Disclaimer: I have no legal right to anything related to the Harry Potter Universe.
Author's Note: This needed to be written. So I wrote it. Hope you all like it :)
The Jester Has Fallen
Lord Voldemort had been destroyed, and Harry Potter survived. But not everyone had. The celebration of being liberated from the Dark Lord was marred by the bitterness of loss. A ginger-haired family wept around the body of one of their own.
Fred Weasley had been hit by a curse during the battle, jumping in front of the spell meant for his twin brother. He saved many lives that day. The jester suddenly became the knight.
George Weasley sat beside his mother Molly, both sobbing over the body, while Ron, Ginny, Percy, Charlie, Bill and Arthur stood by, tears making clear tracks down their dirty faces.
Harry and Hermione left the family to their grief and went off to talk together in a corner.
The Malfoy family, recently reunited and having defected from the Death Eaters, nervously watched the Weasleys in their mourning. Narcissa knew that could have easily been her son, and somehow had sympathy for the blood-traitors. Draco guiltily stared at the table he was seated at, knowing that it was his uncle Rabastian who had sent the spell at Fred and George. Other than the fact that they were Weasleys, he didn't really dislike the boys. He felt somehow that the pain in the room was his fault. In some ways, it was. Even Lucius let go of his hatred for a brief time, gazing at the greiving family without disdain for the first time in his life.
Molly Weasley was beside herself. With a great cry of despair, she threw her arms around the chest of her son. He groaned. The family froze. George's eyes became big as dinner plates as his seemingly dead twin began to stir.
"Mum. Gerroff me."
"Freddy?"
"Can't. Breathe. Mum."
Molly jumped off her child, and Arthur caught her before she stumbled backward.
George leaned in close to Fred's waking face. "Fred?"
"Yeah?"
"You're not dead?" George narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Seems not. That alright by you?" Fred smirked.
The twin brothers hugged fiercely. Molly nearly passed out in Arthur's arms. The Weasleys began to cry again, this time with joy. Bill and Charlie helped Fred stand, and everyone began hugging and kissing him.
"This is bloody brilliant. I should almost die more often."
"Fred Weasley, don't you dare say that!" Molly scolded, kissing Fred's cheek and stroking back his mussed hair.
"So you're really ok?" Ginny asked.
"Well I'm standing and breathing, so I think that warrants 'ok,'" Fred replied.
Ron let out a yelp of triumph. "Hey everyone! Fred's not dead!"
Harry and Hermione rushed over to see that this was in fact the case.
George was still shocked in disbelief. "What happened? I saw the curse hit you and you fell. It was the Killing Curse! It was green!"
"Georgie, just because something's green, doesn't mean it'll kill you. I know we don't like to eat our vegetables, but this is really a bit extreme," Fred said with a smirk.
"But your heart stopped beating!" Percy countered, equally shocked.
"Seems it was a temporary phenomenon. I'm fine, Perce, really."
Everyone had another round of hugging and kissing. Harry came to welcome Fred back to the land of the living.
"Oi! Harry! You aren't dead either! Does that mean Voldemort snuffed it?" Fred asked.
Harry smiled and nodded.
"Well done, mate. Knew you could do it. In fact, I wagered you would. George, don't forget that we get to collect from Borgin when we get back to London. Assuming he hasn't skipped town, the bloody devil."
Everyone laughed. Fred and George did some fancy wandwork to create a spectacle of flashing lights and glitter in the air, celebrating the day.