Snake Charmer

28

Asteria arched an eyebrow at Harry and smirked as he looked at her again. The boy was too obvious in his interest. She knew that he would be curious about her. But the slight blush in his cheeks had surprised her. She knew she could have probably teased him about it. But she didn't want to embarrass the poor boy. Regulus leaned closer to her and she in returned leaned toward him.

"He's just like his father." Regulus whispered to her and all she could do was grin. He wasn't wrong. James couldn't keep his eyes off of Lily when they were in school.

"Ari will be returning to Hogwarts. She can pass as a seventh year, so she and Regulus will be together."  She opened her mouth to protest, but Remus gave her a stern look and she closed her mouth glaring at him. 

"Your last name will be Evans when you go in this time." Asteria's head snapped toward James in shock. He gave her a gentle smile. But her mouth went dry.

"You lot just don't want me hunting down more death eaters." Sirius cut his eyes toward her and shrugged lightly.

"You don't get a say. We are your elders now." Asteria wanted to hit him. He thought that he was being cheeky. 

"I could wipe the floor with you PUP." James covered his mouth to keep from laughing and Harry's eyebrows shot up as he looked at his father. It had been a long time since he had seen a light in his eyes, and it was all because of the girl sitting in front of him. 

"You know Tom?" The room fell silent, and Regulus dropped his head into his hand and Remus looked like he was ready to get out of his chair. Asteria turned to Harry with a kind smile. 

"I knew him before what he is now. he was different and understanding. But Dark magic twists even the purest souls. I would know. It did my papa." Harry's eyebrows drew together in confusion as he glanced around the room. Asteria let out a clipped sigh as she cut her gaze to James. Who was looking rather guilty. Hermione however turned to Harry.

"She's the daughter of Dumbledore and Grindelwald Harry." Asteria grinned at the girl. She was starting the little witch.

"This war ends one of two ways. Either I kill Tom, or he kills me." Harry's eyes widened as he turned his attention back to her.

"He's after me. Not you," Asteria snorted and ran her fingers through her hair.

"I am the one who predicted his downfall. And I did everything that I could to protect you and your parents. It wasn't enough. I won't make that mistake again." Sirius grunted and glanced at Remus. They were all worried about Asteria. But there was something else that was going on and they knew that. Harry glanced down at the table and inhaled a deep breath.

"He has two sons that go to Hogwarts." The blood drained from Asteria's face. Her eyes cutting toward Regulus. But he refused to look at her.

"Their mother?" Sirius cleared his throat clearly uncomfortable with where the conversation was headed.

"Bellatrix Lestrange." The dead look had returned to her eyes with vengeance. Harry flinched as glass shattered on the shelf behind Asteria. Regulus jumped and covered his head. But Asteria didn't move as the glass poured down on her.

"Ari don't even think ab-" But it was too late she had already disappeared and left everyone in the room stunned by her reaction. 

********                                                           ************                                             **************

 Asteria waited until she was sure that it was safe to enter the manor. She waited until she knew that the person she was looking for was inside. She drew her wand from her waist band and entered the manor without blinking. Her blind rage had given her tunnel vision, and her blood was boiling. Magic poured from every pore of her body as she walked through the Manor halls making her way toward the closed door that had four heartbeats behind it. But she was only after one and she was going to take that heart and crush it in her bare hands if she had her way.

She flickered her wand and watched with a satisfied smirk as it splintered into large pieces. She frowned as she stepped over the wood. Glancing around the room a darkness twisted in her gut. Severus stood next to Draco. But her eyes landed on Narcissa and the one that she wanted. Bellatrix. Relief had flooded Narcissa's features. But she felt the bloodlust that was coming from Asteria and she slowly backed away from Bellatrix. Who looked like she was frozen in shock,

"You can't be alive." She hissed at the silver haired girl. A manic laugh left Asteria's lips as she tilted her head a Bellatrix.

"What's the matter, Bella you look like you have seen a ghost." She slowly raised her wand to Bellatrix as a wicked but lovely grin spread across her face.

"You should be DEAD!" Bellatrix screeched as she reached for her wand.

"Burn." The word slipped from Asteria's lips and then Bellatrix let out a blood curdling scream. Asteria just watched as Bellatrix crumbled to the ground. Her fresh turning an ungodly shade of red and blood poured from her eyes and nose. A gasp drew her attention. Her mixed matched eyes cut toward the other people in the room. Draco had turned his back on the scene before them. 

Narcissa could see the darkness in Asteria's eyes. But she knew that it was justified. She was glad that the girl was safe and unharmed. But guilt flashed in the younger girl's eyes as they made eye contact,

"I am sorry for your lose Cissa." Narcissa offered her sympathic smile.

"I know you are Ari...thank you." Asteria turned her gaze to Severus.

"Return her to Tom. Tell him that twenty to zero now." She smirked and in a blink of an eye she was gone. Narcissa found herself smiling and Severus let out a long breath.

"She will lose herself at this rate." He grumbled more to himself than anyone else. But Narcissa shook her head.

"Then you do not know her at all. You haven't seen the pattern yet? She's only going after the death eaters that have killed someone."