CHAPTER EIGHT

Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling owns the Harry Potter world.

Friday, 6th Sept 1990

When Friday came, Felicity flooed back home tiredly. She had forgotten how tiring Auror training could be. Moody had made her run 15 laps, before testing her on her shield charms and spell casting. After a five-minute break, Felicity had been made to learning antidotes and potion making, just to make sure she was up to date. Needless to say, the brunette was not in a great mood when she arrived home. It didn't help matter that Lily was there, chatting animatedly to Melinda over tea.

Her mother glanced at her with a smile as she said," Hello Felicity, how was training?"

Felicity couldn't help the scowl as she answered," Moody's impossible to satisfy."

Lily gave a small laugh," That's exactly what James used to say when he was in training."

Felicity looked at her briefly before forcing a smile, though it turned genuine when she heard laughter from outside. She asked," Harry and Nathan are here?"

Lily nodded," They wanted to visit Melinda."

Felicity couldn't help a raised eyebrow and Lily muttered," Plus they've been badgering me nonstop about the IPod."

Felicity smiled," Well, it's ready. I'll bring it once I'm done with some work."

"Are you sure it's quite alright for you to give them? I feel it's a bit irresponsible of me as a parent to allow you to give them something that they don't really deserve," said Lily looking a bit anxious.

Felicity waved her away," They're good children. I doubt they'd repeat what they did again," she ignored Melinda's knowing look and started in the direction of the stairs saying," I'll be down soon."

When she returned the two boys were lounging on the sofa, and Harry's face brightened as she saw her.

Nathan grinned toothily and said eagerly," Do you have it?"

"Nathan!" said Lily reprovingly but Felicity laughed, revealing a wrapped up package and handing it to Lily.

"There you go, has everything you need," she said, sitting gracefully on the seat opposite her mother.

Harry grinned," Thanks, Felicity. It's brilliant!"

Albus Dumbledore had made it a point to get a report on every first year every year from the Heads of Houses. As it was, he had just finished going through the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws when he moved onto the Gryffindors. He smiled when he saw how the boy was faring so far in his time at Hogwarts: good results as well as good communication with his peers. It seems Rylan Cade was quite talented in magic.

"Nothing Hogwarts hasn't seen," murmured Dumbledore though he resolved to keep an eye on the young boy for now.

He noted how Severus had written a complaint against the young Gryffindor and he chuckled as he read it.

Impertinent, wrote Severus, the boy had the nerve of laughing at me as I was giving out an introductory speech on the first day. It seems he lets his mouth get the better of his thinking capabilities.

"It seems we have another pair of twins who are intent on being together despite house rivalries," said Dumbledore to the professor infront of him.

Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape made sounds in their throats to show they are listening before Snape said in an impatient voice," "Let us get to the point Headmaster, I have twenty-four essays of Potions to grade."

"As soon as I am done with each report, Severus," said Dumbledore mildly, coming onto the last one which happened to be Reyna's.

Minerva looked thoughtfully at the parchment infront of the headmaster before saying," I must say though Albus, the Cade twins seem unnaturally talented in magic. Why, they managed to turn their needles into matchsticks on their first try. Even James Potter had to have three go's to get his right away."

"Certainly intriguing, and you say they have yet to make mistakes?" asked Dumbledore.

Snape shook his head grudgingly," Even the Cade boy is not bad at Potions," he admitted.

Minerva couldn't help the smug look and said slyly," I heard rumours of her standing up for her brother in your lesson, Severus. Is that true?"

Snape threw her one of his famous glares but Dumbledore said," We'll certainly have our eye on them. It is not rare that Hogwarts should have students capable of magic as quickly as those two. Now, onto other business. Minerva…"

As soon as Reyna entered the Slytherin common room, Flint marched up to her, wearing his trademark scowl. The common room didn't give them much attention, though she saw her friends looking at her anxiously. With a growl, Flint jerked his head to a corner of the room, wordlessly telling her to follow him.

Reyna wore a pleasant smile as she said," Yes, Flint? What did I do this time?"

Flint glared at her, remarking darkly," I've never met a first year able to antagonize a senior student so quickly."

Reyna grinned," Glad to be the first."

"That was not a compliment," he snapped.

"So I gathered from your expression. What did you want me for, then?" drawled Reyna, crossing her legs.

Flint let out a deep breath before saying," Cade, is it true that you've been spending time in the Gryffindor common room?"

Reyna lost her grin and gave a click of annoyance," Honestly, what's so bad about spending time in the other common rooms? So what if I have a few friends there and spend some of my time there as well?"

The glare Flint gave her was full of anger that would have made any other first year tremble as he said menacingly," Listen up. I don't care what your goals are for Slytherin. We all heard about your little show in Potions with Snape, and believe me when I say no one's impressed. Slytherin has a reputation to uphold, and as a snake, you're one of them. No one's stopping you from being with your beloved brother," he gave a sneer before continuing," but if your commitment to Gryffindor gets in the way of bringing honour to Slytherin, then you'll be sorry. Very sorry."

His eyes gleamed in amusement at Reyna's clenched fists as the girl glared at him. Her lips thinned as she said in a low voice," All this just because you're a selfish coward who only knows how to scare a person by giving out threats. I just started Hogwarts Flint, and I intend to enjoy my time. Whatever petty threats you have for me will be nothing compared to what I will do to you, then we'll see who the true Slytherin is. As for bringing honour to Slytherin, I have six years left to do something admirable, you have three, and the four that you have been here has given you nothing short of a reputation for being a bully, all the negative traits of a Slytherin, which, I might add, is not the slightest bit admirable."

Flint flushed a dark red and opened his mouth to say something, his eyes looking at her in hatred but Reyna said something that made him look at her in disbelief," Look, I don't want enemies so soon in my time. I've annoyed you, you've annoyed me, I'm not your typical Slytherin, but we're still in the same House. Can we atleast look past our differences and become acquaintances, if not friends?"

Flint looked at her incredulously and Reyna shrugged," I'm serious," she held out her small hand to the bigger boy.

Flint's eyes looked at the hand held out before he gave a low chuckle," You're one, Cade. First you call me names then you offer to be friends, without apologizing."

Reyna gave him a tentative smile," I'm doing this so that you don't see me at my worst. Trust me, I'm not pretty."

Flint laughed his harsh laugh again before saying," Then you know nothing about me. You can keep your hand, Cade, but for the sake of Slytherin, you'll just be another annoying firstie without an ounce of knowledge who's only interested in running after Gryffindors. Is that clear?"

Reyna eyed him before saying," Perhaps."

She turned to go but Flint called her back, saying with a small smirk," I wasn't lying about you being sorry."

Reyna met his cruel eyes evenly as she said," Neither was I."

She walked towards her friends, ignoring Flint's harsh chuckle as she felt his eyes looking at her in amusement. In her heart though, she knew it was a matter of time before her true identity was revealed.

How would Flint and the others react then?