Little Demi-God

[HappyReader]

Had this idea in my head for some time; hopefully it'll become more than just a cookie...

After receiving heartfelt congratulations from the midwife as well as his close friend Poppy Pomfrey, and after fervently thanking her and seeing to her departure, Albus Dumbledore quickly strode to the master bedroom of his home. Upon the king-sized bed lay a woman propped up against the headboard, in her arms a precious bundle.
Despite the fatigue caused by 6 hours of labour fierce pride shone on Minerva’s face as she looked from their son to him.
“Oh Albus, he’s perfect.”
His only response was a silly, lopsided grin and a kiss to her cheek. Minerva shifted slightly on the bed as Albus sat beside her, his arms encircling his family for the very first time.
“Well, what shall we name our little demi-god?” he asked excitedly, unable to resist poking a dig at her. Right now Albus’ heart felt so light that at any moment he would float away.
Minerva arched a questioning eyebrow at him, a wide smile on her face to match his.
“‘Demi-god’?”
“What else would you call the son of a goddess and a mortal man?”
Her smile disappeared. “Oh no. No. Albus please tell me you aren’t mad enough to consider naming him after one of the Roman heroes on account of my ruddy ridiculous ‘divine’ name.”
“Tsk tsk tsk my dear, I’m surprised at you. Has the experience of being married to me taught you nothing? Of course I am mad enough to consider it. But see, this poses quite a problem. As a goddess Minerva was well known for being, er, chaste, and as such she never had any offspring for our boy to be named after.”
Stony silence.
“But,” Albus continued, oblivious to her unsmiling face as he twirled his beard animatedly, “we could always name him ‘Ulysses’. I always thought Minerva was rather excessively fond of that wily old fox if you know what I--”
“I don’t think we’ll name you just yet dear one,” she said to the baby in a raised voice to cut off Albus, “but by tomorrow’s sunset I promise you will be.” A stern look to her husband. “And hopefully by then your father would have gathered his wits and stopped being silly.”
When Albus mouthed ‘Fat chance!’ to her Minerva laughed and kissed him firmly.

[Catwoman99]

;D Very cute!! I loved Albus calling their child a demi-god. Good idea on your part and I do hope you continue this. I'm curious as to what they name their son now.

-April

[Jestana]

*giggle* Whee! Very cute idea and I hope you do continue the cookie

[TabbyForever]

Awww cute...i wanna know what they call him now!!!
ummm could be interesting!!!
Tabs

[griseldalafey]

Aww... so sweet. ;D I'm all floopy now. Lovely story.

[HappyReader]

Thanks to you guys who give me encouragement. Here's the next part. Enjoy!

He rose in the dark, carefully so as not to wake the sleeping woman curled around him. The chill of the night hit him profoundly, which was not surprising considering his state of dress or lack thereof. Briefly he considered remaining where he was, beneath the warm bed sheets, blankets and most promising of all, beside the even warmer form laying in it. But his interest and excitement would give him no rest so he crept out of bed and donned his dressing gown.
When he disentangled himself from the cosy arms around him, sleepy murmurs of protest emitted from the lump under the quilt and he smiled at memories of the last three hours. It would seem that he was not the only one who missed a certain type of intimacy that had been absent from their marriage for the past two months, nor was he the only one who appreciated the urgency for it.
But she didn’t wake when he slipped from her arms and duly so, exhausted as she was. The man scolded himself for wearing her out especially considering her recent ordeal. A final kiss to her forehead and he left to enquire the status of the newest member of his family.
Fawkes trilled a gentle greeting as he strode into his son’s nursery. The phoenix was perched nearby the crib on top of a tallboy; he was just above it allowing the dark beady eyes to keep careful watch over his son.
“Good evening to you too Fawkes,” Albus walked over to his familiar. “All’s well here?”
He laughed as Fawkes ruffled his feathers arrogantly.
“Of course they are. Would you care for a sherbet lemon?” He pulled out a white paper bag from his pocket and offered it to Fawkes. The phoenix used his beak to retrieve a tarty sweet and chirped his thanks. Albus returned the bag into his dressing gown pocket.
“You have been my faithful companion for many years now Fawkes,” Albus’ whispered to the snacking phoenix in the dark, “and over those years you have guided and protected me as well as offer me your unending loyalty. And numerous tail feathers too.” He added as an afterthought. Wizard and phoenix shared a quiet laugh and an amused chirp before Albus became solemn. “I realise what I am about to request will perhaps be asking too much of you and consequently I won’t begrudge you for declining. Fawkes, would you be willing to extend your patronage over my family too?”
In response the mystical bird-like creature spread his wings to their full length, raise his crested head and sang a clear joyful note; the reddish-gold feathers gleamed in the darkness while pleasant warmth began to emanate from the phoenix.
Albus smiled and running his fingers over the beautiful scarlet wings in appreciation, he moved his head slightly downward allowing Fawkes to rub his head against his cheek and beard
“Thank you my friend, thank you. You have my utmost gratitude.”
It was favourable that Fawkes had immediately taken to the newest member of his ‘brood’. In fact you could say that the phoenix had taken the boy under his wing (bad pun, Albus, simply awful…). He moved to gaze into the cradle.
As with any infant’s cot, an assortment of cute and fluffy stuff toys littered among the soft blankets. ‘Assortment’ being an apt description; a stuffed lion sat directly above the baby’s head (a present from his mother) and beside it was a plushie version of Fawkes (from his father). There was also a furry golden Snitch (from Minerva’s good friend Rolanda Hooch), a traditional teddy bear (from his godparents the Flamels) and a last, but not least, a fuzzy and rather grumpy looking…goat (from his Uncle Aberforth).
Albus smiled as he reflected upon the last gift.
Around mid May of 1946, out of familial duty Albus sent his brother and only sibling a correspondence informing Aberforth of his good fortune and marital status. Aberforth never replied and Albus was neither surprised nor slighted. As children Albus noted that Aberforth took after their maternal grandfather Walter Jabez Churle, a short tempered and boorish muggle who had lived alone in a decrepit farmhouse around Sussex way, and as such Albus was inclined to think his brother was a misanthrope. But there was another reason why he didn’t think Aberforth responded: he would never breathe of this to anyone, but Albus had uncomfortable suspicion that his brother was barely literate.
Despite the communication predicament, Fawkes somehow was able to get the message across to his brother of his son’s birth, because an hour after the delivery the phoenix appeared in the master bedroom clutching the stuffed toy goat from Aberforth and a note bearing the syllables ‘KON-GRAT-CHOO-LAY-SHUNS’.
The baby stirred; he seemed to have been born with unusual awareness for an infant. He knew someone was watching him and judging the way the little face was glaring he didn’t like people doing so.
“It’s well past your bedtime, young man,” Albus chided softly in his authoritative ‘Professor’ tone, “why are you still awake, hmmn?”
He laughed at the responding gurgle and his long fingered hands reached for the baby. He was careful to support the tiny body against his chest so that his son’s head was pillowed by his beard.
He observed his son as a lion might his cub: certainly not without pride. While searching for any qualities inherited from him or Minerva, the possible strengths, weaknesses and differences, he also wondered as to what his son’s personality may be when he grew older or what he might achieve once he reached manhood. With each heady thought Albus’s pride grew.
Albus ran a finger through the dark fuzz on the baby’s crown and was not surprised that his son had black hair. He understood enough of human heredity to know that Minerva’s dark features would be dominant in any of their offspring. However he was pleasantly surprised the first time he looked into his son’s eyes: they were of the same shade of blue as his own. And despite Minerva's witticism about how her newborn son thankfully did not inherit his father’s crooked nose, his baby boy did have the long nose typical of the Dumbledores.
The little frown twitched and suddenly his son was smiling at him! Albus’ heart swelled because, sweet Merlin, it was the very same smile as his mother. Immediately he knew that his fate had been sealed; much like his Minerva, this child would have a hold upon him all on account of a simple smile.
“Just imagine what your Chocolate Frog Card would say about you, son. ‘Famous for his defeat of his father Albus Dumbledore before he could walk and talk!’” he chuckled as he lovingly placed a kiss upon the baby’s forehead. The frown returned; he didn’t seem to appreciate the whiskery kiss from his father.

[punurple]

I love it! The little Demi-god is so cute and it is a wonderful nickname. I still don't know what they named him though!

punpun

[HappyReader]

*drumroll* And their son's name is...read it to find out!

For several blissful minutes the great wizard stood in the dark cradling his baby son to him. He had been upon the earth for 89 years -not even middle age for a wizard of his calibre!- and had accomplished great many deeds; from countless academic achievements to being bestowed the Headship of the most prestigious wizarding school in the world; attaining several prestigious titles (the most prominent being ‘The Order of Merlin, First Class’) to pioneering wizarding technology as an Alchemist and finally emerging as the hero that ended the last Great War in 1945.
But right now, at this very moment, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore felt that he had completed a full circle with his life and that in his arms he held his greatest achievement.
The moment Albus moved to place his son back into his crib the small face screwed up and the tiny mouth opened. The wail that followed was remarkably loud considering how small a newborn’s lungs are.
“No, don’t start crying little one,” Albus began anxiously, lifting the baby back towards him. He looked momentarily at Fawkes, as if beseeching the phoenix to help him calm the keening infant. “Please don’t or your father will start crying too…”
After several unsuccessful attempts to soothe the infant, Albus thought it would be best to take his son back with him to the master bedroom because the thought of leaving his child crying was disagreeable to him. Besides, he was sure his wife wouldn’t mind and would most likely welcome the idea.
“Oh alright then, what’s say we go to your mother in our room? Perhaps she can send you back to sleep by singing you a lullaby. I’d like to do so myself, but I’m afraid your father is quite tone deaf and would probably give you more reason to cry.”
Turning to the door, Albus suddenly stopped. A slim figure was leaning against the door jamb, her hair loose about her shoulders and tousled from sleep. There was a curve of a smile on her lips; she must have heard and seen the exchange between father and son.
“Your son is a tyrant,” Albus informed his wife with a smile. Minerva chuckled low in her throat.
“Hardly that Albus. But he is manipulative.” She slowly walked towards them both while loosely tying her dressing gown so that a considerable amount of cleavage was visible. “I believe he gets that from his father’s side of the family.”
A prolonged semi-glare in her direction, an adjustment of his own dressing gown below his waist and a shifting of his son higher up towards his chest was Albus’ only response.
“On second thought my boy, we’ll stay here,” he murmured softly in the baby’s ear conspiratorially, “your mother is in one of her moods again.”
Minerva chuckled again and outstretched her arms for their child. Albus reluctantly complied, gently moving the tiny body into her waiting arms while being amazed to no end that such a little thing had mass. Really, his hand could almost span the entire length of the baby.
Albus smiled at the sight of his family before him. He was almost fit to burst with pride as he looked on, a beautiful dark haired woman holding her dark haired child. His wife and their son.
They heard the chime of the grandfather clock downstairs heralding the time. It was 12:00 am; sunrise or not, it was the start of a new day.
“Well,” said Albus as he placed an arm around her waist, “it is ‘tomorrow’ now and our son is still nameless. Have you made your decision my dear?”
“I have. But are you certain that you want me to choose all the names Albus?”
Albus’ blue eyes twinkled. “Quite certain, love. I’m very much aware that you have been planning the names for the last nine months and so I would not dream of ruining your painstakingly decided choices.”
Even in the semi-dimness he could see his Minerva flush crimson.
“It was not the last nine months,” she said slightly defensive, “I began my planning shortly before we…well you know when.”
It was Albus’ turn to chuckle. “Practically from the start of our marriage then. But so long as we are agreed on no atrocious names.”
“No atrocious names,” Minerva acquiesced. They both shuddered, thinking of their own names and the constant jibes that caused them grief because of it. Together they stood resolute that their child will not suffer the same fate!
“For one of the middle names I wish to have ‘Alexander’, in honour of my paternal grandfather. Though he was a muggle he was surprisingly tolerant of the magical world to the point of actually wanting to be part of it. I looked up to him greatly.”
“Your grandfather?” Albus said thoughtfully. “Yes, that’s acceptable. I too was rather fond of my muggle grandfather. However crotchety or heavy handed he was.”
“Then you are sure you would not mind if you were to name our little demi-god,” Albus smiled when she used ‘little demi-god’; it was a pet name that was sure to stay, “after him?”
“Well I don’t know now. Would I be imposing upon your pedantic decisions then?” he teased.
“No Albus,” she responded dryly, “it was always part of my thoroughly laid out plan. Now enough of your teasing. Do you consent?”
“You always have my consent Minerva darling,” his smile turned wicked and he started wiggling his brows at her suggestively. “Oh and for the name too.”
Blushing even more, she returned his playful manner with a light slap to the arm. “Rogue. Are you absolutely certain?”
“Yes I am, so ‘Walter’ shall be his other middle name.”
“‘Walter Alexander’. Wonderful. Now for his first name--”
“How about ‘Ulysses’?” Her husband offered mischievously as he tickled his son’s chin. Albus’s eyes were twinkling merrily away.
“Whatever happened to ‘no atrocious names’?”
“Oh. That’s right. But perhaps as a middle name? My dear, you must admit it’s very fitting. The hero Ulysses was a favourite of the goddess Minerva.”
Minerva sighed and kissed the little face looking up curiously at the two of them.
“Never mind your father dear one, he means you well even if he is a mad old bee.”
Albus smiled and prompted her. “Now for his first name?”
“‘Virgil’,” she whispered softly after a time. Rasing her gaze from the baby to her husband, Minerva added, “I’ve always been partial to that name. Do you like it?”
“That’s perfect,” he whispered back and before capturing her lips for a kiss Albus added, “and so are you.”
It was decided that their son was to be named Virgil Walter Alexander Ulysses Dumbledore, later to be nicknamed ‘Gil’ by his parents. But due to a poor sighted clerk at the Ministry of Magic and Albus’s ridiculously loopy penmanship, the name ‘Virgilus’ was recorded upon the birth certificate instead of ‘Virgil’. Though at first bothered by the error, Minerva thought it charming and left the name as it was.

I hope you're not too disappointed with the choices.

[TabbyForever]

Well there very unnusual but not unplesent...
Well done, you've done us proud with them.
Loved the story....i was half expecting him to be james though....ummmm....i think thats just my wishful thinking that JKR will change her mind and have harry related to AD/MM!!!hehehe
Tabs

[Sensiblyquirky]

I loved this fic! Very nicely done, and I liked the name. I had a nice laugh at "Virgilus."

Good Job,

Christy

[punurple]

Haha! I loved that last little bit!

But due to a poor sighted clerk at the Ministry of Magic and Albus’s ridiculously loopy penmanship, the name ‘Virgilus’ was recorded upon the birth certificate instead of ‘Virgil’. Though at first bothered by the error, Minerva thought it charming and left the name as it was.

I can just see her getting mad at Albus! I'm just happy to find out what the baby's name is! Wonderful job.

punpun

[Miss Q]

I absolutely LOVE this story!!!

M (who tend to forget her password!)

[Nerweniel]

Oh dear... GREAT ending... I can just see Min scolding Albus because of the name mistake ... SUPERB!!!

Love,

Liz

[Catwoman99]

What a great ending! I loved the name. Darn Albus' loopy penmanship! :-)

Bravo!

-April :-)

[TartanPhoenix]

I loved this story. I laughed so hard at the end. I can't image having to go through life with a name like Virgilus. Perhaps Albus should just invest in a typewriter. Great story.

[HappyReader]

More from the 'demi-god' universe...

'Sweets'

The man sat in shock. On the table before him were mounds of sweets, his comfort food. He’d been sitting here for three hours since hearing the news.
“Why? Why did it have to happen? Why our son? Why Gil?”
He clutched the frame holding a picture of a smiling young boy tighter in his arms as his wife patted his shoulders in a half-hearted consoling way.
“Where did I go wrong?
She made soothing sounds as she rolled her eyes.
“What can I do to make it right?”
Okay, now this was getting silly.
“Albus, you’ll just have to accept that Gil doesn’t like sherbet lemons. Or ‘Fizzing Whizz-Bees’. Or ‘Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans’. Or any other type of sweets for that matter.”
Hearing the sad, awful truth Albus covered his face and began sobbing.
“I-I think I need a sherbet lemon…” he sniffled, his voice breaking with emotion. Staring at the weeping man besider her, Minerva’s heart was sudddenly filled with pity and she offered him an extra large sweets bag.

[ginger newts]

*falls off the bed laughing*

I love it! For a second there I thought you did something painful and mean to them, whew. Poor Albus, nobody wants his sherbet lemons.

BTW, did I mention that I LOVE the line under your pic? "I wear the pants." So short, so perfect, so Minerva.

[TabbyForever]

Hehehehehe nice little ending there!!!
He doesn't have his dads sweet tooth!!!!heheheheehe
Like it, very much!!!!
Tabs

[JKMcGonagall]

I like the names you gave him. I'm also glad his parents decided to call him Gil. Virgilus...well it is different.

Kay

[Mellypoo622]

Aw! I loved the names! This story was too cute! Great job!

[rogue]

That little snippet was so funny. I thought the story was very cute actually.

[amandahleigh]

Hey, I might not want my kid to be named Virgilus, but if it works for them than that's o-kay!

[foci]

Cute story, more, more, more!

[ismaco]

I loved your story!!
Keep writing please... we need more!!

[zoeteproet]

The ending about the sweets was just great!
Well, actually I like the whole story. ;D
Albus is so funny, especially when he talks with his son.
Don't start crying, otherwise your father will start crying too.
And, as I said before, I feel bad for Albus that his son doesn't like Sherbet Lemons or other sweets.
Love,
Sarah xx

[Drake]

GASP! Sacrilege!

A Dumbledore that doesnt like sweets!

That's just horrible!