Pranking hearts

The morning of September first came awfully fast. After Rhea spent her summer home with her uncle Remus. Occasionally going on small trips around the country. She wrote letters to her friends weekly. With Fred and George sometimes even daily. The two informed her about all of the pranks they pulled on their siblings and how they missed her. They even met up in Diagon alley when they went for their books for school. And Rhea was getting herself some new robes because magically she had grown over the summer. It wasn't quite as much like Fred and George and she still would easily be the shortest out of her friends, but now she could at least tower over some first years that will be coming this year.

Overall her summer was quite good and Rhea couldn't remember a bad memory from it. Everything was just perfect. She had plans for this year. Being determined to get herself into the Quidditch team as a chaser. She discussed this with her friends through letters and all of them agreed. They all will be trying out. They knew that not all of them would make it in. But this was only their second year and there was always a chance of joining later.

Rhea was in her room. Throwing everything possible into her trunk. This last week she was so occupied with everything that she completely forgot to pack herself. And by occupied is meant that she got a new book from her uncle and was reading it day and night, only ever stopping when Remus forcefully took it from her to get her to eat or to go to sleep. Her last week of holiday was therefore spent with her nose in a book. Ignoring all the owls that came from her friends. Which she only just now started realising when earlier this morning she noticed the large pile of letters on the table. Most of them being from Fred and George. Asking whether she was still alive and if she was angry at them for not answering back. Later they turned to just threats of getting pranked once she sees them on the train.

That was the moment when she realised that she might need to start packing if she wants to leave for Hogwarts at all. And that is why she started packing on September first at eight in the morning. Unintentionally waking up her uncle when she tripped over the trunk while collecting all her books. The books scattering on the ground followed by Rhea. Creating a loud booming sound that shook the whole house. So it was no surprise when Remus rushed inside her room a few seconds later, with his wand in hand ready to defeat anyone or anything that decided to invade their house.

Only to sigh when he noticed Rhea on the ground with a mess of books in front of her and clothes haphazardly sticking out of the trunk, all wrinkly and unfolded. Of course, he didn't fail to notice the storybook he had got for her which rested on her bedside table, the bookmark she used was pulled out of it indicating that she was finished with the thick book already. With an eye roll, he swished his wand causing the books to lift from the ground, her clothes started folding themselves and everything got placed into the trunk neatly.

Rhea watched astonished, at how easy it was for her uncle to tidy up the mess she had made. Wondering just how skilled she needs to get to master the spells quite as effortlessly as her uncle. Of course, she knew how to levitate with things. She knew many useful spells. But they always required so much trying concentration while in Remus's case it looked like he didn't even have to look and it would work out for him.

Once everything was in its place, Remus turned to his goddaughter to see her sitting on the ground. Look amazed at the packed trunk before turning her gaze towards her uncle, pulling off her best sheepish smile. The older wizard shook his head.

"I told you to pack a week ago." He stated calmly. Knowing better than to be angry at the girl. He used to have the same problems. Knowing how it is when you get engulfed with a good book. the world just disappears suddenly. And given her father's nature, he wasn't a tad bit surprised by this.

"I know. It just...I don't know..." Rhea couldn't find her words. Her skilful silver tongue not moving fast enough to get her out of the situation. "I'm sorry," She concluded, knowing it would be better to apologise than come up with some lame excuse for this situation. Remus shook his head, not intending to have a long monologue about responsibility again.

"Well then, get dressed. Since we are up already we might as well come on time at the station." He instructed with a small smile, walking out of Rhea's room to get dressed as well. Leaving Rhea alone with a question about what to wear for her first day back with her friends.

***

According to the plan, Rhea was one of the first to arrive at the platform. Knowing that her ginger best friends would be running in late again as per usual she found their compartment. Thanks to the lack of people here it was fairly easy to find it unoccupied, sparing Rhea the trouble of having to kick someone out. Because that was their compartment. In the middle of the train. Far enough from Slytherins and prefects. Positioned close enough to the stash of candies where the trolley lady refilled her trolley and from their window, you could see the whole platform, as unlikely as it sounds the compartment was simply perfect.

Rhea sat down, deciding to finally snatch a seat next to the window for herself. She sat down comfortably, leaning her back against the backrest of her seat. Seeing Remus leave the platform in a hurry. Having some important business he needed to take care of. Rhea sighed enjoying the temporary silence before it was interrupted by someone coming into the compartment. A tall boy with raven hair and dark brown eyes. A few faint freckles scattered on his pale cheeks. The boy halted himself from stepping more into the compartment once he noticed Rhea sitting there, looking at him.

"Hi," He greeted with an unsure voice, a shy smile appearing on his face. Rhea couldn't help but smile back, finding the boy quite cute in her opinion.

"Hey," She said back, her cheeks gaining a faint pink tint when the boy smile at her a bit more confidently.

"Um, I was wondering if I could sit here?" The boy asked carefully, mentioning to the seat opposite to her. Rhea had to fight a mental war with herself. One part of her wanted to be nice to the boy, and let him sit here with her, while the other part of her knew that their compartment would be already full to the brink once her friends arrive.

"I would love to say yes..." She said with sorrow in her voice and an apologetic smile. "But this compartment is already full." She stated causing the boy to look around the desolated place confused. Seeing only Rhea in there sure was confusing. "I mean, my friends will be coming here soon and there are already six of us piled in here. So unless you would like to sit on the ground I guess I have no room for you." Rhea explained an embarrassed chuckle escaping her. Her face all red from how she tried to explain the situation she was in.

The boy treated her with a polite smile, not looking like he was angry at her in any way. Quite the opposite actually. Which surprised Rhea. She noticed the green and silver tie poking from his brown satchel, concluding that he must be a Slytherin student. It was weird that she couldn't seem to place him in her memory.

"It's quite alright, I understand. I can always just sit with my siblings." He said and was about the leave when the loud group of people walked over, bumping into him just as he was about to exit the compartment.

"Hey Rhea, you wouldn't believe...oh..." The chatter of the group of Rhea's friends quietened down once they noticed the unfamiliar boy in their compartment with the youngest member of their group. The boys were eyeing the guy suspiciously while the two girls smiled brightly at him.

"Hey there."

"Hi." The two greeted, getting a smile from the dark-haired boy.

"Good day ladies." He said politely. The girls giggled finding the boy cute. Angelina didn't fail to notice Rhea blushing whilst looking at the tall boy. With his height, he could easily compare with the twins which meant he was quite tall. Sending her younger friend a cheeky wink caused Rhea to blush even more and bow her head to hide her embarrassment. Fred of course did not fail to notice and he immediately stepped forward.

"Well, I am sure Rhea here has already informed you that this compartment is occupied already so why don't you just run along and find somebody else to bother," Fred said standing face to face with the boy. The two of them being almost the same height, with Fred being just an inch or so taller. The group of friends watched Fred as he challenged the other boy they didn't know. They knew the ginger to be quite easy-going, full of jokes and laughter but now he carried some type of hatred in his eyes for the boy he didn't even know well enough.

The dark-haired boy however didn't seem intimidated by the glare of the ginger and he just shrugged taking a step away from Fred with a subtle eye roll. He corrected the satchel on his shoulder sending a lopsided teasing smile Fred's way.

"I was just about to leave, don't you worry." He said about to turn around and leave when he caught eyes with Rhea who was sending him a remorseful look. Apologising for her best friend through her eyes. The boy just grinned at that. "I'll see you around, Rhea," He sent her a wink when saying her name causing Rhea to turn red like the hair of Fred and George if not even more.

This little gesture caused Fred's jaw to tighten as he glared at the retreating back of the Slytherin student that he developed an enormous hatred for. The group of friends meanwhile slipped inside their compartment. George sitting in his usual seat by the doors of the compartment on the side where Rhea was sitting, while the other three occupied the seat opposite to them. Leaving the seat in between his twin and Rhea for Fred, who still stood in the corridor, glaring with fire in his eyes after the Slytherin boy.

"You coming in?" George asked after a while of them just exchanging glances with one another, wondering whether the ginger outside would finally move in. Fred broke from his trance looking over at George a frown appearing on his face as he made his way inside the compartment. He glanced over at his seat seeing Rhea sitting there. He just walked over standing in front of the girl.

"What are you doing?" He asked, eyeing her position in her seat. Comfortably leaned against the backrest, one of her feet propped on the seat. Rhea gave him a confused look, one of her eyebrows rising slightly in question.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?" She shot back referring to the earlier encounter between him and the dark-haired boy. The situation still appearing strange to Rhea.

"Well no, since you are the one sitting in my seat." Fred deadpanned, his face breaking into a cheery smile when Rhea smirked at him.

"This is my seat from now on." She declared putting her other foot up on the seat, sitting there cross-legged now. Fred laughed, biting the side of his cheek.

"Yeah, I don't think so." After that he stepped closer to Rhea starting to tickle her, knowing how ridiculously ticklish the girl was. The compartment echoed with laughter and giggles. As the others also laughed at the little tickle war Fred and Rhea started. Fred now had both his knees on the seat. Subtly pushing Rhea into the seat next to it. Not stopping with the torture until she was fully in her seat and he could sit down in his spot by the window.

After a few minutes, Rhea calmed down her laughing. Her sides hurt from the intense laughing and tears were welling up in her eyes. She brought her hand up wiping the tears out of her eyes before setting her eyes on the older ginger twin.

"Are you happy now?" She scoffed at the cheeky smile the tallboy was giving her.

"Yup, very."

The group got back to their usual conversation, talking about their summer and what they were doing. The conversation for a long time lingered around the topic of why Rhea wasn't answering anyone's letters for the past week. Followed by her explanation of being caught up with her new book. The group kept on talking and laughing the whole way there as per usual.

***

Angelina, Rhea and Alicia walked up the stairs, heading to their dorm room. After the feast and the tiring day spent on the train, they were ready to just get changed into something more comfortable than their school uniforms. They were planning on spending the whole night catching up on girl stuff. As tomorrow was Saturday and they didn't have to get up early to attend classes.

Angelina was the first one enter through the door that led to the girl's side of the dorms. Walking up the stairs, closely followed by Rhea with Alicia being right behind them.

"So Rhea, have you noticed the way Fred was fuming when that boy winked at you?" Angelina asked from the front, teasingly looking over her shoulder at her friend that was walking behind her. Rhea who until now was minding just her steps, lifted her gaze from the ground, confusedly glancing at Angelina. Her pale green eyes gave out nothing but pure confusion.

"What are you on about?" Rhea asked tilting her head to the side. This only cause Angelina and Alicia to laugh harder.

"Oh please, Rhea, he was totally jealous," Alicia said matter of factly, shoving her friend a bit from behind. Rhea stumbled on the stairs steadying herself on Angelina's back. The dark-skinned girl giving out a yelp as she grabbed on to the railing next to her.

"Alicia!" Angelina groaned, shooting Alicia an annoyed look, shaking her head and continuing towards their dorm.

"What, he was!"

"Fred wasn't jealous." Rhea dismissed. "He just hated the idea of someone else mixing in with our group. You know how he is." Rhea saw no harm in Fred's territorial nature. Honestly, she didn't even see it most of the time. Today was the first time Fred ever stepped up like this. And according to Rhea, it was just because she liked their compartment too much to share it with others.

"Mhm," Angelina and Alicia shared a knowing look. Not wanting to waste their time on a topic like this anymore.

"What was the boy's name anyway?" Angelina asked nonchalantly while opening the door to their dorm. Nothing seemed to change there. Still the same four beds. Old giant wardrobe for them to share. And even the clothes they left there were still there. Strangely enough, they were neatly folded and in their respective places. Rhea walked over to her bed. Falling onto it oh so gracefully. Laughing at how the soft mattress caused her to bounce up and down.

"To be frank, I have no idea. But he was cute." Rhea answered, a dreamy smile gracing her lips. Not going unnoticed by the other two girls who were now sitting on their beds as well.

"Oh, does someone have a crush already?" Alicia teased, departing from her bed and sitting on Rhea's. Expectantly waiting for the blonde to confirm her suspicions. Rhea shrugged.

"I don't know if it's a crush. I mean, aren't we too young for that?" Rhea asked glancing towards Angelina who just shrugged, she wasn't much interested in the boys topic yet, unlike Alicia.

"You're never too young for boys Rhea!" Alicia shrieked, grabbing one of Rhea's pillows and hitting her with it. The Black girl gasped, sitting up in her bed and grabbing the other pillow, smacking Alicia in the face.

"Ha!" Before Rhea could celebrate some more her victory, the big white pillow came flying in her direction. Just in time, Rhea ducked down, the pillow flying just over her head and hitting Angelina who wasn't expecting the sudden attack. The dark-haired girl who had her hair in two braids fell off her bed, landing on the ground with a thud. Both girls on Rhea's bed calmed down, afraid of the reaction of the oldest girl in the room.

Angelina suddenly stood up, one of her previously perfectly made braids was falling apart, while the other part looked messy. Angelina was gripping a large pillow in her hand, her gaze cast downward a sinister smirk appearing on her lips.

"It's a war!" She yelled chucking the pillow at Alicia who quickly hid under the bed, crawling towards her bed to get more ammunition. While Rhea was left on her bed right in the middle of the warzone. Leaving her to wonder whether it would be better to make a bunker for herself or to stock as much ammunition as possible. But when the pillow from Alicia's side hit her in the head she decided to retreat into the fortress made of her pillows. Occasionally shooting a well-aimed shot at her two friends.