The next couple of evenings passed without much hilarity. They did Sybil's rehearsal first, but apart from a couple of withering stares and barely suppressed tutting and eye-rolling from Minerva at the flamboyant Divination professor's requests, it was nothing out of the ordinary, the woman being too eccentric and naive to be fun for an extended period of time. They did discover, however, that without her glasses, the woman was quite blind, which lead to an interesting altercation when she took off her glasses, felt in front of her for the crystal balls, and got a couple of handfuls of Poppy Pomfrey as she bent over to adjust some tea leaves.

"Magical lift not working, then?" Minerva had asked quietly, eyebrows raised, eyes sparkling.

Ginny had decided on a simple, yet enchantingly beautiful scene using the Great Lake. Hermione knew instantly that this would be July. Ginny would lay on her stomach on a rock, letting the waves lap gently at her feet. There was no need to rehearse that.

That evening, they had just finished rehearsing Madam Pomfrey's scene. Showing her behind the desk in the Hospital Wing, an assortment of potions bubbling in front of her, the steam rising at just the right density and angle to hide the most important things, Hermione couldn't help but think that the scene was quite sensual. She caught Minerva's eye and had the grace to blush slightly, but it was far outweighed by the smirk she found, knowing from the look in Minerva's eye that she, too, had thought the same, but that they were both also feeling slightly jealous of the other's thoughts.

This is insane, Hermione thought as she pulled herself together and began to sort out her sheaths of parchment. She looked up and caught everyone's attention.

"Right, as you all know, we will be rehearsing Minerva's scene tomorrow, but with all of us, that leaves four months without an image. We need to think of some ideas for groups, or couples, or something."

At the word 'couples' Hermione's eyes inadvertently flicked towards Minerva's, who had done the same, and for a split second, they both felt the need to grin stupidly.

"Well," Hooch said immediately. "January is typically hangover month, so I suggest some image of post-Christmas debauchery."

Sybil looked confused.

"Hangover month?"

"Yes, you know, Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, all the alcohol needs to be soaked up, financial burden from over-spending, bigger waistlines from over-indulgence...hangover month."

Sybil furrowed her brow and shook her head. Minerva patted her gently on the arm.

"Not to worry dear, a hangover is something that I very much doubt you will ever be plagued by. You need to actually be sober first."

She added the last comment so quietly that she could almost have spoken it to herself, which was her intention. The rest of the room hid their smiles.

"Ok, drunken debauchery...we can work with that. That leaves three."

Minerva put her brain to work, rapidly trying to think of four easily workable scenarios. Her mind didn't quite want to process 'drunken debauchery', especially with Hermione around, and Rolanda to interfere.

"Quidditch practice, perhaps, between Ginny and Rolanda? Naturally, a group Christmas one, carol singing or something of the like?"

"Excellent." Hermione murmured, as she rapidly took notes, ideas and scenarios already forming.

"Leaving...one."

Poppy looked from Hermione to Minerva, and wiped her hand over her face quickly to hide her grin. She knew that Rolanda had also noticed some of the curiosity and attraction building between the two, but didn't trust her enough to come up with something that wouldn't be shameful, and completely inappropriate viewing for the rest of the Wizarding World.

"A duel, perhaps," she offered, flicking her gaze between the two. "Between the hero of the first Dark War, and the hero of the Second?"

The room fell silent in contemplation, then Rolanda caught Poppy's eye and winked.

"Excellent idea."

Molly joined in, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes, yes, yes. Very symbolic. And dramatic...oooh, I'm thinking fire; water; lots of sparks...and lions! There must be a lion!"

She was caught up in the ideas running through her mind, so apart from Sybil, she was the only one in the room not to see the quickly exchanged knowing, heated glance between the two under discussion.

Cat Whisperer...

Poppy beamed.

"Excellent. Well, that's sorted then. Christmas month; Hangover month; duelling month; and Quidditch month. I can't wait!"

I know the chapters are short, but hopefully descriptive enough!

Now...anyone, any ideas on scenes for Christmas, and January? Or maybe something apart from Quidditch? And Minerva's solo scene? Let me know, I'll soak it up!