Tom sat in the small church in Caithness with Minerva carefully sleeping in his arms. After a bit of a battle, Robert McGonagall had accepted Tom's soul bond with Minerva. Isobel had challenged him and fought him ruthlessly regarding the importance of Tom's presence around Minerva. Robert had been smart enough to realize his wife would have left him had it been required to keep Minerva safe so he opened his heart and allowed his wife free rein with keeping the young couple together. "Do you want to lay Minnie down and help me rearrange these books," Robert asked Tom.

"Yes sir," he said as he gently laid Minerva in a nearby cradle to finish her nap.

Isobel had turned a section of the small church into a classroom of sorts. She had received several books from a couple of second hand muggle bookstores as donations for the church and had managed to repurpose a few pieces of broken furniture into shelving and tables. Tom sat next to a box and waited for further instructions from the minister. "Just sort them by age group," the man said.

Tom set about doing as he was told. He worked efficiently and soon had all boxes sorted and shelfed. "Anything else sir," Tom asked.

Robert watched the young boy carefully and found himself somewhat curious. He had been told of the past timeline and how Minerva remembered it. He found himself wondering what type of father he had been so he asked the boy. Tom looked he in the eye and spoke the truth, "Minerva adored you. She takes after you in her temperament and values. She even refused to use her married name last time because she wanted to honor the first man she loved."

"Why do I feel that is the only good points," Robert asked with a frown.

Tom sighed and rubbed his palm across his face. He walked to the window and then continued. "The last time, you forbade your wife from using magic. She became bitter and took her regrets out on her children. Of course, Minerva took the brunt of it. My Minerva never complained about it but I could see the impact it made on her with her dealings of our own daughter. Minerva would suppress her wants and needs for our own child."

"Isobel wouldn't harm a hair on Minerva's head," Robert said with conviction.

"Of course she wouldn't," Tom agreed then tried to explain about magic. "To a witch or wizard, using magic is like breathing. We need to use and stretch our magic to feel complete. When we don't, our magical core becomes unsteady and twists the person. Isobel will become a bitter shadow of herself if you continue to frown upon the use of her magic. If you truly love your wife, you will accept her gifts and encourage her to stretch herself. I daresay you will truly see how amazing of a witch she is. If you leave things the way they are, your children will be the ones to suffer."

Robert McGonagall said nothing as Tom Dumbledore scooped up a barely awake Minerva in his arms and headed back to the house. The minister sat down heavily and thought long and hard about all he had been told. Am I harming Isobel by denying who and what she is? What was he to do?

Isobel worked tirelessly setting up her makeshift classroom in the church. She had originally thought to just have some of the younger children drop by if they needed help on something but then decided she could offer more. If Robert could work tirelessly to help his fellow man than she could too. She opened the classroom to everyone that needed help in any area.

She was suprised when she saw local women show up begging to be taught to read, better care for finances or even to sew. Before she could become overwhelmed, she had other women jumping into help teach those that didn't know how. There was even a quilting circle taking place weekly and the articles made would be able to purchased or bartered for. Isobel teared up when she noticed one of the women fitting one of poorer little boys in town with a warm jacket.

"Look Missus McGonagall," Jimmy McCain said excitedly as he showed her his new jacket. "It fits perfectly."

"It sure does," she said with a smile. "I want you to run along home before it gets dark. Be sure to tell your father you worked odd jobs around the church and earned that jacket. It's not charity."

"I will Missus McGonagall," Jimmy said as he raced out of the church.

"Thank you Annabelle! The poor dear needed a jacket terribly what with winter setting in." Isobel beamed at the woman.

The woman in question waved her thanks off and helped clean up the church. "I have offered to buy him one several times but his father wouldn't hear of it. The way you had him doing odd jobs around here and since it was home-made, his father will probably let him keep it.

"I hope so," Isobel replied. "I only want to help those I can."

A firm knock sounded before Albus Dumbledore walked in and search for his son. "You ready Tom," he asked tiredly.

"Yes sir," Tom said as he lifted Minerva up in his arms to say goodbye for the weekend.

"Uncle Albus," a woman asked hesitantly.

Albus whipped his head in the direction of the voice and gasped in suprise. "Annabelle," he said happily as he rushed to his only niece and wrapped her up in a hug. "Oh my dear we have searched high and low for you. Your father will be thrilled when I tell him you are here."

Tears streamed down the woman's face as she hugged her beloved uncle. "Mum made me go with her after Ariana died. I didn't know how to get a message to you or Dad."

Albus realized she was avoiding the topic of magic due to others in the room. "Not to worry," he reassured. "Isobel will gladly send an Owl to me on your behalf. I shall make sure we don't lose contact this time."

"You're a witch," Annabelle said quite suprised by the notion. "I haven't seen you with a wand at all."

"I am," Isobel said. "So is my daughter. I put my wand away when I married Robert. I take it you're a squib?"

"I am," Annabelle said then turned back to Albus. "Will you take me to see Dad? My husband is away on a hunting trip for the weekend so it is the perfect time."

"Do you mind a stop in Hogsmeade before we head home Tom," Albus asked his son.

"Not at all sir," Tom replied politely.

"I will side along Tom back Monday morning before classes," Albus said to Isobel. "Give Minerva to Isobel and let's go son."

"Alright Dad," Tom said as he pressed a kiss to Minerva's lips and passed her to Isobel.

"Tom and Minerva are soul bound," Albus offered his niece when he saw the curious expression on her face. "We expect a summer wedding once Minerva graduates Hogwarts."

Minerva nodded her head in agreement which prompted laughs from the others.

Albus dropped Annabelle off at the Hog's Head and enjoyed watching his brother Aberforth's absolute shock. He wrapped his daughter up in an embrace and cried happily to have her back in his life after nearly 40 years. Albus smiled as he lead his son out of the Hog's Head and headed towards the path that would lead them up to Hogwarts.