Having to tell the rest of his children about the murder of their older brother Charlie was just another crack into Arthur Weasley's already broken heart. He felt like going off into a dark corner somewhere and just cry but he knew he needed to stay strong for his wife and the rest of his kids. Arthur wrapped one arm around Ron's shoulder and another around Ginny's. The latter of the two had now begun to cry and in-between sobs asked why anyone would want to hurt Charlie, that he wasn't hated by anyone in the world.

Ron just looked lost, like he didn't really know how to express what he was feeling. Fred and George on the other hand just looked angry as they talked in a dangerously low tone about all the things, they would love to do to the person who had killed Charlie.

Arthur could understand perfectly as he had just as much anger as he did grief.

He wanted to know. Arthur wanted to know who killed his little boy.

Once they were able to regain their composure the best that they could, Arthur informed the four of them that Percy was home with their mother right at this moment and Bill was likely there by now too. However, the mention of their estranged brother wasn't met well by Ron.

"So, it actually takes one of us to die for that git to pull his head out of his arse and remember we exist?!" Ron swore.

"Ron, do not cause a scene when we get back, I mean it." Arthur warned. "It's the last thing your mother and I need right now."

Ron's anger immediately deflated after what his dad said. Lowering his eyes as he regretted his outburst, but before he could mutter an apology Fred and George came up on either side of him, placing a hand on each of his shoulders. Ron looked at the two of them and they nodded to their younger brother as if to say they understood how he felt. Fred and George, along with Ginny had been just as angry as Ron had been about the whole 'Percy situation', recalling how badly it had hurt their parents. It was just that now was not the time to refresh that whole thing.

"Come on," Fred said. "Let's just go home."

Meanwhile, back at the Burrow, Bill was sitting in the living room with his Mum and Percy. They were all talking...well, his mother and Percy were talking. The two were sharing memories they had of Charlie while Bill was barely able to get a sentence in due to Percy constantly cutting him off. It was a little over twenty minutes ago when Bill finally arrived at the Burrow. He walked in and found his Mum and Percy sitting next to each other, talking. It did seem like Percy was doing a good job in keeping their Mum pretty calm, so Bill didn't want to disrupt that.

Once she finally noticed her oldest son was there, Molly jumped up and squeezed him tightly with a hug; something he loved and missed getting. Bill smiled when he looked to Percy and stepped towards him to give a hug but Percy gave him a very brief one armed hug before stepping quickly away from his older brother, leaving Bill perplexed. "Hey, Bill," Percy simply said before sitting back down next to his mother and continued their conversation.

Sighing heavily, Bill rubbed his hands together before looking at the clock, wondering when the others would get here.

"Bill?" Molly turned her attention to her oldest son. "Does Fleur know about what happened?"

"No," Bill shook his head. "She was gone by the time the owl arrived." When he saw the confused look on Percy's face he explained; "Fleur Delacour is my fiancée. We're getting married soon."

"Oh." Percy said, finally making eye contact with him.

"Speaking of that," Bill continued. "Percy, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to-"

"Remember when Charlie took me to the lake when I was six, mum?" Percy smiled, turning back to his mother and throwing Bill's entire conversation off, cutting him out of the discussion once again. As Percy continued to talk about Charlie teaching him frog hunting, Bill outstretched his arms while staring at Percy with disbelief, now starting to get angry.

"What am I? Wallpaper here?" Bill demanded, in such a forceful tone of voice it caused Percy to look over at him with furrowed brows.

"What?"

"I've been here for twenty minutes, and you've said two words to me."

Percy narrowed his eyes. "Maybe I'm more worried about my mother who I'm sure is in great pain."

"Charlie was my brother. I'm your brother. You don't think that maybe I'm in great pain too?" Bill questioned as he got to his feet which made Percy get up as well. "When I got here you wouldn't even look at me, and now you won't even let me speak. I have a lot of good memories of Charlie, you know." His voice cracked a little when he said that. Charlie was his first little brother, but he loved Percy just as much. Maybe through this tragedy the two of them could get to know each other again, but at that moment it seemed that was the last thing Percy was interested in.

"Why did you even bother to come here?" Bill then asked. "Why didn't you just send a card!?"

Percy tuned everything out as he began slowly walking towards his oldest brother. Everything that followed seemed to go in slow-motion. He believed the last words he heard was by their mother shouting at them to '"Stop! Please stop!"

It took just a few more steps for Percy to now be standing right in front of Bill. While Bill was angry, he was a little nervous too as he didn't know what Percy was going to do. What this might lead to. Percy on the other hand, looked calm and collected. Percy's hand was in his right pocket, wand gripped in his hand as he wondered if now would be the right time...

No.

No. The others will be here at any moment. This would have to wait for another day.

A big smile sudden appeared on Percy's face which took Bill a back. Percy then threw himself at Bill, giving him the biggest, brotherly hug Percy had ever given anyone. Bill was smart, Percy hated to admit that he might have been just as smart as him, so Percy needed to do something to throw him off guard, which it apparently did. Bill was shocked at first at what Percy had just done but the shock quickly dissipated as he hugged younger brother back.

"I'm sorry Bill." Percy stated. "You know that I love you. Right now I'm just feeling-"

"I know how you feel right now, believe me. I love you too, Percy." Bill said while giving his little brother several playful punches to the back. When they let go off each other Bill laughed a little, and their mum was crying, tears of joy this time instead of tears of sadness. Bill must have thought that he maybe had just gotten his second little brother back and that's what caused Percy to look away. Bill had always tried to be the exemplary older brother. Percy tried to be just like Bill, but obviously he had failed.

'That won't matter for much longer,' Percy then thought to himself as he then tried to think of something to say to Bill.

"So, uh," Percy began, "Why don't you tell me about Fleur?"

But before Bill could answer him that's when the front door busted open and the rest of the lot had arrived.

"Boys!" Molly screamed with joy. "Ginny!"

Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny all gathered around their Mum, each got a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Bill smiled at the scene, this would have been just a great moment had it not been for the tragedy that had brought them all here. Bill then looked over at Percy and noticed a weird look was now on his face. Also, one of Percy's fists had clinched as he watched his younger siblings hug his mother.

"Percy?" Bill put a hand on his shoulder and shook it while quietly asking; "Why do you look so upset?"

"I'm fine, Bill." Percy responded as he gently pulled away from him and went to stand closer to his father. Shrugging, Bill went to greet his youngest siblings, Arthur was about to make a motion to Percy to go over and do the same, but Percy leaned forward and hugged his father tightly. That caught Arthur off guard, but surprise quickly turned to a big smile on his face. Arthur had a small fear deep down in his gut that Percy may never talk to him again. But here he was, hugging him as if Percy was clutching on for dear life.

The sad, family reunion was then put on pause by a knock on the door. Arthur carefully answered it to see that it was Rufus Scrimgeour, the new Minister of Magic.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley. May I come in?"

Arthur nodded and opened the door further to let the Minister in.

"I just learned of the news, I came to offer my condolences. I'm very sorry about the loss of your son. I came to let you and your family know the Ministry is going to take care of everything regarding Charlie's funeral. We don't want you to have to worry about a thing."

Arthur lowered his eyes.

"Thank you, very much."

"Anything else you need, just let us know." Scrimgeour looked to Percy and gave him a sad smile. "I suppose the whole family will be staying here tonight?"

"Yes." Arthur put his arm around Percy. "Now that Percy's back, we're-"

"Wait, I'm not back!" Percy pulled away from his father. "I'm not done yet! I'm not even close!" Now everyone in the house was looking at him as if he had just grown two extra heads as they tried to figure out what he was talking about. Percy froze for a moment but quickly saved himself as he turned to Scrimgeour. "May I come back to the Ministry with you, Mr. Scrimgeour?"

Ron's eyes widened in outrage after that.

"What the-"

Every one of the Weasley children then began to barge down on Percy before Mrs. Weasley overtook them all.

"Silence!" Her brood calmed but only in quiet voices. "Percy, what in the world are you talking about?"

"I happen to still have a lot of work to do." Percy explained.

"Work?" Fred then turned to George and scathingly asked; "Are we really sure he's not one of those house elves, with all the attention he gives to work?"

"Nah," George answered. "He doesn't have enough heart to be one."

"He could be a Dementor though." Ron spoke, glaring at Percy with as much hate in his eyes as possible.

"Percy." Scrimgeour drew his gaze away from the other Weasley kids and looked to his assistant. "Do you really wish to come back to the Ministry with me?

"I would like to go." Percy confirmed, having enough composure not to respond to the jabs of his siblings. "I just don't think I'd be of any use here."

Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny turned away in disgust after hearing that, not even glancing at Percy as they headed for the stairs. Bill looked at Percy, trying to understand but quickly just gave up. "I guess...I'll see you at the funeral."

Percy nodded and Bill went to follow his brothers and sister. Scrimgeour ushered Mr. and Mrs. Weasley over into the corner to talk in private.

"People cope with tragedy in different ways," the Minister explained. "If he feels he can be useful for the Ministry, I will let him."

"He could be useful for his family," Molly angerly replied, not loud enough for Percy to hear.

Scrimgeour nodded.

"That may be true, but he might feel he is doing something for his family by going back to work. I know, people are hard to understand sometimes."

"Very well," Arthur sighed heavily as he looked back at Percy with a mixture of confusion and guilt. He just didn't understand his third born anymore, and therefore felt guilt that some part of that was his fault. "If he wants to go, he can go." Arthur then went to go look for his other kids. "Owl us if you need anything. Or if you change your mind, come on back."

"Percy, we love you." Molly said while approaching him. A single tear began to slide down her cheek. "You know that don't you?"

"Of course. I love you and Father too." Percy insisted.

Clearing his throat, Scrimgeour spoke up.

"I'll wait outside."

Once the Minister was gone, Percy closed the distance with his Mum and brushed the single tear away.

"Mum, I know things seem...bad, right now. But everything is going to be okay in the end, I promise you." Percy then gave her a little smile before a hug, then walked out the front door.

'Everything is going to be the way it should be.'