AN/- thanks to everyone who reviewed i really appreciate that you guys are reading-i promise to update as soon as i can but there might be a stick up sometime-anyways i hope you're enjoying this.

Chapter 10

Severus had been collecting Septimore flowers on the banks of the lake that ended in the forest, he saw a little figure across at the other bank, the figure or girl in this case was looking over something as she suddenly fell to the ground sobbing while a huge gush of wind took a large amount of dust from near her. Severus decided to ignore her, it was a Sunday and he didn't need to bother about stupid students wailing for reasons which were none of his business. So he continued with his picking of the flowers, his box was almost full, he tried to pick out the remaining few as he would need them, they would make a perfect salve for fatal cuts. When he decided to leave he threw the girl a final glance as the October rain poured down without any warning or sign. Severus noticed that the girl wasn't moving anymore, she just lay in the grass motionless with no shade over her as the rain drenched her clothes. He sighed as he pocketed the box of flowers quickly and walked to the other side, this was not a way he wanted to spend his Sunday, all he wanted was to collect the flowers and go back to his laboratory brew the salve and give it to Madam Pomfrey then relax in his quarters for the rest of the day, but now obviously he had to dock points of the stupid girl who was getting wet in the rain. He didn't understand the pleasure these stupid children ever got out of getting wet, truthfully he thought it was a waste of time and health.

Severus finally reached the girl who lay on the ground very still her knees folded into her stomach as she clutched a small piece of wood in her hand which was enclosed around it tightly, he moved closer to see who the girl was secretly hoping her to be a Gryffindor, but when he figured that the girl was Audrey, he gulped, she was supposed to be under his ward, he didn't want anything to happen to her, Dumbledore would have his skin. He sat down besides her, checking for a pulse he was glad to know she was still alive but her body was burning with fever. He tried to slap her awake but she didn't wake, she was unconscious so all Severus could do now was pick her up quickly and take her to the hospital wing as quickly as possible.

Severus picked Audrey up in his arms as he quickened his pace towards the castle, knowing very well that a fever wasn't to be taken very casually and never when it was due to the rain, he ran into the entrance hall tired of carrying himself and the girl for such a large distance, he was thankfully caught in the entrance hall by Minerva who was talking to Madam Pomfrey and Madam Hooch as they discussed a few flying tactics of the year's quidditch world cup.

"What happened?" asked Minerva as a completely drenched Severus panted as he asked the women to follow him.

Once entering the hospital wing he placed the girl carefully on an empty bed and crashed down on the chair by the bed, Longbottom who was on the bed besides Audrey's was eating his breakfast with one hand as he had fractured three other fingers of his right hand in a freak looked at Audrey who lay breathing heavily on her bed as he chewed his bacon, but Madam Pomfrey shot him a glare and shut the curtains around Audrey's bed but that didn't mean Neville wasn't listening in.

"What happened to her Severus?" asked Minerva worriedly as Madam Pomfrey got to work.

"I found her unconscious near the lake-" said Severus trying to catch his breath.

"Dear me, she has a high fever—very high—it could cost her immunity and—," said Madam Pomfrey, as Minerva looked at her flabbergasted.

"What is the reason for the fever?" asked Severus as Minerva sat down on the bed next to Audrey as Madam Pomfrey got out the diagnosis.

"Several reasons-over excursion, she hasn't eaten properly in two days—I wonder—did she have a lot on her mind—something emotional -?"

"I saw her cry—before she collapsed," piped Severus.

"Cry?" asked Minerva suddenly a little shocked.

"Audrey hasn't cried in a very long time—" said Minerva worriedly as Severus looked at her oddly, this was a girl they were talking about, wasn't it?

"Well I think we know our culprit then-" said Madam Pomfrey drying the girl's clothes and body with her wand.

"What happened to her?" asked Rachel as she, Jean and Remus ran into the hospital wing followed by Padfoot, they'd found out about this as Minerva had sent Rachel a patronus stating her of an emergency situation.

"Very high fever!" snapped Minerva sharply glaring at Jean.

"But she just had detention with Jean!" said Rachel turning to Jean who looked loss for words.

"What did you make her do?" snarled Severus taking a step towards Jean as he backed away a bit.

"Nothing—I just made her run a few laps around the ground-" he said defensively.

"Well—there you have over excursion," said madam Pomfrey crossing her hands as Remus looked at her.

"But running the grounds can't possibly have done that to her—she's pretty strong like that—"said Remus trying to find some sort of practicality

"Yes—but she hasn't eaten a proper meal in two days," replied Pomfrey

"You made her run before breakfast—you idiot!" snarled Severus.

"Are you teaching me how to take a detention," snapped Jean wildly at Severus not knowing how sharp Severus's tongue could be.

"Yes, I'm teaching you how to take a detention—but the fact that you have no idea of learning is what surprises me—Mr. Claude," barked Severus coldly.

"That isn't it though—has Ms. Adams been put through any serious trauma," added Madam Pomfrey breaking the quarrelling men.

"None that I can think of—except the tournament," said Rachel worriedly as Audrey twitched slightly on the bed.

"—Why?" asked Jean suddenly.

"Because I believe that is the major cause of her fever," said Madam Pomfrey in an obvious way Rachel turned to Jean who gulped slowly as Remus stood up better and glared at Jean as if he was about to kill him.

Remus's eyes dropped from Jean to Audrey who held something in her hand, he reached out to remove the piece of treasure she was so desperately holding onto, when he saw what it was he realized what the piece of wood had been a part off.

"You bastard!" shouted Remus as he lunged at Jean as Jean got easily pushed into the nearby wall with Remus's force, Remus was about to punch the man's lights out but then he heard Rachel speak.

"Remus!—stop it!" she exclaimed as Remus let go of the man looking at him sharply.

"She needed a good reminder and I think this was a good way!" said Rachel as Remus looked at her shocked as the few others joined Remus, no one dared to speak to her about it but Severus decided to argue.

"Killing someone is a good lesson isn't it?" he sneered looking at Jean as harshly as possible.

"I told you to stay away from her—she is the least of your business," snapped Rachel.

"She's under my supervision!—I refuse to let this girl die because you fancy to give her a lesson in manners!" shouted Snape making the whole infirmary aware of his presence as Neville could now have a peep as the curtains flew open slightly as he saw his two professors glaring at each other.

"She's not your daughter!" snapped Rachel indignantly as Severus instantly calmed down while the rest of the infirmary stood still, she was right she wasn't his daughter, but that didn't mean Jean could do anything he pleased, but maybe it wasn't about the girl—maybe it was Jean who was making him mad.

"She is my student and as far as that goes I believe I don't see any reason for Professor Claude to administer such a torturous punishment on the girl," snapped Snape as Remus glared at Jean.

"Wat-" mumbled Audrey as Remus dropped his ears to her mouth, while Madam Pomfrey got mad at the racket.

"Remus give the girl some water-as for all of you—I don't need you fussing over her so much, now that she is awake, I can fix her in a few hours—so stop creating a scene in my hospital wing and disturbing my patients," snapped Madam Pomfrey as she shooed every one out of the wing.

"I will need a calming draught Severus," called Madam Pomfrey as Snape nodded curtly and with a last look at Rachel he pushed Jean aside with his shoulder and stormed out of the hospital wing his robes billowing behind him making his exit even more dramatic.

Audrey woke up slowly, it was bright and she didn't know where she was, she felt exhausted sweaty and hungry as if she had been beaten and washed and hung to dry. She breathed deeply as she pushed herself up on the bed as she looked around to find several other beds in a row next to hers that were empty except for Neville who was in the one next to her. She was feeling rigid and cold all of a sudden as if something was blocking her mind from moving forth, like she was stuck in a time, Audrey didn't feel very good, if was as if several tiny minute objects were walking all over her. She felt different as if she was trapped and was about to be killed by her captor.

A few people walked into the hospital wing with quick steps as the handful of people shuffled towards her bed, Audrey was now surrounded by these people a few she recognized and then there was Jean, she gulped when she saw him, she began to take large gulps of air from her mouth as if she was having trouble breathing.

"Audrey!—Audrey?—how are you feeling?" asked Remus as he sat down next to her, she pushed her body into his side as if trying to hide away from the people near her bed.

"Rem-!Rem!—" she muttered into Remus's shoulder, it was as if she had gone mad.

"It's alright-just tell me where it hurts," he said putting a hand around her.

"Don't let him replace me!" she whispered for him to hear while her tears fell on Remus's shirt as she kept repeating the same line.

"No one is going to replace you Drey you know that," he whispered into her ear, she shook her head discarding what he said as she repeated her previous sentence.

"Where is Snape with the calming draught!" called Madam Pomfrey angrily as she turned to find Snape jogging into the hospital wing with a vial of pink coloured potion, he unscrewed the vial and handed it to Remus.

"Wait! She's allergic to vasconsin root," chided Rachel careful as Remus looked at Severus while Audrey pushed her head into his shoulder his sleeve now complete with a wet patch on it as the girl didn't stop crying.

"I am aware—Lupin told me," said Severus as Jean rolled his eyes.

"Go on love drink it," Remus said pushing the vial near her mouth.

"No! He's poisoned it!" said Audrey crying openly now.

"No he's not!—come on Audrey drink it—be a good girl now!" said Remus losing patience, he knew the girl had been under severe antibiotics and potions plus too many painkillers had made her clammy and thus the calling for an immediate calming draught.

"I made it Adams!—and I would never poison you," said Severus lightly settling down next to Audrey who was now safely in Remus's arms with Rachel sitting at her legs. Audrey peeped up slowly from Remus's neck as she looked at Snape.

Severus now had the girl's total attention and he used the tactic that his mother used to use on him when he was young and hated to drink cough syrup when he was down with the flu.

"I won't let anything happen to you Drey!—don't you trust me?" Remus asked softly as she nodded and finally drank the potion in one sip and then closed her eyes because of the sugary taste.

Audrey opened her eyes, she felt better rested but what woke her up was the fragrance of a light aftershave mixed with French women's perfume along with a strong men's cologne that came from the other side of the bed. Audrey lifted her head and looked around as her vision began to clear she could see professor Snape sitting on one side of the bed, she also noticed that she had been sleeping on Remus's shoulder all along while her mother sat at the foot of the bed a very worried expression playing on her face.

Audrey sighed as Rachel asked her softly, "How are you feeling Audi?"

"I feel like I've just been sat on by a troll," muttered Audrey as she lifted herself up and sat up looking around the room and then her eyes rested at Jean her expression indifferent.

She instantly looked away as Remus soothed her and got up letting her rest, the thing was she didn't know why they were looking at her some relieved, some worried

"Well—I think you could leave tomorrow morning Ms. Adams—but I would like to keep you under observation for tonight as well," said Madam Pomfrey as she shooed away everyone from the hospital wing.

Audrey was eating dinner in her bed when she had another visitor and even though she wasn't allowed any other visitors after Harry and Hermione along with Leon and Ginny tried to break into the hospital wing to meet her, Madam Pomfrey had been very displeased and had scolded them and threatened them with detention with Filch. Nevertheless, Audrey was pleased to see her Great uncle strolling into the hospital wing as he greeted the nurse pleasantly.

" Hello—there," he said softly as he sat down next to Audrey's bed, Audrey smiled at him, it had been long since they had actually spent time together, almost seven years, so she was quite awkward in the beginning, glad that Neville had been discharged a few hours ago it made Audrey feel a bit better.

"Hey-" said Audrey smiling as Albus hummed a soft tune to himself while he looked at the side table which had an empty flower vase and a muggle novel.

"Ah—why is that empty?" he said studying the vase interestingly and then transfiguring flowers with a non verbal spell.

"Uncle Al-I don't know why—but I feel like justifying myself to people about this tournament—even you for that matter" she said fidgeting with her bed sheet as Albus smiled down at her scanning her face with his blue eyes, Audrey felt like she was five again and trying to explain herself for something she hadn't done and was yet being considered guilty.

"I know you didn't put your name in the goblet love," he sighed smiling at her softly.

"Thanks—I just wish mu—I mean aunt believed it too," she said remembering her folly and correcting herself mid-way as Madam Pomfrey walked past them smiling politely.

"Yes—there are several thing I'd want Rachel to believe—but she is a lot like Minerva—extremely stubborn," said Albus sighing as Audrey smiled she knew if Minerva were here she would slap Albus's arm playfully while eying him accusingly.

"Do you think my father would have been proud of me?" she asked abruptly—she didn't know what made her ask him that but every second of her life was all about her father and whether or not he'd approve of the things she did. Knowing very well what happened the last time she had spoken to Albus about her father—she didn't want a repeat episode so she looked away disappointedly, guiltily wishing he would reply to her question, but before Albus could reply, Rachel walked into the hospital wing carrying a big book with her.

"What is it you are talking about?" asked Rachel cautiously not looking at Albus but at Audrey who blushed and looked down her fringe covering her face.

"Nothing-Did you get it?" asked Audrey snatching the book from her mother's hands, who smiled at her and sat down on her bed.

"You have got to stop reading these," said Rachel shaking her head as Audrey opened the first page of Magic in the Air another one of those magical romance novels.

"You have a problem when I read potions, you have a problem when I read defense and now this—you just can't see me happy can you?" muttered Audrey murderously as Albus peered over his half moon spectacles.

"Jean said he was terribly sorry about your guitar—he wishes to buy you another one," said Rachel as the atmosphere went tense as Audrey looked at her mother shock all over her face. How dare he, how dare that arse try and replace something that was so precious to her—how dare he even think that Audrey would touch such a vile thing.

"First he destroys it—now he wants to buy me a new one—how nice of him!" sneered Audrey sarcastically looking daggers at her mother.

"He was trying to teach you a lesson and besides—were you not thinking of buying a new one anyways?" said Rachel a little annoyed that her daughter refused to even consider the fact that Jean was trying to do something nice for her.

"That is not the point—besides I do not wish to even acknowledge anything he will ever want to give me," said Audrey her hands crossing her chest.

"I don't understand your issue Audrey—why is it so hard for you to except him!" said Rachel madly as she got up.

"He's not my father! It's high time you stopped trying to replace Jean with him," snarled Audrey as

"He's going to be you're step father—whether you like it or not," said Rachel her temper rising.

"I hate you!" spat Audrey bluntly as Rachel was a loss for words, Audrey had never said those words to her before, Rachel knew that there would be a day in her life when her daughter would grow up but she had never dreamt of it to have come so soon.

Audrey looked away quickly knowing very well of what she had said, she knew an urgent apology was necessary but she wanted to gloat in the moment she wanted her mother to hurt just as much she was hurting because of her—she wanted some kind of sadistic revenge, which she knew very well was wrong but she couldn't help the way she felt—she was only fourteen.

Audrey turned over to the other side and switched off the table lamp declaring without words that she had no interest in talking to the adults anymore as Rachel sat there waiting for her daughter to look at her again, but she knew she was just wasting her time, so she too angrily stormed out as Albus sighed kissing Audrey on the top of her head as he went to find Rachel and for some reason he knew where she would be right now and he had been right as he entered his quarters after a short trip to his office, he saw Rachel sleeping on Minerva's shoulder as his wife soothed her, her hand in Rachel's hair as she stroked it, while Rachel had fallen asleep on her shoulder. Minerva looked at Albus and smiled as he settled down next to Rachel, who in a few seconds changed her priorities and unconsciously shifted onto Albus's shoulder as he kissed the top of her head.

"She got her first "I hate you"," said Minerva softly as she lovingly looked at her husband and Rachel.

"Yes, I was there," he replied as Minerva smiled briefly, she got up and walked into the bed room while Albus still sat there with Rachel on his shoulder, she was now stirring back to consciousness.

"I feel sick—Dad," she said softly as Albus pulled her closer to his chest and kissed the top of her head once again.

"You'll survive—we all did," he said into her hair as she hugged her father for her life. It was common knowledge—that Rachel Adams was related to the Dumbledore's but no one knew of the secrets the Dumbledore's buried deep in their lives, no one had a clue about how Rachel Adams was never Minerva's sister's daughter, but her own blood.

"You're mother still remembers you're first I hate you," he said as Rachel sighed slowly taking in his lemon and chocolate fragrance he was so famous for.

"Mother—never forgets anything—she won't let me forget anything either," muttered Rachel yawning as she untangled herself from her father's embrace.

"I second that," he said as Rachel and he shared a laugh after a very long time as she looked at him with a small smile on her face.

"I missed you too love," he said as Rachel crashed into his arms again tears flowing freely after a very long time.

AN/- I am a huge MMAD fan and I don't know why but most off my story are never complete without them-anyways i really hope you enjoyed this chapter-I hope you'll review because it is sad to see the number of visitors not matching the number or reviewers-Thanks anyways.