"Fists and Friendship"
As Einar walked through the hallways, Hermione, her face full of nervousness, hurried toward him.
"Professor, you have to stop them," she said, almost out of breath.
"What's going on?" Einar asked quickly, a hint of distrust in his tone.
"Harry and Ron are going to fight," Hermione replied without wasting a second.
"Oh. I see," Einar said, calming down, though his gaze hardened slightly.
"You see! No, no! You have to stop them!" Hermione exclaimed, grabbing the professor's arm and dragging him toward the courtyard, where a crowd was already gathering.
At the center of it all stood Harry and Ron, both wearing serious expressions, though Ron, tense as he was, showed a flicker of unease on his face.
When Einar arrived, the crowd parted respectfully, clearing a path as Hermione urged him toward the confrontation.
"All right, calm down, it's okay," Einar said, stopping her gently before turning to Harry and Ron, silently observing them.
"So, what's going on?" he asked calmly, but with a gravity in his voice that made both boys go quiet for a moment.
"You said that to fix a friendship, it's best to let go of anger… and what better way than with our fists?" Harry said, his tone unwavering. "So I've challenged Ron to a duel. No magic."
"But I already apologized," Ron replied quickly, his voice conflicted.
"And I accepted it. But… I still want to land a few punches, and I'm sure you feel the same," Harry retorted, not taking his eyes off his friend.
"You're both idiots!" Hermione shouted, her voice trembling as she fought back tears.
"Well, this is interesting," said Fred, popping up behind Einar with a mischievous grin.
"Place your bets!" yelled George, already wearing a playful expression, ready for the show.
"They won't hurt each other," said Einar, giving Hermione a light pat on the head with a slight smile. "Remember, you can heal them," he added, watching the scene with a calm gaze.
"You're not going to stop them?" Hermione asked, slightly annoyed at how composed Einar seemed.
"No. This is a man's fight, a fight between friends. Stopping them would be an insult to their friendship," Einar answered firmly.
"Fine… let's do it quick before McGonagall gets here," Einar said swiftly, stepping into position as referee. "No low blows, no strikes to dangerous areas. No biting, no eye-poking, no weapons," he added, laying out the rules clearly. "First one to surrender or unable to continue loses. Ready?"
"Yes," Harry replied, his eyes locked on Ron.
"All right. Let's just get it over with," said Ron, mustering his courage as he readied for battle.
"Begin," Einar ordered with a smile, his voice full of pride and anticipation.
Harry wasted no time. He lunged at Ron, throwing a quick punch at his face.
Ron ducked instinctively just in time, but caught sight of Harry's leg coming at him fast, landing a direct hit on his nose. Ron immediately stood up, his face filled with fury.
Without thinking, he threw a flurry of punches at Harry, who, thanks to his trained reflexes, dodged them with ease before countering with a strong punch to Ron's stomach.
Ron doubled over, struggling to catch his breath.
"Come on, Ron, give it your all," said Harry, pausing for a second as he saw his friend in pain.
With a frustrated roar, Ron lunged at Harry, ramming his head into his stomach and knocking him to the ground. He quickly climbed on top of him and threw a punch at his face, but Harry, with cat-like reflexes, turned his head just in time, dodging the blow. However, Ron's fist slammed into the ground, and he winced, lifting his hand in pain.
Harry seized the moment, twisting quickly and throwing Ron off him. In the blink of an eye, he was back on his feet, guard up.
"Come on," Harry said, a slight smile of excitement on his face. He was beginning to enjoy the fight"just as Einar had predicted.
Ron stood up just as quickly and, without hesitation, launched a kick at Harry. Harry blocked it with agility, but Ron used the momentum to leap with his other leg, striking Harry in the face and sending both of them tumbling to the ground again.
They got back up, both of them bleeding from the nose, but the adrenaline kept them going, numbing the pain. Harry could dodge Ron's attacks more easily, but he let some of them land to keep the fight balanced.
The watching students cheered wildly, rooting for both Ron and Harry as Fred and George continued taking bets.
Each punch, each move, cranked up the excitement. The two young men, wearing defiant smiles, kept trading blows, enjoying the battle like never before.
The air was thick with adrenaline as the two boys, covered in blood and sweat, clashed without showing any sign of surrender. The crowd around them was growing more and more thrilled, cheering, yelling, and backing their favorites. The sound of punches and strained breathing filled the courtyard, but neither Harry nor Ron seemed ready to give in.
"Come on, Ron, you've got this!" Fred shouted from the edge of the crowd, flipping a coin into the air as George did the same, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"That's it, Harry!" George added, jumping with enthusiasm as he kept pace with the brawl.
Ron, visibly tired but with a fierce look in his eyes, charged at Harry again, this time with more caution. Harry, seeing him approach, prepared for a fast move"but Ron surprised his friend by changing direction at the last second. With a sharp twist, he threw a punch at Harry's face that, though Harry saw it coming, he couldn't dodge completely. Ron's fist landed squarely, making Harry stagger back a few steps.
The pain on his face was intense, but something inside him began to burn. The thrill of the fight had completely taken over. It was like a part of him had awakened"one he only knew in rare moments"that desire to prove something beyond words.
"That's it!" exclaimed Einar from a corner, watching with satisfaction. "A fight between friends always reveals true character," he told himself, smiling as the tension in the air grew.
Harry, his face marked by Ron's punch, took a deep breath, his pulse racing and his mind focused on the fight. He couldn't back down now. This wasn't just about winning"it was about showing Ron what it meant to be a true friend, even if his methods were... a bit harsh.
With a swift movement, Harry lunged at Ron with impressive speed. Before his friend could react, he landed a solid punch to his side, hitting the most vulnerable spot. Ron let out a grunt of pain but spun around with fury, looking for revenge.
Before he could launch his next attack, Harry surprised him again with a pair of quick blows"one to the stomach and one to the jaw. Staggering, Ron brought a hand to his face, trying to regain his balance. But the battle was far from over.
"Ron, come on, don't give up!" shouted Hermione, watching the scene now with eyes full of worry"and a hint of admiration. Her voice trembled, but her gaze stayed fixed on them, as if she somehow knew this was exactly what they needed.
Breathing heavily, Ron lifted his head and saw Harry in front of him, a crooked smile on his face. Though tired, it was a smile filled with determination. Exhausted as he was, Ron felt a renewed drive not to fall behind.
With a roar of strength, Ron launched himself at Harry once more, this time with unexpected rage and energy. His fists flew toward Harry's face with greater ferocity, but Harry, his reflexes pushed to the limit, dodged most of the blows. Still, some landed, leaving marks on his skin.
They were both exhausted, but the desire to keep fighting"to prove something beyond just a brawl"kept them standing. Harry, blood staining his face, looked at Ron, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Come on, Ron! Show me what you've got!" Harry shouted between gasps, with the grin of a true warrior.
Ron, nearly out of breath but with his heart pounding, took one of the last chances he had. With a cry of pure determination, he threw himself at Harry again. This time, without thinking twice, the two of them grabbed each other mid-air, crashing to the ground in a whirlwind of punches, laughter, and panting.
The crowd roared as one"some amazed by the intensity of the fight, others surprised by the chemistry the two friends showed despite their differences.
Harry and Ron, exhausted, looked at each other with blood- and sweat-covered faces"but something had changed. A spark of understanding lit up in their eyes.
"Do we give up?" Ron asked, with a tired smile.
"Only if you say so," replied Harry, extending his hand, which Ron accepted without hesitation.
The crowd burst into applause, while Einar, from his spot, watched with satisfaction. It had been an epic battle"one that, though a bit wild, had forged something deeper between the two young men. A friendship only they could understand.
"What is going on here?" came Professor McGonagall's firm voice, making everyone freeze and start looking for a way to escape.
In a swift motion, Einar raised his hands, which glowed with a soft magical light just before Harry and Ron were fully healed"without a single visible wound. Only their dirt-covered clothes hinted that anything had happened.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall. We were just watching Ron and Harry play in the dirt," Fred said quickly, improvising with ease.
"That's right. They were having a contest to see who could get dirtier. Such mischievous boys," added George with an innocent smile, while Einar vanished into the crowd as if he had never been there. Hermione watched him closely, not missing a single movement.
"How can he be so childish sometimes...?" Hermione muttered, holding back a laugh as Hogwarts' youngest professor disappeared so lightly. She shook her head, resigned but amused.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley," said McGonagall with a stern voice and a gaze that mixed disappointment, frustration, and a touch of exasperation, "this is not a nursery or preschool anymore. You'd better go clean up. Now."
Both lowered their heads, feeling the weight of the mocking stares around them.
"Yes, Professor..." they replied in unison, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Hermione walked beside them as they left, now relieved that they had made peace. As she walked, she kept repeating to herself:
"They're both idiots... two big idiots."