The stairs seemed to go on forever.
Lucretia panted as she followed the prefect up the spiral staircase leading to the Astronomy Tower alongside the other groaning Ravenclaw first-years.
The stone steps were icy in the night, and the torches hanging on the castle walls swayed in the breeze, casting flickering shadows.
Several Gryffindor students at the front began complaining that their legs hurt, while quite a few yawned.
Emma's golden curls gleamed in the firelight as she rubbed her waist and complained, "Why does Astronomy class have to be in the middle of the night? I feel like my brain has already stopped working."
Ravenclaw prefect Campbell replied with a wry smile, "Because you can't see the stars during the day. That's the basic premise of astronomy. Besides, it's not even half past eight yet."
Emma muttered and yawned again. "It feels like midnight."
Lucretia tightened the scarf around her neck, feeling somewhat tired as well.
The tactical training in Defense Against the Dark Arts Class that afternoon had been a little exhausting, but she truly loved Astronomy class.
She had already read the copy of Astronomy Mysteries: Legends of the Night Sky that Little Barty had given her twice.
By the time they reached the top of the Astronomy Tower, the Gryffindor students had already claimed half the telescopes.
Professor Sinistra stood in the center of the tower, looking more irritable than she had last week. She kept glancing outside.
"Line up quickly, and don't shove. There are enough telescopes for everyone, so there's no need to crowd together. Spread out, one at a time."
Lucretia looked around and spotted another tall figure standing at the far end of the Astronomy Tower.
Lupin leaned against the stone wall, his face frighteningly pale as he kept himself in the shadows as much as possible.
The shadow cast by the stone wall covered most of his body, and he stood pressed against it.
Strangely, though the wind atop the tower was cold, a fine layer of sweat covered his forehead.
Sweating in this weather?
Noticing Lucretia looking at him, Lupin raised his head and smiled at her.
The smile was forced, and he did not come over to greet her as he usually did.
He merely stood there, keeping his distance.
Professor Sinistra introduced him to the class. "Mr. Lupin will be assisting us tonight as a senior representative. He is a Gryffindor prefect and an excellent student in this class. You may ask him if you have any questions. Now, let us begin tonight's..."
A gust of wind interrupted her.
When they looked up, thick clouds were rapidly gathering in the sky, gradually swallowing the already hazy stars.
The moon was completely obscured as well.
Professor Sinistra's expression darkened further.
She muttered, "Damn weather. I knew there might be trouble tonight. It seems we'll have to cancel tonight's Full Moon observation. The clouds are too thick. They probably won't clear all night."
That meant today's Astronomy class would end early.
The Ravenclaw students let out disappointed sighs.
But from the Gryffindor side came several cheers that could not be held back.
Professor Sinistra sharply pointed out, "Don't celebrate too soon, Mr. Fenwick. We still have alternative material. Tonight, we'll learn how to use the Astrology Chart and Constellation Chart to prepare for the next practical observation."
An overly excited Gryffindor boy immediately wiped the smile off his face.
Lucretia looked toward Lupin again and noticed something even more puzzling.
When the clouds completely covered the moon, he let out a sigh of relief.
She could tell because his tense shoulders relaxed, and his breathing was no longer as rapid as before.
But why did canceling the Full Moon observation make him seem... relieved?
During every training session in Godric's Hollow over the summer, he had clearly been so patient and focused.
Professor Sinistra began handing out Star Charts and reference materials, teaching the students how to identify the major constellations.
Lucretia sat with her roommates, studying the winter night sky chart.
Sophia was very quiet, concentrating on the chart and making notes from time to time.
She leaned close to Lucretia's ear, her voice very soft. "Leia, don't you think it's strange?"
Lucretia looked up. "What's strange? The Astrology Chart?"
Sophia gestured toward the distant figure with her eyes, pausing as though considering how to phrase it.
"Senior Lupin. He looks... not quite right. And I had a dream last night, about the Full Moon and a forest."
Lucretia's heart began to beat faster.
Sophia's dreams were often more than ordinary dreams.
"What did you see?"
Sophia glanced at Helena, who was guiding Emma, and only continued after confirming that they were not listening. "It wasn't very clear. Just fragments. The moonlight was very bright, the forest was very deep, and there was... pain. Very intense pain."
She looked up at the night sky, completely hidden behind the clouds.
"But maybe it was just an ordinary nightmare."
Lucretia was about to respond when an icy night wind swept through the Astronomy Tower, making her shiver.
"It feels like it's going to rain," she murmured, reaching out to pull her robe tighter.
Sophia nodded and held down both of their Astrology Charts to keep them from blowing away.
"I hope this class ends soon."
The weather worsened, the clouds pressed lower and lower, and the temperature atop the tower plummeted. Some lightly dressed students began to shiver.
Professor Sinistra sighed and waved her wand, setting a Warming Charm around them.
She muttered unhappily, "This blasted weather. Such a rare chance to observe the Full Moon, wasted just like that."
Lupin suddenly began coughing in the distance.
Several students looked at him curiously, but he waved them off to show that he was fine.
Lucretia saw that even his hands were trembling.
A Gryffindor girl asked with concern, "Prefect, are you all right?"
Lupin forced a smile. His voice sounded exhausted, as though he were struggling to stay alert. "Just a bit of a cold. Don't worry. Hurry back and listen to the professor's explanation."
At around eleven thirty, a light rain began to fall, a few sparse drops at first, followed by a steady curtain of rain.
Professor Sinistra waved her wand and formed a transparent protective barrier over the tower, but the sound of rain striking it was still loud.
She announced the end of class, sounding thoroughly frustrated.
"It seems tonight's lesson ends here. Next week, we'll continue our observation of the moon's phases. Hopefully, Britain's blasted weather will show us some respect. Now, pack up your notes and charts, and leave in an orderly fashion by house."
The students breathed sighs of relief and quickly packed their things.
Lucretia noticed that Lupin's face had become even paler, and there were more beads of sweat on his forehead.
He looked as though he might collapse at any moment.
She hesitated over whether to go over and ask how he was doing when Emma accidentally scattered their reference materials all over the floor.
Emma said regretfully, "Ah! Sorry!"
Several girls hurriedly crouched down to gather the papers.
The Star Charts were blown everywhere by the wind, and they frantically chased after the sheets.
By the time Lucretia picked up the last chart and looked toward Lupin—
He was gone.
It was as though he had vanished into thin air.
The space beside the stone wall was empty, with only the sound of rain striking the stones remaining.
Professor Sinistra instructed the Ravenclaw prefect, "Tonight's weather is unsuitable for wandering around the castle, Mr. Campbell. Please make sure all the students return safely to their dormitories. Mr. Lupin is feeling unwell, so the Gryffindor students are in your care as well."
Going downstairs was faster than climbing up, but it was also more dangerous.
Rainwater seeped through cracks in the stone walls, making the steps slippery.
Lucretia walked in the middle of the group, but her thoughts had drifted elsewhere.
Why had Lupin looked so pained?
Why had he sighed in relief when the clouds covered the moon?
And Sophia's dream...
Sophia pulled her aside to help her avoid a puddle at her feet. "Careful. What are you thinking about? You look distracted."
Lucretia shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just worried about Mr. Lupin. He's clearly feeling awful, but he still insisted on coming to class with us."
Sophia nodded and did not ask further.
But Lucretia noticed that she too kept glancing upward, as though she were thinking about what had happened atop the tower.
As they neared the bottom of the stairs, Lucretia remembered something.
She whispered to Sophia, "I need to go to the library. You go back with Helena and the others first. The copy of Ancient Herbology I borrowed is due tomorrow, and I need Madam Pince to extend it. I'll still need it on Thursday."
Sophia frowned. "Now? It's almost curfew."
"I should still make it before the library closes. I just need her to sign it."
Sophia nodded. "All right, be careful. Don't get caught by Filch."
After reaching the castle's main floor, Lucretia quietly slipped away from the group while the prefect was not paying attention.
She waved to Sophia once more before heading toward the library.
Before you continue