Look at the Stars

The entire Weasley family, Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and a few other close friends sat around the Weasleys' gigantic dining table. "Do you think you're really ready to get married tomorrow?" Sirius teased Harry. "You were having a bit of trouble coming down the stairs at the right time. . ."

Harry stuck his tongue out at Sirius. "I'm ready! I'm mature enough to get married! I am, too!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Whatever. . . No, seriously, Harry, I can see that you're madly in love with Ginny. I offer my sincerest congratulations."

"What about you, Sirius? Are you ready to get married?"

Sirius thought for a moment. "Are you suggesting something, Harry?"

"Maybe I am. . ." Harry glanced toward the end of the table, where Hermione was laughing with Ginny and the other two bridesmaids, Ginny's cousins Zandra and Ellie Weasley.

"We'll talk about it later, okay?"

Harry smiled. "I thought so."

Fred and George Weasley were whispering conspiratorially across the table.

"Harry. . . aren't you just a little bit worried that Fred and George might be planning something 'funny' for tomorrow?"

"You know, I really trust them. Now, tonight. . . I expect an explosion at any moment. But Ginny made them promise her that tomorrow would be prank-free. They really adore their little sister; they'd do anything for her. And really, Sirius, they've calmed down quite a bit in the last few years."

"They've had plenty of reasons to," Sirius stated sadly.

Just then, Fred stood up. "We have an announcement to make."

George joined him. "As you may know, Fred and I prepared the refreshing drinks that you've been enjoying for the last half hour. What you may not know is that in approximately fifteen seconds. . ."

"All of you will be temporarily transformed into chickens."

Everyone looked around uncertainly. Nothing happened. Then, one by one, the people sitting around the table started sprouting feathers and growing beaks. Fred and George stood laughing, until the entire table of angry chickens flew at them and began pecking them viciously. "George! How long is this supposed to last?" Fred squealed in pain.

"Only. . . ten. . . more. . . seconds. . ."

Everyone collapsed into a messy heap as they quickly transformed back into humans.

Mrs. Weasley was the first to speak up. "And that, boys, better be your ONLY prank for this wedding."

Sirius and Harry glanced at each other and laughed. "Told you," Sirius grinned.

Half an hour later, Sirius and Harry met in the library at the Weasley home. Harry spoke first, "Sirius, I've seen the way you're looking at Hermione."

Sirius nodded his head and twisted his mouth into an ambiguous expression.

"Tell me, are you in love with her?"

Sirius closed his eyes for several moments and a look of despair passed over his face. "Harry, I can't deny that I love her. But I don't think there's much hope for me."

Harry thought for a few seconds. "Have you told her how you feel?"

"No. . . I want to wait until she's. . . ready. Harry, do you have a problem with this? I can see where it would be a little strange for you. . ."

"Two years ago, if you'd told me you were in love with Hermione, I would have been horrified and shocked. But now, seeing you two together, I could only offer my warmest congratulations for you. I can see how lonely you are, Sirius, and Hermione. . . she is, too, whether she'll admit it or not. And I believe you're one of the only men in the world smart enough for her. You're one of the only men I would consider good enough for my friend. I would be. . . so very happy for you."

"I wish it could be so, Harry. Oh, I do love her. . ."

Harry smiled a little at the sight of his lovesick godfather. "There's hope, Sirius, there really is. . ."

Sirius tried to believe him.