A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 16: The Astronomy Tower

Chapter 16: The Astronomy Tower

James pushed open the door to the Gryffindor dormitory, his hair still mussed from running, his lips curved in a faint, distracted smile. The lightness in his chest was unfamiliar but welcome, and he felt almost untouchable—until he stepped inside and was immediately greeted by Sirius's furious voice.

"You had one job, Potter!" Sirius stood in the middle of the room, his arms thrown wide in dramatic exasperation. Remus sat on the edge of his bed, arms crossed, his expression less theatrical but no less annoyed.

James blinked, momentarily startled out of his reverie. "What?"

"What happened to being a lookout?" Sirius continued, his voice rising. "You know, the role where you look out for trouble and warn us before we get caught?"

Remus sighed, rubbing his temples. "Filch showed up. Mrs. Norris showed up. Everything but a warning showed up."

James winced, his smile faltering slightly. "Ah."

"'Ah'?!" Sirius echoed, his voice incredulous. "You left us to deal with Filch and that bloody cat! Do you know what it's like trying to explain why you're skulking outside the Slytherin common room with a crate of charmed stink bombs? Do you?!"

James's grin returned, wider now, though he tried to look apologetic. "Look, I'm sorry. Really, I am. It won't happen again."

Sirius narrowed his eyes, his suspicious gaze tracking James as he tossed his cloak onto his bed. "Where the hell were you, anyway?"

James hesitated, his mind briefly flicking back to the library. He smiled faintly but didn't answer, shrugging as if the question didn't matter. "Somewhere else. It's... not important."

Sirius's eyebrows shot up. "Not important? You left us hanging for something not important?"

"This one's between me and—" James stopped himself short, shaking his head. "Just trust me, alright? It's fine."

Remus studied him with a curious tilt of his head, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't press. Sirius groaned dramatically, throwing himself onto his bed in defeat.

"You're impossible," Sirius muttered. "But for the record, you owe us."

"Noted," James said lightly, his grin returning. Nothing, not even Sirius's tantrum, was going to ruin his mood tonight.

Later that night, the dormitory was quiet, the soft sounds of Sirius's snoring punctuated by the occasional creak of the old tower. James sat cross-legged on his bed, the Marauder's Map spread out before him, illuminated by the faint glow of his wand.

He told himself he was just checking to make sure everyone was where they should be. But his eyes kept drifting to one name.

Anastasia Gaunt.

She had pacing for the last fifteen minutes, her path a small, tight circuit that spoke of restlessness, of a mind burdened with thoughts too heavy to stand still.

James watched the dot that represented Anastasia move back and forth, a silent witness to her solitude. A part of him—a part he was still coming to terms with—ached to join her, to offer company or comfort, or simply to share the silence. He struggled with the impulse to go to her, aware of the fine line he was navigating between concern and intrusion.

What happened earlier tonight, the intensity of her panic and the vulnerability she had shown, weighed heavily on him. It was a side of Anastasia he suspected few had seen, a glimpse behind the armor she wore so diligently. The thought of her alone, possibly grappling with whatever thoughts had driven her to the Astronomy Tower's solitude, stirred a protective instinct in him.