Welcome back everyone! I've given some thought to how I want to continue my story and I've decided I am going to pick up where I left off. So here's chapter 1 of "Those Next Two Months" and I really hope you enjoy it.
The Morning After
Louise had decided to stay with Minerva that night and she fixed herself a makeshift bed on the settee in the main room. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and slept sounder than she ever had in her entire life. She woke to find Poppy quietly putting away her things after giving her aunt and cousin a checkup. "Oh, I'm sorry I woke you," she said kindly as she continued with her business."That's alright" Louise yawned "How are they?". "Minerva's exhausted, Ariana has quite a set of lungs on her. But other than that they're both fine. I'm afraid all of this is going to take quite some getting used to". "I can imagine," the young girl said getting up. She hugged Poppy goodbye and went back into the bedroom. Minerva was rolled over on her side with her head propped up on her right hand, gently rocking the crib beside it back and forth with her left. "Good morning," she said tiredly as Louise came and knelt down beside her. "I hear you didn't get much sleep last night," she said sympathetically looking up at her. "you should have woken me". "It's alright," her aunt replied, rubbing her arm kindly, "I need the practice". "You also need sleep" Louise insisted and smiled as Ariana took her finger in her little hand. "I'm going to go back to my dorm to get some things, would you like me to stay with you this weekend?". Minerva looked exhaustedly up at her and answered "yes, if you don't mind?". "Of course I don't" Louise answered kindly as she got up and went to leave. "I'll be back in a little bit".
When she arrived back in the common room she found Clara waiting where she'd left her last night. "Louise!" she exclaimed running toward her and throwing her arms around her. "I was so worried! What happened?". Louise waited a little before answering, trying to control the smile that treated to spread across her face. "It's a girl," she said plainly her concealment attempt failing miserably. "What?" Clara asked looking confusedly up at her. "My aunt's baby. It's a girl". Clara stood there for a moment giving her best friend a puzzled look. Then Louise began to giggle as she watched the look of realisation spread across her face and the girl gasped. "Oh Lou!" she squealed as she lunged at her. "Congratulations!". Louise continued to laugh as she returned her best friends embrace and then as they walked up to the girl's dorms she recounted her chaotic night to her eagerly listening best friend.
"She asked me to stay with her this weekend and I said I would," Louise said as she packed up a few things while Clara watched from her bed. "So I'll be back tomorrow night at curfew". "That's very good of you," Clara said answered with a kind smile. "It's so hard to believe" she continued "A baby at Hogwarts. I think Professor McGonagall will be a great mother". "So do I" Louise agreed "but she still needs a bit of convincing". She picked up her bag and walked back to the common room with Clara. "I'll see you tomorrow," Clara said hugging her. "Give Professor McGonagall a huge congratulations from me". "I will" Louise promised, hugging her back and she headed to her aunt's room.
She returned to find Minerva in the main room and when she tried to say something her aunt quickly brought her finger to her lips and gestured back to the bedroom. Louise mouthed an apology and came toward her. Her aunt was making tea and Louise whispered "here, let me do that". Minerva gratefully handed the kettle to her niece and sat down on the settee. A few minutes later Louise came over and handed her aunt a cup of tea and sat down next to her. "Thank you" Minerva whispered taking a sip. Louise nodded and added lightly "Clara sends her congratulations" taking another sip of her tea. Her aunt chuckled quietly and then Louise asked "have you eaten yet?". "No" Minerva admitted as she rested her now empty cup on the coffee table. "I'll tell you what," Lousie said quietly as she picked up the empty cup. "I'll make you some toast and then why don't you go and have a bath?". Minerva gave her an appreciative look and whispered "thank you Lou," and she got up to run the bath.
Toast eaten Louise sat quietly outside of the bathroom with the door slightly ajar whispering back and forth to her aunt. "Did you tell Snape? she asked and waited for her answer. "Poppy did" Minerva replied thoroughly enjoying the feeling of the warm water on her tired body. "He said he'd announce it at dinner tonight". "I think I'll have to go down for that" Louise chuckled under her breath "I'm sure there will be many people wanting me to pass on their congratulations". Before Minerva could answer from the other room the two women heard Ariana begin to start crying and Louise heard her aunt sigh heavily from the bathroom. "No, it's alright I'll go," she said getting up from the floor. "You're a treasure" Minerva called after her as she sat back again and closed her eyes. Louise pushed the bedroom door open and walked toward the cot. "There we go," she said, carefully picking up her cousin and sitting down on the bed. "That's better isn't it," and she rocked the baby slightly for a moment or two until she stopped crying. She couldn't help but beam as Ariana's little blue eyes stared curiously up at her again. "Hello again" she whispered never once stopping smiling. "I'm afraid your mummy's busy so I'll have to do for now". She could have sat like that forever, watching as Ariana slowly dosed back off in her arms. When she was sure she was sleeping Louise placed the tiniest McGonagall back into her crib and once again thought how lucky she was to have her.
Well, there's chapter 1! I really hope you've enjoyed the beginning of the continuation to my original story and as always if you could take the time to review my work it would mean the world to me. Stay safe everyone!