Note:
I reposted this chapter.
Chapter 2: The First Impression
On one morning of the last week of the August, Ron found himself wondering in Diagon Alley for the second time in a week with Luna and Mrs. Lovegood. He went to visit Luna for the last time before going to the Hogwarts. But Mrs. Lovegood as other ideas. She insists him to come with her to the Diagon Alley. His Hogwarts letter has already arrived the last week, and he already completes his shopping with his family. He got the old robes and the old books from Percy and the old wand from Charlie. The rest missing items required for the courses, already brought from the Diagon Alley. He also got Percy's old pet rat Scabbers, as Percy was rewarded by his new pet owl. Percy has been made the Prefect this year.
"Do any of you wants an ice-cream," asked Mrs. Lovegood.
"YES" replied Ron rather enthusiastically and then immediately keep his head down as his ears start to burn with embarrassment.
"It's alright, Ronald!"
"You are silly, Ronald!" both mother and daughter said at the same time.
"Come on Luna." said Mrs. Lovegood afterwards as she started leading the children.
They move towards an ice-cream's shop Florean Fortescue's Parlour. As he made his way towards the ice-cream's shop, he noted that peoples are staring at their direction, looking rather suspicious or surprised for what reasons he doesn't know. As they reach the ice-cream shop, Mrs. Lovegood asked them for the flavor and then placed the orders. He sat at the table outside the parlor and staring at the nearby shops in amazement. Their orders arrived soon, and he started eating.
As he finishes his ice-cream, he glanced around the parlor. Then he saw a bushy-haired girl with big chocolate brown eyes and rather large front teeth. She was walking towards the same ice-cream shop looking around with her big eyes. Two adults, he assumed her parents, following her. They also take the seen around themselves with amazement and awe as if they all are visiting the Diagon Alley first time. He chuckled a little at the excitement of the two old people as they look around like a five-year child. He also notices that they are following the lead of their daughter and she is explaining something to them. Then suddenly he realized. Her parents are indeed visiting Diagon Alley for the first time. She could be a muggle-born witch, and her parents are muggles.
He never saw the muggles before. When he was a child, his mother told him that the muggles are dangerous and they did not want to believe that magic has ever existed and when they encounter with any of the magical activity they don't understand they will torture the respective wizard or the witch. His older brother, Bill, told him that because of these muggles, we magical folks are living under secrecy because they are so narrow-minded to believe that magic was indeed real. Charlie who graduates from Hogwarts and leaves to Romania in dragon preserves this year often complains that 'We magical folks are more powerful and superior than the muggles so why we magical folks have to live under secrecy due to these lower peoples.' Back then he has no answers to Charlie's complaint, and he is still confused by the concept of secrecy. He still doesn't understand that why magicians have to hide from the muggles. He asked the same from his father before, and all he got was that it was the wizarding law and no wizard can violate it otherwise they end up in Azkaban. Sensing as my father too spend seven years in Azkaban due to that evil, mangy git Voldemort, he never asked about that again.
"You are staring."
The voice of the same bushy-haired girl brings him back to reality from his train of thought.
"Huh?" he asked lamely.
"What are you staring at?" she asked with a frown.
He realized that he was openly staring at her parents. He looks at her parents and receives the same frown he got from the girl.
"Hi," he said as to change the subject.
The only response he receives was a narrowed eye from her. Her parents also wear the same expressions. He looks at Luna and Mrs. Lovegood for help, but all he got was a blank face. Knowing that he was caught alone in this situation, he tries to speak and suddenly realized that his mouth becomes dry. He swallowed nervously and tried again.
"Err- You see- Um. You seem pretty excited when you are walking around so I figured out that you could be a first-year student like myself." Her frown disappeared by his lame explanation. 'Good start' he thought.
"You see- When I visited the Diagon Alley for the first time I was also gawking like an idiot at all these shops and the magic around," he explained further to made himself clear. Well, his explanation doesn't get the response he imagined as the frown appeared on her face once again.
"You think I was gawking like an idiot?" she asked accusingly, bringing her hands on her hips.
He chances a glance at her father and saw that he was giving him a deathly glare. He swallowed visibly. Well, he was genuinely thanking his luck for two things. That her father is not a wizard so he cannot cast 'Avada Kedavra' on him, and that the looks don't kill people because he was sure that if one of these is possible then, he was already dead by this time. 'Muggles are indeed dangerous' he thought.
"Err- That is not what I mean- Ummm- You seem all excited and BLOODY HELL," he said this very fast and started going down in his chair.
"Language" she complained.
Now his ears started to burn, and he was sure that they were now as red as his hairs. 'Bloody hell, as my ears also have to turn red to play there part and increase my embarrassment' he thought. All he wanted is to now disappear from this situation as fast as possible. He cursed silently, as he accused Mrs. Lovegood of her stupid idea to visit Diagon Alley today. He chances the glance at her and sees her smirking at this whole situation. He also chances a glance at Luna and sees that she was barely holding back a laugh. 'Bloody hell Lovegoods' he thought. Then there was a soft chuckle from the other side, he looked at her mum to see her smirking, and her father is also smiling. The bushy-haired girl blushed slightly and removed her hands from her hips.
"Give the poor boy the rest darling." her mother said with a smile.
Then suddenly Luna burst into full force laughter, and as on the cue, everybody started laughing. The bushy-haired girl is also grinning with a slight blush. He eyed Luna who was doubled over laughing and wiping the tears of joy from her eyes. Then not to be left out he also started laughing nervously while silently prying to God to enlighten him how the fucking hell this situation is so amusing.
"You said you are in the first year." asked the bushy-haired girl once the laughter died down.
He could only nod. He was comfortable with this subject of conversation.
"Well I am Hermione Granger, and you are?" she asked by extending her hand.
"Ron- Er- Ron Weasley," he said, by shaking her hand.
"Luna Lovegood" introduced Luna.
"Well, you see I am a Muggle-born. My parents are the dentist. I always knew that I was different. Then my Hogwarts letter arrived, and it all makes sense. I feel so ecstatic that I can't explain it in words. I was able to explain some things that happened in the past. What?" said Hermione very fast and then stopped seeing the confused look on his face.
"Dentist?" he asked.
"Ohh. Dentists Umm- you can say they are like tooth healer in the muggle world," she explained.
"Ohh." He replied nervously. Wondering why someone will become only a tooth healer in the first place.
"Well my family is all magical, so I honestly do not know many about muggle culture." He continued.
He noticed that her eyes lit up by his statement.
"Well, then you already know some spells by yourselves," she said. "I got the books today only,"
"I don't practice any spells yet. Underage wizards or witches are not allowed to practice at home. All underage wizards and witches have a trace and the Ministry will able to find the location where underage magic has occurred."
"Ohh." was all she said surprised.
"What about you dear," said Mrs. Granger indicating towards Luna.
"I am a year younger. So I am not able to go to Hogwarts until next year," said Luna in a strange tone.
"It is only one year darling," said Mrs. Lovegood soothingly placing her hand into Luna's shoulder.
"Well we need to be moving on," said Mr. Granger.
Ron and Lovegoods stood up. Their ice-creams already finished.
"Bye Hermione," said Ron waving at her.
"Bye Ron," she said waving back.
As Ron and Lovegoods left the ice-cream parlor, he looks back over his shoulder to have a sight of bushy-hair disappearing into the parlor.
Ron walked in a trance state not knowing where he was going. He was following Mrs. Lovegood's lead. His mind was still replaying his interaction with Hermione and her parents. He never met with the muggle-borns before. His mother taught him that pureblood wizards or witches are superior to the others. He doesn't know how but he defined it as Old Magic. Now he met with Hermione, a muggle-born witch and he was not able to point out that how he was better than her. Sure he knows about magic much before then her. Sure he knows more about wizarding culture than her. Sure he saw magic happen around him more than her. Sure he has more magical experience than her.
But that is not her fault. She did not even know about the existence of magic a few weeks ago. If he was forced to live his first eleven years as a muggle, he knows that than his knowledge of the wizarding world is not more than her's. Heck at this time his ability to perform magic is the same as her's. His magical core is no better than her's. So what makes the difference between purebloods and muggle-borns? What has he achieved to be superior to her? He has no answers.
His brother told him that muggles are dangerous. When he first saw Hermione's parents, his first institution is that the family is shopping for their daughter. How the family of three is the danger when they are just walking around admiring their first ever magical experience. When he first saw her father glaring at him, he was scared. But now if he thinks about it again, they were only glaring at him at first because he was openly staring at them. They were being protective of their daughter by an unknown stranger who was openly staring at her. Heck, he will also do the same when someone does the same with his little sister or Luna. Charlie always says that we magical folks are powerful than muggles and should not live under secrecy. He always says that we do not have to hide and show muggles their position. He still doesn't understand why there is secrecy. But there is a law for a reason. What reason he doesn't know for now. He thinks for sure that the magical folks are powerful than muggles.
That git Voldemort's war is for the same reason. He wants purebloods wizards to be considered superior to the others. Why? He doesn't know. Voldemort also desires the dominance of the wizards over muggles. After meeting with Hermione's parents, he disagrees. They are the group of ordinary peoples just without the ability to perform magic. These peoples also have families and are determined to do anything for their loved ones. Sure there are some exceptions which he witnesses through his dreams. But he knows nothing is perfect. So Voldemort's ideas are just the ideas of a lunatic which was followed by other lunatics. His father is forced to support these lunatics to keep his family save. And what does his father get? Seven years prison. Poverty. Children's has to live without there father's affection for seven years. For all, he knew that the wizarding world has good riddance with that evil, bastard Voldemort. Thanks to the boy-who-lived Harry Potter.
His train of thoughts was interrupted when he noted that Mrs. Lovegood leads them to an old shop with lots of boxes placed on the shelves.
"So Ronald. You told me that you have an old wand," asked Mrs. Lovegood.
What is the matter? "Yeah. I have Charlie's old wand." He replied confused.
"You know that the old saying The wand chose the wizard." He nodded. "A wizard cannot perform his magic of full potential from others wand."
Then he suddenly realized Mrs. Lovegood's intentions.
"Mrs. Lovegood you don't have to buy-"
"Don't be too shy Ronald." Mrs. Lovegood interpreted. "It is the least we can do."
"Mrs. Lovegood honestly you don't have-" he started again to be interpreted.
"I am not taking no as an answer Ronald. As I said, it is the least we can do."
"You are silly, Ronald. Come on. I want to see this," said Luna before he could complain further.
As they entered the Ollivander's shop, they greeted by an old man, one of the most famous wandmakers in Britain. He looked at Ron, and his eyes lit up.
"I hope your visit is for young Mr. Weasley," he asked Mrs. Lovegood.
"Of course, Garrick," she replied.
"It is interesting to see which one matches you." Mr. Ollivander replied looking at Ron who nodded in appreciation.
Mr. Ollivander than excused himself and went inside the store. He looked back at Mrs. Lovegood.
"Mrs. Lovegood... this is too much," he said.
"A wand is one of the most important things a wizard will ever own" Mrs. Lovegood replied. "And this is noting Ronald, compared to what I owe you." She hugged Luna closer to her. "Compared to what we owe you."
He felt his ears starting to burn. He took a deep breath. "Still Mrs. Lovegood. Thank You," he replied smiling.
She smiled warmly at him before replying "Your welcome, Ronald."
A few seconds later Mr. Ollivander returns with some boxes which he assumed to be containing wands.
"Now Mr. Weasley. Let try this first." He opened the box revealing a wand of light grey wood.
Ron only touches the wand when Mr. Ollivander immediately shook his head and take it back. He gives Ron another wand of light brown wood, but nothing happened. He tried more wands to no avail.
"I think I got an idea," said Mr. Ollivander before excusing himself again.
Mr. Ollivander came back after some moments. "I think this will match." He said. "Fourteen inches, made of willow with a core of unicorn tail-hair."
The moment he touches this wand, he feels a hot sensation. The wand appears to vibrate in his hands as sparks came out from its tip. Mr. Ollivander immediately clapped his hands.
"We found a perfect match, Mr. Weasley."
They thanked Mr. Ollivander before leaving the shop. Ron told Mrs. Lovegood to head back to home. When they reach the Rookery, Ron decided it is the time to say Good Bye. When he is stepping into the fireplace to flew back to the Burrow, he saw unshed tears in Luna's eyes.
"Are you alright, Luna?" he asked.
Suddenly she tackled him in a very tight hug. They stayed there for a moment.
"I do not want to wait one year to see you again," she said in a whisper.
"Hey." He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I will be back at Christmas, and meanwhile you have Ginny to play around. So you won't be alone."
"And I will write," he added.
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Promise?" she asked.
"Promise," he confirmed.
They hugged each other one more time. Ron gave Luna and Mrs. Lovegood one more small smile before disappearing into the green flames.
A/N:
Please review, it helps a lot. Next chapter is the sorting. Any guess?
