Chapter 3
“I’m sorry,” Harry was the first person at the funeral who Audrey had actually looked at. “He- I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
Audrey felt her heart weaken, as it had done many times in the last awful few days. “It’s not your fault,” She murmured, and then felt terrible. She swallowed back her tears. “Percy would be furious if he knew you were blaming yourself.” She said. “You’re 14, he knew what he was getting into.”
“They killed him because he wasn’t supposed to be there, they only wanted me.” Harry admitted. Audrey knew, the twins had told her every part of Harry’s story when they’d heard it, grief staining their own features as they’d done so. It had been a mercy, she knew, to hear it from someone who loved Percy as much as she did.
“I know,” Audrey took a shaky breath. “And that doesn’t change anything.”
Harry nodded. “I wish he hadn’t put his name in the goblet,” He admitted finally. “That’s the only way I can think of to have changed this.”
Audrey smiled, thinking of her fiance making the decision to do so. “He wouldn’t be Percy if he hadn’t.” She shook her head, tears clouding her vision again. “Take care of yourself, Harry.”
Harry nodded absently. “Will I see you around?”
“No.” Audrey said. “I- uh, I’m moving home. Back to America. There’s no life for me here.”
“I thought-” Harry cut himself off. “I thought you had an apprenticeship with a potions shop in Spain.”
“That was mine and Percy’s dream, I can’t do it without him.” Audrey wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, the weather had betrayed her today and was awfully sunny. “No, I’m moving home. Back with my parents.”
Harry nodded. “I’m sorry,” He offered again, and then he stepped away. Audrey stared at Percy’s grave a while longer.
“Don’t torture yourself over this, Adds,” Her father came up beside her. He and her mum had flown out for this, her brother was around here somewhere. They’d moved their flights that they’d had for her and Percy’s wedding up a week.
“Audrey.” She said. “Please, just- just Audrey.”
Her father’s gaze softened and he wrapped an arm around her. “Have you spoken to his family today?”
“Yes,” She shuddered a breath. “I told them I’m moving home.”
“I’m proud of you,” Her father pressed his cheek against her head. “I know that was hard.”
“That wasn’t hard,” Audrey said. “This is.” She closed her eyes and let the tears fall. “I miss him so much.” She whispered.
“I know,”
“He’s going to keep an eye on you, you know.” Her mother wrapped an arm with Audrey’s. “From above.”
“He wasn’t religious.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t.” Her mother kissed her cheek. “I know this is hard, lovey, nothing we can say will ease that.”
“I-” Audrey closed her eyes. “Can I have a minute?”
“Of course.” Her father released her. “We’ll keep everyone else away.”
Audrey fell to her knees at Percy’s headstone and dug her fingers into the freshly patted down dirt. “I love you.” She whispered finally. “And I- I’m not going to love anyone else, even though I know you’ll hate that. But I am going home. I’ll keep an eye on the twins, and Ron, and Ginny, and I’ll send them letters once a month, like you would’ve. And I’ll make sure your Mum and Dad are alright, and your older brothers, and when I die I’m never letting you go again.” She pressed her fingers to her lips and then to the ground. “Goodbye, Percy.”
Then she stood and walked away.