A/N - Thank you for all the new follows last chapter! I would love to hear what everyone thinks of the story so far. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Nightmares

They had begun to attract a bit of attention. Former students as well as some of the staff had wandered over and given Remus their congratulations after peeking at Teddy. Hermione had taken the baby back from Harry after Teddy started to squirm and Harry had looked panicked. Remus had chuckled quietly at the exasperated look on Hermione's face when Harry had nearly thrust the baby at her.

"Don't worry, Harry," Remus had reassured. "Sirius did the exact same thing with you the first time he held you." Harry had smiled at this. "It takes a bit of getting used to."

"Never thought Hermione would be such a natural," Harry said watching his best friend coo at his godson.

"Why not?" Ginny asked.

"She's never really talked about kids much," Harry replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "I didn't even know that she had a cousin."

"Hi, Professor," Neville said as he stepped up to the group, Luna at his side.

"Neville," Remus greeted. "You may call me Remus, you know. I am no longer your professor." Neville smiled sheepishly. "Luna."

"Hello, Remus," Luna replied. "I'm very sorry about your wife." Neville nodded in agreement.

"Thank you," Remus said, trying to keep the sadness from his voice.

"They're still here?" Ron asked incredulously. Everyone turned to see Draco and Narcissa Malfoy walking into the Great Hall. They did not make eye contact with anyone and sat down at the far end of the Slytherin table, dishing up plates in silence. "Where's dear old dad?"

"Ron," Hermione admonished, but Remus saw her eyes narrow as she looked at the Malfoys.

"Aurors arrested him," Neville said.

"When?" Ron asked.

"Just after you left the Great Hall this morning," Neville replied. "I was waiting for Gran to finish eating so I could walk her to the room that Professor McGonagall had set aside for her. It was quite a scene."

"Threw up a fight about it, did he?" Ron asked scornfully.

"No, actually. He didn't protest at all. But when they tried to take Draco and Mrs. Malfoy, he nearly broke out of the magical restraints they had him in." Ron and Harry gaped at Neville who nodded.

"The Minister walked in then and told the Aurors to leave her alone since she didn't have the Mark." Remus saw a look pass between Ron, Hermione and Harry and Harry nodded once. Remus made a note to ask about that later. "Then Mrs. Malfoy begged Kingsley to leave Draco with her. Said that he never wanted to be Marked in the first place, but that Voldemort forced him when Mr. Malfoy was arrested after fifth year."

"And Kingsley believed that?" Ginny asked incredulously. Another look passed between the trio.

"Dunno, but he agreed to leave Draco in Mrs. Malfoy's custody as long as they stayed in the castle until he could question them himself. I think Professor McGonagall gave them a private suite or something."

"Figures," Ron said derisively. The teens began to talk amongst themselves and Remus looked warily from Narcissa Malfoy to the door of the antechamber where Andromeda was. He didn't think this was the best time for a confrontation, although, it appeared the Malfoys were interested in nothing but eating as quickly as possible. Still, Remus was sure they were completely aware of their surroundings.

Before he could decide whether to warn her or not, the door to the antechamber opened and Andromeda stepped out. Remus hurried towards her, not wanting her to be taken unaware, but she only had eyes for Teddy. She walked directly to Hermione and introduced herself, before requesting that Hermione relinquish Teddy to her. Remus saw Andromeda's shoulders relax slightly as soon as she had the boy in her arms. He thought perhaps they could avoid the Malfoys all together.

"Are you ready to leave?" he asked.

"Yes," Andromeda replied, holding Teddy close. She took a breath. "I would very much like to go home."

"Of course," Remus agreed and bid his former students good-bye. He put a hand on Andromeda's back, his intention to lead her from the Hall in the opposite direction of the Slytherin table, but they had only taken two steps forward when she froze. Remus looked up at saw that she had locked eyes with Narcissa. The two stared at one other for a moment before Narcissa looked away, focusing on her plate once more. Andromeda continued to stare at her as Draco looked between the two of them in confusion for moment before he noticed Remus. Comprehension dawned then and he glanced nervously from his mother to his aunt.

"Andromeda," Remus prodded.

"Yes?" she said but it sounded higher than usual.

"Shall we go?"

"He looks just like his father," she said instead of answering the question and Remus knew she was speaking of Draco. They stood there for a few more seconds before Andromeda began to walk away, giving the Slytherin table a wide berth. Remus followed quickly behind her.

Hermione watched the two of them walk from the Hall, glancing back at the Malfoys every few seconds. Mrs. Malfoy never looked up from her plate and Draco just looked uncomfortable.

"That was odd," Luna said as she stared at Mrs. Malfoy her lips pursed. "Did they forget that they were related?" Everyone stared at her for a moment, likely wondering, as Hermione was, how Luna knew the two were sisters. Hermione knew better than to question it, however. Luna knew all sorts of things no one would expect her to.

"They don't get on, Luna," Ron explained.

"Gran told me about that," Neville said. "How Mrs. Tonks was disowned because she married a Muggle-born." Harry and Hermione looked at him in surprise. Neville shrugged.

"It was part of my education," he explained. "Learning about pureblood customs and all that. That included learning about the Sacred Twenty-eight." He looked at Ron and Ginny. "Didn't you?"

"Nah, not really," Ron said. "Mum doesn't hold with all that shite, especially since Dad says that book was conveniently edited. Most every pureblood family has a Squib or Muggle-born or two in it."

"Yeah, Gran told me the same thing," Neville agreed. "Still forced me to learn it all though." He made a face.

"Mrs. Malfoy misses her sister," Luna said. There was silence again as they all looked at her.

"How can you tell?" Hermione finally asked.

"There are Glimbobbles all around her," Luna answered.

"Right," Ginny said and the rest of them wisely remained silent.

"Maybe they can be sisters again now that the war is over," Luna continued.

"I wouldn't count on that, Luna," Harry said somewhat bitterly. Seconds later the two Malfoys rose from the table. Draco offered an arm to his mother and the two of them left the Great Hall. Ron shook his head in disgust.

"Can't believe the ferret got out of being arrested."

"That's not necessarily true," Hermione pointed. "Kingsley might still arrest him once he questions them."

"You don't think they're going to lie through their teeth?" Ron demanded. "After everything, Hermione, I can't believe you're defending them."

"I'm not," she insisted, her right hand covering her left forearm. Neville looked at her quizzically. She ignored it. "But it's not all black and white, Ron."

"Mrs. Malfoy did save me," Harry reminded them.

"What?" Neville exclaimed. Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He explained that Draco's mother had told Voldemort that Harry was dead when he hadn't been.

"She only did that to get to her precious Draco," Ron scoffed.

"It doesn't really matter why, Ron, just that she did it," Harry pointed out. "If she hadn't, I likely wouldn't be here right now." Ron fell silent, looking a bit chastened.

"Still, doesn't mean the ferret shouldn't have gone the same way as his father," Ron said, a bit petulantly in Hermione's opinion.

"Can we stop talking about Malfoy?" Ginny huffed. Ron muttered something under his breath, but everyone ignored him.

"Luna," Harry said. "Luna, look." Luna turned toward the doors of the Great Hall.

"Oh." She stood frozen for a moment before she began to walk towards where Harry had been pointing. After a few moments, she was nearly running. Her father, disheveled and dirty, stood in the doorway, looking frantically around the Hall.

"Daddy," Luna called and his head swung towards her. Luna stopped short in front of him and he simply stared at her for a few seconds, before he pulled her to him and began to sob. Hermione swallowed over the lump in her throat and took Ron's hand. Ginny, on her other side, grabbed Hermione's other hand and Hermione saw all three of the boys swipe quickly at their cheeks. Luna had managed to lead her father to one of the benches and they were now sitting, but still clinging tightly to one another. Hermione watched as more people came into the Great Hall. They all looked to be students and Hermione knew that most, if not all, were Muggle-borns. They were just as grubby as Luna's father and looked shocked to be in the castle.

"I guess Kingsley cleared out Azkaban," Harry said as some of the professors began leading the group towards one of the House tables. Hermione saw large tureens of soup and slices of bread appear. Some of the younger children jumped and Hermione wondered if they were first years that were arrested when they tried to board the Hogwarts Express.

Seconds later, Kingsley himself strode into the Great Hall, followed by a few Aurors. The Aurors made their way to the table where the ex-prisoners were and began speaking with them. Kingsley spoke to Professor Flitwick briefly and then made his way towards them.

"Azkaban prisoners?" Harry questioned.

"Yes," Kingsley answered. "The adults were all able to return home by Floo, but most of the students don't have Floo connections. Not to mention that we're not sure what's happened to their families over the course of the war. We decided it was more important to feed them and have Poppy check them over while we find their families. I hope that they'll all be returning home in the next day or two."

"What if they don't have home to return to?" Neville asked.

"We are hoping that won't be the case," Kingsley said gravely. "But if it is, I hope that some wizarding families might be able to help." Neville nodded.

"Hermione and Harry, I wonder if you might assist the Aurors," he continued. The two of them looked at him questioningly. "Both of you are familiar with the Muggle world and might be of some assistance as to locations and such."

"Sure, Kingsley," Harry agreed.

"Of course," Hermione replied.

"Thank you," Kingsley said. "I'll speak with you later." He turned and walked out of the Hall.

"Must be off to question Malfoy," Ron said.

"Give it a rest, Ron," Ginny sighed in exasperation.

"Ready, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I suppose," Harry replied with a sigh. The two of them walked toward the group of Muggle-borns.

"Are you all right?" Remus asked Andromeda once they had come through the Floo.

"Fine," she said. She still held Teddy and didn't look like she planned to let go of him anytime soon, so Remus went into the kitchen to prepare a bottle for him.

After he had handed it to Andromeda, she sat down in one of the armchairs in the sitting room and began to feed Teddy. Remus saw her visibly relax after a few moments and sat down on the couch opposite her.

"Would you like to talk about it?" he questioned.

"What is there to talk about?" Andromeda returned.

"Well, you looked quite shocked to see your sister." Andromeda stiffened. She relaxed again when Teddy protested.

"I was not expecting her to be there, given the side she chose in the war."

"She was under a house arrest, of sorts," Remus explained. "The Aurors arrested Lucius, but Kingsley wouldn't let them take Narcissa or Draco. He wanted to question them himself so he told them to remain in the castle." Remus could see that Andromeda was holding herself very carefully, her Pureblood training for dealing with something painful coming to the fore at the same time she was trying not to distress her grandson.

"Her son was one of them as well," Andromeda said and Remus didn't think she meant it as a question.

"She insists he was forced against his will."

"That would not surprise me." They fell silent, Teddy's swallows the only noise in the room.

"She would not look at me," Andromeda said quietly a few minutes later.

"I think she was likely as surprised as you were," Remus said gently. Andromeda got a far off look in her eye.

"Cissy and I were very close as girls. Much closer than either of us were to Bella," Andromeda said. "We were only eighteen months apart, while Bella was nearly three years older than me. Cissy was my playmate and then my confidant. She was so upset when I went to Hogwarts. She still had two years to wait and she was miserable." Andromeda paused, looking somewhere over Remus' shoulder.

"She found out about Ted in my seventh year. Caught us snogging." A slight smile crossed Andromeda's face. "She promised she would not tell anyone if I promised not to see him again. And she didn't."

"But you still saw him, obviously," Remus said.

"Not at first, no," Andromeda replied. "I kept my promise for a while. But eventually, I could no longer stay away from him. We got married a month after graduation and my father disowned me as soon as I told him." She smiled sadly when Remus looked surprised. "I was under the delusion that once he met Ted, once he saw how happy we were, how much in love, that he would change his mind. He would not even allow me to say good-bye to my mother or my sister." Remus sat forward on the couch and put his hand on Andromeda's knee.

"I'm sorry," he said. He watched as she took hold of her emotions, sitting up straighter and shaking her head as if to rid it of the sadness.

"Narcissa never tried to contact me afterward," Andromeda continued. "Not even once she was of age and out of my father's house and no longer under his thumb. Of course, by then she was under Lucius Malfoy's thumb so I suppose I should not have been surprised."

"Perhaps now," Remus began, but Andromeda cut him off with a shake of her head.

"Too much time has passed, too much has happened," Andromeda insisted. "Her husband's ideals killed my husband and our sister killed my daughter. I am sure that Narcissa wants as much to do with me as I do with her." She shifted Teddy from her lap to her shoulder and began to pat his back. "I will put him down." She rose from her chair and walked out of the room. Remus couldn't help but think that Andromeda wanted more to do with Narcissa than she was letting on.

Hermione was exhausted. She and Harry, joined by Dean once he had been told what was going on, had spent most of the evening with the Muggle-borns recently released from Azkaban. Hermione had spent most of her time with two girls and a boy who would have been first years. Once they had gotten over their initial shock of being in the castle, they had cried for their mothers for well over an hour. Hermione had managed to get them to shower and then tucked them into bed, the three of them in the same room, refusing to be separated from each other. Hermione discovered that they had been kept in the same cell in Azkaban. She had conjured a jar and filled it with her bluebell flames, staying with them until they were asleep.

Hermione made her way down to the Hufflepuff Common Room, sighing heavily as she sat down on a couch beside Harry. Most of the D.A. that had been in the Battle was there as well.

"Are they all right?" Hannah Abbott asked.

"They want their mothers," Hermione replied. "And I know there weren't as many Dementors at Azkaban as usual, but the few that were still there terrified them of course. I'm glad Madame Pomfrey gave them Dreamless Sleep."

"We'll watch over them," Susan Bones assured her.

"Thanks, Susan," Hermione said with a small smile. She turned to Harry and Dean. "What about the rest of them?"

"Same as the first years, really," Harry informed them. "Most didn't get the Prophet so they had no idea there even was a Muggle-born registration until they crossed the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾. None of them know what happened to their families."

"A few of the older ones went on the run like I did," Dean put in. "They got snatched at some point."

"Any word from Kingsley?" Hermione asked.

"Not yet," Harry said.

"Is anyone hungry?" Ron asked the room at large. Hermione smiled at the predictability of her…boyfriend? She wasn't sure just what to call him. They hadn't formally discussed it yet.

"I could eat," Neville answered. There were a few nods from some of the others and Seamus got up with Neville and Ron to fetch food from the kitchens. A few minutes after they returned, Kingsley entered.

"How are they?" he asked after he had accepted a plate of food from Hannah.

"The younger ones are terrified. They just want their mothers," Hermione said.

"The older ones are trying to hide it, but they feel the same," Dean added.

"Any news on that front?" Harry asked. Kingsley sighed and rubbed his eyes with a thumb and forefinger.

"The preliminary reports are not good," Kingsley admitted. He looked around the room and for a moment Hermione thought he wasn't going to continue, perhaps wondering if he should say anything in front of the rest of the students. He must have decided that given those same students had just done battle, they could handle whatever he was about to say.

"We have been able to find a few of the families so far," he said. "Some were Obliviated, likely after their children were taken from them."

"Not memory charmed?" Hermione questioned. "Actually Obliviated?"

"Yes."

"What's the difference?" Harry asked.

"Memory charms can be reversed," Hermione explained. It was what she had done to her parents before she sent them to Australia. "Obliviation…obliviation is permanent." There was silence in the room. Seamus swore and Hermione saw Hannah wiping tears off her cheeks.

"That's not all," Kingsley said. "Death Eaters followed some of the families home from King's Cross." He paused. "They were killed."

"Oh, Merlin," Parvati whispered. Padma took hold of her hand.

"Do you know how many?" Harry asked, hard edge to his voice.

"Three Obliviated so far and two dead," Kingsley replied. "We haven't had time to track everyone down."

"Gods," Ginny said quietly. Hermione saw Harry take her hand.

"What should we tell them?" Hermione asked, her voice shaky. She kept picturing the three young, scared first years in her mind and was having a hard time not bursting into tears.

"For now, tell them we are still working on it," Kingsley replied. "I hope to have more information in the morning." Hermione nodded. Kingsley rose from his chair.

"I'm sorry that I didn't have better news," he said. "But I must go." They all murmured their good-byes and sat in silence for some time after he had left.

"I'm sure Mum and Dad would take someone in," Ron said, finally breaking the silence.

"Gran too," Neville agreed.

"We're all of age," Susan pointed out.

"I don't know if the Ministry will let us be parents," Padma said skeptically.

"I don't mean parents, really," Susan said. "Just so they'd have somewhere to stay on holidays. I don't want anyone to end up in an orphanage after, after everything."

"Maybe they've got someone else who would take them in," Ernie mused. "Grandparents or something."

"Maybe," Dean agreed. Discussion of the Muggle-borns' fate continued for a while longer before people began to yawn. Hermione realized just how tired she was when she stood from the couch and swayed dangerously.

"Whoa," Ron said, steadying her. "You need sleep."

"I don't want to leave them alone," Hermione admitted.

"They've taken Dreamless Sleep, Hermione," he reminded her. "They won't wake up until morning."

"Still," she said. "I think I should stay here."

"All right, we'll stay," Ron decided.

"No, Ron, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"It's just," she paused. "There's only one empty bed left in the room they're in."

"And?" he questioned.

"They're only eleven and twelve, Ron," she said.

"Honestly, Hermione, even if I wanted to ravish you, I'm too knackered," he said with a smirk. She slapped his shoulder and turned red.

"Ron," she hissed looking around the Common Room to make sure no one had heard. He chuckled.

"Fine, I get it," he said. "You sleep with the firsties and I'll go back to Gryffindor Tower." He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I'll meet you in the Great Hall for breakfast?"

"All right," she agreed. Ron smiled and kissed her one more time, this one lingering a bit before he followed Harry and Ginny out of the Common Room.

"Hannah and I are going to stay with younger girls," Susan told Hermione as they walked down the corridor towards the dormitories. "Ernie is bunking in with the boys. Just in case anyone needs anything during the night, although they should be fine with the Dreamless Sleep." Hermione stopped at the room where the three first years were sleeping.

"Thanks," she said to the two women. "Tell Ernie thank you as well."

"We'll see you in the morning," Hannah said.

"Good night."

Hermione stepped into the room and immediately drew her wand. The bed closest to the door, where she had left Annie, was empty. Turning slightly, she saw that David's bed was empty as well. Her heart began to beat faster. Logically, she knew that all the dormitories had been checked, but what if a rogue Death Eater had been hiding out? Taking a breath, Hermione took a few steps towards Claire's bed. When she looked, all three children were curled up together, David holding Annie's hand and Claire's head on Annie's shoulder. Tears pricked Hermione's eyes even as she smiled.

She drew the duvet up higher over all of them and smoothed a bit of hair from Annie's face. The girl shifted in her sleep but didn't wake. Hermione moved towards the bed next to theirs and laid down on her side so she could keep watch over them. Sooner than she expected, her eyelids drooped and seconds later she was asleep.

"No, no please," Hermione begged, the pain in her arm flaring as another cut was made. "I swear, it's not real. Please!"

She sat up with a gasp, rubbing at her forearm. She looked quickly around the room, trying to ascertain where she was and relaxed only marginally when she remembered she was in the Hufflepuff dorms. Hermione lit her wand and yanked up her sleeve, but the word carved into her arm looked the same as it had for the last few weeks. She dropped her head into her hands and pulled in a breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

Throwing the blankets off her legs, Hermione rose from the bed and left the room, crossing the corridor to the loo. She splashed water on her face and then braced her hands on the sink, looking at herself in the mirror. In all that had happened over the last few days, she had managed to forget about the dream, which she'd had often since their rescue from Malfoy Manor.

There was movement behind her and Hermione spun, her wand drawn as Hannah stepped into the loo. Hannah immediately raised her hands, showing Hermione that she wasn't a threat.

"Sorry," Hermione muttered, tucking her wand back into the pocket of the pajama pants she had transfigured from her jeans.

"Don't apologize," Hannah said with a grim smile. "I expect this will be a common occurrence for all of us for a while."

"Likely," Hermione snorted. Hannah crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the wall next to the sinks.

"Nightmare?" she asked.

"Yeah," Hermione replied. "You?" Hannah nodded.

"Most nights," she admitted.

"Me too."

"I know we've never really been friends, Hermione, but if you ever want someone to talk to," Hannah trailed off, looking a bit nervous. Hermione smiled.

"Thanks, Hannah." Hannah smiled back at her.

"Everything all right in your room?" Hannah asked.

"So far, yes," Hermione replied. "What about yours?"

"A little muttering in their sleep, but no one's woken up or anything." Hermione nodded. She had finally calmed and the need to sleep was nearly swamping her. She tried to stifle a yawn and failed.

"I'll let you get back to bed," Hannah said with a smirk. Hermione laughed a bit and then gave a wave before she left the bathroom and crawled back into her bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

Remus came around the corner of the courtyard and stopped short. He blinked. It wasn't possible. She wasn't supposed to be here, he'd left her home with Teddy. Before he could convince himself that his wife was actually at Hogwarts, he heard a cackling laugh and Bellatrix stepped out of the shadows. Remus was unable to speak or move and simply had to watch as his wife dueled her aunt. When the green light left Bellatrix's wand, he shouted, but Dora, unable to hear him, crumpled to the ground, while Bellatrix laughed maniacally.

"No!" he roared and sat up in bed, bathed in sweat. He ran a shaky hand through his hair and then tossed the blankets aside, getting up to pace about his room. He knew it was just a dream, as he hadn't even been aware that Dora was at the Battle until he'd seen her body, let alone seen her killed. Still, he couldn't shake the image of Bellatrix sending the Killing Curse at his wife.

"Remus?" a soft voice questioned and he looked up to see Andromeda standing in the doorway.

"I'm sorry I woke you," he said, grabbing his t-shirt from the end of the bed and slipping it on.

"I wasn't sleeping," she admitted. "Nightmare?" He nodded, running a hand through his hair again. "Come." She turned and walked towards the stairs and Remus reluctantly followed her.

Remus sat down at the table while Andromeda made them tea. A quick glance at the clock showed him it was three in the morning. He had only been sleeping for a few hours. Andromeda carried the tea tray to the table and fixed Remus a cup before serving herself.

"I assume I do not need to ask what your nightmare was about," she said as she took a sip.

"You don't want to know, believe me," he said gruffly. She nodded. Remus sighed and took a drink, the tea warming him. He wrapped his hands around the cup and stared at the tabletop.

"There was nothing you could have done," Andromeda said after a few minutes.

"I could have stayed here with her," he returned. "She wanted me to. Begged me to."

"Neither of you could have stayed out of it," Andromeda said.

"Still," Remus began, but she cut him off.

"No," she said forcefully. "This second guessing will not change the outcome." Remus stayed silent, trying to compose himself. Andromeda was right. He never would have stayed away from the fight and he should have known that Dora wouldn't either. It didn't make it hurt any less, however.

He tried to stop them, but the tears that had gathered in his eyes began to fall. He kept his head down, trying to hide his emotions from Andromeda, but she reached forward and took his hand. The tears dripped from his chin onto the table below and when he glanced up, he saw that tears were running down Andromeda's cheeks too. He tightened his grip on her hand and they silently cried for the woman they had lost.