Saving Audrey

Chapter 13

"So what you are saying is that that lady in the kitchen actually prepares the meals all by herself and then just brings them out here?" asked Oliver in awe. The rest of the table could not suppress their laughter. "What did you expect, "asked his much humored girlfriend, "house elves slaving away and apparating the food to the table?" "Yes," he answered indignantly, "that is exactly what I expected." He himself could no longer contain his laughter either and joined the rest of the table. "Guess it's going to take me a while to get used to this muggle stuff, huh?"

"That's ok; you should have seen Audrey when we were trying to convince her about magic stuff. She was not about to run through a wall to get to the Hogwarts platform." "Thanks mom, I really wanted everyone to know that." Lisa proceeded to tell Oliver more funny stories about Audrey when she first entered the magical world.

Tina could not quit smiling. There was no doubt in her mind that sending Audrey to Hogwarts was the best decision. She was happy and for the first time, the whole family was close and happy. Still, being related back to the magic world made her miss Sam. She hadn't had a conversation with a guy that didn't involve business since her late husband's death. After she finally got over the loss and had managed to build her life back up, she had to raise another child. Now, though, seeing the two younger women in the house happy with Bill and Oliver, she wondered if maybe it wasn't too late to try for romance again. Older women were falling in love all over again all the time. Why should she be any different?

"It's really nice here. Do you miss it a lot while you're in Europe?" Oliver asked Audrey while they were taking their nightly walk on the beach.

"I miss my mother and grandmother, and I kind of miss the coast and stuff, but that's about it. I have never been as happy as I am now, though. Hogwarts is the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Really? You don't miss your school or friends or anything? We all left right after elementary school for Hogwarts and most knew about it. You were pulled into a world you knew nothing about in the middle of high school. That doesn't bother you at all? "

"No, actually, I am thankful for it. I didn't exactly have the best social situation around here."

"Are you kidding me? You are the most gorgeous, thoughtful, talented person I know. How could you not have been surrounded by adoring fans?"

"I don't know. People probably thought I was really snobby because I thought I had everything going for me, they couldn't understand how someone like me could take a while to warm up to people I guess."

"You didn't seem like that when you started Hogwarts. Well, aside from that whole breakdown in my dorm." Oliver said with a laugh. "But no one ever thought you were a snob."

"Well, when I met the Weasleys I guess I was just glad to be away from my life here and have a family. I bonded to the twins immediately and it's kind of hard to be stand offish with them around!"

"Well, for what it's worth, my life has been a lot better since you came."

"Are you just saying that to make me feel better?"

"No, I mean it. Audrey, I have wanted to hold you since the moment I saw you in Diagon Alley. Now I can whenever I want and it's the best feeling in the world. I have never cared about anything like I do Quidditch and then you come along. I have to make myself quit thinking about you long enough to play a single match. It killed me to see you with Roger. The day you two broke up was so weird for me. I was upset for him hurting you, but another part of me was so happy that you were once again single and if I could quit acting like an idiot around you so much, you could be mine."

"If it's any consolation, I only dated Roger to get over you."

"And just when I thought I couldn't love you anymore!"

The two shared one final long kiss on the beach and headed back to the house. Everyone was coming tomorrow for Oliver's birthday party and they needed to be wide awake the next morning.

Audrey and Oliver heard a loud crash followed by a string of Bloody Hells as they walked through the house the next afternoon. "Oh, the Weasleys must be here. We sure do know how to make our entrances." Audrey loved being able to include herself with the group of red heads when she spoke. She and Oliver entered the living room to find Percy fussing at the other four for their rude entrance. In all of his lecturing, he didn't think to move out of the way and was soon knocked down by Katie, Angela, and Alicia. Luckily they managed to all untangle themselves and move as the other Gryffindors came through the fire place. Finally, Penelope came through and it was time for the party to begin.

Oliver stood with Percy and Penelope as Fred spun Audrey around the yard not so in time with the music. They were scaring the other couples out of their path and Oliver was just waiting for Audrey to pass out from dizziness. When the song finally ended, Audrey had a large look of relief on her face. She moved very quickly away from Fred right to Oliver's side and he mockingly put a protective arm around her. With his girlfriend once again by his side, Oliver took a moment to overlook the party Audrey and his friends had planned.

There was a band, lots of food, and everyone seemed to be having lots of fun. He then noticed that Fred was moving on to new victims, this time with the help of his brother and Lee. The three were spinning their girlfriends in circles and with the nod of Fred's head, right into the swimming pool. To the guy's surprise, the girls just laughed and enjoyed the cooling off. Not wanting to miss out, the boys jumped in after them. Oliver laughed at the six as they splashed around. He remembered how much it used to hurt him to see them together. Audrey would be off with Roger and his other friends seemed to all be paired up as well. Sure, he could have gotten almost any girl he had wanted, but after Elizabeth, he had decided he could not settle for someone who wasn't Audrey again. Looking at the girl beside him, he decided it was the best decision he had ever made.

"Where is the rest of your family?" asked Oliver as the last guest flooed away.

"They went to the mountains for the weekend. Figured they wouldn't be missed with the party and all. They'll be back late tomorrow night or early Sunday morning."

"So, we have the house to ourselves?"

"Yes, we also have to feed ourselves. They give the help the weekends off."

"For a weekend alone with you? Small price to pay."

"Mr. Wood, just what are you suggesting? Because I was planning on going to sleep in my room and seeing you again tomorrow. However, it appears you might have different plans. "

"Do I ever!" With that, Oliver picked her up and carried her up the stairs with no complaints from Audrey.