A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 32: 5th Time's a Charm

Pushing off the desk with a sigh, she grabbed her broom from its resting place near the window. She turned it over in her hands, the smooth handle cool against her skin. Whispering a soft incantation, she cast the invisibility spell over herself, the air shimmering faintly before settling.

It was reckless, she knew that. But the restlessness was unbearable, clawing at her insides, driving her to move.

The castle grounds were shrouded in darkness, the cold night air biting against Anastasia's skin as she flew. The invisibility charm shimmered faintly around her as she navigated the towering structure, the broom humming softly beneath her hands. Her fingers were cold, trembling slightly—not from the chill, but from the restless energy that had driven her from her dormitory.

She should've stayed. She should've kept pacing her room, flipping through her useless books, or staring at the mocking letter on her desk. But the suffocating quiet had grown unbearable, the shadows stretching longer and darker until she couldn't take it anymore.

As the Gryffindor Tower came into view, Anastasia hovered outside one of the windows. A faint glow spilled through the glass, the embers in their ashtray still alive. She squinted, her breath fogging the air as she caught sight of James's messy silhouette on his bed. Sirius was sprawled across his, one arm dangling off the side, and Remus lay tucked under the covers.

She hesitated, clutching the broom handle tighter. What am I doing? It was reckless, even more so than last time. But the thought of retreating back to her dormitory, back to the cold and the quiet and her own mind, wasn't an option.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she muttered a charm to unlock the window. It shifted slightly, just enough for her to slide inside. She landed lightly on the floor, the cool stone pressing against her bare feet as she pulled the window shut behind her.

The room was warmer than she'd expected, but the stillness was as heavy as her dormitory's. Sirius's quiet snores were a low rumble, and Remus's breathing was steady. Only James seemed restless, the faint sound of him turning under his covers breaking the silence.

Anastasia moved quietly, placing her broom against the wall. Her invisibility charm dissolved with a flick of her wand, and she lingered near the window for a moment, letting her eyes adjust. It was strange, standing here again. She felt out of place, like a shadow in someone else's dream.

Anastasia glanced around, taking in the familiar, messy chaos of the space—the discarded robes, the cluttered desks, the faint smell of smoke lingering in the air.

Her gaze fell on Sirius. For a moment, she considered waking him, knowing he'd be thrilled to see her. But she could already picture the fuss he'd make, the loud, teasing remarks that would undoubtedly rouse the others. The last thing she needed was to draw attention to her... unorthodox arrival.

Instead, she moved to James's bed, her footsteps light and deliberate. His canopy was slightly ajar, revealing his form beneath the blankets. He was on his side, his face half-buried in his pillow, his hair a wild, untamed mess. The edge of the canopy was slightly ajar, and she could just make out the messy halo of his hair against the pillow.

Anastasia hovered near the edge of James's bed, her arms crossed as she leaned against the bedpost, her expression neutral despite the absurdity of her presence. The faint ember glow from the ashtray illuminated her face, casting shadows under her eyes. She wasn't sure why she'd come, only that the alternative—another night alone with her thoughts—was worse.

Without much thought, she reached out and tapped lightly on the wood of the bedframe.

James stirred, groaning softly as he turned onto his back. His hand fumbled blindly on the bedside table before he grabbed his glasses and slid them on, blinking groggily.