Winter 1991

Ronald Weasley

Ron hadn't slept much that night, after his conversation with Astoria he returned to bed only to find his mind brought elsewhere by the constant whine of the wind. It dragged him away from the comfort of the sheets and mattress to bring him elsewhere where he thought a lot about the year before. He dwelled on the mistakes he made, turning his chest into an uncomfortable mixture of gushy anxiety that played the worst moments over and over again in his head.

He had only half dozed for a few minutes by the time the wind died down and the sun rose over the gardens. The Skylight above the bed which had been filled with white slowly gave way to the vast grey blueness of the winter sky. For the first day in ages it didn't snow, the clouds seeming to vanish with the Sun as they sunk over the opposite horizon.

Ron sighed and pulled himself from bed for the second time. Immediately he made his way into the bathroom to try and wash away the tiredness that lingered in the corners of his eyes. It was something he often did at Hogwarts, and then it was usually more than a few days' sleep which weighed on him. The hot almost scalding water was completely therapeutic, beating his skin red and pumping his chest with a warmth that pushed aside some of the anxiety.

When Ron was completely dressed and ready he stuck the small box of pins into his robe pocket and did his best to force a neutral look on his face. He was worried someone would notice if he looked too tired, probably Daphne. He dreaded the idea of any questions that couldn't follow, questions that he wasn't ready to answer but he knew would soon be coming. After all, Blaise knew about his sleeping habits and now so did Astoria, it was only a matter of time before Tracey or Daphne asked him something that he didn't really want to if they pieced things together?The look on his face almost faltered. It wasn't normal to be haunted by a single bad dream from over a year ago and Ron was almost sure Daphne would find her way to the very extreme truth he was hiding.

Nervously, he left his bedroom and entered the hallways of Greengrass Manor once again. He made his way down the stairs and back to the nook where he had spoken with Astoria the night before. The room was bathed in soft morning light that came through the tall windows and reminded Ron even more closely of the Burrow. He almost wished he was home for the holidays with his siblings and everything was right in the world again.

At the booth, nearest to the end, was Astoria with her legs tucked beneath her, she poked idly at a piece of toast while glancing out the window. Tracey on the other hand leaned back in her seat, a large fluffy robe slightly askew as she sipped the rim of a small cup of tea. Among all three of the girls, Tracey looked the most rested. Ron couldn't help but feel a small pulse of envy. Daphne sat as straight as always, her hands folded neatly on the table, her eyes meeting Ron's as he entered the room.

The table of the small booth was laden with a spread of fresh breakfast that looked like it had come straight from a postcard. It still wasn't quite as good as Ron's own mother, but he had to admit the Greengrass Elves did a fairly good job. Thick slices of bacon curled in on themselves on top of a small gold plate and a tureen of scrambled eggs caused steam to rise into the air. There was also a dish of some sort of jam that Ron couldn't place from just the way it looked and a stack of fresh toast.

"You're late again, Weasley," Daphne said mildly. She had a habit of making her voice sound like she was both disappointed and also like she couldn't care.

"I had a long shower," Ron shrugged. He slid into the booth beside Astoria and pulled one of the pieces of toast onto his plate. "I was just thinking about Hogwarts," he said, "and having to go back to sharing a room with Theo and Blaise."

Tracey giggled. "I'm sure they're both loud and smelly. Although, at least Blaise has good taste in jewellery."

Ron idly thumbed the ring that Daphne's parents had given him.

"Ugh, I can't believe you're all going back so soon!" Astoria complained. "It's just not fair, I mean, I'll be all alone again!"

Daphne sighed, her indifferent tone softening slightly as she looked at her sister. "Half a year isn't long, Tori. You'll hardly notice before it's summer again, and then you'll be complaining that I'm around again." She smiled slightly. "And you'll have plenty to keep you busy, maybe you could read some books and get a head start."

"A head start?" Astoria frowned. "That doesn't sound like something a Princess would do."

Daphne rolled her eyes and Tracey giggled again.

"Daphne's right," Ron added. "Half a year isn't so bad. Hogwarts terms go too fast, half the time I can hardly think about what's going on. The time from the start of the year to now is like a giant blur."

"You have no idea," Tracey said. "I feel like I just met you yesterday Ron. But you and Daphne have been potion's partners now for months. Ugh, is this what it's like to feel old?"

"Old?" Daphne narrowed her eyes. "You're only eleven Trace…"

"So they say," Tracey shook her head and then leaned closer with a small grin. "Don't worry, Astoria, I'm sure Daphne left a long list of things you're not supposed to touch while she's gone. You can use some of the time withnottouching them."

Astoria let her frown slip into a small smile. "Oh, I see."

"Don't think about it," Daphne scolded. "The elves will tell me."

"What? I wasn't! I'd never do that! Unlike some people, I never get into trouble."

"Some people?"

Astoria looked from Daphne to Ron. "Ron told me you helped him get out of trouble by knocking someone's food onto the floor."

Oh fuck.

Daphne narrowed her eyes in his direction. "Did he?" she asked sternly.

Ron smiled politely and stuffed a bite of toast into his jam."A little bit," he mumbled.

"Hmph."

"Oh! He also gave me this!" Astoria reached into her pocket and revealed the small pin that she had chosen the night before.

Tracey leaned closer again. "Oh wow, that will go so well with your Hufflepuff robes." Astoria glared at her.

"A pin?" Daphne's mean look faltered. "You gave her a rattlesnake pin?"

Ron nodded. "Well, it was meant to be more of a surprise, but I guess Astoria revealed it by herself. But I actually got one for everyone, you know, as sort of a thank you gift… for being my friend."

Tracey grinned widely. "Oh! Oh! That's brilliant!"

"Doesn't that kind of defeat the point of being friends? Or allies? Whatever you want to call it? If it has to be bought with trinkets rather than something useful?" Daphne asked.

Why are you always so difficult?

"No," Ron shook his head. "Think of them as my Christmas gifts to you guys, I didn't buy you anything else."

"Oh, I remember," Daphne nodded. "I suppose if they all look as nice as Tori's I can be convinced to take one."

"I'd take one half as nice," Tracey nodded.

Ron grinned and took the box from his pocket and laid it on the table. All four sets of eyes scanned across the many remaining pins.

"I would have also chosen that one," Astoria said pointing.

Tracey nodded at her. "Exactly what I was thinking, you've got a good eye."

Tracey reached across the table over the plate of bacon to flip up the lid of the box and steal the pin that Astoria had pointed out. It was larger than the one Astoria had chosen for herself and featured a rattlesnake wrapped around a green gem heart. Tracey felt the stones with her fingers and offered Ron a bright smile.

"It's perfect," she said, fastening it to the outside of her robe.

"I'm glad you think so," Ron nodded. "You guys all got me such good gifts."

"Well, I am kind of the best at picking what to get you. Well, I guess except for Granger. I can't believe that she picked so well. She seems… not that considerate."

Daphne reached her hand over and picked out one of the other pins, a rattlesnake coiled tightly as if it was almost ready to strike. The entire body of the snake was coated in small green gems that glinted and shined in the light in such a way that the pin almost seemed to glow.

"That's a nice one too," Tracey nodded. "Very shiny."

"It will go well with some of my headbands," Daphne agreed. Instead of sticking the pin to her robe like Tracey had, she instead slipped it into her pocket.

"It will be so fun when I'm in Slytherin with you all next year," Astoria said. "I really can't wait."

"Hufflepuff," Tracey teased again. "We will be in Slytherin, you'll be in Hufflepuff."

"Mm-mm," Astoria mumbled, shaking her head. "Ron told me how it works."

Two sets of eyes locked to the fuck! I really have to stop telling her things!

"You did…" Daphne asked him.

"Er, I may have spoken to her about the hat."

Tracey and Daphne shared a slightly confused look with one another.

"But… how?" Tracey asked. "You can't just do that…"

"What do you mean?" Ron asked. "I know we're not supposed to, but you really worried her about being sorted into Slytherin."

"She means," Daphne said, "you're notsupposedto be able to just break the fidelius charm."

"The fidelius?" Ron scrunched his nose. "Isn't that supposed to hide things?"

"Yes," Daphne nodded. "Why do you think it's always a secret on how people are sorted? I mean, it's not like every wizarding family knows how it works before they get to Hogwarts. Someone put an old fidelius charm on the hat itself, so you can only talk about it with people who already know about it. The hat itself is the secret keeper, so once you see the hat, you know it exists."

"What? But I told Astoria last night."

"Yeah," Tracey nodded, "which is why we're confused. You just happened to break a really powerful memory charm? That's kind of insane Ron."

Daphne nodded. "It's starting to become scary. First, you can cast the exploding charm without any of us ever even knowing that you learned it, and now this? Jesus, I'm starting to believe Theo."

"Dark magic club," Tracey agreed.

"Dark magic club?" Astoria gasped. "Don't say that! Ron's a hero!"

Ron felt a deep sinking feeling in his shit shit.

"I didn't mean to!" He defended. He had no idea how he had managed to break the spell, he didn't even know that it existed.

"Obviously not," Daphne frowned. "Maybe this is yoursecret," she said once again, burrowing from Theo's words.

Tracey nodded. "He's just too stubborn to know the rules of magic, just barrels right through them."

"But how could I… break something like that?" Ron shook his head. "I mean, I don't know that many spells."

Daphne narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not sure, but I promise you Weasley, I will find out."

Ron swallowed thickly. The last thing he wanted was Daphne finding out just about anything about what he was doing in secret.