September 19th, 1979 arrived with Minerva screaming in pain through her contractions. Sweat dripped down her face as she panted for breath. "Tom I need you to get Isobel and Albus," Poppy said urgently. "Something is happening that I can't explain. The baby is fine but I am not sure what is happening with Minerva's magic. I need Albus to add stronger wards around this room and I need Isobel's magical signature to calm Minerva down."
"Very well," he replied as he rushed out of the room. He sent a patronus to his father and floo called the McGonagalls. Within 10 minutes, Albus and the McGonagalls were present.
"What's going on Poppy," Albus asked as everyone walked into the bedroom.
"Are you alright my darling," Isobel cooed as she kissed Minerva's forehead. Instead of answering, Minerva screamed out as another contraction hit. Her magic flared wildly and splintered the wardrobe in the corner of the room.
"Minerva's magic is wild," Poppy answered. "I have never seen magic manifest like this during childbirth. I need you to reinforce the wards in the room Albus. Isobel I need you to reach out to Minerva with your magic and see if you can calm her magic."
Tom moved back to offer his support to Minerva and held her within his arms. Robert moved towards the head of the bed to offer his daughter some privacy. Isobel sat near Poppy at the bottom of the bed while she surrounded her daughter with her magic. And Albus was working about the room reinforcing the wards as quickly as he could.
"What's happening," Isobel asked Poppy as Minerva's belly set ablaze. The fabric of the bed and Minerva's gown remained intacted. "Why isn't the bed catching on fire?"
"She's fine," a feminine voice said. Helena Ravenclaw floated into the room and moved near Minerva. "It's the child's magic causing the flames. According to my grandmother, mother did the same when she was born. That child is mother's magical heir."
"She is," Albus asked suprised.
"That child is destined for greatness," she answered. "I can already sense her thoughts, she wants to lay in her mother's arms. I have only ever had mother push through my mind but this babe not even born is doing so."
"Sense her thoughts," Isobel repeated. "She is already projecting her thoughts to you?"
"She is," Helena said witha smile. "She is more powerful than any I have met since my lifetime."
"Truly," Albus asked amazed as he thought of the long list of powerful witches and wizards that he has met so far.
Minerva screamed out once again as the window shattered and the pieces flew throughout the room. "The child's magic is pushing out through Minerva's so she doesn't harm her mother. She is already aware of her magic."
"Harm Minerva," Robert asked shakily.
Helena smiled at her grandson warmly before answering, "The child will be able to control fire whereas Minerva can't. The child is pushing her magic through Minerva so she doesn't burn her alive."
"Is that possible," Albus asked frantically. He was concerned for his daughter-in-law.
"It is but it takes a very powerful child to do it," Helena answered. "Lucky for Minerva this child is already wielding her magic rather well."
"Push Minerva," Poppy yelled as the contraction started. Minerva grasped Tom's hands and pushed with all her might as she screamed out. "That's it. I see her head."
"She has a mess of curls," Isobel said excitedly to Minerva. "Or at least I believe it's curls. Her hair is flaming right now."
"One more big push Min," Poppy said as another contraction hit hard. Minerva bore down and pushed with all her might. "Oh there she is," Poppy said as the fire covered baby slid out into her hands. Poppy expected her hands to burn but was pleasantly suprised when they just tingled with magic.
A loud cry sounded throughout the room as the baby made its discomfort known. Before Poppy could clean the baby up, the child apparated to her mother's chest. Minerva wrapped her arms around the naked baby and cooed softly, "I have you now Hermione."
A newborn girl quietened and turned her little eyes to look at Minerva's face. Tom wrapped his arms around both of them and looked at his child in wonder. A sense of overwhelming love filled him and tears fell from his eyes. "Our sweet little Hermione," he whispered as she moved her little face towards his and giggled.
"Minerva can you pass her to Tom so you can deliver the afterbirth," Poppy asked as she handed a pink blanket to Tom. Hermione whimpered as if she knew what was said.
"Shh Hermione," Minerva cooed gently. "I will hold you again as soon as we both get cleaned up."
Tom took the offered baby and pulled her near his chest. "I have you my little love," he whispered as he rocked her gently. Huge amber eyes looked up at him. "You are absolutely gorgeous Hermione Cait Dumbledore."
"Cait," Robert asked, curious of the unusual name.
"Short for Caithness," Minerva answered as she laid back against the bed to rest. "She will be carrying the Dumbledore name so we wanted a way to incorporate my side of the family. What better way than the little town that we all love?"
"Beautiful," Isobel said as she gazed at her granddaughter.
"Alright Little Miss," Poppy said as she moved over to Tom and held her arms out. "Let's get you cleaned up and measured then you go back to your Mum."
Hermione remained quiet as she watched Poppy move curiously. "Aren't you attentive," Poppy commented as she finished up. "It's back to your Mum for you."
"May I hold her first," a voice in the corner asked. Everyone turned towards the voice and was suprised to see a red-headed woman wearing a dress decorated with Hogwarts mascots.
"Lady Hogwarts," Tom greeted happily. "You are always welcome to hold our Hermione."
Tom gently lifted Hermione from Poppy's arms and carried her to the corporeal form of Hogwarts. A smile graced her features as she stared adoringly at the child. "I have waited for you a long time Hermione Cait," she whispered soothingly. "This time around you shall not have to wonder who you are! Your magic shall not be bound but I shall help your parents keep up with you." A swirl of magic erupted from Hogwarts and wrapped around Hermione like a cocoon before meshing into her skin. "If she is within my wards I shall keep her safe," Hogwarts said as she looked to Tom and Minerva.
"Thank you," Minerva uttered, relieved she wouldn't have to bound Hermione's magic.
"Does she remember," Tom asked, still focusing on Lady Hogwarts' words to Hermione.
"Not quite," Lady Hogwarts answered. "Her magic is strong but not as strong as it will be with time. She can't siphon the truth from others yet and I plan on adding a block on all that are in the know so she will never learn of it. She does feel overwhelming love for Minerva already and wants to be back in her arms. Hermione also enjoys hearing your voice Tom."
Lady Hogwarts pressed a kiss to Hermione's forehead and deposited her back against her mother's chest. Helena Ravenclaw chuckled before explaining, "Hermione loves Momma. She thought it. She is already thinking of herself as Hermione."
"Momma loves Hermione," Minerva said emotionally as she kissed her babe's forehead.
"How intelligent is she," Isobel asked amazed.
"Far more than any person should be," Helena said.
Suddenly a book floated through the door and moved to Tom. He carefully gripped the book and turned to look at Hermione. The babe giggled happily. He looked at the title and then smiled. "I really should have expected it, shouldn't I?" he asked.
"Hogwarts: A History was her favorite," Minerva laughed. "I didn't expect her to want to read it this early though."
"Why," Robert asked amused. "I seem to recall you floating the same book the night you were born."
"Really," Minerva asked suprised. "I didn't know that."
"You were always summoning Hogwarts: A History to you," Isobel confirmed. "And don't even get me started on those infernal bagpipes or that cat!"
Minerva smiled and then yawned. She settled down in the bed a bit more and adjusted Hermione to lay on her chest. Minerva whispered a spell and smiled as her beloved stuffed snake appeared in hand. She pulled stuff animal near and laughed as Hermione drew it to herself magically.
"I can't believe you still have that," Tom said suprised.
Minerva gave him a smile and admitted, "I couldn't bare to part with Nagini. I just kept her hidden once I came to Hogwarts."
Hermione looked expectedly at Tom. "Read," Lady Hogwarts ordered changing the subject. "She wants you to read her to sleep."
"I shall take Robert and Isobel with me and grab breakfast," Albus said. "We shall be back around lunchtime to visit."
"Sounds fine Dad," Tom replied as he turned back to his girls. He waited until everyone left and then he settled down next to them in the bed and started to read aloud.