AN:::Basically, if you're confused, Ron is the only one who survives the Battle of Hogwarts, and he goes back to make it all right. And the only reason that he won't ever really interact with Harry in this story is because, Hermione has drilled into his head, that he cannot ever meet with anyone that could potentially change his future/past so i.e.; Hermione and Harry. Thanks to my extremely lovely little sister who gave me the prompt: Ron and Harry never meet- write a story. And for her for being my unofficial beta and making this story a 13 times better. And thank you all for all of the reviews and favorites and follows! You guys make my day! *squeals and does happy dance* ahem *gestures gallantly in direction of story*

Harry looks up at the high arches of Kings Cross apprehensively, the echoes of his aunt and uncle's laughter still ringing in his ears. There's a feeling of dread in his stomach, as if all of this- Hogwarts and him being a wizard- is going to turn out wrong. Somehow, somewhere he's going to mess it all up. And now he's lost.

"Excuse me?" He asks a tall woman carrying an owl and a huge trunk. "9 ¾.." He trails off, as she points him toward two stone arches, and gives her a quick smile as a thank you.

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The train is well on its way when he meets Hermione Granger, one of the most terrifying human beings he has ever met. She spends most of the train ride alternating between grilling him about Hogwarts, dumping books about him toward Harry, and talking his ear off with complete nonsense. The only Harry gets a brief respite is when she leaves for a few minutes.

Apparently he wasn't even to get that for long. "Some idiot," Hermione announced settling herself back into the compartment "decided to show me a spell. It wasn't very impressive, of course. Didn't even work. Say, can you do some spells?"

Harry slammed his head against the window and tried to push down his impending headache.

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Harry has no idea where Hermione has got to. After hearing the disparaging comments in Charms class from Malfoy, she had disappeared tears streaking down her face. The whole of the school was in a state of wide panic of the huge mountain troll.

As he was desperately searching the crowd for her telltale bushy hair, someone slammed straight into him. "Sorry," he muttered moving away.

"Girls bathroom on second floor," a voice whispered in his ear, and Harry jerked in surprise, spinning around but there was no one anywhere near him.

In the distance he heard a loud roar followed by a shriek. Harry took off sprinting down the corridor, not noticing a red haired boy standing near the staircase watching him.

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It's after midnight when he and Hermione finally decide to sneak out, and after she's just successfully petrified Neville, Harry is more than a little terrified of her. His scar is stabbing hot needles of pain into his forehead, making it impossible to think.

They get past Fluffy, Devil's Snare and the winged keys easily enough, but Harry is struck dumb when they reach the giant chessboard.

"What the hell are we supposed to do?" He asks Hermione.

She shrugs looking scared. "I have no idea how to play chess, do you?" Harry shakes his head, the pit of fear in his stomach increasing.

"I do." A voice makes Harry and Hermione yelp and spin around. There's a boy standing in the shadows of the chess pieces, and Harry can just make out a nasty cut on his cheek, and smears of mud in his vivid red hair. The boy moves into the firelight and they cast shadows on his face that make him look older than he is; haunted and older. "I can play."

"How in the world-?" Hermione begins heatedly, but Harry waves his hand at her.

"It doesn't matter Hermione," he turns to the boy somehow feeling that he is trustworthy. "Can you play well? We need to get past them." He indicates the white players on the other side of the chess board with a growing sensation of despair. Time is running out and every second they waste, he was letting Snape get closer to the Stone.

The boy tilts his chip up irritably, the movement sending blood down his chin. "Of course I can. I wouldn't have followed you two into this bloody death trap, if I couldn't."

Hermione stiffens. "Yes, but how would you know what we would come up against?"

Harry feels a flicker of amusement and a strange fondness sweep over him as the boy's eyes widen in a panic.

"It doesn't matter." He says brusquely. "I can play, so do you want my help or not?"

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Harry wakes up with a sort of panic, the last thing he remembers is Quirrell reaching for the Stone, turning to dust…. And nothing.

"You're feeling better then?" A soft voice makes him jerk and pull the bedcovers up to chin violently. A blurred hand presses his glasses into his palm, and Harry looks up blinking at the tired form of the red haired boy from the chessboard.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Harry croaked remembering how hard he hit his head when he fell off the knight onto the marble floor.

The red haired boy cracks a grin, a tired half smile that doesn't reach his blue eyes. "I'm brilliant, mate," he says comfortably, "just looking to see if you were alright after.. You-Know-Who and-." He cuts himself off and after a pregnant pause smiles at Harry and shuffles his feet slightly. "Get some rest, Harry. I'll see you later."

Harry hurriedly raises himself up onto his elbows. "How did you know? That me and Hermione would be down there?"

The boy turns back, and Harry feels a slight sense of foreboding. His eyes are haunted and tired, and too old for a boy who is only a first year. "Get some sleep. You'll need it."

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Ta-da! The end of Harry's first year at Hogwarts without his Wheezy :). I only decided to put the parts where I knew Harry would be affected by Ron the most and change them for ex: the Hogwarts train, and not write the whole book again because.. um no. And the thing about Harry's 'feelings' is that he's going to get a slight sense that he knows Ron, but that's all it's going to be- just a feeling. And if I didn't mention this before, this story is NOT SLASH. NOTNOTNOTOTSLASH. I don't how much more clearly I could have made that. So if you have any questions or comments, please please feel free to nitpick this story to pieces. Really I'd love it. Reviews make me write faster!

DarkPrincessFangirl 3