Lost Stars I Regulus Black

C H A P T E R I

September 1st, 1972.

           I looked around twice, twice to check if everything I had packed was still in my trunk. If this moment was true, it took a lot of James screaming and mums' constant questions to snap me from my daydreams. Daydreams about a magical castle, about the tall astronomy tower my brother brags about. I was so curious about the distance between the tip of the tower and the stars. How much could I learn? I wondered. I've always had a particular interest in stars. I find their existence quite unique, how they light up the night sky, or how they dance around the moon, or how they flicker when a comet passes by to say hello.  They look lonely from down here sometimes, like if you spoke to them they'd answer in the search of a friend. Like their beauty only covered the painful fire in them. 

          As a first-year, I should probably be worrying about making friends, about being sorted in a house, but I didn't care. I didn't care at all. I think none of the houses particularly fit me If I'm honest. Gryffindor; too much pressure, the need to be constantly worrying over everyone. I am not one to do something on the brink of a moment to protect someone just because. I am one who needs motivation, who observes on the sidelines waiting for the moment to strike, but only if it really benefits me at the end of the day. That's why James hates playing board games with me; I always win.  Ravenclaw: I must admit I've considered it, but I don't have the mind to be worried over homework either, too lazy for that.  Hufflepuff; simply no. Don't get me wrong, I like to believe I am kind and I think I treat everyone with respect and kindness and well I am loyal enough, trust me. But I simply don't see it.  That leaves Slytherin. Little secret, I personally think I'd be a great Slytherin. To say I'm not ambitious and determined would be a lie. When I turned five, my parents took James and me to a muggle fair. One with those big, shiny wheels with lights and other car things. Nevertheless, I was so set on winning a white polar bear stuffed animal that was almost impossible to catch. Dad tried a million times, he couldn't. But I was not going to give up until I had my polar bear. Even the worker said no one had ever been able to win it, but that didn't stop me from wasting all my tickets in the same spot, going up against big kids, trying, again and again, to win the fluffy thing... until I did. What a surprise that the five-year-old me had won the impossible prize. I could barely aim right, but it took one in a 500 chance to happen and it did. I was not leaving the carnival fair without it.

          "Liz, come on! We've got to get going. I promised Sirius, Remus, and Peter that I'd arrive early to save us the best sits!" He confessed. By the time we were all loaded in the car, mum was crying hysterically, just Imagine, a 60-year-old woman crying because her youngest child was leaving the household. Well, not leaving, but leaving. Yes, not a particularly amazing sight, especially not when it makes your eyes teary too. "Promise you'll write, and promise you'll take care of her James, hm?" She asked in between sobs, blowing her nose loudly making me wince. "Don't worry mumsy, why didn't you cry this much when I left last year?" he crossed his arms and pouted. "Well, I think Liz will do fine with that brain of hers, won't you honey?" My father asked me, watching me through the car's rearview. I only nodded and kept my gaze focused on the passing trees. My thoughts were loud in my head, the feelings finally settling in. No more good morning pancakes or papa hugs when James is bullying me. 

          We arrived at King Cross earlier than I would admit I wanted, I guess goodbye is coming sooner than later. James crossed nine and three quarters first with mum, and dad stayed behind with me helping me push my heavy cart. On top was my barn owl, Solar, in her cage. Personally, I don't enjoy caging her. She is very obedient and won't leave my side unless asked to, but my parents told me that it's a requirement to board with her in a cage. Making me roll my eyes internally, but oh well.  It was finally my turn to run through the pillar. I was here last year with James, but this time, I'm not coming back home. So I took a deep breath, not the first, or the third, but my fifth deep breath, and ran through the wall with my father.