Bill walks into the living room of the Burrow, looking for his youngest child and only son, Louis. But what he finds instead is Lily siting on Arthur's lap, listening to him read a story. When Lily looks up, she immediately buries her face in Arthur's chest and starts to visibly shake.
Putting a comforting arm around Lily, Arthur meets Bill's eyes. "It's okay, sweetie," he says soothingly. "It's only Uncle Bill." But Lily still doesn't calm down.
Bill's face falls slightly as he understands why Lily is acting this way. He nods at his father and disappears from the room. From the kitchen, he can hear his father whisper to Lily. And a part of his heart breaks.
All of the children have had a tough time adjusting to the scars that line his face, but Lily is the only one who's completely terrified of him. She hides whenever he comes into the room and only comes out when he's gone.
"Oh, hello, dear! Louis is outside playing with Lucy," Molly informs him as she places a kiss on his cheek. When she pulls back, she notices his defeated look. "What's the matter?" He glances towards the living room, and she immediately understands. "She still hasn't come around?"
He shakes his head. "It's gotten worse. She hides every time I come in a room. And I don't know how to get her not to be afraid of me."
"She's four, Bill. She's still scared of the monsters under her bed. She'll outgrow it, just like the others did," she says, patting his cheek comfortingly. "Have a little faith."
"I hope you're right," he whispers. He sighs and goes to collect his son.
.
Bill is sitting in the living room of the Burrow, talking quietly with George. In the kitchen are their wives, and their children are outside playing. But George falls silent in the middle of a sentence. Bill turns to face what George is staring at.
Before Bill can say anything, he finds his lap full of a seven-year-old girl. Lily hugs him tightly. Smiling, he wraps his arms around the girl and places a kiss atop her flaming hair.
"Mummy told me about your scars," Lily announces. "And how you got them."
Bill has never been happier, because he no longer sees fear in the girl's eyes. He'll have to remember to thank Ginny later.
.
Meeting up with his sister and brothers at the train station, he can hardly believe that he's actually sending his youngest off to school. The youngest three of the family are starting their first year at Hogwarts, and Bill wouldn't miss it for the world.
Ahead of him, he can hear some of Lily and Louis' conversation. "Of course I'll be in Gryffindor, Louis. Don't be silly. I've never been afraid of anything in my life," Lily claims with an eye roll.
Bill chuckles at the lie. But Lily was too young to remember her fear of him, so he doesn't say anything. When she hugs him goodbye, he kisses the top of her head. "You'll do fine in any house, Lily. Your mum and dad will be proud of you regardless of where you are sorted."
"Thanks, Uncle Bill," she answers. He hugs his own son and whispers those words in his ear. He sees the way both Lily and Louis' eyes light up at them.
.
It's later that night when he receives an owl from his son, informing him of his place in Hufflepuff. If Bill's being honest, it doesn't surprise him that Louis is a Hufflepuff like his sister, Dominique. What does surprise him is the letter he gets from Lily.
Uncle Bill,
Are you sure mum and dad will still be proud of me? I'm not a Gryffindor. I'm a Slytherin.
Lily
Quickly, he writes her reassurance. Harry and Ginny might be shocked, but he knows that they'll still be proud of her, because he surely is.
.
Bill slips into the backroom of the church, where Lily is standing, waiting for her cue to take the most important walk of her life.
"Uncle Bill," Lily says, relief evident in her tone. To hide it, though, she quickly adds, "Aren't you supposed to be seated already?"
"Yes," he answers. He takes her hand and twirls her, to get a better look at her, like he had done with all the girls in the family. "You look beautiful," he assures her. "And he will be speechless."
The twinkle of fear in her eyes disappears as she smiles a wide, breath-taking smile at his praise. "Thank you," she whispers softly. She kisses his cheek. "You better go. Dad and I will be out in a moment."
He disappears out the door with a smile on his face.
.
He's forgotten how old he is. But when he sees his grandchildren and the grandchildren of his siblings, reality hits him hard. Even the three youngest are all grown up and have children of their own.
"Uncle Bill," Lily greets him with a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for watching Lorelai for me. Mum and Dad were busy, and I'd be damned if I let Al or James watch her. They might corrupt her or something."
Chuckling at that, Bill holds his hands out for Lily to hand him her four-year-old daughter. However, Lorelai hides her face into Lily's shoulder. And Bill's heart breaks at the scene that's so familiar to one years ago.
"I don't know why she's acting like this," Lily says apologetically, trying to get Lorelai from hiding. "She's usually more open."
Bill smoothed Lorelai's strawberry blonde hair down. "She's scared of me," he finally replies. "Like you were when you were her age. Terrified of the scars on my face."
Lily looks up at Bill with her brown eyes filled with sadness. "Oh, Uncle Bill. I'm sorry."
Giving her a small smile, Bill informs her, "Your mum told you a story when you were old enough to understand. She told you how I got the scars." He smiles fondly at the memory. "It'll take her time to get over her fear, but she will. No need to worry. But for now, I'll get Fleur to watch Lorelai. Vicki, Dom and Louis are hiding their children to insure Fleur doesn't spoil them rotten."
Lily laughs at that. And before she leaves, she hugs him tightly. "You're the best, Uncle Bill."
A/n – this was written for Family boot camp (Weasleys). Prompt used: claim. Also written for the Weasley relationships comp where I got Bill and Lily Luna.
A huge thanks to Pam (cherryredxx) who not only beta'd this for me, but is pretty dang awesome. This fic wouldn't be nearly as good without her help.