29/04/2001
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Diagon Alley, London
¬

[ g i r l s ]

"I THINK I CONVINCED HER TO STAY."

"Really?! That's great news!"

George peered at Elinor, who was greeting his joke shop's customers in a friendly manner from behind the cashier. She told him, after her solo trip through Diagon Alley, she could handle it. She couldn't just sit around and do nothing all day.

"Well, she didn't actually say it..." He scratched his head. There weren't a lot of words exchanged with their lips glued to one another. "But I'm 90% positive."

"Did you ask her about the operation?"

"No, I haven't. She's a bit sentient of... surgery, brain, and stuffs like that. I'll get back to that later."

A screechy whiiiiiiiiiiiiii! followed by a loud crash sounded from inside his crowded store and George said, "I have to go. I'll keep all of you updated."

"Thank you!"

"Have a nice day, everyone."

"Jorge!"

"Yeah?"

"No stress, no hands, no drugs. Don't sleep in the same room. Keep everything PG-13."

"Yes, sir," George playfully saluted. But when the call ended, he flipped his phone close and said cheekily at it, "No promises, though."

☆★☆

29/04/2001
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Diagon Alley, London
¬

"I HAVE A WEIRD QUESTION."

That night, Elinor rolled onto her stomach and looked at George, who occupied the other half of the bed.

"Shoot."

"When you lost your ear, did you experience any weight loss?"

"What?!" George laughed, "I don't think ear weighs that much."

"Huh," Elinor rolled back, "Just wondering."

"My turn."

"Shoot."

"How come I never noticed that Umbridge scar on your hand before?"

Elinor made a face, "This is unfair. You always ask me the hard questions."

"You can always ask me harder ones," George shrugged.

"I put concealer on it whenever we planned to go out. But we met without plan a few times already and I didn't have time to cover it with anything, so... I guess, you're just insensitive."

"Hey! I'm a very sensitive man!"

Elinor burst out into a fit of laughters.

"Wait—" George furrowed his eyebrows, "That— That came out wrong."

☆★☆

30/04/2001
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes - Rosa Lee Teabag, Diagon Alley, London
¬

"ELLIE! THERE YOU ARE!"

Elinor looked up from the piles of knuts and sickles in her hand and immediately saw Hermione running towards her with a huge grin.

"Hermione!" She exclaimed. The little boy by the counter was a bit annoyed, wanting to get his payment over with, but he couldn't help gaping when he saw who the intruder was.

"What are you doing here?"

"George owled me yesterday and he told me that you're here," Hermione said, "It's Sunday! You shouldn't be working. How are you feeling?"

"I'm great," Elinor replied with a smile. She handed the boy his purchase and change.

"Let's grab that tea now."

"Now?"

"Jill, can you take over the cashier, please?" Hermione called out. The aforementioned just nodded and wordlessly trailed back to the cashier post. Hermione took Elinor's hand and dragged her out, "Come on!"

"Uh— Shouldn't I say something to George firs—"

"No, it's fine. He was the one who told me to get you outside."

Diagon Alley was as busy as ever; swarmed with people of all age and business. Some were engaged in a shopping spree, some was just relaxing after a whole week of work, some met up with friends. Now that Elinor paid more attention, there were a lot of new shops blooming here. TerrorTours, she read, Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions, Second-Hand Stuffs, the Ministry Press. Of course Quality Quidditch Supplies, Gringotts, Flourish and Blotts, and Eeylops Owl Emporium were still packed with customers.

She remembered this place to be more crowded during her previous visits, but that was probably due to Hogwarts students' high demand on new robes, books, and supplies every school year.

"Ginny and Fleur's here, too. Do you remember them? Ginny, the Weasleys' only daughter, one year younger than me. And Fleur Delacour. She was the Triwizard champion from Beauxbatons."

"Oh, yeah... You mentioned her being married to George's brother."

"Bill," Hermione nodded, "She brings her baby, too, Victoire. You're going to love them!"

They took a sharp turn left and entered a new teashop resembling Hogsmeade's Madam Puddifoot's. Everything was bright, pink, and flowery. There were only a handful of occupied tables, so even without Hermione's confident guide, Elinor could see her destination.

"Hello," she greeted when they arrived.

"Hi! I heard so much about you! Mum literally never backs off," Ginny greeted back in enthusiasm, shaking her hand, "Take a seat!"

"I'm zorry, I can't stand up," Fleur said apologetically, "Enchantée de faire votre connaissance (Nice to meet you). I mean—"

"Pour moi aussi, Fleur. Jem'appelle Ellie. (Nice too meet you, too, Fleur. My name is Ellie.)"

Fleur's eyes widened, "Êtes-vous français? (Are you French?)"

"No," Elinor replied in English, "But my, uh... my foster family is. I learned a lot from them."

"Please just speak English," Ginny interjected.

The cute, little baby sitting on Fleur's lap cooed hysterically. Elinor couldn't help making weird faces at her and the baby giggled, reaching out to capture her nose.

"Is this Victoire?" Elinor asked.

"Oui!"

"How old is she?"

"Almost one."

To regular people, the four girls formed a curious bunch. Hermione was dressed smartly like a proper office worker, even on a Sunday. From her posture and elegant sundress, others could easily tell that Fleur was a sophisticated woman with clear, elegant upbringing. Ginny seemed like a normal, casual teenager, wearing a nude yellow tee that read 'Holyhead Harpies'. And Elinor —she looked down at the baggy hoodie and jeans she had on— was hogging George's wardrobe.

He only had a handful of normal looking attires.

"Those clothes eez George's, innit?" Fleur quipped.

"Uh... Yeah," Elinor said sheepishly, "I borrowed it."

"You know, it reminded me of Ron's dressrobe for the Yule Ball. Maybe because they're both oversized."

Ginny snorted, "That hoodie is way better than Ron's horrifying thing."

"Oversized is actually one of the current trends, you know? Wearing boyfriend's T-shirt—"

Elinor couldn't believe it either, but she actually had a wonderful time talking with the girls.

She had come a long, long way from being the girl who ran away at the sight of Molly's kitchen to the girl who had a casual chat with three of the most notable witches of the century (plus possibly the cutest and prettiest baby in the world). And she could only think of one person to thank.

George.

☆★☆