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Chapter 28 — Professor Audrey and the Wand
"Well then, Miss Astray," Dumbledore reverted to this form of address, signalling that the conversation which could not be overheard by a third party had officially ended. "Why don't you try guessing why the home visit that was originally scheduled for August was moved forward by an entire month?"
Audrey's expression immediately darkened.
In Hogwarts Legacy, when the protagonist first entered the wizarding world, Hogwarts had assigned Professor Fig to provide one-on-one guidance.
If she was getting the same treatment, that meant—
She wouldn't have a single day of peace before term even started.
"…Don't tell me," Audrey said cautiously, "that Hogwarts is planning to arrange for a professor to give me lessons in advance?"
Dumbledore clapped his hands together, clearly pleased.
"Exceptionally sharp! That's correct. Starting tomorrow, we will send a master wizard to provide you with two months of preparatory instruction."
Preparatory instruction?!
Audrey covered her face with one hand.
"Please don't tell me this professor is going to move into my house."
"Exactly right!" Dumbledore said cheerfully, nearly slapping his knee. "What a clever girl!"
The old wizard smiled with great anticipation.
"Given your… rather heavy workload, and in order to ensure the quality of your studies, I will also personally check on your progress from time to time and offer guidance."
Audrey let out a long sigh.
At this point, her peaceful days were already over. Whether one person taught her or two made very little difference.
"BROTHER!!"
Audrey shouted upstairs.
As a professional singer, her breath control and vocal power were terrifying—her voice pierced through walls and floors alike, startling Rick into shouting back.
"What is it, Audrey?!"
"Starting tomorrow, a professor from Hogwarts will be coming to our house to tutor me before school starts! Tomorrow morning, have Miss Kepas prepare a guest room!"
Miss Kepas was their hired housekeeper, responsible for managing the villa.
"Alright, no problem," Rick agreed readily. Then, after a brief pause, he turned to Dumbledore.
"But Headmaster Dumbledore, I have a question."
"Please, go ahead."
"Does Hogwarts really offer pre-term tutoring services?" Rick asked sincerely. "Is competition between magic schools that fierce? Are you worried about losing students, so you're improving customer service?"
Dumbledore's face darkened slightly.
"No, Mr. Astray. Hogwarts is the finest magical institution in Britain—without exception."
"That's not what he meant," Audrey quickly interjected.
Seeing Dumbledore's expression, she couldn't help laughing inwardly.
"Normally, young witches and wizards start school at eleven. I'm starting at sixteen, directly in the fifth year. The school's worried I won't keep up, so they arranged a professor to help me prepare."
"Oh! I see!"
Rick finally understood. A sudden thought struck him—Audrey had been eleven when he first met her. Perhaps amnesia had concealed her magical talent all along?
"So you've decided to go to school, then?"
"Yes."
"Alright," Rick nodded. "I'll speak to Mr. Waterman tomorrow."
"There's no need," Dumbledore interjected calmly.
"Mr. Peter Waterman has already received notice that Miss Astray will be pursuing advanced musical studies. He will take care of everything."
Audrey stared at him in disbelief.
Dumbledore continued solemnly,
"When the time comes, the entire world will know that Miss Audrey Astray has been accepted as a student by Professor Colin Macmillan of the Royal Academy of Music."
"Colin Macmillan?!" Rick exclaimed.
"He's one of the top vocal masters in the world! Becoming his student is harder than ascending to heaven!"
Audrey, however, remained calm.
"This Professor Colin Macmillan—he's from the Macmillan family, isn't he? Is he one of your former students as well?"
"No," Dumbledore replied. "He isn't my student. I simply happen to know him. He's a Squib."
The Macmillans—one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
Audrey shook her head slightly.
No matter how famous Colin Macmillan was in the Muggle world, as a Squib, he had no power to refuse an "arrangement" from the wizarding world.
That was the tragedy of Squibs.
---
The Next Day, 10:00 a.m.
A knock sounded at the door of the Astray family villa.
Rick and Audrey were already waiting in the living room. Rick immediately rose to answer the door.
Standing outside was a man of striking presence.
He was nearly one-point-nine metres tall, dressed in a tailored wool coat, his leather boots polished to a mirror shine.
Backlit by the sun, he looked imposing.
Only upon closer inspection did one realise he was elderly.
His hair was white, threaded with pale gold; his eyes a vivid blue—though the right eye was slightly lighter than the left.
Time had left unmistakable marks on his face, yet his bone structure alone spoke of great beauty in his youth.
"Mr. Astray?" he asked, his voice carrying a faint Danish accent.
"I am Professor Gale Depp. I've come to provide preparatory instruction for your younger sister."
"Oh! Hello!" Rick greeted him warmly.
"Please come in! Headmaster Dumbledore has already informed us!"
Professor Depp stepped inside.
Audrey stood and bowed politely.
"Good morning, Professor."
Outwardly calm—
Inwardly, a storm raged.
She knew perfectly well that the man before her was not a Hogwarts professor.
Dumbledore had said "master wizard," not "Hogwarts professor."
Gale Depp smiled kindly. Despite his imposing appearance, his expression was gentle.
"Hello, Audrey," he said, removing his coat.
"You may call me Gale. The next two months will be very busy—I hope you're prepared."
"Professor Depp," Rick said, "there's no rush. Shall I show you to your room first?"
"Much obliged."
---
After settling his luggage, Professor Depp returned and said calmly,
"Audrey, the first thing we must do is buy you a wand."
Before she could reply, he took her hand.
"I'll be using Apparition. It may feel uncomfortable—please bear with it."
Crack.
The two vanished.
Rick screamed in alarm, running around the room before finally realising what had happened.
"That's… incredible!"
---
They appeared outside the Leaky Cauldron.
Audrey, of course, felt no Apparition sickness. She hesitated for two seconds—then decided to act.
"Ugh—!"
She gagged dramatically.
Is this convincing enough…?
"Audrey," Professor Depp said, amused, "you don't need to do that. Albus has told me everything about you. I know who you are."
Her eyes widened adorably.
"Then why did you tell me Apparition would be uncomfortable?!"
"That was for your brother's sake," he replied calmly.
"…."
Ignoring him, Audrey pushed open the door.
The moment she entered, voices erupted.
"Isn't that Audrey Astray?!"
"She got her Hogwarts letter!"
"I told you she had to be a witch!"
"Miss Astray! Can I have your autograph?!"
The pub instantly descended into chaos.
Audrey froze. She knew her songs were popular—but this popular?
Professor Depp's expression darkened.
He stamped his foot lightly.
An invisible barrier expanded outward, sealing everyone else off. The nearest patrons collided with it like Muggles walking into glass.
Audrey maintained her professional smile, waving as she moved into the courtyard.
Once clear, she exhaled in relief.
"Well done," Professor Depp remarked.
"You have a genuine talent for calming people."
Audrey blinked.
Is that on the OWLs syllabus?
Now that her identity was known, she stopped pretending to be clueless.
She headed straight for Ollivanders—far more familiar with the route than her escort.
The bell chimed as they entered.
"Good morning," said a gentle voice.
"First time here?"
"Yes."
"Oh! You must be Audrey Astray—the fifth-year transfer!"
Ollivander beamed. "I listen to your songs all the time. I'm quite the fan!"
He produced a silver-marked measuring tape.
"Which is your dominant hand?"
"Both—but I favour my right."
"Every Ollivander wand contains—"
"Mr. Ollivander," Professor Depp interrupted,
"we're short on time."
"She's taking her OWLs this year."
"Oh dear—how exhausting that must be," Ollivander said sympathetically.
Audrey nodded vigorously.
"Yes. Exhausting. I don't want to do this at all."
"Try this—styrax wood, unicorn hair."
The wand erupted in radiant light.
"Perfect on the first try!" Ollivander exclaimed.
"Could we try another?" Audrey asked calmly.
Too gentle.
"Then—chestnut wood, dragon heartstring, thirteen and a half inches."
The moment she grasped it, she knew.
Golden light traced the wand like glowing runes—mysterious, beautiful, like Galleons glittering in a vault.
"My goodness…" Ollivander whispered.
"Chestnut wands favour those skilled with magical creatures, herbology, or flight."
Audrey nodded.
Perfect.
What Ollivander didn't say was that this combination also suited those who loved luxury—and were unconcerned with how they obtained it.
It suited her perfectly.
"Excellent," Professor Depp said briskly.
"Now that Audrey has her wand—it's my turn."
Audrey: ?
Ollivander: ???