Minerva stood from her desk and stretched her back. Her eighth month belly proudly on display as she walked to the window. She had been working hard to catch up on her work since she had neglected it in order to work with Harry on strengthening their shared bond and how to use it during battle. The bonding magic they shared was truly amazing and exhilarating to her. Her magic tingled when she felt Harry's magic caress her.
"Minerva," Harry whispered as he came into her office.
She turned towards him with a smile gracing her lips. "Harry," she said in the same type of tone.
He strutted to her and wrapped her up in his embrace. He lovingly caressed her evergrowing waistline before kissing her gently. "Got time to have lunch with me," he asked with a lopsided grin.
Minerva's smile broadened as she answered, "Always!"
She closed her eyes as she felt Harry swiftly turn into his Phoenix form and flash them out of Hogwarts. As she felt Harry wrap his arms around her again, she opened her eyes. A gasp errupted from her as she looked about the room in wonder. "You did all of this?" she asked in suprise. "When did you find the time?"
"Mostly my planning period and some during your naps on the weekends," Harry admitted. "Do you like it?"
"Very much so," she whispered emotionally as she took in the room.
Harry had managed to create and then decorate a small nursery next to their bedroom in their cottage. Three of the walls were painted to reflect the Forbidden Forest. Trees, waterfalls, and clearings were there and a wide array of animals. She spied a stag, grim, and werewolf nestled around a patch of white lilies. Centaurs, dragons, Phoenix birds, and unicorns moved about the walls. She grinned when she saw a tabby cat and lioness near the Phoenix birds. The ceiling was painted a light blue with fluffy clouds floating about. A rainbow shimmered in the corner of the room. It was truly a work of art.
Delicate white furniture littered the room. A small wardrobe and changing table were pushed against one side of the room. A couple of small bookshelves, cushioned rocker and ottoman were near the window. In the center of the room was a large carriage shaped crib bed complete with a vibrant pink bedding and hints if gold and creams.
"Where did you find a carriage shaped crib?" she asked with a grin.
Harry smiled lopsided. "In Muggle London. I had an overall mental picture of what I wanted and enlisted Hermione's help in finding it."
"It's beautiful," Minerva said emotionally. "The nursery is a work of art."
Harry just smiled sheepishly before tugging her over to the bookshelf to see the few muggle books he already bought. She laughed in delight once she realized they were all fairy tales revolving around princesses. She couldn't wait to see Harry with their little princess once she was born!
Minerva frowned as she stood from her desk and stretched out her aching muscles. She was at the point in her pregnancy where she couldn't truly get comfortable. Sitting, standing, kneeling or laying didn't matter it seemed. Her muscles pulled awkwardly and her breasts ached from the enlarged size. Minerva could no longer walk her normal pace anymore, it seemed impossible and at times she waddled more than walked.
A brisk knock sounded on her door. She settled back in her seat and bid entry to her guest. Amelia, Harold and Remus walked in with smiles. "Should I even ask?" she questioned as she raised an eyebrow.
"We got them all but Nagini," Harold said excitedly. "Gringotts has performed the cleansing rituals."
"We are ready to end this war once and for all," Amelia said determined.
"We just need to determine the when and where then lay the trap," Remus said thoughtfully.
"As much as it pains me," Minerva said with a frown then continued. "The trap should be laid for Hogwarts. I have all of the wards and protections which Harry knows how to tap into if necessary. We also have the four heirs to banish those we need out of the grounds."
"How do we protect the children?" Amelia asked thinking of her niece.
"We send them home during Easter week," Harold said logically. "We can claim Hogwarts wards need attention and can't wait until the summer holidays."
"Tom will be unable to stay away," Minerva agreed after careful consideration of the suggestion. "Although I expect a full detail of Aurors on that train to protect the students."
"Granted," Amelia agreed easily. "Will you call an Order meeting tonight so we work out the finer details?"
Minerva merely nodded as she watched the group leave her office. She rubbed her belly gently and thought of ways to safeguard Hogwarts. Her entire family's wellbeing depended on ending Voldemort and his reign.
Harry frowned as Hermione and the Weasley twins kept shooting pointed looks at him. He knew what they wanted from him but he didn't want to interrupt the older members of the Order. Resigning to his fate, Harry stood up and cleared his throat. "It sounds like a wonderful plan but you have missed one glaring fact," he said cautiously as he looked at Harold and then Minerva.
"What would that be," Harold asked, suprise evident in his facial features.
Harry shared a look with Hermione before answering. "The older students won't be on that train. Once the student body learns of the warding session, they will realize what you are doing and they will stay back in an attempt to help defend Hogwarts."
"We will make sure they are all on the train," Amelia said forcefully. "The students will not be staying for the fight."
"I will be staying," Susan Bones said defiantly as she stood up and stared at her aunt. "You can load me up on the Express personally but I will make my way back and I will join the fight. I have lost too much already. I will not stand back while the only family I have left is fighting for the future our of world. I will either fight victoriously with you or I will die with you. You will not send me from harm this time!"
Amelia stared at her niece in suprise. Her eyes suspiciously wet from the tears she was attempting to hold at bay. Her girl had never spoken back to her in her life. She watched as Luna Lovegood stood and grasped Susan's hand in a show of support.
Neville Longbottom then stood and spoke, "There's already talk amongst the upper years about the coming war. Like me, many of those wanting to fight has lost family by the hands of those Death Eater bastards. Like me, they plan on continuing the fight and seeing the end to the madness. I refuse to leave Hogwarts when the Battle comes here. I plan on watching the downfall of Voldemort not just for myself but for my parents as well."
Minerva moved towards Neville slowly. Watery, green eyes met determined blue ones. "Students who are of age may stay if they choose to do so," she said gently. "6th and 7th years who have permission from family members within our side may stay as well." Minerva gently pressed a kiss to Neville's forehead and whispered quietly in his ear. He nodded and smiled at her.
"We have been working on gadgets that will allow students to help in the war efforts but keep them out of direct firing range," Harry said as he pulled out a bag from his pocket and enlarged it. "A demonstration if you would fellows," he said as he winked at the Weasley twins.
George and Fred stood and gave a presentation of the bags contents and how they could be used. Hope swelling in the hearts of each member there as the new equipment would give them quite the advantage.
