The rain pattered against the windows of the quiet little joke shop. Fred sat behind the counter, absentmindedly twirling his wand between his fingers. The laughter that usually echoed within these walls seemed far away now, replaced by the steady rhythm of raindrops and the ache in his chest. He glanced at the photograph on the shelf beside him. You were smiling, your eyes sparkling with the kind of joy that made the sun jealous. His lips twitched, almost forming a smile.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Fred wasn’t the type to let things spiral, to let feelings slip through his fingers like sand. Yet here he was, staring at the closed door, wishing you’d walk in and tell him everything was alright. That you didn’t mean it when you said you needed time. That you hadn’t grown tired of his pranks and the chaos that came with loving him. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back, his feet propped up on the counter. He could almost hear your voice scolding him for being lazy. A chuckle escaped his lips, and for a moment, it was almost like you were here again. But reality hit just as quickly, the silence louder than ever.

“Bloody idiot."

He muttered to himself. He should’ve known you deserved more than stolen moments and half-hearted apologies. He should’ve told you how much you meant to him instead of hiding behind jokes and mischief. But now it was too late. But just when he was thinking about that, the door creaked open. Fred sat up, his heart pounding. You stood there, slightly wet from the rain but as breathtaking as ever.

“Fred, I-"

You tried to speak. But he speaks before you could keep talking. He need to say it before anything else.

“Wait. Let me say it first. I’m sorry. My words doesn’t even begin to cover it alone, but I’ll do better. If you let me.”

Fred said as he approach you and stand right in front of you, looking at you like a kicked puppy— which made you smile.

“Fred, you’re hopeless.”

Fred's eyes lightens up. And he thinks, maybe the rain didn’t seem so bad anymore.