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**Chapter 62
Kidnapping Me Is One Thing — Robbing Me Is Another**
Pansy Parkinson stayed up very late, partying with her excited friends in the Slytherin common room.
Of course, her real reason was to fulfil Draco's wish for someone sharp and articulate to talk with. After all, Goyle and Crabbe were far too stupid — they couldn't even manage a proper compliment.
Draco spent the entire night animatedly discussing Audrey Astray, as though he had completely forgotten his initial disdain for her at the start of term.
This made Pansy deeply unhappy.
Was a Mudblood really worthy of his praise?
Back in the dormitory, her irritation only grew. She pulled Daphne Greengrass aside for a late-night whisper in the girls' room.
"Daphne, what's so special about that Astray?" Pansy snapped. "Why are all the boys fawning over her?"
Daphne was already half-asleep, but she forced her eyes open and replied,
"Pansy, don't overthink it. She's just a singer."
Pansy sat up abruptly, eyes shining.
"That's right — she's just a street performer! Draco and the others were bewitched! Astray is a vixen! That filthy Mudblood!"
She ranted without restraint, completely forgetting that she herself had been one of the most enthusiastic cheerers at the concert earlier that day.
"Yes, yes, Malfoy hates Mudbloods," Daphne muttered. She wanted the conversation to end — sleep was dragging her under.
"Besides, she'll graduate in three years. Draco will be your classmate for seven."
"Hm… you're right," Pansy nodded, then suddenly stiffened.
"Daphne, you'll be with Draco for seven years too. You're not planning to steal him from me, are you?"
Daphne rolled her eyes in the darkness.
"Relax. I, Daphne Greengrass, have no interest in Malfoy."
Reassured, Pansy lay back down.
Bang!
The dormitory door was shoved open.
Before Pansy could scream, a wand pressed coldly against her neck.
"Quiet, Miss," a low voice warned. "Or don't blame us for being rough."
The members of Hydra's Fang had chosen this room because it was the only one still making noise.
Pansy, Daphne, and their two other roommates were hauled upright.
The other two girls were especially unlucky. To avoid Pansy's endless complaints, they had pretended to sleep for half the night. Just as Pansy finally quieted down, the dormitory was raided.
They were nearly in tears.
Tomorrow was Transfiguration, and lately Professor McGonagall — displeased with Professor Snape's indulgent point-giving — had begun targeting Slytherin more harshly.
McGonagall was principled, but utterly unforgiving once she caught someone in the wrong. Her standards for deducting Slytherin points had become absurd.
Late to class, inattentive, wrong posture — any of it could earn a scolding.
And despite her old-fashioned appearance, when Professor McGonagall turned sharp-tongued, she was no gentler than Snape.
"You'd better cooperate," the silver-masked leader said quietly.
"I can't guarantee your safety otherwise."
"We're only asking one question. Once we're done, we'll leave."
The four girls nodded frantically. Slytherins never acted rashly in hopeless situations — they knew when to submit.
"Where is Audrey Astray's bedroom?"
Pansy's eyes lit up.
Salazar be praised — wasn't this the perfect chance to eliminate a rival?
These people were clearly dangerous. That bitch wouldn't survive this.
"I'll tell you!" Pansy said eagerly.
"Astray's room is the third door from the right at the end of the corridor!"
The leader nodded in satisfaction and gestured to his men.
"Knock them out."
Several spells flashed.
The four girls collapsed unconscious.
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The tabby cat crouched atop a bookshelf near the doorway, one eye fixed on the entrance.
Click.
The lock opened.
In Hogwarts, locks were only meant to keep honest people out. With Alohomora being common knowledge, students relied on enchanted chests and layered wards for anything truly valuable.
Members of Hydra's Fang slipped inside, followed by several Greys.
Bode Grey entered last.
A faint Lumos was cast at its lowest setting.
Everyone froze.
Audrey lay asleep on a large dark-green bed — or what should have been one. It was completely buried beneath Galleons.
Coins spilled everywhere. They had to peer through the gaps just to glimpse the sheets beneath.
Even Bode Grey had never seen such a sight.
Is she some kind of human dragon?
How does someone sleep on gold?
Isn't that uncomfortable?
Under his subordinates' stunned gazes, Bode whispered,
"Take her. And don't let a single Galleon escape."
The Grey family was nearly bankrupt. Hydra's Fang barely survived through robbery and plunder.
In short — he was dirt poor.
Staring at the mountain of gold, Bode Grey's eyes nearly filled with tears.
"Meow!"
A sharp, piercing cry rang out.
Audrey jolted awake.
At the same moment, she heard someone shout,
"Subdue her! Take all the Galleons!"
…What?
Someone was stealing her money?
Audrey shot upright, just as a spell flew toward her.
A stunning Curse?
Are you insane?!
She knocked it aside with her bare hand, rolled off the bed, and drew her wand.
Masked figures — everywhere.
Hydra's Fang.
Five assassins attacked Audrey while the others scrambled to scoop up Galleons. They assumed five-on-one guaranteed victory, so looting came first.
They were wrong.
And they had made Audrey furious.
Breaking into her room? Fine.
Kidnapping her? If they succeeded, she'd applaud.
But stealing her money?
Stealing her Galleons?!
Who gave them that kind of audacity?
If you dare think it, you die.
And they didn't just think it — they acted.
"Fire Shield."
Blue flames erupted instantly.
Stunning spells vanished upon contact. Those close to the coins were reduced to ash in seconds.
Dumbledore had told Audrey not to kill.
She tried.
But money was her life. Stealing her gold was no different from murder.
The blue flames raged through the room, consuming only the intruders. Furniture, walls — even the tabby cat — remained untouched.
Bode Grey's face went ashen.
That damned cat.
If it hadn't warned her, Audrey Astray would already be gone.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Green light shot toward the tabby — but a cat's reflexes far surpassed a human's. Edmund Grindelwald leapt from the shelf and dodged easily.
Bode clicked his tongue and turned his wand on Audrey.
"Infinite Ice!"
He had no choice but to act personally — or his men would be wiped out.
Blue ice flowers bloomed across the dormitory.
Audrey was talented, but young. Her magical reserves should have been inferior.
"Get out," Bode snapped to his remaining men.
"Guard the common room entrance. I'll handle her."
Soon, only the two of them remained.
No reinforcements.
No soil for plant magic.
One-on-one — he should win.
Then Audrey vanished.
She became lightning itself.
Bode barely countered in time, releasing a bolt of lightning to intercept her.
…That spell.
The teleportation magic she used came from An Introduction to Ancient Magic, a notebook passed down through the Grey family — something Bode had spent half his life trying to master.
He had learned only three spells from it.
Ice.
Lightning.
Positioning.
Audrey reappeared in the corner of the room, crackling with energy.
"Is this considered rare?" she scoffed.
"It's just beginner-level ancient magic."
Bode Grey fell silent.
…The book was titled An Introduction to Ancient Magic.
"You broke into my room," Audrey said coldly.
"You wanted me — and my Galleons."
"Let me make this clear. This isn't over."
She was furious.
A few days ago, she might have needed tricks to deal with Bode Grey.
Now?
She had completely mastered the book.
She knew exactly how dangerous the man before her was.
And exactly how little she feared him.
Bode Grey.
There was nothing to fear anymore.
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