The next morning they had their first class and during the night he had to cut his work in half with Merlin, he had slept half the night and woke up late with Harry and they were late at McGonagall's transfiguration course.
After that, they had a potions class with Professor Severus Snape and from the man's first words, Ron knew they weren't going to get along.
He spoke harshly to the students in a threatening tone so Ron preferred to lie down on his table while waiting.
Snape noticed Harry writing down what he said and decided to provoke him.
Snape: Mr. Potter, our new celebrity.
Ron sat up to look at him.
Snape: Tell me, what will I get by adding powder extracted from Asphodel to an infusion of Mugwort?
Harry had no idea as this was all new to him and Hermione raised her hand in response emphatically.
"Put your hand down and stop participating in this prank." Ron told her coldly and she snorted.
Snape looked at Harry who shook his head to show his ignorance and continued
"Where would Mr. Potter goes if I asked him to go find me a Bezoar?" »
"I don't know sir" Harry couldn't answer but Hermione insisted again with her hand, this time Ron didn't want to say anything.
Snape: So what's the difference between Napel and Wolfsbane?
Harry: I don't know, sir.
"Too bad…Potter. It really seems like being famous isn't everything in life, Mr. Potter." He said condescendingly to Harry and Ron raised his hand calmly.
Snape: I'm listening...Mr. Weasley.
Ron: I would like to know, Professor, what was the purpose of these questions?
Snape: Know the level of my students. Don't ask me such stupid questions in the future.
Ron: You know that Harry was educated by a Muggle family and that he doesn't know any of that but you still wanted to test his level?! Why are you talking about testing the level of "your" students by going just after one of them?! If you wanted to test our level then you would have questioned everyone and not Harry exclusively.
Snape: I question whoever I want and I don't like your insolence, Mr. Weasley. You and yours have always been rebellious and disruptive.
Ron: And I don't like your impertinence, professor. You talked about his fame but you think there is only one child on this earth who wants to be famous by losing both his parents and escape death like him? He didn't ask for anything, it's you and everyone else who scratches their heads whenever you hear his name.
Snape: ENOUGH! Very well Weasley, I am going to offer you a little game and I hope you will accept otherwise you will be banned from my class for the whole term and a letter will be sent to your parents.
Ron: I'm listening to you, professor.
Snape: I'm going to ask you a series of five questions about this year's potion making and if you don't answer any of them correctly then I will deduct 50 points from Gryffindor.
Ron: There you become interesting but it's not balanced. What if I win?!
Snape: 50 points for Gryffindor.
Rone: It works but remember to keep your word.
The other Gryffindor students started to complain, thinking that Ron was going to fail and that their house was going to be penalized because of him.
Hermione: You shouldn't do that, it's all Gryffindor that-(interrupted)
Ron: Don't you dare speak to me after dancing to his music while he humiliated Harry. (looks at Snape) Let's go Professor and get this over with.
Snape asked him five difficult questions from the advanced first years curriculum and Ron answered all the questions with insolent precision without even batting an eyelid to everyone's surprise and Snape's annoyance (Do you really think I'm going to waste time to do research and write the series of questions and answers?! You don't know me well!)
Snape: Mr. Weasley, it seems I underestimated your intellect.
Ron: I read a lot, professor, since I was a child I've only done that.
Snape: (sniffles) Very good. As agreed, 50 points for-(interrupted)
Ron: You can keep your points. I don't want a house incapable of reacting when one of its own is persecuted to take advantage of these points. Gryffindor is far from what my parents told me and its members are worthless at all. I don't care if they're first year or not.
This time it was a panel with the Gryffindor students angry at Ron sitting calmly with Harry and Hermione looking at him with mixed feelings.
At the end of class, Harry was walking with Ron down one of the corridors.
Harry: Thank you Ron, thank you for defending me but now because of that you have become an enemy of the professor and the members of our house.
Ron: I don't care, Snape didn't have to treat you like that and if those idiots couldn't treat you like a friend then they won't be mine. I will never stand by and do nothing if a friend is mistreated like with Luna.
Harry: Too bad about the 50 points.
Ron: You'll get them back, I'm sure.
« And by the way Harry, I'm really sorry about your parents, no child deserves to go through that and everything that follower. I can't even imagine what you had to go through but you have a friend now and you can always count on me. » Ron said before giving him a hug during which Harry's eyes became wet.
"Sorry I'm sometimes very emotional, that comes from my mother. She told me it can help others. Let's go eat, I'm hungry. » He said taking the lead with Harry who wiped his eyes before following him.
Harry: Uh wait, it's not lunch time. We have to go to the study room.
« Ah pity! » Ron groaned and they left. While behind one of the walls, Hermione listened to their conversation and felt terrible.
The next day, they met for their very first broom flying lesson on the big field with teacher Rolanda Hooch. They were lined up in two rows facing each other.
She asked them to stand to the left of their broom and hold their hands above it while saying "Get up " so that the broom is under the effect of attraction up to the palm.
« 'up» Ron said calmly and with the first try, the broom came to him. Harry succeeded with Malfoy and When after all the others succeeded, she gave them the instructions for a light takeoff from the ground But while she gave the starting signal, Neville lost control of his broom to fly higher and higher and in speed, his broom began to fly dangerously with him.
"A quiet lesson was too much to ask apparently..." Ron complained to himself.
Neville was very dangerously carried by his broom towards the walls of the building while calling for help and Ron seeing that the professor didn't move, he laughed before grabbing Harry's shoulder.
"Here we go Harry" he said and his friend nodded. They got on their brooms and rushed towards Neville to rescue him.
Harry didn't know how but he really had confidence in himself.
Rolanda: MR POTTER, MR WEASLEY!!!
"You're doing well Harry" Ron said to Harry who seemed more confident on the broom.
Neville's broom was flying wobbly so they caught it but they were getting closer to the wall.
Ron: Harry, you get his broom.
Harry: Understood.
Ron grabbed the back of Neville's robes as they stood near the wall.
"Neville I'm holding you let go of your broom" Ron said urgently and we didn't know if it was out of fear or reflex thinking of an inner voice but Neville let go of his broom and Ron immediately tilted his broom up with Neville which he held at arm's length to successfully avoid the wall.
They barely got out of there and Harry not only caught his broom but also the reminder ball that Neville had dropped and all this under the eyes of McGonagall who saw everything.
To the cheers of the others, Ron brought the unconscious Neville to the ground and Harry arrived right after.
"Well done Harry" Ron said, the professor thanked them by giving them 20 points each and took Neville to the hospital wing.
While to Ron's annoyance the others came to congratulate them, Professor McGonagall came to call them.
McGonagall: Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter please follow me immediately.
The woman's neutral tone and stern face put Ron on alert and he spoke.
Ron: Professor, I'm the one who dragged Harry into this. If anyone is to be punished then it will be me.
"I asked you both to follow me immediately" She said before leaving.
"Forgive me Harry, I caused us troubles..." He said moving forward with him behind the professor.
Harry: We had to help Neville, it's not your fault Ron.
McGonagall asked them to wait at one place and she returned with another older student.
McGonagall: Weasley, Potter, this is Olivier DuBois. (looks at Olivier) DuBois, I found you two new seekers. Gentlemen, you've just joined our Quidditch team.
"Oh hell no..." Ron complained quietly about the new activity that was going to eat up more of his time.
Later, word spread that the two had joined the Quidditch team and they were the youngest players to ever do so in this century.
While walking in the corridor, Ron and Harry were intercepted by Fred and George who came to congratulate them and especially to tease Ron.
They left them while girls were running after them, Harry started to panic over his Quidditch fears when Ron saw Luna from afar, Hermione had listened to their conversation and by the time she came to find them, Ron walked away .
"Harry, i'll see you later..." He rushed towards Luna who saw him coming towards her and started to smile.
Luna: Congratulations, I heard about your inclusion on the Quidditch team.
Ron: It doesn't matter, tell me how it goes for you.
Luna: Oh me, you know I manage and I'm always positive.
Ron: I hope no one is harassing you. Are you able to communicate with others?
Luna: No, not really. You're enough of a friend for me and that's already a lot Ron.
Ron: This year is just startin', I'm sure everything will go well.
Luna: Could I come watch your Quidditch matches?
Ron: Yes, of course. That way at least I'll enjoy playing and you can encourage me.
Luna: Be careful though, this sport can kill.
Ron: I'll be careful. Lucius is good company for you I hope (carries his cat)?
Luna: Yes, he plays with me a lot and I like to feed him.
They stayed there talking and telling each other about their days sitting on the grass and Ron made her meet there at the end of each day after school so they could talk and she accepted with a smile before thanking him to not leave her alone.
When Harry later arrived in his room, he wanted to tell him how he and Hermione had discovered a giant three-headed dog on the third floor but he saw Ron fast asleep even though it was barely 7 p.m. and he hadn't eaten dinner but thought he was tired so he took one of his textbooks and started studying.
He thought about the feeling of confidence he had on the broom earlier and it was because of Ron asking him to go with him without even knowing he was ready but because his friend had confidence in He said to himself that he could do what he did and it went well.