The Bombshell

[mariamcgonagall]

I came home to our quarters one day with news. i hadn't decided whether it was bad news or good news. I was going to let my husband of 25 years, Albus Dumbledore, decide.

I found him in his study.

I made my approach.

As soon as he saw my face he could see that something was troubling me. Bless him, he's such a good man and husband. And he's mine!

"Minerva, dear, what is the problem?"

"Oh, Albus, please don't hate me!" I cried. He took me in his arms, and I could feel the rumble of his words on my face agianst his chest.

"Darling, you know I could never hate you, thats impossible. Now tell me what the problem is my dear. I promise you whatever it is, we shall work through it, together." He soothed me.

"Ok, well, you see...... I'm.......I-I uhm........I'm... Uh, Pregnant, Albus." I choked out my words.

"Oh! My dear! How very lovely!"

"Lovely? you really think so? Oh, Albus. I love you!"

"As I love you, my dear."

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A/N- Let me know what you think!

[mariamcgonagall]

A/N- I'm so eager! Once I started,I had to go on!
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"Minerva, do stop fidgeting. I know you are nervous about our wonderful news being revealed today, but it will be fine. I promise, my pet."

"I'm sorry, Albus, I'm just so nervous! I'm not exactally a spring chicken. Do you think I'm too old to be a first time mother?" I asked.

"Nonsense, dear, age is just a number. This is the wizardring world, after all. Things are different here, you know that." He replied.

"Well, why don't we get this over with? I see no sense in prolonging my misery." I reasoned.

"Yes, I suppose you are right my dear." he said. We entered the staff room to see it packed with teachers of various subjects from History of Magic to Herbology.

Albus spoke.

"Hello, fellow professors! My lovely wife and I have some pleasant news for you all!" Albus boomed above the chatter. The room went instantly silent. "Ah, yes, thank you for quieting down! Now, onward! It seems that my lovely wife, here, is expecting our first child! We found out a week ago. She is currently eight weeks along. Meaning, if my calculations are correct, our child's birthday should be around February 18th." Following his seemingly endless monolouge, was an earsplitting silence. I knew what they were thinking, 'They still have sex?! And they forgot the contraceptives this time! Old Codger's finally gotten the forgetfulness!'

After what seemed like and endless silence, someone spoke up.

"Congratulations!" squeaked tiny professor Flitwick.

"Thank you very much Filius." I said. After that, muted congratulations went around the room. Madame Pomfrey spoke to me.

"Minerva, dear have you been properly examined?" she asked kindly, with a sweet smile.

"No Poppy, regrettably I haven't. I was hoping to set something up with you." I told her.

"Well, in that case, come with me, my dear, I have time, assuming there are no more pressing cases waiting for me in the hospital wing." She replied. I felt everyone's eyes watching me as I left the room. I turned to Albus to bid him goodbye for now. He kissed me on the cheek and ran a soft hand over my now-pudgy midsection.

"I love you darling. Let me know how it goes, for I must return to my office. I imagine there are already post owls overrunning the place."

"I will, Albus." Poppy took my arm and led me to the hospital wing. Once we got there we went all the way to the back and through a set of doors to the back room. It was comfortably furnished with chairs and tables, with warm feeling tapestries on the walls. It had a large chaise lounge type thing in the middle of the room with a stand of medical instruments standing next to it. Poppy instructed me to sit on the lounge and lay back while she collected a few things she needed from elsewhere.

While I waited for Poppy to return, I contemplated my pregnancy. Eight weeks along. That's two months, already! That means that there are only seven left! Less than a year and I will be a mother of a child! Its hard to believe. Our marriage has always been a very happy one. We never felt like we needed something else to further our marriage, so we never had any children. This was just the result of a night of passion, the contraceptive long forgotten.

Poppy returned with what looked like a squeeze bottle, a horse shoe shaped contraption, and her wand.

"Are you and Albus excited for your first child?" she questioned.

"He is. I have mixed feelings, but I am definitely happy." I responded.

"I'm happy for you, deary." she said. "Are you ready to begin?"

"I suppose." I said.

"Okay, I will begin by casting a spell that will show you your child. But, as you are only a few weeks along, you wont see much, just a small blob. Undo your robes for me so I can see your belly" she said, and she waved her wand in several complex motions and a beam of light came from my exposed abdomen and widened into a triangle and a gray blob appeared in the middle.

"Is-Is that my baby?" I asked, dumbstruck.

She looked at me with a smile and said, "Yes, Minerva, it most definitely is your baby." She let me look for a few moments and retracted the spell. "Now, I'm going to place this" she help up the horse shoe, "against the side of your stomach. When I do so, you will be able to hear your baby's heartbeat. But first, I'm going to spread a jelly over it to help it pick up the sound from inside your womb, it will feel cold but you will adjust"

She took the squeeze bottle and went around the horse shoe-looking thing a few times with it. Then she brought it to my stomach.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "You're right! That is cold!" I chuckled. Then I heard it. The sweet sound of a new life inside me. My baby's heartbeat. Strong and vital. The sweetest music I have ever heard. I was so overwhelmed that I was barely aware of the tears trickling down my cheeks. I couldn't wait to tell Albus about this.

[tupelohoney]

Awww, Mini and Dumbles having their first child! Sweet...

[harmonydumbledore]

(squeals) More please this is wonderful!

[mariamcgonagall]

AN-okay, so I'm not sure if this is the correct way to post but I shall try! Plz keep in mind that I am using my blackberry because I don't own a computer.
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For the next few months, all eyes-to my extreme embarrassment-were on my waistline. In human society whenever someone is pregnant I believe that they are considered an anomaly, a weakness of sorts, the center of attention. I was not bred, conditioned, or accustomed to this position, so naturally I was very uncomfortable. But the idea of myself becoming a mother had grown on me in the past few weeks since "the big reveal", as I liked to refer to it. It would mean having someone other than my already childlike husband to coddle and take care of. The more my waist expanded, the more my child wormed his or her way into my heart.

After the big reveal, the morning sickness kicked in. The first time it happened it really scared me. I was so violently ill that I thought something was wrong. But I realized that I was being foolish and remembered that I'm pregnant. Albus was so supportive. He was there to hold my shoulders and and rub my back. After I was done worshiping the porcelain god, he sat with me on the floor and comforted me. I'm not used to being ill like this and any and every time I throw up, I cry. Its jus one of those things. This time was no exception.

"shhhhh, darling, it will be alright. Its just the baby. Shhhhh." he cooed.

"I'm sorry, Albus. You don't have to be here. " I told him. I was feeling guilty.

"Nonsense." he said firmly "I am the father and I am here out of my own free will. You will not be going this alone, my sweet. " he reassured me.

"I love you. "

"And I love you my dear. Feeling better now? How about some toast? You should put some nourishment in your belly. We want you to get a nice and healthy baby bump." he tweaked my nose.

I shuddered at the thought of having to gain weight.
"yes, that sounds lovely."

We walked to the Great Hall, hand in hand. When we walked through the doors, I blushed furiously. When the doors opened, every head turned in our direction. We say down at the table and I found myself suddenly ravenous. I piled my plate high with all of my favorite breakfast foods despite the looks being shot my way. I'm pregnant, they know, enough said. Albus patted my arm.

"That's the ticket, darling. We don't want you to lose out on calories due to morning sickness." I said nothing to this, in fear I might say something I would regret later. Great, mood swings.



For the next few months things continued this way. I would wake up, drink some tea, promptly run to the lavatory to expel it from my stomach, and we would go to breakfast where I would gorge myself just to please my husband and the child inside me. On occasion I would go to the restroom to throw up once more, but most days my child was thankfully obliging.

So at this point I am 5 months along. My girth has already increased but, at this point I have been packing it on a bit heavier. My belly is very rounded. I look like I am carrying a partially deflated beach ball under my cloaks. Albus has taken to talking to my belly and reading to it. His favorite selection is Hogwarts, a History.

My appointments with Madame Pomfrey have been going rather well, the blob I first saw growing with alarming speed and slowly turning into a visible baby. She pokes and prods me every 2 weeks and I find it very uncomfortable. But, the birth will be worse. I have to say I am very scared to give birth, but I know Albus will be there next to me supporting me and coaching me through contractions. He's such a devoted husband. It makes up for his many quirks.

[harmonydumbledore]

(He's such a devoted husband. It makes up for his many quirks. )

It does doesn't it? XD Great chapter and I feel for Minerva.
This all sounds very believable about her thoughts and fears of being a first time mother.

[mariamcgonagall]

Thank you! You brought a smile to my face!

[mariamcgonagall]

I may be pregnant, but my life goes on. Especially when a certain rival house messes with my gryffindors' brooms. I went to their Head of House's private rooms to give him a piece of my mind, however hormone-drenched it may be at the moment. I knocked on his door and crossed my arms, waiting furiously. I have always been considerably protective of my Gryffindors but I think that my impending motherhood has changed that. For the worst in the Slytherins' Head of House. He opened the door and invited me in.

"Severus Snape!" I yelled angrily.

"Yes, Minerva?" he drawled.

"Your Slytherins keep upping the stakes!" I screamed.

" I'm sorry, I think I will need you to clarify for me. " he said sarcastically.

"Your Slytherins have hexed my Gryffindor's brooms! Its a damn good thing I went to check their storeroom at the Pitch or they could have gotten seriously injured!" I screamed.

" I'm sorry, Minerva. I will punish the accordingly and remove house points. I am deeply sorry for your trouble and added stress." he lamented. I felt guilty for giving him such a tounge lashing.

" I'm sorry ,Severus. Its just-"

"Hormones, yes I know. I believe the reason is readily apparent. " he drawled.

" Again, I'm very sorry for my out of character behavior. If you will- AHH!" I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my abdomen, and I doubled over in pain. Severus was at my side in a moment.

"Minerva? Minerva?! What's wrong? Here, lie down and I will fetch Poppy and Albus." He guided me to the couch and helped me to lie down. I brought my knees up a far as they would go with my stomach being so large and waited for the extreme pain to pass. When it did, I saw Severus walking over to the fireplace and throw some floo powder in.

"Hogwarts, Hospital Wing!"
He called. Then Poppy's head was floating in the fireplace.

"Yes, Severus?" she asked kindly.

"Minerva is in my quarters and something is badly wrong with her pregnancy. I need you here immediately!" he said, rather loudly. Within seconds, Poppy Pomfrey was in the room and hurrying towards me with her infamous medical bag.
Then I heard him calling for Albus.

"Tell me what you are feeling, Minerva." she said as she pushed and prodded on my large pregnant belly.

"I was just talking to Severus about my Gryffindor's hexed broomsticks when I felt- ohhhhhh!" I was cut off mid-sentence by another stabbing pain. This was when Albus made his entrance. He hurried over to me and picked up my hand off of my belly.

"What's happened, Poppy?" he asked urgently. Poppy chose then to squeeze my belly painfully tight.

"AHHHHHH! What was that for?!" I asked angrily.
"I needed to make sure that I came to the right conclusion." she said vaugely.

"Which is.....?" Severus, of all people, prompted.

"Just some pre-labor contractions. Nothing more. But I do need all the men in the room to turn around for a moment." they obliged, too scared to ask why. I was mortified with the answer. She was reaching under my robes and felt inside me. Why, I had no idea.

"I'm checking to see if you have dialated any, dear." she answered, as if she read my mind.

"Okay, you may turn around now." she said when she had me readjusted. "It seems your little witch or wizard-to-be is just a tad eager to arrive. You are not dialated, Minerva, which proves my diagnosis. Just some Braxton-Hicks contractions, as muggles like to call them. While it may be frightening, it just means that your body is getting ready to give birth. You are how many weeks, now?" she asked.

"34." I answered.

"That puts you at about 8 months. Ah, yes, well, proves my point even more! Now," she pulled a few vials. One was black, one was gold, and one was red. "This," she held up the red," is a mild muscle relaxer. It should
Stop the contractions. I'd it doesn't, come see me IMMEDIATELY. I cannot stress this enough. While pre-labor contractions are just that, pre, they can lead to full blown labor if not addressed. This one here" she held up the gold, "is a calming draught. I could see that you were a little flustered earlier, but don't worry deary," she patted my hand that was left resting on my ample belly, "any mother would be." she said with a smile. "And last but not least, a dreamless sleep potion." She watched as I downed them all with a disgusted grimace on my face. Severus, thankfully, handed me a goblet of water.

"Now, the calming draught and the dreamless sleep will result in a decrease in fetal movements but do not be alarmed, they should pick right back up if a day or so. The baby has been quite active, am I correct?"

"Oh yes, sometimes it keeps me awake at night." I said.

"That's quite normal I assure you." she said with a smile. "I shall leave you now, to go back to your quarters. No physical exertion! Not at this stage in your pregnancy. You need to be resting."

"I will keep an eye on her Poppy. " Albus said.

Poppy made towards the fireplace. "Good day, everyone"

[McGonagallsGirl]

it gets better and better

[mercifulheavens]

Lovely story! Wonderful for a first attempt at fanfiction=)

I look forward to your next update, but am willing to be patient.

~Merci

[minervammcg]

This was great!! Keep up the excellent work!

[harmonydumbledore]

Yes this is wonderful and we need more of it.

Just like a McGonagall-Dumbledore to want to come early instead of late. XD

[gem]

Very sweet. Albus is so devoted and Minerva and Snape so in character. This is priceless. Keep it up.

[ginevrahermione]

OOH! A pregnancy fic, yay! LOVE SNAPE, especially the bit about hormones. That line is brilliant. This is priceless, gem is completely right.

[Rosemary Dumbledore McGonagall]

Keep this up dear! It's fantastic!

[minnie313]

aaaaaaaaaargh!!! why haven't I found this before???

Your fic is really very good, especially for a first attempt... I was looking for something I still hadn't read... and I found your fic... it made my day!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Just one more thing: just finiiiiiiiiish iiiiiiiiiiiiiit, pleeaaeeaeaeaease!!!!

[scotswoman1010]

Excellent characterization, great first attempt!!!

[mariamcgonagall]

When Albus said he would watch me, he meant it. I have not been allowed to fetch so much as a book or even pick it up. But I took Poppy's words to heart, not for me, but for my baby. That's so frightening, a baby. One that's all mine and that Albus and I are responsible for. Speaking of the baby, its still been growing like it should despite my wish for it to stop. I don't think I can get any bigger. I've been making frequent trips to Madame Malkin's to get my robes adjusted. And I've started craving things again. This time it wasn't just breakfast food, but strange things like pickles and tinned tuna fish. Albus has been very obliging in fetching me all of my wants and needs. Lately, he's been having to help me out of my chair.
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The baby is due tomorrow and I couldn't be more afraid. I am so scared to give birth I Think I would rather stay pregnant forever. Im scared of the pain and Im scared that Albus wont be there for me, though I know that is irrational. He will be there when the baby decides to come. Which could be any time. Poppy will be delivering the baby barring any unforseen complications. Im going to give birth at Hogwarts in my own bed so that I can be somewhat comfortable. I dont feel like making a spectacle of myself at St. Mungo's.

[harmonydumbledore]

THE BABY IS COMING!!

[Rosemary Dumbledore McGonagall]

Can't wait! And I'm in slight agreeance with my sister!

[mariamcgonagall]

I was in my 3rd period advance transfiguration class when I felt the first contractions. They were mild at first and I kept my composure so the students wouldn't notice anything. Although once I did make a sound and half the class looked up at me and my face turned red as a tomato and smiled at them. Then I returned to my work. By lunch time they were getting closer and closer together and increasingly painful. I skipped lunch and I knew that was a mistake but I didn't really care because the contractions were getting signifiacantly worse. I needed to lie down but I couldn't because I had classes.

I sat through the next two short periods but by then I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to lay down, get into a hot bath, or something. The pains were getting really strong. I decided to creep out of my office into the hall and make my way to my rooms but I had to stop a few times because of a particularly strong contraction.
"Oh!"
"Minerva?" It was Severus Snape. "What on earth...?"
"Oh!" I yelled again and I doubled over as far as my belly allowed and supported myself on the stone wall. I managed to speak. "Y..yes Severus?"
"Are you alright Minerva?"
"Severus, I think....I think Im in labor."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" He said rather tentatively.
"Please, just help me to my rooms."
"But shouldn't you be seeing Poppy?" He said.
"She's coming to see me today anyway. I'll just wait until she comes. Oh!!!"
"Come on then, lets go." He said quite acerbically.



After Severus got me to my rooms I lay on my bed and rode out contractions until Poppy came.
"Hello? Minerva?"
"In...here." I said in the middle of a contraction. She came into the room with a dismayed look on her face.
"Oh, Minerva, why didn't you summon me? I could have been here sooner!"
"You were coming anyway, why waste your time?"
"Oh. Silly girl! How long have you been contracting?" She said as she pushed and prodded on my belly.
"Probably 3 or 4 hours." I said with a sheepish look on my face.
"Alright, let me see how far along you are." She then examined me and after I had a contraction.
"Minerva, look at me, breathe," And I did.
"Ill be back in a few hours and Im going to summon Albus as well. He should be here shortly."
"Thank you Poppy."




Albus came a few moments later and stayed with me for hours. He stayed through the screaming, the cursing and the yelling. He's such a wonderful man. And he didnt stop holding my hand for a moment. He coached me with my breathing and he massaged my back when it hurt.


"Just one more push, the head is out!" said Poppy over my yelling.
"AHHHH! NNNNRGGGGGHH!" I yelled as I pushed. Then I heard a cry that wasn't my own. It sounded small and girlish.
"Your baby's here Minerva! Look at her! She's beautiful!" Poppy said.
She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen with lots of fair hair and when she opened her eyes, I'd like to think that they'd be blue, like her father's.

[Rosemary Dumbledore McGonagall]

Awwhhhh! Trust mum to teach during labour huh Harmony?! *chuckles* Is this really your first? Nice!

[Mandy McGonagall-Dumbledore]

Awww how cute!!