The Ravenclaw dormitory was bathed in the quiet glow of floating candlelight as Illuna sat cross-legged on her bed, her Astronomy notes spread in a semicircle around her. The parchment crackled faintly as she adjusted one particularly star-chart-heavy page—she'd annotated it so thoroughly that the original constellations were nearly obscured by her cramped, precise handwriting.
Midnight lay draped across her lap like a living shadow, his purrs vibrating through her thighs as he kneaded her robes with methodical paws. Every few minutes, he'd pause, fixing her with those luminous golden eyes, as if to say You know what I want.
Illuna sighed, reaching for the napkin-wrapped chicken she'd smuggled from dinner. Midnight's ears perked up instantly.
"You're spoiled," she informed him, tearing off a shred. The moment it left her fingers, Midnight snatched it mid-air with a precision that would put most Seekers to shame. She scratched behind his ears absently. "And I've clearly lost our standoff."
The clock charm at her wand tip shimmered—Hora Revela—its numerals glowing a soft blue. 10:34. Nearly time for Astronomy.
Her stomach fluttered. Of all Hogwarts' classes, Astronomy had always called to her most strongly. There was something about the vast, star-strewn canvas of the sky that made the castle's stone walls feel less confining. And tonight, she'd be sharing the tower with Lily, whose wonder at the cosmos mirrored her own.
A memory surfaced—the two of them during their first day, sneaking up to the Astronomy Tower at sunset. Not to study, just to look. The sky had been a riot of oranges and purples then, the stars not yet visible, but Lily had gasped at the colours like they were magic themselves.
Behind her, the dormitory hummed with quiet activity. Mira moved between beds, placing steaming cups of tea on each nightstand with her usual silent efficiency. The scent—something herbal and faintly citrusy—drifted through the room, mingling with the ever-present aroma of old books and ink.
Beth was half-draped over Mira's shoulder, chattering about some wizard's chess tournament while simultaneously attempting to engage Nellie in a game of Starburst Snap across the room. The magical card game involved catching shooting-star cards before they vanished, which explained Nellie's peculiar focus—her eyes tracked the cards with unnerving intensity, yet her hands moved lazily, as if she were half-asleep. Still, she hadn't missed a single catch.
Illuna watched them for a moment, the domestic rhythm of it all. Then, carefully, she gathered her notes, stacking them with the care of someone handling sacred texts. Midnight protested with a disgruntled mrrp as she shifted him aside, but he quickly reclaimed his spot on her pillow, curling into a tight, judgmental ball.
She smoothed her robes, checked her bag for quills and star charts, and took one last sip of Mira's tea—warmth spreading through her chest, steadying the excited buzz beneath her ribs.
The stars were waiting.
---
The walk to the Astronomy Tower was a quiet procession of sleepy Ravenclaws. Illuna led the way, her footsteps light on the spiral staircase while Beth, Nellie, and Mira trailed behind like a trio of yawning shadows. The castle at night had a different quality—the stones seemed to breathe, the torches flickering lower as if respecting the hour.
"So you're getting enough sleep now?" Mira's voice cut through the silence, careful and measured. Her eyes lingered on Illuna's face, searching for any lingering shadows beneath her eyes.
Illuna nodded, the ghost of a smile touching her lips. "Yes."
Beth blinked, her brow furrowing. "Wait, were you not sleeping before?" Her voice echoed slightly too loud in the stairwell, making Nellie wince.
Nellie exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Good," was all she said, but the relief in her voice was palpable.
The final ladder to the tower stood before them, its rungs worn smooth by generations of students. Illuna climbed first, pushing open the trapdoor to emerge into the open night air. The wind caught her hair immediately, carrying with it the crisp scent of autumn and something faintly metallic—like distant lightning.
Professor Sinestra stood near the great brass telescopes, her star-patterned robes swirling around her as she turned. She acknowledged them with a nod and a silent gesture toward the observation benches. They were early, after all.
As they settled onto the cold stone benches, students began trickling in—Gryffindor's rubbing their eyes, Ravenclaws clutching precariously balanced notebooks. Then—
"Illuna!"
Lily's voice rang across the tower as she bounded up the ladder, her red hair a vibrant streak against the night. She nearly tripped in her haste, catching herself on a telescope stand before grinning at Illuna. The excitement radiating from her was almost tangible, matching the quiet thrill humming beneath Illuna's own skin.
They spoke in hushed tones as the tower filled, recounting their first unauthorized visit here—how the sunset had painted the mountains in hues neither had names for, how the height had made Lily's stomach swoop but Illuna had felt nothing but calm.
Professor Sinestra's voice cut through their reminiscing. "Welcome to your first proper Astronomy night." She stood framed by the star field, her robes making her seem part of the cosmos itself. "Rule one: no sleeping in class." Her gaze swept over them, lingering on a Gryffindor already slumping against his telescope. "My tower, my rules."
A few students groaned quietly. Illuna sat straighter—she'd napped earlier in preparation, but even so, the late hour tugged at her concentration. Beside her, Lily stifled a yawn behind her parchment.
The lesson began in earnest then, Sinestra's voice weaving through the constellations. Illuna's quill moved steadily across her notes, recording familiar patterns with fresh annotations. She knew these stars—had traced them in books since childhood—but hearing their stories aloud, with the actual sky stretched above her, made them feel newly alive.
Lily leaned over occasionally to whisper questions or observations, her enthusiasm undimmed by the hour. "Look—that's Cygnus, right? The swan?" Her finger traced the shape in the air, connecting dots Illuna had long since memorized.
"Yes," Illuna murmured back. "See how the tail star is brighter? That's—"
"Deneb!" Lily finished, beaming. "I remembered!"
Sinestra's sharp glance silenced them, but Illuna found herself smiling anyway. The night passed in a blur of celestial mechanics and mythology, the professor's lectures punctuated by the occasional snore from the back benches.
The professor gave them the task to find three different stars—Sirius, Polaris, and Vega—in groups of two.
Lily and Illuna stood side by side, Illuna adjusting her telescope, trying to spot Sirius where she knew it would be.
Lily, a bit bored, spoke up. "So, why do you love stars so much?"
Illuna, still searching, answered. "It's a rather long story."
Lily smirked. "Well, we have a long night."
Illuna nodded. "I suppose… Fine. At first, it started when I was much younger. Victor had bought me a telescope for my birthday."
Lily looked shocked. "Wait, the one we met today?!"
Illuna nodded, finally finding Sirius, and gestured for Lily to look through the telescope so they could write down its location.
"Yes, he is my brother. And he wasn't always what he is today."
Lily nodded, unsure.
"Back then, he put the idea in my head of writing. Later on, I had the idea to travel and write about my journeys—thus, my future goals."
Lily looked up. "What happened between you two?"
Illuna's lips pursed. "They found out I was a bastard's child—a half-blood, or mudblood, as they called it. And they abandoned me."
Lily frowned. "But how could that ruin your relationship with your brother so badly? From what I heard, you two were close." She found Polaris and gestured for Illuna to look.
Illuna peered through the telescope. "I suspect it's because of Mother. After they cast me out, I suspect she planted seeds of doubt in his mind."
A sudden chilling wind blew past them, and Lily shivered, glancing off at a distant wall as she thought about it all.
A few minutes later, Illuna touched her arm. "I found Vega. Please have a look."
Lily nodded and did as she was told.
Illuna spoke again. "Now then, I do believe I've overshared a bit there. But bear in mind, I don't mind you asking about it."
"Flower, I—" Before Lily could continue, Sirius yelled out from across the field. "I found Sirius! Let's goooo!"
When the final constellation had been logged and telescopes stowed, the students shuffled toward the exit like a herd of sleepwalking zombies. Even Lily's usual bounce had diminished to a tired shuffle as they descended the ladder.
Illuna paused at a window on their way back, catching one last glimpse of the sky. The stars seemed to wink back at her, old friends keeping watch over the castle. She exhaled, the night's wonders settling into her bones alongside the fatigue.
Tomorrow would be another long day.
Illuna now in her room, pulled out a book. A book she had longed to write in, but had been unable to until now… her journal
Thursday night :
There's a kind of silence in the Astronomy Tower that makes everything inside me settle. It's not empty—it's full of things that don't need to be said. The sky hums with stories older than the castle, and I think, if I stay still long enough, I might start to understand them.
I'm writing by wandlight. Midnight is curled at my side, full of stolen chicken and smug satisfaction. My knees are stiff from the stone benches, and my fingers are ink-stained again. I don't mind. The world is quiet.
I've been here just over two weeks, and already, the castle feels like a living thing. It shifts and breathes, offers secrets to the curious and tricks to the careless. I've learned the rhythm of the stairs, the way the corridors cool before it rains, and how the library sighs when it's nearly empty. There's always something to be discovered and I plan to do just that.
Severus is dark and moody but seems to be hiding his feelings, perhaps out of protection. Tessa is a new perspective, impulsive, brash and seemingly shameless. Lily—Lily burns so bright it hurts sometimes, but in a good way. Its refreshing
Vi's been teaching us—duelling, mostly, and how not to think like a textbook. She has a way of speaking that cuts through your doubts before you even name them. I'm not sure she knows how much I've been listening.
It started as a way of self study, McGonagall doesn't know, and I doubt Vi wants her too. But if I'm being honest—and I suppose I should be honest here—I needed to know I could stand my ground. That if certain things ever happen again, I won't freeze. I won't allow weakness to show again.
There are things I don't name in these pages. A voice I know too well, twisted now with something cold behind the eyes. There was a time we shared stars too.
Midnight is dreaming—his paws twitching like he's chasing something. I think I'm dreaming too, a little, but I'm wide awake.
Tomorrow, we'll study and train and laugh and maybe fall asleep over our notes. And if he tries to knock me off balance again—he won't.
Not this time.
-Illuna