Hold For Applause ~George Weasley~

"You did what?" Harry says dryly, his expression unsurprised, taking a sip from his cup, completely unshaken by my idiotic behaviour.

"You heard me,"  I say further, propping my elbow on the table leaning my chin on it, my other hand on my mug "Long stories short, we had a race around the house, like old times, and I -"

"Obiviously lost I suppose," Harry finishes, placing his cup on the table both hands grasping it as his fingers lace with the handle "You forget she was a Quidditch Captain at one point"

"I know, it's just the thought of," I pause for a moment and look a Harry dead on, really taking in his new-old face. I can see everything, all the times he smiled had started to form small crows feet at the corners of his eyes. The lines around his mouth crinkle and fold like Mum and Dads', and now it seems myself included. I can't remember the last time I looked in the mirror.

That didn't end well, after the first week.

Elyse POV

I look at the back of James' head as he runs up to his mums side, his opens his arms making grabbing movements with his fingers, reaching out for her. She smiles kindly at him and places him delicately onto her lap, he leans back into her, one of his fingers in his mouth and his big brown eyes boring into me.

His cute little face, it makes my heart melt. I lightly ruffle his hair and he scrunches his hands with his face giggling as I do so.

"So where's Albus?" I ask, booping James' nose.

"Uncle Won!" James' replies, grinning ear to ear pleased with himself that he was able to answer the question.

"Yes he is!" Ginny coos, pitching his check holding him on her lap with one arm, while the other rests on her stomach "He took him down to Diagon Alley to look at the broomsticks, it's been Ron's obsession since he pulled his knee last month"

"Ah," I say, raising my eyebrows "I see, and how old is Albus now?" I question further.

"Oh Jesus," She sighs, her hand connecting with her forehead "He 4 now, I can't believe it"

"Yea," I agree "You're not the only one" I mutter under my breath, I can't believe I spent more than 6 years away from everyone, there was time where we were all inseparable. I miss those days.

"Ron's coming later with the family, we were planning on surprising Mum and Dad with our visit," Ginny smiles "How've you been these days? Still as small as you were in school I see" She teases.

"I think my face would say different, and I've been alright," I joke taking a moment to process "It's so strange seeing you and Harry with your little family it makes me feel left behind, I miss you guys so much and I should've been there for you when I received the letter about your first pregnancy" I finish with relief, having the courage to finally tell Ginny what I've wanted to say since the moment I saw her sitting at the kitchen table.

"Oh Elyse," Ginny replies, she places James down and lightly whispers in his ear "Go play with Uncle George and Daddy," He smiles and zooms off, as soon as his feet reach the back door she embraces me in a hug.

I freeze, but only for a moment. Raising my arms I hug her back, resting my forehead against her shoulder, we stay like this for a moment before letting go.

"We all lost so much," She sighs, looking at George and Harry passing us as they make their way to the broom-shed, with the young boy playing at their heels "I miss him too, but I see him everyday in George and even in my own children, they way they laugh and play reminds me of when I used to play with my brothers," She pauses for a moment looking over Harry, a blissful smile across her face "And I know you'll have that one day as well" She places a reassuring hand onto mine and gives it a light squeeze.