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Chapter 72: I'm Giving the Game Ten Seconds, No More
Today's match was between Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
From early morning, young witches and wizards poured toward the Quidditch pitch, filling the stands with excited chatter.
This was no ordinary match.
It was Audrey Astray's debut.
A match destined—so people claimed—to be recorded in Hogwarts: A History.
And this wasn't just student hype. The statement had come from the Hogwarts professor most authoritative on Quidditch.
"Audrey possesses all the qualities of a top player. If she wishes, she will undoubtedly become a Quidditch superstar."
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Audrey herself disagreed.
What qualities did a top player need?
Dedication? Training? Passion?
None of that had anything to do with her.
If not for the chance to skip Potions, she wouldn't even be on the field.
As for the five hundred Galleons Snape had offered—
She didn't care about that anymore.
Not when she was currently negotiating deals worth trillions.
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Ten minutes before the match, Gringotts's Pucci found her.
"Astray Young Miss!"
Audrey didn't waste time.
"Pucci, what's Gringotts' financial situation right now?"
Pucci straightened immediately.
"Reporting to Young Miss—Gringotts across Europe has mobilised eighty-five percent of its available funds. The bank is preparing for the third phase of the loan, estimated at around six hundred billion kupon."
Audrey shook her head.
"Not enough, Pucci. Not nearly enough."
"I understand, Young Miss," Pucci said quickly, almost breathless. "Your team is extraordinary. In just three days, they've converted trillions of kupon into land, stocks, and patents. The total value is enough to support loans of up to three trillion kupon… but we truly are running out of liquid funds."
"If you don't have money, borrow it," Audrey said flatly. "Set the interest rate high enough, and even the pure-blood families will dig their mouldy treasures out of their vaults."
She paused, then added calmly,
"For the third loan, I'll offer eighty percent annual interest."
Pucci froze.
"Eighty… percent?!"
"Yes. Eighty percent. But you only have one week."
Her tone sharpened.
"The entire world is looting Ukraine right now. In a week, there won't be anything worth taking."
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"Audrey Astray! Let's welcome Audrey Astray!"
Marcus Flint hovered mid-air, his face dark as thunder.
No training.
No attendance.
And now—she nearly missed the match itself.
In the stands, Severus Snape looked no better.
He had spent a fortune on her.
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Lee Jordan's amplified voice rang across the stadium.
"Audrey Astray! Let us see you, Miss Astray!"
Nearby, Albus Dumbledore chuckled.
"I'd wager she overslept."
Beside him, Filius Flitwick smiled.
"I wish that were the case, but I saw her outside just now. She seemed to be speaking with a goblin."
"Ah…" Dumbledore's eyes grew distant. "Her business has been rather… active lately."
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"Audrey! The match is about to begin! If you can hear me—please come out now!"
Just as Lee Jordan called for the third time—
A streak of silver tore across the sky.
Audrey shot into the pitch like a meteor, riding her Nimbus 2000 at impossible speed.
The freezing January air seemed to vanish beneath the roaring heat of the crowd.
The moment she appeared—
The stadium exploded.
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Slytherin banners unfurled everywhere.
"Audrey, I love you!"
"Slytherin will win!"
Isolde and Gemma held up a massive green-and-silver banner:
"Audrey Dominates the Arena!"
A tiny animated figure—eerily similar to Audrey—darted back and forth across it on a broom.
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In the stands:
Ron blinked.
"Harry… is the Nimbus 2000 really that fast?"
Harry Potter shook his head slowly.
"I don't think so…"
Hermione cut in sharply.
"Quiet! Madam Hooch is about to start!"
Then, softer—
"I wonder if Audrey will sing today…"
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Draco Malfoy stared blankly at the sky.
"…It wasn't that fast when I rode it."
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The whistle blew.
The match began.
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"Slytherin's Flint has the Quaffle—he's advancing—"
Lee Jordan's voice flowed smoothly—
Then suddenly faltered.
"…Wait—what is Audrey Astray doing?"
"She's diving—straight down! Is that a Wronski Feint right at the start?!"
"Flint has pushed past Ravenclaw's defence—he's lining up a shot—"
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"Wait—WAIT—!"
"WHAT AM I SEEING?!"
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"Audrey just raised her hand—"
"She's caught the Golden Snitch!"
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Silence.
Then chaos.
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"Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable!"
"The match is over—in ten seconds!"
"Slytherin wins, one hundred and fifty to zero!"
"I knew it! Audrey's matches are always clean!"
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"LEE JORDAN!"
Minerva McGonagall snapped sharply.
But even she couldn't hide her disappointment.
If only that girl were in Gryffindor…
She would have handed her Transfiguration marks for free.
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The Slytherins rushed toward the tunnel, eager to escort their hero back.
But Audrey—
Had already disappeared.
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A Quidditch match?
Ten seconds is my limit.
I should be in bed right now—not freezing out here celebrating.
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…
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Unfortunately—
She had barely lain down for a few minutes before Isolde dragged her out of bed and straight to the Great Hall.
"Professor Snape said you must attend dinner tonight," Isolde said helplessly, ignoring Audrey's murderous glare. "If you don't go, he'll put you in detention."
Audrey's eyes widened.
"Detention? On what grounds?! I didn't break any rules!"
Isolde sighed.
"He said it would be for 'disrespecting a professor.' And… he added, 'You know exactly what I mean.'"
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Audrey paused.
…Ah.
Right.
That look she gave him after the match.
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Seriously, Snape? That petty?
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Fine.
Maybe she had slightly looked down on those five hundred Galleons.
But she had still kept her promise, hadn't she?
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…
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Slytherin's victory had put Snape in an excellent mood.
Seeing Audrey arrive reluctantly only improved it further.
He leaned back slightly, lifting his chin, his expression smug without a word spoken.
It said everything.
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Fortunately—
Momo had prepared an exceptional meal.
The moment Audrey sat down, her mood improved instantly.
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Gringotts, London
Elders from across the world had gathered.
"Eighty percent interest?!"
"How much is she borrowing?!"
"Has she gone mad?!"
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Morristo slammed his hand onto the table.
"Gentlemen!"
The room fell silent.
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"That is a two hundred and forty percent return over three years!"
His voice rose with excitement.
"Foreign capital is pouring into Ukraine. The kupon isn't falling—it's rising!"
"This is a golden opportunity!"
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"Our wealth tripled between 1891 and 1991," he continued, eyes blazing.
"But now—we have the chance to surpass a century's growth in just three years!"
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He leaned forward like a gambler staring at a table full of winning bets.
"We borrow."
"From the great families of Europe. From the Americas."
"The more we borrow now—the more we earn later!"
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"Offer them twenty percent annual interest."
"Three-year terms."
"Gringotts will remain invincible!"
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"I second it!"
"I second it!"
"I SECOND IT!"
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The decision was unanimous.
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And not a single one of them realised—
They had already stepped into Audrey Astray's trap.