Hermione took a look at the restaurant behind the bar in front of the kitchen.
She couldn't help but smile when she saw everyone slowly dancing with the music.
She would literally kill to have her mind at a stage where it would actually let her be this vulnerable again.
She saw a young woman in a red dress. Laughing in a conversation with -probably- her fiance.
"Do I have the most beautiful date of this wedding or what?" Fred asked as he lightly bowed in front of her and held out his arm for her to grab.
Hermione put her hand on his arm and smiled.
"You are aware that there is a bride here who is about to get married to the love of her life right?"
Fred held her hand and pulled her in front of leaned into her and whispered , sending shivers down her spine.
"Well she is not my bride now, is she love?" She could feel his breath on her skin, making her knees weak.
"That would be exceptionally uncomfortable if she was.." Fred couldn't hold back his laugh.
"You wicked witch..You are going to be the end of me you know?" She smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Then you'll die a happy man."
"Jean!Jea-" Timothy was shaking her slightly by her shoulders. And she gave him a confused look.
"Mr. Montegue was thanking you for the amazing wedding.." Hermione shook her head as if she could shake the memories. And gave the man a warm smile.
"We can only be happy that we got to participate in this beautiful union." She didn't realize the guests left as she was deep in her memory realm.
The bride and the groom thanked her right before they left.
She looked around, exhausted.
Since she was a muggle-born it didn't take her long to adapt to life without magic. But she missed it at these times the most.
She could have just cleaned the whole restaurant with a flick of her wand. She made sure all of the guests left and turned around to face her team who already started to clean up the place.
"Everyone!" She got their attention.
"Thank you very much for all your efforts tonight. Now please leave and get what is left of our Saturday night. I will handle the you all on Monday."
They were not surprised because she'd do these things. She cared about her employees. She wanted them to have fun on a Saturday night. And she could use the silence and the privacy.
There was something different between being alone at the restaurant and being alone at home. She couldn't tell why. But being alone at the restaurant was easier.
"I can stay and help you." Timothy almost appeared next to her.
"No Tim, you are leaving too." He nodded in response.
He was a nice kid. Has been there at the restaurant since the beginning. She looked around as they gathered their stuff. And internally thanked her grandmother for this place. She had learnt some recipes from her and it carried the place for a year and hopefully more.
The staff said their goodbyes to her. And after they all left she locked the door and walked to the wine rack.
Took a red and a glass. Poured herself some and let herself down on a chair.
Fred
"Because I've come to realize that everyday I spend without seeing you is not even worth the effort." His last words disappeared into his throat.
He searched her eyes for a hint , a signal but Hermione was frozen. Even her tears were refusing to leave her eyes at that moment.
Fred was about to let his hands down , thinking he had done something irreversible and ruined everything. A tear met his knuckle.
"I'm still having nightmares." Hermione whispered.
"Of that night?" Fred asked softly ,his hands still cupping her face.
She nodded.
"I don't know what curse it was… No one was able to identify it. Fred, it felt like all of the bones in my body were breaking at the same time. " She was looking away as if she was not in the moment but in the memory of that night.
"Love you do not have to tell me if it pains you."
"I want to." She took a deep breath.
"I know they are just dreams but I am living it again , the pain, the terror… Dolohov's face. The pure pleasure of hurting me." Fred could feel his blood boil.
"I am not telling these to make you upset." She whispered. He tilted her head up so she was looking at him.
"I know , but the idea of someone hurting you is enough to make me upset." Hermione looked at him for a bit. No one has ever said something like that to her. She smiled and lifted herself on her tiptoes. And placed a kiss on his cheek.
Fred could hear his heart beat in his body. As she lifted herself he dropped his hands to her waist paying attention to not to make her uncomfortable.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"Oi! Gred! Answer the kid will you?" George smiled at his twin angrily.
"Sorry lad , come again please." Fred put on his mask and gave the kid "The Weasley Smile".
It had been a year. A year without her , a year without joy in their life. And he was about to lose his faith that everything was going to be alright.