1 August 1997
Percy's bedroom had always had the best view of the Burrow's back garden, Bill mused, as he gazed through the glass and out toward the nearby apple orchard. The large, pearly white marquee was gleaming against the horizon. He blinked, thinking of all of the times that he had looked back at the house during a game of Quidditch with Charlie, Ron, and the twins, and seen Percy's face framed by his window pane as he hunched over an essay…or a letter…or paperwork for the Ministry…
He closed his eyes and sighed, turning his back on the window and glancing around his brother's bedroom; the space consisted mostly of Fleur's and Gabrielle's things, now. Bill couldn't even remember the last time he'd been in here. Had it been during the summer of the Quidditch World Cup? No…Percy had practically barricaded himself in his room that summer, obsessing over his new job. Bill racked his brains, trying to remember last time he'd dropped into Percy's bedroom—but the only memory that came to mind was the evening before Bill had first left for Hogwarts. He, Charlie, and Percy had stayed up half the night playing Exploding Snap on Percy's rug, and they'd fallen asleep in an untidy heap on the floor. When Dad had come downstairs to wake them, he'd been so amused by the tangle of limbs and disheveled red hair that he'd taken a photograph. Fifteen years later, it still sat on the Burrow's mantelpiece.
"I was wondering where you'd gone."
Bill startled, turning around. Charlie—who, like Bill, was sporting his finest dress robes—was leaning against the door frame, grinning.
Bill smiled at him. "Are they ready for us?"
"Nearly," Charlie told him, stepping into the bedroom, his hands in his pockets. "I just looked in on Fleur. She's putting on Muriel's tiara."
Bill snorted. "So, she's met Muriel, then? What does she think of her?"
"Well, she was muttering in French, so I didn't really understand, but judging by her mum's disapproving expression, I'd say Fleur loves our auntie just as much as we do."
Bill laughed, shaking his head, and the two of them lapsed into comfortable silence as they gazed at the neatly pressed quilts that sat at the foot of Percy's bed.
"It's weird, him not being here," Bill said quietly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Charlie stiffen. There was a charged pause, and Bill thought for a moment that Charlie might ignore the sentiment altogether.
But then— "Yeah," he muttered, folding his arms across his chest and tightening his jaw. "It is."
Bill glanced sideways at his brother. "I was thinking about that night, before I left for Hogwarts the first time," he continued. "The three of us fell asleep playing Exploding Snap in here. D'you remember?"
"Not likely to forget it, am I?" Charlie asked, rolling his eyes. "I woke up with my eyebrows singed off."
Bill smirked. "That was a good look for you. You should try it again sometime."
Charlie threw him a dirty look. "Think I'll pass," he grumbled, reaching up and running a hand through his brutally short hair. "I've already got Mum bearing down on me with her nastiest Severing Charm every time I visit."
Bill grinned, clapping Charlie's shoulder bracingly. Another lingering silence stretched between them as they both returned to their scrutiny of Percy's immaculate bed.
Then, Charlie coughed uncomfortably. "D'you ever see him around? I know Dad does, at the Ministry."
"Yeah, I see him," Bill said quietly. "He comes to the bank now and then. Never visits though."
Charlie grunted. "Not surprising," he muttered. "I'd be too ashamed to show my face if I were him."
Bill gazed fixedly at the blue and yellow striped pattern of Percy's quilts. "D'you ever wonder about why he left?"
Charlie looked at Bill, eyes narrowed. "We know why he left," he said harshly. "All it took was a politely worded job offer."
Bill opened his mouth to respond, but then closed it again, a second later. Absentmindedly, he reached up and ran a finger over one of his thicker scars, which ran from under his left eye down to his collarbone. Then, dropping his hand, he turned abruptly to face Charlie.
"I can't remember the last thing I said to him," he said. "I can't even remember the last time we spoke. When I think of him, all I can remember—all that really comes to mind—is memories of us as children. Teaching him how to ride a broom, practicing his alphabet with him, playing Gobstones. And then, when I get to thinking about Hogwarts, the memories get further and further apart, until—" he broke off, swallowing heavily. "I think I sent him maybe eight letters from Egypt, total. That first year I was gone, he wrote me twice a month."
The tips of Charlie's ears turned a telltale shade of red; he averted his eyes from Bill's. "That doesn't excuse walking out on your family, Bill," he bit out.
"I know that," Bill insisted. "But…we overlooked him, Charlie. We left him behind. He was looking for approval, and the Ministry handed it to him on a silver platter. Where else was he going to get it? The twins?"
Charlie didn't respond; clenching his jaw, he returned his gaze to the floor, his expression inscrutable.
Releasing a slow, deep breath, Bill turned away from the bed and walked back to the window, staring out toward the marquee again. The little golden flag at the top of the tent was fluttering in the light summer breeze. Uncrossing his arms, Charlie shuffled across the bedroom to join Bill at the window, and a long, heavy silence filled the room.
"I just…I never imagined not having him at my wedding," Bill said, at last. "I always thought he'd be up at the altar with us."
There was a small pause, then Charlie cleared his throat. "If it makes you feel any better," he said gruffly, "I reckon he probably feels the same way."
Bill looked around and caught his brother's eye, and they stared at each other for a moment.
Then— "There's always next year," Bill said, with more confidence than he felt. "First anniversary, and all that. He'll be back by then."
Charlie nodded, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Yeah. Next year."
Another moment passed quietly, and the reality of the war seemed to settle between them like a thick fog. Suddenly, Charlie straightened his shoulders and thumped Bill on the back. "Come on, let's not keep your girl waiting any longer, or she's going to think you've stood her up."
"Perish the thought," Bill snorted, but he grinned and flung an arm around Charlie's neck and, together, they walked out of the bedroom and down the spiral staircase into the sitting room.
Fleur's mother was standing by the fireplace, holding two white rose boutonnières. Upon spotting Bill and Charlie, she brightened. "Zere you are," she said happily, gliding toward them. Drawing her wand, she flicked it at one of the boutonnières, and it fluttered out of her hand to affix itself to the lapel of Bill's robes. Beaming, she stepped back and admired him. "You look so 'andsome, chéri."
"What about me, Madame Delacour?" Charlie asked cheekily, eyes twinkling. "Don't I look handsome, too?"
Apolline chuckled, shaking her head. "Vairy 'andsome," she assured him, fastening his boutonnière as well.
Charlie threw Bill a cocky grin over his shoulder, and Bill rolled his eyes.
"Fleur and 'er fazzer weel be down soon," Apolline told them, heading for the back door. "You both should 'urry to take your places."
Charlie nodded, looking at Bill. "Ready, mate?"
Bill was staring at a photograph on the mantel—at Percy's thin, lanky six-year-old form, tucked between Bill and Charlie on the rug of his bedroom, surrounded by a pool of Exploding Snap cards. Charlie's eyebrows were smoking faintly, and Bill was visibly snoring, but Percy looked as peaceful and content as a six-year-old could possibly look, sandwiched between his older brothers. A small smile lifted the corners of Bill's lips, and he turned around to face Charlie.
"Ready."
Author's Note:
I've been in a very Weasley mood lately! (Well, to be fair, I always am.) This was written for The Crownless Queen's "Without" Competition on HPFC. I had to write a story about the emotion of disappointment without expressly naming the emotion. I decided to give Bill and Charlie some well-deserved screen time.
Also, while we're on the topic of Weasleys, I have a story recommendation for those of you who love missing moments as much as I do: 'Order of Mercy' by MandyinKC. It follows Bill, Fleur, Percy, and Audrey during Deathly Hallows as they work undercover to save Muggle-borns from the law. It's an incredible story, and she updates every Tuesday!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this! Do drop me a review, letting me know your thoughts. :)
Ari
