A/N: sorry for the foul language... who would've thought Minerva McGonagall had it in her...tsk tsk tsk... ;p

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The night was warm and the black sky shone brightly with stars. Not a creature stirred. The tame and the wild were quietly slumbering, and those who stalk at night were in a peaceful mood.

And within the walls of Hogwarts, the students rested peacefully. A sneak peak into the Gryffindor tower showed even the notorious trio, well known for their illegal night outing sleeping peacefully in their beds. The potion master, king of insomnia, had fallen asleep at his worktable, his brow furrowed, his mind still muddled with confusion. Even the headmaster, who enjoyed the solitude of the night, was curled up in his bed, Fawkes sleeping nearby. But things were not as they seemed that night. A quick warp to the eastern tower, to the room of Minerva McGonagall, bewitched to contain the noise, was anything but peaceful.

"ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

"Push, Minerva PUSH!!

"I AMMM!!! I AM PUSHING!!"

"A little more, push a little harder!

"ARGH!! Poppy GET IT OUT OF ME!!!"

"C'mon Minerva, push, I see the head, there it is,"

"THEN YANK IT OUT OF ME!!!"

"One last push Minerva! One last push!"

"AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"WAHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

"Well done Minerva, it's over. It's a girl," said a sweating Poppy. Her deft fingers quickly wiped the screaming red baby, removing all the blood and the wrapping her in a soft pink blanket before putting it in the arms of her exhausted mother. Minerva looked at the little bundle in her arms.

Her daughter.

Her little baby girl. Tears of joy streamed down her face. She looked up at Poppy who also had tears in her eyes.

"My little girl. Isn't she beautiful?" she said softly. Poppy just nodded. She couldn't say anything. Gently she touched a wisp of black hair. It had bits or blue in it, like hers. But the eyes that stared back at her were clearly her fathers'. Dark and vigilant. Minerva pressed a kiss onto her daughter's forehead.

"Athena, my little goddess of wisdom," she said softly. The baby smiled and cooed loudly.

"She likes her name," said Poppy, finding her voice again.

"Yes, she does," said Minerva. But at that moment, the little angel opened her mouth and the loudest yell came out of it. Minerva had to blink at the power of her lungs.

"Minerva, I think she needs to be feed," said Poppy. Quickly Minerva pulled down her top, exposing a breast. Immediately the baby locked on to her nipple and began suckling the milk. It was a little painful at first, but then Minerva enjoyed it. Watching her baby feed.

"Minerva, you have to..." Poppy began after watching the baby for a while. She had a desperate look in her face. in an instant, Minerva's placid look disappeared.

"No! No one will ever have to know about Athena unless I tell them so," she snapped, narrowing her eyes at her friend. Poppy raised her hands in surrender and with a flick of her wand; Minerva's room was back to normal. No one looking at it would ever have thought a human being had just been brought into the world but minutes ago.

"You're all mine, aren't you sweetie? Mummy's own little darling," she cooed at the feeding baby. Poppy looked at the two a few minutes longer then packed her stuff.

"So you are sure a house elf will be arriving tomorrow?" she asked. Minerva nodded, not taking her eyes of Athena.

"Yes, Mallena promised it'll be here first thing daylight," said Minerva. Her sister had agreed to lend Minerva one of her many house elves. She hadn't asked questions and Minerva hadn't supplied answers. They worked well that way. But Minerva knew she would have to tell her sister. She was just glad her parents had passed away. News like this would send her mother straight to the grave. 

"Don't worry, Poppy, we'll be fine," she reassured her friend. Poppy of course didn't look convinced but didn't say anything. She knew Minerva had experience with newborn babies; she had taken care of her nephew hadn't she?

"All right, but if anything doesn't seem right call me, y'hear?" she said her tone serious.

"Yes, I hear you. The slightest problem and I'll call you," said Minerva smiling. Athena had stopped feeding and had fallen asleep. Slowly, Minerva placed the sleeping baby in the makeshift bed next to her. Thank goodness, her bed was large enough. Poppy came over and gently stroked the sleeping baby.

"Poppy, this may never become official, but will you be her godmother?" asked Minerva, her voice shaking a little. She didn't know where her friend stood on the illegitimate issue.

"It would be an honor," her friend replied. They smiled at each other and Poppy wrapped her arms around her friend. Minerva hugged her back. When the ladies pulled back, they both had tears in their eyes. Poppy kissed Minerva's forehead and tenderly tucked her in. Minerva was fast asleep even before Poppy left the room.