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Disclaimer: Unsurprisingly, I own nothing. Naruto and Harry Potter belong to their respective creators.

He held the glass, staring at it. His face, reflected a million times over in the crystal, stared back. The amber fluid swayed gently. So many years, so many roads, so many times… He laughed. Raising the glass to his lips, he tilted his head back and gulped the liquid down. It burned like fire, aptly, considering its name. He placed the glass carefully on the counter and signaled to the barman for another. What's his name? I've seen him before, I've spoken to him… But I can't remember his name.

The barman brought him his drink and moved away. "Hey… What's your… I mean, I don't mean to be rude, but what's your name?" The barman frowned at him. He stared back, bemused. "No, seriously… What's your name?" Twisting his lip with contempt, the barman spat out a reply. "Michael Corner. As you bloody well know."

He was shocked. "Hey, Mickey… can I call you Mickey? Wow, it's been ages… How, I mean, how come you're… I mean, you're doing a great job, but…" Corner looked stunned. "You don't even remember?"

He shook his head. Corner laughed. It was a bitter laugh, he thought. Like tonic water. "You're bloody sister dumped me. I got depressed. Flunked half my NEWTS. Now I'm here. So thanks a lot, Ron. You and your bloody clan."

Ron spoke hazily, swaying on his stool. "Yeah, she can be a real bitch sometimes. I don't even like her much.." He leaned in closer, and grinned. "Hell, if she wasn't my sister, I'd probably jinx her arse to next full moon! Bitch deserves it!" Corner grinned back. "You're right, Weasley. Maybe you're not so bad after all. Tell you what, that one's on the house."

Ron bowed in thanks, and nearly fell of his stool. Corner moved away. Moron, thought Ron. You failed your NEWTS because you spent too much time taking illegal potions and not enough time studying. He sipped his drink. He could feel the gradual numbness building up, and knew that he was definitely getting drunk. He welcomed it. He turned to look around the room. Lessee what the talent's like… The place wasn't great. Most of the girls there were with someone, almost no one on their own. Except one… She was sitting in a booth, clearly waiting for someone. She looked bored. And she didn't fit in. She wore a lovely set of robes, but the cut was subtly wrong, and while she could pass for a native to the untrained eye, there was an unmistakable foreignness to her features that someone with a talent for that sort of thing could spot. Then there was her hair. Young people's fashion rarely caused comment, but pink hair was still unusual.

Ron grinned broadly. Shikamaru, you sly little so-and-so… You didn't tell her! He considered his options. The simple approach was acceptable, but far too boring. Hitting on her would be a lot more entertaining.

Haruno Sakura was bored, tired and frankly willing to leave, Tsunade or no. Shikamaru had been distinctly unhelpful, despite the importance of her mission, telling her to go to a bar on her own and wait for her contact. She had protested, but Shikamaru had told her: "He's a very idiosyncratic guy. Hates formality. It's best to do this in an informal place, or he'll never show." She had, reluctantly, bowed down to her colleague's superior knowledge. Now, she regretted it.

She scanned the bar again. No one. She knew that one could not always judge by appearances, but still… She remembered the first time she read the dossier. There was no picture, but the words said more than enough. Captain Ron Weasley, the only wizard to be classed as S-rank among their allies, and not because of his magic. Indeed, as Sakura understood, he was considered only proficient in that regard. What made him so dangerous was his other abilities. A strategic genius on a par with Shikamaru. Exceptional physical ability for a wizard, especially in Taijutsu, the result of a three-month intensive course Maito Gai had instituted during his stint as ambassador to Hogwarts. Only Ron and one other had finished the course, and Ron was the better of them. But his true deadliness was in his adaptability. Shikamaru described him as being able to think in straight curves, a metaphor that captured the man's unconventional approach to combat. Some of his plans seemed Genin-level on first view, but once examined proved to be far beyond ANBU standards. The man was… unique. All in all, a worthy recipient of the honor the Hokage wished to confer upon him.

She checked her bag. It was still there. The unprecedented gift from a Hokage to an outsider. Only once had it happened before, and that had been to another shinobi. But he deserves it, she thought. He's done some amazing stuff here, on such poor resources.While a shinobi could work with high-level operatives, most of Weasley's staff were poorly trained and terribly unsuited to their roles, and yet his missions had a higher success rate than Konoha's. He had never lost an operative, and only once failed in his objective – and that failure was even more indicative of the man's brilliance. She knew the case well. He was on a recon mission with four team-mates. The place was supposedly unguarded. The intel proved false. Three squads of Sound-nin's found them. Somehow, the man had organized a fighting retreat against superior numbers, eliminating two of their squads and leaving the third in chaos, all without his team getting a single scratch. Sakura struggled to name anyone in Konoha who could match that, with the exception of Shikamaru. Indeed, the similarities between the two extended to their mutual love of games.

She noticed a man walking towards her. He looked drunk. Very, very, very drunk. His hair was bright red, and his face was full of freckles. You can't be serious… Despite that, he was good-looking, with a warm smile and bright eyes. He sat down next to her. She cleared her throat. "I'm expecting someone."

"I know," he said. "You've been waiting for me all your life, right?"

She gave a sarcastic smile. The man kept talking. "Let me tell you how this goes. We talk for a while. You try to persuade me to leave. I stay. Finally you agree to have a drink with me. We drink. We talk. You laugh. We drink some more. After a while, you realize that I'm not so bad after all. We laugh some more, get a little bit cozier. Then it's time to leave. We leave. I walk you back, you invite me in for a coffee. You tell me you're not that kind of girl, but this time you'll make an exception. A few minutes later, those robes are on the floor, and we're having the time of our lives."

Sakura was shocked. She desperately tried to think of something to say. The man kept talking. "Or we could do things differently. We leave now. We go to yours, and we get the fun started early."

She was starting to blush. Her inner voice screamed at her to stay calm, to keep her self-possession, to say something, anything! Finally she stammered out: "Excuse me?"

The man grinned. "C'mon, you know what I mean. Let's cut the bullshit and get going."

"Look, I'm sorry, but I think you have the wrong person."

The man kept smiling. "I know things are different in Konoha, but surely you have one night stands?"

The shock barely lasted a second. She became fully alert, one hand holding a hidden kunai, the other forming the first hand seal. Her eyes narrowed, fully focused on the man in front. "Who are you? Who sent you?!"

The grin never slipped. "Relax, Haruno Sakura. I'm the one they sent you to meet."

Sakura was still tense. "What, you're…?"

The man nodded. "Yep. The name's Weasley. Ron Weasley. But you can call me… anytime."

A few hours later, Ron's prediction was on track. Sakura was laughing, almost spilling her third or fourth cocktail. Ron was chuckling too.

"Wow, you're pretty funny, Ron-san!"

"Relax with the formality. Just call me Ron!"

"Ok… Ron!"

She laughed again. Ron was surprised. It turned out that Sakura wasn't anywhere near as reserved as Shikamaru had described, especially after a few drinks. He checked the time. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two people approaching the table. Sakura hadn't noticed.

"You know, you're nothing like what Shikamaru said. Or Hinata. You're very… different in person."

A new voice cut int. "Yeah. We thought you should see the real Ron Weasley."

Ron grinned. "Hinata, baby, why don't you ever return my calls?!"

The Hyuuga shook her head in amusement. "What are you talking about? You never call!"

Shikamaru was struggling not to laugh. They new arrivals sat down. Sakura seemed distinctly embarrassed. Hinata looked at her friend's glass. "How many have you had?"

Sakura blushed. "Only one…"

Ron cut in. "Or four!"

They laughed. Shikamaru spoke, a dry humor lacing his words. "Well, I hope you're not too intoxicated for business."

Ron smirked at him. "You know me, old man. I'm nevertoo intoxicated for business!" He winked at Sakura, who blushed again.

Hinata spoke. "Now, now, children, let's not behave like genin on a summer lark." Sakura tried to focus, but was distracted by Ron blowing her a kiss, causing her to laugh. Hinata threw a napkin at the red-head. "Yes, Mother. I'll be good."

Shaking his head, Shikamaru looked at the group. "Weasley-san. I'm being formal for a reason. The Hokage has decided to reward you for your continuing support and assistance in this war. Sakura, the Hokage's disciple and adjutant, was sent here specifically for that purpose." Sakura picked up on her cue. "The Village of Hidden Leaf would like to bestow upon you the rank of 'Honorary Leaf-nin' as a symbol of the enduring strength of our alliance. I had a fuller speech prepared, but I get the feeling you aren't one for formality." Ron grinned. "So, in short, we would like to present you with this."

She presented the package to Ron. He opened it. Inside was a steel band, attached to a cloth strip, with a stylized leaf engraved into it. Ron looked up. Hinata was speaking. "The Hitai-ite is a symbol of a shinobi. It is a sign that you are a protector of the Village and that the Village will protect you in hardship. We give you this to show that we consider you as an equal."

Ron was stunned. "Guys… I'm…"

Shikamaru smiled wryly. "What do you know, he's actually speechless."

Everyone laughed, Ron included. Sakura extended her hand. "Congratulations, Weasley-San. From your file, I can tell you earned it."

Shikamaru sipped his sake. They had left the bar hours before, and were now in the Konoha Embassy. Sakura had retired, due to her long trip in the morning, while Hinata had some paper-work to catch up on. The two men sat in Shikamaru's office. Since the girls had left, Ron was uncharacteristically quiet.

If he had been told, way back then, how the future would pan out, would he have been able to believe it? He remembered their first meeting. It had been during Gai's goodwill visit to Hogwarts, when Shikamaru was posted briefly to England to assess joint strategy. At the end of the meeting, Albus Dumbledore had invited him to dine at Hogwarts, and Shikamaru had grudgingly accepted, more from a desire to see his friends than out of any wish to sped time at a wizard school. After the meal, having sat at the high table and put up with the stares from the children, he was informed that should he wish to stay, quarters were arranged for him. He had been in two minds about accepting, worried that the Village might object, when Gai informed him that he had been allowed a few days leave to spend there, should he wish it. He had accepted, more because leave was such a rare commodity it seemed insane to waste it.

The quarters he was assigned were spacious and comfortable, in the Gryffindor Tower, though he did not understand the distinction then. Early in the morning, he had wandered down to the common room and sat in an armchair, staring at a wizard chess set. A noise had made him turn, and he came face to face with Ron Weasley. He had been sneaking in through the portrait. After begging Shikamaru not to tell anyone, he offered a game of chess to pass the time. Shikamaru was not unfamiliar with Western chess, and had been confident in taking the challenge.

The game lasted half a day. Luckily for the boy, he had no lessons, or he would have been in serious trouble. As it was, he resisted the exhortations of his friends to join them in school work or play, preferring to continue the match. After the seventh hour of play, they began to attract an audience. Ron's skill at chess had been legendary, and everyone was surprised to see a game last this long. By the ninth hour, the entire house was watching, and teachers were gathering for the show. Gai and his team entered to support their countryman. When the last move was made, and the checkmate sealed, the players were greeted by thunderous applause. Despite losing, Shikamaru was cheered by the Hogwarts students for giving their champion such a contest. That was the beginning of their friendship. They had spent more time together over the next few days. Occasionally they were joined by one or another of Ron's friends, but Shikamaru only dimly remembered them. When he had gone back to Konoha, they stayed in touch by letter.

It was hard to say when he realized that his western friend was a natural shinobi. Was it after Gai returned, and told him that Ron got a perfect score on his three month Taijutsu course. Or maybe from the beginning of the dark days and the assault on Hogwarts, when his friend had conducted his first combat operation, capturing seven Death Eaters single handedly and surviving a clash against a Sound Shinobi long enough to raise the alarm. Either way, it came as little surprise when he learned that Ron had been accepted onto the ASF training program, their first non-Auror candidate. His rise had been meteoric. The debacle in Diagon Alley, and his brilliance in regrouping the forces and salvaging the operation, saving hundreds of lives, saw him promoted. In conjunction with the new Commander, he redesigned the program entirely, aiming to have a force that could compete evenly with shinobi within two months. When Voldemort led his second attack on the Ministry, Ron's prompt action thwarted his plans, and it would have been a complete success if not for the death of Albus Dumbledore.

Since that day, Ron had changed. Shikamaru wondered if he still blamed himself for it, but the man's manner was different. He became the Captain, a legendary figure, famed for his lightning assaults on the enemy, often capturing several leading operatives and killing equally many. His record in joint operations was even more impressive. Before Ron, joint operations had a failure rate of over fifty percent. Afterwards, their failure rate was a mere seven percent. But that wasn't all. His personality had changed. He wasn't the awkward teenager anymore. Now he was confident, aggressive and calculating, but also very erratic and far more demanding of his staff. His tolerance for mistakes was non-existent, and he almost certainly preferred to kill over capture. He had become more shinobi than a shinobi.

Ron spoke, cutting through Shikamaru's reminiscences. "I guess this means it's all been prepared."

Shikamaru nodded. "Everything is taken care of. If you need it, you'll have a home in Konoha. We'll put you on an intensive course to give you the necessary skills, but afterwards, you'll be able to live as a shinobi."

Ron exhaled sharply. "Good. I'm hoping it won't come to that, but the way things are going, you never know."

"It's always good to be prepared. Though I'm surprised you'd need to go this far."

Ron smiled sadly. "The problem with the wizarding world is that there's too much politics. We may be in a war, but the game is still played. Maneuvering, nest building, cliques and corruption are endemic. Half my proposals are vetoed because of the power play. And then we have the career politicians, who'll do anything to make themselves look good but balk at real action. It's impossible to do anything. They're trying to cut into my operational independence, demanding more consultation, more joint this, more public that… it's all rubbish."

Shikamaru nodded sympathetically. In any shinobi nation, someone of Ron's talent would be leading the Strategic Command. Here, he was shackled by the stupidity of his superiors.

"Then there are the isolationists, who insist that the war is over now Voldemort has gone east. They're growing in number. And when you add on something like the Albardic case…"

Shikamaru poured his friend another cup. The Albardic case was fast turning into a nightmare. An official, one of the most outspoken pro-alliance members of the Ministry, had been murdered in his home by an unknown assassin who had bypassed the best in Ministry security and carved a snake on the man's back. While many believed that Voldemort was behind it, a small minority insisted that it was done by their allies, pointing to the difference between Voldemort's snake and the one on the dead body. They claimed it was a conspiracy, as Albardic was receiving money for keeping quiet over the number of shinobi in the UK, and used it as proof that the alliance was dangerous. Though the mainstream didn't agree to that extent, many influential commentators were openly asking whether the alliance made it easier for shinobi to operate in the country, and if so, whether or not it was more trouble than it was worth...

"The Albardic case will blow over. It would be very hard to prove that we were involved."

Ron snorted. "They don't need to. Just a suggestion is enough. Shinobi make people uncomfortable. I've explained that the reason things are quiet is because you guys are taking the loss back east, but they ignore me. They even call me a sympathizer and a traitor. Not to my face, but they whisper it."

He shook his head. "Look, enough gloomy talk. Let's enjoy the rest of this bottle."

Shikamaru smiled, and poured himself a cup. In some ways, Ron would never change.

A/N - More of a background chapter here. Now you get to learn a little more about why Ron is the way he is now. And that the ladies should really stay away from the ginger love-god!