Return to Europe

Chapter 4

Audrey was sitting with a glass of wine watching her daughters play with their cousins when Percy came up behind her. "It's good to have you back Aud. Everyone really missed you."

"You have no idea how good it is to be back here. This is just what I need right now."

"Really Audrey, how are you doing, I mean, with everything?"

"It's hard sometimes. Not him being gone, I was used to that even when he was still alive. But I hate how everyone is always feeling sorry for me. They think just because they've read about all the problems I've had that I am some poor girl that needs their sympathy. All those damn reporters talk about is what went wrong with my life. They don't give a shit about me or how great my life has really been. Not that I can tell them what made my life so great."

"And what was that?"

"Hogwarts. You and the rest of the family, Oliver, the girls, Quidditch. Everything about those three years of my life. Sure, college was a great confidence boost. But the crowns, the titles, they were all fake. None of it really matters to me now. It's not what I look back on when I need a good memory to make me smile. I look back to when I was here, or I look at my girls. My girls are about all I have going for me at home."

"What about your job?"

"I just don't feel the passion that I once felt for it. It's like, I've gone as far as I can go and proven all I can prove. It doesn't hold a challenge for me anymore and that was what always held me there. It's not like I am not comfortable enough financially to just leave, but then what?"

"You could always come back here you know. It's something to think about. It's like you said, nothing really holding you there."

"But what's to bring me here?"

"Your family, people that love you. Like I said, it's just something to think on. Anyway, I think the dinner is about to start, we should probably go sit." Audrey simply nodded her head and followed Percy to the front of the tabled area to join the family.

Audrey sat down at the long table reserved for the Weasleys between her daughters. She thought about what Percy had said as she looked down the table. Why shouldn't she consider staying in Europe? Her parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles and cousins were all here. Her daughters would be eligible for Hogwarts in six years, and she and Chris both possessed magical powers so they probably would go. But was it worth it? What would she do with her life in England? The rest of her family was very happy with jobs that suited them. Her grandfather was the minister of magic, Percy worked for him, the twins had their joke shop, Ron wrote for the sports section of the Daily Prophet and Ginny was happy being Harry's wife and taking care of all her nieces and nephews while their parents were at work. Audrey couldn't think of any need for a financial consultant anywhere around here.

"Friends, family, random guests, "started Fred, "it is great to have you all here. I am sure you all know the reason for this party. My brother George and I have finally decided to settle down. Soon, we will be handing our freedom and bachelorhood to these lovely ladies sitting beside us."

"Thanks Fred, that's very flattering." added Alicia. Fred simply smiled at her and considered his speech.

"Since the first day I met Alicia, at the age of eleven, I knew that she would be the one for me. In three weeks, I will finally call the love of my life, my wife. Alicia, thank you for putting up with me for these last fifteen years. I love you." Fred went to kiss his fiancé as everyone awed and applauded.

"Leave it to my brother to be all mushy. Katie, I don't think there is much I can say that Fred hasn't already said. I know we've had our ups and downs, but we've seen each other through it and everything has always worked out. I can't believe it took me this long to finally get the courage to let go of everything and ask you to spend forever with me. You are my best friend, my life, my love, and the only one for me." Katie wiped a tear from her eye as she and George embraced.

Audrey had no idea that those two had any sentimentality in them. She was so happy for her uncles. Everything was working out great for the Weasley family. She couldn't have asked for anything better for the people that gave her a new life. She noticed Oliver looking at her as everyone else watched the two engaged couples. She wondered what his proposal and engagement speech would have sounded like. Not that it mattered; she gave up those privileges when she turned away from him ten years ago.

To this day, she didn't know what had caused her to hide everything from Oliver their last months together. And then, before Chris, why hadn't she been able to tell him that she felt incomplete without him. Maybe she was afraid. She had never felt anything as strong as what she and Oliver had had. She grew up without any strong relationships to look up to and she ddn't know what she would do if Oliver had ever walked away from her. Instead, she did it first, thinking it would hurt less if it was as much or more her idea. Still, she regretted it and still thought about what might have been. Not that she wasn't thankful for Chris. He had given her a lot, too. They had been the best of friends as well as lovers during their college days, and they had had marital bliss for a while. And even though things hadn't gotten bad, he had left her with a good lifestyle and something priceless, her girls.

After the twins' speeches, everyone took turns standing up and sharing their fondest memories of the twins. Last was the family. They were a lot more emotional than the humorous antidotes shared by friends. After Percy and Penelope bid them a happy marriage, Audrey stood up.

"Fred, George, I don't know what I would have done without you. Even though we only had three solid years together, you helped make me the person I became and the person I am. You and the rest of the family introduced me to this whole new world and left me with no regrets for coming and staying here. There is not a memory I treasure that doesn't include or was brought upon by you two. You gave me life, hope, friends, and love. You too, Alicia and Katie. You were my friends when that was what I needed most in the world. My life would have been very different if you hadn't been a part of it. I know that these marriages will be the kind we all dreamed off. And I hope that you can give as much to it and your ever-growing families as you gave to me. I love you all and best wishes." As Audrey sat down, there wasn't a dry eye at the front table.

After dinner, the adults all went to the front yard to say good-bye to each other and after a while, Audrey went to put her girls to bed while Penelope and Hermione flooed theirs home. "Mommy, will you tell us another story about the girl that could do all that magic stuff?" asked Mary Grace.

"Ok, but just a quick one. As you remember, the girl's best friend had just be frozen because she looked the evil snake in the eye. So, she went back to the den area and saw Woody. Woody hugged her and suddenly, she wasn't scared anymore. She knew the magical nurse would make her friend okay and there was nothing to worry about. Soon, she stopped crying. Woody kissed her and she felt like the world revolved around just the two of them. Soon, not only were Woody and Kelly best friends, but they were also in love. Kelly's best friend was soon awakened and the evil snake lived no more. Now, go to sleep!"

"Goodnight Mommy!"

"Goodnight girls."

"Mommy?" said Mary Grace

"Yes, darling?"

"I hope I grow up to be just like Kelly and I find a guy like Woody."

"I'm sure you will sweetie, now go to sleep." Audrey closed the door. Yes, she hoped her daughters both grew up and found a guy like Woody. Hopefully, though, they would be better than their mother and stay with that guy.

When Audrey got back down to the den, all that were left were the Percy, Ron, Fred, George, Ginny, Harry, and her parents and grandparents. "Where's everyone else?"

"Penelope and Hermione went home to get the kids settled in and Alicia and Katie went with their parents. They all said they would see you at lunch tomorrow." Said Arthur.

"Oh, okay. Well, at least it gives us family time to catch up."

Audrey and her family Owled each other on a regular basis, but she still felt like they were missing important parts of each others lives. She felt really left out with all of them in a different area of the world than she was. Maybe Percy was right, maybe she should consider moving over here. After all, there was every member of her family, all her friends from Hogwarts, and Oliver. Of course, all Oliver was now and could ever be was a friend. But he had been her best friend and if she came back, maybe they could be close again. She didn't need a great romance, she had had that. Maybe all that was missing in her life was family and good friends. She would definetly give England some serious thought over the next three weeks.