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Chapter Text

“Ron!” he stood up straight, a gnome swinging in his grasp, and he threw it over his head and over the garden in the general direction of the gnomes he’d thrown earlier.

“Yeah?” he called out and moved in his old boots that were falling apart the seams, held together with spello tape. He arrived at the door and stomped dust off his boots as best as he could manage, and went in.

“Did you clean your room? You know Harry’s going to be arriving any day now” Mum asked.

“Yes,” he said, he wasn’t a baby who needed supervision of everything he did but try telling that to mum. You don’t need to tell me anymore. But of course, if he said that, she’d say not to complain.

When did he complain about anything to her, Harry was his only confidant. Hermione would never understand, her things were new, and she treated those things well. His older brothers never did and that’s why they were always in bad shape when they got to him.

Harry would here soon, and Ron wasn’t sure how he would be. Ron had trouble handling Harry sometimes. If Harry was angry when he arrived, he wasn’t sure what he would do. He’d been writing letters to Harry about Sirius and wished he could help him more.

“Finish your chores?” Mum asked.

“Yes” Ron replied.

“Then would you take some dinner to Fred and George? Apparently, they are working and won’t make it to dinner here” she said.

“Sure” Ron perked, anything to get away from the Burrow awhile. It was a little painstaking with just Ginny and him here. He wondered when he and Ginny stopped talking and if it was in 2nd year.

He knew it was his fault, he should have been paying attention to her. He should have seen how pale she was, the bags under her eyes, and he failed. He shook his head to rid the thoughts and took a seat at the table.

“I’ll have it in just a minute, alright Ronnie?” Mum said, Ron nodded glancing behind him to see Ginny on the couch. She was reading a textbook, she looked up and met his eyes.

She raised an eyebrow, and he turned back to the table. “You need a haircut” Ginny’s voice hovered near his ear. He realized she’d decided to get up.

“Shut up, if mum hears you, she’ll decide to do it” he whispered, he really avoided getting it cut on account of her giving him the only cut she knew how to do. A bowl cut.

“Oh, how awful getting a haircut,” Ginny said.

“Mum never tries to cut your hair using an actual bowl,” he hissed at her.

Mum turned around with two Tupperware’s of food for the twins. “Would you like a snack before you go?” even though she was talking to him, he always felt like she was speaking with Ginny. Ron nodded “Ginny?” she asked.

“Sure” Ginny agreed, Mum handed him the boxes and brought them some muffins. Ron took one and ate it quickly before standing up. He went to the fireplace.

He sniffed as he took a handful of powder and stepped in. This was where his bad luck came in: he sneezed. He sneezed and powder flew everywhere, and he wasn’t in Diagone Alley or his brother’s shop or anywhere in relation to London.

In fact, he was lying in a forest on his back, he sat up, he had no idea where he was. He searched his pocket and froze when he realized that he had forgotten his wand. He got up, spotting his brothers dinner. He picked it up and walked around. There was nothing around except for a road.

“You are such an idiot” he muttered under his breath. He had no wand, no way to get to anyone, and he had no idea where he was. He chewed his lip then decided to walk.

Maybe he’d run into a building at some point and figure out where he was. So, he walked along the road, glancing suspiciously at the dark clouds that circled above him. He ended up eating the dinners that his mother had made.

It started raining at a little dribble and then it poured, he continued walking. He was starting to feel cold, and mood felt the rain, his heart being squeezed. Then bright light illuminated the road he walked on, and he turned to find a car inching behind him.

“Hey kid, you need a lift?” Ron turned, the deep voiced surprised him a little because the one it belonged to wasn’t so old. The boy was probably about sixteen.

“Really?” Ron asked and the guy nodded, stopping the car.

“Sure, get in” Ron walked around and got into the car, it was warm, but he was still shivering from being sopping wet. The boy had a tanned face and high cheek bones. He seemed like he’d be popular at his school.

“So uh, your car break down?” he asked.

“What?” Ron asked, he broke his stare.

“You were walking, in the rain” the boy replied.

“Oh, yeah,” Ron shrugged “it’s a long story, could you…” he wasn’t sure what he needed. How was he going to get ahold of any wizards to get home. He didn’t even have any pocket money.

“You run away?” the boy wondered.

“Uh” Ron swallowed because he didn’t know what else kind of explanation he could give as to why he was here. “Sort of, not exactly.”

“Sorry to be nosy” he said “uh I’m Dev” he mentioned.

“I’m Ron” he replied, there was a bit of an awkward silence. “If you can just drop me off at a building” he said. Dev nodded.

“You're not really carrying anything” Dev said, “not the best runner, are you?”

“Wasn’t planned out” Ron replied then raked his hair back out of his face. Dev’s eyes went a little wider and he flushed looking back to the road. Ron frowned, what was that about?

“I don’t blame you for running, sometimes I’ve felt like running” Dev said.

“Yeah?” Ron asked.

“My school kind of sucks sometimes, all the rich people like to bully everyone. No one says shit about it even the teachers” Dev explained.

“My school does that too,” Ron agreed “think they’re lord over all us peasants.” Stupid bloody Malfoy.

“Right?” Dev said “I’m so ready to graduate and fuck off to college in London” he said.

“How far is London?” Ron asked, he couldn’t outright ask where he was. It would be too suspicious. Muggles didn’t have floo or apparition.

“I think about five hours by car?” Dev replied, “heading to London, then?” he asked. Ron nodded.

“I need to get to my brothers place” he said. “That’s in London.”

“Well, maybe I can help, my aunt sometimes goes to London on weekends,” Dev explained. “She runs a restaurant,” he said.

“Take me?” Ron asked and Dev agreed. He drove for a bit longer and eventually they came up to a little village. He parked then walked inside, the restaurant had only a few people inside at the bar.

Ron followed Dev; he realized just how tall Dev was. Ron thought he was pretty tall himself, but he was thin. His appetite could never keep up with his stomach’s ability to burn through it all. Dev was a little taller than Ron but filled out.

He was truly muscular, he reminded him of the same build as Viktor Krum. Ron flushed looking away from Dev’s back. “Aunty” Dev greeted the woman at the bar.

The woman turned and Ron got a better look at her. She tall and thin with a bob of silver and purple hair. She had a natural sort of smirk to her face. Ron felt a sort of cleverness to her but not like Hermione or the Percy. No, she reminded him of Charlie. Or even Tonks.

“Dev, what are you doing out this late?” she asked then her eyes caught Ron’s, he glanced away. “Oh, is this a date then?” she asked. His eyes snapped back to her, and his cheeks and ears felt warm.

“N-No, it’s definitely not. Um, I gave him a ride in the rain” Dev replied, his own face red as Ron imagined his own was. Wizards didn’t readily assume things like that and if they did, they weren’t so quick to voice it.

“Oh,” the woman leaned in “yeah, I can see that. How about you both go upstairs. I bet you’d like a chance to warm up in a bath, yeah?” she asked.

Ron was still cold from the icy rain and thought he should be wary of strangers being so accommodating. But if he went back out, he would get hypothermia before he made it a few kilometers. “Really?” he asked, keeping his arms crossed over his arms in Charlie’s old sopping sweater.

“Of course,” she smiled “Dev, you can get him some of my clothes. Should fit him considering how skinny he is.”

“Oh, um ok” Dev agreed and then led him up a staircase then was marked with a sign meaning it wasn’t for customers. Dev unlocked the door, and he was led in.

The apartment above the restaurant was small but comfortable. It was also filled with some things he didn’t recognize like a box with glass in the middle. Dev found him some clothes and Ron walked into the bathroom, it wasn’t so different from a wizard one, the faucet was the same.

He felt relieved when the water warmed him, and he was able to think of a plan. Somehow, he had to get to London or if he found a witch or wizard, he could use their fireplace to get home. He wondered how long it would be until they noticed he hadn’t come. Would mum floo call the twins when he didn’t come? Or would she assume he stayed with them?

He stepped out of the shower and dressed in the clothes that Dev had given him. Surprisingly, there was a pair of boxer briefs

A pair of women’s high-waisted jeans and a sweatshirt with some kind of check mark logo on it. The shirt was a bit higher on his body than the jeans.
Muggles were odd sometimes.

He debated if he should tuck it in but didn’t. He stepped out of the bathroom to see Dev on the couch watching the box which had pictures on it. Except it wasn’t just pictures, they are talking, and it looked as if they were acting out something.

“Do I want to know whose boxers these are?” Ron asked.

“I wouldn’t ask, just take it that they're clean,” Dev said.

“What are you watching?” Ron asked after taking his advice, setting his wet clothes on a chair to dry. He sat on the sofa.

“Dunno, some detective drama movie” Dev replied, glancing at him.

“Oh,” Ron said because he wasn’t sure what else to say because he wasn’t really sure what a detective was or what the hell a movie was either. “Your Aunt seems nice,” he said.

“She is, she’s awesome” Dev replied, “um sorry, she thought you were, y’know, my date.”

Ron shrugged “it’s okay,” he said.

“She’s the only one I’ve talked about liking blokes” Dev explained.

Ron nodded, he understood “because you’re worried?” he asked.

“About them hating me when they know? Yeah. My aunt is so like eclectic and accepting that she’s a black sheep. So, I don’t want to tell anyone else” Dev said.

“You are telling me,” Ron remarked, he’d been thinking about guys for a while. It was confusing with how he felt about Hermione and the girls, then being jealous of Krum and Hermione at the same time. Liking Krum’s body especially.

“Yeah, but you, well, you can’t turn around and blab to anyone. Plus, you're like easy to talk to, sorry if that’s weird” Dev explained.

Ron shook his head “not weird just rare, most people assume I don’t have the emotional capacity for stuff like this” Ron said. “But really, I think my friends are the actual ones with less than usual emotion.” Harry tended to shut down his feelings and Hermione preferred to ignore them.

Dev let out a huff of laughter “that’s daft” he said.

“Yeah?” Ron asked, smiling a little “so I guess you’ve never dated anyone if you aren’t out?” he asked.

“Dated, kissed, nope” Dev shook his head. “Have you?” he asked.

“No,” Ron said.

“Really?” Dev asked.

“That a shock?” Ron wondered, “why?”

“Because you’re hot,” Dev blushed, holding back a grin. Ron laughed, returning the smile “no, really, you’ve a lot going for you.”

Ron flushed, raking back his still-damp hair, and leaned a bit closer to Dev. “Dev, um,” he licked his lips. Dev’s face was close to his and Ron could see the shape of his cupid’s bow. He didn’t finish his sentence because he just went for it. Maybe it was stress that made them do it but at this point, he couldn’t care less.

He kissed him, pressing his lips to his and then slowly licking Dev’s bottom lip. Dev’s mouth opened and he tasted him.. Ron edged his fingers on the boy’s cheekbones. Dev’s hand found a home on his neck. His other hand is on his waist.

And then a door opening had them parting. Dev was bright red as pressed the back of his hand to his mouth. Ron must have looked similar. Dev’s Aunt walked into the living room.

“Oh good, knew those clothes would fit you,” she said. “Forgot to mention before but you can call me May,” she said.

“Oh, right, um Aunty. Ron needs to meet his brothers in London. Is there a chance you plan on heading to London soon?” Dev asked quickly.

“To London? Sure, I can plan on making a trip tomorrow,” May said.

“You are? Thanks so much” Ron said.

“It’s not a big deal,” she assures him, “now I’m going to assume you need a place to sleep as well?” she asked. Ron hangs his head, and she laughs “it’s okay, I’ve got a spare bed,” Ron nods.

A ringing has Ron jump and May picks up the “fellytone” thing on the wall. “Hello? … Oh yeah, he’s here, the rain had him taking a break. Yeah, I’ll let him know… okay bye,” May hung the thing back on the hook.

“Mum call?” Dev asked.

“Yes, she worried the rain may have caused an accident. You better get home, kid” May said.

“Yeah” Dev agreed standing up and Ron stood too.

“Dev… I think maybe you should tell your family. Give them a chance to know all of you” Ron whispered.

Dev looks to him for a moment “yeah, maybe I will. Thanks for being my first kiss” he said. Ron smiled.

“For the record, it was a good one,” he said. Dev beamed at him then walked out the door.

Chapter Text

May sat on the couch “so… what are gonna do in London? Please tell me you’ve got a plan; I really hate to call the police about a runway. But better that than the streets,”

Ron bit his lip, his high fading away at the fear of the police. They wouldn’t have his name in their systems and then maybe he would be put in a muggle foster system. That would be even worse. “My brothers, they’re in London.”

“Oh, thank God,” May sighed then yawned “you hungry?”

“I’m always hungry,” Ron replied, and she slapped his back.

“The state of a hormonal teenage boy, eh? Lucky I’m well versed in your kind,” she said. “Rain nearly done so that pizza place should deliver,” she said.

“I’ll eat anything,” Ron said.

“Good,” she said. Pizza, which he’d never had before, was amazing. It was greasy and cheesy, and it was the best junk he’d ever had. He ate one medium pie but May didn’t bat an eye saying she bought two for a reason. “There’s a bed in this door, sleep there and we’ll sort stuff out tomorrow for heading to London,” she said.

Ron fell asleep immediately in the large comfortable bed. He woke in the morning to May banging around in the kitchen until she had coffee in some kind of muggle appliance. “Morning, sleeping beauty,” she said in a way that was entirely too cheerful first thing in the morning.

He blinked sleepily at her “m’hungry,” he said, and he was.

“Right, I’ve got cereal but if you want to wait, I can make some eggs and toast,” May said “you’re a really straightforward kid, y’know? Most would be more polite to strangers.”

“Sorry,” Ron said as he sat at the table, and she put some coffee with milk under his nose and then a bowl of sugar cubes.

“No, I don’t mind it, it’s refreshing really,” May said, “you know you’re probably the type who can eat a lot so try some cereal for now and I’ll get right on the eggs.”

Ron nodded “okay,” he wasn’t entirely awake until he drank some more. He didn’t usually drink coffee but if she’d served it, he’d drink it. “You know I think you look better in my clothes than I do,” she laughed.

Ron had taken the jeans off when he slept but he put them on again when he woke up. “They’re comfortable,” he said.

“I’m glad, keep them then, never liked those jeans anyway,” she said, “those your shoes by the door?”

“Yup,” he replied staring at the cereal boxes that had the milk poured over it. He’d had it before, so he was curious, this one had cinnamon and sugar. He poured it into the bowl and put milk over it.

“They are shit, awful condition,” she said honestly.

“Hand me downs,” he said then took a bite of cereal. That was delicious, he had another bite instantly, muggles ate on a regular basis. No wonder, it was amazing.

“Well, if you don’t mind hand me downs in better condition, let’s see if my shoes fit you. My feet are gigantic,” May said cheerfully.

“I can’t take your shoes,” Ron said.

“Why not, was about to donate them anyway, I never use them.” May whipped their breakfast of egg, toast, and sausage. Ron devoured it making May give him a pleasing sort of grin.

“It was really good,” Ron said, flushing “thanks.”

“My pleasure, I run a diner, I live to watch people eat food and like it,” she clarified. “Now let’s see if you fit some of my old shoes.”

She brought a box that looked to be collecting some dust. She opened it and pulled out a pair of boots similar to his but leather. “These aren’t my style so,” she handed them to him. He put his feet into them, surprised to find that they fit, with some slighter thicker socks it would do.

“They fit,” Ron said with a grin, he liked them too. When he got home, he could shrink them a bit, so they’d fit him perfectly.

“Great then you want the whole box?” she asked showing him a couple of trainers too.

“Really?” he asked.

“Course, what else am I gonna with this stuff?” May asked then dug through her closet and brought out a beat-up duffle bag. “We’ll put them in here.”

“So, ready to go kid?” she asked.

Xxx

May’s car was a beat-up brown truck with the same logo that his dad’s car had. As soon as they got into the car, she took off a hat that Ron had seen muggles wear often and put it on him.

“There, now you look like a proper teenager,” she laughed “I bet you are popular at school, huh?”

“Bloody hell, no,” he snorted.

May took a bit of time to start the car, it rumbled for a while before the engine kicked in and started. She used her hands to move the gears around. Ron watched; he’d never seen a car like that before. His dad’s Ford Anglia, well, you just needed to push the pedals.

“Never drove stick before?” she asked as they were on the road.

“No,” Ron replied honestly and watched as she fiddled with the radio but all there was static.

“Ugh, nothing in these blasted corn fields,” she said, and he noticed there was indeed basically nothing around them. She leaned over him and opened the dash and took out a box of cassettes.

She dumped them on his lap “pick one ok, kid,” she said.

Ron looked at them and stared at all of them, he picked one that said “80s Hits” and stared at it unsure what to do with it.

“Right here kid, betcha never seen one these. Now it’s all on cds,” she said taking it from him and popping it into the car tuner. “Ah there we are,” she tossed her head to the music.

“Been workin so hard,” she sang.

Ron smiled at the guitar “foot loose! Kick off your sunday shoes,” she shimmied her shoulders. “Come on, kid, you can’t tell me you don’t dance,”

“I don’t,” Ron shook his head, and she shoved his shoulder. “Well, at my school we had a ball but I didn’t dance with anyone”

“ A ball, fancy. You didn’t? Why not?”

“Because the girl I wanted to go with, well she went with someone else.”

“Ah, then I read it wrong. Thought you liked Dev,” she said, he blushed.

“You didn’t, I like um both I think,” Ron admitted.

“Best way to be then, lots of options,” May said then the song switched “oh yes!” she rolled the windows and turned up the music. “Darling, you’ve got to let me know, should I stay or should I go. Let loose,” she told him.

Ron grinned then nodded, it was a good song “should I stay or should I go.”

May was a fun kind of adult, she was a comfortable person to be around. Like Charlie. "So, this girl, she turns you down for this boy?”

“It was my fault, I waited too long, and I screwed up the way I asked her,” he said.

“Ah,” May nodded “can’t wait long with those pretty girls,” she said.

“She’s my best friend,” Ron said bringing up his knee to his chest. “She’s like a genius and every year, I think of how pretty she is and that I’m like nothing to her.”

“Nothing? I doubt that’s true if she’s your best friend. How long have you been friends?” she asked, turning the road to a larger road. Ron had never been on such a long trip, only about half an hour.

“Six years,” Ron replied

“Then she clearly loves you, you aren’t nothing to her,” May said and he flushed.

“Loves me? No,”

“Love as a friend, I don’t know her mind so who can tell if she loves you the way you want her to,” she said.

“Oh,” Ron swallowed “my other best friend, uh Harry, we’ve all been together since the first year,” he said.

“So, what, you think she could like your best mate?” she asked, her eyes went wide “damn kid, that’s rough.”
Ron sat back “yeah,” he said.

“Well, you know I think worrying about it isn’t going to help. You’ve just got to be yourself; I would tell you shitty adult stuff they say. You know like ‘you’ll understand it when you’re older.’ It’s bull by the way, adults have no f-ing clue what they’re doing either,” she said.

Ron smiled “really?” he asked.

“Yeah, you know I went to college for like three years in London. There was this guy there that worked in summers, God he was a sight. Good looks for days but one day he vanishes, just gone with no trace,” May said.

“You don’t know where he went?” Ron asked.

“No clue but I thought I loved him, he was red haired too, must be my soft spot,” May winked at him.

“So, when he disappeared, what did you do?” Ron asked.

“I cried, of course,” May said “thought he was perfect for me, he was muscular and witty and rebellious. He was exactly what I wanted in a guy, everyone else doesn’t compare,” she said.

“But you got over him?” Ron asked.

May smiled as she stared at the road “I learned to live without him. I don’t need a man to enjoy my life, had an idea of starting a diner. I sucked at college anyway, so I dropped it, not like I paid for it anyway. I had a scholarship.”

“You’re mad,” Ron grinned, “where do you think he is then?”

“Fuck if I know, he could be a monk learning the ways of Kung Fu or hunting dragons in Romania. He was a wild guy,” she said. Ron knew that she meant but he could help get a little wide eyed at her mentioned of dragons.

She was surprisingly spot on about dragons in Romania though. If he wasn’t so sure she was muggle, he might think she was a witch. “Sorry he left then,” Ron said.

“Yeah, well, if I meet him again, he’s not getting away,” she said.

“Even after he left?” he asked.

“Course, he’s in my heart now. Of course, I’ll probably punch him and ring his neck first,” she said, tossing him a wink.

“Ah.” Ron grinned.

Xxx

They had been driving for about three hours before May pulled over at a rest stop to get fuel for the car. “Go inside and have them put this much in the pump, alright?” she handed him some muggle money.

Ron nodded and went inside, the door jingled as he went in. The teenaged girl behind the counter perked as he went in “um, all of this on the 2nd pump outside,” he said.

“Cool,” she said taking it and using the register. “So, you from here?” she asked.

“No,” he shrugged.

“Course not, none of attractive one's ever are from here,” she said with a smirk. He flushed and moved on to go to the bathroom there. It was strange to be a stranger here, he didn’t have anybody here to tell him who he was.

Nobody was seeing “another Weasley” here, they saw him only. It was sort of refreshing. As he came out of the restroom, he noticed May was buying drinks and snacks.

“Hey kid, ready to go?” she asked. He nodded “great, go to car with these and I’m gonna go to the loo,” she handed him a bag of the food and drinks.

“Okay,” he said as she walked away “um, is there a good radio station in this area?” he asked.

“Yeah, alternative is 93.3” she said, he nodded.

“Thanks,” he smiled then went out the door, May came out a few minutes later. As she started the car, he went to the radio station.

“There we go kid,” May said as a guitar riff was beginning. It was sort of somber and kept a fast tempo. Ron tapped his foot to it “you got the lights out on the afternoon.”

“Who are they?” Ron asked.

“Arctic Monkeys, this album is great. It’s called AM,” May replied. Ron hummed, he wished he had something to listen to those tape things with.

“Hm, hopefully I hear it on the radio sometime,” he said.

“Don’t have any mp3 player or anything then?” May asked, he shook his head. Not sure what she was talking about but assumed it had to do with playing music. “Hm, so then let’s talk about something. It’s a long way to London still. How’s school?”

Ron flushed “honestly? Freaking terrible,” last year was a disaster. Umbridge and Fudge, the DA, the sneaking around.

“Yeah? Bullies, drama?”

“More like an abusive professor” he said “she was psycho, physically punishing students. And then,” he closed his mouth, he didn’t go over what happened at the ministry, so he shut up.

“Oh my God, but she was fired right? Or arrested?” May said. …Or carried off by centaurs not to be seen for a long time. Ron didn’t know where that bitch was and didn’t care. He hoped she was trampled on.

“She’s gone,” he replied.

“Good, are you okay?” she asked gently. No one had asked him after that hellish year. The pressure of being made prefect instead of Harry, his grades, Quidditch, and on top of it dealing with keeping his cool around Umbridge despite the attack on his character, Hermione blood status, and Harry’s ‘lies.’

Ron felt he was cracking under the weight of it and still hadn’t stabilized. In fact, after Sirius’ death, he just felt heavier. “No,” he answered.

“Is that you why you ran? Don’t worry, I’m still taking you to London either way. But if you want to talk…”

“It’s been a long year, my best friends godfather just died, his only family left. To make it worse, he’s stuck with shit remaining aunt and uncle for most of the summer. I was made a prefect at school which should have been my best friend’s. Even the girl I like thought it was Harry’s badge when he was holding it. Like it didn’t even cross her mind I even deserved to get it. Like I know I didn’t but then that- that bitch was making our lives hell-” he felt exploded.

Everything he’d shoved away just came out and holding onto his lap when he felt the tears coming on. “Sorry,” he said quietly.

“No, kid, it’s alright,” she said gently, “you hold all of that in, you're bound to explode. Just go on and cry.”

He didn’t much choice because his damn had broken and May rubbing his back as she drove didn’t slow them.

Xxx

After losing his dignity in front of her, his tears had dried up. “So, I’m getting hungry, and the next town over will have something. Burgers good for you?” May asked nonchalant, like he hadn’t just cried his eyes out.

“Sure,” he muttered, not really sure what a burger was but his stomach was complaining. Anything sounded great right now.

“You know, I think that what you think of yourself can be a lot more important than what others think of you,” she said. “Maybe your feeling overwhelmed because you're trying to juggle everyone else’s issues. But you should take your own sanity into account. Focus on yourself a bit, make yourself happy and that can help a lot in making others feel better.”

Ron thought for a bit “I…don’t know how to do that,” he really had no idea. Wasn’t sure if he’d ever been truly happy,

“Shit kid, I Dunno, what do you like?”

“Chocolate, Q- uh sports, and chess,” he said.

“Right, chocolate’s delicious so that makes sense. What about school?”

“I like charms,” he said then blanched when it slipped “er, I mean magic tricks,” he said. He remembered Hermione said muggles had magic tricks that involved sleight of hand.

“Yeah? Not sure how that’s school related but you sound excited about it?”

“Yeah, I like it a lot but it’s girlish or whatever.”

“Well, that’s stupid, magic isn’t about gender so long as you don’t care. Also, that’s just everyone’s way of cutting you down. They can’t think of anything bad about it, so they make it up.”

“Yeah?” Ron asked, she nodded.

“So just find something that makes you happy and go all the way with it.”

It was perfect opportune moment of the car being driven to lurch and it didn’t want to drive without jerking a lot. “Uh oh,” May said and pulled out to the side of the road. They got our and May popped the trunk “this could be bad, something wrong here,” she said.

“What do we do?” Ron asked.

“Well, I guess we’ll either need to walk to the next town or wait to see if someone comes along so we can get a tow,” she sighed “looks like London might take a bit longer than I thought.”

Chapter Text

Ron wondered if his parents were frantic. What if they just didn’t care or hadn’t noticed?

“Chin up, it’ll work out,” May said as a car was approaching “alright, well look attractive now, so they’ll stop?”

“Take off my shirt, shall I?” he said dryly as he saw a car coming closer in the distance. May laughed and started waving at the car which slowed a bit.

“Had a bit o’ car trouble?” a middle-aged woman with blonde hair poked her head out?”

“Yeah, do you mind giving us a ride into the next town? I’m terribly sorry,” May said.

“No trouble, it's just five minutes down the road, hop in,” she said, May sat in passenger and Ron sat in the back. It was a nice car, much newer than his father Ford and May’s car.

“Should I just drop you at the mechanics place? Martin’s great, he’ll give you a good price for whatever’s the problem” she said jovially.

“Oh yes, please,” May agreed “so having a good day?”

“Oh just grand, it’s lovely weather after last night's rain. I’ve just gone to visit my cousin’s baby, bless his heart,” she said, “oh I’ve forgotten to introduce myself, call me Jean,” she added.

“I’m May and this young man is Ron. Oh, I love seeing babies especially when you're not required to change the diapers,” May said and Jean laughed. The two women hit it off pretty instantly, May had an amazing personality that seemed to work with everyone she met.

They reached the ‘mechanics’ place quickly and May thanked Jean. “Thank you for the ride, ma’am,” Ron said, thinking of his mum’s insistence with manners.

“It was my pleasure, dear, I hope your car gets fixed quickly,” Jean said. The mechanic, Martin, was a frank but nice person. The tow to get the car into the shop was fast as they waited.

Ron was interested in all the interesting machines around and car parts. He sat the bench while May spoke with Martin about the car and he was distracted from looking around when he felt something brush his leg.

He looked down to see a black cat rubbing against his leg. “Lo,” he greeted it and offered his hand to sniff. The cat took no time at all to rub his hand. They hopped onto the bench and leaped onto his shoulder. He started at the action but scratched under it’s chin.

“Well look at that, you’ve endeared yourself to Merlin,” Martin said.

“Merlin?” Ron asked, he guessed muggles did know about Merlin but just thought it was just a story. Sort of funny though, he smiled.

“Yeah, he pulls vanishing tricks sometimes,” Martin said, Ron thought maybe the cat was part neazle, like Crookshanks. The intelligent green eyes certainly made it possible. “He’s a local stray, amazing how he’s taken to you though.”

“Hm, hello Merlin,” he greeted gently and he purred under Ron’s soft stroking.

“Bless him,” May smiled “well, Ron, so looks like we’re held up for the night. Martin can’t get the part he needs ‘till morning to fix the car. So we’ll have get a hotel,” she said.

“Oh,” Ron said, this was taking longer than he thought. If mum hadn’t noticed before, she would when he didn’t come home yet another night. He wished he had his wand or at least could find an owl to send word.

Getting to Fred and George would be difficult enough since their shop would be in Diagon Alley. Maybe he’d just step into a phone booth and pretend to use a phone. Then have May drop him off at the Leaky Cauldron?

“Alright, I’m told it's not too far down the road,” May said, Ron stood up expecting Merlin to jump down off his shoulder, but he stayed up. He was acting like quite a wizard’s pet.

They walked down the street of a quaint brown stone little town. They stopped at a place labeled ‘Holly Inn,’ a large blue mansion. Reaching the door, Merlin sprang off Ron’s shoulder.

“Well, good bye,” Ron muttered as they went into the place. The sunny front area had a white desk that was clear. May dinged the little bell on the counter. An older woman came out a moment.

“Hello, what can I do for ya?” her Scottish accent reminded him of Professor McGonagall.

“Do you have a room for tonight? Two beds, my car broke down and it can’t be fixed morning,” May explained.

“Aye, I do,” the woman confirmed and May offered a card as payment.

“Well, now that’s settled, how about some food?” May offered as she pocketed their room key and they went out the door. “They serve dinner here but I like lunch on the town,” she said.

“I could eat,” Ron said, Merlin hadn’t left when they went inside.

“Wow, he really seems to like you,” May laughed as the cat followed them into town to find food. They discovered a pub, Merlin jumped to the window and lay across it to wait.

“Mm,” Ron bit into the cheeseburger, closing his eyes, he’d never had one before on account that wizard food tended to be very traditionally British at Hogwarts and his mum’s cooking was no different.

May chuckled at him as ate her chips, dipping them in ranch. The waitress came around as Ron was finishing his chips, she set a small plate down with a slice of chocolate cake.

“I didn’t order…?” Ron stared at it.

May winked “thought you’d like it,” she said. Ron dug in, “so how are these brothers of yours? You told me a bit about your mates but not family.”

“Well,” Ron sipped on his water to wash down the cake. “I have a lot of them, I’m the sixth son and I have one little sister,” he said.

“You're kidding?” May said, Ron shook his head.

“My mum wanted a girl,” he shrugged, “well, my older twin brothers are the ones I’m going to London to see. Their uh pranksters who own a joke shop,” he says.

“Interesting, but you don’t seem happy about all this. I promise you I won’t repeat a word of anything you say to me,” May said. May was completely nonjudgmental about him venting to her.

“See it might sound like you’re overreacting about all this, but the truth is, it really hurt what they’re doing. It may seem like they're just teasing you but it’s painful for you. The thing I don’t understand is why the hell your friends aren’t standing up for you. Sorry, I’m afraid I don’t have a great opinion of them at the moment.”

“No they're not bad, they just… well Harry or Hermione never had siblings so I guess they think it's all just normal?”

“Alright, but he should be at least looking at how you're reacting to that, Ron I can see it on your face now that your hurt. I am blaming your brothers too, somebody really should teach them a lesson,” May fumed.

“I think you’d make a good big sister,” Ron said, he was happy she was on his side.

“Be damned, I’m your sister now. You earned yourself one dealing with so much bullshit in school and people playing mind games with you. I’ll give you my number, just call and I’ll come around swinging if you need me,” she said.

Ron wished he had a phone at Hogwarts to really call her anytime. “Thanks, May,” he beamed.

Xxx

May insisted they walk around town before going back “or you’ll be bored for several hours before bed.” They went into a record shop and Ron listened to lots of music he didn’t know the artists of.

“Black Sabbath, this is a good one, you have a record player?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Wow, old school? That’s great, you know music is a good way to get out of your own head? You should try it,” she said. Ron had no idea there were so many genres of music compared to wizard labels. They listen to a lot of records and May ended up purchasing ten of them.

Going back to the inn, Ron noticed a chess board at a table by the fireplace. “You play chess?” he asked.

“No, but I bet you could teach me?” she said, Ron agreed.

Xxx

Ron slept so soundly that he had to be roused by May “Ron, oh Ronnie, they’ve got pancakes downstairs,” May said and he cracked an eye open. “Ha, knew that would get you, I laid out some clothes from my hand-me-downs you took,” she said.

Ron sat up, his hair in disarray, not much he could do though as he didn’t have a hairbrush. At least May provide him a brush for his teeth, it was bright pink, but it worked.

May had given him some shorts that had pockets, they went to his knees and were loose. He wondered if May had taken them from a men's section at a store. The shirt she gave him was like a jumper but had no sleeves. Well, it was sort of hot outside.

“God, your such a doll,” May cooed after she laced his boots. He flushed and sulked “oh don't look like that, it’s a compliment because you're cute. You should be thankful when a young woman calls you attractive.”

Ron felt a bit childish then because he stuck his tongue out at her and she cackled with laughter. “Brat,” he laughed. The pancakes were amazing and they had tea too.

As they went out the door of the hotel, Ron was greeted by Merlin once again who brushed against his legs. Ron bent to scratch under his chin.

“Poor thing will be heartbroken if we go without him,” May said.

Ron frowned “well, I hardly think I can kidnap him,” he said.

“Well, he doesn’t belong to anyone and he clearly likes you,” May said. Merlin chose this moment to voice a convincing meow.

“But he’ll need to be fed,” Ron said.

“We’ll find tuna along the way for now,” May said “besides, I hate seeing poor cats and dogs without a home when they’re clearly friendly enough.” Ron doubted his mum would mind too much if he brought him home.

Ron picked Merlin up, stroking his head, Pig had never really felt like his. Ginny took the opportunity of naming him and he always seemed like her more. It was nice to know Merlin liked him so much that he was following him around.

The purring proved he was enjoying the attention too “alright, well we’ll see about your car?” he asked. They walked down the street to the shop, Merlin jumped down to walk ahead of them.

Martin greeted “she’s all fixed up, it was a pleasure working with you,” he said.

“Thank you very much for getting it done so quick,” May shook hands with the man.

“Of course, you take care of Merlin,” Martin chuckled offering a hand to Ron who shook it.

Ron was almost positive this cat had to be a former wizard's cat with the way it climbed in the back seat and curled up. At least, he was fairly certain it was no animagus, he’d been around enough of them to tell. “Smart as hell,” May said a little wide-eyed.

Ron nodded, climbing into the passenger seat and buckling. The rest of the journey closer to London was uneventful but he found himself a bit sad. He almost didn’t want to part with May, who knows when they’d meet again?

He really did become fond of her like a sister. They made it London when Ron relayed the cross street, the Leaky Cauldron wasn’t visible to muggles so he could only just tell where it was.

May parked her car and they quietly sat quietly. “So, this shop?”

“Oh I was gonna meet them at the coffee shop,” Ron said, at least there was one near the Leaky. “Thank you so much for bringing me here,” he said.

“It's no problem, I’m glad I got to know you, you’re a pretty special kid. Oh, sorry I forget that most 16-year-olds don’t like being called kids,” she said. Ron almost didn’t want to go, in the past few days, May treated him like he was important.

“May…” he started when the rapping on the car window startled them both. He turned to see Bill knocking, he opened the car door, and Bill pulled him out with a lot of strength.

“Ron, have you any idea how worried we’ve been?” Bill’s bear hug was crushing him a bit so Ron didn’t answer. “Mum’s been out of her mind, thinking the worst.”

Ron was speechless, Bill had never been so clingy to him. “Your older brother?” May asked.

“Yes, not one of twins though,” Ron said, his face a bit squished to his brother’s shoulder. “Bill, can you get off?” he asked. Bill released him.

“Good, sorry that it a bit of time to get to London,” May said offering a hand which Bill goggled at her for a moment then shook her hand.

“Thank you for bringing him,” he said then glanced at Ron “you’ve got new clothes?”

“Well, his other ones were soaked so I had some old ones he pulls off rather well,” May said casually “Ron and I have gotten to be pretty good friends.”

“Bill! I got your message, is Ron?” Charlie ran out of the Leaky Cauldron making all three eyes snap to him. “Ron, thank Godric,” he said, Ron was squeezed once again by a burly older brother. “Thanks, for-” his brother’s voice died off.

Ron wrestled out of his brother’s arms to find May and Charlie staring at each other. May’s eyes looked watery and Charlie looked confounded. “Do you remember me?” May asked.

“Of course I do, how did you? Why?” Charlie raked a hand through his hair.

“Wait, Charlie is that guy?” Ron asked, May flushed “ha, it’s fucking fate is what this is,” he said.

“Or a poorly convenient soap opera?”

“Why would you write an opera about soap?” Ron asked and May gave him an odd look and laughed. “Well, anyway May gave me a ride here even though it took five hours. Even when she had to fix her car and paid for a hotel. She’s a bloody saint, I have to repay her,” Ron said.

“No, Ron, it’s nothing,” May said “I didn’t do all that for any repayment, I just wanted to see you safe.”

Ron ignored her argument “so in order to repay her I’ll ask you, Charlie, take her on a date,” he said and both of them gaped.

“What?!”

“Uh? What’s going on exactly?” Bill asked, “you know her, Charlie?”

“When I worked here at mu- er university. We uh got along great but I had to go do that program in Romania so I couldn’t come back,” Charlie said as an explanation to her and Bill.

Bill was a bit wide-eyed and glanced at Ron then mouthed ‘muggle?’ Ron nodded imperceptivity. “So, you got it? That nature reserve job you’ve wanted?” she asked.

“Yeah, I did, but right now my family needed me here so I relocated closer,” Charlie couldn’t say he was traveling to the Scotland Reserves because that was too far for muggles to say. “I went back once to see if you were still around but…”

“I didn’t want to continue with school, I opened a restaurant,” she said.

“Yeah?” Charlie asked, Ron hadn’t seen Charlie so enraptured with one person.

Bill cleared his throat “well, how about we let you catch up and I bring Ron to Fred and George and we can settle things,” he said.

“Yeah, May, you’ll leave your… number with Charlie?” Ron asked remembering the numbers were for telephones. In the past few days with muggles and listening to May talk, he’d learned so much about the muggle world.

Even staying at the Inn helped him find that muggles had plenty of ways to do things too. “Of course,” May agreed and threw her arms around him “take care.”

“You too,” Ron said as they parted. Merlin sprang out of the window of May’s car to his shoulder.

“Ron?” Bill looked at the cat.

“Er, this is Merlin,” Ron flushed “I was hoping mum would let me keep him,” he said.

“At this point, she’ll be happy to have you back even with a furry hitchhiker with you,” Bill sighed.

“See, I knew it’d work out. You know when he rides on your shoulder like that all you need is a robe and hat and he’d be like a witch’s familiar,” she joked. They all stiffened for a moment.

Charlie led May away and Ron went with Bill. “So his name is Merlin?” Bill asked about the cat as they went into the Leaky. No one batted an eye at the cat, as they were too used to owls, snakes, crows, and other manner of creature sitting on magical folks shoulders.

“Yeah, that’s what the mechanic called him,” Ron said.

“The what?”

Chapter Text

Ron would find a way to talk to May somehow, she’d left her number as he stepped into the floo holding Merlin. “The Burrow,” he said and was stepping out of the fireplace.

“Ron,” his mum was crushing him, and Merlin was letting out a disgruntled “mow.” Mum glanced at him “he wouldn’t leave me be,” he said.

“Well, I suppose if he chases rats out of the shed it’s alright,” she said “are you okay? Have you eaten?” Bill stepped out of the fireplace.

“I’ll send a patronus to let everyone know he’s been found,” Bill said casting quickly. Mum fussed over him for a bit even as he insisted, he wasn’t hungry yet.

Ginny came downstairs and it was back to an ordinary summer. Even when the twins stopped by to see him, he immediately wanted them to go away.

Xxx
A few weeks later, Harry and Hermione had come to stay at the Burrow and Charlie had decided to tell May about magic. Ron wasn’t really surprised and was pretty glad she was here.

“Ron!” May’s hug was more comforting than even his mums lately. She met him at the far gate at the Burrow. “It’s so good to see you again,” she told him genuinely. Ron smiled, pleased.

Ron had started using the phone in the shed to call her. It was nice to catch up with her and the phone wasn’t as hard to work as he thought. He’d have to get Hermione’s and Harry’s later.

“Yeah,” he agreed, May didn’t look at all out of place at The Burrow. Dressed in muggle trainers and a linen dress with bell sleeves, she looked like she belonged. “I like the dress,” he said.

“Oh, thanks, I figured might dress a bit more feminine to meet your mum.” May messed her hair, her face showing nervousness. “Funny that I’m more freaked out about that then I am about the whole wizard and witch's thing.”

“Charlie never said how he told you,” Ron said.

“Well first he just came out with it and I laughed at him, thought it was a joke. But then he brought out his wand. Started levitating stuff and I looked for the wires, the trick. Still didn’t believe him, it was only when he apparated me from my house to a London street that it sunk in. He explained how the magical world is hidden from ordinary people. I guess now all that cryptid like big foot and Lochness monster stuff online,” she said.

“Uh? Cryptid? Online?” Ron tilted his head and she laughed.

“Uh, you know I’ll tell you later. Anyway, we had a very long talk that lasted through the morning. And several days later, here I am. Wearing a dress about to meet your family.”

“It’s not going to be a problem that you're a muggle, you know. Dad was actually happy when he found out and mum… she’s going to be nitpicky about every relationship involving her children.” Ron said.

“Oh, well that’s good. It’s sort of sad though that there’s this entire magical community and their just as concerned about race and all bull as everyone else. I guess when it comes to people, they are just that, people,” she said nervously.

Ron hadn’t thought about it that way “I think the distance between magic and muggle world is why it’s gotten this way. I had thought muggles were pretty ignorant too, but I never thought that they were below me. Then I was dropped right there, and I learned that muggles don’t need magic, they make their own.”

May hugged him again making him squawk as her hold was very tight. “Will you be my brother, please? Are you really only 16? You’re the best, Ron,” he flushed bright red.

“Are you being seduced, May? I thought you loved me,” Charlie walked towards them.

“Of course, I was utterly charmed by Ron when we first met,” May let go of Ron “but I like them much older, so I settled,” she said. Charlie chuckled low and met her lips, Ron glanced away.

Ron sighed “stop taking the mickey, please,” he said. May laughed boisterously.

“Okay, ready?” Charlie asked holding out his hand which May took. “Okay going over the Weasley family?”

“Compliment your mum’s cooking, answer a few of your dad’s muggle questions but don’t let him go on too long, and never take any food or drink or candy from your twin brothers,” she recited.

“She should survive,” Ron drawled, and she punched his arm with her free hand. “Ouch, woman!”

As they came to the door, May stared at the house “it’s sturdy, I promise,” Ron said, “powerful magical spells that hold the whole thing together,” he said.

“It’s neat,” she smiled. His mum came out the door with her busy anxious flare.

“Hello dear, welcome to our home,” she said.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Weasley, I’m May,” she said.

“Call me Molly, and it’s a pleasure to me, too. I have to thank you for bringing back Ron to us. And the clothes you gave him,” she said.

“Oh, I was happy to, Ron’s great. And those clothes I was giving away anyway,” she said.

“Thank you still, come on in,” she said. May looked around with keen interest at the clock on the wall, at the kitchen when a spoon was stirring gravy by a charm. “Your house is lovely,” she said.

May greeted every Weasley present with a casual air that made her so easy to get along with. “Fred,” “George,” the twins introduced.

“No,” Ron said, “green shirt is George, red shirt is Fred,” he said.

“Take away our fun...”

“...why don’t you?” George said, “and how do you know we didn’t switch from when you last saw us.”

“You think I can’t tell the difference after 16 years?” Ron asked and the twins shared a look and jumped him.

“Cheeky,” they ruffled his hair as he threw them off.

May laughed “not sure if I’ll get it right even then. So, you two are Ron’s friends, right?”

“Hermione Granger,” she offered a hand that May took happily.

“Harry, uh Harry Potter,” he said a bit nervously.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” she said cheerfully “Ron speaks about you a lot, you both grew up in uh ‘the muggle world.”

“Both my parents are muggle, so I’m muggle born. Harry’s half-blood, his mother muggle born and father a full-blooded wizard,” Hermione explained.

“I see, well, I’ll ask you if I’m confused about anything,” May said and Ron jumped when Merlin launched onto his shoulder. He settled with his feet at right shoulder and front paws at his left. His tail curled languidly. “Merlin… still clinging to Ron I see.”

She held out her hand for Merlin to sniff and bumped into it, so he stroked his chin. “Is he a special cat? Since Charlie told me about magic and wizards, I wondered if he followed us because of Ron.”

“Sort of, wizards have special connections to animals, but Merlin isn’t any smarter than your average cat,” Dad commented as he walked up.

“Hello Mr. Weasley, I’m May,” she greeted.

“I’ll have to thank you for bringing my son back to us, but I wondered if you’d answer a few questions. Ron learned quite a bit talking with you about…” Dad ushered elsewhere as he wanted to ask questions about random things.

“She’s going to be preoccupied for a while,” Ron muttered sharing a laugh between his friends. Merlin was staying quite comfortable on his shoulder.

“Is it true that wizards have connections with animals?” Hermione asked.

“Well, yeah, owls aren’t especially intelligent normally, but wizards are just good at communicating what we want from them. Then they just go where the magic is. Animals sense magic the way we can sense it. Its sort of telepathic but its not studied, its just always been. Crookshanks found a connection with you, and I guess Merlin did with me. Hedwig too. Its why they are called familiars, their bond is until they pass on or we do.”

“That was really well explained Ron,” Hermione said, “I never thought about it, I suppose.”

He shrugged.

Eventually May broke free of dad’s questions and they all sat at the dinner table, mum serving chicken, scalloped potatoes, and other sides. Merlin had his own dinner to go catch in the shed, so Ron’s shoulder was free.

Ron was quiet as his family spoke around him; Ginny was getting along well with May. He thought they would since May was a free spirit. Their family talked about magic a little, primarily Quidditch.

Ron couldn’t fit a word in, so he didn’t speak, he shook off the ideas that went into his head. That like every other time he met someone, they would realize he was the most uninteresting person in his family.

Everyone wanted a moment to talk to May especially as the twins taught her exploding snap and Charlie flagged her down to explain the rules before she got caught a face full of ash unawares.

Toward the end of night, Ron was tired of all the noise of his family, so he stepped out, today there weren’t any clouds so the stars in full view. He looked back at the lights of his house to see the twins telling a story.

So, he climbed the old oak tree near the shed and sat back to watch the stars and listen to crickets. “It’s beautiful out here,” he turned back to see May standing by the tree.

“Yeah, you can see the constellations really well tonight,” Ron said.

“Yeah? Do you know any?”

“You see those four stars that form a kind of square or triangle?”

“Yes,”

“That’s the Great square of Pegasus, the other stars form the legs. And above the horse is Aquarius, and near it those points of stars that form a circle. See that little star by it, that’s Mars,” he said.

“Wow, you know a lot.”

“Not really. We have classes on Astronomy, some wizards believe we can make predictions about the future with the stars. But it’s split, centaurs have a way of life about reading the stars,” Ron said.

“Centaurs? They… never mind, that checks out,” she said, and Ron laughed. “It’s still impressive Ron that you remember all this. You’re pretty smart.”

“Not like-”

“I don’t care who’s smarter than you, they aren’t you. And if I’m around when one of them insults your intelligence I’ll…I’ll push them over,” he resisted an urge to grin. “I missed you today, you barely spoke.”

“I’m trying to be better, to not take it personally but it’s hard to speak when I feel like I won’t be heard anyway. So, at the dinner table, I couldn’t find a way to put in my two cents. And sometimes, I do speak and it’s not important.”

“We'll just keep trying, I’ll say one thing if it’s any help to you. I’ll always listen to you, even if I don’t think you’re right, I’ll listen anyway. Okay?”

“Thanks, May,” Ron said, “mum’s probably fixing up to serve desert so let’s go inside.”

“There’s more food?” she asked, aghast and Ron laughed as he pulled her inside, Charlie meeting them at the door with a grin and a kiss for May. He ruffled Ron’s hair fondly.