Fragile Rhia
April hummed to herself as she followed James and Dwight. The house they had come to was quite pretty. The front garden was neat and looked as though it was well cared for. There was clean black Land Rover in the driveway with a smaller silver Mercedes Benz. She nodded her approval and went to the door. Dwight and James had already gone past the police tape that sealed the area. April ducked under it before glancing at the unconscious guards they had hidden behind the cars. She twirled a lock of hair and went into the house. The house looked a little like Lily's parent's old house. April went to one wall with a gallery of still pictures. They were of two young children, a young boy who looked the same age as the twins and a girl who looked even younger then that. April frowned slightly and called for James.
"In here" He called back from a room that led off the end of the hallway. April went to the room and found it to be the living room. April had expected there to be bodies here but instead there was nothing, it was like the family had gone out and were expected back any moment.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Dwight asked them.
"Anything," April said, "anything that may give us an indication as to why Voldemort chose to kill them instead of any other muggle family." She said. She got out her wand and used it to sort through a stack of DVDs. James was looking through some drawers while Dwight left the room.
"I'm going to the bedroom James." April said.
"Alright." James muttered as he continued his search. April went up the stairs to the bedrooms. She walked into the master bedroom and went straight to the draws. She pulled the top one open and searched through it. She put her hand deep into the draw and felt her hand touch something hard. She put her hand around it and pulled it out. It was a small mahogany box that was varnished and sealed, to April's surprise, with magic. She used her wand to open the box and found a wand inside. April raised an eyebrow at this and called James. James ran up the stairs and looked at April.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Look at this." April said. She threw the box over and James opened it.
"This guy wasn't a muggle." He said, "Do you think you could get to wherever the body might be and try to identify it?" James asked.
"Yeah, sure." April said. She closed her eyes and apparated to the local hospital. Her training as an auror and doing a NEWT in Muggle studies had provided her valuable information on the workings of muggle systems. Not many aurors bothered with learning muggle ways but it had come in useful more then once. April waved her wand and her clothes changed into those of a doctor's. She wore a white lab coat over a pair of fitted black trousers and a turtleneck pink top. She conjured a clipboard and an ID tag. She walked through the hospital until she got to the Mortuary. She showed her ID badge and they allowed her to come in. The next thing she did was go to a computer and slowly managed to figure out how to type in the name of the family who had been killed and which number fridges they were in.
Once April had done this she felt thoroughly proud of herself, she was going to have to learn how to use a computer. She had seen pictures of them but had never really used one before. She had used one once in a French Internet café while she had been told to follow someone once several years ago. The furthest April had gotten on that computer was to figure out how to play solitaire. She left the small office and went into the main mortuary. She glanced back at the door and locked it behind her. She got out her wand and muttered
"Lumos" She found the fridges quickly and pulled out the body of Mr. Smith. She looked at him curiously, trying to figure out if she had seen him before. She shook her head after a while and put the body away.
She went to the next number on her list and pulled out the body. This was Mrs. Smith's body. She pulled off the blanket and a flash of recognition went through her. She had red hair and a now very pale face. Her eyes were a dull blue colour now that she was dead. There were no doubt these people had been hit with Avada Kedavra but April had seen this woman before. She frowned slightly and looked over the rest of this woman's body to see if she could figure out who it was. When April came to the woman's arm her gaze was caught by an ugly black mark on her forearm. It was the dark mark. This woman had been a death eater but she had given up her wand to live a muggle life. April looked at the woman in confusion. She tapped her fingernails against the surface that the woman lay on.
"Where have I seen you before?" April muttered to herself. She put her hands over the woman's eyes and was about to close them when she recognised the woman. She had been a Death Eater that April had once gotten a picture of from Rhia when Rhia had been kidnapped. April felt anger bubbling up inside her. This woman had put a curse on Rhia and had hurt her. April slammed shut the body container, not caring if the body was damaged. April stood with her breath slightly shaky. There was a crash from outside and the door was suddenly torn off its hinges. April looked at the doorway to see three cloaked figures. The figures walked into the room and looked at April.
"It's her," one of them said. The figures all disapparated, leaving April thoroughly confused.
"Ok." April said slowly. She apparated back to the house to report to James what had happened and what she knew. She wanted nothing to do with this case. She wasn't going to even try to figure out why the woman who had hurt her daughter as dead.
Rhia sat in the library leaning her chair against some bookshelves. Emma was actually working at a potions essay that was due in next week and Kara was copying Emma. Rhia held a few pieces of parchment in her hands. Did Catcher Stevens just not understand the word NO! He had sent her an owl that day asking if she was free at the weekend. It turned out the teen superstar was going to be in England for longer then he expected. Rhia knew she had to reject his offer because she couldn't get into Hogsmeade and if Harry found out he'd go ballistic. Rhia began writing a reply when Emma coughed at her. Rhia looked up and saw Emma nodding her head towards someone. Rhia turned her head slightly to find Draco Malfoy glancing at Emma. Rhia raised an eyebrow and looked at Emma.
"What does he think he's doing?" Rhia hissed.
"I don't know but he's been doing that all day." Emma said, "It's really starting to scare me" Rhia looked over and caught Malfoy's gaze. She glared at him and he sneered back.
"That should do it," Kara said with a slight smile.
"I don't think so, he's been after me for just over a week now." Emma said, "I know he's planning something.'
"And are you attracted to him?" Kara asked. Emma shrugged.
"I don't know." Emma said with a slight confused pout. "Maybe-" She looked at Rhia. "A little." Emma admit.
"You're attracted to a Slytherin?" Kara asked.
"Not so loud!" Emma hissed at Kara.
"Well we won't let you get close to him, you can trust us on that." Rhia said. She went back to her letter when she felt her friend's gaze on her. She looked up.
"So, Rhia…" Emma said with a slight smirk,
"What?" Rhia asked suspiciously.
"Why aren't you with Harry?" Emma asked.
"You want me to get closer to your brother?" Rhia asked.
"Not really but you two were looking cosy at home and on the train here." Emma said. Rhia turned back to her letter.
"He's busy." Rhia said. "DA, quidditch practice plans, plus there's something up with him, Hermione, Ron, Bo and Katie. They keep watching us like we're going to do something stupid. He's too busy for me once we get to school" Rhia said bitterly.
"That's not true." Emma said. Emma looked at Kara for help.
"Yeah, I mean, he does have a lot more responsibilities at school" Kara said. Rhia sighed.
"Yeah, I suppose." Rhia said. She put down the quill and parchment, "we were so close over the holidays, and if it wasn't for my dad I think we may have actually slept with each other. I don't know, I guess the sudden change in closeness is getting to me." Rhia looked at Emma and Kara before putting her things into her bag. "I'm going to go and practice." She said.
"What now?" Kara asked. Rhia nodded. She got a book out of her bag.
"What's that?" Emma asked.
"A book that Jordan got me for Christmas, it's Beethoven's fifth symphony for the piano" Rhia said, "Original edition." She smiled happily.
"What?" Emma asked.
"You know, Beethoven's sixth. It was in Disney's Fantasia." Rhia said. Emma looked at her nonplussed. "It was the one with the flying horses"
"Oh, that one!" Emma said, "That's a good piece." Rhia smiled.
"And an original copy" Rhia said holding up the music. "Anyway, I'll see you later." She said. Rhia got up and head out of the library. She made her way to the room of requirement. She walked past the place the door should have been, thinking of the grand piano that usually appeared when she wanted to practice. The door appeared and she went in. She stopped suddenly when she saw Harry, Ron and Hermione in the room.
"Rhia!" Harry said in surprise.
"Um, hi." Rhia said. She looked around the room slightly annoyed. Harry got up and pulled her into a quick kiss.
"What are you doing here?" He asked her.
"I was going to practice the piano but if you guys are in here I don't think that I should practice, plus there's no piano here." Rhia said. She looked at Harry and his friends. "What are you doing here?" She asked suspiciously.
"Oh, trying to figure something out." Ron said. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about Emma or Malfoy would you?" Rhia tensed slightly.
"Maybe." She said, "Why, what's happening?" She asked.
"What's happened?" Harry asked.
"Nothing. Malfoy is just freaking Emma out a little bit at the moment. He's giving her a lot of unwanted attention." Rhia said.
"He is!" Harry asked, his fists begun to clench.
"Yeah, but don't worry. Emma won't go near him," Rhia said. "She hates him so much. She's disgusted by it all." Rhia said. Harry relaxed slightly. Rhia leant up slightly and kissed him on the cheek. She saw Harry relaxing even more.
"If anything happens to her you'd tell me." Harry said. It wasn't a question but it wasn't an order either.
"Of course." Rhia said. She looked into his green eyes and felt slightly dizzy as soon as she looked into them. She smiled at him and got a smile back. Rhia shook her head. "Anyway, I have to find somewhere to practice." Rhia said, "I have a piece that I think may be way too hard for me."
"What is it?" Ron asked.
"Beethoven's sixth symphony" Rhia said, "Piano version. It should be played with an entire orchestra but I'm not an entire orchestra." Hermione nodded, she looked impressed.
"I didn't know you were that good." She said. Rhia smiled modestly and went slightly red.
"I'm really not." She said.
"Of course you are." Harry said. He took Rhia's hand. "I'll see you two at dinner." He said. Ron and Hermione nodded and Harry led Rhia out of the room. Rhia felt slightly surprised and managed to get the music book back into her bag as they walked.
"Where are we going?" She asked. Harry smiled at her.
"Where do you want to go?" He asked, "Anywhere you want to go I'll take you" Harry said.
"Can you fly me to the moon?" Rhia asked. Harry frowned and shook his head. "Then you can't take me anywhere." Rhia said cheekily. Harry smirked at her and stopped. He pulled Rhia into his arms and into a kiss. Rhia melted into the kiss and returned it happily. It had been over a week since Harry had kissed her like that. Rhia gave a slight moan and Harry broke off the kiss.
"Bed?" He asked quietly in her ear.
"You know what our parents said." Rhia said.
"Stuff our parents, it's too hard to resist you." Harry said.
"I'm not legal yet." Rhia said. Harry nodded reluctantly, "But as soon as I'm sixteen you're the only person I'd do it with." She said into his ear. Harry smiled and pulled her closer.
"What a disgusting display of affection." Came Bo's voice. Harry and Rhia turned and saw Bo laughing at them. Harry shook his head while Rhia tugged at her jumper to straighten it. "Don't worry, I won't be telling your parents." Bo said amused.
"Thanks." Rhia said, "You know what my dad is like." Bo nodded. He joined Harry and Rhia as they returned to the common room.
"You know that Voldemort has started killing muggles now, well, not really muggles but death eaters who have given up their wands." Bo said. Harry and Rhia looked at him.
"How do you know?" Rhia asked
"I just got an owl from April." Bo said, "She's updating me on the daily happenings of the you know what." Harry looked at Bo scandalised.
"Why are you allowed to know and I'm not?" Harry asked. Bo shrugged.
"And why's my mum sending you owls?" Rhia asked curiously.
"Because my mum is in hiding." Bo answered casually. "Anyway, this Death Eater that was killed bore a resemblance to Lily and was the death eater that tortured you as a child, Rhia." Bo said. Rhia stopped and looked at Bo.
"Excuse me?" Rhia asked.
"They got her." Bo said.
"That's great." Harry said, "Well, not great that she's dead but great that we've found out who it is."
"Yeah, at least we have a name to go with the face-" Bo stopped when he saw Rhia's face. "Are you ok?" Rhia looked slightly panicked and worried. Memories she had hoped she had forgotten were beginning to re-emerge. She remembered having dreams about her ordeal for a long time during her childhood but she couldn't remember what it was about, now she was beginning to remember. She had heard that traumatic childhood memories often resurfaced at an older age so that the person could cope with the emotional baggage that they carried. They were repressed memories, and Rhia knew she had some repressed memories, she couldn't remember anything from that time except her dad coming to rescue her. Now she saw the lady who had pointed the wand at her, the people who had taken her from her grandmother's bedroom. She shook her head and realised that Harry was hugging her. Rhia pushed herself away.
"I'll be ok." She muttered.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Just remembering some things," Rhia said with a forced smile. She took a few steps away and hurried back to the common room without the boys.
Voldemort smiled to himself as he closed his eyes. Bellatrix Lestrange looked at Lucius Malfoy curiously. Voldemort opened his eyes and looked at his two followers.
"I am very pleased with you two," He said. "I am unsure of how you found her but it's done the right thing. The Potters and Blacks have found out about her and Rhia Black has left herself as open as Emma Potter once was." He said.
"Once?" Malfoy questioned.
"Yes, it seems that once Emma Potter had a slight disagreement with the werewolf she closed her mind completely. I suppose you could call it denial but since then she has been a confused child. She knows not what she wants or where she is headed in life. The only constant in her life, Bo Lupin, had been taken away from her by a few small words that I planted in her mouth but unfortunately that left her sealed off to me. Now I cannot access her mind." Voldemort said.
"How are you able to access her mind though, master?" Bellatrix Lestrange asked.
"A few years ago, about eighteen years now, I had a little incident arranged. I was lucky that night that Potter, Black, Lupin and then Evans, Marsden and Chang were all out of the castle beyond curfew or I would have never have been able to achieve it. I created a temporary being that attacked Lily Potter, April Black and Jenny Lupin. Unfortunately Bo Lupin's werewolf blood counters the effect of my blood but the Blacks and Potters have no such immunity. They passed this onto their children so I can access the minds of any of the Potter or Black children. Harry Potter is harder because he has recently been given some sort of training to block me but that is no concern as of yet. Rhia Black was always blocked off to me since that woman had tortured her, I forget her name now. It will only work to those whose minds are empty and free of conflict." Voldemort explained. "Now, however, Rhia Black's mind is beginning to unwind. I shall have fun manipulating her." Malfoy and Lestrange looked suitably impressed.
"Now go, I have a small list of people I need to be disposed of." Voldemort said, "Avery will tell you who they are."
Emma and Kara tiptoed into their dormitory hours past curfew covered from head to foot in a gooey substance. They hadn't seen Rhia all evening and they'd been trying to set a few tricks for Slytherins or anyone who may fall into them. Unfortunately they had bumped into Peeves and the tricks had backfired. After they'd had a good laugh at each other they decided they should go back and dry off and go to bed. Emma had a shower first and got ready to sleep as Kara washed herself. She went over to Rhia's bed and opened the hangings gently. Rhia was lying on her bed still in her uniform but fast asleep.
"Well there's one job she won't have to do tomorrow." Emma said to herself. She closed the hangings and Rhia opened her eyes. She sat up and looked at the hangings. She sat where she was until she'd heard Kara get into her bed and start to sleep. She could still hear Emma humming to herself. Rhia couldn't wait longer. She opened the hangings and put on a pair of trainers. Emma's hangings were pulled apart and Emma looked at Rhia.
"Rhia?" Emma asked, "I thought you were…" Her voice trailed off as she looked at Rhia. Her eyes were a blood red colour and she had a look of evil to her that Rhia pulled off incredibly well. Rhia put a finger to her lips and gave Emma a wicked smile.
"Be quiet. I've got stuff to do." She said before picking up her wand. Emma looked at her confused before running to the door and blocked Rhia's path. "Get out of my way Po-Emma" She said with some contempt.
"No, where are you going? You're not yourself. There's something in you, get out." Emma hissed at whatever had possessed Rhia. Rhia gave her an evil smirk and pointed her wand at Emma.
"Get out of the way Emma." Rhia said to Emma.
"No-"
"Stupefy." Rhia said. Emma collapsed onto the floor. Rhia lifted her slightly and moved her to the bed with some difficulty. Despite being possessed she still only had her normal strength and abilities. Rhia closed Emma's hangings before turning to run out of the dormitory. She ran down the stairs and out of the Gryffindor common room. The castle was absolutely silent with the occasional sound of a prefect's footsteps from time to time. It seemed to Rhia that they were everywhere. No matter where she went there was a prefect just around the corner. She managed to get to the library without being seen though she had nearly bumped into Bo, Hannah Abbott, Hermione and Ron patrolling together and Cho near the Ravenclaw tower. Rhia pushed the library doors open and slipped through a small crack in the doors. She closed the library doors and padded through the library as silently as a cat. She made her way to the forbidden part of the library where she ducked under the rope and looked at the shelves as she walked passed.
"Where is it?" She whispered to herself. "It has to be here somewhere." She said. She stopped at a particular shelf and looked at it. There was a gap between two books and the dust had been disturbed fairly recently. Rhia balled her hands into fists and felt like cursing. She felt anger and hate like she'd never felt before. She turned and swiftly ran out of the library. Harry must have the book. Rhia didn't know what book she was looking for but she knew she'd know when she saw it. She went back to the Gryffindor tower and went up the boy's dormitories. She went to Harry's dormitory and put her head against the door. There wasn't any sound except the occasional croak from Neville Longbottom's toad. She quietly opened the door and went into the room. She looked around and noticed nothing out of place. Ron was asleep and Harry appeared to be dreaming. He tossed slightly in his bed and groaned, as if in pain, occasionally.
Rhia looked slightly perturbed and tapped a finger against her chin. She smiled briefly before she turned again and left the tower. She fled out of the school and ran to the great lake. As she came to the lake she slowed and eventually stopped at the edge. The lake was frozen over with at least a foot of ice. The snow over the grounds had soaked Rhia's uniform and though her body was shivering she didn't notice. She walked onto the ice until there was the sound of cracking coming beneath her. The ice was getting thinner and thinner. There was a deep groan then a crack appeared between Rhia's feet. She looked down. A few more cracks appeared as she walked further out. The red eyes sparkling with joy. More and more cracks appeared as the ice got thinner and thinner until Rhia stopped. The ice was incredibly weak and surprisingly held Rhia's weight. Rhia closed her eyes and when she opened them they were her usual soft brown eyes. She looked about confused when the ice beneath her gave way. Rhia gave a loud scream as she collapsed through the ice.
Harry bolted upright in his bed and was breathing heavily.
"Rhia!" He said as he got up and quickly changed and fled the tower. He forced his way through the snow and made his way to the lake. He heard a loud barking as he saw Fang bounding through the knee high snow. Hagrid closely followed the hound.
"Wha' was tha'?" Hagrid asked. Harry shrugged and ran to the lake. He saw the dark hole in the ice and ran towards it. As he got nearer he flung himself across the ice on his stomach and slid to the hole. He just saw Rhia's blonde hair disappearing in the dark water as he thrust his arm into the icy cold water. It felt as though he was under the cruciatus curse but it was only contained to his arms. He felt Rhia's jumper and grabbed hold as hard as he could. Fang skid to a stop next to him and barked frantically.
"Rhia!" Harry shouted as he pulled her to the surface. She was so white Harry was scared she could be dead. Fang bit into her clothes and helped Harry to pull her out of the water. It was difficult but they managed it. Harry pulled off his cloak and his jacket and wrapped it around Rhia tightly. With Fang's help Harry got Rhia back to the shore where Hagrid stood anxiously. He hadn't come onto the ice for fear that it'd break and send all of them to an icy death.
"She ok?" He asked. Harry crouched over Rhia and tried to keep himself in control. His heart was pounding in his chest.
"Rhia." Harry said. He touched Rhia's freezing face. He ran his hand over her face then put it at her neck. He checked for a pulse and thought he felt a very faint pulse in her neck. He had never been good at finding them but he thought he felt one. "I think she's alive." Harry said. He lifted Rhia up slightly. "Rhia." He said, fighting the tears in his eyes. Hagrid pulled him out of the way and lifted Rhia in his arms. He pulled his own moleskin coat about her and held her in his arms close to his body as he started for the school.
"Are yeh an idiot Harry? Get her to Poppy immediately!" Hagrid said as he trudged through the snow, clearing a path for Fang and Harry. Harry followed quickly and stood anxiously by Rhia's bed as Hagrid put her into one of the hospital beds. Madam Pomfrey came running out quickly.
"What happened?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"She fell through the ice on the lake. I don't know how she got there but if you don't do something she'll die-" Harry rambled but Hagrid put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him talking.
"That's enough Harry. She fell throu' the ice." Hagrid said. Madam Pomfrey nodded and got to work trying to help Rhia.
James, Sirius and April stood in front of Dumbledore with a reluctant Lily. Lily had finally agreed to take up her wand again but she did it reluctantly. Dumbledore sat in his chair with a slightly satisfied and relieved look.
"I'll come back and be a healer again." Lily said. "That is if you still want me here."
"You are always welcome in that position Lily, You may take up any position if you wished." Dumbledore said. Lily smiled and looked at James. He gave her a reassuring smile then turned to Dumbledore.
"But it means that I will have to leave the order, me and my family." James said.
"Of course James." Dumbledore said with a knowing smile. James smiled and Lily frowned slightly. She turned to April who shrugged, Lily then turned to Sirius who also had a similar smile to James. Dumbledore turned to April.
"Everything ok I trust?" Dumbledore asked.
"Except the fact that James has got me working again, everything is fine." April said turning to send a fake glare at James. James put a hand to his heart like he was hurt by April's expression.
"You know you love working through." Sirius said, "It gets you worked up," He smirked slightly at April. The adults were on the verge of laughing when there was a knock on the door and it burst open. Hagrid walked into the room with a worrisome look. He was twisting part of his cloak in his hand and looked at the adults. Dumbledore stood up
"What is it Hagrid?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's Rhia Black sir." Hagrid said quickly. "She, she…she's in the 'ospital wing wit' Harry, sir." Hagrid said.
"Rhia?" April asked anxiously as she listened.
"What about Rhia?" Sirius demanded
"What's happened?" James asked.
"Nothin' to 'Arry but Rhia, she-" Hagrid didn't finish as Sirius and April had run past him and ran through the familiar halls to the hospital wing. Lily and James were close behind while Dumbledore and Hagrid followed behind them. Sirius ran into the hospital wing first and scared the living daylights out of Harry as she approached.
"What happened?" Sirius asked as he ran to his daughter's side.
"She fell through the ice into the lake." Harry said. He held Rhia's hand tightly. Sirius looked at Rhia and took her other hand. Her skin was cold like there was no blood flowing through her body. Her skin was still damp and her hair was still wet.
"Oh Merlin" Sirius said as he fell to his knees. They were soon joined by the other adults. Harry looked slightly bewildered as they appeared.
"Where- how?" He asked as he looked at his parents.
"Not now Harry." James said. He looked at Rhia. April's face went suddenly pale.
"Is she-"
"No she's not, but if you all keep crowding round her she may well soon lose her connection to this life." Said Madame Pomfrey as she pushed past with a potion. She saw Lily and nodded. "You're here, good. Make yourself useful. Dry her hair and try and warm her up once I've given her this." Madam Pomfrey said to Lily.
"Of course." Lily said. She began immediately, to Madam Pomfrey's suggestion. Harry was urged away from Rhia by Dumbledore and April took his place. Harry was instructed to sit down on the other bed and looked into Dumbledore's eyes. Harry couldn't meet his eyes, his gaze always returned to his girlfriend.
"Harry, look at me!" Dumbledore demanded with such force that Harry looked at Dumbledore. "Tell me exactly what happened."
"I don't know what happened exactly but I was sleeping and just dreaming usually, well, I was having a nightmare about potions then suddenly I saw Rhia walking out on the ice and then falling through. I woke up, ran to the lake and saw a hole in the ice. I ran out to the lake and pulled Rhia out with Fang's help. Hagrid brought her up here and then he went to fetch you." Harry said, "Will she be ok?" His gaze went back to Rhia. "Mum?" He added. Lily turned to look at Harry and gave him a weak smile.
"She'll be ok." Lily answered. She turned around again and crossed her arms. 'I hope' She thought to herself.
A/N-Sorry it's been a long time since i updated. I been busy, like Majorly busy. Just to clarify a few things in this chapter. Voldemort is BACK! You have to be 16 to sleep with each other here, not 18 (which i think it is in America). Rhia may/maynot be dead (this was a twist i just added, I didn't even know it was going to happen until about half an hour ago) and the last thing i need to clarify is that Pimp My Ride is the BEST SHOW ON MTV! I want a pimped ride! but it's illeagal here in England...grrr! I want under car neons, body kits, MP3, those huge speakers and a bright pink body paint like the convertible in 2fast2furious but again...most of it is illegal, particularly under car neons. Grr...damn this stupid country. I also want a number plate that goes ANN4 5 or AK5100(guess the meaning, lol). Anyway, i will try and get another chapter up in the next week. I'm gonna skip a couple of months to the interesting bit (Kaylee will know which) and hopefully there should be more bout Remus Lupin, MWAHAHAAAA