A/N - Thank you so much for your reviews and follows on this new story of mine. I hope you like this chapter!

Chapter 2

After

The sun had finally fully risen. Remus watched Harry as he was shuttled around the Great Hall by one person or another who wanted to speak to him, touch him, thank him. He looked absolutely exhausted and yet he kept smiling, kept talking to whoever sought him out. Remus sighed, wishing everyone would just give the boy some peace for a few moments.

"Here you are," Poppy said, handing him a goblet. Remus swallowed the contents, then made a face. Skele-Gro still tasted as disgusting as he remembered. "I've put the rest of the injured in the Transfiguration classroom until we can determine if the Hospital Wing is sound. You need to join them and rest while the Skele-Gro does its job." Remus shook his head.

"No."

"Remus," Poppy began, but Remus interrupted her.

"Where is Dora?" he asked with just a slight tremor in his voice.

"She's in the chamber off the Great Hall," Poppy said quietly. "They all are." Remus nodded and looked across the Hall again. As he did, his arm shifted slightly and he grimaced.

"You need to be resting," Poppy said again.

"I can't," he replied. "There's too much to do."

"Then let someone else do it," Poppy snapped. Remus stared at the Matron.

"No one else can do this," he said quietly. He dreaded telling Andromeda, but he was the one that would have to. Poppy looked away for moment to compose herself.

"No, I suppose not," she agreed. She sighed again. "I can cast a stabilization charm and give you a sling, but if you think you're going to Apparate with that arm, think again." Remus opened his mouth to retort when he saw Hermione approaching.

"Hermione," he greeted.

"How are you feeling?" she asked. He managed a half-smile.

"I'll be fine," he said as Poppy finished with the stabilization charm and conjured a sling for him. She tutted at him as she wrapped his arm in it and moved to fasten it around his neck.

"Is there anything that I can do for you?" Hermione asked.

"No, thank you, Hermione." She fidgeted for a moment before continuing.

"If you need to send an owl to," she paused and took a breath, "to Tonks' mother, I could do it for you." Remus barely managed to swallow past the lump in his throat.

"I appreciate that, but I think this is news I need to give her in person." Hermione nodded in understanding. Poppy tutted again.

"I meant it about the Apparating, Remus," she informed him.

"How long?" he asked.

"Four hours' minimum. I'd prefer eight, but I'm sure I won't be able to keep you here that long." Remus made a noise of frustration. He knew the news that Voldemort was dead would travel quickly. He was sure the Prophet would print a special edition and send it out as soon as possible. The longer he waited before going home, the more Andromeda would worry.

"Can he Floo?" Hermione asked and Poppy contemplated him for a moment.

"I suppose, if he's extremely careful and knows exactly where he's going." But Remus was shaking his head.

"We disconnected the Floo as a precaution after we went into hiding," he explained.

"You could send a Patronus," Hermione suggested. Remus was about to dismiss the idea, not wanting to give Andromeda that kind of news through a Patronus when Hermione continued. "Just to let her know that it will be a few hours until you're back."

"I suppose that will have to do, although, I'm not all that proficient with my other arm," he said indicating his wand arm which was now securely settled in the sling.

"If you want me to," Hermione began, but Remus shook his head again.

"I'll manage," he said. They all stopped talking as Minerva walked into the Great Hall. She was levitating a body that was covered by a sheet.

"Is that?" Poppy began, looking uncertainly towards Remus. All of the dead and wounded had long been brought into the castle, so Minerva must have gone to retrieve Severus' body.

"It must be," Remus said. He glanced at Hermione who was biting her lip, tears in her eyes.

"Do you really think that he was on our side this whole time?"

"I learned long ago not to doubt that Albus had contingency plan upon contingency plan," Remus said.

"I wish we would have known," Hermione said quietly.

"The fact that we didn't says that Severus played his part just as he should have." Hermione nodded. Remus put his good hand on her arm and gave it a squeeze.

"That poor boy," Poppy said shaking her head sadly. She walked towards Minerva, who nodded at her and the two witches escorted the Potions Master toward a small room next to the antechamber.

"They're not putting him in with the rest?" Hermione questioned.

"There are still plenty of people that either don't know or won't believe that Severus was truly on our side." Remus reminded her. "It's better this way." They stood in silence until Minerva and Poppy returned, Minerva waving her wand and casting a few wards around the room, Remus suspected. Remus turned back to Hermione as Poppy began to check Minerva over, despite Minerva's protests.

"How is Harry holding up?" he asked. Hermione sighed.

"He's exhausted, but he won't stop until everyone that wants to speak with him has had a chance," she said with a frown. Remus' gaze drifted to the head of messy black hair. He was currently patting an older witch on the shoulder and the woman was sobbing. Obviously a relative of one of the fallen. Remus shook his head. Harry shouldn't have to bear such a burden.

"Perhaps you can convince him to take a bit of a break," Remus said. Hermione gave him a wry smile.

"I've tried, believe me," she said. "So has Ron when he hasn't been with his family. Harry refused." Remus gave a half-hearted smile.

"Lily was much the same way when she was Head Girl. Her door was quite literally open at all hours of the day and night. It wasn't uncommon to find her asleep in the Common Room cuddling a homesick First Year." Hermione smiled.

"Does Harry know that story?" she asked. Remus shook his head. "He should."

"Harry should know a lot of things about his parents," Remus agreed.

"Maybe now there will be time to tell him."

"Perhaps," Remus agreed.

"I'm sure Harry will do the same for Teddy," Hermione said fondly, looking at her best friend. Remus stiffened. Hermione caught the motion from the corner of her eye and covered her mouth with her hand. "Remus, I'm sorry, I didn't," but Remus waved her off.

"No, it's fine," he said. He looked at her sadly. "It's the reality I have to get used to." Hermione nodded, tears in her eyes, unable to speak. "I'm," Remus cleared his throat as his voice cracked. "I'm glad Teddy will have Harry to, to tell him the stories I can't." He stood abruptly. "I need some air." He brushed past Hermione and hurried out of the Great Hall.

Hermione watched him go, tears escaping and running down her cheeks. She cursed herself for speaking without thinking. She contemplated following her former professor and apologizing again but decided against it. He likely wouldn't welcome her intrusion into his grief. Sighing, she swiped at her eyes and walked towards Harry, hoping to persuade him to rest as Remus had suggested.

Remus escaped out the front doors and stepped onto the grounds. All the dead and wounded had been brought into the castle, but the craters the giants had made and the scorched grass from the dragons' fire stood in stark relief to the cloudless blue sky and the breeze blowing lightly through the trees. Remus made his way towards the lake, forcing away the tears that were threatening. His throat was tight as Hermione's words played over in his head. He knew she hadn't meant to upset him and he was grateful that there were others that would be able to speak to his son about his mother. But the reason they would have to hit Remus like a Bludger to the chest. Teddy would never know his mother. Oh, he would know about her and who she was, but he would never know her. While Remus' own mother had died when he was just nineteen, he would always have his memories of her. Teddy would not. The thought made Remus' heart ache and his stomach clench painfully.

When he reached the lake, Remus sat down on a large rock near the water's edge. His arm was throbbing despite the pain potion Poppy had given him and he was so tired. He wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep, hoping that when he woke, he would discover all of this was just another bad dream. He shook his head. It would do no good to wish for things that would never be.

Sighing, he pulled his wand from his pocket with his left hand. He had cast left-handed before; the Death Eaters' favorite trick had always been to try and disable their opponents' wand-arms before going in for either the proverbial or literal kill. Mad-Eye and Dumbledore had always encouraged Order members to practice with their non-dominant arms. But it always felt clumsy to him and he hadn't done it for quite some time. Remus practiced the wand movements a few times, glad that it was a circular motion instead of something more difficult.

"Expecto Patronum," he whispered, but nothing more than a wisp of white mist left his wand. It wasn't surprising given his current state of mind, and he hadn't used anything near enough to his happiest memory as those were now also the most painful. He tried a second time and didn't fare much better. Finally, as the tears poured down his cheeks, he thought of his wedding and the enormous smile on Dora's face when she had danced with him for the first time as his wife, the way they'd both sat in awe, their hands on her stomach when Teddy had kicked her for the first time and the elation he'd felt when he first held his son. His wolf burst from the tip of his wand and turned to look at him expectantly. Remus pulled in a deep breath, trying to calm himself before he spoke to it.

"Battle is over, we have won. Will be a few hours until I return."

It wasn't until the wolf disappeared that Remus realized he had said 'I' instead of 'we'. He suspected his mother-in-law would catch the slip.

"Please, Harry," Hermione said again as Harry refused to leave the Great Hall for the third time. "You're dead on your feet."

"So are you," Harry pointed out.

"I'll rest if you will," Hermione returned, crossing her arms over her chest. Harry scrubbed a hand tiredly down his face.

"I will, Hermione, I swear. I just, I just need a few more minutes." Hermione sighed and looked behind him at the small group of people that was clearly waiting to talk to him. She put a hand on his shoulder.

"You don't have to do this now, Harry. People will understand."

"I know, but," he trailed off and shook his head. "I'd rather get it over with."

"Fine," she said, understanding his reasons even if she didn't like them. "But I'm holding you to that." Harry gave her a small smile and then turned to talk to an older wizard.

"The public will always want something from him," Professor McGonagall said as she stepped up next to Hermione.

"I know," Hermione said with a frown. Harry hated the spotlight, always had. But it seemed as if he would forever be in it.

"I expect they will want almost as much from you and Mr. Weasley," her teacher continued. Hermione nodded. She had already had her fair share of people wanting to speak with her this morning.

"Believe me, I'm not looking forward to it."

"No, I don't expect that you are." The two women stood in silence for a few moments before Minerva spoke again. "How is he really?"

"Blames himself," Hermione answered at once. "He feels like if he'd found the last, well, thing sooner, that not as many people would have died. He was especially upset about Tonks."

"I thought as much," the older witch said with a sigh. "I don't doubt that Remus feels the same blame."

"It's not his fault," Hermione said firmly. "Either of them."

"No, it isn't," Minerva agreed. "But you will be unlikely to convince them of that." Hermione was about to respond when her stomach growled loudly. The professor chuckled as Hermione blushed. "Not to worry, I was just going to the kitchens to get the elves started on some food."

"Maybe I can at least get Harry to eat," Hermione said hopefully. Professor McGonagall patted her shoulder and turned to walk briskly from the Hall, heading for the kitchens and the House Elves.

Hermione's eyes scanned the Hall. Remus still hadn't returned from wherever he'd gone. Hermione worried her lip between her teeth. She thought again about seeking him out and actually began taking a few steps towards the doors when Ron appeared at her side.

"How's your mum?" Hermione asked gently. Ron shook his head.

"As well as she can be, I guess," he said. His mouth quirked up at the corners. "Bit wicked she was, wasn't she?" Hermione grinned remembering Molly's duel with Bellatrix.

"A bit wicked?" she repeated. "She was completely brilliant." Ron's smile grew wider.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Fred would have loved it."

"And George?" Hermione asked. Ron's smile disappeared and he sighed.

"I don't know how he's going to get through this, Hermione." Hermione leaned her head against his shoulder. "I mean he and Fred were…he and Fred, you know?"

"I know," she said quietly. Ron put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He rested his cheek on top of her head. They both watched Harry for a few minutes as he shook a few more hands and spoke to a few more people.

"How does he do it?" Ron asked. Hermione shrugged.

"He's Harry," she said simply. Ron nodded in agreement, knowing exactly what she meant.

"Let's sit down," Ron suggested. "I'm dead on my feet." They wandered over to what would have been the Hufflepuff table during the school year and sunk tiredly onto one of the benches. Hermione rested her head on Ron's shoulder again, hoping that the food appeared soon.

"What are they still doing here?" Ron hissed. Hermione followed his gaze and saw the Malfoys sitting at the end of the Slytherin table. Draco and his mother looked terrified, as if at any moment someone from the Ministry was going to swoop in and take them away. Draco's father just looked defeated, staring at the tabletop in silence. Hermione couldn't even find it in herself to be angry, she was so exhausted.

"Just let it be, Ron," she said.

"He's a bloody Death Eater, Hermione," Ron said vehemently. "They both are."

"Then the Aurors will get to them eventually," she said tiredly.

"And what if they escape before that?" Ron demanded.

"Ron, they could have left any time," Hermione replied in exasperation. "The battle has been over for hours." He scowled in the Malfoys' direction but didn't disagree with her. "I don't want to talk about Malfoy."

"Yeah, all right." Before either of them could say anything else, platters of eggs, bacon, sandwiches and fruit appeared on the tables in front of them. Ron nearly groaned in delight and Hermione couldn't help but agree. While she had been used to living on little food for months, their stay at Shell Cottage had almost made her forget what it was like to be hungry and on the run.

"We should really get Harry to eat something," Hermione said, looking around for their friend again. Before she could call him over, an elderly witch approached him with a plate full of sandwiches. Harry thanked her and tucked into one while he continued to listen to the wizard in front of him. Hermione shook her head but was glad he was eating at least.

"There's Remus," Ron said around a mouth full of eggs. Hermione grimaced at Ron's table manners before looking towards the doors to the Great Hall. Remus had stepped inside, looking just as tired as she felt. She caught his eye and he made his way towards them.

"How did it go?" Hermione asked.

"Eventually successful," Remus said as he reached for a sandwich. Hermione nodded in understanding. At Ron's confused expression, Remus explained.

"I can't Apparate for a few more hours with this," he said indicating his arm. "So, I sent a Patronus to Andromeda." Ron nodded.

"I'm sorry about Tonks," he said.

"Thank you, Ron," Remus replied. "How is your family holding up?" Ron shrugged a shoulder.

"As well as you are, I expect." Both men fell silent. Hermione squeezed Ron's arm and gave Remus a sad smile.

"And Harry?" Remus asked changing the subject. Hermione sighed.

"He refuses to rest until everyone that wants to speak to him has," she explained. "But he's eating at least."

"That's something, I suppose," Remus said. The three went back to their food, speaking little and lost in their thoughts. Remus eventually left the table and went to speak to Madame Pomfrey. Hermione suspected he was trying to convince the mediwitch to let him Apparate sooner than her four-hour limit.

"It's me," a quiet voice said behind them and Hermione realized she had lost track of where Harry was some time ago. "Will you come with me?" She and Ron rose at Harry's request and followed him from the Great Hall. Hermione hoped that this meant he was ready to sleep, because she certainly was. She glanced at Remus as they walked away. Madame Pomfrey was shaking her head and Remus was arguing with her. Hermione certainly hoped that he listened to what the Matron had to say. The last thing he needed was to injure himself further.

"Poppy, this is ridiculous," Remus argued. "I feel fine."

"You may feel fine, but you are not fine," she returned, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you Apparate now, I might as well remove the bones in your arm and start over." Remus sighed in frustration, raking a hand through his hair. He knew Andromeda had likely deciphered what he hadn't said in his Patronus message and he wanted to get home and explain. Not to mention that he very much wanted to hold his son in his arms.

"Two more hours, Remus," Poppy said sympathetically, laying her hand on his good arm. "That's all I ask. Perhaps you should rest. Minerva is checking the dormitories to make sure they are sound and setting up beds in a few of the classrooms in the meantime."

"I'll be with my wife," Remus said gruffly, turning towards the antechamber off the Great Hall where the dead had been moved. He heard Poppy muttering something under her breath and caught the word 'stubborn' as he walked away.

Remus entered the small room and looked along the back wall where he knew Dora lay. He nodded to Arthur who looked as if he was trying to convince George to leave and get something to eat. As far as Remus knew, George had not left his twin's side since the battle had ended. As Remus reached Dora, he heard Arthur sigh and saw him squeeze his son's shoulder.

"Remus," Arthur said as he approached. "I'm so sorry about Tonks."

"Thank you," Remus replied thickly. "How is George doing?" Arthur shook his head.

"Not well, as you would expect. I can't even get him to come and eat something." The older wizard glanced back at his son, pain evident on his face. "I suppose I'll have to let Molly come back in and try to talk to him." Remus nodded and clapped the other man on the shoulder before turning towards his wife. He lowered himself to the ground and sat by her side, taking her hand in his.

She still didn't look like herself. She had seldom worn her hair in its natural color or length, preferring more vivid shades, especially pink. He let go of her hand and reached out for a strand of her hair, letting it slide through his fingers. It was not quite as dark as Andromeda's, but much darker than Ted's had been. His frown deepened as he thought of his father-in-law. They had done nothing to formally mark his passing, stuck in their house as they had been. He would suggest they have a service now, perhaps in conjunction with Dora's.

Remus wondered if Andromeda would allow him to continue to stay with her for the time being. Merlin knew he had little money of his own and with the current werewolf legislation still in place, he wouldn't for some time. If it had just been him, he wouldn't have even thought to ask, but he had Teddy to think of now. Remus had heard that Kingsley had been made acting Minister of Magic, so he hoped that his fellow Order member might repeal the ridiculous laws that Dolores Umbridge had managed to pass. He knew that the first thing Kingsley intended to do was dissolve the Muggle-born Registration Commission, perhaps as soon as today. He doubted Kingsley would want innocent Muggle-borns sitting in Azkaban for one more day.

The werewolf legislation was different, however. Years of prejudice and mistrust were behind it and Remus highly doubted the public was ready to welcome werewolves with open arms. Too many had been injured or killed by Greyback and his ilk during the course of the war. Remus still had a difficult road ahead of him. He would have to stay with Andromeda for the time being, or at least leave Teddy with her if she wasn't willing to let Remus stay. She adored her grandson and Remus knew she would never turn Teddy away.

Thinking of the werewolf that had turned him, Remus frowned. He would need to find out what had happened to Greyback after the Battle. Remus remembered that Ron and Neville had been dueling with the werewolf when he had come to Hermione and Ginny's aid. But in all the chaos, he hadn't seen what had happened after that. Kingsley and a few of the other Aurors had taken all the Death Eaters that had been captured with them to the Ministry, so Remus assumed that Greyback had been with them. Still, he would need to know for sure. He could not rest with that threat still hanging over his family. Of all Voldemort's followers, Greyback had been one of the most vicious and would not take Riddle's defeat well. The sooner he was in Azkaban, the better.

Remus shook those thoughts from his head and turned back to his wife. He took her hand again and kissed her palm. Her skin was still warm, kept that way by the preservation charm Poppy had cast. If Remus closed his eyes, he could imagine that Dora was simply sleeping and would soon wake and give him that mischievous grin he so loved. Gripping her hand tighter, he bowed his head and allowed the tears to return once again.

Hermione and Ron listened incredulously as Harry told them all about Snape's memories and Harry's trip to the forest.

"Blimey, Harry," Ron said once Harry had finished. They were still walking towards what Hermione now realized was the Headmaster's office.

"I still can't believe Professor Snape was on our side this whole time," Hermione said in amazement.

"And he and your mum, I mean," Ron trailed off, clearly uncomfortable with the fact that Snape had ever been in love with anyone, let alone Harry's mother.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, although Hermione could tell he didn't really want to talk about it. They had reached the gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office, but it was lying lopsided and let them up without a password.

The applause that greeted Harry when they stepped into the room brought tears to Hermione's eyes. Plenty of the portraits were crying too, but all were cheering and yelling out congratulations to Harry. And then Hermione looked at Professor Dumbledore's portrait and her breath caught in her throat. Dumbledore was crying, silver tears running down his cheeks. Hermione reached unconsciously for Ron's hand and Ron gave hers a squeeze, looking a bit choked up himself.

When Harry announced that he had dropped the Resurrection stone in the forest and wouldn't go looking for it, Hermione felt a pang in her chest. Even though she knew that it wasn't right to call anyone back, Hermione couldn't help but imagine that George and Remus would love a chance to speak to Fred and Tonks one last time. But when Harry pulled out the Elder Wand, Hermione felt a yearning that she never imagined she might feel for a wand. She knew she was staring at it in longing, but it wasn't until she saw Ron doing the same that she shook herself from her stupor. Even after Harry had repaired his own wand and explained to Dumbledore what he planned to do with the Elder Wand, Ron continued staring at it greedily.

"I think Harry's right," she said, touching Ron's arm to take his focus off the wand. Ron shook himself and took a breath.

"Right," he said. "You're right." Harry put the Elder Wand into the pouch he carried around his neck. He looked back at Dumbledore's portrait.

"Is Gryffindor Tower all right?" Dumbledore smiled and glanced towards his fellow Heads.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, Professor McGonagall has just been there and deemed it safe," Professor Dippet's portrait said with a smile.

"All right then," Harry said and turned to Hermione and Ron. "I'm going to sleep. Join me?"

"I have to tell Mum," Ron said. "She'll worry otherwise." Harry nodded.

"I'll come with you, Harry," Hermione assured him. The three of them left Dumbledore's office and walked back down the spiral staircase together.

"I'll be there soon, yeah?" Ron said as they reached the bottom and he turned back toward the Great Hall.

"Yeah," Harry replied. Ron's smile widened for Hermione and she blushed slightly, remembering their kiss from hours ago. He turned and hurried toward the Great Hall. Harry gave Hermione a look and she slapped his arm.

"Shut it," she said, unable to hide a grin of her own.

"I didn't say anything," Harry said innocently and Hermione laughed as the two of them made their way toward Gryffindor Tower.