Warnings: None that need stated.

AN: A little over a year later. Weasley household. (Edited March 07)


Alice in Wonderland


"Hey, Ol, how you doing?"

"Been keeping yourself busy?"

"Kicking butt?"

"Meet any girls?"

"I bet they're just falling all over themselves."

The twins really haven't changed at all. I half smile, enduring the enthused backslapping that punctuates each sentence.

"Come on in, sit down."

"It's been a long time since we saw you last."

"Been getting your letters, though."

"Sounds like you're having great fun."

"Hey mum, Ol's here!"

I'm herded into the living room and onto the couch, a grinning twin on either side of me. Mrs. Weasley comes bustling in. There really there isn't any other word to describe it.

"Oliver, how have you been? The twins have kept me up to date on things. It all sounds so exciting."

"I've been rather well, ma'am. I've got a busy schedule, though I don't get to play all that much. Just reserve, after all. Lots of practice, little game time."

"What brings you to town?"

"We've got a week or so off from training and games. Our captain isn't really certain how long just yet. Most of the team is heading into London but I decided to stop by and see the twins since they mentioned if I was ever in the area they'd love to see me. It was on the way back from our last stop. I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all." She beams. "A pleasure really."

"I'll head out again soon, though, to meet up with the team in London. And find a decent place to stay for a few days."

"You don't have family around or anything?"

"No ma'am."

She thinks about this for a moment and its times like this I wish I had the foresight to watch what I say before I say it. And really, I ought to know better. How long have I known the Weasleys in some form or another?

"Why don't you stay with us then?"

"Oh no, I really couldn't-."

"Sure you could. You look like you need some company and a few home cooked meals, a couple days to relax. Really, I insist. And you'd be safer here..." she trails off, and then brightens up with a smile. "No trouble at all. As much as the twins talk about you you're practically a part of the family."

I recognize the look she's got in her eyes. It's the same one Percy would always get when he'd gotten hold of an idea and had decided not to let it go and eventually I'd be forced to agree. And I've got to admit it would be nice, the home cooked meals, the family atmosphere, the pleasant company, and... Percy.

I haven't seen him since- then. Haven't heard from him in any other way except at the first in letters from Fred and George, and even then that stopped soon enough- probably when they ran out of things to gripe about.

Old patterns demand one more attempt to give them the chance to think it over. "I really don't want to be a bother."

"No bother at all, dear, no bother at all."

Something whistles from another part of the house and she excuses herself and bustles out again. I'm left feeling a bit lost, as if I'd missed something, but the twins just start to chatter on about their latest concoction and what they hope to do with it next. I can only take about ten minutes of their non-stop talking, able to get the briefest 'uh huhs' and 'hmms' and 'yes, I-' into the conversation before they barrel ahead with the next thought, and then I'm starting to think that I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation if this keeps up.

And with that amazing sense for knowing the right moment to interrupt – just like Percy – Mrs. Weasley comes back into the room and more or less tells me that I'd like to have some time to myself to settle in and such before dinner. Very astute woman, Mrs. Weasley. I agree whole heartedly with her assessment and let her show me the way up the stairs, trailed by the twins.

"You'll have to stay in Percy's room. Normally we put visitors in Bill and Charlie's old room, but the twins," she shoots them a glare only a mother can pull off, "made something in their room explode and there's magic bouncing all around and part of a wall's missing right now. So now they're in Charlie and Bill's room. That's not going to be a problem, is it? You two were friends in school, right? And there's plenty of room in there. He's away right now of course, so you'll just be by yourself, and we don't expect him back until a week at least. Is that all right?"

"Well, I- I expect so. He's gone?"

"Off studying something somewhere, doing research, I can't remember exactly. He's always so busy though. A real asset to the Ministry, my Percy." She fiddles with a door and then pushes it open, muttering something under her breath that lights up the room from light sources I can't see at the moment.

I know as soon as I glance into the room that it's Percy's, from the neat rows of books on the shelves in the back to the perfectly made bed, the organized desk and the shirt folded just so and draped over the back of the chair.

It seems terribly wrong to step into this sanctuary without Percy here as my guide but Mrs. Weasley just continues without taking notice.

"I don't think you'll be wanting for much. There's plenty of space here, and he always keeps it tidy. I'll get you anything you need after supper is finished but until then we'll just leave you be." She waits a moment then turns with a smile and herds the twins out, shutting the door behind her.

As soon as the door closes all of the sounds outside of the room cease to be and I realize that Percy has an advanced silencing charm up. I do believe I remember him mentioning something about ghosts in the attic or banging pipes, the occasional explosion, and just the general hubbub of a large household.

I take a look around the room, at bit lost at what to do next, though I know I can't just stand here until they come back up and collect me. I move over to the bed and perch at the edge of it.

The last half an hour of my life has been very Alice inn Wonderland in nature, surreal to the point of almost ridiculous. And now here I am, in Percy's room, sitting on his bed – a place, mind you, I would have killed to be a little over a year ago – and I have no idea really how I got here.

And apparently Percy won't be back until after I leave, most likely. That's just life for you.