The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

63. The Astronomy Tower

As the twenty-first of March approaches, it is safe to say that I get more and more skittish with every passing day.
The reason behind this is simple: Miriam turning twelve.
And I have no idea how to make it a nice day without mum or dad around.

"Didn't anyone teach you manners, Novak?" Sirius slaps my wrist, "Stop playing with your food."

"Did anyone tell you it's bad manners to not use deodorant?"

"Speak to your elders with respect," He tuts, and turns to Remus, who still looks half asleep, "Mooners, your girlfriend is being rude, say something to her."

Remus looks up briefly from his porridge, "Well done, Lin."

"Both of you are despicable," Sirius sighs, packing up his bags and stuffing the remainder of his toast into his mouth before getting up, "I hope you'll both be despicably happy with despicable manners. Good day to you."

"And where are you going?"

"I forgot my quill in Charms, meet you in the library?" Sirius asks, taking us by surprise.

I nod, "Yeah... sure."

As he rushes out of the hall, I turn to Remus, who's eyebrows are raised in surprise, "Well, I never thought I'd see that day Sirius Black would want to go to the library."

*

It's after a boring class of Ancient Runes that I get my second surprise of the day.
This time it comes in the form of a familiar young Slytherin with an unsettling icy gaze.

"Miss Novak! Excuse me, Miss Novak!" Someone calls my name as I head towards the library, and I turn back to see one of Miriam's friends, the one I met on the train, rounding a corner and running towards me.

I vaguely remember the conversation we had, but remember that she came from a line of seers. As she skids to a halt, I get a better view of her face, and try to supress a shudder at the sight of her icy blue eyes, "Hey, Elizabeth."

"Oh, cool! You remembered me! I mean," She composes herself quick, drawing in a deep breath, "it's just, well... hi."

"Hi," I answer, but when she stays silent, I clear my throat, "is... is there anything I can help you with?"

"Oh, yeah," She blinks rapidly a few times, "sorry, I kinda just zoned out for a second there."

"Okay..."

"Anyway," Her cheeks redden slightly, "it's about Miriam-"

"What about her?" A sense of fear and nervousness fill me in that moment, and I stop myself from shaking the girl by her shoulders and demand what's wrong.

"It's just that she's acting a little strangely. She's really quite and I know her birthday's coming up, and I don't want to see her like this."

I frown, before taking one last glance over my shoulder towards the library, "Can you take me to her?"

"This way," Elizabeth nods eagerly, and pulls me by the wrist down the corridor we came by with a hurried pace. We ascend a few flights of stairs before I realise that this is the route towards the Astronomy Tower. She slows down as we take a left down a much dustier corridor, and I'm left trying to regain my breath as she lets go of me.

"She's here?"

"After classes, she comes here. It's quiet up there, peaceful," Elizabeth places a hand on the door, but before she opens it, she frowns, "I'm sorry, it's just that I can't help it, but I saw something when I looked at you..."

"I'm sorry?"

"I get glimpses of the future," Elizabeth shrugs, referring to our conversation on the train, "and I saw this old house. The Shrieking Shack, I think. You were standing in it, but so was this Slytherin boy in your year-"

I want her to go on desperately, but the loud groaning of wooden floorboards from somewhere in the tower draws her attention. She creaks the door open, and guides me in silently. I stop dead in my tracks as a familiar voice echoes down the stairwell, "What are you doing, Novak?"

At first I assume that the comment is directed towards me, but then my sister answers, "Thinking."

"Do you want to talk about it?" The voice asks. It's such a familiar voice, but as it echoes down the walls, it is hard to tell.

"No."

"What are you doing?" The voice gets clearer as we climb the stairs, "Is that a journal?"

"No, its a story I'm writing-" Miriam begins, but is cut off as Elizabeth knocks on the trapdoor above us, "who's there?"

"It's Liz, open up, you have a visitor," Elizabeth says, glancing back at me.

The floor above us creaks before the trapdoor opens, and I find myself face to face with a boy, "Regulus."

"Miss Novak," He doesn't miss a beat, offering out his hand as I climb the steps, and then does the same for Elizabeth.

"Hey, Mim," I smile at Miriam, who's turned to face me from her seat on the edge of the tower's balcony.

She attempts to smile, "Hi, long time no see."

"Lucky you," I come to sit beside her, "you don't have to see my ugly face every day."

"We should go," Regulus says to Elizabeth behind us, and Miriam doesn't object, giving them a small wave as they descend the steps.

As the door closes, I turn to face Miriam once again, "So, whats it about?"

"S'cuse me?"

"The book you're writing," I nudge her softly, "couldn't help but eavesdrop."

"It's about dragons and a muggle, but I'm not that far into it." She shrugs, trailing her ink-splattered fingers over the binding of the book. There is silence for a while between us, as we look out at the view of the rolling hills and the shimmering lake below. Miriam is the first to speak again, and she does so in a soft whisper, "I don't want to get older, not without Mama and Pa."

"They are with you," I swallow back the lump forming in my throat, "they will always be. We'll celebrate in the summer as well, when we see them."

"If we see them, Lin," she puts down her book and hugs her knees, "it doesn't feel right that we should celebrate while they have to hide away from the world."

I pull her into my arms, and squeeze tight, resting my chin on her head, "They'd want you to be happy. How's about we meet up here on your birthday and have cake? You, me, Elizabeth... and Regulus, if you want."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I might even find that muggle fizzy drink you like," I muse, "or maybe I'll have it all to myself."

"Aylin!"