"Sorry I'm late to the party." Ron Weasley stood in the crowd, with his torn clothes, what looks like blood smudged on his cheek. His leg still broken but no cast on his hand, instead a bottle of some kind of cheap liquor. He pointed his wand directly at Hermione and giggled like a maniac. "Hello there, "Mione."Mr. Weasley what do you think you're doing ?" McGonagall yelled and stood up from her seat at the Professors" table. Ron just looked at her and sneered. "Shut it, you old hag. Dare to move and I'll blow up Miss Perfect here." He gestured to Hermione again. Neville almost moved towards him but Blaise stopped him and gripped him forearm, this wasn't the how the plan was supposed to work their group knew that. Pansy disappeared while no one was looking, her wand gripped in her hand and Luna behind her. Plan B it is. "Ron, please, what are you doing ? Stop this madness."  Hermione didn't panic, her back was straightened out and her eyes were trying to capture his. Draco put his arm in front of her, a protective manner and Ron growled at that. Then he lifted  a bottle in his hand, took one last swig and smashed it against the icy floor, sound echoing and making people around him gasp, they backed away slowly from him."Ron, stop it this instant." Ginny whispered harshly at her side with Harry beside her, who looked torn and confused. "What do you think you're doing ?" She didn't dare to come closer to him, coughing into her hand. Ron looked at his sister and quickly flicked his wand towards her. Small glass shards from the broken bottle flew towards the red-head but Harry managed to blocked most of them, reacting  fast. But one peace pierced her Ginny's skin and went flying somewhere behind them, leaving a red gash on her forearm. She gasped and clutched her wound, crying out in pain and making everyone gasp out of fear, moving further away from Ron. "Piss off, dear sister, I'm doing something that I should've done long ago." He returned his gaze at Hermione and smiled a sick smile. "I will get rid of you once and for all and then I'll be the everyone's truest hero, loved and respected." He laughed again, his face red. "We can talk this out, Ron, please. I know that you don't want to do this, it's just alcohol talking okay ?" Hermione put hand on her chest, her pleading tone ringing out. "Please, Ron."You're begging me to stop, how funny." He laughed mockingly. "Exactly what you did that night, and you look scared exactly like before." His face turned serious and cold, he walked closer to them, making Hermione walk backwards with Draco who tried to cover her body more. Ron didn't like that so he threw his second spell, blasting them apart. Draco, knowing that he had to play his part, pretended to not react quickly let himself to be torn from her. But deep down he felt what was similar to dread when he saw her hit the ground away from him. He knew, of course, that Hermione was in control and Ron didn't match her but what if...Hermione fell down a bit further, near the steps leading to the Professors" table, who were shocked and restrained from doing anything, too risky, they would say. She gasped from the impact and supported her body with her hands, standing up slowly. Well, that hurt. "Not so tough are you now, "Mione ?" She gritted her teeth in annoyance, the nickname just won't disappear... She narrowed her eyes at him, her stance now confident and all that fake freight disappeared, this wasn't fun anymore.Hermione cracked her neck and scoffed at Ron who was busy looking smug and then hearing her small laugh, confused. She heard Draco growling out of anger nearby, now accompanied by Blaise and Neville who were busy holding him back from ripping Ron's heart out in front of the whole school. She lifted her hand in the air, stopping anyone from coming closer and helping her.This was long way coming...The windows inscribed with ice rattled, and the sudden gust of wind blew towards Ron, making him shiver and stumble a bit. Hermione stepped closer, her pose relaxed, the sound of her heels could be heard."Well, well..." She trailed off, her smirk laced with menace. "It seems you have found your bravery after all, Ronniekins, how cute. " His eye twitched at the familiar name. She circled him, his wand still pointed at her but he was panicking at her clamminess, she could tell."Ladies and gentlemen, Professors," Hermione addressed everyone in the room, her eyes scanning the crowd, the faces of shock, horror and interest were the most common ones. She gestured towards the man who was looking with uncertainty at her, his hand gripping the wand like his life depended on it. And it did."This man right here, is the monster you've been looking for." She walked slowly in circles, caging him in and making him sweat more. "Stay away from me or I will kill you." He yelled at her but she just scoffed. His shaky hand couldn't aim properly and the sweat running down his forehead made his eyes burn. "You stupid, stupid boy," She stopped and tilted her head at the side in semi-curiosity. "Do you really think you could kill me ? Do you know who I am ?"I-I will, don't fucking test me-"Do it." She said, lifting her perfect eyebrow at him, a challenge. The silence was deafening, despite how many people were around them. "W-What ?" He wasn't prepared for this, this wasn't supposed to happen. She was supposed to beg and cry and, and-"Do. It." Hermione waited and waited, everyone held their breaths, not knowing what would Ron Weasley chose to do.He was lost at what to do, licking his lips in nervousness and anxiety that weighted heavy on his shoulders. He caught Harry's gaze and it must've been the nerves that made him see Harry nodding his head " yes ".Hermione hummed, a disappointed sound, her blood-red lips pressed together. "Shame."He sneered at her and spit out "Fuck you." He lifted his arm with the wand gripped tightly, his mind made up. The green sparks were already forming at the end of his wand, above his head and he swung his arm at her, the deadly curse leaving his lips but-There was nothing. She didn't slump on the floor, nor did she scream in pain. Hermione just stood there and smiled a venomous smile at him. He looked horrified at his hand when the wand wasn't in his grip anymore. Ron looked around and heard the sound of the wooden stick hitting the cold floor, near her feet. Impossible.  "B-But you don't-"Have a wand ?" Hermione finished for him and her laugh echoed in the Hall."Few tricks I've picked from the books that you hate so much." Yet again there were whispers and shocked gasps, people taken by surprise at the turnout of the event. "You, Ron Weasley, have made you bed already. This man right here is responsible for so many crimes that he deserves nothing more than death itself." She turned to look around at the people, while Ron slumped on his knees, knowing that there was no way back. "I have been a victim of his crimes as well as other people here, in this school. Many of you completely ignored his heinous acts just because he was Harry Potter's best friend, part of the Golden Duo." She walked and looked everyone in the eyes, satisfied when they lowered their heads in shame. "You ignored his behavior and worshiped the ground that this monster walked on, knowing what he did to me and countless others girls here, knowing the lies and bullshit he was spitting at your faces."She walked closer to him, their eyes meeting and he saw his death in hers. "You ruined so many lives, Ron, but I decided to put a stop to this. You did this to yourself and now you will rot for this." He growled and spit at her feet, missing her dress and then looked up at everyone."She's lying, people, don't you see. She's just scared weak girl who didn't get our world, who never knew her place, she's, she's just a-a mudblood." He laughed manically, finger pointed towards her. He looked around, people shaking head at him and some in anger. Ron looked pleadingly at his best friend but Harry just looked horrified. "Harry knows right, Harry ? You know what we did. You know what a traitor she is, what she did to us. You chose me over her, you believe me, me, me..." He laughed, his tone desperate.  "I-Is it true, Hermione ?" McGonagall finally spoke.Coming down the steps closer to the scene. Hermione turned to look at her and Minerva knew just from the look in the girl's eyes. McGonagall shook her head and covered her lips with her fingers. Everything happened under her nose and no one talked, no one said anything.