The Deepest Magic Society

by Della Adler

In a few years, Audrey Cadence will ask Harry Potter to the Yule ball on a dare, then launch old cupcakes at a newspaper with his stupid face on it, and then mostly forget about the whole thing. But first she must find her place in Hogwarts, in the present and in the past.

1. Prologue

"I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin' back at me

To see me lookin' back at you."

(Massive Attack, "Safe From Harm")

As Hogwarts gossip goes, the story of the curly-haired Hufflepuff who dared ask Harry Potter to the Yule Ball, only to be met by disbelief and laughter, was fairly forgettable. Good for some ribbing in the History of Magic class that followed, but not one for the yearbooks nor for late night recollections, except perhaps those of the curly haired 3rd year Hufflepuff girl directly involved.

This book, however, is said curly-haired Hufflepuff's story. For now we won't dwell on her aborted attempt to take Harry Potter to the Yule ball. Mostly because she doesn't dwell on it herself, except with an occasional twinge of embarrassment that she shakes away with an angry toss of her red curls. No, instead, we're going to focus on Audrey Cadence before. Because this is her story, we'll start with when she first went to Hogwarts, at age 11, in September of 1992. (Also of note: this story will involve a plastic cat alarm clock, and time travel. You have been warned.)