.
it was in the afternoon, the thereafter of a good lunch.
a sunny day with loud voices and good laughter.
Everyone was having their own fun.
but then the noise started to quiet down
when the steps of someone coming down the stairs was heard.
They knew the steps.
They had learned it by heart.
The sound of someone stepping so quietly, with slow movement as if being hesitant, but the stairs' floorboards gave them away, and they had no choice but to complete their journey of coming down.
Everyone downstairs seemed to hold their breath, and the eyes were unto the person that descending the stairs.
When a face appeared, it was with shame, knowing all stares and attention were bore into him.
He lagged his languid legs towards the couch.
Someone, no -George, had come close to him.
But the person with eyes bags behind the glasses, shakes his head weakly
"... don't mind me"
it took much time than he anticipated, because his legs were not cooperating, but he finally reached his destination.
but he knew they noticed the shaking.
He gave them a dissarming smile, hoping they would keep him out of their minds, continuing whatever business they had before his mind made up a decision to join them
... which he dearly regretted.
Hermione was the first person to clear her throat, and continued to having a conversation back with Ron, acting as if nothing different had happened.
But Ron just couldn't focus anymore, he just stared at the couch.
not their children though, they caught the mother's intention, and they too engage back into the games they had left.
Slowly the children back to their rowdiness, albeit a little bit quietly
... even if the adults were acting strange.
"really, don't mind me.."
said the long curly redhead from the couch.
The red had long lost its shine, and the mane had covered most parts of his face, that only the bridge of the nose, and the dry lips were seen.
... though everyone noticed how pale the lips were, and how the sweats shine the oddly bony face.
The person gave a sigh.
It's no use, he just gave up the act.
So he gave them the signal that yes, it is that.
Bill, from the kitchen' door came close, and sat next to him.
The weight and presence were comforting, the person was grateful.
Then Charlie, from out of nowhere sat to his other side.
and after that,
only after the Weasleys at the Burrows seen that his breath was no longer harsh,
his eyes no longer wild,
his heartbeat was no longer racing,
did they try their hardest to continue the noise they had left
yes, this is warmth.....
this is safe..
"... you okay?", Bill asked him in a whisper.
He ought to answer back, but the memory just jotted his whole body, and he just hurts
... it hurts
.. it hurts
.. it hurts
.. help me, it hurts
Charlie at his left put his warm, assuring hand over his brothers' chest,
so he was he reminded of the present, and rein in to the now.
feel the warmth, the hand seemed to speak.
Yes, the person knew, but the prickly feelings...
the faintly pain from the old wound from his back
the ache under his nails,
the phantom bleeding of his gums,
the shreded of his soles,
He closed his eyes sharply.
.. and all he could hear was the memory of ribs breaking, the sound of agony rip up his throat in a silent scream.
"... Percy," Bill called him.
"... Percy, you're here.
You're here.
Listen."
He could felt the hand in his mane then, the massage to his scalp, someone wiped his sweat away.
The noise around him seemed to be more hesitant.
.. and quieten down.
He heard a ringing in his ears,
following with a shriek of laughter,
everything became so dark
his muscles contracted under his skin
he found it hard to breathe,
and he found that his back was hurts
was really..
really hurts
He let out a sad mewl.
".. oh for fucKS SAKE!!"
Someone grabbed him from his seat. Someone forcefully hold his head in their chest.
Someone soothingly rocking him back and forth, with a frenzied shushing noises.
".. it's fine,
it's fine, Percy."
Before he came down, he was sleeping soundlessly on his bed.
He was not having any dreams.
But the contracted muscles,
the sudden contracted muscles sending his mind into frenzy
his back felt hurt
he was unable to feel that it was his own body
he recalled the feeling of other person controlling him.
The muscles pulled him towards the ends, feeling like he could torn into two. Tightly wringing him, his chest sunken in, and he couldn't breathe.
Not again.
He paniced.
It was a long moment,
he felt fear.
then the muscles relaxed, and he moved
somebody..
Somebody..
sAVE ME!..
.
".. Percy?"
it was a ringing noise.
the sound of somebody laughing madly was far off now..
the faint pain slowly leaving his body
he could hear the murmurs of people surrounding him.
The smell of home cooked lunch,
and the earthy wood brought melancholy feeling from inside him..
"... it's fine, Percy.
.. you're here.
You're here.
.
.
I'm sorry," Fred muttered quietly.
The younger brother thought of the night,
.
.
that one night he and George thought it was high time to pay their older brother a due visit at the ministry.
with an argument occurred at the centre of ministry workers
with the said brother's face look frantically trying to force them out from the place
they were calling him a traitor, a soil to their name, a worthless brother better not exist
one ministry worker coming with a wand withdrew
a mark clearly on his arms
then the two brothers were suddenly thrust into each other,
pressed with a portkey,
and suddenly they were at the Burrows.
Only them, not the third brother.