Disclaimer: I own nothing dealing with Harry Potter, yadda, yadda, yadda.
A/N: I want to thank those who have reviewed. So, thank you to the following:
TartanLioness: Yes, that is what I figured. If she wanted a child for so long, I owe it to both her and Albus to have one before she… you know.
Girl from Iceland: Thank you. I hope you haven't been jumping around your room this whole time. I'll try to keep up the good work. Love from Southern California.
Mollisk: Thank you for the congrats. You're the only one who said anything about that. I also got one for being on Academic Decathlon. Now, stop reading this note and kill that suspense you have and read this chapter. (Oops, I think 'kill' was the wrong word to use for this story. LOL.)
Esb: Well, if you were hooked before, it's good to know that now you are REALLY hooked. Hehehe, LOL.
Quill of Minerva: Yes, there will be complications with the pregnancy and even the birth… Oops, now I've said too much. But I won't tell you a thing about what happened. You'll just have to keep reading. If I tell you now, you won't need to read the rest of it and I'll lose a most valuable reader/reviewer. ;).
Lenora: You are a freak, you know that? I can't tell you if the baby is born with a defect... Well, I suppose I could, but then where would all the suspense go? Evil grin Muahahahaha hahaha!
Chapter Eleven: Planning of the Wedding…
The next three weeks were the most hectic either Minerva or Albus had experienced since the weeks before the final defeat of Voldemort. Both were running around, trying to get things done. For Minerva, she was planning her and Albus' wedding, all the while going to Poppy for her regular check-ups. Things seemed to be going fine so far, much to the relief of everyone. Everyone had been so happy to hear of the baby, and everyone had offered to help Minerva with anything and everything. At first, this caused her much grief. She hated being treated like an invalid, but she stopped fighting once she realized that no matter how much she argued, they would offer their services.
As for Albus, the end of Voldemort did not necessarily mean the end of meetings. He still met with the ministry several times a week, often times staying there all day to sort things out. He also still did a lot of work with the Order, finishing up a few last things. Minerva wanted to go to the meetings with him, but between caring for their baby and planning their wedding, and with the added burden of her cancer, she would often times find herself too tired or too busy to go.
So, needless to say, it was a rare and relaxing time, indeed, when they both found themselves together, resting in their rooms. Minerva had long since moved her things into Albus' room, which made the both of them very happy. Now, it was two days before the wedding and both were lying upon their couch, resting after a very busy day, both simply enjoying the presence of the other.
"How was your day, my dear?" he asked, kissing the top of her head. Minerva sighed and rested her head upon his chest.
"Tiring, as always," she replied. "But no one said planning a wedding would be easy." Albus chuckled.
"I should say not," he replied. "I had enough trouble trying to gather my dress robes, asking Aberforth to be my best man, and dealing with all those fools at the ministry." He stroked her hair mindlessly, as it had already come out of her bun. Minerva looked up at him and quirked a brow.
"You did remember to write your vows, didn't you?" she asked. Albus' eyes widened and he slapped his fore head with the palm of his hand.
"Oh no, I forgot," he sighed. "I knew I forgot something. I am so sorry, Minerva." He gave her his best puppy dog eyes while she gave him her best death glare, though she could not help but suppress a smile.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brain Dumbledore, you are, without a doubt, one of the most forgetful people I have ever known in my life. Detention!" Albus chuckled.
"And what, prey tell, shall be my punishment, Professor?" he asked. Minerva thought for a moment before replying.
"I don't think I shall reply, for anything I say, you will just take and twist into something you will like." Albus grinned, then gave her the most innocent look he could give.
"I don't know what you mean, Professor McGonagall." He chuckled as Minerva laid her head back upon his chest. "Don't you worry, Min. I shall write my vows tomorrow, while you leave for your twenty-four hour period of solitude." Albus always thought it an odd thing that the husband was not supposed to see his wife for twenty four hours before their wedding, since it was considered extreme bad luck if he did. But since Minerva liked to stick with tradition, in nearly every single thing, he agreed to not see her for a whole day, only seeing her at the wedding. That was why she and Poppy would go to a small cottage in the Highlands, which belonged to Minerva's family for twelve or thirteen generations.
"Very well, then," yawned Minerva. She nestled even more into Albus and was soon fast asleep.
Ooooooooooo
The next day, Minerva rose bright and early, making sure not to wake Albus. She got dressed quickly, packed a small overnight bag with a few of her essentials she would need for the twenty four hour period she would be gone, then, after blowing a kiss to her still sleeping husband, she walked out of their room. She met Poppy at the front doors and walked with her to the Apparation point.
When Albus woke a few moments later, he looked sadly to his side. He saw that Minerva had already left for her day of solitude. He rolled out of bed and got ready for his day. This was not going to be an easy day for him.
Ooooooooooo
Minerva and Poppy arrived at Minerva's family cottage in the Highlands at about eight o' clock.
"Just in time for breakfast," Poppy smiled. Minerva rolled her eyes and just carried her luggage up the first flight of stairs and into her bedroom, against Poppy's wishes. But when she arrived to her room, she secretly wished that she would have listened to her advice, for she was exhausted. She sat on her bed, breathing somewhat heavily.
"I knew you should not have done such a heavy duty," frowned Poppy, entering the bedroom and going to Minerva's side. "You should really learn to stop being so stubborn, Min. After all, stubbornness is never a good quality in anyone. Even our Minerva McGonagall." Minerva looked up and half glared, half smiled at her.
"Since when did I become the property of the people?" she chuckled. Poppy smiled.
"Well, how about I make us some breakfast and then after that, we can take a walk around the lake? I have not walked around the McGonagall Lake for quite some time." Minerva smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Poppy, that would be nice." Poppy nodded and went downstairs to make their breakfast.
Minerva sighed as she stood and went to the window, her arms folded. Poppy was treating her like a child and she wasn't even feeling the full effect of her illness yet and Poppy was treating her like a muggle who must stay at a rest home for the elderly. She didn't like the feeling. She had always been an independent person and never counted on any other witch or wizard in her life. She only hoped that this kind of "mothering" would stop, or at least not get any worse.
Minerva's stomach growled. She looked down at it and smiled, thinking of the human life she was now holding within her person. It was amazing to think that she had been pregnant for only three weeks and already she had grown so close to him or her.
For what must have been the hundredth time since she awoke, her thoughts turned to Albus. Tomorrow was the day she would be marrying him; the day she would take his name, the only name she had wanted to take; the day their lives would be forever entwined. Then again, their souls had always been entwined in some ways.
After their breakfast, they took their walk around the lake as planned, then spent the rest of the afternoon just sitting and talking about the wedding that would take place the next day.
Ooooooooooo
The next morning, Minerva awoke to the slight shaking of her friend.
"Minerva, Minerva," she whispered. "You're getting married today." Minerva's eyes shot open and she looked at Poppy. A huge smile spread across her face as she sat up and looked around her room. Then, she looked back at her best friend.
"It's today, Poppy," she smiled. "It's today."
To Be Continued…
A/N2: Well, there is the new chapter, finally, huh? Hehehe, that is so evil of me, isn't it? Ain't I a stinker? Lol. I don't know when my next update is, but hopefully it won't be as long this one took. Hehehe. Anyway, press that small button that says "Go" and leave a contribution in the little box! Always Hopeful
