Sorry it took a while for me to get this to you all, I had writer's block for a bit. I also had to take my wife to the ER.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.


Albus Dumbledore sat head of the table amongst professors and the Heads of Houses. "Good morning, professors. I just wanted to give you a reminder of tonight. The House cup will be awarded at seven pm sharp. Then dinner will be served at eight, and the Seventh Year's Gala begins at nine." Minerva sighed and dropped her head into her hand; she had forgotten that the Gala was tonight. It wasn't her fault she was a bit more than preoccupied last night. Dumbledore passed a pack of letters to the Heads of Houses. "This is to be handed out to each member of your house, it's to remind them of tonights festivities. Thank you all for coming this morning, have a great day and I do hope you enjoy yourselves tonight." All the professors stood up and left except for Albus and Minerva. "You know..." Albus stood up. "You should wear that black gown you wore to the Faculty Christmas Party ten years ago." A knowing smile appeared on his lips as he looked down at Minerva. "I'm sure everyone would be quiet stunned and impressed." Minerva looked up at him and smiled.

"We'll see." Minerva chuckled when Albus shrugged.

"You might just get her attention and rectify what happened." She looked up at him, not shocked in the slightest.

"My dear, Albus. Have you been reading my mind?" She forced a smile.

"It doesn't take magic to know what's in you heart." With that he left the room. Minerva picked up the stack of letters and placed the string that held them together between her teeth. In her petite animagus form, Minerva slinked into the girls dormitory. She carried the small sack of letters on her back and stopped at every night stand to place one of those letters down. Once the girls finished their breakfast and morning activities, they would find the letter


Ginny came running and huffing into the vacated girls dormitory; Hermione followed, gasping for air. "That's not fair! You take longer strides... not to mention you got a head start." Ginny flopped down on to Hermione's bed.

"Ye just don't want to admit you're slow and have short legs" Hermione threw a glare Ginny's way.

"Wait until I can actually breathe, I'll get you." Hermione recognized the infamous phrase. "and your little dog too." Ginny giggled. Hermione sat down next to her best friend. "What time is it?" She pulled on the small red head's arm and looked at her wrist. "It can't be four already. That would mean we spent three hours in the lake." Ginny pulled her self up to rest on her elbows.

"Yeah, and ye didn't even say a word about the Professor." Hermione looked at her instantly. "That was a mistake wasn't it?" Hermione nodded slowly.

"Just thinking about her puts me in a daze." She turned to Ginny. "Have you ever heard that song 'She's so high above me'?" Ginny squinted her eyes then smiled.

"You mean that song that goes 'First class and fancy free, she's high society, she's got the best of everything. What could a guy like me ever really offer? She's perfect as she can be, why should I even bother'?" Hermione nodded and bit the inside of her cheek.

"That's just the way I feel, she seems completely untouchable and I'll never get the chance to love her." The petite red head sighed and lifted herself off the bed.

"You do realize that at the end of the song, he gets the girl." Ginny smirked as she played with an envelope on the night stand. Hermione chuckled.

"I doubt that's going to happen here." She looked down at what Ginny was messing with. "What's that?" Ginny passed the envelope to her. Hermione turned it around and peeled open the Hogwart's wax seal.

"Dear Student,

this is just a reminder of tonights festivities: House Cup Award Ceremony will start at 7:00pm sharp, we request your attendance at 7:30pm to begin dinner, and The Seventh Year's Gala will begin at 9:00pm please keep in mind it is formal dress. Hope to see you there and we hope you have a great time.
Albus Dumbledore
and Faculty.
" Hermione looked up at Ginny horrified. "How could I have forgot?" Ginny shook her head while a smirk pulled at her lips.

"It's b'cause ye were thinking of Minerva." A lopsided grin grew across Hermione's face. "You better get into the shower if you're going to make an impression tonight."

"Oh God! I have only three hours to get ready" Hermione shot up and went in search for a towel. "You better get ready, too; you're my date!" Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Nice of ye to ask me!" Hermione laughed.

"Am I a bullocks?" Ginny smirked. "You should always assume, with me."

"You're lucky I read your mind." Ginny walked out of the dormitory.


"I don't want to go, Gin. She's going to be there." Ginny turned around to look at her best friend while shaking her head.

"Did ye forget what happened last night? More than likely, she called in 'sick'." Ginny laughed slightly. "She probably is running a high temperature." A smile pulled at the corners of Hermione's mouth. Ginny raised her eyebrow as if to ask if Hermione would join her. Rolling her eyes, Hermione stood up. "C'mon. Harry, Cho, Ron, and Fleur are waiting for us down stairs."

"Alright, let's go." Both girls walked out of the dormitory arm in arm.


"I should have called in sick." Minerva groaned to herself. "She's going to be there and it's going to be awkward." She looked at the dress robes she had laid out on her bed. "I just won't pay any mind. I'll pretend nothing happened." She slipped the light garment over her head, careful not to disturb the perfect French twist, and slid her arms through the sleeves. "Merlin, I thought I'd never wear this again." Minerva mumbled as she fastened the neck of the dress. She reached around to the small of her back and fastened the belt. To complete the outfit, she slipped on her black pumps and gave herself a last look in the mirror. "If nothing happened, why am I dressing to impress?" Minerva shrugged off her own question and slipped on her black dress robe.