AN/- hey everyone-enjoy this chapter-I know the update seems super late so sorry about that-do leave a review-I'd love to know what you guys think

Chapter 37

Halloween was at Hogwarts before you knew it and almost everyone had joined in the festive celebration, seeing that today would be a day off to celebrate the festival that was precious to every witch and wizard alike and what better way to rest and enjoy then go to Hogsmeade and hang out with your friends.

"So we must cover most of the monuments that you didn't get to see last year," said Hermione writing down a list of things during breakfast as Ron pointed out some missing links while Audrey and Harry moved uncomfortably in their seats. Hermione had planned everything for today and they seemed to have had prior commitments, Harry had promised Cho he would meet her and spend rest of the afternoon with her while Audrey had promised some sort of magical makeover for Astoria Greengrass.

"Hermione—I don't think I'll be able to hang out with you guys today," chorused Harry and Audrey together as they frowned and looked at each other wondering what exactly was the other so busy doing?

"Oh! Well—then Ron, Ginny and I'll move about then," said Hermione awkwardly as Ron shoved a piece of pumpkin pastry done his throat so that he didn't have to say anything.

Audrey handed her permission slip to Filch as McGonagall led them to Hogsmeade and once they were in the village they were free to do whatever they liked, well apart from tearing the place apart and stealing—stealing wasn't allowed at Hogwarts! Was it allowed anywhere was the real question?

Audrey listened to Filch go on about some rules and then she saw Astoria waiting alone in a corner as she looked lonely as she stood in her blue and bronze robes, she was looking around the place as she was waiting for someone anxiously. Audrey waved at her and ran towards her as she reached Astoria, the girl gave her a small smile and Audrey told her, her plan of a quick makeover for the girl. In the beginning Astoria wasn't sure and downright refused to get her long hair cut and get a sneak in a clear vision potion into school.

"It will be awesome—come on!" said Audrey pulling her into the only beauty salon in the village, it was almost packed with girls getting their nails done or getting a wax or just a small trim.

"Hi, my friend here needs a haircut," said Audrey sweetly to the eighteen something girl sitting boredly at the counter reading something as the loud wireless next to her blared music.

"Go to Amelia, she is free—although—kind of batty because she think she's super innovative or some codswallop—so tell her what you want before she makes you bald," said the woman. Audrey frowned slightly as Astoria gripped her hand tightly trying to make her way out.

"Chill," snapped Audrey as she pulled Astoria back who pouted a little but followed Audrey as she made her way to the only free woman reading a magazine, when the two girls reached the woman, she put down the magazine and beamed rather radiantly, she reminded Audrey too much of Luna Lovegood.

"Hello ladies what can I do for you today?" asked Amelia excitedly as Astoria looked rather affronted at the concept, but Audrey shoved her into the cushioned seat.

"My friend needs a haircut," smiled Audrey as Amelia beamed and opened up Astoria's tight bun as her lovely dark brown locks cascaded down and almost touched the floor, Audrey's mouth dropped.

"Whoa! You've got shit loads of hair—we need to get rid of it—it could take a while!" she proclaimed as Astoria blushed.

"Mum, thinks the first thing that attracts men is a woman's hair," said Astoria intelligently.

"Bullshit—how old is you mum?" scoffed Audrey snarkily as Astoria shot her a death glare.

"Sorry—look—guys today like girls who you know—got something different in them," said Audrey trying to convey to Astoria that she needed to break through her tight conservative barrier—because she already seemed like she was going down the path in becoming Sirius mother.

"But Draco's family—"began Astoria as her intelligent banter had begun to annoy Audrey, this girl was worse than Hermione arguing about house elf slavery

"Who are you trying to get to like you—Draco's family or Draco?" asked Audrey as Astoria looked down.

"Do you trust me?" Audrey asked Astoria, as Astoria looked up at the only possible hope for a friend that she currently had, she nodded slowly.

"Good,"

"Amelia—chop it off till her neck," said Audrey as Amelia smiled.

"Won't hurt a bit dearie," smiled Amelia as Astoria kept her eyes closed all through the hair cut, she could hear Audrey giving Amelia orders as Amelia readily agreed to what she had been saying as Astoria could hear 'clips' ever so often.

"All done," said Amelia as she ruffled up Astoria's hair as she ran a spell over her hair on Audrey's orders. When Astoria opened her eyes her mouth almost fell to the floor, she looked—she looked—she looked—

"You look lovely," supplied Audrey proudly as Amelia agreed. Astoria beamed and laughed at her reflection, she looked different, lovely or not, she certainly looked unrecognizable than before, so different—but Astoria had to agree different was good, different was hot, different was sexy. Audrey was so pleased with Astoria's haircut that she got one of her own, her hair was as short as Astoria's and it framed her face well but Audrey couldn't help but notice how oddly her haircut looked a lot like her father's except for the bangs she had specified Amelia to keep, along with the fact that her hair wasn't greasy—she wondered if she should gift him some nice shampoo.

"Come on," said Audrey as they paid for haircuts, the woman at counter was shocked to see Astoria look different than she had entered.

They reached the apothecary, Astoria pushed her spectacles up her nose as Audrey stood there thinking of a way to get their hands on a clear vision potion, seeing that it was banned in school, only students with healers permission slips could carry potions and that to if they had any potions on them, they would be given to the matron as they would go for their daily doses to her. The apothecary was only for buying ingredients and if you were in the seventh year, some basic glamour potions, which luckily included the one Audrey and Astoria needed to get their hands on.

"Audrey, isn't this not allowed?" asked Astoria noticing Audrey pull back slightly.

"Yes, but we've gotten so far, let's complete it," said Audrey determinately as she yanked opened the door to the Apothecary hoping it would boost her confidence, but when her eyes caught the insides of the store she instantly shut the door as fast as possible.

"What?" asked Astoria noticing the girl's plight.

"Come on, we can come here after lunch," said Audrey rather flushed as she and Astoria were about to clear off the door opened and someone called her from the doorway, Astoria turned and noticed why Audrey and decided to run, Astoria was aware that if she asked for the potion in front of him, Audrey would be grounded, put in years of detention and maybe even disowned, not like her father acted like she was his daughter anyways. An angry bubble rose inside Astoria and threatened to burst but she knew the best bit was to shut up. Truth was she had seen how Snape treated people and the way he treated his own daughter made her truly know how terrible he was. Constant insults, glares and even several sneers from Severus to Audrey had not gone unnoticed by Astoria or the other students for that matter.

"Ms. Snape!" called Severus as Astoria could hear her friend swear under her breath.

"Was there something you needed?" asked Severus sharply as Astoria glared at him, even though he was her father's acquaintance he wasn't very nice, maybe this was how all death eater fathers were supposed to be, but then again she didn't really have anything against her father well apart from the fact that he was a death eater, but at least he acknowledged and loved her presence immensely unlike in Audrey's case, she actually felt bad for her and decided to treat her for ice-cream if they got away with this.

"No, we got into the wrong shop, sorry, professor," said Audrey making up some reason as Astoria wanted to groan in disappointment, he wasn't going to buy this.

"The wrong shop? Is simple English becoming a problem now Ms. Snape or is the board now illegible?" asked Severus sneering. Merlin, he hated doing this, but this if his daughter wanted 'fair treatment' he couldn't deny it. Although he was aware Audrey was always ready to snap back at him. He would always try not to smile or chuckle seeing that she was in company. She was a little rugrat and all he wanted to do was ruffle her hair roughly and then kiss the top of her head, maybe even keep telling her how she was just like him—truth was Severus was proud—he was so proud he couldn't help love his daughter. Oh, if she only knew how proud he was of her without her doing much at all but snap at him. It was funny, seeing that any other normal parent would punish their child for disorderly conduct, but seeing how normal their relationship was all this could be blindly sidetracked, because Severus was well aware of the fact that their relationship had begun with an odd formation of an alliance, an odd friendship he had never really asked for but he was pleased with the outcome and the fact that they had been acquainted before the reality was revealed, they seemed to be exceeding expectations.

"Why, is going into the wrong shop a crime professor?" asked Audrey frowning just like he was.

"I would suggest, you stay clear of Mr. Potter's company seeing that he has obviously had a terrible influence on you," snarled Severus, Audrey wanted to laugh as Severus scolded her, she knew he wanted to so badly as well.

"And who gave you the right to suggest any such propositions?" snapped Audrey as Severus stood up straight he clenched his jaws. Her being friends with Potter had always been a very edgy topic, he wanted to be indifferent about Audrey and Harry but the dangerous assumptions of them falling in love, getting married and having more Potter brats made Severus freeze—he was scared, scared of another Potter trying to steal something dear to him.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for your mistake and ten points from—" he said indignantly as she raised her eyebrows at him, but when it came down to the girl next to her, who was she?

"And what house are you from?" asked Severus raising his eyebrow dangerously as he glared at Astoria.

"R—Ravenclaw sir," she said softly as Severus raised his eyebrows, he usually remembered most of his Ravenclaw students, seeing that they were the only ones who knew their material when it came down to their essays.

"What year?" he asked, he knew her voice but, why couldn't he remember her face?

"Fifth, sir," said Astoria, she could see Audrey smirking in the corner, Astoria released why, she looked so different that the man who had seen her seen since she was of a tender age did not know who she was.

"Don't lie to me—what year are you in?" snarled Severus angrily, didn't this girl know not to test his patience.

"She isn't lying," smirked Audrey from the corner as Astoria looked at her, this girl had some guts standing up to teachers like that.

"What's you mean?" asked Severus defeated.

"Astoria sir, Astoria Greengrass," finished Astoria worriedly.

"Astoria?" called Severus again, no, this, this could not be Astoria Greengrass, Astoria had different hair, rather serious looking girl—this girl however looked like—well she looked quite lovely.

"What happened to you?" he wondered softly still frowning maybe a little in worry, Fanny Greengrass found out what Astoria did with her hair she would murder her and then attempt to go psychotic on Audrey too, he could tell Audrey had everything to d with this, he could see Astoria smiling at Audrey as a small blush crept along her cheeks.

"Whatever—run along!" he drawled as the two girls went ahead. Astoria giggling to Audrey as Audrey smiled and even though they failed to get any clear vision potion, they seemed to have become better friends, than they had begun as.

Harry seemed to be pleased seeing that Cho looked way better than she had been since term had begun. He knew Cedric's death had had a toll on her she had after all been his girlfriend and possibly in love with him, because from what Harry had recollected about her, she spent most of her time crying. So it was sort of his duty to help her stand back on her feet and bring her out of depression. He did not know how he was going to that but he seemed to be hanging on the notion that his crush on her was still quite alive.

When Cho suggested that they should get lunch at the rather crowded three broomsticks, Harry obliged, he'd do anything to keep her happy, he did not know whether he was doing this out of chivalry or because he maybe liked her or another reason altogether. Harry was of the thought that if he showed feelings towards Cho, he might just forget about his more than friendly thoughts about Audrey.

Madam Rosemerta took their orders as Cho talked about something on quidditch; she tried her best to ignore the topic on Cedric's death although Harry felt she was dying to ask him about it. Yet, he seemed to be having a surprisingly pleasant afternoon, but it was soon getting a little too boring for him as Cho went on and on about something he hadn't even heard about, seeing that she was a year older and to top it up in Ravenclaw, she was too smart. He just nodded to let her know that he was still present in her monologue. He noticed the door open as two girls entered the pub giggling; he recognized one instantly by her voice. Audrey was here with some girl he could not recognize.

"Harry isn't that Audrey Adams?" asked Cho quietly as Harry nodded turning to look at Audrey and the girl next to her in the large glasses; she looked nice whoever she was.

"Yea," said Harry nodding as he turned to look at Cho who was frowning slightly.

"Well—what is she doing with Astoria Greengrass?" asked Cho confused as Harry snapped his head back to where Audrey was now collecting two plates of what looked like steak and two bottles of cold butter beer. What was Audrey doing with Greengrass wasn't the real question, what had Audrey done to Greengrass? Was more of the question?

Although Harry knew who Astoria Greengrass was, he did not know too much about her, except the fact that she spent most of her time in the library maybe even more than Hermione did, she was reserved, cold and a pureblood, someone once told Harry about her and Malfoy being betrothed to each other, but Harry did not know how much of that was true, so what in the world was Audrey doing with a girl even Harry did not know but was supposed to be Malfoy's wife to be.

"I don't know," shrugged Harry as Cho spoke about Astoria to him.

"She used to have longer hair—but I suppose this make her at least pleasant on the eye," smirked Cho as Harry frowned; Cho had forgotten she wasn't with one of her girlfriends.

"I don't know what Adams has done to her but she looks quite nice now," said Cho nodding pleasantly as Harry gave her a small smile. Truth was he liked Audrey haircut better—he liked Audrey better altogether—No!

"And what about Adams—how did she figure out about Snape being her father?" asked Cho a sharp tone of surprise in her voice.

"Her mother told her about it in the summer I suppose," said Harry nonchalantly.

"I have heard he treats her like shit—someone told me that he doesn't even want to acknowledge her existence—it was only when Dumbledore stepped in did he agree to let her use his surname," said Cho like she had the biggest gossip in the world. Harry knew she had come across this from some Slytherine, truth was Audrey only wanted everyone to think that so that they would stop teasing her for being Snape's daughter and Harry knew it had worked to all its potential seeing that Snape had agreed to her request as the Slytherines were now treating the bat like a God who refuses to take his ill-raised and uncivilized little produce under his wing, after all she wasn't a Slytherine, she was only a terrible mistake, but everybody made mistakes and when it was Snape he would be easily forgiven by the Slytherines.

"Point is why in the world she would want to use his surname in the first place?" asked Cho disgruntled as Harry looked at her like she had a point.

"Yea, suppose you're right," he replied, he had half a mind to tell Cho about Audrey childhood and her struggle to figure out who her father was ever since she was young, Harry thought it would be helpful in making Snape seem like he was the devil in the whole situation, not that he didn't already, but Harry shut up, he did not know how Audrey would take it and he knew she didn't need any more rumours roaming around about her. He had had a bad time when he was suspected to be the heir of Slytherine in his second year and he did not wish her the same.

Audrey sipped some butter beer as Astoria cut her steak symmetrically and put a tiny portion of the steak and potatoes into her mouth.

"Ok, next step is to get him to see you—now, I suppose since you're pure blood you must know how to walk in heels," said Audrey as Astoria shook her head in an affirmative, Audrey sighed contentedly as Astoria continued with her meal.

"Well—all we need to do is put you into a nice skirt and a nice dress shirt—along with some nice heels," said Audrey nodding smartly as Astoria blushed as she shook her head.

"I don't think I can do all this," said Astoria disappointedly.

"Why not?" scolded Audrey as she frowned, if Astoria did not listen to this, entire she would foil her entire plan of getting rid of Malfoy from her life.

"Well—I have never done this before –And I'm not confident enough," said Astoria pushing her head down sadly. Audrey surveyed her prospects, but if Astoria did not do this everything would go to waste, the hair cut, the clear vision potion which she was going to try and fool Madam Pomfrey into handing her, everything.

"Don't worry—you don't need to do it alone," said Audrey smiling at her as Astoria raised her head and looked at her surprised as Audrey smirked.

"Meet me outside the great hall before the feast, we'll make an entrance but be sure you wear a black skirt with a nice shirt," said Audrey as Astoria nodded.

"Let it be short," said Audrey reminding Astoria that she was trying to attract Draco and not repel him further.

So as instructed Astoria stood outside the great hall before the feast began and waited for Audrey who seemed to be late, Astoria had dawned on her black skirt that hugged her lips but was loose from below and so when she walked the skirt kind of enhanced her behind, not that it was a bad thing but this was all new to Astoria and why she was doing this in the first place was still a mystery to her. Impressing Draco, yes, but why did she need to impress something she already had? Because he didn't like her? Well too bad.

"Ready?" asked someone coming up to her as Astoria snapped her head up to see Audrey dressed in a somewhat similar light blue skirt with heels and a plain white shirt that was loosely tucked into her high waist skirt.

"How did you get to be so good at all this?" asked Astoria, she knew Audrey's mother from last year, she hardly seemed like the guru of attraction but then again she did have some like Jean Claude doing her bidding—and well she was pretty good looking for her age seeing that her mother looked like a strict librarian.

"Beauxbatons has many more classes than Hogwarts does—first years are taught how to groom themselves to become gentlemen and ladies," said Audrey rolling her eyes thinking all this was codswallops.

"And it is compulsory?" asked Astoria as Audrey scoffed.

"Of course it is, you think I would take that rubbish class for fun?" she said rolling her eyes.

"Well—so they teach you etiquette?" asked Astoria curious as Audrey pushed the door open for them and hooked their elbows like they best friends.

"Yes, you know—tea cup holding, ball room dancing, playing a melancholy instrument—rubbish like that," said Audrey as she then proceeded to pull Astoria into the hall with her.

"You know the walk right?" asked Audrey suddenly remembering something that was crucial for their plan.

"Sure," nodded Astoria as Audrey sighed relived.

"Good—we need to put it to use—right first," said Audrey as Astoria nodded and they walked into the hall, purposely went into the Slytherine and Ravenclaw lane as they both walked in equal grace their heads high their arms linked with each other. Did they get Draco's attention? Of course they did, they got his mouth to drop and although Audrey had not managed to get the clear vision potion for Astoria, she seemed very pleased with her results seeing that Draco was so surprised that he couldn't stop gawking at Astoria as Audrey left her to go join her friends continuing her cat walk towards Gryffindor table, noticing the entire rows of Gryffindor, Slytherine and Ravenclaw boys looking her down and staring at her lovely pale legs.

She finally reached Hermione and then sat down between her and Ginny as she pulled a chocolate caramel apple to her and bit into the sweet.

"How did you do it?" asked Hermione refusing to believe that Astoria Greengrass looked particularly lovely and would look this lovely for the rest of her life if she used some make up and got herself a decent haircut once in six months.

"I didn't do anything—she just needed some trimming— is all," said Audrey intelligently.

"I refuse to believe-that 'trimming' was all Astoria Greengrass needed," said Ginny as surprised as Hermione was, both of them couldn't stop staring at Astoria like her entire house apart from Luna her only friend who seemed to be genuinely pleased.

"Even Malfoy can't stop staring at her," smiled Ginny as Audrey smirked.

"I suppose I underestimated you," smiled Hermione as Audrey chuckled a little and shook her head noticing Ron look at her with his mouth full of gummy worms.

"Save some for me too," said Audrey pulling one into her mouth as Ron laughed seeing her eat it like a noodle.

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