Chapter Six: April 1947

Chapter Six: April 1947

Colleen had spent the day before Albert’s first birthday decorating their home in Godric’s Hollow for his party. Both sets of his grandparents would be there, along with Albus’s brother, Aberforth, her brothers, Algie and Harfang, Albert’s godfather, Alastor Moody, and his godmother, Poppy Pomfrey. Everyone was so excited for Albert’s first birthday – Colleen and Albus especially. Albus had spent quite a lot of time preparing for the party – creating a spell that would record every moment for Albert to peruse later in his life.

When she and Albus first were married, she could tell that his mind was on someone else – on another woman, she supposed. And her suspicions were confirmed one day in December of 1945 when there was an article published in the Daily Prophet claiming that Minerva McGonagall had given birth to Albus’s child. He disappeared for a day, but when he returned, he was a changed man. He was more amorous than ever – more loving, more caring, more present than he ever had been before. After that, their marriage had been perfect – she could tell that he was completely focussed on her and in love with her – not with that McGonagall girl. Colleen was happier than she ever had been before – she had a happy marriage, a wonderful son, and a fabulous life.

Albus sat at his desk, thinking about Minerva and their daughter. He didn’t even know his own daughter’s name, the colour of her eyes, or the colour of her hair... He loved Minerva and his daughter (though he knew almost nothing about her – he had never even held her), but he also had grown to love his wife and, of course, he loved his son unconditionally.

But Minerva... he did love her, but... he had his responsibilities to his family, and he couldn’t let them down. And he was happy with Colleen and their son. Minerva and their child were no more than a memory to him now, after a year and a half. He hadn’t even thought of her or their child since December – let alone tried to find them. A tiny voice deep inside his head wondered why, but he ignored it.

Alastor Moody put the final touches on his present for his godson – he had enchanted a stuffed phoenix to alert his parents to any trouble he might be in. Everything was going according to plan – Minerva was out of the picture, the spell he had cast on Albus was still working perfectly, and everyone was pleased with the results. Albus was married to Colleen, a respectable woman from a long line of purebloods; they had a legitimate son; and the Dumbledore line was established – all according to what Albus’s parents wanted. And he had got his reward – he was now the Head of the Auror Department.

Kendra Dumbledore signed her grandson’s birthday card and sat back in her chair, thinking about all the events of the past year and a half. Thank goodness she had the foresight to hire Alastor Moody to keep an eye on her son. She knew that they had both desired each other when she was his student, and when she was one of the few with Albus towards the end of the war, she had been worried that he would take up with that McGonagall girl and disgrace the family, so when he did, she had ordered Alastor to incapacitate her during the final battle and leave her on the battlefield. Unfortunately, when that girl turned up again, and pregnant to boot, there were problems. Once again, she was fortunate to have acquired Alastor’s services, and he was able to keep her out of the way. But when there were complications with that McGonagall’s girl’s delivery, and she was sent to Saint Mungo’s, the fact that she was carrying her son’s child became public. Yet again, Alastor’s services were invaluable. He contacted Willa Wilder, and she wrote a fantastic article about how that McGonagall girl used Dark magic to seduce her boy. And, finally, to make sure that her son didn’t abandon his loving wife and then-unborn child for that hussy, Kendra had Alastor cast a spell on Albus to make him forget what he felt for that girl. She knew that that was the only way that he would stay with his wife and child. And it worked. It worked.

Her daughter was sixteen months old when Albus and Colleen’s son had his first birthday. The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly ran photograph spreads of his son’s birthday party. Minerva’s heart hurt when she looked at the happy family – especially the photographs which included Alastor Moody – Alastor – who had betrayed her! How could Albus have welcomed him into his family? Especially after Albus knew that Alastor had betrayed her! How could he? How?

Something wasn’t right – she could tell. But what would she do about it? What could she do about it?

Fawkes knew that something was wrong – Albus hadn’t seen Minerva in a long time – he hadn’t even tried to find her. It was as if she never existed... But Fawkes knew that she did, and that her daughter was Albus’s daughter, and that the child was conceived in love. He visited Minerva and her daughter every month to make sure that they were safe, because he couldn’t do anything else to help them...