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Chapter 73: The Real and Fake Snape
"Malfoy, come here a moment," Audrey called, crooking a finger at him. "I need to tell you something."
Draco Malfoy hurried over like an eager lackey, completely lacking the composure expected of a pure-blood heir. Crabbe and Goyle had long since grown used to this sight, while Pansy, once again, stabbed her plate hard enough to make it rattle.
"Cousin," Draco greeted under his breath, lowering his voice. "What is it?"
As Audrey walked toward the common room, she spoke without turning back.
"Gringotts will soon start borrowing from the major families. Go and tell your father—no matter how high the interest they offer, don't lend them a single Knut."
Draco blinked, confused.
"Why?"
"Because they won't be able to repay it," Audrey said calmly. "I'm only telling you this for Aunt Narcissa's sake. If you or your father go spreading this around…"
She paused, glancing at him sideways.
"You'll regret it."
She was clearly helping them—yet somehow it still sounded like a threat.
Draco nearly choked on the contradiction.
Still, he wasn't foolish. He turned and rushed back toward the common room, already planning to write to his father immediately.
---
Audrey strolled out of the Great Hall, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.
She needed to return gifts.
Specifically—
Mrs Weasley's.
---
Molly Weasley had knitted her a sweater and scarf.
That alone wasn't unusual.
But for Audrey?
She had deliberately chosen green and silver yarn—Slytherin colours.
That meant something.
---
The sweater itself was… objectively hideous.
Her name stitched across the front didn't help.
But the sentiment behind it?
That was the most genuine gift she had received.
Warm.
Simple.
Sincere.
---
Second place went to Isolde, who had gifted her a pure gold Greek-style water jug.
A true friend—one who understood her perfectly.
---
And third…
An anonymous sender.
"You-Know-Who."
---
The gift was a Slytherin-coloured mask, set with two exquisite emeralds.
An alchemical item.
It automatically cast a Shield Charm.
Audrey had tested it.
The protection was… stronger than her own magic.
---
Who exactly sent this?
---
But that wasn't the point.
The point was—
What should she give the Weasleys in return?
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Money?
Too crude.
Far too crude.
---
A tank?
Mr Weasley would love that.
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A Chinese cookbook for Mrs Weasley?
…Actually, not bad.
---
Lost in these thoughts, Audrey didn't notice when someone stepped in front of her.
She nearly jumped.
For a brief moment, she felt an odd sense of déjà vu—
Like she was the villain being cornered by the protagonists.
---
"Audrey—we need to talk."
Harry Potter, along with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, quickly ushered her into a quiet stairwell near the Great Hall.
---
"We need your help," Harry said seriously.
Hermione and Ron nodded in firm agreement.
"During Christmas," Harry continued, "Snape tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone from the corridor on the fourth floor—but he was stopped by the guard. That three-headed dog."
---
Audrey blinked.
Once.
Twice.
---
What?
---
Snape had been shadowing her the entire holiday.
Practically glued to her.
There was no way he had returned to Hogwarts to do anything.
---
And more importantly—
Weren't these three moving a bit too fast?
---
In the original timeline, it had taken months for them to uncover the Philosopher's Stone.
Now?
Barely one holiday—and they were already here?
---
Impressive.
The plot correction is working overtime.
---
But if Harry had seen Snape…
Then someone was staging a performance.
---
Quirrell wouldn't bother.
Which left only one possibility.
---
Dumbledore.
---
Audrey shrugged lightly.
"And why ask me?"
Hermione answered immediately, her tone earnest.
"We're Gryffindors. Following Snape would be too obvious. But you—you can do it without raising suspicion."
Harry stepped forward.
"Audrey, can you help us watch Snape? Dumbledore and Hagrid won't listen to us, so we had no choice but to come to you."
Ron added urgently,
"If Snape gets the Philosopher's Stone, he'll bring You-Know-Who back! Everyone knows he's a Death Eater!"
---
Audrey's gaze drifted to a painting on the wall.
A farm girl cutting grass.
Watching them.
---
When their eyes met, the girl gave her a knowing look.
---
Right.
Dumbledore was listening.
---
That settled it.
---
"How did you even find out about the Philosopher's Stone?" Audrey asked casually.
"It was Hagrid!" Hermione said. "He let it slip—and mentioned Nicolas Flamel!"
Harry nodded eagerly.
"And since Flamel taught you before term started, we figured it out after doing some research!"
---
"Impressive," Audrey said, giving them a thumbs-up.
Then she sighed.
"But I'm taking my OWLs this year."
"I've already exempted myself from most classes so I can study independently. I'm afraid I don't have time to follow Snape around."
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Hermione covered her mouth, stunned.
So the rumours were wrong.
Audrey wasn't lazy at all.
She was… secretly working hard.
---
That makes sense.
She's just keeping a low profile.
---
Audrey continued smoothly,
"However, I can keep track of Professor Snape's movements. If anything unusual happens, I'll inform you."
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Unusual?
Hardly.
Snape already knew everything.
After all, he was part of the plan.
He knew better than anyone—
That the Philosopher's Stone was fake.
---
Ah… classic Slytherin.
Winning favour with nothing but words.
---
Harry nodded gratefully.
"Thank you, Audrey. We didn't realise you were so busy… but you still agreed to help us. You're really kind."
---
After she left—
Ron frowned.
"Didn't she have a concert over Christmas? Is she really that busy with studying?"
Hermione shot him a look.
"She's balancing both! Do you have any idea how much sleep she must have sacrificed to keep up?"
---
Harry immediately backed her up.
"Exactly. Audrey wouldn't lie to us."
Then, more serious—
"We can't rely on her anyway. Protecting the Philosopher's Stone is our responsibility."
Ron nodded firmly.
"Right. It's up to us."
---
…
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Audrey, meanwhile, had already slipped away to an empty corridor.
With a soft crack—
She Apparated.
---
Landing directly on her bed.
---
She lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Originally, she had only planned to inherit the Lestrange fortune.
But now?
Things had spiralled completely out of control.
---
She was about to become the richest person in the wizarding world.
---
And suddenly—
She didn't know what to do with that.
---
A golden hoe?
Ridiculous.
A jade burial suit?
That was for the dead.
Travelling the world for food?
That cost nothing.
A mansion?
Hogwarts itself was practically hers.
---
What else was left?
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After a long silence, she came to a conclusion.
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A massive cavern.
Filled with gold.
Endless treasure.
---
And her—
Sleeping on top of it.
---
…
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"…Why does that sound so boring?"
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A soft crack interrupted her thoughts.
Momo appeared.
---
"Shouldn't you be in the kitchen?" Audrey asked lazily.
The house-elf wrung his hands.
"Young mistress… Headmaster Dumbledore is asking for you."