Two Worlds Collide.
The Sorcerer's Stone.
Chapter Four: Begging for a Backbeat.
A/N: Are people not liking this? Please let me know. Review, if possible. It let's me know that people are actually enjoying it and I'm not writing it for absolutely nothing. Oh, and thank you for the few that have been replying ! It's so great reading your nice reviews, makes me smile. Seriously brightens my day !
As Ron and Harry exited the train, Ron couldn't help but feel a slight annoyance raging inside of him. Sure, it was just a girl. Some girl with the name 'Hermione'. What rubbish. What kind of name was that anyways? Maybe her parents didn't like her. He wouldn't blame them, she seemed like quite the pity of a daughter. He mentally slapped himself, that was harsh. Not to mention rude. Luckily it was all inside his head. Luckily.
Ron and Harry both grabbed their luggage from the same guy who collected it and turned to see something they both had never seen before. The most huge, hairiest man, known to man-kind. Or at least known to Ron. Ron's eyes were wide, just staring. All he could see were his eyes and nose. Everything else was hidden. He wasn't only extremely tall, but he was extremely broad, wide, tough. He had the strangest clothes on. Patched pants, with a tan shirt, a belt around the end of his waist. His boots were made of fur. But of course Ron didn't notice that. He was still in a trance by his height.
"Right then. First years, this way please!" The giant spoke, his voice echoing as no one stepped forward except for Harry, which Ron didn't find surprising. Harry had obviously faced worse, right? "First years, don't be shy! Come on now! Hurry up!" He continued, watching people slowly walk forward, Ron as well. "Hello Harry." He spoke, a smile on his face. Or, at least, Ron thought it was a smile. He couldn't really tell, his beard was in the way.
"Hi Hagrid." Harry greeted back, a smile on his face. He obviously knew him, how else would he know his name? Ron looked back up at him, about to mutter a greeting as well, but then again was caught in his height.
"Whoa." He spoke out, before feeling his ears grow hot of embarrassment as a few of the other students laughed among themselves. He saw Hagrid's amused look, as he cleared his throat, his voice beckoning once again.
"Right, then. This way to the boats, come on. Follow me." A boat? Well that wasn't very magical. Would they have to row the boat? Because Ron wasn't into the sporty kind of mood. Though, he really never was. Except for Quidditch, but that was just the best sport ever made. It didn't even count as a sport because it was so amazing. As they walked over towards the boats, Ron walked slowly, his feet never leaving the ground, as if he was dragging them. He walked behind Harry who was next to Hagrid, talking about who knows what. As they reached the boats, Ron watched as other students got in and took off without having to lift any oars, in fact, there were no oars. Ron felt himself sigh of happiness inside.
"Wicked!" He exclaimed before jumping in after Harry, sitting down beside him. He then watched as two other people filled the boats. Who? Some boy carring a toad, which he figured had to be Neville. His brothers had told him that no one ever brought a frog to Hogwarts because it was one of the most embarrassing things you could bring. Even more embarrassing then Scabbers, and that was embarrassing. And then his eyes fixated in the darkness and realized who the second person, now sitting down across from him, was. Hermione Granger. The girl who has just bothered him about dirt and fake spells. An odd combination if you truly thought about it.
"Bloody brilliant." Ron moaned, rather sarcastically as Harry threw him a quick smile. It wasn't as though he absolutely hated the girl, but he wasn't going to say he was happy to see her.
"Why are you using language like that? You're eleven. Please mind your language." Hermione spoke, her voice stern as if she was a mother talking to her child, while her eyes narrowed with each word; though Ron couldn't see this, it was too dark to really see her facial expressions. But lucky enough for her, she could see him rolling his eyes. "Oh, that's mature." She muttered, leaning back into the boat.
Okay so maybe he did hate her. He really did have a comeback too! Something along the lines of, And what about those teeth? You're an eleven year old girl, not a beaver. He just didn't want to be mean, plus he didn't want Harry thinking he was some rude kid. He wasn't, some people just bothered him. Especially when they were correcting him. Sure sometimes it was the type that people would say was 'friendly criticism' and it was meant to help you. But Ron just preferred people that kept their comments to themselves.
I mean really, who does she think she is? For all she knows, that spell I was putting on Scabbers was a joke! Or maybe I could have some mental problem and she's making fun of me! Maybe I should just start crying, no. That'd be stupid. Harry would think I'm some sort of git bloke who doesn't know how to keep himself together. Plus who would get upset over something as stupid as that? Am I even making sense? I don't think so… I'm not sure. Oh great, now they're all looking at me. Did I say something? Is the dirt not gone? Did they ask me something? Why are they-
"Ron!" Harry called for what felt like the millionth time, though in reality he knew it was only about the fifth or sixth.
Ron finally shook his head, shaking his annoyed thoughts as he looked over at his new mate. "What?" He asked, his face totally clueless. He watched the two across from him snicker as he chose to ignore him. He had no problem with the so called Neville, but he did with Hermione.
"I asked exactly how much brothers and sisters you have?" Harry asked, curiously. He had seen a large amount at the train station when they were helping him get onto 9 ¾. So it only made sense to ask so he knew. It was probably just who he saw, no more than that. Because three brothers and one sister was enough. Well, in Harry's mind. And he was an only child.
"Oh," He started, "I have 5 brothers and a sister." He replied, normally. He acted as if it was a normal amount, when it truly wasn't. Not to mention how hard it was, their house wasn't exactly big. But it was home. He couldn't imagine what he'd do if something happened to his house. They were constantly adding to it, with the more kids they got. But Ron was pretty sure they were done, or at least hoped. One more floor and he swore that the house would tumble over. When you walked in it wasn't exactly the cleanliest, nicest home their was. But it was most definitely homey, it had that homey feeling that Ron loved when he walked into it. And thinking about that already made him homesick, but he quickly shook his head.
"Five brothers?! And a sister?! There's seven of you!?" Harry asked, astounded. Ron nodded slowly, wondering why it was so hard for him to accept. It wasn't that hard of a concept. "How?!"
"You really wanna know how…?" Ron asked, his face spread with a disgusted look as they all laughed. Harry shaking his head, Ron continued. "I don't know. My mom always wanted a girl and it was pretty much impossible with the Weasley family but on their last try they got Ginny." It sounded horrible out loud, as if everyone was a mistake other than her. But as long as Ron understood; it was fine.
"Makes sense." Hermione nodded, not really knowing what she meant by it. There were two reasons, one, it made sense that Ron had that much siblings. She understood why he was so bitter and rude, she would be too in a house of six other children. And two; it made sense for their parents to keep trying for a girl. Hermione couldn't see herself not having a girl child as well, it was a must.
"Yeah?! Well how much siblings do YOU have?" Ron asked, purposely taking her comment the wrong way. For all he knew, she could be saying it 'makes sense that he's so damn adorable' but of course he knew that wasn't it. Seeing as how she clearly already despised his very existence. Hermione's eyesbrows furrowed together as she replied.
"None.. I'm an only child." It got kind of lonely, that she'd admit, to herself. But then other times, she was thankful. She couldn't stand to be bothered all the time while she was upstairs reading, or that little chance that she could live in the shadows. Which she knew she probably already did.
"That makes no sense. I would have figured you'd have an older brother or sister, maybe even younger." Ron explained as the boat hit the shore, hearing Hagrid behind them, telling them to climb out and continue up the journey to Hogwarts; which consisted of a medium sized trail traveling up to the doors.
"What do you mean?" She asked, interested as she climbed off last, the boat shifting slightly, causing her to grab onto Harry, who was closest to the boat. He laughed slightly as she flattened his shirt back out from the wrinkles her clenched fingers had caused.. She then looked over at Ron as he opened his mouth to speak.
"I mean, you seem like the nagging, bossing type. That's all." And with that, him and Harry walked up the trail. Leaving Hermione to bite back anything she wanted to say, tears in the back of her eyes that she forced to shake off. She quietly followed them up the trail with Neville
x x x
Ron found himself finding a seat next to Fred and George, Harry sitting next to him as his eyes traveled around the whole great hall. It was brilliant. The long wooden tables for each house, the huge Hogwarts banners showing the Snake, Lion, Badger and Eagle. It was just utterly amazing. He felt himself growing nervous. What if he didn't get into Gryffindor? He didn't have much courage. But he'd break the family tradition! He felt his palms start to sweat as he nodded along to whatever Harry was saying before the room was shushed with silence, before a tall, fairly old, lady walked up to the podium in front of the whole room. She wore a tall black hat, pointed at the top, like a true witch that you would hear about in muggle stories. Along with a black cloak and that was all Ron could see, the rest was covered by the podium.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," She started, her eyes glancing around the whole room to take in the new students, as well as the old. "Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you do, take a seat." She glanced at the few first years who were wandering around at the back who quickly listened to her order and sat down at a random table. Ron looked over at Fred as he quickly lowered his voice.
"Who is she?"
"Professor McGonagall. She's the headmistress." Fred replied quickly before she continued, knowing she already had it out for both him and George. They weren't exactly the easiest students.
"You must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." Her eyes glancing at each table before she continued with a small smile. "Now while you're here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points." Her eyes then looked directly at the twins who both waves innocently, her throat clearing before she continued once again. "At of the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded house cup. The sorting should begin momentarily." Ron then looked over at Harry, about to speak before he saw the same slime that he had unfortunately bumped into during his shopping in Diagon Alley. Malfoy.
"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." Draco spoke, his voice drowning with an annoying tone. Or maybe it was just annoying because Ron hated him so much… yes, that was it.
"Clearly…" Ron commented, trying to contain himself from just telling him to sod off. But, he'd let Harry experience how much of a prat he was. Unless Draco was going to try and befriend him. Oh that just wouldn't happen. Ron heard murmurs of Harry's name around him and it dawned on him just how famous Harry was to the wizarding world. He sighed, there was no chance he'd get placed in the same house as Harry… not to mention keep him as a friend. Ron wasn't at all courageous or smart, as Harry was. He could never kill off Voldemort. Especially as a baby. He could have probably drowned him in a pool of drool, but that was about it.
"This is Crabbe and Goyle." He started, pointing to both of his friends. Ron held back a laugh as he glanced at both of his friends. One was short and rather pudgy, the other was taller, with glasses, but also a bit pudgy but just in the gut, whereas the other seemed all around pudgy. What friends. "And I'm Malfoy. Draco, Malfoy." And that's where Ron lost it. He let out a few laughs, he couldn't hold it in. What an introduction. He could imagine himself doing it. And I'm Weasley… Ron, Weasley. Draco wasn't famous. He acted as if he was the ultimate wizard. He was just a kid, along with Ron. "Think my names funny do you? No need to ask for yours. Red hair, hand-me-down robes? You must be a Weasley." His robes weren't hand-me-down's. They were new! Ron turned back around, choosing to ignore him as he met George's eyes, which rolled in annoyance.
"Don't worry, Ron. He's our next project." Fred whispered, letting himself chuckle slightly. None of the Weasley's liked to hear them made fun of for their lack of money. It was ignorant and just plain rude. Ron let himself smile, slightly thankful for having two older brothers. Sure, they wouldn't be too much of a help. But he knew if he was really really in trouble, they'd have his back.
"You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than ours, Potter. You don't want to be making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." Draco let himself nod his head towards the clan of redheads, hinting to Harry as he smirked. Not knowing he was about to get rejected. Ron felt himself clench his fists, but stayed silent. He wasn't going to egg him on by actually contributing to this mess.
"I think I can tell the wrong sort, for myself. Thanks." Harry replied quickly as McGonagall stood back up at her podium. Ron turned around quickly, wanting to see Draco's face. And it was just how he pictured it in his dreams! His eyebrows narrowing along with his eyes in hatred and confusion, but quickly being ushered away by Crabbe and Goyle. Ron let out a laugh of triumph before he quieted down with the rest of the room. McGonagall then waved her hand, Fred and George pushing both Ron and Harry out of their seats for them to follow the rest of the first years to the front of the room.
Ron walked slowly, finding himself interested in the ceiling as he did so. It looked like the outdoors, but actually like outer space. There were stars everywhere, even one was shooting across until he couldn't see it anymore. Along with the bright white-yellow moon. "It's not real, the ceiling." Ron looked down to see Hermione beside him, his eyes showed confusion. Why was she talking to him? "It's just bewitched to look like the nights outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." Ron nodded slowly, in confusion. But figured it'd shut her up either way.
As Ron quickened his pace, walking up to the chair, Professor McGonagall lightly shoved him back down with the rest, a stern look on her face. "Will you wait along here, please." Ron looked down in embarrassment as he heard Harry chuckle, letting himself laugh at his stupidity. It wasn't like if he raced up, he'd be called first. "Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." Ron didn't need an explanation for that. He knew who Dumbledore was. The most trusted, treasured wizards of their time.
"I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce." He begun, Ron watching him. He was a tall old man, a white beard that had to be as long as his arm, with a tie down the middle as if it kept it tamed. He had half moon spectacles that he looked above to glance at all of them. Along with a hat alike McGonagall's but instead it was a navy blue with a few stars, matching his cloak. "The first years please note, that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all the students." Amen to that, Ron thought. Darkness wasn't his thing. "Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to all who do not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you." And with that, he ended it. Ron let out a breath, he would definitely not be going to the third corridor right side. He glanced over to see who Filch was and could only describe him as two words: Death reborn.
The podium then was replaced with Professor McGonagall, "When I call your name you will come forth, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your house. Hermione Granger!" Ron's eyes immediately looked over at Hermione whose eyes were squeeshed shut.
"Oh, no." She muttered. "Relax. Okay, relax." She kept muttering to herself. Ron had to laugh, looking over at Harry.
"Mental, that one. I'm telling you." Ron mumbled quickly, him and Harry both choking back a laugh as they watched her sit down slowly, the hat being placed down on her head.
The hat moved back and fourth slightly, mumbling before it finally announced, "GRYFFINDOR!" And with that, Hermione skipped down the steps, then walking excitedly over to the table where Ron watched the twins and Percy greet her as she sat down. He rolled his eyes before looking back, Draco's name being announced.
Draco walked up to the seat, his smile so smug, Ron could have choked himself. As soon as the hat touched his head, it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" Ron shook his head as he refrained from clapping. He looked over at Harry, shaking his head as he scoffed.
"There's no witch or wizard who went bad, that wasn't from Slytherin." He informed him, watching as Harry widened his eyes slightly before looking back at the chair.
"Susan Bones!" McGonagall announced, Ron turning quickly as he heard Harry grunt, holding his forehead. Ron looked at him quizzically, quickly moving closer.
"Harry, what is it?" He asked, surprising concerned for his new friend. Harry shook his head, shrugging it off. Ron kept a mental note to himself to remember this moment as he looked back at the chair that Susan was sitting in.
"Hufflepuff!" The hat announced, as Susan scurried over to the Hufflepuff table, being welcomed by the whole group. Ron's heart started beating faster and faster, feeling his palms growing with more sweat. He didn't know what to do. Maybe he could beg the hat? No. Who would do that? Well he had plenty of time to think. It was going in alphabetical order wasn't it? Granger, Draco, Bones… No. That wasn't alphabetical.
"Ronald Weasley!" Professor McGonagall shouted, Ron looked up, expecting to be screamed at but then realized it meant it was his turn. He glanced at Ron, and then his brothers before slowly walking up. He sat down even slower as his eyes shut, his lips pursed together as he feared for the worst as the hat was lowered onto his head.
"Ha! Another Weasley, eh? I know just what to do with you…" Ron tightened his eyes even more, his hands squeezing the arms of the chair, feeling like he could break at any moment. "Gryffindor!" As soon as the word left the hat's mouth, Ron slumped down in the chair, a smile on his face before he pushed himself up, hearing the Gryffindor table cheer, Fred and George louder than the rest. He walked past the unsorted first years and sat himself down between Fred and George who congratulated him, looking across from him, he saw Percy and Hermione next to him which sent him a soft smile. He raised his eyebrows, no emotion as he looked back at the first years. Why was she such an odd character?
Ron heard Harry's name being called and immediately crossed his fingers, watching him slowly walk up and sit down. He better be in Gryffindor. He felt like they could connect, maybe be good friends. Otherwise he'd be stuck with Neville and Hermione. And he would not be satisfied. He heard murmuring between Harry and the hat, not being able to hear what they were saying. He looked around at the table as if someone was going to explain to him what was happening, narrorate it for him, but he got no such thing.
"Better be… Gryffindor!" Ron immediately broke into the applause as he shouted Harry's name a few times, along with a 'congratulations.' He watched Harry sit down next to him and sent him a smile.
"Wicked." He exclaimed, watching as Harry laughed. It was then that he realized how hungry he was. The feast, he heard it was amazing, he had grown up with his mothers large cooking. He hoped he wouldn't be let down. Food was one thing that would keep him here. If it wasn't too good, he might just get homesick.
"Let the feast, begin." Dumbledore announced at the podium, doing a slight bow as he opened his arms and then sat back down at the table along with the teachers. Ron watched as food piled up in front of them, everything he could think of was there. He piled his plates along with everyone around them, stuffing his face as quick as he could.
It wasn't his fault that some people would define him as a slob. He grew up with five brothers. If you didn't eat fast, you didn't eat. Ron was just about to throw back another glass of butterbeer before he was interrupted by a ghost. Him and Harry turned around to face him, Ron quickly coughing up any butterbeer he might have swallowed the wrong way as he looked at his face.
"Hello! How are you? Welcome to Gryffindor!" Ron just stared. He was a ghost. A transparent ghost. He wore a hat, and raggedy clothes, that were also, transparent. He just couldn't get over it. Not that he hadn't seen ghosts before.
"Hello, Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?" Percy asked politely. Ron rolled his eyes, what a suck up. He wondered if Percy actually cared, and he knew Fred and George were thinking the same as they snickered.
"Dismal. Once again my request to join the headless hunt was denied." It then clicked in Ron's mind as his eyes widened.
"I know you! You're nearly headless Nick!" Ron commented, his face in total awe as he waited for his head to fall off at any time. It was odd. It seemed like he had a nice head on his shoulders, translucent, but a nice head nonetheless. Fall, damnit, fall off. He thought, growing impatient.
"I prefer to be called Sir Nicholas, if you don't mind." He replied quickly, obviously growing old with the same conversation each year.
"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione asked, leaning across the table as she examined the ghost in front of her. Ron glanced over at her and then back at Nicholas. As much as he wanted to tell her to butt out, he was wondering too.
"Like this." He replied, grabbing a hold of the top off his head as he tilted it off, seeing it was only held on by a piece of skin. Ron wanted to throw up, but then realized it wasn't as gross as it would be if he was full of color, and touchable, like Ron was himself.
"Ah!" Ron commented, nodding his head as he turned back around, obviously putting an end to the conversation as he stuffed one last spoonful of pudding into his mouth. He knew it was going to be quite the year, he could just tell. New friends, new tasks, no degnoming, no cleaning his room. Nothing like he had to do at home. He was satisfied, truly satisfied. Sure, he had to do school work but how hard could it be?
Ron let himself set down his spoon glancing at the whole table, his 'family' in other words. They were mixed in ages, sizes, everything. He was going to be with them for the next seven years. He wasn't going to screw it up. He wasn't going to be some stupid coward like he was at home. Plus, he didn't have Ginny to protect him anyways so he was going to have to be courageous whether he liked it or not. And he was going to do something to make his parents proud. He didn't know what, yet. But he was going to do something. He wasn't going to be just an anybody. Though he had a feeling, all he was hoping, wasn't going to happen. He, Ronald Weasley, was going to be remembered.
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