Return to Europe

Chapter 2

"Oliver, remember the dinners we would have out here during the summer, back when everyone was running around the Burrow? I can't believe this will be the first time the whole family has been together in five years." Percy said.

"Five years? You all haven't all been together in five years? Somehow that is hard to believe with the Weasleys."

"The last time we were all together was Ginny's graduation, right after Bill and Lisa's wedding. Since then we've all been pretty scattered, what with the war and all. It'll be nice to have all the Weasleys in one place at one time again. ."

Oliver was turning as Percy walk away when a thought struck him. "Did you say ALL the Weasleys."

Percy turned back to Oliver, "Yeah. She should be along later tonight. I'm sure she'll want to see you." Percy gave his friend a wink and walked away.

Damn, how did Percy always know what Oliver was thinking? It had been ten years since the last time he saw her and he had a feeling he wasn't as over as he would like to believe. How would he feel when he was face to face with her again? Especially now that she was a married woman.

Looking around, Oliver realized that the engagement party was looking to be quite the Hogwarts reunion. He saw Ron Weasley talking to Lee and Angelina Jordan as Hermione tried to deal with their son. Poor Hermione, her child was an exact replica of Ron; he had the Weasley hair and energy. Bill and Lisa Weasley were on the other side of the yard laughing with Charlie and his latest girlfriend. Ginny Potter was standing with her mother and two toddlers with curly strawberry blond hair and big bows. Oliver wondered who they were. A very pregnant Cho Davies was standing with her husband, Roger. Oliver was glad when he saw them together right after they finished Hogwarts. He often wondered how long it would take Cho to move on after Cedric's death. Oliver knew how hard it was to get over someone, and Audrey was still alive.

Just as Oliver's thoughts turned to Audrey, he saw her walk from the house. Even after ten years, she still had the radiance and beauty she possessed at eighteen. Her hair was lighter now and she wore it just below her shoulders. From the looks of the way her khakis and polo top fit, she still worked out. God, she was beautiful.

"Mommy!" Oliver looked as Audrey bent down to hug the two girls he saw with Ginny and Molly after all. They were her daughters?. For a moment, Oliver looked at Audrey and the girls, wondering what could have been if he had gone after her after she walked away. He shook his head. He and Audrey had both made their choices and it didn't seem she had any regrets. Oliver however, was full of regrets when he thought back on how he had handled things with Audrey.

The day she told him she was going back to America after Hogwarts, they simply just ended their relationship. They acted like nothing was wrong with it, that they could handle going back to being best friends. Inside, it had killed Oliver and to this day, he wishes he had acted differently. Maybe they could have worked a long distance relationship out. They were wizards with all kinds of quick transportation; they could have made it work if they really wanted to. But no, she went to school and he went to pursue his Quidditch dreams.

Then he just stood there as she walked away from him in the common room. He didn't say anything, not stop, wait, or even bye. Why couldn't he have just told her that he loved her and didn't want to be without her? Why did he have to be stupid, stubborn Oliver?

He finally tried to do something the day he got her letter telling him she was getting married. He disapparated to America and planned on stopping her. But the couple he saw when he got there reminded him of another couple he had once known. Seeing Audrey with her fiancé was like seeing he and Audrey together again. Oliver knew he couldn't come between something like that, so he simply came home and concentrated on Quidditch and getting over Audrey. He even became engaged himself, but they broke it off seven months later. They both loved the thought of being together than they actually loved each other. Europe's star keeper and favorite announcer, who didn't like the thought of them being together?

Oliver's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he felt someone looking at him. He turned slightly to meet eyes with Audrey. His body was overcome with the same sensation he felt the first time he saw her in the Quidditch shop before fifth year. The look in her eyes suggested they had similar thoughts running through their heads. "No, " Oliver told himself, "she's a married woman, right?"