So this is now the officially longest chapter in my fic, until now.

The world of Harry Potter and its characters belong to JKR. I do not support JKR. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.

Chapter 13: The Demonstration Match II

"We'll take a quick break," said Hufflepuff. "Before the duels start. Feel free to head to the Great Hall for a quick meal. Champions you may go first. Next, it is the students' turn. And then, the professors' and the staff."

The Champions stood up and looked at each other, before Ron held his stomach. All four of them were hungry as they had eaten nothing that morning as they were preparing for their entrances. The four stared at each other before they began walking towards the same direction, then Cedric glanced at his right looking at Luna and sped up slightly. Ron looked to his own right seeing Cedric speeding up and he too sped up. It only took all but four seconds for the four of them to begin sprinting towards the Great Hall.

When Ron arrived at the Great Hall, neck to neck with the others he found himself staring at the feast prepared for the whole school. He looked at the others, Luna for some reason had a panting smile on her face, while Cedric held a smirk of his own. Daphne Greengrass, however, was the only one similar who seemed completely serious.

The four dug in as they sat at their separate tables. Ron couldn't help but to stare at Daphne Greengrass as she elegantly cut her food before putting a piece of steak in her mouth and chewing slowly like a real snob.

Ron for his part didn't really care about being appropriate as he shoved entire spoonfuls of food inside his mouth.

'She's bloody crazy,' thought Ron. 'Honestly, she cut that graphorn like it was nothing. She's so–'

'Bloody annoying,' thought Daphne. 'There's no way anyone, and Ron Weasley at that, can get that good in such a short amount of time. It's so obvious he's just a–'

'Bloody maniac is what she is.'

Students began to pour in the Great Hall, the professors' close behind the large group of students. Most of the students came barreling through the entrance and went straight to the Champions as they congratulated them. Colin Creevey had walked to Ron's side as he ate and looked at his sword.

"Can I hold it, Ron?" Colin asked. Ron simply nodded, barely paying attention to Colin. As Colin went to grab the sword he found it difficult to even lift it completely off the ground, sensing his insecurity Ron lifted the sword fully and tossed it to Colin, who fell on his bum as he caught the weapon in his arms.

Harry and Hermione sat beside Ron.

"That was amazing, Ron," she said as she sat down hugging him. Ron's ears went red. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Y-yeah," said Ron, clearing his head. "Yeah, I'm alright. Madame Pomfrey only said it was a broken rib, nothing she couldn't fix."

Ron's friends nodded, before they had to do a double take as they watched the Gryffindor Champion continue with his meal as if he hadn't just revealed a critical injury for most people.

"What?!" almost everyone exclaimed.

"What?" said Ron looking around as he swallowed the piece of steak he had been chewing. "It's nothing, really."

"Nothing?!" shrieked Hermione. "Ron, a broken rib is a serious injury, you can't just say it's nothing!"

"Oh come on," said Ron. "This stuff would make Dementors blush."

"No, seriously, Ron," continued Hermione, her tone a mix of worry and admonishment. "You broke your arm during the last Quidditch Match and just put it back as if it was nothing, and then there was about a month and a half ago when Harry and I found you passed out on the floor of the Quidditch Locker Rooms, Gryffindor had said that you had been too exhausted from your training with him and you still went to Quidditch Practice."

As Hermione said all this Ron tried his best not to choke on a piece of pork he had shoved in his mouth a little too forcefully. The two continued to throw argument after argument before they decided to resign themselves to their meals.

Harry stared between his two best friends, and while just a few weeks ago he would've been relieved to see them bicker like always he internally called his past self from three weeks ago a fool.

Hufflepuff clapped loudly and everyone stopped what they were doing, excited for the next part of the Match that day. The duels. Everyone made their way back to the Quidditch Pitch. Ron watched as Harry, Hermione, Ginny and the twins were taking to the Gryffindor high tower in the stands as he'd asked. Other people were also brought to other towers, Sue Li, Neville and Padma Patil went to the Ravenclaw tower, while Ernie MacMillan, Hannah Abbott and Tamsin Applesbee were led to the Hufflepuff one. Ron wasn't surprised to see that only Astoria Greengrass, Daphne's sister, had been chosen for the Slytherin tower.

The sorting hat once more began to float, but this time she went to each and one of the Champions. Like Gryffindor instructed Ron, he put a piece of parchment with his name inside the hat as did the other from what he could see.

The hat floated to the side of the field and began to murmur before seemingly chewing on nothing, before he spat something out. A small ball of parchment paper suddenly exploded into a ball of fire, and Ron seemed to appear in the middle of the air, with his Tournament robes and sword. His name appeared above the sort of translucent image of him.

The hat spat something out once more, once more a small ball of parchment paper was spat into the air, but this time it turned into dust and exploded into a small sand balloon. Cedric with his robes, wand and mallet appeared in the air looking like a ghost, similar to Ron. His name above him.

"Ron Weasley and Cedric Diggory, make your way to the field!" Shouted the sorting hat.

Ron took a deep breath and stood up making his way to the Quidditch field just like Cedric. To his left was Luna who looked focused on a cloud while she sat upside-down on her bench and to his front was Daphne Greengrass observing cautiously as the two boys approached the centre.

The two stared off at one another as Helga Hufflepuff and Godric Gryffindor stood up.

"Very well," said Hufflepuff. "We shall begin the final segment of the Demonstration Match today. The duels amongst the Champions. But before we shall begin we shall first state the ground rules, which shall apply to the other fights as well."

"First," said Gryffindor. "No dark curses that are potentially lethal. And it goes without saying that using a curse like this will disqualify the Champion that casts it."

"Second," continued Hufflepuff. "If a Champion is disarmed they are allowed to continue with their muggle weapon. If they are pushed out of the circle we have drawn they shall also be disqualified, and if a Champion passes out they are considered defeated and the duel will be finished."

"Third, there may be no outside help from any witch or wizard, unless the duel is over or the circumstances demand it."

"And finally, just like before, if a Champion gives up the duel shall cease and the contestant in question will be handed an immediate loss. Is everything understood?" Both Ron and Cedric nodded understanding the ground rules and what they meant.

"Good," said Hufflepuff. "Now, for the first place we shall award a hundred points to their house, the second place will be awarded seventy-five, third place fifty and fourth place twenty-five," the stakes were raised. People were even more excited about what was to come.

"Very well," both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff raised their wands as if saluting in a duel. "Champions salute."

Ron and Cedric mimicked Godric and Helga.

"Champions begin!" They both shouted in unison.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!" Cedric's Disarming Charm was blocked by Ron's protection charm.

"Stupefy! Stupefy! Impedimenta!" Ron rolled out of the way and dodged spell after spell as he managed to outrun Cedric' aim.

"Nebulus!" Mist shot out of Ron's wand surrounding him in a cloud and hiding his view from everyone outside it. He conjured a rock with his wand and threw it to his left, the moment he heard Cedric cast another Stunner he knew his small plan had worked. He rolled to his right coming out of the cloud of mist and aimed his wand at a confused Cedric.

"Stupefy!"

"Protego!"

Almost, he had been really close.

"Impedimenta!" The charm hit Ron right in the chest making him fall on his arse as Cedric aimed his wand seemingly at his crotch.

"Terra statio!" Ron was shot into the air, and he looked beneath him and saw a large and tall stone pillar coming out of the ground. Ron fell on his side, the air knocked out of him, he looked at Cedric who looked a small bit preoccupied about Ron's well-being, the Gryffindor Champion brandished his wand and aimed it at Cedric.

"Incendio!" A ball of fire was shot at Cedric making him dodge to avoid being burned. He sent a Stunner at Ron who rolled out of the way.

"Impedimenta!

"Fulgari!" The spells collided and bounced off each other being sent to the crowds before hitting an invisible shield.

'Think,' thought Ron. 'Think! He's good from far away! And from up close he might cave my head in with that bloody hammer! Think Ron!'

"Confringo!" A big ball of exploding fire was sent at Cedric, who once again went to dodge it, before Ron waved his wand around his head and the big ball of fire began to follow Cedric. The Hufflepuff Champion looked behind him as he felt the heat and was surprised to see the ball of fire following him, he quickened his pace, not realising he was coming closer and closer to his opponent.

The ball of fire landed on the ground making him jump to avoid being severely burned, Ron took the chance and aimed his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" He casted Cedric's wand shot out of his hand and flew to Ron's. Cedric seemed surprised, and Ron seemed even more surprised in himself. However, he didn't have any time to be surprised as Cedric was now running right at him. Cedric leapt off the ground and took out his mallet, Ron put Cedric's wand inside his robes before taking out his sword.

They clashed in the middle with a loud TANG noise resonating across the field. Ron aimed his wand at Cedric, who dodged and spun around Ron trying to hit him in the head with the mallet. Cedric didn't stop for one second as he kept throwing attack after attack with his hammer, while Ron kept on the defensive. Cedric's attack felt like being attacked by an angry hippogriff or a hungry bear. None of his spells were hitting him, and then Cedric's mallet hit him right in his hand knocking his wand out of his grasp.

Now with both of his hands free he was more free to actually use his sword properly. And with the proper use of his sword, he realised that while Cedric's mallet hit like a bear, Ron clawed back like a lion. It was clear from the way that Cedric used it that it worked more as a tool than anything else, it seemed too short and easily neutralizable. And it proved Ron right as he sliced Cedric's palm, making him drop the hammer on the ground.

Ron put the tip of his sword against Cedric's neck, both of them panting heavily as they looked at each other.

"Give… up…" said Ron between deep breaths that held the control of his breath. Cedric smirked as he suddenly snapped his fingers and made a wave with his hand.

"Accio wand!" Cedric's wand shot out from the inside Ron's robes. Ron only had a split-second to react as he drop-kicked Cedric and put some distance between them. Both of them stood up extremely fast, Cedric began to cast every charm in the book trying to knock out Ron. However, thanks to his training with Gryffindor, Ron was managing to slice at the spells, sending them away from him.

Ron took the offensive now, he began to come closer and closer to Cedric slicing through the air as he blocked each and every one of the charms, Cedric looked slightly panicked, but he didn't stop his relenting attack. Ron's muscles burned, but he didn't stop for a second before the two were only a feet apart and Ron flourished his sword and disarmed Cedric, catching his wand in the air once more. Cedric put his hands in the air as he did moments ago.

Ron smirked this time as he panted tiredly, he knocked Cedric with his shoulder and without noticing the Hufflepuff fell right outside the circle.

"Ron Weasley wins the duel!" Cheers erupted around the stands as Ron immediately sat down, completely exhausted. Cedric had his hands behind his body as he too rested on the ground, Ron stood up and walked albeit slowly to both his wand, Cedric's and the older boy's hammer. He walked towards Cedric and offered his hand, Cedric took it smiling as he continued to pant. He gave back Cedric's things and the two embraced in a quick hug showing their mutual respect.

When Ron sat down he felt like was ready to pass out. Madame Pomfrey came to him offering a replenishing potion, he took it graciously. He looked around seeing a lot of people staring at him almost with a sort of weird look. As if he were an animal in a zoo. He slightly wondered if this was how Harry normally felt. He looked behind him looking at the Gryffindor side of the stands, many of his friends and housemates were cheering and clapping for him.

The sorting hat began to chew with the folds that made up its mouth before spitting out two balls of parchment, one of them was sliced into tiny pieces so small they looked like dust, while the others seemed to turn into water and dropped like a drop of water.

"Luna Lovegood and Daphne Greengrass, make your way to the field," Luna skipped her way to the field, while Daphne Greengrass walked with her hands behind her back with a prideful air surrounding her. Then, Luna's hippogriff began to trail behind her.

"Wait a minute!" Exclaimed Snape from his seat, making everyone turn their head. "That beast is following Lovegood! That is strictly against the rules!"

"Ah ah ah," said Ravenclaw as she shook her finger. "As Hufflepuff and Gryffindor stated, witches and wizards aren't allowed to help any Champion. We never mentioned any magical beasts, did we?"

"You cheeky witch," said Gryffindor as he laughed out loud. "I say go for it!" Hufflepuff didn't seem to have anything against it and just nodded, Slytherin however seemed quite clearly annoyed, but it looked like he was more annoyed at Gryffindor's loud nature than at the –in Ron's opinion– clear advantage that Luna had.

As the two walked to the field both of their founders stood up.

"Champions salute!" They mimicked what moments ago Hufflepuff and Gryffindor did, Luna put her bow on her body and took out her wand from her robes. The two founders saluted followed by their Champions before bellowing out into the field.

"Champions begin!"

Luna patted the hippogriff that had followed her as if it was a dog, they bowed their heads and touched their foreheads, which Ron found even more bizarre than… well… Luna. Daphne for her part looked similar to her Founder, incredibly annoyed by everything that surrounded her, it was as if someone had copied Professor Snape and turned his copies into an old man and a teenage girl.

Luna gave her beast a few more pats before it flew into the air seemingly leaving the Quidditch grounds. Luna gave Daphne a soft smile which clearly confused the Slytherin girl before Luna suddenly pulled out her bow quite rapidly and pulled its string.

"Stupefy!" Daphne's eyes slightly widened, however she didn't seem the slightest bit scared as she waved her wand in front of her and the red light dissolved.

Luna began to make some distance between her and Daphne while the other girl began to send curse after curse, all of which seemed quite extreme for a simple match. Luna jumped and began to step on the air pulling on the string of her bow repeatedly sending charms Daphne's way.

"Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Impedimenta!"

"Aqua Iorum!" A jet of water shot out of Daphne's wand as it wrapped around Luna's ankle. Daphne swung her arm and Luna spun on the air before being thrown in the air as she flew like a ragdoll.

"Vento Impetio!" Casted Luna against the ground sending a gust of strong wind that slowed her fall.

"Glacio!" A sharp shard of ice shot at Luna from Daphne's wand. The blonde girl's eyes widened before she rolled out of the way as bursts of sharp ice threatened to pierce through her body, she quickly recovered and began to flip and pounce like a wild animal as she continued to dodge Daphne's dangerous attacks before she leapt so high in the air Ron thought she had begun to float.

Suddenly, she was caught in the middle of the air by the hippogriff that had brought her, its claws held her quite tenderly for a wild magical beast that Ron had seen for himself had almost cut Malfoy's arm back in third year. Luna hung off its claws as she shot with her bow aimed at Daphne.

"Turbo!"

A grey light shot from Luna's bow and hit the ground near Daphne, a little twirl of smoke came from it and Daphne ignored it before she began to try cursing Luna. A mistake from her as the little twirl of smoke grew bigger, before big gusts of wind began to push Daphne around, her balance was thrown off and she could barely wave her wand properly. The gusts of winds became so strong, dust began to pick up from the floor and soon enough a small, but powerful tornado appeared on the field.

"Vincula," chains shot from Daphne's wand and stuck to the ground. Daphne held on to the chain with her free hand with an iron grip. She aimed her wand through the dust and aimed at Luna who was circling around the tornado, her wand above her head making circles.

"Immobulus!"

The charm missed Luna, but it hit the hippogriff. The magical hybrid froze as if it were a stone statue in the air, Luna's eyes widened as she began to fall, the tornado ceased and Daphne also fell. The two witches fell to the ground, while Luna fell hard, the air knocked out of her chest and the hippogriff nearly crushing her, Daphne however landed flawlessly.

Daphne aimed her wand at the hippogriff and the beast rolled onto Luna's lower half, Ron gripped his wand inside his robes as he bit the inside of his mouth while he watched the scene in front of him. The Slytherin girl walked towards Luna, bent down and picked up her wand, she twirled it around her fingers and threw it out of the field outside the circle.

With her wide grey eyes Luna looked up at Daphne like a vulnerable and cornered prey looking at its predator. Luna then grabbed her bow and shot between Daphne's legs, a rope sticking to the wall and leading her away from Daphne. The Slytherin seemed even more annoyed now and began to send more ice shards Luna's way, the Ravenclaw girl seemed overwhelmed, yet she was managing to conjure a shield that protected her from each dangerous piece of ice.

Then, something seemed to snap in Daphne, her eyes going wide and appearing to hold an air of insanity. Her movements became furious, and Luna now looked to be barely capable of keeping up. Daphne aimed her wand up in the air.

"Aguamenti!" A big gush of water shot out of her wand reaching high in the air. "Congelio!" The water froze, looking like a dangerously big stalactite. Daphne's wand aimed in a fierce slash at Luna. Just as Luna was about to jump out of the way she slipped.

Harry saw it all, and his instincts kicked in, his hand was inside his robes, but it would be too late by the time that he would manage to even try and send the ice shard away it would've already pierced through Luna. The big frozen weapon was metres away from Luna when suddenly it seemed to explode into a thousand pieces. A mist settled where the ice had exploded and when it cleared Harry saw Cedric and Ron standing in the circle.

Cedric had a very noticeable, but small cut above his eyebrow, his mallet was in his hand. Ron on the other hand held Luna in a bridal style, a large and deep cut from where his jaw met his ear to just where his cheekbone started slowly bleeding.

There was an uproar among the stands, Ravenclaws claiming that Daphne Greengrass had gone too far, Slytherin's booing Ron and Cedric for intervening and others placing the blame on Luna for slipping up.

The four founders looked at each other, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw looking mutinous at Slytherin, while Gryffindor had a look of almost murderous intent for the other wizard. The four seemed to be talking without saying a word, only shaking and moving their heads, until finally the four stood up.

"As it seemed to be a clear accident," said Ravenclaw, an enraged and annoyed tone in her voice. "Daphne Greengrass shall not be disqualified. And as Luna Lovegood only received the appropriate help from Cedric Diggory and Ron Weasley she shall take the loss in this duel."

The Slytherins roared gleefully, the Ravenclaws protested, the other houses making a lot of noise as well.

"SILENCE!" Godric Gryffindor roared in a bellowing shout that sounded like a lion roaring through a microphone. "I know some of you are not happy! But we must respect the rules!"

Gryffindor sat back down, he had a serious expression on his face, his eyebrows furrowed, his blue eyes darkened, and his hands gripping on the arm support of the chair so hard Harry thought they would burst under his grip.

"Cedric Diggory and Luna Lovegood, you shall receive a small five minute break before your duel begins!" The sorting hat announced.

Ron took Luna to her bench, laying her down gently so as to not hurt her. She held her ankle, her face was screwed up in pain as Madame Pomfrey walked hurriedly to her side, her wand gently waving over her pained leg.

Ron turned around watching Daphne Greengrass walk back to her bench, dismissive of everything surrounding her. As he walked back to his own bench he kept staring at Daphne Greengrass. What the bloody hell was the matter with that witch? Was she off her rocker? How could anyone almost kill a fellow student and just walk away as if nothing happened? It felt wrong.

Sure, he had wanted to beat Malfoy to a bloody pulp more than once, but to actually almost pierce through a classmate. Almost killing them… It made Ron feel weird. Gryffindor had once asked him if he would be willing to kill for his loved ones, and his answer hadn't changed, but it wasn't as if he thought that other people's lives were meaningless, but for him, some people were worth dirtying his hands, even if the thought made him somewhat sick.

Luna and Cedric had started, and it was quite a duel, they were more equal in power than Daphne and Luna had been, but Ron wasn't really paying any attention to the two. He just kept staring at Daphne, who sat across the other side of the field, sitting on the bench staring at her fingernails. What was going on inside her head? Who was she? Why had it been so easy for her to beat Luna? He had genuinely thought that Luna had the duel in the palm of her hand when she conjured a tornado, but Daphne barely blinked an eye.

Ron didn't really know who she was, she simply mixed into the background. He had honestly never properly heard of her before the tournament, surely they must have had classes together at least once seeing that she was a Slytherin, but other than that there was nothing in his mind that would come up whenever he thought of her.

As Luna and Cedric's fight was near its conclusion, Cedric having used a risky, but incredibly smart manoeuvre, Ron actually felt quite unnerved. More than he had when his fight with Cedric had been announced. It was the sort of feeling he'd get before a Quidditch match.

And without him noticing Cedric had used a strong stone pillar to make Luna crash into it with her hippogriff, knocking her bow and wand out of her hands. The Head Boy aimed his wand and both Luna and the hippogriff slowed down landing gracefully on the ground.

"Cedric Diggory wins the duel!" The sorting hat yelled out.

Cedric and Luna walked back to their benches, Cedric sending Ron a look that said 'good luck', but Ron wasn't that sure of it. In any moment, Daphne and him were about to step in, and he would either come out the victor, or be second best as always.

'No,' he thought, admonishing himself. 'Think positive. Remember Freedom, Fear, Anger and Love.'

"Daphne Greengrass and Ron Weasley, make your way into the field," Ron stood up, almost mirroring Daphne's movements as she walked to the centre of the field. The two faced against each other, just mere feet away from one another.

"Champions salute," the way Daphne smirked looked more like a sneer to Ron. As if she was silently telling him that this was not going to go his way, and it infuriated him. He saluted with his wand, his heart beating against his chest as seconds felt like hours. He settled on a defensive stance once more, his wand in front of him, his sword held upright at his back.

"Champions begin!"

"Petrificus totalus!"

"Protego!"

Ron's shield managed to block Daphne's curse. Daphne followed with a couple of stunners that Ron cut through with his sword. Thankfully, his master had charmed it with a shield and strengthening charm, he used his weapon to block the incoming curses coming from Daphne. And while she was quite good, Cedric had been better at keeping his ground. He almost felt smug as he casted his own set of charms against Daphne, while simultaneously pacing towards her when she grinned.

Just a foot and a half away from her the Slytherin Champion aimed her wand at the sharp silver rings that surrounded her wrists, she seemed to mumble something under her breath and the rings seemed to melt. Ron didn't have time to be surprised as Daphne waved her wand and the floating liquid metal turned into a large moon-shaped blade that almost cut his neck.

Ron raised his sword countering every attack with a block.

"Cultro!"

The liquid metal shrank and took the form of a knife, hardening and falling into the grasp of Daphne. She began to swing and wave the knife with expertise, Ron had to slightly change his stance and defence to accommodate the sudden change of length of his opponent's length. Daphne had managed to get a cut on his forearm as well as grazing the side of his body with a stunner that felt as if a light punch had been sent his way.

"Cultro!"

The knife that Daphne was holding suddenly divided, another knife materialising from it. The second knife floated in the air and Daphne's wand now began pointing at it, she slashed with her wrist, controlling the second weapon with ease as Ron now had to defend himself from two sources of damage.

"Cultri!"

The knives were divided into two, with now four knives in total, all in the air after Daphne had tossed the original knife in the air. It was as if a swarm of sharp and giant bees were constantly attacking him. It became so difficult Ron had to use his wand to begin protecting himself instead of trying to curse Daphne.

"Gravitas!" Casted Ron at Daphne's wand, her arm falling fast as a snitch to the ground, the knives falling as well. Ron was waving his wand, an Impedimenta on the tip of his tongue when Daphne took a knife from the ground and threw it at him. The distraction was efficient enough for her to aim her wand around herself and cast another spell.

"Hasta!" The knives all came together in one piece, the one Ron had been thrown cutting the top of his right shoulder slightly. A spear took form, completely silver, shiny and quite expensive-looking. Daphne held it in both her hands and began to try and impale Ron with it.

"Incendio," a small fire came from Ron's wand hitting Daphne's feet, momentarily alarming her long enough for Ron to get some space between the two. Daphne aimed her wand and the spear became the two rings that went on her wrists.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Flipendo!"

Both of the spells failed. Ron, although still quite hurt from Daphne's attacks, was breathing normally, while Daphne was panting heavily. There was sweat from the pure exhaustion running down her forehead onto her cheeks and falling off her chin. Ron wasn't even tired, the pure adrenaline keeping him going as it did when he faced the troll.

Daphne must've realised her state when suddenly a drop of her sweat fell into her eye, momentarily blinding her in her left eye, Ron saw the opportunity and casted a stunner. It hit Daphne square in the stomach, sending her flying and landing just inside the circle in the field. She had been nearly defeated, and this filled Ron with determination.

Daphne wiped her frow and began muttering something that Ron couldn't completely hear. A sudden blue dome appeared in front of her, clearly a shield for herself. She began waving her above her head as Ron threw charm after charm, but the dome wouldn't cease for any reason. Then, he heard it, the sound of waves crashing against each other as a sudden large ball of floating dark water, no doubt from the black lake floated above her.

"TIDIO!" She nearly screamed as she casted it, she aimed her wand at Ron and a giant furious and unrelenting wave began to threaten him. Ron's eyes widened as he began to retreat to the other side of the Quidditch Field. As he did so he began to take deep breaths, preparing for what was to come.

Just as he arrived at the border, he took one final breath observing the wave that kept growing higher and higher as it got closer. And with a look of pure determination he aimed his wand at the side of his throat.

"Draconis Spiritus!" He casted. His chest began to swell up as if he were a balloon. He felt the burning sensation in his stomach, lungs and throat. As he blew out giant flames from the inside of his mouth. The flames met the waves of water in the middle, clashing in what could only be seen as a beautiful mix of blue, black, red and yellow encased in a battle. Which was to win? The fire or the water? The fury of the waves or the power or the flames? Soon enough, the water had run out, all evaporated by Ron's flames.

Both of their attacks, although powerful, left them tired. Daphne was panting even more heavily now and Ron was starting to barely. He silently thanked his Master for the stamina exercises.

As Ron prepared himself for his last attack, seeing as Daphne was swaying on her spot, he waved his wand ready to send a stunner when suddenly Daphne stood upright with a sort of renewed energy, and Ron could've sworn that her eyes had turned an angry crimson red for a second.

Her attacks became suddenly fierce and violent far more than they had been with Luna. Ron thought he was doing a good job when suddenly he felt something hit him right in the stomach. He looked down and saw a shiny metallic ball on the ground that then turned into a snake and slithered its way to the inside of Daphne's robes though the bottom. He fell on one of his knees, the air knocked out of him, he felt the great need to vomit and he was almost ready to pass out any moment now.

He felt then as his cheek was cut, a deep gash suddenly appearing on his face. He looked up, Daphne Greengrass was still not breathing normally like Ron was a moment ago, but she looked far less tired and worked out than before.

"Stand up, Weasley," she said, aiming at Ron. "I want everyone to have a clear view of me kicking your arse, deadlast."

Ron took his sword and wand and stood up. It was hard, and it definitely hurt, but it was far harder for him to just give up because he got hit in his stomach.

'Do you think Harry would give up against You-Know-Who because his tummy hurts?' he voiced internally. 'Get it together, Weasley.'

Ron took a deep breath, he put his knuckle in his mouth and lightly bit it, feigning needing a moment to recover, he looked up at his Master. This was the signal, he just hoped he would let him use the technique they'd been working on for almost two entire months now. When Gryffindor realised what Ron was talking about he smirked and slightly nodded his head.

Ron stood heaving, his sword in hand, his wand in the other. He put himself in a defensive stance and just when Daphne thought he was about to start another fight with her, he ran away from her. She clearly hadn't expected that as she stood still for a moment, and Ron hadn't expected her to be so angry.

"Don't run away from me, Weasley!"

Ron casted a shield every time one of Daphne's curses threatened to hit him. Just when she took some air so she could cast another spell he took off the wrapping that surrounded both of his arms. He held both the pieces of cloth like they were a giant ring, he then threw them with all his might at Daphne.

Daphne didn't see the threat in them and continued to cast spells against Ron when suddenly a voice boomed across the Quidditch Pitch from the highest stand in the Slytherin tower.

"DODGE YOU FOOL!" Daphne's eyes widened and she ducked under the wrappings, which continued to fly in the air until they hit the walls of the Quidditch Pitch, passing through them as if they were parchment paper and a Bludger. Salazar Slytherin had an almost maniacal look when he screamed, he sat back down looking at Gryffindor with a sneer that portrayed all of his distaste for the red-haired wizard.

Ron then took the opportunity and took off his boots, unwrapping the cloth that were on his feet and launching them at Daphne once more, this time she was better prepared and moved to the side feeling the strong breeze that came with the weirdly heavy object.

Barefoot and running from a maniac Slytherin, Ron was now ready. The way Dragon Magic worked was a very tricky thing. Things like breathing out fire from your insides were incredibly difficult even to the best of wizards, which is why there was a Fire-Breathing Potion for that instead. The potion that was now running through Ron's body system as if it were blood or sweat allowed him to access it. Everytime Ron used a technique from Dragon Magic the potion slightly evaporated and Ron had to fill it back up, either through drinking it or the same way Gryffindor had gotten it in.

And now he was about to access the most useful and powerful technique, and the last time he had done so he had passed out in the Quidditch Locker Rooms out of exhaustion and dehydration. But that was because he had insisted on training that day… At least he hoped so.

Summoning a large shield that was sturdy enough to resist Daphne for a few seconds, Ron prepared. He took a deep breath and aimed his wand at his own chest, right where his heart was beating.

"Draconis Corpus," he casted in an almost whisper.

Harry saw as Ron aimed his wand towards himself and casted a spell he couldn't hear. Suddenly Ron gripped his wand with a tight grip that turned his knuckles white, but that wasn't what captivated anyone's attention.

Ron's pale skin was slowly turning red, and he was flexing his muscles so strongly that Harry thought he would pass out. The veins on his forehead looked like small angry snakes that were slightly growing bigger. Ron's eyes turned a bright amber, when he gritted his teeth Harry and everyone else had a chance to look at his canines turn sharper. It was astounding and terrifying at the same time. His pale skin going borderline scarlet began to turn back to normal little by little, Ron had stopped flexing his muscles, and Harry saw that even Daphne Greengrass had become surprised by Ron's spell and subsequent transformation.

Harry saw as Ron snapped his fingers, a loud bang noise coming from his fingers like one of Fred and George's fireworks, this made Daphne slightly flinch.

"Focus, Greengrass," he said, smirking. "I want everyone to have a clear view of me kicking your arse in less than a minute, bloody show-off."

This seemed to enrage Daphne even more than before.

"Flipendo. Stupefy. Impedimenta," Greengrass shot the spells in quick succession. However, Ron made no intent to dodge or even block. Harry wanted to scream at Ron to do any of those things like Slytherin had done for Daphne moments ago, but something that no one expected happened when the curses hit him.

Each and every colourful spell bounced off him as if they were rubber balls. Throughout the whole duel people had been more and more on the edge of their seats. Expecting the next surprise that was just around the corner, but Harry knew that Ron had just taken the cake.

Daphne was clearly surprised, although that word would really undermine the expression she had on her face. She looked completely dumbfounded as she looked at Ron, who although winced just a tiny bit hadn't moved an inch from his spot.

"Expelliarmus," the red light from the Disarming Charm travelled fast as a snitch and completely dissolved when it hit Ron square in the chest. Ron smiled a large grin and began to run at Daphne at full speed.

"Incendio," a ball of fire, far bigger than a Fire Charm's summoned out of Ron's wand as he casted the spell. Daphne seemed a bit panicked now, and she stepped out of the fire's way. However, she was very unlucky when Ron changed the direction of his wand and the ball began following her, like it did with Cedric.

"Custodio Agua," from the grass that was beneath her water came out forming a barrier between her and the ball of fire. That same grass now looked dead and grey.

"Congelio!" It quickly froze and the ball of fire collided, creating a giant cloud of mist.

Daphne was blind, she couldn't see. Not for once had she expected anything of what happened today. Weasley going up against her instead of Diggory, Lovegood genuinely surprising her, Weasley being far more difficult to deal with than expected. So in a metaphorical and literal sense she was completely blind, for all she knew one of the imaginary creatures that Lovegood was known to mention would pop up in a moment or two.

She looked around cautiously and she did so with a reason as suddenly Weasley stepped inside the cloud of mist. Sword in hand, he slashed with an incredible precision aiming for the palm of her hand. Quickly she aimed her wand at her left wrist.

"Clavam!" A mace with dangerously sharp spikes materiales from the special metal that Slytherin had gotten her. She successfully managed to defend herself from the first attack, but if Weasley did beat her in something she had to admit it was clearly Muggle duelling.

Each and every attack from Weasley's sword came hard, like an Abraxan giant horse was trying to stomp her. She took a step back with every single hit from him… she was losing.

'Not if I help you like before,' Tom seemed to whisper in her ear.

'I already got help from you when you casted Anapneo on me to get me some air,' she retorted. 'I'm going to beat this bloody loser on my own.'

But even as she thought that it was clear Weasley had the upper hand.

In one vicious attack Weasley's sword cut Daphne's mace clean in two. It all happened very slowly after that. She saw her weapon fall to the ground, Weasley's face in a focused expression, he was probably so smug as he swung his sword once more, only heading to her hand to disarm her. There wasn't anything she could do, no spell she could cast quick enough, soon she would be humiliated in front of the whole school and by Weasley at that.

He already had the popularity, the friends, the loving family that always sent him those hideous bloody sweaters. A surge of anger rushed though her and her wand was aimed right at his chest. She wanted him to step back, burst in a thousand pieces, she didn't care, she wanted. Weasley. GONE!

'Confringo,' the voice of Tom casted and a giant ball of exploding fire shot out of her wand sending Weasley flying back while she herself was somehow unscathed.

There were gasps across the stands, and she half-wished they would shut up. Weasley was on his back, fire surrounding him, but he wasn't screaming and for a moment a small voice inside Daphne was screaming in fear, and horror before it was silenced by something else.

Weasley then, to the surprise of everyone, stood up, albeit clearly tired. He was heaving, his robes were on fire and a mess, almost completely destroyed. But other than that he was fine.

'Look at him,' said Tom. 'He thinks you're pathetic. Probably bored out of his mind, already waiting for all of this to be done.'

Weasley's expression was neutral, and that made her even more pissed off. He began to run to her once more. Then everything went black.

Ron was sure he would win, sure that Confringo spell had hurt a lot, quite a lot if he were to be honest. Adrenaline coursed through him, and he was a bit ashamed to admit he was enjoying this when Daphne let out a raging scream, her wand moving as if she held a knife in her hand.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!"

A white light was sent at Ron, seeing no reason to think this would be any different than the many curses and hexes Daphne had sent his way he made no point to dodge. How very wrong he was.

The spell hit him right where his shoulder met his neck, and three huge gashes appeared on his skin, blood gushing out of them. It felt like a hippogriff tearing through his skin with its claws. He was sent back, falling to the ground as he clutched his right shoulder. Ron knew the Dragon Body Charm was still working, he could feel how his muscles were still being stimulated by the potion and the spell.

However, he didn't have much time left. When he told Daphne he was going to beat her in less than a minute, he was exaggerating. He could really only use this spell for about a minute and a half. And he was sure that the time had already passed.

He lifted his wand, tiredly, letting the blood fall freely from his left shoulder. And then he felt it. Ron began to turn red like before, but unlike the first time his cheeks began to puff as he covered his mouth until it was clearly too much and he opened his mouth. Steam came out of his ears, nose and mouth, the muggleborns in the audience were reminded of a cartoon.

Ron's eyes turned their normal blue colour, his teeth were becoming a lot less sharp and he felt dizzy, almost like the time that he'd drank that Firewhisky with Gryffindor. Ron swayed on his spot, he was seeing triple or maybe even quadruple and as he lifted his right hand in the air he did the last move he could do.

"I give up," he said a small dumb smile as he still felt almost drunk. Then, he passed out.

Harry couldn't believe it. Ron had just given up, earning him the second place, but right now that was at the back of his mind. In the front of his mind he was running down to the field, alongside Gryffindor and his friends to properly check on Ron.

When they got there Madame Pomfrey and the other healer that had been treating the other Champions. They were curing the slashes from Daphne's metallic weapons leaving no trace from them behind, however the three big cuts were not sealing, no matter whatever they used. Harry was about to panic when Snape walked through the crowd that had formed around Ron. The potions master kneeled down and began muttering an inchantation in a song-like tone.

"Audrey!" Harry turned around, the voice of Percy grabbed Harry's attention as he was walking through the crowd albeit a bit forcefully. "Audrey! Is he–"

"Percy!" Exclaimed the healer that was kneeling beside Ron. "Your brother's fine." Percy rubbed his eyes, slowly crouching to the healer's level. Most people were looking at Snape healing Ron, Harry however noticed the healer's wand slip into Percy's hand.

Ron would have a lot going on when he woke up.