Tonight at the Astronomy Tower

Dumbledore first sent the three of them back to Hogwarts, while he and Nicol stayed behind to deal with the aftermath at the exchange event.

It was afternoon. There was no sunlight today, but it was not raining either, and the temperature was quite pleasant.

Yet Muya still felt a chill run down her back. When she turned around, she realized Tom was loosely holding her from behind.

"Ya Ya, let us take you back to the common room." Their expressions were extremely serious, and Muya could not refuse them.

The two of them were convinced that Muya had been frightened. They kept telling her jokes along the way, but they had overlooked the fact that she had been the first to react.

Back in the dormitory, Shalian and the others were still in class. Tom went in and immediately claimed Muya's chair.

Muya said nothing and simply flopped onto her bed.

"Honestly, what was all that...?"

Tom laughed. "Did it really scare you?"

"No."

Muya sat up and asked him, "That wizard... can he still be saved?"

"Half-dead, I suppose."

Muya fell silent.

After a moment, Tom sighed. "I'll go make you some little cakes."

That evening, Muya went to the Astronomy Tower to find Theodore. She knew that as long as there were stars at night, he would be there.

Theodore had not lit the lamps or used his wand for illumination. He simply stood quietly in the center, observing the night sky through an instrument. Clear moonlight fell over him, giving Muya a feeling of loneliness and distance.

"Theodore," Muya called softly from the doorway.

"Good evening, Ya Ya." Theodore turned and smiled at her.

"Good evening." Muya walked over and raised her hand to light a lamp.

The two of them went to sit to one