Chapter 31:
Six months later….
It was always the maybes and the could haves that wreaked havoc in the minds of those that were left behind.
Edward rarely ever put it in words but Hermione knew he was sometimes still plagued with guilt for his role in the early demise of Isabella Swan.
The reservation's wolf pack were none too happy to know their friend was sucked dry by vampires but they held their peace since it wasn't any of the Cullens that had done the deed, if anything the Cullens had only tried to stop her and bring her back, they grudgingly admitted.
Chief Charlie Swan had moved out. The memories of his young daughter were driving him insane in his loneliness and he'd quit the town. No one knew where he was, not even Mr. Black. He hadn't kept in touch. He just didn't want any reminders whatsoever.
And as Hermione joined every witch and wizard gathered around the casket that was being lowered into the ground, she let blue and golden flashes of light escape her wand as her tears rolled down silently from her cheeks.
She thought back to the time when Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt had mandated that every surviving witch and wizard of the Second War had to go through a thorough medical examination at St. Mungo's. She remembered how the healers there had found the lasting effects of Dolohov's curse on her being that she'd never conceive and yet, how they hadn't been able to identify something so acutely rooted in Andromeda that the magical scans hadn't identified the spreading cancer at all.
Hermione had broken up with Ron the next day, knowing he wanted a brood of his own while Andromeda had happily gone back and hugged little Teddy.
Hermione's life had changed that day….. Ron wasn't a permanent fixture of her future anymore…..
Then she'd moved across the pond to start a new life. Andromeda had fallen ill and her treatment was a necessity. Magic could only do so much. Their lives had changed again. Hermione had signed up for more education, Andromeda had signed up for treatment…
The last fists of earth were offered over the casket.
The move had given Hermione a new family… It had brought back Andromeda's old one… Invariably Hermione's eyes scanned the crowd and fell upon Lady Malfoy who was clutching her son's shirt's collar and weeping silently, wetting his pristine white shirt with her saty tears. Not that Draco was faring any better…
No one was….
In her own sweet way, Andromeda had touched so many lives, and they all were crying for the loss that was now left behind in her absence.
The tombstone was raised and lowered.
Andromeda Tonks it read A wonderful woman who touched every life she met… Finally united with her own true love at long last….
Everyone was weeping around her, holding their loved ones just that tiny bit closer. Teddy was firmly tucked between Rosalie and Hermione. Harry and Ginny were hugging each other. Pansy was standing beside Ron, their hands clasped, while her other hand was patting Draco's shoulder. Draco was holding his sobbing mother in his arms, petting her hair as she let her emotions flow freely. The Weasleys were all huddled behind Harry, Kingsley and a few of Tonks' auror friends not too far from them. The Cullens were similarly surrounding Teddy and her, silently letting them know they weren't alone, showing them their support in their hour of need. Just like Jacob's pack stood behind him and his witch, as Luna wept silently on Jake's sleeve, her father soothingly rubbing her back while Jacob kissed her head repeatedly, whispering something to her over and over again.
Yet in the face of it all, Hermione only heard Dolohov's jeering in her mind…..
You'll live an unproductive life,
Your body will only refuse what men will give…
The more you use of what you stole
The quicker to your grave you'll move
You'll crave for Death, pray to Him,
But He shall show no mercy.
For you Mudblood, shall live to see all around you die…
And yet you shall live on..
Inching towards death…
Waiting to greet him..
Only ever waiting…
And so it begins… thought Hermione as she swiped her eyes dry and watched the tombstone finally settle over Andromeda's grave with a heavy heart.
I shall live on to watch all die…
One by one the magical folks left.
"I hope to see you around Narcissa, Draco," Hermione said hugging both of them individually.
"Of course you will. I won't fail the charges my sister left in my care," Narcissa offered with a watery smile.
"We're staying here for a few weeks, till mother gets better. Then we'll be back in the States. I'll call you and inform you of our plans," Draco said before the Malfoys too took their leave.
Finally only Harry, Ginny, the Cullens and the wolf pack, along with Luna, Hermione and Teddy were left.
"We should leave too," Hermione whispered as she hugged Harry after making sure Teddy offered flowers to the three other graves around Andromeda's. They had buried Andromeda with her family, right between her husband and her daughter, knowing there wouldn't be a better resting place for her than that.
Harry nodded saying whatever he had to, to his best friend, with just his eyes. After so many years of friendship and having gone through what they had, they didn't need words as often as others to communicate.
"Don't be a stranger, now. We're all family here and we love you both," Ginny said and hugged Hermione first, then Teddy too. "I'll miss you Teddy Bear. Come and see me soon, okay, love?"
Teddy, too young to get a grasp on what was happening, agreed with a childish gurgle.
Hermione removed the old shoe from her bag and called everyone over before activating the portkey, giving an old diary to Luna that she activated. In two separate groups they popped away to the other side of the world, back to their lives.
Little did they know, someone was waiting for them there with sinister intents…