Astronomy Newsletters and Starry Winter Skies PV • R. Fairchild

A stray of unguarded smile graced Aurelia's face when Ruth echoed her statement about not being hungry. The young badger is that terrible at lying, specifically when she did not plan on it beforehand. Ruth asking for her physical being is unpredicted in itself, and she would have conjured a better response than I suppose if she knew that Ruth actually cares underneath. The young Hufflepuff witch beside her radiated warmth and kindness, and she somehow wonders if it was all a trap to fool everyone that she is really a wolf in sheep's clothing. However, Aurelia did not detect any sort of deception, just the raw nature of affection. Her deep brown eyes widened when Ruth deposited a bar of chocolate and a paper bag in her lap, the sweets already emitting a smell, that kind of sweet goodness that confections have even if unopened.

“Oh, Ruth, I couldn't possibly...” Aurelia whispered softly, turning to Ruth when the young badger reasoned out that it was, indeed, Christmas, and therefore one should indulge themselves even if not that frequent. She doesn't know how to express how she appreciates this gesture; should she hug her? She peered inside the bag, registering the fact that these are not the confectioneries that are served every day in Hogwarts. She did not think of it too much, as she figured that these might be one of the Christmas Feast desserts she missed out on for being grievously sentimental during the holidays. Sending her thanks through a subtle smile, she opened the chocolate bar to eat, as the other sweets are quite unfamiliar to her.

Ruth looked specifically elated when she mentioned that she stayed because she wanted to acquaint herself with the castle. What an odd incentive or purpose, to tell the truth, as one should regard the fact that they have seven entire years worth of time to explore the castle that they should expect that by the time they reach Third Year, homesickness would engulf their entire being with how they are familiar with the Hogwarts castle already. Being with family, if the opportunity strikes, is necessary, especially when one is meant to enclose themselves in a massive castle for a number of years. Her first year at Hogwarts and the unfamiliarity of the place mould her into something more miserable and morose, since she was also separated from her mother, and she is not used to that fact.

Of course, Aurelia knows for a fact that spending a lonely holiday with a friend sounds very comforting. No one should ever be alone at Christmas, she initially thought, and somehow she was about to spend it alone, if not for a certain Hufflepuff urging her to come up in the Astronomy Tower, which was initially off-limits. Meaning they are more eligible than the castle's resident troublemaker for issuance of long string of detentions. They are breaking a gazillion of rules, she believes, and yet, who patrols the castle in Christmas? If they are eventually caught, wouldn't it be their holiday gift to only leave them with a warning? Ruth looked like she doesn't worry about such trivial matters like this. Who ponders warnings as Christmas gifts?

Aurelia tucked the loose curls behind her ears as soon as Ruth mentioned W.H.I.P., as she almost forgot about that quest because of unprecedented happenings that overtook the task. “Of course, it shall continue on even after winter break. We have seven years in our expense to explore; if we are lucky, or perhaps, your luck graces us, we might explore the Forbidden Forest someday. Not that we'd break the rules, we'd simply explore with different permission slip of professors informing them what are our intentions in a forest that is perhaps forever forbidden. We already have acquired several spells necessary for exploration in our arsenal by that time, come to think of it,” Aurelia pondered, her deep brown eyes focused on the wintry skies, the stars twinkling from above them, as if winking, very telling if it will all work out in the end.

She was fixating on the Forbidden Forest nowadays, seeing underage students wearing a type of cloak to be able to camouflage themselves within the stray branches and the forest floor to prevent the professors from detecting them. She wondered whether she should report them one-by-one for the fun of it; however, she was more curious about what monstrosities lies and lurks within the said forest. It should be something incredible worth risking expulsion, of course, as if one ended up in danger then the whole institution will be responsible for the accident. Rule-breaking, for her, is a type of selfish mindset that one should not embody, as it is also risks the reputation of the school, and many adults relied on the salary provided by the Ministry of Magic.

Nibbling on the chocolate bar, Aurelia withdrew her money pouch from her leather satchel, counting her money. “I couldn't possibly accept these sweets for free as there are so many; perhaps I could just pay you for all these?” She offered, looking at Ruth, shaking the paperbag tentatively in front of her.

Sherbet lemons. Aurelia had never come to taste such confectionery before. She was not exactly known for her sweet tooth, and her mom guaranteed that, of course. When she was five, she was growing a liking to lollipops. Her mom kept a pack of it in a jar and hid it from her; however, the young badger was already growing to be such a clever child—she always found the jar eventually, at the end of the day, hiding a handful under her pillow and squealing like a villainess as she thought she kept outsmarting her mother. She might have been clever, but she was also an impressionable child. Her mother resorted to trickery, telling her that constantly consuming such sweets would result in her teeth decaying, and if it did, rats would come to visit her at night. They will attempt to enter your mouth, she said. Aurelia believed the darned story, of course, and instead preferred eating savoury foods.

The said sweet sounded inherently sour, to tell the truth. She might try it later. The young badger was still nibbling on her chocolate bar, as she was also somewhat a slow eater. She normally takes an hour to finish a meal, as chewing the food slowly decreases the chances of her choking on it. Choking because of food lodged in your throat, blocking your airways as it was not chewed properly, sounded so ridiculous she could not even risk it. Plus, it helps her to observe and discern the texture of her food since she was a bit picky in terms of how it felt in her mouth or on her tongue. She had also read in a nutritional-focused nonfiction book that it is advised to chew one's food 32 times. Aurelia was relieved as it was an even number; odd numbers very much irked her, like they somewhat represented how unpredictable and uncertain the world actually is.

Plans, plans, and constantly planning. That's how she coped. Aurelia hated numbers; however, they somewhat defined her way of living. She memorised and calculated the number of steps it took to arrive at the Hufflepuff Cellar, her Mary Janes loudly clicking on the marbled corridors, the sound also rebounding against the walls. The number of the steps of the stairs: 46, thank Merlin. That being said, the steps that are required to get to the Hogwarts Library from the Great Hall are an odd number, and her bright mind somewhat short-circuited from the realisation. What am I going to do about that? Aurelia pondered the initial question, standing in the middle of the hall, visibly shaken as her deep brown eyes stared at her pristine leather shoes. Everything is uncertain.

She doesn't understand the origins of her obsession with even numbers. It started when she realised she was a witch, that everything changed so suddenly that the world did not give her adequate time to think. The upperclassmen she was accompanied with back in the Hogwarts Express have two pets, two cats, and there are four occupants in the carriage—fourth carriage, compartment A. 4A. All even numbers. It helped her divert her attention from the feeling of helplessness and homesickness, as she would be facing a new world at the mere age of 11. Even that day, she bookmarked page 68 of The Help written by Kathryn Stockett. It was an even number; it just seems appropriate. It was all planned. Therefore, when Ruth asked if she was planning to go in the Forbidden Forest, she was, as though snapped back to reality. Aurelia almost planned every aspect of her life, and even the reasoning she would propose to the professors to be able to be permitted to enter the said forest is already rehearsed. Merlin.

The young badger quirked an eyebrow as soon as Ruth went into a spiral, attempting to convince her that they shouldn't, perhaps, tell a professor about their future escapades. She was right after all; even if Aurelia would put her blood, sweat, and tears into making a presentation on why they should be allowed to roam the forest, the overprotective professors would never let them either way. Not only that, they would've watched them too, expecting them to engage in some sort of the world of rule-breaking. Well, the badger beside her is already in that world, and she just dragged Aurelia into it. She did not have a say in the matter. If anyone should be blamed, it's supposed to be Ruth Fairchild, not her, first of all.

Still offering her money, Aurelia's deep brown eyes widened when Ruth told her that all will be paid if she stays, or in her words, her presence. She was at a loss for words, as who asks for something as ridiculous as that? If the situation had been switched, she would've asked for galleons. Well, the Hufflepuff beside her did not look like the greedy type. Aurelia is. Before she could even process what to say next, Ruth pointed to nowhere, and the badger followed the indication. She audibly gasped, straightening in her seat on the beanbag, her eyes sparkling. Merlin forbid that Ruth is indeed lucky to be with. Ursids. Ursids graced them with its presence as of today.