19. Celebration
They gather at the Burrow.
Because this is what they do now.
It's a strange tradition that they have. She can't really remember which year they started it really, just that one day they all decided that they'll honour the people who lost their lives in the battle by reuniting at Ron's childhood home.
It's never nothing big. Just the Weasleys coming together and sharing dinner.
This year though, Hermione pays more attention to her nieces and nephews running around the orchard. They look so innocent and carefree, oblivious to how hard people fought for their future.
Rose snores softly in her arms.
"Everything's alright?" Ron asks her as he circles his arm around her hip tenderly.
She nods absentmindedly.
She reflects the losses of the war with a newfound understanding.
She's a mother now, and if anything happened to her daughter she'd turn the world upside down and curse anyone that'd come in her way. Her eyes fall on Molly, scolding George because he's making fun of Percy, as usual. Hermione detects a hint of sadness on her mother-in-law's face. She knows she's thinking about Fred. She must always do. Sadly, being around George makes it harder.
Sometimes she forgets. She doesn't remember the horror of the battle, the solitude of the hunt, the burns of the Cruciatus or the lives that were taken. She gets caught up in her daily life, which has escalated wildly into chaos since Rose's birth.
The oblivion never last though.
They all knew what they were getting into.
Hell, she didn't even think she'd make it out alive.
She squeezes Ron's hand on her hip as she watches Teddy laugh with Fleur. She sees a beautiful mix of Lupin and Tonk in him. Tonk never really got to be a mother. It suddenly breaks Hermione's heart.
She holds Rose tighter against her chest. The anniversary of the battle is harder to celebrate this year.
