40AN: Evening all! Just a quick note to say that even though I finished posting it up in October, I'm shocked and amazed at the number of reviews, favourites and alerts I'm still getting for With All My Love, Always. It ruled my world while I was writing it and I'm extremely pleased that it is being enjoyed and loved.
On a similar note, this is the current centre of my world! It's another short story (9 chapters, c. 20,000 words) and I'm still working on the last chapter, but I can't wait to find out what you think of it.
It's not like me to stray from Ginny and Harry stories but Audrey popped into my thoughts one afternoon and wouldn't leave so there's actually a couple of stories in my head about her (and Percy). Last night, as I was reading through and spellchecking (again, not like me!) I realised that this originally started of as Percy's siblings' POV and thoughts about Audrey but, after an Interlude, became Audrey's POV and her thoughts about them. I've chosen not to rewrite the first chapters, but maybe at a later date I'll go back, like I did in With All My Love, Always.
Anyway, my initial thoughts about Audrey were that nothing is known about her – she could be anybody the readers, fans and fan-fic writers create her to be. In my universe, Audrey is a Muggle (just so you know) and this is the story of her meeting Percy's family.
Enjoy, and please leave a message/review/comment at the end – they make my day! (no joke!)
Vicky Starfish
Chapter 1: Ginny and Harry
Ginny sat reading a novel at her parents' kitchen table as she heard Percy enter through the back door. He seemed to spot her and linger but she didn't let him disturb her reading. She knew he'd either get out or speak sooner or later. He was much like Ron in that sense. It perturbed her slightly when he took the seat across from her and settled in, apparently to wait for her.
An evil thought struck Ginny and she continued to read, ignoring her older brother. She read some paragraphs two or even three times before moving on and took pleasure from his nervous fidgeting as he waited for her to finish her chapter – a long one she had only just started.
Replacing her bookmark slowly and exactly, she looked up at Percy, smiling sweetly and innocently as she spoke.
"Sorry Percy. Were you waiting for me? I didn't realise."
"Er… yes actually, I was. There was something that I, er, wanted to ask you." His hesitancy, and stuttering, struck her as odd and out of character. Percy might seem arrogant to some, but he was just confident, sometimes overly so.
"Are you ok?" Previous mocking aside, Ginny's voice was laced with genuine concern. Percy pulled a face of deep concentration as he pondered her question. His confidence returned and an uncharacteristic but genuine smile appeared as he responded.
"Yes. More than ok actually. I wanted to know if you and Harry were available for dinner one night this week."
Ginny was sure her face expressed her shock at such a proposal. Percy had taken some time to get used to the concept of Harry and her being engaged. His request seemed so out of place and calm that it was now Ginny's turn to be hesitant and stuttering.
"Er, yeah… I… I'd have to double check with Harry but I think… er, um, Thursday would be ok. Yeah… Thursday."
"OK," Percy lit up, cheerful at her acceptance. "Thursday. Is 7pm suitable? At my place?" He stood up, ready to leave and paused to allow her to respond.
"Yeah…" Ginny still sounded dumbstruck.
"There's someone I want you to meet." Percy's final statement definitely made Ginny's jaw fall and she was left staring, slack-jawed as he left the kitchen, a broad and contented smile upon his face.
Ginny's book lay completely forgotten and abandoned upon the table in front of her.
#~#~#
The crack that signalled their Apparition was swallowed by an alley, echoes dissipating quickly and quietly. Ginny opened her eyes to see Harry orienting himself and looked around her.
Percy lived in a terraced house not far from Grimmauld Place. The alley they're appeared in was long, empty and deserted. Red brick walls ran high along either side of them and dusty asphalt beneath their feet. Harry walked towards the entrance to the alley, grabbing Ginny's hand and keeping her close behind him as he peeked around the corner of the building.
They exited on a quiet street between a taxi office and a laundrette and Harry took a moment to look around again before directing Ginny off to the left.
"It's not far. It's just around that corner," gesturing towards some traffic lights and a pizza house at the end of the road.
They walked hand in hand discussing unimportant things: George's new line of WonderWitch products that Ginny was apprehensive to test for him, Harry's day at work and their excitement about having finally set a wedding date for later that year. Crossing the road at the traffic lights, Ginny found them on a residential street lined with identical terraced houses. Each house had a small concreted area surrounded by a low brick wall on front, mostly used for bicycle and wheelie bin storage. All of the houses had different coloured brickwork lining the windows and front doors.
Harry, a few yards in front of her at this point, stopped by a bright red door with white brickwork and turned to watch her as she caught up to him. He gestured toward the door as if to let her go in front of him.
"Are you sure this is the one?" she was confused, but then again, she still hadn't seen her brother's home.
"Yeah," Harry seemed certain and answered incredulously, but explained further when her facial expression didn't change. "I came by here a couple of weekends ago to drop off some papers for work." Ginny internally questioned her brother's work ethic if papers had to be delivered to him on a weekend, but walked up to the door and knocked nevertheless.
Percy answered swiftly and ushered them into his house with a friendly welcome and a kiss to Ginny's cheek. He took their jackets as they glanced around the combined living and dining room that the front door opened into. They stood at the base of the stairs, at one end of the long room that seemed, originally, to have been two smaller rooms knocked through. The living area, at the front of the house, was simple: a small fireplace nestled between two matching and overfilled bookcases and a small sofa. Ginny recognised Percy's wireless situated on the mantelpiece surrounded by family photographs. In the rest of the space sat a small round dining table adorned with crockery and cutlery for dinner. Double doors at the rear stood open and led to the kitchen. The aromas seeping through the house were delicious; Ginny hadn't realised that Percy could cook.
"Audrey should be here shortly, and then we can eat. What can I get you to drink?" Percy was apparently a very gracious host too.
Ginny loitered as Harry followed Percy to the kitchen, discussing work stuff as they went. No sooner had they disappeared from sight when a quiet tap sounded at the door. Unsure that either man had heard, Ginny walked over to answer it.
Stood on the doorstep was an average height young woman around Percy's age. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back, away from her face and she wore very little make up. She looked at Ginny curiously for a moment before leaning forward and extending her hand enthusiastically.
"You must be Percy's sister," she smiled, confident and friendly. "Percy's told me quite a lot about you Ginny."
Ginny mentally shook herself and then accepted the woman's hand.
"You must be Audrey. Percy's told us absolutely nothing about you." She smiled as sweetly as she could manage, trying to soften her statement and lighten the tension she felt. Audrey looked shocked for a moment but then smiled cheekily.
"I think I like the idea of being Percy's dirty little secret!" Ginny's eyes widened slightly at that and she vaguely recognised the sound of footsteps behind her as Audrey stepped into Percy's home and started to remove her coat.
"Audrey?" Percy had entered the room from behind Ginny and, upon seeing his girlfriend introducing herself to his sister, put down his drink on the side table by the couch and rushed to help Audrey with her coat.
Harry, having followed Percy in from the kitchen took a sip from his bottle of beer while Ginny stepped back from the other couple and took her glass of wine from Harry's hand. Percy hung up Audrey's coat on the hooks by the door, as he had done with their own jackets, before turning back and proceeding with more formal introductions. Ginny couldn't help but notice that Percy's hand was resting on the small of Audrey's back, just as Harry's did at hers.
"Audrey, you've just met my sister Ginny and this is her fiancée Harry Potter. This is Audrey, my girlfriend." Ginny returned the smile she received from Audrey before the woman shook Harry's proffered hand.
"Percy tells me that you're in the Police Force Harry." Harry stammered slightly before being able to find a somewhat intelligent response.
"Er, yeah."
"Do you enjoy it? I've always, truly believed enjoying what you do is far more important than where you work or how much you earn." Ginny was pleased that Harry's response was quicker and more enthusiastic this time.
"I love it." Ginny knew he meant every word and tightened her grip around Harry's waist. "What is it you enjoy doing Audrey?"
"I enjoy reading and spending time with my friends and family."
"Sorry. I meant, what do you do for a living? You said about enjoying what you do so…"
"Oh, yes. Sorry. To be honest, I don't particularly enjoy being an office assistant extraordinaire for a law firm in the city. I wanted to give an interesting answer instead."
Only Harry heard Ginny's whispered comment of "I think I like her!"
Percy fetched a glass of wine for Audrey and they sat on the living room sofa and talked generally. Percy confessed to having 'caramelised' their starters a little too much, but Harry offered a blunt and more believable alternative.
"'Caramelised'? They were burnt black Percy!"
Conversation was somewhat stilted, but not to the point of awkward silence or any tension. Because Audrey was a Muggle, Percy had had to make non-magical parallels when talking about his friends, family and mostly everything else in between. For this reason, Ginny found it difficult to talk about work when she was asked, not knowing very much about football, let alone the non-existent Women's League that Percy had said she played for. Education was also silently agreed as an unmentionable topic for those having attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Audrey was content with the explanation that they had all attended a private boarding school for Gifted Students, only asking once for the name of the institution they all spoke of so lovingly. While Percy and Ginny had been speechless – a first for Percy surely – Harry had been quick to respond with "St. Brutus'" leaving Ginny quite impressed at his initiative and speedy wit.
Dinner, once ready and deemed edible, was delightful. Percy had roasted a chicken with garlic and herbs perfectly and served his masterpiece with creamy mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The conversation, and the wine, continued to flow.
Over dessert, an apple crumble that Percy confessed their mother had made and sent over, they were talking about homes when Audrey, after a considerable pause, asked:
"Ginny, I thought you said you worked in North Wales?"
"Er, Holyhead, yes."
"But you live with Harry, in London? Surely, you spend a fortune in time and money travelling? I mean, it's quite a long commute!" Ginny laughed nervously, aware that Percy seemed to be listening intently. Harry choked on his drink.
"No, no. I-I share a house with some teammates in Porthyfelin which just outside the main city centre."
Audrey's quiet, thoughtful, response of "Oh, ok." was drowned out as Percy snorted and huffed in astonished disbelief. Audrey reprimanded him for his rudeness, but he fought it, turning to Ginny.
"I honestly don't know why you continue to pay rent for that, that… hole when the whole family knows you've been living in that flat with Harry since Ron moved out with Hermione!" His voice was only slightly raised above a whisper, but there was the delicate bite of anger in his voice.
"Percy… I… the whole family?"
"Yes. Even Bill – though you'll understand that he's more in denial than the rest of us. George and Charlie seem down right happy for you, but that's their choice." He was trying hard not to smile, Ginny was almost sure of it. Not enough to call him on it though. Percy was downright tricky to read most days. It annoyed Ginny to no end – least of all because it had made it extremely difficult for her to manipulate him when they were younger.
"You all knew, and none of you said anything?" Ginny could see that Harry and Audrey alike were watching the dialogue between siblings with keen but silent interest.
"It wasn't our place to tell Ginny; it was your news to share. Regardless, the smiles on both your faces since Christmas – and we all know that was more than a proposal by the way – have been growing exponentially and it's not because of any diamond ring on Ginny's finger." He pointed towards said ring but seemed to have reached the end of his ire when he gently added, "Though it is beautiful." It dispersed some of the remaining tension, but not all of it.
Audrey stood and began stacking the used dishes as the two Weasley siblings stared each other down; Harry could only stare between the two, looking like they were about to explode again.
"I think I'll get started on these," she said to no-one in particular as she turned towards the kitchen and headed through the archway.
"I'll help." Harry grabbed the remaining dishes and followed her. Ginny didn't want to break the silence between her and Percy – she wasn't sure she had control of her infamous temper. Maybe she did.
"If you can distract Audrey, Harry and I can clean the kitchen." Ginny stood as she spoke, hoping the change in topic would lift the remaining anxiety she felt.
Percy followed her lead and stood also. He looked around the room and, upon setting eyes on his wireless, stepped past Ginny to retrieve it. Ginny couldn't hold her tongue any longer.
"Are you really ok with Harry and I living together?" Her voice was small and talking to Percy while his back was to her, she hadn't expected him to hear her. His pause at the fireplace, gripping the wireless with both hands, told her that he'd heard.
"Yes," came his equally small reply.
"Really?" She had to know. Percy turned to face his little sister as her more confident voice filled the room.
"I'm not going to lie – I was concerned at first. It was mostly because you're both so young," he raised a hand to prevent her from interrupting. "Let me finish. I was concerned, and it was your age that worried me most. I thought you were too young and that you'd end up getting hurt one day.
"On the other hand, you both seem so certain, about marriage and, more importantly, about each other. You forget, I didn't see you together at school and I was wrong to confront you last Easter about your relationship. What I see before me now, tonight, are two people in love who can each give the other what they want and need."
Percy crossed the room towards his sister as he spoke and his face was perfectly tilted to get an excellent view of his own feet.
"Percy?" Ginny bent as he got closer to try and meet his gaze but he didn't let her.
"You and Harry are perfect for each other. You're getting married because that's what's right for you. I'm sure one day you'll have lots of red headed, green eyed kids running around your huge garden excited about Quidditch, Hogwarts and Weasley family dinners.
"My point is just that: the two of you are perfect. Together. You both have bright and brilliant futures ahead of you and you can both achieve whatever you want. Together. It just took me a while to realise that and get used to the idea. I'm sorry it took me so long and I'm sure Bill will come around too. We just love you and feel protective over you. But you're all grown up now and don't need us to protect you any more. It takes some getting used to!" A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Ginny, with tears in her eyes, stood on tip-toes to plant a kiss on her brother's cheek before grabbing his hand and towing him into his own kitchen.
Harry had his back to the Weasleys as they entered the bright and modern kitchen. His shirt sleeves were rolled up past his elbow and his hands were rooting around in the sink. Ginny knew his tie would be tucked between some of the buttons of his shirt to avoid it getting wet while he washed up.
"Audrey?" Percy questioned her absence but didn't need an answer as he glanced out of the kitchen window.
"She stepped out to get some air," Harry responded as Percy opened the sash window and manoeuvred the wireless so that it would project its music out into whatever garden lay beyond.
Percy tuned the wireless and adjusted the volume until a slow jazz tune filled both the kitchen and the garden. He then turned and nodded to Ginny and Harry in turn, begging his leave, and stepped out of the open back door and into the darkness.
Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry from behind and pressed her cheek against his back. He must have felt or sensed the tears in her eyes, because his movements in the sink stilled.
"Are you ok?" He whispered to her, but not to keep their conversation private; he didn't need to speak any louder than he had. Her response was muffled and lost against his back as the tears came more forcefully but he understood her regardless; she hadn't expected Percy to be as honest and accepting as he just had been.
Reaching for the towel beside the draining board, Harry dried his hands and shifted so that he could embrace and comfort his fiancée properly.
They stood quietly for a while as Ginny cried herself out, the music from the wireless drowning out Percy and Audrey's voices as they chatted and danced slowly on the patio outside. Harry, realising the opportunity that had been created for him, took out his wand and cast his recently perfected charm that set the dishes and pans washing themselves, towels to drying and dry crockery returning to their cupboards.
As the dishes whizzed and whirled around them Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny once more, but broke the silence.
"Audrey's nice. What do you think?" He leaned back to gauge Ginny's reaction. She smiled up at him, genuinely happy but still with the last remnants of tears in her eyes.
"They love each other – it's obvious, at least to me. I like her a lot; I'm looking forward to getting to know her better." Harry returned her smile as the last saucepan settled itself in the cupboard and the door swung shut softly. He dipped his head to kiss her gently before a forceful cough interrupted them. Harry was pleased to see a smile play across Percy's lips as he pretended to glare at them. The raised eyebrow made him look like Molly and the resemblance was uncanny.
"I just need to pop to the loo and then we'll leave you in peace." Ginny barely finished her sentence before dancing across the kitchen and through the door; it was mere seconds before she was back for directions.
"Top of the stairs, first door you come to." Audrey instructed from behind Percy's shoulder, their hands still clasped from their waltz outside.
As Harry sauntered slowly to the front door, Ginny was descending the stairs, a smile on her face. They said their goodbyes and thanked Percy profusely for his hospitality. Audrey politely turned down their offer to walk her to the taxi rank; she told them politely she'd already booked one to pick her up and she hugged them both tightly before they exited the small but warm house.
Walking back down the road the way they'd come, Harry shifted nervously and waited until well out of earshot to ask Ginny what he thought to be an obvious question of high importance.
"You really think Percy is ok with, you know, us? Audrey and I heard most of your conversation from the kitchen."
Harry didn't expect Ginny's smile to grow broad, almost cocky. It wasn't until they had reached the Pedestrian crossing that Ginny finally turned to face him and respond.
"He can't really complain or object to you and me living together; it would make him a hypocrite," she laughed as Harry screwed up his face, trying desperately to understand in his confusion. "There's a pink toothbrush by the sink, right next to Percy's green one."