Visions in the Night Sky
Chapter 10: Surprises Amid the Winter Snow
Merewen loved the winter time. The cool, crisp air and the fluffy snow made Merewen tingle with thoughts of snow angels, snowballs and Christmas Holidays. Taking a deep breath and then turning away from the window, Merewen took her place at the table for the weekly staff meeting at Hogwarts. Merewen didn't like these meetings, but she supposed that they were necessary to the fluid functioning of a good school. Rolling her eyes a bit, she focused in on the sheets of parchment in front of her denoting the schedule for the meeting, and topics to be discussed. Merewen folded her hands over her abdomen, now swollen with child, and realized once again that it did no good for her to be at these meetings because she could hardly reach the table in order to write her notes! She would be so glad when the baby was born.
The baby. Merewen smiled. It was nearing Christmas, and all Severus wanted was a healthy baby boy. Oh, he had assured Merewen that no matter what the gender of the infant that he would love it no matter what, but Merewen knew in her heart that deep down, every man wanted a first born son.
Merewen only heard the first several paragraphs of Professor Sprout's proposal to expand the Herbology curriculum used for the sixth year students. She was dozing off when Severus gently touched her wrist and woke her.
"Perhaps you would like to go and lie down, darling," he whispered, lightly kissing her ear as he spoke. "I'll let you know what happens." Merewen nodded and squeezed Severus' hand as she stood and discreetly excused herself.
As Merewen made her way back down the corridor, she tried not to grumble. Madam Pomfrey never had to attend these stupid meetings, she thought. Her position as school nurse was far too important to have her be away from it for too long. Five minutes later, Merewen realized why.
Nearly overtaken by a wave of pain, Merewen clutched the stone wall for support. She thought to shout for Severus, but the meeting room was soundproof. When the pain passed, she turned the next corner and headed directly for the hospital wing. For some reason, she was suddenly glad that Poppy didn't have to attend those stupid meetings.
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Minerva McGonagall Dumbledore shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She knew that Merewen had left and knew very well why. Resting her long, elegant hands on her own belly, she mused as to whether or not her own skin would be able to stretch that far. She was sure that, being a woman, mother nature made several accommodations for just that. She remembered with quiet amusement the night she had been required to tell Albus that she, at her age, was expecting his child again. Her expression changed as she remembered the one time before that Minerva had been pregnant. A tragic summer accident in a muggle car had sealed the fate of her precious firstborn. She had not even carried the baby to term. When the emergency workers pulled Albus and Minerva from the wreck of their vehicle, Minerva thought she was fine. In all reality, she had come away with only bumps and bruises herself, but the blow had been enough that as she waited for Albus to be treated at a muggle hospital, a place Minerva deeply despised, she had begun to feel sick. She was nauseous, her throat ran dry, her temperature skyrocketed, and then it happened. There was a burning sensation inside her. She felt as though her insides were on fire. Three hours later, Minerva had awakened in a stark white recovery room not remembering any of what had just occurred. Albus was standing beside the bed, tears streaking his face. Minerva couldn't quite hear what he was saying, but it sounded a lot like the word miscarriage. The following weeks were a blur that Minerva to this day couldn't seem to piece back together.
Lightly, Minerva ran her hand over her belly and relaxed backwards into her chair. This baby would be different. Poppy had assured Minerva over and over that the circumstances of this baby were much different, and that even though Minerva would have to be very careful and get plenty of rest, that there was no reason that Minerva shouldn't carry this child to term and beyond. Minerva's thoughts were yanked back to the present as polite applause ended Professor Sprout's presentation.
"Professor Dumbledore? Is something wrong?" cried Professor Flitwick. Albus was sweating and appeared dizzy.
"Albus?" Minerva said cautiously, covering his hand with her own.
"I'm…" Albus attempted, but he didn't finish the sentence. Hands shaking and fighting for breath, Albus Dumbledore collapsed to the floor. He felt as though his whole chest was caving in. Severus Snape was out of his seat a fraction of a second later, along with Minerva.
"We have to get him to the hospital wing!" Professor Sprout cried.
"No time!" Severus replied. "I'm taking them to St. Mungo's. Filius, you're in charge until we return." With a determined nod, Professor Flitwick accepted his orders. With this, Severus, Minerva and Albus were gone.
Looking around, Professor Vector asked, "Whatever became of dear Merewen?"
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Merewen, for now, was patiently bearing with the pain ripping at her abdominal muscles. The contractions had not become bad enough to warrant screaming, and, Merewen's stubborn nature insisted, it never would. She clutched Poppy's hand for the several seconds that it took for her to endure that contraction, gritting her teeth and squeezing her eyes shut and then relaxed back against the pillows stacked behind her.
"Is the meeting over yet?" Merewen asked breathlessly.
"I don't know," said Poppy, shaking her head. "I would think so, Merewen, but I can't be sure and I don't want to leave you here alone." Merewen nodded and allowed Poppy to press a cool cloth to her forehead and the back of her neck. She ardently wished that Severus would hurry. She badly needed him right now.
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