Before Gwen wanted to leave it was almost the end of the summer. She had spent the warm, sunny months hanging out with Ann and the brothers Trois back and forth. She had visited all of the places on her mental checklist: the Arc de Triumph, the Eiffel Tower, Napolean�s tomb, the champagne caves, every chateaux in northern France, the cathedrals, the beaches, the mile long Tapisserie de Bayeux and finally the Louvre.

She spent an entire week in the impressionists� wing of the gargantuan museum before she could move on. She spent a full hour gazing at the Mona Lisa, ignoring the bustle of people around her vying to get a closer look. She couldn�t believe that so many beautiful things could all be contained under one roof.

When she wasn�t ogling the art she was lazing under an umbrella of the Caf� de la Lune in Reims with one of the brothers. They could all apparate as well, and enjoyed popping around with Gwen. Jerome was her confidant, trying to help her sort out her boy problems over a plate of poutin. Philippe was her drinking buddy (seventeen is legal in France, so don�t get any bad ideas about Gwen�s mores), taking her out to all of the best discotheques. Pierre was her man for fine cuisine and loved to test her palate on some of the most interesting dishes on the planet.

Ann got to meet the brothers as well and considering that they lived quite close to each other decided it was about time to make some friends. If she was going to stay in France she might as well have good relations with some of the natives.

Gwen had even taken tea with Madame Maxime, twice at the headmistresses request. She was happy to test her new language skills with the gracious hostess and found that Madame Maxime was the most polite creature she had ever met. Even when she screwed up on her pronunciation Maxime would not correct her unless Gwen asked her to. By the end of the summer she felt confident that Olympe, as she was now allowed to call her would remain a friend for the rest of her life.

With heavy sighs she packed her bags again, folding each article of clothing three times over to delay the inevitable. The brothers sent her away with many parting gifts. Pierre gave her three bottles of wine and two of champagne, asking only that she save one of them for a special occasion. Jerome gave her a gorgeous replication of the Mona Lisa, whose enigmatic smile gazed out from the portrait�s frame endlessly. Philippe compiled a photo album of all the discotheques they had visited. She especially loved the picture taken in the Suds Club, a dance club that filled with bubbles and foam while people danced the night away, soaking wet but completely happy.

Ann was the hardest to say goodbye to. Her aunt had made a splendid last dinner for all of them, baking Gwen�s favorite desserts, pumpkin pie and cheesecake and serving them first. She followed it up with shot of apple brandy, great to clear the palate. She then served roast duck, boiled potatoes, asparagus almandine and sweet rice. They had a plain salad to cleanse the palate for appetizers. She served up tomatoes vinaigrette, a liver pate with crackers and a smorgasbord of cheese. They finished with more desserts, this time a mixed berry tart served warm with vanilla ice cream and a sliver of whipped cream.

They sat and talked over coffee, fuller than they�d ever been. The brothers told funny stories to lighten the heavy mood of departure and were relieved when both Gwen and Ann laughed so hard that their luke-warm coffee shot out of their noses.

But Gwen had to go. She walked slowly upstairs to grab her bags. She would apparate outside the Hogwart�s gates and walk back up to the castle. She wouldn�t have much time to prepare for classes, but she felt that with all the training Dumbledore had given her that she could handle it on the fly.

She was standing at the bottom of the steps for ten full minutes before she walked back into the kitchen. She hugged the brothers, one by one, thanking them for the lovely gifts. She looked at Ann before she went to hug her and sighed.

�You�ll come back.� Ann said. �You have to come back and visit again.�

Gwen cracked a brave smile. �I will.� She said and squeezed her aunt tightly.

She pulled back and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was gazing up at the skyline of Hogwarts, turrets sparkling in the setting sun.

To be Continued in Episode Sixty Five