dear eloise |g. weasley| *COMPLETED* *under edit soon*

chapter twenty-five

Eloise looked down at her feet as she walked behind her friends at Hogsmeade. She sniffed her nose, the cold making it run slightly. The snow crunched loudly under her winter boots as she watched Cleo and Juniper walk a few paces in front of her. They have been growing closer over the last few months, leaving Eloise forgotten in the midst of their blooming romance.

Eloise's mother had been admitted to Saint Mungo over two months ago and hasn't spoken to her since. Part of her was upset her mother hadn't reached out, and part of her was grateful. Eloise hasn't seen or spoken to her father since they had met in secret. She knew he was always watching from a distance, she could feel it. Over the weeks of self-isolation that Eloise put herself in, she realized she wasn't upset with her father, she felt defeated. No matter what she said or did, no matter how loud her cry of help was, no one would ever see her point of view of her mother. 

"Wheezy!"

Frowning, Eloise shook herself out of her daze to find Lee, Kenneth, Fred, and George.

Eloise nodded politely, then turned away quickly. She hasn't spoken to the Gryffindors since the night Sirius Black came into the castle, They all saw how fragile she had become after her traumatizing night followed by her meeting with Dumbledore. They didn't know what happened that day, all they knew was that Eloise wasn't the same.

"Hey, where are you going!" Kenneth whined, running after Eloise with Lee and Fred not far behind.

"We are done with this ignoring bullshit, I miss you," Lee added, reaching out to pinch Eloise's thinned rosy cheeks, then snatched her hat.

"May I please have my hat back," Eloise whispered, freezing air numbing her ears.

"Looks familiar, did my mum make this?" Lee tossed the beanie to Fred, watching him inspect it.

"No, I made it." Eloise glanced at George, who stared back at her. Biting her lip, she looked down at her mittens.

"You made this? Can I have a purple one pretty please?" Kenneth begged, groaning after George elbowed him in the stomach. 

"Not to be rude, but why are you talking to me?" Eloise looked at the boys in front of her, their faces pained at her words.

"You've been different lately, sickly even. Didn't want to make it worse." Fred placed the royal blue hat back on Eloise's head, patting her head.

"I'm fine." Eloise didn't realize anyone had noticed, she pulled her coat tighter around her body to hide it from the boys. Eloise had relapsed after her discussion with Dumbledore, her thinning figure becoming more prominent as the days blur together.

"We're sorry about your Mum, Wheezy." Lee scratched the back of his head, looking at Eloise sympathetically.

"S'alright." Eloise decided that's all she had to say on the matter, she's not daft enough to think the news of her mother being admitted to Saint Mungo wasn't being passed around. 

"Ella, walk with me?" George said abruptly, nodding his head in the other direction.

"I-uh, Cleo and Juniper are waiting for me." Eloise avoided George's eye contact, looking for her friends to make her escape.

Eloise searched for her friends in the crowd, frowning when she spotted both Cleo and Juniper giggling over a mug of butterbeer without her. 

They didn't realize she was gone. 

Eloise didn't blame them for growing their relationship, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. Eloise had grown accustomed to walking the halls alone, Cleo and Juniper only saying a quick hello before returning to their own giggle-filled conversation.

Before Eloise could respond to George, Fred nudged Eloise towards his twin brother before the boys scampering into neighboring shops. George sighed before walking in the opposite direction, looking back to see if Eloise would follow.

Without much of an option, Eloise walked alongside the fifth year. The two walked in silence, going down a path towards the Shrieking Shack.

"What do you want-"

"Why are you ignoring me?" George and Eloise spoke over each other, finally turning to the other. 

Eloise took a step back, noticing how close they were standing once they turned. Eloise had to stop herself from melting as she looked into his eyes, all she wanted to do was fall into his arms and tell him everything. She knew she could never do that of course, she didn't need him, she was beyond saving.

"I'm not." Eloise's voice came out in more of a whisper, leaning against the fence of the property.

"We haven't spoken in forever." George's face looked pained, frustrated even as he looked at Eloise.

Eloise couldn't hold his eye contact, looking to the shrieking shack.

"It's obvious you want nothing to do with me." George continued, he's always been more in touch with his emotions, but when it came to Eloise, he struggled. 

"You only talk to me when you need something." Eloise's blood started to boil, Why was he playing this off like he wanted anything more from her than her brain?

"What are you talking about-"

And then it hit him, like a snowball to the face.

George gasped as the snow collided with his face, almost knocking the wind out of him completely.

"Ella, What-"

Eloise picked up another handful of snow, throwing it once more at George's face.

Whipping the snow from his freezing face, George took the hat off of her head, filled it with snow before smashing it back on Eloise's head.

Eloise gasped, wet cold snow falling into her eyes. Taking off her hat, she threw it at George's face.

"I only asked for your help on my assignments because I didn't know how to start a conversation, I just wanted to be around you." George rubbed the side of his face, it was red and numb from her hat slapping his face.

Eloise opened her mouth then closed it, no words coming out of her mouth. 

"That essay? It was planned. I already had it done. I just wanted to hang out with you." George crossed his arms, leaning on the fence.

"I know this isn't the only reason you're ignoring me, Eloise please talk to me." George reached out to Eloise, brushing a wet curl behind her ear.

She was at a loss for words. Was there more to why she was distanting herself from George?

"I can't I-" Eloise couldn't breathe probably, his hand cupping her face so delicately it took the air from her lungs.

"Why?" George took another step towards Eloise, his intoxicating scent filling her nose.

"Ella." George moved his thumb across the hollows of her cheeks, his eyes darkening with concern.

"What's going on? We've all noticed you've been sick, but this, this is more isn't it?" George held both Eloise's cheeks, searching her eyes for an answer.

"Nothing is the matter." Eloise pushed herself away from George, holding back her tears as she walked towards the town.

"This isn't nothing, Ella." George reached out to her, he needed to make her better.

Eloise stayed silent, continuing to walk away.

"Eloise!"

"I'm sorry, I can't. "