Chapter 2
“You’re leaving?” George demanded. He turned and gave Fred a look that clearly read ‘did you know about this?’. Fred shrugged. He hadn’t, but it didn’t matter. It was clear Percy and Audrey had been planning something, and they'd kept it up after the wedding ended two days ago.
“We’re just going to Spain directly after our honeymoon, honestly George, it’s not like this is news. We were going to go to Spain eventually.” Percy was pinching the bridge of his nose, his glasses in his other hand. The hand holding the glasses spasmed and he clenched his teeth. Audrey frowned in sympathy.
“You’re going to Spain like two months early!” George exclaimed. “What about the Order?”
“That’s part of the reason why,” Audrey said, her voice considerably softer than George’s, or Percy’s for that matter. “The move is a lot for your family, and we wouldn’t be going with you anyway. Not enough space. We’re not going to rent an apartment for two months, not when we can move into our one in Spain early.”
“You could stay here!” George said.
Fred finally spoke up. “That’s not the only reason though, is it?” He glared at his brother. “How are you feeling, Percy?”
Percy didn’t make eye contact with him, and Audrey pursed her lips. George’s jaw dropped. “Perce?”
“It’s gotten worse.” Percy admitted finally. “The crucios in the graveyard, they damaged my nerves. Mostly in my hands. It’s um, well, it’s gotten worse recently. We don’t know why that is.”
“And what did St. Mungo’s say?” George asked. Fred knew the answer to this one, if only because Percy hadn’t told them he’d be alright.
“They can’t help.” Audrey moved to stand beside Percy. “Percy’s teacher, he thinks there’s a doctor there who can help though. We have a meeting with her right after we get there. Either way the heat will do him some good.”
“And if she can’t help?”
“Then I’ll learn to live with it.” Percy said. “It hurts, yes, but it’s not debilitating. I can still do everything I used to be able to, I just need more breaks sometimes. But the order…” He trailed off.
“You can’t be part of the order because of it.”
“That and I won’t have it.” Audrey said. “I’ve already almost lost him once, we’re not doing that again.”
“How did Mum and Dad take it?”
“Mum took it well, all things considered. Dad… he’s not thrilled. Thinks we’re running away but at this point we’d be less of a help here than we will be in Spain. We’ll work on getting a safe house or two set up, help facilitate them if it comes to it. But that’ll be the extent of our involvement in this war. At least for the next two years.” Percy shook his head.
Fred nodded before changing the subject. “Do Bill and Charlie know?”
“About us leaving early?”
“About it getting worse.”
“No.” Percy said. “And I’m not inclined to tell them.” Bill and Charlie had been a wreck after the third task. They’d grilled Percy after he'd finally woken up, demanding names. Percy had given them to the aurors, but not his brothers. He’d said he didn’t want them doing something stupid and getting themselves killed. Charlie had had some words about that, and then they hadn’t spoken for a week before Bill had dragged them out of the house. Fred didn’t know what happened, but when they came back they were all speaking again. Fred didn’t think Percy had told them, and while they were speaking, he was definitely keeping things from them.
“I’m telling them.” Fred declared.
Percy scowled. “Absolutely not.”
“They deserve to know.”
“They’ll make a fuss and they can’t do anything.”
“If it was one of us would you want to know?” George asked, taking the words right out of Fred’s mouth. Twin brain.
“That’s different.”
“It is not.”
Audrey huffed. “It is the same thing, love.” She told Percy.
Percy threw up his hands. “Not my wife too!” Audrey grinned at the term, and Fred and George shared a look. They were disgusting.
“Fine.” Percy said, after Audrey had given him another look. “I will tell Bill and Charlie.”
“Tell Bill and Charlie what?” Naturally it was Bill, because fate’s timing was fantastic. Fred stifled a laugh as he saw all of their siblings behind him, not just Charlie.
“Oh look, party in the kitchen.” George said with glee. “Hello Billiam, Percy has something he needs to tell you.”
“Did he finally decide to give us names?” Charlie asked skeptically, pushing past Bill to go for the pantry. “Who ate all the crackers?”
Ron backed away from the door to duck behind Ginny, but fortunately Charlie didn’t notice. “I’m not giving you those names.” Percy snapped. “Stop asking.”
“Harry probably knows.” Ginny chimed in, giving Ron a look from where he was hiding behind her. “Have you asked him?”
Charlie pointed at her. “Brilliant, you’re brilliant. Favorite sister right there.”
“No.” Percy said empathetically.
Bill raised a hand. “Everyone stop.” He said, oldest brother voice on. It almost made Fred want to behave. Almost. “Percy, what did you need to tell us?”
“It’s not important.”
“Percy.” Audrey said firmly. Percy scowled. Fred rolled his eyes.
“It’s not,” He insisted. “But the twins found out and thought you should know. The tremors I’m experiencing are getting worse. They’re not debilitating, but Mungo's can't help and Dr. Diaz said he might know a mediwitch/muggle trained doctor in Spain who may be able to help. We’re going straight there after our honeymoon.”
“You’re leaving early?” Ginny demanded. Ron made a noise of offense and agreement. Charlie interrupted them both.
“Worse how?” He was looking at Percy with a look Fred had only seen on his face once before. It was outside the arena, right after Percy had been taken away to St. Mungo's, before they knew that he would be okay.
“More frequent.” Audrey stepped in when it became clear Percy didn’t want to answer. “And, uh, he’s experiencing more pain.”
“How bad?” Bill’s voice was sharp, and Fred winced. He knew it was out of fear, but those two really didn’t react well when their siblings were hurt.
Percy sighed heavily. “It’s starting to impact my sleep.” He admitted. Fred and George’s heads snapped up in unison. “I can't carry heavy objects in my left hand. It’s hard to stand sometimes, some days it’s hard to walk. As far as I can tell my mind mostly hasn't been impacted, but it is a concern.”
“You’re going crazy.” Ron asked. Ginny slapped him.
“No.” Percy said firmly. “My sanity is intact. It’s just physical.”
“And it’s getting worse?” Charlie spoke. “It wasn’t this bad a month ago.”
“It wasn’t.” Percy agreed. “I think it’s stress from the wedding. St. Mungo’s thinks it might be -” He cut himself off. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What does St. Mungo’s think?” Fred demanded.
Audrey brought a hand to Percy’s arm. “They think it might be an additional curse.”
“What?” Bill leaned heavily against the wall as he spoke. “Percy?”
“There are some moments I don’t remember as clearly.” Percy said. “There was some time when Malfoy and-” He cut himself off looking furious with himself. Charlie’s jaw dropped.
“Malfoy?” He snapped. “Malfoy was there?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Percy said. “I told the aurors- they didn’t do anything. Half of them didn’t believe me and the ones that did said it wasn’t good enough evidence. But moving on from that-”
“We’ll be going back to it.” George muttered, looking as angry as the rest of them. Fred felt a rising fury in his chest that he tried to stamp down. At least now they knew why Percy wouldn’t tell them who was there.
“-we will not be. There was some time when Harry was dueling that I don’t remember. I uh, wasn’t entirely with it at the time. Wasn’t feeling much, wasn’t hearing anything. They ran some tests and there were some lingering spells that I don’t remember being cast. They think that there may have been another, but the spell is undetectable. The doctor in Spain might be able to help with that.”
“Shit.” Bill said, grabbing a chair and sliding into it. Fred glanced around, Ron and Ginny were still at the door, looking upset. Charlie was on the ground next to the pantry, clearly seething. Audrey was not making eye contact with any of them.
“Audrey, what else is there?” Fred asked. Audrey bit her lip and looked up. “Please, he’s our brother.”
“There’s more?” Bill looked up from his hands. Percy and Audrey shared a long look. “How could this possibly get worse?”
“I’m having trouble with my memory.” Percy said finally. Charlie made an outraged noise.
“You said your mind was fine!”
“It is! It’s just my memory!”
“That is part of your mind Percival.”
“Oh, only barely. And you know that Ron was asking if I was going crazy, and I’m not, I’m just forgetting a few things!”
“What does that mean?” Bill cut in. “Trouble with your memory, define that.”
“My memory of that night is fuzzy, which makes sense, trauma or whatever. There’s just some other things – I forgot a spell last week and couldn’t recall a conversation Audrey and I had had multiple times before that. It’s not bad yet, but that’s why we think it might be an extra spell. If it weren’t for that, we’d think it’s just side effects.”
“He also forgot Aaron’s name.” Audrey said. “And some others.”
Percy gritted his teeth. “Yes, thank you Audrey.” Audrey patted his hand soothingly
“What others?” Bill asked. “Percy, what other names?”
Percy opened his mouth, but shut it suddenly with a click. Audrey’s eyes snapped to his and she lunged for the table, grabbing a chair and easing Percy into it. Percy gritted his teeth and there was a long moment where nothing happened.
“Percy?” Charlie asked, now off the floor. Percy waved him off with a deep breath.
“What was that?” Fred asked. Percy shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter.” He said. “Just pain, happens sometimes.”
“Okay, so my other question, what other names?” Sometimes Fred admired Bill’s focus. This was not one of those times.
“Merlin, Bill, give him a break. He clearly is having trouble doing anything right now.” George snapped. Audrey got Percy a glass of water, which he drank with shaking hands. Fred wanted to vomit at how unwell his older brother clearly was.
“Oh, I’m sorry that I have questions about how bad his health actually is.” Bill snarled. “Forgive me for worrying about my little brother, who was apparently tortured by one of our father’s political enemies!”
“I’m fine.” Percy said. They all gave him the same look. “Okay, not fine, but as close to it as I’m going to get. These episodes only last a few minutes. My memory is getting worse, yes, but even that doesn’t last for long. And we have a doctor who we think can help. And so help me, if you go after Malfoy, any of you, Mum will not need to kill you because I will fly back from Spain to do it myself.”
“Fly?” Ron’s nose scrunched. “Like on a broom?”
“Err, no.” Percy said. “On a plane.”
“Why are you taking planes when you can apparate or take a portkey, or floo?”
“Um.” Percy said. “That’s enough questions for now, thanks.”
“Percy-”
“No no, question time is over.” Percy moved to get up, and Audrey rolled her eyes but helped him. “I’m going literally anywhere but here.”
“Percival!” But Percy was gone, leaving six Weasley kids in the kitchen, and no in-laws. Bill massaged his forehead. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Why’s he taking a plane?” Ron asked, moving to join Charlie beside the pantry.
“I bet the magic messes with him,” Ginny said. “When he travels.”
“Bugger,” Fred muttered, sharing a look with George. “Wait-”
“-he’s going into a magical mastery program-” George continued.
“-will that mess with him?” Fred finished. Bill’s head snapped back and forth between them.
“Probably,” Charlie said, pulling out a package of cookies. He batted Ron’s hands away. “But he’s not going to tell us. We’re just going to have to trust Audrey I guess.”
“Yeah, great.” Bill said. “I feel awesome about this.”
“I love Audrey.” Ginny sniffed.
“I do too, but you can’t deny she’s definitely on his side in all this. Even when it means keeping stuff from us.”
“She helped convince him to tell you,” Fred muttered. “That counts for something, right?”
Bill didn’t say anything at all, just glaring at the table. For a long moment, the only noise was the sound of Charlie chewing cookies.
George finally sighed. “This is the worst.”
“You can say that again.” Fred muttered. So far, this summer was off to a less than awesome start.