AN/-Hey here's chapter 11, I'm so glad you guys liked the previous chapter and I want to give a big hug to everyone who reviewed. MilliePrue-BellatrixLestrange, Ice Fox, blind-saint, GossipGirlArgentina, Leeee, .Bee etc. And to blackdragon2010—thanks for pointing that out—I think I must have mistakenly changed that in the word spell check which thought Veela is Villa—sorry about that but my word is made for muggles- =p
Warning: May contain slight use to coarse language, please do not read it if you do not humour it.
Also I registered for Pottermore username is Elmrain50 still have to get the welcome letter—the wait is kind of pissing off.
Chapter 11
Audrey woke up next morning to find her uniform neat folded and placed on the chair besides her bed, this obviously meant that she was supposed to return to her common room, straighten out her morning tardiness and report for breakfast in the great hall and that was what Audrey did.
Leon greeted her warmly as they sat down for a quick breakfast before Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures, though Audrey kept thinking about her encounter with her mother the previous night, suddenly Audrey wasn't very keen as to whether her mother deserved an apology after all. Never the less Audrey felt guilty and decided to swallow her pride and apologize for which she had to walk to the staff room where the teachers were having their breakfast that day after their staff meeting.
Audrey left her friends after asking Hermione for help to locate the staff room and thanks to Hermione's directions she was successful in finding the desired room. Audrey knocked lightly on the closed oak wood door as a little squeak of approval made Audrey open the door and walk in as Professor Flitwick smiled at her in greeting, she reciprocated the same as the little man walked up to the table with containers of food to fill his plate. Audrey spotted her mother sitting besides Jean and Minerva while Snape sat besides Minerva as he spoke to Dumbledore while he held a mug that was green in colour with a silver snake on it. Audrey bit the insides of her mouth contemplating whether or not to walk up to her mother now, she knew she had a choice since she hadn't been spotted by anyone as of yet except for Flitwick who seemed to be busy speaking to Professor Sprout. Audrey took a step forward, she wasn't going to turn back, she just had to say she was sorry and that was all she didn't have to mean it but only pretend like she did —her mother didn't deserve the apology at all, because it was what Audrey had felt when she had spat those words at her venomously, but yet Audrey found herself walking up to Rachel who looked at her eying her in a manner that meant 'I knew you'd apologize'
"Professor Adams—I wish to speak with you in private," said Audrey coldly as Jean eyed her over his breakfast plate while Minerva accidently yet purposely elbowed Severus whose attention shifted from Dumbledore's conversation to the one on his other side.
"I believe you can speak your heart out here Ms. Adams," replied Rachel calmly as she placed her mug of coffee on the table.
"I don't think-" began Audrey coldly as her expression changed to a scowl much like the one that perpetually sat on Severus's face.
"Very well—then I believe—you-" started Rachel but Audrey cut her sharply.
"I'm sorry!" sneered Audrey as she clenched her teeth internally cursing her mind for forcing her to do this in the first place.
"Whatever for?" asked Rachel innocently pushing Audrey to the brim.
"I was angry—I said some things that I shouldn't have—some things that might have hurt your—sentiments," said Audrey through a clenched jaw.
"And-" said Rachel trying to help her recall another reason she should have apologised.
"And what?" sneered Audrey coldly as the anger in her voice became evident by the second.
"Do you not wish to apologize to Professor Jean for your accussive remarks?" asked Rachel as now most of the staff room was listening to their conversation quite intently.
"No! I meant every bit of that—good day Professor—professor McGonagall," barked Audrey, a final nod at Minerva and she stormed out of the staff room he cloak billowing behind her making people look at Snape for a minute while Rachel was left fuming like her cup of coffee on the table.
Audrey didn't stop before she reached the entrance hall, but when she did she wished she could scream her lungs out with curses for the woman she had just spoken to, who did he think she was—well her mother—but that was a different issue all together, what Audrey did not understand was why in the bloody world did her mother want her to like Jean so much, even when she didn't want to like the vile man.
Audrey took several deep breaths when she spotted Harry walking towards her and away from Cedric Diggory, his demeanour was professional and serious like he was about to tell her a grave secret, he approached her carefully and looked over her shoulders just to be certain that there was no one listening in.
"Listen—Dragons—it's the first task," he muttered leaning closer as he whispered it into her ears.
"What?—are you sure? How'd you-?" she asked quickly unable to digest the fact to being face to face with a twenty foot dragon.
"Just trust me—the other champions know as well—so I thought it was only fair that you did to," he said softly as Audrey nodded and mouthed a polite thank you, when they heard Ron passing them by, talking to Seamus about something Harry was past her and blocked his path, while Audrey went and stood next to him listening to what he had to say to Ronald, who for some reason was eying her rudely.
"You're a right foul git you know that," said Harry sharply.
"Anything else?" said Ron his face going red in anger.
"Yeah! Stay away from me," said Harry in a stuck up way as Ron pushed Harry aside and stormed away to the transfiguration classroom.
"I guess you aren't talking to him?" said Audrey as Harry sighed and shook his head.
"Come on, let's go before we're late for class," Harry sighed walking ahead as Audrey followed him feeling bad for him knowing very well how it felt to lose a best friend, but before they could walk towards the staircase someone called out to Harry.
"Potter! Hey Potter!" shouted Malfoy from the compound outside the entrance hall as Harry turned with Audrey to look at the caller but on seeing Malfoy's face they both just turned and walked ahead.
"Potter! My father and I have a bet you see—I don't think you or Adams will last ten minutes in this tournament—he disagrees, bet you'll won't last five," smirked Malfoy loudly so that most of the students in the compound could hear what he had to say while his friends which included Gabrielle laughed like they thought he had the best sense of humour.
"I don't care what you're father thinks Malfoy—he's vile and cruel and you're just as pathetic," Harry shouted back as Audrey held him back by grabbing hold of his hand.
"Empty words Potter! What's wrong is your girlfriend holding you back?" sneered Malfoy as Audrey blushed deeply instantly letting go of Harry's arm.
"Sod off Malfoy!" said Harry and turned to walk away with Audrey by his side.
"Pity! Potter! Didn't your mudblood mother teach you any manners—oh yea—she's dead—and now you're roaming with a bastard child!" laughed Malfoy as Gabrielle looked at him a little shocked while Pansy laughed louder than all her friends.
"You-" began Harry as he took his wand out into his hands but Audrey had been faster he didn't know where her wand had come from but it was currently in her hand as the tip was pushed into Malfoy's chin. Draco looked into Audrey's eyes, they were dark and deep he felt like he was falling into them as they glistened mysteriously while he smiled over the tip of her wand. Draco Malfoy had been under several wand tips but never before had experienced the fear he was experiencing today, yet to hide his it, he smirked like any Slytherine, wrong move.
"You—you- are a just very bad person!" snarled Audrey as she took her wand away from his chin not wanting to do anything drastic, knowing very well that her capabilities even though superior would not be entertained.
"That doesn't change your status you, filthy blood traitor- bitc-," sneered Malfoy as he laughed but very soon the laughter died, when Draco didn't know what hit him, because the next second Pansy screamed loudly as Draco's eyes went wide, his arms had suddenly disappeared.
"What's going on here!" shouted Jean as he pushed around the crowd and came face to face with Audrey glaring at Malfoy who was armless, Jean pulled her back by her cloak.
"Shit! What the bloody hell happened?" asked Jean as ran his hand through his sandy brown hair.
"When My father hears about this—I swear you'll be in trouble—I promise you bloody-!" shouted Malfoy as he tried to feel his sleeves but he failed miserably as they shook emptily.
Harry looked from Malfoy to Audrey as she pocketed her wand while Jean tried to calm a furious and scared Malfoy as the crowd gathered to admire Audrey's wonderful masterpiece some laughing and pointing at Malfoy as if he had grown another head—thank Merlin the spell didn't do that.
The crowd now gathered the attention of the group of teachers who were walking with Dumbledore and Maxine and they decided to check on the situation. Minerva was successful in helping clear the crowd as Jean had a strong hold on Audrey's and Harry's arms. One look at Malfoy and Rachel sighed as she closed her eyes and turned, her jaws clenched tightly as she opened her eyes and she couldn't control her anger anymore. Snape and Dumbledore tried to fix Malfoy, both equally impressed, Albus hadn't seen such handiwork in a long time from a student, but then again she did have Dumbledore blood in her.
"She is bloody good," said Severus running his hand through his hair as it flopped untidily back in its place and Dumbledore chuckled shaking his head as Remus sighed besides Severus.
" It's useless—only she can reverse this—healing is useless only her wand can reverse the spell," said Remus defeated, as Malfoy gulped but a small smirk played across his face as he heard Professor Adams blast out on Audrey.
"Didn't we discuss this over the summer!" exclaimed Rachel hissing, her hands on her hips as she spoke to Audrey who continued to glare at Malfoy who was still armless.
"Audrey! Look at me!" snapped Rachel as Audrey's eyes moved slowly from Malfoy to her mother and then to her black trainers.
"Were you practicing this spell over the summer?" asked Rachel sharply as Audrey slumped, her secret now out in the open wasn't very comforting since the knower was her mother who was the one against all of this in the first place.
"Audrey! Didn't we make a deal—didn't you promise you would stop improving this spell?" shouted Rachel glaring sharply at Audrey waiting for some response but when Audrey didn't even look at her, Rachel got even more mad.
"Audrey! You are aware of the consequences of this spell—then why did you perform it?—Audrey!" shouted Rachel as Audrey's head snapped up and her eyes bore into her mother's as Rachel shifted her head a bit her gaze hardening but it didn't help Rachel's temper that Audrey had her father's eyes and that they were as cold as his were the last time he had set eyes on her.
"He provoked me—I'm not stupid to just attack him at will!" shouted Audrey.
"Don't you dare raise your voice and speak to me," snapped Rachel her nerve breaking as Harry looked at the bickering family.
"I will if you call me a liar!" snapped Audrey in retaliation, the sentence coming from her abruptly as the response to it was not a very expected one either as a loud cracking sound echoed near Audrey's face.
Rachel stood there in horror of her actions as she withdrew her hand to her face covering her mouth which was parted slightly in shock of what she had just done. It was the first time she had ever lifted a hand on Audrey, Rachel had never believed in discipline with force and Jean had mocked her for such ideals after all he had been brought up in a different environment his family being well reputed pure-bloods, he had always pointed out to Rachel how undisciplined her daughter was but Rachel had never given any weight to his words and now that she had gone against her own principles she was stunned and verydistrubed.
Audrey lifted her hand to her bruised cheek, her face back down again as her black hair covered her face like always, Harry looked at her worriedly as Rachel was too stunned to speak. Suddenly Audrey's wand moved in her hand as she motioned it to do a spell and Malfoy got his arms back within a second but no one cared to look at him as very one was so engrossed in looking at Audrey and Rachel.
"Aud-" began Rachel releasing that Audrey's hand was still stuck in the same position that she must have struck her badly. Remus took a step towards Audrey but Audrey moved back, she was stuck she didn't know if she should wait for a punishment or just turn around and run, but Audrey was not weak and running would only show how weak and depended she was on the woman who had just violated her heart in such a gruesome way, so Audrey lifted her head up an expression of pure loathe pulled her face into a cold yet proud look. Rachel who looked at her startled at her reaction let her hand drop to her side as Audrey gulped and lifted her head up as Rachel's long finger marks were still evident on Audrey's right cheek.
"Mr. Malfoy did you provoke Ms. Adams?" asked Maxine slowly as Snape examined Draco's hand while he lifted an eyebrow questioning whether Malfoy had or not.
"No-!" snapped Malfoy as he looked at Audrey in pure disgust, he knew he had a big group of friends to back him up but Adams only had Potter and who in their right mind would believe her or him after the Goblet of fire incident.
"He's lying!" barked Harry but Jean's look silenced him.
"But Draco—didn't you call her a basta-" began Goyle sniggering to himself as Pansy shook her head violently and stubbed the fat boys toe.
"Mr. Malfoy! We at Beauxbatons find provocation seriously offensive and if these were the circumstances in which Ms. Adams attacked you, I find her use of spell justified," said Maxine rudely as she tried to protect her student from the boy who had just called her something terribly offensive.
"I think an apology is in order Mr. Malfoy!" said Dumbledore peering at Draco over his half moon spectacles.
"I'm sorry," sneered Draco disgustedly as he and his friends stalked off along with Minerva and Remus who would escort them to the transfiguration classroom.
Audrey too turned to leave something rather different playing on in her head but the expression she held on her face remained the same stone cold.
"Audrey, I'm-" began Rachel.
"Save your breadth," finished Audrey and stalked off as Harry followed her quickly not wanting to be stuck in an awkward moment.
In class Audrey, did not look at her mother and as soon as the bell rang she cleared out before her mother could approach her. After the Care of Magical Creatures class, strolled into the great hall for lunch her bag full of books, it felt like it was almost about to tear.
"So you're saying that you need to know everything on the anatomy of dragons?" whispered Leon as he pulled a book out from Audrey's bag into his hand, Audrey nodded and they settled down in the absolute end of the table where the crowd was the least.
"What are you planning Audrey?" Leon asked concerned as Audrey smiled at him knowingly.
"Trust me," she whispered as she pulled a book to her and push a piece of fish down her mouth.
After lunch Severus found Rachel strolling the grounds as he walked up to her cautiously, Dumbledore had just had a long talk with him on how Alastor had already begun helping Harry with the tournament and that it was high time that Audrey was given some sort of backing, but Albus had asked Severus to approach Rachel and then along with her sit Audrey down and help her through the challenge and so Severus walked up to Rachel and told her everything that Dumbledore had wanted him to, he tried his best to be civil and so did she and they both set out to the library where Rachel knew Audrey would be hiding.
Rachel and Severus strolled up to the desk that was full of large books as Audrey had her head buried into one of the large books as her nose almost touched the page while she scribbled notes into one parchment—when they closed in on the table they found Leon sitting opposite Audrey, a small book in his hand. Severus towered behind Audrey's chair to look at what she was writing; when he read her parchment he saw diagrams, curves, heavy calculations and a few doodles. He cleared his throat as Audrey jumped in her seat with the unexpected visitor hovering around her table. Audrey looked opposite as Leon was now replaced with her mother trying to make sense as to why Leon had been reading up on magical creatures of the world. Audrey pulled the book shut from under Rachel's eyes and packed her parchment into her bag and looked around, no one was supposed to know that she knew about the Dragons, if she let it slip or even gave a hint to anyone that she was aware Harry and Hagrid could be in grave trouble and she didn't want that—no she didn't want that at all.
"Can I help you?" she questioned coldly glaring at her mother as Snape settled down in a chair next to Rachel.
"We were wondering what you were going to do about your dragon problem?" asked Snape looking around to see a few second year Ravenclaws pass them by.
"Well—I was—you know—maybe I would—well-" stammered Audrey for some reason she wasn't very comfortable talking about it in front of Rachel after all she still didn't believe her.
"Well—we might be able to help you," said Rachel shifting uncomfortably in her seat as if not wanting to be here in the first place, Audery sensed this in the wrong way, she thought Rachel didn't care—this was the last place she would want to be and Audrey could tell, she wasn't stupid and whoever doubted that was just not worth wasting her time for, it was like she had given up on her mother, suddenly it was all clear to Audrey now—she was alone, but she had decided to be strong—she would show them—she was no coward.
"Help me! You want to help me!" she scoffed as Rachel tried to cut her but Audrey added quickly.
"—you don't even believe me—besides I don't need your help—it doesn't make a difference to you—you'd rather have me dead by midnight anyway," snarled Audrey.
"Don't talk to me like that" said Rachel disappointedly.
"Why shouldn't I?" barked Audrey angrily as the resentment built up for her mother came pouring out.
"Because I don't deserve to be spoken to like that" said Rachel her voice softer than before knowing very well what she deserved.
"Really, I'm not sure if we agree on that!—good day professor Snape," snapped Audrey as she pulled her now packed bag and lifted it to her shoulder and she stormed out of the library. Severus slumped and rubbed his head with his left hand. Rachel saw Severus's reaction to the whole situation which ticked her off even more.
"This isn't my fault," she snapped at him.
"I didn't say anything!" replied Severus bored that Rachel actually thought that he had an opinion about her relationship with the girl.
"Well I know what you are implying—but she needs to get her priorities right," sad Rachel trying to justify herself even though she knew she was wrong.
"Give her a break Rachel—she's just a kid!" snapped Severus sharply as he stood up to leave.
"Where are you going?" she asked him as he was walking out on her.
"None of your bloody business really," he replied murderously he had to find Audrey, he needed to know what she had planned, he knew she had planned something, he was certain of that.
"Severus!" scolded Rachel lightly as Severus turned to look at her a little surprised as she bit her bottom lip, he hadn't heard her say his name for a very long time, it reminded him so much of them together, but Severus turned his back to her and walked out of the library leaving Rachel alone to think of what she was going to do next.
Severus spent the rest of his day looking for the girl, she seemed to have disappeared altogether or maybe she was just hiding in the Gryffindor common room, but Severus caught hold of her before dinner, Audrey didn't wish to speak with him but he was adamant to have a short talk with her.
"Look Adams! I don't care what you and your aunt have between each other—I need to talk to you about your challenge," snapped Severus as he lost his patience, he had caught her in the empty corridor outside the great hall which was now full of students enjoying their dinner.
"Why?" she asked him suspicious.
"Because Dumbledore asked me to keep an eye on you," blurted Severus, he didn't have any other reason to justify himself and therefore the truth was the best way to make her believe him.
"Did you not see what happened to Malfoy?" she whispered as Severus raised his eyebrows, she couldn't possibly think that the spell would work on a dragon.
"The anatomy of humans and dragons is very different Ms. Adams—it could be dangerous-" began Severus as she cut him.
"I am aware sir—with a family full of transfiguration nuts I think I've learnt a thing or two—therefore if I target the correct sections for correct amounts of time-" she replied not completing her sentence she knew he could fill it in, though Severus was still very doubtful of her plan.
"Trust me!" she muttered smiling at him as she walked away into the great hall full of noisy students.
Severus did not know why but after a long time he thought with his heart, which pounded for him to stop her and tell her the ways he thought would help her succeed, but once again Severus's logical mind won over the competition and so he decided to let the girl be after all like Rachel had put it she wasn't his daughter.
AN/- There you go—reviews will be appreciated =) please I'm felling very review deprived. Make me happy =) from one frustrated student to another.