Until Death and Beyond

Before Hogwarts

Molly and the others were in the Burrow. But it was a bit tidier than she last remembered.

"This is Percy's memory. It's the Burrow Percy remembers from when he was a kid," Hermione stated, as if reading Molly's mind.

"Then where's Dad?" Lucy asked.

"There," Bill pointed towards the kitchen, "He's eating."

They crowded into the kitchen. It wasn't too much of a problem since they passed through everything.

A two year old Percy was poking his eggs and looking at them distastefully.

"You better eat your breakfast, Percy." An eight year old Bill walked into the kitchen, "Or Mum won't be happy. She's grumpy enough as it is."

Grandma looked at Uncle Bill and raised and eyebrow, "Is that so?" Bill responded with a nervous chuckle.

Percy grumbled and crossed his arms, "Play."

"I already told you, Perce, you can't play. You're too little."

"Oi! Bill! You coming or not?" A higher pitched Charlie called from the yard.

"Coming!" Bill turned to look back at Percy, "Maybe when you're older."

"What's so important about this memory?" Harry wondered.

"We'll just have to keep watching," Hermione answered.

The scene changed around them. They were in a child's bedroom. The walls were a plain beige color. Toys and children's books littered the floor. A small bed was in a corner against the wall. Percy was laying on it, fiddling with a Chocolate Frog card, face scrunched up in concentration as if he were trying to read it.

There was a knock on the door and a much younger version of Molly's namesake walked into the room, a hand on her bulging stomach.

Percy looked over to the door, saw who it was, and sat up, "Mummy?"

"This feels so weird," Lucy muttered.

"Percy, would you like a brother? Or maybe a sister?" Molly (her grandmother in the memory) asked him quietly.

Percy's eyes darted from her face to her stomach. He jumped of the bed and bounced up and down excitedly.

Molly's very young grandmother laughed, "I'll take that as a yes. Well, that's good. You're growing up too fast, Percy."

Behind her, Molly saw her actual grandmother sniffle.

The scene changed once more.

They were in the family room. Percy was sitting on the floor, playing with some blocks. An old woman sat in a rocking chair, snoring.

"It's your Great Aunt Muriel, Ron. Remember? The one who said I had skinny ankles?" Hermione smiled.

The fireplace made a loud sound. Molly's grandparents stepped through it, each carrying a bundle of blankets.

"No way," George was staring wide-eyed, "Is that-"

His sentence was cut short by little Percy's squeal of delight, "Mummy! Daddy!"

He ran towards them and wrapped himself around his mother's ankles.

George couldn't hide his snicker.

"Percy, meet Fred and George."

"It's so weird to see your older brothers as babies and little kids," Ginny mumbled to herself.

They were now in a dark hallway. At the end, a door was open a crack, spilling a small beam of light into the darkness. Percy was older now. He was six years old and putting his ear close to the cracked open door to listen to the conversation inside. Despite how quite it was, Molly could hear every word and she knew the others could too.

"Arthur, we're low on money. I don't know how we can keep up with this." Grandma's voice sounded like she was about to cry, "Percy's going to have to receive hand-me-downs. But it doesn't feel right. I'm worried about him Arthur. Bill and Charlie are always together and he ends up the odd one out. The twins are, well, twins. And I don't even know about Ron and Ginny. He seems so lonely. And now he'll have to get hand-me-downs!"

Before they could hear her husband's response, Percy opened the door and walked into the room. "It's okay," he said.

"I remember that," Granddad said sadly.

"I didn't know he got hand-me-downs as well," Ron seemed shocked.

They were back in the kitchen. But now, it was decorated with balloons and the number eleven. The Weasleys were crowded around a table singing, "Happy Birthday to you!"

An owl soared into the room and dropped a letter in eleven year old Percy's lap. He seemed puzzled until he saw the crest. He jumped from his chair and screamed, "MUM! DAD! I GOT IT! MY HOGWARTS LETTER!"

"Someone seems excited about school," George chuckled.

When the scene changed, they were at Platform 9 3/4.

"You'll write to me?" Percy was nervous.

"Everyday if you'd like," Arthur told him.

"Not everyday," Percy said quickly, "You've got to take care of them." He pointed at Ron, Ginny, and the twins, "Maybe a few a month. Or whenever you feel like it."

"Of course, Perce," Molly kissed him on the forehead, "Go on! Stay out of trouble!"