Chapter 2

Bill woke to find that he had fallen asleep beside Percy in the guest bed, and now had his brother's arms wrapped around him. Bill could never remember Percy being so clingy like this before; he supposed it was because he had never really been around much when Percy was younger, and what with the war and the twins, Percy had never really gotten much attention. Now that he thought about it, all of Percy's aloofness and snobbery sprang from this, and his need for attention, the mere fact that Percy hadn't come to tell them what had happened to him, alluded to the distance between them all.

He had to wonder if this bullying… no, harassment, had been going on even before Percy had split with them.

"God Percy." He whispered. "I am so sorry." He looked at his brother, his thin, pasty grey face, dark bags under his eyes, a troubled frown between his brows. He sighed, detangled himself, and made his way to the other room. He paused at the door and looked back, Percy looked so small lying there, so small and sick.

His resolve firmed more and he went to his writing desk and penned three letters, one to Charlie, asking him to floo over as soon as he could. The second to an old school friend, who was now a lawyer, and the third to work, requesting some leave on personal grounds.

When he had sent Banquo off with the letters, he turned to see Percy standing in the doorway, head down, hugging himself. Bill watched him for a moment.

"Perce-what would you say to a spot of shopping?"

Percy looked up. "Shopping?"

"Yeah, I have hardly anything here, and we have to get you some new clothes, you can't go on wearing mine."

"But…" Percy looked pained. "I have no money on me, I'd have to go to the bank, and get some and--" he was starting to look panicked now.

Bill raised a hand to stop the panic attack before it started. Had it got so bad that Percy had started to avoid going outside? "Consider them a present then." He got to his feet. "Come on."

"But…"

"Percy, you're going to have to face the world sometime. It won't be so bad, I promise, and I'll be there with you the whole time."

Percy still looked doubtful, but he conceded.

Half and hour later Bill hustled him out the door with a piece of dry toast, the only thing he could safely get Percy to keep down, and a bottle of water.

"Right." Bill said, looking round the street. "Which way to the shops?" he picked the left and they started walking. They caught a muggle bus into the shopping area.

Percy was beginning to chafe under all the curious looks he was receiving, he kept his head down and stuck close to Bill, this had been a bad idea, a very bad idea!

Bill kept an eye on Percy. He knew the stares Percy was getting were because he looked like death warmed up, but would Percy attach another meaning to them? He took Percy into one of the clothes shops, attracted by all the blues and greens in the window, Percy had always suited those colours.

He kept up a constant stream of stream of conversation while picking out some things. Percy nodded when he had to, looked when he was told and tried his best to ignore everyone else.

"Ok Perce, go try these on, they'll probably be a bit big, but that's ok."

Percy accepted the clothes and disappeared into the changing rooms.

"Is that young man alright?" one of the elderly women asked.

Bill turned. "He's recovering from an illness."

"Oh," she shook her head sympathetically. "Take good care of him."

"I will m'am." Bill flashed her a smile before following Percy in. "You ok Perce?" he called.

Percy pulled back the curtain, dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, black and blue.

"Great." Bill studied him. "Do they fit ok?"

Percy nodded.

Bill made him try on other things before he bought them. Next Bill took him on a hunt for a jumper, this time he let Percy pick. "Whichever one you want Perce." He smiled.

Percy looked, he prowled along, caught up in the search until he found one, it was bright red with a patch with a green dragon, stitched to it. Percy didn't say anything, not sure if Bill would approve, after all, it was a fairly childish looking jumper. Bill saw the wistful look and pulled the jumper off; he picked a size somewhat bigger than what Percy was currently and paid for it, inwardly shaking his head at the odd fascination with dragons his younger brothers displayed.

Percy got tired early on, so Bill took a quick trip around the supermarket before they caught the bus home.

Percy folded all his new things and put them in a drawer, he left the jumper out, stroking it slowly. He didn't notice when Bill came into the room.

"Perce."

He looked up, startled.

"Here." Bill handed him something wrapped in brown paper.

"W…what?" Percy asked, surprised.

Bill shrugged. "I just saw it and I could pass it up." he sat down and urged Percy to open it.

Percy did, with slight reservation. He was shocked to find a hard backed copy of 'Animal Farm', he had loved this book as a child, it was one of the few things his father had ever given solely to him. He had read it to him sometimes, until Percy could read himself. He blinked back tears and turned to Bill with the hint of a smile on his face. "Thank you… I… I always meant to buy it again, but…"

Bill pulled him into a half hug with a sad smile. He remembered well the day Percy had lost that book. They had all been home, the twins had just started Hogwarts, it was Christmas and Percy had been reading his book, the twins had been running around and had knocked into him. The book had flown into the fire. Percy had ranted and raved at them for hours, but he had never let on just how upset he had really been. But Bill had heard his mother tell his father that Percy had cried himself to sleep that night.

"Do you want some Hot Chocolate?" Bill asked softly.

Percy nodded, distracted.

"Ok, come out to the living room, you can read some of that book to me for a while, ok?" Bill said as he made his way to the door, he glanced back, Percy was watching him with wide eyes. Bill smiled. "Yeah Perce, I do like to hear stories sometimes you know." He left the room with a small laugh.

Percy looked at the book, the simple charcoal drawing of a farm with all the animals quickly sketched on. Exactly the same cover that the battered copy his father had gotten him had. He looked up at the now empty doorway and he smiled to himself, got up and brought the book with him out to the living room to sit with Bill.

Two days passed in relative peace, Percy was eating more, and he had read the book five times since he had opened it, but every evening he and Bill sat on Bills comfortable sofa and Percy read aloud from it, his eyes stealing over to Bill occasionally, ready to stop at the merest hint Bill was bored. But Bill sat, his cheek resting on his hand, watching him intently.

They were just finishing up for the evening when there was a muffled thud in the fireplace, Bill turned with a frown, and Percy very nearly fell off the seat in shock. But it was only Charlie who stepped out, waving away the little cloud of soot that had followed him out and peering at Bill.

"You called?" he asked with a frown, then he saw Percy, and his jaw dropped. "Percy?!" he cried, shock very clear in his voice.

"Yes, that is what I wanted to talk to you about Charlie." Bill said quickly, he turned to Percy. "Perce, could you go make some tea while I explain to Charlie please."

Percy nodded, his head lowered and he went to the kitchen, taking his book with him. Bill watched him go until the kitchen door swung shut before turning back to Charlie, and he almost laughed at the comical sight his brother was, covered in soot, his mouth hanging open.

"You'll let the flies in Charlie." He warned.

With some difficulty, Charlie closed his mouth. "What is he doing here Bill-after everything he's done! Why is he here?" his eyes narrowed, his voice low.

"He's here because he needs help Charlie, sit down, this could take a while." Bill gestured him to a seat. Charlie sat and Bill explained in shortened terms everything from the letters to Percy's breakdown three days ago. Charlie listened with a face that went from suspicious, to shocked, to furious, to a softer look Bill could remember from every time Charlie had ever dealt with any of their younger siblings.

"And Fudge did that?" he asked, his tone murderous.

"Yes. I've contacted Filius, you remember him, short blond guy in my year?" Bill asked. Charlie nodded slowly. "Yeah, well he's a lawyer, I should be hearing back from him tomorrow or the next day. So don't go charging into the ministry and punching Fudge-though the bastard deserves it!" Bill swore.

Charlie nodded. "So what do you want me to do, tell the rest of the family?"

Bill shook his head. "No, if they knew they would crowd him. He needs time to adjust Charlie. All I need from you is a promise that if I've got to go away for a while, which is likely because I'm taking this to trial, and suing that asshole for all he's got, I need somebody who can make sure Percy's ok without smothering him."

Charlie nodded slowly. "Yeah, mum would do that wouldn't she. Yeah, fine Bill, I'll do it if the need arises. God, Bill… how could something like that happen to Percy?" he asked.

Bill shrugged helplessly.

The kitchen door swung open and Percy came out with a tray, he carried it over awkwardly and set it on the little table in front of the sofa. Charlie stood up. Percy moved back, ready to get out of his way, ready for rejection.

What he wasn't prepared for was Charlie dragging him into a hug and whispering. "I am so sorry Percy. I've been a terrible big brother!"

Percy stood frozen in the embrace for a moment before relaxing and letting his thin arms snake around Charlie's back.

Bill looked on and smiled softly.