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Chapter 56 – Snape: Exempt from Course?
Audrey woke up buried in Galleons.
She grabbed a handful of gold coins, lifted them up, and watched as the glittering discs slipped through her fingers, clattering back onto the bed.
Let's begin this wonderful day by drowning in money.
Potions class was scheduled for the morning—and Audrey had already made up her mind.
She was going to get an exemption.
Straight from the head of house himself.
With renewed energy, she sat up.
Temporary effort was all for the sake of long-term comfort.
"Momo!"
"Sizzle—!"
A house-elf appeared instantly.
"Little master, what would you like for breakfast?"
Audrey thought for a moment. "Potstickers. And if you have egg pancakes, that would be even better."
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door. Audrey opened it—and Iseline bounced straight in.
"Audrey!"
Audrey was speechless.
When they'd first met a week ago, Iseline had seemed like a refined, well-mannered aristocratic young lady.
Turns out that was pure acting.
Once you got to know her, you realized she was carefree to the point of recklessness.
"Oh! A house-elf!"
Iseline peeked over Audrey's shoulder, spotted Momo, and immediately froze.
"Audrey, aren't you Muggle-born? Why do you have a house-elf in your room?"
Momo had already been preparing to leave—but Iseline barged in before she could escape.
Caught red-handed, Momo panicked and snapped into a stiff, awkward salute, eyes darting around helplessly.
Audrey laughed. "I never said I was born into a Muggle family."
She ignored Iseline's probing look, pushed her back out the door, then turned to Momo.
"Make two servings. Let Iseline try some too."
Audrey had already figured it out.
Iseline was a foodie.
And nothing silenced a foodie faster than good food.
Hadn't Audrey secured this friendship with just two crayfish?
---
The moment Audrey stepped out of the common room, the ghosts swarmed her again.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Audrey sighed, "if you keep this up, I'll have to withdraw from school."
The Fat Friar immediately chimed in.
"Yes, yes! We mustn't trouble Miss Astray! Nick, I'm talking to you—keep your distance!"
Audrey glanced at the ghosts, who had obediently backed away from one meter to… one and a half meters.
A deep sense of helplessness washed over her.
Was there really no way to deal with them?
Oh—right.
The basilisk.
A basilisk's gaze could petrify ghosts.
Audrey, who had always loathed the idea of going down to the Chamber of Secrets, suddenly felt motivated.
…For exactly two seconds.
Nope. Still too disgusting.
But if the basilisk worked, then surely one of the many magical creatures she possessed could deal with ghosts, right?
Fire dragon? Would dragonfire even work on ghosts? And even if it did, she couldn't exactly breathe fire all over the castle.
House-elves—obviously not.
Niffler. Giant spider. Ophiuchus. Demiguise. Dartsnake…
Unicorn?
Unicorn!
Ghosts were remnants of wizards who refused to pass on—beings caught between life and death, tainted and unclean.
Unicorns, on the other hand, represented pure life itself. Sacred creatures.
The image of moonlight shining on Heidi the night before resurfaced in Audrey's mind—that overwhelming sense of holiness.
Why not try it?
Without hesitation, Audrey switched to her unicorn form.
The effect was immediate.
Chaos erupted.
"What is that?!"
"This smell—how awful!"
"No! I feel like I'm dying!"
The ghosts scattered in all directions, fleeing in terror. The air warmed instantly.
Audrey narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.
If she'd known this worked, she'd have gone to the Forbidden Forest on the first day of term.
Delighted, Audrey and Iseline entered the Great Hall.
The students, long accustomed to seeing Audrey trailed by ghosts, were momentarily disoriented.
Why wasn't she being haunted today?
"I don't know?"
Hermione frowned. "No one's using Polyjuice Potion to turn into Audrey, right?"
Ron turned to Harry. "What's Polyjuice Potion?"
Harry leaned in, curious.
Hermione explained patiently. "It's a potion that lets you transform into someone else."
Ron curled his lip. "Brilliant! I'd turn into George or Fred and trick Mum with them!"
George gasped. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, I never knew you had such a talent for mischief!"
Fred grinned. "Nah. He's just jealous we're taller than him."
George snapped his fingers. "Then why not use our 'Grow Taller Instantly' potion?"
Fred nodded solemnly. "Guaranteed results."
Ron shook his head furiously.
That potion was a disaster. The twins had tested it on garden gnomes—who ended up stretched thin and long like over-pulled noodles.
He had no desire to become wand-shaped.
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Audrey didn't care what the others thought.
She was finally living like a normal Hogwarts student.
That alone was priceless.
As she reached the Slytherin table, she spotted Arjunia Raoul—missing for over a week.
The usually imposing upper-year looked utterly worn down.
Being quietly ostracized by one's peers could be brutal.
Then—
The unicorn ability activated.
Audrey stared at Arjunia, eyes widening.
Iseline tugged at her sleeve. "What is it, Audrey?"
"Oh, nothing," Audrey laughed lightly. "I just didn't expect Senior Raoul to recover so quickly."
(If you're unfamiliar with a unicorn's special abilities, refer back to Chapter 52.)
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The fifth-years sat confidently in Potions class.
They'd reviewed everything thoroughly—no one wanted to end up like Oliver Wood, the tragic example Snape loved to use.
Then the bat swept in.
Snape strode to the front, wasted no time, and spoke curtly:
"Today, we will brew a palliative draught."
The students exchanged bewildered looks.
Wasn't this supposed to be revision?
So what had they been cramming all week for?
Snape: The review was Dumbledore's idea—for Audrey Astray. Turns out she's the one accommodating you.
By the end of class, Audrey was, unsurprisingly, the top student again.
"Slytherin, twenty points."
Snape's face remained icy, but inwardly he was delighted.
"Professor Snape," Audrey said as he packed up, "I'd like to apply for an exemption from Potions. Is that possible?"
Snape frowned.
"So you think a bit of talent makes you invincible?"
His tone sharpened.
"I didn't expect Miss Astray to be so arrogant. Potions requires time, patience, and discipline. And you dare speak of 'exemption'?"
Audrey sighed—and began pulling bottles from her sachet.
One after another.
Calming draughts. Vitality tonics. Brain enhancers. Life elixirs. Deceptive brews.
Then advanced ones.
Euphoria potions. Fuligin. Hellish tonics. Dreamless Sleep.
Snape examined each bottle, expression dark.
Every potion was flawless.
And every single one bore the unmistakable signature of Audrey's work—the faint shimmer of starlight during magical reaction.
Highly distinctive.
Snape looked up sharply.
"Even if Nicolas Flamel himself taught you, you couldn't brew this much in two months."
His gaze turned piercing.
"You already knew potions. You're not Muggle-born."
Who are you?
Audrey's heart skipped.
She'd gotten careless.
But she steadied herself quickly.
"Professor, if you want answers, please ask Professor Dumbledore. He can explain everything."
A powerful will suddenly pressed against her mind.
Legilimency.
But with two souls inhabiting her body, even without Occlumency, breaking through was nearly impossible.
Snape staggered back two steps, wand drawn, eyes sharp.
"Professor Snape," Audrey forced a smile. "I'm not an enemy. I'm your student. Please put down your wand."
Snape lowered it slowly.
He had overreacted.
Ever since Harry Potter's arrival, his vigilance had been relentless.
That infuriating boy—with Lily's eyes.
He had to be protected.
And Audrey Astray… powerful, mysterious—
Could she be a threat?
Seeing his guard drop, Audrey exhaled quietly.
"So, Professor Snape," she said carefully, "about my exemption…"
Snape's expression darkened further.
Audrey hesitated—then asked outright.
"My exemption… could you approve it?"
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