Written for:
Hogwarts - Assignment 9 - Beauty Therapy - Task #1 - Facial: Write about a character uncovering something. - I've chosen Bill uncovering the truth about Harry and Ginny, and uncovering a secret Harry's been hiding.
Writing Month (word count)
Dragons (word count)
Pairing the character: Harry/Bill
Pinata - Hard: Veritaserum
Galleon Club - (word) distress
Stickers - Potion Cabinet - 1. Veritaserum - Write about being made to tell the truth.
Funfair:
East: Snow Art - Dialogue: "There's no way I'm getting out of this one, is there." / Character: Harry Potter / Emotion: Embarrassed
South: Light the Menorah - (dialogue) "At least you're pretty."
North: Christmas Market - Non Explodable Luminous Balloons - Prompt - Word: Burst / Character: Bill Weasley
Writing Club:
Disney - Songs: 3 - Stick To The Status Quo - Write about someone confessing something.
Trope of the Month - 4. Word: Different
Space - 8. Mid -(object) dinner table
Showtime - Sparklejollytwinklejingley - (word) Gloomy
Press Play - 19: "Nope."
Scamander's Case - 15. (item) potion
Film Festival - 5: (emotion) panic
Lyric Alley - 2: And what have you done
Uncovering the Truth
Bill/Harry
As a brother, Bill feels it's his right to make sure of Harry's intentions towards Ginny now that the war is over. However, he uncovers a secret Harry hadn't wanted to share with him...
Bill knows it's underhanded, but he can't help himself as he pours the potion into the cup. It's been ages since the war ended and he's still waiting for Harry and Ginny to patch things up.
They seem on friendly terms, but Harry hasn't rekindled things yet and Bill doesn't want Ginny to sit around, waiting. She deserves better than to pine after someone whilst they make their mind up.
Ginny is his little sister. What kind of brother would he be if he didn't sit down and talk to Harry, man to man?
Except Harry keeps finding excuses not to sit and chat.
Except Bill can't stop staring at Harry.
Except Bill is fully aware that their age is different. Ten years older. Sirius would murder him and Remus would bury his body if they knew what he really thought of Harry.
Harry might be attractive, but he's quite sure Ginny's in love with him and he's not going to risk breaking her heart. Harry is off limits. What kind of brother would he be if he stole Harry away?
He picks up the two cups and walks towards the living room where he knows Harry is. Hopefully he can get to the bottom of things with some Veritaserum.
~o~
"Do you love my sister?"
"No." Harry looks shocked that the answer just fell from his lips so easily. He frowns slightly, his gaze moving to the cup in his own hands.
"You didn't make this tea out of the kindness of your heart, did you?" Harry mutters. He sighs tiredly. "I should have expected this."
"Why would you expect this?" Bill asks. He watches Harry carefully, seeing Harry's green eyes dart everywhere in the room, but refuse to meet his.
"Because I've been avoiding you," Harry says. His answer doesn't come as quickly this time and Bill can tell that Harry is attempting to fight the potion. It's not going to work. The potion was brewed by Snape, and Snape's potions never fail. "Are you still seeing Fleur?"
"We broke up. Why? Are you interested in her?" Bill notices the change of subject and how Harry's watching him a little too intently.
"Nope," Harry replies. He doesn't seem to try to fight this reply. "Bill, can we not do this, it's not fair—"
"Why are you leading my sister on?" Bill continues, cutting him off.
"I'm not leading her on. I've made it clear to her that I don't want to be with her. She doesn't want to be with me either."
Bill considers the answer. It's just like his sister to pretend all is well when it isn't.
"Is there someone else?" Bill pushes. "Do you want someone else instead of her? Is that what this is about?"
Harry fights hard against the potion, clenching his teeth together. "Yes, there's someone else. That's not what this is about. Ginny is seeing someone else and has no interest in me. Please." There's a panicked edge to his voice now as the words burst from his lips. Bill's eyes narrow. Who would Harry ever choose over Ginny?
"Who would you choose over my sister and why?" Bill demands. Harry starts for the door, but Bill is quicker, stepping in his path. There are only inches between them now and Harry has a pleading look on his face as he fights against the potion.
"You," he finally blurts out, distress clear in his voice. He still tries to hold the next words back, but the potion works as it's intended to. "Because I'm in love with you."
He looks embarrassed as he shoves past Bill, pulling his own wand out and unlocking the door. It slams behind him a moment later and Bill doesn't move from his spot, just listening to Harry stomping up the stairs of Grimmauld Place.
Well, fuck.
~o~
"Ginny, can we talk?" Bill asks nervously, finding his sister sitting at the dining table, a Quidditch strategy book in front of her, and a cup of tea at her side. He would do anything for his sister, but she might hate him when he tells her the truth. He's been fighting with himself since the previous day, but feels that she deserves to know that Harry loves someone else. Even if he of course doesn't intend to do anything about it.
"Is this about Harry's thing for you?" Ginny asks. "He told me what happened - you're the reason he's all gloomy." She watches her brother as she sips her cup of tea.
"You… you're not mad?"
Ginny shrugs, unconcerned, as she sets the cup back down. "Not really. I mean, I knew he liked guys too, so there's that. But when we broke up, I moved on. We talked but neither of us feel the same way we used to. We're both happy to just be friends. Besides, Harry never looked at me the way he looks at you - I worked it out weeks ago."
Bill is at a loss. He'd been ready to swear that he'd stay away from Harry. His sister was known to have a temper… but he hadn't expected her to be so calm about it.
"And you've been flustered since yesterday which I think means you're interested in him too, so I'm not really sure why we're having this talk. If you want my blessing or permission or whatever, go right ahead. You're my big brother and I want you to be happy, okay?"
"You're fine with me dating your ex?"
Ginny nods her head, a smile appearing on her lips. "Me and Harry weren't right for each other. Maybe you and Harry will be."
"Are you sure—"
"If you don't leave this room right now, I'll hex you. Better yet, I'll pour some veritaserum in your drink and make you tell Harry the truth that way."
Bill believes that she would do that to him. "Right. I'll…"
"Go and talk to him." She rolls her eyes. "At least you're pretty, brother. Because you don't seem to have much else going on." She points at the door. "Now."
~o~
Harry doesn't say a word when he opens his door. Bill just walks past him into the room, a little unsure now. He's not really ever dealt with a declaration of love and he hates how this has all come about, though is a little glad that he knows.
Sirius is really going to kill him when he gets back from his romantic weekend away with Remus.
"There's no way I'm getting out of this one, is there?" Harry asks.
"No, we should talk. Firstly… I'm sorry. If I had known… I wouldn't have asked those questions. I would have been… I was worried about my sister."
"You should be sorry," Harry retorts. He doesn't sound angry. "You're here to let me down gently, right? 'You're a nice guy, but you dated my sister' or 'you're a nice guy, but I'm not into guys'. You don't have to worry - I wasn't expecting anything to happen. Sometimes you can't help how you feel."
Harry sinks down onto the bed and Bill sits next to him.
"Uh… well, that's not what I was going to say. I… I was going to say that I'd like to get to know you better… over coffee or dinner, perhaps? Gender doesn't matter to me - and Ginny will hex me if I don't tell you that I fancy you. So… are you free right now for coffee?"
Harry stares at him in surprise. "On a date?"
"Yeah." Bill twists his dragon's tooth pendant around nervously, feeling the strap pull against his neck. "If you want it to be."
"I'd like that," Harry replies softly. "When I said… you know… can we pretend you're not aware of that?"
Bill smiles. "If that's what you want. But we'll revisit that when I'm ready to say it back."
1313 words
