Dear Diary

[dianahawthorne]

Dear Diary
Rating: K+
Summary: After one night with Albus, Minerva finds herself pregnant. What will she do?
A/N: The first chapter was written by minnielover on the ADMM boards.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing!

Chapter One: Coming to Terms
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I hate the fact that I love you and you don’t love me back, or even if you do you think you are too old for me. It’s stupid in the world that we live age should not be a factor. We live to be hundreds of years old if we are lucky, OK so maybe I exaggerate a little, so why shouldn’t I love someone sixty years my senior it’s not totally unheard of. My mother was forty years older than the second man she married but nobody cared so why should you think it matters to me?

I know I used to be your student, but then again, if you ruled everyone out on that basis you wouldn’t of been able to go out with many of the people you have supposedly been with so that is a non-starter. Maybe that its that you don’t approve of romantic relations with your colleagues, but then again Hooch and Snape have been seeing each other for a while now so you should see that that’s not really a problem.

So I can only conclude that we were only meant to be together for that one night. That it was a mistake, that you don’t feel for me what I feel for you although I do hope I’m wrong because...

Albus, I’m having your baby.

Why Albus? Why was it just a one night stand? Why have I been left feeling like this? But most of all why am I having your baby? I can’t tell you about it, you might chose to stay with me out of pity and I don’t want that to happen, but there is only so much longer I can keep it a secret. We work together everyday at some point you are going to notice and ask me if it’s yours. How am I going to answer? Because if I tell the truth as I said before you will stay with me out of pity, but if I lie then you will think I am some kind of hussy but I’m not I’ve only been with you since I came here and that was almost four years ago now. So what am I going to do?

I have been to see Poppy, and she says that there are concealment charms I can use. That's all very well, but what happens when the time comes to have the child? What then? Do I give our child up for adoption? Do I leave to have our child and then come back later when he or she is old enough to go to school? There are plenty of wizard primary schools they could board at, but then I would hardly know the child. And what if there was no place for me left here - then what would I do?

Oh Albus I am so confused - tell me, what should I do?
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[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Two: Intoxication


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Why did you have to go down to the Hog's Head? You know that the only way you and your brother can stand each other is when you both get rip-roaring drunk. Which, of couse, you did. You were so drunk you could barely walk - Abe had to Floo me so I could escort you back to the castle. Which is where it all began...

My fireplace filled with emerald green flames, and Aberforth Dumbledore's head wobbled in the fire.

"Minnie," he slurred, before belching, obviously drunk, "Albus needs you to walk him back to Hogwarts."

I sighed, knowing that Albus was most likely just as drunk as his brother.

"I'll be there shortly, Aberforth," I replied, kneeling on the hearth rug, trying not to wrinkle my nose at the strong odour of firewhiskey emanating from him.

"Cheers, Minnie!" he hiccupped, and disappeared from the flames. I sighed and made my way to my wardrobe, gathering my cloak before exiting my rooms to pick up Albus from the Hog's Head.

My remembrances of that night were thankfully interrupted by a sudden burst of nausea, causing me to dash to the bathroom and kneel down on the cold tile floor in front of the toilet. I held my hair away from my face with one hand and used the other to brace myself by pressing it hard against the cool tiled wall. A knock sounded at my door while I was vomiting in my bathroom. I heard it, but obviously couldn't get up and answer. The knock sounded again before the door was flung open and someone strode heavily across my quarters into the bathroom, where the footsteps stopped abruptly. I started to turn around, my morning sickness gone, until another wave of nausea forced me to bend down over the toilet again.

This time, however, I needed both hands to hold onto the toilet to stabilise myself, which meant I had to release my hair. Before my hair fell down, large, smooth hands held the long black locks out of my way and rubbed my back comfortingly. My stomach finally settled, and the same hands that had held my hair back now held out a goblet of water and a soft handkerchief to wipe my mouth. When I did use the handkerchief after downing the goblet of water, I buried my nose in the soft silk that smelled of lemon and chocolate. I finally looked up to confirm the identity of my unexpected visitor. As he caught my eye, something in the cold blue depths shifted, and his eyes gain a smattering of warmth and - could it be? - love? However, he rises from his kneeling position next to me and extends his hand to help me up before I have a chance to analyse what I glimpsed in his eyes.

"Shall we move to a more comfortable location for this conversation, Minerva?" Albus Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, of course," I responded taking his hand and standing up. He didn't release my hand, even when it was clear I was fine to walk on my own to the sitting room.

He settled me down on the settee closest to the fire and wrapped me tightly in a plaid blanket before bending down to stoke the dying embers of the fire I had made last night. He straightened up from my fireplace and called his personal house-elf, Bluwie, to fetch some soup, toast, and anti-nausea and vitamin potions that Poppy had made. After a very few minutes, Bluwie popped back into my rooms, holding a heavily-laden silver tray. Albus Conjured a table and Bluwie placed the tray down before popping away again. Albus began to prepare a plate for me and settled himself on the small sofa I was sitting on, before handing me the plate. I finished the meal under his watchful eye, and reluctantly took the goblet containing the anti-nausea and vitamin potions from his hand. Albus sensed my reluctance to injest the often foul-tasting brews, and he took the goblet back. Wrapping one arm around my waist, I looked up into his eyes. He held the goblet up to my lips, and I opened by mouth obligingly and swallowed the potions, which, thankfully, did not taste as bad as I had feared. Albus Banshed the potion bottles and empty dishes. After placing his wand on the Conjured table, he shifted the arm that was still wrapped around my waist lower, so it rested on the small of my back. As he pulled me closer to him, I leaned into his chest, and he held me tightly.

"Minerva, I know," he said in a deep voice. I could feel the vibrations of his chest as he spoke.

"Who told you?" I asked quietly, being unable to discern his feelings on this delicate manner from his previous statement.

"Fawkes told me. He sensed the life growing in you and told me. I changed into my phoenix Animagus form to see if he was right - and he was. I could feel the magic emanating from you - a perfect combination of both mine and yours." He tentatively placed a hand on my still-flat stomach, as though to see my feelings on the matter. I placed my own hand on top of his, and we sat there in silence, thinking about our child.

[KristaMarie]

I just read this on ff.net-- and I love it! I can't wait for more!

[lemondrop]

I also read this on ff.net and I must say: Wow! I was nearly crying... the end gives me some hope for a happy and romantic end

update soon please!

[minnielover]

Im so pleased you continued this fic, when I thought about continuing this fic I had some general idea of how it should go, but you have written it so much better than I could of.

I love it.

[mmadcrazyfan]

pleasepleaseplease update soon!

[tartanmin]

fantastic very touching... :'-s
I'm really teary, so sweet, please update..

[mmadforever]

this is so sweet, i love it

[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Three: Ultimatum
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“Minerva,” Albus said, breaking the heavy silence that surrounded us. “You can’t keep the baby.”

I sat up straight, jerking away from him. “What do you mean I can’t keep the baby?” I replied, the low tone of my voice still containing the vehement rejection of giving up our child.

“I have thought this over, Minerva, and there are three options. You have your choice of them. One, you travel to America on a sabbatical and give birth there, placing the child up for adoption by Muggles. Two, you change your identity and leave Europe, living as a Muggle. Or three, the option I prefer – we get married and you go into hiding under the Fidelius Charm. You wouldn’t have to leave Hogwarts – of course, you would not be able to teach or do work for the Order, but at least you can keep the child.”

I sat on the settee next to him, my mouth wide open in shock. “And if I refuse?” I asked Albus defiantly.

“Do you want to protect our child?” he countered, before taking a deep breath and placing his hand on my abdomen again. “Minerva, you fought in the last war, and you saw the devastation that occurred. Do you want our child to be a victim of those horrors?” he asked me.

“Of course not, Albus!” I responded. “I want to raise our child in the best world possible. But is going into hiding really the best option?”

Albus sighed, suddenly looking much older than normal. “No, of course hiding isn’t the best option, but it’s the only decent one at the moment. As our child grows older, we can reconsider, but for now, either giving up our child, having you go into disguise, or having you be hidden under the Fidelius curse are the only possibilities.”

I leant into his body again, closing my eyes so I could think. I knew he was right – his enemies and my own as well would hunt down any child of Albus Dumbledore’s. That did not make the consequences of my choice any less difficult, however. Nevertheless, I knew what I had to do.

“All right, Albus,” I began, “who will be our Secret-Keeper?”

“I’ll be our Secret-Keeper,” he said. “I cannot think of anyone else I would trust with the knowledge of our relationship and child, except you of course. But, my dear, I believe it will be safer if I am the Secret-Keeper, rather than you, because I am, no offence, much better at Occlumency and Legilimency.”

“All right, Albus,” I said, “when should we begin the ceremony? Do we need any witnesses? What shall we tell the school about my resignation?”

“It’s only a week until the end of the school year. I will announce your resignation at the Leaving Feast. We can tell the school you moved to America to pursue other interests. We can begin the ceremony later that day, after all the students have departed. We can have Mad-Eye and Aberforth be witnesses, and Mad-Eye can bind us, and he can perform the Fidelius Charm as well.”

“What do we do until then, Albus?” I asked him.

“We wait,” he replied.

[tartanmin]

great update..
hope you update soon..

[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Four: Into a New Life


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A/N: I'm sorry it's taken so long to update - first there was Thanksgiving Break, then I attended a Model UN conference, where I got food poisoning, and now, finally, I am back at school and could type up the first of several chapter I hand-wrote during these past weeks. The next chapter will be up by Friday at the latest! Thank you to all of my reviewers - and please continue to review! I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to read this story.


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"Professor McGonagall has taken a post at an American school of magic in Colorado as their Transfigurations teacher. We at Hogwarts have appreciated her seven years here as a professor. We wish her all the best on her new position," Albus said, motioning to me to stand and acknowledge the applause and cries of congratulations from my former students and colleagues. I didn't let my tears show - I wouldn't show that sign of weakness in front of everyone. When we sat down after the applause subsided, Albus squeezed my knee softly - he knew the pain this decision had caused me.

The Leaving Feast passed quickly, unfortunately, because it was my last one as a professor. However, the baby had other ideas. I was so busy trying to calm my stomach that I had barely noticed my surroundings. After the feast and the awarding of the House Cup to Gryffindor, the students retired to their rooms, and Albus lead me to his quarters where his friends, Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, were waiting to bind us as man and wife.

Nicholas performed the various bonding spells over our joined hands, causing a deep red glow to appear around us. When the incantations were complete, wedding rings appeared on both Albus and my hands simultaneously. My ring had a deep red ruby set in gold, while Albus's was a ring which appeared to have been braided together using gold. The bands glowed for a moment, before disappearing.

Albus chuckled, noticing my startled face. "Don't worry, my dear, they haven't disappeared." He tapped his left ring finger with his wand, saying, "Revelio Augerium." He repeated the spell on my own ring finger as well, and I sighed in relief when the rings appeared again.

"The rings will only be visible to people who know of our marriage," he said, "I thought that you'd like this idea better than not exchanging rings at all."

"I do like this idea, Albus, much better than having no symbol of our marriage," I replied.

"Good. Now, we need to finished the Fidelius Charm," my husband - I couldn't believe he was my husband, after so many years of longing to be his wife - stated, taking my small hands in his own larger ones.

"Nicholas, can you start now? We're ready to begin," Albus told his best friend.

"Of course," he replied, drawing his wand and motioning for Perenelle to stand beside him. Nicholas placed his long willow wand on our joined hands, and Perenelle placed her shorter ebony wand on our hands as well. Nicholas and Perenelle began chanting the words of the Fidelius Charm, which seemed to be spoken in no language I've heard before. It bore no resemblence to Latin or any Asian language I'd ever heard. The closest sound I had ever heard to these chants was the drone of Arabic. The chanting lasted only several more seconds, and when it ended, a tingling feeling overcame me. It felt as though my entire body had fallen asleep and was just waking up. I felt drained, as well as slightly dizzy, and the thought of asking for a glass of water was the last thing I can remember.

[gryffindorprincess]

I love it please update soon.

[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Five: Betrayal
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I did not open my eyes, but I was awake. Nor did I move anything. I heard a door open, then close, and footsteps approached my bed. A scraping sound, which I presumed was a chair being dragged across the floor, stopped near my resting place, and a creaking noise signalled that my visitor had settled into the newly relocated seat.

“How is she, Perenelle?” the deep voice of Nicholas Flamel asked gravely.

“Much the same, Nicholas,” his wife replied in an equally sombre tone, “She hasn’t changed in the month since you’ve been at Hogwarts,” she finished, the sadness in her voice evident.

I have been here – wherever “here” is – for a month – maybe more? I had time to think before the exchange between husband and wife continued.

“When is Albus coming to see her, Nicholas?”

“I don’t know,” he sighed heavily, “you know that, four months ago, he and Galatea Merrythought took up with each other. Before Albus married Minerva, he and Galatea were involved, although at the time, they kept it a secret. Nevertheless, after Albus deposited Minerva here on their wedding night, they have made their relationship public knowledge. I have rarely had the chance to speak to him alone, but when I have, he just says that he and Galatea are in love. She’s even moved into his quarters at Hogwarts.”

I could not bear it anymore – I could not stand listening to this, pretending to be unconscious, as I apparently had been for the past four months. I had to let Nicholas and Perenelle know that I was awake. I opened my eyes and looked into the shocked faces of Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel.

“Where am I?”
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Once the Flamels had gotten over their astonishment at my sudden re-emergence into consciousness, and I was fully awake, they informed me on the events of the past four months – after I recovered from the shock of the changes those months had wrought in my body. I was seven months pregnant, and had missed most of my pregnancy. According to the Flamels, so had Albus. They told me that after the Fidelius Charm was performed on Albus and me, I slipped into a coma. Albus had brought me to the Flamels’ estate, as they were the only ones to know about our marriage and the child that we were expecting. After leaving me with the Flamels, not even bothering to ensure that I would be cared for, he returned to his family estate and renewed his relationship with Galatea. Once school had started, he had moved her into his chambers at Hogwarts, and hired Nicholas to fulfil my role as Transfiguration professor, even allotting him my quarters for his use. He had completely cleared them of all of my belongings, which he had sent to Perenelle at the Flamels’ estate.

As the school year progressed, Nicholas was forced to watch as Albus and Galatea publicised their relationship. They were seen everywhere together – at Ministry balls, in London, in the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly – captured dancing, snuggling, and kissing in countless photographs. In short, they behaved like a married couple. Except Albus was not married to her – he was married to me. However, the Fidelius Charm prevented me from telling anyone the truth – only Albus could.
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I slowly regained the strength that I had lost from being in a coma for the past four months. Two days after I had emerged into the world again, I asked Perenelle a question, on that had not occurred to me to ask before.

“Perenelle, am I having a boy or a girl?”

She cast a diagnosis spell on me, and her wand glowed turquoise. “A boy, Minerva! You’re having a boy!”

We immediately began knitting clothes, blankets, booties – in short, everything – for my son. Although blue was the traditional colour for boys, we included plenty of red and gold as well – for we had no doubt that my son would be a Gryffindor. Unfortunately, I was not yet strong enough to go to stores to shop for furniture, toys, and clothes, so I was forced to make do with what I could Transfigure or make myself. I also began to think of baby names – and there were so many to choose from! I had to decide whether to follow tradition when naming my child – in Albus’s family, each child – himself, his brother Aberforth, and his sister Ariana – had names beginning with “A”. In my family, each name referenced Greek or Roman mythology. I could not decide what to do.
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The Flamels and I had yet to inform Albus of my recovery from my coma. Nicholas did not have the chance to bring it up, as Galatea was always with Albus, and when she was not, Albus would effectively steer the topic of conversation away from anything having to do with me. Neither the Flamels nor I wanted to reveal this information in a letter, and I was not yet well enough to travel to Hogwarts to see Albus myself. So the next two months passed, incredibly slowly, and as each day passed, I resigned myself a little more to the fact that my son would never know his father.

[mmadforever]

oooo i really want to see what will happen next... and sham on albus being with another women *searchs for albus to give him a piece of my mind*

[gryffindorprincess]

OH it's getting good, please update soon I can't wait to read more.

[caramelapples]

This is interesting. Do update soon!

[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Six: You Can't Go Home Again


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A/N: Thank you to all of my reviewers! I hope everyone has a happy holiday season.
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It was late November before Albus was notified of my emergence from the coma. Perenelle had Owled him on a Monday morning, ensuring he would get the letter with the rest of his morning post, so no one would be able to alter the contents of the letter before he read it. He responded to Perenelle - not even including a note to me, his wife! - that I should remain at the Flamels. I did not feel as though I could impose of their gracious hospitality any longer, however, and I made arrangements to relocate to a small estate I owned on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. I notified Blinky, the house-elf who had raised me, as well as Poppy. Nicholas and Perenelle, while reluctant to allow me to travel to Hogsmeade, realised that arguing with me would prove futile, and assisted me in refurbishing my home. We didn’t notify Albus of my relocation, as we did not want that information to fall into the wrong hands. As the second week of December began, I bid the Flamels farewell and Flooed to my estate.Only two days after ensconcing myself comfortably in my home, a snowstorm hit. While everything was fine initially, as the day wore on, the snowstorm got worse. At around two in the afternoon, my water broke. Blinky was not there - she’d had the day off and was visiting the other house-elves at McGonagall Manor. It was too hazardous a storm for my owl, Hermia, who was getting on in years, and Poppy, who was going to deliver my child, was not due to check in on me until tomorrow. I was trapped.
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The labour pains were only five minutes apart twelve hours later. The storm, it seemed, increased in an intensity directly proportional to the increase of my labour pains. I gripped my wedding ring, which was on a chain around my neck because of its inability to fit on my swollen winders, as a particularly intense labour pain shot through me.
“Albus!” I shrieked, wishing he was here to help me through this, despite his philandering actions of late. A bright flash of flame signalled the arrival of Fawkes, Albus’s phoenix. If phoenixes could look startled, Fawkes at that moment did, as he quickly flew to my shoulder and latched his talons into the sweaty cloth of my robes. With another flash of flame, I had appeared on a bed in the faculty branch of the Hogwarts Hospital Wing. Fawkes left me for a moment to fetch Poppy, and then returned, grasping her robes in his talons to pull her along faster. As soon as she saw me, she dropped the clipboard she was carrying and rushed over to me.

“Minerva! Merlin, how - when?” she began, before snapping back to professional mode. Conjuring a chair, she sat and checked how dilated I was. Fawkes, meanwhile, had perched on the bed’s headboard and was singing a calming tune.

“All right, Min, the baby’s crowning. When you feel the next contraction, get ready to push!”
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A half an hour and several contractions later, I held my son in my arms for the very first time. His auburn hair reflected the lamplight, and, as he yawned, I saw his beautiful blue eyes flutter open. He had my nose, mouth, and ears - but Albus’s eyes, colouring...and smile, I noticed, as my son looked up at me. He was perfect.
My son was finally asleep after a long process of feeding. Before leaving to give me some privacy, Poppy had left a quill, ink, and the birth certificate on the nightstand near my bed. I balanced my sleeping son in one arm and began to complete his birth certificate.

Date of Birth: December 17th

Time of Birth: 4:07 am

Place of Birth: Hospital Wing, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Healer: Poppy Pomfrey

Mother: Minerva Diana McGonagall

Father: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Name: Robert Patrick Alexander McGonagall Dumbledore
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I must have nodded off after filling out the birth certificate, because the next thing I knew, a door was flung open, then was slammed shut.
“You are not supposed to be here!” my husband roared.

[gryffindorprincess]

I love the story, but I don't like Albus right now. Not at all. I can't wait to read more.

[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Seven: Bondings


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A/N: Thank you to all of my reviewers - I do appreciate it! I have the next two chapters written out, so I just need to type them, however, my computer has died so I have to wait to use the family one. Thanks for your patience! Happy Holidays!


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Robert began to shriek at the top of his lungs as his father burst into the Hospital Wing.

“You aren’t supposed to be here!” he roared, drowning out the terrified screams of his son. I held Robert closer to me and tried to soothe him. Albus ignored his squalling son and angrily strode over to the side of my bed.

“You were supposed to stay at the Flamels!” he yelled, “Not come here! What on EARTH possessed you?”

I ignored him, still comforting our son. He grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at him.

“Damn it, I asked you a question Minerva!”

I yanked my chin from his grasp, turning my gaze to Robert.

“In case you have not had the chance to notice, you are a father,” I responded tartly, “and to answer your question, nothing possessed me. Fawkes brought me here.”

“Why would Fawkes bring you here? Did you ask him to?” he inquired, ignoring the first part of my response.

“No, I did not ask him to bring me here. However, after a little over twelve hours of labour with no assistance, Fawkes might have thought that your son and I would have a better chance of surviving if I had some help in the delivery. And perhaps he thought that taking me to St. Mungo’s would expose our marriage, so bringing me here, where Poppy actually knows you’re the father, would be a better idea for us not to be exposed.”

“And why weren’t you at the Flamels?”

“After having them take care of me for four months while I was in a coma, and then care for me for two months after I regained consciousness, I felt that I could no longer be an imposition upon their gracious hospitality. So I relocated to my house in Hogsmeade.”

“And why did you not at least send me an Owl notifying me of your relocation?”

“Nicholas, Perenelle, and I did not want that information to fall into the wrong hands, which was possible if we sent an Owl. Also, Nicholas attempted to raise the subject of my relocation several times in conversation, yet you always changed the subject.”

Finally, I thought, the Great Albus Dumbledore is speechless. His face wore an expression of disbelief, as well as guilt.

Taking advantage of the lull in conversation, and the ceasing of Robert’s crying, I asked, “What is your relationship with Galatea Merrythought?”

I was pleased to note that Albus flushed with embarrassment. “I... I did not... I did not mean for you to hear about that,” he stammered.

“Just because I was in a coma for four months does not mean that Nicholas and Perenelle were too, Albus,” I replied scathingly, “and, from what I understand, it continued after I reemerged into consciousness.”

“It was just sex, Minerva,” Albus told me, “she couldn’t hold a candle to you.”

“And why is that? Because she is too old to have children? We’ve only had sex once, Albus, and you did not even visit me while I was in a coma, or afterwards. It sounds as though Galatea means more to you than I do.”

“I did not visit you because I could not stand to see you so helpless - and I did not think that you’d want to see me after you woke up - if you did. It’s all my fault, Minerva, don’t you see - I felt too guilty to visit you.”

By this point, Albus was sitting on the edge of my bed and grasping my hand.

“Minerva, when you entered your coma, I discreetly inquired as to why you had entered the coma in the first place. After contacting numerous experts in bonding spells, a druid finally told me that we had been bonded when our son was conceived. When we had the second bonding spell performed, it sapped your life magic and sent you into a coma. Because I am bonded to Hogwarts, the wards preventing magical drains prevented my life magic from being drained as well. It was all my fault that you entered the coma in the first place!” he sobbed.

“It was not your fault, Albus,” I whispered.

“Yes, it is, Minerva, you both almost died because of me!”

“But we didn’t die, Albus, I’m fine - and so is Robert. We’re all okay, Albus - we’re all fine.”

I loosed my hand from Albus’s grip and waved my wand, expanding the bed before Levitating the covers so Albus could join us.

“So, Papa, would you like to meet your son?” I asked, placing Robert in Albus’s arms. Our son opened his eyes sleepily and grabbed onto his beard. Albus cupped a large, capable hand under Robert’s head to support him, as Robert snuggled into Albus’s chest and beard and drifted back to sleep. My husband’s eyes filled with tears and he placed his free arm around me.

“Thank you, Minerva,” he said, as I snuggled into his beard as well, “for our son.”

“Thank you, Albus,” I whispered in response. I placed a loving hand on Robert’s head as the three of us lay their, warm and content, and drifted off to sleep.

[mmadforever]

awww. thats cute! is there going to be an update?

[lemondrop]

oh damn I've missed so much... shame on me but: WTF?! Albus is such an idiot! I mean: "It was just sex!" Sorry but that isn't a good apology for behaving like that! As much as I like them being happy together but if I was Minerva I would definity not accept his apology!

Keep on... really want to know what's going to happen next!

(Hope you could understand me.... my english is so embarrassing -.- )

[gryffindorprincess]

I can't wait to read more. I'm glad they seem to be patching things up.

[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Eight: A Family


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I woke up warm and content for the first time in a long time. I could feel Albus’s arms around me and his gaze upon me. I turned in his arms and smiled up at him.

“Good morning, my dear,” Albus said, as he give me a kiss on my upturned lips. “Good morning, Robbie,” he added, placing a light kiss on our drowsy son’s forehead. Robbie started to whimper as his face turned into my body and began to search out my breast.

“Albus, could you unbutton the front of my nightgown, please? Robert’s hungry.”

Despite the purpose behind my words, Albus’s eyes darkened as he opened my nightgown, and darkened even more so as Robert began to feed. While Robert was feeding, Albus placed gentle hand on my hips and pulled me firmly back against him. I leaned back in his arms as Robert finished feeding, and Albus re-buttoned my nightgown. He took Robert from my arms and burped him. Robert then drifted back off to sleep.

A few hours later, Poppy came in and gave both Robert and I a quick check-up before releasing us. Albus had enlisted a few house-elves to bring Robert and my belongings up to my husband’s chambers. I carried our son as Albus wrapped his arms around me. We finally got to his rooms, and Albus gave the password, Candied Ginger, to the portrait of Godric Gryffindor.

The portrait swung open into a redecorated sitting room. Aside from the large Christmas tree in the corner, there was a two-seated rocking chair, a play-area for Robert, and a shelf of picture books, both of the magical and Muggle variety.

The next door that Albus opened led to Robert’s room, decorated primarily in reds and gold. His crib had animal carvings on the sides, supplemented by a Gryffindor lion mobile, a phoenix song music box, a toy cat resembling my Animagus form, and finally, a lamp with a base of a tabby cat and phoenix entwined.

Finally, Albus’s room had been redone to include some of my own preferences in décor. Over the fireplace was a tapestry of our respective family trees, in which our names were joined with a double line of embroidered gold thread, and a single line of the same gold thread descended from our names joined Robert to us. The bed had been expanded, and where there once were bright, clashing colours, there were bright, complementary colours. There were two wardrobes side by side, as well as a vanity table for me. A delicately carved wooden bassinet was placed at the foot of the bed.

“Do you like it, Min?” he asked me, bending down to whisper in my ear.

“Yes, I do, Albus, I really do – when did you have time to do all of this?”

“I had everything done last night – but I’d drawn up the plans before our marriage.”

“Are you sure you want us to live here with you? We won’t be a…distraction?”

“Yes, Min, I’m sure. This is how it is supposed to be. I have made – several – mistakes, but this is not one of them. We are a family, Minerva, and I love you, both of you. I want you to be the first sight I see in the morning and the last sight I see at night. You two are my everything, Minerva.”

I embraced him, positioning our son between us so he would not be crushed. He bent down and gave me a long, languorous kiss, which was interrupted but the arrival of Galatea Merrythought.

[lemondrop]

Oho Showtime....

but Albus was such a sweety ;D

can't wait for more!!

[gryffindorprincess]

This is really great. I can't wait to read more. At least Albus came to his senses.

[dianahawthorne]

Chapter Nine: Confrontations


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A/N: Thank you all for reviewing. This is the last chapter, and I hope you all enjoy it! I really appreciate everyone taking the time to read this - it's made my day!


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She had not noticed us yet, as her hands were full of brightly wrapped gifts.

“Albus, darling,” she called out as she bent down to put the gifts under the already full Christmas tree, “I know you said I should visit my parents for Christmas, but I could not keep myself away any longer!”

Meanwhile, Albus had wrapped an arm around my shoulders and placed his other hand behind Robbie’s head, protectively shielding us from Galatea.

As she stood up and looked around the room, her expression became confused as she took in the changed décor. Finally noticing us, her face blanched and she stepped backwards unsteadily before speaking.

“Albus, what’s going on?” she asked faintly.

Before Albus could respond, I jumped in.

“Why don’t we all sit down? We can explain everything then,” I suggested, leading the way to the sitting area. I indicated an armchair to Galatea, which she willingly sank into. I Conjured a crib, and, placing Robbie in it, sat down on a settee facing Galatea. Albus joined me, wrapping an arm around me. I leaned against him and squeezed his knee supportively.

“What’s going on, Albus?” Galatea repeated softly.

“I’m sorry, Galatea,” he began, “I’m sorry for starting a relationship with you when I knew it had no future. You see, Minerva is my wife. This,” he waved a hand towards the crib where Robbie lay sleeping, “is our son, Robert.”

She looked at him sorrowfully for a moment before turning to face me.

“Where were you, then, when Albus and I were living together?” she asked me.

“We were married six months ago, but I slipped into a coma for four months. Some family friends tended to me, and I recovered there. I had heard that you and Albus were living together, and I was angry at both of you. About two weeks ago, I felt that I could no longer impose upon my friends’ hospitality, and I relocated to a house I own. Two nights ago, I went into labour – alone – and Fawkes brought me to the Hospital Wing, where Poppy delivered Robbie. Albus and I reconciled just after Robert’s birth.”

Galatea’s face had regained some of its colour, but she still looked shocked. She positioned herself so she could face both of us, and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you were married? And why wasn’t your marriage announced?”

Albus took my hand and replied, “I felt guilty about getting Minerva pregnant, and bringing both her and Robert into a life where they were constantly in danger from my enemies. In order to prevent any harm from coming to them, we performed a Fidelius Charm on our wedding bands,” here he tapped our rings with his wand, making them visible to Galatea. Continuing with his response, he added, “It was my fault that Minerva entered a coma, and I felt so guilty. That’s why I started our affair – I did not want her to feel obligated to forgive me my errors because of our marriage or our son. I tried to rationalise cheating on her with the comforting thought that she would not be a target for me if she no longer wanted to be my liability. I’m sorry, Galatea,” he ended, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. Galatea stood up from the armchair and wiped away the few tears that had trickled down her face.

“That’s all right, Albus,” she told him, releasing his hand, “I understand.” She turned to me and took my hand in her grasp, patting the back of it. “You are a very lucky woman, Minerva. I’m sorry for all of the pain and grief I have caused you. I hope that one day you can forgive me.”

I embraced her, whispering, “I forgive you,” before releasing her.

“Goodbye, Albus,” she said, giving him a brief peck on the cheek, which he returned before replying, “Goodbye, Galatea. I am sorry.” She nodded before moving towards the portrait hole.

“Galatea!” Albus called suddenly, “don’t you want your gifts?” He gestured to the packages she had brought to his rooms.

“No, Albus, they are for you. They have no use to me.” Before she turned back to the door, she looked at us and said, “Goodbye – and Happy Christmas.”

Later that evening, after Robert was asleep for the night, Albus and I sat cuddled in front of the fire.

“Are you sorry that you had to end your relationship with Galatea?” I asked him.

He paused a moment before responding, “I’m sorry to have hurt her, and you, of course, but I am not at all sorry that you are giving me a second chance to start a life with you.”

I snuggled closer to him.

“I love you, Albus.”

“And I love you, Minerva, I love you.”

THE END

[tartanmin]

fantastic, a long time ago I checked this story so I wasn't dissapoited at all..
really good

[Mandy McGonagall-Dumbledore]

I love it! A little bit dissapointed of Albus but happy that it was a happy ending!