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Far in the Wizarding World in St. Ottery Catchpole there sat a lopsided and quite wonky looking house called the Burrow. It sat several stories high with a red roof at the top. the building looked as if it were a stack of chaotic, different sized boxes waiting to fall over. It was held up by a force of magic and had a rather strange looking garden in the front where gnomes and chickens scurried their way along the dry grounds. The burrow also had a shed outside and smoke coming out of the house's chimney that flew into the clouds above.Inside the house was an arrangement of magical objects and spells. There were pots and pans cleaning themselves, a blanket that seemed to be knitting itself, an enchanted clock which showed the whereabouts of each member of the family that lived inside of the Burrow, and many other whimsical objects looming around. The Burrow was a stuffy, chaotic place. The Weasley's were not very wealthy so it was all they could afford. Some may say it's not much, but it was home.The burrow currently held a family of seven ginger-haired wizards, the Weasley's. There were really seven Weasley kids and two parents though. The two oldest kids(Bill and Charlie) had moved out which left the remaining seven Weasley's. The eldest of the bunch Percy, who was tall and thin, sat in his room studying a topic in his books he found particularly amusing. Percy was a determined Weasley and he was not afraid to put his needs and career in front of the others. Molly Weasley, the Weasley's mother, adored Percy for his achievements in his academics the other Weasley children were not fond of this and got annoyed whenever Mrs. Weasley started to babble on about Percy.The next two children were named Fred and George. They were stalky and on the shorter side of the bunch. They were certainly naughty but loads more funny. Mrs. Weasley tried to discipline them but it never really worked. They always seemed to have a joke or some invention up their sleeve. They loved to invent things, some of the Weasley's could often hear explosions coming from their room as they experimented. Both twins weren't the type of person to enjoy academics so they found their joy in comedy instead, it was their passion and the rest of the Weasley's knew that. They also liked quidditch, which was a sport that they played in the Wizarding World.there were two more Weasley kids, One was the youngest and her name was Ginny. She had many freckles and was an average height. She was the girl Molly and Arthur(the Weasley dad) had always wanted. She was kind and outgoing and couldn't wait to grow up and prove herself. She liked quidditch as well, but her brothers never considered letting her play with them, so she did it herself. Ginny liked to sneak out to the little shed outside the burrow and steal her brother's things to go play quidditch on her own outside. She was independent and didn't let them get in her way.Finally there was the second youngest of the Weasley children, Ronald, or Ron for short. He was tall, skinny, and had many freckles dotted on his face. He had a long nose and blue eyes. Ron sat in his room at the very top story of the burrow admiring his poster of the Chudley cannons, his favorite quidditch team. He had watched his brothers play quidditch his whole life. He watched his older brothers Charlie and Bill become quidditch captains and Fred and George be on the quidditch team. He would sometimes play outside with his brothers because he too, enjoyed quidditch. He wanted to be on the Hogwarts quidditch team once he had got a suitable broom.Hogwarts was the magical boarding school for Wizards and Witches that Ron would be joining his brothers in once term started, which was in two days. In order to get Hogwarts they had to go to a magically hidden train station(platform 9 3/4) and board the Hogwarts Express, which would bring them to Hogsmeade station. Which is where the first years will board boats to sail to Hogwarts castle. Once they get to Hogwarts the first years will be sorted into one of the four houses(Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff), they will be sorted into the house that suits them best. The rest of Ron's family(except Ginny because she was too young and not eligible yet) were all sorted into Gryffindor, so Ron wished to be in the house of Gryffindor. Ron had already gotten his supplies ready for Hogwarts and his brother had given him a rat named Scabbers to take with him, wizards going to Hogwarts were able to take one pet with them.Ron was very excited to go to Hogwarts because he had grown up seeing his brothers leave the Burrow for their terms at the school, he had heard many exciting things about Hogwarts. He knew that he would learn to preform magic and maybe, Ron hoped, meet new friends. Ron also had to pack his trunk for Hogwarts because he wasn't going to come back to the burrow until term ended. He had packed his supplies already, which consisted of his wand(a twelve inch long Ash wood wand with a core of unicorn hair), his cauldron, quills for writing, spell books, a poster, and a few more spare things. all he needed to pack was his clothes but his Mum had told him she would preform a simple packing charm/spell to put those inside. So all he really had to do was wait, and then he would be ready to go for Hogwarts.
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On the night before the start of term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Ron sat on his bed playing a game of chess against himself and listening to the banging of the pipes due to the Ghoul that lived in the Weasley's attic. Bam! Bang! Ping! Bam! Bang! Ping! Ron rolled his eyes. He straightened up and leaped off his bed. This seemed to upset Scabbers who was previously sleeping and he leaped off the bed as well, squealing loudly. "Oh shut it." Ron said quietly.Ron was alright with Scabbers but truly felt like the rat was annoying at times. Scabbers had been Percy's but since Percy had earned himself a new pet for becoming a perfect at Hogwarts, which mean't that he was selected to patrol corridors. give and take house points, or enforce rules. So with Percy's reward, he got himself a new owl, and now Ron was stuck with Scabbers. Scabbers crawled under the bed, angry. Ron could hear the rat plop down, trying to go back to sleep."Get out from under there!" Ron exclaimed. Ron reached his hand under the bed but Scabbers just crawled in further. "Stupid rat." he mumbled.Ron's stomach growled and he decided he was hungry a few moments after struggling to get Scabbers out from under the bed. He stepped down the many floors of the burrow to find his mum yelling at Fred and George."-and enough of those experiments!" she shrieked. Turns out, from what Ron had heard, Fred and George had just blown off one of the walls of the shed outside trying to bewitch their brooms to chase Percy. "You could have destroyed the shed completely! or worse, hurt your dear brother!" she yelled, her high pitched voice reaching every inch of the room.Ron peeked around the wall, trying to listen in on the conversation. Ron saw that Percy was sitting at the table, completely unharmed despite a few rips in his shirt and a hole in his pants where the broom must have tried to poke him in the butt. Percy looked at his mother, who was red in the face and still fuming at Fred and George. The twins, who looked completely unaffected by their mothers lecturing, were simply nodding their heads.The twins were used to getting yelled at or punished by their mum for all the mischievous things they did. Fred even had his eyebrow quirked."Sorry Mum." said George, but the tone in his voice had no remorse and sounded as if he did not feel bad at all. Mrs. Weasley looked as though she could be triggered by a pin drop."Don't apologize to me! Apologize to you brother! Right no-AND WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN RONALD WEASLEY!" Ron's head snapped immediately towards his Mum."I- uh.. was trying to fish Scabbers out from under my bed" he said uncertainly, he glanced at his brothers, wishing they would say something stupid so he can get his food and leave. "Well get some food and sit down then!-..right now!" Ron quickly scrambled to grab food and sat down at the table.Mrs. Weasley seemed to have tired herself out and decided to stop yelling at Fred and George and go up to her room. The twins seems to have mutually agreed to sit down at the table as well and Percy seemed to dismiss himself to bed. "Hey Ronniekins. Mind minding your own business next time there's an argument?" said George. Oh, how Ron hated the nickname Ronniekins, Fred and George had adapted the nickname as a way to make fun of him when he was younger. He had hated ever since, he thought it sounded childish and he got annoyed by them constantly calling him it. "Sorry, just happened to be listening I guess" Ron said, annoyed, through his food.Some people would say that Ron was short tempered, he thought his temperature was reasonable. Ron stirred his stew angrily. It was hard to have a decent temper when you have Fred and George looming around."Hey, since you're going to Hogwarts next, why don't we teach you a spell to get you started?" asked Fred. Ron grumbled in response. "What about one to turn your rat a different color? you don't seem to like Scabbers much anyway.""I like scabbers!" said Ron, though if he was being honest, he was quite interested in this rat-changing-color spell."Oh really, cause you seem to get annoyed by the mere thought of the rat!" George laughed."Here- what about this one. er-'Sunshine, daisies.. butter mellow.. turn this.. stupid.. fat rat-er- yellow!'" George recited, though he looked as though he might have come up with that on the spot."Oh yeah.. yeah! that's a good one!" Agreed Fred. "try it tomorrow on the train..!" George said.Ron nodded as the twins got up to leave the table. "gits" Ron mumbled through his bite of food. Ron finished his food shortly before he decided to head up to bed, he had to get up early tomorrow anyways. When he got to his bedroom Ron got his wand out of his trunk. He grabbed Scabbers and placed his on his desk."Sunshine, Daisies, Buttermellow, Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" He recited.Nothing happened, Ron stared at the rat blankly. He tried the spell a few more times but nothing seemed to work. Maybe he had to try on the train? He decided that he would try sometime tomorrow and he climbed in bed. He fell asleep reciting the spell in his head.
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"Ron! Ronald? wake up!" Ron groaned as Ginny shook his shoulder "Mum wants you downstairs in twenty minutes!" She said before skipping out of the room. Ron yawned. It was a very special day because it was the day that Ron would be traveling to Hogwarts. Ron had been waiting for this day for years and was ecstatic. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and got lazily our of bed. He exited his room and climbed down the many flights of stairs to the kitchen which was usually what his mum meant by "downstairs".He walked around the corner to see all the other six Weasley's sitting there and eating breakfast. This breakfast contained eggs, toast, and some very tasty bacon that Ron especially loved. Ron's stomach jumped with excitement at the thought and he happily joined the others at the table. Ginny waved to him as he sat down. Ron and Ginny were close siblings. Possibly to closest of the bunch after Fred and George. Ron and Ginny had grown up side by side since they were only 17 months apart. They cared for each other but often teased each other. Even though Ron didn't want to admit it, he was very protective of Ginny. As were his other brothers, Ron didn't know whether Ginny liked this or not though. Ginny often told her brothers that she would rather do things on her own, but they protected her for what they hoped for for her own good.Ron's mum at down beside him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She seemed as if she had forgotten that she had scolded him yesterday. Ron continued to munch on his breakfast dwelling on the fact that this would be his last breakfast at the Burrow for a while. Ron noticed that his Mum always seemed slightly saddened when him, Fred, George, and Percy left for Hogwarts. Unfortunately, Ron didn't doubt that she felt relieved afterwards. Ron would feel the same, he felt as though he needed a break from his siblings sometimes too. Besides once Ron and the others left for Hogwarts it would only be Mum, Dad, and Ginny left at the burrow. Ginny wasn't much of a handful and just followed his mum around so Ron bet it more relaxing than having everyone around. Ron felt like Mrs. Weasley often favored Ginny. Ron knew his mum had wanted a girl for ages. Moments later, Ron had gone back up to his room to change. He picked out a pair of grey pants, a navy blue shirt, and a green-grayish sweater. He didn't know how to feel about it, the outfit had all been hand-me-downs from his older brothers and his shirt had a few holes in it. He frowned at it, it was all they could afford. Rorn knew his family was poor, but he didn't like to talk about it.Ron grabbed his trunk and Scabbers, his rat, and exited his room. "Come on now! Grab your sandwiches!" Mrs. Weasley ordered. Ron's Mum handed him four Corned Beef Sandwiches. He hated corn beef sandwiches, in fact, he despised them. Mrs. Weasley could never remember that Ron hated those, she could never remember when Ron liked or hated anything. Mrs. Weasley often forgot about Ron. Ron had faced a lot of competition at home and he felt as though all his brothers were better than him in some way or another. Ron was determined to change that, and his years at Hogwarts were his chance.The Weasley's had gotten out of the Burrow and we're now all crammed into Mr. Weasleys Ford Anglia with their trunks and pets. They were on there were the Kings Cross station where they would cross over the Hogwarts train station. The drive the Kings cross the station was a pretty long drive so the Weasley's sat there bored or joking around. Mrs. Weasley's was having a long conversation with Ginny about why Ginny couldn't come to Hogwarts with the rest of them(which was just full of Mrs. Weasley constant telling Ginny 'Your too young, dear'), Ron was trying to catch up on sleep since he had waken up at nearly ten past five, which was far to early for his liking, and Ron overheard Fred and George whispering into each other ears about something involving Dungbombs, Mr Weasley was also humming happily in the front seat.Ron knew that his Dad loved to drive his Muggle(Non-wizarding people) car. Mr. Weasley was employed at the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office which practically mean't he loved Muggle things and Muggles themselves. He says that he finds them 'Very fascinating indeed'. This sadly was one of the reasons they were poor. This had always been a topic on Ron's mind. He knew his Dad didn't get payed much, but he tried.Once they had arrived at Kings cross station they had to all say their goodbyes to Mr. Weasley who had to go to work. Ron picked up his rat cages and trunk. Ron's Mum and Ginny would be taking a taxi home. They all bid their farewells to their dad and Mrs. Weasley gave him a kiss on the cheek and they set off. They had to go the wall between platforms nine and ten. "Let's go dears! this way..-Hurry up now!" everyone hurried after Mrs. Weasley. "Follow me now- this place..-packed with Muggles, of course-" she said.They all dragged their trunks along as they continued walking down the station, Ron was eager and excited to get to the platform."Now, what's the platform number?" Mrs. Weasley asked no one in particular."Nine and three-quarters!" exclaimed Ginny "Mum, can't I go...""You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right Percy, you go first."Once you have arrived at the 9 and 10 platforms. You had to run through the wall in between and through the magical barrier to get to platform 9 3/4. Percy marched through the wall and vanished just as the tourists cleared away."Fred, you next" said Ron's Mum. Ron's nerves were starting to kick in as he was next after George."I'm not Fred, i'm George" said one of the twins."Honestly, woman, you call yourselves our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?" said the twin exhaling dramatically. Ron rolled his eyes."Sorry, George, Dear" apologized Mrs. Weasley."Only joking, I am Fred," he said. George hollered at him to hurry up and Fred too, vanished. George ran in shortly after him. Ron was next, he was just starting to place his hands on the handles of his trun-"Excuse me," said a voice behind them.It was a boy with black hair, green eyes, broken glasses, and clothes that were much to large for him, he was shorter than Ron and he looked slightly distressed. Ron noticed how Ginny was staring fixedly at something on his forehead."Hello, dear," said Ron's Mum. "First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too." She pointed at Ron.His ears went pink. He was fairly pale so that was quite the noticeable feature. "Yes.." said the brown haired boy."The thing is-the thing is, I don't know how to-" the boy stuttered. Ron thought he looked very uncertain."How to get onto the platform?" Ron's mum asked, the boy nodded. "Not to worry" she said, "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Ron.""Er-okay," the boy said nervously. The boy started to walk toward the barrier picking up his pace with each step. The boy broke into a run. He seemed unsure and scared but he pursued the wall anyway. Ron watched as the boy slowly disappeared through the wall. Ron stared blankly at the barrier. It was his turn now."Go on then now dear." said his Mum. "Ginny and I will be in right after you"Ron looked back at his Mum and nodded. Ron ran through towards the wall bracing himself unless he crashed. He gripped the handles tighter and glided straight through the barrier. He arrived and saw a iron archway reflecting the words Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Ron saw a scarlet steam engine with a sign overhead that read The Hogwarts express.Wicked, Ron thought.The smoke from the engine had already cleared overheard and Ron was able to see the array of pets. such as cats of every color following after their owners, on their trunks, or between their legs. Owls hooted and screeched over the sound of students trunks. Ron also noticed the occasionally appearance of a rat or toad. He felt reassured as he gripped Scabbers rat cage, knowing he was not alone with his lame rat. Ron spotted his siblings and pushed his cart back over to them. He passed by a boy who was confiding in losing his toad to his grandmother."Gran, I've lost my toad again.""oh, Neville" said the Grandmother as she sighed.Ron arrived where Fred and Georges best friend Lee Jordan were showing some creature in a box that poked out a hairy leg. He looked the side to see his Mum and Ginny walking over. Ron pushed his trunk over to them."There you are Ron! Where are Fred and George?" said Mrs. Weasley."I dunno, Mum," said Ron."Fred? George? Are you there?""Coming Mum." said the voice of one of the twins from a little ways away. Mrs. Weasley looked back at Ron."Ron, you've got something on your nose." Mrs. Weasley reached for Ron's face and he tried to dodge her but she grabbed his face and began rubbing his nose."Mum-geroff!" said Ron, wiggling out of her grasp."Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" said Fred."Shut up" Ron shot back."Where's Percy?" Mrs. Weasley cut in."He's coming now"Percy strided over. Ron noticed he had already changed into his Hogwarts robes and had his shining Prefect badge."Can't stay long, Mother" he said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves-""Oh, you're a prefect Percy?" said George with an inhaler of sarcastic surprise."You should have said something, we had no idea.""Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said Fred"Once-""Or twice-""A minute-""All summer-""Oh, shut up," said Percy, he looked as though he were trying to act annoyed but Ron could have sworn he saw hint of a smirk on his face."How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" asked George."Because he's a prefect," said Mrs. Weasley fondly."All right, dear, well-have a good term-send me an owl when you get there."She planted a kiss and Percy's cheek and he strode off. Ron's mom turned to face the twins."Now, you two-this year.. you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've-blown up a toilet or-""Blown up a toilet, we've never blown up a toilet." Said Fred, grinning."Great idea though, thanks, Mum."said George, laughing."It's not funny. And look after Ron.""Don't worry ickle Ronniekins is safe with us.""Shut up." said Ron, again. Ron was almost the same height as the twins already, whom were a little on the shorter side. Not to mention that his nose was still red where his mum rubbed it."Hey, Mum guess what? guess who we just met on the train?" Fred said. They all instinctively looked up at the train windows."You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?""Who?""Harry Potter!"Ron recognized the name almost instantly. He was the boy who was famous for surviving the Avada Kedavra or the Killing curse. No one had ever survived that before and no one knows why Harry had. Harry had survived at the cost of his parents though, and was left an orphan. "Oh. Mum, can I go on the train and see him, Mum, oh please...""You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something to goggle at in a zoo. Is he really, Fred? How do you know?""Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there-like lightning.""Poor dear-no wonder he was alone, I wondered. He was ever so polite when he asked how to get on to the platform""Never mind that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?"Mrs. Weasley face turned stern and she raised her eyebrows at the twins. You-Know-Who was a dark wizard who rose to power, started a Wizarding War, and tried to kill Harry. When he tried to kill Harry, You-Know-Who died, but no one knew why."I forbid you to ask him, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day to school.""All right, keep your hair on" said George.The train whistle sounded."Hurry up!" yelled Mrs. Weasley and they all ran to the train entrance and climbed onto the train. Ron turned back to see Ginny starting to cry realizing her brothers were leaving. He stuck his tongue out at her and she began to laugh."Don't cry, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls.""we'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat." said George, chuckling.
"George!"
"Only joking, Mum." As the train began to move Ron looked back to see his Mum waving and Ginny, who was both crying and laughing, running to keep up to the train. She tried, but she eventually fell back and waved. Ron laughed and waved. Ron watched out the window for a moment, watching them past the houses and going out into the open fields. The train gained speed and he knew they were off. This was it, his new beginning, he was going to Hogwarts.