Snake Charmer

40

Asteria walked into the manor. Her head held high and the all-black attire that she wore sent a shiver down Remus's spine. She looked deadly and not herself. But he knew that she needed to be this way. They needed Voldemort's forces afraid of her. She gave a sharp nod to Remus and followed Maxius down into the basement where the cells were. 

James glanced at Remus and Sirius. His worry plain as day on his face. 

"Should we be worried about her?" He asked. Sirius lifted his eyes from the paper in his hands.

"We agreed that we would let her have this. For Lily." James's insides twisted at the thought of his dead wife. He knew how much Lily had meant to Asteria and knew that she would burn the world for what Tom had done. But he didnt want to loose his friend in the process of it. It wouldnt be what Lily wanted.

He stood from his seat and turned to follow her when Maximus stepped into his way.

"She told me to keep you up here. Sorry mate." James huffed and stared at the stairs where his friend had disappeared too.

Asteria stared at the man that sat tied to a chair. Barty Crouch Jr. He had been an attractive young man in his youth but now all the dark magic had corrupted him and he was twisted up in himself. He grinned up at her manically.

"Well Well look what we have here. Little Grindelwald isnt dead after all." She narrowed her eyes at him but didnt say anything. Theo cleared his throat from the shadows, but Asteria shook her head lightly.

"Hello Barty-I must say that I am disappointed in you." He cackled and struggled against his bindings but she stayed rooted in place staring at him. 

"Am I to stay tied up down here? Because we both know you dont have it in you to hurt me." His smirk-pulled at the darkness inside of her. In one fluid motion she reared back and slammed her fist into his face. Blooding his nose and her pale hand. Theo hissed but remained where he was. But Barty spit the blood and laughed again.

"How very muggle of you." She snarled and grabbed his face. 

"I want Pettegrew. Tell me where he is and I might leave you breathing." The vemon in her tone made Theo flinch back further against the wall. Barty tilted his head at her.

"There it is-the darkness that you try to keep contained." Asteria flashed a dangerous smile at him.

"Now isn't the time for games Crouch." Barty ripped his head away from her grasp and grunted.

"Do you think that Pettigrew would wander to far from the dark lord. He's a lap dog." He spat at her and Asteria shrugged as if it didnt matter to her. She pulled her wand from her waist bad and his eyes sparked with interest. "what are you going to little Grindelwald? Can you kill someone?" He coughed out a laugh and Asteria smiled wickedly.

With a flick of her wand and a silent cast of a spell-cuts devoured Barty's body-splattering all over her face and clothes-tainitng her white hair with red. She just stared as the man choked on his own blood. There was no room for her to feel remorse for what she had just done. This was war and she would be damned if she lost to Riddle or anyone else.

Theo stood there staring at the backside of her frame. She stood there inhumanly still watching the man die in front of her. His heart hammering in his chest at the sight. She slowly turned and looked at him and it sent a shock wave through her. She wasnt really there in the moment he could see it in her eyes.

He inhaleda sharp breath as she took a step forward and buckled under her on weight. He rushed forward kneeling next to her.

"Hey-are you okay?" She lifted her head and gave him a shaky smile. 

"This is war. There will be deaths and if it saves someone I love from having to take a life then I will do what I must." Theo's heart hurt at her statement. She was willing to kill so that her friends didnt have too. He didnt give her enough credit. 

Theo helped her to her feet and she leaned on him gratfeul that he was there. Not that she would say it outloud because she feared that his ego was already far to big. He reminded her of his father in that way. He helped her up the stairs and into the entry way.

"Asteria?!" The feminine voice surprised her as her head snapped up and she was face to face with Narcissa and Draco in tow. Her eyes widened slightly and her heart dropped into her stomach as the woman rushed toward her checking her over for wounds. She smiled softly at Narcissa as she grabbed her face to check over her face.

Asteria placed a gentle hand on her friend's wrist and offered her a small smile. 

"You've aged my friend." Narcissa scoffed and rolled her eyes lightly.

"And you have not. Are you hurt?" She shook her head and sighed.

"I am not. But Someone needs to deliever Barty back to Tom." Draco cut his eyes toward theo who shook his head at him. Narcissa's expression softened and she tried to rub the blood off of her cheek.

"I am sorry that you had to do that." She whispered softly. The younger of the two shook her head and pulled away standing a little straighter.

"I gave my father my word that I would tare out Tom's heart. But since he does not have one. I will send him back his followers peice by peice." Draco's face paled at the murderous look in her eyes. She turned her gaze to him and he flinched. She smirked.

She was truely her father's daughter now.