Neville wiped his brow with his handkerchief, visibly shaking.

Hannah squeezed his hand gently, smiling.

'It'll be fine, Nev. Don't worry.'

He took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to the Janus Thickey Ward.

He led her over to the two curtained-off beds in the corner, grinning at its occupants.

'Hi Mum. Hi Dad.'

He gestured at Hannah.

'This is Hannah, the girl I've been telling you about.'

She smiled at her boyfriend's parents.

'It's lovely to meet you, Mr and Mrs Longbottom.'

They simply stared at her blankly.

Neville swallowed, and turned away briefly.

Hannah's smile didn't falter, and she reached into her pocket, drawing out a packet of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum.

'I brought you a present. I know it's not much, but Neville's told me how much you like it.'

She handed it to Alice Longbottom, whose face immediately broke into a grin.

Neville turned to Hannah, a shaky smile on his face. He kissed her softly on the forehead.

'You're wonderful.'

His voice was hoarse and thick with emotion.

Hannah simply smiled back at him.

'So are you and your parents.'

The young couple spent two hours in the ward. Neville told his parents about his latest project, and Hannah contributed a funny story or two from the happenings at the Leaky Cauldron while darning a hole in the colourful patchwork quilt Neville had bought for his father.

As they rose to leave, Alice Longbottom tapped her son on the shoulder, and dropped a Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper into his hand, just as she always had.

They had to blink back tears when she dropped one into Hannah's hand too.

Terry and Padma stood on the doorstep of her childhood home. She raised a hand, and knocked firmly on the door.

Her mother opened the door, and immediately embraced her daughter.

Padma smiled.

'Hello, Ma.'

She gently released herself from her mother's arms, and indicated the young man beside her.

'This is Terry, Ma.'

Terry smiled, and handed the bouquet of lilies he was carrying to his partner's mother.

'It's a pleasure to meet you at last, Mrs Patil.'

The older witch took them, looking slightly puzzled.

'Did Padma tell you lilies were my favourite?'

'Not explicitly, but in all the family photographs that she's shown me, the only flowers ever in your home were lilies.'

Mrs Patil shook her head, grinning.

'You are exactly as my daughters described you. Come in!'

They entered the house, which smelt vaguely of spices. Padma's mother led them into the dining room, where her husband was sitting.

Mr Patil rose to greet them.

He, too, embraced Padma.

'You look well, my little lotus blossom.'

Terry shook his hand firmly.

'It's lovely to meet you, Mr Patil.'

The Indian wizard simply stared coolly at him.

Terry met his gaze unwaveringly, without fear or hesitation.

After what felt like an eon to Padma, her father smiled.

'Call me Rajesh, Terry.'

Justin sighed and shook his head, splashing his face with water.

He ran a hand through his hair, remembering the very cold reception he'd received from Becca's parents.

Straightening up and tidying his hair, he recalled the very best charming gentleman's manners that his father and grandfather had taught him.

He was determined to win his girlfriend's parents over. Even if they frankly terrified him more than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

He exited the bathroom, and almost bumped into Anthony, who was carrying plates from their dinner to the kitchen.

'Oh, sorry, Justin!'

'No problem, Anthony...' He groaned. 'Your parents hate me, don't they?'

The other young man bit his lip.

'Umm...well, yes...but don't worry, they weren't all too warm towards Lisa at first either...I'm sure they'll warm up to you and the idea of you dating Becca eventually...I mean, well, I did...'

Justin sighed, slumping against the wall.

'I don't know, they think I'm too old for her, don't they? And I'm not going to get any younger.'

Anthony shifted his weight awkwardly.

'Well, Becca's not getting any younger either...besides, once they get to know you better, and see how much you love her, I'm sure they'll come to accept you, just like I did.'

Justin raised an eyebrow.

'Because I'm such a great, charming guy?'

Anthony nodded.

'And a great friend and loyal comrade. But, if you hurt my sister...'

'You'll kill me. I know.'

'More sausages, Harry, dear? You're looking very thin; they're working you too hard at the Ministry...'

Harry grinned at his girlfriend's mother, who was piling three or four sausages onto his plate.

'Thanks, Mrs Weasley.'

'Oh, no problem, dear...Percy, they're overworking you too, even more than Arthur. You look like you haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks! Honestly, I think I'll have to write to Kingsley...'

George sniggered.

'I don't think it's the Ministry that's keeping Perce awake, Mum. I think it's Au-oof!'

A very red-eared Percy had accidentally knocked his brother with his elbow while cutting up his steak-and-kidney pie.

'Oops. Sorry, George.'

George responded by flinging spoonful of mashed potatoes at Percy.

'George Fabian Weasley! Frederick Gideon Weasley! How many times do...'

Molly Weasley trailed off.

An uncomfortable silence fell around the Weasley dining table.

Molly recovered first.

'More...more mash, Hermione? You haven't been eating enough either, have you? Ronald, what did I tell you about letting Hermione skip meals to work?'

Ron swallowed his mouthful of food, and threw his cutlery-filled hands into the air indignantly.

'Mum! It's not my fault!'

His mother jabbed her wand at him.

'No excuses, young man...'

Bill shook his head. His mother was never going to change. Even if they all weighed fifteen stone, she'd always think every member of her family was not eating enough.