Barbecue and news

Eventually Harry got used to living with his Headmaster and his Head of House. The makeshift family often curls up in bed while Albus and Minerva told stories about the Marauders and even Minerva's pranks. Slowly Harry forgave Albus for his secrecy. Harry finished his homework in record time and as a reward flooed over to the Burrow for a week. During this time, Minerva recovered and was allowed to get out of bed for a couple hours. Healer Theoriski came and confirmed the January 27th due date.

Harry came back the morning of the barbecue, eager to watch the preparations. Apollo apparated the morning of to string lights in the shapes of dancing cats. The comment of 'only my mother' was made earning Apollo a slap on the head.

Finally the yard was decorated and the food was set out. Minerva went into the house for a quick nap.

Albus carried Minerva slowly up the stairs to their bedroom. When he was sure that she was in bed, Albus hurried down to help Harry and Apollo to change the decorations to baby-themed.

With a wave of his wand, Apollo created a banquet, with baby sized of Minerva's favorites. Harry began organized the games and prizes. A block cake about in light Gryffindor colors appeared.

Albus stepped back.

"Not bad, considering men aren't known for their decorations skills. Of course, Xiomara and Aurora will change everything."

"Speak of the devil. Ro, please tell me we did some things right. We've spent hours on this."

Ignoring Apollo, Aurora kissed her father and turned to Harry,

"You must be Harry. I recognized you from when you came to court. Are you staying out of trouble this summer?"

Recognizing the teasing in the witch's voice, Harry replied,
"How could I get into trouble living with my Headmaster and Head of House? I have to be a saint."

That's the second time someone didn't do the scar thing, but rather placed me for my actions.

"Well, I suppose there's some truth in that. Seriously, Apollo and I want to thank you for being here. We worry about Mom being alone when Papa has order business to deal with, especially with the twins." With this she turned to Albus,"Ammon and Aoife? "

The three men's expressions were shocked. Albus thought we came up with good names before. She definitely didn't get this weird naming thing from us.

Thinking quickly Albus fibbed, "Rory, I believe your mother has names pick out. She just isn't revealing them yet."

"Well, I should check on the food." Aurora wandered off.

"Papa, you haven't came close to have names, have you?"

"No, we haven't but Rory doesn't need to know that. We have the third names figured out but that's it. "

"What's the tradition? " Harry asked, while finishing tying balloons together.

"Well, the first name has to start with an "A" for the Dumbledore side. The McGonagall side is named for gods and goddess, preferably Roman gods, but my name is Greek, meaning 'father lion', prefect considering my father was the head of Gryffindor and Mom still is. The second name is required to be a Scottish name, since Mom's full and Dad's half, Tam. The third name is use to honor a family member or close friend, Aberforth, after my uncle. So my full name is Apollo Tam Aberforth McGonagall-Dumbledore. Rory's Aurora Caoimhe Morgaine McGonagall-Dumbledore. Makes Harry James Potter look good." Apollo smiled.

"So the twins will have Sirius and Madam Hooch's names." Harry thought out loud.

"Yep, imagine Xiomara."

"Hey! Xiomara is a good name. I like the name Xiomara. You, my dear godson, should know that Xiomara means famous in battle. Nice cats." Xiomara grinned.

" If only in Quidditch battles. Hey, Aunt Mara, are you ok? I saw you at Theoriski..."

"Yeah...it was just a check up." Xiomara didn't elaborated more than that.

Severus raised an eyebrow at his wife's excuse. The check-up was to make use Xiomara was recovered from a miscarriage and to know when they could try again.

"Oh. I just wondering."

Harry slowly approached the pair of Slytherins. Xiomara noticed his hesitance.

"Hello, Harry. You are looking better than the last time I saw you. Has Albus show you the Quidditch field yet?"

"Yes, Madame Hooch. I thought it was brilliant. Hello, Professor Snape."

Severus glanced at Harry. He no longer saw the cockiness or the great distaste.

"Hello Potter. I'm sorry about your loss. I see we are stuck with attend this hen party. "

Xiomara turned around and waved her wand towards Severus, tickling him.

"I give up. It's not a hen party but rather an informal get-together. "

"That's right. You'll do well to remember that. "

"Or what?"

Xiomara leaned and whispered in Severus' ear. Severus' eyes widen.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

"I think not."

Harry grinned at Severus succumbed to his wife. Filius Flitwick apparated with packages loading in his arms.

"Hagrid couldn't make it, so some of these are from him. Xiomara, here's book on broomsticks charms. Severus, I couldn't find those herbs in Rome, sorry. But there's riolkce from Greece here as Albus' lemon drops. Harry, nice to see you. Where's Minerva? "

Albus smiled at the quick speech pattern.

"Taking a nap. Hello, Filius. How was Rome?"

"Rome was interesting. The conference was about how charms interact with other fields of magic, including sports. Met fascinating people, including a dark arts charm expert. By the way who's going to be the new DADA teacher?"

Albus thought about this since last fall when in two weeks of her appointment,
Delores Umbridge turned out to be his biggest mistake. He tried to get Remus back but he was too busy with the Order and the laws against werewolves were a mess to get through. Kingsley Shacklebolt was his second choice but all Aurors are working to capture Deatheaters. Albus didn't feel like looking for another person to fit into the staff, especially for what would almost certainly be a short amount of time.

"Actually I was going to make announcement at the first staff meeting. The schedules are going to be shuffle. Each professor will teach Defense in their own fields. This will give the students more of comfort zone as they already know the professors. But I decided to ask Bill Weasley take over the transfiguration classes and Head of Gryffindor when Minerva takes her leave to recover from the pregnancy and delivery. I would do but I'll have two infants and a wife to care for." Albus smiled at this thought.

"And you better care for them well, or I'll hear about it." Poppy and Pomona had just arrived.

"Really, Poppy, we all will hear about. Especially from Minerva or Xio." Severus stated dryly.

Harry smiled. It was weird to see his professors out of context. But as Poppy began to lecture Severus on the importance on pre-natal care and pregnancy in general, he found himself relaxing and enjoying his professors. Conservation flowed easily as the finishing touches were done.

Everything was placed and the guests begin to arrive. Albus thoughtfully invited Ron and Ginny Weasley along with their mother for Harry's benefit. He never wanted to hang around the adults at that age, especially teachers and parents.

Albus' cousin, Arabella Figg, arrived by her new floo connection. Most of the Order had arrived, along with former students. Tonks and her mother were the last to arrived. Tonks chose to look like a McDore, with green eyes and long auburn hair. She joined Aurora, who was in Gryffindor with her.

The guests were all seated, (Ron hungrily eyeing the cake) and Albus went to fetch Minerva from the bedroom.

"Mina? The staff is here for the barbecue. Mina, time to wake up." Albus gently shook his wife.

"Mmm, no, not now. I'll do it later."

Albus stiffed a laugh. Minerva had been getting difficult to wake up. Usually he just let her sleep figuring that her body needed the rest and knowing that this was the most rest she will get all year. But today, there was about thirty of their friends in the yard and Minerva really needed to get up. So he lay down beside her and whispered,

"Grilled salmon."

Minerva opened one eye and yawned.

"We could just stay here for a bit. The staff is used to us being late. And you do look so handsome...." Minerva began playing with her husband's beard and kissing his neck behind his ear.

Albus felt her kisses in a certain place and shifted uncomfortably. There are thirty people here and all I want to do is to be with my wife. Remembering the last time they were late, Xiomara cursed them to speak pig Latin for two hours. Gathering all his strength, he pulled away from his wife and said,

"Dolores Jane Umbridge."

Minerva's face was disgusted.

"Well, that's a mood killer. I'll get dress. Could you help me?"

"Certainly."

About ten minutes later, the pair appeared, and ignoring the knowing glances of the Hogwarts staff, Albus turned to Minerva, blocking her view of the backyard, and said,

"I invited a few additional guests, my dear. Hope you don't mind."

Minerva turned around and smiled. A large banner with two tabby kittens was hung over the backyard stated that the latest models of McDores were coming soon. She laughed and kissed her husband. Usually Albus couldn't keep a secret from her to save his life.

"How did you keep this a secret from me?" Minerva asked Albus.

"Well, it wasn't easy but having you stuck in bed work to my advantage," Lowering his voice, he continued, "in more ways than one." Minerva blushed and kissed her husband.

"O.k. break it up. We get enough of that at school. Geez, no wonder Min's knocked up."

Groaning at the familiar teasing voice, Minerva pulled away and turned to hug her best friend.

"Mara, you should know how newlyweds are."

"Forty-nine years of marriage isn't considerate newlyweds. Hell, seven years aren't newlyweds. Besides, no one here actually wants to think about Albus having sex. Once you are on a chocolate frog, the need to have physical needs ceases to exist."

Minerva smirked. Most of the female staff gathered once a month in Poppy and Pomona's quarters to have a girls' night. Funny, how they never actually get around to Minerva's love life.

Leaning over, Minerva whispered in Xiomara's ear,

"The things Albus can do with his tongue alone, is reason enough for a first class order of Merlin."

Xiomara didn't blush but looked anywhere but at Albus. Overhearing, Poppy looked slightly amused as she remembered a late night drunken conservation with Albus about tongue usage and hair. Minerva went around greeting her guests.

"My god, Minerva, you're huge. You're just thirteen weeks, right?"

Minerva grinned at the remark.

"Tactless as usual, Sev. I'm almost fourteen weeks but you've got to remember there's two in here. Just think another set of twins. You missed Apollo and
Aurora's childhood but there's a new chance in January. Remember how much fun the Weasley twins were. These two are going to be worse. Especially with Xiomara as Godmother. By the way, we need a godfather. You game?"

Severus seems cautious.

"You want me to be godfather? I'm a former Deatheater not to mention a Slytherin. The twins are going to be Gryffindors, right?"

"From your mouth to God's ears. Xiomara chose you to spend her life with and I trust her. Besides you're going to be great counterpoint to Albus. Albus! Don't touch that cake!"

Albus glanced up guiltily.

"See what I put up with?" Minerva groaned.

Severus grinned. Minerva and Albus as parents were going to be fun to watch. If only he and Xiomara could join them.

Minerva settled into a chair Poppy placed in the center of the lawn. Albus joined his wife as presents were piled around them. Aurora got out a book to jot down comments on and the givers of the gifts. Harry and Ron took a look at this, with Ron, commenting,

" they are going to get all mushy about socks and onesies. Let's get out of here. "Harry nodded and called out to Albus,

"I'm going to take Ron to the Quidditch pitch, o.k.?"

"Sure, just be careful and lock the shed up." Albus and Apollo said in unison.

"How times have you heard that, Pol?"

"At least a hundred times daily during the summer. A couple times daily in the other months. But I love when we used to played ice quidditch Beside, this is one of the most protected place in England. " Apollo remembered the added security when his father gotten appointed to Wizengamot and as a personal favor, Aurora received an extension on the protection when Albus was removed from Court.

Albus was interrupted by Minerva, who wrapped Severus' gift.

"Albus, do you think snakes will match the nursery theme? "

"I thought we were going with a sky theme. With cloud walls and stars on the ceiling. Well, that's a first. Gold and red snakes? What's next, green and silver lions?"

"Next package."

Minerva opened the package next to the previous one. Two green and silver lions fell out.

"For their inner Slytherin." Severus smiled

Well, I could transfigure them later. Minerva thought.

"I also placed spell on that doesn't allow transfiguration. So they will remain Gryffindor snakes and Slytherin lions."

"Very clever. I'll put them in a special place." Perhaps not in the view of anyone.

Xiomara smiled and handed the next package to Minerva. Eyeing the package suspiciousaly, Minerva opened it to find jumpers of red and gold.

At least they are the right colors. She read the words on the jumpers.

"Baby Seeker, Beater, Chaser...Mara, don't you think it's a little early for this?"

"Never to early to be a Quidditch fan or player."

"Why don't you have your own team then? They could sit on a seat on back of the broom."

teased Minerva.

Xiomara's face looked stunned and hurt. She gathered her things and ran out, with Severus following her.

Minerva looked confused. "What did I said?"

Poppy sighed.

"She had a miscarriage in April. She didn't tell anyone she was pregnant including Severus. He found out when he walked in on her, bleeding. He helped Mara complete the process and then buried the remains. I only know because Severus was in my office updating the records. It was her fifth. The have become so efficient with process I'm not needed."

Minerva thought about Xiomara. Always laughing, mischievous Mara. The dig wasn't that out of line and usually Mara would kid back but now no wonder why she was keeping her distance.

"I thought they had given up on the idea. If I knew I would've give Xiomara time off." Albus looked sick.

"She's such a private person. They both are really. Poppy swore me to secrecy." Pommie didn't mention she held her wife while they both cried late into the night.

"I should talk to her. I need to explain." Minerva started to get up.

"Severus is with her. They probably want to be alone. Why don't you enjoy the rest of the shower?"

The guests began to talk again but the mood was depressed along the guest of honor the shower ended soon after.

Ron and Harry, having missed the revelations, volunteered to clean up seeing the mood of the people left at the party. Poppy decided to examine Minerva just to check on development. Pommie and Albus went for a walk around the pond.

"Any reason they can't have children? Is Mara ok?" Minerva sat on her bed shuffling cards for King's corner.

"Mara's at the end of her cycles, they come at an end at different times for witches. She's so physical that cycles aren't regular anyway. But from what she told me, Severus blamed himself. He thinks it's punishment for being a Deatheater."

"Own! They are kicking hard right now." Minerva rubbed her stomach to calm the kittens.

Poppy reached over and felt a foot pushing out.

"Must be excited about the loot they got today. Things have change since the last we had kids. Rose and Daisy had none of this stuff. Back in the dark ages..."

"Back when we both had our children. It feels weird to do this alone. I mean, I know everything should go fine but I don't know. I'm thinking about making a will, really getting organize. I was thinking of giving guardianship to you and Pommie but then I realize you are the same age and think someone younger would be better. "Minerva sighed.

"Min, why are we even talking about this? We are middle age, which means we have another fifty years at least. Just because our lives are changing doesn't mean anything. If anything went wrong, the twins will be well care for. But everything is going to be fine." Poppy tried to laugh off the seriousness of the conversations.

"I suppose you're right. But I would just feel better, if everything was taken care of. When I was in St. Mungo waiting, I thought about things. I don't have a will, legally Aurora and Apollo aren't my heirs. Now with the kittens and Harry and fact I'm middle age and Albus is ...well, ancient. I was thinking of naming Arthur and Molly." Minerva flipped over her top two cards and found two aces. "Ha! Won again. Fifth time."

Poppy laughed, "Ever think I could be letting you win?"

"Nah."

"Molly and Arthur are just enjoying kid-free life. What about Apollo?"

"Totally what a forty–six-year-old wants. To take care of his siblings. We've talked about Mara and Severus but Severus is well, Severus . So, in the most roundabout way, do you think you and Pommie could be guardians to the kittens?"

"Min, I love you and your kids but I'm seventy-six and Pommie is seventy-seven. We've raised our kids."

"Is that a no?"

"It's a let me talk to Pommie first." Poppy sighed. "We would like to travel one day."

"I would love to do that too but no my husband is still able to have sex."

"Hey! Don't use my name in vain."

"Honey, no one wants our kids." Minerva pouted.

Albus chuckled,

"The first set wasn't that bad was it? Look like Severus is the obvious choice."

"That will make us live longer."

Poppy and Pommie laughed.

"We're off. "

"Albus, are you awake?" Minerva turned to face her husband.

"No."

"Really, cause you don't talk in your sleep."

"Yes, I do."

"I'm carrying your children."

"I'm going to be so happy when you can't use that excuse. Mina, it's three in the morning. "

"Really? Huh. Well, I was thinking..."

"At three in the morning."

"..that we should really do the paperwork for our will and the guardianship."

Albus rubbed his eyes. His wife had knack for wanting to discuss important things at odd hours. While he was literally an owl, he also was over an hundred and fifty and needed his sleep.

"Have we decided on someone? I thought Poppy said she was going to think about, Xiomara lives with Severus and we didn't want to asked the kittens."

"I know but I'm worried. What if I don't make it?"

"If you continue to wake up at all hours of the night...."Albus moored.

"Albus."

"Name Molly and Poppy legal guardians. By law, Arthur and Pommie will be include in the paperwork. Set it up so the kittens and Harry have visitation rights, according to the guardianship's principles. Give Mara and Severus roles of godparents. Let me sleep."

Albus rolled over and snuggled down in bed. He felt himself drift off to sleep until...

"Albus. Albus. Albus!"

"What?!"

"I need you."

One look at Minerva's face, Albus decided sleep could definitely wait.