A shortish one, setting up some Ron-angst and (yet more) George-angst.

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New Year

II. New Year's Eve 1998 – George and Ron

"Why the hell didn't you tell me yesterday?" Ron was just as furious as George had feared he would be.

"I don't know, Ron. I just didn't, okay? Lee only told me at closing time yesterday."

"Well, I was still there then wasn't I? You could've told me."

"Yeah, I could. I'm sorry, okay? I-I only just found out myself. I wasn't ready to discuss it with anyone." George was failing to keep the impatience out of his voice.

"And I'm only the hired help, so I didn't deserve to know, is that it? You would've discussed it with Fred!" Ron was yelling now.

Something seemed to explode in George's head. All the logical responses to what Ron had just said – that if Fred had still been alive, Lee probably wouldn't have been working in the shop anyway, and Ron certainly wouldn't; that Lee would have told him and Fred together, that Fred was different – seemed irrelevant. George launched himself onto his younger brother, and the two of them rolled on the ground, punching and kicking and scratching, both fighting to hurt.

They were in the yard, George having decided that was as good a place as any to break the news of Lee's leaving to Ron without the rest of the family as an audience. But the noise they were making was not going to go unnoticed for long. The back door was flung open, and Bill, Charlie and Percy, who had been drinking tea and talking in the kitchen, emerged.

"What the hell…?" Bill was across the yard and seizing Ron by the arms in a couple of seconds, Percy just behind him making a grab for George, who looked angry enough to punch him as well as Ron.

"Stop it, both of you!" Bill was struggling to maintain his hold on Ron, but was very much the elder brother. "What the hell's all this about?"

Ron shook his head and refused to answer, but reduced his struggles against Bill's hold somewhat.

"None – of – your – fucking – business! Keep out of this, all of you!" George was still furious, fighting to free himself from Percy.

Charlie strode across the yard, his wand in his hand. "Stop it, George, if you don't want me to put a body bind curse on you. Just stop it!" George opened his mouth to argue, but saw the look in Charlie's eyes, and was forcefully reminded of the few times his second-oldest brother had been unable to avoid pulling prefect-rank on him and Fred at school. He stopped struggling, and pulled away from Percy's slackening grip, still glaring at Ron.

"What the hell's all this about?" repeated Bill, looking at his two youngest brothers in turn, but both shook their heads and refused to say anything. Bill glanced at Charlie and Percy helplessly, but it seemed that neither of them had any better idea than he did about how to deal with this.

Bill shrugged, letting go of Ron's arms. "I think you'd better both go up to your rooms till you've calmed down," he ordered.

"What the fuck? We're a bit old now for you to tell us what to do aren't we?" demanded George rudely, switching his glare from Ron to Bill.

"Are you? You're not acting like it," Bill growled. "If you'd prefer me to fetch Dad so you can explain yourselves to him, I will." George continued to stare at him, obviously considering whether this was an empty threat or not. After a few seconds, he decided that it wasn't, and turned on his heel and marched into the house, Ron following.

Left alone in the yard, the three older Weasley brothers looked at each other.

"What on earth was all that about?" asked Percy. "Anyone know what they were talking about before they decided to kill each other?" Bill shook his head, and Charlie sighed.

"I got the impression it was something to do with the shop," he said. "But I could be wrong. Where's everyone else, anyway? How did they manage not to hear that racket?"

"Mum and Dad have gone to Auntie Muriel's," said Percy. "And Harry and Ginny have gone to see Teddy. Hermione's at her parents', of course. Where's Fleur?"

"Being lazy," said Bill. "I think she's still in bed. She was half an hour ago anyway."

"I need more tea," announced Charlie, leading the way back into the kitchen. "Or something stronger, while we decide what we're going to do about those two idiots. I assume you don't really want to involve Dad, Bill?"

Bill shook his head. "Not if we can avoid it."

Percy disappeared into the living room and reappeared with a bottle of firewhisky and three glasses. The three of them sat around the kitchen table and looked at each other.

"I reckon we give them some time to calm down before we try and tackle either of them," proposed Charlie. "I don't think we'll get much sense out of them right now."

The other two nodded. They sat and drank their firewhisky in silence for some time. There wasn't really a great deal to say when none of them had any idea what George and Ron had been fighting about.

Eventually, Charlie drained his glass and stood up. "D'you think we've given 'em long enough?" he asked.

"No idea," replied Bill. "We can try anyway. Both together, or separately, do you reckon?"

"Separately, I should think," said Charlie, frowning. "Look, Bill, d'you want to talk to Ron, and Percy and I will try and get some sense out of George?"

Bill and Percy nodded, and the three of them made their way upstairs, Bill leaving Charlie and Percy outside George's room, while he went on up to Ron's attic bedroom.