Percy & Audrey

(Molly, Lucy)

If there was one thing that Percy was scared of, it was funerals.

He hated their grieving, heavy atmosphere. He hated when his family cried all around him, and when he somehow felt compelled to stay strong. He hated it, when he would have to watch his mother and sister break down in tears, and the fact that he couldn't comfort them.

Percy Weasley still didn't know why he came to Penelope Clearwater's funeral.

They had lost touch after their breakup; all he knew of her was that she had rebelled against the Death-Eater-occupied Ministry and had been fled (luckily) before any of the Death Eaters could catch her. She had stayed at a friend's for the next few months; when the friend in question got a notice of the battle at Hogwarts, Penelope had followed.

It was there where she had died, killed by a stray Killing Curse.

He ought to have choked up at that; he ought to have shaken with anger; but now, Percy could only feel numb.

In conclusion: nothing.

He showed up in his best dark dress robes, over-used in the past few weeks. He shook hands with the crying Mr and Mrs Clearwater; he mumbled condolences to Penny's brother and sister; he sat rigid and impassive throughout the entire service.

The announcement of the viewing was too much for him; he knew that he would break down if he saw Penelope's lifeless, unmarked body. He did not make eye contact; he stood up, reddened, and ran, ran, ran to the front of the building. When he got to the steps, he panted, his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"You must be cold," said a voice, and Percy looked up to see a young woman staring at him, his coat in hand. "You forgot this on your chair when you, er.. left."

He cleared his throat, adjusted his tie, and tried to look dignified. "I'm very much fine, thank you," he reassured her, the color of his cheeks showing his freckles, betraying him. His blue eyes darted from her to the people gathered around the coffin; his shoulders sagged with relief. No one was looking for him.

She had missed nothing and raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why are you shivering?"

"I have a... cold?" Percy offered awkwardly, shrugging.

She looked at him up and down. "Hey, you're a wizard."

"You're not a M- Wait, how do you know that?"

She shrugged. "Your clothes? Mum's one, herself."

"So you're a witch," Percy concluded, folding his arms and regarding her carefully for the first time. She was tall, he supposed, with long auburn hair; her skin was tanned and her blue eyes were so dark they could have passed for purple.

"We-ell... Not exactly," she smiled grimly. "I'm a Squib."

He looked down. "Sorry," he muttered.

"Oh, there's no need to feel sorry for me," she said with a smile, tilting her head. "If you'd never had magic, you wouldn't miss it, either."

"True," Percy conceded with a nod and a small smile. He stuck out a hand. "Percy Weasley."

Understanding spread through her face as she took it and shook. "Ah. I know you. You're the one who dated Penny for a year or so, aren't you?"

"Yes," he studied her. "Penny was your friend?"

She laughed, though it sounded a bit forced. "Friend? Well, I suppose it comes with it..."

"What do you mean?" Percy frowned. "You still didn't tell me your name."

"Oh, it's Audrey," a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, half grim, half teasing. "Audrey Clearwater. Penny was my older sister."