Thanks for the review, javalon14!

Sorry these were both a bit short…longer ones to come. :] (I also didn't continue on this one because I'm a bit exhausted.)

Review please? It lets me know I have readers… :D

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THIS, EXCEPT FOR ANY CHARACTERS YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE. JK ROWLING IS JESUS!

CHAPTER 68

The seconds that it took me to sprint to the Headmaster's office felt like hours.

The gargoyle jumped aside for Audrey, he had stopped bothering to ask her for the password a long time ago. She took the spiral steps two at a time and just as she was about to knock, the door swung open.

"Ah, Audrey." Albus said, as Audrey nearly fell through the doorway. She hadn't quite stopped herself in time. The old man stuck out an arm and caught her. "I had a feeling you'd be coming by soon."

"Yes, sir." Audrey nodded, taking a seat in one of the arm chairs across from his desk. "I just received a rather terse letter from my father…and I wanted to know if you knew anything about it."

Albus studied her for a moment; Audrey couldn't fathom what he was thinking.

"I do." He said, after a long pause, he turned his back to her, and began to pace. Audrey looked at him with rapt attention.

His silence was slowly tearing at me.

"Sir, please…Why did my father send me this?" Audrey pleaded, his back was to her. He stared out the window.

"Audrey, are you aware what is going on in the world outside of this school?" He asked, only half turning.

"No, sir." Audrey admitted. "I have been so busy with work, gigs, dance…Edgar has told me that it is best I don't know. But I have seen nothing in the Profit."

"The Profit choses not to report things like this, Audrey."

Before Audrey could inquire any further, he turned around.

"The number of disappearances has been incredible…" Albus' blue eyes searched her. "I am surprised you have not sensed it. It's in your blood."

I did not realize at the time what he was talking about…

"As I have said sir, I have been busy…" Audrey said, shocked by his behavior.

"Not a feeling at all?"

"Not that I can recall sir."

"No visions, shortness of breath, stabbing pain…?" Albus questioned, studying the girl.

"I used to have dreams, before that Christmas…but since then, I have not seen anything." Audrey said in a dead voice. Talking about Christmas was still painful.

"You had dreams before St. Petersburg?" Albus turned to fully face her, a surprised expression on his features. One Audrey had never seen before.

She turned away, pressing her lips together and trying to blink back tears quickly.

I scolded myself for mentioning that. It only lead me to so much trouble in the end.

"Audrey." Albus said calmly, taking her chin and bringing her head foreword. "Why haven't you said anything?"

"Because it wouldn't have made a difference!" Audrey blurted out, fighting herself for control.

"Audrey." Albus said softly. "You are a very rare breed, literally one of a kind…"

"I am so tired of hearing that." Audrey said quietly, her voice shaking.

It was true, I had been told that my entire life. It was supposed to be something someone would say to you to make you feel special, to make you feel loved…but for me, it was a curse. A mark of certain death, for this not only made me a target, but every single being that I held dear. Everyone that associated with me, everyone that held my secret, everyone that protected it from them.

"Deep down, you know it is the truth, Audrey." Albus replied. "What happened in St. Petersburg is not your fault."

"Not my fault?" Audrey replied quietly. "Vladimir Morozov knew the secret that my family has been hiding from me. He knew, and I don't even know. This secret is about me, and because Vladimir knew it, he killed my family. How can you even argue that this ordeal isn't my fault?"

Albus looked at her forlornly, shaking his head.

"In time, Audrey…you will know exactly what I mean."

Audrey cast her eyes to the floor; she didn't want to think about it anymore.

Albus decided to divert back to the original subject. "Creatures of all kinds have been disappearing. Including quite a large number that lived in your community."

Audrey sighed, cradling her head in her hands. It was not the news she wanted to hear…it was not something she wanted to think about.

"Isaac told you not to come home, because no one is there."

Audrey's head snapped up at this.

"Your father and mother, like the rest of your community after sending their children away, destroyed your home and left it. They are currently staying in a colony-"

"Where?" Audrey blurted out.

"I cannot say." Albus said. "These walls may be safe, but with you traveling in and out of them, we don't know what can be intercepted."

"Intercepted?" Audrey questioned.

"From here." Albus tapped his head. "One can never be too careful, Audrey. But we will talk about this another day."

My grandfather used to tell me old Russian tales of evil wizards who stole the thoughts out of other's minds.

"Albus, where are my parents?" Audrey said, desperate.

"I am sorry, Ms. Dalio. I cannot say." Albus clasped a hand on her shoulder. "I can tell you that they are coming here for Christmas though, to be with you. They will be staying in the West Wing."

Nothing with Albus Dumbledore could ever be simple…why he had to string me along and put me through so much emotional turbulence was beyond me.