Percy's POV:
The first thing I was aware of were soft voices. Opening my eyes, I looked around. It didn't take me long to recognize the now familiar decor of Shell Cottage. The voices were coming from the kitchen and after a few minutes of listening I recognized both Bill and George's voice. Apparently George had come back from our parents during the time I had dozed off.
Looking toward the window, I looked for some clue as to exactly how long I had been asleep. I remembered having dinner with Oliver, Bill and Fleur. Oliver had left after dinner and deciding to take his advice, I had taken the opportunity to talk to Bill about him and George not hovering as much. I couldn't remember what had taken place after that conversation and I had a feeling I had probably drifted off to sleep after that.
Now, the world outside the window was dark. Slowly, I sat up trying to avoid the lightheaded feeling I still often got if I did anything too fast. The fact that Rob had assured me it was a normal symptom and would go away the more I was up and about didn't make it any less annoying.
I was surprised not to spot any of my family members in the room. I guess Bill was taken my request seriously, at least for now. Given how protective my eldest brother had always been of all of us, I wondered how long it was going to last.
After sitting for a bit, I slowly got to my feet and headed toward the kitchen, my brother's voices becoming more distinct the closer I got. Eventually I could make out what was being said.
"Ron is so excited about the wedding. He and Hermione finally settled on a date - the first Saturday in October," George was saying.
"I'm surprised they're waiting so long," Bill replied.
"Hermione wants to make sure she has time to plan for the wedding after she takes her NEWTS."
"Of course."
"At least they have a plan though," George was saying as I walked into the kitchen. I could hear the dejection in my younger brother's voice.
"Don't force it," Bill replied, reaching out to lay a reassuring hand on George's shoulder.
It was the type of gesture that I had been on the receiving end of plenty of times. When I was younger, I would have accepted it without question, even welcomed it. Theses days, I didn't feel as though I deserved it.
"When you're ready to move on and figure out where you want to go, you'll know it," Bill added.
"And in the meantime I do what? Live with either Mum or Dad or you and Fleur? I'm old enough now that my stay will eventually wear out its welcome in either case."
"Don't be so sure about that," Bill told him, removing his hand from George's shoulder as he leaned back in his chair. Looking up, my older brother finally noticed me. "Hey, look who's awake," he said, trying to keep his voice light though I could detect an underlying uneasiness there. I had a feeling my older brother was still walking on eggshells around me, not wanting to upset me, though probably now the reasoning had changed. "Have a seat," he added, waving a hand in the direction of the other empty chairs around the table.
Unable to shake the uneasy feeling that had been present whenever I was around my family since the Battle of Hogwarts I followed the invitation. After all, I may not feel like I deserved to be accepted as part of the family circle these days but it was exactly where I wanted to be.
"I think I need to start at least making an effort of figuring out what it is I plan on doing now," George continued, going on as if I had been a part of the conversation all along. "I think it's time I go back to the shop. I won't be able to make any decisions until I at least do that."
Bill nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. I was expecting my older brother to make some argument against that action, given his protective streak wasn't just limited to me. Surprisingly though, the next words out of his mouth weren't ones trying to convince George to wait.
"When were you thinking about going?"
George's expression showed that he was as surprised by our elder brother's lack of protest as I was. The fact that he still answered the question quickly told me that this wasn't some spur of the moment idea on George's part.
"Tomorrow actually," George told him. "Now that I've made the decision, I want to go as soon as possible before I have a chance to talk myself out of the decision."
The resigned sigh that Bill gave told me that what my older brother really wanted to do was talk George out of going then. "I wish you had given me more warning," Bill replied. "I know this is something that you need to do but I was hoping I could be with you when you did. Going back to your shop isn't going to be easy-"
"You think I don't know that!" George responded, his words just below a shout.
"Of course not," Bill replied, not letting George's reaction visibly bother him. "I was just going to say that it was something that I'd rather you didn't face alone but the Goblins aren't going to appreciate it if I don't show up for work on such short notice, and the way you're talking, you're not going to want to wait until I get home from work tomorrow evening."
"I'd rather not," George confirmed, looking down at the table in front of him. "Dad feels the same way as you do," he added, which told us that George had at least discussed his decision with our father while he was visiting earlier this evening. "And he also feels that he can't take off from the Ministry right now, which I understand. I mean, they're still trying to reestablish order after everything that went on, and they're understaffed as it is. Mum was complaining about the long hours Dad has been putting in."
Though I knew that George hadn't said the words intending to make me feel guilty, I felt the guilt creeping up inside me. Once again, I was letting people down. Kingsley had asked me to return to the ministry. Had asked me to be his junior assistant like I had been with Scrimgeour, though I knew this time the motives were purer than they had been with Kingsley's predecessor. The former auror had said he wanted an assistant with experience and that retaining my position would give some semblance of stability to the ministry as he tried to rebuild it. Perhaps he was right, but I knew I couldn't go back there. George might be ready to face returning to the joke shop he had opened with Fred, but I knew I was nowhere near facing the memories that haunted the Ministry for me these days.
"I thought about asking Lee to come with me," George continued, "but I don't feel comfortable with that idea. If I end up breaking down again, I don't want anyone but family to see me like that," he admitted. "It would be too hard on Mum, besides she never approved of the joke shop anyway and I'd just feel weird asking Ron or Ginny to come with. I mean, I know sometimes I don't act it, but I'm supposed to be the older brother to those two," he said, trying to lighten the mood with the last words.
"I could go with you."
The offer was out of my mouth before I had really consciously processed the thought, but as I said the words I knew it was something that I wanted to do. Perhaps it was even something that I needed to do. I was tired of being the one leaning on others. I wanted to be the one offering support to somebody else for a change and this was my chance.
My suggestion got the attention of both Bill and George as both of my brothers looked in my direction. I was waiting for the immediate protest from both of them and perhaps yesterday, I would have received just that. However, whether it was just to placate me or for some other reason, my suggestion at least seemed to be being entertained at least by George.
"I would prefer to have company tomorrow," George admitted. "Are you sure you're feeling up to it though, Percy?"
I nodded. Though I still seemed to tire quickly, getting around was getting easier. Though I knew a trip to the joke shop on Diagon Alley would be exhausting, I felt like I was up for it. "I want to do this," I told him. "I want to be there for someone else for a change and feel like I'm a part of this family again."
"Then I'd be honored to have your company tomorrow, mate," George told me, reaching across the table and taking one of my hands in his.
For the first time since rejoining my family at the Battle of Hogwarts, I didn't flinch or feel the urge to withdraw from the familiar touch.
"Perhaps we should check with Rob first," Bill suggested hesitantly. "Not that I'm against you going, Percy," he added quickly as I turned to look at my older brother. "It's just that only a few days ago, Rob stated that he didn't think you were strong enough to make a trip to Romania. Even a trip to Diagon Alley might be too much for you."
"This is hardly a trip to Romania," George countered, once again siding with me against Bill.
"I know, but it's still quite a distance to travel. Apparating is dangerous enough in the best of circumstances, and I think it's still too taxing for you right now, Percy, and you never have liked flying."
"I don't like flying, but I can do it," I told him, purposely avoiding trying to argue against his point about Apparating. I doubted my ability to pull off that particular form of travel myself right about now.
"And what about being spotted by Muggles on your way to London?" Bill asked.
"We could use a Disillusionment Charm," I answered without hesitation.
Bill still looked skeptical but he didn't argue with my solution to his question. I felt his gaze linger on me a bit longer before he looked over at George.
"If you don't like that idea," George said quickly, as if he was trying to stop any arguments from Bill before they even began, "there is always side-along apparition. Fred and I did pass our apparition tests on the first try. One of the things we were actually near the top of our class with."
Inwardly I cringed at the idea. At least I hope I kept from showing any outward reaction to George's suggestion. Somehow, the idea of trusting George to apparate us both somewhere did not sit well with me given that he had rarely taken anything seriously when we were at Hogwarts. As much as I hated flying on a broom, it was definitely the more appealing of the two options we currently had.
Bill glanced back in my direction before letting out a long sigh. "If the two of you are determined to go, there really isn't much I can do to stop you," our elder brother said, as he leaned back in his chair. His resigned demeanor clearly stated that he wasn't happy with the prospect. "The one thing the two of you have always had in common was your stubborn streak. Telling either one of you no always seems to make you all the more determined to do something, if for no other reason than to prove someone wrong."
I was having a hard time believing that Bill was giving in this quickly.
George however had decided to focus on another aspect of Bill's comment.
"And here I always thought that I had nothing in common with you, Percy," my younger brother commented looking across the table at me. "Now, I just have to decide if that is a good thing or not," he added lightly, a trace of humor in his voice.
It was good to hear George trying to joke again, even if his humor wasn't up to its usual standards.
"I'm trying to figure that out myself," Bill muttered. The words were soft enough that it made me wonder if he had intended for us to overhear them or not. Either way, I didn't have long to contemplate that question as my older brother continued talking. "The two of you be careful tomorrow," he told us, telling me that he had accepted the situation as it was, even if he didn't like the idea. "Also, if the two of you care about what my opinion is, I think the side-along apparition idea is the better choice of travel method. It'll be less draining on you," he added, making sure he was looking right at me, when he said the last bit. I had a feeling that he had noticed my reaction when George had first made the suggestion.
"Either way will work for me," George commented.
In the silence that followed, I felt the eyes of both of my brother's on me. I knew they were waiting for me to say something but I didn't know what to say. To disagree with the idea of us apparating was like saying that I didn't believe in George's ability and that wasn't it. Well, it wasn't the entire reason, nor the most important one.
Yes, both George and Fred had seemed to take very little seriously during their years at Hogwarts but their grades had always been passing. Whether they admitted to it or not, they had learned things during their years at school and the inventions they had created that had made their shop and instant success was a testament to that. No, the real problem I had with the idea was the thought of turning control over to somebody else. I had always had an independent streak, and the past few years of being on my own had only strengthened that.
"Don't you trust me?"
George's question made me look up to find George staring back across the table at me. I could clearly see the hurt in his expression.
"It's not that," I told him, the words sounding pathetic even to myself and yet I was struggling with how to explain what I was feeling.
As it turned out, I didn't need to explain anything.
"It's not that George. It's the idea of not being in control that scares him," Bill stated knowingly, coming to my defense. Both Bill and Charlie had always seemed to understand me in a way that the rest of my siblings never had.
George glanced at Bill and then back at me. "We'll travel by whatever method you're comfortable with."
I shook my head. "No, Bill's right. Apparating is the most practical means of travel," I replied, though the logic didn't make me feel any more at ease about the whole idea. "Besides, it's not like you've ever splinched yourself," I added lightly, hoping to ease the tension of the situation even if I couldn't put myself at ease.
"Are you actually trying to make a joke, Perce?" George said, a smile coming to his face. "I didn't think you remembered how too."
"You're joking, Perce! You are actually joking . . . I don't think I've heard you joke since you were-"*
Those last words I had heard Fred say were uncannily similar to George's response now. Had it really been that long since he had made a joke that both of them would find it surprising? Had that surprise been enough of a distraction that it had lead to Fred's death?
They were questions that I couldn't answer nor did I want to dwell on to figure out the answers. The one thing I did know, was that sitting at that table with Bill and George was the last thing I wanted to be doing right now.
Getting to my feet I managed to say something, though I wasn't sure what had come out of my mouth. I really didn't care if it made any sense, all I knew was that I wanted to escape. I wanted to avoid admitting that I really might have been a factor in Fred's death.
*Taken from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows