After grabbing a sandwich and giving Lyra her lunch, Hermione got ready for Tonks's funeral. Even though it was a Wednesday afternoon, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny had all received permission to attend the funeral service. In one way Hermione was pleased to have an afternoon off from school, but she wished it was for a better reason than saying goodbye to someone who'd done so much for her over the past few months.

Even though she'd only been back at school for two and a half days, Hermione knew she was the subject of everyone's gossiping. No-one had said anything to her face about Draco or Lyra, but Hermione had quickly worked out that was because of Blaise and Theo. She wasn't sure what exactly had happened with the two Slytherins, but the whole school seemed to know that they would be taking them on if they messed with her. As a result she hadn't received any abuse, but everyone was still talking about her behind her back. Hermione was hoping the gossip would die down in time, but she knew it wouldn't happen right away. She would have to stick it out before things got better.

Not that she really thought things could get better until they were able to rescue Draco. When she wasn't attending lessons or dealing with Lyra, Hermione's mind was firmly on her boyfriend. She was beginning to drive herself mad wondering what he was going through, but unfortunately there was no way of finding out. Hermione didn't want to send Tipsy to the manor too often, and Severus couldn't really go and visit unless he was invited. So for the time being, they were in the dark about what Draco was going through and what Voldemort was making him do.

Suddenly deciding that she couldn't head off to Tonks's funeral without passing a message onto Draco, Hermione summoned Narcissa's elf. Since arriving at Hogwarts the elf had been there for Hermione whenever she needed her, and she felt it was helping Lyra having another familiar face around. Tipsy was actually due to watch Lyra along with Madam Pomfrey while Hermione attended the funeral that afternoon.

"I need you to do something for me Tipsy," Hermione said to the elf. "I want you to go to the manor and see if Draco's there. If he is I want you to tell him that Lyra and I are fine. Tell him we're okay, but we miss him and can't wait to see him again. And make sure he knows that we love him, no matter what."

"Yes, Mistress Hermione," Tipsy said with a nod before she disappeared with a small pop.

Finishing getting ready for the funeral, Hermione headed down to the common room where Madam Pomfrey was already settled for her afternoon of babysitting. Lyra was quite content in the medi-witch's arms, and Hermione felt a bit better about leaving her daughter. Even though Lyra obviously struggled at times with all the changes, Hermione was pleased that on a whole she was coping okay. Between Madam Pomfrey, Molly and a few of the Professors, Lyra was always looked after when Hermione was at lessons, and with each passing day the young girl was becoming more comfortable with her babysitters.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Hermione checked with the medi-witch.

"We'll be perfectly fine," Madam Pomfrey reassured her with a smile. "I'm quite an expert with children."

"Well, Tipsy will be back any minute now," Hermione said. "And Blaise and Theo might pop round to see Lyra."

"You've got two teenage boys checking up on me?" Madam Pomfrey questioned with a chuckle.

"It's Lyra they're coming to see," Hermione replied. "They check up on me all the time, but at the same time they're becoming increasingly fond of Lyra. They just want to make sure she's alright, plus they tell her stories about Draco."

"I have to admit, those two have surprised me," Madam Pomfrey confessed. "They've really stepped up for you and Lyra."

"They have," Hermione agreed with a small smile. "They've been amazing."

"It's good that you've got a solid support system," Madam Pomfrey said. "Between the boys and your friends, you've got it all covered."

Hermione smiled at the medi-witch, but she couldn't help feel that Madam Pomfrey was wrong. While she had Draco's friends to rely on, she wasn't so sure about her own. Harry, Ron and Ginny had actually being nothing but supportive for the last few days, but it wasn't quite the same as how Theo and Blaise had been there for her. She knew she could call on the two Slytherins any time day or night and they would be there for her, but she wasn't so sure about her friends. Her friends had never made any offers of support like Blaise and Theo, and apart from Ginny, they'd never really bothered to try and get to know Lyra. When they were confronted with her, Harry and Ron just looked at her as though she was some sort of strange creature. Whereas Blaise and Theo were always making a fuss of the little girl, and they were establishing a connection with Lyra.

Brushing aside her thoughts about her friends, Hermione gave Lyra a kiss goodbye and was just getting ready to head to Dumbledore's office when Tipsy reappeared. Tipsy relayed a quick message from Draco, telling her that he loved her and Lyra and that they would be a family once again. After getting some reassurance that Draco seemed to be coping, Hermione said another goodbye to her daughter before leaving the head dorms.

When Hermione reached Dumbledore's office, her friends were already present. Once Professor McGonagall arrived, Dumbledore explained that they were travelling to the funeral via portkey. Since so many of them were going from Hogwarts, it made more sense than using the floo network and taking an age to all arrive.

"We'll be landing in the village where Tonks's parents live," Dumbledore explained. "It's a wizarding village so no-one will raise any eyebrows at our sudden appearance. Are we all ready?"

Once everyone had confirmed they were ready, Dumbledore sat an old book on his desk and made sure everyone had hold of it. Once everyone had a firm grasp of the book, he tapped it with his wand and turned it into a portkey. Almost immediately it activated, and the group of four teenagers and two Professors were whisked away from Hogwarts and deposited in the middle of a wizarding village miles away.

"We're heading to that chapel over there," Dumbledore said, pointing up a nearby hill as everyone brushed themselves off following the journey.

Sombrely, the group headed towards the chapel Dumbledore had pointed out. As they neared the small chapel, they began to spot people congregating for the funeral. They easily spotted the Weasleys, who made a beeline towards them.

"Terrible day," Arthur said with a sigh as he shook hands with Dumbledore.

"It is," Dumbledore agreed.

As they headed towards the chapel, Hermione found herself nestled amongst the family of redheads. Just before they reached the chapel, they came across Remus standing staring out over the graveyard where Tonks would soon be buried. At his side was a big black dog, which was actually Sirius in his animagus form. Since Sirius was technically still a wanted criminal he couldn't attend as himself, but he'd clearly still wanted to be there for his best friend.

"Remus, come inside with us," Molly said gently.

Remus nodded, and he and Sirius fell into step with the rest of the Weasleys. Entering the chapel, the group took seats in the chapel. The chapel quickly filled up, and before long Tonks casket was carried into the chapel, followed by her grieving parents. Hermione had never met Tonks's parents before, but she was struck by how much like Bellatrix, Andromeda looked. While Narcissa was a statuesque blonde, and looked nothing like her eldest sister, Andromeda looked very much like her sister. Apart from the fact her hair was brunette rather than jet black, she was a ringer for Bellatrix.

Hermione's musings about Andromeda were soon interrupted when the minister conducting the funeral got to his feet and began proceedings. The Minister spoke movingly about Tonks, and it was clear he'd known her personally and was also grieving her loss. Apart from the minister, several other people spoke about Tonks and her life. One of her colleagues at the Ministry spoke about her work as an Auror, Dumbledore spoke about the difference she'd made to the Order, and a few of her friends spoke about her life in general. Every speech became more touching, and by the end of the ceremony, Hermione was openly crying alongside the majority of the congregation.

Things only continued to get more emotional when they moved to the graveyard and Tonks's casket was lowered into the ground. Andromeda let out a wail of despair, and she clung to her husband, Ted, as they buried their daughter. Standing over the other side of the grave, Hermione found herself holding onto Remus's hand as her vision clouded with tears. Beside her, Remus was sobbing quietly and once again Hermione felt so guilty about what had happened to Tonks. If she hadn't been guarding Lyra, she wouldn't have been killed and she would still be with them.

Consumed with grief and guilt, Hermione somehow made it through the rest of the funeral. However, once the burial was over she somehow found herself in front of Tonks's parents. She hadn't meant to speak to them, but she found she couldn't leave without saying something. She had to let them know how sorry she was for Tonks's death, and how much she missed her.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," Hermione said. "Tonks was an amazing person. You have no idea how much she helped me these last few months. She was an amazing support when I was pregnant, and she was brilliant with my daughter. I'm just sorry she was killed protecting her."

"Don't be," Andromeda said with a smile. "I didn't know what she was doing until a few days ago, but I do know she was proud of doing what she was. She was doing what was right, and she wouldn't want you to blame yourself. And we certainly don't blame you, Hermione. You're suffering as well, and we hope everything works out for you and your family."

"Thank you," Hermione replied softly.

Leaving Andromeda and Ted, Hermione checked Remus was okay before re-joining her friends so they could head back to school. While Dumbledore had allowed them to attend the funeral, he'd been adamant that they were to return to Hogwarts as soon as possible. Not that Hermione minded, she just wanted to get back to Lyra and spend the rest of the day snuggled up with her daughter.

While Dumbledore remained at the funeral, in order to attend the wake, McGonagall was in charge of taking the four teenagers back to Hogwarts. Once they'd said goodbye to the Weasleys, McGonagall reactivated the portkey and they all ended up back in Dumbledore's office.

"I expect you all in classes as normal tomorrow," McGonagall said to the foursome as they prepared to depart the office.

"Of course," Harry said with a nod.

"Are you coming back to Gryffindor Tower?" Ron asked Hermione as they trooped down the stairs leading from the headmaster's office.

"No, I want to get back to Lyra," Hermione replied. "But you can come back to the head dorms."

"That's okay," Ron said hastily, exchanging uneasy looks with Harry. "We really should go and change before dinner. We'll see you then."

"I don't know if I'll be at dinner," Hermione replied. Since Lyra had been at school, she'd only left her daughter to attend classes. She hadn't even done any Head Girl duties, although she and Dumbledore were due to have a talk on the subject in the next few days.

"We'll see you some time tonight," Harry said. "If you're not at dinner, we can come and see you afterwards."

"Okay," Hermione replied, even though she didn't expect to see her friends again tonight.

"Can I come back to the head dorms with you?" Ginny asked. "I'd love to see Lyra."

"Of course you can," Hermione replied with a genuine smile.

Leaving Harry and Ron to go back to Gryffindor Tower, Hermione and Ginny headed to the head dorms. When they arrived Madam Pomfrey reassured Hermione that Lyra had been just fine. Even so, the first thing Hermione did was gather her daughter in her arms and give her a big hug.

"Thank you ever so much," Hermione said to the medi-witch as she prepared to leave.

"You're welcome, Hermione," Madam Pomfrey replied with a smile. "Lyra's a joy to look after."

Once the med-witch was gone, Tipsy made Hermione and Ginny a cup of tea before the elf also headed off. Settling down together on the sofa, the two witches made a fuss of Lyra. Hermione was pleased to see the way Ginny was interacting with her daughter, and she hoped her attitude would start rubbing off on Harry and Ron. She wasn't sure how they were ever going to accept Lyra if they kept avoiding her and pretending as though she didn't exist.

Half an hour after they returned from the funeral, there was a knock on the door and when Hermione answered it, Blaise and Theo entered the room. Since classes had just ended for the day, they'd arrived to check on Hermione and see their favourite little girl.

"Wow," Ginny remarked in amazement as Theo and Blaise entered the room and immediately made a beeline for Lyra. "I've never seen teenage boys so comfortable with a baby."

"You should see Draco, he's a natural," Hermione said with a wistful sigh as she watched his best friends fuss over his daughter.

"He'll be okay, Hermione," Ginny said, putting an arm around her friend and giving her a hug. "Just you wait and see, everything will work out."

"I hope so," Hermione whispered as her mind wandered to Draco, and what awful things Voldemort was going to make him do.