A/N: Aurora gazes at the stars above. slight Aurora/Severus (if you squint).

Submission for:

Russian Roulette: Aurora Sinistra

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): JUNE EVENT: FEMALE CHARACTER APPRECIATION MONTH - Aurora Sinistra

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.


There was always something about the stars, the vast blackness that hung above her head, that drew her in. It was why she clung to her own lessons in Astronomy. It was why she chose to research, pour her head into books for years, and eventually share her knowledge with other students in hopes of inspiring such awe in them.

She was never sure if she ever truly inspired a love of the stars in a student past getting an O on their OWLs or NEWTs, but that was fine with her. That just meant she had the galaxies to herself, ready to explore at her own whim without anyone else's interference.

She pointed at the constellations she could identify, tracing their paths as her lips moved silently over their names. That was Orion, the hunter, whose belt held so many bright stars. That was Draco, who was thrown into the sky to watch the humans from above.

There was creak on the staircase behind her and she turned, wondering who would choose to come up here at this time of night. The rest of the castle should be asleep, the students all eager for the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow.

"Severus," she said, her voice but a whisper as not to taint the lovely silence of the tower. "You're a far ways from the dungeons."

"Couldn't sleep," he said, his feet softly clacking across the stone floor towards.

He stood beside her, his own eyes staring up at the twinkling lights above. "It's a nice night," he said.

She nodded and asked, "Know anything about Astronomy?"

The corner of his mouth curled upwards before he asked, "You forget who always came a close second behind you in class, Aurora?"

She chuckled and gave him a smile of her own. "How could I? One time, you almost passed me."

"And I would have too, if not for that last question," he said almost bitterly.

"Maybe you can spot the constellation now," she said, opening her arms wide to the open sky.

They spent the next few hours, discussing the stars and galaxies above, and she was happy that she had someone who was almost as fascinated with the stars as she.