AN: this chapter changed on me half way through… I worked with it, and didn't fight. Thanks so much for the lovely reviews, lots of smiles because of George (and Percy's frustration at George!) :D

VS x

Chapter 7: Mum and Dad

Audrey came back to herself on top of a hill, just as a gust of wind rustled the grass; it took what was left of her breath away. Instantly wrapping her coat tighter around her, she realised she wasn't going to be warm very long. It seemed Percy noticed as well when he unzipped his fleece jacket and wrapped that around her too. Her teeth were chattering too much to say thank you so she kissed him on the cheek instead, her cold lips meeting his warm cheek as briefly as possible.

The walk into the village was fairly long but Audrey was warming up by the time Percy slowed their pace along a country road surrounded by hedges that must have been more than six feet tall. Percy seemed to gesture into hedge and it took Audrey a moment to realise that there was a gate installed in a fence running along the hedge.

She opened the gate and stepped through, staring down the gravelled path towards the house that stood in front of her. It looked somewhat like a converted pigsty, only it was five storeys tall and seemed to incorporate some rather ingenious and improbable architecture. It was awesome.

"This is where you grew up?" The surrounding open spaces and what was either a large pond or small lake not too far away seemed to make for an idyllic childhood; one she envied having spent her entire childhood in inner city London.

"Yeah. It was nice." Percy shoved his hands in his pockets as he began to walk towards the house.

"'Nice' does not begin to describe what I imagine growing up here would have been like." Audrey gave him a patronising look. He laughed at her glare, wrapping her in a one armed hug and kissed the top of her head before opening the front door for her.

The door opened straight into the sizable, homey and warm kitchen. It was cluttered and chaotic but had some level of organisation; Audrey saw straight away that living like this would have driven Percy crazy even without his brothers and sister. He was neat, clean and highly organised in every aspect of his life. Living here growing up must have been extremely difficult for him. Especially with the chaos of his siblings added in for good measure.

"Percy, is that you dear?" came a motherly voice from somewhere. There was the sound of footsteps on the stairs and then appeared who could only be Percy's mother. Mrs Weasley had the same shade of bright red hair but was mush shorter than Percy, her round face bearing brown eyes compared to Percy's blue and a few lines, though she didn't look as if she was in her early fifties, as Audrey knew she was.

"You must be Audrey dear, so nice to finally meet you." Audrey was slightly shocked to be swept into an all consuming hug, a motherly gesture she had missed greatly, though she didn't even know this woman. She returned the warmth of the greeting briefly before stepping back and letting Mrs Weasley appraise her. "You are a beauty; no wonder really that Percy has fallen-"

"Mother, is dinner nearly ready?" Percy interrupted, somewhat rudely. Both Audrey and Mrs Weasley turned to scowl at him simultaneously, but he didn't waiver under the weight of their menacing glares. He adjusted his posture, straightening himself out and busied himself in relieving Audrey of their jackets, mumbled something about speaking with his father before dinner and disappeared swiftly after that.

"Well, that leaves us ladies to talk while I finish dinner. Would you mind setting the table Audrey dear, if I hand you the plates?" Audrey didn't get a chance to respond before she was swept deeper into the kitchen and given the abridged guided tour.

Dinner was amiable, though Percy seemed to interrupt at regular intervals whenever Molly, as she insisted Audrey call her, came close to topics involving their future together: marriage, children and the like. In between the intrusions however, Percy seemed enthralled in a conversation with his father about some new piece of legislation that Audrey didn't know anything about. Instead she spoke to Molly about the rest of her children and their recent activities.

Arthur was delightful also. He seemed to have an affinity for the most mundane of things, asking intricate questions about how DVD players worked and why the internet was so popular. Her answers seemed to satisfy him, though her own father could have given better answers she supposed.

Arthur was more like Percy physically. They were both lean and tall with the same blue eyes and kind smile. Father and son also shared had a deep routed sense of right and wrong and Audrey wondered briefly whether their principles had ever caused a rift between the two. A voice in the back of her mind told her not to ask just yet.

Molly waved her wand and the dishes leapt from the table and formed an orderly queue beside the sink as the taps churned hot water into the basin and two brushes sprang into action scrubbing the plates. Audrey watched, astounded, for a moment before Molly's voice called her back.

"Why don't you give Audrey the guided tour Percy while I finish up here? We'll have dessert in the living room when you get back." She smiled before alighting the table and disappearing into a back room. Audrey assumed it to be some kind of utility room or pantry.

Percy got up from his seat and took Audrey's in his hand to help her up; not that she ever needed help, but it seemed that every Weasley she had met possessed old fashioned morals and were most chivalrous. A trait long forgotten by most men she'd met previously, though she silently scolded herself for pointing out something she had noticed about Percy previously, and most likely would again.

Percy pointed out the door Molly had disappeared through, telling her it was a scullery and pointed towards the living room, stating that he would show her their destination last; after all, there was no point in doubling back on themselves later. He also promised to show her the outbuildings and garden another time. The chill in the air had grown and it as starting to get quite dark.

Percy allowed Audrey to climb the stairs before him. He stopped her at the first floor and allowed her a moment of privacy to use the bathroom. When she exited she found him in his sister's room opposite. He explained that he wouldn't usually show guests in here, but her view of the orchard was amazing. They stood in the window for some time, looking out over the orchard while the sun set, enjoying the moment alone before continuing the tour.

Up another flight of stairs, a distinct smell hung in the air and Percy recognised the questioning look in her eye as she turned towards him.

"Gunpowder, I believe," he said as if that explained it all. "There were always explosions coming from Fred and George's room. No-one really questioned it until they opened the shop." His displeasure at his family's nonchalance regarding unexplained explosions was obvious in the expression on his face. Audrey could only stifle a laugh.

"So, this is your room then," she asked, pointing to the clean and neatly lettered plaque on his bedroom door. Percy nodded and opened the door to show her in.

It was a simple room. A shelf attached to the wall still held a collection of oddly titled books, the bedside table held a simple silver framed photograph that interested Audrey greatly. Picking up the picture, before Percy could intervene, she teased him.

"Is this someone special?" She waved the frame about mockingly, as Percy flushed red and tried to grab the photograph from her grasp. She dodged the movement skilfully and held onto the photo.

"Penelope Clearwater; we dated in school. Can I have that back?" Percy reached again, and she allowed him the relieve her of the picture and watched, greatly amused as he placed the picture face down in the cabinet drawer. She was still smiling when Percy sat on the bed next to her. He didn't look very happy though.

"I was only teasing Percy." She was worried she had annoyed him, especially as his voice had been quite stressed when he had requested the picture back.

"There was an argument a long time ago. It was a big, huge, stupid argument. I left home in kind of a hurry; that's why there's quite a few belongings still here, unlike the rooms belonging to my siblings," Percy's voice was low, but determined. "Penny didn't agree and told me that family was more important than politics. She told me I had to figure out where my loyalties were before I spoke to her again and I never got the chance to apologise. She disappeared during the war and no-one ever found out what happened to her."

"I'm sorry," were there only words that came to mind for Audrey to say as she comforted him. Percy slumped to back on the bed, uncharacteristically hunched and uncomfortable looking. He then leaned forward, his elbows resting on is knees as he held his head in his hands. He looked forlorn, and lost. Audrey twisted herself round to face him better. Placing one hand on his arm, and rubbing his back with the other, she spoke softly to him, trying her best to comfort him.

"You know, whatever happened back then, I don't think anyone would blame you for what happened. I've noticed every single one of you is stubborn in your own way – it's no wonder you fall out now and again." He turned to look at her through heavy disbelieving eyes. "You blame yourself, but you didn't do anything to Penelope. You drove her away, but you didn't make her disappear.

"You said it was dangerous for some people back then; was she one of those in danger?" Percy nodded ascent. "Well, then, maybe she chose to disappear. You may never find out, but what you need to understand is that there's not a lot that feeling guilty and blaming yourself is going to do for you. You did what you thought was right at the time and you're a better man now for realising your mistake and making what amends you have. I love the man you've become Percy, not the boy who blames himself for his mistakes in the past."

She planted a kiss on his cheek, forcing him to look up at her properly with tears in his eyes. She'd never seen him so emotional but it was good to see him letting the past go. She knew it haunted him at times. She caressed his cheek and used a thumb to wipe away his tears before kissing him properly.

Percy moved to wrap his arms around her and pull her closer. It wasn't long before they were fully entwined and lying back on the bed. Percy seemed to be in a better mood as he laid a trail of kisses along the collar of her shirt; Audrey could feel his smile as he kissed her. She couldn't help but tease him again.

"You and Penelope ever make out like this in here." Percy pulled back to look her in the eye. His answer was instantaneous though.

"No."

"What, never?" she pulled further back from him to see him better, and couldn't help the incredulous tone that she heard in her own voice.

"No. We spent time together at school, wrote letters during the holidays and met up in London a couple of times, but I never invited her home." He looked somewhat sad to be remembering, but Audrey believed every word.

"Get up to any mischief in school?" This elicited an uncharacteristic chuckle from Percy. Trying to shift her weight to sit up better, Percy moved to allow her to prop herself up on her elbows as he reclined beside her, as best as they could on the single bed at any rate. "I'll take that as a yes then!"

"Some, not much. And we were Prefects, so we didn't break any school rules – we weren't sneaking around in the middle of night or anything."

"So what did you get up to?" He gave her a puzzling look but answered her question despite his obvious reluctance.

"We did our homework together in the library, went into the village together on Hogsmeade weekends… we may have re-arranged the Prefect Rota so we could Patrol together and…"

"And?"

"We may have been caught in a classroom once. Ginny walked in on when we were having a private moment one evening before dinner." Audrey's smile was broad and victorious.

"Really? Wait, you were caught once… How often did you sneak into classrooms after hours?"

"Every once in a while." She raised an eyebrow at him, challenging his hesitant and vague response. He huffed out a sigh and relented. "Fine, whenever we were on patrols together, so maybe three, four times a week?" Audrey laughed out loud as she raised a hand to playfully swat him on the chest.

"I knew you were a rebel really, deep down inside." They were both smiling as he pulled her closer, Audrey relaxing over his form on the bed and they kissed, still smiling as Molly's voice drifted form downstairs announcing dessert and coffee.

AN (a small Post Script):

I'm currently writing about how Percy and Audrey met and, linked to a radio call in the other morning; I was wondering how people met their other halves.

I'm looking for suggestions and ideas to be honest but I do currently have a promising start to my fic… I'm struggling to explain the situation I'm in but hopefully I can get some inspiration with any stories you feel like sharing. I'll allow anonymous reviews and messages or whatever. Please be warned a have a zero tolerance on spam! VS x