Harry got to lunch later than he anticipated, but it didn't bother him because Ginny was there, and she beckoned him over to a spot across the table.

"Afternoon, Harry."

"Hi Ginny."

Ginny looked quizzically at Harry. "You look like you're about to burst."

"Umm…Err…I don't know why." Harry said, breaking into a smile as he reached for a roll. Placing it on his plate, he took his bowl and ladled some stew into it.

"Been a good day for you?"

"It is now." Harry said automatically.

Ginny broke into a smile of her own. "I know what you mean. This stew is delicious. It's a shame it isn't made more often."

"Well, that's what makes it special."

Stewing – or rather, basking in the amusement of the situation, the two tried – and failed – to continue the consumption of their lunch.

Harry, who had been dipping his roll into his bowl of stew, looked up at Ginny.

"What's so funny?" Harry asked, for Ginny was shaking with laughter, nearly sending her spoon of stew flying. Fortunately, though her body was undulating with ripples of humour, her hand was steady enough to return the stew to the bowl before an accident happened.

"I don't know." Ginny managed to strain out. "You tell me."

Harry started laughing himself. "I've got no idea!"

Stew completely forgotten, the two started howling with laughter. Eventually, they'd managed to calm down a little.

"We can't go on like this forever. Come on, let's stop this else we won't be able to eat anything."

"Right. No funny business." Harry agreed.

Ginny tried to pull a straight face, but it only resulted in Harry howling with renewed laughter. Ginny soon joined with her own joviality.

"This is ridiculous. What are we laughing about?" Harry asked.

"We're laughing about the ridiculousness!" Ginny answered.

Seeing that they were getting nowhere, Ginny piped up.

"Let's go. We're about to send this flying somewhere – and knowing our luck, we'd probably send the stew into Snape's hair."

"You're right. Let's get out of here." Harry agreed.

Stumbling, the two managed to get up without knocking anything over. Ginny came around the table, and the two (for stability and safety, of course), proceeded to place their arms around each other's shoulder, and still shaking with now quiet laughter, to proceed towards the doors of the great hall.

Someone else opened the doors from the outside. Ron and Hermione were entering. They spotted the two. Hermione's eyes widened, and she looked like she was about to open her mouth, then thought better of it. She nodded politely at Harry and Ginny, who were unable to say much in response. When Hermione had turned away, Ron waited until Harry was next to him before he gave Harry a subtle thumbs up – which Hermione noticed, of course.

But although Hermione's mind was in overdrive upon seeing Harry and Ginny like that, Ron didn't seem perturbed at all; which greatly puzzled her. Then his face fell.

"Such a waste." Ron said sadly, mourning the loss of a good bread roll, fallen into deliciousness. "Stew salvage operation!" Ron grabbed Harry and Ginny's bowls – as well as one as his own.

"Ronald Weasley, you don't know where that's been!" Hermione scolded, as Ron was about to sample the stew that was his sister's.

"True, Hermione; but I know where it's going."

"Evanesco!" Hermione, wisely yet cruelly, removed temptation from Ron's path.