Ron bounced back completely the very next day.
He didn't sleep in as he usually did. He was washed, dressed, and ready before dawn even broke, huddled on the living room sofa with Scabbers in his lap. It gave Molly quite a start when she came downstairs.
"Merlin's socks, Ron. What are you doing lurking down here in the dark and scaring me like that?"
Ron mumbled a vague, unintelligible response. It wasn't until the twins came downstairs, ready to clean the garden as promised, that they loudly revealed the truth to their mother.
"Ron is sucking up to Warren for the new wand he promised."
That's right. We overheard everything yesterday. Warren said he's giving Ron his Christmas present way early this year. A brand-new wand.
Yes, George. Excellent recall as always. Looks like our dumb little brother isn't completely stupid after all. He knows you have to show proper respect to your generous benefactor.
But he's not sincere enough about it, Fred. He didn't even tell Mum what was going on.
Right you are, George. His useless pride gets in the way again.
The twins delivered their lines perfectly, laughing and joking until Ron was absolutely fuming. Then they bounced out of the house to get started on the garden.
Warren was woken by their cheerful shouts outside his window.
When he finally got up, the sun had already cleared Stoatshead Hill and was streaming through his window in striped golden patterns. Ginny was still fast asleep, curled up in his arms like a little cat.
She had come to him the night before with a storybook, just like always. Warren had read to her for at least an hour before she finally drifted off to sleep.
This was one of the main reasons they were such close siblings. Bill and Charlie had left home for work long ago and rarely visited. Percy never had patience for anything beyond his precious studies. Fred and George were always bouncing off the walls like hyperactive monkeys that had no off switch.
Only Ron and Warren were willing to tell Ginny stories at bedtime. Of course, Ron only told stories that interested him personally, so Ginny had stopped listening to him ages ago.
Warren got dressed quietly and opened the window to look outside. He saw old Errol flapping his wings and hopping through the overgrown garden bushes. The owl was flushing out gnomes, small brown creatures about a foot tall with big heads and spindly limbs that looked like potatoes with legs attached.
The twins were zooming back and forth overhead on their old broomsticks, snatching up the gnomes Errol chased out, spinning them around until they were completely dizzy, and flinging them far into the wilderness beyond the garden.
Their fading screams echoed across the field, mingling with the twins' delighted laughter.
Those two. They can find fun in absolutely anything.
Warren shook his head with a fond smile and went back to gently scoop Ginny up.
The little girl stirred at the movement, rubbing her eyes sleepily and letting out a wide yawn. "Warren? Where are we going?"
"I am going to Diagon Alley today, Ginny. You need to go back to your own room and get some more sleep."
"Oh." She buried her face in his shoulder, mumbling drowsily. "I want Chocolate Frogs. Can you get me some?"
"Alright. I'll get you a whole box."
As he carried Ginny downstairs, he ran into their mother, who was coming up to get them for breakfast.
Oh, look at my two little sweethearts first thing in the morning. My absolute darlings. Molly's ample figure enveloped them both in a warm hug. She dabbed at her eyes. Mum is just so happy to see you children being so loving with one another. Warren, you are always so thoughtful, taking care of Ginny like that and buying Ron a new wand with your own money. Though honestly, I think his old hand-me-down wand would have been perfectly fine for starting out.
Downstairs, Ron heard the commotion and came running, clutching Scabbers so hard he nearly crushed the poor rat.
He was absolutely terrified that his awful brother would actually agree with their mother and take back the generous offer.
But Warren merely glanced at him calmly. "It is alright, Mum. A basic wand is only seven Galleons. Besides, using a wand that has not properly chosen you could negatively affect his studies from the very start. We do not want that."
Seven. Seven Galleons for a wand. Only seven.
Ron felt as if he had been submerged in a vat of vinegar. He was sour to his very core, a confusing mix of envy and gratitude swirling within him.
Knowing her son was financially secure, Molly did not argue further. She loved Warren and Ron equally as her beloved sons. While she did not approve of Ron spending Warren's money as a matter of principle, she would not stop Warren from giving his twin brother a generous gift.
Seeing her youngest son forced to use his older brothers' old, worn-out things already made her feel guilty. Warren was absolutely right about one thing. Using the wrong wand could cause real problems later on. She let the matter drop without another word.
Molly carried Ginny back up to her room to sleep more.
Warren washed up and had breakfast with Ron in relative silence. When it was finally time to leave, Molly took a flowerpot filled with glittering gray-white powder from the mantelpiece and spoke to them both.
Warren, you have used Floo Powder many times before. You know exactly what to do. But Ron, you have never used it. Watch your brother very closely. You have to speak clearly and firmly when you throw it down. Say Diagon Alley. Diagon Alley. Do you understand?
"Yes, Mum." Ron was so excited that the tips of his ears turned bright pink.
Molly held the pot out to Warren first. Warren frowned slightly at it. He had never liked using this stuff at all. It always got his clothes and hair completely dirty.
But he had not learned to Apparate yet, so this was his only practical option for travel.
Warren took a pinch of Floo Powder, stepped into the fireplace, and threw the powder down hard at his feet while shouting clearly, "Diagon Alley."
With a loud whoosh, green flames erupted all around him. Warren felt like he had been shoved inside a running washing machine. His body stretched like warm taffy, spinning around a central point while distorted, surreal images flashed past his vision.
A few seconds later, he stumbled to a stop and shook his head to clear the lingering dizziness. He brushed the soot off his clothes with a grimace as he looked around.
He was standing in a small, enclosed courtyard. Several fireplaces were set neatly into the dark brick walls surrounding him. Green flames flared up intermittently in each one, disgorging witches and wizards of all ages. Some had children with them, who were probably also there to buy school supplies after receiving their Hogwarts letters.
Warren did not observe for long. He stepped aside and waited patiently.
Soon, green flames flared behind him, and the next moment Ron tumbled out covered in soot, sprawling at Warren's feet dramatically.
"Ron, was all that really necessary?"
Warren grinned and pulled him up by the arm.
Ron's eyes were still spinning in their sockets. He had absolutely no idea what Warren was saying to him. By the time Molly arrived through the flames and brushed the soot off him, leading both boys out of the enclosed courtyard and into the bustling Diagon Alley, Ron finally came back to his senses.
It was a long, winding street, a few yards wide, paved with uneven cobblestones and crowded with witches and wizards in pointed hats of every color.
Shops of every imaginable description lined both sides of the street. Their square windows were divided into many panes of glass. Sunlight streamed down from above, illuminating the fascinating displays and the goods inside.
Near the entrance to the courtyard, a shop door opened and a witch and wizard emerged with a boy between them. The boy was chewing something, and his hair changed color with every single bite he took.
Ron stared, eyes wide. He recognized the shop sign above them. Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop. It was Fred and George's absolute favorite place in the whole world. They had talked about it endlessly at home. It was the stuff of his dreams.
In a daze, he heard Warren beside him say, "Ron, welcome to Diagon Alley."
At that exact moment, a cheerful voice from behind them said, "Welcome to Diagon Alley."
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