Small numbered boxes

Two weeks had passed since Albus' escape into the night. Fawkes passed messages between the couple although they were sporadic. The risk was too severe of being discovered. The two-way mirror was taken down but the Dumbledore watches still were in motion. Presently, Albus' hand was sent to in exile, Apollo's to St. Mungo, Aurora's to Wizengamot, and Minerva's steady at Hogwarts'.

Steady captured Minerva's mood. There were no major events happening at Hogwarts.

Albus gone, Umbridge ruling, the D.A. members still breaking rules. Normal. Minerva thought, with a twisted smile.

Reaching into her desk and pulling out a seemingly blank binder, Minerva tapped the page to record the next Umbridge meeting. The date threw her. Two weeks had passed since Albus had left. Kingsley had managed to warn them about the Aurors, so the couple had time to enact the plan they filed under worse case scenario.

Minerva realized something else about the date. They spent the night together completely body and soul before Albus left. Minerva frowned and did the math again. For a third time.

Shit. I'm two weeks late.

The tiredness and being "off" feeling was making sense to Minerva. They were rushed and certainly haven't taken precautions. The chance of being pregnant at her age was slim but as an Animagus she took some of her animal's features. Cats don't have the same cycles as humans. Minerva fastidiously kept track of her heats and avoids risky behaviors, much to her husband 's dismay. She forgot what day it was or more likely didn't care.

Remembering a curse that Abeforth put on the couple as a wedding gift, Minerva didn't even need confirmation from Poppy. If one partner unconsciously wanted a child, then a child shall be given. Groaning, she began to figure out how to hide her condition. Albus being told was an entirely different problem. Another problem would be killing her brother-in-law.

She quickly decided, even knowing the condition, it was best to see Poppy to get confirm some of information. Also Poppy had excellent ideas to kill Abeforth.

Steaming tea filled the nurse's office with the scent of peppermint. Only a couple beds were filled with students, most suffered from Umbridgitis. Poppy didn't care enough to kick them out when there wasn't any real patients, although she suspected the Weasley twins could cure them in a flash.

Hearing brisk footsteps she waited until they came closer and glanced up.

"Hi, Min. What brings you down to my wing of pseuodisease?"

Minerva seemed hesitant to explain the need of diagnosis spell in front of the students. Poppy noticed and pulled her into the private quarters for Hogwarts staff.

"Well, what's going on? Usually the first words out of your mouth are what potions you need without hearing my diagnosis."

"I just need the diagnosis spell to confirm something...probably nothing."

Poppy snorted. It was never anything with Minerva or her offspring. Actually Apollo and Aurora spent enough time in the hospital wing to rival Harry Potter's.

"Fine but then I want to know everything."

Poppy cast the spell. Purple light swiveled around Minerva and then settled at her stomach, with the number 2 ½ glowed.

Minerva closed her eyes and swore under her breath. Poppy tried to hide her shock. This was so not good news.

"O.k. this is surprising. What the plan now?"

"I don't exactly have one right now. Except not to have anyone to find out about this, especially the Headmistress. If word got out that we are a couple..." Minerva trailed off.

People have always suspected that the Headmaster and his deputy had a close relationship. Only trusted people could see the emerald and sapphires bands that the couple wore. The thing was while Minerva was a student under Albus, nothing happen until they were fighting against Grindwale. Now that Minerva served under her husband professionally, certain people might think she had gotten the job through connections and have unreasonable influence over the Headmaster.

"People are going to find out about this. No matter how many-disillusioned spell you used, you still are going to be absent a great deal of the time, especially with carrying twins. Minerva, you have to go public with your marriage."

Twins, Minerva thought, I've forgotten that part of the curse. I'm seventy-eight years old, my husband is over a hundred and we are going to have twins in about nine months. Will the fun ever stop?

Feeling nauseated, Minerva didn't get a chance to answer before hearing a crash outside the staff room. The cause of the crash walked in with a noticeable limp.

"I was setting up an obstacle course for the competition and twisted my ankle."

"Mara, you fly better that you walk." Poppy laughed.

Xiomara Hooch, a known klutz, pretended to be offended by the remark and then hopped on the bed to have the ankle mended yet again. Noticing Minerva, she grinned.

"Not all of us have the grace of a cat. Hawks aren't known for being graceful on the ground, only the air. Besides, I considered being earth bound a curse. Why is the indomitable Professor McGonagall in the hospital wing?"

Minerva groaned slightly, not wanting to explain her foolishness to her oldest friend. Fortunately she didn't have to. Smiling mischievously, Poppy exclaimed,

"Don't you know when you are going to be an aunt again?"

Xiomara's expression was one of mixed happiness and longing. Albus and Minerva were one of the most loving couple she knew. If Albus had his way there would be dozen McDores around.

"Min, you and Albus never cease to amazed me. Is Aberforth still alive?"

"For now," came the low growl from the bowed head.

Xiomara hestianted for a moment and then broke into a smile, "I'm so happy for you! It's been forever since we had a baby around."

Realizing why Minerva was so quiet Poppy explained, "It is not bloody great, Mara! In case you haven't notice, this isn't the best time for this. Albus' gone, the Toad's in charge and Min's not in the best condition to have twins. Not to mention that this is going to make the marriage public or Hogwarts' going have immoral Deputy Headmistress."

Minerva still hasn't said a single word.

I'm pregnant, with twins and I'm seventy-eight years old. When they are eleven, I will be eighty-nine.

This thought made Minerva feel dizzy and leaned back in the bed. As she glanced out the window, she noticed group of people, with Umbridge in the lead. Minerva shot out of bed when she recognized this was Umbridge's threat. With a wave of her wand, she dressed and headed out to the ground.

Xiomara and Poppy headed out after her, towards the red lights. To their horror, Minerva was thrown back from the force. The Aurors rushed pass the fallen witch with Umbridge after Hagrid. Poppy immediately gathered Minerva in her arms and hit the emergency portkey for St. Mungo's.

"Call Aurora and Apollo, and notify everyone else. I'll meet you there."

Xiomara nodded and rushed off to the owlery, saying a prayer to nameless gods.