Gabwr- thanks for the reviews. I like when I managed to make people cry. It means I'm doing a good job as a writing. Hope you keep on enjoying the story.

Zoran - keep the feedback coming please. Always happy to hear from someone and positive stuff is alwasy nicer to hear than criticism although I don't mind that either as long as its constructive. Anyway, its always fun to read your reviews. Makes me want to keep writing!

Hatori Soma - glad your enjoying the story

Bill looked again toward the glowing face clock. The minute hand moved another tick, bringing them one more minute closer to dawn. Bill couldn't believe it was only five minutes to four. He felt like it had been so much longer since his mother had left.

A healer had been in the room twice. The first time he had seemed happy to find that the fever was gone. The second time, Bill saw him slightly shake his head, evidently not happy that Percy wasn't showing anymore improvement. Bill was no healer, but even he knew Percy's breathing was just as labored.

"What time is it?" Percy asked in a low, scratchy voice.

Bill jumped slightly at the sound of his brother's voice. He quickly swung his feet off the second chair he had drug over and turned to face his brother.

"About four in the morning," Bill replied as he poured cold water from the pitcher on the bedside table. He held the glass of water so Percy could take a few swallows. "How are you feeling?"

"Awful," Percy replied softly. "At least it doesn't feel like I'm in a sauna anymore."

"You know kiddo, there are easier ways to get out of school," Bill said jokingly. He saw a small smile come to his brother's face momentarily to be replaced by a couple of tear drops sliding slowly down his brother's cheeks. "Hey, Percy what's wrong?" Bill asked his voice getting softer as he reached out and wiped away the tears.

"Nothing."

"Percy, come on," Bill said moving from his chair to perch himself on the edge of the bed facing his brother. "You know you can tell me anything," Bill told him and then waited patiently, looking into his brother's eyes until Percy looked away. Still, Bill waited patiently. He knew pushing wouldn't get him anywhere with his brother.

Bill wiped away a few more stray tears. He could tell his brother was trying hard not to cry. He could also hear that his breaths were coming more quickly, the emotional stress only adding to his respiratory distress.

Shifting his position again, Bill slid an arm under Percy's shoulder, easing him into a sitting position. He then moved so that he was sitting with his back against the head rest of the bed, Percy now resting against him.

"Shhh, its going to be okay," Bill whispered holding Percy close to him, wishing his brother would talk to him. Keeping it bottled up was only going to make things worse. He stroked his brother's hair, trying to give his brother some sort of comfort.

"I'm tired."

"Then relax and go back to sleep. I'm not going anywhere any time soon," Bill told him softly, figuring he meant he was physically tired. With the illness his body was trying to fight off it didn't surprise Bill any.

"No. Not that kind of tired," Percy replied. "The last few months has just been one illness after another. I'm tired of fighting."

"Percy, you can't give up now," Bill told him, following what his brother was saying. "I know this hasn't been easy on you, but we're all here for you."

"Even if I get over this, it isn't over. There's all that schoolwork . . ."

"Just take it one step at a time. Don't think about school right now."

"Easy for you to say," Percy muttered.

"Perce, we'll get you through this. Your not on your own. First though, you need to get well and then we'll worry about everything else afterwards. It'll be okay."

"I hope you're right," Percy replied a few more tears rolling down his cheeks.

"I'm your big brother. Aren't I always right," Bill told him lightly, getting a small smile from his little brother.

A silence fell between them. Percy not wanting to talk anymore and Bill not knowing what else he could say. He just hoped his few words had helped. That his little brother would keep fighting because Bill was more afraid than ever that he might actually lose him this time.

"Ready for a nap?" Oliver asked as he walked into the hospital room. Bill had moved back to the chair, and Percy had fallen back to sleep.

"Who knew the night could be so long," Bill said stifling a yawn as he swung his feet off the second chair. "I would have figured Mom would have come back."

"She wanted. Your father insisted that they go out to eat breakfast first though, before she came back here. I offered to come over. Felt like I was intruding on some family time again."

"You know your like family Oliver."

Oliver shrugged. He felt close to the Weasley's. He had ever since the summer after his first year at Hogwart's when he had spent time at the Burrow. They had welcomed him with open arms right from the beginning. Still, there had been times over the week that he had felt like he was an intruder, not that the whole family hadn't been anything but welcoming to him.

"What's that?" Bill asked noticing the book in Oliver's hand.

"Schoolwork," Oliver said holding up his potions work. "I've been so busy helping the other with their schoolwork back at the hotel that I haven't had too much of a chance to work on my own work. I can't believe how far behind I am and I can hardly afford to fall behind in Snape's class. I'm not even sure why I continued Potions after fifth year. If it weren't for Percy, I probably would have blown up the school by now."

Bill laughed. He had never been fond of Potions himself, but he knew Percy had taken to the class. He wasn't overly fond of Snape but Percy didn't hate him like most of the students did. Then again, Percy had never hated anyone. He even tried to find the good in Marcus Flynn, a Slytherin student that had given Percy a hard time since their first year.

"Yeah, speaking of school," Bill said dropping his voice. "Percy was awake earlier. He's feeling a little overwhelmed with all the schoolwork he has to make up."

"Leave it to Percy," Oliver said shaking his head. "He's not even close to being well and he's worried about schoolwork."

"You know how much of a perfectionist he is. How much he goes out of his way to make other's happy."

Oliver nodded.

"Just keep an eye on him. I'm worried about him. I'm worried he might give up trying to get better."

"Bill?"

Bill looked at Oliver, and saw the questioning look in his eyes. Oliver knew there was something that he wasn't being told. Bill sighed.

"When he was awake he told me he was tired. Tired of fighting. If he gives up . . ."

Oliver nodded. He didn't need Bill to finish that thought for him.

"I'll stay alert," Oliver replied as Bill yawned. "Now, why don't you head on back to the hotel and get some sleep before you end up sleeping on your feet."

"I'm going," Bill said walking toward the door. Before leaving he glanced back, Oliver was sitting in the chair that he had just vacated, a worried look on his face. Bill wondered if telling him had been the right thing to do.