The sun had barely risen when Ronnie Weasley woke up, the excitement of the day ahead making it impossible to sleep any longer. She sat up in bed, her worn, hand-me-down clothes laid out neatly on the chair beside her. As she dressed, she couldn't help but smile, thinking of the letters she had received from Bill and Charlie the night before. Both had sent their love and encouragement, reminding her that today marked the beginning of her Hogwarts journey—a thought that both thrilled and terrified her.

When Ronnie went downstairs to the kitchen, she was greeted by the comforting smells of breakfast. Molly was already bustling about, serving up plates of eggs and bacon. Her older brothers—Percy, Fred, and George—were seated at the table, engaged in their usual morning banter.

"Morning, Ronnie!" Fred called out as she took her seat. "Ready for your first day as a real Hogwarts student?"

"Yeah, how are you feeling?" George chimed in with a grin, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Ronnie poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice and took a deep breath. "I'm nervous but also excited. I can't wait to make new friends, explore, and create memories."

"That's the spirit," Percy said, sounding proud. He had the air of someone who'd been through it all and was happy to impart his wisdom. "Just remember to stay out of trouble," he added, with a pointed look at the twins.

Fred and George snickered, clearly unconcerned by Percy's warning.

Molly sat down with them, her eyes soft with nostalgia. "I remember my first day at Hogwarts," she said with a small smile. "My brothers, your Uncles, Fabian and Gideon, ensured I was safe and comfortable when sorted into Gryffindor. They looked out for me... just like your brothers will look out for you."

Ronnie noticed a hint of sadness in her mother's eyes and knew she was thinking of her late Uncles. She squeezed her mother's hand, offering a small smile in return.

After breakfast, it was time to leave. Arthur had already left for work at the Ministry, so Molly and the children piled into his enchanted Muggle car to drive to King's Cross Station. The journey from Devon to London was long, but the excitement in the car made it feel shorter than it was. Fred and George entertained everyone with jokes, while Percy tried to impart last-minute advice to Ronnie about Hogwarts.

When they finally arrived at King's Cross, Fred and George helped Ronnie with her school trunk, loading it onto a cart alongside their own. Scabbers, the old rat Percy had passed down to her, peeked out of her pocket, and she gave him a quick pat on the head before tucking him back inside, hoping no one would judge her for having such a shabby pet.

The station was bustling with Muggles, and the Weasleys did their best to blend in as they made their way to Platform 9 ¾. Ronnie walked between Fred and George, following Molly and Percy, who led the way. Just as they approached the barrier, a familiar voice called out her name.

"Ronnie!"

She turned to see Harry hurrying toward them, his unruly red hair and bright green eyes unmistakable. He was wearing clothes just as worn as hers, which surprised her—she'd always assumed the Wizarding Savior would be dressed in something more... well, regal. But she kept that thought to herself.

"Hi, Harry!" Ronnie greeted him with a smile. "Are you ready for Hogwarts?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Harry replied a bit shyly. "But, um... do you know where Platform 9 ¾ is?"

Ronnie pointed to the barrier. "It's right there. You just have to run straight at it, don't worry! We'll go together."

Harry looked relieved and then shyly greeted the rest of the Weasleys. Molly's face lit up as she introduced herself, and Percy gave a formal nod, still a bit in awe of the fact that Harry Potter was standing right in front of him. Fred and George, however, couldn't resist a bit of teasing.

"Nice to meet you, Harry," Fred said with a grin. "Are you sure you're not a long-lost Weasley sibling or cousin? You've got the hair for it!"

"And the fashion sense!" George added with a wink.

Harry blushed but managed a small smile, clearly not used to this kind of friendly teasing. Molly shot the twins a warning look but couldn't help but smile at how well Harry seemed to fit in with her family.

"Shall we?" Ronnie asked Harry, nodding toward the barrier. He nodded eagerly, and together, they ran at the barrier, passing through to Platform 9 ¾.

Harry's eyes widened in amazement as he took in the sight of the Hogwarts Express. Ronnie couldn't help but smile at his reaction, remembering how excited she'd been the first time she'd seen it.

Molly pulled all of them into a warm hug, even Harry, who seemed surprised but happy to accept it. "You all write to me often, alright? And behave yourselves!"

"Yes, Mum," they chorused, though Fred and George exchanged a look that suggested they weren't entirely committed to the 'behaving' part.

After loading their trunks onto the train, Ronnie and Harry followed the twins and Percy inside. Being a Prefect, Percy headed off to the Prefect's cabin, leaving Ronnie and Harry with the twins. Fred and George promised to find their friends and left the two first-years in the corridor.

"Let's find a cabin," Ronnie suggested, feeling a flutter of nerves now that the moment was here. She glanced at Harry, who nodded, looking equally nervous but determined.

They walked down the corridor until they found an empty compartment and settled in, both excited and apprehensive as they waited for the train to start its journey to Hogwarts.

As the Hogwarts Express began to move, Ronnie looked out the window, feeling a sense of wonder and anticipation. This was it—the start of a new adventure. She turned to Harry, who was also gazing out the window with a small smile.

"Do you think Hogwarts will be as amazing as everyone says?" Harry asked, turning to look at Ronnie.

She smiled back. "I think it's going to be even better now that we will attend."

Ronnie and Harry settled into their compartment as the Hogwarts Express chugged along the tracks. The day's excitement still buzzed in the air, but there was a calmness between them as they sat across from each other. Harry looked out the window, watching the rolling hills and distant forests blur by, while Ronnie glanced at him, curious about the boy who had already become somewhat of a legend in the Wizarding World at such a young age.

"So, Ronnie," Harry began, turning his attention back to her, "you said you have two older brothers besides Percy, Fred, and George?"

Ronnie smiled and nodded, her eyes lighting up with pride. "Yeah! Bill and Charlie. Bill's the oldest; he works as a Curse Breaker in Egypt. He's always sending back the most amazing stories and treasures. And then there's Charlie. He's in Romania studying dragons. They're cool. I miss them both, but they always write, so it's like they're not too far away."

Harry's eyes widened in awe. "Dragons? That's incredible! And a Curse Breaker? I didn't even know those jobs existed. You must be so proud of them."

Ronnie nodded, feeling a swell of pride. "I am. They've always looked out for me, you know? Even though they're far away now, I know they're thinking of me. The Burrow feels a bit empty without them, though. It's this tall, kind of ramshackle house, but it's home. It's always loud and chaotic with everyone around, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Harry smiled softly, though a hint of sadness lingered in his eyes. "That sounds wonderful. I've always wished I had a big family like yours. I live with my aunt, uncle, and cousin... but it's different. They're Muggles, and they don't like magic at all. They hate it."

Ronnie's smile faltered as she heard this. "Wait, you live with Muggles? But... you're the Wizarding Savior! I thought you'd live in the Wizarding World, surrounded by people who understand magic."

Harry shook his head, his expression turning somber. "No, the Dursleys are... well, they're not nice to me. They don't understand magic, and they don't want to. They used to lock me in a cupboard under the stairs. My uncle, Vernon, he... he's hurt me before. I don't know what a normal family is like, but I think mine's far from it. Sometimes, I see the world differently because of how they've treated me."

Ronnie felt a pang of horror and sadness for Harry. She could hardly believe that someone as important as Harry Potter had been treated cruelly. "Harry... that's awful. No one should go through that, especially not someone like you. You're coming to Hogwarts now, though. Things will be different. You'll make friends and learn magic properly."

As they spoke, Scabbers, nestled in Ronnie's pocket, poked his head out, twitching his nose as he looked at Harry. The rat froze momentarily, staring at Harry with a strange intensity as though he was seeing a ghost. Ronnie noticed and carefully pulled Scabbers out of her pocket.

"Harry, this is Scabbers. He's not much, but he's my pet for now," she said, holding the rat in her hands.

Harry looked at Scabbers with fascination. "He looks like a nice rat. I used to have a pet rat, back with the Dursleys, but... well, Vernon didn't like me having anything to care about, so he got rid of it."

Ronnie's heart broke a little more at Harry's confession. Without thinking, she held Scabbers out to Harry. "Would you like to hold him? Scabbers is pretty old and lazy but sweet."

Harry's face brightened at the offer. He gently took Scabbers from Ronnie, cradling the rat in his hands. Scabbers stared up at Harry, his small eyes filled with an unspoken recognition mixed with regret. It was almost as if the rat knew something that neither Ronnie nor Harry could understand.

Ronnie watched Harry with a newfound determination. She knew she had to be there for him, to protect him in a world that seemed ready to take advantage of his innocence and kindness. Harry was fragile, but she would ensure he wasn't alone anymore.

"Don't worry, Harry," Ronnie said firmly, her voice filled with resolve. "You've got me now. And I'll make sure you're okay, no matter what. We're going to Hogwarts together, and we'll take care of each other."

Harry looked up at Ronnie, his green eyes shining with gratitude. For the first time, he felt he had a true friend who genuinely cared. At that moment, as the Hogwarts Express carried them toward their new future, Harry knew things were finally starting to improve.

As Harry continued to stroke Scabbers gently, Ronnie watched him with a growing sense of sympathy. Seeing how Harry interacted with the old rat tenderly and with such care made her heartache. No child should have gone through what Harry had described, and it pained her to think of all he had endured at the hands of his relatives.

But she didn't know what to do. How could she help him when she was just an eleven-year-old girl? The weight of Harry's story made her feel helpless, yet she knew she had to do something. Bill may know what to do. He was the oldest and the wisest of her brothers. Once she got comfortable at Hogwarts, she'd write him a letter and tell him everything. Surely, he would have some advice on how to help her new friend.

Ronnie decided to change the subject to distract them from Harry's sadness. "So, Harry, what do you know about Hogwarts? Have you heard much about it?"

Harry looked up at her, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment. He hesitated before answering, "Not much, actually. I bought the school textbooks, but my aunt and uncle wouldn't let me look at them. I don't know what to expect."

Ronnie felt a pang of anger toward Harry's relatives. How could they keep something so important from him? But she quickly pushed the anger aside, focusing on making Harry feel more at ease. "That's okay! I can tell you what I know. My brothers—Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George—they've all been to Hogwarts, and they've told me a lot about it."

Harry's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? I'd love to hear more."

Ronnie smiled, glad to see Harry looking more engaged. "Okay, so Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by four of the greatest witches and wizards of the time: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff. Each founded a House, and every student who comes to Hogwarts is sorted into one of those Houses."

Harry listened intently, absorbing every word. "What are the Houses like?"

"Well," Ronnie began, "Gryffindor is known for bravery and courage. Slytherin is known for ambition and cunning—people sometimes think Slytherins are all bad, but Bill says that's not true. They are just misunderstood. Ravenclaw values intelligence and wisdom, so it's full of people who love learning. Hufflepuff, where Helga Hufflepuff took all the rest, is known for loyalty and hard work."

"What Houses are your brothers in?" Harry asked.

"Gryffindors. All of them. Even though Bill and Charlie already graduated, they were in Gryffindors. Sometimes, I wonder how Percy, Fred, and George got into Gryffindor." Ronnie murmured.

"What do you mean?" Harry tilted his head, confused.

"Well, Percy is intelligent. He is always glued to a book. He is very dedicated to his studies. So, I assumed he'd get sorted into Ravenclaw. As for Fred and George, I assumed they'd get sorted into Slytherin because they are cunning, mischievous, and ambitious regarding their pranks." Ronnie tilted her head.

"What about you? Where do you see yourself in Hogwarts?" Harry looks at Ronnie.

"Many expect me to be in Gryffindor like my parents and brothers. My Maternal Uncles, Fabian and Gideon, were in Gryffindor too. I also remember my paternal grandmother, Cedrella, was in Slytherin. So, honestly, I don't know."

Harry's eyes widened as he took it all in. "Wow... I wonder where I'll end up."

"You'll know soon enough," Ronnie said encouragingly. "But no matter which House you're sorted into, you'll be fine. They're all great in their own way."

"What about classes?" Harry asked, his curiosity growing. "What will we be learning?"

Ronnie grinned, eager to share more. "There's a lot! In our first year, we'll take Transfiguration, where we'll learn how to change the form of objects. Then there's Charms, where we'll learn spells to make things fly or light up. Potions is about making magical mixtures—Fred and George say it's hard, but they also think it's fun. We'll also have History of Magic, which is all about the history of the Wizarding World. Percy loves the class, but Charlie told me it's boring, so I believe Charlie's words. Defense Against the Dark Arts is where we'll learn how to protect ourselves from dark magic. There's also Astronomy, Herbology—where we learn about magical plants—and Flying, where we'll get to fly on broomsticks!"

Harry's face lit up with excitement. "That sounds amazing! I can't believe we get to learn all of that. Flying on broomsticks... that must be incredible!"

"It is! Well, at least that's what I've heard. My brothers say it's one of the best parts of Hogwarts. You'll love it, Harry," Ronnie assured him.

Harry nodded, a smile spreading across his face. He felt a genuine sense of anticipation for the first time in a long while. "Thanks, Ronnie. You've made me feel a lot better about starting at Hogwarts."

Ronnie beamed, happy to see Harry looking more at ease. "No problem, Harry. We'll get through this together. Hogwarts will be a whole new world for both of us, but I'm sure it'll be great. And if you ever need anything, just let me know."

As the Hogwarts Express continued its journey, the two newfound friends chatted excitedly about what awaited them at their new school. Harry asked questions about everything, and Ronnie did her best to answer them, sharing what she had learned from her brothers. With each passing mile, the sadness that had clouded Harry's heart began to lift, replaced by the warm glow of friendship and the promise of a better future.