Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It's the late evening. The day of the wedding, that never took place. Not really, although they were already a husband and wife when Fleur was killed. At first, everyone was terribly shock. Especially, of course, her parents and her sister. Mum was hysterical when she understood that Death Eaters took Fred. In addition, it took Charlie and me almost ten minutes to drag Bill away from Fleur's body. He just didn't react to our words as if he didn't hear us at all. He was just repeating over and over again: "It's impossible. It can't be true!"
Only two hours after the attack chaos more or less cleared. McGonagall decided to call an urgent meeting of the Order. Mum wasn't there. As well as Bill, George and Ginny who stayed with George. Decisions where commonplace and simple. Look for George. Do everything possible.
Dad didn't pay any attention to me neither at the meeting nor afterwards. Actually no one really did. Charlie made several attempts to talk to Bill but was unsuccessful. Bill made it quite clear where he wanted everyone to go. It was the first time when I clearly saw that Grayback's attack had truly changed him. Bill I knew would have never shut himself up no matter what happened to him. Not from Charlie, anyway.
George was being comforted by Ron, Harry and Ginny. Hermione left half an hour ago after doing tea for Mum and comforting her and George. There was just no place for her to sleep in the house.
"There you are…," it's Charlie.
I look up at him with a sad smile: "Well, where should I be?"
"I don't know. It's just…All family is in the house", he shrugs.
"I doubt that Father's keen on seeing me there."
"Then why are you still here?"
It's my turn to shrug: "Because of Bill. And George. I thought I might be needed here. Don't really know why I thought so."
"You thought so because it's true," he says calmly.
I raise my eyebrows.
He says: "Mum is crying her eyes out. Dad's with her. I don't think he will mind you being there."
"He probably just won't notice," I say calmly and indifferently. At first, two years ago, I was angry. Then I was sad. After that, it was really painful. Now my mind was concerned with other things.
"It's not Dad I want to talk with you about. It's Bill. Among us all he is in the worst state."
"I know. It's horrible," I whisper.
"He is not opening the door. It frightens me" he says concern evident in his voice and eyes.
"Then come in without invitation." I propose.
"May be you'll try to talk to him. If you are not intending to spend the night in the garden," he proposes in his turn.
"I am not intending to do that. However, I doubt that I will be more successful that you. You two were closer that I and him" I shrug.
"Perce, just try. If you are not successful, I will break the door," he says firmly. "No matter what he thinks he is not spending night alone in his room."
"If I am not successful, I will break the door without your help," I shrug. It's not a joke. Or sarcasm. I am serious.
I know that I was talking about December. And I am still talking about it. I just had I bit of free time to write the first chapter. Updates won't be frequent (if there will be any at all) until December.