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Chapter 66: Signs of Destiny's Deviation
"Audrey is our new Seeker!"
"Audrey has joined the Quidditch team!"
The news spread like wildfire among the young Slytherins.
Soon, it crossed house boundaries as well—carried by students whose romantic interests conveniently belonged to other houses.
---
Neville Longbottom once again forgot the password to the Gryffindor common room and was stopped outside by the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Poor child," the Fat Lady sighed kindly. "Have you forgotten the password again?"
Neville shrank back, blushing furiously.
Fanning herself languidly, the plump lady said, "I heard that Audrey Astray—the one with that beautiful singing voice—has become Slytherin's Seeker?"
Neville nodded enthusiastically.
"She's incredible. I couldn't believe it when I heard."
The Fat Lady shook her head, continuing to fan herself as though she might actually produce a breeze inside the painting.
"That child is wasting her talent. With a voice like that, she shouldn't be dabbling in nonsense. How could something as crude as Quidditch compare to elegant singing?"
She covered half her face with her fan and peeked at Neville.
"If Astray and I were to sing Carmen together, who do you think would sing better?"
Neville froze.
Was that even a question?
Obviously Audrey—
Then inspiration struck.
For once, Neville realised that if he said the Fat Lady sang better, she might be pleased enough to let him in.
"It—it's you, Madam," he blurted out. "You sing better!"
"Oh ho ho ho!" the Fat Lady laughed delightedly.
"What an honest child! But you didn't say the password, so I still can't let you in. I do love singing Carmen the most."
Seeing Neville's utterly blank expression, she sighed.
"What was my favourite song again?"
"Carmen?"
"Password correct. Come in, child!"
Neville: …
---
Saturday morning.
Breakfast time.
Audrey had received a notice from Snape the day before, informing her that she must appear in the Great Hall that morning.
Completely baffled, she never imagined she would receive the same treatment Harry Potter had in the original timeline.
Six long-eared owls swooped in, carrying a long, narrow package. They circled clumsily, attempting to land on the table in front of Audrey.
Frowning, Audrey waved a hand, sending her breakfast flying neatly aside.
She had no intention of finding owl feathers in her soy milk—or worse, suspicious yellow-white droppings on her rice dumplings.
Iselin leaned over, eyes bright.
"Audrey! You hardly ever get letters—and this one's huge! Open it already!"
What else could it be?
The broom Snape had promised.
It didn't really matter what she flew on. Even an ordinary broom would be enough to crush the other students.
Besides, judging by Snape's personality, she'd be lucky if it was even a Comet.
Audrey waved dismissively.
"Open it if you want. I'm eating."
Her breakfast floated obediently back into place as she continued eating with focus.
Iselin dragged the package closer, peeled away the wrappings, and revealed the broom inside.
"Wow—it's a broom! And it's really pretty," she said, lifting it. "It doesn't look cheap at all!"
"Nimbus 2000!"
Iselin didn't recognise the name—but Draco did.
From across the table, he shot to his feet.
"Nimbus 2000?!"
"It's a Nimbus 2000!!"
"Audrey's broom is a Nimbus 2000!!!"
The Slytherins immediately swarmed over.
Draco stared at it with wide, reverent eyes, unable to look away.
"Cousin… Audrey…"
Audrey shot him a glance.
"Call me Senior Astray."
"…Senior Astray," Draco corrected himself obediently.
"May I—may I take a closer look?"
Audrey replied lazily,
"It's just a broom. If you like it, you can fly it around a bit. Just don't break it."
She finished her soy milk, wiped her mouth with elegance, and stood.
Returning to her dormitory, Audrey felt genuinely surprised.
She hadn't expected Snape to be this generous—to buy the best broom in the world.
That arrogant old man.
She shook her head and turned to Iselin.
"Wizard's Chess?"
"No," Iselin said quickly, eyes darting away.
"I don't have as many exemptions as you. I've got loads of homework."
Constant torture wasn't fun at all.
She silently swore not to step into Audrey's bedroom again until she found a new distraction.
---
Alan Ash locked himself in his room.
His father, Alvin Ash, was a smuggler who rarely came home. He had married Alan's mother purely to gain access to the Grey and Lestrange families.
Alan himself was nothing more than a by-product of passion.
Now that the Grey family had fallen, his father cared even less about whether Alan lived or died.
Alan lay sprawled across his bed, eyes empty.
The room was a mess.
Clothes lay strewn across the desk, while books that should have been neatly arranged were scattered across the floor.
He was filled with resentment—yet had no idea whom to hate.
Bod Grey?
Already arrested.
Audrey Astray?
She held no grudge against him. If anything, he had tried to harm her.
Dumbledore?
It was the old man who uncovered his involvement—but revenge?
Alan shook his head violently.
That was absurd.
"Are you harbouring resentment?"
A hoarse female voice sounded outside the door.
"Who—who's there?!"
Alan leapt to his feet.
The door burst open.
"Forgive the intrusion," the voice said smoothly.
"Hello, Alan Ash."
A female goblin stepped inside.
Compared to the goblins of Gringotts, she was far more graceful.
Though short, her proportions were well balanced. Her skin carried a smooth greenish hue, and her vivid red hair was striking.
"My name is Tethys," she said calmly.
"And as you can see, I am a fairy."
Alan gripped his wand, hands trembling.
Wizards looked down on fairies—but fairy magic was no weaker than a wizard's, and as a dropout, he stood no chance against her.
"What do you want?" he demanded. "Breaking into my home like this?"
With a casual wave of her hand, Tethys sent a chair gliding smoothly to her side and sat down.
Her gaze met his—sharp, penetrating.
"You're angry," she said softly.
"You're in pain."
"Alan Ash, you don't understand why your life has turned out this way."
Alan stared.
She understood him.
"The reason," Tethys continued, "is because you lack power."
She clenched her fist slowly.
"Yes. Power."
"Without power, you are manipulated.
Without power, you cannot resist injustice.
Without power, you will never earn respect."
Her voice was intoxicating.
"Follow me," she whispered,
"and I will give you power. Together, we will overturn the injustice of this magical world."
Alan was tempted—but still wary.
"Why… why me?"
Tethys laughed softly.
"Because of Audrey Astray."
Again.
Before, he had merely obeyed his elders.
Bod Grey never told him anything about Audrey or ancient magic. He had been nothing more than a disposable pawn.
But he no longer wanted to be one.
"I don't understand," Alan said slowly.
"What does Astray have to do with power?"
"Patience," Tethys replied with a smile.
"We're not like Bod Grey. I will tell you everything."
She produced a metal sphere engraved with runes and crushed it in her hand.
Shimmering silver particles spilled into the air, rearranging themselves into images:
A raging wind that tore everything apart.
Flames that devoured the world.
Ice that froze all life.
Lightning that shattered the heavens.
With a wave of a hand, the world changed colour.
With a single step, dead land burst into bloom.
"Do you see it, Alan?" Tethys whispered.
"This is true magic. Absolute power."
"This is ancient magic."
Suppressing her fanaticism, she looked at him earnestly.
"We fairies regard you as an ally. We will not hide the truth from you."
Something stirred within Alan—
a sense of being understood, of righteous fury.
Not because her words were flawless,
but because Bod Grey had treated him like dirt.
"According to our ancestral records," Tethys continued,
"the key to unlocking ancient magic lies in people like Audrey Astray."
"Control Audrey Astray—
and you control ancient magic."
Alan stared at the shifting silver light, murmuring,
"Ancient magic…"
"For power. For justice," Tethys asked softly.
"Alan Ash—will you join us?"
---
[Background]
The fairies assisted the ancient guardians in constructing the secret vault and sealed ancient magic using fairy metal.
From a fairy's perspective, anything they create belongs to them—thus, they believe ancient magic is rightfully theirs.
Fairies consider themselves intellectual equals to wizards, but wizards have never agreed. This led to numerous fairy rebellions throughout history.
A century ago, the goblin Ranrok attempted to seize ancient magic—
only to be stopped by an unnamed individual.
A ruthless figure who turned A History of Hogwarts
into Hogwarts: A History.
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