Audrey's Secret

Rufus Scrimgeour

"Wouldn't you want to eat some jello, dear?" Carmin offers, a small smile tugging her lips. Madison shakes her head, a lolly sticking out on the side of her mouth. I laugh and poke Madison's side. She lets out a squeal, and jumps out of her chair running away in excitement.

I Skip to follow her.

"Audrey could you put her to bed at eight? I need to bake cookies." She winks at me. I nod my head, which was now filled with images of her 'famous' chocolate chip cookies.

I quietly make my way upstairs. Madison's giggles coming from my room. I open my white door to hear her gasp as the door creaked open. I try not to laugh. "I wonder where Madison could be hiding?" I wonder out loud. I hear her suppress her laughs with her hands to my left where my closet is. "Is she in the closet?"

"No!"

She can't control her laughter any longer and squeals as I open the door. "Gotcha!" I pick her up before she can run away and tickle her in my lap. She can't do anything but laugh. After a while, I let her breathe and set her on my bed. She yawns, her small nose scrunching up as she does.

"Madison, time for bed." I jump, Rufus stands by my door.  His eyes are drooping with exhaustion. I smile at him and pick her up. She mumbles a no as I had Madison to Rufus. "Thank you for running off her energy." I nod my head as he takes her to Madison's room. She was already here for a month. I walk into Beatrice's room, "Bea, are you feeling okay now?" Bea claimed she had grown a massive headache and hid in her room. She groaned in response, shifting in her covers. "Please go away!"

"Beatrice Mary Stewart! You better tell me what's wrong or I'll eat your cookies." I threatened, sitting beside her on her bed. She sits up immediately. I gasp, he usual bright hazel eyes are shimmering with anger. Her complection was paler than she was when she was happy.

"Dang, Bea. What's wrong?" I place the back of my hand on her forehead. No fever.

She rolls her eyes and smacks my hand away. "I don't like him."

"Who Rufu-"

"Don't say his name!" She whispers. Bea looks around as if looking for someone who were listening.

I sigh. "Why don't you though? He kind of fought for his kid that he adopted. He's a good guy." Beatrice shakes her head.

"No, you don't get it." She rests her head on her hand. "I don't want another father. I mean, I never had a father but you know what I'm saying. I don't want to go through with another pain again, Audrey."

"Did you tell Carmin about how you feel?"

"She wouldn't listen anyways." Her voice cracks.

I grab her hand, she looks up at me. "You have to try to tell her. That's what would be best. Plus if you don't tell her then she'll go through with the marriage, never knowing what you feel. She cares you know."

*    *    *

"Wake up, wake up, my beautiful girls!" Aunt Carmin sings through the house. I rub my eyes and as soon as I open them I dive underneath the covers. Carmin had opened the blindes in my room so the devil sun would burn out my eyes. "Carmin!" I groan. I sling my legs over the side of the bed, standing up. I glance out the window. It's snowing!

"Bea! Bea! Bea, c'mon! It's snowing!" The six year old comes rushing in my room with Beatrice in tow. I giggle with her bending to her height to look out the windows. Carmin walks in wearing jeans and her Christmas themed sweater. "Girls we're going out! We're going to see a movie and go to the park...oh! We are also going to shop for that Christmas dinner at the Malfoy Mannor." Carmin nudges me with her elbow, a gleam in her eyes. I roll my eyes as she laughs. Aunt Carmin claps her hands. "Now go on, get ready. Dress warm!" Aunt Carmin calls after Beatrice and Madison.

Once we're all dressed we trudge through the snow and into my Aunt's mini van. "Oh shoot! Forgot to tell Rufus. Audrey, be a dear and go tell him where we're off to." I nod and unbuckle. I run back up to the house and open the door and shut it behind me. I glance down at my shoes. Should I take off my shoes? I shrug, a little water wont hurt the carpets. I hurriedly step up the stairs and go to Rufu's and Carmin's room door. I knock. "Hey, uh, Rufus? We're going out for a while, okay?"

Silence.

"Rufus?"

I knock on the door again but this time it creaks open. The shaggy haired man is bent over a book, sitting on the ground. He's mumbling gibberish as he waves his wand around. His wand shoots out a dark cloud and encircles him. "Rufus?" I whisper, a tightening growing in my chest.

He doesn't even acknowledge my presence, the black fog flowing all around the room. I cover my nose with my scarf. Now I'm worried about Rufus. What the heck is this?

I cautiously walk around to where he's bent over his book. I bend down to his height on the floor. "Rufus?"

His head snaps up. His eyes are completely white and he wears a jack-o-lantern smile. My heart beats erratically against my chest. "Audrina Charlotte Riddle, my baby sister!" His voice wasn't the deep friendly tone he used in the kitchen. It was huskier and more creepy. I recognize the voice. He stands up suddenly, causing me to fall. "Tom." I whisper.