Strange Connection (A Ron Weasley Love Story)

Chapter 3 - Girl Meets Boy

I arrived at Diagon Ally feeling as though a weight had been lifted.
I took a deep breath in and smelled fresh outside air, heard the bustle of people chatting it up excitedly for the new school year.
After wandering aimlessly for a few minutes, taking in the ambiance, I soon realized I had no idea what I was looking for in short time to obtain it. I began to search in and out of shops, looking for someone of the fifth year that goes to Hogwarts, or even just a Hogwarts student in general.
I was allowed to start as fifth year because I got up to that point education in Beauxbaton, and it was stated very clearly in the letter the "credits transferred without need for remediation of any course", which was nice.

I decide, finally, to go into Ollivander's upon crossing it. I needed to get a new wand. Mine was a hand-me-down, and I had been ruminating a theory ever since I began my schooling that this wand didn't fit. They just thought I was 'slow on the up take' when it came to magic. I really hoped it was just my wand... otherwise, I was just in denial...

As I opened the door, Ollivander shouted,

"Look out!"

I dropped to my knees swiftly as a lamp went flying over my head and smashed against a closed shop door across the way.

"Well," Ollivander sighed to the customer, "you definitely need a new wand..."

I glanced around the shop. There werr millions and millions of DIFFERENT types of wands stacked up to the ceiling!! How will I ever find the right one? I guess Ollivander will help me, he is highly esteemed at the craft of guiding wand to wizard. After all, that is his job.
As I stood up, and brushed myself off, an older voice asked,
"Are you alright, young lady?"
I looked over to see Ollivander looking my way as he closed a box and slid it back into his infinite wand library.
I nodded, "yeah, just a bit shaken.."
"Understandable, I'd be shaken to, but I've had many things tossed around my shop by clumsy young students..."
He trailed, glancing at the customer, who was looking bashfully at his toes from the scolding.
He was a young guy, almost a whole head taller than me. His hair was a bright shade of orange. He turned to look at me, and I saw that his cheeks were heavily peppered with freckles. He looked about my age.
"Sorry 'bout that, I told him I needed a new wand." The boy said in an adorable English accent. I smiled at him.
"Haha, don't worry about it, I'm in here for the same issue," I said.
"Neat accent," he smirked at me, catching me off gaurd, "Where are you from?"
"America, actually. Florida, to be specific."
"Ah, I've never met someone who attends Ilvermorny,"
"Actually, I-"

"What kind of wand was the one before it? The one that worked?" Ollivander asked, cutting me off, peeking around the corner.

"14 inch, willow, unicorn hair." The ginger answered.

"What did you say your name was?" I asked calmly as he walked toward the check out counter.

"Ronald Weasley, but most people call me Ron. Or stupid, git, and prat, but I really do prefer Ron,"
I laughed a bit to loudly, and he smiled with regained confidence,
"I'm a student at Hogwarts, 5th year."

"Really??" I asked, dumbfounded. I must have looked pretty stupid, because he said,

"Uhm, yeah... really..."

"I'm sorry," I said, recovering, "It's just I've been looking for a Hogwarts student all morning to help me find the stuff I need," I blushed and looked down at my feet.

"Well, you know, there is a stand on your way to Flourish and Blotts, it sells supply lists to all years from all three schools around here.... wait, did you say you go to Hogwarts?" He finished, looking up at me with new found curiosity, searching my face.

"Yes, I just transferred fro-"

"Now that you to are acquainted-" an annoyed Ollivander interrupted.

"Oh, by the way, my name is Brooke. Brooke Riverstean."

"That's a beautiful name..." Ron said accidentally, then his ears turned pink and his face bright red. "Wait, I didn't mean-"

"It's fine! Thank you." We both blushed. The awkward silence was broken by Ollivander saying, with a tinge of curiosity in his eyes as he looked between us,

"Mister Weasley, you don't mind if I test her for her wand before checking you out, do you?"

"Of course not!" Ron said, as though it were obvious.

"Thank you. Now, Miss Riverstean, will you please come try this wand."

"Sure..." I said, nervously. This was the first time I was trying out a wand. The wand I previously owned was handed down for generations through my father's side. But, strangely, the wand just didn't connect with me.

I put the thought out of my head as he handed me a dark wand with a fine finish.

"13 inch, ebony, dragon heart string. Try it out," He encouraged.
I took the wand in my right hand. Glancing at Ron, who was smiling encouragingly at me, I spoke, with confidence, "Aguamenti!"

This was a spell that I had just about mastered on my old wand. Instead of a jet of water from my wand tip, I sent a swarm of spiders crawling quickly up my wand and onto my arm before I could react. I shrieked and ran out of the store, throwing the wand into the air. Once I was out of the store, I started to regulate my breathing again. I still could feel the spiders on my arm, although they were long gone. I was mortally embarrassed for running out like that, but I couldn't help it. I had a severe case of Arachnophobia.
I had just made such a fool of myself.

"Hey..." Ron said, sounding embarrassed.

"I'm sorry I-..." we started in unison.

"You're sorry? I'm the one who spewed spiders across the shop." I said, reliving the moment.

"I'm not proud of it," Ron started, "but I ran out the shop before you did..." He confessed.
"I have-"

"Arachnophobia.. me too." I finished.

We looked at each other for a moment, after I said those words. I know it sounds.. strange.. but I felt a strange connection between us. I know it was something as mundane as fear of spiders, which a lot of people had, but the connection didn't feel silly in that moment. It was the most real feeling I had felt in a long time, and it was beautiful... it was if I looked into his beautiful eyes for the first time.

After a few lingering moments, he said, slowly

"We should get inside..."

"Yeah..." I said, breathlessly. He held open the door for me and we both stepped hesitantly back into the shop.