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Ron stared with wide eyes at the Hogwarts letter, hardly believing that it was addressed specifically to him. He caught Mum’s pleased smile out of the corner of his eye and met her gaze. He hesitated before he phrased his question with his hand gestures, signing ‘I’m really allowed to go?’

Mum’s eyes watered she gestured as she spoke “Of course, you're a wizard, you can still do magic.”

Ron’s own eyes watered and he furiously wiped a tear, he didn’t think he’d get to go so he never dared to ask his parents about it. He was Deaf and speaking didn’t come easy so he never spoke if he could avoid it, he felt made him sound stupid.

He felt his mom tap him gently before bringing him into a hug, he let her know he may get teased by his siblings later but didn’t care, he was going to Hogwarts.

XXX

Today was the day, he quickly dressed and packed the rest of his things in his trunk and carried it with a little bit of effort downstairs. He smelled the bacon, eggs, and toast coming from the kitchen and walked to the living room.

While he dug in, Fred, George, and Ginny came down to eat as well and eventually Percy. “Excited to fight a troll?” Fred asked with his signing of a troll being hanging his hands like claws and then making a face.

Ron scowled and pointed at them and then made a V with pointer and middle finger then put it on his forehead. His face said it all even without the symbol though, clearly saying what he meant without a voice. Ron was nothing if not expressive.

“Ron” his mom gave him a look of disapproval and then signed “don’t call your brothers stupid.”

Ron continued eating, ignoring the looks of his brother’s laughing, undeterred by his displeasure at their teasing. He was more nervous about making friends then whatever was at the sorting, he’d been told many times that it wasn’t a troll. His hands felt restless. He was also assured by Professor McGonagall who had personally come to assure him that accommodations would be made about his schooling to assure that he could attend and learn along with his classmates.

After everyone was finished Ron stood, preparing to take his plate “Wait, before we go, your father has a gift for you” his mother signed quickly.

Ron turned to his dad who smiled and handed him a box wrapped in brown paper. Ron sat back down and his siblings, even Percy leaned in with intrigue. Ron tore open the paper and opened the box. Two necklaces with black leather chains lay inside the box, the chains attached to two polished blue stones.

“I was able to convince the Department of Mysteries to allow you special permission for these stones. They have the ability to connect to each other. If you wear one necklace and someone else wears the other then you speak to each other in your mind or if someone speaks out loud you can hear it in your head,” his father signed quickly.

Ron’s eyes widened and put one around his neck and Ginny immediately grabbed the other and put it around her neck “Ron, can you hear me?” she asked, bringing her hands up before she put them in her lap remembering she shouldn’t need them.

Ron sucked in a breath in surprise at Ginny’s voice. It was lower than he’d always thought it would be. He nodded “I can hear you” he attempted to say in his head and Ginny beamed. Her eyes shone brightly.

“Dad, it’s wonderful,” Ginny said out loud while signing, out of instinct.

Ron nodded in a daze then stood to go to his father and hugged him tightly. Once he stepped away “I’m so glad, I wanted there to be a way for you to speak with your friends without having to write it out all the time” he signed “It will also be used when you go to class, you have your teachers wear it when they are teaching.”

“It made me happy to hear Ginny’s voice, I’ll try it with you and Mum when I get back” Ron signed and his hair was ruffled. During the car ride there, the necklace was passed around between Fred, George, and Percy.

“It’s funny, your voice is just as stuffy as I thought it might be” Ron signed as he spoke in his head so that everyone else could understand. Percy huffed and the rest of them laughed. Ron knew this was the best gift he could have ever gotten in the world.

XXX

Ron carried the other amulet on the train after he said goodbye to his mum and Ginny. The twins and Percy said he’d have to find a friend on his own so he shuffled around trying to find a compartment not full of people.

His hands shook a bit as wandered down the train corridor. He stopped when he recognized the boy at the entrance to 9 ¾ and slid the door open. The boy turned, waiting for him to speak, Ron pulled out his wand and quickly spelled in the air. ‘Do you mind? Everywhere else is full.'

Never mind that it wasn't actually.

It was the one spell his parents taught him out of necessity. The boy shook his head “Not at all,” he said, Ron could read lips. He gestured to the empty seat across from him. Ron smiled and then sat down across from him. Ron drew in the air again “I’m Deaf so I can’t hear but I do have a way you can speak to me,” after he spelled it, he held out the amulet. His smile felt very wobbly.

The boy leaned in and took it, Ron gestured to his own and the boy put it around his neck. “I’m Ron Weasley, by the way,” Ron said in his mind.

“Harry, Harry Potter,” the boy said out loud but Ron heard it in his head, Ron gasped.

“Do you have the scar?” he asked leaning in with wide eyes, signing without realizing it and he put his hands down, going red. He'd never had to not sign while he spoke.

“Oh,” Harry chuckled and brushed his bangs back showing the scar and Ron leaned back.

“Wicked” Ron said, Harry turned suddenly and Ron reacted with him to see the door had opened and the lady with the trolley was there.

Ron shook his head then looked dejected at his sandwich, he’d smashed it quite a bit on accident earlier

“We’ll take the lot,” Harry said and Ron looked surprised then smiled. Ron explained the candy to Harry who looked amazed. “Hey Ron, do you mind if I ask you something?” Harry asked.

“Sure” Ron nodded as he thought it.

“Um, so far most wizards I’ve seen use incantations to do spells. How will you do magic at Hogwarts if you can’t speak?” Harry wondered.
Ron nodded, understanding “Nonverbal spells are usually for more advanced witches and wizards. Typically Aurors or magical law enforcement use them but I will be using that. This amulet should also make things a little easier but strictly speaking, I’ll need to work harder than anyone else at spells” he explained.

“Wow,” Harry said.

“I’m only Deaf though, I’m actually not mute but um I don’t speak so much because well I can’t quite pronounce things sometimes. My siblings all sign anyway so I’ve never really needed to speak” Ron explained further.

“Sign?” Harry asked “Could you show me how?” he asked.

Ron's heart gave an excited flutter, Harry was willing to learn so he could talk to him. Ron turned as he saw the door slide open again. A girl with bushy brown hair stood at the door and spoke very quickly, he only caught ‘seen’ and ‘toad.’

Harry shook his head “Haven’t seen one” he said.

“Thanks anyway, so have you two pulled out any spells recently?” she asked, eyeing the wand beside Ron. He was barely getting a grasp on her fast way of speaking so it was all he could do to pay attention.

“Er no,” Harry said “Were we supposed to?” he asked Ron who shook his head.

“Well I’ve been looking at basic spell books and I’ve been rather successful” The girl walked in, pointed her wand at Harry, and said words that Ron couldn’t read on her lips. Harry’s glasses were instantly fixed and he took them off in surprise and looked to Ron who shared his shock.

She turned to Harry and said something that Ron failed to read her lips. He frowned and then she turned to him saying “And you are?”

Ron frowned as he took out his wand and spelled his name and swiped his wand in the air so that she could read it. Her eyes went wide and she looked quite surprised. “Are you mute?” she asked, “how are you ever going to do spells?”

Ron glared at her and turned away from her, the easiest way for him to ignore someone. Very rude but it made his stomach drop and twist. “Ron, she’s gone,” Harry said, he looked up. “I don’t think meant to say that, she looked like she just blurted out whatever came to mind.”

“Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a horrible thing to say, being Deaf doesn’t mean I’m stupid,” Ron said.

“Well, I know you’re not stupid so let’s just forget about her, okay?” Harry asked, Ron nodded. Soon, the train pulled into the Hogwarts station and a new nervousness took over him. His sorting. “Do you need your amulet back?” Harry asked, holding it up.

“No, it’s fine but if you could nudge me when my name is called and um tell me which house I was sorted into when it says so, that’d be helpful. If we do get into different houses I’d like my amulet back though, my teachers need to use it for my classes” Ron explained.

Ron met Hagrid, and they went on boats to Hogwarts which was even bigger than Ron ever imagined. As they came into the hall, Ron felt a little more nervous, he had explained that many witches and wizards had gone bad in Slytherin to Harry but he still felt nervous about getting sorted anywhere except Gryffindor.

It did get worse than when Draco Malfoy started speaking to Harry. Ron glared at him “I don’t need to ask who you are, do I? Red hair and a hand-me-down robe, you must be a Weasley.” Ron didn’t comment and watched as Harry declined Malfoy’s hand and rejected him. He hoped he and Harry would continue to be friends, he liked his new friend.

Finally, they entered the great hall and he watched as the bushy-haired girl went up to get sorted and went over to the Gryffindor table. He huffed, brave enough to call him stupid. Harry nudged him and he went up, sitting on the chair and the hat went onto his head.

“Very tactical mind and stealthy, I almost had a mind to put you in Ravenclaw for your raw intelligence but no, your destiny belongs somewhere else,” the hat conveyed in his mind, huh, he guessed Harry didn’t need to tell him. “Gryffindor” he shouted. Ron smiled at Harry and went over to the table.

“Good luck,” Ron said in his mind and Harry looked back at him and smiled.

“Thanks.” Harry walked up to the hat once he was called and Ron waited as he saw the hat make the move of yelling he couldn’t read the hat since it didn’t have lips but he grinned as Harry walked to the Gryffindor table.

XXX
Ron and Harry hadn’t overslept but they had gotten lost in this huge castle. So arriving a little late to transfiguration, they thought they’d gotten off easy except McGonagall transformed into a cat.

Ron spelled out with his wand that it was amazing and McGonagall thanked him. Ron turned to Harry who took off the amulet and McGonagall put it on. “I presume you can hear me now, Mr. Weasley?” her prim voice asked.

“Perfectly professor,” he said in his mind.

“Wonderful, I expect both of you on time from now on, now that you know your way,” she said then marched to the front of the class as they settled in. Ron took vigorous notes, he vowed when he got to Hogwarts he’d work harder than anyone else to prove he belonged there.

After class, he walked to the Professor and she handed him the amulet and he nodded then went on his way with Harry. Ron wasn’t looking forward to his next class, potions, he was told that the professor was horrible but he was assured by McGonagall that the professors would be obliged to help with his classes.

He clutched his note and he and Harry arrived early and handed Professor Snape the note. The hooked-nosed man read it and then held out his hand, Ron put the amulet in his hand and placed it around his neck. “So you are the Weasley that has been given special allowances,” he said.

Ron had been expecting the unpleasantness so he just nodded. “Then I expect excellent work Weasley,” he said then turned and marched away to start class.

Harry looked a little annoyed but Ron shook his head “Don’t antagonize him” he wrote in his notebook. Unfortunately, the class didn’t go very well for Harry whom the professor had some kind of vendetta against. Ron was of course angry about it since that was completely unfair but he said nothing as he retrieved the amulet from Snape.

Ron ran after Harry then placed the amulet over Harry’s neck as he caught up with him. “I’m sorry, Harry, I can’t believe how horrible he was to you” he conveyed.

“I don’t get it, it’s not like I grew up knowing I was famous,” Harry said as they walked in the great hall to have lunch.

“Don’t worry about it so much, he’s just a git” Ron told him and Harry nodded. They sat down to eat lunch and Ron ate with gusto. Harry turned and Ron turned to see what he was looking at and his expression turned cold as he saw Malfoy standing there.

He swallowed his food and set it down “I heard that the Ron Weasley’s Deaf, Hogwarts really has hit new lows with Dumbledore around” Ron went rigid.

Harry's brows turned down and he was glaring icily as he stood. It was suddenly chaotic, Fred, George, and Percy were at his side quickly. All of them looked like they could kill.

The rest in his year looked confused “better go back to your table before I have to give my brothers a detention for assaulting a first-year” Percy was surprisingly the first to speak, angling his face so Ron could read his lips.

Ron didn’t usually like to sign in public but he made a statement with his hands quickly “it’s alright to sign, the whole school will know pretty soon, it’s pointless to hide it anymore.”

They all nodded except Harry who didn’t understand but Ron met his gaze “I’ll explain later” he said in his mind.

“He can’t even do magic so he doesn’t belong here” Draco mouthed off.

“He’s a wizard, you idiot, of course, he can” Fred signed while he spoke, livid.

“Back off like we said, Malfoy or we’ll make you” George signed as he spoke.

“Fine, but your brother better watch his back and you too, Potter” Malfoy turned and stalked away. As soon as he left, Ron collected his stuff and strode out of the hall, he didn’t feel like dealing with the questions at the moment.

“Ron, wait” Ron paused to let Harry catch up,

“It’s alright, I expected it would come out soon, people already noticed I never speak. I just didn’t want to deal with it right now, you can go and finish lunch if your still hungry,” Ron said.

“It’s fine but…” Harry grinned “I really think I need to learn sign language now, your brothers are amazing, they’re so fast.”

“They’ve only been signing for about 11 years” Ron joked “come on, we have time before our next class, I’ll show you some basic signs.”

“Brilliant,” Harry said.

XXX

Harry was a pretty fast learner, able to memorize about ten different signs from Ron before they had to go to their next class. Ron had to sit next to the bushy-haired girl who Harry had explained was ‘Hermione Granger.’ Hermione looked very dejected as well at sitting next to him but he ignored her.

He just took notes and concentrated on just focusing on Flitwick’s explanation of the spell. Ron was having trouble with his spell. Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder, he turned and Harry pointed to Hermione.

She turned to her paper and held up what she wrote “your movement isn’t right, you need to flick your wand to the side a little faster” she said.

Ron wanted to tell her he didn’t need her help but didn’t feel like writing it down. He tried it and the feather floated like he was supposed to, he smiled.

“Good work, Mr. Weasley, ten points for Gryffindor” Professor Flitwick said, he smiled at him.

Ron hesitated then spelled out with his wand, ‘thanks.’ Hermione perked a little bit and nodded.

XXX

Hermione wished she’d never said such a mean thing to Ron Weasley, the moment she’d said it she’d regretted. It was so horridly stupid of her and Ron had his guard up around since she’d met him.

Ron was smart as well, she’d seen how many notes he took, how he acted like classes were his lifeline. Despite his disability, he had friends, Harry and he were best friends.

She wondered how Harry got to know him so well when she had trouble figuring how to speak with him. He understood her on that train so easily so maybe he read lips but she shouldn’t assume that. She didn’t know sign language but she was surprised when she’d first seen Ron speaking with his brothers one day. Their hand signals were so fast, she couldn’t imagine how tough it would be to learn.

But Ron didn’t like her so that ship sailed or so she thought. Ron ignored her like most people did but if she offered advice on spells he took it and thanked her. Maybe he didn’t hate her as she thought.

“Harry” she walked up to Harry in the common room while Ron had gone somewhere and Harry looked up from his homework.

“Er, yes Hermione?” he asked.

“I- could I ask you something?” she asked. Harry nodded, turning in his seat to look at her. “I was wondering how, well, when you speak to Ron how do you do it? Does he write in the air and then you write or?” She trailed off.

Harry hesitated “um, no Ron can read lips usually. So long as you aren't speaking a mile a minute, he’s told me if he can’t read people it’s because they may have a speech impediment like Quirell or their teeth get in the way or they have an accent.”

So he could read lips! She thought so.

“Then how does he pay attention in class?” Hermione asked, could he understand her? “It is that necklace?” Her teeth were a little big she knew but her parents didn’t want her to get braces yet.

“The amulet” Harry nodded, holding up the necklace he was wearing. “If you speak, Ron can hear it in his head,” he explained. “But Hermione, why don’t you just ask Ron these things?” he asked.

“He doesn’t like me very much,” Hermione said.

“And whose fault is that?” Hermione turned to find Ron’s brothers, Fred and George Weasley behind her. “You and he just got off on the wrong foot, I bet,” Fred suggested.

“If you want to be friends with Ron you’ve got to make the effort to be his friend. Ron doesn’t make time for anyone unwilling to put up the work” George added.

“What do you mean by that?” Hermione asked.

“Harry gets to spends lots of time with the amulet because Ron lets him and Ron’s not just going to give everyone the amulet,” Fred said.

“Listen up firsties, I know a lot of you have been looking at Ron curiously. And why wouldn’t you, if we’re funny then Ron’s bound to be hilarious. When in Rome you do as the Romans do, hm?” George grinned. Neville, Seamus, and other Gryffindor first years turned at the announcement.

“So, you want us to learn sign language?” Neville asked.

“You don’t have to be perfect but Ron’s got a soft spot for anyone asking to learn just to talk to him,” Fred explained “also, just speaking to him goes a long way as well, he can read lips, you silly first years” they both laughed.

“What?! This whole time?” Neville asked.

“I would have talked to him ages ago if I knew” Seamus sighed.

XXX

Ron was checking out books on nonverbal spell techniques at the library when Harry met him as he was leaving. They walked to the great hall for dinner and as Ron sat down, he noticed several first years were eyeing him.

He met Neville’s gaze who was one of them and raised an eyebrow “sorry about that, um, it’s that we’ve never spoken before. I’m Neville Longbottom, by the way” he said.

Ron cocked his head wondering what brought this on but dismissed it “I know, you’ve never really tried to speak to me either” he wrote with his wand quickly.

“Yeah, we um came to a really ridiculous realization yesterday” Seamus spoke, joining in.

“Like?” Ron connected eyes with Harry.

“Like?” Harry parroted “the amulet allows Ron to talk me in my head.”

“Brilliant, uh, nobody knew you could read lips until your brothers mentioned it” Neville flushed.

Ron laughed and everyone around him was a little startled and their eyes went round. “I’m only Deaf, my vocal cords work perfectly,” he told to Harry who conveyed the sentiment to them.

“Then why don’t you speak?” Seamus asked.

“I can’t hear my voice so my pronunciation of words isn’t good, I probably sound really stupid so I don’t like to speak” Ron explained. Truthfully he hadn’t really spoken since he was about 6 years old.

“Sounds like why I don’t get on a broom,” Neville said.

Ron nodded “might get tricky, we have flying lessons soon” he added.

“Oh no,” Neville moaned.

“Maybe the broom can sense your fear” Ron spelled out with his wand and they all laughed.

Turned out, like the other first years wondered, Ron was a riot. He was always seemed to find a punch line. The next day, it was finally time for flying lessons. Hermione Granger looked as scared as Neville did.

Of course, Ron didn’t think there was anything to worry about, it’s not like this was Beater Quidditch tryouts. Except, it was not fine because Neville’s broom went nuts. Ron had never seen a broom act like that, but before he could ponder anything Malfoy happened.

Ron tried to tell Harry it wasn’t worth it but he was already off to get it back. Harry was a natural on a broom, he’d be a good Quidditch player for sure and then did that dive. If Ron could he would have shouted and cheered along with everyone else. Until McGonagall came out.

Ron paced in the common room after class waiting for Harry to return. As soon he got there he started to sign then remembered Harry didn’t understand. Ron put the amulet around Harry’s neck “you’re not being expelled, are you?” he asked desperately.

Harry shook his head “no, actually Ron, I’ve been offered a place on the Quidditch team” he said. Ron’s mouth went slack.

“You must be the youngest seeker in a century,” Ron said, thinking the words as loud as he possibly could. His anxiety was quickly replaced by excitement.

“Yeah, I’m not supposed to tell anyone though, so shh” Harry made the gesture for the secret. Ron rolled his eyes.

“I won’t say anything” Ron joked and Harry laughed.

XXX

Ron figured Malfoy be a glutton for punishment the way he kept coming back for more every time somebody put him in his place. Harry shouldn’t have excepted a duel though he of course snuck out with Harry to support him all the same.

“This isn’t a good idea,” Hermione had come along to talk them out of it. Ron wished there was a way to duplicate the amulet so he could tell Hermione to shut up himself. As it was dark, the only thing he could do is that Harry would relate to him what she said and vice versa. It wasn’t doing them any good.

“Harry, Malfoy’s a coward he probably won’t even show,” Ron said in his head and he wished he hadn’t guessed so correctly because Malfoy wasn’t there. Then Filch and his bloody cat show up.

They ran down the corridor up the stairs and get to a door that’s locked. Hermione casts a charm on the door that unlocks it and they run in. Their breath hitched and gaped as a massive dog with three heads wakes and start to bark at them and they run out.

Back in the safety of the Gryffindor common room, they take the time to breathe. “What’s a Cerberus doing in a castle full of students?” Ron spelled out, huffing.

“Is that what that thing is called?” Harry asked.

“Didn’t you guys see what it was laying on?” Hermione asked.

Ron gave her a flat look then held three fingers and then placed his hand on his head. Signing for ‘Three heads.”

“Yes I see that it had three heads but it was laying on a trap door, it was guarding something,” Hermione said then sighed. “I’m going to bed now before you two find another way to get us killed, or worse, expelled,”

Ron rolled his eyes “that girl needs to sort out her priorities” he said with the amulet and Harry nodded.

XXX

Ron was finally getting the hang of doing spells nonverbally, learning that how you swished the wand and the intent was most important. Despite Harry and a lot of other students bemoaning about essays, he found them much better than spells.

It helped to clear his head, not that he liked doing homework, he’d just rather get it over with than let it sit and pile up. Most of it was pretty simple as well especially since he was exempt from History of Magic as a class since Binn’s couldn’t put on the amulet.

Ron still had to do essays once a week for the private studies he did of history but otherwise, it was simple work. He rather liked it since he could get more practice of wand work in that way.

Potions was a little trickier of a class, not because Snape refused to wear the amulet because he did so grudgingly but because Ron had to work harder than anyone to be acknowledged. Malfoy was in that class and he knew if he didn’t work and failed then he knew he would be taunted.

He could ignore that, what he couldn’t ignore was the idea of an affirmation that he was as useless as so many witches and wizards claimed. Like not having a voice meant he was someone to be pitied.

Ron was getting frustrated though, with how many spells he finally got the hang of, it seemed like Hermione Granger learned five more. He wasn’t in a great mood on Halloween, he was stressed with staying up so late studying and then having to wake up early.

So he admitted it was stupid that he blew up at Granger, she just wanted to have friends. He wrote furiously, irritated he couldn’t just sign and shoved it at her then marched away.

Granger never came to the feast and someone said she was in the girl's bathroom crying and Ron stared at his plate suddenly not hungry anymore. Ron stood “I need to apologize,” he said through Harry.

Harry nodded then opened his mouth when Quirrel ran in screaming something that Ron couldn’t hear or see. Everyone went nuts then and Ron looked to Harry “trolls in the dungeon, he said” Harry said.

“Hermione!” Ron thought to Harry and they both ran off to find her. They skidded to a stop to see the troll walking into the dungeon. They ran in to find Hermione under the sink and Harry screamed to move and troll smashed through the sink.

Then Harry jumped to stop the troll and ended up hanging upside down by his leg. “Do something!” Harry shouted.

“What?” he thought.

“Anything!” he said.

Ron looked around then pointed his wand and performed ‘wingardium leviosa.’ The troll’s club levitated of his hand and onto his head and the troll’s body hit the floor. Harry retrieved his wand from up its nose. Ron stiffened when Professor McGonagall and Snape came in.

Ron and Harry looked at each other to attempt an explanation when Hermione stepped up “it was my idea professor” she said. Surprisingly it worked gaining them house points, Ron and Harry smiled and went on to Gryffindor common room with Hermione.

They got back and Hermione started to walk away before Ron caught her hand. She turned to him. Ron held out his hand to Harry who took off the amulet then waved as he went upstairs to the boy's dormitory. Ron let go of her hand and put the amulet around the neck.

“Hello,” he said.

Hermione’s eyes widened “hello,” she said in her head, looking like she was concentrating very hard.

“You can just talk, that’s Harry does,” Ron said.

“Oh,” Hermione reddened.

“I wanted to apologize about earlier, that was really harsh of me. The result of me being in a bad mood and taking it out on you,” Ron explained.

“But it was true wasn’t it? That I don’t have any friends because I’m a know it all” Hermione said.

“No, I think it’s a good thing to be smart but not everyone wants a reminder all the time. People want a friend, not a parent and to be honest, I’m jealous of you” Ron said.

“Really? Why?” Hermione asked.

“Well, you manage to figure out things quickly and faster than me. I have to try harder than you to even manage the simplest spells,” Ron said.

“Maybe we’re both a little jealous of each other then, I envy that people like you who make friends so easily” Hermione explained.

“I just don’t insult people the minute I meet them and well, you can be my friend if you want to be. Harry breathes kindness so he’ll be your friend too” he said.

“Okay” she agreed, “if you want my help with spells...” she said.

“That’s alright, if I really need it I’ll ask but if I ask for help all the time I’ll wonder if I really deserve to be here,” he said.

“Why wouldn’t you be here?” Hermione asked.

Ron smiled, it was nice that she wasn’t thinking the prejudiced accusation he’d felt since he was 6 and went to the Ministry with dad. “Hermione, what’s a wizard's most important tool in using magic?” Ron asked.

“Your wand, no, the spell,” she said.

“I’m basically a cripple here, Hermione, nonverbal magic is really hard,” he explained “even trained Aurors have a hard time doing it, people who are born Deaf or mute usually give up magic entirely,” he said.

Hermione shook her head “ridiculous, the fact that you could do that spell under pressure like tonight is amazing. Let me help you, I promise that whatever you accomplish then we just study partners. In return, you can teach me sign language” she said.

“Get in line” Ron rolled his eyes “Harry’s first and pretty soon all of Gryffindor's first years are gonna want to learn how to annoy me,” he said.

Hermione laughed “then I’ll go find your brothers?” she asked.

“Percy, ask Fred and George and they’ll more likely tell you that this means hello” he made a V on his forehead “it means stupid,” he said.

“Noted, but how about when you teach Harry then you can teach me at the same time,” she said.

“Sure” he agreed.

“Thanks, good night Ron,” she said then handed him the amulet. Ron gave her an outward fist with his thumb up then made a motion of two hands chopping down together. “Good night?” she asked and he nodded then turned to walk up to bed.

XXX

Hermione and Harry were learning to sign fast, Hermione determined to know absolutely everything about how to sign even going as far as to learn what Ron’s sign name was which Ron blushed and signed “ruler.”

“So how do you come up with a sign name?” Hermione asked, signing slowly though she looked a little impatient that she couldn’t sign fast. She and Harry had to trade off on the amulet depending on who was with him.

“Depends, they’re usually names that describe the person's features. But in my family, we all are pretty similar so our names either take on the meaning of our name or some inside joke. Mine comes from the meaning of my name” he explained, signing as he did so that Harry and Hermione could follow.

“Could you give us sign names?” Harry asked and signed.

Ron smiled then nodded thinking, he stared at Harry then figured he’d call Harry “treasure” to substitute gem since his eyes were an emerald green. He held up his hands like he was holding something important between his thumb and the other four fingers and held it to his chest.

“Treasure,” he said then repeated it once more and Harry blushed and copied him. “Your eyes,” he told Hermione who relayed this to him, Harry nodded. He turned to Hermione, his first thought was to use the sign of intelligence but it wasn’t as simple. He liked the word for beauty better, he brought his fingers together with one hand toward his mouth then brought it outward with his hand like he was giving it Hermione. “Beauty, glory,” he said in her head.

Hermione blushed and beamed at the same time “what a group we make, beauty, treasure, and ruler” she signed to Ron and spoke.

Ron smiled, nodding then continued to teach them some signs.

Xxx

Quidditch season began with a rather interesting turn of events. A broomstick caused Harry to nearly break all of his bones and he still ended up catching the snitch. Hermione seemed dead sure that it had been Snape who’d enchanted the broom.

Ron ended up writing a letter to Bill detailing everything that happened that day with the behavior of the broomstick. First, three-headed dogs now cursed broomsticks, what next? Man-eating vines?

He sighed walking back from the owlery, it would take a while to hear back from Bill but it might be useful to hear anything more than what they could find from textbooks. Why would someone want to curse a broomstick, anyway? And why Harry.

XXX

“I can’t find anything” Hermione signed.

“Nothing” Ron replied, placing his thumb and pointer together leaving his other fingers free and waved his hand back and forth once.

“Maybe it’s in the restricted section” Harry suggested.

“Yeah, maybe but there’s no way Madam Pince wouldn’t catch us” Ron reminded him.

“Too fast,” Harry said and Ron repeated the signs for 'catch' and then for 'librarian' for him.

Xxx

When Christmas break came around, Hermione went home and Harry and Ron stayed. Ron couldn’t believe Harry had never gotten a proper present before, actually, he was a bit ticked off about it. That his muggle aunts and uncles were so horribly cruel to him when Harry was clearly very kind when he had every reason not to be.
He grinned when Harry got a Weasley sweater “we all get one every year” he said.

“Awesome” Harry signed, beaming as he put on his sweater. The invisibility cloak was a shock, Ron’s first instinct was to sign excitedly about it but Harry blinked then signed “too fast.”

“Oh sorry,” he thought then signed and spoke with the amulet “that’s an invisibility cloak, they’re really rare!” he said.

“Maybe… this could help us sneak into the restricted section in the library” Harry suggested. Ron nodded signing “sneak out tonight then,” he paused “although I think it might be better for you to go alone. Less risky than for both of us to go” he explained.

Harry nodded in agreement.

The mirror of Erised was a wonder when Harry ran into the room begging Ron to come to see it. Ron didn’t quite understand what he was looking at. It was him with his family and they were speaking to him and he was talking back to them. They weren’t signing but talking to him and he wore a head boy badge.

He relayed this to Harry who frowned “that’s not what I see, I saw my parents.

Ron looked at the mirror again “then maybe it shows you what you want or something,” he suggested. “I’m sorry, Harry” he signed.

“It’s alright, Ron… I was wondering. Magic can’t… can’t fix your...” Harry hesitated.

He shook his head “can’t fix something that wasn’t right in the first place. It can regrow a heart and most organs, can mend a bone, and all the other stuff but say I was born without a leg or an arm. Well, you can’t get what you never had” he shrugged.

“So you’ve never had your hearing?” Harry asked, signing slowly as he spoke.

“Never, well it’s not that bad of a loss. I’ll never get sent a howler by my mum, wouldn’t be any use if I can’t hear it” Ron said with a smile.

“I’m sorry, well, I think you're brilliant anyway,” Harry signed and Ron’s smile grew into a grin.

“Thanks, Harry.”

Xxx

After Christmas Break ended and everyone returned to Hogwarts Ron, Harry, and Hermione spent more time in the library trying to figure out just who this Nicholas Flamel was. The answer came to them unexpectedly as Ron stood abruptly dropping his chocolate frog which leaped away from the table.

“What is it?” Hermione paused and Ron handed her the chocolate frog card and she read it, her eyes going wide. “Oh! Of course!” she ran off and came back with a large book then flipped through furiously until she landed on one page.

“The philosopher’s stone,” Harry said and Hermione clapped a hand over his mouth and made a ‘shush’ gesture. “Then that’s what Fluffy’s guarding and what Snape wants,” he said lower once he removed her hand.

Xxx

Disaster happened when they tried to track down Snape but instead Harry found Quirrel instead. Ron received a slight concussion from the chess set from Hell and Harry, thank goodness, was alright.

Ron pulled Harry into a tight hug when he finally woke up “I am so happy you're okay” Ron signed quickly not even bothering with the 2nd amulet.

“The same for me, you hit your head pretty hard. Your okay now?” Harry asked.

“Fine, just need to take it easy. Not allowed to read. A loss!” Ron smirked and Harry laughed.

“Sounds awful, unable to do homework,” Harry agreed.

XXX

The three of them stood on the platform “I promise to practice my sign over the summer, alright Ron? Just you wait, I’ll be able to sign as fast as your brothers soon,” Hermione said with the amulet on her chest.

“Good, you’ll write to me too?” Ron asked signing as he did. He learned to do it even when they had the amulet. It was good sight practice for his friends.

“Of course,” Hermione said “I’ll write to you both every week so look for my letters okay?” she said. “Oh, that’s my parents” she hugged Harry and then Ron.

“My amulet!” Ron said and she paused, a little pink, then lifted it off her head handing it to Ron.

“See you!” she waved at them.

“She’s gonna floor you in sign next year. Better pick up the pace,” Ron said once he put the amulet on Harry again.

“Yeah, maybe I can see if I can go to a library for books or something,” Harry said. “Well, I better go find my Uncle and Aunt soon.” He handed Ron the amulet who pocketed it.

Ron pulled him into a hug “bye Harry,” Harry gasped when he heard Ron speak. Truly speak.

“I thought you don’t like to speak?” Harry asked.

“If it’s you or Hermione, I wouldn’t mind learning,” Ron signed, his face going very red. “Shut up,” he signed quickly as Harry gaped at him.

“I’ll see you then,” Harry said cheerfully.

“Bye,” Ron said, whispered but audible.

Ron felt like if it was Harry and Hermione who heard him, who wouldn’t make fun of him if he sounded strange, then he wouldn’t mind trying to speak to them. After all, they did work hard to speak to him. For once in his life, he had friends.

Chapter Text

Ron was very concerned over the summer. His first friend (his best friend really) wasn’t replying to any of the letters he’d been sending. That wasn’t like Harry at all and some of the awful things Harry had mentioned about his aunt and uncle sprung up in his mind.

Harry could be in trouble, but how to convince his mother, who wouldn’t listen to him even if he did manage a few words aloud? So Ron decided he had enough of waiting around, he pulled the amulets he kept stored in his top drawer. Since his whole family signed, they didn’t typically need the amulet unless Ginny begged him. 

He tiptoed down the stairs and out the door to his dad’s Ford Anglia then sprang back when he was surprised by the twins. It was dark so he couldn’t see them if they signed anyway. He shoved an amulet into probably George’s hand. “Sorry, Ronny, we couldn’t let you drive this thing on a fool's errand,” George mentioned. 

Fred says, or George echoes what Fred said, “without the fools, of course. Anyway, we’re driving,”

“Fine, so long as you weren’t planning to stop me,” Ron replied.

“Us? Stop you from sneaking out and causing mischief? Oh no, no, no.”

Ron rolled his eyes and got into the back seat so they could drive, or more like following Errol to Harry’s. When they got there, he was shocked to find that he was correct and there were bars on a window that Ron would bet anything was Harry’s bedroom. 

“Closer,” he said out loud. He predicted that it was loud enough when George shifted to look at him. His family was still getting used to the few words he decided to speak. He leaned out the window and tapped the glass carefully. Harry wasn’t a heavy sleeper, so he’d wake up, he hoped. 

When he spotted green eyes behind black-rimmed spectacles, he grinned. Harry mouthed his name, but he wasn’t sure how loud, so he shushed him. He signed “time,” he said. “Go now.”

Harry shook his head and explained that he went too fast and all Ron got was ‘bars, locked, and trunk,’ but he put it together well enough. 

“Think you can pick a lock on wherever they put his trunk up?” Ron thought to George, who grinned and nodded. 

“You leave that to us,” George agreed. Ron stayed to keep the car to the window, and the twins climbed out to get Harry’s trunk. They were all set until Harry’s uncle, a walrus of a man, attempted to grab them. Ron held tight to Harry as the twins hit the gas. 

“Whoo, that was fun, huh?” George asked Ron and Harry, who were slumped in the back, exhausted from the tug of war.

“Sure, give Harry the amulet?” Ron asked. 

“Say please?”

“Please give Harry the amulet, which is mine, and you might never hear my lovely thoughts again if you don’t,” Ron thought with a glare. 

George scoffed but took it off and handed it to Harry, who slipped it over his head. Harry quickly began explaining what had happened with a House elf named Dobby and the crazy things he’d been saying. 

Ron nodded as he listened, but also couldn’t help but notice how thin Harry looked. Were they starving him too? he could see how his cheeks hollowed out a bit. They arrived at the Burrow later than Ron had expected. 

His mother was irate. “You could have been seen. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?” She signed as yelled, mostly for the twins benefit. With how fiercely her hands were with each gesture, it might as well have been yelling to Ron.

“But mom,” Ron replied, “bars, on Harry’s window, starved.”

When she was done yelling at them, his mother turned to Harry and her movements became gentle as she spoke to him. Ron sighed. he was glad that was over; he was so hungry. 

No matter how angry his mother was at them, she’d never denied them food. For that, Ron was thankful after hearing how Harry grew up. “That was delicious,” Harry sighed.

Mum smiled warmly and then sent Ron, George, and Fred to go de-gnome the garden, but Harry volunteered. “Do it the Lockhart way,” she told them, but Ron rolled his eyes as they went out. It was a good way to get bit the way this Gildroy Lockhart told them to do. 

“Absolutely daft,” Ron thought, and Harry gave him a puzzled look at the gnome. “Never seen gnomes, Harry?” George asked. 

Harry shook his head, and Fred laughed and told him to watch. He spun the gnome in wide circles before flinging him out of the garden. “And that’s how it’s done,” Fred said.

Xxx

Harry was fascinated with the Burrow, he loved the whimsical shape of the walls and stairs and the magic around every corner. He was especially interested that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were also amazing at sign language, though he should have expected it.

“I was wondering?” Harry mentioned as they worked their way through. 

“What?” Ron responded that it was easier for him if they just spoke in the amulet.

“Is all your family good at signing?” Harry asked. 

“No, not all, but most of my immediate family. Aunt Muriel refuses to, says it’s ridiculous since it’s a muggle thing,” Ron replied. 

Harry frowned. That didn’t seem right. “Then how does she talk to you? I mean obviously, you understand her but-”

Ron laughed, “Well, she thinks yelling is going to make any difference. I don’t think she even gets what Deaf means, I’m not Hard of Hearing; I just don’t hear at all. But anyway, her mouth opens wider to like yell. I’ve never really replied, though, and she’s the type that thinks all kids should listen and not respond anyway,” he said. “If she really wants a response, the rest of my family jumps in to reply.”

“Oh,” Harry said, unsure what to make of it, but it didn’t seem to bother Ron, so maybe it shouldn’t bother him either. “Wait, so wizards don’t use sign language normally?” he asked. 

“I guess it’s too rare unless you were cursed or born without hearing like me. Some don’t even care to practice magic after that, thinking it’s like losing all your magic or something,” Ron said. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Most of my extended family kind of ignores me, I’m just a dud, I guess.”

Harry held onto a gnome for too long and got bitten; he jerked and dropped the creature. “But you’re not,” Harry said immediately, “you’re so smart, Ron, and funny, and if I ever see anyone ignore you because you’re Deaf, I’ll… I’ll punch them.”

Ron stared at him then grinned, genuinely this time. “Thanks, Harry. Well, um,” Ron flushed. “I think the worst signer in my family is probably Bill, since he had to go off to school before he learned properly. Then Charlie is just a bit better, but not by much. Ginny is the best,” Ron continued to change the subject.

Xxx

Hermione was practically skipping with excitement, she’d finally be seeing her friends again. She had taken a signing class this summer and practiced as much as she could. She’d be able to talk to Ron easily now. “Hermione, darling, slow down,” Mum sighed. 

“Sorry, I’m just excited to see them again,” Hermione said, “we need to meet them at The Leaky Cauldron.”

“Yes, we know,” Dad nodded, “so these boys-”

“Harry and Ron,” Hermione supplied. 

“Yes, those boys. They’re nice to you?”

“Of course, Dad,” she hadn’t mentioned that Ron wasn’t always, but once they understood each other, he’d been very friendly.

“Well, don’t get too friendly,” Dad said before Mum elbowed him with a look.

“She’s twelve, darling,” Mum said, “let her have her fun.”

Once they made it there, she spotted red hair and immediately knew it must be the Weasley family. “Ron,” she said before remembering that, of course, he couldn’t hear it if he was looking away or even see it this far. 

She walked through, and Ron stood as he spotted her “Hello, Hermione,” he said, using his name for her ‘glory.’ She preferred to think glory because beauty just made her incredibly embarrassed. His shoulders were tense, and he looked worried. 

“What’s wrong?” she asked using the signs she’d learned this summer. She’d learned that Ron was teaching them in a topic-comment structure. He’d use the subject first and then fill in details.

“We’ve lost Harry Potter,” a small girl with glossy red hair and pretty blue eyes said. Her signing was just as good as Ron’s, so she knew it had to be Ron’s little sister, Ginny. 

Ron explained what happened with the floo network. That took her a second to click that Ron’s made-up word for floo was the same as “powder.” 

“Oh, don’t you worry, he can’t have gone far. We’ll find him,” a stout woman with the same shade of red as Ron’s hair commented. 

“You must be Mrs. Weasley,” Hermione said, “it’s nice to meet you, I’m Hermione Granger,” she said, forgetting to sign for a moment. 

“Oh yes, Ron’s mentioned you quite a bit in his letters, smartest in your year? Wonderful, it’s a pleasure,” Mrs. Weasley said warmly, then looked to her parents and introduced herself.

Ron smiled at Hermione, then “your signing is better,” he said, and she hugged him.

“I’m glad, I practiced all summer,” she said once she pulled away, and he could see her lips speak. From last year, she’d spent a lot of time seeing how Ron fixated on lips a lot to pull meaning from people.

Hermione had tried reading lips to understand how it worked, but it was so hard. She didn’t know how Ron did it. “There’s a center for learning sign language near where I live, maybe next summer I’ll invite you to it?” she asked. 

Ron smiled and signed “absolutely.” She beamed. Eventually, Harry found his way back to them, escorted by Hagrid, and she hugged Harry. He was thinner than she remembered. Surely his height hadn’t changed that much. 

“Why haven’t you been answering my letters?” she demanded. “We’ve been worried sick, Ron didn’t explain,” she said.

“I’ll explain everything later, Hermione, but we need a moment alone. I saw something weird, actually,” he said close to her ear. Ron looked on curiously, and she mouthed, “he’ll explain later.” Ron nodded curtly. She decided that this was one thing she’d give up on, learning to read lips.

Xxx

Ron flushed as his parents withdrew the money from their exceedingly small vault. As they opened Harry’s, he turned away and felt the heat rise to his ears. He felt so mortified, Harry had so much, but no one except him and Hermione on his side.

When he looked back, Harry had his eyes on the ground with a furrowed brow and flushed cheeks. Ron stared at him. Was he embarrassed, too? Harry was so humble, he probably was. 

At their next stop, they went to Flourish and Blotts, which immediately made Ron want to leave. He didn’t like big crowds like this in public; if he got lost, he’d be in serious trouble. His stomach dropped, and he stepped closer to Fred and George. He signed “crowd,” and they nodded. George tugged him to stand between them. 

After a moment, Ron decided he didn’t like Lockhart when he made a show of Harry. Couldn’t he see that he wasn’t fond of attention? Harry handed off the books to his mum with a quick comment.

This whole trip became more troublesome when Malfoy showed up. The little one he could handle, but he felt his blood drain out of his face at Malfoy Senior. Draco Malfoy looked confused for a second and looked back at his father. 

Harry furrowed his brows, and Ron held his ground when Malfoy Senior slid his eyes at him. “I still don’t understand why you bother with this squib…” he expected the dismissal, but he flinched anyway. 

He wished he could use his wand then, to show him that he could use magic. He had a lot of magic, and he knew how to use it. At once, his father launched himself at the elder Malfoy. He couldn’t follow what they were saying. 

He jumped when Hermione grabbed his hand, she signed “we should go outside,” and he nodded immediately. Harry followed them, and Ron could breathe normally again. 

“You acted strangely around Mr. Malfoy,” Harry signed, and he nodded. He’d hoped they didn’t ask, “They called you a squib?” he said, spelling it. 

“A squib is someone born from a magical family who has no magic,” Hermione signed as she spoke to Harry. “But why would he call Ron that?”

Ron flushed. “It’s also a pretty common way to call someone who is handicapped in a way that affects their ability to cast spells. Although it’s derogatory,” he said. He couldn’t help the way his hands shook.

“Oh,” Hermione replied, looking angry now. “But that’s not right, you have magic,” she stomped her foot.

“I met Mr. Malfoy when I was six at the Ministry. There was a commotion, and I got separated from my dad. He… said some pretty awful things, even though he helped me find him. Didn’t realize how adept I was at reading lips. Said I was better off getting shipped off to a pathetic Muggle family. I was terrified by nightmares for months. Scared my parents would throw me away,” he grabbed his arm after he finished. 

Harry hugged him, and Hermione followed suit. They couldn’t sign like this, but he got the picture by them holding him so tightly. 

Xxx

Ron enjoyed his days at the Burrow with Harry very much, it made his summer. But all good things had to end eventually, so they all got into his dad’s Ford Anglia and made it to King’s Cross.

He fully expected to get on the train like any other year, but they hit a brick wall, literally. Ron’s face burned as Harry made up an excuse to the Muggle. The barrier was closed. “I’ve never heard of it closing,” Ron said.

“Me neither, what do we do?” Harry asked anxiously. 

Ron thought for a moment, then signed “I think I have an idea, if we can make it to the Leaky Cauldron, we can fire call to Dumbledore,” he said.

“I’ve never gone to it, though, I dunno how to get there from King's Cross,” Harry said. He felt like panicking, his stomach twisting at the thought of missing the first. 

“You’ve got a few sickles, right?” Ron signed, and Harry nodded. “Come on,” they had to carry their trunks out of King's Cross. Harry released Hedwig discreetly and told her to go to Hogwarts now.

“Do this quickly before any muggles see, raise your wand, and then lower it.” 

Harry did so, pocketing it while giving Ron a strange look. Ron waited patiently by the busy road, and suddenly, a bug stopped so fast it was like magic. The bus was bright yellow, and a man with a fluffy mustache stepped out of it. “Shouldn’t ya be on the train?” the man asked in a thick Irish accent, wearing a uniform.

“Er… trouble with the platform. We need to go to the Leaky Cauldron,” Harry said.

“Two tickets, welcome to The Day Bus,” the man said, cranking a machine and then handing it to Ron and him. Harry paid, and their trunks and things were loaded. 

“Hold on,” Ron said, and Harry’s stomach lurched back into his head as the bus launched into motion. Everything was a blur. Ron held onto Harry’s arm next to him. He didn’t seem keen on strangers.

“Have you taken a bus like this a lot?” Harry signed. Ron shook his head, he was along Harry’s side like he was frightened.

“Too expensive, but once,” he signed, then fell silent.

The bus eventually came to a dead stop, and Harry’s organs were still rolling. They got out, their stuff was given back, and the bus zoomed away. They went inside, it wasn’t so packed this time. 

“You’re going to have to floo call Dumbledore,” Ron said with the amulet “Just poke your head in, though, not your whole body. I’m not sure if this will work, but I don’t have any other ideas,” Ron explained. 

Harry was nervous, but he thought he did it well enough, even though he was nervous his head would end up rolling in some unknown place. He was transported, so he was looking out at a large office with bookshelves. Dumbledore’s office, it had to be. 

“Er, Headmaster?” he asked. 

“Shouldn’t you be on the train?” a portrait asked. 

“Something happened, could you get Dumbledore?” he asked.

“Very well,” the portrait, Phineas or something, walked away. 

“Harry?” the Headmaster had his eyebrows raised. “This is most unusual, what has happened, dear boy?”

“The barrier was sealed somehow at the platform. Ron and I are at the Leaky Cauldron, so we could contact someone,” Harry said.

“Curious, well then. I will come to get you,” he said.

“Er, actually,” Harry’s cheek flushed, “could you tell me how to get out of this? Ron showed me how to fire call but not how to hang up,” he said. 

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling, “You’ll find you do have control over your body, simply step away from the fireplace. I’ll see you shortly.”

Harry found he was right and stepped back. The fire was a bit disorienting, but he was out. Ron perked up from his seat. “He’s… uh,” the fireplace lit up, and out stepped their Headmaster. A few men and women in the bar goggled at him, Harry shared the sentiment a bit. Considering his unique purple robes had little ducks on them. 

“I will see to the strange incident later, however, we should be going soon,” Dumbledore said. He pointed his wand at their trunks and shrunk them down. Ron picked them up and pocketed their belongings. Dumbledore walked outside into the brick wall area.

“Take my arm,” he told them, “hold on tight,” he added. Ron took his left and Harry took the other. He followed Ron’s lead in locking his arm. Harry felt a sharp tugging in his guts, and they were staring at the castle. 

Harry felt like puking. Ron rubbed his back. “Good thinking to contact me,” Dumbledore said serenely. 

“Oh, that was all Ron’s idea. I probably would have had us do something stupid like drive the flying car along the tracks or something.” Harry laughed. 

“Sounds rather exciting,” he chuckled then looked to Ron, who flushed “very clever, Mr. Weasley. The train won’t arrive for some time still. I’m sure that you can entertain yourselves? I must get to the bottom of the platform issue and inform your guardians,” he asked. 

“Oh, yes sir,” Harry replied and the man strode toward the castle. They went to the Gryffindor common room or attempted when they realized they didn’t have the password. 

They sat on the steps near it, letting the stairs swing them back and forth. “Ron… you seemed sort of scared when we were on the bus..” he said delicately. 

“I don’t like crowds and if I got lost, it’d be hard to communicate,” Ron signed. “People scare me, sometimes,” he whispered, Harry nearly jumped. He hadn’t heard Ron speak since before summer on the platform. It was nice, even if his pronunciation needed work. 

Harry pointed his thumb at himself and pink out, he waved it back and forth. “Me too,” said. Ron smiled in response and Harry threw an arm around Ron’s shoulder and ruffled his hair. Ron’s laugh made his heart sing.

“So we’ve got a while, you got any games?” Harry asked. 

“Exploding snap?” Ron suggested, “we can play it in the hall?”

Harry nodded and they went to the great hall and started playing. After a while, McGonagall walked into the hall. “Why is it always you two?” she asked.

“But Professor, this time it’s not our fault,” Harry said and Ron nodded.

“Well, it’s just fortunate Mr. Weasley thought of contacting the Headmaster. Quick thinking in the face of uncertainty, five points to Gryffindor,” Professor McGonagall said, her lips almost quirked up. 

Ron grinned and signed “thanks.” 

“Oh, Ron says thank you,” Harry said and Professor McGonagall raised her brows. 

“The Gryffindor first years seem to be getting quite adept at using sign language it seems. Might I suggest a club, it will look good on job applications in the future,” she said. 

“Oh,” Harry looked at Ron, he nodded then spelled with his wand, “Good idea.” 

“Quite,” she nodded “Mr. Weasley, considering your excellent marks we want to extend the opportunity for private lessons for nonverbal spells. Professor Snape is the most adept at it but should you prefer another professor, you can make a request.”

Ron blinked then nodded “I’ll try it with Professor Snape first,” he signed, Harry repeated.

“You sure?” Harry asked. 

“If he’s the best at it, there’s a reason for it,” Ron said logically. 

“Indeed, I will arrange it around your lessons,” McGonagall said.

Xxx

Eventually, the rest of the students arrived and they had to explain everything to Hermione. “That’s so strange, I wonder what could have happened,” Hermione said, and then it was time for the Sorting Ceremony. Ron didn’t care to pay very close attention to the hat as it didn’t have lips so he couldn’t lip-read it. 

Ron poked Hermione, who now wore the amulet. “Tell me what the hat says for Ginny, though I’m fairly certain she won’t be different from the rest of us,” he said. 

“Of course,” Hermione agreed then they watched as Luna Lovegood float to Ravenclaw, whom Ron remembered lived over the hill of Ottery St. Catchpole. She said some odd things but Ron thought her friendly enough. She didn’t mind when Ron had to use a notepad to speak to her. 

Maybe he should congratulate her if he passed her some time. He sat up straighter as Ginny strode up, her face looked a bit red. He wondered what happened but she sat there. The hat dropped down. 

“Gryffindor,” Hermione told him as they clapped, Ron beamed, he had no doubts. 

Xxx

The next morning, McGonagall handed him his schedule and he found he would meet Professor Snape in his office today and every Wednesday. He wasn’t sure how Snape would be when not lording over everyone in potions but he wanted to glean any tips in nonverbals. 

Ron could speak but he really didn’t want to talk to anyone besides Harry and Hermione. So to make sure he could reach the level of everyone else, he had to be an expert. The day was going fairly well, he had received a letter from his mother saying she’s so glad Harry was with him. Ron was glad too but he wished she had more faith in him. 

Transfiguration went well, his summer work turned in and they worked on turning living things into objects. He was almost there turning Scabbers into a goblet. It was a rather furry goblet but it was yellow and shiny. 

He was on his way after the day’s lessons to Snape’s office when came across Luna Lovegood. He stopped and smiled at her, she tilted her head and smiled. “Ron Weasley,” she said. He offered her the amulet and she slipped over her head curiously.

“Hi Luna, congratulations on being sorted,” he said. 

Luna’s eyes widened “thank you, it’s good to see you again,” she said, her voice was very melodic and sort of calm. He liked it.

He nodded along “I like your voice,” he said. 

“The amulet projects your own voice in your head right?” he nodded “I wonder if it could be changed, like if I spoke deeper,” Luna’s voice did change into a deep, Hagrid-like voice with the amulet’s help. Ron laughed, shaking his head.

Luna eyes twinkled “Well, I’d love to stay and chat but I’ve got to go,” he said.

“Okay, Ron. Thank you for being so kind, my classmates… well, never mind” Luna shook her head. “They seem to be suffering from Tabaxan nasty bird’s eye,” she said. Ron tilted his head “oh, it’s where their eyes roll to the back of their heads when spoken to, it’s quite… contagious,” she said, her voice even.

Ron nodded, he was never really sure what was true what Luna said. She was pretty odd but Luna could be funny and accepting. “I’m sorry, I hope it gets better soon,” he said. 

She nodded, taking off the amulet. Ron waved goodbye and wished he could fix whatever was making her so sad. 

Snape's office had potions ingredients wall to wall. Beyond the fire, it was quite dark in there. As he knocked, he waited a few moments before Snape opened it. He nodded to him and offered the amulet. 

The tall man slipped it over to his head “I’m interested to hear why you wanted lessons from me rather than your other Professor’s,” Snape said as he stepped away from the door to sit at his desk. 

Ron stepped inside “Professor McGonagall said you were the best at nonverbals. I don’t want to be good at nonverbal spells, I need to be the best at them,” he said. 

Snape raised his brows then nodded “have a seat, the theory of nonverbal spells is important to understand. Then it can be applied to anything. Since I doubt your family accounted for an extra subject, I’ll provide you a journal to take notes in,” he was handed a navy dragonhide leather-bound book. 

“This is too expensive,” he said.

“That is the same type of book I buy for all of my potions research. I buy a great many in bulk, it costs very little. Don’t think too highly of it. Now as I was explaining I expect you to bring your journal in for our lessons. Skip any lesson without an acceptable excuse ahead of time and I teach you no further.” He looked deadly serious as he said this.

“Yes professor,” he agreed.

“Good, I’ll begin now,” Snape conjured a chalkboard and Ron began to write notes.

Xxx

Ron wasn’t a huge fan of Herbology but he didn’t necessarily dislike it either. It was the only one he didn’t have to do much wand work for. It also helped that his mum being an ace gardener at home helped prepare him for the gentle treatment the subject required. 

Though it could be dull work, he didn’t mind the tasks that kept his hands busy. It was sort of relaxing actually. Today they were repotting mandrakes which Ron read the chapter on before. 

They apparently were known to unleash horrible screeching sounds. Ron really didn’t have any concept of what that was like but it was apparently dangerous enough to require ear muffs. 

Ron provided his Professor with his amulet “good afternoon, Ron,” she greeted warmly.

“Afternoon professor,” he replied and cheerfully went back to his spot with his classmates. The professor began their lesson. 

“Okay, so it's very important that everyone place their earmuffs on tightly. Even if their infant mandrakes their cries are still dangerous,” she announced. 

Ron glanced to see Malfoy raising his hand “Professor, what about Weasley. He can’t hear a thing, do we really need to waste a set on him?” Ron’s mood plummeted as he focused on the words. 

It was a thinly veiled insult with the keyword “waste.” “Magic is wasted on you” so many had told him. He watched Malfoy’s posse smile in amusement. Ron saw Harry puff up next to him, shoulders up and tense. Ron grabbed his arm to stop him from an outburst. 

“Their cries are just as dangerous to persons who are Deaf, Mr. Malfoy. Let me worry about Mr. Weasley, is that clear?” she asked with a strict glare. 

Ron didn’t look at Malfoy the rest of class and ensured his earmuffs were on his ears as he repotted the Mandrake. After everything was repotted, he paid attention to the boy who introduced himself to them as Justin, a muggle-born from Hufflepuff. 

“So um, about what the Professor said. Are you really Deaf? Oh but if you were I suppose I couldn’t talk to you like this,” Justin asked. 

“Ron can read lips,” Hermione replied looking to him for permission and he nodded. “Yes, it's true.”

Ron tapped Harry and signed to him “if you want to talk to me, just make sure I’m facing you and talk slowly. Too fast and I miss most of the words,” Harry said aloud for him. 

“That’s sign language, right? I didn’t know wizards used it too?” Justin asked, facing Ron now. 

Ron flushed “it’s because of me,” he wrote with a wand in the air.

“Wow, so you taught the others. Can I learn?” Justin asked. 

“Actually, we thought of starting a club,” Harry said “McGonagall would give us her permission since she even suggested it.”

“I brought loads of books on sign language to school with me,” Hermione said. 

Ron grinned at her “of course you did,” he signed, laughing. The thing with Malfoy was completely forgotten. 

“Sign me up, I’ll even ask some of my other friends who might come with,” he said.

The day wasn’t complete however without another disaster that included Lockhart releasing pixies, failing to control them, and running away. Ron, who disliked Lockhart from the start for treating Harry like a popularity booster, now hated him. 

“What a pompous idiot,” Ron gestured, basically smacking his forehead with the “L” for loser. “He’s got half a brain,” he knocked on his head, fuming. 

“No, he’s…” Hermione attempted to defend him but Harry and Ron stared at her with deadpanned eyes. Ron’s was particularly spot-on.

Xxx

The club they set up was actually pretty successful. Besides his two best friends, it was Neville, Seamus, and Dean from Gryffindor. Justin brought along his friend Ernie Macmillian who was very friendly. 

It was enough for them to take to McGonagall who approved it and they used her classroom to meet on Wednesdays. The school was going pretty well for them and Ron actually looked forward to lessons with Snape. 

The man was not so antagonistic to him for some reason but maybe he just really hated Harry. He was learning how to pick up spells quicker. “You must think about intention and visualize what you aim to do. Once you have it, it will become second nature,” Snape said. 

Ron cast an ice charm across the desk for the fifth time, this time it was perfect. A straight and solid sheet of ice and he beamed ecstatically at the man. “Well performed,” his dull voice said in his head. 

Despite the dull tone, he could tell that Snape was impressed “Professor, do you think I’m ready to duel?” he asked.

“You intend to join Lockhart's dueling club?” he asked.

“Well, I think Lockhart’s an i-” he stopped himself remembering that Snape was a teacher and would dock points. “I want to try dueling but I don’t like Professor Lockhart’s teaching.”

“Because he’s an incompetent imbecile, I will say what you will not, Mr. Weasley,” Snape sneered at the thought of that man. “I’ll say this, Mr. Weasley. You can attend this club but you won’t learn anything useful from him.” 

“Then can you tell me how I can learn?”

“I’m told the library is an apt resource,” Snape replied sarcastically.

“The books will give me all sorts of spells but not the most useful,” Ron said “please Professor. I’ll even help you with something, chop ingredients?”

“Ah and now we are getting somewhere, Mr. Weasley. A favor for a favor. We’ll make a Slytherin out of a Gryffindor yet” he said with a slight tone of amusement. “Fine then, I will provide you a few useful spells in dueling. You will then assist in brewing a pepper-up potion for Madam Pomfrey. Six batches,” he said. 

“Yes sir,” Ron said, “are you sure you trust me, though, Professor?”

“Your work in potions is worthy of the O I gave you,” Snape said.

Ron smiled in response “then I’ll do my best, sir, I do want to continue with potions until 7th year,” he admitted.

“Do you have any interests that involve Potions after Hogwarts?” Snape asked. 

Ron nodded “I want to be a medi-wizard,” he said, his heart quickening at the admission that he hadn’t even told his parents. Somehow Professor Snape, who never gave compliments often, felt easy to talk to. The man may be cold and downright antagonistic to Harry but Ron could tell there was more to the man. 

“That’s ambitious, you are on the correct track for your goal. Then you should be taking Arithmancy and Ancient Runes for next year,” he said. “I would suggest speaking with Madam Pomfrey about your ambition.”

Xxx

Harry was quite tired of Oliver Wood’s ruthless training, he was gunning to win the House Tournaments this year. At least until their training was interrupted by Draco Malfoy bringing with him the whole of the Slytherin team. 

Harry’s blood boiled as it became clear that Malfoy had bribed his way into being their seeker. It was just like him, he was even more determined to beat him. Ron was looking longingly at their shiny broomsticks, if Ron let him, Harry’d buy him one for Christmas. 

Malfoy continued his bragging when Hermione commented “at least they got in on pure talent,” trust Hermione to have an excellent come back. 

“No one asked your opinion,” Malfoy sneered at her “you filthy little mudblood,” he said. Harry didn’t like that word but he really didn’t understand what it meant.

But he could assume it wasn’t good considering the way Fred and George reacted by nearly lunging at Malfoy but was stopped by Flint. Alicia crying out “how dare you!” 

Harry’s widened because in a flash Ron had his wand out and with a perfect flourish, aimed. An ideal, solid sheet of ice formed under the Slytherin team. It only took one person to slip with them being so close to one another. 

It was suddenly a green slippery pile of Slytherin’s, they didn’t stay long to watch the spectacle before Wood decided they should run before a professor punished them. So the whole team plus Ron and Hermione went to the Gryffindor changing room. 

Once their team caught their breath, they sort of gave each other looks and everyone burst into laughter. Harry’s stomach hurt from how much they had done. “Ron, that was absolutely fantastic magic! And nonverbal,” Alicia was hugging Ron. 

As she let him go, he flushed then his twin brothers ruffled his hair and patted his back. “That’s our little brother,” Ron threw their hands off and was red with embarrassment but you could tell he was pleased. 

After almost everyone on the team gave Ron a hug, pat on the back or hair ruffle, they were free to go back to the castle. Hermione a little quiet “um, Ron, could you tell me what a mudblood is?” Ron frowned then nodded.

Xxx

Ron was worried about Ginny, lately she was nowhere to be found and when he did see her she seemed tired. Circles under her eyes and as October began, she seemed pale. Percy had also been worried for her and pulled in to see Madam Pomfrey. 

Pepper up seemed to sort of help her paleness but she still seemed tired and listless. Ron wondered if she was being bullied by other girls in her year but the concerning thing is he hadn’t seen her look at them.  

She spent lots of time in the library, perhaps studying. He walked the halls before his lesson with Snape, hoping to come across her. As he turned the corridor, something had hit him from behind and he fell, head throbbing. 

He whirled around, it was Malfoy and his two grunts, Crabbe and Goyle. “Look what we have here, a lone Weasley and a crippled one at that,” Ron felt something warm run down the side of his temple. 

He looked away from Malfoy for a moment to collect the journal he’d dropped. Then he stood with a glare aimed at the three boys. “Grab him,” he caught Malfoys words a bit too late and was grappling with the two. 

He managed to get his elbow jammed at Crabbe’s nose, to which he opened his mouth in a silent yelp. It free his hand to grab his wand and aim “petrificus totalis,” he thought in his head. Goyle stiffened and fell like a board. 

Malfoy had his wand out and aimed a spell which Ron ducked then aimed a sheet of ice under the three boys' feet. Despite that this was the second time the same spell was aimed, it worked. 

Malfoy lost his balance and Ron bolted for towards Snape’s office and they didn’t follow. His heart was rabbiting against his chest as he knocked with a trembling fist, the professor opened the door. 

“You are late,” Snape’s lips read but his eyebrows lifted briefly when he caught sight of Ron’s disheveled appearance and blood running down his face. “Come in and sit,” he said. Ron nodded and went inside, he sat, trembling slightly from adrenaline. 

A hand waved in front of his face and Ron tugged the amulet up and over his head to hand over. “I am going to clean your wound,” He nodded, Snape waved his wand “scourgify,” he said. Ron winced a little as his wound stung. “Essence of dittany,” Snape held a vial with a dropper, with a few drops he felt the cut at his temple close. 

“Thank you, sir,” he said then as his mood settled, he realized his journal had been left behind. He inhaled sharply “sir, I think I need to go back,” he said. 

“You will sit and explain,” Snape responded sharply instead. 

“My journal, I left it behind,” he explained. 

“The one I gave you I may presume?” Snape asked and Ron nodded. Snape closed his eyes “accio Ron Weasley’s dragonhide journal,” the man shuffled to open the door. Ron watched with interest and then shock when it came sailing through the air into the man’s hand. 

“Brilliant, Professor,” Ron said. 

“Hm,” Snape handed it over “can I take your word it was a simple scuffle?” he asked. 

“Yes sir, they snuck up on me” Ron replied. “Sir, is there a way I can widen my awareness? So no one can do that?”

“It’s possible, there are some expensive items that do such a thing. But you may be more interested in a branch of legilimens. It’s not simple but it is simpler than probing a person's mind for its contents. I can teach you how to do so but at a price.”

Ron was quiet and waited with a steady stare at the man, the man knew well the Weasley’s station so he wasn’t talking about money. “Of those in your class, you are among the most talented in potions. There is one who is deserving of title: the worst. His daily explosions in the classroom are disruptive,” he explained. 

“Neville is sort of terrified of you, sir, he gets nervous so he picks up anything to toss in,” Ron replied. 

The man pinched his nose “that may be, if you will be his partner to prevent disasters from here on, I will teach you to be Sans Legilimens,” he said. 

“A Sans? Is that what its called?” he asked. 

“Yes, it may be simpler for you to acquire the skill because of Deafness in actuality. Since Sans requires ignoring the usual way of sensing presence,” he said. 

“Could I activate it always, is that possible?”

“It can become second nature, aurors are trained to do so as well. But it wouldn’t be possible in your sleep.”

“Okay, I’ll do my best to keep Neville from exploding things,” he said “just don’t hover over us so he doesn’t get nervous,” he replied. 

“Then we are in agreement,” Snape offered his hand which Ron shook. 

Xxx

Ron decided on Halloween night he never wanted to go to another Death Day party again. It was sort of depressing, them all being transparent made it hard to read the lips of Sir Nicholas, Peeves, and Moaning Myrtle. Also, the smell of rotting food is a revolting assault on his four senses. 

He gagged a few times and shuffled Hermione and Harry backward from the table. It was just fortunate that he was not privy to whatever moaning that Myrtle supposedly did. He really had no concept of what a moan vs scream was anyway.

Headless Hockey marked their signal to leave and they made their way down the hall. “I hear something,” Harry wore the amulet tonight. Ron gave him a raised brow “it’s like a voice in the walls,” he said. 

Ron looked at Hermione “I don’t hear anything,” she shook her head but Harry’s concerned, frantic face was very certain.

Then Harry was dashing up the halls, Ron and Hermione in pursuit. “It’s going to kill something,” Harry said as they moved across and up into the great hall and then to the second floor. They all froze in that moment.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

Ron spotted the cat, Mrs. Norris above it, and his heart froze. Everything happened so fast then, Ron stepped in front of Harry as Filch tried to accuse Harry. “You’ll have to carefully consider the Weasley’s, and close company we keep. Harry is half-blood and Hermione is muggle-born,” Ron wrote with his wand. 

“This is true,” Dumbledore said, “and it is unlikely that 2nd years would have the skill to petrify anything, even a cat.” Ron mouthed ‘petrify’ because he’d never heard the word before. 

Surely it wasn’t the same as freezing, right? That could be undone. What is the chamber of secrets anyway, though?

Chapter Text

Ron’s disability hadn’t been obvious at first, when they brought him home, things seemed normal. Molly had been a touch disappointed that she hadn’t finally gotten her first girl but she loved him instantly all the same. 

Ron was a beautiful baby, sometimes they could come out a bit ugly before they grew a bit. Not Ron, he was cute from the start, and his round face was a lovely pinkish shade. His eyes were slightly doe-like. 

Everything seemed normal, he fed, slept, and did ordinary baby things. The only inkling that might have cued to something different was when he cried for soothing. No amount of speaking, shushing, or singing would help. 

Ron wanted to touch, that wasn’t so unusual either, lots of babies needed that. He wasn’t easily started, loud noises never bothered him. “Hugudah boogadah!” Charlie sat in front of Ron’s high chair at the table, Ron blinked at his brother only.

“What are you doing?” Molly asked, half amused.

“Trying to make him laugh, but so far nothing is funny to him,” Charlie made ridiculous noises that successfully made the twins laugh. 

“Try a funny face instead,” Arthur suggested, Ron wasn’t looking through “Ronnie, oh Ronnie,” distracted by something out the window, he didn’t turn. Molly gently touched his cheek. Ron looked at her then and she tilted his head to Charlie. 

The bubble of laughter made her smile as Charlie twisted tongue made him giggle. The concern came later when he hadn’t been learning his name. “I’m worried, he doesn’t respond, he’s not talking yet.” He was a year old nearly.

“Me too,” Arthur’s admission had her sit up, she was used to being to worry wart. Arthur usually would calm her saying there was nothing to worry about. “I think we need to make a visit to St. Mungos.”

Healer Thomas looked at Ron thoroughly and her face changes made Molly grip her skirt tightly in concern. Arthur took her hand, Healer Thomas sighed as she sat in her chair. She began to explain that Ron’s ears were structured differently, that he would never hear. 

“Then, there’s nothing we can do?”

“If the circumstances were different, Ron could look at muggle options like hearing aids. But considering his particular function, it’s not possible. I’m so sorry, Molly, he won’t ever be able to hear,” she said. 

Molly refused to cry then “okay, so what can I do to help him live a normal life? He’s got to learn his name somehow,” she refused to condemn her child. 

Healer Thomas smiled then “muggles have created a language that isn’t spoken but uses hand signals instead. Let me find some brochures, perhaps London might even have classes regarding them.”

London did have a class and it was blessedly free to attend, the trouble was the textbook. She didn’t have one in her first class, the people around her was diverse. Older men, young women, and children even.

“Mrs. Weasley, how was your first class?” Professor Antony stopped her.

“A struggle,” she admitted “but I need to know everything about sign language.”

The Professor raised his brows “do you mind if I listen to your reasoning?”

She nodded explaining how her son was Deaf and how he didn’t know things that her other children knew.

“I understand, your worried about his development. Then how about I send you home with a text book. It might help if you were to give your baby a sign name and yourself one. Knowing his name and what to call you, will help a lot. I might suggest that each word you tell him accompanies the spoken term.”

“Why is that?” she asked.

“It will help him infer what people tell him if they don’t use sign language. Lip reading is useful so speak articulately, and accompany that with the sign term.”

He helped come up with Ron’s sign name ‘Ruler’ as related to the meaning. He instilled how repetition was going to be the way Ron was going to learn his name. He was right, she went home and signed Ron’s name to him and pointed to him. 

The light that came up in his eyes that day was something she could never ever forget. She added sign language to her children’s education, amazed how quickie they blasted past her. The twins already having conversations with words she didn’t know yet from the books. 

When Ron started using the sign language she taught him to ask for things, she burst into tears.