Hatred and forgiveness

Arthur paced the Hospital Wing and muttered worriedly to himself. Poppy watched him and tried unsuccessfully to come up with something reassuring to say. Molly and Minerva were gone for an hour now and she was starting to get worried, too.

Suddenly the door swung open and Molly walked in, leaning heavily on Minerva. Her eyes were still red from crying but she had herself in check. She walked over to Arthur and looked at him defiantly, with her chin up and eyes sparkling determinedly.

"I'm keeping this child, Arthur. Abortion is not an option for me", she said almost aggressively.

Arthur watched her in astonishment. Slowly his brows furrowed and he asked:

"Was there ever any doubt about it?"

Molly starred at him. Was he really saying what she thought he was saying? Arthur interpreted the stunned look on his wife's face correctly and moved closer to her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he smiled down on her lovingly and drew her to him.

"I told you we're in on this together. No matter if this child is really mine, I'll love it and take care of it", he said reassuringly.

"How can you say that? You don't know how you will feel when the child is born", reprimanded Molly stubbornly.

"I will love the child because it is yours, Molly", explained Arthur.

Minerva smiled softly but also a little sadly. Would Albus do the same for her? She wasn't really sure. True, he was understanding and loving but that was probably because she was too old to conceive a child. Her life wasn't destroyed in the way Molly's was. Minerva vowed then and there that she would care for Molly and help her through the pregnancy.

Poppy smiled at the lovely scene in front of her and envied Molly a bit for the love of her husband. But then again, why should she be envious? Her life was simple compared to Molly's or Minerva's. But Arthur was so loving that is was hard not to get nostalgic or jealous. Minerva seemed to think so, too. She watched Molly and Arthur woefully, clearly imagining Albus' reaction if she was in Molly's shoes.

"Molly, I love you and I will love your child", Arthur said quietly and hugged Molly tighter. Molly snuggled close to him and relied on his strength to get her through the pregnancy.

"I'm afraid, Arthur. I have been pregnant before ... many times ... and I know the risks. They are higher with each passing year and I'm not my usual healthy self. I'm scared to death, Arthur. I ..."

Arthur interrupted Molly by closing her mouth with his own. He smiled when she eagerly kissed him back, trying to qualm her doubts and worries in his kiss. After a while he withdrew slightly and smiled a bit more. Molly's eyes were closed in bliss and her arms were around his waist.

"Whatever happens we in this together and I'll help you as best I can", he promised her quietly.

----

Molly fidgeted nervously on her chair, tossing from one side to the other. This was the day she would tell the children that there was a little girl on the way. She was really anxious and apprehensive. What would the children's reaction be? Slowly the Headmaster's Office filled with people. All her children, except Percy, came in and sat down in the armchairs and on the couch around the fire place. Albus and Minerva sat there already and Minerva tried to get Molly's attention to comfort her. But Molly was too nervous to notice. When everyone was assembled in the room, Molly got up hesitantly and walked in front of the fire, facing the others.

"Children, I have to tell you something", she started, whole body trembling and voice quivering. "This is hard for me ... I'm ... I'm pregnant."

Molly starred down to the floor, unable to look up and not strong enough to see the shock on their faces. Suddenly she felt two strong arms encircle her waist and clasping her to a masculine chest. Bill's strong voice sounded above her head.

"It's ok, Mum, we'll get this one on the road, too. Never fret", he said convincingly.

George starred at his feet and silent tears ran down his face. He got up and left the room quietly. He couldn't face his mother. Not now that she was pregnant, it had been hard enough to face her after her ordeal. George felt guilty and miserable. He should have tried harder to protect his mother from those death-eaters. No matter what Fred said, George felt lousy.

While George drowned in his gloomy mood, the rest of the Weasley family gathered around Molly and hugged her. Ginny smiled at her mother and tried to swallow her tears. She had to be strong for her mother right now. Later she had Hermione to talk to and comfort her. Charlie looked at Ron and tried to decipher the vacant expression on his face. Ron stood somewhat apart from his family and slowly a blush crept up his face. Suddenly he pushed past his siblings and took both his mother's hands fiercely.

"We'll manage, Mum! There's no question we all help you and you'll see we can handle the baby! And should a death-eater come anywhere near you, I'll kick his arse. No one's ever gonna harm you again! I promise!"

----

Séléne saw George run out of Dumbledore's office and followed him quickly. He stopped dead when he reached the Transfiguration classroom. Somehow it seemed natural for him to come there and seek comfort. Séléne approached him quietly and waited for him to notice her presence. He sat down heavily on a chair and put his head in his hands. She moved closer to him and her heart broke seeing her boy-friend this heart-broken. George swung around and hugged her tightly, pressing his face into her belly and shaking with silent tears.

"You couldn't have stopped them, George. Please stop beating yourself up like that. Nobody is blaming you for what happened. Many of us knew about the danger the women of the Order were but none of us was able to stop ... that from happening. Please look at me and ..."

"I know that. But, God, I hate myself and think I could have prevented it ... somehow", said George miserably.

"No, you couldn't have."

Molly had entered the room unnoticed and came now up to George and Séléne.

"George, darling, listen to me. You couldn't have rescued me alone. Séléne is right. It's not your fault. I knew about the death-eaters' plan and still left Grimmauld Place Number 12. Stop tormenting yourself. I need the help of all my children to go through with this pregnancy. Do I have your support?" she asked anxiously.

George looked up to her for a moment and then got up and hugged his mother firmly.

"Of course you have, Mum", he assured her.

----

Minerva stood near the window and looked out over the lake and the grounds of Hogwarts. It was her favourite view, watching over her home and her little lion cups playing in the lash green of the Scottish Highlands. She smiled softly and watched Ron, Harry and Hermione walk around the lake together and were no doubt talking about Molly and the new baby.

An arm snaked around her waist and Albus' voice sounded next to her.

"Do you think they will be fine?" he asked.

Minerva had stiffened immediately when she felt his arm around her and moved away a bit. Albus accepted this silently and withdrew his arm and Minerva sighed.

"I'm sure they are fine. And Molly will be, too", said Minerva, quite cheerfully.

For long moments the couple just stood there and looked out, watching their students appraisingly and smiling benevolently upon them. Suddenly Minerva asked him softly:

"What if it was me? Would you stand by my side?"

Albus flinched away from her and Minerva closed her eyes with a pained expression on her face.

"I see", she said and turned away. Before she could go far, Albus grabbed her hand and made her face him again.

"I would stand by you, and you know that, Minerva. But there is something I have to tell you." Albus hesitated. Could he really tell his wife what Poppy had been forced to do to safe her? He prayed to God for the strength to tell his wife and to face her wrath. Minerva waited patiently for a while, giving Albus time to collect his thoughts. A couple of times he opened his mouth to speak but didn't seem to find the right words for he closed his mouth again. Minerva grew impatient after the fifth repetition and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"What, Albus? Just tell me", she ordered him.

"You were very sick. Your wounds were infected and you had a very high fever. At first we thought it would go away with potions and healing charms but we were mistaken. I ... I nearly ... lost you, Minerva. I would have sold my soul to the Devil to safe you. Poppy ... she said that the only ... really the only chance to safe you was to ... to remove your ... your uterus ..."

Minerva jerked around to Albus and starred horrified at him. She was pale as a sheet and her eyes were as round as saucers.

"No ..."

She backed away from Albus.

"Minerva, I'm so sorry ..."

"NO!"

"Minerva, please ..."

Albus approached her cautiously but Minerva backed further away. When he still tried to get closer, she turned around and made a mad dash to the door. She ran through the corridors, half blinded by tears and not caring where she went. Suddenly she bumped into a soft object and screamed when she felt a hand on her.

"No! Get away from me!"

But it didn't sound like her usual stern commanding self, in truth it was a pitiful whimper. The hand wasn't withdrawn. Instead another hand took her by the shoulder and turned her around, making her face her assailant. It was Narcissa Malfoy and Minerva recoiled from her. Suddenly all her nightmares were back. The all too familiar walls of Hogwarts disappeared and she was back at Riddle Manor, fighting off Voldemort. She slashed out but hit nothing. Narcissa had moved swiftly out of line and was now pressing Minerva's arms to her side.

"It's alright, Professor McGonagall. I'm Narcissa Malfoy. I helped rescue you. Please calm down", Narcissa said calmly.

Slowly Minerva got a grip on herself again and calmed down, relaxing in Narcissa's grip.

"You found her, Mrs. Malfoy. That's wonderful", said Molly's voice from the other end of the corridor and Minerva turned towards it like a flower to the sun.

"Molly", she said faintly, slightly hoarse from her earlier screaming. "Molly, please."

Neither Molly nor Minerva herself was sure what she was begging for. All Minerva knew was that she needed her friend like the air to breathe.

A./N.: Muhahahaha! A cliffhanger! I'm sorry that it took me so long to update this story but I promise it won't take long to update the next chapter. It will explain a couple of things from the earlier chapters. So please if you have question, let me know and I answer them. Thank you so much from reading and reviewing.

Ilane