The Battle of Hogwarts had ended and the Weasley family was getting by. They had lost one of their own; their once nine was now eight. Despite all of their issues, Percy was family and his death had hurt them deeply, as they never imagined losing him twice. But there was this feeling of loss missing that they all couldn’t conjure up, as though the person they were mourning wasn’t truly someone there, to begin with. They all had their own experiences and memories with Percy, but never truly thought about them before now. They went about their lives the same as before, but are now aware that Percy couldn’t return even if he wanted. Of course, they knew he did, as many of the last words he said were an apology. Fred was even there for his last moments. But it wasn’t until many days later that they realized there were others grieving someone completely different than the ‘Perfect Percy’ they knew.
A knock on the burrow door pulled the Weasleys out of the amusement of their morning conversations. All heads turned as Molly opened it to reveal a rundown Oliver Wood with a cardboard box in hand.
“Oliver! Hey, what are you doing here,” Ron called out cheerfully from his place next to Harry.
“Not that we don’t love the visit,” George clarified.
“Yes, it’s just awfully sudden,” Fred added. Oliver Wood stood frozen in the door frame mouth slightly agape. It was as though nothing was out of the ordinary for them. Oliver guessed people grieve differently, but he expected Mrs.Weasley to have been crying more than he had these last few weeks. Unnoticed by most of the Weasleys, except for those sitting closer, tears were forming in his eyes.
“Oh dear, what’s wrong?” Molly asked, attempting to usher him further into the house, but Oliver did not move.
“I came to offer my condolences,” he spoke quietly, and a hushed silence fell over the rest of the group. He took a shaky breath. “But it seems like that might not be necessary.” The final part of that sentence whispered.
“Of course, thank you, ” Bill said.
“Yes, thank you, son,” Arthur nodded towards him, and Oliver nodded back. There was once again an awkward silence. Oliver shifted from left to right, the things in the box doing the same.
“What’s in the box?” Ginny asked quietly. Oliver chuckles dryly.
“It’s a box of some of Percy’s things he left at our flat,” he answered.
“You two lived together?” Molly wondered. Oliver shook his head.
“Yes, I thought maybe I’d share them with you. Thought that you all would like some comfort, but I must have been mistaken. Have a nice morning Weasleys.” He turned around to leave, but Harry called him back.
“Oliver, stay and have breakfast with us,” he said. His voice was timid, as though he could see that Oliver wanted nothing more than to return back home with Percy’s things. A sniff and a deep breath later, Oliver turned back around. A single tear rolled down his cheek.
“I don’t think I’m in the mood to have breakfast with my dead boyfriend’s family,” he admitted, to the shock of the family. “Well, Partner actually. He thought that boyfriend was a little childish seeing as we had been together for so many years.”
“How many?” Molly asked quietly.
“5 years.” Realization settled amongst them. They all knew Percy had his secrets, everyone did, but-
“Wood, I am so sorry for your loss,” Charlie said first, and the others murmured their condolences.
“I really should be saying that to you, you were his family.”
“You are his family too,” Molly said.
“And you probably knew him better,” Ginny commented.
“I probably did. You know I had felt like I was so alone, but then I realized there were people out there who were sharing my grief. And every time I got an owl, or a floo call telling me they were here for me and that they were sorry I thought, you guys were dealing with it too,” he chuckled to himself, “So while I had been sitting in our shared flat gathering all this stuff that I was going to put it away because it hurt to look at, I decided maybe that maybe he wanted you all to have it. For you guys to get to know him. So I gathered whatever courage I had and came over here with this box.”
“I think he would want you to have it,” George told Oliver.
“You know I think so too. Because quite frankly I don’t think you all deserve it. And I’m sorry if that sounded rude but I loved him. I loved him so much that I sat and listened to every complaint, idea, or remark he had, and you guys could barely stand to listen to him talk about half of his interest.” Oliver didn’t realize he was shouting, but from the way the Weasleys flinched, he felt the need to come back down. Molly and Ginny had tears in their eyes very similar to Oliver's. Arthur looked stoic, where the rest of the sons looked hard as if they were willing themselves to contain all emotions. Harry shrunk in on himself, trying to disappear.
“Most of our friends hadn’t even known he passed until I told them,” he continued. “I bet you all don’t even know his friends. I had to tell them I wasn’t even there. That I completely missed his last moments. That I don’t know how his family’s doing because they haven’t reached out to anyone and maybe they’re too deep in their own grief to try because I sure as hell am. But clearly, you just didn’t know, and so now I’m here, and I brought you this box.”
Oliver walked over and placed the box on the table. Inside there were sweaters, books, parchment paper full of letters drafted and addressed to many of them, and tons of photos. There was one photo that caught their eyes. A simple muggle photo of Percy. No movement, just a still black, and white photo. A coffee cup in hand, gaze staring off into a distance, a complacent smile on his face. It stood out in comparison to the other magical photos moving. This one was framed, and Olive carefully plucked it out of the box and placed it on his chest.
“Goodbye Weasleys and I’m once again sorry for your loss,” he said before turning to leave. No one called him back this time, and a small sniffle could be heard as he quickly exited the Burrow. No one said anything because he was right. They didn’t know about Percy’s life, or friends, and clearly his partner. They didn’t know him.