December 2000

The lobby was crowded when they arrived at St. Mungo's. Harry led Hermione over to the line waiting for the Welcome Witch. After several minutes they finally made it to the front of the line. "Ronald Weasley," Harry told her. "He's an Auror and was brought in within the last hour."

The Welcome Witch consulted the clipboard in her hand. "Spell Damage Ward," she told them.

"Thank you," Harry replied, leading Hermione toward the lifts. They took the lifts to the fourth floor and were directed to a small side room where a Healer was speaking to Ron. The red head was barely recognizable for all the bandages. Harry had seen these injuries before when visiting those injured in the Final Battle. Ron had burns and cuts covering all visible parts of his body. From the angle his leg was laying, Harry knew it was broken. He wouldn't have been surprised if Ron had internal injuries as well.

The Healer stepped away from Ron and walked over to them. "Mrs. Weasley?"

Hermione nodded. "How bad is it?"

"It's not good, ma'am. I've never seen damage this bad. Lacerations, burns, broken bones, internal damage…his chances aren't good and if he does make it, he'll never fully recover."

She closed her eyes and Harry placed a comforting arm around her. "You're certain?"

"Positive."

There was movement over at the bed. "'Mi…Harry…"

"I'll give you a few minutes," the Healer told them, stepping out of the room.

Hermione and Harry moved over to the bed. "Oh Ron…" Hermione said, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Don't cry…"

"I can't help it," she replied, gently placing her hand on one of his bandage covered hands.

"Where's the baby?"

"With Andromeda. We were at Grimmauld Place when Percy found us."

"Can you get her? I want to see her…"

She nodded and gently kissed his cheek before leaving the room, pausing at the door to look back at him for a moment.

"How are you, mate?" Harry asked.

"I'm not going to make it, Harry," Ron told him.

"Ron…"

"No. I don't want to end up on the Janus Thickey Ward. Don't want Libby coming to see me on holidays and such like Neville does with his parents."

"I'll miss you, mate."

"We haven't always seen eye-to-eye, Harry, but you're still my best friend."

Harry sat on the edge of the bed. "Same goes for me, Ron."

"Take care of my girls?"

"Of course. They'll always have a home with Ginny and I."

"Thanks, mate," Ron said, closing his eyes.

Harry sat with him as his breathing slowed and then finally stopped. He stayed another moment before standing and going to find Hermione.

--

Almost as soon as Harry and Hermione left to go to St. Mungo's, Libby began to cry for her mother. Draco lifted the toddler into his arms. "it's alright, princess," he cooed, cuddling her close. "Your mummy will be back soon."

"She's probably tired," Andromeda told him. "Why don't you take her up to Teddy's room and rock her. I'll bring up a bottle in a few minutes."

He nodded and wandlessly summoned the small stuffed dragon that he had given her a birth. Hermione had charmed him to be a bright green with pink spots instead of the dark green and silver it had been it had been when he had played with it as a toddler. It looked like something out of a Muggle cartoon that he had seen while passing a Muggle electronics store one day. Libby snatched the dragon from him and hugged him tightly. He kissed the top of her auburn hair, carrying her up to Teddy's room where an extra crib had been set up for the young girl.

Draco sat in the rocking chair, which had been salvaged from the Potter's home in Godric's Hollow by Severus for Harry's nineteenth birthday, and settled her on his lap. He took the bottler that Kreacher brought to him and gave it to the girl who could have been his daughter. "Libby...when you grow up you better listen to your heart and not your head. If your Uncle Draco had done that, then he'd be your daddy right now and your mummy wouldn't have had to rush off to St. Mungo's." He sighed deeply. "I hate to say it, princess, but I don't think your daddy is going to make it. I'm no Seer like Katie...it's just a feeling. Your poor mummy is going to need lots of comfort and I just won't be able to give it to her. It just wouldn't be fair to either of us...or Astoria."

He glanced down and noticed that Libby had fallen asleep in his arms. Shifting her into a more comfortable position, he closed his eyes and he continued to rock her. There was no sense in mourning what could have been. He had to focus on what was...but for a moment...just for a moment...he'd pretend.

--

Andromeda watched as Draco carried Libby up the stairs to the bedrooms and then turned back to look at her grandson. He was normally a very well behaved child so he would be alright left alone for a few moments while she prepared a bottle for Libby as long as she placed a few specialized charms around the room. Many wealthy families had house elves who acted as nannies for their young children. Andromeda had grown up with one such nanny, but didn't want that for her grandson. Harry didn't want it either. They were both fine with leaving Teddy in Kreacher's care for short periods of time, but neither wanted to turn his complete care over to the elf.

Placing the charms and wards that would keep Teddy in his play area and alert her if he needed her, Andromeda made her way downstairs into the kitchen to prepare the bottle for Libby.

She easily prepared the bottle, using a charm to warm it. As she turned to take it upstairs to Draco, she suddenly grew dizzy and there was a tightness in her chest that made it hard to breath. Staggering, she dropped into the nearest chair.

Kreacher appeared by her side with a quiet pop. "Is Mistress alright? Should Kreacher get Master Harry or Master Draco?"

"No," she gasped. "I'm fine."

"But Mistress..."

"Just take the bottle to Draco and watch Teddy for me, Kreacher. I'll be back upstairs in a moment."

The elf looked like he wanted to protest further, but took the bottle and did as he was instructed.

--

Harry found Hermione sitting in the lobby of St. Mungo's near the Floo. He crossed the busy waiting room and sank into the seat next to her. "Mi..."

She lifted her face from her hands. "He's gone, isn't he?"

"Yeah," he sighed, pulling her into his arms.

"I knew when I saw him, Harry," she replied, resting her head on his chest. "He...he didn't really want to see Libby, did he?"

"No. I think he just didn't want you to have to witness another death, Mi...that's something we should have never seen."

"And you saw it earlier than any of us did."

"I know," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I promised Ron that I would take care of you and Libby...but that means you have to let me, Mi. If you need anything, no matter how big or small, you have to let me know."

"I will, Harry," she told him as the rest of the Weasley family stumbled from the Floo.