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Chapter 38: This Woman Is Extraordinary
"Who are you people?" Lee Jordan was the first to step forward.
With a carriage full of Gryffindors—and Harry and Ron, who were all but guaranteed to be sorted into Gryffindor—they certainly didn't lack courage.
Even when facing three fully grown wizards.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Without another word, the masked man unleashed a jet of green light.
The young witches and wizards froze in shock.
Casting the Killing Curse so casually—they were even more unhinged than Death Eaters!
The green light shot straight towards Lee Jordan. As it filled his vision, his thoughts scattered wildly.
An orange beam erupted mid-air, slamming into the Death Curse and halting its advance.
Following the beam back, everyone saw Audrey's raised wand.
The magic had come from her.
These dark wizards—whose strength was barely half of Lucius Malfoy's—were wildly overestimating themselves if they thought they could compete with Audrey in raw power.
The orange light quickly overwhelmed the green and surged forward.
The masked wizard instantly cut off his magic and threw himself aside. Audrey's spell skimmed past his shoulder and smashed through the carriage window opposite. A fierce mountain wind roared in, whipping the three men's robes violently.
"Audrey Astray," the leader barked, "stop resisting and come with us!"
Audrey rose calmly to her feet. Golden Tiger leapt onto the small table beside her. She could handle opponents like these alone.
She lifted her wand.
"Just the three of you?" she said lightly. "That won't be enough to take me."
And she meant it.
Did they have any idea what kind of life she had endured over the past two months?
She had been dragged around by that man—the one who made the entire European wizarding world tremble.
For two straight months, she had chased him… and been beaten senseless by him.
Family, do you understand this?
Talent? Compatibility with magic? Genius?
Grindelwald had taught her a single, brutal truth:
Your grandparent is still your grandparent.
Under the Dark Lord's overwhelming magic, Audrey had been utterly crushed—again and again.
But so what?
After Grindelwald's special training, she had surpassed the vast majority of modern wizards.
At a conservative estimate, she was at least three times stronger than Lucius Malfoy.
From the moment she exchanged spells with the masked men, she had already judged the situation.
They were no threat.
The leader sneered. "You think you can't be taken away?"
He stepped forward, extending his hand. "Fight us here if you want—but we can't guarantee the students' safety."
A blatant threat.
"Hand over your wand," he ordered. "Come quietly. Or watch your classmates die."
Audrey smiled.
Then she vanished.
Through the Invisible Beast's future-sight, she had already seen the next ninety seconds.
She didn't even bother switching magical physiques.
Magic?
Unnecessary.
Why waste the close-combat skills she'd honed in her previous life?
Audrey's current physical strength rivalled that of a five-times-enhanced Fantastic Beast.
A humanoid fire-dragon.
The leader was still reeling from her disappearance when—
Crack!
A fist-shaped dent caved into his silver mask.
He groaned once and collapsed backwards, slipping instantly into a deep, baby-like unconsciousness.
The other two froze.
One of them reacted decisively, raising his wand as green light gathered at the tip and swept toward the carriage interior.
If he fired blindly in such a cramped space, someone was bound to be hit—
But before he could cast, a crushing blow slammed into his abdomen.
He doubled over, retching violently, nearly vomiting up last night's dinner.
Unfortunately for him, he was wearing a sealed mask.
Rainbow-coloured bile seeped out from the sides and beneath his chin.
The young wizards weren't frightened anymore.
They were disgusted.
"Ewwwww—"
"That's vile!"
"Absolutely revolting!"
Very Gryffindor behaviour.
Audrey didn't prolong his suffering. An invisible chop struck his neck, and he collapsed unconscious beside his companion.
Bang!
The connecting carriage doors burst open.
Prefects and train staff rushed in together.
At the same moment, the final masked man leapt through the shattered window and vanished into the wild terrain with a sharp whoosh.
Audrey reappeared in her seat.
She settled Golden Tiger on her lap, rested her chin on her right hand, and gazed serenely out of the window—though the halted train offered nothing but rocks and tangled weeds.
Her voice was soft.
"You didn't see anything," she said. "Did you?"
She wanted no trouble.
Feigning ignorance was best—but first, she had to ensure the silence of everyone present.
"Audrey!" Ron exclaimed. "That was incredible! How did you—"
"No," she interrupted smoothly. "I didn't. Don't talk nonsense."
Her triple denial left Ron completely bewildered.
Audrey spoke calmly, eyes still on the scenery.
"Ron, you should always keep something in reserve. If people know all your trump cards, you'll never catch them off guard again."
"So please," she added lightly, "do me a favour and don't mention this to anyone."
Footsteps were already approaching.
The twins exchanged a glance and immediately understood.
Isn't that exactly how pranks work?
"Oh dear," George exclaimed theatrically, stepping out of the carriage, "why have these two fainted?"
"Yes, yes," Fred added loudly. "How very mysterious."
Percy appeared moments later, pale with alarm.
"Ron! Fred! George! Are you all right?!"
"Our prefect brother!" Fred laughed.
"He finally cares!" George chimed in.
Percy rubbed his temples. "This is serious. What happened?"
"Well," George began solemnly, "three masked men tried to kidnap Audrey."
Fred nodded gravely. "Perhaps they wanted her to sing just for them."
"Loads of creeps like that," George added.
"Then a giant appeared!"
"No, George, the carriage wouldn't fit a troll."
"Right—then a mysterious wizard appeared and knocked them out."
Percy's forehead twitched.
The tracks ahead had been sabotaged. There had been an attempted kidnapping.
This was organised.
"Ron," Percy said sharply, "tell me the truth."
Ron glanced at Audrey.
She was still calmly admiring the very unremarkable rocks.
"Er… Percy," Ron said carefully, "Audrey was singing. It was really beautiful. I fell asleep."
Harry and Lee immediately caught on.
"Yes! We were asleep too!"
"Didn't see anything!"
The burden shifted back to Percy.
He knew perfectly well they were lying.
He looked once more at Audrey Astray, serenely watching the scenery.
Should he believe them—
Or should he pretend to?
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