01/05/2001
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon
¬

[ g a t h e r i n g p t . 2 ]

"WATCH THIS."

"What?"

Elinor imagined that the gathering would be gloomy, solemn, full of grief and forlorn nostalgia. But it really, really wasn't. She didn't know why George would hate going to assemblies like this.

The laughters and jokes were at full swing as Molly came with a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Elinor smiled when Arthur gave his wife an adorable kiss on the cheek.

Even with their eldest son bringing a granddaughter over and their youngest child being twenty years old, they still acted like a newly-in-love couple.

George, who had one arm thrown over the back rest of Elinor's chair, whispered again to her ear, "Just watch."

He stood up, snatched Teddy's balloon along the way, and tiptoed behind Ginny, who was helping herself to a second serving of dessert. He earned a few amused looks from the other family members who were clearly aware of their brother's playful nature. George looked at Elinor with one finger put in front of his lips in a shushing manner.

Then he pressed on the balloon.

Ginny yelped when she felt the sudden puff of air on the back of her head. She turned around and slapped his arm, exclaiming, "You bloody git!"

"AHAHAHA, Gin, you should see your own expression! Brilliant!"

"Blimey! Please, Ellie, for your own sake, just break up with him."

That earned another wave of laughters throughout the room.

Ginny dramatically grabbed her shoulder, "It's too late for me. I was born as his sister, I don't have a choice. But it's not for you! Run, Ellie—"

"Stop trying to manipulate my girlfriend!" George exclaimed, wrenching Ginny's arm from Elinor, who was laughing at their sibling brawl.

"Yeah," Bill added heartily, "You really should listen to that!"

"She's not going to leave, she loves me," George nudged on Elinor's shoulder repeatedly and playfully winked.

She didn't object —she just laughed along.

☆★☆

01/05/2001
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon
¬

"I... HAVEN'T BEEN IN THIS ROOM FOR YEARS."

After dinner, the festivity continued. Everyone gathered in the living room, around the burning fireplace, watching Molly and Arthur slow danced to A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love by Celestina Warbeck.

Percy and Charlie sat side by side, glancing at all the couples seated everywhere. Elinor beside George. Ginny between Harry's legs. Hermione on Ron's lap. Fleur and Victoire in Bill's embrace.

The party lasted until after midnight. Everyone stayed in their respective childhood bedrooms, and after a whole lot of persuasion, including George.

Elinor could see that Molly had had this place dusted a few times, but she kept everything in its original place. A picture of the Weasley twins on the nightstand. A stash of wooden boxes on one corner. Two Hogwarts trunks. She could smell... Elinor sniffed. Cinnamon... and gunpowder?

George usually smelled like peppermint.

"How are you feeling?"

George plopped down onto his bed, bounced a few times, and finally sighed, "Great. Brilliant. Really."

Elinor could only imagine how George must be feeling. If she found herself back in her old room... or Melissa's room...

She sat down beside him and took his hand in hers, "I'm sure Fred is happy... that you can be happy, too. Even without him physically here by your side."

George was silent for a few seconds.

"Thanks."

"Anytime. You know, your whole family can't keep their eyes off you tonight. I'm sure they are overjoyed to see your genuine laughters."

"So... not because I look really handsome in this suit?"

Elinor scoffed, "Please. It's a tiger print suit. No one looks good in it."

"That's so not true!"

"It so is."

"So not. And what about you? What do you think of the gathering?"

"I had a great time! You have a very fun and wonderful family. I really don't get how you couldn't enjoy meet-ups like this."

"Well, this year, I had a wonderful time, too. Because of you," George smiled simply, "Thanks, Elle."

"I didn't do anything."

"Trust me, you did. Now, speaking of family..."

Elinor's heart plummeted down into the pit of her stomach. She knew she couldn't avoid this conversation forever. She just wished she could, maybe, avoid it a little bit longer.

George squeezed her hand assuringly, "Your family —Uncle Etienne, Auntie Bielle, Ezme, and Cameron. They're all waiting for you to come back."

"I— I don't want to come back."

"So you're adopted. So you're stupid, dumb, and selfish for running away. So you're sick. None of them care. What they care about is for you to come home. Ellie, as much as my family loves you— as much as I love you, they are still your family."

"George—"

"Tomorrow is not just the Battle's anniversary. It's your fake birthday, too, right? Why don't we drop by your house for breakfast... Talk it out properly like mature adults... Then, go to Hogwarts with me?"

Elinor blanched, "W— What?"

Before she could say another word, George grabbed her shoulders and pushed her down onto the bed. Elinor gasped at the impact and in surprise as he hovered over her with both hands placed on either side of her head.

Her headache immediately disappeared.

"This is how we do it. You kiss me, that means yes."

Elinor's heart hammered hard against her chest when she realized the close proximity they were in. Their noses were a mere inch from touching each other. She could clearly see the pores on his face, the fading acne spots on his forehead, and the faint line that showed the border of his fake ear.

She didn't know why he wore it most of the time now.

"W— What?"

"You know," he smirked, and she swooned internally. "I was hoping to enchant you enough and in effect force you to say yes. The kiss is a bonus."

His joke brought her back to her senses and Elinor chuckled, "You always force me to do things."

"What can I say. It's in our agreement."

"What agreement?"

"Me forcing you to do things, as a Gryffindor. You forcing me to be nice, as a Hufflepuff."

"I don't think forcing people is a nice thing to do, though."

George swiftly dipped his head down and captured her lips for a short kiss. "There, you said yes. We'll go to your house at seven. Together. No more running away. Okay?"

She snaked her arms over his shoulders then around his neck, "Okay."

Then she pulled him into another kiss. This time, it was long, slow, certain, and sweet. All her fears and worries melted away as Elinor and George melted into one —because he was there.

And she believed he would be always be there along the way.