December 22, 1998

Floo travel in good dress robes was generally frowned upon even with the use of cleaning spells for such matters - the risk of an unrepairable scorching to good fabric was far too risky. For major events that were considered fairly high profile with many international guests, a new entrance had to be created to allow the guests some degree of dignity in their arrivals. In this case, a temporary tunnel led from the working basement of the non-magical office building nearby into the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic.

The tunnel had a pleasant ambience, not too brightly lit for the conditions, quietly lit with magelights that reflected the shimmering jewellery of the attending crowd. One woman seemed lit like a burning ember in her Christmas dress robes of vibrant reds, yellows and oranges that pulled it all together. Seeming to already catch bits of the twinkling lights at the end of the tunnel despite the distance from the entrance, but that was a very fanciful notion.

Great-Aunt Lucinda sighed quietly behind me as she double checked her own invitation in her cloak pocket, the deep violet of her robes almost causing her to disappear in the shadows of the entrance tunnel. The robes were lined with gold trim and gave her a sort of regal appearance, a sort of status that the old regime expected of the scion descendants of the pureblood families, Sacred Twenty-Eight or not.

"Any idea what exactly this is going to look like?" Lucinda asked as the crowd continued to move forward through the space. I could see the security guard ahead taking the invitations and waving people through.

"No, I thought you would know more about it, being on the Hosting Committee and all."

"I was consulted, that does not mean I was included in the minutia of details."

Lucinda moved forward slightly closer to the light just ahead of me and I could take in the array of wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, thin but numerous after the stress of the last few years under the Voldemort regime. Her glasses were silver colored and her gray eyes were darkened by the shadows of the tunnel into the Ministry.

"In all honesty," her voice dropped so I alone could hear the details of her opinions. "I've seen the budget and it seems a bit trim for such an event, but we've been so busy with the orphanage, I did not have the time to really give everything a courtesy look and sign my name to allow the Ministry to break their contract with me to host here instead of at Thornell. A mere formality really." She shrugged. "The lesser choice I believe."

I laughed dryly as the two of us made it closer to the front of the line. I adjusted my weight in my heels, steadying myself and fiddling with a bracelet I was wearing. The cushioning charms would have to be redone once I got a chance to sit down or a chance to subtly take off my shoes behind a Christmas tree. I stopped wearing heels once I left the Ministry, practical shoes were needed when building a charity for orphans with one's great-aunt. A lot of my time was spent chasing down different donation opportunities in materials goods or monetary funding these days.

Why didn't men wear heels? If they did, flat dress shoes for women would be far more acceptable socially. Dress robes would be slightly shorter to accommodate... Honestly, there was not enough knowledge within me about fashion culture to criticize

The couple in front of Lucinda and I were waved through security, bringing the two of us to the front of the line. I looked past the security guard and into what I could see of the Ministry Atrium now that I had a clear view of a sliver of the twinkling lights I had glimpsed when I was further back in the line and the sound of faint music greeted my ears.

There was a lot to be said for the opulence and splendor of a country re-establishing itself on the world stage. The high ceiling was decorated in fairy-lights and tinsel, draping downwards in elegant swoops and an almost natural feel. There were Christmas trees decorated in reds and golds, the quick flashes of free moving lights that travelled along the trees and between the branches –

The security guard coughed, bringing my attention back to the present. My face warmed as I handed over my invitation. I reminded myself not to, in Lucinda's terms, wool-gather.

"Audrey Graves?"

"Yes."

"Wand please."

I passed over my wand as the final security verification.

"Wand is cedar and Horned Serpent, correct?"

"Yes."

"Ah, unusual." He returned my wand. "Merry Christmas!"

Stepping fully into the Ministry Atrium was breathtaking – I was getting the impression it would be, but to see it in full was something else entirely. The sliver of what I had seen was but a small piece of a much larger painting.

The marble stones on the floor and ceiling above gleamed brightly under the carefully placed magelights – the room itself felt as if it were lit by the moon, places of brightness mixed in shadow to cover all I was sure was planned by the Minister and his staff. An almost cold space, but warmed by the bright colors of holiday cheer. The fireplace floos along the wall had been closed for the night, they had been lined with tinsel and had unique artisan decorations of silver flowers in matching vases on each small mantle, the flowers providing a source of light in the dim space. Along the wall were small snack tables and an array of different wines in an assortment of colors in shades of silver, green and red.

A House Elf offered to take my cloak, I passed over the silver fabric, the House Elf quickly marking it with a number and my name before disappearing as silently as she had arrived.

Hm," Lucinda moved next to me, her deep violet robes appearing almost black in the light of the room as she tucked her arm in mine. "This is more opulent than I was expecting."

I nodded slowly as I continued to take it all in.

The grand, cloth covered statue in the center of the atrium, being attended by the artistic staff who watched the oddly shaped lump that would be the new centerpiece for the Fountain of Magical Brethren with hawkish expressions. It was the only thing that was off about the whole display - it was out of place with the white canvas covering with the standing wooden podium in front of the fountain that was cordoned off. It looked so official - was the new statue unveiling happening tonight? I had been told nothing about this! And I had connections!

Top secret then. I would have to work over my nearest and dearest for more information after the party. I wanted details to fuss over for my own amusement.

I turned my attention back towards the entryway. House Elves were still taking cloaks, disappearing and reappearing in the blink of an eye as they efficiently did their duties - a well organized affair and a well practiced one. Wizard servers were holding trays of champagne flutes off in the back, half hidden behind a very decorated tree and chattering away with each other in their festive hats and robes. The crowd inside the atrium was growing, a flurry of greens and reds mixed in with golds and violets dress robes. A few others were dressed in silver like I was, dotting my field of vision as a quiet vibration of violin music greeted my ears.

I looked around to find the source of the sound.

Against the wall across from the Fountain of Magical Brethren was a stage with a small collection of musicians. A small group of violinists and string players, horns just off to the right of them and a tiny old woman with a piano near the horn players. Their conductor was clad in black and wore a Christmas hat with tinsel at the tip, which made him look a bit silly, but countered the seriousness which he carried himself as he directed his players. The flutists began to play with the violins, a soft melody to counter and balance the inherent sadness of string instruments.

This night was too important for anything other than the very best the British Ministry could offer.

"I was not expecting it to look this nice." Lucinda started quietly for my hearing alone. "Tavish's doing, I expect."

"Where is Tavish? I've not seen him today."

Lucinda shrugged, "Around here somewhere, I expect he'll turn up when he's finished." She stepped forward, guiding me forward and deeper into the Atrium as more people arrived behind us. "I do like the greenery - I hope that's not mistletoe, that would be horribly inappropriate."

I giggled as we found our way to the wine table, where there were enough wine glasses to cover the entire table and empty ones were immediately scourged and refilled with magic. I picked up one of the green wines, feeling adventurous this early in the night, taking a sip and reveling in the fact it tasted of green apples and mango. Bitter, but pleasant. The soft glow of the drinks was dimmed by the low light of the room. Lucinda and I took our glasses and clinked them together in an unspoken toast before taking a sip.

"Hm," Lucinda clicked her tongue a couple of times, swirling her glass of the silver wine. "Lychee and… Strawberries. White ones I think. I need to find the bottle, but I'm sure this is from my friend Kenny's winery down in Surrey."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Kenny has peculiar, hard to grow but delicious wines. He's a bit of an exotic connoisseur, not quite everyone's taste. We have an arrangement, he gives me a case of wine every year for Christmas, I make sure there is time in Tavish's schedule to come down to Surrey and check on the vines and arrange his wife's garden for a couple of weeks when he asks. Tavish gets fed, housed and a couple of cases of the more experimental wines."

I kept forgetting how well-connected Lucinda was. There were very few industries Lucinda did not have some connection to, she had a lot of friends in unusual places.

The room was filling up with more people, Lucinda and I made a quick game of pointing them out as they all arrived. Prominent Ministry officials and their spouses, all of them dressed in finery and the jewellery reflecting off the scattered lights. I swayed around slightly for better looks at the continuing flow of incomers as Lucinda and I moved away from the wine table.

I could see the Minister of the New Zealand Ministry of Magic, Rangi Manaaki, distinct for his Maori facial tattoos and robes with a pattern of birds and whales. There was the Minister for the Canadian Ministry, Harold Tremblay, he was an older man who still had some of the traces of being a handsome young man in his youth in the angles of his jaw.

The other leaders of the Commonwealth states arrived in their own regalia, robes that often reflected their home nation, often dressed in the national colors of their own flag or in robes decorated with symbolic animals and plants unique to their part of the world. Some wore hats with their national bird embossed on the side, the Minister of Australia had a large Emu sewn on the back of his robes and the Minister of Cypress wore a hat with Cypress warblers standing on the brim who looked outwords and sang birdsongs.

There was the MACUSA President, handing over his own invitation with his entourage in lockstep. Two Aurors in plain clothes who I recognized as my cousin Quincy Graves and his fiancée, Cassandra Barebone. They were wearing the formal regalia of their office, deep black robes with silver insignias that seemed to glimmer like stars in the reflected light. President Graves wore deep blue robes that contrasted his tanned skin and mostly silver hair - my father had always known how to make an impression at these events. I was just glad Lucinda was not hosting at Thornell was not hosting this time.

Next to my father was the Representative Diplomat at the UK Embassy for MACUSA, Elihu Weathers - he had dark rimmed glasses, a receding hairline and a thin, wiry frame. His robes were a lively blue color that flirted with green in certain lights. Elihu Weathers had a reputation for being a very competent MACUSA employee, which gave him a lot of leeway to speak his mind about most topics related to law, order, democracy and common sense. By nature, he was kind, but sharp-tongued and offered few apologies for telling someone they were being stupid. Not an enemy one really wanted to have in any case. My father seemed to have grown to like him, despite both men being from opposing political parties and having a vocal dislike of one another in the last few years. It was the weirdest thing.

I stepped on my tiptoes to see better over the crowd, but not by much as I caught a glimpse of fiery hair on the other side of the room.

The Weasley family came in as a group, they were a very distinct family, all of them had hair in varying shades of deep orange-red. The eldest son Bill, whose face was scarred horribly in a werewolf attack by Greyback wore a dark green dragonhide coat and had the most beautiful woman on his arm, her silvery blonde hair and happy smile made her the center of attention, taking the edge off the harshness of Bill and the long ponytail that his mother was looking at with a sort of forced resignation of the state of her eldest's fashion sense.

I had a slight recognition of Charlie, he was a burly man who had scorned the notion of Christmas themed attire like his elder brother for a nice dragonhide coat the color of rubies. It clashed awfully with his hair, but it was a very nice coat and I was not sure I blamed him for the choice. Beside Charlie was George, who looked very much like he was here against his will but trying to hide it as he spoke with friends and acquaintances who grabbed him when he entered the room. I knew the shop was still closed, but it was so nice to see George out and about in some capacity - he would not be the only businessman to step back from his business after the war, and no one could really begrudge him for doing so.

Then I saw Ron, towering behind George with one Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, the three of them quickly besieged by those who were quick to recognize Harry Potter, despite his desperate attempts to stay back behind the mass of Charlie Weasley and Ron, respectively. A mane of bright red hair announced the presence of an very amused Ginny Weasley, who sidestepped her away from Harry's incoming admirers. She wore robes in a lovely shade of green, not too dark, not to pale, but settled and brought out her vivid coloring.

Oh, where on earth could he be?

Molly and Arthur suddenly came into view, Arthur being grabbed and his hand shook by a Ministry official I did not recognize whose, I assumed wife, hugged Molly and pulled the pair into a discussion of some happy nature. I lost sight as the crowd grew and settled back down to sip my wine, Lucinda offering me a sip of hers for my opinion and our discussion turned to our next fundraiser.

The music came to a quiet end and a light from the small platform stage in front of the Fountain of Magical Brethren was suddenly lit with small fires at the corners. Lucinda and I moved closer to the stage, a kind of unspoken curiosity and understanding that something was happening.

I took another sip of wine as the crowd pressed inwards. A server moved swiftly through the crowd, taking empty wine glasses and passing out champagne flutes, I exchanged my wine for the bubbling champagne with a quick word to the server, who gave me a grin and continued onwards with his task.

Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped onto the stage and looked at the assembled crowd. He was wearing black robes with red lining, not quite holiday wear, but professional and a side of holiday spirit was appropriate for the occasion, I was sure there was a gold something sewn on Shacklebolt's tie that I could not see in detail from my position, I just knew it was there from the way the lights refracted off of it. Some sort of bird maybe?

"My friends," Shacklebolt's voice boomed through the room, calling the room to a silent, enraptured attention. "A Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays to all of you!"

The crowd clapped or clinked their glasses together in approval, some cheered.

"We are here tonight, both to celebrate the holiday, but also to unveil a symbol of our continued rise into a new age where we do not have to live in fear for ourselves and those we love." Shacklebolt's smile was vibrant and welcoming. "Over the past few months, great strides have been made to restabilize and rebuild this nation, taking efforts from those who call this country home and aid from some of our nearest and dearest allies. Our own Commonwealth of nations have provided us with ingredients for potion making and generously shared magical goods that were in short supply during the second war. MACUSA has sent Aurors to help us rebuild our Law Enforcement Office - many of them staying to train our own rising crop of British Aurors."

Yes, there was a major supply shortage of all sorts of imported goods when the world imposed sanctions on the United Kingdom for prosecuting those of non-magical blood. Muggle-born, Seed, no matter what they were called, the agreement around the world was a uniting sense of horror and disgust. That sense of mistrust remained even as Shacklebolt assumed power, Britain had more to rebuild than internal politics, they had to fix a global reputation that had been torn to shreds.

"Now, I wish to get back to the party, but first, we would like to show you all one of the more personal reasons for this event." The room seemed to grow even darker, lit only by the slightest glow from above that soon disappeared completely, as if we were enduring a lunar eclipse.

"Much like a phoenix, we have risen from the ashes to create a better world - one where we do not have to live in fear or be defined by the circumstances of our birth. In this, we honor ourselves, the world, and those who have died in these efforts!"

With those concluding words, the covered lump in the center of the Fountain of Magical Brethren was suddenly burning away behind the Minister – upwards in a column of fire that threatened to reach the ceiling, stopping just short of the marble stone above. The fire settled slowly, setting the room in an eerie warm glow of warmth like a campfire while roaring like a forest fire. The fires shifted, taking shape as something strange looking to my eyes as the fires dissipated, leaving only the statue. The statue shook away the embers and ashes as wings unfurled, colors in various shades of red and yellow glowed brightly, mixing in with the fire before it disappeared entirely, only staying to color the feathers.

In the center of the fountain was a beautiful phoenix statue. Its head turned to examine the admirers who were applauding the skill of magic used to craft and reveal the beautiful bird who continued to glow with warmth as the fiery next below settled to warm embers as if this were a real, unusually large phoenix.

"Beautiful." I breathed as the phoenix tilted its head in my direction while the room broke into thunderous applause as champagne glasses floated upwards to allow for it. One hitting the back of my head.

At the feet of the phoenix were two black stone panels, listing the names of those who had died in the war against Voldemort. The names in white to contrast the shiny black stone as the phoenix looked on like a guardian, ruffling its feathers and seeming to preen in pride at its glorious appearance before an appreciative audience.

It was perfect.

"A toast!" Shacklebolt raised a champagne glass I never even noticed him holding during his speech. "To the future!"

The crowd responded, I tapped my glass against that of my neighbors and down the honey colored drink as quickly as it had arrived in my hands. It disappeared from my hand once I had drained it to the last drop.

The music began again and a part of the floor seemed to stretch outward in the atrium to allow for more space for dancing. The opportunity was quickly picked up by some of the more outgoing officials and visitors, mostly older people. I migrated back towards the wine table for another glass as Lucinda moved away to go mingle with potential donors - while Thornell was not struggling for orphanage money, we did have a number of school aged children and younger on the property at various parts of the year or full time. They needed food, clothes and educational opportunities and Lucinda would not be stopped in providing them all the best she could offer. Lucinda was working on obtaining long term support for the Ministry, but volunteers to come work with the children or provide clothes and life skills were going to be essential to the operation. We were not merely putting a roof over their head; we wanted these children to succeed and know what they wanted in life after Hogwarts.

I watched the crowd of dancers, swaying back and forth as the music climbed up into the marble ceiling above. I took a sip of wine and allowed myself to relax. In this, my life had not changed, social power and soft skills offered far more than the mere hard authority of politics - people with power have constraints in the form of hard promises. I offered a way for them to look good in the eyes of others and a tax break.

It sounded manipulative and unpleasant, and often donors had ulterior, private motives within the social sphere of influence they sought to occupy, but sometimes, people could be intuitively generous with their time and money, often those who had very little or knew what that situation was like. I enjoyed the more sincere forms of aid that I ran into at various goods fairs and farmers markets I had been attending - so many people offering bits of their harvest to help feed the children. One woman offered yarn from her sheep for crafting, another offered some small, slightly misshapen knitted scarves - she had taken up the hobby while in hiding. An elderly couple were downsizing their farm and had provided Thornell with several chickens, two milk cows and a pair of surly donkeys, one of which liked to try and bite the children.

Tavish had been chased out of the pasture by the more aggressive donkey and he swore we were an excuse for the old couple to part with, what they referred to as, 'the dear sweet creatures.' Frankly, I had never seen Tavish move as quickly as he had with the donkey in pursuit. After careful deliberation and a flurry of cursing from Tavish, he decided they needed names to reflect their vicious natures, but his suggestions were not appropriate for anyone's hearing.

In a tragic way, I had been handed a chance to sit with my life for a time and begin to piece together what I truly wanted from my career now that I no longer felt trapped in politics. My current position was still political, but the soft power of charity offered me a chance to see people at their better nature.

The music was still playing and I allowed myself to look out of the crowd as I finished my wine. Admiring the phoenix as the room relit to the moonlight glow we had begun the evening with.

I could see Molly with a group of older women not too far away, she was a small, soft looking woman with warm brown eyes and the telling lines of age beginning at the corners of her eyes. I remembered seeing her running a stall at one of the farmers markets I had been to. I bought two dozen eggs from her for the orphanage - this was just before we got the chickens and the donkeys.

Molly bounced slightly on her toes and waved at a tall red haired figure that made my heart do a complete loop in my chest.

Percy's handsome enough for me to forgive his general oddities. Tall with those pretty blue eyes and bright red hair, carefully combed into the appearance of a consummate professional, unshaken by the sheer oddness of the day to day affairs of magical politics, because we have seen the worst of it at this point. He wore his usual formal dress robes, they were too dark of a blue to highlight his eyes, but at least he was wearing a color other than black or brown.

My gazing at Percy Weasley had gone on too long and I immediately returned my attention to the wine in my hands as my cheeks were pleasantly warmed. I knocked back the rest of the wine quickly, hoping to hide my complexion as flush and tried not to think too hard about the curve of his jawline.

I am a pathetic woman.

I went back to watching the crowd, speaking with a few people who came up to me after recognizing me from my time at the Ministry. I offered encouragement to donate old clothes to the orphanage after the holidays or after the Spring cleaning. Getting news of who had been promoted, who was now getting divorced after the stress of war, who was having a baby after a wartime marriage…

Having children crossed my mind far too often for someone who was barely twenty.

Soon the people talking to me were dragged away to politic for their own jobs instead of mine, leaving me with promises of donation in the coming months. Yes. That would have to too if they remembered it when the party was done. I resumed my swaying to the music and watching the dancers, which allowed me to spare a glance back towards Percy who was now talking to his mother.

Molly caught my eye and I looked away quickly, praying I had not been too obvious when staring at her son. I risked a glance disguised as an examination of a nearby Christmas tree with a beautiful golden phoenix as a tree topper while really having Percy in view as he bent down to hear his mother better as she whispered something to him I could not piece together.

Percy looked tense and awkward, he turned his head towards me slightly, lingering, before straightening himself and reaching upwards to fix the collar of his robes. A light of recognition came into his eyes and a slight smile at the corner of his mouth that turned my stomach in a pleasurable way.

He said something to his mother, looking a little bit cowed by the strength and persistence of his mother and a smidge excited when he risked a glance back at me.

When Percy looks at me like that, it makes me feel like we can be young and irresponsible in a way we have not gotten to be until after the war. There's a bright spark in his eyes and an expression of such playfulness that, honestly, I don't understand how we have not been found out.

He bid farewell to his mother and was at my side in seven steps, saying my name to get my attention as he did so.

"Audrey!"

When Percy arrived beside me, he put his freckled hand out to shake mine - the games we played for privacy were so silly - while giving me a momentary wink that made me smile. I released his hand, missing the warmth of it as we stayed a respectable distance apart, clearly conversing, but obviously friendly in a way that could be seen as slightly more comfortable than distant coworkers.

People probably were correct in their assumptions about what the two of us had endured in the Minister's Office when the Ministry fell to Voldemort.

I could feel Molly watching us, possibly listening as she moved a little closer caressing a glass of wine and my years of social training took control.

"Percy, it's been a long time, how have you been?" For the moment, we were old co-workers, reunited after months apart. "Are you still in the Minister's office?"

We played this game for others as much as we did ourselves. Privacy was a luxury and we were not ready to relinquish it yet. We were enjoying this idea of being normal – by normal, I mean leaving the apartment to go take long walks through London, going to museums and trying to find a café that served tea to Percy's standards. I was more easily impressed with coffee, but he was very picky about his tea if he was paying for someone else to supply it. And he thought my coffee habit was expensive, no, no I was not going to go down that road, I'm just happy he has something to fuss over that is not work related.

"Yes, for now, I'm hoping to move on once things are settled."

We had discussed this extensively; Percy was too close to me and the power my father offered to be anywhere near the Minister of Magic's Office in the long term. Staying would not be good for his career anyway, it would stagnate him and Percy was not ready for that yet. I was learning that young, ambitious men could settle after getting more work experience – Percy knew what he wanted, but he was struggling with finding a department he could be comfortable in and find mentally engaging long term. It was always hard to let go of those early dreams, but I was very ready to help Percy with a department takeover once he said go.

"What about you? You have a standing offer to come back if you are so inclined."

I laughed and shook my head, "No, I've gone into charity work. Much more satisfying."

"The Ministry is essentially a charity at this point."

"I promise you're making much more than I am," I laughed happily.

Percy and I were still talking, all of the mindless sort of easy chatter of old coworkers, and things we long knew about each other. Percy had passed me a glass of wine from a nearby server as I swayed slightly back and forth, Percy watching me with an idle sort of smile. Was this my third glass or fourth? Didn't matter, the alcohol content was low and I did not need to be drunk to appreciate the grey blue of his eyes.

The song hit its sweeping conclusion in the final notes and several dancers left the floor, the more energetic ones stayed with their partner to do another round, moving off to the side of the floor to sweep in. It was all so elegant and pretty. There was a kind of fantasy and peace tied in with the success of survival.

"Would you like to dance?"

That… I would love too but my father is creeping around and we agreed to lay low through the holidays until he left. Dancing at the Ministry's first international event was asking for attention! We've danced together before, but we were so much closer now and I was afraid it was going to be so obvious to onlookers.

But Percy was wearing a puppy eyed expression and a slight teasing lilt to his mouth that made my heart thunder in my chest and forced good sense to depart me. He leaned a little closer, viewing my reluctance in this as the quiet sort of confusion it was.

"Just humor me."

Yes. My thoughts were very silly. I was allowed my little paranoias.

I giggled and reached out to take his offered arm. "I would love too."

Percy walked me out to the dance floor. I slipped my hand away to put it on his shoulder instead while his own moved to my waist. It was easy, comfortable and easily a social thing, not an act of intimacy between two people with a close to two-year dating history.

His thumb was moving slowly along the exposed skin of my back, just beneath where my short cape ended, leaving a sliver of exciting exposed skin that managed to be both classy, a smidge daring and fashion forward.

The dance started and I followed Percy's lead, taking an opportunity to whisper in his ear as we glided around the floor, disappearing in and out of the throng of dancers and the whirl of colors from the dress robes of the dancers and those at the side.

"That's rather daring, Mr. Weasley."

He raised an eyebrow and shrugged slightly under my hand.

I giggled slightly in response, moving the hand I hand on his shoulder a little bit closer to his neck, brushing the side of my finger just above the collar of his robe, tracing the fading remnants of a spell burn scar from the Battle for Hogwarts before moving my hand back to a more appropriate location as Percy's face pinkened visibly.

"That's rather daring, Miss Graves."

I muffled a responsive giggle and quickly covered it as an off comment as we drifted back towards the other couples. "You're much funnier than when we worked together."

"I'm not quite off the clock, but I'm afraid the wine is hitting."

"I couldn't tell."

We stopped talking for the spin of the dance where we changed partners for a few steps, I ended up in the arms of a nice older man from International Magical Cooperation while Percy was caught with one of my old secretarial coworkers, before we found ourselves comfortably back together to resume our inane chatter.

"Beth says hello."

"So does Mr. Wilkins."

We laughed quietly

"How are your parents?" I asked as we did another turn about the floor as I caught a glimpse of Molly watching the two of us with a questioning, but excited expression. "Your mom seems nice."

"They're doing well-enough," Percy turned me away and I lost my view of Molly. "Dad's back to tinkering in the shed and mum's been planning her harvest for next year."

"Oh, fantastic!" I struggled to get Percy to talk about his parents at home. It was just laying bare that there had yet to be formal introductions to the others parents on both sides. "The food she donated was delicious and Tavish says he's an artist, not a farmer, so it's been a great supplement for what he's been growing."

"She'll be glad to hear that. I think it's the only thing that managed to get her out of bed after..."

I moved my thumb along his shoulder quietly and gave Percy a sad, earnest sort of smile. "I'm sorry, I know that was very hard for your mom and it just spilled over to the rest of you having to see that."

"Thank you."

It was part of the reason we had not sped up the introductions. Molly had fallen apart after Fred's funeral. As Percy described it, she had been haunting the house like a ghost - she had only really started leaving the house to go to the Farmers Market where she ran a stall twice a year, selling for extra money and trading goods for home supplies she could not make at home. Percy had been out helping her this year at her request and he came back with an almost excessive amount of food we were still working through. Molly was still struggling with the fact she was no longer cooking for an army of children or a resistance group. Old habits, I guess.

The music began to taper off, signifying the end of the song and we made our way to the edge of the dance floor, Percy tucking my arm in his as a good escort should. It was too close and a little too intimate, I could see my father off with Shacklebolt and the other attending world leaders, he was looking away from the conversation and giving Percy a hard stare.

Yep. Great. I'll have to manage that.

"I guess you need to go back to tending the Minister?" Another song had started and I had to raise my voice slightly to be heard over the rustle of robes and the rising music.

Percy was stepping away from me, the warmth of him fading from my side and leaving only the strange sensation and pressing discomfort of the crowd.

"He's left me to my own devices for the rest of the evening."

I resisted the urge to reach up and adjust the collar of his robes and giggle like a schoolgirl. Instead, we shifted apart slightly, still talking about absolutely nothing beyond the skill of the band (neither of us was musically talented - Percy just sang in the shower when his mood was high), and watched the next round of dancers on the floor.

Percy leaned closer to better hear what I was saying as the crowd shifted around us. It was all things he already knew, things about the charity and my attempts to wrangle donations and deal with the Ministry on some matters, but he smiled and nodded as if he had never heard it before, either for the benefit of the excuse to be close, the people around us, or the male habit of forgetting what women tell them on occasion. It didn't matter in the least.

"Want to find somewhere quieter?" His voice was closer and I was looking directly into his darkening eyes. I knew that expression well and I glanced around quickly, making sure that I really was the only one who could read him that way before nodding slowly as the slow shivers moved up my spine. Percy smiled, "You know the third floor?"

Oh! Yes! I knew that very well. Percy said a few days ago it was being cordoned off as extra cloak storage for people who arrived late, House Elves would be the only ones in that area tonight if they were there at all.

I looked at Percy, biting my lower lips slightly. "Twenty minutes?"

We gave the courtesy goodbyes and thank yous of old work friends before parting ways for the benefit of the crowd around us. I watched Percy's bright red hair over the crowd as he conversed his way closer to the staircase, moving through conversation with an assortment of officials. There was something very settled in Percy. He was social and was learning how to work a room to take some of his own pointed edges off - it was the kind of soft politics I recognized Shacklebolt did very well. It took longer than it should have for Percy to get a good mentor, but Shacklebolt was filling that void nicely. Percy would never be an easy, flexible political mover, but even the most inflexible need to learn to give ground in some manner.

It was easy for me to slip towards a separate staircase, I knew it would take me where I wanted to go. There were only a few stops on my way by old coworkers who wanted to hug me and tell me how nice I was dressed. Jasmine Rosier slipped me another glass of wine, which I sipped down in ten minutes before she was pulled away to talk with her department head. Jasmine had survived the Ministry purge after the war, I vouched for her and put her name forward as a witness to the pureblood power grabbing. She had lost friends and relatives, monetary power and influence, but honestly, she seemed happier. Jasmine was talking about starting her own business in the next few years. She was not sure what kind yet, but there was time to figure it out.

I finally made it to the edge of the Atrium, turning a corner to reveal a small staircase that led down into a nice hallway that only appeared for parties as storage space for cloaks. The wine made me slightly woozy and giggly as I descended the stairs, gripping the railing tightly as I did so, a broken ankle would ruin the whole encounter. I reached the bottom of the stairs to a long hallway with terrible green carpet and a few decorative plants lining space. Percy was standing at the corner to a shorter hallway behind him, next to him in the longer hallway was the appointed door. Our eyes met and Percy reached out to my offered hand.

Being half pulled into a Ministry closet was among the most impulsive and self-indulgent things we had done this evening. The door had barely clicked closed before I pulled Percy down to me by the collar of his shirt, barely letting him take a breath before pressing my mouth against his. There was the soft press of cloaks, one of solid fur that brushed against my arm I grasped at Percy's back in a desperation to pull him as close to me as possible.

One of Percy's hands moved to caress my neck, his thumb tracing the hairline at the back, careful not to mess my hair and make me look like a whole shenanigan while the other went to my waist and pulled me against him. I gasped when I felt the wall suddenly appear at my back and Percy took the opportunity to deepen the kiss in a way that left me weak at the knees as I tasted the remnants of wine on his tongue.

It's so silly. We've very much in love. This act is not new to us, but the location of it and the mild risk of getting caught after being careful and private for so long gave the whole experience an edge of danger.

"We can't keep doing this," I breathed as we separated for a moment, my robes being bunched up to my hips for a moment as Percy put his leg firmly between mine, applying a desperately desired pleasure to the center of me that ached for more. Percy's hand was tracing my hip, specifically the thin line of my panties and teasing more that could happen now or what could be done at home.

"Bit late for that, love." Percy's hand on my neck guided my lips back to his and the world was all silence and the feel of Percy's hair in my hands as I gripped it reflexively. One of my hands released his hair to scratch the back of his neck the way he liked which earned me a satisfied, happy noise in return.

"I mean the sneaking around." I muffled a quiet gasp as the pressure rose and steadied under my rolling hips. "It's been too long."

The whole encounter hit a climax almost as soon as it began, Percy kissing me into silence, muffling the sounds that attempted to escape me with an earnest appreciation. Percy's leg moved away from the juncture of my thighs and the emptiness felt more all-consuming than it had in the moments before. I knew what I wanted, but neither of us was going to do that here – sex was far different than what was clearly a very handsy, touchy, makeout. There was an unspoken agreement and anticipation of finishing this at home.

I took a steadying breath as my heart slowed slightly, so it no longer threatened to break free of my chest. Percy rested his forehead against mine, his glasses cool against my skin as we breathed each other while the world opened up to more than just the two of us.

I brushed my lips over his and wrapped my arms around his neck – wanting him close a little bit longer as the fog of my mind began to lift. His breath was warm and quiet and there was a kind of peace in this. A claim over another person was wild and steady in the same breath.

"My father has known about us for a long time -" Oh he's kissing me again! Focus Audrey!

We broke apart as quietly as we had come together. I caught my breath, a hand pressing against the warm skin of my chest as I aligned my thoughts once more.

"I think we can start being open about this."

Percy made a noise, clearly not wanting to have this talk right now as his head dropped fully onto my shoulder, his lips warm on the cool skin of my neck. "Can you come manage your father? He's very demanding. I'm afraid he's going to try and talk to me for a third time tonight."

"Nice try." I started combing his hair back into place with my fingers, which led to a happy, distracted sort of sigh from Percy. "I've already agreed to have coffee with him in the morning."

"How early?" He seemed concerned and I knew where his mind was.

"Around nine."

"Ah, plenty of time."

I rolled my eyes, "He's very insistent that you join us. I think he likes you."

"Too much." Percy clutched me a little tighter and kissed the side of my jaw.

I was going to ignore that comment. "Besides, you need the practice."

"I have some work to finish," He stole an opportunity to kiss me with the kind of passion that made me curl my toes and left me breathless when he pulled away. "Very inconvenient."

It took me several seconds to think of words, and a struggle to come up with a witty response. "I'll come up with a better excuse than that."

"Yes, you will."

My hands came to rest on Percy's shoulders and down to his chest where I grabbed the sturdy cloth of his dress robes while I tilted my head back to catch the faint outline of his face from the slender stream of light that came through the crack in the door. Percy took my left hand in his and moved it upwards to kiss the inside of my wrist.

"We should go back," This was nice, but sex in a closet at Percy's workplace was always going to be a terrible idea. Sordid making out was fine, but if we were in here much longer, the temptation of the idea had too much risk of becoming reality - well, in the back of my mind. I sincerely doubted sex outside of the flat was on Percy's list. It's not on my list either - there was not enough alcohol inside me to entertain the suggestion even as a joke.

Percy sighed quietly, the light reflecting off his glasses as he nodded, stepping away from me and leaving me cold and a bit bereft for his presence. My shaking hands began to adjust my robes and a few idle taps of my wand reduced the wrinkling. Percy was doing the same only a couple of steps away - it was so intimate and exciting and… well, frankly we desperately needed to come out of this closet.

I needed a drink of water, wine made me desperate and silly in Percy's presence and if he did not know about that, I was content to keep that secret to myself.

I cracked open the closet door to peak out into the corridor. I stepped out into the hallway, immediately feeling less confined than the closet and motioned for Percy to follow. He had successfully finished fixing his hair so that he looked like a professional who did professional things, who was not able to be tempted by his girlfriend to engage in a covert make out session in private government cloak closets.

"Okay, you go upstairs first-"

Before I could finish, he recklessly took my hand and spun me back into him for one last kiss that made me squeak in surprise as I gripped his shoulders.

Percy let me go and stepped away, our hands suspended in midair for a brief moment before they fell back to our sides almost simultaneously.

"Sorry. Crazy idea."

I was smiling in such a stupid manner I could not form a response that was not just rocking back onto the points of my heels.

"I have a hard time letting you go." There was a tinge of awkward laughter in his voice as he whispered, the way he struggled not to smile too much in the process was enticing. "Bit stupid really."

I took his hand and kissed the inside of his wrist, my fingers touching the warm pine marten cufflink I had given him, feeling the silver eyes blink against the pad of my thumb. "I'll see you at home."

Percy nodded, tense and tight mouthed despite the hunger in his eyes as he looked at me.

My voice dropped to a tone that was playful and sultry, "I'll leave the dress on."

"Please."

There was the sound of voices at the end of the hall. Percy and I quickly moved around the corner of the closet, Percy pressing me back against the wall with an outstretched arm as he risked a glance around the corner. He made a disgusted noise.

"Harry and Ginny."

I covered my mouth and did my best not to laugh. Judging by the girlish giggles I was sure I knew what was happening. I didn't even have to look to be sure.

Percy removed his arm from my person, his expression the purest form of disgust I had ever seen grace the face of another human being. He reached up to straighten his tie before adjusting his glasses smartly, forcing himself into a state of composure.

"I'll handle this, you go back up to the party the way you came."

I nodded and slipped into Percy's position as he left me to confidently walk up the corridor towards his sister and her famous paramour.

"Ginny!" His tone was ostentatious, scandalized, pompous and proper and the catlike noise Ginny made in response almost caused me to give Percy away for the hypocrite he was by laughing. I had to settle for biting my knuckles while I tried to nonverbally cast a silencing charm and failed miserably.

The ensuing argument was one I knew all girls had at some point with their fathers or brothers. That Ginny was an adult. She could do as she pleased with who she pleased and Percy was the last person to talk about sneaking around for a snog.

Harry was pointedly quiet during this exchange, probably smart enough to not get involved in these Weasley Family Dramas – but I was sure he was nodding his head in agreement if he had enough spine to sneak around with a girl who had a whole herd of older brothers... Though perhaps the smartest thing Harry could do was be invisible, I was not sure about the young man politics of dating the younger sister of a best friend. My brother Alex and I were too far apart in age to run around with the same social group.

"Oh, don't act like you haven't!" Ginny shrieked. "I walked in on you with Penelope Clearwater at Hogwarts snogging in a dungeon!"

A dungeon! A cloak closet was at least four steps up from that! Ah, so this thing with me was an ongoing pattern of behavior for privacy. Haha! Yes, Percy seemed far too comfortable for it to be the first bit of sneaking around he had done in his relationships.

There was sputtering noise from Percy – "We had a door! Y-You're out here in the open!"

"Nothing to be shy about!" There was a pause, "Wait? Why are you down here anyway?"

Percy had to give Ginny a lot more credit than he clearly gave her, she's very bright.

"I left my wand in my cloak pocket - not that it's any of your business!"

I'm leaving – I am going to give myself away if I don't. I gained enough control over myself to pop a Disillusionment Charm over my head, I shivered under it as the sensation of cold water fell over me. There was more muffled arguing and shaming for past indiscretions as I slipped to the staircase and towards a nearby restroom to make sure I did not look ravaged to any degree.

We really needed to stop running around like this.

Oo0Oo0

Author's Notes: Percy gets to be a hypocrite and a menace at the end there.

The ambiance of the Atrium and the bit with the reveal of the Phoenix statue is done under my belief that wizards will put on magical displays for others, particularly international wizarding events (a la the Quidditch World Cup and Triwizard tournament) as a display of power and authority. Posturing, basically.

This is the extended epilogue for One for Sorrow – there is no need to read that before this, I published it separately for that reason and the tags are a little different for it. This is the light-hearted bit. It's fun. Fluffy. Let me flex my chops a bit.

I do want to do a tie in one-shot for Molly.

Also full credit to a long time reader of mine, Richasa123 for the title! 15 years!