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Thanks for your reviews!
duj – 1. I agree with "dad – father" point. Will correct.
2. ex-Quidditch players. Actually, I don't see any other options for Quidditch players apart from the ones I wrote about. I didn't say that they ALL are going to the Ministry. Probably most of them start training teams. Well, if you have any better ideas?
imaj-natif – I think that the only slightly non-canon thing in my fic is Fred and George bahaviour but I'll try to make them more in character in future chapters. I think that the fact that we read the book mostly from Harry's POV is makes look a lot of things different from how they really are. He was wrong about Mrs.Weasleys attitude towards Tonks. He only counted on Lupin's words about "emotional shock, feeling guilty for Sirius' death" although he knew that she was perfectly cheerful in July AFTER Sirius' death. So, the problem wasn't only there. And the way Mrs. Weasley was talking with Remus about Tonks.? He ignored all that and made wrong conclusions. His picture of Snape is quite exaggerated, as well, as we can see from the first (non-Harry) scene in HBP where Snape is presented as a much more human than in Harry's eyes. So, in Harry's eyes Weasley family might look a bit different from whet it really is. He is likely to overlook certain facts, especially as he had never had a family of his own. And we never see Charlis and Bill interacting with Percy much. So, we can only guess. ;-))
GiddyGirlie – I am doing my best to decrease the number of mistakes. I might as well correct them in future if I find them in previous chapter. Thank you for pointing that out.!
On with the story!
Bill shakes his head: "So that's it?"
I nod. I told him about my conversation with Percy, about Mum, about Fred and George.
"Any ideas what they meant by coming to an understanding?" – he asks smiling.
"Hardly. Hope nothing bad. You could expect anything from them", - I answer.
"I'll help you talk with Dad but I doubt that including twins in that conversation is good idea. They might spoil it", - he says.
And so… It's Saturday. We are in the kitchen: me, Bill, Dad and Mother.
"Percy is no son of mine. After all that he did you can't expect me to forgive him!" – Dad shouts.
"Arthur, dear, you can't deny that he is your son. He made a mistake. You too reacted harshly! Why not at least talk to each other. He deserves another chance!" – says Mother almost in tears.
"Molly! What he did is a treachery! We can't easily forgive that!" – shouts my Dad. It frightens me to see him in such a mood and shouting. Hell! As if Percy was the only person in our family who made mistakes!
"Dad, - its Bill now, - tell me just one thing and do what you want about Percy after that". He is tired. We all are. We were arguing for at least an hour now, not coming nearer to an understanding.
Bill takes a deep breath: "If it weren't Percy. If it were me or Charlie or Fred or George? Anyone else in our family? Would your reaction be the same?"
"Bill! What are you saying! You'd never…", - shouts out Dad.
"Why we'd never? What we'd never? Or did you expect it from Percy?" – Bill cuts him off.
"No! I had never expected that from any of my children! But Percy's ambitions. He always let them run away with him!" – our Dad insists.
"Why did you think that he'll become a spy for Fudge?" – I ask.
"I didn't say he will! I said that Fudge was hiring him for this purpose only!"
"How could have been you be so sure? Because of what happen with Crouch. But soon after the inquiry it was found out that Percy did nothing more than following Crouch's orders. And Crouch's letters were coherent and logical! There was no reason for Percy to think that something was wrong. And no one in the Department thought that something wasn't right! Even if Fudge did want to use Percy, which he probably did but that's not the point here, you couldn't forbid Percy to take that post. He was not doing anything wrong by taking the post. Was it a treachery when I went to Egypt? Or Fred and George opened their shop? You were against that as well but it turned for the best, didn't it?" – Bill stops to catch his breath. I remember that he hadn't yet fully recovered (he is still on sick leave) and that must be exhausting for him.
I place a hand on his shoulder and whisper: 'Calm down. It will be OK".
"With Dad's attitude I seriously doubt that", - he mutters under his breath.
"Look, Bill! These are completely different things!" – both our parents start.
"It's not. And you no that. I don't want to be harsh or disrespectful but what I am telling is the truth. Please, Dad, just think about that. Just consider the possibility of your reconciliation, And the fact that you too were wrong. Please. Let's go now, Charlie", - he nods to me and we leave without further ado.
"What are you planning to do now?" – I ask.
"Well. You, Fred and George had already visited Percy. My turn now", - he smiles.
"Are you sure? I mean… You look tired.. You still…", - I try to say.
"I am fine, Charlie. I must see Percy. I am not going to ask him "what" or "why' or anything! So, you shouldn't be worried about him killing you. You told me all I had to know and you didn't entirely surprise me. I just want to make sure that he comes to my wedding no matter what Dad or Mum think! After all, he did nothing to me. His quarrel with Dad never had anything to do with you or me! We weren't there. We didn't hear Percy or Dad. We just know what they tell us. And we already came to an agreement that both parties here made their mistakes. It's time we got over that", - he says angrily.
"It's not that easy And you know that", - I shake my head.
"I do, Charlie. I do. Listen. Did Percy tell you anything about me? I mean…"
"He didn't".
We ring the doorbell. There is no answer. We ring the second time five minutes later. Still no answer. 'May be he's not home?" – Bill questions.
I shrug. He might be. He might have gone to meet Penny (I don't know whether they are still together or not). He might have even gone to work. Now even Dad does that sometimes. And with Percy being workaholic…
"Ring again. And if he doesn't answer, we'll come back later", - I tell Bill.
After the third time the door opens. It's Percy. I blink. He looked better yesterday. He is very pale. And he has bags under his eyes.
He looks at us and says angrily: "Charlie! You told everyone, didn't you? I've had enough talking yesterday for my whole lifetime. Why can't you all just leave me ALONE!"
He leans his head against the doorpost and closes his eyes briefly. He has an exhausted and ill look as far as I can consider. I had never seen him look so bad, to be honest.
Ignoring his outburst Bill asks: "Percy, I you OK?" I can see that he, too, is worried.
"I was before you…", - he stops and almost collapses. He'd have fallen if Bill didn't catch him. We enter the flat, Bill half-caring Percy. I lock the door while Bill deposits Percy on the sofa in the living-room.
"Percy? Percy, answer me! What's up?" – Bill questions Percy. His eyes are closed but he is not unconscious.
"Please, don't shout, - Percy murmurs, almost inaudibly, - It's just a migraine. Nothing more".
"Migraine? – Bill looks astonished and worried. – When, for God's sake… Do you have any potions against that here?"
"No. Forgot to check yesterday", - Percy answers not opening his eyes.
"Can I buy it in Diagon Alley. It's not a potion under prescription, is it?" –I ask.
Percy mutters the name of a potion I had never heard of.
"I'll be back as fast as I can", - I promise and leave. Before that I se that Bill places one hand on Percy forehead and with another squeezes his hand and I hear Percy mutter: "Don't leave me. I am tired of being alone… Please… I am sorry if I ever did anything wrong. Don't go…".
I flinch and hurry up. What a pain it should be that Percy is saying the words like that?
I am almost at the door when Bill says: "I am not leaving. I am here. Don't worry. You did nothing wrong".
Half an hour later I am back with the potion. Bill is still holding Percy hand. I give him a questioning look. He merely shrugs.
"Here, Percy. Drink", - I whisper.
He takes the vial. He hand is shaking but he drinks without difficult. His head falls back on the cushion.
"When does it start reacting?" – I ask.
"About fifteen minutes. Thank you. I'll be fine", - he whispers.
I take his other hand in mine. It's so cold. I heard about people that suffered from severe migraines. It wasn't a tradition in our family, though. I think some grandfather or great-grandfather had had it. Mum's line/ I remember her saying once that luckily no one inherited it among us. Well, she was wrong as it seems.
After some minutes Percy open his eyes and looks at us. He still looks exhausted but not as ill as he did about an hour ago. "Thank you, - he says. – I am sorry I shouted at you. I … I wasn't thinking straight".
"Don't worry. We understand, - I wave him off impatiently, - Have you been having these migraines for long?"
"No. Since November. Or October. Bill, don't look at me like that. I went to the Healer after it happened for the first time. It's migraine. And nothing more, - Percy replies. – And.. well.. It seems that I am asking in vain but.. YOU ARE NOT TELLING MUM ABOUT IT!"
"Don't want her to come checking about your health? And you were saying just some minutes ago that you didn't want to be alone anymore", - Bill points out.
Percy flinches and his eyes flash with pain: "It's not the same thing. And you know that!" Bill swallows hard: "Sorry. I know it isn't. Sorry".
Percy merely nods.
"Still. My question stands. Did you tell everyone, Charlie?" – he doesn't look irritated now. He's just… Well, I don't know how to interpret that look in his eyes.
"He didn't, - Bill decides to answer for me. – Fred and George just overheard him and Mum talking. He told me. That's true. But that's just for the better, isn't it?"
"May be. I don't know", - he shrugs.
"Percy, I am not he to ask you questions. We didn't have a quarrel like the one you had with Dad, did we? So, I just wanted to tell you that you'll be coming to my wedding no matter what. Even if I have to drag you. Do you understand me?" – Bill says.
"Bill, you wouldn't want any tension among guests on you wedding. And if I don't reconcile with others, it will be exactly that. I don't want to spoil that day for you. I don't know what twins told you but that fact that we apologised to each other doesn't mean that we'll be able to act civilly towards each other. On your wedding or ever in our life", - Percy says, smiling wistfully.
"Percy, I am ready to take risks You are coming to my wedding in any case. That's my final word. Concerning our parents and others… I am afraid that you'll have to make the first step. Dad is very stubborn. Mum is.. well.. She didn't understand half of what Charlie told her but she doesn't care unless you are back in the family. Don't know about Ron and Ginny. Percy, you'll have to risk as well. We might try to find the right moment. But.. You'll have to talk to all of them yourself. And I am almost sure that it won't work from the first time. Still, most of the family is on your side or almost on your side. So, you might as well try", - Bill says.
Percy looks unsure and doubtful.
"Fine. I'll think of that. Give me time as well. Your wedding's in a couple of weeks, yes? I… I'll give it a try. I promise. OK. Tell me about what's happening in the family", - Percy smiles.
I raise: "May be I'll make tea?. Did you eat at all today, Percy?" – I propose.
He starts to raise form the sofa: "I'll do that myself".
"Stay where you are, - I recommend. – You are still deadly pale. And I am capable of dealing with a teapot, you know".