Disclaimer: All the world is a stage, and these characters belong to JKR, I'm just playing the part of her fan.
A/N SO SO Sorry for keeping all you lovely people waiting. My life is filled with much insanity.
Horrified, Albus stared at the limp figure in the centaur's arms. It was most definitely his Minerva; the cord of black hair that fell from her bloodied face assured him of that. Preempting the urge to panic, Dumbledore gently retrieved his wife from the centaur.
"Thank you, Firenze. If there is ever anything I can do…" Albus muttered distractedly, more a formality than anything else. His entire focus was his wife. Dumbledore had to get her the infirmary until she could safely be taken to St. Mungo's. As he moved toward Hogwarts, his mind raced to form a plan of action. Well, she has a pulse, Albus began strategizing, It appears Firenze has stopped the worst of the bleeding. She must have internal injuries, though, if she's coughed up blood. What about a child? He lurched as the impact of the centaur's statement was realized. Abruptly shaking his head he continued, No, no time to think about that now. Just help Minerva, Albus, just help Minerva.
Dumbledore had taken the most direct route to the castle. On the way into the building, he passed Molly Weasley. He did not even stop to acknowledge the terror that blanketed Molly's face at the sight of his burden. Molly ran toward the field of scattered cadavers; while Albus pressed harder towards the castle. The night was slit with a horrific scream, as Molly discovered the bodies of her brothers, but the Headmaster did not hear. He was in the infirmary, shouting to wake Poppy Pomfrey.
Mere seconds later, a befuddled medi-witch stumbled into the infirmary. All sense of bleariness was lost the moment Madame Pomfrey saw Minerva. Immediately, she was awakened to her duties. She contacted St. Mungo's to get an emergency transfer team. She bustled around to the cabinets gathering antiseptics to clean up the wound on Minerva's shoulder. She bent over Minerva preparing to begin, when she noticed the blood massing at the edges of Minerva's mouth.
"Albus…." Poppy began, a terrible kind of fear in her voice, "I don't think she's going to…"
"No! Poppy, listen to me. The centaurs found her and took care of her. They promised me she would recover. Centaurs know about these sorts of things!" Albus shouted looking hopelessly disheveled.
Apparently the noise had aroused Poppy's husband, Alastor Moody. He came bounding from the room at when Albus raised his voice. "What's going on?" He demanded.
"There's been an attack on Hogwart's grounds. At least five death eaters fought against the Prewett twins and Minerva. Minerva was severely injured, four death eaters are dead…"
"And the twins?" Poppy asked quietly, as she went about cleaning Minerva up.
"Dead." Albus stated, blankly. It was all a dream, some terribly distorted dream. He was going to wake up, and his wife would be fine. The Prewett twins would be making a horrible racket in the Burrow's kitchen and Molly would be howling at them to settle down.
"I'm going out to survey the battle," Moody concluded, zipping Albus back to reality, "Where was the fight, Albus?"
"Behind the greenhouses," The Headmaster echoed dully.
"Be careful, Alastor!" Poppy cried, stopping her work to give him a worried kiss. Alastor strode from the room filled with a morbid sense of purpose.
"You'd better go escort the St. Mungo's team in, Albus," Poppy gently suggested, the poor man looked completely stricken.
"Yes, of course," Albus answered faintly, drifting toward the door.
The rest of the night was a pageant of gruesome nightmares. Molly Weasley fainted from the shock and was taken to the infirmary as well. Alastor contacted the Ministry and several officials jumped to the scene to begin an investigation. Arthur fearfully guarded over his sleeping son and his sorrowing wife. Little Bill slept blissfully oblivious to the tragedy that scarred the night. Poppy simply tended the living and quietly wept for the dead. The staff was awakened and set on patrols of the corridors. Albus stood by his wife's side all through the night.
When dawn broke that sorrowful Christmas Eve, the world was not prepared for the ghastly events of the previous night to be garishly displayed in broad daylight. The sound of birds singing in the forest was completely incongruous with the disturbed murmurs of the Ministry officials who examined the battle scene. The cheerful noise of the students at breakfast seemed oxymoronic when one heard the terrible, bereft sobbing of Molly Weasley. As Albus held Minerva's hand, the slim spear of sunlight that shot across his wife's bed made her all ready alarmingly pale palor decline to a shade comparable that of a corpse.
Albus was forced to return to the school before any conclusion was reached on Minerva's condition. He had not yet mentioned Firenze's comment. Centaurs were generally regarded as little better then mountebanks in the medical profession. Still, Albus couldn't scrub the voice from his mind, "whether or not the child she carries will survive this attack is beyond my skill to determine." How could he concentrate with that dire pronouncement floating around his mind? He managed to teach all of Minerva's classes and still keep his focus. The Headmaster stepped out of the class room at the end of the day, preparing to depart for St. Mungo's, when he was stopped by the most unlikely person.
"Dumbledore!" Alexander Fortinbras shouted as he tramped toward the Professor, "Where is Professor McGonagall? We were told about the attack, but where is she now? I would like to see her…" His voice died away as he caught the faintest glimmer of a disguised emotion in Dumbledore's face. Was the Headmaster jealous? To prevent any misunderstanding, Fortinbras amended, "We've become friends recently, and I am concerned."
"She is currently at St. Mungo's. However, I was forced to leave before they reached a firm prognosis. I will be returning as soon I finish up matters here." Dumbledore replied somewhat coldly. He had not forgotten the incident after Slughorn's party.
Sensing the Headmaster's displeasure, Fortinbras decided to leave the man alone, "Yes, well…" His eyes darted apprehensively around, looking for a smooth way out of the conversation, "When you see her… Tell her… I hope she gets better." He finished lamely.
"Don't we all?" Dumbledore smiled sadly, feeling a hint of compassion for this man. After all, they had one thing in common. Both were smitten by Minerva's copious charm.
Alastor had finished at the scene of the battle. The Ministry had its records, the Department of Aurors would get its report and two of its members would have to be catalogued (such a cold, harsh word for the heroic deed these boys had fulfilled) as killed in action. He sighed as he leaned into the infirmary door. He was greeted by quiet sobbing coming from the corner where Molly Weasley sat with her husband. He heard the rustling of Poppy's robes from the office, followed by the squeak of a toddler's laughter. Children are such funny things, he pondered, In the midst of a massacre they can still blithely giggle and smile about the tiniest things.
Stepping into the office, he stood behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her.
"Did you get everything settled?" Poppy asked quietly, trying not to disturb Bill's absent minded chunering.
"The bodies were all taken care of, and most of the blood's been cleaned up. We're still not quite sure how or why it all happened, but we'll know as soon as Minerva," he felt the medi-witch's shoulders tense at the mention of her best friend. "Poppy, where is Minerva? What's wrong with her?"
"That's just it, Alastor!" She groaned tiredly, turning around to face her husband "I've never seen anything like it. There was internal bleeding, but she didn't appear to have hit anything! And then her shoulder, I don't know what the centaur did to it, but it looked like it could have been serious trouble. It had the looks of a spell that resisted healing charms. I thought for sure I would have to fight to heal it. But it was healed before the St. Mungo's team arrived."
"Well, I can answer you questions about the internal bleeding. There's a death eater by the name of Anton Dolohov, nasty devil. He's got this curse, see, that shoots purple jets of light that just tear you up inside. There's very few spells that will block it, I've seen it kill many a good fighter. We knew he was there when we saw the state of the Prewett twins. But as for the centaurs, well, Albus has always had a wilder side to him, and I wouldn't put it past him to befriend a centaur, it was probably some of their ancient magic that healed Minerva."
They stood in cathartic silence, merely following the random actions of the little boy playing on the rug.
"Molly is devastated." Poppy sighed, leaning into Alastor's chest.
"Well, she has a good, strong partner to help her through this, and many caring friends. It is a shame though, that two such young, talented, brilliant boys should die before their time. Even for all I complained about them, they still amazed me with some of their strategies and gadgets. They were a credit to their family and courageous, honorable men, the world is the worse for their loss." Poppy's tears finally came, in tiny rivulets down her cheeks as she buried her face in Alastor's coat. In the next room, the sniffling could still be heard. Bill clapped his hands, wondering why nobody was yelling at him for playing with Poppy's wand.
Albus swooped into the ward at St. Mungo's, perching on the over-stuffed armchair he conjured next to her bed. A few minutes later, a young, pleasant looking healer appeared. Albus sat up and began preparing himself for the worst. He started to question torrentially, "How is she, Healer? Will she make it? What happened to her? Has she regained consciousness yet?"
"Please, Professor, one thing at a time! Now, Minerva is stable for now. We were able to stop the internal bleeding and finish healing her shoulder. But we still haven't managed to heal all the internal damage. It looks as if she will pull through this mostly unharmed. It appears as though she was attack with Anton Dolohov's infamous internal injury spell. I can't tell you how many patients we've lost to that." Seeing the terror on Albus' face at his last remark, the Healer reversed, "But, not to worry, Minerva will be fine. As for regaining consciousness, that hasn't happened yet, but we expect her to wake up sometime today. She was suffering from severe bloodloss, and we were able to handle that. Any other concerns or questions?"
I'll just ask him, now, Albus decided, That way I can stop worrying about it all together. "There was one thing…" He staggered to a start, "You see, Minerva was rescued by centaurs," Noting the shock on the Healer's face he added, "They live in the Forbidden Forest. But they are very skilled healers. The one that returned Minerva to me mentioned something about a child. He said something like, 'whether or not the child she carries will survive is beyond my skill to say.'" Something like, Albus chided himself, you've repeated the exact phrase in your head all day, "He seemed quite certain that Minerva was pregnant."
The Healer was slightly taken aback at this. After all, Albus and Minerva's marriage was not common knowledge. He blushed furiously at the thought of one of his former professors being an "unwed mother", especially strict old McGonagall, who used to frown if she caught students holding hands, "I-I-I-I don't know, Professor, it had never even occurred to us to… I'll get on it right away, just wait here!" He stumbled out of the room.
Albus couldn't help but smile distractedly at the boy's reaction. It would be odd checking to see if your former professor was pregnant, he mused. He turned back to his wife and gently lifted her hand from the bed. It was aberrantly cold, but not quite a deathly cold. There were a few scratches on her face that had yet to heal completely, and her shoulder was swaddled in an enormous bandage. Her hair had been gently braided to keep it out of the way, probably Poppy's handy work. His eye unwontedly drifted down to her stomach. To think she had nearly died from something he couldn't even see! And what of the child? Had Anton Dolohov claimed the life of another victim before it was even realized? He had always wanted chidren, and he knew Minerva did as well. It had been their deep misfortune to be under constant scrutiny from the public eye, and the occurrence of the apparently-single transfigurations Professor bearing child would cause too much publicity. It someone like Voldemort ever found out about such a thing, the little one would never stand a chance. And as much as he and Minerva had wanted a child, they were not willing to pit a baby against that.
The youthful healer returned, with an older, gray haired healer in tow.
"Ah, Morton Bancroft! It is good to see you," Albus stood and greeted the old acquaintance warmly.
"And you Albus," the tired sounding man smiled, "Now, Teddy says that you believe Minerva to be pregnant?" One of his eyebrows stretched while the other wrinkled to a small arc.
Albus explained the events once again, become slightly more agitated as he tried to convey the serious tone of the centaur's pronouncement.
"We'll have a look Albus. Don't worry" Morton smiled as he pulled out his wand.
Millicent Bagnold was furious. She was rarely unprepared for a situation, always the hero of every crisis. But now, on Christmas Eve no less, she had received news of an attack at Hogwarts. Hogwarts!! The very safest and secure nook within all of England! If the castle was no longer safe, what was? Apparently the media was beginning to feel that way, too. All ready, she had gotten four floo calls from different news services attempting to catch an official statement. This was completely unnerving! And apparently, Voldemort's Death Eaters had been the instigators of said attack! Two Aurors had died, and four of the death eaters were killed. Minerva McGonagall, and Millicent was even more frustrated to note that this was Dumbledore's wife, was in the hospital with severe injuries! She knew the Headmaster was going to some strolling in here and humbly make her eat her hat. What would the Daily Prophet say? What would the public think? This Voldemort character, who until now, the Ministry had never impeded, was indeed dangerous, if not deadly. He was at large and apparently had a band of fanatical followers who would die to do his bidding. This is just like Grindelwald, only worse, because you don't know who to trust, Millicent rubbed her temples trying to ease the tension that wrapped around her mind. Looks like I'll be talking to the Wizengammot about repealing that Marriage Law, after all.
Albus searched Morton's inscrutable visage, "Well?" he pressured.
"The centaur was correct, Albus," he seemed slightly shocked. "Minerva is two months pregnant." He lisped, the words floating unbelievingly from his mouth.
"Is? As in, the child is still alive?" Albus stood up to lean closer, "What do you mean, Morton?"
"Hold on, Albus," The Healer pushed Albus back into his armchair, "The baby is alive, but it, too has been injured. It all depends on the next few days as to whether or not it will live."
Suddenly, all three men were startled by a shocked whisper from the bed between them.
"A baby?" Minerva was awake. Albus dove for her hand, and the Healers instantly began casting diagnostic spells.
"Minerva, dearest!" He gently placed her hand against his cheek. "Yes, a baby! Firenze told me about it when he returned you to me. Morton says the baby is injured, but everything will be all right, Tabby, don't worry." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. There were tears running down her cheeks.
"After all these years of waiting, and now, the child might not even get a chance to breathe!" she murmured half-weeping, half-whispering.
"Don't fret, darling, I promise, I'll be here, right by your side, the whole time." Albus firmly reassured her as he gathered her hands in his and held them, gently. "We'll get through this, Minerva."
A/N yep, I'm starting to fall asleep again, so that's all for now. Please Review! You people are so amazingly generous with your comments when you want to give them, so please tell me exactly what you think! Don't worry, the story isn't going to drag on too much longer!