Star Light, Star Bright

Star Light, Star Bright

Chapter 1

Harry walked to the Gryffindor common room with Lavender. They laughed and talked about the day's events. They walked, cheerfully, side-by-side, their hands brushing against each other's. Finally, their fingers clasped together. They looked at each other and thoroughly enjoyed the other's presence without talking.

* * *

Hermione paced the common room. What was taking him so long? Harry was supposed to be entering the common room at exactly eleven-thirty AM, right after breakfast. At least, that's when he normally entered. She should know. She was his best friend. Hermione kept pacing, thinking, where could he be?

* * *

Harry and Lavender had reached the Fat Lady's portrait. Lavender gave the password. "Dragonwings," she told the Fat Lady.

"Dragonwings, indeed, my dear!" the Fat Lady replied as she swung forward to let them through.

* * *

"THERE you are!" exclaimed Hermione as they entered the common room. "I've been wondering what happened to you! I have something to tell you..." she stopped abruptly when she saw Lavender. "...but I guess it can wait..."

Harry saw Hermione eyeing Lavender and said, "Actually, I have to go to the Owlery...gotta Owl Snuffles. Do you want to come and we can talk there?"

"Okay. I've got to send an Owl to me mum. Let's go."

"Okay. Bye, Lavender," said Harry, winking at her.

"Bye, Harry," replied Lavender, with an emotion that Hermione just couldn't pick out.

* * *

"All of a sudden, you're...friendly with Lavender?"

Hermione and Harry were walking to the Owlery. It was quite warm, on the first day of exams.

"Well, sort of."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I sort of realized how nice and pretty she actually was, and thought I should get to know her better," Harry replied.

"Oh, well, okay." Hermione tried to conceal her embarrassment. "I just thought I should let you know...Ginny has feelings for you, too, and so does...well..."

Harry grinned. "No surprise with Ginny. Well, come on, now, spit it out."

Hermione returned the smile. "Cho likes you. A lot. Ever since the Yule Ball two years ago, she realized that you were actually kind of good-looking. And kind," she added hastily.

Harry's jaw dropped in awe. "You're KIDDING!" Everyone in the Owlery laughed. Harry looked around at the laughing group, clearly embarrassed.

Hermione chuckled softly. "No, I'm not kidding," she said, when the laughter had finally calmed down. "I heard her talking to her friends about this 'hot' guy she liked, and I asked if it might be Harry Potter. She said, 'yes, it's him! My goodness, Hermione, how did you know?' And then I told her something that she could never believe. Don't even bother asking what I told Cho, because my lips are sealed."

Harry looked at Hermione with admiration. He didn't have a clue why he was admiring her at this moment, but he felt clearly bubbly inside and felt a warmth that he had never felt before.

"Let's go," Hermione suggested.

"Good idea. The owls are starting to squawk really loudly and people are still looking at me like I'm some kind of weirdo!" They started toward the common room, having delivered Sirius' letter with Hedwig, who was 'talking' with a small brown farm owl. Hermione sent her letter with a tawny forest owl in the corner of the Owlery.

* * *

Back in Gryffindor House, Harry went straight up to the boys' dormitory. He wanted some time alone so he could think about what Hermione had just told him. He wondered who she had her eye on?

Hermione had always been a bit secretive about her personal life, but when asked about it, talked as though she had nothing to hide.

Just then there was a knock on the door. "Come in," he called.

Fred and George entered the room. "We need your help," Fred started.

"We need advice," George added.

"About what?" Harry asked.

"Well..."

"...Stuff," Fred finished.

Harry could tell by their blushing faces that this was about a girl that they were crushing on. "Everyone thinks it's stupid, but we like girls in a year younger than us."

"So?" Harry was clearly confused.

"Well..."

"Let me guess...Fred likes Parvarati and George likes Hermione?"

"No...I like Parvarati and Fred likes Lavender," said George.

Harry looked at them, dumbstruck. "What?!"

"Well...wait. I saw worry in your eyes when you asked if George likes Hermione. Do you like Hermione?"

"Well...I'm not quite sure. I dream about her...sometimes," he added, blushing. "But I'm kinda confused because Ginny and Cho like me, too, and I kinda like Lavender, but I'm confused about who likes me. Like, I liked Cho back in my 4^th year, two years ago, but I've never liked Ginny as anything more than a friend. And I'm not exactly sure about Hermione." Harry was blushing so hard that his face was as scarlet as his Quidditch robes. "I'm not even sure if I really like Lavender. Woah, love is complicated."

"No kidding. Now, about Lavender..."

"What?"

"Well, maybe we can help you, Harry..."

Harry grinned. His enchanting, emerald-green eyes sparkled as he smiled. "Maybe...," he said. "Just maybe." Knowing Fred and George, they would probably set up a trap for him NOT to get the girl of his dreams. He laughed inside as he thought of this. But there was one more thing they didn't know.

He saw Hermione's beautiful face in his head. He was glad Fred and George couldn't see what he could.