Amidst the increasingly noisy chatter of the students, Draco quickly finished his hot supper.
The food rekindled his warmth and energy, and even strangely diminished the fear and heaviness the tower had instilled in him. He felt his soul lighten again, and his heart warmed.
"How did you find this spot?" He had wanted to ask this question for a long time. Very few students would discover the sheltered nook beneath the observation deck.
"Under very coincidental circumstances," she smiled mysteriously.
"Another 'unspeakable' secret?" He frowned slightly.
"That is right. Class has already started.... let us sneak up quickly," Hermione said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Under the cover of night, they quietly slipped back up to the astronomical observatory, hiding behind the other students, and listened as Professor Sinistra enthusiastically explained the learning objectives for the new school year:
".... You have already mastered the names of different stars and the trajectories of planets. Starting this year, you will learn about the motion of galaxies and how to draw star charts."
Professor Sinistra flicked her wand at the ceiling, and the previously still metallic galaxies began to accelerate, demonstrating to the students the mysteries of galactic motion. "I know you have already started taking Divination or Arithmancy, so this will make it easier for you to combine your studies, predict the future, and foresee destiny.... "
Various galaxies, constantly changing and unpredictable, were appearing above the classroom. It was a truly breathtaking scene for the beginners. The students were completely mesmerised, uttering gasps of amazement.
"They are beautiful, are they not?" Hermione said softly.
Draco gazed lazily at the stars, letting out a casual "mm" through his nose.
"I think I can see you, Draco," Hermione said suddenly with a smile. "I have found the positions of Gamma Draconis and Beta Draconis. They are very bright, are they not?"
Following Hermione's pointing direction, Draco tried to identify them and finally expressed his agreement, "I think you are right."
"What is your favourite star?" Hermione asked, looking at his sharply defined profile.... a question that seemed a little silly.
Normally, Draco would probably tease her, saying, "This does not sound like a question a top student who prefers rigorous and rational subjects would ask."
But tonight, with the warmth of tea and food, and looking into those bright, sparkling eyes, he had a bit more patience: "When I was little, my favourite star was Vega.... Alpha Lyrae, the brilliant white star. You see, Draco is not easy to find; sometimes it is a bit dim.... "
"Indeed," Hermione said meaningfully, "It is a rather cunning constellation."
"Indeed, somewhat cunning." Draco smiled enigmatically at her, gazing at her silently with his cool grey eyes. He said softly, "If you cannot find it directly, try a roundabout approach. If you can find the bright Vega first, look around it, and you will be able to more easily identify the four stars that make up the head of the dragon."
"A roundabout approach?" Hermione asked with interest. "That is an interesting method."
Draco said lazily, "Slytherin's usual tactics."
"Are you teaching a Gryffindor to use Slytherin methods?" Hermione chuckled. Sceptical, she tried observing the stars using his method, and after a moment, she exclaimed in surprise, "I actually found them!"
"You found it quickly, did you not? Faster than finding Draco directly, was it not?" Draco asked her softly, looking at her vivid profile and surprised expression.
"This.... " she stammered. Although it was effective, the young Gryffindor witch still had her pride and was unwilling to directly admit that Slytherin's methods were superior.
So she observed the Draco constellation and rambled on about other topics: "I have discovered that the study of names is a truly mysterious thing. Not only can it be used in Arithmancy, but some ancient magical families also like to use stars for names. Like Draco.... the Dragon constellation .... and Sirius.... "
"You are right." Draco was not looking at the stars; he was looking at her.
He said softly, "The Black family really likes to name their children after stars, which reflects the parents' hopes for the next generation. For example, there are Bellatrix.... Gamma Orionis.... Regulus ....Alpha Leonis.... and Arcturus... Alpha Boötis, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere night sky. Most of them are very bright stars in the galaxy.... although the fate of wizards who received these names was not necessarily very bright."
As he explained, Hermione observed the celestial trajectories near the North Celestial Pole with great interest, seemingly mesmerised by the stars, and remained silent.
Professor Sinistra was speaking about something again.
Draco found the lecture, which he had already attended once, rather uninteresting. He absentmindedly adjusted his binoculars, lost in thought.
The vision of our parents is just that.... a vision.
The brighter the star, the sooner it falls. For example, Regulus Arcturus Black.
Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo, meaning "the heart of the lion." Draco glanced at the star; it was already dim and lifeless in the autumn night sky.
Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes and the brightest star in the northern hemisphere night sky.
Draco could hardly imagine how much of the Black family's expectations must have rested on someone who carried two such dazzling names.
This prodigy, however, had a short lifespan, like a flame snuffed out too soon.... he had disappeared more than a decade ago, when he was only eighteen years old.
This had driven great-aunt Walburga to the brink of madness. According to his mother Narcissa, Walburga had once been a dignified young lady, popular among pure-blood wizards for her elegant and intellectual manner.
But after this blow, she had withered away, turning into a foul-mouthed, embittered old woman.
"My cousin Regulus was once a staunch supporter of the Dark Lord and enjoyed his deep trust. This made Aunt Walburga incredibly proud,"
Narcissa had once told Draco. "But in the end, her beloved son's remains were never found, and only her most hated, rebellious son Sirius inherited the Black family home. How ironic."
Sirius Black, that troublemaker! A self-centred libertine who never considers the storms his actions bring upon his family.
Draco thought bitterly.
He finally understood his mother's fear and disapproval of him; Sirius Black did not care how much harm his actions caused others. He was incredibly arrogant!
A wave of frustration washed over Draco again. He should not have let his mother get involved with that rebellious scion of the Black family; he was ruthless in his schemes!
I need to subtly make this clear to my mother later.
Even the slightest contact with this Black family heir ought to be avoided. Draco made up his mind.
After midnight, students who had finished their Astronomy lesson walked down the towering staircase in twos and threes.
After saying goodnight to Hermione, Draco returned to his dormitory, his mind heavy with worries, and collapsed heavily onto the soft mattress.
He was plunged into nightmares again.
This time, he seemed to be at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, walking past the tapestry in the entrance hall where the portrait of his great-aunt Walburga was calling him a "traitor."
He ran up to the drawing room on the first floor, where the incredibly old house-elf Kreacher leapt out. Like Marvolo had choked Ogden, it grabbed him by the neck and snarled ferociously, "You took the young master's things, you filthy thief! The young master is going to throw away the mistress and master's things.
He will be so heartbroken! Kreacher must stop him.... "
He was suddenly jolted awake at two in the morning, Kreacher's words echoing in his mind.
"The young master wants to throw away.... the mistress and master's things!" He turned these words over in his mind, as if a candle flame flickered dimly somewhere in the darkness.
The young master is going to throw away the mistress and master's things.
That seemingly nonsensical statement is actually perfectly logical.
Kreacher has two masters.
He clearly despised the young master Sirius and deeply loved the his old master Regulus.
Regulus Arcturus Black.... of noble birth and deeply trusted by the Dark Lord.
Like Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy.... of noble birth and trusted by the Dark Lord.
Perhaps, if you trust someone enough, you might entrust them with the safekeeping of a Horcrux.
Regulus has gone missing.
Kreacher repeatedly hid things and tried to disobey orders to protect Master Regulus's belongings.
The known details were like scattered puzzle pieces, slowly assembling a shape through countless connections. Draco stared at the thick curtains above him, using his imagination to slowly sketch out the final piece of the puzzle in the darkness.
What was the relic that Kreacher cherished so dearly? Whatever it was, it must have been of immense importance.
He thought of the countless gold and silver ornaments and piles of trinkets in the Black family home at Grimmauld Place.
Could there be some hidden secret within them?
Could there be a special relic concealed there?