Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 1038

it doesn't make you weak (to ask for help)

Harry slipped out of the back door of the Burrow into the fresh air of the evening and let out a gust of breath, glad for the momentary reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the Weasley household.

It wasn't that he hadn't missed them—he had, daily and deeply—but after a year on the run, the whole family being together was just… a lot.

Especially given the grief that was also clouding them all. Fred's loss had affected each of them deeply, and Harry felt like he was intruding on something he had no part of.

While he felt his own grief—for Fred, for Remus and Tonks, for Colin, and every other person that died—it wasn't quite the same.

Or maybe it was. What did he know?

They hadn't thought twice about inviting him home with them—had taken it as a given really, that he would go with them—but being inside with so many people was making his skin itch.

He walked down the slope of the garden, past Arthur's sheds, to the little pond close to the fence where the wards ended. How easy it would be to just slip outside the wards and disappear.

A too-large part of him was beyond tempted to do just that.

Had the year on the run really ruined him so much that he couldn't even spend time around the family that had claimed him as their own?

Before he could make a decision to stay or leave, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Without even a conscious thought, his wand was in his hand and he'd dropped into a defensive stance as he spun around to face the threat.

Percy blinked at him behind wire-framed glasses, and slowly raised his hands to show himself unarmed.

Harry felt himself flush as he shook his head at his own dramatics, pocketing his wand as he stood up straight, a muttered apology falling from his lips.

"It's fine," Percy replied softly. "I, uh. Ron was going to come after you but… I was hoping you'd talk with me for a while."

Harry blinked and then nodded. "Sure."

He wondered what Percy could possibly have to say to him; a whispered voice in his head told him that if Percy was about to warn him away from his little sister, it might give him the excuse he needed to run away and hide.

"I wanted to apologise."

Harry frowned. He hadn't expected that. Tilting his head curiously, he asked, "For what?"

Percy snorted. "When I abandoned my family, it wasn't only them I wronged. It was you too, Harry."

Shaking his head, Harry replied, "You didn't owe me anything, Percy. Everyone had an opinion, you can't be faulted for believing the lies. There were times even I wasn't sure what was true or false, and I lived it."

"Still. I was unfair to you. I am sorry it took me so long to see the truth."

Harry nodded. "Okay. You're forgiven, if that's what you need, though it's unnecessary. I'm glad you've made up with your family, Percy. You all need each other right now."

"You're part of the family too, Harry," Percy pointed out softly. "I may not have always seen it that way, but it doesn't make it any less true."

Unsure what to say without sounding ungrateful, Harry didn't reply. He turned back to the pond, crossing his arms over his chest. He was just… so tired.

Despite the lack of sleep before the battle at Hogwarts—the lack of real rest in over a year, in all truth—Harry had barely slept since the fighting stopped.

Everytime he tried, he was left staring at the ceiling, sleep avoiding him as much as he'd often avoided it in the past. When he did sleep, it was always filled with troubling sounds and flashes of light, leaving him to startle awake with sweat pouring from his temples, sure that the end of the battle had been a dream.

Even though he was gone now, it seemed Voldemort wasn't quite done tormenting Harry.

He wondered if he ever really would.

"I stood out here last night for over an hour," Percy said, and Harry jumped. He hadn't expected him to still be there. The red-head walked up to stand beside him. "I fought with myself about whether I should even be here. Do I belong here, after betraying my family the way I did?"

"Of course you do," Harry replied automatically. Percy was a Weasley, after all, and the family would never deny one of their own a place to be safe.

"Then stop thinking you don't belong here. You're as much a part of the family as I am, even if you've got a different colour hair."

Harry bit his lip but eventually, he nodded. "Thanks, Percy."

"If you're having trouble sleeping, I can brew you some dreamless sleep," Percy asked after a moment. "I became something of an expert on it over the last two years."

"I prefer not to use potions," Harry admitted. "They're so easy to get reliant on, and I just… I'd rather not."

Percy nodded. "Just… try and remember that it's not a weakness to ask for help; especially when you're asking people that will do anything for you. Okay?"

"Kay. I, uh. Thanks, Perce."

Percy nudged him slightly and then nodded back to the house. "I'm going to head back in, but take whatever time you need. They understand."

Harry just smiled slightly and listened to his fading footsteps as Percy made his way back to the house. He considered the conversation thoughtfully and found that the smile didn't leave his lips.

He expected words of comfort and welcome from the majority of the family, but to have them come from Percy…

It meant a little more, perhaps. Or at least, it felt more meaningful.

Harry glanced back at the house. Maybe he could take a break from being so independent and lean on the people he knew loved him, at least a little bit. While he really didn't want to take a potion, maybe someone would have some tips on sleeping.

And maybe it wasn't weak that Harry was ready to ask for help.

Written for:

Record Collection: 1. She Don't Know Me, Mullally: Write about realising that you were wrong about someone.

Lizzy's Loft: 19. "I am sorry it took me so long to see the truth."

365: 28. Independent