Chapter 3 – Revealing
Joy Multiplied
By Lady Urquentha
PG – 13
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J. K Rowling, the exception being any OC characters that might wander in. The plot is my own, and even that may have been influenced by stories I have read in the past, and if so, I apologize.
Talons: It is after the Goblet of Fire, and it is in Harry's sixth year. Voldie is around, I never said he wasn't. There is a reason that Minerva McGonagall isn't in danger at the moment, and that'll work it's way into the story eventually. Suffice to say, it has to do with her school days. Of course, if it comes out she's married to Albus Dumbledore, she will be targeted. Her age is a bit old? I don't understand why? After all, wizards live longer then regular people, or so J. K Rowling has said. You are quite right about the Joy being a baby.
Annoymous Miss. Prewett: I didn't realize I'd done that, I've changed it now. The new ones shouldn't take much longer to come out.
Annoymous Amanda: Yes I'll finish it, and I didn't realize I'd posted the first seven completely. I'm uploading them slowly, so I'll have more time to write more. If you check, you'll find that I've taken out chapters 4-7. I have it completely planned out, so it shouldn't be too long a wait before new chapters start coming out.
Chapter 3
After her last class, Minerva sank on to the bed in the room they shared, staring down at her abdomen in mute wonder mixed with confusion, fear and shock. She was still sitting there when Albus walked into the room ten minutes later. He furrowed his brow, confused,
"Minerva?" he asked. She lifted her head up to meet his eyes, and he was at her side in an instant.
"My darling, what is wrong?" he sat down beside her. She lowered her eyes, not looking up at him.
"Minerva," he lifted her chin, "come, tell me." One of her hands crept to rest on her flat stomach and she stared up at him,
"I'm pregnant." She watched as an array of emotions swept over his face. First shock, then confusion, joy and then realization. His lips caught hers in a fierce, passionate kiss that left her breathless when he released her. He stared at her,
"Minerva," he breathed. She swallowed.
"How long?" he asked.
"Two months," she murmured.
"And it's only that long into school," he realized, "oh dear." She cracked a wan smile, she too knew that she'd be due before school was over for the year.
"I could abort…" that was as far as she got.
"No," Albus said fiercely, before softening his voice, "we managed for the first two, we'll get through it this time." Athena…Apollo…her two children. Athena was already twenty-four, and Apollo was twenty-nine. But they had been planned, and she had timed them so she delivered during the holidays. They had been one of the reasons she wore robes that hid her figure, so few could tell how big she was around her waist.
"How will we deal with the school and public?" Minerva whispered, "I'm unmarried, single and seventy-nine."
"Hardly unmarried," he teased her. She smiled,
"true. But to their eyes, I'm unmarried." Albus drew her closer to him,
"we have two choices really," he answered, "to hide you under illusions and glamours, or to reveal our marriage. I will not have you shamed for bearing a child out of wed-lock."
"Glamours can be undone," she reminded him, "and I get hit by stray spells a lot." She grimaced, clearly remembering the times she'd been struck.
"But to reveal our marriage would put us both at risk from our enemies," he reminded her.
"And garner plenty of attention. You could be forced to resign!" Minerva added. Albus smiled,
"Not really. There are numerous descendants of headmasters or headmistresses and deputies in the Wizengamot, who would indeed be laughed at if they agreed to force me to resign. And in the Governors Board, some of them are the results of heads and their deputies becoming lovers," he added. Minerva snorted, remembering the time when she'd found out about the liaisons between the deputies and heads. Almost every pair of headmaster/mistress and deputy had been involved, except when the current head was married to his predecessor. Armando even, had been married to his predecessor. She had been quite shocked not to have known, considering Armando Dippet was headmaster during her time at Hogwarts.
"Agreed," she nodded, "and over the last forty years, I have shown that I am a powerful witch. Being your wife publicly won't make me all that much of a target," she reminded her, "and I haven't got many enemies that aren't your own anyway."
"No. Many of Grindlewald's followers do not believe you helped me defeat him, and you are not on their list. And you know that Voldemort will add you to his hit list if you acknowledge our marriage, along with our children," Albus warned her. Minerva's shoulders drooped, that was indeed true. No death eater would attempt to harm her, or risk facing You-Know-Who's wrath. Not while there was the slightest chance of swaying her to the Dark side. But if it was known she was Albus's wife, she would be catapulted to the top of his hit list, and become fair game for any and all. And her children would be targets as well, she couldn't do that to them!
"Your loose robes will conceal you for the first six months or so," he continued, "and I can weave spells around you to conceal it after that. If I do enough, it should keep your figure hidden and shouldn't fall apart." Minerva nodded, she couldn't risk putting herself, her children and her husband at risk. Albus reached out and drew her gently into his arms,
"I'm sorry, my dear."
Minerva knelt by the fire, and took a deep breath. She tossed a few pinches of floo powder into the flames, and then waited as they turned green. She leaned into it,
"Number 8 Hogsmeade."
Her head emerged in a small living room,
"Athena? Apollo?" she called. There was a moment, and then a young man and woman entered.
"Professor McGonagall?" the woman asked, her expression worried. Minerva smiled warmly at her,
"Athena, darling," she greeted her daughter.
"Mum," Athena's face relaxed as she moved closer to kneel by the fire.
"What is it?" the man asked, "you don't normally drop by during the school term."
"I have to tell you two something," Minerva said slowly.
"Hmmm?" Apollo tilted his head. Minerva took a deep breath,
"I'm pregnant," she said bluntly. Athena blinked, and Apollo's jaw dropped.
"Mum!" Athena exclaimed, "but it's only two months into the term! You'll never make it to the holidays!"
"I know," Minerva sighed, "it wasn't exactly planned. Completely unexpected, in fact!"
"How far along are you?" Apollo inquired.
"Two months," she replied. Apollo nodded,
"So what are you going to do about it? You've got to teach, and you're going to get pretty big." Minerva nodded,
"I'm just going to have to wear bigger robes, and your father has offered to wrap spells around me as well. His spells won't be broken through by a stray Finite Incantantum." Athena smiled,
"So, do I have a new brother or sister?" she asked. Minerva shrugged,
"I don't know. I only found out this morning for sure," she replied.
"Are you going to find out?" Apollo asked. Minerva shrugged again,
"I don't know. I didn't with you two."
Athena glanced down at the watch on her wrist, and sighed,
"I have to go. My shift in St. Mungo's starts in ten minutes. I'll see you later, mum," she leaned down and kissed Minerva's cheek before hurrying out of the room.
"Is there anything else, mum?" Apollo shifted from foot to foot impatiently, "I need to sleep, I just got back from my own shift." Minerva smiled,
"no, I just came by to tell you you'd have another sibling in seven months time."
"With a twenty-nine year age gap," Apollo added, grinning. Minerva laughed,
"true. I'll speak to you later then, dear." Apollo kissed his mother's cheek, and then Minerva withdrew her head.
She rocked back on her heels and then stood up. Sighing, she moved towards the bed where her husband already lay. It was late now, almost midnight, and she was tired. Stripping off her dressing gown, she slid between the sheets and moved closer to her husband's body. His arm slid around her, and she drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Three chapters down, and I've finally told you what's wrong with Minerva! I'm pretty sure the idea for the 'tradition' of relationships is someone else's, but I can't remember who. Anyone know please tell me, so I can give them the credit!
E/N: Oh, the horror of suspense! Review and stay tuned for the next chapter!