Chapter 4

Amy inserted Bill's key in the lock. She probably should give this back. It was the kind of thing a girlfriend carried around, and Bill had made it clear— on more than one occasion— that he didn't consider her his girlfriend.

Forget the key, she should stop unannounced visits, period.

All six Weasley boys— men— males— were sprawled across Bill's living room floor in various states of undress, and they were starting to wake up. Amy wasn't a prude, really she wasn't, but . . . wow.

Percy was first. "Amy?"

"Good morning." Merlin, was that her voice? "I, um, I came to see Bill."

"Yes, I gathered that."

Of course he did. Bill was the only one who lived here.

"Will you hand me my glasses? They're right behind you on the mantel." He yawned widely.

Amy had to step over Ron (curled around his pillow, he looked absolutely adorable) and in between Charlie and Percy to reach him.

"Cheers." Percy took his glasses from her hand and scrubbed his hands over his face (he had lashes to die for) before putting them on. Then he unfolded his long frame from the floor and, completely un- self- consciously, walked across the apartment to the bathroom in nothing but a pair of boxers. Percy Weasley was a good- looking young man, and that's all there was to it.

"Morning."

The amused voice came from the range of her ankle, and Amy jerked her gaze away from Percy's backside to meet Charlie's eyes. His were brown, like adobe in the rain, and warm. Hot, even.

"Nothing like waking up to a dream come true. You're still here."

Amy felt a familiar flutter in her stomach and tried to keep her eyes focused on Charlie's (or at least on his face), but he wasn't wearing a shirt, either. He had the same flaming red hair as Bill, and the same charming smile (gods, she bet the two of them together could get pretty much anything they wanted from any female), but Charlie's freckles gathered in clusters that made him look almost tan, and his build was different, solid and more muscular. Definitely more muscular, she decided, as her eyes traced wide shoulders, a defined chest, and followed a dusting of rusty fur down flat abs. He raised one pajama- clad knee, placing his foot flat on the floor, and Amy blushed.

"You look good too," he said.

Amy met his eyes again. Hell and damnation, why did Bill keep it so hot in here? At least she was wearing a skirt . . . wait a minute, could Charlie see up it? She took several hasty steps backward and tripped.

"Oof!"

Wonderful, she'd landed right in George's arms— or was it Fred? And did no one in England sleep in a shirt?

"Good morning, beautiful." Fred— she was pretty sure it was Fred— had the same muscular build of his second- oldest brother, even if he hadn't completely grown into it yet.

"It's afternoon, actually, and watch your hands." Amy put a little bite in her tone, but he was undaunted.

"Oh, I am."

There wasn't really anything wrong with his hands. Slightly higher than her waist, they were still well away from her breasts. Then he started drumming his fingers on her rib cage, and Amy closed her eyes as her nipples tightened in response. How did a fifteen- year- old kid know she loved that?

"That's enough, Fred."

To her surprise, he obeyed Bill immediately, lifting her as he stood and setting her on her feet. Percy came back from the bathroom, and Fred took his place.

Amy looked down at the man lying casually on his side at the edge of the room. Gods, he was gorgeous. So were his brothers, but there was something special about Bill. Call it presence, call it charisma, whatever "it" was, Bill had it.

"Surprise."

Amy flushed again. She probably wasn't her normal skin tone since she had opened the door. "Sorry. I should've Flooed first."

"Bullocks. This is the best morning we've had in ages, isn't it, boys?"

There was a chorus of agreement, and the noise caused Ron to burrow deeper into his pillow. Bill stretched out a long— and naked— leg and prodded Ron in the shoulder. "Wake up, sleepyhead."

"Five mo' min'sss."

Bill kicked him again. "Wake up, Ron. You'll be sorry you missed this."

"What?" Ron rolled over with a scowl.

Amy cocked her hip and smiled. She wasn't above being a young wizard's fantasy. She watched as Ron's eyes caught on her bright yellow sandals, then followed the line of her bare legs up to the hem of her skirt, on up to pause at her hips, another gratifying stop at her chest, and finally to her face, where he flushed clear to his hairline.

"Hello, Ron. Sleep well?"

He squeaked something unintelligible and clutched his pillow. Amy took pity on him and was turning back to the wizard she had come to see when something gray and furry ran across her foot. She screamed.

″It's just Scabbers,″ Ron said. ″He won't hurt you.″

Amy glared down at the laughing wizards and rubbed the top of her head. She bumped it on the ceiling when she had Apparated on top of Bill's bookcase, the highest point in the room. ″Get him out of here!″

″I'm sorry,″ Percy said, picking Scabbers up and stroking his head with one finger. ″He used to be mine. He must have seen me and come running.″

″Well, put him in his cage or something.″ It was uncomfortable crouching up here, but she was not coming down until that rodent was gone.

″I'll take him,″ Ron said, tucking the rat into his pocket. ″You can come down now.″ He grinned.

Amy did not respond in kind.

″I'll help you.″ Bill stood up. Like Percy, he was wearing boxers and was completely comfortable in them. Amy couldn't quite focus on his face, but she did manage to keep it above his waist. Not that it helped much; she knew exactly what Bill looked like without boxers on. She rested her hands on his shoulders, and he swung her to the floor.

"I came over to invite you to lunch, but can I at least talk to you for a minute?"

"We can talk in my room."

"I don't think so." She ignored the stifled sniggering from their audience.

He grinned at her, completely unrepentant. "The bathroom?"

Warm steam billowing around them, warm lips on her neck, cold tile behind her back. . . . "No."

"That just leaves the cupboard, love."

"Fine. Get dressed and I'll make coffee." Amy turned her back, rewarded George's silence by stepping over him, and headed for the kitchen.

"Make it tea."

"You hate my tea."

"That's because you put ice in it!"

Amy smiled. "Hot tea is for sore throats, old ladies, and British people."

"I'm British!" No matter how many times they had this argument, Bill's response was always the same and always exasperated.

He reappeared in the doorway just as the kettle started to whistle. In snug jeans and a white t- shirt, with his hair still sleep- disheveled, Bill looked almost as good dressed as he did in his underwear.

"Come on." He took her hand and tugged.

"The kettle— "

"Somebody will take care of it. In you get." Bill opened the door of the tiny coat closet, ushered her inside, closed it behind himself, and warded it.

"Is that really necessary?"

"Lumos. You don't have brothers, do you?"

He knew she was an only child. He was looking at her expectantly, but Amy's mouth was dry. This was harder than she thought.

He broke the silence between them. "Last week, at Thebes. I let Charlie's flirting wind me up, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, that's kind of what I wanted to talk about. I don't think we should see each other anymore."

"We're not seeing each other."

"Yes, we are, all too often, and I can't do it, Bill. I can't sort out my feelings when I'm still spending time with you. And the way you keep flirting with me, even though I know you don't mean it— it sucks and it's not fair."

He tucked her hair behind her ear and let the backs of his fingers brush down her neck. In this tiny space, with the wand light glowing directly on her, she knew he saw her shiver. Amy crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.

"But we're good together," he whispered.

"The sex is fantastic," she admitted. "But I need more than that."

He looked disappointed, and Amy steeled herself to resist. This is where she always gave in, where she always gave up, and it just hurt too much.

"But I like you— I really do."

"I know. I like you too. But this— this— ″ She waved her hand between them— ″this benefits thing has got to stop."

He was quiet for a moment, still fiddling with her hair. Amy gathered it together, pulling it out of his hand and behind her back.

"What about— "

"I'll help out while your family's here. Just let me know what you need. But after that, we're taking a break— a real break— and in the meantime, I want you to keep your hands to yourself."

"Are you sure about that?"

His voice was low and smooth again, and his hands slid from her hips, up the curve of her waist, over the flare of her rib cage, and stopped just under her breasts, tantalizingly close but not touching. Amy took a shaky breath, and then his thumbs starting tracing her ribs. Desire was rising, but there was anger too. He knew she loved that kind of teasing touch, and he was using it to manipulate her. What did he want her to do, screw him here in the closet with hangers poking into her neck and all of his brothers right outside the door?

Amy grabbed Bill's wrists and twisted sharply, waiting for his hiss of pain before pushing his hands down.

"Yes, I'm sure. I have to go." She gripped the door handle but it didn't turn, and her wand was in her purse on the other side of the door. "Let me out."

"Amy— "

"Let me out before I start pounding on this door." Charlie and Percy would come to her rescue, she was sure.

"There's no need to be dramatic."

Bill released the charms, and Amy spilled out into the living room, almost into Charlie's arms.

″I was just coming to call you to breakfast—″

Pushing away from him, she snatched her purse up and gave the room a general wave. "Have a good day, guys. I'll see you later." She fumbled with the lock and retreated to the safety of the hallway. Amy leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, causing a few tears to spill over. Why couldn't he just love her back?

()()()()

Bill stood in front of his dresser counting out the money for the delivery boy. What had looked like a generous withdraw a fortnight ago had diminished greatly. Good thing he was going back to work on Monday. Neither he nor Charlie had been able to take off as long as Dad. Charlie was returning to Romania on the fifteenth, a week earlier than everyone else was going back to England, but he said he was planning to come back to celebrate Percy's birthday on the twenty- second. Which reminded Bill, he still needed to get Percy's present. Something for school or his Head Boy role would be ideal. . . .

"What's the damage?" Charlie walked into Bill's bedroom, money bag in hand.

"I have it."

"Don't be a prat. I couldn't chip in last night because I didn't have any Muggle money, but I can cover this."

They had ordered Indian takeaway from a wizarding delivery service. With the ability to Apparate, the food arrived fresh and piping- hot mere minutes after every order. There was a loud bang and another burst of laughter from the sitting room, where the boys were playing a rather raucous game of Exploding Snap. At this rate, they wouldn't be able to hear the knock on the door. Maybe he should send the loser downstairs with the money.

"What did she say?" Charlie asked, glancing at the delivery ticket lying on the dresser.

"Who?"

"Amy."

"About what?"

"About whatever it was she wanted to talk with you in private about."

"Nothing."

Charlie stopped counting coins and gave Bill a "don't bullshit me" look. "Witches do not have conversations about nothing in cupboards."

Bill busied himself sorting his own coins, separating Muggle from wizarding. "She thinks we should stop seeing each other."

"I thought you weren't seeing each other."

"That's what I said."

Charlie stacked the correct change on the edge of the dresser.

"Don't forget about baksheesh."

"Don't change the subject."

But Charlie held out a handful of change, and Bill took three extra sickles. "She said she would help out while you lot were here, but then she wants to take a break."

"So, you have been seeing each other."

Bill shrugged one shoulder. Did stopping by with takeaway and ending up in bed count as seeing a witch?

"If you're both friends, that's one thing, but if she wants something more, you have no business messing her around."

"I'm not." Bill had made a point of being upfront with her, right from the very beginning.

Charlie looked skeptical. "Ron is right— I do really like Amy. It seems to me she's half in love with you, and you're using that just to have an easy shag."

Bill smirked. "You haven't shagged her."

"I could change that."

And suddenly the brothers were toe- to- toe and chin- to- nose, and for the first time since sixth year, Bill was considering hitting his best friend.

"We haven't fought over a witch in years, and you expect me to believe you're 'just friends'? You need to figure out if you're jealous of me, or jealous of her. Because I'm starting to wonder if you really do love her and just aren't man enough to say so."

"What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Bill, Floo!" Ron yelled.

For a moment, Bill didn't think Charlie was going to let him by.

"Stop mucking about. It's the Floo!" Bill smacked the back of George's head, shoved Ron out of the way as he stepped over Percy, and bent down in front of the man's head floating in his fireplace.

"Mr. Weasley? We have received a report from our delivery witch that there was no answer at your door. Do you still want your order?"

His brothers had gone magically silent at the words "delivery witch" and were nodding fervently.

"I'm sorry. Yes, we do. Is she still here?"

"Right outside your door, Mr. Weasley. Have a pleasant evening."

"I'll get it!" Percy said, standing up and holding his hands out for the money.

"Are you paying?" Charlie asked, already crossing to the door.

Percy scowled and sat down.

Charlie exchanged a few pleasantries with the young witch, traded gold for food, and kicked the door closed behind him. The mob descended.

"Oi! Everybody back off, or I'll Vanish all of it." Charlie's threat was quite effective, and the two eldest brothers were able to distribute the meal in relative peace. If they were more brusque with each other than usual, no one noticed.

Bill passed Ron a Coke, and his eyes lit up. "A fizzy drink! I liked that stuff. Thanks, Bill."

Bill returned his smile. Ron was always easy to please. "You're welcome. Your holiday is almost half over. What else do you want to do while you're here?"

"We miss Quidditch," George said around a mouthful of lentils, and there was a chorus of agreement.

"We can't fly in the city, boys. I'm sorry."

"We did with the carpet," Fred said, reaching for more naan.

"I am not Disillusioning you and your broomsticks and turning you loose in a foreign country," Bill said firmly. "The only reason Mum let me take you lot is because she believes I'll return all of you, and in one piece."

"Although why she wants you back, we have no idea," Charlie said. He passed Bill the spicy version of chicken tikka masala without being asked.

"Is there anything left of the library in Alexandria?" Percy said.

Bill looked up, surprised he hadn't thought of it. "Not of the ancient library, no. It was completely destroyed by fire, but there is a magnificent city library. The Egyptian Ministry's archives are there. I've been there several times to research a site." If he was going to take Ginny flying for her birthday, he could take Percy to Alexandria.

"What about the sea?" Fred said.

"Or sailing down the Nile? We saw those boats when we were in Thebes."

"They're called feluccas, Ron. If you want to sail, you are more than welcome to go one day this week without me."

"Well, let's go to the coast, then."

"Or a desert safari!" George said.

"Not in August, idiot." Bill, Charlie, and Percy spoke at the same time.

Charlie and Percy grinned at each other, then at Bill, and he allowed himself a small smile. It was hard to stay angry with Charlie.

"Won't it still be hot at the coast?"

"Not that kind of hot, George. Besides, you can swim to cool off. What about this weekend? Has Mum said anything about her plans?"

Five shrugs.

"It wouldn't kill you to listen to her occasionally, you know."

"Was that the Floo? I'll go check." Fred pushed back from the table.

"I think I left my wand on the floor." George followed him.

"Yeah, me too!" Ron scrambled after the twins.

Bill glanced out the doorway and scowled. "Sometimes I wonder if those three will ever grow up. Mum will go spare if Fred and George don't take their O.W.L.s at least semi- seriously."

"Oh, I think they'll do all right," Percy said, throwing his empty chicken korma carton on the stack. "They were smart enough to leave us with the clearing up. Twenty- two days. . . ."

"My point exactly. Irresponsible and self— "

"Do you have your wand, Perce?" Charlie said.

Bill sighed. There wasn't any point whinging without an audience.

"Of course."

Charlie waved his hand over the table littered with takeaway containers, wadded- up serviettes, empty drink bottles, and scattered grains of rice. "Give it a go."

Percy's eyes widened, and he looked to Bill for approval. Percy was still three weeks shy of his seventeenth birthday, the legal age in Britain for performing magic outside of school.

"What, you think the Ministry of Magic is monitoring my flat two thousand miles away? Live life dangerously, Perce."

″It's still against the rules."

Bill watched the emotions play on Percy's face, the fear and the temptation, the responsibility and the longing. Bill had forgotten how much fun it was to taunt Percy like this. Percy looked from the messy table to the open doorway, where the Exploding Snap had resumed, and then with two quick spells the table was clean.

"Brilliant. Let's show those three how it's done, shall we?"

a/n: Next week: Bill finds out What Happened To Ginny. Well, sort of; Ron's his primary source of information ;)

Thank you to everyone who is following this story, and especially those who have reviewed. I really appreciate the feedback!