Chapter Text
Normally Ron Weasley was very happy for the start of school. It meant he got to be mostly alone, with the exception of his little sister, and got to be away from his twin brothers. Despite having such a big family, Ron always felt alone. Alone, overlooked, ignored...unless he'd caught the attentions of his older twin brothers, and more often than not it was a very, very bad thing. Having his teddy turned into a spider when he was three or a hole burned through his tongue by an acid pop when he was seven were only mere examples of the torture he was put through, and those were only the examples his mum KNEW of.
Ron was really not looking forward to the first day of school this time, though. This was also his first day of school, so his usual time away from the twins was gone. He'd be going to the same school...but not the same house. Not if he had anything to do with it. Ron looked to Hogwarts with both trepidation and anticipation. He couldn't wait to get a better grasp on magic, but he was definitely fearful of being stuck in the same House as Fred and George. And he really didn't know anyone outside his family.
So when he met another boy on the train first day, he was pretty happy. When that friend turned out to be Harry Potter, he was downright amazed.
"So those twins that helped me with my trunk, those were your brothers?"
"Yeah," Ron looked away for a minute then glanced to Harry, giving a shrug. "Fred and George, and you heard Ginny outside...she starts next year...and there's Percy, he's a Prefect now..and there's Charlie and Bill, they've already graduated..."
"Wow..." Harry goggled at Ron a bit. "Must be nice, having a big family...mine are muggles and they act like I don't even exist."
"It's the same really, with me," Ron said, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
"No way..."
"Mum tries, really, but you know...Fred and George keep her hands full and all, and Ginny's the only girl...and I'm just sort of...there. Bill was Head Boy, Charlie was the Quidditch Captain, Fred and George goof off a lot and get in loads of trouble, but they get good grades still and all, and they're good Beaters. So it doesn't matter what I do really, it's all been done before and no big deal. Don't even got anything of my own, really. Someone else's wand, robes, books...everything. Even Percy's old rat."
Ron pulled it from his robes and plopped Scabbers onto his lap, giving the listless rat a bit of a disgusted poke.
"Can't even afford an owl," Ron said, ears going pink. "Rat's useless, really."
"Least your mom's never tried boiling your older brothers' clothes in a big pot of gray coloring to make you a uniform," Harry said with a bit of a grin.
"What?"
"My aunt, she tried to boil my cousin's clothes in gray coloring for me to use as my school uniform before I found out about Hogwarts...looked like old elephant skin. Dudley...he's my cousin...is about three of me. He's huge."
Ron goggled at Harry and laughed, suddenly feeling much better about himself. He was definitely glad to have come across Harry, having so much in common.
"No bloody way!"
"Uh-huh," Harry nodded quickly, pushing his glasses up his nose. "But I always got his old clothes, ones he was finally too fat for."
"How'd you fit?"
"Well, some are lots of pins and such...others...are from when he was like five. He's really fat..."
Ron roared with laughter and Harry couldn't help joining in. It really was funny once you thought about it.
"And I didn't even have money 'til Hagrid showed up and told me I was a wizard. Never got birthday presents or anything for Christmas really, cause my aunt and uncle don't much care."
"At all?"
"Nuh-uh. I used to live in the tiny cupboard they had under the stairs until the letters addressed to the cupboard showed up!"
"Well, I almost live in our attic..."
Ron and Harry paused and just grinned at each other, then started laughing again. They kept talking, discussing Voldemort, Harry's fears, basically having a good time in each other's company as the train continued on. The snack cart came by, with Harry being introduced to the many joys of wizarding sweets, as well as with an appearance of Hermione and Neville looking for Trevor the Toad.
"If she's in my House I think I'd go mad," Ron said once Hermione and Neville had gone. He tossed his wand back into his bag with an annoyed grump and poked Scabbers. "Dumb spell. Bet George knew it was a dud to make me look stupid."
"What House are Fred and George in?"
"Gryffindor." Ron sighed, crossing his arms, starting to sound a bit depressed again. "Mum and dad, too...all my family, really. Not sure what they'd say if I wasn't in it too..." he paused and gave a minute smirk. "Imagine if it were Slytherin? Bet I'd get some attention then..."
"That's Vold-...I mean..You-Know-Who's House, yeah?"
"Yeah."
"I think Scabbers looks a little lighter, anyway," Harry said, wanting to cheer Ron up a bit. "What do Charlie and Bill do? I don't know what kinds of jobs wizards would get..."
"Charlie studies dragons..."
"He what?"
"Studies dragons...you know...big scaly lizard things?" Ron quipped with a laugh.
"I KNOW what dragons are," Harry huffed good-naturedly, "I just didn't know they were REAL!"
"Yeah. It's hard work keeping them secret from muggles."
"Wow," Harry murmured, grinning. "And what about Bill?"
"He does work for Gringotts. He's in Africa right now I think. Did you hear about it?"
"About Bill in Africa?" Harry's brows furrowed, confused.
"No, about Gringotts.."
Ron told Harry about the break-in and they discussed it a bit before moving on to the subject of Quidditch. Ron explained everything and went over various teams, games, and brooms until they were interrupted by none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Everyone's blabbering that Potter's in here..." those silver eyes flicked over to Harry, vague recognition showing in them. "It's you then, is it?"
"Yes..." Harry blinked at Crabbe and Goyle, eying their bulk barely fitting through the door.
"Crabbe, and this here's Goyle," Draco drawled, motioning to them dismissively. "I am Malfoy. Draco Malfoy..."
Ron coughed to hide a laugh, smirking a bit until those ice cold eyes pinned him with a stare. Ron met them unflinchingly, but his ears went pink.
"Find something funny? I know who you are. Red hair and freckles, less money than the dirt under my feet...a Weasley." Draco smirked and turned back to Harry. "You'll find some families are better than others, Potter...stick with me and you'll be on the right side," he drawled, extending his hand to Harry's.
"I can determine that side for myself, thanks..." Harry said softly, eying Draco cooly and ignoring that hand.
Draco's cheeks went pink and he was about to drop his hand when he gave a start. Ron had taken his hand and stood up, gripping the smaller, paler hand tightly in his own and pressing close, looking down at Malfoy, who had to tilt his head up a good deal to look at Ron. Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles dangerously, and Draco's slender throat bobbed a bit as he swallowed audibly.
"Your two pawns can't move to help you now, Malfoy," Ron murmured, gripping Draco's hand tightly.
"And what, Weasley? Is Potter your queen?" Draco drawled, eyes flashing in annoyance.
"Saying he's more useful than your pawns, are you?" Ron gave Draco's hand a squeeze, grinning at the wince crossing Draco's pointed features.
"He can't help you either way," Draco hissed, annoyed.
"And they can't help you. But we already established that..."
Draco let out an annoyed little snarl that left Ron snickering.
"Shut it, Weasley! If you think you're so bloody clever, what's your point?"
"Never let your opponent put you in a stalemate." Ron rolled his eyes and smirked at Malfoy.
"Stalemate, then. Now what, Weasley? Want to just stand around holding my hand?" Draco sneered, raising his brows. "Point of a stalemate, isn't it? No more moves to make...means you can't push us out and we can't push forward."
Ron paused, brows furrowed. Dammit, he hadn't thought quite that far. He opened his mouth and closed it again, not sure what to say. So he settled for just glaring at Draco in annoyance, which only caused Draco to smirk. He stepped forward, closer to Ron, making the gangly redhead step back and nearly trip over his large feet.
"I don't think we're quite ready to leave yet, you seem to have a lot of snacks left, while Crabbe and Goyle ate all of ours..."
Goyle pushed forward, reaching for the pile of treats until he shouted in surprise, waving his hand around frantically, a furry lump attached to the knuckle. He hopped around frantically, flailing his arm and knocking Crabbe out into the hall, shoving Draco forward into Ron and forcing both boys back against the window, Harry getting knocked back onto the bench.
"Oomph!" Ron grunted as Draco knocked into his chest.
Draco pushed away just as Goyle sent Scabbers flying against the seat cushion.
"Let's get out of here...figures the only thing the Weasley can afford is a bloody insane rat!" Draco snapped, turning and following Goyle out of the cabin quickly.
"Well, nice try, anyway..." Harry gave Ron a little grin.
Ron huffed, ears bright red at that point before he flopped down, poking Scabbers.
"I can't believe it. He's gone back to sleep, the lazy rat!"
They were just regathering their sweets when Hermione came in to complain about the antics of the other kids and to inform them that they were close to Hogwarts. Ron closed the door after her once she left and rolled his eyes, blocking the windows so they could change. Ron turned away from Harry, stripping off his shirt so he could start changing into his school uniform.
"Oi...what happened to you? Was that from the fight?!" Harry asked, startled. He'd caught Ron's reflection in the window and glanced over to see the spotted bruising of various sizes over Ron's skin.
Ron glanced down and cursed to himself. How could he have been so stupid and forgotten?
"It's nothing...don't worry about it."
"But...if that came from..."
"It didn't come from bleedin' Malfoy, ok?!" Ron snapped, then paused and took a breath. "Sorry, ok? Just leave it."
Harry frowned and nodded. They changed in silence and Harry was getting to leave with Ron, sliding the door open when Ron pushed it closed again, causing Harry to jump. Harry glanced up at Ron, a questioning look in his deep green eyes.
Ron held the door closed, frowning as he looked down at his new friend. Harry gulped nervously but kept his hand on the door, keeping his gaze locked on Ron.
"Look, just..." Ron took a deep breath and looked away, trying to gather his thoughts before he looked back to Harry. "Just...promise me something, ok?"
Harry nodded.
"If you end up in Gryffindor...and I bet you probably will..."
"Yeah?" Harry frowned, wondering where Ron was going with this.
"Don't...don't let the twins get you alone."
"What?" Harry hadn't expected that.
"Don't let them 'test' anything. Don't let them corner you. Just...don't."
Harry stared at Ron, noticed the worried look in the boy's electric blue eyes. His own then darted down to Ron's chest, as it was pretty much eye-level with him due to the other boy's height. He remembered the bruising now hiding underneath those robes and his eyes widened slowly in understanding.
"They..."
Ron's free hand shot out and grabbed Harry by the tie, pulling him closer, causing Harry to yelp in surprise.
"Don't say it, don't you bloody dare say it out loud!" Ron hissed, a light note of panic underneath his voice. "Say a bloody word and by Merlin we are not going to be friends!"
Harry's eyes went wide and his eyes searched Ron's.
"I..."
"Please," Ron's tone had gone desperate as well as his eyes. "Harry, PLEASE."
Harry nodded and frowned, then hugged Ron around the waist. Ron tensed a bit but slowly hugged back, giving the smaller boy's shoulders a squeeze.
"Thanks..."
"What are friends for?" Harry murmured, smiling and drawing back, opening the door without trouble this time.
Ron grinned some, nodding.
"You can be scary, you know that?" Harry quipped.
Laughing, they joined the crowd surging out of the train.