Prologue: Traditions
"Hermione, you're an entire day early again."
"Professor!"
"Please, how long have we known each other Miss Granger? I really do insist that you call me Minerva more often, both of us teach here and you've been Head of Gryffindor for 4 years now."
"It has been a while, hasn't it?" Hermione conceded, giving the headmistress a small smile. "I suppose it's just a bit easy to forget that I'm no longer a teenager standing by Harry's side." A teenager trying to solve one of the world's hardest problems at the time.
"I suppose it is." Minerva responded, giving her former pupil a smile. "And yet Hermione, here we are." Suddenly reminded of all that she still needed to prepare for the next day, McGonagall spoke a quick farewell before she was on her way, leaving Hermione alone in the entrance hall (which was just fine for the young witch). "Well, I'll leave you to it then. Welcome back."
"What do you want Potter?"
"Last Day Drinks?"
"It's barely after midday and you two want to take a day off of work for drinks?"
"It's tradition."
"Yeah, what Harry said – it's tradition and all that!"
"You mean it's a Gryffindor tradition for other Gryffindors?"
"No."
"Harry, you did it for Neville when he decided to marry Abbott then join Hogwarts."
"Yes but we also did it for Blaise when he decided he wanted to open up some fancy shop in Diagon Alley."
"So what do you say Malfoy? Drinks?"
"Alright, alright! Just remember though, you two won't be able to get any hangover potions off of me tomorrow."
"Shit!"