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Chapter 37. The Iron Triangle Will Not Be Torn Apart by a Small Snake
The little cousin's outrageous remarks briefly drew the attention of the surrounding young witches and wizards.
But after only a glance, no one bothered with him any longer. Everyone immediately turned back to Audrey, clamouring for autographs.
Audrey had no time to deal with Draco either.
The brat certainly needed discipline—but not in public. After all, he was technically family, and some dignity still had to be spared.
Although Rodolphus Lestrange was not her biological father, Bellatrix Lestrange was undeniably the mother of this body.
And Draco Malfoy's mother was Bellatrix's sister.
By blood, Draco was her cousin—her first cousin, no less.
He would be educated properly. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
Draco grew red with embarrassment when Audrey ignored him. He tried to force his way through the crowd, but the surrounding young wizards blocked him without hesitation.
Joke's on you—if you want an autograph, you queue up like everyone else. Who did he think he was, barging in like that?
…
"Miss Astray, do you remember me?"
Brown, bushy hair. Prominent front teeth.
"Hermione Granger! What a coincidence," Audrey laughed warmly. "Or are you here for an autograph too?"
"No!" Hermione said quickly, blushing. "I heard you were here, so I came to see you. I have all your albums—vinyls, tapes, everything! Every single one is autographed, and they're all safely kept at home!"
In the past, Audrey would have avoided main characters like Harry and Hermione at all costs.
But her mindset had changed.
She only needed to endure three years, graduate safely, and enjoy a bright future—what was there to fear?
So instead of keeping her distance like she had at previous concerts, she patiently chatted with Hermione.
That sight alone nearly made Draco Malfoy explode with rage.
Earlier, he could still excuse Audrey's ignoring him as her being busy with autographs.
But now?
She was smiling and chatting happily with a Mud—
Unacceptable.
Absolutely unacceptable.
Why was Draco so certain Hermione wasn't from a wizarding family?
Because Hermione was practically radiating Muggle energy. She hadn't changed into robes yet, and her clothes were clearly Muggle-style.
More importantly, Draco had a decent grasp of wizarding families their age.
Granger?
There was no such surname in respectable wizarding society.
"Astray!" he shouted, forcing his way forward. "Let me through! I'm Draco Malfoy! My father sits on the Hogwarts Board of Governors!"
The title still carried weight. Draco managed to push several steps forward—only to be stopped abruptly by a tall seventh-year student.
"Watch your mouth, you ill-mannered little brat!"
The older student shoved Draco back hard.
"The son of a traitor running wild here—how ridiculous."
Draco stumbled several steps before falling flat onto the floor.
He was just about to erupt—
Then he saw who had pushed him.
It was Dorca Yaxley.
Yaxley's father was a loyal Death Eater, held in higher regard by the Dark Lord than even Lucius Malfoy. His uncle was also a member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors.
Draco instantly swallowed his anger.
He picked himself up silently and slunk back into the crowd.
But the rage boiling inside him had nowhere to go.
Unable to hold it in any longer, he shouted at Audrey through the crowd,
"What's so special about her anyway?! She's just a Muggle-born witch! A street performer!"
In this setting, Draco didn't dare use the word Mudblood.
He knew perfectly well that Audrey's fans might actually beat him senseless if he did.
To be fair, Audrey's music had made many pure-blood wizards forget her blood status entirely.
In their eyes, Audrey Astray was different.
Audrey's calm voice rang out clearly:
"If you look down on my status, then the door is right there. You're free to leave."
A dismissal.
Draco clenched his fists and stormed toward the door.
Humiliation. Absolute humiliation.
From his pocket, he pulled out an album—New Age.
On the cover, Audrey and Rick stood back to back, smiling brilliantly.
He wanted to smash it.
In the end, he couldn't bear to.
Silently, he put it away.
…
"Harry, hurry! Audrey's in this carriage!"
Ron dragged Harry along with the flow of people.
"Wow…" Ron struggled to find the right word. "This carriage is… huge."
Harry twitched slightly, deeply concerned about Ron's vocabulary.
"Yes. Very large," he agreed, generously sparing his friend some dignity.
"But why is this carriage different from ours?"
"It's the Undetectable Extension Charm!" Ron exclaimed. "Dad enchanted our car with it once—but it was nothing like this!"
Ron, ever the expert at exposing secrets, loudly announced Arthur Weasley's illegal charm usage.
As for Audrey?
She was a first-year—ignorance could be excused.
Besides, the Ministry of Magic was actively hoping she'd inherit ancient magic. They wouldn't nitpick something this trivial.
Most importantly—she was under Dumbledore's protection.
Draco, who had been about to leave, froze.
Crabbe and Goyle crashed into him from behind, making him stagger.
He rounded on them angrily, then turned to Harry.
"You're Harry Potter, aren't you?"
Harry nodded. "Yes."
Draco instantly plastered on a smile and extended his hand.
"Draco Malfoy."
Meeting Audrey had failed—but meeting Harry Potter?
That was an excellent consolation prize.
Ron coughed loudly, barely holding back laughter.
Draco shot him a glare.
"What's so funny? I don't even need to ask who you are. My father told me—the Weasleys are all red-haired, and they have so many children they can't even afford to raise them."
Ignoring Ron, Draco continued smoothly,
"Potter, you don't want to associate with people like that. They'll only drag you down."
Harry didn't take the offered hand.
Instead, he stepped firmly in front of Ron.
"I think I'll decide for myself who my friends are."
Draco's face twisted.
Nothing had gone right since he entered this carriage.
He opened his mouth to retort—
"Apologize."
A furious girl strode toward him.
It was the Muggle-born witch who had been talking to Audrey.
Draco's face went pale.
"You insulted Miss Astray," Hermione said sharply. "You will apologize."
"She's just a Muggle—"
"A person's worth has nothing to do with bloodline!" Hermione snapped.
"You insulted Miss Astray. You owe her an apology."
Harry and Ron both stiffened.
"How did he insult Audrey?" Ron demanded angrily.
"He called her a street performer."
"That's outrageous!" Harry glared at Draco. Audrey Astray had been his emotional refuge—how dare he demean her?
Facing the three of them, Draco felt pressure mounting.
Still, he shouted stubbornly,
"I'm just telling the truth! She is a street performer!"
With that, he stormed out.
Crabbe and Goyle, fists clenched and ready for a fight, could only awkwardly follow.
…
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances.
Hermione spoke first.
"Are you two fans of Miss Astray?"
"Yes!" ×2
"I'm Hermione Granger."
"I'm Harry Potter."
"That Harry Potter?"
"Uh… yes."
"My name is Ro—"
"I heard you're the only one who survived You-Know-Who's Killing Curse! How did you do it?"
"I… don't know…"
"My name is Ro—"
"Oh, that's not important. As long as you like Miss Astray, we can be friends."
"My name is Ron Weasley!"
"Oh! Nice to meet you, Ron Weasley."
Ron felt slightly offended—but then—
"I brought a Walkman. We can listen to Miss Astray's songs together. Want to join?"
Ron didn't know what a Walkman was.
But he suddenly felt that Hermione's front teeth were… kind of cute.
…
"BANG—!"
The Hogwarts Express lurched violently.
Young wizards were thrown off their feet as the train screeched and slowed, finally grinding to a halt.
"What happened?" Harry asked, adjusting his crooked glasses.
"No idea," Ron said. "But something serious must've happened."
Panic spread.
The Hogwarts Express never stopped mid-route.
Then—
Audrey's voice filled the air.
"The moonlight ripples across clear waves,
Mist drapes the lake in silver haze.
I long to row away my worries—
Yet fear the cold night waters…"
Her singing flowed like cool spring water.
The panic vanished.
Percy Weasley seized the moment.
"Please return to your carriages in an orderly fashion! Do not wander until the situation is clarified!"
Thanks to the Weasley brothers, the carriage soon emptied.
Audrey waved her wand, and the space reverted to normal.
Harry and Ron stayed.
Inside now were Audrey, Lee Jordan, George, Fred, Harry, and Ron.
Percy had already left, ever dutiful.
Ron pulled Harry forward.
"Audrey, this is my new friend. He's a fan too—Harry Potter."
"Hello, Harry," Audrey smiled gently. "I've heard a lot about you."
Harry's face instantly turned red.
He had never dreamed of speaking to her.
Dudley… can you see this?
The star from your posters is talking to me.
Unfortunately, he was so nervous he couldn't speak.
Lee Jordan whispered excitedly,
"Is that really Harry Potter?"
"Yep."
"Merlin's beard!" Lee exclaimed. "I'm in the same carriage as two legends!"
Audrey smiled knowingly.
"Harry, would you like my autograph?"
Harry lowered his head, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry… I've never even bought one of your records…"
"That doesn't matter," Audrey laughed.
"Anyone who enjoys my music is my fan—whether they've bought my records or not."
—Harry Potter is rich. Very rich.
VIP custom records should definitely be planned.
Audrey gently removed Harry's glasses.
Before he could react, she drew her wand and carefully carved words along the temple:
"To Harry—may you always be happy.
—Audrey Astray."
Harry held the glasses with trembling hands.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
"Amazing control!" Fred exclaimed.
"Are you sure you live in the Muggle world? That cutting charm alone beats most Hogwarts students—and some professors!"
Before Audrey could reply—
The carriage door was flung open.
"Is Audrey Astray here? Come with us."
Three adult wizards stood there.
Dark green robes.
Silver masks.
The left half smooth and blank.
The right half engraved with a coiled snake.
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