Ginny had just been born and Ron was still a baby when Bill had gone off to Hogwarts. He'd gotten to know them through a series of summers and holidays, but he'd been closest to Charlie and he'd hardly seen or talked to Ron since he went to Egypt. That didn't mean he didn't feel his loss. It was just that he didn't know what to do about it. He made some tea and sat with Hermione for a while. He understood what made her throw her cup into the fire, and he sat with her even after that.
When there was a knock at the door, he realized he was probably the only person in the house fit to deal with anyone. He left his tea on the counter and went to answer it, only to find Nigel on his doorstep. He knew what to do about that.
"Don't slam the door on me," Nigel said, as Bill started to do just that. "I came to pay my respects. I thought you might want a friendly face around."
Bill snorted. "You're hardly a friendly face."
"My cousin was friends with him," Nigel told him. "Can I come in?"
Bill opened the door wide enough to let him in. "You might as well." He led Nigel to the kitchen and poured him a cup of tea.
"Still making it the old-fashioned way, I see," Nigel commented, nodding to the still half-full cauldron.
"Tastes better that way." Bill stirred some sugar into Nigel's cup and topped off his own. He stroked Hermione's hair gently before taking Nigel into the parlor. He took a seat on the couch and glared at Nigel when he sat beside him.
Nigel ignored it and sipped his tea. "Are you all right?" he asked softly.
Bill snorted. "Yeah, I'm peachy keen."
Nigel smiled ruefully. "Okay. Stupid question." He reached out and put his hand on Bill's leg.
Bill looked down at the hand and back up at Nigel. "Don't."
Nigel put his teacup on a table. "Bill, I regret the way things happened."
Bill got up and walked away from Nigel to look out the window. "Regret, right."
Nigel came to stand with him. "I mean it," he said, wrapping his arms around Bill and resting his chin on Bill's shoulder. "I miss you." He turned his head and brushed his lips along Bill's cheek.
"Don't," Bill told him again, pulling away. "Don't use my brother's death to get me into your bed again."
"I wouldn't-- That's not--" Nigel sounded truly shocked. "That's not why I'm here," he said firmly.
"Then why are you here?"
"I didn't think you should be alone." Nigel gingerly put his arms around Bill again. "If I know your family, Charlie's out flying and everyone else is holed up in their rooms." He stroked Bill's cheek. "You don't want to be alone now."
"No," Bill admitted in a whisper.
Nigel kissed him softly. "So invite me to stay for supper."
Bill smiled faintly. "Would you like to stay for supper?"
Nigel hugged him gently. "Thank you. I would love to."
