A/N: Sorry, I know I haven't updated in forever. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I will hopefully be able to post more after December 15th.
Audrey felt the cold December wind against her face as she left Flourish and Botts. The wind rushed through her hair as her shoes left prints in the thin layer of snow. She dug her hands into the pockets of her black jacket. She sighed as she began thinking of what she needed to get Percy, her father, and her future in-laws for Christmas.
She squinted when she saw Molly Weasley,bundled in a thick coat, through the falling snow. Her brilliant red hair was flecked with white snow. "Hello," Audrey greeted as the two women approached one another.
"Oh dear, you look as if you are freezing," Molly Weasley said as she noticed the woman shaking and desperately trying to keep warm. Molly Weasley's blue eyes were wide with worry and concern. Although Audrey was cold, she merely shrugged and gave a meek smile.
"It's not that bad," Audrey replied rubbing her hands together. Before the young woman could protest, she found herself being dragged down to George's joke shop. All Audrey could say is "No, I don't want to impose", she found herself in the loft above Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. George dragged another chair to the table while his mother commented about the lack of cleanliness in the loft. The young man sat down and summoned three bottles of Butterbeer to the table.
"So are you excited about your wedding?" Molly asked as if she noticed the anxiety practically radiating from Percy's fiance. The young woman gave a weak smile and glanced at the frame picture of George and his twin brother. She had heard many storied about the twin's antics from Percy, but she never had the joy of meeting Fred.
"I am," she replied as she watched the twins, in the picture, laughing and joking. They were standing in front of their newly opened store, and Audrey had never seen George look so happy. "It just feels incomplete somehow," she continued as she glanced at George.
"You'd only be Percy if you had finished your wedding planning by now," George said with a mischevious grin. He knew that Audrey hadn't finished the seating arrangements, decided on a floral arrangement, or got a dress. Besides Christmas was more immediate than the wedding, and Audrey had postponed wedding planning for the holiday.
"Very true," Audrey said leaning back in her chair. "I guess I'm more excited about Christmas at the moment."
"Why is that?" Molly inquired. Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle with anticipation. Audrey couldn't help but wonder if her answer would determine how her future mother-in-law would feel about her. She watched Percy's mother smile as she rested her hands on the table.
"Well," the young woman replied with a sigh, "My family and I always spent Christmas together. Just for that day, the house was warm and smelled like freshly baked cookies, and all our issues like mum's illness forgotten. I always liked to believe every household was like that for at least one day out of the year." She noticed Molly silently nod as George simply grinned. The two Weasleys looked at one another in understanding as if they knew the feeling Audrey had described. George glanced at the magical photograph behind him. He sighed as he realized Christmas was not going to be the same. Unlike previous years, he'd be unable to fill the siblings' stockings with their new products with Fred or cause the mayhem.
Audrey had noticed the anguish in George's eyes. She never had a sibling to do things with. She wished she had a brother or sister to fight with, feel joy with, or torture her parents with; therefore, she couldn't understand what Percy's younger brother was going through. However, she hoped she could say something that might make him feel better. She looked at George and said, "I just always asked Santa for a brother or sister for Christmas. I really wanted someone to share my toys with. Percy is incredibly lucky that he has you and your siblings."
A wide grin spread across Molly Weasley's face as she began to realize how important family was to Audrey. As the conversation progressed, she began to see how Audrey lead Percy back home. The young woman's sense of humor, kindness, loyalty, and dedication to her family were all qualities that Percy needed to be exposed to. Molly could see why the rest of the family adored Audrey and welcomed her to the family.
After Audrey left and went home, Molly looked at her son and asked, "Do you think...he would have liked her?"
George smiled and answered, "Mum, Percy would be trying to drag Fred off her." He turned to the picture of him and his brother and watched Fred give him thumb's up. George grinned and gave a soft chuckle.
Audrey wrapped her arms across Percy's torso and rested her head on his chest. She felt the flannel pajama shirt through her fingertips, and she feared she would wind up using him as a pillow if she got too comfortable. She closed her eyes as she took in this moment and realized they would do this for the rest of their lives. She asked, "have you given it any thought?"
"Pardon me?" he replied before releasing a yawn.
She rolled her eyes and bit her lip. She had been trying to convince Percy to ask George to be his best man. Not only was George one of her closest friends, she didn't know if George would ever have the chance to make a comical speech at a wedding reception. She knew it would mean a lot to George if Percy asked him to be his best man, but that would require her fiance put his pride and his past aside. "You know, I really think you should ask him to be your best man," she said firmly.
Percy met Audrey's hazel eyes. He kissed her forehead as if a simple action would stop the conversation. Although he loved his brother, he wasn't sure George would be a responsible best man. Besides, he had time before he needed to make a decision. He said calmly to his future wife, "Darling, I don't think I need to make that decision now. Besides, have you even chosen your maid of honor?"
"I've asked Fleur," Audrey said with a smug grin. "Besides, he needs one of his siblings to try to connect with. He lost his best friend and brother." Percy nodded in understand although he doubted he could take Fred's place.
"Alright, I will think about it," Percy replied as Audrey turned on her side. He closed his eyes as she turned off the light. He saw Fred alive; however, he thought of George. He sighed as he remembered Audrey's odd tendency to constantly be right. He decided he would ask George to be his best man.