Obsequium

The next morning Ron woke up before the other boys and got dressed for the day. He sat at his desk and turned the small lamp on beside him, admiring the enchanted flames for a moment before turning to his first task of the day. There was an ambient noise about the room of soft breathing, and the gentle rustle of fabric as the boys he was sharing a room with turned in their beds and slumbered deeper.

He’d written his letter to Bill the previous night and now he pulled out a stack of muggle paper and envelopes to write to Maggie and Richard.

He’d learned all about muggle post during his time working there and being cared for by the two muggles and he’d preemptively bought a stack of stamps even though he didn’t exactly understand the necessity of them, he at least knew how to use them.

He’d even specially bought a ballpoint pen to write to them with, unsure whether or not the fine nib of a quill would work on the thin muggle paper.

Dear Maggie and Richard,

It’s barely been a day and I already miss you. I hope the book shop is doing alright without me and that things won’t pile up too much. Please don’t bend down to pick up any heavy things, Maggie, or I’ll get mad and find a way to teleport back and scold you properly!

Boarding school is pretty interesting. I made a friend already, his name is Harry, and there are several other boys in our year that seem fun.

We get sorted into different houses at this school, there are four of them. One for really studious people, another for ones with big ambitions, there’s a house for people who are loyal and hardworking, and there's a house for the brave and bold. I was sorted into the house for the brave and bold. Don’t ask me how, I was fully expecting to be lumped in with the studious lot but I’m happy to have been sorted with my new friend.

I think things are going to be okay. We’re starting our classes today and I’m really looking forward to chemistry and mathematics. There’s a great doctor who works here as a school doctor so I’m thinking of asking her to give me some tips. I’ll let you know how that goes.

I haven’t had a chance to read the book you sent me yet but I know I’m going to enjoy it. I ended up spending the train ride thrashing Harry at chess.

Give Hugo plenty of kisses for me,

Yours,

Ron

He folded the letter up and slipped it into the muggle envelope, writing their address neatly on the front and sticking the postage stamp on the right corner.

He put the muggle envelope into a parchment envelope along with two sickles and a slip of parchment to register himself with the post office in case Maggie wrote back to him. That way any letter addressed to the fake address he’d given them would find its way to Ron.

By the time he was done, Harry was rolling around in his bed and sat up to blink at him blearily.

“Morning person?” he mumbled, squinting at Ron until he managed to jam his glasses on his nose and Ron grinned.

“Something like that,” he shrugged. “I was just finishing another letter.”

Harry hummed.

“Well, hang on, I’ll get dressed and then we can go to the owlery. I know the way there.” he said with a smile. Of course, Harry had probably been to Hogwarts before considering that his parents worked there so he would know his way around.

Once Harry was dressed for the day they strung their school bags over their shoulders and made their way downstairs and through the portrait hole.

“So, what does Bill do?” Harry asked curiously. “You said he works in Egypt.”

“He’s a curse-breaker,” Ron explained proudly. “He works for Gringotts, they’re excavating a huge site in Alexandria. It’s a big deal for him because he only graduated from Gringotts training six months ago.”

“That’s amazing,” Harry said earnestly. “Six months out of training and he’s already working on cases in Egypt? I thought you had to go through smaller cases locally before getting sent to Egypt.”

Ron nodded proudly.

“Usually you do, but Bill’s brilliant.” he bragged and Harry grinned at him.

“Careful there, you almost sound like Bill’s your favorite brother.” he joked and Ron bit his lip a little embarrassed.

“He is,” he replied unashamedly after a second. “Bill is incredible. He’s only thirty-five, and he’s already about to be promoted to Head Curse-Breaker.”

“Well, I can’t wait to meet him one day.” Harry announced. “He must be great if you’re sending him letters before you’ve even gone to a single class.”

Ron blushed. They’d reached the owlery after a short walk through the viaduct and Harry introduced him to his owl Hedwig.

“I’ve had Hedwig for a few years now. Egypt is the furthest she’ll have flown but she’s up for it, aren’t you girl?” Harry cooed. “Are both letters for her?”

“No, one’s just going to Diagon, I’ll have a school owl take that.” Ron gave Harry Bill’s letter to fasten to Hedwig’s leg while he fastened the other letter to a nice tawny owl’s foot.

“Thanks for letting me borrow her, Harry,” Ron thanked once the owls had flown off. “It means a lot to me.”

“No problem!” Harry beamed. “Come on, though, I’m ravenous after this walk.”

Ron followed obediently, not minding the request. His obedience really only bothered him with direct requests, but casual things like the way Harry used them, while it did trigger his curse, weren’t really that strong and he didn’t usually mind following along.

Back in the castle, they noticed a few more students milling around and also Harry’s parents by the Entrance Hall along with his uncle.

His uncle seemed to notice them first and he cocked his head.

“What are you doing up so early, Harry?” James Potter asked curiously, alerting Harry’s parents to his presence. 

Harry’s father was dressed in Auror robes as opposed to the crisp teaching robes the other two wore.

“I was showing Ron to the owlery. I let him use Hedwig to send a letter to his brother in Alexandria.” Harry said, obligingly hugging his mother in greeting. 

“Alexandria, as in Egypt?” Sirius Black asked and Ron nodded, since the man was looking at him even while he ruffled his son’s hair.

“Yes sir,” he replied verbally, just in case Harry’s father was the type who didn’t like nodding. He knew his own father hated it.

“That must be William, right?” Lily Black guessed. “I think I heard from Marlene that she was working with a Weasley and she’s based in Egypt too.”

“You must mean Marlene McKinnon,” Ron realized. “That’s one of my brother’s superiors. He said she scares him.”

All three of them laughed and Harry grinned.

“Aunt Marl sure has a sense of humor,” Harry said amusedly. “She’s harmless, she just likes to intimidate people.”

“Well, don’t let us keep you.” James Potter said kindly. “Why don’t you two go inside for some breakfast?”

Harry chirped an agreement and left easily. Ron inclined his head to them in farewell and hurried after his friend, glad that meeting his parents hadn’t triggered his curse at all.

He thought he felt eyes on his back but when he looked behind him the three professors were already in their own conversation.

Their first week of school had been nothing but interesting.

Ron had noticed almost immediately that Bill had obviously spoken to the professors, or had somehow told them about the curse, because all four Head of Houses spoke to him properly.

It wasn’t the kind of treatment he was used to and he’d thought it was a fluke when McGonagall had done it, but it was obvious to him when Snape did it too.

In Potions class they’d had to brew a simple bruise paste and Professor Snape was, well, not the most genteel of men. He’d barked several questions for poor Harry who had melted down, unable to answer any of them, then turned his steely eyes to Ron and said carefully, but no less scary,

“Can you give me the answers then, Weasley.”

It was neither a statement nor was it a request. Ron marveled slightly that he’d managed to demand the answers from him without triggering his obedience. Ron stood up a bit shakily.

“Asphodel and Wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful that it is known as the Draught of Living Death,” Ron said clearly, trying not to sound as anxious as he felt. Harry was holding his breath.

“A bezoar can be found in the stomach of most animals and some unfortunate humans, but only the bezoar that is found in the stomach of a goat, sir, specifically the Dutch Landrace Goat, is used in magical healing.” Ron knew this pretty well. He’d read all sorts of books on healing when he’d started being interested in healing as a profession and among them potions was one of the main fields of magical healing that he'd had the time and ability to practice and study.

“As for Monkshood and Wolfsbane, sir, they’re the same plant, but interestingly, both those names are not used in Magical Britain, instead we use the term Aconite, while most muggles recognize the plant as Devil’s Helmet, or Blue Rocket.”

Ron had once obediently gone looking for potions ingredients on his mother’s demands and had found a huge bundle of the stuff, and a kindly muggle from town had warned him off of them, calling it the devil’s plant because of its poisonous nature.

Snape was silent, staring at him, then he finally said,

“Ten points to Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley, and another five if you can tell me why we mostly use Aconitum Anthora for potions, and not any other genus.”

Ron sucked his lip in. He knew this. 

Frowning slightly, he closed his eyes and thought about the answer. He was sure Bill had spoken to him about this before. It was like the book he’d read was playing behind his eyelids and he opened his eyes and said, confidently,

“Aconitum Anthora is a genus that is gathered during Lithe, during the Summer Solstice, the name “anthora” or “against thora” stems from its tuberous root which we learned in 1814 was a good antidote to poisons from thora.” He explained, knowing that some students wouldn’t know the meanings behind the names.

“What is the most well known thora poison?” Snape asked, squinting at him slightly. This Ron knew immediately. It grew around the forest by their house, and he’d once trampled past it when his mother once again demanded he gather potions ingredients and Bill had come with him, holding his hand and explaining all about the plants around them. He could even remember the smell of the plant that Bill had told him never to touch.

“Leopard’s bane, sir.”

“Fifteen points, why is no one taking notes?” He snapped at everyone else and Ron felt like a balloon was sitting in his chest as Snape said to him,

“You may sit, Mr. Weasley.”

“How in Merlin's name did you know all of that?” Harry asked him excitedly in the potions store room when they went to fetch their ingredients.

“Bill,” Ron replied dryly. “We used to collect potions ingredients together and he would study out loud and answer all my questions.”

“Damn, I need to meet Bill, he just sounds cooler and cooler!” Harry complained and Ron grinned.

“Out of my way, Weasley!” Draco Malfoy snarled behind him and Ron sucked his breath in as he felt his obedience push him aside. He stumbled slightly and Harry caught him as snickers erupted from the Slytherins. Malfoy scoffed.

“Pathetic,” he shook his head, getting his ingredients and Harry showed him a rude gesture behind his back.

“Startled me, is all,” Ron brushed off the incident, but there was an uncomfortable feeling in his chest and he was certain Snape had seen the entire incident but he said nothing. 

He could feel the man’s eyes watching him though, and that was how Ron knew that some professors, not all of them, knew about his curse.

In their first defense class Ron became certain that Harry’s uncle also knew, and if his uncle knew then that meant his mother and father probably knew as well.

Harry seemed like he didn’t know. He had a natural balance of triggering Ron’s curse accidentally, and being genuinely polite and undemanding. 

Ron had struggled a couple of times in the dorms when Seamus kept stealing the shower from him and occasionally taking his seat in front of the fireplace. Seamus was brash and demanding and although he was well meaning, Ron tended to try avoiding him.

He was sure Harry just thought Ron was a pushover though.

Either way, in defense, James Potter spoke carefully and calmly and Ron rather liked his way of teaching. He felt at ease in the class even though they were doing magic he wasn’t as familiar with the way he was with charms and potions.

A week after Ron had sent his letters out, on the day they were going to have their first flying lesson, Hedwig flew in with the morning post, clutching a parcel in her feet. Ron lit up as Harry’s owl dropped the parcel in his lap.

“Oh, Bill finally replied,” Harry said happily. “Did you enjoy your trip to Egypt, Hedwig?” He fed the owl a piece of bacon, cooing and stroking her feathers as if she were a baby he'd birthed himself instead of just an owl.

Before Ron could even think about opening the letter, the snide voice of one of the twins came from behind him.

“What do you have there, Ronnie?”

Ron’s body stilled despite himself. He clutched the parcel a bit tighter.

“Give it to me, I want to see it.” Fred demanded and Ron hiccuped, turning unwillingly in his seat and giving the parcel to his brother, expression pained. Harry blinked, sending him a confused look that Ron grimaced at.

“Ooh, it’s from brother Bill, he never writes to us.” George complained, looking over Fred’s shoulder. Harry was watching them with a perplexed look and to Ron’s silent horror, he wasn’t the only one.

“You never write to him either,” Ron said tightly. “Give it back, Fred, he sent it to me.”

“Come on, Ronnie, we’re brothers, anything Bill sends can be shared.” Fred laughed, holding the box out of his reach. “Stop trying to grab it.”

Ron had tried grabbing the box but at the command his arm fell limply and Harry frowned deeper.

“Hey, you guys are being kind of rude,” Harry interjected. “That’s Ron’s parcel. If you want your brother to write to you, try writing first.”

Ron wished he could muster the affection for his friend that he wanted to feel but he couldn’t as Fred began untying the strings on his parcel.

“Fred, stop it-” 

“Shush, Ron,” George commanded easily.

Ron’s jaw snapped shut and he could feel himself panicking. He wasn’t sure how to get out of this horrible situation and despite Harry’s comforting hand on his shoulder Ron had never felt more alone in his life. Panic clawed at his throat.

Like the sun breaking out from behind rain clouds, James Potter’s voice came from behind the twins.

“Give it back to your brother,” His voice was colder than ice and the twins went rigid with fright. “Now.”

Fred dropped the parcel in Ron’s lap, turning hurriedly to face the Professor. Even Ron thought the look on his face was terrifying and judging by Harry’s wide eyes, he’d never seen that expression on his uncle’s face either.

It was thunderous and beyond angry. 

Potter was notorious for being affable and pretty accepting of pranks and jokes. He rarely gave out detentions or got annoyed with students, so seeing him like this was a shock for everyone. The entire hall was silent, watching the drama and Ron could see Percy biting his nails to the side, watching anxiously.

“Detention, both of you, you’ll report to my office tonight after dinner.” James said coldly. “If you both know what’s good for you, you’ll never let me see such distasteful behavior again, do you understand?”

Both twins were literally shaking as they mumbled something or the other.

“I said, do. You. Understand?” James sounded out the words slowly, angrily and their spines straightened almost like Ron’s did whenever he was commanded.

“Y-yes, s-sir, sorry sir.” George managed to squeak. 

Ron couldn’t stand the looks on them all and before anyone could say anything further he clutched his parcel tighter and speed walked out of the Great Hall, ignoring Harry’s call for him to come back.

He walked and walked until he didn’t even know where he was but it seemed like he was alone enough and he looked around for a moment before noticing a small little alcove that seemed just barely big enough for him to squeeze into. He sat in a small ball there in the alcove, tucking his knees under his chin, and placing Bill’s parcel underneath the gap of his legs.

Tears streamed silently down his cheeks.

It was always the twins. The Incident, this, there were lots of things Ron was afraid of, or anxious over, but above all he did his best to avoid the twins.

Lost in thought, Ron let his tongue trace the roof of his mouth, feeling the strange texture of the digit and violently remembering the day it had happened. It marked the one and only time Bill had truly lost his temper and after that it felt like it was him and Bill against the world. Bill had only been twelve at the time, and Ron had just turned five when it happened.

Ron shook his head, unwilling to remember that day when he was already so overwhelmed. Having to obey a lot of commands consecutively always made him feel ill and right now with his panic and emotion on top of it he felt especially queasy.

“You alright?”

Ron startled at the voice and realized that he hadn’t even noticed James Potter’s approach. His professor was alone and crouched on the floor in front of him, forcing him even deeper into the small space.

“I-I-”

“You don’t need to reply.” James said quietly. Ron’s breath hitched.

James moved backwards a bit, sitting on the floor in front of Ron’s alcove, and tucking his knees similarly to the way Ron was sitting.

“Do you want to take this calming drought?” He held a glittering vial filled with powder blue potion. “I would like you to take it but it’s up to you.”

Tears spilled over his cheeks despite himself and he nodded shakily when James’s expression looked a bit on the verge of worry. James smiled and opened the wax seal, giving it to him and gently making sure Ron had a proper grasp on the glass vial. Ron drank the potion, pulling a face at the taste. James chuckled at that.

“Severus never really cared for trying to make the potions taste better. I don’t think it’s even possible, but I’m not a potions master so what would I know?” James said casually. Ron sniffed slightly.

“It’s- it’s not possible,” Ron whispered, tucking his chin on his knees and looking at his professor tiredly. “Loads of masters have tried adding sugars and natural sweeteners but it makes most potions useless.”

James looked surprised.

“Go figure,” he hummed. “You learn new things every day.”

Ron smiled wanly.

“Feeling a bit better?” James asked and Ron’s smile faded a bit.

“How do you know about … it?” Ron asked softly and James’s expression shuttered a bit.

“The Headmaster kept several professors that he trusts behind in a staff meeting and told us about it.” He said and Ron thought he sounded really honest. “He said that Bill had visited him after his graduation to ask Albus to look out for you when you came.”

Ron nodded acceptingly.

“I thought as much.” He admitted. “I noticed that some of the professors speak to me really carefully. I’m not really used to it so it took me by surprise.”

“We just want to make you as comfortable as possible.” James said gently.

“Does-” Ron winced. “Does Harry know?”

James immediately shook his head.

“Not to my knowledge, no. Lily wondered if she should ask Harry to look out for you but I told her not to interfere. Harry knows nothing that you yourself haven’t told him.”

Ron felt a bit relieved at that.

“I-It’s not that I don’t trust him, I just-”

“Trust me, Mr. Weasley, you don’t have to explain yourself to me at all.” James said earnestly. “Whether you tell my nephew or not, whether you end up staying friends with him or not, it’s all your choice. No one is going to force you, and if they do then you need only look my way and I’ll defend you where you cannot.”

“Why?” Ron breathed, startled by his conviction. James looked a bit uncomfortable at the question but after a moment he said,

“You are not the only person I know with a curse, Ronald.” His voice was quiet and pained. “Let’s just say I sympathize, and I guess, I guess I was curious about what sort of person could live with a curse like yours for so long.”

Ron cringed slightly.

“I considered not, but … I couldn’t leave Bill.” Ron said hollowly. James frowned at that but he didn’t say anything.

“I admire your conviction, Ronald,” James said quietly. “I think you’re very brave and strong for living through it when it’s evidently been hard for you. Not a lot of people can.”

“I had help,” Ron blurted, feeling unsure and burdened. “Bill, he-I wouldn’t have made it without him.”

“That doesn’t make you less impressive, Ron.” James said gently. “Please take the compliment, if you can.”

Ron wasn’t sure how to feel or what to say so he just ducked his head shyly.

“Now, something tells me you have a letter to read and you might like some privacy.” James stood up, peering down at Ron with a small smile. “Your flying class is in half an hour, don’t forget about it alright? I put some notice-me-not wards up around here so you can stay here without anyone noticing for however long you want.”

Ron nodded, watching his professor as he left. He couldn’t describe the feeling in his chest for the life of him but it was warm and the calming draught had really helped to take away the queasy feeling of panic that had been coursing through his veins.

Alone again, he reached for the parcel and finished Fred’s abandoned task of opening it to reveal a letter and a little card box.

He opened the letter first, reading through blurry eyes.

My dearest Ron,

I was so happy to get your letter. I was having a hard time with the dig and just feeling so out of my depth all alone when your letter came.

It was like I had my favorite boy right with me and I hope you know just how much I miss and love you. I’m so proud of you for keeping your head up and I knew Gryffindor was the only house for my brave, brave brother. If I could only be there to cheer you on and protect you forever I’d be happy but even though things will be difficult and you’ll have to navigate all sorts of things, I know that you’re going to do it with grace and kindness and bravery.

Don’t let the twins mess with you, Ron. I know it’s hard for you to say no, and I know that it’s not easy, but have faith in yourself and trust your professors to take care of you as well. I’m glad you made a friend. I look forward to hearing all about Harry and hopefully one day I can meet a good friend of my brother’s. Anyone who is a friend of yours is a friend of mine.

I have to go, but please send me a letter and tell me all about your experiences in your new classes. Have you spoken to Madam Pomfrey yet? I know she’ll be thrilled to speak with you so don’t be scared.

I’ve sent you a little gift, don’t worry if anyone tries to mess with it, your big bro is a master curse breaker and there’s a ward on the letter and parcel that only allows you to open it. You have my blessing and encouragement to share it with your friends, I think it’ll be more fun if you open it in the evening in your dorms with the other boys.

I’ve always got your back.

Love,

Bill

Ron closed the letter, holding it close to his heart and cried.

He only had about ten more minutes to get his tears out and tidy up in the closest bathroom. To his horror it was pretty obvious he’d been crying and no amount of cold water splashed on his face could take away his red-rimmed eyes.

He tucked the parcel safely in his bag and made his way to the quidditch pitch where they had their flying lessons. He didn’t look up on his way there until he heard his name called and turned slightly to find Harry, Hermione and the two other Gryffindor girls, Lavender and Parvati, as well as the other Gryffindor boys.

“We were waiting for you,” Harry said when he caught up to Ron. “We saw you from the Entrance Hall and tried to keep up. Y’know, solidarity and all that because the Slytherins were being rude about you earlier so we didn’t want you to get to class alone.”

Ron was more touched than he could even articulate.

“I’m just gonna say this once, mate,” Seamus said, clapping his shoulder. “So far, you’re the only Weasley I like.”

Ron flushed. Even Hermione, who was a pretty big stickler of rules and authority figures, didn’t defend Percy.

“Yeah, not gonna say anything but Bill is definitely the number two Weasley in my opinion,” Harry said confidently. “My Weasley ranking is Ron at number one, then Bill, and then whoever isn’t the twins.”

Ron laughed despite himself.

“Thanks guys,” he said softly. “Sorry I just ran away like that. I’m not the best under pressure.”

“It’s fine, I would have run away too if my sister was trying to embarrass me in front of everyone.” Parvati said sympathetically. “Mind you, I’d have ripped her entrails out and wrapped them like a necklace around her neck if she ever had the audacity to do that to me, but that’s just me.”

Ron wasn’t the only one who looked alarmed. Hermione’s jaw dropped at the explicit and casual way the (usually sweet and calm) Indian girl had said it.

“Er, th-thanks for the advice, Parvati,” Ron said unsurely. “I’ll-I’ll keep it in mind for uh- for next time.”

Parvati beamed at him and she and Lavender skipped away. He sent the others a bit of a green look.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get that out of my mind, to be honest.” He said and they laughed.

“Well, I’ve learned three things today,” Neville said, sounding pretty sure of himself. “Don’t bother with the Weasley twins, don’t piss off Professor Potter, and don’t make Parvati mad, like, ever.”

Ron was crying with laughter by the time they got to the pitch, neatly covering up his red-rimmed eyes from his earlier crying.

He didn’t even bother with Malfoy’s attempts to goad him. Fortunately he wasn’t triggered by it and the flying lesson passed pretty smoothly. Harry was kind of prodigy level at flying and while Ron didn’t do too badly for himself he was nowhere near Harry’s level and he cheered for his friend loudly on the sidelines as he had a “friendly” race with Malfoy.

Both he and Harry were still wide-eyed several hours later when Oliver Wood grabbed Harry by the cuff and practically demanded that he be Gryffindor’s Seeker. Usually first years didn’t get on the team but Oliver and McGonagall were making an exception because of how wildly good Harry was.

That evening, Ron shyly brought out the parcel from Bill in the boys dormitories.

“So, my brother sent me something and he suggested in his letter that I open it with the boys in my year. I have no idea what it is though.” He said carefully, placing the parcel on his bed.

The boys blinked, wide eyed but came to sit on and around his bed curiously.

“Go on then, open it.” Seamus said eagerly, unintentionally triggering Ron’s obedience. He opened the parcel and revealed an elegant and smooth looking box of chocolates.

“Neat,” Harry offered, looking a bit bemused. “I never say no to a good bit of chocolate, I guess.”

Ron picked up the note lying on the box and read it out loud.

“I guess you’re all unimpressed, but I assure you, friends of my brother, and my dear brother, Egyptian chocolate will allow you to see a world unlike any other for five solid minutes. Enjoy, love Bill.” Ron looked at them all over the chocolates. Their expressions were much more eager now.

“Hang on, there’s enough for the girls too,” Ron said, counting the chocolates. “I’ll go ask if they want to try.”

He got up and went to the bottom of the girl’s dorms. He asked one of the older girls to go call Hermione down. Hermione came out looking confused, but her expression cleared when she saw him.

“Ron? What’s up?”

“Girls can come up to the boy’s dorms, right?” he asked. “Only, my brother Bill sent me something and we all think it’s going to be kind of cool so I thought I’d invite you, Lavender and Parvati to try it too.”

Hermione smiled, looking pleasantly surprised.

“We’d love to,” she agreed. “Give me a minute to get them and we’ll be there in a second.”

Ron nodded and returned to their dorm.

“They’ll be here in a second.” he told the boys, who blanched and hurriedly shoved some socks and underwear away. Ron laughed loudly at that as even Harry shoved a stray sock under his pillow. He got a pillow to his face for the effort.

When the girls arrived, Ron let Hermione read the note as well and then dished out a neat square of chocolate to each of them.

“Now, should it be to Bill, or to us Gryffindor first years?” Dean asked unsurely and Harry laughed.

“Both,” he suggested, and they held their chocolates out. “To Bill, and us first years!”

Ron placed the chocolate on his tongue. It was smooth and rich, just perfectly sweet enough and tasted almost like coffee or carob. For a moment they all just sat there, a pleased expression on their faces. It was pretty good chocolate and Ron thought that was all that it was and evidently others were coming out of it too and thinking the same when his vision suddenly came to life.

“Whoa!” Seamus blurted.

It was like there was a galaxy all around them. Hermione stood up, trailing her arms through it with an awed expression on her face while Lavender and Parvati lay on Neville’s bed and stared up at the ceiling dreamily.

It was as if they were floating in the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall. It truly was an experience like no other and as Bill had promised, it lasted for about five minutes until the universe softly trailed away, leaving their tongues sweet and their moods significantly lifted.

“That was the best chocolate I’ve ever eaten in my life!” Dean cried. “Seriously, Ron, your brother is too cool.”

Ron grinned. He wondered if Bill knew that he was close to having a fanbase among Ron’s friends.

“Thanks for inviting us, Ron, that was really awesome,” Lavender said with a beaming smile. “I hope you’ll let your brother know we really liked it.”

Ron nodded warmly.

They all chatted a bit more before the girls left to turn in for the night. For the first time, Seamus grinned at Ron and said,

“I think you deserve the first shower tonight, mate, go for it.” 

Ron snorted, but he accepted with a grin and took a quick shower, washing the hard day off his back.

He was really glad that his friends were all extremely nice and he thought, if it came to it, he would be able to handle it if they found out about his curse. He carefully ignored the spike of anxiety and fear accompanied with the errant thought and put it aside.

Not anytime soon though. 

His secret would have to be kept for now.