Fourth Year IX.
Rhea sat next to Edmund just a little ways away from the Greenhouses. Edmund chose this spot today. Rather than sit in their usual spot by the lake. At first, Rhea was confused by this new choice of setting. But when she paid attention to the little things she noticed how Edmund kept not so subtly glancing in the direction of the Greenhouse. Watching a younger girl with two braids following Professor Sprout around the large Greenhouse filled with Mandrakes. The Professor was showing her how to cut the leaves correctly. She was the only one who the Herbology Professor allowed to help with this hard and extremely important task.
When the girl finally showed her face Rhea recognised the complexion that every Pevensie kid shared. The pale skin. And the freckles littering her face and the Hufflepuff robes were clear indications this was no other than Lucy. Edmund's younger sister. She is surely stepping up into her dreamt career as Healer. Being the top of her class in Herbology, Potions and Charms so far.
Rhea remembers Edmund saying how Lucy spent the whole summer growing her own herbs. One of which grew so much it started crawling into Peter's room through the window. She looked over at Edmund one more time, noticing him staring at Lucy, how she expertly cut the leaf of Mandrake. Getting praise from Professor Sprout. Rhea smiled. It was so touching seeing Edmund so proud of his younger sister. It just highlighted the incredible bond the four siblings had.
"She's doing amazing," Rhea stated startling Edmund who wasn't prepared for her to speak. He suddenly woke up from his thoughts, his head snapping in Rhea's direction to look at her. Brown eyes wide in shock but he was trying to hide it as he just awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Um, what?" Rhea chuckled. Edmund was usually good at hiding when he got frightened. He never gave out his emotions just like that. So now that he was failing at it miserably it was like a miracle.
"Don't think I haven't noticed how conveniently you chose our spot today." Edmund gave her a confused as if not understanding what she was trying to say. He tilted his head to the side a little. "I mean you chose this place just so you can watch your sister because you are proud of her," Rhea clarified with a teasing tone causing Edmund to turn slightly red. The boy was known around the school as a tough guy. So showing that he was proud of his sister was something that didn't belong in his image.
"What? No! That's-that's ridiculous. Where did you get that from?" Edmund defended. Trying to push some confidence into his words. Looking around to see if anyone else from the school could hear their conversation. Luckily no one was there. Which lifted some of the hefty weight from his shoulders.
"Seriously Ed?" Rhea asked a faint laugh hiding behind her words. She found it amusing how Edmund always tried to keep that tough demeanour when inside he was as soft as a sponge. Edmund had this incredibly caring side to him where he would do everything for his closest friends and his siblings. But other people could never see that. "I can see you staring proudly at her every so often."
"Damn you," Ed muttered under his breath, cursing how perceiving his friend was. The two of them laughed at how well the two knew each other. "Okay fine, yeah I am proud. I mean, how can I not be? Just look at her she is preparing the potions for the petrified kids. That truly is remarkable." Edmund was practically melting with the pride he felt towards his little sister. It was certainly incredible that Lucy at a such young age was so highly skilled, more than most older students have now.
Rhea understood how important it was to all three older siblings. To see their youngest sister climbing up the ladder of knowledge and skills. Rhea also was proud of the young Pevensie. She was happy with the look she saw in Edmund's eyes. The faint glimmer that wasn't there too often. But it would soon rise even more. Because Rhea saw a glimpse of a girl with platinum hair walking out of the school. Althea.
"Now look at that," Rhea said, a smirk already attached to her face as she followed the Slytherin student with her eyes. Althea seemed to be headed down towards the Black Lake. And for some strange reason, she was alone. It was quite a rare occurrence as Althea had a lot of friends and usually hung up with them around the campus of the school. But right now she was alone. "Isn't it just a sight for sore eyes?" Rhea had to practically point towards the girl with her finger for the boy to notice her.
Edmund's head turned to the side, fixing almost instantly on the Slytherin girl that was passing by. His pale face immediately changed colour like the hair of a metamorphmagus. Now glowing with a bright red colour. Almost matching the hair of any Weasley. Rhea chuckled at his flustered expression. The boy just awkwardly turned away and set his gaze on the ground rather than getting caught staring at the Slytherin beauty.
The raven-haired boy glanced in the direction one last time, making sure that the girl has left and hadn't sensed how weird he was behaving. Fortunately for him, Althea seemed to be too engulfed in her own world to notice Edmund acting like a madman. A sigh of relief escaped him as he slowly turned back to Rhea, flinching when he noticed she was already staring at him with a faint smile gracing her lips. The Slytherin boy frowned at his friend.
"Quit smirking at me, Black," Edmund snapped rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Rather deciding to look back at his sister who was carrying the cut leaves inside to the Hospital Wing where she will be helping Madame Pomfrey with the preparation of the cure for the petrified kids.
"I'm not smirking," Rhea answered nonchalantly. Adjusting her sitting position, to sit a bit closer to the raven-haired boy. Bumping his shoulder with her own in a teasing manner. To get him to look at her.
"Stop laughing at me then," Edmund said, refusing to look at the blond next to him.
"I'm not laughing," Rhea said with all seriousness. Edmund rolled his eyes, finally turning in Rhea's direction. Only to see the blond looking at him already, the knowing look on her face as she kept on subtly glancing in the direction where Althea had left.
"Then stop whatever you are doing, it's annoying." The dark-haired boy answered with an annoyed tone. His eyes still wandering over towards the blonde beauty that was passing by them seconds ago.
"What's annoying is how painfully idiotic you are," Rhea responded with a shrug. Picking on the blades of grass that got under her fingers. Completely ignoring the bewildered look on Edmund's face when those words left her mouth.
"Excuse me?"
"You are excused," Rhea muttered, picking up the yellow dandelion. Twirling it in between her fingers absentmindedly. With an aggravated sigh, Edmund turned to the girl next to him. His pointed look fixed on her as he chewed anxiously on the inside of his cheek.
"What do you mean by idiotic? I am one of the best students, and you know it." Edmund defended himself. He didn't understand why Rhea would call him stupid. Or even worse, idiotic. How dares she? The two of them are at the top of every class. How can she call him that? But he wasn't seeing the deeper meaning behind her words.
Rhea's one-liners and random sentences that just gave no sense to him weren't a rare occurrence. Quite the opposite as they were frequent in their conversations. But Rhea always knew what she wanted to say. And Edmund's inability to translate her words were getting him confused. The blond turned her head from the sticky dandelion to smile softly at her friend.
"Why don't you just go to Althea and talk to her? Ask her out. To Hogsmead or just to the library?" Edmund then understood what she meant. To him, it had nothing to do with intelligence. He was just simply said, afraid of rejection. He wasn't one of the Gryffindors to have that unreasonable amount of courage. Nor was he one of the Weasley twins who found it so easy to talk to anyone and everyone with natural confidence and charm. Edmund has noticed how smooth they were with girls. Fred in particular was quite the talk around the school.
With his ability to form words, his sense of humour and quite a good-looking appearance he was easily at the top of the hunt list of many girls, just like the well-known Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory. Edmund wasn't even on the list. Or he was and he never cared enough for it. One way or another he didn't feel as self-assured as certain ginger when it came to asking a girl out.
"I'd rather spare myself the embarrassment, thank you." Edmund's meek answer got Rhea to frown. According to her, her friend was one of the best. He was kind, smart, and funny what more can a girl ask for? In particular, he and Althea would be a great pair. And she wouldn't be sending Edmund there if she thought he was set to fail. The subtle looks Althea was sending his way when the dark-haired boy was too oblivious to notice. Her eyes were fogged by that rosy haze of love.
Thanks to this Rhea was more than sure that if Edmund would ask Althea out today, they can be the ultimate power couple by the end of the school year, never mind that it was only maybe two weeks. With Althea's reputation as one of the most beautiful girls in school and Edmund's reputation as the top student and Quidditch player...those two would be set for life. And Rhea would be able to say to Edmund's face 'I told you so'. That was something she didn't want to pass on.
"Oh come on, you never know. Today can be your lucky day." Rhea encouraged. "Don't tell me you want to spend the rest of our school years hogged with me in the library...we already read most of the books there anyway." Edmund seemed to be deep in thought after Rhea's encouragement. He glanced towards the lake where Althea had disappeared to. "If you move now you can still catch up with her," Rhea said in a whisper-like voice. As if it was Edmund's conscience speaking to him. Telling him what was the right thing to do.
And come on, you don't fight with your conscience about something like this. So with one last reassuring nod from his friend, he stood up on his long shaky legs and started making his way down the hill towards the Black Lake. Rhea watched him the whole way as he wobbled on his feet a bit clumsily trying to get towards the girl of his dreams. She was sure that the Pevensie boy was muttering all the possible things that he could say under his breath. Preparing a whole script of what to say.
Chuckling to herself Rhea stood up, only to see Edmund already approaching Althea who was sitting on the rock staring at the clear mirror-like surface of the lake. Even if she couldn't hear their conversation, the fact that the Pevensie boy was allowed to sit down next to the pale blond on the rock must have been a good sign. Rhea smiled, a warm feeling of accomplishment resting inside her.
Deciding to give them some privacy, without her spying on them, she grabbed her things and walked inside the castle. Her final destination yet unknown.
***
Rhea sat in the common room, watching the twins pace around in a nervous manner. It was not a common thing to see them this nervous or rather said distressed about something. The two were usually the calm and collected ones that took nothing seriously and mostly joked about anything possible. But the news of Ginny being taken to the Chamber of Secrets hit everyone hard. Of course, only the members of the family were informed. Which meant Rhea was informed as well since the twins refused to leave her out of it when Professor McGonagall came to them to deliver the terrible news just a few hours ago.
The elder Professor wore such a grim look on her face. Heartbreak and fear evident in her eyes, while her other features tried to assure the dumbfounded Weasley boys that their sister will be okay. But assurance from the teacher whose job is to make students feel safe and at ease is not something that would calm down the twins. They were practically walking a hole through the stone floor of the common room.
Rhea watched them the whole time carefully. Making sure they won't break something in a sudden overflow of emotions. She knew how prone the two were to break something when angry. George usually lets his inner anger and frustration out on the Quidditch pitch otherwise he appears pretty calm in any other situation. But there is a possibility that his emotional capacity is not enough to hold all of this in, now.
While Fred on the other hand is as impulsive as any guy can possibly be. If we are talking in terms of the houses Fred sure did fit well in Gryffindor with courage but also hot-headedness and unpremeditated reactions. There wasn't just one time when his emotions got the best of him and landed him in trouble. And now it could end in the whole common room getting blown up.
"Guys maybe you should sit down or something," Rhea suggested softly. Not exactly knowing how to approach the boys in this situation. It's not every day that their sister gets taken to the chamber of secrets. This scenario wasn't in her best friend's manual. Who would ever think that something like this would happen?
"Not now Rhea," Fred snapped with hostility and agitation lacing his words as he continued walking around the room. His shoes hit hard against the ground creating that low thump sound. George on the other hand just sighed shaking his head, deciding not to speak just yet.
Rhea understood that they were worried. After all, Harry and Ron disappeared as well, surely went to find Ginny and bring her back. The Black girl wasn't sure whether she was proud of the boy that she saw as her little brother or if she was angry that he was going headfirst into danger...again. It was becoming a common occurrence for the boy. For someone that is called the boy who lived Rhea would have thought he would be more careful with his life.
Her uncle told her to make sure that Harry won't get into trouble. Well, how was she supposed to do that when Harry seems to be a magnet for trouble? It is truly interesting how Harry always finds a way to get himself into some peculiar situation. For the two years that Rhea was here nothing major happened. Now Harry comes and one year a professor shares his head with you know who and the other a monster that petrifies kids lurks around the castle for the whole year and the school is threatened to be closed. What comes next? Werewolf attack? Dragons flying around the school? Merpeople drowning students? Toads invading Hogwarts? It can't get much worse, can it? Maybe there will even be a unicorn revolution someday.
"I feel like you should calm down Fred," Rhea said gently, seeing that George has sat down on the couch and was now just deep in thought. Her sentence got Fred to stop his pacing and he bore his dark brown eyes into her. A shiver ran down the girl's spine at the pointed stare.
"Calm down?! You want me to calm down? Are you not aware of what's happening?" Fred snapped, his arms flying around to emphasize his irritation and obvious discomfort with the situation at hand.
Rhea however tried to remain calm. Of course, if it were anyone else she would be screaming right back at them. Maybe even louder than Fred now. But because she knew that the two of them were both quite hardheaded she decided to be the bigger person this time and approach the problem with a cool head.
"I'm not blind yet." She pointed out causing Fred to frown. Luckily everyone else was in their dorms or this would turn into another one of the episodes of Hogwarts' popular soap opera the drama of the students. One would be surprised how much drama happens in this school. "But you freaking out here won't help anything." Her voice was stern and yet soothing. Fred was amazed how she could sound so serious but at the same time manage to calm him down almost instantly. With just the power of her sweet voice.
Fred's pacing stopped almost immediately. George who was watching the two from his place on the couch tilted his head to the side. Taken aback by how his best friend managed to tame his impulsive brother. Not even their mum was able to get Fred to stop when he was in his mood. Yet here was Rhea only using her voice to get him to do what she wanted.
"Come here," Rhea said softly, standing up from her spot, mentioning towards Fred. The ginger hesitated for a moment. Thinking whether he should listen or go back to overthinking everything that could be happening with his younger sister. But Rhea looked more inviting than the self-consuming thoughts that were racing through his mind. He crossed the room towards her. Stopping just in front of the short girl.
The blonde didn't waste a second before standing on her tiptoes and bringing Fred into a tight, comforting hug. She knew she wasn't much help. Hug and kind words were the only things she could offer in this situation and it was far from enough. But she was using everything she had. The stiff ginger seemed to relax in her embrace. His hands wrapped around her waist giving her some stability as they leaned into each other more. Fred's warm body sent heat towards Rhea whose skin was always way too cold.
The scent of the familiar raspberry shampoo hit his nose almost immediately. The tangy fragrance sent his mind on a trip down the memory line. The happy memories flooded into his brain. Acting almost like a sedative for him. His body felt at absolute peace as if nothing could bother him anymore. It was as if he had completely forgotten why he was freaking out just seconds ago. And then Rhea's sweet voice added to it all.
"Whatever happens I'm here for you," Rhea said gently to him. Her hot breath tickled against his neck but he didn't move a muscle. He stayed as still as possible. Only his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her near. As his head collapsed onto her shoulder with a loud sigh. Rhea smiled to herself. Looking over at George who was feeling a bit left out. But tried to act like it wasn't bothering him when he caught Rhea's eyes on him. "For both of you." She added, sending a smile to George who smiled back.
The trio stayed in silence until the news of Harry saving Ginny somehow managed to find the way into the common room.
***
Too soon, it was time for the journey home on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Rhea, and Ginny got a compartment to themselves. Since Angelina, Alicia and Katie seemed to have gotten lost and Lee found his interest in trying to flirt with the Ravenclaw girls. He had no chance with them whatsoever but a boy can dream.
Also, Fred and George wanted to keep an eye on Ginny just in case. Rhea could have gone with the girl but the twins insisted that she had to stay with them because the Weasleys were going on a family vacation this summer to visit Bill in Egypt and knowing twins they won't find the time to write back to Rhea's letters.
They made the most of the last few hours in which they were allowed to do magic before the holidays. They played Exploding Snap, which of course Rhea won. Fred was quite pissed about that for a while because he had bet his last chocolate frog on the game that he had lost with the Black. They also set off the very last of Fred and George's Filibuster fireworks, since it wouldn't be a good idea for them to bring them home when their mum banned them from those the last summer.
And of course, they practised disarming each other by magic. With Fred magically disarming Rhea. Yes, everyone was quite surprised about that one. Rhea's been claiming her wand must have had a malfunction. 'Cause, there is just no way that Fred would disarm her like that. They were almost at King's Cross laughing about the time when Ron used to have a crush on Rhea. No one is saying that it is not still lasting but the twins were having a great laugh and so were Harry and Ginny. Ron was as red as the pillow in the Gryffindor common room. Rhea felt sorry for Ron and maybe a bit uncomfortable when she heard the twins mentioning how he tried to ask on a date for a picture of her that he somehow has in his room. But that does sound quite disturbing. Hermione decided to rather ignore it.
"Ginny, what did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?" Harry asked after everyone was done laughing.
"Merlin, I don't think I want to know," Rhea muttered under her breath. Her mind coming up with quite rotten scenarios.
"Oh, that," said Ginny, giggling. "Well...Percy's got a girlfriend." Fred dropped a stack of books, that Rhea asked him to get down for her on George's head. Causing the younger twin to yelp in pain. Rhea's hand flew over her mouth. No one knows whether it was because of shock or if she just simply was trying not to laugh.
"What?" Fred said surprised, totally ignoring that he had hurt George. Rhea was already moving through Fred's seat to look over at George while Fred remained standing. Stuffing the books in Rhea's backpack while his eyes stayed fixed on Ginny to pray information from her.
"It's that Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater," announced Ginny. "That's who he was writing to all last summer. He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day."
"As long as it was just kissing," Rhea whispered to herself but George who was close to her smirked.
"Get your head out of the gutter Black." He grinned when she shoved him for speaking so loudly because now everyone was looking at the two of them. Fred wiggled his eyebrows already imagining what Rhea had in her mind. The younger ones just looked at the three older students. Probably being glad that they didn't understand. Ginny shook her head, deciding to continue.
"He was so upset when she was, you know, attacked. You won't tease him, will you?" she added anxiously, looking mainly at Fred and George since those two could never pass on the opportunity to tease their older brother.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Fred, who was looking like his birthday had come early said, handing Rhea her backpack which was now filled with her books.
"Definitely not," George added sniggering. His head no longer hurts. As the Hogwarts Express finally slowed and came to a stop the twins rushed out of the compartment. With Rhea following after them, but not before giving hugs to the trio and Ginny.
Once her foot touched the platform she was tackled in a hug by two boys. Fred and George were hugging the dear oxygen out of her in a desperate hug. It was their last one before they see each other at the beginning of the next school so it had to be a good one. Rhea was enjoying it. What other girl could brag that the two of the most popular boys in the school were hugging her? That's right, not many. But their strength was getting a bit too much for her fragile body to handle.
"Okay, fine. But I heard oxygen is quite good." Rhea rasped out, her hands pushing onto the boys' chest to push them away from her. With a snigger, both of them pulled away just standing close to her now and grinning down at her.
"How will you survive here without us?" Fred asked teasingly.
"Oh, I think I can manage," Rhea answered confidently. Her arms crossed across her chest. George shook his head at how Fred mimicked her posture and leaned forward to give Rhea a gentle hug.
"I'm gonna miss you. Wait for us eh, don't find any new best friends." The ginger warned when he was pulling away from the hug.
"Don't worry Georgie that's impossible. Who could possibly replace you two?" George chuckled.
"True, but just in case." He winked at the blond. As he walked away he patted his twin on the shoulder, before continuing towards where Mrs Weasley was greeting her kids. Rhea, still smiling turned towards Fred who already had his arms out for her, expecting a hug from his best friend. The blond laughed, practically throwing herself at him. Taking in the smell of the smoke from the Filibusters that they had set off on the train earlier. The same scent that his sheets always gave out. It was strangely calming for Rhea.
"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." Fred's voice resonated in her ear as he pulled away from her and grinned at the blond in front of him who pulled a grimace, looking up at him.
"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," Rhea said back, feeling proud of the smart comeback. Fred also was proud of her way with words. She had the answer for everything.
"Good one," He smirked down at her, chocolate brown eyes boring into her pale green ones. For a moment both of them forgot that they were on the busy train station filled with people. It was as if no one was there. Just the two of them. But even these moments don't last forever.
"Fred! Mum says we are leaving!" Ron's voice brought them back from the trance. Rhea softly shook her head to get rid of the haze in front of her eyes. The two best friends looked at each other. Giving in to one last brief hug before involuntarily parting ways. But they didn't even make five steps away from each other when they both turned their heads at the same time to look at the other one.
One would find it stupid. Or like a cliche. But these two were laughing about it. Feeling like their connection was getting even stronger than before. Rhea waved to Fred one last time before she disappeared into the sea of people in search of her uncle. Her mind recalled the smell of Fred's shirt, soaked with the scent of smoke. The feeling flooded her mind. She didn't even know it, but she was involuntarily smiling like an utter idiot. Good thing she didn't care.