This is the next chapter. In this chapter I wanted Heidi to give Ron one more chance but if he does screw up he is then well and truly on his own. Please read and review, love Hannah xxx
Some Gryffindors wasted no time in coming over to antagonise the Slytherin members but Severus elected to do nothing about it just to see what would happen amongst the other staff. Initially Minerva was stunned he didn't react super-fast as he normally would have. It would seem to outsiders at least that he was merely enjoying his breakfast and not thinking about anything else. He looked that way because he wanted to look that way. He was impressed as it appeared to working. Heidi glanced at him and could see what he was doing and wondered what would happen to them. As the Gryffindors taunts went unnoticed except for the occasional smile some curses were fired by the Gryffindors who were more stunned than anything that neither Severus nor Minerva were the ones to intervene. In all sincerity Minerva had wanted to intervene Filius had just gotten there before her.
"What exactly do you think you are doing? You don't get a reaction from them and so you charge in like wild bulls wands all ablaze firing curses. You disgust me the lot of you! That will be twenty points each from Gryffindor and a weeks' worth of detention with me. We'll see how good you are at charms then smart arses! Get back to your houses now!" he said as they looked panicked but not for the reason he was originally thinking. Some bright purple paint fell onto the centre of the Slytherin table or that's what was meant to happen when a shield emerged over the whole table and shot that paint at Gryffindor table and all over Professor Flitwick who looked too in awe to do anything.
"Mark my words Slytherin has well and truly spoken. Leave them alone and stop being so damn obvious. Ah Minerva maybe you should be a bit faster in future however I have dealt with it now. Please talk to your students about being less obvious I know they are from Gryffindor but come on! You're not like that and you were a Gryffindor yourself so I know it can be done" he said chiding her lightly. They were great friends really and so she didn't mind him chastising her a little bit.
"You are right of course Filius. Oh don't you worry next time I will be so fast their heads will spin. Back to the house tables now and you are forbidden to leave your table unless you are going to the loo or leaving the hall altogether!" she snapped as they rounded on her.
"But that's not fair Professor! What about the friends we have in other houses?" one of the boys asked.
"Well you should have thought about that before you messed up. Now go before you get into even more trouble. And you can it Albus it has been dealt with!" she snapped as he approached and then looked highly put out before sighing dramatically and returning to the heads table to finish his breakfast. Things were not going well at all. He knew of only one reason that the whole table would do that and it was if the house in questions was now being protected magically by its founder. He'd never be able to discredit them this way. Either way he would try anything he got. He was however further stunned when the Slytherin prefects went around and introduced themselves to the first years of all houses stating who they were and where they could be found if they needed any help at all. Again Severus did nothing as he wanted people to get away from that stereotype of him favouring his house and its members all the time. He did actually favour them but would only be showing in class as and when necessary as he knew Heidi didn't wish for him to show it other times unless it was particularly obvious that something was wrong. Heidi didn't wish for him to show it other times unless it was particularly obvious that something was wrong.
Gryffindor was a mess as loads of the paint had gotten on mainly the girls of the house and turned them shit brown in colour. They all screamed running from the hall to Madam Pomfrey who exhaled releasing many expletives all in a row which shocked most of them as they'd never heard some of them. She healed them all more stunned then most when some extremely unhappy Weasley twins arrived claiming they didn't do this either before she could even ask them that question. It turned out they were right and they were even more mad because their family couldn't afford new robes. There was more drama yet again when she discovered that neither they nor Ron had their own wands. It was an outrage. She contacted the board of governors about it who were outraged themselves. They said that Molly and Arthur should not have had children they couldn't afford but did also say it was not the fault of those children so paid some money for new wands and robes for them. In one hour they all had their own wands and new robes and were feeling very good.
Molly and Arthur were told about it and had the good sense to feel highly embarrassed by it. Arthur had agreed after hearing that to make sure that four hundred and ninety three knuts from his weekly salary went automatically to his bank account. That would mean he could save four galleons per month or one per Hogwarts attending student anyhow. Things would be tough but in the long run it would work out. That would total forty eight galleons per year but it was better than nothing. This would insure they could get their own basic robes each year and all of the books they needed too. If he budgeted properly they'd even have a few galleons spending money too. Arthur worked out that he was currently earning forty galleons a month which was enough to make do and about just get by so news of a pay raise for him delighted him no end. His salary would now go from five hundred and twenty galleons per year to seventy hundred and eighty or so he thought. That wasn't actually accurate however as the Board of Governors had kicked up such a fuss at the ministry about the state of his children that it was decreed he should earn one thousand galleons every month and not a single sickle more. The ministry told him he'd never again get a pay raise but he was delighted with himself. Twelve thousand galleons per year meant all of his kids could have top of the range things and the furniture in his house could finally be updated after thirty or so years.
When you've gone from having hardly any money to much more than that it is inevitable you'll blow it all at first which he did. He used it all buying brand new beds, bedside lockers and wardrobes for all of them. Molly was not happy about that but did love her new furniture so couldn't complain too much. Every month they would save two hundred galleons and spend the rest of the money updating their home room by room. It would be complete by the time the kids came home for the summer. They would be spending their Christmas at the school this year. At school breakfast was over and the letters were all being delivered before school. Ron at the Hufflepuff table was stunned to get a letter from his mother which wasn't
the howler he'd been expecting.
Dear Ronald,
Your father and I are so proud you're not a member of Slytherin. You know your father was nearly a Slytherin member himself and I was almost a Ravenclaw. Please remember this. We're so proud of you. Make no mistake that Percy was quite quick in informing us that you were not in Gryffindor. In fact he seemed to think you'd get in trouble for it although I have no idea where he would ever get such an idea. I mean surely he would know that as long as it's not Slytherin it would be fine? I'm starting to think we may have somehow given him the wrong impression that we are not tolerant of a lot of things but that has always stemmed from our usual lack of finances. I love my son dearly but sometimes if I can say it he can be a right pillock.
Now Ron with you being in Hufflepuff you will be apart from your brothers which does mean you can chart your own path. Nothing good ever comes from doing less work. In order to work properly you must first decide what it is you would like to do and then go from there. No one with a tack of sense at least would expect you to know what it is you would like to do and I sure as hell don't. I mean you should know what to do but that usually happens in your third or fourth year so you do have time. Do not do any subject because it appears to be the easy one. You should endeavour to do only those subjects you actually enjoy. If you need future advice in later years on which subjects would be best to choose please write to either your father or me. Do not ask Percy because he will likely recommend them all and you really are asking for a headache in that case. Your father has received a permanent pay raise at work and now we will be able to buy many things we could not in the future. We are in the process of updating the house this year and it will look different when you return. Please tell your brothers about this so they are not shocked. If you need anything from home please let me know.
Percy also saw fit to mention that Heidi Potter was not in Gryffindor but to be honest as she was not raised by a magical family I can't see why she wouldn't end up there. Obviously no one told her she'd need to go to Gryffindor. I am currently in talks with Headmaster Dumbledore so we can cancel your marriage contract with Miss Potter officially. As you know I am very set in my ways and there are some things I cannot take Miss Potter being a Slytherin is one of those things. I do admit I had hoped you'd be able to do it for financial reasons but now with daddies pay raise we don't necessarily need her for the money any more. It would just be the best honour if we could have someone who is not a Slytherin marry our son. Despite her sorting I know she didn't grow up in our world and there is every chance she could indeed be light but I am not willing to take that risk with you my darling. Don't you worry we'll find another lighter suitable woman for you. Heidi is not everything we thought her to be clearly. I would like you to try and befriend her ok so we may know where her loyalties lie. Work hard and get good grades Ronnie. We love you so very much,
Mum and Dad.
He read the letter in shock as both Heidi and Percy watched him he got up and walked over to a stunned Heidi. "Excuse me Miss Potter um Heidi I got a letter from my mum just now and she was ugh wrong. I won't be marrying you after all but I have been instructed to try and become your friend if I can and I ugh would like that very much!" he said looking as though he would piss his pants as she giggled at him. He did look highly terrified after all.
"Ronald I may be a Slytherin but I don't actually bite. As long as your mother remembers we're not getting married I can be friends with anyone. Besides the person who punches Draco Malfoy deserves it in my opinion but please don't tell him I said so" she said whispering the other part as looked at her in shock and then laughed.
"Thank you for giving me a chance. I'll see you around!" he said with a slight smile as he left. Since his sorting and his amazing letter of support from his mum earlier he'd grown up. The hat had said he could be remembered for being one person by himself not one of many and he loved it. It was like the Weasley's were all on one canvas over there and he was simply handed a canvas of his own and told he could paint whatever he wanted on it. It was wonderful and made him feel great. He was even learning to have better table manners too but it still took him a while to remember he wasn't at home and wouldn't need to fight his siblings to have enough food to eat all the time. He'd get it soon enough though. Amelia Bones had written to Susan delighted with her different sorting and proud indeed that she was in the same house as Heidi Potter and her friend too. Susan had written her aunt immediately last night in excitement. She sat at the table reading her letter.
Dear Susan,
I am beyond proud that you have been sorted into Slytherin and have made friends with Heidi Potter as well. Your parents would be so proud of you. They wouldn't wish for you to follow in their footsteps like an idiot who cannot think for herself and neither do I. You need to grow up to be your own person and if being in Slytherin house makes you that person then so be it. You will not hear complaints from me about it. You need to think ahead to what you would like to do after school but you should only know the answer by your fourth year. Obviously I'd like for you to be an Auror but I am biased and will be happy with anything you choose for yourself.
I have done a bit of subtle investigations into Heidi Potter's living arrangements and I know that she has blood wards on her home. I know also that Professor Dumbledore put them there and that each summer she should spend two weeks in that home to replenish the wards. These wards have not worked out the way he intended them to though as I was able to enter the house undetected and see for myself what they truly thought of her. They hate her. As I know how blood wards work and that she must spend two weeks per year there I am proposing that after her initial two weeks she spend the rest of the summer with us at home. What do you think of that idea? Alternatively if it would be better she can come home with us at once and spend the last two weeks of the summer at the Dursley residence. Leave that choice with her. I also discovered a squib that had been spying on her living nearby and have made her think everything is always normal. I have also removed her floo powder and sealed off her floo from within the ministry deleting the record of it afterwards.
As it is the home of a squib I can see no reason why anyone should be concerned by it. Anyone who has remembered her floo address before will now forget it. They may even forget her depending on who it is she knew. You may show this letter to Heidi Potter as well as it has been charmed for your eyes only so no one else will be able to see it. I love you Susie and you don't forget now that you may contact me if you ever need anything as an aunt first and head of the DMLE second. I will always be your aunt first. I'm so proud of you and your parents would be too.
Love Aunty Amelia x.
Susan had tears rolling down her cheeks as she read it. She showed the letter to Heidi who read it and said they'd discuss it later on. Heidi herself was thrilled that her friends remained her friends and didn't care that she was Lady Slytherin. They cared only about being loyal friends to her which was an honour for sure.
Since Augusta had realised not having a wand of his own was causing his magic to backfire she'd immediately gotten him one of his own and was thrilled at how much better he was at magic. She'd taught him the levitation charm but just that one. When he'd used his dad's wand he'd been terrible at it but when he'd suggested the wand felt off she'd taken him at once to Ollivander initially so that he could tell Neville to use his father's wand and shut up but he hadn't done so. The results were well different afterwards at home. In fact he'd levitated the cup so well it hit the ceiling and smashed as Augusta shocked him by laughing and hugging him. She was thrilled when he got into Hufflepuff and told her via letter that the hat had told him he'd need to carve out his own path which it had. She had then realised finally that Neville was not Frank nor would he ever be Frank and she'd need accept him as he was.
The first class of the day was potions which they shared with the Hufflepuffs. This class would be a sure shock. Heidi was actually happy to be friends with both Ron and Neville as Harry had been and hoped she could be again. This Ron was not like the old Ron had been and she was learning to remember it. He could be ok I mean he wasn't even in Gryffindor this time. She could also see Neville now had his own wand too and was utterly thrilled for him. Ron would get one chance and if he screwed up then he really was on his own. She went down to the dungeons and waited for the doors to the potions room open. She was so excited about her first lesson. This would be so much fun.