Sixth Floor

Aurora reviewed the day's cases with Madame Bones over a meal of crab rangoos and chicken stir-fry. The pair barely glanced up when the flames appeared over the desk. The flames turned into a red and yellow bird, which chirp loudly. Recognizing the chirp, Aurora hold up one finger and turn to the bird,

"Fawkes, what are you doing here? You need to be with Mama or Papa, silly boy."

Fawkes held out his leg for Aurora, who took the note.

A-

Your mother has been hit with four Stunners in the chest. She was sent to St. Mungo I'm with her. Come as soon as possible.

Aunt Mara.

She dropped the note. Fawkes took that as a sign that the information was received and left. Aurora slides the note over to Madame Bones, who nodded.

Aurora apparated to St. Mungo's wondering what she was going find. Pulling out a pocket watch she checked the location of the other three McDores. Albus was still in exile, Minerva's in mortal peril and Apollo was traveling. A double check on the extended family face revealed Xiomara also traveling.

Aurora walked over to the welcoming witch and said in a shaking voice,

"I'm here to see Minerva McGonagall."

"Sixth floor—extreme injuries from magic." The welcoming witch return in a bored voice.

"Rory!"

Turning towards the familiar voice, Aurora saw Apollo racing towards her in scrubs.

"When was the sixth floor added? It doesn't sound good, Apo."

Breathless, Apollo paused and led his sister towards the elevator,

"It has always been there. People just don't know about it unless it's extreme circumstances."

Pushing the elevator button, they got on and the doors began to close.

"Hold the elevator."

A string of blue light froze the elevator in place. Xiomara got on and the elevator continued up to the sixth floor.

Xiomara muttered under her breath over and over,

"Please save the twins and their mother."

The twins looked at each other and frown. They were fine. Aunt Mara could see that.

Aurora leaned over to her brother,

"She's been stressed with Umbridge, Apo. All of them have and now with Mama. "

Apollo nodded.

The trio waited in silence. Xiomara was filling out forms, biting her lip. Aurora and Apollo curled up together, taking comfort in each other's presence. All thoughts remained with Minerva.

Severus Snape found them that way when he flooed to the hospital hours later. Unsnapping the knapsack on his back, he took several packages out. Waving his wand, the packages became food and extra clothes.

"Wasn't sure what you need, Xio. I just grabbed an emergency pack and ran. Umbridge still haven't said anything about Minerva. I need to get back." Severus seemed more panicked that ever before.

Xiomara embraced her husband.

"Thanks, Sev. No change yet..."

"Do they know about the complication?"

Xiomara pulled away with a questioning look.

"Poppy told me when I flooed over. Twins at her age! Why wouldn't they prevent this?
Was it planned?"

Apollo overheard the last part.

"Of course, they planned it Severus! That woman wanted to destroy my father. She just happened to used Mom to do it."

Xiomara shook her head slightly. Severus looked overwhelm. The twins don't know about the pregnancy.

"Sorry, Apollo, of course it was planned. It was wrong to suggest otherwise."

In a sotto voice, he asked his wife,

"The twins don't know? Their mother is pregnant and they don't know?"

"Minerva didn't exactly say if it was plan or not, although the fact she doesn't seem happy about it, tells me probably it wasn't. We thought it was better if they didn't know yet. It compliances things a bit and we don't know if the pregnancy will continue after this." Xiomara's voice cracked.

Severus nodded and continued to hold his wife. They had suffered a number of miscarriages before giving up on having children.

The waiting ended when Healer Theoriski walked into the room.

"I'm looking for Minerva McGonagall's family."

"I'm her son, Apollo McDore. What's going on with her?"

"She was hit with four Stunners in the chest as you all know. Luckily because it in order to protect a loved one it has cause no real damage to Minerva or the pregnancy. But she will..."

Aurora interrupted Theoriski.

"What? My mother isn't pregnant."

"We were informed that Ms. McGonagall just found she was two weeks along by Xiomara Hooch on her arrival. When she was checked out before treatment of her wounds, the pregnancy was confirmed. In fact, the action of Ms. McGonagall to protect her friend Rubueus Hagrid saved the pregnancy and Ms. McGonagall's own life.

"Even through this is the case, Ms. McGonagall will have a difficult recovery. I'm prescribing bed rest for at least six weeks and a reduced workload. If Ms. McGonagall does not follow these orders, she will lose the pregnancy. Even if she does, there is a serious chance the pregnancy could still be at risk; given her age and the fact she already had a miscarriage. I want to keep her here for a couple more days. Then she should be release. I will be talking to Ms. McGonagall about her condition when she feels up to it."

"Thank you. Someone is already covering her teaching and administrative duties. " Severus said.

"May we see our mother?" Aurora asked.

"Ms. McGonagall resting comfortably and is asking for a Xiomara. I assume that is you?" Theoriski turned to the gray haired woman.

"Yes. Xiomara Hooch-Snape."

"Please follow me then. I'll be back to update you on your mother's condition."

The healer led Xiomara into a small private room. Minerva was curled up and staring at the ceiling. Xiomara knocked lightly against the wall.

"Hey, love. How are you? You look good considering."

"Mara." Minerva said weakly, gesturing towards her chest.

Walking over to the bed,

"Yeah, I know. The doctor said you are going to be fine. The twins are here and—"

"The twins? Are they O.K.? I----"

"Both sets are fine considering their mother has been injured. The first set is in shock about the second set. The babies are fine for now but there's a chance you could lose them. The doctor is ordering bed rest and reduced workload. Look like a forced vacation." Xiomara chuckled.

"Apo and Rory know? Are they upset?"

"I honestly don't know. I don't think they know how they feel about it. They are just worry, especially considering there's been no word from Albus. You scared all of us, Min. "

Minerva nodded.

"Can I see them?"

"Minerva, you are exhausted, whether you know it or not. You need sleep."

"Please Mara, just for a couple minutes."

"O.k. but then sleep. My godchildren need sleep."

"Who said you is going to be the godmother? You haven't been a good one to the godchildren you have."

Aurora and Apollo heard Aunt Mara laughed and say something to their mother. When they walked in the room, the two women sitting together, Xiomara holding Minerva gently in her arms.

"Hey, there are my kittens. I must look awful."

"No, Mom, you look great. Just tired." Apollo tried to be positive and upbeat.

"After four stunners, you positively look amazing, mom. Especially considering you are carrying twins." Aurora added.

"I didn't want to say anything until Papa knew and considering the last time. I didn't..." Minerva trailed off.

Xiomara stroked her face and murmured,

"It's ok to go to sleep. Don't worry your hawk is here."

Apollo and Aurora quickly blinked away tears and kissed their mother. Aurora marveled at the friendship between the two women.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Aunt Mara."

"Love you, the daring duo. I'm sure your mom would say the same if she was awake. Pommie will be coming by when I go home to pack. Filius or me will be here otherwise." Xiomara smiled at her godchildren.

Minerva had completely zonked out.

Later that night.

Xiomara lay a small silver and green bag on the bed. She gathered clothes, food and water and tossed them into the bag. Severus watches his wife packed her usual flight bag, while he packs a bag for the evening at the hospital.

"Xio." He said his name for her absentmindedly.

"Hmm? Throw me that shirt, hon. The Dumbledore estate is in Yorkshire."

"So what two day flight? I just wonder what people will say when I disappear for hours at a time. I can't say ' excuse I need to check on Minerva, even through I act like I detested her."

"You won't be doing that. Filius will be covering that. You need to spy and see that people don't ask question about my family emergency."

Severus wondered once more about the scary link between his wife and her friends. Before he commented on that Xiomara kissed him, straps on her bag and transforms into a hawk. Severus opened the window, stoked the bird and threw her into the night.

Xiomara flew south for a couple miles. Then the hawk did something unusual. Flying straight up, the hawk seemingly froze in mid-air and then disappeared.

Xiomara reappeared at a gate. Transforming back into her human state, she walked into the grasslands that surrounded a number of stone houses. Pausing by the house with yellow and red flowers, she knocked.

The door open and a man with twinkling blue eyes greeted her.

"Mara! What's going on? "

"Albus, Minerva is hurt. You need to come home immediately."

"How bad? It must be bad. You wouldn't be here. Please is my wife dying?"

"You don't know about...of course not." Xiomara took a deep breath. "Minerva is not in danger of dying but it's still touch-and-go. Minerva found out some startling news about two weeks after you left. She's pregnant. About two weeks along.

"What?!" Albus looked stunned. "But that's impossible...oh. Two weeks? Yeah, that's definitely possible, o.k."

Xiomara looked slightly uncomfortable. As much as she loves Minerva and Albus, they were still her bosses and occasionally she knew too much information about them.

"Two days ago Umbridge attacked Hagrid. Minerva went out to protect him and took four Stunners in the chest. She was transported to St. Mungo, where Rory and Pollo found out about the pregnancy. She is still there. We know Minerva is going to recover but the risk is to the pregnancy. She might lose them."

As soon as Xiomara finished her sentence, Albus was packed and transformed into a beautiful snowy owl.

"I keep forgetting how fast you could do that.
Kind of annoying."

The owl grinned and then looked serious. Xiomara changed into her hawk and the pair was off towards St. Mungo's.

The pair was silent, lost in their own thoughts. Occasionally Xiomara glanced at the owl, and noticed a quiet determined look on his face. Albus was generally forgiving and a peaceful man. The exception was when children are involved, particularly his children. Minerva may fiercely defend her cubs when it came to the Gryffindors and a ferocious lioness towards Pol and Rory. But nothing likes Albus. Albus was downright scary when a child was attack.

Albus turned right at St. Mungo's and landed on the roof. Xiomara followed him, and then they transformed into their human forms. Albus muttered a spell, and became invisible. They then apparated to the Welcoming Witch.

"Is Minerva McGonagall still on the sixth floor?" Xiomara asked.

"Yes, room 6852."

"Could the witch be any less welcoming?" grumbled Albus.

Xiomara gave him a sympathetic look and continued to walk towards the elevator. They hopped on and Xiomara led the way to Minerva's room.

Pomona was talking about Neville Long bottom's O.WL.

"...Perfect theory and practical. Only one in the group without a mistake in the school on the herbology, including my own Hufflepuffs. I sometimes think the Sorting Hat made a mistake..."

"And sometimes I would happily give you Mr. Longbottom. But his parents were Gryffindors and apparently the son is same."

Xiomara walked into the room and crossed over to the bed.

"Pomona, we should let Minerva get some rest, especially with the twins."

"Oh, I suppose you're right. Someone will be back in the morning. Heard you are leaving tomorrow. Apollo and Aurora will be here tomorrow. "

"Yes, just in time to help students pack. What fun."

"Get sleep, Min." Xiomara said softly.

The two professors walked out.

Minerva turned to the chair on her right side