Chapter Text
Ronald Bilius Weasley, second youngest child of Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett Weasley, grew up hearing many things, some worth remembering and others not so much, it depended on if he understood what was being said and his mood on the day (conversations between members of his family was his only source of information gathering, as he liked to call it). One topic he understood very well was Hogwarts, the one school hailed as the best in Britain by almost his whole family (not like he has met many other people to know their opinion, Luna Lovegood and Cedric Diggory being his only non-family acquaintances so far)
But, by hearing all his family has to say about Hogwarts, like his parent’s love story built on shy glances through corridors to eventual bold moves in the common room, as well as many of his big brother’s miscellaneous adventures and endeavors, he realized many things, about said school and his family, some others about life in general. Most of all, he was interested in the people, from strict and well-mannered Head of Gryffindor House Minerva Mcgonagall to brave and powerful Headmaster Albus Dumbledore; all of them hailed as amazing and worthy wixen, all but one.
In the words of big brother Fred ‘Severus Snape was the worst kind of wizard to ever exist’ (quite an exaggerated thing to come out of the mouth of a 9 year old who has never met the wizard, but Ron won’t point attention to that, less he wakes up with a hairy legged monster in his pillow the next day); slimy (if you could even describe someone as that), stuck-up, mean and ugly, but worst of all a dark wizard, Head of Slytherin Severus Snape was certainly not popular in the Weasley Household, of course except if your name was Cedrella Black Weasley or how Ron knew her, Grandma Weasley.
From what Ron was able to gather (thanks to hushed conversations between his parents, when they thought he wasn't listening) Grandma Weasley’s opinion of Severus Snape, whichever it might be, caused a divide between her and the Weasley household, one of reasonable size that constantly threatened the peace in the family. The most notably occasion being when, after an amazing dinner celebrating Grandpa Weasley’s birthday, Grandma Weasley got into an screaming match with his Mum and stormed out through the floo, Grandpa Weasley scrambling to follow her, with the aftermath that none of the children were allowed to visit Grandma Weasley for almost 3 months.
Said visit ban stood until the summer came, a ruthless one, of it’s likes never seen in Britain before, full with scalding hot and humid days which found the Weasley Matriarch down with Heatstroke Induced Magical Bleeding, a summer when the possibility of her death was a big scary thing to everyone (Grandpa Septimus Weasley never talks about it, not like Ron asks. Just imagining his Grandma Weasley sprawled out on the Water Garden, a pool of blood that fully encompasses her body with magic escaping out of her core in visible waves, makes him feel nauseous and like he is 3 seconds away from crying); when it seemed that the potions and runes they could afford weren’t going to help his Grandma Weasley get better, all of them got a full hour of time with her, Ron taking Ginny’s because, as the young and naive 5 year old that she was, only understood that her Grandma had made her Mum mad and she did not deserve to be spoken to unless she apologized (nonwithstanding that Cedrella Black would never apologize to Molly Prewett for anything, not even in her deathbed), nobody had the determination to help her understand that her Grandma Weasley could die any day now, everyone was worn and tired.
After seeing his Grandpa Weasley, Father and Uncle Bilius grim faced and hunched over what he could only assume were bills, Ron sent a childish, desperate and heartbreaking letter to the Potions for Healers Branch of the Potions Guild (and another one, as formal as he could make it, to Lord Arcturus Black who despite being bed-bound, still cared plenty about his cousin) and when almost 3 days later St. Mungos received several vials of high quality Falcon’s Wing as ‘donations’ from House Black and the PFH Committee, Ron stopped feeling like his world was going to end.
By the end of That Summer, big brothers Bill, Charlie and Percy had gone to Hogwarts, and Grandma Weasley had made as much as a recovery from HIMB as was possible, as consequence, the schedule visits (more like Grandma Weasley’s Magical Nanny Service) between the Burrow and the Weasley State were back on track; in one of those (his favorite type of visit, when it was only Ron with his Grandma Weasley, no Ginny or Fred or George), while she was taking her prescribed potions, Ron heard the first positive Severus Snape related opinion of his life, from his Grandma Wealsey’s own mouth
“Look at the color of this potion Ronnie” - the funny looking glass vial was held in front of his eyes, where he could clearly see the pretty shade of robin egg’s blue like it was glowing - “not everyone can get it so perfect; potions are tricky business as well as Magic, truly and oh so beautiful Magic, in it’s best and hardest form” - his Grandma Weasley took the rim of the vial to her lips and in one big swing drank all of it’s content - “Potions Masters all over the world dedicate their lives to this art” - she pauses, almost afraid to continue speaking, but he knows better, it takes more than a simple talk about potions to scare his brave and dignified Grandma Weasley - “and right here in Britain we have one of the most decorated Potions Masters in the whole of Europe, the youngest even, educating our youth tirelessly in Hogwarts, and what does he get? Scorn and derise, as if the mistakes he has made, no matter how big, are enough to eclipse his talent and dedication” - she scoffs and Ron is achingly reminded of big brother Percy, who just left for his first year and who Ron misses terribly - “Only fools do so, doesn’t matter how much it pains me to speak of family as fools it has to be said, he may be ugly or mean or however you like to refer as him like, nobody can deny that he is a talented wizard, only fools would”
His Grandma ended what could be considered any other time as a rant with a grimace and the safely colocation of the glass vial in the coffee table. She might had been high on whatever that potion was made of (Falcon’s Flight was a zealously guarded recipe by the PFH and only accomplished Potions Masters were given permission to brew it), or simply too tired, to speak at a 7 year old child like that, but Ron will take it for what it is and store this conversation in a place of importance in his mind until he can properly think about it later on.
And think about it he does, while looking at his bedroom ceiling and clutching his thin bedding, he lets his mind wander. He thinks about potions, about pretty colors swirling around, and delicate glass vials, but of the most importance, he thinks and wonders about Potions Masters and Healers; and, with the upmost simplicity and determination only a child of seven years like himself can muster, he decides that Severus Snape can’t be an evil and mean wizard if he brews the amazing potions (of which he only asks for the payment of ingredients, not of his brewship) that keep his Grandma Weasley healthy and gains her hard earned praise.
The Burrow
Ottery St Catchpole, Devon
West Country, England
The 27th day of July, the 7th month of the blessed year 1987
Lord Arcturus Black III, Lord of The Most Noble and Ancient House Black
12 Grimmauld Place
Islington
London, England
Lord Black;
Greetings My Lord, firstly I apologize if you find this letter in anyway insulting, Grandma Weasley has only taught me the way to address heirs and heiresses so far, not an important lord like yourself. Is because of her that I write this letter to you.
Grandma Weasley has fallen ill, later last month she was found to have HIMB and is currently dying not recovering. I don't know how someone is supposed to ask but, please help my Grandma Weasley please please, none of the potions we can pay for are helping her and my Grandpa Weasley and Dad and Uncle Bilius don't know what to do.
I know My Lord cares a lot for my Grandma Weasley, she talks a lot about yourself and other cousins. I don't know what I would do without my Grandma Weasley, she is the only one who has time for me, I know Grandma Prewett and Grand Aunt Muriel try, but they are often busy with matters of House Prewett and can't teach me about potions like Grandma Weasley does.
I truly hope you are able to help My Lord, but thank you for even taking the time to read my letter specially as this is the first type of communication we had have had have with each other.
Best Regards, Mister Ronald Bilius Weasley of House Weasley and Member of House Prewett.