Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter NOR any of his friends NEITHER any of his enemies. It's hard to admit, but when I'm done with them all, I have to return them to Joanne K. Rowling in an original wrapping and unharmed. I make no money, I mean no harm.

Patchwork
The Fall A-Coming

"... so we just got her stuff from the manor today," Draco finished and made an unsuccessful attempt to catch a gnome. The escaped gnome started laughing at him, never noticing Hermione, who crept behind him, caught him and after twisting him above her head, threw him out of the garden.

"Are you seeing her again?" she asked Draco, eyes already fixed on another gnome.

"Sure. I'm glad I have at least one decent relative." Draco managed to grab one gnome around its waist. He had to turn around few times to get the momentum and the gnome still fell just few steps behind the garden wall. Still, he was getting better at this. He looked at Hermione to find her glaring at him.

"One decent relative?" she asked angrily. "And what about Tonks and her mum?"

"Tonks?" Draco was confused. "Who's..."

"The girl with coloured hair. You've seen her," Hermione reminded him.

"Lupin's girlfriend? What does she do with my relatives?"

"You mean you don't know?"

"What don't I know? No, I probably don't, isn't that obvious?"

"Oh, well, okay. Guess your family would hardly tell you about them." Hermione calmed down, the focus of her ire set on people already dead.

"So?" Draco prompted her.

"Tonks' mum is your mum's sister," Hermione explained. "She married a Muggleborn."

"Well, that explains why she never popped in." Draco looked around the garden. It seemed gnome-less. "Think we're done here?"

"Yeah." They headed back to the house. "Will you come to see Ron with me?" Again, Draco felt unsure - would Ron want to see him? He certainly didn't long for Ron's presence, but then, the proximity of death was said to make people more amiable. Maybe it was time to clear the air between them.

"It would be my pleasure," he said formally. Hermione smiled at him brilliantly. She most likely didn't see through it.

"I wanted to take him some books," she continued happilly.

"He'll certainly be thrilled," Draco remarked mischievously. Hermione swatted him in mock anger.

"I was thinking about some Quidditch-themed stuff. Ginny said she had a thing or two somewhere in the attic. Come." Draco followed Hermione up the narrow, crooked stairs. Good thing Ginny didn't keep the books in her room. Draco had developed a tiny crush on her over the last few months, but since she was seeing Blaise, he couldn't very well act on this feelings and being in her room would be just creepy.

Oh well, so it was more than just a tiny crush, and it had been terrible about a month before that, but it would go away on its own eventually.

Hermione led him to an old trunk in one of the most dusty corners Draco had ever seen. She opened the trunk and revealed books, pieces of garment, small toys and a lot of other junk inside.

"There we go!" she said enthusiastically and started rummaging through it. Draco fished a book out of the pile and read the title - Dragon Fairy Tales - he put the book aside.

The early afternoon sun shone through the small attic window and coloured Hermione's hair red. Draco imagined this might be how Ron's and Hermione's children would look like - with a big, flaming bush blossoming on their heads. Kind of cute. And he had nearly stopped that from happening - he wondered if Snape had told Hermione or anyone in the Order what exactly Draco's last mission had been about.

He had been standing in the shadows for nearly twenty minutes, watching Hermione through the window, before he had realised he hadn't been able to kill her.

Not even to save his mother's life.

He couldn't have asked Snape to kill her in his stead. That wouldn't have done the trick again. Besides, he hadn't wanted her to die. Out of the blue, he had felt so sick with it all he had nearly thrown his wand away, disgusted with himself for ever planning on this. But then, that wouldn't have saved Hermione - there were other Death Eaters hidden around the house.

And then he had seen Hermione turning off the lights and he had felt her disapparating. He had tried to cover her departure with a beam of green light, hitting one of the armchairs in the then empty room, but the beam turned out yellow.

He hadn't even had enough concentration to fake the Killing curse.

"Draco?" Hermione touched his arm. "Penny for them?" But he shook his head.

Once again, Minerva McGonagall picked up the list of former Hogwarts students. This one was compiled of those who had passed the NEWT Muggle Studies with at least an average score.

"Now, this is ridiculous," she muttered to herself. "How on the Earth will I get anyone to take the position a day before the school year starts? No, Emma Eastwick has already refused. And Mr. Talkebutt has no real teaching abilities. Fiona Fiddlewick..."

"... has married this month and is currently enjoying her honeymoon," one of the portraits supplied. Minerva sighed.

"I wish I could..." Her eyes shone lightly upon seeing another name on the list. She cocked her head, considering the option, and summonned a detailed report on the ex-student.

"And why not?" she asked herself. With a wave of her wand she banished the rest of the parchments and set to composing a letter.

Hermione had been chatting light-heartedly all the way from the Apparition point in the entrance hall of St. Mungo's to Ron's room, the sight of which finally silenced her.

Ron wasn't in his bed.

His things were still on the bedside-table, though, so Draco gallantly went to ask someone from the staff about it. He learned Ron had gone for a walk to the top floor and should be back any time.

"What now?" Hermione asked, thrown off balance temporarily. During the war, anyone could have disappeared from anywhere, never to be seen again. The fear of sudden loss hadn't left yet.

"There's only one staircase here. Let's go up to meet him," Draco suggested, anxious for no reason. He took Hermione's elbow and led her out of the ward.

They only climbed one flight of stairs when a happy voice sounded from the top, "Hey there!" Ron was standing two floors above them, waving at them - or at Hermione, Draco thought.

"Hello, Ron," Hermione answered. Their eyes locked for a second and they both beamed.

Draco felt shadowy.

"Wait there, I'll be right with you!" Ron shouted. Several passer-bys turned but no-one commented as Ron resumed his slow descent. His limbs were, after all, still a bit weak and awkward, in spite of the progress he was making. Halfway through the first flight of stairs he looked up to smile at Hermione and tripped.

As if in a slow-motion, he tried to grab on the railing, but his fingers slipped and he fell down, turning over once, twice... The sound rushed back into Draco's ears as he knelt beside the still bundle that had fallen at their feet with the head turned too much to one side. Maybe there was still a hope. Draco tried with a shaking hand to feel the pulse.

A beam of silver light washed over Ron - Hermione had performed the checking charm she had developed during the war - with no response.

Draco caught Hermione just before she too, having passed out, could start rolling down the stairs.

A/N: A big apology to everyone who wanted Ron to make it through, especially to TearsOfTheForgotten, who had the premonition in the first chapter already.
Also, I apologise for writing this one so short. I'll try to update as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed - remember that every review is appreciated and treasured. :)