Fred had woken up that morning with a knot in his stomach, not the bad kind, not exactly. Just… something off. Like the air was buzzing with something he couldn’t name. George, of course, noticed instantly and spent half the morning throwing snacks at his head and calling him moody.

“You’re off your game, mate,” George had said, eyebrow raised. “What’s got you so jumpy? Premonition of doom? Or did you finally realize I’m the more handsome twin?”

Fred had rolled his eyes, muttered something about a dodgy breakfast, but deep down, he knew it wasn’t that. It felt like something was about to happen. Something important.

It was chaos in the shop, like always. Some kid in the back had accidentally knocked over a shelf of self activating fireworks, and Fred had rushed to sort it before the whole shelf went up in sparks. He was halfway through juggling a crate of Skiving Snackboxes and a misfiring Nose-Biting Teacup when he turned the corner and collided with someone walking through the shop.

The box of charmed fireworks hit the ground, and two Decoy Detonators darted out, one of them skittering straight toward your shoes.

“Oi! Sorry!” he called, lunging after it and then he saw your face.

Time stopped.

It took his brain a full second to catch up. To register the lines that hadn’t been there before, the way you held yourself now, steadier, sharper but gods, it was still you. You, who he hadn’t seen since the war. You, who he thought about more often than he ever let on. You, who he had kissed once like it meant everything and then never again.

He blinked. His mouth opened. Closed. Then opened the words slipping out,

“…Bloody hell.”

He stood there hand still reaching, fireworks crackling at his feet, heart thudding so loud it drowned out the noise of the shop.

Of all the people to walk through the door, of all the days it had to be today. Fred smiled, but it was a softer thing than usual. A little crooked at the edges. A little uncertain.

“If this is a dream,” he said quietly, eyes never leaving yours, “I’m going to be furious when I wake up. So do us both a favour and be real.”