Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.
Please Review, thanks for reading :) -22/06/2014
"I can't believe this is where you live. It's like a fairy-tale house." Audrey exclaimed once they were in the crowded living room. Percy had went in ahead of Audrey and quickly did some charms to stop the magic currently going on such as the moving photographs and the knitting needles in the corner. "I would have loved to live here growing up. It's so… homely." She smiled.
"Would you like tea?" Percy asked, heading to the kitchen once she nodded. He put on the kettle and leant against the counter while he waited on the water to boil. "Sugar? Milk?" He called.
"Just milk please." Audrey called back. She sat and looked at the photos about the room, amazed at how big a family he had. She looked up when he came back in with the two cups. "You have quite a big family. What are their names?" She asked.
Percy handed her a cup then picked up a photo and sat on the sofa with it. "So, this was taken on a family trip to Egypt before my seventh year: this is my mother, Molly; this is my father, Arthur; this is my brother, Bill; this is my brother, Charlie; this is my brother, George; this was his twin, Fred; this is my brother, Ron; and this is my sister, Ginny." After Fred his finger stopped pointing out faces.
"You okay, Percy?" Audrey asked softly, noticing his hand had stopped and the pained expression on his face. She looked down at the picture in his hand. "When did Fred pass away?" She asked quietly.
"Three years ago today… That's why my family are at the anniversary." He told her quietly. There was a really evil man and his private army that attacked the school. It was a two day battle. That's what the anniversary is for. To remember those who died fighting…" He trailed off, a tear coming to his eye.
Audrey pushed her chair a little closer and reached over to squeeze his hand. "Three weeks ago my fiancé and I were at his parents' house. I drove us home since he had had a beer. It was dark and the roads were wet so his parents offered a room so we could stay overnight but I insisted on going home anyway. Our house is down a windy country road and as we were going down, a tractor pulled out of a field. No warning. No lights. No chance of stopping. I tried to hit the brakes but the car started sliding on the wet road and next thing the tractor hit us and the car flew sideways. I went out the window and got caught between the tractor and the wall. Michael was in the car when it hit a tree. The whole thing was crushed but I could hear Michael screaming - a bloodcurdling scream that made me feel sick. I tried to go to him but I couldn't. The man in the tractor called 999. The police, ambulance and fire brigade all came. I was struggling to stay awake but I had to. Something wasn't right. Michael had gone quiet. I missed his funeral. I was in a medically induced coma for a week. I did physiotherapy for a solid week and then I went back home. It was too empty. Too lonely. I stayed at my parents' house for a few days but they couldn't handle it. I couldn't stay with my brother or youngest sister since they live in an apartment. So Abigail offered her house for a few weeks. She seemed to think I would move on if I got away from that life. She hasn't lost someone she loves before." Audrey kept hold of his hand and gaze the whole time.
"I abandoned my family for my job. I reunited with them when the battle began. I made a joke for the first time in years and Fred laughed at it. The wall behind him collapsed and it killed him… If I hadn't distracted him then he may still be alive." His voice cracked towards the end. "I killed my own brother. If only I hadn't distracted him… Everyone else has begun to move on but me."
"Percy…" She sighed. "I know how you feel. I constantly believe that if I hadn't insisted on going home, Michael would still be alive. You don't need to forget Fred or stop missing him. You just need to accept you couldn't have stopped fate and that mourning forever will stop you from living. You don't need to move on 100%, just enough to enjoy life again. I will stop mourning and start remembering too." She clapped his knee comfortingly then took a sip of her tea.
"Thank you, Audrey." He gave her a small smile.
Not much else was said as the door swung open in that moment and in came Charlie and another woman. They didn't seem to notice Percy as a few seconds after they entered they began kissing - not a peck on the lips or even a kiss you would have in public, proper passionate kissing.
Percy went bright red while Audrey looked away. "Err, Charlie?" Percy spoke up before the couple went even further.
They stopped making out and Charlie glanced over to his brother. "We interrupting your date, Perce?" He teased.
Percy went even redder. "No." He answered stiffly. "This is Audrey. She has been staying with her sister, Abigail Fawcett, since her fiancé passed away."
Charlie nodded. "I'm sorry to hear, Audrey. I'm Charlie Weasley and this is Alexandra Dale." He walked over and held out his hand. She took it and Charlie bent over to kiss the top of her hand.
The woman sat down on the other side of Percy, "It is nice to meet you, Audrey. Percy needs a friend." She smiled.
Audrey stared at her for a few minutes before speaking. "What's your accident?" She asked slowly.
Alexandra's hand went to her face. "Well… I work on an animal reserve and I misinterpreted a wild animal…" She told Audrey, glancing to Percy and mouthing something that Audrey couldn't understand. Percy nodded in response. "So, where do you work, Audrey?" Alexandra asked.
"Percy, kitchen, now." Charlie stood and led the way into the kitchen. Percy followed, annoyed because he wanted to hear more about Audrey and because he was worried Alexandra would slip up.
"What?" He asked once in the kitchen, sounding more harsh than intended.
"You like her." Charlie smirked, ruffling his younger brother's hair. "So, how'd you meet?"
"There were no tables left in the café so she shared mine, we talked, she had nowhere to go so I took her here then you interrupted. Where's everyone else?"
"Mum and Dad are catching up with friends, Bill and Fleur are at Andromeda's to pick up Victoire, George went with Lee and Angelina to the HogsHead, and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny went out with some friends." Charlie listed. "Now, why don't you ask Audrey out? It's obvious you're crushing and ever since Fred died and Penelope dumped you, you have been a right lonely bore."
"I can't ask her out!" Percy half shouted before blushing Weasley red and lowering his voice. "Her fiancé - the love of her life - died in a car accident three weeks ago which nearly paralysed her. People don't move on that quickly."
Charlie rolled his eyes. "It's been three years for you. You need to at least consider asking her out. I was friends with Alexandra before we started dating."
"She hated your guts! That is completely different." Percy protested.
"There's also the fact that she is a muggle and you brought her to the magical house your parents live in. What on earth, Perce? You worship rules and here you are so close to the Statue of Secrecy and breaking it but you don't care because you like her." Charlie grinned when he saw the look on Percy's face. With a glance to the clock he said, "Mum and dad are at travelling, either get her out of here or let her meet the parents."
"I'll take her back to Abigail's - Or not…" He sighed as he heard the pop outside the door. "You are telling them there is a muggle here." Percy told him before going back to the living room.
"A half-brother and a half-sister." Alexandra was saying when Percy came back in. "Jack is 16 months older and Riina is three years younger. Jack works on the wildlife reserve as well while Riina is training to be a nurse."
"Ladies." Percy interrupted politely. "My parents have just arrived home. So, just be warned. My father asks a lot of strange questions - usually about rubber ducks. My mother is a very hug-y person as well as bossy." He then looked to Alexandra. "Mum is still wary of you after Christmas but she may be more bearable since it's the memorial."
"Percy?" A woman called, coming in from the kitchen and enveloping her third son in a hug. "How are you dear? Is this your special female friend?" She asked, moving on to give Audrey a hug. "Charlie said you are staying with the Fawcetts? They are lovely people. They live quite far from here when it comes to walking distance - or wheeling distance. You must stay for dinner. My youngest two won't be here tonight but Bill, Fleur, Andromeda, Teddy and Victoire will be. Teddy and Victoire are such adorable children." She looked at the wheelchair then back to Audrey. "Maybe it would be easier for you to stay in here?"
Percy attempted to stop his mother but it didn't work - dinner with wizards and a 3 year metamorphagus was a bad idea. Audrey opened and closed her mouth a few times like a fish. "I could sit at the table if I get help out of the chair." She finally said, looking at Percy for help.
Molly smiled. "Then it's settled. I'll go get dinner started." She turned and went back into the kitchen.
Percy looked around to see that Charlie and Alexandra were gone and that through the window, his father was heading to the shed. He mouthed an apology to Audrey before lifting her coat and hanging it up as there was a good chance that she wouldn't be leaving for a while.