Every minute was heinous. Sitting next to Gilderoy was torture. He could care less that Recognized as a recognized honored Order of Merlin, Third Class; Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League; and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. Why would Ron care that he invented an Occamy egg yolk shampoo that would have apparently done wonders for their hair, but was too dangerous and expensive for open market; or that it subsequently became his dream to market these products. What use could he have knowing his favorite colour was lilac?

They were already stuck with his books as school material, Break with a Banshee, Gadding with Ghouls, Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests, Holidays with Hags, Magical Me (autobiography), Marauding with Monsters, One Hundred and One Practical Uses for Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans(okay that one sounded a little interesting), Travels with Trolls, Voyages with Vampires, Wanderings with Werewolves, and Year with the Yeti.

He didn't need to hear a first hand recount of the various adventures he had documented in his books. They'd have to do that in class wouldn't they?

Not to mention, every time someone said something, he'd redirect the comment back to himself as he stroked his own ego. Ron swore his head wasn't going to fit out the door when they reached Hogwarts. They's have to use that shrinking spell on his head to get him out. Ron was certain he would have died of boredum had he been suffering alone.

"...It was a grueling endeavor, but I was prepared-" he narrarated on.

"Sounds like the time my Uncle Phil was working on a case with my Uncle Nick at a video store involving a shapeshifter, a blond woman and eventually how he got his cat," Ron blurted out.

"What?" Harry responded looking baffled, but far more interested in that tale than Lockhart's. The twins also looked eager if not a touch confused. their eyes locked in on Ron, much to Gilderoy Lockhart's displeasure. His blue eyes had almost a thin layer of ice to them. His smile, to his credit remained unphased.

"Well you can't say something like that and leave us hanging Ron!" George added, a certain eagerness that held amused spite. Ron felt his face heat up in slight embarassment. It had been a story his uncle had told him over the years of living in the helicarrier. He had gotten into an arguement with an agent as to why Ron was allowed to call him Uncle Nick or Nicky. About how he failed to get him to call him Fury consistently, something which was an interesting point in his childhood. His Uncle Phil had tried to help by telling the story of how his Uncle Fury had apparently apprehended a spy because someone used his first name. The most Ron had ever gotten from it was there was a destruction of video store had uncovered an attempted genocide where his Uncle Nick could trust no one but his gut. Only the summer of the invasion, did his Uncle Nick let it slip that the people he was dealing with, were pretty much aliens. Top secret hush hush stuff. But the invasion confirmed on a global scale that they were not alone in the universe.

"You guys really want to hear one of my Uncle Nick's "War Stories"? They can be pretty wild-"

The cart slowed to a stop, pulling the males' attention away from the potential stories.

"Ah, It looks like we are here. Step lively boys, Hogwarts awaits," Gilderoy Lockhart spoke in a jovial manner. The twins wasted no time trying to escape the carriage. It was jostled and shaken from the two's antics. Ron snorted at the exhuberent behavior as they tumbled out of the carriage. Their robes now slightly dusty as they cried out, "Oh blessed be! Free of the carriage at last!"

Harry stepped out next, far more calmly than the twins. An amised grin on his face from the twins' antics. Ron followed a bit more reserved but no doubt just as amused as Harry. Gilderoy Lockhart stepped out with jovial energy, as though his mass fan base were watching his every movement and hanging onto everything he was doing.

"Come along boys. You can wait in the Great Hall for your fellow students."

Fred and George sent a mischievous look. They did eagerly follow Gilderoy with a sick glee on their faces.

"God help us all. They're going to destroy the school before it even starts," Ron muttered to Harry.

"Think we're going to start the year with negative points?" Harry asked. Ron smirked and waggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Harry gave Ron a light shove. Ron laughed and ran forward. Harry followed, struggling to keep up with Ron's long and lanky legs. His stamina wasn't half bad though as he could keep the consistant pace. Ron did slow down a few feet behind the twins and Harry shortly followed, a grin on his face and ready to enter Hogwarts. Ron watched as Fred and George entered the halls with great familiarity, and Harry, there was something odd about it. When they entered the year prior, it was wonderment and fascination. But looking at him now, there was something he had seen on agents who had come back from missions, most notably his dad.

It was the look of someone who had just returned home. Ron's stomach churned, feeling a touch sour at the recent memory of actually witnessing Harry's uncle in close proximity. Was the man always like that? Was what he had said back at the station a threat to actually harm Harry for something that wasn't even his fault?

Harry didn't talk about his family often last year. Was this why?

The stone walls of the castle, eerily barren and empty from the lively manner the castle they knew it to be once student had arrived, were rather welcoming as each step made them believe they would soon be seperated from Gilderoy Lockhart's prattling voice. Fred and George yearnfully turned their gazes to odd statues and locations, confusing both Ron and Harry.

They didn't cause any chaos on their way to the Great Hall, the most they did was, as they passed a house elf, they quickly removed the shrunken luggage from their pockets and threw it at the elf. Ron was about to yell at them for being asses, the House elf merely snapped their fingers. the luggage vanishing before their eyes effortlessly.

"You two better have not lost out luggage," Ron blurted out.

"Course not Ronnie."

"Just givin' it to a house elf."

"They'll make sure it's all where it needs to be."

"As the right size?"

"One can only hope," George sang, skipping along merrily. Ron stood, jaw slightly slack at the casual interaction with the odd creature.

"And here I thought I had Hogwarts understood," Ron stated.

"Dobby was a house elf," Harry added. Ron looked over at his green eyed friend.

"Dobby?" Ron questioned.

"Oh right. I haven't told you," he spoke in a slightly lower tone. The twins were too engrossed in some sort of prank plan and Gilderoy was too engrossed in himself to notice anything. "There was a house elf who had been intercepting my mail-"

"What?!" Ron hissed, "Isn't that illegal?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not quite sure. My uncle did try to stop me from getting my Hogwarts letter last year."

"He did?"

"Yeah. I just thought it was odd someone would address it to my cu-room."

Ron paused for a moment. What was Harry going to say before he changed the word to room? His quarters?

"Okay. So how'd you get the letter?"

"Well, I didn't get that letter specifically. When there was no response, more and more letters began arriving. My uncle was so furious, he actually made us get in the car and travel out of Surrey. We travelled for hours, sometimes he would just abruptly turn around muttering how he would have to shake them off. We spent the night at a hotel, and by morning, there was a large bag of letters. He got so flustered that he took us to the shore, rented a boat and took us to this rather shambled building on a rocky little island a bit of ways out."

Ron listened utmost attention. That desperate to avoid a magical letter. Then again, who was he to judge given his dad's reaction to the letter back into the alley. He was hauled around like a sack of potatoes. Who was he to judge reactions to oddities?

"We stayed there until midnight- on my birthday actually-"

"When is your birthday?" Ron asked. It just occured to him that he was kind of clueless as to his friend's birthday. And, for that matter, Hermione's birthday. Hadn't she been interacting with him for over a year- oh shoot he didn't know her birthday!

"The Thirty-first of July."

Ron made an internal note to try and remember. That and to get Neville and Hermione's birthday date.

"Sorry. Go on. You were talking about an island?"

"Yeah. At midnight there was a thunderous boom at the door. The door actually fell down and Hagrid was on the other side."

"That must have been a shock."

Harry smiled, "It certainly was."

Harry continued to talk about the interaction between Hagrid and his family and his first time in Diagon Alley.

Ron compared it to his first time up until his subsequent kidnapping and reuniting with his biological family. All up until the four were left in the Great Hall to their own devices. Potentially a horrible decision really. What with the twins in a large room, minimal supervision as Gilderoy left to "get ready" for the feast, and the promise of the entire school being coralled into a lone room. All that was in there was the infamous sorting hat, placed casually on the stool the first years would sit upon. They probably should have had more supervision than a hat that was muttering through possible song lyrics.

"A thousand years to make, generations creating this fate...beginning here at Hogwarts, you're never too late..."

"Think that will be the song?" Fred commented, lounging at the Griffindor table in a way Percy would never have allowed as prefect.

"I thought he had all year too work on it. Who knew the hat who pretty much only works one day a year, would wait to write a song?"

The hat morphed, folding itself as though to face the four early arrivals who were critiquing the hat's song.

"If you believe you think you can do better," the hat began with it's usual smarter-than-thou tone, "You may proceed to try."

"You're on!" George accepted the challenge. He wasted no time pulling the other three boys into a huddle to plan a rousing and memerable opening number.

Keeping their voices low, they made sure the hat couldn't hear them. The hat went back to it's own attempt at creating a song. It was after they had it mostly figured out that Gilderoy slipped back in, and into a seat at the teacher's table. Mere minutes later, other teachers began to slip in. Most notably was the Lioness leader of their own house, Professor McGonagall.

"Gilderoy, I hope these four haven't caused you any trouble."

Fred and George had the nerve to look slightly offeneded. It may have been better had their lips not been slightly curling upward.

"Oh Professor, don't tell us you think that little of us."

"You hurt us Professor," the other twin proclaimed, clenching his hand at his chest. A knowing gaze, built from decades of seeing trouble makers remained unamused. There was nothing she could see out of place however. She'd have her wand ready in case of an over zealous prank, but she was sure Severus Snape would as well. The other teacher eventually trickled in, small talk occuring between them as Professor McGonagall ducked out to guide the first years through the halls, and Dumbledore taking his place in the center of the teacher's tables. Conversation was largely kept seperate from the four boys and the teachers.

It was another two hours later that students second through seventh year began entering the room. A few made to sit down quickly while other actually noticed the four boys, stood in bafflement on them casually waiting there. A few double takes were taken as logically, no one knew how they got there. The chaos didn't really get started until Percy saw his three wayward brothers and Mister Harry Potter, sitting at the Griffindor table as though they had been there for hours. He wasted no time in briskly walking to them with a don't-lie-to-me/inquisitive look on his face.

"Where have you four been?"

"Didn't you know Perce?" George began.

"We got escorted by the Ministry of Magic." Fred solemnly nodded.

"The barrier closed at King's Cross and we couldn't get through," Ron hastily explained. He had come to figure if the twins had their way, the story would have been told from the middle, in reverse, and with their time with Lockhart tacked on as an afterthought.

"Harry! Ron!" "Ron! Harry!"

Two voices of their friends, Neville and Hermione called out to them. Harry and Ron both waved, gesturing the two over. Fred and George sent the second year boys knowing looks and a conspirital wink before heading to another part of the table to regale thier classmates of an overly fabricated account of how they made it to the school.

"Hermione! Neville!" "Neville! Mione!"

Neville sat down next to Ron while Hermione sat next to Harry. Ron looked over Hermione, well set and put together with everything in it's place sans her wild and currently rather untamable hair, where as in the inverse could be said about Neville.

"So, what have you been up to since we last saw you Neville?" Ron asked casually with a hint of humor in his voice. Neville looked a bit sheepish but chuckled.

"It's, erm... Nothing too bad," he attempted to avoid talking about whatever had happened.

"What happened?" Harry asked, a bit more sternly. It was Hermione who answered.

"Neville was defending me. Draco and his-his followers," she spat out as though it was the nastiest thing she could think of, "Came to my compartment this year while I was waiting for you two."

"Sorry Mione," Ron said feeling guilty. It may not have been their fault that the barrier closed, but he had essentially left her there without backup or companionship for the trip to Hogwarts. Thank goodness for Neville.

"I hope you have a good explanation as to where you two were," she replied, sounding hauty but looking relieved.

"We do. Now as you were saying?"

"You know Malfoy," Neville spoke, "He's a prat. He said some awful things and I got mad at him for saying those things... His two goons looked ready to hit us, so... I panicked, and pushed Malfoy out of the cabin. He, did not take too kindly to that. I'll tell you what, Crabbe's meaty fists, are not for show."

"You got into a fight on the train?" Ron looked worried, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. As long as he had known Neville from the invasion on NewYork, he didn't seem to be the type to throw the theoretical first punch. "What did that white snake say to make you so mad? Neville?"

"He called me a Mud-blood." Hermione had been the one to answer.

"A what?" Harry asked.

"It's a nasty term. Blood purists, use it to refer to Muggleborns. It's... a bad phrase implying that they're not clean."

Ron felt a nasty rage build up inside, he was sure Harry was experiencing it too.

"But they got what's coming. And if they say anything, they'll lose points too."

"Because they were in the fight?" Ron asked. Neville's lips curled into a whimsical smile.

"They won't say anything because I'll bet the only bruise Draco has, is the one on his bum. I don't think he'd want to show that evidence to anyone."

There was a hearty laugh from the four, even as Neville winced from his bruises. It was mere moments later, that the older students were settled in, that the first years were lead in by Professor McGonagall. Ron and Harry shared a look, knowing that they would be talked about, no doubt for weeks with what they had planned with the twins. Ron took a deep breath. All eyes were on Sorting hat.

From Ron's lips came a raspy voice the older students recognized as the Hat's voice, but the seam didn't open for it to sing.

"A thousand years ago, a fine stone school was formed," Ron sang as the hat. Neville, being right next to Rin heard where the voice was coming from and stared gobsmacked at Ron, "Witches, Wizards of every class and line, came from far and wide," an almost Celtic rhythm to the tune was heard, "To head the teachings of a famed four whose glory knew no bound..."

"Perhaps you find yourself seeking honor!" Fred jumped up from his seat and sang out as loud as could be, "Bravery in combat still, testing metal of your own courage, within a lion's den. If you were to enter here, Griffindor ye be!"

"Or mayhaps the knowledge lost!" George followed, avoiding Percy's hand after he figured out the twins were up to something so soon into the year. He ran to the Ravenclaw table and belting out much to the shock and amusement of many of the teachers. "O'er many century. Flying high above the rest to view with Eagle's eyes. A nest to learn from Ravenclaw might your fortune be!"

Harry stood next, apprehensive as he drew what was considered the short stick with houses, "One may truly never know upon entering here, Only those of cunning, tight knitted as they are can enter the proud viper's pit, the Slytherin do learn."

Ron took stood next, gestured to the Hufflepuff table, "Or do your loyalties, guide you through your day. Where your own good fortune isn't many it is one, the house of badgers fierce together welcome you today, Upon their oh so noble name of Hufflepuff say all should learn today."

All four began to sing, "But where do any truly go, only one does know~So sit with the thinking cap to know where you be-e-e-long!"

There was a stunted clap that led to an amused applause.

"Mister Weasley," Professor McGonagall spoke with absolute authority, "Back to your table and sit down."

George saluted the head lioness and booked it back to his spot next to Fred. Ron could feel his face heat up as people looked over at him and Harry for the odd musical performance. He could feel his ears hear up.

"Thank you, Missers Weasley, Weasley-Barton, and Mister Potter, for your delightful musical performance," Dumbledore spoke in his usual soft voice that just carried through the Great Hall. There were some chuckles as McGonagall walked to the hat, a scroll of parchment in hand.

"When I call your name, please step forward. Andrews, Mathew."

Tony sat in his lab, a normal occurrence withing the towed. He was working on his Iron Man suit, calm as could be when suddenly, his heart began to race. His breathing grew shallow and he, in an instant could only see the carnage of New York, and the wormhole to hell.

The cold, darkness of death that nearly took his life...

With a snap, he found himself clenching his counter, trying to keep upright.

"Are you alright sir?" Jarvis questioned.

"Yeah Jarvis," Tony brushed off, "Guess Pepper was right this one time and I do need more than two hours of sleep."

"Of course sir."

His haunted eyes went back to his work, his hands slightly trembling.

Tony got his hands to stop shaking and with a weary sigh he told Jarvis to save his work and to power down the lab for the moment. He felt like he needed a drink. Something strong. Of course, then Pepper would no doubt find out. She was the one who had monitored his drinking to know when to restock back before he had become Iron Man. She was also the one insisting he not have as many drinks now that he could theorhetically and impulsively, fly around the city in a mech suit filled with guns.

She should've given him some credit, Jarvis would never let him fly completely drunk. Nor would he ever let Tony just crash or destroy something for no reason.

And besides, he was doing the "responsible" thing and going to bed rather than drink and get wasted. Tomorrow (or later in the day) would be different as he got some sleep.

Hello all, posting this is my way to celebrate the fact that I was evicted from my mother's womb, many years ago on this day. My dear sister, Mysticarts, on this day was given a baby sister. On this day many years ago, I was presented to her, and in a surly, small child way, she looked into my parents' eyes and said, "Take it back."

I hope ya'll are happy that that didn't happen.

mysticarts: I was a three year old who thought I wanted a brother. Sue me.

I thought you were almost three...