send me a ☾ for a wartime au: our muses are on the frontline of the battle

Barely out of school and he was already a killer. He supposed that he should feel remorseful about it but he had his reasons for what he did just like they did and they stood in his way. That day in particular had seen many people learn not to underestimate him.

With a simple charm he’d pushed someone else to the side, their back hitting a tree and head slumping to the side, knocked out cold, most likely. And even if they were down more permanently he really didn’t care. Behind them stood Molly, a relieved look on her face. “Rion! Merlin, am I glad to see you.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that if I were you, Molly,” he shrugged, two Death Eaters stepping out from behind to stand next to him.

“What are you talking about, Hannifan?” her voice had quickly taken on an icy tone. “Are they here for what I think?”

“Just about, I think they’re also here to keep an eye on me. The boss man doesn’t exactly trust me for obvious reasons,” he chuckled slightly. Finishing his laugh he made a swift movement, dropping the two sent to watch him.

“You lying, cheating piece of shit, I-” her words were cut off as the others fell. “What’s your play here, Hannifan?”

“Yes, that,” he held his hands out to the side, “just making sure that people know that I didn’t need help to beat you is all.”

“You really think that’s going to happen? Get your head out your arse.”

“Excellent, now that the pleasantries are out of the way, shall we begin?” There may have been a smile on his face as he assumed a casual defensive position but there was a hard steel in his eyes.

She fired off the first shot, simple slide to the right keeping him safe. “Honestly, I expected better from you, sweetie,” he goaded, taking slow steps around her in a circle.

Molly said nothing, letting her wand do all the talking. The spells were easy enough to block, his reflexes honed by years of practice.

They carried on like that for a while, her attacking and him evading with a little tease when he could think of one. “What’s the matter, Hannifan?” she called out. “Too scared of singular me to make a move?”

“On the contrary, I’m just waiting for the right time is all,” he smirked.

“You always were a sly one, weren’t you?”

“I’m nothing if not predictable,” he raised his hands in a casual gesture, willingly letting his guard drop for a moment.

As expected she took the bait, pressing hard at her advantage. It was easy to deflect them, the spells impacting around him, as he sent off just the one hex that hit the ground just off her left foot. He made a step to the left just like he always had.

“You missed,” she teased as she mirrored his movement. As her foot landed just where the spell did her body instantly froze before slumping to the floor.

“I never miss,” he replied simply as he walked over to her, barely a hint of pride in his voice. She was still breathing as he arrived just like he expected and he crouched down by her head. “Y’know, I almost considered you to be a worthy opponent. Evidently I was wrong,” he shrugged. Getting an orange from his pocket he charmed it, the fruit now a Portkey as he placed it next to her. “If you want to have a rematch I’m sure you know what to do.”

Standing up he brushed himself off, satisfied that all was done. He walked away, a smug grin on his face, his job as complete as it could be for now and when she got up in a few more minutes’ time it would be finished.