Getting some drama going on here ;)

This chapter was updated as of 5 August 2015.

5. Percy: Forgotten Emotions

"Keep it moving, Weasley! You've got to get things done faster than this!"

"Right, sorry, sir!"

Work was stressful and seemingly infinite. It wasn't that Percy hadn't been expecting this, but it was to a greater extent than he first thought. When the work seemed to be too much and he was starting to lag behind in his duties, he thought it was because of his lack of practice. Time off work could really damage one's skills. However, as he continued to work, and the duties kept evading his grasp, he began to realize that it might not have been his fault. There was just more work than there used to be. Never in his time at the Ministry had he ever had so many papers to go through, among many other things.

As the end of the day neared, there was nothing Percy wanted more than to just go home.

That, he noticed, was a major difference from before the war. He hardly ever wanted to leave work, in those days, and he was annoyed by the mere thought of spending more time than necessary around his family. Maybe I just wasn't being worked hard enough, Percy thought jokingly.

He dropped the last soaring stack of papers on the last desk of the day with a sense of satisfaction and exhaustion. Work had never felt like this before, but he was glad it did. It gave him both a reason to go home and come back the next day.

The wizard behind the desk looked up at Percy over his spectacles. "Is that the last of them, Weasley?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. Head on home."

And Percy gladly did. For the first time in a while, he was ecstatic to leave work and be with his family.

The first thing Percy wanted to do when he got home was sit down with a cup of tea.

This was the task he determinedly set out to do as he stepped through the front door of the Burrow. The stifling warmth of the house practically slapped him in the face–a common side effect of summer at the Burrow–but it was hardly enough to put a damper on how well his day had gone. Percy summoned a cup of tea, which followed behind him as he headed to the living area to drop into one of those comfy–

Crash.

Percy's Summoning Spell faltered as his focus was broken, and the teacup shattered to the floor. This was definitely putting a damper on his successful day.

"What's going on?" he demanded, anger seething in his tone.

There, standing in front him with a cup of tea in her hand, was Penelope Clearwater. The same curly blonde hair, the same questioning blue eyes, the same Penny. George was next to her, sitting in an armchair. The smile on his brother's face faltered. Penelope paled at Percy's reaction. Her blue eyes widened, and her knuckles whitened as she held on to the teacup a little tighter.

"Well, Percy," George started, "I'm glad you – "

"You invited her?" Percy demanded.

"Well – "

"No! No, he didn't," Penelope interrupted. "I came, and he was nice enough to offer me tea until you came home."

Silence filled the room as Percy stared angrily at Penelope. "Why?"

"We need to talk, I think," Penelope answered quietly. "I've been worried about you, lately."

"I can't do this right now, it's been a long day."

"Please, at least let me express my condolences for Fred."

"Maybe you should go."

The words did not come from Percy, but from George, who had shot up from his armchair at lightning speed at the mention of his twin brother's name. His face was going red, his brow furrowed, and for the first time that he could remember, Percy saw his younger brother's eyes glisten with tears. Percy hadn't realized, until that point, exactly how torn to pieces he was. George often joked and was even there for Molly when she had her bout of tears, so no one ever thought to console him. Of course, Percy imagined he was probably facing an enormous inner turmoil of his own, but not having seen it before made it difficult to believe.

"Yes, of course, I apologize," Penelope muttered, then apparated away.

George and Percy were left alone in the living area. Silence filled the air between them, but it seemed to Percy that the silence itself was whispering.

Suddenly, George said, "I don't talk to anyone else except the family about Fred."

"Blimey, George, you don't even talk to the family about it," Percy said. "You just try to support us all because you think it's your job to be the happy one. You lost your other half, you twit."

"You're one to talk," George said with a scoff. "We're the only people you talk to, Percy. I mean, sure, we love you, and don't get sick of you, but there's more than just family."

"I talk to Oliver Wood."

"And that you should be doing!" George exclaimed. "He was your closest friend at Hogwarts. The two of you had a way of being obsessed about your futures that drove all of us mad. I'd give you a good smack upside the head if you didn't talk to him."

Percy couldn't argue with that logic. While everyone else was too busy making fun of him for being so studious and hard-working, Oliver was the only one that understood his ambition. Of course, for him, it was directed towards quidditch, but the sentiment was the same.

"Yeah, and what about you?" Percy demanded. "It wasn't just you and Fred. What about Lee? Angelina?"

"I'm not going to burden them with my problems."

"Yeah, and only burdening yourself is a mighty good idea."

George avoided his gaze, probably because he knew Percy was right.

"It's not the same when you talk to us, you know," Percy continued. "We're all suffering just as much and already carrying the same load. As uncomfortable as I was with Penny here, she was only trying to be nice."

"I know. I guess you're right," George said quietly. "So, you want to tell me why you recoiled so much when you saw her? You better have a good reason, or you'll just look like a bloody hypocrite."

Percy sighed. "When she left me, it was because I was getting too involved in my work. She said I'd lost sight of the important things."

"Well, it's not like she was that far off."

"She didn't stay and try to help me see reason, like someone that loves you is actually supposed to," Percy continued, his voice steady. His heart, on the other hand, was racing just thinking about that last argument he had with Penelope. "That's what all of you did. But Penny? She just left. I don't know. I keep thinking that maybe if she stayed, I would have listened to her and... and come home sooner. But I guess that's a shot in the dark."

He was seething with anger and, strangely, hurting. He was hurting for all of the times he forgot to hurt, and it felt like his heart was being squeezed by ruthless hands. He had never felt so at loss for air. It was an overwhelming storm of emotions that he had never even acknowledged before. In a way, Penelope's appearance was a blessing in disguise. Percy never knew he felt so crushed by their separation.

In retrospect, Percy didn't think that there was ever much between the two of them - the relationship itself was formed out of a desire to be held and admired by someone else - and so there was no reason to be so broken up over the matter. And yet, Percy still felt weakened by the blow of its termination. He figured that he was feeling all these new emotions because it was a sign that he was not good enough to receive attention from someone that wasn't obligated to give it.

"Fair enough. I guess that's a pretty good reason," George admitted. "You're not off the hook, though, you know? If I'm going to be doing this piecing my life back together thing, so will you."

"It's a deal," Percy said. Unfortunately, it was one that would be quite difficult for both brothers to keep.

Suddenly, George walked up to him and wrapped his arms around Percy. Surprised, Percy slowly hugged his younger brother back.

"It's nice to know you have feelings, Perce."

"It's nice to know you give a damn, George."

"What are you boys doing, shouting about and – oh, good heavens!"

The two brothers stepped back and saw their mother standing in the doorway to the kitchen with her hand over her chest and her jaw dropped in shock.

"I can't remember the last time I saw the two of you hugging!" she exclaimed. "Oh, goodness!"

And with that, she barrelled towards and enveloped the both of them in her arms.

"You've got a hell of a grip, mum," George managed to squeak out.

Molly stepped back and wiped the tears from her face. "Oh, I'm just so happy to see the two of you getting along. Finally! But please do clean up that teacup."

The warm August wind was thick and stifling. The sun only made it that much worse. August in London was like being suffocated by an invisible foe.

"It's nice to see some colour in your face, Perce."

Percy turned his head to look at Ginny standing next to him. He had offered to take her to Diagon Alley to buy all of her necessary school supplies for a proper sixth year. She had been apprehensive when he offered, but Percy tried not to let it make him feel too bad. After all, her hesitation wasn't without reason.

Percy smiled. "I think it's because I'm getting a sunburn."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean," she grumbled. "You're laughing more often, too. And making jokes. Things I fear you learned from George."

"Well, it was bound to happen, I suppose," Percy said.

"Speaking of George," Ginny started, "he told me about Penelope."

Percy's smile disappeared. "He shouldn't have."

Ginny sighed. "I am partially to blame, in that scenario," she said quietly. "I may have sent her a letter suggesting to come pay a visit sometime."

"Why would you do that?" Percy asked, his tone a bit too harsh.

"Why? Remember when I was in first year? Big, whole mess where I was possessed by a diary," Ginny started. "While everyone else was too busy being scared senseless to notice, I happened to walk in on a certain older brother snogging a certain Ravenclaw in an empty classroom."

"Ginny, this is not the time - "

"To remind you that you actually liked someone, back in the day?" Ginny interrupted. "And that I kept that little secret of yours from Fred and George for quite a long time, might I add. Sue me if I tried to bring back someone that I thought would make you happy."

"Ginny, honestly, keep your nose out of people's business," Percy scolded, then added more softly, "But I guess it was well-intended, and you had no way of knowing how we broke up. You did what you thought was best."

"Well, thanks for your apology, because you've really got to get your love life going, mate."

Percy rolled his eyes but decided not to point out that he didn't apologize. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Ginny's stubbornness. "It's not a priority."

"Fine. Be stubborn. Die alone, for all I care."

"Love you too, Ginny."

Ginny smiled and scanned the streets of Diagon Alley. "So, where to next?"

"I think we're deserving of some ice cream, don't you?" Percy proposed.

"Great minds think alike!" Ginny exclaimed happily.

Percy and Ginny stepped out from the shade of the awning hanging from Flourish and Blotts with their sights set on Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. That was when Percy caught a glimpse of wands being pulled from cloaks. He could feel the blood draining from his face as the scene in front of him began to unfold.

"Take cover!"

Yes, I am very evil for leaving you with a cliffhanger, but that's life, amigos. Sometimes, you just don't know what's going to happen.

Thank you to all that review and favourite! :)