Summer 1991

Ronald Weasley

The trip on the Hogwarts Express was nearing its end when Ron stood up and changed into his Hogwarts robes. They were a little short in his arms but not so much that someone might notice. He hadn't remembered if the robes had belonged to Fred or George, but whoever wore them had kept them rather taken care of. Aside from a few loose threads, they were mostly put together.

Ron looked over at Harry who wore a new tailored set of robes. They didn't seem too different, and for that Ron was glad. He didn't want to look all out of it when he was sorted. He still had no idea what the sorting ceremony might be, but he hoped it wouldn't be too hard.

He laid his wand out on the seat for a moment while he pulled his tie down over his head and secured around the collar of his shirt.

Harry seemed to squint. "You said you know some spells right?"

Ron nodded. "Well, I haven't tried any."

"Why not?" Harry asked.

Ron opened his mouth to say something and then closed it again. He had already told Harry it was illegal, but that was when they were at home. They weren't at home anymore. Excitement burst through Ron's veins and he picked up his wand. He took a breath and felt the warmth soak through him.

"Lumos," he said. He concentrated as hard as he could and flicked the tip in just the way Percy's drawing had said. Nothing happened.

Fuck.

Harry watched on with curious eyes.

"Lumos!" He said again. This time at the very end of his wand a small ball of light appeared. It was small, incredibly small, but it was light nonetheless. Ron first spell!

"Amazing," Harry commended him.

Just as it had come from nothing, the small light disappeared again. Ron sat back down and felt very powerful and hell,he thought,it wasn't that he could do one spell then he could do any other, and if he could do any spell, he could learn the killing curse and save his brother. His eyes were drawn to the fringe of Harry's hair.

"Could you teach me?" Harry asked. "I think it'd be great to be able to summon a torch."

Ron laughed. "It's called the wand lighting spell, I think it's meant to be pretty simple. You just say the words and then flick your wand."

"Lumos!" Harry tried. Much like Ron's first attempt, nothing happened.

Harry tried over and over again and each time nothing happened. Eventually he gave up and sat back deciding that it might be better to tackle other spells first. Ron thought that was a sensible plan, but was secretly glad that Harry couldn't perform the spell. He liked to think he might have been just a tad better then the boy who lived.

The door to the compartment opened again and Ron was happy to see Percy's face. His brother looked very proud of himself with his prefect badge shining nicely against the black fringe of his robe.

"Has everyone changed?" Percy asked. "We'll be arriving shortly."

"This is my brother, Percy," Ron introduced. "Percy this is— uh this is Harry Potter."

Percy's eyes widened. "It's good to meet you Harry Potter," he extended his hand and Harry shook it.

"Percy taught me about the wand lighting charm," Ron turned to Percy. "I cast it quite successfully."

"Really? That's actually quite good Ron. You'll probably do well in Charms class, maybe transfiguration too." Percy said and turned back to Harry. "You must know a hundred spells."

"It's not true," Ron answered for Harry who seemed grateful that he did so. "All the stories and the books are all just rubbish, none of them are true."

"Oh," Percy frowned. "That's… unfortunate. I did always wonder how a kid your age could slay a vampire. Especially after meeting one in person." Percy shivered. "Anyway, if you need any help Harry you can ask me, I'm a Gryffindor prefect this year." He tapped his badge proudly.

"Are you all in Gryffindor?" Harry asked.

Ron nodded. "My parents were and my older brother's were too. I think our Mum's brothers were too but I'm not certain."

"Amazing," Harry said. "That's where I want to be then, in Gryffindor."

This seemed to please Percy greatly. He seemed to consider saying something before stopping himself and then starting again. "I'm not supposed to tell you about the sorting. It's meant to be a secret." Ron leaned in closer. "But your opinion does matter, or at least, mine did. You'll know what I mean when it begins but just try to ask for Gryffindor if that's what you want."

Ron beamed at him. He had tried for a week to get any information out of Fred and George about the sorting and the best they could come up with was fighting a troll. Ron was fairly certain they weren't going to fight a troll, or at least, he hoped they wouldn't be. To know that he had a choice? It made him feel so much better. He couldn't wait to join his brothers.

"Thank you," Harry said.

"Hey, Percy?" A girl with long dark hair peered in behind Percy's shoulder. "I'm going to go talk to the Ravenclaws, are you coming?"

"Right," Percy said with a blush, "I'll see you two later at the feast."

Percy took his job very seriously, Ron thought as he watched him walk away. He heard him quickly step into the compartment next door and tell someone off for doing their tie incorrectly before continuing down the hallway again.

"All your brother's seem nice," Harry said.

Ron nodded in agreement. Until that moment he had never considered that one of them might have been unpleasant.I lucked out.

A minute later the train slowed to a stop. A chorus of excitement filled the hall as students rushed and pushed to get outside and onto the dimly lit platform. The air had a chill to it and Ron was glad he had chosen to wear his entire uniform. Nearby he noticed a girl his age standing next to Draco shivering quite badly. He wasn't sure if it was the cold or just because Draco was that off putting.

"Firs' years!" A giant of a man loomed over the crowd and called for their attention. "Follow me please!"

Ron did as he was beckoned and followed the giant man alongside the other first years down a steep and narrow path. Ron nearly slipped in the mud a few times and nearly knocked over another student. He mumbled a half apology but the boy only looked at him nervously.

Soon they found themselves on the shore of a large lake, the castle on the other side looked like nothing Ron had ever seen .The building seemed to shimmer with magic through the fog of the evening. His mother had been right, he probably would enjoy his time here.

The giant man ushered them into a small fleet of waiting boats. Ron climbed aboard with three other boys who seemed just as amazed as he was. They set out over the lake and seemed to glide across the surface. It was silent, so silent that Ron could hear the rustling of the trees on the shore behind them. Everyone was too fixated on the building to even bother with talking.

Soon they arrived at the far side of the lake. The boats slipped into a concealed entrance that was hidden in a cliff by many layers of hanging vines. One by one each boat was emptied onto the small pebble shore in the cove. Ron was glad to be off the lake, although it was beautiful, the idea of being on the open water at night scared him. He thought himself to be brave and so he couldn't imagine what some of the other students might have thought. Perhaps they were all too distracted.

They clambered up a passageway until they arrived in front of the castle, the lawn had been freshly cut and to Ron it smelt like home.

The giant led them to a huge towering door, he turned around and made sure everyone had gathered up before turning back and knocking three times.