Saving Audrey

Chapter 12

After what seemed like an eternity, the two finally broke apart. Oliver was the first to speak. "You don't know how long I have wanted to do that."

"Then why the hell did it take you so long?" was Audrey's reply.

"I was scared. I didn't think that was what you wanted, or needed. You needed a friend, and I am not very good at playing two roles at once."

"Are you saying that after that kiss we are just going to go back to being friends then?"

"After that kiss? I don't think I could do that. I'll just have to work extra hard on being your friend, and maybe something else?"

"Do you mean it?" His only reply was yet another passionate kiss.

The two agreed not to tell Percy about their relationship until Penelope was back. While they knew Percy would be happy for them, it might bring up too many memories of his own relationship. Everyone else they told seemed to react the same way, telling the two, "About damn time!". Audrey and Oliver had to agree. With her new romance, and the knowledge that Penelope would soon be unpetrified, Audrey was in bliss. As always, though, things at Hogwarts were about to take a turn for the worse.

"Fred, George, Audrey, Oliver, Katie....They took Hagrid and Dumbledore." shouted Ron as he ran towards the five late on night in the common room. "What are you talking about?" asked Audrey. Ron then proceeded to calm down and explain to the five older students about Hagrid being taken to Azkaban and the ministers signing for Dumbledore's temporary leave. Suddenly, Audrey hated Lucius more than his son. Taking Hagrid away must mean that things were going to get worse, which was not good with Dumbledore gone. Audrey had only needed a year in the wizarding world to respect Dumbledore as a great wizard.

Most of the castle was back to normal by the time spring hit. Still, they knew terror could return at any moment. Audrey was getting more worried by the day. Without Dumbledore at the school, who would protect her if her power was found out? Whoever was opening the chamber was no doubt in with Voldemort's crowd, and Dumbledore and her trainer had told her the dark side would love to have her powers on their side.

Just as Audrey suspected, something did happen with the chamber that involved her. Ginny had been taken into the chamber. For the first time in months, Audrey's nightmare about the red head at the chamber came back to her. It was not her, but Ginny she saw opening the chamber. Not wanting to fall asleep to anymore nightmares involving Ginny and the chamber, Audrey went down to the common room. She was feeling incredibly guilty. What if the monster had taken Ginny into the chamber to get to Audrey? The last thing Audrey wanted to do was cause harm to her family. She dreaded what would happen to Ginny, but at the same time, she wanted to know if she was ok. Trusting her months of training, Audrey closed her eyes and tried to tap into the chamber. What she saw amazed her.

Her thoughts flew right past a passed out Lockhart and Ron trying to dig through a pile of rocks. She then flew threw a long tunnel and saw Ginny lying on the ground, and Harry trying to fend off a large snake as a good looking young man watched with a smirk. Her only thoughts then revolved around someone rescuing the younger Gryffindors. She again focused into the chamber and saw her Ginny waking from the floor and looking up at Harry Potter. There was no sign of danger, only a tattered and destroyed diary. She hoped that her powers were working and that Ginny really was okay. All she could do now was wait.

And wait she did, until she was called into Dumbledore's office. "First, Miss Weasley, I will have you know that your aunt is safe thanks to Harry Potter."

"But sir, what about Ron, Lockhart, and the young man who was down there with them?"

"Just as I suspected. I knew you would use your powers when a member of your family was in danger."

"I'm sorry sir, I know I should not have used it for my personal reasons."

"No, my dear. Checking up on one's family is not personal. I am pleased by your experience. As to what you saw down there, "Dumbledore started, telling her about the chamber and Tom Riddle. "Now, I must ask you not to repeat to anyone what you saw in the chamber." Audrey simply nodded her head. "Good, now, go join the rest of your family in the hospital wing. I am sure you are anxious to see them all doing well." Audrey hugged the old man and took off to join the rest of the Weasleys.

Just when Audrey thought things couldn't get any better, Penelope and the others were unpetrified and the Great Feast arrived. On top of a great meal, Hagrid returned from Azkaban. Even better than that were Dumbledore's announcements. No more Lockhart and no exams! And to top it all off, Gryffindor had one the house cup for the second year in a row! Audrey smiled down to the end of the table, knowing they once again had Harry Potter to thank for a great loss, but an even greater gain, of their points.

Soon, it was time to cross back over in the muggle world. This year, Audrey would be spending the first half of her break in America and the last part at the Burrow. Luckily, Oliver was going to spend the first week and a half at home with her and the others were coming for Oliver's birthday in a week. Despite how miserable she was last summer at home, Audrey was looking forward to going back to the East Coast.