Here's chapter 4.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
"What do you mean you lost Ron?" Bill yelled.
"I wasn't watching him. Percy was!" Charlie retaliated.
Bill was in charge of baby sitting on that chilly winter night while his parents went to some kind of Ministry event. The twins had both gotten sick, and Ginny was wailing because Charlie accidentally stepped on her doll and broke it. Percy had been watching Ron when Ron crawled under a table, and Percy tried to get him to come out. Charlie had literally tripped over Percy as he rushed to give buckets to the twins as they continued to throw up. Percy was momentarily distracted, and Ron slipped out the window.
Thus, Ron Weasley was lost.
"Don't you dare blame this on Percy. He's eight! You were supposed to be watching Ron and Ginny."
"Well, Mum and Dad put you in charge, so guess who they're going to blame when they get-"
"STOP IT!"
Both of the older brothers turned to face a teary eyed Percy.
"It's my fault. I lost Ronnie, okay? But we can't keep arguing. He's alone on the streets of Ottery St. Catchpole. We need to find him."
As much as Bill wanted to assure his brother that it wasn't his fault in any way, Percy was right. Four year old Ron was wandering alone on the streets of Ottery St. Catchpole. While this town was friendlier than others, it was far from a paradise of happiness and safety and good people. They could worry about whose fault it was later. Right now, they needed to find Ron before anyone else did.
"Okay. Charlie, stay here and watch the kids. Ginny's asleep, so just entertain the twins until we find Ron."
"But I want to help-"
"Charlie, we need someone at the house in case he comes back. Ron got lost on my watch, and Percy can't handle the twins by himself, so we will go look."
Charlie nodded. "Okay. Go."
Percy was out the door before Charlie finished his sentence.
Bill raced to catch up to Percy, but Percy didn't stop running even after he was half a mile away from the Burrow.
"Percy, running will not help us find Ron."
"It'll help us find him faster."
Bill tried to think of an argument, but he came up empty. Curse the bullet proof logic of young children!
"Do you think he's okay?" Percy asked when he finally slowed down.
"I'm sure he is," Bill said, but his voice was weak. He was just as afraid as Percy, and he didn't know if he'd be able to reassure himself, much less his panicking little brother.
"But what if a dark wizard got him or a bad muggle? What if he's hurt? What if someone took him and we'll never see him again?"
"But what if the police found him?" Bill pointed out. "What if he's nice and safe with good people and is just waiting for us to find him?"
Percy saw his point, but his natural instinct to panic didn't fade with Bill's words.
"I lost him, Bill. I lost Ronnie," Percy whimpered, his upper lip quivering.
Bill stopped and engulfed Percy in a hug.
"Perce, it's okay," he murmured as Percy sobbed.
"No, it's not! Ronnie's gone, and it's all my fault."
"Percival Weasley," Bill stated, firmly, pulling away to look Percy in the eye. "This is in no way your fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I was supposed to be watching all of you, and I trusted an eight year old boy to keep track of a busy body four year old, even though it was my responsibility. I should've had Ginny and Ron in bed on time, and if I'd been watching the twins, they wouldn't have gotten into the sweets and made themselves sick. If we need to blame someone, we'll blame me."
Percy shook his head. "It's not your fault either. Dad can barely watch all seven of us, and he's thirty-three. I'm not surprised a fourteen year old didn't do the best job."
Bill laughed. "Good point. Now, do you promise to stop blaming yourself?"
Percy nodded. "I promise. I love you, Bill."
"I love you, too, Perce."
Bill embraced him once more, and when Percy glanced over Bill's shoulder, he spotted Ronnie!
His quick flash of relief was replaced by panic.
"NO!"
Bill jumped at Percy's yell, and Percy shoved the older boy out of the way as he bolted into the street.
Four year old Ron had never been good at paying attention, and the fact that he would be getting tired by now was making it worse. Ron had wandered into the street and was slowly walking across the pavement, day dreaming about something or other, oblivious to the car barreling towards him. In the dark of the night, the driver undoubtedly couldn't see Ron and wouldn't be able to see him until it was too late.
Bill's eyes widened in horror, and he took a stop forward, but Percy had already reached Ron. His palms smacked against Ron's back, propelling him forward and causing the boy to roll across the street until he hit the curb.
Ron was out of harm's way, but Percy was not.
The driver hit the brake, but it was too late. The vehicle connected with Percy's side, flipping him over the hood. Percy felt multiple bones break, and he landed on the pavement, in too much pain to even breathe properly. Judging by the amount of pain and his difficulty breathing, it was very possible that Percy was going to die.
The last thing he saw was a man (presumedly the driver) and Bill leaning over him, both white as sheets.
"Percy!" Ron yelled from somewhere behind him, his voice thick with tears. He sounded so afraid, so heartbroken.
Percy forced himself to take a breath. He couldn't die. His family still needed him.
That was when the whole world went black.
"He's coming around," a familiar voice whispered.
"Don't rush him. The doctor said he'd be going in and out of consciousness for a while."
"Percy?"
"Bill," Percy breathed as he finally pried open his eye lids.
His parents were sitting in chairs by the left side of his bed with Bill sitting on the right side. They were all pale and exhausted, but relief shined in their eyes.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Machines?
"What happened?" Percy asked, reaching up to hold his throbbing head. His eyes widened when he saw that his right arm was encased in a cast.
"You pushed Ron out of the way of a car, but you got hit," his dad answered.
Percy's eyes widened. "Is Ron okay?"
Bill chuckled. "Yeah. He was a little shaken up, more by seeing you get hit by the car than him almost getting run over. He's been demanding to see you since you were admitted."
"Where's everyone else?" Percy asked.
"In the waiting room," his mom responded. "The doctor recommended no little ones in the room until you were conscious, so Charlie's out there with them. If you're up to it, we can bring them in."
Percy nodded. "Please."
Bill exited the room and returned a few minutes later with Charlie by his side. The twins were holding Charlie's hands; Ron was directly in front of Bill, and Bill was holding Ginny.
The twins, Ginny, and even Charlie looked a little hesitant (probably by the machines and the numerous injuries covering Percy's body), but Ron didn't waste any time.
"Percy!" He said, smiling a toothy grin as he rapidly crossed the room and scrambled onto the bed, careful of Percy's injures and all the machines.
As though drawing strength from Ron, the twins crossed the room and climbed onto the bed to sit by Percy's feet. Charlie stood beside Bill at the end of the bed, and Ginny crawled across the bed to sit beside Percy's waist.
"Percy okay?" Ron asked.
Percy laughed. "I'll be okay, Ron. How are you?"
"I'm okay! You saved me!"
Percy nodded. "Did you expect any differently?"
What Percy didn't expect was Ron embracing him. The four year old tried to be gentle of Percy's arm and broken ribs; Percy had never seen Ron be so careful, not even when Fred broke his arm the previous year.
"Thank you!" Ron chirped.
Percy smiled. "I'd do it again, little brother."
"We know you would," Bill smiled, "and that's what makes you a true Gryffindor."
A bit intense, but not nearly as dark as last chapter. See you for the next (and final) chapter: Ginny!