Pranking hearts

Everyone was waiting in the Great Hall for the feast to begin. But before that could take place the new batch of first-years had to be sorted in their houses. McGonagall has already gone out of the door to collect the bunch of eleven-year-olds that were joining the lines of students at Hogwarts. The Great Hall had the usual warm lighting created by candles floating in the air. The four tables decorated by the house colour were surrounded by thousands of students. But the most mesmerizing was maybe the enchanted chandelier that resembled the night sky with thousand little stars sparkling down at them.

Rhea was seated with her friends by the Gryffindor table. She was in between Fred and George just like she was every time. Lee, Angelina and Alicia were opposite them. Lee was whining about how incredibly hungry he was and that the first years were taking forever to get in and get sorted. Which earned him a slap from Alicia who scolded him for not being respectful enough towards the younger students.

Once the big door opened and in came McGonagall followed by the little first-years who were looking around the place in awe. Rhea remembered how stunned she was when her eyes wandered around the magical place for the first time. It is truly a magnificent sight. And even better are the experiences you gain. Friends you make and such. Rhea didn't fail to notice the scared look on Ron's face. If she remembers correctly, Ron used to be excited about going to school but right now he seems nervous and on edge as if he was expecting something to attack him.

"What have you said to your brother?" Rhea asked, immediately turning towards her two best friends. George instinctively held his hands up in surrender. Angry Rhea is not a good Rhea and she tends to get angry when they scare their siblings like this. Fred on the other hand only snickered, enjoying the frightened look on his little brother's face. Rhea knew right away who had scared Ron, but she didn't want to point her finger at Fred directly. But the fact that he was enjoying this so much was clear proof that he was behind it.

"I told him that to get sorted he needs to take a test," Fred grinned. At first, it didn't sound that bad but then he continued. "I also somehow mentioned that the test contains wrestling with a troll that it is bloody painful." The laughter died in his throat when Rhea slapped his shoulder.

"You are a horrible brother," She scoffed, nodding towards Ron who stood at the front of the Great Hall with the rest. "Look how scared he is."

"Ah, he'll be fine. He will be in Gryffindor without a doubt, the lad has nothing to worry about." Fred dismissed nonchalantly, looking over at George for some support.

"Yeah, we believe in him," George agreed, showing that little bit of sympathy for both of the twins as Fred was mostly incapable of showing emotional support for his siblings. Or for anyone for that matter, George and Rhea being the only exceptions.

"Besides, he is a Weasley, it's in our blood." Fred bragged some more ruffling Rhea's hair just to mess with her a bit.

"Don't you dare touch the hair Weasley," The short blond swatted his hand away with a laugh, "Blacks have a long line of Slytherin in their blood, and yet here I am stuck with the bunch of you Gryffindors, I wouldn't be so cocky about this," she warned, remembering her being one of the few exceptions of her large family.

"That's because you are special," Fred winked at her. But before Rhea could shoot something back Angelina spoke.

"Shut up you two, the sorting is starting." And so they all turned their heads to the front, waiting for the first years to be sorted.

***

Once everyone was sorted the feast could begin. Much to Lee's and Ron's pleasure. The two were the first to dig in. Lee's saying: eat it up before it disappears. Has been behaving according to it since their first year and Rhea could never understand how can he be so eager to eat. It didn't mean she didn't love the food at Hogwarts or that she wasn't hungry, because after a long day of travelling that was practically impossible. But she would never just jump right at the food as it appears.

She was rather enjoying the reactions of first-years, Harry in particular. The boy looked like he had never seen food before, or at least not in such an amount. But this was a large school with many kids, and having a lot of food on the tables was a necessity. She felt lightly assumed by the wonder written all over Harry's face. He wasn't sure if he should even touch the food on the plates. Probably thinking they were enchanted in some way.

"You can eat it you know," Rhea said aiming her words over towards Harry who instantly looked up at her, shocked that someone has noticed him. Rhea chuckled lightly at his surprised expression, nodding towards the plate full of roast chicken that Harry was eyeing earlier. "Don't worry it won't bite." She ensured him. Harry gave her a small smile of appreciation that she didn't make fun of him for his bewilderment. And he slowly reached over for the chicken.

Rhea smiled to herself. Glad that she had made Harry at ease enough to eat. She was just trying to make him as comfortable here at this place where almost everyone knew more about him than he did. It must be pretty stressful knowing that everyone recognises him as the boy who lived. As the first one to survive the killing curse and defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named when he was just an infant. Rhea could never imagine doing something like that.

"The same goes for you," she was brought out of her daydreaming by Fred nudging her gently. Shaking her head to get rid of the haziness of her thoughts she looked to the right at her best friend who was already staring at her. Giving him a questioning look. "Do you need me to tell you that the food won't bite ya?" Fred asked raising an eyebrow at her. "Because you have been just staring at the table for a while now and I haven't seen you eat since that one chocolate frog on the train, which I still recon was mine."

"Oh really? Was it now?" Rhea inquired teasingly. Reaching over the table to pile some chicken and roasted potatoes, just enough so her plate wasn't overflowing with food but enough to fill her empty stomach.

"Say, Percy, who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?" Rhea looked up from her dinner when she heard Harry's question. He was motioning to Professor Snape who was giving Harry some looks whilst conversing with Professor Quirrell. Rather strange.

"Oh, that's Professor Snape, head of Slytherin house," Percy answered politely, once seeing who Harry was talking about. No one of the Gryffindors was exactly fond of Professor Snape, just as Professor Snape wasn't fond of Gryffindors. He especially seemed to have a particular hatred towards Rhea even though she was one of his best students. Maybe even the best in all Hogwarts.

"He is a real charmer," Rhea muttered, already hating the thought of spending time in Snape's classroom in the dungeons. Knowing that even if she brewed the potions perfectly, even better than Snape he would find something, some tiny little thing just to have the opportunity to either humiliate Rhea in front of the whole class or just scold her for something. Harry heard Rhea's annoyed comment and was now even more curious about the teacher.

"What's he teach?"

"Potions. But everyone knows it's the Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years." Percy answered. It was well-known information throughout Hogwarts. Snape was said to originally apply for the job of a teacher of DADA, but he made it as a Potions Master. Which Rhea was glad for. If Snape would be teaching that one of her favourite subjects she would definitely like it a lot less.

Rhea was too engulfed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the head of Sir Nicholas through the table at first. But the startled yelp from Ron certainly got her attention. Her head turned rapidly to the side to look at Ron who was on the other side of George. She sighed in relief when she noticed it was just the ghost of their house.

"Hello! How are you? Welcome to Gryffindor." The ghost greeted politely. Ignoring the bewildered looks from the first years. He was far too used to that. He has been here for quite a few hundred years if not more. Soon enough the other ghost flooded into the Great Hall through the walls as well. Everyone went to their respective houses.

"Nice to see you again Sir Nicholas," Rhea said politely, smiling at the ghost who smiled back. She was trying to keep good relationships with the ghost and portraits, knowing they were everywhere and any one of them could easily rat her out to the Professors when they are pulling a prank with Fred and George, so having them as friends is more than beneficial.

"Likewise my fair lady Rhea. The halls were once again quite too silent without you and your red-haired companions." The ghost said mentioning the twins.

"I am sure Peeves still kept you all on your toes." Fred snickered, remembering the Poltergeist that could be their match in mischief.

"Don't you even bring out that Poltergeist. Just this morning he has flooded the Prefects bathroom." Sir Nicholas said tiredly. Peeves was causing trouble just like always, no surprise there.

"Hello, Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?" Now Percy greeted the ghost. Always being in for a polite conversation with the ghost of their house.

"Dismal. Once again, my request to join the headless hunt has been denied. " The ghost sighed and went to leave when Ron's voice stopped him.

"I know you! You're Nearly Headless Nick!" Ron said, excited that he remembered something from what his brothers had told him about Hogwarts. But the ghost was not too fond of the name.

"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind."

"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" A girl with bushy hair that Rhea doesn't remember seeing on the train spoke. She had that know-it-all tone to her voice making Rhea slightly cringe.

"You shouldn't have..." Rhea went to say but was too late...

"Like this." The ghost grabs his head and pulls it to the side. His head now hanging on just by a thread. Revealing a truly disgusting sight. Rhea quickly turned her head away, hiding it in Fred's shoulder.

"Asked." She finished her previous sentence while hiding her face on Fred's shoulder. That truly did get rid of her appetite.

***

"So girlies, the first day of the third year. Who's excited?" Alicia asked once the girls got themselves comfortable in their dorm. They would be in the common room talking with the boys but since the twins' brother Percy is now a Prefect, he is strict about everything and he had sent them all to their dorms. Highly irritating the twins who would have murdered him with their looks for ordering them around like that. The whole way up the stairs the twins were complaining and practically insulting their older brother who according to them got incredibly tyrannical once he got that Prefect badge attached to his robes.

So now the girls were in their dorm. All four of them sitting on their beds, talking. Knowing that the girl Prefect is not as stern and that Percy won't be able to reach them in girls' dorms. Which gave them enough space to talk as much as they wanted to. Alicia was now hogging Katie's bed, braiding the girl's hair just because she wanted to. Ever since the accident with Rhea almost sending two Slytherin girls to the infirmary and getting herself expelled, Katie was the newest member of the gang. Of course, first, she needed to apologise for everything that has happened but then she was happy to join. She was fairly quick to fit into the collective of six friends. They wrote back and forth all Summer. Well, mainly girls were keeping the correspondence flowing. Boys were far too lazy to write a letter more than once a week.

"I am, but it is just my second year," Katie said moving her head a bit causing Alicia to groan and yank her hair to get her back into the position where she was. Angelina snickered silently from her bed. She had warned Katie about Alicia's sadistic ways of braiding someone's hair. Hence the reason other girls don't let her go near their hair.

"I hope we will win the Quidditch Cup this year." Angelina sighed. A thought of last year crossed her brain causing her to frown. "I will not give that win to those slimy snakes again." She practically growled at the mention of their opposing house. She was one of those stereotypical people. Keeping up the long-term rivalry between the two houses. The quarrel between the two has been going on for far too long. And Rhea doubted it would ever change. But she still had friends in Slytherin. Mainly Edmund but that was more than enough for her not to shame the house too much and too often.

"Maybe you will get to play this year Ali," Katie said, being careful not to move her head.

"Why?"

"Because after the last year's accident at the last match, Peter has a badly damaged shoulder. They healed it, but he will not be able to play like this again." Angelina explained, remembering how she talked to him on the train. "We are also down for a Seeker. I doubt we will find anyone as good as Charlie." Angelina muttered, deep in thought. Charlie was a top player but he ended his education here and from twins, Rhea knew he was in Romania studying dragons just like he wanted.

"I'm sure Oliver will find someone," Rhea muttered to herself. Not minding their conversation. Though she wasn't aware that she has revealed a kind of new information to them. Oliver yet didn't announce publically that he was the Captain. Thanks to Charlie letting him the title. He only told Rhea because he wanted to be sure she would be playing this year. He wanted to make the strongest team possible. And according to him, that could be only done with Rhea, the twins and Angelina on the team. Rhea became aware of the stares she was receiving after a few seconds. The looks boring into her quite intensively. "What?"

"What do you mean Oliver will find someone? You know something that we don't!" Alicia accused, pointing the hairbrush she had in hand in Rhea's direction. The thing almost flew out of her hand from how fast Alicia moved. Rhea sighed, internally cursing herself for having a big mouth that won't ever shut up.

"Oliver Wood is the new Captain, Charlie's decision," Rhea confessed. "He told me this morning."

"That's awesome!" Angelina cheered loudly. Being sure that Oliver would let her on the team, so she won't have to worry about her position.

"Brilliant, that means that I have a chance," Alicia said, unintentionally hitting Katie with her brush. "Oh my Merlin, I'm so sorry." She told the younger girl, giving her a quick hug as an apology.

"You already are on the team," Rhea confessed to her. She might as well tell them everything she got from Wood since they already know the beginning.

"Say what now?!"

"He already picked you on the team, saying that you played well as a reserve last year so he is giving you the spot upfront this year," Rhea said with a smile. Seeing how Alicia just randomly stood up from the bed and started jumping up and down in joy. Katie giggled at the action of her friend while Angelina turned to Rhea.

"It was that simple eh?" Angelina asked sceptically, a smirk growing on her lips when she saw Rhea squirm in her seat on the bed.

"I might have thrown in my subjective recommendation," Rhea muttered a guilty smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she looked at her roommates. Alicia stopped jumping for a while. Before waking up from her trance and racing over towards Rhea, jumping on top of her.

"More like biased," Angelina commented with a laugh, earning a glare from Alicia who was hugging Rhea, almost suffocating the Black girl.

"No one asked for your opinion Angelina," Alicia frowned, before turning back to Rhea and hugging her once more. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you," the girl kept repeating over and over again. The words were starting to sound like a mantra.

"Okay, all right, you're grateful, I get it. Don't choke me please," Rhea gasped pushing the girl away from her with a laugh. Finally taking in the much-needed supply of oxygen. Katie chuckled at her red face while Angelina was blocking the attacks from Alicia who was trying to hit her with a pillow for her earlier comment.

"So you have Oliver as a Keeper which we all know that the lad would rather die than let the quaffle through the hoops, you three as the best Chasers ever who never miss their shot and the twins who are live bludgers themselves. So far an unstoppable team." Katie commented, having great confidence in her friends. She was looking forwards to sneaking onto the teacher's stands to sit next to Lee so the two of them could cheer on the team which was constructed of their friends.

"But the game still mainly lies on the Seeker," Angelina said while covering behind her pillow from Alicia's attacks. "Even if we know Rhea could score enough goals during one match that it wouldn't matter if he wouldn't catch the snitch, we can't always rely on the poor girl." Angelina ended, for a while letting her guard fall and getting whacked by the pillow. The impact caused her to fall flat on the bed and Alicia started her victory dance on Angelina's bed. As an act of revenge, Ange grabbed onto Alicia's ankle pulling on it, sending Alicia to the ground with a yelp.

Rhea being too familiar with the mini fights that they had quite often, just shook her head with a small breathy laugh. When Katie saw that Rhea did not react to their activities she opted not to question it either. Though it appeared quite bizarre to her. But she decided that she probably just needed to get used to the girls' antics.

"I would also need quite some time for scoring that many goals. And given that Hufflepuff has Cedric Diggory with them getting some extra time would be quite impossible." Rhea got back to her topic. Ignoring Angelina and Alicia fighting with pillows on the ground. "We need a good Seeker to secure it all." She was deep in thought, not seeing the pillow that came flying her way until it collided with her head.

Couching out some feathers as the initial shock wore off. Rhea slowly turned her head to the side. A stoic expression on her face gave both dark-skinned girls chills. Alicia pushed the pillow that she was holding into Angelina's hands before pointing to her.

"She did it," Angelina gave Alicia a betrayed look.

"Treachery! Betraying your people! Be ashamed!" Angelina yelled back. Before Rhea jumped onto both of them with a battle cry. A full-blown pillow fight erupted in the room. Katie watched from a safe place on her bed when a pillow slid down the floor right towards her. Wanting to be part of the group as much as possible she jumped into the fight. Laughter and feathers soon filled the whole room. That will be hard to explain to their Prefect.