Chapter three

Harry never moved from the bed in the hospital wing, he just sat there watching his friend. Madame Pomfrey had another quick look at him and said he was healing nicely before she checked Hermione. She told Harry she's fine physically and would be awake soon. Harry had sent word to Professor McGonagall that he needed to speak with her when he got a chance.

As Harry's mind drifted to the events of the night before, he felt himself get sick again. The thought of having a piece of Voldemort inside him all these years made Harry feel disgusted with himself, then he kept thinking about what might have happened if he never watched that memory. Apart from Voldemort still being here, he might have gone out and made more, knowing Harry had been destroying them with the help of his friends.

Harry noticed Hermione's eyelids flicker a couple of times and thought she was starting to wake up. So he took hold of her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, hopefully letting her know she was safe and someone was with her.

'Hermione, can you hear me?'

'Hmm, Harry,' Hermione said sleepily as she blinked a few times before her eyes came open and saw Harry sitting beside her, 'Why am I in the hospital, did something happen?'

'Um, yeah, Ron,' Harry said softly and instantly saw Hermione's eyes water, so he put his arms around her as she started crying, while Harry tried not to so he could be there for Hermione, 'Shhh Hermione.'

After a while, Hermione finally pulled herself together, she looked at Harry, 'Did you find out what happened?'

'No, I've been here with you the whole time. I wasn't going to leave you alone,' Harry kept hold of her hand as she lay back down, 'You were going into shock, so I brought you here.'

'Harry,' Minerva McGonagall said as she stepped over to the bed, 'I'm so sorry about Ron.'

'Thanks Professor,' Harry blinked a few times trying to stop his own tears from falling, 'I wanted to ask a favour for me and Hermione. With what the Weasley's are going through, they need time alone, plus I don't want any death eaters to go there looking for me. Kingsley is going to let it known I'll be resting here, so I was hoping we could stay here for a while?'

'Yes, of course you can, I have to put up some other students as well, ones that lost their parents. But so far you are the only Gryffindors that are staying, so you might have the tower to yourselves.'

'Thanks,' Hermione said tearfully.

'One thing Harry, I need to speak with you, but of course not for a while. You need time to mourn and heal, but I found the memory in the pensieve, I figured you put it there considering what it contained. I only watched it to see who it belonged to.'

'Yeah, Snape gave it to me right before he died. In case you don't know, he's body is in the shrieking shack. But if you saw the memory you know he was on our side, but what you heard about me, could you keep that to yourself. Only Hermione…' Harry hesitated as he was going to say Ron again, 'um and Kingsley knows.'

'Of course I will, that is one bit of information that does not need spread about. Andromeda Tonks is here and wishes to speak with you. I explained about Ron and that you were both here, so she's going to wait so she can see you.'

'Oh okay,' Harry looked back at Hermione, 'Do you want to head up to Gryffindor tower, I'll take you up first, make sure you're safe.'

Hermione gave Harry a small smile and nodded, 'Thanks Harry.'

'I'll take Hermione up first Professor, then go see Mrs. Tonks.'

'Alright, she's in the Great Hall at the moment,' Minerva looked sadly at her two former students, then turned and left the hospital wing.

'Let's go Hermione,' Harry kept hold of her hand and they walked hand in hand up to Gryffindor tower. Harry had a quick check of all the boys rooms while Hermione checked the girls before she came back down to the common room, 'Do you want something to eat, Kreacher brought me some before.'

'Maybe a little Harry.'

'Kreacher,' Harry called and the old elf appeared before him, 'Could you bring Hermione some food, a cup of tea and juice please?'

'Of course Master Harry, I will be right back,' he snapped his fingers and disappeared.

'Will you be right until I get back?'

'I'll be fine, I'm just going to curl up on the couch. What happened Harry, who did this?'

Harry sat beside Hermione and pulled her into his arms, 'I don't know, but I'm going to help find out,' Harry heard Kreacher's return, 'Thanks kreacher, but if Hermione wants anything, I want her to be able to call you as well, alright?'

'As Master wishes,' Kreacher put the tray down, gave a small bow then apparated away.

'Now eat Hermione, you've had a big shock so you need to rest and eat. I'll try not to be too long.'

'I'm fine, you take your time,' Hermione gave Harry another hug, before turning to the tray of food.

Harry looked once more at Hermione then left the tower and walked slowly down the corridors and all the stairs until he came to the Great Hall. Harry looked around and spotted Mrs. Tonks holding a sleeping Teddy in her arms. So Harry slowly walked over to her.

'Mrs. Tonks, sorry I took so long to come down.'

'That's fine Harry, Minerva explained what happened. Can you please sit for a minute.'

Harry sat down next to her, 'I'm so sorry about Tonks, um Nymphadora, I wished she didn't turn up, or Remus.'

'Thank you, but Dora was an auror Harry, that was her job. I learned to live with that a long time ago. But I wished to speak with you about Teddy. Dora and Remus told me they named you godfather.'

'Yeah, Remus told me,' Harry looked at the baby boy sleeping in his grandmother's arms, 'He shouldn't be without his parents, but at least he has a loving grandmother.'

'Thank you and I do love my grandson. So I was hoping that you will allow me to keep him, but you can come see him whenever you want to.'

'Keep him, of course you should, why would you think you couldn't?'

'The godparents are named for that reason Harry, if the parents are killed, they take custody of the child or children.'

'Oh, I never knew that, but you have nothing to worry about. Teddy belongs with his family, especially since you are a witch that can protect him. But I would like to see him, get to know him.'

'Thank you, he is all the family I have left and of course you can see him. I should really get him home to bed, but would you like to hold him first Harry?'

'I would like to, but I've never held a baby before.'

She smiled and slowly placed her grandson in his godfather's arms, but kept her hand close in case Harry might need help. But she saw the look Harry was giving her grandson and knew he would never hurt Teddy and would do anything to protect him.

'When Dora first told me about you being godfather, I was concerned. Mainly because of the things I've read about you. But just looking at you now, I can see you are nothing like what has been written and I can see you will be there for Teddy.'

'Thanks and no, not much written about me was ever the truth and I will be there for Teddy, for anything. After Remus told me, when I had a chance to think that is, I wanted to do something for him,' Harry gently brushed the little boys hair from his forehead, 'See, I was left pretty well off by my parents, then Sirius also left me everything from the Blacks, so I want to open a vault for Teddy, that way you can get him whatever he wants. I'm not saying that because you can't, because I have no idea how you are financially. But it's something I want to do for Teddy, so he will never go without.'

'That his very generous of you and I must admit, now with Ted gone, it will be a little difficult, so whatever you want to do will be a great help for Teddy. But I also need to say how sorry I am about Remus, I know you were close with him and he was friends with your father.'

'Yeah, well we were getting close, it's been a bit hard with Voldemort out there. Most of the time we spoke was all about him and safety. But at least Teddy is safer than he was and I'm sure Remus would want his son safe with you, then still be in danger with Voldemort out there. Um, I just want to warn you though, with death eaters still out there Teddy could still be in danger. See I could sometimes see or feel what Voldemort was doing, see through his eyes that is. I saw him once speaking with his death eaters about Teddy, the son of a werewolf, they weren't too happy about that and were going to take care of him, if you know what I mean,' Harry gently touched the little boy's face.

'Yes, those types did not like Remus's condition, but he was nothing like other werewolves. Remus did everything he could to stay away from people on the wolf nights.'

'Yeah I know he did, so please just take extra precaution until they get caught. But I should let you take him home and put him to bed. One thing though, did they name a godmother?'

'No, they couldn't decide. They spoke about a few people, but Remus would want one, while Dora wanted another. But I think a grandmother and a godfather will be all he needs for now.'

'Okay,' Harry slowly placed the baby back in his grandmother's arms, 'As soon as I get a chance, I'll contact you about the vault and when I can come spend some time with him.'

'You know where we live,' she leaned in and kissed Harry's cheek, 'Thank you for making our world safer and giving Teddy a chance at a normal life. Now I will take this little one home. I'll see you later Harry,' she gave him a smile then left the Great Hall.

Harry watched her until she left, he had a quickly look around but never saw any of the Weasley. He did nod to Neville, Seamus, Dean and the Patil twins, who were all sitting with Aberforth and Harry noticed that Neville still held the Sword of Gryffindor. He slowly got up and left the Great Hall and headed up to Gryffindor tower. The moment he stepped in, he saw Hermione curled up on the couch crying, so he instantly sat beside her and pulled her into his arms and just let her cry.

'It's not fair Harry, Voldemort is finally gone, Ron should be safe now,' Hermione said through her tears and sniffles.

'I know and it's not fair, but we'll help find out who did this. I'm so worried about the Weasley's. They lost Fred and thought everything was safe, now Ron.'

'Mrs. Weasley looked so heartbroken Harry, two of her children are gone.'

'I know she did, that's why I wanted us to stay here. They need time with just the family and of course no danger. I spoke to Kingsley about your parents, he said he's going to contact some people, see what he can find out. So if we give ourselves a couple of weeks, we can go there and find them, you can restore their memories and bring them home.'

'You would come with me Harry?'

'Of course I would, I'm not going to let you go alone, just like you never left me. We stick together through everything.'

'Yes, we do, but while you were gone, I remembered our bags, there still in the tent.'

'Oh right, do you feel up to going now or do you want to wait until tomorrow?'

'Let's get it over with, that way we can both shower and change. You're covered in blood,' Hermione looked down at herself, 'So am I.'

'Come on then, there are no wards around the school, so we can go. But what about our enchantments, will they still work?'

'No, they broke when the snatches found us.'

Hermione and Harry kept holding hands as they walked through the damaged castle and out into the grounds. They looked around before both of them looked down towards Hagrid's hut remembering when they found Ron. Hermione put her head on Harry's shoulder as they stared down at the place they both lost someone they cared about. For Harry, a friend, for Hermione, a boyfriend, but a caring and loyal friend to anyone that knew him. After a while, they instantly turned on the spot and apparated away.