Hi, this is my first time writing fanfiction for Harry Potter. I know I'm a little late but I just want to say that I love HP and its canon ships even though I respect all ships. I am a huge fan of HP and I just want to say that I love Book Ron and Book Hermione. While Emma and Rupert have done a great job, honestly, I feel that most people still see Ron as a comic relief guy while Hermione is a flawless queen which to me, isn't what those two characters are all about. I love how they've been developed in the books with all their flaws and stuff.
So this is an idea I had. What if Ron was the bookworm while Hermione was the lovable prat? This story is going to be an AU as Voldemort doesn't exist in this world and most of the characters would appear to be OOC.
So bear with me as this is my first fic ever!
Disclaimer: Only going to do this once but it refers to the entire story. I do not own any of the characters or elements of the HP Universe as that is all JK Rowling's. Other than that, please enjoy my story. I will try to update as much as I can.
Chapter 1
"Dear Mr. Ronald Bilius Weasley, we, at the Ministry for Magic, are pleased to inform you that the position of….Oh, my…Ronald! I'M SO PROUD!" Molly Weasley screamed as she choked on her tears as her youngest son sat beaming in front of her. Arthur Weasley pulled him into a hug while Percy Weasley snatched the letter from his mother before beaming with pride himself and joining his parents in hugging his youngest brother.
Ron could not help but feel completely elated. For months, he had requested for an internship with the Department of International Magical Cooperation where he would be given an opportunity to study abroad and work together with the British liaison to MACUSA in New York. Like his brother Percy, Ron's dream was to rise within the Ministry though he preferred working overseas rather than in Britain. After seventeen years of having to deal with the tumultuous weather of cold, damp Britain, a change of place was high on Ronald's cards.
"Wait, not that I'm not happy for you Ron, but explain to me what happens now? Are you going back to Hogwarts?" Molly asked as she faced the men in the room. Ron started to speak but Percy cut him off.
"Of course he's going back to school, Mother. While this internship almost certainly guarantees Ron a job, eventually he would have to take his NEWTs in order to rise within the Ministry. He could defer, of course, but I think it would be best to get it out of the way. Besides, with Ron's grades, I don't see why that would be a problem?" Percy replied as he gazed at Ron with pride. Ron flinched with embarrassment. He had thought of deferring his studies as he was eager to leave but he knew he should listen to his older brother. Percy had been his idol growing up and any advice Percy had given him Ron had taken into his stride. "Of course I am, Mother."
"Can I speak to Ron alone?" Percy said as he pulled his younger brother out of the room, not wanting a reply to his rhetorical question. Once they were outside the house, Percy motioned for Ron to sit on the stone steps of their house's entrance.
"Ron, firstly, I want to say how proud I am of you. You've really outdone yourself with this. You, me, Bill and to a smaller extent, Charlie, we are the future of the Weasley house!"
"Ginny is too, Percy. Fred and George aren't that bad as well. The joke shop is doing well." Ron said indignantly. Although Ron could not stand some of the twin's antics, he did care for them as well. As for Ginny, she was his best friend as well as his sister and judging by the way she developed the Bat Bogey Hex, he knew she was a fast learner.
"Yeah, well, in terms of money as well as status, you and I are the potentially the breadwinners of the family after Dad. I know you care about Fred and George but honestly, don't do anything stupid now. You're following Bill and my footsteps, Ronald. Of course, you could have been Head Boy though. Why did you turn it down again?"
"I told you already. I wanted to focus on my studies as well as S.P.E.W. Being Head Boy is just a hassle that I don't need."
"Merlin, Ron! Not that I don't approve of you setting up non-profit organisations, but honestly, the welfare of house elves is a lost cause."
"Maybe to you!" snapped Ron as he stood up. "Listen, Percy, I appreciate the pep talk but I have to get back on rewriting my Muggle Studies essay." Leaving Percy to gape at his outburst, Ron made a beeline for his room. Throwing his letter on his desk, Ron leapt into the bed as he decided to take a nap before going back to his Muggle Studies textbook.
KNOCK!
Ron grimaced at the thought of someone interrupting his nap. Grumbling to himself, he heaved his way onto the door and braced himself from a retort from Percy, the likely suspect. As soon as he flung the door open, Ron was hit with a hug that nearly crushed his lungs. Only the long and wavy crimson hair tied in a neat ponytail, as well as the overpowering perfume, was a dead giveaway as to who the intruder was. "Ginny, I can't breathe," Ron whispered as his younger sister stared at him with a wide smile.
"Ron! Mom told me! I'm so happy for you!" Ginny yelled as Ron patted her on her head before breaking the embrace. He looked around the corridor for signs of life before shutting it. Smiling at his sister, he pulled out a bottle of Firewhisky from underneath his bed.
"Want to celebrate?" Ron said as he smiled at Ginny who was busy adjusting her hair.
"Can we do it when I get back?"
"Where are you going?"
Ginny smiled as she flashed her relationship bracelet at him. "Ahh, going out with Dean again. You guys are getting serious." Ron chuckled as he poured himself a glass.
"Well, it's been like a year. So who knows? Maybe he's the one."
"Want me to cover for you?"
"You already have," Ginny said with a smile as she took a sip from her brother's glass. "Mum and Dad went with Percy to the Ministry as Mum wanted to check out where they might put you. Fred and George are at the shop. Mum left the roast beef in the fridge for dinner."
"Nice! The house all to myself! I can finish that essay and then work on S.P.E.W." Ron said as he threw himself on the bed.
"Hey, do you think this looks nice?" Ginny said as she removed her robes to show a red tank top with shorts underneath. "You think Dean will like it?"
"Hmmm…honestly, it may send the wrong message," Ron said as he sized the outfit up. "Unless that's what you're going for."
"No, not really. Not tonight anyways."
"Why don't you wear that grey tank top with a plaid shirt? And switch the shorts to long jeans. Dean may like the shorts but I doubt you want other guys ogling you?"
"You're probably right. The ponytail is good right?" Ginny said as she tilted her head back and forth.
"It's nice. Go have fun tonight, Gin!" Ron said as he flipped open his Muggle Studies textbook. Ginny smiled at her brother before frowning. Packing her things into her bag, she sat next to him while putting her arm around his shoulders.
"You know, Ron, it's not just me and Dean tonight. The Pack is meeting up. All those guys are your roommates in Gryffindor. Why not tag along?"
"Firstly, I don't think your boyfriend will like it if your brother came along."
"Then he can very well suck it in. Come on, Ron, it'll be fun! God knows you need some fun in your life."
"I have plenty of fun in my life, thank you very much," Ron said huffily as he buried his face in his textbook. "Will she be there?" he whispered half-glancing at Ginny who gave him a smirk.
"Seriously, what's with her and all the guys in the school? It's like every single guy is completely infatuated with her!"
"I'm not infatuated with her!" Ron snapped as his sister's smirk grew wider. "I just happen to think that she's cute, that's all."
"Well according to Harry, she's single as well," Ginny said as her brother's eyes widened with realization. "She and Roger Davies broke up. I expect you have to get a number. The queue for boys wishing to be her rebound is getting pretty long."
Ron threw a pillow at Ginny who dodged it before sticking her tongue out and snatching her brother's glass from him. Downing it all in one go, Ginny smiled as she gazed at her brother who had begun pacing the room whenever he was deep in thought.
"Ron, can I offer you a piece of advice?"
"What, Ginny?"
"Look, you know I love you and you are my best friend so take this with a pinch of salt. I love that you're pursuing your dreams of joining the Ministry and leaving us average folks in Britain but ever since I've known you, all you are is a know-it-all bookworm." Ron opened his mouth to retort but Ginny held a finger to his lips. "You know it's true. You work so hard but I have yet to see you have a social life. You don't go on dates, you hardly attend parties and you haven't even had a first kiss, much less a girlfriend. You only get one childhood, Ron. Don't waste it like Percy. You're not Percy."
"Well, actually Ginny, Percy had a girlfriend."
"Okay, it's official. You're worse than Percy and as your favourite person in the world; I cannot stand it any longer. Look, you say you like…her even though I think she's a little too perfect for my taste so why not go ask her out? Win her over? Make a move? The way I see it if it works out, great! If it doesn't, then you just have to survive this year before going overseas and making a fresh start. It's a win-win situation."
Ron contemplated what his sister had just said. While he was a little insulted that Ginny thought he was worse than Percy, he couldn't help but agree. Ron's crush on She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had grown exponentially since he first laid eyes on her and while her string of exes is like a Who's Who of Hogwarts elite, Ron had not been deterred when it came to fantasizing about her. But maybe his sister had a point. It was his last year in Hogwarts after all and despite his cynical nature about love, Ron always wondered what such an experience would be like. Maybe this could be an experiment, Ron rationalised as he pondered on the implications of taking on such a pursuit.
"I'll think about it, Ginny."
"You sure you don't want to come? You know it's cool with Harry right? Aren't you guys friends?" Ginny said with a bemused look on her face.
"More like acquaintances. We never really evolve from roommates."
"Well, if you ever change your mind, you know what to do." Ginny winked as she gave Ron a hug.
"Need me to apparate you there? Or are you going to portkey?" Ron said as he pulled out his wand. While the Ministry has relaxed its rules on underage magic, the Trace was still around. Ginny often asked Ron to apparate her to whenever she wanted to go out.
"Nope. Dean's fetching me on his new broomstick. The git got a Firebolt that he wants to show off. He's picking me from my room."
"Nice. Anyways, here you go, Ginny" Ron said as he removed a small pouch containing a few Sickles and Galleons inside. "You'll need it for tonight in case you want to do some spending."
"Ron, where did you get this?" Ginny asked as she stared blankly at him. "I can't accept this."
"It's okay," Ron replied as he placed the pouch in his sister's hands before giving her a hug. "Mom gave it to me to help buy school supplies for my last term but I already have everything I need. Go have a good time! You know the emergency drills."
"Thank you, Ron," Ginny whispered as she gave her brother a peck on his cheek. "For what it's worth, I think you can do much better than her."
Ron said nothing as Ginny left his room. He went back to his textbook only to fling it aside after ten minutes. Smiling to himself, Ron went underneath his bed to pull out the Hogwarts Yearbook which the school gives to each student after each year. Flipping to her page, Ron could not help but smile as he gently caressed her photo.
"Hey, Neville," Ron said as he closed the door to the compartment. Neville stood up to hug him while dropping his quills on the floor. Ron laughed as he helped Neville pick his stuff up before staring outside at the wizards and witches outside who were waving goodbye to the students entering the train at Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Maybe he might get a glimpse of her before she entered the train. Unfortunately, Neville started to converse with Ron which broke his train of thought.
"Don't you have to patrol or do meetings now?" Neville asked as he stuffed his face with a Chocolate Frog while offering one to Ron who refused.
"Nah, Anthony is covering for me since I helped him with his studies. Speaking of studies, there's something I want to show you once we get back to our chambers."
"What is i…. Oh hi, Ginny!" Neville remarked as Ron's younger sister entered the compartment, her eyes blinking with tears. "What's wrong?" he asked as Ginny sat down next to Ron and leaned on his shoulder.
"It's just the git." Ginny snapped as she stared furiously at Neville before softening her expression. "I'm sorry, Neville. Just kind of on edge."
"What happened?" Ron said as he stared out the window, not wanting to look his sister in the eye. It wasn't because he was disinterested but rather Ron knew from experience, his sister had a lot of pride and responded better to someone who would seem detached rather than fuss over her.
"He said she was cute."
"Who?"
"Your fantasy girl." Ginny sneered.
"Really? That's all?"
"Of course that's not all, Ronald! He was a git on our date. Always talking to her rather than me. Honestly, what do you guys see in her?"
"Who's she talking about?" Neville asked curiously. Ginny rolled her eyes at Neville who almost choked on his chocolate as his eyes widened in realization. "Oh, her."
"Five minutes pity party," Ron said as he took out a book to read. Ginny pouted at her older brother who gave a long sigh of frustration. "Fine, ten minutes." Ginny beamed as she continued to lean on her brother's shoulder while twirling her hair.
"What's a pity party?" Neville asked.
"Well, Neville, a pity party is what Ginny and I use whenever we want to rant or just brood in silence at situations we find ourselves either unable to control or is just too meaningless to dwell on for too long. In this case here, Ginny knows that Dean loves her and she loves him as well. Just because he acted a tad insensitively doesn't mean it's the end of the world. We both know she going to go back to the Pack compartment where Dean will apologize profusely and she will forgive him and things will be back to normal."
"You think he loves me?" Ginny asked. The question had seemed to be directed at herself rather than Ron.
"Okay, maybe not love. Fancy you badly, yes. So let him stew in his misery for a while but go talk to him and sort things out. Pity party's over."
"No! You said ten minutes. It's only been two."
"Fine!" Ron replied gruffly as he buried his face in his book. The compartment door slid open. Half expecting to find Dean standing there, Ron was surprised to see two first year students looking sheepishly at the three of them. One was a girl while the other was a boy. Judging by their blonde hair and similar facial expressions, Ron inferred them to be twins.
"Sorry but can we sit with you?" the boy squeaked as the girl held his hand as tightly as she could. "The other compartments are taken."
"No, sod off!" Ginny replied as Ron frowned at her before smiling. "Of course you can. Here, sit next to Neville."
"Thank you." The boy said as he awkwardly sat next to his twin sister who both squeezed next to Neville. "My name is Jack Wendell and this is my sister, Sam."
"Hi Jack, my name is Ronald Weasley. That is Neville Longbottom and this is my very nice although she sometimes forgets sister, Ginny Weasley."
The girl squealed as she beamed at Ginny before yelling at her brother. "I told you! That's Ginny Weasley. She's part of the Pack!"
"So you heard of the Pack?" Ron asked as Ginny now raised her eyebrow at Jack who was blushing furiously.
"Yeah, my brother has a crush on you!" Sam said as she smirked at her twin who now looked embarrassed.
"No! I mean, I do think that she's pretty."
"Oh please, he loves you! He thinks that you're the second prettiest witch he's ever seen."
"Only second?" Ginny said as she pouted mockingly at Jack who now tried to hide his head behind his sister. Neville was roaring with laughter as Ron could not help but snigger at the scene.
"Yes, because the first is…" Sam started to speak but Ginny cut her off.
"Let me guess? Brunette hair, about five foot six, beautiful smile? Sound familiar?" Ginny growled as she poked Ron in his ribs. "Why don't you tell them about her, Ron?"
Ron gave his sister another disapproving frown before relenting. Smiling at Jack and Sam, Ron placed his book down and began to speak.
"So what do you guys want to know about Jamie Lily Potter? Other than that she's Harry's younger sister?" Ron said as his eyes unknowingly lit up at the thought of his crush.
"Wait. Tell us about the Pack first," Jack said eagerly as he leaned closer to listen in. Ron looked at Ginny who smiled at him knowingly before giving him a hug. She gave Neville a playful punch on the arm before leaving to find Dean.
"Before I go on, I have to ask," Ron said as he stared at the two first- years. "How do you know about the Pack?"
"We have an older brother who's a fifth year in Hufflepuff. Hopefully, we get to be in the same house as him." Sam replied while Neville snorted. "First time I heard someone who wants to go into Hufflepuff," Neville said as Ron glared at him.
"Well, back to the Pack then. I suppose you already know this but the Pack is just another name for the Gryffindor Qudditch team. Slytherin has their own version of the Pack but that's another thing. So the Pack consists of five people. You have the king which is Harry Potter…"
"Oh, the handsome one!" Sam said as Jack made a face.
"Err yeah I suppose." Ron grimaced at the thought of his roommate. "He's the leader of the group, captain and the Seeker for the team. Then you have the queen, Hermione Granger, who's the keeper for the team, vice-captain and the first female to become a keeper in almost a century. Those two are like best friends and although the rumours are that they're dating, Neville and I have on good authority that Harry isn't interested in her although I can't say otherwise. Not that he would want to, given that Hermione is the most insufferable person I ever had the pleasure to meet."
"Ron?" Neville remarked as he smirked at his friend. "Focus."
"Yeah okay. Then you have the Beaters of the team, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas, who are our roommates and the closest definition to jocks if you guys want to believe that. Harry, Seamus, and Dean are all roommates with Neville and myself. Then you have Ginny, my sister, whom you already met that plays as one of the Chasers. You had Katie Bell who used to play as one of the Chasers but she graduated last term so I'm guessing they're going to have try-outs to find a new member of the team. Finally, you have Jamie Potter." Ron said as his eyes started to sparkle.
"Every school has a girl like Jamie Potter. You know, the kind of girl whom you won't describe as smoking hot because it paints a very unpleasant and sexualised image of her but rather she's what you call the perfect girl next door. Beautiful face with a simple brunette ponytail, sparkling green eyes and perfect smile with cute dimples on her cheeks…"
"You got it bad, Ron!" Neville laughed as Ron gave him a scowl before continuing.
"No, I don't! Besides the best thing about Jamie is her personality. She's very friendly and has a great outgoing personality. She's humble and extremely kind. Plus, she works really hard in her studies too. Did you know she turned down being a prefect because she wanted to focus on her work?"
"Ron, she's a big flirt!"
"No, Neville, guys flirt with her all the time. It's not her fault." Ron said defensively.
"Mate, I'm telling you she's friendzoning them all."
"And I'm telling you it's not her fault. Speaking of friendzones, Jack and Sam, did you know that.." Ron wanted to continue to speak but Neville cut him off.
"Sorry, guys, but if you want to leave, here's your chance. Ron's sort of our relationship consultant in our group which is kind of ironic seeing that he's never been in one. Better leave before he goes on one of his rants."
"It's okay. We have to go anyways. My sister left something with her brother. Thanks for letting us sit here" Jack said as he took his sister's hand and left.
"Blimey, I didn't know you felt that strongly for Jamie. How long has this been going on?" Neville asked as Ron slouched in his seat.
"Since the fourth year. Ever since the Ball."
"Speaking of the Ball, you do know that we have one this year right? The Christmas Ball?
"Yeah, how can I forget? I was thinking of not going."
"Why not? Why don't you just go and ask Jamie to the Ball?"
"Are you KIDDING? Why would Jamie Potter want to go with me to the ball?"
"What do you have to lose?" Neville replied exasperatedly. "Since it's our last year, why don't we make the most of it?"
"You know, Ginny said the same thing to me. Maybe you both are right. I do spend a tad too much time in my books."
"Only a tad?" Neville said cheekily as Ron threw a Chocolate Frog in his direction. "Okay, okay fine. Hey, wanna play Shoot, Shag, Marry?"
"We haven't played that since we were in the third year, Neville!"
"So what? I'm feeling nostalgic." Neville said as he tapped his forehead to think before smiling wickedly at Ron. "Jamie, Hermione, Ginny! Go!"
"Are you insane?" Ron said as he rolled his eyes at Neville. "Ginny is my sister."
"So shoot her. Spare your family the pain of incest."
"No. Give me someone else."
"Nope. So you shot Ginny. I assume that since you've been obsessing over her, you want to marry Jamie which only leaves you to…" Neville said as he waited for Ron to finish his sentence. Ron stared at him incredulously before looking away.
"No."
"Say it."
"Leave it, Neville. I'm going to read." Ron snapped as he threw himself back into his book while Neville sighed in frustration.
"You know, you once told me that the best way to get to know a girl is to know her best friend. And we all know who Jamie's best friend is." Neville said as he laid down on his seat and closed his eyes for a nap. Ron placed his book down and stared longingly outside the train. As his head grew heavy from listening to Neville's loud snores and the mechanical purring of the train, Ron could not help but wonder if he should indeed get close to Hermione Granger.
