Chapter Text
Ron Weasley was the best at one thing. It was more than many people could hope to accomplish. Lots of wizards were failures in all regards, while Ron was only subpar in most. He wasn’t the best son, not by a long shot. He wasn’t the best practical caster, competing with Harry’s innate talent and Hermione’s studious dedication. Ron couldn’t beat Seamus in a pie-eating contest though he tried every year. While he’d practiced practically since birth, Ron couldn’t beat Bill at a game of chess.
It would be a lie to say Ron didn’t care that he wasn’t the best at more than one thing. Yet if he could choose, he wouldn’t switch to another. For he takes a sweet, private pleasure that he is Harry Potter’s best friend.
“I thought you’d come and help your friend,” Sirius Black’s voice was rough, cold. He continued to speak, but Ron could only hear his own blood in his ear. Pumping, rushing, louder than anything else.
Black had known it was Harry’s weakness, their friendship. That’s what Ron was, a liability, not a brilliant enough duelist to hold his own against much of anyone, let alone against Sirus Black. Harry was in trouble, maybe going to die, and this time, it was Ron who had put him in jeopardy. Last year, it was Ron in a way as well. Ron’s sister, even if it was Lucius Malfoy’s doing.
Danger wasn’t new to them. The whomping willow, Aragog, the Chamber of Secrets just last year alone. But, Ron hadn’t really ever considered that Harry could die. Not in a material final sense.
Then, Harry stepped closer to Black.
Ron stood and grabbed onto Harry’s shoulder with his hand. His leg coursed with fire, too much to withstand on his own, but with Harry’s help, he could do it. For Harry. Anything for Harry.
“No, Harry,” Hermione’s voice came out in a whisper.
Ron looked at Sirius Black, at his dark beady eyes, “if you want to kill Harry, you’ll have to kill us too!”
Ron was swaying on his feet.
“Lie down,” Black said. “You will damage that leg even more.”
Perhaps, but was that really what Black had to say? Did he take Ron so unseriously? “Did you hear me? You’ll have to kill all three of us!”
That didn’t happen, of course. Harry started to fight Black like a muggle, and soon he and Hermione were running into the mix. And eventually, with Lupin’s help, Sirius Black revealed the truth; it was Peter Pettigrew, not Sirius Black who had betrayed Harry’s parents. Sirius Black was, after all, James Potter’s Best Friend too. Somewhere distantly, he and Ron were related, but they didn’t look anything alike.
At the end of the night, Sirius Black had escaped capture, but so had Peter Pettigrew. Harry seemed in good enough spirits. It should have been enough for Ron, but his leg continued to ache.