A/N: I wanted to start off by thanking everyone for your reviews! I got quite an outpouring for the last chapter, and I am so humbled! I am doing my best trying to capture George's grief, and I'm glad that at least some of you think I am on the right track! After all, I've never had a twin, and I have never experienced that kind of grief, so I am basing everything off of what I imagine George (and the rest) would feel. I hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

Chapter 10

Percy was exhausted as he slumped into his couch. Work had picked up since Hermione had returned to Hogwarts, and he and the rest of the staff had had to divide her tasks among them, making them all appreciate how much Hermione had accomplished in such a short time. Especially since it meant overtime several days a week just to fulfill the Minister's quota, though even still they barely made it. Of course, it didn't really matter since Kinglsey, anxious to start new legislation, had plowed forward before waiting for them to finish, and was now entrenched in an ugly legal battle over the Dementors in Azkaban, and whether or not they should remain. There were very vocal opinions on both sides of the argument, making Kingsley's job even more difficult, and Percy certainly didn't envy him.

With Audrey's transfer, a new girl, Gemma Farley, had come to work for Percy. It was a bit odd for him to be the boss, as she was a year his senior, but she was very willing to work for him, and even more willing to change the image of Slytherin for the better. As a Prefect, Percy found he could identify with her, though she had her own struggles with which to contend. Unlike fellow Slytherin Pucey's family, Farley's had not survived wholly intact; her aunt, uncle and cousin had gone missing during the war, and according to her, they still hadn't been found. Percy couldn't imagine the agony involved with the situation. At least he had some closure with Fred – though he doubted George saw that as a blessing.

In the past few months, George had become alarmingly unhinged. Percy and the family were desperate to help him, but the problem was that they were the cause. For the most part, they were moving on with their lives, or at least on the surface they seemed to be. Percy knew his parents were still gutted by Fred's death, but they were making a conscious effort to hide it in front of their other children. As for he and his siblings, they all seemed to agree that there was no point in dwelling on grief. Percy had personally done enough of that, and it had almost killed him. Even though it was painful, he was slowly letting go, at least in comparison to George, who was clinging to his grief as if his very life depended on it. Sometimes Percy saw the frustration in George's face – a part of him wanted to let go – but there was an overwhelming part that just couldn't give it up. George didn't know how to be George without Fred, and as much as Percy and his family wanted to help him move on, this was a battle that George ultimately had to face on his own. Percy wondered just how long it would take. On some days, he even despaired that it would never happen as George went slightly mad and Percy couldn't do a thing about it. Even the Checklist had become ineffective.

Over the months, Percy had tried to update the Whiskey Checklist with new goals for George, but as work caught up to him, and George fixated on his dead twin, inspiration had run dry. Percy didn't know how to help him. It was the worst day when even his family acknowledged his failure. His mother, knowing that George frequented Percy's flat and opened up to him, often asked him how George was, and, leading up to the end, he had had to confess that he didn't know, that George had begun to reject him like the rest of them. It broke his heart when tears welled in his mother's eyes. When Percy returned to his flat, he drowned himself in Firewhiskey, not caring that he had work the next morning. Even now the only thing he remembered from that night was thinking that if George was going to ignore the Checklist, so could he. Thank goodness his co-workers had been so understanding. One look at Percy and they physically shoved him back into the fireplace. Percy didn't want special treatment, and it was completely unprofessional behavior, but he was grateful for his co-workers. To make it fair, he forced himself to lighten up on them. After all, no one had escaped the effects of the war, and Percy wasn't the only one grieving for a lost family member. He kept things as efficient as possible, but he was sensitive to their needs, and it made for a balanced work environment that Percy actually found himself enjoying. Even now in his completely exhausted state, he felt a hint of satisfaction with his work. It was the only part of his life where he could express that feeling, and he relished it when he could.

Stretching, Percy yawned and rose from the couch, considering what to eat for dinner. He opened the cabinet door and smirked.

"Which one of mum's meals do I want to heat up?" he asked himself, amused by the sheer amount of plates his mother had insisted he take with him. She was determined to feed him as always, and Percy couldn't help but be appreciative that she had acknowledged his need for privacy. He really could only tolerate the Burrow a few nights a week. With Hermione and Ginny back at school, Harry gone doing Auror business half of the time, George and Ron appearing sporadically, and everyone else back at their own homes, it was becoming even more awkward. Forced into regular conversation with his parents, Percy was increasingly forced to recognize just how little he had in common with them. Though he could sometimes talk with his father about work, it was still dull and overly formal. Then, when they did broach more casual topics, it inevitably steered toward George and his lack of progress. Percy didn't know how much longer he could deal with the pressure on his shoulders. He had to get through to George somehow, he needed to. Everyone was depending on him.

Percy sighed, feeling less hungry. Though his appetite constantly waned, he forced himself to eat for the sake of his family. He didn't want them to be hurt by him again. Muttering a spell to heat up the food, he took the now steaming plate, utensils and a glass of water to his study. There, sitting prim in his chair, delicately slicing everything and chewing mechanically, he reviewed the Checklist and wracked his brains for a solution. He was so engrossed that he almost missed the noise from the living room that signaled someone's arrival via Floo. When he did realize it a moment later, he jumped to his feet.

"George?" he called hopefully as he headed into the living room. When he saw who it was he deflated slightly in surprise. "Oh."

Ron's face was sour. "Sorry to disappoint you."

Percy blinked. "Oh, no, please…I…I just thought you were George."

"Yeah. I get it."

Percy was at a loss for how to explain himself. It wasn't as if Ron had ever visited him before.

"I just…I wasn't expecting you."

Ron huffed as he plopped into one of the couches and avoided Percy's wondering gaze.

"Ron, are you alright?" Percy asked, scrutinizing his youngest brother's shadowed face.

Ron shook his head. "I didn't want to go home. Mum and Dad are…the usual. And George is…well, how he's been for a while. I just needed to get out."

"And Harry's…still away?" Percy asked tentatively.

"Yeah."

"Oh. I see. Erm…Can I…get you something? Tea perhaps?"

Ron shrugged.

Percy went to the kitchen area and busied himself with the kettle, trying to make sense of Ron's visit. He spoke in pleasantries to cover his confusion.

"So how is your work with Lee going? Phoenix has really taken off, hasn't it?"

"Yeah it has."

Ron wasn't making this easy, Percy mused. "Erm…so what do you do for Phoenix again?"

There was quiet for a moment, and then, "It's not good enough."

Setting the kettle down, Percy came into the living room and eyed his brother concernedly. "What?"

"It's not good enough!" Ron repeated, slamming his fists into his thighs. "I'm not doing anything useful! Sure, the radio's great, but things are still so bloody messed up! Have you talked to George?" His manic eyes connected with Percy's, who glanced down in defeat. "Exactly! He hasn't spoken to anyone in a whole sodding month! Mum's crying all the time but pretending she isn't, and Dad's barely slept in just as long! And what am I doing? I'm sorting through posts where half of them are rumors made up by people who conveniently forgot we were just in a bloody war! What good am I doing?" Ron heaved a breath and added in a smaller voice, "Hermione and Ginny are at school. Everyone else is working and doing important things. And I'm just…" He trailed off, staring at the floor.

Percy swallowed and sat next to his brother.

"You are doing important things, Ron—"

"Really? More important than changing the government or capturing the rest of the Death Eaters?"

Percy sighed. "Ron, you must consider everything in perspective. You're doing the best you can dealing with all that's happened. You may feel that your work is not as important, but the world needs Phoenix as an outlet. It's not just news; it's entertainment. People need it to recover from grief, and to actually enjoy life again. You cheer people up—"

"Hardly," Ron cut in. "I'm not cheering up George, am I?"

Percy inhaled slowly. "George…well, he's…I wish I could get through to him, and I'm sorry I haven't."

Ron glanced up, aghast. "You're not getting through to George? Well at least you did for a while! He actually talked to you! Meanwhile I'm bloody fooling around with Lee and…" He sighed.

"It's not your fault that George regressed, Ron."

Ron rolled his eyes. "I know. But I just feel so…"

"Helpless?" Percy offered, giving Ron a tired smile when his brother gazed at him.

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "That sounds about right."

The brothers sank back into the couch, sharing a moment of silence when the teakettle abruptly whistled. Percy leapt up and poured some water into two cups with teabags already in them. He brought them over to the couch and handed one to Ron, who took it resignedly.

"Thanks," he murmured.

"You're welcome." Percy sat beside him and lightly sipped his tea, enjoying its warmth all the way down to his stomach.

"I miss Hermione," Ron said suddenly.

"So do I. She was quite efficient in the workplace."

Ron raised an eyebrow at Percy. "She's also my girlfriend, and I miss her."

"Of course. I know how that is," Percy replied without thinking.

"Right. You and Penelope."

Percy stiffened, berating himself. "Yes." He hurried to change the subject. "But Hermione will be able to visit soon, right?"

Ron didn't get the hint. "Are you still with her?"

"No." Percy stood up quickly and made his way back to the kitchen area.

"Why not?" Ron called after him.

Percy halted in place and faced Ron again. "Ron, why are you really here?"

Ron's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Why are you inquiring about my love life? I'm not prying into yours, am I?"

"I was just going to ask about long-distance relationships! I thought you were still with Penelope—"

"We haven't been together for almost a year!" Percy snapped. "I appreciate your asking!"

Ron's ears flushed in shame. "Look, I'm sorry. I just thought—"

"You know what, forget it. Never mind. I'm sorry I yelled at you." Percy returned to the kitchen and found that he wanted more tea, but had left his teacup in the other room. He was startled when footsteps came behind him and he turned to find Ron standing there, a sheepish expression on his face, as he held both of their teacups in front of him. Wordlessly he handed Percy's back to him and then avoided his eyes, clearly uncomfortable.

"Erm…I should be the one who's sorry. I haven't visited."

Percy sighed. "It's alright. I didn't think you would."

Ron's head snapped up. "What do you mean by that?"

"I…I thought after everything…all that I said about Harry in that letter and then with Fred that…"

"That I what, hated you or something?"

Percy cringed. "Erm…"

"I don't, Percy. Though I do think you're a bit mental."

Percy felt his chest lighten as he and Ron exchanged grins. "Well," Percy said, straightening, "You do remind me of myself, so what does that say of you?"

"At least I acknowledge that I'm mental," Ron retorted, smirking. His good humor faded. "We're all a bit mental now, though George is…"

Percy put his hand on Ron's shoulder. "We'll get through this."

"Really?" Ron asked doubtfully.

"We will. We have each other and that's all we need."

Ron nodded and then grinned wickedly. "Look, Perce, I realize we've both been without someone for a while, but I'm not really into snogging right now…"

Percy tried to swat him as Ron laughed and ducked.

"Too slow, mate. Someone here didn't play Quidditch!"

"Because it's dangerous and I have a petite build!"

Ron burst out laughing. "Petite build?"

Percy's indignant expression faded to a smile. "Yes. And I never really liked it. There, that's off my chest."

"Shock," Ron cheeked. "Oh, and did you hear about Ginny? That she's captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team this year?"

"Yes, I heard that from Mum. I sent her a congratulatory note."

"She's going to be fantastic at it! I know she really was looking forward to playing again after last year."

"Yes. She's quite talented."

"Yeah."

The brothers once again shared a silence, though it was somehow more comfortable than before.

"I appreciate your coming, Ron," Percy spoke up after a while. "I really do."

"Yeah, don't mention it. I'll come by more often now that I know you're not completely mental yet."

"No, not completely anyways," Percy agreed.

"So…erm…how's it going then?" Ron asked awkwardly.

"Same as always." Percy refilled his cup and led Ron back to the couches.

Ron frowned. "Sorry to 'pry' but…you didn't break up because of the long-distance thing, did you?"

Percy shook his head, sighing. "No, Ron. It was far more complicated than that. And no, I don't think it's going to be a problem for you and Hermione. I've seen you two together and your case is very different from mine. You went through so much together. I don't think her being at school will affect your relationship."

"You think so?" Ron asked, clearly anxious about it. "This summer was…really great in some ways and I just…I want us to be…together, you know?"

"And you will be," Percy assured him. "Is that really what you were so worried about?"

"I guess. And Perce, I'm sorry about Penelope. Unless…was it a mutual thing?"

Percy's jaw tightened and he set his teacup down on the coffee table. "No, it wasn't."

"You let her down easy?"

"No."

Ron was shocked. "What?"

"I didn't break up with her. She broke up with me."

"Oh."

Percy hesitated, and then added, "I proposed to her."

Ron's eyes widened. "Merlin, really? You asked her to marry you?"

"That is what proposing means, Ron. And yes. I…I had this wonderful vision in my head of where I wanted us to be in the future. Our own house in the countryside, Ministry jobs, kids…but…."

"But what?"

"But she didn't want to be with me. The me that…abandoned everyone. That…was ignorant and blind and foolish!"

"Yeah, I can understand that," Ron mused aloud, growing shamefaced when Percy shot him a glare.

"This is a secret, you know. No one else knows that I proposed to her. I would appreciate some discretion!"

Ron was taken aback. "Even Mum and Dad don't know?"

Percy shook his head. "They just know we're not together anymore. I didn't tell anyone at the time. I…didn't have anyone to tell."

"Oh, right. Merlin, I'm sorry, Perce. No one deserves that."

"I did, though."

"Oh come off it!"

"We'll agree to disagree then."

This time it was Ron who sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry, Perce. I should've visited. But it's been so…rough. I just don't know what to do anymore."

"It must be even stranger for you to be back home," Percy added. He looked at Ron and smiled. "You did a brave and loyal thing, sticking with Harry. I'm…proud of you, Ron." Ron swelled and tried to hide his pleasure at the compliment. Percy continued with a new warmth in his chest, "And even I must admit that I'm really glad you didn't follow my advice."

Ron snorted. "Who are you and what have you done with my prat of a brother?"

"Oh, he's still here, I assure—" he broke off with a yawn and Ron jumped up, realizing the time.

"It's late. I should probably head home."

Percy waved his hand dismissively. "Do what you like. I can stay up more if you want, though I do have work in the morning."

"Knowing you you're probably up at five in the morning outlining your to-do list," Ron smirked. "No, I think I'd best be off. It…erm…it was good talking to you, Percy."

Percy smiled. "Same, Ron. Have a good night."

"Yeah. See you." Ron waved quickly before grabbing some Floo Powder and disappearing into the flames. Percy lay back and smiled again to himself. He might be failing George, but he was doing something right with at least one of his brothers. Immensely satisfied, Percy let the peaceful feeling flood his body until he was fast asleep right there on the couch.

How many months had passed since the battle? How many days? How many hours? George had no idea. Time had lost all meaning for him. He remembered that at some point he had cared, but he couldn't remember when he had stopped caring. It seemed to him that time had never really existed at all – what's twenty years when a mere second changes everything?

For a long while now, he had lived in a haze of days and nights, sleeping and waking, of meals brought to his room and left on the desk, and people talking to him at regular intervals. They were his clockwork. They ticked like clockwork; he could tell who it was by the footsteps up the stairs. But it didn't matter, really, because he didn't talk to any of them, no matter who they were. Besides, they were blurs in the vacuum of time, slowing down and speeding up for no reason, bustling about so their faces and their clothes and their voices and their smells were indistinguishable and utterly insignificant. The only thing that was important was the place where he lay rotting. Fred. His brother. His twin. Dead. Underground. Rotting.

Whenever George awoke, if he wasn't at the grave, then he immediately went to it. The faceless people that surrounded him had tried to prevent him before, but then he stopped eating and they apparently didn't like that. It was their bargain now. He would consume tasteless food, and they would give him a Portkey right to the spot he loved best. He would spend countless time there and then he would be back in his bedroom with one bed. Sometimes people would accompany him, sometimes not. Sometimes he would wake up somewhere not remembering how he got there. None of it concerned him. He was with his twin when he needed to be. He was where he should've been, except he wasn't quite rotting yet. If time and places could lose all meaning, then maybe life could lose meaning, too, and then he and Fred would grow up together and die together like they were supposed to.

A/N: I wasn't planning initially to do the conversation with Ron, but then Ron appeared in my head and bugged me about it, haha! Reviews definitely inspired that one, and I think it needed to happen! So thank you again!

Also, to say something happy after that little depressing bit at the end, I just got back from vacation in Florida where I WENT TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER! :D As you can expect, it was AMAZING, though smaller than I imagined, haha! The ride in Hogwarts is DEFINITELY worth the wait, and I highly recommend the Pumpkin Juice, though the Butterbeer was pretty good, too! I could go on and on, but I feel like most of you will probably want to kill me out of jealousy– I know my friend does! – so I'll just stop there and hope that all of you lovely people will get the chance to go at some point! You may get to see a new ride, too – Gringotts – which sounds really awesome! It was so worth every penny! Definitely go if you get a chance, though I probably don't need to tell you twice! ;p