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The Death of Burning Gas
Shadows filled the modest-sized room as the moon slowly drifted across the star studded sky, the only sign that time was passing and not just standing still, the only sign dawn would arrive.
Scorpius Malfoy sighed as his travelled across the ceiling before he rolled over and his gray eyes landed on his best friends sleeping form, his black hair all over the place, his face pale.
Sick of just lying there wishing for sleep, Scorpius sat up before slowly getting to his feet and quietly making his way over to the window. He glanced down into the garden which was full of silvery moonlight.
He was about to turn away when something caught his eye and caused him to frown before he glanced over his shoulder at Albus Potter before making a decision. He crept across the room and opened the door slowly before creeping out onto the landing and, after closing the door as quietly as possible, he snuck down the stairs and out into the garden.
He hesitated for a moment as he gazed out across the garden to where a short figure sat on a swing attached to a tall tree. He strode quickly across the slightly sun-burnt grass from the summer sun during the day. He reached the swing and looked down at the short redhead who sat there gazing up at the clear night sky which was dotted with twinkling lights.
'What are you doing?' he asked after a minute and Lily Potter jumped before turning to face him, her caramel eyes narrowed.
'Don't sneak up on me like that,' she admonished, causing him to grin at her as he sank to the still-warm ground to sit next to her. She turned her attention back to the sky.
'You never answered my question.'
'I'm watching the stars,' she replied, her gaze glued to the dark stretch above while Scorpius searched her face for answers.
'Why?'
'Why not?' she replied, a slight smirk gracing her pale face. He shook his head slightly before finally following her gaze and slight understanding reached him.
Their view of the night sky was filled with thousands of burning stars and Scorpius could see why she enjoyed the view. Though why she would come out here in the middle of the night made no sense to him.
'Why did you come out her so late?' he asked and she glanced at him before turning back to the galaxy.
'It's quieter, there are no distractions,' she said softly. 'You can hear everything; the wind in the trees, a cricket in the grass. And maybe if you were to listen hard enough, you could even hear the stars slowly dying.'
'Dying? That's rather morbid of you Lily,' he said and a twisted smile crept onto her face which he watched thoughtfully.
'Maybe it is, but it's the truth,' she said. 'Every star has a lifespan just like us humans and one day…' her voice trailed away though there was no need for her to continue.
The two of them sat there in silence for a while until Lily slowly rose from the swing and Scorpius followed her example and clambered to his feet.
They leisurely made their way back to the house and up the staircase to the second floor.
'Goodnight Scorpius,' she said as she opened her bedroom door and he returned her tired smile.
'Night Lily,' he said before they slipped into their bedrooms and closed the doors behind them.
Scorpius glanced at Albus to see if he'd been disturbed and, once he'd confirmed that Albus was still fast asleep, he crept across the room to his mattress where he lay down and sighed happily when he felt sleep start to take hold. His last sight before he closed his eyes and drifted off, was that of dying stars.
What did you think? Any constructive criticism is welcome.