EPILOGUE
A/N: It took a while, but here's a stupid end to a crappy story. Hurrah!
"They're both stupid," Harry told Sirius a few days later. His godfather gave him a dry grin.
"For being in love? I distinctly remember you getting quite upset only a few weeks ago because you thought they would never be friends again. Now they're more than friends, and one would think you'd be happy."
"No, what I meant was, they're stupid because they think I don't know." Harry gestured to Ron and Hermione, who were wandering down Stoatshead Hill away from them. (Actually, Harry hadn't figured it out by himself- George had told him that he'd found them snogging in the kitchen, although Harry was disinclined to believe him until he heard a whispered argument between Ron and Hermione while they were waiting for him to come out of the bathroom). The trio had made the trek up the steep hill for one last meeting with Sirius before he went "away"- where, he refused to say- and the four of them had had a long and involved discussion about everything except Percy. And where Sirius would be going shortly. At Harry's request, Ron and Hermione had left Sirius and Harry alone for a bit so they could say goodbye, but Harry was left with the feeling that it was Sirius and himself who were leaving the other two alone. The wide open space of Staotshead hill was also making him uneasy. "Maybe we should have gone into the orchard again."
"No," said Sirius, "not with Fred Weasley and his girlfriend around. I was going for a wander in the orchard the other day and I practically fell over them. Luckily I transformed before they noticed anything."
"What?" Harry said, alarmed, "you never told me that!"
Sirius shrugged. "I didn't want you to get upset. It was fun, actually, I played fetch with them for an hour or so."
Harry snorted. "You must be the only grown man in England who gets excited about playing fetch- with a couple of teenagers."
"I don't know about that. Haven't you read anything about Prince Charles in the paper lately?"
"Very droll," Harry laughed. He looked back at Ron and Hermione, who were walking toward the ditch at the bottom of the hill but had their faces turned toward each other. As he watched, Ron put one hand on Hermione's back to steady her, and as she reached behind to remove it- as their hands touched- they looked at each other with what could only be described as adoration. Harry snorted derisively. He had interrogated Ron in a vague, awkward sort of way the previous day and the only thing close to a confession he could get on Ron's part was, "She's someone I can just…be stupid with."
"Well, I think it's sweet," said Sirius, correctly reading his godson's disgusted expression.
"I'm sure you think a lot of things," sniggered Harry, ducking as his godfather made to clip him on the ear.
"Well, Mr. Peanut Gallery, I'm afraid it's time for me to leave, anyway," Sirius laughed, gathering up his things.
"Right now?"
"'Fraid so, kiddo," Sirius said. Harry's heart sank, and he turned away quickly to look at Ron and Hermione. They had stopped at the edge of the ditch, and they were holding each other in what looked to be a very warm embrace. Sirius followed his gaze.
"God," he said, with a short laugh, "I just keep thinking of the first time I met them. Lots of changes, Harry, lots of changes."
"It takes a lot for things to change that much though," Harry said, with a gesture toward his friends. He wondered if he would ever see the both of the in the throes of an argument with each there again, then dismissed it. It wouldn't matter anyway, since they'd both been falling for each other for so long. And he was desperately grateful that Hermione's back-breaking effort into the relationship hadn't gone astray. For once, Ron hadn't missed the point.
Sirius was staring up at the sky. He did this often, when he was outdoors- it was a melancholy mannerism that Harry supposed stretched back to the days when the Dark Mark would often mark the sky. At present it was pale grey with clouds, with the December wind pushing the odd dead black leaf or too across it. A beautiful winter day… For a while, they both stared upward, until a long sigh from Sirius indicated he was about speak.
"You can't stop the world moving," he said finally. "It's a long road that moves under your feet, and sometimes it betrays you and leads you into the dark. But other times…." He looked back down again, back down at Ron and Hermione, two figures wrapped around each other, for all the world as though they had been like that forever. "Sometimes there's hope. And that's why you keep walking."
Harry didn't say anything, but he felt a shift in his mood. Hope. Despite everything that went on in the world, Ron and Hermione had followed their own path and found each other along the way. It was a nice thought. Sirius squeezed his shoulder. "Listen," he said, looking grave again, "I have to go. I want you to do something for me while I'm away."
"Yeah?" Harry said, immediately alert.
"Relax." Sirius slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Spend some time with your friends and forget about everything that's happening. And if your friends are busy- as they well might be, with each other- then spend some time with Ginny. She does you good." Harry managed a smile, even though he had to turn his face a bit to hide the fact that he was blushing. It was true he had been uptight lately, but things were looking better. Ron and Hermione had fallen for each other; that had to be a good sign. And of course, there was Ginny, always warm and accommodating. Sirius gave his godson a crooked grin. "All right then? I've got to go."
"I'll walk you."
"Nope. Too dangerous. I'm Padfooting it. And also, I'm late." He did something that he had never done before- he leant down and gave Harry an awkward hug. Harry was equally moved and terrified. A lump rose very quickly in his throat.
"Sirius," he managed, as his godfather pulled back. "Am I going to see you again?"
"Without a doubt," Sirius said, quick to reassure him. "It's just that I'll be a couple of months at the least. But I'll owl you and Dumbledore every week, okay? And Harry-" he said, straightening up, "if I hear anything more about you getting into trouble…" he raised a finger. "Then I'll be very proud."
Harry grinned. "On your bike, then." His godfather gave him a sharp nod and then, with little more than a whoosh of air, transformed into the great grim dog that was Padfoot. He ran around Harry's calves, barked three times, and then darted away down Hill, with his rucksack dangling from his jaws. Harry watched the dog until he disappeared.
For a long time, he stayed up there, alone. The air was fresh and clean, with the promise of rain later on- a good day for flying. Harry thought that maybe things weren't so ridiculous after all, but maybe they were meant to be this way. It was such a long thought that it took him a while of deep concentration to assemble it in his head.
Not even the crunching of boots alerted him to the approach of people- and not until they sat down, one of either side of him, did he realise that it was Ron and Hermione.
"Thought we'd join you," said Ron.
"Unless you'd like us to leave." Hermione added.
Harry grinned. "Oh, finishing each other's sentences now, are we?" He didn't need to look at them to know that they were blushing, but they all giggled anyway. A reckless breath of air leapt across the ground, whipping several dead leaves from the old ash tree nearby into a frenzy.
It was Ron who finally spoke what Harry was wondering. "Things won't change between us, Harry. You might as well know, though, that Hermione and I…"
"Are completely stupid and think I don't already know." Harry finished. He turned and grinned at Ron, who had the decency to look down with and embarrassed grin. Hermione let out a peal of delighted laughter.
"Harry!" she said, and grabbed him in a hug. "We're sorry we didn't tell you."
"You didn't need to say a word," Harry said dryly, deciding not to tell them about George's revelation. "So, what happens now, anyway?"
"What do you mean?" asked Ron.
"Where do we go from here?" Harry said. Ron took Hermione's hand, and the three of them looked around themselves- at the top of Stoatshead hill, you could see as far as the village of Ottery St Catchpole; on the other side, The Burrow, the orchard, the moor, and beyond, far beyond- the hills. The world spread itself below them as a wild and woolly countryside, with the air dancing around them, breaking the silence. whistling like a mad chorus made to underscore the magnificent world. The world that they lived in, the world that was always going to change.
Harry leaned against both of them in a sort of pseudo hug. Ron's hand ruffled his hair, and Hermione's arms squeezed his waist reassuringly.
"I don't think it matters," she said, for all of them, "as long as we go it together."
Harry threw back his head and laughed, and as Ron and Hermione joined in, another madcap breeze captured the sounds of their laughter and threw it out into the sky.
THE END. (Really, it is.)
AN: A huge buttload of thanks to every single person who reviewed this at any time from anywhere with any comment. (Yes, I am desperate for reviews. Shut up.) I'd also like to thank Orlando Bloom, for being so goddam sexy and for being my future husband. As always, this fic is dedicated to my best friends (who shall remain nameless) and JK Rowling. (Oh my god, the poor woman. If she had a grave she would be spinning it it.)
On another note, BOOK FIVE! HURRAAAAH! Everyone stand up right now and do the Book Five dance. You can't see me (hopefully) but I'm doing it right now.
Anyway, that's it. I also want everyone to read the sequel "Something Stupider" because it's even worse than this one and should confirm your worst suspicions about me (i.e.: I can't write for shite). Oh my god I just looked at my watch and realised I'm going to be late for a class. Okay, that's it, the end.
