~*~
Percy chewed his lip when the clock struck six pm. He tugged comfortably at the collar of his new robes, and concentrated on fiddling with his napkin for the tenth time. Molly manned the kitchen (with Fleur beside her, making suggestions) while Angelina and Ginny chatted amicably about the current state of affairs at the Ministry.
"Oi! What's gotten you so down, Perce?"
" W- what? Nothing has gotten me down, Ron."
He watched his youngest brother drop into the chair next to his, taking a sip of wine with ease. Hermione and Harry were discussing new tactics on taking down the latest dark wizard, and the rights of muggleborns and purebloods.
" I'm just… its… its complicated Ron." Percy muttered, wishing the other man would go away. Ron snickered, taking another sip from his glass.
"Its because you're bringing a girl isn't it? I heard chatter about it down in the office today."
"So she IS coming tonight! It's a good thing I made extra soup! That Wilkes girl I saw you making eyes at a few weeks ago?" Molly gushed excitedly.
"Percy? Our Percy? Making doe eyes at a girl?" George said in mock astonishment . Harry and Ron sniggered, while Hermione and Ginny reflexively rolled their eyes. Molly set down a fresh tray of hot buttered rolls on the table, eying her elder son.
"Well, what she's like, Percy?"
"Mmm…. … mum! She's- we're not- I mean!"
Percy felt that good luck was on his side when the doorbell rang. He coughed once, tripped on the family cat, and stumbled towards the door, nearly yanking it open off its hinges.
"Merlin's… beard…." Percy whispered breathlessly.
Audrey looked beautiful. Her hair was styled in a fancy (but not elaborately done) bun, a butterfly clip holding it in place. Her white sundress and white shawl draped casually on her shoulders. Her skin was lightly tanned, the faintest traces of jasmine perfume on her neck and wrists. Percy keenly noted that it was the bottle he'd bought for her birthday a few weeks ago.
'Least I got that right…. She's gorgeous! Damn!'
"Hello, Percy. Am I too early?" Audrey questioned teasingly. Percy swallowed the rising lump in his throat and gestured to the inside of the Burrow.
"N- No… not at all! T- this is A- Audrey! Audrey, my family…. Most of them anyways." He added in a quick afterthought.
"Thank you, Percy."
Audrey stepped confidently into the threshold, nodding and smiling to Arthur and Molly. Molly wiped her hands on her apron, taking the younger woman by the hands.
" Hello, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley." Audrey said politely. Molly smiled back in return.
"Audrey dear, a pleasure to finall meet you! So you're Percy's mystery girl, eh?"
" I didn't know I was being called that, Mrs. Weasley." Audrey said, throwing a look at Percy teasingly. Percy looked ashen faced.
"M- mum… please… I… err…"
"Oh Percy, we're just teasing a bit!" Molly reminded him.
Audrey looked at the Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting at the table, and her eyes widened in slight surprise.
" So that's the infamous Trio eh? Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and… Ron Weasley, correct?"
"Oh hell… we're famous….." Harry whispered.
Ron Weasley beamed, poking Hermione in the arm playfully.
"We're legends! Famous!" he crowed. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I assure you, we're not t that…. Famous… we're just…." Hermione scrambled for the proper words, turning slightly red.
Audrey sat down in the chair, offered by George.
"What you did during the war was no small feat. I'd like to think you earned all the titles afforded to you. But, in any case-"
" So Audrey, what do you do?"
Ginny exited the kitchen, carrying a loaded bowlful of mashed potatoes. Little Fred Weasley squirmed in his seat, whimpering for food now. Audrey smiled at the tiny red headed baby, the tiny chubby hands reaching for the new guest at the table.
"Oh, I'm an Auror, nothing special."
"An Auror? Really? Merlin knows that's a dangerous profession." Arthur said, looking at his wife for a moment, knowing that Harry and Ron were taking their first few assignments as recently graduated Aurors in the Ministry.
" Ron and Harry are Aurors. Did you guys do assignments together?" Angelina asked, spooning some mashed peas into her son's mouth.
" Bloody hell! I didn't know you were an Auror, Audrey! I didn't see you in the training field or anything." Ron said, taking a large helping of kippers for himself. Harry took a helping of potatoes, and passed the bowl towards Hermione, who in turn passed it to Ginny.
"I'm not in training- I graduated a long time ago." Audrey laughed.
"Wait, just how old are you?" Ron persisted.
"Ron!" Hermione, Angelina, and Fleur snapped.
"What?!" Ron asked helplessly through a mouth of kippers and potatoes, questioningly.
" You don't ask a woman her age!" Hermione scolded fiercely.
" Ha ha. No, its alright, really. I'm thirty-two actually." Audrey admitted, taking a platter of roast beef, and helping herself as the dishes were passed around.
" Really? You don't look it. Early to mid twenties at best." Percy said, turning the family shade of red. Audrey tapped him on the nose.
"you're a horrid liar, Percy."
"I… errr….. ahem…. "
"Well, dearie, how long?" Molly said, sitting down at the table, the food finally being set about the table. Audrey turned her attention to the matriarch of the family.
" Hmm…. Thirteen years, roughly. I know, I'm bloody ancient!" she joked easily, eyes connecting with Molly's for the briefest of moments.
"Mrs.. Weasley.. my age won't be a problem, will it?"
" Why would you think that dear?" Molly inquired worriedly. Percy wiped his mouth with his napkin, setting it down.
"Because well… I know how you feel about…. Ehhh.. older woman." Percy interjected quietly. Molly looked confused for a moment then smiled.
" Well, it seems to me that she's quite the girl. You're lucky Percy, to find a woman like this."
Percy and Audrey each let out a collective sigh of relief. The mood in the room seemed to lighten considerably for the remainder of the night.
'She likes her… perhaps I misjudged the situation entirely.' Percy thought, digging his spoon into a large portion of treacle tart.
~*~
"You said you're family was horrid."
" Trust me, it was a carefully planned act. They're show their true stripes."
"Hm. I guess I'll be waiting a while longer."
Audrey hung in the doorway of the Burrow, Percy at her side. The two of them were speaking in hushed whispers, while the after dinner chatter continued on in the next room. Percy reached out and grabbed her wrist, gently.
"I'm glad you came tonight…. Made things… a lot easier." Percy said slowly.
"I'm glad. So, now that your mum has seen me, I take it we can 'officially' see more of each other, then?"
"I'- I'd really like that. Y- you're… I- mean, you're special. I don't want to lose someone like you." Percy affirmed strongly.
" Hm. Ditto, on that Percy. This was a an enchanting night, but I must be off."
"I- I'll take
you home." Percy said, taking her arm for apparition.
"My red
headed knight in robes. Cute."
"I….. uhhh…. Ahem…."
"Thank you, Percy."
Then she kissed him.
Percy gasped inwardly, then returned the kiss. Besides Penelope Clearwater in his school days, his experience with woman- older woman at that, was limited at best. In their exchange, Percy was sure he saw all the constellations in the sky, and a few new ones. Life itself shrank into this singular moment, and he was sure he was flying- without the aid of magic nonetheless.
They broke apart after a moment, Percy knew he was blushing from chin to ear. Audrey touched his cheek tenderly.
"An excellent kisser to boot. Is there anything you can't do?"
"Uhh…. Cook…. I think…." Percy stammered.
" Well, that makes two of us. Shall we?"
"I'd be delighted."
Percy took her arm, gallantly, and then turned on a heel. He looked down, seeing an extendable ear under his foot. He bent down to pick it up.
"DID ANYONE TELL YOU ITS RUDE TO SPY?!"
Percy grinned with satisfaction when he heard the surprised yelps from the other end of the magical hearing aid.
On the other end, George, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Angelina were holding their heads, and grumbling under their breath.
Audrey shook her head, taking Percy's arm, and the two of them apparated out of sight.
~Fin~
