The Morning After

Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me. All rights go to JK Rowling/Warner Bros. I do not profit in any way.

"Not them as well," Andromeda Tonks whispered to herself. "Not them as well."

She stared at the bold headline of the Daily Prophet. Apparently the war had been won.

It didn't feel like it to her.

She closed her eyes, as if upon reopening she'd find that it was all a terrible, nightmarish mistake; Her Ted had never died, he was right there beside her, laughing at the foolishness of his wife, and Dora and Remus weren't dead. They were upstairs, playing with Teddy.

Andromeda opened her eyes to face the harsh reality. Dead. Dora and Remus were dead - killed - murdered.

She leaned her head on the kitchen table, tears finally spilling from her eyes. She wondered whether her sisters had known the murderer. They probably had; they both had Death Eater husbands, and Bella is… was one herself.

Bella too. She was dead.

Dead for being a murderer.

She didn't see Bella's death as a murder in the way Harry had explained it to her. She'd been trying to kill someone else…

Andromeda wasn't sure what she thought of her sister's death.

She wept for her daughter and son-in-law. They'd only just started their lives, had a son; how cruel that they never had a chance to experience parenthood to it's full extent.

She walked upstairs, tears still streaming down her face, and walked into Teddy's room - once intended as an overnight stay room. It would be permanent now.

She remembered the day they'd painted it; before Remus had left on his mission, and before Ted had gone into hiding. It seemed so long ago now, the four of them decorating the room in neutral colours, wondering whether it would be a boy or girl, Dora's modest baby bump patted frequently. Remus had insisted that she didn't climb the ladders, even though she was only a few months in… It seemed so long ago now.

Teddy was awake, but not crying. He looked up at his grandmother inquiringly with his father's blue eyes, as if asking where his parents were.

She picked him up with shaking hands.

"They're not here, darling, they're gone. I'll look after you, my darling, I promise you," she sobbed.

She cradled Teddy to her, as he too began to cry.

A/N: Feedback is always great.