When they'd married, Audrey had believed everything would be fine.

It had been five years after the war. Percy had returned to the Ministry, and Audrey had begun to believe that Percy was finally recovering.

He didn't return home pale faced and clutching his wand. Percy was able to speak about his job without losing his train of thought, and he had finally gotten a promotion for his hard work. Things had been looking up, and Audrey had been relieved.

Until the nightmares started up again.

Each time Percy called for Fred, Audrey's heart broke just a little more. There was nothing she could do to help him, because Audrey knew Percy still blamed himself for not being able to protect his younger brother – that Percy still believed he should have died with Fred. She had tried to convince him otherwise, and still did, but Percy never listened – just as stubborn as the rest of the Weasleys when he wanted to be.

It was all she could do to calm him when he woke up, tangled in sheets and sobbing. She could only hold him as he broke again and again, even with the help of the Mind Healer he visited every Friday.

But Audrey still believed that Percy would heal from it; that he would learn to live with the burden he felt the need to shoulder, or that he would allow her to help him carry some of it.

She believed it every time Percy wiped his eyes and determinedly faced a new day.

She believed it every time she saw the glint of determination light his eyes at a challenge George posed him, even when everyone knew he would fail.

She believed in the strength of the wizard she had married.

So she would do everything she could to support him, until he learned to believe in himself.

Written for:

Hogwarts:

Hot Air Balloon Day: (character) Audrey Weasley

The Golden Snitch:

Through the Universe: Aphelion – (character) Percy Weasley