Novel-Length Fic: A Year of Worry and Hope
Title: A Year of Worry and Hope
Word Count: 84,000 and change; 1184 for Epilogue
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Essentially, the events of "Deathly Hallows" from Percy Weasley's and Audrey Mitchell's points of view, including frequent cameos by Fred and George Weasley, and the Longbottoms, as well as other canon characters.
Chapter 1: When Percy Met Audrey
Chapter 2: Going Out
Chapter 3: Weasley Wizard Wheezes
Chapter 3.5: Seeing Is Believing
Chapter 4: Muggle Weekend
Chapter 5: Loneliness Revisited
Chapter 6: Unusual Correspondence
Chapter 7: A Surprising Start to September
Chapter 8: More Surprises
Chapter 9: The Long Haul
Chapter 10: New Experiences
Chapter 11: Holidays
Chapter 12: Heading for the Last Roundup
Chapter 13: Shocking Conversations
Chapter 14: The Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 15: Fighting
Chapter 16: Aftermath
Chapter 17: Together
Epilogue-Nineteen Years Later
Percy glanced nervously at the clock, and yelled up the stairs, "We're going to be late!" He heard giggling from his wife and daughters, but no one answered him. Giggling. That was all he'd heard all summer long. Actually it’s all he’d heard every holiday since his girls discovered boys. Percy sighed, and climbed the stairs to knock on the door to his oldest daughter's bedroom. Audrey opened the door.
"We're ready." Audrey gave Percy a meaningful look and gestured discreetly to their daughters as she stepped through the door.
Percy took his wife's hint. "You both look lovely." Molly and Lucy beamed at him. Well, at least he'd done something right. He waved his wand, charming both girls' trunks to follow him, and said as cheerfully as he could, "Let's go!"
They all made it to the car without incident. Percy let Audrey drive. He knew how, but didn't really like it. Audrey had music on the radio, something American, he didn't like it, either, but didn't comment. At least he'd have a minute to be lost in his thoughts. Molly and Lucy were giggling and whispering in the back seat. Again. That's all they did any more. Giggle. And fix their hair. And do their nails. And whisper about The Boy. His baby girl fancied someone. He’d barely survived The Boy when it was Molly! But now Lucy. Percy sighed. Another The Boy . . . He knew the lad's name, but he preferred to think of him as The Boy in his head. It made the situation less real. He had made the mistake of telling Audrey their daughter was too young to fancy boys. Audrey's reminding him she had her first boyfriend when she was two years younger than Lucy did not help his mood at all.
Maybe Percy would have to take Bill out for a pint and see how he was surviving having teenage daughters. He'd invite George along, too, since Roxie might have a boyfriend soon. Of course, Percy was certain Bill's ability to look terrifying when he wanted to was a huge asset in keeping teenage boys away from his girls. Percy once again bemoaned being the least scary of the Weasley brothers. Bill could look terrifying at will. Charlie worked with dragons for Merlin's sake, which was completely wasted since he wasn't married and didn't have children. George could pull all sorts of pranks and not leave any evidence, which the entire world knew since Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was so popular. Ron was the tallest, and was famous for the whole "Golden Trio" thing. Harry was the Man-who-Killed-Voldemort. That was plenty. Percy worked for the Ministry of Magic-in an office job. Not in the least intimidating. What would he do to his daughters' suitors, memo them to death?
They arrived at Kings Cross, Molly and Lucy still whispering excitedly, though Percy could tell the topic had switched from The Boy to Quidditch. He had no idea how his daughters could be so girly and love Quidditch so much. Of course, Ginny was one of the best professional Quidditch players of all time, but she had never been particularly interested in her hair or nails or clothes or in giggling with their mum like his daughters were.
Molly had been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team for two years as the Seeker, but had begun playing Beater with her sister when Lucy made the team in her second year. Percy knew Fred was in Heaven laughing his arse off. George had been laughing his arse off right in front of him for years in between coaching his little girls on how to be Beaters. Percy couldn't help being proud of them-even if they weren't as strong as some Beaters, they had deadly accuracy. But Quidditch was so dangerous, Percy worried about them. Not that anyone listened to him in his Quidditch-crazy family. But he could still try . . .
"Now girls, you remembered all of your Quidditch books, didn't you? I'll owl them if you forgot. Especially remember to keep rereading the chapter of The Beater's Bible that deals with safety. You know how important the safety regulations are . . ." Percy began to list them. He did tend to ramble when he was nervous or worried. He was fairly sure Audrey was rolling her eyes at him, but at least Molly and Lucy were pretending to listen to him. He couldn't do anything about The Boy, or any boys for that matter, but he'd make sure his girls had all the safety regulations about flying and broomsticks and Quidditch memorized. He wasn't going to let his little angels get hurt if he could help it. They actually answered all of his questions correctly when he quizzed them. He was fairly satisfied.
"And remember girls . . ." The train whistle sounded its first blast.
"We know, Daddy. You’ve given us the same lecture every year. We'll be careful, and we love you, too." Percy hugged Molly and Lucy tightly.
"They have to go, love. We love you." Audrey hugged them, too.
Percy kissed each of his daughters on top of their heads, said "I love you" and gave them each one last quick hug. He waved feebly at their backs as they ran off in separate directions to find their friends. Molly quickly found Neville and Hannah's oldest daughter, Aggie and helped her with her trunk. Aggie waved to Percy and he smiled, returning her wave.
He saw Lucy go to a different car where The Boy met her, picked up her trunk, stowed it, then gave her his hand and helped her onto the train. At least he was a gentleman, Percy thought begrudgingly. Then The Boy kissed Lucy on the cheek, and Percy changed his mind.
"Love, quit scowling at The Boy," Audrey whispered in his ear. Percy looked at his wife in shock. "Yes, I know. You mutter out loud sometimes, especially if you're stewing before you fall asleep. Come on, they'll both be fine." Audrey took his hand. "You know Neville always acts as your spy and looks after them. He has for years."
"How do you know that?"
"That you've had Neville as a spy since Molly started at Hogwarts? I have my ways . . ."
"Hannah told you!"
Audrey laughed. "No."
"Then how . . ."
Audrey smiled and took pity on him. "Ginny told me. You didn't think you were the only person using Neville as a spy, did you?"
Percy began to splutter, but Audrey just laughed. "I don't mind. I would have asked Neville to spy myself if you hadn't already. The girls will be fine." Audrey took Percy's hand and began to lead him out of the station. "Let's go home, love. I've taken the rest of today and tomorrow off." Audrey raised a hand to stop Percy's interruption. "I got the days off for you, too. Now, let's go home and start celebrating my birthday properly."
Percy thought that sounded like a very fine idea indeed.
Word Count: 84,000 and change; 1184 for Epilogue
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Essentially, the events of "Deathly Hallows" from Percy Weasley's and Audrey Mitchell's points of view, including frequent cameos by Fred and George Weasley, and the Longbottoms, as well as other canon characters.
Chapter 1: When Percy Met Audrey
Chapter 2: Going Out
Chapter 3: Weasley Wizard Wheezes
Chapter 3.5: Seeing Is Believing
Chapter 4: Muggle Weekend
Chapter 5: Loneliness Revisited
Chapter 6: Unusual Correspondence
Chapter 7: A Surprising Start to September
Chapter 8: More Surprises
Chapter 9: The Long Haul
Chapter 10: New Experiences
Chapter 11: Holidays
Chapter 12: Heading for the Last Roundup
Chapter 13: Shocking Conversations
Chapter 14: The Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 15: Fighting
Chapter 16: Aftermath
Chapter 17: Together
Epilogue-Nineteen Years Later
Percy glanced nervously at the clock, and yelled up the stairs, "We're going to be late!" He heard giggling from his wife and daughters, but no one answered him. Giggling. That was all he'd heard all summer long. Actually it’s all he’d heard every holiday since his girls discovered boys. Percy sighed, and climbed the stairs to knock on the door to his oldest daughter's bedroom. Audrey opened the door.
"We're ready." Audrey gave Percy a meaningful look and gestured discreetly to their daughters as she stepped through the door.
Percy took his wife's hint. "You both look lovely." Molly and Lucy beamed at him. Well, at least he'd done something right. He waved his wand, charming both girls' trunks to follow him, and said as cheerfully as he could, "Let's go!"
They all made it to the car without incident. Percy let Audrey drive. He knew how, but didn't really like it. Audrey had music on the radio, something American, he didn't like it, either, but didn't comment. At least he'd have a minute to be lost in his thoughts. Molly and Lucy were giggling and whispering in the back seat. Again. That's all they did any more. Giggle. And fix their hair. And do their nails. And whisper about The Boy. His baby girl fancied someone. He’d barely survived The Boy when it was Molly! But now Lucy. Percy sighed. Another The Boy . . . He knew the lad's name, but he preferred to think of him as The Boy in his head. It made the situation less real. He had made the mistake of telling Audrey their daughter was too young to fancy boys. Audrey's reminding him she had her first boyfriend when she was two years younger than Lucy did not help his mood at all.
Maybe Percy would have to take Bill out for a pint and see how he was surviving having teenage daughters. He'd invite George along, too, since Roxie might have a boyfriend soon. Of course, Percy was certain Bill's ability to look terrifying when he wanted to was a huge asset in keeping teenage boys away from his girls. Percy once again bemoaned being the least scary of the Weasley brothers. Bill could look terrifying at will. Charlie worked with dragons for Merlin's sake, which was completely wasted since he wasn't married and didn't have children. George could pull all sorts of pranks and not leave any evidence, which the entire world knew since Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was so popular. Ron was the tallest, and was famous for the whole "Golden Trio" thing. Harry was the Man-who-Killed-Voldemort. That was plenty. Percy worked for the Ministry of Magic-in an office job. Not in the least intimidating. What would he do to his daughters' suitors, memo them to death?
They arrived at Kings Cross, Molly and Lucy still whispering excitedly, though Percy could tell the topic had switched from The Boy to Quidditch. He had no idea how his daughters could be so girly and love Quidditch so much. Of course, Ginny was one of the best professional Quidditch players of all time, but she had never been particularly interested in her hair or nails or clothes or in giggling with their mum like his daughters were.
Molly had been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team for two years as the Seeker, but had begun playing Beater with her sister when Lucy made the team in her second year. Percy knew Fred was in Heaven laughing his arse off. George had been laughing his arse off right in front of him for years in between coaching his little girls on how to be Beaters. Percy couldn't help being proud of them-even if they weren't as strong as some Beaters, they had deadly accuracy. But Quidditch was so dangerous, Percy worried about them. Not that anyone listened to him in his Quidditch-crazy family. But he could still try . . .
"Now girls, you remembered all of your Quidditch books, didn't you? I'll owl them if you forgot. Especially remember to keep rereading the chapter of The Beater's Bible that deals with safety. You know how important the safety regulations are . . ." Percy began to list them. He did tend to ramble when he was nervous or worried. He was fairly sure Audrey was rolling her eyes at him, but at least Molly and Lucy were pretending to listen to him. He couldn't do anything about The Boy, or any boys for that matter, but he'd make sure his girls had all the safety regulations about flying and broomsticks and Quidditch memorized. He wasn't going to let his little angels get hurt if he could help it. They actually answered all of his questions correctly when he quizzed them. He was fairly satisfied.
"And remember girls . . ." The train whistle sounded its first blast.
"We know, Daddy. You’ve given us the same lecture every year. We'll be careful, and we love you, too." Percy hugged Molly and Lucy tightly.
"They have to go, love. We love you." Audrey hugged them, too.
Percy kissed each of his daughters on top of their heads, said "I love you" and gave them each one last quick hug. He waved feebly at their backs as they ran off in separate directions to find their friends. Molly quickly found Neville and Hannah's oldest daughter, Aggie and helped her with her trunk. Aggie waved to Percy and he smiled, returning her wave.
He saw Lucy go to a different car where The Boy met her, picked up her trunk, stowed it, then gave her his hand and helped her onto the train. At least he was a gentleman, Percy thought begrudgingly. Then The Boy kissed Lucy on the cheek, and Percy changed his mind.
"Love, quit scowling at The Boy," Audrey whispered in his ear. Percy looked at his wife in shock. "Yes, I know. You mutter out loud sometimes, especially if you're stewing before you fall asleep. Come on, they'll both be fine." Audrey took his hand. "You know Neville always acts as your spy and looks after them. He has for years."
"How do you know that?"
"That you've had Neville as a spy since Molly started at Hogwarts? I have my ways . . ."
"Hannah told you!"
Audrey laughed. "No."
"Then how . . ."
Audrey smiled and took pity on him. "Ginny told me. You didn't think you were the only person using Neville as a spy, did you?"
Percy began to splutter, but Audrey just laughed. "I don't mind. I would have asked Neville to spy myself if you hadn't already. The girls will be fine." Audrey took Percy's hand and began to lead him out of the station. "Let's go home, love. I've taken the rest of today and tomorrow off." Audrey raised a hand to stop Percy's interruption. "I got the days off for you, too. Now, let's go home and start celebrating my birthday properly."
Percy thought that sounded like a very fine idea indeed.