Minerva laid back against Harry on the bed in her chambers in Hogwarts in pure exhaustion. Sweat dripped down her face but a brilliant smile graced her features. A red-faced crying baby was placed in her waiting arms. Harry wrapped his arms around both of them. His own happiness evident in his grin and watery, green eyes.

"Hush now wee lass," she cooed at her babe! "Máthair is with you."

The baby's cries eased and she yawned before dropping off to dreamland. Harry felt love like he had never felt fill his heart. He gently touched her cheek tenderly before pressing a kiss to Minerva's shoulder. "She is perfect," he said emotionally.

"Aye," Minerva agreed then added. "Hope you enjoy sharing your birthday."

"She's the best birthday present I ever received," Harry replied with a smile.

Minerva smiled widely at him before reminding him, "She still is nameless."

Harry grinned before confessing, "I have thought on it. She will carry the Potter name so its only fair she carry something from you. How about Athena?"

Minerva pondered it for a few minutes saying it in her mind time and time again. "Athena Jean Potter," she said with a smile. "It sounds perfect just like her!"

"Allow Poppy to take Athena for a few minutes," Helen requested. "You still need to deliver the afterbirth." Minerva nodded and did what was asked. Harry held her and continued supporting his wife. They knew Athena was safe with Poppy.

Once the afterbirth was dealt with and Minerva was clothed, Poppy brought back the baby to her. "Look at her right hip," Poppy said with a smile and her eyes shining brightly.

Curious, Minerva unwrapped the blanket and pulled up her little gown. Pushing the cloth diaper to the side, she saw a small Phoenix outlined in a circle of flames. "She's a Phoenix protector," Minerva gasped in suprise.

Amethyst flashed in and landed on the bed. She moved closer to the baby and peered at the mark. She thrilled happily before flashing out of the room. Minerva laughed aloud before explaining, "Amethyst could not refrain from informing all of Phoenix Nesting her babe was a protector. She referred to Athena as hers."

"Well you belong to her so it would make sense that any offspring would be hers too," Harry quipped with a grin.

"Indeed," she said with a roll of her eyes and returned to gazing lovingly at her wee bairn.


Minerva awoke in the middle of the night and was puzzled by what woke her up. It took a moment to gather her wits and then she realized Athena was crying out. As quickly as she could, she went and swept her babe up in her embrace. "Easy love," she cooed as she walked back to the bed with her baby nestled to her chest. "Máthair has you now."

"Hold her a minute," Minerva said to a sleepy eyed Harry.

Harry nodded and gently held his daughter. A smile graced his lips as he stared at the pouting baby. "You will get fed soon baby girl," Harry reassured as he rocked her slightly. "You have to give Máthair some time."

Minerva smiled at the interaction before opening her nightgown and freeing her breast from its prison. She reach for Athena and eased her to her breast to feed. The babe latched on and sucked greedily. Minerva hummed contently as she watched her baby nurse. "I have waited a lifetime for this," she confessed to her husband.

"I know," he said. "Enjoy every moment and when you want to try for a sibling for her just let me know. I am more than willing."

Minerva snorted at his double meaning. "Give me a few days and I will see just how willing you are," she whispered seductively.

Harry groaned at tone and her words. "Don't tease me so love," he pleaded as he dropped a kiss to her lips and watched his daughter nurse.


The next morning Harry and Minerva flashed to Phoenix Nesting with Athena securely between them. They were suprised to be engulfed within a circle of Phoenix birds trilling affectionately. Minerva smiled brilliantly and then transfigured a blanket from a leaf. She laid it out flat on the ground and gently laid Athena on it. With a wave of her hand, Athena laid bare and her Phoenix mark showing against her pale skin.

Minerva stepped back and allowed the birds space to inspect her babe. Athena merely moved her arms about slightly and watched more alert than one that young should be able to. Amethyst appeared and moved closer to 'her babe' and trilled happily. Harry and Minerva shared a smile at the affection Athena was shown.

Fawkes whistled loudly and several younger Phoenix birds appeared and settled around Athena. Athena started to cry prompting Minerva to move towards her. Harry grasped her hand and held her back. "It's her test," he said quietly. Minerva nodded and moved back into his arms then watched nervously.

A very small bird then made an appearance. Minerva recognized it as the one that had barely survived the attack on Phoenix Nesting months ago. She can't fly as quickly as the others Minerva thought sadly. Her colors has changed somewhat since birth, Minerva noted. Gold and green swirls appeared throughout her scarlet feathers. The smallest Phoenix slowly edged towards her babe. Athena giggled and reach her tiny hand towards the bird. She watched as the Phoenix laid its head on Athena's chest and a brilliant flash of fire errupted around them. "They bonded," Minerva said excitedly as tears filled her eyes.

Her name is Primrose, Amethyst thought to Minerva and Harry. She will be going back home with us. I suggest we lay some ground rules down. Primrose will have to learn she cannot help our babe go against you and your rules until our babe is 17. What mischief our babe could get into with a Phoenix familiar when she isn't a day old yet?

Harry and Minerva snorted in amusement at Amethyst. Apparently the Phoenix familiar had taken on a role as a third parent and would keep an eye on Athena when they were otherwise occupied. They shared a look and then smiled. They would not deter Amethyst from her assumption that Athena was her babe. If anything, they would encourage it!