A bolt of green light shot straight toward Audrey.
The moment Bord Grey acted, regret slammed into him.
If Audrey died, his ambitions for ancient magic would turn to smoke.
A streak of blue light tore through the air and solidified in front of Audrey, forming an exquisite, gleaming shield that cleanly blocked the Killing Curse.
Following the source of the spell, one could see a white-bearded old man in deep purple robes, calmly gazing at the battlefield.
Audrey smiled—this time, genuinely.
So it hadn't been for nothing after all, turning her Fire Shield into a fire dragon and sending it to the headmaster's office for help.
Dumbledore, you old geezer. You finally made it.
Elsewhere, in Hogsmeade Village, Iselin Windsor arrived at the scene with Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall. Villagers were still pointing excitedly toward the spot where thunder had descended moments earlier.
Crack!
Crack!
The two heads of house Apparated one after the other, appearing near the battlefield.
Bord Grey's face turned ashen.
"Damn it!"
He made a snap decision, slashing his wand downward.
The leg wrapped tightly by Venomous Tentacula was severed clean off.
Crack.
He had arrived arrogantly—and fled decisively.
A lizard shedding its tail was nothing compared to this.
Dumbledore Apparated beside Audrey and gently laid her flat on her back.
"My child, how are you?" he asked urgently.
Regret gnawed at him. Gellert had warned him—this child would face mortal danger. And yet he hadn't taken it seriously, had allowed her to leave the school alone.
"You took your time!" Audrey said, her nose stinging. She had almost died.
Dumbledore sighed softly. "It won't happen again."
He took out a piece of chocolate and placed it in her mouth. "Eat this. It will ease the pain."
Audrey was a master of potions. The moment the chocolate touched her tongue, she knew he'd mixed in Draught of Living Death.
Whatever.
Sleeping was fine. Old Dumbledore wouldn't harm her.
With that thought, Audrey closed her eyes.
Snape and McGonagall arrived, staring at the remnants of the battlefield in stunned silence.
The massive Devil's Snare, the charred, thunder-roasted Chinese Chomping Cabbage big enough to serve as a main dish—none of it fit within their expectations.
Even more shocking was the land itself. Grass within a four- to five-hundred-meter radius had completely withered, the area left barren and lifeless.
"Venomous Tentacula!" McGonagall exclaimed.
The plant swayed smugly in the wind, as if proudly presenting its achievements to Audrey.
To McGonagall, however, it was one of the main culprits behind Audrey's misery. Its showy movements were infuriating.
Decades of bottled frustration erupted.
"Incend—"
"Professor McGonagall!" Snape cried, grabbing her arm. "Do you have any idea how rare a Venomous Tentacula of this size is? Do you know how much even a single leaf is worth?"
"Ten Galleons! This entire plant is worth at least three years of our salaries!"
McGonagall glared at him but lowered her wand, turning to walk toward Audrey and Dumbledore.
"Albus, how is Audrey?"
"She was hit by the Cruciatus Curse," Dumbledore said quietly, looking at the sleeping girl. "I let her rest. We should take her to Poppy now."
Poppy Pomfrey—the only known healer at Hogwarts, and therefore its chief physician.
"Oh, Godric above…" McGonagall covered her mouth, horrified. "Who would use an Unforgivable Curse on a child?! That's monstrous!"
"Bord Grey."
Audrey wasn't seriously injured. The Cruciatus hadn't lasted long. After sleeping, drinking a cup of bitter calming potion, and spending a day in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey finally released her.
Monday morning brought Ancient Runes class, but Audrey had already earned an exemption by casually demonstrating her mastery of Versailles Script to Professor Babbling.
So she comfortably stayed in the dormitory for half the day.
She planned to eat lunch there too—until the prefect, Gemma Farley, knocked on her door.
"Audrey? Are you awake?"
Audrey rolled out of bed. Her pajamas instantly transformed into Slytherin robes.
"Gemma?" She opened the door. "What's up?"
"Audrey!" Gemma looked relieved. "You're alright! We were so worried!"
"…Ah."
That enthusiasm—are you sure you're a real Slytherin?
"I'm fine. Madam Pomfrey is very skilled."
Gemma grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the Great Hall. "Then you need to show your face so everyone can stop worrying!"
Audrey really didn't want to go.
In the Great Hall, she couldn't order spicy food. She couldn't order anything smelly. Any hot dish would be turned cold within minutes by passing ghosts.
Worse—those were foods ghosts had licked.
Great Hall dining equaled bland misery.
But Gemma had personally come for her. She couldn't refuse.
Reluctantly entering the hall, Audrey was greeted by thunderous applause—from all four house tables.
She froze.
"Audrey Astrea!"
"She's a true hero!"
"She lured the Dark wizard away to protect her classmates!"
"So brave!"
"Praise Audrey Astrea!"
A Hufflepuff student ran up to her, eyes shining. "Thank you, Audrey! If not for you, I'd be dead!"
Audrey was baffled. She had only followed her plan—Bord sparing that girl had been pure coincidence.
She glanced at the staff table.
Dumbledore was nodding approvingly, eyes crinkled into slits as he clapped lazily.
So this whole thing was your idea, you old bee.
Putting me on a spit and roasting me—while you clap? Clap your head!
"Audrey," the chubby Hufflepuff girl said eagerly, "I'm Daphne Spencer, third year. If you ever need help, just tell me!"
"You're too kind," Audrey said with a perfect professional smile. "Helping classmates is only natural."
More applause erupted.
Snape's voice cut in sharply. "Audrey Astrea successfully rescued a student from a Dark wizard. Slytherin gains fifty points."
Audrey: …
McGonagall: …
The other three houses: …
Wow. You've really mastered the art of point farming.
The festive atmosphere instantly dropped by three-quarters.
Audrey awkwardly returned to the Slytherin table—where not only students, but ghosts awaited her.
The Fat Friar beamed. "Audrey! I missed you so much!"
Thanks! I didn't miss you at all!
Nearly Headless Nick chimed in, "As did I!"
The Bloody Baron snapped, "Keep your distance. This is the Slytherin table!"
The Grey Lady hovered silently.
"I wasn't talking about you, Helena!" the Baron added hastily.
Dumbledore waved his wand.
The Great Hall's Ghost Eviction Protocol activated. Invisible forces dragged the ghosts toward the walls.
"Dumbledore, you can't—"
Silence.
Audrey exhaled deeply and shot Dumbledore a glare. If you did this every meal, I wouldn't have to hide in my dorm to eat.
Dumbledore: Are you sure?
Iselin warmly pulled Audrey to sit beside her.
"You have no idea how scared I was!"
Audrey smiled. "I should thank you for going to get the professors."
Iselin nodded. "The moment you pushed me away, I knew something was wrong. That man didn't look like a good person. Luckily, I knew where Professor McGonagall lived in Hogsmeade—and she happened to be home."
"And Professor Snape?"
Iselin smiled mysteriously. "That's a secret."
With the ghosts gone, Audrey confidently ordered a table full of spicy dishes and ate with gusto.
"Did you hear?" a seventh-year whispered across from her.
"The Grey family was attacked last night. Over thirty people died!"
"What? Who did it?"
"No idea. But whoever it was—overwhelmingly powerful. The Greys couldn't fight back at all."
"Serves them right. Bord Grey's family deserves it."
Bang!
A sixth- or seventh-year Slytherin slammed the table, glaring furiously.
"Bord Grey was expelled from the Grey family long ago! What he did has nothing to do with them!"
"Alan Ash, I'm talking about the Grey family. Why are you snapping?" Thomas Dawson scoffed.
Alan's eyes were bloodshot. "Shut up, Thomas."
He turned and left.
Thomas stared, confused. "Is he insane?"
A nearby Slytherin sighed knowingly. "Alan Ash's mother was a Grey. She went back to the Grey estate yesterday. She was killed."
Thomas: …
The brief conflict didn't stir Audrey much. She was only curious—aside from offending her, which other big shot had the Grey family angered?
How tragic.
Rest in peace… rest in peace.
It was a massacre—so why did she feel faintly pleased?
Am I actually a villain?
Lost in thought, Audrey was startled when Dorcas Yaxley suddenly stood up, his voice loud enough to echo through the hall.
"Audrey Astrea is the flower of Slytherin—but she is clearly in danger!"
Flower?
Audrey hadn't expected to ever be called that.
"As her classmates, we must protect her!"
"I propose the formation of the Audrey Guard!"
Slytherin responded instantly—all the boys, and half the girls.
Audrey buried her face in her hand, wishing for death.
Protect my ass. You bunch of weaklings.
If not for image maintenance, one cast of All Things Grow, and I could feed you all to Chinese Chomping Cabbages.
Dorcas smiled smugly. Audrey Astrea was incredibly useful—earning prestige had never been easier.
Then chaos erupted at the Gryffindor table.
George Weasley shouted, "Gryffindor should have an Audrey Guard too! All in favor?"
Fred raised his hand. "First one signed up!"
Ron followed. "Me too!"
With the twins leading, Gryffindor quickly joined in.
Audrey: Oh Merlin, what is happening?
Daphne Spencer stood up. "H-Hufflepuff will have one too! Even if it's just me, I'll protect Audrey!"
Audrey sighed. You're getting carried away, kid.
You were shaking like a quail in front of Bord—protect me? Really?
Then Cedric Diggory stood up.
"You won't stand alone, Daphne. Count me in."
"I'll join too!"
"Me as well!"
Audrey wanted to crawl under the table.
Look at him.
Dumbledore was grinning like an idiot.
If she were really sixteen, maybe she'd enjoy this. But counting both lives, she was older than Snape.
I can't handle this.
Surely Ravenclaw would stay rational.
But Penelope Clearwater stood up.
Audrey's heart skipped. The other houses used normal students—why does Ravenclaw send out the prefect?
"I believe protecting Miss Astrea requires organization and discipline," Penelope said calmly. "Separate house efforts will achieve nothing."
She raised her hand. "I propose a Unified Audrey Guard, with all four houses working together."
Ravenclaw applauded.
Gryffindor joined immediately.
Hufflepuff followed.
After some hesitation, Slytherin clapped as well.
Dumbledore beamed. "Look at that—our four houses united at last. What a wonderful thing."
His voice reached Audrey.
She turned and shot him a murderous glare—then froze.
Someone was missing from the staff table.