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Having to tell the rest of his children about the murder of their older brother Charlie was just another crack into Arthur Weasley's already broken heart. He felt like going off into a dark corner somewhere and just cry but he knew he needed to stay strong for his wife and the rest of his kids. Arthur wrapped one arm around Ron's shoulder and another around Ginny's who had now begun to cry and in-between sobs asking why anyone would want to hurt Charlie, that he wasn't hated by anyone in the world. Ron just looked lost, like he didn't really know how to express what he was feeling. Fred and George on the other hand just looked angry as they talked in a dangerously low tone about all the things they would love to do to the person who had killed Charlie. Arthur could understand perfectly as he had just as much anger as he had grief. He wanted to know. Arthur wanted to know who killed his little boy.

Once they were able to regain their composure the best they could, Arthur informed the four of them that Percy was home with their mother and Bill was likely there too by now. However, the mention of their estranged sibling wasn't met well by Ron.

"So, it takes one of us to die for that git to pull his head out of his arse and remember we exist?!" Ron swore.

"Ron, do not cause a scene when we get back, I mean it." Arthur warned. "It's the last thing your mother and I need right now."

Ron's anger immediately deflated after what his Dad said. Lowering his eyes as he regretted his outburst, but before he could mutter an apology, Fred and George came up on either side of him and placed a hand on each of his shoulders. Ron looked at both of them and they nodded to him as if to say they understood. Fred and George, along with Ginny had been just as angry as Ron about the whole 'Percy situation' and how badly it had hurt their parents, but now was not the time.

"Come on," Fred said. "Let's go home."

Meanwhile, back at the Burrow, Bill was sitting in the living room with his Mum and Percy. They were all talking...well, his mother and Percy were sharing memories they had of Charlie while Bill was barely able to get a sentence in due to Percy constantly cutting him off. It was a little over twenty minutes ago when Bill finally arrived at the Burrow. He walked in and found his Mum and Percy sitting next to each other, talking. It seemed like Percy was doing a good job in keeping their Mum pretty calm. Once she saw her oldest son, Molly jumped up and squeezed him tightly with a hug; something he loved and missed getting. Bill smiled when he looked to Percy and stepped towards him to give a hug but Percy gave him a very brief one armed hug before stepping quickly away from his older brother, leaving Bill perplexed.

"Hey, Bill," Percy simply said before sitting back down next to his mother.

Sighing heavily, Bill rubbed his hands together before looking at the clock, wondering when the others would get here.

"Bill?" Molly turned her attention to her oldest son. "Does Fleur know about what happened?"

"No," Bill shook his head. "She was gone by the time the owl arrived." When he saw the confused look on Percy's face he explained; "Fleur Delacour is my fiancée. We're getting married soon."

"Oh." Percy said, finally making eye contact with him.

"Speaking of that," Bill continued. "Perce, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to-"

"Remember when Charlie took me to the lake when I was six, mum?" Percy smiled, turning back to his mother and throwing Bill's entire conversation off, once again. As Percy continued to talk about Charlie teaching him frog hunting, Bill outstretched his arms while staring at Percy with disbelief.

"What am I? Wallpaper here?" He demanded, in such a forceful tone of voice it caused Percy to look over at him with furrowed brows.

"What?"

"I've been here for twenty minutes and you've said two words to me."

Percy narrowed his eyes.

"Maybe I'm more worried about my mother who I'm sure is in great pain."

"I'm your brother. You don't think that maybe I'm in great pain too?" Bill questioned as he got to his feet which made Percy get up as well. "When I got here you wouldn't even look at me. How come you won't talk to me? I have a lot of good memories of Charlie, you know." His voice cracked a little when he said that. Charlie was his first little brother. He loved Percy just as much. Through this tragedy the two of them could have gotten to know each other again. "Why did you even bother to come here, why didn't you just..."

Percy tuned everything out as he began slowly walking towards his oldest brother. Everything that followed seemed to go in slow-motion. He believed the last words Bill had shouted was "send a card!" Which was then followed by their mother shouting at them to 'stop, please stop!' It took just a few steps for Percy to now be standing right in front of Bill. While Bill was angry, he was a little nervous too as he didn't know what Percy was going to do. Percy on the other hand, looked calm and collected. Percy's hand was in his right pocket, wand gripped in his hand as he wondered if now would be the right time...

No.

No. The others will be here at any moment. This would have to wait for another day. So, a big smile sudden appeared on Percy's face which took Bill a back. Percy then threw himself at Bill, giving him the biggest, brotherly hug Percy had ever given anyone. Bill was shocked at first but the shock quickly dissipated as he hugged Percy back.

"I love you, Bill," Percy stated. "I'm sorry. Right now, I just feel really-"

"I know how you feel. I love you too, Percy." Bill said while giving his little brother several playful punches to the back. When they let go off each other Bill laughed, and their mum was crying, tears of joy this time instead of tears of sadness. Bill must have thought that he had his second little brother back and that's what caused Percy to look away. Bill had always tried to be the exemplary older brother. Percy tried to be just like Bill, but obviously he had failed. Soon, that wouldn't matter anymore.

"So, uh," Percy began, trying to relax his mind. "Why don't you tell me about Fleur?"

Before Bill could answer him that's when the front door busted open and the rest of the lot had arrived.

"Boys!" Molly screamed with joy. "Ginny!"

Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny all gathered around their Mum, each got a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Bill smiled at the scene, this would have been just a great moment had it not been for the tragedy that had brought them all here. Bill looked over at Percy. He had a weird look on his face and one of Percy's fist clinched as he watched his younger siblings hug his mother.

"Percy?" Bill put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Bill." Percy responded as he gently pulled away from him and went to stand closer to his father. By this time Bill was greeting his younger siblings, Arthur was about to make a motion to Percy to go over and do the same but Percy leaned forward and hugged his father tightly. That caught Arthur off guard, but surprise quickly turned to a big smile on his face. Arthur had a small fear that Percy may never talk to him again, but here he was, hugging him as if Percy was clutching on for dear life.

The sad, family reunion was then put on pause by a knock on the door. Arthur carefully answered it to see that it was Rufus Scrimgeour, the new Minister of Magic.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley. May I come in?"

Arthur nodded and opened the door further to let the Minister in.

"I just learned of the news, I came to offer my condolences. I'm very sorry about the loss of your son. I came to let you and your family know the Ministry is going to take care of everything regarding Charlie's funeral. We don't want you to have to worry about a thing."

Arthur lowered his eyes.

"Thank you, very much."

"Anything else you need, just let us know." Scrimgeour looked to Percy and gave him a sad smile. "I suppose the whole family will be staying here tonight?"

"Yes." Arthur put his arm around Percy. "Now that Percy's back-"

"Wait, I'm not back!" Percy pulled away from his father. "I'm not done yet! I'm not even close!"

Now everyone in the house was looking at him as if he had just grown two extra heads as they tried to figure out what he was talking about. Percy froze for a moment but quickly saved himself.

Percy turned to Scrimgeour.

"May I come back to the Ministry with you, Mr. Scrimgeour?"

"What the-"

Every one of the Weasley children began to barge down on Percy before Mrs. Weasley overtook them all. "Silence!" Her brood calmed but only in quiet voices. "Percy, what in the world are you talking about?"

"I happen to still have a lot of work to do." Percy explained.

"Work?" Fred turned to George and scathingly asked; "Are we really sure he's not one of those house elves, with all the attention he gives to work?"

"Nah," George answered. "He doesn't have enough heart to be one."

"He could be a Dementor though." Ron spoke, glaring at Percy with as much hate in his eyes as possible.

"Percy." Scrimgeour drew his gaze away from the other Weasley kids and looked to his assistant. "Do you really wish to come back to the Ministry with me?

"I would like to go back to work," Percy confirmed, having enough composure not to respond to the jabs of his siblings. "I just don't think I'd be of any use here."

Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny turned away in disgust, not even glancing at Percy as they headed for the stairs. Bill looked at Percy, trying to understand but quickly just gave up. "I guess...I'll see you at the funeral."

Percy nodded and Bill went to follow his younger siblings. Scrimgeour ushered Mr. and Mrs. Weasley over into the corner to talk in private.

"People cope with tragedy in different ways," the Minister explained. "If he feels he can be useful for the Ministry, I will let him."

"He could be useful for his family," Molly angerly replied, not loud enough for Percy to hear.

Scrimgeour nodded.

"That may be true, but he might feel he is doing something for his family by going back to work. I know, people are hard to understand sometimes."

"Very well," Arthur sighed heavily as he looked back at Percy with a mixture of confusion and guilt. He didn't understand his third born, and therefore felt guilt that some part of that was his fault. "If he wants to go, he can go." Arthur then went to go look for his kids. "Owl us if you need anything. Or if you change your mind, come on back."

"Percy, we love you." Molly said as a single tear began to slide down her cheek. "You know that, don't you?"

"I love you and Father too," Percy insisted.

Clearing his throat, Scrimgeour said;

"I'll wait outside."

Once the Minister was gone, Percy approached his Mum and brushed the single tear away.

"Mum, I know things seem...bad, right now. But everything is going to be okay in the end, I promise you." Percy then gave her a little smile before a hug.

'Everything is going to be the way it should be.'