Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Also, the use of house-elves is inspired by Spin84's "What the House Elves Saw". It's a good story. Check it out!
Albus was held behind the expansive, weighted down desk of the Transfiguration office. The paperwork had begun to nearly burry him. But he could not force himself to focus on the parchment if his life depended on it. He had regretted his actions a million times over since the infamous dinner party and wanted nothing more than to return and reveal Minerva's full memory. But as unstable as he could be, his brother's words served as a talisman against his return. Every night, as a muggle would pray, so Albus would repeat to himself that Minerva was not at least safe. For his aching heart, these words were far from a balm. His holidays had been so miserable he could hardly bear it. After the overwhelming joy of last Christmas, even previous holiday with a curmudgeonly Aberforth in Godric's Hollow, made his holiday alone, starring into his pensive, terrible. For each happy, warming memory with Minerva, he had forced himself to relive the terrible fates of past loved ones. He had continued this alternating baptism until he emerged, drunk and soaked in tears just a few hours before dawn.
Sunk into his morbid thoughts, he most powerful wizard of the age was taken badly by surprise when his fireplace erupted to produce Poppy Pomfrey and James Doughan.
"Where is Minerva?" Poppy snapped, her tone a steely professional one.
"What? Healer Pomfrey, HealerDoughan, I assure you, I have not seen Miss McGonagall in months." He pleaded, noting the icy disdain in Poppy's gaze.
"Goo Godric, this is worse than we thought," groaned Healer Doughan, turning to face his young protégé.
"What has happened?" Albus demanded, his considerable magical prowess sharpening at each note of panic.
"I received a patronus not five minutes ago from Minerva stating she was at Hogwarts and she needed help.
"But she is no longer included in the wards. Unless she used the Floo network, which only connects to Heads of Houses and the Headmaster's office. I have heard nothing from them. Besides, I would be able to feel her magic when it entered the wards." Albus grasped desperately for answers. He could try Legilimancy. But his presence in her mind would destroy any block he put in place against memories of him. Minerva is in danger, he chided himself.
Poppy and James were arguing in the corner when Albus interrupted: "If she is close, I can try to locate her with Legilimancy." That curtailed the shouting. All attention had now shifted to Albus.
Diving into Minerva's mind had always been akin to stepping into a cozy warm sitting room for Albus. But stepping in this time, he immediately began to shiver. She was close, extremely close. Brushing against her most recent memory, Albus saw the gates of Hogwarts, with the winged boars staring down.
The trio rushed out of the room a moment later.
*!*!*!*
Minerva had one mission, and one focus. She had to find Albus Dumbledore. She could tell her baby would arrive any time now, and she had to know where she and Albus stood before that time. Wrapping a cloak and scarf around her, she dashed for the entrance hall. A squad of house elves blocked her wa.
"Miss 'Nerva, why you be hurting Master Neptune?" He demanded. Minerva could feel their magic arrest her exit.
"He had hurt me, Karf. I must go to Hogwarts to find my husband. Baby Dumbledore will be here soon, and Albus must be here when it arrives!" she protested
"You goes to find Master Albus?" As much as he knew the man's name was forbidden, Dumbledore had had always been so kind the house elves of the manor. He was also a great favorite among them. His absence had been sorely felt.
"Yes, I'm going to go find him and bring him back." Minerva smiled sadly, hoping beyond hope her wild prediction was true.
"Then go, Miss 'Nerva" Karf nodded and the rest of the elves released their spells. "But please bes careful. Master Neptune bes very upset if you or Baby Dumbledore is hurt."
"Thank you, Karf." And with that she was out the door.
She quickly reached the edge of the grounds. Despite the cumbersome size of her stomach, and her weariness, adrenaline propelled Minerva at a remarkable pace. She found the aparation point, focused, and twirled. Instantly, she could feel something had gone wrong. Her first serious contraction took hold just as her feet left the McGonagall estate. As soon as she fell before the Hogwarts gases, a fiery pain told her she had splinched herself. As a first reaction, she sent a patronus begging for Poppy's help. She forced herself to remain clear-headed. A quick hand to her womb was answered by a reassuring kick from the baby. Starting at her feet, she checked over her body, until she found the gash in her flesh, the outside of her right thigh. She attempted to stand and move through the gates, but they refused to budge. Of course, I no longer live here. I am not included in the wards, she chided herself.
This method of aid blocked, her Auror's mind began to weigh the options. She dare not risk Apartating again, Hogwarts was cut off to her. But with her bleeding and the baby on the way, she was clearly in need of immediate help. Minerva could not be certain Poppy would receive the patronus or how long it would take to reach her. Desperate, she stood and began to hobble through the blizzard toward Hogsmead. After thirty minutes of struggle and only a few dozen meter's progress, the dizziness from her blood-loss and the pain of a second contraction stole her consciousness and she collapsed into the knee-deep snow.
*!*!*!*
Albus and the Healers dashed to the gate. It swung open as they approached. They latched on to the trail in front of the gate and followed it. In a few minutes they could see the end of the trail marked by a crumpled form. All three saw the red marking the snow next to her.
"No…" Albus yelled, picked up his pace. He arrived next to his wife first. Her frail-looking body was shivering violently. Not knowing what was injured, he took her hand tenderly, and cradled it to his cheek. The skin was so frozen, the hand stiff, and her clothes were soaked with snow. "Poppy, is she…?"
The young Healer had just finished her first rapid-fire round of diagnostics, "The thigh is the source of the blood, probably splinched herself because…" She cast a few more spells, "yes, it looks like she's in the early stages of labor. Hypothermia does not appear to set in yet, but we need to get her indoors and dried off."
The tense focus of the moment was dissolved by the arrival of Aberforth's goat patronus stating that they would be arriving shortly.
"Go ahead and carry her, Albus" Poppy nodded, seeing his eagerness to hold her, "It will be kinder than levitation."
"Very good, Pomfrey," Doughan smiled, grimly as they moved behind the wizard and his wife, "Accurate and speedy diagnosis. I'm impressed."
"Thank you, sir," Poppy panted. At her height, she had to apply a vigorous jog to keep up with Dumbledore's vast stride.
They met Neptune, Deirdre, and Aberforth by the gate. Dumbledore did not stop, but continued his rapid progress toward the castle. The new trio fell in behind with the Healers.
"She's alive." Poppy reassured. Her anger at their rash action s was assuaged by the absolute panic on their faces. "She splinched herself, she's on the verge of hypothermia and she's gone into labor; but she's alive."