Oliver had walked in just as the meeting was starting. He nodded at Fred from across the room and stood against the wall near the door as Professor McGonagall spoke. He waited until she was done and a few questions were asked, before making a bee line for his lover.
"Hey," he said, moving beside of him. "You doing all right?"
Bill, leaning against the wall in the back of the room, had listened intently as McGonagall explained her plan until he saw Oliver wander into the room. Late, of course.
He furrowed his brows as the young man crossed the room to Fred's side. So, things were still pretty serious there. A flicker of dim lamp light caught Fred's hand as he squeezed Oliver's shoulder - Merlin, was that a ring? Bill stepped to the left, leaning over to find Oliver's left hand. Yep, there was one there, too. He exhaled, shaking his head.
Bill wasn't prudish, and he had long come to terms with his brothers' open sexuality, but when your nineteen year old younger brother is wearing bands with his lover? Time to go ask some questions...
He walked over to the young men, standing behind them as they spoke quietly to each other. "Fred, Oliver," he said calmly. "Nice to see you both again."
Fred turned around and wrapped his other arm around his brother, drawing him to his side. "What do you mean, 'nice to see you both again'? Decided to change your career to Muggle banker? I've missed you, elusive one. How are you?"
Oliver disentangled himself from Fred, long enough to hold out his hand. He grinned as he shook Bill's hand. "Good to see you, mate. It's been a while. You been staying out of trouble? God knows the rest of your family doesn't."
Fred was talking to Bill and Oliver kissed Fred's cheek and whispered that he'd be back, before wandering over to where Charlie was standing. "Hey," he said, clasping Charlie's hand in his. "What do you think about all this?" He nodded toward McGonagall and the crowd gathered around her.
"I don't know." Charlie sighed. "I guess it makes sense. It also means that Ron is coming with us, Harry knows what's going on, and Ginny can't be far behind. It might be selfish of me, but I'm more worried about them than those Muggles. I know it's not the popular opinion."
"I don't like that she wants us each on our own in a section of the town. I'll be damned if I let Fred out there on his own. I'll take two shifts if I have to." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Harry's not stupid enough to take Ginny along."
Charlie snorted. "Right, like he hasn't brought them along in the past, like he hasn't dragged them to the Ministry instead of going to Snape, and yeah, I know he's a traitor, but they didn't know back then. You're a lot more hopeful that I am."
Charlie saw Bill alone, and made his way through McGonagall's office. He slap Bill on the back, and grinned at him. "How's my big brother doing? And where are you hiding lately? I feel like we don't talk anymore." Truth be told, he was saddened that they weren't as close as they used to be, and he wasn't willing to let go just yet.
Bill turned his head and suddenly saw Charlie standing next to him. "Bloody hell, remind me to put a bell around your neck or something." He grinned and shook his head. "It's not right, sneaking up on me like that."
Charlie knew he had been hiding. He'd always been so much more perceptive than people gave him credit for. "Not hiding, just been at home. Things didn't pan out when Tonks and I were away, and..." Bill looked over saw her across the room, chatting away with Kingsley. Absently he scratched at the new growth on his chin. "I just didn't feel like being around people for a while." He tilted his head, asking, "How about you?"
"Oh you know me. I argued with Mum, argued with Ginny, argued with the world, but at least I patched things up with Fred." Charlie put his hands in his back pockets. "That's the easy answer. If you feel like being around me for a while, I'll give you the long answer, which involves my job and someone I'm seeing, but you can't tell Mum. I don't need her trying to push me about this. It's hard enough as is."
Bill leaned back against the wall. "I've got an appointment in a few hours, but until then I am all yours, little brother." He nudged Charlie in the side with his elbow and nodded toward a couple of empty chairs. He sat down and leaning toward Charlie, said, "And not a word to Mum, I promise. Tell me what's up with you and your job and your special someone."
Comments 63
"Hey," he said, moving beside of him. "You doing all right?"
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He furrowed his brows as the young man crossed the room to Fred's side. So, things were still pretty serious there. A flicker of dim lamp light caught Fred's hand as he squeezed Oliver's shoulder - Merlin, was that a ring? Bill stepped to the left, leaning over to find Oliver's left hand. Yep, there was one there, too. He exhaled, shaking his head.
Bill wasn't prudish, and he had long come to terms with his brothers' open sexuality, but when your nineteen year old younger brother is wearing bands with his lover? Time to go ask some questions...
He walked over to the young men, standing behind them as they spoke quietly to each other. "Fred, Oliver," he said calmly. "Nice to see you both again."
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Charlie knew he had been hiding. He'd always been so much more perceptive than people gave him credit for. "Not hiding, just been at home. Things didn't pan out when Tonks and I were away, and..." Bill looked over saw her across the room, chatting away with Kingsley. Absently he scratched at the new growth on his chin. "I just didn't feel like being around people for a while." He tilted his head, asking, "How about you?"
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