Ron Weasley: The Boy who lived

Disclaimer: NOT MINE NOT MINE NOT MINE

Summary: AU. Harry Potter isn't the boy who brought down the dark lord. His parents are alive, and Sirius is free. Instead, somebody else receives that lightening shaped scar that fateful Halloween…

This chapter is dedicated to my friends Dawn, Kez, Dave and Liz. You guys rock!! Diagon Alley and Meetings Dave and Ron got into a taxi after getting ready. Ron's mind was still spinning after all the information he had received, and didn't notice a car almost ramming into him as he went to cross the street.

The taxi ride was a quiet one. Dave tried making conversation at first, but Ron just wasn't in the right mood to respond, so Dave let him sit in silence and think.

The taxi dropped them off in a busy street, full of hamburger bars and music stores. Ron glanced down at his supplies list and knew that they wouldn't be able to find anything in any of these shops.

"Right Ron. I won't be able to see it until you point it out to me, so, can you see a grubby little pub among this lot?"

Ron was just about to ask what a pub had to do with this when he saw it.  It was tiny and very shabby.

"Urm yeah. Between the book store and the record shop. There see?"

"Aah yes. Thankyou Ron," and Dave went and marched straight up to it, opening the door and gestured for Ron to walk inside.

The pub was even shabbier inside. It was extremely dark and people were standing around chatting and drinking. A barman was at a counter and he looked at them as they walked in.

"Can I get you a drink gentlemen?" he asked politely.

"No thank you. We're here to get Ron's Hogwarts things." Dave replied smiling nervously.

"It can't be….can it?" the barman's eyes lit up, and everybody else turned round to look.

"It is! It's Ronald Weasley!"

Everyone began talking at once when this was announced, and people who Ron had never met before came up to shake his hand. Ron found it rather unnerving.

"P-p-p-pleased t-to m-meet you Weasley," said one who came up.

"I'm P-p-professor Q-quirrell. I'll b-be teaching you at Hogwarts"

"Oh, nice to meet you," Ron replied, not knowing what else to say to the strange professor.

"Ron we'd better be going now," Dave put a hand on Ron's shoulder and walked up to the barman.

"You couldn't possibly help us get into Diagon Alley could you?" he asked.

The man led the way out into a small courtyard. All that was in it was a couple of dustbins.

"This is Diagon Alley?" Ron asked puzzled.

The man chuckled.

"No no." He took out a strange wooden stick and tapped it on some of the bricks of the wall.

"This is Diagon Alley," he said, as a hole appeared in the wall, getting bigger and bigger until it made an archway. Beyond it was a fantastic sight.

Stepping through the archway, they stood in awe at their surroundings. They were in a busy street, filled with people dressed in robes, and some carrying cauldrons and owls.

They began walking, passing shops selling things Ron never believed were real. A shop window was displaying broomsticks and a small group of children were crowing around it trying to get a good look. A little further along was a shop selling robes.

A boy around Ron's age suddenly ran into him. He had dark hair and glasses and a huge grin was plastered on his face.

"Oof. Oh sorry there, didn't see you. I'm Harry, who are you?"

Ron was just about to reply when a man with blue hair came rushing towards them.

"Oops. Sorry gotta dash," the boy said and took off again, the man close behind him.

Looking bewilderingly after the boy, Ron heard Dave speak.

"Come on, time to get your money."

"Money?"

"Well yes Ron, you are not going to pay for your supplies with carrots you know."

The kept on walking and came across a big white building. A creature was standing outside it. It had a pointy nose and a clever face.

"That's a goblin," Dave whispered into Ron's ear. "Never mess with goblins Ron. Very clever things."

They walked inside and up to a counter.

"We've come to take some money out of Ron Weasley's vault," Dave told the goblin sitting behind it.

"Do you have the key sir?"

"Yes here it is."

Another goblin showed them the way to a cart which they all got on, and off it went zooming underground the city of London, twisting and turning. Until they reached Ron's vault.

"Key please sir," asked the goblin, and Ron handed it over. The goblin opened the door revealing a room full of gold and silver coins.

There wasn't a huge amount, but Ron was amazed that it all belonged to him!

He scooped up some money and put it in a small bag, and then they were off again. Ron couldn't help starting to feel a bit sick as the cart continued to turn round sharp bends and travel at a fast speed. He was very glad when they stopped.

As Ron got off the cart, a voice caught his attention.

"Hello there. You're Ron aren't ya?"

Ron turned round and saw the biggest man he had ever seen. He was twice the size of a normal person and had a black beard covering most of his face. His eyes were smiling though.

"Yeah. I am. Who are you?" asked Ron.

"Rubeus Hagrid," the giant answered, holding out his massive hand for Ron to shake. "Was wonderin if I'd see yer here. Been getting yer money out have yer?"

"Yes. Getting my things for Hogwarts."

"Aah yes you'll love it there. I do. I'm games keeper so you'll be seein a lot of me. Anyways, better rush. I'm on Hogwarts business." Hagrid patted Ron on the head said goodbye, and with long strides began walking with a goblin to one of the carts.

"Come on Ron," Dave said. He was frowning and seemed to want to get out of the bank as soon as possible.

"Ok." And they made their way out onto the busy street once more.

***

An hour later, and Ron had almost finished buying all of his Hogwarts supplies. All he needed now was a wand. Following Dave, he made his way to a shop called Ollivanders.

As they walked through the door, a bell rang and an old man with pale eyes came out from behind a stack of boxes.

"Ah, I wondered when I'd be seeing you Ronald Weasley," he said, walking up closely to Ron and giving him a good stare.

Ron felt the man's pale eyes go straight through him. It was unnerving to say the least.

"Aah, and that's the scar," the man continued to stare and put a hand over Ron's scar, studying it carefully.

"I'm ashamed I sold the wand that did that. Thirteen and a half inches. Yew wood. Very powerful." Mr Ollivander walked away and picked up a tape measure.

"Which is your wand arm?"

"I'm right handed," answered Ron uncertainly.

"Please stick out your arm then. That's it," and the man began measuring Ron and leaving the tape measure to its own devices.

He was now going around taking different wands out of boxes and studying them.

"Ok," he said, and the tape measure dropped to the floor. "Try this wand. Dragon heartstring and beechwood. Nine inches."

Ron took it and gave it a wave, but Mr Ollivander took it from him at once.

"Nope. Try this one. Unicorn hair and ebony. Eleven and a half inches."

Again Ron waved it, but the man grabbed it once more.

Mr Ollivander searched around for a few minutes, and came back with another box. He seemed to be in deep thought.

"I wonder…" he said to himself. "Ok Ron, this one is Holly and Pheonix feather. Eleven inches. Nice and supple. Go on, try it."

He handed the wand over, and as Ron touched it, he felt warmth flow through his fingers. He waved it, and sparks flew out of the end.

Mr Ollivander smiled, whilst Dave looked on sulkily, Ron grinned to himself.

"Its curious though, how you happen to have that wand," Mr Ollivander exclaimed.

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Because, the phoenix who gave the feather for it, only gave one other, and that feather happens to be in the wand that gave you that scar.

Remember Ron, it's the  wand that chooses the wizard and I think we can expect great things from you. For the dark lord did great things, terrible, but great."

Ron shivered. He quickly paid for the wand and was terribly glad when he finally left the shop.

He glanced down at his list again. At the bottom it said:

Students may also bring an owl OR a ca OR a toad.

"Can I get an owl Dave?" he asked.

"What? No, I really don't like the thought of having an owl in the apartment Ron."

"But Dave, it won't be in the apartment. Not during most of the year anyway. It'll be with me!" Ron desperately wanted an owl and wasn't going to give up that easily.

"Oh fine. But, I am not having it screeching at all hours of the night and it will stay in it's cage you hear me? And if it doesn't, you will pay Ronald."

"Right ok, lets go get an owl then!" Ron dismissed the threats and happily walked into a shop nearby called "Eeylops Owl Emporium." He came out a few minutes later with a beautiful tawny owl.

As Ron and Dave took a taxi back to their apartment, Ron couldn't help but feel what a strange day it had been.

He remembered people's reaction to him when they heard who he was. He would get used to it he supposed, but he hoped not everybody would be like that when he got to Hogwarts.

Getting home and putting his new things away, he took out his photograph again and stared at his family all smiling and happy.

He stared at it for a long time, before drifting off to sleep.

Dawniky: Thank you. I will :o)

Prongs: Nope Dave isn't mean, he's just bitter, and he'll get bitterer as time goes on and Ron starts learning magic

Rachelfan5000: Thanks :o)