Old friends

After Albus indulged Minerva once more, he rolled over and quickly fell back to sleep. Minerva tossed and turned. She scowled at her sleeping husband and was tempted to wake him up.

I never have insomnia as bad as when I'm pregnant. It will be the last time I might as well enjoy these moments.

The house was quiet as Minerva enjoyed but with living with Albus and now Harry, the quietness was rare. Walking out on the porch with a glass of Dumbledore famous lemonade, she began to think about both her and Mara's situation.

Mara and Severus. If they hadn't gotten into the situation during Severus' seventh year, I'm not sure they would be together. At least Mara had the good sense to wait until Severus was of age. If had been a Quiddtich player, Mara would be out of a job. Minerva shuddered.

Xiomara had gotten pregnant during spring term. The paleness and shaking as she entered the Headmaster's office was a sure sign something was wrong.

Albus immediately questioned whether the father was to be involved. Xiomara shook even more, as she revealed the affair of three months. She offered to pack her things but Albus refused. Suspension for a semester seemed light but the student was of age and not directly under Xiomara's supervision.

Severus didn't know until later that Xiomara miscarried the same night she found out he was a Deatheater. Not until he return to Hogwarts did he and Xiomara reunited and continued the relationship.

Minerva knew all about the torture Mara went through when she miscarried. Severus wasn't there. Minerva held Mara as Poppy delivered the remains. She also comforted Mara for the three weeks after.

Mara wanted a baby so badly and here was her best friend, pregnant by accident and cautious about being happy.

"My dear, I wondered where you were. The bed seemed cold and lonely. I need a certain tabby cat." Albus wrapped his arms around his wife.

Minerva turned around and kissed Albus. Albus looked surprise.

"What's wrong?"

"Just because I kissed you, there's something wrong?"

"Yes. I've known you for over sixty years. That was a 'the world isn't fair and I want to fix it but I can't and you should do it for me because you love me' kiss."

"Really? You got all of that from a kiss?"

"Absolutely. What's wrong?"

Minerva gazed into her husband's eyes. She sighed and stroked his beard.

"It's really annoying to be married to a Legimellist. I was just thinking
about Mara. She wants a baby so bad…."

Albus smiled inside. He should've known. Minerva and Xiomara were closer than the average friends coming from families marked by dark wizards. They grew up together and were sisters of the heart. Joined by Poppy and Pommie, the sisterhood of Hogwarts was formed. One from each house, the witches represented the best of Hogwarts.

"Mina, Mara is going to be fine. She's strong and fierce, besides you can never keep a Slytherin down. She did marry Severus. "

"I suppose. It's four-thirty. Harry shouldn't be up for a couple hours. Why go to bed and you can tell the latest horrible names our daughter has come up with?"

Grinning sheepishly, Minerva said,

"She does come up with horrible names, doesn't she? We really do need to decide on names."

"I was thinking Athena would be an excellent countered to Minerva. Athena Isabel Xiomara. "
"Isabel?"

"Scottish form of Elizabeth, covering my mother and the required Scottish name. As for my son, Adrastos Ruairidh Sirius shouldn't be that horrible. "

"Adrastos meaning not inclined to run away. and Ruairidh meaning red king."
"They'll have no chance of not being Gryffindors. Although with the company you keep, I imagine they'll be spilt. No comment on Xiomara? "

"We decided to honor her and Sirius. She is your best friend and I don't dare deny you the right to honor our child with a strong name of a mighty person. Besides after naming our firstborn Aberforth I can't say much." Albus grinned sheepishly.

"They are moving right now," Minerva smiled.

"Hey kittens, we got names for you. Probably not the ones you want but
your brother and sister forgave us after a couple decades. Hey! " Albus moved his face from his wife's stomach.

"I told you they were moving."

"They kicked my face."

"Oh, poor baby. I'm carrying an extra twenty pounds and you are moaning about a pat on the face." Minerva shifted her weight.

"It was a kick! How big are they now?"

"Theoriski said about 6 ½ ounces. They feel bigger though. "

"It's amazing. Thank you, my love."
"The last time, Albus. This tabby's getting fixed."

"I agreed. Five's plus couple hundred students is enough for me." Albus slowly moved up to meet Minerva's lips.

"hmmm. What time is it?"

"Around five. What are you thinking?" His hands wandering down her back.
"That Harry won't be up for a couple hours and I want sleep."

Sighing with disappointment, Albus pulled Minerva against chest and kissed her head.

"Love you."

"Love you too."