What Comes From the Unexpected

Chapter Three: Boggarts and Sherbert Lemons

For the next eleven days, Albus Dumbledore had given Minerva a small gift for each day until Christmas. Minerva had particularly enjoyed the seven swans a- swimming, as they were very captivating. At least to her they were.

To Minerva's great surprise, the students had not asked too many questions about the children within her after Dumbledore's rather unexpected announcement. They seemed to be more studious to her actually. It was almost unnatural for them to all of a sudden to be dedicated to their schoolwork. Minerva did not want to ask questions about it though. She preferred not to diminish this new enthusiasm of doing school work for her or any of the other teachers for that matter. She preferred to let it last as long as it could.

Christmas had gone by as a joyous event for Minerva and Albus. They had exchanged small gifts with each other. Albus had received wool socks from Minerva, as he always said that one could never have enough pairs of socks. She'd also given him another tin of sherbert lemons. Albus had given Minerva small things, which were for the babies, such as soft alpaca wool blankets. The last gift he'd given her, though, was by far the most special. She could not believe it when she saw it. She gasped when she opened the small parcel.

"Oh, Albus, it's beautiful," she said taking the brooch in her small, thin hands.

"As are you, my dear," Albus replied.

The brooch he'd given her was a deep sapphire set in white gold with small diamonds surrounding it. She stood up and went to the full length body mirror and watched herself as she fastened it to the collar of her inner robes. She went back to Dumbledore and embraced him tightly. "Thank you, Albus. This has been my most memorable Christmas in a long time." She brought her arms up around his neck and kissed him deeply. "I love you."

"And I you, my darling," he said returning her kiss.

The next few months passed with out any other unexpected surprises. The students still were as studious as ever, for which Minerva was grateful. Her belly had begun to protrude quite as it would when one is carrying two babies instead of one. Often, she had to recruit a student to stay behind after class to help her carry a stack of papers or books back to her office. Some students though, such as Elizabeth O'Brien, a third-year Gryffindor, would voluntarily offer to carry the books for her. This was exactly who was carrying books fir Minerva now, as they walked to her office. They had a particularly long walk--all the way from the north end of the castle to the south end. Minerva never really quite understood why her office was so far away from her classroom.

Elizabeth looked as though she might collapse from the weight of the books Minerva had given her along with the weight her own school books, which were slung over her shoulder in her school bag. The girl was so skinny it looked as though she would snap in half from the weight. Minerva looked over at the frail girl to her right.

"Miss O'Brien is that too much for you carry?" she inquired as they kept walking slowly. Minerva had quite a stack of papers and a few books in her arms as well. "Would you like me to take something from you?"

"No, no, Professor," Elizabeth puffed out. She shifted the books into her other arm. "I've got them. I just had to shift them to my other arm. I fine now." The girl still looked as though she might collapse at any given moment.

"Are you sure, Miss O'Brien?"

"Yes, Professor."

After that, they walked in silence. If truth be told, Elizabeth happened to be one of Minerva's favorite students. She knew that she shouldn't allow herself to have favorites, but with Elizabeth it was different. It was not just because she was outstandingly intelligent, but more was that she cared about her schoolwork and did not allow herself to become distracted by petty things such as crushes on boys and things. She had always had a book in hand. Sometimes during her lessons, Minerva had caught her reading before class had ended. It was quite amazing since Minerva gave tremendous amounts of homework at times.

Minerva did worry about the girl more than she needed to at times, but it wasn't always unnecessary, as many of her classmates would tease her. Mostly it was because she volunteered to help Minerva but also because she was a bookworm, so to speak. Minerva had also noticed how some of the boys in her year tried to throw themselves at her and sometimes in inappropriate ways. She often had to break up anything the boys had tried to do to her as she walked in the corridor to her classes. They often tried to press themselves against her and in doing so they would find themselves in detention so fast they could not even say Quidditch.

Minerva could easily see why the boys would throw themselves at her though. She was a very beautiful girl--young woman Minerva had to chide herself. Elizabeth was completely oblivious to this of course, though many others were not. She was shorter than most of the other girls, including many of the first and second-girls. The skin on her frail body was pulled so tight that it looked painful. Her complexion was so fair that you could see the veins and arteries through her translucent skin. She had long golden brown hair that reached her waist and wide yellow ochre eyes that would be coveted by anyone. She always had a book in her hand and would read during mealtimes. Minerva had picked up her habits so easily as she was constantly looking out for the poor girl.

Minerva had once asked what Elizabeth had been reading when she caught her reading it underneath the table during after one of her lectures and let the students work on the essays she'd assigned earlier in the week. Elizabeth had proudly held up the book for Minerva to see. The title read, The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Minerva had not recognized the title and inquired about it.

"It's a Muggle book," Elizabeth had told her. "I'm a Muggle-born and I asked my mum if she could send me some more reading material. I've read all the books in the library except for in the restricted section.

"Ah, I see. You're finished with your essay I presume, then, if you're reading a book under the table?"

"Yes, Professor," she replied. Professor McGonagall had easily become her favorite teacher next to Professor Dumbledore since she had only been teaching at Hogwarts since September. To her, Professor McGonagall had been a fair teacher and strict at time if need be, but always fair. She never quite understood, though, why her professor always tried to appear so stern when really she wasn't at all beneath her rusty exterior. Elizabeth knew first-hand that Professor McGonagall was not as stern as she appeared to be from the many times she had been called to her office to discuss the issues of her classmates and their constant teasing.

Professor McGonagall would try to get her to talk about it, but she had not been too successful. Elizabeth was a hard girl to crack open unless you knew how, which no one did, not even her mother. She showed not the slightest notion that any of the jokes and teasing bothered her. Minerva would remind her over and over that Elizabeth could come to her any time of the day and talk to her if she felt the need to. She reminded her that she would be there for her.

They reached Minerva's office and she plopped the books in her hand unceremoniously on her desk and took the ones from Elizabeth's arms as well. "Thank you, Miss O'Brien. You've saved me an extra trip." Minerva straightened her back and placed a hand one the small of her back.

"Professor, are you alright?" Elizabeth asked.

"Oh yes, it's just the normal back pains of being pregnant. It makes your back ache and drains all of your strength and energy."

"Oh," she replied subconsciously. Her eyes darted around the room as though she were terribly nervous or anxious about something. She was pulled from her trance by Minerva's firm, yet so calm voice.

"Miss O'Brien is there something you wish to tell me?"

"No, Professor," she answered.

"Then, if there is nothing, I shall not hold you any longer. Go on to lunch now before you miss it completely."

Elizabeth looked at Minerva with her wide eyes. "Aren't you coming as well, Professor? Surely, you don't want to miss lunch, either?"

"I feel that I have to straighten out these books and then I'll be down to lunch. You run along now. You needn't worry about me, I shall be down soon. Thank you, again, Miss O'Brien, for your help." She smiled at the girl, which is usually so rare for the Transfiguration professor.

"You're welcome. Professor," Elizabeth said and then left closing the door to Minerva's office behind her.

Minerva proceeded to put away the books and put them on the proper shelf in the bookcase against a wall in her office. It took her no more than a few minutes to get all the books in their proper order and on the shelves. She headed down to the Great Hall walking at brisk pace as she knew there would be two people anticipating her arrival. One would be that of her husband and the other would be Elizabeth.

She knew Elizabeth cared for her as though she were a second mother to her. In truth Minerva was like a second mother figure to all of her young Gryffindors, but none really appreciated it as much as Elizabeth. She was the one who always greeted Minerva in the morning for her Transfiguration lesson and said hello to her in the corridors on her way to her other classes. The girl had always had a smile on her face despite the way her classmates ridiculed her for her kindness and the hatred the showed her. She also had the sweetest almost girlish-like voice, which some of her classmates even teased her about. But none of it seemed to faze her in the least.

Minerva entered the Great Hall to find the students of all the Houses chatting happily as they ate their lunch. She walked casually up to the High Table between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables. Some of the older students noted her presence and tipped their heads to her. She nodded back to them. Elizabeth saw her and smiled at Minerva. Minerva mirrored her action and smiled back, which some confused and curious glances from some of the other students. Minerva took her place between Albus Dumbledore and Professor Snare, the current Potions Master.

"What kept you, my dear?" Dumbledore asked her as she began ladling herself some soup.

"I had Miss O'Brien help me carry some books back to my office and then I took the time to arrange them in their proper order before coming down," Minerva said before blowing gently on a spoonful of her soup.

"I see, and how is Miss O'Brien holding up? From what you tell me, there are a few misconceptions with her."

"Yes, the poor girl is constantly made fun of for volunteering to help me. I worry about her, too, because of those boys who try to throw themselves at her. Literally." Minerva took another spoonful of her soup and blowing on it before eating it. "There is something she is hiding Albus, I can feel it."

"Well, I am certain she will come to you if there is anything she had to tell you. We can't force it out of her, Minerva. She trusts you. I see the way she admires you."

"Yes, Albus, but I just don't want to see get hurt or anything of that sort before it's too late."

With that, they ate the rest of their meals in silence. Albus gave Minerva a quick peck on the cheek before she headed of to her afternoon classes.

For the next three months nothing out of the ordinary happened. The final Quidditch match for the Quidditch Cup was held the bright sunny afternoon of June twelfth between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Although it had been a very brutal match and the Gryffindor team losing two players during the first few minutes because being hit purposely with Bludgers, Gryffindor pulled ahead in the end and beat Slytherin 250-100. Minerva allowed her young Gryffindor to have a small victory celebration as long as they kept the noise level to a minimum. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case since it was final match for the Quidditch Cup. Gryffindor won the Cup after seven years of being out of rank for it and they were not going to have a small celebration, but one that caused Minerva to go up to the common room more than once to warn them about keeping the noise level down.

That evening she had been sitting by the fire in her overstuffed armchair, already clad in her bathrobe and had her hair unwound braided down her back, hand-knitting two blankets for her children. One yellow and one light blue. She had not hand-knitted since she was a little girl, but she felt she would do it without magic, that it was more authentic. She was finishing up the second one when Albus had come up to her rooms for a while to chat and convince her to play a short game of International with him. During the middle of their game, the noise from the Gryffindor common room had become immensely loud, giving Minerva a headache. Albus was first to mention anything because Minerva only sighed heavily.

"It seems, Minerva," he said arranging his cards in his hand to his liking, "that your young lions are getting quite out of hand."

"I am already aware of it, Albus. I've been up there twice already, warning them to quiet down. I have even threatened to take away our chances of winning the House Cup along with the Quidditch Cup, but that doesn't seem to have taken any effect on them whatsoever." She winced as she stood up. "I'll go up and straighten them out once and for all."

"Are you alright, Minerva?" Dumbledore said when he noticed her cringe a little.

"Yes, the babies are kicking, that's all," she said with her hand on her abdomen.

"Would you like me to come with you?"

"No, that's alright. It shouldn't take too long I hope," she said before taking her leave and stepping out the portrait hole concealing her chambers. All at once when she stepped out, the music the Gryffindors had been blasting away with stopped. She still decided to go up to Gryffindor Tower to make sure they had finally begun to settle down as it was after midnight. She was walking slowly when she heard the sound of a bloodcurdling scream that could have only come from Gryffindor Tower. She quickened her pace until she reached the Fat Lady's portrait where another of her third years came bustling out.

"Professor!" she said. "Someone set a boggart on Elizabeth while she was getting reading for bed!"

"Where is she, Miss Smith?" Minerva said following her student into the common room.

"In our dormitory. I think one of the boys did it."

"Alright, you stay here with your classmates. I'll be right back." She hurried up the stairs to the girls' dormitory where she heard another frightened scream. Minerva opened the door to the dormitory to find the girl crouching behind her bed with the boggart hovering over her. It took the form of a thrashed, mutilated looking woman. Minerva hastily took her wand from the inside of her bathrobe and held it in her left hand.

"Elizabeth, don't move!" she called. The boggart turned its attention towards Minerva and starting moving towards her instead. Its form changed to that of Albus's limp form. Minerva almost lost her composure then but she still held her ground. She held her wand high and cried, "Riddikulus!"

A jet of white light shot from the tip of her wand and traveled toward the boggart, enveloping it, causing it to shrink away and vanish. Once she was sure it was gone, she rushed to Elizabeth's side and knelt down at her side.

"Miss O'Brien, are you quite all right?" she said trying to help the girl to her feet. Instead, Elizabeth clung to Minerva, wrapping her arms around her Professor. She began sobbing into Minerva's shoulder.

"Oh, Professor, it was horrible," she whimpered. "I was just getting ready for bed and I turned around because I heard a noise and all of a sudden, there was my Mum coming towards me. It looked like someone had just taken a knife and went mad, slicing and dicing her into a million pieces!" She clung tighter to Minerva and she hesitantly brought her hand up to cradle Elizabeth's head.

"It's alright now, Miss O'Brien. It was only a boggart. One of your classmates thought it was a boy who set the boggart on you. Come on now, stand up. We'll have Madame Pomfrey come look at you," Minerva said pushing her up. Elizabeth, in turn, held out her hand for Minerva to stand up. Minerva gladly accepted, but then a searing pain grazed through her abdomen, causing her to fall back, clutching her middle. Elizabeth almost lost her footing as well.

"Professor!" she cried. "What happened? Are you alright?" She kneeled beside Minerva.

Minerva had a look agony etched into her features. She inched her way up against Elizabeth's bed and leaned against it. Elizabeth followed her trying to support her should she need it. She watched, horrified at the pain her beloved professor was in, from the way her face was contorted as she held her middle. Finally Minerva spoke.

"Elizabeth," she said slowly and wincing a little, "I need you to go find Madame Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore. And hurry, please," she said holding Elizabeth's arm and looking at her pleadingly before letting her go so she could find them.

Elizabeth scrambled down the stairs as fast as her skinny legs would carry her. She ran down them so fast she slipped and fell forward into the arms of Professor Dumbledore. He helped her to her feet.

"T-thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome, Miss O'Brien, but what has got you in such a state that you would be running down the stairs like a herd of centaur?"

"It's Professor McGonagall. Sh-she came up to help me up off of the floor. I went to help her and- and she fell back clutching her stomach. I-I think she's labor, Professor Dumbledore!"

"Alright, Miss O'Brien, you stay here and sit down to catch your breath. Poppy will you come with me up to the third year girls' dormitory?"

"Of course, Headmaster," Poppy answered and they ascended the stairs to where Minerva was. They found her leaning against Elizabeth's four poster bed, holding her belly, groaning in pain. There were beads of sweat already forming on her forehead because of how heavily she was breathing. Both Poppy and Albus rushed to Minerva's side. Poppy gently took her wrist in her hand to check Minerva's pulse rate. Albus ran his hand along his wife's forehead and down her cheek.

"Albus," Minerva breathed heavily, "it hurts. It hurts so much."

He turned to Poppy and looked at her. She had conjured up a cold rag and was dabbing Minerva's forehead with it. "Poppy, we can get her to the hospital wing, can't we?"

"No, Headmaster, I don't think we can, not with her in this state. But it all depends on if she feels if she can walk, which I don't think is a likely possibility." Poppy dabbed the cold rag over Minerva's face, in attempt to cool her down a little.

"Can we get her into a more comfortable place then?"

Minerva groaned in pained again, "You two act as though I am invisible here! Well, I'm not! I'm right here!"

Poppy only shook her head at Minerva's impatience and smiled. "Trust Minerva to have an attitude towards us nurses and husbands who are only trying to help."

"Poppy!" Minerva said, exasperated. She groaned again. "Oh, Albus, it hurts so much. Make it stop please." Her cerulean eyes were moist with tears.

"I know, Minerva. I wish I could take some of the pain form you," he said moving so that he was behind Minerva and holding her in his arms, rubbing her back soothingly. Minerva buried her head in his shoulder and breathed deeply as another sharp, searing pain grazed through her middle again. Albus could her body tense as he held her.

"Albus," Poppy said, "it would be better if you weren't in the room for the later parts of this. It's only customary for the husband to be out of the room for the birth."

"I understand Poppy. I'll leave when I know she is ready."

"No!" Minerva gasped. "Albus, I don't want you to leave!"

"Now, Minerva," Poppy said, her diplomatic skills kicking in, "you and I have gone over this before, you know Albus cannot be in the room at the time of the birth."

"To hell with it Poppy, I don't care!" Minerva held Albus tighter as he made to get up. "Albus, no, please stay with me."

"I must respect Poppy's wishes. I shall only be outside the door if you need me. I'll go fetch Sylvia and Xiomara. You need them right now, more than. You need a woman's care, not a man's."

"Yes, Albus, go fetch them," Poppy said trying to hold Minerva back after Albus freed himself from her grasp.

"I'll be back soon, my love," he said before he kissed her forehead. He descended the stairs only to find the whole lot of Minerva's Gryffindors waiting at the bottom. Elizabeth, though, was crouched in front of the fire. They all had quickly cornered Albus.

"Is Professor McGonagall alright?" they asked. "Has she had the babies yet?" Dumbledore only shook his head and kept walking. He did, however beckon the Head Girl, Caroline Walker, over to him. "Miss Walker, I need you to go wake Madame Hooch and bring her back to Gryffindor Tower. I shall go wake Professor Sprout."

"Of course, Professor," she said and then stepped out of the portrait hole, followed by Dumbledore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Phew! Wow, that chapter was pretty long. I hope you all enjoyed it. I am hoping to have the next up soon. Happy Christmas and New Year!

* Liz