Unexpected | Bill Weasley

~54~ Conflicts

Percy spluttered into silence. Evidently he had not expected to run into most of his family. There was a long moment of astonishment. He stared at us and we stared back, frozen.

Damon broke the awkward silence by saying loudly to Remus "So how's Teddy!"

Remus blinked. "Oh yes! He's great, staying with Tonks at her mother's."

They silence between Percy and us was almost unbearable.

"I've got a photograph!" Remus yelled, pulling it out and showing it to everyone, but the Weasley's.

"I was a fool!" Percy roared, so loudly that Remus almost dropped the photograph. "I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat, I was a – a --"

"Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron," said Fred.

Percy swallowed. "Yes, I was!"

"Well, you can't say fairer than that," said Fred, holding his hand out to Percy.

Mrs. Weasley burst into tears,. She ran forward, pushed Fred aside, and pulled Percy into a strangling hug, while he patted her on the back, his eyes on his father.

"I'm sorry, Dad," Percy said.

Mr. Weasley blinked rather rapidly, then he too hurried to hug his son.

"What made you see sense, Perce?" inquired George.

"It's been coming on for a while," said Percy, mopping his eyes under his glasses with a corner of his traveling cloak. "But I had to find a way out and it's not so easy at the Ministry, they're imprisoning traitors all the time. I managed to make contact with Aberforth and he tipped me off ten minutes ago that Hogwarts was going to make a fight of it, so here I am."

"Well, we do look to our prefects to take a lead at times such as these," said George in a good imitation of Percy's most pompous manner. "Now let's get upstairs and fight, or all the good Death Eaters'll be taken."

"So, you and Bill are finally married!" Percy said to me, sticking his hand out.

I stared at him and he looked slightly afraid, before I knocked his hand aside and hugged him tightly.

"I've missed you Percy," I said.

He hugged me tightly. "I've missed you too Fawn."

Everyone started leaving and Ginny and I tried to sneak with them.

"Ginny!" barked Mrs. Weasley, seeing us. "Fawn!"

"Molly, how about this," said Remus. "Why don't Fawn and Ginny stay here, then at least they'll be on the scene and know what's going on, but they won't be in the middle of the fighting?"

"I-" said Mrs. Weasley.

"I don't know-" began Bill.

"That's a good idea," said Mr. Weasley firmly, " Ginny, Fawn, you stay in this room, you hear me?"

I didn't like that idea, and I was sure Ginny didn't either, but under Mrs. Weasley's intense gaze, we nodded.

Damon, Lucas, Finley and Sirius hugged me.

"Don't worry Fawn," said Sirius.

"Just be safe," sad Finley, nodding to my stomach.

"I love you Fawn," said Damon kissing my forehead.

"Me too," said Lucas, kissing my cheek.

They left.

Bill kissed me deeply. "I just don't want you to get hurt darlin."

~ ~ ~
After a bit, Tonks and Neville's grandmother came in through the portrait.

"Tonks!" I said, hugging her tightly. "Aren't you supposed to be with Teddy?"

"I came to help Remus, Teddy will be alright with Mum."

I grinned.

"Why aren't you out there?" asked Tonks.

"Mrs. Weasley and Bill won't let me because I'm pregnant."

"YOU WHAT?"

I nodded.

Mrs. Longbottom came up to me. "Congrats dear, Neville is very fond of you, he speaks most highly of you."

I smiled and flushed.

Harry, Ron and Hermione came rushing down the stairs.

"Ah, Potter," Mrs. Longbottom said crisply. "You can tell us what's going on."

"Is everyone ok?" Ginny, Tonks and I asked together.

"As far as we know," said Harry. "Are there still people in the passage to the Hog's Head?"

"I was the last to come through," said Mrs. Longbottom. "I sealed it, I think it unwise to leave it open now Aberforth has left his pub. Have you seen my grandson?"

"He's fighting." Harry told her.

"Naturally," said the old lady proudly. "Excuse me, I must go and assist him." With surprising speed she trotted off toward the stone steps.

Harry looked at Tonks. "I thought you were supposed to be with Teddy at your mother's?"

"I couldn't stand not knowing –" Tonks looked anguished. "She'll look after him– have you seen Remus?"

"He was planning to lead a group of fighters into the grounds –"

Without another word, Tonks sped off.

"Ginny, Fawn," Harry said, turning to us. "I'm sorry but you two need to leave, then you can come back in."

Ginny and I grinned, and hurried off after Tonks.

"'HANG ON, YOU'VE BOTH GOT TO COME BACK IN WHEN I FINISH." he yelled.

When we ran through the doors, we ignored Harry's request to go back and, and with a nod at each other, Ginny and I joined the fight.