A/N: Well, I couldn't wait to post next chapter and so here it is, hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: Not sure if I put this on every chapter but better safe than sorry. So yeah, J.K. Rowling owns everything, all I did was make a fanfic out of her work.

Chapter 2 - Six Years Too Many

Percy apparated into the living room of the flat he shared with his girlfriend of the past six years, Penelope Clearwater. She wasn't there when he arrived but he could hear a noise in the bedroom and then Penelope's voice shouting, "Is that you Percy?"

"Yeah." Percy called back as he went into the kitchen. "Would you like some tea?"

"That would be perfect." She shouted back. Once Percy had the kettle on, he could have sworn he heard a pop but he let it pass over him. He took two mugs from the cupboard and two tea bags from the tin labelled 'TEA'. Once the kettle finished boiling he poured the water into the mugs, stirred the tea bags, took them out and added milk and sugar.

"Ready!" He shouted to Penelope. He carried the mugs to the living room and set them on the table - with a coaster each, obviously.

"How are you, darling? You're early." Penelope said as she walked into the living room. Her blonde hair was down and slightly messy. "I was in the middle of a nap." She told him with a yawn. "How was your day, dear?" She sat down on the sofa and lifted a mug to her lips, watching him carefully as she took a sip.

"I'm alright I guess, just the same as always. Mr Shacklebolt sent me home at noon. I went for a walk through muggle London to clear my mind." He then told her the whole story of the bookstore.

"You are a complete idiot at times, Perce." She said, being outright.

Percy spluttered on his tea. "P-pardon? How so?" He protested. "I did nothing wrong! It was the muggle that spoke to me!" He argued.

"Percy, you killed a conversion after 10 seconds! That must be a world record!" She exclaimed, "Tomorrow you are going back there and staying at least 30 minutes." She ordered.

"Fine… Fine…" He sighed, not understanding why Penelope wanted him to go talk to this muggle girl. Isn't it common knowledge that all girls get jealous when their boyfriends talk to cute girls? He shook his head slightly to clear that thought. Boring, plain muggle girls. He corrected. "What did you do today, Penny?" He asked. Penelope had lost her job in the run up to the Battle of Hogwarts so now she was searching for a new one.

"Just the usual, you know. Job hunting, catching up with some school friends, a nap." She said, keeping it vague like she often did now. "Nothing too interesting."

Percy nodded. Penelope was different from when they were 15. Most of their days were spent in silence and recently he had started sleeping on the sofa or going home to his old room.

When it came to love and relationships, Percy found that he struggled. He struggled even with family relationships and when it came to romantic relationships, Percy had next to no knowledge. This is why he didn't notice how much he and Penelope had drifted apart. This is also why he didn't see the signs to the next crash in his life.

I did nothing wrong. Why must I be the one to go apologise to the muggle? She spoke to me. He thought bitterly, the whole way to the bookshop. He automatically spotted the girl he had spoken to yesterday and made his way over. "Hello, I believe we spoke yesterday. I was apparently rude to you so I am here to apologise for my behaviour." He said in his usual pompous manner.

The girl turned and looked at him. "Did your mother prepare that speech for you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"No, my girlfriend did." He retorted. The girl rolled her eyes and went back to stacking books.

"Did it ever occur to you that silence may be your best option? You don't seem to understand polite conversation or sarcasm." She told him, her voice staying calm and measured. "Did your girlfriend seriously say 'Go apologise to the girl you were rude to and I promise I won't get jealous'?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Seems highly unlikely to me."

Percy frowned. "Along those lines, yes. Is that weird?" He wondered aloud.

"Yes. It is." The woman answered, grinning slightly.

"Do you know something I don't, Miss….?" Percy asked warily.

"Audrey Greene." She smiled and offered a hand.

Percy shook it. "Audrey." He said slowly trying out the name to see how it felt rolling off his tongue. "It's a pleasure to get to know your acquaintance is what I should have said yesterday."

"Yesterday was bad acquaintance-ing." She smirked. "What's your name?"

"Percy Weasley. Your grammar is atrocious." He stated indigenously.

Audrey snorted, "I could say the same about your social skills." She retorted.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Fine, well I had better be off." He nodded his head to her. "I'll see you around, Audrey." With that he left, stopping by a flower shop on his way back home.

Percy picked out a bouquet of red roses. "Thank you very much, they are as perfect as my beautiful girlfriend." He said proudly to the elderly lady behind the counter.

"I'm sure she will love them, my dear." The lady smiled. "Is it a special occasion?" She asked with a knowing smile.

Percy blushed slightly, "Thank you again, Ma'am." He nodded to her then made his way to his apartment.

Percy pushed open the unlocked the door and walked in. "Penny, I'm home." He called to her, going to the kitchen to get a bottle of wine he had bought a few weeks prior. He wasn't much of a drinker but he allowed a glass of wine or champagne at times. Six years and only now am I doing this? He asked himself, realising that Fred was his wake up call. Life was short so he was best to make the most of it. He took two glasses and walked to the living room. "We need to talk." He smiled brightly to Penelope as she came out of the bedroom.

"You are right, Percy." She agreed, sitting on the edge of the sofa. "We have been together for six years now, it is about time we decide where we go from here." She told him, looking at the roses and wine.

Percy nodded eagerly. "You are right about that. We have only one reasonable option."

Penelope smiled. "I am glad you agree. I will be moved out by the time you get home tomorrow."

Percy had been reaching into his pocket but his hand dropped at those words. "We're breaking up…?" He asked slowly, not believing what he had just heard.

"Of course. Isn't that what you were thinking too?" Penny asked.

Percy nodded, his mind in a daze.

"I knew it wouldn't be long until you found out about the other men." She continued.

Percy stared at her in a dumbfounded phase. "Other men…"

Penelope stood and kissed his forehead. "Thank you for being so calm." She said sweetly then went to the bedroom to begin packing.

A few minutes later a man - who Percy distinctly remembered being in Ravenclaw - walked out of the bedroom. "Afternoon, Perce." He nodded as he let himself out.