Chapter 8

Fedora Flames the Jupiter house captain had lot on her head, with a quidditch challenge that Jupiter faced with Neptune and choosing her best players to play for the Gryffindor vs. Slytherine's match since Slytherine could use the Durmstrang in their house while Gryffindor didn't have any and the new Gryffindor captain Angelina Johnson seemed to be too young to understand the finer points of being in charge. Now, Fedora knew things about leadership that scared her too, she had faced boycott and she had faced praise, she could lead but the best part about being captain was that she always had help from her vice-captain and this year Fedora knew that Audrey was the most reliable person she could find and therefore she had begged Maxine to make her vice-captain, but she couldn't find Audrey anywhere on the Gryffindor table, it wasn't like her to skip meals but Fedora decided to let go of it and talk to her tomorrow after all she needed to tell Audrey about their practice matches.

Breakfast couldn't come sooner for Fedora, she had gotten up early, taken a jog around the quidditch pitch even flown a few laps, all in all she had, had a good Saturday morning and the Hogsmeade visit later in the morning would also be hopefully pleasant. Fedora had a skip in her step as she walked up to Audrey who seemed to be sitting alone with a bowl of cereal, she was playing with her food spilling milk on her charms textbook.

"Morning—what are you doing sitting here alone?" asked Fedora settling down next to Audrey as Audrey jumped in her seat at the sudden greeting and turned to look at Fedora her mood deflating instantly, she obviously didn't know about the 'rectification'.

"Nothing," murmured Audrey as Fedora looked at her Audrey.

"Audrey—where is your badge!—you know you have to wear it all the time—if Fleur or Gabrielle catch you they'll cut points you know that-besides they've been acting snooty-well Gabrielle sure has!" said Fedora sternly as Audrey's gaze dropped back to her cereal.

"The thing is Fedora—I had an incident with Claudy" said Audrey still not looking at Fedora.

"Yes—I heard of that one—hilarious," laughed Fedora, not many Jupitarians liked Jean Claude, well if you counted the ones who didn't think he was hot for some odd reason.

"Yes—well there were consequences for that-" said Audrey gulping.

"What does that have to do with your badge?" asked Fedora confused towards what Audrey was getting at.

"I was stripped of my post, I can't play quidditch, my broom has been confiscated and I can't even go to Hogsmeade—they're going to replace me with Patricia," said Audrey depressingly as Fedora's jaw dropped she was mad, angry.

"Who?—who did this ?" asked Fedora anger burning her insides.

"Professor Adams," said Audrey her shoulders dropped.

"Stay here—don't go anywhere—I'm going to go talk to the others—we'll see how Adams knocks you out!" said Fedora angrily as she got up Audrey looked at her a little worried.

"What are you going to do?" asked Audrey anxiously.

"I'm not captaining this house if Patricia is made vice captain—I'd rather join Neptune and die," said Fedora walking away to talk to Fleur and the rest of the student body representatives.

A while later Fedora returned with the Neptune house captain and vice captain and asked Audrey to walk with them to the head table were a few teachers were sitting and having breakfast.

Fedora walked up to Maxine who was sitting next to Dumbledore, next to Maxine sat Rachel who was talking to Jean who was sitting next to Snape.

"Ah—I was going to speak with you Fedora and Liana, now those quidditch matches-" began Maxine as Dumbledore looked at Audrey trying to scan her head.

"Fedora and we have something to say headmistress," said Liana respectfully as Maxine let the girl continue.

"We—don't want to have a quidditch match—headmistress," said Juliet the Neptune house vice captain.

"Why not?" asked Maxine a little edgy.

"We have no competition to play against if Audrey is gone—we'll definitely win without her there—you know it as well as we do-we don't want to play if there is no fun in competing," said Juliet indignantly.

"One minute—this is not going to work—Ms. Adams has been given her punishment and it will not be lifted," said Rachel simply as Audrey scoffed lightly, she knew Rachel wasn't going to win this.

"Professor Adams about that I don't wish Patricia Phelps to become vice captain—I thought I made that clear when I chose Audrey—so I suppose you find another captain as well if you want to make Patricia anything but a flobberworm," finished Fedora her speech making Maxine smile a bit.

"Besides—if the punishment is meant for Audrey why are you punishing my whole house?" added Fedora patiently trying to make them see reason.

"I suppose you Jupitarians really need a class in how to speak to your superiors, don't you Flames?" snarled Jean as Fedora glared at him.

"Nevertheless, I believe Fedora speaks correctly—I reassign Ms. Adams her old post and allow her to play on the quidditch team but as far as her entrance to Hogsmeade is concerned I believe it will still remain prohibited—do you agree with me Fedora?" asked Maxine sternly as Rachel gave an exasperated sigh.

"Yes," said Fedora shaking her head happily.

"And Ms. Adams I hope this will not be a case in the future," asked Maxine carefully a very faint smile playing on her lips. Audrey looked over at Jean who was glaring at her with flared nostrils and everything, Audrey smirked and laughed as she nodded.

"—cross my heart!" added Audrey as her badge appeared on her black sweat shirt on its own.

"You are letting her off headmistress—preposterous," said Jean his eggs gone cold.

"She is the only Jupitarian who has the guts to stand up to you Jean—give her some credit," said Maxine lightly, no wonder the Beauxbatons called her the best principal as Jean shook his head while Rachel rolled her eyes and returned to her breakfast.

Audrey went back to her seat feeling a bit more pleased but as Fedora bid her goodbye to leave for Hogsmeade Audrey felt a little low knowing that she couldn't join her friends in the fun, so she got herself a plate of bacon and fries and ate like she had never before, hoping that she wouldn't have to come back for lunch, she had no mood to see an empty hall knowing very well what she would be missing after Hermione had told her stories about how brilliant Hogsmeade actually was.

Audrey walked back to the common room to gather her potions and astronomy books hoping to get some homework done instead of sulking the whole day and besides she hadn't been to the library yet, this perked Audrey's spirits up a little, she loved reading, she could do it for the whole day if she were given a choice.

"Hey—I heard you can't go to Hogsmeade Audrey—I feel really bad for you though—I promise to get some chocolate," said Ginny grinning as she walked across Audrey with Leon, her hand swinging in Leon's as Ginny had a deep blush on her cheek, while Leon grinned at Audrey.

"Thanks—and have fun," she said bidding them goodbye as Leon winked at her and they walked out of the common talking about a perfect morning.

"Hey-" said Harry as Audrey came back into the common room from the dormitory.

"Hey yourself!" replied Audrey balancing an ink bottle, quills and several rolls of parchments on two books.

"Look—let me get to the point—I know that you aren't allowed into Hogsmeade—but if you want I could sneak you in—I know the secret passage and you don't have to worry about being caught—I have an invisibility cloak," said Harry pulling out a worn out piece of parchment and a cloak which looked like it was made of water. Audrey touched the cloak; she was surprised to see something like that; she had only heard about it in the children stories that Uncle Albus used to tell her.

"Wicked-!" said Audrey in awe of the cloak in front of her, her heart even made her mind agree to except Harry's offer and what could possibly go wrong, but Audrey didn't want to risk it, because if by chance she was caught there by her mother or a complain box like Gabby she would have it for life and being rebellious was a different thing but this would only mean be disrespecting her mother's wishes and to top it up it was a punishment.

"This is great Harry, but I can't—I just can't—trust me it's for the best," said Audrey declining and then walking out of the common room as quickly as her feet could carry her.

Audrey reached the library feeling like she had missed out on an opportunity, but she knew better than to give in to her heart so easily, the last time she had done that, it had terrible consequences and she didn't want a repeat of the episode where her mother had gone ballistic and had almost grounded Audrey for all eternity.

Audrey walked up to the Madam Pince the stern looking librarian and asked for a book she had been looking for in ages and when she found it she couldn't afford it.

"I'm looking for Potions: All ingredients and their Properties," she said as Madam Pince looked up from the novel she was reading and peered at Audrey sharply over her odd shaped glasses.

"Who is the author?" asked Madam Pince sternly like she wasn't going to give the book to Audrey if she didn't know the answer thankfully Audrey did.

"Charles Limington and Marcus Quad," said Audrey a little confidently, as Madam Pince made a face at Audrey and stood up her face looked like the air smelt bad.

"Follow me," she added walking towards the vast line of shelves while Audrey followed her thin figure. A few shelves later which seemed like a very long time, Madam Pince stopped at shelf 'P', she walked in between shelves 'P' and the back of shelf 'Q' and she then flicked her wand. A very heavy looking book popped out from some unseen part of shelf 'P' and launched itself towards Audrey, if Audrey hadn't been good at catching things because of her chasing skills she would have definitely broken her ribs as she caught the book before if hit her in the chest.

"If you mess it up—you won't be able to see another book in this library for a long time," said Madam Pince sharply as Audrey nodded and the thin woman walked back to her desk.

Audrey somehow managed to carry the book back to where she had placed her parchments and textbooks. It took her exactly thirty minutes to complete her homework and then she opened the book that she had waited a long time to read, the smell of the old book mesmerized her as she felt the yellow page under her finger caress her as if teasing and begging her to read it.

Audrey opened the first page and figured that the book wasn't bought by the school but had been donated by someone called the 'half blood prince', what kind of a name was the half blood prince, she would kill herself if someone nicknamed her that, it sounded stupid to her, but that wasn't why she had got the book in the first place, she reached the index and saw the first chapter: A hundred different ways to extract the poison from the Cattertrome flower, but something way below that actually caught her attention, the chapter number had been circled and it was chapter ten: if you can brew it, you can do it. She quickly flipped the pages to the page number that the index had prescribed for that chapter and Audrey was delighted as she started reading the chapter about the luck potion something she didn't know about. She continued to the next page after the introduction, the page held the ingredients and method to brewing a perfect luck potion but the scrawny scribbling next to the print made it difficult for Audrey to read, she wondered why the librarian hadn't said anything to this individual who had scribbled all over the book. It wasn't like what he had written wasn't related to the subject, but if he wanted to make notes, why not make notes on parchment, or just buy the book for yourself if you want to be such a selfish jerk. Audrey sighed exasperatedly as Madam Pince walked up to her table with another person by her side.

"Share," she said not bothering to know what the other person's response to this was. Audrey had heard her clearly and therefore she moved from her chair to the one next to it, so that the other person could share her book, but she didn't bother looking up to see who it was, why in the world would she care who it was she had something so terribly interesting in front of her.

The person who had been standing settled down opposite her, this caught Audrey's attention, why would someone who wanted to use the book she was using sit opposite her? he couldn't possibly see upside down, could he?—or was he as selfish as the scribbler that he would want the book for himself—Audrey was not going to let that happen.

"May I borrow your ink Ms. Adams?" asked Severus pulling out the parchment from his robe pocket. Audrey jumped in her seat when she heard his voice, her gaze shot from the book to the man sitting opposite her; he looked at her a small frown on his face as Audrey nodded slowly opening her bottle of ink, pushing it towards Snape. He dipped his brown eagle quill into the bottle and started writing something down on the parchment, the noise of his ministration on the parchment was the only ones she could hear in the now deserted library, she stared at it openly and her eyes shot to what he was writing and she blinked looking at his handwriting.

"You scribbled in this book!" she exclaimed disappointedly, she did not understand why someone like Snape would do that. He looked up and looked at what Audrey was talking about, he remembered reading chapter ten when he was in his fifth year before his OWLs just to be sure of himself.

"Yes," he said and then got back to his work.

"Why?—also do you know who the half blood prince is?" she asked curiously maybe Snape knew who he was maybe an ex-student or something.

"It is not scribbling—they are points I found the book lacked and therefore I deemed it only fit to scribble it down—you see, no one uses this book but me!" he drawled in a bored fashion, as Audrey nodded, she still wondered if he knew who the half blood prince was but she didn't push it, he was after all very intimidating.

"Why are you reading chapter ten anyways it's not a part of you portion," he said curiously looking at Audrey who had finished writing the ingredients for the potion of luck.

"I just really like knowing Potions, it is more of an obsession more than anything, I mean my mu—aunt keeps telling to me to pick up in charms but I just can't—I hate that subject but potions and defence is something that truly interests me—I want to become an auror someday and maybe not be pricey as the ones today," she said giving him a long speech about something he would generally not bother listening to.

"I suppose that is why there is animosity between you and Mr. Claude," he asked curiously as Audrey blushed slightly her pale cheeks turned red along with her ears which were unfortunately unhidden by her hair which was in a high pony tail.

"That and other reasons-" said Audrey feeling awkward as Snape smirked.

"Other reasons?" he pushed her, Audrey gulped hoping he didn't like Jean.

"Well—Jean Claude is an arsehole, truthfully I don't know what my mu—aunt sees in him but he is a real jack-ass of the first class, you won't find a bigger idiot than that guy," said Audrey swearing but covering her mouth instantly as Snape smirked again.

"So I suppose that is the reason why you are not in Hogsmeade?" he asked as she nodded sighing slowly.

"Didn't Potter offer to help you sneak out?" Severus asked curiously.

"He did—but I declined—you won't punish him for this will you?" asked Audrey cautiously knowing how much Snape hated Harry, but he smiled faintly and shook his head, she threw him a big grin.

"Why do you use the surname Adams?" he asked abruptly as Audrey gulped, she didn't really know what to say and so she told him the truth, well half of it at least.

"My mum had studied in Beauxbatons and used to work in England but she died when I was four in a car crash and my aunt became my guardian—I never knew my father—and since my mum wasn't really married to him I got her surname—and therefore Audrey Adams," said Audrey completing her story as Severus listened to her carefully as he nodded in the end acknowledging what she said.

Audrey began to say something but she was cut off by another figure appearing at the table, Audrey looked from Snape to see Rachel standing there and glaring at Snape like he was purely vile.

"What are you doing here?" Rachel asked sternly as Audrey looked at her confused.

"You're the one who said I couldn't go to Hogsmeade—remember?" scoffed Audrey.

"No, I mean why are you in the library?—I saw Mr. Longbottom looking for you," said Rachel in a way that seemed less forth coming then before.

"I was doing my homework—what else can I do in a library?" sneered Audrey sarcastically as Rachel got more and more pissed, she didn't want that man anywhere near her daughter and she would yank the girl away if she had to.

"Come on—I need to talk to you about your detention with Professor Claude," said Rachel throwing a warning glance at Severus who propped an eyebrow at her as if challenging her to speak.

Audrey could feel the hostility rising between the two and she decided to get up and leave but before she picked up all her things she emptied her ink bottle into the dried up ink well attached to the desk, she looked at Snape and smiled.

"Thanks—for that day at the quidditch match—according to Professor Moody's classes I think I owe you my life," she muttered softly as he nodded and Audrey turned to leave but she didn't see her mother follow her, Rachel was still waiting till Audrey cleared off.

"You stay away from her—she's already messed up and she doesn't need people like you messing her up further" said Rachel sharply as Severus looked up at Rachel from his seat.

"Oh! By all means Rachel—a convict, a werewolf and an idiot are perfect company for the girl," smirked Severus as Rachel fumed in anger.

"She is none of your business—I don't want her hanging around you," said Rachel her arms now crossed across her chest.

"Sure—what could I possibly do to her?" he said as sarcastically as possible.

"I don't know what a death eater could do to her—but she's my niece and my responsibility so I'm asking you nicely Snape stay away from her or else I won't be so nice," snarled Rachel as Severus fumed angrily.

"Sure—you will send your incompetent boyfriend to defend your honour wont you?" scoffed Severus sarcastically

"Since when the hell do you have a sister anyways?" added Severus abruptly as Rachel was a loss of words, she hadn't thought this through and or rather she hadn't needed to yet.

"You have no idea about my life Snape—don't try and get into my brain," snarled Rachel as she turned to walk away from the library and out to where Audrey was waiting as Severus pushed himself back into his chair as he tried to balance it on its hind legs.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were back from Hogsmeade with several bags of things but due to the endless shopping and merriment they were almost late for the feast but because Hermione literally dragged them out of Zonkos they were able to make in time their hands full of bags as they walked into the great hall which was now full to students though the house tables had been moved into the front lawn while the long seats had been pushed against the walls of the great hall Gryffindor and Ravenclaw on one side and Slytherine and Hufflepuff on the other while the goblet of fire sat in the middle of the hall oozing blue flames from its brim, though the head table still sat regally upon the stage meant for it. Harry, Hermione and Ron occupied the empty seats next to Neville who was talking to Leon and Ginny who were holding hands under the bench; this made Ron flinch a bit but Hermione's glare made him make a face at her.

"Where's Audrey—I haven't seen her all day?" Neville asked Leon as Leon agreed to what Neville had said, he couldn't see his friend anywhere in the hall though Gabrielle was very clearly sitting opposite Leon giggling with her new 'friends'.

Leon noticed Snape clear out the students who were loitering near the goblet as he flicked his wand and made seats appear from thin air in the back of the hall for the students to sit as they made faces at him and whispered rude things at him for asking them to stay away from their friends who were already sitting in the front. Leon looked away as Harry started speaking to him.

"Umm—does Audrey like candy?—I got her some," said Harry holding up a bag of sweets in front of Leon's face as Leon nodded and Harry smiled pleased with his present for his new friend.

"Settle down—settle down please," said Dumbledore suddenly as the hall went quiet and students took their seats as the headmaster spoke, so now Snape angrily marched up the stage and stood next to McGonagall who was standing in front of the table.

Suddenly oohs were heard from the sides of the great hall as the students saw the Goblets flames go blood red and warmer than before, Dumbledore ran towards the goblet as if not expecting that to happen so soon but his hands roamed around the goblet caressing it like it was beautiful and the flames rose and spat out a chit which Dumbledore grabbed hold of as a small smile crept across his lips.

"The first Hogwarts champion is Mr. Cedric Diggory," said Dumbledore loudly as the quiet hall burst into deafening cheers as Cedric Diggory the brown haired Hufflepuff quidditch captain walked up to Dumbledore and took the chit with his name and was then directed to a room by McGonagall who threw him a vibrant smile as he disappeared into the room.

The goblet once again came to life announcing the names of Fleur Delacour and Victor Krum as the other two champions as Dumbledore returned to the goblet after congratulating the champions so far.

The goblet spat out the next name, as the quiet hall waited for the second Hogwarts champion to be announced but the silence of anticipation became the silence of shock when Dumbledore angrily announced the name.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry gulped slowly; this couldn't be happening he never put his name in the goblet not after he saw what happened to Fred and George after they tried breaking the age line around the Goblet drawn by Dumbledore, Maxine and Karkaroff.

Harry pushed himself as low as he could into the wooden bench but he didn't sink enough as Hermione pushed him up while everyone stared at him.

"He a cheat—he's not of age!" shouted someone from the Slytherine side breaking the silence as Harry walked up to Dumbledore who thrust the chit into his hand and McGonagall helped Harry into the room but she didn't give him a vibrant smile just threw him a very worried look.

Dumbledore sighed as he approached the goblet again as it rose to life for the last time till the next century, it spat out the final champion from Beauxbatons which made Dumbledore's face grow paler than his white beard. He took in a deep breath as he pushed his half moon spectacles up the bridge of his nose as he announced the name.

"Audrey Adams!" he said loudly as heads quickly looked angrily around the hall looking for the second cheat who had successfully broken the rule they had miserably failed at.

"Audrey Adams!" repeated Dumbledore sounding very mad now as someone opened the door to the great hall and entered to find all the heads turned towards her.

Audrey was carrying a rather large book in her hand, she noticed people staring at her and she didn't like the fact that they were not staring but glaring at her like she had just killed the most cherished wizard, Audrey walked up to Leon who was now standing on his seat as Hermione looked at Audrey worriedly while Ron just threw her a glare like the others.

"What—did I do?" asked Audrey worriedly, she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach; it was fear stabbing her again and again in the gut.

"Audrey—you're the second champion—go get your chit," said Leon worriedly looking at Audrey.
Audrey looked at him disbelievingly as Hermione gave Audrey a little push to walk ahead as the whole hall stared daggers at her.

Audrey looked at Dumbledore who handed her the chit and looked away and sighed disappointedly while Minerva walked Audrey to the room that the other champions had disappeared into.

"I would like it if the committee would join me in the champions room and the staff I have discussed some things with are requested to come as well," said Dumbledore as he and Maxine tried to calm an accusing Karkaroff all the way to the room while Snape, Jean, Maurice and Rachel followed them into the room.

AN/- hey everyone I was so glad that i got two more reviews that i had to update the story-i hope i get some more-come on guys be nice make day. Also i hope you like this chapter lots coming up I promise 3