Chapter Two: Getting to Know You

It was a bright, sunny afternoon and they were sitting eating their lunch quietly. The pub was mostly empty seeing as though lunch was over a while ago. Audrey hated silence but she didn't know her new boss well enough to think of anything interesting to say. Thankfully, Percy spoke up.

"So tell me Audrey, why is there no last name listed for you or your family in our ministry records?" He had been asked to find out so they could document it properly.

"There isn't?" she asked innocently. Of course there wasn't.

"No, and I was just curious as to why that may be, and I'd like to know your last name." Audrey thought about this for a moment, making something up.

"My last name is Carter, but I don't know why it's not documented. It's a ministry file; you'd know more about those than I would." She replied. She was lying of course, her father had kept that bit of information for a reason when they'd moved from America to London. Then again, Audrey had never had a last name. It was something different every time they moved.

"Why didn't your parents list that?" he wondered aloud.

"Do you really expect me to know why my parents did what they did?" she asked irritated. "Dad died a few years ago, not long after we moved here," she said sadly.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to upset you," Percy reached over and patted her hand.

"It's no big deal now," she replied waving her hand dismissively. They settled back into silence leaving Audrey to her thoughts.

Audrey was twenty years old again. She was sitting on the bed at St. Mungos talking with her slowly dying father.

"Audrey, I think it's time you know our most important family secret," he said wearily.

"Would that be the secret of the last name I've never had?" she asked. He nodded his head.

"One day, there will be the return of Voldemort…"

"Aww, come on dad, you don't really believe that rubbish do you? Why can't we move back to America?" Audrey interrupted.

"Being in London is better for you," he replied. They had that conversation before and he didn't want to have it again. "Harry Potter knows what he's talking about."

It was all over the newspaper that The Boy Who Lived came out of the third Tri-Wizard task dragging a dead Cedric Diggory, and claiming that Voldemort had killed him. Audrey wasn't sure if she believed the Potter boy or not. He was just that- a boy. However, she had to admit that his explanation made more since then the ministry's "Diggory died of a tragic accident" story.

"When Voldemort does return, I'll be long gone, and it'll just be you and your mother. As long as no one has a last name on us, you and your mother should be safe without me. When he returns, no Muggleborn will be safe." He noticed Audrey not paying close attention. "Audrey, this is important, you have to protect yourself and your mother from now on. Make up a last name for yourself every time you move, just as we've always done." He paused to cough. He knew he didn't have much longer with his only child, and it was crucial that she know and understand this. If her mother didn't survive, he had to be sure that Audrey would.

"You're going to get better dad. Stop talking like you aren't, it's creeping me out."

"Promise me something," he said urgently. It was now or never.

"Anything dad," she was worried about him now.

"Promise me that you'll survive this. I have to know. You're much too young, your whole life is still ahead of you, and I know you'll be a great woman without your parents. Promise me, if your mother doesn't make it, that you will. You have to!" he cried, trying not to let tears fall from his eyes.

"I promise dad. I'll do everything I can." She too was trying not to cry at this point.

"I love you Audrey. Don't you ever forget that," he said and he closed his eyes.

"I love you too dad," she kissed his forehead and squeezed his hand. For a moment, he squeezed back, but then Audrey felt his hand go limp.

"Dad?" No response. "Dad?" Still no reply. "Come on dad, don't do this," The healers came running into the room.

"Daddy!" Audrey screamed as they tried to remove her from the room. He was gone. Just like that.

"Audrey? Why are you crying? Percy's careful voice broke into her mind. She put her hand to her face. She hadn't realized she had started crying.

"I said I was sorry if I offended you. I was just hoping to get to know you," he replied softly. He hated to watch a woman cry.

"It's not your fault. I was just thinking about my dad," she said drying her face. "Our hour is up, we should probably head back now," she stood up. They paid for their food and apparated back to the ministry.

"What's next on our to-do list?" Percy asked when they were situated in the office. He was sitting at his desk while Audrey lounged on the couch.

"Didn't you say the minister had something else for you to do when we returned?" she reminded him.

"Oh! Right! I'll go check with him and be back. Are you going to be alright?" he asked concerned she might start crying again.

"I'll be fine. I bounce back quick. Besides, there's more paperwork to be done," she pointed at the stack of papers that had somehow made their way into Percy's office while they were gone. Percy nodded his head and then left her once again.

Authors Note:

Hey guys! I just want to first start out and say that I swear i havent abandoned my Ginny/Harry fic, i just... i'm out of ideas with it. I do have chapter 14 started, (Its a valentines chapter... a little late now) and hopefully it'll be up soon.

However, Percy and Audrey have been my favorite couple for a while now, and i've reallllyyyy wanted to write a fic about them, so... here you are :)

my own personal favorite scene is the scene between Audrey and her dad. I was SO into writing it that my friends laughed at me when it was time for class change because i didnt even notice the bell. :)

have fun, read, rate, view my other stories that i swear i havent abandoned. :D