Part Eleven

Charlie walked down the corridors, feeling a strong wave of nostalgia washing over him as he extended his hands and let his fingers brush against the walls, the rough edges feeling strangely comfortable against his calloused tips. Being back inside the castle was like being home again, however, for all the wrong reasons. He had always assumed that when he returned, it would be due to some grand ceremonial display that he would enjoy with friends and family at his side. He had not - not in a million years - thought it would be because one of his own siblings were on their possible deathbed. It was only upon hearing Dumbledore explaining the situation and quizzing Fred and George, that it finally sunk in. He replayed the words inside his head - loud and clear. It was as if the Headmaster, himself, was standing next to him.

"On the contrary, I believe that is what is currently keeping your brother alive.

Can you imagine what could have happened had your brother fully ingested such a poison? I dare say Percy would not have lasted the night."

It brought home just how serious everything was - is. Just how close he came to losing a part of his heart, his life - his world. His siblings were more than just his siblings. He was certain that the bond he shared with them was stronger than that of regular siblings. He did not know whether it was because there was so many of them or because the age difference between some was small or even because most were children of the First Wizarding War. He didn't know the reason behind it - he just knew it was there. So, to be told just how close he came to losing one of them...

He had not felt this ice-cold stab in a long time. Not since the war. Not since losing Uncles Gideon and Fabian. They lost so much that day. They could have lost more though...

He could still see the image in his head as he watched his heavily pregnant mother breaking down, tears streaming down her face and heavy sobs wrenching from her lungs as her body convulsed. She had her arms wrapped around her third eldest son, holding him tightly, as if afraid he would be lost to her too if she let go.

Charlie remembered Bill wrapping an arm around him as they both silently watched. They were both old enough to realise what was happening outside in the world. They had hoped, and prayed, that Percy was too young to understand what was occurring, like the others were - that he would forget and think it was nothing but a wild childhood fantasy. That was not the case, however. No, Percy was too smart for that. Too smart - too observant - for his own damn good at times.

No five year should know the ins and outs of war - it isn't right...

It was something that the three eldest Weasleys bonded over, despite never speaking of the past events. They did not need to speak of it.

That war changed us, and not for the better…

Charlie was too lost in his own memories to notice the person walking in his direction and turned around instantly, hand automatically raised as he began to apologise for roughly colliding shoulders with the student.

"Sor-"

"Watch it!" the student, who Charlie could instantly recognise as Marcus Flint, snarled, clenching his fists and using his large build as a form of intimidation. Had it been another student who had heard or witnessed Flint's hands-on approached to things, then perhaps this would have been more effective. However, Charlie Weasley stared back at him now, not another student. The very same Charlie Weasley who faced fierce and vicious creatures on a regular basis.

"Marcus Flint. It's been a while," Charlie said, crossing his arms and standing tall, hoping that the disdain he was feeling wasn't too obvious on his face. He was all too aware of Flint's dislike for his younger brother – not that Percy would ever disclose such information to him. No, his eyes and ears of Hogwarts didn't even attend the school anymore. Robert Wood, his old dorm mate and closest friend, was his informant. It had all begun when Rob was casually informing him of the tension between his own brother, Oliver, and Flint and just five days into the start of the third year, a fight had broken out between the pair of them. Percy, ever the mediator, intervened, putting an instant stop to the fight, which had resulted in an inadvertent black eye and split lip. Charlie soon discovered that this was a regular occurrence and that, to his immediate relief, his brother usually mediated without succumbing to injury. It was just a pity that he had to learn this from his brother's best friend's brother…

"Yes, it has," Flint responded. "What is the Quidditch player turned dragon hoarder doing back at Hogwarts?" he asked, voice full of mocking ridicule.

Charlie furrowed his brow, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He could easily see why his brother would frequently engage in heated disputes with Flint – the boy was infuriating. "Family matters," he replied, keeping his reasoning short and cryptic.

Flint smiled widely, the muscles of his mouth pulling back tightly and ripping apart the tear in his lip, bright red blood beginning to seep from the wound and trail down the side of the mouth. "I would offer words of condolence for your brother's condition," he said, showing a row of red-tinted teeth that made his already bruised face look grotesquely distorted. "But I don't want to. What would be the point in saying things I don't mean?"

Flint laughed as he turned on his heel and walked off, leaving Charlie seething in anger. "Bastard," he growled under his breath, knowing that if his mother ever heard such language escaping his lips, she would have his hide. With a sigh, Charlie collected himself as best he could before entering the Hospital Wing. The last thing he wanted to feel when he saw his brother was anger.

He pushed open the door and stopped by the small room that Madam Pomfrey used as an office and sleeping quarters. He was about to knock on the window pane when the older woman walked out, her greying hair beginning to come loose from the binds that held it in place.

"Charlie Weasley?" she said, shock evident in her normally stern, yet caring, voice.

Charlie couldn't keep the smile from his face as he saw her. "Home from home, this place is," he laughed, though it came out sounding a little more forcefully than he would have liked.

She smiled in return, the corners of her eyes crinkling with the signs of age, but her face soon fell as she remembered the true reasons for his visit.

"He is still asleep at the moment," she informed him, her voice and mannerism resorting back to the solid professional matron he had always known. "And I intent to keep it that way."

Charlie nodded in agreement. "I will be quiet, I promise."

"Be sure that you do."

"How is he though? Honestly?"

Madam Pomfrey took a breath, casting her eyes downwards as she motioned towards an empty chair. Charlie watched and observed, suddenly understanding the severity of his brother's condition. Part of him wanted to leave and remain oblivious, however, he needed to know, and not just for his own sake either. He shook his head. He would stand.

"I believe you have already been informed of what has occurred, am I correct?" Charlie nodded his response. "The potion – the poison your brother consumed has not been ingested, even now. That voice suppressant has essentially formed a bubble around his throat, which is the reason why the poison was never ingested. That, however, is problematic for us because the poison is suppressed within that bubble – still. I do not know the full effects of the poison, but I do believe it is several poisonous substances merged together – an amateurish thing to do, but very deadly and highly dangerous."

Charlie remained quiet, silently digesting all the information he was receiving. "You informed us that this poison is causing a burning effect to Percy's body and that if it had been fully digested, it would have been disastrous – all his vital organs would burn and his body would eventually shut down and … die – I understand that.
So, if the poison is still circulating around his throat, it is still burning everything it comes into contact with, right?"

"That is correct."

Charlie bit the inside of his lip. "How much damage can my brother's throat take before…"

"His thyroids and trachea are severally inflamed and his larynx is heavily traumatised. Due to the fact that this voice suppressant potion mainly focuses on the larynx, it is what is exposed to the poison most. The damage is extensive and due to the exposure, there is a high possibility that the damage will remain once the poison has been eradicated. There is only so much magic and potions can do, I am afraid."

Charlie gripped the back of the chair and slowly lowered himself down, staring at the polished white tiles on the floor. He stared at his hands, unsure of when they had begun shaking. "How … how can I … how can I tell my brother he may not speak again?" He looked up and stared at Madam Pomfrey, her eyes gleaming with unspoken sympathy. "It will destroy him…"

To be continued...

As I mentioned in previous chapters, I had changed several things in regards to ages just so I can fit it in with the story. Basically, Bill and Charlie are a little older than they actually are and the twins are a year younger. This was because I wanted Percy to spend his first year at Hogwarts with both Bill and Charlie, his second with just Charlie, his third alone and his fourth being when the twins start. This really effects nothing, to be honest. Just in case you were wondering and wanted to point it out.

I hope you enjoy the chapter and, as usual, thanks to all who have reviewed and/or faved/followed :)