Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!

25 Days of December

Chapter Four- Advent
Pairing: Percy/Audrey

4th December 1998

Percy finished up the last of his paperwork and sighed happily, ready to go home. He closed the door of his office and locked it casually with his wand before going to the ministry elevators.

Percy used to hate returning home after work. He used to stay overtime, doing unnecessary paperwork or re-sorting through files and drawers in his office. He hated the feeling of dread he got as he flooed home to an empty, unprotected apartment. He hated that there was no one there waiting for him. He hated that that empty, unprotected apartment was the only place he had to go after work. He hadn't been able to cook or clean very well, and he no longer had Molly to call on when he needed help. He was trapped in the apartment, feeling as empty as the rooms he lived in.

Now, however, everything was different. He still lived alone, but only a few blocks away from George and Ron, above the flat. He was able to floo to Shell Cottage, or Charlie's place or the Burrow without feeling pathetic, or worrying that he was intruding.

Returning to his family was the best thing that'd ever happened to him.

Besides, today was special. Today, he wouldn't be returning to an empty apartment at all. His girlfriend, Audrey, was coming round to cook dinner for him.

Percy met Audrey in Diagon Alley a few weeks back. She was clumsy and shy, with curly blond hair and warm brown eyes. She had literally ran into him, sending all of her shopping flying. Percy helped pick it all up and introduced himself to her. She'd been most apologetic and introduced herself with her cheeks flaming. Amused, and slightly intrigued by the woman, Percy asked her if she'd like to join him for coffee and they had only gotten closer from there.

He found out that they didn't really have that much in common, yet he got along with her better than anyone he'd ever met before. She invited him round for dinner at her place when she heard that he was a hopeless cook, which led to her promise that she'd come and cook for him once a week when he finished work.

And tonight was that night. He couldn't wait. He hadn't seen Audrey in almost four days and he longed to talk to her again.

As he reached the fireplaces in the Ministry Atrium, he grinned to himself. He didn't have long to wait.

~-4-~

Audrey stood in the kitchen, minding the sauce that simmered in the pot she'd brought along. She checked her watch. He should be home soon.

She loved cooking for Percy. She wasn't quite sure why. She wasn't usually a huge cooking fan. But when it was for him it suddenly became ten times more enjoyable.

She heard the whoosh of the floo from the room next door and beamed, casting a spell over her cooking so that it would mind itself and hurried into the lounge to meet Percy.

His eyes lit up behind his glasses as she appeared in the doorway and walked towards him.

She gently pressed her lips to his, smiling. He put his arms round her and smiled back.

"Hey." He said softly. She grinned in reply.

"I got you a present." She said, almost teasingly.

"Really?" Percy asked innocently, his eyes glowing curiously.

"Yes. Come and see!" She guided him to an almost tapestry-like thing that hung on the wall. "Tah-dah!" Audrey said happily. Percy frowned. It was made of cloth and had twenty-five numbered pockets, each filled with neatly wrapped sweets. Above the pockets was an embroidered picture of a cottage surrounded by snow. Although the… thing, looked muggle, it had obviously been bewitched since the snow on the picture was moving in swirling patterns.

"Um… Audrey… What is it?" He asked uncertainly. Audrey laughed.

"It's an advent calendar!" She said, as if it was obvious.

"Huh?" Percy asked, confused.

"It's a muggle thing, mostly. There are twenty-five pockets, one for each day in December, leading up to Christmas. Advent." She smiled. "Each day, you get one sweet. I know I'm four days late, but we've both been so busy I've barely seen you all week!"

"I know." Percy sighed. "It's been awful." He leant down to kiss her, cradling her face in his hands. She wound her arms around his neck and played with the ends of his hair. She sighed as they broke apart.

"I've missed this." She said breathlessly.

"Me too." Percy caught a stray strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear. "I can't believe we've been so busy that we haven't been able to see each other!"

"I know! I keep thinking 'I'll have time tomorrow', but I never do! The longest I ever have free is about ten minutes tops!" Audrey reached up and ran her hand through Percy's hair. She pouted like a stroppy young child. "I miss you." She complained.

Percy chuckled. It was so amazing that they could become so attatched to one another, despite having only just met a few weeks ago. He planted a kiss on her forehead, just as a beeping started to come from where the dinner was cooking.

"That's my charm." Audrey said, reluctantly removing herself from Percy's arms. "Let's have dinner."

"Let's." Percy agreed.

~-4-~

They both ate their meal slowly, chatting idly to one another as they did so. But even so, the meal seemed to pass quickly. Percy cast a charm on the dishes so that they'd wash themselves and the two of them moved to the lounge where they snuggled up together on the couch.

Percy's gaze fell on the advent calendar and he smiled.

"Thanks for the present." He whispered in Audrey's ear. She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"You're welcome." She whispered back.

They sat in content silence for a while, and Percy continued to stare at the advent calendar on the wall until he was hit by sudden inspiration.

"Advent!" He said loudly, startling Audrey so that she almost rolled off the couch.

"What?" She asked, confused. Percy grinned at her and took her hands in his.

"We've both said we need to spend more time together, right?" He asked, his eyes alight with excitement.

"Right.." Audrey said warily.

"But we only have a few minutes to spare every day. So, let's see each other in those few minutes!"

"What? That's crazy! We'll barely be able to do anything but say hello and goodbye!" Audrey said incredulously.

"Wrong." Percy said, still grinning. "We'll have an advent. One kiss, every day of December leading up to Christmas… Or possibly more than one kiss if we have time.." He added, as an afterthought. Audrey laughed, her own eyes lighting up.

"Percy, that's brilliant!" She exclaimed with another laugh. Percy smiled.

"I thought you'd like it."

"I love it. It's perfect." She said, leaning in to kiss him. Percy responded immediately and pulled her closer to him, running his hands through her soft hair as she wound her arms round his neck. They broke apart, gasping and Percy nuzzled her neck, then grinned at her cheekily.

"You know, seeing as it's the fourth… And we've started this advent thing a little late, I think we have a bit of catching up to do. Don't you?" He asked sneakily.

Audrey merely smiled and kissed him in response.

.

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A.N- To anonymous reviewers: Yes there will be a Remus/Tonks chapter, along with several other canon pairings.

Okay, I'm going to start putting up who the next pairing will be. Let's see, next up is… Snape/Lily! Don't worry though, I would never take Lily away from James.. You'll see!

Reviews anyone?

Toff.x