A cool night breeze swept through the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower. Carrying a hint of moisture from the lake, the evening wind dispelled the lingering heat of the sunset.
It was a clear night. The clouds had scattered, leaving behind a curtain of black velvet draped with countless specks of starlight. Flickering and twinkling, they were strung together by human imagination into lines that, when recorded in books, became constellations with mysterious meanings.
"Look over there. September is one of the best times to observe Capricorn. Do you see it? It's composed of fifty-one stars in total. It's the incarnation of the goat-fish god Pan from Ancient Greek legends. In Eastern mythology, Capricorn corresponds to Niu Su Yi [The Ox Star], which belongs to the Black Turtle of the North's seven mansions."
"Then does that Ox Star you mentioned refer to the Cowherd?"
"No. That's the cow the Jade Emperor skinned to make a drum because it stole the Nine-Eared Grain, causing three years of famine in the mortal realm. Niu Su Yi is the tip of the horn, and Niu Su Si is the nose rope. Look, right there."
Cho extended her hand under the starlit sky, pointing out the direction of the stars. She was sitting right on the edge of the Astronomy Tower's roof, with the dizzying drop of the Hogwarts tower tens of meters below her feet.
Yet, even with the risk of falling into the void, she didn't seem the least bit nervous at this moment.
But she probably was nervous. Cho, having been brought up here by Lynn, was pressing tightly against him. He didn't even need to take a deep breath to smell the girl's warm, natural fragrance.
"The real Cowherd star is Altair in the constellation Aquila. It and the Weaver Girl star—Vega in Lyra—are separated on opposite banks of the Milky Way. I don't really like the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, though."
"Why?"
"Because peeking at a girl while she's bathing and then stealing her clothes is just too sleazy. It's not romantic at all."
"I just hope you aren't talking about me. I took your clothes to throw them in the washing machine, not to steal them, okay?"
"Then when did you ever peek at me bathing?" Cho's eyes rolled as she shot a light glance at Lynn.
"I look openly and honestly, alright?"
"Hmph." Cho turned her head away. This guy's words were so irritating—how could swimming count as bathing!
"And then?" Lynn asked casually.
"And then what?"
"Didn't you say you were good at Astronomy and were going to give me some remedial lessons tonight?" Lynn turned to look at Cho. "Otherwise, why would I stay up here in the cold wind? Teachers need to be diligent and responsible."
"Or is it because the seventh day of the seventh lunar month is in three days, and you brought me here to preview how we're going to spend to the Festival?"
"Wow, Cho, you're so greedy. You're actually trying to pick me up."
"Say that again if you dare?" Cho turned her head fiercely and pinched Lynn's arm. "There are plenty of people who want to date this lady; you'd have to queue up in the gutter."
"It's just that Big Sister here thinks you're pitiful. You don't do anything besides go back to the common room and read books. Now I'm teaching you about work-life balance."
"So you dragged me here to teach me how to recognize constellations?"
"It's the sky full of myths and legends. And myths often turn into fairytales, becoming bedtime stories."
Cho hugged her knees and rested her chin on them. Looking at the night sky ahead, she spoke softly, "When I was little, my mom would point at the stars in the sky and tell me these stories. I'd listen and listen until I fell asleep."
Lynn was actually touched by this kind-hearted girl; she had really taken the previous events to heart.
But Lynn knew very well that it would be hard for him to retrieve that "childlike heart." He was already an adult on the inside. The pure, innocent heart of a child was a distant place he could no longer reach.
"Thank you."
Regardless, Lynn accepted the sentiment.
"We just finished talking about my constellation, so what about yours? Cho, what month were you born?"
"September 25th. I'm a Libra. Look, they're over there."
"There are forty-six stars in total, forming the scales of the Goddess of Justice, Astraea. If you look closely, Beta Librae is pale green. It's a very rare stellar color phenomenon, but that's the Muggle astronomy explanation. The Wizarding World doesn't have an explanation for it."
"Maybe it's because there are too many stars and too few wizards, and even fewer wizards willing to observe them one by one. I asked the teacher before, but the teacher didn't know either."
Perhaps the night breeze was too cold; Cho leaned lightly against Lynn's shoulder, tilting her head. She extended her hand, tracing the constellations in the sky for him while telling their little stories.
Several hours passed in the blink of an eye. When he noticed Cho shivering slightly beside him, Lynn realized it was getting very late.
"Are you freezing?"
He wrapped one arm around Cho's shoulders and slipped the other under the bend of her knees. Only after lifting her up in a bridal carry did he truly feel the icy chill on her body.
"You didn't think to tell me you were cold? I only realized something was wrong when you started shivering. It's my fault too; I was running hot today, so I didn't feel the cold."
"It's actually okay."
Cho shrank her neck back, leaning against Lynn's chest. "I'll be fine after a cup of hot tea. I actually quite like stargazing. It's a pity I can't see them from the dormitory, and I'm too afraid to come to the Astronomy Tower alone."
"If there's a next time, we'll just stay in a tent. We can see the stars from inside, and we won't get blown by the cold wind."
"Why didn't you say so sooner!"
Cho puffed up her cheeks like a bun in anger and gave Lynn a thump on the head.
"I just thought of it now, didn't I? I was a bit entranced by your stories earlier. Speaking of which, a childhood where I fall asleep listening to stories like that... it seems I've really never experienced it."
"Wouldn't they do that in the orphanage?"
"In the orphanage, getting enough to eat and staying alive was good enough. If I hadn't been the best-behaved one there, getting a piece of candy every now and then, I probably would have gone to bed on an empty stomach nine days out of ten."
"Then you—"
"Alright, don't pity me. Ain't I living just fine right now? My body is great too, otherwise where would I get the strength to pick you up?"
"Am I heavy?" Cho asked, baring her little canine teeth.
"If your weight isn't over a hundred, you're either flat-chested or short. Which one applies to you?"
"I'm ninety-one. Why don't you guess?"
"Mustn't guess, mustn't guess."
Lynn shook his head hurriedly. After floating down from the top of the tower, he set Cho gently on the ground. She stumbled slightly; having held the same position for so long, her legs were a bit numb.
"Hold me up," Cho whimpered. "I want to drink black tea. No sugar."
"Can you wait two minutes? I'll make a run to the kitchen."
"No, I don't want to stay here alone."
"Is our gentle, kind, considerate, and brave Miss Cho Chang afraid of the dark?"
"No..." Cho paused, pouting her small mouth. "Just a tiny bit."
"Fine, fine, fine, I'll carry you on my back, okay? It's not far from here to the Room of Requirement on the eighth floor anyway. I'll take you there."
Lynn turned around and crouched halfway, hooking Cho's legs to hoist her onto his back. He then floated up steadily, descending directly along the castle's exterior to the eighth-floor window. Using telekinesis to open a window was the simplest thing in the world.
"Lynn, what kind of magic are you using?"
"It's not magic, it's a superpower. I'm the only one who has it. But don't tell anyone else, okay? Only you and Harley know."
"Mhm!"
Walking from the Room of Requirement to the Hogwarts kitchen, Lynn ordered two cups of sugar-free black tea. The house-elves also provided a plate of crispy sandwich biscuits. After the warm tea settled in her stomach, Cho rubbed her legs and was able to stand steadily again.
"I'll walk you to the entrance of your common room. Get some sleep."
Taking the shortcut through the Room of Requirement again, they arrived at Ravenclaw Tower in an instant.
"Goodnight, Lynn. Rest well."
Cho gently knocked on the eagle knocker that asked the riddles. Today's question wasn't tricky, and she quickly gave an answer that satisfied the eagle.
"Yeah, bye-bye."
After watching Cho enter the common room, Lynn closed the door behind him.
There weren't many people left in the Gryffindor Common Room. It was almost twelve o'clock, lights-out time. Only a few diligent students were reading; occasionally, the rustling sound of quills scratching across parchment could be heard. Gryffindors weren't all guys who thought about mischief all day long; there were still plenty of good kids who studied seriously.
Like Harley, for instance, and Hermione beside her. The two were looking at a textbook and discussing it in whispers.
"You're back from your date?"
Harley asked with a beaming smile when she saw Lynn walk up to her.
"What date? What kind of total idiot goes on a date on the Astronomy Tower to get blasted by the cold wind? That would be insane."
Harley stuck out her tongue; she didn't think such a fool could exist either.
"Cho is much more reliable than you. She's helping me reclaim my tragically lost childhood, and I feel the results aren't bad."
"Really? I knew Cho was amazing!" Harley said proudly.
"Well, you're not the one who should be proud. Alright, go to bed. If you don't get eight hours of sleep, watch out or you'll end up short and flat-chested."
"I will not!"
Harley swatted away Lynn's hand as he ruffled her hair, closed her book, and dragged Hermione toward the girls' dormitory.
By the time Lynn returned to his dormitory, the lights were out and the sound of snoring had already begun. It seemed the boys had a healthier sleep schedule.
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