December 1998
Christmas day they hosted Lizzy, Rick and Rachel. The dining table was a point of pride for Percy, who, following Rick's example, had insisted on cooking everything. True, magic had helped him out when he had realised he might have bitten off more than he could chew, but if Rick could do it, and his mother could do it, then he would do it.
The food to his relief, received plenty of compliments including from Audrey who had witnessed his flustered spellcasting when the veg took too long to prepare, throwing off his carefully calculated timetable. And the flurry of cleaning charms that had been necessary when he had knocked the bag of flour to the floor while making the roux for the gravy.
The flour explosion had nearly been the last straw, but Audrey had stepped in to keep his roux from burning as he hastily dealt with the floor, work surface and cupboard fronts that were sporting a coating of flour.
By the time Audrey's family had arrived Percy had the kitchen back under control, and the cleaning charms had finished the mountain of washing up he had created. The kitchen was a picture of organisation with everything either cooking or waiting its turn in the oven.
Percy had given over the carving of the rib of beef to Rick, more than happy to step aside and let the other man do something he took pleasure in. Percy watched in satisfaction as Rick carved the joint complimenting Percy on his cooking and offering a few tips for things he might try next time.
Percy choked on his mouthful of wine at the thought of doing it again but nodded wanley in agreement when Rick offered to allow Percy into his kitchen on the next Sunday lunch. Audrey gave him a wide-eyed impressed look lifting her glass in a silent toast.
Percy toasted her back, Audrey had taken over decorating the house and the table for Christmas. Percy was still amazed at how good everything looked. He might have blanched when she asked him to fetch her branches of pine and holly with bundles of mistletoe but had willingly returned with her requests. Audrey had wrapped the pine branches in the mistletoe, added fairy lights, a few glass baubles and laid them on top of the mantle pieces. The sideboard in the dining room sported one and a wreath of holly, pine, pine cones, mistletoe and ivy made up the centrepiece of the table.
It was lovely, and Percy was considering casting preservation charms on the lot so they could use them again next year.
The Christmas tree in the lounge was another marvel of understatement. Audrey had a collection of baubles she told him were German Kugels, finding one or two a year since she was eight. She would be gifted them if someone in her family found one at a market or auction, but they weren't easy to get hold of. They were pretty glass spheres, and Percy could see the charm of them. A quick bit of wand work later and they were protected from breaking, cleaned and the colours as vibrant as the day they had been made.
Audrey had looked askance for a moment when she saw his wand work but burst out laughing confessing that he had just made her collection possibly the only one in the world in such good condition thus virtually priceless. Percy assured her they were safe from damage and Audrey had happily hung them on the tree.
The meal eaten, and coffee and tea savoured, Lizzy and Rachel volunteered to clear up the kitchen. Audrey and Percy protested saying it could just wait and they didn't want their guests to spend the afternoon washing up.
It took some time, but eventually, both women relented and joined everyone in the sitting room. The washing up was forgotten about as the family monopoly board was brought out by Rachel who had smuggled it with her. When the groans of mock despair and catcalls of smugness had died off the coffee table was appropriated, and they settled down for another Christmas tradition.
Once Audrey's family had gone, Percy set the cleaning charms on the pile of washing up and brought a glass of wine back through for himself and Audrey.
"Thank you, for today, it was brilliant, and the food was amazing." Audrey said sincerely.
"I had help. If you hadn't taken over while I dealt with the flour, we would have eaten bacon sandwiches."
"I like bacon butties."
"Yes, but not quite what your family was signing up for."
"Perhaps not," Audrey agreed, settling down next to him letting the food and wine lull her. Percy summoned a book catching it deftly as it sailed towards them. He flipped it open one-handed lifting his other arm to wrap around her as she sank against him and Audrey let her eyes drift closed.
Boxing Day would see Percy's family descend upon them, his father, the twins, Bill and Fleur. Ginny had asked for an invite for herself and Neville. She had escaped Christmas at the Burrow by spending the holiday with the Longbottoms. But they weren't coming until the afternoon, and this morning he had something special planned and a promise to fulfil.
"Wrap up warm," he instructed Audrey after breakfast.
"How warm?"
"Two feet of snow warm. We're going to be outside for an hour or two."
"Okay, are we going anywhere special?"
"Yes," Percy said with a pleased grin. "We're flooing first but then it's about a mile walk, and there's snow on the ground."
Once they were both ready, Percy took them through the floo to the Three Broomsticks. He nodded a greeting to Madam Rosemarta who nodded in return.
"The hamper will be ready to collect on your way back Mr Weasley."
"Thank you," Percy said leading Audrey out of the small inn.
The cold outside was biting stealing their breath and nipping at their exposed skin. Audrey squeaked in surprise burying her hands in her pockets. "Where are we?"
"Hogsmeade," Percy replied casting warming charms on them both, he felt the chill try to fight its way in through his layers, London was not this cold and it had taken him by surprise despite his earlier warning.
Audrey blinked in surprise. "Is there a particular reason?"
Yes," Percy answered ambiguously, smiling at Audrey's narrow-eyed assessment of him. He held out his arm. "We won't have time now, but we're coming back here to get home, so I'll take you around the village then. This way, it wouldn't do to be late."
The snowy lane assaulted Percy with four years worth of memories of walking the route at the weekends. They were silent on the walk, and it wasn't until they rounded the last corner and the gates were before them that Audrey stopped, a gasp escaping her.
"Oh, Percy, I wish you could see it."
Percy watched Audrey's face, her expression wrestling between wonder and sorrow.
"It's a ruin," she explained. "I think, from what I can remember of the pictures, the astronomy tower is snapped in half, and the other towers are missing completely. The roof of the great hall is gone just the arches are left. It's so sad and yet beautiful too."
Percy was surprised by her declaration. He could see Hogwarts in all her glory and hadn't really thought of the image projected to the muggles.
A dark figure approached the gates as they came closer.
Audrey steps became less sure slowing and dragging. "Percy, no. I don't, I think I left the iron on. I need to go home. Percy let's go."
Percy stopped aware that this would be a problem and may even be insurmountable.
"Percy, Audrey," Severus greeted them swinging the gates open and stepping through.
"Severus!" Audrey said in surprise. "I mean Headmaster Snape. Sorry, I'm all in pieces, I was just telling Percy I'm sure I've left the iron on, and I need to go home and check."
"Severus is still appropriate Audrey. Your distraction is also expected. The wards on Hogwarts are designed to keep Muggles away from the grounds. Percy, perhaps if as discussed, I take Audrey over the ward line."
"Ward line?" Audrey said confusion twisting her face. "I'm sorry, but I really should be going. It's lovely to see you of course but…"
"Audrey please," Percy said. "Just trust us. If this doesn't work, then we can go."
Audrey nodded. Percy watched anxiously as Severus took up her free arm, Percy let go only once Severus nodded to him. Severus led Audrey closer to the golden gates, the winged hogs atop of the gatepost turned to watch as the three of them came closer and passed between them. Audrey's steps were hesitant and unsure, as if she dearly wished to be going in the opposite direction but had agreed to let Severus lead her and was allowing him to do so.
"I am the Headmaster of this school," Severus explained to Audrey. "As such, I am inviting you in, and you're welcome to spend time on the grounds."
Once they were through the gate Audrey confusion melted away. "What was that?" she asked.
"Hogwarts is protected by enchantment to repel muggles. Your reaction, your desire to return home to check on something was the magic of Hogwarts acting upon you. Now you are on the grounds proper they cease to have an effect."
Audrey reached for Percy's hand clutching at it for comfort. "I can still only see the ruin."
"While we haven't invited any muggles in to check, that doesn't surprise me. The castle itself is shrouded in enchantments in case someone like yourself was able to cross the ward line."
"Would I ever be able to enter?"
"If you are flooed in, yes. Back in the late eighties, we had a Muggle-born student here who fell ill. They were from quite a prominent family in the muggle world with several highly placed connections. Their parents petitioned the Muggle Prime Minister to be allowed to see their child, or they would blow the lid on the Statute of Secrecy and implicate the Prime Minister in the conspiracy. The Prime Minister contacted the Minister for Magic who then insisted Dumbledore allow them to visit else cause an international incident. You must understand, that while it seems to be an open secret that you are a muggle for a number of us, it is still a grey area of the law that you inhabit. While any number of muggles do know about magic because of their links to our world, you did not find out about us through the usual method. You are potentially courting trouble should someone decide to make something of it. If you had you come through the floo, there would have been a way to track that. Walking over the threshold, however, well, muggles can't do that can they?"
"No," Percy agreed complacently. "The wards on Hogwarts would repel any muggle making it impossible for you to cross."
"Thus we are safer from scrutiny. I will leave you here," Severus said stopping. "The school is still hosting some students for the holidays, and as Minerva is away, the Gryffindor students are taking any opportunity to rampage. I trust you can get yourselves safely back over the threshold? If you have any issues, you may send a Patronus to find me."
"Yes, thank you."
"I believe you still know the way. Hagrid will be there should you need him." Severus swirled away his robes billowing out around his feet.
Audrey watched him go then turned to Percy. "Is it worth it? I'm causing so much trouble".
"Yes, it's worth it, that isn't in doubt. I don't want to leave you out of this part of me, not when you can do some things. I asked Severus for his help arranging today, in granting us access on to the grounds and in helping you through the enchantments as the Headmaster of the school. I find nothing in my conscience that has a problem with owing Severus a favour."
"I'm sorry I can't see it."
"You can see pictures, and it's not why I brought you here." Percy retook her arm and began to lead her over to the left. As they walked, he told Audrey anecdotes of his time at Hogwarts. They rounded a corner, and the paddocks at the edge of the first came into view. A large man was stood by a fence forking hay into a large round cattle feeder. "They are," Percy said pointing.
Surrounding the feeder, a herd of bright white horses milled, snatching mouthfuls of the hay. In amongst the group, a couple of shiny gold horses stayed close to the centre of the herd.
"Oh god! Are they?"
"I did promise," Percy said. "In summer the herd are deep in the forest. It's only in winter when Hogwarts supplements their diet that they spend time close to the castle. That's why we had to come while the school was still occupied although most of the students have left for the holidays."
They reached the fence, and Audrey stopped to stare, her eyes wide, drinking in the magical creatures. Hagrid noticed them and after throwing one more forkful of hay into the feeder came over to them.
"Alright there? The 'eadmaster said you'd be visiting. First time seein' the beasts is it?" Hagrid asked kindly as Audrey barely acknowledged him.
"Yes," Percy answered for Audrey.
"Aye well, they are pretty enough I suppose."
Percy remembered the blast-ended skrewits that Hagrid had cooed over and thought the man was monstrously unfair to the unicorns. He kept a wary eye on the herd and Audrey as a few of the younger ones approached cautiously staying out of arms reach while weighing up the visitors. "How are your classes?" he asked politely.
"Aye well, right enough I suppose. I'm on my last year teaching you see. The 'eadmaster he wants to expand the number of magical creatures Hogwarts is home to." Hagrid puffed out his chest in pride. "He says that I am the only one that can get some of these creatures to breed, so he wants me to concentrate on that rather than teaching. It's a shame as I quite enjoy it, but the unicorn herd here is to expand if possible, an' he's found me a new breeding pair of hippogryphs. He wants 'em adding to the herd here. There's to be a new piggery as well, to feed 'em all with so I'll be busy enough."
"Pigs?"
"Aye to feed the thestrals and hippogriffs," Hagrid nodded. "Save the school some money by rearing our own. He's got a deal with the Centaur to let 'em feed in the forest, and they can have some to hunt."
"But don't the Acromantula live in the forest? Won't they just eat them?"
"The 'eadmaster he's been contacted by the Ministry in Malaysia. Their colony of acromantula is suffering, the poor things. He's arranged for the colony here to be transferred out there. It's a right shame. They've been here for years, and now they are being shipped across the globe."
"Isn't Borneo their natural habitat?" Percy asked cautiously.
"Aye," Hagrid said miserably. "An 'ees right that if the colony out there is in trouble and struggling, then we should help."
Audrey's giggle drew Percy's attention back to her. She had slipped under the fence and into the paddock. A young unicorn, under two years old judging by its still gold coat, was lipping at her coat pocket. Audrey was stood still, careful not to startle the animal while laughing softly at its antics.
"What 'ave you got in your pocket he can smell?" Hagrid asked.
Audrey slipped her hand inside the pocket, pulling out a paper and foil wrapped tube. "Polo mints. Are they allowed them?"
"Aye," Hagrid said disinterestedly. "Some o' my fourth years like to feed them to them. Does them no harm and they seem to like them."
Carefully Audrey got a mint free and laid it in the middle of her flat palm. The unicorn lipped it away, crunching quickly before nudging her again. Audrey carefully reached out to stroke the gold coat watching for any sign of distress. "Oh, you're so soft. You are lovely, I never thought I'd ever see one of you." She jerked suddenly falling against the first unicorn. Turning she found a second unicorn alternating between investigating her by blowing hot gusts of air at her and lipping at her pocket. "Alright, here," she said fishing out another mint for the bigger white unicorn. Soon Audrey was surrounded by the curious magical creatures as they demanded mints and she willingly handed over all she had, stroking and petting them as they allowed.
"I don't think I've ever seen them take to anyone so fast," Percy commented. "When we studied them, they were quite skittish."
"They can like women more, and a crowd of students can be difficult for some of them. This way there's more of them than us, and she's handing out sweets which always helps," Hagrid said.
"What are hippogryphs and the thestrals?" Audrey asked from the center of the milling unicorns proving she had been paying at least some attention to their conversation. "Do you have some here?"
Hagrid nodded. "The hippogryph herd is in the paddock by the carriage house. They don't like to be too close to the forest unlike the thestrals and the unicorns. Y' can come an see 'em if you like."
"Could we?"
"You have to be careful of a hippogryph," Hagrid said. "Right finickity and particular about people."
"I'd like to see them if it won't upset them," Audrey said.
"Well, I can't see any harm in meself. Right you lot, let the lass out. You've had all your sweets go eat your hay." Hagrid pushed and nudged the unicorns out of the way to clear a path for Audrey
"Thank you."
Hagrid led Audrey and Percy to the paddock containing the hippogryphs giving Audrey the safety lecture given to all the Hogwarts students. Once they got closer, and the hippogryph could be seen clearly Audrey slowed and came to a stop, out of lunging distance of the paddock fence.
"What stops the flying away?" she asked Hagrid.
Hagrid shrugged. "They've got a good deal going on here, and hippogryphs aren't really wild anymore. The last of the wild herds were hunted years ago, they're more domesticated now. Mind, if they take against a person, they might leave. But as a whole, they stay in herds an' as long as the herd is happy they'll stay."
"They are quite intimidating, aren't they? Strangely beautiful and fascinating but they certainly look fierce."
Percy nodded. "I think it took at least three bows before one would acknowledge me. I don't think I've ever been so nervous."
"They're 'armless as long as you treat 'em right," Hagrid said dismissively.
Audrey shot Percy an incredulous look mouthing 'Harmless?!' while subtly pointing to the taloned front feet of the hippogryph.
Percy turned away stifling a laugh. Hagrid had made Care of Magical creatures one class Percy wouldn't be soon forgetting.
"What's that?" Audrey asked as she caught sight of another animal. She turned to face the paddock. "Oh, look, it's got a baby. What is it?"
Hagrid turned to where she was pointing. "That's a thestral," he answered. "There's not many that can see 'em. Hogwarts has the largest tame herd of them anywhere in the world. Right clever they are and gentle too. They pull the carriages for the students."
"You can see them?" Percy asked surprised.
"Yes, should I not be able to?"
"To see a thestral you need to have seen death and realised it for what it is. Not many people have."
"Oh well, I can. Why is it here and not with the herd?"
"Injured in the forest," Hagrid explained. "She's nursing too, so I brought her here to heal. The herd isn't far away they come out at night and stay with her. The forest is too dangerous on a lame leg with a foal. If anything were to threaten her, she wouldn't be able to protect her foal or herself and get away."
"Can I approach her?" Audrey asked.
Hagrid shrugged. "You can try, they are gentle but shy. They eat meat, I've got a few bits you can see if she'll take from you. Don't go near her foal though, they are protective, and she can still hurt you even lame."
"Oh no I wouldn't," Audrey assured him as she walked to the edge of the paddock and ducked under the fence.
Hagrid fetched a bucket full of what looked like strips of steak and handed it over to Audrey.
Audrey took a few strips of the raw meat putting the bucket down and carefully approached the thestral, Percy on her heels.
"I haven't been able to see them before," he said quietly. Audrey split the steak with him and then held one out calling to the thestral gently.
The mare watched with a wary expression, the scent of meat making her ears swivel towards the pair. She flared her wings and tossed her head be for taking a step towards them. Audrey beamed encouragement, shuffling a bit closer, the meat on an extended hand.
The mare nipped the steak out from Audrey's hand, chewing it placidly while letting her pet her nose gently. Percy proffered his piece which the mare also took. The foal emboldened by its mother stepped curiously around her flank, its nose stretched out as far as it could, wings flaring slightly to keep its balance. Audrey proffered a small piece of meat to the foal stretching her own arm out. The foal took it and skittered backwards chewing its prize greedily.
Audrey smiled at the foal then turned back to the mare continuing to pet her, stroking over the smooth, soft coat stretched over the bony features. Her mane was thick and lustrous hanging tangled down her neck. Audrey scratched the itchy spots she remembered from previous encounters with the horses of her childhood which had worked on the unicorns. The mare swung her head around bumping Audrey gently before returning her attention back to Percy who was holding the pieces of meat.
Audrey grinned, pleased by the thestral's acceptance of her attention. Cautious of touching the folded wings of the thestral she returned to Percy's side stroking the long nose while the mare bumped them looking for more food. Finding they had none she moved away, nudging her foal ahead of her.
Percy cast a cleaning charm on his and Audrey hands before turning back for the fence. Hagrid was throwing ferrets at the hippogryphs. "We should head back," Percy said. "We're meeting Ginny and Neville at the Three Broomsticks."
They thanked Hagrid and headed back to the unicorns paddock.
"The thestrals were amazing."
"Not the unicorns?"
"No, they were amazing too. I mean, unicorns, who wouldn't be blown away? But maybe because we, muggles, that is, still have unicorns and hippogryphs if only in stories, the thestrals were, I don't know, more magical? I mean it's a bit like unicorns and hippogryphs being real is amazing, but I knew what they were supposed to look like. I didn't know about thestrals, I had no idea, and it's almost like that are my first magical creature. The first one that is part of your world and not part of mine in any way at all, not even in fairy stories."
"So you wouldn't be impressed by dragons either?" Percy asked humorously.
"Oh no I probably would. Dragons in Muggle stories all look different. There are so many ideas of what they look like it would be interesting to see what they actually look like."
They reached the gates, and Audrey looked at them nervously. "I didn't like the way they made me feel. I don't like the way they made me so fixated on something," she confessed.
Percy took her hand. "We'll go through them and keep walking. It won't last long."
"Do you think many muggles find Hogwarts?"
"No, I doubt it. I don't know exactly where we are because Hogwarts is unplottable but its pretty isolated up here even in the muggle parts."
They stopped just before the gates which swung silently, magically open.
Audrey took a breath and blew it out. "Alright, let's do this and if I tell you I've left the iron on or forgotten to put the milk back in the fridge or whatever, you aren't allowed to laugh at me afterwards."
"I won't," Percy assured her. "You're very brave to do this." He took her arm wrapping it around his and holding on to her hand tightly. Audrey wasn't the only one who didn't like the effect of the wards had on her.
Audrey's features twisted up into confused concern as they passed over the threshold of the gates which began to swing closed behind them. "Drat! The parking ticket is about to expire! We need to leave, we need to get back to the car before the parking attendant gets there." Audrey tugged Percy forward down the path. Percy kept pace, willing to put more distance between Hogwarts and the wards so Audrey could get out of the range.
As they passed over the invisible boundary Audrey's steps slowed. "Urggh, parking tickets? Who sets those things?"
Percy shrugged. "I think they are probably refreshed every generation or so. I know after recent events the Headmaster, Severus, was looking into beefing them up to protect the castle from more modern threats."
"It's so weird it's like a compulsion."
"It is a compulsion, a version of one at least. You'll do exactly as the spell wants you to, which in this case is leave the vicinity." Percy explained.
"Can you all do that? Can you protect yourself from them?"
"it can depend on the strength of the spell. Some require only a small measure of will to ignore, others more. There is one spell called the Imperius curse. That allows the caster to compel the person it is cast on to do whatever they are told. Few witches and wizards can resist the Imperius curse. Its one of the three Unforgivable curses because it allows such control over another."
"What are the other two?"
"The Killing curse, the spell Severus and Minerva used against Riddle and the Cruciatus Curse which is a torture curse. It causes unimaginable pain, and if a person is held under it long enough, they can lose their minds. Riddles followers used all three unforgivable liberally. It's an instant sentence in Azkaban if its proven you used them."
"That's awful."
"Yes. Magic isn't always a wondrous thing. It is nearly biological. What you do with it, what it can do is governed by the caster. Feelings, emotions, intent, subconscious or not, it shapes the magic inside you. It's beyond your science and biology. It's, mystical. Not the charlatan turbans and incense mystical but acts of god mystical."
Audrey shrugged. "You might be right but, in all honesty, I just figure it's the same as having superpowers. I'm Teri Hatcher, and you're Dean Cain, without the love triangle with your alter ego."
"I don't…"
Audrey laughed. "Things like that make me feel better you know, knowing that as much as I don't know about your world, you don't know just as much about mine. It was a programme on the TV a couple of years ago. The New Adventures of Superman. Louis Lane and Clarke Kent. Louis was an intrepid reporter who managed to get herself into some daft situations from which she needed to be rescued. Clarke was Superman a man born on a different planet and the rays of Earth's sun gave him super strength, made him bulletproof. He could fly, shoot lasers from his eyes and a host of other amazing abilities. He disguised himself as Clarke Kent to pass amongst the humans and worked with Louis as a reporter. It was pretty good Saturday night TV."
As they approached the Three Broomsticks, three people were loitering waiting for them. The bright flash of red hair gave away the connection of two, but Audrey didn't know the third.
Ginny came to meet them her chin set at a stubborn angle. "I didn't tell him. Neville and Dad did. if you want him to leave I can make him."
Audrey looked at Ginny surprised by her tone. "Who?"
"Ron," Ginny replied. "You've not met him and considering some of the things he's said about Mr and Mrs Granger, I'm not sure you'd want to."
"Give over Gin," Ron demanded exasperatedly. "It's different alright."
"I don't see how!" Ginny declared. "You and Mum are like peas in a pod."
"Perhaps," Percy broke in. "This is not the place for this discussion." He sent a pointed glance around at their public location."
Ron looked at Percy. "It's not like Gin says." Ignoring her disbelieving huff, he ploughed on. "It's not. I've got nothing against, uh, muggles," he said with a furtive glance around for eavesdroppers. "And Dad said that we weren't to mention it because of the laws you are breaking, so umm, yeah. Look, whatever Mum has said, and I don't know because I haven't asked, and she's not said anything to me, I don't have a problem with whatever you're doing. I wanted to, I dunno, spend Christmas with my family, and you're my family, and everyone keeps telling me I'm wrong about everything I think I know. As far as I can see until I actually, I dunno, talk to you, I'm still going to be wrong, and so I'm here." Ron finished on an explosive breath. He stuck out his chin and stared at Percy.
"Hello Ron," Audrey said politely holding out her hand. "I'm Audrey, Percy's fiancée and we'd like to invite you over for dinner. Will you come?
Ron took up the hand swiftly, shaking it twice. "Hello Audrey, I'm Ron, I'm Percy's brother. Pleased to meet you and dinner sounds great." He let go before folding his arms and meeting Ginny's stare with one of his own.
A small cough took Audrey's attention from the staring match to the third person.
"Neville Longbottom," Neville introduced himself holding out his hand. "Pleased to meet you and thank you for the invitation."
Audrey smiled shaking the wizard's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Ginny said she would be spending Christmas with you."
Neville held his hand out to Percy. "I know we went to school together, but it feels like this is the first time we've met. I'm Neville Longbottom, I'm dating your sister, and I thank you for the extended invitation."
"Pleased to meet you properly Neville," Percy replied shaking his hand. "Welcome to the family, though are you sure you are making the right decision?" He tilted his head towards his siblings who were still scowling at each other.
"Yes," Neville replied firmly. "I've known her since she was eleven and I'm more than acquainted with how your family tends to be."
Percy nodded. "I don't think I need to warn you off hurting her then."
"No," Neville answered. "You don't, but I have a feeling no matter what all her brothers could come up with, and there is an intimidating number of you, it wouldn't hold a candle to what Ginny might do first."
Percy laughed sharply. "You may well be right. But I do work for the Ministry of Magic. Ginny might be more demonstrative, but you'd be surprised how many ways the Ministry can make your life unpleasant with seemingly minimal effort."
"I'd like to think I won't have to find out. I hope you don't mind, here," Neville pulled a small box from his pocket. A quick tap with his wand enlarged it, and he handed the gaily wrapped gift to Audrey. "A thank you for your hospitality, Ginny said your home was a mixture of magic and muggle, so I thought this might be for the best."
Audrey touched the wrapping paper which melted away to reveal a lush green plant in a pot.
"I have a talent with plants. This is a Germander. You can use it in cooking as well as in drinks."
"Oh, that's lovely, thank you."
Neville shrugged deprecatingly then asked. "Are we flooing?"
"Yes," Percy replied. "I have arranged with Madame Rosemarta for the use of her floo. We should be going as everyone will be arriving shortly."
Percy headed to the door, Neville and Audrey following as Neville explained how to care for the plant. Ginny shot Ron one more hard look before they both followed the group into the pub. Percy accepted and paid for the hamper from the barkeep then opened the floo. He held out his hand to Audrey then took them both through the flames.
Once home he cleaned off the soot of travel and flicked his wand sending glowing spheres of light to hover in the lampshades. Ginny, Ron and Neville all came through the floo which Percy closed as they cleaned themselves up from travel. Pulling the grate back over the fire to ensure it wasn't opened again he then led everyone upstairs.
"That was my study," Percy said answering Ginny question. "It's down there to be out of the way of the main house. Our muggle friends and Audrey's family have seen it, but since it predominantly runs on magic, it's better it's out of sight and out of mind. Especially since closer inspection would raise questions."
Audrey took all their coats, and Percy indicated their shoes should be left by the hall tree Audrey was hanging the coats on.
"Audrey will give you the tour if you like, there are some things I need to finish in the kitchen."
"Oh good," Ginny said. "I've been dying to see this place since you got it. Boarding school is a right pain sometimes."
"We'll start upstairs if you like, then we can finish down here."
"Lead the way!"
The tour was over just as the doorbell chimed. Audrey excused herself from the group which had settled in the lounge to answer the door. The boisterous noise of several people wishing each other Merry Christmas rang through the house.
Fred and George bounced into the room their father on their heels. The family greetings took time to settle down again as news was exchanged rapidly over each other causing the sound of the doorbell to be almost lost. Percy slipped out of the room to answer the door and greet their last missing guests. When Bill and Fleur entered the room, the greetings were once more exchanged. Percy with adept use of his wand extended the sofas and conjured more chairs so that everyone could find a seat and a Weasley family celebration began.