Snake Charmer

Chapter Eight

Albus sat next to Asteria staring at her hair it had grown well passed her waist now. The year had gone by so slowly. He was ready to see her smiling face again. The door to the room of requirements opened drawing his attention.

Newt stepped through the door, his eyes instantly going to Asteria's sleeping frame.

"She hasn't woken up yet?" His voice was soft as if he was afraid that if he spoke too loudly, he would wake her. Albus laughed at Newt's worry.

"No, not yet. But I'm holding out hope that this is the year that she will wake up. Her papa seems to think that she will wake up." Albus was convinced but he knew that Grindelwald wouldn't lie about Asteria. He didn't know what she would think about how the world was now. It was so different now.

Asteria sat straight up screaming, Albus shot around gripping her upper arms. Her icy blue eyes frantically roamed the room until they landed on her father. Albus smiled through his burning eyes.

"Little Dove! It's alright. You're awake." Asteria's eyebrows drew together as she stared at her father. Something tickled her arms making her look down, her eyes widened as she stared at her hair in awe.

"Tom's gathering younger followers now." Her voice was hoarse and raw. Newt rushed forward with a glass of water in his hand holding it out to her. She smiled softly glancing up at newt before taking a drink of the water. She eyed Newt again before a slow smirk spread across her face.

"You've gotten old Uncle Newt." She teased making both Albus and Newt laugh.

"It's so good to hear your voice again little dove." Albus spoke gently before wrapping his daughter in his arms. Asteria's eyebrows drew together, and she pursed her lips at her father. But she allowed him to hold her. She patted him awkwardly and waited until he pulled back first. He inhaled a deep breath and smiled brightly, but it faltered quickly.

"He's been looking for you all this time." Asteria's heart threatened to cave in her chest. Her hands trembled as she shook her head throwing her feet off the side of the bed attempting to get up. Newt reached for her as she stood on shaky legs. Asteria smiled breathlessly as her face flushed from embarrassment.

"I have work to do. And I'm not hiding. He can find me if he needs to." Asteria countered moving away from Newt and over to the new dresser that was there. She gave it a confused smile but opened the drawers anyway. She pulled a fresh pair of clothes out of the drawer and turned toward her father who pointed toward the door in the far corner.

Asteria found herself in a bathroom. But what made her smile was the scissors. She quickly cut her hair to the middle of her waist before pulling the pjs from her body and stepping into the shower. The hot water felt nice against her skin.

Once she was showered and dressed in a short sleeve white shirt with a tan think strapped dress thar went just passed her knees over the top, she felt exposed and stepped outside the bathroom pulling at the hem of the dress, frustration written clearly across her face.

Albus tried to cover his laughter at her distress. He wasn't laughing at her discomfort; he was laughing because she thought that her tugging would make it longer.

"Sweetheart that's the style now." Asteria frowned and narrowed her eyes at her father.

"Then I suppose that I will have to get used to it." She didn't try to hide the distain in her voice.

"Your cover is that you were attending elsewhere and you transferred here. Do you understand? And you Newt's daughter." Both of Asteria's eyebrows rose in shock as she looked at Newt who smiles warmly at her.

"Why cannot keep my own last name?" She inquired crossing her arms, defiantly.

"Because as your father, it is my job to keep you safe. That is what I am doing. Do not worry. You will remain in Gryffindor." Asteria rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Asteria wasn't fond of this idea. It wouldn't matter if she had a different last name. Tom knew what she looked like. It wouldn't be that hard for him to find her.

"Come along. I have to introduce you to everyone." Albus pulled her from the room as they walked through the corridors of the castle, a dull pain formed in Asteria's chest as memories of her and Tom came flooding back.

She wanted to know where she had gone wrong...why wasn't she enough to make him stop? She shakes her violently trying to rid the thoughts from her mind. She couldn't think about that anymore. She had a mission to complete and she would get it done.

"Here we go Little Dove."