A/N - Thank you all for reading and reviewing! Here's a short little chapter, following someone's suggestion that I add the trio, one at time. :)
Once again Ana simply walked without concentrating on where her feet were taking her. Teddy was settled comfortably on her hip, his hair long and gray. It only took a moment for Ana to notice that they were headed down towards the kitchens. Sitting at the bottom of the stairs was a young witch with bushy brown hair.
"Oh, sorry." She stood up. "I didn't mean to be in the way."
"You're not in the way at all." Ana assured her. "In fact, Teddy and I aren't even certain where we're going. We still can't decide what our contribution to Hogwarts should be, you see."
"Oh," Hermione sighed and slid back down to the step. "I know exactly how you feel. It's like with Voldemort gone, I've lost all sense of focus. In the beginning, we were studying and trying to find out about the Sorcerer's Stone and how to keep it safe. Then, of course, there was the Chamber of Secrets and the basilisk. Third year I had so many classes I was going crazy trying to keep up with it all. And to top it off, we had dementors lurking around and everyone thinking Sirius Black was after Harry. With the TriWizard Tournament, I was spending all my free time in the library, trying to find ways to help Harry through. And the next year, with Voldemort being back, we were all desperately training to defend ourselves. Not to mention having Umbridge as a teacher. Year after that was OWL year, so of course, I had to concentrate on my studies. Once Voldemort was back in the open, everyone was focused on getting ready for the battle we knew was coming. It was all about finding a way to defeat him. And we did. But now I just don't know what to do. So many people dead, and I don't know how to help…" she trailed off.
Ana sat on the step beside Hermione and settled Teddy comfortably on her lap. She sat silently for a moment, focusing on the babies tiny hand in hers.
"My mother says it's those who survive the war that have it hardest." She began, slowly. "It seems more logical for it to be the other way. After all, suffering and dying in battle is an awful thing, and one most people would give anything to avoid. But it's those of us who are left behind that truly suffer. We're expected to be able to move on with our lives and rebuild our world, while our hearts have been shattered by the loss of our loved ones."
"She sounds like a wise woman."
"You've no idea," Ana laughed. "And of course, she expects me to be just as brilliant. I guess all mothers are that way. I'm sure Dora would want Teddy here to be just as good at disguise as her."
"It looks like he's well on his way," Hermione commented as Teddy changed his nose into a long hook and made his ears large and bat-like. "I think my mother would be disappointed to find that I can't figure out what to do."
"My father told me that you feel all creatures should be treated fairly."
"Yes, but what does that have to do with fixing the castle?"
"Well, when I was small, I remember asking my father where the Hogwarts house-elves lived. I was curious to see if they kept their rooms as neat as every place else here. He told me about the room off the kitchens where they all slept." Ana stood and took a few steps towards the hallway to the kitchen. "Judging by the amount of rubble in this hall, I'd say there's a fair chance that that little room's been damaged. It'd be a real pity if no one remembered that the house-elves deserve help rebuilding as well, especially after all they contributed to the battle."
"Oh! What a fantastic idea!" Hermione jumped to her feet. "My knitting has gotten so much better, I could make some socks to decorate it with! Dobby would've loved that! And I can make sure there are plenty of nice, comfortable beds for them all. Thank you so much!" Hermione ran down the hall and into the kitchens.
Ana smiled at Teddy, "What do you think, would my mother be proud of me for all the helpful advice I've given?"
The baby laughed and transformed his face several times in a row, finally settling on one that resembled a piglet.
"You're right, she won't be happy unless I use some of the transfiguration skills I inherited from her. Shall we see if there's an empty room available to play with?"