Chapter Twenty:
Repercussions
A/N: Harry vs. Draco is on, but first Hermione, Fleur, Ginny and Ron all have to make it through their Battle Royal matches. Will any of them make it out of the Battle Royal or the Preliminary Rounds? Who will finally come out on top once and for all when Harry Potter finally faces Draco Malfoy for the last time?
Ron stepped into the ring, the nervousness still there, but indefinitely weakened by all of the rage and hate he was feeling towards Draco Malfoy. He wondered if anyone would actually care if he "accidentally" cursed Draco during the match. Harry would most definitely be disappointed, if not a little angry that Ron had attacked his opponent. Ginny would be furious, if not for him hexing Draco, for at least upsetting "Her Harry". Then of course, there was Hermione… she would berate him forever for hexing Draco with no real reason, and they'd end up having a stupid argument that they would undoubtedly make-up for in a few hours. Except, they wouldn't be making-up this time with her. Hermione had over-reacted, as usual, and Ron had blown everything out of proportion, and he knew that last night he had gone way too far. He loved her, needed her desperately, and even though the outcome of the match would not matter to Hermione, it couldn't hurt if he actually won.
"Alright, begin!" shouted the officiator.
Ron quickly drew is wand and dove as a purple beam was sent his way. "Expelliarmus!" he shouted and sent the curse at the pale, black robed wizard with white hair, who had just tried to curse him. The wizard deflected the curse with his wand effortlessly. As Ron stood he summoned a shield charm using wordless magic. Someone had decided to take advantage of the situation to attack Ron from behind only to find their hexes bounce off him. Taking advantage of his confusion, Ron used a banishing charm to throw his opponent from the ring.
Just then, there was a small explosion on his wand arm, as it was struck with a purple beam. He yelled out in pain and his wand arm fell to his side, the grip on his wand was still tight. The pain was excruciating, Ron grabbed the injured arm and turned to face the white haired wizard. His other two opponents had been swiftly defeated.
"I was hoping you wouldn't have dropped your wand!" the wizard smirked, "You might actually be able to make me break a sweat."
"I actually plan to beat you!" said Ron stubbornly. The other wizard only laughed.
"I suppose it is possible for miracles to happen, but it's doubtful," He raised his wand sending the same purple beam at Ron, who dodged it easily. The wizard began to send the curse at Ron continuously, and Ron was dodging each one, waiting for an opening to attack. As quick as Ron was, the other wizard was even more so, and his aim was more and more dead on.
"Are you practicing for the ballet Weasley?" shouted Draco, "Fight back!"
"Protego!" shouted Ron, putting as much into the shield charm as he could. The purple beam connected with the blue shield, shattering it. The curse struck Ron in the left shoulder. He yelled out in pain, but remained on his feet. "EXPELLIARMUS!" as Ron shouted a silver bolt shot from Ron's wand and hit his opponent square in the chest. He was sent spinning in the air and landed hard on his back. However, the wand remained firmly in his hand. As he stood he merely laughed.
"It's been a long time since anyone was able to hit me!" said the wizard, "You should have taken me out when you had the chance," Ron just stood there defiantly, the wizard raised his wand and they circled each other.
"Stu-," Ron began to say, but the wizard flicked his wand and Ron did a back flip in the air. Ron stood and tried to raise his wand, but was struck by four purple beams, each searing his skin as they exploded. One struck Ron on the right side of his abdomen, two struck his left leg, and the last one stuck his left bicep. His left leg gave out beneath him, and he dropped to one knee. Pain and determination were etched on his face. 'Stupefy,' Ron concentrated through the pain. The red beam was deflected again by the wizard. The wizard waved his wand spinning Ron into the air. Ron landed hard on his left shoulder and everyone could hear the sickening crack as he did so.
Ron slowly stood, favoring his injured left leg, while his left arm hung uselessly at his side. He could barely raise his wand. The white hair wizard pointed his wand at Ron and brought his wand back in a pulling motion. Ron was flung forward, his head banging against the floor and he slid to the other side of the ring. He still held on to his wand, refusing to give-up. A large bruise was forming on his forehead and he had a gash over his right eye. With a lightning quick motion, Ron shot another curse, but the white haired wizard had anticipated this and with a motion with his wand, knocked Ron's arm straight into the air. The red bolt completely missed its' target. He then raised his wand, lifting Ron high into the air. He released Ron from the levitation spell while shooting multiple purple beams at Ron. Ron fell, and was knocked unconscious after the first three bolts hit him in mid-air. Three explosions were heard as soon as Ron released his wand. Ron stopped in mid-air, and was protected by an extremely powerful shield charm, while the white haired wizard deflected a curse aimed at his back. The curse struck the ring and there was a huge explosion.
The white haired wizard found himself smiling face-to-face with a red faced, furious Hermione Granger, who had fired the exploding curse at his back. He laughed as she kept her wand pointed at him. She looked as if she was considering trying to hex him again. Harry lowered his wand; he had been the one to use the shield charm that kept Ron from being hit by the other curses to prevent anymore spell damage. He summoned Ron's wand to him, while Draco, who used the levitation charm, lowered Ron onto a stretcher the Medi-Wizard had summoned.
Hermione held back tears of fury as the wizard who had decimated Ron simply laughed at her. She did not lower her wand until Harry grabbed her by the arm. She flung herself on Harry wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. She cried on his shoulder all the way to the infirmary where Ron was being taken. Harry looked back at the wizard that even Voldemort would have shrunk back in fear from. The wizard didn't even flinch; in fact, he continued to laugh at them. "You could have prevented this Potter!" he yelled to Harry, before turning and joining a small group of wizards, who apparently were waiting for him. Harry recognized one of the wizard's. It was Malak Ruglia.
A/N: What repercussions did you really think were going to happen? Ron's been decimated, and the Dark Wizards have made themselves known. How did Hermione, Fleur and Ginny fair in their matches? What will happen to Ron and will he and Hermione make-up if he even wakes-up? What effect will this have on Hermione? Find out in the next exciting chapter of The Legend of Potter: Hermione's Vow.