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Amit loved stargazing, ever since he was a young wizard who first attended Hogwarts. Perhaps even before that, the hobby had been one he had picked up since he first started reading books. There was so much to the stars that have yet to be discovered, so many things uncatalogued and waiting to be discovered. How could he not get excited about it? He could talk endlessly about what both muggles, wizards, and all sorts of magical creatures had already uncovered and what they had yet to find. He had the rare occasion to talk about it with other students in the astronomy tower, but they hardly ever afforded him the time nor the effort to sit down and listen, often only staying to finish whatever assignments Professor Shah had assigned.
Nothing more.
Indeed, Amit had hardly been able to talk about new findings and his eagerness to discover more about the stars. It wasn’t until his fifth year that things had changed. He had been afforded time to talk endlessly about his hobby, about whatever was discovered, in the form of a new student.
Lucien Alberich.
Who knew that the new student would turn out to be Amit's newest friend? And likewise, who knew that he would end up becoming Lucien’s newest friend in turn?
He certainly didn't expect it. But from having Lucien consistently on his tail, asking about all manners of topics from the history of Hogwarts to Amit's hobbies….
That had gotten him started.
He hadn't even realized that it had gotten late until he saw Lucien fighting away sleep, trying vainly not to nod off. Amit feels a little guilty about how much time he had seemingly taken up. Before he could think to apologize, Lucien waved his hand away with a soft smile.
"Don’t apologize. I enjoy hearing you talk about the stars."
Amit could feel his cheeks growing hot. That's the first time he’s ever had someone tell him that. Though, he wondered how much it was truly Lucien listening to him and not zoning out. On a few occasions, he had caught the ghost of a rather dreamy expression on the boy’s face, a soft smile and eyes holding in them an endearing gaze. In the dim light, it could be mere tricks of the light but he could swear that the boy’s face appeared…warm. Cheeks are a little bit more colored than normal. It wasn’t a bad thing, though…Amit admits to himself that the look was…it made his stomach feel like numerous butterflies were fluttering at once. "You are one of the rare few who's ever told me that…they enjoy hearing me talk about astronomy."
Lucien looks at him inquisitively. "The rare few?"
Amit rescinded his words. To say the rare few felt like embellishment. A truth still, but stretched to the point where it feels like a lie. He rubs the back of his neck, smile turning meek. "Alright. Maybe not the few so much as the only one. I suppose I don't care what our classmates think, but I've hardly had anyone sit down and listen to me."
Lucien pouts at him. Amit had to admit to himself that the sight was also endearing. "I find that a little hard to believe. I think they'd learn a great deal if they did."
It feels almost like flattery coming from Lucien. If it were anyone else, Amit might start to think that they were trying to charm him enough to pass their homework on to him.
But this wasn't just anyone.
This was Lucien.
Lucien, who had been nothing but affectionate and warm to him. Outgoing as he was, eager to connect with their peers and make as many friends as he could when it came to Amit, he was different in perhaps the best way possible. Someone who was usually so hyper, he…calmed down. Amit wouldn't consider himself the observant type of person, at least when it came to people, but whenever Lucien was with him, he seemed less strained. He was still hyper, but it never felt like he was putting on fronts to fit in. He wasn't Lucien, the hero who saved Hogwarts. He wasn't Lucien, the new up-and-coming quidditch player that everyone seemed to talk about alongside Imelda. He was just Lucien, a friend, a companion, someone who seemed to hold what felt like the most gentle smile and affectionate gaze.
Someone who listened to every single word that Amit said.
He had gotten so lost in his thoughts that he almost forgot where they were and what they were supposed to be doing. He looked away from Lucien’s rather soft gaze, concentrating again on the incomplete star chart in front of him.
Right. They were supposed to go to the astronomy tower tonight.
"Ah," he starts, rubbing the back of his neck meekly. "I…hadn't realized how much time I've taken up. We were supposed to go to the astronomy tower."
Lucien waves it off. "There's always tomorrow night, Amit. And it's getting late."
"Yes, but…"
Amit wanted to go. Not only to finish Lucien’s star charts together with a telescope that would suffice far better than their own but…. Well, there had never been one night that he hadn't looked at the stars. It had almost turned into a gesture most comforting, looking up at the stars before he'd have to return to the dormitories to sleep. He had done it since he was a first year. Lonely nights spent looking at the stars, reminding himself that he was here for a purpose, a reason, and he'd quell any anxiety he would have had. Though his worries hardly ever hassled him, he had always done it. It wasn’t overly bothersome, but it was hard to break the habit.
Lucien’s undivided attention is on him again. "I get it," he says softly. He hums a soft tune for a few seconds, that gentle smile returning after he had finished processing his thoughts."Perhaps it's too late to go to the astronomy tower, but we could stay here and look at the stars from Ravenclaw Tower?"
Amit heard it. "We," Lucien had said. They could go together. This would be the only time he finds himself breaking a habit of watching the stars alone as he nods. "I'd like that," he says almost breathlessly.
They had remained there, in the tower above the Ravenclaw common room. The only oddity that Amit had found himself grappling with for the first time in his life was the countless eyes of the other students as they glanced in their direction, striding past them to return to the common room. He's had attention on him before, but never to this degree. Had it been because he was accompanied by Lucien, someone who had eyes on him from the minute he stepped foot on the castle grounds? How did he deal with that attention?
"You’re thinking again, aren't you?" Lucien hums. "What's on your mind?"
To put it simply, you, Amit answered quickly in his head. Outwardly, he waves his troubles away. "Nothing important."
As soon as his eyes met the delicate twinkle of the stars above him again, it felt like all of his troubles had been washed away. All of his worries and concerns, all of the questions that plagued his mind, were gone. He felt at ease, and peculiarly, even more so than in the past.
Maybe Lucien recognizes it too, but he didn't feel obligated to say anything. To that, Amit is grateful.
"I love stargazing," he sighs. "Out here, it feels refreshing, invigorating. Almost like I'm standing on the decks of the astronomy tower again."
Beside him, Lucien laughs. "I take it that it's your favorite hobby?"
Amit lets out a content hum. It was his absolute favorite. "Yes, just as your favorite hobby is quidditch. Something about standing in a field or a tower with a telescope to observe the stars…"
"It feels like a rush, then? Like flying on a broom?"
"I'd say so."
Amit can't help himself as he excitedly takes Lucien’s hand, his eyes catching sight of a constellation bright as day in the night sky. He had so easily begun to talk about the stars again, the ones that they could see, at least. Their telescopes and star charts sat on the seat beside them, long forgotten.
"And there," he says, arm outstretched as he points to the collection of stars. "Those stars make up the Phoenix constellation. You can see it from the castle grounds. There's a few other constellations that we can see from the castle grounds too, without a telescope no less!"
Lucien had tried to pay attention to his words, but his mind had been hung up on other things. He couldn't shake the nerves he had nor could he stop the heat rushing to his cheeks when Amit had initially taken Lucien’s hand. It caught him entirely off guard, but the gesture was hardly unwelcome. More than anything, his heart had been racing nonstop and he was trying hard not to focus on the feeling of Amit’s hand in his, still holding it, as the boy continued to speak. For as much as he had been watching and listening intently, he had also been entirely wrapped up by the sight of his best friend's eyes. Maybe it had been a trick of the light, but Lucien swears…he could see the stars in Amit's eyes too. He can't see the brown hue anymore, the warmth they always seemed to carry. But he could settle for watching the stars in his eyes, even if Amit didn't notice him. He almost feels like he's intruding, staring intently, and he tries to look away. He almost wants to say something, to offer to take Amit closer to the stars if they could fly up to them together…but he could hardly afford to spoil the moment. For himself or Amit.
And that was alright.
For as much as he wanted to press a little kiss to his forehead or those lips, he was okay with letting himself sit and lie down by Amit’s side. The intimacy is something he had craved ever since his heart had first fallen for Amit. As much as he wanted to indulge, Lucien was content to stay here and watch the stars with him.
Maybe another day, they could stargaze some more and he'd be brave enough to take Amit closer to the stars…