Percy had no time for romance.
He said it often enough now, whenever his mum or one of his siblings brought up the subject again and again. Because it was usually brought up again and again. He knew she meant well. She only wanted to see him happy like his other brothers and sister were. He was grateful for that, especially after all the rough times between them. Honestly, he didn't even deserve that much from her.
But back to his lack of romance.
She was beginning to not take what she deemed as an excuse for an answer any longer. It wasn't an excuse, but she-nor the rest of his family, much as he tried to convince-wasn't listening. She felt he was using that as a crutch and had been since Audrey left him. He wasn't, thank you very much. It was not a crutch. Definitely not a crutch. How could he think of dating right now? That was so far off his mind. He had two daughters to care for. They needed his attention and love more than another woman did.
Why didn't anyone understand that? It wasn't that he intended to put it off for the rest of his life. Merlin knows he greatly missed the championship he once shared with Audrey. Yes, it would've been nice to get out again but now just wasn't the right time. He couldn't be off gallivanting for a woman; Molly and Lucy were growing up and he wanted to have a front side view of everything. They were his number one priority, as they should be. He refused to be like those other parents; the ones that were concerned with their social and romantic lives than their own child. Honestly, it was entirely irresponsible of them. Those people didn't deserve to be parents.
Now that the girls were older and into their teenage years, he was feeling immense pressure from the family to settle down again. His mum was especially bad at this. She'd been dropping not-so-subtle hints that some friends of hers had daughters or nieces or goddaughters who were single and adored kids. George had asked him if he was planning on getting out there again. Even Oliver offered to introduce him to some ladies that played on Puddlemere or from an opposing team.
Each time, Percy flatly told them he wasn't interested.
What was the rush? He'd inwardly sigh in exasperation. Why did he have to be in a relationship with someone? Couldn't he just enjoyed the rest of Molly and Lucy's youth before he started to look? Charlie was older and he only just married his long time girlfriend that most of the family didn't know he had until a few months after the war ended-that had been a source of major gossip within the family. His mum was not pleased to learn they eloped when they came by the Burrow to announce it. Charlie ended up running outside, yelping when their mum tried hitting him on the backside with her slipper.
He appreciated that they cared. He really did. He just wished they didn't care quite as much. Let alone having the audacity to speak of the matter in front of the girls during one Sunday dinner that he should have stayed home from. Now they, too, were concerned about him being alone. That was the last thing he wanted and it was the last thing they should've been worried about. They were young; he wanted them to soak up every bit of their adolescence as they could. Not fretting that he wasn't with anyone.
Furthermore, he wasn't alone. Everyone else might think otherwise, but it was true. He wasn't alone. He had his daughters and that was enough for him. Why did he need a woman to feel happy? Why did have to be looking for one? It was rubbish, that's what it was. Completely, utterly rubbish. They assumed he must be unhappy, longing for that connection he once had. It would have been nice, he could admit. Not the worst thing in the world. And if he managed to find one, if that were occur, who said things would last? Percy didn't have the best track record when it came to relationships.
There'd only been two in his lifetime. The second one wasn't even supposed to have happened, if he was being honest. It sounded harsh, but was the untold truth. He was happy it did, though. That second relationship gave him two of the most beautiful girls in the world-and he didn't care if he was being biased or not. Still, it wasn't how he envisioned things turning out. His first was with Penny and that was short lived.
They'd broken up shortly after their seventh year ended. She was accepted into the St. Mungos healer program. She worked tirelessly; working sometimes a number of weeks straight before getting a short break. He was just starting his position at the Ministry. They went days without talking. No letters, no meeting up for some butterbeer or lunch. No dates. Nothing. He hadn't meant to ignore her at the time. He'd been caught up. The beginning of his unfortunate downfall. If only he could travel back in time and smack himself before he spiraled down too deep...
At some point, she did start sending him letters again, cordially asking if he would join her for lunch. He never responded, being so distracted with work and feeding into Mr. Crouch's demands. She eventually came to his office, shutting the door behind her, standing there for seemingly an eternity before blurting out the words.
They were quick. Like ripping off a bandage.
She admitted that she thought it was best if they broke up. He was in the midst of paperwork, simultaneously having a quill charmed to take notes beside him. He never even looked up. He was that engrossed. Only when she left in tears that he glanced up, feeling a twinge of guilt. But he'd been too embarrassed at what he perceived to be the only failure of his that he kept it from his family for the longest time. Just knowing that the twins would pick on him for it, especially for the fact that it was Penny who broke up with him. She didn't give much of a reason other than she didn't feel the spark anymore and gave a measly excuse that they needed to focus on their respective careers. It'd hurt, more than he felt he could bear at the time. It was partially the reason he threw himself more into his work. It was an escape. A reasonable one, he'd told himself. And until he was standing there in front of some of his family, nearly about to go on his hands and knees to beg for their forgiveness, he didn't see a problem with that.
And then there was Audrey. She was supposed to be his happily ever after. That soured shortly after Lucy was born, but he supposed it began to go downhill prior to her becoming pregnant with Molly. Which led him to now: single. Not where he expected to be but he was there all the same. No use whining about it or trying to hastily change that fact.
He thought of himself as being single for a long time. Perhaps forever.
Little did he know what fate had in store for him.
Percy was wearing his favorite work robes. The robes were sky blue; a color that his mum affectionately said matched his eyes. George said the robes made him stuffy and uptight-when their mum glared at him, his brother held up his hands in surrender, claiming he was merely joking. He still liked them. They were incredibly soft and a smidgen more casual than his others. He wore these on Friday's, a day that it so happened to be. After he finished his shift, he decided to not go home right away. The girls would be fine. They were having friends over and Molly was at that age where everything Percy did was seemingly embarrassing and going to ultimately ruin her social life.
He usually had to refrain from snickering. But he did it. He was a good dad so he didn't even though he wanted to.
About fifteen minutes after leaving the Ministry and walking through Diagon Alley, he found himself standing in line at Florean Fortescue's. The line was moderately long, with Percy having to be all the way back at the front door. He was the last person there, which was fine. He could wait. He felt he deserved a treat after the tough week he dealt with. And it was such a nice day outside, he might as well eat it here. Maybe pick up something for Molly and Lucy as well.
His head was turned to idly look at the bustling people out in the Alley. It wasn't as horrendously busy as it was during the few weeks prior to school starting, but it was enough for a Friday. Just as he turned back to look ahead, something-someone bumped into his chest and immediately there was an ice cold feeling soaking through his robes, nipping at his bare skin. He gasped, startled, staring down at the chocolatey mess that was now smearing on the material.
"What on-" The words died in his mouth at the sight of the young woman in front of him. She had to be around Ginny's age, perhaps younger but not by much. Not to mention-
She was pretty, he could admit.
Her hair was like Lucy's; blonde and up in a high ponytail on the top of her head. Her eyes were hazel and just the way they looked, made her seem so innocent. She must have had muggles for parents, judging by the t-shirt and pair of shorts that reminded Percy of what Oliver wore the majority of the time he wasn't in his quidditch uniform.
She didn't seem embarrassed by her accident nor did she widen her eyes in horror like he would have done if he was in her shoes. On the contrary, he blinked when she took the cone off his chest and licked at the remaining ice cream like nothing happened.
That was...odd to say the least.
"Sorry about that," she chirped. "I wasn't watching where I was going. Do you ever get lost in daydreams? I do. That happens to me a lot. My friend, Randy, says if my head wasn't screwed it would fall right off. Isn't that funny?" She let out a giggle that was probably too loud for being out in public, kind of obnoxious but also sort of...endearing. "Isn't it such a lovely day? I love sunny days. They're so pretty. Do you like sunny days, too? I think most do. Oh, you have a stain. I'll take care of that. Here." She brandished her wand and with one smooth flick, the ice cream vanished.
Percy was rendered speechless. She'd said all that one long breath without taking a break. Not to mention she certainly wasn't shy. "Er, it's quite alright and, er, thank you."
She distinctly reminded him of Oliver again. Oliver had talked the whole way from Kings Cross to Hogwarts on their first train in first year.
She slapped a hand to her forehead in a rather dramatic fashion. "Oh, goodness me! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Abby Adams! What's your name? You look familiar. Have we met and I just forgot? That's possible. I forget sometimes. Than again, you look like you're hard to forget." To his astonishment, she giggled again and a bit of a pink flush came onto her cheeks.
For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. His blasted tongue was flimsy and he deliberately ignored the smirking teenage girl who was serving people at the counter. It didn't even register that it was his turn to order now. But the girl wasn't bothered by that. She was enjoying the show, it seemed. "Percy," he eventually managed to say. "Percy Weasley. We might have gone to Hogwarts together."
Her eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh you're a Weasley! That's right. I was in your sister's year. We didn't really talk much. I didn't have many friends at Hogwarts. My best, best friend is Randy. He's a muggle but he knows all about magic. I told him. He liked reading my textbooks. I remember you were Head-Boy. Everyone thought you were annoying but I didn't. I thought you were interesting. Do you still talk to Oliver Wood? I remember you guys were always together. He plays for Puddlemere, not that that's a surprise. Am I right?"
"Right," he murmured.
She took a glance at her watch. "Oh, darn! I've gotta scatter. Break's almost over. Bye, Percy! Enjoy your ice cream!" She flashed him a smile as she exited the shop and apparated away. Percy kept staring at the last place she stood until the girl at the counter hummed and he blushed.
"What's up with him?" the girl said out loud.
An older bloke who was nearby responded. "Well, I'd reckon to say he's in love."
Love? No. That was preposterous.
...Or was it?
So this is gonna feature different moments between them. On ao3 it's a series. On here I just decided to put it all together.