A/N - Thanks so much to everyone who is reading and reviewing! You all make my day! More grief here, of course, but a bit of fluff too. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 3

Loss

"Remus," someone said quietly. Remus opened his eyes to see Minerva standing in front of him. He was still sitting on the floor next to Dora, holding her hand. He must have drifted off. He shifted uncomfortably and wished he had thought to cast a cushioning charm before he sat down.

"Minerva," Remus greeted, trying to stifle a yawn.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but I thought you might prefer to rest in an actual bed," she said. "All the dormitories save Ravenclaw Tower have been deemed safe. You're welcome to any of them." Remus pulled himself to his feet.

"Thank you, Minerva, but I'm just waiting until I can Apparate home," he said. "What time is it?"

"Half eleven," his former professor replied. Remus looked at her in surprise. He'd been sleeping for over two hours, well past the time that Poppy had allotted. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, earlier," he replied, scrubbing a hand down his face to clear the lingering tiredness. "I need to get home and explain to Andromeda."

"Of course," Minerva said, glancing down sadly at Dora.

"How is Harry?" Remus asked.

"Finally resting," she said with a sigh. "As are Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley." Remus nodded, relieved.

"You look as if you should be doing the same," he pointed out. She gave him a small smile.

"There is still much to be done," she simply said.

"I'm sure that there are many others who would be willing to help," he admonished gently.

"Filius and Pomona are resting now," Minerva explained. "When they wake, I will let them take over." Remus looked at her in concern. She looked older than he had ever seen her and more disheveled. He realized that not only had she not yet slept; she likely hadn't even sat down for more than a few minutes.

"Have you eaten?" he asked. She glanced away from him, back towards where he noticed Molly sat with Fred. Molly must have finally convinced George to get something to eat and rest as he was nowhere to be seen.

"I will," Minerva assured him.

"Yes, you will," Remus returned, lightly grasping her elbow and steering her toward the Great Hall.

"Remus," she protested, giving him a glare that when he was younger would have sent him cowering. Now, however, he simply ignored her and led her out of the antechamber towards one of the House tables.

"Eat something," he said as they reached the table. She scowled but sat down on the bench all the same and pulled a platter of eggs towards her. Remus sank down next to her. He had wanted nothing more than to get home as soon as possible, but now that he was actually able to leave, he was dreading it.

Minerva poured them both a cup of tea and added sugar to Remus' before passing it to him. He took the cup gratefully, taking a small sip.

"What is it?" she asked, sipping her own tea.

"I was so anxious to leave and now I find that I'm having a hard time going," he admitted. Minerva put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. He sighed, taking another drink of tea as if it would fortify him somehow.

"I don't know how to tell her this," he said quietly.

"Andromeda is a strong woman," Minerva said. Remus nodded. This he knew, but the woman had just lost her husband a few months ago and now had lost her only child.

"May I stay here tonight?" he asked his former teacher a few moments later. Minerva's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Of course, you are always welcome here, but don't you want to be with your family now?"

"It's likely that Andromeda will not want anything to do with me after today," he said.

"Why in Merlin's name not?" Minerva asked incredulously. Remus shrugged.

"It's my fault Dora was here," he said simply.

"And how is that?"

"Hermione told me that Dora came because she couldn't stand not knowing what was happening."

"And that is your fault?" Minerva asked in confusion.

"She wanted to know what was happening with me, Minerva," he returned. "If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have come." Minerva just stared at him.

"You are a bit full of yourself, aren't you?" she finally said. Remus looked up at her in astonishment. "Do you honestly think your wife, the Auror, the Order member, would have stayed away from this battle?"

"I-" Remus began but Minerva held up a hand.

"Do not disrespect your wife or your mother-in-law by making this about you," she said. "Nymphadora was worried about you, yes, but she would have been here regardless. She was a fighter and she would never have stayed away. Andromeda knows that as well as I." Remus looked down at his teacup, his throat tight. Minerva's voice softened.

"Go home, Remus. Go home to your son and tell Andromeda that her daughter died a hero." Remus pulled in a shaky breath and nodded. He drained the last of his tea and then stood from the table.

"Thank you, Minerva." She patted his hand and turned back to her food. Remus left the Great Hall and strode toward the gates to Apparate home.

He landed with a soft pop in the back garden, just outside the wards. He stared at the back door for a moment before gathering his courage and walking towards the house. He entered quietly, closing and locking the door behind him. The house was quiet and Remus checked the kitchen and the living room before climbing the stairs to the second floor. He walked quickly past the bedroom he and Dora had shared, after a glance inside told him that Teddy was not in his cradle next to their bed. The door to Andromeda's bedroom was shut and he was loathe to disturb her if she were napping. A soft humming caught his attention.

Continuing down the corridor to the guest room that had been transformed into a nursery for Teddy, Remus found his mother-in-law humming to his son as she slowly swayed from side to side. Teddy appeared to be sleeping and Remus stood in the doorway and watched them for a few seconds, grief nearly swamping him. Andromeda must have sensed his presence for she turned around and looked at him before gently placing Teddy in his cot. Remus stepped into the room and looked down at his sleeping son. His hair was currently blonde, but as Remus watched it darkened to a shade similar to Remus' own. He placed a hand lightly on his boy's chest, feeling the even rise and fall of his breaths. It comforted Remus more than anything else had that day. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Teddy's forehead before turning and following Andromeda from the room. She closed the door behind them and they said nothing as they continued down to the kitchen.

"Are you all right?" she asked indicating his arm once they had stopped.

"Yes, just broken," he said. "It should be fully healed in a few more hours." Andromeda nodded and stared at him, waiting. Remus' heart began to pound loudly in his chest. He had no idea how he was going to tell her.

"She is dead, isn't she?" Andromeda said a few moments later. Remus looked up at her in shock.

"Andromeda-" he began, but she held up a hand.

"Just tell me, Remus."

"Yes," he whispered. Andromeda nodded and stood rooted in place, her back ramrod straight. Remus watched her, blinking to try and keep the blur of tears from his eyes.

"How?" she finally asked. Remus hesitated, then swallowed around the lump in his throat.

"It was," he paused and cleared his throat. "It was Bellatrix." The closing of her eyes was all the emotion Andromeda showed for a moment. But then she swayed and Remus darted forward, grasping her arm and guiding her into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. Andromeda sat with her eyes closed, her hands clasped in her lap. Remus stared at her for a moment before pulling out the chair next to hers and sitting down. He took one of her hands in his. Neither of them said anything for a long moment.

"I knew that my sister hated me," Andromeda finally said. "I did not realize to what extent." Remus squeezed her hand in his. "And what of Bellatrix?"

"Molly Weasley killed her after Bellatrix threatened Molly's daughter," he informed her. Andromeda seemed to sag a bit, whether it was in relief or just the weight of all that had happened, Remus wasn't sure. She straightened seconds later.

"Where is Nymphadora now?" Remus swallowed thickly again.

"She is still at Hogwarts," he replied. He pulled in a breath. "They're all being kept in a small chamber off the Great Hall."

"How many?" Andromeda questioned.

"About fifty," Remus said with a sigh. "Many of them students."

"Such a waste," she said with a shake of her head. "And He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"Dead, by Harry's hand." Andromeda sighed.

"It is truly over then." Remus nodded.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt has been named acting Minister. The Muggle-born Registration Commission has already been dissolved and he should be releasing the Muggle-borns from Azkaban later today." Andromeda nodded, although it was already too late for her husband. "The Ministry will need to be cleaned out next."

"The Minister will have his work cut out for him."

"That he will," Remus agreed. He stifled a yawn. Andromeda looked him over critically.

"You should rest," she said. He nodded before getting to his feet.

"I'll head back to Hogwarts. Would it be all right if Teddy stayed here for now?"

"Of course, but why are you going back to Hogwarts so soon?" she asked.

"Minerva has opened the dormitories to anyone who needs a place to stay," he explained. Andromeda looked at him in confusion.

"And why would you need a place to stay?" Remus shifted and Minerva's words replayed in his head. He ignored her warning, however, and plunged on.

"I didn't think you would want me here," he admitted. Andromeda stared at him and it took all Remus had not to quell under her gaze.

"And why would I not?" she demanded.

"Because I couldn't keep your daughter safe! She followed me to Hogwarts instead of staying here. She was my responsibility and I failed her!" Remus exclaimed. To his shock, Andromeda began to laugh. He gaped at her.

"Do you honestly think that you could have controlled anything Nymphadora had set her mind to?" Andromeda finally managed. "Or that she would have allowed you to 'keep her safe' as you put it?" Remus couldn't form words to argue. Andromeda chuckled. "For as much as she was a Tonks, she was still a Black, darling. And I do not think I need to explain to you what that means."

"No," Remus agreed quietly. Andromeda rose from her chair and put a hand on Remus' arm.

"Go upstairs," she said. "Sleep. I will watch over Teddy and when you wake, we will return to Hogwarts and bring her home with us." Remus tamped down on the emotion that was threatening and nodded to his mother-in-law. She put a hand to his cheek and smiled warmly at him.

"You are welcome here, Remus. For as long as you wish." He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you," he whispered. When he pulled back, he saw the emotion on her face, although she quickly tried to hide it. She squeezed his hand and turned back towards the kitchen. Seeing it for the dismissal it was, Remus turned to the stairs and made his way to his bedroom where he collapsed, fully clothed, on his bed and was almost instantly asleep.

Hermione shifted slightly and sighed in contentment, warm and comfortable. She wasn't sure how long she had slept but she felt as if she could sleep for hours more. She yawned, burrowing closer to the body next to her, the arm around her tightening in response.

Hermione's eyes flew open and she held her breath. She remembered following Harry up the stairs to the boys' dormitories, the thought of sleeping in her own room never crossing her mind. Harry had flopped down in his own bed and Hermione had sat down on Ron's. She had scooted up to sit against the headboard and she and Harry were talking quietly as they waited for Ron to arrive. She didn't remember falling asleep and she certainly had no recollection of falling asleep with someone else.

She glanced down at the freckled arm across her middle. Ron muttered something in his sleep and tightened his hold on her. Hermione slowly let out the breath she had been holding and contemplated her options. She could sneak out of Ron's bed and go to her own room, but she didn't want the boys to worry if they woke up. A quick glance around the room showed her that Seamus, Dean and Neville occupied their own beds. Her face heated at the thought that they had all come up at some point after she had fallen asleep and had likely seen her in Ron's bed.

'Stop being stupid,' Hermione admonished herself in her head. 'You were simply sleeping, it's not as if anything else happened.' Still, she felt rather awkward about the whole thing and decided to ease herself from the room. She would lie down on one of the couches in the common room until Ron and Harry woke up. It was likely the first place they would check anyway.

Hermione gently lifted Ron's arm, intending to slide out from underneath. He shifted again and she rolled to her back, but before she could get out of the bed, he pulled his arm away from her and wrapped it around her waist again, pulling her towards him. Hermione bit her lip and looked up into his face. When Ron didn't move again, she sighed. She was going to have to wake him up.

"Ron," she whispered, gently shaking his shoulder. "Ron, wake up." He mumbled unintelligibly. "Ron."

"'Mione," he muttered. "Sleepin'." She clamped her lips shut to keep from giggling out loud.

"Ron," she said a little louder. When he didn't move, she pinched his arm.

"Ow!" he said loudly, his eyes opening as Hermione tried to shush him. "What was that for?" Then his eyes opened wide as he realized Hermione was lying next to him in his bed. He pulled back from her abruptly and before Hermione could say or do anything, his shoulders were off the edge of the bed. His legs were tangled in the sheets and the momentum of his upper body pulled him to the floor with a loud thump. Hermione couldn't stifle her laugh as she crawled to his side of the bed and looked down at him.

"Are you all right?" she asked. He glowered at her as he rubbed his shoulder.

"No," he pouted. A pillow came flying from the other side of the room and hit Ron in the back of the head.

"Oi, some of us are tryin' t'sleep," Seamus groused. "Shag your girl somewhere else." Ron's face was instantly red and Hermione was sure hers was no better. Still, she climbed down from the bed and held out a hand to him. He took it and she helped haul him to his feet. They both grabbed their shoes and slipped silently from the room.

When they reached the common room, Hermione's hope of being able to have a quiet conversation was dashed. Every couch was occupied and clearly some of the chairs had been transfigured into beds as well. She motioned to Ron and they left the dorm.

When they reached the corridor, they each glanced at one another and then looked away shyly. Hermione led him around the corner to a small alcove she had often caught couples snogging in while on patrol as a Prefect.

"Sorry about your arm," she said when they'd reached it.

"S'okay," he replied. The stood in awkward silence for a few moments.

"So how-" Hermione began.

"I didn't-" Ron said at the same time. They laughed.

"You go," Ron said.

"How did we end up…sleeping together?" The tips of Ron's ears reddened.

"When I got up to the room, you were asleep leaning against the headboard," he explained. "Dean and Seamus were already in bed and I'd talked to Neville in the Great Hall and he said he was coming up as soon as he got his gran settled. I was going to take the floor, but you wouldn't let go of the blankets." He grinned at her and she blushed.

"I figured the bed was big enough for both of us and it's not like we haven't shared small spaces before." He glanced at her. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," she insisted. "I certainly don't expect you to sleep on the floor. You could have woken me though. I would have gone to my own room." Ron stared at her for a moment.

"Didn't want to," he admitted. Hermione looked at the floor and smiled. When she looked up again, Ron was watching her nervously.

"It's okay," she assured him. "I didn't mind."

"Yeah?" he questioned, lips quirking up into a smile.

"Yeah," she repeated, smiling now too. He grinned wider and then stepped closer to her.

"We could go back to sleep," he said. "Or-"

"Or?" she questioned, having an idea what he was suggesting.

"Or," he repeated again, stepping even closer before he leaned down and kissed her. Hermione smiled into his lips.

"Or," she agreed.

Remus awoke to the sound of a baby's cries and he sat bolt upright before he realized that the cries were Teddy's and he was in his bedroom at Andromeda's. Scrubbing a hand down his face, he looked down at himself and grimaced. He definitely needed a shower. He cast a quick tempus charm. He had been asleep for nearly five hours and his stomach grumbled in protest. Remus rose from his bed, casting a cleansing charm on himself before going into Teddy's room.

Teddy was waving his fists in the air as he cried, his hair turning red. Remus smiled, remembering that Dora's hair used to do the same thing when she was angry with him. His heart clenched and he pulled in a breath before he reached for his son.

"Damn," he swore as his right arm's progress was stopped because of the sling. He had forgotten to ask Poppy how long he needed to wear it. It normally took at least twelve hours to completely mend bones and while it had been nearly that long since he took the Skele-Gro, he had no idea how bad the break had been. Still, Remus slipped his arm out of the sling and picked Teddy up, settling the baby on his left shoulder and rubbing his back gently with his right hand. His arm twinged a bit, but it wasn't overly painful, so Remus vanished the sling.

Teddy's cries faded slightly but picked up again quickly. Remus changed his nappy and raised the baby back to his shoulder. His son's cries tapered to soft whimpers and he began to root around on Remus' shoulder. Remus closed his eyes. Teddy was hungry, but his mother wasn't there to feed him, would never be there to feed him again. Squeezing his eyes tightly, Remus drew in a breath to try and keep himself under control. He knew there was breast milk in the ice box. Remus had always taken one of the feedings in the middle of the night so that Dora could rest, and Teddy had no issue with drinking from a bottle.

Figuring Andromeda was resting and not wanting to wake her, Remus bounced Teddy lightly as he carried him downstairs. He pulled a bottle from the ice box and warmed it before settling in an armchair in the sitting room. Teddy drank greedily and Remus frowned. He wondered how long the boy had been crying before Remus woke. And then he wondered why Andromeda hadn't tended to Teddy if Remus hadn't heard him right away.

Cradling his son, Remus rose and walked toward the library. Andromeda's door had been closed when Remus went into Teddy's room and so he had assumed that she was sleeping. Remus guessed that she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before either. But if she hadn't gotten up with Teddy, then perhaps she was somewhere else in the house.

A quick search of the main floor yielded nothing. Remus hurried upstairs as Teddy finished his bottle. He shifted the baby to his shoulder and began to pat his back, even as he moved toward Andromeda's door. He knocked lightly but received no response.

"Andromeda," Remus called, then pressed his ear to the door, but he heard nothing from within. Remus wrestled with his options before finally opening the door just a bit and peeking inside.

The bed was neatly made and there was no evidence that anyone had slept in it recently. He could see the door to the en suite bathroom was open and so he opened the bedroom door a bit wider. The small sitting area near the large window was also empty.

"Andromeda?" he called again into the empty room, but he expected no response. Teddy, having drunk his fill was sleepily burrowing into his father's shoulder. Remus pulled Andromeda's door shut once again and went back into Teddy's room to fetch a blanket. The back garden was the only place left to look.

After wrapping Teddy up, Remus hurried to the back door. He didn't think that his mother-in-law would do anything foolish, but grief had a way of sneaking up on a person. And given that Andromeda hadn't reacted much at all to the news of Dora's death, Remus was concerned that once alone, her pain might have overwhelmed her. Holding Teddy tightly to him, Remus took a deep breath and stepped outside.

Andromeda was not sitting at the small outdoor table nor was she on the bench situated in front of her flower garden. Remus walked further into the garden, past the wards towards the rear corner. He saw her sitting on the swing that Ted had put in the large oak tree for Dora when she was small, pushing herself back and forth gently with her toe.

"Andromeda," he said in relief when he had reached her.

"Remus," she replied in surprise as she looked up at him. "What time is it?"

"Half five," he said, shifting Teddy slightly.

"Oh, my, I completely lost track of time," she said rising from the swing. "Oh, and Teddy!" She looked stricken.

"It's all right," Remus assured her. "I've fed him and changed him and he's nearly asleep again now."

"I am so sorry, Remus," Andromeda said. "I should have been inside to hear him, I-" Remus stopped her with a hand to her shoulder.

"He's fine," Remus said again.

"But you were resting," she protested.

"I've slept enough. Perhaps you should rest for a bit."

"No," she shook her head. "Let me make you something to eat."

"Andromeda, you don't-" Remus began, but she pulled away from him.

"It will be just a few minutes," she said and pushed past him towards the house. Remus sighed, but let her go. He followed behind a few moments later.

Hermione made her way down the stairs to the common room after her shower. Ron was already waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She smiled at him and he took her hand once she reached him. The common room was mostly empty, only two people still slept in a far corner.

"Feel better?" Ron asked, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Much," Hermione replied with a smile. Before Ron could say anything else, Harry came down the stairs, his hair still wet from his own shower. He looked at their clasped hands and then back up at their faces. Hermione saw a small smile playing around his lips before he crossed his arms and stared hard at Ron.

"That's my sister, you know," Harry said, his words eerily reminiscent of Ron's the year before. Ron gaped at Harry for a moment before he cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Uh, yeah," he finally said. Harry looked at him for a few more seconds, before glancing briefly at Hermione. It was all she could do to hold in her laughter and she was quite sure that the inside of her cheek was bleeding from biting it so hard.

"All right, then," Harry finally said. "Just keep the snogging to a minimum around me." Ron turned red and Hermione finally let go of her laughter. Harry grinned.

"Git," Ron said with glare, but there was no heat behind his words. The three of them stood with goofy grins on their faces for a moment before there was a noise behind Harry. Hermione looked up and saw Ginny coming down the staircase. The grin slid from Harry's face and he fidgeted nervously.

"H-Hi, Ginny," he managed.

"Hey, Harry," she replied. Hermione and Ron could have been invisible. Ron looked back and forth between his sister and his best friend, then rolled his eyes when the two simply stared at each other.

"Are we going down to the Great Hall to eat or what?" he finally asked. Harry jumped slightly and glanced back at Ron and Hermione.

"Uh, yeah, sure, dinner, dinner sounds good." Hermione stifled a laugh. Harry had just defeated Voldemort and he was still nervous around Ginny Weasley. Ron muttered something under his breath before Hermione pulled him by the hand toward the portrait hole. Ginny and Harry followed behind; Harry's hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. Ginny glanced at him in amusement every few seconds but made no move to take his hand or move closer to him.

"Mental," Ron said under his breath as Ginny and Harry fell a bit further behind.

"Leave him alone, Ron," Hermione admonished. "He hasn't seen her in nearly a year."

"Like her feelings have changed any," he scoffed.

"Harry doesn't know that," Hermione reminded him. "They'll figure it out."

"Still," Ron began, but Hermione gave him a look.

"Are you sure you're one to talk about this?" she questioned pointedly. He looked away.

"Yeah, all right," he grumbled. Hermione laughed and squeezed his hand as they reached the Great Hall.

Remus and Andromeda passed through the gates of Hogwarts. They had Flooed to the Three Broomsticks after Remus had opened the Floo at the house. He would have rather left the Floo closed and just Apparated, but Teddy was too young to do so just yet.

The damage in Hogsmeade had not been as bad as Remus had feared. It appeared the Death Eaters had been in too much of a hurry to get up to the school to bother much with the village. It had mostly been broken windows and few doors blown off hinges. Everything would be easy to repair.

They made their way across the grounds, Teddy held tightly to Remus' chest. Teddy had fussed a bit coming out of the Floo, but otherwise seemed rather content in his father's arms. Remus glanced to the side, but Andromeda continued to hold her head high, her eyes betraying nothing as they neared the front doors of the castle. The most reaction Remus had seen from her had been when she heard it was Bellatrix that killed Dora. He knew it was the Black façade that Andromeda was falling back on to keep her emotions under control, but he still couldn't help but worry.

They stepped into the Entrance Hall and Remus noticed that this area, at least, had been repaired. The piles of rubble were gone and the large hole that had been in one wall was fixed. Remus glanced at Andromeda before they continued on to the Great Hall.

The House tables weren't overly crowded, most of the younger students had been taken home from Hogsmeade by their parents or relatives just after the end of the Battle. The older students were still there of course, as well as the staff and the Order and many of the others that had returned to fight. A couple of reporters still wandered around and there were a few Aurors that Remus recognized. Most everyone was eating dinner and Remus led Andromeda towards the antechamber where Dora was. As they entered the room, they nearly ran into Molly who appeared to be on her way out.

"Andromeda," Molly said, laying a hand on the other woman's arm. "I am so sorry about Tonks." Andromeda nodded.

"And my condolences for your son," Andromeda replied. "Remus told me his name, but I've forgotten, I'm sorry."

"Fred," Molly said with a sad smile. "And thank you. Remus," Molly acknowledged before slipping past them and out the door. Remus glanced to the side and saw that George had resumed his place next to his twin. He shook his head sadly and directed Andromeda across the room.

Andromeda stepped forward and lowered herself to her knees next to Dora. Andromeda brushed the hair back from Dora's forehead and simply stared at her for a moment before she shuddered. Remus took a step forward as the woman seemed to fold in on herself. A large sob racked her frame and Remus stood frozen behind her. He had never seen such emotion in his mother-in-law, not even after they were notified of Ted's death, and he was unsure what to do.

Teddy squirming a bit pulled Remus from his stupor. He closed the remaining distance between he and Andromeda and put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. She continued to cry, albeit more silently than she had at first, and Remus simply held onto her. After a few minutes, her hand rose and patted his where it sat on her shoulder. She conjured a handkerchief and dried her tears before standing once more.

"I am sorry," she said quietly.

"For?" Remus questioned in confusion.

"I did not mean to lose control of myself," Andromeda explained.

"She's your daughter, Andromeda," Remus replied. "And while I would hardly call that losing control, you are entitled." Andromeda simply nodded, unconvinced. She looked down at Dora again, sorrow and pain evident on her face.

"Would you like to spend a little time with her before we leave?" Remus asked.

"Yes, thank you." She knelt back down next to her daughter and Remus gave her shoulder one final squeeze before walking back into the Great Hall.

"Oh, Remus is back," Hermione said as he saw their former professor walking into the Great Hall. "And he's got the baby with him."

"Is that Tonks' mum?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," Harry answered.

"It's so horrible," Ginny said. "Losing her husband and then her daughter. And in such a short amount of time." Silence fell among the four of them as Remus and Mrs. Tonks disappeared into the antechamber.

"Here comes Mum," Ginny said looking up expectantly. Her face fell seconds later. "George isn't with her." Hermione squeezed Ron's hand underneath the table. George had only left Fred's side once the entire day and that was only for as long as it took him to wolf down some food.

"Have either of you tried talking to him?" she asked. Ron shook his head, but Ginny nodded.

"Just before I went up to the Tower to sleep, I tried to convince him to come with me."

"What did he say?" Ron asked. Ginny shrugged.

"Not much really. He barely spoke to me except to say no thanks." Ron sighed and raked a hand through his hair.

"What's going to happen when they take Fred's body away?" he asked. "George can't follow him there." Ginny's eyes sparkled with tears and Harry unconsciously moved closer to her. Ginny leaned into him and Hermione saw Harry freeze for a moment before he relaxed and let Ginny rest her head on his shoulder.

"He'll be all right," Hermione reassured Ron. "He probably just needs to spend as much time with Fred as he can right now."

"Maybe," Ron muttered not looking convinced. Hermione knew they were worried about losing George too and she had to admit that she was concerned herself. She looked up and saw that Remus had come back into the Hall.

"There's Remus," she said and the rest of them looked up as well. "Do you think he'd mind if we talked to him?"

"Why would he?" Ron asked in confusion.

"I don't know, I don't want to intrude," Hermione explained. "They're here to get Tonks after all."

"Looks like he left Mrs. Tonks inside," Harry said. "I'm sure he won't mind." They rose and walked towards Remus.

"Remus," Harry said once they'd reached him. Remus looked up with a small smile.

"Harry," he said. "Would you like to meet your godson?"

"Um, yeah, I would," Harry said with a grin. Remus shifted Teddy in his arms so they could all get a look at him.

"Oh, Remus, he's so beautiful," Hermione breathed. Remus smiled.

"Beautiful?" Ron questioned. "Kid's a bloke, Hermione." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"All babies are beautiful, Ron, regardless of their gender," Hermione said a bit exasperated.

"I don't know, I've seen baby pictures of Ron," Harry put in with a grin. Ginny snickered.

"Wanker," Ron said with a scowl.

"Thank you, Hermione," Remus said. "Harry, would you like to hold him?"

"Me?" Harry squeaked. "I've never, I mean, I don't know what to do."

"It's not hard," Hermione said. "Just make sure to support his head and cradle him like this." She held her arms up to show Harry.

"Since when do you know so much about babies?" Ron asked.

"I've got a younger cousin," Hermione explained.

"Maybe you should do it, Hermione," Harry said still looking nervous.

"May I?" Hermione asked Remus.

"Of course," he replied settling Teddy into her waiting arms.

"Hello, Teddy," she murmured with a smile. Teddy's hair slipped lazily from black to blonde. She glanced up at Remus.

"It does that," Remus explained. "He doesn't have any kind of control over it yet."

"Hey, Teddy," Harry said, reaching out and stroking a finger down Teddy's hand. He looked shocked when Teddy's fist opened and he grasped Harry's finger.

"He does that too," Remus said in amusement. "All babies do."

"You should hold him, Harry," Hermione encouraged. Harry looked nervous, but Ginny stepped closer to him.

"You can do it, Harry," she said.

"Yeah?" he asked. Ginny nodded. "All right." Ginny helped Harry position his arms and Hermione carefully transferred Teddy to him, not letting go of the baby's head until she was sure that Harry was comfortable. Harry glanced at Ginny with a smile and looked down at his godson. Teddy's eyes opened and he seemed to study his godfather, although Hermione knew he really couldn't see much yet.

"And I promise I'll always be there for you," Harry was saying. Hermione's eyes misted over and Ron wrapped an arm around her. She looked up at Remus who was looking at the scene with a mixture of pride and sadness. Stepping a bit closer to Remus, Hermione took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Remus looked down at her and smiled gratefully, squeezing back.