A/N: Hey y'all! Thanks for your patience and support. The last month has been… chaotic with finals but now that I have some time to relax I'm hoping to churn out some content!
Walking alone down the cracked pavement of Knockturn Alley Minerva shivered in the wind and snow, enveloped in her cloak. She glanced at the shred of paper that she'd hurriedly scrawled the doctor's address on. 1020 Knockturn Alley. It was a sinister looking office front, sandwiched between Borgin and Burkes and a grimey pub called The Heights, even though it was located on street level. Minerva knew she'd be able to walk into the clinic without an appointment - these spells were rather straightforward but required a mediwitch or wizard in case of complications. So Minerva figured she'd sit at the bar for a bit until she could gather her courage.
A gruff looking barkeep approached her sitting alone at a table by the window. "What can I get ye?"
"Just a butterbeer, please." For some reason Minerva still did not want to harm the fetus by alcoholic consumption. Sitting and contemplating, her mind turned to Albus again.
She thought back to when their relationship turned borderline flirtatious in early October, her birthday. Minerva never made a huge fuss about birthdays - in fact, no one really knew the date of her's besides Pomona and Rolanda. But somehow on the fourth, when Minerva showed up at Albus's office, summoned by his owl for a game of chess, she was surprised to find his office full of balloons and a bottle of champagne on the table with two flutes.
Albus stood in the corner, beaming. "Surprise, my dear! You didn't tell me that your birthday was coming up! However, this morning I woke up and felt that the day was … special somehow. There's actually a charmed book of important dates in the staff lounge - student birthdays, holidays, exams - so naturally I checked it. Much to my surprise, it notified me of my favorite student's birthday!"
"Albus! This is really too kind. I don't like a huge fuss over my birthday. With younger brothers at home, it always got a little bit overlooked. I will admit, I feel so special now, after you set all this up."
"You deserve so much more, Minerva. And soon, after you leave Hogwarts, you'll have it! The entire world is at your fingertips, a talented witch like you only comes once in a generation. And speaking of this, as a small gift, I couldn't help but notice in class over the weeks that you had a charm bracelet. I hope you'll like this addition."
It was true, childish as they were, Minerva was quite proud of the magical charm bracelet that her parents had given her upon her start at Hogwarts. At the moment, it included a broomstick that shot out sparks, recognizing her love of Quidditch, and the country of Scotland, flickering red and yellow, to remind her of home. Albus gave her a third charm, a spinning globe, and Minerva nearly cried in that moment, touched that he thought of her.
In the present at the bar, Minerva fiddled with the globe charm, nervously twisting it. She had the world at her fingertips. But she didn't want the world. She wanted to stay at Hogwarts after graduation, or wherever Albus was, and to raise a family. She wanted to continue her transfigurations and animagus work, eventually teaching or working in the school library. She wanted to grow old with the man she loved and at the school that raised her - she didn't need to see the whole world to know that! Minerva hoped that, similar to how Albus sensed her birthday, he would somehow sense her pain. She just wanted him to be here with her.
Albus was hurrying down the alley, his brisk walk turning into a run, as he searched for Minerva. If she was serious about getting an abortion, she would definitely be at Knockturn Alley of all places. He deeply regretted leaving her that morning, the poor girl alone with her thoughts. He knew that she deeply had wanted his approval, but instead of comforting her, even sharing excitement about having a child, Albus had decided to crush her dreams of motherhood and left her crying. What the hell was he thinking? Determined to make things right, he set out to find his girlfriend. Despite all the negatives and risks, from being caught at Hogwarts and forced to resign, to endangering his family if Grindelwald found out, Albus wanted to start a family with Minerva.
He rushed past the Borgin and Burkes but stopped at the pub when he saw a flash of dark hair and an emerald cloak in the window. Thank gods! He found her.
Albus flung open the door and Minerva quickly turned around to see who was entering, her heart filled with hope. Her eyes brightened at the sight of him and Albus grabbed her hands in his.
"I knew you'd find me! I haven't done anything… rash.. If you're wondering." Her face quickly clouded at the thought of how close she had been to giving up her future with him.
Albus smiled down softly at her as he stood at the table. He blinked away tears forming in his eyes. "Thank god. I want to have a life with you and our child. We can handle the consequences. Now let's go back to the castle - your friends are quite worried and I still have classes to teach." He threw a few sickles down on the table and led her to the street.
Turning to face him, Minerva looked up at Albus as they were about to apparate back to the castle grounds. The two were closer now, physically and emotionally, than ever before. "Thank you, Albus."
"There is no need to thank me, Minerva." He smiled tenderly down at her and cupped her cheek. "I am doing this willingly, with all my heart."
It was the first Saturday of February, and Minerva sat at the edge of Albus's bed, putting on her casual weekend robes. She'd slept over in his quarters almost every night this week since her trip to London and was enjoying this domesticity, although she knew they must be more careful. Minerva was preparing for her first healer's appointment today. While she and Albus would've loved to go to St. Mungos together for her first prenatal checkup, they decided together that it would be best to try and hide the pregnancy for as long as possible. If they could make it to June somehow, charming her robes to hide her growing belly, then perhaps Albus would avoid disciplinary action. More importantly, concealing his parentage meant Minerva wouldn't be at risk in the Wizarding War. Grindelwald and his followers had been suspiciously quiet since Albus's last homecoming.
So Minerva would visit Madam Blackmar alone for the extent of her pregnancy and would pretend the father was a muggle back home that she'd met over break. Although disappointed that Albus couldn't be with her, Minerva was also quite excited. Now that she was sure that they would be having this child together, she threw her attention into preparing for motherhood in the same way that she threw her attention into everything, being a perfectionist. With Quidditch over and the couple deciding to put a pause on animagus training, this filled that void. From reading muggle pregnancy books to designing a small nursery for Albus's summer cottage to writing out thousands of baby names, Minerva was absolutely giddy. She kissed Albus goodbye as he lounged in his chair in the sitting room, reading the Daily Prophet.
The second that Minerva's boots clacked away down the castle corridor, Albus sprung into action. He had much to do while she was away, namely, he needed to secure his mother's ring. Albus was to propose marriage. Not only was it the right thing to do, as she was carrying his child, but he wanted to spend his life with Minerva. He'd never risked so much for anyone before. While the two weren't often able to be together for a full day in his quarters, and certainly not in public, he looked forward to a future without sneaking glances at each other in class. Someday, he thought, the muggle and wizarding wars would be over. He and Min could buy a small home near Hogwarts and her family if he was still teaching and have a few more children. Or they could move wherever she wanted to pursue her career or studies next. Albus wanted to ensure that no matter what, Minerva would not be tied down by him. She was already sacrificing so much to be tied to a man at her age.
The only woman deserving of Kendra Dumbledore's ring was Minerva. The ring was modest but a well-made elven design, a handcrafted white gold band with miniature diamonds making a flower. He knew Minerva would appreciate the significance of this family heirloom and he knew that his mother would've loved her. But he had to get Aberforth's approval to pass on the ring. It was half his, after all. Albus strongly doubted that Abe had any plans to marry but also knew Abe would do anything just to spite his brother. At the same time, Abe did seem to take a liking to Minerva.
Preparing for a confrontation, Albus floo-ed to the Hogs Head. Aberforth was polishing glasses behind the empty bar.
"Ehh? What do you want from me, Albus? No one died, right?"
"No, Aberforth. It's lovely to see you to. I've come to you to talk about our mother's ring. I want to propose to Minerva."
"Oh gods, you did knock her up! Didn't you? I warned you to stay away and here you go ruining the poor girl's life!"
"Stop it, Abe - I love her. I know don't think highly of me at all but I love her and I want to do right by her. You know she is a kindhearted, strong woman, just like Mother, and that she is more than deserving of the Dumbledore ring. So I'm here asking you for permission.'
"Well, Albus, seeing as I don't want you going and screwing up more, I think you should propose to her. The ring is all yours. I'm sure it's in our Gringotts vault with what little remains of the belongings from the Godric's Hollow house."
Albus looked at his brother's withered face and tired eyes with sincere gratitude. "Thank you, Aberforth. I know we don't always get along, but we are all each other has. And now you'll have a sister in law as well, and nieces and nephews eventually. I see no reason as to why they won't love you."
Albus left to retrieve the ring and felt nearly giddy with excitement. He allowed himself to entertain the joys of marital and familial life that he never thought he would be able to experience. But now, with a woman who loved him, he would build a family and as his equal in magical abilities, they could grow together professionally as well. Minerva deserved much more than a hastened proposal and a shotgun wedding. Albus pondered over the logistics and timing of his upcoming proposal as he ran his errands in Diagon Alley.