New Rules

The next hour was spent at George's flat celebrating and drinking champagne, so it was past midnight before George had the chance to talk to Percy about their father. He had also been waiting for Ginny to go to bed before bringing the subject up, but he could tell she wouldn't leave her brothers until Percy left. Sooner or later, she would have to face the facts, and she wasn't a kid anymore so there was no sense in sheltering her any longer.

As he resumed his spot in the armchair, George said, "I'm happy for you, Perce, but we need to talk about Dad…" George glanced at his sister before continuing. "Do you let him drink at your place?"

Looking at George quizzically, Percy replied, "I don't think it was explicitly stated either way. Why?"

"You were there this afternoon when he said he'd help me out with Mum. When he didn't show up, I went to get him. He told me that something else had come up and that's why he didn't come…Percy, he was wasted, and when he left here, he said that he couldn't stay because he had other business," George finished sourly.

"I hate to tell you this, George, but that's the reality of it. For the week he's stayed with me, he's been out late every night. Like tonight, I went home to tell Dad first because he was the only person who knew I'd be proposing tonight, but he wasn't there."

"Wait, so you know he's been drinking and you just let him?"

"Since I had to practically force him to move in, he has one rule for me: Don't ask questions. When I did the first couple days, he almost left, so I let him do his thing and I do mine. I hate it, but that's the way it is," Percy stated, leaning back in his chair.

Before the conversation went any further, George turned his attention to Ginny once more. "Gin, I think you ought to go to bed now." Initially, he thought his sister could handle this topic, but as things progressed he thought better of his earlier decision.

Sitting up straighter, Ginny countered, "I'm nearly seventeen. I don't need my brothers babying me anymore."

The red-headed young men shared a look, and Percy shrugged. "Well, she's old enough to make her own choices."

"Okay…Look, it's time we confront him about this. It's gotten to the point where he's putting booze before his family and he's shutting everyone out. I don't think he even cares anymore - about his family or himself, or anything for that matter."

"The way Percy put it, if we pester him, we'll be pushing him away," Ginny pointed out, snuggling close to Harry on the couch.

"Make a new rule then," George suggested. "While he lives with you, he can't drink there, at a pub, or anywhere else. You won't be breaking his rule, so there shouldn't be an issue."

"But that means if he breaks it, Percy will have to kick him out. Give him time. Dad'll come around eventually."

"He's had time, Gin. The longer it goes, the worse it gets," Percy informed.

"We'd be giving up on him then! That would make us no better than Mum, Charlie, and Ron!" Ginny countered, beginning to get worked up.

"No, it wouldn't," George assured his little sister. "A new rule will be put in place and it is up to Dad to follow it or not."

"Whatever happens is on him, not us," Percy added. "We'll still do what we can."

After a little more discussion and agreeing on a new plan of action, the four celebrated Percy's engagement a bit more. This made it close to two in the morning when Percy left. Having become half-cut due to losing track of time and drinks, Percy thought it safer to walk the short distance home rather than apparate or floo.

The street wasn't entirely deserted. A few groups of young, partying witches and wizards along with the occasional, lone drunk littered the cobblestone pathway. Since it was closing time for Diagon Alley's few late night bars, Percy wasn't surprised. As he approached one of the bars, a middle aged man stumbled out in front of him; however, the man did not notice his son fifteen feet behind him.

Wanting to avoid a scene, the bespectacled 22 year old kept his distance and waited to make himself known until he and his father were in the privacy of his home. Arthur was completely oblivious until the door opened and shut behind him, causing him to spin around unsteadily.

"Other business," Percy scoffed. "We aren't ignorant, you know."

Immediately becoming defensive, Arthur asked, "Why are you getting in so late?"

"I could ask you the same thing," was Percy's rebuttal.

"I can come and go as I please with no questions asked," Arthur reminded.

Making his way to the kitchen, Percy replied, "Calm down. I said that I could, not that I would. Besides, I already know what you were doing."

Picking up on his third son's unusual behavior, Arthur accused, "You've been drinking."

"Yes. Great deductive reasoning. I'm truly impressed," Percy snarked.

With a snort, a smirk appeared on Arthur's face. "Now you have no room to talk when I drink."

"Actually, I still do. I rarely drink and when I do it's usually for a special occasion. George wanted to celebrate since Audrey said yes."

"What did he tell you about me?" Arthur became defensive once again.

"Nothing," Percy lied. "You would've been the first to know, but you weren't here."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"That you were not here," Percy repeated slowly. Not wanting any further conflict with his father, Percy ended the conversation. "Well, I'm exhausted. If you don't need the bathroom, I'm going for a quick shower before bed."

This lack of confrontation threw Arthur for a loop. With Molly fighting back all the time, he had gotten used to the conflict. Now with his son's calm demeanor, he was completely thrown off. Furrowing his eyebrows, Arthur stuttered, "Um…N-no. You're – I'm fine. Go ahead."

oOoOo

Sunday morning Arthur woke, his head pounding and overall feeling worse than the night before. Carefully, he got up and dressed. When he entered the living room, he found two of his sons talking amongst themselves.

"Morning," Arthur quietly greeted, taking a seat in the vacant armchair. "Did Ginny and Harry get settled in alright last night, George?"

Raising an eyebrow, George responded, "If you'd stayed, you would already know."

After glaring at George for a moment, he turned his attention to Percy, "How did things go with Audrey?"

"Do you even remember last night?" Percy queried.

"Of course I do," Arthur half lied. The first part of the night, he remembered. The rest, he was completely blank on. That wasn't unusual though.

Picking up on his father's dishonesty, Percy answered with a hint of hostility, "She said yes. I wanted you to be the first to know, but you were too busy doing your best to burn bridges."

Great. What did I do? Arthur thought. His sons wouldn't be this spiteful unless he had really screwed up.

"Shouldn't you be at the shop, George?" he politely asked, attempting to ease the tension.

"I left Verity in charge for the morning because I needed to be here," George replied. He felt he needed to be there for the impending conversation and he wanted to see the ugly reality of which Percy spoke.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Arthur prepared himself for the worst "Alright, what did I do? I had to have done something for you both to be like this."

The boys quickly glanced at each other. It was time, and since it was Percy's house, he would take the reins.

Sitting straighter, Percy began, "Father…"

There was that word. The word Arthur hated hearing any of his kids call him. Had their relationship regressed that much in the past sixteen hours? Surely, he would have remembered if he had done something to cause that to happen.

"This has to stop. I've opened my home to you in hopes that everything would blow over and you would get your life back on track, but you've taken that and thrown it in my face."

"Son –"

" – No, don't interrupt me," Percy put his hand up to stop his father. "You've gotten a lot worse in the week you've been here, shutting everyone out and putting alcohol before your family." Arthur looked ready to protest, but quickly sat back when both of his sons fixed him with a steely gaze.

"We don't know what's going on," George picked up. "You need to talk to a professional about this. Last night, Harry said something about a…therapist – psychiatrist – something or other. They're a type of muggle doctor. If you can't get things under control soon, you'll have to see one if you want to stay with any of us."

"So from this point forward, you can't drink at all while you live with any of us. What you do now is up to you," Percy finished.

Anger rising, Arthur accused, "You're going to abandon me like the others!" Even after how these three kids stood up for him, they were turning their backs on him?

"No, you have a choice," George pointed out.

"You can't give me an ultimatum like this! I am your father!"

"Who is acting like a child!" Percy cut him off.

George chimed in, "What we've been doing has been hurting more than helping."

"We are doing our part, but this won't work if you don't put in some effort."

"There is nothing that needs effort." Arthur stood, causing his sons to do the same. "I don't have the energy to put in any more effort. That is, if effort was needed for anything, but it's not."

"None of us are turning a blind eye anymore, Dad, not even Ginny."

"Why are you so stubborn? Huh? You are just as aware that this family is falling apart as the rest of us, and you can't deny that it's your fault!" George burst out.

"That's it! I don't have to stand here and take this!" Arthur strode across the room, but stopped short of the door when Percy spoke.

"You take another sip of alcohol and you're not living with either of us! And we can tell when you've been drinking, so don't even try to hide it!"

"I'm not! I'm – I'm – Aargh!" Arthur's fist collided with the wall as he lashed out in frustration. "I'm going to work!" he shouted, slamming the door behind him.

Arthur did indeed go to work. There were few people at the Ministry that day due to it being a Sunday, so he had the time alone that he needed. The peace and quiet and work helped to ease his anger and frustration. It also gave Arthur time to think. A few hours at work and he had decided that he would rent the flat he had been looking at the previous week. Since most of the kids had graduated Hogwarts and moved out, there was a little more money available, so there would be no difference in expense than five years ago when Percy, the twins, Ron, and Ginny had all still been at school. It wasn't a pricey apartment either, like Percy's or George's. On the contrary, it was dirt cheap because of the neighborhood which meant he would still have money to do as he pleased.

With his own place, Arthur could do anything he liked. No one would be watching. No one would know. It would be like it was several weeks ago when he would be in his shed. Now, though, the only responsibility he would have was to work and continue to provide for himself and his family.

Luckily, the apartment building he would soon be living in was still taking applications. However, the landlord told him it would be another week before he could move in. His new place of living was conveniently located halfway between the Ministry and Diagon Alley. While he was out, Arthur stopped by the store and picked up a flask, seeing as the next week he would not be able to go out late. He would place a extension charm on it in order to hold an entire bottle rather than just eight ounces.

That evening when Arthur went back to Percy's, Bill was there instead of George. Why, all of a sudden, did Percy feel the need to bring all of his siblings into this? Surely, they all had better things to do.

Without giving his sons a second glance, Arthur headed straight for the spare bedroom. Unfortunately, his entrance did not go unnoticed. Of course, he had not been drinking, so there was no need to worry about that, but he would rather be left alone.

"Dad," Bill spoke from the kitchen.

A heavy sigh escaped as Arthur halted and faced his son, but did not look directly at him.

Upon realizing his father was sober, Bill visibly became less tense. "You need to listen to us. Mum is extremely torn up about this. She doesn't know life without you just as you don't know life without her. You don't want to do this to her, do you?"

"She left me," Arthur bit off. "This is a conversation you need to be having with her."

Crossing over to his father, Bill corrected, "That happened because of your actions. If you sort yourself out, she will gladly take you back. None of us want this, the way it's going."

Calming himself, Arthur closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Sensing Arthur's increasing temper, Bill took a step back and Percy came to stand next to his brother. Their father had never been an angry or violent man, especially when he was sober, but in the past weeks – or perhaps months – he was a force to be reckoned with.

"I've found a place to live," Arthur looked at Percy now as he spoke. "However, I won't be able to move in until after next weekend. Then, no one will have to bother with me."

Percy stared at his father, struck dumb. Neither he nor George thought Arthur would choose to leave. Both of them, along with Ginny, wanted to avoid the outcome of their dad leaving or being kicked out. If they approached the situation correctly then things would get back to normal, or so they thought.

"Dad, you don't have to do that. You are more than welcome to continue staying here," Percy reassured.

"No, I'm not – Not with what you said this morning. You gave me a choice, and I made it. I'm not having people in my business and constantly watching my every move." When there was no response or rebuttal from either of his sons, Arthur said, "Now, if we're done here…" before continuing his path to the bedroom. He was stopped again though as the younger of the two boys spoke up again.

"Well, I still would like you to come to my engagement party Saturday night. Won't you come?"

Without facing his sons, Arthur gave a noncommittal shrug and left them on their own.

A/N: Thank you for understanding about the previous chapter being delayed.

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. The next one is already mostly written; however, it has not been proof read or edited.

Please continue reading and reviewing! Next will be the engagement party! Let's see if Arthur actually goes and what will happen between the rest of the Weasleys.