12/03/2001
The Rousseau's Residence, Kingswear, Devon
¬

[ f a m i l y ]

"SO, GEORGE, YOUR MOTHER LIVES IN DEVON. WHAT ABOUT YOU?"

You know how two people just hit it off, even though they didn't know each other well before? Elinor never even imagined that the said scenario could happen in her life, moreover with George freaking Weasley.

But it certainly did, and the dates happened a few more times until their unusual relationship intrigued their respective families.

Elinor finally invited George over after a lot of pressure from Cameron and Etienne. Too bad Ezme was still overseas. She had called home multiple times to voice her disappointment for setting up a breakfast date without her.

George casted Elinor a glance before answering Bielle's question, "I live in London. I have my own place."

"Oh, we didn't know," Bielle said, "I'm sorry to call you over this far just for breakfast."

"It's alright. I want to come," George said with a grin. He really did know his way around flattering words.

"And what do you do for a living?"

"If this is breakfast, why are you interrogating him?" Elinor interjected.

"Hush, Ellie," Cameron said solemnly, "If he's going to be a part of this family, we have to make sure that he's... not sketchy."

"A part of— Cam! We're just friends!"

"Hush, Ellie," George said this time, earning an extra point from Cameron, "It's okay. I own a company there."

Elinor widened her eyes at George in alarm.

"It's a toy manufacturing thing, and we supply anonymously for a lot of other shops. I really hope I can take you there to look around, but it's confidential."

"That eez brilliant, son!" Etienne complimented, "At such a young age! 'Eez it inherited or built?"

"Built, circa 1997. It's new, but business is pretty well. My flat is actually above it."

"Whoa, you're loaded, then?" Cameron said in awe, "You're a CEO?"

"Loaded is subjective," George said, "But I guess I'm decent enough."

"Good, good! Ellie won't starve, then."

"Papa!"

Elinor suppressed a surfacing smile, but when George winked at her, she couldn't help the laughter from bubbling out of her lips.

☆★☆

17/03/2001
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon
¬

"THIS IS REALLY GOOD, ELINOR!"

When Elinor's turn came to visit, George decided to take things slow and exposed her only to the Burrow's permanent residences.

"Thank you, Arthur," Elinor said sheepishly, "But Molly made this. I'm just here to help."

"What's this called again?" Percy asked.

"Uh... Honey Gazed Roast Pork with apples, Smoked Duck Salad, and these are my bakery's left-over Soufflé. I promise you it's still good and safe to eat."

"It's brilliant!" the third Weasley son complimented.

George picked Elinor up with his father's Ford right after the Deli was closed and, once they arrived, he was completely abandoned.

Elinor and Molly busied themselves with small talks and dinner preparation. He intended to help, but after his unsuccessful attempt in cutting paprika, he was banished by the ladies from ever entering the kitchen.

Percy and Arthur came home from their Ministry jobs to a feast.

"I, uh... actually have something to say," Elinor put her cutleries down and fiddled with the hem of her jacket. She glanced at the other four other occupants of the Burrow's dining table curtly before saying, "I want to apologize... For my behaviour the other night."

Percy froze and exchanged looks with George.

Arthur looked like he wanted to say something, but he had his mouth full, so he chomped as quickly as he could.

Molly answered in a coo-like voice, "It's nothing, Ellie. I'm sure you have your reasons."

"I'm sorry... I have... issues with magic, and George is helping me with deal with it."

Elinor blushed, not knowing if it was because the embarrassment of admitting her problem out loud or because she said 'George'.

"It's cool, really," Percy added, "I hope we can help resolve whatever's causing your issue."

"Yes," Arthur said now that he didn't have his mouth full, "I do have a question to ask, though. If that's alright with you."

"What is it, sir?"

"That portable, Muggle telly phone of yours —I see you have one, too, George. How does it work, exactly?"

☆★☆

17/03/2001
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon
¬

"MAGIC TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME."

George stopped playing with Lumos spells and looked at her.

After a long, long discussion about numerous Muggle stuffs that Arthur was curious of, much to Molly's dismay, the two of them excused themselves and sat down on the grassy lawn. George exposed her to some more basic spells and they talked about trivial stuffs, when the topic suddenly got much more serious.

George knew about her birth parents, but he wanted to hear it from her own lips.

"You asked me if I'm scared of magic, and... you're right. I hate it, but I'm also... Uh, I'm scared."

He leaned back, supporting himself with his extended arms, and waited for her to collect herself.

"After the war... I had nothing and nobody. I'm scared of what that... Uh, what more that wand can do."

George scooted closer to her side, "I promise, Elle, I'll never let it hurt you."

Elinor smiled at him, "You've made it slightly better, Mr. Weasley."

"You're welcome, Ms. Rousseau," George smiled back.

"You have a wonderful family."

"Yeah... They kept me going," George confessed, "You know Fred and I are twins, right?"

Elinor nodded.

"He was always around. We always came as a pair. His death just... sucked the fun out of everything," George said. His eyes seemed lost, wandering somewhere, maybe into his memories. "The flat feels empty, the shop feels meaningless, the world feels weird. I can't... I can't even conjure my Patronus anymore, because all of my good memories are made with him. But I know my parents can't afford to lose another kid. Especially Mum."

Then he snorted, "I don't know why I'm telling you this. I don't even talk about it to my friends or family."

"It's good to let it out of your system," Elinor said with a dry laugh, gesturing with her hands, "Spill the beans. Let the cat out of the bag. Give the game away."

"Beans? Cats?"

"Those are idioms."

"You're weird..." he chuckled, "By the way, this is not fair! You have to tell me something, too."

She chuckled reluctantly, "It's a long story."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere."

"Which do you think is better, Mr. Weasley?" Elinor asked. She tilted her head sideway and placed her cheek on her folded arms, so she was looking directly at George. He returned the look. "Having one family that stays, or a lot of families but only for short while?"

"Elaborate, please, Ms. Rousseau."

"The first option is like yours, with your Mum, Dad, brothers, and sister. The second is... like me." She broke their eye contact and looked down to the wand on his hand, "I had my parents until I was sixteen. Then I had my best friend's family, who took me in for two years. Then I have the Rousseaus. It's been almost three years now, but who can tell how long this one will last."

"Judging from the way you're treated by your family, I'm going to bet forever. They look at you like you're a princess," George said softly.

Elinor masked her sniffle with a chuckle. The lighting was too dim for him to see the tear trekking down her temple. "That's because Mama and Papa need an antisocial daughter who can take over the Deli and work without any distraction."

"But you have me now," George said with a big smile, "I distract you all the time."

"Oh my God, get over yourself," Elinor laughed, pushing his head to look the other way.

"I think both of those choices have their own advantages and disadvantages, Elle."

"I'd like the first one," she murmured, "I want a family that stays."

"If the Rousseaus get bored of you, you can come and live here. Mum would be thrilled."

The thought of getting casted away by her current family caused sadness to well up in her chest. Elinor turned her head the other way to hide her face.

Seeing that, George panically exclaimed, "I'm kidding! Merlin, that was a terrible joke. I'm sorry. They will love you forever, Elle. Ellie."