Ron stepped past the brick wall to Diagon Alley with Charlie hot on his heels. What he saw had him instantly go into Auror mode without a single hesitation. There was a whole team of dark wizards in wannabe Death Eater masks casting destructive curses, bricks were flying everywhere and people were running around.
In the past, he would have instantly gone to the source but his training had taught him a rescue, then containment, and last capture. Only skipped if more were available to handle the others.
Ron waved his wand high and struck at the debris which instantly dissolved to dust. "Charlie, I want you to get as many people as you can out of here," Ron said.
"Right" Charlie nodded after a moment then went to a large cluster of people. Ron moved forward and Ron brought his wand to chest "Harry, I'm working on the containment part over here. Come in through the Leaky Cauldron, that side is safe" Ron murmured then shot his patronus off.
He walked forward, so far besides a bunch of rattled people he hadn't seen any killing curses or anyone lying on the ground dead. He thanked his timing. "Confringo!" Ron turned and redirected the curse so it blasted his attacker back.
"Your pretty stupid to come alone into this, trying to be a hero?" a man asked him.
Ron cast his spells upward and the air rippled around them "you aren't really sure who you're dealing with are you?" he asked then flicked his wand and he flew backward. Containment was done, no one would be permitted to apparate, it would strand some but more importantly, the criminals were stuck.
Another blast was cast and he watched as a building was blasted, debris falling toward a large crowd (Charlie's crowd he was trying to get moving there.) Ron's heart slammed his chest and without thinking, he pointed his wand and struck.
It hit like a missile suspending the debris in midair and crumbling it to dust. He panted then turned on his attackers, now dealing with about 4 of them at once. Throwing up a shielding charm he stepped back and to the side so he was in front of the large crowd.
"Charlie, I'm going to turn the light post into a portkey. It'll land you directly in front of The Burrow, make sure everyone grabs it" Ron said turning to point his wand at the light muttering the long stream of spells wishing it would be faster.
"Wait, sir, my daughter, she's missing," a woman cried desperately.
Ron scanned the streets he could see, holding his shield despite the barrage of spells from the attackers. "How old?" he asked.
"She's 7, b-black hair and hazel eyes, she looks like me," the woman said, he scanned her face noting to look for a little girl of Asian descent.
"Name?" Ron asked; if she was out in this madness then calling her name might be his best bet getting her to come to him.
"Millie," she said.
"Okay, I'll find her, go with everyone now," Ron said "portkey in five seconds, grab it" Ron turned away from them, "one" Ron counted ready to take the shied down in four seconds. Hopefully the shield would hold for just a bit more.
"Four, three, two, one" Ron counted and the post ground as it was ripped from the brick by force. He took down the shield and sent a blast that knocked all four off their feet. As soon as the shield no longer blocked his view he saw something. A flashed of black hair behind a fountain. Ron's chest loosened a little.
At least he didn't have to lie to that woman, he walked toward the fountain that had the idyllic statues of Harry, Hermione and him on it. All of them were back to back aiming their wands outward, water spilling out of them. Despite the overall glorious depiction, their faces and height were actually fairly accurate.
As he got close he found he'd missed two men, these two weren't idiots because as soon as they saw his face they ran in the other direction. Ron collected the water in the fountain with his wand and aimed it at the men. The water washed over them forcing them to the ground. Ron body bound them.
He then walked around the fountain, the little girl he found was shaking with a bloody ankle and a few cuts but otherwise unharmed. He crouched her casting a shield around them just in case he missed anyone. "Hello, is your name Millie?" he asked.
Millie nodded then her eyes grew wide "your Ron Weasley" she said then looked at the statue where his own stood. It wasn't surprising anymore that children knew who he was considering their parents told stories and there were history books now about them.
"At your service, little miss, can I carry you?" he asked glancing to her ankle. In answer, she held her arms up and he picked her up and put her on his hip.
"Uh um, your my favorite," she said.
That surprised him, normally kids loved Hermione or Harry because Harry was the hero and Hermione the beauty with brains. Ron was just sidekick.
"I am?" he asked, stopping when Aurors of at least 12 piled in, rushing to the knocked out men.
Millie didn't seem to notice Harry Potter as he was looking at him. "Yeah, because you didn't stand out like your brothers. You were little like I am but you still help your friends and do your best and you became the best hero" she rambled excitedly.
Ron flushed "thank you, Millie, that's very nice of you," he said.
Millie smiled and leaned against him "did my momma tell you my name?" she asked.
"Yes, she did and she's very worried," Ron said, thinking this girl was a little like Hermione with well spoken she was and in perceptiveness. "Now, I'm going to hand you off now to a good friend of mine, he needs to help you to find your mum okay?" he said.
Millie looked sad and a little scared "but can't you help?" she asked.
"I need to tell the Aurors what happened so they can make sure they lock up the bad people doing the scary things. So you have to be brave for me, okay?" Ron said then walked a little past Harry and Millie's eyes widened at Harry who smiled a little at her.
"Oi Justin" Ron called over and Justin jogged over "this girl is Millie and if you speak to my brother, Charlie by Patronus, he can tell you how to find her mum," Ron said. Surprisingly, Justin was brilliant with children, his accent delighted and something about him just about bewitched any kid into compliance. Dead useful whenever they encountered bad magical accidents of any kind involving kids.
"Ah, well hello Millie, Justin Finch Fletchley at your beck and call. I can also be your humble carriage," Justin grinned and Millie giggled. Ron handed Millie to Justin and walked over to find Harry.
"Well, if this doesn't stave off any doubts the public had about you being just as much a hero as I am I doubt anything will," Harry said.
"Hm, maybe but couldn't you have gotten here earlier?" Ron asked.
"What do you mean, it's only been about seven minutes since you sent the patronus" Harry replied, "but it looks like you handled it just fine."
Ron blinked "wait, no way it's been" he checked his watch and found it was correct. It felt like much longer. "Huh… oh! Ouch!" he dropped his wand cradling his hand.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked suddenly very serious.
"My wand kind of bit me," Ron said.
"What?" Harry asked looking at it then picked it up, Ron looked at it finding the crack down the middle "oh… Ron, I'm sorry" Harry said.
"It's alright but weird, it didn't get knocked out of my hand or anything," Ron said.
"Hm… well, maybe you should floo home. Maybe get a new one from Percy" Harry said.
"He'd be ecstatic," Ron said "he's been a little frustrated as of late" he commented.
"Really?" Harry asked "he seemed fine last time everyone was at breakfast," he said.
Ron nodded, outwardly Percy was great at hiding his emotions, it was an incredibly practiced feat of skill in the Weasley household. Most everyone you could tell how they felt by the flush color on their face. You weren't to look at Percy though if you wanted to know Percy felt. You just look at Oliver.