Hearing him talk about his family made her smile. It was a very familiar story. "I agree," she nodded once, "Christmas wouldn't be the same without family." Hestia knew she really meant won't be the same. Not without Daniel.
When he asked her that question, Hestia realized she didn't think it was okay. "Peter," she took a deep breath, "I've been an Auror, in the Order and now I'm one of the oldest associate healers, and a mother," she emphasized the last one firmly, "It's not okay." Hestia shook her head, staring down at the table.
"Too many people look to me, I can't be falling apart." She laughed, but there was sadness in it, "My patients are the only ones who I don't have to worry about appearances with." They wouldn't remember the next day if she had been unhappy or if she had confessed her sadness. She had cried at Alice's bed side the first day...
Hestia wrung her hands in her lap, "Besides, this is a time for everyone to grieve Neville, it is supposed to be about his life. Not mine," she shook her head. Hestia hated what a meed she had been in since Neville passed, with no apparent way to shake it.