Starlight// FW

Astronomy Tower

****

I t had been a couple of days, and I hadn't heard back from my dad. I decided to give him one more. Deciding that I would see if a letter from him arrived in the morning post, and if it didn't, I would stay. So, unsurprisingly, I couldn't sleep. I thought about going out to the courtyard, but then I decided to go somewhere else. I went to Hazel's studio. It was in one of the Astronomy towers and was filled with canvases and paints and easels. I looked up at the stars through the large window, letting out a sigh. It really was magical here. I studied her paintings which were sitting around the room. They were mostly landscapes, but one was of the back of a girl with bright red hair, surrounded by a blanket of stars. 

I smiled to myself as I looked at it. I wondered when she would finally pluck up the courage to ask Celeste to the Yule Ball. I sat on a stool in the corner of the room, pulling the blanket I had brought with me tightly around me, the cool from the window seeping in. Fred and I had gone back to acting as if things were normal. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I had made it clear to pretty much everyone that I wanted to be single, so I was glad that he seemed to be respecting it.

But, did he think the kiss meant nothing? I didn't. I thought that it was magnificent. Life changing. Beautiful. If I was being completely honest, I had really been hoping that Fred would ask me to the Yule Ball, so I would have an excuse to say screw it to my dad. I wanted to dance the night away with Fred again.

I waved my wand, casting a music spell I had looked up last year. I felt it was often easier to let music fill my mind rather than my thoughts. Sounds of Ella Fitzgerald filled the air and I moved down to the ground where a large pillow sat. I looked at the stars and closed my eyes. There was no use worrying, I knew what was meant to be would be. I just had a hard time accepting that. My eyelids grew heavy, and soon sleep took me.

I sat up, looking around rapidly. I was still in the Astronomy tower, but it was empty. Hazel's easels and canvases were gone. Blue fog was pouring in through the window. I rubbed my face, realizing the similar sensation I was feeling. "Not again", I groaned. I looked around.

Okay, maybe I should be logical about this. There had to be some breathing techniques to get me out of whatever breakdown I was having. "You aren't having a breakdown, child", the deep voice sounded from behind me. I turned around, "What is going on?". Rowena Ravenclaw stood there once again, as if she was through a veil.

"You'll understand in time", she smiled, "Now stay still, please. Let me look at you". I blinked, fully at a loss for words. She scanned my face, "You do look like her. It's the eyes, we all have the eyes". "The eyes?", I said, then realizing Ravenclaw was fading away, called, "Wait!" She smiled slightly, "We will meet again, child". I almost called out again, when a vision of someone else started fading into view.

"Dad?", I whispered. He was sitting at the desk in his office, a sight I rarely saw. I was most accustomed to seeing the door. His office was clean and tidy. Books were stacked all the way to the ceiling. He was looking at a book on the dark wooden desk, dictating to the quill. I couldn't make out what he was saying, it was if my head was underwater.

"Can you see me?", I called out. He didn't move. I tried to see what he was writing. The letter sealed itself and my name was scrawled on the front. "Oh", I gasped. He was writing back to me. What was he saying? I couldn't read the expression on his face. "What are you saying?", I called, but I was becoming overcome with the feeling that I was falling. The blue fog overtook me.

I sat up, sunlight was pouring into the astronomy tower. I rubbed my neck, which was sore from sleeping on the ground. "That is not normal", I let out. Then I realized something. I scooped up the blanket, wrapping it around myself. I didn't bother changing into real clothes, I just needed to get to the Great Hall. I arrived right as the owls began to swoop in.

"Hey where were you?", Hazel said as I sat down. "And what are you wearing?", Roger said, his eyebrows drawing together. I didn't respond to either of them, as right at that moment a large owl, my father's owl, dropped a thin letter on my lap. I ripped it open, thinking about the fact that I had somehow watched my father write this the very night before.

Sawyer,

Of course you may stay for the Yule Ball. I would be cruel to stop you from participating in such an excellent display on international magical cooperation. I am glad you are keeping up with your studies. I will see you in the summer.

Father

"I get to stay!", I squealed, "I'm going to the ball!". Hazel smiled widely, "Yay!". Roger eyed me still, "What are you smoking and can I have some?". I shot him a look and he backed down. As we sat at the table, my mind swirled with a mix of emotions. Confusion at my dream, elation that I would get to go to the ball, and slight disappointment that my father didn't give a second thought to not seeing me for a year.