Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Headmistress McGonagall was reminiscing when the owl came. The war had taken its toll on too many people, and the stern, but kind lady was one of them. Many didn't know of her past and the pain she had felt. During the first war, both her husband and her son had been killed. She had been spared only because she had been with Dumbledore at the time, discussing strategies. Love was such a powerful agent. It could make one do things that were thought to be impossible. However, the loss of it was a wound like none other. A knife to the gut, never receding, never healing. Worst of all, if you forgot about the wound for just a second, the pain would come back, accompanied by the guilt How could you forget me? How could you betray me like this? She hoped that none of her students would ever have to feel such emptiness. Least of all, Harry. He's sacrificed so much to live like a normal boy. I hope he can find someone. She was very happy to find that he, along with many of his year mates were returning for their seventh year at Hogwarts, as the teachers last year had been completely horrible. They had learned nothing last year, except how to torture, kill, and maim. Too many times, these skills were then used on those who refused to use them. At least this, they could be normal teenages, worring about Finals, not whether they would still be breathing by that time next year.

Noticing the owl, she quickly wiped her eyes and took the letter, scanning the words as she gave a treat to the bird.

Dear Headmistress McGonagall,

We cordially invite you to The Ministry's Remembrance Ball. The Ball shall take place on Christmas Day, to honor all those who gave their lives to stop the abomination that was Lord Voldemort. In addition to your invitation, we are also pleased to let you know that you, along with all of your professors, have received an Order of Merlin, Second Class for you valiant efforts during the Battle for Hogwarts. The following students have also earned an Order of Merlin:

Harry Potter (First Class)

Hermione Granger (First Class)

Ronald Weasley (First Class)

Neville Longbottom (Second Class)

Luna Lovegood (Second Class)

Ginevra Weasley (Second Class)

We hope that all of these students can attend the Ball, which shall take place on Christmas Day. We thank you for your valiant service to our World.

Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic.

The Headmistress looked back up to see the owl's eyes again, then flicked to the right, looking at the clock. 8:30. I still have time. She got up and made her way to the Ravenclaw Tower, where she found Luna counting grains of sand. "It's for the nargles." She explained. "You need exactly 500 grains in the cork, or it doesn't work."

McGonagall was amused for a moment as she saw the girl serenely counting, remembering how Albus showed much of the same peculiarities. "Ms. Longbottom, I must tell you something." The girl finally looked up. "We need to go to Gryffindor Tower." Luna got up, as if you knew before McGonagall did. They walked along, Luna counting the bricks, a project that she had taken up in first year, and still had not finished.

They reached the seventh floor, where Luna spoke the password, "Omnia vicnit amor." She blushed as the Headmistress looked quizzically at her. "Neville told me." She said. Aah, young love. What a great feeling. Just as long as there are no … illicit activities. The Headmistress nodded, and went through the portrait, to find Ron and Neville in deep concentration as they attempted to beat each other. Neville hadn't played until his first seventh year, when he discovered that he was just as good as the legendary Ronald Weasley, and it looked like he was really giving hima run for his money.

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, please follow me. Ms. Longbottom, if you would be so kind as to retrieve Ms. Weasley from the Girls Dormitory." Luna nodded and raced up the stairs. She came back a minute later with the red head. "What is it, Professor? Did something happen?"

"No. Well, yes. But nothing bad. If you follow me, I'll tell you everything. We just need two more people."

Guessing which two they were missing, the 4 students, immediately started walking to the Head Boy/Girl's Dormitory. "Books and Broomsticks." McGonagall said, and the portrait opened to reveal the shared common room. She walked up to Harry's door. "Mr. Potter? Are you in there?" There was no answer. There was no reply at Hermione's room either. They settled down in the comfortable sofas that were situated in the room.

"Winky?" Luna called out into thin air.

"Yes Ms. Lovey?" Winky popped into the room.

"Can you get us some hot chocolate while we wait for Harry and Hermione to get back?"

Winky nodded, but then asked, "But why are you waiting? Harry and his Grangy went to bed long ago!"

McGonagall, with a quizzical glance at the door, stood up again, and knocked "Mr. Potter?"

"Professor, he's probably sleeping." Ron said.

"At 9:00? I think not." She tried to open the door, but it was locked. " Alohamora!" The door didn't open. She made a series of complicated gestures, transfiguring the lock into a piece of string. The others stood up warily, not having a good feeling about this, and together, they walked in.

"OH MY LORD! MS. GRANGER WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?" The headmistress shrieked out. The other students rushed in, trying to get a glimpse of what made the Iron Lady yell like a banshee. They were just as surprised.

Hermione Granger, know-it-all, goody-two-shoes, and bookworm, had her head thrown back in ecstasy, bare back facing the door, hands pushing against the bed, straddling the Head Boy, who had his hands at her waist and her breast in his mouth. Immediately, he let go of Hermione and pulled up the scarlet covers of the bed, in a vain attempt to stop the others from seeing his naked wife. They all stayed still, many of the others trying to comprehend what they had just seem. Finally, McGonagall, put her hands at her hips and said "How dare you abuse these venerable chambers. These rooms were given to you in the highest confidence that you would not abuse them in any way, and I come in here to see that my Head Students are, are copulating?" she spat out, and then, seeing no effort to speak from either of her students, continued, "I have half a mind to take away your badges right now!"

At this point, Ron broke out of his stupor, and with a yell to rival the Headmistress's, said, "HOW COULD YOU? SHE'S OUR BEST FRIEND! NOT SOME ONE NIGHT STAND THAT YOU CAN JUST SHAG AND ABANDON! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU TWO?"

At this point, Hermione who had been barely holding back tears, finally let go, and started crying. Harry immediately took her hand in his, and wiped away her tears, caressing her cheek. "It's going to be okay, Hermione. Don't worry." She nodded, and Harry finally acknowledged the party that had just made his wife cry. "Professor, is there a reason who the five of you are in my bedchambers?"

"Have you no shame? Do you know what you have just been caught doing is one of the greatest offences that can be committed? And you Ms. Granger, I thought at least you would wait until marriage, of all people!"

Hermione closed her eyes, then opened them again and calmly spoke, "I'm sorry, Professor, but I don't go by that name anymore."

"Well, what do you go by, then?"

Looking directly into her role model's eyes, Hermione slowly said, "Mrs. Hermione Jean Potter."

Author's Note:

I know. I'm horrible having a cliff hanger like that. I know that Ron and McGonagall might be a bit OOC, but no one escapes a war unchanged, and I think that McGonagall would be a bit old fashioned when it comes to sex. Thanks for reading, and don't forget to review!