Disclaimer: None of the characters or places portrayed in this story are mine. All belong to JK Rowling. Not copyright infringement intended.

Author's Note: Just a bit of fun with our three favourite professors. Enjoy! :)

Prologue

The three members of staff at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry headed for Number Twelve Grimmauld Place with their stomachs full to bursting after having devoured their Friday evening meal with relish in the Great Hall at the school.

Severus Snape was the first to enter. He glided in through the hall with his black robes billowing dramatically out behind him, past the open door, down the stone steps and into the basement kitchen below. Mr and Mrs. Weasley were already there, sitting on two of the many chairs that surrounded the long table. The wine goblets that were clutched in their hands were full, but a bottle stood almost empty between them.

Snape nodded in greeting and then chose a chair that was hidden in the shadows. After him came Minerva McGonagall wearing an uncommon smile. She was followed closely by Albus Dumbledore, who was looking equally amused, his blue eyes twinkling behind his deputy.

Mr and Mrs. Weasley turned their faces to the door as they heard it click shut behind Dumbledore and noticed the two professors' smiles. Professor McGonagall saw their stares, ignored them and moved to sit on a chair nearest to the enormous fire that was blazing in the grate, although the room was still dark and held an unwelcome gloom.

"What are you two so happy about?" Mr Weasley asked loudly.

Dumbledore's lips spread in a delighted smile and his eyes sparkled even more.

"We were just reminiscing about our school days," he replied, his eyes flicking to Professor McGonagall. "Did you know that in her third year Minerva purposefully transfigured her teapot into a crab instead of a tortoise so it could snap at my finger because she was bored? I had to move her into the forth year classes after that," he added, chuckling at the memory.

Every eyebrow in the room zoomed upwards in amazement as each face shot to Professor McGonagall.

"That was very brazen of you, Minerva," Snape remarked, surprised. "I hope you punished her, Dumbledore."

"I had to," Dumbledore replied. "Although, I confess, my heart wasn't in it. I was rather amused by the whole thing."

"Of course you were," Mrs. Weasley responded, smiling. "You're amused by the most peculiar things, Dumbledore."

"It is lucky for most of the students that I am, Molly," Dumbledore said. "No teacher would have let that slide so easily in my day."

"So what was the worst punishment you ever received, Albus?" Professor McGonagall spoke from the fireplace.

Intrigued glances turned from McGonagall to Dumbledore. He finally seated himself in a chair at the table and was now holding the silent attention of the whole room…