Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter or its characters.

A/N: I apologize for how unnecessarily long it took me to produce this story! S/o to my incredibly patient readers: Choco-Latte64, Gemmortia, ImaginaryFreak00, calh, 10lizzie, , , CatsRainbowsMermaidsUnicorns, SilentlyDeadly, McKenzie118, Puzzle.13, RedUniCamel, DreamHunterVo, super-cool-flying-vampire-cows, plume228, and AllAwesomeness. This is not to forget all of those who have been with me since the beginning. If not for you all, this story would be nothing. One down, one more to go 😊 Seven years in the making!


Tilly would never truly be able to recall all the of the events of the battle.

She would recall that Molly Weasley killed Bellatrix.

She would recall that Voldemort and Harry shared words, though not exactly what was said.

She would recall them shooting a spell at each other, a flash of light. Tilly felt it in her very core when Voldemort died, felt the rush of power across their connection, Ron and Neville's grip on her arms as she lost her balance. . . . For the first time in months, Tilly felt whole, strong again.

And then people were cheering.

Tilly was pulled into arms, both Ron and Neville's and others, people hugging her before they surged forward towards Harry. She gasped when she was pulled backwards, into another embrace but this one she recognized. She sobbed as Charlie buried one hand into her hair, the other gripping the back of her jumper as he held her to him, pressing his lips against the top of her head. After a moment, he pulled back, placing his hands on either side of her face, eyeing her state.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Tilly muttered.

"Are you sure? You look pale."

She bit her lip but there was no hesitation as she took his hand, guiding it down to her stomach, holding it there with both of her hands as she looked up at his face. A variety of emotions crossed over his face: confusion, realization, disbelief, anger, worry before he finally settled on what Tilly thought might be happiness. He grabbed her face again, his lips crashing against hers.

When they parted, he placed his forehead against hers. "I'm going to be a dad."

Before she could respond, she and Charlie were being grabbed by more arms, hugged and kissed by the rest of the Weasley clan. Tilly watched, knew the exact moment Mr. Weasley told his second eldest son about Fred. Charlie wrapped his arms around his father and buried his face in the older man's shoulder, his shoulders shaking.

"Tilly." Tilly turned, wrapping her arms around the Weasley matriarch. "I'm so glad you're alright. I've been so worried about you both!"

When Mrs. Weasley released her grasp, Tilly could still see the tears in her eyes. "Molly. I am so sorry –"

"Shh," Mrs. Weasley interrupted, shaking her head and patting her daughter-in-law's cheek. "No, no, dear. You don't need to say anything. We should – we should all just go home, get some rest. . . . Tomorrow, we'll – we'll. . . ."

Tomorrow, for a lot of people, the Weasleys included, would be the day to bury their loved ones. They'd officially say goodbye to Fred, Remus and Tonks.

And Marguerite.

"I'm – I'm going to go check on Andromeda. She'll be all alone."

Mrs. Weasley nodded, pulling Tilly down so that she could press a kiss against the younger woman's forehead. "You're a good girl, Tilly. I'm – I'm so glad that we have you in our lives."

"I'm glad to be there," Tilly answered. "I'll catch up with you all tomorrow, I promise."

Molly patted Tilly's hand before she moved back to George, holding the boy in her arms again. Tilly smiled at her family before she turned, walking out of the castle. She had hoped to spy Harry on her way but she thought he might have disappeared again. The poor boy probably needed his space. She couldn't imagine what all he had been through this past year, all of these years. Voldemort was gone.

Tilly stopped for a moment, placing one hand over her stomach and the other over her mouth, holding in a sob.

Voldemort was gone.

They were free, the fighting was over.

But at what cost?


A few moments later, Tilly was knocking at the Andromeda's door. The woman answered, her eyes red, her hair a mess. . . . When she saw Tilly there, alone, the tears sprung up again but the older woman took a deep breath, nodding her head in understanding. "Headstrong till the end, right? Both of them?"

Tilly nodded, stepping forward when Andromeda opened her arms, pressing her face against her shoulder as they embraced. "I'm so sorry."

"No, none of that." Andromeda leaned back, her eyes fierce. "Your grandmother . . . my daughter . . . my son-in-law . . . my husband . . . They did not die so that we can stand here being sorry. They died so that Teddy and that child inside you might have a better a life. A life with no fear, no worry."

In Tonks' room, Teddy woke, crying out. Andromeda started to move in that direction but Tilly stopped her. "Go get some rest. I can take care of Teddy tonight."

Andromeda hesitated but she nodded, patting Tilly's hand before she moved off to her own room. Tilly tried not to watch as the older woman stopped, placing her hand against the wall before she moved again. Tilly didn't mind watching Teddy for the night; Andromeda had gone through so much, had lost so much and was still so strong. A night was the least Tilly could give her.

Tilly hurried to Tonks' room where Teddy was wailing. She leaned down, picking him up. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here."

Teddy sniffed, waving his hands a bit before he curled into Tilly's chest. She watched, as she sat down on Tonks' bed, as Teddy's turquoise hair slowly turned a light shade of pink.

She tried to stop the sob but it escaped anyway. Teddy shifted but settled even as Tilly laid down, Teddy resting on her chest. The tears streamed down the sides of her face into her hair, her body shaking with silent sobs. Her friends were gone, her grandmother was gone, Teddy was going to grow up without his parents.

So that means it was up to her.

God-mother is what she was and mother she would be. She wasn't going to leave this all up to Andromeda. She'd help raise Teddy, she'd take care of him. She would tell him stories of his parents and help him when his nose got stuck out of shape like Tonks' had done all those times. She'd teach him French and tolerance and how to be amazing, just like Tonks and Remus would have.

Rolling over, Tilly carefully placed Teddy on his stomach, rubbing his hand along his back as he slowly fell asleep. "Your mother was my best friend. I would do anything for her and I'll do anything for you, Teddy. Remember that."


Tilly must have fallen asleep because the next thing she realized, an arm was sliding around her waist. She jerked slightly, conscious of Teddy asleep next to her, but still wary. In the dark of the room, she met Charlie's gaze and he gave her a small smile. "Sorry."

She took a breath, nodding as she lay back down, Charlie pressed against her back. His breath ruffled her hair. "He's a beautiful baby."

Tilly nodded. "He looks like his mom."

Charlie's arm tightened around her waist. He didn't mention Tonks or Remus for which she was grateful. "Two kids won't be so hard to raise. Him and Fitz will get along just like us."

"How can you tell it'll be Fitz and not Amelie?"

He shrugged. "A dad knows these things . . . I think. Besides, I don't think I can handle a girl. Teddy would fall in love with her for sure."

"Fitz it is then," Tilly agreed. A slight smile came to her face as she recalled Tonks' words. "'They'll take over Hogwarts, they will'."

"I'm sure McGonagall will love that."

Tilly started to laugh, shocked by how familiar that sounded. Her laughs soon turned into sobs again and she pressed her hand against her mouth. Charlie pressed against her head, holding her close.

"Tomorrow, we start again," Charlie muttered.

"How?" Between all of them, the Weasleys, herself, Andromeda, and Harry, they had lost so much. How did one continue on after this? How did one start over?

"One step at a time. And then we'll do the same the next day. And the day after that. One step at a time."

Tilly nodded through her tears. "One step at a time."