By the time Arthur and Molly composed themselves enough to send a patronus to their other children informing them of Percy's condition, it was well into the evening and an uneasy twilight had fallen over the city. Bill's reply came right away, informing them that they'd double-checked all the Burrow's security wards and were on their way. The message didn't specify who all was coming.

Molly stood up and stretched her legs and wiped her face. She'd been sitting in a hard chair for the last few hours, watching Percy's chest rise and fall and trying to detect anything new in his status. Now her gaze swung toward the bedside table. "Arthur, what's this paper bag here?"

"Dunno." Arthur stood and came over to look. "Oh, this might be his personal effects. What they found on him." He reached into the bag and took out Percy's wand, a glasses-cleaning cloth, a quill, and a crumpled lavender envelope. At the very bottom of the bag were the blood-stained robes he'd been wearing earlier.

"Is this an invitation to the wedding?" Molly picked up the envelope and slid the invitation out. "Oh, it is. I wonder if he was planning to come." She sat back down and began absentmindedly rubbing Percy's shoulder with her free hand. "How lovely tomorrow could've been."

Arthur sat back down too, lost in an old memory. Molly's hand on Percy's shoulder had reminded him of memories from happier times. "Mollywobbles. Do you remember how you used to rub Percy's back like that when he was a baby, trying to get him to go to sleep?"

"Oh, I do. He had the worst colic out of all of them, except maybe for Ginny. He'd scream for hours and hours and I'd go crazy rubbing his back trying to get him to sleep."

Arthur nodded. "I remember the time Charlie came into our room at four in the morning, crying because Percy was keeping him awake, then demanding that we throw Percy in the trashcan."

"He was so angry that we wouldn't do it, too." Molly was smiling as she thought of little Charlie and Percy, but then her smile faded. "Arthur, twenty years ago I would've given anything for Percy to go to sleep. Now I just want him to wake up." They both looked down at Percy as a low groan escaped his lips and his head tilted a little more to the right.

The sound of footsteps caught their ears and they both turned to see who it was. Bill and Fleur had appeared in the doorway and were now coming into the ward. "We got your message." Bill said. "Everyone's safe at home. Er, we were the only ones who wanted to come see Percy, I'm afraid. How is he?"

Molly shook her head and more tears began streaming down her face. "He's not good. He got hit with dark magic during the battle at the ministry and hasn't woken up since."

Bill sat down in the open chair and took Percy's hand. Had Molly been in a calmer state, she would've marveled at how diplomatically Bill was handling this. "Dad, did you see how it happened? I don't doubt Percy's a skilled wizard but I wouldn't peg him as a duelist. Did a death eater get the better of him?"

"It was my fault." Arthur shook his head. "I was dueling Yaxley and Percy jumped in front of me. Took the spell straight to the chest. I feel horrible. It should've been me. What kind of parent doesn't protect their child?"

"It's all right, Dad. No one's thinking very clearly in the battle. So you did see it happen?"

Arthur nodded. "It all happened so fast I didn't see who it was at first. Kingsley and I ran after we were overwhelmed. I went back there later to find who it was and that's when I realized it was Percy."

"No, that's a good sign." Bill said. "You and Percy both said some horrible things to each other, but he was still willing to take a curse for you. It means his heart's in the right place. You two might be able to work things out, when he wakes up."

"If he wakes up." Fleur said. "I 'ave heard about the putrificus curse and the potion." An uncomfortable silence fell.

"He'll wake up. He has to." Molly shifted forward. "If he doesn't wake up . . . if he doesn't wake up . . ." Fleur moved behind Molly and began patting her on the back while Arthur turned to Bill.

"Is Harry still at home?" Arthur asked. "He's been wanting to leave because he's so scared of putting us in danger. I don't care what Dumbledore told him; he cannot be running around by himself."

"He'd have Hermione with him, which is some of the best protection he can get." Bill said. "But no, I told him in very strong language to stay put. It's not even about the wedding anymore. I told him Ron can't leave while the family's upended like this."

"And what are you doing about the wedding?" Molly asked. "We can't very well have it at a time like this, I suppose."

"We're postponing the wedding." Bill said. "It didn't feel right, getting married while Percy was dying in hospital."

"Are you sure?" Molly asked. "Fleur, are you all right? I know you wanted to get married in France, but first you've relocated and now postponed . . ."

"It's all right, Mrs. Weasley." Fleur said. "I love Bill and your family and will wait until it's the right time. Besides, we all have to make some sacrifices for love."

Bill nodded. "She and I were talking to her parents about it earlier. We've decided we just have to wait it out. If Percy wakes up then we'll plan a small ceremony sometime in the future. If not . . . I don't know what we'll do."

"And Fleur's parents . . ." Molly asked.

"They know it's a hard time for the family. It would be difficult for them to travel back to France and then come back for the wedding, especially with all the unknowns, so Fleur and I offered for them to stay here. Don't worry, Mum," he added, "they're all right. They're agreeable guests. When we left they'd offered to dust the living room and then cook dinner."

"Ron'll blow his top when he hears that." Arthur chuckled. "Dusting the living room was his chore and he dragged his feet over it. He'll be mad to hear that the Delacours volunteered to do it over."

Bill laughed too. "Ron and Harry offered to keep Gabrielle entertained by teaching her how to play quidditch."

"Really, you do not 'ave to worry about a thing." Fleur said. "You can stay here as much as you need."

"Visiting hours are over." The healer from earlier had come back. "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over." She leaned over Percy and began checking his vitals. "No change in the patient from this afternoon, I'm afraid." She looked around at the Weasleys. "I'm Healer Perkins, by the way. I'll be in charge of Percy's case and can answer any questions you may have."

"Is there a limit on number of visitors?" Molly piped up. "Arthur, we ought to bring the rest of them to visit Percy."

"The limit is technically six, but I know you're a large family so I'll look the other way on that."

"Thank you." Molly said. "Now come on, all of you, we've got to get home."