The characters of the Harry Potter universe belong to Ms. Rowlings, and I'm borrowing them for my own imagination.
Chapter 26 - Seven Months
Percy sat in the Gryffindor common room with his family, Oliver and Hermione. 'Well not his entire family', he thought, they would forever be one shy of all being together. Audrey had remained with her father and cousin in the Great Hall helping Madame Pomphrey. Harry, being physically and emotionally exhausted, had turned in over an hour ago.
His daughter was sitting on the floor with Ron and Hermione happily drawing on some parchment. He could hear Hermione and Ron both quietly praising her artwork, while listen to Percy and Oliver tell about the last couple of years, but more importantly the last seven months.
His parents sat on a couch with Ginny, while Bill, George and Charlie sat on another couch Fleur sat on Bill's lap. When Percy had talked of his commitment ceremony with Penny, Bill had wrapped Fleur tighter in his arms at the thought of losing her. Percy was amazed at how quiet his family had been through the entire story.
"So, you have been living with Kingsley and his daughter since Penny's death?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, Audrey took care of Molly, while King and I worked." Percy responded.
"I can't believe Kingsley would keep a secret like that from us! You are our son! We had a right to know what you had been up too, and where you were!" His mother roared startling Molly. She had never heard anyone yell like that and immediately got up and raced over to her father for safety.
"Little ears, Mum." Ron said earning a slap on the arm and a tired giggle from Hermione as she tried to hide it from his mum by turning her face into Ron's shoulder. Percy lifted his scared daughter into his lap, she buried her face against his chest as he wrapped an arm around her and stroked her baby fine hair with his hand.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Grandmum was just a little upset that Kingsley would keep something so important from her. I didn't mean to scare you." His mother said upset that she had scared her grandbaby.
"Yeah, don't worry, Molly. Grandmum's bark is much worse then her bite." Bill said.
"I think it is also past nap time for someone who didn't sleep well last night." Percy commented as he noticed that Molly was looking tired. "So, Luv, who do you want to tell you a story and settle you down for a nap?" Percy asked. He was very lucky that Molly didn't seem to fight to hard at the idea of a nap, especially if there was a story involved.
"Uncle Won." Molly said. Everyone but Percy and Oliver looked startled by her choice. Ron had already become one of her favorite people just from the stories that Percy told and the amount she would ask for when they would look at the Ron scrapbook page.
Ron looked unsure, but came over to retrieve his niece.
"Don't worry. I'll help." Hermione said.
"She usually falls asleep half way through the story." Percy said.
"We'll probably take a nap ourselves." Hermione said as she followed Ron up the stairs to the boys' dorm.
"Dad, we should check out The Burrows to see how long it will take to get it ready to move back in." Bill suggested.
"Yes, that would be good. Molly, you and the girls should try and get some rest. We won't be gone longer then necessary." His father suggested.
"Fine." His mother said with a yawn. "Come on girls, and Ginny, I'm placing an alarm on the dorm we are staying in. I don't want you sneaking up the stairs." She added.
"She does know that Hermione is probably curled up with Ron at this moment?" Charlie asked after their mum was out of earshot.
"Yeah, well Hermione has more discipline and self-control to not do anything more than sleep. Especially after the last year they have had." His father said.
"And they have little Molly with them." Bill said.
"I'll go with you two." Charlie said as he rose to leave with his father and brother.
"You guys will be fine here?" Their father asked.
"Yeah, I think I want to go back to the Great Hall and see if there is anything I can do to help. Luv will be fine with Mum and the girls here." Percy said.
"I'd like to talk to Lee." George said. He had been very quiet since they had come to Gryffindor Tower.
"If you are not back by the time we are ready to head home, we will come and find you." His father said as they all exited the common room and headed in two different directions.
Percy, George and Oliver were half way to the Great Hall when Oliver said, "So, Daddy and Audrey kissed?"
Percy felt his ears redden slightly. "I can't believe she told King. We kissed yesterday, I think it was yesterday. It was right before I got the word from Albeforth of the upcoming battle. Seems like a long time ago."
"So now that this is over, and I am assuming you and Molly will finding your own place, you going to start dating?" Oliver asked.
"Does it seem right?" Percy asked so unsure.
"You think you are going to be betraying Penny, if you ask a beautiful, intelligent young lady out?" Oliver asked.
"Do you think it is too soon?" Percy asked.
"Are you attracted to Audrey?" Oliver asked.
"Do either of you ever answer a question?" George asked and Percy and Oliver smiled.
"Yes, I am attracted to Audrey. I would be blind and stupid not to be, but it has only been seven months." Percy answered.
"Percy, it has been seven months. It is not a crime to begin dating again. I adored Penny and I miss her, too. But she would be the first person to tell you to not give up on life, just because she lost hers. She would want you and Molly to have everything, love, family, happiness. I think she would approve of Audrey." Oliver said.
"How so?" Percy asked.
"Audrey is intelligent, a quality Penny respects. Audrey is protective of both you and Molly. Audrey loves Molly, and Molly loves her. Penny would approve." Oliver reassured him.
"Thanks, Oliver." Percy said.
They walked a little while longer in silence before George spoke. "Perce, can you help me plan Fr-Fred's f-funeral?" He asked. "I-I know what he would want it to be like, we talked about it after Dumbledore's."
"Sure. You don't want Mum and Dad to take care of it?" Percy asked trying to make it as easy on George as possible.
"No, they wouldn't do what he wanted. The others will back me up if . . . " He began.
"If you have me helping you. By the book Percy." Percy responded.
"Yeah." George admitted.
"I'll help. What did he want?" Percy asked.
"He didn't want anyone in the family to speak, figured one of us would break down. Didn't want a lot of tears. I was allowed to choose the speakers, and I would like Lee and Oliver." George began.
"I'd be honored." Oliver said.
"If you could include advice like you just gave Percy that would be good. Also, he would get a kick if our new Minister of Magic spoke as well." George said. "He liked and respected Kingsley a lot."
"I'll ask him. I'm sure he will do it." Percy said.
"He wanted to be buried by Uncles Fabian and Gideon." George said.
"Mum will be touched by that, but all this sounds like things Mum would approve of. What else did he want?" Percy asked.
"Fireworks. He wanted it to be a real celebration of his life. A party in his honor, not a wake." George said. They both looked at each other and Percy smiled.
"Then fireworks we will have." Percy agreed.
TBC