the rain
“Ron. Ron. Wake up.” Harry whispered in Ron’s ear.
”What?” Ron mumbled sleepily, blinking his eyes open to see Harry inches from his face. Under the dark lighting of his room, combined with the light from the window, if you looked just close enough, you would see the slight redness on Ron’s cheeks.
”Get up! We have to get ready to go to Hogwarts, remember?” Harry said, flipping through his things.
Ron stood and looked around the room, stretching his limbs. He noticed that Harry was rushing and disheveled, his hair a mess. He felt an urge to run his fingers through it to calm it, but repressed it. He shook his head and began to pack his own things as well.
He and Harry finished packing their things and slipped on their robes. They padded down the stairs to find the rest of the family who lived at home, minus Fred and George at the table.
“Mornin’ boys! Eat up, we need to leave soon.” Molly Weasley told both of them. She pushed two plates full of food towards the pair, instructing them to eat.
“I’ll bet you’re excited for this year, aren’t you?” Arthur Weasley asked them both, setting down The Daily Prophet. He smiled at the both of them.
"The same as every year, Dad." Ron said through a mouth of food. His mother hit him on the back of his head softly.
"Be a gentleman and don't speak with your mouth full of food." Even though she was scolding him, he smiled.
"Sorry, Mum." He apologized after finishing the food that was in his mouth.
"It's not just any normal year, Ron!" His dad continued. "It’s your fourth year! There’s all sorts of dances open to fourth years and such!”
Harry looked to Ron, who looked just as confused. Ron shrugged and finished his plate of food off. Harry did the same, and both of them waited until everyone else was done eating as well and ready to go.
"Everyone got their bags?" Molly said as Fred and George bound down the stairs with their trunks in hand. Ginny, Harry and Ron nodded.
They made their way to the car and shoved everything in, somehow fitting everything- when Harry asked Mr. Weasley, he had put a finger over his lips and explained to Harry that he had put some Enlarging charms on the car to make it fit more inside of it- and them inside of it.
Ron was pressed between Harry and George. Ron leaned towards Harry, trying not to be smushed by his older brother. Due to this, every part of his and Harry's bodies were touching. Their thighs were pressed against each others, and their hands were centimeters from touching. Harry tapped Ron's hand, and their fingers intertwined, lighting a smile to his face. Even though Ron knew that Harry meant it in a more platonic way, it still made him feel warm inside because it comforted him.
The car ride to the platform was bumpy, and the car kept jolting up and down.
”Oh, I’m gonna be sick.” George said, leaning out the window and puking. Everyone turned their heads towards him as he wiped his lower lip.
“Gross!” Ginny shouted at him, rolling her eyes.
Fred laughed from the back of the car and turned back to his conversation with Ginny.
George turned to Ron and looked down at his and Harry’s interlacing fingers. He raised his eyebrows at his younger brother and Ron shook his head. George nodded.
“Everyone out! We’re here!” Arthur shouted from the front of the car. Everyone tried their best to exit the car as quickly as possible, but it was a little hard with how many people there were.
After everyone went through platform 9 3/4, they all stood back and took a few deep breaths.
“Arthur! What a surprise! Hullo!” Amos Diggory clapped Arthur Weasley on the back and they shook hands.
Cedric Diggory was behind his father and took a step towards George.
“George, how are you?” Cedric said, smiling.
“How’d you know it was me?” George said back mischievously. He smiled back at Cedric, a slight redness upon his face which could’ve been easily blamed on his out of breath state.
“I just did.”
Ron rolled his eyes and looked back at Harry, ushering him along.
“Cmon, let’s go find Hermione, the train leaves soon.” They both walked around, looking for their friend.
Their eyes darted around in their search for her. Ron landed his eyes on her first. He waved and she walked their way.
“Hermione! We were looking for you.” Ron informed her of his older brother and Cedric basically flirting, and how he needed to get away from them.
“Aw, Ron, I don’t think you have much to speak on anyways! Just let people in love be in love, won’t you?” Hermione teased, pushing his shoulder slightly.
His face reddened slightly just as George’s did earlier when he was speaking with Cedric.
“What’d you mean?” Harry butted in. “Ron doesn’t fancy anyone, do you?” Harry asked him, looking expectantly at his best mate. “You would tell me if you did, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah! No! Don’t worry about it! I don’t fancy anyone.” Ron assured Harry.
Hermione looked at him and rolled her eyes, but Ron put a finger over his lips, as if telling her to shush.
They made their way back to the Weasleys, George and Cedric still chatting, but Amos nowhere to be found.
“Mum, Dad! We’re going to go get on the train.” Ron told his parents.
“Have fun this year! Don’t get into any extra trouble!” Arthur yelled back as they walked off towards the train.
George and Cedric followed the three of them, still deep in conversation while holding their trunks.
“I swear, George flirts with him every chance he gets.” Ron rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Which I’ll remind you isn’t very often, since they’re both in different houses!” Hermione defended.
“They’re in the same year! They have one or two classes together.” Ron retorted back at her.
”Let them be, don’t let me start talking about the way you act around yours.” Hermione threatened once more.
“Hermione, what do you mean? Ron just said he doesn’t fancy anyone.” Harry turned his gaze towards Ron and raised an eyebrow.
Ron had nothing to say. All he could do was wait for Hermione to respond and get Harry off his back.
“Oh, I’m sure he was telling the truth! Weren’t you, Ron?” Hermione and Harry both turned to Ron as they stepped onto the train.
“Oh. Er. Yeah.” He scratched the back of his neck, sitting down in a train car.
Hermione began to go on about everything she had read in the new material for their fourth year. Ron listened occasionally, looking out the window at the terrain passing by. A new voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Bet you’re excited for this year, aren’t you Potter?” Draco was leaned against the opening of the door, no friends of his in sight.
“Oh shut your fucking mouth, Malfoy.” Ron said half-mindlessly. He didn’t even register what came out of his mouth until after it was already said.
Hermione looked at him a little shocked, and as did Harry. Draco raised his eyebrow and chuckled, leaving them alone.
“Well, this year’s going to be exciting isn’t it?”