Fifth Year VIII.
"You guys really can go to the Hogsmeade, I'm fine with that," Rhea said when she and the twins were building a snowman outside in the courtyard of the school. Everyone had gone on the Hogsmeade trip to finish some Christmas shopping before they would be going home for the holidays. Even though Rhea and the twins were staying this year. Rhea mainly because her uncle was here and he is her only family and the twins just said they'd tag along since Ron was also staying.
Rhea couldn't go to Hogsmeade and she didn't mind since she already bought everything she needed. The girls had already left along with Lee but the twins were just wasting their time building a snowman here with Rhea. They just didn't want her to be alone.
"Yeah, we know," George answered with a shrug, tying a scarf around the head of their new icy friend.
"I have a bit of free time before my date, so why not spend it with my favourite girl." Fred winked at Rhea, making a tiny snowball before throwing it at George and hitting him in the shoulder.
"Oi!"
Rhea rolled her eyes at the mention of Fred going on a date with someone again. He has been hitting it with girls every single weekend. It was getting quite annoying. While anytime Rhea as much as tried to talk to a boy he would invade the conversation and drag Rhea away. He was very judgmental towards any boy Rhea showed even the slightest interest in. But of course, she had to be accepting of his little dates and hookups.
Rhea's birthday was nearing quite dangerously, just a few more days before she turns fifteen. Finally catching up with some of her classmates, even if just for a while until they turn sixteen. She wasn't planning any big party, considering that every time on her birthday the other kids are usually travelling home for the holiday. But it would be nice to spend it with people she likes. Before she could tease boys about what they got for her birthday something icy cold hit her straight in the face, stunning her. She blinked her eyes a few times, the bits of snow sliding down her face.
The cold feeling numbed her cheeks and nose. They were sure to turn red like the hair of the Weasley boys soon. Rhea frowned when she heard the howlers of laughter coming from the two twins who stood hiding behind the snowman. Black went to bend down to get her hands on some snow to get back on the two boys for their sudden attack. But when she went to scoop up the snow in her hands she noticed steps appearing next to her, but no person was there to make them. She shot a curious look towards Fred and George, the two had already noticed the strange steps going around their friend. It was more than obvious that it was the only person in the castle who has an invisibility cloak in his possession. This cover-up will not get him far.
The three nodded at one another. Rhea tilted her head to the side telling Fred and George to do their thing while she already made her way off to somewhere. Fred and George looked like they were following her, until they scooped someone with their arms, each twin on one side while they dragged the person away, grinning like mad.
"He really thought he could deceive us didn't he boys?" Rhea asked, walking in front of the group.
"Clever, Harry," Fred stated, looking at the invisible person they were dragging towards the side.
"But not clever enough," George added with a laugh.
"Besides, we've got a better way."
"Guys come on I'm trying to get to Hogsmeade," Harry said from under the invisibility cloak causing Rhea to roll her eyes.
"We know," The three said surprisingly at the same time. Harry under the cloak could only stare, stunned by it. Rhea was really spending too much time with the twins. They were rubbing on her.
"We'll get you there." Rhea waved her hand dismissingly, shaking her head at the sound of Harry struggling against the twins. The boy has no chance against the two taller and older boys.
"We'll show you a quicker way," Fred added sending a wink to Rhea who was already pulling out an old piece of parchment that has been guiding their pranks and quick escapes for five years already. They know every passageway on that old thing by heart. There is no secret corridor that they don't know about.
"If you pipe down." George tightened a bit his grip because Harry was wiggling around quite immensely.
"Bless him."
"Let me go! Come on, guys. Don't..." Harry kept complaining as Rhea led the group towards the staircase.
"Now, Harry." Rhea started letting the boys finish with their line.
"Come and join the big boys." The twins walked past Rhea, throwing Harry on the stairs. Rhea reached forwards pulling the cloak off of him so he was now visible to them.
"What are you doing?!" Harry practically yelled causing the trio of pranksters to shush him instantly. Rhea slapped the old parchment against his chest and Harry stared at it with furrowed eyebrows. "What's this rubbish?"
"'What's this rubbish?' he says," Fred muttered in disbelief, but before he could snark any sarcastic remark Rhea stopped him.
"It's the secret to our success." She corrected Harry about the importance of the paper in his hands.
"It's a wrench giving it to you believe me..." This time it was George who felt like he needed to say something.
"But we've decided your needs are greater than ours. George, if you will." Rhea said motioning to George who stood on her left to open the map for them. George nodded pulling out his wand to which Fred frowned, leaning his body against the wall.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." And suddenly Harry could see that it wasn't just any old worthless parchment. It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing were the tiny ink dots moving around it, each labelled with a name in minuscule writing. It was something that the trio were so used to seeing yet it still looked so magical when it just appeared in front of them out of nowhere. Always felt like the first time.
"Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs...are proud to present the Marauder's Map." Harry read the front of the map. The names have a deeper meaning to Rhea than to anyone else. Since she knew what lay behind that map. How many years of work and the friendship of four people that created it.
"We owe them so much," Fred said dreamily, putting a hand on Rhea's shoulder and slowly pulling her closer to him until she was leaning against his chest. George noticed the action and smirked slightly to himself. All of this happened while Harry was too busy scanning the map.
"Hang on. This is Hogwarts. And that...No. Is that really...?" Harry couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence and so the group did it for him.
"Dumbledore." Rhea nodded.
"In his study," Fred added, his arm slipping around Rhea's waist.
"Pacing. Does that a lot." George couldn't help but smile seeing the two. Harry noticed too but he was a bit sceptical of the closeness. He didn't like boys close to Rhea since she was like a sister to him. But this was Fred, he was her best friend. There was nothing else than just their friendship there, right?
"So this map shows...?"
"Everyone," Rhea said for Harry.
"Where they are." George continued since Fred was too busy playing with the string bracelet he found on Rhea's wrist.
"What they're doing." Fred finally added followed by George since Rhea had to tie her bracelet back around her wrist because Fred was trying to pull it off before.
"Every minute."
"Every day."
"Brilliant! Where did you get it?" Harry seemed to be quite enthusiastic about it all of a sudden. Knowing that the twins and Rhea would get him to Hogsmeade like this.
"Nicked it from Filch's office of course." George chuckled remembering the time back in their first year.
"First year," Fred added.
"Now listen Harry, there are seven secret passageways out of the castle and we'd recommend this one." Rhea pushed away from Fred, pointing her finger to some spot on the map.
"The One-Eyed Witch passageway." Fred named the passage for him.
"Leads you to Honeyduke's," George added before scanning the map. "We best hurry. Filch is heading this way." The group went to leave before Rhea remembered something.
"And don't forget. When you're done, just give it a tap and say: 'Mischief managed.' Otherwise, anyone can read it." Rhea smiled at the boy kindly which he returned.
"Thanks, Rhea."
"Don't mention it, mate." She winked at him before following the twins outside. The two were going to the Hogsmeade and Rhea was to see them off before getting back to the common room to read.
"So who's it from?" Fred suddenly asked breaking the silence that has fallen on the group. Rhea looked up at him, confused by the question. What was he referring to? Even George seemed to be confused.
"What?"
"That bracelet," Fred stated, turning around and taking Rhea's right hand pulling the long sleeve up, taking a note that she was wearing his old knitted sweater. Once he pulled the sleeve up he revealed a string bracelet made of green, purple and black coloured threads. Rhea had the urge to laugh at how protective Fred was being.
"Fred, it's from your sister," Rhea said slowly hoping it would sink into his thick skull.
"I don't care if it's from...wait what?" Fred seemed confused while George couldn't help his laughs anymore.
"You are a bloody idiot," George said between laughs.
"Shut up," Fred muttered, seemingly embarrassed but he was quick to cover it. "I'm going to be late for my date." He said before turning and leaving the two behind. Rhea stayed there standing confused, while the snow kept falling around her. George noticed the sad expression on her face and decided to come forward, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't mind him, he's an idiot." He said to her, giving a soft kiss on her cheek, only a friendly one. Then he left to follow his brother to Hogsmeade.
***
Rhea was sitting in the common room, reading through her new favourite book that she randomly found in the library a week ago. She was deep into the story, just trying to relax after she had quite an intense lesson with her uncle. Perfecting her Expecto Patronum skills just because there are so many dementors around. It was quite a hard day for her even if she wasn't tagging around with Fred and George causing mayhem. She was waiting for them in the common room. Knowing that soon her calm reading session will be disturbed.
Some people had already returned from Hogsmeade. But not the people Rhea wanted to see. She was just turning the page and starting a new chapter when someone burst through the portrait hole, startling everyone in the room. It was Harry, looking furious. His eyes bloodshot as if he had been crying not too long ago. The obvious fury in his eyes radiated and made Rhea wonder what could have happened to set him off like that.
Ron and Hermione were rushing behind him. It looked like he had been set on a mission and the two were just trying to stop him before he would murder someone. It was quite a strange sight since the three usually walked together and they were never in such a rush. Ron wasn't usually for running but right now he seemed like he didn't mind.
Harry's eyes searched around the room. He was definitely looking for someone and that said someone was surely in some sort of trouble with the boy in glasses. Once they landed on Rhea his eyes seemed to get fixated on her as an unpleasant frown set on his face. If possible he looked even more irritated than before.
"Harry don't," Hermione managed to say before Harry made his way over to Rhea. The blonde girl put the book down, feeling rather awkward with Harry nearing her in such a mood. But still, she managed to pull on a kind smile like always, hoping it would melt the frown on Harry's face.
"Hey Harry, how was Hogsmeade?" She asked politely, hoping to start some light conversation. But what came next was far worse than a slap out of nowhere with an icy cold hand. Within a blink of an eye, Rhea saw the tip of Harry's wand pointed her way, a very determined look set on his face. As if he was about to kill her right there. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"It was all his fault," Harry rasped out. Breathing coming out as ragged. He was breathless, his hand trembling whilst still pointing it at the blonde who was sitting in her chair.
"What's whose fault?" Rhea asked confused, her mind racing for solutions on what to do. Eyes travelling over to Hermione who had a worried look on her face. At this point, no one knew what will happen next. No one saw inside Harry's grief-filled mind.
"It's all your father's fault! And you are exactly like him!" Harry screamed, getting closer to Rhea. The girl quickly stood up from her armchair. Hands raised in the air in surrender. Rhea was feeling weird in the situation. At one point she was confused about what Harry was saying. But on the other hand, she sympathized with him when she saw how much it pained him, whatever it was. But she would like to know what she was accused of.
"Harry I don't understand what you..."
"Your bloody father is the reason my parents are dead! He betrayed them!" Harry yelled getting dangerously close to Rhea. The girl finally got the faintest idea of what was going on here. And she genuinely felt attacked by Harry's accusations.
"I have nothing to do with it though..." Rhea trailed off towards the end of her sentence when Harry pressed the tip of his wand to her neck. She wanted to pull out her own wand, but this was Harry in front of her and she could never bring herself to hurt him. She just put her hands up in a form of surrender. Everyone in the room knew Rhea would be able to finish Harry sooner than he would be able to cast a spell. So everyone was certain that the Black girl just didn't want to hurt him.
"You are just like him! A traitor!" Harry yelled furiously.
"All right that's enough now," A stern voice said from the back of the room where the portrait entrance was. All the heads turned in that direction to see the two gingers and Angelina Johnson standing there, all three glaring in the direction of the two almost siblings. Fred was the one who spoke before. Already marching over to the two. "You need to lay off mate," Fred said pushing Harry away from his best friend.
"Yes Harry you were way out of line," George agreed, passing by Harry to see if Rhea was all right. The girl was a bit shaken up but otherwise okay. Ron walked over to Harry to pull him away before Fred would be able to hurt him in wrath.
"You don't even want to know what I'm thinking about this," Angelina stated, shaking her head as she walked around the boy to join her friends. Her first thoughts were to report this to McGonagall but Rhea surely wouldn't want that.
"Harry, maybe you should really calm down," Hermione suggested putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. The boy with glasses just shoved it off roughly and stepped angrily up the stairs towards his dorm. Rhea was left thinking about what had she done to deserve such a hostile attitude from her friend. One that she saw as a brother. Once everything calmed down, Rhea was finally able to fully delve into her own mind to make sense of the situation. But she was drawing a blank.
"Hey, don't overthink it, princess. Harry's just a bit messed up in the head." Fred said softly, putting his hand on Rhea's shoulder in a calming manner. But that didn't help Rhea forget what has happened just a few short moments ago.
***
Fred sat down next to Rhea in Transfiguration class. It was just after the end of the Christmas holiday which they spent at school. This Christmas was extraordinary. For the first time in forever, she got some mysterious presents. Along with Harry, she got a new broom. Harry is still not on talking terms with her yet, he just doesn't have the urge to kill her every time he sees her. But it was great seeing him so happy about the new broom since the old one got destroyed in the accident with the whomping willow and the dementors.
Rhea also got something that she has been wearing around her neck ever since that day. It was a moon necklace. A full moon to be exact, it represented exactly her name since she was named after the moon. Her father wanted to divide from his family but still loved the galactic theme of the name, so instead of a star or constellation, he chose the moon.
She has been fiddling with the charm around her neck all the time when she had nothing to do with her hands. It became something like her nervous manner of hers. Though the gifters of the generous presents were never announced and they stayed anonymous.
Fred looked around the classroom. The class was fully immersed in taking notes from the chalkboards that were at the front. McGonagall had decided to give them a helping hand for the upcoming O.W.Ls and was revising everything from the start of their school education. Mainly doing it for the sake of students like Lee Jordan who was completely lost in the subject.
The ginger noticed that the seat next to Angelina was vacant. Alicia usually sat there. Now that he thinks about it he didn't see the girl at breakfast either. The last time he saw her was the previous night when they were all going to bed. That was weird, she looked fine back then.
"Oi Rhea," Fred whispered, nudging her a little, being careful not to mess up her handwriting or else she would kill him. Rhea strongly disliked when someone was messing with her notes. The blonde looked up from her notes, her green eyes looking over at him quizzically.
"Hmm?"
"Where's Alicia? I haven't seen her since yesterday." Fred asked, pointing towards the empty seat next to Angelina. The girl could fill up the empty seat. She had her books filling up the whole table. Seems like Alicia wouldn't even have a place to sit now. Rhea sighed at the question. So whatever the reason it must have been stupid.
"She ate all the sweets she bought at Hogsmeade, mixed it with the muggle candy she got sent from her cousin and now she is sick," Rhea explained, slightly cringing at the memory of Alicia bolting towards the bathroom in the morning to vomit. Not the most pleasant thing to be woken up to.
"Woah, how much she ate if it's that bad?"
"Huh, about two to three packets..."
"That's not that bad."
"Of each brand. And she had five of those." Rhea said with dead seriousness. Fred's eyes widened. That was a lot of sweets. He can't even remember if he saw that many sweet things in one place. And eaten by one girl. His mum would tell him his teeth would rot just by the look at them. Of course, that wasn't true but just from his childhood experience, he wouldn't eat that much at once.
"And that got her out of class." Fred hummed impressed. Though Alicia's plan to get off the class was effective, no one would eat that much candy at once. It would be too pricey...and for some, it might be ineffective. Taken into account Ron's endless pit that he has for the stomach. "Huh," Fred hummed, deep in thoughts about sweets and their ability to make a person sick. Rhea was done with her notes when she looked over at Fred to see him deep in thought about something, only half of his notes written down.
Suddenly Fred's face lit up and he started scribbling down something in immerse speed. Curious Rhea peeked over his shoulder only seeing some strange names that sounded like sweets but had something sickening to them. Rolling her eyes she grabbed a spare piece of parchment and started writing again this time taking notes for Fred. It's either that or she would have to do it in her free time after school.
Rhea yet was oblivious to the fact that Fred, thanks to her, figured out an idea that would put him and his brother out in the world and earn them a great fortune one day. Right now it was just a silly idea, scratched messily on the piece of parchment where his notes were supposed to be. This idea was soon to transform into something huge.