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Chapter 19
The Idols of the Three Young Giants
"Bobby Graham?"
Dumbledore looked mildly surprised. "That's a rather new name."
He smiled and nodded thoughtfully.
"If you ever attend Hogwarts, I imagine you'd most likely be sorted into Slytherin."
With a gentle wave of his hand, he added,
"Run along now. Don't keep your brother waiting."
Hydras felt as though she had just been granted a royal pardon.
She waved hurriedly and bolted in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron.
She ran so fast that she completely forgot she still needed to visit the bookshop.
She ran so fast that even Golden Tiger couldn't keep up.
She fled in such a fluster that it made Dumbledore laugh aloud.
The old wizard chuckled for a long while before Apparating back to Hogwarts.
Having power meant you could do whatever you pleased.
Back in his office, he idly teased Fawkes, who had been resting on his perch. The phoenix flicked its tail impatiently, but Dumbledore was clearly in excellent spirits.
"I met a very interesting little girl today, Fawkes," he said cheerfully.
"She's different. She knows how to love."
…
…
Hydras—who apparently knew how to love—rushed into the Leaky Cauldron, accepted a small bucket of butterbeer from old Tom, and hurried off again.
After taking Golden Tiger with her and Apparating back to Rick's house, she immediately transformed back into Audrey.
Hearing movement downstairs, Rick stepped out of his room.
"Audrey? You're back?"
"Yes, Brother! I bought something delicious—come down and try it!"
"All right," Rick replied, his voice noticeably calmer than before.
He had just finished revising Picture to Burn.
"I'm coming."
Florean Fortescue's ice cream was rich and harmonious—much like the unspoken understanding between the Astray siblings.
The butterbeer was smooth and mellow—much like their unhindered progress through the British music scene.
…
…
Peter Waterman was ecstatic.
Hit songs were being released one after another, and the siblings' talent was nothing short of astonishing.
Audrey felt there was nothing wrong with being a plagiarist. After all, she didn't need to arrange or adapt anything—she only had to sing.
And she loved singing.
It never felt like work.
Just like now.
At the concert held in Regent's Park, London, Audrey was completely immersed.
She stood beneath the lights, radiant and dazzling—a star by nature.
There was something almost magical about her presence, making it easy for listeners to resonate with her songs.
Her voice carried an enchanting quality, drawing everyone in.
The audience was filled with men and women, young and old—many families among them.
"Mum!"
Hermione Granger cried excitedly from atop Mr Granger's shoulders.
"That's Audrey Astray! She's the lady we saw in the department store last time!"
"I knew she looked like Audrey Hepburn," Hermione said breathlessly.
"So her name really is Audrey!"
She closed her eyes just as Audrey reached a high note.
The entire crowd seemed to stop breathing, as though the soaring melody would shatter if anyone dared exhale.
"I can't believe I'm so connected to my favourite singer!"
Hermione shouted excitedly, just like the surrounding fans.
"I've decided! Audrey Astray is my idol from now on!"
Mrs Granger smiled indulgently.
"You already have so many idols—Einstein, Newton, Shakespeare, Aristotle…"
"That's different, Mum!"
Hermione stared at Audrey, glowing on stage.
"She's different!"
Then she noticed the golden tabby sitting quietly beside Audrey, its tail gently tapping in time with the music.
It felt as though Hermione had discovered an entirely new continent.
"Look! Even her cat is special!"
"Mum, can we get a cat too?"
…
…
Six-year-old Harry Potter was hiding in the cupboard under the stairs.
He was listening to the music channel on an old radio—one Dudley had thrown away.
After scavenging two nearly-dead batteries, he turned the volume down to almost nothing.
The song playing was called Sweeter Than Fiction.
The singer sounded young, but her voice was gentle without being cloying—like something out of a dream.
I've seen you fall,
I've watched you kneel.
I've seen you get lost in the crowd,
Seen the colour drain from your face.
I wish I could make it better.
Someday you won't remember—
What once felt like endless pain.
Harry nodded along, completely absorbed.
You stand there, seven feet tall.
Fearless—I always knew you were.
Your gaze reaches beyond the horizon.
This love is sweeter than any story.
The song felt like a family member whispering comfort—telling you that pain would fade, and that if you endured, life would one day become sweeter than fiction.
Harry clutched the radio and softly sang along.
You stand there, seven feet tall…
Bang! Bang! Bang!
From upstairs came Dudley's stomping, followed by his shout:
"Shut up, Harry Potter!"
"You sing terribly! If Audrey heard you, she'd cry!"
Harry immediately fell silent.
Compared to his aunt and uncle, Audrey felt more like family.
At least—inside this song.
Miss Astray wouldn't mind,
Harry thought.
…
…
The Burrow.
Molly Weasley bustled about the kitchen, wand in hand.
As usual, the Wizarding Wireless Network played in the background.
The current programme was Magic Time, hosted by the newly appointed Granda Chitock.
Yes—such was the wizarding world.
A programme called Magic Time that talked about music, not magic.
A beautiful melody filled the crooked little house.
The wings of the great fish are already too vast.
I loosen the ropes of time.
I watch you fly away, watch you leave me.
You were born to belong to the sky.
Every tear flows toward you.
Let's return to our very first meeting…
Molly listened so intently that she waved her wand like a conductor.
Of course, she was conducting—chopping onions with one hand while stirring the soup rhythmically with the other.
The peace didn't last.
"Ron! Audrey Astray is definitely not a Muggle!"
"How could that be?" Ron protested.
"Granda Chitock already said—"
He mimicked the announcer dramatically:
"'The next song is by Muggle singer Audrey Astray. She is eleven years old and did not enrol at Hogwarts. Clearly not a witch.'"
"No, no, no," George laughed. "Not all young witches attend school."
"You can't take Granda Chitock's word as proof," Fred added.
"Then you have no proof she is a witch!" Ron snapped.
Fred and George exchanged a look.
Fred spoke first.
"'The wings of a great fish are already too vast.' Ron—do you know any winged fish in the Muggle world?"
George spread his arms wide.
"And what about 'loosening the ropes of time'? Or 'returning to the first meeting'?"
"That's clearly time magic!"
Fred gasped theatrically.
"Time magic! Magic even Dumbledore hasn't mastered!"
Ron was utterly lost.
Thankfully, Molly intervened.
"You're being far too noisy! You're ruining my programme!"
The twins pulled faces and thundered upstairs.
Ron listened quietly now, imagining a colossal winged fish soaring through the sky.
Though he had lost the argument, he wasn't sad.
He was happy.
"If only Audrey really were a witch…"
"Maybe George and Fred are right."
"Maybe she is."
…
…
December, 1986.
Audrey opened her eyes on the aeroplane.
Gently stroking Golden Tiger in her arms, she glanced at Rick sleeping beside her and smiled.
Over the past few months, Rick had taken care of her in his own clumsy, gentle way.
And so, she accepted him as her brother.
She hadn't expected herself to be so gifted at singing.
In just three months, the Astray siblings had become famous across Britain—and even received invitations from the United States.
They were currently on a flight from New York to London.
After finishing the American tour, she had immediately requested leave from Mr Waterman.
To him, she was priceless—how could he possibly refuse?
Audrey smiled faintly.
She hadn't taken leave to rest.
Another quarter had passed.
It was time for the Lestrange family's business profits to be tallied in London once more.
Her Gringotts balance was about to change again.
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