𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑯𝑰𝑳𝑰𝑨

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As night descended the cerulean haze of day lifted to unveil the stars. Eva always believed that this was closer to the truth of who we are. She wondered if we were nocturnal would we feel more connected to those far away stars, perhaps sensing the delicacy and fragility of Earth all the more. To her, the night was when the curtain was drawn back when we got to see out of the window we call "the sky" to the universe beyond.

Eva let her back fall against the cool roof of the astronomy tower. Her chestnut hair that usually tickled her collarbones was spread into a halo on the surface. Her hazel eyes glowed with the reflection of the night sky. 

Stars shone as sugar scattered over black marble, glistening in the sun. The night sky was such a pleasing sight, appearing like magic at each sunset, promising to return as she faded in dawn's first light. There were times in the daytime, under skies of blue, Eva would think of those faraway stars and how they'd return after the shadows blended into the dark.

Her head whipped around as she detected a tapping of footsteps. Her eyes met those of an icy blue-grey. The boy had pitch-black hair, a green tie; it was Regulus Black.

"Oh, it's you," she sighed. Her shoulders relaxed as she turned back to the nighttime sky. 

"Delighted to see me, aren't we Eva?" he chuckled, settling down beside her. 

Eva had to admit, she loved the way her name rolled off his tongue; the number of times he had called her by it could be counted on her fingers. 

"Why are you up here tonight?" Regulus asked the girl, whose gaze was dreamily on the stars.

"I just needed a break I suppose. At least before Kaelyn and Lily decide to drag me down to Slughorns little party," she shrugged. "I suppose you're coming, correct? You're one of his favorites."

"Have you been watching me?" he teased with a smirk.

"I'm observant, Black. Though I must say, it's pretty hard to miss when your hands always in the air, and the teachers always call on you."

Regulus was still but showed no reaction. 

"So I told you why I'm up here. Why are you up here?"

"Asking questions today, are we?" Her companion sighed, rubbing under his chin. "I come up here often. It's calm here, away from all of the noise and distractions. You probably can tell the Slytherin common room is not the happiest place to spend time in. Besides, I love astronomy"

She nodded, satisfied with his answer. "I love astronomy as well, though it would be much more enjoyable if I could actually tell the difference between constellations. I'm pitiful at it."

Had her eyes not been calmly closed, she would have caught the fleeting smile that appeared on the boy's face. 

"Well if you look just there," Regulus took her hand and guided it to a constellation above them. "That's Leo. The brightest star in that constellation is Regulus. I assume that's all you need to know."

The corners of her lips turned up into a smile. 

"For a boy who hardly shows any emotion, you have a wide range them," she told him with a smile. "And quite a strange way of showing them at that."

"You're the only one I show them to," he admitted, lacing his fingers together in his lap. "God, I can't imagine telling Evan anything, let alone my mother, or even Sirius." 

"Why do you hate him so much?" Eva's watchful eyes missed Regulus's barely visible flinch.

"It's a lot more complicated than that. I can't say I don't hate him, but I can't say I love him - surely you'd know what I'm talking about. He left me. He left me, Eva, and that's something I will never forgive him for," he admitted, casting his eyes on the night sky. "I get why he did it though. I would do the same if I could. If I had an ounce of his bravery, I'd do it too, but there's no hope for that anymore."

Eva didn't overlook his tense posture and decided to drop the subject.

A small glint of light from Regulus's chest caught her attention.

"You a prefect?!" she gasped.

Regulus smirked at her outburst. "Did you not hear when Dumbledore announced the prefects?"

"I don't really pay attention to those welcoming speeches," she admitted sheepishly. "I'm not going to lie, it got a bit boring after 5 years."

Really, Eva wasn't too surprised her friend was chosen as perfect. He had perfect grades, was a pureblood, a snarky attitude, and a checked temper; everything needed in a Slytherin prefect.

"It's almost ten o'clock Eva, you should head to your common room," Regulus told her. "I don't want to have to take away any house points."

Regulus smirked as Eva rolled her eyes.

"Alright then, goodnight Reg."

"Goodnight, Love."

...

"I told you, I don't want to go," the girl groaned.

"Too late," Kaelyn said decisively. "We said yes, and Lily wants to meet us there anyway."

"We did not say yes, you did. We can meet Lily at the library another time - not at Slughorns party!"

"You're so overdramatic Ev's. You look stunning, let's go."

With a touch more persuasion, Kaelyn was able to coax her best friend to the gathering.

However, Eva very much so regretted it when she found herself squeezed between her two friends at a round table. Regulus and Evan Rosier sat farther to her right. On the other side of the table was a group of Hufflepuffs as well as a few Gryffindors. There was a total of ten people, not including the professor. Slughorn sat at the head of the table with a giddy smile on his face. 

The dish of ice cream in front of her was left untouched as Slughorn tried chatting up the students. 

He turned to one of the Hufflepuff girls on her left side. 

"Gentry, how is your father doing?" Slughorn asked. 

"Father is working at the ministry still. The minister himself is considering promoting him to a higher spot."

Eva scrunched up her nose at the girl, who she soon learned went by the name Camille Gentry. The Hufflepuff chatted as if she was one of the most well-known sacred purebloods; stuck up and sassy. 

"That is very enthralling news! Tell him I wish him the best on his promotion," the professor responded with a nod. 

After going around a few students at the table, he faced the girl directly to her right; Kaelyn. 

"Your parents work in the ministry too, correct?"

Eva gritted her teeth at the arrogant scoff that came out of Camille's mouth. Either Kaelyn didn't hear or didn't care as she spoke.

"Yes, that is correct professor."

"And how has your brother been these days?"

"He has been doing well, thank you."

"How are you, Eva?" Her hazel orbs raised from their gaze on the table to face the professor.

"Very well, thank you."

"You are James Potter's younger sister, am I correct?"

Eva had to suppress the scoff threatening to escape her lips. She sent a quick glare to Regulus who looked as if he was holding back a smirk.

"We actually aren't related. I was quite surprised when I arrived at Hogwarts to find someone with the same last name as me. I thought it wasn't too com-"

Kaelyn lightly jabbed her in the side, preventing her from continuing on. Slughorn didn't seem to care - he was most likely used to hormonal sarcastic teens by this point - and continued talking. 

"Speaking of family," Slughorn began. "For those of you who aren't aware, Eva and James' father invented the developed Sleekeazy's Hair Potion; quite popular and prosperous."

Eva displayed a sheepish grin as a few people absentmindedly felt their hair. The girl could feel her cheeks heated up as the man continued on about her family. He surely had done his research.

"And I'm sure you have all heard of Henry Potter, correct? He was a prominent member of  Wizengamot. You all are quite a successful family if I do say so myself," he praised, earning a slight nod from Eva.

"It's a shame she isn't a pureblood," she heard Camille mutter, though loud enough for her to hear. "She would be a delightful pick."

Feeling Lily stiffen at her side, she grabbed the redhead's hand gently.

"That's where you're mistaken," Eva snapped at the girl. "I'm a pureblood, but I don't support the torturing and murdering of innocent lives to patch insecurities and feed egos."

A few people had wide eyes, while others had amused grins. Eva missed Regulus's flinch at her words.

"Girls, I'm sure you can continue this bickering elsewhere," Slughorn told them, interrupting their small banter. "Lily, your parents are muggles, correct?"

"Yes sir," she told him confidently.

"What do they do for a living?"

"Oh, nothing too interesting. I don't wish to bore you with my family life," she laughed airily.  

Eva didn't miss how the muggle girls gaze flickered back and forth between Slughorn and the two Slytherin boys.