Chapter twelve: Christmas and Weddings

The weeks passed and Audrey spent most of the day at Bill and Fleur's helping out with little Victoire and various other things Fleur needed when Mrs. Weasley or Mrs. Delacour wasn't there. Percy now had a more permanent schedule, and he worked a normal workweek getting home to Audrey in time for dinner at night. When she wasn't spending time at Shell Cottage, Audrey spent her time in the room across from their bedroom turning it into her office and drawing room. She'd given up on sketching when the war began, but now that all was safe enough and she had a place to do so, she spent her day doing one of the things she loved to do.

"Hey Percy?" Audrey said as they were getting ready for bed one summer night in August. She was dressed in her nightgown with a sketchbook in her lap doodling.

"Hey Audrey," Percy smiled as he crawled into the bed beside her.

"I want an October wedding," she said thoughtfully putting the book on her nightstand.

"October, two months from now October?" Percy asked. "I told you months ago we could have made it work then, but–" Audrey cut him off.

"No not this year, next year," she said shaking her head at his ridiculousness.

"Why October?" he asked after thinking about it for a few minutes.

"I like October. It's not too hot, and it's not too cold. It's fall by then, and the colors are pretty," she replied, "It's my favorite month of the whole year."

"I guess that's a good enough reason, Percy said.

"Do you not like October?" Audrey asked.

"It's not that I don't like it. I don't have a favorite or least favorite month of the year. I was just wondering why you liked it. I don't mind an October wedding." She scooted closer to him to rest her head on his shoulder. "Do you care what day?" he asked

"Some day in the middle. You can pick that," she started playing with the hem of his shirt like she usually did when she cuddled up beside him.

"My favorite number is eighteen."

"October eighteenth," Audrey said to herself as she thought it over. It was, like she requested, one of the middle days of the month. She smiled. "I like it. It won't be hard to forget," she looked up at him and smiled.

"I would hope not," he leaned forward and kissed her.

~HP~HP~HP~

It was now Christmas time for the Weasley's. This Christmas was happier than the last for it had been a year without Fred, and little seven month old Victoire was crawling into anything and everything she could find.

"Gonna stay for Christmas this year Perce?" George asked when he and Angelina walked in. They were standing in the kitchen. Percy and Audrey had been the first to arrive followed by Bill, Fleur, and Victoire. Bill had gone out to help Mr. Weasley in his shed, Audrey and Fleur were in the living room bonding and playing with baby Victoire, and that left Percy who decided that it was about time he spent quality time with his mother helping her with what she did best.

"I think Audrey might have my head if I don't," Percy smiled as he looked toward the living room where he could just see Audrey in the floor laughing at something Victoire did. Last Christmas, Audrey had gotten herself hexed and he spent it in St. Mungos. Two Christmases ago, he and Audrey had been together in the safe house, and three Christmases ago had been the first he'd spent with his family since he left them and it had been an absolute disaster.

Has it really been three years now? Percy thought as he remembered the past Christmas's.

"I never thought I'd see the day where you, Percy Weasley, fell in love." George said coming to stand beside Percy and following his line of sight to Audrey.

"Don't be mean George," Angelina said walking past them and into the living room with the other girls.

"I'm not being mean Angie. I'm stating the truth!" George said and then he turned to look at Percy.

"I'd be lying to myself if I said you're not lying," Percy smiled shaking his head.

"I'm just glad that you both have found your other halves," Mrs. Weasley interrupted.

"Mum," George replied glad that Angelina was out of earshot. "I don't know that Angie and I are going to get married. There are still the feelings with and of Fred. It's really hard sometimes just dating her!"

"You still have the rest of your lives ahead of you George dear. Don't get rid of your options," Mrs. Weasley said, "Percy, finish cutting the potatoes," George chuckled.

"Yeah Perce, I'll go keep your fiancée company while you're cutting potatoes," he laughed and left the kitchen.

"Don't let him get to you dear," Mrs. Weasley said.

"He's just being George. I know," Percy smiled and returned his attention to helping his mother.

The next guests to arrive were Ron and Hermione with her parents in tow.

"Merry Christmas!" They greeted.

"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Mr. Weasley said coming into the kitchen upon their arrival. Percy couldn't help but to smile at his father's fascination and was sure that Mr. Weasley was going to take the Granger's off and get them to tell him more about their world.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked seeing Percy standing at the counter putting together food.

"What does it look like he's doing Ron?" Audrey asked coming over, kissing Percy on the cheek and climbing up on the counter stealing a slice of the potato he was cutting.

"That's a raw potato Audrey," Ron said in disgust.

"Really? I never would have guessed that," Audrey smiled as she took a bite off the end of the slice.

"You get used to her oddness after a while Ron," Percy said taking Audrey's hand and kissing it. She smiled at him.

"Mione, promise me you'll be normal," Ron said.

"Excuse you Ronald. Audrey's perfectly normal. It's probably something she grew up doing," Hermione rolled her eyes.

The kitchen soon became crowded when Mr. and Mrs. Delacour and Gabrielle arrived. Victoire managed to crawl in between the people and she attached herself to Gabrielle's leg.

"Tori!" Gabrielle exclaimed upon the child's touch. She scooped her up in her arms as Fleur came around the corner.

"Please, er name es Victoire, not Tori,"

"Come on Fleur, It's just a nickname," Bill said putting his hands on Fleur's shoulders and kissing her neck.

"I think it's cute," Audrey called from her place on the counter beside Percy.

"Is there anything you don't find cute love?" Percy asked. Audrey scowled at him.

"Still. Er name es Victoire."

"Anyone who isn't helping me cook go in the living room please!" Mrs. Weasley yelled over the noise of her family. The only ones who hadn't arrived yet were Harry and Ginny.

"Audrey dear," Mrs. Weasley said after everyone aside from Mrs. Granger, Mrs. Delacour, Percy, and Audrey, had gone into the sitting room.

"Would you, Mrs. Granger, and Madame Delacour like to help me set the table? There should be eighteen of us this year," she said.

"Where are we putting everyone mum?" Percy asked. The kitchen had barely been able to hold the original nine Weasley's and now there were twice as many people.

"Your father and Bill were going to ask Mr. Delacour if he'd like to help them put up the tent outside so that we have a big enough place, and it's covered so it'll be warmer," Mrs. Weasley replied, "I just wanted to go ahead and get out dishes. By the time we get everything out they should be done setting up. Fleur said Victoire doesn't need a plate. She'll be fed from either Bill or Fleur's."

"Yeah, I don't have a problem doing it," Audrey replied hopping off of the counter nicking another slice of raw potato. Percy shook his head at her.

~HP~HP~HP~

After dinner was all over everyone gathered in the living room that Hermione had magically enlarged and they began to exchange gifts. Harry and Ginny had arrived late to dinner and once everyone was gathered, before they began to exchange gifts, the pair stood up, hand in hand.

"We're very sorry that we arrived late for dinner. We ran into a few unexpected people in Diagon Alley today and it took us a while to get them to continue on with their lives. However, while we were out, I asked Ginny to marry me, and she said yes," Harry said looking at Ginny. Everyone smiled and cheered. Mr. Weasley had known about this before hand and was the only one who wasn't completely surprised at the announcement.

When they'd all calmed down from the news of Ginny and Harry's engagement, George whispered to Angelina.

"I think it's about time the real fun got started don't you?" he winked at her.

"As long as it's not going to hurt anyone," Angelina said. George nodded his head and then waited and watched his family members talk among themselves.

He sat there for a moment planning what he wanted to do when he noticed that Percy and Audrey were sitting right under one of the main beams that held up the next level of the house. Her legs were resting in his lap and at the moment, the two of them were unwrapping a gift together.

"Perfect," he smiled.

George glanced around at Angelina, who, noticing the spark of mischief in his eyes, immediately scooted backwards discretely, awaiting the fun to begin.

George pointed his wand at the beam and watched as the mistletoe crept its way down between the pair of "love birds." When he was sure they'd notice, he glanced around to make sure no one else had seen him do it. He caught his sister's eye.

He held his finger to his lip and slipped his wand back in his pocket waiting for them to notice.

"Why aren't you picking on Harry and Ginny?" Angelina whispered.

"It's more fun to pick on Percy. It's making up for the years he left us, for being a git. Don't worry Angie dear, Ginny and Harry will get their share of pranks over the next few years," George smiled mischievously and then leaned over to kiss her cheek.

It wasn't long before Gabrielle was the first to notice the lingering mistletoe.

"Percy, Audrey, don't look up okay?" she said. Naturally Audrey looked up, while Percy just simply asked why. Audrey's giggles brought him to look up too.

The rest of the Weasley's started laughing as well. Percy's ears turned bright red.

"It's not like you'll never have to kiss me in front of the lot of them one day anyways." Audrey said. "Don't worry, there will be pay back," she smiled glancing at George before she leaned over and quickly kissed him.

Authors Note: The creation of this chapter goes out to Elven_Heart993 and kitkatnumber9 because without help from the both of them, i wouldnt have been able to come up with something decent.

And, i should also mention that any previous and future French wording that is used, i have my dear friends lylamarie or hillary izzy blair who both speak fluent French.

Without these four and my best friend SerenLyall and my wonderful beta Pinkrose14 much of this story would not be what it is. :)

And then my favorite reviewers Avanell and the many others who have stuck with me since the beginning. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and do look forward to the next one :)