r18novel Chapter 24 Astronomy Lesson
Chapter 24 Astronomy Lesson
As dusk settled over Hogwarts after dinner, the castle's stone walls were bathed in the last rays of the setting sun. Cullen and her roommates strolled slowly toward the Astronomy Tower with the other Ravenclaw students, their grey-blue eyes occasionally glancing at the portraits lining the corridors.
"Look at that!" Wesley suddenly grabbed Karen's sleeve, his reddish-brown curly hair shaking with excitement. He pointed to a huge portrait of a knight, in which a dozen wizards dressed in different eras were holding a banquet, and a drunken wizard was trying to catch a flying roast chicken with a fork.
Fabian pushed up his glasses, a look of surprise on his face: "It's mentioned in 'The History of Magical Art' that this is a painting of the 'Millennium Banquet,' which records major celebrations since the founding of Hogwarts."
Turning a corner, they saw another empty portrait, with only a lone armchair in the frame. Just as they were wondering what was going on, an old wizard wearing a nightcap suddenly appeared out of thin air in the chair, made a face at them, and then disappeared.
"Merlin's beard!" Wesley exclaimed. "These paintings are really interesting."
Karen noticed a peculiar painting depicting a starry sky, with a witch in ancient robes using an astrolabe to measure the positions of the stars. As he passed by, the witch suddenly looked up and winked at him.
The spiral staircase leading up to the Astronomy Tower left everyone breathless. When they finally reached the top, a cool night breeze brushed against their sweaty foreheads. Professor Sinister was already waiting there, her long hair flowing in the night wind, with the starry sky gradually appearing behind her.
"Welcome to astronomy class," her voice was as gentle as a night breeze. "Here, we don't need wands or spells, just your eyes and curiosity."
Karen looked around. The top of the astronomical tower was open in a circular shape, surrounded by bronze telescopes. In the center of the tower was a huge planetarium, intricately engraved with constellation patterns.
"Tonight, we will learn about the universe we live in." Professor Sinister took out a black box covered with silver patterns from his robe. "This is an alchemical artifact specially made by Professor Eisenberg, which can be used as a teaching aid in our astronomy class."
Karen's "Eye of Truth" was immediately activated. The silver patterns on the box transformed into flowing magical veins in his eyes, as intricate as a spider web, yet following some kind of cosmic law.
Professor Sinister tapped the box with his wand, and the silver patterns suddenly lit up. In an instant, the entire Astronomy Tower seemed to vanish, and they floated in the vast universe. Wesley gasped and instinctively grabbed Cullen's robe.
"Don't panic," Professor Sinister's voice echoed through the starry sky, "It's just a 3D projection."
A burning star appeared before them, surrounded by eight planets of varying sizes.
"This is our solar system." The professor waved his wand, and a blue planet was magnified. "This is Earth, the world we live in."
Ernesto suddenly spoke, his voice filled with unusual enthusiasm: "Mercury represents communication, Venus symbolizes love, Mars is associated with war... Each planet has a special meaning in astrology."
Karen looked at him in surprise, Ernesto’s eyes sparkling with a passion for the starry sky.
"Very correct, Mr. Griffith," Professor Sinister smiled. "Ravenclaw, five points. Now, please form groups and use your telescopes to try and find these planets."
Karen and her roommates went to a copper telescope. Ernesto skillfully adjusted the focus: "First, find Jupiter. It should be in the constellation Scorpius now... Look, that Great Red Spot with its rings."
Wesley leaned closer, his reddish-brown hair almost disappearing into his eyepiece: "Wow! I see it! What are those little dots around it?"
"Its satellites," Fabian explained, "when Galileo discovered them with his telescope, it shook the foundations of the geocentric model."
Ernesto recorded the observation data while explaining, "The wizarding world has long known that the Earth is not the center of the universe. In the Middle Ages, much astronomical knowledge was leaked from wizards to Muggles."
Karen peered through the telescope at Saturn's rings, the distant starlight reflected in his grey-blue eyes. Compared to the images he had seen in the Muggle planetarium in his previous life, the night sky presented by this magical telescope was clearer and more vivid, as if it were within reach.
"Why do wizards' telescopes seem so much more advanced than Muggles'?" he couldn't help but ask.
Ernesto, unusually, did not show any arrogance: "Because magical telescopes can break through the interference of the atmosphere, and..." he lowered his voice, "some top wizard observatories are built directly in space."
"Really?" Wesley's eyes widened. "How do we get up there? With a flying broomstick?"
"The special combination of Portkey and Apparition," Ernesto said. "Of course, it involves advanced magic and top-notch alchemical artifacts. My father said the Ministry of Magic has strict controls over it, but my grandfather has been there."
The observation continued late into the night, and as they searched for and identified new stars, Professor Sinister announced the end of the course. The light from the alchemical artifacts gradually faded, the cosmic illusion receded like the tide, and the Astronomical Tower returned to its original state.
"Next week we will continue observing the night sky." The professor put away the black box. "The assignment is to draw a star map that includes the positions of at least five planets."
On their way back to the dorm, the four boys were still awestruck by the starry sky. Wesley excitedly mimicked planetary motion as they walked: "I'm Jupiter, and I have so many little moons following me!"
"Quiet down," Fabian said in a low voice, "it's almost curfew."
Back in the Ravenclaw Tower, after a quick wash, Karen didn't rush to bed. Instead, she took out a parchment and a quill and went to the oak table by the fireplace.
The other students had all returned to their dormitories, leaving Karen alone sitting at the oak table, her quill pen scratching on the parchment.
"Dear Mom and Dad," he began, his grey-blue eyes reflecting the flickering firelight, "the first week at Hogwarts was more wonderful than I imagined..."
The quill paused, ink dripping onto the parchment and spreading into a small dot. Karen's thoughts drifted back to his first Transfiguration class, to Professor McGonagall's precise magical control as she transformed a match into a silver needle. He omitted anything about Slytherin, simply writing, "Transfiguration was very interesting; Professor McGonagall said my wrist movements were perfect."
The starry sky streamed in through the arched glass windows, mingling with the glow of the fireplace. Karen's pen continued its gliding stroke: "In Charms class, Professor Flitwick taught us the Levitation Charm. He was a half-elf, half-wizard, a very kind man, and also the headmaster of our house. Although he was quite small, his voice was surprisingly loud when he chanted spells..."
"Herbalism class was the most dangerous," Karen wrote, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips. The parchment was quickly covered with descriptions of the devil's web: its deep purple vines, its damp scent, and Wesley's comical expression as he was entangled. "Luckily, I remembered Professor Sprout's warning and used a bright light to rescue Wesley. As a reward, Ravenclaw adds ten points."
The fireplace flickered suddenly, and Karen looked up out the window. The stars twinkled in the night sky, reminding him of the awe-inspiring astronomy lesson he'd had that evening. He dipped his quill in ink and began to describe the black box covered in silver patterns:
"When Professor Sinesta activated it, the entire classroom seemed to float in space. We saw Saturn's rings, Jupiter's Great Red Spot... Ernesto, my roommate, was very knowledgeable about astronomy. He told us about the special significance of each planet in the magical world."
Karen paused her pen, pondering how to describe Ernesto's unusual enthusiasm tonight. The boy, who always carried a touch of arrogance, had a gleam in his eyes that was completely different from his usual self when he spoke of the stars.
"Although he scoffs at the technology of our ordinary world, he has to admit that the wizards' achievements in astronomy are astonishing. Their magical telescopes can see the stars with greater clarity than technological devices..."
The quill paused on the words "magic telescope." Karen then began to describe the magical images in the corridor:
"Some paintings are empty, but when you turn around, an old wizard suddenly appears dozing off; another painting shows a banquet being held, with a dozen wizards from different eras raising their glasses in toasts... Every corner of Hogwarts holds surprises."
The parchment was already more than half full. Karen rubbed his wrist, pondering what else he could share. Defense Against the Dark Arts? He couldn't mention his conversation with Professor Victor. The Chamber of Secrets and the Alchemy Notes? Even less likely. In the end, he decided to focus on describing the wonders of the castle itself:
"We found an abandoned classroom and were preparing to apply to use it as a study room. Professor Flitwick was very supportive of this idea and helped us submit the application to Professor McGonagall. Yesterday, the classroom was officially ours."
This isn't a complete lie, just selectively stated facts, so as not to worry them, Karen told himself. The fire was dying down, and the night was deep. He quickly wrote the ending:
"Everything is fine, no need to worry. The Hogwarts library is even more amazing than described, and I learn something new every day. I look forward to your reply."
Love you all
Karen
Karen rolled up the parchment and tied it tightly with a green ribbon, letting out a soft sigh. The letter was like a meticulously crafted jigsaw puzzle, showing only the safest pieces.
The door to the common room suddenly opened, and Ernesto walked in, carrying a thick book, "Celestial Magic."
"Still not asleep?" He raised an eyebrow in surprise, his gray eyes appearing particularly deep in the firelight.
"Write home." Karen shook the rolled-up parchment. "Why...?"
"I need to do some research." Ernesto looked unusually embarrassed. "Tonight's class reminded me of my childhood stargazing experiences with my grandfather."
He sat down opposite Karen and opened the book. Karen noticed it was an old manuscript with gilded star charts along the edges of the pages.
"This is……"
"The family library," Ernesto said softly. "I used to take this knowledge for granted, until I saw Wesley's expression tonight, and realized that not everyone grows up next to a planetarium."
Karen smiled slightly: "He was shocked, and so was I."
Ernesto hesitated for a moment, then pushed the book across the table: "If you want to understand... you can borrow it. Muggle astronomy misses too much of the magical aspect."
This simple gesture warmed Karen's heart.
"Thank you," Karen said sincerely. "By the way, did your grandfather really go to the space observatory?"
Ernesto's lips curled into a mysterious smile: "That's another story. I'll tell you when I have the chance."
The fire eventually went out, and the two boys returned to their dormitory. Karen placed the letter on her bedside table, intending to have it mailed by owl the next day.