Chapter 11

A/N: Hi guy, umm well here is chapter 11 hope you like, and thanks for your reviews.

Even though the first few weeks of Minerva's new teaching position were eminsley difficult, strained beyond belief, and stressed to the point of maddness, time eventually healed the pain Minerva had felt. She once again regarded Dumbledore with the highest respect, even when his hand brushed hers lightly at those awkward meals she didn't even flinch, however it cannot be denined that she flushed. No Minerva seemed to be completely at peace with the world, she was often seen smiling and even laughing. Her old friends and peers were delighted that she had such a prominate position, and to put it quite plainly thought it:

"wicked brilliant" that they had her for their teacher. Perhaps the students (especially the seventh years) assumed that they would have it easier now that Minerva was their teaher, someone who they could relate to, possibly even convince to go easy. So altogether the student population (excepting the slytherians) was thrilled at their new Transfiguration teacher. The staff on the other hand were less enthusiastic. Used to Proffesor Dippet's traditional methods, they found Dumbledore extremely eccentric and off his nut.

"Hiring a 17 year old girl honestly!"

"I'd like to know what he's thinking creating this brand new position!"

"'Deputy in Charge', does he have no respect of tradition!"

"I think the schools going to the Doxies personaly, what with a maniac like running around, and are 7th year students up and running off or claiming teaching positions! Not to mention this so called 'Chamber' that might stll be open wide killing off all the little mud-'

"HORACE!"

"Sorry Professor Merryweather I meant no dissrespect, I just think that Dumbledore needs to set his priorities straight that's all." Professor Merryweather scowled menacingly, she was a very old severe woman who had grudgingly returned to the school after retirment once she realized that there would be a shortage of teachers. Perhaps she had even been hopeing for Dumbledore's old position, in which case she had been gravily disappointed. None the less she had the upmost respect for Dumbledore even if he was a bit…odd. Whether the staff was outraged or not, Minerva couldn't bother with such things. As the new Deputy in Charge she had many other responsibilities at the moment, not to mention the weight of her pregnancy that under Dumbledore's orders was top secret at lest till she had givin birth. However, when the time approached that Minerva was to have her baby, Minerva noticed that Albus had started avoidind her and looking at her less and less frequently. Minerva tried not to dwell on this matter to heavely and instead threw herself into teaching ( she was using a conceling charm to keep her belly from showing). In her first week she had already gained the title of the hottest teacher to come to Hogwarts, and as the months went by she was regarded as:

"The Goddess" appropriately enough. Minerva was completely oblivious to this until she heard to boys talking in obvious whispers in her class. Asking them what they were discussing the first boy, Jhonson, said (with a smirk)

" Only your legs, your eyes, hair, lips and well how we'd give a thousand galleons to see you out of those robes…professor." Bobby Jhonson clicked his tongue and winked before sitting back down, the room erupted with laughter. Perhaps it was this episode that made Minerva more strict.

The day that Minerva went into labor secretly in her chambers with only Poppy assist her with the birth, it was already mid March 1953. And a very blustery day it was. The wind howled outside of Minerva's gothic windows. Poppy who was still in her seventh year at Hogwarts had become something of an apprentice to the current matron Madame Katz, though the comparrison was undeniable, for Poppy actually knew what she was doing. After two hours Minerva gave birth to a beautiful raven haired baby girl, with bright emerald eyes. She was extremely pale and you could see quite a lot of her vains in her forehead, her nose was very slender as were her fingers and toes and she resembled Tom quite a lot. Minerva had the unsettling feeling that 'Voldemort' as she would never outwardly call him knew that she had givin birth to his child.

Dumbledore appeared after an hour or two much to Minerva's surprise, he stood over her bed, and looked down at the small child.

"What are you going to call her?" he asked at last.

"Bella." Answered Minerva staring into the small eyes that looked so much like her own. There was a long pause, before Dumbledore continued,

"I fear what the child of Voldemort," Minerva flinched for it was final he was Tom no more, "can do. Still it is not just Voldemort's child. It is your child too. And in fact it was never Voldemort's child it was Tom Riddle's. He is gone now. I came today however, to see Minerva McGonagall's little girl, and that it precisely what I am going to do. If I may?" He asked reaching out to hold the child. Minerva handed her daugher up to Dumbledore, who smiled down at the bundle. "She has your eyes," He said smiling. Minerva grined "And your intellect it appears. I can tell by the way she's going to be smart." Then Bella reached up and with her tiny hand and touched Dumbledore's nose. Dumbledore made a honking noise and Bella laughed her first laugh. Dumbledore beamed. "Yes she'll be a smart one that's for sure, most children are terrified of me, I can't understand why." It was Minerva's turn to laugh. And the two-well the three of them laughed and stayed like that for almost three hours before Minerva and little Bella fell asleep.