therapy girl

please

note: it's early October 1998

"Bill," Fleur asked.

Bill looked up from his breakfast. "Fleur."

She laughed. "Bill, I was talking to 'ermione the other day."

"Really? What did she talk to you about?"

"She 'as been trying to convince Ron and 'arry to go to a Muggle place. Therapy, she said."

"Okay...?" Bill couldn't understand what this had to do with him.

Fleur sat, taking his calloused hands in her soft and dainty ones. "I think you should go."

"Why me?"

"He was your brother,"

Bill looked away from her. They'd had this talk too many times in the past six months. "Fleur..."

"No, Bill. 'e was your brother, and you need to talk to someone about 'ow 'urt you are."

He looked back at her, but didn't speak.

"Please, do it for me. And for the baby."

Fleur rubbed her stomach --she was two months pregnant-- and Bill agreed. "For the baby."

--

That was why Bill was currently in a too quiet, too clean Muggle building waiting for his name to be called. There was only one other person there; a young girl around George's age with dark brown hair pulled up in a bun, blue eyes, and a ghastly bruise in the area between her left eye and nose.

Bill decided it couldn't hurt to say hello. "Um, hey there." He whispered to her.

She looked up from her book, and waved shyly. "Hi?"

Bill pointed to the seat next to her. "May I?"

She shrugged. "Sure."

"Bill," he said, sticking his hand out.

She looked at it silently before shaking it. "Allie."

"You've got an accent." Bill observed.

"I'm from America. You know, in America, you've got an accent."

"William Weasley, Doctor Shull's ready for you."

Allie gave him a thumbs up. "Good luck, William."

Bill chuckled as he left the waiting room.

--

"I'm home, Fleur!" He yelled.

Fleur met him with a kiss. "You're cheerful."

He shrugged. "Yeah, it wasn't so bad. I think I made a friend."

"Really? Tell me all about it."

"Well, her name's Allie and she brought a book, so I'm guessing she likes to read."

"Ooh, sounds nice."

"Yeah, she was kind of shy, but I get it. I probably look intimidating. The actual therapy thing wasn't eventful. Doctor Shull was a nice guy."

"That's wonderful Bill. If you'd like, next time you see Allie, you can invite her over."

"Yeah, I'll do that." Bill decided.