He realised it pretty early in life that while he wasn't not wanted, he was the least wanted.
Looking back on it, he was always well, forgotten? He admitted it was slightly justified. They'd just come out of a war. They're family was pretty scattered. His parents had other children - and he was the least noticeable. It may have been different if he had a younger sibling who was a boy, but Ginny, as the youngest and only girl, couldn't exactly be his closest sibling. She was coddled by their mum and of course, liked their more older siblings. Not that they weren't close, but it was difficult for him to be close to someone he was admittedly a bit jealous of. Just a bit.
He guessed it was why he didn't bat an when he got Charlie's old wand. His mother had apologised profusely, so Ron figured she was really sorry. She said that they'd head to Knocturn to get one more suited for him, or well, she said that their Great Aunt Lucretia knew someone with good quality Black market supplies, but it was a bit of information Molly had never been able to get from her Aunt. So his mum did the next best thing - sent him off with their Black family relation into a possibly illegal store to do some possible illegal things. After all, there were only two ways two procure a wand - and everyone and their mother knew that grave digging was a taboo.
All in all, it was the normal occurrence in the Weasley household. Or well, the Prewett side of it at least.
Plus, Lucretia would finally have someone to help her with more of her shady shopping sprees, since Charlie had left, Percy was traumatised from an encounter with some cursed books, and the twins created chaos wherever they went.
It was a week from Hogwarts when Lucretia decided she was out of Bloodroot, whatever that was, Ron decided it was best if he didn't know. So they finally headed out for Ron's wand (Lucretia still hadn't caved and told Molly).
A lot of family's from a particular side of the social spectrum were common in the Alley. The Weasleys and Prewetts were one of them, same with the Malfoys. Pretty much anyone remotely related to the Blacks - Ron supposed after he saw several prominently Hufflepuff families make their way down. Then he also reasoned that Hogwarts houses didn't matter too much in the outside world, especially since one of the Hufflepuff broods had nearly killed one of the shopkeepers. It was a real eye opener. But he would still never listen to anyone who said that Slytherin was not evil. After all, the Weasley's had a pretty Slytherin family. And meeting their Grandmother Cederella, or seeing their Great Aunt and Uncle Lucretia and Ignatius and pretty much all their extended family, they knew that being in Slytherin didn't make you bad per se, the House just tended to collect people with different ethical limits.
Ethical limit was how their parents had phrased it.
He still didn't know how his family were considered Gryffindor over Slytherin. He supposed that they needed more than loose ethical limits to get into the house of Green and Silver. Or maybe they just had more boldness and daring than cunning or resourcefulness? But thinking to how they made due Arthur's meagre salary, and the fact that they had a flying car in the shed, Ron decided that a House really doesn't reflect anything.
Of course, he'd already been told that - in fact, Fred and George in their small moments of niceness, had said that he'd be their brother no matter the house. But they'd also said that if he ended up a bookish Ravenclaw they'd disown him on the spot.
He supposed it was fair.
Shopping with Aunt Lucretia was pretty interesting, he had to admit. It could be quite a bore, and it was a one sided conversation fully fueled by his Aunt, but at least they met some pretty interesting characters.
They'd met the Malfoy's on the way into one of the sketchy book shops Lucretia - and in turn Percy, loved.
("Lucius, how have you been," Lucretia had asked with a falseness evident to everyone.
Narcissa sighed, and Draco and Ron, loathe as they were to admit it, shared another look. There was no love lost between the Blacks and the Malfoys. After all, Narcissa and Lucius were only married because their parents had lost a bet to the Bones', which was naturally signed with blood.
Of course, everyone knew it was the drunk Malfoy who'd agreed to it in the first place. But despite their animosity for the Malfoys, his parents had admitted that they'd taken the news in stride, after nearly tearing apart the Slytherin Common Room of course.
"I am well, just finishing some last minute shopping for Draco," Lucius had replied in a cordial manner.
"And I hope you are well Auntie?" Narcissa added, respecfully bowing before giving Lucretia a warm hug. "I see you have another helper now that Charles has left?"
Narcissa gave him a tight smile because even though Ron didn't know at the time, he was Lucretia's favourite. Lucius, despite his feud with Arthur, refrained from sneering at the younger Weasley, likely for fear of the elderly Prewett.)
They'd met a potions person called Severus, who Ron learnt was Professor Snape from Hogwarts.
("Severus," Lucretia said, sliding in line at Nocty Potente, that had the premium black market products that the both were looking for.
"Ms Black," the greasy haired wizard drawled, and bowed slightly in respect. "I hope you are well."
"As well as I can be," Lucretia responded. "Still not in Azkaban I see."
Ron had a feeling that he shouldn't have been there, but his Aunt kept a firm grip on his shoulder to keep him from moving.
Severus froze and turned a pasty white.
"I hope you remember that you are more the guilty one than him," Lucretia went on. "And I do have enough evidence for that, at least."
There was now a slight tremor in his voice, "Of course I know that."
Even Ron could tell he was reluctant to admit it.
"I thought that he would sort it out, being the sentimental fool that he is," the man ran a hand over his face. "I suppose you would like me to do something?"
Lucretia nodded, "Send the potion to that wolf boy, I saw him the other day. And if any of them were here, they'd be taking care of him."
The man went even paler.
"Of course," he simply nodded, not before turning his eyes to Ron, who was still stuck with Lucretia despite his varying attempts to get away.
"Oh, of course. This is Ronald, about to start his first year," Lucretia introduced and Severus raised an eyebrow. "And Ronald, this is Professor Snape, the potions master."
"Pleasure," they managed to say at the same time. Although Snape seemed less than pleased that a Weasley had listened into their conversation.
Of course, Ron wouldn't know what it was about for another few years.)
Ron felt like he was being dragged from one Black family drama to another when they ran into the Tonks' on their way out of the Alley. Only after knocking over a hag as they were trying to avoid Aunt Muriel.
("Aunt Lucretia," Andromeda gave a short bow, similar to the one's everyone else had given. The Weasleys didn't really care about that sort of stuff. Neither did the Prewetts, especially for family.
Ron recognised the witch next to the tall lady - Nymphadora, she had been one of Charlie's friends.
"Andromeda," Lucretia let her scathing eye run over Andromeda, who held her head eye, and her daughter, who stared back with the same vigour. "Nymphadora."
"Ms Black," Nymphadora fought back her glare and gave a short nod of her head, which turned into a short bow at a glare from her mother.
Once again, Ron tried to escape the confrontation. Once again, his Aunt held his shoulder. So he just stood their and snagged a never ending lollipop from his Aunt's pocket.
Everyone knew about what had happened between the family. Andromeda ran away with her muggle born boyfriend, defying her family and going against their pureblood beliefs. Ron just supposed Lucretia wasn't the most open person. Or maybe she was just upset that they left her? Ron remembered his mum saying something like that the other day.
Lucretia had shifted their conversation into the shady bar on the outskirts of the Alley, 'The Tavern'. Ron was siting in the corner of the booth, sipping on his butter beer and trying to ignore the rigid atmosphere. This was really none of his business, thank you very much, and he'd like to keep it that way.
"I suppose you have graduated by now, Nymphadora?"
"Yes ma'am," she said (Ron personally thought that the ma'am part was more prompted by Mrs Tonks' side eyes). "I've begun training to be an Auror."
Lucretia nodded and took another sip of her drink.
"Under Alastor I heard," Lucretia nodded again, not letting even a small smile show. "And how is the hospital, Andromeda?"
"It is well. I am the director of the emergency aid ward," she regaled, though you could tell from the tapping of her fingers that she was nervous about something. Their equally dark grey eyes darted around, with Nymphadora keeping her eyes down at her glass of Gillywater. Ron was doing the same. Mostly because it was getting boring.
"It is a wonderful achievement," Lucretia smiled which seemed to settle down Mrs Tonks. "How is your husband? Ted?"
Mrs Tonks swallowed nervously and even Ron and Tonks looked up from their glasses. Although Ron was pinched sharply on the arm and turned back down.
"He is well, we came back from France the other day - he was meeting one of his clients there. A lawyer, you see," she rambled for a bit.
Lucretia nodded.
"As long as he's not grown his hair out like that Malfoy," she drawled. "If not for Narcissa I would have assumed he was gay."
Nymphadora snorted and even Mrs Tonks smiled.
"Thank you," Mrs Tonks said, letting her eyes speak.
Lucretia nodded, "As long as you are still happy, child.")
Then they walked out of there as fast as they could. Ron assumed it was because the old hag from before was giving them an odd look.
"So Ronald, happy with your wand?"
And there was the fun Aunt Lucretia that Ron knew - she'd finally made an appearance.
"Yes ma'am," Ron saluted, earning him a light smack on the head and a chuckle.
"Merlin, little Nymphadora looked like she hated that," his aunt snorted, ruffling up his hair. "But Cedar and Dragon Heartstring is a strong combination, even if it is not properly your own."
Ron nodded.
"Maybe next year," he said, grimacing at the reminder.
"Oh honestly why does Molly not accept any of my help?" Lucretia rolled her eyes as they wafted through the crowded Diagon Alley. "If you don't have one by next year, I will be buying yours myself."
"Maybe I should find a summer job?" Ron mused aloud. "At least that way I can pay for the things I want."
"Not a bad idea I suppose," his Aunt replied, although she was clearly averse to the idea. "But also remember, if anyone asks the wand is -"
"I know, Charlie's old one," Ron said. He wasn't that daft.
They reached the floo at the Cauldron, ready to go their separate ways.
"Be safe at Hogwarts, and write," Lucretia assessed him with her keen eyes and sent him off with a kiss on his forehead.
Ron knew that this was going to be an interesting year. He also knew a lot of interesting gossip that he was dying to share - hopefully Percy was around.