Note- see, im updating! Enjoy!

The month of March passed slowly, but eventually April came. Minerva, though living in fear and in agony, found she was amazed and in awe of what was happening with her body. Although it was hidden all day under her robes, at 5 months, her pregnancy was beginning to show.

For Aberforth, however, the month passed quickly, with his Animagus lessons beginning. Every day he would have lessons for up to three hours after his classes had ended. Saturday was the day off; they both needed a break for at least one day a week. On Sundays, Minerva had Aberforth over for chess in the afternoon, and they talked about his progress.

"What happened to the flowers?" he asked her one day.

"What flowers?" she replied, looking up at him.

"The monkshood, they used to be on the windowsill." Minerva explained that she had thrown them out. "What about the snake clap?" She replied that she had thrown that out as well.

"It was creepy how the eyes glowed green." Aberforth said. Minerva looked confused, so he explained how the eyes glowed green, and seemed to move. "I could never concentrate on my chess." He said with a smile. They then resumed talking about his lessons.

Minerva found that Aberforth was her only true friend those days. She certainly spent more time with him then with any other person. She rarely saw Tom anymore, but that was truly a blessing. She still was merely civil to Albus. They did not have a friendship anymore, and neither of them knew how to bridge the gap. Aberforth knew this, and it was a bit hard for him to be with his brother and with Minerva, and see how they act. But he loved them both, and knew that their was nothing he could do. Aberforth was a good brother, and a good student. He was wise beyond his years. Aberforth was 13, but he was an old 13. He acted older then his peers, because of how he was progressing in school, and because his brother was the headmaster. He never was angry at Albus for it, but he resented being different. And then, on this Sunday, he didn't resent being special anymore.

"Aberforth, excuse me for a moment. I don't feel well." Minerva said. She didn't look well either. She looked pale, and sick. Minerva felt pale and sick, and rushed to the bathroom. She slammed the door behind her, and Aberforth could hear her throwing up and swearing. He grimaced at the sounds. Then, to his horror, he heard a slow moan, like a wounded animal would make, followed by a thump.

"Professor McGonagall?" he shouted. "Professor?" he heard no reply. A thousand thoughts shot through the young man's head. What was wrong with her? He had to help her. He ran into the bathroom. He saw her sprawled out on the floor. Her eyes were opened, but he could only see the whites. They focused, and she stared at him. Aberforth knelt down and lifted her up. He held her in his arms. "Professor? Are you alright?" her eyes focused on him.

"Albus," she whispered. Aberforth's eyes widened, "Albus help me. I'm sorry Albus. I need your help, I have a," She clutched her stomach and groaned more. Aberforth was shocked. He had no idea what to do. So he just sat there and cradled her. He thought to himself how strange this was. Minerva slowly came to, and looked up at him.

"Professor, are you alright? You just, fainted, and I" he stuttered. She merely stared at him.

"I'm tired Albus. I'm sorry for how I've acted." She murmured, and then shut her eyes again. Aberforth picked her up, and carried her light frame into her bedroom and put her softly on the bed. He propped her head up on pillows.

"Should I get the nurse, Professor?" he whispered to her, not sure whether she could hear

"I'm alright, I'm alright. I'm sorry Albus, I'm sorry." And she drifted back off to sleep. Aberforth slowly backed out of the room. For some reason, he did not want to get his brother, he did not want to go and get everything. He did not want to leave her.

Aberforth conjured some calming tea, and walked back into her room an hour or so later. He saw that Minerva was sitting up in bed, staring at her hands. She looked up at him.

"Hello Aberforth." She whispered. She motioned for him to sit on the foot of the bed. "What happened?" He explained how she had fainted and what she had said. Minerva nodded. Aberforth looked at her, and she looked at him.

"Professor, whatever could it be? Are you allergic to something you ate? Are you overtired? You were so ill, you look better, but could it happen again?" Aberforth talked to her. He was worried, what if she was deathly ill, but did not know it? Then something popped into his head.

"Professor? Does this have to do with being an Animagus?" Minerva nodded.

"Perhaps." She said, "Aberforth, I would like to get up now." He nodded, and helped her to her feet.

"I just don't know Professor." He said as he walked with her out to the sitting room. "I knew my mother had sicknesses like that, she is an Animagus too." He helped her into her seat, and returned to his own. "It was a part of being an Animagus, but my brother told me it happened when she was-"He stopped short, and stared at Minerva. Then, he looked at her stomach.

"Yes." She said coolly. "It's true." Aberforth's jaw dropped.

"What, ho-how? Who, what?" he stuttered. He didn't know what to say. He had no idea what to do. He was in shock.

"Almost 5 months." She replied. She rose to her feet, and with dignity, pulled her robes back, so it was visible she was pregnant. Aberforth tried not to stare. "I found out over Christmas." She said as she sat back down. "Now that you mentioned it, I remember reading that this is how animaguses react to pregnancy if they transform at all during it."

"Why do you still transform then Professor?" Aberforth asked. It was the only thing he could think to say.

"I am the Transfiguration Professor, Aberforth. Using my Animagus skills is a part of my job. Besides, what is my excuse?" then Aberforth realized the truth. This baby was a secret. She hadn't told anyone about it.

"Why haven't you told my brother, Professor? He would help you for sure. He cares about you so much, Professor." Minerva smiled sadly at him.

"I'm afraid I have offended your brother too greatly for him to help me with anything, Aberforth. I have acted in ways I wished I could take back. There are many things I wish I could take back." She looked at the Monkshood in the windowsill sadly, and Aberforth followed her eyes. He knew the answer to his next question; the father of the baby was Professor Riddle. He suddenly realized everything Professor McGonagall had been going through, and he began to cry.

"Oh, Aberforth," she said softly, "I'm sorry." And she came over and dried his eyes and kissed his head. "This is my problem, dear one. I'll handle it. I'm sorry, it was not right of me to share it with you." Aberforth cried and cried, but looked up at her and said strongly,

"No, I want to help you. Anyway I can. You are important to me and to Albus, and I want to help you. How can you go on not telling anyone about this? It must be so hard. How can you do this to yourself?" Minerva knew he was right. She had to do something, and not hide this anymore. She was pregnant. The baby wasn't hiding anymore, and neither could she.

Aberforth left Minerva a few hours later. They calmed down, and talked about everything. They decided the best thing to do was to continue on. Minerva did not tell Aberforth what she had seen, with Tom and the unforgivable curse. She didn't like that he was involved in her problem with the baby; she couldn't let him get more involved. She made his swear not to tell Albus, and he promised.

Aberforth promised not to tell Albus, and he would keep that promise. Minerva knew she had to talk to Albus. She decided not to tell him about the baby, which was too personal. Aberforth shouldn't even know. But Minerva knew she had to tell Albus about Tom, and what Tom was doing. Maybe Albus would find out what Tom was trying to achieve. As for herself, Minerva would deal with Tom and his followers, Albus, Aberforth and his lessons, and her baby, all one day at a time.