Chapter 3:
Hogwarts Express, Again
"Anyone sitting there?" A gangling red head pushed the sliding door open shyly. "Everywhere else is full."
"Are all your family wizards?" Two new First Years eager to know more about each other. "I heard you live with Muggles. What were they like?"
"You're going to love Hogwarts!" The red head said confidently. "My brothers don't agree on a lot of things, but they all said that it's like a home away from home!"
A shadow crossed the pale face that had been once too innocent for the world. "That's fine. I…The Dursleys weren't exactly home material anyway."
"You reckon we'll be in the same house?"
"Even if we weren't, we'll…still be friends, right?"
The red head shrugged carelessly. "Sure, unless you end up in Slytherin. But there's no way that's gonna happen."
"You think that all of this is just about you." The two friends, sixteen years later, in a time of war. "But you're wrong. So don't walk away as if this whole fight with You-Know-Who is something you have to do alone, Harry!"
"Ron…" Jaded green eyes melted into a emeralds of regret and longing. "I'm sorry."
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Ron slumped against the train seat with a long, tired, frustrated sigh, the stirrings of the need to hex something swirling relentlessly in his gut.
Today was September 1, the first day of the rest of his new life back in time. It was the day of the start of him proving that Death did not give this second chance to the wrong person.
So naturally, September 1 started with a disastrous bang.
"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY, IF YOU DO NOT COME DOWNSTAIRS THIS VERY INSTANT, YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SET FOOT ON HOGWARTS EVER AGAIN!"
Ron buried his head in his hands with a groan, remembering exactly how his whole morning got shot into hell.
Maybe it was because of his restlessness that the nightmares came back with a vengeance on the last week of August, and his latest one caused him to oversleep so bad that if it weren't for Molly shouting loud enough to shake the house to its very foundation, Ron would have slept in all morning.
And things continued to go downhill from there.
As if running late was bad enough, Ron just had to forget to pack a few things and had to remember them every several meters away from the Burrow. Even his normally mild-mannered father was becoming visibly irritated by it ("This is the third time, Ron!"), but there was no way Ron was leaving his dubbed Second Chance notebook or Scabbers, among other things, at home.
The return trips caused the Weasley family to arrive at the nick of time in King's Cross. Ron had been even more frantic then, because this was where he was supposed to meet Harry for the first time and Ron just had to screw it up by being near late. He tried looking around for the boy, worried that his old friend was still standing lost and unaware of how to enter Platform 9 ¾.
But Molly was not going to have any more of Ron delaying everyone else. Ron now knew that you can be bodily pushed into 9 ¾ thanks to a very irate mother.
And even worse, I still didn't manage to find Harry! The freckled youth's sigh of despair filled his empty train compartment. Even after I snuck off the train and back at the platform, there was no sign of him! Wow, Weasley, it hasn't even been a day in your first year do-over, and you're already screwing everything up!
Ron paused the train of thought when another memory entered his mind that made him smile a bit.
Well, not everything.
Ginny noticed how anxious Ron had been all morning. Not wanting to worry her (and not knowing where to even begin explaining), Ron simply said it was a case of nerves, being his first day of first year. The way Ginny's brown eyes dimmed at the reminder that all of her brothers will be leaving for Hogwarts made the boy's chest constrict. How could he have missed how lonely Ginny must have felt when at this time when she wore her heart on her sleeve? And her self-absorbed immediate older brother didn't help make things better the first time around too…
Not this time, however.
"It'll be OK, Gin-Gin. I promise I'll be writing to you at least once a week. That way, it'll be like I never left!"
"R—Really? You'd do that, Ron?"
"Hey, you might become so sick of my letters, you'll end up sending me a Howler to tell me to stop being a nag!"
Of all the answers Ginny could have come up, Ron did not expect being hugged tightly in his middle.
"You better keep your promise, Ron! Or I'll keep sending you Howlers until you do!"
Ron pat the ginger girl's head fondly. "'Course, Ginny. I'll even pinky swear you on it?"
Ginny blushed and swatted his arm. "Prat!"
"There's my little spitfire!"
At least one thing's gone well today. Ron noted before pulling himself up to rummage his pack for a sandwich. And it's not like things are completely hopeless. I'll just figure a way to find Harry before the Feast. I wonder who he's sitting with this time, though…
SLIDE!
Ron distractedly looked up from his pack (still unable to find a sandwich) when his blue eyes met a pair of surprised green ones.
"O—Oh, sorry, I—I didn't think—" The boy at the door scratched his dark hair unsurely. "I didn't think anyone else was here. I didn't mean to intrude."
The red head wizard kicked his brain back on. "No, it's OK. It's not like I have someone around with me anyway."
"Oh, err…" The other boy hesitated before looking up again. "Is it OK if I sat with you then? Everywhere else is full."
It must be laughing Its head off right about now…
"Sure go ahead, err…" Ron stood up and held his hand out. "I'm Ron, by the way. Ronald Weasley."
Another hand shook it gingerly. "And I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
Ron could hardly believe his luck though.
No way could he have expected that instead of him finding Harry's compartment, it was Harry who found him instead. Though, truth be told, the first time around, Ron had scoured the whole train in search for the famous Harry Potter when the twins claimed to have met him, just to see if his brothers weren't pulling his leg again. The "everywhere else is full" excuse was a flimsy one, because the Hogwarts Express was charmed to be roomy enough to accommodate all the students and then some extra passengers.
The boy wondered why Harry used that excuse this time, but figured he shouldn't question his good fortune.
After the initial air of awkwardness had passed, Ron and Harry fell back into the familiar getting to know you phase they had in the past. As it turns out, Harry did arrive at the train earlier than Ron did, having seen a few students enter the barrier and following after. Harry had asked about Ron's family of wizards, and Ron asked about the muggles. Though this time, instead of dwelling on the Dursleys, Ron asked about how muggles were in general, like how they lived without magic and asking about the inventions he heard his father mention.
("So it's not a fellytone but a telly?"
"No, it's telephone. The telly is an entirely different thing."
"Huh? Sounds the same to me!"
"The telephone is what you use to contact another place that has one. Telly is for television, the one that displays motion pictures and shows."
"Oh, like Wizard photographs, right?"
"Wizard photographs move?"
"Obviously! You don't expect them to just stand all day, do you?")
Harry had visibly relaxed enough in Ron's presence to be the carefree and eagerly curious boy the eighteen-turned-eleven-year-old remembered. It made Ron nostalgic. Harry had been so innocent back then, during those early years where the Wizarding World had been just one big, amazing adventure for him.
But then Voldemort had to ruin everything, just like how he taken Harry's parents and chance for a happy childhood away.
"…about Houses?" Ron's attention was drawn back at the questioning tone in Harry voice.
"Err, sorry?"
"I heard a few students talk about the Houses at Hogwarts. Hagrid's told me a bit about them and I was wondering what you think." Harry repeated after a bite of his Cauldron cake before handing Ron a box. "Chocolate Frog?"
"Thanks." Ron put the sweet aside however in favor of his sandwich. It was corned beef, again. Molly could never seem to remember that Ron hates the stuff with a vengeance. But Ron loved his Mum more, so, "Right, the Houses. You already know about the four Houses?"
"Yeah. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and…" Harry's eyes darkened a bit. "Slytherin."
Now in the past, Ron would have strongly supported Harry's negative impression of Slytherin. He was raised under the same views after all, and Slytherin's reputation of producing Death Eaters and bullies certainly didn't help earn them positive points.
But Pettigrew was a cowardly excuse for a Death Eater, and he was a Gryffindor, wasn't he? And Snape, while ambitious, cunning and a bitter bully, had fought against Voldemort despite being Slytherin.
When you think about it, Ron once realized, you can't really blame the snakes for turning Dark, not when everyone else expects them to. Back then, I thought they were a bunch of bullies who take fun out of making others' lives a living hell. In hindsight, most of them are just a bunch of prissy pansies.
"My family's been in Gryffindor for generations. It's the house of the brave, though some say it's also for the reckless. Ravenclaw's the house of the smart ones. Hufflepuffs are for the nice ones who are all about loyalty and friendship stuff. While the Slytherins are for the ambitious and cunning ones, but lately it's also gotten a reputation of being the house of dark wizards."
"Hagrid said that it was the house Voldemort came from."
"But it was also the house of Merlin, the greatest Wizard who ever lived." At Harry's wide eyes with wonder, Ron smiled. "Yeah, the Houses come with their own reputation, but it's not always true. Not all Slytherins turn into dark wizards, not all Gryffindors are brave," The ginger haired boy stopped the urge to glare at the fat Scabbers sleeping in his cage. "Not all Ravenclaws are smart at the things that matter, and Hufflepuffs are not just the leftovers who don't fit in the other three houses."
"The Sorting Hat…" Harry once told him painstakingly. "Wanted to put in me Slytherin before. It was only because I asked it not to that I was put in Gryffindor…"
"I think all of us have a bit of each of the Houses just waiting to come out. We just get sorted based on what's the most obvious at the moment."
The green-eyed boy blinked. "So, which House do you want?"
"Me? Definitely Gryffindor!" Ron said with no small amount of pride. "My brothers are there, and while they can be a pain, I'd rather not be alone in Hogwarts."
"…That must be nice," mumbled Harry.
Seeing the beginning signs of Harry clamming up again, Ron spoke. "Oi, don't look so down! If you ask me, I think you're gonna make a good Gryffindor!"
At his friend's mystified expression, Ron continued. "Just call it a gut feeling, and I heard my Mum and Dad say before that your parents used to be in Gryffindor too so it's in your blood!"
"R—Really?" It was, for the lack of a better word, cute to see Harry's face light up at the mention of his parents.
"And you don't have to worry about being alone. Even if you end up in a different house, I'll still be your friend. I mean, we are friends now, aren't we?"
Harry nodded vigorously. "Of course."
Ron was about to say something more, but then the compartment door slid open again.
And just Ron's luck, it just happened to be Malfoy.
"You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort—"
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks."
The childlike part of Ron couldn't help but gloat in glee at the way Malfoy's face turned pink at Harry's declaration back in the train. He knew it was immature of him, but seeing Malfoy put in his place was a treat he always enjoyed. Can anyone blame him, though? The ferret has been a pain in his and his friends' side for years! Always going on about his father this and his father that, and being an all-around pureblood arsehole.
It was partly Malfoy's fault—along with his cronies Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson—that Ron had been distrustful bordering to hateful of all Slytherins. But after going back in time, during one of his vacant moments, Ron came to realize that the only Slytherins who gave him and his friends a hard time were Malfoy's little pack (and occasionally, Flint). Most of them, while not exactly friendly, tended to stay out the Gryffindors' way.
If he had taken the time to interact with some of the Snakes—and with the other houses in general—would it have helped them gain more allies in the past? Would it have even helped stop some of the Slytherins from becoming Death Eaters because they didn't think they had any other choice?
I did tell Harry that not all Slytherins are dark wizards. Ron thought to himself. Maybe I should take a bit of my own advice. And not jump into a chance to fight with Malfoy every time.
So instead of reacting to Malfoy's pompous introduction of himself, Ron kept his face carefully blank, even when Malfoy began throwing insults around.
"Red hair, freckles, hand-me-downs for the children they cannot really afford. You're obviously a Weasley, aren't you?"
"You're rather famous yourself, Malfoy. Girly face, fancy hair, preppy clothes, can't walk two feet without your baby sitters pampering you to shape. Hope dumb and dumber know how to take care of mummy's ickle baby boy. Wouldn't want them to make daddy angry, eh?"
What a difference it made, Ron found out, when it was Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle who would rise to the bait instead of the other way around. Crabbe made a move to charge, but Ron cast a silent tripping jinx at the miniature hulk who careened to the floor along with the other two future Slytherins.
While Ron and Harry had gotten a good laugh at the way Malfoy spluttered and struggled to make a graceful exit after his embarrassing fall, the blue eyed wizard became concerned as well, because he was certain that he cast the tripping jinx only at Crabbe. Harry may have dismissed it as a coincidence, but to Ron it looked like he overpowered the jinx again.
Damn, and I thought I already fixed that problem. Stupid unicorn tail wand not even trying to work with me!
But at least he hadn't made a fool of himself with Hermione this time. Ron felt his breath catch at the memory of seeing his old love so young again.
"Have you seen a toad?" Hermione had asked when she first entered their compartment. "A boy named Neville's lost one."
It took all of Ron's willpower to not jump and hug the wits out of the bushy haired girl. He had barely managed to himself back when he saw Harry again, but seeing Hermione again, and so close…
It was the fact that she appeared eleven again—way too young to be thinking of anything romance related—and the fact that he is a complete stranger at her that helped Ron to still his feet. He had a second chance to be with his friends again, and he was not going to screw it up by being weird.
"Err, no sorry, but maybe you can ask one of the Prefects for help?" Ron answered instead. "The Prefect compartment is just down the next car, the first door to the right. My brother, Percy, is the Gryffindor Prefect. I'm sure he'll be glad to."
"Oh, thank you for that. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your names?"
"Ronald Weasley." They shook hands, and Harry followed suit. "Harry Potter."
At that, Hermione's eyes widened. "Are you really? I know all about you, of course! From my extra books for background reading!" And then, in typical Hermione fashion, she went on about the books that had Harry in it, leaving Harry in a daze as the girl went on and on. It might have sounded bossy and a bit condescending to anyone, but Ron knew that spouting knowledge was a way Hermione used to cope with nervousness.
Seeing that she was extra talkative, she must be really nervous. Ron mused. Still, Harry was looking a little flustered throughout her talk, so he had to step in.
"Err, sorry, Hermione, we're almost at the school now, I reckon, and we got to change soon."
"Right, of course. I better get going. Thanks again for your help, Ronald."
"Just Ron, Hermione. I'll be seeing you in the Feast!"
Ron was glad that he left a better impression on Hermione this time, though their brief meeting left Harry feeling more anxious.
"You heard her, Ron! Even if she's just a first year, she already knows so much! She even had all our subjects memorized!" The bespectacled boy moaned. "I'll really be the worst student in our year!"
"Don't be silly! There'll be loads of us who'll be in the same boat as you!"
"But it looked like you knew what she was talking about!"
"Five older brothers, remember? But just because I know a bit more doesn't mean I'll be any better than you." Ron laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "And besides, we'll be helping each other catch up to speed. We'll be fine."
Harry had smiled gratefully before pulling his robe over his head.
The sandwiches have all been finished up, the last of the sweets pocketed away, and the boys changed into their robes by the time Hogwarts Express pulled over. Everything more or less happened the same way as it had again. Ron only needed to pay half-attention as he went through the ministrations, from arriving at the platform under the cold night, to seeing Hagrid again and to the boat ride across the lake. Harry, Hermione and Neville, who rode the boat with him, all had looks of awe as they saw the castle for the first time. Ron, on the other hand, had a look that was a cross between nostalgia and determination.
The last time he had seen his beautiful second home, it had been ravaged by fire and smoke, warn torn and littered by bodies, desecrated by Voldemort's taint and greed. It was surreal to see it whole once more.
The eighteen-turned-eleven year old prayed that he can keep it that way for as long as he can.
The four exited along with the others into a tunnel that will lead them up to the entrance to the Great Hall were Professor McGonagall was waiting for them. Ron felt Harry stiffen in attention at the severe looking woman, but years of knowing her made Ron smile affectionately.
Behind the stern and rightfully strict exterior she exhibited, his old Transfiguration professor was a compassionate person at heart, with a soft spot for her lions (although that may not always be obvious). Of all the professors he had, McGonagall was the one he missed the most.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," began McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet is about to begin. But before you can take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. The houses will be something akin to your family while you are here in Hogwarts. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house…"
Ron tuned out the rest of the introduction in favor of observing the other first years. Some, like Neville, appeared more nervous than others. Hermione was whispering furiously, going over all the spells she knew (the whole first year repertoire, Ron reckoned), while Malfoy had his nose up in the air, sniffing disdainfully at being around so many people.
From next to him, Harry's face lost color again. "How exactly do they sort us into houses?"
"Just some sort of test. Fred once said it hurts a lot." At the sight of Harry close to hyperventilating, Ron added. "I'm kidding, Harry, and so was Fred. I'm sure it's nothing too hard. They wouldn't do that to a first year!"
Harry sighed. "I hope you're right."
Poor Harry must be really worried about being sent back. It was a fear that Ron saw time and again during their earlier years at Hogwarts. How simple things were back then. But before he could try to reassure Harry again, the Fat Friar and the other ghosts showed up, effectively distracting everyone until McGonagall came back for them.
Oh well, shrugged Ron. Harry's nerves will relax once he sees it's just the Sorting Hat.
The…Sorting Hat…
Dread fell upon the red head then like a ton of bricks even as his feet moved on autopilot. The two lines of First years entered the Great Hall, with its magnificent ceiling of stars and candles, stone arches that hummed with power and rows of older students looking expectantly at them. And in front of them, ready to break out into its annual song, was the frayed Sorting Hat.
The Sorting Hat. He had to put on the Sorting Hat. The Hat that had the essences of the Founders. The Hat that could read minds to decide which House to put you in.
The Hat that could easily see into his mind that he was a time traveler.
So while the rest of the First years had relaxed and even smiled in amusement when the Sorting Hat continued its song, Ron nerves were absolutely shot. Because how the hell was he going to get past this one?
"Bulstrode, Milicent!"
What?! Ron hitched a breath, eyes wild on the sorting stool where Bulstrode sat with the Sorting Hat on her head. Since when did the Hat finish its song? Since when had the Sorting ceremony began?
"SLYTHERIN!"
Ron felt his stomach grumble. I think I'm going to be sick…
"Flinch-Fletchley, Justin!"
The Sorting Hat looks into memories, and Ron doesn't have a single Occlumency barrier to his name to stop the thing from looking too deep into his mind!
"Greengrass, Daphne!"
Shite, he should have thought about studying up Occlumency. But it's not like there were books on the subject in the Burrow. He wasn't even sure if Percy or his parents knew about it! And what was he supposed to say if asked about where he heard about Occlumency? It wasn't a well-known branch of magic, much less by a first year!
"Malfoy, Draco!"
Can the Sorting Hat even tell someone of what it has seen in another's head? Is that even right? What if the Hat told Dumbledore the truth about Ron? What would happen to him? What would happen to all the plans he had been making so far? What would happen to Harry—?
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron's gaze was back on the stool again, where Harry had gotten off, looking like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The Gryffindor table was alive with cheerful pandemonium, with Fred and George cheering above the others, "WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!"
Funny, Ron didn't remember the twins being that happy that he made it to Gryffindor.
Ron squelched the bitterness with the full force of his anxiety. Not. Now!
"Thomas, Dean!"
Oh shit it was almost his turn! His palms were sweating cold. Merlin, help me.
"Turpin, Lisa!"
What do I do?! His legs felt like jelly and his vision murky. What do I do? Damn it, Death, what do I—?!
"Weasley, Ronald!"
All eyes were on him now, and the Hat appeared to be looking expectantly at him.
Oh. Fuck. Me!
Yay, Ron met Harry and Hermione again! And I managed to reach the part with the Sorting. Double yay!
Oh Ronnie, only one day and you've already changed several things. I'm so proud!
How's the sorting ceremony going to be for Ron this time, what will his head full of secrets? The Hat's going to have a grand time with him, that's for sure!
I'll say it again: thank God for sem breaks! Though it might be a while before I post something new again. But I've got the rest of first year all planned out, so no worries. (Hopefully)
Expect more canon divergences from here on, from the friends Ron makes in his new First year, to a few school activities. I had fun coming up with them, so I hope you guys will enjoy what I have in store.
Thanks again so much for all the support you have all shown me so far. Feel free to alert me regarding any mistakes. I've done my best to be as accurate as possible but since this is unbeta-ed, something might slip. I'll be coming back to edit the chapters once I have more time.
UP NEXT:
It's Ron's turn to wear the Hat! What will the Sorting Hat find in Ron's head, and how will it affect his Sorting? Will Ron remain a Lion? Or will his older, wiser self lead him somewhere else?
