Astronomy

Ten: Regulus

Reggie walked towards the bottom of the astronomy tower, thinking about what planet he would look for first. As he got closer, he saw James standing under the tower, looking at something on the ground, and he realized they were flowers.
"You like flowers?"
James quickly turned around, obviously surprised. "Hey Reggie." He paused, thinking about his answer. "Yeah, flowers. Especially roses. Don't tell anyone, though, because I have a reputation."
"It's not weird. Flowers are nice."
James smiled and jumped up the first step of the tower. "Let's go."
Reggie followed him up, watching James's face in the low light of the night. His hair was messy, as if he hadn't combed it for a year, but Reggie thought it looked good.
"So what are we looking for?" James asked as he sat against the towers railing. "A planet, or something?"
"That's what I'm looking for."
    "Then I will to."
    Reggie looked in to a telescope, then positioned it so he could see in the sky. Everything looked like it was surrounded by clouds. "I can't see anything," he mumbled.
    James looked up to the sky from his spot in the floor, as if he could see clearly from there. "Me too."
Reggie sat next to him, looking up. "You can't see anything from here."
"Well you can't see anything from the telescope either." James looked back over at Reggie. "How's school been so far?"
"Alright, I guess. It's good to see my friends again."
    "That's good."
    "What about you?"
    "Same here. I'm just glad to see my friends again. I missed them over the summer."
"Sirius definitely missed you," Reggie said. He thought back to summer, watching Sirius sitting in his room for hours writing letters to James.
    "I think he missed Remus more," James said quietly, now playing with his shoelace. "They haven't stopped talking since they saw each other on the platform."
    "Remus is the one with the scars, right?"
    James looked up quickly. "Yeah, that's Remus."
    Reggie nodded, but didn't say anything. He had some ideas of where Remus's scars had come from, but he didn't think it would be appropriate to discuss it.
    "Do you think Sirius would care if he knew we came up here?"
"Why are you asking me? You know my brother better then I do."
James thought about it for a minute. "He would probably think it was a little weird. Just because, you know, things are a little awkward with you guys right now, and he might thing I'm choosing sides, which I'm not."
"You're probably right."
"I say we just don't tell him. I'm glad we're friends, but Sirius doesn't need to know."
"We're friends?"
James looked up at Reggie, surprised. "Well, yeah I think so. We talk a lot, and hang out and stuff, so, yeah I think that makes us friends."
"I'm glad," he said nodding. "So we just won't tell Sirius we're friends? Until maybe things get better between us and he won't think it's awkward?"
"Sounds good to me."
***
    The next day, Reggie sat under a tree with Leo and Eve, drawing them as Eve talked about school and some of her friends. Leo sat and listened patiently, nodding his head and smiling.
"And that's why I want to change dorms," she said. "Some girls are just so annoying."
Leo nodded, then stood up. "It's getting late, guys. I think I'm going to go to my dorm."
"Goodnight Leo," Reggie said, not looking up from his drawing. "See you tomorrow."
"See you guys!"
"What are you drawing?" Eve asked.
"Reggie looked up at her and showed her his sketch book. "You and Leo."
"That's so good, Reggie! You're really talented!"
"Thanks."
She continued talking about random things, and Reggie nodded and said "I agree" every few minutes. He wasn't really listening, but focusing on his drawing. After a little while, Eve stood.
"I've got to go. See you tomorrow?"
"See you."
He stayed out for a little bit longer, finishing his drawing. He thought about who else he would want to draw, and his first thought was James Potter.