Snake Charmer

Chapter Nine

Asteria followed behind her father as he went to the front of The Great Hall. She tried to not make eye contact with anyone. She didn't want to draw anymore attention to herself than she already was. Albus cleared his throat as he turned to face the other students. Asteria growled out a sigh and slowly turned around so that everyone can get a good look at her.

"I would like to introduce you all to our new transfer student. Miss Asteria Scamander. She will be with the other six years. She has been privately sorted into Gryffindor." Albus said proudly.

Asteria had not been sorted again. Her father was just placing her in somewhere familiar. She shook her head lightly as the Gryffindor table cheered loudly. Wonderful they were still a noisy lot. Asteria casts an unamused look at her father who gives her an encouraging smile. She suppresses an annoyed eye roll before making her way over to the Gryffindor table.

"You can sit next to me if you like." The feminine voice made her stop in her tracks and turn toward the voice. The girl was giving her a friendly smile that lite up her green eyes. Asteria tilted her head at her curiously. The girl's red hair reminded her of a Weasley that she use to know.

Hopefully she wasn't related to the Weasley boy. He was annoying and was always playing pranks that weren't funny.

Asteria forced a smile and sat down by the girl.

"I'm Lily Evans. It's nice to meet you Asteria. Can I call you Ria for short?" Asteria's eyebrows drew together. Why would she give her a nickname?

"I'm alright with that." Asteria had to deal with these people for Godric knows how long and she had to remain friendly.

"Are you alright?" Asteria was taken back by Lily's question. What did she mean by that?

"Yes, I'm sorry if I seem off put. It's difficult for me to make friends." Lily gave her a sympathic look and then took her hand.

"Well, you've just made your first friend Ria." Asteria's cheeks warmed as she smiled softly at Lily, flashed of Lily when she is older and pregnant flash before her eyes and her smile brightened then. She was a good person.

Lily had taken it upon herself to warn Asteria about the boys that were in her friend group. But she made sure to tell her that they were all friendly and welcoming. Asteria wasn't buying it though. She wasn't here looking to make friends. She just needed to wait for Tom to turn up.

The hairs on the back of Asteria's begin to stand on end, making her scan the room slowly. She turned toward the Slytherin table and there her icy irises rested on a young man with dark curls and hazel green eyes. His eyes were slightly narrowed as if he was trying to figure her out. Her stomach tightened. She recogized this boy. Tom had called him Regulus in one of her visions that she had, had while she was sleeping.

"That's Regulus Black." Asteria frowned. She knew the last name Black...He must be Orion's son.

"Would you like to head to the common room?" Asteria forced herself to smile and nod as she got up silently and followed Lily. She knew where the common room was. But she figured that it would freak Lily out if she had accidently let something slip.

Lily smiles nervously.

"So just a friendly warning. My friends are flirts but they are good guys!" She says quickly. Asteria had to fight her own smile. Lily was worried that they would scare her away? They sounded like normal Gryffindors to her.

"I'm sure that it will be alright." Asteria trysto reassure her. But Asteria knew that if they pushed to hard that she would end up hurting them. People still made her uncomfortable. Execpt for Tom. Her heart ached at the thought and she shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thoughts. He wasn't the boy that she knew anymore.

Asteria stepped behind the portrait, and she frowned as she heard loud laughter. Groaning softly, she entered the common, and lets out a small, relieved sigh. Not much had changed in the common room.

Asteria's eye twitched as she noticed the four young men. One was reading in the oversized chair that she used to love to sit in when she read.

The other three were rough housing on the sofa. Anger licked her insides as she noticed one, dark hair that brushed the tops of his shoulders and his dark brown eyes landed on her. This one she knew was Orion Black's son. He looked a lot like him when he was younger.

She tilted her head curiously at the next one that was wearing a Quidditch jersey and round glasses. She fought a smile, that one reminded her of Fleamont Potter. It must be his son and the blonde.... her face paled. He looked familiar but she couldn't place him.

"Alright you band of baboons! Stop and pay attention!" The boys froze and looked up first giving Lily an offended look and then eyed Asteria curiously.

"Who's your friend Lily flower?" Lily rolled her eyes at the one in glasses and then turned to Asteria giving her an apologetic sigh.

"Asteria Scamander, these are my friends. James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin." She pointed to them one at a time and Asteria waved awkwardly.

"She's adorable." Sirius said grinning widely and tilting his head to look at James. Peter laughed under his breath and Remus just shook his head.

"You are awful! Come on Ria I'll show you to the dorms."