Chapter 5
Ron was ten. Mum forgot her birthday. She was used to it. Ginny didn't. Merlin bless her sister gave her two pair of gloves that she tried to knit herself. Percy sent a book about quidditch a shared gift with Oliver. Charlie sent his old quidditch goggles and Bill a leather bracelet. The twins offered him two get out of prank cards. Dad and Mum forgot to even mention it only remembering when Septimus sent him his old chessboard as a birthday gift.
Mum offered her apologies and dad took her to a Chudley match and she had to pretend to be grateful. She was grateful, but she was tired of the lie she had to live.
The cooking lessons ended after mum's argument with Pandora. Ginny was relived but Ron lost her last connection with mum.
May came with sad news. Dad after work brought sad news. Pandora Lovegood died after a Rune spell she worked on blew up her body. Ron didn't care about anything. She took her old coat and ran out of the door.
She ran until she was on the hill. She knocked on the door and Mr. Lovegood was the one who opened it. He looked sad and unkempt not a shocker to Ron after he lost his wife.
"Ron? Come inside. Luna is on her room." He said absentminded.
Ron only said a thanks and ran up to Luna's room. She did not regard normal politeness and went into her room. It was more chaotic than usual, Luna was laying on her bed looking at the ceiling.
They didn't talk nor moved for a while Ron just laid down next to her and they both stared to the ceiling.
"I'm sorry." Ron only said that. Luna only nodded, but latched onto Ron's chest. She hugged Ron for a long time.
Only a furious Molly could separate them. Ron was punished for months after she ran away to help out her grieving friend. She begged mum to let her go to Pandora's funeral but the three friends were separated probably for a long time.
***
Mum watched Ron like a hawk. She had to get out of the Burrow a home that didn't feel like home anymore. Her only friend was gone, probably depressed and in a need of a friend. She didn't want to leave Ginny alone next year.
One year and she could go to Hogwarts. Finally have new friends who will accept Ron as Ron, that she likes purple, not maroon, chicken not corned beef, cooking not degnoming the stupid garden.
Hogwarts was what she needed. Get into Gryffindor and if she is lucky she could get girl friends and maybe even Harry Potter in her year. She would have school robes that look good and her own wand. And in two years Ginny and Luna also will be part of her friendship group, finally mum can't control her.
***
Ron was eleven when Charlie did the same thing Bill did, he left. While he didn't snap like Bill did, he acted as calm while mum chewed him out. He choose a dragon reserve far from here Romania to be exact. Wales had one dragon sanctuary but Charlie said he wanted a challenge (he wanted to escape the nagging). Charlie also confessed that he doesn't want a family or a partner. Mum looked confused at that and Charlie said mum won't ever understand his feelings.
Ron herself didn't get it for a long time. She never stopped to think that mum expected all of them to have families one day. That included a husband or wife and kids. Her head hurt at the thought of having a partner. Ginny understood it and in her daydreams she saw Harry Potter or any good looking bloke from Ron's Quidditch magazines as husband. Ron only could see Luna, maybe as her wife, but marrying made her feel weird.
***
Summer was short. Ron asked mum if this was the day when she will get her wand. Percy was also eager to go shopping, because a certain Oliver will be there. Ron was happy for her brother to have a close friend.
"And I will get my own wand finally not a hand me down thing!" Ron beamed at the thought. It will be mum's first gift, she will consider it as a late birthday gift.
"You will. I can't wait to introduce you to Oliver and Penelope." Percy said happily.
"And bore them to death?" Fred asked. "We have to slip away and check out the prank shop, stock up our dung bomb reserves."
"I want to go to Hogwarts too. I'm fed up with knitting." Ginny cried out. Ron agreed she was also tired of washing the dishes.
At the breakfast table Ron finally got her letter, but as she read Mr. Weasley she wanted to correct the remark. Mum was proud for a second, because after that Percy unintentionally took away her attention from Ron.
"I'm a prefect!" Percy shouted and Ron smiled proudly. Percy deserved it the most and she knew that he will be one. The twins started to tease him, Ginny said it is typical and left.
"We have to get you a gift! Anything you want Percy." Mum offered as she kissed Percy who let himself feel smug.
"An owl would be nice." He remarked.
***
That night Percy unintentionally broke Ron's heart. She went down to get some lavender tea to sleep better, but she overhead stuff she shouldn't.
"Arthur we don't have enough money for the school supplies." Mum admitted while she was drinking her tea mixed with firewhisky to soothe her nerves.
"How come? The only new thing we have to worry about is Ron's wand." Arthur asked. "And I saved up enough money to get it."
"Oh Arthur this was before the letter. Percy is a prefect and he deserves a gift! Also Ginny dear is so down that she can't go to Hogwarts yet. We have to find a different wand for Ron."
"Or give Percy a gift for Christmas, I am proud of him, but his gift can wait. Molly we agreed we won't compromise the kid's wands."
"Charlie left home his old wand. For now we could give it to Ronnie then get him a new wand next year."
"Or you could wait with Ginny's new dresses and your new book and get the wand for Ron." Arthur argued back.
"But Ginny deserves it!"
"She hates dresses and Ron also deserves a wand. We forgot his birthday it is the least we could do for her... him." Arthur corrected himself.
"Fine."
***
It was fine until they went to the Diagon Alley. Ron already got Charlie's wand which refused to work for her. Percy even offered Scabbers as a new pet rat for Ron and Ron reluctantly under mum's watchful eyes accepted. Ginny also got a 'new' second-hand dress while they got the old, ratty school robes resized.
Charlie decided to treat his brothers and sister to some ice cream until mum gets her Lockhart books. The twins asked Charlie to keep it a secret that they ran off with Lee Jordan to check out Zonko instead.
"I am sorry Ron." Percy whispered to Ron as they ate the ice cream. "I didn't know that mum doesn't have enough money to get you a wand. If I knew I would have refused my gift."
"No worries Perce you deserve an owl and I will make the wand work for me."
"Ronnie what are you talking about?" Charlie asked.
"You don't know?" Ron asked back confused. She was already playing with her chocolate frog ice cream not in the mood to eat it.
"Ron got your old ash wand while mum spent the family money for this stupid dress, her stupid Lockhart books and Percy's owl." Ginny confessed.
"But everyone got their wands before. I thought my old wand was for to resell it to Ollivander it is already broken!" Charlie was pissed. "Percy can you look after Gin? We will be right back. If not there is the ice cream money." Charlie left a few sickles and dragged Ron away.
"I'm so tired of mum! She had one thing to get right and she failed." Charlie ranted.
"Char where are we going?" Ron asked.
"Getting you a new wand like it is supposed to be." Charlie explained.
"From what money?" Ron asked she knew how poor her family was.
"My money. For a dragon tamer it pays well. Plus we are giving back my ash wand and it has to be enough to get you a working wand."
"Why?" Ron spurted it out suddenly stopping. "Mum doesn't care and dad did say that mum should get the wand and wait with Percy's gift. Percy deserves it he worked the hardest to become first in class and prefect, he deserves it. I can wait, your wand is fine."
"Yes Percy deserves it just like you deserve a decent wand and the twins would deserve a gift after their OWLs. It is not a conditional thing, I realized." Charlie admitted. "Let me get you a wand Ronnie."
"Okay it is my birthday present and Christmas present for the next three years. Can we agree?"
"Yes we can." Charlie sighed and shook hands with his stubborn brother.
***
Ron always loved the wand shop. She always imagined that the day she would get her wand will be magical. That moment a wand will choose her mum would be proud just like how she looked to all of her brothers before. Of course she can't even get that.
"Mr. Weasley already back for a third wand?" The old wandmaker asked. "And you brought your little sibling how nice."
"I'm Ron Weasley sir." Ron introduced herself.
"Young las hm not so sure yet? Well let's see Ms. Weasley what wand will be yours?" Charlie furrowed his brows at that but Ron felt more comfortable. "Your wand hand?"
"Right." Ron held up her right hand, Charlie explained their situation and Ollivander looked horrified.
"Any wand can be wielded by family members but your ash wand Mr. Weasley is special it is only loyal to their bonded wielder and not even disarming their owner could win an ash wand over."
"I had to deal with a possessive wand great." Ron bemoaned.
"Not anymore you can get your own." Charlie teased her back.
Finding a wand was hard. She tried many but finally she got her own wand. "Ash wood, fourteen inches and unicorn hair." As she touched it purple colored sparks shot out of the wand and Ron felt warm.
"This is the one. After you brought back you old wand Charles Weasley I can give a three galleon discount."
"I take it and thank you sir." Both bowed their heads.
"I can not let a witch to not find her match. Ms. Weasley the future is foggy and you have a lot on your plate I can see you figuring out who you are and where you belong." With a smile he waved the customers away to focus on two newcomers.
Ron only paid some attention to notice a set of beautiful twins then she thanked Charlie for the wand.
"The least I can do." He smiled proudly at his... sister. "Ron can you enlighten me about something?"
"Sure after you got me a wand I can."
"Ollivander referred to you as Miss and witch. Are you a girl?"
"Yes!" Ron shouted in excitement. "But don't tell mum she hated it when she found signs of it."
"I won't. I already regret confessing that I am aromantic. She doesn't get it."
"Sorry I don't get it either." Ron looked at Charlie for an explanation.
"I feel no need to date nor attraction for anyone. I won't date, marry or have kids." Charlie tried to explain. He didn't mention that thinking about sex did nothing for him nor how indifferent he felt when he kissed Tonks.
"Ah I get it now. Same." Ron agreed quickly. For now his sister was young but if she ever realized that like Charlie she has no feelings for her peers Charlie will support her.