Chapter Text
Percy was completely numb as his brothers and his father carried Fred’s casket. He felt George’s hand upon his shoulder.
“Okay, Perce?”
Percy shook his head. George pulled him into a hug, which caused Percy to flinch for some reason.
“I’m sorry,” Percy said.
“S’okay, Perce.”
…
He went to sleep after Harry returned to the Burrow after the funeral. Percy sensed something between Ron and Harry but that was confirmed when Ron announced it at breakfast the next morning.
“Mum? Dad?” Ron announced.
“Yes, Dear?” Molly asked.
The younger brother waited until his family was listening.
“Harry and I are…dating,” Ron said.
George smiled encouragingly at Ron and Percy did the same.
“We know, Ron,” Ginny said.
Ron glared at her.
“Thank you for telling us, Dear,” Molly smiled.
Percy finished his breakfast and headed upstairs to his childhood room.
…
In the days following the funeral, Percy felt the absence of Fred from the burrow. He isolated himself in his room, hoping his family would forget his existence. He was ashamed of his behavior, ashamed of leaving them and he could feel their resentment.
“Percy, are you in there?” Charlie gently knocked on his door.
“Come in,” Percy said.
Charlie opened the door and stepped inside.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Fine,” Percy answered.
“No, you’re not,” Charlie said, “You haven’t spoken to anyone or joined us for…”
“You don’t want me here.”
“Of course we do.”
“No,” Percy corrected, “I’ve never belonged here. I was just someone to poke fun at, to laugh at, to be the victim of one of the twins’ pranks. When I left, not a single one of you tried to contact me, except Mum.”
“We missed you,” Charlie said, “I got letters from everyone; Ron, Ginny, the twins, Bill, they wanted you back, Perce.”
“Funny way of showing it,” the younger one scoffed.
“So, they’re stubborn, but so are you.”
“You got letters from Fred?”
“Yep.”
“Do…do you have them?”
“Somewhere,” Charlie answered, “I’ll see if I can find some of them.”
“Good,” Percy said, “Do you…think I could have saved him?”
“No, and you shouldn’t think that way.”
“Can’t help it.”
“I know. Just, try not to blame yourself, okay?”
“Yeah.”
…
He couldn’t help taking the brunt of the guilt for Fred’s death. Fred was his younger brother, he was supposed to protect him, shield him. the pain of his guilt and grief begun to manifest physically in aches and pains throughout his body.
“Percy, you’re not going to believe this,” Ron interrupted Percy’s book reading.
“Believe what?” Percy raised an eyebrow.
Ron explained the situation with Draco and Narcissa.
“Hmm,” Percy said.
“That’s it? Just, hmm?”
“Well, of course it’s terrible that he was abused by his father,” Percy said, “And that someone used the crutiatus curse on him at all, let alone so frequently. Did they catch the man who…”?
“No,” Ron said, “But, the Ministry is on the lookout.”
“Good,” Percy said, “I hope he’s caught.”