"I've got the newest copy!" Pomona shouted upon entering the greenhouse.
"Rolanda, love, pour the shots."
The professors of Hogwarts had a long history of sneaking off to Pomona Sprout's special oasis themed greenhouse and indulging in a nice drink and a bit of gossip. It was Aurora who had combined the two one night, inventing a little drinking game. Fact or Farce. The rules were simple enough, they would read the gossip column of the Daily Prophet and any story they knew to be utter bullshite would require a drink. Some nights they would need Fillius to conjure beds about the greenhouse, as they were far too inebriated to make the trek back up to the castle.
"Oh, lovely!" Septima giggled and held out her hand. "Can I start?"
"Hmmm, Filius, I think perhaps you should go ahead and start with the beds, Septima looks as if she has had a head start tonight," Minerva said primly, though her own hair had already been long taken down from the tight bun that was her normal style.
Filius chuckled softly, but began to conjure without comment.
"Alright then," Septima began, pulling the paper closer to her face, squinting, forgoing the spectacles perched on top of her head. "POWER COUPLE HARRY POTTER AND GINNY WEASLEY CALL IT QUITS? Looks as though poor Ginny walked in on Harry in bed with... oh how boring it's Hermione again."
"Bloody hell, that's a double shot," Rolanda said, tapping the bottle with her wand, refilling the glasses as they emptied. It had been established early on any mention of the Golden Trio shagging one another would be an extra shot. And yet one more when all three were involved.
"Me next!" Pomona called, summoning the paper. "Let's see, BAD BOY DRACO MALFOY READY TO SETTLE DOWN? Wedding bells are ringing for Draco and Astoria."
"That one is indeed true," Horace said, dipping his hand into a container of his prized crystallized pineapple. "Both sets of parents are dead set against the union. Draco made quite the scene about it at the Lunar House when they all went to brunch."
"Good for the little shit, about time he stood up to Daddy," Rolanda said with a look of disgust.
"Yes, pet, we all know how you feel about Lucius," Pomona soothed, pulling the hand she was holding up and placing a kiss on it.
"My turn," Aurora hurried to say, seeing the tirade building in Rolanda. "Well, this one is certainly interesting. TANTALIZING NEW TRIAD? It says here that at a party held at the Weasley twins' home a source saw George, Angelina Johnson and Oliver Wood wander into a hidden little niche before simply disappearing from view. The source claims that as soon as they neared the spot to investigate, worried about the safety of the three. Sure, safety. Anyway, when they neared the spot, the source suddenly remembered they wanted to seek out someone else at the party. Another guest remarked on seeing the trio later in the night looking distinctly dishevelled and fully satisfied."
"Hmm," Minerva murmured contemplatively.
"Oh yes! Minnie's about to make another prediction!" Pomona giggled with glee.
"No, no predictions, just thinking. I mean, it makes sense, when you think it through." She sipped her wine, all thoughts of the game gone as she thought back to the days those three were still in school. "George has always followed Miss Johnson around like a puppy, and I still say Fred only asked her to the Yule Ball because Krum asked Hemione. What if he did it for George? George went alone, didn't he?"
"And he and Fred knew every word of Wood's little speech he made before every match, maybe it had to do more with George paying very close attention to what Wood had to say. I also remember finding the twins, Wood and Johnson practising alone more than a few times, several times only one twin was there," Rolanda added.
"I think we've all found Oliver in broom cupboards all over the castle with both witches and wizards," Septima put in.
"So we're thinking this one's true then?" Aurora asked.
"Who knows, but I'm not drinking on it. I think we may be hearing more about those three," Minerva said with a shrug.
"Oh, she did! She made a prediction!" Pomona squealed, doing a little dance in her seat.
"Any other stories?" Minerva asked though she sent Pomona a little wink.
"Let's see," Rolanda said, picking up the long since forgotten newspaper. "JUST WHAT IS LONGBOTTOM GROWING? Oh! look, love, Nev is growing seven of the top ten most illegal plants right here in this very 'abandoned' greenhouse!"
The whole group collectively lifted their glasses and drank deeply. There were a few shouted toasts to Neville Longbottom.