After

Minerva appeared in Pomona’s office, where her Herbologist friend was studying the latest issue of The Herbologist’s Friend and yawning. But she wasn’t yawning after Minerva appeared in her office unannounced, she nearly threw the magazine across the room in shock. “What the HELL, Minerva?”

“Yes yes, Where’s Filius?” Minerva asked dismissively. 

“I think he said he was going to bed,” Pomona said urgently, thinking that something important was happening. 

“Really? Why are the two of you acting so damn old? You’re only in your eighties for Merlin’s sake. We have to go to Hogsmeade and in a hurry,” Minerva said, waving her friend along and sending a speaking patronus to Filius.

Pomona sighed heavily and rose from her chair reluctantly. However, she knew her much older friend wouldn’t give in and it was just a shade embarrassing that she felt less energetic than someone who was seventeen years older than her. 

Filius met them in the corridor, also reluctant to leave his relaxing evening. “What is this about? What’s happening in Hogsmeade?”

“Some of the eighth years are going out and I can’t give up the chance to ruin their fun,” Minerva said, laughing. 

“You’re joking?” Filius asked, actually surprised, though Pomona couldn’t see why.

“No. I am not,” Minerva assured him, “And frankly, I had to sit in that horrible chair because of you so you have to do this.” 

“Damn it, how did I not think I’d regret that?” Filius asked Pomona with a shake of his head as Minerva turned back down the corridor to the Hospital wing. 

They found both Poppy and Septimia in the office, enjoying the one night of the year where there were no students yet admitted. They looked up from their tea, surprised by Minerva’s entrance. “Come along you two, quickly,” She summoned them, leaving the infirmary again with a quick step. They followed obediently, if confusedly. 

“What’s the matter?” Poppy asked, looking around the corridor for some sign of trouble. 

“Nothing, we’re going to Hogsmeade to ruin the Eighth year’s night out,” Minerva said with a devious smile. 

Septimia sighed, “You had me thinking something was wrong,” She chastised. 

Minerva was unbothered, “Oh come along, you’re all behaving as if you’re in your twilight years, get it together.” 

“Ugh, fine,” Poppy said, putting a sign on the door to send her a patronus if she was needed, though she doubted anyone would use it tonight.

“I really shouldn’t,” Filius started, “What if the Ravenclaws need me for something?” 

“Filius, give it up, you’re coming, you’re not the head of house anymore anyway.”

“But I am,” Septimia argued,

“It's the first night, your Ravenclaws will all have their noses in books to prepare for classes tomorrow, they’re the boring house, didn’t you know?” Minerva teased with a look at Filius, then in a blink they were all on the main street of Hogsmeade, just outside the gates. 

“Did you just apparate all of us?” Pomona asked, checking herself for splinching dramatically.

“Are you really questioning me?” Minerva asked with a raised eyebrow as she spotted Hagrid coming up the road. “Ah, Hagrid, I was hoping you’d be here.” 

“Hallo, What’re you all doin’ out here t’night?” He asked with a chuckle at the four displeased expressions around Minerva. 

“She’s dragged us all here to spoil the eighth year classes’ fun,” Septimia answered with a sour expression. 

Hagrid laughed at that and smiled at Minerva, “Oh, they’ll be right pleased. Ye’re somethin’ else, ya know tha’?” 

“Oh, I know,” Minerva answered with a barely disguised look of mischief. “Now will you all stop complaining? I mean, I’m buying, afterall.” They seemed to brighten some at that. “Let’s go, I can see them coming now.” Minerva waved them all towards the Three Broomsticks, which was only moderately busy at that time. 

They found a table that was mostly out of the view from the door and Minerva, true to her word, put all the drinks on her tab. When the Eighth years stepped cautiously through the door, looking half-bewildered at being out that late, the six professors were already half a drink in. 

They didn’t notice their teachers immediately, though they spotted Hagrid and waved, that was inevitable. 

But when Harry, with a pocket full of Galleons, approached the bar hesitantly he caught sight of the table full of teachers and nearly jumped. He couldn’t imagine how they’d gotten there so fast. He turned back to the table the others had chosen when he caught Professor McGonagall trying to disguise a smirk.

“Erm… it appears we’re being followed,” He said, gesturing to the table, “it’s not just Hagrid over there. I don’t know how but Flitwick, Pomfrey, Sprout, Vector, and McGonagall are all over there,” He announced to his classmates, who immediately looked concerned. 

“They really followed us here?” Lavender asked, trying to sneak a look, “How?”

“I don’t know, but it’s true,” Harry answered sitting down beside Ron

“So we should probably just order butterbeer then…” Cho said sheepishly, she had wanted to try giggle water but it seemed inappropriate now.

“Seems like a bad idea to order anything else,” Hermione answered nervously, “I mean, we do have classes tomorrow.” 

“That’s probably why they’re checking up on us,” Justin huffed.

“Well that’s really not fair,” Luna said airily, then joked, “They have classes tomorrow too,” And seemed very pleased with herself. 

Harry chuckled, “Good one, Luna.” 

“Yeah, you’re right, Luna, we can order whatever we want, We’re adults” Hannah asserted with a laugh.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione joked simultaneously, “Technically.”

Just then Madam Rosmerta arrived at their table with a smile at the lot of them. “I just think you kids should know that your professors are across the room, in case you didn’t.” 

“We did,” Harry assured her with an awkward grin.

“We’re pretty sure they’re keeping an eye on us,” Padma said with an annoyed tone.

“But that’s a little Hypocritical don’t you think, Madam Rosmerta?” Parvati asked with a smile, “I mean, they’re here too.” 

The landlady giggled at them, “I wish I could see their expressions when you use that line on them.” 

That caused the kids to question their decisions again, “Maybe Butterbeer is best,” Lavender said to the rest of the table with a nervous look. 

Rosmerta decided to give up the game, Minerva had told her why they were there after all. “That’s just what she wants you to do, she’s out to ruin your good time, you know?”

“What?” Justin asked, a little loudly.

“Let me guess,” Hermione said sarcastically, and Harry, Ron, Neville, Lavender, and Pavarti joined her in saying, “Professor McGongall?”

Rosmerta nodded, amused at their reaction, “She’s dragged the rest of them out just to mess with your heads.” 

“Of course she did,” Hermione said, shaking her head. Then said with a defiant smirk, “In that case I’ll have what she’s having.” 

Madam Rosmerta was having trouble controlling her mirth, “Alright, bold choice of Firewhisky for a first timer, what else did I expect?”

“Firewhisky for me too then,” Ron said confidently. “Whatever brand our dear Headmistress is drinking.” 

“I’ll take whatever Professor Flitwick is having,” Cho said giggling nervously. 

“So will I,” Padma said, then covered her face with her hands. 

Madam Rosmerta was nearly in fits as she wrote it down. “Alright, I think you two will like his order, it’s just cherry syrup and soda with ice and an umbrella.” Both girls looked simultaneously amused and disappointed. “Don’t worry, I’ll substitute the soda with giggle water, then you can say you drink better than he does.” 

The students all laughed at that and they went on ordering as if they were their professors. 

“What’s Hagrid having?” Neville asked, nearly splitting with laughter.

Rosmerta had to steady herself against Harry’s chair, “Oh, you’re gonna wanna split that with somebody, no one besides a half giant needs to drink that much mead at once.” 

“I’ll split it with you Nev,” Hannah said giggling. 

Neville smiled at her as if he was seeing her for the first time again. He shook off this affect and said “Erm, great!”

Rosmerta wrote that down too, smiling at the two of them like she knew something they didn’t. “Alright, four pints of mead.”

“I’ll take whatever Madam Pomfrey’s having,” Lavender said with a smile.

“Alright, that Gillywater is strong though, take it slow,” Rosmerta cautioned the young drinkers.

“I’ll have what professor Vector is having,” Luna said, surprising Harry, who was sure she’d go with Flitwick’s order.

“Mmm, she has good taste, raspberry rum,” Rosmerta informed her. 

“I have to do whatever Professor McGonagall’s doing,” Harry said, true to his head of house now that it was his turn.

“I’ll take the Professor Vector,” Parvati ordered with an irrepressible smile

“What about Professor Sprout?” Justin asked, not wanting leave one off the table

“Ginger ale, heavy on the Gin, as she says,” Rosmerta said with a grin and Justin nodded that he’d take that. “Excellent,” The pub owner said, “make sure you let them notice your new habits, take it slow. Merlin knows they don’t,” She joked as she left to get their drinks.

The eighth years bent their heads together, giggling and feeling like they were really pulling one over on their over-bearing professors. 

“When we get the drinks we should find a table closer to them, show them we’re not scared.” Harry suggested through a laugh. “Oh, should we really push it that far?” Hermione asked, smiling but still just a little nervous.

“Hermione, you’re the one who started it, ordering like old McGonagall,” Ron reminded her, grinning.

“I don’t know what came over me, it just seemed like it might be funny,” Hermione explained, hiding briefly behind her hands. 

They continued their plotting and giggling until Madam Rosmerta returned, still unable to keep a straight face as she handed over their drinks. She set the last glasses down and warned, “Now, I know it’s my job to sell drinks, but you lot are jumping into the deepend here, drinking like professors, so take it slowly.”

They all agreed readily enough, most of them were lying, thinking they could handle it. They were wrong. 

Harry, Ron, and Hermione clinked their glasses nervously and sipped the firewhisky that Professor McGonagall was so fond of …and coughed out simultaneous puffs of smoke. 

Cho and Padma immediately began giggling uncontrollably with each sip of their version of Professor Flitwick’s drink of choice.

Neville and Hannah, splitting Hagrid’s order, looked a little daunted still by the amount they had before them. 

Lavender was not a fan of the School Medi-witch’s favorite, Gillywater, her first sip brought tears to her eyes. 

Luna and Pavarti seemed to rather like theirs, the raspberry rum that Professor Vector was fond of was actually rather nice. 

Justin gave his drink, Professor Sprouts gin and gingerale, a curious look after his first drink but decided it was alright. 

Harry recovered sufficiently to turn to Ron and Hermione and croak, “What was that?” 

Madam Rosmerta, who hadn’t strayed too far from the table because there was no way she was going to miss this free entertainment, said, “That’s the only thing strong enough to put McGonagall under the table.” 

“Yeah, we should have seen that coming,” Ron answered, breathing heavily.

“Do you want something different?” Madam Rosmerta asked sympathetically, “on me.” 

“Oh, no thank you,” Hermione answered, eyes gleaming, “I think I kind of like it.” (The scariest part is that she was being honest.)

“I can’t back down,” Ron added with a shrug to the bar keeper, and then turned to Harry and said Dramatically, “We’ve come too far to back down now, mate. Don’t you dare give up.”

“How can I argue with that?” Harry asked Madam R with a shrug.

She just rolled her eyes chuckled, “Suit yourselves.” Then speaking over the sound of Padma’s uncontrollable giggles, she added, “Just so you know they’re on their second each and showing no signs of slowing yet.” 

“Bloody hell,” - the interjection came from an unexpected source, Neville. 

Half an hour later they had all managed to finish, after Neville and Hannah drained the last of the mead in their mugs. 

“Wow,” Lavender sighed, “I could not do that again.”

“This rum is dangerous,” Pavarti said, shaking her head, “Sneaks up on you.” 

“My stomach is starting to hurt from the laughing,” Cho complained with a deep sigh.

“My head is spinning,” Justin said, surprised apparently, “I thought it would take longer than that.” 

“I think ours is an acquired taste,” Hermione said, mostly to Ron and Harry, her throat still burning, then she assured them, “But I’m acquiring it.” 

“I don’t know if I am,” Harry admitted, “But I agree with you Justin, I quite can’t see straight.” 

“You also took off your glasses, mate,” Ron replied, picking them up and waving them in front of Harry’s face. “Oh, yeah.” 

Madam Rosmerta floated back over to their table to give them the latest, “How are you kids doing? Feeling alright?”

That question was met with a collective groan. 

“Yeah, I expected that. Back to Butterbeer then?”

“I guess,” Harry said with a defeated sigh. He pulled out the money from his pocket and then looked up at the bookkeeper and asked, “Did they even notice? Did they see us?”

“Not until I told them what you were up to,” Madam Ros admitted with a guilty expression. She didn’t tell them about the laughter that broke out at that table when she told them. 

“What about them?” Justin asked, horrified at the prospect that anyone could do that more than once, “what number are they on?”

“Four,” Madam Rosmerta answered, smiling sympathetically at these young drinkers. “But you were never going to catch up with them, they’re practically pros.”

“Yeah, I think we sort of drive them to it, give them a lot of cause to practice” Hannah joked with a shrug, feeling weighed down but not really very drunk.

“Right, we drive them mad,” Neville agreed, smiling slightly, feeling both weighed down and a little drunk.

“Oh, I know it,” Madam R replied with a smirk. 

“But if they’re on number four how far gone are they?” Parvati asked, amazed at what she was sure the answer had to be. “They couldn’t possible walk a straight line, right?”

“Most of them can’t really do that stone cold sober,” Madam Ros joked, “but when I last was over there they were having an in depth discussion about theoretical charms, so they’re fine.” 

“Damn,” Ron said with a mix of respect and annoyance. 

“You know what, I can’t give up yet,” Neville said boldy, “I’ll have Professor Sprout’s favorite this time.” 

“Oh, Merlin. Are we doing this again?” Harry asked with a sigh, then turned to Ron and said, “Split Hagrid’s order with me?” 

Ron nodded his agreement and madam Rosmerta started writing, shaking her head.