AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is my first story, so please read and enjoy. I'm new to posting on Fan-fiction, and I must say, I'm quite excited. My main goal with this story is to pay homage to the beautiful piece of art that J.K Rowling has written. But with my own twist! Also if you are looking for certain character bashings, then I'm sorry to inform you that I will only be writing the characters as closely as I can to the original work. No one in the Harry Potter Universe is perfect, every character has their own demons and issues. So when character bashing does happen, it will be fair and no one will be exempt from it. This includes Ron, because we all know just how flawed Ron can be with his insecurities and jealousy.

This story will be seen mostly through Ron's POV, however as the story progresses, many other characters will get their own POV chapters or parts.

IMPORTANT: I have sort of re-uploaded this chapter, but only because I re-read it recently and the writing burned my eyes. Bloody hell, I was so fucking bad at this... For the newcomers, please don't be put off by the abysmal writing in the earlier chapters. It does get better, or so I've been told. I would suggest looking at the reviews for proof, but be warned, the review section is dark and full of spoilers. So please, stick around as it does get better. (The shame is real...)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not intend to make any money off of this. Harry Potter is the intellectual property of J. , and I take no credit of it whatsoever.

I was also inspired by Demon Eyes Laharl's: THE RED KNIGHT! and also from Random-Fruitcake04's: CHOICES! I hope you check them out as well because they are genuinely very good stories.

Fate

Chapter 1 - The Headache

Ronald Weasley's POV

He had spent the whole night tossing and turning. Sleep had been eluding him all night and he couldn't understand why. Why can't I sleep even though I feel knackered? His headache certainly wasn't helping him, and eventually he tossed his blanket aside and got out of his bed. With a sigh he decided he needed something cold to drink. He made his way downstairs, recalling the day's events.

It had been a long day for him that was for certain. He had woken up as early as seven in the morning and rushed down to celebrate his eighth birthday with his family. He absolutely loved his birthdays, mostly because it was the only time of the year that the twins would be kind and caring towards him. Percy, in his own way, would show him affection too. Charlie and Bill would dote on him, and they'd carry him around on their backs. And it was the only time of the year when his mother and father treated him better than they treated his siblings. He had always felt overshadowed by Bill and Charlie's cool stories, and the twins' ingenious pranks. Even Percy, and his perfect pompous attitude, made Ron feel small.

And when it came to Ginny, Ron always felt bitter jealousy deep down because of how well she was treated in comparison to him. Ginny was seen as an actual princess, and despite Ron trying to understand why Ginny was treated this way, he still couldn't resist the allure of jealousy. Nor the guilt he felt afterwards. Molly Weasley doted on her only daughter, bought her new clothes while Ron was given hand-me-downs, and would spend every moment she could around Ginny. Ron would often linger around, but he was nothing more than a shadow when Molly cast her eyes on Ginny.

Fred had once told him that their mother had wept when Ron was born because she was told by a Medi-witch that she was pregnant with a girl. And then Ron was born, and he certainly wasn't a girl. He didn't believe Fred at first because the twins were always nasty to him, but from that day on, he could see how much his mother loved Ginny and how little she interacted with him in comparison. He would never admit it but a small part of him wished that Ginny wasn't a girl, just so that he could spend more time with his mother.

His father was a different story all together. Ron sometimes felt that their father loved Muggles more than he loved his own children. Of course, Arthur always made time for his children but whenever he wanted to test out a new Muggle device or learn more about muggles, Ron was always the last pick. Even during family time Arthur didn't really talk with Ron besides asking him how he was.

But not today. Today was his birthday, and that meant that for one day he would the center of attention. His mother had already made his favorite breakfast and was humming to herself when he barged down the stairs, eager to get started with his special day.

"Morning mum" he said, pulling Molly out of her thoughts.

"Good Morning, sweetheart" she replied with a loving smile as she walked over to him, and then she planted a kiss on top of his head. "I've made your favorite, tuck right in". Ron quickly ran to the table and started piling eggs and pieces of bacon onto his plate. His mother's cooking skills were unmatched in his opinion. They had eaten out as a family in Diagon Alley before, but even the restaurant that they had dined in had nothing on his mum.

"This is great, mum" he mumbled, his mouth being too full. "I love your cooking!"

"Chew your food, love" Molly giggled. Ron was definitely the most ferocious eater in her family. She used to think that Charlie ate a lot, but after seeing Ron eat, she always found herself amused at how wrong she was. "What are your plans for your special day, Ronnie?"

"I was just going to hang out with everyone. Is dad home?" Ron hoped that he was. His father's attention was something that he always enjoyed. He knew that they didn't interact much already due to his dad's busy work schedule within the Ministry, and then there was his Muggle hobby. Plus there were six other children besides Ron that Arthur Weasley was responsible for. But today was different. Today was Ron's birthday.

"I'm sorry Ronnie, your father was called into the Ministry late last night. He won't be back until the evening." She smiled sadly when she saw the faraway look in her son's eyes. He was disappointed, she had no doubt. "But I've invited Luna and her mother over for lunch. You remember Mrs. Lovegood, don't you?"

Ron simply nodded his head and smiled at his mother, his mood dampened slightly. At least he'd get to see Luna again, so that was a plus. She was a bit strange, but he liked her nonetheless. She never compared him to his brothers and always talked to Ron about chess. She wasn't very good at it, but she knew that chess was something that Ron excelled in and was better at than his brothers. Chess was special to him. So he enjoyed telling Luna about chess and the different techniques he had memorized. It made him feel like he was brilliant just like his brothers.

"That's great mum, Luna is always fun to spend time with. And Mrs. Lovegood always brings those pastries with her that taste amazing." At that Molly found herself stifling a laugh, her boy was always thinking with his stomach.

"I want you on your best behavior, Ronald Weasley" she spoke sternly, but there was humor in her voice. "Make sure you include Luna in everything you do with your brothers today. Also include Ginny" she added quickly.

"Yes, mum" he said with a sigh. He always had to babysit Ginny. The twins were a terror, and Ginny never got along with Percy. The age gap was too large between her and Charlie and Bill, so she always became Ron's responsibility when Molly wasn't around to watch her. Only the twins and Ginny were home with Ron though, but only because they hadn't started Hogwarts yet.

"Mummy, mummy" came a voice from upstairs followed by quick footsteps, and then Ginny was at the table. The moment she saw Ron, something flashed behind her eyes and she smiled widely. She quickly ran up and hugged Ron from behind, nearly strangling him with her absurd strength. "Happy birthday, Ronnie!" Ron smiled and turned around, their eyes locking.

"Morning Gin-Gin. And thanks! Luna is coming over today" he said as he hugged her back. They were unaware that Molly was beaming at them both. She knew Ron would always watch out for Ginny, and their cute interactions made her heart melt.

"Sit down dear, and dig in" Molly cooed. "After that, both of you should wash up. Did you see the twins, love? Are they awake?"

"Their door was closed" Ginny quickly replied as she took her seat next to Ron. She always sat next to Ron. "I think that they're working on another prank." Ron immediately tensed up. If the twins had another prank in mind, then he would no doubt be the victim. Ginny was protected by their mother, and the twins would never dare prank their parents. Not after they had turned their mother's hair blue for a week last year and learned that an angry Molly Weasley may have been more terrifying than even He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. That left no one but Ron and Percy, and the twins did enjoy playing their tricks on Ron, even more than they enjoyed pranking Percy. At least it won't happen today.

"Those two, I swear..." With that, Molly left for upstairs, leaving her two youngest to themselves. They ate in silence for a short minute before Ron noticed Ginny was staring right at him. He looked up and smiled at her, but she kept staring.

"What is it Gin? Do I have something on my face?" He suddenly felt self-conscious. Everyone snickered and laughed at him while he ate. It wasn't his fault that he loved food.

"No" Ginny replied quietly, but her stare told a different story.

"Then why are you staring at me? It's really weird Gin, stop it."

"Why do you always get so excited when Luna comes over, she's my friend" Ginny suddenly pouted. Ron was taken aback by the question and his sister's sudden sulky mood. She really is a princess. A spoiled one.

"I don't get excited. I don't know what you're on about?" He refocused on his food in order to hide his gaze from hers, but Ginny was still staring and now had her eyes narrowed on him.

"Yes, you do. It was the first thing you said to me when I hugged you. I'm your sister…" she trailed off, looking down at her food. Brilliant… now she really is sulking. I should say something. But what could he say? Ron was never any good when it came to talking about sensitive topics. He had tried to once before with the twins, but Fred had called him a poof and had told him that real men don't talk about their feelings. A few days later they had caught him while he was comforting a crying Ginny, who had been bitten by a Gnome in their garden. He was hugging her and telling her that he loved her, and that she didn't have de-Gnome the garden today because he would do it for her. The twins had tormented him with a passion for a week, telling him that there were three girls in the Weasley family, and he was one of them. They would have continued if it wasn't for their mother's wrath.

"I know that" he laughed. But his laughter died immediately when Ginny looked back up, anger flashing in her eyes. "Ginny, Luna is my friend too. That doesn't mean… it doesn't mean I like her more than you. You know that." Ginny looked a little calmer but he knew that this wasn't over, things were never so simple with his sister. She started eating her food quietly, while Ron helped himself to a second plate. He was still eating when Ginny put her dish in the kitchen sink, too oblivious to see that Ginny was still vexed by him.

"I'm going to take the first shower" she mumbled and ran up the stairs, making Ron heave a defeated sigh. Sometimes he didn't get Ginny. She already had all the attention she could need. Even though they weren't a wealthy family, Ginny wore new clothes and even had some jewelry. The best thing that Ron owned was Charlie's old toy broom stick. It was weathered, and it barely held him higher than five feet into the air. Now she even wanted Ron to constantly play with her. Even when she helped their mother with cooking, she wanted Ron to be around. Ron never felt more like an outsider as he did when Molly and Ginny were around him together. Molly would beam at her daughter, while Ron would just become invisible. She sometimes never even noticed that her son had sulked off upset. He resented that.

Ron was just finishing his breakfast when his mother and the twins came trotting downstairs. Molly walked into the kitchen while the twins were now grinning ear-to-ear, their eyes fixed on Ron. Why is everyone staring at me today? And not in a good way either.

"Is everything all right? Why are…" Ron started, but he was cut off abruptly by Fred.

"Of course everything is fine, Ickle Ronnikins" Fred cooed.

"Why wouldn't it be?" George spoke in a sing song voice.

"After all, today is your birthday" they both spoke together now. Ron found himself getting annoyed at their back and forth talking. They always did it, and no one could tell how they seemed to be on the same page every time.

"And we got you something" Fred continued as he held a small box in front of Ron. It was orange, and wrapped in a blue bow.

"Never say that we never gave you anything, Ronnie" George finished for his twin as he ruffled Ron's hair. Ron slowly took the box from Fred, and then he looked back up at the grinning twins. They looked like sharks that had smelled blood. Ron shuddered as he slowly unwrapped the box and opened it, and his breath caught in his throat when he saw what the box contained. It was a Chudley Cannon badge. And it looked brand new as well. He never got brand new things.

The Cannons were notorious for being a team that hadn't won a League for almost a hundred years. But Ron admired them and supported them anyway. Not even his family could tell why. But the truth was that even though they barely ever won a match, they cheered and played the game without ever despairing or becoming angry. They were like that because they loved playing Quidditch more than winning. They were underdogs who never gave up. Ron liked to think he was an underdog, and that one day, his family would recognize him after he did something brilliant that none of his brothers had done before. Ron ran up and hugged the twins, his eyes becoming misty when they actually returned his hug.

"Happy birthday, little bro" the twins spoke softly.

"Now get off us" Fred said after a silent moment as he gently pushed Ron away from him and his other half. Ron was smiling ear-to-ear, his eyes back down at his new badge. "We'll ignore that hug you just gave us."

"But only because it's your birthday" George added. After that they both made their way to the kitchen while Ron ran up to his room smiling and giggling. It was going to be a good day.

He was wrong about his earlier guess. It wasn't a good day at all. For one there was heavy rain outside. Which meant that they couldn't spend the day playing outside. Secondly, he had a headache that he suspected would slay a giant. It had started suddenly around midday and wouldn't leave. He knew he didn't have a high temperature and he certainly wasn't sick, but the headache was wearing him out. He thought about telling his mother, but quickly decided against it. The Lovegoods would be here soon and he didn't want his mother getting worried over nothing. Shortly after that, the Lovegoods had come through the floo and now he found himself having a hard time getting a word in with Luna.

Ginny was constantly talking to the girl and even though Ron sat with them, Ginny had made sure to keep Luna's attention to herself. He didn't care too much though. His head was close to splitting open, and the voices of the girls seemed to echo as they got louder. He excused himself to the kitchen and walked in on his mother and Mrs. Lovegood talking. Pandora Lovegood was a beautiful woman. Even Ron could see that, and he was only a kid. She had dirty blonde hair that reached her lower back and her eyes were almost silver in color and they always held a piercing look to them. She was slender but her curves were easily noticeable because her yellow sundress hugged her figure. She had fair flawless skin and when she smiled it was infectious. She was smiling right now and even though Ron's head was throbbing, he couldn't help but smile too. She saw him from the corner of her eyes and turned to him beaming. "There's the birthday boy" she spoke, her voice was soft and a bit airy. Luna was her perfect copy Ron quickly thought.

"Hi" was all he could muster. Her piercing eyes were now on him and he felt like they could see right through him. What she said next made him feel as though his guess was correct.

"Are you alright Ron? Do you have a headache?" How… She knew… Ron straightened his back and smiled again. His could feel his blush coming on and his ears turning red.

"It's not too bad Mrs. Lovegood. I just need to lie down." Molly had gotten up and walked over to her son. She knelt down next to him and put her hand on his forehead. She stood up and looked at him with concern in her eyes and a frown.

"Ronnie why didn't you say anything? You could be getting sick" Molly said in a firm tone. Ron tensed a bit but then relaxed. She is just worried.

"Sorry mum, but it only just started" he muttered looking at his shoes. "I didn't want you to worry." He looked up at his mum who was now giving him a small smile. But that's not what caught his attention. From the corner of his eyes he saw Mrs. Lovegood putting her wand back under the table. He turned his head to look at her and she gazed right back and smiled. Those eyes are scary. Ron smiled back and then she stood up with a honey pastry in her hand and walked over to him.

"Here Ron eat this, you will feel better" she whispered as she knelt down and handed him the pastry. Ron took it eagerly, he loved her pastries.

"Thanks Mrs. Lovegood" he said and then took a bite out of it. To his shock the pain started to dull quite fast and then it was gone. "Wow you were right" he grinned. Pandora smiled at him and pinched his left cheek softly.

"You were just a little hungry dear. There are more of those on the kitchen table. Have as many as you want." With that she stood up and turned to Molly. "He is getting bigger every day" she cooed.

"I know… I hate it" Molly giggled as she ruffled Ron's hair. "He'll be off to Hogwarts soon." At that Molly looked a bit sad, at least Ron thought so anyway.

"Which house do you want to be in Ron? I think you would make an excellent Ravenclaw" Pandora said in her usual airy voice. "Luna tells me that you can even beat your father in chess, I think that's rather amazing." Ron immediately perked up at the mention of chess, and he nodded his head vigorously with his mouth full of pastry. Pandora and Molly both laughed, making Ron's ears turn red.

"My son will be in Gryffindor, just like all of us Weasleys" Molly tutted. With that the two women began speaking about their Hogwarts years and Ron moved over to the kitchen to grab some more pastries. While he did that he thought about Hogwarts. What if he was in Ravenclaw? That would be a shocker and definitely put him apart from his brothers. He wouldn't mind that too much. Mrs. Lovegood and her husband were both Ravenclaws and they were decent folk. At least Ron thought so anyway. He had heard the twins talk about how barmy Mr. Lovegood was and Ron had to fight to keep his anger in control. When Mr. Lovegood would sometimes visit the Burrow with his family, he was always be kind to Ron and would tell him crazy stories about unbelievable creatures which Ron absolutely loved.

With three pastries in hand Ron made his way back to the living room and saw that Luna and Ginny were still talking. Luna quickly turned to him and smiled. "Where did you go Ron? I hope we didn't bore you" she said in her usual airy voice and Ron was again reminded of her mother.

"No, you didn't" he replied and smiled at her. "I was a little hungry that's all." He walked over and handed Luna a pastry which she took and bit into. He then handed one to Ginny who took it quickly and scowled at him. Ron was taken aback and just stared at her for a moment before he made his back to the couch and ate his pastry in silence while the girls continued their discussion. He wondered where the twins were but figured they were in their room no doubt planning their next great prank on him. He shuddered at the thought.

Soon it was evening and his father barged through the front door with a cake for Ron. Once the cake was cut and the birthday song sung, Pandora waved goodbye to Ron while Luna gave him a hug and then they went to the fireplace and flooed back to their own home. Ron could see how tired his father was but the fact that he had gotten Ron a cake from his favorite bakery in Diagon Alley made Ron's heart swell up in joy. Ron later joined his father in the living room and spoke with him about his day, chess, and Quidditch for almost an hour before his father said his goodnight, kissed his son on the forehead and went off to bed. No doubt he would have to leave early in the morning again tomorrow.

Ron walked into the kitchen and began helping his siblings clear the dining table. That was when his headache came back. And it came back with a vengeance. Ron was brought to tears as his head felt like it was about to shatter and his ears began to ring from sheer pain. He felt a scream tear its way out of his throat as he fell down on his knees while clutching onto his head. He heard multiple plates and glasses shatter as some sort of magic rushed into him.

Molly heard her son scream, and witnessing her kitchen pretty much explode around her, she had ran straight towards his crying form in almost a second and had her arms around her son just as fast. Molly yelled at the twins to get their father at once and then turned her attention back to Ron, asking him what was wrong in a frantic and quivering voice. Ginny just stood there frozen and pale while Fred and George bolted upstairs to get their father. Ron's vision blurred and then it went black. In the distance he heard shouting but it wasn't his mother or his family. No, it was like hundreds of people were in pain and were shouting for him to do something.

Ron woke up in his bed later that night. It was clear that a healer had been there because there was an empty potion vial on his nightstand. The headache was still there though but it wasn't nearly as bad as before. Ron hoped he never felt that kind of pain again. Deciding to go back to sleep he closed his eyes and began trying to find a comfortable position.

Ron finished reflecting on his day as he made his way into the kitchen. Stepping carefully as he went, because the Burrow had a habit of creaking if you stepped on the wrong place, Ron suddenly saw a shadow moving in the dark, and he heard water running through a tap. He froze instantly, his eyes going as wide as one of his mother's pans. The shadow turned to face him slowly, and Ron felt the urge to bolt.

"Ronnie?" He knew that voice.

"Fred? You scared me" Ron whispered as he relaxed, a shaky breath escaping his mouth. The shadow moved closer, and it was indeed Fred. As Ron's eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw concern in his brother's eyes. Fred looked sad, and maybe even scared. Ron had never seen Fred like this. Not even when the twins had given him an acid pop when he was seven, which had burned a hole through his tongue. Seeing Fred like this got Ron worried instantly. What's happened? Is Ginny okay? Then he remembered his headache and the potion vial in his room, this concern was for him.

"Bloody hell Ronnie, you scared everyone" Fred whimpered, and then he moved forward quickly and embraced his little brother. Ron was shocked. This was Fred, and he was hugging Ron so tightly that it almost hurt. But Ron didn't care because he never wanted this moment to end. One of the two brothers he had come to fear was hugging him as if it was the last time. It actually might be. I don't get hugged by Fred every day. With that, Ron decided to hug Fred back but for some reason his arms didn't move. His headache flared to life again, and he began to feel lightheaded. And then, all of a sudden, Ron was somewhere else.

He looked around, and much to his shock, everything around him was in black and white. Like one of those old Muggle photos that his father had once showed off to his family. He was in some sort of Hall, only it was massive and unlike anything that he had ever seen. Fred was no longer hugging him as he wasn't even there anymore. Ron found himself surrounded by people, and most of them were dirty and bloody. Ron went pale. They were all injured, and much to Ron's horror, there were people on the ground that weren't even moving. Where am I? WHAT'S HAPPENING?!

"HELP!" he screamed, but no one even noticed him as they continued tending to one another. He could hear sobbing and wailing from all directions. Panic rose in his chest, and he swung around in every direction in the hopes of figuring out where he was. He turned back around and ran towards the only door that he could see. As he ran full tilt towards the giant door, people and the hall became distorted in the corner of his vision. He saw something flash to his right, making him stop immediately. There was someone on the ground who was in complete color, unlike the black and white everyone else seemed to be in. The unmoving person in color had his eyes closed, and dark red blood was trickling down the right side of his face from a deep gash on his forehead. A person in black and white was sobbing into the colored man's chest as he held him tightly. The man in color had red hair, just like Ron, and he looked oddly familiar as well. As if possessed, his feet slowly pushed him towards the man who looked dead. Who is that? I know him… I… How do I know him?

Ron stood right above the stranger's head and looked around at the black and white people that surrounded him. They were wailing and sobbing and screaming. His heart clenched in his chest as he recognized two of the people who were holding one another and silently sobbing. Mum… Dad… He slowly lowered his head to see the face of the man in color. Who is…? Ron slowly fell to his knees and tried to touch the dead man's face, but his hand went through as if he was a ghost. Alarmed, Ron fell back on his bum and raised his own hands to his face. I'M DEAD… WHAT IS HAPPENING?! Ron was ripped from his panic filled thoughts when he heard a blood curdling sob break out from the black and white man who was clutching the man in color. Ron looked up and saw that the man in black and white was identical to man in color, except he was missing his left ear.

"Fred… WAKE UP FRED!" The man in black and white screamed and a girl who looked like she was around 15 or maybe a little older quickly moved and embraced him from behind while she tried to stop her own sobbing. Wait… What did he call him? Ron slowly stood up and looked back at the man in color. He knew this face. Then his blood became ice in his veins. His heart clenched in his chest and his headache came back in strength. Fred… No, no, no...

"NO!" Ron screamed as he fell forward and tried to grab his dead brother's face, only for his hands to go right through again. "NO! FRED GET UP. YOU CAN'T. DON'T DIE, DON'T!" Ron was screaming and trying to grab Fred anywhere he could, however his hands kept going through. His headache became even more painful during his panic and soon he was clutching his own head and screaming in agony. All noise slowly faded out and now there was an extremely loud ringing noise in his ears. Not only that but there was someone or something whispering in his ears as well but the ringing was too loud and he couldn't make out a single word. Ron shut his eyes tight and tried to block his ears as he continued to scream. And then the ringing stopped, and there was only silence.

Ron woke up the next morning in his bed. There was no headache and everything was back in color. He was covered in sweat and absolutely exhausted. It was all just a dream. It was just a horrible nightmare, nothing more. A smile crept onto his face. His brother was alive. It had all been a nightmare. Ron slowly looked to his right and was shocked to see his father asleep on a chair next to his bed. Ron was even more shocked when tried to sit up and saw Fred sleeping at the foot of his bed, with one hand around Ron's right shin. What the heck are they both doing here? Confused and a little alarmed, Ron tried to sit up again and looked over to his nightstand. There was an empty potion vial sitting there. Just like last night when he went to get a drink. Last night…

He couldn't remember coming back to his room. He could only remember his nightmare. As a matter of fact he could remember it perfectly. Every single detail. Bile rose in the back of his throat as he recounted the memory of a horrid dream where Fred was dead. Except the dead Fred was older, and everyone from the family who was around Fred's body were older too. That girl was… GINNY!

Now that he thought about her, she was definitely his Ginny but she looked older than him. And the wailing man was George, he was certain of it. His left ear was gone. Ron just sat there for the next half hour thinking about the dream and what it could mean. Mr. Lovegood had once told him that there was power in dreams. Ron found himself wishing that this dream had no power and never would. Ron's father stirred and slowly opened his eyes, only to see his youngest son sitting up and looking as though he was in some deep thought.

"Son… you're awake" Arthur spoke, his voice laced with relief. Ron turned to his father and he looked straight into the man's eyes.

"Dad… I had the most horrible nightmare last night" Ron whispered, a look of horror etched upon his face. Arthur quickly leaned forward and embraced his youngest boy.

"I'm here son, I'm here. Nothing will hurt you. I promise." Ron didn't even have the strength to return the embrace, and all he could do was stare at the orange wall behind his father. It was just a nightmare. It had to be…

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you for reading the first chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. I will be updating a new chapter every Sunday to the best of my ability. See ya next time!

Ahem! A quick (late) announcement. To those who think that this story will feature a perfect Ron, it won't. I don't know how to write Mary Sue characters, and I despise them. A story shouldn't revolve around any one character (even if they're the MC). Now, although it may feel like Ron is OP at the start, that will change as the story progresses. He simply comes to Hogwarts with an advantage. Ron will excel in some things, and not excel in others. He won't, and can't, outclass everyone in everything.

(Read the reviews if you need proof, but be warned about spoilers)