Silence descended over the room. All except for the faint noise of Fudge's wand falling on the floor. Percy's heart sped up, relief coming over his body like a much needed warmth. Harry was there, his brothers were there. He could hardly believe it, he wouldn't if he wasn't seeing it with his own eyes. But there they stood, fiercely determined and a glint of anger. Had they heard? They must have. Otherwise, they wouldn't have disarmed the min-no. Fudge. Otherwise they wouldn't have disarmed Fudge. He didn't deserve to be called the minister.
For a split second, Percy made eye contact with Fred. He knew it had to be Fred. The differences in the twin's faces were subtle, but when he looked at them, really looked, he knew. The sincerity was there, regret, an apology tipping the surface. For the both of them. Percy swallowed, feeling that there was so much to say but he hadn't a clue on how to begin.
"Well, well, well," Fudge wore a smirk, eying Harry up like a predator. "I suppose I should have expected this, hmm. Of course, Harry Potter must come to save the day like always. Tell me, Harry, just how did you know? Just what tipped you off to come here?"
"Nothing," Harry's face hardened, his wand pointed straight at Fudge.
"Oh, Harry," Fudge's voice was condescending and nasty at the same time. "You're going to hurt my feelings. I don't think the general public would take it well if they knew their savior staked the minister and threatened him. Your reputation surely wouldn't survive, now would it?"
A threat.
A not so subtle threat.
Or, in actuality, a promise.
Harry didn't look all too worried. "But yours would? What do you think people say once they found out their beloved minister was using a forbidden curse on one of his employees? That wouldn't look too good on your part."
"Perhaps not," Fudge agreed. Too easily. He took a step forward. "But the public isn't going to find out about this. No one will."
"You think we'll keep your secret?" Fred said loudly.
"You're off your rocker, if you do," George added.
Fudge let out a low chuckle. "I would imagine none of you would give in so easily. No matter. Accio wand," he held out his wand, the wand zooming until it reached. He pointed it towards them. "Why, don't I show you boys what you're really up against?"
"You can try!" Fred and George said in unison, holding out their own wands.
"Stupify!"
"Locomotor Mortis!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Confringo!"
Percy yelped, attempting to slide down the chair to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. The ropes were still wound around his body in a tight grasp, leaving not even an inch for him to squirm. His head fell back, with him groaning in frustration. In part of the situation he was in and at himself for letting this happen in the first place. How could this have happened? His parents were right. His dad had been unsure of what to think when he'd gotten the job. He remembered so clearly, before all the mind meddling had begun. His dad warned him, having an uneasy feeling about Percy being so close to Fudge. He'd listened, but thought of him as being paranoid for no reason. And so he brushed it off.
He'd never regretted anything more in his life.
If he managed to get out of this alive he would fix this. Fix everything that happened. Apologize profusely until he received forgiveness.
George cried out as he fell flat as a board to the floor. Spells were still flying everywhere, it was difficult to discern who was casting what spell or curse or hex. Percy was powerless where he was, no wand to him or any way to help his brother.
"Fred!" he hollered. "You've got to help George! Do something!"
He watched in relief as Fred used the counter spell to free his twin. As they continued to fight, he tried to free himself by wiggling. Perhaps he could get loose if he merely found the right way.
I can do this
I just have to keep trying
Harry dodged another confringo. Had he been a second too late, he would've been blasted to the wall. Fudge was starting to grow frustrated that Harry was not proving to be an easy opponent. He'd clearly underestimated him. Even Percy could admit the boy was talented. He was quick to block, quick to put out counter spells. It was all fairly impressive.
But that feeling didn't take long to bubble into something else: guilt. Guilt that gnawed at him, eating away at his insides for the things he'd thought. The things that couldn't purely be due to what Fudge had done. The truth was, Percy was partly to blame. Fudge's spells had only intensified what was already there to an intolerable degree. He may not have believed Harry to be a complete liar but he had been skeptical.
But didn't he have a right to be? Harry was subjected to almost cruel amounts of skepticism and harsh attitudes ever since the tournament; surely Percy's wasn't as bad as how some other people acted. Before Fudge put that spell on him, that is.
Harry would likely never forgive him for things he'd said while under the spell. He didn't even want to imagine what those things had been. Let alone to his family. His chest constricted. The pain was worse than anything he'd ever felt. He would've ripped out of those bonds and apparated back to his home in a heartbeat if it meant he had the chance of fixing everything.
And fix what he'd done to his family.
Hoping they'd forgive him.
They had to, right? They'd understand. They'd realize he wasn't in complete control of himself.
But what if they didn't?
What if they didn't care? Ron, Ginny, the twins and even their dad could be horrifically stubborn. They might not accept his profuse apologies and carry on with their distrust and disdain of him. There was only so much their mother could do to remedy the situation. There was even less she could do to make them behave towards Percy.
They're not going to want to see me
They must hate me for everything I've done
Everything I've said
I don't blame them
I'd hate me too
He about jumped out of his skin when he felt a flick against his temple. Fred was there! George was there! They were next to him, knelt down while Harry was still fighting Fudge.
"Nice of you to join earth again, Bighead Boy," Fred said lightly.
"You did look a bit lost there," George added.
"Kind of like you're constipated."
"And trust us, we know what that look is."
Percy's breathing hitched at the sight of his brothers up close. The ache in his chest was greater now, the lump in his throat worse. "I'm-" He didn't know what to say, where to begin. His voice came out as a whisper. It was a wonder they'd heard it at all. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Fudge, he-"
"We hard," George kept his eyes on the floor.
"We know what he did," Fred said quietly.
"I'm sorry," Percy was repeating over and over like a mantra. "I'm sorry for everything."
He didn't know how they were going to react, if they would even respond positively to him, but then Fred gave him a tiny smile that made him think just maybe everything was going to be alright. A hand clamped on his shoulder, which wasn't covered by the thick ropes. His younger brother-Fred-cleared his throat, for once, all of the confidence that Percy had envied for so long had disappeared. It was usual behavior for Fred to shift and look as though he truly didn't know what to say. He was always saying something, much of which Percy had believed to be utter nonsense.
"We-" Then Fred started over, exhaling. "I-"
"Not that I don't appreciate whatever it is you're trying to do," Percy cut him off with apologetic eyes, "but I don't think this is the place to do it." He flinched when another blast was heard. Percy had never been good with loud noises.
Fred seemed a bit relieved to hear this. "Right," he nodded. "We should...probably get you out of those."
"It'd be nice," Percy's voice was slightly dry. He didn't hear the incantation but with a quick flick, the ropes fell limply on the floor and Percy was freed. He stared down in wonder and then up at his brothers. "Wow," Was the only thing he could say.
"Nice, isn't it?" George grinned. But it wasn't like normal; it was somewhat strained, somewhat awkward. Not that it was entirely surprising. Given the circumstances, anyway.
"I'm sorry," Percy repeated for the third time. The apologizes kept coming and he didn't feel like there were enough in the world to make up for everything.
"You don't need to keep apologizing," Fred told him.
"Yeah," George chimed in. Then seemed to falter a bit when Percy turned in his direction. "I reckon this is our fault too."
Percy couldn't believe this; for one, they were taking responsibility and much as he loved his brothers, they weren't known for doing that and second-how could any of this be their fault? Fudge was the one responsible for the whole mess. "What?" He frowned. "Don't be ridiculous. You two didn't do anything."
"I don't think George here is just talking about the whole Fudge messing with your brain thing," Fred elaborated with a heavy sigh.
Percy's face softened. "Oh."
They were startled from their almost moment when Harry's still conscious body slammed on the tile flooring. He groaned, rolling on his side, his hand attempting to grab his wand. Percy thought his eyesight must be temporarily mucked up, for his hand was reaching out but touching places on the floor that were nowhere near his wand.
"Harry!"
Fred and George yank him up, quite ungracefully from the floor. They were at each side and the teenager stumbled a bit but slowly regained his senses. "Thanks," he mumbled.
Percy's eyes met Fudge's and his mouth tightened. "Leave Harry alone," he said firmly.
"Leave him alone?" Fudge said mockingly, twirling his wand between his fingers. Percy took a step backwards, eyes darting to the side, ensuring that the three of them were staying there. "Oh, but Weasley, you weren't saying that just yesterday. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Percy said nothing. He wasn't going to give the man the satisfaction of knowing that his words had stung. However, there was someone else who didn't take that too kindly and it wasn't the person he expected.
"You bastard!" Fred cried out in outrage.
"Fred, no!" Percy pulled him back, much to his brother's disgruntlement. "You can't!"
Fred tried to wiggle out of Percy's grip but to no avail. "Why are you protecting him?" He demanded. "He cursed you. Don't you understand?"
"Of course, I do!" Percy snapped back. The tension was high. Between the two of them, their looks towards each other could've stopped someone dead in a snap. "But I'm not letting you get hurt over this."
Fred didn't want to obey. His hand itched to flick his wand and curse that blasted man. Percy could tell. But then, his words must have sunk in. The arm lowered until it laid limp at his side. His face; resigned, a glare firmly in place but it lacked the usual heat.
Percy jumped back when a beam of green light zoomed right in between of them. Had either of them been an inch forward, they would have perished instantly.
I was just killed by my boss
That just happened
A series of spells began to go off again. Percy was grabbed by Fred, pulling him off to the side for safety while Harry and George were determined to throw off Fudge.
"Thanks-" Percy started to say.
"Where's your wand?" Fred's eyes gleamed with concern.
"Gone. With Fudge, perhaps. It wasn't with me when-" When he'd come out of the semi permanent cloud that loomed within his mind during the period in which he'd been cursed. "When I woke up," he finished lamely.
"Accio Percy's wand."
Fudge let out a rather angry noise when he realized Percy's wand had been yanked forcefully from his back pocket and was now flying through the air until it reached Fred's hand. His brother looked at him, then quickly turned away, holding out the aforementioned wand. Percy took it, trailing his fingertips over it.
"Thank you," Percy's own voice felt like it was distant to his ears. With a deep breath, he raised his wand towards Fudge, bellowing, "Stupidfy!"
The man was thrown off his feet, landing in a heap on the floor. His wand rolled a bit away from him. Percy swallowed. That felt good. No, not just good. Brilliant.
"I've been wanting to see that since that bloody interview," Harry spoke up with a grin.
Percy didn't know what interview he was referring to but figured he would hear about it later.
"Wow," George said, wide-eyed.
"Didn't think you had it in you, Perce," Fred sounded, dare he say it...impressed?
"Yes, well..." Percy trailed off and finished lamely, "He deserved it."
"I'll say," George agreed. He looked at his brothers and Harry. "Now what'll we do with him?"
"Stuff him in a closet?" Fred suggested with a gleeful look in his eyes. George's face lit up at the idea. Harry was doubtful. "I'm sure someone will find him by morning."
"No," Percy said firmly and the twins pouted. "We're doing nothing like that. We'll find a guard and have him arrested like he deserves."
Fred and George sighed dramatically.
"Very well."
"If we must."
"Think you're being a bit too soft on him, Perce."
"Just a bit."
"I don't think there is one," Harry frowned. "I didn't see any when we came in."
"There should be," Percy was frowning as well. "I don't understand why there-"
A spell came barreling through. It smashed into some fragile artifacts on the shelves, making them shatter.
The four of them jumped, heads whirling around in search of what caused it, wands out.
"What the-" Fred muttered.
"Who else is here?" Percy heard Harry hiss. "I thought we were alone?"
Percy did as well.
But he had an eerie feeling creeping up. As if someone was watching them.
And then it happened; the hair on his neck sprung up, heart nearly stopped, throat went dry.
"Harry Potter..."
Beside him, Harry cursed.
"Voldemort," he muttered with a tighter grip on his wand.
This...wasn't good.