Refilling her tea she eyed her son, grinning slightly. "Are you sure this isn't your way of worrying over me not having any company as well, Harry? I assure you I keep very busy." Entirely with research projects and penning the occasional letter to a distant friend, her social calendar wasn't exactly blacked out.

But the grin that appeared on Harry's face when she mentioned his friend was all Lily needed to seize the chance to shift the conversation, turning the tables on him.

"You know," she began mildly, hiding her smile behind the rim of her teacup. "I hope you're aware that it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if you skipped a visit to my house because you used your Hogsmeade visit on a proper date."