AN: I have it on good authority that I actually don't own Harry Potter. I could've sworn I did. Huh.
Anyway...thank you all for the reviews, or for adding to your lists. I am so sorry - really - that this has taken so long. I know I promised a few people it would be up sooner, but it's hard to want to write when all you really wanna do is curl up in a ball and make the world go away. Which I have lately. But I've got it under control, so here we are.
I'm going to try to have the next chapter - THE WEDDING! YAY! - up in the next week, but I make no promises. Busy week ahead for this household.
**I know you're getting e-mails about Ch 37, but please ignore it. There is no 37 yet. I accidentally uploaded this chapter twice. Sorry about that.**
Alright, I'm done. Enjoy!
"Ah! Could you be a bit gentler, Ginny?" Audrey complained as Ginny yanked her hair roughly.
"I'm sorry, Aud, but it's a bit of a mess." she replied. "I don't know how you spent last night, but I'm guessing it was something really gross and something I definitely don't wanna know about with Percy."
"No, no." Audrey said, shaking her head slightly. "We agreed not to see one another the day before the wedding, so I slept here, and I had a bit of a rough night."
"Oh!" Ginny exclaimed, combing out another tangle. "I'm sorry, Audrey. If you slept in my bed, especially. I know it's a bit lumpy." she blushed.
"No, I slept in Perce's old room." Audrey said. "Something you'd know if you had been here. How is Oliver, by the way?" she asked, chuckling when Ginny blushed.
Before she could answer, the door to the twin's old room opened, and Hermione slipped in. "Here, Audrey. I brought you some tea for your...um, nerves." she said, giving Audrey a meaningful look. "Oh, and Fleur, Angie and Katie are here, and Luna and Lavender will be here after they get ready." she added.
Audrey groaned in appreciation as she lifted the teacup to her nose, inhaling the delicious aroma. "Thank you, Hermione." she said, putting it to her lips and nearly drinking it all in one go. "Oh, that's good stuff." she sighed, feeling it take immediate effect. "But why are Luna and Lavender going to be the last to arrive?"
"You're welcome." Hermione smiled. "And they're helping Molly make sure the boys get ready on time over at Grimmauld."
"Oh, okay." Audrey said with a slight nod.
"Now, since Gin's almost done with your hair, and your makeup is done, we just need to get you into the dress." she said, turning to get the dress out of the bag as Ginny put the finishing touches on her up-do. Thankful that at least one of the twins used to sleep in a canopy bed resembling the ones at Hogwarts, she hung the dress bag from one of the beams, and unzipped the bag.
Ginny sighed from beside her, her eyes going a bit teary. "I don't think I'll ever get over how gorgeous this dress is, Audrey." she said, reaching one hand out to touch the dress.
Audrey smiled, moving to stand on Hermione's other side. "You will. When you put on a dress, and suddenly, you see yourself saying 'I do' to Oliver, and he's looking at you..." she trailed off, beginning to cry.
"Okay, before we all turn into weeping messes, let's get this thing on you, Audrey." Hermione said, blinking back her own tears. Lifting the dress out, she laid it on the bed, making sure not to wrinkle it. "Ready, Aud?" she asked.
"Yes." Audrey nodded, undoing the tie on her robe.
"Oooh, is that the lingerie you got at Madam Mia's?" Ginny asked, seeing the dark red lace panties Audrey was wearing.
"Some of it, yes." Audrey said, her stomach doing flips again as she watched Hermione undo the buttons on the back of the dress.
"Well, it's going to knock Percy's socks off, that's for sure." Hermione laughed, glancing at Audrey as she got to the end of the buttons.
"Ugh." Ginny groaned dramatically. "Can we change the subject, please? I don't wanna think about anything of Percy's coming off." she shivered.
Hermione laughed, and after a moment, Audrey joined in. "Okay, then, Aud, let's do this." she said. Together with Ginny, the three had the dress on and done up in no time, with Hermione and Ginny beaming at a nervous looking Audrey.
Audrey's dress was gorgeous, there was no denying that. Made from the finest satin, and in the purest white possible, it was a vision. Strapless, with a sweetheart neckline, it hugged Audrey's figure until her knees, where it flared out, ending in a three foot long train. Audrey had incorporated her wedding color into the dress with a red lace embroidery design in the middle that wrapped around her, and trailed down the back to the end of the train. It was, in a word...breathtaking.
A knock on the door pulled Hermione and Ginny from their gazing, turning to see who was entering. Molly, in her dark blue robes she bought especially for today, and her fiery locks pulled into a tight bun, entered the room, her eyes filling with tears as she caught sight of Audrey.
"Oh, Audrey!" she sighed, her hand flying to her chest. "Percy's not going to know what hit him." she said, fishing her handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbing her eyes with it.
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley." Audrey smiled.
"Ah, ah, ah." Molly smiled, shaking her head. "It's Mum now, Audrey. No more of this 'Mrs. Weasley' nonsense." she said.
"Thanks...Mum." Audrey said, giving her a teary smile.
"So, does that mean that when I get married, I have to call you 'Mrs. Weasley'?" Ginny asked, lightening the mood while Hermione handed Audrey a tissue.
The four laughed for a moment, the mood effectively lightened, before Molly informed the girls that the photographer was there, and wanted to get some photos taken of them all before the wedding.
"Perce, if you don't sit down, I'm going to hex you!" Charlie said as Percy made another loop in front of him. "All that pacing you're doing is making me dizzy."
"Hear, hear." Bill agreed, laying down a card. All the men were ready to go, Molly having made sure of that, so to pass the time, they were playing high card/low card.
"Oh, well...excuse me for being a tad bit nervous!" Percy snapped, tossing a glare in their direction.
"Why are you nervous, Percy?" Ron asked from where he and Harry were playing chess. "You've been with Audrey for ages."
"Yes, I know. Thank you, Ronald." he said sarcastically. Sighing, he flopped into a chair in a very in-Percy manner, running his hands through his hair. "I'm a good boyfriend, but what if I totally cock it up being a husband?" he asked.
"Percy, it's not going to be all that different." Bill said. "It's just like you're still dating, only now she'll have your name, and she'll live with you, and share her life with you. Just like now. The one big difference, though, is now you can't go prowling for birds." he smiled, glad he could get a chuckle out of his nervous brother.
Percy snorted. "You mean I have to find a new hobby?" he asked in mock-seriousness. He couldn't hold it, though, and burst out laughing, along with the others.
"Perce, trust me, there's nothing to worry about. It's going to be great. You'll see." Bill said, scooping up the cards he won from Charlie and putting them into a pile.
"Boys, it's time to go." Arthur said, coming in with Kreacher following behind him, carrying a large tray. "But before we go," he said, taking one of the glasses from Kreacher, "I'd like to propose a toast, so Kreacher, if you'd kindly make sure all the boys have a glass..."
"Yes, Mister Weezy." Kreacher mumbled, following Arthur's order.
"Firewhiskey, Dad? Mum'll have your head for this." Charlie said, shaking his head.
"One glass will be fine." Arthur chuckled. "Now," he said, wrapping his drink-free hand around Percy's shoulders, "to my son on his wedding day. May you and Audrey have the same kind of happiness I've had with your mother all these years." he said, raising his glass. "To Percy!" he yelled, downing his shot.
"To Percy!" the others exclaimed, tossing back their shots.
As the burn of the firewhiskey hit his throat, Harry's eyes welled up and he began coughing.
"Whoa, easy there, Harry." Ron said, thumping him on the back. "I forgot you can't handle the hard stuff."
"Piss off." Harry said through his coughs, making everyone laugh as they paraded to the back garden to apparate to the Burrow.
Review please.
Til next time!
XOXO - Onyx Obsidian