Chapter 8: [Sirius POV] Astronomy partner


Summary:

Sirius's first impression of his new partner


Sirius was actually quite excited for the upcoming class this evening; they had already experienced Herbology and Charms by this point, and now they were going to climb up to the highest tower at Hogwarts for Astronomy.

Sirius and James climbed a series of very steep spiral staircases. It was near midnight, and the weather had been fair, perfect for stargazing.

Sirius had always held complex feelings for these celestial beings. He considered his mutual relationship with them tragically beautiful. Nearly all of the Blacks had been named after stars, and he in particular was named after the brightest star in the night's sky. Normally, he would despise his family's branding of him. In this case, he hadn't been able to.

He was genuinely content with it. His namesake is among those that dominate the darkness, complementing the moon. They were so far away and absolutely free, sparking and sometimes tricking the human eye. They weren't even alone; they had constellations and clusters. They were one of the things from which he draws hope.

There was a circle of telescopes by the windows, and Sirius supposed two would share one. Their teacher had already introduced herself as Professor Sinistra, but she had not yet given them instructions; they were all standing and waiting for it as he called out their names from a roll. It seemed prudent; after all, they were out for this class past curfew. A smile was brought to Sirius's face when "Sirius Black" was called out first.

Professor Sinistra paused to register his face, giving a smile as well, and said, "Well, look at that; aside from myself, we have another real star between us."

She kept on saying, "For those of you who don't know already, Sinistra and Sirius are both stars, while Sirius is also the brightest in the night sky." James whistled, earning a playful smack on the back from Sirius as those around him giggled or laughed easily.

Actually, Sirius would argue that it was personalized for him; he was the one who was truly named after a star, while she only got it through her surname.

Professor Sinistra continued with the list, while a smug James cockily put his arm around Sirius' shoulder. Sirius, sensing James's advancements acutely, smirked and shot out an arm to grab James's shoulder as well; soon they were silently strangling each other's shoulder blades.

"Potter? James Potter?" Professor Sinistra's confused voice interrupted them.

They stopped immediately, putting their hands down after mortifying their faces into innocent looks.

"Here Professor."

Professor Sinistra was not convinced, however. "Do try better to pay attention next time, Mr. Potter, and you too, Mr. Black." Sirius saw in his peripheral vision that James pouted, but he did turn politely silent after that.

Sirius knew he should have foreseen it. He was almost made to forget her because her name was the last. He was reminded in the end, however.

"Benetnasch Sovermerge?"

"Here, professor." Sirius didn't know if it was because this was his first time hearing her speak in a remotely quiet room or for other reasons, but Sovermerge's voice echoed in his mind.

Again, like before, Professor Sinistra went on to explain: "Benetnasch is the brightest star in the Big Dipper constellation. You may not learn this for at least a few years, but I suggest later writing it down in your notes anyway. In our vision of the night sky from the earth, all stars revolve approximately around Polaris, which has always been used to denote directions as its place is always due north. To locate the Polaris, first locate the Big Dipper. If you connect the two stars that make up its spoon head, you'll notice that they point exactly 5 spaces apart towards Polaris."

"Now, split into pairs, each using a shared telescope, and be careful how you handle them."

But just as Sirius was moving towards the nearest one with James, he was called back by Professor Sinistra, who seemed to hit on a thought.

"Oh, Mr. Black, why don't you share with Miss Sovermerge? You could be the star group."

She had a smirk on her face, and Sirius suspected this was the aftermath of his early roughhousing with James. So she was not impressed.

"Sure, why not? If Miss Sovermerge is also comfortable doing so." Sirius replied, and James sighed beside him, not amused; they hadn't sat separately in any class up until that point.

"It could be interesting," Sirius reminded himself.

His knowledge of other families protesting not making the "Sacred Twenty-Eight" included the likes of Crabbe and Goyle, and they were hideous. However, this Sovermerge got extra points because she had been in Gryffindor.

"I have no objections." Sirius turned to find the speaking figure already seated beside one telescope.

Well, whatever she was, Benetnasch Sovermerge was most definitely not hideous.

Sitting by the window, with moonlight breathing upon her golden hair and porcelain skin, she glowed in her fair glory. If you fixated on only her in this room, you would be mistaken in thinking they were in broad daylight, for it seemed that the hue of the morning sun ran in her hair. Sirius would sneer the next time Narcissa preened her blonde hair; it was just plain in comparison.

He approached her and sat down. Then, on their own initiative, both shot out their hands to shake.

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

Joining hands, Sirius met the translucent chartreuse of her eyes and saw it with a hint of surprise. Sirius smiled genuinely. So Benetnasch Sovermerge just got another bonus point for being humanly tolerable.

The truth would be that his astronomy class passed smoothly, but what was intriguing would be that it had been too smooth.

Sovermerge proved her differences to simpletons like Crabbe and Goyle with every minute that passed between them.

They were trying to complete their first star chart together, and she was drawing the demonstrations while he stargazed for instructions on their work. Sirius would have thought that cooperating was easy if not for Pettigrew and Lupin's fruitless teamwork just beside them; he had been amused to hear Lupin's
exasperated voice every now and then.

He had checked Sovermerge's output moments ago and was again surprised by her perfect capture of his descriptions; it was like that girl could see through his eyes and had looked at the stars herself.

Sirius pondered the possibilities for a moment. But then he discovered that he was actually fond of their tacit understanding. It was enough torment for him to be sitting apart from his new best friend; there was no need to add another in the form of a lacking partner.

Her penmanship was flawless; practiced. She could have obtained it the way he did: instilled by persistent parents. However, it's possible that it's simply because she's a girl, but then again, Sirius wouldn't say all girls were that refined.

He wondered if he was going too far in his theory of Sovermerge being the black sheep in her family, as he had been in his, and if he was looking for signs too hard. Going down the path of attempting to figure it out would make him appear desperate for understanding, which he was not; he cared absolutely nothing about what other people thought.

He would be conflicted by his own thoughts if he did find her as he had expected; he would no longer be alone, but he would no longer be unparalleled.

He knew Evens had not been kind with her words concerning him or James; maybe they did deserve it, but he was not impressed by her flippancy. Knowing that, he was certain Sovermerge had heard bias beforehand, but she appeared to be unburdened by any preconceived notions.

He was judged beforehand by too many; it used to be because of his family's reputation, and he was getting tired of proving them wrong. He found her composure endearing. It would also make prodding her to find out her true lineage all the more fun.

He was not expecting that chance to come so soon.


Notes:

Remus was really frustrated with Peter today. I deliberatedly checked the calendar; September 1st, 1971, happened to be on Wednesday, and the first upcoming full moon would be on that week's Saturday, September 4th, so it would be very valid that Remus got a bit grumpy so very near the full moon.

Also, Professor Sinistra was Harry's astronomy master, which I decided to embezzle here. It's just too tiring to name a new character again, because I put a lot into naming a character.