Saving Audrey

Chapter 16

Before Audrey knew it, the summer had come to an end. As soon as she finished packing her packs, she knew it was over. She would go meet her mother at Bill's for dinner and go to bed, only to wake up to go to the station. Not that she wasn't looking forward to school; she was just said that it was her last year. She thought about the conversation she and Oliver had had a lot. What was she going to do when she finished?

Since it was her last year, she was having dinner with just her parents before going to school. After they finished eating, it became apparent that they too wanted to discuss her future.

"Are you ready to start your last year?" asked her father.

"I am definitely ready to get back, but I'm not ready to leave Hogwarts behind yet."

"Oh, I remember that feeling all too well. It's not so bad afterwards, though. And it's very easy to keep in touch with everyone. Still, as much as I loved Hogwarts, I was also ready to get to work the minute I received my job offer."

"Audrey, have you given any thought to what you are going to do after you finish?" Now her mother had entered the conversation.

"Actually, I haven't. I don't even know what I can do!"

"This is just a suggestion, but your father and I received an owl from Dumbledore. He said there was a college not far from where we live actually that had a special program. He thinks it would be very good for you and wants you to go by his office to look over some stuff."

"Which college?"

"Funny, he didn't mention which. I'm sure he can answer all your questions when you see him again."

"And, if you don't want to do that, he can tell you what other options you have. With your scores, I am sure you can get almost any job." Her father had obviously just ended the conversation because he then told her to get everything ready for tomorrow and he and Lisa left.

When she was sure everything was ready to be taken to the station the next morning, Audrey went to go tell her parents goodnight. She suddenly stopped outside of the den when she heard the two arguing.

"Don't you think Audrey has a right to know?"

"Bill, I am perfectly capable of making decisions regarding my own child. I have been around her these past seventeen years so don't tell me what to do when it comes to her!"

"Damn it Lisa, whose fault is it that I missed her first fifteen years? It sure as bloody hell isn't mine!"

"Do NOT bring that into this argument Bill Weasley!"

"You are the one who brought it! Lisa, don't you think she has the right to know what is going on in her own family? She's not a child anymore; I think she can handle it."

"I don't want to worry her over nothing, I am sure everything will be okay!"

"Then why in the hell did you just start crying?"

"You're right, she might be able to handle it, but I can't! Bill, please don't tell her, not yet anyway."

Audrey looked around the corner to see Bill pulling Lisa into an embrace as Lisa continued crying. Audrey thought it best they didn't know she was there and went back to her room. She would see her parents in the morning.

That night, she had trouble getting to sleep. Whatever it was Lisa wasn't telling her must be serious for the two of them to have been arguing so heatedly over it. She finally guessed Lisa would tell her when the time was right and drifted off to sleep.

Audrey was awakened bright and early the next morning. It was time to begin her last year at Hogwarts. She first told her father good-bye and once again promised to write. When he left to put her things aboard, she turned to her mother.

"Mom, is everything all right?"

"Yes dear, I just can't believe it's your last year, that's all. You've grown up so fast, in so many ways. I am so proud of you, and your grandmother is too. Always remember that." Lisa hugged her daughter good-bye, but released before she started crying again. "We love you Audrey."

"I love you too, and tell grandmother I love her."

"I will, now go before you miss the train. Be sure to owl." After one last hug, Audrey took off to find her friends.

It didn't take long to locate the compartment containing her group of friends. You could hear the Weasley twins the moment you stepped on the train. Audrey had to laugh at the site that greeted her when she walked into the compartment. They had way too many people in one small area. The Weasley twins each had their girlfriends on their laps and Lee and Angelina were squeezed on the other side with everyone's stuff. This left poor Oliver to stretch out on the floor. Luckily, Penelope and Percy were off doing their Head Boy and Girl duties and would not be taking up any much needed space in the compartment. Audrey put her bag in the seat with Lee and Angelina and sprawled on the floor with Oliver. Amazingly, none of the group complained about being squeezed into such a tight space together and they had a very enjoyable ride to Hogwarts. None of them even felt the Dementors on the train. Audrey had heard they were going to be there, and remembering the stories she had heard, prayed they would not come near her compartment.

For the first time since she received her letter, Audrey sat with the Gryffindors in the Great Hall, waiting for the sorting to begin. She was glad she got to experience it from this side before she left. After the sorting and Dumbledore's announcements about the Dementors and new professors, Audrey enjoyed her last Welcome Back Feast at Hogwarts.

After the feast, Audrey went to Dumbledore's office while the rest of her friends headed to the Gryffindor tower. "Bubblegum." Audrey paused to watch the stairs to Dumbledore's office reveal themselves. She was going to pay extra close attention to everything. She didn't want to forget a single part of Hogwarts. Well, maybe Snape and the Slytherins. "Ah, Miss Weasley. Please, have a seat. I am assuming you came to talk to me about your future?"

"Yes sir. My parents said you had mentioned a muggle school near my mother and grandmother?"

"Yes. I am assuming you have heard of Clemson University?"

"Have I? I grew up wanting to be a Clemson cheerleader."

"Well, you might just get your chance. They have an excellent magical studies program there. They also have a specialist that can help you with your powers. I think it would be an excellent opportunity for you. However, it would take a little extra work this year?"

"Such as?"

"You would need to continue working on your powers. The new professor, Remus Lupin has offered to take over working with you. You would also need to study in depth two special areas of study. I have the list of those that Clemson accepts from its applicants. I believe you can handle this, though."

"Yes sir. Thank you so much!"

"Oh, one last thing. You will also find a packet about cheerleading tryouts at Clemson in there. I thought it might interest you."

Before she could stop herself, Audrey was hugging Dumbledore. "Oh, thank you!"

Seventh year was turning out to be incredibly hard for Audrey and her friends. Not only did they have to prepare for NEWTs, but they spent a lot of time preparing for a chosen field of work. Audrey was loaded with studying and Quidditch. She had yet to tell anyone that she was going to Clemson next year. She didn't know how to break the news to Oliver she would be so far away. She wanted to enjoy lots of time with him and her other friends before telling him.

Soon, it was Hogsmeade weekend. Audrey was relieved to have a break from all of her work. She and Oliver had agreed to spend the day just the two of them. They hadn't had a lot of alone time since they got back so they were going to make the most of their day.

After downing a couple of butterbeers, the two set off for some shopping. The only store that seemed to keep their attention for any amount of time was the new Quidditch store. Still, that didn't keep them long. When they were certain everyone had cleared Three Broomsticks, they went back to find the secret passage the Weasley twins had told them about. Sure enough, it was there.

By the looks of the place, her identical uncles were not so innocent either. It appeared they too had been using the secret room just off of the passage for the exact reason she and Oliver were there. She wasn't sure whether she should be proud of mortified. When Oliver grabbed her from behind, all thoughts of the twins and their dirty deeds disappeared. She and Oliver hadn't been together like this since he had stayed with her and she wasn't sure when they would get the chance too again. She was not going to waste this moment pondering her other family members' sex lives.

Audrey and Oliver spent a good four hours in the room before they realized they needed to head back before everyone started arriving at Three Broomsticks. As she watched Oliver get up and get dressed, it took all of the control she had for Audrey not to pull him back into bed. Every time they had been together that day felt better than the first. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Oliver. And that hurt her. It hurt to think about next year when they would no longer be together. He would go off playing Quidditch and she would be going to Clemson. She knew that as much as she loved Oliver, she could not give up her future for him, no matter how much pain it caused the two of them. Still, she had decided until spring to tell him. She had cheerleading tryouts and April and knew she could not keep it a secret when she began training more than usual and left for the tryout weekend. Until then, she was going to cherish their last minutes together.