Author's Note: Hi guys, thanks for being patient with my updates. I hope you like this chapter, I quite enjoyed writing it. Thanks again to Daniella the muggle and to everyone else who reviewed my story so far. Suggestions and comments are welcome. Please leave a review. It means a lot. Enjoy! :)

As he walked down the hall, Tintin puzzled about what was going on with Audrey.

She's a reporter. He thought. Reporters don't need guns.

Then he grinned sheepishly, he was a reporter and he often needed a gun.

When he finally reached the dining room it was quite crowded so he had to push his way around a bit to find his seat. When he did he was, of course, sitting right down next to Audrey Tabard. She smiled at him.

"Oh, hello Tintin. I was hoping we'd be seated next to each other. If you don't mind I'd like to ask you some questions." Audrey said cheerfully and pulled out a notepad and pencil from her clutch purse that was sitting on the table in front of her.

"No, of course not…" His voice trailed off.

"Is something the matter?" Audrey asked, her expression changing from bliss to confusion in the blink of an eye.

Tintin, quite unaware that he was frowning, was deep in thought.

How could this girl act like nothing is the matter after that cold look before? He wondered.

Hearing Audrey's voice again snapped him out of his thoughts.

"What? No, no. I was just thinking. Anyways, what was it you were planning on asking me?"

"Oh, I was just curious if you'd tell me about a few of your adventures and if you have any advice for a budding reporter like myself."

Tintin nodded thoughtfully and began to tell Audrey about his recent trip to London where he uncovered a group of infamous gangsters.

"What a coincidence, I'm from London and was covering that story as well. Unfortunately you were able to solve it before I was."

"I'm sorry about that."

"No, no, it's not a big deal." Audrey smiled and her bright, turquoise eyes sparkled again.

Tintin thought she looked rather pretty with her dark blonde hair in an updo and wearing a long, lacy, sky blue dress.

"So, why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?"

"Well, I've been living in London for a while now. I used to live in the countryside, but came to the city to pursue my career. I've always loved writing. It's quite surprising actually how supportive my parents were to the idea of sending their teenage daughter off by herself. It was a huge risk for them and I know it was a difficult decision."

"So, how old are you?"

"Sixteen."

Tintin almost fell of his chair. He thought he was the youngest reporter and here was this sixteen year old English girl who was younger by a whole year!

"Wow, that's amazing."

Audrey blushed. "Yes, my parents were awful proud. My father is a sea captain like your comrade Mr. Haddock, he was gone most of the time when I was young, but we keep in touch often enough. Before I left for London he gave me this."

Audrey reached up and thoughtfully touched the pin in her hair. It was white and carved into the shape of a whale.

"But Mother died a year ago. Father sold the house and is at sea all the time now. I haven't seen him in a few months, but he promised we'd meet again soon."

Audrey shrugged and gave a little smile. Tintin could see the sadness reflecting in her eyes.

Not knowing how to handle a lady, Tintin gently patted Audrey on the back a few times awkwardly and tried to smile back at her.

The two were fairly quiet for the rest of dinner besides a casual comment here or there.

Later that night music began. Audrey rested her face in her hands, staring dreamily at the whirling couples.

Tintin cleared his throat. "Ahem, Audrey?" His voice cracked and he blushed, but Audrey didn't seem to notice much.

"Hmm?" She mumbled, still in a daze.

"I was curious…would you care to dance?"

Audrey's face lit up, but her response was interrupted.

"Blistering barnacles! What are you doing here Tintin?"

Audrey and Tintin both turned in surprise to see the Captain coming straight for them.

"Why, Captain, I told you I had a new assignment. What are you doing here?"

"I'm visiting my old sea mate, he's the captain of this fine vessel. You didn't tell me your assignment was on a ship."

Tintin blushed again, he hadn't told the Captain about the assignment purposely. He didn't want to tell him that the newspaper was demoting him.

"Why Tintin, who, may I ask, is this?" Haddock asked suspiciously, taking Audrey's hand and kissing it. She blushed.

"Oh, my, how rude I am. Captain this is Audrey Tabard. She's a reporter as well, and is even younger than I am."

Audrey nodded. "You must be the prominent Captain Haddock. I've heard a lot about you. It's an honor sir."

The Captain seemed a bit stunned and pulled nervously on the tie he was wearing. "Well…I…" He stumbled.

"She didn't say what she heard about you." Tintin grumbled and the Captain glared at him.

"Well, I must be off for now. I'll leave you two love birds to yourselves." He mumbled, before staggering away from the table.

"Love birds? How…why would he say that?" Audrey scoffed, glancing curiously at Tintin.

"Oh, just ignore him." Tintin laughed.

Audrey laughed too and leaned over the back of her dining room chair. Then sighed.

"It's getting late. I should probably get back to my cabin now."

Tintin instantly stood up. "Oh! Well, let me accompany you then."

Audrey smiled. "Well, I suppose that would be fine."

Audrey grabbed her purse and took Tintin's outstretched hand.

They walked down the silent halls quietly until Audrey linked arms with Tintin.

He could feel his face growing warm and there was a funny smile on his face.

"Here we are." Audrey whispered, stopping in front of a door.

Tintin nodded as Audrey unlinked arms with him and unlocked the door.

"Thank you Tintin. Maybe you, Haddock, and I could go to the show playing tomorrow evening. I've heard good things about it."

"That sounds nice. I'll let you know."

Audrey smiled, her big, turquoise eyes shining again. Then she gave a little wave and closed the door.

Tintin figured he should get back to his own cabin.

When he did, Snowy was quite happy to see him and quite appreciated the bits of meat Tintin had managed to save back for him.

"Ah, good boy." Tintin sighed, sitting down in the armchair and reaching into his pocket.

"Why, my notepad has gone missing! Hang on a second…I didn't take it out of my pocket since right before I left for the dining room and I put it back in before I left."

Tintin didn't want to place any blame yet, but things were getting suspicious very quickly.