The stars really were beautiful. I shifted slightly, wishing that the astronomy tower wasn't so cold. The dungeons were colder. I really didn't know how the Slytherins handled sleeping down there. I wouldn't be able to do it. There's always fresh air up here.

"What are you doing up here?"

"Why does it matter?" I asked. "Don't you have prefect duty Lils?"

Lily shook her head, at least I think she did. "That includes catching students who are outside after curfew. I could be a bit lenient towards my sister but only if you get back to the common room as quickly as possible."

"I don't mind getting a detention, it would give me something to do at least."

"You should mind." Lily walked up beside me. "It would make more sense if you were slightly similar to me and not Sirius Black."

I shrugged. "Nobody would associate my behavior with that. To the outside world, Sirius was the only Black to ever go wrong. If I was acting like a Slytherin, they might be suspicious. Plus, I have red hair."

"Your natural hair color is black," Lily pointed out. "Your eyes are a giveaway in any case."

"Been here 5 years and every year you say the same thing. Nobody's noticed and nobody ever will."

"You don't know that Rachel."

"Yes Lily, I do."

My eyes fell on the lake, shimmering and glowing in the moonlight. Forget casting spells and seeing paintings move, this was what I called magic. A gust of wind made me shiver and I glanced up at the full moon. I loved the full moon. I wished that it would come more often. Once a month was not often enough. I didn't dare leave the castle to go and see it properly as my friends often suggested I should. I know it's stupid to believe rumors but some people said that there were werewolves down in the forest.

I moved my eyes away from the moon and turned to Lily. "Fine, I'll sneak back to the common room but if I'm guessing the time correctly, a certain James Potter should still be awake. I wonder what he would say if a certain person was to tell him that her sister was willing to go with him to Hogsmeade this weekend."

Lily's eyes narrowed. "If you do that I'll turn you into a bird."

"That's fine, I like birds."

I left before my sister could respond. The castle felt stuffy after the cool night wind. Hurrying down the staircase, I darted through the halls back to the common room. After giving the password, I shot inside. I wanted to avoid any ghosts. If I ran into one, it wouldn't be the first time that a ghost got me into trouble.

The Gryffindor Common Room was very hot, with the fire going like it was. I looked around for any sign of James Potter, to tell him what Lily had said but he was nowhere in sight. There were a lot of people still awake and the Marauders were normally the last to go to sleep but none of them were around. That was frustrating.

Trudging up the stairs, I sighed softly. It was much cooler away from the fire. The room was empty, with Lily being out on patrol and the other girls sitting downstairs gossiping. I opened the window closest to my bed and smiled when the air hit my face. I left it opened while I got changed into my pajamas and then walked over to close it.

Just as I got there, a howl echoed over the school grounds. I got chills at the sound and shut the windows a little harder than necessary. I walked over to bed. I glanced back to the window and shook myself. That couldn't be a werewolf. Even if it was, it wouldn't be on the school grounds right. Dumbledore looked after his students. He wouldn't allow dangerous creatures to roam around.