She had dreaded this moment for the past few days and now that it was here, she wished she could have kept it to herself. It was after supper and the table had calmed down. She had made special instructions that each of her children's favorites be made, for what she was about to say would not make any of them very happy. She folded her hands in front of her face as her own finished plate of fish was being cleared from the table. The table grew very quiet.

She cleared her throat and looked up the table towards her husband. His strong gaze gave her confidence.

"Children, your father and I have a very important announcement to make,"

Elizabeth squirmed in her seat, but the twins stopped their fidgeting to look at her curiously. She folded her hands and opened her mouth to say something when a little voice piped up.

"I think I know! I think I know!"

Minerva looked at Nathaniel surprised and a bit amused, "What do you know?"

"I think I know what you're about to annou… annou…" but the word wouldn't come, "annouce… say," he said giving up on the word.

"And what is that?"

The room became quiet again and all eyes focused on him. He wriggled a bit uncomfortably at all of the sudden attention.

"What was it Nathaniel?"

He looked at his mother his head cocked to the side, a little embarrassed at his own interruption, "Are…" he began cautiously.

"For heaven's sake," Albus finally said chuckling, "What is it, little one?"

"Is Mummy going to have a baby?"

Albus snorted into his after-dinner drink and Minerva covered her mouth trying very hard herself not to laugh.

Nathaniel grinned sheepishly and the rest of the children smiled cautiously, confused at what their parents found so funny.

"No, dear, when that time comes, if it should come, I will tell you. I'm afraid that the truth is much more difficult. Your daddy and I," She said rising to and walking over to his chair on the opposite side of the table and placing a hand on his shoulder, "Are going to be taking a very long trip together,"

"Really?"

"Are we coming, too?"

She dreaded hearing that question. Albus reached up and squeezed her hand. She swallowed and replied, "I'm sorry. We can't take you with us."

"Where are you going?"

She rubbed her husband's shoulders absentmindedly, "Germany."

"But why?" asked the twins.

"Your father and I have a very important job to do," she said clammily.

"Oh, please take us with you!" said Elizabeth, "I've never been to Germany!"

"You've never been a lot of places, precious," Albus said with a chuckle.

"But," asked Susan quietly, "Why can't we go with you? Is there some reason we can't? Maybe," she looked down, "Maybe, is it dangerous?"

Minerva looked painfully at her little daughter. Her father's insight again. She could tell Susan knew something was amiss.

"Don't ask us that, please," she said practically pleading.

"Dearest," Albus said to her softly looking into her eyes and squeezing her hand, "We must tell the truth."

"I… I can't," she said looking away.

He sighed, "Children, you should know that where we are going is classified and this trip is not for pleasure. We are doing a favor for the ministry and for our own dear friends the Pomfreys."

"The Pomfreys?" the twins asked, confused.

"You mean there's more than one?" asked Nathaniel.

"What do you mean 'there's more than one?' Of course there is!" Minerva said surprised and a bit annoyed at their lack of knowledge of the Mister Pomfrey. Then a sudden realization fell over her, "Oh! That's right! You've never really met him, only a long time ago, before you could even speak…"

"Met who?" Susan asked.

"Mister Pomfrey!"

"Mister Pomfrey?"

Albus chuckled, "I have a feeling we're traveling in circles," he said looking up at his wife, then he addressed the children again, "Yes, Children, Mister Pomfrey, Mister Jonny Pomfrey, was our, Minerva and my, dear friend. He was married, or rather is married, to our friend, Poppy Pomfrey, or Aunt Poppy to you,"

"Oh!" the children said collectively.

The room was quiet again.

"Well," began Elizabeth after a time, "What does your going away have to do with Mister Pomfrey?"

"We're going to get him and bring him back to England," Minerva explained.

"Where is he?"

"Germany?"

"What's he doing there?"

"Good heavens you children are inquisitive!" (A/N: I didn't expect a sort of Spanish inquisition! Dun da da daaa! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! (may Monty Python live forever) sorry to break the story up… just had to add that… don't think me too silly) Albus laughed heartily, "He got captured the Great War that was happening when you all were infants. We thought he was dead, your mother and I, but it was not so. A few weeks ago, remember when we all were in the garden and Aunt Poppy ran in? Well, she had some very important news, Jonny, Mister Pomfrey, Uncle Jonny, was alive! He wasn't dead. He had just been captured by a very powerful wizard who had turned him over to the German Magical Council who sent Poppy a letter demanding that they send someone to fetch him. We, or I, volunteered myself to go get him and that is why we're going to Germany,"

The children were aghast. The room was silent for a very long time as the children absorbed what had just been said. Then, suddenly, in some sudden realization, they all rose from their places at the table and scrambled to their parents' side.

"But Mummy! Why do you have to go, if just daddy was going?" Nathaniel looked up with a pair of sorrowful blue eyes, his arms wrapped around his mother's waist.

"Well, darling," she said burying her hand in his dark curly hair, "this trip is going to be very dangerous and your will Daddy need me very much to help him along the way,"

"But Mummy, Daddy! Why?"

"It's just the way things have to be…"

"Ahem," the room became quiet, "Children! It's time to get ready for bed," said Jane who was standing in the doorway.

Susan stayed and watched her siblings leave.

"It's time for you to get ready for bed too," Albus said cupping her face.

"Papa," she had tears in her intelligent green eyes, "how long are you going to be away?"

"Not longer than a month, precious," he said gently wiping the tears off of her cheeks. She sniffed, "Don't… Don't b-be gone too long…" she said burying her face into his robes.

"Of course not, darling… please! Don't cry! It's going to be alright… your mother and I will be very careful. Now, Susan, I believe that it's time that you get ready for bed," he said gently turning her into Jane's open arms who gently picked up the still sniffling girl and carried her out of the room.

"Do you think, Albus, that I'm being selfish?" Minerva asked still methodically rubbing his shoulder.

He sighed deeply, "Yes, unfortunately, I do. But," he said grasping her hand and bringing it to his lips, "You've made your decision and I intend to help you follow through with it."

"Why?"

"Because, I think maybe I'm being a bit selfish, too," he said drawing her into his lap, "I'll always need you more than you'll ever know,"

(Alright everyone I know there are some people here who have never reviewed this story. If that's you, then please, review.)