Chapter 2
Audrey shifted anxiously as the minutes ticked onwards. “It should be over by now,” She murmured. She’d suddenly gotten very nervous several minutes before, and all she wanted was to see Percy again, she didn’t care if he’d lost.
“Relax, Audrey,” Aaron smiled. “He’ll be fine. They both will.”
“They’ve already pulled Krum and Delacoeur out, something awful is happening in there.” Audrey stood sharply. “I’m going to ask Dumbledore what’s going on.”
“Sit down,” Penny pulled her down. “I’m sure everything is fine. Percy is smart.”
Audrey bit her lip and didn’t answer, instead fiddling with her hands in her lap.
“Hey Audrey,” Fred and George slid into the bench behind her. Aaron swore in surprise, but Audrey was too worried to laugh.
“You look nervous-
“Figured we’d come help.”
“The task should be over by now.” Audrey said. “Where are they?”
“I’m sure they just caught up with something - a sphinx maybe.”
“Maybe,” Audrey sighed. “How’s your Mum doing? And Ginny?”
“Better than you,” Fred said.
“Course, that’s maybe because Charlie is telling her stories about Romania to keep her distracted, and they’re focused on that.” George grinned. Suddenly something caught his gaze on the field, and Audrey whirled around. Percy and Harry had appeared, Harry clutching onto Percy and a portkey.
“They’re back.” Penny cried with delight, leaping to her feet. “Oh, Audrey, look, they’ve tied!”
Audrey tried to catch a glimpse at Percy’s face through Dumbledore and Fudge and the rest of the crowd, but couldn’t see him. There was an awful pit in her stomach.
“What’s wrong with him?” She murmured, as mutters started to spread through the crowd. She stepped down, ignoring Penny’s hands.
Fudge said something, and then there were cries that Audrey knew would haunt her for the rest of her life.
“Dead!”
“He’s dead!”
“Weasleys dead!”
“No!” Audrey stumbled forward. The crowd parted, and she fell to her knees beside Percy. Distantly she realized Dumbledore was speaking to Harry, but all she could see was Percy’s slack face. “PERCY!” She threw herself over him with a sob, clutching at his shoulders as if that would bring him back.
“Audrey,” She heard her name - Penny, Aaron, Oliver, and even the twins and Charlie all speaking over each other, but she couldn’t let Percy go. It would make this real.
“Audrey, let go of him love.” Molly Weasley had her hands on her shoulders, and Audrey sobbed as she pulled her away from Percy’s body. “Oh, my dear.” Molly pulled her into a tight hug, and Audrey felt Penny fall to her side.
“He’s dead,” She sobbed.
“I know,” Molly whispered. Penny clutched at Audrey’s hand. “I know.”