"You do it."

"No, you."

"I'm not doing it."

"Well, neither am I."

"It has to be you."

"No, it doesn't."

"Yes, it does."

"Why can't you do it?"

"Because you'll be doing it."

"No, you."

"You."

They were squabbling and getting odd looks from Arthur and Kingsley because of it but neither of them minded because both of them were determined to win. And he was going to win solely because she was the one who should be doing this, not him.

This being aborting asking Bill why he was so distracted every time they saw him. And now Fleur was all distracted as well and Remus didn't think he'd ever seen her distracted. She was usually all poised and put together. But not recently. Recently she and Bill had taken to exchanging these looks with each other that Remus couldn't decipher. He was sure it was nothing to worry about, or else they would have said something, surely? He hoped they would have said something. If it was important.

Yes, that was him trying to convince himself of that. Though, in his defence, the Order had plenty to worry about without adding another thing that may or may not be something to also worry about. If Bill and Fleur wanted or needed them to do something then they would have to use their words and tell them that. If they didn't want to share anything then they should leave it at that.

"You need to say something!"

"No, I don't, why can't you do it?"

That got him a huff and Dora crossing her arms over her chest as if he was supposed to know what that meant! Why couldn't she do it? Seriously, there was absolutely nothing stopping her.

Remus didn't even know why he was an option here. If she was so concerned then she should just go over and ask! Dora was well known for being that blunt so it wasn't like fear of being that was holding her back. He almost snorted. As if she would ever be afraid of being blunt. Anyway, this should be simple for her. Easy. She just had to go right up and ask. There was nothing more to it. He didn't have to be involved at all. Not even a little bit. Except maybe be supportive because of course he would support her in whatever she did. But being supportive meant that he was going to be a passive participant. Not an active one. She could be the active one.

Thankfully, or maybe it was unfortunately, no one interrupted them as the Order lingered after the meeting. Not that the lingering was anything new, this was when all the actual news and gossip was shared as opposed to reports, which were getting fewer by the day. But they weren't a part of any of this gossip, oh no because they were too busy arguing over something quite silly in his opinion. Not that that meant he was going to acquiesce, that would simply be ridiculous.

"Talk to him," Dora hissed as everyone started making reluctant movements to leave.

They may well all like to linger a lot more than usual after Order Meetings these days. Wanting to revel in the feeling of being safe with people and not having to worry (or pretend that you weren't worrying), even if it was just for a little while. But there was only so long you could do that before you felt like you couldn't keep up a brave face any longer.

"He's your friend, surely it would be better off coming from you?"

Remus didn't want to push himself onto the younger man. Sure, he got on well with Bill and could talk to him but that didn't mean he could go about prying into his business.

"I was friends with Charlie, not Bill!"

"You still knew Bill, didn't you?"

Surely it would still be better if she talked to him?

"I'm not asking him. We wouldn't talk about things like feelings."

The look on her face when she said "feelings" was a rather impressive look of disgust.

"Why don't you just ask Fleur then? You two are quite close, aren't you?"

Certainly, closer than he and Bill would be.

"Well, yeah but I can't ask her this."

"Why not?"

"Just because we're both female doesn't mean we talk about our feelings!"

"I know that but surely you would be able to voice your concern..."

That's what friends did, right?

"No." She said resolutely. "You're going to have to ask him."

"I already asked him if he was okay a few weeks ago!"

He had! And Bill had said he was fine! Sure, he had still looked distracted but Remus was willing to take that at face value.

She didn't answer him and instead gave him a shove that caught him unawares so he actually stumbled towards Bill.

"You okay there, Remus?" The younger man asked, an amused look on his face.

He probably saw Dora shove him.

"Yes, I'm fine," he replied, straightening his robes.

"If, you're sure."

"No, I am," Remus said. "How are you?"

"Good, I'm good."

"Good."

They kind of just stood there, in awkward silence. Well, it was awkward for Remus, he wasn't sure about Bill because the younger man was frowning off into the distance again.

"You seem worried about something," he ventured.

Bill just shrugged at that.

"Everything okay with you?"

Yes, it sounded stupid coming from him. Yes, it sounded wooden. He wasn't good at this sort of thing, okay? He didn't do concerned prying very well. He never had and he doubted he ever would.

"Yes."

"Oh. Okay."

He was not good at this while prying business, he really wasn't.

"Why are you asking all these questions, Remus?" Bill asked with a sigh.

The man suddenly looked very tired. Which worried Remus. There was obviously something going on. And for all of him saying to himself that if it wasn't shared with them then it didn't matter, it really did matter to him if people needed help. And it was starting to feel like Bill might need help.

"You've been distracted," Remus tried to say casually, not wanting to scare him off.

The worst thing that could happen right now was for Bill to completely shut him down and close himself off. Nothing would be resolved that way.

"You've said that before and I believe I said I was fine," Bill reminded him.

"But you seem more distracted. Worried, even."

There you go. He said it. He told Bill that he looked worried. Just like Dora wanted. He tried to catch her eye to convey just that but she was studiously looking everywhere but him. Oh, come on. He was doing this for her, the least she could do was support him.

Bill bit his lower lip and shook his head. "I'm fine."

"And Fleur?"

Maybe it was Fleur? Remus knew that je would be even more worried if something was wrong with Dora as opposed to himself.

"She's fine too."

"Are you sure?"

Because Remus really didn't believe that and yes, he had been the one who didn't want to pry but now that he was prying, he may as well try and help, right?

Bill sighed. "Remus. We're all good. Seriously."

There was a warning note in his voice to back off. So, Remus did. Let it be known that he was stupid.

"So, what did he say?" Dora asked once they left.

"Nothing."

"Seriously?"

"He said 3verything was fine."

"And you couldn't get anything else out of him?"

"He didn't want to share, Dora."

She crossed her arms and huffed. "Honestly. You mustn't have done it right."