"I like this photo of mummy," her belly was big and round and she laughed at something as the camera flashed. A pair of red headed boys run in and out of the photo. Charlie leaned over Percy to see the photo, "why?"
"Because I'm in there too!"
"That's not you, Perce," Charlie said. Percy went a little pink. "I'm in there, not you."
"Then how come… how come there are two boys? You and Bill."
"That was my cousin," said Bill disinterestedly from the breakfast table holding a mug of tea and reading his big boy book.
"You mean our cousin," Percy wiggled his little head Bill's way.
"Yes, well, mine and Charlie's cousin."
"Barney, you wouldn't know him. He lives far away," Charlie added.
"Then where is a photo of me in mummy's belly?" Percy said.
"There isn't any. You were adopted."
"That's not true."
"How?" Bill asked as if he was interested in Percy's understanding of the matter.
"Because I-you don't know what that means,"
"Then what does it mean?"
Percy faltered. "It means mum took you from a family cause they couldn't afford you."
"But we're already poor!"
Charlie had to cover his face from laughing at Percy's honesty.
"How come I have red hair like you?"
Percy was good at this, probably because he is bit older than Charlie was when Bill played this prank on him. "People can be not-a-Weasley and have red hair, Perce," Bill said matter-of-factly and took a sip of his tea. "Then how come dad and me both wear glasses too!"
"People can have red hair and wear glasses at the same time, this is not a Weasley-exclusive thing, Perce," Bill sighed. Percy had enough, he stomped his little foot and burst into tears. Charlie turned around to look at Bill. "Hey! There's my boys!" There was Dad coming through the door. Percy was too caught up in the news to care and continued to cry as he gripped onto the photo. "Oh Percy, what's wrong?" Arthur grabbed Percy at his waist. "Charlie and Bill… Charlie and Bill say I'm not their brother!" Percy cried into the photograph of his mother laughing as the red-headed blurs raced around her. "Oh, that's not true! See that's you, in there! And that's Bill and Charlie running around!"
"Not it's not! It's Barney!"
Arthur laughed, "Who's this Barney? Bill and Charlie were just playing a little joke on you! Right, Charlie?"
"Yes," Charlie confirmed.
"See, Perce? Just a little joke!"
"Well, it wasn't funny!" Perce cried.
"You're right, it wasn't funny." Arthur turned Percy around, "boys, you took it too far, apologise."
Seeing poor little Percy's face as he cried behind his fogged-up glasses as he gripped tightly on the photo frame that held the precious photo made Charlie, and Bill, especially, feel very bad. "I'm sorry, Percy," said Charlie. "It was a joke Bill played on me when I was littler than you." Arthur shot up and held onto Percy's shoulders, "Oh Bill."
Bill stood up and walked over. "I'm sorry, Perce. We took it too far, you are our brother. We all came from the same tummy."
"Time for a hug!" announced their dad. They all encircled Percy and hugged him tightly, "We love you, Percy!" Charlie said.
"Enough! Enough!" Percy said and they broke away. "I forgive you, but don't do it again!"
Percy turned around to walk up the stairs and Arthur followed. "How about you keep that photo of you in your mummy's belly by your bed, since it's your favourite."
Percy nodded with a sniffle.
