Chapter 2: Conversations at the Burrow

The sound of someone flooing into the Burrow had Ron rushing out of the kitchen. His disappointment was evident when he saw that it was just his brothers and not his girlfriend emerging from the fireplace.

"Sorry, little brother. Just us," George announced, brushing himself off behind Percy. "Expecting the old ball and chain, huh?"

"Please don't let her hear you say that," Ron huffed. He turned around to go back to finish his breakfast that they had interrupted. "What are you two doing here?"

"Nice to see you, too. Can't we just want to see our dear family?" George answered. "What are your knickers in a twist about?"

Ron sat back down to his half eaten plate. Ginny and Harry, having already finished, sat on the other side of the table. "Hermione's coming over and we're going to Diagon Ally to finish getting their school supplies," he informed his brothers.

"Awww, sending the wifey off to school," George crooned.

Ron flashed a rude hand gesture at his brother before turning back to his third helping of food.

Hearing new voices, Molly emerged from the laundry room. "I thought I heard my boys," she said. She hurried over to the table and kissed both on the cheeks as if she hadn't seen them in weeks. "Are you hungry?" she fussed. "I can fix you something."

"No, mum," Percy answered. "Sit down and relax. We already ate."

"Where were you two that you already have eaten?" Molly demanded.

George grinned, "I stopped by dear Percy's flat first. He mentioned he was coming over here so I figured I'd wait and come with him."

"You cooked for yourself and George knowing you were coming here this morning?" she inquired, looking a bit startled. Her boys all knew how to cook but none of them really enjoyed it.

"Yeah," Percy mumbled, glaring at his smirking brother and praying he kept his mouth shut for once. "Didn't want to put you out or anything."

"There was enough for three people," George commented nonchalantly. He had no desire to rat his brother out for his clandestine activities, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to have a bit of fun torturing him first. "We had oatmeal. A nice hearty breakfast to rebuild your energy after a long night of…work."

Harry's eyebrow raised as he studied the brothers. There was something going in between them that they weren't telling Mrs. Weasley.

"I'm glad you stopped by." Molly sat down at the table with a pad and quill and turned toward Percy. "I wanted to know what type of cake you want for dinner on Friday. We just had chocolate for Ginny's birthday last week. How does a nice lemon cake sound?"

"Sounds perfect," Percy answered. "Actually, Mum, I wanted to ask you something about Friday."

"Cake is fine, isn't it?" she worried. "I could make a nice steamed pudding if you want."

"No, Mum, the cake is great. Lemon. Excellent." Percy assured her. "It's nothing about the food. I wanted to ask if it was okay if I bring a guest."

Molly's head shot up in surprise and she stopped scribbling on the pad. "Of course," she answered. "Any guest of yours is welcome."

This was a new development. Molly knew her son had dated at Hogwarts. He exchanged owls his girlfriend daily the summer before his final year, but he'd never introduced them. Was he still seeing the same girl? Was this a signal she'd soon have another wedding to plan?

"Are you still seeing Penelope Clearwater?" Ginny asked, as if reading her mother's thoughts.

Percy looked up at his sister, startled by her question. He hadn't dated Penny in years. It drove home just how much both sides missed out on during the separation. "Uh…no. We quit seeing each other after Hogwarts."

"Who are you bringing?" Molly asked, trying not to pry too hard or scare him off.

"Her name is Audrey Wright." Percy answered. "We've been seeing each other a few months now."

"Oh, that's nice," Molly commented.

She was searching her mind for any mention of the name Wright when Arthur walked in the back door. "Hey boys, I didn't know you were both coming around this morning," he greeted his sons as he sat at the table.

"Arthur, dear," Molly smiled. "Percy's bringing a friend to dinner on Friday. Her name is Audrey Wright. Do we know anyone by that surname?

"Wright, Wright," Arthur thought. He sat back in his chair in contemplation. "The name doesn't sound familiar."

"It wouldn't, I suspect," Percy declared. "Her father's a Muggle."

"A Muggle," Arthur cried. "How delightful."

"Don't get too excited, Dad," interjected Percy. "Audrey's mum is a witch."

"Still, it's always nice to talk to someone raised by Muggles," Arthur smiled.

"Yeah, like you never get the chance to do that, Dad." Ginny snorted, then asked, "So what's she like?"

"She's Katie Belle's cousin," George answered before Percy could open his mouth.

"How do you know that? Have you met her already?" Molly asked.

"I just found out this morning," George quickly explained. "Honestly, I hadn't heard her name before today," he teased, technically the truth.

"Well I'm sure she's lovely. I can't wait to meet her," responded Molly.

"Are you ready to go?" Arthur asked his wife. They had plans to run errands that afternoon and if left to her own devices, Molly would badger Percy for every detail about his girlfriend. Friday would be soon enough to learn more about this Audrey.

"Let me go get my sweater and bag and we can be off."

Molly asked her children if they needed anything before rushing off behind her husband to get ready. They could hear her stopping in the living room to talk to someone. Assuming it was Hermione, Ron jumped up to investigate.

"Okay," Ginny said, staring at her brothers. "What is going on? Why are you two really here together?

"Honestly, I did just mean to go over to Percy's this morning," George confessed. "Why is everyone so suspicious of my motives?"

"Because if you're involved, then trouble is not far behind," accused Ginny.

"Hey, guys," Hermione greeted, walking into the kitchen. Ron trailed behind her. "Ready to go?"

"In a bit," Ginny answered. "Have a seat. I need to get to the bottom of whatever shenanigans these two are up to before we leave."

Hermione sat down and asked, "What is going on?"

"Nothing," Percy huffed.

"I wouldn't say nothing," George smirked. Looking around to make sure his parents weren't near, he continued, "So I flooed into Percy's thinking I was going to catch our dear brother before stopping off here and instead I meet a half-dressed brunette making breakfast."

"George, please," Percy groaned. "He didn't walk in on anything salacious."

"Oh, no," Ginny laughed.

"Oh, yes," George grinned, continuing his tale. "Perce just doesn't want dear old Mum to know he had an overnight guest last night. Being the noble brother I am, I kept my mouth shut."

"Just keep quiet," Percy pleaded. "I don't want Mum or Dad disliking her before the even meet her."

Ginny turned to George and asked, "What's she like?"

"Shouldn't you be asking me that?" Percy wondered.

"No," Ginny answered. "I know you. You won't tells us anything good."

"Surprisingly, she has a sense of humor. I quite like her." Turning to Harry, George revealed, "You know our old Quidditch mates got those two together and didn't even have the decency to tell me about it!"

"Katie?" Harry inquired, remembering him mentioning they were cousins.

"Yeah, her and Oliver set them up," he answered, as if Percy wasn't sitting right next to him to tell them himself.

"Wait," Harry comment. "I didn't know Katie and Oliver kept in touch."

"Of course, they keep in touch," responded Percy. "They've been seeing each other for a while now."

"Wait, what!" George blurted, "This is new information. Since when. Nobody ever told me anything about it."

"Nobody told me about it, either, mate," Harry remarked, reminding George he wasn't the only one left out of the loop.

"I hate to break this to you, Harry," Ginny informed her boyfriend, "but unless it has to do with saving the world, you're the absolute last one to know about things."

"Just wait until I talk to her," George vowed. "I can't believe she didn't say anything. And Ange, either. I just talked to her yesterday and she didn't mention a thing! You'd think they'd tell me these things."

"Well, you can all question Audrey at dinner. Just please be nice to her on Friday. She's met the worst of you lot and is still talking to me, I hope," he interjected, staring at George. Percy stood up, signaling an end to his side of the conversation. "Now, if you are all done now. I have places I have to be," he finished, hoping they would remain quiet on the issue.

George watched his brother disappear and turned back to the others, "Wow, for someone having sex regularly, he sure is uptight. She's not at all what I pictured him with, though. Really, how did he get so lucky? Am I the only Weasley not getting any?"

"Probably," blurted a voice from the most unexpected source.

George gasped, looking at the perpetrator and clutching his chest. "Miss Granger! I am shocked!"

Hermione looked around the table at the stunned faces, her own turning a red to rival any Weasley as everyone erupted in laughter. Ron beamed and leaned over, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek, "And that, everyone is why I love her."

"I didn't mean it like that," Hermione protested, "Seriously, I…"

"I'd just shut up if I were you, Hermione," Ginny advised. It was hard to win against the twins once they got going and seeing George once again joking made her happy, even if it was at her friend's expense.

"Tsk, Tsk," George tormented. It wasn't often Hermione stumbled and he was going to take advantage of this rare opportunity. "I'd expect something like that from Ron, or even my sweet baby sister," he teased, ignoring the snort from Ginny's direction, "but from you? I am astounded."

Everyone was still laughing when Molly returned to the kitchen. She looked around and noticed a blushing Hermione was the only one not joining in on the merriment. "George, what are you doing to that poor girl?" she chastised. "Leave her alone."

"Why am I getting blamed? Why not Ron?"

"Years of experience," Molly glared. Deciding to ignore whatever was going on, she turned to her daughter and asked, "Do you have everything you need? Got your lists and everything?"

"Yeah," Ginny answered, trying to stifle her chuckles. They would never let Hermione live that one down.

Everyone was still smiling except Hermione as they broke up to go on their various tasks for the day. George had the urge to check and see if it was snowing outside, despite being the middle of August. How else could he explain priggish Percy's recent activities and Hermione's inappropriate outburst. It made him wonder what the rest of the day held in store.

Hope everyone is enjoying the story. I'm glad others like the Percy/Oliver bromance . Percy needs a friend and the guy who lived in his dorm for seven years and is just as ambitious as he is (although in a different way) seems to be a good fit for the role. I will get to more actual Percy/Audrey interaction soon. I promise. Next chapter will have a bit more Katie/Oliver showing up. I like them too much and might be planning a companion piece to match this one.