Double post today because I forgot to last week (and because both these chapters are a little short) :) I hope you enjoy

10 May 1997

"Well, my very best wishes on your birthday, dear," Minerva said, smiling and raising her teacup slightly in Pomona's direction.

Pomona smiled. The two of them had been sitting in the small, but cosy, living room in Minerva's private quarters for the past 15 minutes. It was the end of the school day, and Pomona had decided tonight of all nights was the best time to celebrate an early birthday.

"Early birthday," Pomona corrected mildly. "The dreaded day is this Saturday."

Minerva smiled. "Dreaded?" she said, faintly amused. "Is that why you organised a Herbology revision class this weekend, rather than next week?"

"Only because it will distract me from realising that I'm turning 65 years old. I feel ancient."

Minerva rolled her eyes, though she was smiling lightly. "I am only a few years behind you—"

"So you keep saying," Pomona cut in huffily, though she too looked as though she was trying her best to contain a reluctant smile from appearing on her lips.

Minerva chuckled. "A little bit of a sore spot, this, isn't it?" she teased. "I was only going to say that neither of us is that old, yet."

"Hm," Pomona said, clearly unconvinced. "I was thinking about it yesterday, and I am quite certain that we are the oldest staff here."

"Oh, nonsense," Minerva said, briefly raising her eyes to the ceiling. "Albus is miles ahead of all of us. Then Horace, Filius, Hagrid—"

"Fine, female staff then," Pomona said, nodding once at her friends. "Can't argue with me there."

Minerva thought about it for a moment. In the end, she merely shrugged. Pomona was right. Poppy seemed to be the next oldest female staff, and she had been Minerva and Pomona's student at one time.

Suddenly, the room was filled with the sound of whooping and cheering, unmistakably coming from downstairs in the Gryffindor Common Room.

"For the love of..." Minerva trailed away, still grumbling indistinctly as she got up from her seat. As she got to her feet, however, a sharp pain shot up her side. She winced and her hand automatically reached for the spot where it hurt.

"What's wrong?" Pomona asked immediately, concern written all over her features.

Minerva rubbed her hip, and slowly the pain subsided. She opened her eyes and shook her head dismissively. "Nothing really," she said. "I saw Malcolm yesterday and he brought the grandchildren. Meg was quite adamant that she did not want to walk on the muddy path when we went on a walk." Minerva sighed. "I made the mistake of agreeing to carry her on my hip for almost 30 minutes."

Pomona smiled. "I would have made her walk," she said.

"Liar."

Pomona bit her lip to stop herself from smiling again. "Perhaps," she conceded. "Your chest isn't causing you pain anymore, is it?"

Minerva shook her head dismissively, though privately she did believe that her sojourn in Caithness had aggravated her old injuries rather than cause new ones.

"Where are you going?" Pomona added, turning in her seat as Minerva made her way to the door.

"To tell my Gryffindors to pipe down."

"They did just win the cup," Pomona said.

"I realise that," Minerva acknowledged, "but the last time I let it carry on, they did not stop until 3 in the morning. I would rather not wave goodbye to a good night's sleep tonight if I can help it," she added, hand now resting on the doorknob. She paused. "I won't be long," she said. "Then maybe we can have some cake," she said.

Pomona's eyebrows shot up. "Cake?"

"Maybe even a present too," Minerva added, smiling. "2 minutes," she said, holding up two fingers, before disappearing out of her quarters en route for the Gryffindor Common Room.