A/N - Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Enjoy!

Chapter 23

Reconnecting

23 July 1998

Remus lowered Hermione to the floor and picked up his wand where he'd dropped it when she fainted. The portrait was still shrieking and screaming as Remus pointed his wand at Hermione.

"Reennervate." Hermione's eyes fluttered and she looked up at Remus in confusion.

"Thank Merlin," he said, closing his eyes for a moment.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You fainted."

"Filthy Mudblood, consorting with werewolves, dirtying up my floors!" Mrs. Black continued to scream. Remus stood with a snarl and yanked the curtain closed, casting another sticking charm on them. He knelt back down next to Hermione who was struggling to sit up. He grasped her arm and helped her.

"I can't believe I fainted," she said.

"Hermione, when was the last time you ate?" Remus asked.

"The toast Andromeda made me this morning," Hermione said.

"You barely touched that," he reminded her.

"I had a sandwich last night, I think."

"You think?" he repeated. She shrugged.

"I'm usually so tired when I get home that I just fall into bed."

"You must take better care of yourself," Remus admonished. She rubbed her forehead with her fingertips.

"There's a lot to do," she began but he shook his head and cut her off.

"None of this is necessary," he said. "Harry certainly doesn't expect you to do this by yourself."

"I want to," she insisted.

"I'm sure you do, but you cannot run yourself into the ground doing so," Remus said firmly.

"Remus, I'm fine. I just forgot to eat is all."

"How often have you been forgetting to eat, Hermione?" he demanded.

"Not often," she said, but she didn't meet his eyes as she answered. He glared at her before he stood and held out a hand to help her to her feet. When she was standing, he took hold of her arm and began to lead her toward the kitchen stairs. "Where are we going?"

"You're going to eat something," he said.

"We need to finish the wall," Hermione protested.

"Not until you've eaten." Hermione pulled her arm away from him.

"I'm not a child, Remus."

"Then stop acting like one," he snapped. She stared at him in shock and he sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "Hermione, you fainted not five minutes ago. You've told me that you've been skipping meals and I know you haven't been sleeping properly. Please, come with me to the kitchen and let me fix you some lunch."

"Let's just finish with the portrait and then I'll eat, I promise."

"No," he said.

"But Harry is going to stop by later and I wanted to be done by then."

"And how do you think Harry is going to feel if he knows you ended up in St. Mungo's because you were killing yourself remodeling his house?" Hermione faltered for a moment.

"I'm not killing myself," she said softly.

"Maybe not yet," Remus retorted. She looked down at her feet, her face reddening. Remus softened and stepped towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Hermione," he said, but she refused to look at him. When her shoulders began to shake, he realized she was crying and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry," she choked out.

"It's all right," he soothed. He hugged her until she quieted. She pulled away a few seconds later.

"Will you come down to the kitchen?" he asked. She nodded and he walked next to her on the stairs, not wanting her to fall if she felt faint again.

He insisted that she sit at the table while he fixed her something to eat. There was some meat and cheese in the cold cupboard and Remus made her a sandwich, giving her a large glass of water as well. He sat down opposite her as she took a bite of the sandwich.

"You were right," she said quietly a few bites later.

"About?" he questioned.

"I haven't been taking care of myself. I'm not sure when I last ate a proper meal. And I haven't been sleeping much."

"Nightmares?" he asked gently. She nodded. He saw her bite her lip and look back at her plate.

"It's been months now," she said. "But I'm still having them nearly every night."

"I'm still having them too," Remus confessed. "It doesn't mean you're weak." Hermione's sharp glance at him led him to believe he had guessed correctly. "The things you went through, the things you were forced to do, it would give anyone nightmares."

"Keeping busy helps." Remus was aware of how focused Hermione could get when she was involved in a project and was sure that there were times she didn't stop to eat because she simply didn't think about it. But he was also sure that she was driving herself as hard as she was because if she stopped, it would only give her time to reflect on everything that had happened during the war and since.

"It's all right to want to forget for a little while," he said gently. "But not when it starts affecting your health." She sat silently, looking down at her plate. She had only eaten half the sandwich. Glancing up at him from under her lashes, she picked up the other half and took a bite.

"Please promise me that you will try to take better care of yourself."

"I will, I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize, Hermione." He paused for a moment, unsure if he should say what he was thinking. He knew how Hermione felt about House-elves, but concern won out. "Perhaps Harry could have Kreacher return and prepare meals for you while you're working on the house."

"He tried that," she said with a shrug of one shoulder. "Unfortunately, Kreacher did not appreciate the changes I'm making."

"Ah," Remus said in understanding.

"Harry sent him back to Hogwarts." She had nearly finished the sandwich now and set the last bit of it back on her plate, taking a long drink of water.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked.

"Much better, thank you." She looked at him uncertainly. "Can we finish with the portrait now?"

"As long as you promise that you will stop if you start to feel faint again," he said.

"I promise," she said with a smile.

"All right then." They both stood and without a word, Hermione flung her arms around him.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything." Remus' arms came around her and he returned the embrace.

"You're welcome," he said. He felt her relax against him for a moment before she pulled away, looking slightly self-conscious. His brow furrowed, but she turned quickly and picked up her plate, carrying it to the sink.

"Ready?" she asked. He nodded and gestured for her to precede him. He followed her up the stairs to the entry and they continued to work on the wall, the portrait staying mercifully silent as the sticking charm held.

28 July 1998

Hermione stared at the list in her hand and let out a sigh. There were only three names left on it and she had been avoiding making the remaining calls for weeks now. She wasn't sure she could handle any more disappointment.

She had seen Ron a few days prior when she had gone to the Burrow for Sunday dinner. Molly had been insistent and Hermione felt guilty enough for worrying the woman so she had gone. For all their problems, seeing Ron had been like a knife to the chest and she realized that she missed him as her best friend as much as she missed having him as her boyfriend, maybe more. She sincerely hoped that even if their romantic relationship didn't work out, they could get back to being friends.

It had been someone awkward being there, knowing that everyone knew they had broken up. Hermione remembered how Molly had believed Rita Skeeter's article during the Tri-Wizard tournament about Hermione supposedly breaking Harry's heart. The way Molly had rebuffed her had stung. But Molly and Arthur hadn't treated her any differently and neither did George, for which Hermione was grateful. Harry, on the other hand, was trying a bit too hard and every time Hermione saw Ron looking at her, he would glance away quickly, his face reddening as if he'd been caught doing something wrong. Hermione was glad when the entire thing was over and she could return to the quiet and solitude of her parents' house.

She had followed through on her promise to Remus and had been trying to take better care of herself. The nightmares continued, but instead of fleeing to Grimmauld Place as soon as she'd woken from one, Hermione had instead taken to cuddling up with Crookshanks and trying to sleep again. Some nights it worked and on those that it didn't, she lay in her bed and read instead of working herself into exhaustion.

Harry had been amazed at the changes in Grimmauld Place and had insisted that Hermione take a few days to herself after thanking her profusely for all the work she had done. Hermione had declined but had slowed down now that most of the main living areas were finished. Harry had summoned Kreacher and the elf had wailed for nearly an hour about his beloved Mistress being hidden forever. Then, however, he had listened to Harry and removed the House-elf heads from the wall on the stairs. Harry had suggested they bury the elves in the back garden and Hermione had made a small stone for each one after they had done so. Kreacher must have been touched by the kindness for he had actually nodded in thanks. Hermione had beamed for hours afterward.

Harry had ultimately sent the old elf back to Hogwarts but had promised that if Harry ever decided to live at Grimmauld Place that he would ask Kreacher to return. Kreacher, with the fake locket still around his neck, had bowed to Harry and disappeared with a snap of his fingers.

Hermione looked down at the list again with a sigh. She might as well get it over with. She rose from the couch and left the house for the telephone box a few blocks away.

Remus lifted Teddy from the pram and tucked the sleeping boy into his chest. After an unusually fussy morning, Remus had finally taken his son for a walk, hoping it would calm him enough to sleep. It had taken Remus three times around the block, but Teddy's eyes had finally started to droop and he was sleeping soundly now.

He stepped into the house to find Andromeda sitting at the kitchen table, staring at a letter lying in front of her. She glanced up at his entrance and he could see that she had been crying.

"Andromeda?" he questioned in concern. She waved him off.

"I'm fine," she said. She put a smile on her face, but it didn't reach her eyes. "He is finally asleep, I see."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"I am fine, Remus. Go and put Teddy down before he wakes up." Remus looked at her for a few more moments before he finally nodded and left the room.

When he returned without Teddy, Andromeda was already in the kitchen, wiping down countertops that had already been cleaned. Remus glanced at the table, but the letter was no longer there.

"Has something happened?" he asked causing Andromeda's hand to still. She turned slowly to face him.

"The letter was from Narcissa."

"She wrote to you again?" Remus questioned. He was a bit surprised. Narcissa Malfoy had never seemed to be the kind that would beg.

"She was responding to a letter I sent to her."

"I wasn't aware you had written her back," Remus said, even more shocked. The last time they had spoken about it, Andromeda had insisted she wanted nothing to do with her younger sister.

"Just two days ago." She sighed and rubbed her forehead with her fingertips. "I am still not sure why I did it."

"I don't need an explanation," Remus assured her.

"No, but perhaps I do," Andromeda said tiredly and moved back towards the table, sinking down into a chair. Remus followed suit, sitting down next to her.

"I had been looking through letters that Ted wrote to me when we were still in school and hiding our relationship. There was a photograph of Narcissa and I with one of the letters." She looked up at Remus. "Ted had asked me to send him a photograph of myself, but I did not have one of just me at hand, so I sent one of the both of us. He returned it to me in his next letter, telling me that he could not keep what was obviously such a special memory." She smiled wistfully.

"It had been taken the previous Christmas and Narcissa and I were both laughing, something that rarely happened in my household. Mother and Father were in especially good moods that year as Roland Lestrange and my father had just agreed to the match between Rodolphus and Bella. I loved that photograph and I carried it with me for months afterward." She paused and let out a breath.

"I was devastated when Narcissa turned her back on me, but Ted and then Nymphadora made it easier. And the world being as it was, well, it was likely better that the two of us did not have any contact. I have never stopped missing her though." She looked at Remus then, slight panic on her face. "Please do not think I am saying that you and Teddy are not enough for me, I do not mean that." Remus smiled and put his hand over hers.

"I don't think that," he assured her.

"You were right," Andromeda said a few moments later.

"About?" Remus questioned.

"In my letter, I told her that I still did not trust her and was not sure if I could. I also said that I was not ready to see her and I did not know if I ever would be. I did say that I was willing to continue writing to her, but I expected that to be the end of it, as Narcissa never took rejection well. I thought she would write back something cutting and disown me once again."

"But she didn't, I take it," Remus prompted when Andromeda didn't continue.

"No, she told me that she understood and she would let me set the pace of any interaction between us. She said she could be as patient as I needed." Andromeda looked up at him. "If I had not recognized the handwriting, I would have sworn someone else wrote it." Remus gave her hand a squeeze.

"I still don't know if this is the right thing to do," Andromeda admitted.

"That's why it's good you've only agreed to letters for now," Remus said. "I think you will likely get a good idea if she is sincere or not before you agree to meet with her."

"Perhaps you are right," Andromeda said, with a genuine smile this time.

"May I see the photograph?" Remus asked, suspecting that his mother-in-law was carrying it with her once again. Andromeda nodded and pulled it from the pocket of her robes.

A teenaged Andromeda and Narcissa stood next to one another, Andromeda's arm around Narcissa's waist. Andromeda said something to Narcissa and she giggled, bringing a hand to her mouth. Andromeda laughed as well, ducking her head slightly before they both stood straight and smiled at the camera. Remus smiled at the two sisters, who had obviously been extremely close. Remus hoped, with all that they had both suffered during the war, that they could someday find their way back to each other.

Hermione hung up the receiver dejectedly and looked back at her list. Only two more names to go. Gathering her courage, she dialed the next number on her list. The phone rang six times and she was about to hang up when someone answered.

"Hello," a breathless voice said. Hermione's heart leapt into her throat. She couldn't speak. "Hello, is anyone there?"

"H-hello," Hermione finally managed.

"Yes?" the woman on the other end said. Hermione swallowed thickly. It couldn't be. Her mind was playing tricks on her because she was so desperate.

"I'm, I'm looking for M-Monica Wilkins," Hermione stuttered out.

"This is she," the woman said. Hermione couldn't breathe. "Hello?"

"I, I'm sorry," Hermione whispered.

"May I ask who's calling, please?"

"This, I, I," Hermione trailed off, unable to answer.

"Miss, are you all right?"

"I'm, I'm…I'm sorry," Hermione said and she hung up. She sank to the grimy floor of the telephone box and burst into tears. Hermione had found her mother.

"Hermione?" Harry called as he stepped into the house. "Hermione, I got your message." Hermione sniffled from her spot on the couch and rolled her eyes. It had taken her a few tries, but she had finally been able to get her Patronus to form and had sent a message to Harry, asking him to come over after work. It figured that he wouldn't wait.

"Harry, I told you to come by after training," she said quietly. At the wobble in her voice, he was immediately in front of her.

"Hermione, what's the matter?" he asked in concern, sitting down on the coffee table in front of her. She sniffed again and looked down at her lap.

"I made the rest of my telephone calls to Australia today," she said. Harry's face fell.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry," he said, misinterpreting her sadness. "But don't give up. Like I said, I'll hire a detective and we can go there if we need to, or-"

"I found them," Hermione whispered.

"Wait, what?"

"My mum, I talked to her."

"Hermione," Harry said, his eyes wide with surprise. "Are you sure?" Hermione nodded and began to cry again. Harry moved to sit beside her on the couch and pulled her into his arms. "This is amazing!" When Hermione began to cry harder, he pulled away from her slightly, brow furrowed. "This is good news, right?"

"Yes," she said.

"Then why are you crying?"

"They don't know me, Harry." Hermione sniffled. "I know it's stupid, because I'm the one that modified their memories, but I hoped, I hoped that when my mum heard my voice, she would just know me. But she didn't. She called me 'miss'."

"But they will know you," Harry said. "Once you reverse the spell."

"But what if, what if they hate me for what I've done?"

"How could they hate you for keeping them safe?" Harry asked. Hermione shrugged. Harry hugged her to him again. "They couldn't hate you, Hermione. They love you."

"What if the spell doesn't work?"

"Then we'll find someone else who can reverse it," Harry said. "Hermione, you're going to get them back." Hermione nodded into his shoulder, tears still coursing down her cheeks. She should be happy, ecstatic, at finding her parents, but instead, there was a ball of dread in her gut at all that could go wrong. Harry pulled back from her after a few minutes.

"Come to the Burrow with me," he said. "You shouldn't be by yourself right now."

"Don't you have to go back to the Ministry?" she asked, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. He shook his head.

"Kingsley told me to make sure you were all right. He said to take the rest of the afternoon if I needed."

"You don't have to do that," Hermione protested.

"I do," Harry said with a shrug. "Besides, Molly would never forgive me if she found out I left you in this state." Hermione laughed. She bit her lip and looked at her best friend. A hug from Molly and a cup of tea sounded rather good right now, if she were honest.

"All right," she finally said. Harry smiled widely at her and stood from the couch, pulling her up with him.

"Do you need anything?" he asked.

"Let me just wash my face," she said. She headed into the loo off the kitchen and stared at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying she had been doing. Hermione splashed cold water on her face and then cast a spell Lavender and Parvati had taught her once to reduce the puffiness under her eyes. She glanced down at her arm, making sure the glamour she cast on her scar when she wasn't wearing long sleeves was still in place. Deciding she was as presentable as she was going to get and knowing that Molly would know she'd been crying regardless, Hermione left the loo. Harry was waiting for her at the back door with a smile on his face and the two of them stepped into the back garden to Disapparate.

They had just appeared at the Burrow, when a familiar Patronus materialized in front of them.

"Harry, what happened? Is she all right? Let me know, damn it!"

"Shite," Harry swore.

"Why is Ron so upset?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"I, sort of, told him, I had to go see you," Harry said.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "It wasn't even an emergency."

"I know, but your otter sounded so sad, I just, I was worried. And I told him I'd send him a Patronus as soon as I'd checked on you, but I forgot."

"Well, you'd better hurry up and send him one," she said. "Before he does something stupid, like leave work to try to find us."

"Right," Harry replied. He drew his wand and grinned before he whispered the spell, his stag forming in front of them. "Everything is fine. We'll see you at dinner." The stag disappeared a second later.

"We'll see you at dinner?" Hermione said, crossing her arms in front of her. Harry shrugged.

"You know Molly isn't going to let you leave now that you're here." Hermione sighed.

"I suppose not."

"Come on," Harry said. He put an arm around her shoulders and led her towards the Burrow.

When they stepped inside, Molly was in the living room, tidying up. She turned around and looked at them in surprise.

"Harry, what are you doing home?" she asked. Before Harry could answer, Molly turned to Hermione. She studied her for a mere second before she walked towards her. "Hermione, dear, what's happened? You've been crying." Hermione managed a strangled laugh and shook her head. Molly turned back to Harry, looking confused.

"She found her parents," Harry said.

"Oh, sweetheart, that's wonderful." Hermione nodded slightly. At her less than enthusiastic reaction, Molly tipped Hermione's chin up to look at her. Hermione couldn't help the tears that began again. Molly said nothing but pulled Hermione into her arms and Hermione let go of everything she had been holding in for weeks now. Molly maneuvered them to the couch without lessening her grip on Hermione.

"Hush, now, it's all right," Molly soothed, stroking Hermione's hair and hugging her tighter. Hermione allowed herself to be soothed, her tears finally stopping a few minutes later. Molly pulled back slightly and brushed a strand of hair away from Hermione's face. Molly pulled a few tissues from her pocket and handed them to Hermione. "Now what's all this about?"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to reverse the spell," Hermione said, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. She saw that Harry had disappeared. Molly cocked her head, studying Hermione.

"Are you sure that's all?" she asked. "Because you are an extremely talented witch, Hermione, and I don't doubt that you researched this spell very thoroughly before you cast it on your parents." Hermione looked down at her lap, twisting the tissue in her hands.

"I'm afraid," Hermione whispered.

"Afraid of what, dear?"

"I'm afraid that they're going to be angry with me."

"Well, unfortunately, that might be true," Molly said. "I expect you hadn't shared much of what was happening in the wizarding world." Hermione shook her head. "And you cast the spell without talking to them about it first, yes?"

"I'm afraid that they won't be able to forgive me for that." Hermione sniffled, trying not to cry again. "I'm afraid they'll never want to see me again." Molly smiled at her and cupped Hermione's face in her hands.

"I don't know your parents very well, we only met those couple of times, but I could tell how much they loved you, Hermione," Molly said. "I don't think that would ever happen." Hermione wasn't convinced. Molly took hold of her hands.

"Have you thought about when you would like to go to Australia?"

"No," Hermione said. "I don't, I don't know if I'm ready for that yet."

"I think you should," Molly said. Hermione looked up at her. "The longer you wait, the more you're going to fret about it and the worse you will make it out to be in your mind. It's better if you just go and get things done with."

"Like ripping off a plaster," Hermione said.

"A what, dear?" Molly questioned in confusion.

"Muggle thing," Hermione said with a small smile. She took a deep breath and looked at Molly again. "You're right. I'll go after Harry's birthday." Molly smiled and squeezed her hands.

"Good girl," she said. "And you know that no matter what happens, Arthur and I are here for you."

"Thank you, Molly," Hermione replied, blinking quickly when she teared up again. "I'm sorry for crying all over you." Molly waved away her apology.

"That's what mothers are for, dear."

31 July 1998

Remus carried a sleepy Teddy through the kitchen and into the living room of the Burrow. Teddy had been nearly asleep when the laughter from Harry's party had woken him again. Besides the Weasleys, most of Harry's classmates from Gryffindor were in attendance, along with Luna, as well as quite a few members of the former Gryffindor Quidditch team. Hagrid and Minerva had stopped by for a bit and Remus and Andromeda had been invited, of course. Andromeda and Molly had become good friends, bonding over their shared grief of losing a child, and the two women were still chatting. Remus had been happy to see that most of the younger people were in good spirits, even after all the tragedy they had lived through. Still, Remus had decided to come inside to try and get his fussy son back to sleep in a quieter environment. He stopped short when he realized the living room was already occupied.

"Oh, hello, Remus," Hermione said as he came further into the room. "Is Teddy all right?"

"Yes, just overtired. It's a bit too loud for him outside." Hermione nodded and looked back at the empty fireplace. Remus studied her as he adjusted Teddy against his shoulder, lightly swaying as Teddy settled against him. Remus wondered why she was inside by herself instead of outside with her friends. He had noticed that she had seemed a bit preoccupied throughout the evening. As Teddy's breathing became deeper, Remus moved further into the room, sitting down in the rocking chair Molly kept near the fireplace. He slowly rocked back and forth and still Hermione stared into the fireplace, looking a million miles away.

"Hermione," he said quietly once he was sure Teddy was asleep.

"Yes?" she replied, not looking up at him.

"Why are you in here all by yourself?" She shrugged.

"Not much in the celebrating mood, I guess."

"Is something wrong?"

"Not wrong, exactly," Hermione said with a sigh, looking back into the fireplace. Remus waited. He didn't want to pry if she didn't want to talk about it, but he was willing to listen if she did. He wondered if it had something to do with Ron and their relationship troubles. Remus wasn't sure exactly where the two of them stood, but he hadn't noticed them speaking to each other much over the course of the night.

"I'm leaving for Australia tomorrow," she said, so quietly, Remus almost didn't hear her.

"You found them?" he questioned. Hermione nodded. "Hermione, that's wonderful." She gave him another one of those sad half-smiles. "It isn't wonderful?"

"No, it is," she said. "There was a part of me that was sure the Death Eaters had found them despite everything I did to keep them safe. It's just," she trailed off and shook her head. "Have you ever wanted anything so much that you're actually afraid to get it?" Remus' grip tightened on Teddy momentarily.

"Yes," he said simply. Hermione looked up at him and her eyes shifted to Teddy. She nodded, remembering everything Remus had said at Grimmauld Place last year when he wanted to join them on the Horcrux hunt.

"I want to go to Australia and reverse the spell, but I'm terrified." She leaned forward and put her face in her hands. "There are so many things that could go wrong, sometimes I think that maybe they're better off where they are."

"Speaking as a parent, I don't think they're better off without their only child," Remus said. Hermione dropped her hands from her face and looked up at him.

"But they don't know they have a child, so what is there to miss?"

"You'd be surprised, Hermione," he said. "Having a child creates a bond that I can't even explain. Even though you modified their memories, I'd wager they know they're missing something. They just don't know what it is." She was silent for a few moments and so Remus continued. "I think the anticipation of what's going to happen can sometimes be worse than the actual event."

"Molly said something along those lines too," Hermione said.

"Rip off the plaster, Hermione." She looked up at him in surprise. He chuckled. "Muggle mother, remember?"

"Right," she said with a small laugh. "Thank you, Remus." Teddy stirred slightly and Remus brought a hand to the boy's back, rubbing small circles there as the baby settled again. Hermione gave him a fond smile.

"How long to you plan to be gone?" Remus asked.

"I'm not sure," Hermione said. "I've got an international Portkey tomorrow morning at eight, which puts me in Sydney at five. My parents are actually in Melbourne, but all Portkeys have to go through the Australian Ministry in Sydney."

"Can you get another Portkey to Melbourne?" Remus asked.

"I would have to request one when I get to Sydney and while it's likely they would approve it, there's always the chance it could take a day or two. There is an overnight Muggle train, which is what I'm planning right now. It will be the weekend, so I should have a better chance of finding them at home. As for how long I'll be gone, it will depend on if I can reverse the spell and what their reaction is afterward." She grew quiet again, worrying about the outcome, Remus was sure.

"No matter what happens, Hermione, you know that you have people here that love and support you."

"I know," Hermione said, her eyes watery.

"Remus?" a quiet voice said. Remus looked up to see Andromeda standing in the doorway. "Is Teddy asleep?"

"Yes, finally," Remus replied. Andromeda nodded.

"Perhaps we should get him home, then," she said.

"As long as you're ready to leave," Remus said.

"I am," she replied. "I've said our good-byes to Harry and Molly and Arthur." Remus nodded as he stood, Andromeda already holding Teddy's bag. She pointed her wand at the fireplace and a fire sprang up in the grate. Taking a pinch of Floo powder from the bowl on the mantle, she turned and smiled at Hermione.

"It was nice to see you again, Hermione. Have a good evening."

"You as well," Hermione said, as Andromeda disappeared into the flames. Remus draped a blanket over Teddy and took his own Floo powder.

"Good luck on your trip and please remember what I said."

"I will," Hermione agreed. "Good night."

"Good night," Remus echoed. He called out his destination and stepped into the fireplace, Hermione's smiling face disappearing in a whoosh of flame.