Between father and daughter

Bill sat at the edge of the cliff, closing his eyes as the sounds of the waves crashing against the rock pounded in his ears. The scars on his arms, chest, and face were aching again, aching so hard. A moan escaped his throat, his lips barely moving. His hand formed a fist as he struggled to not listen to the wolf within him.

It was easier than it was in the beginning. At the beginning, he was wild, though he tried to not show it. At the beginning, his inner wolf hurt him, so much, when he refused to listen. It was horrible, having an animalistic mind and a human one, all at once. Bill was endlessly grateful for Lupin, and quite admired him. The man had lived with this, and transforming, for his entire life – horrible, Bill repeated.

"Papa?"

Not her, he thought desperately. It was unwise for him to have contact with his children when the full moon approached so quickly. How could Fleur have let her come out? However, the party was continuing, he could see through the kitchen window, and no one would have noticed a young girl slipping out.

"Vicky," he said wearily, his voice slightly hoarse from disuse.

"Are you OK?" she asked, sitting beside him, her blond hair silver in the moonlight.

"I'm fine."

The father and daughter stared into the distance for a while, so close, yet so far, without even a touch. Finally, Bill rubbed his face and sighed. He had wanted to know this since she had begun recognising faces, and had never had the courage to ask her – some Gryffindor he was.

"Victoire... Have you ever been scared of me?"

She frowned, a perfect imitation of her mother – perhaps subconsciously, though. Reaching out to gently brush his cheek with her childlike, innocent manner, she said with a hesitant smile, "You mean of your face, Daddy?"

"Yes. Of my face."

"Never," her blue eyes stared up at him curiously. "Why? That's how you are, Daddy – same as Teddy and his changing ability – Meta- Metaphorgus?"

"Metamorphagus," Bill corrected.

"And.." She chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. "And Maman says that your scars show that you're brave."

Bill had a small smile.

Running his hands through her blonde hair, he shook his head at his foolishness. How could he have thought that his own daughter would be scared of him? His scarred face was the only one she associated with Daddy, after all. She had never seen how his face should have been; only in photographs, and she had even gaped then.

She tugged at his sleeve.

"You want to come inside for some cocoa, Daddy?" she asked. "You might get cold."

The corners of his mouth turned.

"Yes, I'll come in, Victoire."

Hmm. Not as light as the two previous, but I like this one.

Sorry for the long wait :P Hopefully, next up will be the Potters or some other family, but as I'm already on a Weasley-spree...

Please read and review, especially if you favourited/alerted!