Saving Audrey

Chapter 7

Oliver and Percy had kept true to her promise. Starting immediately after her talks with them, they had begun introducing her to everyone they knew. Of course, between the two of them, this was a limited selection, mostly Quidditch players and prefects. Still, they all were great and she had quickly taken to each one of them. Everything in her life was perfect; there was not a single trace of the girl she had been before Hogwarts.

Audrey pulled her hair back into a ponytail and threw on her cheerleading shirts and fleece jacket. It was 6:29am and she was supposed to meet Oliver in the common room at 6:30. Only for Oliver would she get up at such an hour. At home, she made a point not to roll out of her bed on the weekends before 10am. She quickly grabbed a baseball hat and ran out of her dorm. She stopped halfway down the stairs to gather herself. She was finally able to be around Oliver without turning crimson and getting all jittery. Still, this didn't mean she did not still get a funny feeling inside of her when she was around him. She had just gotten to the point where she could push these feelings aside. After taking a few deep breaths, she ran down the stops and jumped onto the back of an unsuspecting Oliver.

"Good thing you only weigh about three pounds." noted Oliver before turning around, causing Audrey to fall. As he helped her back up, a spark shot through Oliver. He had become very good at this friend business, but this didn't mean he didn't still get a funny feeling running throughout him at the thought of her. He quickly reminded himself that they were friends, and nothing more. Without another word, the two set off to the Quidditch pitch for a run before practice started.

Although it was not softball or cheerleading, Audrey loved Quidditch. It did require skill and concentration, both of which Audrey came to master in appreciate in this new game. Watching her practice with the reserve team, there was no question in his mind that Audrey would have easily made the house team if she had started Hogwarts earlier. She was as good a chaser, if not better, then the girls on Oliver's team. "Hell", thought Oliver, "the Weasley's might as well start their own team."

It was true that Quidditch talent ran in the Weasley family. Charlie was legendary for his skills as seeker; he could have played professional if he hadn't loved dragons more than the sport. Rumor had it that Bill was a pretty good keeper, too. Fred and George were Oliver's beaters, and he considered them bloody good. He knew that their brother Ron would join the team as soon as another spot became available. It was evident that this talent had been passed down to Audrey. He felt relief at this fact. He was great friends with the girls on his team, but they were klutzes and it was good to know he had a great back up to call upon if something happened to one of his girls.

Oliver could have watched Audrey all day, but he suddenly came to his senses and realized that his team needed to practice. Especially with their new seeker. Harry Potter was brilliant, maybe even better than Charlie. But he was still new and he and the team needed to practice working together. With Harry on the team, Oliver could almost taste the Quidditch cup.

The rest of the term went smoothly. Audrey was completely caught up in her classes and no longer needed tutoring. Gryffindor was getting closer to the Quidditch cup every match, and Audrey had even gotten to play in a match. In fact, she now held the scoring record for Gryffindor. Soon, it was time for the Christmas holidays. Audrey was very excited. She was going to Romania with her mother, father, grandparents, and cousin Ginny to meet her uncle Charlie. The rest of the Weasley's were staying at Hogwarts.

Lisa was the first person Audrey spotted when she got off of the train. Tears formed in her eyes as she ran to hug her mother. She hadn't realized how much she had missed her until she saw her. After breaking from her mother, a tearful hug was exchanged with her grandmother. Lisa and Tina could not believe this was the same girl they had had so much trouble with in past years. The three headed to their hotel to catch up before they met up with the Weasley's the next morning.

It was three in the morning by the time the three of them had caught up on the last three and a half months. Audrey could not get over how much her grandmother had changed once she had the courage to stand up to her grandparents. She was much more like an older Lisa now, and Audrey was quite fond of the new Tina.

At eight the next morning, the three rose and got ready to meet the Weasley's. An hour later, the three pulled up at the Burrow. Just pulling up outside of the house gave Audrey a happy feeling. She quickly ran out of the car, eager to see her father. Though she had only spent two months with him, they owled each other everyday. She couldn't wait to see him.

Bill looked out the window as his fifteen-year-old daughter came running towards the house. It took all he had not to cry. He cursed Lisa for letting him miss so much of this girl's life. Of course, he also thanked her. Audrey was obviously beautiful, and from what he could gather, she was intelligent and talented as well. Only Lisa could have produced a child like that. He had lied when he told Lisa that it had taken him years to get over her. The truth was, he had never gotten over her. He knew that he would have to settle for what they were now: Old friends who happened to have a child together.

The two families departed from the Burrow shortly after lunch. Much to Audrey's disappointment, they were traveling by floo. Half a year in the wizarding world and she still hated this particular means of travel. Nevertheless, she stepped into the fireplace and yelled, "Romania Dragon Den." After the nauseating journey, she fell onto the floor and was quickly picked up. Judging by the red hair, this obviously was her uncle.

"Red hair and a mischief I your eyes. You must be my niece Audrey."

Audrey couldn't help but laugh at the man's comment. "Yes, and you must be Charlie. I've heard a lot about you!"

"Whatever the twins told you was a bloody lie."

The two were laughing hysterically at each other and failed to notice the rest of the family fall out of the fireplace. Soon they noticed the others brushing themselves off and Charlie went to greet the rest of his family.

"Lisa Kelly, didn't think I'd ever see you again. Thought you were smart enough to escape this family for good." Charlie gave her a tight hug. "And this must be your mother." Lisa introduced Charlie to her mother and the group set off towards Charlie's house.

"It's not much," he told them as he opened the door "but it makes a great bachelor's pad." Audrey's mouth dropped as she stepped in. Everything appeared to be made out of dragon skin. It was wonderful! After settling in and eating den, they all retreated to the living room. Audrey taught the Weasley's how to play various card games and the rest of the night was spent playing cards and talking about any and everything. Audrey was coming to love her family more every minute.

Suddenly, it was Christmas. Audrey ran down the stairs and was greeted by the smell of pancakes and a pile of presents. The family sat around with their breakfast and began to exchange gifts. Audrey had never had a better Christmas. From her grandmother, Audrey received tons of new clothes. Her Weasley grandparents had given her a purple hand-knitted sweater and a lot of candy. Ginny gave her a picture of the two of them that was taken over the summer. Charlie gave her a book, Quidditch Through the Ages. From her father, Audrey received a magical camera. The best gift was from her mother, though. Lisa had given her a Nimbus 2000. Audrey couldn't wait to get back and show Oliver. It was the newest broom out there and the only person at Hogwarts who owned one was Harry Potter.

Audrey walked towards the room she was sharing with Ginny thinking about how this was the best Christmas she had ever had. She had just changed into her pajamas when she turned towards her bed. She was surprised to see that it too was covered in presents. "They must be from school," she thought. . She had left everybody's with Percy to give out. Careful not to wake Ginny, Audrey sat on her bed and began opening her presents.

She first opened her gift from Penelope, her friend in Ravenclaw that Percy had introduced her to. Penelope had given her Flying with the Cannons, a book about her cousin Ron's favorite Quidditch team. Katie, Angelina, and Alicia got her Hogwarts: A History, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and some Chocolate Frogs. From Lee, she received a gift certificate to the Leaky Cauldron. The twins gave her a thing of Dungbomb's. From Ron, she received Fizzing Whizbees and Sugar Quills. Percy had given her a few books that looked kind of academic. Her last gift was from Oliver. She gasped after she opened it. Inside was a snow globe. Looking closely, she realized this was no ordinary snow globe. Inside, figures that looked an awful lot like her and Oliver were flying around on a Quidditch pitch. After staring at it for minutes, Audrey set the snow globe aside, dreaming about doing much more with Oliver that flying.

Christmas break ended all too soon for Audrey. She said good-bye and thanked her family and got onto the Hogwarts Express. Now that she had said good-bye to her family, she was ready to get back to her friends. Especially a certain Quidditch captain.

As soon as Audrey walked into the common room, the Weasley's attacked her. They wanted to know how Charlie and the rest of the family were doing. She informed them that everyone was fine and sent their love, then headed to her dorm to unpack. She looked around the rest of her dorm. She had gotten to know her roommates better over the past few months, but she would no consider them her friends. She had no problems with them, but she found that she had more in common with the girls on the Quidditch team, even if they were two years younger than her. Exhausted from her vacation, Audrey went to sleep.

Oliver wandered into the common room to find the Weasley twins playing a game of Wizard's Chess and Percy doing homework Oliver was sure was not due for another week. Everyone else seemed to be out or in their rooms. "Has Audrey not gotten back?" he asked.

"Yeah, earlier this evening, right after dinner. She went to her dorm room and hasn't come back. I imagine vacation with the family drained her," answered George.

Oliver nodded his head and went back to his dorm room. Once inside, he opened his trunk and pulled out his Christmas gift from Audrey. It was a scrapbook she had made of them and of Oliver's Quidditch career at Hogwarts. She must have gotten most of the Quidditch pictures from their other friends in the house. Surprisingly, he enjoyed looking at the pictures of him with Audrey more than the pictures of him playing. This bothered him. He had never cared more about anything than Quidditch. How had a girl he had just met taken over so much of him? He didn't know the answer, but he knew he had to find the cure.