March 1996
It had only been a week, maybe two but not three since Audrey had confronted him with her suspicions. They had talked since that night, Percy had said no more of his upbringing, and she had not mentioned it. He knew that the matter wasn't dealt with and that the story he had told her would invariably come up again at a later date, but for now, they were both happy to let it lie.
It was a Saturday evening and Audrey had come to his flat after work. She'd spent it working in the shop, and he'd spent it at the Ministry. Legislation was brewing there, laws that had no right being considered, never mind going up for debate by the Wizengamot. It was, Percy thought, against everything the Ministry was striving for, and while he was confident that it would get no further, he was concerned that it was given a voice.
While everyone had the right to plead their case, this law, in particular, seemed to be coming out of nowhere, and it made Percy take note. That, plus his regular duties, plus covering for Undersecretary Umbridge while she was teaching at Hogwarts, was keeping Percy busy.
He had to admit that when he had been informed Undersecretary Umbridge would be reassigned to Hogwarts and Percy would be expected to pick up her workload; he was disheartened. Until that was, the third week or so when he realised that she had been pushing her work on to him for months while she pursued her interests, meaning his workload was only slightly increased. Percy had said nothing, of course, it would do no good, and he did not want to gain a reputation of shirking his duty if he was to make something out of his career. Notice like that never left you.
It was then, pleasant to have an evening with nothing more pressing than making sure the takeaway was still hot when Audrey turned up, the Muggle beer in the fridge was cold, and there was something that Audrey also enjoyed drinking.
After dinner, they settled on the sofa. Audrey sat in her usual position next to him, leaning on him her legs curled under her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. She didn't reach for the TV remote and instead fidgeted with her cuffs shooting him small quick glances. Percy braced himself for an evening of explaining life in a commune. He glanced down at her meeting her eyes, he raised an eyebrow at her and said. "Ask. Ask whatever it is that has you fidgeting so nervously."
Audrey dipped her head to the side slightly, giving him a rueful look. "I was wondering…"
"Yes?"
"Do you think you could get some time off in April?"
Surprised, as that had not been what he had expected to hear, Percy paused lips pursed in thought. "Perhaps, I would have to put a request in soon. As there is one other person in my department that has a temporary reassignment, I cannot speak to the success of such an application. What were you thinking?"
"Two weeks?" Audrey said hopefully.
Percy didn't stop the slight frown as he thought. Two weeks was not an unmanageable amount of time, but he was only a Junior Aide. He was allocated holiday days and had yet to take any, but with Undersecretary Umbridge on reassignment, the request might not be approved. "I can certainly ask, but I cannot promise anything."
"No that's understandable, it is a bit soon, but I have to go anyway, and I thought it might be fun if you came too."
"Go?" Percy asked puzzled.
"To France," Audrey replied nodding her head.
"I think I've missed something," Percy said.
Audrey smiled up at him tucked under his arm, her head resting on his shoulder. "I might have missed some details out." Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled, and Percy mused on how crinkles at the corner of smiling eyes could be so lovely on a woman.
"So, details?" he repeated.
"Every year someone from the company goes to France. In April last year, I went alone for the first time, I've been a few times with my uncle, but last year was my initiation as it were. The trip is due again in April, and I thought you might like to come. We'll start in Paris, drive to Belfort then down through Switzerland to Anancy. From there down to the south coast to Carpentras, Avignon and Arles. Then along the coast and up to Toulouse, then up to Orleans and back to Paris and then take the Tunnel home. It's a huge loop of southern France," Audrey explained.
"For what purpose?" Percy asked.
"For the antiques, of course, those towns have some of the best markets. We might miss some, it depends on how the travelling goes. But we already have pickups in Paris, Arles, Toulouse and Orleans, and we have to collect the Paris pick up on the way out."
"Oh?" Percy inquired wondering at her emphasis.
"Because," Audrey said with a small, shameful huff. "Last year the first time I went alone, the Tunnel was delayed, so I missed the pickup and rather than waiting until the next morning when they would be open again I went straight on to Belfort and did the whole loop. Only by the time I got back to Paris, the van was full, and the sideboard that I was supposed to pick up in Paris wouldn't fit in the van. My uncle had to come over with another van to collect it. Needless to say, it's one of his favourite stories to tell everyone. I'm surprised you didn't get told it at Christmas. Anyway, it turns out that the humongous dresser I had in the van which was the reason the Paris pickup didn't fit, was worth six times more and it sold within a week of me getting back, while we still have the sideboard."
"Ah," Percy said. "Will I not be in the way? I know nothing about your profession."
"No," Audrey said smiling at him for his consideration and acceptance of her idea. "The markets are usually on over a weekend or a couple of days, and in between them it's a lot of driving. Southern France is lovely in spring. We could if we make good time stop for a few days or so, it's beautiful there, the whole of the south of France is."
"What would I need to accompany you if I am allowed the time?"
"Just yourself, clothes and the like. We'll take the company van and go over on the Tunnel both to and from France. You'll need a passport though, I didn't think you'd have one, so I picked up a form from the Post Office. I can help you fill it in, but you'll need a copy of your birth certificate."
"I don't have one," Percy said automatically then bit his lip, he was trying to be more aware of his slips.
"That's OK you can apply for a replacement from the registry office," Audrey said not seeming to take the news amiss. "I'll help you with that form as well if you like. You need to apply for a full copy, not the short copy, the Passport Office need the full one, or they'll reject your application."
Percy nodded. "Very well, I will put in the request for holiday and apply for a passport."
"Great," Audrey chirped. "I've got the form in my bag, don't let me forget to give it to you."
Percy arrived at work on Monday morning with the passport form in his pocket. He worked quietly at his desk until Minister Fudge entered, then slipped into the office twenty minutes later. Experience told him the Minister would have finished his perusal of the morning papers, his first cup of tea at his desk, but not yet started on the pile of folders Percy had placed on his desk before he had arrived.
"Minister,"
"Weasley? What is it?" Fudge looked up at Percy stood politely in front of his desk.
"Minister, I would like to request some annual leave," Percy stated without fanfare. The request form in his hand completed and just waiting for the Minister's signature.
Minister Fudge looked surprised then narrowed his eyes at Percy. "Annual leave?"
"Yes, Minister, two weeks in April if I may."
"Hmm, with Undersecretary Umbridge already reassigned I'm not sure that I would be able to authorise any." Fudge tried to look apologetic, but Percy was unconvinced.
"I understand that Minister," Percy replied deferentially. "However, as per Ministerial edict 93C subsection 14, I am entitled to take time off if appropriate cover can be found and I have taken the liberty to ensure that your office will be unaffected."
"It's dangerous you know Weasley," Fudge replied eyes narrowed at his assistant.
"Minister?" Percy asked his manner still deferential.
"Finding someone who can replace you so easily at short notice, and if you are to be believed, do your job for you with minimal training."
"Indeed, Minister, I take your point. However, Mr Stubbs is between assignments for the Financial Investigative branch and while being fully qualified to cover my absence, is entirely expectant of a new assignment by the start of June."
"Financial investigations?" Minister Fudge asked eyes narrowing.
"Yes, Minister. As per Ministerial edict 45, subsection 8, annotations 34, any employee of the Ministry can be reassigned to offer cover if not already engaged by their department. Excluding the Aurory, of course, sir."
"Indeed," Minister Fudge said his expression curious.
"Yes, sir," Percy replied straight-faced. "Shall I bring a copy of the edict Minister?"
"No, no," he replied looking slightly ill at the thought. "Very well Weasley, since you appear to have this all in hand I'll approve your time off. Going anywhere interesting?" Fudge waved his hand beckoning Percy forward. He took the form from Percy and inked his quill before signing his approval across the appropriate section.
"France sir, the South of France is supposed to be beautiful this time of year," Percy replied accepting the completed request back.
Fudge nodded. "Yes, yes, quite beautiful. Well, enjoy yourself, Weasley."
"Yes sir, thank you, sir. Your first appointment is in half an hour sir, shall I send them in as soon as they arrive?"
"Who is it again?" the Minister asked.
"Accounting sir, there was a small discrepancy in the budget of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. They applied for more budget than was approved and overspent. Accounting wants to know where it's coming from and Magical Games and Sports aren't willing to cover it."
"Damn Bagman and that new chap Bertram? Bedford?" Fudge muttered.
"Beauchamp," Percy supplied.
"Him! Yes him," Fudge said stabbing a pudgy finger into his desk. "He was told to take over and get the respectability of his department back after the mess that Bagman left, and what's he done? Caused this kerfuffle that's what. Now I have to deal with it. I can't just pull funds out of thin air that's what budgets are for, for Merlin's sake."
Percy stood quietly letting the Minister vent, knowing that Beauchamp wasn't actually to blame for the budget issues and had been the one to report the problem in the first place. Bagman had traded on his Ministry position long after leaving it and doing a runner from the rightly angry Goblins. Beauchamp, Percy thought, was a reliable chap. Pureblood, of course, to be given the department head role, but not bigoted with it, being of a minor family and half French on his mother's side. The Minister finished his ramble and Percy nodded smartly before turning on his heel. His holiday had been approved now he had to get a birth certificate and passport sorted.
Percy's day was long. Once Minister Fudge had swept out of his office on his way home passing Percy's desk with only an acknowledging grunt in his direction, Percy quickly tidied his desk up and left his office locking up on his way out. He made his way through the Ministry swiftly, keeping out of the way of the tides of people pushing towards the exits. He found a space in the lift and pushed the button for the third floor.
Percy stepped off the elevator into the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and made his way to the office of Muggle-Worthy Excuses. He knocked lightly on the door and was bade to enter by a female voice. Percy entered the room and closed the door behind him before making his way over to the desk and accepting the seat offered to him.
"Mr Weasley," the witch behind the desk greeted him. "How can the Muggle-Worthy Excuses office help you today?"
Percy pulled the passport form from his pocket and handed it over. "I have need of a passport and a birth certificate Mrs White."
The witch put the glasses that had been resting on her desk on her nose and flipped through the form that Percy had handed her. Frowning slightly, she rose and crossed to a filing cabinet. Pulling open a magically expanded drawer, she removed a form from within one of the files and returned to her seat. The witch frowned further as she compared the two forms side by side.
"Ahh," she said looking up with a satisfied smile. "They've changed the forms." She tapped the form she had removed from the filing cabinet. "Not much but enough. May I keep this?" she indicated the form to Percy.
"I'll need a copy," Percy said. "I'm expected to have photographs taken I believe, and submit it via the Muggle post?"
"Of course, of course, but we'll sort the passport out for you. Fill in the form and have the photographs taken if it's necessary but don't put it in the Muggle post. I'll have a passport done for you tomorrow." Mrs White assured him with a smile. "I'll check with my contact that the new form hasn't caused a change in the documentation and it will be ready by the end of the day."
"And the birth certificate?"
"A work of a moment," Mrs White assured him. "You can collect that tomorrow too if you like, or I can do one now?" She looked over at him enquiringly.
Percy shook his head. "Tomorrow will be just fine, thank you, Mrs White."
"Tell me; you were in here just before Christmas needing a cover story. I've received no alerts, so the Muggle authorities haven't examined it." She peered at him over her glasses.
Percy nodded. "It has sufficed, I was unsure if further investigation would be undertaken, but it seems to have been enough."
"Communes often does with muggles. They accept that some muggles would eschew modern living, it's quite amazing what they will believe." Mrs White smiled at him.
Percy shifted slightly, uncomfortable with her interest. Mrs White was trustworthy, she had arranged all his paperwork to get his flat, and when Audrey asked him to spend Christmas with her family, it had been Mrs White who had given him the cover story.
Muggle-Worthy Excuses meant exactly that, and the department handled the Muggle documentation any witch or wizard might need. It was a small overlooked office that was protected from meddling by the secrets kept in Mrs Whites filing cabinets. She had the list of all the bolt holes in the Muggle world that witches or wizards had acquired, and her continued silence kept her office unmolested. A sensible solution in a shifting political landscape, but be that as it may Percy was not going to hand her his secrets.
He smiled at her the empty political smile he had mastered and stood. "Thank you for your help once again Mrs White. I will see you tomorrow at the end of the day."
"Mr Weasley," she returned equally politely with the same nondescript smile. "Always a pleasure."
The business for applying for a new birth certificate and passport the Muggle way was the work of ten minutes. Audrey helped him fill in the forms, and he incinerated them after he arrived at work. After checking with Audrey how long he could expect to wait for the birth certificate to come, he promptly produced it after the allotted time had passed. Percy then took the completed passport form with its photographs and birth certificate to work the next morning and incinerated everything but the birth certificate, which Audrey had told him would be returned with his passport. He then produced both documents after the predicted time had passed.
Audrey was thoroughly delighted, and Percy took pleasure in her joy. She then began to more fully expand on their trip, explaining that she hadn't wanted to in case his documentation had not come through in time. It was a scant two weeks until his official first holiday and Percy allowed himself a small measure of excitement at the prospect.
The day of their departure dawned. Percy had stayed over at Audrey's the night, before his neatly packed bag waiting in the hall for their early morning start. It was still dark when they rose and dressed. Percy put his bag in the back of the large white van and got into the passenger seat. He heard the sliding door slam and Audrey walk around the front to hop up into the driving seat.
Percy, in anticipation of the trip, had paid more attention to Muggle means of transport. He had been on a bus, finding it much less jarring than the Knight Bus and a much more enjoyable experience. He hadn't yet been on any of the trains that the muggles used to travel around London, but he had gone in a taxi with Audrey. The taxi had been nothing like his dad's car although Percy rather thought the taxi drivers approach to driving was reminiscent of that of Percy's father who at least had the excuse of not knowing the rules of the road.
"Right," Audrey said breaking into Percy's thoughts. "Seatbelts on, please." Audrey reached behind her shoulder, slid the cloth ribbon over her torso and slotted the clip into the device by her side. Percy copied her actions and felt relief when the seat belt stayed in place. His first small test out of the way.
Audrey rummaged through the pile of large slim books on the seat between them before withdrawing one and folding it open before handing it over to him. "You are the official navigator for the trip!" she announced. "I know how to get to the train station, so you only need to follow along and get used to reading the map. The map of France and the route we'll take is in the other map book. I've done the route a few times, so I only need to be given road numbers. There are detailed notes stuck all over the map which if you tell me about as they come up, we'll do just fine." She leant over and pointed at the map she'd given Percy. "We're here, see. And this is the road we'll need to get on to get to the terminal. Think you can manage?"
Percy frowned slightly, following the coloured line which evidently denoted a road through the tangle of other coloured lines. He nodded, though not confidently. "You do know the way if I get the direction wrong?"
"Yes," Audrey said.
Percy gave Audrey a smile. "Then yes I'd like to try."
"Great. We won't stop until we get to France and I'll show you the maps once we're on the train. It's a half hour crossing so we'll have time and I've packed drinks and snacks." She pointed to the plastic bag under the map books. "One other thing." Audrey rooted in her handbag pulling out a black rectangle. "This is the company mobile telephone. It's so Uncle can ring me and let me know of anything he has arranged to be collected other than what's on my list, or so I can check in before I make a purchase. I've got a car charger as well as a plug and adaptor, but I'm hopeless at remembering to charge the thing, so you'll need to remind me if you don't mind." Audrey plugged a thin black cable into the mobile telephone and a fat round end into the silver hole in the dash before putting the mobile phone into a cubby hole. "Right I think that's everything." Audrey grinned, started the engine and pulled away from the kerb chattering about the road they were on and about to turn onto as Percy followed along supplying the name of the next road. Audrey's smile gave him a glow of confidence, and he kept an eye out on the road they were travelling comparing it to his map.
The motorway came upon them, and Percy marvelled that they were moving at the top speed of a Cleansweep Eleven with no discomfort whatsoever. Vehicles were going past them at great speeds, and Percy wondered if in a straight race the latest racing brooms would be faster than the muggles cars. The cars, Percy thought would be a lot nicer to travel in, no cold wind or exposure to the weather.
The radio was on playing to disguise the road noise and making conversation only required if they wished. Audrey broke the peaceful, comfortable silence that had fallen between them. "I'll need the pack of documents out of my handbag please, we're nearly there."
Percy dug around in her bag and found the wallet of papers, laying them on the seat between them. He paid more attention to the scenery outside now they were at the terminal. Audrey guided them through a chicane of cones up to a barrier. There she dealt with the guards who inspected their paperwork before waving them onwards. They joined a queue of other vehicles edging down a ramp towards the train platform.
Percy was very curious. He'd travelled on a train before, but even a small amount of exposure to the muggle world had taught him that the Hogwarts Express was not the usual kind of train muggles travelled on. The times they walked through Kings Cross station they had seen the other trains waiting at the platforms, they had been long and sleek with either square faced or rounded protruding noses.
The train to transport them to France was nothing like anything Percy had seen. It was a light shade of purple. The engine was boxy and square, the carriages were large grey metal containers. Percy watched fascinated as vehicle after vehicle carefully manoeuvred and drove into the carriages. They crept up the queue until they were next to board and Percy watched eyes wide as Audrey drove the van aboard and followed the vehicle in front down the tunnel of carriages. Percy could see where one carriage ended and the next began. Curious he asked Audrey. "There are doors," she supplied. "They swing out between the vehicles, and the roller door comes down on a track from the ceiling, it stops any fires spreading."
Percy nodded. "Now what?" he asked.
"We wait," Audrey answered. "Departure will be soon. We're near the middle so once they've finished loading, we'll be off. There's nothing to see," she said shrugging. "It's a tunnel after all."
The half an hour journey passed without incident and Audrey drove them skilfully out of the train and up the ramp. They had gone over the maps while they travelled and Percy was confident of the next few roads they would need to take. It was as Audrey pulled out on the first road Percy noticed the difference. "You're on the wrong side of the road," he said in some alarm.
"No," Audrey replied with a smile. "The French drive on the other side. It takes a bit of getting used to especially at roundabouts, but it's simple enough."
Percy subsided, curious and alert to more of the differences that Audrey took in her stride, and he hadn't even known about.
The journey to Paris continued without a hitch; they stopped for brunch at a motorway service centre before proceeding on to the hotel.
Audrey checked them in and led the way up to the room. "We'll drop the bags off then we need to meet Monsieur Remir to collect the pickup, it's only a pair of side tables thankfully. Then the rest of the day is ours. How do you feel about being a proper tourist?"