Harry looked nervously at Minerva. "You are coming with me, aren't you?" he pleaded with his mother.
"No one other than the Goblin nation can witness the cleansing ritual," a Goblin said.
"I have a Goblin brother," she said seriously. The goblins, Sirus, Albus and Dougal looked at her like she was crazy. "Don't look at me like that!" she reprimanded them.
"Uncle Filius wouldn't appreciate you laughing at his sister," Harry said as he caught on to what she meant.
"Did you not hear her," an ancient looking Goblin asked as he walked into the chamber. "She is my great grandson's sister. She is claiming a wizard with Goblin descent as her brother and he claims her as his sister. Minerva is therefore part of my clan and by our standards a part of the Goblin nation. She is allowed by our laws to witness any of our rituals."
Minerva bowed politely to the ancient Goblin. "Thank you Axeblade," she whispered emotionally. "I would take on an entire army for my son."
Axeblade looked at her suprised for a moment before chuckling, "I have no doubt of it with your protective nature. Filius has told me how you eased his burdens. I would like to repay your kindness." He removed the fierce looking dagger from its protective sheath and presented it to her. "My wife carried this blade until her death," the Goblin said. The dagger was golden and decorated with bright stones and etched with delicate flowers. "I would be proud to see you carry it," he stated.
Minerva knew enough about Goblin culture to accept the gift. "I would be honored," she answered.
Axeblade grinned at the witch in front of him. "I see why Filius enjoys your friendship," he said. "We value a strong female. May you destroy your enemies swiftly with your new blade. What sheath would you prefer? Breast, hip or ankle?"
Minerva grinned mischievously before stating, "I already have a thigh sheath. Filius insisted once we fought our first battle together." The Goblin laughed as she hike her skirt up just enough to reveal the Goblin made double sheath with the small delicate dagger already nestled in it.
"May I see the blade?" Axeblade asked curiously as he sensed the power from it. Minerva merely handed it to him handle first. It was another golden blade with encrusted jewels on it. The flowery scene was a continuation of the dagger he just gave her. It was remarkable. "Filius crafted this one, didn't him?"
"He did," Minerva confirmed. "He crafted it the night he received news of your wife's death."
"I accused him of choosing wizarding kind over the Goblin nation once but I see I was wrong with that notion," Axeblade admitted. "He was grieving the Goblin way but I was too blinded to see it. Only the most skilled Goblins can craft a blade such as this."
"Filius has crafted many blades over the years," Minerva said. "He hopes to see a time when the Goblin nation is able to wield wands once again and he is able to give them to young Goblins that complete their education. Filius dreams of a united Magical Britain and I hope he sees that dream."
Axeblade looked suprised by that revelation. "I shall have to study on ways to help him realize those dreams," the Goblin finally said as he passed the blade back to Minerva. She sheathed both blades and allowed her robes to fall back down. "Escort my clan members to the ritual chamber," the ancient Goblin ordered. "Minerva is to be treated as my great granddaughter from now on."
Minerva and Harry were exhausted after the cleansing ritual. They portkeyed directly from the bank to the cottage. Dougal carried Minerva upstairs and placed her in their bed while Sirius placed Harry next to her. He quickly switched them into nightclothes magically and reassured them he would be staying until they recovered. Dougal had followed Sirius from the room once he realized they were both already asleep.
Minerva awoke the next morning with Harry clinging to her in his sleep. She smiled and tightened her hold around him. Her life dramatically changed when he entered it. He had became her son as time passed and she dou ted she could of loved him more had she given birth to him. She thanked Magic daily for this gift of motherhood. "Morning Momma," he said sleepily.
"Morning love," she said, her Scottish brogue ever-present. "How are you feeling?"
"Like the knight bus hit me," he replied then mustered a grin. "I could eat though."
Minerva snorted at that. "You can always eat," she replied. "Let's go find your Daddy. Hopefully he will make us breakfast. I am still knackered from the rutual."
"Already done," Dougal said as he came in carrying a tray. "Breakfast is served."
"Thanks love," Minerva whispered and kissed him gently as he neared. "The ritual was rather intense and energy draining."
The family had breakfast in bed as they discussed Harry's return to school.
Albus Dumbledore sat in Minerva's living room with a grin on his face. "The prophecy orb is black now," he informed Minerva. "The ritual was a success and the prophecy has been fulfilled."
Minerva closed her eyes and sighed in relief. "Thank Merlin," she uttered. "Harry has enough on his plate as it is."
"Sirius informed me he remembered the night his parents were murdered," Albus said sadly.
Minerva nodded her head then added, "The ritual cleansing had a side-effect that I hadn't expected. Lily's spirit didn't move on the night she died. She used the runes to wrap her essence around the Horcrux. Harry wasn't possessed by it because Lily's sacrifice had it contained. When the Horcrux errupted from Harry, a ghostly Lily errupted as well."
"Surely not," Albus uttered in shock. He had never heard of such a ritual.
Minerva nodded her head. "Lily moved
herself in between the Horcrux and Harry," Minerva continued her tale. "Once the Horcrux was destroyed, Lily hugged Harry and whispered to him. She told him to be good for his Momma before smiling out me. She told me I had exceeded their expectations and she hoped I continued to do so. I watched her fade from view before Harry slammed into me and sobbed."
Albus remained quiet for a moment, unsure what he could say to that. Maybe Minerva needed to hear about the real reason he made the decisions he did. "I was once visited by a time traveler," he started. "He was older than me and carried my wand, the Elder Wand." He ignored her gasp and continued. "The adult Harry explained my actions, while helpful for the second war with Voldemort, were wrong for him. He explained I had placed him with Petunia and he suffered greatly for barely functioning blood wards. He begged me to save his Muggle Uncle's life that weekend and then force your hand until you agreed to marry him."
Minerva raised her eyebrows at him. "A time traveling Harry asked you to save Dougal and then ensure we married?" she asked in disbelief.
Albus chuckled at her doubtful expressions. "He did," he answered. "Harry said you filled the void in that lifetime even though Petunia raised him. You were the one that pushed him, showed him unconditional love. Harry believed you were the answer to end the conflict with less bloodshed. He also left me with the list of Horcuxes and informed me to wait until the attack on Halloween before I went after them. He said Lily's sacrifice was necessary and made sure that I knew he had to be the last Horcrux cleansed."
Minerva gaped at him. "You just believed a stranger without question?"
"He knew details of parts of my life that no one else knew," Albus said. "I have searched decades for the Hallows and he knew the reason why."
Minerva stared at her friend. She didn't know what to say about Albus' tale but I guess she wouldn't have known what to say about her own if she hadn't saw it herself. Regardless of how it happen or what was involved in the decision, she would always be grateful for the request to force her hand. She had been immensely happy married to Dougal and being Momma to Harry, Fiona and Duncan. She looked forward to the next adventure in her life!