Asteria glances up from her book as Tom and his thugs walk passed where she sat in the court yard. She rolls her eyes and glances back down at her book. She wanted nothing more than for the Slytherin's to disappear. They were nothing but bullies and Tom sweet talked all the teachers to get them out of trouble...most of the time.
"Is there a problem Dumbledore?" Asteria suppresses a groan, the sound of Tom's voice was right in front of her. There was no way she would be able to look up into his blue eyes and not fall for his charm either. It would have been so much easier to hate him if he looked like a troll. But unfortunately Tom Riddle was unsettling attractive.
"Of course, not Riddle. Just the stench of hair gel was just overwhelming." She says smugly. Tom chuckles before snatching her book from her. She lets out a frustrated breath finally looking up at him.
"Return my book Riddle." Asteria was far to tired to fight with him today. She stands and holds her hand out toward the book. Tom arches an amused eyebrow at her.
"Where's your fighting spirit gone today?" He inquires smirking down at her. Asteria mentally curses that he was almost already a head taller than her. She shakes her head and lets out a clipped sigh.
"Just keep it." She snaps moving passed him. Tom's eyebrows draw together in concern. She was acting differently today and he normally found her temper atleast somewhat amusing to him.
Tom sighs loudly before striding toward her grabbing on to her wrist. Asteria hisses in pain spinning around quickly to look at Tom. But Tom was more concerned with her reaction to his touch. He dropped the book on the ground between them and gently pulled up Asteria's sleeve, revealing the fresh, tender purple and black handprint bruise. Asteria's heart skips a beat at Tom's blue eyes peer into her eyes.
"Who did that?" The Sharpness to his voice confuses Asteria as she searches his face.
"It's nothing." She denies softly trying to pull her wrist away from Tom. Bit instead he yanks her forward making her stumble over the book and straight into Tom's chest. Asteria squeaks and her face grows hot as she tries to right herself as she looks up at him.
"I want a name. Now." Tom was eerily calm and it was like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water down Asteria's back. On impulse Tom puts a finger under her chin slowly tilting her head up to peer into her crystal blue eyes that he had come to adore seeing, no matter what emotion that they held. A shuttered breath leaves her.
"Malfoy." She whispers softly. The corner of Tom's mouth turns up into a small smile.
"Thank you. I will deal with the moron." Asteria shakes her head and moves back away from him. She couldn't think clearly when he was so close to her. Tom smirks and walks passed her as she wraps her arms around her self turning away from him. She mentally curses when she sees her Father standing not even five feet from her, glaring at the back of Tom's head. Oh No! How much had he actually seen of that?! She groans, picking up her book and walking over toward her Father.
Albus didn't normally dislike students. But, now he disliked Tom, only because he was far to close to his daughter just now. Albus smiles softly at Asteria's annoyed expression.
"Hello Little Dove." She narrows her eyes at her Father before sighing loudly.
"Whatever you saw, it wasn't what it looked like. He just wanted to know where I got the bruise-" Asteria clamps her mouth shut quickly as anger passes over her father's face. She instantly regretted mentioning the bruise. Albus's gives her a stern look. Asteria purses her lips before lifting her arm for her father to examine her wrist carefully. He clicks his tongue in disapproval.
"You have Care Of Magical Creatures next correct?" She nods silently. She just wanted this day to be over with. It was all just becoming too weird for her.
"Dad I have to go or I am going to be late." Albus growls but releases her hand and pulls her into a quick hug before letting her go.
***** *** ***
Asteria leans against a bolder as other students began to arrive at the edge of the forbidden forest. The Professor was waiting patiently, there was no mistaking the excitement on their face. Asteria loved magical creatures. They were one of her favorite things.
"Asteria." She stiffen at the sound of her name. But it wasn't just anyone saying it. It was Tom's calm voice that had called her name. She looks over her shoulder and he stood there with Abraxus Malfoy by the back of his collar. Her eyebrows draw together, because he looked terrified.
"I wanted to apologize for grabbing you so roughly." Malfoy says, in a trembling tone. Asteria just nods her head and turns back around to look at the Professor. But it was mostly so they couldn't see the smile that was forming on her face. She stiffens as Tom steps up beside her leaning against the bolder next to her. She wraps her arms around herself , so they don't accidently touch. She frowns and cuts her eyes at Tom. But he wasn't looking at her.
"Thank you Riddle." She says almost as if she had a bad taste in her mouth. She never thought that she would see the day where she thanked Tom Riddle. He smirks softly just nodding his head at her.
"Welcome Class! I have some wonderful News! We have a very special guest today. Mister Newt Scamander." Asteria's face breaks into a wide grin as Newt steps into view carrying his suit case.
"Uncle Newt!" She sprinted to him flinging her arms around him tightly. He chuckles patting her head affectionately.
"Well Hello little dove!" Asteria's face instantly flames and her smile drops as she pulls away from Newt. She couldn't believe that he had called her by her nickname in front of everyone! Newt looks confused for a moment then he gives her an apologetic look. She smiles and shakes her head. There was no way that she could stay mad at him.
She walks back over to where she was standing and Tom was looking at her oddly. She scrunches her nose at him and turns back to Newt.
"I've brought a friend today." Newt says grinning wildly. But Asteria knew that it could be anywhere from something small to a literally Thunderbird. She held her breath as he sat down his Suit case and it popped open. She watched as a stark white snake slithered out of it. She blows out the breath that she was holding and tilts her head at the snake. As it moved around she noticed that some of the scales almost looked silver.
"Does anyone know what kind of snake that this is?" Newt glances around at the students face. They all looked scared except for Tom and Asteria.
"She's a Star dust cobra." Asteria says kneeling down as the snake slithers closer to her. The snake flicking its tongue out at her.
"Sweet smelling or not, You. Will. Not. Bite. Her." Asteria's head snaps up toward Tom's voice. But he was staring directly at the snake. She had almost forgotten that he could speak to snakes. Asteria turns her attention back to the snake extending her hand out toward it, allowing it to coil around her arm before she stood again.
"Yes she is a star dust cobra. She is poisonous. But normally they are only attracted to sweet smelling things. They are very calm creatures and their skins are a very powerful ingredient for healing potions." Newt says keeping a watchful eye of Asteria and the cobra. But Asteria was petting the snake under the mouth.
Tom watched her curiously as she showed no fear in front of the snake. She was just acting curious about it. Tom hated to admit it but he was impressed. The snake turned its attention to Tom and hissed at him. A giggle bubbles out of Asteria catching Tom off guard.
"And what did she say?" Her crystal blue orbs filled with sheer joy stared up at Tom. His stomach tightens at the site. He clears his throat and frowns at the cobra.
"She says that you smell of honeysuckle and wild strawberries." A light pink dusted her cheeks as she brought the snake closer to her face and placed a soft kiss on top of the snake's head, earning her gasps from her other students. Tom's eyes narrow at the snake. Who hissed something along the lines of that he was just jealous. Asteria giggled again as the snake continued to hiss at Tom.
"I don't think that she likes you very much Riddle." He frowns down at the snake and blinks unphased by it.
"It would seem so." Asteria covered her laughter as the snake slithered further up her and into her hair moving around.
"She feels that it is strange that you can understand her." Tom's eyebrows shoot up ad he looks down at her.
"You can understand her feelings?" He asked, it was almost laughable. Asteria lifts her eyes to meet his and her crystal eyes, looked as if they were shifting to a deeper blue.
"What can I say it's a gift Riddle.
******* ******* ********
Albus sat down next to the bed where his daughter lay sleeping. A small smile tugging at the corners of her sleeping expression. He huffs a laugh and shakes his head lightly.
"Why would you do as she asked brother?! She's a child!" Abethorth seethed at Albus, as he looked down at his niece. He wasn't happy that Albus had just complied with his sixteen year old niece. She didn't know what she was doing! This was nonsense!
"She's in love with Riddle." Albus says turning his sad eyes toward his brother, Aberthorth groans and drops his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Of course she is. She's to much like you!" He spat. Albus laughs bitterly, turning back to his daughter. That she was. She was interally to much him for her own good. The door to The Room of Requirement opens and Newt Scamander steps inside. His eyes instantly going to Asteria's sleeping frame.
"Albus? What is wrong with Asteria? And why is she in The Room Of Requirement?" Albus inhales a deep breath and stands up strolling over to Newt and forces a small smile.
"Asteria's seer powers have come forth. In the form of Nightmares and she has made it clear that she must sleep for sometime until she is needed." Newts eyebrows draw together in concern as he inches closer to the bed.
"But she will be alright sleeping that long?" Newt's eyes flickering over to Abe who only nods at him.
"She will be fine Newt. Her body remain the age that it is now."