Minerva was sitting on the couch marking essays when Isobel came in the room with a nicely wrapped box. "I didn't expect to see you so soon," Minerva said with a smile. "I thought you were working today and having lunch with Uncle Don?"

"I couldn't focus," Isobel answered honestly as she sat the box on Minerva's lap. "I couldn't stand the thought of you suffering so when you were trying to save souls."

"Mother," Minerva said briskly. "You have to let this go. I would make the same decision again no matter what discomfort I am struggling with. I love you and my siblings and I will gladly bare this burden. You focus on healing yourself!"

"I thank you for that love," Isobel said emotionally. "However I had an idea after you first told me about the twins pushing against your magic and wanted to see if it would work. Open the box please."

Minerva raised her eyebrows in silent question but did as she was asked. Inside was a lovely small blanket in the McGonagall print. It was handstitched and emitted a magical pulse. "I can feel your magic," Minerva said amazed.

"Aye," her mother responded. "I embedded my magic through every thread and piece of fabric. I also poured my magic into it while I stitched it together. Pull it over your lap and let's see if the twins respond to it as well."

Minerva did as requested and sighed contently as the twins instantly calmed. She grinned at her mother. "Thanks Mother," she said in gratitude. "I should be able to rest with this blanket."

"You're welcome love," Isobel said as she kissed Minerva's forehead. "I am also working on healing. I have a therapist Uncle Don found visiting me. I am working through my issues."

"That's great mother," Minerva said excitedly. She hoped her mother healed quickly.

"Aye," Isobel replied. "It helps to talk to someone that doesn't know a thing about me. Uncle Don helps too. We were very close growing up and I feel like I finally have a piece of my childhood back. I loved staying at Ross Estate with my grandparents and Uncle Don growing up. It was my parents that I dispised."

Minerva smiled as she stepped in the cottage in Hogsmeade. Robert had suprised everyone besides Tom (who had helped him) by purchasing a small cottage in Hogsmeade. It was built of stone and weathered beams. It had a lovely porch and wooden fence with a small little gate. There was a decent sized yard as well. It was adorable and conveniently located between the school and Aberforth's pub.

Robert had refused to go back to Caithness to live after Isobel had recovered. He had finally admitted he couldn't stop seeing Isobel blast through the door or bleeding on the floor. Isobel had finally relented when he mentioned it wouldn't be fair to take the twins so far from Minerva once they were born either.

"These aren't mine," Minerva had argued.

Robert smiled gently at his oldest child. "While they might not be yours, you are carrying them. You cannot tell me you aren't getting attached to the wee ones."

Minerva had looked away and tried to hide her tears. He had been correct. Minerva was growing attached to the energetic babes. "Oh my Minerva," Isobel had soothed as she pulled her child in her arms or at least as close as she could with the bulging belly. "I hadn't given it any thought of how attached you would become. I'm so sorry love. I would never keep the twins away from you." Words had failed Minerva and her mother merely held her and whispered soothingly into her ear.

Shaking the thoughts from her head, Minerva walked in the cottage and smiled at the scene before her. Hermione was sitting in her Granddad's lap as he read Shakespeare to her. "Trying to convert her already," she teased her Dad.

Robert snorted in amusement before reporting, "Like you haven't already started. I do believe you share my love of Shakespeare's work."

"I do," she freely admitted as she settled down in the couch and pulled her aching feet up on the nearby ottoman. "Lay on McGonagall." Robert laughed heartily before doing as requested and continuing to read.

Minerva screamed as the second little body slid free of her body. She fell back on the bed with a thump in her exhaustion. It was the early hours of October the 4th and way too early for the twins to be born. Tom had been away at a conference with the French Ministry and wasn't due back until later today. "Do you want to hold them," Poppy asked her.

"Pass them to Mother," Minerva panted as she tried to catch her breath. Isobel and Robert had rushed to her when Heather the house elf had alerted them to her labor. Robert was attending to Hermione in the living room as Minerva gave birth to her siblings with Isobel supporting her.

"Are you sure love," Isobel asked hesitantly. "You carried them, you should hold them first."

"I shan't take that honor from you," Minerva replied. "Besides I still need to deliver the afterbirth."

"Very well," Isobel relented and gently picked up her twins. Their cries stopped as she hugged them close. "Hello my little loves."

Minerva watched her mother with the twins. Tears of joy were streaming down her face as she stared in wonder at them. Minerva shared a look with Poppy before commenting, "That's why I wanted you to hold them first. I'm not the only one affected by this situation. You missed out on feeling them grow and move about from within."

Isobel smiled gratefully at her oldest child. "I did," she admitted, "but I can't begrudge you for being the one to feel it. Without your selfless decision, they nor I would be here. Just think love, you delivered your own birthday gifts."

Poppy snorted in amusement at the shock that filtered across her friend's face at the unexpected comment. Minerva grinned at her mother before responding, "We both know I am going to need an extremely rare book in honor of this birthday."

"I shall tell your father to start searching now," Isobel said with a laugh. Her girl loved her books!

Tom rushed home as soon as he received word Minerva had given birth to the twins. He found his family settled in the living room along with Robert, Isobel and the twins. "Daddy," Hermione yelled as she ran to him and launched herself into his arms. "We have babies!"

Tom chuckled as he peppered kisses all over her face. "I have missed you princess," he responded and pulled her near. He walked to Minerva and pressed a kiss to her lips. "How do you feel?"

"Thin," was her response and prompted laughter throughout the room. "I am fine as can be. Poppy said I should be able to move about without limitations by the weekend."

"That's wonderful," he breathed and then moved to catch a peek at the twins. "What are their names?"

"Finley and Fiona," Robert answered proudly.

Before another word could be said, wailing babies cried out for dinner. Isobel looked at her chest in utter bewilderment and then back at her smirking daughter. "What did you do Minerva McGonagall?" she demanded.

"I invented a new potion that allows a witch who ingests it to breastfeed," she said smugly. "Poppy spelled it into your stomach earlier while you were distracted. I may have carried the wee ones but I will gladly leave the breastfeeding to you."

Robert and Tom burst out laughing at the look on Isobel's face. "I'm not sure whether to be proud of you for inventing the potion or upset by the shock of it," she answered.

"Settle on proud," Minerva offered and then summoned a box to her. "The potion has to be taken daily. I have enough made for you for a month. A copy of the recipe is in the box so you can make more when you get a chance."

Isobel took the box and peered inside. The milky white colored potion shimmered in the light. She spied the recipe and couldn't resist looking it over. "Isobel's gift," she questioned. "That's what you named it?"

"Aye," Minerva said with a content smile. "It is what it was. A gift to get back what you had lost. Now let's grab these heathens and get them feed."

Minerva stood up and picked up Finley as she headed to her bedroom. Isobel followed behind with Fiona. Before Isobel had left, the room's occupants had seemed the overwhelming gratitude and love in Isobel's eyes directed at her oldest child.