Hello, everyone! It's a bit shorter than I'd intended, but I think it's still okay.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Percy had wanted to apologize for a long time, since the minute he walked out of the Burrow. He told himself he was giving them time to cool off, waiting for the perfect time. But there is no perfect time. The only time is now. Or an AU where Percy goes to the hospital to visit Arthur in OOTP

"Don't wait, the time will never be just right." -Napoleon Hill

Percy paced.

And paced.

And paced.

He was sure he'd made a trench in his floor by now, and his legs were starting to get tired, but the restless energy he had was simply spreading to his tapping fingers and toss.

The letter was crinkled in his hand, and the words were burned into his skull.

Percy,

I know you and your father are mad, but please, his in the hospital. Please come.

-Mum

Percy would be lying if he said he didn't want to go. The man was his father, after all; not going to visit him... just felt wrong, and this time, that feeling was too strong to ignore.

The red head collapsed onto the couch, groaning in exasperation. Decision making had never been so hard for him!

"Aw, Arthur, he looks just like you, right down to the glasses," a woman was saying.

It was father son day at the Ministry, and since none of the others had wanted to go, Arthur had taken Percy, only seven but so keen to learn anything and everything about the Ministry.

"I know," Arthur smiled. "He's mini me."

"I'm going to be just like Daddy when I grow up!" Percy exclaimed, looking up at the woman.

She chuckled. "That's a very good ambition. Your father's a great man."

Percy put his head in his hands, sighing and listening to his breath puff through the small gaps between his fingers.

The woman was right. His father was a great man. He didn't make a whole bunch of money; he was looked down on by his superiors, but if there was one thing that Arthur Weasley was, he was a great man. Not to mention a great husband, a great friend, a great father.

He missed him.

Percy opened his Hogwarts letter, trying not to look too excited, and he barely contained a very unmanly squeal when a shiny badge fell out of the envelope.

"A prefect!" His mother cried. "Oh, Percy, I'm so proud of you!"

"We both are," Arthur said. "Fantastic job, son."

"Thanks, Dad," Percy smiled.

Tears had sprung to Arthur's eyes because that was the first time Percy had called him dad since he was twelve. It would also be the last time for four years to come.

Percy wiped the salt water from his eyes, smearing tears across his fingers.

He remembered the one time his dad saw him cry as a teenager. He'd been seventeen, and he'd come home for the Christmas holidays (I know the Weasleys didn't come home for Christmas that year, but we're going to pretend they did).

"Percy," his dad called. "Your mother's been calling you. It's time for dinner."

"I'm not hungry!" Percy called back.

His dad opened the door without permission, and Percy hurriedly wiped his eyes.

His dad walked over and sat beside him on the bed.

"What happened?"

"Penelope cheated on me," Percy admitted.

Arthur sighed. "Oh, Percy, I know how that feels."

"No. I mean... it's worse than that. We had sex. She cheated on me a week later," Percy told him, feeling incredibly awkward about having this discussion with his dad of all people, but it felt good to get it off his chest.

"Oh, Perce," Arthur whispered, but before Arthur could give him a lecture, Percy cut him off.

"I know I shouldn't have, but we went to the Room of Requirement on her birthday, and she brought a drink with her. I didn't know what it was, but she said it was just a Muggle drink. I'd never tried alcohol before, and she didn't seem like the type to drink underage; I didn't even know it was alcohol. Next thing I know, I'm waking up in bed with her."

Arthur breathed through his nose before leaning over and wrapping Percy in a hug.

"Why does it hurt so much?" Percy asked.

"They wouldn't call it falling in love if you didn't get hurt sometimes," Arthur told him.

Decision made, Percy grabbed his cloak off of the coat rack and headed for the floo.

The hospital was oddly quiet. There were a few nurses and doctors, but most patients were already in bed and the Healer amount had dwindled as most went home after the day shift.

The visiting hours were all day at St. Mungos because if something couldn't be healed quickly with the flick of a wand, it was serious. Anyone with serious injuries deserved someone at their bed side at all times.

That was why Percy was surprised to find his father's room empty, aside from the injured red haired man.

He found a note on the bed side table.

Arthur,

In case you wake up, Bill and Charlie had to return to work and were heading home after that. They'll be back in the morning. Bill forced me to go home and get some rest, and I took the kids with me. We'll return in the morning. Dumbledore is having Mundungous sit with you just in case.

-Molly

"Dumbledore must've stationed a bad guard," Percy mumbled, quietly, seeing as there was no one else here.

He didn't mumble it quietly enough.

Arthur rolled over and blearily opened his eyes. Percy froze like a deer in a headlight.

"Percy," he muttered.

Percy had a chance to back out, but no, he wasn't going to wait anymore. There was no right time for an apology. The best time was now.

"Hi, Dad," Percy whispered.

Arthur, upon hearing Percy's voice, tried to sit up, but Percy gently pushed him back to the bed.

"Don't try to sit up. We don't want you to hurt yourself anymore."

As his dad tried to get more comfortable on the brick of a hospital bed, Percy seated himself in the vacated chair beside the bed.

"I'm sorry, Dad," Percy whispered. "For everthing."

"Percy, you were forgiven the minute you walked in that door," Arthur said, gesturing to the doorway. "And I'm sorry, too."

Percy hugged Arthur, tightly, and his dad hugged him back. The men cried like they'd never cried before.

When Molly and the six other Weasleys returned the next morning, they found Percy asleep in the chair and Arthur slumbering peacefully for the first time since Percy left.

The prodigal son had returned.

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