So a lot of things occur...
Balancing her seventh year and pregnancy was harder than what Minerva even expected. She was determined to keep her condition a secret from everyone besides Albus (of course), Madam Blackmar (sworn to secrecy), and Pomona and Rolanda. Hiding this required much more than concealment charms. She maintained her NEWTS studying schedule, her Head Girl duties, and somehow had to inconspicuously rush to the restrooms to vomit after nearly every meal. And the biggest concern of all currently, draining all of her extra energy, was the upcoming biannual Dueling Tournament. Minerva was the reigning champion having won in her fifth year, narrowly beating out Tom, and he was eager for another go.
Albus, too, was busy. News of Grindelwald's Army planning on marching to France in one last attempt to win the war had reached the Resistance. He was prepared to go to battle at a moments notice, but now that he had a family to think about, Albus was more concerned than usual. Over lunch and in between classes, Albus was busy organizing his finances in case anything happened to him. He met with a lawyer in Diagon Alley over lunch in the middle of the week to write up a magical will. It gave Minerva his cottage and small life's earnings tucked away in Gringotts. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be eligible for any survivors benefits given they weren't legally married, but he hoped that this secret will would be enough to provide for her and the child for a few years if the worst were to happen.
And speaking of marriage, the ring felt as heavy as a brick in the pockets of his robes. Albus had been carrying it around in case the moment presented itself, but he'd hardly seen Minerva given their busy schedules. It felt like he heard more about the progress of her pregnancy from Healer Blackmar than Minerva herself. But Valentines Day, that sordid Muggle holiday was coming up, and although it would be cliche to propose then, it might be Albus's best option. He wanted to propose to her sooner rather than later, not just out of a sense of duty but in case she wanted to let her parents know over the Easter holidays.
The logistics of taking their relationship public were proving to be a nightmare. If only they could make it through graduation, he hoped, there was a chance for both of their reputations to come out relatively unscathed. A young Hogwarts teacher and former student marrying would be a relatively minor scandal, all things considered. Even the Hogwarts faculty wouldn't be too surprised. After the drawn-out and excessively public Slughorn divorce, the professors had really heard of everything under the sun regarding the private lives of their co-workers. Albus even thought that Armando might marry them this summer. He shook his head. These were future problems. He first needed to survive the war. And he really couldn't plan a wedding until Minerva agreed to be his wife.
So therefore, after class on Thursday afternoon, Albus asked Minerva to stay after with that twinkle in his eye. Ensuring the door to the classroom was locked, he approached her desk and placed his hand on top of hers.
"How are you feeling, my dear? Both of you," he asked, gesturing to her abdomen.
Minerva blushed. "I'm famished! All the time! And so tired. I want our baby to be healthy more than anything, even these dreaded exams, and I'm really trying to cut back on responsibilities.." Tears formed in her eyes, " Oh Albus! Maybe I should resign from being Head Girl. After all, it wasn't really responsible of me to go get myself knocked up."
He held her crumpled face against his torso and kissed the crown of her head. "Darling, I'm so, so sorry. This is all my fault. I know you do so much, but you're handling it so well, especially since this all has to stay secret. I am sorry we haven't seen much of each other lately - you know, Saturday is Valentines Day. How about you come over to my quarters Friday night and we spend the next day together relaxing? No work, no war, no Head Girl duties, no Head of House - just Albus and Minerva."
She sniffled and dried her eyes with the corner of her robes. "You don't know how much I would love that, Albus. And I know I'm being overly emotional, it's all due to this pregnancy. I've been reading up on pregnancy in the library - Madam Kateman gives me the side eye everytime I come in but she'd never expect me, of all students, to be sleeping around."
Albus chuckled, "No, no, of course not my dear. She probably thinks you've immersed yourself in some independent study or want to change course and become a mediwitch. All I know is I am so excited to start this journey with you, and relieved you've done your research as I certainly still have much to learn about parenting. Anyways, I have a staff meeting to run to - I'll see you tomorrow night?"
Minerva stood up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek as she left. The witch was so exhausted that she slept through dinner. Luckily Pomona and Rolanda snuck out a plate and brought it to the dormitory.
"Oh girls, you shouldn't have! Gods, what time is it even?"
Pomona fretted, "Its nine, Min! And you HAVE to eat! If not for you then …" she darted her eyes around the room and cast a silencing charm on Minerva's bed. "For the baby!"
Minerva rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. I'm being perfectly responsible in that matter. All my extra energy is being directed towards this pregnancy. I'm just so tired."
Rolanda looked concerned. "Is there anything you can ease back on to get more rest? I know Quidditch is done, but what if you cut back on working out... Or what about the duel? I think you might be spending too much time on the dueling tournament - is it even safe?"
Minerva considered her words. "I really don't want to quit the dueling tournament next week. I'm the reigning champion and I don't want to even think about forfeiting and just letting Tom win. But maybe you're right. Thank you both again for the food - I should head back to sleep."
Her friends left her alone and trudged back into the common room with concern in their hearts. This was not the celebratory, carefree seventh year that Minerva deserved."
On Friday morning, Tom and Minerva held their biweekly meeting with the Prefects before breakfast. It was the first time she'd interacted with him in a while.
"Minerva, I'm going to give you an absolute run for your money!" Tom smirked. "I've been practicing for years, mastering some advanced spells and charms found in the library that even Flitwick couldn't muster, I've even concocted some of my own."
Minerva scoffed. "You know that's against the rules, Tom! And besides… I might not even be taking part in the tournament this year." She frowned.
Tom pestered, "Why the hell wouldn't you? You're the best competition I've got! This is not the uber-competitive, ultra-perfectionist Minerva McGonagall I know!"
"It saddens me too, Tom. But I have some … health reasons standing in the way. I'm really not sure yet, I might feel good enough to compete. Lets start this meeting, shall we?"
Tom was furious on the inside. There'd be no reason to test out his new spells if Minerva wasn't competing - no one else in the castle would be close enough to his skill level to even perform them on. And he'd created some quite complex, evil spells that would certainly trip her up. They could injure or even kill a lesser dueling partner, but he knew Minerva could handle them. She simply had to compete. He'd get to the bottom of whatever health problems she might be having, that was for sure. Tom would pay Healer Blackmar a visit later and snoop around.
Meanwhile, after dinner, Minerva snuck over to Albus's quarters. It was becoming a normal routine for them. It seemed as though neither individual was missed by many in the castle. As long as Albus kept up his weekly meetings with Headmaster Dippet and paid Slughorn a visit or two every month, the other faculty couldn't care as to his whereabouts. They all had families and lives of their own. And as far as Minerva went, she really never had that many friends at Hogwarts. Her two best friends knew her secret and she saw Tom often enough with their Head Boy and Girl duties. Quidditch was over. Minerva and Albus could spend an entire weekend together and noone would be the wiser as long as they made it to meals and stayed hidden in his rooms.
So that's exactly what they did. Curled up on the couch that night, they planned out everything they'd need once the baby arrived in the late summer. They were planning on the birth as if Albus would still have a job at Hogwarts and that she would take a year off before graduate studies. The future was so uncertain, so planning for this best case scenario was really their only option.
"Do you think we could spend the summer at your cottage, Albus? And maybe visit my parents?" Albus froze up next to her. "Oh, don't be so worried! We'll have to tell them at some point. Though, ideally it would be after graduation. When my father is angry, there's no telling what he'll do. But he'll love you. I'm sure of it."
"Of course, dear. Of course to all of that." Albus began to sweat. He had the ring right in his pocket. He knew he had a whole plan to ask her to marry him tomorrow as they walked along the lake but for some reason, this night, February 13th, just felt right. "And speaking of your parents, speaking of us. I love you Minerva. And I want to do every single step of this the right way. I want you to be my wife, when we have this child and forever after that. I have my mother's ring with me, I know it isn't much at first glance but it means the world to me because she would've loved you. And she would want you to have this. I cannot think of anyone else that I want to spend my life with. You're brilliant, fiercely loyal, absolutely breathtaking in every since of the word, and most of all, you are my best friend and mother of my child. Minerva McGonagall, will you marry me?"
Minerva was completely surprised. To be honest, she didn't think he'd propose before she gave birth, before she graduated. She certainly didn't expect this tonight. But Minerva felt this absolute sense of excitement and joy that she'd never felt before. It was like her entire future was in front of her. The prospect of life with a child and with Albus simply didn't bring any dread, in fact, she couldn't wait for this life to begin. Because, the thing is, when you find someone that you really love, all of your material, even intellectual goals, start to feel a little less important. And Minerva knew that with a supportive husband like Albus, she would still be able to pursue her academic dreams throughout her life. At least, she hoped that would be the case. This war would prove to be a toll on the two of them in the coming months, she was sure.
She had to restrain herself from giggling out of joy. "Well, Professor Dumbledore, I think I will do just that! I love you too, I love us." Minerva leaned in closer for a tender kiss between the two. She felt that she could stay in that moment forever - entwined in Albus' arms, watching the fire slowly burn with a glass of red wine by his side and pumpkin juice for her. With him, she could almost leave the stresses of the magical world behind completely.
On the other side of the castle, Tom Riddle decided now would be a great time to visit the Hospital Wing. A late Friday night meant that there would be no share of intoxicated sixth and seventh years who'd been partying in their common rooms well into the evening. Tom would be able to break into the Healer's office, with any luck.
He downed a vial of Dizziness Draught and stumbled into the wing.
"Mr. Riddle! You better not be intoxicated! Sit down on that bed over there." She pointed to a bed nearest to the filing cabinets where every student's information was held.
"I swear I'm not, Madam, I just felt faint all the sudden while on my rounds! You can leave me alone and take care of the other students, I just need to lay down momentarily."
As the healer left to tend to her other patients, all retching from firewhisky poisoning, Tom pried open the cabinet labeled "M." Quickly finding Minerva's file, he cast a duplicating spell on it and sneakily slid the paper up his sleeve, replacing the original. Springing up, he yelled out to Healer Blackmar, "All better now, mamn! I just needed to take a rest for a minute!"
Eager to find out what could possibly bar Minerva from dueling him, Tom leaned against the stone wall in the hallway and scanned her records. "Broken arm from Quidditch in her third year, broken ribs earlier this year, pregnancy… PREGNANCY? Tom was shocked, both horrified, saddened for her, and strangely furious. He always figured he'd win Minerva over, both to the darker side of magic and to be his partner. Who could she possibly be sleeping with? If it was another student, he'd definitely know. And how could she be so stupid? Tom had his suspicions, but they were so out of line, so scandalous, that there was no way they could possibly be true. Still, he'd keep this information and this idea to himself … there were many ways that Tom Riddle could proceed with his newfound knowledge.