Seclusion
Three months had past since Albus' funeral. Since then she had arranged to take a sabbatical and hoped her seclusion would not stir too many questions. Poppy and Hagrid had agreed to keep Minerva's pregnancy a secret and for that she was thankful. At five months she was just now starting to show so she intended to retreat to her family home in Scotland and have the baby there. Poppy had agreed to come and visit her every month and whenever Minerva sent for her.
During the last month in Scotland Minerva had noticed her stomach was protruding rather largely. She was glad she had hidden away because there would be no way of hiding her pregnancy now. She was huge she decided. Her normal robes didn't fit anymore but Minerva didn't mind since they had seemed to hold in heat anyways. She chose calf length gowns, most of them silk or satin. She didn't bother fixing her hair lately; she just brushed it out and let it hang down. What did it matter anyways?
Minerva didn't travel off the grounds, she depended on the House Elves to get whatever she needed. She had even hired Dobby to help her with special errands that she couldn't send her own House Elves on well that was what she had told Dobby. He had been honored by her request and did everything he could to please her. She really didn't know why she had hired him, maybe it was because Albus had trusted him or because of the uncertainty of Hogwarts opening for another year, but she was glad she did. He always seemed to entertain her when her grief threatened to overwhelm her.
While the other House Elves cleaned McGonagall Manor, Dobby would tend to Minerva's needs. He drew her baths daily and laid fresh gowns out for her. He would brush her hair on days when she was too tried to do it herself. He convinced her to take daily walks around the grounds and would secretly follow incase something happened and she needed help. She would eat three meals a day at his persistence and in the evenings he would massage her swollen feet hoping to relax her. He insisted that she record her pregnancy and took photos of her weekly which she despised but did so for her unborn child's sake. He also made special trips to Diagon Alley to cater to her cravings. The last time he had gone to Diagon Alley he made a detour to talk to an old friend that could help Minerva with her grief. Of course, Minerva knew nothing about it!
Poppy had come to check on Minerva today and was surprise to find her belly so big. After conducting a few spells she had found the reason. Minerva was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. She was thrilled of course but Poppy had made some restrictions on Minerva's everyday activities which Dobby promised she would abide by. Minerva reluctantly agreed and went straight to bed as ordered by Poppy.
As Minerva lay in bed she thought about Albus. He would have been thrilled to know his family line would continue. He hadn't said a word to her about it but she knew. She could see it in his eyes, when the first years were sorted into their houses he watched and reminded himself that he would never watch his children be sorted, it was the same for her. Her favorite time during the school year was always the first day when the students came but it was also her saddest. She was happy to see all the children but sad that none of them were her own.
She had always yearned for children of her own but she didn't think it would ever happen and certainly not with Albus Dumbledore as their father. She had convinced herself that it would never happen and that she should shoved the idea from her mind, it would be less painful she reasoned. Now it was reality and she was grateful for her blessings. The pregnancy had taken its tow on her fragile body but she would gladly endure it for her unborn children and for Albus. With that thought she drifted off to sleep.