Disclaimer: I own nothing that deals with HP or any of the characters dealing with it. LOL!
A/N: Wow, wow, and again, wow! I can't seem to say that enough times! I lurve you all because you are all just awesomeness! After all, it's not every day that an author is privileged enough to get such great reviewers as yourselves! You guys are great! Love ya lots! And, as always, here are your personal reviews!
Mollisk: Yes, I killed her and I am sorry! ;-D I'm afraid I won't be able to bring her back.
Cherokee Girl: Yes, that line was from Fried Green Tomatoes. I love that movie so much, that I thought I would use it for this story. And I'm glad you liked that name. After all, I thought she should be named after her mother! At least, in some way.
Lenora: Once again, I did not BEG you! I just wanted to know what you thought and then subtly tell you to leave it in a review! Tee hee!
Emutet: Thanks again for reviewing. As to the answer to how many chapters, I think there will only be two left! Well, one after this one.
Lady Henrietta: I found that Kleenex you wanted. It's almost out, sorry. A lot of tears from a lot of people, mainly me! Hehehe. That's kind of funny that bagpipes were playing while you read this chapter. Very, very ironic, indeed. I felt so incredibly sorry for Albus, and I almost didn't go through with it; but then again, that would make me an unreliable narrator and I would lose fans. So I had to go for it. Sorry. Hope you keep reading.
Am4eva: Yes, it is very sad indeed. I figured, since I was having Minerva die, I should at least have the baby turn out to be alright. It would just be cruel to have Albus lose both his wife and his baby at the same time.
Bigkihap: Well, I'm glad that you found it good enough to cry. Well, then again, I don't know if it is good to make someone cry. Lol! And about that line that you said you loved, about her never walking down the halls again and saying that line, I loved it too! It made it all even more fun, yet even more final, because she would never do it again. It was just finalizing and scary at all.
TartanLioness: Yes, it is a sad thought to think that Minerva is dead and will no longer be there for all her eager students, especially her first years. So sad! I don't know how Albus is going to go on without her, but I'm sure he'll manage. He's got to, now that he has a child that he needs to take care of. And yes, I feel really bad about having Athena grow up without her mother. I don't think anyone should have to go through that.
Quill of Minerva: Yes, I knew you would be very appreciative if the little girl was born healthy. I think it would just be cruel to have her die along with Minerva. No, sorry, Minerva cannot come back.
MMrulz4eva: Well, I'm glad that you liked this chapter enough to read it over and over again, even though it ended the same way every time. Thank you so much for reading.
Girl from Iceland: Thank you for not hating me for killing her off! And I hope you didn't ruin your lungs. And thank you very much for saying I'm your favorite. I won't get tired of it because I don't hear it very often, except from you. Lol!
La Belle Coeur: Yes, we will see more of Athena Minerva Dumbledore. Don't you worry. And thank you for the congrats! Thanks a lot!
Chapter Eighteen: Children Will Listen…
Three days after the tragedy, a large congregation gathered around a small burial plot that lay on the far side of the lake. It was the place where Minerva loved to be when she wanted to think; the place where she and Albus confessed their love for each other; the plot where she was now laid to rest. All the staff was there, along with the Golden Trio, Crystal, T'ari, and, of course, Albus, Athena in his arms. It was with a heavy heart he had overseen the burial of his wife and the dirt placed over her. Now, he just stood there, his infamous twinkle gone. The only thing he had left in this world was his newborn daughter, Athena. He had lost his only family, his brother Aberforth, during the final war with Voldemort. Now, he listened to the preist.
Hermione still could not believe that her beloved professor was gone. She could still hear the last bit of advice she had given her. Love is a fickle thing, and not all men are the crème de la crème… It is very hard to find that one special person that makes our life complete... The relationship that finds those lucky couples are very rare indeed and once found should be held onto as tightly as possible... Don't let one spoiled apple ruin the barrel… Such wisdom was what she would miss the most from her professor. She wished that, if she could just stop the priest from finishing the funeral, she could come back.
"Minerva led a full, wonderful life while she walked on this earth. She cared for all those who cared for her. She leaves behind her loving husband and a beautiful baby girl. No doubt her memory will live on with all those who knew her, and touched many lives. We shall miss her." He then turned to the grave marker, which read, In Loving Memory of Minerva Katherine McGonagall, Loving Mother, Wife, Friend, and Mentor. "Rest in peace, Minerva Katherine McGonagall." With that, the ceremony was over and everyone headed back for the castle. Everyone, that is, except for Albus, who was still clutching to his daughter. Poppy looked at him and knew she just had to say something. She just couldn't let him stand there, all numb.
"Albus?" she whispered. She placed an arm on his shoulder.
"She's gone, Poppy," he said. "She's gone and there's nothing I can do or say to change that. Not even all those things which I've done in my life can help me bring her back. I would gladly lay down my life if it could bring her back. I didn't even get to say good-bye to her." Poppy hugged him gently and looked at him.
"I know you would," she said. "But that's not the case. Now that you are here, with Athena, what are you going to do?"
"What can I do?" he asked. "I can't go on without a mother to father my child. How am I going to get through this?"
"Just make sure that Minerva's memory lives on. After all, you helped Harry through, as did several others."
"What do I tell her?" Albus asked, looking down at a curious child. She was just opening her eyes; her big, beautiful, blue eyes.
"Just tell her all you know, and let her imagine Minerva in her eyes," replied Poppy.
How do you say to your child in the night
Nothing is all black but then nothing is all white?
How do you say it will all be alright
When you know that it mightn't be true?
What do you do?
Albus kept Athena's gaze, his heart aching for her, more now than within the past three or four days. No one should ever have to go on without knowing their mother, especially when she was as good, as brave, and as beautiful as Minerva had been. Poor little Athena, he thought.
"How can I know if I'll be a good father?" he asked, not even bothering to look up. Poppy sighed.
"How can any of us know, really?" she asked. Then, she smiled warmly. "But I can tell, Albus that you will be a great father. All you need to do is be there for her when she needs you. Keep her safe and make sure to let her know every day how much you love her and will be there for her, no matter what."
Careful the things you say,
Children will listen.
Careful the things you do,
Children will see
And learn.
Children may not obey,
But children will listen.
Children will look to you
For which way to turn,
To learn what to be.
Careful before you say,
Listen to me.
Children will listen.
"But, Poppy, what do I do when she asks me about her mother? I don't want her to think I hold her mother's death against her, or that I love her any less because Minerva died shortly after giving birth to her. In fact, I love and cherish her even more, if that is possible. What do I do?" he asked, finally looking up at Poppy.
"Make sure she knows," replied Poppy. "But be careful. Do not always talk of how Minerva's pregnancy shortened her life. If you talk about it in excess, Athena will think you have grown to resent her, and feel guilty about it. And you don't want to do that. For even though it is good to communicate certain points with her, you must be careful with what you say, otherwise she will turn away from you." Albus nodded slightly. "Do not worry, Albus. The other professors and I will help you; Sylvia, Xiomara, and me, in particular. And undoubtedly T'ari and Crystal will love to come over and help whenever it is possible. For even though we can never take Minerva's place, we will surely love Athena with all our hearts."
"Thank you, Poppy," Albus whispered. He looked at his wife's grave. "Ever since she died a few days ago, I've marveled at my own inner strength. I always thought that should Minerva go before me, I would die right along with her. And I would, were Athena not here to give me at least a little comfort." He smiled warmly at his daughter.
"Hold strong, Albus," whispered Poppy. "She needs a father just as much as she needs a mother."
Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take,
Wishes come true,
Not free.
Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you…
"I wish…" began Albus, looking longingly at the grave marker. Poppy placed a hand on his arm.
"We simply cannot survive on wishes alone. I know you wish she had never been sick, but that couldn't have been helped." She held out her hands and took a now crying Athena from him. "I should take her now. She is hungry and I need to give her a bottle." With that, she walked off towards the castle, leaving Albus alone by Minerva's grave.
Careful the tale you tell.
That is the spell,
Children will listen…
Ooooooooooo
Five Years Later…
A small girl with raven hair and bright blue eyes ran across the grounds of Hogwarts, tears falling from her eyes. She ran around the lake and to the spot where her father had often brought her. It was the place where her mother used to visit when she was sad, and it was now the place where she was buried.
The small girl laid on her belly across her mothers grave, the tears never ceasing. It wasn't until she heard footsteps behind her that she turned around. Her eyes met with those of her fathers.
"My dear Athena, whatever is wrong?" he asked, sitting down on the ground and pulling his daughter into a warm embrace.
"Da', why did my mommy die after I was born?" she asked in a small voice. "Was it my fault? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry." She then proceeded to sob into his robes.
Albus' breath caught in his throat. What did he say? He then remembered Poppy's words all those years before. He would simply be truthful and make sure that she knew it simply was not her fault.
"Oh, of course not, darling," he said, rubbing her back. "You have nothing to be sorry for. What happened to your mother was unfortunate, but you must remember that you had nothing to do with it. Your mother and I were so proud the moment you were born. It was just that it was her time to go. Death is never kind, and you cannot fight it, no matter how hard you try. But never think of it as your fault, ever."
How can you say to a child, who's in flight,
Don't slip away and I won't hold so tight?
What can you say that not matter how slight won't be misunderstood?
What do you leave to your child when you're dead?
Only whatever you put in its head.
Things that your mother and father had said
Which were left to them, too.
"What made you think it was your fault?" Athena looked up at her father and sniffed.
"Do you remember Hermes and Hera? The twins whose summer home is next to mama's family's home in the Highlands?" Albus nodded. Athena sniffed again. "They called me ugly. I said I wasn't ugly. I told them that you said I looked just like my mum and I told them how beautiful she was. I even showed them that picture of you two on your wedding day to prove it. And then Hermes said that if I looked just like mum, she must be ugly too. I told him to take it back, but he wouldn't. Then Hera said that mum died because she was a disgrace to the wizarding world. And then she said it was my fault and that it was good I did." Athena stopped and cried into Albus' robes as he held her tight.
"Oh, sweetheart," said Albus, his heart breaking. "I am so sorry. Don't listen to Hermes and Hera. They don't know what they are talking about. They aren't kind and intelligent like you are, so they are jealous. It was not your fault. Don't you believe them for a moment, darling." He kissed Athena on the top of her head and lifted her head. "You don't believe them, do you?" Athena seemed to think for a moment.
"No, I don't," she said, shaking her head slowly. Albus smiled.
"Good." He then set Athena next to him and sighed. "Did I ever tell you that this was the spot I first proposed to your mum?" Athena's eyes widened.
"Really? What did she say?" Albus chuckled at the innocent question.
Careful what you say, children will listen
Careful you do it too, children will see and learn
Oh!
Guide them but step away,
Children will glisten.
Temper with what is true
And children will turn,
If just to be free.
Careful before you say,
Listen to me.
Children will listen…
Children will listen!
Children, children will listen.
To Be Continued…
A/N2: Well, there we go. I only have one more chapter left to write and then we are done with this story altogether. Please Read and review! I lurve you all! Always Hopeful
