Hide & Seek

Chapter 2 - Sabaism

Chapter 2
SABAISM

sabaism
(n.) the worship of stars

STARS could make even the biggest person feel small. Not by their sight alone, of course. They're just small dots in the sky, watching over the night in silence.

No, stars make people feel small when they start to truly think about them. Giant balls of heat, gas, and energy, burning thousands of light years away. Yet still able to be seen from Earth, guarding dreams and wishes as if it was the sole purpose of their existence.

The stars have the power to change the way things look, and as their glow dripped down upon the steep planes of the castle looming in the distance, the only way to describe the sight was to call it as it was. Magical.

Gemma found herself holding her breath as the Hogwarts Expressed pulled into the station, the sound of the breaks harsh through her foggy mind. She'd spent the remainder of the train ride reading a tattered old Muggle book she'd received from Hermione as a loan before summer.

She wanted to ensure she remembered all the points she wanted to discuss with her curly-haired companion when she saw her again. Luna had been quiet during the second half of their journey as well, staring out the window as if the scenery was a movie she couldn't take her eyes off of.

Both girls were fine with the comfortable silence they'd created in their compartment, and with no more interruptions from a certain obnoxious someone the hours had flew by rather quickly.

When the train finally halted, Gemma and Luna stood up, stretching their limbs and reaching for their luggage groggily. Gemma helped Luna tug one of her trunks off the small shelf, it's seems almost bursting with whatever she'd stuffed inside.

"What in the world could you possible have shoved in here, Luna?" Gemma inquired, huffing and the exertion.

Luna just smiled and thanked Gemma for the help, not giving her any clues as to what could be packed away in her large case. Shaking her head, Gemma grasped the handles of her own bags and filed her way off the train with the rest of the students.

Her feet had barely hit the stone platform when she heard Hagrid's voice over the rumbling chatter of students.

"Firs' years, follow me 'ter the boats. 'urry up now!"

Gemma and Luna started walking the opposite way of his voice, down towards the carriages that would take all the older students up to the school. Their black exteriors reflected the firelight of the lanterns of the Prefects as they were all lead down the slope.

The two girls climbed up into one of the carts nearest to them, along with two other Hufflepuffs. Gemma wasn't sure of their names, but they both smiled politely at their carriage mates as the line began to move.

The turrets of the castle grew taller above them, and Gemma couldn't help herself from leaning further out the window to get a better look. Her chest fluttered with anxious butterflies at the sight of its steeples, the moonlight casting elegant shadows across its expansive walls.

She only retracted herself back inside when the carriage hit a bump, causing her to knock her head against the roof. The others laughed at her lightly, causing her to flush and readjust the ribbon tied in her hair, subconsciously rubbing the bump that would surely form.

The piece of silk holding her hair back was now crimson, matching the crest on her robes that she'd changed into on the train. The Gryffindor crest was stitched proudly close to her heart, and she relaxed at the thought of joining her housemates at the table.