Feast overdue:

"Let the feast, begin!" cleared Professor McGonagall, as the long tables suddenly overloaded themselves with dinner. The professor smiled at the collective gasp from the hall. The scrapping of cutlery and the hum of happy chatter instantly filled the great hall as students, and teachers alike, swapped stories of their summer.

"Honestly I don't have a problem with the boys not finishing their final year," trilled Hermione as she scooped steaming greens onto her plate.

"You sure? The Wizarding world is in a complete mess right now. In a way I'm glad we're here while the worst of it blows over," sighed Ginny as she levitated the gravy their way.

"Yes but what if they don't do it right," whispered Hermione with a furrowed face, ducking her head towards Ginny.

Ginny likewise stooped her head towards Hermione, "Then you'll just have to fix it next year." Hermione and Ginny butted heads as they quietly laughed.

Suddenly all heads turned towards the hall doors as they creaked open to reveal two boys awkwardly adjusting their Gryffindor robes.

"Harry," stated Ginny.

"Rhron!" exclaimed Dean Thomas around a mouthful of mash potato.

A chorus of clanking of cutlery was heard as owners in excitement automatically freed their hands.

"Sorry we're late Headmaster," cleared Harry as both boys inclined their heads towards Professor McGonagall.

"We missed the train," added Ron with a shrug.

"Some things never change," muttered Hermione as she involuntarily gave the hall a quick scan and stood to make her way to them. Exposed as the boys were she knew it was irrational for her to still be anticipating an attack but it seemed this habit would die hard. Hermione had hardly taken a step towards the boys before she half crouched and covered her ears to the roar from the hall. Fists banged on tables, cat calls rang out, first years stood on their seats to crane a better view as every student stood in applause.

"Ginny I'll explain later!" exclaimed Harry as he ducked a stray broccoli hurled his way as he and Ron tried to make their way to the Gryffindor table. Arms grabbed at them and shook their unoffered hands. Before the two boys knew it they had been hoisted up onto shoulders and then hands as they were carried towards the teacher's table amidst shouts of pure joy. A loud shriek alerted the boys to Hermione's similar predicament.

Professor McGonagall observed the sudden uproar of the hall with shock. Gripping her chair, she contemplated the complete loss of control of her student body, within an hour of school term, due to two 18 years olds. The three flushed students were gently dropped, by the quickly retreating crowd, at the headmasters podium steps and promptly attempted to fix their robes.

"Potter, Weasley, Granger!" snapped the Professor with an air of exasperation. "Kindly return to your seats!"

The trio side longed each other and promptly about turned to their table. Ron brought his arms around both Harry and Hermione on their way back eliciting more cheers.

Professor McGonagall lowered herself back into her chair 'I'm too old for this again,' she thought.