Audrey gently brushed the cat's matted fur and picked it up, intending to put it back into it's cage. A tall, orange-haired man around her age walked into the store.
"What can I do for you today?" She asked cheerfully, straightening her apron and brushing cat hair off the counter.
He didn't answer, and she observed him. He seemed like the stuffy, business, boring type. While he walked around the perimeter of the shop, she poured cat litter into trays, replacing the soiled ones.
He walked up to the counter, turning up his nose a bit at the smell of the waste.
"Could I see….that one?" He pointed to an orange cat in one of the higher cages and she fetched it for him. It sat in his arms, purring as he stroked it.
He spent the next few minutes asking about different cats, kinds, etc. Finally he asked to see Mumford, her special cat. She reluctantly handed him over.
"Oh." The man exhaled in surprise as the cat nuzzled up against his ministry of magic robes.
Tears filled her eyes. She should have known better to get attached to that cat. Biting her lip, she rang him up, along with some basic supplies. As soon as he left, she sat down on a stool and wiped her eyes.
Audrey felt the loss of the cat like a person. Quickly she looked up as the bell tinkled over the door again.
"Hey, I forgot my…" It was the young man again, and he stopped upon seeing her expression.
"Sorry," She said, searching for his other bag, trying to ignore the fact that he was staring at her.
"What's wrong?" He asked as she stood up and handed him the bag.
"Nothing. I'm fine." She said shortly, turning her face away.
"Is it the cat that I just bought?" He asked.
She whipped back around, so surprised she nodded.
He chuckled awkwardly, to relieve the tension.
"I saw the expression on your face as you handed him over, and I'm sorry I bought him, I just couldn't resist." He said kindly.
"Audrey Hightower," She said, holding out her hand. His eyes were startlingly blue, so much that she had to look away, remembering the last blue-eyed person she had known.
"Percy Weasley,"He said, giving her hand a firm shake.
"Look, if you really care about the cat that much, I suppose I could choose another one." He said.
"No, it's yours now," She said, trying to hide the expression on her face, which would clearly betray her.
"How about we compromise- I'll bring him in for a checkup next week and you can see him." He said. Was he flirting with her?
"You have a deal," She said, smiling.
A/N:
So this is just a quick little one-shot of how I thought Percy and Audrey would meet. I had fun writing it and I hope you had fun reading it. It is going to be marked as complete for the time being, as I have another story I'm working on. If you want more of the story, please review so that I know :D
-PAR