The Brightest Sun

Chapter 20

Rhaenys

Yule 2004

Training three children in magic had become something of a problem for the adults, but Rhae and Teddy had found interesting ways to escape their more boring lessons.

Every day, from shortly after lunch to just before tea, Rhaenys and Teddy found themselves seated in the library going through lessons with their mother and father. Lucky Egg was not yet three, so he didn’t have to sit lessons with the rest of them.

Of course, for Rhae, getting out of lessons was as easy as accidentally lighting her papers on fire. But her mother found new and creative ways to make sure the lessons were retaken, and Harry was of no help.

Rhaenys was growing bored of being in the old Black home, silently bemoaning Harry’s need to find something immediately. He had told her he needed it to help Mama plan her lessons; an object that was supposed to help her remember the lessons she had learned in Dorne, and Rhae had agreed to go with him. If only she had known how boring it would be, she might have stayed at home instead.

Dimly, Rhaenys heard the echo of light footsteps from downstairs. Glancing back at the old study, she crept forward slowly, darting down the stairs to see who had entered.

They were in the downstairs family room, the walls painted black with green furniture, and as she came upon the woman standing near the Black armoire holding silver, she froze at the sight of grey eyes suddenly locked on hers, a wand held in the woman’s hand.

“Are you lost?” the woman asked in a soft voice, tucking her wand away as she moved slightly closer. She had pale gold hair, almost the same colour as Egg’s when it was wet, and sharp features she had seen somewhere.

“No,” Rhaenys replied slowly. “What are you doing here?”

“This is my family home,” the woman told her, eyes carefully watching Rhaenys. “You look very much like someone I know.”

“I look like my mama,” Rhaenys told her. “Are you Harry’s aunt?”

The woman smiled widely, moving to sit on the green sofa. She patted the seat next to her, silently asking Rhaenys to come closer. “Yes, you do look like Elia.”

“What’s your name?” Rhaenys asked. Mama had spoken of Harry’s aunt a few times, and she liked the woman. She almost looked like Grandmother Rhaella, but she was not as sad.

“Narcissa,” she told her. “And you, little one?”

“Rhaenys.”

Sudden swearing disrupted them, and Rhaenys jerked her head to the door to see Harry standing there.

“You said a bad word,” Rhaenys chirped.

Blinking, Harry replied, “I did not.”

“Did too,” Rhaenys told him. “Mama’s not gonna be happy with you!”

“Going to,” Harry corrected, and Rhaenys pouted at the man even as he moved further into the room.

“I won’t tell her,” Rhaenys said innocently.

Harry’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, flicking quickly to Narcissa before returning to stare at Rhaenys. “And why is that?”

“Cause I get to go flying, right Harry?” she blinked innocently at him, and Rhaenys saw the small twitch of his lips he was trying to hide.

“We’ll see,” he answered, looking past her.

“Herakles,” Narcissa greeted, a slight smile playing on her lips. “I was just about to come to the manor to find you.”