Harry escorted Minerva to the Great Hall with a smile. It was the leaving feast and the students would be leaving tomorrow. Minerva had begged Poppy to let her get up long enough to attend the feast. Poppy reluctantly agreed because she knew how much Minerva enjoyed it and would miss the students when they left.
Minerva smiled as she stood at the podium to give the leaving speech. Her seventh month pregnant belly proudly on display and her dress hugging her curves in just the right way. Once she married Harry, she had given up on her strict persona. It wouldn't work anymore and she was too happy to hide it now. She opened her mouth to talk only to let out a cry of pain. She leaned heavily on the podium as Harry and Poppy rushed to her. "I believe my water just broke," Minerva bit out. "It's too early."
Poppy muttered a spell and frowned at the results. "Filius," she yelled out. "The leaving speech is up to you now. The Headmistress decided to go into labor and most likely will give birth sometime tonight."
Minerva cried out as a contraction hit and reached for Harry for support. Harry quickly scooped her up into his arms and walked out of the Great Hall in the direction of the Heads quarters. Poppy rushed behind them leaving an excited Great Hall behind her.
Minerva cried tears of joy as Poppy laid two small, crying babies on her sweat covered chest. She kissed one head and then the other as she enjoyed the moment. "You have a perfectly healthy son and daughter even if they are a bit underweight," Poppy sniffled as she tried to hide her tears. "We will get them up to proper size quickly enough so no worrying about it. They are darling Min."
Minerva beamed at one of her dearest friends and snuggled closer to her babies. "Aye," she said emotional. "I have waited a lifetime for the wee babes."
Harry wrapped his arms around Minerva while still supporting her back. He kissed her neck as he studied his children. He couldn't find the words to express how blessed he felt. The need to protect his children roared forward and suprised him somewhat. "The are brilliant," he finally whispered as he studied children.
"Do you have names yet," Poppy asked.
Minerva smiled at Harry before answering, "Calum James Potter and Ainslie Jane Potter."
Poppy wrote down the information for their birth certificates and then left the couple for the remainder of the night. "Get some rest," Poppy said as she left. "The staff and students will want to see the babies before leaving later today."
Harry and Minerva took pleasure from cleaning their babies, dressing them in little gowns and watching them feed. Harry was mesmerized by watching Minerva breastfeed the babies while Minerva was trying to adjust to the sensation. After they were burped and yawning somewhat, Harry moved the decorative rocking cradle closer to the bed and helped place the babies in. Apparently the cradle had been Minerva's as a child and her mother's portrait had told her where she had kept it stored. Harry settled in the bed and spooned her. He kissed her neck sweetly before they drifted off to sleep while gazing in wonder at their children.
Harry and Minerva walked into Minerva's office holding a baby each. Neither were surprised to see the Longbottom's, Malcolm, Poppy, Rolonda, Filius and Pomona waiting for them with gifts laid on Minerva's desk. "Good morning," Minerva greeted as she and Harry walked towards the group.
Minerva turned her son towards the group. "Calum James Potter," she introduced as she laid him in her brother's arms. "Bond with your godson," she added with a smile.
Harry held up his daughter and grinned when she changed his hair green. "This little powerful lady is Ainslie Jane Potter," he said. "He laid her in Hermione's arms. "You are not allowed to buy your godkids books every time you visit," he teased.
Hermione grinned and rolled her eyes at her bestfriend. "That's what Godmothers are supposed to do, give them what the parents won't." Harry raised an eyebrow and gestured to Minerva. Hermione laughed and added, "Maybe boardgames might be a better idea. No need to crowd the library."
Minerva rolled her eyes at the teasing and opened the pile of gifts.
Harry and Minerva conjured up an oversized chair and cradle next to the gates. Harry had insisted they be within the Hogwarts wards. They would allow the students to catch a peek at the babies on their way to catch the Hogwarts Express. She nestled the twins into the low resting cradle and added protective charms to keep them safe and sound. She settled into the chair with Harry and waited for the line of students she knew would come momentarily.
A special edition of the Daily Prophet was issued that evening. It was smaller than the normal paper but was focused solely on Hogwarts. Hogwarts Happenings! was the headline. The front page included a short article that explained a yearly edition would done to inform families of what was going on with the school during the school year. Main points from the year and pictures could be submitted by anyone throughout the year. Any student could submit articles or pictures and would be compensated for any work included in the publication.
A picture of Harry, Minerva and the twins saying goodbye at the gates was the main picture. It was accompanied by an article suprisingly written by Filius Flitwick. Filius wrote of Harry and Minerva being Soulmates and how the marriage law had forced a hand they were themselves unaware of. He had included details of Minerva's pregnancy and Harry surprising his wife with a nursery. It had told of Minerva's leaving speech attempt and the suprise delivery of the twins in the very early morning hours. He included how the twins were born two months early and was born slightly underweight but healthy all the same. Filius had ended the article with how the Headmistress wanted to see the students leave and how she had pushed her tiredness from just giving birth to the wayside so she could watch the students leave. Filius added Minerva had gifted the students with a rare gift of soul soothing and support. A far cry from the year's of terror under Voldemort's reign.
Minerva McGonagall teared up at the article and had hugged her Deputy way too tightly for his liking. Filius and Pomona's five adoptive children laughed hysterically at the sight. The Deputy Headmaster had insisted on adopting children he feared would be mistreated by most. Two were half goblin, one was known to be fathered by a werewolf, and the other two had giant blood. Minerva had smiled when they couple had introduced their children to the rest of the staff.
Minerva had carefully read each article and looked at all of the pictures in the paper. "It's a brilliant idea," she commented.
"You can thank Hermione," he squeked. "She thought if parents could see what was happening within the school that our enrollment would increase for next September."
Minerva nodded in understanding. The wizarding war had devastated the population of Magical Britain and the final battle had hurt Hogwarts reputation. Harry and Hermione coming back had helped increase their numbers some but not where they should be. Minerva had pondered on how to solve the problem but she hadn't managed to figure it out. The Hogwarts publication probably would help a lot. Minerva made a mental note to write an article or two for next year.