Pairing: Bill and Charlie

Prompt: blackmail

A few things you'll need to know before reading this: My headcanon has Charlie as gay. Bill and Charlie share a room. This is set at the end of Charlie's 5th year and Bill's 7th.

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Bill walks into the bedroom that he shares with his brother, Charlie, to put up his books and head outside to play Quidditch with his younger siblings. To Bill surprise, Charlie is laying on the bed, a book in his hands, staring off into space. "You know, if you're going to pretend to read, you should be looking at the book, not into space," Bill informs him as he takes a seat on his own bed.

Charlie gives him a sheepish look, and closes the book. He moves to sit cross-legged at the head of his bed. Bill gives him a skeptical look, but waits for Charlie to confide in him what's bothering him.

Becoming impatient quickly, Bill moves to the spot at the end of Charlie's bed. "So what's bothering you?" he asks gently, almost coaxing it out of him. Charlie isn't ready to talk yet, though.

Bill allows the silence to hang in the air. Finally, Charlie looks up and meets Bill's eyes. All Bill can see is the fear there and it makes him worry, because Charlie's never looked at Bill like that before. "Promise me you'll keep an open mind," is all Charlie says.

"You know I will," Bill replies immediately. But he knows that's not what Charlie's looking for, so he quickly adds, "Promise."

Charlie nods. And then he hesitates for a moment. "When did you first realize you were attracted to a girl?" he asks.

The question doesn't surprise Bill in the least. Charlie has a particular way of skirting around an answer, and Bill has just become used to it. Though, he's not exactly sure where Charlie's heading with the conversation. But he won't deny Charlie his answer. "Fourth year. Why?"

Pulling his knees up, Charlie rests his head on them. And he sighs. "I don't think I like girls like that," he whispers.

From the way Charlie's curled up on himself, Bill can tell that he's terrified of what his reaction will be, and that it took a lot of bravery to even admit it to him. "Are you sure?" he asks. Then he realizes how harsh that answer sounds, like he will never accept Charlie if he's anything but heterosexual. "I don't mean it like that, Char," he whispers as Charlie looks away.

Charlie looks back at him, hurt still in his eyes. "I'm sure. I don't feel anything towards girls," he admits softly. "And it's not like I haven't tried either." He looks down again, unable to meet Bill's eyes. "What's wrong with me?"

Bill moves to wrap his arm around Charlie, attempting to comfort him. "Nothing's wrong with you, Char. Don't ever think that," he scolds lightly.

Charlie nods, but Bill has a feeling that he doesn't actually believe that nothing's wrong with him.

"Are you into…" Bill trails off, unable to complete his sentence. But he's thankful that Charlie understood what he was trying to ask.

Charlie tilts his head. "I think so," he admits. "I mean no straight guy would think about their Quidditch captain like I do." His voice is steady as he says that but the famous Weasley blush overtakes his cheeks.

Bill just nods. "Being gay is alright, Char. Nothing's wrong with you. And I'm sure Mum and Dad would accept you no matter what," he says encouragingly. It reminds him of how he told Charlie to follow his heart and become a Dragon Tamer at the beginning of September.

However, Charlie shakes his head. "I'm not telling them. Besides, I'd rather not have the twins blackmail me with this information," he whispers.

Bill doesn't think it's the right choice, but he doesn't argue. "If that's what you want. I won't tell," he replies. "Just as long as you're not too hard on yourself for being different. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

Charlie nods. "I'll try."

"Good. Now, I was going to play Quidditch with our brothers. Do you want to join?" Bill asks, shifting away from Charlie to get his things.

"Sure," Charlie says, pulling himself away from his bed. As they head downstairs, Charlie smiles. "Thanks, Bill."

"Anytime, Char."

A/n – this is also for the snake and ladders challenge where I had to write about Bill, who just wouldn't work with me.

So many thanks to Sylvia for beta-ing this for me!