Hello, beautiful readers!
I am off to University tomorrow, and that means that this is the last chapter I will be publishing until mid-December. Not quite sure the exact date that I'll be done with this semester, but as I've stated in previous chapters, everything for the rest of this story is outlined, so it should be an easy write once I'm back. It sucks that I didn't have more time to write this summer; I'm looking forward to finishing out this story though in December.
Thanks so much for the reviews, javalon14, xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx (yep, have to have a filler every now and then.), and PheonixMinx!
Reviews are lovely; they'll keep me cheerful during this semester. :D
If you're starting school or university this week, good luck!
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THIS, EXCEPT FOR ANY CHARACTERS YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE. JK ROWLING IS JESUS!
CHAPTER 81
November.
"Can you lot believe it's been a year?" Lily asked, bouncing Asia on her lap, the baby giggled.
"Nope. It feels like yesterday." Sirius grinned, holding Audrey's hand and stroking it with his thumb. He then crouched down to his daughter.
"One year old, miss. I think you should stop growing now. I don't know what I'll do when you're a teenager."
"Da." The baby babbled in response.
"I can never tell if she's trying to address me or speaking Russian." Sirius said, scratching his head.
"Probably speaking Russian." Marlene said with a small smile.
"Mo!" The baby exclaimed, stretching her arms out at Marlene.
"Russian, huh?" Sirius asked skeptically, taking Asia from Lily's lap and giving her to Marlene.
There was a knock at the door, Sirius went to check it, James followed. You could never be too careful during these times.
"Who is it?"
"Edgar."
Audrey walked over, to the door and said.
"What's the first thing you ever said to me after becoming my mentor?"
"Watch out for the Prime Minister, he's a pervert."
Sirius and James gave Audrey a funny look.
"I'll explain later, just open the door." Audrey said, waving them off.
"Hello, Ed." She smiled, giving him a hug. Everyone exchanged greetings.
"I thought you said that you didn't have time to stop by today?" Audrey asked, as they sat down and she handed him a cup of tea.
"I made some time." Edgar waved her off. "I really just wanted to drop this off." He gestured to a small red box. "It's from Hisoka and I."
"You didn't have to." Audrey said, waving him off.
"Yes, we did." Edgar said evenly. "If we didn't, no one else would. Just open it."
Audrey looked at her daughter, who was currently in Remus' lap and fascinated by his hands, and then looked at Edgar.
"Think you know what it is?" Edgar asked, raising an eyebrow. Audrey nodded and she opened the box, which enlarged slightly.
It was a small cello.
"Thank you." Audrey smiled, hugging Edgar. Marlene, Sarah, and Lily cooed about how small the cello was.
"When do you think she'll start learning?" Marlene asked, cocking her head.
"Probably between two and two and a half years." Audrey replied, looking at Asia with a smile. "It really depends on growth…my father learned shortly after he started walking."
Since returning to performing, I had gotten more requests than ever before. There were gigs that I actually had to turn down, due to an already busy schedule from a higher demand from certain patrons and being a mother and a wife. It thrilled me that I could manage both my career and raising my daughter…
But alas, nothing lasts forever.
I was still tied to the English Chamber Orchestra, even though I was forbidden to perform in the United Kingdom by Albus. I couldn't break my contract, so I went to rehearsals heavily guarded. Normally, getting to and from rehearsals and concerts wasn't an issue, but there was one night in July where it was…
"I think that was the best we've ever played the concerto." said Ernie, one of the first violinists, as he put his instrument away.
"The cello section messed up on the second repeat, but overall, it was fine." replied Edgar.
"Such a perfectionist." Audrey rolled her eyes and laughed. Edgar was about to shoot back when they heard an explosion.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ernie asked, as another player opened the backstage door slightly. A few members of the orchestra looked over his shoulder.
"Oh Merlin." whispered one, clutching his chest.
"What is it?" Edgar asked, walking over, Audrey followed.
"They're attacking the city." said another.
"Who?" Audrey asked.
What a foolish question.
Audrey saw them over everyone's shoulders and gasped.
"We need to evacuate." said Edgar. "Use the fire place in Maestro Martine's office, go!"
Everyone began to move through the backstage area, leaving just Edgar, Audrey, and the three Aurors that came with them.
"What do we do?" She asked, looking between the four men.
"We can't risk the floo network like the others." Alastor barked.
Before any of the others could speak, there was a loud boom and shouts.
They had gotten inside the theatre, and all I could hear were screams and…
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
"There are some back here." yelled a voice, a man was making his way onto the stage and behind the curtain.
"Get ready, men." Alastor barked. "Audrey, you know how to handle yourself, we'll buy you some time."
Audrey looked at Edgar, he nodded
"And don't dissapparate…they'll trace it." Alastor barked and then began firing hexes.
Audrey tapped her cello with her fingers and sent it to the apartment. She slipped out the back door.
"Over here!" hissed a very familiar voice. "And pull your hood up!" Audrey followed the voice into the alleyway quickly, pulling her cloak hood up to disguise herself. She followed the man down the alleyway into a small side alcove.
The alcove seemed to be built into the alleyway by a wizard, for it looked very out of place as Audrey studied it.
They faced each other, this man wore a death eater mask. Audrey's eyes widened, she was about to run when he grabbed her arm.
"DON'T" He whispered urgently. "I'm a spy."
"I don't know of any spies." Audrey hissed, suspicious. She let her eyes go yellow for extra measure, it was the prey warning the supposed predator to back off.
"Well," said the man gesturing to himself, he waved his wand, a shield was cast over the alcove. Audrey gave him a look.
"A few protective enchantments, they can't see or hear us…it wont be up for long though, we don't have much time." He said urgently. "Dumbledore doesn't know about me either. I defected about a month ago."
Audrey was about to ask who he was when he waved his hand and removed his mask.
The face I knew well…that was the face of my love. But I knew better…
Regulus Black.
"Why did you defect?" Audrey asked, her eyes studying her brother in-law. She was unsure if she should trust him. To say that he looked like Sirius was an understatement.
"I can't tell you…not right now…you will find out though, Audrey. I know you will." He said, returning her gaze. Her heart fluttered, she knew that Black look well, but she shook it off. That was Regulus, not Sirius.
"Why did you save me?" She looked at him, standing as far as she could, her hand ready should she have to attack.
"Because I can only imagine the heartbreak of Sirius if you did not return home one night." He replied, his blue eyes searching her.
Audrey studied him, still unsure of whether to trust him.
"You do not understand, you think that the Dark Lord wants you dead because you are a threat. He doesn' wants you alive…and your child."
Audrey stepped back, her hand covering her mouth. Her eyes were wide.
"No…"
"Audrey, it's true." He said, stepping forward. "He sends them out to hunt you, hoping he'll catch you on a day like this. Just like that night you were seen when the building collapsed months ago. On the way to or from a performance, on a street corner, anywhere that you could be in plain sight. If he has you, getting your child is easy…only an infant, am I correct?"
"Yes." Audrey replied, her eyes pooling with tears. "She's only a year and eight months…"
"The Dark Lord knows of her. And if he has you and your daughter, he'll destroy everything." Regulus replied. "You must go into hiding, get out of the country, anything that will keep you all safe."
"Regulus…does he know…that I…" Audrey asked, gesturing to her dress.
"No." Regulus shook his head. "He hasn't mentioned it, but if any of those thickheads put the pieces together from tonight they'll know."
Regulus looked at his watch.
"We're running out of time. You can't dissapparate, they'll trace it. I can lead them in the wrong direction, but you need to floo from the fireplace in the theatre, it's untraceable. " He pushed her towards the stage door, he was about to make his way up the alley and towards the front of the theatre when Audrey spoke.
"Regulus…wait…"
He turned around, raising an eyebrow.
"Is Severus…" Audrey couldn't bare to bring herself to say it.
"Yes." Regulus said, his expression was the same cold one that Sirius wore when Severus was mentioned.
Audrey looked down, blinking back some tears. "Okay." She whispered.
"I'm sorry." He said.
Audrey noddded, and made for the stage door…she was about to open it when she turned around agaim.
"Regulus!"
He turned again, slightly amused.
"I just wanted to say thanks…thanks for everything."
"Take care of Sirius." He said as he began to jog towards the front of the theatre.
Audrey stealthily made her way back stage. She snuck between the curtains, there were still Deatheaters inside, she could hear their shouts, along with the Aurors, and Edgar. She heard Regulus' voice, so similar to Sirius'.
"SHE'S OUTSIDE!" He roared.
He was very convincing.
.thud.
The sounds of footsteps and shouts died away, Audrey carefully made her way around the curtain.
Clang.
Audrey froze.
I was not alone.