Chapter 1
Ron slumps back onto the brown couch in the Burrow. His house was quiet and the magic in the air was weaker. It had been like this since the start of summer break. Ginny was going from one friend's house to another once a week, Fred and George were in Diagon Alley working in their new store, Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes. His dad worked as much as possible to save up for the new school year. His other brothers were their jobs across Europe and his mother seemed to spend all her time cooking, knitting, or whatever she did in her room.
Harry was at Grimmaulds living his best life with his godfather and uncle. Hermione was with her parents in the muggle world most likely studying for their next year at Hogwarts.
Ron was actually alone for the first time his life. It wasn’t a new occurrence to feel alone in an unseen or unheard-of way. But for the first time, he was physically by himself.
He thinks back to Harry’s letter inviting him to stay with him at Grimmaulds Place for a few weeks. He so badly wants to, but his mother was probably just as alone as he was, and he hates making her sad.
He sighs and stands up, walking back to his room where he spends most of his days. The letter is still opened on his desk next to a few other ones Harry or Hermione wrote.
Ron’s main source of entertainment was those letters. Since you-know-who was officially pronounced dead along with Peter Pettigrew, Sirius had been pronounced innocent and was a free man. Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape both came forth admitting they were spies for Dumbledore, which was confirmed by multiple sources including Dumbledore. This didn’t mean they were necessarily good people but it did make him pity them a bit.
He rereads the letter and looks up across the field surrounding the Burrow. Normally it was buzzing with his siblings playing around or de-gnoming the garden. But it seemed even the gnomes were too busy to come out.
He grabs a parchment and quill and starts writing a letter back to Harry and Hermione. He tells Harry he will ask his mother and see but doubts she will say yes. He tells Hermione to enjoy her summer and stop spending it reading.
He spends the rest of his day laying in bed and staring at his summer homework as if it will magically finish itself.
By the time his father gets home, his mother had finished dinner and set the table. She calls him down and he walks slowly down the stairs and sits in his regular spot.
His father asks him all the usual questions and how his day went and he responds and asks questions of his own. Before they finish and clean up he brings up his question.
“Uhh Mum, Harry invited me to spend a couple of weeks at Grimmauld place. Do you think I could go?” He asks staying down at his plate instead of making eye contact with his mum.
His mother stills her cutlery which had previously been cutting through the chicken breast she cooked and took a deep breath.
“Sure honey, let me just owl Remus and Sirius to make sure it’s alright with them.” Her voice was steady as she spoke and Ron feels himself grin at her.
He’s surprised she let him go so easily but maybe she was enjoying the quiet more than he thought she was.
“Thanks, mum!” He tells her as he stands up to rinse his plate. He then bounds up the stairs and throws the letter he started earlier away and starts another. In this letter he tells Harry his mum said it was okay and would be sending a letter to Remus and Sirius.
He then calls over Pig and ties the two letters, one to Hermione, to the overenergetic owl's leg.
By this time it’s only 7:30 so he jumps onto his bed and prepares for another hour or two of nothing before he goes to.
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It has been a week since his mum got the letter back saying Ron coming over and spending a few weeks there was okay. He’s throwing everything into a suitcase while his mum stands in the doorway and suggests things to pack.
“Mum relax, it’s only 3 weeks I do not need another bag,” Ron tells her rolling his eyes.
“I forget boys are like this. Ginny had 4 for a 4-week trip, and she still came back for more stuff.” She responds smiling at him, probably thinking of her daughter. “Now hurry up you need to floo over in ten minutes.”
She leaves him alone in his room and he throws in a few other things he might need. Including some money, in case he needs it. The money was from Fred and George for his birthday back in March, it wasn’t a lot only a few galleons but Ron is grateful they got him anything at all. Usually, they all just say they pitched in with what his parents got him. He does that too though so he can’t blame them.
He throws his wand in the suitcase and contemplates holding it with him but his mother yelling for him distracts that thought.
He forces the suitcase shut and runs down the stairs dragging it behind him.
His mother fusses over him a bit more before ushering him to the fireplace. He tells his mum to tell his dad goodbye and grabs the powder and throws it down yelling out; ‘Number 12 Grimmauld Place!’
The emerald flames whoosh him away and he steps out into an unfamiliar dining room. Before he can look around properly Harry pulls him into a strong hug.
He laughs for what seems like the first time this summer and hugs back just as hard. The second Harry lets go of him Sirius and Remus are they and greet him in their own way.
Harry then drags him off to his room where he guesses he will be staying. Whether on the floor or in the bed with him. Years ago if you had told Ron he would have a friend that he could share the bed with without any awkwardness or issues he would have called you crazy.
But here Harry was with his impossibly bright eyes and even brighter smile showing him he could have that.