Alaric adjusted the strap of his leather satchel as he made his way up the spiraling steps of the Astronomy Tower, the cool stone beneath his feet a contrast to the late afternoon sun pouring in from the narrow windows. Afternoon classes for Astronomy? That is odd. His parents had always described their Astronomy lessons as midnight affairs under starlit skies. He could still hear his father’s dramatic retelling of braving the chill of the witching hour as he mapped out constellations. Yet here he was, broad daylight with no sign of freezing winds or enchanted telescopes.

At least I will not be shivering today. He smirked at the thought.

As he reached the classroom, the golden warmth from the sunlit windows softened his steps. The navy walls, studded with shimmering golden stars, seemed to wink in welcome. For a moment, Alaric paused to take it all in. Despite the daylight, the room held its own quiet magic, a subtle hum of wonder that felt like a promise of things yet to come.

Professor Marion Burbage’s ethereal form shimmered as she floated through a sunbeam, the light dancing across her translucent edges in waves of gold. Her voice, bright and lilting, greeted him warmly as she gestured to the round tables.

“Looooovely to see you, darling. Please take a seat. We will begin shortly,” she said.

Alaric blinked, caught between the sweetness of her greeting and the high-pitched giggle that followed. The sound was somehow both endearing and mildly unsettling.

She is certainly memorable, he thought as a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Thank you, Professor,” he said politely, slipping into an empty seat near the middle of the room. He placed his satchel down and began arranging his parchment and quill in neat rows. His gray eyes drifted curiously toward the other students arriving, some wide-eyed, others chattering in hushed excitement.

Despite the unfamiliar setting and his lingering questions, Alaric felt a quiet thrill as he settled in. After all, what better way to start his Hogwarts journey than with a class full of stars, even in the middle of the day?