The Bet

Minerva woke up early the next morning and decided to wake watch the sunrise. The blaze of oranges and reds filled the sky. She rubbed her stomach.

"In a couple months you will see the sunset. You guys must be pretty cramped in there. I keep picture what you look like, whether you have dark or auburn hair. Knowing your sense of humor, probably one with dark and one with auburn. With your papa's eyes. Those eyes I fell in love with over sixty years ago. I do hope you like your family, well you have no choice. I think you two are the best surprises I ever received and I know your papa feels the same.

"Now kittens, you need to know some things about your family. First there's your papa, the most important thing you need to never refuse a sherbet lemon. I'll try to convince him to wait until you have teeth but I have little power when it comes to him and his sherbet lemons. Then there are your two big brothers, Apollo, who will probably experiment on you and Harry, who will have you on a broom on your first days. Aurora is going to spoil you rotten. I think she is more excited than me sometimes.

Aunt Poppy and Aunt Pommie just want to baby-sit. Uncle Abe is planning on something, Merlin only knows. There's Uncle Severus but don't worry Aunt Mara has him whipped. Aunt Mara is possibly the kindest person but a little wild. We were called two sides of a coin and probably still are. I'm going to have tea with her today and the first thing she will do is tickle my stomach. Oh, kittens, she wants a baby so bad and then you came and I was cautious. You are so wanted by Papa and me. Never doubt that you are wanted. A bit surprise, which I don't want that to become a habit you heard?"

Harry heard someone talking and decided to investigative.

"Mom?"

Minerva turned towards the unexpected voice. Did Harry just call me mom? She wondered.

"Out here Harry."

Harry walked out to the porch. There was a swing, recliners, owl stoops, and what seem to be like dozens of cat toys on the porch.

"Why are you up so early? It's not even nine yet." Harry yawned.

Minerva chuckled, at the thought of nine being early. At school she was up at five to get ready for the day.

"Ah, the kittens decided to get up for the day and unfortunately started to kick in a fashioned of Beethoven's fifth." Seeing Harry's blank look, she continue, "Beethoven, a muggle composer?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know who Beethoven is. Mom, are you really going to be ok with the kittens? It's just you just recovered from the attack and now Voldemort is back and I'm just worry I guess. I can't lose another parent."

"Harry, you aren't going to lose me. My chest is healed and the kittens are fine. Many witches older than me survive childbirth. In fact Severus' mother was ninety when he was born. Being seventy-eight is unusual to have a child but not a medical miracle. Not that this was planned and there are going to be more after this. " Minerva said, remembering the threat against Albus after a particular bad bout of morning sickness and cramps.

"You know muggles usually stop having kids before fifty. I guess that's different for witches."

"Mmmm. Usually around ninety, some earlier. I know for a fact Poppy went through the dreaded change about two years ago. Pommie practically moved in to our quarters for a term. Angry Mediwitch is not to be crossed."

Harry stored this information for later.

"Anyway, I thought maybe I was going through um, it, when I first had the signs of the pregnancy. " Minerva patted her growing stomach.

"I never hear of some witches going through that…thing."

"It's not something we usually discuss around 16-year-old boys. Which reminds me of two things, your O.W.L.s came back and the other thing is I have to…." Minerva trailed off.

"My OW.LS. are back?! " Harry exclaimed ignoring the second thing Minerva said.

Damn Severus. Tutoring the Hufflepuffs to get "A"s in Potions. Sex Ed with Gryffindors and Slytherins is never fun but now when I'm pregnant it's going to be more embarrassing. Minerva thought bitterly.

"All "A" and above, Mom. Including an "Outstanding" in Defense against the Dark Arts." Harry whooped loudly.

"Ah, you gave Harry his O.W.L.s then." Albus walked sleepily into the room and kissed Minerva.

"I did and your son got an "O" in Dark Arts."

"And how did the Hufflepuffs do?" Albus asked, with his eyes twinkling.

" All "A"s. But Severus cheated."

"Mina, he's a Slytherin, of course he cheated. But a bet is a bet. Besides, I considered you the best for the job, especially with the thing you do with your tongue…"

"Hey! I don't want to know that! " Harry interrupted quickly.

"Sorry. Anyway Minerva made a bet that the Hufflepuffs will fail one subject on average with Severus. The loser had to teach sex education to the Slytherins and Gryffindors. Unknown to Minerva, Severus had seventh year Slytherins tutored them."

"In my condition, Albus! Can you imagine the stares and questions? Knowing that I, we, still have sex, it's enough to shock them."

"It will, Papa, it will. I was shock and appalled. No one wants to picture adults having sex. Especially teachers. You guys are never allow to have lives outside of the classroom." Harry grinned cheekily.

"Then this must be magic, huh?" remarked Albus, patting Minerva's stomach.

"I remember some magic involved." Minerva smirked.

"Ah, me too. Especially when you…" Albus whispered into Minerva's ear.

"Albus!" Minerva began to giggle.

"Harry, want to go over to the Weasleys?" Albus asked.

"Albus, Mara's going to be here soon. Stop it." Minerva scolded.

Harry perked up when he heard Madam Hooch was coming. Thanks to letters from his "aunt" he learned famous Wronski Feint.

"Great! I'll get my stuff together. I want to show her the moves I made up." Harry was ready to play Quiddtich.

"Harry, Mara's coming to have tea with me, not to play Quiddtich with you. Remember you are having Ron over on Wednesday and besides the season starts in a month and half. I haven't seen Mara since the barbecue. "

"Mmmm, I think it would be nice it the kittens had a playmate. Look what having Tonks and Bill did to the twins. But I thought they gave up.
"

"They haven't said anything and I don't feel like I can ask her. If she wants to tell me, she will. Besides I want to just have a relaxing lunch with Mara."

"Minerva, dearest, has anything been just relaxing with me?" Xiomara entered the room with a wide grin.

"Severus told you, didn't he?"

Xiomara's grin twisted into smirk. Minerva groaned, knowing the ribbing was about to commence. Albus and Harry chose this moment to make them scarce.

"Oh, yeah. But I Professor McGonagall apparently doesn't use birth control, does she knows how for teaching purposes?"

"Mara, it wasn't a conscious choice not to use birth control. It just happens because we were rushed and I can't count day's right…"Minerva trailed out.

Xiomara laughed and stroke the round belly of her friend. A kick met her hand.

"You had to get them rile up, didn't you?" Minerva didn't mind an occasional kick, except for late at night and early morning.

""mmm..." Xiomara wasn't listening but rather focused on the movements beneath her hands. " I think you're having a beater and a chaser, Definitely quidditch players. You and Albus don't know the genders are, right?"

"We're assuming a boy and a girl since the miscarriage would've been that and Apollo and Aurora."

Xiomara's face fell when the word 'miscarriage'. Minerva noticed this. The air was still and neither woman wanted to break the silence. Finally Minerva sighed, and said,

"You know Albus would give you time off if you want. "

"I know." Xiomara's voice was barely audible.

"Merlin, Mara! I don't know what to say. You know we didn't plan this. I don't want to hurt you. I missed you this summer but I thought it would hurt you to be around me."

Xiomara swallowed hard and moved to hug her oldest friend.

"I missed you, too. I look at the way Albus acts around you. He worships you."

"You get follow around by your own puppy dog. Severus only smiles around you."

"It might not happen for me." Xiomara said quietly.

Minerva had thought that to herself but was surprised to hear Xiomara say it out loud.

"Then you'll be the greatest godmother ever," proclaimed Minerva.

"I know. Well, Harry's probably for you to show him Quiddtich moves to beat the Slytherins."

With that said the two women headed towards the Quiddtich field.