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It was a perfect night, the sky was clear, the crickets were chirping, and a warm breeze blew through the air. But through the night air the pleas of an eight year old girl could be heard.
“Please mommy one more time.” begged Luna
“Ok darling but then it's off to bed” Pandora said pulling the blanket closer to them. A small smile playing on her lips.
"You see that star there." asked Pandora, pointing out the window of the child’s room. "The star that shines the brightest in the Leo constellation, its name is Regulus." Pandora began to try and fight back the tears that filled her eyes, as memories flooded back to her
"I had a friend named Regulus, and he reminded me of the star he was named after so much. He wasn’t the brightest star in the sky, but to those who would take their time and look, they would get to see how bright he really is." At this point tears were running down her face. "He was always there shining for the people that cared, and it made me angry that not many people knew the true him, but that was enough for him. All he needed in his life was for his hard work to be noticed by the people that cared. But for me, he was always the bright star in the sky." She was quiet for a bit and then took a deep breath. "He was my best friend."
After saying this she noticed the stillness in her arms, and looked down to see Luna fast asleep. She smiled fondly and carefully placed her head onto her pillow and said, "Good night my Loony Luna." kissing the top of her head before leaving the room. She walked outside and sat down on an old rocking chair that was on the patio.
Pandora looked up at the sky and stared at the stars for a bit. As she looked at the Leo constellation tears started to fall down her face as her body racked with sobs. "I miss you." Her voice cracked as she said that a sob building in her throat. After a while her sobs began to calm down, as she just sat there silently, quiet tears falling down her face. Then in the silence, her mind reminded her of a member from many years ago.
⥈
It was the middle of the 5th year for Pandora and her friends, as slight snow began to fall from the sky, a friendly reminder that it was the middle of December. Usually Pandora would be covered in a mountain of blankets as she slept, but tonight was different. With most students having already left for Christmas, the castle was almost completely empty, and who was she to pass up mid night star gazing with her best friends.
So as both her and Regulus leaned over the railing looking up at the sky she felt at peace. "That star right there," said Regulus as he pointed at the sky. "That's Sirius star." A fawn smile tugged on his lips as he continued. “It’s one of the brightest stars in the night sky.” His voice was full of heartache, and Pandora felt his pain. It had barely been 5 months since Sirius had left him. "Where are you?" She asked, trying to help take his mind off his brother. "My stars in the Leo Constellation, you can only see it during the summer." He replied, still looking at the sky.
A grin slipped on her face as she figured out the perfect way to distract Regulus from his brother. "So you're telling me that you're a summer child." Asked Pandora giggling, knowing how much he hates the nicknames she gives him. Regulus turned red at the words, "What no!!" He yelled flustered. "No need to yell my summer child" Pandora told him, still giggled as she admired the fact that he seemed to turn even more red somehow. "Don't call me that." He muttered looking down as his face burned with embarrassment from her words.
Pandora just continued to laugh, glad to have taken Sirius from his mind. But the sound of footsteps getting closer grabbed both of their attention, as they turned around to face the noise despite already knowing who it was. As Barty, Evan, and Dorcas burst through the door, a bright smile on all of their faces. They looked between the two of them with a false hurt on their face as Barty cried out, "Wow I can't believe that you guys would hang out without us." He walked over to Regulus and threw himself over the shorter male, as he pretended to cry. In return Regulus only rolled his eyes; he tried to seem annoyed, but the tug of his lips gave him away as he said, “It’s not our fault that you guys took too long.” The other two quickly joined them holding two cups for each one to grab, “Well, we figured that it’s going to get cold pretty quickly so we grabbed some hot chocolate from the kitchen.” Dorcas said, squeezing herself between Pandora and Evan to try and keep warm.
The five teens huddled together as they laughed and messed around with each other. Laughter filled the tower throughout the night, only stopping once the sun had come up and the teens had left.
⥈
Pandora smiled to herself thinking about the memories, quietly she whispered to herself, "I miss you, my summer child". Just then she heard footsteps. She turned around to see Luna behind her still wrapped up in a blanket. "Why are you crying mommy?" She asked. Pandora smiled at her and waved her hands, signaling to Luna to come closer. As soon as she did, Pandora wrapped her arms around her and asked her one question.
A question she has been wanting to ask her for a while, but her pain has stopped her. "Do you want to learn more about your uncle Regulus and all the things your mommy did in school with him?" Luna began to shake her head yes vigorously. As Pandora smiled at her daughter, it brought her comforter knowing that if they couldn't be with her now then at least her daughter will know about them. "And of course I can't tell you about Regulus without telling you about Evan, Barty, and Dorcas." Luna smiled at her.
The child was excited at the thought of learning more about her mother. And that after so many years she would find an answer on who those people were. She would always see her reading old letters from someone named Barty, one time when her mommy wasn’t paying attention and left the letter unattended, she read it. Inside it was just her Mommy telling him that it’s ok and they still have each other, that she knows he feels alone but she is still here, and if he ever wants to leave just send a letter and she will help. But the letter was old, dated around the same time she was born, and it looked as if it was never sent. She also wanted to know why Regulus sent her a locket, and why her mommy was always casting spells on it. But every time she asked her mommy would shut her down, and changed the subject so she never got her answer.
As her mommy began to speak, Luan watched her mommy eyes lighted up in a way that she had never seen before. As she began to tell her stories of her time at Hogwarts. Soon she began to feel excited for her time at school. She only had 3 more years left before she could go, and she began to wonder if her time at school would be anything like her mommy’s.