Summer 1991

Ronald Weasley

Ron pushed the pillow against his ears and did his best to drown out the noises that haunted him. He had hoped that the night before was just a side effect of the potion he took, but it didn't seem to be. It stuck with him into the morning. Two voices, both male, one young and the other aged, whispered back and forth. They always said the same few words, the elder going first and then the younger. It made Ron want to scream.

"You could have made this world a better place."

"And I will."

He felt his eyes twitch as he listened over and over again. Receiving a second hand wand suddenly seemed like such a childish problem compared to the whispers. Which, Ron has decided, was clearly some form of prophecy. If it wasn't a prophecy, then, well, he was actually losing his mind. He wouldn't accept that but it seemed almost likely.

He has spoken to Percy in a way which he had not intended, further madness, and that scared him too. It wasn't like him to hurt people purposefully, at least not anytime before and to do so to Percy? It made him angry with himself. He felt as if he was slowly losing control and he wasn't sure how to wrestle it back. He had felt like an entirely different person at that moment, he had thought about letting Charlie die. He had almost wished it to happen.

Ron bit the inside of his cheek, he tasted iron. I'm the worst.

A knock interrupted the panic attack that threatened to take over his mind. Ron took a deep breath and called for the person to enter. Normal, normal, normal, normal.

Charlie opened the door with a scowl planted to his face. Ron had never seen his brother look as disturbed before, it worried him. He had seen Charlie fight with Bill once and even then he seemed to be in a better mood.

"How dare you!" Charlie scolded him like a child. "You've told me yourself that Percy's been helping you! Why would you tell him it's his fault that you didn't get a wand?"

Ron flinched. He didn't remember saying those words exactly but he knew he had definitely given the implication. He wondered if that's how Seers were destined to live, always swimming in regret.

"I'm sorry," he managed to say. It seemed pitiful but he didn't know how else to respond.

Charlie's gaze softened. "Good, but it's not me who you have to apologise to."

Ron rubbed the back of his neck. "I had a bad night?"

"A bad night?" Charlie asked. "You'll have a worse morning if you don't stop being a git. I know why it happened but that doesn't make what you did excusable. Now get dressed, you need to come downstairs in ten minutes, well before Mum wakes up."

"Mum?" Ron asked. Charlie only gave him a dark look in return, the kind that warned him not to ask too much.

Ron could feel some of the anger rebuild in his chest. The only reason they had ever woken up before their mother was if they were planning to do something for her. Ron could hardly stomach the thought of that. Sure, he loved her, but right now he wanted nothing to do with her. He needed to come to terms with what Charlie's old wand meant for him and that meant keeping his distance. He didn't want a repeat of the night before.

Ron decided not to change or shower. It didn't matter if he looked bad, he reasoned. He didn't care what his mother thought.

Ron followed Charlie down the stairs and into the kitchen. Percy waited for them, a worried look on his face and a quill jittering between his fingers. Ron knew he was probably worried about him or how he might react, it made him feel like a bloody awful brother.

"I'm sorry," he said to Percy. It sounded more natural than what he had said to Charlie. "I didn't mean to blame you."

A look of relief spread out on Percy's face. "I'm sorry too Ron, if I had known then I never would have accepted Hermes."

"No, that's not fair either Perce. It's not your fault, you earned him fair and square," said Ron.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "We know exactly whose fault it is." He gazed towards the stairs. "I just can't believe they would ever do that."

Ron frowned. Clearly Charlie had spent too much time in Romania and not enough time around his parents. Ron was shocked that his parents had given him the old wand, but also, it followed a trend. Strangely, Ron was glad his brother hadn't noticed. If anyone was going to be placed last then he would rather it be himself.

"Fuck me right," he said absently.

Percy told him off for swearing but Ron found that he didn't care. It was how he felt after all.

Charlie led them both into the sitting room where he reached to the top of the fireplace and collected the vase of Floo powder.

"Right, let's not take too long. I'd rather we have this done before Mum wakes up. And," Charlie paused for a second, "I want this to be a secret between the three of us."

"That's why we can't wait until she's awake?" Percy asked. Ron thought the answer was rather obvious.

"If you're going to tell them then just go back upstairs," Charlie said.

Percy didn't move.

Ron felt a sudden interest in whatever was going on. He had never conspired against his parents before at least not long enough for it to create a secret. So it seemed like whatever Charlie had planned was really bad. He wondered why the twins weren't invited. And Percy? He couldn't believe that he was standing with them. He felt as if the world had started turning backwards.

"Say this exactly as I do," Charlie held out the vase and Ron took a fistful of powder. He could have used less but didn't. You can buy me powder at least.

Charlie looked at Ron a second time. "If one of you ends up on the other side of England I'm going to be really annoyed. I'll never be allowed back here again, Mum will see to that. So, pay attention."

Percy looked a little uneasy. He shifted from one foot to the other. "Should we be doing this?"

"Nobody will know," Ron said quickly. Although he had no way of knowing that, he didn't even know what they were doing. He just wanted to let it happen.

"As long as we're fast it should be fine," said Charlie as he stepped into the fireplace. He took a deep breath. "Borgin and Burke's!"

An inferno of green flames sprouted up around Charlie in a single flash. One second he had been standing in the fireplace and the next he was gone. Ron's stomach fluttered with excitement.

"The Burkes are dark wizards…" Percy said.

Ron's heart suddenly jumped into his throat. Dark wizards? Please don't be dead, please don't be dead.

Ron stepped into the fireplace and threw the powder at his feet. "Borgin and Burke's!" He copied Charlie's words exactly.

Ron felt himself twist out of the room, wind ruffled his hair, and he squeezed together in seemingly impossible ways. His robes pressed into him like they were being blown by a strong storm and then it was over. He stood on both his feet, a hand reached out and grabbed him by the arm yanking him free of the fireplace. Ron blinked the dizziness out of his mind.

Ron realised it was Charlie who had grabbed him. Both of them stood beside another wizard, one that Ron didn't recognize. The man was stopped and old with grey greasy hair. He had a tiny pair of glasses hanging from a chain that looped around his neck and his robes were of the common sort, dirtied from work or something else. He smiled sort of creepily.

Ron took a look around, noticing that they seemed to be in some sort of shop. Products with various paper tags lined shelves and walls and even spread across the large front windows. Along the top of the walls where they almost met the ceiling, there were rows of evil-looking masks. They reminded Ron vaguely of his vision, but none were silver.

Percy appeared with a full flash and puff of green smoke. He wore a shocked look on his face and his eyes seemed to dart around nervously. Ron found himself glad for that, if the Burkes were truly bad then he hoped Percy would keep a good eye out.

"Why are we here?" Percy asked.

"Yes, indeed." The old man stepped forward. "Not often I get visitors this early in the day."

Charlie gave Percy a cold look. "Charlie Weasley, and these are my brother's. I hope you don't mind Mr Borgin, I was told your Floo was available for use."

Mr Borgin's smile widened. "Yes, of course. It's no trouble at all Master Weasley. Especially for… clean families."

"Right." Charlie rubbed the back of his neck.

"We're in Knockturn Alley," Percy stated. He looked over at the front of the shop. Ron was worried that his brother might pass out from fretting too much.

Ron knew of Knockturn Alley, he had heard lots of stories about it. It was the darker version of Diagon Alley where you could get things that would be improper to buy elsewhere. He also knew that Aurors were thin here and that crime was rather rampant. Judging from the items for sale in the shop, such as a large hangman's noose that hung from the ceiling, he could see why Percy might have been worried. Still, Charlie seemed uncomfortable but not scared. And if Charlie wasn't scared then Ron didn't see the point in being scared either. So long as they were together they could protect each other.

Besides, Mr Borgin did not appear to be a very sturdy man. Ron wondered how he would fare in a strong gust of wind. It might have been enough to break the old man's bones. And whoever the Burkes were, they could not have been too impressive either, what kind of dark wizards wasted time selling masks? I wonder if Charlie would buy me one?

"Knockturn Alley," Mr Borgin said, "is the best place to shop in all of London. You're in the best shop too young master, take a look around. Many things a boy your age might need. Perhaps something will interest you? It's been a long time since a Weasley bought something from me. Perhaps the start of a new friendship?" He shifted his eyes to Charlie.

"We just needed to use the Floo," Charlie excused. "Maybe we can come back, some other time."

"I look forward to that day," Mr Borgin said. "Until then, it will be two Knuts each for using the Floo. Double if you use it on the way back, have to pay for the powder after all."

Ron widened his eyes. That seemed like a lot of money, but Charlie simply dug around in his pocket for the coins and placed them on the old man's hand.

"A pleasure Master Weasley," Mr Borgin said and nodded.

Charlie grabbed Ron's wrist and led him through the shop and out the door. Percy followed closely behind them. Ron waited until they were outside before he snatched his hand away. Let me go, you ogre!

"Why here!?" Percy asked with a whisper. Ron wanted to know the answer too.

Two women walked by, their faces shielded from the light by large hoods, cackling as they walked. Ron felt bumps race up and down his arms.

"I'm not rich, Percy," Charlie scolded. "I can't afford to shop elsewhere."

"But here? This is a dark place. Mum and dad don't shop here."

"Well, they should, would save a lot of money."

Ron wondered if that was true. Perhaps the street wasn't crime ridden or dark at all, maybe it was just poor. He took a look around.

The three redheads seemed terribly out of place. It seemed most of the inhabitants of the alley kept themselves shrouded and hidden for whatever reason, while neither Ron nor his brothers wore hoods. A man across the way leaned against a brick building, his eyes barely visible under his cloak, but Ron could tell they were watching him. He shuddered. Not just poor.

"We won't be here long," Charlie assured them.

Charlie led them quickly across the alley to another shop that was squished precariously between two others. The one to the right sold shrunken heads that seemed to be moving in the window. Ron hoped Percy wouldn't notice.

A dinghy wooden sign hung above the single door, it read 'Moribund's' and nothing else. It seemed strange to Ron that a shop wouldn't advertise what it sold, but Charlie seemed to know anyway. He pulled open the door and pushed them inside.

The inside of the shop was filled with musty air that reeked of dried herbs. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, Ron thought, just rather different and strong. The entire shop was nothing more than a small counter, a row of shelves, and a staircase leading upwards. A shadowed figure stood behind the counter, his face barely visible in the flickering candlelight.

"Weasley's," the man said, "it's a strange day."

Charlie glanced at Ron before he looked at the man. "I'm here for a wand," he said, "for my brother."

What? Ron felt his heart start to race and his eyes opened wide as he stared at Charlie in shock. A wand for me? Why would he do that?

Ron glanced at Percy, but noticed his brother facing the opposite way. He seemed afraid of the door, as if someone would follow them into the store and murder them in front of the shopkeeper.

"A wand?" The man asked. The man opened his mouth a little, and Ron took a step backwards nearly crashing into Percy. Two pronounced fangs hung in the man's mouth. The excitement inside Ron's chest fought viciously with the worry.

"One of my friends is an Auror," said Charlie, "I know you got caught selling illegal wand cores."

The vampire stepped forward into the light. His skin was as white as parchment and his eyes were orange in colour. He laughed. "Words travel quickly for you wizards, I believe you'll find the ministry found nothing here."

"I didn't hear the end of the story," Charlie acknowledged.

The vampire shifted his gaze to Ron. They looked each other in the eyes for a moment and Ron felt a coolness race down his body. He looked away, he hated whatever that was. Bloody perv.

"You boy, the wand would be for you?" The vampire asked.

Ron looked back and nodded. He felt uncomfortable like he was being looked at as if he was prey to be had.

"I can see why your brother would want you to have one. You have a strong magical presence. Of course, most of your kind don't understand what that means. I'm sure mine do, and they have seen you in the street."

"I'm sorry," Charlie interrupted, "what do you mean by that?"

Ron shifted uncomfortably. He wondered if the vampire could tell that he was a seer. He froze for a second, he didn't hear the whispering. He couldn't recall when but at some point the sound had disappeared and he hadn't even realised it. He took a relieved breath.

The vampire laughed again. "I wouldn't linger in Knockturn Alley. Many who stay here are almost feral, they'll want to drink from the boy. Not all the vampires are as civilised as I am."

Drink my blood? Ron bit his lip. That sounds fucking horrible.

"We should leave," Percy said. He seemed almost as pale as the vampire. "It's not safe, you heard what he said."

The vampire shushed him. "Calm yourself, you are safe while in my store. It is the street itself which you must be wary of. I, Moribund, have survived twenty decades here, they will not challenge me."

Two hundred years? Ron blinked.

"We will leave as soon as Ron gets a wand," Charlie said. Ron looked up at his brother and smiled.

"Usually young wizards buy their wands from Ollivander's," Moribund said. "I have only a small selection of suitable wands for your brother. These ones must comply with your statutes on the underage." He reached under the counter and retrieved four boxes. He placed them equal distances apart in front of him. "Only these four, crafted by the Ollivander in Hogsmeade, meet that requirement."

Percy narrowed his eyes. "Why did Ollivander give them to you?"

"He did not, fortunately vampires and wizards share many vices. This particular Ollivander was an enthusiast for gambling, often with galleons he didn't truly own. We reached a fair trade for a number of wands, all with ministry traces, all gone but these four." Moribund looked over his shoulder. "Of course, I could sell you something less proper. Without the traces that the law requires."

Percy looked aghast at the suggestion. But Ron was silently intrigued. He hadn't realised that wands could be made without the trace. It opened a lot of possibilities for his future plans.

"These four are fine," Charlie said. Any ideas Ron had quickly fell out of his mind. A trace wand was still better than Charlie's old one.

"Hold out your hands," Moribund directed and Ron did as he asked.

Moribund placed the first box into his hands. "Tell me how you feel?"

Ron frowned. He felt slightly sick but he had since the night before. "Normally."

The vampire snatched the box from his hands and quickly replaced it with another. The new box felt warm like it had been sitting in the sun for some time.

"It's warm," Ron said.

"Closer," Moribund said. He took the second box and once again replaced it with a third.

The box seemed to vibrate in Ron's hands. It was far warmer than the one before, like running his hands under hot water. There was a rhythmic thump in the way the heat rose and fell away. It was pleasurable, calming, and nothing like anything else Ron had ever held.

"This is the one," Moribund said and smiled. "You can tell by the gleam in his eyes."

"Ron?" Charlie asked.

Ron nodded. He placed the box back on the counter and slid it open slowly, afraid to damage it or accidently do something wrong. The wand inside was breathtaking, he had never seen a more beautiful wand before. It was fourteen inches long, and made of a reddish wood. The handle was a tree branch with a sharp-headed snake twirled around it. Ron ran his finger across the wand, it hummed with his touch. He felt it call for him to hold it.

"An interesting choice," Moribund commented. "Redwood is a rare tree, the material exceptionally hard to come by. It is said that a wizard with a redwood wand is exceptionally lucky."

Ron grimaced slightly, he knew he was anything but lucky. Lucky people didn't become seers by falling off of their brooms. Did anybody become seers by falling off their brooms? Or just crazy?

"Of course, I don't believe in luck," the vampire continued. "This one is also rigid with a dragon heartstring core. A very interesting combination. An expensive combination."

Ron frowned. How much did a wand cost? He looked up to Charlie and felt guilt swell in his chest. "You don't have to," he said half heartedly.

"I do have to," Charlie said. "I'm your older brother, if I don't then no one else will."

"Thank you," he whispered, not sure of what else to say.

"Another arrangement perhaps?" Moribund asked. "A vial of blood for the wand."

"You want my blood?" Charlie sounded disgusted.

"No," he said quickly. Moribund shifted his eyes to Ron. "His blood is potent."

Ron tensed his shoulders. Would he trade his own blood for a wand? He glanced up at Charlie. For him, Ron thought. He'd trade his blood to save his brother.

"No," Charlie answered for him. "I'll pay in Galleons."

"A pity," the vampire licked his lips again. "Four Galleons will do."

Charlie handed over the four golden coins.

An uncomfortable feeling spread across Ron's chest. "It's a lot of money, Charlie."

His brother smiled down at him. "I'm a dragon tamer Ron, it's not the worst job in the world."

Ron looked back at the wand in his hand. It was the best thing he had ever owned and it was certainly the best gift he had ever been given. He would have saved Charlie a thousand times just because he was Ron's brother, but he had another reason now too, Charlie had given him the opportunity to be a real wizard. An opportunity even his parents wouldn't give him. Ron quickly wrapped his arms around his brother's torso and hugged him tightly.