The Battle was won. The room was filled with glorious colour. Sparks being fired from people's wands, their cries of happiness encircling her.

Hermione found the whole thing a garish affair.

Maybe it was because people had died. But Hermione did not think of them.

Maybe it was because she was tired. But Hermione did not sleep.

Later, not even the warm comforting hand on her shoulder could stop the emptiness that she felt inside. The hopelessness she felt. Hermione knew that she was grieving, but it was not what everyone else was.

When Harry came towards them, he seemed hesitant. Hermione realised that she and Ron were holding hands and figured that was the cause.

'Are you, are you feeling, alright?' Harry questioned cautiously.

'Oi.' Ron laughed, thumping him on the arm. 'Just because she's going out with me, doesn't mean that she's lost a few brain cells all of a sudden.'

Harry smiled, but only faintly.

'It feels like I've lost something.' Hermione frowned. 'But I just-'

'You've lost a friend and gained a partner.' Ron summed it up proudly. 'I feel the same way. Right, Harry?'

'Yeah.' Harry whispered. 'Right.'


At some point in the celebrations, Harry wandered off and, frightened of what he might do; Ron and Hermione went out looking for him. Ron volunteered to go to the room that held the dead in case Harry might be mourning in there, while Hermione moved along to Dumbledore's old office.

The stone carving was already moved to one side, and she climbed up the circled wooden stairs. Sure enough, Harry stood there frowning; his jaw clenched the way it did when he was trying not to cry. Gently, Hermione went to him and took Harry in her arms. At first he resisted, but as she offered soothing words, he began to break down and cry. How long they stayed like that she did not know, but after quite some time Harry managed to pull himself together enough to say. 'I've got to go and get Teddy. I'm his godfather. I've got to look after him.'

Hermione nodded and guided him towards the fireplace. Harry still looked like he was going to be sick. Soothingly, Hermione wiped away his tears with her fingertips. 'Don't let Teddy see you looking so sad.' She said softly. 'He needs you to be strong for him.'

Harry nodded and massaged his temple. 'Yeah,' he said hoarsely. 'You're right.' As Hermione turned to go, he grabbed onto her arm. 'Don't leave me?' He pleaded. 'I can't do this on my own.'

Hermione was in shock. Not even after the death of Sirius had she seen Harry so broken.

'Of course.' She consoled him. 'Of course. I'll just let Ron know where we're going.'

Soon, Hermione's silver otter was flying off to Ron. She took Harry's hand and together they were on their way.

Andromeda Tonks opened the door. She looked like she'd aged about sixty years since they'd last seen her under a year ago. She was a woman with a veil of sadness about her that would just never lift. She did not speak, it seemed like she was doing whatever she could to keep her mouth closed.

Harry dashed passed her, while Hermione carefully ushered Andromeda into the living room after him.

Teddy was sitting on the floor in his pyjamas playing with the stuffed lion Harry had sent to him on his birth. His hair was a shock of tufty black today, but the eyes that surveyed these newcomers were the very image of his father's. It was the first time that Harry had met his godson and he carefully knelt before the baby boy so not to startle him. Teddy giggled and chewed on his chubby fist.

'Ra!' He said, holding out the lion to Harry.

'Roar!' Harry breathed back looking at his godson in wonder.

Beside her, Hermione felt Andromeda tremble with emotion. Without speaking, she slipped an arm around the woman's waist and held her.

Harry picked up Teddy and turned to Andromeda, his features set determinedly with the effort of trying not to cry.

'I need to take care of Teddy.'

'No.' Andromeda sounded braver than Hermione had expected her to. 'No, he is in my care. I am his grandmother.'

'He'll want for nothing.'

'He'll want for nothing with me too.'

Harry cuddled Teddy to him closer, his eyes brimming with tears. Andromeda was now shaking. 'Please.' She whispered. 'My family are gone. He is all I have left.'

'Harry.' Hermione carefully went to him and laid a hard on his arm. 'You mean well, but Teddy needs his grandmother. She'll look after him.'

'You can see him as many times as you want.' Andromeda promised. 'My son-in-law and daughter loved you. He is your godson. I will never stop you from coming to our home.'

Harry nodded. Gently, he kissed Teddy on the forehead and handed him back to Andromeda.

'I'm sorry.' He sounded lost, confused. 'I didn't mean to- I just.'

'I understand.' Andromeda interrupted him. 'You want what is best for my grandson, and for that I cannot thank you enough.'

Harry and Hermione stayed for another hour or two before Teddy began to fall asleep and was put to bed. As they were leaving, Andromeda grabbed onto Hermione's sleeve.

She looked to the older woman, ready for her to say something, but she seemed helpless and lost for words. Hermione could almost see them clouding up her mind, but she would not let them spill. Nonetheless, despite her not asking the question, Hermione knew that Andromeda wanted the answer.

'Lupin held her.' Hermione said softly. 'He was there.'


It was Fred Weasley's funeral. The Weasley family were all down in the kitchen, but Harry and Hermione had remained upstairs, wanting to let them all have their own moment together before they came along.

Harry was struggling with his tie, and it was with an affectionate tut of irritation that Hermione came along to fix it for him. As he stared into her eyes, she noticed how his sparkling emerald eyes had turned to a haunted dark green. He looked at her as if he could see something that she couldn't.

'There.' She smiled at him. 'All done.' Hermione turned away from him, and together they looked at one another in the mirror. Gently, Harry looped his arms around her slim waist, and she leaned her head back against his shoulders.

'Harry,' she asked, 'Harry, what's wrong with me?'

The question had been tying on her tongue for quite a while now. It made her feel so guilty to feel so unhappy. Why was she going around with the same facial expression as Mrs. Weasley? She had lost a child, Hermione had lost a friend. The two things couldn't compare.

For a moment, Harry hesitated. But then he swallowed and said bluntly.

'Nothing.'

'Harry. I feel weird. It's like I've been asleep for the longest time, and now I'm so confused. What's wrong with me?'

'Nothing.'

'I know that you know.'

'Nothing.'

It was something. Hermione always knew when he was lying. But Harry had only ever lied to her about little things. Homework mainly, and whether or not he'd done it. Otherwise he told the truth. They trusted each other with everything. If he was keeping things from her, then it was serious.


She was shivering. The air was unusually cold for summer, and yet no one else seemed to feel it. Beside her, Ron looked at her concerned.

'You alright?' He whispered quietly, careful not to disturb the eulogy's being read of Nymphandora Tonks and Remus Lupin.

Hermione nodded. And then she shook her head, tears suddenly springing to her eyes.

Carefully, Ron shifted closer towards her and slipped his hand in hers, the other arm wrapping around her shoulders.

'I'm so cold.'

As Hermione nestled into Ron's shoulder, with him kissing the top of her head, Harry Potter looked over at his friends with the same haunted look as Hermione. He was cold too.