Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Few at the Ministry could not identify the quick clip of heels that now beat a cadence down the hall leading to the offices of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The announcing footsteps let all in hearing distance know to straighten their desks and make at being busy for the Deputy Minister was on her way.

Hermoine Weasley had little thought of the fear and panic she evoked around her as she finally arrived at her office. Busting in her assistant stood prepared with her travel cloak and an overnight bag. Hermoine quickly grabbed the cloak to put it on.

"Madam Deputy, I have a message for you from your husband and another from Parvati Patil." her earnest assistant turned to retrieve the parchments from her desk.

Taking the the notes, Hermoine stuffed the parchments into her pocket.

"Ron was dropping the children off at his parents, it's probably just a note to let me know they're settled in." She shouldered her bag and grabbed her briefcase.

"I'll be out of touch while on the train but if you need me, just send an owl to The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. I'll be checking in there as soon as the Hogwarts' Reunion train arrives."

"Very good Madam Deputy." her assistant replied then called out to Hermoine's retreating form, "Enjoy your weekend ma'am!"

Ginny Potter and Luna Lovegood-Scamander waited by an archway as an early Summer wind blew across King's Cross Platform 9 3/4. The Hogwarts Express stood ready at the platform, puffing steam.

Ginny stretched one arm out to expose her wrist to check her watch.

"They're late."

Luna, who had been quietly studying the billows of steam, turned to her friend. Her face drifting to Ginny's, her eyes following seconds later. "There's a hydro-biologist in Madagascar that has proof that steam is actually the by-product of a limnipolio pantersnap's reproducation process."

"Fascinating." Ginny replied drolly but with a warm smile for her slightly odd friend.

The two women had been patiently waiting for the arrival of Hermoine and Lavender Brown for twenty minutes. When the invitations to the 10-year reunion of Hogwarts graduating class of 1999 were received, it was Ginny's idea for the them to take the reunion train to Hogsmeade together. Something of a 'girls weekend'. Their husbands, Harry, Ron and Luna's new husband Rolf Scamander would join them the following evening. As part of the reunion, a newly built wing of classrooms was to be dedicated in honor of those who fought and fell eleven years ago at the Battle of Hogwarts. The whole of the Weasley clan would join the couples the morning of the dedication in two days' time

Lavender Brown's inclusion was unintended by Ginny. It was only when Luna absently mentioned her excitement in having an opportunity to observe the Hogwarts' nargles over the weekend did Lavender excitedly invite herself along. In an attempt to beg her off politely, Ginny insisted she would feel left out since their husbands were also coming. Lavender, being unmarried and a notorious serial dater, had laughed and announced she would simply invite whoever she met the weekend before to accompany her.

The three women's friendship with Lavender Brown seemed entirely defined by Lavender's ability to insinuate herself. Her arrival six months ago in London, after years abroad, was unexpected. Though she had been Hermoine's roommate at Hogwarts neither kept in touch. So it was with a sense of obligation only to an old schoolmate that Hermoine had called upon Lavender when she moved back and only after an entreating letter from Parvati Patil, pleading with her to see that Lavender was not left alone in the city.

"Here she is." Luna announced, even as her eyes watched the drifts of stream rise and fall around them. Turning, Ginny could see Hermoine making her way along the platform towards them.

"Sorry, sorry," Hermoine called out as greeting. "I was trapped in a meeting with the Property Recovery Board." Hermoine stopped short in front of her friends, dropping the overnight bag at her feet so she could deposit quick kisses on the cheek of each of her dearest friends.

"Anyone we know?" Ginny inquired, her eyebrow arched with curiosity.

"One guess." Hermoine answered as she attempted to re-arrange her burden of bag and briefcase. Her face screwed in confusion as she sorted through the parchments in her case, as if she was not finding one that was she was certain had been there before.

"Draco."

"Precisely. He had petitioned to reclaim several Malfoy family heirlooms that were confiscated from Malfoy Manor eleven years ago. Most of the items are innocuous but the Auror Department is objecting."

"Harry there?" Ginny asked, wondering if at least her best friend and sister-in-law had seen her husband in the last twenty-four hours since she had not. Harry had left their flat two days ago, flying out the door on an urgent call from Auror Department. Since then she had received on cursory note by owl assuring her that he would see her in Hogsmeade the following evening.

"Normally my under-deputy would sit in on this type of request, but considering it's Malfoy, the Minister thought it best be handled by someone more familiar with the case." Her answer, an all too obvious avoidance to Ginny's question. She finished with a grunt of satisfaction as she apparently found the misplaced parchment in her case and raised her head to look at Ginny who was then in sudden and serious contemplation of her shoes.

"Harry wasn't called to the meeting. I'm sure he is" but her assurance to Ginny was drowned out by the siren whistle of the train.

"We better board." Luna said in uncommon astuteness.

Hermoine took Ginny's hand and gave it a quick, reassuring squeeze. Looking around, Hermoine asked her friends, "Lavender not here?"

"Oh," Luna replied as she made for the train, "Didn't I mention, she's left England."

Both Hermoine and Ginny stopped to stare at their friend. Luna regarded them for a moment before continuing. "Yes, Parvati owled me this morning with the news that she trying to reach her. Apparently she had sent along several trunks of her things to Parvati in Mumbai along with a note telling her to expect her sometime today." With this, Luna stepped onto the train, disappearing down the corridor.

Hermoine fumbled with her cloak pocket drawing out the two parchments her assistant had handed her. She had a loose grasp upon them and just as she went to open the first a gust of steam and wind blew around her sending one parchment flying up and finally down between the tracks of the train. Opening the saved parchment she found it to be Parvati's. A quick note imploring her to send word on Lavender.

Handing the note to Ginny, Hermoine's only response was, "It's true." Then suddenly the final call was made for passengers and Ginny and Hermoine quickly stepped upon the Hogwarts Express. Ron's note lay forgotten upon the tracks and as well in Hermoine's mind, at least for the time being.

Hermoine and Ginny found Luna seated alone in a compartment. As each tossed their bags upon the floor, the train jostled them as it departed from King's Cross.

"So," Ginny began. "Lavender Brown is once more out of our lives."

"Here, here." Hermoine rejoined, adding, "And may it be final this time." The absence of Lavender Brown had settled an ease upon the women. All three watched through the window as the train departed from the station and the scenery opened to a display of London.

"Who's for tea?" Hermoine queried. "I'm sure the cart is open."

Holding a single finger up as to request a moments pause, Ginny dug into her purse and pulled a plain looking paper bag.

"Who needs tea when you have firewhiskey?" She stated and with a flourish she produced a very expensive bottle of Scotland's finest. "It's a girls weekend right? No children, no husbands," Ginny joyfully sang out, "and no work!" She added, making a pointed gesture at Hermoine.

Hermoine smirked and asked, "Cups?" Ginny's only reply was a frustrated scowl.

"Tea first," Hermoine said and rose to head out to find the cart, "for the cups, then the firewhiskey." As she reached for the compartment door she was distracted by sharp and frantic taps. Turning she saw the large marbled barn owl as it desperately attempted to keep pace with the every increasing speed of the train.

"Luna," Ginny commanded Luna, who was seated by the window, "open the window." Sliding the glass shutter open the owl fluttered in and landed upon an empty seat.

The three women watched each other expectantly.

"Who's it for?" Ginny finally asked. Leaning forward, Luna loosened the rolled parchment from the owl. As she finished the owl took flight and darted out the window.

Luna unrolled the note and silently read its contents. Hermoine and Ginny watched, both shocked that as her alabaster skin became ashen.

"Luna, what is it?" Ginny reached out to take her friend's hand but Luna thrust the note at her and quickly drew away. Ginny's eyes quickly scanned the contents. As doing so her own face began to match that of her friend. Looking up at Hermoine, her eyes misted. Hermoine stared at her and whispered, "Gin?"

With a shaking breath, Ginny read the note aloud:

Dearest Ginny, Hermoine and Luna,

As you know by now, you'll have to carry on without me from here. It isn't easy to leave London, to tear myself away from you three dear, dear friends who have meant so much to me.

And so I consider myself extremely lucky to able take with me a sort of memento. Something to remind me always of the city that was my home and my three very dearest friends. Whom I want never to forget. And I won't. You see girls, I've run off with one of your husbands.

Lavender

This story is my version of the film A Letter to Three Wives (c) 1949; story written by John Klempner for Cosmopolitan Magazine (original title A Letter to Five Wives), adapted for the screen by Vera Caspary. In the film, three friends are shocked by a letter from a fourth woman claiming she has just run off with the husband of one of the women. Unsure of which husband it is, each woman solemnly contemplates the strong likeliness and reasons that it is hers. The film was remade for TV in 1985.

In this version the three wives are Hermione, now a successful woman struggling to balance the meteoric rise of her career with the demands of a family; Ginny, who is uncertain of her place in the legend and life of the public obsessed Harry Potter; and Luna Lovegood, misunderstood by many and perhaps most of all by her new husband Rolf.

The text of the note was taken not quite word for word but mostly from the movie version of A Letter to Three Wives.

Hope this is a decent start to the story and would love to hear from anyone interested in more.