"This is... not the moment to discuss it," Remus insisted, avoiding everybody's
eyes as he looked around distractedly. "Dumbledore is dead―"
"Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little
more love in the world," Minerva said curtly.
Remus had been grateful for a reprieve in the conversation, even if it was a change
back to the topic of Dumbledore's death and what would need to happen next.
Minerva insisted that the students return to their beds, and the members of the
Order—save for Molly, Arthur, and Fleur—all agreed to assist the staff in rounding up
stray teenagers and escorting them back to their individual common rooms. Many had left
at the sound of the battle in the corridors.
Slughorn went to the dungeons, effectively taking over as Head of Slytherin now
that Snape had shown his true colours. Since Filius was still recovering from being knocked
unconscious, Minerva escorted Luna back to the fifth floor to look over the Ravenclaws.
Dora met up with Pomona in order to round up the large group of Hufflepuffs.
Remus had the worst job of all, searching for the recklessly brave, wayward
Gryffindors, who had escaped the tower at the sound of a fight, eager to jump into the
fray. He walked Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Hermione back to the common room
before leaving once again to look for others.
An hour later, when the smallest first year lion was back in its den, Remus found
himself walking up the giant staircase toward the scene of destruction from earlier. A part
of him wanted to see for himself the last place Albus Dumbledore stood alive.
When he reached the broken Astronomy Tower, the last person he expected to see
was Hermione, standing near the rails. He stepped over the broken pieces of rubble that
had yet to be cleared away from the entrance. "Hermione?"
"Remus!" Hermione gasped. "Oh. Sorry, you startled me."
"Forgive me." He frowned, hands shoved into the pockets of his robes as he slowly
approached her. "I didn't think anyone would be up here. I didn't think anyone
would want to be up here—not for a while at least."
"I couldn't sleep," Hermione admitted with a frown.