It was very quiet in the cafeteria. Most of the people on duty already came and went this evening. But Percy stayed put in the uncomfortable chair in the canteen.

Audrey only ran late when there was a very good reason. This evening there was probably a patient in need.

She might not be his yet, but his Hufflepuff was so generous in helping others.

She was on duty tonight, on New Year's Eve. His girlfriend was the youngest Mind Healer on staff so she drew the short lot. Tonight, like most holidays, was no exception. She'd worked Christmas morning and she was on duty this evening. Instead of a nice dinner out, or even take away at his flat, he was waiting in the hospital canteen, hoping to share some cottage pie or fish and chips, courtesy of Hannah Abbot.

He wasn't a family man yet, unlike older brother Bill, or living the perpetual bachelor life like Charlie. He wasn't miserable like George, for which he was thankful for, even if he did have the occasional day where he wallowed in self-pity and guilt. And he wasn't full of bliss, like Ron and Ginny were. No, he was reasonably content right now, working hard at the Ministry while his so busy paramour was working her way up the seniority ladder at the hospital.

Maybe by this time next year, he'd be able to refer to her as Mrs. Weasley, if she consented to it.

It wasn't like he wanted to go out, get pissed, party most of the night and return home stinking drunk on Firewhiskey. He only did that with George when no one else was there to help shoulder him back up to the flat. Thankfully Ron did most of the heavy lifting now. Percy was still tired of everything he did after the fighting ended. He didn't need reminding of wizards needing copious amounts of Firewhiskey to chase away the demons in their memories, or their souls. Audrey was better at handling it than he ever would be.

He took a sip of tea and returned to his book. She was running late, but in the hospital, he wasn't her priority. Away from work, behind closed doors, they were one another's priority. But tonight, sitting in the hospital, she was Healer Mackenzie.

Percy opened the book and went back to reading. If she was going to be much later, he'd fall asleep in his chair waiting on her. But then, after meeting her over 3 years ago, wasn't she worth waiting for?

"Sorry I'm late. Witch from Surrey tried to hex a suitor and it backfired on her. It took a little while to undo the damage."

Percy rose from his chair and kissed her on both cheeks.

"Really? You have missed me."

Audrey took a seat next to him and found his hand waiting for hers. "It wasn't that long, only an extra hour or so." She unwrapped the parcel sitting before her. "You're so sweet, getting me fish and chips from the Leaky for dinner. The stuff in here is utter rubbish."

Percy watched her take a bite of the battered cod and smiled at the appreciation rolling across her face. "Well, it's not where I wanted to take you for New Year's Eve, but since you were on the duty roster, it's the least I could do."

"But I'm not off duty until 7am."

"I know, and that's why I'm up here with you for a late dinner."

"Maybe next year I won't have to work the holidays." She squeezed his hand under the table. "Maybe next year we can go out for dinner and dancing."

Percy squeaked at the implication. "It's fine and I understand. You have to work your way up the ladder like all of us do."

"Oh, Percy, one of these days, I'll corrupt you enough." Audrey laid her hand on his leg and squeezed it. "I would have liked to go out with your family."

Percy blushed under his glasses. "I don't know if that's a wise idea, knowing them. They'd probably drag you up to the bar and do shots until someone passed out. If I was there, It'd probably be me, compared to the fish I'm related to."

Audrey chuckled riotously to his comment. "Oh, my dear sweet man." She laughed again. "Do you honestly think your siblings can out-drink me? I'm Scottish and was in Hufflepuff house. You think we were straight-laced and well mannered? Hardly." She squeezed his leg, a little higher this time. "Friday nights my last two years were filled with Firewhiskey and sobering potions, courtesy of one of the other students. We'd knock back the line of shots and then indulge the potions in the morning."

She moved her hand even higher on his leg. "I only act prim and proper outside of closed doors."

Percy looked at the firebrand he was in love with. "And behind them?"

She leaned in close and left just a tantalizing distance from his lips. An inch for a mile, the way he felt for her. "I dunno, me laddie," she slipped into her Glasgow accent, "but I'm awaiting for you to close the door behind me to find out."

Percy took her hand off of his leg and held it between his hands. "There's things you need to know, before we take that step."

"Such as?" She shifted back into her non-accented English lilt.

He saw movement over her shoulder and shifted back.

"Healer MacKenzie, they need you downstairs." Mediwitch Miranda called from the doorway.

She stood up and turned back to the young man sitting in the chair still. She was once again all business. "Be there in a tic," she said over her shoulder. She waited until the Mediwitch departed the doorway.

"Shall I come by in the morning?"

Percy stood up and took her hands in his. "Please. I'll cook up breakfast and we can talk."

She dropped a kiss on his cheek. "And if I want to do more than just talk?"

Percy took a deep breath and let it out again. "I'm amenable to that."

She squeezed his hands again and swept out of the canteen and back onto the healing line.

Percy watched her walk out of the room, her hips wiggling just a little more than they did when she came into the room. "Woman's going to be the death of me."