Chapter Fifteen

And yet not even a month later, a very angry Minerva McGonagall stood arms crossed in front of her husband. The frown on her face was enough to make any man wince, and even Albus Dumbledore slightly flinched.

"Min, come on, you need rest, and..."

"And that means I'll have to stay at Hogwarts all summer? Practically on my own? While you're staying at Grimmauld Place?"

She was almost shaking in fury, and Albus grabbed her upper arms and squeezed them.

"Calm down, Min- the baby..."

"THE BABY? WHAT ABOUT THE BABY? I AM NOT CALM AND NOR WILL I..."

She winced with those last words, and lowering her voice a bit continued

"Albus, I am going with you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!"

Naturally, it was she who won, like she always won. What she couldn't get by stubbornness, she bought with a simple smile. And Albus knew he was powerless when she smiled.

So another three days later, he found himself sitting at the head of the long table in the living room of the Headquarters of Grimmauld Place. After a short memorial service of the man who was and would always stay their host, he had welcomed Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron and Ginny Weasley as new members. The scowl on Molly's face was unmistakeable, but even the somewhat over-protective mother had realized in the end that keeping information from the four young adults was no solution and had, though reluctantly, agreed.

Minerva, sitting professionally as always next to her husband, taking notes, hair in the usual tight bun, was secretly glad she had. Sometimes, she thought she knew the four youngsters better than Molly did. To Molly, the kids would always stay just that; kids, her babies, who should be guarded from all evil in the world.

Minerva had long ago realized that it wasn't all that simple.

Her trail of thoughts was interrupted, though, by a short line which made her cheeks go bright red.

"And now, I think me and Minerva have a small announcement to make..."

He looked at her as if asking for consent, and she nodded despite herself. They'd agreed on telling at least the order, their closest friends, and even though Severus Snape was in the room, she knew they had to do it.

"Yes, indeed I believe we do."

She looked up at him and smiled, her hand resting on her slightly swollen belly as she nodded again.

"Well, basically," Albus began, grinning in a very- sheepish way indeed.

"Basically I wanted to let all of you know, that in a few months, the population of Hogwarts will be extended with one."

"Oh bloody hell, not a second Umbridge!"

Ronald Weasley grew beet red as all heads in the room turned towards him, and Minerva inwardly smiled. After all, the boy had simply voiced what they were all thinking. That Albus was speaking about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who would certainly come- and Severus's facial expression surely proved that the Potions Master, too, had immediately thought of that possibility.

But Albus chuckled and shook his head.

"No, my dear friends, I am speaking of a much happier occasion than that. I am speaking of the fact that I invite you all to congratulate me on the occasion of being an expectant father."

It was, Minerva noticed with a slight bit of amusement, as if all people in the room had been stunned- bad joke, Minerva, and that from you!- and as if they were expecting an unknown, heavily pregnant woman to drop from the ceiling every minute.

The amusement very quickly turned to embarrassment, though, as she felt some eyes rest on her as well, and her cheeks flushed scarlet as she silently nodded, not hiding her smile, for once. Albus threw his arm around her and nodded.

"And I suggest you congratulate the mother-to-be as well."

Ron Weasley's facial expression, Minerva must admit as she was pulled into a rather wild hug by the boy's mother, was priceless. More flustered than ever, he sat there- eyes fixed on her as if noticing she was a woman as well for the very first time in the sixteen years that had formed his life. Which was probably true, after all. Hermione Granger, next to him, was grinning broadly and Minerva thought she heard a faint whisper of "I knew it." coming from her lips. Severus could be seen covering his face with his hands, muttering "So that's why they keep winning that House Cup!" between his teeth. Harry Potter grinned rather awkwardly, and next to him, Nymphadora Tonks was getting to her feet, undoubtedly to pull her ex-teacher into a clumsy hug as well.

And yet is was Ronald Weasley who, moments later, after having recovered from his shock enough to speak again, got the last word.

"Oh bloody- bloody- bloody- bloody hell!"