Pre-anything romantic but hints at Ron/Hermione and takes place in the first book after they all become friends.
…..
Ron didn't have a lot in life – he had to share his home and parents with six rambunctious siblings, his robes where hand-me-downs from his brothers. Even his pet, his confident had belonged to Percy before him.
His brothers played Quidditic but Ron couldn't seem to get off the ground and when he did he was as useless as a weighted brick. His brothers had excelled in studies and been prefects but Ron only seemed to be average and excel in getting himself into trouble, and even then he was surpassed in that by Fed and George.
It seemed to Ron that he'd lost at the game of life when compared to the rest of the world.
So Ron was pleasantly surprised when Hermione picked him in potions to be her partner, and keeps picking him in every lesson they need to pair up. He feels slightly sorry for Harry as he watches his and Neville's caldron explode, showing the two unfortunates with blue grunge and brings Professor Snape over like a towering vulture to pick over the carcass of their potion.
But then Hermione smiles at him and holds up a slice of newt's tail which Ron takes like its some great and wonderful prize, which it could very well be.
And perhaps, for the first time, Ron might actually be winning the game.