It's Friday! Aren't you all super happy? Enjoy!
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Audrey was too scared to stop.
At first, she just drove around the rural area that surrounded the Malfoy house, but as the sun rose, she found signs that led her away from her home and then towards small villages. She passed by shops and careless muggles, slouching down to avoid being noticed. Every moment she was on the road, she feared being pulled over and then being returned to Lucius and Narcissa. And then her father would have to get involved…and then Draco would really get into even more trouble. She didn't want to let down Draco, so she kept her eyes locked on the road and kept driving. She ate what she could get at a drive through and drank copious amounts of coffee to keep herself buzzing.
Now if only she were well versed in cars…like the whole gas situation…
Just as dusk was settling around her, Audrey felt the car shudder underneath her. Her heart stopped when the car started to slow, no matter how hard or how frantically she pressed on the gas pedal. She sat in the middle of the road, her mind completely blank on what to do next. She sat there until the light had completely left the sky and only stars dotted the midnight blue blanket above Audrey's head. She didn't know what to do or what to say, but when her stomach started to growl, she knew that she had to do something.
She took the keys and tucked them into one of the envelopes before tucking them into her suitcase. Audrey locked the car with a little sigh and slowly began to walk, her eyes focused on the road. All she could do now was walk to the next town, get a room for the night, and then go back and get the car the next morning…providing that nobody took the car while she was gone. She shuffled down the road, happy for the light late summer breeze that picked up her hair. Audrey wondered briefly whether or not anybody had noticed whether or not she was gone…or whether Draco was managing all right without her. She knew that he would never willingly admit it, but he liked her and liked having her sleep beside him. They were a comfort for each other. Draco's heartbeat against Audrey's flushed face was the best remedy for a sleepless night.
The hairs on the back of Audrey's neck suddenly stood up when she heard a car slowly start to approach her from behind. She kept her head down as a small, powder blue car drove past her. She sighed when the red lights shone against her legs, but bit her lower lip when the red lights brightened and the car jolted to a stop. Audrey was hesitant to keep walking, her heart beating as music and loud talking came from the car. Suddenly, the music stopped and the car shut off. There was a moment of silence before the passenger door opened and a tall man stepped out. Because of the bright lights, Audrey couldn't see his face, but she was absolutely terrified thanks to his tall stature.
"Audrey?" She shrunk back and arranged herself so that she was behind her large suitcase. "Audrey Lidder, right? From Hogwarts? I think that you were in Hufflepuff…" Audrey tried to shade her eyes to see, but that didn't help as the tall man slowly approached her.
"Please don't come any closer!" Audrey hadn't realized how scared she had been until she spoke and she discovered that her voice was shaking. The man instantly stopped and stood in front of the light so Audrey could see what he was wearing: worn jeans and a sweater that was striped with the strangest colors.
"Audrey, it's Ron Weasley, do you remember me?"
Audrey let her hand drop and was finally able to make out his bold features and soft red hair. She smiled at him, somehow relieved that he was here.
"Yes, I remember."
"What the devil are you doing all the way out here?" He asked, his body relaxing and his hands instinctively going to his hips.
"I…um…I'm so glad that I ran into you, do you by any chance have a phone that I could use?" He slowly nodded.
"Yeah, you can come back to the house. Hope you won't mind squeezing in with my brothers, it's a small car." Audrey shook her head.
"No, I don't mind at all."
…
The ride to the Burrow was at least a twenty minute ordeal, fifteen of those minutes spent on a bumpy dirt road that was giving Audrey the worse sickness of her life. She desperately wanted to stick her head out the window and relieve herself, but she swallowed and kept her mouth shut as she sat between Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George. His older brother Bill was driving while Ron occupied the small passenger seat. They didn't say anything, but Audrey knew that they probably had a dozen questions as to why she was wandering around at night with her suitcase.
"So…was that your SUV that we passed?" Bill asked, glancing back at Audrey using the rearview mirror. She nodded with a small blush.
"Yes…"
"Don't think that you're old enough to drive. What are you, sixteen?"
"I will be in September." She said, sinking back into the worn leather seat.
"You don't look so good." One of the twins commented.
"Yeah, are you all right?" The other asked. Audrey shook her head, shutting her eyes to try and focus on something besides the churning in her stomach. Ron stared at Audrey, noticing how tired and worn down she seemed despite her seemingly pleasant attitude.
"Don't worry, when we get home, my mum can make you some tea." Audrey's eyes flew open and she shook her head.
"No, I don't want to be a bother." Ron shook his head.
"Don't worry about it, my mom likes doing that kind of stuff." Audrey sighed as they pulled up to a well lit house. The boys quickly loaded themselves out of the car, but waited patiently for Audrey to step out and got her suitcase from the trunk. The twins carried it without being asked and led the march to the front door. Audrey shrunk next to Ron, her eyes focused on the ground as she fought the itch to not pull at her shirt. Her baby bump was only slightly protruding, but it could quite possibly give her away.
As soon as they entered the house, Audrey was overwhelmed with a dozen different smells and sights. From what she could see, the surprisingly large family was just gathering for dinner. She hesitated at the door as the four boys rushed in and took their seats. Ron looked back with a quirked eyebrow.
"Are you gonna sit down?"
"Ronald, who is this?"
A woman with frizzy red hair and a lumpy sweater very similar to Ron's suddenly stepped into Audrey's line of sight holding a platter with a steaming chicken.
"That's Audrey, she's a friend from school." Ron explained, his eyes focused on the bird that his mother held. The woman set down the platter to allow her family to dig in, but her eyes remained focused on Audrey. She smiled, but there was something curious in her eyes.
"Hello…my name's Molly, it's nice to meet you." She said, sticking out her hand. Audrey quickly shook her hand, offering her a shy smile. "What are you doing out this late at night…and all the way out here?"
"We found her on the side of the road." Bill quickly spoke up before Audrey could say anything.
"Her car ran out of gas." The twins said in unison. Audrey blushed heavily, shrinking back against the doorframe.
"If you don't mind, could I please use your phone to call a tow truck?"
"Nonsense!" Molly exclaimed. "You'll stay the night and in the morning the boys will take care of getting you where you need to go."
"Oh I don't want to be a bother."
"Nonsense." Molly insisted again. "The nearest town is thirty minutes away, a tow truck wouldn't come this late." Molly gently touched Audrey's shoulder, a warm smile on her face. "You can stay here tonight and we'll get things figured out in the morning."
Audrey was suddenly overcome by this warm tingling that started high in her belly. She smiled back at Molly, but was surprised when tears began to fall. She gasped and quickly wiped away the tears so that nobody would see, but Molly couldn't help but see. Molly gently cooed and brought Audrey into a tight hug. Her sweater, which was goose feather soft, provided the softest pillow for Audrey to quietly cry against. She cried quietly while Molly slowly rubbed her back, gently rocking her back and forth.
"Shhh, its all right ducky." She whispered. "Come on, let's sit down and have some dinner." Audrey nodded, discreetly wiping away her tears and letting out a little sigh to calm herself down.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I got so upset." She whispered. Molly shook her head, gently taking her hand and squeezing it.
"Not to worry, sometimes a good cry makes everybody feel better." She whispered back with a wink.
"Mum, Fred's hogging the potatoes!"
"I am not!"
"No fighting in front of company!"
Molly walked her to the long table, making room for Audrey next to Ron. She fetched Audrey a plate and cutlery for Audrey before sitting down next to her and swiftly piling the food onto Audrey's plate.
"Tuck in sweetheart, nobody goes hungry while they're in my house." Audrey smiled at her, letting out a little sigh and slowly taking bites, the size increasing with each forkful.
It was the sweetest meal that she had ever eaten.
