A/N: I've had about enough drama ...... for now, coz it does get more dramatic later... so I'm gonna TRY and make it a little more happier... what with the new baby and all...

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A group of first years passed her, Ravenclaws by the color of their ties. She flashed a smile at them, and one of the boys nearly stumbled. She couldn't see it, but she could definitely feel heads turning to look at her. She could just imagine what was going through their minds...

Has she lost her marbles?

It's finally happened, Professor McGonagall has lost her mind...

Someone call St Mungo, we have a crazy deputy headmistress...

But she really couldn't care less. She felt great. She felt so… human. A weird notion, but she's had to play the stern personage for so long, she didn't remember what it felt like to feel something else. Maybe it was the magic of having a baby, or because her back wasn't killing her anymore, or maybe because her legs weren't swollen or it could also be that she didn't have to put herself under any charm, but she was on top of the world. She might actually follow Albus's lead and skip to the Great Hall. That thought made her laugh inwardly. She could just imagine the faces of the teachers and students alike if they saw a skipping Minerva McGonagall. Breathing deeply, Minerva tried to wipe the smirk of her face, and replace it with her more famous stern look. But she couldn't. If possible, her smirk grew bigger. Finally, she settled for a soft smile, not enough for her to be sent to St Mungo.

The great oak doors of the Great Hall. A little of her elation evaporated at the thought of what lay behind the doors. She felt bad for not telling Albus, but Albus, being the sweet old man he was would insist she tell Severus and then would insist Severus do the 'right' thing. Sigh. And then there was Severus himself. She just had a baby that partly belonged to him. She didn't even know if he remembered what had happened that night. No! I won't think about it! I will not bring up Athena in a world of confusion, or regrets, Minerva told herself sternly. She gave herself a shake and stepped forward. The doors opened, but just as she was about to enter, a pair of hands roughly grabbed her back. Minerva was too stunned to react.

"What are you doing here?" the person hissed angrily.

"I'm hungry, feeding a baby is hard work," she whispered. Poppy glared at her.

"You should be resting, you just had a baby," Poppy hissed back. Minerva rolled her eyes.

"I feel great. Athena is in good hands, Poppy please, I'm hungry. I can eat... without throwing up!" cried Minerva, and then looked around to see if anyone heard. They were the only ones outside the hall. Poppy looked at her suspiciously but conceded defeat.

"Okay, if you say so. You do look good, Minerva," said her friend, giving her a one over, and appeared to be satisfied with what she saw. They smiled at each other.

"Thanks Poppy, for everything," said Minerva softly. Poppy just smiled.

"That's what friends are for... so you really aren't gonna tell him," she asked. Minerva didn't have to ask who 'him' was.

"No. He doesn't even remember, Poppy. He might not welcome the news," she said softly.

"Then remind him, Minerva," Poppy said. Minerva snorted.

"What do I say? 'Severus, I raped you the night you almost died, and now we have a kid?' Yeah Poppy really smart," scoffed Minerva. Poppy looked at her, her expression incredulous.

"What?" Minerva asked, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Is that what you think? You raped him?" she asked. Minerva just nodded, not looking at Poppy. Her cheeks were aflame with shame and embarrassment. She didn't want to talk anymore. She was hungry.

"You did no such thing. If I understand it well, he started it," she said.

"He was delirious. I used it to my own advantage; it wasn't a… mutual thing!" Minerva insisted. In her mind, that's what she knew happened, for lets face it, if Severus had been of sane mind he would have got up and ran at the prospect of having sex with her. That man detested her. Poppy obviously didn't agree.

"Minerva, trust me, he wasn't delirious. He wanted you and he knew very well what he was doing," said Poppy. Minerva blushed at Poppy's words.

"Want me? Now you're delirious. There's nothing desirable about me," Minerva spat. Poppy just shook her head. No words could ever convince Minerva how desirable she really was. Intellectuality can be as sensual as beauty, and Poppy knew Severus wasn't a shallow man.

"Whatever, Minerva. But let me tell you, he may not remember it now, but once he fully recovers, he will, and then he's gonna want a share of that sweet angel in your room," said Poppy. Minerva opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.

"Angel? And whose angel is Minerva hiding in her room?" said the gruff voice of Professor Dumbledore. Next to him was Professor Snape.

"Good morning, Albus," greeted Poppy. Then she turned towards the Potions Master.

"Good morning Severus, did you sleep well?" she asked him. Severus mumbled his greeting and something about sleeping is a waste of time. Minerva gaze flicked across him for a while before falling to the ground. She was tortured to see him so pale.

"No dreams of babies, Severus?" she asked again. Minerva nearly chocked. Severus threw her an antagonized look and Albus just smiled confusedly.

"Babies? Are they related to the angels in Minerva's room?" asked the headmaster. That nearly proved to be the death of Minerva. She vowed silently to kill her friend when they were alone.

"No, no babies. Poppy was talking about a... a...chocolate angel, which I am keeping away from her. She doesn't believe she needs to loose some weight," said Minerva, and pinched some skin around Poppy's not fat waist all the while trying to retain her no nonsense air. Poppy yelped a little. Albus laughed and Severus looked...pained.

"Headmaster, maybe we should head into the hall for breakfast," he said, his smooth voice hiding his irritation.

"Wonderful idea, Severus. Albus won't you escort me?" said Poppy. If Albus was stunned by the unusual request he hid it well. He offered her an arm and together they walked into the great hall, laughing about something. Severus and Minerva looked uncomfortably at each other before he motioned for her to enter before him. She gave him a brief smile before entering. Her eyes remained locked onto a point above the teacher's table, even as she felt him move to walk next to her. She just prayed that the heat in her cheeks wasn't her blushing.

"So how are you?" he whispered softly. It wouldn't do for the students to believe they were on amiable terms. Considering that I just had a baby, which by the way happens to be yours, I feel great, her mind wanted to say. But instead;

"Fine," her lips replied. Silence.

"How about you? You seem paler. Are you still in pain?" she asked and for the first time, looked properly at him. As she had suspected. He was paler and thinner.

"Physically I have healed, but there are still things I don't understand, it disrupts my sleep," here he looks squarely at her, as if expecting her to clear his confusion. She nearly did, but at the last minute shrugged her shoulder and shook her head.

"I guess it still takes getting used too, not having to be afraid anymore," she said. He didn't reply.

"But you seem to agree with the changes," he said finally.

"What do you mean?" she asks. The teacher's table was getting nearer. She had to reach it before she grabbed his collar and shouts at him that he has a daughter.

"I mean, you look wonderful," he replied sincerely. She glanced at him, suspicious. But his face was a mask. What went on in his head was anybody's guess. Eventually they reached the table. Nodding briefly to each other, they parted ways.