Autumn 1991

Ronald Weasley

By the time that dinner had finally ended, Ron felt like he was being pulled into too many plots of uncertainty. He wondered absently if all the houses were as dramatic as Slytherin or if that was something unique. Either way, he was glad to be able to spend a moment alone and away from the bickering that had persisted all throughout his meal.

Ron stepped out into the corridor where there was a slight breeze of cool evening air, he took a moment to take a deep breath. He felt the weight of everything pressing down on top of him, and he wanted nothing more than to lighten the load. He hoped that the alliance he had made would set things straight. He just needed Malfoy to be dealt with, so that he could get the room he needed to finally breathe. He closed his eyes for only a second but opened them again when the dark nothingness of his eyelids started to take a shade of emerald green.

Just as Ron rounded a corner, he saw Percy walking towards him, his prefect badge glinting in the torchlight. For a second, Ron considered walking the other way and running away from his problems, but he knew it wouldn't fix anything.

"Are you alright?" Percy asked as he got close. Ron wondered if he looked as laboured as he felt.

Ron went to nod but stopped himself. "Yeah… um… can we talk? Somewhere private?"

A look of concern washed over his brother's face. "Alright," he said slowly. "Let's find somewhere quieter."

Percy led him up a set of half-hidden stairs and into one of the closest classrooms. There was a thin layer of dust across the underused desks and the air was suffocating compared to the freshness of the corridors.

"You don't look well," Percy commented. "Is something wrong? Did you get another letter?"

Ron's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "No, it's nothing like that. I'm just thinking a lot lately."

"Bad thoughts?"

Ron hesitated for a second, his teeth pressing against the inside of his cheek. "It's… I guess it's a lot of things. I'll tell you the truth, Percy, some of it is Slytherin. There's so much tension between everyone. Malfoy has this gang, and everyone just has these… sides. And most of them want something from me."

Percy leaned back, his face softening. "You're talking about drama?"

Ron nodded.

"Slytherin isn't alone, there is some of that in Gryffindor too. Though, I try to stay away from it when I can. It's hard Ron, being here and being surrounded by so many people. You're not going to like all of them, and that's okay. You just have to try and push forward, and focus on what's next. Focus on what's really important."Saving Charlie's life,Ron concluded. "Make friends if you can, it's okay to trust some people. And I promise you that whatever you think is really important, arguments or whatever it is, it's not going to matter in a few years time."

"But it matters now," Ron said. He couldn't explain how it related to the other things he was doing. He thought about telling Percy, but he was too afraid. Afraid that his brother might tell someone, Dumbledore even, and doom them all.

"In some ways," Percy agreed hesitantly. "But that's okay too, you just have to know that no matter what happens, you'll always have some people in your corner. People like me. Which is why you need to promise me that you'll tell me if this drama evolves into something worse, like bullying."

Ron grimaced, he would definitely describe Malfoy as a bully. Yet, he didn't want Percy to get involved. It would only make things worse for him, and he was gambling on Daphne and Theo coming out ahead of whatever Malfoy had planned.

"Harry told me that you were arguing with the twins, in the Gryffindor common room."

Percy shifted forward. "I didn't want to, Ron. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you. They're just being… stubborn. I won't let them get away with it either. They found out that I was the one who told Professor Snape about the post system, and they called me a traitor to my face."

"They hate me," Ron said slowly. The twins hated him just because of something he couldn't control, it made his head pound and his stomach swirl.

Percy stood up suddenly and wrapped his arms around Ron, pulling him into his chest. It was the second time he had done so since Ron started at Hogwarts, and while it wasn't something Ron had ever expected, he found that it made him hurt least someone's on my felt tears roll down his cheeks, but he did not sob.

"They don't hate you," Percy whispered. "They're afraid of you. Fear and anger are closely related, and sometimes we think that it's hate. They've known you your entire life, they've watched you grow up and along the way they've not noticed that you've changed. They're afraid that you're someone else, because they don't recognize that their brother could be a Slytherin."

Ron pulled away from Percy and stared at the dust-ridden floor. "It's just… I feel like everyone's turned on me. Fred and George, even Mum was upset when I was sorted into Slytherin."

Percy reached out and placed his hand on Ron's shoulder. "She's afraid too, I'm sure of it. I wrote her a letter, Ron and I told her what she had done. She'll come to her senses. You're still a Weasley, no matter what house you're in. And the twins will come around, they just need more time to understand."

"What does it mean to be a Weasley?" Ron asked suddenly.

"Er… that we're family? I guess it means that we're always going to be there for you, Ron. That we… you know… love you." Percy said softly. "That's all."

"Right," Ron nodded. That was exactly what he feared, that the Weasleys were nothing. They weren't important like the Malfoys or rich like the Zabinis. They just were, it didn't even matter what name they held, they were just a family.

"We're poor," he said distastefully. He reached up and wiped his face with the back of his sleeves. "That's why this happened, it's why Mum and Dad didn't buy me a wand."

Percy tensed. "Yes, we're poor. That's not why they didn't buy you a wand. They didn't buy you a wand because I got an owl."

"No," Ron shook his head. He didn't want to go down that path again, it wasn't what he meant. He didn't know what he really meant, but it wasn't that. He didn't blame Percy for Hermes, and he really had to remember to stop bringing it up. "It's not your fault. That's not what I mean… I just."

"You wish we had wealth," Percy guessed quietly.

Ron sucked in a short breath. "Is that wrong of me?"

Percy pursed his lips and looked Ron in the eyes. "No, it isn't. But, Ron, wealth is dangerous. It makes people… different. It's like abusing a potion, if you take too much of it you'll grow dependent on it."

"But it is like a potion," Ron replied. "And sometimes you have to take it, even if it's bitter. For the greater good."

"Yes," Percy said, shifting uncomfortably. "Wealth can be used to do good things."

"We don't do good things, because we're poor," Ron said simply. "I mean, Dad does good work at the Ministry but it's not really the same. We don't donate much to St. Mungo's every year, and people like the Malfoys spend money to keep themselves out of jail."

"It's a form of power," Percy replied. "It's a very dangerous form, but it can be used well. That's partially why I want to be Minister for Magic so that I have the power to make the world a better place. I understand why you're hung up on money, Ron. It would be a lot easier to change the world if we had the same opportunities as others. But we don't, and that's okay too."

"I don't want it to be okay, Perce," Ron said a little too sharply. "Imagine how much change we could have made if we had money? Our family is one of the oldest in Britain, and yet we're the poorest? It doesn't make any sense."

"You're speaking like a real Slytherin," Percy said. "You have ambition Ron, and you can use it to help you. But don't let it take over, you have to hold onto other things too. If you want to make money, I commend you, it's a lot like my journey. I want the power of the Ministry, you want the power of wealth."

"I do," Ron nodded. "I want the money to protect everyone I care about, all of you. I want to be able to afford for us to have the lives we deserve. I want the world to be a better place, and I want people like the Malfoys to rot in Azkaban. They helped kill Harry's parents."

Percy flinched. "You're right, the war was hard, and Britain isn't much better than it was before it started. The same people who started the war are still around but that doesn't mean you should act with vengeance. Vengeance doesn't fix anything, it just keeps the cycle moving."

Ron habitually bit the inside of his cheek, he knew Percy was right. Sal had told him exactly why some of the old pure-bloods hate muggles and it did seem rather like a cycle. The muggles killed them, so they killed muggles, and it just kept repeating indefinitely. Or at least, until the statute of secrecy was signed.

"You're right," Ron said, his shoulders sinking downwards. "I shouldn't want the Malfoys to suffer."

"Justice isn't the same as revenge," Percy said. "It's good that you feel bad for Harry's parents but punishing the Malfoys for the war won't bring them back and it won't really change Britain."

It wouldn't prevent Charlie's death,Ron swallowed. At least, he knew, it wouldn't unless Malfoy's father was one of the men in the campground. There were thousands of wizards in Britain and it didn't seem likely. He had no way of knowing that they were the threat to Hogwarts and the threat to his family. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"But," Percy continued. "Together Ron, as Weasleys, we can help some people. Not everyone, and we might never be as rich as the Malfoys. But we can at least work together to make the world a slightly better place."

Ron's spirits lifted slightly. This was what he needed, somebody to be truly on his side and without having to disclose what was really going on. If he had his brother, and if Percy was actually able to become Minister for Magic or at least become something important, he would have a huge amount of help protecting everyone. It would take some of the load off of his shoulders.

"You promise?" Ron asked. "Can you help me?"

Percy smiled down at him. "Of course, I was always going to join the Ministry. I don't see why I can't help you make things just a bit better, isn't that what the Ministry is supposed to be doing? That's what Dad tries to do."

Ron smiled and stepped forward, he wrapped his arms around Percy's torso. "Thank you."

We can save him together.