Rhea Prince (Book 3, Ongoing)

The Cat

October arrived, which spread a chill over the grounds and through the castle. The school was filled with students and staff members having sudden random bursts of colds, though her Pepperup potion worked instantly, though it had an after affect of smoking ears for several hours. Ginny Weasley, who was almost as pale as a ghost, was bullied into taking some by her brother Percy. Which made her look like her whole head was on fire.

"Wonder what's wrong with Ginny." Rhea muttered as the pale girl passed by, her head in what looked like a old book.

"She's been acting strange." A high, calm voice said which made her and Terry jump.

"Luna, there you are! Where are your shoes?" Terry asked. The younger girl had often been joining their group from time to time, though she spent most of her time wandering around.

"I can't seem to get into my shared room." Luna said. "I've been wandering around and sleeping in the kitchens instead. The house elves seem to enjoy my presence."

"Want me to talk to the girls in your room?" Rhea asked

"No, no." Luna said. "The house elves have already taken my things out of the room. Once you get past the cold, it's fine."

"Luna.." Terry said and casted a heating spell, which made her feet turn a nicer shade other than purple and blue.

"Thanks, Terry." Luna said happily. "If you find Ginny, you might want to take that book away from her." She the walked away, as though she was never in the conversation to begin with.

"That girl." Terry said shaking his head.

"She's so carefree." Rhea said. "But it's nice of the house elves to take care of her."

"If they didn't, how else would get through Hogwarts." Terry said and they walked away. The conversation about Ginny forgotten. Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end, the lake rose, flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid's pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds. They made their separate ways, back to their houses common rooms and Rhea bumped into Harry.

"'Ello." Rhea said.

"Hello, Rhea." Harry said and he looked across the almost deserted corridor and saw Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, staring out of a window.

"". . . don't fulfill their requirements . . . half an inch, if that .. ." The ghost muttered.

"Hello, Nice." Harry said.

"Hello, hello," Nearly Headless Nick said, starting and looking round. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long curly hair, and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed. He was pale as smoke, which meant she could see right through him. "Usual duo the two of you, though your Mothers got along swell."

"They did?" They asked looking at each other.

"Yes..." He said.

"You look troubled, Nick." Harry said once the ghost folded a transparent letter and tucked it inside his doublet.

"So do you." Nick said and waved an elegant hand. "Ah, "a matter of no importance. . . . It's not as though I really wanted to join. . . . Thought I'd apply, but apparently I 'don't fulfill requirements' -" There was a look of bitterness on his face. "But you would think, wouldn't you," he erupted suddenly and pulled the letter back out of his pocket, "that getting hit forty-five times in the neck with a blunt axe would qualify you to join the Headless Hunt?"

"Oh - Yes." Hary said.

"I mean, nobody wishes more than I do that it had all been quick and clean, and my head had come off properly, I mean, it would have saved me a great deal of pain and ridicule. However -" Nearly Headless Nick shook his letter open and read furiously: "'We can only accept huntsmen whose heads have parted company with their bodies. You will appreciate that it would be impossible otherwise for members to participate in hunt activities such as Horseback Head-Juggling and Head Polo. It is with the greatest regret, therefore, that I must inform you that you do not fulfill our requirements. With very best wishes, Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore.'"