Pranking hearts

Rhea was ecstatic to finally see her uncle again. It felt like a whole eternity being apart from him. She had so many things to tell him that she didn't manage to write into her letter. Her mind was racing, full of things to say, trying to figure out which one to let out of her mouth first. She was so excited she almost forgot to say bye to her friends. But that was something Fred and George would not approve of. So just for the fun of it, they held her up a bit too long. Enjoying how annoyed she was.

But in the end they of course let her go after their mum scolded them about being nice to Rhea and letting her go to her uncle. Remus was watching the whole situation from afar just like always. Keeping his distance from others so no one would question his scars but still in the eyesight so Rhea would be able to spot him in the crowd. Rhea trotted towards her uncle, the only thing that was somewhat slowing her down was her heavy trunk which she was dragging behind her.

She almost knocked the man over when she attacked him with a giant hug. Excited to finally see him. Remus let out a laugh, hugging her back. It was always the best thing, seeing how much Rhea loved him. She would always let it be known that she loved her Godfather. He was her only family of course but even if he wouldn't be she would love him the same. Because he was always there for her when she needed it and he took care of her, and that is something that she will never forget.

Remus enjoyed those little displays of affection coming from his goddaughter. Whether it would be just her making him tea, or these simple hugs and cheerful smiles. She always seemed to lift his spirits up. Sometimes he would forget that she is not actually his daughter. But then the realisation hits him every time Rhea's face would break into that mischievous smirk he got so used to seeing on the face of one of his best friends. And he couldn't pretend to not see that, because it was an evident indication of whose daughter she was.

But he still loved her as his own. Never once hesitating to show her how much he cared. And every time Rhea would be sad about the lack of parents, Remus was always there to land a helping hand. To be there for her and cheer her up the best way he could. He knew it wasn't the same as if her father would do that, since Sirius had a natural talent of making everyone around him smile. And Rhea's mother, she was the kindness itself. Always making sure everyone felt all right and was always there to help when needed. And even if Remus was not one of her parents, he tried his best and always succeeded in making Rhea smile, even if it was just a little bit.

The two of them made their way home from the platform. Remus taking Rhea's trunk from her as he carried it with ease in his right hand. Rhea who was walking next to him was bouncing up and down. Still trying to figure out where to start. She wasn't sure how to sort out her thoughts in order of importance. What was she supposed to tell him first? What would interest him the most? Should she start with boring stuff like school? That is usually what adults care about, no?

Remus noticed the anxious fidgeting of the girl. Finding it quite amusing how hyper she seemed to be but at the same time deep in her thoughts. He knew she was trying to figure out what to tell him first. She always had so many things to say at the same time but was trying to reduce them and only say one so she won't rant everything out at once. Because that way no one would understand her. Something that he taught her some time ago.

"So, what happened this year?" Remus asked, triggering the conversation. Rhea looked up at him, her green eyes fixing on him. Taking in a long intake of air she opened her mouth and that's how it all started. She started talking. Taking it straight up from the beginning of the year, mentioning every little detail that she didn't feel like citing in letters that she wrote him every week. One would think that with a letter every year that he had received from his beloved goddaughter, that he would be informed even about how often McGonagall turned into a cat.

But Rhea always tried to keep her letters pretty simple. Trying not to flood Remus' mail with just any information. So she only picked out the most interesting and crucial things that happened to her. She wouldn't want the poor owl to be carrying some ink-soaked letter. So there was still quite a few things that Rhea could speak about with Remus.

The one-sided conversation carried on until they arrived home. The only one speaking was Rhea with Remus just occasionally nodding his head in understanding or letting out a laugh at her mention of some prank that she and the twins pulled. He seemed no need to scold her for dying Snape's hair pink. He frankly found great enjoyment in the prank. It reminded him of the times when he was still attending Hogwarts as a student and he and Marauders would have Severus on their list of pranking daily. But he was sure that the same reminiscing feeling must be following the Professor every time he sees Rhea. Might be the reason why he is so harsh towards her. Well, like father like daughter.

"Oh and you wouldn't believe this," Rhea said excitedly once they made it inside the house. Remus pushed the door close behind him, pulling out his wand and swishing it one time so the trunk would carry itself up the stairs to Rhea's room.

"I'm all ears." He said back kindly, walking into the kitchen while Rhea kicked off her shoes. She followed him in the kitchen a huge smile gracing her face.

"We won the House Cup!" The enthusiasm in her voice was enough to bring a smile to Remus' face. He loved seeing her like this. So happy about anything. But winning the House Cup was a huge thing. Remus can clearly remember how it had always been with the rivalry between the two houses. And even when he was attending Hogwarts the Slytherins were mostly hogging up the first place in the charts. So hearing that they have been defeated was great news.

"That's great Rhea. How did you manage that? I thought after your prank on Snape there was no chance of you winning this year," Remus asked, putting a glass of fresh lemonade down on the table in front of Rhea who gladly took it gulping down the ice-cold liquid rather quickly. Not minding the fact that she could get sick from it. She was in a hurry to tell her uncle everything.

"You remember me talking about everything that happened to Harry?"

"Yes, I feel almost as if I have been there from your talking. How do you even know so much?" Remus interrogated, tilting his head to the side while looking at Rhea. He was pouring himself a glass of lemonade as well, almost filling the glass to the brim when he finally realised what he was doing. Rhea shrugged nonchalantly.

"I asked him. He told me everything." It was true Rhea and Harry talked about what happened for endless hours. He told her absolutely everything he could remember. Some things he didn't even understand but he still told her. He fully trusted Rhea with everything and it was easy to just blurt out everything to her. Because she was there to just listen. She wouldn't judge him and maybe even give him an advance of how to seize the situation. And that's what she did. Supplied him with comfort and assurance that it will all get sorted out sooner or later.

Remus was surprised to find out that Rhea and Harry had grown so close so quickly. He was expecting them to have some sort of friendship with each other but the two hit it off like siblings instantly. He wasn't expecting such a smooth flow of events when Rhea first wrote him about Harry. He tried hinting to her the important things but Rhea of course took it into her own hands. Practically adopting Harry as her brother. And Remus couldn't be more proud of that.

Rhea explained to him the rise of Gryffindor. Describing it very colourfully with some added fantastic puts in here and there. And Remus gladly listened to everything. Sitting in his chair, sipping slowly on the cold liquid while listening to Rhea retell the whole event of them winning the House Cup this year. Her expressions and voice changes giving it just the right atmosphere.

The storytelling came to an end when it was starting to get dark outside and Rhea was so worn out of constant talking that she was just comfortably sitting on the couch in the living room now. Reading yet another book. Anne of Green Gables. Her calm reading corner was interrupted when there was a bang coming from the kitchen. Lifting her head slightly in surprise Rhea glance towards the kitchen, not seeing anything weird there so she turned back to her book. Thinking that Remus was just tidying up the kitchen.

"Rhea," Remus' voice called from the kitchen. This time Rhea marked the spot where she had finished and set the book down.

"Yeah?" She asked while standing up from the couch. Making her way into the kitchen she was greeted by a sight of a rather large owl collapsed on the kitchen counter by the window. Rhea immediately recognised the grey owl which she got so used to over the years. This bloody bird had not only once landed in her breakfast. Successfully managing to spill pumpkin juice on her or knockdown her bowl of cereal. It was Errol. A family owl of the Weasleys.

The Great Grey Owl laid on the top of the counter, occasionally twitching with its scrawny talons. Rhea rolled her eyes at the owl. Feeling maybe slightly bad for it, but it always just made such a mess that it was hard to be sympathetic. What Rhea was mainly focused on was the reason why it was here. Surely there had to be a motive, maybe a letter. But where did that silly bird drop it?

"Is it still alive?" Remus asked, slightly concerned for the well being of the giant dead-looking bird on his kitchen counter. It can be considered a slightly worrisome situation.

"Don't worry about him, he is fine. Just being dramatic." Rhea dismissed. Walking towards the bird and carefully lifting one of its outstretched wings, finally finding the letter there. "Aha!" Triumphantly she held the letter up in line with her eyes to scan the letters on it. By the handwriting, she could tell it was written by George. At least the front of the letter was.

She took the letter with her and went to read it in the living room, leaving Remus alone in the kitchen to deal with the unconscious bird on the kitchen counter. Remus looked back in the direction where Rhea has left and then towards the bird who was slowly coming around.

"And what in the name of Merlin am I supposed to do with you?" He asked the bird, of course not expecting an answer. A sigh escaped him as he went to tend to the bird in some way. There was no way he would have a cold owl in his kitchen which he just cleaned.

It didn't take Rhea long to decipher the letter from the twins. When she said it was written by George she was entirely right. The only thing Fred wrote was his signature at the end of the letter. Rhea had to shake her head at the laziness of her best friend. At least George was willing to do things for the both of them. Or else Fred would never bring himself into inviting Rhea over for summer. He would be far too lazy to do that.

Their mum had offered the idea to the twins right as they arrived home from the platform, seeing as the twins were already becoming quite bored and managed to pull a prank on Percy in the car and scare Ron with a spider. Molly decided that it would be more peaceful if Rhea would come along and spend the summer with them. of course, if her guardian would agree. And so twins gave Rhea an involuntary task of asking her uncle right away and she was to come by their house next week at the latest.

Chuckling slightly at the demanding tone of her two best friends she made her way back into the kitchen to ask Remus. Knowing that if she wouldn't send the twins her reply soon they might as well come over and force her to come with them. Once she made her way into the kitchen she saw her uncle standing by the kitchen counter. Gently poking the bird with spatula to wake it up.

"Moony? What are you doing?" She asked, trying to mask her amusement. Remus quickly spun around. His face flushing with embarrassment. Clearing his throat he tried to go back to being a grown-up adult hiding the kitchen tool behind his back.

"I was...um...never mind. Did you need something?" Remus asked trying to change the subject.

"Yes, well, I was wondering if I could spend the summer at Weasleys'?" Rhea asked coyly. Not wanting to appear as if she didn't want to spend time with her Godfather. She didn't see him since September and now she wanted to leave again. Only giving him a week to spend with her. She felt bad for it but she truly wanted to spend her holidays with Fred and George.

Remus was processing the information. Knowing that the Weasleys were a very friendly family. And that it was most likely Molly asking her to come over because she completely adored the girl as did all the kids. But he couldn't help the slight sadness that was setting inside him. Rhea was growing up in front of his eyes so fast. It felt like yesterday that she was just dropped into his care. And now she was already finished with her third year at Hogwarts. At times like this, he was quite upset that her father couldn't see how amazing Rhea had grown up to be over the years.

It was quite heartbreaking to watch someone you love dearly drift apart. Even if he knew that it was not Rhea's intention, he also understood how important her friends were to her. He understood because he went through the same as a student at Hogwarts. Having his great group of friends and spending summers together. That was why he was willing to let her go.

"I suppose you can go. But you will behave," He didn't fail to add. Of course, he wasn't expecting any miracles from the girl but she could at least try to be well behaved the first week there. Rhea was jumping up and down in happiness. Ecstatic that her uncle was letting her spend the whole summer with her best friends.

"You're the best." Rhea sad happily, giving her uncle a quick but tight hug before scrambling towards the stairs and up to her room to write a letter back to the twins. Of course, she will have to send it tomorrow when Errol finally wakes up. It wouldn't be quite safe for the short-sighted owl to be flying all the way across the town with her letter. It might get easily lost. So with the words for the letter easily forming in her mind, she turned her room upside down to find some parchment and quill to write her reply to the Weasley boys.