I stared at myself. I was still young, handsome (yes I found myself to be a dashing lad!) and strangely enough though today was one of the few days I felt empty.
The holidays were coming up. When I was a child holidays were my favorites but now, you could say I didn't like them very much. I was currently twenty one years old sitting in my flat playing with an old set of wizards cards.
A year ago I lost my best mates. Fred and George Weasley.
Fred died in the war, he went down fighting like a hero.
George lived but disappeared into hiding. His brother Ron and I had taken care of the shop since he refused to set a foot inside after he only owled me even when I begged him to go out to the Leaky Cauldron, heck even just sit in my flat and play wizards chess for old time sake, but he refused.
I looked up and found myself with the window, it was snowing outside. I didn't look but I could see the children running around with snowballs, witches and wizards holding on to their cloaks, and I could see us back in our school days.
When there was no threats of death.
When anything could be solved with a simple flick of our wands.
When the lot of us still laughed at the stupid things.
“Are you sure we won't get into trouble?” I asked; still an innocent first year I obviously cared about what my professors thought of me.
“Of course not” said the red haired boy that stood to my right; he wore a cheeky smile while his twin went and picked up some snow.
“Who cares?!” said the boy with the snow in his hand. “It's fun!”
I smiled and that day we threw snowballs at whoever passed by us, regardless of their position. I hadn't gotten my first detention that day with Professor Snape.
I glared at the twins as we began to scrape the ice from the stone walls. I could hear them muttering nasty words under their breaths. Wait 'til my parents got word of this...
“Would you lot shut up?!” I yelled angrily throwing a piece of ice at the two boys. They turned, the ice barely missing the one closest to me. “I can't believe I'm even here!” I added, sliding down against the wall on to the floor.
“Well you can always just act like it's a dream,” said one of them. The other smiled.
“Or your worst nightmare!”
I was living my worst nightmare. Christmas Eve and I was home alone. No family (that I didn't mind) no friends (that hurt.)
I missed Fred, sure, but I missed George just as bad. Angelina tried to get through to him and even she couldn't.
I knew she hurt too after all she and Fred had some sort of thing right before the war started. George and I would joke about that was before the bloke lost his spark.
Standing, I walked over to the window deciding to take a look, maybe that'd keep me away from my thoughts.
The streets were empty at least to my eyes but in my mind I could see myself running out into the snow jumping around like a child, laughing and wrestling with Fred and George...
My eyes had begun to sting even if I promised myself months ago I'd stop crying I couldn't help it. I felt empty, discarded like a piece of rubbish no one needed anymore.
The hot tears ran down my cheeks as I laid my head against the window. With my fingers I begun to trace lines on my window.
Merry Christmas Lee.
Merry effing Christmas.
I couldn't find the will to stop my tears, even at Fred's funeral I hadn't cried like this. I knew he'd probably be angry with me if I did. I simply sat there beside George.
Ha! He was probably laughing wherever he was.
I heard a loud knock on my door. I ignored it until they knocked a fourth time and after came a voice.
“Er...Lee. Lee are you there?”
I frowned turning around: that voice, though it lacked its usual laughter...
“George?”
I laughed my tears taking over once again. I ran towards the door hoping that I hadn't suddenly gone mad.
“Lee if you don't-”
“You prat!” I yelled excited almost losing my foot to my lonely table. The cards went flying as I cursed. Outside the door I heard George call out worried.
“Lee are you alright?”
I cursed loudly suddenly laughing as I scrambled up onto my feet.
It was him! My best mate!
I felt my hand shake as I twisted the handle taking a deep breath I pulled the door open.
George stood there wearing a shy smile, his hair was long and messy covering up his only ear. His brown eyes stared at me bloodshot and glass-like. Giving me a small wave George walked in right past me.
“So...er still collecting cards?” I nodded shutting the door slowly. It felt like I was floating, my heart was beating with excitement but on the other side I felt angry.
It had been a year, a whole year and all this idiot could day to me was
“So...er still collecting cards?”
I turned towards him he was sitting on my couch his hands on his knees and his eyes all over the place.
“After a year,.” I whispered he turned to me as I reached into my robes, “after a whole year George Weasley!” My voice had begun to raise, sure I noticed but right now I could care less if that stupid old woman that lived next to me woke up. I'd hex her too!
He stood up backing away from me “Lee, I'm sorry mate I really am-” he began as I walked towards him each step louder then the last.
“I sent you letter after letter! I went to your house! Heck I've been running your shop!” I was now screaming my hand was shaking as my eyes began to sting again.
“Not even a hello Lee! Or heck even a howler would've been nice!” I saw him blink twice then George suddenly broke into a sob and so did I.
Great I made him cry, and myself mind you.
I dropped my wand and without thinking pulled George into a hug. He stood there frozen, the anger had faded and suddenly I felt an empty pit in my stomach.
Ladies and gentleman....I was embarrassed...
Not of George...but the fact that I had suddenly jumped at him like that. If Fred was watching he was probably howling with laughter.
“I missed you,” I said before he could get a word out of his mouth though he wasn't speaking. George bit his lip, his eyes lighting up.
George burst out in laughter, in fact he fell onto MY couch laughing. I smiled as I watched him try to catch his breath.
Once I saw him crying with laughter I couldn't help but join him.
I suddenly stopped laughing getting a good look at George. He looked thinner than ever, his clothes looked dirty and it looked like he hadn't shaved in a couple of weeks.
“George what the heck happened to you?” I blurted out he smiled cheekily running his hands through his hair.
“I just got 'lost' you could say...”
“Well then...welcome home” I said taking a hold of his shoulder. He smiled at me.
And to me that was the best Christmas present anyone could have given me.
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