Pranking hearts

Rhea was comfortably sitting on Fred's bed in the twins' room. A plate with biscuits placed in front of her on the sheets. Fred was sitting on the ground, his back leaning against his bed while he and George discussed the plan that was set on the sheet of parchment that was spread on the ground. The twins had finally managed to steal Rhea from Ginny who was always taking their best friend from them. Right now Ginny was helping their mum in the garden so it was fairly easy to get some time with Rhea without their younger sister always following behind them.

They decided to use the time on planning a prank that they wanted to pull the next year at school. It seemed like an easy thing. Not many things were needed but it still could backfire horribly.

Even if all three of them were quite skilled in this Rhea still felt quite unsure, after all slipping a Pompion Potion into the drinks of all the Slytherins seemed a bit extreme. As much as Rhea thought it would be funny to see the Slytherins with pumpkins instead of their heads for a few hours, several things could go wrong with this idea. For example, the potion didn't have to be brewed correctly and Slytherins would stay with pumpkin heads for the rest of their lives and she doesn't want that on her conscience.

"Are we sure we want to do it?" Rhea asked unsurely eyeing the piece of paper on the ground that had messily written notes on how to brew the potion. By the long list of things that they would need for it she already concluded that it would not be all too easy and was quite anxious about it. Of course, she would not admit that to the boys. But she could appear sceptical about the procedure without seeming as if she was scared of the results. Or the brewing process itself.

"Of course, we are," Fred spoke for the both of them. Not even looking over at George, but the younger twin did appear quite sceptical about it as well. Probably not finding it a good idea either.

"I mean, just last year you almost killed three first years by freezing the grand staircase. Do we want to risk this?" George asked looking over at his brother who was still scribbling something on the paper. With an annoyed sigh, Fred lifted his head. First glaring at his twin and then tilted his head so he could glance at Rhea who was sitting behind him.

"Are you two bloody babies?" Fred quizzed, challenging the two with attitude after they tried to put down his master plan. Rhea rolled her eyes at his question. And George just groaned. Both of them familiar with how defensive Fred could get. It was never a pretty sight when Fred started with insults.

"We are just thinking about the long-term results." Rhea clarified, moving on the bed to sit on the edge. Fred positioned his body so he was facing the two of them. An unpleasant frown attached to his face.

"The only result I see is us being legends," He opposed. His mind was not able to see the problem with his plan. It had only good outcomes for them so why were George and Rhea so sceptical about it was beyond him. He just planned it to make all three of them popular in school. People expect them to come up with something great and this was just it. But his two partners were ready to chicken out of it.

"Great, and I see the possible danger of Slytherins having pumpkin instead of the head for the rest of their lives. Or the potion blowing up on us while we will be brewing it." Rhea said. Taking the initiative in the conversation with Fred. Even though George was Fred's twin, he didn't have the patience to we dealing with his brother through wise arguments like Rhea was able to do. If it was up to him only, the twins would end up rolling on the floor in the middle of a fight, in the better case tearing the parchment with the instructions to shreds.

"I don't see a problem with that." Fred shrugged nonchalantly. His hatred towards the Slytherin house showing up on the surface. He had his personal reasons why he was so set on the idea. But knowing that Rhea would most probably not agree with it he kept quiet about it.

"Well, I do. I don't need the Slytherins to look even more hideous than they already do." Rhea muttered and George nodded in agreement. Fred looked between his two best friends. A flash of betrayal appeared in his eyes when he looked at George. The two look at each other. Fred glared while George was trying to keep his eyes neutral, so he wouldn't start a fight between the two.

Before the three could converse some more the doors were opened and in marched Ron. A determined look on his face. All three occupants of the room looked over at him. Fred looked annoyed that his younger brother just invited himself into their room, George was surprised that Ron would even dare to come in after they scared him that they had a spider nest under their wardrobe and Rhea was concerned why he had that expression on his face.

"Something happened with Harry." All three relaxed immediately. The twins rolled their eyes while Rhea reached for another biscuit. Suddenly not finding Ron's intruding interesting enough. "Hey, did you not hear me?" Ron asked impatiently, noticing the obvious ignorance of the three older teenagers in the room. George yawned, stretching a bit. They have been here for about two hours already and it's almost time for dinner now.

"We heard you," Fred muttered with a frown. Crumbling the used parchment in his hands and throwing it in the bin that was set in the other corner of the room. He was sure that George and Rhea wouldn't let him use the plan now that both of them disagreed on it. He was stuck with coming up with something else.

Ron looked agitated by the obvious insensibility of his brothers and their best friend. He was worried about Harry. Just like the twins would be worried about Rhea if she wouldn't be answering their letters. So the least they could do was care at least a little bit.

"Are you going to help?" He asked impatiently, his foot tapping on the ground anxiously as he just stood there in the middle of the room of the twins. Three pairs of eyes here and none of them was looking at him. Everyone in their own little world doing their things. Rhea was picking on the black nail polish on her fingers that Ginny painted for her. George was thinking about what will be for dinner and Fred was preoccupied with the thoughts of how he will get that one particular Slytherin into his place.

"With what?" George asked absentmindedly, looking out of the window and hearing Ginny laugh, probably chasing a garden gnome outside. He lightly shook his head at the thought of his little sister playing with the little pests that they will be forced to get rid of before school starts. He is already dreading the work that's awaiting him.

"Harry? He is in trouble," Ron pestered on, quite set on getting Harry out of his house. Or at least to go and see if he is all right.

"Ron, he's just not answering your letters. Maybe he is busy." Rhea dismissed, letting her back fall onto the soft mattress of Fred's bed. Truth be told she was also slightly worried about Harry. He didn't yet answer a single letter she sent him. But she was trying to tell herself that he was all right. That maybe he was just having too much on his schedule and that he didn't have time to write back. Or that Errol lost the letters somewhere. It was more than likely but still slightly alarming.

Before she could fall down into a pit of panic she focused on the scent that suddenly flooded her system. A strangely calming scent of smoke from the filibuster firecracker that they were playing with earlier today. It somehow got soaked into Fred's sheets and even if someone would most likely cough or cringe at the scent of smoke she felt driven to it. Maybe it was because she was so used to it with Fred and George having quite an obsession with things that go boom.

"This is more than that," Ron opposed, stomping his foot. Appearing now more like a little kid that required attention from their parents. Fred getting quite annoyed with his younger brother shot him an irritated look. Telling Ron to leave the room and let the three be. But Ron was determined. "Dad just came back. I heard him say that Harry got a warning for using magic in front of muggles." He said, hoping that it would finally gain some attention to the matter that he needed to solve.

And he was right, all three heads turned to him, the previous uncaring nature washing off in an instant as they just stared at the younger ginger who stood in the room. Rhea even went as far as sitting up on the bed once again. Too curious as to what had happened if Harry was forced to use magic. And in front of those dreadful muggles that he lived with. Must have been truly a good reason.

"What happened?" George asked feeling intrigued all of a sudden. Since Rhea cared a great deal about Harry and he was their brother's best friend, Fred and George felt the need to care about Harry as well. After all, he already had a Weasley sweater so he was part of the family.

"I don't know. He didn't say why he used it. But I am sure something must have happened." The twin shared a look at their brother's words. It was true Harry wouldn't be using magic outside the school just for the fun of it. He was rather responsible. That and Rhea threatened to break all his bones if he would mess with magic outside the school and got himself expelled like that. So this must have been serious.

Fred looked behind him to see Rhea all silent. In her own thoughts. A rather obvious trace of worry on her face. He noticed her nervously fiddling with her fingers. Her hands gently pulled on the sleeves of her flannel shirt that she was wearing. It was one of Fred's old ones that he gladly lent her. Not wanting his best friend to be so worried he quickly came up with a plan.

"Fine, we will go see if he is alright," Fred said taking by surprise both his brothers and Rhea.

"We are?" All three asked at the same time. George asked sceptically while Rhea and Ron sounded more hopeful. Fred sent George a look to prevent him from questioning it any further and then he turned to Rhea.

"Yeah, we are. Tonight when mum and dad are asleep." He instructed. Rhea leaned forward, hugging him around the shoulders in happiness. Fred grinned in George's direction triumphantly, getting the other twin to shake his head with an eye roll but a knowing smile attached to his face. His eyes then landed on Ron who was still standing in the room. Happiness evident in him.

"Oi, mate, you can go now. No need for you to occupy our room any longer. Our spiders are not particularly fond of you." George said teasingly, pointing towards the wardrobe. Ron was quick to leave the room after George said that. Once the doors were closed the twins burst into fits of laughter, seconds later being joined by Rhea who couldn't help but find it funny as well. They were just the pranking trio. They found fun in the simplest of things.

***

It was dark outside. The whole of England was seemingly asleep. Only a few lone cars drive through the abandoned streets of the city. Well, some were driving some were flying. The three Weasley siblings and one Black girl were soaring through the night sky. Fred Weasley was at the front behind the steering wheel. He was having great fun teasing Rhea who was sitting in the front seat, squeezed into it with George. The two of them weren't even buckled up since they were sharing a seat, trying the leave the backseats free for Harry and his luggage.

Rhea wasn't enjoying it as much as Fred though. She was holding hands with George who was trying to calm her down. Scolding Fred whenever he made a sharp turn on purpose. It wasn't that Rhea didn't believe in Fred's driving skills. Although Fred was just a fourteen-year-old boy and the fact that he would be able to drive a car, even better a flying car. It wasn't just some ordinary broom that you fly around during Quidditch. This was a real vehicle in the sky. And in the hands of one of the biggest pranksters that have ever walked the earth.

"Fred, mate, could you stop that?" George asked, seeing how pale Rhea has become when Fred just barely missed the building that they were passing. Even he had a hard time processing what had just happened. And his heart was racing quite madly at the recent events. Fred was failing to notice that they were manoeuvring with the care of their father, one that they weren't allowed to even go near without adult supervision. And that they had their younger brother on board and if something happens to him mum would kill them both.

"Awe c'mon. I'm just having fun." Fred whined, trying to keep his eyes on the sky in front of him. George who was supposed to be navigating the way just rolled his eyes at his brother. Doing a brave move of glancing over at Rhea, Fred finally noticed the discomfort in her features. "I thought you were used to flying fast, Black," Fred teased, not once taking his eyes off her. Rhea turned to him with a scoff.

"You failed to notice this isn't a broom Weasley. And that you are the one driving it." Rhea answered, her eyes widening when she noticed that Fred was paying more attention to her than to the road or more like the sky before him. "Eye forward Fred!" She snapped, forcing the boy to look forward with a chuckle. They flew like that for a few hours. No one would have guessed how long the drive from Ottery St. Catchpole to the Privet Drive would be, but in the flying car, it appeared to be quite long.

Finally, they made it to the part of London where Harry should be living with his unpleasant uncle and aunt and his cousin. Rhea would tell the truth, she thought the house would look worse. From Harry's stories, she imagined it as a real torture house. With chains, spider webs and sharp objects, probably an image of Filches office back at Hogwarts. But this looked like a normal house. Quite ordinary, not looking any different from the other houses that were surrounding it.

The only thing odd was the window which had bars on it. That was something that spiked the attention of everyone in the car. If anything it was a clear indication that it must have been Harry's room. The room was surely an upgrade from the cabinet that he used to sleep in before. But it still didn't appear ideal to Rhea. Fred finally tried to be careful and parked the car next to the window with bars.

Ron peered inside, trying to see Harry inside somewhere. It didn't take long as the car was making some sound it would most likely wake up the person on the other side of the window. Harry came towards the window. Looking at the levitating car in disbelief. He pushed the window so they could hear him.

"Ron, how did you...? What the...?" Harry's mouth fell open as the full impact of what he was seeing hit him. Ron was leaning out of the back window of an old turquoise car, which was parked in midair. Harry then looked to the front to be greeted by the sight of the three pranksters of the school. Fred, George and Rhea sitting there grinning at him. He smiled slightly when he saw Rhea was here as well but he still had that look of surprise plastered on his face. It is not every day you see a flying car outside your window, now is it?

"All right, Harry?" George asked nonchalantly, doing his hardest not to make fun of Harry's bewilderment. Rhea wiggled her fingers to wave at the boy in a sort of way a giddy smile still present on her lips as she was happy to see that Harry was still all right.

"What's been going on?" Ron asked curiously. "Why haven't you been answering my letters? I've asked you to stay about twelve times, and then Dad came home and said you'd got an official warning for using magic in front of Muggles..."

"Yes, Harry James Potter, didn't I warn you about using magic outside the school?" Rhea scolded the younger boy. The harshness of her tone comparable with the tone Mrs Weasley has when scolding the twins. Maybe Rhea even learned that from her. But the twins flinched slightly hearing that tone of voice. Harry immediately panicked, holding his hands up in surrender.

"It wasn't me...and how did he know?" Harry asked confused. He wasn't informed about the job that Arthur Weasley had.

"He works for the Ministry," Ron explained with a shrug, not finding it weird saying it. But for Harry, it was a foreign piece of information. "You know we're not supposed to do spells outside school..."

"You should talk," said Harry, staring at the floating car with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Oh, this doesn't count. We're only borrowing this. It's Dad's, we didn't enchant it," Ron explained quickly.

"He also told you guys to stay away from it," Rhea remarked, glaring mainly at Fred whose idea it was to steal the flying car in the first place. The ginger just winked at her, unbothered by her glares.

"But doing magic in front of those Muggles you live with..." Ron continued with his conversation with Harry through the bars. Ignoring the bickers from the front coming from the two best friends.

"I told you, I didn't," Harry explained. It was obvious he wanted to say more to it but decided against it. "But it'll take too long to explain now. Look, can you tell them at Hogwarts that the Dursleys have locked me up and won't let me come back, and obviously I can't magic myself out, because the Ministry'll think that's the second spell I've done in three days, so..."

"Stop gibbering," Ron cut him off before he could start getting lost in all the words that came flooding out of his mouth. "We've come to take you home with us."

"But you can't magic me out either."

"We don't need to," said Ron, jerking his head toward the front seat and grinning. "You forget who I've got with me."

"Only the best of the best." Rhea grinned, winking at the two younger boys. Pulling out the rope from under her feet and threw it at Harry to tie it around the bars. According to the plan that the three of them figured out on the way there they were able to get Harry out successfully. Maybe with a little run-up with Mr Dursley but they managed.