astronomy • marlene mckinnon

forty one

"What the hell is that?"

"Looks like a book on a bookshelf in a library," Isabella noted, nodding wisely.

"Oh let me see," Regulus Black lightly pushed his elder sister to the side and peered at the book the girl was pointing at, and looked at it for at least two minutes before he turned back and looked at his sister with a completely straight face, "It says Myths and Legends from around the World, I'm guessing it would be a collection of stories from different parts of the world."

"I can see that," Astraea looked at her brother with a scowl.

"Oh, well I'm sorry," The sixth-year boy looked at the girl with false innocence, "I assumed you didn't, hence why the question."

"Oh shut up," The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes, glaring at the bookshelf in front of her, eyes flickering towards her younger brother while she continued, "I put Pride and Prejudice here, in the History section because I read it every day at the same time at the same place because I can't read it in my dorm because Jane Austen had to be a muggle author, and now somebody had to take it away and now my entire day is ruined and you two have to deal with it."

"Pass," Isabella shook her head, "When is the next Hogsmeade weekend anyways?"

"No, thank you," Regulus gave a sweet smile, a teasing look flickering in his eyes before he turned to Isabella, "The next Saturday and then we leave for Christmas break two days after Hogsmeade weekend."

"Ah, that," Astraea muttered, still glaring at the bookshelf.

"Oh for fuck's sake," The sixth-year boy rolled his eyes, sighing in annoyance, "It's just a book, get over it!"

The raven-haired girl slowly turned to her brother and blinked, "Just a book?"

"I'm sensing I said something wrong."

"It's my lifeline—"

"Oh, Merlin."

"The reason I wake up every morning—"

"Help me out of this hell."

"It's a religion—"

"Merlin's saggy testicles," Isabella looked at the two siblings with an exhausted expression, "It's almost ten and I do not have any energy to deal with this shit."

"In fact," Astraea pointed a finger at Regulus as she sat down and crossed her legs next to the bookshelf, "I'm going to stay here until I find out who it was, and teach them a thing or two—"

"I'm going to sit with Evans, I need peace."

"Oh, now that's just cruel, Izzy."

"I love you, really," The brunette winked at her as she began to walk away.

"Wait!" Regulus looked at her with wide eyes, "You can't leave me alone with this—"

"Hey! This is your elder sister you're talking about."

"I'm supposed to meet someone!"

"Who could be more important than me"

"Your sister Reg," Isabella grinned at him, "Your responsibility."

"I can't believe this," The sixth-year shook his head as he looked down at his sister who was still sitting cross-legged on the floor, her curious eyes peering at him.

"Who are you supposed to meet?"

"None of your business."

"Tell me."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?" Astraea pouted slightly.