A/N: Thank you for reading!

For the disclaimer, please see the prologue.

Chapter Forty: Autumn 1947

Life in exile was certainly proving to be interesting. The cottage was relatively small, but, as Albus had suggested, a few expansion charms had made their living quarters quite comfortable. There was a back garden that provided the children with ample room to play, and an old office that Poppy had repurposed for the sake of conducting Minerva's medical examinations. Minerva had thought she would tire of her cloistered world rather quickly; instead, she rather enjoyed it. For the first time in a long time, she was taking time to do absolutely nothing but read, enjoy her pregnancy, and spend time with her family.

As was to be expected, Lucy had both good days and bad days. Minerva found she rather enjoyed taking care of the girls on the bad days. She was growing more and more excited about her impending motherhood as time went on. Initially, Minerva had worried about Aidan as he wasn't one to enjoy mandatory confinement. For the first few weeks, her husband had proven her right. He had been extremely annoyed to find themselves in Albus' bedroom; however, once Minerva had assured him that she had never been there with Albus, he had found it all too amusing.

"You mean I get to ravish you on his bed?" Aidan had smirked.

Minerva's only response had been to throw a pillow at him.

All in all, the group felt rather safe, if uneasy. Aidan updated the wards and security every night, and as Albus had performed the Fidelius charm, Minerva knew they were as protected as they could be. Unfortunately, they still had no news of Callum, and with Aoife's first birthday rapidly approaching, what should have been a happy occasion was causing tension amongst the group.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Lucy cried, throwing streamers across the room. She put her head in her hands. "I'm not supposed to be planning my daughter's first birthday without Callum here."

"Luce—" Poppy tried.

"And it's not even that he's not here! It's that he's gone. Missing. We've been here for almost five months, and no one is any the wiser!"

Minerva stayed silent. She was well accustomed to her sister-in-law's moods after five months in confinement. At first, Lucy wanted reassurance: yes, Callum is alive, and no, he isn't dismembered in a ditch somewhere. As the weeks had turned into months, Lucy was simply angry, and short of bringing Callum home, no one could do anything to help her.

"She should have her grandparents here," Lucy continued angrily, "but no, her grandparents are stuck hiding Merlin knows where because there's a group of maniacs on the loose! The only one of us that gets to leave this jail cell is Ro, and she never brings back any information!"

Poppy and Minerva exchanged nervous looks. As Lucy had assumed, Ro had joined them all at Albus' cottage, discontent to let Poppy out of her sight for an indeterminate amount of time. Consequently, she had begrudgingly taken Albus' offer and had decided to help the Unspeakables on their time travel research. Ro was able to occasionally leave the cottage: she wasn't known to be a direct contact of Callum, and she was travelling only between the secret cottage and the most protected Ministry department.

"Lucy, you know that's not fair," Minerva said gently. "She's under Auror protection, and she's only allowed to go to the Ministry."

"I—I know," Lucy choked, "but my life isn't fair right now, Min. I miss him, and I miss our house. I miss our lives."

"We all do," Poppy added. "Trust me, this is not how any of us thought our year would go." She looked at Minerva and smiled. "I know it's slightly different for me because I chose to be here, but there was no way I was letting Minerva go through pregnancy without medical supervision."

"Thank goodness for that," Minerva laughed. While Poppy had deemed her pregnancy "completely normal", Minerva still feared that Albus would encounter something on the field that would cause complications with her pregnancy. She placed her hands on her swollen stomach. "I can't wait until this phase is over."

"You say that now, but labour is a bitch," Lucy muttered.

"It will not be pleasant," Poppy agreed sympathetically. "I may not have Lucy's experience, but I know enough to know that you won't enjoy yourself."

"Bloody fantastic," Minerva sighed. "Well, I shall enjoy this time then. I'd say we could have mother-baby bonding, but..."

"Aidan's always around," Lucy laughed, with only a hint of bitterness. "I don't know what I would have done if I had been kept captive during either of my pregnancies. Half the time, I didn't even want to look at Callum." Her expression softened. "I'm worried his face is starting to fade."

"No, you mustn't think that," Minerva said firmly. While she appreciated that Callum was Lucy's husband, he was also her own brother, and she was just as concerned as Lucy. "If you ever think you're losing his face, look at Iolanthe or Aoife—hell, you can even look at me. He's there. His face is not fading, and he is still here. I can tolerate a lot, but I can't take that. My brother will not be forgotten."

Lucy looked slightly chastened. "I didn't mean to offend you, Min."

"I know," Minerva said gently. "This isn't easy on any of us."

"That's the truth." Lucy inhaled and exhaled deeply. "At least the girls don't seem to be unhappy."

"They have taken to country life quite well," Minerva laughed. "You may need to move to the country when this is all over."

"Can you imagine Callum in the country? He hates it."

"He liked it enough when we were kids," Minerva shrugged. "You could probably convince him."

"Speaking of kids," Poppy interrupted, "we should do your weekly exam, Min."

"What if we don't and say we did? I don't particularly enjoy you poking and prodding my stomach." Minerva wrinkled her nose in distaste. "And you always make me pee in a cup."

"One benefit to this whole quarantine situation," Poppy began, a wicked smile on her face, "is that I can take two steps outside this room, call for Aidan, and cause him to worry so much that you'll be happy to subject yourself to my exams."

Minerva grimaced. Aidan had been overprotective of her lately, not even allowing her to walk around the back garden by herself. She would admit that his worry was undoubtedly justified, but Minerva missed certain aspects of her independence.

"You know, I love you all, but sometimes I wish Aidan had a friend here." Minerva shook her head. "Someone to worry about besides me. I think the fact that we have all only seen each other for the past five months has caused us all to go a little barmy."

"That's not a nice thing to say about your Medi-Witch, now is it?" Poppy smirked. "Come on, let's check on baby Scrimgeour."

Later that night, after Poppy had deemed the baby to be "as healthy as a lamb," the adults were gathered in the living room, chatting lightly. In an attempt to distract from the fact that they didn't have any visitors to entertain, they found themselves suggesting a new topic of conversation every day. They were in the middle of discussing travel destinations when the sound of a Floo call put them on edge.

To their surprise and relief, Albus stepped through the fireplace. "I know it's late, but—"

Aidan was already off the couch with his wand outstretched. "How do we know you're truly Albus?"

"You once punched my nose, Minerva and I are bonded, and I saved Ro's life using illegal magic." Albus raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate the caution, but trust me when I say that no one can get through these wards without my permission."

"That's usually what is meant by a secret keeper, yes," Ro muttered drily.

"Why are you here, Albus? And why so late?" Lucy's voice was anxious. "Is Callum..."

"I don't have much information for you, I'm afraid," Albus apologized. "We're working hard. I believe the Auror office has made some inroads, but they're not telling me anything in case I'm attacked again. But," he added, sensing Lucy's growing despondency, "I believe that in this case, no news is good news."

"If you don't have any news about Callum, is there something else you need to discuss?" Aidan's voice was polite but to the point. He still didn't know how to navigate his relationship with Albus.

"I need to speak with you and Minerva, if I could," Albus said hesitantly. He looked at Minerva. "I have some information to share with you."

"Geez, Albus, you're the first outsider we've seen in five months, and you immediately want to leave the rest of us?" Poppy smiled wryly. "Head into the office; I've put away the examination table."

"Thank you, Poppy." Albus bowed his head. "After you both?"

Aidan looked at Minerva and led the group into the office. Albus shut the door behind him and sat down on the desk, facing the couple's expectant faces.

"Now," Albus began, "as I'm sure you can imagine, I've been a bit busy. I haven't had much time for our research project, and my Auror detail hasn't allowed me to visit France since June—"

"When Callum was taken," Minerva interrupted.

"Correct," Albus sighed. "Nicolas has contacted me, and he has advised that he believes there may be a way to manage the effects of our bond. He doubts that we can ever be rid of each other entirely, but we may be able to mitigate it."

"So, for instance," Minerva pondered aloud, "when Aidan broke your nose, instead of feeling a sharp pain, I would have just felt a mere throbbing?"

"You felt that?" Aidan looked at his wife wondrously. "Oh, I am so, so sorry."

She waved off his concern. "It's fine. No lasting harm was done to me. I'm not the one sporting a bump on my nose."

Aidan had the grace to blush. "Sorry about that again, Albus."

"No matter. I find the bump is rather useful at keeping my spectacles in place. But yes, Minerva, you're quite right. We will always be able to feel each other in some way—I personally am not looking forward to your labour—but at any rate, we should be able to manage it. That way, if one of us finds ourselves in a life-threatening situation, the other is not automatically in danger." Albus looked between them. "Any thoughts on that?"

"I think it's a good starting point," Aidan agreed. "How sure are we that we'll never be able to sever this thing once and for all?"

"We're not at all sure about that," Albus said, slightly angered. "We're doing our best here. In case you've forgotten, I have dark wizards trying to kill me on a regular basis. I'm being tailed constantly. It's a little hard to do secret research with an Auror detail, and I would think you would want me to take care as this project concerns your wife."

Minerva glared at Albus. "There's no need to be so callous. We clearly understand that times are difficult right now. I had not envisioned my pregnancy taking place isolated in your family cottage, but that's the way things are. Thank you for telling us there may be a way to manage this. That is very good news."

"We can attempt the alchemical formula once you're no longer pregnant," Albus responded quietly. "I wouldn't want to do anything that would put the baby at risk."

"I agree," Minerva said. "As soon as we're out of here and the baby is born, we will try what you and Nicolas have come up with."

"So long as we're on the topic of your pregnancy," Albus began, "something else has come to my attention, and I believe it prudent to raise it with you."

"All right, then, Albus. What is it?" Aidan asked, folding his arms over his chest.

"I believe it would be in the best interests of your child if we kept your pregnancy a secret, and if only your family knew that you had given birth."

Aidan's jaw dropped, but before he could respond, Minerva said coolly, "And what on earth makes you think that you have any right to tell me how to parent my child?"

"I don't believe your child will be safe," Albus replied simply.

"You're going to have to do better than that, Albus," Minerva snapped. "Why? What do you know that would lead Aidan and me to make that sort of decision? Make no mistake: we might be bonded, but you are not the father of my child. You do not have the right to partake in parenting choices."

Albus felt as though she had doused him in cold water and left him outside in the Arctic to freeze. He had never heard her be so callously blunt with him, and he still cared enough for her that it pierced his heart.

"I'm not trying to be anything but a caring friend," Albus sighed. "I didn't want to say this in front of Lucy, but things are not progressing well."

"What does that mean?" Aidan frowned.

"I have many theories, none of which I can prove. The facts are these: more and more people are murdered. Most of them Muggles. A few Muggleborns, as well, unfortunately. From what I can glean through my various contacts within the Auror department and my own detail, we're not any closer to discovering who is behind this. Or finding Callum, I'm afraid." Albus smiled apologetically.

"Oh, Merlin," Minerva muttered. She felt Aidan squeeze her neck gently. "What does this have to do with my baby?"

"The reason I wanted Ro back with the Unspeakables is so that we have someone on the inside of their time travel work. I am not sure, but I theorize that someone is playing with time, and I suspect that this person is travelling back in time to help Gellert Grindelwald. I know that he told you he discovered us because his minion was able to break through our wards, but..."

"You don't believe that," Minerva breathed.

"I'm not sure what I believe," Albus admitted. "I know there are enough people that work in the Unspeakables that flirt with the dark arts. When I was in their library, I saw Tom Riddle and a few of his friends lounging in the department lobby. I believe they were visiting Tomas Dolohov, someone who works with Ro on time travel research."

"You sent Ro directly into the line of fire?" Aidan hissed. "Merlin, Albus!"

"I told Ro what I would require of her, and she accepted. Now, I don't know how much Aidan knows, Minerva, but I believe you are well aware of the dangers posed to your child if Gellert is indeed travelling into the future." Albus stared at her. "I'm sure you have questions about the logistics of when Gellert would have time travelled, but you will recall that—"

"His name was feared, but he was very rarely seen. I know. That's why it took us so bloody long to catch him," Minerva sighed. She turned to Aidan. "He's right. If Grindelwald is indeed here, and he is trying to gain leverage over Albus circa 1945, then getting a hold of our child would be a brilliant way to do it."

"Because he would think it would be your child, Albus? Yours and Minerva's?" Aidan's eyes narrowed. "I don't know the full backstory here, but he really must hate you, eh?"

"Something like that," Albus replied dismissively. He turned to Minerva. "I don't think Gellert knew of our bond, but in the event that he was aware and was merely testing us during the duel, he could try anything to test its strength. I would not be surprised if that included attacking your child, especially if he thought that our bond was somehow hereditary."

"That's not true, right?" Aidan inquired sharply.

"I don't think so, no. It's a romantic bond, not familial," Minerva murmured. "Albus, you sincerely think there's a threat to our child? You're not simply saying this for one of your master plans?"

"Minerva, I believe that if I'm correct—which, frankly, is usually the case—then both you and your child will be at great risk. I can't help but wonder if that's why Callum was taken; after all, he is your brother and known to be close to me," Albus sighed. "Other than Elphinstone, does anyone outside of these walls know about your pregnancy?"

Minerva thought about it. "No. We didn't have a chance to tell our parents before we left. Aidan?"

"No, we were planning on telling them a while later." Aidan ran his hands through his hair. "It could work, Min. Albus is right: no one knows, and we've been sequestered for the entirety of your pregnancy. By the sounds of it, we'll still be here by the time the baby is born. Whenever we get out of here, I'm fine if we tell your mother, but to hell with my parents. They'd try to host a huge gathering, and with their pureblooded friends, there's no way they wouldn't boast about the new Scrimgeour heir."

"You'd willingly turn your back on your entire family?" Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"Min, they're two pureblooded idealists who would have rather I married my insane cousin Katrina," Aidan laughed morosely. "The only family I need is in this cottage, save Callum."

"Speaking of our parents," Minerva said, "is there any word on how they're doing? It's not like we can ask Ro to find out for us."

"Your mother and the Peverells have been taken somewhere safe. I don't know where, I'm afraid. I haven't heard any bad news, so I'm assuming they're still safe," Albus informed them.

"Good. That's good news," Minerva exhaled. "Now, it's all well and good to say that we'll keep our child hidden from the world, but how do you expect we do that in practice? While our marriage isn't well-known, we haven't kept it a secret."

"You're a mistress of transfiguration, Minerva. Surely you can disguise Aidan and yourself anytime you go out in public with your child."

"You think a semi-permanent disguise is the answer?"

"Are you unwilling to do it, Minerva?"

Her voice was icy. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for this child, Albus. Don't you dare insinuate as much again."

"I didn't mean to insult you, my d—Minerva." Albus sighed inwardly. He knew that his personal life was nothing short of a disaster, but he hadn't expected it to manifest in anger directed towards Minerva. "I think that's the only solution, that's all."

"Well, we have a few months yet before we need to determine the specifics," Aidan said slowly, not wanting to raise the ire of neither his wife nor his professor. "In principle, I believe that secrecy is for the best. At least, until we can boot Grindelwald back into his own time for good."

"This isn't how I saw our life going, Aidan!" Minerva cried, finally snapping. "Merlin, I sound like Lucy, but this is not how my pregnancy was supposed to be!" She began to weep.

"I'll leave you to it," Albus said quietly.

"That's probably for the best," Aidan muttered. He extended his hand to Albus. "Thank you for coming to warn us. Stay safe out there."

Albus' first instinct was to thank Aidan, but he quickly realized that Aidan most likely wanted Albus to stay safe for the sakes of Minerva and their baby. "Stay safe here."

Shutting the door behind the couple to give them privacy, Albus walked back into the main room.

"Is everything okay? Where are they?" Lucy asked, frowning.

"They're just taking a moment to talk," Albus explained gently. "Before I leave, Ro, could I please have a word?"

"Yeah, if you want," Ro acquiesced, standing. "We could go out on the balcony, if you don't mind casting a warming charm or two."

"That'll be fine," Albus responded, and they headed out the door. They sat in silence for a few moments before Ro spoke.

"Sometimes, I sneak out of bed and come out here at night. I like to stare at the sky and remember what life was like before we were stuck here," Ro sighed. "I know I'm luckier than the others, but the occasional supervised Ministry trip is nothing like flying."

"I can't thank you enough for rejoining the Unspeakables. You're doing me a real favour," Albus said. "Your intelligence has been invaluable."

Ro looked at him harshly. "Has it, now? Then why haven't you found Callum yet? Why haven't you figured out who the bloody hell is messing around with time?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that," Albus answered tightly. "This mysterious ringleader is clearly brilliant. They've covered up their tracks well."

"Don't I know it," Ro snorted. "If it really is Grindelwald like you think, why can't you bring this to the attention of the Minister? Or the Aurors?"

"No one would believe me," Albus sighed. "We barely have any proof as it is."

"I told you, I saw Dolohov snooping around after hours! He stole some files, Albus!"

"I know, but we need more evidence to prove that he's working with Grindelwald," Albus explained with more patience than he thought possible. "Besides, I find it hard to believe that the Auror forces—hell, even the Minister—would believe that Grindelwald was wreaking havoc on us through time travel. No one wants to believe we're in that kind of war again, not when people are finally relaxing again. And I'm sure the Unspeakables would rather not explain to the public why they're conducting time travel experiments."

"What do you want me to do?"

"While you're here, keep researching. Do your work, and let me know if you come across anything that may be useful, or anything that someone could replicate on their own. When you're at the Ministry, keep tabs on Dolohov, and his friends. Especially Tom Riddle."

"Riddle? The creepy Slytherin Min beat in the tournament?" Ro's brows furrowed. "What does he have to do with any of this?"

"I hope nothing, but he's an extremely intelligent and accomplished wizard. I don't trust him, and he may be the key to understanding all of this."

"Okay, fine. Whatever gets us out of this mess the fastest. Now," Ro looked at him shrewdly, "did you tell the rest of them?"

"About?"

"About what I saw. You know, the thing that almost caused you to wipe my memory."

"No," Albus snapped. "No, and I won't. Not until we're out of this war, at least."

"If you say so. I don't see how you can keep it a secret, especially from Min."

Albus pursed his lips. "What does that mean?"

"I'm not an idiot, Albus. I have an inkling that you and Minerva were involved, even if neither of you will admit it. She should know about this."

"Why? It's none of her damn business."

"Fair, but she'll be hurt you if you don't tell her."

"Thank you for your opinion, Ro." Albus put an end to the conversation. "I'll be in touch. Once again, thank you for doing this." He left the balcony and began to walk towards the wards' boundary at the edge of the lawn.

"You should know, Albus," Ro called after him, "I didn't do this for you. I did this for Min. That poor girl has had a harder life than most, and she has one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen. She doesn't deserve whatever Grindelwald is planning on doing to her child."

Albus merely looked at her before turning on his heel and walking away.