"Time turners!" said Hermione, astonished, "Why, of all the valuable objects in the Ministry, did they steal the ones anyone can apply for?"

"Not exactly anyone," corrected Draco, "there are people who know they will never get an authorization for a time turner."

"I don't like the sound of it," frowned Hermione, "it's fishy, and I can't even begin to figure it out. But perhaps I'm making more of it than it is, Draco. It's just that I can't help thinking anything is worth investigating, after – after –" her voice faltered.

"After Ron," finished Draco, "yes, it's unnerving to know some of the Dark wizard movements are still at large. There is no lack of people who think the wizarding society would have been better off with the Dark Lord in charge."

"One thing sets my mind at ease – Harry is responsible for investigating this," said Hermione, "there is no one better to do this, and also… we'll be the first to know if anything comes up."

… "Pay attention, boys!" called out Professor Longbottom as he spotted the Venomous Tentacula nearly snapping at James' wrist. "You aren't making any progess – I don't want to be forced to take points off Gryffindor!"

"Alright, sir!" Ronan called back, and then turned to James and asked in a low voice, "why so gloomy, mate?"

James merely grunted.

"Didn't catch that, sorry."

"Anna is going to the ball with Lennox McKinnon," James finally admitted.

"Ah," said Ronan, comprehension dawning upon his face, "I heard him bragging about it the other day."

James shrugged. He was in a very bad temper ever since Anna's refusal – but it was so obvious it was going to happen, he thought to himself dejectedly. Everyone predicted this since the start of term. Anna and Lennox, the perfect pair, good-looking, popular, Head Boy and Girl, playing side by side on the same Quidditch team… of course they are going to open the dancing at the ball, and also star together at the end-of-term feast.

And that will be the end of his, James's, prospects to ever have the slightest chance with Anna Snape.

"Great," he said bitterly, "really great. Perhaps I ought to try and override Al and ask Rose to go with me. Unless you want to ask her, of course," he added, grinning evilly at his best friend.

"I'm taking Dominique," Ronan said casually.

James' jaw dropped.

"Dominique?" he said in awe, "My cousin? No kidding! How did you get one of the best-looking girls in the year?"

"I heard Rose saying that Dominique is counting on me to ask her, so I put out a rumor I'm actually going to ask Clarissa Turner," said Ronan, "so when I asked Dominique, she hurried to accept, because she thought I might not ask her again. Funny how girls' minds work, huh?"

James grunted again.

"Anyway, James," Ronan continued briskly, "if open tactics don't work, it's time to become more sophisticated."

"What do you mean?" James asked suspiciously.

"Amortentia," said Ronan, with the air of offering a great treat.

James shot him an indignant look. "If you really think I'd stop that low –"

"Not for Anna, you prat," Ronan countered almost lazily, "for McKinnon."

… "No way," said Rose Weasley as she heard their plan, "no way, Ronan. You two might do your best to try and get yourselves expelled midway through your final year, but why would I ever want to go along with something like this?"

"Because you've always wanted me to get a chance with Anna," James reminded her.

"Yes, but…"

"And because we don't want any unnecessary victims," added Ronan, "we don't have anything personal against McKinnon, and don't want him to make a fool of himself by declaring his undying love to someone like, say, your cousin Molly."

"Molly is really nice, Ronan, whatever you might –" Rose started angrily, but Ronan cut across her:

"And we don't want a poor girl like Molly to get her hopes up, only to be disappointed as soon as the potion's effects wear off."

Rose hesitated, and Ronan pressed his advantage:

"Make sure you wear your best to the ball and fix your hair nicely. Merlin knows there are going to be enough raised eyebrows when people see how McKinnon ditches Anna to go after you."

"Keep on insulting me and you'll have to find someone else to help you!" hissed Rose, aiming her History of Magic book at Ronan, who ducked, laughing.

… The season was highly exciting for Celena and Fleur, who spent much time together, going in raptures over bridal magazines.

"Ah, that's almost incredible, Fiona as a bride!" exclaimed Fleur one afternoon, after they had discussed for the seventeenth time what flower arrangements are most fitting for a May wedding. "I cannot wait until Victoire and Teddy finally decide to get married, eet will be so much fun, planning eet all. Is Fiona at least coming 'ome for Chreestmas, so you can discuss ze details?"

"Yes," said Celena, "it will be pretty much the only chance for us to get together before the wedding. I'll be taking Fiona to Diagon Alley sometime during the holidays, to choose the design for her wedding dress. She said in her last letter that she wants something really simple, but all the same, it must be decided on, not to mention fitted. I just hope I can convince her to grow out her hair a bit for the wedding, she always cuts it so brutally short."

"And zen zere is zis delightful ball!" Fleur said enthusiastically, "Thank you for inviting us, Celena, eet will be just like old times – like ze year we spent at Hogwarts during ze Triwizard Tournament, do you remember?"

… "We will have a very special guest for Christmas," Celena announced to her husband, beaming.

"Do you mean Jeremy Hawthorn?" Severus asked cautiously.

"No, sweetheart; well, of course Jeremy and Fiona are coming, and it is special because we haven't seen them for such a long time – but what I meant it, Viktor is arriving in Britain, I got an owl from him two days ago and wrote back and invited him to the Yule ball. It's fine with you, isn't it, Severus?"

Snape stifled his annoyance. Over the years, he learned to accept and even appreciate Celena's close connection with her family. He developed a tolerable relationship with Remus Lupin, overriding the grudges of their school days. He even learned to get along with Fleur. But he never understood why his wife maintains a friendship with Viktor Krum, whom he always found a stupid bore with noting on his mind but Quidditch. At over forty, Krum's days as a Seeker were over, but he continued making the Galleons roll by training Bulgaria's team. He went back to Bulgaria a couple of years after marrying his British wife, Melissa Hanson.