Note: This was not what I expected. They ran away with my plot.
0o0o0o
After Harry and Hermione had ended their part of the mirror call, Bill tuned to Charlie, "so brother mine, what's up?"
Charlie laughed and said, "brother, if you're going to lie to an empath, and our Harry is a budding empath, you need to be a better liar.
"What did I lie to Harry about?" Bill said, dropping the socks he'd been putting on in surprise.
Charlie levelled a 'seriously?' glare at him, "your friendship with Professor Snape, perhaps?"
"What? No, I didn't, we are friends!" Bill said, picking up his socks again and starting to get dressed for the day (or night as it was soon to be in Nocturne.)
Charlie raised an eyebrow and made an expression that said, 'what do you take me for, a moron? I know what you're not saying!'
Bill huffed, "we're friends."
"You leaked feelings," Charlie said bluntly, "he picked up on it."
"Balls," Bill swore mildly.
"mmhm," Charlie hummed in agreement, "he's also worried about you. Snape's hurt him. He's worried. He'd probably be pissed off if Snape didn't scare him."
"Shit," Bill said, "he scares him? I didn't realise it had gotten that bad. Neither of them have said anything. Severus is so irrational when it comes to Harry! He won't listen reason about it or when I tell him to get him self checked over at Gringotts! The stubborn arsehole!" Bill muttered doing up his waistcoat, "He's not a bad man, you know. He's just screwed up at the moment and is in a tuff bind. He's irrational, especially about Harry. He's not always this bad, which is no excuse. But its more extreme than usual and it's weird, and he ignores it when I mention it and I'm worried," he finished with a huff.
"You're changing the subject," Charlie said, "but yes, I agree, and we've had this conversation before, we'll come back to it. You like him."
"Of course I do, he's my friend!"
Charlie levelled another 'you're an idiot' expression at him and said, "that's not what I mean, and you know it."
"I'm not interested in liking anyone like that!" Bill said, hunting around for his hairbrush.
"William," Charlie said, levelling his bother with an 'I know you' look, "you're interested enough in blokes for the both of us, and we both know it. Don't pretend otherwise I'm pretty sure you got your dose, and my dose of sexual attraction," he said dryly.
Bill snorted, "I like sex," he said without a hint of shame, "and don't call me William." He snapped with no heat, and continued, "consensual no strings attached sex with other guys looking for the same thing is loads fun. I pick nice people; we have fun. It doesn't need to be complicated. Fun doesn't have to stop just because we're adults."
"And I'm glad you have fun, and even gladder that you never share the details," Charlie said, trying to hide his amused distaste.
Bill laughed, tying his ponytail.
There was a pause then a heavy sigh, as Bill said, "What do you want me to say, Charlie?" He asked, "I like Severus. He's my friend. But that's it."
"No, it's not. You're attracted to him," Charlie said bluntly.
Bill winced and flopped back down on his bed now he was fully dressed.
"Well yeah," he said, "I've attracted to a lot of people, Charlie. That doesn't mean I want a relationship, or even want sex with him."
Charlie frowned, a bit puzzled, "but you think he's attractive, and don't you normally want to have sex with the blokes you think are attractive? Isn't that what sexual attraction means? That you want sex?"
Bill trying very hard not to laugh said, "Yes. I generally do want to have sex with blokes I find attractive. And let's face it that's most of them; I'm not picky. Sex is fun. As long as they're nice blokes, and willing to have a good time with me without making things complicated, I'm all for it." Bill shrugged, "But I don't have sex with every attractive bloke I meet Charlie!"
"I know that," Charlie sputtered, "but, you like Snape!"
"Yes, okay, I do. I like Severus." Bill admitted with frustration. "There's something about him that's interesting. He's wickedly smart, and he's sarcastic as hell. It's hilarious; especially when those things are used to verbally eviscerate someone else. And the man is fucking attractive. But just because he's really fucking hot, does not mean I'm going to sleep with him. He's a good pen friend, that's all. And that's all I'm looking for at the moment."
"You deserve to be happy and to have companionship." Charlie said gravely, "it's allowed. Companionship is important."
"Yeah, but I'm happy just being friends. That's all that's on the cards at the moment.
"Why, though?" Charlie asked puzzled, worry colouring his tone.
"Are you saying he's not interested? Have you asked? You're awesome. Why wouldn't he be interested in you?" Charlie said, offended on his brother's behalf.
Bill laughed at his brother's indignation, "I haven't, but I don't need to. The man's a mess at the moment. He has something weird going on with his magic, and he won't let me look or sort it out. I'm not as sensitive to people's magic you. So I can't work it out unless he lets me have a closer look, which he won't. He doesn't see that there's a problem. Says he'd know if his magic was wonky. And he won't go to Gringotts. He's under Dumbledores thumb, and I don't want anything to do with that old geezer. I don't want to make things harder for him with the old git either. Severus doesn't need me adding more to his plate than there already is. He is too busy for more than letters, hardly has time to catch up when I am in town, even if he wants to. He has too much going on to add me to it."
Charlie looked at his brother sadly, "you don't have to be alone. You don't always have to put other people first, and their wellbeing first. You can ask for what you want. Don't think less of yourself, William."
"Don't call me that," Bill snapped irritably, "I hate being called William. I'm in Egypt half the time, and Dumbledore runs him ragged, what do you want me to do?" he added, but Charlie knew it was just an excuse.
"You're lonely Bill," Charlie said, "I don't want you lonely, and we're in different fucking countries. No dragons in Egypt and no cool curses in Romania. I hate you being miserable, especially when I'm not there to help fix it or hug you."
"I'm not Charlie," Bill said. "And you can't fix everything, or look after everyone; just like you told me. That's why we left home. It's not your job to fix it all."
"Right back at you, you arse." Charlie said, achingly fond, "you don't have to put the world first."
"I'd hug you if I was in the same country right now," Bill said, "but I'm not lonely or miserable. Really. I have you, even if it's across a few countries, and I have friends."
"You always were a social bunny," Charlie said, "but being around people doesn't mean you're not lonely," he said knowingly. "It's not the same as having a close friendship, close emotional bonds. I'm an introvert, and I see the need for it. And your way more people-y than me."
"I have you, and the twins, and Harry, and Severus. I have coworkers I don't hate. That's enough," Bill said, "I'm not lonely."
"Can't lie to an empath brother of mine. 'specially not one that taught you to lie. I know you're lonely. I know this because I see it in the mirror in the mornings, staring back at me."
He looked at his brother for a long moment, "you're holding this close to your chest. This thing with Snape. That's how I know it's important whatever it is."
"Never can lie to an empath," Bill echoed irritably.
"Nah, you leek feelings all over the place, even though a mirror." Charlie joked, "I know you."
Bill smiled, "yeah," he sighed and admited, "he's a good friend, even if he's fucking weird at the moment. It's driving me batty, and he's not listening! It was super subtle at first, and it didn't feel that different. It's been getting worse. But even then without spells to focus it all, I can't work out what's wrong!"
Bill let out a frustrated huff, yanking his hair tie out as he ran his hands through his hair.
"He's gone all silent these last few weeks." He huffed.
"Go visit." Charlie said, "You're in England. You're at Hogwarts once a week already. I bet he'll keep it a secret if you ask, or you can make a 'classified Gringotts business' excuse for being in England weekly. Have lunch, at least you can then check on him. Help him brew. You're decent at them. He'd probably appreciate it if he's that busy." Charlie reasoned back at Bill who was looking uncharacteristically uncertain.
"Talk to him, you idiot," Charlie said, running a frustrated hand through his hair, mirroring his brother without really realising.
"Your allowed nice things Bill. You deserve to have good people in your life, other than me. You're allowed to have real relationships with good dependable people. You're allowed want things for yourself and to not put other people first for a change. Christ, it's no wonder you get on with Harry so well." He flicked his own hair tie across the tent angrily.
"Like your one to talk," cut in Bill, with a rueful smile.
"Oh fuck off, Billiam! It takes one to know one." Charlie said, making Bill grin, "you deserve the world brother mine. Don't be afraid to go after it. Don't assume you'll fuck it up before you even try."
"Right back at you, Charlie-bear," Bill said, looking tired, "for someone who doesn't do people. You give good advice brother mine."
There was a pause, then Bill said, "so are you similarly not lonely then Charlie?"
Charlie looked young and vulnerable for a moment, "I have you and my dragons. And Tonks, and Harry and the twins. Like you said, what more could I want?"
"Yeah I know," Bill sighed heavily, fiddling with the ends of his hair to give his fingers something to do. "But someone just told me it was okay to be happy and want companionship?"
Charlie laughed humourlessly, "Not quite as simple as that when you kinda hate people and don't want sex. I'm happy with what I've got."
Bill just looked at him, and Charlie stared back before they both snorted humourlessly.
"Anyway," Charlie said, "before we get any more miserable did Fred and George tell you about the prank they pulled in their last letter?"
Bill laughed, "yes. I meant to talk to you about that. They didn't actually say why they were pranking their whole house this time. It was weird."
"Agreed. And to manage to get the support of the house-elves, Gryffindor must have done something really stupid. So it probably was Harry's un-housing that the twins were pranking them for." Charlie said more seriously.
"Yeah..." Bill said, "they were oddly quiet about that. Just that Gryffindor had done something to Harry that they thought was unforgivable."
"You don't think they've been un-housed too do you? For sticking up for Harry?" Charlie asked, worried, "Harry said his friends had supported him, but not that anyone else was un-housed."
Bill paled, "yeah..." he said slowly, "yeah I do. Harry didn't mention it, and neither did the twins. But I think Fred and George supported Harry along with Hermione by the looks of it..."
"And Neville's been studying with them too," Charlie said slowly.
"I think they all got un-housed." Bill said, "they stuck up for Harry and all got un-housed for it."
"Fuck," Charlie swore. "We should have known, I wish they'd told us. Shit Mum's going to flip out at them, and it's probably too late to divert."
"Which means they've already gotten the Howler and didn't tell us. Balls!" Bill swore, "yes. And that's why they didn't tell us over the mirror but in a letter this time. We would have known something was up straight away and would have weaselled it out of them!"
"Shit," Charlie said, "shit. We gotta call them, make sure they're okay."
"They didn't want us to know," Bill said with a sad huff.
"Thought we'd be disappointed in them too," Charlie said sadly, "shit."
"I hate letting them down!" Bill said, angrily.
"Yeah," Charlie agreed tiredly, "hang on, I'll add them in," he said, pulling out his wand and tapping his mirror before saying, "Fred and George."
