Chapter 4: A Kat-tastic Breakfast
Katherine quietly entered the child's bedroom that was decorated to be like a fairy forest. She approached the purple bed where an ebony haired blue eyed child sat crying.
"Did you have a bad dream kitten?" Katherine asked quietly. Isabella's head snapped up and she eyed the woman.
At five years old Isabella could already read and right and do small arithmetic. She was very smart and she knew this was not her mummy for this woman was far too old; but this woman was not her grandma either because this woman had a glow about her that calmed Isabella enough to speak through her tears.
"I…I did," Isabella nodded as the tears continued to cascade down.
Katherine sat on the bed and brought the girl into her lap. She hummed a fairy's lullaby as she gently rocked back and forth running her fingers through the girl's dark hair. Isabella had ceased her crying after a few minutes and got up on her knees on the woman's lap for a better look.
"Who are you? You look like a really old version of mummy," Isabella stated.
"Well I am," Katherine laughed in her fairy like tone. "I come from another world where I have a daughter that looks just like me and her name is Minerva."
"Then…unofficially you're my grandma too?" Isabella asked putting two and two together.
"If you like to see it that way I suppose so," Katherine nodded.
"Wow! Do…do you have an Auntie Augusta too?" Isabella asked.
Katherine could tell this little one was like Minerva and wouldn't stop the questions if she let it continue. She had to set a good example and show the others she was a good person and get the child to bed.
"No kitten I do not have a daughter named Augusta. But I will tell you about my children another time. Right now it is time for you to slip into dreamland and in the morning…something delicious will await you," Katherine smiled as she gently tucked the child back into bed and kissed her head.
"Will you still be here in the morning so we can play?" Isabella asked hopefully.
"I think it will be possible," Katherine nodded, "Now shut your wee little eyes my barren." Isabella nodded and shut her eyes with a wide yawn as she drifted off to sleep.
Katherine made sure little Frank was still sleeping before she reentered the sitting room. There she found another man sitting with the others. He introduced himself as Graham Longbottom Augusta's husband.
"So you gave birth to Min in another world. What was she like in that one?" Graham asked curiously.
It appeared the only person threatened by this new witch was Celina who watched the woman's body language very closely.
"Very well behaved. She played a few tricks in school but nothing to terrible. Our children claim Stewart and I favored her above the rest of them because she was a perfect mix of us. They may have been right but I did try to treat them all the same," Katherine stated.
"I'm sure you did a wonderful job," William stated from his seat across the room. Minerva was on the couch in between the two women and everyone else was seated in a semi circle around them.
"Thank you…and If I may so William you are very handsome," Katherine smiled with a wink. William coughed and blushed ducking his head down.
"What does your husband do in your world?" Celina asked. She put particular emphasis on the word for good reason.
"He's in charge of security for the Ministry and is my private bodyguard," Katherine answered waving her hand in a grand gesture as she sipped her tea.
"Then you're the Minister in your world? That's the only legal explanation why you would have an all access card to the Ministry," Albus stated.
"Well yes, yes I am. I was given the Ministry position after…well actually I don't think I should say considering I'm not only in another world but another time," Katherine stated.
"What do you mean?" William asked leaning forward.
"Well where I was from it was the year 1997 and Christmas," Katherine stated, "And from how old those children are I'd say I was now in 1963 maybe Christmas."
"Yes that's right," Albus nodded.
"So see I don't know what's the same and not here so if I told you how I got to be Minister you would know about things here ahead of time provided they are the same so it is better not to say anything to that extinct!" Katherine explained.
"All right…I suppose we should be heading to bed as well," Albus stated, "I'll show you to the guest room and after breakfast you can go into Hogsmeade for some clothing."
"That would be wonderful thank you Albus Darling. You are a true gentleman," Katherine smiled as she gracefully stood and took his arm. He led her to the guest door and she kissed his cheek before disappearing behind it and shutting the door.
"I like her!" Graham stated.
"She's a little odd though. I mean how many witches do you know look that much like their daughter or a daughter that much like the mother?" Augusta asked.
"Apparently there is at least one. Have you ever seen a better likeness?" Albus asked in awe.
"I wonder if her other children look like her?" Minerva asked aloud.
"I wonder what that Stewart fellow looked like and what this Damien fellow does now," Augusta stated.
As it was Saturday tomorrow everyone decided to return to Hogwarts early the next morning to see more of this mysterious woman.
Minerva and Albus woke up in each other's arms as always and smiled at each other.
"Morning," Minerva smiled.
"Morning love…do you smell that?" Albus asked.
Minerva closed her eyes and inhaled some of the most scrumptious smells. Her stomach growled loudly causing Albus to chuckle and his eyes to twinkle brightly.
"Hungry lioness?" he asked. She nodded and rolled out of the bed tying her robes tightly around her expanding waist line.
"Albus do you think the Minerva in her time is pregnant too?" Minerva asked running a brush through her hair. She wanted to look half way presentable to this woman.
"Katherine said she was," Albus nodded as he tied up his robe and they exited the bedroom.
Walking past the living room toward another door they could hear their daughter and what they assumed was Katherine singing.
"Twinkle Twinkle little star how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high; like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle Twinkle little star how I wonder what you are." The two sang as Katherine was putting a platter of waffles on the table.
The quarters in Albus' quarters came equipped with a small kitchenette. They didn't use it much because of all the elves at the school but Minerva and Albus had to admit it was nice sitting down like this as a family. Especially once Celina, William, Graham, and Augusta had arrived. Frank had stayed the night and so had gotten up with Katherine and Isabella it appeared.
"Ms. Katherine these are delicious! Can I ask where you learned to cook?" Graham asked helping himself to a third helping of the waffles and eggs and bacon.
The small table was crowded and Celina sneakily made sure there was no spot for Katherine not long after she'd flooed in. Katherine was sitting on the counter by the stove eating and she didn't seem bothered which of course annoyed Celina. And really…how in Merlin's name could anyone be that cheery in the morning!?
"Oh I love to cook. I had my parents' elves teach me when I was little and I always cooked breakfast for Stewart and the children. Now though I cook all the time for Damien. He adores it," Katherine laughed. She; like the Dumbledores, was still in pajamas. She had transfigured her robe from yesterday into a sleek red satin night gown and a matching over robe.
"Oh Katherine I think your clothes should be cleaned and on your bed by now. You can go on to Hogsmeade I'll clean up," Albus stated standing with his plate. He gallantly took hers and went to the sink.
"Oh no Albus I couldn't ask a big strapping Headmaster to do a housewife's work," Katherine shook her head, "Besides I'm technically your mother-in-law. It is my right to treat you like a prince! And you as well Graham sweetie," Katherine stated winking to both.
"In that case can I request you bring a roast lamb with mint jelly to me at work Monday?" Graham laughed.
"Graham," Augusta admonished slapping his arm.
"Rosemary or Thyme?" Katherine asked conjuring a quill and parchment.
Everyone gawked at her. Was she really obliging to do as he asked!? Celina certainly wouldn't dream of that!
"Rosemary," Graham blinked.
"All right then; shouldn't be too difficult. Now Will…can I call you Will? Or Willy?" Katherine giggled.
William smiled brightly stating, "Whatever you like …Kate." She smiled a brilliant magazine cover smile at him.
"Willy can you show an old woman around? Things might be set up differently here," Katherine stated pouting cutely.
Augusta had to stifle a laugh. This woman was a Champion Manipulator for certain.
"All right then," William nodded, "Min, Augusta how about we take the kids with us and get them out of your hair. You can spend some time with your mother."
"All right," Augusta sighed. Minerva agreed as well.
"Yay!" the two kids shouted as they ran off to dress. Katherine left as well.
"Keep your hands to yourself Will. I don't trust her," Celina warned.
"Oh mum she's just flirting. Something tells me that woman can't help but flirt. Course if you looked that good at her age you'd flirt as well," Augusta stated. Minerva giggled at her mother's face.
"She seems to be so accommodating. I wonder how far she'd go before she snaps at you to do it yourself like Celina?" Graham asked allowed.
"Considering she just agreed to make you a lamb and bring it to the auror's offices there's no telling. Although I do know she hated it when I called her Honoria," Albus stated.
"Why?" Minerva asked curiously.
"Apparently it's her given name. It's Honoria Katherine but she doesn't like it," Albus shrugged. Celina smirked storing this information for later.
"Ready!" Katherine exclaimed as she reentered holding the children's hands.
Frank had his brown hair combed back and was wearing brown pants and shoes with a red shirt and cream sweater vest.
Isabella had her long hair in two braids with red and gold ribbons woven into the hair. She was wearing black stockings and a red skirt with a black cardigan set and black buckled shoes.
Katherine's hair was held back with a scarf and was shining. She was wearing black pants with black high heeled boots and a low cut v-neck emerald sweater that brought out her eyes. She had an emerald robe over it.
"All right then," William grinned hopping up and hurrying to them. Minerva watched as years seemed to melt off of her father as he left with the pretty witch.
"Do you have to leave?" Minerva asked sadly as she turned and saw Albus getting ready to leave as well.
"Yes, now could you help me with my tie?" he asked her as he tied his ginger and slightly grey hair with the help of a black ribbon.
"24 years in Hogwarts and you don't no how to tie a tie?" Minerva sighed finishing the tie for her husband.
"Actually I do know how to tie a tie its just an excuse for you to kiss me after that," he winked gathering her lips into a kiss that soothed Minerva.
"Sly,"said Minerva finishing the kiss.
"Am I?" he said as he kissed her again and departed.