Chapter 2- Charlie
Ron sat in the kitchen. He felt angry and was annoyed. After Percy's it went back to normal. As normal as it could be. His mother still grieved and his father started to drink more but Ron could deal with it. Now over a year since his death his brother was also murdered. This time he was the attacker. When Percy died the brothers vowed to go after the death eater that did it. To seek revenge for the brother they really never liked. The were trying to keep their pride and show that a Weasley was strong, and loved and would never be forgotten. The four brothers had left Ron and Ginny out. Probably for their close involvement with Harry.
After Percy died, Harry asked Ron what he wanted to do one night in private. If he wanted to go after and seek revenge. Ron had said no. He didn't want to cause his mother any more pain. It was like chasing a lost ghost anyway. Now Ron regretted that decision. If he had said yes a year ago Charlie would be alive. Ron would have the support from the order and they would have been successful. But now, he was another brother less.
A hand touched his shoulder and he jumped.
"Ron" A soft voice asked. Ron looked round and smiled. Hermione sat down beside him. Her stomach was big and round. It was impractical to be pregnant during the war but what had happened, happened and Ron was ecstatic. "Ginny flooed me."
"What did she say?" Ron asked looking intently at the wood grain on the table.
"Wants you to go to the burrow. And I agree." Hermione said quietly. "You should be with your family."
"Yea I suppose." Ron whispered. "If you come with me"
"Of course Ron" Hermione smiled and leaned in taking her boyfriend in a hug.
The burrow was quiet but different from last year/ There was no brothers talking in the corner and no mother weeping on the floor. Arthur was nowhere to be seen and the silence was starting to be deafening. Ron walked down the hall with Hermione's hands wrapped round his own. Their footsteps were crashing down on the floor and the door opened to the kitchen. Ron peered inside. Molly was making dinner and the twins were sitting opposite one another at the table. Ron cleared his throat and they all looked at him.
"Hey Ronnie" Molly smiled and walked over and hugged him tightly as if to make sure he was really there. "Hermione" She sighed pulling Hermione into the kitchen to sit down. "Staying for dinner?"
"Of course Mrs Weasley" Hermione replied watching her walk back to the stove and then glancing up at Ron.
"Where's Bill? Dad? Gin?" Ron asked his twin brothers.
"Ginny's upstairs with Fleur and Mella." George answered.
"Bill's up by the trees on the hill." Fred said his voice strained.
"Dad's disappeared." George mumbled.
Ron nodded and sat down beside Hermione. There was a silence until Ginny came into the room.
"Hermione" Ginny smiled. "Please save me from Fleur."
Hermione excused herself and went upstairs. Molly went into the living room and the 3 med were left in the room.
"Ron we're sorry" Fred said immediately as Molly closed the kitchen door. Ron looked at him. He couldn't even meet his eyes. George hand his head in his hands and nodded into them.
"We couldn't just sit there." George murmured.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron demanded. The twins looked at him. "You know what I don't care. I'll content myself with the shame of my own brothers not even including me. The responsibility of knowing I could have helped. The remorse that my brother died trying to avenge my other one dying. But at least I won't have to deal with the guilt you will have. Of knowing it was happening. Of knowing you could have saved him. It was just a stupid waste of a live."
"I know" Fred said to save his brother who in shock of Ron shouting at him. "I wasn't so sure when Bill first came up with it…" He was cut off when Ron stood up and Molly stormed into the room.
"Ron" George yelled and stood up.
"I will not have you rowing about Charlie" Molly screamed.
"Come back here Ron" Fred cried.
Ron ignored the shouts and slammed the door on his way out of the house. He climbed up the hill and stopped at circle of trees where he saw Bill high in the air on a broomstick. Ron followed his brother with his eyes and Bill landed beside him.
"Ron" Bill said. His voice light and happy until Ron looked at him in the eyes. Bill faltered his next sentence and they stood facing each other in silence.
"You know what." Ron said quietly. "This thing, the house. What's changed since last year?"
"Ron what are you talking about?" Bill asked. Ron 23 and Bill nearly 32 they stood at nearly the same height.
"Oh I know" Ron continued. "No ones in the house whispering in the corner. Talking about seeking revenge. Was it that no one loved Percy as much as Charlie? That's why no one is crying. Too shocked beyond tears. Why is my oldest brother playing quidditch and my mother is making dinner."
Bill just stared at him confused.
"Fred told me it was your idea." Ron said in an undertone.
"Ron" Bill said his voice high pitched and panicky.
"What were you too scared to go do your own deeds? Think Fleur will think your so brave now? Your brother died because of you. Your nephew is fatherless." Ron spat.
"Ron" Bill said again. His eyes widened as Ron produced his wand. Bill knew that Ron was by far more experienced than he was even though the 9 year age difference. Bill produced his own wand and quickly disarmed Ron as he started to talk again.
"I just don't like this" Ron said his voice hurt and weak. Bill looked at him and suddenly Ron punched him. Ron felt Bill hit him back and they tumbled onto the grass. Bill felt blood drop onto his chin from Ron's lip. They rolled about for a while getting hurt more each time a fist flew. Ron had pinned Bill down and they were both breathing deeply.
"I don't like my family being teared apart." Ron whispered sweat running down his cheek.
"Nor do I Ron." Bill whispered back.
Hermione walked into the kitchen and looked around.
"Wheres Ron?" She asked. Everyone looked up. Just as she opened her mouth to ask again the back door opened and the two brothers stumbled in. The bright august sunshine siphoning in behind them.
"Ron" Hermione cried running over to him. She touched his face tenderly tracing the yellow bruises already on his cheek and wiping the blood from his lip. "What happened?"
"Nothing" Ron mumbled sitting down into the chair and waited until Hermione cleared away his bruises.
"I'm not doing anything until you tell me." She said stubbornly.
"Zis iz ridiculous." Fleur shouted from the door. "Brothers zis fighting. You zhuld be ashamed."
"Bill did you get beat up by ickle Ron?" Fred laughed from the table.
"Leave it" Bill and Ron chorused together.
The kitchen was quiet as Fleur tended to Bill's swolen eye and broken nose and Ron looked at Hermione pleadingly who shook her head.
Molly sighed and went back to cooking.
"No revenge missions" Ron said warningly to his brothers.
"Ron you can't tell me what to do" George said smirking.
"I can and you will." Ron said again quietly so only he could hear.