Ronald Weasley's Strategies - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - Potion's Disaster

Harry and Ron made it to breakfast with only 20 minutes left until classes. Ron had been more focused on his plans than food. He ate as fast as he could and then rushed off to Potions class making Harry and Hermione give him odd looks. After all, they shared the class with some of the Slytherins and Ron was definitely anti-Slytherin.

"Do you think Ron hit his head or something? I mean rushing off to our NEWT Potions class. I am happy I managed to tutor him enough so he could even take it, or maybe Dumbledore intervened, but either way… he seems happy?" Hermione said questioning the end of that sentence. It really didn't make sense.

Harry nodded slightly as they walked. "Yes, it is like he is planning something, but wouldn't that mean he would at least tell us. We have all been friends for years and I'm dating his sister. He usually tells me everything now, whether I want to hear it or not."

The brunette frowned as they made their way into class and took their seats. Ron was already sitting in his seat with his potions book on the desk and Hermione was beginning to think someone was impersonating her dearest friend and crush. There was no way in hell that Ron would ever be so excited by a class he referred to as bloody awful with their slimy git of a professor and "ferret face".

She studied Ron a bit more before deciding to see if he was an impostor under polyjuice potion. "Ron, how did you and Harry get to Hogwarts second year? Also, who is Moony?" she asked knowing that while the first question may seem easy, the second one was not.

"We got here in my dad's flying car and Moony is Remus Lupin." Ron said resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Why?"

"Well… you are acting strange Ronald." Hermione stated as she only used his full first name when she was worried, annoyed, or thought something was seriously wrong.

Ron looked at her and quickly thought about his words before speaking. It wasn't something that he had done before now, but he was working on a bigger picture here. "Can't I just be excited that it is our last year and I am one step closer to being an auror?"

Hermione blinked. She supposed that was a very credible reason for Ron's excitement. It also proved that perhaps Ron was maturing in to a man she could definitely be proud of dating. A smile broke out on her face and she nodded before she faced the front.

Professor Snape walked in looking as though he was delivered some particularly bad news. This had Ron biting his bottom lip in order to stop himself from smiling. He was worried about being able to bait the professor into pairing them up but it seemed Snape was too mad about something to realize what he was doing.

"All of you were lucky enough to make it to this class and I do mean all of you." Snape said as he looked around the room. There were 20 students in total with six Gryffindors, seven Slytherins, five Ravenclaws, and two Hufflepuffs.

"We were lucky enough to make it here, but let's face it, the Gryffindors will pass because we are Gryffindors and your Slytherins won't even have to work on their potions to pass." Ron muttered loud enough to hear. He knew he would probably end up with quite a few detentions, but he could keep planning that way as he doubted Snape would fancy a nice long chat with him during it.

Snape's eyes narrowed in on Ron. "I assure Mr. Weasley, that no one will just be skating through this class!" the professor snapped. He had been asked by the headmaster to try and give a few less detentions this year, but it was already looking like he was going to go against that.

Ron was on alert but not noticeably as he ignored Hermione and Harry's concerned looks to keep going. "I was just thinking professor, that it doesn't matter with this class. We…" he said putting his arms around Hermione and Harry. "We are still going to get fantastic jobs for all of our war efforts even if we don't get perfect scores in this class. While your Slytherins are still going to be viewed as a bunch of slimy gits who can't work with anyone and should generally be distrusted. After all, pledging allegiance to Voldemort of one's own free will…." Ron didn't need to go any further as he could see Snape ready to explode for his arrogant attitude.

"You will have detention for the next three days Mr. Weasley. I expect you to be here by 9 pm sharp! As for your little rant about my Slytherins, I've now decided to pair you all up with someone else. We can't have you passing due to Ms. Granger again can we?" the Potions Master practically sneered with glee.

Ronald Weasley was ecstatic, but now he hoped Snape would put them into the pairs he was pushing for. If he could get Harry and Draco to have to work together, then working through their hatred should be a bit easier. He could even plan this in a few other classes and tell those teachers that he thought it would be good for unity after the war was over, though perhaps he should just make it one more class instead of two. Draco was good at Potions and Harry was good at Defense Against the Dark Arts. They could see each other's strengths and weaknesses in classes to begin building their relationship.

Ron heard Snape call out Hermione and Pansy to work together. Now that was an interesting pair. Ron liked Hermione a lot and Pansy was into… bloody hell. He had forgotten about Pansy during all his strategic planning. He would need to get her out of the picture but how? The red head glanced over at the two and saw Pansy's disgusted look at having to work with Hermione. Hmmm… perhaps he could lightly suggest those two become friends or something.

His name was called and he was to work with Blaise Zabini. Not bad, he supposed. If he was someone to go both ways, he could definitely see himself trying for the admittedly good looking male. Now all Ron needed was for Snape to c-

"Harry Potter and Theodore Nott"

Bloody hell. That was not how he planned this at all, but he supposed it could have gone worse. Maybe working with Nott would prove to Harry that he could work well with other Slytherins as well. Draco was paired with a random Hufflepuff which could teach him that working with people he despised wasn't that bad. Yes, Ron knew he could use this to his advantage if he changed his strategies a bit.

Or maybe he'd have a better chance getting them paired up in another class. There had to be some teacher who was thinking along the same brilliant lines that he was, or at least willing to put the two enemies on a project together. If that failed he needed to think of a new strategy. One way or another Draco and Harry were going to be an item before this year was out.