House: Gryffindor
Position: Potions
Standard
Prompt: [object]Springs
WC: 1824
Beta by: beawrites, TheMajesticDolphin, Ash Juillet
Warnings: Might be considered slightly AU
Inspired by: "We are becoming a family," Ash says, with a touch of aggression. [from the Gryffindor discord server]
Year 1
Ron wasn't sure when he had last had four sets of eyes looking at him with such intensity, but they were here now. He was easily the tallest amongst them and the only one with any idea of what's going on. For a moment, he felt a twinge of sorrow (a word Percy used often) for this ragtag bunch.
"Have none of you ever had a sleepover before?" Ron asked again. He was trying hard to not make it seem like such a big deal.
The responses that came back were garbled and kind of pitiful (if Ron was being honest with himself). There were a dozen reasons why, and not one of them sounded like they made sense.
"Okay… this is how you start a sleepover," Ron began. That was how the tradition of sleepovers started in their dorm room. They would pull their mattresses off their beds onto the floor and pile them with blankets.
Dean would bring out a deck of cards, Ron scrounged around his trunk for the newest care-package sweets that Mrs Weasley had sent, and the rest of the boys were in charge of procuring hot chocolate. Seamus even had a pogo stick his dad had sent him, and the boys played around, trying to keep their balance on the spring. To no one's surprise, Harry was particularly good with it and won three knuts in a bet they had going on who could keep their balance the longest.
Overall, Ron declared the night a success. Although Dean did mutter something about how a movie would have been way better than listening to an action drama on the Wireless.
Year 2
It was in their second-year that the girls joined the sleepover tradition. Hermione had just gotten petrified, and Ron didn't know what to do. However, Parvati and Lavender looked terrified to go up the stairs and back to their bedroom.
A part of him knew that it might have been best to ask everyone else how they felt. There wasn't any time for that though. Lavender looked like she was about to cry, and Parvati kept shooting glances at the stairwell, her hands gripping Lavender's in what must've been a very painful grasp.
"Do you want to have a sleepover?" Ron asked. He was scared too and just wanted to visit Hermione, but Percy had his eyes locked onto him, not giving him an inch to even try to sneak down to the hospital wing to see her. Ron knew better than to cross Percy when he was like that; his brother reminded him too much of his mum, and that was never a good sign.
"Sure," Lavender said, answering for both girls. "We just need to get our pajamas."
For a moment, Ron felt satisfied that he had made the right choice. He was sure Hermione would have been proud of him too. However, this pride quickly changed when both girls got to the room.
"How have you all never jumped on the bed during a sleepover? It's the best part. Hogwarts beds have the best springs and you can do tricks on them," Parvati said, choosing the cleanest bed (Neville's) to jump on. "See."
Ron watched in horror as Parvati jumped on Neville's bed, did a perfect turn and proceeded jumping. Lavender quickly joined her and before he knew it, the rest of his dorm mates were jumping on the bed and attempting tricks.
Parvati looked so happy with herself and Ron let it go. He could yell at them tomorrow for breaking the springs in Neville's bed.
Year 3
"We are becoming a family," Ron said with a touch of aggression to Percy. "Just like you and Oliver."
Ron added that last bit because he knew Percy would blush, and was reminded of his strategies success by Percy's ears turning red.
"So you can't separate us," Harry pipped as he snuggled further into his sleeping bag.
Ron watched Percy sigh and rub his temples.
"Okay, but all of you have to sleep." Percy said before moving alone.
It was just past midnight, and the third-year Gryffindors had their sleeping bags squashed next to each other.
"Think of it as a sleepover," Dean whispered to Hermione.
Ron had to admit that Hermione looked really uncomfortable. If any one of them was a creature of absolute habit, it was Hermione. No amount of arguing had convinced her to relax. Ron knew if the teachers themselves weren't patrolling, Hermione would have had a light out and a textbook open.
"Here," Dean said, reaching into his back and pulling out an object. "It isn't a book, but I love how this slinky glows in the dark."
Ron was curious at the object that seemed to be made from what looked like a very relaxed spring. Hermione held one side while Dean held the other, they stretched the object between them before Dean let go and the spring pulled itself towards Hermione before tumbling to the floor.
"My turn," Seamus whispered, stretching his hand out to catch the side of the slinky Hermione aimed at him.
Ron said nothing. A fun night was better than a stressed one with no sleep. He was proud of his little family for pulling it together.
Year 4
"She didn't ask for much," Neville, of all people, berated Ron.
Ron felt the tips of his ears burn red. They had decided on a sleepover after the Yule Ball and none of them—apart from Neville—had had a good night. The girls were furious, and Ron shuddered to think about how long the cold-shoulder might last.
"I just didn't want to dance," Ron said, feeling the need to defend himself.
"You idiot," Neville said. "You asked her to the ball, the least you could do was dance with her once."
Ron wanted so badly at that moment to hide under his blankets. Dean was next to him clicking a muggle ballpoint pen. He looked just as ashamed.
"And you!" Neville turned to Dean.
The pen exploded in Dean's hand leaving fragments of plastic and springs scattered around the room.
"Lavender is probably crying herself to sleep right now. How could you have not complemented her dress?" Neville berated.
"I–" Dean began to defend himself, only to stop at the nasty look Neville had thrown at him.
Ron was mildly impressed at Neville. As the youngest, in spirit (Harry gave off too much older brother energy to be considered the youngest), Neville very rarely spoke his mind.
"I hope you all think long and hard about your actions." Neville took a step back, stepped on a piece of spring, and cursed.
Seamus laughed and Ron had to admit it was kind of funny. Neville huffed. "I'm going to sleep in the Common Room tonight. I hope you all take a moment to reflect on your appalling actions. And clean this up!"
Year 5
"You're absolutely delirious," Hermione said to Dean. She flicked her wand and a reference book of Runes flew from Dean's desk into her palm with a satisfying smack. "Stay awake, Harry. The whole point of pulling an all-nighter is working all night."
Ron felt himself get sick. Between the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the declining quality of teaching (Hermione's words, not his), the Gryffindors hadn't had any time to plan sleepovers. They were just too busy.
However, after their recent round of tests, Hermione had taken their academic futures into her own hands and declared a round of emergency all-nighters to prepare for the O. . It wasn't working: Seamus and Parvati had mixed up face masks, and Lavender had lit, at least five, scented candles.
The session was chaotic, overwhelming, and they weren't getting anything done. In fact, Ron swore that he saw the spiral bindings of Hermione's notebooks under Neville's bed. The entire situation was getting overwhelming out of hand.
But right now sleep sounded so much better.
Year 6
There was a knock on the boys' door and Parvati walked in. She had a pillow under one hand and was dragging a duvet behind her.
"This is your fault," Parvati said to Ron.
For a moment, Ron blinked, not knowing exactly what she meant.
"You couldn't just pick one? My dorm is a warzone and I can't sleep there tonight. I have a Divination practical, and those two are at each other's throats! It's messing with my energy!" She transfigured Seamus' pogo stick into a mattress. Ron decided not to mention that the spring in it had already worn out years ago. It was probably best not to annoy Parvati any more than he already had. Parvati gave Ron a dirty look. He probably shouldn't mention that the mattress would be lumpy.
Ron's mouth gaped open, but before he could defend himself, Seamus caught Ron's eye with the shake of his head. They would all get out of this alive if they said nothing.
"I'm sleeping over," Parvati said as if she hadn't spent the last few minutes creating the perfect sleepover fort.
Ron sighed. Ron knew he was with Lavender (they hadn't broken up), but he did like Hermione too. Wasn't dating supposed to be easy? Bill definitely had some wild stories from dating at Hogwarts. Ron supposed he would have to make a decision soon if only to save the entire Gryffindor house from falling, Ginny would have his throat if he didn't.
Year 7
"Is this a sleepover?"
Those were the first words out of Lavender's mouth, and they caused the room to burst into tears.
Ron watched as his entire Gryffindor year group tried, and failed, to get closer to Lavender. They all climbed onto Lavender's bed. Lavender's face had been mauled, but she was at least awake.
They were all covered in bandages. Some of them still wore torn robes, unable to rescue any clothing from the castle. Neville was playing with the slinky that he had found amongst the rubble of the castle. Ron instantly recognised it as the same slinky they played with during their third year.
It amazed Ron at how they were all alive. Not even six hours ago, he was sure that Lavender would not have made it. Her treatments had been more intense, as she was recovering from a werewolf bite, while the rest of them were spared from Dark Curses. This war had been awful and Ron craved the comfort of their childhood days.
"Yeah," Ron found himself answering. "It is, because how else are we going to become a family?"
Lavender smiled at this and closed her eyes again, falling asleep almost immediately. That night they did have a sleepover, much to the chagrin of the Medi-witches on duty. However, they had just come out of a war and left behind their childhood. Ron vowed would protect this piece of it for his tiny Gryffindor family for as long as the others allowed him.