To say Aster was a mess was an understatement. Though she tried her best to conceal the dark circles that were so prominent under her eyes, makeup did little to fix anything. Sleep was the only remedy, but most of her nights were interrupted by dreams of the green pit viper. At first, it was fine, but as the month went on, the dreams grew darker. Visions of the viper writhing in agony would force her awake, and nothing could help her find sleep again.
Altair made her a supply of Draught of Dreamless Sleep, and even then, she couldn't stop thinking about it. She'd never had such singular dreams like this before. No two dreams were the same. Some nights, the viper was sleeping, coiled around itself in a dark forest under the needles of a vibrant pine tree. Other nights, it was hiding beneath the foliage. And then when the dreams were nightmares, Aster woke up in a cold sweat at the sight of the viper lashing in all directions, hissing to the air.
At the kitchen table, Aster rubbed her eyes, the dark circles at least a bit fainter than they were before. If her theory was correct, then the viper was not a bad omen like she initially thought.
"What were your dreams like when you and Papa took that potion you gave to us?" She asked, pushing around the remnants of her breakfast.
Altair sipped his coffee slowly. "I saw two grey wolves walking through a snowy forest. That was the first dream."
"Two of them?"
"Despite the name, one was white and one was black." He chuckled to himself. "I knew it had to be Aeris and Ion. One night, I dreamt they had two cubs. Ion must have forgotten we took the potion because I had to act surprised when he told me about you two."
Aster pressed on. "Why do you think they were wolves? Does that mean anything?"
"I couldn't say. I used to wonder that myself because their Patronus charms weren't wolves, let alone anything close to that species. Aeris's was a Black Mamba - rather fitting if you ask me. Ion's was an Occamy. Given that your father and I made that potion ourselves, there's little research on why anyone shows up the way they do."
"I think… Io is a snake as well, just like Mama."
Altair looked at her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What makes you think that?"
"I've been having dreams about one. A pit viper. A green one."
"And what happens in these dreams?"
"Nothing good." Aster shut her eyes, shaking her head softly. "At first, I thought nothing of it, but then…"
"Then?"
"Then I dreamed of it being hurt - tortured. It just won't stop. Every night, I see it, and it never gets any better."
Altair didn't speak for a while, knowing that Aster was smart enough to decipher her own dreams without his help. That being said, if Io really was the pit viper, and the dreams were now nightmares, it meant that Io's time at Malfoy Manor was grim. There was nothing they could do from here except hope for the best.
Once their breakfast was decidedly finished, Altair went back to brewing more Draughts of Dreamless Sleep despite knowing this was the only way to know what was happening to Io. For now, at least, he needed to give Aster rest away from the terrible thoughts.
Aster lay in bed, fiddling with her wand. She'd summon random objects towards her, then send them back into their place. Sometimes, she would shatter a glass vase, and then put it back together again. She'd never missed her sister's comforting silence so much.
Time moved on, and July was coming to a close. The two remaining Visages packed their bags, and headed to Devon where the Weasley's comfortably resided. Aster packed away a black tulle dress, snuggly folding it into her suitcase with the rest of her things.
When they apparated onto the long stretch of land in front of the Burrow, still being repaired from the previous Death Eater attack, the Weasley boys were in the middle of setting up a large tent.
"They have quite a large family, don't they…" Aster muttered under her breath, counting five redheads beneath the levitating canopy.
Among the entire crowd, though, there was one that was sprinting towards her. It was Hermione, lunging at Aster's chest just as she did just before they left Hogwarts, and she still smelled of the same rose water-stained parchment. Though this time, there was the faint hint of spearmint toothpaste.
"Why haven't you written in so long?" Hermione was breathless, her face lost in Aster's hair. "I got so worried!"
Aster giggled, and for the first time in months, she felt the warmth in her chest. "I'm sorry. I meant to, really."
"Liar," Hermione smirked. "What's going on? Is everything - oh, I'm so sorry. Hello, Mr. Visage."
"Please, Ms. Granger," Altair put a hand on his chest. "I haven't started teaching at Hogwarts again yet, so let's go with 'Altair' for now."
The two girls smiled at each other, and Hermione guided Aster towards the tent to introduce her to the rest of the Weasleys. Bill, who now sported the signature scar of Fenrir Greyback on his face, greeted her warmly. He thanked her once more for that night, and handed her a small flower. The Weasley twins, Fred and George, looked at her with smirks and raised eyebrows. Though they were quick to jumble their names once or twice, Aster knew by now how to tell the difference between twins. After all, though she and Io were technically fraternal, it was important for twins to be recognized properly. Both Fred and George gave her a hearty pat on the shoulder.
Ron, on the other hand, looked at her somberly, his eyes flashing from Aster's face to her hand which was interlocked with Hermione's. He let out a small sigh before forcing a smile.
"Good to see you, Aster."
"Good to see you, Ron."
Hermione led her into the Burrow, pointing out the small trinkets that lined the walls, and the many comforts of the Weasley home.
"I take it things with Ron are going okay." Aster started off small.
Hermione looked down at their hands, still joined. "He just needs some time."
"What did you tell him?"
"Not much. Just that I think very highly of you. That we're close."
Aster laughed once. "I guess, that's one way to put it."
"And he knows we kissed." Hermione rocked back and forth on her feet. "Well… Ginny told him. It wasn't a particularly easy conversation. He was confused. I was confused. But after we talked a bit more, I think we understood each other a little better. Ron is someone I've always been comfortable with and always expected to be there. I guess I confused that feeling of missing his presence with something more."
That spark of warmth in Aster's chest grew, and she found herself smiling. "And now?" She leaned in towards Hermione, so close her freckles were clear.
Hermione tried to hide her grin, nudging Aster's shoulder. "And now, we see where this goes."
After she said that, her face turned sad. The change in mood was so obvious that Aster could feel the chill calm her happy disposition.
"Aster, I… I don't know when it's happening. When we leave, I mean. It could be soon."
In an instant, their bright moods were now somber. Aster kept looking down at their hands, for the first time noticing how dainty her fingers were. Her skin was soft and warm.
The phrase 'this isn't fair' flashed in Aster's mind. First Io, now Hermione - it seemed like she was the one being left behind. Of course, it didn't seem fair, but war wasn't fair. War paid no mind to love, relationships, and family. War didn't care who was ripped from the other. Once again, this was an inevitability, and Aster just had to swallow the truth, no matter how painful and lonely it could be.
This time, Aster took the initiative. She tilted Hermione's head up, holding her chin in between two fingers, and placed a delicate kiss on her lips. Unlike the first, this kiss seemed familiar. It was only the second time, but now this taste of affection was a core memory that would forever be etched into stone. Aster could feel Hermione smile, resting her forehead against the others with eyes fluttering shut.
"We'll see where it goes, right?" Hermione repeated.
Aster nodded, kissing the top of her hand. "That's the only thing we can do."
The two spent the rest of the day getting ready for the wedding in Ginny's room. Hermione's bags were neatly placed on one of the beds as if she'd been staying there for a while now. Everything was folded and organized, just as anyone could expect of someone like her. Aster helped Ginny with her makeup before she ran off to see Harry, precariously scurrying down the stairs with her dress unzipped. Even Fleur made time to stop by, already dressed in her beautiful wedding gown that lay across the floor around her feet.
When it was time for everything to start, Hermione pulled Aster back, closing the door softly.
"You never told me why you stopped writing."
Aster didn't know what to say, or if she should say anything at all. None of this was easy to explain, but the look in Hermione's eyes compelled her to try.
"Io left."
"To go where?"
"To…"
The floor creaked beneath their feet.
"If you don't want to tell me, then -"
"- she's at Malfoy Manor. She left early last month."
"Malfoy Manor?" Hermione was taken aback, and rightfully so. "But why would she -"
Aster held her hand up. "I can… try to explain. I don't have all the answers, so I know you won't be satisfied. Uncle and I knew she had to go."
"Your uncle knew? And he let her go?"
"He had to. I told you I would be at Hogwarts to protect those I can. Io is there because there's someone else she needs to protect."
"You mean Draco?"
Aster nodded.
Hermione took Aster's hand. "I'm… You must miss her."
"Very much," her voice cracked. "But I am not her keeper. This was something Dumbledore trusted her to do, and I -"
"Dumbledore? Are you saying that he's the one who told her to go there? Aster, she could -"
"- I know. Trust me, my initial reaction was not a pleasant one. If Uncle didn't trust Dumbledore so much, I would've cursed that old fool myself, but he knew before the rest of us did that Io and Draco have something worth saving - that he should be saved. I fear for my sister every fucking day… but this was not up to me.
"I won't waste your time trying to convince you how or why I know she can do this. It's a fool's errand. All I know is that she loves him more deeply than any of us could ever be capable of, and he loves her the same."
This was the first time since Io left that Aster dared to talk about this, and for some reason, it felt cathartic. There was no use trying to persuade anyone who wasn't directly involved, but she could tell that, as difficult as it was, Hermione understood. She didn't argue or ask any questions. She trusted her.
"I won't say anything to Harry or Ron. If that's what you want." Hermione took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to pry, but… thank you for telling me."
Hermione's kisses were always comforting. This one was out of thanks, but it still felt the same - familiar and tender. Soft and gentle. It was like sipping the sweetest liquor one could only ever find in a moment like this, alone in a room with no one watching. Aster knew someone would wonder where they were, so before the temptation to stay locked away here got the best of her, she and Hermione went downstairs where guests had already started to arrive.
The wedding itself was breathtaking. Though Fleur struggled with some of her vows, Bill would whisper to her sweetly, telling her to take her time. Not once did his eyes leave her, even when tears of joy started to trickle down his cheeks. The Weasley family was all smiles, admiring the couple who had fought tirelessly to keep each other safe for this very moment.
Every guest was dressed elegantly in their robes of all different shades of colors. Of the guests, Aster recognized Luna Lovegood who was whimsically dancing with her father who shared her airy charm. There was Remus and his wife Nymphadora, as well as some people who she'd only seen through photos in the Daily Prophet.
Aster finally found Harry who stood by himself, watching the attendees dance without a care in the world.
"Hi, Harry." She said quietly.
"Aster," he grinned. "It's… it's good to see you. How are you?"
"As good as I can be, I suppose." Aster shrugged. She knew he wanted to ask about Io; she could see it on his face.
He hesitated before forcing another smile. "I'm glad you and your uncle were able to attend."
"So am I," she replied reluctantly. Aside from seeing Hermione again and having something normal to do, Aster couldn't help but feel like she was lying about her joy. "You're not going to dance?"
Harry shook his head with a chuckle. "No. You?"
Aster glanced around the room, spotting a Hermione in her red dress. She was smiling - as she should be. But as the crowd started filling in with merriment, a gentleman approached her, asking for her hand. Aster had to admit that Hermione looked happy that he was there.
"That's Viktor." Harry caught her staring. "He was Hermione's date to the Yule Ball."
"I see."
Aster hadn't often felt that twinge of jealousy that many others did. She liked to attribute that to her confidence, but in this case, even a confident woman could feel some kind of way seeing a girl like Hermione Granger with a guy like Viktor Krum.
Harry pulled Aster out of her inner turmoil with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "They never became anything more. I don't think you have anything to worry about."
She nodded with a soft sigh, feeling uneasy from the unfamiliar grip of envy. Instead of waiting off to the side, she decided to walk away if only to avoid any wandering eyes that might have caught her bad mood.
The moon was bright tonight though it was nearly gone. It would be a new moon by tomorrow, and the eerie stillness was only disrupted by the joyous occasion only feet away. Aster looked around as people - some from the Order, some not - kept their eyes on the fields, quietly guarding their friends and family.
August should have been warm, but there was a chill in the air. The small frills on Aster's dress blew gently with the breeze. Past the din of lively music, the crickets chirped, filling the night with a steady stream of sound.
As Aster looked up to admire the dark sky, the crickets suddenly stopped. The brightness of the moon was overshadowed by a new light - a small orb with a blue glow getting closer and closer until her reflex to run kicked in.
The orb penetrated the tent, shooting into the middle of the crowd before abruptly stopping. Ghosts emerged as small whispers of light.
"The Ministry has fallen." Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice echoed. "The Minister is dead."
Everyone stared, breaths held deep in their throats.
"They are coming."
With a loud crack, the guests dispersed, falling over tables and into each other. Some apparated without hesitation, while others fell to the ground, scrambling for their belongings as the black smoke of Voldemort's Death Eaters came crashing in.
Aster ran, ducking in between the curses that flew threw the air. A red dress flashed at the corner of her eye, seeing Hermione running to her, the panic overshadowed by focus.
When the two crashed against each other, Aster took hold of Hermione's cheeks.
"Aster, I -"
"Go," she shook her head.
There was no time. No time at all. No time to cry, no time to make promises. There was no more time left for them to share secrets or sigh into each other's touch.
There was only just enough time to say goodbye.
Aster rested her forehead against Hermione's, feeling the ache of regret over letting her envy take away even a minute with this wonderful witch - this amazing, beautiful girl who was a stranger not a year ago. She thought back to how Io felt, crumbling to the floor of a broom closet, watching Draco shut the door. Now it was her turn, it was time to shut the door and leave Hermione to do what she had to.
"I," Hermione was breathless, torn between pulling away to run to Harry and Ron who were calling out for her. "Aster -"
Aster pulled her closer, tasting the sweetness of cinnamon and savoring it until it stained her tongue. "I know. Now, go."
It was the only way to make it brief. Without another second to waste, Aster pushed Hermione away and into Harry's grasp. They apparated quickly, as they should.
Curses were tearing down the tent, so Aster did what she knew best. When the cloak of a Death Eater was in clear view, there was no more fear - only focus.
If she couldn't run away, she would take down as many as she could, letting the determination to protect Hermione Granger burn through her.