you okay?" Hermione frowned.
"I…mmmm," Margaret groaned softly holding her stomach.
"Maggie? Maggie Grace?" Minerva cried running to the woman.
"Hmmm it's too soon…I…I still have a month left," Margaret groaned gripping her mother's arms tightly.
"Albus it's the baby!" Minerva cried.
"Harry run ahead and tell Poppy we're coming," Albus stated as he came over and picked up Margaret in his arms. For a man his age he was surprisingly fit to lift her. Harry nodded and dashed off quick as lightening.
"Merlin we're going to have a baby!" Katherine exclaimed excitedly.
Katherine was in a chair by the doors to the hospital wing. Hercules and Venus were on either side of her in chairs as well. Elizabeth was leaning against the wall biting her nail. Vanessa, Annabelle, Billy, Harry, and Hermione were sitting on the floor playing a game of exploding snap. Stephanie was cuddled in Katherine's lap looking close to tears. Cordell was staring out on the grounds. Rachel was on the floor with the children watching them play.
Albus and Jackson were pacing in opposite ways. Everyone once in a while they'd meet each other and switch directions. It was really like watching mirror images as they were the same build and height. They were also bent over with the same expressions.
The group had been in the hall for hours now. The sun had already set for the evening and Albus had started supper and quickly returned.
"Oh I came as soon as I could. Have I missed it yet?" Aberforth gasped running up the corridor.
"AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!" a high pitched scream pierced through the thick Hospital Wing doors.
"Does that answer your question?" Hercules asked.
The group continued their wait well into the late night. No one daring to sleep but little Vanessa. Even Sirius and Remus had joined the group sometime around midnight.
"Ugh what is taking so long!?" Jackson exclaimed.
"It takes a long time to have babies you know this Jackson," Elizabeth stated.
"It's never taken this long before. I remember vividly it took mum less than an hour to have Maggie. It took Maggie less than an hour to have Hermione! It shouldn't take this long!" Jackson shouted.
"You don't think they're complications do you?" Elizabeth frowned.
"Don't even think that! Nothing is wrong!" Katherine exclaimed.
"AAAGGGGGHHHH!" Margaret cried out gripping her mother's hand as she pushed with all her might. She fell against the pillow's panting furiously.
"All right Margaret just one more push and we should have the baby," Poppy stated.
"We better have!" Margaret growled sitting up again. Minerva and Poppy laughed lightly as Margaret gritted her teeth and pushed again.
Maggie screamed and her screamed died off after she felt the pressure leave her and she heard another scream fill the room.
"It's a girl!" Poppy shouted happily holding the baby up to show them before whisking her off to clean and weigh her.
"A girl…another girl," Margaret panted.
"You did good baby. I'm so proud of you," Minerva cried a tear of joy as she repeatedly kissed her daughter's sweaty and matted head. Margaret smiled at her mother a bright glowing smile of proud mother; the same smile Minerva had. The two had never looked more alike and at peace with each other.
"Would you like to see your new daughter?" Poppy asked smiling brightly as she came back into the wing holding a soft green bundle in her arms.
"Oh yes," Minerva nodded turning. Poppy gently placed the new born in Minerva's arms before hurrying off to tell the others.
"She's beautiful Maggie Grace," Minerva said tearfully handing the baby to Margaret.
The baby was a precious tiny thing much as Hermione had been. Her eyes were large and green like Katherine's, her nose was Minerva, her little pouty lips were Margaret's, her ears were Diana's. The skin color was pinkish but they knew it would turn pale porcelain or sun kissed peach later. The only thing about the baby that was not screaming of all the women in her life was her hair. The little tuft of baby's hair was dark auburn.
"Mum?" a small voice called. Margaret looked up and smiled beckoning her three children and Cordell forward first.
"Kids come meet your little sister," Margaret smiled.
They hurried forward and the two teenagers and one preteen climbed onto the bed and peered at the little baby.
"Ha red hair! Now we've all got different colors," Harry laughed.
"Oh Harry," Hermione sighed. Margaret giggled as she handed the baby to Cordell who was looking like a dear in headlights.
"Wow…oh thank Merlin she looks like you lot! She even has Maggie's hands," Cordell sighed undoing the bundle to get a good look at his daughter.
"Yeah…but she's got your appetite and feet I'm sure," Margaret giggled.
Cordell eyed her and looked at the baby's feet. His face fell as he could tell even a few minutes old the baby would have large feet.
"That is so cruel to a child," he sighed. Margaret, Minerva, and the children laughed.
Well what are you going to name her?" Katherine asked as the rest entered the room and circled the bed. A Hospital Wing full of Dumbledores, McGonagalls, and their closest confidants. The magical energies surrounding the people on the bed was very comforting; especially to the children.
"Hmm I hadn't thought about it…Cordell?" Margaret asked.
"Oh no you aren't getting me into that pickle! I am not getting on Katherine's bad side. You name her," Cordell stated.
"Smart man," Aberforth smirked, "Sad Albus wasn't."
"There's nothing wrong with Albus wanting to name our children," Minerva scowled.
"All right people focus!" Margaret shouted.
"So what will you name her?" Harry asked.
"I think the only way she'll survive this family is if I name her Rhianna Reagan," Margaret stated.
"Queen Royal…yes I fine name," Hercules nodded.
"Royalty in some form does seem to be around this family," Elizabeth nodded.
"It's settled then. Welcome to the world Rhianna Reagan McGonagall!" Cordell grinned broadly.
"McGonagall!?" several voices questioned.
"Of course. I'm her father but that doesn't mean she has to have my last name. I want her to stay connected to her siblings," Cordell stated.
"I knew there was a reason I like him," Katherine smirked.
Everyone laughed and spent the rest of Valentine's Day celebrating the birth of six pound eight ounce baby Rhianna Regan McGonagall. She was born at 3:02 in the morning of February 14, 1994. It was a good ending to a reasonably good/bad day.