A New Life
Chapter Two:
Ron had just finished getting dressed when he heard his name being called from downstairs. He grabbed his wand from the bedside table and quickly made his way downstairs to find his entire family waiting for him. His mum had a smile on her face, as did his dad, but his mum had something more…tears in her eyes.
"My baby boy is all grown up now, last male in the family to leave for Hogwarts" she said as she began to dab at her eyes. Ron felt his face flush and then he gave his mum a hug; he had missed her hugs, and food, not in that order though.
"It's all right mum, I'll be fine. I'll write every day, and I'll make sure to study hard and make you proud." At this, the twins made gaging motions behind their mothers back. Ron smirked and made a rude gesture towards them.
"Well then, we had better get a move on" Arthur Weasley said, a warm smile adorning his face "we don't won't to miss the train now, do we?"
Ron ran back upstairs and closed his trunk; he pulled his wand out and pointed it at his heavy trunk before muttering "Wingardium Leviosa!"
He walked his trunk downstairs' and outside to where the family's Ford Angelica was sitting, he placed the trunk inside the boot of the car and headed back inside.
It wasn't too much longer before the rest of the family was ready and they all headed outside and began to place their stuff inside the boot of the car as Ron had done a few moments before. "Got your trunk Ron-" his father stopped mid-sentence as his eyes fell on the neatly placed trunk within the boot. "Oh!" was all he said.
Ron gave a small smile before saying "I already got this dad, I've been studying my school books quite a bit these past few days."
The twins scoffed and said, "You, reading a book? Lay off it Ron!"
"No! It's true, I just sort of grew interested in it and began to read."
His family eyed him for a few seconds before, thankfully, his father began to load up the other trunks. Ron jumped into the car and was just settling down before Percy got in himself. The older male Weasley gave him a smile and a small inclination of his head before saying "nicely done Ronald, I'm glad at least you seem to be taking an interest in your education."
"Thanks Percy" Ron said, giving his brother a smile of his own, but then the twins climbed in and the moment of peace had passed.
The ride to the train station passed relatively in peace, the family mostly enjoying the sights of Muggle London. Ron was silent for most of the ride; he was lost in his own thoughts, mostly trying to figure out if he wanted to repeat his past or not. 'Maybe I can save them from the inside. If I'm in Slytherin, I can gain their trust more effectively than if I'm in Gryffindor. Either Ravenclaw or Slytherin then, but I'm not smart enough for Ravenclaw.' He went on with his brooding until they reached King Cross station. They reached the station with about fifteen minutes to spare and quickly unloaded the car and headed inside. That's when Ron saw him, Harry Potter, by himself.
Ron veered off and made his way over to the frightful looking boy, Ron gave him a smile and extended his hand. "Hello, I'm Ron Weasley, are you okay mate, you seem to be a little lost."
The black-haired boy seemed uneasy at this question, his eyes quickly darting around the hall for something. He gave a weak smile in return and shook Ron's proffered hand before saying "Harry Potter, and how did you know that?"
Ron kept his smile and shrugged his shoulders, "Just how you're looking around the station" he looked at the other boy's trunks and pointed to the owl on his trunk, "you must be going to Hogwarts as well, I don't see to many Muggles with them and it helps that your name is pretty well known in the wizarding world."
Harry seemed to find this news surprising but he still gave Ron a gave a weak smile and then nodded his head. "Do you know how to get onto the platform then?"
Ron smiled back and nodded his head, "yeah my mum does anyhow, this is my first year going to school." Harry did smile at that bit of news as he followed Ron over to his family who were just beginning the process of getting onto the platform, the two boys quickly made their way past the barrier over to the train. Ron could not help but smile at the sight, he thought he would never see this train again, let alone Hogwarts. The two boys quickly found an empty compartment and placed their things inside, and then Ron went back outside and got some older students who levitated their trunks into the carriage and onto the luggage rack for them. After that was done, Ron then had Harry follow him out of the train and over to where his family had convened.
"Mum, Dad, Percy, Fred and George" Ron said as he and Harry pulled up to where his family were. All of them looked to the two boys, no comprehension coming to their faces at the sight of Harry. "This is Harry Potter" he said lowly so none of the passerby could hear what he had said, but he could tell that he had surprised his family, mostly by the shocked expressions on the faces of his family but most of all; he loved the expressions on Fred and George, both of whom looked at Harry with awed expressions. Ron's mum was the first to recover her composure, closely followed by his father, both of whom immediately came over to shake his hand.
"Good heavens, it really is you" Ron's father said in an almost awed tone, Ron's mum on the other hand, gave Harry a very warm smile.
"It is so nice to meet you Harry; do you mind if I call you Harry?"
Harry shook his head and said in a quite tone "no ma'am I don't mind at all."
They spent the next two or three minutes talking about the upcoming year, then with the whistle beginning to sound behind them, the Weasley clan plus Harry boarded the train and began to wave at their family, Harry just waved to wave.
After the train had gathered speed and rounded the corner, Ron and Harry could no longer see the other Weasley family members so they made their way back to the compartment they had chosen earlier only to find that it held two other people now: a rather large boy and a bushy haired girl. 'Neville and Hermione' Ron thought with a small smile on his face. The two boys entered the compartment with nods to the other two as the boys take the open seats across from them. Neville gave a weak, scared looking smile while Hermione stood and stuck out her hand.
"Hello there, I'm Hermione Granger and this" she said with a nod in Neville's direction "is Neville Longbottom. Who are you then?"
Harry just stared at the rude sounding girl, his mouth slightly ajar. Ron on the other hand, stood and smiled back at her and shook her hand. "I'm Ron Weasley and this is-" but he stopped as Harry spoke up.
"I'm Harry Potter."
Ron gave him a smile "Harry Potter" he finished with a smile at the other two. Hermione and Ron sat back down in their respective seats after the introductions had been made. Both of the new comers were staring at Harry but Ron spoke up to distract them.
"Well, what house is every one hoping to get?"
"Ravenclaw or Gryffindor" Hermione Granger said at once.
Neville mumbled something that Ron could not hear, "I'm sorry mate, I couldn't quite hear you, what did you say?"
'Gryffindor" Neville repeated a bit louder, keeping his head down.
Ron nodded his head, "I hope to get Slytherin really, but I wouldn't mind getting Ravenclaw."
Everyone, save for Harry, looked surprised at this bit of information but it was Neville to speak up and ask, "But i-isn't your entire f-f-family in Gryffindor?"
He nodded his head at the question, flashing a smile at the two across from him, "yeah they are, but why do I want to go where my whole family have? I want to do something different and be my own person; I don't want to be 'just another Weasley."'
Neville smiled at that while Hermione looked thoughtful, they turned to look at Harry who stared back at them in surprise, "I-I don't know what you lot are talking about to be honest."
"We're talking about school houses that every first year are sorted into" Ron said with a smile, "you live, eat, study, with your housemates for the seven years while at Hogwarts."
Harry stared back at him without comprehension, so Ron explained the basic virtues of each house so that Harry could better understand what they were talking about. After Ron finished explaining the basic overview of each house, Harry looked as if he were in deep thought.
"Well, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw sound like really good houses to me, and after listening to you earlier Ron, I don't think I would mind Slytherin much. I doubt if I'll be smart enough for Ravenclaw and come to think about it, I don't think I'll be brave enough for Gryffindor or ambitious enough for Slytherin either. I might be in Hufflepuff."
Neville nodded his head in agreement before saying "my gran says the same about me, say's I won't be good enough for Gryffindor, like my father and mum."
"What do your parents have to say about that Neville?" Hermione asked, a look of sorrow on her face as she asked the question.
"My-my p-p-parents are, are-uh, they're not here" Neville finished, somewhat lamely.
"What do you mean 'they're not here'? Don't you live with them?"
Ron felt a pang of sorrow for this chubby boy, who had lost his parents to Voldemort just as Harry had. Ron knew that Bellatrix lestrange had tortured his parents into insanity during the first war and as such, Longbottom had to live with his gran. Ron looked at Neville, who had gone pale and was sweating very profusely now.
"I-well I, um, I-my-my parents are uh, they're in St. Mungos."
This passed over Hermione and Harry, so Ron had to explain what St. Mungos was exactly; Hermione looked highly distressed at this news and quietly asked, "whatever for Neville?"
Ron felt for the large boy who had now begun to cry. Neville did not answer this time, he got up and ran out of the room, or he attempted to anyways. He tripped over his robes and fell into the sliding door, breaking the glass and cutting his forehead. He got back up and ran out the door not even bothering to look back at the other three in the compartment. Hermione, who had tears in her eyes, ran after Neville.
Ron shook his head slowly and pulled his wand out, pointed it at the glass and said "Reparo!" which immediately fixed the broken glass. Ron stowed his wand back inside of his pocket, pulled out his robes and quickly changed. Harry just stared at Ron, somewhat in awe of the other boy.
"What is it Harry?"
"I-nothing. I, how did you do that?"
"Magic, I've been studying all summer, so I could be prepared a little." Ron said with a shrug of his shoulders. Harry gave him yet another weak smile but did not say anything.
After a few minutes of silence between the two, they decided to go together and search for Hermione and Neville whom they couldn't find anywhere. On their travels they did manage to find Draco Malfoy and his...'friends.' Ron thought about going inside, but after a moment of hesitation, he decided not to and continued the hunt for Neville. He found the boy near the back of the train, sitting and openly crying, Hermione was trying to calm him down.
Ron stepped forward and looked down on the boy before saying "hey mate, listen…don't feel bad about crying or what happened to your mum and dad. We all had something bad happen to someone within all of our families, so-do you want to come back with me?" Ron squatted down and gave the other boy a kind smile, "you don't need to feel bad about showing that emotion in front of us, and Hermione didn't know anything until just a little bit ago.
"Thanks Ron, that-that means a lot to me," Neville said quietly before he stood to his feet. Ron gave a nod of his head, and then he led the three of them back to their compartment.
"Everything ok Neville?" Harry asked kindly as they regained their previous seats. Neville gave a watery smile and nodded his head. "Good, now I bought us a lot of snacks during our search for you lot, so…who wants some?"
The rest of the train ride went by in relative silence, not too much talking going on between the four new friends. They had all changed into their robes by now and the sun was already beginning to set. "How much longer?" groaned Ron as he sat back in his seat and slid down a few inches. Hermione gave him a scornful look and a shake of her head. Ron snorted and looked out the window as Hermione went back to reading her book.
"Attention please, we will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your all luggage on board, as it will be taken up to the school separately." Ron stood and stretched with a rather loud yawn before he walked over to the door and slid it open, he stuck his head out and looked around the train car before he went back inside and sat back down.
The train came to a jerking stop, and right as it did, Ron stood and threw open the sliding door and went to step outside into the hallway, only to be thrown back inside by a passing Weasley tornado. "Sorry Ron!" both the twins yelled as they jumped outside the train and were gone from sight. Ron gave a growl and led the other three out into the very crowded train car. The four of them made their way out into the black night and over to where a very large, and hairy man stood. Hagrid.
"First years! O'er er now!"
Both Ron and Harry gave smiles to where Hagrid stood, but only Harry shouted "Hey Hagrid!"
"Hey there 'Harry! Nice to see yer again, how was yer time with the Muggles then?"
"Not too bad, thanks, but I can't say that I miss them right now."
Hagrid beamed at Harry and nodded his big, fluffy head "I can't say that I blame yea Harry" was all he said before he began his calls for the first years. Hagrid led them down to the fleet of little boats, where Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville each got into the same boat.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!" from most of the first years as the great castle came into sight for the very first time. Ron took in the castle with a great measure of respect that he had not had the first time around. The boats came to a stop and all the first years filed out and onto the dock. Then Hagrid led them up a long flight of stairs and then under an archway where two large doors stood. Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face 'Professor McGonagall.'
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the whole of the Burrow in side. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors. They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. The first years could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be here — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked Ron.
"It's really simple, just put on the sorting hat."
"And how do you know that, Ronald Weasley?" Asked Hermione from right behind him, Ron gave her a smirk.
"Fred and George told me, or rather they lied, so I found out from Percy."
Before the others could find out who exactly Fred, George or Percy were they heard a familiar voice speak up once again.
"The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Ron looked up, surprised to see that Professor McGonagall had returned so soon. "Now, form a line," and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up there and when they reached the dais they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Ron looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper from right behind him
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." Ron and Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. A brim opened at the base of the hat and then it began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
"Abbott, Hannah!" A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment pause —
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat. The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!" The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers. "Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnigan, Seamus," the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermione!" Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head. Ron watched with a little apprehension, he hopped for her to go to Gryffindor or Slytherin. It would make everything so much easier...
"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat. Ron groaned. He was hoping to have her in Gryffindor or Slytherin, but with her in Ravenclaw, it would make things a bit more difficult now, instead of easier.
"Longbottom, Neville"
"GRYFFINDOR," the hat shouted. Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to "MacDougal, Morag" who became a Hufflepuff. Draco Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself. There weren't many people left now.
"Moon"…"Nott"…"Parkinson"… all became Slytherins.
Then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil"… one of whom went to Gryffindor and the other to Ravenclaw.
Then "Perks, Sally-Anne"…, and then, at last "Potter, Harry!" As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
Ron waited for what seemed like ages, he hoped that with their previous discussion of the subject of Slytherin, Harry would be sorted there. Ron did not wait long for his answer, a moment later the hat shouted "SLYTHERIN!"
Ron cheered with the others as Harry made his way over to his new house, Ron nodded his head as the boy took a seat.
Weasley, Ron!" Ron made his way up to the stool and put the hat on his head, waiting to hear his fate.
"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, A my goodness, yes — and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting… So, where shall I put you?"
"Where will I be of the most use?"
"And why is that Mr. Weasley? You have a great deal of ambition to you yes…"
Ron was silent at this and let the hat continue.
"Hmm, it seems with your current knowledge of spells you can be put into Ravenclaw but, no, I don't see you there. Very well, I shall place you in your desired house."
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted to much applause from his new house, he made his way to his former and yet, his new house. Ron Weasley was once again a Slytherin and he couldn't help the smile that graced his lips as he sat next to Harry.
AN:
Once again thanks to my BETA TabiPrewett for their hard work on this chapter, and thanks to all of you who have read, liked and commented on this story. It really means a lot to me. Thank you! I hope you enjoy chapter two.
