"Sure," Sirius said. They quickly cleared the plates and soon were carefully picking their way down the darkened dunes. The moon was a few days from being full—a blue moon, this month—and shone silvery white across the glassy ocean, illuminating the beach as they walked barefoot on the wet sand. The waves frothed around their toes and ankles, once splashing up to their knees, and they ran up the sloping shoreline, laughing as the water soaked the hems of their shorts. They talked about everything and nothing—their favorite Spice Girl (they both picked Mel B); Mary and Amelia’s honeymoon spot in Botswana; their latest weird dreams; Harry’s newfound confidence in walking; Teddy’s third tooth, sprouting on top.