Collide: Harry Potter 3rd(ish) Generation

Chapter 14 Audrey

Chap. 14 Audrey

“I think I know who you’re thinking of.” said Jaiden.

    “Is it...” Carina started.

    “Eric.” the three of them said at the same time.

Audrey looked at Calla, who looked confused.

    “Let me put it this way.” she began,voice raspy, “Eric was the only one there when Cari was attacked and his story completely contradicted with hers. My guess is, the same thing happened with me. Was Eric still studying with you after I left?”

    “No, actually.” said Carina, “He said that he needed some water.”

    “You and Calla were studying and Jaiden was doing something with Professor Potter. There was only one other person who knew where I was.”

    “And don’t forget that Eric tried to convince Potter that I was the one who did it.” said Jaiden.

    “He did?!” Audrey exclaimed, before wincing in pain “Sure, everyone knows that you and I don’t get along very well, but everyone also knows that you wouldn’t try to kill me!”

Calla and Carina were both trying to hold back a laugh.

    “I don’t know, you came pretty close to killing each other once. Or twice.” said Calla.

    “That’s not the point.” said Jaiden and Audrey chorused.

    “Well, the point is, we have to catch the ‘son of a death eater’ who put me in here.” Audrey said, trying to get out of bed.

    “Audrey, “ said Calla, “ did you forget?  YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL WING!

    “Yeah, you almost died yesterday!” Jaiden agreed.

    “You are staying here!” commanded Carina, “You can catch him as soon as you get better, but now, you have to rest.”

    “But...” Audrey began, but sighed “fine.”

A week or two later...

Jaiden, Carina, and Calla met down in the hospital wing. Audrey mentioned she had a play to catch Eric.

    “I’m telling you guys, it could've been a mistake. Eric  probably thought he saw my wand and there are a lot of student here my height.” Jaiden protested walking down the corridor.

    “You don’t find just a bit suspicious that Audrey and I have experienced near-death encounters? That he was suddenly there when that dementor tried to kill me?” Carina countered.

    “Or how he immediately came to Audrey’s rescue when she was cursed?” Calla added.

    “Not to mention he blamed YOU!” The girls chorused stopping in front of Jaiden.

    “Get it through your thick skull! Something isn’t right about him!” Carina pointed out annoyed. She took a deep breath and sighed before walking into the Hospital wing. To her surprise she saw Audrey out of bed, arm in sling, and a bit wibbly wobbly on crutches.

    “What are you doing up?” she asked.

“Madame Pomfrey is letting me go. She said she’s done all the healing spells she can and that skele-grow doesn’t work with curse induced breaks.” Audrey replied still messing with the crutches. “YANNO!” She yelled, throwing down the crutch. “I don’t care how much it hurts, I’m walking on the bloody damn thing if it kills me!”  She screamed stepping on her wrapped ankle before wincing and biting her lip in pain. “I’m fine Cari! See doesn’t hurt at all!”

“Be careful!” Carina warned.

“I will.” Audrey reassured her, “Listen, we have to do something about Eric. We also need to somehow show you that Eric really is a bad guy.” Audrey said addressing Jaiden

“Go on.” Jaiden said dryly

“Well, we have to somehow get you two together, alone. That’s when Eric typically strikes.”

“What if he doesn’t?” asked Calla.

“He will.” said Audrey, “Anywho, my plan is for you, Jaiden to meet Eric somewhere. I was thinking the Womping Willow after curfew. Use the invisibility cloak. Make him believe you still trust him.”

“But I DO trust him!” Jaiden exclaimed.

Audrey picked up her crutch with her free hand. “And I can hit you with this crutch!”

“No.” Carina insisted.

“No magic? This is a first.” Jaiden retorted smugly.

“The only reason is because Cari took my wand. She thought I’d use it to break out of here. Speaking of, Cari can I have my wand back?”

    “No.” Carina insisted.

Audrey huffed. “Anywho! Take him down to the whomping willow after curfew. Talk about the past couple weeks events. A stray dementor in the school no one else notices, a cloaked figure roaming corridors cursing students, and mention a rumor is going around that people think it’s you. That will most likely set him off edge. The rumor isn’t true, but he’ll believe and think he’s not getting credit for his work...” She paused and looked at him sadly.

“What? Why do you look like that?” Jaiden inquired.

Carina met eyes with Audrey and looked down, Calla coughed.

“WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON?” Jaiden urged.

Carina coughed. “The three of us did some thinking... We believe you’re next.”

“And he’s going to use the Whomping Willow to do it.” Calla spoke up.

Jaiden looked at them all in stunned disbelief. This wasn’t happening. His best friends just told him that his friend and housemate was going to attempt to kill him, “You’re lying!” was the only thing he could manage. “I’ll do your stupid plan but you will see that Eric is just another wizard like us all!” With that Jaiden stormed out of the hospital wing, face red with anger.