A/N: Nobody panic, I'm still here, I didn't get washed away by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald. No, never mind, it doesn't really rate on the world news scale, but hey, I'm here, a little soggy, but gill less so far ;)
How are we all? Some crazy things going on in Queensland this weekend, but good news for you guys cos it means you get new Age of Healing and if you're really lucky new Mothers! Aside from a bit of light rain (when I say light, I actually mean the opposite) nothing new to report here.
Once again Spin is the MOST amazing beta anyone could ask for. And she will be here SOON! :D Now THAT should be an awesome month! Peace out dudes and dudettes. Much love to all you still following this story. Hopefully I can get it moving faster now.
-0-
Minerva woke early, checking on Álainn beside her and making sure she was tucked in properly before slipping out of bed, hissing as she felt the cold bathroom tiles under her bare feet. It was a crisp morning and it looked as if fresh snow had fallen during the night. Pulling on her dressing gown she got straight to work, finishing her reports for the governors and writing letters to a few contacts she had throughout both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds. The fact that no one had seen anything of Hermione Granger troubled her greatly, and a feeling of dread settled in her stomach. Harry's words came back to her and while she knew she had to stay positive, she couldn't help the tiny part of her brain travelling to the heartbreaking conclusion that Hermione may never be found.
Giving up on her work, she went back to her room, seeing Álainn quietly chewing on one of her toys.
"Good morning leanabh [baby]," she said, leaning over the side of the cot, her melancholy momentarily forgotten. "How are you this morning?"
She beamed as Álainn's eyes opened wide and her arms extended up as if trying to grab onto her, so leaning down she picked up her baby, cradling her close, trying to ignore the impending sadness that was threatening to overcome her.
"Oh, please bring her back to us," she whispered to no one in particular.
Álainn babbled as she woke up properly, her little hands clutching at Minerva almost desperately.
"Easy baby, I have you," Minerva said, slowly rocking from side to side.
Classes were back in earnest now and Minerva knew that she had to get the bridge shored up before Quidditch started on Wednesday evening. They had decided on two leagues – one for the younger students and one for older players. There were more teams than there had ever been and so on Wednesdays Minerva arranged for classes to finish half an hour early and dinner to be swapped with lunch so that they could have a game before it was too dark. Thanks to a few of the Muggle-born students, who had explained that football matches were played at night in the Muggle world, Minerva had worked together with them and Filius to provide something similar to the 'flood-lights' that they had talked about.
She didn't particularly want to take Álainn out in this weather, but the hospital wing was overrun with children and a few of the professors as well who were all sniffling and coughing and Minerva definitely didn't want to leave Álainn in such an environment.
"I'm afraid you will have to come with me today, my darling," she said, leaning her cheek against the baby's head. She had grown again in the last few weeks and Minerva had simply got used to the fact that it was an inevitable part of Álainn's makeup. The little one let out a quiet, mewling yawn, making Minerva chuckle.
"You had fun with Harry and Ginny, didn't you?" she whispered, still rocking her from side to side. "I'm glad they're working it out, and that Draco and Harry look to be building the bridges towards friendship. You are helping so many people without even knowing it, my love. "
Realising she was speaking to her five month old baby she shook her head and lay Álainn back in the cot. She discovered the hard way that Álainn was quite adept at rolling over, and she waited for a moment for her to do just that, laughing as Álainn seemed to surprise herself by rolling into the bars.
"You are so clever, leanabh [baby]." Álainn giggled and waved her hands about trying to find her toy, so Minerva pushed it a little closer, tickling her belly as she did so. "Stay there while I get dressed then we'll have some breakfast and go and fix that bridge."
-0 -
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall." A Second Year waved as she walked down the corridor with Álainn happily leaning against her shoulder, laughing at a few of the portraits who were acting slightly less like portraits and more like fools.
Álainn seemed to enjoy it, however, so Minerva remained silent.
"Good morning," Rolanda Hooch said as she joined Minerva on her way to breakfast.
"Good morning, Rolanda," Minerva replied, smiling as Álainn extended her arms out to Rolanda. "How are you this morning?"
"Can't complain, I will be happier once Quidditch starts and this infernal weather lets up," she said, clapping her hands and taking Álainn from Minerva's arms. "Gosh you're getting big, little one!"
"According to Poppy whatever is wrong with her is not something we need to worry about. She can find no traces of curses, or abnormalities in her DNA or body to cause concern. She just grows very peculiarly."
"I'll say," Rolanda said, throwing her up in the air and catching her, making her laugh and squeal.
"Rolanda, please," Minerva said, snatching Álainn back from the Quidditch mistress, before relenting to the child's giggles. "Just, please don't do that, not here. What if you drop her?"
"Oh Minerva, I was Keeper for years! I won't drop her, will I baby? No I won't," she said, descending into the silly voice she used around Álainn.
Rolling her eyes, Minerva entered the Great Hall, smiling as Álainn screamed loudly in excitement as she saw all the people. It was remarkable how much she had come alive in the last few weeks. Minerva, of course was her favourite, but Harry, Ginny and Draco were fast becoming people she recognised with a laugh and a smile, as well as Poppy, though she preferred to stay in Minerva's arms whenever Poppy was near – a fact that had Poppy laughing endlessly.
"Good morning, everyone," she said, smiling as Winky popped into view with a high chair. Poppy and Minerva had discussed the fact that Álainn was just a bit too young to sit in one, but the little one didn't seem to mind and they made sure to pad the seat out so she didn't slip. "Thank you, Winky."
"Morning, Mistress," she said, disappearing again before she could get a word out in reply.
"Here we go, sweetheart. You sit here while I eat a little, then you shall have your breakfast too."
According to the books Poppy had made her read, Álainn should be able to hold her own bottle by now, but she seemed to have no inclination what so ever. Whenever Minerva tried to get her to take the bottle, the little girl simply let it drop from her hands and onto the floor. She was happiest when she was being fed against Minerva's chest, one hand clutching Minerva's and the other wrapped in either her robes, or her hair, depending on where Minerva was at the time.
Consequently, Álainn was quite happy to be sitting in her chair smiling and laughing at everyone while she waited for Minerva to eat.
"What is on your agenda for today, Minerva?" Filius asked, passing her a plate of bacon and eggs.
"I am finally going to go and shore up the foundations of the bridge," she said, nibbling on a piece of toast and letting Álainn grab it when she reached for it. The little one had done this before, but it was less a case of eating it, more a case of playing with it and getting it through her now quite curly hair.
"Minerva, it's freezing, you can't go out there!" Poppy said disapprovingly from along the table.
"Nonsense, I will place warming charms on both of us and then we shall go. The bridge needs to be fixed before Wednesday night. I do not want even the barest hint of there being a problem with it by the time the entire school is in the grounds," she said, making sure that Poppy understood not to argue with her. "It is my own fault that I am doing it now, I could have done it weeks ago, but have not got around to it. No, I shall do it today, and then when each of you has a spare lesson if you would be so kind as to go and add a little to it, I'm sure we shall be finished by Wednesday evening."
There was a chorus of 'Yes, Headmistress' from along the table and Minerva realised that Madam Roberts was sitting rather sullenly on the end, glaring at her cereal as if it had done her a disservice.
"Miss Roberts, a word if you please," Minerva said, picking up Álainn, and nodding to the back room, waiting for the young woman to go first before she followed. "Take a seat."
"Professor McGonagall, whatever it was that I did, I'm sorry."
It startled Minerva to see how down the woman was. She had not given the Potions Mistress much thought over the last few weeks, after becoming so thoroughly annoyed with her useless attempts at brewing potions.
"Miss Roberts, what is going on?"
"I, nothing Headmistress, nothing is going on," Minerva cocked an eyebrow and waited as the young woman squirmed in her seat.
"I, I'm useless," she finally said, breaking down into tears and causing Álainn to cry as well.
"Oh for goodness sake," Minerva muttered, realising that she hadn't started Álainn's bottle yet. "Miss Roberts, please, take a deep breath, dear," she said as she tried to shush Álainn and get her bottle out without dropping one or both of them.
"Sorry," she sniffed, watching as Minerva struggled. "Here, let me help," she said, taking the bottle out and handing it over. "I'd warm it for you, but I'd probably burn it."
Realising immediately what was going on, Minerva nodded Miss Roberts back to her seat and took up a chair next to her, settling Álainn in her favourite position leaning against her chest with her hands gripping her tightly and the bottle lodged firmly between her gums. Not for the first time Minerva was pleased she had decided not to undergo the potion treatment she could have to feed the baby herself, though she had considered it. Harry's bitten finger last night had affirmed that for her.
"Now, what on earth is the matter?" she asked, in her no nonsense manner. She had come to grudgingly like the young woman, but that didn't mean she didn't think she was a little flighty.
"I, I'm not that good at Potions," she whispered, refusing to look at Minerva.
Sighing, Minerva shifted Álainn slightly, so that she could lean over and take the woman's hand.
"Maria, listen to me, you are not Severus Snape, that I will grant you, but your students are passing, some of them quite spectacularly, so I am not worried."
"But, I don't even like Potions!" she said frantically. "I don't even know why I took the job, I love kids, I just, I really hate Potions."
"We cannot always be what we want to be, my dear. When I was your age there was a war going on, and in some ways it has been going on ever since, but only now do I believe we have a chance to change things once and for all. So, I ask you to take a deep breath, and go back out there and teach those children that will be our leaders in a few years the most they can possibly learn, no matter what you are teaching."
The Potions Mistress nodded shakily once, then more decisively as Minerva's words seemed to seep into her consciousness.
"I am sorry, Headmistress," she said quietly, but determinedly.
"Nonsense, we all have bad days Maria. I know you can bounce back from this."
"I shall have to believe you, even if I don't believe it myself. And I am sorry I cannot seem to get this heritage potion right. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I'll work harder."
"Alright," Minerva said, though she knew that she would not be holding her breath waiting for it. "Off you go. You have Sixth Years and they will not wait long for you."
"Thank you, Headmistress," she said softly, getting up from her chair and bowing a little before she left.
"Maria, I think it is time you stopped seeing me as the Headmistress and more as your colleague. My name is Minerva, dear."
"Yeah Hea– um, yes Minerva, thank you."
"Good day."
Minerva leant back in her chair and sighed, stroking her fingers through Álainn's messy hair. It didn't matter what she did, it always ended up messy, a little like Harry's hair and she chuckled as she remembered Ginny tying up the longer bits with a tiny pink bow last night. Harry and Ginny would be good parents and the more time Draco spent with Álainn, the more she was convinced he would make a good father too. His own had not been an especially bad father until Voldemort had returned. Until that point the man had doted on his only son and Narcissa had been the same. Unfortunately though, old habits die hard and so eventually everything had turned more into what Draco could get from them, instead of being about the love they could give him, but he was working on it.
Her thoughts drifted to Hermione again as she glanced down at Álainn, waiting for her to finish her bottle. The young woman would have made a marvellous mother. She was so kind and caring and so involved in everything she did. As long as she could find a way to balance her work life and her family life Minerva knew she had a great future ahead of her.
If only they could find her, and bring her home.
Álainn finally let go of the bottle and pressed her head against Minerva's chest as she did when she wanted a cuddle.
"Is that it sweetheart, have you finished?" Minerva asked, lifting the child to her shoulder and rubbing her back. After a few grumbles she burped, giggling at the noise, which made Minerva laugh as well when she leant her head against Minerva's cheek.
"Oh my darling girl, but I love you so," Minerva said, pressing kisses all over Álainn's face, making her scream with laughter. "Now, let's get you dressed and ready to go outside shall we? Winky?"
Winky appeared with a smile, waving at Álainn as she handed over Álainn's snow clothes; jumpers, coats, hats, mittens and all other manner of things designed to keep tiny babies warm in the frigid air.
"I've set up an area where she'll be comfortable, Headmistress," Winky said proudly. "I've cleared the snow and made sure that it's warmer so she can sit there for a while."
"Thank you Winky, you're such a great help."
"Mistress is too kind," the little elf said, pulling on her ears embarrassedly.
"Right little one, off we go."
Álainn looked like some sort of tiny monster, all rugged up in her winter gear, and she grumbled until they reached the doors, no doubt uncomfortable in such warm clothes inside the heated castle.
"Here we are, darling," Minerva said, carrying her with her back to her chest so Álainn could take in the world around her.
"G'morning, Pr'fess'a," Hagrid boomed from the edge of the gardens. Minerva waved back, laughing as Álainn squealed her own good morning in response to hearing his voice. It had taken her a few visits, but she'd finally realised that Hagrid was a giant teddy bear and loved sitting on his knee playing with the buttons of his big coat.
As it was, she was currently gumming on Minerva's hand and she rolled her eyes as she felt Álainn's drool running down her wrist.
"Marvellous," she whispered, kissing the baby's beanie covered head.
It took them a good deal longer than it should have to read the bottom of the ravine, owing to the amount of snow that Minerva had to clear to get there. Quite a few times, she had to swap arms to keep hold of Álainn, who went from being fascinated with the world around her to being quite shy of everything and wanting to be cuddled.
"Oh, here we are," Minerva said with a smile as she saw the little set up Winky had created. "Look at all these toys to play with." She placed Álainn on the ground and moved over to inspect the damage.
"You sit there, sweetheart, and I'll just be here working, alright leanabh [baby]?" she said, pulling a funny face at the baby until she squealed with delight. She concentrated on the work she had to do and only paused now and then to check on Álainn, who sometimes needed a little help moving about the cocooned play space after she rolled into the wards and got herself stuck on her side.
After a quick tickle, Minerva placed Álainn on her back again and returned to her work, waving every now and then at Álainn who was watching on with interest, her hands clutching her feet happily, seemingly not realising she could do that so easily.
"Now, don't distract me leanabh [baby], I need to concentrate for this part."
Turning back to the bridge she took a deep breath, steadied her footing and started muttering the spells she needed, concentrating on reforming the beams and setting them back in their foundations. She set the first ones against the sides of the ravine, oblivious to the creaking noises some of the higher beams were making as she meddled with the bottom.
It wasn't until much later on that Minerva realised how silly she'd been by not clearing the higher beams of the twelve inches of snow that was slowly but surely putting pressure on the broken wood.
There was a crack above her, breaking her concentration and for once, Minerva was stuck. She was so shocked as a giant ball of snow and wood seemed to take up her whole vision, that she didn't even have time to think about any sort of spell she could use to protect herself from certain death.
There were no thoughts running through her brain as she turned her back on the mass, screaming Álainn's name with her last breath.
-0-
Minerva McGonagall was not an especially brave woman in her own opinion and as she lay dead she knew that she should have been braver. Quite often she just did the things she knew needed doing and before she knew it people were heralding her as some sort of heroine, but really all she had wanted to do was help her friends get through the war and then enjoy a few peaceful years with her family. She sighed to herself as she realised that the little time she got with Álainn before her death was no doubt all she was destined to have as a mother and she wiped a tear from her cheek as she thought about leaving the little one on her own.
And then she realised.
"What on earth?" she breathed, looking around with wide eyes. The accumulation of snow and heavy wooden beams was still suspended above her and she looked at it in confusion. Why wasn't she dead yet?
"Mama-mama-mama,"
In her fear, Minerva had completely forgotten the danger Álainn could be in, and she made the most of whatever miracle was occurring and scrambled out from underneath the snow, crawling over to Álainn and kneeling at her side, looking on in wonder.
Álainn was smiling up at her, still gripping her feet in her hands and giggling as she looked up at Minerva.
"Álainn, what in Merlin's name?" she said staring at the baby, and then at the truly monstrous lump of snow and rock and wood.
"Minerva! Minerva!"
The Headmistress looked up to see Rolanda circling on a broom and a few other professors making their way quickly but carefully down the side of the ravine.
"Minerva, talk to me! Where are you hurt?" Poppy said fussing as soon as she reached her side.
"I, I'm not," Minerva said, still looking at Álainn.
"Minerva, what spell did you use to do that?" Filius asked, looking at the floating debris critically.
"I didn't," she whispered, suddenly realising what had happened. "Gracious me, what on earth?"
"Well, how are you not dead then?" Rolanda demanded, flying a little closer to the mass. "It should have killed you!"
"Álainn," she whispered.
Filius and Poppy joined her side and looked down at the baby, who was looking extremely pleased with herself by getting everyone's attention.
"Babies this young cannot have experimental magic, or at least not to this scale," Poppy said, confirming what Minerva already knew.
"I feel like we are missing something important here," Filius mused, looking between the baby and the still hovering mess.
"Mistress, Mistress are you alright?" Winky asked as she popped into view and began fussing over Minerva as Poppy had done.
"I'm quite alright, Winky, I, I think Álainn was protecting me. She's going to be the most powerful witch of her age if she keeps this up," she said jovially, trying to inject a little frivolity back into the situation.
"Minerva –"
"Oh!" Winky suddenly squealed, moving to Álainn's side and snapping her fingers, making the thick coat disappear.
"Winky, STOP! What are you doing? She'll catch her death of cold!"
"No, Mistress must let me do this," Winky said, for the first time ignoring a direct order and carrying on with what she was looking for.
She rolled up the baby's sleeve and Minerva frowned as the strange elf leaned closer, muttering under her breath and scraping her nails gently over the birth mark Álainn had on her arm.
"Winky, what is going on?"
"Mistress mustn't ask me, she must ask Headmastery Dumbledore. Winky must tell Headmistress only when he says Winky can's."
Minerva felt her blood boil as she thought of Albus keeping secrets from her still, even though he was dead and gone.
"Fine," she said icily, "I hope he's ready for an outing to the Owlery."
She leant down to pick Álainn up, only realising once she was safe and content in her arms that the little one was still holding the spell.
"Her magical core must be immense," Filius said pensively as he continued to watch.
"Álainn, sweetheart, I'm quite safe, it's alright," Minerva said, perching herself on a rock and turning Álainn to face her. "You can let go now, leanabh [baby], I have you."
"Mama-mama," she giggled, pressing her head against Minerva's chest.
"I love you, Álainn," Minerva sighed, kissing the baby's cheek.
There was an almighty crash as the spell broke and everything fell to the ground. Minerva shivered as she realised that she could very well have been underneath it all if not for her beautiful little girl.
Shaking off the snow that had flew up all around them, Minerva stood and ignoring the shouts of her colleagues, Summoned Álainn's coat and marched up to her office, slamming the door as she entered.
"Albus bloody Dumbledore!" she yelled, making Álainn cry. "You have been keeping secrets from me – again!"
"What?" he asked innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Headmastery one, I knows who she is," Winky said from behind Minerva.
"Oh," he said, his face falling as he looked between the little elf and Minerva's stormy face. "Minerva, listen to me, I just wanted you to have a little happiness. You seemed to love that child so much and I didn't want to ruin it."
"Albus, what have you done?" she said, much more quietly now as she looked down at Álainn, who was smiling up at her now as if she hadn't a care in the world.
"Winky, I release you from your orders; you may tell Minerva what you know."
"Winky is sorry Headmistress," she began, waiting until Minerva nodded before she continued. "Winky knew from the beginning that she was not a real baby. She was an older person who looked like a baby."
"Oh Albus," Minerva said, glancing at his portrait and ignoring the tears rolling down her face.
"I knew it was someone that I had met before, but I has met so many witches and wizards that I could not tell who's it was. But when Winky saw today little Álainny protecting Mistress and then you's saying she would's be's the most powerful witch of her age, Winky knows."
"Who is it Winky?" Minerva whispered, stroking the hair on Álainn's head and preparing for the worst.
"I," Winky paused, looking between the baby and Minerva's eyes that were now fixed upon the elf. "I think it be's Hermione Granger."