First Year I.
On the day of September first, 1989 Remus Lupin was getting suddenly really worried about the life of his goddaughter. Today was the day when Rhea Black would be leaving for Hogwarts. It will be a year sooner than other kids would which was only adding to Remus' worry. He knew that Rhea was more than capable of surviving the classes, even Professor McGonagall said she was exceptionally smart. He wasn't worried about her knowledge and how she will do in class. She was more than capable of outranking any regular first year, if Remus wanted to reveal his full confidence in his young goddaughter he would even say she could match with second years.
But what he was worried about was the fact that Rhea isn't yet eleven. She will be turning off that age this winter but there is still too much time till that. She will be younger than other students and that is why he is so worried. Rhea may appear as a strong young girl on the outside but she is quite sensitive, she just pretends not to show it. Rather hides her feelings inside.
From his own experience, Remus knows how kids can be. Especially when they are dealing with someone younger than them. And given Rhea's past and her parents' reputation she is in for quite some rough time. Remus is yet to inform her where her father is at right now. Rhea has lived all her years with Remus without single information about her father. Remus always not finding it the right time to have that kind of talk with her.
Remus looked at the clock to see that they were being late. If they won't hurry up the train will leave without Rhea. And that simply won't do after all the hard work Remus put into persuading Professor McGonagall. He will simply not let his goddaughter waste her chance of being at the best school of all wizarding world just because she is being a laid back female version of her father.
"Rhea Angela Black, I advise you to move your lazy bones as fast as possible or else you'll miss your train!" Remus shouted up the stairs. Waiting for the sound of the door opening. The sound of the old door squeaking was heard from upstairs followed by footsteps running down the hall.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" A voice of a young girl filled the house as she practically jumped down the last three steps. Remus smiled at the enthusiasm of his goddaughter. Her long blond hair was braided in two braids that falling over her shoulders. Green eyes shining in excitement as she kept bouncing up and down.
"Where's your trunk?" Remus asked curiously seeing something missing in the picture. It wouldn't surprise him if Rhea forgot to pack it. The girl tends to get a little reckless with her things and forgets about everything when she is too thrilled about something. She would even forget her head somewhere if it weren't secured on her neck. Rhea's eyes widened in surprise looking around for her suitcase as if expecting it would have marched down the stairs itself.
"Um...I guess I forgot it upstairs." She said sheepishly, lifting her head to give her uncle a guilty smile. "Ups?" Remus sighed, seeing the traits of her mother in the girl now with the forgetfulness. Her head usually somewhere in the clouds. Bringing out his wand, Remus swished it in the air. In a matter of seconds, a dark black trunk came flying through the air, hovering over the stairs. Rhea grinned, enjoying the fact that she was privileged enough the witness magic. She was mesmerized by it. And from a young age, she had set herself a goal to master the art of witchcraft and be one of the best there is. A bit too ambitious for such a young child but that was just Rhea Black.
"All right then, come on you rascal or we'll seriously be late." Remus prodded, grabbing a hold of the still levitating trunk and offering his hand to Rhea who jumped right over to him, grinning from ear to ear.
Remus apparated the two of them on the Kings Cross Station. Making sure no Muggles would see them just apparating out of thin air, because that could seriously startle someone. After he was sure that no one saw them he let go of Rhea's hand and the two of them found a trolley that Rhea could push her trunk on because there was just no way she would let her uncle carry the heavy trunk for her the whole time. She was a very considerate girl after all and always insisted on doing the house chores just to help her beloved uncle.
Once Rhea got a hold of the trolley she started pushing it in front of her, the happiness that was filling her caused her to be rushing with the trolley a bit too much. For such a little girl she had some incredible strength in her arms and legs. Might be from all the tree climbing and playing around with the ball when she was at home. But mixed up with the reckless behaviour she also possessed some sort of catastrophe that was due to happen.
Remus watched her carefully making sure she would avoid running anyone over with the trolley. Knowing her she would be able to do that, even if unintentionally. He just didn't need any accidents happening here that he would have to deal with now that they are so pressed for time. Rhea ran forward, excited when she was the pillar halving the platforms 9 and 10.
"Rhea, slow down," Remus yelled after her but she wasn't listening. She was just rushing forward, completely blinded by her imagination. She already saw herself at Hogwarts, attending classes and finally making friends. Ones that will hopefully stay with her even if she is a bit on the wild side. "Rhea!" Remus shouted just as Rhea lost control of her trolley. The trunk moving to the side, its weight making it harder for Rhea to navigate the trolley. The cart moved sharply to the right taking Rhea with it until it crashed into something.
The harsh impact causing Rhea to shot forward, her body flying over the raids and she fell on top of her trunk. Groaning in slight pain that erupted through her left wrist. Giving the cause of it as the fault of the abrupt stop that she made. But what was curious was the fact why she had stopped. A groan alerted her as she lifted her head to see that she has crashed into someone.
In front of her trolley was another one, bearing a brown trunk, a dark sleeve sticking out of it. Rhea assumed it was from the robes, that is if the person she had so rudely knocked down was a part of the wizarding community. Her green eyes worriedly searched for the person hoping they weren't hurt or worse dead! But they groaned...so they can't be dead just yet right?
Her eyes stopped on a ginger-haired boy that was sitting on the ground in front of his cart, rubbing his head. The boy wore a grey jumper, a knitted one. Rhea thought it looked very warm and cosy. Her uncle always wears jumpers but they are never homemade, only bought in Diagon Alley. She feels like hand-made things have more of a family-like touch to them. Like they carried the love that the giver felt for the receiver.
The boy so far appeared to be all right. Besides the certain bump that will appear on his head over time, he should live. She hopes that he won't yell at her for being so careless and injuring him like this. The boy looks pretty harmless. Well, she can't tell if that's true since he didn't still open his mouth or even opened his eyes so Rhea couldn't be sure. Hesitantly she lifted herself from her uncomfortable position over her trunk and scooted closer towards the boy.
"Hey, are you all right?" She asked carefully. He didn't look much older than she was. But he sure was tall. Even from the sitting position, she could see how long his legs were. The boy finally opened his eyes, glancing up at Rhea giving her a sight of his nice brown eyes. "I am so sorry I crashed into you like that. I should of have looked where I was going. I am really, really sorry." Rhea rambled her apology frantically, trying to prevent the boy from lashing out at her. But the boy had no intentions of that. He just gave her a soft smile.
"It's all right. I was actually the one that wanted to apologise as I thought it was my fault we collided like this." The boy answered smiling widely at the Black girl. She laughed at the kind approach, pleasantly surprised by it.
"I suppose we both can be of blame," Rhea suggested.
"I might agree to that if you help me up. I don't really appreciate sitting here on the ground." The boy joked. Rhea immediately sprung into action giving the boy her hand and helping him lift himself. She was right, the ginger boy was quite tall, definitely towering over her. But she was already used to that with her short height. The two smiled at each other once they were both standing on their feet.
"Rhea!"
"Fred!"
Two voices flooded towards the two of them As they both glanced in the direction from which their name was shouted. Rhea turned around to see Remus rushing over to her. Worry filling his tired eyes. On the other hand, a boy with the name Fred was looking at his mother. The ginger woman was approaching them with the other five kids rushing beside her. One of them looking like a spitting image of Fred.
"Bloody hell." Rhea and Fred muttered at the same time. Remus rushed over inspecting Rhea for any injuries. Fred's mum doing the same once she could get a hold of him.
"Merlin's beard Rhea, you can't just rush around at a place that is packed up like this." Remus scolded once he was sure that she wasn't majorly injured.
"I'm sorry," Rhea mumbled her apology. With a corner of her eye, she was watching the ginger boy that was being smothered by his mother. Rhea let out a silent laugh which got the attention of her guardian. Remus looked at the ginger family that has stopped by to collect one of its members. The vibrant hair colour immediately betraying the last name of the family.
"Molly?" Remus asked with a smile already knowing he didn't just mistake her for some other redhead. The older woman looked up from scolding her son to meet eyes with the tall man.
"Remus, oh how wonderful to see you." The woman, Molly said delighted when she recognised the man.
"Likewise." Remus grinned, seeing the woman that he adored at the times of the Order of the Phoenix. She and her husband Arthur were unbelievable brave and very skilled wizards. But also lovely and caring about their family and friends. He had never met a family quite like them. His eyes scanned over the kids that the woman was surrounded with. All of them definitely siblings which made Remus chuckle. But there was a serious lack of father figure in here. "Where's Arthur?" The woman sighed at the question.
"At work, seems like every year he spends there more and more time," Molly admitted. Remus could see she was sad about the fact that her husband was working so hard, to keep the family at a normal state money-wise. "Oh we should hurry or you lot will miss your train." Molly smiled at her kids, her eyes then noticing the little girl that was standing by Remus' side. "Oh Remus, is she yours?" Molly beamed at the sweet appearance of the young girl. Remus looked down at his goddaughter and laughed.
"Oh, um...not exactly." He admitted confusing the kind-looking woman. "This is my goddaughter. Rhea Black." The girl gave a shy wave to the group of gingers. She noticed the two twins, one that she has bumped into earlier. They were both looking at her with grins.
"Oh my, she has grown up so much since I last saw her. She is already a first-year?" Molly asked curiously.
"She is going a year sooner than she should. It was approved by Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore." The fact that Remus was proud was clearly heard in his voice. He practically glowed in pride.
"Oh, how wonderful. It's twins first year as well." The two boys smirked when their mother mentioned them.
"Mother I suggest we get going or else no one will get to Hogwarts this year." A boy with curly hair said impatiently, something that seemed like a permanent frown was set upon his face. Molly sighed at her third oldest son.
"All right Percy, go first." She instructed the boy who gave a subtle nod before sprinting towards the wall and going through. Rhea stared mesmerized by the magical barrier. After Percy, an older looking boy grabbed a hold of his trolley and sprinted at the wall, disappearing behind it as well. Sudden anxiety started to build up in Rhea's body, realising that she would have to go through as well. "Rhea darling, why don't you go with Fred and George?" Molly offered, seeing the fear in the bright green eyes of the small girl.
Rhea looked back at her uncle to see what he thought about the idea only getting a small nod from him. Rhea nodded walking over to her trolley and taking a hold of it. Her hands a bit shaky as she thought about what would await for her on the other side of the wall.
"Hey, don't think about it too much. It just makes things more complicated than they really are." A voice from next to her said causing Rhea to look up and see Fred standing next to her giving her a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, look at Fred and I, we never think." Another voice said from her other side. Rhea assumed that the other boy must have been George since he looked so much like Fred.
"How about I go first and then you'll go. That way you will have one of us on either side of you still." Fred suggested.
"Yeah, okay." Rhea agreed with a small nod causing Fred's grin to grow wider.
"All right, see you there," Fred called, his grip on the trolley tightening and he darted through the wall. Rhea watched him disappear, his confidence radiating even through the wall.
"Well, go on." George encouraged nodding his head towards the wall. Rhea took a deep breath, her hands gripping the cold metal handle. A determined expression set on her face as her foot pushed against the ground setting her off into a light run. She closed her eyes as she was about to go through the wall. A feeling as if she was pushing through some sort of membrane engulfed around her until it melted away almost as suddenly as it appeared.
"See, you made it through." At the sound of Fred's cheerful voice, her eyes snapped open taking in the sight of the busy platform 9 3/4. The beautiful black and red locomotive stood there on the rails, waiting till all the students would pile up in. Sounds of farewells and laughs were heard coming from the people around. Parents that came to say goodbye to their kids, friends meeting again after the summer holiday.
"Yeah, it wasn't so bad," Rhea answered with a giant grin just as George crashed through the wall almost bumping into Rhea. After a few seconds Mrs Weasley rushed through with her two younger kids and she hurried away to find the two older boys.
"See you on the train," Fred and George said together, following after their mother. Before Rhea could even say anything Remus came through the wall and stood beside her. His eyes scanning the surroundings of the well-known place. It has been too long since he was here last. But the place didn't change in the slightest.
"What do you think?" He asked Rhea, interested in what she thought about the place that will start up her magical career.
"It's simply magical." Rhea breathed out mesmerized by the sight in front of her. Remus chuckled at her precise choice of words. He remembers Sirius' having the same opinion on the place. The two of them stepped closer to the train, Rhea taking in every little detail she could lay her eyes on. Wanting to make this into as strong memory as she only could. They stopped in front of one of the many entrances that the Hogwarts Express had opened for the students to jump on board. Rhea's eyes stayed fixed on the door, watching it with hope filling her eyes.
She was finally about to experience everything her uncle was talking to her about. She was ready. Of course, she was younger than others but why should that be any major obstacle? It's only a few months separating her from some students, she should be fine. And her knowledge is good enough for her to fit in with the others. But studies and books weren't her main aim. No, she wanted friends. Someone that will stay with her, someone that will remain in her life through thick and thin.
Even at a young age, Rhea knows that family is important. Maybe it is because she never had any. She only had her uncle, that was as much as she ever had. So it was only natural for her to seek someone else to feel close to. Maybe someone her age, she wasn't sure. The kids in the muggle world didn't stay friends with her for long. They always thought of Rhea as a weird kid. The strange noises coming from the house where she lived every full moon weren't helping the situation. She was known as the girl from the haunted house. And who would ever want to befriend someone like that? But if her uncle's stories taught her anything then it was the fact that friends are important. So her goal was to find someone like that, someone to feel close to. Someone that will go along with her sometimes dangerous ideas and won't mind her bit wild personality. That was her goal. Her aim. Her life's purpose.
"Are you sure you have everything? All the books? Do you have enough quills? I could send you some with the owl if not, it's not an issue. Oh and clothes, do you have enough of those? Especially socks those are important oh and-"
Rhea couldn't help but roll her eyes at the overcaring nature of her uncle.
"Uncle Moony," She called to stop him from naming any more items that she could have forgotten. For all she knows, he could have gotten as far as asking her about underwear and that was not the talk she would like to have on a packed up station. "I will be fine." She gave him a cheeky smile. Already excited to leave and start a new phase of her life.
Remus would never think how much it would hurt him to see her go. He was so proud of her. The girl that has been living under his roof for over seven years. She was already something like his daughter and he had a hard time reminding himself she really wasn't. And as much as it hurt to see her go he knew she needed to, this was an important part of life of every young wizard and witch and he felt very privileged to be a part of it. To be there for her. With a sad sigh, he looked down into her greenish-blue eyes full of happiness.
"Just make sure to write to me from time to time." He reminded her.
"You don't have to worry about that." Rhea grinned practically bouncing on her feet, waiting for her uncle to tell her that she can go on the train. Seeing the desire in her eye clear as day, Remus chuckled ruffling her soft blond hair.
"All right then go on before it leaves you behind," Remus said giving her a gentle push towards the door. Rhea grinned at him about to take her trunk but it was snatched from her. "I'll take it to the loading cart for you, that is unless you want to drag it along with you alone?" Eyeing the huge and heavy box filled with her clothes and books Rhea opted on the easier option and let her uncle take care of her trunk. Giving him one last hug and smile she jumped on the train and started walking down the corridor in search of a place where she could sit.
She walked for quite some time. Looking inside every compartment but unfortunately for her, they were all too full for her to fit in. That or the kids in there didn't look particularly friendly. A beam of luck seemed to shine at her when she found a vacant compartment where she could sit. She went in sitting on the seat closest to the window. She knew that she won't be here alone for long as there were still many kids outside saying bye to their parents.
She spotted Remus, standing a bit back by the wall. Not trying to be in anyone's way as usual. Rhea smiled to herself, feeling slightly sad to be leaving him alone. Especially when there will be a full moon in two weeks. She knows the pain he goes through and always wants to help him but she doesn't know why so she just always makes sure he knows she is there for him. This time...it will be different.
Strangely enough after about five minutes of waiting, the population of people standing on the platform now only consisted of parents sometimes younger siblings that were waving at the train that was about to depart from the platform and set on the way to the magical school. And Rhea still sat alone. Not a single person yet stopped by her compartment. No one has even passed by her. Was it possible that she would be left alone here?
With a sad sigh, she turned towards the window, watching the surroundings outside move slowly as the Hogwarts Express darted forward. Giving one last look to the already disappearing figure of her uncle she let a sad smile cross her lips.
"Mind if we butt in here with you?" A voice from the doorway asked. Rhea turned around to come face to face with the ginger twins from earlier.
"I mean it is quite full in here already but I guess you can squeeze somewhere." She joked causing the twins to grin at her and step further into the compartment. They sat down opposite her both wearing similar mischievous smiles.
"So, I believe we haven't formally introduced ourselves. I am George Weasley," The one directly opposite to Rhea said nudging his brother to speak.
"And I am Fred Weasley," Confused, Rhea gave them a weird look scanning over their faces. She remembered it differently.
"Something wrong?" The one that introduced himself as George asked curiously. Rhea shook her head lightly.
"Um, nothing sorry. I just...I could swear that you were Fred" She said pointing to one opposite to her, "and you were George. I probably just mixed it up then," Rhea shrugged. Not knowing why she had the feeling like they were trying to prank her here. She was just certain she remembered it correctly the first time around. The twins looked at each other confused. They did look the same, they even wore the same clothes. That's why it confused them so much when they were caught trying to pull one of their best tricks. Even their mother confuses them all the time, how could a girl that has just now met them get it right? "What?"
"I guess you passed the test," The one nearer to the window said with a shrug.
"What test?"
"That you can be our best friend of course." They both said at the same time as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole world. Rhea let the new information sink in. Was it this easy to make friends? Well, if so she was all in.
"I am Rhea Black then," Rhea said with a grin, looking at the two boys already feeling some strange sort of connection towards them.