"...we care for each other here. We are friends, and we strive constantly to amuse one another and protect one another, which are the two chief duties of friends."
From "The Regulars" by Robert Silverberg (in Tales From The Spaceport Bar)
Chapter 18: Friends and Relations
Charlie sat with Ronnie on his knee on the steps outside the back door. He had a protective arm around Madeline who had Percy on her lap. Her face was buried in the five yearr old's lush red hair. Bill sat there too. He was playing referee to the squabbling twins and trying to keep them quiet so they could all hear what was going on in the kitchen.
Inside, Arthur was pleading with his wife, "Molly dear."
There was the sound of something being hurled in the kitchen and hit a wall. Crash!
"What!?! Just what were you thinking?" screeched Molly.
Alastor stood stock still, leaning on his staff, and holding his brown derby hat across his chest. With his face downcast, the great auror looked like a beaten man. He didn't argue, make excuses, nor explain himself.
Arthur offered a plea on his friend's behalf. "Alastor just thought she had the right to know why."
Something clattered to the floor in the kitchen. "She's just a child!" yelled Molly. "She doesn't have to know every single thing!"
On the back porch, Charlie murmured to Madeline, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything to mum. I just though..."
Madeline shook her head gently and whispered, "I know. It's ok."
"I'm sure he didn't tell her everything," said Arthur.
"She didn't need to hear any of..." Molly doubled over in pain and gasped. Arthur rushed to her side. She said weakly, "I'm all right. I just need to sit down. The baby's coming." She looked flush and breathed heavily as her husband helped her sit down.
"I'll send Errol for the midwife," said Arthur.
"I'll go get her," offered Alastor, hoping to be of some use. "I'm faster than an owl," he said feebly.
"Thanks," nodded Arthur. "It's Madam Bridget in Sedgemoor."
"I know her. I'll go." Alastor's voice was hoarse and he had a pained look on his heavily scarred face as he shoved his hat onto his head and stumped out the door. The kids climbed down the steps to make way for him. Bill and Charlie stared wide-eyed at him, but Madeline was looking down at Percy, who was hanging onto her skirt.
Alastor would only look at Bill. "Your...your mum. Well, you heard. Watch the wee ones. I'm going to get the midwife." Bill nodded. The auror disapparated with a pop.
"Come on, you lot," said Bill, "Let's go." Bill took command and led the other children out toward the yard. Charlie carried Ron while Madeline held Percy's hand. The twins ran ahead yelling and laughing. Bill put his arm around Madeline. "Don't worry, nothin's changed." Charlie looked at them sidelong. Bill continued in a playful vein, ruffling her hair. "You're still a brat and I'm still better at chess," he teased.
"But I'm still better at this!" said Madeline as she playfully kicked Bill behind the knees. He went down with an oof.
"Hey!" Bill shouted. Then he jumped up and ran after her. The kids raced to the big tree laughing. There, Bill grabbed a hover-ball and led them in a game of Dodge-the-Griffin. When he divided them into teams, he was careful to pick Madeline for his own, because she's "the fastest runner." In reality, when you're playing Dodge-the-Griffin with several small children, the game tends to be more chaotic than competitive. Even though Madeline wasn't his sibling, Bill subscribed to the common brotherly sentiment in regard to her, which was this: Nobody hurts my sister. That's my job.