Silent Affinity

C h a p t e r S e v e n

The icy wind sliced through my body as I ascended up the stairs of the Astronomy tower.

In the winter the skies were crystal clear showcasing the glimmering stars.

Theo and I decided to continue this class after last year even though it wasn't mandatory.

We were the only ones out of the group who took an interest in muggle science and I was up late most nights anyways, better to fill them with something interesting.

The large Orrery came into view as we reached the top, students sectioned off in small groups around the outer edges of the tower.

Every muscle I had ached from my thighs to my toes as I made my way to my station.

To my surprise someone was bent over looking through my telescope.

"Um.. hi?" I cleared my throat.

"There she is. I took my telescope back home over break and left it there." Theo's face turned from the lens, the pale blue moonlight detailing his features.

"I wish I would have thought to bring mine home, probably wouldn't have been bored to tears." I chuckled placing my bag down on the wooden bleachers.

"Good evening class. Tonight is a very exciting night, we will be learning about comet debris." Professor Sinstra appeared from the shadows, sudden fires began to light within the sconces surrounding the oval shaped tower.

"That doesn't sound very exciting." I whispered stretching up on my tip toes to reach his ear.

He chuckled quietly shifting his body towards mine causing his arm to brush against me.

The hairs on my neck and arms rose and it wasn't from the chilled wind whipping around me.

"In other words known as, meteor showers. We will be learning about what to look for when studying them. There will be an extraordinary shower Saturday night, it will be optional to come to the tower to view it. However, I recommend it for the exam."

As Professor Sinstra spoke my eyes wandered from your exposed forearms poking out of your robes, they lead me down to your long fingers wrapped around your Astronomy book.

"Begin chapter 30 of your books. Once you've taken notes on that I'd like for you all to use the remaining time by observing the moon phases we went over before break."

I snapped my eyes forward as students around me shuffled around making their way to the old wooden bleachers.

I took a seat at the far right end away from listening ears.

Theo followed sitting two sections below me, he spun around to my surprise now face to face with me a single row separating us.

We sat in silence with the occasional whisper of the strong winds whistling around us.

I occasionally lifted my eyes from the pages to watch him run his index finger across the words and turn to his parchment writing them down.

"Theo, can we talk?" I kept my voice low.

He finished what he was writing before sitting his quill down and gazing up at me with golden green eyes.

There was no better time than now to set things right even if it was a difficult subject.

"Sure." He leaned in closer to me laying his forearms on the wood, inches from my feet.

"I shouldn't have gotten so upset. I think I was just hurt everyone else knew except for me. But I don't even care anymore I just want us to be okay." I twirled my quill in my fingers shyly as I spoke.