Chapter 46: The Aftermath

The battle was over. The death eaters had all been subdued by one means or another. The remaining aurors and magical law enforcement officers were rounding them all up into one location to make transporting them to Azkaban easier. All their wands had been confiscated. The injured death eaters were lined up waiting for the medics from St. Mungo's to arrive. The wards were still in place so they would have to walk up from Hogsmead.

The remaining DA members were tending to the injured for the side of light. The great hall was full of the injured. The Order members were put in charge of counting the losses and gathering lost wands.

"It looks awful but I know we were lucky there were not more deaths," Luna told Hermione, Neville and Tonks as they made their way across the field. It was the most somber and down to earth Hermione had ever heard her friend sound and wished for the light hearted strange girl back. She knew they had all grown up way to fast as living through a war would do.

"I think I see someone else," Hermione said and led them over to where many death eaters were lying dead. "It's Theodore Nott, he was on Green squad," She said sadly. They covered him with the bright white sheet to signify a fallen member of the light before taking his wand and writing his name down.

"There are three wands lying here as well," Neville said picking them each up.

"That's Lavender's wand," Hermione said looking around again to make sure they hadn't missed her. "She must have been picked up by White squad." They tested the other wands and found out they belonged to Millicent Bullstrode and Padma Patil. "Terry Boot and Michael Corner are over here farther unless someone else has covered them." She said sadly leading them to the place where she saved Charlie and Bill. They gathered their friends' wands and covered them with the sheets.

I see someone almost at the edge of the forest," Tonks told them and they all moved in that direction. Hermione gasped and Tonks sprinted forward as they recognized Remus lying on the ground next to a bound Peter Pettigrew.

"Tonks," Remus croaked out barely able to raise his head.

"It'll be ok Remus, we'll get you help," She said with tears streaming down her face seeing her husband look so week.

"He cut me… with his… silver… hand." He said slowly between pained breaths. Hermione began to cry knowing there was little that could be done to save him. Neville was the first one to come to his senses and sent up both white and red sparks. White was to summon a healer and red to summon the aurors to take away the rat.

Ron hurried over to take Remus into the hospital wing. Tonks went with him so it left the other three to continue their trek. "Will he be ok?" Neville asked Hermione.

"No," she replied shaking her head sadly. "Even if they can get the wound to heal the silver poisoning will kill him the next time he transforms." The other two nodded sadly.

They gathered wands of fallen ministry of magic officials, aurors and magical law enforcement officers and covered them with the white sheets. "I feel bad that only way we know who they are is to test their wands. They fought so hard and gave their lives and we never even knew them in life." Neville said sadly as they covered another auror. It seemed that there was always another body to find and the three of them were getting very depressed.

"Oh no," Hermione said dropping to the ground before a fallen Slytherin. "Oh Malcolm," she said fingering his red sash as the others recognized him from her squad. She carefully pried his wand from his hand before closing his eyes and placing the sheet over him.

"The death eaters must have been targeting the Slytherins because I think a lot more of them were injured than the others." Neville said sadly. "I guess they thought they had betrayed them by fighting with us."

Hermione didn't say anything she just pointed forward where they could see the blonde hair of Draco Malfoy. Gabrielle was trying to console him as he knelt next to the body of his friend Vincent Crabbe. "I'm so sorry Draco," Hermione said trying not to cry at seeing another dead classmate. "He was a good man."

"He died a hero along with Greg," Gabrielle tried to comfort him and Hermione realized that Goyle had died as well.

"I thought they would be safe on White squad," Draco told them sadly. "They weren't powerful enough to be out here fighting."

Gabrielle helped him off the ground and back toward the school. He was bruised and had a cut on his face but other than that looked fine. Gabrielle was limping but otherwise hex free. She handed Hermione Crabbe's wand before heading off. Neville placed the sheet over the boy who once terrified him. "I wonder what happened, why weren't they together?"

"I'm sure we'll find out later," Luna told him as they continued their job. "It will take some time to get the stories of how they each fell."

They continued across the lawn to the outskirts of where the battle was fought. Luna shrieked as she stepped on something that popped. Hermione looked down to see the remnants of Moody's magical eye. "Moody! Moody where are you?" Hermione yelled out. "It's Hermione; we're trying to find you." She knew better than to approach the paranoid old wizard without stating who she was, he hexed first and asked questions only if he got caught.

"Here," they head a faint voice from behind a tree. They drew their wands, just to be careful, and hurried to the sound. They were all speechless at the damage they saw before them. Luna offered to take him back to the school as they knew he needed help quickly or he would be soon be wearing his own white sheet. They were amazed he was able to talk at all let alone remain conscious with all his injuries.

"Hang in there sir," Hermione told him carefully tucking his wand back into his hand. She knew he never went anywhere without his wand and would be much easier to handle if he was comfortable.

"Did… We… Win?" He gasped out so quietly they barely heard him.

"Yes. Voldemort is defeated for good and the death eaters have all been rounded up." Hermione told him trying to sound reassuring. "The war is finally over." A resemblance of a smile passed the old man's lips then before he succumbed to oblivion. Luna hurried off hoping that the cranky old man would somehow make it through.

They took their list and the wands back towards the school where the healthy ones would be meeting with Albus to report. The ministry would take care of all the bodies once the wounded were tended to.

Albus nodded solemnly to the gathered group. The only ones gathered were Arthur, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna, Bill, Rosmerta, Fred, George, Alicia, Tonks, Ginny, Gabrielle, Justin, Draco and Madame Maxime. Everyone else was either injured or helping the injured. "Hermione," he said sadly, the twinkle no longer in his eye. "How many confirmed dead have you found?"

Hermione took a deep breath knowing they were all waiting with baited breath hoping she would not read the name of a loved one. She had checked with the white squad and updated her list with those who had not survived after being brought in for help. "We confirmed the deaths of 12 aurors, 10 magical law enforcement officers, 15 from either Hogsmead or the Ministry of magic and 12 of our own." At his nod of head she knew that she would have to tell them which order members perished.

"We lost 6 DA members. Theodore Nott from Green Squad, Malcolm Baddock from Red squad, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle from White squad and Terry Boot and Michael Corner from Blue squad." She told them sadly, pausing before the next list. "We lost 5 Order members: Elphias Doge, Hestia Jones, Emmeline Vance, Dedalus Diggle and Kingsley Shacklebolt." She paused then, not wanting to have to say the last name.

"Who was the 12th?" Albus asked her and she looked sadly at the Weasley's in the room.

"We also lost Percy Weasley," she told them letting a tear slip down her face at the sad expressions on the Weasley's faces. "The field has been cleared," she told the headmaster as she handed him the list and the wands. "There are many injured who will be in need of their wands and we were unable to locate Kingsley's wand."

"I have it here," Draco told them holding up a wand that looked remarkably like his own. He was very quiet and kept hold of Kingsley's wand. None of them were very interested in Order business as they all needed time to grieve.

"White squad will need a break in a few hours. I would like it if any of you could get a few hours sleep and then relieve them for a few hours sleep. In the morning we will move the non-order members and non-students to St. Mungo's for treatment and the rest of the injured will be moved to the hospital wing. Cots have been set up in the next room for any of you to have a nap." Albus told them, "I will need your help tomorrow in making a list of the injured so we may owl their families. Now go and rest, we will meet again soon. Thank you for your hard work. We will remember our fallen once we have tended to our wounded."

"Poppy, take a break," Hermione told the school nurse. "They are all sleeping and if something goes wrong I'll come get you right away. You're not going to be any help to them if you're exhausted and falling asleep on your feet." She finally got Molly, Poppy, Hannah and Susan to take a few hours rest. The rest of White squad had surrendered to sleep the minute it was mentioned leaving the capable Order and DA members to man the injured.

There would be 15 beds needed for long term stay in the hospital wing in the morning. There were 6 others that would most likely be released after being told to take it easy and the rest would be moved to St. Mungo's. Mad-Eye Moody was in stable but critical condition along with Sylvester Spinnet, both had lost a lot of blood. Hermione was told that without the blood replenishing potion she had given him Sly never would have made it. Charlie was sleeping peacefully but his arm would never grow back. Fleur was better but still had side effects from many hexes and would take a while to be back to normal. Both Padma Patil and Colin Creevy had substantial head injuries and although stable neither had regained consciousness.

Minerva was still in bad shape and was told she would have to walk with a cane for the rest of her life. King Edward, Lavender, Millicent, and Blaise were all slowly healing and would need a few more days bed rest. Remus was in the worst condition of any of them. The silver was poisoning his blood stream and attacking his werewolf blood. He was weak and wracked with pain. Poppy had been able to clean and close the wound but it only delayed the inevitable. Remus would die the night of the next full moon when he transformed with the silver in his blood.

Hermione watched as Tonks sat between Harry and Remus and wept. Harry was worn out and couldn't even raise his hand but he had been awake on and off and would be fine once his magic reserves were back to normal. Hermione walked closer and gently touched Tonks' shoulder. Tonks buried herself in Hermione's comforting embrace and allowed her to conjure another cot between her two men. "Try and rest Tonks so that you can talk to Remus when he wakes," She told her and eased her onto the cot. "I promise to watch over both of them."

"Hermione," Harry asked her weakly and she hurried to his side. "Tell me the truth, what is wrong with Remus. Tonks just cries but I can see him breathing so I know he's not dead."

"He has silver poisoning," she told him hoping he understood and she wouldn't have to tell him that his father was going to die.

"He'll get better right. I mean silver isn't fatal." Harry said confused.

"Silver isn't normally fatal but to a werewolf it's worse than belladonna." Hermione told him carefully. "I'm sorry Harry but there is nothing that can be done for him. Poppy has healed his wounds but when the next full moon hits…" She just couldn't say it.

"No," Harry said starting to cry. "No, Hermione I can't loose another father. Please, there have to be something someone can do. Isn't there a potion or something? Can't you or Snape make one? Please Hermione…" He begged her and she caved in.

"I'll go to the library in the morning Harry," she promised him. "I'll research anything available. I can't promise that I can find a solution in less than 2 weeks to something that has never been solved before."

"We have to try…" Harry got out before dozing off again. Hermione just sat silently crying at the pain he had to endure. No one should have to loose so many people they loved in such a short lifetime.

"I promise I'll do everything I can," She told him and kissed his forehead before continuing her rounds.

Hermione was sitting by Severus' bed when he awoke. "How are you feeling?" She asked him and he mumbled something unintelligible. "Severus, do you know who I am?" She asked wondering if he was still suffering from the Confundus charm. She was saddened that he didn't answer her and only kept muttering to himself.

"I'm afraid it's one of the strongest charms I've seen," Poppy told her as she reentered the ward. "I'm afraid with all his skills at shielding his mind that when the charm hit it's like he cannot get back inside his head."

"So you're telling me he's crazy now? Surely there is something we can do." Hermione said worriedly.

"He's not crazy he just doesn't exactly know what's going on. Albus and I feel he needs a big shock to force him back into reality. But neither of us could come up with something that would scare him into submission. Not even telling him that you-know-who was defeated worked. Do you have any ideas?" Poppy asked.

"Has Albus tried offering him the DADA position?" Hermione asked with a giggle, causing even the stern nurse to laugh.

"Albus believes it needs to be something possible but very implausible so that he would recognize the insanity of it and snap back into his mind." Poppy said.

"Will he be cured if that happens?" Hermione hoped so they could help Remus.

"No, it's just the first step. He'll still be confused for a few days to a few weeks afterwards." Poppy told her. "What's wrong dear you look like that's a death sentence. I'm sure he can survive a few weeks without taking house points or using excessive sarcasm."

"That's not it," Hermione said tearing up. "I have less than 2 weeks to find a cure for Remus. Without Severus' help I can't possibly make a cure in time. He has so much more experience with this type of thing plus he is an expert on wolfsbane."

"Hermione you are a brilliant young witch but scholars have never been able to cure this before. I know you'll work hard but please don't blame yourself if you can't find a cure." Poppy said looking saddened.

"I just don't think Harry can handle loosing another parent figure. He needs Remus to help him through everything that happened with the final battle. If the boy who defeated Voldemort can't have a happy ending then none of us deserve one." Hermione told her. "As soon as they are all moved into the hospital wing I'm starting my research."

"A very honorable cause my dear," Albus said from behind them obviously having heard their conversation. "But I believe we should help Severus first. The longer he goes without being in his right mind the less chance we have of getting him back."

"I have an idea," Hermione said with a mischievous smile. "I think it might just startle the daylights out of him." She leaned in and whispered to Albus who was twinkling and laughing by the end.

"It makes me wish for a muggle video camera to catch it all." He told her with a chuckle. "Allow me to make it more convincing." He said and waved his wand at her abdomen causing it to swell.

Poppy just stared at them wondering what they were up to. Hermione slowly sat down next to Severus, smoothing his hair out of his face. She winked at Albus and began the plan, "Severus darling, please wake up. Don't you want to feel the baby kick?" She asked him taking his hand and placing it on her newly swollen belly. "My darling husband, please look at me. Don't you want to feel our child? Severus you're a daddy now I will need you to give up potions until the twins are at least 5 years old. I'm sure there is a job in the misuse of muggle artifacts office at the ministry you could take. I'm sure it will pay well enough so we can afford to eat…"

Severus instantly shot up in the bed pulling his hand back as if he had been scalded and looking at Hermione like she had grown a second head. "But Hermione, we're not married… how… my head feels all fuzzy." He said shaking his head as if to clear it.

"Not to worry my dear boy," Albus said with a grin at Hermione as he reversed the charm to her natural figure. "You've been hit with a Confundus charm it will take many days until you're feeling your old self again."

"It's good to have you back with us," Hermione said kissing his cheek before leaving to let Poppy examine him. She wanted to get back to Remus and Harry before Tonks woke up.

"How do you feel?" Poppy asked him as he stared at Hermione's retreating form with a strange look on his face.

Severus looked at Albus, "I had the strangest dream that Hermione was pregnant with twins and she told me I would have to work at Arthur's old job to support her." He knew something was up when Albus chuckled merrily. "I'm not really married to her am I?" Severus asked him, not able to fully hide the disappointment in his voice.

"No my boy you are not. She is still in her 7th year." Albus told him making a mental note of how saddened Severus sounded when he realized they were not married. "You are a free man now Severus. Do you remember helping to defeat Voldemort?"

"I must still be confused as I remember it but I also remember telling Potter that I loved him," he said wondering why his mentor laughed again.

"Sleep now your memory will start improving with time." Albus said glad that he had checked on him. He had needed the laughs he had had. The tough parts were just beginning. They would have to have memorial services, talk to the press and get everyone's stories so they knew what happened to whom and how all their fighters fell. It was going to be one very busy day.