Father's Little Deatheater

Engulfed in Flames

20th December

A few days ago Blaise and I got a letter from Professor Slughorn explaining the time and place of his Christmas party. So we decided to just go together as friends. When I told Draco he was annoyed that I wasn't able to help him with fixing the cabinet. As I'm getting dressed in my new black lacy dress Mother sent me, I look in my mirror to tie up my hair in a high ponytail. Before I leave though It's the third day I have to take my wolfsbane potion. I drink it down because I don't want a repeat of last time.

Blaise and I wander around the party talking to our friends. Neville tells us not to not eat the dragon balls that are being handed around, as they cause bad breath. After talking with my friends I make my way over to Ginny at the table by the door. But before im about to speak to her Filch burst in the room dragging my brother by the collar behind him. "Take your hands off me, you filthy Squib!" Draco growls. "Professor Slughorn, sir. I just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party." Filch says proudly. "Okay, okay. I was gatecrashing. Happy?" My brother confesses, glancing over at Stella. Who came to the party with Harry. He must have been Jealous. "I'll escort him out." Snape says, walking over to them. "Certainly, professor." Draco responds, shaking his shoulders, removing Flich's hand. They walk past Blaise and I, Draco grabbing my hand to join them. I turn giving Ginny a shrug before heading out the door with my brother and Snape.

"Maybe we did hex that Bell girl. Maybe we didn't. What's it to you?" Draco demands walking down the corridor with Snape. "I swore to protect you." Snape says shoving Draco against the wall. "I made the Unbreakable Vow." He continues. "I don't need protection. I was chosen for this. Besides Asteria is helping me. I won't fail him." Draco says standing tall over Snape. "You're afraid, Draco. I can tell." I speak up. "Yes. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. Let me assist you." Snape says looking at us both in the eyes. "No! I was chosen. This is my moment." Draco demands stomping away.

I begin to head in the same direction to go after my brother. "Not so fast Asteria." Snape calls. "Shit almost." I mutter, receiving a glare form Snape. "Soo you made the unbreakable Vow, huh? Me too." I say sassily. "You did what." Snape growls, looking more disappointed than angry. "Yupp made it in fourth year when I began my tasks. We agreed to help each other with our tasks. No big deal." I tell him. "Before you say anything, I know it's dangerous blah blah blah. But we wanted to do it for each other." I continue after a few moments of silence. All Snape does is lets out a big sigh before walking away.

***

Tuesday 24th December 1996

Christmas eve was a full moon and Tonks invited me around to spend the night at theirs's as Remus was going to have a rough night a too. So I may as well keep him company. I spent the evening hanging out with Stella. I taught her how to play wizards chess, but she mostly wanted to ask me questions about my brother. I knew she had a crush on him so I did my best to answer them. When it was time for bed Remus and I went to his confinement chamber so we can turn without hurting anybody. After a long night of scratching at the walls and howling, it's morning and the door is opened by Tonks. She passes us our clothes to change into, as both of us are wrapped up in our own blanket. "Can I have a shower, before we go to the Weasley's" I ask Tonks. "Of course dear" She replies. "Thanks" I smile, before walking out wrapped in the blanket and grabbing my clothes on the way out.

Christmas Day

After a nice Christmas day dinner at the burrow I watch the twins pull a Christmas cracker, laughing as it turns into a slinky. They start wrapping it around me laughing even more. I slightly overhear Remus, Tonks and Arthur talking to Harry in the other room. Only hearing them talk about Draco doing a task for Voldemort then about Snape making the unbreakable vow to protect him. He must have listened in our conversation the night of Slughorn's party. Doesn't seem like he stayed long enough to hear about my tasks though, thank Merlin.

As I release myself from the Slinkys grip I walk over to the table to help Molly with the cleaning up. "Thank you dear," She beams. I notice Ginny walk over to Harry with a plate of Christmas pies, feeding Harry one of them. But before something else is about to happen Ron sits in between the two. Ginny looks at me with a sad look. "I'm sorry" I whisper.

Later that evening I'm standing at the door to say goodbye to Tonks, Remus and Stella who are leaving. "It was delicious, Molly, really." Tonks speaks. "Are you sure you won't stay?" Molly pleads. "No, we should go. The first night after the full moon is always the worst." Tonks tells Molly, as Remus and I are both looking out towards the fields. "Remus? Asteria?" Arthur calls. No reply from either of us, because we can tell something is stirring out there.

Seconds later a black misty smoke sets a ring of fire around the Burrow. My aunt Bellatrix appears from that black mist. She gives me an evil look before cackling as she runs through the closing ring of fire. I've had enough of her crazy bullshit, I run after he with my wand in my hand. "Asteria, no" I hear Atti call behind me. I run after my aunt through the tall wheat, which hits my face as I run faster. I hear growling not far from where I am. So I run in that direction instead. I reach a scared looking Ginny stepping back from Greyback.

"Stupefy"

Harry yells as he reaches us. Greyback blocks Harry's spell, before materializing into black mist. They swirl around us making it seem like they will emerge from any direction. "Harry" I hear Arthur call out trying to look for us. The three of us start casting knockback spells at the swirls of black mist around us. "Ginny" Arthur yells again. Tonks, Remus and Arthur finally catch up to us and begin helping us to cast spells at the Deatheater's. Suddenly they both fly up in black smoke, making their way back to the burrow. They materialize through the house, now setting the whole thing on fire. "Molly" Arthur yells, we all follow him back to the house to see if everyone is okay.

I run into George's arms, glad to see he's safe. We all watch the Burrow as it burns down in flames. A few tears escaping from my eyes.

For the week and a half left of the holidays I stay with the twins at their flat. The first night I slept beside George in his bed all we did was cuddled. It was really sweet actually. He never pressured me to do anything and I was happy with just cuddling. I helped them out at the shop during the day.

Then I remembered Draco had asked me to check on the cabinet in Borgin and Burkes. So one night I snuck out of the twins shop and made my way down the creepy allyway to the shop. I enter with a key Borgin gave me at the start of the year. Heading straight over to the cabinet. I open it to find a few of the apples that never came back to us in the Room of Requirement. They were all brown and rotten.