I got you Brother
While Charlie himself enjoyed the open outdoors and Bill was the adventurous type, Percy had always been the quiet type. Though he had his moments. If he ever joined the twins in pranking them, they would either cry a good few hours or find an excuse to get out of the house as soon as possible.
Percy’s pranks, while neither harmful or hurting anyone, were vicious. They were ridiculously discreet, ridiculous for a boy so young, and elaborately annoying, elaborate as in taking hours and days and sometimes weeks to reverse.
Like the time he had somehow managed to charm all the spoons to float 2 inches to the left every time either he or Bill tried to reach for them. Percy’s eyes were bright when he claimed it to be accidental magic, but neither Charlie nor Bill missed the not-so-discrete wink he passed the twins.
Charlie was sure this was petty revenge from when he ACCIDENTALLY!! dropped an apple on Percy’s head while practising the levitation charm. That brat!
*
He was probably the most excited when Percy came along.
He was finally going to be the best big brother ever! He would be even better than Bill! While he loves his Older brother, this was a competition! He would be everything Bill was to him. An amazing big brother, a good listener and an awesome protector.
Respect was a weird thing in the Weasley family.
Percy was the most respectful he knew that he was young and older brother were 6 n 4 years apart. He respected him. And admiration was clear in sparkling blue eyes. He tagged along and asked questions but he would also be sitting in the same spot if he ever was told to. Not moving.
He would sometimes ask questions but mostly listen eagerly. He seemed to absorb knowledge like a fish in water. Even when he and Bill would be doing his maths or history, Percy would hover nearby till mother called him closer and gave him something to fiddle with.
Percy was 4 when he had followed them silently. Followed them to the clearing behind the house - where the shed was. When Charlie saw him he was a little annoyed. They had to babysit the twins all the time and as much as he loved his little brothers, the twin terrors could be quite a handful! They needed their own time too. Bill had yet to notice him, so Charlie sent him inside so when pERCY stumbled closer, it was only him and the small rocks to greet him. Bill was taking out something to tinker with so he wasn’t really worried about him overhearing them. But Charlie still had to hurry up. If he spends too much time outside, Bill - the worrywart he is, would come looking.
“Perce!” he called out to the boy.
He stumbled closer, tracking mud with him. “Challi!” he smiled. The little cretin! Charlie was pretty sure he could pronounce his R’s.
But he can’t be distracted now. He is on a quest!
“Do you want to impress Bill?”
The answer was prompt. He nodded his head vigorously.
That was a Weasley family thing. No matter who - everyone wanted to impress Bill.
He smiled. “I have an idea!”
“What?” he asked, sparkling blue eyes wide.
He smiled as he whispered his idea.
As he turned back towards the shed, his smile was a smirk.
After all, younger brothers were born to be pranked.
He was sure that Percy would go back once he got bored of waiting.
Time with Bill felt like mere minutes even when he knew it couldn’t possibly be true, as Mum called them for dinner. By the time they came back, their clothes were dirty with grime and sweat. Outside the sun had already sunk long ago, and the sky was a beautiful shade of vermilion - like the…
“Bill,” he started excitedly, “did you know that the sky looks like a particular shade of Vermilion - this is also the exact shade of red that sports the scales of Bulgarian Burning-belly.”
Bill smiled at his enthusiasm, “I don't, but Percy might. He has taken after you…kinda.” Charlie chuckled, “Not really, he will read anything he can get his hands on.” before drilling him with Dragon facts.
Just as Charlie and Bill finally came inside, the floo flared. Stepping out Arthur Weasley with a big grin on his face and a box in his hand.
Dad had got a bonus at work and he brought sweets.
“Bill, Charlie come set the table!” Mum called from the kitchen.
“We will have sweets after dinner,” dad said with a mischievous wink. “Now hurry up!”
They nodded, hurrying upstairs to change.
It was dinner time, and Molly noticed his absence.
“Where is Percy?”
"I don't know, I never saw him." Arthur stated.
"Mum, I thought he was with you." Bill said, looking at her with a worried expression.
“No,” Mum shook her head, “he wanted to surprise you two. He followed you to the shed.”
“He was,” Charlie said, and suddenly every eye in the room turned to him. “But- but it was a long time ago. He hasn’t come back yet?”
“Where did you last see him?” Bill asked urgently.
Everyone was now worried about Percy's disappearance.
“In the shed when-” before he could even complete his sentence, Mum and Dad were already running towards the shed, followed by Bill and Charlie locked the door before the twins could follow. Their wands were lighting up an area ahead.
Percy was lying on the ground, exactly where he had left him sitting. His fingers were turning blue by the time they reached and Percy was…still. Immediately the worst thoughts pierced his mind, before mum began to cast warming charms and he began to shiver. Dad picked him up and carried him to the house.
Bill grabbed his hand as they followed their parents, worry clear in their eyes.
Dad immediately went to get potions while mum covered Percy in blankets.
The twins were eagerly looking over to see what was happening.
Charlie stood there frozen, unable to move, unable to talk. All he could think about was, ‘Percy is okay, Percy is okay, Percy is okay-But he almost wasn’t!
And whose fault is that? Asked a sharp voice in his head.
…Mine…
“Why were you sitting there, Perce?” Bill asked as soon his eyes opened.
He was still shivering when he stuttered, "I sai-d I-I w-would-d n't m-move…."
Mum shoved a vial of pepper up in his hands with a huffed “Drink this!”, as his cheeks heated up to match his hair.
Bill rubbed his hands in his own. “Why didn’t you call for us, Perce?”
He looked up blearily, “but talking makes you move,” he reasoned.
“Oh Percy! What were you thinking? All alone there-”
Dad cut her off with a soft, “Molly dear, he must be hungry,”
She gave Charlie one last look before starting a soup for Percy.
The twins were thankfully asleep.
Premature. Pneumonia. Pneumonia. Fingers blue. Shiver. Said - not move and not talk. Only liquids. Warm him slowly. He was too cold. Too close to freezi-
His ears were buzzing.
Bill is angry. “Who?” he grits out.
“Me” Charlie whispered.
“He almost died, you prat!”
You almost killed your brother.
Charlie froze.
No. No. Worst big brother.
I almost killed Percy.
Percy…
Perce…
“Dinner was a quiet affair. No one talked. Or they did. Charlie kept his head down.
“He is asleep.” his father said.
Charlie tuned out the rest.
When he finally looked up, it was only Bill and him and Bill was staring at the fire.
“Bill…” Charlie hesitantly started.
“I don't want to talk to you.” he said curtly.
“Percy …”
“Don't even take his name.”
“Is he ...OK?”
Bill whirled around, anger palpable in his tense posture. “What do you think?”
And just like that the dam broke. His voice wobbled as he spoke hardly louder than a whisper, “I am the worst big brother Bill. I didn't think...I really..didn't think he would listen...The twins never do. Heck even you don't. I really didn't think...that...Percy.. he is so smart he can already read words and sound so smart.. and I thought I thought he would come back if he was-was cold....”
His vision was blurred with tears and suddenly arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a warm chest.
“Hey, hey, I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have said that. I know you never meant to do that.”
The words registered only vaguely, before he was clutching his brother's shirt, burying his nose into his neck.
“But…Percy’s premature - and when we got there he was all blue and still and-...I got so scared Bill.”
Bill diligently rubbed his back.
After mum and dad came back...they didn’t talk much. Scolding is due morning. Dad said hypothermia was setting in. A few more hours and he would lose a finger or a lung. Or both.
Guilt pooled like one of Percy’s heavy tomes in his stomach.
*
Later that night, he tiptoed to Percy’s room.
Percy shifted slightly before rubbing his eyes.
Charlie was about to make a run for it when a small voice behind him stopped him on his tracks. “Challie…?”
He slowly turned around, stepping towards the bed. “Hey Perce.”
Percy looked sleepy, but he still smiled.
So soft - open - trusting. He didn’t feel like he deserved it, so he quickly changed the topic.
“Why didn't you leave? It was getting cold.”
Did Mum and dad tell him what happened? Did he know that Charlie had almost killed him?
He didn't. If he did he wouldn’t be looking so excited at his visit. He would never call him brother again. Smile at him again. See him again like that. Happily.
"You told me to stay. I stay. I am responsible." He said the big word with relative ease, eyes locking at him asking for praise.
“You were cold.” he countered dryly.
Percy shrugged. “At first. Then I gradually got numb and I couldn’t feel the cold. I must have drifted off, I guess.” he finished a little sheepishly - like he was waiting for Charlie to get angry at him for nodding off.
But you shouldn’t have to! Charlie’s anger flared, but when he opened his mouth his voice was relatively understanding. “I am sorry, Perce. Truly.” he raised his hand when Percy made a move to protest. Talk about emotions never went well with his family, anyways. “You do realise that you are leaving yourself as such an open target for the twins to jump?”
His eyes widened in surprise. Like he just realized what that implied.
He was so vulnerable.
“Don’t just sit there and take it,Perce. Next time I-” abruptly cutting himself off, he revised. “Next time anyone tries to order you around, don’t just take it? ‘Kay? Question it and sometimes push back a little.”
Wide eyed, the kid nodded. Eager to follow his instructions. And Charlie knew, without a doubt, that he would.
Well, didn’t that just make him feel even more guilty. Good job, Perce! He sighed internally. This just means he would have to try to make up for it. And he will make up for it! He promised himself silently. Although how does one make up for almost killing his own sibling, he didn’t know. And if he was being extra nice to Percy the rest of the month…well he wasn’t the only one there. And if his first…10 letters had been for Percy and Percy alone? Bill had just ruffled his hair before taking a roll from his plate.
Now, thinking back…he might be the one to sow the seed of preliminary rebellion in his Genius brothers mind.
***