Tom finally convinced Minerva to leave St. Mungos when Isobel made it through her various surgeries and spellwork. She would be staying in the hospital for at least a week and then she would be coming to stay at Hogwarts with Minerva for a while. As of now, Robert and Malcolm were staying with Isobel and then Robbie would relieve Malcolm. "Momma," Hermione said as she rushed to her and held her arms up.
Tom picked up Hermione and held her so she could hug and kiss her mother. "I love you Hermione," she whispered as she caressed her daughter's cheek. "What did Poppy say?" she asked Sirius who was in the corner.
"Magical exhaustion which we figured," he answered. "Mione has to rest for a few days and not use her magic unless absolutely necessary."
"I will not use it," Hermione whispered.
"Thanks my good girl," Minerva cooed.
The group was startled by the fire roaring to life and Poppy stepping out carrying her medibag. "Heather informed me you had returned from the hospital," she offered. "I want to examine you please."
Minerva sighed in defeat and led her friend into her bedroom. She laid on the bed and allowed Poppy to cast diagnostic spells. "How far along was your mother before Hermione's switcheroo spell," Poppy asked.
Minerva snorted at Poppy's description of it and smiled at her longtime friend. "14 weeks," she answered.
Poppy frowned and recast the spell again. "I am getting 17 weeks," she said confused. "Maybe Isobel's injuries hindered the results. Or possibly the spell Hermione used could have increased the growth somehow."
Minerva looked thoughtful for a moment. "If mother was 17 weeks pregnant then she would have been pregnant before she was taken. This child could actually be Mother and Daddy's child. Can you find out it's parentage without Daddy present," Minerva asked.
Poppy nodded and cast an older spell than the paternity spell since Robert had stayed with his wife. A white light surrounded Minerva's midriff before pulsing three times and leaving a parchment behind. Poppy read the parchment and smiled. "They do belong to your Dad," she said excitedly.
"They," Minerva repeated with her eyebrow rose in suprise.
"Twins," Poppy clarified. "A boy and a girl."
"Mother will be overjoyed," Minerva stated. "Is everything okay with them?"
"Completely healthy," Poppy answered. "Her magic shielded them from her torture it seems. You will need potions for a few weeks to help strengthen your body to carry the twins to full-term but no other issues."
Minerva nodded her understanding and called for her faithful house elf. Heather appeared immediately and smiled. "Will you take this parchment to Mother at St. Mungos?" she asked kindly. Once the house elf nodded enthusiastically she gave additional orders. "Make sure you give it to Mother first and make sure no others besides family are present."
"Yes Mistress," Heather said as she grasped the parchment and popped out of the room.
On Friday, Robert and Isobel arrived at Hogwarts courtesy of Tom. He had picked them up on his way home from work. "Granddad and Nan," Hermione squealed excitedly as she rushed to them.
Robert chuckled and picked her up. "Hello Hermione Cait," he greeted as he pecked a kiss on her cheek.
Isobel tucked a curl behind her ear and pressed a kiss to her nose. "I have missed you little love."
Minerva teared up at the sight of her mother. Her complexion was normal, her hair clean and fixed, and no signs of bruising was left. She wore her normal clothes and was smiling although it was obvious she had lost weight during her captivity. "It is so good to see you like yourself," Minerva breathed as she rushed into her mother's arms.
Isobel wrapped her daughter up in her embrace and soothed her gently. "It's alright love. I'm completely fine now," she breathed.
The group settled into the living room. Hermione laid down in the floor and played with the Muggle doll Lilly Potter had brought to her when Isobel had first been captured. Before conversation could start, a couple of potion bottles flew across the room and stopped in front of Minerva. She sighed before grabbing them and downing them. "I had not forgotten Hermione Cait," Minerva reassured.
"It was time," the girl said distracted.
"Sometimes I wonder who is parenting who," Minerva muttered as she vanished the empty potion bottles.
"What are those for," Isobel said alarmed.
Minerva smiled reassuringly at her mother. "I just need them for a few weeks. They will strengthen my body so I can carry the twins to full-term. My body wasn't prepared for such a huge change all of a sudden. Poppy was pleasantly suprised nothing more was needed."
Isobel smiled relieved and then leaned over and placed her hand on Minerva's belly. She felt a couple pulses of magic hit her hand. Suprised she looked at Minerva only to find her smiling mischievously. "What's so amusing," she demanded.
"The twins recognize their mother," she answered. "They don't respond to my magic like that. I believe they are counting down time until they can break free of me and get back to you."
A frown marred Isobel's facial features. "They don't," she asked.
"No," Minerva breathed. "They recognize me as a sister already or that is Poppy's theory."
"How did she come up with that," Isobel asked amused.
"They annoy me to no end late at night," Minerva complained gently. "They push against my magic. Poppy believes they are searching for your magic. They accept me but aren't completely settled with me so I'm not able to rest as much as I should. They haven't been this calm the entire week."
"Well maybe you can take a nap with your mother around today and catch up on your rest," Tom interjected with a smile.
"I know someone else that could use a nap," Robert said amused as he watched his granddaughter. Hermione was laying in the floor using her doll as a pillow.
Amused, Isobel picked up Hermione with her magic gently and headed towards Minerva's bed chambers. Come on love and take a nap. Your bed is much larger than Hermione's."
Minerva smiled at the thought of rest and stood up. She kissed her dad on the cheek and kissed Tom's lips gently before following her mother. "With pleasure," she uttered.
Isobel laid Hermione down on Tom's side of the bed. She transformed Minerva's and her clothes into casual ones before indicating Minerva should get in the middle. She did so with no complaints. She pulled Hermione gently against her chest and smiled as she felt her mother climb in. Isobel settled on her side and spooned Minerva. She place her hand on Minerva's belly and pushed her magic out slightly. Both sighed happily and feel asleep quickly.
On Saturday, Tom brought a guest home to met with the family. Isobel took one look at the wizard with Tom and attempted run from the room. "Please Issy," the Scottish voice pleaded. "Let me explain why I am here. Tom wouldn't have brought me here if I had meant harm to you."
Isobel stopped in her tracks at the pleading tone. She turned around slowly and eyed her uncle suspiciously. "Five minutes," she relented as she moved to sit next to her husband.
Donavon Ross dressed like the regal noble he was. Dark hair and blue eyes, the man had a worried expression on his face. "The bastard is dead," he started. "You will never have to see him ever again."
Isobel closed her eyes tightly as tears leaked from them. Her blue eyes opened and the relief in them was overwhelming. "I hope he suffered," she whispered, throughly shocking everyone other than Minerva.
Donavon smiled sadly at her. "He did," he replied. "I killed the bastard myself when I heard what he did."
"What who did," Robert asked confused as he looked to his wife.
"My father," Isobel whispered sadly. "The bastard orchestrated the entire attack. He wanted to kill you and then make me suffer for abandoning their teachings."
"Their teachings were flawed," her uncle added. "You father was vicious but your mother was so much worse. The Ross family were always neutral but your father was twisted by the Dark Arts."
"He was worse than I remember," Isobel said hauntingly.
"He didn't get the Ross Lordship," Donavon revealed. "Father skipped him and gave it to me. You father found out I am unable to have children so I have Malcolm listed as my heir. It infuriated him that I picked one of your children instead of one of your siblings."
"What," Isobel asked confused. "How is that possible? I was disowned and that will extend to my children."
Donavon smiled at her. "You were disowned by your parents but not my the Lord of the House. Your grandfather was ashamed of your father's actions but feared he would make things worse if he reached out to you."
"Really," she asked suprised.
Donavon nodded his head. "Father always knew where you were and tried to help when he could. He sent one of his muggleborn friends to Caithness many times to check on you. He would pay extra at the local store and tell them he wanted to help the Minister's family, but wanted to remain anonymous," her uncle explained.
Suprise filter across everyone's face except Minerva's. "Why are you not suprised by this?" Isobel demanded.
"Who do you think David would slip money to," Minerva said matter-of-factly. "He would slip it to me and I would make sure it found its way in the donation box."
"You what," disbelief showed on Isobel's face.
Minerva smiled at her mother in reassurance before explaining, "I knew Uncle Don from last timeline. The events that happened in Caithness happened then as well but you didn't survive. You were returned broken and flayed alive. You were also not the only one taken last time."
"You were too," Minerva nodded her head.
"The last timeline I escaped barely alive and filled with rage. They made me watch as they tortured, rape and skinned you alive," Minerva admitted. Horrified gasps filled the room. "I managed to escape but before I did I slaughtered Angus Ross without regrets."
"How do you know of last timeline," Isobel asked her uncle.
"I am an Unspeakable," he revealed. "I'm the one that sent Minerva back. Hogwarts sent Tom but I needed reassurance that he would succeed. I knew Minerva was the key to fixing the timeline so I used what magic I could spare and sent her back in time. In the last timeline at this point in time, Minerva, Hermione and myself were the only Ross family members alive. I sent her back hoping she could change the tides and save our family."
Isobel looked between her uncle and child bewildered. "You knew exactly what happened while I was captured," Isobel finally asked her daughter.
Minerva briskly nodded yes. "Last timeline, the attack happened later," Minerva revealed. "I was anticipating another two weeks before the attack. But I assumed the same things happened. Hearing you call your father bastard, ensures I know exactly what happened."
"What happened Isobel," Robert asked as he saw the pain etched on her features. He had begged her to talk about it but she had refused.
She stood up and walked to the window turning her back to the group. She was silent for a while before speaking, "My own father raped me and then offered me up to his friends." Isobel crumpled to the ground as she admitted the horrible truth. "The bastard watched me suffer with a damn smile on his face."
"He died pleading for his life," Donavon revealed. "I read the reports and I made sure he and your mother suffered. The bitch was aware of what he planned and encouraged him."
"What," Minerva asked suprised. "Ida Ross knew?"
"Afraid so," her great uncle replied. "I went to Ross Estate to end Angus for his deployable actions against his own child but once I discovered Ida's involvement she had a death sentence as well."
"Thank you Uncle Don," Isobel said from her spit on the floor.
"Anything for my Issy Doll," he said with a smile.
She snorted at the ridiculous childhood nickname. "I can honestly say I have not missed that nickname."