𝑬𝑼𝑷𝑯𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑨|| 𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑

-73-

The girl then pushed her covers off with her feet before swinging her legs off, her feet not able to reach the floor yet. Then she pushed herself off before creeping over to the door, cringing at each creak of wood which was drowned out by shouting.

She then held onto the doorframe as she peered down at the grand entrance where her parents argued. Her dark eyes then watched her father walk away into the library with his mother ,still shouting, storming after him.

Curious, she crept down the stairs, holding onto the banister as she stepped down each step one by one until she reached the cold floor of the entrance room.

The door to the library was open so Asteria stood at it, staying silent and expecting one of her parents to notice her but they didn't. "You need to spend time with your own daughter!" The curly haired woman shouted at her husband. "That is your responsibility, as the man I bring in the money!" He shouted back, his face going red with anger.

"You are no man!" Rosalind yelled back. It seemed like questioning Cepheus masculinity angered him greatly because he lifted up his hand and struck his wife, the harsh sound of skin on skin filling the manor.

Asteria felt a sudden feeling of rage inside of her tiny body. She then glanced over at her mother's unattended wand on the table beside her. She had heard from Bellatrix Black at a pureblood ball that they used them to harm people.

And although she knew no spells and had never even picked up a wand before, she gripped it in her hands and pointed up at her father. But as it wasn't her wand and she had never preformed magic before, she wasn't in control.

A sudden flash of light shot out of the end of the chestnut wood wand. At this moment, Rosalind noticed the girl and looked at her with her haunting green eyes, an image she would remember for years later.

"Asteria, no!" Her mother shouted as her eyes went wide and glassy. This caught her off guard and look over at her other, subsequently ending with the wand pointed at her.

A bright flash of light filled the library, blinding them all. It wasn't until the light faded and the ringing in Asteria's ears stopped that she noticed her mother's lifeless body on the floor.

Several books off the shelves had flown off, some striking the floor with such force that a dent was created. "What have you done?" Cepheus asked with wide eyes of shock as Asteria ran over to her mother, shaking her to wake up.

"No, she's okay. She's just sleeping!" Asteria shouted, her voice breaking due to the tears which fell down her face and landed on the satin sleeves of her mother's dress. But no matter how much she shook her, she did not wake up. "She's dead Asteria." Cepheus told her in a stern and firm voice. "You killed her."

-☘︎︎-

Asteria's eyes filled up with tears as she watched her father approach her. "You deserve this." He hissed before pointing his wand at her again. "Crucio!"

Asteria let out a loud scream, her skin feeling like it was burning off. It was the worst pain she had ever felt in her life.

She felt weak, like the life was draining out of her. Although it only lasted a few minutes, it felt like it lasted an eternity.

She was so weak that her eyes closed so she didn't see him leave the library however she did hear the slam of the door closing.

She was exhausted. She could barely lift her head up. Her skin was stinging, pale and all the warmth had disappeared from it.

Asteria was sobbing loudly, her throat becoming dry and sore from screaming. She was wailing so she didn't hear the door open again.

But when she opened her eyes, she saw a small elf. It was the house elf which worked for her family however she had never seen them before.

"Please, sit up Mistress Asteria." The small creature begged as they tried to push her to sit up. Asteria tired to get up but she couldn't move. "I heard it all." The elf sighed. "Where can I take you?"

"P-Potter manor." She stuttered weakly. That was the first place that came to her mind at the moment of time.

The elf then held onto her arm before apparting to the front door of the Potter Manor. The elf knocked on the door as Asteria's head spun.

The door opened to reveal James in the doorway. "Hel-" He stopped when he saw the frail and weak looking girl. "What happened?" He asked with urgency as he held out his arms to stabiles her.

"They used the cruciatus curse on her. I heard everything. It's was horrible." The elf explained. "Thank you."
James said as he carefully picked up the girl and carried her to the couch in the living room.

It was late so only James was awake. He didn't want to wake up his mum so he attempted to care for her himself but she didn't get better.

She was still weak and exhausted. He finally gave in and shouted up the stairs. "Mum! Please come down!" He shouted, choking slightly as he attempted to hold back the tears in his eyes.

Euphemia heard her son's calls and hurried down the stairs to see Hufflepuff girl. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" She asked her son as she hurried over to her.

"Watch her." She ordered as see rushed into the kitchen, coming back with a small vile of medicine. Carefully, she lifted up her head and poured the medicine into her mouth.