(Untitled)

[bill_weasley]

( upstairs, this morning )

Bill has taken a table near the back of the bar, away from the bulk of the crowd, and he's writing.

Furiously.

There's an untouched cup of tea at his side, and an equally untouched plate of biscuits and cheese. All his concentration is on the parchment; his writing is an absolute flurry of blue streaking across the

Comments

[dragon_paznic]

*Charlie watches him for a little while*

What're you doing?

[bill_weasley]

"Charlie." Bill nods to his brother, pushing out a chair for him. "Writing. Sit down."

[dragon_paznic]

*Charlie grins at him widely*

That, Billy-boy, is an excellent plan.

*he collapses into the chair*

[bill_weasley]

He studies his brother.

For a long time, he says nothing. Then, he waves over a wait-rat and orders a pint of cider.

Or two.

"I see I have a bit of drinking to do here... right?"

Because of Rule #1: never let your favourite brother drink alone.

[dragon_paznic]

*he snickers to himself*

I went to a pub Tonks liked. And everyone asked where she was. And then everyone insisted they should buy me drinks when I told 'em.

*he grins, almost convincingly*

I should get dumped more often and Bill? You been sleeping? 'cos you look...

[bill_weasley]

"Like hell?"

The rat returns with a whole tray of pint glasses full of cider. Bill picks one up and makes fairly short work of about half of it.

"We're quite some pair, aren't we."

[dragon_paznic]

Like hell. Like, with the Wierd Sisters' concept album on repeat. What happened, mate?

[bill_weasley]

"Just nightmares." Bill shrugs. "I thought I was past them but apparently I need to think less and drink more."

He finishes the first pint.

There is so much I don't understand. A few more pints and I'll be spilling my soul to you, Charlie.

[dragon_paznic]

*He looks sympathetic*

I can't even begin to... man. You want Flopsy bunny? He's still in the attic somewhere...

[bill_weasley]

"Ha. No, no. What I want is for the fucking door to open and let me out. Can you fix that, Charlie?"

Pint #2.

Of seven, he notices. "Help yourself. It's a wrench to drink alone."

He slides one of the pint glasses to Charlie.

"And I want to forget everything that happened."

[dragon_paznic]

*Charlie nods, sipping his drink*

Obliviate'd be favourite, but you'd need someone better at aiming. But... look, Bill... It's not the healthiest thing, forgetting. Maybe you should talk to someone instead?

[bill_weasley]

"You, little brother, are right."

He stares into the cider.

"Again. But not just now, if it's all the same to you. I'm going to drink more cider with you, then pass out and have no dreams. I don't want my memory modified, not really. I just want to figure out why..."

Bill lets out a sigh. If not now, when? If not Charlie, who? "I want to figure out why I remember a life I apparently never led."

[dragon_paznic]

*he slings an arm around Bill's shoulders*

Look, in all honesty, mate? I am far beyond the point of comforting. Unless comforting is getting bladdered and singing Quidditch chants. But that? That I can do.

[bill_weasley]

Bill nods: he'll stick with the first plan.

Another cider.

"Just tell me about your dragons. Then you can sing about Quidditch."

[dragon_paznic]

Dragons. Dragons, man, dragons. Beautiful. Beatifuller than goblins. Gringotts is beautiful building but no beautiful dragons except vaults. LACKING, man.

[bill_weasley]

"To dragons."

He's starting to feel the cider's effects. "I always liked the dragons in the vaults. They've got some system figured out there, Charlie, so they can have a turn at daylight somewhere, somehow. I never asked, though. The goblins don't like to talk much, except to ask how much treasure we've recovered."

Drink up, Bill.

"And who gives a flying fuck about treasure. They've got so much there. But look at this."

Bill reaches into his pocket and comes up with a beautifully faceted emerald, about the size of a Sickle. "Pure and ancient; found it myself. Not on assignment. Look how it sparkles." He presses it into Charlie's hand. "Take it."