Chapter thirteen: Snowball Fights and New Years With the Weasley's

As New Years came upon the Weasley family, most of them gathered at the Burrow. Bill and Fleur were staying home to spend their first New Years with little Victoire, and Ron and Hermione spent their time with the Grangers'.

Percy and Audrey were playing around in the snow outside. Audrey loved the snow. She was trying to teach Percy how to build a snowman without using magic, but every time he failed, he'd wait until her back was turned and pull his wand out and make a perfect one.

"That's not fair!" she exclaimed when she saw it.

"What? My snowman's better than yours?" Percy smiled.

"You cheated. Theres no way your first snowman could be that perfect and done that fast. You don't have any snow dust on your gloves."

"So what if I did cheat? What are you going to do about it?" he asked. Audrey walked over to him, kissed his cheek, and with a sparkle in her eye she hauled off and ran through the snowman, turning it to dust and falling in the new pile of snow she'd created.

"She did not just knock your snowman over," Angelina said as she and George approached the pair.

"I do believe she did," Percy said laughing at the sight of his girlfriend before him. Her auburn locks of hair were spotted white with snow, and her blue jacket wasn't really blue anymore.

"You can't just let her get away with that Percy," George said bending down to scoop up snow as Percy bent down to help Audrey up. Both of them were laughing. As Audrey made it to her feet, George's snowball came in contact with the back of her head.

"George Weasley. You did not just throw snow at me," she demanded. George stuffed his hands in his pockets, began whistling and started making his way to the house. Before he got far, Audrey had retaliated with a snowball of her own.

George grinned wickedly and turned slowly. "I hope you realize this means war!"

"Oh really now?" Audrey turned and smiled at Percy, "If you're anything like him" she pointed her thumb over her shoulder, "Then this should be easy."

"Hey!" Percy exclaimed. Audrey bent down and scooped up more snow to be prepared for the retaliation she knew George was going to give her.

George cocked an eyebrow and shook the snow out of his hair. "It's a good thing I'm not like him then," he reached down and with years of practice behind him sent a snowball straight back at her. "No magic!" He declared, shaping another.

"That's why I killed his snowman. No magic," Audrey agreed releasing her snowball and ducking George's snowball. It missed her and hit an unsuspecting Percy right in the chest.

"I don't want to be a part of this!" he exclaimed.

"Too late," Audrey said chucking her snowball at Percy this time instead of George.

"Would the lot of you-" Angelina screamed as George slipped up behind her and less than subtlety dropped a handful of snow down her back. "George!"

Her boyfriend, laughing with more genuine mirth than he had in a long time, darted out of her reach and behind Percy to avoid the onslaught of snow.

"You mean you want to play too Angie?" Audrey asked with a smile as she ran around Percy after George, a snowball leaving her hand in the process.

"We are not putting me in the middle of this!" Percy ducked and ran past Audrey's legs trying to scoop up snow to retaliate with. "Teams or all for one?" he asked.

"You and me, Perce?" George grinned catching his breath and watching it puff in the cold air. "You know you want to beat her," the younger brother tossed a ready-made snowball from one hand to the other. Pausing as one of Angelina's crudely made snowballs hit him in the face.

"You know you never win against me Perce," Audrey said, "But I'd love to have you as an ally Angie," Audrey smiled as she threw a snowball in the boys' direction.

The four of them were laughing and shrieking so loud that Mrs. Weasley came outside to investigate, only so that George could duck Audrey's snowball and the pile of wetness hit Mrs. Weasley in the chest.

"Oops! Sorry Mrs. Weasley!" Audrey called as she herself was hit with a snowball from Percy. Mrs. Weasley shook her head in laughter, wiped the snow off and went back inside before any further snow could touch her.

Angelina grinned and exchanged a look with Audrey. "I didn't think I'd see Percy ever get into this," she smiled and narrowed her eyes across the yard at the boys, watching as one of George's snowballs flew over her shoulder.

"I knew once we got him started he'd join in. We had a food fight once," Audrey said reminiscing the days in the safe house.

"You're losing your touch, love!" Angelina shouted.

George shrugged "Hold this..." he pressed a half made snowball into Percy's hands.

"Losing my touch indeed," he smirked and in a moment was sprinting across the snow and literally tackling his girlfriend into it.

As George tackled Angelina into the snow, Audrey looked over at Percy who was holding a snowball and watching his younger brother. She approached him with her hands in the air so he wouldn't throw it at her.

"What do you say, you take that snowball, and let's turn the tides and make it us against them?" she asked mischievously. Percy couldn't help but chuckle. He knew he'd made the right decision picking Audrey as his bride. She fit right in just the same way as the significant others of the rest of his siblings did.

"You do it," Percy said trying to pass the ball off to Audrey.

"No, no, no, I don't think so. You do it," she smiled and then pushed him toward the pair on the ground. He hesitated, and then smiled.

"You're both losing your touch," he said as he smacked George in the back of the head as Audrey came around and smacked Angelina in the side.

George rolled over grinning "Oh that's how it is, huh?" He climbed to his feet, flicking up two handfuls of snow at Percy. "Struck with my own weapon!" He yelled melodramatically and proceeded to begin a chase with Percy around the yard, poorly aiming a snowball at the back of Audrey's head as they passed her.

"You won't win you know,"

"I will win!" she yelled after them.

Audrey couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the two brothers acting like the children they both really were.

"I've known Percy for as long as I've known George. Since I was eleven years old. I have never seen him act like this. Ever. He was always the stuck up arse, the one who always followed the rules no matter what, and then here you come along, in a little over what, two years now, and change his whole demeanor. What did you do?" Angelina asked coming to stand beside Audrey as she too watched the brothers run around.

"That's what everyone wants to know. I didn't do anything except fall in love with the git," Audrey said

"You know something?" George sighed, slowing down and letting Percy get away from him. He bent down and scooped up two handfuls of snow and grinned, his chest heaving in an attempt to catch his breath.

"You ladies… would look so much better like this..." and with that he dropped both snow covered hands onto Angelina and Audrey's heads and then proceeded to only half heartedly started to run away.

"I have an idea Angie. You know how I was trying to teach Percy how to make a snowman? Why don't we use Georgie as a demonstration?" Audrey asked Angelina as she shook the snow from her head.

The other woman grinned, "Oh, now that does sound like fun," she grinned, turning around slowly as George wisely began to back away. "Why so nervous, Georgie?"

As he was backing away from the two women, Percy had turned around and come back. He grabbed George from behind as the two girls began to run at them. Together, the four of them fell into one big pile of snow and human. It was then that Ginny came out laughing at them.

"How old are you lot? Three? I'm sure Teddy could teach you a thing or two about a real snowball fight," she said, "Mum's got hot chocolate made, come inside and get it while it's still hot. If not, it'll just be chocolate," she smiled and then quickly bounded back toward the house before any of them got the idea to attack her too.

George dropped his head back into the snow from the bottom of the pile, "That was fun. I have to give you more credit Percy."

"Neither of us won. Maybe next time?" Audrey asked as they helped one another to their feet and made their way into the warm house.

"Don't you get your wet selves on my carpet," Mrs. Weasley said as the four adults came into the house, "Dry off before you go further than the kitchen." Each of the cast a drying charm on themselves and Mrs. Weasley handed them a cup of chocolate.

"What was up with that?" Ginny asked as they entered the sitting room.

"I was only trying to teach Percy how to build a snowman without magic," Audrey replied, "Then George came around and started the snowball fight."

"It looked like you were all having fun," Ginny replied leaning against Harry who was on the couch beside her.

"It was fun! You should have joined us," Angelina said.

"Join you and miss the warmth of the fire? I don't think so," Ginny smiled as she pointed toward the fireplace.

"Don't be a sissy Gin, you know you could have joined my team and helped me win," George smiled at his little sister.

"We decided neither of us won George" Audrey reminded him.

"I know. This time," he leaned back on the couch and wrapped his arms around Angelina.

~HP~HP~HP~

Later that night as midnight was only an hour or so away, Percy led Audrey up to his childhood room.
"You have always been such a neat freak," Audrey smiled as she sat down on his bed.

"There are a lot of things that I am," Percy replied with a tinge of sadness to his voice.

"I didn't mean it like that Perce," she replied, "What's it up here that you wanted me to see anyways?" Percy smiled and then flicked his wand at the window. Suddenly, the whole room lit up in colorful Christmas lights. He moved from the door, closed it behind him and lay down on the bed behind Audrey.

"I don't care about your past, but why didn't I meet you sooner?" Audrey smiled as she leaned back against him and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'm actually glad you didn't meet me sooner," he replied kissing her arm.

"You are so hopeless," she smiled and then leaned over and kissed him. "I love you," she sat up and turned so she could lie down beside him. If there was one thing she loved the most about when she and Percy were alone was the way he would hold her close. She snuggled close to him and closed her eyes.

"Don't go to sleep on me!" he exclaimed. "You have to make it to midnight!"

"I'm not going to sleep silly. I haven't missed a New Years since I was old enough to be able to stay up until then," she smiled peeking at him with one eye.

"Good. So, I was thinking, this is going to be a promising year."

"I'd hope so. I mean, look at you. Look at how far you've come since I first met you. You made amends with your family, you fell in love with me, we're going to get married, and you're working better hours," she pulled her face back, and entangled her fingers in his hair.

"None of this would have happened if I hadn't met you. I would have never gone home for Christmas that one year. I would have never have seen Penelope, she probably would have died. I would have never fled from the ministry; I would have stayed. I would have joined the minister and the Death Eaters without realizing what I was doing. I wouldn't have witnessed attacks by Death Eaters or any of the deaths that I've seen. The only reason that it didn't happen like that was because I met you."

"I don't even want to think about what would have happened had I not met you," Audrey replied, "My mum may or may not have survived," she sighed and turned her face away from Percy.

"There were so many other things going on at the time, you never properly got to grieve for her did you?" Percy asked pulling her closer and resting his chin on the top of her head.

"No, but I wonder if things are better the way they turned out," Audrey replied.

"I love you more than anything," Percy said kissing the top of her head.

"I love you more than anything. You are the only thing that is worth living for," Audrey replied closing her eyes again.

"Don't say that," Percy said as he rolled over so that she was on her back and he was on top of her.

"Its true," Audrey replied slightly startled at his sudden movement.

"No. There is always something more worth living for."

"I've lost everything Percy. I mean, I may have my material possessions, but really, what good are they sometimes? I have nothing else that matters left. Nothing else but you."

"Sometimes, I think I will never understand you," He sighed and moved to roll over but Audrey stopped him.

"Don't get your hopes up, I like being close to you," she replied when he looked at her. "Besides, it's almost midnight." He chuckled at her.

"You're right. If we aren't down there in…" he looked at the clock. Eleven forty five, "If we aren't down there in the next minute and a half, I can almost guarantee George will come after us. If he sees us like this, then he'll give us hell for the rest of the month if not longer," Percy said.

"I don't really care," Audrey smiled.

"You should. You've never really seen what its like," Audrey sighed.

"Fine, we can go down there right now then," she tried to move him off of her but her attempts were futile.

"Audrey."

"Percy," she smiled at him.

"What do you want?" he asked, "Don't tell me nothing," he said as she opened her mouth to reply, "I know you better than that." She stuck her tongue out at him before answering.

"I don't want to go anywhere at all. I just want to stay right here and not move for as long as possible," she replied.

"I don't know how much longer I can lay here like this before I convince you to change your mind."

"You are such a boy," she giggled and then pulled his head down to kiss him.

"Especially if you keep doing this. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to resist if I tried hard enough."

"Don't. You had a point that someone would come along looking for us. We'll have the whole rest of our lives for things like this. Right now, we probably do need to head down."

"Especially if you'd like to wake up to tomorrow," Mr. Weasley's voice came into the room. "Don't worry; I haven't been standing here long. I'm sure if Molly saw you though she'd have a heart attack. I've been sent to tell you its ten till midnight, she wants us all together. You know how it is Percy," Percy had almost rolled off the bed when Mr. Weasley startled them. His ears were a bright red, as were Mr. Weasley's.

"Alright, we'll come down in just a minute or two," Audrey replied trying not to laugh at Percy. Mr. Weasley nodded his head and then left the room shutting the door behind him. Audrey rolled over on her side to face Percy.

"You're adorable when you're embarrassed," she smiled. "We can come back to this when the others go to bed. Maybe I will let you change my mind," she leaned over and kissed his cheek before sitting up. "Come on, we don't want any further embarrassment. Lucky it was just your dad," she said climbing out of the bed and reaching out to pull him up.

Hand in hand they ventured down the stairs.

"Come on slow pokes. Mum won't let me go out and set up until you get in here," George said from the bottom.

"Set up what?" Audrey asked.

"It's never New Years without fireworks Audrey dear," George replied.

"Says who?"

"I'm with George. Fireworks are fun," Percy replied.

"Can I go now mum? Please?"

"Don't be such a child. Go," Mrs. Weasley waved her arm.

After putting their coats on, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Angelina, Harry, Ginny, Percy and Audrey ventured outside where George was, by this point, almost done setting up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, have a seat, relax, and hopefully the show will be as good as always," George said his voice faltering toward the end. He flicked his wand at their feet and chairs appeared.

Percy plopped down in one and pulled Audrey into his lap. She leaned back into him, smiled, and kissed his cheek.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," he replied wrapping his arms around her and clasping his hands together at her stomach.

"Ready? Who's got the time?" George asked.

"Three more minutes" Mrs. Weasley said from her place cuddled beside Mr. Weasley.

"Ang, got time to help me make drinks?" George asked.

"How many do we need?" she looked around.

"I don't want one of my own. I don't really like champagne," Audrey spoke up. "I can just take a sip or two of Percy's."

"So we need seven," George told her, "Give us the sixty second warning" he said as they dashed into the house.

"You don't like champagne Audrey?" Ginny asked from beside Harry.

"No, not really. I'm not much of a drinker; my uncle was a drunk. I swore to myself from a young age I'd never get into it. I had my share of bruises when he was around."

"I'm sorry," Ginny said.

"I didn't have to see him often with school and all." Audrey sighed and felt Percy's arms tighten around her.

"What happened to the rest of your family?" Harry asked. Harry was the only one that Audrey really hadn't gotten to know as well as she knew the others.

"Mum's sister never married, died in a car wreck. She was a muggle. Dad's sister married the drunk; he died from alcohol poisoning. My aunt and two younger cousins stayed behind in America when we moved here. I'm not sure what happened to them. I wasn't close to them. Dad died not long after we moved here, and mum died in the war."

"Sorry to interrupt Audrey dear, but George! Angelina! Sixty seconds." Mrs. Weasley yelled toward the house.

"It's okay. I answered his question," Audrey replied. Percy kissed her neck. George and Angelina came out carrying the drinks. They passed them out and then as they began the thirty-second count down, George began lighting the fireworks. As they got to one, the fireworks began to ascend toward the air in a colorful array of lights.

"Happy New Year!" they shouted.

"Happy New Year Audrey," Percy whispered.

"Happy New Year Percy. I love you," she replied kissing him and then relaxing in his arms again as together the small gathering of the Weasley family watched George's fireworks display.

Authors Note: I must dedicate this chapter to Elven_Heart993 for helping me with the snowball scene. I wrote Percy and Audrey's lines while she wrote George and Angelina's lines.

I do hope that this chapter is alright... personally i dont really like the middle scene. i had a really tough time writing it, and i dont think it came out right. :P