The Burrow was boisterous, overflowing with family and friends for another Weasley Sunday Dinner. Despite having known everyone for years, Hermione was always surprised by just how many people fell in her social circle when she saw them all together. Bill and Fleur were helping Molly set the tables out back, while Percy and Arthur were chatting with a few Order members from the Ministry. Oliver and Angelina were organizing a round of quidditch for after dinner. Harry and Ron could be seen trying to relocate the garden gnomes while GInny and Luna danced around them to the radio. Everyone seemed content.
Hermione wrapped her arms around George's torso as he tried to blink away the tears that were forming. The grief was lessening to the point where it didn't weigh him down every day. But sometimes he was overwhelmed by the bittersweet moments. It was great watching everyone together, sharing and living life, but it also reminded the duo of those that were missing.
"Some days I look around and think of how much Fred would have loved this," George murmured to Hermione.
Hermione snorted. "Indeed he would, but he'd also be badgering you about missed opportunities," she said with a mischievous look over to the antics occurring by the garden gnomes.
George sat up a bit straighter and replied, "we can't have that now can we?" And he started whispering potential pranks to Hermione as they edged closer to their prey.
It was just as they sat down for dinner that Viktor arrived, having been held up at work. Sliding into the chair by Hermione, he grabbed her hand under the table. They'd been officially together for a couple months now, but George could see the weight Hermione carried around on her shoulders lighten whenever Viktor was around. They were good together.
Each time Molly hinted to Hermione about weddings and future planning, Hermione's smile would falter. It was painful to consider major life events while still estranged from her parents. No matter how much time had passed, their relationship had not improved any. George would redirect Molly's attention to him and his two partners with jokes about their rejection of his offers for elopement that he was pretty sure he owled them the other day, or perhaps those were just dungbombs. George smirked and insisted he couldn't recall. Hermione was thankful for the redirect and laughed along with the rest of the table. And a squeeze to her hand by Viktor reminded her to ease the tension in her jaw.
Later that night while cuddled on the couch, Hermione reflected. The moments of grief for herself and her best friend were happening less frequently. During every family function she would see glimmers of sadness in people's eyes. But it was becoming less heady. The pain of loss was still there for everyone, yet hope for the future and enjoyment of the present were becoming more predominant. Hermione knew the emotional pain would never fully go away, but it was receding at a consistent pace to a point where it wasn't the top emotion of each day. The present was finally looking bright.