The Marauders: Year Six #Wattys2017

Dragon!

Dragon!

On the morning of 2 September, Bilius Weasley was baby-sitting his elder nephews.

Molly and Arthur were bringing Percy with them on a day-long trip for Arthur's work at the Ministry, but Bill and Charlie was staying at home with Bilius. Molly was nervous about leaving them - especially with Bilius in whom she admittedly did not have the most confidence - and had told Bilius several times to be absolutely certain he keep a very, very close watch on the two boys. "They're easy to take care of when they're on their own," she warned, "But you put the two of them together and they get into a right bit of trouble, mind... a right bit of trouble. Always into something, those two!"

"Seriously, Molls," said Bilius, grinning and rolling his eyes playfully, "I think I can handle it. They're toddlers, practically! How much trouble can they possibly manage to get into? You two aren't going to be any trouble, are you?" he looked at Charlie and Bill.

"None!" said Bill.

"None!" echoed Charlie as he hugged his stuffed Chinese Firebolt dragon.

Arthur patted Molly's shoulders, "They'll be alright, Mollywobbles, now let's go." He'd already packed Percy up into the old Ford Anglia and he steered her out the door before she could come up with another word of protest or give Bilius any further warnings. The list of people to send a patronus to in the event of an emergency was already as long as the refrigerator was tall, and included everyone from the neighbors to Auntie Muriel to Albus Dumbledore himself.

Bilius stood in the doorway with Charlie hoisted on one hip and Bill at his side. "Bye!" he called, waving.

"Bye-bye!" echoed Charlie.

The moment the blue Ford Anglia had pulled out of the drive and disappeared past the duck pond, dust obliterating their view of the tail lights, Bill had turned to look up at his uncle with his wide green eyes. "It's hot out, Uncle Bilius," he complained. "We should get ice cream cones."

Bilius had thought this over a moment. "Alright, sure," he said. He had to admit that he sort of fancied the idea of getting a scoop or two at Florean Fortescue's and he hastened the boys inside to get changed so they could go to Diagon Alley and get the treats. When he'd finished struggling to tie Charlie's tiny trainers (which had promptly untied themselves again mere seconds after he'd gotten them laced up), they packed up a little backpack with Charlie's things - a change of pants, just in case, his Chinese Firebolt, and the picture book about dragons that he always had to have with him - and Bilius carried Charlie down the stairs, holding onto Bill's hand, humming Puff the Magic Dragon, which had become Charlie's favorite song over the Summer. They crossed the yard and the moment they passed the little stone wall, where gnomes were climbing over into the yard, Bilius said, "Hold tight!" to Bill, squeezed his hand, and disapparated.

With a crack, the three of them appeared a moment later in the alley behind the Leaky Cauldron, just off Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley was crowded and there were people bustling every which way. Most of the traffic was parents picking up last minute items their kids had forgotten for Hogwarts, and there was a long queue at the post office and a shortage of owls so that there were quite a few people pressing to get in the doors at Eeyelop's Owl Emporium as well. Bill stared at the queuing crowds with wide eyes as they shouted and jostled against one another - it was the sort of thing he and Charlie often did, trying to get the last cookie from a tray or to get to a particular colour of crayon first when colouring.

They walked along the street and Bilius was careful to keep a hold on Bill's little hand - even though it was sweaty and sort of sticky and he didn't much fancy the texture of it. Charlie kicked his chubby legs and begged to get down but Bilius said, "No way, Chuck. Your mum would bloody murder me if you got away and I've seen you dart off! You're a wild man."