"Poppy Graham?" Dumbledore was slightly surprised. "That's a fresh name."
He smiled and nodded. "If you were to attend Hogwarts, you would most likely be sorted into Slytherin." The old man waved his hand. "Hurry home now. Don't let your brother wait too long."
Hydrus, as if granted amnesty, quickly waved, turned, and ran toward the Leaky Cauldron.
She ran in such a panic that she forgot she still needed to go to the bookstore to buy books;
She ran so fast that even Jinhu couldn't keep up;
She ran so miserably that it made Dumbledore roar with laughter.
After laughing for a while, the old man Apparated back to Hogwarts.
Having power meant he could be just this willful.
He went to tease his phoenix, Fawkes, for a bit. Fawkes, who had been dozing on his perch, looked impatient. But Dumbledore was in an exceptionally good mood. He said to Fawkes:
"Fawkes, I met a very interesting little girl today." Dumbledore was as happy as a lark. "She's different. She understands love."
...
...
Hydrus, who "understands love," rushed into the Leaky Cauldron, collected her small cask of butterbeer from Old Tom, and left quickly.
She Apparated back to Rick's place with Jinhu, and Hydrus quickly changed back into Audrey.
Hearing the noise downstairs, Rick came out of his room.
"Is that you back, Audrey?"
"Yes, brother! I bought some delicious things. Come down and try them!"
"Alright, Audrey."
Rick's voice sounded much more settled, no longer so anxious. That was because, just a moment ago, he had finished revising "picture to burn".
"I'm coming down now!"
Florean Fortescue's ice cream was harmonious, just like the "Astley siblings'" rapport;
The butterbeer was silky smooth, just like their development in the British music industry—completely unobstructed.
...
...
With the release of one new song after another, Peter Waterman was practically going mad with joy. This pair's talent was astonishing.
Audrey, for her part, felt that being a "copyist" was quite nice. In any case, she didn't have to arrange or modify the music; she just had to sing.
She loved to sing and didn't find it to be hard work.
Just like at this very moment, at their concert in London's Regent's Park, Audrey was thoroughly enjoying herself.
She stood on stage, radiant. She was a born star!
The magical elements she emitted allowed the audience to easily empathize with the songs; her magic-enhanced voice intoxicated them.
In the audience, there were men and women, old and young, including many families of three who had come to support them.
"Mommy!" Hermione Granger sat on Mr. Granger's neck, saying happily, "I can't believe Audrey Astley is the same big sister we saw at the department store!"
"I said she looked like Audrey Hepburn! It turns out her name really is Audrey!"
Hermione closed her eyes. At that moment, Audrey hit a high note. The entire audience held their breath, as if exhaling would interrupt this soaring vocal.
"I never thought I'd have such a connection with my favorite singer!"
Hermione shouted excitedly, no different from the frantic fans around her. "I've decided, from now on, Audrey Astley is my idol!"
Mrs. Granger asked, amused, "You have so many idols. Einstein? Newton? Shakespeare? Aristotle?"
"This is different, Mommy!"
Hermione's big eyes watched Audrey glowing on stage. "She's different!"
Watching Jinhu, who sat quietly beside Audrey, tapping his tail to the beat, Hermione felt as if she'd discovered a new continent:
"Look! Even her cat is unique!"
"Mommy, can we get a cat, too?"
...
...
Six-year-old Harry Potter was hiding in his cupboard, listening to the music channel on an old radio—he had picked this radio from a trash bin; it was one Dudley had thrown away.
He had finally managed to scrape together two discarded batteries that still had a little charge, and he turned the volume down to almost nothing.
He was listening to the song intently. It was "Sweeter Than Fiction."
The singer was clearly not old, but her voice was sweet without being cloying, like the music of the heavens.
"Seen you fall,
Seen you crawl,
Seen you lost in a crowd,
Seen you lose your color,
I wish I could make it better.
Someday, you won't remember,
This pain you thought would last forever."
Harry gently nodded his head to the melody. At this moment, he deeply resonated with the lyrics.
"There you'll stand, ten feet tall!
I will bet--I already know it,
Your eyes are wider than far,
This love is sweeter than fiction!"
Harry held the old radio, excitedly singing along with the song:
"There you'll stand, ten feet tall!
I will bet--I already know it,
Your eyes are wider than far,
This love is sweeter than fiction!"
THUD, THUD, THUD!
Dudley's room was upstairs. He stomped on the floor, and then Harry heard his cousin yell:
"Shut up, Harry Potter!"
"Your singing is awful! If Audrey heard you singing her song, she would cry!"
Harry decisively shut his mouth. Compared to his aunt's family, it seemed Audrey was more like his kin.
At least, in this song.
...
'Miss Astley wouldn't mind,'
Harry thought.
...
...
The Burrow. The Weasley home.
Molly Weasley, the proud mother of seven children, was busy in the kitchen.
As usual, she was listening to the Wizarding Wireless Network. The program currently playing was "Magic Time."
This was a music program hosted by the new presenter, Glenda Chittock.
Yes, the wizarding world was just that nonsensical. "Magic Time" didn't talk about magic; it talked about music.
A beautiful melody flowed through The Burrow...
"The big fish's wings are already too vast,
I've loosened the ropes of time.
Watching you fly far, watching you leave me,
It turns out you were born for the sky;
Every teardrop flows toward you,
Flowing back to our very first meeting..."
Molly was enchanted, waving her wand like a conductor.
Of course, she was a conductor. The knife was nimbly dicing an onion on its own, and a spoon was stirring the soup pot rhythmically.
However, this tranquility was soon broken.
"Ron! Audrey Astley is definitely not a Muggle!"
"How is that possible? Miss Chittock said so!"
Ron Weasley imitated Glenda Chittock's tone, waving his hands and feet.
"'This next song comes from a singer in the Muggle world, Audrey Astley. She is eleven years old this year. Regrettably, she did not enroll at Hogwarts. Clearly, she is not a witch.'"
"No, no, no, Ron," George laughed. "Not all young wizards go to school,"
Fred picked up, "You can't use Glenda Chittock's words as proof!"
Ron said huffily, "Well, you don't have any proof that Audrey is a witch!"
George and Fred looked at each other, exchanging a glance. Fred spoke first, "Look at this line: 'The big fish's wings, already too vast.' As far as I know, Ron, Muggles don't have big fish with wings!"
George continued, "And look at this line: 'I've loosened the ropes of time' and 'Flowing back to our very first meeting'!"
He spread his arms. "Obviously, this is describing time magic!"
Fred said in awe, "Time magic! Magic that not even Dumbledore has mastered!"
Little Ron was completely baffled. He wanted to retort but didn't know where to start.
Luckily, his mother came to his rescue. "You're too noisy! You're interrupting my song!"
The twins made a face at the kitchen and thundered up the stairs.
Ron listened quietly to Audrey's deep, faraway singing, as if he could see a giant, winged, fish-like magical creature soaring in the sky.
Although Ron had lost the debate with his brothers, he was, surprisingly, not upset. He was even a little happy?
'It would be great if Audrey really were a witch...'
'Maybe George and Fred are right! She is a witch!'
...
...
Time moved to December 1986.
Audrey opened her eyes on an airplane.
She gently stroked Jinhu, who was in her lap, and looked at Rick sleeping peacefully beside her. She smiled.
These past few months, Rick had done his best to take care of her. He was clumsy but gentle, and even a little cute to watch.
So, she had acknowledged him as her brother.
She just never expected that she would be so talented in the field of singing.
In just three short months, the "Astley siblings" had become famous throughout the country, even receiving an invitation from America.
She was now on a plane flying from New York to London.
After finishing their US tour, she immediately requested vacation time from Mr. Waterman.
In Waterman's eyes, she was a treasure. How could he possibly refuse?
A small smile played on Audrey's lips. She hadn't asked for a vacation just to rest.
Another quarter had passed. The income from the Lestrange family's industry was about to be consolidated in London!
The total number of Galleons in her Gringotts vault was about to change again!
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