Broken {Ron Weasley}

1. Rekindling

"Mom, I really think we have everything," I laughed as my mom continued to browse the store windows at Diagon Alley. "Besides, we couldn't fit anything more in the cart if we tried."

"I know, I know," my mom countered, her eyes still glancing around for last minute items. "Just making sure..."

I rolled my eyes, and as I did so, I saw a small red-haired woman waving vigorously at the two of us. I looked over my shoulder just to make sure she wasn't waving at someone else.

"Mom," I whispered, leaning in close to her. "I think that woman is waving at us."

My mom snapped out of her shopping trance and when her eyes fell on the woman before us, she began waving back. "Molly!" she exclaimed, pushing our cart over to her old friend.

"Oh my gosh! How have you been?" Molly asked. Molly was accompanied by Ron and Ginny, both of whom I recognized from school.

Ron was taller—much taller—than I had remembered from last year. He smiled awkwardly as he looked down at me, and I politely smiled back.

"Oh my goodness, is this y/n?" Molly exclaimed, turning to face me now. "My word, you're so grown up!"

I simply smiled in response, unsure of what to say next. How is one supposed to reply when someone says you've gotten older?

"Yes, this is y/n," my mom gushed, squeezing my shoulders. "She's going into her sixth year at Hogwarts."

"Well, so is Ron!" Molly exclaimed, gesturing to him. "Which of course makes sense, they share a birthday!"

They laughed with each other like this was an inside joke, which it kind of was; Molly and my mom had met in the hospital on March 1, 1980, both expecting a child that day. They quickly bonded and became friends, already planning for Ron and I to get married.

They remained close for a few years, and so did Ron and I. My mom tells me we were inseparable as toddlers.

But once we turned eleven and started our first year at Hogwarts, our friendship had pretty much vanished. Of course, we still acknowledged each other when we could, and it wasn't like we had some big falling out; we just drifted apart.

"Hey, y/n," Ron said awkwardly, giving me a weak smile and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Hey..." I replied while our moms continued catching up on what they had missed the past few years.

"Hey y/n," Ginny smiled, already seeming much more engaging than her older brother. "Excited for school this year?"

"Yeah," I replied while shifting the weight on my feet. "What about you guys?"

"Can't wait," Ginny answered, grinning eagerly.

Ginny and I turned to Ron, awaiting his response. "I'm excited, I guess," he replied, shrugging.

I laughed politely to fill the silence while our moms seemed to be wrapping up their conversation. "Well, we just have to get together soon!" Molly exclaimed, gesturing toward us. "For old times sake."

"Of course!" my mom answered with a huge grin. "When are you guys free?"

"Well, I don't think we've got anything going on tomorrow," Molly began, looking to her children for their input before turning back to us excitedly. "You guys should stop down at Fred and George's new joke shop!"

"Sounds like fun!" my mom replied. "And we can catch up more over lunch afterwards?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. No offense to either of the Weasley siblings I stood across from, but the three of us could barely hold a conversation for five minutes. A whole lunch would be torture.