This might be the longest chapter I'll ever write, or maybe not. Who knows? Leave a review at the end and tell me if you prefer shorter or longer chapters
The fragments in bold are fragments taken from the books.
Chapter 3: The One-Eyed God
Everything was loud, there was screaming, yelling and shouting. There was also pain, but Ron tried hard not to concentrate on it. There were flashing lights and then black. A million questions came to Ron's head. Why was he in so much pain? Why was he unconscious? What happened? Suddenly, Ron was aware that he was asleep, or at least as aware as someone could be after battling a murderous giant. That last realization made the events of that morning hit Ron like a rollercoaster, he helped save a little girl, he almost saw Percy die, HE almost died, he didn't, he battled a giant without a wand and won. He bloody won! Yet, all of those things were like snippets, he couldn't put an order to them or see them clearly. They flashed all over his head annoyingly.
Then, Ron heard a voice, a soft voice he thought he'd recognize anywhere, yet it's origin was out of his reach. It spoke his name, it sounded pleading and broken. For the life of him he couldn't recognize whose voice it belonged to, it infuriated him, he knew he should know this voice, so why couldn't he just open his eyes and see who it belonged to?
"Ron..." the voice spoke softly.
Ron's pain started subsiding, it felt like water washing dirt off his body. It felt electrifying, the thought felt like it should've made him laugh, but his mind was still foggy. The pain was slowly disappearing until it became nonexistent, he felt a lot better and the overwhelming sense of distraught was brought to a halt and calmness came to his mind. The mist that surrounded his head was now disappearing as well as the insistent yelling and shouting which had died down. Everything came back, the hammer, the lighting, the fight.
"Ron..."
Ron's eyes opened, he stirred in what he hoped was his bed and not one of the beds in the Hospital Wing, yet as he looked at the ceiling he immediately recognized the infirmary walls around him. Right by his side was Hermione sat looking at him, her brown eyes filled with worry and looking as if she had recently cried. Ron groaned and sat up, several pairs of eyes were staring at him.
"What the bloody hell happened?"
3 hours earlier...
Ron laid unconscious on the ground of the Great Hall, having collapsed mere moments ago. There was a second where nobody knew what to do, people simply stood still, shock, horror, fear, awe and a variety of other emotions were clear on the faces of every person inside the Hall. The second passed and the Weasleys, along with Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lupin, Harry and Hermione ran straight towards Ron's body. Tonks and Shacklebolt had gone with the students trying to calm them down. Mrs. Weasley was with Ron first, holding her son's head and tenderly laying it across her lap as if afraid of possibly hurting him. Mr. Weasley was next, crouching down and carefully holding his son by the shoulders. Saying that Bill and Charlie looked relieved would be an understatement. Charlie, Fred and George were wiping their eyes, trying to appear nonchalant about the situation. When Percy arrived he had dropped to his knees. Percy asked his father to let go of Ron, he reluctantly agreed, Percy held his baby brother's head in his hands and tears sprang out of his eyes, he hugged his brother and tried conveying all of the love and care that he felt for him. Harry had sat down, too overwhelmed by joy and relief. And Hermione looked beyond happy, her tears looked to be a combination of worry, joy and sadness, it made Harry uncomfortable.
Ron's body was nothing short of a mess. His uniform was torn apart leaving him only in his shoes and trousers. He had face planted straight into the hard stone floors and there blood was on his lips. His face, covered by his mane of red hair, was full of bruises. Yet, that last description didn't seem correct, everyone took a good look at Ron. His tall, normally lanky, body was wider and more fit. Ron was now muscled, but not as stocky as Charlie or the twins. His hair, normally of medium-length and shaggy, now looked like a mane of wavy hair. There were damages throughout his body, from his head to his legs. Mrs. Weasley was about to ask Dumbledore for a healer, when Mad-Eye Moody intervened.
"Step away from him Molly!" he snarled. Everyone looked up at the retired auror with confusion.
"What are you talking about?!" Mrs. Weasley asked, completely outraged. "MY SON IS HURT, ALASTOR! I don't care what you have to say, that will have to wai-"
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Moody shouted. "We do not know what type of magic the boy has encountered. It could be dangerous to be in contact with him."
"Even if that were the case there is no way I'm leaving my son!"
"Molly," Dumbledore spoke softly to Mrs. Weasley. "While I admire your care for your son, I don't believe this is the right time to-
"With all due respect Albus!" Mrs. Weasley had turned to the Headmaster. "I am his mother, I have taken care of all of my children since the day they've been able to ride a broomstick! I took care of their bruises, their cuts, their injuries from the first day. And I'll be damned if I leave another person in charge of my son's health!"
Mrs. Weasley finished her rant and there was a deafening silence, which was then broken by the sound of a raven's croak. Everyone turned to see entering from the now white clouds of the enchanted ceiling two black ravens. They soared the Great Hall, the feeling of confusion that had been on everyone's minds now began to look like a permanent feature in the lives of every single person. The ravens continued to soar before landing gracefully by Ron's sides. They spread their winds as if shielding him from everyone surrounding him. "Get away from him!" yelled Harry, who kicked one of the ravens, launching it away from Ron. The other raven seemed unaffected by Harry's actions. The kicked raven stood from the ground, it tried flying back towards Ron, but it fell as its right wing had been broken by Harry. It looked to be in pain, and Harry felt momentary guilt before remembering that these creatures may be with the giant that had beaten up Ron. It seemed to pay no mind to its broken wing and instead hopped back to Ron's side, spreading its wings once more, its broken limb now more evident than before.
A new sound filled the hall, the sound of a horse? No, two horses. The sound became louder and louder and at once wands were drawn again. A bright light, unlike the one that took the giant away, instead looking like the one that brought Mjolnir to the Great Hall appeared. It looked very similar to a rainbow, and from it an old man who was on a horse appeared. He looked extremely similar to Dumbledore, they might have been twins if not for a few differences. The old man looked to be missing his right eye, and had an eyepatch covering it. He had robes that were quite modest along with a pointed hat. He wielded a golden spear on his right hand which had several rings on it. The horse he rode on was quite peculiar, it looked to be strong and burly and had eight legs.
The man stepped off his horse, and went to approach the group surrounding Ron. He took three steps before Moody took a step forward trying to threaten the man with his wand.
"You better take a step back." said Moody. "You've got 5 seconds before I shrink you to the size of a grain of rice and step on you!"
"Alastor!" shrieked McGonagall.
"Greetings," the old man spoke softly, similar to Dumbledore's way of speaking. "I am known by many names Wotan, the One-eyed sage, All-Father, but perhaps you may know me as Odin." 'Odin' bowed formally. There was a stunning silence before Hermione spoke up.
"That's impossible," she said.
"I assure you not young witch, I-"
"No!" Hermione spoke heatedly. "The hammer made at least sense in a logical way, it's just an enchanted object, but a real mythological god?!"
"Is there perhaps any way that you can confirm your identity?" asked Dumbledore, trying to appease the situation.
'Odin' looked pensively. "As you may know I'm known to be a man of almost infinite wisdom and knowledge. You may ask me anything that only you yourselves know, and I will try to answer."
"Try?" asked Mad-Eye.
"As I said my wisdom is not unlimited."
The group of people looked to be hesitating. Behind them the group of students, aurors and professors looked no better, having witnessed the whole thing. It seemed like a few minutes passed before Dumbledore spoke up. His expression was stony like he was afraid to ask the question he had in mind. "I am in possession of a very peculiar Mirror. It shows nothing but the greatest desire of every person that dares to look at it... What does this mirror's reflection show me?" He finished speaking and the tension inside the Great Hall grew tenfold. The information that had been splayed by the Headmaster made everyone stare back at 'Odin'. They wondered if perhaps he was the real deal. And if he was then he surely must know what the Headmaster was talking about. That made several people's interest grow even more for the supposed "god's" legitimacy. What could Albus Dumbledore's desire possibly be? What could the greatest wizard since Merlin possibly want other than what he already has?
"You see your sister Ariana in the Mirror of Erised. And the family you lost." Odin spoke in a calm voice. Dumbledore's eyes widened and looked painful and sad. "Your father, dead in Azkaban, because he avenged what the three Muggle boys did to your sister. Your mother who died accidentally because of your sister. Your sister, dead because she got in the middle of a duel between three boys. Your brother, who has never, ever trusted you since then. They all stand there before you, smiling, and you know that they've forgiven you for your mistakes. And there's someone else there. You also see a man who never existed. A kind Gell–"
"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore shouted, losing his composure, his face had a look of pain that people couldn't bear to stare at. The hall was silent, everyone started at Dumbledore with surprise, pity, sadness or fear. The Headmaster did not know which one was worse. He managed to slightly regain his composure before speaking to Odin once again. "I believe you."
"But Albus-" said McGonagall.
"Minerva," Dumbledore interjected. "What this man said could have only come out of my own mouth. He is who he says he is."
"I am," Odin spoke.
"May I ask what is it that you are here for then?" asked the Headmaster, his usually calm demeanor now returned.
"Him." Odin raised his finger and pointed it straight at Harry, whose eyes widened. The rest of the group took a defensive position. The professors, sans Umbridge, along with some of the students, mainly the DA, Tonks and Shacklebolt had brandished their wands and aimed at Odin. He seemed surprised by their reaction before looking at where his finger was pointed. "My mistake." he said, he proceeded to move a step to the right and point at Ron. Everyone looked at Ron who was still unconscious on the ground and then back at Odin with seemingly disbelief.
"Why?" asked Harry, curious as to what the mysterious old man wanted from his best friend.
"I believe the answer lays by his feet." Everyone looked at Ron's feet and realization came quick for some as they saw Mjolnir lay on the ground.
"You sent it." it wasn't a question, but a statement. Odin simply nodded. "But why?"
"Because of what happened today with the Jötunn."
"Jötunn?" Many people said confused.
"Jötunn were a race of species in Norse mythology." interjected Hermione. "They are the eternal enemies of Æsir gods such as Thor, Freya, Tyr or..." she trailed off and pointed at Odin, who was looking at Ron, there was a sad, regretful expression on his face. Odin started walking towards the group and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"I present my apologies," Odin immediately sat on his knees and bowed down until his forehead touched the floor, he extended his arms, his palms facing up. "It is my fault that your son is in this condition."
Mrs. Weasley's face screwed up in surprise and anger. Many people backed away from her in fear of getting in her way. Mrs. Weasley, seemingly forgetting that the man she was approaching was an actual god, looked ready to murder. "YOU'RE THE REASON MY SON ALMOST DIED?! YOU SENT THAT MONSTER HERE?!" she shrieked.
"No," Odin responded almost immediately in a calm voice. "However, by sending Mjolnir here the Jötunn tracked the scent of Æsir magic and sent one of their warriors here. And for that I am profoundly sorry."
"And why may I ask, did you believe it was a good idea to send that blasted thing here?!"
Odin stood on his knees and looked at Mrs. Weasley. "Midgard was in need of a champion." he simply said. There were expectant looks across the hall. "The Jötunn have grown powerful over the years, far more powerful than we could ever anticipate. Their numbers grew and before we knew it they were almost unstoppable, us Æsir gods had to retreat. As a father myself I cannot apologize enough, as I myself have lost a son." There was a stunned silence when Odin looked down as he said this, his face was somber and a single tear fell from his eye. "Thor fought valiantly, leaving us with enough time to escape back to Asgard... The Jötunn are unlike anything in Midgard, while something known as a giant exists here and they themselves descend from a kind Jötunn who fell in love with a human thousands of years ago, most Jötnar are viscous. They crave chaos and destruction. They are devourers, whatever they look at they want: treasures like gold, mead, and wine. They believe themselves above everyone else."
Many people looked at each other, that description reminded them very much of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. "Before Thor's death we'd heard from one of his brothers that the Jötunn had allied themselves with a powerful dark enemy in Midgard and were planning to overtake the whole realm." A chill ran down Harry's spine. It was Voldemort, of that he was certain, who else would summon a race of murderous monsters who think they're better than everyone else. "When Thor found out he became furious, we planned our attack months ahead, and when we lost Thor sent Mjolnir back to Asgard. He had a message for us, to find an heir worthy of his title as God of Thunder and to defend Midgard from the Jötunn."
There was a stunned silence and Odin raised himself to his feet. "I hope I have satisfied your answer. If not feel free to ask away."
"What is Mediguard?" asked Colin Creevey suddenly.
Hermione looked as if she couldn't help herself and said "It's Midgard. Old Norse texts mention the existence of Níu Heimar, translated by scholars as "Nine Worlds." These nine worlds encompass Niflheim, Muspelheim, Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Anaheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim and Helheim, all held in the branches and roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Midgard is the realm of humans.'' When she finished she realized that she had spoken out loud. "I'm sorry." she said as she looked at Odin.
He raised his hand and shook his head, chuckling to himself. "Please do not." he replied. "I enjoy the company of wise people." she turned red at the praise.
"I have a question," Everyone turned to see Ginny. Her eyes were still quite red and puffy. "Why does my brother look like that?"
"Mortal bodies can not handle the powers of a god. So his body has morphed into something more similar to Thor. Although that wasn't difficult." Odin finished with a smile on his face.
"What does that mean?" asked Percy.
"Thor and Ron were quite similar. They both had quite the temper, they had blue eyes and red hair, both were extremely tall, and don't even get me started on their appetite. HA! Thor could eat an entire feast if he was hungry enough." People could see as a sad smile appeared on Odin's face.
"Excuse me sir," said Neville, looking at Odin fearfully. Having a Norse God in front of you could be quite intimidating.
"Yes?"
"You said that the race of giants here started with a Jötunn falling in love with a human, my question is... well... in a biological sense... how could... you know...?" He finished stumbling red in the face. It took a couple of seconds for people to realize what he'd asked. McGonagall gasped and made an 'O' with her mouth.
"Mr. Longbottom," she said. "That is severely inappropriate!"
Odin however laughed, unlike Dumbledore who would simply chuckle, Odin was full on having a belly laugh. He put his hands on his knees to keep himself from falling. "This is why I love humans." he said once he finally managed to stop laughing. "You have a sense of curiosity for even the smallest details. To answer your question, Jötunn aren't necessarily big, I myself am a descendent of Jötunn yet I am of regular size. When other good-hearted Jötnar saw how much love this Jötunn had for his wife, they followed him and decided to start their lives here."
Neville nodded, looking both thankful and regretful. There was more silence, and then Draco Malfoy asked the question that many students were asking themselves yet did not have the courage to voice.
"I have a question," the snobby Slytherin said. Odin nodded as if to say 'go ahead'. "If one is supposed to be worthy to lift that stupid hammer. How come Weasley was able to lift it?" Draco asked with an envious tone in his voice that few recognized.
"Why wouldn't young Weasley be worthy?" asked Odin, his calm tone slightly changing into a more heated one.
"Yeah," interjected Cormac McLaggen. "No offense, Weasley is a Gryffindor and all, but I think most people were expecting Potter to be the worthy one."
"Of course," said Zacharias Smith. "Why would Weasley, and Ron Weasley at that, be the worthy one? Didn't Potter defeat You-Know-Who? Surely that should make him more worthy than a bloke who can't help, but stuff his face"
The more people talked the more Ron's friends were beginning to feel angered on Ron's behalf. But, Odin looked furious, his eye glowed a light yellow like the sun, and his hair, like Ron's moments before he set down lightning on the Jötunn, started floating as well. "I myself performed the charm on that hammer, making sure that only worthy people of good heart could use the powers of my son! You dare question my magic?!" Odin's voice thundered, a calmed rage resonated in his tone. Immediately Draco, Cormac and Zacharias had stepped back in fear.
"N-no!" they all stuttered as they replied. "We're sorry!" yelled Zacharias Smith as he fell onto his butt.
Odin's anger seemed to disappear with that simple response, his eye returned to normal and his hair stopped floating. He took a breath and apologized once more by getting on his knees, yet many people couldn't help, but feel slight satisfaction as they saw some of their most annoyingly abusive classmates run away like cockroaches. Odin stood there watching as people still expected an answer to Malfoy's rude question. He sighed and walked over to Ron, looked at his raven with a raised eyebrow and then turned to Harry, who realized the state of the poor bird. "Sorry." he muttered looking at his feet.
He simply raised his hand as if to stop him. "Do not fret," said Odin. "You were protecting you friend, that is admirable." Odin waved his hand over his raven and at once its wing was mended. Odin whistled and muttered something under his breath, his eye glowed once more. The ravens' eyes glowed as well; they went to the center of the Great Hall and started soaring the sky circling above everyone. Their speed picked up and soon they were so close that people started to have difficulties making the two of them apart. They started glowing and soon they became a ball of light. People were astonished, even Dumbledore seemed at awe. Odin put the tip of his finger to his temple and pointed it at the ball.
"The hammer takes many virtues into consideration bravery, compassion, loyalty, sense of justice, selflessness among other things. Ron Weasley has time and time again shown these virtues and many more." The ball of light then turned to a scene, a small skinny boy with glasses was sitting inside a train compartment, soon people realized it was Harry. The door of the compartment slid open and a tall, lanky, red headed boy with freckles and a big nose stood there.
"Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointing at the seat opposite of Harry. "Everywhere else is full."
The scene played out exactly as Harry remembered. Odin suddenly spoked. "Ron Weasley, who saw a lonesome boy in the Hogwarts Express and decided to befriend him." They got to the part where Hermione had left the compartment.
"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron.
"RONALD WEASLEY!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley.
"It's fine Mrs. Weasley, we're friends now, we just had a rocky start." said Hermione trying to appease the Weasley matriarch.
"It most certainly is not. I'm going to have serious talk with that boy once he wakes up."
Ron turned to Hermione. "Can we help you with something?"
"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get there!"
"Scabbers has been fighting, not us," said Ron, scowling at her. "Would you mind leaving while we change?"
"All right — I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors," said Hermione in a sniffy voice "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?"
Many people were at awe. Everyone, except for Ron and Hermione, knew in one way or another they were clearly interested in each other as more than friends. How could those two first years ever become anything more than simple friends?
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.
"You're saying it wrong," everyone heard Hermione snap. "It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."
"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.
Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.
"Oh, well done!" cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!"
Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class. "It's no wonder no one can stand her," he said to Harry as they pushed their way into the crowded corridor, "she's a nightmare, honestly."
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face — and was startled to see that she was in tears.
"I think she heard you."
"So?" said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. "She must've noticed she's got no friends."
There were several gasps across the Great Hall. It was quite clear that these two barely tolerated each other when they first met. What changed to turn them into best friends? They saw as Harry and Ron overhead Parvati Patil tell Lavender Brown that Hermione had been in the girl's bathroom crying and wanting to be left alone.
Hermione was at the end of many pitying looks, which made her uncomfortable.
"Troll — in the dungeons — thought you ought to know." said Professor Quirrell before fainting.
This was news to any fourth year and below as well as many adults. "A TROLL?!" gasped Mrs. Weasley. "There was a troll in the school?! Why wasn't I informed?"
"The situation had been handled," said McGonagall. "We didn't believe it necessary to inform-"
"It is most certainly necessary, Minerva!" McGonagall nodded at this.
They passed different groups of people hurrying in different directions. As they jostled their way through a crowd of confused Hufflepuffs, Harry suddenly grabbed Ron's arm.
"I've just thought — Hermione."
"You're still in the bathroom!" Several people yelled.
"What about her?"
"She doesn't know about the troll."
"Oh no." Remus groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please tell me you didn't?"
Ron bit his lip. "Oh, all right," he snapped. "But Percy'd better not see us."
Mrs. Weasley rounded on Harry. "The two of you should've gone to a teacher."
"She's right Harry," said Remus. "You two shouldn't be running around with a troll on the loose. No matter how honorable your intentions may have been."
The hall saw as Ron correctly used the Levitation Charm and dropped its club on its small head. Everyone was in shock at the thought of two first years defeating a 12 foot mountain troll. The scene changed and they saw as Ron looked at Hermione inside the common room that very same night.
"Sorry." Ron said, looking quite ashamed. He extended his hand towards Hermione. "Friends?" She looked as though debating with herself before taking Ron's hand and shaking it.
After a few seconds of awkward silence Hermione thanked Ron for coming to save her. "What are friends for?" he shot her a lopsided grin.
"Ron Weasley, who saved a girl he barely tolerated, who constantly belittled him, and argued with him."
"That's how you three became friends?" asked Dean. Harry and Hermione nodded in response.
The scene changed again, Ron, Harry and Hermione were in what looked like a giant chessboard. There were destroyed pieces by the side of the board, and Ron looked stressed and anxious, far more than anyone had ever seen him.
"We're nearly there," he muttered suddenly. "Let me think — let me think…"
The white queen turned her blank face toward him.
"Yes…" said Ron softly, "It's the only way… I've got to be taken."
"NO!" The adults, Weasley's and every friend of Ron's said. "Wait." Bill said, everyone turned to look at him. "It wasn't like real wizards chess was it?" Everyone turned to Harry and Hermione. Harry looked down at the floor and Hermione's eyes watered and she turned away from the stares.
"NO!" Harry and Hermione shouted.
"I was so scared he was going to be hurt," Hermione said in a small voice, but everyone still heard her.
"That's chess!" snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I make my move and she'll take me — that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"
"Very noble of Mr. Weasley," said Sprout dabbing her eyes.
"Ready?" Ron called, his face pale but determined. "Here I go — now, don't hang around once you've won."
He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor —
No one could keep their voice down. Mrs. Weasley screamed, tears pouring down her face. Ginny and Ron's brothers were looking at the scene in shock, how could their brother come out of this and still be alright?
"Ron Weasley, who didn't think twice before sacrificing himself, at the age of 12."
Once again, the scene changed. Ron was inside a car alongside Fred and George. The hall saw as the car floated in midair, outside a window with bars. A very skinny Harry opened the curtains and asked Ron what he was doing there.
"Stop gibbering," said Ron. "We've come to take you home with us."
"Ron Weasley, who when he received no response from his best friend decided to check on him himself."
"Why didn't you respond to any of Ron's letters?" asked Bill.
"I'll tell you later." responded Harry.
The scene as expected changed. The Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams were in the middle of a ruffle, Ron and Hermione had approached the conflict and joined in the Gryffindors.
"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Hermione sharply. "They got in on pure talent."
Malfoy groaned and hid his face behind his hand. He recalled first calling Granger a mudblood to her face during their second year.
"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood," Malfoy spat.
"MR. MALFOY," McGonagall shouted. "HOW DARE YOU USE THAT FOUL WORD!.
"That sort of language is not tolerated at Hogwarts!" The usually calm Sprout yelled.
"You piece of filth!" Susan Bones yelled.
"How could you say that?" Hannah Abbott demanded.
"Someone needs to teach that boy some manners!" Mrs. Weasley whispered fiercely.
Odin had to stop the memories from continuing as many people were not paying attention to them. After several minutes of loud yelling Dumbledore sent red sparks into the air.
"Silence!" Dumbledore yelled. "Now Mr. Malfoy I would appreciate it if you would refrain from using that word again. I assure you, if you or anyone else uses that word at Hogwarts you will lose two hundred points and receive two weeks worth of detention. That kind of language and hatred is not allowed in these halls. Odin, please continue"
Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, "You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" and pointed it furiously under Flint's arm at Malfoy's face.
A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backward onto the grass.
"Ron! Ron! Are you all right?" squealed Hermione.
Ron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead he gave an almighty belch and several slugs dribbled out of his mouth onto his lap.
Many people looked sick and green at the image. "Ron Weasley, who knowingly used a broken wand and still tried defending his best friend's honor."
The scene now changed to Ron, Harry and Hermione by the corridor where Mrs. Norris had been petrified in their second year.
"Come and look at this!" said Hermione. "This is funny..." Harry got up and crossed to the window next to the message on the wall. Hermione was pointing at the topmost pane, where around twenty spiders were scuttling, apparently fighting to get through a small crack in the glass.
A long, silvery thread was dangling like a rope, as though they had all climbed it in their hurry to get outside. "Have you ever seen spiders act like that?" said Hermione wonderingly.
"No," said Harry, "have you, Ron? Ron?" He looked over his shoulder. Ron was standing well back, and seemed to be fighting the impulse to run.
"What's up?" said Harry.
"I - don't - like - spiders," said Ron tensely.
"Wait, wait, wait." said Cedric, hurriedly. "You're saying that Ron," he said pointing at the unconscious Ron. "The guy who just took on a bloody gigantic monster all by himself... Is afraid of spiders?"
Odin looked at Cedric, with mild amusement. "He's ONLY afraid of spiders."
"But why?" asked a 2nd year Gryffindor.
"I never knew that," said Hermione, looking at Ron in surprise. "You've used spiders in potions loads of times..."
"I don't mind them dead," said Ron, who was carefully looking anywhere but at the window.
"I just don't like the way they move..." Hermione giggled.
"That's not very nice Hermione," Remus said.
Hermione looked ashamed. "I know and I'm sorry, he just seemed so brave while we were saving the stone in first year. I didn't think he'd be scared of something as small as a spider."
"It's not funny," said Ron fiercely. "If you must know, when I was three, Fred turned my - my teddy bear into a dirty great spider because I broke his toy broomstick. You wouldn't like them either if you'd been holding your bear and suddenly it had too many legs and..." He broke off, shuddering.
"Fred Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. "How dare you do something so cruel to your brother!"
Many people were glaring at the twins now, having a hard time to tell who Fred was. "I was 5 years old!" Fred said, trying to defend himself. "It was accidental magic, it's not like I did it on purpose."
The scene changed into Harry and Ron looking at Hermione's petrified body. Harry hugged her by the shoulder and patted her trying to convey some type of comfort. She was once again at the receiving end of many pitying looks. People looked at Ron's horrified face, he looked as if he had been hit in the gut with a bludger.
The scene changed and Hagrid was forcefully being taken out of his cabin, many people frowned at this, Umbridge found it amusing.
Hagrid stood his ground, took a deep breath, and said carefully, "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right. That's all I'm sayin'."
"What does that mean?" asked a Dean.
"When the Chamber of Secrets was opened we were trying to find clues to catch the perpetrator and prove Harry's innocence." Hermione said. "Hagrid knew about the spiders and clued Harry and Ron to follow them."
"Follow them where?" asked Dennis Creevey.
There was a pause and Harry looked at the Professors mainly McGonagall and Lupin, who he still considered his professor. "The Forbidden Forest." he said, closing his eyes bracing himself for the barrage concern and worry.
"WHAT?!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley
"You went into the Forbidden Forest all by yourselves?!" asked Charlie with concern and disbelief clear in his voice.
"Honestly," said Harry. "We're fine, this was three years ago!"
The scene changed again and Harry and Ron were sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lockhart was blabbering about something.
Harry scrawled a note to Ron: Let's do it tonight.
Ron read the message, swallowed hard, and looked sideways at the empty seat usually filled by Hermione. The sight seemed to stiffen his resolve, and he nodded.
A dazed smile appeared on Hermione's face. "He was willing to face his greatest fear for me?" she asked unable to keep the happiness from her tone.
Now Ron and Harry were in the Forbidden Forest, Harry had his wand lit up and Ron was almost clutching to him.
"We've lost the trail," he said. "C'mon, let's go and find them."
Ron didn't speak. He didn't move. His eyes were fixed on a point some ten feet above the forest floor, right behind Harry. His face was livid with terror.
"What is it?!" asked Mr. Weasley preoccupied.
Harry didn't even have time to turn around. There was a loud clicking noise and suddenly he felt something long and hairy seize him around the middle and lift him off the ground so that he was hanging face down. Struggling, terrified, he heard more clicking, and saw Ron's legs leave the ground, too, heard Fang whimpering and howling — next moment, he was being swept away into the dark trees.
Head hanging, Harry saw that what had hold of him was marching on six immensely long, hairy legs, the front two clutching him tightly below a pair of shining black pincers.
"That sounds like..." said Bill, not wanting to finish the sentence.
"An acromantula." announced Charlie.
"What's an acromantula?" asked a Ravenclaw first year.
"An acromantula is a giant man-eating spider. They are a class XXXXX, creature! They enjoy the taste of human flesh for Merlin's sake! You can't keep them near a school!" Charlie said out loud in disbelief.
"Ron Weasley, who faced his greatest fear when his best friend became petrified."
One final time the scene changed. Harry, Ron and Hermione were standing outside. Ron was sitting down with his old pet Scabbers in his hands. Those who knew of the traitorous rat's true form almost growled at its appearance. Remus' eyes became amber in anger and Harry scowled so hard that no one would think that his face could go back to normal.
Something was bounding toward them, quiet as a shadow — an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog.
"That's the grim!" squeaked Lavender. "Back in third year, Professor Trelawney said Harry would encounter the grim in his tea leaves."
Harry reached for his wand, but too late — the dog had made an enormous leap and the front paws hit him on the chest; he keeled over backward in a whirl of hair; he felt its hot breath, saw inch-long teeth — But the force of its leap had carried it too far; it rolled off him. Dazed, feeling as though his ribs were broken, Harry tried to stand up; he could hear it growling as it skidded around for a new attack.
People didn't want to look, the grim although nonsensical for many students, was still an omen of death and grim or not that wild dog certainly look like it wanted to hurt Harry. Yet, they observed all the same as the scene played out.
Ron was on his feet. As the dog sprang back toward them he pushed Harry aside; the dog's jaws fastened instead around Ron's outstretched arm.
"Weasley, let himself be taken by the grim?" asked Zacharias Smith, his eyes wide as saucers. "He's either too brave or too stupid." he finished saying in an incredulous tone.
"Mr. Smith!" yelled the normally gentle Professor Sprout. "You show respect for your fellow classmates." Zacharias huffed and grumbled something under his breath.
At the base of the trunk, was the dog, dragging Ron backward into a large gap in the roots — Ron was fighting furiously, but his head and torso were slipping out of sight —
Mrs. Weasley had seen enough, he pulled Remus aside "What is Sirius doing with my son?!" Mrs. Weasley whispered furiously. "He had better have a good reason."
"Believe me Molly," said the tired werewolf. "I really wish we could just tell you, but it's not like we can just sho-" Remus stopped suddenly, he stood to his full height and looked at the scene play out. "Hold on. I think I have an idea."
All they could see now was one of Ron's legs, which he had hooked around a root in an effort to stop the dog from pulling him farther underground — but a horrible crack cut the air like a gunshot; Ron's leg had broken, and a moment later, his foot vanished from sight.
There were wide eyes across the hall, Weasley, and Ron Weasley at that, encountered all of those things in the years they'd met him. Had he really hid his constant acts of bravery? Or was he just overshadowed by Harry Potter's yearly encounters with certain death? He broke his bloody leg fighting a physical omen of death. And he came out alive, he still cracked jokes that most people found funny, he still stood by Harry's side when clearly he could just go on in his own way and become famous by himself after all he has done. And people had actually wondered sometimes why Potter still hung out with him. Some of the Slytherins had figured that losing Weasley would also mean losing Granger as a friend, since she was so smitten with the ginger, and losing Granger could only lead to your grades going down, but dropping Weasley? It now seemed like suicide not having him around. There was a silence that was broken by Cho Chang of all people.
"Wh-where does that tunnel lead you to?" she asked. Many people outright stared in disbelief at Cho, they encountered some of the most dangerous creatures before they were 13 and she was asking where they were going. Harry, who was seeing many people begin to tell off Cho, decided to answer her.
"The Shrieking Shack." he responded quickly.
"What?!" Many of the students said at once. "Isn't that place haunted?!" asked Ernie MacMillan.
"The Shrieking Shack has never been haunted." Remus exclaimed out loud, gaining the attention of everyone. "The noises made inside the shack were..." It seemed as if he was having a hard time talking about what he wanted to say, it took him some moments before he sighed. "They were mine," Silence filled the Great Hall, Odin looked with respect at Lupin. "That house was built for my use. When I first came to Hogwarts I had already been bitten, the Headmaster was nice enough to commission a place where I could go through my... 'monthly transformations'." When he finished explaining Remus was at the end of many sad looks. Especially from some of his former students.
On a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings lay Crookshanks, purring loudly at the sight of them. On the floor beside him, clutching his leg, which stuck out at a strange angle, was Ron. Harry and Hermione dashed across to him.
"Ron — are you okay?"
"Where's the dog?"
"Not a dog," Ron moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain. "Harry, it's a trap —"
"What —"
"He's the dog… he's an Animagus..."
Ron was staring over Harry's shoulder. Harry wheeled around. With a snap, the man in the shadows closed the door behind them.
Sirius's face was obscured, instead it showed a fake Dark Mark on his forearm, everyone gasped as they saw it. The Order looked at Odin who winked with his one eye.
Everyone saw the obscured figure disarm Harry and Hermione. They saw as Harry's face screwed up in hate and he went to rush at Sirius Black before being stopped.
"Oh thank Merlin," said Padma Patil. "Honestly Harry, you face a deranged mass murdering Death Eater who's holding all of your wands and you decide to confront him?"
Harry looked like he wanted to say something, before Remus put a hand on his shoulder and whispered something in Harry's ear. His eyes widened and the ghost of a smile appeared on his face before going back to a neutral look.
Ron spoke to the figure.
"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!" he said fiercely, though the effort of standing upright was draining him of still more color, and he swayed slightly as he spoke.
"Lie down," he said quietly to Ron. "You will damage that leg even more."
"Did you hear me?" Ron said weakly, though he was clinging painfully to Harry to stay upright. "You'll have to kill all three of us!"
The hall was stunned into silence. Ronald bloody Weasley might be either the dumbest or bravest student Hogwarts has ever seen apart from Harry himself maybe.
Odin spoke once more. "Ron Weasley, who stood up on a broken leg and told a mass murderer to kill him if he wanted to get to his best friend."
And with that the light of the scene diminished and it became a ball of light once more. "Now I ask of you, if Ron Weasley is not worthy of this hammer then who is?" Odin looked into the eyes of everyone challenging them to contradict him. He spotted Draco Malfoy and approached him. "Have you ever battled a full grown mountain troll to save one of your friends?" Draco remained silent, looking straight at the ground. Odin turned to Cormac McLaggen. "Did you ever face your greatest fear because one of your friends was in danger?" McLaggen looked away, an irritated look on his face. Odin then turned to Zacharias Smith. "Would you ever stand up on a broken leg and defy a mass murderer?" Zacharias Smith's cheeks turned pink and his eyes went to look anywhere except at Odin.
"If you must know why Ron Weasley is worthy and not Harry Potter the answer is simple." Odin addressed all of the hall, and everyone had expectant looks. "While both Harry Potter and Ron Weasley have a pure heart. Harry Potter is not worthy enough." His answer came with massive outrage. People were yelling and shouting at the Norse God in protest, he silenced them with one look. "Although, like Ron Weasley's, young Potter's heart is filled with love, selflessness and care. His love has a limit." Harry tried to speak, but Odin raised his hand to stop him. "Would you be willing to die to save your friends?" There was no hesitation, Harry nodded. Odin stopped and looked at Harry before sighing.
"Would you be willing to kill to save your friends?" The question stunned the Hall, Harry's eyes went wide and his skin paled.
"I- I don't- I would- But I-" Harry looked down at his feet. He tried thinking of an answer to prove him wrong, but he already knew the answer. Harry could never take another person's life.
"Therein lies the difference." Odin spoke softly.
"So that's it?!" said Hermione, outraged by Odin's answer. "You have to be a murderer to wield that thing?!"
"NO!" Odin roared, his calmness gone for a moment before returning. "May I remind you that MY SON was the previous wielder of that hammer? It does not mean to be corrupted enough to murder any one in your path. However, you must be willing to do the utmost necessary for the good of all. Mr. Potter is not willing to step away from his morals, Mr. Weasley is. Mr. Weasley is willing to taint his soul with the sin of murder while Mr. Potter is not. Just like Thor. He wasn't always a warrior, he used to wield his hammer to bless the skies of mortals with rain for their harvests. But when he was needed in battle he would only kill when necessary." Odin's face looked gloomy. There was a silence that followed, and Remus and Harry could not hold themselves back anymore. They approached Odin and whispered something in his ear. He looked at both of them and said something that must have upset them because their previously excited faces had gone down. The ball of light became two ravens once again and they landed on both of Odin's shoulders.
Odin began walking towards Ron, his family immediately put themselves in front of him, Odin simply bowed his head as if asking for permission. They complied, albeit reluctantly, and he crouched down on top of Ron. His finger glowed and he traced something on Ron's right shoulder.
"What are you doing?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"It's a rune," said Odin. "It'll grant him connection with Asgard."
"Connection?" said Hermione.
"This rune is a combination of three actually, Thurisaz, Othila and Raido. All together it forms Thor's name. Thor was the last king of Asgard, since Ron is his successor, he is the rightful king of Asgard." There was a deafening silence after Odin said this, Malfoy looked disgusted at the prospect of a Weasley being an actual king, he wondered if perhaps the world had heard his constant teasing of Weasley and decided to shut him up. Harry's eyes nearly bulged out of his eye sockets. When Odin finished Ron had a tattoo of the rune on his right shoulder, he stood up and he bowed at Ron's family and friends.
"I must leave." Odin said, looking remorsefully at Harry and Remus. "But first I must deliver Ron's gifts."
"Gifts?" asked Ginny.
"Yes," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "As the wielder of Mjolnir, Ron will need these gifts." Odin took out a pouch. First, he took out a pair of fingerless gauntlets. "These are the Iron Grippers, crucial if Ron wishes to use Mjolnir and not pass out in just a few seconds." Next, he brought out a belt with the letter 'M' on its buckle. Odin saw it and smirked at the Weasleys as he turned it upside down to turn it into a 'W'. "This is Megingjörð; it shall grant him full control of the hammer's power." Finally, he extended his arm out and from the pouch came out a chariot with goats on leashes. "Tooth-Grinder and Tooth-Smasher, normal kids want dogs or cats. Thor wanted goats." There were people laughing at the idea of a god riding a chariot pulled by goats. "However, I think that a chariot is a bit out of style." Odin snapped his fingers and the chariot and goats turned into a motorcycle, it had black and gold colors and the design of a ram's head on both sides with the names 'Tooth-Grinder' and 'Tooth-Smasher' engraved underneath. Everyone's jaws hit the floor. Odin tossed Harry the keys. "Make sure you deliver it to him." Harry nodded, still looking at the motorcycle.
'That's the coolest thing I've ever seen.' thought Bill, looking in awe at the motorcycle.
"That should be everything." said Odin, walking back to his horse. "Oh and by the way, I'll be sending a friend of mine here as soon as possible. He'll be helping Ron with his training. It'll be easy to recognize him, he has a very graphic injury. Would certainly recommend not to receive him in front of the younger children." He had a smirk on his face and his eyes were twinkling. Odin got onto his horse and disappeared with the same light that brought him there.
As soon as he left the sound of sparks made everyone turn to Ron. Any cut on his body was being stitched up by lighting. His bruises remained, but in a couple of seconds there were no visible cuts on Ron's body.
"Professor McGonagall, be sure to get Mr. Weasley to the Hospital Wing," said Dumbledore. "Along with any other students may have been injured by the Jötunn." The first year Slytherin was approaching the group, she was being carried by her brother.
"Is he going to be alright?" she asked as she saw Ron's form be levitated by McGonagall and carried to the Hospital Wing.
"He'll be fine, sweetheart." said Mrs. Weasley sweetly more to herself than the little girl.
"I never got to say thanks."
"Well it seems that you too need to go as well, maybe you can thank him once he wakes up." The little girl nodded before her brother followed McGonagall towards the Hospital Wing.
"Professor Snape," said Dumbledore to the Potions professor. "If you'd be as kind as to bring Mr. Weasley's new 'gifts' to my office. I'd like to observe them for close examination." Snape gave a curt nod and levitated the gauntlets and belt. He then shrunk down the motorcycle and put it in his pocket.
After some students were sent back to their classes, the remaining people at the Hall stayed to help fix any damages done by the Jötunn. The Weasleys along with Harry, Hermione, Remus and Tonks had gone to the Hospital Wing to accompany Ron.
"Shacklebolt has gone to calm the old Toad down." Tonks had said when she was asked why he hadn't join them.
When Ron arrived Madame Pomfrey was outraged by his state.
"Should've brought him to me the second he collapsed." she said.
As she tended to Ron's wounds he would groan and he seemed to flinch even in his sleep. Hermione and Mrs. Weasley sat by Ron's side, they refused to leave his side until he woke up, and two hours later after he started stirring in his sleep and when Hermione had called his name he did. Ron Weasley woke up.
"What the bloody hell happened?"