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Challenges at the bottom.
Word Count - 386
Let It Out
"This is a bad idea," Bill slurred as the two of them climbed the largest tree in the Burrow's yard.
Charlie sniggered. He agreed, but it wouldn't stop him doing it. They were wizards, they could magic any broken bones fixed in a second, and the alcohol would numb the pain well enough.
Aside from a rant from their dear mother, this probably wouldn't have any severe repercussions.
"We're too old to be doing shit like this," Bill complained as they settled themselves against the branches.
Charlie rolled his eyes. "You're such an old man, like, before you're an old man."
"Well, you're a perpetual child," Bill argued.
"Rather be young than old, sucker."
"At least I'm…" he trailed off, the word he wanted escaping him. "I don't even know what we're arguing about."
"Pretty sure you were about to say responsible," Charlie muttered, his good humour gone. "Which… well. You're not wrong."
"Charlie."
"If I'd been more responsible, I'd have come home earlier and maybe Fred…" He choked over the name of his brother and shook his head.
"Don't be ridiculous," Bill snapped. "You were here for the battle and it didn't…" Charlie tuned out his brother's ranting, letting tears run freely down his face.
Since the funeral, Charlie had been the one to keep it together, trying to give his siblings and his parents the comfort they needed.
Muscled arms enclosed him, and he leant against Bill, his silent tears turning to sobs as he grieved for his little brother.
"Let it out, Charlie," Bill murmured, clumsily stroking his hair. Charlie gripped at Bill's shirt until his tears run dry.
"Sorry," he murmured gruffly as he pulled back, yelping when Bill swatted his head.
"Don't ever apologise for that," Bill replied. "You're allowed to grieve the same way the rest of us are."
Charlie nodded silently, and they sat in comfortable silence for a while until Bill's head started falling to his chest as sleep threatened.
"Um. Bill?"
"Hmm?"
"We gotta get out of the fucking tree."
"Shit."
They managed to climb down to the floor with a lot of swearing and laughing, and Charlie was impressed that they'd managed it without injury.
If Bill tripped over a basket of washing on his way inside, Charlie didn't say anything. (He did snigger quietly though.)
…
Written for;
Book Club - The Twins - Brothers / Climbing Trees / Drunken arguing
Showtime - 25. Ranting
Hamilton Mania - A1, 16. The Burrow / Extra Prompt - 39. Basket.