prologue:

If one was watching the corner just across the street carefully that morning, as Minerva McGonagall was from the window of a less than fashionable teashop, one would have witnessed a meeting of no obvious interest.

A man with light brown head streaked with grey appeared first and carefully checked his watch. A few moments later a second figure turned the corner. She had darker brown hair partially restrained in a ponytail, and was also paying close attention to her timepiece. They both looked up at the same moment, nodded recognition, and continued down the street together. It looked for all the world like two acquaintances meeting, perhaps for a business lunch, but Minerva McGonagall knew better. She sighed to herself and murmured, My dear children, it was about time.

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

It was October of Harry, Hermione, and Ron's seventh year. The common room was full of fifth and seventh years: studying, fooling themselves into thinking they were studying, or sleeping in their notes. It was raining, as it had been for the past week. Water slapped at the windows and poured down the roof.

The weather suited the mood of a certain familiar trio in the corner. Hermione was continuing all her subjects to NEWT level, and the strain was beginning to show. Harry was attempting to focus, but his mind kept straying. Ron was being peevish because it's difficult to be cheerful all by one's self.

Ron risked a question.



he was trying desperately not to be offensive, You should try and get a little sleep.

Sleep? Are you mad? I'm not even half way through all the work for tomorrow's lessons.

Maybe some tea than at least? I'm sure we can find a house elf.

Tea. hmmm . . . That does seem a good idea, but I can get it myself. Without delay, she stood up and headed for the portrait hole. It was a walk that would change her life.