The Burrow was chaotic as everyone scrambled around, trying to get everything packed for the new term. Everyone, that is, except for the two in the kitchen.
"Perce, when are you gonna talk to me?" Charlie asked, grabbing his brother's arm to stop him from leaving.
"I'm not ignoring you, if that's what you mean," Percy said, still not looking at his brother.
"Why are you so mad?" Charlie asked. "Bill moved to Egypt last month and you didn't do this then."
"You're not Bill!" Percy yelled, finally glaring up at his brother. "It's different," he said, quieter this time, eyes flicking away.
"I'll write you," Charlie promised. "And you'll hardly notice I'm gone," he added. "It's not like I would have been at Hogwarts, anyway, and I'll come home for holidays." There was a pause, in which Percy was visibly thinking.
"So I'll still see you?" he asked.
"Course." Charlie grinned, pulling his brother into a one-armed hug. "Maybe you could even come visit. Just you, mind," he added. "I'm not paying for this lot to come mess up my place." He gestured to the random objects strewn across the kitchen, most of which would probably be forgotten.
"I finished packing three days ago," Percy said.
"Exactly! You'd probably leave my place cleaner than when you got there."