xPussyWillowKittenx: Bittersweet. I don't think I can avoid that with reunions. )
v-babe24: Well, what would you be thinking if you saw the ghost of someone you knew? DDR Extreme is better than II!
Tabitha78: Thanks! I kind of feel that the whole story was building toward their conversations...
Satine-cm: You're welcome. I couldn't resist ending the chapter that way. I was so apprehensive about the reunion...
rosepetal13: Eh, Percy's been through a lot. And yes, sappiness is good.
Remmy Wolf: Thank-you! You'll see below how the react to Percy. I hope it works.
Quioxotic-Feline: Wow, thank-you so much! I was worried about how the emotions would pull off. I couldn't let Fred and George stop being goofy Fred and George.
Pline: It was very satisfying to be the authoress and get to force Percy to visit his family. I wish he would do that in the books....
meenyrocks: Thanks!
LJ Fan: I'm sorry, but I don't know if I can kill off Hermione yet. You'll have to see. Well, Spanglish was incredibly boring with no point ever made and a lousy ending. It just didn't work for me. But Series of Unfortunate Events is a downright awesome movie. I think you'd enjoy it. And the books.
liseli: Yay!
Lahar: So... you promise you didn't find it cheesy? It's so hard to balance sometimes. )
Lady Meriadoc: Aww... thank-yee for the love list!
Krenya: Eh, poltergeists never really were ghosts. But he is something spiritual (probably of chaos, like you said D) so I tried to connect him to the spirit world.
Jennifer: Thanks so much for your review! It made me happy. I should look up that fic....
hydraspit: Oh, goodness. I did leave Hermione alive, didn't I? Sorry about that.
HiddenFlame42: Yes, poor Weasleys. I've driven them through a lot. But they have each other. They'll pull through. I kind of like to think that they are happy Percy and Ron came to see them, but I don't know.
duj: Thanks!
db: Yes, there will be a little bit of angst. Good ol' angst.
Crystal Lightning: Painful? I've never heard of a cliffhanger described as painful. So I apologize for making you feel that way. But I had to end it there. I couldn't resist. Percy's reunion with his family is so important to everything...
Bahzad: Thank-you!
Anonymous529: Well, this is kind of the last chapter here. So it wasn't over then. Dang, I'm mean, aren't I? Thanks for reading!
Percy hadn't even planned to follow Ron; in fact, he scarcely remembered deciding to do so. Like through a dream he was there in the house he had haunted before without ever being seen, criticizing Ron despite how futile he knew that was yet somehow so willing to go himself.
Why am I here? He was completely free of Ron now, so there was no reason he had come. And it wasn't like this was the only opportunity he'd ever have, not with the rest of eternity staring him in the face. If he really wanted to do something so utterly moronic, he'd have time. And all those countless hours he had spent in this house, just watching, they were worth something, weren't they?
Whatever ghostly version of a heart was left of him twisted into a serpentine knot, so thick and tangled he thought he'd be sick. Sure, like that was possible. But that wasn't what was making him ill, as much as he wanted to blame it. He closed his eyes in a childish attempt to make all the other gazes go away.
He could still sense his father's gaze. No, not gaze. Stare. The kind that only absolute terror and fury brought around. It wouldn't be long before screams filled the air. It would almost be kind of Ron to start them.
He opened his eyes. There was still time to just disappear, vaporate somewhere else. Or just run the heck out of the back wall. But he couldn't move. They were all there, except for Ginny. Every single one of them. Had they planned the attack like this? And there was Ron, already there, already making an idiot of himself.
For a moment his father's lips moved silently, then gave suddenly away to voice. "Percy." It was little more than a whisper.
For crying out loud, Percy thought. It couldn't be that shocking. They had just seen Ron.
But Ron wasn't the one who had vanished for two years. Though Percy had a good excuse for the last year.
If he couldn't move, the least he could do was say something. If that was the answer to why he was here.
He really had missed them.
The Bloody Baron's voice echoed in his mind, asking him the same questions and then blending with Ron's. Like a panic day at the Ministry. But this wasn't the Ministry, it was the Burrow. The house where he had grown up. Why had he hung around here? Was it really the reason for whatever choice he had made at death?
Maybe he really did need to say something. Anything. But nothing came to mind. They were all just staring at him, like he was, well, a ghost, as the aura of insanity enveloped the room. And Ron was there, just as surprised if not more so.
"This is all Ron's fault," he heard himself say.
Oops.
Charlie nearly fainted. Ron stared back for several moments before a grin slowly grew over his mouth and he laughed. "So you did show up."
That only spread confusion.
"Ron's fault?" his mother echoed breathlessly. "But Ron... oh, my goodness. Percy, you're here." She was crying. Were the tears left over from Ron or where they fresh?
Then George laughed, somehow so different from Ron's. "So... you're haunting us, as well?"
For some reason everyone laughed. Count on the twins to save a moment.
If only George knew. "I guess so." Somehow, this was easier than Percy had imagined.
"He's been stalking me ever since..." Ron began. It was useless. No one wanted to think about that.
Molly brushed at her eyes. "I'm... I'm really glad."
Percy hated to see her like this. It wasn't fair mothers had to be that way. But when she was faced with... ghosts, of all things, what was she supposed to do. He searched his mind once more for something to say. "Mum–"
Something glowed beneath her face.
He sighed. "Mum, everything's okay." The biggest lie he had ever told.
"Okay?" His father this time. The possibility that everything could be okay seemed utterly foreign in the word. "But–"
"It is okay," Ron said. A blatant lie from him.
Well, maybe it was. He tried to meet his father's eyes, only to find that the gaze was already locked. "Dad, I am so sorry." Dad? He hardly ever said dad.
Arthur barely flinched, but tears came down as he nodded. "I'm sorry, too. Wow, this really must be a dream."
What was he apologizing for?
"We heard what you did," Bill said softly.
For a moment Percy had no idea what he meant. The letters to the Order. Something as pathetic as those that he had to die for. When he could have just quit his job and left. "Those... weren't anything. I should have–"
Molly let out a sob.
Arthur shook his head. "It doesn't matter... anymore." For a long time there was nothing but silence. "I'm proud of you."
Percy gasped. "Dad." He had to say it. "I love you."
It would have been nice if Ron hadn't had to choke back a snicker.
"I'm glad you're together," Molly said. The first complete and proper sentence. "This is so... We only knew yesterday, Percy. I should have sensed something before."
Fred nodded fervently.
"I should have come back before," Percy said. This isn't right. Where was all the yelling?
"You're forgiven," Ron replied.
"Yeah," said Fred. He sounded very dazed.
Once again his mind went blank. Penelope had been just... screaming. Fudge deserved what he had got. But his family... they weren't supposed to do this. "I'm really sorry."
"Stop apologizing," his father whispered.
What a command.
Finally, someone asked the question. Charlie. "Why are you here?"
"Will you come back?" Bill asked. Is almost a command in itself.
Ron froze. "We can't..." He didn't seem to know how to answer.
They couldn't just keep coming back. Suddenly Percy knew surely how next to impossible that was. They were dead, after all. Life was for the living.
Molly nodded, almost in pain. "I understand." Then she smiled. "But you are here, now."
"Yes, Mum, they are." George's half-attempt at another joke.
"This really is a miracle," Arthur murmured.
Molly cleared her throat, some work toward courage. She was so funny sometimes, Percy thought. "There's something I need to know first," she said. "I have to know, and I don't care how it happened, but I really need to know." She again cleared her throat and wiped again at her tears. "Percy, all they did was show us where those, those... monsters..."
"Buried you," Arthur finished with some difficulty.
Molly nodded, fresh tears coming. "They... they never knew how exactly you..." Another sentence to finish. "They never knew exactly what..."
Bill sighed and rose clumsily. Percy's oldest brother. He never realized how much he had loved him before. "Mum needs to know how you died."
Percy and Ron exchanged glances. Ron even dared to laugh.
"I hate goodbyes." Ginny could barely speak under her tears. "I hate them, I hate them, I hate them."
Ron attempted a smile, something that would comfort her. Even though in this situation he had no idea how that was possible.
"I'm going to miss you both so much!" she wailed.
"We will, too," Percy said.
Ron once again thought how strange it was that Percy was here–off to the side, yes, but still there and visible. Yet it seemed so small, just the five of them: himself, Percy, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry, all gathered in the Gryffindor boys' dormitory. His only fear was that Dean or Seamus would waltz in. But supposedly they were in class. Where Ginny, Hermione, and Harry should be.
Ginny was right. Goodbyes were hard; the memory of when he had Percy had finally left the Burrow was still so real. Maybe he'd still have to rush back. Just to say... something else.
But they understood. They understood as much as was possible. He and Percy just couldn't stay around... haunting people. He wasn't sure how he knew this. Heck, the girls did it and were quite happy about it.
But now that the bindings were off, he didn't know what he was supposed to do.
"You sure you won't... visit?" Harry asked, still as dazed as ever. "I mean, it'd be neat."
Ron shrugged. "Seriously, I have no idea."
Hermione smiled, crying again. Crookshanks was in her lap, glaring with equal disgust at Percy and Ron. "I'm really going to miss you, Ron. You, too, Percy."
He was going to miss her, too, Ron thought. "You know, your cat can see me."
"He's smart like that." She kissed Crookshanks' furry head. "I'm not sure how that's going to help me."
"Just thought you should know."
"You're sure you went to Mum and Dad?" Ginny asked.
"And everyone else," Percy said gently.
Ginny smiled up at him, from where she lay on Harry's bed. "I love you, Percy." Then a frown. "Harry still won't go."
Ron expected Ginny to once again go screaming from the room.
But Percy only smiled at Harry. "I went. They like you a heck of lot more than me."
Harry's attention swerved to his pillow. "I'll go."
Ginny's smile returned. "You had better."
"She'll make you, Harry," Ron said.
Ginny laughed. "It's probably his revenge for me ignoring him all this time."
"I thought you blamed me." Harry had no difficulty saying it.
"Not once."
"I did," Percy said. "Harry, I'm really sorry about that. And everything else."
Harry said nothing.
Ron almost panicked, then saw that Harry looked almost ready to laugh.
"Do you still, Percy?" Hermione asked.
Silence.
It was good enough, Ron decided. Percy was going to be whiney about that for a long time.
"So, now what are you going to do?" Ginny shoved Harry's pillow off the bed. "I mean, what do... ghosts do?"
The question of the ages. "I have no idea."
Ginny nodded. She had finally stopped crying for the moment. "Percy?"
"Same here," he said.
There was the spirit world, Ron supposed. If he could actually managed to go back there. With Sirius and Bilius and... "Harry," he said.
Harry looked up, somewhat apprehensive. "What?"
Ron didn't know how to begin. He could still see them. Lily, that man who looked so much like Harry. "I... I saw your parents."
Harry actually fell off the bed. Hermione let out a small scream.
"Where?" he asked.
"The spirit world." Like that made sense. "Heaven."
Harry just stared at him, mouth open.
"They send their love. So does Sirius."
"Sirius?" Ginny said weakly.
For a long time Harry said nothing.
"I guess I had never... thought of it that way," Hermione said sofly.
"Neither did I," Harry said, shaking his head. "Ron, what are they like?"
Ron started to speak, but Percy interrupted.
"They're really nice," he said. "Very nice people. I think you would have liked them."
"Are you going to go back there?" Ginny asked.
Percy shrugged.
She sighed. "I'm really going to miss you."
There didn't seem to be anything else to say. Nothing that hadn't been repeated ten thousand times before.
Finally, Hermione stood up, letting Crookshanks hop back to the floor. "We shouldn't miss anymore classes."
Everyone looked at her.
"She has a point," said Percy.
Harry didn't move.
"I'll be fine," Ron said.
Harry hesitated before nodding. "Like anything bad can happen to you now."
"You'd be surprised."
"I don't even want to think about that," Hermione said, scooping up her book bag from next to the bed. She was almost to the door when she stopped. After a moment, she turned around. Crying again. "I hope... I hope I'll see you again. Both of you. And I'm really glad I did get to see you." She walked back to the bed and pressed her hand through Ron's. "And Ron... I love you."
It didn't matter that he couldn't actually hold her hand. Those words were good enough. But what was he supposed to say now?
"Ron," Percy snarled.
Ignore him, Ron thought. He looked at Hermione. "I love you, too."
Harry actually clapped.
She smiled. Then she turned and ran out of the room.
"She'll be fine," Ginny said. "I'm sure of it."
"It's about time," Harry muttered. But he was also smiling. "I guess... I guess I'll just go now."
He didn't move. "Really, this was great. Even if I still think I'm crazy."
Ron laughed. "You always were crazy."
Harry laughed as well. "I'm sorry I didn't... save you."
"For the last time, it wasn't your fault."
"I know." He was still smiling. "And I mean that."
"Good."
Harry bit his lip and turned to Percy. "So... no hard feelings or anything?"
Percy sighed. "I didn't mean anything of what I had said. So, that would be great."
Ginny sniffed and wiped again at her eyes.
"I really should go," Harry said. "But... if you can ever... pop back in again..." He paused. "I will see you again, won't I?"
Ron smiled. "I think so."
A few tears slid from Harry's eyes. "Sometimes I feel like everyone important to me just... dies. So that is really good to hear." He walked slowly to the door and opened it. "You're still my best friend, you know."
"Now that's good to hear."
Ginny climbed off the bed, grabbing her own books. "I feel like such a crybaby. But I'm the baby sister, so I get to be that way." Another wail escaped her throat. "I love you both! And now I only have four brothers."
"I think we will still count," Percy said.
She sniffed again. "You had better. And... I want to see you again, too."
"You will."
A laugh. "Good. ... I'll really miss you." She gazed at them a long time, with her big brown eyes, then joined at Harry at the door. "I think I'm going to start crying again."
Too late.
"Bye. I love you."
Then, with a last wave, they left.
Ron stared at the door, feeling almost sick. "They're... gone."
"They'll be around," Percy replied.
"Like you are?"
Percy glanced instinctively at his wrist. "I don't think quite like me."
That was true.
"I think they're going to be fine," Percy said. "If that's what you're worried about it."
They were going to be fine. Of that Ron was sure.
Another long stretch of silence.
"Don't you think it's odd that we got those ropes off and we still won't leave each other alone?" Percy continued. "I think that's what you were getting at."
"Was I?" Ron asked. He had no idea himself. "Oh, well."
"Yeah."
Crookshanks was still in the room, using Neville's blanket as a scratching toy. Ron watched the cat for a moment. "So now what do we do? If we can't hang around them anymore?"
Percy shrugged.
"Your funeral... that's in two days."
He glared, his glasses askew. "What are you saying?"
Ron was tempted to laugh. "We could go to your funeral."
"You didn't go to your funeral."
"That's because they're morbid."
Percy started to grin. "I don't think Mum's expecting me. I don't think any of them are."
"So you're not going to go?" Ron asked.
"No. That's really morbid to go to your own funeral."
Crookshanks now had the blanket in his teeth and was dragging it across the floor. Percy and Ron both stared.
"That is a weird cat," Percy said.
Ron nodded.
"Do you think they'd let us back into the spirit world? I mean, if we sincerely made whatever afterlife choice we're supposed to make."
That sounded good. "I don't see why they wouldn't," Ron said. That had been an interesting place. He could touch things there. "They might have the new Quidditch field up."
"Hm." Percy nodded. "That'd be interesting. Do you think we still have to go through that veil thing?"
As he spoke, an odd light filled a corner of the room.
Ron watched it, amazed. Had he already chose?
"Choices." A too-familiar voice spoke, and Peeves sprang from the wall, waving his colorful hat. "Yes, yes, yes. So you finally chose to leave. Very few ghosts bother to do that. They get so attached to what's going on here. Which isn't bad, I suppose."
Percy sighed and rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, since you asked," Peeves plopped his hat back on his head. "I came here to paint the walls green." He whipped out a can of paint and tossed it on one of the walls, where it failed to break open.
Ron glanced at the light. "We were going to..."
"The spirit world?" Peeves pried open the can of paint and once again flung it at the wall. Paint splattered everywhere. "I thought as much. Like I said, few ghosties bother to do that. Not that it isn't possible. But I thought, besides painting this room a pretty green, that since you were thinking of going back to that world, maybe you would like to choose to come back."
"What?" Percy asked, clearly confused.
"No hauntings," Peeves said, waving his finger. "No stuff that Peeves gets to do. Except for some things. I just thought that you should be aware that if you're in the spirit world, you can choose to waltz back here. And waltz back again." He began to waltz with the can's lid. "Peevsies can make it possible, I can. I know who to talk to. Of course, you can't bug people constantly, and I'm sure you'll be quite happy in the spirit world. But there will be benefits?"
Ron had no idea what the poltergeist was talking about. "Benefits? For what?"
"These benefits!" he said happily. He flew to the half-empty paint can and picked it up. "I'm no angel, but angels can also do this."
Something screamed in the back of Ron's mind.
"Angels?" Percy repeated.
"Angels," Peeves confirmed. "If you want, of course, I can talk to some people... none of your live friends have to know."
Ron stared at Percy, still confused. But if what Peeves said was the truth... Ron had practically promised visits. What did Percy think of this?
Percy smiled at Ron, shrugging. "What do you think?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
"Too much thinking, too much thinking," Peeves complained. "You can go right now and you can decide later. Though I promise it will be nice."
It would be really nice, Ron thought. "Percy?"
Percy readjusted his glasses thoughtfully. "It would be nice. Peeves, why are you offering us this?"
The poltergeist cackled. "Just a little favor from Peeves. A bit of joke. A joke to not play a joke because all I do is jokes."
That made some sense.
"And those silly girls would like it."
The light in the corner was brighter than ever. Yes, Ron thought. He really wanted to do this. Hopefully Percy was planning on coming.
That was probably true, from the look on his brother's face. But there wasn't a chance to speak. Peeves snuck up from behind and pushed them both into the light. "I think it would be good for both of you."
The End!
Well, that's it. Now all I have left to do is further editing. It's the only way to end it I felt good about. What do you think will happen to them now?
Wow, I'm really going to miss writing this story. (Despite what those of you who know me have heard me saying about rejoicing in finally finishing this.) My heart is breaking at this very moment. I'm kind of tempted to write a sequel (and yes, I do have a really little baby plot bunny.) So I'll see what happens in that department. Still, it's kind of interesting to look back and see where this story has gone. My original idea was actually a complete and utter angsty drama centering mainly around Percy. Still not sure how Ron got in there, but I loved him as a main character. It was probably very mean of me to kill off Harry's best friend, but I also enjoyed exploring a different side of grieving and a look at the afterlife. I have a very strong belief in life after death–not quite what I put in this fic, but I do have one. I hope you all appreciated it, no matter what you believe.
I am currently working on The Veil Can Wait, which a few of you have stumbled upon. It's another attempt to look at life and death and the afterlife.
I'd also like to give my deepest thanks to every single person who has read this. I loved reading your reviews, and I will eternally appreciate all the comments and criticism you have given me. You are all wondeful! You all know who you are, and I love you, I love you, I love you!
Free Candy to all!