Ron slid as low as he could in his seat on the bench along with Harry as the first years were being called up one by one. Ron hardly listened as the students melted together with their names and houses. At least he hoped to until a stray, bouncing first year Gryffindor came bounding in his and Harry's direction. An unbounded and innocent smile stretched cheek to cheek as he approached the four second years.

"Hullo! Mind if I sit here with you?"

"Not at all," Neville spoke for the group. Ron watched as the boy quickly pulled out a camera that had been hidden in his robes and snapped a picture as another student was sorted into their house. Ron blinked as light spots danced across his vision.

"Ye olde camera doth blind me."

"Sorry bout that! My name's Colin! Colin Creevy. This is so exciting!"

The poor curly haired boy was practically bouncing in his seat next to Neville in pure amazement. Ron watched him as the light spots began to fade, wondering if he was ever that energetic.

Maybe when he was waiting for his dad when he was little.

Another name was called and they clapped as was expected of them as another student was sorted into the house that society would form expectations based on the decision of a hat placed on a child's head.

Ron pulled himself up a bit straighter now that he was certain all eyes were on the first years being sorted. Harry waited a bit more, moving his bangs over his iconic scar before sliding up himself.

"Lovegood, Luna."

Ron's stomach rumbled, wanting the pompous fanfare of the first years getting sorted over with so they could eat.

"Ravenclaw!"

"Ronald!" Hermione hissed over his rumbling stomach, trying to not interrupt Professor McGonagall as she called another student.

"Hermione! I can't help it. I haven't eaten much since breakfast. I'm starving!" he loudly whispered.

"Why haven't you eaten?"

"We missed the train. And Lockhart didn't seem to fancy grabbing a bite."

"He didn't feed you guys?" Neville intervened. Harry shook his head.

"No. Honestly he never offered," Harry admitted.

"Who are we talking about?" Colin interupted with a giddy smile and curiosity. Harry and Neville jumped at the new voice where Hermione and Ron remained unphased. It wasn't hard not to be surprised when they were looking in the hyper boy's direction. Another student was called up as Ron leaned over Harry, towards Colin Creevy. Colin excitedly leaned in front of Neville. Neville and Harry leaned back instinctively as Hermione rolled her eyes and attempted to grab Ron's collar.

"Professor Lockha-ack!" he choked as he was pulled back by his collar. Collin pulled back at the sudden movement, no longer leaning in front of Neville and proclaimed, "Brilliant!"

"Mione!" Ron gasped as he was forced to sit in his spot.

"Ronald!" She hissed back. "Stay seated."

"Mione, if I hadn't sat down when I sang, I'm sure my behind would have taken root on his bench."

"Ew!" she stage whispered, "Why would you say that?"

"It seemed like the right thing to say," he replied as he joined the group clapping for yet another first year student. Hermione rolled her eyes at his explanation.

"Weasley, Ginerva."

Ron froze hearing his sister's name called. He swallowed nervously and turned his head to look up at the red haired girl, confidently making her way to the magical sorting hat.

The hat was delicately placed upon her head. Time seemed to slow for Ron as the seconds ticked by. Why was he so nervous? He hardly knew Ginny. She didn't seem to want to know him. She didn't seem to like him. So why was he feeling nervous about his sister's placing?

He wasn't given a huge opportunity to overthink it as the hat called out, "Gryffindor!"

He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding as she jumped off the stool and bounded happily to the Gryffindor table, aceepting hugs from Fred and George. She didn't sit too far from the trickster twins as she sat proudly. Ron heard Dumbledore give his warning for the forbidden forest like he had the year prior. There was a few other things but Ron's focus was monopolized by Ginnie. His sister by all means, but the one sibling who he hardly knew.

He didn't know why it bothered him. But it was gnawing on his mind.

Thankfully, a wave of food for the opening feast took his focus back to his gnawing stomach. His eyes wandered over the food and began adding roast chicken thighs, heaps of red skinned mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, when he paused. Many were staring at a certain bowl that was visible every few seats. It was a type of red soup, tomato it seemed. Curiously, he grabbed the bowl and poured a small portion into the bowl next to his plate. He noticed corn and avacado. His eyes lit up, recalling his Auntuncle Fitzsimmons arguing whether Ron should try this dish. Aunt Simmons hated the dish but Uncle Fitz loved it. He put his spoon into the soup and took a bite.

The soup was oddly cold but far from unpleasant. The spice was pleasant on his tongue and the avocado was pleasantly fresh.

"What is that?" Neville asked seeing Ron's surprised but satisfied expression.

"It's Gazpacho. A cold and spicy tomato soup. Nev, Harry, Mione, you guys got to try this!"

His three friends seemed less than eager. The young first year who decided to join them on the other hand took Ron's advice and served himeslf a portion and eagerly took a bite. His eyes were wide with the flavor hitting his tongue. If his smile was any indication, he liked it.

"Did you see Malfoy's face?" Ron wheezed, his face reddened from laughter as the Slytherin house had left the Great Hall to begin the trek to their common room.

"Well, in his defense, that Gazpacho was certainly, something," Neville defended.

"You only say that because you didn't like it Nev. It was good," Ron responded in good fun.

"I wonder why Gazpacho was served. They didn't serve it last year," Hermione mentioned.

"Maybe the cooks wanted to try something new," Harry interjected.

The four waited to go to the common room with a chipper Colin Creevy eagerly asking Ron questions about the castle who, along with Hermione, had a running commentary of how the castle worked and how to work the castle. Harry had slid from his seat and moved next to Hermione to keep his distance from the hyper boy who seemed eager to take lots of pictures.

Given their time with Gilderoy, Ron wasn't too thrilled with the camera either but what was the liklihood they would be seeing the flash of that camera all year?

Another flash went off.

"You know, I never did get your names," Colin seemed to realize, "And I can't write home to me mum an' dad without knowing name."

"Hermione Granger." Hermione wasted no time in making her name known to the eager child.

"I'm Neville Longbottom," he said holding out his hand. Colin grabbed it and shook with the energy of an energizer bunny.

"Ron Barton," Ron introduced himself. Harry gave him a look Ron had taken to ignoring. They had their differences in how they lived and how they should live given Ron's unique family situation and Harry's well, lesser known situation. Ron made it a personal mission to figure out what was with Harry's family. And why Tony was involved?

Colin looked perplexed for a moment. Ron hoped that the kid had no idea his rather wild, newspaper making situation. Thankfully, his attention went to Harry.

"Harry. Harry Potter," Harry said, saying Potter rather quickly. Colin hardly seemed to notice as his eyes positively lit up. Without warning he snapped a picture, temporarily blinding Harry as he began to quickly say, "Oh wow it's such an honor to meet you! I can't believe it- I have so many questions! What's it like having stopped You-Know-Who? What's it like being in Gryffindor? Who's your best friend?-"

Harry's green eyes were filled with shock as Colin spoke as fast as Hermione with the same disturbing not breathing between sentences trick. He kept asking questions until Ron decided Harry really didn't need this wild hyper question filled boy talking his ear off.

"Colin. Breathe."

It may not have been the best thing to say but it did redirect Colin's attention. He sid in fact take a deep breath, possibly readying to say something when Colin was called to join his fellow first year students on a quick tour of the castle led by Percy the Prefect. Ron waved goodbye to Colin and to his amusement, Colin waved back.

Ron snorted as he disappeared from sight.

"We're heading to the common room," George spoke from behind Ron making Hermione jump. Ron was surprised but after years of living with his dad, Aunt Tasha, and well, his over the pond family, few could make him jump from just speaking behind his back.

"You coming?" Fred finished. The four, knowing that they had to go to the common room and it wasn't so much an option as it was a requirement, stood up. With their stomachs pleasantly full, they began their walk to the portrait of the Fat Lady before the first years got there.

"We don't know the password," Ron defied.

"Perce passed it along," Fred stated.

"The Prefects get to know the password first and pass it along to everyone but the first years."

"Can't ruin the magic can yah?" Ron immediately quipped.

"Nope!" Fred responded.

The night was peaceful as everyone was stuffed from the feast. Deep slumber visited everyone and the morning came all too soon. With a yawn and stealthy movements, the four second years made their way to breakfast, getting their schedules for the year.

"Looks like we start with Herbology," Neville said happily.

"You really like Herbology huh Neville?" Ron nudged his friend. Neville gave an awkward chuckle.

"Yeah. It's a class I do really well in."

"Oh yeah? Maybe you and Hermione will be fighting for the best Herbology grade this year," Harry commented.

"I'm just hoping one of you will help me pass."

"What? You're not good with plants?"

"Not ones that can kill me. Nev, I'm going to level with you... There is not a lot of dirt to grow things in an air ship," Ron explained with the most serious expression he could muster, "If not for cooking, I wouldn't know a plant from a rock."

"You can cook?" Hermione questioned, disbelief bled into her voice.

"Some things. Simple things normally. Though Aunt Tasha and I would make Russian tea cookies around Christmas."

"When mum and I traveled, I learned a few recipes. Most the ones I learned use rice," Neville spoke up. Everyone turned to Neville in surprise. "What? I can cook too."

"I've cooked meals back at Privet," Harry piped up, "Breakfast and dinner."

"Eggs and bacon Harry?"

"Frequently."

"Huh. What about you Mione? You ever cook?" Ron asked as he dug into his breakfast.

"No. Not really. My parents did the cooking..." Her voice grew uncharacteristically quiet. Ron felt bad realizing that he brought up sad memories. None of the boys knew what to say and awkwardly began eating their breakfast. Thankfully the sad and awkward silence began to dissipate after breakfast as they walked to the greenhouse, swapping ideas as to what they would be doing in there that year.

Professor Sprout seemed incredibly excited to teach the class, living up to her ironic name that fit plants so well.

"Welcome students welcome!" she greeted with lots of enthusiasm, per the course of many teachers on the first day of school. Well, according to Harry and Hermione from their schooling before Hogwarts. Ron was hardly one to know as many of the teachers at Hogwarts did not have the same enthusiasm about teaching as Professor Sprout.

"It's absolutely lovely to have all of you here on time. I know first class of the year isn't always the easiest to make it to after a night of feasting. Now, we will be working in Greenhouse three today so come along."

The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors followed the stout eitch to the chosen greenhouse for their lessons. Bottle necked at the door, it took a few minutes to get inside and all settled. Each seat had two pots in front of them. A smaller pot with something clearly growing in it, and a larger pot with a small portion of soil at the bottom. Professor Sprout waited until everyone one seated before speaking.

"We'll be repotting Mandrakes today. Now who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?"

Hermione wasted no time raising her hand to no one's surprise. She hardly waited for Professor Sprout to call on her as she seemed to quote from memory, "Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative. It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."

"Excellent, Ten points for Gryffindor. The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is however, dangerous even to a skilled witch or wizard. Who can tell me why?"

Hermione's hand shot up again as Neville's face contorted into self confusion. Ron absently wondered what that was about. Like before, Hermione wasted no time answering the question.

"The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it."

"Exactly. Take another ten points. Now the Mandrakes here are very young, so the most their cries could do at this point is knock you out. So, everyone grab a set of ear muffs. Put them on nice and tight."

She waited as everyone put the earmuffs on. Ron swore though that Neville didn't pat them down in an effort to keep them on tight. Professor Sprout, with her own fuzzy pink ear muffs on, got her mandrake out with her with the first pull. Ron was incredibly thankful for the earmuffs because good god were these things loud. He watched as she replanted the ugly Java the Hut looking thingwith only its leaves remaining uncovered as it grew quiet beneath the soil.

"Alright, now it's your turn she bellowed so they could hear her. Ron dreaded what was to come. Nonetheless, he pulled his screaming and crying mandrake like every- What was going on at Neville's spot? Instead of grabbing the stem and yanking the mandrake out, he dipped his fingers into the soil around the inner edges of the pot, and slid out the entire mandrake along with the dirt still clinging. His mandrake didn't seem to notice as it's mouth moved in a less screaming fashion. Ron watched in shock, placing his Mandrake in the pot and quickly filling it with soil to get his to just shut up. Neville seemed to move slower, carefully lowering the mandrake into the new pot. His mouth was open and saying something Ron could only guess was a lullabye of some sort as he tried to read his lips. One by one as the mandrake cries died down, no one seeming to be aware of the quietly effiecent job Neville had done with the repotting of his Mandrake.

By the end of it though, Only Neville could boast not being sweaty of terribly dirty from the lesson. It earned him a few odd looks, but everyone had at least seen him repot the Mandrake at a glance. He had clearly done the work.

It was with his not-so-tired and not-so-dirty smile he suggested a run to the washroom for his friends. With a joking grin Ron held out his arms for a hug. Neville ran from the lanky red head with Harry and Hermione hot on their heels all the way to the washroom.

I can hear Mysticarts internal screaming from miles away. I just had to refrence her story Venture's Adventure for Takos. She is probably mad at me.

That and she only edited the first four hundred words of this or so.

Anywho, diversion from the path with having to keep everyone in character that fits the changes of their lives. Fun!