January 2001
Fleur came over for dinner one night when Bill was working away. She was now obviously pregnant and glowing with happiness. After they had eaten, Percy had subtly suggested he go and finish some work leaving the women to chat. He left the room with two fond gazes following him out before the women turned back to each other. Fleur pulled out her wand, summoning her handbag to her. From it, she removed a flat wooden box holding it on her knee. "You have been kind to me. Accepting."
Audrey shrugged. "Fleur? What's this about? Why would I not accept you?"
"Perhaps it is the hormones, but I want you to know that your friendship has meant a lot to me. When I married Bill, I knew that his mother wanted something else for him. She always seemed to be the driving force of the family from the stories I was told, and I worried that it would hurt my marriage to be the wedge that drove Bill to choose. But you are Percy's choice. He is standing up to them, and he has brought his family onto his side, and so I no longer worry that Bill will ever blame me because he can now see it is not just him." Fleur stopped picking up her glass of water, sipping at it slowly. "More than that, I have a friend, a close friend." she looked meaningfully at Audrey. "Something I did not think I would get so I wanted to do something for you, who is my friend and will become my sister." Fleur stopped again and waved helplessly at her face where tears were filling her eyes. "I am not normally this weepy."
Audrey handed over the box of tissues from the coffee table. "There's nothing you need to thank me for, honestly."
"Perhaps, perhaps not, but that is not important. I know you have your dress and it is something old but what of the rest?"
"Oh well, I don't really know. Fred and George have insisted on having my something new, and while Percy practically fainted at the prospect, I have let them. The wedding is muggle so there isn't very much they can really get involved with. There is definitely a bit of an air of wanting to impress Percy with their muggle knowledge about them, I just couldn't crush them by refusing."
"Then if I may, might I have your something borrowed?" Fleur held out the flat box.
Opening the box, Audrey drew in a sharp breath before whispering. "Oh, Fleur, I couldn't."
"My arrière-arrière-grand-mère was like you. Not muggle, she was a witch, but a fish out of water. My arrière arrière grand père was a wizard of the aristocracy before the revolution, and they fell in love. But grand père, could not, or I suppose, would not, leave his titles, wealth and place in society. So, my grand-mère left to join him in Paris at the Court of Louis. She was a Veela, beautiful, alluring, and utterly devoted to her husband, but the life, it was hard. The Royal Court, it was not good. They escaped back to her people when the troubles began. All the wealth was converted to buy the land that my family still live upon, the family name was changed to avoid notice, and the Delacour's sprang into existence. Grand-mère's jewellery has been worn by the family over the years and the larger pieces sold when the need arose. Some were left. This piece, she was given to wear on her wedding day. The same day she left her family, for as far as she knew, the last time. It has not been worn since she died, and I would be honoured if you would wear it on your wedding day. When you join a world that does not understand you fully and will not treat you the way you deserve. Because you are brave and beautiful as grand-mère was."
Audrey's own eyes were quickly filling with tears at the emotional story. Her smile was wobbly but genuine as she reached out for Fleur's hand. "They are beautiful, and I will, of course, wear them."
April 2001
Percy breathed a sigh of relief when the Granger's elf finally let go of their hands. International floo travel was a terrible experience in his opinion and portkey was some degrees worse. He had been seriously considering whether it was worth flying on an aeroplane rather than putting themselves through the what was likely to be the trauma of side-along apparition by elf. To his surprise, however, it had been less bad than he was expecting.
Dobby had vanished, and Percy hoped the elf had a chance to recover because it can't have been an easy feat but put the elf out of his mind as Audrey's weight sagged against him.
"Are you alright?" he asked, turning towards her.
"Yes, I think. Yes. I will be, but Christ, your methods of travel are awful."
Percy hummed a note of agreement as he gently rubbed up and down Audrey's back as she settled herself.
"Are you both alright?" Helen asked as she approached.
"Yes," Percy replied, accepting the hug the woman bestowed on him then Audrey.
"Excellent. Well since you are the man of the hour as it were, let me show you to your room. It's wizarding space, we've got quite a few coming after all. Harry and Hermione have done it all themselves, and I have to say I am quite impressed. I must warn you though, your whole family accepted the invite and I know from what the twins have told Hermione that you're still working things out with your Mum, and well I just wanted to say, I've got no desire to bend over backwards for her. So, if she upsets you, she'll be removed, alright? I mean that's assuming she'll come because, well, muggles," Helen explained gesturing to herself with a grimace.
Percy squeezed Audrey's hand really wishing that people would stop apologising to him because his mother was being unreasonable. "You are not obliged in any way to me. I should not like to cause a scene."
"Don't be daft," Helen shot back as they entered the house and walked down the hall. "I'm the mother of the bride and sort of the mother of the groom, so there is no higher authority than mine. If she starts, then she's getting kicked out. I've asked Dobby to do no more today, so he's capable of taking her home. I mean, he won't listen because he's in a tizzy about the wedding, but I reckon he'll be strong enough by then. But anyway, that's a problem for tomorrow. This is you two, once you've settled come out to the veranda we've got a spectacular view and there are cocktails."
Audrey thanked Helen, who left them to it with a smile and nod. Audrey looked around the room, appreciating the space, the bed was low to the floor and covered in crisp white sheets. The large windows looked inland at the lush green vegetation.
Percy waved his wand, and their bag unpacked itself, the clothes smoothing as they hung up in the wardrobe.
Audrey poked her head around the other door in the room and found a well-appointed en suite. "I may be extremely jealous, this place is amazing."
"It's done exceptionally well. Most wizarding space feels a little claustrophobic as if it might waver at any point."
"This doesn't?" Audrey asked.
"No," Percy replied. "It's very good."
"Well, I'm not tired or jetlagged, and it hardly mussed at all considering I've just travelled four and half thousand miles in about ten minutes, so, shall we head out to the veranda?"
They walked through the house and found their way out to the veranda where John Granger and Harry were lounging.
"Percy!" John said, getting up and greeting them both warmly. "It's great to see you again. Well, you in person. How was the trip?"
"Mercifully brief," Audrey replied, accepting the hug from John. "I'm impressed with the rooms, Harry. Helen said they were yours and Hermione's doing?"
"Yeah," Harry said, hugging Audrey and shaking Percy's hand. "We thought it would be better than slinging up a load of tents."
"How are the preparations going?" Percy asked as he took the lounge chair offered.
"All done," Harry said. "I think Hermione's going over everything four times and even she had to say there's no more to be done."
"Where is she?"
"Sleeping," Harry said. "She's been working hard, and with tomorrow, she needed it. We've not got many people arriving today, just you two and the twins and they're coming from New York. They've been here a week or so working with Hermione, something about a product. I confess I didn't ask for details though I think Helen knows something about it."
Percy and Audrey rose early the next day and joined the Grangers for a relaxed breakfast. Fred and George joined them halfway through, a fizzing energy about them that Percy noted with caution. When the twins were that pleased about something, there was invariably trouble ahead for someone. Percy decided he wasn't going to worry about it, they liked the Grangers far too much to upset them, and Percy didn't think that they would bother either Harry or Hermione on their actual wedding day. Probably.
"What time is everyone due to start arriving?" Percy asked.
"The Portkeys are set for five-minute intervals from ten, the last is due at twelve," Helen replied absently checking her watch.
"Is Bill coming?" Fred asked the table in general.
"No," Audrey answered. "Fleur isn't fit to travel, and he didn't want to be away if she should go into labour. They've sent a gift, I've got it with ours."
The ceremony started at one. Everyone gathered in the large open space living room which had been transformed by magic. Rows of chairs sat facing a clear space in front of the thrown open folding doors. The sound of the surf was barely audible above the conversation of the guests who drifted in from outside at some unknown signal.
Harry took his place at the top of the aisle formed by the chairs, nervously shuffling his feet. Ron stood next to him a hand on his shoulder as he offered quiet words of support.
Once everyone was seated, Hermione, escorted by John entered the room and walked through the corridor of chairs to Harry. There were no nerves visible, just blinding smiles. The ceremony was magical rather than muggle, Harry and Hermione recited their vows before the officiant who wove his wand over their joined hands a golden rope of magic wrapping around their wrists to flare with a bright burst of light before vanishing.
Magic had all the chairs cleared away while the guests congratulated the bride and groom. Everyone politely exited the room to allow the tables of food to be laid out and with yet another seemingly invisible signal everyone once again gathered inside.
John tapped his glass, and a tinkling chime rang out through the room. "Thank you," he said, addressing the room. "Before we get to the cake and food part, it's traditional to have speeches. Harry and Hermione decided against those, but since I'm only getting one chance to do this, they dutifully let me have an opportunity to say something." John sent a fond look over at the couple before turning to address the guests. "I'm not going to tell you that Harry and Hermione are made for each other, nor am I going to bore you with the details of how they came together and have stuck together. There are more inches of print covering that than I could do justice to. I wanted to say thank you for coming. There are people not here today that we would wish to be here. In this room, more people know the price of sacrifice than don't. Helen and I were lucky that the sacrifices that we had to make were not overly onerous. We have our family, and it is still whole even though for a while there it didn't look like we'd be so lucky.
Today has been a long time coming, and for that, we have another thank you to make. Today Hermione married the wizard of her choice freely. She stood up and made a commitment that wasn't compulsory and overshadowed by necessity. As of two weeks ago, my daughter is no longer a fugitive from the Ministry of Magical Britain.
Hundreds of witches for generations are no longer living with the fear that one day, someone is going to remove the suspension on a law that was breathtaking in its discrimination. Those witches are free, my daughter is free, and there is only one man that I can thank for that. Though I know, he declares his actions not wholly altruistic and would be the first to point out that it took many more people than him alone, without him, without his determination, commitment and pursuit of egalitarianism, today would look very different. I would ask, Ladies and Gentlemen that you raise your glasses to Percy Weasley."
John raised his glass, his eyes fixed on Percy. Percy felt his face heat but held his ground, he toasted John back with a small nod as the room raised their glasses to him. Audrey was looking up at him, her face delighted, so he leant down and kissed her hoping to hide a little longer.
John made his glass chime once more. "Now that's done, it's time for cake!"
Harry and Hermione stepped forward, and together, they picked up the knife. Percy edged to the back of the room and escaped to the veranda giving himself a moment to collect himself. Audrey followed him out.
"Well, that was unexpected," Percy allowed with an uncertain smile.
"Nothing you don't deserve," Audrey said, leaning into his side. "Your name can't be on it, so is it not better you get the acknowledgement you deserve from the people it matters to?"
"Yes," Percy agreed hesitantly "But in public?"
Audrey laughed. "Well, not very public," she teased "Only a small wedding."
"The wedding of Harry Potter, Chosen One, to Hermione Granger, the war heroine. A wedding attended by the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, the current Minister for Magic, the Head of the Department for Sports and Games in America, the entirety of Harry's excellent, world-renowned professional Quidditch team, a good handful of the British Aurory and my entire family. Need I go on?"
"No, but you knew that you'd be tied to it."
Their quiet moment was interrupted by the Minister for Magic himself and Tonks who followed him out protesting. "Kings, maybe not now."
Minister Shacklebolt ignored her and stopped beside Percy. "Perhaps this could have waited, but I have something for you. Call it an early wedding present." Kingsley pulled a small roll of parchment from his robe pocket and held it out to Percy who accepted it but didn't unroll it. "You've been reasonably decent about the repeal, and while I'm not fond of standing in a room and being forcibly reminded that I had nothing to do with it, that isn't actually your fault. You are on thin ice, however, and as the Minister for Magic, I had the power to help on that front at least. That is a registration of an Informed Muggle. For Audrey. I backdated it to February ninety-eight. No one can question Audrey's knowledge of the magical world. As far as the Ministry of Magic is concerned, Audrey was informed of the existence of the magical world in line with the current laws, and that is as far as anyone can take it."
Percy unrolled the parchment skimming it quickly. He handed it to Audrey, who also read it. "Thank you," Percy said formally.
Kingsley shrugged. "You deserved something in return."
Tonks sniffed. "Really? Because you've been an utter prat about the whole repeal even though you know, it affects me. We're never doing that," she waved back towards Harry and Hermione who were handing out the cake. "If they'd ever removed the suspension, I would have to do something I don't want to do again."
Kingsley took Tonks' hand. "I would have married you had it come to that."
"Now it won't," Tonks said. "Anyway," she turned back to Percy. "I'd thank you too, but he gets grumbly about it, so I won't. I also won't thank you for buggering up getting elected next year. I'd quite like not to be having an affair with the Minister for Magic, thanks. It's a nightmare trying to avoid the press finding out, and Teddy doesn't need the details of his parent's lives slapped across the Prophet."
"It's not a secret if you tell people," Kingsley pointed out drily.
"It's Percy, he probably already knows," Tonks replied blithely.
Percy looked uncomfortable.
"See," Tonks pointed out. "He knew."
"I took the inclusion of your parents at that meal as an indicator."
Kingsley sighed. "I don't suppose I need to ask…?"
"No," Percy replied promptly. "I don't gossip."
Kingsley nodded his thanks. "Could you be a little less annoying? It is really grating that you're, well you."
Percy smiled. "I have been a selfish being all my life, in principle, though not in practice. As a child, I was taught what was right, I was given good principles, but left to follow them as I saw fit. In truth Kingsley I cannot be anyone other than myself, everyone else was taken."
Audrey stifled her giggle and turned to face the sea until she could control her features.
"You're quoting at me," Kingsley huffed exasperatedly.
Percy shrugged seemingly earnestly. "You claimed knowledge of muggle literature, I was building upon a shared interest."
Kingsley gave him a slantwise look but said nothing. Shaking his head he held his arm out to Tonks who was smirking at Percy. "Shall we sample the cake?"
Tonks led him off grinning throwing a wink at Percy over her shoulder as they reentered the house.
"So," Audrey said, leaning on the rail bordering the veranda. "I'm no longer a secret."
"No," Percy said. "I didn't know of this," he reached out to touch the parchment Audrey held. "If I had, I would have done it sooner."
"You can't know everything, Percy."
"I suppose not." Percy wrapped an arm around her, staring out at sea. "I'm glad you're safe," he said in her hair. "Glad that I'm not a danger to you."
"You're not a danger to me, Percy," Audrey replied softly. "You've never been a danger to me. You've protected me, you still protect me." She glanced down to the ring on her right hand, the one that Percy had refused to allow her out of the room without despite this being a wedding full of people who knew her and liked her with a few notable exceptions.
Fred and George slipped up next to them. "So this is where you are hiding."
"It's considered bad form to one-up the bride and groom on their wedding day," Percy replied, raising his nose and looking down it at Fred.
George leaned over conspiracy to Audrey and whispered loudly. "Do you think he's deluding himself that he's, you know, intimidating?"
Audrey let her head fall against Percy's shoulder trying to quell a smile. "I am perfectly sure that Percy will succeed in any venture he puts his mind to. I have landed myself a brilliant wizard, and you're just jealous."
"Err, well, perhaps not," Fred said, giving Percy a long look over. "Too thin for my tastes, and well you know a wizard, and you know, my brother. Perhaps it's for the best you keep him. But, if you could bear to let him go, we have a proposition for you."
"And this is a secret proposition that you can't tell me about here?"
"You are very astute."
Percy removed his arm from around her waist. "I'll come and find you in a little while to make sure you aren't missing anything vitally important."
"Cheers, Percy," Fred and George chorused before grasping on to one of Audrey's arms each and pulling her away.
Percy went to collect himself another of the fruit cocktails and find a seat somewhere in the shade and out of the way. His linen suit was perfectly comfortable, but the sun was still fierce despite the sunblocking charms.
His peace was soon disturbed by the tall form of the Headmaster of Hogwarts who paused upon rounding the corner and seeing that it was not as empty as he had assumed.
Percy waved him into the seat next to him and took up the book he had summoned from his luggage. It was perhaps impolite to be hiding away and reading at a wedding, but he would not enjoy the attention that would come his way after John's speech, and he had no desire to be caught having to speak with his mother.
The quiet sigh told Percy that he was not the only person happy to have escaped the requirements of polite company. Percy glanced up at his companion. Severus had stretched his legs out in front of him, his was head tipped back, eyes closed with a finger easing the creases between his eyebrows.
Percy smiled to himself and reapplied his attention to his book. Audrey would find him when she was free of the twins if she needed him. Until then, he was quite content to remain exactly where he was.
A rustle came from his companion, Percy's eyes flicked up in time to see a book return to its original size and Severus open the page marked with a ribbon. The page was annotated in the familiar cramped scrawl. The frustrated noise of a hand unable to find what it searched for in a pocket had Percy slip his own hand into his jacket pocket and remove his beloved fountain pen. Wordlessly and without breaking from his reading, he held it out. It was taken with a quiet noise of thanks, and comfortable silence fell between them.