Ron Weasley: A Noble's Ascension

While Daphne was giving Hermione a simplified and superficial explanation of how the British Wizarding World functioned. Ron was leaning back on his seat contemplating what and how he should solve his varying problems.

"*The biggest problem to clear in my first year is Quirrell who's possessed by Voldy. Which I could out him to Albus early on, but should I? Then there's the Harry Potter problem, if somehow all of my plans fail, could he stop Voldy? I could try to help him grow a bit faster. Then there's probably my biggest problem, Dumbledore.*"

*Sigh*

"*I've already been played by that Vampire in Russia, coming here I'll have to always be on guard against both Snape and Dumbledore. Specially the latter, he's my biggest obstacle and the one who I want to surpass.*"

"... Ron! Can you hear me?"

Shaking his head, Ron looked around and noticed that only he and Harry were in the compartment. Then he recalled that they should be arriving soon, so they most likely went to change.

"They went to change right?"

"Yes... But where is your trunk?"

Instead of explaining, Ron brought out his Item Pouch and summons his robes from within.

"Are all of your belongings inside that small pouch? How is that possible?"

"It's a Pouch with an Extension Charm placed on it, allows anything with space to increase exponentially. I'm sure you'll be able to get one sooner or later."

Harry didn't say anything else and simply nodded, Ron didn't think too much about it and exited the compartment.

Leaning against the corridor wall, Ron waited for Daphne and Hermione to finish changing, but then he noticed Harry kept looking his way.

"Is there something else, you want to ask me?"

"I'm sorry! It's just... You seem totally different from your brothers I mean your hair and..."

"Oh, that. I took a Beautification Potion, it changed most of my body. Why did you ask? You want one?"

Harry stared blankly at Ron and before he could answer him, Daphne and Hermione returned.

-

Although their group was chatting and standing outside their Compartment, others were literally running around as if they were children. After realizing that they were Ron couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

"I'm going back insi-"

Before he could reache the door, the corridor became darker and he heard Harry exclaim about the scenery outside.

"Damn, I didn't get much sleep..."

The train began to slow down, and shortly after a voice echoed through the train.

"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Since the train ride had come to an end Ron cleaned up all of the trash and placed all of the leftover sweets inside his Item Pouch. As he quickly came to realize everytime he used magic Hermione wanted to know what it was and how it worked.

"Most of these are simple spells that you'll learn through books, so don't worry too much about them."

" But!-"

*Screech*

"If you want to learn more I'd recommend you try to get in to Ravenclaw. I hear they have a secret library in their common room."

As their group also made their way through the crowd, Ron quickly whispered in Harry's ear. The latter stopped moving and stared at the Crimson Haired boy with confusion and surprise.

The train finally stopped, causing everyone to push their way towards the door and out to a tiny, dark platform. Waiting for them on said platform was Hogwarts's Grounds Keeper Rubeus Hagrid.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!C'mon, follow me, any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, all of the first years followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on both sides of them that were surrounded by large thick trees.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec, jus' round this bend here. "

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!"

Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Ron went to the one in the best condition and sat down, Daphne and Hermione sat along with him while Harry went to a boat filled with boys.

Hermione stood up wanting to say something to Harry, but was interrupted by the boats beginning to move.

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. 

"Heads down!"

Hagrid yelled out as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face.

They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles. 

Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. 

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door. 

"Everyone here!?"

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here. "

She pulled the door wide, and all of them followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Professor McGonagall then led them into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, the start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

-

Hermione who was nervously whispering something, quickly raised her head and faced Ron. Who was calmly sitting down with Daphne while others were gawking at them with envious eyes.

"Ron do you know how exactly do they sort us into houses?"

When the other Muggle Borns and some Half Bloods heard her loud sounding question they also turned towards Ron.

"Oh, right, well first you'll -"

As Ron was about to explain the sorting process several people screamed, causing everyone to jump in fright.

"What the!?"

"Look at all of them!"

About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. One of the ghost resembled a fat little monk, while the other a old nobleman.

Ron only gave the ghostly pair a quick glance before he ignored them and the other students.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -"

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost, I say, what are you all doing here?"

"New students! About to be Sorted, I suppose?"

A few people nodded mutely.

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know. "

"Move along now! The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.

"Now, form a line, and follow me."

The entire group of first years walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

As Ron entered the Hall, he was momentarily stunned but didn't allow it to register on his face.

"*Floating Candles, the four long tables, golden plates full of food, and the ceiling a beautiful night sky. I made it, I'm in Hogwarts!*"

Professor McGonagall led the first years up to the teachers table, where she then had all of them line up facing the older students. Being next to Daphne and Hermione he could hear her mutter something about reading all of this from a book.

Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat.

When Ron saw the hat twitching, he casted a Muffliato Charm on himself to avoid hearing the awful song. He only undid the spell when he saw the whole hall burst into applause since that meant it had come to an end.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted, Abbott, Hannah!"

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.