So, here we go again. I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter. And don't forget the review. ;-)

Dedicated to Lies and Claudia - thanks for being friends.

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat under a large tree by the shore of the hidden lake, hunched over a piece of parchment. At the moment they were pondering over the finer details of their plan for a romantic dinner for Albus and Minerva.

"So it seems the question is where to get all the stuff and, even more importantly, where to get the money for everything?" Ron looked expectantly at his two friends. Though he found the thought of Dumbledore and McGonagall being married and, subsequently, having a more intimate relationship a bit unsettling, he fully agreed with Harry and Hermione that they should do something for them.

Harry shrugged. He had already thought about the money problem.

"Well, we could either try to get some muggle money and do all the shopping here in the village or go to Diagon Alley and buy everything there."

"I do have some muggle money left." Hermione sat back and looked at the boys. "I just think it might look a bit suspicious when we ask to go to Diagon Alley even before we get our book lists. Anyway then Albus and Minerva would probably go with us, so we wouldn't have a chance to get everything without them noticing something. So I asked Mum for some money."

Harry grinned at her. Hermione was always reliable, and once again she had proven that she usually thought of everything.

"Okay, so we'll give you our share in wizard money." Harry looked relieved.

"Then let's get back to the menu. According to Mum we'll need quite some stuff for the salad and the soup. For the main course we'll have to choose between fresh vegetables and this stuff in tin cans but I'd tend to the fresh ones. The only thing, Mum hasn't thought about, is the dessert. Any suggestions?" Hermione looked from Harry to Ron who seemed puzzled. He'd never thought much about food; it was enough that it was there when he was hungry.

But then Ron seemed to remember something.

"I think Dumbledore was quite fond of Mum's chocolate cake. I could ask her for the recipe."

"Excellent idea," Harry nodded.

So after checking a few more details the trio headed for the nearby village. Hermione had already had the money with her so they just had to worry about not being able to get everything they needed or being caught by Albus and Minerva when they got back to the house.

The village was easily found, and though the McGonagall manor was situated in a rather secluded spot, Minerva's family had always had a good relationship with the Muggles living in the area.

Harry, Ron and Hermione strolled through the village which wasn't as big as they had thought. But in the end they found a well-equipped supermarket where they bought everything they would need the other day. Hermione thought about buying some flowers for the table but Ron and Harry convinced her that a self collected bunch of flowers would suit their cause better.

So they carried everything back to the McGonagall manor. While Harry checked out if the coast was clear Ron and Hermione hid with their purchase behind a large oak tree.

When they heard Harry whistle they hurried over to the door and rushed to the kitchen in order to store everything. Anyway they had to tell the house-elf about their plan for the other evening. The little guy wasn't too pleased with his mistress' guests working in his kitchen but he didn't object.

It was about half past seven now, and Harry thought it couldn't hurt to go looking for Albus and Minerva and let them know they were back.

"Hello? Albus? Minerva?" Harry shouted in the empty entrance hall. Then he heard giggles coming from upstairs, followed by Albus' voice telling him they would be with them in a minute.

So Harry went back to the kitchen and sat down at the table, helping himself to a glass of pumpkin juice. Ron had just finished scribbling a note to his mother asking for the recipe for the chocolate cake and was off now in search of Hedwig.

"Hello there." Smiling Minerva entered the kitchen, followed by Albus whose beard seemed a bit ruffled.

"I hope you've had a nice afternoon." Albus had spotted the jug with the pumpkin juice and poured himself some.

"Yes, we did. It's really beautiful here… Albus," Hermione said.

"I'm glad you like it. Anyway, where is Ron?" Minerva asked. "Dinner is ready."

"I'm right here, professor." Ron burst through the door, panting lightly.

Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry… Minerva." Ron blushed furiously. Though he actually liked both Dumbledore and McGonagall it seemed so strange to call them something other than professor.

Minerva smiled and put her arm around Ron's shoulder which made him blush even more. Albus chuckled and linked his wife's arm with his.

"My dear, I think you should give Ron more time with this." Gently he led her over to the table, where the house-elf had already served the food, and pulled out her chair for her.

During dinner the three friends tried to find out about Albus and Minerva's plans for the following day.

When Minerva talked about going to Diagon Alley in order to buy new dress robes the trio urged her to go and take Albus with her as much as possible without raising suspicions. That way they would have enough time to prepare everything for the evening; and though they would probably get some help from the house-elf, they wanted to do as much as possible on their own.

"So you don't want to come with us? Are you sure?" Albus looked at his students, astonished. Usually he would have guessed they would love a trip to Diagon Alley.

"No, you just go. You know you don't have to keep an eye on us all the time." Harry winked. "Besides, we would like to spend the day at the lake." He assured him, keeping his fingers crossed under the table that this would work.

"Very well then." Albus nodded.

The other day Albus and Minerva left for London, but not after promising the trio to be back at 8pm for dinner. Minerva shot Albus a quizzical look but he just raised his eyebrows and shrugged. Though he did seem to sense that the kids were up to something he didn't know what it was. But he had enough trust in Harry and his friends to let them go on with it. Anyway, he had a suspicion that he and Minerva would find out in the evening when they returned from London.

"Then have a nice day." Hermione waved at Minerva before she disapparated with a light plop, following Albus.

Harry led out his breath he had held unconsciously.

"Okay, so I guess we should get straight to work. I saw Hedwig return earlier this morning, so I guess she brought the recipe from your mum." He looked at Ron who nodded.

"So you go and have a look at it. Check out if we need anything else which we'll have to buy in the village. Harry, you're with me." Hermione took over. But since she was the only one who had the slightest idea what would have to be done in the kitchen the boys followed her lead willingly.

Ten minutes later, the three friends stood in the kitchen, each of them hunched over a recipe, trying to get everything right.

To be continued…