Saving Audrey

Chapter 11

The next morning, Audrey and the rest of her house were shocked when they heard it was one of their new Gryffindors, Colin Creevey, who had been petrified. Audrey thought that Harry's being in the hospital wing during the attack would calm the rumors that he was the Slytherin heir. However, they only seemed to make them more believable to many. Audrey knew that Harry was about as likely to be the heir as she was, which was not very much. While a very strong and powerful wizarding family, the Potters also had married outside of pureblood. Audrey knew Lily Potter came from a muggle family and there was no way a Slytherin heir would marry a someone who came from muggle blood.

Soon after the attack, Lockhart started a dueling club. Audrey and her friends laughed at this. They figured it was just another way for him to get attention. They were all seriously beginning to doubt he was good at anything but smiling. Audrey didn't even think he was good at that! Luckily, Audrey managed to escape the meeting because she had yet another session to train her in her new powers.

Audrey returned to the common room as the rest of her house was coming back from the dueling meeting. She immediately headed towards the corner she and the twins always took over. As soon as they spotted her, her entire group of friends ran over to tell her what she had missed. She told them that she was going to extra lessons at night in case she decided to go to a muggle college after competing Hogwarts. After all, Dumbledore said that her powers must be kept a secret, even from her best friends and family. Everyone was shaken up by the fact that Harry was a Parseltongue. Audrey, however, was not disturbed by this fact. She had just learned that night that she too possessed the power to converse to snakes, although she didn't really need to talk to do so. Still, there was no way she was the heir, either. She did not tell her friends this, though.

That night, Audrey dreamed of a red head opening the chamber. She quickly awoke in a panicked sweat. After all, she could speak Parseltongue and she knew nothing of her grandfather's family. Maybe her grandfather didn't know he was the heir of Slytherin, and having no family around, had married a muggle. It was possible that she herself could be the heir. Hadn't the hat said something to her about putting her in Slytherin? She could remember being occupied during the two accounts of petrification. She was however able to do things simply by thought according to Dumbledore and her tutor. Maybe she had thought all the things that had happened without realizing it. Before coming to Hogwarts, she often did things without thinking because she was against them. Maybe the same was true in this case. NO, she thought, there is no way that I could have the blood of Slytherin in me. My grandfather died in the war against evil, so he couldn't possess any Slytherin blood in himself. Still, Audrey knew she should be more aware, just in case the signs she had noted became evident to others.

During the following weeks, Audrey tried to forget about her nightmare and fears. She concentrated on her studies, Quidditch and avoiding Roger. She seemed to be doing well at all three. Before she knew it, it was Valentine's and she had no one. Although not announced couples, she knew Percy and Penelope had plans, as did George and Katie, Fred and Alicia, and Lee and Angelina. Audrey had always hated Valentines, but this year seemed worse than ever. The rest of her friends finally left, giving up on getting Audrey to come along and Audrey curled up in the common room couch with one of her tattered trashy novels. She was only five pages into it when it was jerked from her hand.

"Hey," came the Scottish accent, "you want to enjoy a V-day for singles together." Recognizing the voice, Audrey put down her book and took Oliver's hand.

The two friends got a basket of food from the house elves and headed towards the lake for their picnic. It was better than any Valentine's Audrey could remember. She and Oliver just ate and enjoyed each other's company. Audrey was glad she had seen Cho in Roger's bed. If she hadn't, she would probably be enjoying some overly romantic moment with him instead of sitting with Oliver pretending there was no one else in the world.

Oliver watched as Audrey threw her head back in laughter. He did not know what had happened with Audrey and Roger. He was not sure he even cared. He did know that Roger probably had no clue what he lost. Oliver would do anything for Audrey, something he was sure Roger was not capable of. He had seen the way Roger and Cho acted together. He wanted to punch Roger and tell him what a great girl he had in Audrey. While Oliver had a bigger fan club than Roger, he would gladly have traded them all to be able to hold Audrey the way Roger did. Despite all of his feelings, Oliver was glad just to have Audrey back to what they had always been, the best of friends who relied on each other when no one else was around.

The two continued to spend much more time together. They were as close as they had ever been. The two Quidditch teams began practicing together, too. Oliver figured his chasers could learn a lot from Audrey and Audrey knew it would do her keeper good to practice with someone as talented as Oliver. Soon, it was time for Gryffindor's second set of matches. The two Gryffindor captains were in bliss too much for this to bother them, though. Audrey knew her team was unstoppable and after Slytherin, everyone else seemed a breeze to Oliver. He wouldn't let his team know he felt this way, though. No, they would still have to suffer "stressed out, die to win" Oliver before their match.

However, there never were any matches. The house team was about to take the field for the first game while the reserves suited up when McGonagall appeared. She informed them there would be no Quidditch match and wouldn't even listen to Oliver's protests. After sending Harry Potter to find Ron Weasley, McGonagall turned to Oliver once again. "Mr. Wood, would you please go inform the reserve team there will be no match. Also, will you send Audrey out? Tell her to hurry, too because I must collect Percy, too." Oliver nodded and headed into the locker room.

What could she possibly want with Audrey? Maybe it had to do with one of the Weasley's, thought Oliver, since she was summoning Ron and Percy as well. No, she hadn't taken the twins with her. But then again, who would involve the twins in a serious matter? What ever it is, he concluded, I am sure Audrey will tell us. "Team, there will be no matches today. I think there has been another attack." The whole room let out a harmonious gasp. Oliver walked over to Audrey. "Hey, McGonagall wants to see you. She's waiting outside. I'll be in the common room."

"Thanks." whispered Audrey. She tried not to let Oliver see her panic. Maybe McGonagall had the same suspicions that Audrey was the heir. Now she knew she couldn't be, though. She was too busy thinking about Oliver and Quidditch to have released another attack subconsciously in her mind. She hung her Quidditch robes and went to meet McGonagall, not meeting anyone's eyes as she walked out.

"Audrey," started McGonagall, "I am afraid I have some bad news. Let's go find Percy. There is something you two need to see." Audrey followed with mixed emotions. Firstly, she was glad that McGonagall didn't suspect her. She was, however, worried about the upcoming bit of bad news. After finding Percy, they joined Ron and Harry in the main hall and the four students followed McGonagall in silence. She didn't speak to them until they got to the hospital wing. "I warn you," she said, "this might come as a bit of a shock." She then led Percy and Audrey to one side of the room and returned to lead Harry and Ron in. Whatever Percy and Audrey had been preparing themselves for, it certainly was not this.

On the bed in front of them laid a petrified Penelope. They turned to see why Ron and Harry had been brought in. Seeing Hermione in the same state as Penelope across the room, Audrey knew Ron must have been dying inside. As much as the three were all best friends, Audrey knew that Ron was beginning to feel something more for Hermione. Well, as much as a twelve year old can feel, anyway. Audrey and Percy turned back to Penelope and just held hands, staring at the figure in silence. There silence was soon interrupted as a small group of Ravenclaws entered the room. Audrey was not even affected by Cho and Roger walking in together. She gave them one look and turned her eyes back to her petrified friend. Eventually, they were all kicked out and sent back to their common rooms.

Oliver could tell that whatever the meeting with McGonagall was about was not could news. He had known Percy his whole life and could not remember seeing him so upset. Audrey didn't look much better. Percy simply nodded in his direction and went up to his room. Audrey's eyes followed her uncle as he went up the stair, then redirected onto Oliver. Without saying anything, she ran into his arms. After about ten minutes, he managed to gather between her tears that Penelope and Hermione had been petrified. He knew how much Penelope's friendship meant to Audrey. It was hard enough on her having her best girlfriend in another house, but now she couldn't talk to her no matter what. Oliver just sat there, holding Audrey until her crying ceased and her wet, green eyes looked up into his.

It felt so right to Audrey to be lying in Oliver's arms. Being there made her believe everything would be okay. She had never felt that level of warmth and comfort from anyone but her mother. Once she was certain she was through crying, she looked up. When their eyes met, she was overcome with a longing stronger than she had ever felt. The magnetism seemed to be drawing them closer and before they knew what was happening, they were melting into each others kisses.