Author's Note: Ok everyone, fresh start to this story. No more Titanic, the ship is now called The Inquisitor. Much better in my opinion. But I did keep my OC Audrey Tabard, she's a bit different, but I think better so let me know what you think all the same. Reviews are very much appreciated. For anyone who does not know, I had a story, but decided to change it after a review helped me grow as a writer. So thank you SO much Daniella the muggle. Anyways, I hope you like this better. I do. :)

Disclaimer: I did not create the Adventures of Tintin.

Tintin glanced around him and quietly picked up his suitcase.

"Time to go Snowy." He whispered and began to move forward.

Snowy barked in return and followed at his master's heels.

Pulling his coat tightly around himself, Tintin boarded The Inquisitor and headed toward the main deck. The ocean breeze blew gently against his face and he breathed in the fresh sea air, his big, blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

"Nothing like a nice day to set sail, right Snowy?" Tintin turned to where his dog should have been, but to his surprise he wasn't there.

"Hello, Snowy? Where have you gone so quickly?"

Tintin grabbed his suitcase and began wandering around the deck, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Snowy couldn't have gone far, could he have? What if he'd never made it onto the ship at all?

It wasn't long before Tintin heard Snowy's familiar bark through the loud voices filled with laughter and enjoyment of the others boarding the ship.

This wasn't the seventeen year old boy reporter's average assignment. In fact, he found it funny to think he was allowed to relax during this trip. Usually he was off tracking down gangsters or stuck in some deserted part of the of the world no one has heard about. For some strange reason he felt much more nervous on an assignment like this. He had already faced so many dangers in his young life that the seemly simple story of writing about his trip on the new passenger ocean liner just seemed too…easy maybe? Though he didn't really realize it, Tintin's editor had given him the simple assignment as a kind gesture, believing the boy was working too hard for someone his age. Tintin had unfortunately taken this as insult, thinking that his editor had given him the story to show him that his most recent stories weren't up to par. Tintin also began to think that there was a possibility that there was more to this story than what meets the eye.

Tintin wasn't a bitter person, but at the moment he was feeling a bit unwanted after assigned the simple story.

"Snowy? What are you doing?" Tintin yelled when he saw what his dog was doing.

"No, give that back this instant!" Cried a girl about Tintin's age. She was tall, but it seemed that Snowy had somehow gotten hold of her sandwich and wasn't too keen on giving it back.

"Snowy! Put that down right now!" Tintin called again and marched up to his dog, pulling him away from the sandwich.

The girl had been holding onto the other half of the sandwich and when Tintin tried to pull his little, white terrier away the sandwich came with him.

Snowy chewed happily and Tintin got a look of shock on his face.

The girl stood up straight, she had been kneeling a bit to get the sandwich from Snowy.

She stared at him, furrowing her brow and crossing her arms.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I can assure you that Snowy isn't usually like this. What kind of sandwich was that anyways?"

The girl glanced at Snowy, then back at Tintin. "Snowy seems to enjoy salami."

The girl began to laugh and came forward to pat Snowy's head, who was still chewing the last remains of the salami sandwich.

She looked back up at Tintin's face.

"Hey, I know you! You're that reporter, Tintin, am I right?"

Tintin was a bit surprised at the fact that she knew who he was. Then again, he was always forgetting how famous he had become. He was a bit dumbstruck, considering that the girl was rather cute. Not beautiful, but cute. Now that he had a minute to look at her he noticed she had almost the same coat as him. They were both tan with bronze buttons, but hers stopped at the waist and had a belt with a bronze buckle to match the buttons. Her eyes were a brilliant turquoise that sparkled in the sunlight and her hair was a sandy brown tied back in a ponytail with bangs in the front.

"You're right, I am Tintin." He replied to her awkwardly, he wasn't quite sure how to respond to her comment.

The girl nodded, obviously not sure what to say as well. "Well, I'm Audrey, Audrey Tabard. I'm a reporter too… not famous yet though." She added quietly and stuck out her hand for him to shake.

Tintin sat Snowy down and warned him to behave himself before shaking Audrey's hand.

"Well, I actually had better find my way to my cabin. Wouldn't want to get lost before we even set sail." She smiled and picked up her suitcase.

"Oh, yes, of course. Sorry about your sandwich. " Tintin smiled.

"It's fine, it's not like I can't get another."

Audrey gave a quick wave and disappeared in the crowd.

"Come on now Snowy, and stay close!" Tintin warned before setting off.

It took them a while, since Tintin wanted to stop and take notes on everything, but eventually him and Snowy made it to their cabin. It was small, but not too small. There was a little bed, armchair, and a desk in the corner with a mirror and a little restroom. It was doable, Tintin had been in much worse places.

Sighing as he sat down in the armchair, Tintin pulled his notepad out of his pocket.

"So Snowy, we've already got ourselves a good lead. 'The Inquisitor is a work of superlative craftsmanship.' How is that Snowy?"

Snowy jumped on the bed and lied down. He gave a little huffing noise and rested his head on his paws.

"Oh, I know Snowy. It's miserable! Why would he ever give me a story like this? It just doesn't…feel right." He moaned and closed the notepad.

Checking his watch, he realized that he'd better get settled in before he had to get ready for dinner. Tintin stood up and lifted his suitcase onto the bed. He quickly undid the buckles.

"Great snakes! How did this happen?" Tintin exclaimed, examining the contents of the suitcase.

Inside were the clothes of a young lady, some notebooks, pencils, and…a gun.

"A gun! What would she be doing with a gun?" Tintin exclaimed under his breath.

I must have picked up Audrey's suitcase by mistake. He thought.

Then he began to think, what if it wasn't a mistake, maybe she'd planned to switch suitcases? Audrey had seemed rather interested that he was a reporter too. Maybe she was in on something he didn't know? And why would she need a gun?

Tintin shook his head to clear the thoughts, believing he was just being paranoid. Still, things were going too normal, that is, until now. The story assignment, the friendly girl reporter…but things weren't fitting together just yet. He needed more time to find clues, but that gun. That's what made him the most suspicious. Things were getting more peculiar by the moment.

Just then there was a knock on the door.

Ttintin rushed to pack everything back in the suitcase, then opened the door. Just as he had expected.

"Hello Tintin, I'm sorry, but I believe you grabbed my suitcase." She said coldly and held out his own suitcase.

"Ah, yes, I just…realized." He stumbled and gave her back her own suitcase.

"See you at dinner then?" He asked, trying to cover for her coldness.

"Yes, see you." She replied and turned away without another word.

That was odd. What's going on? She was so nice before. Tintin thought once she had gone.

When he checked his suitcase nothing was out of place and everything was still there.

I'm just being mistrustful. He convinced himself as he began to get ready for dinner.

A half an hour later he was ready.

"How do I look Snowy?" Tintin asked, looking in the mirror and straightening his tie.

Snowy wagged his tail furiously and barked at his handsome owner.

Tintin tried to smooth down his gingery quiff, but it automatically sprung back into place. He sighed.

"Oh well, I guess I've kind of grown accustomed to that funny piece of hair."

As he was about to leave the cabin, Snowy pounced at his leg.

"I'm sorry Snowy, but I don't think they allow dogs in the dining room."

Snowy sat down and stared up at Tintin with big, intelligent, amber eyes.

"I'll bring you some leftovers Snowy, just be patient. Promise you'll be a good boy while I'm gone."

Snowy made no attempt at a response, so Tintin left the cabin. Closing the door securely behind him, he headed to the dining room.