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It's a Family Thing
Rain lashed down overhead as Percy hustled down Diagon Alley, his umbrella useless against the rage of the torrent. By the time he let himself into George's flat, he was drenched.
Closing the umbrella and hanging it up, he spelled himself dry and took off his jacket, before walking into the living room. He was pleased to see George up and dressed, an improvement on just a few months ago, when Percy had had to force him from his bed when he arrived, even when it was late afternoon.
George looked up when Percy entered, offering his brother a smile.
"What've you brought today, Perce?" he asked, turning his attention back to a device that was resting on the table, that Percy didn't recognise.
"Fish and chips from the Leaky," Percy replied, setting his bag on the table. "And a couple of bottles of butterbeer."
George looked up at him again, a look of surprise on his face.
Percy wasn't surprised by the look. They both knew that it was a huge step for Percy to bring alcohol, even though the amount of alcohol in butterbeer was negligible.
Following the war, each of them had tried to drown themselves, each for different reasons.
George just wanted to forget. He wanted to forget the war, forget his twin, forget the never ending pain the last battle had plunged his life into.
For Percy, it was different. He'd been searching for redemption in the bottom of the bottle, searching for a way to undo the betrayal he'd done to his family, searching for something that would make it clear what he had to do to make it all better.
It had taken Percy a while to realise that hiding himself away with a whiskey bottle was doing his family no good - what they really needed was his presence.
He'd taken it upon himself to help George, spending hours comforting his little brother, often taking the brunt of his anger or cleaning him up after a binge.
It had taken time, but now, almost eighteen months later, it was worth all the hard work for every smile that lit up George's face. They weren't as frequent as they had once been, but the fact that he was smiling at all was something Percy took pride in.
The two ate in a comfortable silence, each cautiously enjoying their butterbeers. When they were done, Percy spelled the containers into the bin and turned his attention to the device George had been studying.
He listened carefully as his brother told him about the new prank product, a happy swell filling him up. The swell burst into an overall joy when George looked up and smiled at Percy.
"I'm going to reopen the shop. We put a lot of work into it, and Fred… he wouldn't have wanted that to go to waist. It was always our dream and… I shouldn't end that dream just because he isn't here to share it with me anymore."
Percy nodded, his throat tight with emotion.
"And… I wondered… and I understand if you don't want to…" George trailed off, before straightening his shoulders, steeling himself. "I hoped you'd come in with me. To work I mean. Fred always did the numbers and WWW is a family thing and I just -"
"I'd love to," Percy interrupted, nodding with a large grin on his face. "Thank you, George."
The grin was returned, and for a moment, they could each feel the spirit of their brother in the room with them, a protective wave of approval skimming over their skin.
George's eyes widened. "Did you feel -"
"Yes. I… yes."
With tears in both of their eyes, and large grin's still stretching their cheeks, the two looked heavenward, each thanking their brother for helping them come together.
Written for;
Hogwarts Book Club - Quinn - Betrayal / Redemption / Fish
Hogwarts TV Show of the Month - Mycroft - Percy / Umbrella / Protective
Dragon Appreciation WC - 633
Writing Month WC - 633
