Autumn had come, and Minerva was feeling her world rest in serenity and peace. She loved her husband more and more with each passing day. Albus watched his Minerva grow lovelier and lovelier; her skin glowed a most becoming rosy hue. Her eyes sparkled and she laughed more often. Albus loved to hear her laugh: at school, Minerva was too preoccupied with keeping up her stern Professor façade that she never let her hair down or cracked a smile.

Minerva had a secret. She fervently hoped that she was expecting. For a month, she dared not say anything, for fear of jinxing it somehow. Sometimes, she would hold herself extremely still and close her eyes, as if she would feel the baby moving inside her.

On the first of September 1996, before she and Albus were due to return to Hogwarts, Minerva finally found the courage to tell Albus.

"Al-Albus?"

Albus had been packing their trunks and finalizing his papers but turned immediately when he heard her soft voice.

"Yes, dear?"

"Oh, Albus, I—er, I mean, we…we are going to have a child."

At first, Albus stared at Minerva, stunned into silence. Then, he saw Minerva's trembling smile and shining eyes, and knew he had heard correctly.

"Darling! Are…are you sure?"

"I have been for over two months, Al." Minerva smiled wider and brought her elegant hands to her stomach.

Albus closed his gaping mouth and dropped his papers on the floor. Smiling broadly, he strode quickly to Minerva and caught her in his arms, hugging her tightly. Minerva giggled and gently hugged him back.

"I'm so happy, darling," she breathed. "A baby, finally. Our autumn miracle."

Albus suddenly realized he was holding her quite tightly still. He abruptly let her go, setting her down as gently as he knew. Minerva laughed and smoothed a lock of his hair back.

"I'm not that fragile, Al."

"We're going to have a baby," Albus said wonderingly, still hardly daring to believe it.

He kneeled down and placed his gentle hands over her belly. Minerva's figure was still slim and only a slight rounding of her abdomen could be felt.

"Our baby is going to be as lovely as her mother," Albus whispered, twinkling up at Minerva.

"Or he could be as dashingly handsome as his father," Minerva countered, but with a tender smile.

Albus laughed and kissed her hands. Then he swooped up and carried his goddess upstairs to their room.

/-/-/

After the initial bliss of having a child, Albus quickly realized that once their child was born, he or she would be in mortal danger. He could never let himself bring up the subject of Minerva taking an Abortion potion to her, but as the months went on, he feared there was no choice. It smote his heart to see Minerva looking so radiantly happy when she could not possibly see the danger of conceiving their child.

"Minerva," he said one evening as they were getting ready for bed. He was standing next to the bed, watching Minerva, with a hint of a smile on her lips, brush out her long ebony locks.

"Mmm?"

Minerva fastened her eyes on Albus' reflection in the mirror as she nodded for him to continue.

"I've been thinking… about what will happen to our baby once it's born."

Albus took a deep breath and swallowed once he saw Minerva's lips curve into a smile at the mention of their baby.

"Five more months, Al! I cannot wait."

Albus' expression grew sober as he neared his wife's seat and took the brush that she was running through her hair.

"That's exactly it, love. You know as well as I do that Voldemort is on the rise once more, and after Cedric's murder and Harry's escape from the graveyard just last June… well, Voldemort will be at large and nobody will be safe…for long."

Minerva sat very still and toyed with the satin sash on her dressing gown. The light had flickered out of her eyes as she realized what Albus was insinuating. Quietly, she stalled his hand brushing her hair and stood up, regal and dignified as always.

Without a word, she went to her side of the bed and lay down. Keeping her face turned away from Albus, she went over Albus' words in her head.

Our baby…will be in danger…five more months, Al!...Voldemort is on the rise once more…our baby….our baby…

In her preoccupation, she did not hear Albus' silent footsteps over to their bed. Only when she felt a slight depression of the mattress springs on her left side did she let down her guard and sob softly. Her hands went down to cradle her burgeoning belly as she cried: cried for their baby, cried for their future, cried for herself and Albus.

Tears wetted her pillowcase as she felt Albus come closer to her body and hold her protectively in his arms. For the first time in months since she told him about her pregnancy, they did not share any words or kisses.

/-/-/

Minerva had changed, and her change worried Albus greatly. He blamed himself for bringing this upon her, and did anything he could to make it up to her. Before, she always hummed to herself the same lullaby in the morning, smiling blissfully and with light dancing in her eyes. Now, she was more mechanically humming. Sometimes, Albus feared that Minerva would not be able to connect to the world.

In desperation, he summoned Poppy Pomfrey one day, to keep an eye on Minerva as he had to leave for the Ministry one day.

"Don't worry, Headmaster," Poppy said gently. "I will do everything in my power to ensure Minerva and the baby is fine."

"Thank you, Poppy," Albus said gratefully. He walked over to Minerva, who gave him a small smile and offered her cheek for him to kiss.

"Have a nice day, Albus," she said quietly. She pressed her cool lips to his and closed her eyes.

As Albus left the Hospital Wing, Poppy turned to her dear friend.

"Now, Minerva, if you will only lay back and rest…"

"I'll be fine, Poppy. Why don't you go and attend to your duties," Minerva said gently but firmly.

Poppy gave her friend a long look, but eventually nodded.

"If you need anything, you can call me, all right?"

"Thank you, Poppy."

/-/-/

One month passed. Minerva had never been so bored in her life. Though, she knew that she could not possibly teach in her condition. Truly, Minerva did not want to keep feeling this way. She knew it was neither her nor Albus' fault that their baby had to born when Voldemort was at such a height of power. She summoned a Transfiguration Today journal to her bedside and began reading. When she opened to the first page, a note fell out. Curious, she unfolded the note and began to read.

My darling Minerva:

Please…please please don't keep feeling this way. I can't go on knowing that it was I who made this all happen. If there was anything I could do, I would do for you, my angel. I've prayed to Merlin that there may be a solution to this. I love you and only want you to be well.

Smile, sweetheart.

All my love,

Al

Minerva cracked a tiny smile when she saw her husband's childlike drawing of a tiny kitten batting at a piece of thread held in a phoenix' maw. How symbolic, she suddenly realized.

/-/-/

The afternoon sun slanted over the windows in the Hospital Wing. Minerva had fallen into a light doze and thus, was completely caught unawares as she woke up to a stabbing pain shooting downwards from her abdomen. Shocked and horrified, she put her hands over her swollen belly and felt the baby convulse. The next thing she knew, she felt a warm, sticky moisture sliding sickeningly along her slim thighs. Minerva knew something was terribly, terribly wrong.

"Poppy!" she cried hoarsely, her voice scratchy from sleep.

There was no response.

"Poppy!" Now Minerva grew frightened and valiantly tried to call to the Healer's attention. Her body shuddered and red blood stained the downy white covers.

Poppy, upon hearing Minerva's terrified voice echo urgently in her office, dashed out and saw a horrible sight.

Minerva was alone on her bed, and the white sheets were stained a shocking scarlet. Poppy whipped out her wand and ran to her friend's bedside.

"Oh Poppy…help me," Minerva panted, chest heaving as she watched Poppy lower her wand over her exposed abdomen.

"Minerva…I want you to relax and try not to fight the pain. I'm going to try to save your baby."

Minerva, even through her pain, could detect the faintest note of uncertainty in Poppy's voice. Minerva blinked back tears and gritted her teeth.

"J-just save my baby. Even if it means I will die; I want Albus to see his son."

Poppy felt her throat constrict and she slipped her hand into Minerva's. Then, Poppy began ripping bandages and lining up vials of potions. This was going to be a difficult delivery.

"Where is my husband, Poppy? I…want…Albus. Albus, help me!"

Poppy swallowed a lump in her throat as she patted Minerva's hand gently.

"Don't worry, Min, I'll call Albus now."

Minerva moaned and jerked restlessly on the bed. The blood still flowed freely.

/-/-/

Meanwhile, Albus had received an urgent Patronus from Poppy.

Minerva needs you. Went into early labor. Come immediately.

Albus wasted hardly a breath as he set down everything and ran out of the Ministry. Apparating on the spot, he returned to the Hospital Wing and felt his heart stop when he saw Minerva's pale body and the sheets stained with bright red blood. Then, the worst sound he could have ever imagined came tearing through his eardrums. It was his Minerva screaming. Screaming as if she was being Crucioed.

Poppy sensed Albus' presence and looked up in time to see Albus running toward them. But before he could reach Minerva, Poppy, with a shocking reserve of strength, shoved him away. Albus' eyes grew frantic as he struggled fruitlessly against the Matron's almost superhuman strength.

"No, no! I want to be with her, you can't stop me! Let me go, Poppy! I am the Headmaster, and if you stop me…!"

"No, Albus, please. I must ask you to wait outside. Minerva is going to be fine…"

"NO SHE BLOODY WELL IS NOT GOING TO BE FINE!"

"Albus Dumbledore, now you listen to me! Minerva needs your strength, and what if she sees you like this? Now, please! Wait. Outside."

Albus drooped in her arms and gave Minerva one last lingering, helpless look. Poppy gently patted his shoulder when she saw the anguish and suffering in his face.

"She's going to be fine, Headmaster."

/-/-/

Nearly seventeen hours later, Minerva lay exhausted, severely blood-depleted, and white as death. Poppy finished washing the baby and wrapped the tiny body in a small blanket. Poking her head around the door, Poppy saw Albus with his head in his hands, shoulders hunched forward.

"Professor Dumbledore?" she called softly.

Albus looked up and quickly went to her side. Poppy led him in and Albus gasped to see Minerva's still form.

But Poppy was smiling brightly as she passed the small, wailing bundle to Albus.

"Congratulations, Professor! You have a beautiful baby daughter."

Albus gently took the baby and tucked back the blanket to see an exquisitely perfect little sleeping face with long eyelashes, a pert little nose, and rosebud lips. The very image of Minerva, he thought with pride. On top of the baby's head lay a lock of auburn hair. Albus couldn't help but beam at the Healer.

"And…Minerva?" he asked anxiously, looking at his wife.

Poppy's smile faltered a little bit.

"Minerva lost a shocking amount of blood from this delivery. There was moment when she lost consciousness, and was near dead. But…now she's fine. She's sleeping."

Albus had paled but smiled gratefully when he heard the rest of the sentence.

"Oh, thank Merlin," he breathed. He went over to Minerva's side and gently stroked her cheek. Minerva's eyelashes fluttered but she did not wake. Albus placed their daughter next to Minerva, so that when Minerva woke, she would see what a beautiful baby daughter they had.

"Minerva is a remarkable witch with astounding strength and courage," Poppy said. "Anyone else would have died from this ordeal. You know what she told me, Albus?"

"Hmm?" Albus asked absently as he kept smoothing his wife's hair.

"She said she would rather die herself if it meant you could have a son. I was so afraid she meant it, that when she lost consciousness, I thought it was the end. She so desperately wanted a son."

Albus took a shuddering breath and gazed down at Minerva. She lay so quietly, so peacefully. It was difficult to imagine the wracking pain she must have been through.

"Minerva," he whispered, stroking her hand with his. He slipped his hand through hers. "Oh darling, please wake up."

/-/-/

A soft, squalling cry roused Minerva from her groggy, dreamless sleep. Opening her eyes tiredly, Minerva saw the tiny bundle lying next to her with a small hand waving and felt a tingle of magic emanating from the baby. Her baby.

Albus saw that Minerva was awake and immediately cupped her hand in his.

"Minerva?"

"My Albus…" Minerva smiled faintly and traced the scar on his cheek.

Albus' lip trembled and he gently kissed her forehead.

"Look dear, we have a beautiful baby daughter!"

Minerva slowly turned her head and a glowing smile lit up her face. Her slender fingers reached up to stroke their daughter's face.

"She is beautiful," Minerva replied, awestruck.

"I told you she'd look like you, Minerva."

"I guess I should listen to you more, then, Al."

"We will name her…?"

"Elizabeth Deirdre…"

Albus smiled at his wife as she drifted off to sleep again, this time with her fingers cupped tenderly around their daughter's head.

"I couldn't have chosen a better name, my love. Elizabeth Deirdre it is, then."