I corrected some things in the last chapter, minor formatting headaches and whatnot. The only major thing I changed was a factual error: I stated that Ron inherited Percy's clothes when in reality it was Bill's clothes. I sincerely thank those of you who left reviews. I hope to please you in the coming chapters. It means a lot. I won't diverge from the written word except when creative liberty is needed to tell Ron's story where Rowling did not. I still don't own or claim to own Harry Potter or J.K. Rowling.

It was a short breakfast, only about fifteen minutes, but it was enough to set a happy mood after the morning's rough start. Ron had only just finished his bacon when his mum had given a startled "Oh!" and started rushing to clean up everyone's plates as they all went upstairs to get their trunks. It took another ten minutes for everyone to bring their luggage downstairs and pack it into the trunk of dad's Ford Anglia. He checked, double-checked, and re-checked that they brought all their luggage and were not forgetting anything. Surprisingly, they truly hadn't this time, and Ron reckoned that must have been a record.

There was excited chatter all the way to King's Cross. Ron and Ginny were discussing Hogwarts and all the magical things that happen there, Fred and George were discussing all the mischievous things they would do when they arrived at school, and mum and dad were discussing their joy at having a bit of peace and quiet now that the house was mostly empty. Percy read a book.

When they arrived at the station, dad ran to grab trolleys for the kids to load up their luggage on. He kissed mum goodbye, and ran off to find a place to apparate to work in peace.

Ginny had started up her routine of begging mum to let her go to Hogwarts, too. Please please please please please please - her determination was maddening. When they got into the station, it was crowded with people bustling about, and the family received their usual share of odd looks from passersby. It's not every day you get to see a throng of red-haired children pushing trolleys full of trunks larger than they are, let alone one of them topped by a caged rat and another by a caged owl. Speaking of which... Ron reached over and freed Scabbers of his cage, and stuffed him inside the pocket of his jacket. Don't want you getting hurt...

"This time of year it's always packed with muggles, of course... stay close to me, Ginny," said mum. They continued on to the platform; "Now, what's the platform number?" asked mum. "Nine and three quarters!" answered Ginny, perhaps too loudly for comfort. They were at the metal barrier between platforms nine and ten, now.

"Mum, can't I go..." started Ginny.

"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet," interrupted mum. "All right, Percy, you go first,"

Percy walked briskly through the barrier.

"Fred, you next," said mum.

"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said George. "Honestly, woman, call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"

"Sorry, George, dear."

"Only joking, I am Fred," said George. "Hurry up, George!" called George, and Fred followed after, both of them disappearing through the barrier as Percy had done.

It was then that a very odd-looking boy had appeared next to Ron. He was also pushing a trolley with a large trunk, and sitting atop it was a cage containing a large snow-white owl. He had messy black hair, round crooked glasses, and clothes so large for him they might as well have been robes. Perhaps he's wearing hand-me-downs, too? Unless he just likes the look, thought Ron.

"Excuse me," said the boy politely.

"Hello, dear. First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too," mum said, pointing at Ron.

"Yes," said the boy. "The thing is - the thing is, I don't know how to -"

"How to get onto the platform?" asked mum nicely, and the boy nodded.

"Not to worry," mum said. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best to do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Ron."

"Er - okay," said the boy.

The boy started walking feebly towards the barrier. People bumped into him as he went, and he started walking faster. Ron could tell the boy was tensing up, obviously nervous. Ron watched as the boy awkwardly walk-ran through the barrier, cringing for impact.

"Poor boy, must've thought he'd crash into it," said mum. "Go on, Ron, see if he's okay."

Ron, a bit more confident than the boy who went before him, walked briskly into the metal barrier and was transported onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Ron saw the beautiful scarlet steam engine waiting for everyone to board. The platform was packed with other people also getting ready to board the train. Looking around, Ron saw Lee Jordan, Fred and George's friend, entertaining a crowd with a mysterious box with what looked like, to Ron's horror, a spider trying to escape. Ron turned his head quickly and kept walking, looking still for the boy.

After a moment, Ron found the boy trying to lift his trunk onto the train, and saw as he dropped it onto his foot. Fred and George appeared behind him to help, and all three walked onto the train carrying the trunk.

"Found him yet?" came the voice of Ron's mum from behind.

"Yes," said Ron, turning. "Fred and George were helping him get his trunk onto the train."

"How sweet of them! Fred? George? Are you there?" called mum.

The twins hopped off the train to come and see what mum wanted. Mum pulled out a handkerchief, and -

"Ron, you've got something on your nose," mum said. Ron jerked away, but not quick enough, for she had grabbed him by the arm and was now scrubbing away at his nose.

"Mum - geroff." Ron escaped.

"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" asked Fred.

"Shut up," said Ron, wondering why mum hadn't assaulted his face before calling the twins over.

"Where's Percy?" asked mum.

"He's coming now," said George, and sure enough, Percy strut over self-importantly, puffing out his chest to show off his shiny red-and-gold prefect's badge.

"Can't stay long, Mother," he said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves -"

"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" interrupted Fred. "You should have said something, we had no idea."

"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said George. "Once -"

"Or twice -"

"A minute -"

"All summer -"

"Oh, shut up," said Percy.

"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" asked Fred.

"Because he's a prefect," said mum proudly. "All right, dear, well, have a good term - send me an owl when you get there."

She kissed Percy on the cheek before he left. She then turned to the twins.

"Now, you two - this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've - you've blown up a toilet or -"

"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet."

"Great idea though, thanks, mum."

"It's not funny," warned mum. "And look after Ron."

"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."

"Shut up," said Ron again. Ron's nose still stung where mum had scrubbed it.

Suddenly excited, George asked, "Hey mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train? You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?"

"Who?" asked mum.

"Harry Potter!" said Fred.

Ginny squealed.

"Oh, mum, can I go on the train and see him, mum, oh please..." she begged. Ginny had had a crush on Harry Potter since she was a baby and mum had read her stories of his triumph over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the foulest dark wizard of the century.

"You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo," said mum. "Is he really, Fred? How do you know?"

"Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there - like lightning."

"Poor dear - no wonder he was alone, I wondered. He was ever so polite when he asked how to get on the platform."

"Never mind that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?"

"I forbid you to ask him, Fred," warned mum, suddenly stern. "No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school..."

"All right, keep your hair on," said Fred.

The train whistled loudly.

"Hurry up!" said mum. Ron, Fred, and George hopped aboard. They leaned out the window to kiss mum goodbye, and Ginny started to cry.

"Don't worry, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls," said Ron.

"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat."

"George!"

"Only joking, mum."

The train started to move, and Ginny started running alongside it, half laughing, half crying, until she could no longer keep up. She waved a final goodbye as she shrinked out of sight.

Ron decided then that he would befriend the boy, Harry Potter. He seemed nice enough, and Ron needed a friend. Someone to be equal to, to not be compared to. It didn't occur to Ron in the slightest that perhaps Harry Potter was a bad fit for those criteria, but nevertheless...

"Anyone sitting there?" Ron asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry Potter. He was somehow alone in the compartment.

Harry Potter shook his head and Ron sat down. Ron glanced at him and looked quickly out of the window, hoping Harry Potter hadn't noticed. Er - how does one make friends? wondered Ron.

"Hey, Ron," said the voice of Fred. The twins were standing outside the compartment. "Listen, we're going down the middle of the train - Lee Jordan's got a gaint tarantula down there."

"Right," Ron mumbled, trying not to shudder.

"Harry, did we introduce ourselves?" asked George. "Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. See you later, then."

"Bye," said both Harry Potter and Ron. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron heard himself ask.

Harry Potter nodded.

"Oh - well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes," said Ron. "And have you really got - you know..." Ron pointed at Harry Potter's forehead.

Harry Potter had pulled back his bangs to reveal a lightning-shaped scar. Ron stared.

"So that's where You-Know-Who - ?"

"Yes," said Harry Potter, "but I can't remember it."

"Nothing?" asked Ron eagerly.

"Well - I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."

"Wow," said Ron. He stared at Harry Potter for a few moments, then, but looked out of the window again when he realised what he was doing.

"Are all your family wizards?" Harry Potter asked suddenly.

"Er - yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."

"So you must know loads of magic already."

"I heard you went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "What are they like?"

"Horrible - well, not all of them," said Harry Potter. "My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers."

Did - is he actually... jealous of having...

"Five," said Ron sadly. "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left - Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."

Ron pulled Scabbers from his jacket pocket, where the rat had been napping.

"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made prefect, but they couldn't aff - I mean, I got Scabbers instead." Well, Harry Potter now knows he was poor. Great wizard like that, he'd probably be getting up and leaving any second now -

"I don't think there's anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl," said Harry. Ron felt relief rush over him. "I've never had any money in my life until a month ago. I've always had to wear my cousin's old clothes. He's, er, very big, as you can tell," and Harry tugged on the chest of his shirt, which extended out an entire foot before catching.

"I've always lived as a Muggle, and until Hagrid told me, I didn't know anything about being a wizard or about my parents or Voldemort -"

Ron gasped.

"You said You-Know-Who's name!" Ron was astounded. "I'd have thought you, of all people -"

"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," said Harry, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn... I bet... I bet Im' the worst in the class."

The slayer of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, worst in the class? What?

"You won't be. There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough," said Ron. I mean, he was only one year old when he battled... you know, maybe he really doesn't know magic. Magic does strange things to protect wizard children, after all.

It was around half past twelve when the Trolley Witch appeared at their door, looking very much like an old lady who could never hurt a fly in any way, shape, or form.

"Anything off the cart, dears?" asked the Witch.

Harry had jumped up at once.

"I, er, mum packed sandwiches..." said Ron feebly as his stomach did a lurch.

A moment later, Harry returned with a very large pile of candy of all sorts, and dumped it all onto the seat beside Ron.

"Hungry, are you?" said Ron. He'd never seen so much candy in one place in his life.

"Starving," said Harry, who was now eating a pumpkin pasty.

"She always forgets I don't like corned beef," said Ron quietly, looking at the crumpled package of sandwiches he'd brought along on the train.

"Swap you for one of these," said Harry, holding up another pasty. "Go on -"

"You don't want this, it's all dry," said Ron. That was rude, er... "She hasn't got much time, you know, with five of us."

"Go on," Harry insisted, "have a pasty."

Ron's heart lept. Slowly at first, but quicker as he got more comfortable, Ron ate candy after candy with Harry. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with a friend, who had actually just given him permission to share his wealth of lovely candy. Harry held up a package of Chocolate Frogs, looking startled.

"What are these? They're not really frogs, are they?"

"No," answered Ron. "But see what the card is. I'm missing Agrippa."

"What?" asked Harry.

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know - Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, you know, to collect - famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy."

Harry started to pull out the card, and smiled.

"So this is Dumbledore!" said Harry.

"Don't tell me you'd never heard of Dumbledore! Can I have a frog? I might get Agrippa -" Harry gestured to the pile with a smile. "Thanks," said Ron.

"He's gone!" exclaimed Harry, astonished.

"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day. He'll be back" said Ron, looking at his own card now.

Morgan le Fay

Also known as Morgana, she was King Arthur's half sister. She was a dark sorceress, Merlin's enemy, and she affected many events during her time. She was the queen of the island of Avalon, and she had great skills as a healer.

"No, I've got Morgana again and I've got about six of her... do you want it? You can start collecting." Ron handed over Morgana and looked longingly at the pile of remaining Chocolate Frogs.

"Help yourself," said Harry, apparently sensing Ron's wishful glance. "But in, you know, the Muggle world, people just stay put in photos."

"Do they? What, they don't move at all?" Ron asked, amazed. "Weird!"

Ron started eating Chocolate Frogs, only glancing at the accompanying cards. Nothing new.

After a moment, Ron noticed Harry opening a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"You want to be careful with those," Ron warned. "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor - you know, you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a booger-flavored one once."

Ron picked up a green one, eyeing it like one might eye two children stacked inside a trench coat, and cautiously bit a piece off.

"Bleaaargh - see? Sprouts."

Ron carried on eating the beans with Harry. He had gotten raisins, swamp water, pine straw, corn, seaweed, chocolate cake, strawberry syrup, and sod. A few moments after Ron had gotten the taste of the last one out of his mouth with a pumpkin pasty, a knock sounded at the door of their compartment. The door slid open and a full-cheeked boy came in, looking as if he'd just got done crying.

"Sorry," the boy started, "but have you seen a toad at all?" Ron and Harry shook their heads, and the boy wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

"He'll turn up," said Harry.

"Yes," said the boy miserably. "Well, if you see him..."

The boy trailed off and left.

"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk." Scabbers did nothing.

"He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," said Ron disgustedly. "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look..."

Ron went to his trunk and found his wand. It was chipped, and the wand's unicorn hair core was glinting in the light near the bottom.

"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway -"

Ron raised his wand but was stopped by the compartment door sliding open. The sad toadless boy was back but he'd brought... a girl.