AN/- hello readers and potential reviewers,

I write this AN in hope that you will stick by me and Audrey in the later chapters to come.

Thanks and Enjoy

~Penny and lods of chocolate cake.

Chapter 21

Harry did not know what was happening all he remembered was that in the last half an hour after his return to Hogwarts, someone had successfully pulled him away from his two dead friends and taken him to the castle, where mad eye moody or the impersonator had tried to kill him, not like Harry had cared, it was funny sometimes everyone was just after his life, but Dumbledore, Sirius, McGonagall and Snape had barged in on them before the imposter could do much, they forced him into taking veritaserum and in a minute he revealed his true identity, where he had hidden the real mad eye moody and how he had managed to undertake such a mission with every one thinking Barty Crouch Junior to be dead, it wasn't easy to see him alive and in front of them. The minister of magic was called and he denied everything that Harry said accusing Crouch Jr. to be a mad man and subjecting him to the dementors kiss right in front of everyone present, calling Harry a liar and 'just a boy', although Dumbledore argued wildly as to why he wasn't notified about Pettigrew's successful escape.

Next thing Harry knew he was being helped by Sirius towards the hospital wing, his godfather helped him sit on a bed and ordered him to take his shirt off, Harry obliged as Sirius began cleaning the wound that had thankfully stopped bleeding. While, Sirius worked all Harry could do was stare at the work going on the opposite bed, he knew who lay there lifeless as the curtains around the bed only gave out silhouettes of people moving in a hurry in and out and sometimes around the bed moving their wands in different fashions and bringing out colourful lights. He saw Maxine walk out and sit down worriedly on the bed Jean was sitting on, she later departed as Dumbledore asked her to go forth and take care of her school whom seemed to be terribly worried about their champion.

"If I ever get my hands on that filthy rat-I'll kill him!" snarled Sirius under his breath, he finished cleaning the cut on Harry's arm as professor McGonagall who had walked in helped Sirius bandage it, all Harry could look at was Dumbledore and how he tried to steal glances just like him of what was happening behind the curtains.

For the first time Harry noticed Audrey's mother sitting on the bed next to him holding her head in her hands, she wasn't weeping, which he thought she should have been, she just sat their staring at the white bed-sheet, her eyes did not dart as much as his, but her mouth moved in ways that told Harry that she was very upset but doing her best to hide it. Harry noticed Jean walk up and settle down next to his fiancée as she buried her head into his shoulder and this was when she inhaled a sharp proportion of air.

"Ms. Adams?" called the healer in blue robes, he looked like he had been ordered to come from St. Mungos, the curtains around Audrey's bed had been pulled open as Harry saw Remus stroke her head, her face was clean now although a rather huge gash sat on her pale face, she still looked too calm to be alive, he was worried and his body language showed it.

"Yes," said Rachel in all desperation as she got up and acknowledge the healer, Harry saw Sirius look at him and get up as well, he wished he could too but he knew his godfather would just push him back to lie down or at least sit.

"Ma'am—I've tried my best—but it seems like she was been put through too much, I can't tell you if she will wake," he said looking at his patient quietly as Rachel covered her mouth with her hand her breathing growing faster as if she was going to burst into a million pieces.

"What do you mean you can't say Davis?" said McGonagall taking a step ahead.

"Professor—I don't know how but she's been put through several—" began Davis but he was shortly cut by Harry.

"Crucio's, she took five of them, the sixth one knocked her out—and they weren't just any—he shot them at her—Voldemort—he did," said Harry a little confidently, even if Audrey was dead he was going to tell the world that she did not die a coward.

"Yes, Mr. Potter but are you sure she took so many?" asked the healer a little shocked, six crucio's how was this little girl alive? The boy nodded and looked away.

"But she is alive right!" asked Jean a little apprehensively.

"For now," said Davis as he pulled out his blood covered gloves and gave the room his final verdict.

"She has time to mend till early morning, but after that nothing can be said for sure,"

"Six you say Mr. Potter?" asked the healer again as Harry glared at him and nodded, it felt like he didn't want to believe it.

Rachel couldn't take it anymore she pulled away from Jean as she walked out of the hospital wing.

"Where you going?" Sirius demanded, it was hypocritical but he did not want her to do anything rash.

"To get some air—I can't sit here!" said Rachel as she made her way to the exit for the infirmary.

"I'll come with you" smiled Jean getting up.

"No, I just want to be left alone," she said but Sirius had an issue he knew something could go wrong but there was no stopping her.

She was walking out of the place but before she could leave someone caught hold of her arm, she turned in anger to see the culprit but she clenched her jaw before saying anything.

"Just-sit down, quietly," said Severus sternly as if he were talking to a student, he let go of her hand and strolled into the ward cautiously, one glance at Potter and one on the other side, he gulped as he approached McGonagall and handed her three vials of red liquid and settled down in a chair next to her, all Harry could wonder was why he was here but he stole a glance Audrey's mum she looked pissed but she did what she had been told. Another glance at Snape, Harry saw that Snape was waiting for Madam Pomfrey to walk out with the healer and when they did, he stood up his cold self.

"Rogers!" he said greeting the young man coldly as the man looked at the potions master a little frightened.

"Pro—professor Snape," said Davis to the man who was hardly a few years his senior but had taught him in his seventh year at Hogwarts, the man was as intimidating as hell. No one dared to cross him, Davis still didn't.

"I see you have not given potions a trial yet have you—just stuck to your mediocre approach in charms!" said Snape coldly as he pulled out a black semi solid liquid filled in a transparent test tube shut with a stopper.

"But—but sir, charms is what will help the most—in her case—her body is too weak to swallow—the girl is hardly alive—I have no idea what she is clinging to," said Davis, as Snape looked at him disgusted.

"Pity Rogers, seems like you did not learn well in healing school did you?—Muggle studies gone wasted on you has it?" said Snape as he transfigured a syringe out of thin air with the help of his wand, Davis's eyes went large.

Rachel stood up in retaliation but one strong glare from both Dumbledore and Lupin made her sit down once again.

"I—forgot—sir—I—," began Davis, what was that supposed to mean, he had forgotten—he was a healer not a first year, his job was to save lives and if he was incapable of doing that as well what was the point of wearing those blue robes. Snape walked up to the girl and looked for a thumping vein on her wrist, he located it and pushed the syringe slowly into the vein, the girl was as good as dead, she didn't even flinch when he pulled it out.

"Maybe you should go back to school Rogers—you need to get some more lessons into your head," sneered Snape and then sat down on the chair and began soothing the girl's wrist with his thumb helping the flow of the potion, he hoped it would reach her heart as soon as it could, because if the heart would get the potion mixed in the blood stream, the potion would stop the internal bleeding if there was any. Another injection was in order as Snape did the same with the strengthening potion hoping it would work in a similar fashion but he would have to sit by her all night to check the effect of the potion because it could even led to a fever and that was his only worry, because at least he was sure of the fact that she wasn't going to be dead anymore.

Davis Rogers curtly nodded to Ms. Adams before he left the Hogwarts ground with Madam Pomfrey but she looked at him in anger and disappointment leaving him feeling helpless and unworthy after all it was Snape who was saving the life of the girl, Davis had never been very good at potions so their use in reviving any of his patients was the last thing he used and in this case he had forgotten them completely, it had been Mr. Lupin's intelligence that had made him call on Snape for assistance, without Snape they would have lost the girl. But even though Davis had seen odd things in the magical medical world, he could not believe that the girl had been alive after six deadly cruciatus curses taken right in her chest every time, but it didn't matter, he was a no one.

"She's going to be fine," deducted Snape as he sat in the chair next to Audrey's bed and checked her pulse from time to time soothing her wrist with his thumb as Madam Pomfrey did a diagnosis spell and agreed with Snape as huge wave of relief flowed past the occupants of the room, especially Rachel who sighed softly her hand going through her hair as a few tears willingly left her eyes and soon they wouldn't stop falling, she walked out of the room and stood by the parapet of the large window as she cried her life out.

She wished for someone to hold her, she removed her platforms and sat herself down on the thin parapet her petit figure allowing her body to fit in perfectly, she pressed the back of her head into the wall that was connected to the parapet and she refused to move till the tears were all gone and she sat there staring blankly at the lake that the view offered her.

"Rachel, Darling—come inside—get some rest," said her mother as she walked up to Rachel and stood there next to her.

"She almost died—my baby—almost died," muttered Rachel under her breath but Minerva had no problem picking up what she said; Rachel's eyes wouldn't stop watering.

"He did it again—he saved her life again," said Minerva softly as Rachel looked at her and then looked away guiltily.

"Again?" she asked confused slightly as Minerva smiled at her.

"Do you remember Audrey telling you about a man who saved her life at the world cup-it was him—and now look darling—he won't leave her side—he won't even sleep," said Minerva as Rachel shook her head in surprise and then turned to peer inside the ward as she found Severus pushing another syringe into Audrey's veins, she knew the potion this time it was a blood replenishing one.

"Do you not think-?" Minerva began cautiously as Rachel looked at her wildly her eyes screaming slightly in anxiety.

"No! Never-he does not deserve to know—he never will," said Rachel as she gulped down two sobs that threatened an outburst.

"Oh sweetheart! I want what is best for the two of you," said Minerva soothing her daughter's hair.

"I know what is best for me and my child mother," said Rachel softly as she got off the parapet and picked up her heels.

"Do you really Rachel?" asked Minerva as she turned her head to the ward and looked directly at Jean who was fast asleep on the bed next to Potter, he did not care for anything, not even the fact that the dark lord was back.

Rachel sighed, she knew what her mother was hinting at, she had been hinting it since the time she had started dating Jean. But once again Rachel turned a deaf ear to what Minerva was saying, Jean was a good diversion, he had always been, her first boyfriend after ten years of grief, of crying herself of sleep, sometimes because she was alone and sometimes when her daughter was younger and cried at nights for a father she did not know, who Rachel made a vow never to reveal, it would be her secret and forever be it. She did not want a deceiving, conniving, death eater near her or her daughter, he was nothing—nothing to her anymore—noth-.

She stopped her train of through as she looked at Snape push the hair of Audrey's face, everyone else in the room was asleep except him, his hand pulled out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat of the girl's face as he looked at it intently for a minute as if studying her features, he then looked at the girl's pale wrist where his thumb sat stroking it softly pausing for a minute or two to check her pulse and continuing the same action as he sighed to himself possibly because he was tired, he yawned and covered his moth as his eyes once again went to Audrey's face.

Rachel cleared her eyes as Minerva looked at her and then they walked back to the hospital wing as Rachel settled down next to Audrey's bed opposite Snape, he looked at her just for a second and then turned back to the girl. Rachel slumped, did he deserve to know? Did he really? She looked at him intently, he had aged not as gracefully as she would have thought and he was hardly 33 not an age to have signs all over his face, although his neck length curtain of black hair did not have a speck of grey in them and his eyes, his eyes were still the same, deep black oracles of secrets that only he held.

No, she was wrong they were different, they no longer glistened like they used to, there was no happiness, only remorse, she doubted it was the remorse of losing her, maybe it was because Lily was dead—oh yes, his precious Lily! She looked away instantly, hoping that tears would not spring back into her eyes, because lord knew what would happen if she fell weak, she might have just fallen into his arms and stayed there till she died.

She was running again, but this time she could see the face of the torturer, Voldemort stood behind her throwing spells as she ran through what looked like a maze, she was joined by her mother who pushed her forward and ran behind and then they were joined by Snape, Audrey did not know why but Snape ran behind them all possibly covering them, protecting them as he shot spells at Voldemort who deflected them with nothing but a wave of his wand his cruel laughter filled the air mercilessly as the killing spell was shot at her mother but Snape covered for her, he fell dead on the ground as the next instant her mother was killed in the same way she fell on Snape's lifeless body.

Audrey kept running tears leaving her eyes at the loss of her mother and possibly even Snape, she had no one, no one could save her from this, no one, but then there was light, she was afraid to run to the light but there was no other way around it, her legs wouldn't stop running forward as she tried her best to pull away but the light engulfed her completely.

She had tried to keep her eyes open but it was too bright too see, she felt warm, safe as someone called out to her from the distance, someone was there to greet her, calling her name softly in a cheerful tone, it was a woman. The tone mixed in with someone elses voice, a mans as he too began to softly call her, his voice was smooth,messmerising and deep, could that have been her parents? How? She had just seen her mother die and never even heard her father's voice. She had to look, to see if she was real, to see what she was hearing, so what if the light blinded her atleast she'd know they were alive-whoever they were, it did not matter-she wanted to know, she wanted reassurance of the fact that she wasn't alone anymore.

"Audrey!" it was definitely her mother as she listened to her name become an echo of voices coming from everywhere.

Audrey opened her eyes slowly as she wanted her eyes to get accustomed to the light so that it would be easier to have a clear vision but just as she peeped there was no light in front of her except a dim glow that came from nearby candles.

Audrey looked around the room with a cathedral ceiling, she could smell blood, she looked at her clothes, they were blood stained and smelt disgusting she felt her bile rise as she had the urge to empty her stomach out. She sat up straighter scurrying to find nothing to release herself. In the process she found a bed pan below the bed where she removed what looked like vomit mixed with a small amount of blood, she breathed deeply as she picked up the glass of water near her bed and sipped it slowly.

Someone's hair brushed against her hand, as she finally looked at the person's whose hand held hers. It was Snape he was asleep his head on a small part of the bed next to her hand, her wrist in his hand as his hair covered it. She did not understand why she was there as pain in her chest made her remember the night's happenings, she looked around the hospital wing, she saw Harry sleeping on the bed opposite hers his glasses still on as Sirius slept with his mouth slightly open on a chair. Remus slept on a big armchair at the foot of Harry's bed his head holding his head, his legs dangling from the other side, while Jean slept soundly in another hospital bed. She looked at the other side of her own bed where she found her mother sleeping in a way that Remus had been on a similar chair, she shifted her left hand slowly looking at her broken Beauxbatons watch and it thankfully still showed the time 3:58 am was all it read through the cracked glass.

"Mm-," she called softly almost inaudibly she was sure her mother had not heard.

"Mum-," she called again hoping that her mother was not dead, but soon Audrey realised that it wasn't her mother who was dead it had been her, she had almost died that night, that was why she was covered in blood, she touched her scared cheek remembering as she sighed and yet she wanted to make sure, she was sure Snape was alive she could feel his breath on her hand.

"Mum-," she called again softly, she was drained of all her energy as called her mother again but she did not get any response, although she felt Snape stir a little as he shifted his head only slightly.

"Rachel!" Audrey called loudly with all her energy, trying her best to shout as her mother's head dropped away from her hand and Rachel jerked awake as she looked at her daughter, had she just called her, Rachel—how did it matter—her eyes were open!

"Oh Merlin!" Rachel shouted as she launched herself onto the bed capturing her daughter in her arms as she enveloped Audrey with kisses all over her face and head as Snape jerked awake as he looked at Rachel cuddling her niece. Almost everyone else in the ward had been woken as well, everyone except Harry who was forced to drink a dreamless sleep potion as he required some rest urgently according to Madam Pomfrey and there was Jean who seemed to be unnerved, although, Harry had stirred a little and muttered something before turning on his side and falling asleep again.

"I'm alright," said Audrey wishing she hadn't woken her up at all, she was slightly embarrassed as everyone came to stand around her bed, their faces smiling as she could feel her mother's tears mixing with her own sweat. Snape was checking her pulse as he nodded to himself and let go of her hand and prepared another syringe.

"What are you doing?" said Audrey pulling her hand away from him instantly as she looked at the point of the needle.

"Curing you!" he smirked as he poked the injection into her vein as she instantly felt herself feel stronger than before, her nails dug into his hand that held her wrist.

"Thanks— again," she muttered to him her eyes not leaving his for a short period of time as for the first time he threw her a genuine smile at her and even though it was the faintest curve on his thin lips she could see it clearly; it reminded her of her own when she was pleased with herself.

Harry had woken up that morning and as he adjusted his glasses he saw Audrey sleeping in her bed, she seemed to look stable and he was pleased, the next thing he knew Sirius was besides him grinning like a mad man as he gave him a large bear hug, maybe it was because Audrey had spoken to him about things, he also saw Dumbledore stroking the girl's head. He knew instantly that Audrey had spoken to him, which meant the secret was out of the bag, although Harry couldn't help but wonder if she would be called Dumbledore now. No, obviously not, he remembered what Dumbledore had warned him about last night when he had spoken to him about the events in the graveyard.

"No, one is to know Harry—we could be putting their lives at stake—I have already endangered my wife's life—I will not further this fire—and for that I need your promise for secreracy" and Harry had agreed, anything—he would give anything to keep Audrey safe.

A while later in the great hall after Dumbledore gave a speech on Cedric's murder and Voldemort's return, Harry had a feeling like someone was watching him intently, he was aware the whole hall kept throwing worried glance at him and his hand that was bandaged but he could feel a pair of eyes staring at him from behind. He was approached after the speech was over and Cedric's body was taken away by his parents for a proper funeral. Leon and Gabrielle did not seem pleased by the fact that Maxine had only reported to them about Audrey being stable and better than before, they wanted to know more. But before Harry and his friends could tell them anything they needed to know it was time for them to leave, they exchanged awkward goodbyes as they left for their carriages.

"Where are you going?" Hermione demanded as she saw Harry walking back towards the school, they had all gathered in the grounds to say good bye to their friends.

"Hospital wing t'see if she's awake," said Harry as Hermione turned to Ron and they followed their friend in.

The hospital wing was empty as Harry stopped in his footsteps, there was no one there all the beds were empty as the soft summer light was now pouring in through the open windows. Only Snape was there corking up empty test tubes and putting them down into a black leather satchel. He threw them a glance and then continued with his work. Harry shifted his weight from one leg to the next, she was gone and without even a goodbye, he didn't even have her address to write to her, he had nothing to have contact.

"Madam Pomfrey! What happened to Audrey?" asked Hermione as the nurse walked up to Snape and handed him some more cleaned test tubes.

"Oh! Miss Adams was discharged this morning before the speech, I suppose she's already at home since they travelled by floo," said Pomfrey thoughtfully as she smiled them, she could she an evident slump in Potter's mood as he moved around slightly.

"Right," muttered Hermione as she looked at Harry who seemed to be disappointed about the whole thing.

"Harry—forget it—lets go we need to talk about—" began Hermione but she was cut off by McGonagall coming out of the office shouting out Harry's name.

"Mr. Potter—Mr. Potter—I had to give to give you this—she said it was very important for you to get this," smiled Minerva as Harry took the letter addressed to him from her, he recognized Audrey's handwriting on it, thankfully it was still glued shut.

Hermione pulled the letter out of his hand and began to open it.

"No, Hermione come on give it back," he said as Ron sniggered and held Harry back.

"If I do—you'll just read it alone," replied Hermione tearing the envelope open an removing the parchment as she began to read, Ron settled himself and Harry down on an empty bed as Hermione stood and read the letter to them.

Dear Harry

And Ron and Hermione of course—I know you'd be here as well.

I know that before you read this letter –I will not be there anymore, but trust me I have a feeling this is not the last I will be seeing you. Do not worry about my health as I feel much better than I did. Hope all is well there and that the ceremony went well.

I do not know how exactly to articulate myself through a letter as there are so many things that I wish to tell you, things that I cannot put down in ink with the fear that they may be read by people I do not wish for whom to know.

Although, I can say this much, 'they' have not been completely honest with me once more and this time I shall find out their secrets—all I need is time, but I am sure that this year France is not going to be home to me, I have a feeling that I will be returning to England soon and that when I do, I will make sure that I meet you.

Till then,

Your friend

Audrey Adams.

This all that the letter read as Harry finally snatched the letter away from Hermione.

"There's no address! Bloody-why wouldn't she write the bloody address," he snarled in anger as he crushed the letter in his hand. Hermione went quite as did Ron; they could see Harry glaring at the letter like he wished he could burn it.

AN/- I end the GOF with this chapter-lots to come in hope that you will read, review, alert and favourite.