"Looks like the mails here," Mum announced, standing beside the breakfast table. Sure enough, their new owl was flying straight toward the window, coming to a halt on the ledge without hitting it . "Ron, would you get it please?"

"Sure, Mum," Ron said, his voice muffled from a mouthful of toast. He was the only one that was down there in the kitchen. Dad and Percy went to work early, even before he was up. Fred, George and Ginny were still upstairs. His sister was probably still asleep. She was usually dead to the world until the afternoon or until their parents saw fit for her to be awake, which was, more often than not, not in her favor.

"Ronald," Mum scolded, lightly hitting his shoulder. "Don't speak with your mouth full."

"Sorry," he muttered after he swallowed. He pushed his chair back, rising to his feet and going over there. He took a couple treats from the container, giving it to the owl before untying the letters from its leg. He sorted through them, noting there was one for him, Ginny, the twins and Dad.

"What is it, Dear?" Mum said with her back turned. 'Anything interesting?"

"Not really," Ron said. "Just our Hogwarts letters and something for Dad."

"Just set the rest of them on the table for the others to get," Mum said.

Ron noted that his letter, oddly enough, was thicker than the others. He stiffened. No, it couldn't have been. Not for him . He broke the seal and to his astoundment, he found not only his supply list he'd need for the upcoming year but a-

Prefect badge ?

He couldn't believe his eyes. He'd gotten a Prefect badge? He was Gryffindor's Prefect? It was a joke, right? Fred and George must have done it. They'd thought it would be a funny prank and were probably hiding around the corner, just waiting for him to tell Mum all about it so they could burst in and inform him through their laughter that it wasn't real.

But that wasn't what happened.

"Whoa," He breathed.

Mum had become preoccupied once again with breakfast, but promptly re-focused her attention back on them upon hearing Ron. "What is it?" Her eyes fell on the Prefect letter from Professor McGonagall, informing him that he was selected. Her hand flew up to her chest. "Oh, Ronnie ! A Prefect! We've got another one in the family! Oh, your father will be so proud of you!" Ron was still in a daze when he realized Mum was hugging him. As soon as she let go, she immediately started to talk about plans for celebrating later. "I'll send a letter to your father and your brothers straight away. Great Aunt Muriel will want to know as well. You should tell Harry and Hermione, dear. I'm sure they'll be so happy for you! How is Harry doing, do you know? I'll give Professor Dumbledore a fire-call and ask if he can come over for the party. You can ask Hermione to come too if you want."

"Party?" Ron registered what she said and stared.

"Of course," Mum was insistent. A bit scandalized that he'd even questioned it. "Your father and I threw one for Bill. Percy, too. I'll whip up your favorite dinner and a cake as well. You just tell me what you'd like and I'll do my best."

Ron felt a smidgen overwhelmed by all this. He wasn't used to getting choices for things like that. "Really? I'm having a party?"

"Of course!" Mum stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. 'We have to celebrate!"

"Right," Ron was still in shock that he'd been chosen. Let alone all this. "I'll go tell Harry and Hermione then..."

"Alright, dear and don't forget to tell me what you want for supper!"

/

Ron was on his bed, back leaning against the headboard whilst reading a quidditch magazine. His eyes were on a picture of Viktor Krum, instantly scowling at it. Why was Vicky in so many of these? Didn't those reporters ever get tired of seeing him? A knock drew his attention back to reality. Percy was standing in his doorway, with a friendly smile on his face. He'd obviously just gotten off work, as he was still in his pristine looking ministry robes. Ron lowered the magazine to meet his brother's eyes.

"I heard some rather brilliant news about you," Percy was beaming.

Ron flushed. "Oh. Yeah."

Percy strode in the room. He was actually happy, genuinely happy for Ron. "Mum told me you were made Prefect! I must admit I was surprised to hear it, but I know you'll do well, of course."

Ron was even more embarrassed by his words. "I suppose..."

"Don't be such a pessimist." To his surprise, Percy was actually teasing him. Has the whole world gone mental today? "I know you'll do well because you had the best influence, Bill was alright too."

Alright, this was too strange. First, he teased Ron and then he made a joke? Ron didn't know what to think. He must have been giving off a look because Percy laughed. He didn't normally do that.

"Are you okay?" Ron blurted out.

Percy halted his laughter, raising his eyebrows. "Pardon?"

"It's just you're acting...well-"

"Acting how?" Percy said.

"Weird," Ron settled on. "Did Fred and George put something in your dinner last night?"

"I feel I should be insulted to think that you believe I'm daft enough not to pay attention to my food," Percy said dryly.

Ron said nothing.

" No ," Percy said and then he smiled again. "I just wanted to congratulate you. You deserve it."

"I do?" Ron stared.

Percy snorted. "Are your friends coming around for the party?"

Ron grimaced a little. "She still wants to have that party?"

Percy looked calculatingly at his younger brother. "You don't?"

Ron shrugged. "I dunno."

He felt the mattress dip downward when Percy sat beside him. Ron was instantly brought back to when he'd been much younger and Percy would sit with him and play chess or read to him or listen to whatever he had to say. Back when he hadn't been so busy. "You're worried, aren't you?" Percy said knowingly. "About what the twins and Ginny will say?"

How did he do that? He was usually able to tell right away what was bothering them. It was creepy, really.

"Er, well-" Ron was about to say something else but Percy was giving him that look again. He gave up. "Kind of."

"Why?"

Ron glared. "You really have to ask? You remember what they said to you."

He wasn't trying to be mean. The twins and Ginny hadn't been thrilled about Percy becoming a Prefect-sort of because he did lay it on a bit thick-and his older brother felt hurt about that. Saying it all again was probably bringing back all those memories.

Admittedly, Ron didn't want it to happen to him. He didn't want to have to endure the twins or Ginny making fun of him for it. It wasn't like he'd tried to be Prefect. It just happened and there was nothing he could do about it. So far, at least to his knowledge considering that not one of them had burst in his bedroom, they didn't know about it. They would soon enough, whether by his Mum or Dad or once they realized she was baking his favorite cake.

Percy took that all in stride and didn't get angry like Ron expected. Not even a little annoyed. "I remember," he agreed.

"Sorry," Ron muttered.

Percy sighed. "Ron-" He braced himself for a lecture. "You can't be afraid of what they'll say."

"I'm not afraid!" Ron immediately said.

"Alright, concerned . They're going to make fun of you, we both know that, but you shouldn't take it personally. Trust me, it gets you nowhere."

"Yeah," Ron muttered.

Percy gave a soft smile. The one that was typically reserved for only him. The kind that he used to get all the time as a little kid when he followed Percy around constantly. "Now, enough about them. I have some advice for you, that is, if you want it?"

"Err, sure. I guess."

"Brilliant," Percy said happily and clasped his hands together. "Alright, first thing is you'll need to make sure you're both authoritative and approachable. You want the students to know you mean business but you also want them to trust you.

He nodded slowly.

"Second, I know you might think this is the best way to get revenge against the Slytherins-" He raised his eyebrows when Ron opened his mouth up, not giving him the chance to say what it was he'd been going to say, "don't deny it. I know it's probably crossed your mind at least once already."

He grinned sheepishly because technically it had been true. Course, Hermione would probably have a fit if she knew.

"Why not?" Ron said. "Snape's taken points from us loads of times. Why can't I take them from Malfoy?"

"Because," Percy said with patience, "the professors will know. They pay attention to that so no one can use it to their advantage."

"Like Malfoy," Ron muttered. "Merlin, I hope he isn't a Prefect too."

"He probably is," Percy said. "I can imagine Snape recommended him."

Ron groaned. That was just what he wanted to hear.

"Maybe if we're lucky he fell and broke his neck."

"Ron," Percy said scoldingly, but he saw his older brother's lips twitch. "That isn't very nice."

"Neither is he."

" Moving on ," Percy nudged him-dare he say it-playfully.

"Oh, yeah. You're not done."

"No," Percy agreed. "I've one more thing."

"Which is?"

"Do be vigilant when you're using the prefect bath. There's a ghost that's...rather fond of peeking," At this, Percy rolled his eyes.

"You mean Moaning Myrtle?" Ron asked, inwardly grimacing at the mental picture. "The one with the glasses?"

Percy grimaced too. "Yes. I had the unfortunate experience of her catching me one evening."

Ron wasn't sure what was worse; knowing Myrtle had peeked at his brother or knowing that his brother had been naked.

He shivered.

"I just wanted to warn you ahead of time so you weren't surprised," Percy said wryly. "Oliver got a kick out of it when I told him."

Ron nodded. "Thanks."

"Of course."

Ron was quiet for a split second. "Perce?"

His brother looked at him attentively.

His hand flew up to his neck, sheepishly rubbing it. "It's sort of strange, you know, to be at school without bossing me around."

Percy looked thoughtful. "I could order you around here and threaten to take points off, if you'd like?"

Ron, to his surprise, laughed. "Will you write to McGonagall and tell her to give me detention?"

His brother feigned a haughty sniff. "Of course. I must be thorough."

The two of them looked at each other and laughed. Then came the voice of Mum calling for them to get down there. Something Ron assumed was in relation to the party that was going to happen.

They rose to their feet. Ron noted how they were at eye level now. He remembered how when he was young, his brother seemed so tall.

"Thanks, Perce," Ron smiled shyly.

Percy smiled back, leaning in for a hug, patting him on the back. "I'm really proud of you, I hope you know that."

"Yeah," Ron drew an imaginary circle with his foot. "I, err, better get down there 'fore Mum blows a gasket."

"Indeed."

Ron was at the doorway when he turned back to his brother. "Does this mean I'm your favorite now?"

"I have no favorites," Percy said with an attempt at disapproval in his voice. But his eyes betrayed him. "I love all Ron's and not-Ron's equally."

Ron laughed as he made his way downstairs.

The whole ron and not rons thing is something I found on tumblr