After hearing Audrey's story, Dumbledore was both amused and exasperated.
He had seen the ghosts swarming around Audrey's portrait during lunch and dinner, but he hadn't expected it to trouble the girl so much.
"Headmaster, I saw Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall dispersing the ghosts today. They said it's a privilege of the professors…"
Audrey's eyes glistened with tears as she gazed at Dumbledore. "Could you… maybe give me that privilege too?"
Dumbledore shrugged helplessly. "I'm afraid I can't. This is an ancient magic imposed on the castle by the four founders. As Headmaster, I can only use it according to their rules."
He handed her a pile of candies, gesturing for her to eat whatever she liked, then continued, "Unless you become a professor at Hogwarts, I can't grant you this privilege…"
Audrey twitched her eyes—so her little act of pleading had been in vain.
"I heard ghosts can't enter the dormitories—is that true?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "Except for the Fat Friar, Sir Nicholas, the Bloody Baron, and Madam Gray, who can enter their respective house common rooms, other ghosts cannot enter. Dormitories, professors' offices, the kitchens, and the library are off-limits to all ghosts unless a professor permits entry."
Audrey nodded. "Understood, Professor Dumbledore. Could you… maybe forbid ghosts from entering the Great Hall during meals?"
Dumbledore nodded. "I can, and I will speak to them. I'll also ask them to try not to bother you."
Audrey noticed he used the word "try."
It made sense. Ghosts respect the staff because they are part of the school hierarchy. But if they choose not to obey, even the Headmaster can't force them—they are part of Hogwarts itself, elders of the castle.
So, eradicating ghost harassment entirely? Dumbledore couldn't guarantee that.
"Alright, I hope they heed your advice, Professor Dumbledore."
"You can just call me Professor. 'Headmaster' feels too distant."
"Fine, Professor Dumbledore," Audrey said, her mood low, too tired to bother with a business smile. "Good night, Professor Dumbledore."
"Good night, Audrey."
Whoosh!
Audrey vanished from the Headmaster's office.
"Maybe I should install a miniature anti-house-elf apparition displacement device in my office?"
Dumbledore muttered to himself, then dismissed the idea. "But then I'd have to clean my office myself… never mind, just be careful next time I read letters."
…
Audrey reappeared in her dormitory.
She carefully examined her room.
Dumbledore had said that dormitories are ghost-free zones, meaning some anti-ghost magic was at work.
Audrey wanted to study it herself.
If she could bypass the enchantments on the Great Hall's long tables, surely she could understand the magic keeping ghosts away.
The walls were filled with echoes of ancient magic—runes, lines, nodes—most of which Audrey didn't recognize.
She stared at them for a long time, regretting that she hadn't studied these things properly with Nick Lemay.
Luckily, her memory was extraordinary. She etched the room's magical echoes into her mind.
Recalling Dumbledore's words—that professors' offices, kitchens, and the library are also off-limits to ghosts—she decided to investigate those places as well.
By comparing the magical echoes, she might figure out the anti-ghost spell.
Shifting into an invisible form, Audrey left her dorm.
The common room was bustling: some Slytherins doing homework, others playing wizard chess, a few staring out at the bottom of the Black Lake.
Audrey carefully avoided them and exited the Slytherin common room.
"Draco, did someone just leave?" Pansy Parkinson asked.
Draco Malfoy, buried in his homework, grumbled irritably, "Don't bother me, Parkinson. Did you finish today's homework?"
Pansy giggled. "Our little Master Malfoy suddenly so diligent?"
"Parkinson! Didn't you see the Gryffindor mudblood hog the limelight in Charms class? We can't let that mudblood continue bragging!"
Before she could say more, a senior student interrupted.
"Draco Malfoy, may I disturb you for a moment?"
Draco looked up to see a slightly fierce-looking female approaching.
"Senior Aronnia," he recognized her as Aronnia Rohl, one of the Holy Twenty-Eight, "what is it?"
Aronnia glanced at Pansy, raising her chin slightly.
Though the Parkinsons were influential, Aronnia's aura was overwhelming, and eleven-year-old Pansy obediently stepped aside.
"Draco, do you know why people in the house have been ostracizing you these past two days?"
"Why?" Draco asked, genuinely puzzled. As the son of a Board member and one of the Holy Twenty-Eight, why was he being treated coldly?
"I heard you publicly said on the Hogwarts Express that Audrey Astley is… a singer for hire?"
No further explanation needed—Draco immediately understood.
Because of Audrey's immense influence, many Slytherins sought her favor. Insulting her would make Draco unpopular.
"Oh… that's it?"
Draco's quill rolled across the parchment, leaving a few ink spots on the blank space.
"Want to get out of this mess?"
Draco nodded at Aronnia.
Aronnia smiled, satisfied. "It's simple: ruin Astley's reputation, and people won't stand behind her—nobody invests in a mudblood with a tainted name. Then you, Draco Malfoy, can escape this predicament and be accepted again."
…
Audrey left the common room and headed toward Snape's office.
Why not Apparate?
First, it might be noticed.
Second, since she was already out, she could explore Hogwarts properly—and open the map. Apparition requires you to have visited the location before.
Along the way, she spotted ghosts searching for her, Filch and Mrs. Norris patrolling carefully, and the mischievous Weasley twins sneaking toward the kitchen.
None of this concerned her.
Finally, she reached Snape's office, down the same corridor as the Potions classroom.
Carefully studying the ancient magical echoes on the walls, the door suddenly swung open—Snape emerged.
Apparently, Audrey had triggered some detection magic.
His eyes scanned the corridor. "I know you're there! Come out! Don't make me catch you!"
Audrey remained unmoved. Using her ability to glimpse a minute and a half into the future, she realized Snape was just bluffing.
She focused on memorizing the runic patterns displayed by the magical echoes on the walls, ignoring Snape's posturing.
"I see you!"
See me, huh? Old bat, you fraud!
Audrey etched every detail into her memory and quietly withdrew down the corridor, silent as a shadow.
Next stop: the kitchen.