Astrid woke up before she realized she was asleep. The smell of old books and the numbness in her cheek told her that she was still in the library. And that her face was smashed against the desk.

It was only a week until O.W.L. exams. The library was open 24/7 for fifth years, and they came and went at ungodly hours, with tears in their eyes and a slump in their step. It was good fun. The best of times.

Time. What time was it?

It didn’t matter. Astrid wanted to fall back asleep before the stress of everything could rush back in. The O.W.L.s, the vaults, the fact that it seemed she’d never find her brother. She’d never felt so alone. Her eyes flooded with tears before she could even open them—

A hand jostled her shoulder gently. “Astrid, hey…”

That voice. His voice. It made her heart skip, but she still wasn’t eager to wake. When Charlie shook her shoulder again, she forced her head upon a sore neck and squinted over her shoulder.

“Hey,” he whispered. His hand lingered on her back as he leaned down to her. Astrid might have blushed if she weren’t so damn exhausted.

“What time is it?” She slurred.

“Early,” he said apologetically. He flashed a lopsided grin and closed the book in front of her. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

Astrid rubbed her eyes and felt her legs lift out of her seat. Charlie took her hand in his and led her out of the library. She glanced out of the windows as they passed by. It was still dark. What could he possibly have to show her that was so important at this hour?

Once they were in the corridor, and he felt her follow willingly, Charlie dropped Astrid's hand. Her heart sank, just a little. She let her hand bump into his a couple of times, hoping he might catch it again, but he didn’t.

“Charlie,” Astrid said. “Where are we going?”

“The astronomy tower,” he answered simply.

“What?” She asked. “Why?”

“You’ll see when we get there,” he teased. “It’s a surprise.”

Exasperation hit her like a wall. “Oh god, Charlie, if this is a dragon thing—“

“Okay, wow!” He said, raising his hands defensively. “It’s not a dragon thing! But good to know where I stand—”

“Charlie.” She couldn’t help but laugh. He always knew how to make her laugh. She missed him terribly. Ever since the beginning of this year, he’d been so preoccupied with his studies that she’d hardly seen him.

It had left a void. Right next to the place where her brother had been.

“Kidding,” Charlie said with that freckly grin.

By the time they’d climbed all the stairs to the astronomy tower, the sky was lightening ever so slightly. It still hung on to a deep blue, and the stars still twinkled between the clouds, but there was a hint in the air that day was coming.

The air was crisp but smelled of spring. Astrid took a deep breath of it, hoping it could revitalize her. She could use a little help, nowadays.

Charlie walked ahead to the edge of the tower and sat down. Astrid lingered behind at first, confused, but eventually took a seat beside him. Her feet dangled over the edge, stories upon stories above the ground. It made her hands sweat to think of it, so instead, she looked at Charlie, and felt immediately grounded.

“What are you showing me?” She asked him.

Charlie’s eyes scanned the horizon. “That,” he pointed ahead, to the edge of a mountain, where the sun was beginning to rise. Inch by inch, brilliant orange crept up on the night. Orange, and then yellow, and pinks, and reds, and purples shimmering on the lake.

Astrid had never watched the sunrise before. Never watched it break through the dark, or wash out the stars. She’d never felt the first heat of day touch her skin, melt through the chill of night. It was something more than brilliant. And she didn’t know what to say.

Luckily, she didn’t have to. Charlie spoke first.

“I thought you might need to see it,” he said sheepishly. As though he were afraid it hadn’t impressed her after all, that he’d woken her up for nothing.

“You were right,” she said. Astrid wasn’t looking at him, but she knew he smiled. She could feel it as strongly as she felt the sun’s heat.

It was bright enough, now, to see the shadows on the mountains. The cold stone of the castle. The tips of the trees.

“Astrid, I’m sorry,” Charlie said softly. “I’m sorry I haven’t been with you much this year.”

She tore her eyes from the mountains and looked at Charlie. His green eyes swam with apologies. He looked so hurt for her that she almost wanted to comfort him. Astrid felt her face soften.

“I was so caught up in our stupid exams,” he said.

“They are stupid.”

“They are!” He agreed. “Because while I was worried about being the perfect student, the perfect Prefect, I completely forgot about being a halfway decent friend.”

“Charlie—“

“No, Astrid,” he said. “I know better than anyone that you’re going through hell every day. You’ve needed me, and I haven’t been there. Isn’t that right?”

She stared at him. He couldn’t bear to look at her. Instead, his eyes fixed on the space between them.

She bumped her knee gently into his. “I always need you, Charlie,” Astrid's voice wavered as she blinked back tears. She hadn’t expected to break this way, not in front of him. But to have him back in her life was everything right now. She couldn’t help it.

And Charlie didn’t mind. In a heartbeat, his arms were around her. She clung to him, fingers digging into his sweater and tears flowing freely onto his shoulder. For a long while, she stayed that way, neither of them wanting to let go. She took in the feeling of his hands on her back, in her hair, and watched the sunrise over his shoulder.

“Thank you for waking me,” she finally said.

He pulled away and looked at her with a smile. “I’m just glad you got up,” he said. “Thought you might tell me to piss off.”

Astrid laughed. “I don’t just mean from my nap.”

Charlie smiled. “Oh.”

Her hand fell to her side and bumped Charlie’s. This time, he caught it. Held it tightly on his own. The warmth of morning spread from her hand to her cheeks, and she knew that whatever was ahead, she could face it. She’d never felt so together.