Snake Charmer

38

Asteria made her way to the Slytherin common room and let out a slight groan when she heard the hushed whispers of several people from behind the portrait. She looked at the man in the portrait and crossed her arms.

"If you open up is there going to be a bunch of people in there trying to throw a surprise party?" The man in the portrait gave her a toothy grin and it opened. Her annoyance was spiking, and she knew whose idea that this party was. And she was going to put slugs into his bed tonight while he slept. She moved into the common room and frowned when she noticed that the boys were setting up balloons and streamers.

"What are you lot doing?" The boys spun around quickly a guilty smile on each of their faces. She arched an eyebrow at them until Regulus took a slow step toward her.

"Snape was supposed to keep you longer. so that we could set up for your party." Asteria shook her head in disbelief.

"I don't need a party. Nor have I ever said that I wanted one." She countered giving him a stern look. Regulus rolled his eyes and then took a step closer to her.

"Are you going to be able to tell Enzo no?" She scowled at him. He knew her well enough that He KNEW she wouldn't be able to tell Enzo no. He gave her the same puppy dog look that Jamie use to and she couldn't say no to him either. 

"That is unfair and you know it!" She growled lowly. He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders a little. 

"A little bit of fun won't hurt you and I assume that its the first birthday that you have had in a long time-old lady." He teased. Her mouth fell open at his teasing and she fought her own smile.

"If I am an old lady than you should be respecting your elders and not teasing them." He gave her an amused look and opened his mouth to reply but stopped when he noticed that Theo was approaching them.

"Asteria-There's been word sent." Theo said quietly as he leaned down toward her ear. She turned to look at him and gave a sharp nod. But a twinge of guilt shot through her as she glanced at Enzo who was still putting up decorations and laughing with Pansy. She huffed a sigh and shook her head.

"We will deal with it tomorrow. But tonight-I must endure this party to make my friend happy." Regulus fought the urge to pat her head. She may have been around longer, but she was still a teenager. 

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She frowned at the loud music and the drinking. But she was forced to sit in the makeshift throne that Enzo had decorated just for her. Her mind kept going back to how much he reminded her of James. She fought a giggle when Theo and Enzo bumped chests and Enzo went flying backwards. She shook her head at their antics. 

Asteria shivered-she could feel someone watching her and her gaze wandered about the room until it landed on Tom. He was sitting at the far end of the room-watching her. She inhaled a steady breath and tried to pull her eyes away from him but there was something that was stopping her. The more that she looked at him the less that she saw his father in him. 

Where his father was cold and emotionless-Tom smirked when one of his brother's friends did something stupid. Which was currently-Regulus was levatiting Matt in the air. Asteria winced at the possiblity that it could end badly. And with the drinking involved it was only a matter of time before something bad did happen.

She caught herself smiling but quickly covered it as she dropped her head into her hand. The music was starting to cause a headache.  She closed her eyes trying to ground herself in the present and away from all the problems that were surrounding them. 

The war that was coming would likely cost people their lives-but there was a way that she could protect everyone even if that meant that she would forfit her own life. She didnt know what Tom was like in this time but there was a way that she could find out. Before she could stop her own curiousity-she lifted her gaze and turned it to Matt. 

Her bright eyes turned a shade darker the longer that she looked at him. Tom's gaze flickered between her and Matt. He knew what she was trying to do.  Asteria shot one thought toward the dark haird boy and the memories came flooding it. The blood drained from her face when she got a glance at what her Tom looked like now and her stomach twisted hard at the sight. A sharp pain erupted behind her eyes as laughter filled her head. 

A deep rich laugh that sent a chill through her. Found you little Dove.