AN: So, I started this story years ago and never got past chapter 2. As my muse has been wanting to work on this lately, I decided to post chapter 1 and see if it gets an audience or not. It's set after Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows and I don't promise to keep in line with the Epilogue to the book. We'll see where my muse takes me. If you read and enjoy it, I hope you'll review!

Bill's POV:

"As we commit his body to the ground, let us not dwell on the feeling of loss . . ."

I tuned the preacher out. I didn't need his consoling words. Nothing he could say would change anything. Fred was gone. Killed during the Death Eaters attack on Hogwarts. Just one of many good people who lost there lives that night. The only consolation was that he died knowing he was making a positive difference. His death helped us to win the war against the Dark Lord.

Beside me, Fleur cried silent tears. Despite her complaints of the twins pranks and tricks, I knew she had grown fond of not only Fred but George too. I slipped my arm around her and pulled her close, taking comfort from her presence as I hoped my being near was a comfort to her.

I glanced around. Quite a few people were present, all with a haunted look to their eyes. It seemed as if we had all been to countless funerals over the last couple of weeks following the Dark Lord's defeat. Across from me, stood the surviving members of the Order of the Phoenix. We had all known the risk we were taken when we had joined but that didn't make losing my friends, comrades and brother any easier.

To my right, Ginny stood with her head hidden in Harry's shoulder. I didn't have to see her face to know she was crying. Beside Harry, stood my baby brother Ron. Like Fleur, silent tears ran down his face as he stared at the casket in front of us. Hermione stood beside him, her hand in his. Every so often, she reached up and wiped tears away with her other hand.

My father had my mother gathered in his arms. Her heart-wrenching sobs were audible to everyone gathered around the grave site. The twins had given her more trouble than the rest of us combined but I know that was the farthest thing from her mind right now. No parent wanted to have to bury their child. I knew she would be grieving for quite awhile.

To my left, Charlie stood, stone faced, staring straight ahead. He had one hand resting on George's shoulder. George wasn't crying now, I think he had shed all the tears he could for Fred in the days leading up to today. As much as I missed Fred, I knew it was nothing compared to the loss that George was feeling. The two of them had been inseparable. The Twins. That's how we had all thought of them. Wherever one of them was, the other one wasn't far away. In a way, George now had to forge a new identity for himself. I knew we'd all be keeping a close eye on him for awhile and was glad that he was staying at The Burrow for awhile instead of going back to the joke shop in Diagon Alley.

George wasn't the only one I was worried about though. Percy seemed to be taking Fred's death as hard, if not harder, than George. I was having trouble understanding this, considering that Percy and the twins had always seemed to be at odds with one another. For as long as I remembered, the twins had seemed to take special delight in getting in a laugh or joke at Percy's expense. As such, Percy was always complaining about what a nuisance the both of them were.

Still, it had been Fred who had first accepted Percy back when he had showed up at Hogwart's after three years of being at odds with us. He had been with Fred during the battle. The two of them had been fighting Death Eater's side by side when Fred was killed. He had seen our brother die.

You would think that at a time like this, Percy would have turned to his family for support. Comfort. Consolation. It hadn't happened though. Instead, Percy was keeping us all at arm's length. It was like he was cut off from us, like he had been before the battle. Our parents had tried to reach out to him and Percy hadn't let them comfort him. That in itself, had caused Mom more tears. She had cried for Percy many times over the years since he had left for London. I knew not being able to comfort him after she thought she had gotten him back was not easy on her.

Today had been the first time I had seen him in a week. He had been at Penelope Clearwater's funeral, whom he had dated when they were at school. I had gone to as many of the funeral's of old schoolmates as I could, wanting to pay my last respects for what they had given for our cause. I remembered seeing Percy there, standing silently next to Oliver Wood. I had joined them, but Percy had stayed out of arm's reach. Had barely said two words to me.

I thought he had looked bad that day. Dark shadows had been visible beneath his eyes. The exhaustion had been evident on his face. He looked worse now. His eyes had a sunken look to them, which only darkened the shadows. He was as white as a ghost and had visibly lost weight. I wasn't sure how he was standing on his own but he was.

Percy stood apart from the rest of us. I could tell he was trying not to cry, as he was spending more time looking up at the sky than anywhere else. What was going through his head? Just how bad was he hurting?

Movement to my right made me look away from Percy. Leaning heavily on Dad, Mom was walking toward the casket. She placed a single rose on top of it, before dissolving into a fresh bout of tears.

I watched silently as others approached, placing roses and carnations on the casket. I blinked back tears of my own. It wasn't that I was ashamed to cry, I wasn't but I also knew it was my responsibility to be strong for my wife and siblings. I was the oldest. My time for grieving would come later when I was alone.

Mom and Dad made their way back from the casket, heading toward where my siblings and I were standing. She hugged Ron first, then Ginny. Keeping my one arm around Fleur, I held my mother close as she wrapped me in her arms.

After she hugged me, she moved on to Charlie and then George. I noticed she held George a little tighter and a little longer than the rest of us. When she finally let go of him, I saw her turn to approach Percy but he wasn't there any more.

I looked around for him. He was walking alone across the cemetery. His shoulders were hunched and his head bent. It was strange to see him like that. He had always walked so tall and proud. Part of me wanted to go after him right there and then, but I didn't feel right leaving suddenly. Not to mention, I didn't want to leave Fleur here alone.

It was late when Fleur and I finally Apparated in the living room of Shell Cottage. After the burial, my family and close friends had gone back to The Burrow. It had been a somber occasion but it seemed right for us to be together. Percy had been on my mind the whole time though.

Our hands full of the leftovers Mom had sent with us, we headed silently for the kitchen. I placed the containers on the counter and then turned to Fleur.

"Will you be okay, if I left for awhile."

"Left?" Fleur asked, surprised. "Left for where?"

"London," I told her. "I want to try talking to Percy."

A look of sympathy crossed her face and she nodded. "Of course. Go. I'll be fine."

"Thanks," I told her, leaning down to give her a kiss.

Moments later, I found myself in the alleyway beside the building Percy's apartment was in. I headed toward the street, and up the front steps of the building. It wasn't long before I was standing in front of the door to Percy's apartment.

It had been quite awhile since I had been here. Two and a half years to be exact. I had come trying to get Percy to at least respond to Mom's letters. The visit had ended in an argument and me storming out. I hoped this wasn't the outcome of this visit.

I reached out and pressed the doorbell. I could hear the bell ringing within the apartment. I waited for some kind of indication that the ring was being answered. Silence greeted me. With no intention of admitting defeat that easily, I reached out and pressed the button again.

Standing there, I was starting to think that maybe he really wasn't home. Maybe he was out, though if that was the case I wouldn't know where he would be. Given as upset and withdrawn as my little brother had been lately, it just seemed as if he would be here.

I looked up and down the hallway. It was empty. Deciding to determine if my brother was really out or just ignoring the doorbell, I pulled out my wand. "Alhamora," I said softly, waving the wand at the door knob. I heard the click of the tumblers as the door unlocked.

Tucking the wand back in my robe, I pushed the door open. The apartment was dark. "Percy," I called out, as I stepped inside, groping for the light switch.

As the light came on, I was surprised by the scene. Things lay scattered everywhere. That in itself disturbed me as Percy had never liked messes. He liked things neat and clean. It was yet another indication that something was wrong. I pushed the door shut behind me as I glanced around the room. There was no indication that Percy was currently home.

I headed toward the kitchenette. The scene there puzzled me more. There was a dirty pan on the stove. A half empty glass sat on the table next to a plate. On the counter sat another plate and a bowl. If he wasn't doing housework, shouldn't there be more dishes?

Turning around, I walked back through the living room. The door to the one bedroom in the apartment was halfway open. A soft light shone within the room. Knocking softly, I pushed the door open.

My brother sat on his bed, leaning against the head board. He hadn't changed from this morning, and his eyes were puffy from crying. The tear tracks on his cheeks were another indication of that. He was hugging a pillow, his knees drawn up to his chest.

"Usually if someone doesn't answer their door it means they want to be alone," I heard him say, softly as he continued to stare straight ahead.

"I think we've left you alone long enough, Perce," I replied, as I walked slowly toward the bed. What I wanted to do was to rush forward and gather him in my arms. Somehow, I didn't think Percy would be receptive of that action though. His reaction to even my slow approach supported that thought, as Percy hugged the pillow even tighter.

I sat down at the foot of the bed, not wanting to crowd him but not about to leave. Percy was clearly hurting both physically and emotionally. I didn't want to think about what would happen to him if left alone. Looking at him, huddled into a ball, against the headrest, I made a promise to myself. The only way I was leaving this apartment was with Percy coming with me. I hoped I could convince him to come, however should it come to forcing him to come with me, I knew I wouldn't have a problem overpowering him.

"Mom said you declined going home to stay for a few days," I ventured, knowing beating around the bush too much would get me no where. "Why Percy?"

He shrugged.

"Percy, come on, talk to me."

"I can't. She'd only smother me."

"She's worried about you, Percy," I said inching forward. "We all are."

"Don't waste your time on me," he said softly.

"We care about you, Perce," I said moving closer to him. He tried to shrink further away from me but the head board was in his way.

"I don't know why. After the way I've acted and it's my fault . . .

His words trailed off as he started to sob. Taking a chance, I moved close enough to gather him in my arms. Just how thin he had become became all to evident to me, as I held the resisting form of my brother close. His thin frame felt as though it may break if I held him too tight.

~His fault. What is he blaming himself for?~ I wondered. ~Is he blaming himself for Fred's death? I couldn't forget that Percy had been with Fred during the battle for Hogwarts. Did he feel that he could have done something more to protect our brother?~

"Perce, don't hold it in. Talk to me. It'll help ease the pain if you do," I whispered softly to him.

"I wish it had been me," I heard him say through his tears. "No one would've missed me."

"You're wrong there Percy. We'd be grieving you just as much." I hadn't thought it was possible but he started crying harder. "Shhh . . . It's going to be okay," I told him.

I felt him trying to pull away again. "Let me go," I heard him say. "I don't deserve anyone's sympathy after the way . . .

"We all make mistakes, Perce. Let go of the guilt," I told him softly. "We want you back in our lives."

"After every. . ."

"Perce, it doesn't matter what you do. You're my brother. I'm always going to love you. I hate to see you hurting like this."

The words must have broken through to him. Finally, he stopped resisting me and let himself rest against me. His whole body shook with his sobs. His breaths were coming in gasps. "It's going to be okay," I told him again.

I'm not sure how long we sat there like that but eventually his sobs died away. Looking down at him, I saw that he had fallen asleep. Given how tired he had looked earlier, it didn't surprise me.

Being careful not to wake him up, I laid him down on the bed He looked so small laying there. I knew I had to protect him but I wasn't sure how to do that. How do you protect someone from themself?

Standing up, I started looking around the room. I planned on packing some of Percy's things and taking him back to my place. With any luck he wouldn't wake up until we were at Shell Cottage. It wasn't long before I had a small bag packed. I set the bag next to the bed and went to lock up the apartment before leaving.

I heard soft footsteps enter the room. I looked from the sleeping form of my brother, to the door way. Fleur was standing there, already in her night clothes. I could just make out her face in the dim light from the bedside lamp.

"Do you need anything before I turn in?" she asked.

"No, I'm fine," I told her from my spot in the chair next to the bed in our spare bedroom. It had been three hours since I had brought him back from London. Percy had yet to wake up and the last thing I wanted was him to wake up alone and have no idea where he was.

Fleur came over and leaned down to kiss me.

"Try to get some sleep," she told me, straightening up.

I nodded even though I knew I probably wouldn't get much sleep that night.

"And I made some chicken soup you can warm up, if he ever wakes up. You should try to get him to eat something."

"You're right. Thank-you."

Fleur started to leave the room and then hesitated. I waited, wondering what was going through her mind. Slowly she turned back to me. "Perhaps it's not my place, after al Percy is your brother, but maybe you should have a medi-wizard take a look at him. He doesn't look at all well."

A small smile came to my lips. I knew Fleur still felt a bit like an outsider when it came with my family. Her words right then portrayed that. I hoped with time that would change. "I appreciate your concern and I sent an owl to Rob Wood, asking him to come. He's an old friend and is now working in Paris. I figured a familiar face will get further with him than someone Percy doesn't know."

Fleur nodded. "Good night," she said again, leaving the room this time.

As she disappeared, I looked back down at Percy. Even asleep he didn't look at peace. His face showed the anguish he was feeling. The thin and pale features showed the physical toll those feelings were having on him.

I had no doubt that Rob would come. The two of us had been friend's since our first year at Hogwarts. Rob was like another brother to me. The question was, would Percy let Rob help him. My little brother had always had an independent streak. The last few years of isolation from the family would have only added to that.

I reached out, and let my hand come to rest against my brother's pale cheek. His skin was warm to the touch. I said a silent prayer that he wasn't getting sick on top of everything else that was going on. In his weakened state, that was the last thing he needed.

Percy's eyes fluttered, opened momentarily and then closed again. I stayed quiet, not wanting to disturb him if he was going to fall back asleep. I slowly pulled my hand away.

"Bill?"

The word was no more than a whisper and uncertain as he struggled to open his eyes. I debated what I should do. He really needed to rest and if I remained quiet there was a chance he would fall back asleep. At the same time, I didn't want to ignore him. Didn't want him to feel as if he was alone.

"I'm right here, Percy," I said, letting my hand come to rest on his shoulder.

"Where am I?" he asked, eyes only half opened.

"You're at my house. I thought it would be best if you stayed here for a few days."

"Don't tell Mom and Dad, please."

I had been expecting those words from him, given that he had said he didn't want to go home out of fear of Mom smothering him. I also knew our parents were worried about him. Would be even more worried if they went into London looking for him and didn't find him there. I had already made a decision and nothing my brother said was going to change that.

I shook my head. "I can't do that, Percy. They at least need to know where you're at. That you're safe. I already sent an owl to Dad telling him you were here," I told him. I saw him open his mouth to protest and hurried on, not letting him interrupt. "I also asked them not to come for now and if they do show up here, I won't let them see you unless you're okay with that."

Keeping my parents from seeing Percy would be hard if they chose to come, but I was determined to at least do that much for him.

He nodded slightly. Somehow I didn't think he had the strength in him to protest even if he wanted to.

"Perce, do you think you could try to eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"When is the last time you ate?"

He paused and then shook his head slightly. He either couldn't remember or wasn't going to answer me.

"I'm going to warm up some soup for you," I told him getting to my feet. Even if all I got into him was a couple of spoonfuls it would be something.

"No! Fred!"

The scream woke me up out of my sleep. Beside me, Fleur sat up quickly. We both heard the thud that followed next and as I sprung from the bed, I cursed myself for leaving Percy alone. I had done so, because of his comment about our mother smothering him. I was afraid he would try to leave if he felt I was doing that. My room was only across the hall and he had been sleeping when I left. I suddenly wished I had stayed with him.

Rushing across the hallway, I entered the spare room Percy had been sleeping in. I turned the light on as I entered the room. Percy was on the floor, beside the bed, trying to free himself from the blanket he was tangled up in. I rushed forward and knelt beside him.

"Perce are you okay?" I asked, as I knelt down beside him, freeing him from the blanket.

"I was right next to him. It could've been me. Why wasn't it me?" Percy said, having pushed himself up off the ground with his hands.

"You'll drive yourself crazy trying to figure that out, Perce," I told him softly, as he moved into a sitting position. That was when I saw the blood now trailing down the side of his face.

"I'll go get something to take care of that," Fleur said, from the doorway of the room.

"I was back at Hogwarts. Fred was beside me and the two Death Eaters suddenly appeared. We dueled them and then they were both lying at our feet and then suddenly the wall was exploding and . . . it just all happened so fast."

"No one is blaming you. There wasn't anything you could do."

"I blame myself. He was my little brother I should have . . ."

"Perce, you can't protect your younger siblings from everything no matter how hard you try. I know, There are six of you that I try to look out for."

"I would have given my life it would have saved him," Percy told me, meeting my gaze. I could see the sincerity there. The regret. The helplessness.

"I know you would have Perce," I told him, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him close. His head was resting on my shoulder and though I knew the shirt I was wearing would be covered in blood, I didn't care. "Just like I would trade places with you right now in a heart beat if I could."

We were still in that position when Fleur came back. Helping him to his feet, I got Percy back in the bed. Fleur set the tray with the things she had brought back into the room with her, down on the night stand on the side of the bed opposite of me. She reached out with a wet cloth to start wiping the blood away. I saw Percy flinch, whether it was from just somebody touching him or pain, I wasn't sure. Fleur continued the task, trying to be gentle as possible, I slipped my hand in my brother's, trying to reassure him that everything was going to be okay.