Mourning Dawn (A Prelude to The Wand of Elder)

As it began the first steps of its blazing journey across the firmament, the summer sun brought light to the world as Harry approached the lake. The lake was like a dark sheet of glass, reflecting the pinks and blues of the dawn sky. Harry made his way towards the venerable tree near the lake, beside which he, Ron and Hermione had spent so many springtime hours.

As he approached, he saw two young men walking aimlessly along the shore, their distinctly red hair standing out in the dawn light. He sidled silently closer until he recognized Ron and Percy, and he could distantly hear what they thought was a private conversation.

"George is the worst of all, Ron," said Percy in a voice choked with emotion, but still somehow tinged with that characteristically fussy edge. He and Ron stopped walking and Percy looked over the still water of the lake, his arms hanging listlessly by his sides. "He hasn't said two words since it happened. He just sits there, looking so pale. I don't know if he'll recover from this. They were always so close."

Harry knew he was intruding, but he could not pull away. He had to know how the Weasleys, his favorite family in the world, were fairing. He suddenly felt guilty that he had not been there to help them the previous day, but had instead blissfully slept through the pain of the first day after Fred was killed.

"I know, Perce. I know," replied Ron in a worried voice. Ron looked like he had not slept in days. "We'll all just do what we have to do, won't we?"

Percy took off his glasses and wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve. "I was such an idiot! If I had just come back a few days earlier..."

"I know, Perce," said Ron softly. "But you're here now, aren't you? That's what matters."

Percy shook his head, placing his glasses back on. "If I had just come back sooner, I could have let Fred know...I could have..." Percy's voice broke, and he looked down at the ground.

Ron reached over and threw a supporting arm around his older brother's shoulders. It suddenly struck Harry how much bigger - not just taller, but bigger - Ron was than Percy.

"You know, I saw you two just before it happened," said Ron, giving Percy a little shake. "You said something funny when you two were fighting those Death Eaters. Fred was laughing and happy. Really happy, Perce."

Percy sniffed and continued looking down at the ground. Ron turned Percy to face him, and placed both of his large hands bracingly on Percy's shoulder.

"Fred was happy because you were there, and you were fighting alongside us, and you were joking along with him."

Percy looked up at Ron earnestly, and Ron smiled an understanding brotherly smile.

"He was happy because you're back, Percy. That's what mattered to him. That's what matters to us," said Ron, his voice surprisingly steady as it carried through the dawn air.

"Most importantly, that's what matters to Mum. She needs us all now, but she especially needs you. We all need you, don't we?"

Percy looked back at the ground and nodded. Ron again threw an arm around Percy's shoulders as the two continued their walk along the lake. Harry did not follow.

"Is she sleeping finally?" asked Percy.

"Mum? Think so. Dad's with her."

"Have you slept, Ron?" asked Percy, concerned.

"A little yesterday. I'll get some more when we get back to Hagrid's," answered Ron.

"It was exceptionally decent of Hagrid to let us use his cabin. Very decent, indeed," commented Percy, a bit of his pompous manner returning.

"Yeah," replied Ron with an ironic smile. "I always reckoned it was small, but without Hagrid and Fang in there, you could keep an army."

Percy smiled, and Ron withdrew his supporting arm. Any further conversation between the two was lost to Harry as they continued into the distance.