RP: Two Brothers

[shh_charlie]

Date: May 30, 2005
Characters: Charlie Weasley, Ron Weasley, Slibovitz the Cat
Location: Charlie's House
Status: Private
Summary: Two brothers hang out
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[shh_ron]

"I've been friends with Harry, best mates, since we were both eleven," Ron said, biting his lip as he looked down from the floor. "Only been on the outs with him, really, one other time, back in fourth year, and I know I was pretty miserable about it then. Thought he'd put his name in that goblet thing to enter the TriWizard Tournament without telling me. We'd joked about trying it together, you know, and then suddenly his name got spat out the goblet and Harry looked gobsmacked but I wouldn't believe him when he said he didn't put it in. Pretty much didn't talk to him for a month after that, not till after he faced that Hungarian Horntail. Then I reckoned he'd never offer to almost get himself killed, even Harry isn't that self-destructive. Ever since then everything's been good between us until now. Dunno if they're up to something. Don't even know if Bill asked Harry to visit him or how Harry found out, I just know Harry knew Bill was there and didn't tell any of us."

Ron didn't know for sure what was going on between Harry and Bill, but he still suspected that Harry fancied Bill, based on the couple of times he'd seen the two of them together, just the way Harry looked at Bill and sort of stumbled over his words around him. Was it worth bringing up his suspicions to Charlie? The situation was complicated enough to make Ron's head hurt.

[shh_charlie]

"I know you've been best mates since you got on the bloody train," Charlie mused. "Harry's been like family ever since. I don't know him well -- just the times I've been there when you've brought him round and he's a great bloke. I just..." His shoulders slumped and he took another drink just to gather his increasingy muzzy thoughts. "Dunno."

"If Bill was a different sort of bloke," he said, a slightly drunken grin forming on his lips, "I'd say we might want to question why a bloke his age was hanging about with a guy 10 years his junior but...nah. Our Bill's not like that. He's always been a ladies' man, not...you know."

[shh_ron]

"Yeah, you're right, he has been like family since before we started second year," Ron said. "Dunno either, Charlie. It's all sort of weird."

Ron nodded. "Actually, I...um, I know something about that myself, actually. Before I hooked up with Lavender this time, I sort of found myself checking out a few blokes I knew. Never did anything about it, though. Not because I was embarrassed, but I could tell that the other bloke wouldn't be interested. But yeah, I had those thoughts. So I think I'd know if Bill was interested in blokes. Don't think he is, though I could be wrong. But now I'm so happy with Lavender I don't even notice blokes any more, plus I don't want to fuck up the best thing that's ever happened to me."

That was as far as Ron was going to go, because he didn't want to discuss Harry's possible sexual orientation when, really, he had no idea himself, and despite how angry he was with Harry, it wasn't any of Charlie's business. "

[shh_charlie]

"Mum thinks he's family, Ginny thinks he's family, Dad...Dad reckoned he was family and any time I've been around him in past, he was just one more of us, even if he wasn't lucky enough to be born ginger like the rest of us," Charlie opined. "It does seem pretty odd, if you ask me. Did Harry get hit on the head recently? That might explain it..."

His eyes widened as Ron explained about his interest in other men. "Huh. Well, learn something new every day about your brothers, don't you?" Charlie scratched his head, trying to think of the right words to say. "I've never been interested in any blokes m'self. Other than the usual changing room stuff... you know, seeing who's got the biggest willie or that sort of thing. But it's sort of alien to me. Only ever fancied girls. Not that there's anything wrong with the other. Just...not something I understand. If Bill's suddenly changed teams, it's news to me."

He leaned over and patted Ron on the arm. "Lavender seems like a brilliant bird so no, don't go fucking it up. Someone in this family's got to live happily ever after and give Mum the grandchildren she so desperately desires." Charlie considered telling Ron about Parvati but seeing how she was Lavender's friend, either he already knew or it would be a tough subject to broach.

[shh_ron]

Did Harry get hit on the head recently? Ron stifled a laugh. "Not that I know of." Possibly below the waist, but not in the sense Charlie meant. "I'm still too pissed off at him to talk to him about it and find out what the fuck he could've been thinking. Maybe in a week or two...but not now." He shook his head unhappily.

"You're the only one I've told so far," Ron admitted. "Yeah, I know what you mean, the changing room stuff... that was sort of my first hint that I didn't just fancy girls. Like I said, I've never done anything about it, so maybe that means I'm mostly interested in women. Doesn't matter that much to me, really, because I'm not interested in testing those waters. Lavender keeps me very happy that way" -- he blushed again -- "and I'm going to do my best not to fuck it up. Not for Mum, though I know the minute she meets Lavender she'll probably start sending out wedding invitations...well, that's not an issue yet, really, because I'm not ready for anything permanent yet, and neither is Lav. That's why I didn't consider moving in with her when I moved out of the house. Right now I reckon I need to live on my own for awhile. I've never done that and I'm more than overdue. Not sure where I'll go yet but I'm sure I'll find something; this town is full of empty flats and houses."

[shh_charlie]

"It might get sorted, Ron. You two have been friends for far too long for things to go that pear-shaped," Charlie said optimistically. "Just give t a bit of time, yeah?"

"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. S'not like I want to shout from the roof tops about it at any rate." He laughed. "And it sounds like your girly is keeping you from noticing anyone else which is good, isn't it? No need to rush. If it's supposed to happen, it will. That's what Dad always said. Of course, he and Mum knew it was love at first sight, didn't they? Can't even imagine what that's like. Anyway, you're welcome to kip here as long as you like. Don't mind the company at all."

[shh_ron]

"Yeah, maybe a bit of time is all it needs." He hoped so anyway; he didn't want to feel this upset with his best mate for a long time.

"Thanks, Charlie. 'S not so much a secret, y'know. Just not something I run around telling everybody who walks past." He shrugged. 'Yeah, I reckon whatever happens with Lavender will happen, and I'm going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts. Thank for the offer to kip. Think I might stay till the weekend, if that's okay with you, then I'll spend the weekend with Lavender. After that? Well, who knows. I'll find something."

[shh_charlie]

Charlie leaned over and caught his brother up in a rough hug, thumping him on the back. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like, Ron. We're family and that always comes first, no matter what. Everyone's behaving so madly lately but...well, I just want us all to get on. I'm here for ya. Of course, I can see why you might want to spend more time with your girlie than me. Definitely better benefits." He laughed, raising his nearly empty glass in salute. "And I'll even admit that Lavender's prettier than me."