I'm still getting my other story together in some coherent fashion and came up with this. I adore how it's turned out, even though it's not written in my usual style. Chapter 4 is holding me up, so you can have a few chapters now, while I sort the other, then I'll post the rest.

Word of warning: you won't know this about me yet, but I'm not into precise timelines and numbers and ages etc. So we're rolling with whatever you think. Imagine them how they want. I've added ages for the kids only as a way to indicate the passage of time. Hope you all like it!

-0-

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

-0-

She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and stood from where she was crouched in front of the bookshelf, turning slowly. She gaped. Standing before her was Harry Potter, but not as she had known him.

"Hello Professor," he grinned.

"Harry Potter!"

He stepped forward, shocking her a little, as he hugged her. It was nice. With the exception of Miss Granger and perhaps Rolanda and Poppy, not many people had the temerity to hug her. She missed it sometimes.

"Gracious young man you look fantastic." And he did. He'd filled out and shot up, overtaking her not-so-average height by just a little. "You are the spitting image of your father."

"Thank you," he smiled.

"What brings you to Flourish and Blotts today?"

"I've been away for two weeks with Jamie. I just got home from our travels in time for Hermione's birthday," he grinned and returned one, finding his happiness contagious. The tan he'd picked up made his eyes a brilliant emerald. "And I'm here looking for her present actually."

"We find ourselves on the same mission," Minerva explained. "Perhaps we should compare notes?"

He chuckled and showed her a list written in the handwriting she'd know anywhere. She joined in laughing when she produced the same list.

"It seems Miss Granger is one step ahead of everyone," she chuckled.

"As usual," Harry finished for her.

They spent a few moments catching up until Harry's person started beeping frantically.

"Oh, bugger, hang on a minute Minerva, sorry."

He produced something that she knew to be a phone (though she'd never owned one) and answered it in a much more terse fashion than he had spoken to her. He apologised silently for a moment and she shrugged, figuring it was urgent. She found what she was looking for and pulled it from the shelf with a triumphant smirk. Harry was now hissing down the phone at someone and she pitied the person on the other end. It was interesting to watch this side of him. It was night and day, the way he spoke to her and was now speaking to the person on the other end. He muttered something quietly that even her hearing couldn't quite pick up and hung up, taking a deep breath and turning back to face her.

"I apologise for that."

"You don't have to," she smiled. "You are a busy man."

"I was talking to you," he said with a shrug. "I shouldn't have been interrupted, especially not by that person."

"Is," she considered asking him if anything was the matter, but he interrupted, answering the unasked question.

"Ginny has decided that she is done with Jamie for today and would like me to pick him up a full 12 hours earlier than we agreed, even though she's not seen him for two weeks and I only dropped him off at ten. She mentioned something about a date."

"Ah," she said. "I was going to, at some stage, tell you I was sorry to hear of your split, but I think perhaps you would not have welcomed that."

"I welcome anything you tell me Professor, but I'm not sorry. Not at all. I am sorry my son has to contend with his life-giver being an absolute trollop, but he won't ever hear it from me."

Minerva snorted indelicately and chuckled as he blushed.

"Sorry."

"Don't be," she smiled. "I have been around children and their parents for a very," she grimaced. "Very long time. You're doing just fine."

"You make it sound like you've been teaching for a hundred years."

"It will be," she calculated. "Forty-two, this year I think."

"Holy cow," he laughed. "You must have taught nearly three generations?"

"Yes well, don't go rubbing that in," she muttered, rolling her eyes with a smile.

"I'd love to stay and chat but," he sighed. "I have to go and retrieve my son, seeing as if I don't she's likely to just leave him somewhere and it's anyone's guess as to where that would be. It was really great to see you, Professor."

Minerva clicked her tongue and this time pulled him in for a hug.

"I think it's time you manned up and called me Minerva, don't you?"

"Just waiting for your say-so," he grinned, pecking her cheek lightly. "You look really well. I'm glad to see you."

And he left, leaving her staring at the door while her cheek tingled. What a twist of fate. She had, rather stupidly now she thought of it, imagined he'd be pining for Ginny. She'd assumed she was his one true love if those even existed. But she had been swept away in a haze of publicity and gossip and she chastised herself for doing so. She should have known, above all, Harry. She had known him for long enough. Watched him grow. It was a bizarre feeling, to have seen someone grow from childhood into manhood. The feelings you had when they were growing were put away neatly, as if they belonged to somebody else. And in place, the seedlings of friendship, perhaps, were growing.

"Can I help you find something Headmistress?"

Antonin Flourish, the great-grandson of the founder of her favourite bookshop stood looking at her helpfully.

"Yes, no, my apologies Antonin," she smiled, holding out the book. "I'll just have this one please."

She paid for her purchases and went about her day, feeling as if something was suddenly missing in her life.