Snake Charmer

Chapter Eleven

                                                                                Two weeks later.

Potions was torture. Slughorn was keeping a close eye on Asteria thanks to her sudden outburst in the great hall two weeks ago. Not that she blamed him. It was probably her father's doing anyway. But the Slytherin's were becoming harder and harder to ignore. Regulus was in her potions class along with Remus.

The Nightmarish visions were getting worse and there was nothing that she could do to keep them away. She could tell that Lily was worried but that was because Asteria had woke up screaming a few times. Asteria sighed again for the fifth time. This time however Remus looked up from his parchment and smiled softly before digging in his bag pulling out a chocolate bar and snapping it in half.

Asteria looked over at him as he held out the chocolate to her, encouraging her to take it. A curious smile took over Asteria's face as she took the chocolate from him and bit into it.

"Chocolate a world healing medicine." A giggle bubbled out of her, and she instantly covered her mouth, and her cheeks burned. Every-time that she turned around these five people were slowly tearing down her walls that she had built up. Remus smiled shyly before he turned back to what he was doing.

Asteria shook her head trying to pay attention to the Professor, but she could feel someone watching her. She lifted her eyes and sure enough, Regulus was looking at her again. She looked away quickly.

She should probably ask Sirius what the deal was with his brother. But knowing Sirius, he would only assume that she liked Regulus and that wasn't it at all. Groaning her dropped her head onto her desk. Remus chuckled lightly patting Asteria on the back. He wondered what was wrong with her.

But she was so closed off with him. She was warming up to them though. He knew that whatever it was, she was losing sleep over it. All he and the others wanted to do was help her carry the burden and Remus had told the other to just be patient.

That whatever it was she would tell them when she was ready. They just had to listen and be there for her.

Once the Professor dismissed them, Asteria took her time to collect her things. She sighed grateful when Remus didn't try to wait for her. Asteria collected her bag and swung around, jumping back when Regulus stood directly behind her.

"Merlin! Don't do that!" Regulus tilted his head at her, like he didn't understand why it would have scared her. Instead he stepped closer to her, making her breath hitch lightly.

"W-What are you doing Black?" She hadnt meant for her voice to shake but, she hadnt been this close to someone since....When one of the others tried it she would shove them away.

"Be wary of Bella. She has it out for you." He whispered before yanking himself away from her and exiting the classroom quickly. Asteria placed a hand over her pounding heart willing it to calm down. She shook her head and rushed out of the room, she had to make it to divination, or she would have detention.

Grumbling to herself mostly she made her way up several flights of stairs. She tried to convenience her father once that they should allow the students to ride their brooms instead of climbing the stairs. But he had immediately thrown away the idea.

Asteria groaned as she entered the room, James waving at her wildly ushering her over to his table, where he and Sirius sat. A long string of curse words repeated in her head as she made her way over to them and sat down. Divination was one of her favorite classes.

Asteria frowned when Sirius made her sit between him and James. Sirius and James both slid closer to her making her glare between them. Trying to figure out what they were up to.

"So, Ari we were wondering if you were going to go to The Quidditch game." Her eyes narrowed further as she looked at James. He was giving her his best puppy dog eyes and Asteria groaned rather loudly.

"Jamie! Not the puppy dog eyes!" She hated to even admit it. But she was not immune to them like Lily was.

"You both know that I don't like Quidditch!" Sirius gasped and clutched his invisible pearls. Asteria pressed her mouth together to keep from laughing at him.

"Come on! Please! Even Remus is coming!" James leaned closer to her, Asteria frowned knowing that she had just lost and that she would cave.

"For the love of Godric Gryffindor! FINE!" Sirius chuckled loudly and pulled Asteria into a side hug, trying to press the side of his face against hers. Instantly Asteria hands shot up to Sirius's face pushing it away. Only making the two of them laugh harder. She rolled her eyes. These two would be the death of her!

Divination was reading tea leaves and Asteria was not in the mood to do that. She just wanted this day to be over with already. Not that she was looking forward to sleeping either...Maybe she should speak to her father again.

James and Sirius bolted from the room as soon as the Professor dismissed them. But again Asteria took her time, she wasn't in any hurry. The Professor offered her a small smile approached her. Professor Quinn rubbed her arm gently.

"How are you ajusting Asteria dear?" Asteria smiled a little. She was glad that Professor Quinn still remembered her.

"Its harder than I thought that it was going to be. But, despite my constant pushes ..I think that I am actually making friends." Professor Quinn chuckled softly and shook her head.

"I can see that. I'm glad you almost seem happy again." Asteria bit the inside if her cheek and nodded before moving away from Professor Quinn. She knew that if she kept the physical contact that she would be able to sense her emotions and she didn't need the teacher telling her father that she was depressed or something.