The doorbell sounded throughout the house, but since Rhia was on the third
floor, unpacking, she couldn't bound downstairs to get it. The door opened
to reveal James, Lily, and Peter.
"Yes?" a tall man just inside the door droned. Peter, who had never been to Rhia's house before, stepped back and whimpered.
"Hello Butler," Lily spoke right up. The O'Neils' butler really did have a name (he was born to Adams) but since she was a small child, Rhia had called him Butler. Now, everyone did. "Is Rhia home, and anywhere near the first floor?"
Rhia lived in a huge mansion, for her family was extremely rich. Her dad worked in Muggle stocks, and her mother's family owned half of Diagon Alley. Rhia had never let the spoiling go to her head, however. Always the down-to-earth one, she had much preferred to spend her childhood days two houses down at the Blacks.
"Right this way," Butler replied. He led them inside, all the while Peter and James feverishly looking around in awe.
Butler showed the three to a grand staircase. "She's in her room. I trust you know the way, Lady Evans?"
Lily smiled. "Of course, Butler."
"I'll have Sam bring up your things." Butler nodded himself out. Lily grabbed James hand, and Peter's shirttail, and pulled them up three flights of stairs to Rhia's room. Panting, James knocked on the door. Sirius flung it open.
"You're here!" he cried, his depressing mood having lifted slightly in the past three weeks. James staggered inside.
"Why do you have to live so bloody far from the door, Rhia?" he managed to spit out. Rhia laughed.
"For our all-star Quidditch player, one would think you'd be in better shape, James!"
Lily laughed. "You're just unpacking now, Rhia? We've been home for almost a month!"
"You think this is bad?" Rhia shot back, laughing. "You should see Sirius' room. At least I've started."
The kids fooled around a bit more until a tapping on Rhia's window brought them back to earth. Sirius ran to open it. "Hey, it's Bean!" Bean, an owl, flew into the room and dropped a letter onto Rhia's bed. Bean was Remus' owl, named after his scary likeness to a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean. "What's it say?"
Rhia sat down, her hands shaking slightly. She had asked Remus and Annie to come stay as well, but hadn't seen them nor heard from them since the train ride home. She unfolded the letter.
"Well, what's it say?" James pushed. Rhia's eyes scanned the letter once, twice, and she let it fall from her hands. Promptly, she burst into tears.
"Rhia!" Sirius and Lily rushed to either side of her to try and calm down the now-shaking girl. James bent down and picked up Remus' letter.
"What's it say?" Peter asked nervously.
"It says... it says Remus and Annie won't be coming to stay... and that they don't want to see us anymore. Any of us." James shook his head.
"You mean..." Peter started, and James nodded. They both looked at Rhiannon, and felt she had gotten, by far, the worst end of this stupid prank.
~*~
"It feels good to do nothing but lounge about." James sighed, flopping back on the couch in Rhia's 'playroom'. Or, at least it had been her playroom when she was young. Now it was just the room where she hung out with friends and kept her muggle electronics and it was where James, Sirius, Peter, Lily, and Rhia were currently presiding.
"How do you work this thing?" Peter asking, pushing the buttons on Rhia's television set.
"This button." She leaned forward and pressed it, letting the box fill with light. "Don't watch too much, it's bad for your eyes."
"It's just like the pictures at home but with sound." He cried gleefully.
"Don't get too excited, Peter." Lily advised. "We've got to dress for the dinner party soon."
"Dinner party?" Peter looked up from the screen.
"Yes, my father's party with his coworkers." Rhia explained.
"Does this mean dress robes?" Peter wrinkled his nose.
"No, it means suits." Sirius replied. "Rhia's father's a muggle, remember?"
"Oh, yeah." Peter nodded and resumed watching the box. James and Sirius joined him shortly and Rhia finished painting Lily's nails before the butler came along with a maid to get them ready for the party.
"I'm going home to get ready." Sirius said. "I'll see you later!" He waved and left.
"Then shall we go?" the butler bowed to James and Peter.
"They'll need lots of help, Butler!" Rhia called after them as the maid led them to her room.
"What are we wearing?" asked Lily, who hadn't brought anything other than her mauve dress robes.
"Not sure." Rhia answered. "Rachel, what did Mother say?"
"Madame O'Leary wants you, Miss, to wear your black and white gown." Rachel, the maid, laid a sleek black dress with white trim on the bed. "And Miss Evans may choose between the blue gown or the yellow."
"Pick the yellow, Lil, I have the perfect shoes to go with it." Rhia suggested, pulling on a slip.
"Alright then, the yellow." Lily told Rachel.
"Very good, Miss Evans." Rachel smiled and helped Rhia into her dress, then Lily into hers. "Shall I put up your hair?"
"No, we can manage." Rhia smiled, feeling her wand in the small pocket she had sewn into her dress. "Thanks."
"Thank you." Lily added. Rachel dropped a small curtsy and left.
"Now, sit, I want to do your hair." Rhia pulled out her wand.
"Oh, no." Lily shook her head. "Annie offered to do my hair a few years ago and I've only just gotten it all back."
"Come on," Rhia pleaded, "I'm...what, the third best in my class?"
"Fourth." Lily corrected. "James, Severus, and I."
"Fine, fourth." Rhia rolled her eyes. "And it was you who chose to let a twelve-year-old do your hair. I just want to try something new."
"Alright, alright." Lily gave in. "But be careful!"
"I will." Rhia smiled and began working, braiding and curling, twisting and tying. After a good ten minutes, she slipped her wand back into her pocket. "There, all finished." Rhia turned Lily around in the chair, letting her look at her reflection.
"Wow." Lily raised her eyebrows, patting her new hairstyle affectionately.
"You look lovely." Rhia smiled as she swept her own chocolate-coloured hair up with two rhinestone combs.
"We do." Lily corrected her. "Now, let's go find those boys." She grabbed Rhia's hand and brought her downstairs. The ballroom was buzzing with guests and James and Peter had flattened themselves against a faraway wall, staring in awe at the fancily dressed muggles that stood around them.
"They look so funny." Rhia giggled, seeing them standing uncomfortably in their suits.
"They look like Muggles." Lily laughed. "Is Sirius coming?"
"Once his mother's ready." She replied. "She takes a bit long, still insists in 'putting on mourning'."
"Still?" Lily raised her brow. "But it's been almost two years."
"I know." Rhia replied. "I guess she's allowed to. I mean, it was her husband and all."
"Poor Sirius." Lily sighed. "Having his dad killed by that Lord Something- Or-Another."
"Voldemort." Rhia corrected. "But you mustn't talk about it. It still makes Mrs. Black sad."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Lily replied.
"Lily!" James cried, noticing his girlfriend standing across the room and hurrying to her with Peter in tow.
"You two look...amazing." Rhia said, trying not to laugh.
"Really?" Peter beamed.
"Truly." Lily smiled.
"Hi, everyone." Sirius hailed as he walked in, dropping his mother off with some neighbors.
"Sirius!" Rhia hugged her best friend tightly. "We were wondering when you'd come."
"I couldn't figure out how to put this on." He gestured to his suit.
"Us neither." James admitted.
"Rhiannon, darling." Mrs. O'Leary came over to Rhia and her circlet of friends. "You must come entertain Madam Witherspoon and tell her about our trip to India."
"Yes, Mother." Rhia said, rolling her eyes at her friends and walking off towards Madam Witherspoon.
"Her mum seems a bit flighty, eh?" Peter suggested.
"Peter!" Lily cried.
"It's true, Lil." James replied.
"James is right." Sirius added. "Their parents were married because of their parents, money issues and all. Mrs. O'Leary was really young when Rhia was born, and she just thinks of her daughter as a little doll to play with."
"Poor dear." Lily sighed, watching Rhia put on a fake smile and tell Madam Witherspoon of her trip.
"Yes ma'am," Rhia intoned, staring off into space in the direction of her mother. These chats with her society friends always involved Rhia at one point or another, and she was quite used to it by now.
"Well?" Madam Witherspoon spoke to Rhia. She snapped back into attention.
"Beg your pardon?" Rhia asked, slightly embarrassed.
"I asked which school it was you attend again." Rhia looked up at her mother, unsure of what to say. No one really spoke of Hogwarts around family friends.
"She attends Eton, but it's very hush-hush. You know, security reasons and all. The Prince goes there, after all." Madam Witherspoon nodded, visibly impressed, but soon wandered off to speak with some other over-dressed Muggles. Rhia glared at her mother.
"Really Mother, Eton? Isn't that a bit conspicuous? There could be someone here on the school board for Eton, or works there, or has a child there. It's too easy a lie to catch."
"Oh come now, Rhiannon. Eton is a very respectable institution, and I will not have my daughter going to any place else."
"But Mother, I do go to another school - I go to Hogwarts! You're a witch yourself, why do you shun it so much?"
"Rhiannon!" Mrs. O'Leary hissed. She grabbed Rhia's arm and dragged her over to a corner, smiling over her shoulder at staring guests. "Rhiannon Charlotte O'Leary! I will not be spoken to like that. Of course I take pride in my magickal heritage, but your father is a Muggle, and I love him dearly." Rhia snorted. "I can't live in both worlds, Rhiannon. You can't either."
Rhia gulped. "What are you saying?"
"I am saying, Rhiannon, that I am fed up with your schooling. You must decide where you wish to live. The Muggle world has so many more opportunities. Rhiannon darling, you must leave your magickal life for one of more normal roots."
Rhia stared at her mother in awe.
"You can't mean.you want me to just.leave?" Rhia murmured.
"I mean I want you to make a decision and make the right one." Mrs. O'Leary touched her daughter's cheek and Rhia knew she meant that her decision would be overlooked no matter what. "Now, go mingle. I believe the Anderson boys go to Eton, perhaps you should get to know them."
"Mother, I-"
"Go on." She pushed her in the opposite direction, going to chat with a visiting Countess. Rhia sighed and turned away from the Andersons and towards the stairs, where James, Sirius, Lily, and Peter were sitting, eating something out of napkins.
"You're looking glum." Peter noticed as she sat down next to him.
"I...I was talking to Mother and..." Rhia stopped shortly as she felt tears enclose her throat.
"Rhia?" Lily touched her friend's back and she heaved with silent sobs.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, his eyes worried. Rhia shook her head, unable to speak.
"I think she needs to get to bed." Lily said, standing. "James, Sirius, help me get her upstairs."
"Alright." James replied, putting one of Rhia's arms over his shoulder as Sirius took the other and lead her up the stairs and into bed.
~*~
"Miss Rhiannon...Miss, wake up."
Delicious odors broke through Rhia's dreams of Hogwarts...
"Miss, your breakfast is here."
She sat up, seeing a maid holding a tray. Lily was also awake, sitting on the edge of her bed, dressed in her wrapper.
"Thank you." Rhia nodded. The maid curtsied and put the tray on the table before leaving.
"You were in hysterics." Lily explained before Rhia could say another word. "We put you to bed."
"Did Mother say anything?" she asked, playing with her coverlets.
"She disapproved." Lily replied. "But she thinks you're ill so she let it slide."
"I feel ill." Rhia held her head, aching from so many tears the night before.
"What was wrong, exactly?" Lily asked. "You couldn't tell us, you were too..."
"Hysterical?" Rhia offered and she nodded. "Mother...Mother wants to send me to Eton." Rhia looked down, fighting back tears.
"Eton?!" Lily cried, jumping up. "You're not serious."
"She is." Rhia sighed. "You see-"
A large, official-looking owl came swooping through the open window, interrupting her.
"Who's is that?" Lily asked, going over to it.
"Dunno." Rhia shook her head. "Looks like it could be from the Ministry or something."
"Let's see." Lily took the piece of parchment off of it's leg and read it for a bit. "It's from Dumbledore." She handed her the paper. "Apparently, he's heard of this whole Eton thing."
Rhia took the paper and read it.
Miss O'Leary
Sources have informed me of your decision to attend Eton these next two years. As you should know, you are one of the top in your class and it would be a terrible tragedy to loose such a talented witch such as yourself.
I have sent a transcript of your grades along with a letter to your parents, imploring them to let you stay at the school.
Albus Dumbledore
Rhia almost laughed. "He's basically begging my mother to let me stay at Hogwarts!" But when she looked down at the letter, and realized she might not see Dumbledore again, the tears she thought were gone came out in a fresh wave.
Lily watched her sobbing friend, wondering what to do. Just then, a knock sounded on Rhia's heavy wooden door. Without waiting for a reply, Sirius opened the door. He saw Rhia crying, and rushed to her side.
"Rhia, honey! What's wrong? Please, its Sirius, you've got to tell me!" Rhia looked up at Sirius as he tried to wipe her tears away, but that just made her cry even harder. He looked to Lily for help.
"Sirius... Mrs. O'Leary wants Rhia to transfer to Eton for the next two years. She wants Rhia to live in the Muggle world."
Sirius gasped. "But she can't do that!"
"Oh, but she can..." Rhia mumbled miserably. "You know my father, always so afraid of her, and he never liked the idea of me being a witch anyway, why would he stick up for me?"
"There must be something we can do... you can't just leave us forever, Rhia! I won't let you!"
Lily watched as Sirius hugged Rhia until she fell asleep again. He stood up. "What are we going to do, Lil?"
"I don't know, Sirius. I don't know... but you know if we try to oppose this, we'll all be sent home and Rhia will be sent off early." They stood in silence for a bit, Sirius watching Rhia intently. Suddenly he looked up.
"Someone has to tell Remus."
* * *
"Annie! Hey Annie, lunch!" Remus called up the stairs. He walked back into the kitchen to help set the table.
"Oh Remmie darling, I can do that," his grandmother called from her rocking chair in the corner.
"Never Gram, I can do it."
Annie walked sullenly into the kitchen. "Oh, cheer up Annie. Look, you have an owl!" Remus pointed to the window, where a large black owl was flapping with a letter tied to its leg. Annie opened the window.
"Uh, Remus... its addressed to you. It looks like Lily's owl." Remus whipped around, dropping some silverware.
"Be careful with those!" his mother called from the living room.
"Lily? But why would she be writing?" Remus asked. No one had written since Rhia asked them to stay for the summer. What if something was wrong? But then his fear subsided. Did he even care?
"Remus..." Annie had opened the letter, and as she spoke his name it fell from her hands. Remus picked it up.
"Really Annie, what could be so bad?" But when he read the letter, he understood.
Dear Remus and Annie,
I know you haven't wanted to speak with us, but I just thought you should know. Mrs. O'Leary is sending Rhia away to Eton. She's to live in the Muggle world from now on. She's leaving Hogwarts... for good. Just in case you still care.
Love, Lily
Remus stared at the letter, and sank down into a kitchen chair. Rhia was being sent away? He vaguely heard Annie run out of the room and back upstairs, but didn't process it. All he could think was... he did care.
"Yes?" a tall man just inside the door droned. Peter, who had never been to Rhia's house before, stepped back and whimpered.
"Hello Butler," Lily spoke right up. The O'Neils' butler really did have a name (he was born to Adams) but since she was a small child, Rhia had called him Butler. Now, everyone did. "Is Rhia home, and anywhere near the first floor?"
Rhia lived in a huge mansion, for her family was extremely rich. Her dad worked in Muggle stocks, and her mother's family owned half of Diagon Alley. Rhia had never let the spoiling go to her head, however. Always the down-to-earth one, she had much preferred to spend her childhood days two houses down at the Blacks.
"Right this way," Butler replied. He led them inside, all the while Peter and James feverishly looking around in awe.
Butler showed the three to a grand staircase. "She's in her room. I trust you know the way, Lady Evans?"
Lily smiled. "Of course, Butler."
"I'll have Sam bring up your things." Butler nodded himself out. Lily grabbed James hand, and Peter's shirttail, and pulled them up three flights of stairs to Rhia's room. Panting, James knocked on the door. Sirius flung it open.
"You're here!" he cried, his depressing mood having lifted slightly in the past three weeks. James staggered inside.
"Why do you have to live so bloody far from the door, Rhia?" he managed to spit out. Rhia laughed.
"For our all-star Quidditch player, one would think you'd be in better shape, James!"
Lily laughed. "You're just unpacking now, Rhia? We've been home for almost a month!"
"You think this is bad?" Rhia shot back, laughing. "You should see Sirius' room. At least I've started."
The kids fooled around a bit more until a tapping on Rhia's window brought them back to earth. Sirius ran to open it. "Hey, it's Bean!" Bean, an owl, flew into the room and dropped a letter onto Rhia's bed. Bean was Remus' owl, named after his scary likeness to a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean. "What's it say?"
Rhia sat down, her hands shaking slightly. She had asked Remus and Annie to come stay as well, but hadn't seen them nor heard from them since the train ride home. She unfolded the letter.
"Well, what's it say?" James pushed. Rhia's eyes scanned the letter once, twice, and she let it fall from her hands. Promptly, she burst into tears.
"Rhia!" Sirius and Lily rushed to either side of her to try and calm down the now-shaking girl. James bent down and picked up Remus' letter.
"What's it say?" Peter asked nervously.
"It says... it says Remus and Annie won't be coming to stay... and that they don't want to see us anymore. Any of us." James shook his head.
"You mean..." Peter started, and James nodded. They both looked at Rhiannon, and felt she had gotten, by far, the worst end of this stupid prank.
~*~
"It feels good to do nothing but lounge about." James sighed, flopping back on the couch in Rhia's 'playroom'. Or, at least it had been her playroom when she was young. Now it was just the room where she hung out with friends and kept her muggle electronics and it was where James, Sirius, Peter, Lily, and Rhia were currently presiding.
"How do you work this thing?" Peter asking, pushing the buttons on Rhia's television set.
"This button." She leaned forward and pressed it, letting the box fill with light. "Don't watch too much, it's bad for your eyes."
"It's just like the pictures at home but with sound." He cried gleefully.
"Don't get too excited, Peter." Lily advised. "We've got to dress for the dinner party soon."
"Dinner party?" Peter looked up from the screen.
"Yes, my father's party with his coworkers." Rhia explained.
"Does this mean dress robes?" Peter wrinkled his nose.
"No, it means suits." Sirius replied. "Rhia's father's a muggle, remember?"
"Oh, yeah." Peter nodded and resumed watching the box. James and Sirius joined him shortly and Rhia finished painting Lily's nails before the butler came along with a maid to get them ready for the party.
"I'm going home to get ready." Sirius said. "I'll see you later!" He waved and left.
"Then shall we go?" the butler bowed to James and Peter.
"They'll need lots of help, Butler!" Rhia called after them as the maid led them to her room.
"What are we wearing?" asked Lily, who hadn't brought anything other than her mauve dress robes.
"Not sure." Rhia answered. "Rachel, what did Mother say?"
"Madame O'Leary wants you, Miss, to wear your black and white gown." Rachel, the maid, laid a sleek black dress with white trim on the bed. "And Miss Evans may choose between the blue gown or the yellow."
"Pick the yellow, Lil, I have the perfect shoes to go with it." Rhia suggested, pulling on a slip.
"Alright then, the yellow." Lily told Rachel.
"Very good, Miss Evans." Rachel smiled and helped Rhia into her dress, then Lily into hers. "Shall I put up your hair?"
"No, we can manage." Rhia smiled, feeling her wand in the small pocket she had sewn into her dress. "Thanks."
"Thank you." Lily added. Rachel dropped a small curtsy and left.
"Now, sit, I want to do your hair." Rhia pulled out her wand.
"Oh, no." Lily shook her head. "Annie offered to do my hair a few years ago and I've only just gotten it all back."
"Come on," Rhia pleaded, "I'm...what, the third best in my class?"
"Fourth." Lily corrected. "James, Severus, and I."
"Fine, fourth." Rhia rolled her eyes. "And it was you who chose to let a twelve-year-old do your hair. I just want to try something new."
"Alright, alright." Lily gave in. "But be careful!"
"I will." Rhia smiled and began working, braiding and curling, twisting and tying. After a good ten minutes, she slipped her wand back into her pocket. "There, all finished." Rhia turned Lily around in the chair, letting her look at her reflection.
"Wow." Lily raised her eyebrows, patting her new hairstyle affectionately.
"You look lovely." Rhia smiled as she swept her own chocolate-coloured hair up with two rhinestone combs.
"We do." Lily corrected her. "Now, let's go find those boys." She grabbed Rhia's hand and brought her downstairs. The ballroom was buzzing with guests and James and Peter had flattened themselves against a faraway wall, staring in awe at the fancily dressed muggles that stood around them.
"They look so funny." Rhia giggled, seeing them standing uncomfortably in their suits.
"They look like Muggles." Lily laughed. "Is Sirius coming?"
"Once his mother's ready." She replied. "She takes a bit long, still insists in 'putting on mourning'."
"Still?" Lily raised her brow. "But it's been almost two years."
"I know." Rhia replied. "I guess she's allowed to. I mean, it was her husband and all."
"Poor Sirius." Lily sighed. "Having his dad killed by that Lord Something- Or-Another."
"Voldemort." Rhia corrected. "But you mustn't talk about it. It still makes Mrs. Black sad."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Lily replied.
"Lily!" James cried, noticing his girlfriend standing across the room and hurrying to her with Peter in tow.
"You two look...amazing." Rhia said, trying not to laugh.
"Really?" Peter beamed.
"Truly." Lily smiled.
"Hi, everyone." Sirius hailed as he walked in, dropping his mother off with some neighbors.
"Sirius!" Rhia hugged her best friend tightly. "We were wondering when you'd come."
"I couldn't figure out how to put this on." He gestured to his suit.
"Us neither." James admitted.
"Rhiannon, darling." Mrs. O'Leary came over to Rhia and her circlet of friends. "You must come entertain Madam Witherspoon and tell her about our trip to India."
"Yes, Mother." Rhia said, rolling her eyes at her friends and walking off towards Madam Witherspoon.
"Her mum seems a bit flighty, eh?" Peter suggested.
"Peter!" Lily cried.
"It's true, Lil." James replied.
"James is right." Sirius added. "Their parents were married because of their parents, money issues and all. Mrs. O'Leary was really young when Rhia was born, and she just thinks of her daughter as a little doll to play with."
"Poor dear." Lily sighed, watching Rhia put on a fake smile and tell Madam Witherspoon of her trip.
"Yes ma'am," Rhia intoned, staring off into space in the direction of her mother. These chats with her society friends always involved Rhia at one point or another, and she was quite used to it by now.
"Well?" Madam Witherspoon spoke to Rhia. She snapped back into attention.
"Beg your pardon?" Rhia asked, slightly embarrassed.
"I asked which school it was you attend again." Rhia looked up at her mother, unsure of what to say. No one really spoke of Hogwarts around family friends.
"She attends Eton, but it's very hush-hush. You know, security reasons and all. The Prince goes there, after all." Madam Witherspoon nodded, visibly impressed, but soon wandered off to speak with some other over-dressed Muggles. Rhia glared at her mother.
"Really Mother, Eton? Isn't that a bit conspicuous? There could be someone here on the school board for Eton, or works there, or has a child there. It's too easy a lie to catch."
"Oh come now, Rhiannon. Eton is a very respectable institution, and I will not have my daughter going to any place else."
"But Mother, I do go to another school - I go to Hogwarts! You're a witch yourself, why do you shun it so much?"
"Rhiannon!" Mrs. O'Leary hissed. She grabbed Rhia's arm and dragged her over to a corner, smiling over her shoulder at staring guests. "Rhiannon Charlotte O'Leary! I will not be spoken to like that. Of course I take pride in my magickal heritage, but your father is a Muggle, and I love him dearly." Rhia snorted. "I can't live in both worlds, Rhiannon. You can't either."
Rhia gulped. "What are you saying?"
"I am saying, Rhiannon, that I am fed up with your schooling. You must decide where you wish to live. The Muggle world has so many more opportunities. Rhiannon darling, you must leave your magickal life for one of more normal roots."
Rhia stared at her mother in awe.
"You can't mean.you want me to just.leave?" Rhia murmured.
"I mean I want you to make a decision and make the right one." Mrs. O'Leary touched her daughter's cheek and Rhia knew she meant that her decision would be overlooked no matter what. "Now, go mingle. I believe the Anderson boys go to Eton, perhaps you should get to know them."
"Mother, I-"
"Go on." She pushed her in the opposite direction, going to chat with a visiting Countess. Rhia sighed and turned away from the Andersons and towards the stairs, where James, Sirius, Lily, and Peter were sitting, eating something out of napkins.
"You're looking glum." Peter noticed as she sat down next to him.
"I...I was talking to Mother and..." Rhia stopped shortly as she felt tears enclose her throat.
"Rhia?" Lily touched her friend's back and she heaved with silent sobs.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, his eyes worried. Rhia shook her head, unable to speak.
"I think she needs to get to bed." Lily said, standing. "James, Sirius, help me get her upstairs."
"Alright." James replied, putting one of Rhia's arms over his shoulder as Sirius took the other and lead her up the stairs and into bed.
~*~
"Miss Rhiannon...Miss, wake up."
Delicious odors broke through Rhia's dreams of Hogwarts...
"Miss, your breakfast is here."
She sat up, seeing a maid holding a tray. Lily was also awake, sitting on the edge of her bed, dressed in her wrapper.
"Thank you." Rhia nodded. The maid curtsied and put the tray on the table before leaving.
"You were in hysterics." Lily explained before Rhia could say another word. "We put you to bed."
"Did Mother say anything?" she asked, playing with her coverlets.
"She disapproved." Lily replied. "But she thinks you're ill so she let it slide."
"I feel ill." Rhia held her head, aching from so many tears the night before.
"What was wrong, exactly?" Lily asked. "You couldn't tell us, you were too..."
"Hysterical?" Rhia offered and she nodded. "Mother...Mother wants to send me to Eton." Rhia looked down, fighting back tears.
"Eton?!" Lily cried, jumping up. "You're not serious."
"She is." Rhia sighed. "You see-"
A large, official-looking owl came swooping through the open window, interrupting her.
"Who's is that?" Lily asked, going over to it.
"Dunno." Rhia shook her head. "Looks like it could be from the Ministry or something."
"Let's see." Lily took the piece of parchment off of it's leg and read it for a bit. "It's from Dumbledore." She handed her the paper. "Apparently, he's heard of this whole Eton thing."
Rhia took the paper and read it.
Miss O'Leary
Sources have informed me of your decision to attend Eton these next two years. As you should know, you are one of the top in your class and it would be a terrible tragedy to loose such a talented witch such as yourself.
I have sent a transcript of your grades along with a letter to your parents, imploring them to let you stay at the school.
Albus Dumbledore
Rhia almost laughed. "He's basically begging my mother to let me stay at Hogwarts!" But when she looked down at the letter, and realized she might not see Dumbledore again, the tears she thought were gone came out in a fresh wave.
Lily watched her sobbing friend, wondering what to do. Just then, a knock sounded on Rhia's heavy wooden door. Without waiting for a reply, Sirius opened the door. He saw Rhia crying, and rushed to her side.
"Rhia, honey! What's wrong? Please, its Sirius, you've got to tell me!" Rhia looked up at Sirius as he tried to wipe her tears away, but that just made her cry even harder. He looked to Lily for help.
"Sirius... Mrs. O'Leary wants Rhia to transfer to Eton for the next two years. She wants Rhia to live in the Muggle world."
Sirius gasped. "But she can't do that!"
"Oh, but she can..." Rhia mumbled miserably. "You know my father, always so afraid of her, and he never liked the idea of me being a witch anyway, why would he stick up for me?"
"There must be something we can do... you can't just leave us forever, Rhia! I won't let you!"
Lily watched as Sirius hugged Rhia until she fell asleep again. He stood up. "What are we going to do, Lil?"
"I don't know, Sirius. I don't know... but you know if we try to oppose this, we'll all be sent home and Rhia will be sent off early." They stood in silence for a bit, Sirius watching Rhia intently. Suddenly he looked up.
"Someone has to tell Remus."
* * *
"Annie! Hey Annie, lunch!" Remus called up the stairs. He walked back into the kitchen to help set the table.
"Oh Remmie darling, I can do that," his grandmother called from her rocking chair in the corner.
"Never Gram, I can do it."
Annie walked sullenly into the kitchen. "Oh, cheer up Annie. Look, you have an owl!" Remus pointed to the window, where a large black owl was flapping with a letter tied to its leg. Annie opened the window.
"Uh, Remus... its addressed to you. It looks like Lily's owl." Remus whipped around, dropping some silverware.
"Be careful with those!" his mother called from the living room.
"Lily? But why would she be writing?" Remus asked. No one had written since Rhia asked them to stay for the summer. What if something was wrong? But then his fear subsided. Did he even care?
"Remus..." Annie had opened the letter, and as she spoke his name it fell from her hands. Remus picked it up.
"Really Annie, what could be so bad?" But when he read the letter, he understood.
Dear Remus and Annie,
I know you haven't wanted to speak with us, but I just thought you should know. Mrs. O'Leary is sending Rhia away to Eton. She's to live in the Muggle world from now on. She's leaving Hogwarts... for good. Just in case you still care.
Love, Lily
Remus stared at the letter, and sank down into a kitchen chair. Rhia was being sent away? He vaguely heard Annie run out of the room and back upstairs, but didn't process it. All he could think was... he did care.