Percy gritted his teeth and leaned against his brother's door for support as he willed away a fresh wave of pain. His youngest sibling, his only sister, was dead. She'd been taken from the platform at King's Cross and five hours later the Ministry had found her body.

Without Ginny his family seemed to be falling apart and a part of Percy wanted to give into the pain and fall with it, but he wouldn't allow himself to. Someone had to stay strong. Someone had to make sure everyone was all right.

An hour after her disappearance the Daily Prophet had run a special article. Dumbledore had shown up for a brief time to let them know he was helping with the search. Lee Jordan and Hermione had come by floo to comfort their respective friends. Owls had come pouring in from friends and family, all offering support. It wasn't going to do any good, Ginny was dead.

As the pain dulled to a barely bearable ache Percy opened the door to Ron's room and peered into the dusty darkness. Ron and Hermione were sitting wrapped around each other on Ron's bed. Both occasionally shook from crying. Hermione lifted her head from Ron's shoulder to look at him, tears were still streaming down her face.

"I-I," Percy felt choked, even speaking felt like a chore, "I came up to see if you needed anything."

Ron said nothing, only tightened his grip on Hermione and shook. After a brief moment that seemed to stretch out Hermione found her voice and told him in a sad stricken tone, "Harry, we need Harry."

He nodded his understanding.

On his way back down the stairs he stopped at the twins' room. It was the twins he was the most worried about. After receiving word of Ginny's death the two had completely shut down and barricaded themselves and Lee in their room. Percy wasn't exactly sure what he'd find.

Lee was easing George into Fred's bed. Percy frowned not quite understanding, but moved to help the younger boy as he pulled the top blankets from George's bed and moved to lay them over his brothers.

"How are they?" he asked softly.

Lee grimaced, "Fred fell asleep as soon as we got up here. I mean I think he's sleeping. I haven't tried waking him. George...George is..."

"C-c-cold. I-it's cold," George chattered.

"I know," Lee whispered as he crowded into the bed next to George, "Here lean into Fred or me, we'll keep you warm."

As George drifted back into sleep and curled into Lee, Fred instinctively seemed to curl into George. Lee looked up at Percy in concern.

"I don't know what to do," he whispered, "I don't know if I'm helping or doing more harm."

Percy waited a moment for Lee to continue and when he didn't he told him, "We'll get a medi-witch."

Lee nodded and Percy continued to make his way downstairs.

He paused outside Ginny's door and stood there unable to move. The pain held him in a daze. He felt empty, as if someone had taken away a piece of him he hadn't realized he truly needed until this moment. With a shudder he turned away and finished going down the stairs.

Bill was standing transfixed in front of the Grandfather clock. Since Ginny's disappearance her hand had been stuck on 'lost'. When they'd found her dead Bill had moved to stand in front of the clock. He seemed to be frozen there.

His parents were seated at the kitchen table next to each other staring silently into the tea that Charlie had insisted on making. Charlie, too, was in the kitchen. He had on one of their Mother's aprons and would one moment be working on washing the dishes by hand or the next drying his hands and moving to straighten something. He was the only one of them really moving, but it was in a dull, listless, directionless way. Charlie had always had to keep moving or doing something productive, it was just his way.

Percy opened his mouth to speak and found he had no voice. Even with Charlie moving about there was an overwhelming silence throughout the house. Today even the ghoul was silent. The silence quietly screamed their grief, it blanketed them and was suddenly broken as Bill let out a strangled cry.

Four grieving parties jumped at the sudden noise and looked to the clock. Ginny's hand was slowly moving from 'lost' to 'mortal peril'. Bill made another choked, strangled noise before he lunged forward and pried his sister's hand from the clock. He moved to the kitchen table and dropped it in the middle, letting it clatter.

Their Mother whimpered a sob.

At last Percy found his voice, "I've just checked on everyone."

"And?" his Father asked softly.

"I," Percy started then paused at a loss for words.

Everyone turned to look at him and he felt choked.

"The twins may be in shock. Lee's not sure what to do. I think we need to get a medi-witch," Percy managed slowly, "Ron and Hermione need Harry."

"Oh dear, Harry," Molly whispered, "this is the last thing he needs."

"Molly," Arthur whispered squeezing her close, "this is the last thing any of us needs."

"I know," she choked as fresh tears came to her eyes, "I just wish we could spare him."

"We can't," Bill pointed out.

"Ron and Hermione need him. We don't tell him now, it'll only hurt everyone more in the end," Percy explained.

"I can't believe this is happening," Molly sobbed, "She was just a little girl, only my little girl."

Arthur put his arm around his wife and leaned in to kiss her forehead. Charlie moved to comfort their Mother.

"I'll get the medi-witch, then Harry," Bill volunteered.

"No, I should get Harry," Percy whispered.

Bill blinked at him owlishly.

"He'll have to come by floo. I'll get the Dursley's put on then get him, while you get the medi-witch," Percy barely managed.

Bill opened his mouth to protest, but no sound came out. Charlie made a choked noise and went back to his dishes.

"They're already clean," Percy pointed out softly, "You're only rewashing them."

Charlie went rigid and just stood silently in front of the sink. Bill balled his hands against his eyes.

"I-I was only saying..."

"Just shut up Perce," Charlie finally choked out.

Percy sighed.

Bill spoke, "I should go."

"You don't know him as well as I do. We did go to school together for..."

"Perce would you please just shut..."

"No, Bill. Look get the medi-witch, make sure Fred and George get through this. Worry about them for awhile. Then worry about yourself. Eat one of the sandwiches Charlie made."

"It's corned beef. I hate corned beef."

"You and Ron," their Mother whispered.

Charlie set down the dish he'd just picked up, "I'll make you something else. Perce is right, you haven't eaten all day."

"Neither have you."

"All of you need to eat something," Percy grated, "even Mum."

Bill nodded, "I'll get a medi-witch."

"I'll make more sandwiches, anything but corned beef," Charlie added dully.

Their Mother sighed, sobbed once, before she choked, "I'll get some tea made up."

"I'll go get it set up about the floo," their Father finished.

Percy started to protest.

His Father shook his head and he fell silent. Bill Apparated away as Arthur pulled him into the next room.

"I need to do something too," he explained as he handed his son some floo, "besides it should take a moment."

"Why?"

"Apparate to Figg's, then walk over. Tell-tell my brother I know he wants to be here, but he can't jeopardize his..."

"I understand," Percy whispered cutting off his Father.

"Tell him…tell him that I understand."

Percy nodded then Apparated.

When he had finished traveling he found himself in Arabella Figg's kitchen. There were two women sitting at the kitchen table talking. One was Arabella herself, the other a woman with light brown hair that Percy didn't recognize. They both started and turned to look at him. The woman Percy didn't recognize turned to the older woman seated across from her.

"I'll get Bilius."

With those words spoken she set down her cup, turned into a black cat with a white nose and ran swiftly from the room. Arabella turned to him smiling sadly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for people to be turning into cats.

"Tea?" she asked.

"No thank you," Percy turned her down politely before he sat.

"Have you eaten?"

"Charlie made sandwiches earlier. I think Hermione and I were the only ones that had any, through I think she took one up to Ron. If anyone can make him eat it'll be either Hermione or Harry."

Arabella nodded solemnly, opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when an orange tabby came rushing in. It came to a stop by the kitchen table before turning into his Uncle Bilius. Uncle Bilius, probably the only man alive that shared the twin's sense of humor. Uncle Bilius who had faked his death by concocting some wild story about a Grim, all so he would on longer be registered as an Animgi and could help Mrs. Figg keep on eye on the Dursley's and later the Boy who Lived. Uncle Bilius, that in all of Percy's earliest memories had always had a smile on his face.

The man before him had a grim look set upon his face. He seemed pale with the horror of what had happened. His first words to Percy were rushed, "How's Arthur? Stupid, stupid question. When does he want me to come?"

"He doesn't. He wants you to stay here. He wanted me to tell you to stay, that he understands."

"I don't even understand," his uncle whispered before he seemed to fall into the nearest chair, "Is that why you came here, to tell me to stay put?"

"Well it would be a shock Bilius," Arabella pointed out, "The only ones that know you're still alive are one or two of your brothers, Bill and Percy. Your family's had about as much shock as it can take right now. Beside you promised..."

"We all know what you two and...well we all know about your promise to Lily that you'd keep her family safe," the woman Percy didn't recognize interrupted from the entranceway to the kitchen.

Bilius turned slowly to frown at her.

The young woman shrugged, "I signed up later. I have my own reasons and that is part of an old argument Mr. Paws so if I were you I wouldn't go into it. Your brother wants you to stay here, preserve your secret identity and I think you should respect that."

Bilius buried his head in his hands before he choked, "Tell my brother if there is anything I can do, not to hesitate to get me."

Percy nodded before whispering "I came for Harry as well. He and Ron are friends and Hermione thinks it would help. Besides the sooner he finds out the better."

"Hermione is the other friend isn't she?" Bilius asked.

Percy nodded.

Bilius nodded his understanding before staring blankly at the nearest wall.

"I'll walk you over," the woman in the entranceway offered. She came into the room then, prodding Percy to stand, before she led him towards the front door.

"Don't worry about Mr. Paws. Arabella'll take care of him. He knows he can't go, he's just headstrong."

Percy nodded.

"Do you have floo?"

"A bit, enough for Harry and his things. Father's getting it step up now."

"It's two streets away, house four. Follow me to the house, I'll stay low and if you have any trouble getting him I'll create a diversion and you can just toss the boy in the fireplace."

Despite his grief and pain Percy managed to look put out and bewildered.

The woman gave him a slight smile before informing him, "Poor Petunia has had the worst time keeping Tribbles from destroying her flowers."

Then she turned into a cat and led him to the house.

Harry's uncle answered the door and for a moment Percy felt choked for a far different reason than the pain. The man was positively massive, he made Hagrid look healthy.

"What do you want?" the man demanded.

"I came for Harry," Percy said softly.

The man's eyes narrowed suspiciously and for a moment Percy thought he was going to get a door slammed in his face, but then Harry came into the hall. He took in Percy with an anxious expression before asking gravely, "What's happened?"

"I...it..."

Harry's eyes widened in horror as he whispered, "Who else died?"

"Died?" the man who was Harry's uncle bellowed, "You have people dying at this school of yours?"

Harry swayed and closed his eyes before answering, "Yes."

"Then you're not going back! I forbid it! You have to stay here! You'll stay here if I have to keep you locked up for the rest of your given life!"

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Percy spoke first, "I came to take him back to the Burrow. Ron..."

"Ron?" Harry asked paling further.

"I'll explain, just get your things."

Harry nodded, then raced up the stairs.

After more protest on the part of Harry's relatives Percy was led into the room that had the fireplace. When Harry had gone to his room to get his things, the other three had crowded into the room to gawk at Percy.

"Did someone really die?" the female with the long neck asked.

Percy grimaced and closed his eyes. He didn't need that question.

"Go help your cousin bring his trunk down," the man said.

"But..." the fat boy whined.

"Now!" the man bellowed before the boy went scuttling from the room wheezing.

Percy helped put everything in the fire before he numbly sat down on the nearest sofa Harry went to stand near him after setting him trunk in the fireplace, it took a moment for him to find his voice, "Who died?"

Percy shook his head back and forth his eyes wide. He felt so numb, but at the same time as if he were drowning. He suddenly wished he'd let Bill do this. No, that wasn't right. Bill needed to eat and...and...

"Ginny," he finally managed.

Harry fell into the nearest chair his eyes wide.

"I didn't even say goodbye," he whispered harshly, "I didn't realize till after I got in the car. I thought there was time, I could apologize later. I...it...she...how?"

So Percy explained how she had disappeared, how the Ministry had found her five hours later. Harry seemed to pale with each sentence. Percy stopped and they stared at each other in silence a moment.

Then Harry stared at his hands a moment before asking suddenly, harshly, "How's Ron?"

"Hermione sent me. She-she and Ron need you."

Harry nodded his jaw set, "You have floo?"

Percy handed it over.

Harry turned to his relatives, "I won't be back till next summer, my friends need me now."

He turned back to Percy, "I'll see you back at the Burrow."

Harry left under protest. The two adults came at Percy as soon as their nephew vanished. Percy was beyond sympathy for them, he Disapparated home.

Harry was already starting up the stairs to Ron's room.

Percy swayed and Bill steadied him.

"Get some rest," his older brother advised.

"Have you eaten?"

Bill nodded. Percy gave him a quick squeeze, a brief hug, before starting up the stairs towards his room.

He found himself once more pausing outside his sister's room.

Quietly he opened the door and shut it behind him.

Silently he surveyed the room, took in all that was left of her.

He took one of her old stuffed toys from its place on a nearby shelf and hugged it to him.

It smelled like her, she must have slept with it on occasion.

Clinging to it he curled up on her bed and for the first time since she disappeared he let himself cry.