Ron's father is the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts at the Ministry of Magic, but doesn't earn much. Consequently, most of Ron's possessions are hand-me-downs, a fact he is sensitive about.
Ron and Harry meet while Harry is searching for Platform 9 3/4, and share a compartment of the Hogwarts Express, where Ron shows Harry his pet rat Scabbers, and Harry shares some sweets with Ron.
Ron likes to play Wizard's Chess, and teaches Harry how to play.
As of 2004, Rupert Grint plays Ron in the two released Harry Potter film, and is scheduled to continue the role for at least two more.
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Ron's love of, and skill in chess prove useful, as one of the defences guarding the philosopher's stone is a giant Wizard's Chess board. Ron sacrifices himself, though later recovers, to win the game.
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ron's wand is broken when he crashes his father's flying car into the Whomping Willow. The wand later backfires at crucial moments, first when Ron tries to curse Draco Malfoy for calling Hermione a mudblood, and later when Professor Lockhart tries to use it to remove Ron and Harry's memories.
Ron becomes keeper of the Gryffindor quidditch team in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; though not initially successful, he later improves.
Pet
Ron Weasley's owl is Pigwidgeon, or Pig. The name is a combination of pig with widgeon, the combination being a pun on pigeon. Pigwidgeon was a gift from Sirius Black to Ron, to replace his rat, Scabbers. Pigwidgeon was named by Ron's sister, Ginny.