Hello, readers! I'm so excited…doing a lot of plot scheming and such. :) Things are pulling back together and ends are being tied up, I've been writing ahead a bit as well.

Thanks for the reviews, javalon14, Weasleytwinslover87, and thewrittenword87! :D

If I don't publish 71 tonight, it will be published tomorrow.

Reviews are like tacos, they're awesome. ;)

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

CHAPTER 70

"He wants to teach you Occlumency."

"Master Snape should be sitting down, let Hokey cook, sir!" squeaked an elf.

"It's fine, Hokey. Really, you should take a break, you do enough." Severus replied, waving him off.

"Master Snape is too kind!"

"Occlu-what?" Audrey asked, stirring a pot while looking at Severus.

After everyone had left, I spent all of the time that wasn't devoted to practicing with Edgar with Severus. We had taken to going into the kitchens and cooking, it was something we both enjoyed to do but had never done together. After Sirius and I patched things up, we saw each other less and less…it was back to the old routine. More time with Sirius, less with Severus. For there would never be a truce between them, not one that I would live to see…

"Occlumency." He repeated, adding something to the pot. "It's the art of closing one's mind off to a Legillimens."

"Severus, are you speaking the Queen's English right now?"

"Why would it matter, you're Russian." Severus retorted with a smirk, Audrey laughed.

"The point is…I've never heard of this art form." Audrey said, crossing her arms.

"The point is, the Headmaster has hinted at the idea that he's probably going to teach you Occlumency."

"Sev, I honestly don't see why. I don't bloody know where my parents are, and I haven't the slightest idea what this big secret is that got my whole family killed." Audrey said bitterly, adding something else to the pot, and turning back to him.

At that time, Severus and I had spent the last two years searching for legends, myths, anything that could lead me in the right direction of finding out the family secret. I don't know why I was so foolish…certain secrets should not be let loose. They should stay caged like the monsters they are. I thought that if I knew what they had died for, coping with the loss would be easier. Coping with the idea that it had been a constant variable in my life would have been easier.

"I don't know either, Audrey. But Dumbledore knows more than we think he does. That's for certain." Severus said, his eyes then traveled to the pot behind her and then he pushed past her.

It was bubbling a lot, and then…

WHOOSH.

A brief cloud of smoke.

Audrey and Severus looked at each other.

"Uhm…Sev?"

"Yes, Audrey?"

"You're eyebrows are gone."

"So are yours."

They stared at each other again, and then burst out laughing.

January came and went, along with February and March, April was a blur. Life was moving faster and faster, and news of terrible things began to surface more and more. The Prophet was filled with news of Centaurs turning up mutilated all around the country, killed in the cruelest of ways. News of all sorts of colonies vanishing into smoke. The Cahir colony, where my mother had taught in previous summers, was obliterated in a terrible fire. Were they there? They could have been anywhere…

And I had no idea if they were even alive.

"Are you alright, Ayla?" Blake asked, as he twirled her around on the dance floor. Audrey had accompanied Blake to the Australian Wizarding Society Ball. She also was the featured soloist that night.

The ball room was large, glass windows and doors surrounded it. The ceiling had intricate gold and silver tiles creating a circular pattern. A large waterfall chandelier hung from the ceiling

Audrey gave him a small smile. "Yes, Blake. I was just reminiscing of something."

"And what would that be?" He asked, pulling her closer.

"I was just thinking about the first time we met." Audrey replied dreamily. She felt guilty that she was lying to him, but he believed her.

"It was quite something." Blake grinned, twirling her around again. She laughed.

Blake Williams had to be my favorite out of all of the clients I had. He was something else entirely, he was a good soul…and at times, I felt like the most terrible being on the planet for leading him on in such a fashion. He obviously knew that we could never be together, and I knew that this was what my profession entailed, but that did not put me at ease.

Any fears I had with Hisoka leaving me were quickly extinguished, for with Edgar at my side, my career began to take off. Though he always claimed that it was my doing, which wasn't entirely true. I felt that he was at least my good luck charm.

"Everyone! May I have your attention please?" said a man, stopping the band that was currently playing. The dancers stopped, not a single person moved.

"There has been a terrible attack in Perth, we don't know what is happening, but there are 90 dead. We're ending early tonight, please evacuate in an orderly fashion and do not panic."

"Perth?" Audrey asked, looking at Blake. "That's not far from here."

"An hour and a half at least…" Blake nodded, the two turned as Edgar ran up to them.

"Best be going." He said, extending a hand to Audrey.

"Edgar…my cello…" Audrey's eyes widened.

"Already sent it back." Edgar said, Audrey breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good bye, Blake. Safe travels." She said, holding his hand for a moment.

"You too." He replied, kissing her on the cheek.

Crack…

Thud.

The magnificent glass chandelier fell to the floor, the building was shaking.

"GO!" Blake said pushing Audrey into Edgar's arms and taking out his wand like the rest of the men there.

"I-"

Audrey couldn't finish her sentence, Edgar held her tightly and everything was spinning.

They landed in Edgar's quarters, and were greeted by Albus, who sat in an arm chair by the fire, reading.

"I take it you've heard about Perth?" Edgar asked, dusting himself off and helping Audrey up from the floor.

"Yes, Edgar. Quite grave indeed. I am so sorry that this interrupted your night, Audrey. I understand it was quite a big occasion. "

"No need to apologize, sir." Audrey replied, giving a small bow. It was so habitual with Hisoka it was hard not to do now-a-days. "I had finished performing hours ago…though it is such a shame, it was a rather lovely ballroom. I hope everyone is alright."

"I am sure that they will be fine. Many of the men and women that stayed behind are not only skilled on the Quidditch field, but skilled in duel." Albus said, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Sir, what day is it?" Audrey asked.

"It is nearly midnight, so it is still January 4th." Albus replied with an all-knowing smile. The Hogwarts Express returned to Hogsmeade the next day, with all of Audrey's friends on it.

Audrey thanked the Headmaster, gave Edgar a bow, and said good night to the two.