Hello, everybody. Sorry for the long wait, but I've been crazy busy. And I just had like zero inspiration for this story. This chapter gets pretty AU because someone dies who doesn't die in the books. Please don't hate me. It's based on "Come to Me: Fantine's Death" from Les Miserables.
Oh, and OC alert. I usually try not to use them, but one was needed.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
The trio walked in silence around the castle. No words were spoken for quite some time. Eventually though, it seemed Hermione could take the silence no longer.
"Well," she said.
"Yes?" Both Harry and Ron said expectantly.
"Well," Hermione said again. "I think we should go see the people in the hospital wing. Don't you?"
Ron and Harry looked at each other.
"Sure," they said in unison. The three went off to the hospital wing.
There were countless people lying in the hospital wing. The smell of something bitter wafted through the air. Madame Pomfrey was brewing some potion.
The three absentmindedly parted from each other, and Hermione wandered towards an older woman who sat staring out a window. She bared a striking resemblance to someone Hermione never wished to see again, and for one horrifying moment, she thought it was this person. But this woman's facial features were softer, kinder; her brown hair was lighter, less threatening. It was Andromeda Tonks.
Hermione walked over to the woman, who seemed to be talking to herself.
"Nymphadora," the woman said. "Nymphadora, come child. It's grown so cold. It's time for bed."
Andromeda locked eyes with Hermione.
"Nymphadora, dear," Andromeda said, a wistful smile present on your face. "Come here, to me."
Hermione was silent.
"Come and rest. How time flies, and every second it gets colder.
Hermione realized with a start that Andromeda thought she was Tonks. She shakily waked to Andromeda and took her hand, which seemed to appease the older witch.
"Another day is dying, child. Darkness is coming, but I shall sing to you and wake you when morning comes."
"Andromeda," said a voice behind the two witches. Andromeda and Hermione looked up in confusion. Harry stood there.
"We don't have much time, Andromeda," Harry said hesitantly.
Andromeda smiled kindly. "I know."
"But I want you to know, Teddy will be safe," Harry said.
"Good," she said, still smiling. She glanced off into the distance, and her face lit up excitedly. "Look! Look at them all! They all look so happy!"
Hermione looked around in confusion, but Harry came forward and placed a hand on Andromeda's shoulder.
"Be at peace," he whispered.
"Teddy," Andromeda said.
"Will be protected," Harry responded.
"I always knew you were a wonderful boy," Andromeda said, then added quietly, "It really is cold."
"You will be warm soon," Harry said.
"Keep Teddy safe, Harry," Andromeda said.
"I will," Harry said,
"Please stay, Harry, Hermione," Andromeda said, for the first time acknowledging that it was Hermione, not Tonks, in front of her. "At least until sleep claims me."
"Of course," they both said automatically.
"And tell Teddy I love him and I'll see him when I wake…"
Andromeda looked quite peaceful. Harry gently closed her eyes. Hermione wiped a tear from her face.
"C'mon," Harry said. "We'll have to tell someone."
They told Madame Pomfrey, who was quite saddened, but not shocked.
"She was fading fast when I got to her," she said. "I did not figure she would last long."
"Now what?" Ron asked.
"We have to find Teddy," Harry said. "He's with Ted's sister, Christine. We need to let her know of Andromeda's passing."
"All right," Ron said, and Ron and Hermione followed Harry off, back to Great Hall. After sifting through the crowd of heads, they finally spotting a sprout of lime green hair. Definitely Teddy.
They headed off in that direction, and eventually more of the lime green haired person was in view. And the person holding the lime green haired bundle.
It was a woman in her mid-forties with dark brown wavy hair and dark skin. She was rather tall in stature and skinny. Hermione followed Harry through the crowd towards the woman.
"Excuse me," Harry said. The woman turned. "Are you Christine?"
The woman smiled warmly. "I am."
"I hate to tell you this, but-" Harry started.
"Andromeda has passed away, hasn't she?" Kristine said, her voice melancholy. Harry nodded.
"I could tell it was coming," she said with a sad smile. "I was preparing myself for it. It still hurts, though."
Everyone was silent for a while as they let Kristine deal with the news for a moment.
"I suppose I will be left to care for Teddy," Kristine said. Her voice was not irritated, or put upon, or exasperated. Just curious.
"I believe that is what Andromeda and Ted would have wanted," Harry said with a nod.
"I shall, then," Kristine said. "Are you, by any chance, Harry?"
Harry looked a bit surprised, then realized that his face was pretty much all over the place in the wizarding world on Number 1 Undesirable posters, and just about every witch and wizard knew what he looked like anyway. In fact, if anything was surprising, it was the fact that she had to ask at all.
"Yes," he said.
"Ted told me about you," Kristine said. "I mean, I heard all about you from the posters and advertisements, but he told me about who you really were. I hear you're the godfather."
"I hear that, too," Harry said, with a small chuckle. Kristine laughed, a light, tinkling laugh. Hermione and Ron couldn't help but grin. It had been a long time since they'd heard Harry make even a small attempt at humor.
"I hope you'll come and see Teddy frequently, then," Kristine said.
"Of course," Harry said.
"Good," Kristine smiled at him. "Then this will not be our last meeting."
"No, it will not," Harry said.
Kristine gave him one more smile. "I must be off. There is much to do."
Harry nodded, and watched in her wake for a few moments, then turned. "She's right. There is much to do."
Hermione watched him walk off with an odd sense of sadness. He was just distracting himself from the real problem at hand. A problem with bright ginger hair, brown eyes, and a fiery personality.
There you go.
Next week: LUNA! (no, I will not elaborate)
