The night air seemed to grow colder as the group stepped outside. The half moon shone brighter than the sun, it seemed and reflected the ginger in Ron's hair as he stepped out onto the grass. Harry followed behind him, his wand at the ready. They walked to opposite sides of the yard. Ron shook as a breeze picked up, his hair shifting back and forth. Harry grinned looking to Hermione, then back at Ron. "We can't let them do this!" Mrs. Weasley screeched running over to where Ron was.
"Molly stop!" Dumbledor yelled pointing his wand at her. "You know that it is wizarding code of conduct. You cannot stop a duel once it has been started. They must finish it."
"But what if one of them dies Albus? I will never forgive myself!" Mrs. Weasley began to tear up.
"We won't let them die Molly. For one thing they don't know enough magic to let that happen, they can't produce the death curses, even at a seventh year level, and for another, we will make sure that they are protected. Just watch!" Sirius smiled winking at Harry. Harry smirked as he looked at Ron and then looked over to Hermione.
"Don't cry too hard when Ron looses Hermione!" she scowled at him clasping her hands together. She waited patiently in the quiet not sure what to do. She wanted to run and protect them both, but couldn't.
"Wands at the ready!" Sirius cried out into the cool night air. Birds jumped noisily into the air from a nearby tree, the sound of Sirius' voice waking them from a deep slumber. Mrs. Weasley cringed looking at Ron and then Dumbledore.
"Do something Arthur!" she shouted at her husband, not really sure that there was anything that he could do.
"Mom, don't worry, he can't die!" George smiled at his mother acting as if this sentance solved anything. "He's already been dead, right Professor?" Dumbledore looked at the ground, the smile faded from his face.
"I'm not sure. Death is a funny thing. Not many people know much about it because not many people who die live to tell the story of death. We cannot learn things like that from the dead." he chuckled at his joke, but still didn't smile.
"Please Sirius, don't egg this on!" Lupin yelled, as Sirius yelled "Duel!" Harry raised his wand up high while Ron lowered his.
"IMPEDIMENTIA!" Ron yelled, taking his aim at Harry.
"FURNUNCULUS!" Harry yelled at the same time. Shimmers in the air seemed to shift as the spells hit each other. Both Ron and Harry paused to watch the reaction each other would have. Harry began to chuckle then stopped as his movements became slower. "WHAT?" he started to say but his voice was slurred as it slowed down.Rancid boils began to spread like wildfire across Ron's face. Mrs. Weasley cried out in worry covering over her eyes. Sirius laughed, rolling on the ground holding his side. Hermione put her hands on her hips and scowled. 'Whats the worst that they could possibly do?' she thought to herself looking at Harry as he tried to slowly pull his wand towards him. Ron had placed his hands over his face trying cover the boils. Fred and George joined Sirius on the ground laughing so hard that tears were forming in their eyes.
"Dumbledore make them stop!" Mrs. Weasley gasped as Ron moved his hand.
"Molly what is the worse that could happen to them? They don't know any really harmful curses, and they know not to use them. Plus there is only one person who can stop them, she just needs to wake up!" Dumbledore looked back at Harry and Ron. They both raised their wands.
"Finite Incantatem!" they both yelled at the same time, pointing their wands at themselves. Things started to return back to normal.
"Stop it both of you!" Hermione shouted as if that was going to cause them to stop, but they both just looked at her, anger growing in their eyes. Ron raised his wand and spoke.
"INCENDIO!" he screamed a red hot flame shooting from the end of his wand. The ground in front of Harry began to burn. Harry raised his wand.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Harry shouted causing Ron's wand to fly out of his hand. He began stamping wildly at the fire in front of him. Hermione looked at all of the adults who were still laughing.
"What are you doing? They are going to kill themselves!" Hermione yelled as Mrs. Weasley covered over her eyes once more. They watched Ron run frantically around looking for his wand.
"Come now Hermione, certainly you must find this somewhat amusing." Lupin laughed. The clouds began to move forward and cover over the moon.
"Hermione will you wake up!" George sputtered out between the laughter. He and Fred were still rolling on the ground laughing with Sirius. Hermione stood back confused.
"LOCOMOTOR MORTIS!" Harry yelled as soon as he stomped out the flames, his anger growing stronger with every spell. Shimmers in the air began to shoot towards Ron's legs. He tried to walk forward, but his legs wouldn't move. His legs were locked. "RICTUSEMPRA!" Ron shouted as he fell forward, his legs unable to move. Harry started to laugh uncontrolably. He covered his mouth in an attempt to stop, but it was no use. Harry couldn't stop laughing, Ron's spell was too much. He winced in pain from laughing so hard.
"FINITE INCANTATEM!" they both cast at themselves. They started to return to normal.
"Ron why did you cast that? That was totally rude!" Harry yelled at him, pointing his wand and still laughing.
"Well, why did you cast those spells on me?"Ron smirked, but his voice was somewhat angry.Hermione looked at them in surprise. They both sounded angry, they both sounded upset, but they weren't acting normal.
"What is wrong with you both?" Hermione shouted into the air, confused by both of their actions. She needed to stop this before they hurt themselves. Mrs. Weasley put a hand on her chest and let out a gasp.
"Thank you Hermione. Please talk some sense into these boys!" she smiled at Hermione walking towards Ron, but they weren't done.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Harry yelled at Mrs. Weasely. Her body went ridgid and she fell with a thud onto the hard ground.
Everyone around them gasped. Sirius, Fred and George got up off the ground and stared at Harry. Clouds began to float gently over the moon, and things became much darker. The cool night breeze slowly began to pick back up and Hermione shivered.
"This is not a game." Harry whispered, his voice dark and menacing. A shimmer of moonlight shone through the cloud and illuminated his glasses casting an eerie shadow across his face.
"What are you talking about Harry?" Lupin ran forward to pick up Mrs. Weasley from the ground. "Wingardium Leviosa." she lifted off the ground and he guided her back over to the group.
"Harry, I just cast a laughing spell on you. You can't tell me that you don't think that this is fun. Plus we can't fight over Hermione, thats morally wrong." Ron smiled at Hermione who nodded in approval.
"Your choice." Harry laughed, his voice deep and airy. "Hermione belongs to me. You cannot interfere anymore." Everyones mouths dropped to the ground. This was not Harry at. "I am the most prized possesion that the wizarding world has. People love and adore me. I would ask no more of you Ron. Back down you coward." All of this media attention had gone to his head and Hermione knew it.
"You treat me like I am so prize." Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared at Harry. Ron just stood there with his mouth gaping open. "How dare you! Just because the media has been all over you since you woke up!"
"The media loves me, the people love me! If it hadn't been for me, none of you would be here right now, or at least free." Harry threw his head back once more and let out a blood chilling laugh.
"Harry stop!" Hermione gasped, surprised by how much Harry had changed. Lupin was leaning over Mrs. Weasley, trying to revive her. Mr. Weasley, and Sirius had grabbed their wands and were pointing them at Harry, while shoving Fred and George inside the house. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I can! This power is so great, and I feel so strong. How could I not use it to gain my love? Why let this power just sit. I will have you Hermione, and the wizarding world will love me." he walked towards her, wand extended. He smirked at her ready to grab her hand, but Ron stepped in the way.
"Harry we haven't finished our duel. She is not yours." Ron growled spreading his arms out in front of Hermione. Harry stepped forward into Ron's face trying to grab at her, but Ron was stronger.
"Fine then." Harry smirked taking a step back. He watched as Ron turned to Hermione. He gripped Hermione tightly and looked at Harry.
"Hermione are you alright?" he whispered pulling her tighter as Harry took a step towards her again. She turned away and burried her face into Ron's chest. She suddenly realized how built Ron was. He had muscles lining his arms and stomache, and she could see them through his shirt. His chest was broad, along with shoulders and his face was covered in freckles. She smiled as she took in a breath up against his chest. Harry watched them for a bit, glaring and then pulled up his wand. The tip of it poked forcefully at Hermione's head making her turn in his direction. "So you choose Ron over me? Let this be our final duel. You will be mine." Sirius walked forward and moved in front of Ron and Hermione.
"Harry thats enough, this battle is done. A choice has been made, you are no longer obligated to continue the duel. We can stop you now if we have to." Sirius took out his wand, his voice stern.
"Arthur make them stop!" Mrs. Weasley gasped as Lupin released her from the spell. Her eyes were huge, and her breath was sharp and ragged. She grabbed onto Mr. Weasley and pulled herself up. It seemed as if the spell had made her very weak.
"What do you want me to do Molly? I can't use spells on them they are our children and our loved ones." Mr. Weasley grabbed onto his wife and hugged her. "Oh love I am so glad that you are okay."
"Make him take that wand away from Hermione's head." Lupin pointed at Sirius. "Before he hurts someone." but it was too late. He had already began to duel.
"Ron don't. Please don't duel with him!" Hermione whispered, tears forming at the edges of her eyes. Ron reached up and wiped a tear away.
"Hermione don't worry. I am already dead. He can't kill me. Whats the worst spell that he can possibly produce anyways? We are only 7th years. It will be fine." Ron smiled as he released her and pushed her back off to the side. Lupin came up and put his arm around her as she began to cry. Sirius and Mr. Weasley stood in front of Ron. The poised their wands facing Harry, ready to strike if nessecary. Mrs. Weasely cried out for her husband, fearing what would happen.
"You would stand and defend him Sirius?" Harry scowled drawing his wand up like a sword. "You are my godfather and you would defend him?" a shadow of a tear ran down his face, his voice edged with hurt and pain.
"You are not yourself Harry. Something has happened to you. You are different. Tell me Harry, would you expect me as your godfather to defend you like this?" Sirius watched as Harry started to cry his voice just as pained. He raised his wand to match Harry's. "Harry, I will strike you if need be." Harry looked at Hermione helplessly. Tears seeped down his face as he force them away with the back of his hand. The shadow on across his face grew softer, but lingered. Sirius lowered his wand and sighed as if defeating some great evil. He started to walk towards Harry.
"How is it that I can be so great, and yet the one person I look to for support disownes me for mine enemy? The girl that I loves leaves me, and I have nothing. Nothing but power. Tell me Sirius, what is to stop me from killing you?" he grinned and shoved his wand into Sirius face. Ron started towards Sirius, fire burining in his eyes. Sirius stuck his hand out to stop Ron from coming but it was too late. Ron shoved the wand from Sirius's face and pushed him aside. He flexed his muscles waiting for a blow to hit him that would never come.
"Why Ron, would you put yourself in harms way to save another such as Sirius. He is a liar, and a betrayer." Harry scowled wiping the tears from his eyes. He looked to Hermione in sorrow and then back at Ron. "How is it you can be so happy with the minimal amount of things that you have and I can't? I have power and pull. The wizarding world adores me and yet you get the girl." Ron braced himself as Harry lowered his wand. Hermione looked to the ground as if she felt bad, yet she was happier than she had ever been, under the circustances.
"I'm sorry." she whispered, unsure what to tell him.
"What?"Harry looked at her, a smile growing on his face.
"I'm sorry that I waisted my time with you!" she yelled her fury taking over. She wanted Ron to hurt him. She wanted Ron to blow him away, far away, where he could no longer hurt them.
"Ron are you ready for the final duel?" Harry yelled to match Hermione, his voice shaking wildly through the sleepy street. Ron took a step towards Hermione and stopped. Sirius started to walk back towards him in fear of what Harry would do.
"I'm ready." Ron braced himself pushing Sirius back. "I will fight him Sirius, and I will win. Do not fear." he smiled as he walked across from Harry. Sirius reached out to grab him but was too late. Harry and Ron were to have on last duel. The tention was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Hermione shuddered as she cried helplessly in Lupin's arms. Ron looked over to her with worry. It hurt him so much that he pained the one that he loved. Harry scowled and took another step backwards.
"Sirius, you know what to do. Start us off." Harry laughed, throwing his head back the sound echoing like mad.
"No, I won't let you do this!" Sirius shouted holding out his wand at Harry. "Both of you should live!" Harry murmured something under his breath and Sirius began writhing on the ground shouting out in pain.
"Start us Sirius!" Harry's voice boomed into the night. Everyone in the tight group shuddered. Sirius slowly peeled himself up off the ground holding his sides as if they were going to colaps. Mrs. Weasley began to cry, letting the tears flow like a waterfall.
"Begin!" Sirius cringed as he said the words, pain wracking his body. He didn't want to say those words, didn't want them to come out but they did and the battle was to begin. Harry grinned wildly as he raised up his wand and pointed it towards Ron.
"I'll be nice this time, Weasley." he laughed as he lowered his wand and pointed at Ron. "I'll let you get in the first blow." he laughed a bit more before raising his wand again. "Go ahead, take your best shot!"Ron shook his head and slowly raised his wand.
"Petrificus..." but Harry interupted.
"Fool! Avada Kedavra!" the beam shot from Harry's wand like a lightning bolt with a sudden rage that threw everyone off gaurd. The light was green and for an instant it didn't seem real. Time seemed as if it had stopped and there was to be no awakening. No one screamed, they just watched knowing what doom lie before them. Ron would not survive this and the knew it. Or so they thought. Hermione suddenly found that her legs were shooting forward in a sprint that took her across the yard. She turned her body towards Harry and began to take the blow.
"Hermione NO!" Ron yelled.