"So, what was that sweetener, anyway?" Percy asked Alicia once he'd finished telling her the story. Due to a "medical emergency" (she claimed that she'd come down with an extreme case of House Elf Flu, but Percy wondered if maybe the time she'd taken off had something to do with the fact that she was harboring a fugitive) and once her week off was over, there was always someone around. Finally, Percy and Alicia were alone and he was able to tell her about the search.

"It's actually one of your brothers' inventions," she grinned. "You see, you can Confound someone with a spell, but they wanted to see if you could put the Confoundus charm into a potion. Better yet, into something no one would find suspicious like tea sweetener."

"I'll be sure to tell them that they're brilliant, whenever I see them next….." his voice trailed off.

Soon their shifts ended and Percy and Alicia said their 'See you tomorrow's and such.

Percy stepped into the elevator and took a sip of his tea. The lift stopped and a balding, redhead man entered stepped. He refused to make eye-contact with Percy who only felt awkward. Should he say something? Should he ignore him? Should he…..?

"Afternoon," Percy nodded at his father.

Arthur Weasley looked up, as though unsure if someone else in the lift had said something although the two were alone. He gulped suspiciously. "Good afternoon."

There was a pause where neither of them knew what to say. Percy broke it by asking, "How's Mum?"

"Fine, fine," Arthur said quickly.

"And Fred and George?"

"Fine. Business doing well as usual."

"Good. It's funny, I haven't ever actually been in their shop," Percy realized with regret.

"Oh, well, um," Arthur looked around once again as though afraid someone were listening in, "they ran into some trouble a few weeks ago. Had to take some anti-Death Eater products off the shelves. They were fined…twice the cost of rent for a year."

"That's terrible," Percy said genuinely concerned.

"Of course, it didn't hurt them too badly financially, but…."

"That's it though, right? Just a fine? Nothing more serious?" Percy asked before father could finish.

"Oh, no they're fine."

Percy nodded. "Does Ron still have splattergroit?" he asked with a slight smile.

"Eh? Oh! Yes, it's terrible." Arthur smiled back.

"Has his condition gotten any better?" Percy asked. Both of them knew what he meant was, Have you heard anything from him? Percy was smart enough to know that he youngest brother was somewhere off with Harry Potter.

"No, he's the same, but at least he hasn't gotten any worse," Arthur said gravely which Percy took as, We haven't heard any good news, but we haven't heard any bad news either.

Percy nodded. "And everyone else?"

Arthur sighed. "Mostly the same. Charlie's back with us right now and Ginny's off at school. Bill just got married…."

"I heard about that," Percy nodded. "When was the wedding?"

"Over the summer, at the end of July," Arthur answered.

"And my new sister-in-law is…..?" Percy asked.

"Fleur Delacour," Arthur answered.

"French girl? Was in the Tri-Wizard Tournement three years ago?"

"That's the one."

"And how's Mum taking it?"

"Better," Arthur took a deep breath. "Ever since Bill got attacked last year….."

"Bill got attacked?!" Percy asked, alarmed, but just then the doors to the lift opened and a few more Ministry workers entered.

A few 'Good afternoon,'s were exchanged and Percy and Arthur fell back into the stiff silence they'd been in before Percy inquired about Molly.

XXX

Audrey met Percy at the front door as he stepped into the house.

"How was work?" she asked as she helped him take his cloak off.

"Fine," Percy said distractedly.

"Something wrong?" her eyebrows furrowed as she hung the cloak on the rack. "Nothing about the search a few weeks ago?"

"No," Percy sat down on the couch. "It's just that….." (Audrey sat down next to him.) "I ran into my dad today."

"Your dad? Did you say anything to him?"

"Yeah. Bill got attacked last year," Percy said almost frantically. "I've missed so much….." He buried his head into his hands.

"Bill….your oldest brother?" she asked, and he nodded. "What happened to him?"

"I don't know," Percy shook his head.

"Well, do you know if he's going to be okay? If there will be any long-term affects?"

"I don't know," Percy looked up at her, terrified.

"Just ask your dad about it tomorrow," Audrey said. "I'm sure everything's okay. Now come on. I think supper's almost ready." She took his hand and dragged him into the kitchen.

But Percy didn't see Arthur the next day. He wanted to ask his dad everything, but he never saw him. Discouraged, at the end of the day he vowed to find an excuse to stop by his father's department the next day, but Yaxley came up to him and informed him of his father's mysterious disappearance.

"He didn't show up to work today and when they went to search his house, he wasn't there. None of them were. They just packed up and left."

Trying to sound uninterested, Percy merely nodded. "And your point?"

"Just glad that you didn't turn out like the rest of your family," Yaxley grinned greasily and walked off.

Percy forced himself to keep a blank, emotionless face until he was safely at home. Once home, he said nothing to anyone, not even Audrey though she tried very hard to pry some information from him. Finally she gave up and just hugged him until he was finally able to whisper, "Where ever they are, I hope they're safe."