The family set off into Diagon Alley with the twins steadily complaining more and more about the weight of the bags containing their school robes. Ron drowned out the twins whinging and the Alley's lively chatter as he mulled over his first attempt at magic with his wand. Even Ginny's none-stop talk about Harry Potter had been briefly replaced by words of praise for opening the passage all by himself. It had done a lot to reassure his confidence.
The street was abuzz with activity – witches and wizards of all ages hurrying along, vendors calling out their wares, and the occasional burst of magical fireworks. Ron marvelled at the array of shops lining the street but knew his family couldn't afford most of their wares.
"Look at that!" George exclaimed, pulling his twin brother to the side to look on a Quidditch supplies store window.
Fred let out an impressed whistle, "The Nimbus 2000, if it's as fast as they say, even we might have a hard time hitting anyone riding it."
"It'll be the new golden standard for Seekers for sure, but your Cleansweeps will be enough to stay in Bludger range," said Charlie, before pulling the twins away from the window.
Ron frowned. The family made a point of buying a decent (if usually 2nd hand) broom whenever one of their sons made the team. The Cleansweep Five was an old but still competitive broom for Keepers and Beaters. Charlie had even been given a brand-new Comet 260 when he made Gryffindor's team captain. Ron, in comparison, could only use one of the burrow's old Shooting Stars, which had last been competitive during his parents' Hogwarts years decades ago and had steadily declined in speed ever since.
The family made their way to Gringotts past a shop selling self-stirring cauldrons of various types and sizes. Ron noticed a line of students eagerly discussing the coming school year and felt the return of his jealousy as many of them walked around in brand-new Hogwarts robes.
"Are you sure we can afford to buy one for Percy?" asked Arthur as they passed by the Owl Emporium. Owls didn't come cheap, but Ron didn't think Errol would survive another year as the sole Weasley owl, especially with another Hogwarts year just around the corner.
"If we buy everything else 2nd hand, we'll manage," said Molly, looking unsure.
"Oh, that reminds me, congratulations on making Prefect Percy!" said Charlie, before grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the owl shop despite his initial protests.
"And where are you two going?" demanded Molly as they left the group.
"As former Prefects, Bill and I decided to treat Percy and buy him an owl," announced Charlie, having to raise his volume to be heard as he and Percy grew distant.
Their mother looked furious, "Charles Weasley! We told you and Bill time and again that we can manage! Your scholarship is for your studies! Not to help with your brothers supplies!"
"It isn't only my money Mum! Bill is paying most of it!" shouted Charlie.
"Be it as it may, come back this instant! This isn't your burden to bear!"
But the demand was lost on Charlie who had already shoved Percy into the store and followed him inside. Molly seemed half in mind to drag them out, but a gentle touch from Arthur and a few whispered words Ron couldn't hear seemed to change her mind. Ron sighed in relief, glad that Bill and Charlie had forced his parents to come to their senses. Charlie was the recipient of a generous scholarship, while Bill was earning thrice as much as their father.
As the Weasleys approached Gringotts, its tall marble pillars gleaming in the sunlight of a clear summer's day, Ron couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The grandeur of the Golbin-ran bank never failed to impress, having been constructed (according to Bill's letters) with the conscious intention of exceeding the scope of typical Wizarding architecture.
"Bill should be around here somewhere," muttered Charlie, glancing around. "there's been some trouble at the bank, so he's probably up to his neck in Gobbledygook."
As the Weasleys stepped inside the bank, they were greeted by the sight of armed Goblins hurrying about in formation, their boots clicking as one upon the gleaming marble floor. Ron could feel the weight of the tension hanging thick in the air. Even the Goblins at the counters seemed to set a more briskly pace to their work, their expressions sharp and wary.
Ron couldn't remember ever seeing guards at Gringotts, but now the place seemed packed with them. They were armed with all manner of spears, swords, maces and crossbows, each clad in a dark uniform and chest armour. The bank's main floor seemed almost empty of wizards save for a few individuals who were just as eager to make themselves scarce. It was a far cry from the bustling, indifferent atmosphere Ron remembered from his last visit.
"Blimey," George muttered, eying the guards warily. "Did we walk into a Goblin Rebellion?"
Fred chuckled nervously, "We'd better take notes, or Binns will have our heads!"
"Something is definitely wrong here. I've heard rumblings of trouble at Gringotts in the Ministry, but it looks much more serious than I'd thought." Agreed Arthur.
Molly glanced around uneasily, her grip tightening on Ginny's hand. "What could've happened to make them so on edge?"
Before they could get much further into the bank, a pair of Goblin guards stepped forward, and crossed their spears their path.
"Come no further!" growled one of the Goblins, narrowing his eyes at them. "Gringotts is on high alert. We're limiting access to individuals. Choose one, the rest will have to wait."
Arthur stepped forward with an apologetic smile, raising his hands slightly to show he wasn't holding a wand. "We're here to make a withdrawal and meet our son, William Weasley, he works for you as a curse breaker. He's supposed to be here today, have you seen him?"
The Goblin didn't seem at all phased at this. "Gringotts is still dealing with the security breach. We aren't taking any chances. There are too many of you to allow in at once."
A breach?" Molly repeated with alarm, "We didn't hear anything about…"
"It's alright, Ragnok. They're with me," called out a familiar voice before she could finish.
"Bill?" said Ron, recognizing the red hair endemic of a Weasley but not much else. Gone was the model student Head Boy image Ron had always associated with his oldest brother. Bill had grown, both in height, and in his hair length, which he now tied back into a ponytail. He wore a leather jacket and a pair of jeans that looked like they belonged in one of the Rock festivals the muggles often held not too far from the Burrow. His dragon-hide boots gleamed under the bank's crystal chandeliers while a fang shaped earing dangled from his left ear.
"Bill? No… it can't be, can it?" asked Fred, looking unsure.
"It's either him or a terrible Polyjuice disguise trying to be." agreed George.
Bill stopped by the Goblin giving him a respectful nod and exchanged a few strange Goblin words before saying in English "They're just here on family business. I'll vouch for them."
The Goblin hesitated, his beady eyes flicking between Bill and the other Weasleys. After a moment, he lowered his spear, prompting his companion to follow suit. "They may pass, but keep them out of our way, we can't afford any distractions while there's a thief on the loose."
The Goblin stepped aside with one last warning glare before returning to his patrol. "Did someone try to break into Gringotts?" blurted Ron, unable to contain his curiosity.
Bill glanced at Ron, his smile fading just a bit. "They didn't try, they succeeded. Fortunately, the Vault had been emptied the day before, so nothing was taken." The eldest son looked up at their parents with a puzzled expression, "I am surprised you didn't hear about it sooner. It's been all over the Prophet along with Harry Potter's visit to Diagon Alley."
"We decided to cancel our subscription. All it ever prints is Rita's old tosh, enough is enough." said Arthur, too embarrassed to admit the financial strain of paying for it to his son.
Bill frowned, "Right… at any rate, even if nothing was taken, it doesn't change the fact someone managed to get into one of the high security vaults and get away with it."
Fred and George exchanged wide-eyed looks. "Who could do that?" asked Fred.
"No idea," replied Bill as they neared one the counters. "But the Goblins are terrified about it. They recalled the Curse Breakers to take turns trying to break into Gringotts and find weak points to figure out how they did it. We've found a few, but none of us got that far."
Before Ron could ask anything more, a Goblin dressed in richly embroidered robes hurried up to Bill, his voice chipped and urgent. "Weasley, we need you to go over the Rune Occlusion layer. You bypassed it faster than we predicted in your last break-in attempt."
Bill's eyes seemed to light up at the mention of an intellectual challenge, "Ah, the Rune Layer. Right. I've seen something like it in the hieroglyphics in ancient tomb wards."
The Goblin's brow furrowed. "Surely our Runes are more advanced than that!"
Bill shook his head, "don't underestimate the magic of ancient Egypt," he said, a hint of wounded pride creeping into his voice. "The Pharaohs of old would protect their burial chambers with a similar layer of magic. The only reason we even have a chance to break into them today is the passage of time. Find the hieroglyphic that's weakened enough to disrupt the magic flow, and you can re-direct it. Some of your Runes have also weakened, though you really need to know what to look for to make any use of these weakness to break in."
"That isn't very reassuring," said the Goblin unhappily, "Our Rune Crafters assured me that they regularly restore or replace faded Runes every few decades. How is this possible?"
"That's the issue," said Bill, pulling out his wand and tracing an intricate diagram of luminescent runes into the air. "These primary Runes operate on a deeply embedded ethereal flux modulation, meaning they retain residual mana harmonics long after they've been ostensibly overwritten. Your crafters have done exemplary work in recalibrating the surface wards and reinforcing the arcane containment grid, but the underlying chrono-arcane structure still persists. By accessing the chronomantic rune lattice, you can disrupt the synchronic resonance above and destabilize the entire matrix..."
Ron's face contorted in confusion as Bill's words assumed a character even more incomprehensible than the Gobbledygook he spoke earlier. Was it still English?
"Did you understand any of that?" asked Ginny, just as befuddled as Ron.
"Not a word!" the Twins sang together until they were shushed by their father.
"Quiet boys! This is fascinating! Truly fascinating!"
Ron turned to face his father, "Really? What's he saying?"
"Bill is describing some very advance runic warding magic."
"My William has come so far!" said Molly, seemingly ready to gush with pride.
"He lost me with the romantic lettuce," mumbled Ron.
As the long-winded explanation continued, the Goblin grew ever more enraged at whatever it was Bill was telling him, "Are you certain about this? This would be scandalous!"
"Absolutely. It's a small effect, but enough to get a would-be thief past that layer. Unlike the tombs it's more a case of unexpected interruptions from the old Runes surviving beneath the modern grid. It isn't the crafters' fault really, but more of a case of the work of your forefathers enduring well past expectations. Surely there's some pride in that?"
"Perhaps," muttered the Goblin, looking somewhat mollified. "But pride alone doesn't make us any gold. I will tell the Rune crafters to expect your assistance in two hours. You may take a break until then."
"Of course, Lord-Manager," agreed Bill with a respectful bow.
"Well… that was something," said Ron breaking the silence as the Goblin walked away.
Bill merely smiled at him and shrugged nonchalantly. "Just a part of the job Ron. Hello everyone, Mum, Dad, Fred, George, Gin…" he greeted, only to be tackled in his chest.
"Bill!" Ginny shouted with glee, leaping forwards to reach him.
Bill scooped Ginny up, chuckling as he spun her around. "You've grown so much since I last saw you, Ginny."
Fred and George stepped forward next, still gawking at Bill's new look. "You didn't mention you'd turned into a Rock Star in those Pyramids of yours," said Fred with a cheeky grin.
"Yeah, where's your guitar? What have you called your band? The Wrappin' Wizards?"
Bill smirked, flicking his ponytail back dramatically. "What can I say, the life of a curse breaker changes you."
Molly stepped forward; her eyes still shining with pride while her lips pursed in disapproval. "Bill, I am happy to see you, of course, but that earing… those clothes… your hair, what on Earth happened to you?"
Bill laughed, pulling his mother into a hug. "Mum. I'm a grown man now. As Headboy, I had to set an example, but now I am free to do as I wish."
"I think you look quite dashing son," said Arthur.
"Thanks Dad," said Bill, shaking his father's hand before pulling him into a hug.
As the family gathered around Bill, he gestured towards the vaults. "Sorry I couldn't meet you outside as planned. Gringotts has had me working double time this past week. I spend my nights trying to break into the bank and my days cataloguing treasures from Egypt."
Ginn'y eyes lit up with interest. "Wow, can we see it?"
Bill frowned, looking serious, "Certainly not! Half those things are cursed in ways so sinister our language doesn't even have the vocabulary to describe them. The rest are even worse."
Ginny looked down at her feet looking rather put out at being scolded. Ron sighed, Ginny had been looking forward to seeing Bill again; she looked up to him, they all did. Bill had spent the entirety of their lives serving in the effective role of a third parent in all but name, more so than just another older brother. For all his dotting help and care, however, a measure of distance had grown between him and his younger siblings the older he got.
Bill seemed to realize this as his serious look was replaced by a frown and then a sheepish smile as his hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, wrapped package. "Speaking of which, I've got something for your birthday Ginny. I was going to wait until tomorrow with it for after the party and all, but since I've just got it back from my coworkers, and they've confirmed it's perfectly safe for you to use, you might as well have it early."
Ginny unwrapped the package eagerly, revealing an amulet. The lion's head was small but perfectly carved into the golden metal, with two ruby eyes peeking out of its head, gleaming red under the light. The chain running through it seemed new, but the rest looked ancient.
"Sekhmet, she's an ancient Egyptian Goddess." explained Bill with a smile as his little sister's eyes glistened with tears of joy at the beautiful gift. "This amulet's charm has faded somewhat over the six millennia since its creation, but it should still offer some protection or at least a warning against the Dark Arts; curses, poisons, possession and the like."
Ginny buried her face into Bill's sleeve, "Its beautiful!" she squealed, and indeed, it was. It was the sort of jewellery the rich pure-blood families took for granted, and it wasn't often a Weasley got to wear such a piece. Ron wanted to feel happy for his sister, but he still felt a pang of jealousy and the wish to take something impressive with him to Hogwarts.
"If I can't be there to protect you, the least I can do is find something that will."
Molly seemed conflicted, "are you sure Bill? It must be worth a hundred galleons at least!"
"I am sure mother; Curse-Breakers get to keep a bit of the treasures they find, and that was one of the pieces I settled on. My boss thought it was one of the less valuable pieces I found in terms of its market value, but there's more to things than their weight in galleons."
Arthur beamed at his son's words, "Couldn't have said it better myself son!"
Ron nodded along with the rest of the family, the statement being a point of pride among the Weasleys. Privately, Ron couldn't say he agreed, not entirely. Yes, family was important, but Ron wondered if doing well for yourself, as Bill evidently had, was such a contradiction.
"Are you going to open it?" asked Bill, pulling Ron out of his thoughts.
"Open what?" asked Ron, wondering what he meant until his eyes settled on a smaller package.
Bill smiled, "Ginny is the birthday girl, but seeing as how this year is your first in Hogwarts, I thought I'd get something for you as well." he said, handing the package to Ron.
Ron felt a smile creep on his face, Bill remembered! He thought, touched by the gesture. He slowly undid the package, taking care to keep it intact and reusable in case he needed it later. Inside was a small silver pendant shaped like a curled cobra.
"It's a pendant of Uraeus," explained Bill. "A protective symbol in ancient Egypt much like Sekhmet though more closely associated with the Pharaoh and the royal family. It might not be as fancy as Ginny's amulet, but it is said to bring wisdom and protection. I wanted you to have it before you headed off to Hogwarts, seeing as I won't be there for you in person."
"Looks like Ron's going to have a snake hanging around his neck now!" said Fred.
"Maybe you're destined for Slytherin!" added George with a wink.
Ron flushed, "I… I'm not!" he stammered.
Bill rolled his eyes, "I didn't even make the connection. Honestly, that old house rivalry seems so ridiculous since I left Hogwarts. The Lion and the Snake are both revered figures in Egypt as symbols of protection and power, but I understand why you can't see it that way."
Ron forced a smile, still conflicted but not wanting to seem ungrateful. "No… it's pretty cool, thanks Bill," he said, giving his brother a hug, allowing his smile to drop momentarily into a frown once it was hidden from view. His future house prospects worried him a lot.
"No problem, Ron, you can wear it either as an amulet or even as a pin, though I suppose you might prefer to keep it less conspicuous least your housemates in Gryffindor get the wrong impression." Ron chuckled in agreement, reassured by his brother's faith in his sorting.
"Ignore those losers Ron, they are just jealous they didn't get anything!" said Ginny.
Bill laughed "I've done more than enough to keep them our of trouble in their first year! Still, I was planning on buying Fred and George's new textbooks. It's the least I can do."
"William Weasley! We've had this conversation before! It's bad enough Charlie stole Percy to buy him an owl your father and I were perfectly capable of buying ourselves! No more!"
The conversation carried on as they retrieved the meagre Weasley fortune from the family vault. Ron was too absorbed by Bill's gift to pay much attention as a pair of green orbs seemed to gaze back at him from the cobra's eye sockets shining in the darkness of the underground. When they emerged back into daylight, their parents had compromised, allowing Bill to buy the twins textbooks for their elective subjects, but nothing else.
"I'll take the twins to Flourish and Blotts with Bill. We have all of Ron's textbook list for this year at home already, so you can continue to the other shops." offered Arthur.
Molly nodded, "I can take Ron and Ginny to the market. The boys need their potion ingredients, and we still owe Ginny a birthday gift of her choosing… within reason," she added, when Ginny beamed a little too brightly at the prospect of spending money on herself.
"We'll meet at Madam Malkin's. I am sure Percy will be there," agreed Arthur.
Their group's first stop was the apothecary; a maze of shelves stacked with jars and vials, each more exotic then the last. Molly Weasley moved with a purpose, her attention alternating between any one of four school shopping lists as Ginny read out the ingredients and amounts to her, putting in a jar after jar into bag held by Ron. Ron gulped as he read the price tags of the different ingredients, not realizing just how expensive they could get.
"Er… Mum, why don't we buy the cheaper ingredients?" asked Ron.
"We need to make sure we're getting the best quality ingredients. You can't afford to take shortcuts with something as delicate as potion making." replied his mother.
Ron twiddled his fingers uncomfortably as the shopkeeper took stock of their choices. "Mum… this is a lot of money. I was hoping there would be enough to buy a new wand."
Molly's eyes softened but remained firm. "Ron, I know you want a new wand, but Gid… Charlie's old wand works fine for you. It might not be a perfect fit, but it's reliable enough for your first year. These potion ingredients, however, are not something you can compromise on. Using substandard ones can be very dangerous!"
Ron's brow furrowed. "But a new wand could really help with my magic."
Molly shook her head, "A new wand that chooses you is important for your magical development, but these ingredients are essential for your safety and success at school. Most of your brothers made do with old family wands during their first years. We've always tried to give you everything you need, but sometimes… sacrifices have to be made."
"Listen to your mother kids," said the shopkeeper as he accepted the money for the purchase. "I also had to buy most of my school supplies 2nd hand. You can find 2nd hand options for everything on your list excluding your potion ingredients. There's no such thing as a 2nd hand ingredient, after all, and the lower quality options aren't to be trifled with by novices."
As their group stepped out of the apothecary, carefully balancing the bags of potion ingredients between the three of them, a familiar voice called ahead of them.
"There you are!" said Charlie, "Where are dad and the twins?" he asked, slinging an arm around Ron's shoulders while trying to ruffle Ginny's hair with the other. His sister dodged his hand and ran to hid behind their mother, sticking out her tongue much to his amusement.
"Off getting their new textbooks, we would have preferred re-using Percy's old textbooks and some of yours, but there have been changes to the syllabus in the twins' year." said Molly.
Ron sighed glumly, if only he were that lucky. All his textbooks had remained the same from the twins first year meaning there was no reason to buy any of them new or even 2nd hand for that matter. "Where's Percy?" he finally asked, trying to take his mind off things.
"Jotting down more of his letters for a mailing list long enough to keep the poor bird busy up in the air until he gets back to Hogwarts. Took him five minutes to name his owl then off he went." said Charlie, shrugging his shoulders as if to say, 'what can you do?'
Molly sighed in fond exasperation. "That boy and his correspondence! You would think he was some high-ranking ministry official with all the letters he penned this summer."
"With all the money we've saved thanks to Bill and Charlie… could I still get a new wand?" wondered Ron out loud, deciding now was the best time to test the waters.
Charlie sent him a warning look, but Molly had already heard his question and didn't seem at all happy at the reminder of her elder sons' financial help. "Your father had to cut our floo license to free up funds for today and it wasn't the only sacrifice we had to make for our budget to work. It isn't a question of this instead of that, but of what you genuinely need. Charlie's old wand accepted you when you tried it, if it hadn't, then it would have been a priority to get you a new wand. This is the last time I want to hear about it until next year!"
Ron's ears reddened with shame as the blood poured into them at his scolding. He felt a gentle touch from Ginny squeezing his fingers and returned it, grateful for her support.
"I have something I need to pick up from Quality Quidditch Supplies next, where are you three off to next?" asked Charlie, changing the subject after an awkward silence.
"The rest of Ron's list we can get from the 2nd hand shop, how about you Ginny?"
The girl gave the question some thought, "I think I'd like to go with Charlie to find my birthday present. Not a broom!" she clarified when her mother started to argue. "They have a great selection of Quidditch league merchandize going back a century."
"… I would also like to join Charlie if only to look around," muttered Ron. He didn't feel like being alone with his mother at the 2nd hand shop, and he still had a sickle to spend.
Molly frowned but relented, "Well, alright then, but you will have to carry my bags of potion ingredients if I am going to have any hands left to carry the rest of your supplies. Meet us at Madam Malkin's in half an hour. I do hope the twins still have your robes with them."
With bags in hand, the three Weasley siblings headed into the Quidditch shop. When Ron stepped inside, his eyes couldn't help but become transfixed on the brand-new Nimbus 2000 on display. It was the very image of everything his Shooting Star was not; elegant, fast, and perfectly put together. Only Ginny's entry into the shop tore his eyes from the broom as she likewise wistfully started at the Nimbus, before heading off to inspect the flying gear. Her wistfulness soon turned into a frown as reality caught up with her dream of flying.
Ron knew what she was feeling. Mum had put her foot down about Ginny for as long as he could remember. She considered the sport too unsafe for her only daughter and even unladylike. That veto hadn't stopped Ginny from wanting to fly (if anything, it only encouraged it) but the most she could do about it was project it into the Holyhead Harpies.
Charlie came up behind him, clapping a heavy hand on his shoulder sending a shudder through his spine. "Not thinking of getting anything? I heard you had quite the windfall."
"Just looking," insisted Ron. "I've got nowhere near enough pocket money for any of this."
"Just looking?" asked Charlie, leaning closer to Ron's face with narrowed eyes. "Percy told me an interesting story about how a certain highwayman robbed him of a sickle."
Ron stiffened. "I didn't rob him!" he shot back, his face warming under Charlie's intense gaze. "It was a fair deal. You can ask him why since he's telling you everything else!"
Charlie's expression hardened. "Fair, is it? That's not how Percy told it. He said he was practically blackmailed. We are a Gryffindor family Ron. This isn't how we do things."
Ron opened his mouth to defend himself, but Charlie's disapproving glare had him second guessing himself. "I didn't… well…" Ron stammered. Wondering what he could say.
"Go on, out with it."
Ron sighed and realized he might as well come clean, "it's not like I did it for myself, alright?" he said, looking over at Ginny, who was now eyeing a pair of fancy looking flying gloves longingly. "I just wanted to get Ginny something nice for her birthday."
A silence stretched between them for a moment. Then, out of nowhere, Charlie's stern gaze melted away, replaced by a wide grin. "And there it is! The correct answer folks!" he said, winking at Ron while giving him a playful nudge. "Just wanted to see if you'd own up."
Ron blinked, his face burning red. "You were winding me up!" he hissed, glancing around to make sure Ginny hadn't heard them. Fortunately, she was too engrossed with her dreaming.
Charlie chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Of course I was. What kind of big brother would I be if I didn't? Though, to be clear, it is as much my job to look out for Percy as it is to look out for you. I've been trying to hook him up with Clearwater for years. He's hopeless."
Ron scowled, but he couldn't help the slight smile tugging at his lips. "You prat."
Charlie shrugged, his grin still in place. "Had to make sure your heart was in the right place about this. Now, let's find something good for Ginny. A sickle is a decent price range."
They moved deeper into the shop, skirting around Ginny, who had dejectedly turned away from the flying supplies to the Quidditch League merchandize stands, trying a golden green Holyhead Harpy scarf for size. Ron felt a stab of concern as he realized his sister was settling on the scarf as her birthday present. He had been thinking about getting her something Harpies-related, but now it would be just one piece out of a set. Not something special.
Charlie nudged him, "Did you see those gloves she was checking out earlier?"
"Yeah, but I can't afford them," said Ron dejectedly. "And Mum won't ever let her get anywhere near flying anyway, so what use would a pair of gloves even be?"
Charlie's eyes seem to gleam with secret mischief "you'd be surprised just how practical they might turn out to be one day. At any rate, it doesn't mean we can't find a workaround."
He led Ron over to the second-hand section, crouching down to sift through a pile of worn old gloves. "Hmm, these look familiar. A lot of the stuff here came off Hogwarts students on the Quidditch teams. "Quidditch gear is charmed to offer extra protections to the players, meaning you can't resize it at all. A lot of it gets chucked out and replaced turning up in 2nd hand sections such as this." Explained Charlie, looking over pair after pair of matching gloves. Some looked in perfectly decent shape but had still been discarded by his older brother, leaving Ron too confused as to exactly what Charlie was looking for to help.
After what felt like a hundred gloves, Charlie finally settled on a particularly worn and battered pair grinning from ear to ear. "Bingo!" he declared.
"What's so special about those?" asked Ron.
"The professional teams are always scouting Hogwarts for new talent, but it's difficult to say who is on their way to stardom in the big leagues. I was approached by several teams after I left school but that wasn't what I wanted to do with my life. Other people just turn out to be great on the Hogwarts pitch, not good enough to meet professional standards. All that means that often these shops don't know what they have here," he said, passing the gloves to Ron.
He didn't immediately notice, but a small, faded handwriting came to view when Charlie pointed to it. Struggling to read it: Gwenog Jones, Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
"No way! Thee Gwenog Jones? The Harpies captain?" said Ron in disbelief, only to have Charlie shushing him to keep his voice down.
"The only and only! She was the Gryffindor's team's captain when I joined. A terror to behold. These would be worth a fortune if the proprietors caught on to what they had. As it is, what they don't know won't hurt them, and Ginny will be over the moon." said Charlie.
Realizing his brother was right, Ron silently checked the 2nd hand bin's price tag and was surprised to see it matched his budget. "What if mum finds them while she's cleaning?"
"Then it would just be another relic in Ginny's shrine to the Harpies she calls a bedroom."
Ron snorted but quickly realized he was the last Weasley in the Burrow who could judge her on that account. "These will be perfect," he said and made his way to the counter.
Ginny was already there, having purchased the Holyhead scarf. When she heard Ron approached, she bulked, and hurriedly turned around to face him holding her hands behind her back. "What are you two up to?" she demanded.
"Oh, nothing! Just, er, looking for some spare flying gloves."
Ginny's gaze flicked to the gloves in his hand and snorted, "Ron… you do know those gloves are for girls? Slimmer finger width, smaller hand dimension, and cute unicorn symbols."
Ron's cheeks burned, fearing he'd given the game away. "Oh," he said lamely.
Ginny laughed and punched his shoulder, "You're hopeless, go find something else." Her eyes settled on Charlie giving him a suspicious look, "did you prank Ron to buy them?"
Charlie grinned, "guilty as charged! Though I am more curious about what you're hiding behind your back, baby sister," he said, causing Ginny to blush at being caught out.
"Oh, er, well, there was a bit left over from the money mum gave me for my present and, er, I got something she might not approve of. She'll only ask about the one present though." Explained Ginny, revealing a small round wrapped up package in her hand.
Ron was confused, if she was going to hide this purchase anyway, why bother wrapping it up? Charlie broke the silence before he could ask, "I swear, the coming crop of Weasleys are such sneaky little snakes. I still have to pick up my broom from their servicing garage, would you like to come and see it Ginny while Ron looks for some proper gloves?"
Ginny immediately accepted, eager to see more brooms leaving a relieved Ron to buy the gloves in peace. "Don't worry, I'm sure your sister will appreciate them," said the proprietor as he wrapped the gloves in Bill's package to save the cost of another.
Ron felt a bit guilty about not telling him what he was really giving away, but his sister's happiness was more important. He vowed he'd bring more business the shop's way one day.
Charlie emerged broom in hand with Ginny in tow staring at the Comet 260 with a look of pure jealousy which felt more natural on Ron's face. "You got your broom serviced?"
Charlie shrugged nonchalantly, though Ron caught a glint of mischief in his eyes, "Yeah, I figured I'd give it a bit of a tune-up while I'm in England. I don't fly if very often on account of the dragons, but I'd like it to be in tip top shape when I do."
Ron frowned, noticing Charlie was paying a sum far larger than what he thought reasonable for just a routine tune-up. More to the point, Charlie hadn't expressed much interest in Quidditch and brooms since he'd started studying dragons in Romania. What was he up to?
The question had to be left unanswered, for a quick look at the clock in the shop informed them they'd tarried too long in the Quidditch Supplies Shop and were now late for the agreed upon rendezvous at Madam Malkin's. The three Weasley siblings strolled along the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, weaving between the crowds of shoppers to make up for lost time. The sun had already reached the sky's centre and was steadily dipping lower to the West, casting a golden glow across the cobblestones. A cool breeze fluttered through their bags and clothes as they made their way towards the robes shop.
When they arrived, they found Percy already standing on a stool, arms outstretched as Madam Malkin circled around him with a tape measure dancing around his form. A floating notebook and quill took his measurements while a swarm of pins floated nearby, adjusting lengths and seams. Percy wore an air of self-importance throughout the as he talked about how important a Prefect badge could be to advance a Ministry career.
"Ah, there you are, what kept you?" said Molly, before turning to inspect Ginny's choice of gift. "That scarf looks wonderful on you. I would have suggested something out Madam Malkin's fine selection had you come empty handed, but I am glad you found something."
She then turned to Ron, "take Bill's old robes from the bag Fred carried with him from the burrow. Madam Malkin's assistant will make the modifications."
Ron did as he was told, taking the three sets of robes out of the bag, which the twins had helpfully retrieved for him. Ron gave them a perplexed look wondering why they were suddenly being so helpful, but Malkin's assistant started her work before he could ask.
"Cheer up dear, we'll have those old robes looking good as knew. You'll leave our shop looking just as smart as your brother Percy," said the witch as she started her work.
Ron wasn't so sure. He caught Fred and George whispering to each other, glancing his way with the kind of mischief in their eyes that usually spelled his doom. All he could do was glare at them to make them think he was onto whatever prank they had planned, even though that was the furthest thing from the truth. But his glares only seemed to encourage them. It didn't take long for the assistant to complete her work, Ron's measurements proving close to Bill's when he was that age before his sudden growth spurt towards 3rd year had outstripped the more affordable extension charms requiring a new set of robes while these were stored.
The family eagerly awaited to see the finished work with Percy showing off his now completed seamless brand-new robes to everyone who wanted to look at them.
"Percy, those robes are looking very good on you." said Molly approvingly.
"Thank you, Mother," said Percy primly, glancing down as Madam Malkin made a few final adjustments. "These will be perfect for someone of my new standing. The younger students need to have someone to look up to who can guide them towards academic success."
George snorted. "I don't know how we ever managed without you lording over us."
Fred joined in grinning. "Yes, we'll be forever lost without your… guidance."
Percy huffed but ignored them while Molly clucked her tongue. "Fred, George, enough is enough," she said, and then turned her attention to Ron. "Ron, it's your turn now. Arthur and I have been looking forward to seeing you in your Hogwarts robes all day."
Ron stepped down from the stool feeling a little self-conscious but also curious to see how he'd look to the world for a significant part of the next 7 years. Malkin's assistant had done a good job making the robes fit him, and while they didn't look new, they at least didn't feel loose or shabby on him anymore. He adjusted his sleeves and then turned to face his family.
"Well?" he asked, trying to sound casual, but an edge in his voice betrayed his nervousness. "What d'you think?" he asked, looking around for a mirror to see for himself.
For a moment, there was silence. Molly was the first to respond, but it wasn't with the praise Ron was expecting. "Oh, my goodness!" she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.
Fred and George were next in line. The moment they saw him, their eyes went wide before they burst into an uproarious laughter, practically falling over to the ground in delight.
George clutched his side, tears forming in his eyes. "I can't believe it worked!" he howled.
"I… told it… would." said Fred, trying in vain to fend off his laughter.
Ginny seemed confused while their father was trying to calm things down. But Percy, who had been standing in front of the mirror looking on his perfectly tailored new robes, turned around to look at Ron with a horrified expression. "Oh, for Merlin's sake! Charming his robes to Slytherin colours? Fred! George! You've gone too far this time! This isn't funny!"
Ron's heart dropped, Slytherin? He glanced down at himself, his expression mirroring Percy when he noticed the green tie and linings running down his previously neutral-coloured robes. They had Gryffindor red when he had taken them out, but Madam Malkin had changed them back to their pre-sorting condition. How had Fred and George reversed her magic?!
Molly seemed to recover from her shock and marched on Fred and George, her face flushing with anger. "What have you done?!" she demanded; her voice sharp. "Change it back!"
Fred held up his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "It was just a little colour change. Nothing permanent! It will wear off on its own in an hour or so!"
"We thought green would suit him better, don't you think Mum?" added George.
"They're Slytherin green?" Ginny whispered; her voice soft but filled with horror.
"I need… I need a mirror," mumbled Ron. Percy heard him and gestured to the one he'd just used making room for him to see the full extent of the twins' prank for himself.
"No… no way," Ron breathed, stepping away from the mirror, his eyes wide in disbelief. He ran his hand over the robes as if that alone might somehow change them back, but the sickly green colour remained, gleaming mockingly under the shop's lights. A snake symbol sat on the left side of his robes resting over the rough location of his heart.
"Looks good on you little Ronniesnake!" Fred called, "When we saw how good the Harpies Green looked in your room, we thought why not complete the set with your dresswear?"
"I recon Snape will invite you for tea and crumpets!" added George high fiving Fred.
But Ron barely registered their jokes. All he could see was the green, clinging to him like a bad omen. Like some horrible, twisted dark version of himself. Slytherin green. The very last thing he wanted to be associated with. Was that what the twins truly thought of him?
Ron's face flushed a deep red as he turned away from the mirror, his hands clenched into fists as a thin layer of moist started to from in his eyes. He couldn't believe the twins had done this to him. Not in front of everyone. Not when they knew full well how nervous he was about it.
"Fred! George! Apologize to Ron this instant!" shouted Molly, her voice sharp with fury.
Ginny, still pale, shot a glare at the twins. "This isn't funny you idiots."
"I don't know though…" said Percy taking a closer look at Ron, his earlier anger forgotten. "I can't say this is entirely out of character for you, not after the stunt you pulled. If you aren't careful Ron, Slytherin is exactly where you will end up in, the first Weasley in centuries."
That was the last straw. Without a word, Ron bolted for the door, shoving it open with a loud clang as the bell above it jangled in protest.
General Notes: This chapter is now definitively the second one out of three from Ron's POV before returning to Harry's POV. I did try to cut it down, but I decided that Ron's perspective and my take on it required this degree of investment after all, as well as the introduction of the Weasley family so that I have a base to work from. The next chapter will thus conclude Ron's POV for the time being, though I do plan to make use of it quite often later on.
Addendum 1: Thanks again to Lilitari for beta-reading this chapter and thanks for reading! The next chapter will be up the same time next week.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. JK Rowling and any organization empowered by her to that effect own the Harry Potter title and its related products.