Chapter 8: Ronald Weasley vs. Harry Potter

The two former best friends stood facing each other. Neither man said a word to the other since they addressed each other. Ron began encircling his former best mate trying to psyche him out. His main job was to delay Harry until the Ministry arrived to apprehend him. His self appointed job was an entirely different matter of a personal nature.

Harry was well aware of the fact that Ron was simply delaying him until the Ministry's aurors' could arrive to block his escape but Harry wasn't worried. He still had a few surprise up his sleeve for Ron and the Ministry. Harry then watched as Ron drew an English Rapier Sword and Renaissance Dagger. Ron dropped the long cloak he had worn, concealing the two blades, to the ground and pointed the dagger at Harry's heart.

"This ends here tonight Harry." Ron informed the man.

"Don't do this Ron. Walk away, I don't want to fight you." Harry pleaded.

"I can't, I have to protect my sister."

"She wouldn't want us to fight Ron." Harry said dropping his cloak to the ground. He then removed the belt containing the knives he had used to threaten Sirius, Remus, and Tonks and dropped it to the ground. He then stepped away from it hoping that Ron wouldn't press him for a fight now.

"I know you Harry, you always come prepared to fight, draw your sword, and lets get on with it." Ron order.

"Don't make me fight you Ron, I'm warning you, it won't end well."

"Maybe not…. but it will end." Ron said. With that the sword in his right hand swung wide in front of Harry. Harry jumped back out of the reach of the blade's edge. Harry tapped a knot on the tree he had taken cover behind. A door swung open from under the knot. Harry drew out a Rapier Sword and Main Gauche.

"You've been practicing I see." Harry said. Ron must have put a lot of time into fencing, Harry thought. Unfortunately it wouldn't be enough. "Last chance Ron." Harry said, stepping out into the open.

Ron didn't say a word. He let the sword in his right hand do the talking for him. Harry parried the thrust and pushed Ron back. Ron came back at the man slashing at Harry with his sword and dagger. Harry blocked both attacks with his rapier and when Ron was preparing another attack Harry slashed Ron's left arm with his Main Gauche.

"First blood to you mate." Ron said.

"If you don't stop now it won't be the last either Ron." Harry said trying to psyche out his opponent.

The red haired male didn't reply to the comment or wipe the blood off his arm, he simply charged at his black haired opponent and began his counter attack.

~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~

"Molly, where's Ginny?" Arthur asked as he apparated into their family home.

"She's upstairs in the bathroom why?" Molly inquired.

"In the bathroom again? How many times is that today?" An easily distracted Arthur asked.

"Arthur, why do you want to know where Ginny is?" Molly asked, wondering what brought her husband home in such a hurry.

"Harry is at Hogwarts. The Ministry had him surrounded but he managed to escape the castle. They're searching the grounds for him as we speak, but we don't know if he's still there."

"They won't catch him." Ginny announced to her parents surprise. She had managed to trot down the stairs and listen in without them noticing her.

"Ginny." Arthur said in shock.

Molly gave her daughter an exasperated look. "Dear, it's not polite to ease drop on private conversations."

Ginny ignored her mother's remarks and grabbed her cloak. Once she was bundled up she headed for the door.

"Where are you going young lady?" Molly asked rhetorically.

"Hogsmeade."

"Why Hogsmeade dear?"

"To make sure Harry's ok."

Molly and Arthur couldn't grab their daughter quick enough. She had apparated moments after finishing her sentence.

"We've got to stop her." Arthur said.

"I'll go. I have a better chance of talking some sense into her." Molly stated.

Arthur reluctantly agreed.

~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~

Ginny had apparated near the clearing of the spot where Harry and she always met. It was a good thing that she had chosen to do so because when she arrived she found the youngest of her brothers and Harry Potter dueling. This was no wizard's duel either. It was a sword fight. She had known Ron had been practicing, she had even guessed it was to fight Harry who had taken a more physical combat style as opposed to magic or his other abilities, however she had asked Harry to try and avoid any physical confrontations with her brother. While Harry didn't make any promises, he did give his word to "try" and avoid them.

Harry must have noticed her arrival because Ginny noted that at that moment Ron suddenly gained the advantage. Ron had noted Harry sudden distraction and using his dagger, thrust down, hooked around the blade and forced the smaller blade from Harry's hand. Ginny watched as the smaller blade flew into the air and fell down the hill. She also noticed for the first time that a large number of Ministry aurors' were surrounding the perimeter.

"RON STOP!" Ginny yelled.

It was now Ron's turn to be distracted by the girls' presence. Unlike Ron though, Harry didn't take advantage of this fact aggressively, he just used it to catch his breath.

A group of aurors' then charged the hill, Harry made a gesture with his hand and Ron watched as several crystals shot out of the ground and took up positions around the duel. The aurors' came to a halt, they were forewarned that anyone that crossed the crystals would have their magical abilities dampened. They also were fully aware that they had no other weapons, which gave the edge to Potter.

"Leave this to Weasley." Amos Diggory declared.

Molly had arrived moments after the crystals were in place and saw that her youngest son was in the middle of a sword duel with his former best friend. Ron was bleeding from his right arm but seemed to be holding his own. Harry didn't look like he'd been cut yet but was showing signs of fatigue. She noticed that Ginny was in the area of the crystals. She was standing far enough from the duel not to be in any immediate danger. Unfortunately Molly knew that depending how the duel went she would not be out of harms way for long. She ran through the crowd and made her way to her daughter.

~~**~~ ~~**~~ ~~**~~

Harry was holding his own against Ron even though he was now at a severe disadvantage. While normally fighting an opponent with two blades wasn't much of a worry, Harry had been over exerting himself for some time now. The constant barrage of opponents was taking its toll on him. Harry noticed that Ron was about to make the same attack that he had in the opening moments of the fight. Having studied Ron's fighting style himself, Harry knew what to anticipate from Ron now.

Ron made another wide swipe with his Rapier and was about to follow through with the dagger when Harry quickly blocked and moved in close to Ron. Ron didn't have time to finish his move as Harry hooked his free left arm around Ron's right, yanked him off balance and then slammed the hilt of his sword into the side of Ron's face.

Needless to say Ron dropped both of his weapons as Harry then tossed his opponent to the ground. Harry then moved in Ginny's general direction. Ron considered himself extremely lucky Harry had decided to hit the side of his face as opposed to his nose. The pain of the hilt hitting his face was bad enough, had Harry hit him square on he knew his nose would be broken and blood would be spraying everywhere.

"Get away from her." Ron spat as he looked at the two hugging.

"This ends now Ron." Harry said and planted his sword in the ground next to Ginny and himself.

"You're right about that." Ron said getting to his feet.

The fiery red head grabbed his sword and menacingly walked toward his opponent and sister. Ron raised the sword and prepared to thrust it through Harry's chest when Ginny moved in-between her brother and Harry.

"This ends NOW!!!" Ginny yelled.

"Get out of the way." Ron barked.

"No."

"Move now." Ron barked again.

Ginny looked her brother square in the eyes. Harry was noticing that the Ministry aurors were suddenly getting very bold and starting to move towards the trio.

"Gin." Harry said motioning for her to look around.

"This fight is over Ron. I'm not letting you help imprison Harry again." Ginny told her brother.

"This is for your own good Ginny." Ron said to her.

"The only way you're getting my husband is if you go through me and the baby." Ginny announced very loudly.

Ginny saw that her statement had the desired affect on her brother and his associates.

"Husband?" Ron muttered.

Ginny nodded her head. "We were married in secret this past New Years Eve, and I found out I was pregnant two months ago."

Ron dropped his sword. He looked at the two of them with a mixture of sadness, despair and almost disgust.

"Go… now." Ginny told her husband.

"I'm not leaving you." Harry announced.

"You have to. You're in no condition to carry me and we can't leave together with the crystals in place." Ginny told him.

"Ginny."

I'll be ok. Besides, I'll need you come get us. Ginny told him.

The crystals then flew from their orbiting positions into a tighter formation around Harry and Ginny.

Harry gave his wife a quick kiss. Ginny then ducked down to avoid any incoming spells. Harry darted through the trees and then took off into the air without a broom. The ministry couldn't believe what they were seeing. Neither could Ron or his mother.

"Ginny Weasley…" Minister of Magic Amos Diggory called out.

Ginny looked at him, "Ginny Potter." She announced. Her mother was standing next to Amos, she had tears in her eyes. Ginny knew what was coming but didn't care. She removed her original necklace that held her wedding ring, took the ring off the chain and placed it proudly on her finger.

"I'm afraid we're going to have to take you into custody. Harboring a fugitive, aiding & abetting said fugitive, and hindering his capture."

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Ron asked as he took his sister's wand.

"Go stuff yourself Ron." Ginny replied.

Ron led his sister away, cursing the day he met Harry Potter.

The End of Part I

Author's Notes: For those that don't know weapons and wand to know what Ron and Harry are fighting with go to these links:

Ron's Weapons:

This mark's the end of the first story arc (obviously) I will begin posting Part 2 next Wed 9/17/03. Please let me know what you think of my story.