Small mistakes are normal for us all, perhaps the most human thing we do.

However they are the life blood of change and progress. Learning from our mistakes, growing as human beings is something that all of us should aspire to, be we the most powerful of Sorcerers or the meekest of wizards.

If we keep replicating those small mistakes, again and again, repeating poor choices or ignoring the million off-hand excuses that go with them, then that is where problems begin.

Because those small mistakes will compound into something larger and more toxic than they should.

- The Cycle of Light to Dark to Light Again by Lucy Bobbit

It was profoundly bizarre to find himself sitting at the Gryffindor table again, except without Harry and Hermione.

It reminded him distinctly of Fourth year, when he'd been stupid enough to think Harry had been after glory. When some lunches and some dinners Hermione went and sat with Harry and he'd stuck with Seamus and Dean. He'd missed Harry then, but at least he'd been able to hold onto his anger as a consolation.

Merlin he'd been such an ass.

Sure they'd all made mistakes, Harry shouting bloody Voldemort's name despite knowing it was taboo, Harry charging them all into the Ministry of Magic to rescue Sirius, Hermione…okay her mistakes had been a lot smaller.

But his mistakes felt bigger. Felt somehow more profound.

Because they'd been repeated.

He hadn't learned the first time around, hadn't learned to trust his best mate, hadn't learned that loyalty was just as important as bravery. That being the hero meant making sacrifices, and sometimes it was just as heroic, and just as important to be there to hold your friends steady.

He'd learned now.

"You are an interesting one Ron Weasley," the hat had mused, "You've learned the value in the simple, the true the solid. You'd be quite at home among the Hufflepuffs."

For a moment he'd imagined it. Not the image of the house of duffers, but a close knit and supportive community. Longing filled him.

And then he thought about his mum. And his dad. He thought about Bill and Charlie and Percy and Fred and George and Ginny. Every single one of them had been Gryffindors.

And suddenly the heartbreak hit him.

If he left Gryffindor, it would feel like losing them again. Because they were gone. And it was worse than them being dead. Now…they no longer existed. No one would or could remember them.

They were gone. Erased.

By him essentially.

The hat had chuckled softly in his mind.

"You don't change because of the House you are in, Mr Weasley, who you are, the lessons you have learned, those are a part of you. It is what your House can give you, what you learn from them…"

For a moment he wavered, but then he thought of Harry and Hermione in Slytherin. It would be easier to be in Hufflepuff, no one would judge a Hufflepuff being friends with Slytherins. He would be safe and appreciated there. It would be easy.

But…

Did he want it easy?

Ironically the first time round he had wanted easy. He wanted to skate through, to have Hermione carry his academics and Harry carry his social status. Not consciously, but when he looked back… he could have been so much more.

This time, he would be.

And so Gryffindor it was.

He settled down and tucked into the meal, Hogwarts food was great no matter the time period it seemed, and began to meet his new housemates.

The boy he was sitting next to was a boy with tousled black hair and sharp dark eyes named Ross Robins. He rolled his eyes as he said it, a crooked smile on his lips, "Mum was a bit of a fan of alliteration." he informed Ron, "Ridiculous really but now I'm stuck with it."

Across from them was a girl with hair as red as his own. She was obviously far taller than the other girls nearby, and she slumped a little in her seat to blend in a little more. Her name was Kara Thompson and she stayed quiet, though Ron noticed her eyes flicking around the table, obviously listening to everyone.

Next to her was a boy with dark skin and short black hair. His face was strangely familiar up until his introduction as Albert Johnson, and Ron realised this had to be Angelina's grandfather. It was a bit of a shock really, the reminder that he was going to be attending school with the men and women who were his childhood friends and companions' ancestors.

Most of the names were vaguely familiar but not, up until the awkward, eager boy on his other side introduced himself.

"Nobby Leach." he grinned nervously and Ron almost choked on his tongue.

Ross thumped him on his back as he wheezed, "Sorry," he pressed a fist to his chest, "Pumpkin juice down the wrong pipe."

Nobby just nodded at him, and turned back to his roast, leaving Ron to quietly freak out about the first Muggleborn Minister for Magic sitting next to him.

Helplessly, he looked across the hall and caught Harry's eye. Harry looked comfortable, where he was, Hermione next to him with her face impassive and a little imperious. For a moment Ron felt the old bitterness, the old worry that he was unneeded, unwanted. But then Harry smiled his way, waving a little in that irredeemably dorky way he had, and all of Ron's prickles were soothed.

"Waving at Slytherins Weasley?" A sharp voice broke into his concentration and he blinked as he looked over at a boy with thick heavy set features and glaring dark eyes. Again he was hit with a wave of familiarity, "Don't you know almost all dark wizards come from that House?"

Ron blinked as Ross snickered beside him.

"Actually," he corrected, feeling as though Hermione had possessed his body for a moment, "The only Hogwarts House to NOT have produced a Dark Wizard or two, is Hufflepuff."

The boy across the table narrowed his eyes at him as Ross' snickering intensified, "Shut your mouth Robins, no one thinks you're clever," he snarled at the boy beside Ron, who began cackling instead, "And what do you know," he turned back to Ron, sneering, "My parents are Aurors, and so were my grandparents."

Ron felt irritation prick at him, "What, and they tell you everything? If they were good Aurors they would have warned you against the danger of sweeping generalities."

"Merlin's knickerkneazles," Ross wheezed, "Weasley…"

The boy across the table thumped his fist against the wood, "You're lucky I don't teach you a lesson for that."

Ron couldn't help himself, "Oh I'd like to see you try."

The other lunged out of his seat but before he could do anything, another sharp voice cut across the voices, "You two! Pipe down!" an older prefect glared at them and sullenly the boy grabbed his plate and moved down the table.

"Not going to sit next to a traitor." he shot at Ron as he went, followed by another apologetic looking boy and a haughty looking girl, who flipped her dark hair over her shoulders.

Ron rolled his eyes, and Ross shook his head at him.

"I'll give you this Weasley, you certainly don't lack for guts. Going up against Moody like that. I grew up with the stubborn bugger and even I would think twice about doing that."

Ron paused, food halfway towards his mouth.

"I'm sorry what?"

Ross cocked his head to the side, mouth full of something, "Bwah?" he asked, food making the sound unrecognisable.

Across the table Ron saw Kara roll her eyes.

"What did you say his name was?"

"Oh," Ross swallowed, "Yeah that's Moody. Alastor Moody, family of Aurors that one and it makes them a bit batty really."

"Oh…" Ron echoed faintly, looking helplessly across the hall to Harry again, who was watching him worriedly, "Right."

After the Feast ended, Ron met up with Harry and Hermione in the entrance hall, finding them with surprising ease among the hordes of schoolchildren.

It seemed like some things you never lost.

"What was all that about?" Harry asked him quietly, green eyes earnest and concerned.

"Oh Ron," Hermione sighed, after he told them quickly, "You don't want to make enemies."

"I'm not going to let them say stuff about you guys," Ron crossed his arms, "I don't care about some stupid…"

"Honestly Weasley," Malfoy appeared at their elbows, looking haughty but also weird with his new blue trimmings on his robes, "It was a toss up between you and Potter for first to piss someone off."

He shoved his shoulder into Malfoy's because he knew that the other was being a brat out of concern, but he also couldn't let it slide, "Shut your face Malfoy."

Malfoy grinned at him, until suddenly he paled and looked down, almost shrinking.

"Potter, Granger, Weasley…" Riddle joined them, eyes flicking between them all, "And…Malfoy wasn't it?" Malfoy's head nodded jerkily but he didn't look up, "Hmm…" he turned back to Harry and Hermione, "You two coming? The Prefect is herding the others downstairs."

He sounded perfectly bored, like he couldn't care less, but Ron was shocked to realise that he actually cared very much. He wanted Harry and Hermione to go with him.

"You should go," he blurted and ignored Harry's incredulous look, "Last thing you want is to not even know where your Common Room is. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Okay…" Harry hesitated, "You sure?"

"Sure," Ron gave him a small reassuring smile, "I gotta head off anyway."

Hermione's own smile was soft as he met her gaze before she turned, giving Riddle a conspiratorial grin, "I'm excited to see the Slytherin Common Room aren't you? Hogwarts: a History makes it sound-"

The two of them walked off, brown curly hair bent close to raven black as they animatedly discussed the Slytherin common room's description, but Harry lingered for a moment.

"Ron…"

Ron simply nodded to him. He knew why Harry hesitated, he was feeling it too. It was weird, almost fundamentally wrong that he should go to sleep in Gryffindor tower, in their old dorm room and not have Harry there with him.

It was weird. It was bizarre.

He would miss him.

Harry's green eyes studied him, expression serious, before he too nodded and went.

Leaving Ron with Malfoy.

"What's up with you then?" he asked the blond, who was still pale and watching Riddle like he was about to Hex him, "You know that's not You-Know-Who right? You can't keep twitching like he's going to bite you."

Malfoy sneered at him, drawing himself up haughtily, "I wouldn't expect anyone with your exceptionally limited emotional capacity to understand Weasley."

Ron scowled.

He wasn't stupid, and he was tired of people thinking that he was, so he stormed towards the stairs, following the trail of Gryffindors.

In a flash Malfoy followed him, close to his side, "I-" he shuffled as the red and blue students slowly trickled up the stairs, "That was…unfair of me."

"Yeah," Ron agreed, tone a little more aggressive than he meant. Quickly he tempered it, "It was. But…thanks."

Malfoy nodded and the two of them lapsed into uneasy silence.

"Weasley!" he looked up and saw Kara and Ross waving further ahead, above where the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws split.

"Well," Malfoy shrugged, "See you tomorrow Weasley. Red is a ridiculous colour."

Ron grinned, "Later, Malfoy."

The blond sniffed haughtily and stalked up the stairs, falling into step with two girls, one with raven black hair and the other a golden blonde. The girl with black hair looked back once, and considered him, her dark gaze unreadable, before continuing on her journey.

Ron watched them go, and then turned to join Ross and Kara as they climbed to Gryffindor tower.

He warded his possessions and his bed.

Just in case.

"Constant vigilance." he muttered under his breath as he did, chuckling softly, "Better safe than sorry,"

The next day was thankfully a Friday, and classes weren't scheduled to begin until the upcoming Monday. Which meant that the students were able to get settled over the long weekend, enjoy the early autumn sun and relax.

He, Harry, Hermione and Draco had decided to have breakfast outdoors by the lake, the four of them huddling together and talking quietly about what their next steps were.

"We weren't sure if we were going to be able to stay under His radar," Ron murmured, lounging on his back, "Now we're definitely not. He's got his eye on you two."

Harry squirmed uncomfortably but Hermione nodded, practical as ever.

"Harry and his wand sharing a core caught his attention." Hermione mused, "But… he's not what I expected."

Ron nodded, he knew what she meant. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd envisioned, a psychopath maybe? Someone who's evilness was obvious? Even though he'd known that wasn't true. No one had connected Tom Riddle with Voldemort.

Still…

He hadn't expected Tom Riddle.

"He reminds me of you," he admitted to Harry, who blinked down at him in surprise, "You that first year. Kind of unsure, lonely…"

Malfoy snorted, and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Crossed with this git of course."

That earned him a sandwich crust pegged at his head.

Harry grinned at them, but then his smile dropped away, "Something weird happened, when I met Riddle on the train. As soon as I looked at him it was like… like my magic was fizzing under my skin."

Malfoy sat up sharply and Ron couldn't blame him, he was equally as shocked, but he decided to ask more questions before jumping to conclusions.

"Was it painful?"

Harry shook his head, "No, it was exciting, or angry, or agitated… but not painful."

Ron glanced at Malfoy, who was paler than normal.

"It can't be right?" the blond asked, but his voice was uncertain.

"Can't be what?" Harry glanced between them, almost resignedly, "Something weird and unusual?"

"Same as always mate," Ron nodded slowly, "There's this thing that happens. No one knows why, but some of the greatest rivals, and the greatest love stories of Wizardkind have it. That you feel your magic… "awaken"" he did his best romantic and mystical voice while his fingers sketched quotation marks around the word, "in the presence of your destined Love or Enemy."

Harry pulled a face, "Love? Not on your life."

"No… but it's not so far fetched that this phenomenon is happening to you Harry." Hermione looked thoughtful, "Your birth was heralded by a prophecy, you were chosen by Him as his enemy…he tried to kill you and instead turned you into a…" she pulled a face and all of them copied her. None of them liked saying the word, especially in this time, "Your battle was a Crossroads event in time. It's not so strange…"

"It's very strange," drawled Malfoy primly, "Historians and the publications are torn on the whole destined enemy and destined… romance. It's very strange to think of you and…Him…er."

Ron made a puking noise and Harry snickered, looking relieved, "I'm not thinking about it." he shook his head, "Destined enemies though? Hermione's right, we've always been that."

"There's lots of theories on it actually," Hermione wiggled a little bit, as she always did when they discussed the intricacies of some obscure magic, "The idea that the magic is almost sentient, and always seeks balance. Faced with the imbalance of Voldemort's rise…it balanced it all out with you."

"Took its time, didn't it," Ron stretched, "Voldemort had been on the rise since school? And then ten years of open war? Why did the magic take so long if that was the case?"

Hermione shrugged, "Time is subjective Ron, it doesn't always end up being precise."

"Not true Granger," Malfoy huffed, "Look at Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Intricately intertwined from early on. Same with Potter and the Dark Lord, at least once Potter was born."

Harry tilted his head to the side, "You think Dumbledore and Grindelwald were…"

"Dimitera." Hermione interjected, "It means, loosely, the other half or the halves in balance."

"Skeeter's book certainly implied a deeper connection than just mere friends," Malfoy mused, "But even she stopped before suggesting Dimitera. Most people think it's a myth…or a lie. But I'd have to be willfully blind to ignore the evidence before my eyes. There are similarities, between the conflict of Dumbledore and Grindelwald and you and Him, Potter."

"Maybe He was meant to be the foil again for Dumbledore?" Harry mused, "Balance means that one side can't be too far in power. Maybe with Grindelwald being defeated, Voldemort rose to take that place…"

"Maybe…" Hermione frowned, "I don't think so though. It would fit more that the balance to the potential evil of Him would rise at the same time… like at school with him. Or another magical school I suppose."

"And here Potter is," Malfoy gestured dramatically, "His foil, rising at the same time at school. Ready to be his destined enemy. Or lover."

"Either way," Ron snickered as Harry tackled Malfoy back against the dirt, "At the moment if I was to guess, I think he wants to be your friend."

"Your precious Dumbledore said that he was incapable of it," Malfoy sneered, shoving Harry away to fix his hair, "Maybe we've been taken in."

Hermione shook her head and Harry sighed, sitting back up, "I don't think we have. And I know… no one thought that they had either, but." he shifted, "The memory that Dumbledore had, it was slightly…I dunno. He looked, felt, different. I think Dumbledore saw some of Grindelwald in him…and immediately was guarded and suspicious."

They all considered this quietly.

However they weren't allowed to brood for long. Soon Ross and Kara found them, and being Gryffindors decided to just stride up, introduce themselves and sit. Ross lounged on the grass next to Ron, completely relaxed, where Kara sat a little more awkwardly, long coltish limbs ungainly.

"Weasley here decided to piss off Moody on the first night," Ross informed the group, grinning easily, dark eyes wicked, "That makes him a good stick in my book."

Harry shot Ron a grin, even as Hermione shook her head fondly. Ron shifted a little, bashful and pleased at the attention, and that it seemed that Ross and Kara had firmly decided that they were friends.

However it seemed that the Gryffindors' bravery merely opened the floodgates.

Soon enough another pack of students crossed the lawn to join them.

"Malfoy," the dark haired Ravenclaw girl from the night before drawled, tone wry, "Consorting with Gryffindors?"

She was obviously teasing, and Malfoy rolled his eyes at her, even as he seemed to relax, "Selwyn," he replied, voice just as droll, "Did you only just manage to roll out of bed? Hardly the work ethic of a Ravenclaw."

"Draco," Hermione scolded softly, but the girl chuckled throatily, taking a seat on the grass with perfect ease. She was very pretty like a porcelain doll with her dark hair and wicked eyes. The other two girls with her were pretty too, one in Slytherin green with pale, pale blonde hair and a crooked smile, and the other in Hufflepuff gold, round faced, with the brightest and warmest smile he'd seen in ages.

"Don't worry, I'm hardly offended," The dark haired girl assured Hermione, lounging elegantly, "I'm Aurora Selwyn, and that's Druella Rosier and Tierra Hawthorne."

The surnames of course were mostly familiar, Selwyn being one of the most respected pure-blood families who had managed to completely stay out of the conflict and remain untouched, and of course Rosier… allies to Him.

But this particular Rosier merely dimpled at him prettily, and he had to remind himself that these were children. First Years. In another life they'd had to make terrible choices.

In this one…they had options, even if they didn't know it yet.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione staring at the Hufflepuff girl, a small frown on her face, like she was trying to place something. But when he caught her eye, she shook her head and brushed it off.

Harry too was looking between the three girls with a small frown, but before Ron could catch his eye, even more people joined them.

The other Malfoy sauntered over, gaze locked on Draco, and introduced himself as Abraxas. Arrogant and obnoxious of course. Bloody hell, two Malfoys…

He'd been flanked by two boys, who turned out to be another Rosier, Druella's twin Sebastian "Call me Bash" Rosier, and a quiet, dark eyed boy who turned out to be Rexton Lestrange.

It was weird, everyone was a bit awkward with each other, some knew each other from childhood, others were new friends. Abraxas Malfoy's and Lestrange's lips curled when Kara was introduced, and the obviously muggleborn witch stared them down with a stubborn grit to her jaw.

But that was the only unpleasantness, and soon enough conversation began to flow, discussing their upcoming classes and Quidditch. It blurred the lines until finally Gryffindors were happily chatting with Slytherins and the Ravenclaws slyly egging them on. The one Hufflepuff girl, Ron couldn't remember her name, and it had only been half an hour, laughed at them all, comfortable and relaxed.

Ron was reeling with the unreality of the whole experience and the sheer number of children who'd decided to join their circle, when he caught sight of Riddle on the steps to the castle.

He was looking at them all, and there was an expression on his face that made Ron's ribs hurt.

It was painfully familiar.

It was unsure, and hesitant, and a little resentful.

Riddle wasn't sure if he was wanted.

Riddle felt unwelcome.

Before he could stop it, Ron's hand raised and he waved over at the dark haired boy, who's expression shifted to immediate blankness.

"Oi!" he called, "Riddle! C'mere!" and he waved him over.

Riddle hesitated, but Ron kept the smile on his face, and out of the corner of his eye he saw both Harry and Hermione turn towards him too, beckoning.

Riddle's face shifted, and he walked over carefully, unhurried like he wasn't eager or wasn't bothered, and sat down between Harry and Ron.

"Granger, Potter," he greeted, "Weasley."

Harry gently bonked his shoulder into his and proceeded to introduce him to the circle, most of them greeting him happily enough. But Ron could see that Riddle's face had relaxed, and there was something like pleasure in his eyes.

He reminds me of you… he'd told Harry.

But he realised that Riddle also reminded him of himself.

It was actually difficult writing from Ron's perspective, out of all the characters in the books he was always the one I understood/identified with the least, but I did always appreciate him, and wanted to do him justice.

This is why this chapter took a little longer. I wanted to make sure I got it right. I hope you enjoyed, and I hoped I did indeed get it right!

Reviews!

Shiara - I am so glad you enjoyed the Sorting, I know you were looking forward to it. And yes I am building to the first introduction of Harry and Tom and Dumbledore, should be very interesting indeed.

amk41196 - Don't worry, i don't approve of bashing characters, I just like to look at them as the flawed beings they are. Dumbledore has great traits, but also terrible flaws. Its important to look at both.

Doreene - It was a bit of a ride wasn't it. And yes, poor Draco is far more traumatised than he ever realised. Which was an integral part of his Sorting. Glad you enjoyed!

Sartel - Thank you!

Lord Anubis Judge of the dead - Thank you, I enjoy the time travel stories, and I always love seeing new perspectives on seemingly 'irredeemable' characters. My firm belief is that no one is born evil, they may have traits towards evil behaviours but I never want anyone to be looked at as simply 'evil'. Even historical figures. We have to look at them as human, otherwise its too easy to dismiss them and ignore the patterns that made them.

Guest - And here is the more you asked for!