'Have you let anyone else know yet?' asked Minerva thoughtfully.

'Only Ginny.', replied Hermione, 'But I need to tell Ronald sooner rather than later. I was going to try and catch him alone at Harry's party.'

'Ah yes, the party.' said Minerva in a somewhat unenthusiastic tone.

'Will you go?' asked Hermione, pulling away to look at the other woman.

'I can't see a way round it', answered the headmistress. 'I don't relish the thought, particularly in my current state, but I imagine a fair number of the older students will want to attend and the only way I can allow them to do so is to attend myself. I can hardly deny them the opportunity, given their involvement in the war effort. But I feel I must draw the line at fifth years. Sixth and seventh years only, and then with parental permission.'

'Very sensible, Professor McGonagall.' said Hermione in a mock deferential voice. 'But surely it wont be as torturous as all that!'

'Hmm. A few hundred gawking acquaintances, each of whom will feel entitled to an explanation of my new 'look'. I can hardly wait...'

'Ah yes, of course', acknowledged Hermione, feeling a little thoughtless. 'I can't say I'm looking forward to it overly much myself, but I can't let Harry down, and Ginny would never speak to me again if I didn't go.'

'Then we must suffer it together, I suppose. However, right now we ought to get back to the castle. I have a mountain of marking to do already and I suspect you'd like to check that nothing unseemly has happened to the library since last you were there.'

And with that the pair began to wend their way back to the castle.

'So...How does it feel to be young again?' demanded the flying instructor, lounging on Minerva's sofa and fixing her with a curious gaze.

Minerva sighed.

'Actually, physically I feel fantastic. If anything I have a little too much energy for once.'

'Libido through the roof, I expect?' said Hooch with a smirk.

'Oh Merlin.' replied the dark haired witch, blushing slightly, 'It's madness. I can't remember feeling like this when I was twenty!'

'That's because you got laid more when you were twenty.' commented Rolanda dryly, dodging to avoid a piece of shortbread as it whistled past her left ear.

'I'm serious, M. What's your lady situation looking like?' persisted the hawk-like professor

'A little sparse at present,' conceded Minerva, 'but only because of this blasted regeneration business. I was getting on fine with Ann before all this happened. I mean, I admit that we were unlikely to remain together in the end, but it was pleasant enough. She was a kind woman.'

'You need a lithe young thing.' suggested Ro with a glint in her eye.

'And where might one find one of those?' enquired the headmistress, knowing full well that it was easier to play along than to fight her corner. And anyway, Rolanda Hooch was one of her closest friends, albeit a little flighty.

'Well, you can start at Potter's party. And fear not, I'll be on hand to act as your wing-woman so to speak.'

Minerva groaned.

Molly Weasley was in the kitchen putting the final touches on the meal with which she intended to feed her men once they tumbled through the door from their respective days at work.

Hearing the door go behind her, Molly turned to see her youngest son walk into the room.

'Oh hello darling. How was work? I wasn't expecting you for another quarter of an hour.'

'Hi mum. Yeah, not to bad – Kingsley said we could knock off early.' replied Ron, slumping into a chair and beginning to untie one of his boots.

'I expect he's got a lot on his plate at the moment, what with the party.' commented the housewife.

'It's Harry's party!' said Ron with loyal indignation as he untied the other boot.

'Yes dear, of course. What are you going to wear, love?'

'I don't know, some clothes...' replied Ron absent mindedly.

Molly turned around to look properly at her son. 'What's wrong, love? You've been out of sorts all week.'

'Nothing's wrong, mum.' he replied grumpily.

Moving to put a hand on his shoulder, Molly said gently. 'What is it darling, a mother knows when something isn't right.'

Ron sighed. 'It's Hermione. I thought...I thought there might be something between us, but now she wont talk to me. Every time I see her she tries to avoid my eye. I don't know what I've done.'

'Oh darling. A woman's heart is full of vagueries! Trust me on that. But they usually realise what it is that they want sooner or later. Try and catch her alone at the party. Tell her how you feel.'

'I spose so.' muttered Ron, glumly.

Just then the door opened again and Arthur Weasley came into the room, swiftly followed by George.

'Right boys! Dinner on the table in five minutes!' announced Molly.