Chapter 3
Bill stood, irresolute, uncertain of what to do next. George seemed unaware of his presence. His eyes were still wide and terrified, but they were focused far away, on something Bill could not see. Impatiently, Bill brushed away the tears that were blurring his vision, and forced his stunned mind to think. More than anything, he wanted to go back to where they'd last seen Fred and Percy, to find them, to prove that George was wrong, and that Fred was still fighting, his grin firmly in place. But he knew in his heart that George was not wrong. How could he be, about this of all things? With horror, Bill realised what the fact of Percy and Fred having been together might mean. What if Percy, too…? Bill choked back a sob. Not both of them, please, not two of his little brothers. And they had only just got Percy back.
Behind him, George stirred, and Bill turned as he heard his brother's voice. "Bill, I'm okay now. We can't stay here. We have to keep on fighting. For Fred…" George's voice cracked and broke, as Bill crouched beside him, enveloping him in a hug, wanting to make it okay, to make the nightmare that was engulfing them go away.
Both men stood up as they heard sounds of fighting coming nearer in the corridor outside. George wiped his eyes with the back of one hand, gripping his wand in the other, a look of fierce determination on his face, Bill gripped his own wand, and glanced at his brother, who nodded, as Bill advanced and pulled the door open so they could rejoin the fray.
Side by side as before, the two Weasleys advanced. Duelling a hooded figure in front of him, Bill was acutely aware of George beside him, also duelling. As George's opponent went down under a fierce stunning spell, Bill heard George mutter: "That's for Fred, you bastard", before he turned to help Bill. But someone else was before him. A voice from behind the Death Eater yelled "Stupefy!" and he fell, leaving Bill and George face to face with Percy.