Sirius watched as James spoke something to Professor McGonagall and made a quick bow. She took James’s hand, and he put his arm around her waist and began to dance her, somewhat haltingly, around the floor. Sirius’s amusement turned to disbelief when he saw James’s hand creep down to the curve of McGonagall’s lower back, then awe as he saw it inch further toward her arse. He smirked when she reached down and yanked James’s errant palm up, reattaching it firmly to her waist.

When the dance was over, James walked, grinning and pink about the cheeks, back to where Sirius was standing slack-jawed with amazement and, truth be told, a bit of envy.

“That was brilliant, Prongs!” Sirius said. “I can’t believe you copped a feel from old McGonagall. Was she mad? I’m surprised she didn’t hex you into next year.”

“Nope. Matter of fact, she told me she never had better and could I meet her at the Astronomy Tower after the dance.”

“What did it feel like,” Peter asked breathlessly.

“Like she didn’t have any knickers on.” James gave a sly smile.

“Merlin’s balls, are you kidding?” asked Sirius.

“Nope. She’s obviously got nothing on under the top of that dress, so I guess she decided to go au natural tonight.”

The three boys stood in silent contemplation of this intriguing possibility for a few moments before Peter asked, “What’s au natural?”