Among the Stars

       A couple months have gone by in what feels like no time at all. Finals are coming up in a month or so and Wisteria and her friends don't seem to be able to get much of a break from homework, but when they do they make the most of it. They are sitting near the Black Lake in a spot that they have claimed as their own as they finish up their last bit of homework before the weekend begins.

       "All of this work is stressing me out. We should have a night to ourselves tomorrow. I can get Michael to help me grab some food and drinks from the kitchen beforehand and then we could just camp out in our room for the day." Wisteria says from up in the tree that everyone else is sitting under. "What do you guys say?"

       "We could play a few games, listen to your record player, and just talk I guess." Penelope says.

       "I like the sound of that." Shannon agrees.

       "Yeah, sounds like a plan, but Wisty?" Jane asks. Wisteria looks down at her and raises an eyebrow in response. "How did you get up in that tree?"

       Wisteria laughs. "I climbed. It's not that hard when you've been climbing trees since you could walk."

       "Are you not afraid of falling out?" Shannon asks. "I would be terrified up there."

       "I've never been afraid of heights. I love it up here, you can see everything so much better." Wisteria looks at world around her and smiles before moving her eyes back to her friends. "Christy, you haven't said whether or not you want to spend tomorrow with us?"

       "Oh..." Christine says, looking a little nervous. "Right. Umm... I would love too, but..."

       "But what?" Penelope asks.

       "Well... I have plans."

       "Doing what? With who?" Shannon asks. "Do you have a date?" She smiles.

       "... Yes..." Christine answers.

       Shannon squeals and the other three girls smile.

       "With who?" Penelope asks.

       Christine looks embarrassed as she mumbles, "Sirius."

       Shannon squeals again, only louder, Jane and Wisteria congratulate her, and Penelope rolls her eyes.

       "I hope you don't expect that to last long." Penelope says. The smile falls from Christine's face as she looks at her friend. "I'm just saying. I mean, how many girlfriends has he had in this year alone?"

       "Oh come on. Our girl's got a date! Just be happy for her, will you? No need to poop her party just yet. We'll deal with a break up when it arrives." Wisteria says as she nudges Penelope with her shoulder and wraps Christine in a hug. "You enjoy your date. We'll just throw our party without you."

       Christine smiles and nods at her friend.

       A month later, Christine and Sirius are still dating and presumably a happy couple. Many people have begun to take notice that it may be the longest relationship Sirius has had so far. Christine gets jealous glares from many girls as she walks the halls with her hand in his. Finals are growing ever nearer and the stress is building, mainly among the older kids, but it's evident among the younger ones as well.

       The day before finals begin Sirius, Peter, James, and Remus set up a small prank in the Grand Hall, so that the moment someone enters the room, they get hit with a random, minor transfiguration spell or charm. There are people with pig noses, rainbow hair, clothes that continuously change color, and many other things. The boys themselves have something different about them. James' glasses grew fur, Remus' book electrifies anyone who dares to touch it, including Remus, Sirius' ears were turned into those of a cat, and Peter grew a tail.

       This harmless prank either sent people over the edge, or saved them with a bit of laughter. Christine's hair turned purple as she stepped inside, Wisteria's nails change color every minute, and Shannon's quill sprouted a second feather and flew away. The three of them laughed and moved towards the Ravenclaw table to eat their breakfast, but stop when they notice Penelope and Jane. Jane's parchment folded itself into little people and is dancing around the room and Penelope's skin has turned green. Both girls are fuming with anger and look like they are ready to murder the boys who did this. Wisteria and Shannon rush forward to grab their friends and pull them to the table before they get the chance to act upon their anger.

       "Calm down, it's just a funny prank." Shannon says.

       "It's humiliating." Jane mumbles.

       "Nothing about this should be humiliating." Wisteria tells her. "Everyone has something off about them. Even the Professors!"She wasn't wrong, each of the professors had been affected by the spells. McGonnogal's hat was singing loudly from atop her head and Dumbledore's beard seemed to be noticeably growing, much faster than it should.

       "Yeah." Christine says. "The professors seem to be amused!"

       "They're probably just happy to know that those imbeciles have actually learned something, even if they are only using it for something as stupid as this." Penelope rants.

       "Exactly. It's just a stupid prank. Nothing to get worked up about."

       "I just wonder why Sirius didn't tell me that they were planning this prank." Christine wonders out loud.

       "He probably just wanted to surprise you." Shannon tells her.

       "Or he's lost interest in you." Penelope says. "When was the last time you guys actually spoke?"

       "Yesterday, actually." Christine says defensively.

       "Okay, well then when was the last time you guys went on a date, or spent time together outside of class?" Penelope asks.

       Christine freezes and Jane puts an arm around her. "Come on Pen, there's no need to be like that. Besides, even if it doesn't last between you two,"

       "You mean when it doesn't last." Penelope mumbles.

       Jane gives her a look before turning back to Christine. "We'll be here for you the whole time."

       Christine nods her head. "I'm gonna go talk to him." She says before standing up and walking away.

       As soon as she's out of ears reach Penelope speaks up again. "So how long do you think they'll last?" She asks. Shannon gives her a look and she shrugs her shoulders. "I'm just saying. I give it until the end of finals."

       "I'm giving it until the end of the school year." Wisteria says. Shannon and Jane look at her in shock. "What? Relationships this young rarely last anyway. Besides this is Sirius we're talking about. The rest of us may not talk to him much, but we still know him enough to know that this wont last."

       "Still. She's our friend! We should be supportive." Shannon tells her.

       "I never said anything about not supporting her. I'm just being realistic." Wisteria argues.

       "Then instead of betting on when they'll break up you should be prepared for when they do." Jane says.

       "That's true. Knowing Christy, she probably wont take a break up well." Wisteria agrees.

       "We'll throw her a pity party." Penelope suggests. "We know her enough to know what will cheer her up. So we could just throw her a little pity party the night after he breaks up with her and do everything we can to help her get through it. We'll be fulfilling our duties as friends while being reasonable and knowing they wont last."

       "Fine." Shannon says. "But they haven't broken up yet, so don't get too excited."

       Wisteria looks up from her food and locks eyes with Michael from his seat at the Hufflepuff table. He stands up and starts to walk away while motioning for her to follow.

       "I gotta go, I'll catch up with you guys later, kay?"

       "Where are you going?" Penelope asks.

       "Off to see Alderton are you?" Christine says with a playful smirk.

       "Don't get your hopes up Christy." Wisteria tells her friend, rolling her eyes. "If I know that boy as well as I think I do, he has no interest in being in any romantic relationship."

       "But do you like him?" Shannon asks, causing Wisteria to blush.

       "Well... Maybe... I-i have to go." Wisteria scrambles away as her friends laugh loudly at her response. She runs out of the Great Hall and finds Michael leaning casually up against a railing on one of the staircases. He looks up and smiles when he sees her before grabbing her hand and dragging her towards the front doors of the school.

       "Where are we going?" Wisterias asks as she jogs a bit to catch up to him.

       "Outside." He turns and looks at her and she notices that his eyes had been turned purple by the prank that had been set in place. She giggles and little and says, "Nice eyes."

       He looks confused for a moment before realization seems to dawn on him. "Did those idiots prank do something weird to my eyes?"

       "They're purple." She tells him and laughs harder and he rolls his eyes. "My nails wont stop changing color." She tells him as she glances down at her now red nails.

       He looks at her hands and then smiles. "I almost can't believe that those idiots were smart enough to set up something like that."

       "They have Remus with them remember? They're not all idiots."

       Michael seems to consider this for a moment and then nods. "I suppose so. Most people here seem like idiots to me though."

       "That's because most people here are idiots compared to you."

       "You're not."

       "Yes, I am. You're the smartest kid in the entire year. Hell, you're probably better at magic than most of the second years too!"

       "I was considering asking Professor McGonnogall if I could take more advanced classes and maybe skip ahead a couple years." He confesses as they reach their usual tree by the Black Lake. He pulls himself up into the tree and then holds a helping hand down to Wisteria.

       She accepts it and follows him into the tree, sitting in front of him on a branch. "You could do it. I would feel pretty lonely without you in some of my classes, but you could definitely do it."

       "You wouldn't be that lonely. You have your Ravenclaw friends."

       "They aren't you though." She looks up at him and he smiles softly at her.

       "I'll hold off for a while then. Maybe wait a few years before skipping ahead."

       "I don't want to hold you back."

       "I don't want to lose what little time I have with you. I'll stay in your year." Wisteria smiles to herself as he continues, "How are you feeling about the finals coming up?"

       "I'm not stressing. There's no need to. Not until fifth year at least."

       "I suppose that's true. You'll do fine I'm sure. You're a smart girl."

       Wisteria nods and smiles to herself. The two of them sit there in silence for a while until students started pouring outside for their classes. They hop out of the tree and Michael gives her a small bow and the two friends go to their separate classes.