October 1997

Owls were portents of doom, evil and bad news.

Percy watched as the short-eared owl glided down the street straight towards him and understood why. He didn't glance behind him to check if the bird had someone else in its sights. His luck didn't run that way. He was not in contact with enough people in the wizarding world to warrant correspondence been sent to seek him personally in the middle of the afternoon. There was only one reason that anyone would send him a letter in this manner.

The owl hooted as it got closer. Percy grimaced and hoped that this owl was not also predicting death along with its unwelcome news. He raised his arm allowing the bird to land upon his forearm. Percy slid the rumpled parchment free from the bird and stuffed it in a pocket. He petted the soft plumage gently instead of a treat and offered a few complimentary words. The owl shuffled under his fingers in pleasure before opening its wings slightly in warning. Percy withdrew his hand and helped launch the bird back to the skies whence it came.

Percy calmly made his way to a bench in front of the Wizarding stationers he had been to on an errand for the Minister. He sat down pulling the crumpled missive from his pocket. It had a coffee ring on one corner, and his name hastily scrawled in the centre in a lurid shade of green ink.

Percy broke the magical seal in lieu of a wax one and braced himself for the news contained within.

Percy,

Bill's hurt. Work accident. St Mungo's, Spell Damage, room 394.

F&G

The note itself had evidently been torn from a larger piece of parchment. There were ink blots scattered over the page and words torn in half around the edges. A doodle of a hippogriff covered one section of the paper although Percy presumed it had nothing to do with the note itself.

He shoved the note back in his pocket. Pushing his glasses up on top of his head Percy scrubbed his face with his hands willing his brain to come up with a plan.

A work accident sounded plausible. Curse breaking was dangerous. But. But Bill was good. Bill was also the eldest son of the most visible Blood Traitor family, who were also known members of the Order of the Phoenix. Could it be an attack by the Death Eaters and disguised as a work accident? Could it be that Fred and George didn't want to put anything incriminating on a note that might have been intercepted or read over his shoulder? Could it be a simple work accident?

Percy checked his watch. Four o'clock. Well, he couldn't go now. His working day wasn't over, and his parents would be there. Even with Fred and George backing him up he wasn't ready to have that conversation.

So, after hours then. His parents would stay as long as visiting hours would let them. Unless Bill was seriously hurt, then nothing short of You-Know-Who himself would drag his mother from Bill's bedside. That was workable. He could work late and go straight from the office. Better to distract himself with work than sitting around brooding making Audrey suspicious, and he wouldn't be able to explain.

Percy pulled his shoulder bag onto his lap. Rooting through the bag, he found the communication mirror George and Fred had given him for her. He thought they were brilliant, but he had been utterly unable to think of a way of giving it to her and not having awkward questions he couldn't answer. Muggle technology was not that advanced and while he could try passing it off as some sort of 'spy equipment' he had got from work, the idea sounded ridiculous when he tried saying it out loud. Audrey would never believe it and how was he supposed to explain having it and giving her one. No, he had kept hold of it, he appreciated the thought, but it just wasn't possible. Pushing aside the mirror he withdrew a small plastic rectangle.

Checking around him through habit rather than any real suspicion he depressed the small button on top of it and waited as the Nokia logo appeared on screen, indicating the mobile phone was booting up. Percy had decided that Fred and George had a point. He did need to be able to reach Audrey and he her, should she run into trouble. Thankfully Muggles had been on the case a lot longer than his brothers. While his brothers had invented something genuinely remarkable, the Muggles hadn't exactly turned up with nothing.

The mobile phone was the answer he had needed. He couldn't keep it on while he was at the Ministry because the ambient magic fritzed the device. He was working on something to stabilise it so he could, perhaps by replacing the electrical battery with some form of magic. As soon as he understood it all correctly, he was sure he could figure something out. For now, Audrey left him an answerphone message or sent a text message, and he would make sure he went outside during his lunch break to turn it on and pick them up. Once he was free of work, it was turned on and left in his pocket.

The device settled on its home screen and Percy waited. A few moments later it beeped, signalling he had at least one text message waiting for him. A quick perusal told him Audrey was suggesting meeting some of their friends in the pub after work for drinks.

Percy pushed the call button and waited for Audrey to answer.

"Hello Percy," Audrey's voice came through the ear piece.

"Hello love. I've just seen your message about tonight. I'm afraid I can't make it."

"Oh? Has something come up?"

"Bill. He's had an accident at work, and he's in the hospital."

"Oh no! Percy, is he alright? He's not in intensive care or anything is he?"

"I don't know at the moment. I was going to go down to the hospital after work."

"Yeah, yeah of course. I'll let the guys know. Do you want me to come? Or is it family only?"

"It's probably going to be family only, he's on a specialist ward. I'm sorry to do this to you. I'd normally quite like to go for that drink."

"Percy it's a drink we can do that anytime. Look I won't see you if you aren't coming home, but if you want when you get back from the hospital, you could come over. You can tell me about it then."

"I don't know how late I will be."

"I'll be home, and you've got a key."

"Alright, I'll do that. I'll try not to wake you if it gets late."

"OK, well I'll see you later then. Give your brother my best won't you."

"Yes of course," Percy said.

"Bye Percy."

"Bye Audrey," Percy replied taking the phone from his ear and ending the call. He breathed out a large breath. He was thankful that Audrey was generous enough to let him deal with his family in his own way. She always offered to accompany him but didn't seem to mind when he refused. With Fred and George wishing to meet her the lines between his two worlds were getting closer. It put him on edge.

He had no idea how Audrey might react to the truth. He wanted to believe that this warm, compassionate woman he was madly in love with would accept him as a wizard as she had as a muggle. But it would be one of the biggest gambles he'd ever taken should he tell her, and he wasn't sure he had enough stacked in his favour to risk it. She would be well within her rights to end it all, and Percy wasn't sure that he could get over losing Audrey easily.

He would tell her one day. Before he made any promises, he would come clean but that day was not today. Today he had to visit a hospital without his parents finding out.

Percy paused outside of St Mungo's taking a steadying breath shoring up his nerves and courage. Then before he could rethink the already over thought plan, he stepped into the entrance lobby. At the desk, Percy checked if Bill had been moved from Spell Damage. The Welcome Witch confirmed Bill was still where the twins had told him he was, but pointed out that the visiting hours were over.

Percy had anticipated this and drew himself up to his full height. Then staring down his nose at the witch he replied using his most officious voice. "I am the Undersecretary and Aide to the Minister of Magic himself. The Minister is a very busy man, and if he wishes for information it is not my place, and it is certainly not your place, to say otherwise. Or to tell the Minister for Magic that visiting hours are over."

The witch blinked and opened her mouth to say more. Before she could, Percy slapped his Ministry credentials down on the desk. The witch took one long glance and thought better of what it was she was going to say. Instead, she smiled meekly and gave him directions to the correct floor.

Percy nodded and channelled the cold sneering civility of Lucius Malfoy. "I thank you for your cooperation. You have been most, helpful." Gathering up his credentials he spun on his heel. He crossed the room with his head up, his shoulders back, and his chin elevated. The people in the waiting room melted from his path in a wave.

Percy kept his face blank and his posture in the same stance until the lift he had called arrived and the doors shut behind him. Alone in the lift, he released the tension he had held himself under and allowed a silly grin to cross his face. Percy had never pulled rank on anyone before, and he admitted a certain amount of childish glee at doing so. He also quite enjoyed the way the crowds had melted out of his way. He had seen Lucius Malfoy do the same on many occasions and hadn't dared to hope he could emulate it. But apparently, all it took was attitude.

Wiping the smile from his face, Percy got out his wand. He was past the gatekeeper, but he was not in the clear yet. The dragon could still be guarding the door, and Percy did not have the One Ring to allow him to sneak by. He did have his wand and a decent knowledge of glamour charms, and it would have to do. Percy altered his hair colour to full brown and pushed a warm golden tint on to his skin tone. The robes he wore for work shouldn't draw any attention but rather than risk it he transfigured his open fronted robe to a more traditional closed one. The mirrored surface of the lift wall reflected back an image that wouldn't immediately scream Weasley, and that would do nicely. If his parents were still there, he had no intention of staying. He would come back later when they had gone.

The corridor was empty as Percy walked down it. He glanced at the rooms as he passed by, tracking the door numbers. As he arrived at his destination, he turned his head to look through the small window as he passed by.

The room looked empty of visitors. Bill was in bed, but the privacy curtain wasn't drawn. Percy turned around and more slowly made his way back to the room his brother was in. Percy stopped outside the room staring through the small window. The room was indeed empty of visitors. His parents must have gone home.

Percy eased the door open and closed it gently behind him. A small spell he wasn't supposed to know, and the window pane turned opaque in the same way the healers would do when they were in with a patient.

Bill's chart hung from the end of the bed. Careful not to disturb the sleeping occupant Percy picked it up and started flicking through it. It wasn't as bad as he feared, but it was quite bad enough. The bandages that were covering some of Bill's face, neck and snaking down to his shoulder under the non-descript hospital gown, were covering some serious sounding wounds. The prognosis was favourable for which Percy was glad. A sanctimonious elder brother was better than no brother at all.

Percy replaced the chart and moved to the visitor's chair by the bed. He slumped into it and stared at his brother, Bill hadn't changed much. Percy tried to remember when the last time he had seen Bill was but couldn't. Possibly sometime around the final task at the Tri-Wizard tournament? He hadn't been at the Burrow when Percy had finally had enough and moved out amid the recriminations that still stood between him and his family. Hadn't he seen Bill in nearly three years? How was that even possible? Granted they didn't work in the same circles and they certainly didn't socialise in them, but it was almost unbelievable that it had been three years.

Bill stirred in the bed, his face scrunching as the pain dragged him from his sleep. Percy froze.

Bill's head turned towards him as his eyes cracked open. "Who are you?" he croaked.

Percy automatically reached for the glass of water with a straw that was on the bedside cabinet and offered it. Bill brought a hand up weakly pushing the glass away. "Who are you?" he demanded a little more roughly.

Percy remembered his glamour was still in place. Carefully he withdrew his wand keeping his movements slow and his eyes on Bill. Bill eyed him with further suspicion until Percy cancelled the glamour and his features came back into view.

"Percy?" Bill exclaimed in surprise.

"Bill," Percy replied offering the water once more. Bill waved it away struggling to sit up. Percy rose to help, casting the charm on the bed to make the top half rise up lifting Bill into a sitting position.

Bill grunted his thanks and Percy offered the water again. Bill accepted the straw, and thirstily sucked up the water. Percy refilled the glass and proffered it again.

"I, err, heard that you'd been hurt and I, umm, came to see if you were alright."

"Right," Bill said. "And the disguise?"

"Ahh well, I…"

"You didn't want Mum or Dad to recognise you if they saw you," Bill guessed.

"Yeah."

"You're avoiding them? Then how…?"

"The gossip mill at the Ministry. Nothing stays secret for long and when someone inquired if I was going to St Mungo's this evening, it didn't take long to find out the rest."

"Don't you think…"

"No." Percy cut him off. "It's, well it's not that simple."

Bill subsided, turning to face the wall opposite his bed swallowing back whatever he was going to say. He turned back. "You didn't come to the wedding."

"No. I. It would have ended badly. We wouldn't have agreed, and it would have turned ugly. You wouldn't have wanted your day spoiled."

"Was my brother missing my wedding not spoiling it?"

"No. I chose not to antagonise the situation and make it worse. Things were said Bill and some things can't be brushed off. Somethings just can't."

"Mum misses you. You sent her jumper back, and you didn't come home for Christmas."

Percy nodded stiffly. He kept his opinion of his mother's choice words to himself. She might miss him now she had calmed down, but he still remembered the things that she'd flung at him, and he wasn't inclined to forget them.

"How are you doing Percy?" Bill asked.

Percy looked surprised. "Significantly better than you by all accounts."

Bill smiled lazily. "It's not all bad, waited on hand and foot by a beautiful woman. I won't have to lift a finger for weeks. Between Mum and Fleur, I'm not sure I'll be allowed to so much as summon a book."

Percy sniffed. "I suppose it's one way of getting attention."

Bill chuckled darkly but stopped as the movement pulled his neck wound. "You've read my file?"

"You'll live," Percy responded, relaxing slightly now they had moved away from the topic of family.

"I suppose. Not going to be so pretty anymore though. The Healers don't think they'll be able to heal the scars."

"I wasn't aware you were pretty to begin with, so no great loss," Percy shot back.

Bill snorted another laugh. "You're doing alright though? The job is OK? I don't even know where you live."

"I have a flat," Percy said. "I've been there a couple of years now. Moved in when I left the house share. Work is alright. Keeps me busy."

"You're keeping yourself safe?" Bill asked.

"I'm not an imbecile, and I'm also not the one laid up in a hospital bed."

Bill gestured clumsily with his hand. "You're living alone Percy. I'd guess you work pretty unsociable hours. Just want you to be safe."

Percy didn't correct Bill's assumption that he lived alone. Technically, he and Audrey did have separate homes but they interchanged between them regularly, and it was a rare night that they weren't together. "I'm fine," Percy said. "I'm the Minister's aide I'm not exactly high profile."

Bill grunted. "Still."

Percy waved him off. "I'll look both ways twice before crossing the road. Unlike you. A work accident did this to you?"

"It was a book."

"A book?" Percy said in disbelief.

A smile ghosted across Bill's face. "Yeah, something I've not seen before, though I suppose I'll know better for next time."

"It wasn't related to your other activities then?"

Bill looked at him in surprise. "No, just a cursed book from some old musty library. Came in through the anonymous box. People send in their cursed objects. We break the curses and keep the stuff unless they pay the fee to get it back."

"They just give you cursed objects?"

Bill nodded tiredly. "Not everyone wants their relatives cursed stuff. Not all of it is safe, and it's a pain keeping it warded from inquisitive fingers. Think what Fred and George would have done had Mum and Dad had something behind wards that said do not touch."

Percy smiled then pulled a face causing Bill to chuckle before yawning widely. The door opened, and a female voice had Percy spinning in his chair.

"Bill? You are awake yes?"

"Yes, love," Bill replied as another yawn overtook him. "Not sure for how long though."

Fleur shot Percy an inscrutable look as she moved up the opposite side of the bed. She took Bill's hand and perched on the edge of the bed, turning to face Percy.

"Mrs Weasley," Percy said getting to his feet. "I do not think we've been formally introduced. Percy Weasley at your service." Percy held his hand out over the bed.

"Non, we have not, but I remember who you are of course." Fleur took his hand, and Percy shook it once gently before releasing it. Fleur gave him another look. "You spelled the window glass, yes?"

Percy's gaze darted to it. "Yes, I can undo it if you'd prefer."

"Non, please, leave it. The healers would not tell me how it was done and I did not wish Bill to be gaped at like a fish in a bowl."

Percy nodded in understanding and retook his seat. Even as worried as Fleur undoubtedly was, she was still beautiful. The worry creased her brow slightly, and Percy could understand how some men might think that it was worth anything to smooth the creases. Percy hid the small smile at the thought of Audrey attending his bedside. Likely she would not be as Fleur currently was, wiping his forehead with a cold cloth and murmuring things in smooth, lilting French that Percy was glad he could not understand. He rather thought Audrey would demand he moved over and give her equal space on his sick bed. She would probably eat his fruit basket while complaining there were no good films to watch while he convalesced. Percy was under no illusions of which woman he would prefer, and it wasn't the one tending his brother.

Percy stood again quietly. Bill's attention moved to him at the movement. "I should go," Percy said. "You're in good hands."

"Thank you for coming. It's good to see you, Percy."

Percy shrugged. "I'm glad it's not worse." He raised his wand reapplying his disguise. Then with a wave of a hand in farewell, he left the room and slipped down the corridor trying to act in a manner that would not draw attention to himself.

"Percy."

Percy's head lifted to look in the direction the voice came from. He watched in wary caution as his father crossed the plush carpeting and stopped in front of his desk. He had wondered if his family would officially come to give him the news. It seemed a day and a half later, they had.

"I have been trying to get hold of you, but I keep missing you."

Percy lifted an eyebrow. His gaze flicking to his empty in-tray.

"It's not something that could be sent by memo or letter," Arthur said following Percy's gaze.

Percy placed his quill down leaning back in his chair stretching out his cramped back after being hunched over parchment for the past hour. He indicated the empty visitor's chair with one hand. "Well, you've found me."

Arthur stayed on his feet. "Percy, Bill has been hurt. He's in St Mungo's in the Spell Damage ward. He's going to be OK, but he's been hurt quite badly. We thought you should know, you are still family. He was hurt at work, but we think it might have been more targeted."

"I see. It seems much more likely it was a work-related incident if it happened while Bill was working. What evidence do you have it was a targeted attack?" Percy asked mildly.

"Percy don't be obtuse. You cannot deny that You-Know-Who is back. You were there. You saw him." Arthur replied testily.

"I did and while I can accept that there are attacks perpetrated by the Death Eaters you have yet to explain why you are stirring the pot with no evidence. Bill being hurt while carrying out his duties is hardly a targeted attack. He works in an industry that has a forty percent work injury incident rate per year. That means forty percent of the work Bill undertakes will cause him some injury in one form or another. It seems presumptuous and inflammatory for you to declare that he was attacked by Death Eaters with no evidence. Such claims cause panic within the populace. That then decreases the ability for the authorities to respond to the real threats because a panicked populace is reporting that their neighbour's cat is spying on them. Or that the wizard or witch three doors down is a Death Eater and practising satanic rituals. If you are convinced that Bill's injury was malicious, have you reported it? Have the Aurors found anything?" Percy asked pointedly.

"The Aurors? You think that a Ministry and Aurory that is in the pocket of You-Know-Who will find any evidence? I thought you were intelligent Percy."

"I can assure you that despite your low opinion of me, my intelligence and morals, I am not a supporter of You-Know-Who. Your claim that You-Know-Who controls the Ministry is another example of your hyperbole, you do realise that your assertion included you as a Ministry worker."

"Don't be obtuse Percy. You cannot pretend it isn't happening. The Order needs every capable hand. Please Percy, would you not at least consider joining us. We could keep you safe if things dissolve here. You wouldn't be without protection." Arthur's hand was on the back of the chair he had refused. His knuckles were turning white at the pressure he was applying to the leather. Percy knew it was a sign his father's temper was roused and he felt his own stir in response.

"Keep me safe like you have kept Bill safe from the Death Eaters you believe perpetrated this attack against him? I cannot imagine that Bill hasn't signed up and isn't subject to all your protections. How do you propose to keep me safe? Make me move into your Headquarters?" Percy asked, his tone scornful.

"If needed!" Arthur snapped back.

"It shall not be needed. I have not changed my opinion of the Order of the Phoenix despite your recent validation by the Ministry." Percy said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Merlin, Percy would you cease this petty stubbornness. The Order is the only group taking action against Him. If things get as bad as they did last time, you will not be safe. You will not escape unscathed. Despite this clinging to some imagined principle, you are my son Percy, and I would have you safe through what comes. Even if it is so you can continue to hang on to this childish grudge of yours." Arthur declared angrily, his irritation obvious.

Percy narrowed his eyes at his father's words and sat up straighter in his chair. "I am not a child, and you cannot command me as one. You cannot bring me to heel when it suits. I have made my decision, and I have no intention of changing my mind because you are having a parental crisis due to your inability to stop harm coming to Bill. You didn't come here to tell me Bill was in the hospital because you think I should know. You came to browbeat me into doing what you want while holding Bill's accident up as the dire consequence should I refuse. I am not so ignorant as to misunderstand you."

"You're wrong," Arthur exclaimed loudly, his temper finally loosed. The hand that was on the back of the chair was clutching it tightly as if it was the only thing keeping him from dragging his wayward child out from behind the desk.

Percy rose to his feet no longer willing to sit and listen to his father. He leaned his hands on the desk as he hissed his livid response. "I am not, and it is a sad truth that you were less concerned about keeping me informed than you were recruiting me to your cause." Percy straightened up, smoothing his robes with hands that trembled as he tried to rein in his temper. "I thank you for the news pertaining to Bill's welfare, but I believe that concludes our business."

"Percival Ignatius Weasley you will stop this foolishness at once." Arthur took a step towards the desk his hand outstretched, his index finger stabbing downwards to emphasise his words. "I am your father, and as head of the family you still belong too…"

"You have no sway. Yes, I am aware of my rights. You cannot compel me as a son of your Family and Name. By spurning the old ways, you revoked your right to pull rank as it were." Percy sneered.

Arthur stopped and took a lungful of air that expelled through clenched teeth. "As you say I cannot force you. But by Merlin, Percy this is not over. I will not stand by and watch you blindly walk into danger. I will not go home to your mother and break that news to her. You might be an adult and you might have made your own decisions but I am your father, and your welfare is still my concern. If it comes to it, do not think I will hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to save you. From yourself if need be."

"If you are threatening to kidnap me until I see reason as you see it, then I am very much afraid that you would be wasting your time entirely. I will not join the Order of the Phoenix. I will not work in any capacity for Albus Dumbledore. The man is a lunatic."

"Albus Dumbledore deserves your respect as a man of honour and a wizard of power. You might think you understand things Percy, but you don't. You don't." Arthur replied sharply.

"We will not agree on this point, and I believe that it would be best that it was not raised between us again," Percy responded coldly. "As I said, I believe our business is concluded."

Arthur shook his head, his frustration visible in the stiff way he held his shoulders. "Percy…" he said in a softer tone trying once more.

"No," Percy snapped. "Everything that could be said this evening has been. There is no need for further discussion."

Arthur gritted his teeth and nodded once before turning on his heel and leaving the room. The door closed smartly behind him, and the sound was the signal for Percy to release his own rigid stance. His shoulders dropped, and his breath hissed out in a long exhale of tension.

His family. Damn his family. Damn them twice and thrice. He was trying for Merlin's sake, trying to juggle so many things. The situation was getting worse, he knew that, but he would never, could never, bend the knee to Albus Dumbledore.