"What the hell are you going on about?" The words were out of her mouth before she had time to stop and consider them. "This isn't about you being 'some weakling'. Merlin, Percy, why the hell do you think it's all about you?"
Well, she had fucked it all up now, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Because the alternative was going back to the Burrow, back to mum scrutinizing every move she made, back to having to tiptoe on eggshells because she either wasn't mourning properly or she was too sad. Or she wasn't eating enough. Or wasn't doing something the right way, and fuck it, she couldn't do that. She'd sleep on the floor of George's shop before she went back to the Burrow.
"I can't. I can't go back there, okay? I can't." She was stupidly wringing her hands now and she really needed to shut up and drink her tea, but she couldn't seem to stop. "I can't live with the constant scrutiny, not being happy enough, not being sad enough, not being whatever enough, I can't do it. I can't. I can't live like that, I love mum, but she's driving me mad, and I can't do it, I can't, and fuck, this has nothing to do with you."
She caught her breath. Forced herself to exhale slowly.
"Okay, it has a little to do with you. No one should have to be alone at a time like this. But that goes for everyone, not just you. I never once said you couldn't handle yourself."