"Alright, darling."

A childlike grin grew on Eloise's lips as if it were Christmas morning as she hopped up from the couch and rushed into her bedroom. George couldn't help but chuckle as he saw a small trunk and clothes flying past her open door as she hastily packed for the night.

Without a word, she exited her room and softly padded across the flat and into the bathroom all while her trunk magically packed itself. A moment later, she emerged with her toothbrush dangling from her mouth as she was pulling her unruly hair into a bun and securing it with her wand before disappearing into her room once more.

It was all quite an endearing scene for George to witness and it only felt like mere seconds before she was finally all packed and ready to go, no doubt forgetting something in her hurry, but she didn't care. If anything, she could just Floo back if she needed to.

She was already standing by the fireplace with a bright smile on her face before George had even gotten his shoes on.

"Someone's eager." he teased as he laced up his boots.

"To be fair, I've waited a while for this."

George shook his head with a laugh, "Can't argue with that."

Finally, he came and stood beside her in the hearth after grabbing a handful of Floo powder. Eloise was practically bouncing with excitement as he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close before tossing down the powder.

In a flash of green, the two emerged in his flat to see Charlie and Verity cuddled on the couch together as they both read the same book. Clearly it was one Verity had chosen based on the cover alone, which to Eloise looked an awful lot like the romance novels she used to read when she was a teenager - and occasionally as an adult. Although, maybe it was Charlie who was truly the hopeless romantic of that relationship.

The two of them looked up at the new couple's sudden arrival but Verity's eyes immediately dropped to the trunk in her roommate's hand as she quickly put the pieces together with ease.

"Charlie! Let's stay at my flat tonight." the short witch suggested as she jumped up from the couch, leaving her boyfriend gazing up at her sudden excitement in confusion.

Eloise let out a nervous laugh as George took a step away from her and ran a hand through his hair all while diverting his gaze away. In all honestly, Eloise and George were so consumed with one another that evening, they hadn't even considered the thought of coming across Verity and Charlie. But of course they would be there, where else would they possibly be?

"Care to fill me in on what's got you so worked up, love?" Charlie asked as he placed a bookmark between the pages and set the novel on the table.

Verity spun around and gave her boyfriend a look as if it all should have been obvious to him, "Someone should be home to watch Simon and I think Eloise is staying here tonight."

Charlie furrowed his brows and gave a quick glance towards the couple before turning back to his girlfriend and looking at her as if she'd gone mad. But before Charlie could ask any more questions, Verity grabbed his hand and pulled him up off the couch and towards the fireplace. Only when Charlie was standing face-to-face with the new couple did his eyes finally fall to the trunk in the blonde's hands.

"Oh...oh." he smirked as realization washed over him.

"We'll get out of your hair, you two make good choices." Verity advised with a wink.

Quicker than she had jumped up from the couch, the two of them were gone in a second flash of green.

"That was a bit awkward." George muttered with a half-hearted chuckle once they were alone.

Eloise merely shrugged as she crossed the room and made her way down the hall before pausing at his bedroom door and turning back to him, "They would've been the first to find out anyway."

"I suppose that's true."

George followed her into his room and suddenly the last time they were in there together flashed into his memory. It was the morning after Verity's twenty first birthday and Katie's infamous punch had done quite the number on Eloise's inhibitions the night before.

Even all throughout September and the beginning of October of last year, when things between them seemed so perfect, the two of them never found themselves in George's room. Looking back now, they were simply too afraid of what would come of their relationship if they crossed that line too soon.

He wondered how different things between them would be now had he given in to her desires on that early August night. But as quickly as those thoughts crossed his mind, he dismissed them. As he gazed at his new girlfriend rummaging through her trunk, he realized she was more than worth the wait.

After everything they had gone through, even with every wrong turn, every choice was a butterfly effect that lead them to one another in the end. Giving in that night could have very well been the one choice that truly tore them apart.

At least he knew now, even with all of his mistakes, he had made enough right decisions to call her 'mine' in the end. Maybe patience was a virtue George truly had a better grasp on than he thought.

A frown grew on Eloise's face as she dug through her belongings and let out a huff.

"What's wrong, love?"

"I forgot to pack a shirt to sleep in. I suppose I can run back to my flat real fast."

"Just wear one of mine, I'm sure it'll look better on you anyway."

He walked over to his dresser and pulled out an old quidditch t-shirt from when he was a teenager. Despite it being much too small for him now, he knew she would still be practically swimming in the fabric.

Eloise took the shirt from his hand and hesitated for a moment. For some silly reason, the idea of getting changed in front of him suddenly caused a wave of anxiety to wash over her. George seemed to notice this as he grabbed his own pajamas and took a step towards the door.

"I'm going to go get changed in the bathroom, take your time."

She smiled at him weakly as she nodded. Part of her felt foolish for feeling so self-conscious about it, but at the same time she was thankful that he seemed so understanding.

Once alone, Eloise pulled her jumper over her head and unclasped her bra before folding both over the back of George's desk chair. She pulled his old t-shirt over her head and took in the scent of brown sugar and freshly cut grass that had been permanently ingrained into the fabric. She finally changed into a loose pair of cotton shorts and released her wand from her hair and set it on his nightstand before she heard George knock on the door.

"You can come in."

As soon as George entered the room, his eyes were already roaming her. From her unruly curls all the way down to her light blue painted toe nails and every freckle in between, she was gorgeous.

"I knew that shirt would look better on you."

"Yeah? Well I hope you're not expecting to ever get it back." she laughed as she jumped onto his bed, splayed out over the quilt like a starfish.

Her hair fanned out around her head like rays of the golden sun and her smile shined just as bright. There was something so luminous about her, like she had a permanent glow of joy surrounding her. Little did George know it was him that brought that out of her. Every moment in his presence made her radiate pure happiness.

"It's yours now."

"Correct answer." she laughed as she propped herself up on her hands and gazed up at him.

In just his plaid pajama pants and with his hair a mess from nervously running his hands through it, he looked like a dream to Eloise. As if reading her mind, he came over to her and bent down to place a soft kiss on her lips. Her delicate fingers found their way to his wrists as she laid back, pulling him down onto the bed with her.

With him hovering over her, they shared a few more innocent kisses before he rolled off of her and beckoned her under the covers with him.

Nothing made Eloise feel more safe than laying in the warmth of his arms, held against his bare chest. She was sure there was no sleeping draught more powerful than the smell of brown sugar and the feeling of George's calloused fingers rubbing soft circles on her shoulder. That, together with the steady sound of his heartbeat proved to be just the combination she needed for the perfect night of sleep.

"I'm so happy." she said dreamily as she was already beginning to doze off.

"Me too, darling." he whispered as he stroked her blonde curls, brushing them away from her face.

He was happy. Having her in his arms did nothing but bring him joy. But the thought of what awaited him when he fell asleep only brought him dread.

There were only two options on nights like these. Either he lie awake until dawn as insomnia took his mind hostage, denying him any rest as he gazed into  the darkness of his room. Or, he would become a prisoner to his dreams, being forced to relive horrible memories until he eventually awoke with a start.

Secretly, he hoped it was the first option. Insomnia almost felt like a familiar friend to him at this point, one that only visited when he ran out of his sleeping draught. But the idea of lying awake, holding Eloise until morning, was much more ideal than the inevitable torture of his dreams.

"Goodnight." she whispered as she sleepily gazed up at him through her eyelashes.

"Sweet dreams, love." he replied with a half-hearted smile as he watched her close her eyes.

It felt like hours of him staring at the ceiling, stealing the occasional glance at the woman peacefully laying beside him, listening to her gentle breaths and watching her chest slowly rise and fall.

If only it were that easy for him to drift into a tranquil sleep. Instead, he lay awake half begging for rest and half dreading what visions await him if he were to ever lull off into unconsciousness. Only when Eloise rolled to her side and curled closer into George's chest did he finally feel safe enough to give in to his exhaustion.

No matter what happens, she'll be there when I wake up.

The thought played through in his mind again and again like a mantra. She would be there, she would be there. Over and over, like counting sheep, he repeated it until finally George's heavy eyelids came to a close and his mind allowed himself to drift into dreamland.

Just like so many nights before, the sight of rubble and smoke immediately filled his vision. Flashing lights as frantic spells were cast from every angle and the sound of shouting and screaming took him right back to that horrible night in May of 1998.

He already knew exactly how this dream would play out, it always went the same.

He stood in the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts as both familiar faces and complete strangers weaved around him in a rush. There were two choices he had; he could run up the stairs to the seventh floor, to the wall just opposite of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy attempting to teach trolls ballet, to the Room of Requirement - to Fred. Or, he could simply accept his inevitable fate and enter the Great Hall to face a truth he already knew was lying behind the large wooden doors.

He could try and race up the stairs to warn Fred and Percy of what would transpire. George knew the castle like the back of his hand, he knew exactly how to get there. If he could just run fast enough, he could save Fred.

But it never worked.

Regardless of this, each night, as George found himself in the same place presented with the same decision, he always chose to run.

It was endless. As if a cruel prank or a curse from whatever gods wanted to spite him, the stairs went on forever in a torturous, never ending loop. A horrible reminder that, no matter how desperately he wanted to, George couldn't change the past. He couldn't bring Fred back.

Still, he always tried. Every night that this recurring dream came back, George never hesitated to run up the stairs until he physically felt as though he couldn't anymore. Hours and hours of running until his subconscious had worn itself out on desperation and longing.

The only other choice George had left was to turn back and enter the Great Hall. The only way to end the nightmare was to face the truth.

It was as though his body refused to wake up until he saw Fred's motionless body lying on the stone floor of the Great Hall. To put it all to an end, he needed to see his brother dead in the room that once held so many good memories for them.

They had played countless pranks there, they had watched their younger siblings be sorted into Gryffindor there, they had invented countless Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products in there over beans and toast. But all the Great Hall represented to him now was purgatory, a level of hell he could never fully escape from.

Until he saw the ghost of Fred's last laugh etched on his face, George's mind wouldn't let him return to reality. He was trapped there every night until he faced the truth.

As always, simply to awaken from his horrible nightmare, George finally gave in.

When he pushed through the doors to the Great Hall, the scene was just as it was on that fateful night. His family was crouched around Fred's motionless body, clinging to one another for support as they let their tears flow relentlessly. Only this time, as George approached them, something was different.

"I'm here, you're okay." he heard a soft voice come from behind him.

As he turned around, he saw a girl with golden curls holding out her hand to him, "You're okay, George."

Eloise appeared in the castle as if she was an angel sent to protect him from the horrifying memories his mind forced him to relive over and over again. At first he was frozen in place, gazing at her in confusion but it was her soft smile that finally drew him in. He reached out to grasp her hand and the second his skin touched hers, George was jolted awake.

Like lightning, he sat up bolt upright in bed, gazing around the dark room in confusion as his senses slowly returned to reality.

"Shh, I'm here." Eloise whispered as she placed a gentle kiss on the back of his neck and rubbed loving circles along his spine.

Without having any control, George fell into a fit of tears. Usually, he felt so drained by the time his dream ended, he'd merely stare at the ceiling until the sun came up, mind devoid of any emotion, feeling nothing but an immense sense of numbness.

But now, it was flowing out of control like a broken dam, unable to be held back by anything. His head fell into his hands as he sobbed. Even the feeling of Eloise wrapping her arms around his middle from behind, holding him tightly, couldn't quell his sorrow.

"I miss him so much." he blubbered into his hands, barely intelligible.

"I know, mon chéri." she whispered as she placed a kiss between his shoulder blades.

"I wish I could have saved him. Every time I dream about him, I try to save him and I just can't. I wish it was me instead, it's all my fault he's gone."

Eloise scooted around the bed until she was sat in front of him. She cupped his face and pulled it away from his hands as she gingerly wiped away the tears from his puffy eyes.

"Please don't blame yourself." she whispered.

"I could have gone with him that night, we didn't have to split up. It's my fault... my fault." he hiccoughed through his tears.

Eloise didn't know what to say, she wished she had all the right answers, she wished she could turn back time to save Fred and spare George of his endless heartache. Seeing him so broken hurt her soul. George was her heart and as his own shattered before her very eyes, she felt every ounce of his grief.

"I wish I could take away all of your pain, George." she muttered helplessly as she softly caressed his face.

"You were there." he stuttered out.

"Where?"

He reached up to pull her hands away from his face as he clutched them tightly in his own and he looked into her eyes, "In the castle."

Her expression was painted in confusion as she felt his hands twitch nervously in hers.

"When I was dreaming," he continued "I was walking to where Fred was and I heard your voice calling out to me. When I turned around, there you were. It's like you were there to stop me from having to relive it again."

He paused for a moment as he gazed at Eloise's face, she was both beautiful and sad, only illuminated by the silver moonlight from the window.

"I'll always be here." she replied softly.

George nodded as he gazed down as their hands.

"I just want to have a good dream about him, y'know? I want to dream about the day we made the Quidditch team or when we opened up the shop... but it's always the same."

"You'll have good dreams again someday."

"I don't know, Ellie. I've had the same exact dream for nearly two years now."

"But you said I was there tonight. Maybe that means you'll be able to have a different dream soon - something happier. A memory of Fred that will make you smile when you wake up."

"Maybe," he furrowed his brows as he looked into her ocean eyes that were glistening with worry.

Suddenly he pitied himself and her for what he'd just put them through, "I'm so sorry you had to see me like this. If you don't want to sleep with me until I'm able to get a refill on my potion, I understand."

"I'll be here every night, you'll never be alone."

George shook his head, "I can't expect you to console me after every bloody nightmare I have, Ellie."

"I want to, George. I'll spend every single sunrise with you if that's what it takes."

"You're too good to me." he muttered as he gazed out the window, wondering exactly what time it was as blue and violet hues painted the sky like an early morning watercolor.

"I'm not." she said firmly, causing George to bring his eyes back to her, "You mean so much to me, I just want to take care of you. I'll be by your side for all of the good moments and the bad ones as well. I'll be here, always."

George released his grip on her hands and cupped her freckled cheeks before pulling her into a kiss. The taste of salt lingering on his lips from his tears mixed with the minty taste of their toothpaste as it deepened - not with any burning heat or passion, but with pure devotion. As their lips melded together, it became crystal clear, like a silent promise being made to one another. They were each other's confidants, forever bonded by a loyalty to one another that lived deep within their hearts.

"Thank you, Ellie." he whispered against her lips.

"Every sunrise, Georgie." she reminded him before closing the space between them once more.

When it finally seemed as though George had calmed down, the two of them laid back in bed as pale blue light from the imminent sunrise filled the room. As much as he wanted to, going back to sleep before dawn felt like a lost cause to George so instead, he laid there staring at the ceiling. When he gazed down after a moment to see Eloise still wide awake tracing lines between the freckles on his chest with her delicate fingers, a slight smile formed on his lips.

"You can go back to sleep, love. I'll be okay."

She took her eyes away from the abstract shapes she was drawing on his skin to look up at him, "I want to stay awake with you."

George knew better than to argue with her, so he merely nodded as he rested his head against the headboard of his bed and let Eloise continue the invisible work of art she was creating on the canvas of his skin.

"Tell me a good memory of Fred." she requested quietly after a moment.

George raised his head to look down at her hopeful smile although his own expression was rather confused.

"Why?"

"I think if you tell me of your favorite memories of him, maybe you'll be able to dream about it. Like manifesting or whatever Verity tried explaining to me that one time she told me I'd make something happen if I kept bringing it up."

A chuckle left George's lips as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back once more, "Any requests?"

Eloise furrowed her brows, she only knew a little bit about Fred but as she leaned her cheek against his warm chest and wrapped an arm around his torso, she smiled as she remembered a story Verity once told her.

"Tell me about the time Fred nearly got you electrocuted by a toaster."

A laugh vibrated through his chest and echoed in her ear at the suggestion, "How'd you know about that?"

"Verity told me."

"Right, 'course she did." he replied.

She could hear the smirk on his lips as he spoke and to Eloise's delight, the rest of the night was spent listening to George tell her countless stories about Fred until the pink and orange hues of a new day painted his bedroom walls.

If this was what spending every endless sunrise with George meant, then Eloise would happily do it for the rest of her life.