In A Time Of Uncertainty

Marauder

Story Summary:
They once longed for each other years ago, but neither was ready to face his feelings. Now Voldemort has returned, Oliver is recruiting wizards to fight against him, and Percy is estranged from his family. Hesitant and apprehensive, they decide to try to be a couple.

Chapter 38

Chapter Summary:
Percy asks a question and doesn't understand Remus's reaction; George is awake and feeling quite depressed.
Posted:
07/16/2004
Hits:
909
Author's Note:
This took me a loooooong time to write. Thanks for the patience. This isn't one of my favorite chapters I've written for this fic, but it's one of those that's needed to advance the plot.

Part Four, Chapter Seven

"Everyone is moving these days, it seems," said Remus after they had walked in silence for a few minutes past a dingy row of shops. A gust of wind swept up the refuse that lay in the street, only to die down and set it back onto the ground. "You and Oliver leave for the Caribbean with Ron and Ginny on Thursday, I'm gone to Wiltshire with Harry on Friday, and Oliver tells me that you two are considering giving your flats to Fred, George, and Mundungus."

"Yeah," said Percy. "Mine to Dung, and mine and Oliver's to the twins. That is, if they want or need it. I don't know what they're going to do when they get out of hospital. Harry's going to Wiltshire with you?" Two Muggle women came chattering out of a shop.

"I'm one of the only adults he has left," said Remus quietly. A very solemn look came over his face, and he lowered his eyes. " And the very last of his parents' good friends. He can't stand staying with his aunt and uncle, so when I asked him to Evermore he accepted. That's the cottage where I'll be living," he added, seeing the question in Percy's raised eyebrows.

They turned the corner. "Have you been there before?" Percy asked.

"Yes, I have. I lived there as a young man. It's a small place, out of the way, about seven miles from any neighbors; after a year in London I think I'll like it very much."

Remus did not speak for again, but Percy suddenly remembered what Ginny had said, and as they neared Grimmauld Place his curiosity became overwhelming. "Er...Remus?"

"Hmm?"

"Ginny said...did you really say that Oliver's practically my husband?"

To Percy's surprise, Remus's mouth set in a tight line, and he began to walk very briskly. "No, I didn't, although I did tell your mother that I wouldn't be surprised if Oliver ended up becoming a permanent part of the family."

"He will be." As far as Percy was concerned, he already was.

They had reached number twelve; Remus hastily pulled his wand from his pocket and climbed the steps. Before he opened the door Percy asked, "How did Sirius like being in charge of foreign affairs?"

He felt his body constrict in nervous fear as Remus slowly lowered his wand. The other man did not turn to face Percy before he spoke. "Why do you ask me that." It was said so softly, and so evenly, that it did not sound like a question.

"Well," Percy stammered, "you two were friends and all, weren't you? I was just wondering." Remus had readily talked about Sirius before. Percy felt his face turn red as he tried to think of what error or insensitivity he had committed. Perhaps, walking home from a funeral, Remus did not want to think about another person who had died in the war. Yet he had mentioned Harry's parents - "If you don't - "

"He was very good at it," Remus said curtly. "It took a lot of his energy. He didn't find a lot of time to be home. I don't know how he felt about what the job entailed."

"Oh," Percy whispered.

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

Remus made no answer. Once they were inside Percy went hurriedly to find Bill and Charlie, and Remus did not follow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As Percy sat with the rest of his family around George's hospital bed, he found himself feeling very relieved that Oliver was so much larger than he was. They were holding hands; the warmth of Oliver's strong fingers provided a sanctuary for Percy's hand, which had curled up into a ball. Oliver's voice too was a comfort. "I'm not sure how everything is going to work in the Aerial Branch, but I've spoken to the Healers, and they say that the damage to the upper part of your leg is minimal enough that your flying shouldn't be affected."

"You mean my right leg," George said dully, vacant eyes staring at Oliver. "It can't have an upper part if it doesn't have a lower part."

"Your right leg," said Oliver softly.

George, who had been sitting up to speak to his visitors, let himself fall back onto the bed. "It isn't a matter of whether I can," he said cynically. "The fact is, I just don't fucking want to."

Molly did not reprimand her son for his language, which Percy took to be a very bad sign indeed. "Fred would be with you," she said timidly.

"I'm not Fred, Mum. Did you think we would follow each other everywhere for the rest of our lives?"

Arthur glanced at his wife and took over. "George, your life isn't going to end because you lost half your leg."

George snorted. "Unfortunately."

His mother gasped; Percy gripped Oliver's hand and said immediately, "He doesn't mean it, Mum."

"Shut up, Percy," said George. The only emotion in his voice was mild irritation. "It doesn't concern you."

The room erupted. Bill and Charlie tried to reason with George, speaking in low, urgent tones; George gave them cutting and sarcastic answers. Percy's mother turned to his father and her mouth began to shake as she spoke to him. Ron and Ginny began an argument about something; Percy couldn't tell what it was over the clamor of the other voices. Oliver leaned close to him and the grasp of their hands tightened.

"Look," George finally managed to say over the noise, "I really don't feel like seeing any of you today, so could - "

"That's too bloody bad!" his mother replied angrily. Ron looked at her, impressed. "The Healers say you should be ready to leave here in a week. If you think we're going to let you wallow in your own misery without a single thought as to what you'll do when you leave here, you're wrong, George Gideon Weasley. Before we leave here we're going to have some sort of preliminary plan, and none of it will include self-destruction. None of us are fighting this war so that you can be defeated."

"I'm not joining the Aerial Branch," said George stubbornly.

"That's fine. I don't care if you join the Aerial Branch, or any of the other branches, or if you decide you need some time at home to recover."

"I'm not going to sit home."

"All right. What do you want to do?"

"I want to have my life back the way it was," George said. "However, I can't do that, so I'd like to be left alone."

"You could come an' stay with me if you want."

When Percy recognized the voice he felt relief settle upon him. Mundungus was standing against the back wall, wearing a dressing gown and leaning on a cane.

"I'll be making more weapons for the Order. Percy is going to let me his flat - "

"I haven't asked you yet," said Percy faintly.

"Remus beat yeh to it. I accept. Anyway, George, you could stay there with me help with the weapons, till you had an idea what you wanted to do."

For the first time since his family had entered the room George dropped the sneer that had overcome his mouth.

"Mundungus, that's very kind of you," said Molly cautiously, "but considering how he's been feeling lately, and considering your...lifestyle, I don't think that it - "

"I won't let 'im drink," Mundungus snapped. "I don't let other people have any of mine if I think it'll do 'em more harm than good. Besides, Figgy would have my hide, she's already told me that she's coming by the flat every day to make sure I'm taking good care of Tibblentina."

"Who?"

"Tibbles's daughter. Little kneazle-cat that's coming to live with me once I've gotten out of hospital. Right sweet little girl, looks like her dad except for the white paws."

George wanted to speak to Mundungus alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"He hasn't just lost his leg," Oliver said as he passed the green beans to Percy. "He's lost his identity. Fred-and-George, identical twins, funny and play lots of pranks."

"Which is a much better way to be known than Percy-who-has-no-life-but-work," Percy replied. "People loved Fred and George. I mean, they still do, but - "

" - but they won't be the ones who make everything funny anymore," Oliver finished. "It's hard to find things funny once you've killed a man and had a part of your body amputated. The shop is gone too. Do you think they'll start the business up again?"

"They might, at least to make some money."

As Oliver drained a glass of milk, Percy studied him. "Ol," he said at last, "you and Remus are pretty good friends, right?"

"Well, we aren't very close," Oliver answered, "but there are some things we understand about each other. Why do you ask?"

"I asked him how Sirius liked being Foreign Affairs Coordinator," Percy said. The mere memory made him tense. "I know he's usually quiet, but you should have seen him. He was cold. Normally I wouldn't have asked him - you don't want to bring up people's dead friends, of course - but he's talked about Sirius other times, so I didn't think it would be a bad thing to ask. Just to get some more information about the job. He was just - you'd think I'd done something awful. I feel awful."

"Don't," Oliver said. He pushed back his chair and stood. "It was probably because it was right after a funeral."

"That was the only thing I could think of."

Oliver paused for a moment, then began to take the empty dishes from the table. "Don't worry about it. You didn't do anything wrong." But there was something about the quickness of his answer, so different from his usual contemplating way of thought, that made Percy uneasy.

By the time they went to bed, however, Oliver was no different than he usually was, and he murmured adoringly in Percy's ear as they made love.


Author notes: Next chapter: Percy learns the full story of Remus and Sirius.

This isn't about the next chapter, but a few very attentive readers with an eye for minor detail might have noticed something about Reginald...and that's all I'll say for now.