On reflection

Five years had past since the war, and time had mended what it could. Most of what had been broken had been rebuild, most of what was missing was replaced and the five passing years had softened the memory, healed the hurts where they could.

The windows of Diagon alley's joke-shop were dark, the door was closed. It had been a long and busy day, for the fireworks sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes were just what was needed for tonight's celebration of the end of the war. People had come from far to buy them here.

The owner of the joke shop was a strange man, it was said. The war had been hard on him, and the man never laughed. About once a week he changed the sign of his shop from Weasleys' to Weasley's, only to change it back again the day after.
The children laughed at this funny behaviour.

There had been many familiar faces in the shop today, for in the past four years it had become tradition that the heroes of the war gathered here before the celebration to buy their fireworks and catch up on old times. They tried to include the shop-owner into their talk, all of them trying to cheer him up, but he moved in back and let his employees deal with the customers.

Neville Longbottom had been there, picking up not only his own fireworks, but that of Hogwarts as well. He had chatted a bit with the children waiting to see the true celebrities. It did not bother him the crowd did not count him amongst them. He was content with his life, content with his position as Herbology teacher at Hogwarts.. content that the only people recognizing him were his students. He'd greeted Scarred-faced Bill and his wife and child, and talked with Luna about her recent marriage.

And then the heroes had arrived. Ron and Hermione Weasley first, and Harry and Ginny Potter soon after, with the crowd of gathered wizard and witches cheering and applauding. The party had started right there, and it had been a wild celebration on the steps of the jokeshop until the sky was dark enough to light the fireworks and start the dance, and there was need to find a more open space.

They left the shop-owner behind in the dark.

He would not go.
Though he was glad the war had ended, he had not felt like celebrating in the past five years. Unlike popular believe, he'd found time had not been able to heal all wounds, it could not close all gaps that had fallen, and in spite of the peace, in spite of the victory, some people would never heal.

In his mind the last battle had never stopped. Percy returned. A battle… an explosion… The wall collapsed, and with it.. all the laughter in the world had disappeared.
"There is nothing left." He said softly to himself. "I am forever holey."

Pathetic

The voice was so clear he looked up to search the one that had spoken. There was no one man, no one but his own reflection in the window of the abandoned shop. He stared.

"It's true." He whispered.

Pathetic.
Whole wide world of missing-twin-related humour before you and you go for holey?

"There is no such thing as missing-twin-related humour." He glared.

Of course there is, idiot. Don't be so fretful. Be Fred-ful! His reflection seemed to grin.

George closed his eyes. He swallowed.
"Pathetic." He whispered. "really pathetic. Worst joke possible."

But the corners of his mouth slowly but surely turned up, until he was grinning at his reflection for the first time in five years.