"Fly me to the moon,
and let me lay among the stars"

Kira wandered the halls of Hogwarts. She has always loved the architecture of the ancient castle. She loved exploring the castle at night when she was alone even when she was supposed to be asleep. The castle looked way better without the students running around. Without the noise.

It was calm. It showed her what the castle was really like. She got to experience it fully.

Kira couldn't sleep. The slash on her hip was still fresh from the night before. Her father beat her with a whip.

He's done so before, on her back. She had two long scars on her back and was now going to have one across her hip.

He'd only ever do this when he was really angry. Otherwise it was a spell, his fists, or anything closest to him.

She never knew why her father treated her is such ways. She couldn't recall anything she's done to ever receive this treatment. She's always behaved properly and respectfully and never once has she stepped out of line.

Her siblings were never treated like this. They didn't have scars from the wrath of her father. They didn't have to suffer. She envied them for it. The were able to love their father without the knowledge that he was cruel and sadistic.

Kira could not sleep. The pain was too much. Not the physical pain, she was used to that by now, but the emotional pain. She felt excluded. Lonely. It wasn't true though. She had plenty of people in her life.

Kira had Ava Blackwell, her best friend. She had many acquaintances. She had her sister and brother-in-law, and her two brothers. Her mother was there for her as well. She thought that was all she needed.

Her father, however, hated her. He beat her as often as he could. He always found an excuse to harm her. She couldn't bare the thought of telling anyone, in fear the punishment would be worse.

The emotional pain of being hated by her father was overbearing. She couldn't speak to anyone about this. Only Irene, her older sister, knew everything. Ava knew she'd been beaten once or twice but Kira refrained from telling her more. She didn't want Ava to worry or to pity her.

So Kira wandered the halls in the dead of night on the first day of her sixth year at Hogwarts.

She made it to her favourite spot. The astronomy tower. No one ever really went up there. It was a restricted area that was only used for Astronomy lessons. Even then, only the bottom portion of the tower was used. There was an area right at the top were no one ever went, except for Flich when he cleaned.

The top had the most beautiful view of Hogwarts grounds. You could see the Black Lake shimmer in the moonlight and the Forbidden forest's trees rustling in the wind. Unlike below her, in the Astronomy classroom where you could only see the stars.

She sat down by the ledge and looked up at the stars. They were her favourite. She loved stargazing. Falling into her own world where she was free. Free from everything. Free from torture, from worry, from stress.

Kira was awakened the next morning by Ava. She knew Kira liked to wander around at night so she made sure to wake her up in time for breakfast the next day.

Kira sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Ugh. I'm absolutely exhausted." She let out a yawn. The Ravenclaw dorms were much smaller, rooming only two people rather than five like the Gryffindor dorms or Slytherin with four. Most likely because Rowena Ravenclaw knew Ravenclaws enjoy solitude. With only two people in a dorm it was much easier to be alone when need be.

"Well you did get back at 3:34am. It's 7:00am now." Ava said matter-of-factly. She was a light sleeper. Kira's footsteps and the sound of the door would wake her, letting her know her best friend had returned from her midnight excursions.

Kira rolled her eyes, something she would never do in front of her parents or other respected Purebloods. Ava was one of the only people she could be herself around. She huffed and got up. Ava let out a chuckle as she finished getting ready. Kira pinned on her prefects badge and left the dorm.

Kira and Ava walked into Great Hall for breakfast.

They sat at the Ravenclaw table and ate, occasionally stopping to talk. All the students were given their time tables, many sighing in either relief or frustration.

Kira reached for Ava's timetable to compare them. She found that they shared three classes together; Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions. While Kira has Alchemy, Astronomy, and DADA, Ava has Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, and History Of Magic.

Ava wants to be a Healer after she leaves school. Kira however favours Astronomy. She thought about becoming an astronomer, but soon realised her mother would never allow it. She doesn't really care which career she follows as long as she's stays as far from the war as she can.

It was no secret that there was a war brewing outside these castle walls. Students heard it from their parents or the Daily Prophet. Every learner in the castle knew about the war. They just didn't speak about it.

Most were too afraid to. Others simply didn't want to, hoping to savour their childlike innocence and carefree lives.

"Come on Kira," Ava called drawing her from her thoughts, "we need to go to class."

Kira nodded and grabbed her things. They set off to Potions first. Her and Ava were taking Advanced Potions. Not many people took that so they were in the small class of around 14. Many are Slytherins and Ravenclaws. There were some Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs as well though.

They walked in and sat at a table in the back. Professor Slughorn began the lesson.

"Good morning class!" He said in an overly cheery voice for a Monday morning. "Today we'll be going over a wound-cleaning potion. Who can tell me the characteristics of this potion?"

Only three hands raised, Kira's, Ava's, and Regulus Black's. Slughorn picked Kira, nodding to her enthusiastically.

"The potion is a purple liquid. It smokes upon contact with the wound as well as provides a stinging sensation." Kira recited perfectly. She knew this potion very well. She had made it many times before, preparing for when her Father arrived home from work. She shook her head to clear her mind of the bothering thoughts.

"Well done Miss Rose. 5 points to Ravenclaw." Slughorn praised. "Today we'll be brewing some. Madam Pompfrey is all out and the potions brewed correctly will be going to her. Now I've put you in pairs so you can learn to work together with other members from other houses." The class groaned at that. Kira rolled her eyes. She hated working in pairs. Most students were too incompetent to keep up with her skill.

Yes. Her skill. Kira was no fool. She knew she was a talented witch, as arrogant as that sounded. She excelled in most classes, always battling it out with Regulus Black. Their marks were very similar. Both of them were at the top of their classes. Kira was taught to strive for excellence and she's be damned if she wasn't the best in the class.

She looked at her name on the board and found she's been paired with Regulus Black. What a coincidence. At least he's competent. She's never spoken to him at school, only once or twice at balls or parties during Christmas' and Summer's.

She gathered her things and moved to sit next to him.

"Morning Black." Kira greeted. Regulus turned to her and nodded.

"I'll grab the ingredients, you start the cauldron." He said, getting up and walking to the store room.

Kira nodded back and began to work on the cauldron. When Regulus got back they worked together to make the potion. Kira was surprised at how well they worked together. It was as if they knew what the other was about to do and worked perfectly in sync with the other. Maybe it was the fact that they both knew this Potion so well, but neither of them knew that yet. She didn't mind being paired with the youngest Black.

When the time was up the Potions Master walked around inspecting everyone's potions. He stopped at theirs, looking to see if his top students had once again perfected a potion.

"Absolutely brilliant!" He exclaimed, "best one here." He grinned at them. He gave Regulus a pat on the back. "Well done m'boy. 10 points to Ravenclaw and Slytherin each." Slughorn loved the two of them. Always complimenting their skills and work. Perhaps it was their talent in Potions or the bloodlines but Kira plastered on a fake smile nonetheless.

The class ended and everyone made their way to their next classes after being dismissed. Not bad for the first class of the year, she thought to herself.

It was midnight once again and Kira could be found in the Astronomy tower.

She sat on the ledge looking out onto the school grounds. She spun around abruptly as the door creaked open.

There stood Regulus Black. "I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was up here." He made his way to leave.

"No it's okay. You're welcome to stay." Kira smiled lightly at him. No need to be rude after all. He is a pureblood Slytherin, someone her parents taught her to respect. She didn't want to get on the bad side of the Black family.

"Oh uh thanks." Regulus said, scratching his neck. He came to sit next to Kira. "Why are you up so late?" He asked looking out at the stars.

"I couldn't sleep. What about you?" She asked. She looked at the moon. It will be a full moon tomorrow. She loved full moons. They were beautiful.

"Me neither. Why can't you sleep? Something must be bothering you?" He questioned. Kira sighed, not really wanting to talk about it.

"Nightmares. Thoughts. Anything really." She instantly regretted saying that. She's never even told Ava about them, though she was pretty sure Ava already knew. Why would she tell him? It is not like he'll realise they are constant. Everyone has nightmares.

Something about him made her feel like she could tell him anything. She didn't want to though. She would never. Maybe it's a Black gene? Maybe that's how they always have everyone wrapped around their fingers?

She would not tell him a thing. She would just have to be more careful.

People were deceiving. They were cruel and disgusting.

"Peppermint tea helps with sleep. You should try some."

Kira looked at him. She was curious about the youngest Black. He seemed to know everything about the wound-cleaning potion and how to fall asleep. Could he possibly have dealt with this stuff?

No. He couldn't have. Kira told herself. He is a smart wizard after all. He's probably read this all in some sort of book.

She watched him as he looked out at the stars. She took note of how his face looked in the pale moonlight. She knew he was attractive. She had no shame in admitting that but he looked beautiful in this light. It made him look innocent. She knew he was no doubt stuck in the group of soon to be Death Eaters, whether he wanted to be or not.

Regulus knew she was staring. He didn't mind. The Rose girl had piqued his interest. He knew she had four siblings, one of them deceased. He knew she was the best in her house and nearly the best in their year, only falling closely behind himself. He knew a lot about her because of his family's gossiping ways, but he wanted to know more.

His parents taught him to not ask too many questions. Know enough about a person to use them but not enough that they could use you. If anything their lessons only made him more curious about everything.

He wanted to know more about her. Being as observant as he was he noticed things many others did not. He knew a lot about everyone. Another lesson taught by his parents. One of the only people he knew next to nothing about was Kira Rose and that irked him. 

He's never felt like this before but she intrigues him. She seemed calm. Different. Someone who wasn't like the Death Eaters and wasn't a killer. He would be soon. Or was he already one? Just being around Death Eaters was enough to make him feel guilty of murder.

He knew she was prejudiced, like her family, but something about her made her seem different to the others and he wanted to know why. Everyone else seemed cold-hearted and cruel yet she wasn't. Maybe she was. He was curious and he wanted to know her secrets, what she seemed to be hiding from the rest of the world.

Kira finally looked away from him. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few hours before they both decided they needed sleep. Regulus being the first to break their comfortable silence and declare he was going to get some well needed rest. She knew she probably should as well and let him escort her back to the Ravenclaw tower at 2 in the morning.