Yes, I'm aware that this is not June 30th…when I originally intended to publish. I'm rather scatterbrained, and I've been a bit busy unfortunately.

Though I'm fortunate to say this has rarely happened to me, I want to address something that's gone on with another author on this site, PleaOfInsanity. She wrote really great stories, and has recently decided to take one of hers down due to a shitty anonymous review (or a few of them, I'm not sure…but this particular review was over the line.) You can go to her story, Destined To Explode (which was a really great story might I add, it's a shame that she's taking it down.) and read about it. But I just want to say, and I know most of you already know this, but be kind in your reviews to people's stories. Sometimes people get really busy, and studies, jobs, and other things take precedent before publishing.

Anyway, here's a longer chapter than the last few. I've got a lot of stuff pre-written and planned out so it's just a matter of getting to a certain point, which will be coming about in the next chapter.

Thanks for the reviews, javalon14, LizziePixieAiko, and BlueBubbleRainbowBoat (that is the cutest name ever! :3) :D

If you like tacos, I think you should review. ;D

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

Chapter 72

Audrey snapped out of her reverie, she sat up right. Her eyes wide, she noticed all of her friends wore similar expressions of curiosity and confusion.

The train was shaking violently now, the lights flickered. Remus pulled Marlene into him; Lily fumbled for James hand in the dark. Normally, Sirius and Audrey would exchange an amused look at this, but now wasn't the time or place.

"What do you think that was?" Audrey asked, pulling out her wand. Though she never used her wand, she had to use it for show. Sirius always thought it was funny, but in a situation like this, they could never be too careful. She couldn't be exposed.

Another scream pierced the air.

"I don't know." Said James, standing up, "But I say we should go find out."

"I'm with you, mate." Said Sirius, rolling up his sleeves. "Something isn't right here."

"Watch out, we've got a genius on board." Said Marlene, sarcastic. Even in tense times, she pulled out her wit.

Sirius gave Marlene a glare as the lights went out. James slid open the compartment door quietly, Sirius was about to follow.

"Wait." Audrey whispered. Sirius turned around, raising an eyebrow.

The screams were coming more and more

"I'm going with you." She said.

"No, you're not." Sirius shook his head. "We don't know what's out there. And if James and I for some reason don't come back…"

"You'd come back if Audrey were with you." Said Marlene, giving the boys a look. Remus nodded.

"Fine, Russia" James said. "But if you turn into a damsel in distress…"

"I won't, James." said Audrey flashed her eyes in the dark, giving him a look.

"Don't do that." Sirius said quietly. "I don't want you to be given away."

Audrey nodded, and the three left the compartment. They quietly made their way down the hallway, following the screams. Only one of them kept their wand lit, they didn't want to draw attention to themselves.

The screams became louder as they walked towards the end of the train.

"What d'you think it is?" Audrey whispered, barely audible.

"I don't know…but whoever it is, they've stopped the train." said James.

"Someone must've gotten on board" said Sirius.

The screams had become more frequent as we moved closer, so much so, that they had blended in with all other sound around me. The sound of nervous shuffling in the compartments, whispers, and silence…

"No shit, Merlin." shot James. Sirius elbowed him. Audrey gave both of them a look and took the lead now, dragging the two along.

"Any idea what's going on?" Susan Bones asked, popping out of her compartment.

"Not a clue, Suzie." James shook his head. "We're going to investigate."

Making their way down the hallway seemed to take ages, and the screams were still there. Echoing.

"How long d'you reckon we've been stopped?" Sirius asked.

"A half hour at least." Replied Audrey.

They kept walking, after a few minutes, James spoke.

"It's stopped."

"What's-" Sirius began but Audrey cut him off.

"The screaming."

The train shook again; it felt as though a massive group was on board now. Audrey opened the last car door to find a bunch of Ministry officials.

The three stood on their toes, looking over shoulders. Audrey was horrified at what she saw.

Annie McGillan, a Hufflepuff in their year, was frozen on the floor. Her eyes stared into nothing.

"Did you hear anything, Audrina?" Her father asked, gently shaking her from her reverie.

Audrey had just arrived a few hours ago in an unknown colony, just as the sun was setting. She had two weeks there to visit her parents, who were constantly in travel around the world. They were on the run, like many creatures. If they stayed too long in one place, they would be found.

"No, Papa." Audrey shook her head. "After we saw her, a man shooed us from the compartment."

I couldn't comprehend why someone would kill Annie…she had done nothing wrong. She spoke of no negativity towards anyone.

"The aurors stayed on the train?"

"Yes."

"Isaac, let's stop talking about this." Airleas said. "We hear enough terrible news daily."

"I'm sorry, my love." He apologized.

"So, what is this place?" Audrey asked.

Airleas shook her head. "We cannot tell you, we do not speak its name to anyone. None here know it's name"

Audrey looked outside of the tent.

There were all sorts of creatures there, you see… It was a refugee camp, and it wasn't the only one. There were thousands across the earth, spread among the countries and continents. The others that were there were beaten, battered, and broken. Families were torn apart, orphans crying in the darkness.

"So it is nameless?"

"They all are." Said Isaac. "Why bother naming camps for the beaten and dying?"

"But you are not beaten or dying." Audrey said, looking at her parents. A flicker of fear in her eyes.

"We are not." Airleas nodded. "But most here are. They travel here healthy, but are caught along the ways. Most of them have just barely escaped."

I couldn't tell if the world had just become more chaotic and violent as I grew older, or if this really was the world and I had just been sheltered from it this whole time.

Time…it always seemed to rob me of those I loved. The two weeks went by instantly, and before I knew it I was back at Edgar's cottage.

Audrey landed on the floor with a thud, as soon as she looked up, Dumbledore had dissapparated. Edgar sat in an armchair, reading a book.

"I always know it's you, just by the way you land." He said, looking up.

"Ta, Ed." Audrey said, sarcastically, brushing herself off. He grinned, baring his fangs.

As soon as I had returned from the refugee camp, I went to the Potter's for a week. Then Edgar and I left for Tokyo. Edgar was a guest soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic for a few concerts, and I was entertaining a few businessmen. We wandered the city in our spare time, and I even caught a glimpse of a familiar friend. She did not have time to stop and talk…after all, she had to play her part.

I traveled with Edgar for about two months straight, after Tokyo, I was sent off to Australia for a week with Blake. Edgar remained in the shadows, he watched from outside, guarding. It was a week of entertaining, accompanying him to events, but most of the time, we just sat at the beach a few feet from his home. It was peculiar compared to the life I normally lead as an entertainer. For the last time I sat in the sand and listened to the waves, I was visiting the Cahir colony with my mother. That was so long ago…and now that colony was just ash. Then it was onto Canada, France, Germany, Poland, and Finland…

By the time I returned to England, it was late August, and naturally I went straight to the Potter residence…

Audrey was about to lift the lion shaped knocker when the door burst open and a mass of black hair knocked her over.

"Get off!" Audrey laughed, shoving the black dog off of her. He barked happily.

"Great way to be greeted by your boyfriend, as a dog." James snorted, coming to the door. Sirius transformed.

"Honestly." Audrey said, putting her hands on her hips and giving Sirius a stern look. Her face then broke into a grin and she hugged him tightly.

"Can we go inside now? I'm going to puke." James gagged.

"Is that Audrey?" called a voice she knew well.

"Hi Remus!" She called.

He was by her side in seconds; James muttered something about Remus being a werewolf and fast. Audrey grinned.

"So Audrey, did you hear the news?" Remus asked, looking at her.

"No…" She said, looking between the three boys. "What's going on?"

James reached into his pocket and flashed a gold pin at Audrey.

"SHUT. UP. " She said, her jaw dropping. "SHUT UP, JAMES POTTER! SHUT UP!"

"I didn't say anything, Russia!" James grinned.

The boys laughed.

"No…" Audrey said in disbelief.

"Yes." said Sirius.

"I don't believe you." Audrey said, eyes wide.

"Believe it." said Remus. "James Potter is a prefect."

"How in the hell? Who…who would trust you with that responsibility?" Audrey asked.

"Dumbledore, apparently." said James, in a know-it-all voice.

"Did you tell the others yet?"

"Well, we obviously told Peter. Marlene knows, Puffer knows." Said Sirius.

"…And Lily?

James and Sirius exchanged a grin.

"We'll tell Evans when we see her on the train." James replied.

"Lily's not coming?" Audrey cocked her head.

"Nope." Sirius said. "Neither is Puffer. McKinnon should be here soon though."

As if on cue, there was a small bang in the kitchen.

"That must be Marly rolling in. Excuse me." Remus said, pushing past his friends.

James, Audrey, and Sirius made their way to the kitchen, where of course, Remus and Marlene were snogging.

"Ahem." James said.

"That wasn't even clearing your throat." Audrey said quietly, nudging him.

"Yes, it was!"

"No, it wasn't. You just vocalized what it sounds like to clear your throat!"

"It has the same affect, Russia!"

Audrey was about to snap back but Marlene called. "You lot done over there?"

"Yes, mum." James and Audrey said together.