For the Mother and Son Competition.
"I've got it," Molly whispers as Arthur stirs at the sudden sound downstairs.
"Sure?"
She kisses her husband's forehead and climbs to her feet. "I'm sure, dear."
It's only been a day since the final battle, but things are already different. She no longer jumps at every sound in the night, no longer lives in fear of what might be waiting in the shadows to strike. Still, Molly keeps her wand at the ready as she creeps through the house and into the kitchen.
A figure sits at the table, his head down. Molly cautiously moves closer, her wand raised. "Oh!" she gasps, setting her wand on the table as she recognizes those messy curls. "Percy, dear. I wasn't expecting you."
Her son sits up and sniffs. His eyes are puffy and rimmed red, tears still glistening from his lashes. Percy removes his glasses, wiping the lenses. "I'm sorry. I just… I didn't know where to go. I just…" He trails off, returning his glasses to his face. "I shouldn't- I have no right to be here, Mum. After everything I did and said…"
He starts to rise, but Molly places a hand on his shoulder. "Percy, this is still your home. We are still your family."
His sudden sob catches her by surprise. Percy has never been one to show emotions. He's always been so professional, so cold and calculating, always hiding away and shying from talks of feelings. But now, he's so vulnerable, giving into the emotions he's kept inside for so long. "I shouldn't have left like I did. I- I wanted to come home, you know. But it was too late. The Ministry… I wanted to talk to Dad, but I was ashamed, and I was… I was scared, Mum."
Molly wraps her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. He doesn't fight or protest as he might have in his younger years. He rests his head on her chest, his tears quickly soaking her pajama top.
"It's okay, sweetie," she soothes, rubbing his back. "It took you a little while, but you're here, and that's what matters."
"I couldn't sleep. I closed my eyes, and I saw Fred, and I couldn't sleep. I didn't know what to do, so I came here."
"We're all grieving your brother," she assures him.
"It's my fault. If I hadn't made a stupid joke, maybe he would have had time to react. If I'd just kept my bloody mouth shut, I-" The rest of his sentence is lost in a fresh fit of sobs.
Molly pulls back, holding him firmly by the shoulders. "You listen to me, Percy. Fred's death was not your fault. We don't blame you. None of us do."
"But I do."
"And in time, you will learn that you couldn't have stopped it. You will learn to forgive yourself, even though there is nothing to forgive."
He sniffles but nods, his bottom lip trembling.
"Let's get you to bed," she says. "Your room is still as you left it. Come along."
"Will you lay with me?" he asks, his voice barely a whisper. "Just until I fall asleep."
Her heart swells inside her chest. Percy has always been so independent. He's never voiced a need for his parents. But hearing the need in his voice now, Molly wants to cry with him. "I'll stay with you as long as you need me."
"What if I always need you?"
"Then I'll stay with you forever."