November 1995

Percy began to notice as November started. He suspected that he'd not noticed sooner because it had been a gradual thing, but by the time November kicked in the Muggles had officially started their run up to Christmas. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. The wizarding world didn't do anything like this. Percy had the fleeting abstract thought that Professor Dumbledore would have loved it. It was bright, it was loud, it was frankly obnoxious in places, and made Percy recoil. An ingrained sense of propriety offended by the over the top displays.

He had caught himself doubling back the first time he had seen the depiction of Father Christmas. The beard and the twinkling eyes had made him look twice. Although to be fair to Professor Dumbledore, Percy didn't think the meddlesome wizard would ever be accused of being that overweight.

The supermarket close to his house where he did his food shop was the main culprit in Percy's enlightenment. He shopped there because it was easier than owl ordering and he felt should Audrey ask, he needed to be at least aware of his local supermarket and somewhat familiar with it. Also, Muggle beer, something he had tried in a pub with Audrey, had been on sale there, and Percy was taking to occasionally drinking it in the evening. The wizarding world was short on things like bottled beer. Muggles, on the other hand, had a mind-boggling selection catering for every taste.

His more recent forays into the supermarket had been met with a seemingly never-ending loop of the same festive songs and a significant amount of marketing geared towards the holiday. The music was awful Percy decided. He couldn't tell if it was meant to encourage or discourage enjoying yourself, but he'd had enough of it already.

Once he had noticed that it was coming up to Christmas, it had brought up a mild panic that he would have to get Audrey a gift. Percy knew enough from his dating of witches in Hogwarts to know that whatever he gave her would be subject to the scrutiny of her friends and family. Who would use it as a means to judge him worthy of Audrey.

On top of that, there were the Ministry events he would have to attend. The Yule Ball, the charity dinners, the events that were no more than self-congratulatory back-patting for another year over. Then there was the overtime since everyone decided that they were going to enjoy the festivities and someone else could pick up their slack. Added to that was the fact that Percy was estranged from his family and this would be his first Christmas on his own.

Christmas didn't look like it was going to be something he would be celebrating this year.

He didn't know how to feel about that. He was under no illusions that the Burrow wouldn't be full to bursting, that his Mum and Dad wouldn't be hosting as many people as they could. There was no way he could go, however. Even if they managed not to drag up politics, which, considering their likely guests seemed an impossibility, he knew his brothers would be unforgiving. Bill would be unamused, a disapproving elder brother siding firmly with their father. Ron would be belligerent and ill-mannered when he wasn't doing his best to ignore Percy's existence. Harry and Hermione, who would be in attendance, would likely ignore his presence. Not that it wouldn't be any less awkward, but they could be relied on to at least show manners. Ginny would be cold if not outright hostile. The twins, however. Percy suppressed a shudder at the thought of what his two prankster brothers set on the course of their righteous anger might do to him.

He put the thought of his family out of his mind, he had to get Audrey something for Christmas. Something that signified his growing regard for her. He would have to decide between something Muggle, which he didn't have a lot of experience in buying, and was unsure about where he could purchase something that would suit and be of acceptable quality. Or, he could buy something from the wizarding world that was benign enough and not of such superior quality it would cause unwanted questions to be asked.

The problem, Percy mused, was that the wizarding world really was old fashioned and the use of repair spells meant that even the tattiest of things could be fixed up. A girlfriend who could recognise a sixteenth-century goblet at forty paces and assign value based on its condition was a problem. Especially when sixteenth-century goblets of reasonable condition were forty a knut in Diagon Alley, and a few cleaning and repairing spells could have them looking, well, not new, but certainly in better condition than anything that old had a right to be in the Muggle world.

Audrey would love a set, she really genuinely would, but Percy couldn't buy her a set because she would have more questions than he had answers. High-quality silk, on the other hand, he mused to himself, remembering the scarf she wore when he first met her, and she'd worn since. Yes, an Arcomantula silk scarf would raise fewer questions. The haberdashery in Diagon Alley could be availed upon for such things.

He wasn't going to buy her jewellery. Percy's family might not cleave to the old pureblood traditions but that one his father had told all his sons about. You didn't give a witch jewellery without meaning the promise behind it. The promise that you were making your choice known to the wider community. That you had chosen your witch and she had accepted you. Audrey clearly wouldn't be aware of the custom, but he was, and until he was sure, he would not be gifting her jewellery. Satisfied he at least had an idea that wouldn't land him in trouble, he made a note in his calendar to spend a lunch hour away from his desk one day this week so he could start looking for something suitable.

Three days after his musing about Audrey's Christmas present, Percy woke up in a strange bed that was becoming all too familiar. He reached over to the bedside table for his glasses bringing his murky world into focus and enabling him to look at Audrey in the weak light. She grumbled and rolled closer, still asleep. The t-shirt Percy distinctly remembered taking off her had been reinstated, and he allowed himself a flash of chagrin.

Percy gently dropped a kiss onto her cheek before swinging his legs out of bed. He had to go to work and tardiness, however excellent the excuse, was not a habit he wished to form. Percy headed for the shower snagging his overnight bag on the way.

Pretending to be muggle wasn't difficult, he enjoyed travelling around by public transport with Audrey when they went out. He enjoyed the food, music and culture he had so far been exposed to. He did not enjoy the early mornings he had to endure when he stayed over at Audrey's. His place of work was further away, and he had to act accordingly, which meant getting up earlier. It wasn't all bad, his early starts on the days he stayed at Audrey's allowed him to feel he was not slacking when he didn't work over the weekend because he and Audrey had plans.

Audrey had left the bed by the time he came out of the bathroom, showered, shaved-by magic although he did carry a Muggle razor, and dressed in robes he had transfigured into a Muggle suit. Audrey was leaning against the kitchen cabinets, a cup of coffee steaming in her hands. His cup was laid out next to a steaming teapot as was his preference for brewed tea over Muggle tea bags, next to her on the surface. He added milk to his cup then poured the steeped tea into the cup, a quick stir, and he sipped appreciatively. "Thank you," Percy said.

Audrey lifted a shoulder in a gesture communicating it was nothing. Percy hid his smile behind his cup. Audrey was not a morning person, a phrase he hadn't understood until his first overnight stay with her. Until she had consumed her first cup of coffee, she was practically mute.

"Mum has invited you over for Sunday Lunch."

"I will, of course, accept gladly," Percy replied. "You said I'd be asked eventually."

"Mmmm," Audrey acknowledged taking another sip of coffee. "It's a warm-up. She's going to ask you to attend Christmas. Dad said that your first time meeting them shouldn't be as fraught as Christmas and you should come for Sunday lunch first. Break you in gently."

Percy looked at her in surprise. For this early in the morning that was an unprecedented amount of coherence. Audrey caught the look and pulled one of her own. "I meant to tell you last night, but it seems other plans took precedence."

Percy smiled at that flicking a glance quickly over her. Her t-shirt covered her bum but little else, and it had been washed thin by constant use. It was not an unattractive look with her hair still tangled and unbrushed.

Audrey rolled her eyes at him then more seriously said. "You don't have to come at Christmas. I'd like you there, but you have your own family."

Percy put his empty cup in the sink and ran water over it to rinse it out. "I'd like to think about it if I may. I assume Sunday lunch will be this Sunday?" Audrey nodded. "Then I'll have my answer when they ask." He turned from the sink, kissed her thoroughly goodbye then collected his overnight bag and left for the Ministry.

It seemed that this week in early November was the week the world decided Percy had to think about Christmas and all that the holiday would entail. The Minister arranged a two-hour conference about the upcoming Yule Ball, its guest list and relative importance at being a success. Percy had been unsurprised that the Minister's eager involvement, the wish to be kept up to date and involved in the decision-making had been dumped on Percy's desk. When the Minister said things like that, it actually meant Percy would have to know everything and give the selected highlights to the Minister.

The rest of the day had been taken up by organising the Minister's schedule around those Charities and organisations that had invited the Minister to attend a dinner or party. To give a speech, or hand out an award, or just turn up and lend propriety to their cause just with his presence. Add to that the Minister himself had his own ideas about those people he would indulge and those he wouldn't, by the end of the day Percy felt herding cats would be preferable. He hadn't really considered what his appointment as junior aide to the Minister for Magic might involve before he took the job.

Minister Fudge breezed through Percy's office space seconds after the clock struck five. He paused in front of Percy's desk, an eye passing over the number of bits or parchment and the large planner Percy had laid out trying to get everything to align.

"Weasley. I want the weekends kept clear. I have a family, and they are as entitled to my time as everyone else."

"Minister, the dinner hosted by the International Healers Confederation is on a Saturday," Percy objected.

"Then refuse the invite or tell them to reschedule."

"I don't believe that would be possible Minister," Percy replied hesitantly.

"Nonsense, I am the Minister for Magic aren't I? If they want me to attend this dinner of theirs, then they'll move it or go without. Dinner with a bunch of old cronies wittering on about hideous injuries is hardly something I want to attend Weasley. It sickens my stomach listening to them blather on about spell damage over the main course." Fudge complained.

"Yes, Minister," Percy said dully looking down at his planner in dismay. It seemed very doubtful that the International Healers Confederation, which was an organisation that worked closely with the Ministry and St Mungo's, would reschedule the dinner just for the British Minister for Magic. But, they were an influential group, and Percy was aware if the Minister was not, the importance of keeping relations between the Ministry and them in good health.

"Good," Fudge said before turning smartly on his heel and leaving Percy alone.

Percy groaned in dismay and selected from his pile of parchments those invitations that were set for the weekends. He sorted through to those he could, without too much offence, decline with only the reason that the Minister wasn't attending, from those that the Minister needed to participate in and would require a more diplomatic approach. That done, Percy waved his wand at the first pile sending out the refusals then placed them into a folder with the other rejected events. He then selected the second collection, making notations of when they could be rescheduled for into the Minister's already busy schedule.

He'd managed to juggle things around to allow the Minister to attend two of the dinners and one award ceremony and had sent out the appropriate messages and suggestions before his office door opened once more.

Percy looked up to see his father hover nervously in the doorway. Percy put the parchments down and took a moment to look his father over.

"Ahh, Percy," Arthur said with a small smile and a friendly nod. "I was hoping to catch you before you left for the day."

Percy rose from his chair indicating the chairs by his desk. "Will you come in?"

Arthur bobbed another nod and closed the door behind him as he came forward. His eyes flickered around the office taking the room. It was, Percy knew, sumptuous. Something he had stopped seeing as his working hours got longer and longer. The antechamber to the Minister for Magic's office had carpet that was thick and muffling, the wall hangings were silk, and the ornate frames dotted around the walls held portraits of former Ministers. The desk Percy was sat behind was vast and elaborate. Nothing to the Minister's desk, nor to the other department heads, Percy knew, but to Arthur who due to his department had a wonky old desk from the bygone era, the desk at which his son sat at must look impressive.

Arthur settled into the armchair uncomfortably. The chair was nicer than anything at the Burrow, the covering was dragonhide leather of such quality it was butter soft. It was either the quality or the placement of it before his son's desk that was making Arthur uncomfortable Percy summarised.

"Tea?" Percy offered.

"Err no thank you, your Mum is cooking dinner, and you know what she gets like," Arthur said with a smile.

Percy subsided into his own comfortable leather chair waiting for his father to get to the reason he was here.

"You're not working too hard?" Arthur asked glancing at the parchment covering Percy's desk

"Christmas is a busy period for the Minister," Percy replied stiffly.

Arthur bobbed another nod, his fingers fiddling anxiously with the drape of his robe. "Ahh well, that's why I'm here. We were wondering if you'd be coming home for Christmas?"

Percy didn't stop the look of shock crossing his face followed by one of suspicion.

Arthur held up a hand. "Percy, son. It's Christmas, I know things have been said, and perhaps they shouldn't have been, but we worry about you." Arthur cast a not so subtle glance at the closed doors to the Minister's office. "You're a smart lad Percy. Christmas is a time for family. It would mean the world to your Mum and me if you'd come and spend Christmas with your family."

"You'll both apologise?" Percy asked.

"Percy, Ron told us about the letter you sent. I have to say I'm disappointed in you." Arthur said with a stern look. Percy bristled but held his tongue as his father held up a hand and continued speaking. "If you feel you need an apology for our behaviour that is your right, but you'll need to be giving your own. Not just to your Mother and me, but to Harry. You had no right to malign him like that, he's done nothing wrong."

"He's dangerous!" Percy hissed.

"He's not," Arthur replied sternly.

"He is, I've seen the reports! He's going to get someone hurt if not killed, and if you don't heed me it might be one of you!"

Arthur shook his head sadly. "Percy, please." He stood wearily. "This ground doesn't need going over again. Harry isn't a threat, the threat is from You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters. Some of whom walk the same corridors we do. Who are working within these halls of power, not for the good of Wizarding kind but to push You-Know-Who's agenda. The invitation stands, you're family Percy, and we'd like to see you there."

Percy stood as well, his hands balled into fists, hidden in his robes, the same hot anger firing him as had done so when he broke from his family. "Thank you for the invitation, but I won't be attending. I have been invited and accepted an offer of alternative hospitality for the season."

Arthur looked closely at his son. Percy kept his head up meeting his eyes refusing to be cowed. He saw the slight slump in his father's shoulders.

"Very well, I'll inform your mother. Look after yourself Percy." With that Arthur turned and left Percy's office, the door closing softly behind him. Percy felt the anger in him morph into disappointment, and he sat down heavily.

Sunday lunch at Audrey's parents went well. Percy dressed smartly wanting to give off the right impression and made sure to bring a bottle of wine Audrey had said her parents both liked, along with a small bunch of flowers for her mother. It had perhaps been overkill, but they had both welcomed him warmly. When during the coffee after the large meal Audrey's mother invited him to Christmas dinner he accepted warmly and offered to arrive early to help with the preparations. The offer was rebutted, but Percy thought it had been received well.

Percy pushed the meeting with his father to the rear reaches of his mind and concentrated on his work and his burgeoning relationship. It worked well as a distraction up until the middle of December when he heard the reports that his father had been attacked and was in St Mungo's in a critical condition.

Percy forced himself to stay at his desk to continue his day's work while gleaning as much information as he could from the gossips and whisperers. When five o'clock came around, he left his office returned to his home and called Audrey on the telephone he'd had connected. Percy apologised, cancelled their evening plans, and sat on his small sofa thinking. He needed to go to St Mungo's, he needed to know his father was alright and receiving the best care. Since his family had not thought to inform him of the attack on his father, Percy assumed he would be unwelcome should they spot him. Percy also thought that since his father was hurt in part of the Ministry he had no business being in, he would also have to get around whatever guard the Order had provided.

The trip was not a total success nor failure. With robes and hair charmed, Percy had made it up to the ward where his unconscious father was. His mother had been at the bedside, so Percy had watched them both through the window until the sound of feet further down the corridor had him fleeing in the opposite direction. He had no further information about his father's condition, but he had at least seen he was still alive.

Christmas Day at Audrey's house was much as it was at the Burrow, just missing the use of magic and all of Percy's family. Audrey's family arrived at her parent's house, and Percy was introduced to a veritable horde of people. The uncle she worked for, the sister she had told him about, the grandparents that got her hooked on antiques. An aunt and her husband and children, another aunt with children but no husband. Percy put his mind to the task of remembering everyone and trying not to trip up while answering the dozen or so questions each of Audrey's relatives asked.

By the time they left together, Percy was exhausted. He had a Ministry function tomorrow that would take up most of the day and night, then he was back at work for three days before the weekend.

He and Audrey had agreed that since New Year's Eve was a Sunday and he had to attend yet another Ministry party, he would meet Audrey and her friends in the pub on Saturday night. It would be the first time Percy would be introduced to all of the people he had been told about, but he readily agreed thinking it couldn't possibly be any harder than meeting all of her family.

Audrey smiled up at him amusement dancing in her eyes. "You did very well you know, and thank you again for the scarf it really is beautiful."

Percy smiled at her. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Your family were OK with you spending the day with me? You've not mentioned going to see them between now and New Year's?"

"No, I won't be."

Audrey noticed the look on his face and dropped the topic. She led him to the sofa and pulled him down next to her. "I don't think I'll eat for a month I'm so full."

Percy rested an arm around her shoulders pulling her closer ignoring the pangs the thought of his family brought on. "What do you usually do now then?" he asked.

"Watch rubbish on TV until I fall asleep," Audrey replied.

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Percy said getting comfortable. "I'll leave it to you to choose something to watch."

Audrey picked up the remote control turning the TV on and started to flick through the four channels to select from. Settling on something that looked festive on Channel Four she set her head on Percy's chest and let her eyes droop closed.

Percy watched as Audrey fell asleep on him. Once he was sure that she was sound asleep, he turned the TV off and slipped his wand from his sleeve. Quietly and carefully so not to wake her, Percy summoned the book he had packed in his overnight bag and the blanket from the chair across the room. He checked that covering her with a blanket hadn't caused her to stir before summoning his teapot, cup, and tea leaves from the cupboard in the kitchen. Percy filled the teapot with his wand, then brought the water to the perfect temperature with another charm. He summoned the milk from the fridge and added the splash he preferred to his cup before sending it sailing back to the kitchen. Tea steeping, he checked Audrey was still sleeping before slipping his wand back up his sleeve.

Percy didn't mind living as a muggle when he was with Audrey. Spending today as a muggle, fetching and carrying dishes and plates, and washing up by hand had been part of the Muggle Christmas he had just enjoyed. It didn't mean he didn't appreciate his magic though, and if he could get away with it, he saw no harm in using it while he was with her. Making tea the Muggle way would have disturbed her and taken longer. Magic meant a few charms and wand movements later, Audrey was undisturbed, and Percy was supplied with tea and something to read.

He smiled down at the woman in his arms, she'd made a day he had not looked forward to special in its own right. He held her a bit tighter, a bit closer. She mumbled in her sleep cuddling up to him, and Percy embraced the moment where all was right in the world.