Tom rushed through the halls of St. Mungos with Robert and Isobel McGonagall rushing after him. He yelled for Minerva's whereabouts and was pointed in the right direction by several witches and wizards along the way. He skidded to a stop in front of his dad. "How is she," he panted out, frantic for news of his wife's condition.
Albus smiled reassuringly at his son. "She's alive and stable."
"Thank the Lord," Robert praised, relief evident in his deep voice.
Albus got his son's attention and explained what he knew. "Minerva's team and Theseus' team were found in the middle of a collapsed compound huddled together with Minerva in the middle of them. The ring you had made for Minerva alerted me to their location. As the men collapsed, they pushed against her and the ring deemed the touches inappropriate."
"You genius," Isobel said as she kissed Tom's cheek. She was grateful for the protectiveness he showed for her daughter.
Albus smiled and then continued. "They had a combined shield powered but as the building collapsed around them it failed. When we extracted the group, they were surrounded in a white glow."
"The bracelet," Tom breathed in awe.
Albus nodded his head. "They would have all died if Minerva hadn't of been wearing it," he said. "They have some serious injuries but they all will recover."
"Minerva's injuries," Tom demanded.
Albus frowned and closed his eyes briefly. The three shared uneasy looks and waited for Albus to continue. "Magical exhaustion, a few broken ribs, a broke pelvis, both legs broken and a broken collarbone," he answered. "However, it was the unseen damage that will take the longest to recover from. She wasn't aware of it but Minerva was pregnant."
"Was," Isobel asked teary-eyed.
"She miscarried," he said emotionally. "She had to be sedated when she found out. They are waiting for you and Tom before they bring her around."
Tom collapsed into a quickly conjured chair and sobbed. The group surrounded him and held him close. They wanted children and figured Hermione would be their first like she was in the other timeline. He hated the baby hadn't survived. They would have loved the baby regardless if it was planned or not. "My Minerva needs me," he breathed as he tried to control his emotions. "I need to see her."
"Minerva is through there," Albus pointed to the double doors and watched as his son walked towards his wife. "She will be fine," he added. Albus wasn't sure if he was trying to convince himself or the others.
Minerva sat with her feet tucked beneath her staring unseeingly into the fire. Her book laying unread on the arm of the chair. Tom stood in the doorway and watched her in concern. Her broken bones had healed easily enough but her heart was another matter altogether.
She had been devastated by the loss of their child and had sobbed brokenly into his arms. She had ended up staying a week in St. Mungos recovering from her injuries. Tom had remained by her side through it all. He had taken a leave from work until she had healed enough to go back to work. "We need to get ready my love," he whispered. "The family will be waiting on us at the Hog's Head."
Minerva stared at him with watery eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered emotionally. "We could have had a family of our own if I wouldn't have went on that mission."
"No love," he retorted as he rushed to her side and wrapped her up in his arms. "Losing the baby was a horrid accident. You are not at fault. I know you would have never taken a risk if you would have been aware of your pregnancy."
"I wouldn't," she agreed. "I still feel like a failure. I couldn't keep our baby safe."
Tom tilted her head up to look at him. "The investigation team released their report today," he informed her. "You were listed as the reason the rest of the teams survived."
"It was a group effort," she protested.
"All of the others disagree with you," Tom answered. "Each and every one of them went on record and explained you were the changing force in that battle. The men reported you brought the room to life and had it battle for them. They also claim it was your last order to combine units and cast a single shield that saved you all."
"They did," she asked suprised.
"The did," he reaffirmed. "Theseus told the investigation team that he hadn't even notice the potion bombs throughout the room and had followed your command without question because he trusted your judgement. The others do as well."
"I don't know what to think," she finally said.
Tom smiled at her and responded, "That's fine if you don't. You have suffered an unimaginable loss and the department knows that. Those men adore you and will be there to support you. You are not alone in this love. We shall overcome this and one day when Fate deems it, we will have that family."
"I love you Thomas Riddle Dumbledore," she said as she kissed him lovingly.
"I love you Minerva McGonagall Dumbledore," he replied in earnest. "So much it hurts sometimes."
Minerva walked into the Hog's Head holding Tom's hand. She was startled by the sudden applause when they walked in. She broke out into a radiant smile as she saw her fellow comrades amongst their family. "And what are we celebrating," she asked, her Scottish brogue ever-present.
"The most brilliant and wonderous witch around," one of the twins said with a grin.
Minerva raised her eyebrow up and smiled mischievously before asking, "Your date not go the way you expected?"
He wizard chuckled along with the rest of the two teams within the shield that night. He had commented about having a date. He smirked at her before replying, "Afraid not. She thought my story about why I stood her up was too far-fetched to believe. However I bumped into Ruth Yaxley the other day and now have a date with her."
"Oh Gavin," Minerva smirked at him. "You have a heart of gold. That poor witch would have been blamed for her brother's actions but being seen by you will change that."
"I don't know what you mean," he brushed her compliment off and pulled her into a hug. "I'm merely going out on a date." Minerva smiled at her fun-loving friend.
"McGonagall," Theseus bellowed out. She looked in his direction. "The boys and I have discussed it amongst ourselves and decided to take a vow for you. We have cornered every person that knows of your bracelet because of the last mission and we have erased the knowledge or made them vow not to speak of it unless it is to someone who is aware of your possession of it. Your bracelet might just save you once again and we want you to have that advantage."
Suprised showed on her face. "You boys sure went through a lot of trouble for me," she finally said.
"You don't know the half of it dear," Albus said from his seat by the bar. She raised her eyebrow in silent question. "These gentlemen managed to get a new policy passed at the Ministry and insisted it go on the record as a law so department heads couldn't ignore it."
"What policy," she asked, curious about what her comrades have been up to.
"Minerva's law," Theseus said and then explained. "The policy states any witch within childbearing age must have a pregnancy determination spell conducted by a Ministry Healer before she can be sent on a field mission. The law states pregnant witches are not able to go on field missions where spell fire are suspected. The law also states discrimination against women in childbearing ages including promotions will be monitored by the new Ethics Committee."
"The Ethics Committee will be made up of 6 people: a wizard and witch of each purebloods, halfbloods, and muggleborns. The members are to be voted on every 5 years unless a spot becomes vacant," Albus informed. "They bring any questionable findings before the Wizengamot only and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty including demotion. The Wizengamot has already had to interject against the Minister's office. He only hired a part time Healer for the new position. The law states the Ministry Healer is foremost responsible for pregnancy spells, must be staffed around the clock and cannot have other duties assigned with the exception of treatment of pregnant witches in the Ministry."
Speechless she stared at each member of the teams with gratitude. She had never expected such a drastic change to come about from her devastating loss. These wizards had guaranteed no other witch would be in the same position she had been and they did it for her.
Tears formed in her eyes as she processed what they had done. She knew they would have had a horrible time getting such a policy drafted and approved without the Ethics Committee makeup. They must of spent hours and hours of time speaking with Wizengamot members in their down time to get it passed. "Thank you doesn't seem enough," she finally got out.
Her half giant friend walked to her and grabbed her up in a hug. "Anything you have to say is worth it's weight in gold," he uttered. The others from her team joined them in a group hug.
"Is this how you get your team to fight so hard for you McGonagall? You give out hugs?" Theseus asked teasingly.
Minerva smiled mischievously at him, her emerald eyes bright with happiness. "Yes," she answered then added. "I also bake them biscuits. Maybe you should try it. It's good for morale."
Raucous laughter errupted in the room and the group spent the rest of the evening enjoying their survival and the company of friends and family.