Chapter: Ron
Ronald Billius Weasley hated the colour red.
An unfortunate reality to live through for a child born to a family of redheads.
The hatred he harboured for the colour unsettled his family, but they did their best to overlook such peculiar oddities in their youngest son.
He was the sixth child of seven but Mr and Mrs Weasley worried most for him out of their brood.
Ron did not like many things, unlike his siblings. He was quiet and broody, grumpy often and always snappish whenever he spotted a sibling tormenting another. It did not matter if Ron were in the attic or downstairs, somehow, he always knew if one of his siblings felt upset. Seconds later, all the Weasley household would hear his thundering stomps to put an end to whatever the situation was.
He did not make sense, but he was a Weasley.
When Ron was seven, Molly once found him bustling about in her kitchen. It was a sacred rule all the children had never thought to disobey. Only Molly was allowed within the space. But she could not bring herself to yell at her most peculiar son. Not when she spied how at peace he appeared.
Ronald Weasley was not known to smile often.
Ron puzzled his older siblings, as they never knew what or how to act towards the boy.
Bill remembered a baby Ron thunderously roaring out his unhappiness as a babe until he'd turned two. Of all his little siblings, Ron had the greatest temper tantrums. The day he fell silent with his roaring crying, Bill remembered panicking and thinking his brother had suddenly died.
Charlie would not forget the year Ron turned three. How could he when he could only stare with shock and amazement at how viciously three-year-old Ron protected nerdy Percy's books from the devil twins. To Charlie, Ron had acted like a mother dragon protecting her hoard. If he started calling Ron his thunder dragon brother, only Bill had known.
Percy also could not forget the year Ron turned three. The year he realised how fierce and wickedly sly his little brother truly was. Fred and George always targeted Percy for he was nothing like them, too studious and rule obedient. It hurt poor Percy but no matter their mischief he forgave them. He was ready to accept the dynamic to always be as such when it came to his younger twin brothers. He'd not expected Ron to disagree. It was both terrifying yet awe inspiring to witness three-year-old Ron give a mighty roar at the twins. He thundered and huffed, growled and howled until the twins cowered for mercy. Even when Mrs Weasley happened upon the scene and tried to mediate between the children, Ron refused to forgive the twins unless they swore a vow of kindness and love forevermore to Percy. It wasn't until Mr Weasley came home from work that the matter was settled. Mr Weasley heard Ron's childish explanation and suggested all the Weasley children share the vow.
It was a vow of loyalty, love, and never-ending support. A vow to always be true to one another in the face of dark times and hardships.
But the gods are always listening, and Mother Magic grinned at witnessing such a vow. To the shock and worry of Mr and Mrs Weasley, their pretend ceremony for their children was blessed by Magic. Yet their worries faded at witnessing the pure joy and bright delight Ron expressed once the deed had been done.
Fred and George both adored and feared for their younger brother. There was something about Ron that felt odd, as if he were only half of who he was meant to be. As if he was missing something especially important. For the twins, who shared everything, Ron was a cruel example of loss and unhappiness. It didn't make sense to anyone and they had long given up on explaining their irrational fear. Ron, with his rare smiles and constant grumbling, was the world's greatest wrong in the eyes of the twins. Yet, they loved their dragon like brother who acted strangely on full moons and passionately corralled their mischief if ever they overstepped. They loved him with all they had and aspired to one day be filled with thunderously fierce passion like their little brother. They strove to ensure one day, when Ron may need them, he will find them at his side, and he will smile at them wholesomely.
Although considered peculiar and temperamental, Ginny thought her big brother Ron to be worthy of worship. At the age of 10, Ginny thought Ron to be a hero, someone impressive in the making. She believed her big brother could conquer the world should he choose, perhaps even become a King. There was nothing Ron couldn't do in Ginny's eyes and she loved him just as fiercely as he loved them all. Ron was surly and hated most things, it took many efforts and schemes to see him smile, but he was loyal. A fighter who refused to see dreams discarded due to stupid ideals. Thanks to Ron, Ginny got her own broom and never suffered lectures on how ladies should behave. Thanks to Ron, Ginny enjoyed both gender dictated activities. He suffered through her tea parties, dolly games and dress ups with a scowl. He played quidditch and let her join in wrestling with the twins. Yet, what Ron did most that she loved, is that he talked with her and believed in her. Ginny kept no secrets from Ron and he always believed in her.
It is this great appreciation and love for their peculiar and odd brother, which saw the Weasley siblings meeting in secret for several months. It had been a plan long in the making. A collective effort to lure from their thunder dragon brother true happiness that would last. It took Bill four months of part time work with a local muggle building firm. It took Charlie several pet sitting and training sessions with animals both magical and muggle. Percy had sold several of his old books and was providing tutoring sessions for a few magical children. Whereas, the twins and Ginny had joined forces and gone treasure hunting. Together they found many odd Knick knacks of muggle and magical kind. Some of their findings they sold after fixing it with a mighty few sticking charms, the rest was handed to their father for his collection.
Together the Weasley siblings earned and saved a mighty amount of coin.
On his eleventh birthday, Ronald Billius Weasley woke to a loud parade in his room. There was fireworks whizzing about his head, with confetti bursting and flashing lights. There was fanfare music and outrageous singing orchestrated by the twins and Charlie. He watched with wide eyes as Bill slowly entered his room with a giant cake decorated in emerald green and honey brown, his two favourite colours. Percy had wrapped an arm around him, while Ginny snuggled into his other side. Behind his siblings Mr and Mrs Weasley looked teary eyed with both pride and love.
"Wha- What is going on?" Ron stammered unable to make sense of the chaos.
"It's your birthday Ronnie!" Mrs Weasley grinned.
"B-but I-"
"Come on Ron blow out the candles and make a wish we have the whole day to get through!" Charlie prompted with barely hidden excitement.
"What? But I told you I didn't want anything!" Ron grumpily argued.
The Weasley family were well used to Ron's grumpy persona to understand he wasn't truly unhappy. Percy gave a gentle pat to Ron's bed messed head and lightly scolded him.
"It's your birthday Ron, don't you know how old you are?"
Ron was puzzled, not knowing why this birthday should matter compared to the others. Ginny huffed and tugged at his shoulder roughly.
"You're eleven Ron! Your letter came!"
Ron was in shock as his father handed him his letter.
He had forgotten the importance of turning eleven and wondered how he managed such a thing. He read through the letter and found his eyes burning while his chest grew tighter. He looked all around at the red haired and freckled faces surrounding him. There was no describing the immense amount of emotion Ron felt in that moment. Again, Bill raised the cake closer and gave a gentle smile to his grumpy brother and urged him to make a wish.
Ron savoured the warm presence of his family around him, suddenly feeling tears stream down his cheeks. He closed his eyes and wished hard with all his might, begging whoever may be listening that his wish shall be granted. As he blew the candles out, the scar on the left of his chest itched briefly, but when he opened his eyes it had stopped.
It was only the morning, but the Weasley family felt successful all the same as Ron let out his first ever laugh. A sound they treasured and hoarded possessively in their minds. A sound that would ground them for many years to come.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
Change sighed as the final thread was done.
Fate screamed and viciously fought her binds but could do nothing as her destinies were re-shaped.
Magic and Death shared a smile as Life cursed.
Chaos grinned as Time stretched the threads of life for six Weasley children.
Now, the true games were to begin.