Fifth Year V.
It was already the beginning of October which meant the Quidditch season would be starting soon. That was the reason why the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team was called to a meeting on a Thursday night. Packed up in the chilly locker rooms, tired and practically freezing. Rhea was practically sure that it was once again going to be about Oliver blabbering about how they needed to step up their game this year. It was in his great interest to win this year since it was his last year at Hogwarts.
"This is our last chance...my last chance...to win the Quidditch Cup," he told them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it."
"I'm so glad you are not making this about yourself," Rhea said sarcastically with an eye roll. Oliver managed to ignore her, too invested in getting the not-so-encouraging pep talk to the team.
"Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the world, injuries, then the tournament getting called off last year." Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. And Rhea was sure that it was pretty much killing him on the inside. "But we also know we've got the best ruddy team in the school," he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye.
"Oliver's gone proper mad, didn't he? He's gonna hurt himself." Rhea whispered to Fred who gave out a quiet laugh.
"Then I'm glad I got the first-row seats," Fred whispered back a cheeky smile replacing his previously tired expression. Rhea pushed him lightly for his messed up sense of humour but couldn't help but laugh softly herself.
"We've got three superb Chasers." Rhea jumped slightly when Wood pointed at Alicia, Angelina, and herself. The three looked at each other, nodding gently to appear professional but on the inside, they were all high-fiving and jumping around.
"We've got two unbeatable Beaters." Oliver continued pointing to the twins.
"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us," Fred and George Weasley chorused together, pretending to blush. Rhea rolled her eyes.
"At least you finally match your hair." She teased. Fred pretended to be offended, bumping into Rhea with his shoulder.
"Oi, rude Black."
"And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood rumbled, ignoring the two arguing fifth years, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. "And me," he added as an afterthought. It was somewhat unenthusiastic. As if he didn't consider himself that much of a help to the team.
"We think you're very good too, Oliver," said George for the first time not trying to joke about, but sincerely giving some encouragement to his Captain.
"Spanking good Keeper," Fred couldn't help but add in.
"The point is," Wood went on, resuming his pacing, the team was surprised there yet wasn't a hole in the ground, "the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing..." Wood spoke so dejectedly. He so wanted it. It was his big dream. The only big thing for him besides becoming a professional Quidditch player. Even Fred and George looked sympathetic, wanting to grant their friend the one thing that he always wanted. He has been trying so hard to win the cup and this was it.
"Oliver, this year's our year," said Fred encouragingly.
"Yeah, the Cup is already sitting in our common room," Rhea said happily. Giving Oliver an award-winning smile.
"We'll do it, Oliver!" Angelina also cheered. Even if she was now a Prefect there was nothing more important for her now than winning the Quidditch Cup.
"Definitely," Harry agreed. And that's how the whole three weeks of intense training sessions started for the group.
***
When they said that they wanted to win the Quidditch Cup none of them imagined that Oliver would get so into it. The team dragged themselves up the stairs, sluggishly making it towards the common room after spending most of their evening on the Quidditch pitch. They were expecting to just comfortably rest in the peaceful common room for once. But when they entered they just stepped into a huge hustle. People talked excitedly, walking around the room with a loud chatter filling the room that suddenly felt so small with so many students packed inside.
"Wonder what started such a buzz," Alicia muttered when they made their way inside. Her steps immediately led her towards Katie who was sitting by the table on the other side of the common room chatting with Lee. Alicia's question got answered by Ron who was actually answering Harry's question.
"First Hogsmeade weekend," said Ron, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old bulletin board. The board was a great mess but the new paper of the Hogsmead trip, that surely McGonagall hang while they were training, was shining there from afar. "End of October. Halloween."
"Excellent," Fred cheered reaching the two girls. "I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets." He stated while putting his arms around each girl pulling them closer. Angelina didn't remain in that position for long. Being quick to push his arm off of her.
"Don't even dare Weasley. The last time I had an encounter with your Stink Pellets I couldn't wash the smell out of my hair for a week." Angelina complained angrily. Fred just snickered at the memory.
"Ah, the good times." Before Angelina could hit him over the head and cause him a mild concussion, Fred moved out of the way hastily. "Well, ladies, I'm gonna hit the showers. Try to not miss too much." He winked when leaving. Making his way towards the stairs. Angelina rolled her eyes while Rhea just looked away. For some reason, her face felt very hot.
"Such a tease that Weasley," Angelina muttered under her breath. Rhea looked around the room, spotting George sitting with Lee, Alicia and Katie by the table. Then Ron by the fire, with his usual group of friends. Ginny was sitting in the armchair talking to some of her friends and then there was Percy revising his notes in the corner of the room.
"Which one?" Rhea asked, pointing to each of the Weasleys that were in the room. Angelina scoffed and shook her head.
"Don't start with that." She said simply before remembering something. "Hey, I need to grab a book from the library real quick. Do you mind coming with me?" Angelina asked quickly, already turning towards the portrait hole.
"Isn't it almost past the curfew?" Rhea asked confused. Looking at the packed-up common room. Why else would everyone be inside already?
"Huh, not yet. Still have an hour or two. And I am a Prefect anyway. I need to collect all the lost Gryffindor kids."
"Oh...um sure," Rhea answered with a shrug. Leaving the busy common room and following Angelina out into the hallway.
***
"Explain to me again, why are you here rather than with your girlfriend Pevensie?" Rhea asked looking through the sweets at Honeydukes. It was finally their Hogsmead trip. And even if Rhea's initial plan was to go with her favourite group of friends, they all got scattered around without a word. Sure she knew where to find each one of them. It was fairly easy to guess that the twins were in the joke shop with Lee and the girls went to check the new clothing collection. Since Alicia was complaining about ripping her favourite t-shit at Quidditch practice last week.
And so Rhea went to Honeydukes, accompanied by Edmund for some reason. One would have thought that since he had a girlfriend now that he would be spending his time with her. But no, here he was watching Rhea expertly go through the packets of Drooble's as if trying to find that special packet in the sea of identical crazyberry flavoured bubblegums.
"Can I not spend time with my friend once in a while?" Edmund asked with a faint laugh when Rhea finally pulled out a packet from the bottom of the stack. Victoriously holding it in hand while moving towards the shelf with Pumpkin Fizz. Her hands were already full of different sweets. It was a miracle they weren't yet falling from her arms.
"If you say so, Ed." Rhea shrugged, reaching for the bottle of Pumpkin Fizz. Edmund eyed her curiously.
"What are you buying the Pumpkin Fizz for? You don't even like it." Ed stated, pointing towards the bottle in Rhea's hand. The girl looked down at the stuff in her hands.
"Well, Fred likes it so I thought I'd buy it for him." The girl just shrugged not finding it weird. But she was playing exactly into Edmund's cards as the lad smirked knowingly.
"Oh, I see. And that Pink Coconut Ice?" Edmund asked already knowing an answer to that.
"Fred usually uses it to make that pink goo for pranks," Rhea explained putting the sweets on the counter and pulling out her wallet from her bag and handing the lady behind the counter the money from the sweets.
"Fred eh?"
"Yes, Fred, George hates the smell of coconut," Rhea said again, suddenly feeling weird about Edmund's constant questions. She collected the sweets inside her bag, making sure not to stuff them in too tight or else the packaging would rip and cause a huge mess in her bag. "Why are you so weird today?" The Black girl asked when pulling her arm through the strap of her bag.
"Weird? No, I wouldn't say weird, just testing a theory." The dark-haired boy stated with a smirk. They made their way out of the store. The chilly air of late October hit them rather harshly. Rhea shivered slightly when stepping out of the store. Pulling the jacket tighter around her.
"Do I even want to know what this theory is about?" She asked looking up at the taller boy who once again just smirked. She was getting quite sick of that secretive nature of his. He usually wasn't like this at all. It was getting annoying. She was usually the annoying one that was asking questions about everything. Why was Edmund taking up her job?
"About your crush," Edmund stated simply. He didn't find it weird that he just exposed Rhea fully without her even knowing. But the girl seemed to be shocked by the statement. What was he on about?
"Did you fall out of the Astronomy tower and landed on your head?" She asked. Not sure if surprised or outraged. Who was he to assume she liked someone? And who even did he think that she likes?
"No," Edmund laughed at her bewildered expression. She was so funny like this. Even if she was trying to deny everything her eyes were saying that there was something there. "But you are being way too obvious about it, gal."
"I don't know what you are talking about Pevensie." Rhea frowned and went to walk away from him. Not having any specific destination that she was heading to. But wherever it was Edmund was going to follow her.
"Come on Rhea, don't be like that."
"Like what?" She asked over her shoulder not intending to stop.
"Look, let's just talk about it," Edmund suggested once he finally managed to stop her a little ways from Three Broomsticks. Rhea gave out a sigh, not seeing any other option but to let Edmund talk about this nonsense that he had set in his mind.
"Fine, talk then."
"I think it is more than obvious that I used to have a crush on you since our second year." Edmund started. The information came as something entirely new to Rhea. She had no idea that Edmund used to like her like that. And maybe she did and she just wanted to remind herself that they were just friends so she buried the thought deep down.
"Really? I had no idea." Rhea answered, her breath slightly short due to the surprise that Ed prepared for her with that confession.
"No kidding." The tall Slytherin chuckled to himself. Always aware of how oblivious Rhea was to everything love related. Not allowing herself the thought of anyone being interested in her like that. It was a habit. "But that doesn't matter. I was sure I wouldn't be able to be with you anyway." He explained, moving to the side to let the group of Hufflepuffs pass by them.
"What do you mean by that?" The blonde was confused entirely. She was not used to having these types of conversations. She always just listened when Alicia spoke about her boy problems. Never did it revolve around her. And she certainly wasn't around anyone confessing something like Edmund just did.
"Girl, even if you weren't realising it you were always way into someone else. And you do like him 'till today darling." He winked at the shorter girl who merely just rolled her eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous Ed. Who on earth would I like?" It was a stupid question and she practically played right into his cards. Even if it was unintentional. She was completely oblivious to who he was hinting at. And she called herself smart.
"Oh you know, just Fred Weasley." At the sound of the name, Rhea had to try really hard not to just die on the spot. How could Edmund think something like that? It was absolute nonsense. And she was sure to show him how she felt about that assumption.
"Fred and I are just friends you dimwit." She was sorry for using such foul language with her friend but he was getting on her nerves.
"Can you look there then?" He asked pointing towards the entrance of the Three Broomsticks. At first, she didn't know what she was looking at since too many people were walking past. But once the path cleared out and she could see, she spotted Fred there. No George or Lee in sight, as he just stood there, shamelessly flirting with some girl. Rhea recognised her as one of Katie's friends, she guessed her name was Leanne since that was the only friend Katie ever introduced to them.
Fred was obviously being the womanizer that he always is. Rhea could just say by the flirtatious smirk he had on his face and the way Leanne was giggling, twirling her dark hair around her finger. Rhea never had anything against Hufflepuffs. And she also never judged people based on their first impression. But this action made the Hufflepuff girl look ridiculously dumb.
The blond didn't even notice she was glaring hard at the scene in front of her. Inside her stomach, there was bubbling lava that just wanted to burst out of her in a form of rage and insults aimed at the innocent girl. Where was so much fury coming from? Edmund didn't fail to notice the murderous look on Rhea's face. Or how the fire rose in her eyes when Fred tacked the stray hair behind her ear.
"So...are you really just friends?" He asked teasingly, already knowing that Rhea couldn't deny it much longer.
The blonde finally looked over at him. Her brain processing everything all of a sudden. It was like an overflow of information attacking her brain. Suddenly Edmund's assumption didn't sound quite as weird as before. But could she be attracted to her best friend? Sure she felt safe with him, and every time he hugged her it calmed her down. But they have known each other for so long. Couldn't that just be the bond of friends? When George hugged her it felt good too. It was nice, warm and cuddly. And Fred's was the same it just made her feel safe, and protected, made her blush. It made her want to hug him more and never leave the warm embrace. She wanted to kiss h...
"Bloody hell..." Rhea muttered to herself. Surprised by her own thoughts. Edmund nodded knowingly.
"See, I told you." Rhea didn't pay attention to Edmund's teasing smile. She was more interested in the fact of how doomed she was at the moment. She had a crush on her best friend.