Out of Her Hands
A/n: Big, huge thank you's to Ang for being my beta reader. I also want to say thanks very much to those of you who have taken the time to read and review the last chapter. Sorry it's taken me a while to update this story.
Chapter 12: Arriving Early
Minerva looked her friend in the eyes and saw that what she said was not a joke and that there would be no wedding today. Minerva swept out of the bathroom and rushed to her friends' side, helping her over towards the comfortable couch. Poppy sat down gingerly and rubbed her protruding bump for comfort.
"I'll contact Alastor!" said Minerva as she moved towards the fireplace.
"No!" yelped Poppy as she cringed when a contraction ripped through her stomach.
"Is something wrong?" asked Minerva, worry evident in her voice.
"It's bad luck to see the bride and her dress before the ceremony," answered Poppy.
Minerva stopped moving towards her friend and stood still with her hands on her hips. Had she heard right? Had Poppy really said what Minerva had just heard? Minerva had never known Poppy to be superstitious. In fact, they had often laughed at Sybil when she went all misty eyed at school.
"Poppy Anne Pomfrey," said Minerva sternly "this is not the time to be worrying about Alastor seeing your dress! You are having your baby now."
Poppy protested and told Minerva under no conditions was Alastor to see her while she was wearing her wedding dress. Minerva sighed in frustration before trying to convince Poppy to see sense.
"Don't you want him to be here to support you?" asked Minerva.
"Of course I do," snapped Poppy "but today is my wedding day!"
Minerva sat beside her best friend and reached for her hands. Poppy grabbed hold tightly and Minerva was sure she had heard her bones crack. Poppy leaned forward and breathed in deeply before breathing out slowly and closing her eyes.
"I don't think there is going to be a wedding," replied Minerva. "Right, we need to get you to St Mungo's and welcome this little one into the world."
"I am having a home birth," declared Poppy as she got to feet and started to pace up and down slowly. "It's all prepared downstairs."
Minerva went pale. She hadn't known that Poppy had decided on a home birth and now that she knew Minerva didn't feel so good. Poppy looked at her friend and couldn't help but smile at her friends' worried expression.
"Don't worry, I'll talk you through it!" she assured.
Minerva's head snapped up and looked directly at Poppy. Minerva was sure that the role of chief bridesmaid did not include delivering babies. Surely Poppy didn't expect Minerva to oversee the labour and birth of her first child? That had to be madness. Minerva had never felt so out of control as she did right now. She had thought not knowing if Albus was alive or dead was bad but it didn't compare to this.
"You're not serious!" asked Minerva as she walked briskly after Poppy who was somehow managing to waddle down the stairs.
"Min," replied Poppy calmly "all the charms are set up for an easy and safe delivery. All you have to do is be there for me."
"Please let me contact Alastor!" pleaded Minerva.
"Fine," she answered "but tell him that I can't see him because I don't want bad luck."
Minerva helped Poppy into the room that had been set up for Poppy's home birth. On seeing the room, it didn't exactly fill Minerva was ease. Poppy settled down on a birthing stool and indicated for Minerva to contact Alastor using the floo network in the room they were in. Minerva shook her head as she threw some floo powder into the fire and called out Alastor's name. The green flames roared and seconds later Minerva saw Albus Dumbledore's head appear.
"Albus?" she questioned. She hadn't expected to see his head dancing around in the flames.
"Minerva," he answered with a bright smile that made her go weak at the knees, "Alastor is in the bathroom, a tad nervous about his forthcoming nuptials."
Minerva had to quickly pull herself together. She couldn't go losing herself in his eyes and smile when she had more pressing matters to attend to. A moan from Poppy made her pull herself together and relay the situation to Albus. Albus was as bemused as Minerva was when she told him that Poppy had become superstitious and was refusing to let Alastor see her on their wedding day.
"She wants me to help with the delivery," Minerva whispered to Albus, hoping that Poppy wouldn't hear her. "I can't do that. I have no idea in the name of Merlin what to do."
"Why don't you contact someone from St Mungo's? They can be with you in a matter of minutes!" suggested Albus.
"I do not want anyone from St Mungo's" came Poppy's voice from behind Minerva. "I may be in labour but I am not tone deaf!"
Minerva pulled a face that made Albus chuckle and Poppy shot them both a stern look. Albus said that he would inform Alastor of what was going and get back in contact with them both. After his head had flickered away from view, Minerva wished he would have stayed and helped her through this.
"Do you need anything?" asked Minerva.
"I need to change out of my dress," complained Poppy "it's ruined. This was not supposed to happen."
Poppy clutched her stomach again and breathed in deeply. She had been timing her contractions using the grandfather clock in the corner and found that they were five minutes apart. She was controlling her breathing well and she felt calm. She only wished that Minerva would calm down because watching her dash around like a headless chicken could play havoc with her blood pressure. Poppy was about to tell Minerva to calm down when green flames roared in the fire and Alastor's head appeared.
"Tell me she is joking," he asked sounding rather ruffled. "I want to be with her!"
"Tell him I am not joking," urged Poppy. "Tell I love him but he can't be with me yet."
"Tell her I am coming regardless," said Alastor purposely. "I am not letting something Sybil rambled on about prevent me from being there."
Minerva had never felt so relieved in her life. Alastor was coming and Poppy had to deal with it. She looked over at her friend and saw that she was sulking. She shook her head in disbelief. The whole situation she found herself in was surreal. It felt like she was having a dream and at any point she would wake up. Poppy asked Minerva to quickly help her out of her wedding dress and banish it to the upstairs bedroom. They worked rapidly and soon Poppy was in a loose fitting gown. Using a wand had made the changing of outfits so much easier and Poppy closed her eyes and worked through her contractions.
The door swung open and Alastor dashed in. He moved quickly for a man who was still getting used to his new leg. He dropped down beside Poppy and kissed her temple, whispering words of encouragement and comfort. Minerva suddenly felt like a spare part and she turned away to give them some privacy.
"I can manage from here now Min," said Alastor. "I did a training course at the hospital so we could have a home birth. I'll let you both know what's going on as it goes on."
Minerva nodded and wondered what he had meant by letting them both know. She soon found out what he meant as she walked out into the hallway and saw Albus leaning up against the banister. Minerva felt her breath catch in her throat as she saw him standing there in his wedding attire. He looked extremely dashing and all her feelings for him came flooding to the surface.
"Hello!" she said softly.
"Hello," he answered back, equally as softly. "How is she?"
Minerva closed the door and walked over to him. She sat down on the small couch and rested her head in her hands. She was pleased not to be directly involved in what was going on in the room she just left. She wouldn't have been able to cope if something had gone wrong and Poppy had hated her.
"Poppy," answered Minerva "is calmer than I expected. I can't you tell you how glad I am that Alastor is here."
Albus sat beside her and tentively placed an arm around her shoulder. To his surprise and delight she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. He sighed happily. He had missed contact like this. He could smell that she still used the same shampoo and that she wore the perfume that he had introduced her to a few years ago. It had become her favourite and she always received a bottle for her birthday and Christmas along with her other presents.
They sat in silence for a long time, neither one feeling the need to speak. They were both waiting for news and the waiting was long. Hours tickled away without them really realizing. When they did speak, it was about Poppy, the wedding and a few times they had even strayed to topics that involved them. Minerva was surprised how comfortable the silences had been. It was almost like normal again and the feeling of being held in his arms again was wonderful. She now knew that she had to follow her heart. She had to give him a second chance. She wanted to give him another chance!
"Albus," she said softly as she looked up at him "I am sorry for the way I have been. Could we try….."
What she was about to say was cut off by the sound of the door opening and Alastor appearing with a bundle.
"It's a boy!" he declared proudly!
To be continued