A few days before term started, Joyce noticed a change in the boys' behavior. Remus seemed exhausted all the time, Sirius and James seemed extremely protective and secretive about Remus and Peter seemed even more fretful than he usually was. Joyce wondered what was going on, but with school starting soon, she pushed her questions in the back of her mind. That night, James, accompanied by an awkward-looking Sirius, had a worried look on his face when he went up to Joyce.

"Say, Joyce, are you going outside tonight?" he said, with an air of false innocence.

"Yes, I am, James, tonight there's an awesome star shower, I don't want to miss it. Why?" said Joyce.

"I think you should stay inside," answered Sirius, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Why so?" inquired Joyce, confused.

"Let's just say it's for your own safety," said James with a deep sigh.

"I can't miss this star rain, professor Flitwick said it was going to be the best star rain since the one I saw when I was three! I am not missing this!" said Joyce, angry with James's uncomprehension. He should know that this was extremely important to her. "James, these shooting stars coïncide perfectly with the full moon! They're going to light the moon up; I can't miss it!"

James shook his head. "I know it's a one-in-a-lifetime event, but I'm serious-"

"No you're not, I am, I'm Sirius," said Sirius with a grin, cutting James off and making Joyce groan.

"I was saying," growled James with a dark look to his friend, "that I am asking you, no, I'm begging you to watch this star rain from your room, Joyce, it's for your safety."

"I'm sorry, James, but I can't miss this. Not for your pretty eyes, not for Sirius's, not for anyone's, this is something I've been looking forward since last year, when Flitwick told me about it." Joyce sighed, and walked away. Why did James always choose the wrong time to tell her things like this?