#like kanadiamari Ruby's animagus form

[athyrabunlord]

the voted scene from LLSHP(S) - Second Task: Black Lake

GIF version on my twitter

[athyrabunlord]

LLSHP 20 - Our Story

Arc1: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]

Arc2: [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13] [Chapter 14]

Arc3: [Chapter 15] [Chapter 16] [Chapter 17] [Chapter 18] [Chapter 19] [Chapter 20] [Chapter 21 (TBD)]

Interludes: [Carbonado (1)] [Carbonado (2)] [Of Feathers and Wind] [Delphinus (teaser blip)]

[Brief note about School Term] [other LLSHP AU stuff] [YohaMaRuby concept arts] [ChikaYouRiko concept arts] [KanaDiaMari concept arts] [Hogwarts Staff]

[FFN link] (up until ch17!) [Pixiv Link] [Translated to Chinese by plin2290]

A/N: Honestly surprised myself that I finished this chapter so quickly, but I suppose I’m just as eager to get to the last climax of this story. As this is the second last chapter and based on everything that’s happened, I’m sure many things happening here are to be expected. Still though, it was difficult even for me as the writer to complete many of the scenes. Feedback as always is greatly appreciated, and I hope you’ll look forward to the last chapter/conclusion! Words: 7,480

“Ruby-chan! Ruby-chan!!”

Yoshiko remains rooted in her place, glancing helplessly between Yohane and the chaos beside her. Each and every one of Hanamaru’s cries stab deeply in her heart, making this appalling sight more and more real. Dia has borrowed Ruby’s wand and is repeatedly casting healing spells, while Hanamaru has upturned the Expandable Pouch for all the available vials of Dittany.

But those wounds just won’t close.

Blood continues to soak through Ruby’s vest, her body limp in Dia’s arms and her chest barely rising and falling. Chika and You’s eyes are wide with horror yet they are unable to even speak due to the Body-Bind Curse. Kanan is huffing ferally, struggling in futile under those shackles, the chains already digging into the wolf’s fur and ripping open the scabs. Mari is trying to get up, breathing laboriously, her face scrunched up in sorrow and fury as she shakily points her wand.

Yohane easily brushes aside those badly-aimed spells, the white wing’s feathers not at all ruffled from the disturbance.

“How far you have fallen… the two of you were once so difficult to subdue, but now?” Yohane smiles softly, a jarring expression that contrasts the powerful wave of magic she sent towards her struggling opponents.

Kanan and Mari are thrown back against the shelves, crashing into and shattering various bottles of potions. Mari slides down from the toppled shelf, her wand rolling away from her limp hand, while Kanan has reverted to her human form, eyes closed and breathing feebly.

Yoshiko is already running towards Yohane before she realizes it, yelling with all the rage churning in her heart. “Crucio!”

With an eyebrow raised elegantly, Yohane shifts her white wing to cover herself. The Unforgivable’s red magic dispurses upon contact, as if it were an elementary spell of no significance.

“Your emotions are delectable, O Lost One, but you do not have enough hatred to use the Cruciatus Curse,�� she says calmly like she were discussing the weather. “Would you like me to show you? They were pretty good practice dummies back then.”

“No, stop-” Yoshiko hastily casts Protego at You and Chika’s direction but the sheer magic bursting from the sakura wand pierces right through her Shield Charm.

You and Chika, defenseless, could only clench their eyes shut and unable to even scream from the agony. Yohane is watching them calmly, as if everything is fine and peaceful, that no one is being tortured and bleeding to death because of her.

There’s so much anger in Yoshiko’s heart that it’s actually making her nauseous. She roars again, allowing this tremendous feeling to consume her and dig deep inside her mind. Black tendrils materialize from her arm and spear towards that despicable girl.

Yohane finally moves from her spot, frowning as she steps aside and lifts the Curse.

Yoshiko stands in front of You and Chika protectively, her body slightly hunched over as she lets out ragged gasps. With her arm still covered in black mist and stretched warningly towards Yohane, she dares to glance at the unmoving duo. Though their faces are pale and damp with sweat and their eyes are closed, they are at least breathing albeit weakly. Perhaps sheer exhaustion or those horrible past memories triggered by the shock had caused them to faint.

“Nngh...R-Ruby-chan…”

Hanamaru’s choked sobs echo in the now silent Apothecary. There are many empty vials cluttered around her and Dia is gingerly cradling Ruby while whispering comforting words. Yoshiko couldn’t tell if the wounds have been successfully closed or not, for her signature pink vest has turned into a sickening shade of maroon. Yoshiko could feel tears stinging her own eyes when she looks away from Ruby and meets Hanamaru’s gaze, which is filled with despair. Whimpering, the brunette bites her lower lip and shakes her head.

Ruby… she’s… no… no no no...

“W-Why her…I thought, it was me that you people wanted…” Dia says monotonously, her hands slick with her little sister’s blood.

“You were indeed, Kurosawa heiress. We thought you the most powerful Pureblood of your family, that you still have the potential to become even stronger. Yet, from what I saw in Lily’s mind-” Yohane pauses and smiles when Dia glares at her with bloodshot eyes. “Your Patronus and Animagus form don’t exactly match my image of a powerful Pureblood. Naturally, I got curious and concerned. All this effort, with the Fallen’s limited resources, what if we did get to you and you are the wrong one? And so I looked and pondered.”

Yohane gestures at Yoshiko, who recoils at the realization. “Ah yes, it is through you and our connection that I begin to understand the so-called failure more. That meek little Ruby Kurosawa, her Patronus is truly beautiful, that I concede. I want to make sure though, so I must get to the Kurosawa sisters, to get to all of you with one single swoop. How can I accomplish that?”

She tilts her head and says a matter-of-factly. “Well, here we are.”

Yoshiko clenches her fists, thinking back on all the events that led to this moment. The forcibly blocked-off connection back at the alleyway and the return of the vision, and her telling everyone about the assault on the Estate. It was an elaborate plan all along, with Yohane as the master puppetress stringing them onto the stage that she had designed. Luring them all here, setting up ambushes here and there to diminish the strength of their stronger members, and allowing Dia to run free so they would have to search around for her while Yohane most likely observed them.

Appraised them like livestock for slaughter.

“She has my respect. Truly unexpected, but I suppose her experiences molded her magic and soul. Her desire to protect her friends and save her dear sister makes her so much stronger,” Yohane taps the sakura wand thoughtfully, her smile dropping a little. “I know the Counter-Curse to sectumsempra of course. I could heal her… but I won’t. You’ve cost too many of my cohorts. I need compensation.”

Yoshiko laughs harshly, the rage burning and causing the black mist to condense around her arm again. “Compensation?! You dare to talk about compensation!? Why… why are you like this? Just what the fuck have you accomplished?” She gestures tearfully at her friends. “Are you happy now? Huh?! Causing all this misery, does that make you happy?!”

Yohane blinks in puzzlement, like she truly is incapable of understanding Yoshiko’s sentiment. “Of course I am happy. Do you not see, my sad other half? Can you not see the complete state of my magic, my soul?”

She spreads her wings wide, and Yoshiko could see the left wing slowly yet steadily turning from black to white as well. The atmosphere feels even heavier now that more magic has gathered and saturated in the air. Distressed, Lucifer curls up in Yoshiko’s hood, shivering.

“Truly, I am grateful to you all. See,” Yohane summons the wand from an unconscious member of Fallen nearby, casting a bright Lumos with no trouble. “I can now use any wand… perhaps, I can even obtain my own wand like the rest of you regular witches.”

“What-?” Yoshiko’s hand tightens on her own wand, reassured by the flow of magic between them.

“Because of you, silly girl. You caused so many irregularities in my core that I was unable to bond with any wand… until Lily’s.” Yohane taps the sakura wand against her palm, her thumb gently brushing over the wood. “Perhaps it’s due to Lily’s past interaction with the quill or her connection to you. Either way, this wand accepted my magic, and the rest is history.”

At Yoshiko’s silence, Yohane lowers her voice to a dangerous lilt. “I see the confusion in your eyes. It’s not something you can ever relate to, being able to use a wand like it is the most natural thing in the world. You and the rest of the wizards and witches.” Her condescending gaze then shifts over to Hanamaru, who flinches.

“I gave you a little taste of such… inconvenience. How did it feel, having magic so close without access to it? I was forced to learn to control the only thing I have at my disposal - my soul, my incomplete soul. But ah,” Yohane gives her a fanged grin. “It is much more powerful than I could’ve imagined. We Fallen, through countless research, learn more about my feathers - it can bypass Anti-Apparition Jinx, it can cause disruption in a witch or wizard’s flow of magic and thus rendering them vulnerable.”

She holds up the flask that contains the now black potion. “And now, I can grant magic to those who seek it - Squibs, Muggles, or even sentient creatures like the Acromantulas! Everyone will finally be equal, will they not?”

“You are mad…” Dia hugs Ruby close, sparks of magic cackling at the tip of the latter’s wand.

“Am I? Is it not unfair, that certain people enjoy the convenience and power of magic, while others suffer from the lack of it?”

“If you are strictly referring to that, then I have also thought of the same thing. But, never, ever, at the cost of innocent people’s lives,” Dia’s voice hitches and wavers. “R-Ruby, Riko, and all t-those people… what had they done to deserve this?!”

Yohane’s expression is the closest to remorse that Yoshiko has seen on her. “Unfortunate casualty to balance out everything. My people have suffered as well - those who had given their lives today shall be commemorated for the bright future that is to come.”

“Bright… future…?” Yoshiko glances at Ruby’s motionless body and snarls. “There’s no future! You think you can get away with all of this?! I won’t let you…”

“Just how do you plan to stop me, when I have already gotten what I wanted, hmm?” Yohane shifts her wings and tucks the potion in her pocket. “The rest of the world, the silly Ministry, they shall all see and understand the greatness of what I have accomplished. Even the so-called renowned Order of Merlin, 1st Class, is not enough to honor me. I am too worthy-”

“You are not.”

Hanamaru slowly stands up, her eyes downcast and still full of pain, yet there is something decidedly serene about her demeanor. “You don’t understand anything at all.”

“Oh? Care to elaborate?” Yohane narrows her eyes to slits, her tone lowered to a menacing octave.

“You think you’ve done an amazing thing, but you don’t understand even the simplest of emotions,” Hanamaru clutches her hand in front of her heart as tears trickle down her cheeks. “Can you even relate to our anguish? Can you even feel this loss? You call yourself complete, but how can you be complete when you don’t even understand the importance of such bonds?!”

Yohane’s cool expression shifts to one of anger. “You silly mortal. You’re the one who understands nothing. Your truly are unworthy to be by my side! Very well, I will show you…”

Grimacing, Yoshiko hastily moves to stand in front of Hanamaru and concentrates on the veil of black tendrils wrapped around her outstretched arm. Yohane scoffs at her action and merely holds up the sakura wand with a confident smile.

“Expecto Patronum!”

Yoshiko and Hanamaru cringe at that, staring with wide eyes at the beam of silver light summoned by Yohane’s spell. The Patronus begins to take a corporeal form, shaping into a pair of great wings that encompass the caster.

Yohane’s eyes flash with glee as she laughs joyously. “At last! I can cast the Patronus Charm! See, this is the proof of my worthiness, I am the great fallen angel Yohane-”

The silver light abruptly vanishes, leaving behind evanescent sparks like falling snowflakes. Yohane staggers a few steps, gasping and grasping frantically at her cloak when the whiteness in her left wing begins to recede.

“What’s-? Why… the potion-!” She desperately takes a few gulps, yet that does nothing to halt the darkening of her wings. The blackness has now spread even to her white right wing, like the unrelenting way that ink would spread across a piece of parchment.

“No… No!! W-What’s happening?!”

Perhaps it’s due to their proximity or Yohane’s inadvertently lowered defense, but Yoshiko could feel the former’s panic seeping into her cognizance. She hastily summons her own Patronus, sighing in relief when the silver coelacanth materializes easily at her call.

“Your dazzling Patronus. It comes from the caster’s heart and soul. It’s something that cannot be faked or created from nothingness. This alone proves your worthiness.”

She could almost hear the Selkie Chieftainess’ reassuring words and, judging from the spike of fury she felt, Yohane must have heard those words from her memory too.

“I am unworthy? But you’re the Horcrux! How is this possible?!” Yohane cradles the sakura wand against her chest, wheezing and panting. “This potion should have been perfect! This is supposed to be my crowning moment of glory!! No, it must be you, your existence, it’s making everything wrong, if I could just reclaim you-”

Due to their connection, Yoshiko understands that Yohane is trying to call upon the Dementor horde that probably still lingers around the area. Dia is in no state to cast a Patronus Charm, and Yoshiko herself could feel her control on the silver coelacanth slipping due to Yohane’s disbelief and anger cluttering with her own thoughts. Grimacing, Yoshiko musters her strength to send those black tendrils at Yohane to stop her.

Snarling in frustration, Yohane slaps aside the spears with her wings, though the impact causes both girls to recoil as if something has pierced through their hearts. Yoshiko sinks down on her knees, shuddering from that clash of their soul.

“Hana...maru… aim your Patronus at her wings… now!” She manages to squeeze out those words, her eyes trained on Yohane’s slouched-over form.

Though bewildered, Hanamaru’s expression is full of trust as she directs her Augurey Patronus towards the fallen girl. Yohane cringes with surprise, instinctively shielding herself with her wings, but the silver bird easily tears through the feathers as it soars past her.

Yohane cries out in pain, hugging herself tight and curling up on the ground. The shredded wings droop uselessly against her shoulders, those disintegrated feathers not reforming and the remaining ones losing the whiteness even faster.

Unlike the stabbing pain of the Cruciatus Curse, the agony in Yoshiko’s chest feels like molten lava that mercilessly spreads throughout her body. Her vision flickers out of focus and it takes a few moments for her to realize that she is slumped on the ground, coughing blood.

“Yoshiko-chan!” Hanamaru has dispelled her Patronus and is leaning over her, holding her hands and whimpering. Lucifer is also flapping its wings helplessly near her head, nudging and licking at her sweaty cheek.

Yoshiko couldn’t feel any of their warmth. That sensation of something vanishing is even worse now.

“Are you crazy!?” Yohane is trying to get up but her trembling arms are barely supporting her weight. “You want to... destroy yourself too!?”

Yoshiko knows there is blood trickling down her chin but she couldn’t even taste that coppery tang. She leans feebly against Hanamaru, finding her resolution growing at her loved one’s worried voice.

Almost there. She can end this.

Unable to wield her wand properly, Yoshiko tries to recall the feeling of summoning the Patronus all those years ago back in the background. The desire to protect Hanamaru, the desperation to prove her worth, the belief that she is truly someone special.

The silver coelacanth swims majestically through the air, bringing a small smile to Yoshiko’s face in spite of the severity of the situation. This symbol of hope, so beautiful and brilliant and free! At her slight nod, the sentient Charm then dives towards Yohane with the power of purpose.

Shaking, Yohane could only reform the wings into a condensed shield in a last ditch attempt to stop the Patronus. The black mist evaporates as soon as the coelacanth propels through it, but the silver fish also fades before it could reach her.

As soon as Yohane collapses, Yoshiko also drops her wand and retches blood again. Before her quivering hand could reclaim the wand, a pale hand firmly grips her wrist.

Dia’s cheeks are stained with dried tears but there’s a fierceness in her gaze that demands obedience. “Whatever you are doing, stop it. I want her to pay for everything she did but not through you, not at the cost of your life, Yoshiko-san.”

Hanamaru appears to have put two and two together as well and uses her sleeve to gently wipe away the blood staining Yoshiko’s chin. “It’s enough… it’s too much… no more… stop… don’t...”

Though feeling rather detached to her body in spite of the pain, Yoshiko is able to sit up with Hanamaru and Dia’s help. She glances at Lucifer, who is nestled against Ruby’s hand and crooning miserably, and then at the two girls supporting her upright.

Despite her blurring vision, she is able to meet Yohane’s furious eyes. “Just one more... hit, I’m sure... I can…”

I can end Yohane and atone for our sins.

Coughing weakly, Yohane claws at the wall behind her to try to get up. “If you want to die so badly, I’ll help you with that! The inferno of hell shall be the perfect mausoleum for the great fallen angel!”

A bitter and manic grin lights up on her dark expression as she holds up the sakura wand. “Let’s perish together then, my sad clone!”

Pouring forth from the tip of the wand is a terrible stream of fire, which roars like a sentient beast as it consumes everything around it. The shelves instantly crumble into soot and become part of this uncontrollable rampage.

Fiendfyre. The vague knowledge of the Curse trickles into Yoshiko’s mind as Dia shakily points Ruby’s wand and croaks out. “Partis Temporus!”

Even as Dia’s Charm causes it to part ways, the furious flame continues to spread around the Apothecary, hungry to incinerate and destroy, barely halting. The fire swerves around the spell, ready to converge and feast upon them and their vulnerable friends.

Yohane’s broken laughter reverberates within Yoshiko’s mind, the sheer despair almost making her just surrender and allow the hell fire to burn everything away. However, in spite of being unable to relish in Hanamaru’s warmth, she sees and vaguely feels her cold tears falling upon her skin.

Similar to how Yohane did it earlier, Yoshiko summons the black tendrils to form a condensed shield of blackness to block the fiendfyre just as it is about to reach them.

From her peripheral vision, she notices the sakura wand fracturing, followed by magic scalding her nerves, and everything whitens out.

==========================

Yoshiko blinks.

The atmosphere feels familiar and comforting, and she soon realizes that she is back at the Hogwarts Castle. This is the lavatory that masquerades as the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, the place where so many things had happened. The beginning of an end.

Perplexed, she approaches one of the mirrors and sees her reflection staring back at her. She’s not covered in dirt and blood, and her school uniform is immaculate and complete with the Slytherin scarf wrapped cozily around her. She doesn’t hurt anywhere, and she feels better than she’s felt for a long time.

She hesitantly pinches herself, startled by the pain.

This isn’t a dream. But what happened? Wasn’t she at the Apothecary on the Kurosawa Estate?

“Yocchan.”

Her heart thuds rapidly in her chest, the pang growing as she turns around to find a familiar girl smiling softly at her.

“L-Lily…?”

She wobbles towards Riko, unable to believe the wonderful sight before her. She raises her hand, not daring to touch the Ravenclaw in case this is all just an illusion. The last time she saw Riko, she was so frail on the hospital bed, those amber eyes so lifeless, unaware of the events around her, still confined to the Janus Thickey Ward at St. Mungo’s-

“Is it… really you, Lily?”

Riko smiles sadly and gently holds her hand. It feels warm, yet there’s also something off about it. “Yes and no.”

“Eh-?”

“I am a construct of your conscience and the remnants of Riko Sakurauchi’s magic,” the burgundy-haired girl slowly lets go and allows Yoshiko’s hand to drop to her side. “Magic is full of possibilities and, while the Curse had destroyed Riko’s wand, its previous owner’s feelings remained strong and answered your call before the magic fades. I am here because of the lingering regret in your heart.”

“Regret…?” Yoshiko chuckles humorlessly, unable to tear her gaze away from the older girl before her. Real or not, it makes her so happy to see Riko healthy and well. It’s been so long since she heard her voice. Come to think of it, this lavatory was the last place where they had a heart to heart conversation, wasn’t it?

“Yes, regret,” the Riko replica says quietly, her expression just as kind as the original’s. “You wish to speak to Riko, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Ever since that day. I want to say how sorry I am. I want to say how much I appreciate her being there for me. No, not only those. There are so, so damn much I want to talk about with Lily, and Dia-san too,” Yoshiko’s voice cracks and she has to swallow down her sobs. “H-Hanamaru, Ruby, everyone! I want to speak with them more. I want to keep spending time with them. I-I don’t want to leave…”

As always, a mere duplicate or not, this Riko patiently waits for her to gather her composure.

“I want all of us to be together even longer, all nine of us. But, that’s not possible, not anymore.” Yoshiko breathes deeply and clasps her hands together, smiling wryly at the realistic sensation she could feel even though she knows it will not last. “Because... I’m dying.”

There, it is out in the open. Saying it aloud doesn’t feel as terrible as she had expected. This sense of finality is calming even, and having this Riko as the witness somehow gives her more courage. She’s been vaguely aware of this fact since she intercepted that Killing Curse, and everything Yohane did with the potion as well as that clash of Patronus and the wings only sped up the progress.

“I can cry and whine about it, but that’s not gonna change the fact that I’m… disappearing. I’m just a Horcrux, yet I was able to experience a pretty awesome life as a human, finding people who cares about me, loves me,” Yoshiko places her hand against her heart, lowering her gaze at the reassuring sensation of heartbeats. “And I love them too.”

The burgundy-haired girl tilts her head morosely. “Riko cares about you. She is still in shock, still recovering from what she had suffered in the Chamber of Secrets, but deep down, she knows the truth. At least, the truth that you, Yoshiko Tsushima, are not the one who hurt her. Given time, she will accept the truth. Believe me, I’m a corporeal form of her magic after all.”

“That’s relieving to hear,” Yoshiko wipes at her eyes and grins. “Well then, I have no more unfinished business. Thank you for speaking with me. I needed that… I needed that one last push.”

She steps forward and embraces the taller girl, smiling when she feels familiar magic enveloping her even as the replica fades away. The scenery around her begins to dissolve as well, along with the wholesome sensation of being a regular student.

Closing her eyes, she pours her emotions along with the flow of magic.

“I hope you will recover soon. Thank you for everything, and goodbye... sister.”

===============================

“Hanamaru…”

Yoshiko blearily opens her eyes, not surprised to find herself back at the Apothecary. The pungent odor of smoke almost throws her into a coughing fit, but she feels too weak to even exhale properly. Hanamaru and Dia are still seated around her, and a quick glance tells her that the others are nearby as well. Though unconscious, Kanan and Mari, You and Chika, the four of them have been Levitated and placed close together and far from the licking flames of the fiendfyre.

Indeed, walls of the nightmarish fire trap them in this little space. Everything else appears to be ablaze and there is no way out as far as she could see. Perhaps the shield she had created earlier was the only reason why they have yet to be consumed by this magical inferno. At the time being, the flames have skirted around this area, similar to how a river current could be diverted by a formidable rock in its path.

Once certain of everyone’s whereabouts, she finally forces herself to gaze at Ruby, who is still lying behind Dia. Lucifer is curled up against the motionless girl’s hand, as if its tiny body could help preserve warmth.

“...Ruby, how is she-?”

“S-She’s not breathing…” Hanamaru chokes out, and Dia clenches her eyes shut. “S-She’s already...”

“Could you… bring me c-closer?”

Hanamaru and Dia share an uncertain glance but do as requested. Grunting, Yoshiko reaches for Ruby’s wrist, unable to feel any pulse but unable to feel the coldness either. She couldn’t feel anything, not anymore.

“... Ruby, no amount of apologies would be enough… but maybe, if I could only…” Yoshiko grits her teeth and concentrates. Black mist slowly forms around her arm though, with it, comes a dizzying sensation.

“Yoshiko-san-?”

“If these tendrils can maim… it might be able to heal too. It’s the magic of my soul, so if I could only make it…” She ignores Dia’s worried gaze and tries to guide the mist over to the vicious wounds all over Ruby’s body. However, unlike the gentle glow of healing magic, the black mist is fluctuating, as if struggling to break free of the veil form she is keeping it.

“L-Let me help…” Hanamaru reaches for Yoshiko’s hand before the latter could stop her. Instead of hurting her, the black mist recedes a little to give space so that her hand covers Yoshiko’s larger one. Though unable to feel another’s person’s warmth, she could faintly feel the trickle of magic mingling with hers.

Before their wide eyes, the black mist stabilizes and descends upon Ruby, shifting into a soft glow. The maroon of the drenched vest lightens a little and the wounds begin to mend.

“W-what?” Dia doesn’t dare to blink, carefully touching her sister’s cheek and gasping when Ruby lets out a weak breath.

“Maybe… it’s because Yohane knows how to heal her so I somehow know too… or maybe, it’s because Hanamaru’s been connected to us since so long ago…” Yoshiko wheezes, her vision flickering precariously again. What she just did has drained her what little of energy she has left. She would’ve fallen backwards if Hanamaru hadn’t been holding her.

“Ruby…” Dia hugs her sister close, her voice strangled with emotions. “She… she will fine?”

“At least she won’t bleed to death,” Yoshiko gives her a weak grin and struggles to reach for her pocket. “Now, Dia-san, please get everyone out of here.”

“Yoshiko-chan-?” Hanamaru blinks as Yoshiko pushes a black feather in her palm and then drops another in Dia’s hand.

“You heard what Yohane said earlier. These feathers, they should help you Apparate,” Yoshiko pauses and allows herself a moment to sweep her gaze over her friends one last time. She tries to etch their images into her mind, hoping that would help her remember them forever, though she finds such logic ridiculous since she’s the one who would not remain.

“Yoshiko-san, just what are you-?”

“Lily is waiting for you.” She caresses Lucifer’s head before depositing the protesting bat in the older girl’s lap. “I’m counting on you, my greatest little demon, be good to Dia-san okay? Watch over them.”

“I don’t like this… why are you saying all these things,” Hanamaru wraps her arms around Yoshiko’s, refusing to budge even as the latter weakly attempts to tug free. “Let’s all go back to Hogwarts… let’s all go home zura.”

“It’d upset me if I hear anything were to happen to you. I want you to take care of yourself too, Yoshiko-chan.” She could almost hear Grandma Kunikida’s kind words, so she guiltily apologizes to the elder in her mind.

She glances at Ruby, comforted by the feeble but steady rise and fall of her chest, and recalls her worried voice from their conversation by the Black Lake. “Yoshiko-chan, d-don’t leave us, okay?”

“That’s a promise I can no longer keep, my friend.”  She sadly looks away and stares at the roaring flames. “Hanamaru, I’m… just returning to the sky for a bit…. I’ll be back…”

“Yoshiko-chan-?”

She cups Hanamaru’s cheek and kisses her deeply, pouring all the feelings she had in this one intimate gesture. Though stunned at first, the petite girl soon melts against her and returns the kiss just as tenderly.

Yoshiko smiles. She couldn’t feel anything, but she could sense the girl’s love and that is more than enough for her. Though reluctant, she pulls away and whispers against Hanamaru’s ear.

“Please don’t forget me…”

Mustering all the remaining strength she had, she shoves Hanamaru away and abruptly stands up. With one arm around Ruby and the other steadying the startled Hanamaru, Dia is unable to move from her spot and could only watch as Yoshiko gives her one last pleading look.

Before any of them could react, Yoshiko quickly summons the black mist to cover herself and walks into the fiendfyre. The magical flames is tickling at her skin, threatening to consume her, and she finds it utterly ironic how she was able to feel the heat from this Curse and nothing else. She glances back, noticing Hanamaru’s silhouette and flashes of magic. She must be trying to get through this destructive fire, to get to her.

“... promised!” The girl’s heartrending cry is nearly muffled by the cackling inferno. “You promised … when you return to the sky, you would take me with you! Yoshiko-chan!”

Yoshiko turns away and resumes walking. Even though she knows Hanamaru couldn’t hear her, she still finds herself murmuring at the fire.

“I’ll always love you.”

=================================

After what feels like an eternity, Yoshiko finally reaches a similar area within the fiendfyre where the flames have left untouched. Yohane is hugging her legs, in fetal position, the vestiges of her torn black wings draped over her shoulders and are steadily crumbling to dust.

She doesn’t move even as Yoshiko sits down beside her.

“What? Do you pity me?”

“I suppose.”

Yohane laughs shakily, tearfully. “... you knew we are dying.”

Yoshiko nods. “I wasn’t fully sure… but yes, I knew. I just didn’t want to believe it.”

“Then why are you here? Didn’t tell your friends, did you? Wouldn’t you rather die with them around you?” Yohane shifts and turns to face her. If it had been any other circumstances, Yoshiko would have felt sympathy at the sight of such raw helplessness on her mirror image’s expression.

Alas, as it is, she feels nothing. “I don’t want them to see me… go, not like this.” She looks down at her hands, unsurprised that her fingertips are becoming translucent. Her feet are already disintegrating into black mist, into an intangible form. This certainly doesn’t feel like her body anymore. “Besides, in the end… you’re me. I want you to know that you’re not alone.”

Yohane recoils. “Even after everything I have done?”

Scowling, Yoshiko grabs Yohane by the scruff of her cloak and yanks her close so that she’s glaring into those wide eyes. “I will never forgive you. If only I could make you pay, if only I could make you apologize… except, you couldn’t, could you?”

Yohane blinks, still startled and bewildered. Sighing, Yoshiko loosens her grip and shakes her head. “You’re incapable of remorse, just as you’re incapable of many other emotions.”

“... you’re right, I don’t.” Despite the bite of her words, Yohane’s visage flickers with what appears to be lament before the characteristic aloofness returns. “So what. Instead of staying with your beloved friends, you’ve come to me, so we can happily die together, is that it?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Like you said a while back, it’d be too sad if I remain ignorant before I go,” Yoshiko interlaces her fingers together, smiling wistfully. “I want to know. I want to understand why you are this way. Tell me… tell me your story.”

Yohane scoffs half-heartedly as she looks over at Yoshiko’s condition. “There’s not much to tell, but I suppose I could share it. It’s your story as much as it is mine and, well, we got nothing else to do to pass this time anyway, waiting for the inevitable death.”

After a moment’s deliberation, Yohane takes out a familiar quill and places it in Yoshiko’s palm. The object falls through the latter’s translucent hand, landing softly in her lap. The former flinches while the latter doesn’t react.

“Er… yeah, this was you. The quill. It’s made from an Augurey actually, quite unlike any other quills.”

“So I was right,” Yoshiko’s lips quirk with slight humor. “I sensed the connection. It’s a given though, since I … used to be this thing.”

“Right. Well then, where should I even start?” Yohane closes her eyes briefly before opening them again. Her husky voice now has a distant quality to it as she taps her fingers against her knee. “Ah, the playground. I assume you don’t know what happened after Mother saved us?”

Yoshiko could only remember being hugged by Father while Mother was speaking to the Ministry officials that arrived. As if sensing her thoughts, Yohane nods curtly. “They screwed up, y’know? The Dementors were chasing an escaped convict from Nurmengard - that’s a wizarding prison - because the transfer to Azkaban didn’t happen smoothly. During the chase, the Dementors took a detour because they sensed two delectable children with developing magic. Yup, Hanamaru and I.”

Yoshiko carefully watches Yohane’s expression, which appears to be forcibly stoic at the mention of the brunette.

“Father and Mother took me home while the Ministry dealt with the aftermath for Hanamaru. I don’t know. I never saw her again until that day at King’s Cross Station,” she trails off, frowning, and her voice becomes flat again as she touches her chest. “That incident caused my magic to become unstable. Something was desperately trying to break free, and it wasn’t my Patronus or anything.”

Yoshiko exhales tiredly. “... Me?”

“Probably. I know I call you a Horcrux because that’s the only terminology closest to describing you, but who knows what you really are?” Yohane shrugs. “Father was a Muggle descendant of a Squib from a notable Pureblood family, and he’s kept in contact with a distant relative ever since I was born. That relative, an old man who’s also a Squib, have always been helpful in terms of knowledge from the magical world. Mother was a Half-blood who grew up in the Muggle world, so she didn’t know what was happening to me either.”

Even though everything is in the past tense and despite knowing what was coming, Yoshiko is rather pleased at learning about her parents, no matter how trivial the information seems. Yohane snorts at that but she continues speaking.

“So, Father called for the old man to see if he knows what can be done… alas, he wasn’t able to make it to our place in time. Like I said back then, there was a burst of accidental magic and you killed Father. My soul split off, and you were able to latch onto the family quill as some sort of Horcrux.”

In spite of already hearing it once before, Yoshiko still winces and lowers her head. Unlike last time, Yohane’s tone isn’t accusing as she adds. “I believe our magic was very unstable then, and that’s why when Mother tried to help me, save me, she remained too close to the quill and her life force was drained so rapidly.”

Yohane’s composure crumbles a little, displaying a rare moment of pain and sadness.

“That old man discovered me in the ruins of the apartment and quickly took me away under his protection before the Muggle authorities arrived. We went far away, as he didn’t want the Ministry to discover me and possibly take me away for experimentation. We lost our faith in the Ministry since that botched transfer, see? And that’s why neither of us knew of your existence, that an orphan was found at the ruins and identified as Yoshiko Tsushima, an orphan who lived like a Muggle for ten years before receiving Hogwarts’ letter.”

Yoshiko furrows her brows. “I think you’ve seen it in my mind. I… did live like a Muggle, but it was definitely not normal. You have no idea how happy I was, when I found out I was a witch.”

Yohane laughs callously. “It is still better than mine. I grew up with only that old man to rely on. He taught me everything about magic, despite being unable to use it himself. He… was the leader of Fallen. The Fallen’s been around for centuries but it’s only due to my presence that they had such breakthroughs. His distant ancestor was a Squib from the Kurosawa family actually, hence my cohorts’ obsession with this particular Pureblood family.”

Yoshiko isn’t surprised to learn that she’s very, very distantly related to Dia and Ruby. All the Pureblood families are related in one way or another through intermarriage after all, and some Muggleborns do have Pureblood ancestry. Still, hearing such connection gives her a sense of peace.

Yohane chuckles dryly. “She’ll live, that Ruby Kurosawa. Kudos to you on that bastardized healing spell. I’ll have you know that I didn’t aim at any vital spots, otherwise she would have died for certain.”

“Why?”

“Why indeed. I could have killed Lily. I could have killed Ruby. But, like I said, maybe your silly mortal emotions did influence me to an extent,” Yohane sneers, though her voice is subdued and no longer has that vicious edge. “Anyway, within the Fallen, there are many other Squibs and magical relatives tormented by discrimination. Yes, even more Squibs distantly related to the Kurosawas, those who were burned off the family tree. That man who used a suicide bomb, he was actually the brother of that wizard who I had the Dementor Kissed.”

Yoshiko cringes at recalling those aforementioned men. “But all the members of Fallen we had encountered, they all used magic so well-?”

“They were temporarily granted the ability to use magic through the many versions of incomplete potions we have developed. Why do you think it was so difficult for us to capture a Pureblood? The old man passed away three years ago and so, under my leadership, I pushed forward our agenda by risking casualties and exposure. I’m not conservative like him, and I was fucking sick of being idle and hiding, like I’m some sort of abomination.” Yohane takes out the nearly empty flask of the potion that had briefly granted her a white wing. “I still believe this potion is truly complete. It should work on the Squibs, Muggles and other potential candidates, just not me. I suppose, nothing can ever fill the void of my missing soul.”

She raises the flask as if she is about to hurl it into the flames, but she lowers it tiredly a moment later. “There, satisfied now? That’s my pathetic little story, you silly girl.”

Yoshiko gazes contemplatively at the ground for a while, with only the cackling flame and Yohane’s ragged breathing as background noise. She morbidly tries to prickle her finger at a piece of sharp rock but her now transparent finger just goes right through the object.

“Your story doesn’t excuse you for what you’ve done.”

“Of course it doesn’t, and I don’t intend it to anyway, I only-”

“But I still can’t help but sympathize with you.”

“Ha?” Yohane’s visage is full of incredulity. “Did your brain disappear too?”

Yoshiko rolls her eyes. In so many aspects, it’s ludicrous how they’re bantering like this in the middle of this deadly inferno while steadily vanishing into oblivion. Yet, it also feels right, like some sort of closure that the two pieces of the same soul owe to themselves. Perhaps it is exactly because they’re dying that they’re able to reach such moment of truce.

“Had I gone down the wrong path, I might have ended up like you. There were some pretty dark moments while growing up. All those talk about conquering the world and acquiring little demons, there were times when I genuinely wished it, maliciously too. It was brief and quickly forgotten, but it was there,” Yoshiko pauses and watches as the quill falls through her lap onto the ground, the black mist now spreading up her legs and have reached her waist. She could barely see the shape of her feet anymore.

Yohane is watching her, her expression a mixture of fear and morbid fascination at her condition. In comparison, the only sign of her declining health is that bead of cold sweat trickling down her deathly pale cheek.

“I just want to say… you weren’t always evil, Yohane. We… you… you saved Hanamaru back then. You did it because you wanted to save her, right?”

Yohane sighs and rubs her temple. “... yeah. She was my first friend. I remember what happened, but I don’t remember my reasoning behind it… or my emotions back then.”

“I think, when our souls split, it just so happens that I’m the part that retained the feeling, deep in my subconscious,” Yoshiko finds herself smiling, though it isn’t a happy smile. “You hold the memories of that event, but not the emotions associated with it. You were only left with the negative feelings, while I was capable of learning more. I still had hope.”

“Hope, huh?” Yohane returns her smile, and it appears just as forlorn. “That’s certainly a foreign feeling… but it sounds pleasant, Yoshiko.”

“Yeah, hope, along with many other emotions, allowed me to summon the Patronus that you originally did to save Hanamaru.” With a strained grunt, she reaches for Yohane and drapes her arm around the latter’s shoulder in an awkward hug.

“What the hell?” Yohane freezes but doesn’t push away, especially when she notices how Yoshiko is barely hanging on with her semi-transparent arms. “You-”

“Just shut up and listen to me… no, rather, go ahead and look into my mind,” Yoshiko grits her teeth and tries to gather her thoughts. Everything seems to be slipping away, like it never existed in the first place.

Kanan’s playful grin as she chases her around the Room of Requirement

That twinkle in Mari’s eyes as she teases her about her feelings at the courtyard.

Chika’s sunny laughter as she persistently shoves mikans towards her mouth at the library.

The protective gleam in You’s blue eyes as she ruffles her hair in the Aviary.

Dia’s understanding smile as she attentively listens to her in the Slytherin Dorm.

The softness of Riko’s voice as she speaks to the Thestrals with her at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Ruby gently holding her hand and telling her that she is family.

The sheer love in Hanamaru’s kiss earlier before they parted ways.

“Everything I’ve experienced, the good and the bad, all the fun times at Hogwarts, all those precious moments of my life as Yoshiko Tsushima, I want you to feel those too. This is my story… I want to share it, at least, before I… before we…”

Yohane closes her eyes, allowing Yoshiko to lean against her as she stiffly returns the hug. “It’s warm.”

“It is.”

“It’s… nice…” Yohane whispers despondently, her breaths light and wispy. “Heh, you are a good girl, Yoshiko. Being a mortal isn’t all bad. This way, dying isn’t so bad.”

Yoshiko smiles at the acknowledgement, unable to think anymore. The fiendfyre continues to blaze around them while the black mist of her body leaks away into nothingness. She may be disappearing, but she’s surrounded by all these wonderful memories and feelings.

Indeed, this isn’t so bad.

[athyrabunlord]

LLSHP Interlude2 - Of Feathers and Wind

Arc1: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]

Arc2: [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13] [Chapter 14]

Arc3: [Chapter 15] [Chapter 16] [Chapter 17] [Chapter 18 - sanguinem pudicitia (TBD)]

Interludes: [Carbonado (1)] [Carbonado (2)] [Of Feathers and Wind] [Delphinus (teaser blip)]

[Brief note about School Term] [other LLSHP AU stuff] [YohaMaRuby concept arts] [ChikaYouRiko concept arts] [KanaDiaMari concept arts] [Hogwarts Staff]

[FFN link] (up until ch14!) [Pixiv Link] [Translated to Chinese by plin2290]

A/N: Here it is, a Ruby-centric chapter! Surprised? (⌒ω⌒) Yup, this interlude is told from Ruby’s POV, about various points throughout the story so far and her relationship with the other girls, such as \CYR/ and more. And in spite of my simple 5-bullet point outline, this turned into the longest chapter ever wtf. Hope you’ll enjoy this, and any feedback is welcomed as always! Words: 10,159

“It’s rare that you have a day off.”

Ruby nods distractedly, tugging her favorite lop bunny plushie under her chin and tightening her hug. She shifts a little and smiles when she feels a warm body lying down behind her as if offering to be her cushion. Just as she leans back against the large wolf, her golden-haired companion also flops down against it, making the wolf growl in exasperation.

Ruby giggles at Kanan and Mari’s interaction, grateful for their company on an otherwise inane day at the Kurosawa Estate. It’s rather pitiful that she has no idea what to do with her free time, having very little of that in all her fourteen years of life.

Hobby? She does like creating things, whether it is plushie toys or adding accessories to her own clothing, but it’s getting more difficult to hide them. There is no trustworthy person in the House of Kurosawa, especially the house-elves. It’s not because they have bad intentions or anything, but rather they are under strict orders to obey their masters and mistresses. The word of the patriarch, her grandfather, is absolute. Even Father and Mother cannot defy him.

Friends? Ruby has no friends. Unlike some Purebloods or Half-bloods who go to community schools prior to entering Hogwarts or other magical schools, she learns magic under various instructors’ tutelage. Due to her jam-packed schedule, she is unable to mingle with other peers let alone go out to have fun. She grew up watching the lonely silhouette of Dia’s back and learns to suppress that destitute feeling herself.

It’s only recent years that Ruby notices the change in her older sister’s demeanor. As soon as Dia earned her private compound after becoming a Prefect, she constructed a small garden as if in defiance of the family’s pre-set structure. Also, unbeknownst to their large family, she modified the spells to the perimeter in order to allow secret entry for her two best friends.

Mari Ohara and Kanan Matsuura, the two friends who have made Dia smile, are now keeping Ruby company as per her request. At first, Ruby feels awkward around such strangers, knowing they are just doing her sister a favor. But as time goes on, she could sense that they are genuine in trying to help out the Kurosawa siblings. In a way, they are a bridge between the sisters.

“Hehe, that bunny sure looks like Dia~”

Ruby smiles up at the smirking Mari. “It is supposed to be Onee-chan! See, I made one for Onee-chan when we were younger, and she made this lop bunny for me.”

“Daww, if only we could sneak you over to her side of the compound right now…”

Kanan huffs and paws at the tatami in agreement.

“Thank you, but I don’t want to risk you two getting caught.”

The house-elves have turned a blind eye to the two visitors, as they had entered Ruby’s room in their Animagus forms. Their orders are to keep unauthorized people out of her room, and nothing about animals, so on this technicality they are able to keep up with this arrangement. Ruby isn’t sure what their response would be if they were to leave the room, so it’s better to play safe.

“Such a cute little sister~ I’d love to adopt you but that overprotective condensed carbon would have my head, teh-heh.”

Truthfully, Ruby enjoys being pampered by Mari. Both she and Kanan are rather forward in their physical affection, something Ruby yearns for from her older sister but she could only recall a few instances that Dia ever hugged her.

After all, such open displays of emotions are not allowed in their proud Pureblood household.

Dia has always been strict towards her, unyielding and perhaps even harsh in reprimands, yet Ruby could feel that her sibling truly cares about her. All those countless times Dia would slip snacks to her, sneak into her room to read storybooks to her whenever she had nightmares, and all the times she would speak on her behalf in risk of punishment.

Ruby just doesn’t know how she could ever return such gesture. Anything she can do, Dia definitely can do too. Just how can she help her sister, if ever?

“So, just how much free time do we have?”

“Hmm, until dinner time I think? My tutor had an emergency that requires his immediate presence so he would not be available for this whole week. Father said I should use this freed-up time to prepare for next week.”

“Next week huh… my my, even Ruby-chan is going to Hogwarts now~” Mari caresses the younger girl’s hair. “How time has flown by, ne, Kanan?”

The wolf lets out a sharp bark, its unusually long tail wagging and practically sweeping the tatami.

“Yes, I’ll… finally be able to leave here and join Onee-chan at Hogwarts.” Ruby unconsciously sinks against the wolf even more and smiles appreciatively when Mari wraps a comforting arm around her.

“We’ll have so much fun together! Although, as per Dia’s request, you’ll have to pretend that you don’t know us, okay?”

Ruby pouts. “I don’t understand. Sure, I know why we have to be so secretive here, but why at Hogwarts too?”

“You never know who’s watching. Besides, Dia was… well, you have heard about unknown assailants going after her right?”

“Again!?” Ruby covers her mouth after the loud squeak, hoping that hadn’t caught a house-elf’s attention. “I thought that hasn’t happened for years, and the previous assailants have long been identified and caught…”

“Yes, but these are new enemies. Unlike the past cases, these new ones don’t seem interested in ransom, or damaging the Kurosawa name - they are keen to capture Dia alive. The way they move and cast magic… there’s something off about them. Very off.”

“T-Then, I’m sure Grandfather can figure out something and-”

“No.” Mari’s surprisingly firm voice makes Ruby wince. The older girl smiles sheepishly and softens her voice. “There’s a reason, a reason we can’t divulge, but it’s necessary to keep this a secret just between the three of us. The most I can tell you, Ruby-chan, is that this is the problem Dia’s facing. She doesn’t want to endanger you.”

“I-I can take care of myself though…”

“We know, dearie. We’ve tried persuading Dia, oh believe me, but you know how obstinate that penguin is~” Mari shakes her head, only to yelp when the furred form behind them transforms and causes her to lose balance. “Oi, Kanan!”

The ponytailed girl winks at her and gives Ruby a brief hug. “We need to keep our status as unregistered Animagi a secret as well. This gives us a lot of advantages to staying undercover - although, those attackers have already labeled me as Dia’s guard dog or even the school’s hound or something. Of course, we’ll try to keep contact as much as possible, hmm?”

“Okay…” Though still sad, Ruby relaxes in the older girl’s embrace and tries to suppress her trepidation. She truly enjoys Kanan and Mari’s company, that they are able to fill in the lonely void, but it just isn’t the same as having her Onee-chan around.

The older they become, the harsher the House of Kurosawa is at disciplining them. Indeed, this week is very rare for her, since her daily schedule is usually filled back-to-back with very little room for rest. Perhaps, her grandfather and the other elders have finally given up on her? Deeming it useless to train her because she will never be able to catch up to her sister anyway?

Such thought makes her feel both relieved and frustrated at the same time.

As if sensing her concern, Mari joins the hug and whispers encouragingly. “You have the potential. Just ignore whatever those geezers tell you! You’re a strong witch, Ruby-chan, perhaps even stronger than Dia in a way.”

Ruby blinks, unable to comprehend such concept. “Me? Stronger than Onee-chan? How is that p-possible? T-There are so many spells I can’t even cast…”

“You’ll see someday, Ruby,” Kanan chuckles warmly and also pats her head. “Believe in yourself.”

“Uyu…” Still confused, Ruby allows herself to relish in the older girls’ comforting warmth since she won’t be able to enjoy it once she goes to school. She’s used to being alone, so even if she’s unable to make any friends in Hogwarts, she should be fine, right?

Really, that dull ache in her heart is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. She just needs to keep up a good front, be the Kurosawa that her family’s raised her to be, and eventually becomes strong enough to assist her sister. Yes, that should be her goal. Otherwise, she has nothing to motivate her, nothing to work for.

What does Ruby Kurosawa want to do? She doesn’t know.

Suddenly, Kanan and Mari transform into their Animagus forms so fast that Ruby barely has time to steady herself. As she watches the wolf and cat slip out of the room, presumably off the porch and into the bushes, she realizes that someone must be coming.

Taking a deep breath, she greets the Head of the House with a courteous bow. “Grandfather.”

The maroon-haired wizard nods curtly and gestures for her to stand up. Though wizened with age, the tall Kurosawa patriarch exudes a powerful and fearsome presence. His emerald eyes are just as sharp as a cunning predator, always watching and calculating. It is through his contributions and achievements that the House of Kurosawa is able to become one of the most prestigious Pureblood families in the magical world.

Though retired now, the former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot still holds great influence and many from the Ministry continue to seek his advice. Ruby rarely sees the busy man one-on-one and only interacts stiffly with him during family meals.  

Therefore, for him to show up here in the afternoon, he must have a few choice words to deliver in person prior to her attendance to Hogwarts. Ruby prepares herself for a lecture about upholding their family prestige.

What is in a surname anyway? What does it matter if you are a Pureblood or not? You are your own person, not a puppet to a mere name. She knows fully well just how much her extensive family has contributed to society, whether as accomplished Aurors, Curse Breakers for Gringotts Bank and more. But surely, those relatives are talented because of who they are individually, not because they’re members of the Kurosawa family.

As the patriarch begins his speech, Ruby’s attention begins to wander in spite of her best effort to listen. She glances at the grand painting on the wall, a painting that every member of the main House has in their chamber.

The Black Jaguar is the representative animal for the House of Kurosawa. Proud and stealthy, the predator hunts with its cunning and prevails even in the darkest of the night, fast like the wind. Independently strong with powerful bites that can pierce even armored reptiles, the Jaguar is the Kurosawa founder’s Animagus form. Every member of the family is acquired to learn powerful offensive spells that can penetrate an opponent’s shield Charms, but Ruby has yet to master any.

After all, the Black Jaguar is everything Ruby Kurosawa is not.

No matter how you look at it, Dia resembles the graceful Black Jaguar more than Ruby could ever be.

She gazes at the slightly ajar door, where the wolf and the cat had gone. At least, Dia is no longer completely bound by her duties. As soon as she becomes an adult and graduates from Hogwarts, she should be able to gain enough freedom and assert a certain amount of power, especially with great friends like Kanan and Mari by her side.

Ruby wonders if she would ever get to experience that.

“Ruby Kurosawa.”

She flinches at the patriarch’s deep voice.

“S-Sorry, Grandfather, I w-was just nervous that I would not d-do well and-”

“It is unbecoming for a Kurosawa to lie,” the wizard’s austere demeanor is rather suffocating. “Weakness is not tolerated. You will hold your head high and speak in a clear voice when you join the House of Slytherin in your Sorting next week. Your older sister has fulfilled my expectations - I expect no less from you. Do you understand?”

She has to clench her fists so hard so that the pain would keep her focused. It takes all her willpower to not stutter as she replies with a louder tone. “Yes, I understand, Grandfather.”

No, she does not.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Ruby could faintly feel herself smiling as she turns and stretches in her cozy bed. Under layers of patchwork quilts and amazingly soft pillows, she is ready to hibernate for a long time! Alas, the biological clock due to her strict upbringing prevents her from falling back to sleep. With a reluctant sigh, she crawls out of the bed and goes about her morning routines.

In spite of just leaving the warm covers, she does not feel the morning chill at all because of how comfortable the Hufflepuff Dormitory is. Though located in the cellars, the chambers are Charmed to have the perpetual warmth of the sun and, whenever needed, provide the actual sunlight. Combined with various plants that furnish the rooms as well as the copper-themed decors, the peaceful ambiance allows students to feel as if they are out in an endless field, embraced and sheltered by Mother Nature Herself.

Ruby hums a quiet tune, greeting her Housemates with a timid smile. She holds her chin a bit higher when they return the gesture, but she still fidgets bashfully as some of the other girls inquire about her wellbeing.

Even though nearly a week has already passed since her Sorting, her Housemates remain concerned about her due to the Howler incident. Ruby will never forget how the Head of House, Professor Koizumi, had sternly eradicated the shouting mail, and how her fellow Hufflepuffs had comforted her. Muggleborn and Purebloods alike are protective her and have been since.

This is the Hogwarts House known for its sense of loyalty, fairness, and dedication. Ruby feels quite loved and relaxed here, though she would need time to adjust to this new style of life. Her magical prowess, previously deemed weak compared to her extraordinary sister, is now hailed as amazing and advanced. Already, she finds herself helping out her peers with some of the school assignments, and she greatly enjoys being able to pass on her knowledge.

Perhaps such standards have always been wrong, or perhaps there should never be such judgment at all. As Professor Koizumi told them on their first day here, everyone should be able to excel at what they enjoy and nurture that.

Truly, Ruby is proud to be Sorted into the House of Hufflepuff!

When she returns to her room, she notices that her pet owl Pana is still snoozing on the bedpost. So is her roommate and best friend.

“Hanamaru-chan?”

Hanamaru Kunikida curls up into tighter in a ball, smiling in such a relaxed way that Ruby feels her soul being healed from the sight. Giggling, she shyly prods at the brunette’s cheek. The soft sensation resembles that of a mochi, prompting her to poke even more.

“Ru~by-chan~”

Whining, Hanamaru stubbornly keeps her eyes closed. Pana lets out a sleepy hoot as well, hopping off of the bedpost to nest on Ruby’s pillow.

“Hanamaru-chan, senpai told me that there’s going to be special bread and buns for breakfast this morning! We’ll have to get ready and-”

“I’m up zura!” The brunette rolls off the bed, wrapped in the blankets and all, and bounces a bit before unfolding like an egg roll.

Ruby bursts into giggles and fondly helps her friend sit up. “Your hair’s all messy, hehe~”

“Yours too~” Hanamaru giggles as well and reaches for the comb on the nightstand. “Pigtails today?”

“Yes please!”

“Leave it to me zura~!”

Ruby closes her eyes in bliss as Hanamaru patiently and gently brushes through her tresses. The therapeutic sensation brings a nostalgic memory of a time Dia used to comb her hair, making her smile whimsically. Well, she needs to get used to the fact that time does not go backward. What’s in the past is in the past, and she has such a fun and welcoming future to look forward to!

“All done! Hehe, you’re so cute, Ruby-chan~”

Though Hanamaru is seven months younger, she has that aura of a loving grandmother that makes Ruby want to rely on her. Yet, at the same time, Hanamaru has childish bouts of excitement that makes Ruby want to protect the petite girl.

Like now.

“So what bread? Are the house-elves going to bring them to the Common Room like last time zura? Or! They’ll pop up out of thin air at the Great Hall as usual? Maybe we should really use those rice cookers Professor Koizumi’s set up for us? I’d love to have some rice for breakfast too zura~”

Ruby affectionately combs through Hanamaru’s disheveled hair, enjoying her friend’s fascination with magic. Being a Pureblood, she is unable to relate to a Muggleborn’s amazement at even the simplest of spells. However, she supposes that it is similar to how she feels about Muggle technology. Steel boxes with wheels that run on something called electricity? Small rectangular devices that can communicate with people who have the same thing no matter how far they are? In her opinion, Muggle inventions are so much more incredible than magic.

Hanamaru seems uncertain about things like ‘internet’ and ‘computer’ though. Maybe she should ask Kanan and Mari whenever she gets to see them. She did glimpse them a few times at the Great Hall and around the castle, but there hasn’t been any opportunity for them to talk in private.

As for Dia, Ruby vows to find her elusive sister. She has a feeling that Pana has something to do with Dia, and there’s so much she wants to talk with her sister after all! Such as, the House of Hufflepuff is so much more wonderful than she could ever imagine.

She cannot imagine herself as part of the House of Slytherin, as per all the other Kurosawas.

“Okay, one more try zura…”

Ruby watches with bated breath and inwardly cheers on for her friend, whose brows are furrowed in utter concentration.

“Accio glasses!”

The thick-framed glasses twitch a little but otherwise do not move from their spot on the table. Pouting, Hanamaru retrieves them manually and put them. “What am I doing wrong zura? Mari-senpai was able to summon it from who knows where!”

Having heard all about her after-curfew adventure, Ruby could only chuckle ambiguously. How is she supposed to tell her friend that the enigmatic blonde Ravenclaw is just as skilled as Onee-chan?

“You’ll get better, Hanamaru-chan! It’s a higher-level spell, and this is only our first week at Hogwarts!”

“Right… there are so many books waiting for me at the Library zura~” Hanamaru’s eyes glaze over in reverence, and she’s practically skipping as they make their way out of the Dorm and towards the Great Hall.

Ruby shakes her head in exasperated fondness, resigning to the fact that she’ll have to enlist the help of their mutual friend later to drag Hanamaru away from her Shangri-la.

And speaking of the girl, the raven-haired Slytherin is tapping her foot impatiently by the door.

“Hey! You’re late! I bet Zuramaru overslept again huh?”

Yoshiko Tsushima is an odd person but in a good way. There’s always a special zest in everything she does, a sense of purpose and confidence that awes Ruby ever since their encounter back at the King’s Cross Station. Her dramatic poses and rather comedic dialogues never fail to brighten up her day.

Yoshiko’s sharp gaze sweeps over them and, a moment later, she is fixing their scarves and picking out lint from their hair.

“Geez, you two, what can you do without me?”

Ruby nervously glances around, sheepish that she appears less than impeccable in public. Perhaps being in the relaxed atmosphere of Hufflepuff Dorm makes her drop her guard. But then, she reminds herself that she no longer has to fear any repercussions from her family now. Surely, a bit of mess is okay?

But see, Yoshiko is also a very nice girl. She might hide it under cynical remarks or seemingly aloof expressions, but Ruby could tell that Yoshiko does look out for the two of them, claiming that the ‘two critter-like Puffs need a clever Slytherin to lead them!’

Hanamaru stares at the smirking girl. “Yoshiko-chan, where’s your bun?”

“My b-?” Yoshiko flusters and combs through her hair with her fingers nonchalantly. “The great fallen angel just happens to decide upon a different hairdo today. O Little Demons, it is pitiful that you cannot sense the aura in which the night sky-”

“Ah, I know, Yoshiko-chan overslept too and only made it here just moments before us zura~”

“Did not! As I was saying, the night sky-”

“Let’s go get some of the special bread you mentioned earlier, Ruby-chan~”

“Hey, lemme finish, you mere Zuramaru!”

Ruby chuckles at their bickering, playfully allowing Hanamaru to lead her past the growling Yoshiko as they search for a vacant spot to sit down. Sometimes, Ruby still wonders if she’s dreaming, that she’s able to meet and make friends with kind girls like them.

Indeed, she’s quite blessed here at Hogwarts, especially in the company of her two best friends.

She inwardly vows that she will help them however she can, and contribute as much as she could to the House points as a thank you to the House of Hufflepuff.

This shall be her new goal!

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

“For Kanan-chan’s sake, we’ll definitely win the first Quidditch match of the year!”

Smiling slightly, Ruby watches Chika swinging her Beater clubs and shouting in the empty Pit. The bleachers creak a bit as You sits down beside her and joins her in observing the mikan-haired girl’s exercise.

“Kanan-chan was here earlier, flying on her broom but Professor Sonoda saw her and, well, you know how our Head of House is like,” You chuckles quietly, her gaze filled with fondness as it follows her teammate’s energetic movements.

Indeed, the Potions Professor is a strict witch who also has the best intention to her Cubs. “I’m sure she just doesn’t want Kanan-chan to get hurt more…”

“Haha, oh I know, Professor Sonoda cares about us a lot! Did I tell you she’s the one who took us to the Diagon Alley after delivering the letters to us? And years before, she accompanied Kanan-chan too!”

After a few moments of silence, You speaks up abruptly, her blue eyes narrowed in contemplation. “I wonder why Kanan-chan got hurt in the first place though. I mean, she is stubborn enough to not go to the Infirmary for treatment but this is preventing her from a Quidditch match! Chika-chan and I are looking forward to it so much too, so there’s no way Kanan-chan did this just because! There must be a reason…”

Ruby nods, also frowning. Something feels off ever since Yoshiko and Hanamaru brought her to the Room of Requirement, and they began intensive training under the three Fifth-Years’ tutelage. While Ruby is infinitely glad to be able to spend time with Dia, she can sense that they are not telling her a crucial fact.

After all, before her entry to Hogwarts, Mari and Kanan had told her that it was best to keep a distance from them due to Dia’s unknown attackers. Yet now they want to train her to defend herself better?

And why Hanamaru and Yoshiko too? What is she missing? Just what had injured Kanan? Why are the attackers also targeting Yoshiko?

And, why are Chika and You being kept out of the loop too?

“I’m curious too, but I trust them.”

Ruby and You look up to see Chika smiling assuredly at them. The sun-like girl twirls the bats, only to groan in frustration when they slip out of her grip and lands a few paces away. The other two girls chuckle at her antics, and Chika’s smile widens.

After the laughter dies down a little, Chika folds her arms behind her head and turns towards the Pit. “Riko-chan, Kanan-chan and the others, I believe that they have a good reason for keeping secrets from us. I don’t wholly agree with that of course, but I can understand and appreciate their sentiment.”

“You mean, if we know something that might endanger them, I’d withhold the information?” You is about to salute but hesitantly drops her hand. “I guess so, but I’d still tell them so we could all work on confronting the problem together…”

“Bingo! That’s what I would do if I were in their shoes!” Chika pulls a startled You to her feet, hugging her and spinning her a few times. “Hehe, as expected of You-chan! I knew you’d understand me!”

“Ahaha, I am your childhood friend after all,” You grins, this time giving Chika her best salute. “So, the reason we’re not pushing them for details is because-?”

“I still respect their decision.” Chika then holds out her hand towards Ruby, her smile warm and kind. “You think the same too, don’t you, Ruby-chan?”

“… yes. Onee-chan’s always wanted the best for me. I-I’m willing to wait.”

“That’s our Ruby-chan!” You and Chika both pull Ruby up and give her a brief hug. “We’ll wait until they are ready to bring us into the loop. Until then, the best we can do is give them our support.”

“Y-Yeah. I will become s-strong enough so they can depend on me more,” Ruby timidly does a Rubesty pose. She’s seen the determination in Hanamaru and Yoshiko’s gaze every time they practice-dueled against Dia and Kanan. Her friends are driven by something, making them formidable and seemingly invisible in spite of not being able to land a hit on the two older girls.

It’s aspiring to watch them.

“Ah, but you can depend on them more as well, Ruby-chan.” Chika squeezes Ruby’s hand encouragingly. “They are your best friends, just as you are theirs. I’m sure they’d want you to rely on them more too.”

“And there’s us too, Ruby-chan.” You wraps an arm around the pigtailed girl’s shoulder and nods at her partner. “We may be two grades apart, but we are more than just senpais! We’re crewmates of the same ship, aren’t we?”

Ruby bashfully shrinks but giggles at their affectionate gestures. She randomly met You one day when she was running away from the ghosts and the older girl away from her fanclub. Through You, she got to know Chika and they’ve been close ever since. Even though they are not from the same House and the same grade, she finds it incredibly relaxing and fun to be in their company.

As inseparable as the Gryffindor duo is, she’s never felt like an outsider whenever she is with them. That’s just Chika and You’s rather magical charisma.

“I really admire you two,” Ruby whispers as she shyly loops her arms through the older girls’. “S-Sometimes, I just… I just…”

Chika and You patiently wait for her to gather herself, smiling when she gives them uncertain glances. She swallows hard and lowers her head in shame when she finally allows her weakness to slip out of her heart. She hasn’t revealed this to anyone, not even to her bunny plushie or Pana.

“Sometimes I just want to curl up and pretend I don’t know anything just so I don’t have to deal with it all. I-I’m not brave at all.”

“Neither are we, Ruby-chan.”

“Ha ha, we maybe Lions, but that doesn’t mean we’re brave!”

“Uh-huh, it’s more like, we’re impulsive and don’t really think about the consequences, kishishi~”

“Act first, think later, yousorou~”

“Right behind you, Captain Watanabe!”

“That’s the spirit, Firstmate Takami! But, see, that’s why Riko-chan often gets mad at us, ahaha…”

“That’s just our way of dealing with things.” The humor from Chika’s expression is then replaced by uncharacteristic seriousness. “I try to find see the silver lining in things, to make it easier to confront whatever’s in my way.”

“So that you’d find the confidence to walk forward, to hold your head high. Always have a hopeful outlook, Ruby-chan,” You gently caresses Ruby’s hair. “You don’t have to be brave or anything. You just have to be yourself.”

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take a break, to stay away from all the hardships.”

“No one is invincible. That’s why we have each other. We know they’ll have our backs, especially during our downtime, because we will do the same too.”

“So, please don’t feel bad for coming here to the Pit for fresh air, Ruby-chan. We’re here, yeah?”

Ruby could feel her eyes dampening under the lovable duo’s warm gaze.

“And you know what? You’re braver than any of us, willing to throw yourself into this without knowing anything just so you could help your friends.”

“O-Of course, they’re very important to me.” Sniffling, Ruby hastily wipes away her tears and meets the duo’s eyes without hesitation. “I’ll do anything I can to help them!”

“Uuuu, our Ruby-chan’s grown up so much, Miss Watanabe~”

“I understand, Miss Takami, she definitely can fly on her own~”

Ruby can’t help but giggle at their parent-like theatrics. She does feel like a weight has been lifted off of her chest. Sharing a grin, Chika and You summon their respective brooms to their hands.

“Speaking of flying, now that we got all that off our chest, let’s go for a race! Nothing beats lifting the spirit than a good ol’ lap around the Castle!”

“Piki?!”

“Come on, Ruby-chan, join us! I saw how you were on your broom - I was there during the First-Years’ first Flying lesson!” Chika pumps her fist, passion blazing in her eyes. “I know both Hanamaru-chan and Yoshiko-chan enjoy flying, but so do you! You also have the most flying experience out of the three of you, so there’s potential!”

“Ever thought about joining the Quidditch team? I think I overhead Mari-chan asking you guys one time,” You smoothly Accio’d Chika’s Beater bats for her. “Dia-san was the reason why I became a Seeker. She was just so amazing - it’s unfortunate her duties don’t give her enough free time to be on the team.”

“I-I actually didn’t know Onee-chan used to play Quidditch until recently, but I-I did know she’s a good flyer,” Ruby nostalgically clutches her hand to her chest. “When we were younger and had more free time, she used to take me to the sky on a specially modified broom that can seat two people.”

“Daww, that’s so sweet of her.” “Then, wouldn’t you like to play Quidditch too?”

“I did consider it, but in the end I-I’m happier on the ground,” Ruby finds herself blushing, hoping her reasoning doesn’t sound silly. “After all, all of you are up in the sky, so it’s better that I’m on the ground so that if a-any of you somehow falls, I-I’d be able to save you.”

“Ruby-chan!” “Ru~by~chan~!”

“Piki!!”

Though flustered, Ruby soon joins the older girls’ laughter. The way the duo treats her is similar yet different than how Mari and Kanan treat her, and she greatly appreciates their support. While she doesn’t understand You and Chika’s attachment to her, she’s quite content with being their cuddle toy. Dia will always be her big sister, but there’s always room for more sisters in her group of family-like friends.

“Oi, what’re you ruffians doing with her?”

Peering over Chika’s shoulder, Ruby notices Yoshiko and Hanamaru heading towards the Pit. The two girls appear disheveled, most likely after another intense dueling session with the Fifth-Years, yet they look strangely proud as if they’ve accomplished a great feat.

“Ruby-chan, we weren’t able to have lunch together earlier, so let’s go have an afternoon picnic by the Lake zura~” Hanamaru happily holds up a basket full of desserts and sweets. “Chika-san and You-san, please do join us too!”

Yoshiko strikes a pose before glaring at the Gryffindors. “Hmnff, be thankful for the benevolent Yohane-sama’s invitation, O Lost Ones. Lily is looking for the two of you, for your unfinished mock exam papers.”

Ruby giggles at Chika and You’s comically fearful expressions then and there, and even more so when they fly away at an incredible speed just as she notices the Ravenclaw Prefect approaching them from a distance.

“I think they’ll be fine. Let’s go have the picnic, Hanamaru-chan, Yoshiko-chan!”

Though puzzled, the two girls smile at her and they each automatically loop arms with hers. Everything will be fine because, at the end of the day, they are all together.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

“Um, d-do you know where Hanamaru-chan is, Riko-san?”

Riko pauses in retrieving a book from a bookshelf, lips pursed. “I… believe I saw her earlier with Kanan-chan and Mari-san.”

“R-Right.” Ruby’s shoulders droop as she returns her attention back to the thick tome on the table. Her mind, however, is definitely nowhere near the condensed paragraphs of texts.

“You’re worried about Hanamaru-chan and Yocchan, ne?”

Ruby nods shyly, unable to meet the older girl’s gaze even as the latter gingerly sits down beside her. The Moonstruck incident has affected their group dynamic more than she has expected, and the cracks are widening too much for her not to worry.

In spite of recovering steadily, Mari is being kept under watch by an unusually surly Kanan. Having known the two longer than the other two First-Years, Ruby understands that it’s just Kanan’s way of caring for her girlfriend, that she’s simply being overprotective. Alas, Hanamaru is determined to cheer up the older girls and also to train herself harder after feeling so helpless at the Shack.

Another reason is, as Hanamaru had privately revealed to her, to give Yoshiko the space she needs. The Slytherin has been brooding and unenergetic even since finding out that she may have inadvertently killed the werewolf that chased her. No matter how much they tried to convince her otherwise, Yoshiko simply closes off herself and is often wandering around the castle, looking for something.

Ruby sighs quietly. Months ago, she is certain that Hanamaru would have persisted in accompanying Yoshiko. Instead, she even forgoes her books and solely focuses on improving offensive and defensive magic with Kanan and Dia.

Does being a couple change their dynamic?

Prior to Moonstruck, her two best friends had assured her that nothing has changed, and it was true that they acted mostly the same. They had just been more open with each other, especially in imperceptible physical contacts like holding hands and lingering touches. She doesn’t know if they realized it but it was quite obvious how much they like each other just from their gaze alone.

Truly, Ruby is very happy for Hanamaru and Yoshiko from the bottom of her heart. Therefore, seeing them both like this frustrates her, due to how useless she is in helping them. She doesn’t know if she should join in Hanamaru’s training or go look for Yoshiko. Usually, she would be sparring with Chika and You as well to improve her dueling capabilities, but she feels unreasonably exhausted today and thus ends up accompanying Riko to the library.

It’s a nice change of pace in this peaceful atmosphere, and Ruby can appreciate why Hanamaru loves this sanctuary so much.

“I believe they will be fine, Ruby-chan.” Riko’s voice is gentle as she organizes the parchments strewn over the table. “It’s just my conjecture, but I think they are trying to regain their sense of self-worth, to retrieve their confidence, before they can bring themselves to face each other again.”

“I see…” Ruby says hesitantly, half-understanding Riko’s point but not really either. “Shouldn’t it be better for them to stay together, especially during such rough times?”

“Yes, it should be, but that’s something we cannot interfere with. Yocchan and Hanamaru-chan would have to take that step themselves. When they are ready, we can give them the nudge they need.”

Ruby nods in contemplation, using the minimal knowledge she has of couples. Kanan and Mari bicker quite often but it’s mostly harmless and playful, and Dia would be there to play mediator whenever necessary, or so the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had told her. There are You and Chika, whose closeness makes Ruby think of a married couple from storybooks but it doesn’t seem like they are a couple? Prior to Moonstruck, Yoshiko was determined to set them up for some reason, and Ruby is quite supportive of that idea.

If they are indeed a couple like Kanan and Mari are, would they have avoided each other like Yoshiko and Hanamaru are doing? If one of them got injured, would the other become overbearing like Kanan does to Mari?

Ruby doesn’t know, but she dearly wishes to help her friends like how Dia is able to.

“Um, what would you do in this situation, Riko-san?”

“…me?”

“Yes, erm, w-would you seek out You-san and Chika-san to bring them together?”

Riko has an oddly distant look then, making Ruby wonder if she had spoken something she shouldn’t have. “I would… want to, to do everything I could so that things would go back to the way it was, but that’s not up to me to decide. I cannot… force them.”

“Right. I think I can understand that.” Ruby recalls all the instances when Yoshiko and Hanamaru looked like they wanted to ask her about her relationship with her sister, but they did not pry out of respect for her privacy. “T-Thank you, Riko-san.”

The older girl gives her a soft smile before resuming to tidy up the paperwork and books. As Ruby observes Riko, she couldn’t help but find similarity in how she and Dia work. Both are diligent and take everything seriously, that they would shoulder responsibilities more than they need to and they often play the anchor in their year-groups.

Is that what attracted them to each other? While it had never been stated aloud, Ruby has seen the way her sister looks at Riko, especially during the Banquet, and their respective reactions at Riko’s Patronus.

Truthfully, Ruby is rather envious of how the pretty Ravenclaw has captured Dia’s heart. She always feels like she hasn’t spent enough time with her sister, even though it’s already more than she could’ve imagined compared to back at the Kurosawa Estate. Therefore, it’s as if Riko had taken what remains of Dia’s free time away from her…

Alarmed, Ruby shakes her head and guiltily lowers her head for even thinking of such horrid thought. Riko makes her sister happy, that’s the most important thing!

“Are you okay, Ruby-chan?”

“Piki! U-Um, I was just thinking, um, it’s nothing!”

Ruby feels even more ashamed under Riko’s concerned gaze and squeaks when the latter places a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“I… um, if you’re okay with it, I’d be more than happy to h-help you with any problem-?”

Riko’s voice is rather uncertain, though for some reason that makes Ruby think of her sister and words slip out of her mouth before she realizes it.

“How are things between you and Onee-chan?”

“Dia-san and I-?”

Deeming it already too late to salvage the situation, Ruby nods nervously and tries to meet Riko’s eyes. “Y-Yes. I k-know Onee-chan’s busy ever since the incident at Hogsmeade, so you probably haven’t had the chance to meet often-?”

“It’s true, we are both quite busy but we try to meet as much as we could. She’d send me letters and…” Riko trails off, blushing and averting her gaze. “Why do you ask?”

Ruby wasn’t expecting the normally composed Ravenclaw to become flustered like this. Envy is slowly overcome by curiosity as she peers at the older girl. “I’ve never seen Onee-chan like that with anyone. She’s happy with Kanan-chan and Mari-chan but it’s different with you, Riko-san.”

“S-She is?” Riko’s cheeks darken and she seems to be lost in thoughts for a moment. Then, as if making up her mind, she squirms a bit before whispering. “May I ask you something, Ruby-chan?”

“What is it?” Ruby sits up straight, surprised and certainly unprepared for what Riko does next.

“T-This… this is more than just a gift, isn’t it-?” Carefully, the Ravenclaw tugs a necklace from under her collars, the black diamond glinting under the lighting. It isn’t just any other jewelry, but the carbonado necklace that Dia had received on the same day she first got her wand. Ruby herself had received a similar ruby ring dotted with spinels and small pink-sapphires during the same occasion years ago.

Such gems are considered precious not because of its value, but because of what they represent for a Kurosawa.

“D-Do you know what this is, Riko-san?”

“Dia-san’s told me that, this is a black diamond thus it represents her, that it would protect me.”

“Yes, every Kurosawa owns a piece of jewelry like this. He or she is supposed to keep the item until…” Ruby gulps, awed by the revelation before her. Any vestige of jealousy dissipates as she finds herself smiling joyously at the blushing girl. “Until she finds that special person to give it to. Onee-chan gave you the necklace because she considers you her other half, Riko-san.”

“E-Eh? Ehhhhhhh?!” Riko hastily covers her mouth, glancing around her to see if anyone’s looking their way. Thankfully, the library is quite empty on a sunny day like this. “I-I mean, I know of its importance, a-and what it means for a Pureblood to give away a jewelry but, s-still, other half? T-That’s just, I mean, we’re still so young to be thinking about-?”

“This just means Onee-chan is really serious about you, hehe.” Ruby finds Riko’s reaction rather cute. She’s always thought of Riko as a mature and reliable senpai, and now she could see why Dia is so fond of her.

“W-We’re both still students a-and-”

“Well, when did Onee-chan give it to you, Riko-san?”

“… w-when she told me she loves me.” Riko mutters quickly and proceeds to hide her face behind her scarf. Her reddened ears remain visible, however, and Ruby finds herself giggling again. Her earlier bout of jealousy seems silly now, for this means that her family truly is growing.

Dia may be the only one related to her by blood, but she deems their group of nine a family and now, one of them will become even more special.

“Yup, Onee-chan is serious about you. While this is different than an engagement ring-” Ruby beams at Riko’s incoherent stammering and continues. “- it’s still something. A promise ring or, rather, necklace. She just wants to show that she still wants to be with you after she graduates. Of course, that’s just from her, so you don’t have to feel pressured to-”

“But I love her too,” Riko blurts out and, in spite of her fierce blush, her voice is steady and firm. “I want to be with her no matter what happens.”

“I’m happy to hear that!”

Riko seems surprised when Ruby gives her a hug but returns the gesture a moment later. Ruby smiles contentedly at the older girl’s whispered words.

“Thank you for accepting me, Ruby-chan.”

And so it is with bouncing steps that Ruby heads for the Room of Requirement, ready to train until utter exhaustion to celebrate this occasion! Unexpectedly, she only finds one person in the chamber but it’s the person she wishes to speak to the most at that moment.

“Onee-chan!”

“Ruby?” The Head Girl pauses in scribbling something on a parchment and, immediately, Ruby knows what it is.

“Oh, don’t mind me, Onee-chan, I’m just going over there to practice more Transfiguration spells. Where are the others?”

“Hanamaru-san somehow convinced Kanan-san to bring Mari-san to the Quidditch Pit, and Chika-san and You-san joined them,” Dia shakes her head in exasperated fondness. “It is a nice day out after all, for once, and Professor Ayase is insisting that I join my friends out under sun instead of being cooped up in the Castle. You should go as well, Ruby. I will do so too after, uh, sending this letter.”

“Okay! Oh, by the way, Riko-san is free too and in the library right now.” Before Ruby could slip away, she hears the chair squeaking and hurried footsteps behind her.

“R-Ruby? Why would you say that? D-Do you know something-?”

Ruby smiles at her flustered sister. Though nowhere as apparent as Riko had been, Dia’s loss of composure is still visible and Ruby finds that quite endearing. “I was just talking to Riko-san and, well, I’m really happy for you both!”

Dia opens her mouth and closes it a few times, unable to utter a word. She coughs and tries to appear nonchalant. “… what do you think then?”

“Hmm?”

“Of us. Riko and I.”

The lack of honorifics, the quiet tone, and the almost pleading expression are new to Ruby. She’s never seen her sister so vulnerable, and it takes a few moments for Ruby to understand what’s happening.

Her older sister is asking her for her opinion, her approval even.

Ruby gulps nervously, uncertain what to think of this new position, but then she realizes that there is no reason to be. All she has to do is to convey her thoughts in simple words.

Smiling, she reaches for Dia’s hands and holds them firmly. “I think the two of you are perfect for each other. Congratulations, Onee-chan!”

“…thank you, Ruby. That means a lot to me, to us.”

The smile that Dia gives her is the most beautiful one she’s ever seen.

Instead of going outside to the Pit, the Kurosawa siblings then spend the rest of the afternoon chatting about random but fun topics. Even though Ruby wants to give Dia alone time with Riko, the Ravenclaw had responded to the letter that she plans to stay in the library a bit longer and would join them later.

Perhaps Riko notices that the sisters never had much opportunity to be in just each other’s company, and for that Ruby is very grateful. After all, their group of nine is tightly-knit and there are usually groups of three or more at one place at a time. Dia has her own circle, and Ruby recognizes that she has grown up as well. No longer the little girl in her sister’s shadow, and any of the senpais’ protective shrouds, she’s found her place with Hanamaru and Yoshiko.

While Ruby is slightly saddened by the thought, she is also proud of how far she’s come from the lonely critter practically confined in the Kurosawa Manor. Her world has long expanded from just her and her sister, and it will continue to grow.

Dia mentions how difficult it would be for the Elders to approve of her relationship with Riko, but she has prepared herself for the hardships ahead the moment she gave the necklace to Riko. Without any hesitation, Ruby offers her full support in anything she could do in the years to come. Dia is legally an adult and, in just a few more months, she would be officially recognized as a full independent witch upon graduation. Even though the Kurosawa Patriarch’s position remains indomitable, Dia would at least have enough power on her own since she would not have to rely on her family.

If worse comes to worst, she can choose to break away from the House of Kurosawa, like some of the blacked-out names in the family tree had done.

Of course, Ruby hopes things will not come to that, but she will be ready.

Nothing shall stop her from being her sister’s pillar of support.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Ruby jolts when something drapes around her shoulders and is about to stand up but a familiar voice halts her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I tried to get your attention a few times but, well, I thought you’ve fallen asleep.”

“I-It’s okay, I j-just didn’t hear you.”

Embarrassed, she gratefully tugs the warm shawl around her shoulders and tries to wipe away any traces of tears. To her mortification, more and more tears keep leaking out and she finds herself sobbing again. Hasn’t she cried enough already? All she’s done this morning is hide at this corner of the Greenhouse to let loose her emotions.

It’s too hard.

It’s too much to wake up in the Hufflepuff Dorm and not seeing Hanamaru’s sleepy expression.

It’s too much to go to the Infirmary and see Hanamaru’s smile while knowing her best friend no longer remembers her.

It’s too much to look up the staircase and not being able to go the Room of Requirement, especially knowing that her sister and Riko won’t be there anyway.

She so wants to be strong for her friends, knowing how much pain Chika and You must be feeling, knowing how much Yoshiko has suffered and still is, and knowing how Mari and Kanan are trying to keep everyone together.

But in the end, no matter how many encouragements she’s received since coming to Hogwarts, she’s still just a crybaby.

“Shhh, it’s okay to cry.”

When Professor Koizumi gently embraces her, Ruby crumbles and allows herself to bawl like she’s never done before. There’s only so much she could keep inside, only so long that she could fight down her flight instinct.

She’s always liked her Head of the House. The Muggleborn witch rather reminds her of Hanamaru, serene and infinitely patient, but also gets childishly excited when it comes to certain things. Such comparison makes her heart ache even more, and she clings tighter to the maternal woman.

She doesn’t how long she’s stayed like that, relishing in the protective hug and rhythmical caresses on her back. Sniffling, she reluctantly pulls away and tries to clean away the mess she’s made on the Professor’s dress.

“I-I’m sorry, I d-didn’t mean to just-”

The ochre-haired witch only gives her a kind smile. “There’s nothing wrong with crying. In fact, I’d be even more worried if you aren’t crying.”

Confused, she peers up at the Professor, who taps the ground with her staff and seems to beckon the magical plants with her magic. A soothing aroma fills the air then, and it somehow helps Ruby to calm her breathing and washes away the fatigue.

“Being emotional means you still have the capacity to feel, that you have yet to lose hope. It’s better than nothing at all. You’re frustrated, you wish the outcome could’ve been different. You don’t want the same thing to ever happen again. Then, doesn’t that mean you’re still willing to fight for your beliefs? Losing emotions would allow despair to settle in, and that’s when the wall separating you from the rest of the world would be erected.”

Ruby flinches, the image of Yoshiko’s forlorn silhouette flashing in her mind. The Slytherin has become so very withdrawn, and something tells Ruby that it’s not just about Hanamaru’s loss of memory. Something else must have happened down in the Chamber of Secrets.

It’s understandable that none of them could truly smile again after everything that’s happened, but it’s as if Yoshiko’s lost the special spark that makes her who she is.

“How… how should I help? How can I take down that wall?” Ruby lowers her gaze, her grip tightening on her wand. “I will never give up, but saying it and actually achieving it are different things. I haven’t been able to help anyone, not my own sister, not my best friends. I-I feel so useless.”

“That’s something I can relate to. Something many of us can relate to, I’m sure.”

“…really? B-But Professor, you’re so a-amazing and… I can’t imagine you ever feeling helpless.”

“On the contrary, I’m only able to get this far because of my friends. It’s under their encouragements that I’m able to pursue the path I love. But see, I also believed in myself and tried my hardest.” Professor Koizumi’s voice is soft as she pats Ruby’s head. “I do not know the whole story behind you and your friends, Ruby-chan. I wish I could help you more, so just know that all of us will be here, whenever you’re ready. I’m certain the other Professors have told your friends the same thing.”

“I-I wish I could’ve told you more but w-we can’t,” Ruby swallows hard and shakes her head. “Besides, this is something between the nine of us. If we can’t solve it amongst ourselves… if I can’t do something to help them out, that… would be meaningless.”

“Nine… is it?” The Herbology Professor sweeps her gaze over the Greenhouse and taps her staff again. “Together, the nine of you can surely summon a miracle.”

“…really? But-”

“Magic is capricious. Some would even say it’s sentient. Unlike the rules of science in the Muggle world, magic is not bound by restrictions. There are always exceptions and endless possibilities in the world of magic,” Professor Koizumi reaches for the vines that have extended from the other side of the Greenhouse and dropped something in her palms. “Ruby-chan, you’re one of my seedlings, my Hufflepuff. You will bloom when the time comes.”

Ruby blinks as the woman conjures a basket and places several sweet potatoes in it before giving it to her. “Professor-?”

Her Head of the House smiles. “Replenishing your energy is important, Ruby-chan. Please have these while they are still hot.”

She could feel the warmth from the freshly baked sweet potatoes, from the Professor’s smile, and from the inner strength that coursed through her veins.

“T-Thank you for everything, Professor Koizumi! I-I’m really glad to be a ‘Puff!”

Ruby fidgets a bit and decides to give the woman a shy hug before exiting the Greenhouse. She’s very grateful for her time here in the House of Hufflepuff. Though still sad and overwhelmed by all the terrible things that happened, she’s comforted by so many good memories with her best friend - sharing snacks within the Dorm, out in the Greenhouse or even at the monthly outdoor grill hosted by her House.

Even without her memories, Hanamaru would surely appreciate this simple yet meaningful gesture.

As she continues her trek back to the Castle, a burst of gale makes her pause and wrap her scarf tighter around her neck. She turns towards the direction of the Lake and notices a dark spot fluttering near the shoreline.

“That’s… the bat, that’s Lucifer. Then that must be-” Before Ruby realizes it, she’s already heading towards the lonesome figure sitting on a boulder near the Lake.

Yoshiko doesn’t seem to notice her approach, her expression closed off and her gaze solely focused on a glimmering shape hovering in front of her. The silver Patronus resembles a fish, though it doesn’t seem like any species Ruby has seen before.

Lucifer lets out a curt screech when she gets nearer, prompting her to halt warily. Yoshiko glances at her and nods in greeting before shifting her attention back to the Patronus. Crooning, Lucifer then flies towards an overhanging branch and perches there, maintaining a distance between them as if keeping watch.

Ruby tentatively steps forward. “Yoshiko-chan-? Um, a-am I interrupting something-?”

The raven-haired girl shakes her head, her hand outstretched towards the Patronus to pat it. Even though her fingers sink through the silver fish’s translucent body, she seems satisfied with the way it glows brighter.

“S-So, that’s your Patronus, Yoshiko-chan. It looks strong.” Though still uncertain of the situation, Ruby boldly sits down next to her friend and sighs in relief when the latter doesn’t reject her presence.

“… strong, huh. Right, I guess it is.” There’s an odd smile on Yoshiko’s visage. “It’s a coelacanth. It’s… a deep sea fish that Hanamaru and I learned about together, from an encyclopedia, many years ago.”

Ruby gazes at the glimmering Patronus, marveling at its form and its saturated magic. “H-How were you able to summon the Patronus, Yoshiko-chan?”

“Honestly, I don’t know how I managed it, other than the feeling that I know I can do it.” Yoshiko’s expression becomes blank again as the coelacanth swims around the air and under the Lake’s water. “Of course, a happy memory helps. I think… Lily focused her feelings for Dia-san, while I did the same for Hanamaru. Except, rather than just thinking about a single memory, it’s more of a collective feeling.”

“Collective feeling-?”

“Yeah. A certain resolution, I’d say. It’s not exactly ‘happy’, but it’s still a positive emotion. It gives me the strength to keep going.”

Ruby gingerly gazes at Yoshiko, recalling what Professor Koizumi just told her about emotions. Yoshiko is sitting beside her right now, within arm’s reach, yet why does she feel so far away? Based on what she said, she still has hope and treasures their bonds.

Then, what is this sense of finality?

“Yoshiko-chan, d-don’t leave us, okay?”

Yoshiko turns towards her abruptly, eyes narrowed. “What makes you say that?”

“Yeek! Um, I just… it’s just a feeling…”

“You’ve always been a perceptive one,” Yoshiko chuckles quietly, flicking her wand and dispelling the Patronus. “Don’t worry. Whatever you sensed, it’s not what you think. I’m just… lost, I guess. I can still keep training, learn more spells, become better at dueling, but then what? We don’t know where the enemies went. We don’t know what’s going to happen to Hanamaru, Lily, and Dia-san.”

Ruby drops her gaze and rests her hands on her lap.

“All I can do now is try to improve and strengthen my Patronus. It’s the key to defeat Y… that feathered witch. With this goal, I have something to work towards and keep myself occupied so I don’t have to think about all… that.”

“Patronus, huh.”

“Yeah. So, what do you want to do, Ruby?”

Ruby looks up into the sky, recalling all those instances she’s set herself goals so that she would have a sense of purpose. While the specific goals change every once a while, the fundamental part remains the same, doesn’t it?

All she ever wants to do is to be helpful. But how exactly? Just stand there and wait for things to happen? Only make a move when the opportunity presents itself?

No, she needs to take control. There’s a difference between just being idle, and patiently wait for the prey to come. Sometimes, you have to chase after your goal. Hunt for it. Pounce after it.

Make the first leap.

“Ruby-?” There’s faint surprise on Yoshiko’s expression, which Ruby counts as a good sign. Smiling, she continues to untie her pigtails and loosens her hold to allow the ribbons to flutter away along with the breeze. It’s been a long time since she’s let down her hair, but she feels just as refreshed as the first time Hanamaru did her hair.

“Hanamaru-chan and I have always looked up to you, Yoshiko-chan. We may not understand the fallen angel or the feather you put in your bun, but we really look up to you.”

Yoshiko grimaces at that, clenching her fists. “About that. Don’t. That’s nothing to admire, that’s not even who I-”

“You’re you, Yoshiko-chan. If you want to return to the sky, then we will be the feathers to help you fly.That’s what Hanamaru-chan and I have promised.”

“But she doesn’t even remember us anymore, Ruby!”

Ruby determinedly meets her friend’s hollow, pained eyes. “For now. She’ll come back to us one day, Yoshiko-chan. In the meantime, I will make sure you can continue to soar without fear of falling down.”

Taking a deep breath, she holds up her wand with a steady grip. “Expecto patronum!”

A burst of light forces the two girls to clench their eyes shut. When they open their eyes again, a large silver feline is prowling along the shoreline of the Black Lake. Graceful and brimming with power, the Black Jaguar Patronus bears an uncanny resemblance to the same painting in her room back in the Kurosawa Estate.

Shocked doesn’t begin to describe Ruby’s feeling, but a part of her understands why her Patronus ends up taking this form. After years of conflict, she’s finally accepted herself and that includes being a Kurosawa. However, rather than submitting to the responsibilities expected of a Pureblood, she has vowed to take control and make it her strength instead of her weakness.

The Jaguar’s fanged grin seems to be encouraging her.

“That’s… amazing, Ruby.”

Yoshiko looks awed, the first expression Ruby’s seen in a long time that’s not wholly shadowed by sadness and pain.

Ruby hastily wipes her eyes and casts another spell. “Wingardium Leviosa.”

The basket levitates towards Yoshiko, who tilts her head questioningly at the sweet potatoes beneath the cover.

“Let’s go eat these with Hanamaru-chan. We should eat them while they’re still warm!”

Whenever you feel down, both you and Hanamaru-chan, I’ll be here to lift you both.

[athyrabunlord]

LLSHP Interlude - Carbonado(2)

Arc1: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]

Arc2: [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13] [Chapter 14]

Arc3: [Chapter 15 -  Under The Black Lake (TBD)]

Interlude: [Carbonado (1)] [Carbonado (2)] [Of Feathers and Wind] [Delphinus (teaser blip)]

[Brief note about School Term] [other LLSHP AU stuff] [YohaMaRuby concept arts] [ChikaYouRiko concept arts] [KanaDiaMari concept arts] [Hogwarts Staff]

[FFN link] (finished the interludes!) [Pixiv Link]

A/N: Again, reminder that this interlude takes place prior to the beginning of this AU and up until ch10, so yes most of it overlaps with the main story, with Riko’s POV. Without further ado, here’s part2! Words: 7,043

Riko inhales deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh and floral aroma, and exhales deeply with her eyes closed. Her prediction back in the winter holidays was true - Dia’s private garden is indeed breathtaking.

In the heat of the summer, the sakura trees and many flowers have been Charmed to blossom since spring time, creating a picturesque scene to welcome any visitors. With the pink petals gently rustling along the breeze and the grass so green and full of vitality, she almost has the urge to lie down and allow nature to envelope her senses.

How fortunate she is to visit the Kurosawa Estate again.

Unlike the winter vacation, Riko has made peace with her demons, at least to a certain extent. She alternates in between staying home, visiting Chika and You, and meeting up with Dia, Mari and Kanan. She enjoys patching up the distance between her and her two best friends, as well as grow closer to the three seniors.

Needless to say, she had been alarmed to learn that the hooded figures had targeted Dia again. Mari and Kanan readily bring her to the Kurosawa Estate like last time, and while Dia grumbles about their fussing, she at least seems pleased to have Riko here.

Today is especially a fine day for them, for many of the Elders have left the Estate for meetings and so they fully made use of the lighter surveillance around the main compounds. Dia is able to spend some time with Ruby, and have Kanan and Mari, both in their Animagus form, accompany Ruby back to her side of the compound. Dia has already done so a few times in the past, and from her two friends’ narration, Ruby seems to enjoy their company.

At least, Kanan and Mari are able to play the role of an older sister when Dia cannot. Riko could tell this bothers Dia a great deal, understandably so, though she feels rather helpless about this situation.

To keep Dia distracted, the younger witch talks of her summer adventures with Chika and You, about the former’s massive pet dog Shiitake and the latter’s father, who works as a ship captain and had taken them out to the sea once.

As they walk around the garden, Riko inevitably finds herself asking Dia about those attacks, not that she could do anything to help the situation. A stubborn and hopeful part of her insists that, as long as she knows more details, she might be able to offer some sort of advice. The self-defeating part just scoffs at such notion.

Dia, being the kind girl she is, senses her restlessness and does as she requests.

“I am nearly certain that they are after my blood, the blood of a Pureblood heiress in its prime,” Dia murmurs evenly, as if she were discussing the weather and not about threats aimed at her person. “Perhaps the quill was even meant for me in the first place. You were simply unfortunate enough to have stumbled upon it before me.”

“No, Dia-san. I can see where this is going,” Riko walks in front of the taller witch to gaze at her face to face. “Those unknown attackers are at fault. We are the victims. So, don’t even think about blaming yourself.”

Dia’s lips quirk in slight amusement. “Then, have you stopped thinking that you brought Kanan-san, Mari-san and myself into this situation?”

“That’s different,” Riko sighs tiredly. “If it weren’t for me, you could have requested Aurors, or even other members of your family, to increase security or even try to trace these attackers. The terms for the Unbreakable Vow were rather ambiguous, so perhaps we should-”

“No. Nothing is worth risking your life, Riko-san. I can defend myself just fine.”

Dia sounds rather angry, so Riko simply nods and drops the issue for now. That magical contract has always been an enigma for them, though they dare not test its limits in case it is accidentally broken and that would be fatal for her. When the three older witches first found Riko and the unconscious Chika and You, Riko had felt the Vow’s magic extending to them, binding them for reasons unknown. Perhaps this is due to Dia’s own conflict against the hooded assailants, making her and her friends ‘qualify’ and be included in the Vow.

They cannot know for sure, but that doesn’t make Riko feel any less guilty.

“I just want you to understand that you are important to m… us,” Dia’s expression softens as she reaches for a stray petal that has landed on Riko’s shoulder. When she carefully cradles the pink sakura in her palm, Riko has to avert her gaze for the simple gesture fills her with self-consciousness.

Dia clears her throat and speaks in a more neutral tone. “Well then, what of your studies so far? What have you been working?”

More comfortable with such topic, Riko eagerly discusses the various potions she was able to brew, as well as the spells she mastered. She is especially pleased with one particular Charm.

“Incredible. Mari-san, Kanan-san and I only managed to cast the Patronus Charm in the middle of our Third-Year,” Dia observes the silver feline prancing around the garden. The corporeal Charm is shimmering brightly, its Kneazle-like tail flicking and its paws gracefully stepping onto the grass.

“Truthfully, I thought I’d have trouble conjuring it,” Riko dispels the Charm and turns away from the older girl, fiddling with her wand. “But I was able to think of the happy times, drawing strength from them just as how I always do in my studies.”

“Your goal of becoming a Mediwitch is unwavering, fueled by a positive emotion which is what the Charm needs,” Dia’s voice then drops to a rather embarrassed tone. “You have shown me something private about yourself, Riko-san, so it is only fair that I do the same. Expecto Patronum.”

Riko blinks at the glimmering king penguin sliding over the grass on its belly. The corporeal Charm flips over and waddles on its feet, tilting its head at her. Cute as it may appear, she could sense its immense power, which reflects its caster’s magic.

“Unexpected, yes?”

There are many comments flying in Riko’s head, and she could almost hear Mari’s jokes, so she decides for a curt nod in case she disrespects her senior.

“Ahem. Well, my Patronus used to match my Animagus form, but… as you can see, mine, Mari-san’s and Kanan-san’s are all aquatic creatures. During last summer, we had an adventure of some sorts in the Black Lake, and that must have caused our Patronus to change.”

Too surprised to comment, Riko could only blink up at the taller girl. Now that Dia has mentioned it, Riko did wonder why Kanan and Mari turn into a wolf and cat respectively, when their Patronus Charms are a dolphin and a seal.

Also, she hasn’t ever seen Dia’s Animagus form.

“That is a tale for another time, one that I am certain Mari would be delighted in sharing. It is not mine to tell,” Dia shakes her head, dispelling the harmless-looking penguin with a flick of her wand. “Hmm? Is something the matter?”

“Uh, well, I was just thinking, how the three of you are able to achieve your Animagus forms. It’s highly complex magic and takes incredible time and effort… ah, I’m not doubting your skills or anything-”

“I agree, Riko-san. Thinking back, I still wonder from time to time how we managed it,” Dia is wearing a fond, nostalgic smile. “Kanan-san did work very hard, while it comes rather easily for Mari-san. Again, it is their story to tell, not mine. I just did it, to prove that I could too.”

Riko nods hesitantly. She knows that Dia is competitive, a quality she could understand as well, but this just shows how amazing the heiress is. Once again, she feels humbled to be able to speak with and learn from Dia.

“M-May I see it?” Those words slips out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“Pardon?”

She licks her dry lips and whispers bashfully. “Your Animagus form… may I see it?”

Dia makes a rather comical expression then, her eyes wide in surprise. A tense silence passes by before Riko covers her face in embarrassment at her silly request. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It must be a sensitive secret, right? I mean, Mari-san and Kanan-san only revealed their forms to me because of their patrols and frequent Transformations. Please forget that I asked, Dia-san, you don’t have to-?”

Finding it odd that Dia would let her continue to ramble, Riko peeks through her fingers and discovers that the heiress has vanished.

“...Dia-san?”

Just as she is about to search the garden, she notices a small form slowly approaching her. Awed, she crouches down and reaches for the black rabbit. The critter’s dark pelt is cottony soft under her hands and very well-groomed, the fur almost shimmering under the sunlight. Gently, she cradles the bunny and finds herself caressing its ears.

Other than its intelligent emerald eyes, the rabbit also has white markings under the base of its ears that resemble Dia’s hairclips. Similar to how Kanan has an unusually long tail for a wolf and how Mari’s tail is whip-like as opposed to an average cat’s, those two traits separate Dia from a regular black rabbit.

Riko had expected her Animagus form to be a snake or even a jaguar, not this innocent herbivore. A rabbit simply isn’t the image of the Kurosawa heiress. However, an Animagus form doesn’t lie, for it is determined by one’s personality and inner traits. Perhaps, this is what Dia would have been like, had she grown up without all those expectations and responsibilities. She never provokes anyone or unsheathes her saber unless absolutely necessary. The only exception would be around Mari and Kanan, but Riko can tell that Dia doesn’t ever want to seriously hurt her friends.

Maybe, just maybe, Dia would rather avoid all conflicts, except circumstances forbid her from doing so. Now, holding the bunny in her arms, Riko is filled with the desire to protect it from harm. She also relishes in that sense of peace and soothing effect, similar to whenever she cuddles her pet Kneazle. Smiling, Riko couldn’t help but lightly scratch it between the ears like she would with Sandy.

The rabbit lowers its ears, seemingly pleased at the attention and treatment. Automatically, Riko leans down and nuzzles its cheek before smooching its brow. When the rabbit goes rigid in her arms, Riko snaps out of her daze and is struck by the reminder that this rabbit is Dia Kurosawa.

What did I just do?!

Mortified, she hastily places the bunny onto the grass. Almost instantly, it transforms back to the black-haired heiress, whose cheeks have darkened several shades. Both flustered into silence, they dumbly stare at each other for a while but adamant to avoid meeting each other’s eyes.

A slight rustling behind Dia breaks the stalemate, and Riko is almost relieved to spot familiar gold and dark indigo shapes fleeing into the bushes.

“Ma. Ri. San. Ka. Na. N. San! Y-You saw everything-?!” Dia summons her broom and chases after her friends without glancing back. Riko is grateful for the distraction as she crouches down again and covers her heated cheeks.

She’ll have to somehow regain her composure before the others return. But the challenge is, how is supposed to face Dia again after this? Although, it feels rather nice, to see and learn more about the older girl, so she’ll just have to somehow survive Mari’s teasing later.

Perhaps the embarrassment is too much, for she begins to giggle in mirth and is fully laughing by the time Dia returns with petrificus totalus-stricken wolf and cat levitated behind her.

Dia’s cheeks are still flushed from annoyance and the chase, but she relaxes upon seeing her and also lets out a few chuckles. The awkward atmosphere between them diffuses and they are able to return to discussing various areas of study.

Kanan and Mari are inadvertently forgotten and remained magically-petrified for a few hours. Kanan shrugs it off with a grin. Mari is not amused, and the chase between her and Dia resume.

All is well.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

“So? What are your thoughts,  Mari-san?”

“Hmm? She’s a very interesting girl, and seems to have a good heart,” Mari taps her finger on her chin. “She helped out this other new student, another Muggleborn, with her luggage.”

“I see. Then, why was the entry barred from them?” Riko hasn’t even realized that she is gripping the black feather so hard until Mari gently pats her shoulder. Riko loosens her hold, noticing the crescent-shaped marks on her palm, and sighs wearily. “It can’t be a coincidence and you know it, Mari-san.”

“I agree with you on that, but there’s nothing we can do except observe,” the senior Ravenclaw’s voice is low like a feline’s growl. “We do not want to jump into any conclusions, sì?”

Riko slumps in her seat and rubs her throbbing temple. The illusion of paradise from the summer vacation is long gone. She thought she had prepared herself for anything, but the appearance of a raven-haired teenager with a feather affixed to her bun took her by surprise. She’ll have this whole train ride until they reach Hogwarts to figure out how to handle this situation.

As if to lighten up the somber atmosphere, Mari suddenly flicks Riko’s forehead, earning a yelp. “Yoshiko Tsushima reminds me of you, Rikocchi, though you were much shyer while this one has the recklessness of a Gryffindor~”

Pouting, Riko scoots away from the blonde. “You think she’d be Sorted there?”

“Hmm, it’s possible, though instincts tell me she’d get along with Dia just fine~”

As peculiar as Mari could be, her instincts have proven scarily accurate so far. Riko could offer a slight nod before sinking back into her contemplative shell. She smiles gratefully when Mari transforms and curls up on her lap, knowing that she needs the comfort.

Dia and Kanan have gone to Hogwarts in the morning, for a cursory patrol around the perimeters, as well as to prepare for her duties as Head Girl this year. No matter how much Riko requests Mari privately, the blonde is adamant in accompanying her instead of Dia. Even though Kanan is very dependable, Riko would still rather the Fifth-Years stick together so that Dia would be well-protected.

Riko knows first-hand how powerful Dia is, but there are so many things unknown about the hostiles and she just can’t help but worry. In order to distract herself, she peruses her research note and examines the black feather again. The least she and Mari could do is to keep watch over Dia’s little sister, and monitor this odd girl with the feather.

Perhaps this Yoshiko is suitable for the House of Gryffindor, since she and her two companions vanished from the train station not long after they arrive. Adventurous and daring, like how Chika and You are. Mari manages to locate them somewhere in the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest and directs them back to the Thestral-pulled carriages. Riko is certainly surprised that Yoshiko is able to see those skeletal horse-like creatures like she could.

Perhaps, the younger girl has also experienced loss akin to death?

Finding a kindred spirit in Yoshiko, Riko could feel her opinion towards her lighten a bit. It’s highly probable that the Muggleborn has no idea that her feather is a Dark object. After she welcomes the trio inside of Hogwarts, she then switches her attention to Ruby and Dia. The older Kurosawa, expectedly, pays her sister no heed while the latter glances nervously in her direction every now and then. Riko mentally makes a reminder to prod Kanan for details of their patrol earlier, since Dia appears to be troubled by something.

“Oh my, the plot thickens doesn’t it?” Mari’s light-hearted words belie her worried tone as the Sorting Hat announces its decision. The two Ravenclaws watch Ruby anxiously approach the Hufflepuff table with her head held high. Riko glances at Dia, only to find her expression as placid as ever.

When it is Yoshiko’s turn, she waves at Riko, who returns the gesture with mild confusion. Surely, such a cheerful, optimistic person belongs to Gryffindor?

Again, she is taken aback by the Sorting Hat’s instantaneous decision to place the Muggleborn in the House of Slytherin, which consists of only Purebloods. Riko hears that there have been Muggleborn Slytherins in the past few decades, such as their feisty Charms Professor, but they have Pureblood ancestry traced back centuries ago. Maybe Yoshiko has a similar background as well?

The rest of the Sorting and Welcome Feast continue on without a hitch. Riko’s mind is rather weary from all the events so far, so she couldn’t wait to fulfill her Prefect duties for the night and retire to the Room of Requirement to convene with the others.

To her surprise, she only sees Kanan by the time she enters the Room around midnight. The ponytailed Gryffindor is in the middle of muffling a yawn and is sprawled on the floor, most likely having just changed back to her human form. Chuckling sheepishly, she stands up and elaborates when she notices Riko’s questioning glance.

“Ah, Mari said she’s escorting Hanamaru - that’s Ruby’s friend, the brunette with the glasses - back to Hufflepuff, while Dia’s taking Yoshiko back to the Slytherin Dorms. They found the two girls wandering around the corridor near the grand staircase.”

“Eh? How did they manage to do that without other Prefects noticing…” Riko frowns, also berating herself for not being diligent enough in her rounds, even though she was assigned to a different area.

“These girls are promising~” Kanan’s grin is rather childish, her mischievous Gryffindor side surfacing whenever she’s tired. “Seems like it’ll be an eventful school year too, especially with the way it started already.”

There’s something in Kanan’s tone that Riko doesn’t like. Upon interrogation, the older girl reluctantly reveals that she and Dia were attacked by those hooded figures in the Forest earlier. Alarmed, she pleads for Kanan to return to the Gryffindor Tower to make sure that Chika and You are alright. While those mysterious attackers haven’t come near the duo since that time, Riko refuses to leave it up to chance.

Now the only person left in the Room, Riko busies herself by placing a quarantine spell on the black feather near the rest they had gathered over the past year. She feels slightly foolish for staying, since it’s well past midnight already so she should just go back to the Ravenclaw Tower to rest.

Much to her joy, hours later, the door opens to reveal a very tired Dia.

“Riko-san? What are you doing here? You should be in your Dorm, resting.”

“So should you, Dia-san,” Riko feels the tension in her body finally lifting. She hasn’t spoken to Dia the whole day and that’s been gnawing at the corner of her mind. “Kanan-san informed me that you escorted Tsushima-san back to the Slytherin Dorm. You should have stayed there instead of coming here.”

“I… feel too restless. Also,” Dia sinks down in one of the couches and rubs the bridge of her nose, a habitual gesture whenever she’s abashed. “I suppose I just wanted to see if you would be here, even though it is so late.”

Something warm flutters in Riko’s heart as she gingerly sits down beside the older girl. “...I was waiting to see if you’d come here as well, Dia-san.”

“Is that so? We are both rather foolish, are we not?” Dia’s lips quirk in amusement. “Well then, since we are both here… Mari-san said that the two of you found another feather?”

“Yes, and I’d like you to tell me more about the encounter Kanan-san mentioned…”

Perhaps it is the familiar atmosphere in the Room of Requirement, for any vestige of fatigue fades away as the two witches exchange stories and catch up. It’s comfortable, therapeutic even, and all that unease about the attackers’ reappearance and the mysterious feather is soothed by Dia’s presence so close by.

Sensing there’s something else bothering the older girl, Riko gathers her courage and asks about Ruby.

“... I am pleased that she is Sorted into Hufflepuff, not Slytherin. She would excel there, and she appears to be making friends fast, especially in Kunikida-san and Tsushima-san. According to Mari-san, the three of them are already protective of one another,” Dia says slowly, though a minute tremor reveals her hidden emotion.

“But-?” Riko coaxes gently, and Dia’s poised expression starts to crack.

“But apparently, my family had sent Ruby a Howler and humiliated her in front of all her Housemates. Professor Koizumi managed to intervene before the full message was delivered, but…” Dia slouches in her seat, her fingers interlaced as she rests her chin on them. “If only I could go and comfort her. What kind of sister am I, for letting her suffer like this?”

“Dia-san-”

“Now that we are far away from our family’s scrutiny, here at Hogwarts, I thought that perhaps I could carefully, secretively, amend our relationship. However, now that it’s confirmed that those accursed attackers want the Kurosawa blood, I cannot have Ruby come anywhere near me. I will not subject my little sister to such menace!”

The pain in Dia’s voice hurts Riko too. She timidly reaches out and covers Dia’s hand with her own. Dia responds by giving her a heartrending smile and whimsically strokes the back of Riko’s hand with her thumb.

“The least I can do is to stop my family from harassing Ruby. Hmm, she has always been fond of my owl, I can certainly acquire one for her. Perhaps a tawny owl that likes flowers… do you think she would like that?”

Riko nods with certainty, feeling helpless when she notices Dia’s eyes shimmer with tears.

“As awful and untrue as it is, they will consider her a… lost cause now that she is in Hufflepuff. All that unnecessary pressure shall be gone, so she could finally enjoy herself. She… she is free.”

Before the first tear even trickle down Dia’s cheek, Riko pulls her into her arms. Dia doesn’t struggle and simply rests her head against Riko’s shoulder, her body trembling in soundless sobs.

Is there nothing she could do to help Dia? It must be terribly stressful to maintain that indomitable facade. Dia is just human. There must be times she simply wants to crumble and let go of her emotions.

I will be her refuge.

Riko tightens her hug.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

“Lily! Look look, it’s eating the apple! Eck-?!”

Riko giggles when the Thestral nudges Yoshiko affectionately, almost knocking her over in the process. The younger girl harrumphs and tries to scold the creature, but it’s obvious how she enjoys the attention.

Thestrals have ominous reputation and scary appearances. Riko herself was intimidated when she first saw them but now, they are possibly one of the most endearing magical creatures she has ever known. They seem to understand one’s sorrow and bring out the hidden joy.

Yoshiko certainly seems to appreciate that. The young Slytherin indeed reminds Riko a lot of herself, especially seeing her with Hanamaru and Ruby. Such nostalgia had prompted her to view the Mirror of Erised again, but that momentary lapse had caused Dia to hug her so the incident was overall pleasant.

Other than her accidental discovery, Yoshiko hasn’t been able to locate the Room of Requirement again, much to Riko’s relief. After getting to know the girl more and more, Riko wishes to protect that innocent quality as best as she could. The way she is so fascinated by magic and her eagerness to learn make their tutor sessions enjoyable. In fact, it’s almost comparable to her own sessions with Dia, and so the sense of kindred spirit just grows stronger and stronger.

“Hnff, stop laughing and come help me, Lily!” Three Thestrals are nuzzling Yoshiko, having long lost interest in the apple in her hand. These creatures prefer raw meat after all, so accepting a fruit from her already speaks volumes of how they adore her.

“Yocchan is popular,” Riko muffles another mirthful chuckle before distracting the Thestrals. Or, perhaps, these intelligent creatures could sense that Yoshiko is a good girl.

Truthfully, when Yoshiko first called her Lily, such sensitive nickname almost tore down her composure. Yet, as time goes on, Riko finds the process rather healing. While she will always have mixed feelings about the time spent with the quill, at least she can now look back at the happier times without that sting of guilt.

After all, how could she possibly associate this happily grinning girl with that wretched quill?

She isn’t the only one growing fond of Yoshiko and the other two First-Years. Chika and You enjoy playing with the volatile Slytherin while showering Ruby with love, something that Dia both appreciates and is rather envious of. Kanan has certainly taken Hanamaru under her wing since they are often found napping together by the Black Lake.

And Riko would never admit it, but Mari’s newfound ‘toy’ in Yoshiko makes Riko miss the older Ravenclaw’s irritating teases. Just slightly.

While those blank states of mind that Yoshiko experiences perturb her, they have been harmless so far, as inexplicable as they are. Dia’s temporary solution of Charming the girl’s scarf works, and nothing out of the ordinary has happened since the first day of school, making the term so far peaceful as they develop their bond with the three endearing First-Years.

Riko regrets allowing her guard to drop.

She is completely unprepared when, weeks later, she is forced to reveal her past and induct Yoshiko and Hanamaru into the Unbreakable Vow. Those tendrils of magic, something so Dark and corrupted, should not have originated from someone as guileless as Yoshiko. Moreover, those tendrils share the same properties as those feathers, which Riko has tentatively considered as Horcruxes even though they are not the same.

How had everything spiraled out of control so easily? Then again, nothing was ever within her control in the first place.

Riko tries to suppress her nervous jitters as she glances at the door out of the corner of her eyes. The sight of Kanan’s arm in a sling makes her stomach churn, and Mari’s stoney expression sends shivers down her spine. Even then, the two seniors maintain their friendly demeanor as they chat with the three First-Years. In spite of everything she’s learned, Yoshiko still remain positive and appears to take everything in a stride. Her selfless offer to help as much as possible touches Riko, strengthening her desire to protect her

After Dia bids the trio good night, Kanan and Mari open the door and lead the younger girls away, most likely to escort them back to their respective Dorms. For the first time ever, Riko is reluctant to be left alone with Dia.

As soon as the older girl turns towards her, she blurts out. “I’m so sorry, Dia-san. I know you wanted to keep Ruby-chan out of this-”

Dia stops her with a severe tone. “And I still do, but Yoshiko-san is correct. It would be awful if Ruby is kept out of the loop, seeing how close she is with Hanamaru-san and Yoshiko-san. It would be fine if we do not reveal everything and simply concentrate on training her. And, admittedly…” She lowers her head as if sheepish. “In a way, I appreciate this opportunity for me to reconnect with her again. She does not seem to bear any ill feelings towards me, and I am grateful.”

“Y-You’re not upset… about what happened?”

“Of course not, I was merely taken by surprise. There was no way we could have foreseen this, so it is prudent that we make the most of it and prepare ourselves should another similar incident occurs.”

Riko sighs shakily, the trepidation falling away along with her composure. Before she realizes it, Dia has closed their distances in several strides and enveloped her within her arms.

“Silly. Rather than me, I am more concerned about you, having to recount details of that day again,” Dia murmurs against Riko’s hair as she caresses her back. “How are you feeling?”

Riko clings back with everything she has and, strangely, she does not feel the urge to cry now even though sobs were bubbling in her chest earlier. “I-I’ve calmed down, now that I have time to ponder about it. I just wish all of this could’ve been avoidable. They were just First-Years!”

She tries to keep self-loathing and pity at bay, she really does, but telling Yoshiko her past with the quill and of Chika and You leaves a bitter taste in her mouth. She vows to never let Yoshiko experience the same despair.

Dia pulls away a bit. “Look at me.”

Riko shakes her head, feeling a familiar sting in her eyes even though they feel dry.

“Look at me, please.”

Timidly, she blinks several times and peers up. Dia’s gaze is so gentle that Riko does feel an urge to cry.

“Things will get better. We are all on your side. Do you understand me?”

She nods weakly.

“Good. Now, please go get some rest, I just have some errands to finish-.”

Such a familiar argument brings a small smile to her face. “Again, I should say the same. Let me help you, Dia-san.”

“Riko-san.”

“Dia-san.”

They stare at each other, neither willing to relent. Riko says quietly. “Like you said, you are not alone either. I… I’m here too. I want to be of help to you.”

Dia exhales and appears to be conflicted about something. “... you already have.”

Riko is stunned when the taller girl leans in and places a soft kiss against her forehead. The simple contact causes warmth to fill her chest and her smile widens. Coyly, she burrows her face against the crook of Dia’s neck and indulges herself in this moment of contentedness.

Dia is right. While they don’t know what would happen in the future, she is confident that, with Dia by her side, things will turn out fine at the end. It has long developed from gratitude to trust and fondness, and as impossible as it may be, this almost-overwhelming feeling just continues to grow.

Dia-san, I lo-

Riko dares not allow her mind to complete such thought.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Amber eyes stare dazedly at the ceiling, sleep escaping her like usual but it is for a different reason this night. Riko could still feel the phantom brush of Dia’s lips against her knuckles and her cheek, her mind whirling with memories of the Christmas Banquet earlier.

Dia has only kissed her a total of two times, a chivalrous one on her knuckles after their dance, and another chaste one on her cheek when Dia escorted her back to her Dorm.

Yet, each kiss felt so achingly intimate, so tender that she feels like melting. And the way Dia gazed at her, like she was the only person in the world, her whole world...

Riko’s cheeks heat up as she rolls over in her bed. Never in her seventeen years of life has she had the urge to giggle like a hopelessly smitten girl, but after tonight, she has resigned and accepted how she feels about Dia. Dia seems to return her feelings too, since she is the only person the heiress has danced with the whole night. Riko doesn’t want to get her hopes up, but wishful thinking keeps pervading her thoughts whenever she tries to ponder about safer topics like school assignments and whatnot.

As if entranced, she kisses her own knuckles softly, the same spot that Dia did. Her blush darkens again and she hastily buries her face in her pillow.

A quiet yowl reminds her that she isn’t totally alone in the Prefect dorm. Sandy must have been roused by her restless movements, and she could feel the Kneazle hopping onto her bed and pawing at her shoulder as if worried.

Peeking out, Riko is about to hug her pet when she notices Sandy nudging a hairclip towards her. The sakura flower pin was given by Dia before they parted ways, as a Christmas present.

Maybe she is imagining things, but the intelligent Kneazle seems to be smirking at her.

“Y-You hang out with Mari-san too much!” Mortified, Riko pulls the cover over her head but is still unsuccessful in falling asleep, especially since Sandy keeps purring in amusement.

The few days after the Banquet is like a breather, since most students have gone home for the holidays and they have all returned to routine meetings and training in the Room of Requirement. Both she and Dia are quite occupied by their respective self-assigned tasks, so she is able to regain composure to a certain extent and interact with the heiress as normally as possible.

So far, Mari is surprisingly quiet on the matter, but judging from Dia’s flustered reactions, she must be teasing her friend whenever Riko is out of hearing range. Kanan has been wearing a perpetual smile, one that seems to say ‘I’m happy for you’ whenever she looks at Riko’s direction. Even Chika and You give her a similar expression, making Riko very self-conscious.

Her embarrassment grows when Yoshiko catches her staring at Dia, and skyrockets after she casts the Patronus Charm. Riko is beyond shocked, for while she’s acknowledged her feeling, she has no idea how deeply it runs, enough to actually change her Patronus form to a rabbit. The worst part is that everyone saw it, especially Dia.

Which brings her to her current predicament.

“Riko-san…? Are you alright?”

She squirms shyly, her heart speeding up when Dia reaches for her hand. She appreciates Kanan and Mari making them go to Madame Puddifoot’s at Hogsmeade, but she has absolutely no idea what to do now that she’s alone with Dia. The fluffy atmosphere around the tea shop, which is filled with other couples, certainly doesn’t calm her nerves.

“Apologies for Mari-san and Kanan-san’s behavior. Would you like to go somewhere else?”

Taking a deep breath, Riko dares to look up and is surprised to see Dia just as nervous as she is. Suddenly, a wave of calmness washes over her and Riko squeezes their intertwined hands.

“Let’s enjoy the dessert here first, Dia-san. I hear that they serve good matcha pudding?”

Dia sheepishly averts her gaze, making Riko giggle in fondness. While she finds the tea shop’s interior designs tacky and small tables uncomfortable, she admits that the dessert is quite delicious.

Or is it because she is in Dia’s company?

Riko smiles to herself as the pair exits the shop, hand in hand. Just as Dia said, everything did get better, and there have been no irregularities they couldn’t control, and no attacks. Chika and You have returned back to her life, and it feels so fulfilling to be surrounded by new and old friends.

“Is there any place you would like to go, Riko-san?”

An idea enters her mind then. It has been over a year, so she feels ready to confront the last demon of her past. “I’ve been foolish in avoiding it, Dia-san. There could be valuable items inside the Hut that we could learn from.”

Dia narrows her eyes and nods slowly while pulling Riko close. The younger girl appreciates the comforting gesture as she leads her towards the outskirts of Hogsmeade while quietly explaining the nature behind the Hut.

The abandoned building is even shabbier than the Shack a distance away, at least outwardly, and it is located deeply in the forest. What makes the Hut special is that it cannot be found by means other than through a Secret-Keeper.

“You have casted the Fidelius Charm-?”

Riko could understand why Dia is awed. It is a highly complex spell that no average student could have possibly cast it correctly. Alas, back then, she has the help of the quill and that is how the Hut remains undiscovered through this past year.

“Technically, Chika-chan and You-chan are still Secret-Keepers like I am, but since they don’t remember, they would not be able to pass on the secret,” Riko flicks her wand around the forest, checking one last time to confirm that she and Dia are the only people here. She then describes the Hut’s exact location to Dia and smiles faintly when the older girl blinks at the building, which must have materialized abruptly for her only after hearing the address.

“...are you sure, Riko-san?”

“Yes. I’m done running away. I should’ve done this earlier, but I admit that I haven’t even thought of this place for a long time.” Even as she says that, her heart pounds painfully within her chest. Remnants of terror persist in spite of her bravado.

After all, it isn’t that far from the Hut, the very campsite where they were ambushed and she was forced to Obliviate Chika and You.

But it’s also where she was found by Dia and the others.

An end, but also a beginning.

The heiress squeezes her hand again before they enter the Hut together. The place hasn’t changed at all, still mostly immaculate without any hint of dust. The arrangement of furniture remains the same as she remembers, with two overturned stools at the corner of the living room and a long table separating it from the kitchenette. Chika and You used the stools as pseudo goalposts when they played soccer in the magically enlarged area. The ball is tucked onto the wooden legs, which was placed there after Riko had tripped over it one time and Hexed the two to clean up their mess.

Riko’s breathing hitches as memories, some vague and some vivid, fill her mind in an unstoppable torrent. She might have collapsed onto her knees if Dia hasn’t held her steady.

“Riko-san, perhaps we should-”

“No, I’m okay, really,” Riko smiles weakly and gestures at the stairway leading to the basement. “That’s where we did most of our experiments and training. All the books should still be there, cauldrons and probably some leftover ingredients too.”

Dia nods, but makes no move to follow Riko. “Dia-san?”

“Should you really be showing me all of this?”

Puzzled, Riko turns to face her. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

“All of this… This is something very personal. I am honored that you would consider me trustworthy enough, Riko-san, but…”

A flicker of fond exasperation tickles at her heart, lifting the somber atmosphere enough for Riko to speak with certainty. “After everything we’ve experienced, Dia-san, that’s a rather silly question. Do you have any idea how much you’ve done for me? I was able to stand on my feet again. I was able to… open my mind to new possibilities and people into my life. Thanks to you, I-I…” She trails off and swallows hard, her confidence wavering but her words sincere. “I’m able to remember how to truly smile again.”

For some reason, Dia begins to chuckle.

Rather miffed by the response, Riko pouts and waits for the older girl to elaborate.

“Do not fret, Riko-san, I am just laughing at myself, at my own indecisiveness and cowardice.”

“Eh?”

“If you can face your own demons, then I shall be brave as well and do something I have wanted to for a long time now.”

Under Riko’s inquisitive eyes, Dia gingerly retrieves a small velvety box from her pocket. “Rather than the hairclip, I had meant for this to be your Christmas present, to give to you after our dance, but I… well, I chickened out, for a lack of better description. I felt uncertain about many things, and admittedly I was fearful of ruining what we have. I do not want to lose that.”

Riko’s distinctly aware of her heart thundering in her ears when she notices the Kurosawa crest on the box.

“I should have acted sooner. If it were not for your Patronus, I might have continued to hesitate. But now here we are, there is no reason for me to hold back anymore.”

The box is carefully opened, revealing a necklace with a carbonado as its center jewel. Riko’s lips tremble as she struggles to speak. “I-I cannot accept something so valuable-”

“Yes you can. I would like you to have it, Riko-san.” The earlier indecision have faded away as Dia assertively takes one step forward. “Indeed, this is a precious gem, but that is not all that it represents. My name is Dia Kurosawa, and this is a black diamond. In other words, it represents me. My magic is imbued in the jewel so that, if it ever comes to a situation when you need help, it will protect you.”

She glances between Dia and the necklace, a lump forming in her throat as she tries to understand the magnitude of such exchange. “...why me?”

Dia’s smile softens as she holds Riko’s gaze and repeats the same words she herself had told Dia earlier. “That is a rather silly question, considering everything we had gone through together. You have become very dear to me, Riko-san. I...”

Riko feels a familiar warmth and sting at her eyes, and the dam breaks upon the heiress’ next words.

“I have fallen in love with you.”

Biting her lips, Riko lowers her head and presses her palms against her eyes as hot tears continue to flow.

“It is not my intention to make you cry at all, Riko-san…”

Hearing the concern and smidgen of doubt in Dia’s voice, Riko frantically shakes her head and tries to reign in her sobs. “I-I’m just… so… so very happy… Dia-san, I-I…a-accept it...”

“I am glad,” Dia whispers. “Allow me then.”

With her eyesight still blurred by tears, she could only sense Dia moving behind her and gently brushing apart her hair. Her cool fingers graze along her nape as she carefully clasps the beautiful necklace around her neck. The weight of the jewel rests just below her collarbones and above her heart. She could intimately feel Dia’s magic thrumming against her own.

Most of all, she could feel Dia’s love embracing her protectively.

After wiping her eyes one last time, Riko turns around and demurely smiles up at Dia. She doesn’t know who leans in first, but the kiss feels so right, as if a missing part of her is finally complete.

Is it possible to be this blissful?

“Dia-san, I love you.”

[athyrabunlord]

LLSHP 10 - Moonstruck

Arc1: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]

Arc2: [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13] [Chapter 14]

Arc3: [Chapter 15] [Chapter 16] [Chapter 17] [Chapter 18 - sanguinem pudicitia (TBD)]

Interludes: [Carbonado (1)] [Carbonado (2)] [Of Feathers and Wind] [Delphinus (teaser blip)]

[Brief note about School Term] [other LLSHP AU stuff] [YohaMaRuby concept arts] [ChikaYouRiko concept arts] [KanaDiaMari concept arts] [Hogwarts Staff]

[FFN link] (up until ch14!) [Pixiv Link] [Translated to Chinese by plin2290]

A/N: So much for keeping to my update schedule (ノ°益°)ノ  Welp, this chapter is long and I’m still unhappy with some parts, but at least it’s finished. After the previous fun chapter, we’re back for a different kind of fun~ Hope you’ll enjoy reading! Any feedback is appreciated ('▽^人) Words: 8,351

Yoshiko sighs for the umpteenth time since she entered the Room of Requirement. She should be using her time to rest before the next session, but how in Satan's name is she supposed to relax when there are so many distractions around?

"I still can't believe you never told us, Kanan-chan!"

"I think you're as big as Shiitake, hehe~"

Yoshiko drapes over the couch's backrest to see You and Chika patting and scratching the massive wolf-dog. Somehow, after the excess use of magic for the Yule Ball's performance, Kanan's arm has healed exponentially. Dia theorizes that Kanan's own magic has purged the area of whatever malevolent forces that injured it in the first place.

Therefore, after a long discussion within the research group, a happy Kanan celebrates her recovery by revealing her Animagus form to her childhood friends. While the wolf still walks with a bit of a limp, Riko is confident that the older witch would fully recover by New Years now that they know how to treat the wound.

After observing the Gryffindors a bit more, Yoshiko sighs in resignation and flops back down onto the couch. Truthfully, she is rather disappointed that nothing seems to have changed between You and Chika after the Banquet. They are still as close and touchy with each other as ever, but there aren't any gestures that suggest more. She doesn't consider herself an expert matchmaker or anything, but she would like to do something nice for the duo, especially since they have always been nice to her and have unconditionally decided to help them out without knowing the whole truth or their forgotten past.

"Belly flop!" "Woof!" "Ah no fair, I want to play too!"

At least, they're enjoying themselves. Gryffindors are so weird.

"Is it really wise to let them come here?" Yoshiko shares the same exasperated expression as Dia, who glares at Mari to show that she is still upset about the Acromantula incident. In return, the blonde merely winks before transforming into her Animagus self. The lithe golden cat leaps for the human-wolf pile, purring when they fuss over her.

"Well, now that they are part of our group… again, I suppose, I see no harm in letting them know as many secrets as we can. The Room of Requirement at least ensures what happens here stays here." Dia is polishing her saber sword, clearly used to her two best friends' childish behavior.

Upon Riko and Dia's insistence, the knowledge of Yoshiko's connection to the black feathers is kept from Chika, You and Ruby. Therefore, whenever the nine of them are together, they just help each other study and practice more advanced magic, while researches and experiments only take place when those three witches are not present.

"So… what is your Animagi form, Dia-san? I'm sure you've successfully-" Yoshiko trails off when Dia visibly twitches at the question. She warily glances at the older Slytherin's unsheathed sword and mumbles. "Nevermind, it must be top-secret huh?"

"Indeed it is," Dia says stiffly. An awkward silence falls upon them for a while, making Yoshiko wonder if she's stepped on a landmine. She exhales in relief when the door opens and reveals Riko, Hanamaru and Ruby.

Even though it's Christmas break and Hogwarts is mostly empty save for some of the staff and students who decided to stay, they agree to keep up an appearance to ensure that the location of the Room of Requirement remains a secret. They would take turns to go study at the library, and of course Hanamaru volunteers every time.

Yoshiko rolls her eyes as her two Hufflepuff friends squeal at the sight of canine-Kanan, who greets them with a wet lick and wagging tail. She then rolls over and allows the younger girls to rub her belly and jaw. Really, it's hard to imagine that this crooning, oversized wolf is the so-called Grim that unintentionally terrorized them on the first day of school.

Hanamaru looks over to Yoshiko and smiles bashfully when their eyes meet, giving her a little wave. She uncontrollably returns a lopsided grin and waves back too.

Dia raises an eyebrow at this. "Is there something going on-?"

"N-Nothing! I mean, y-yes! Wait, no, there isn't anything, but there's also something-" Yoshiko doesn't know why, but she feels oddly defensive and guilty under the Head Girl's sharp gaze.

"Nothing you should concern yourself about, Dia~" Mari suddenly pops up behind Yoshiko and ruffles her hair. "The power of Christmas is shiny, making flowers bloom, ne? Just make sure yours keep blossoming~"

For some reason, Dia looks away and… is that a blush? The Head Girl is blushing?

Mari cheerfully elaborates. "You're not the only one who enjoyed the Banquet, Yoshiko-chan~"

"What does that mean-"

Dia coughs loudly and announces that break time is over. In spite of the slip in composure, Dia still manages to command everyone's attention and split them up for specialized training. You and Chika have taken it upon themselves to help the First-Years improve on areas they struggle with and, this time, they decide to work on Hanamaru's agility. Ruby, though nervous, requests that her sister spar with her. The last time they dueled, Dia did not go soft on her little sister, and Ruby was pretty much thrown about and struck by countless spells, yet the pair appear quite happy at being able to train together. Dia does look proud of Ruby's determination, and soon the sisters begin to exchange spells in the center arena.

Yoshiko knows better than to get in the middle of that. She glances at Riko, who has gone to the cauldrons and is checking up on Kanan's arm.

"That just leaves you with me, hmm?"

"Oh joy."

Frankly, Yoshiko dislikes her one-on-one Occlumency lessons with Mari. Dia has explained countless times of its importance, that an enemy skilled in Legilimency can easily probe through your mind for information, influence your emotions or actions. Therefore, one must train their mental barriers through the practice of Occlumency.

Naturally, the three Fifth-Years and Riko are already well-trained. Both Yoshiko and Hanamaru are required to learn it as much as they could, while the remaining three do not need to focus on this subject as they are not privy to this group's sensitive information.

As it turns out, Hanamaru must be a natural Occlumens, since Mari is unable to access her thoughts and the Ravenclaw is their best Legilimens. Yoshiko, on the other hand, apparently has the mental defense of a 'pile of dirt', or so Mari says.

"Empty out your mind, Yoshiko-chan, I know you do have great willpower," the blonde folds her arms, appearing oddly like an older sister as she chastises and encourages her at the same time.

"I am trying! It's easier said than done." Yoshiko grits her teeth. As if she wants the irritating witch to know about her secrets!

"Daww, you think I'm irritating? I'm hurt~"

"Ack! Stop reading my mind so easily!"

"I'm not even actively using Legilimency on you. You're -that- transparent, Yoshiko-chan."

Unlike Dia, whose Leglimency is piercing like a sword and almost triggered Yoshiko to go berserk the last time they practiced, Mari's magic feels more like caramel. It doesn't feel intrusive yet it adheres to her thoughts in a way that coaxes her to relax and thus become more vulnerable.

"I understand Hanamaru-chan's lips are so soft you can't help but keep thinking about the kiss but-"

"Aaaaahhhhh! Stop it stop it stop it!" Yoshiko slaps both her hands on Mari's mouth, feeling as if her face would explode from all the heat that rushes up her neck. Thankfully, You and Chika are keeping Hanamaru quite occupied to have overheard that.

Mari slips out of her grasp in her cat form, saunters a few steps before transforming back. "Doesn't seem like this is going to work until we work out your issues first, Yoshiko-chan. Perhaps I should teach you other things instead hmm? What do you say, shiny Onee-san is more than happy to share her tricks-"

"No thank you." Judging by the lecherous way Mari grins, Yoshiko really doesn't want to learn anything unnecessary from her.

"Why not? You'll thank me one day, and I'm sure Hanamaru-chan would appreciate it too when-"

"I'm going to go work on Potions!" Yoshiko exclaims and sprints to where Riko and Kanan are.

The Gryffindor chuckles rather apologetically at her disgruntled mood. "I feel fine, Riko-chan. I should go exercise a bit to see how much mobility my arm has regained. I'll take care of Mari."

"Yeah! Keep her away from me," Yoshiko growls, fanning at her red face. She glares at Kanan and Mari until the pair are well out of reach on the other side of the room, where they begin to duel. Huffing, she turns to face Riko, only to find her attention elsewhere even as she rhythmically stirs the pot of Potion she is brewing.

"Lily, are you okay?"

"H-Huh? Why would you ask?" Riko blinks out of her trance, appearing rather sheepish as she adds in a bit more ingredient into the cauldron.

"Oh, um, we haven't had much chance to talk lately, but I'm worried about… well, are you okay about You-san and Chika-san being here?" There, Yoshiko is pleased that she finally got this off of her chest. Plenty of things have happened to keep them all distracted, and Riko is good at keeping a tough front even if something gnaws at her mind. Yoshiko knows that better than anyone, for she does the same. As kindred spirits, she understands that all the negative feelings kept at bay during the day would ache at night, when she's alone.

"Thank you for being worried about me, Yocchan, but really I'm fine," Riko relaxes and smiles at her gently. "Truthfully, back then, I was rather upset that Mari-san would involve Chika-chan and You-chan again after knowing what happened, but now I see why she did it. I really miss them. We used to do everything together, so at least this way, I can still..."

Her eyes shimmer with a myriad of emotions, of guilt and sadness, but the way she smiles at her best friends is indisputable as well.

"Heh, yeah, you do seem happier this way. I'm glad they're here too. I wouldn't trade our group of nine for anything," Yoshiko grins, and gives Hanamaru another giddy wave when the latter happens to look this way. She probably looks silly right now but she doesn't mind, knowing the older girl wouldn't tease her like a certain blonde would.

"I agree. This is the happiest I've felt since… well, I'm very grateful, to all of you."

"Just remember, the great Yohane is always here for all of her little demons. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here!"

Yoshiko straightens in her seat and is extra exuberant as Riko resumes the Potion lesson. They have yet to resolve the cauldron-explosion problem, but at least she's grasped the theoretical concepts well enough. After jotting down some notes, she furrows her brows and tries to confirm some of the steps with her tutor. When she receives no response, she glances at the Ravenclaw and notices her attention has drifted once again. This time, she follows Riko's line of gaze and tilts her head in wonder.

"Lily, why do you keep staring at Dia-san?"

Riko almost drops the ladle into the cauldron. "I-It's nothing! Um, as I was saying, Yocchan, the Murtlap Essence is particularly useful for treating painful cuts…"

Yoshiko is taken aback by Riko's loss of composure. Perhaps Mari isn't joking, maybe something did happen between Dia and Riko? Yoshiko has no idea what happened after she left the Great Hall, as she was too blissful in spending the rest of the night watching the stars holding Hanamaru's hands and exchanging little kisses with her girlfriend.

Ku ku ku, girlfriend indeed.

Her lips involuntarily form another lopsided grin and she resists the urge to giggle like a silly mortal. Even now, she is still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that the brunette is her girlfriend. Praise Satan, she the unfortunate fallen angel finally has a girlfriend! They are both new to having such concept, and they haven't decided whether they want it to be known to the others or not. At least, Yoshiko is certain that Hanamaru is content with what they have. Surely, their relationship should progress at a comfortable pace, little by little, until one day they would enter the next phase which is…

Blushing, Yoshiko shakes her head and unabashedly blames Mari for corrupting her mind. She sends Riko an apologetic look for not paying attention, only to discover the latter to be lost in thoughts as well.

"It appears that no one is focused today." Dia's disapproving tone is directed at Kanan and Mari, who are playing a game of tag in their Animagi form, and at You and Chika, who are playing a game of Exploding Snap while Hanamaru watches on with sparkling eyes. "But at least, try to focus and do something more productive."

When no one stops what they are doing to listen to her, the peeved Slytherin resorts to a more drastic measure. Riko lowers her head in shame, even though the Head Girl isn't looking their way as she scolds those five. Ruby tries to calm down her sister, which appears to be working.

Mari whines as she struggles in the ropes that Dia has conjured. "Come on, it's New Year's Eve, Dia! We deserve to relax too! I wanna go to Hogsmeade with Kanan!"

"Hogsmeade! Oh oh, I wanna go too! We gotta show Ruby-chan Honeydukes," Chika, also bound by ropes, somehow manages to hop back onto her feet and gives Dia puppy eyes. "Please? I heard Coach Kousaka is going there too!"

"We did receive permission from the Professors to go if we want to," You adds, while Kanan explains Hogsmeade to a curious Hanamaru. From what Yoshiko knows, it is an all-wizarding village near the Hogwarts Express' train station, and there are a variety of shops there that rivals the ones in Diagon Alley in popularity.

Overall, it sounds like the perfect place to spend the last day of the year, especially with a girlfriend. Yoshiko's lips involuntarily curve to a crooked grin for the umpteenth time, and widen even more when she notices Hanamaru's equally excited smile.

Dia, however, is as adamant as her name. "Show me that we have accomplished something today, and I will consider it. How about the Patronus Charm?"

Yoshiko groans aloud. "That's not fair, you know I can't do it!"

"Exactly," the Head Girl's voice is dangerously low. "That is why you need to practice. The rest of you, go catch Mari-san and you will be pardoned."

"What?!" The blonde hastily shifts to her cat form, hackles rising, and sprints away just as You and Chika lunge for her. Kanan, also in her Animagi form, barks rather mischievously and runs after them. Riko appears hesitant, and smiles in relief when Dia subtly nods at her.

Dia then faces Yoshiko again. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come. Show me how much progress you have made."

Though grumbling, she obediently joins her friends in the arena. It was Hanamaru's idea to learn the Patronus Charm in the first place, as she is determined to conquer her fear, and the others agree that it is good idea to learn such a powerful defense magic.

"Hey, how are you today?" As soon as the words leave her mouth, Yoshiko feels like jumping into a hole. That's the stupidest opening line ever! Even though Hanamaru is her girlfriend now, it doesn't mean she has to act any different, does she?

Fortunately, the brunette just finds her antics amusing. "I'm good, Yoshiko-chan. Riko-san showed me where to find some of the rarer books in the library so I had a very productive day zura."

Hanamaru's smile makes her smile too. Yoshiko strikes a pose and subtly scoots closer so that their arms are touching. "Me too. Now let's get this Patronus task over with so we can go have fun at Hogsmeade!"

Her heart speeds up a little when Hanamaru reaches for her hand and holds it tight. This new relationship status is really nice, she grins dazedly, but then something catches her attention and makes her frown.

"Hey, where are you going, Ruby?"

"Piki?" The pigtailed girl pauses and sheepishly twiddles her thumbs. "Oh I just thought, I'll go practice over there and-"

"Ruby-chan." Hanamaru's voice is uncharacteristically firm. "We've already talked about this."

Yoshiko glances between the two Hufflepuffs and understands the situation right away. "Ah, come on Ruby, I appreciate you wanting to give me and Zuramaru space but that's not how we work."

The day after the Banquet, Yoshiko and Hanamaru had agreed to tell Ruby everything about their relationship. The last thing they wanted is for Ruby to feel left out, and so they continue to act as they always have. Yoshiko did entertain the idea of going on dates with Hanamaru, but they already are, sort of, and dates aren't urgent.

She quite enjoys spending the holiday with her close friends, and is in no hurry to do those couple-y stuff she's seen on TV. Hanamaru wants to take things slow too, comfortable and content with what they've done so far, thus that takes the pressure off of Yoshiko too.

"Don't ever think you're a… um," Hanamaru purses her lips as if trying to recall what she's read about in novels. "Third wheel-? I think that's what the term is zura. Ruby-chan, it won't be us if you're not with us."

"Yeah, it's not like Zuramaru and I will suddenly start making out in front of you or anything," Yoshiko chuckles, though her ears redden a moment later as that very image fills her mind. Her girlfriend kicks her shin, light enough not to hurt but still forceful enough to make her shut up.

Ruby giggles at them. "O-Okay. Just let me know when you do need to be alone." She links their arms together and giggles again. "Hehe, I'm just so happy for you two! I thought it'll take longer to happen, since Yoshiko-chan is… well, and Hanamaru-chan can be headstrong too."

"Oi what's that supposed to mean?" "Aha, Ruby-chan, that earns a Tickle Jinx zura~!"

Before they could start fooling around, Dia coughs loudly. Yoshiko and Hanamaru cringe under the Head Girl's frown, forgetting they actually have spectators. Ruby, in an attempt to placate her irritated sister, casts the Patronus Charm.

So far, among the trio, only Ruby is able to produce a thin, silver shield. Given enough practice, she should be able to summon a corporeal one like Kanan and Mari (and surely Dia too). Hanamaru tries very hard but her innate fear prevents her from casting the spell properly. Yoshiko is frustrated by the translucent string that shoots off from her wand whenever she tries as well.

This is a very advanced and complex magic, especially for First-Years like them. Therefore, Dia only requires them to be able to produce incorporeal ones like Ruby's, and that's exactly what Yoshiko wants to achieve.

"Dia-san! Are we free now?"

The three Gryffindors have successfully captured Mari, who is held tightly in Kanan's arms while Chika and You have their wands pointed at the hissing feline.

"Very well. What do you have to say for yourself then, Mari-san?"

The blonde Ravenclaw pouts at her friend. "I'll help the girls on their Patronus Charm, happy?" She glances over the trio, nodding at Ruby's attempts but frowning at Hanamaru's pale face.

"Maybe it's best not to push her? Whatever her encounter with the Dementor is preventing her from casting it properly."

Dia nods slowly and places a hand on the brunette. "Indeed. This is fine for today, Hanamaru-san. We shall try again at a later time. Your Shield Charm is quite powerful, so do not fret."

Though disappointed, Hanamaru smiles gratefully at the encouragement. Yoshiko stands up a bit straighter and tries the Patronus Charm again, groaning at the pathetic string that resembles a spider web drooping from her wand.

"Think happy thoughts. See? Shiny~!" Mari easily conjures up her corporeal Patronus and smirks. "Any happy thoughts would work. You know what I'm talking about."

"Can't you offer any good advice?" Yoshiko scowls at the sparkling seal, wondering for the umpteenth time why the Ravenclaw's Patronus looks slightly different every single time.

"I am being serious here," Mari schools in her expression, her voice lowering to a soft, encouraging lilt. "The Charm draws energy from positive memories, the happier the better. Try it."

Yoshiko blushes as she recalls the kisses again. "I'll try it. In private. I feel like there are too many eyes watching me, I can't concentrate."

"Fair enough. But how should we impress Dia enough to go to Hogsmeade?"

As if to answer Mari's question, You salutes and calls out. "Expecto Patronum!"

Her wand conjures a fluffy-looking horned owl, its form shimmering from the power of the spellcaster's magic. Chika high-fives her friend and does the same, summoning a massive tiger with scruffy fur around its head.

Kanan whistles. "Oho, I didn't know you two could conjure corporeal Patronus."

"Hehe, you're not the only ones who have secret powers, Miss Animagi~" Chika wraps an arm around You's shoulder. "Though I don't remember when we learned it-?"

"Must be from Riko-chan, we learned a lot from her," You looks puzzled as well, though the duo don't dwell much on it and look at Dia for approval.

The Head Girl does seem impressed. "It is heartening to know that the two of you are well-prepared in defending yourself should such need arise. If I remember correctly, you can conjure it too, Riko-san?"

The Ravenclaw nods and casts the spell as well. A bright rabbit hops off of the tip of her wand and approaches Dia, nestling beside her leg. Riko blinks at her bunny Patronus as if she wasn't expecting it to take such form. Dia raises an eyebrow at the corporeal Charm, her expression slowly changing from mild confusion to shock when some sort of realization dawns upon her.

Riko must have arrived at a similar conclusion too, for her cheeks become so red that it matches her hair. She looks ready to bolt in mortification while Mari and even Kanan begin to snicker.

"What's the big deal?" Yoshiko curiously stares at the harmless rabbit. "I mean, sure it's a small creature, but that doesn't matter as long as the spell is strong."

Mari's eyes are twinkling in mirth. "Rikocchi's Patronus used to be a cat. It is very rare for a Patronus to change form, but when it does, it is because of an emotional change which, in this case, is-"

Her mouth is then audibly clamped shut by Riko's hands, similarly to what Yoshiko did earlier. While Yoshiko still has no idea what's going on, she finds Riko's panicky, blushing face quite relatable.

Chuckling, Kanan pats Dia on the back as if to congratulate her. "So, Hogsmeade? I think we've all worked hard enough."

Dia blinks out of her daze, swallows hard and mutters. "I suppose we have, yes."

Though still confused, Yoshiko excitedly pulls Hanamaru into her arms while Ruby is smothered by the cheering Chika and You.

Hogsmeade it is!

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Mirai zura~"

"That's like the eighth time you've said that today," Yoshiko smirks when Hanamaru playfully punches her arm as expected and proceeds to ignore her. She doesn't mind, as long as her girlfriend continues to hold hands with her.

"So what did you end up getting zura?"

Ruby looks quite proud of her collection, opening the bag to show her friends the various chocoballs, toffees nougats and many more. Yoshiko's always knew that Ruby likes sweets, but that amount would last them well past the second term!

Then again, Honeydukes truly is the most fantastic sweet shop she's ever been to. In fact, all the places she's visited here at Hogsmeade are amazing enough that she almost wants to utter her girlfriend's catchphrase.

"So what now? I think we have a bit more time before we have to meet up at the Three Broomsticks."

Hanamaru immediately replies. "Tomes and Scrolls-"

"Veto. I said we have a bit more time, not an entire day- no, you can't use those eyes, that's against the rules!" Yoshiko hastily turns away, knowing that the longer she stares at her girlfriend's sparkling puppy eyes, the more likely she would cave.

Ruby giggles suddenly, which makes the couple share confused looks. "You two still act the same, even though you're together now."

It is one thing to call Hanamaru her girlfriend in her mind, another to hear her friend state their relationship aloud. Shuffling, Yoshiko tried to appear nonchalant. "W-Well, I'll have you know, I turn a blind eye to Zuramaru's eating habits when she really convinces me to."

Hanamaru rolls her eyes at the taller girl before pulling Ruby close, making sure their arms are comfortably linked. "We're both really new to this so Yoshiko-chan and I agree to just be ourselves. I mean, if she suddenly starts giving me flowers or be extra sweet, that would be creepy zura."

Yoshiko deadpans. Hanamaru sticks out her tongue. Ruby's still giggling.

True to their discussion at the Room of Requirement, the trio see no reason to change how they are around one another.

After a while, Ruby says quietly. "But, surely, you'd want to spend some time together in privacy right? Hogsmeade is a nice place for couples..."

In response to that, Hanamaru pouts and squeezes their entwined arms, while Yoshiko tugs at those signature pigtails. "Piki?"

"Haven't we talked about this already? Stop thinking you're intruding on us or something. You gotta get that kind of mindset out of your head."

"Unless...you don't like spending time with us, Ruby-chan?"

"Eh? No, that's not what I meant-"

"Then it's decided. You're stuck with us and that's the end of the discussion, heh."

Just for good measure, Yoshiko ruffles the shorter girl's hair, which prompts Hanamaru to chide her as usual. Yup, their trio dynamic is operating normally just fine.

"Anyways, back to topic, where should we go? As much as I like Quidditch, I'm not going anywhere near Spintwitches Sporting Needs again…"

After a long discussion back at Hogwarts, the nine witches have decided to split up not just to maintain their distance in public but also so it does not draw attention, moving in a big group. As soon as they set foot in Hogsmeade however, Kanan and Mari practically pushed Dia and Riko towards Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and told the rest that they would be patrolling the area, so they should relax and have fun.

The trio had a great time in Chika and You's company, for the duo are familiar with the area, in particularly Zonko's Joke Shop. When they got to the Quidditch Shop though, the duo became so engrossed that the three younger witches unanimously agreed to let them be while they go explore other places.

Ruby smiles fondly at the thought of the two lovable Gryffindors. "They really love Quidditch don't they?"

"Yeah, and it's good to let them take mind off of things anyways," Yoshiko knows that the duo have already given Riko their blessing, much to the latter's embarrassment, but certainly even the dunderheads need time to recover. Besides, she is determined to set up Chika and You, after seeing how her plan almost worked at the Christmas Banquet.

She is a Slytherin after all, clever and sneaky!

"I still want to go to Tome and Scrolls but, you're right, we probably don't have enough time zura…"

A part of Yoshiko really wants to go as well, not because she likes books but because she adores Hanamaru's expression whenever she reads. Next time, she vows inwardly. Looking around, she takes notice of the sparse Hogsmeade residents and visitors walking down the street since most people have gone inside for warmth. They could just head to Hogsmeade and wait for the others, especially since she's heard rumors of the delicious Butterbeer served there, but Yoshiko feels like there should be one last stop before they call it a day.

Yoshiko perks up in excitement when she spots something. "How about that? An abandoned building, haunted maybe? That looks like just the place for the great fallen angel! Let's go check it out!"

Down the path, somewhere in the distance, is a lonely building that sticks out like a sore thumb in a flat field full of snow and nothing else. The surrounding barren forest is a good distance away, as if giving this dilapidated house a wide berth.

The two Hufflepuffs appear hesitant but intrigued as well.

"Come on, we'll go take a closer look, and by the time we get back here, we can just head straight for the Three Broomsticks and still be on time!"

Convinced, Hanamaru and Ruby follow after Yoshiko, who exuberantly runs ahead towards the sinister-looking shack. There are many eerie locations in Hogwarts, though she's too fascinated by the magic to feel the 'scary vibe', and she hasn't ever personally met any of the ghosts. The most frightening experiences she had in the magical world are the night with the supposed Grim, and the battle against the Acromantula colony, but those had been circumstantial and not exactly 'test of courage' material.

This ominous building though! It totally meets her standards and, with proper modification, it could even serve as a demonic den for her legions!

"Yoshiko-chan! Wait for us-!"

"Y-You shouldn't be going over the fence! It m-must've been locked for a reason-!"

She could barely hear Hanamaru and Ruby's calls. She's so caught up on creating her ideal hideout that she's levitated herself over the barbed wire and fence before she realizes it. Her mind blanks out until one sole purpose remains. She needs to get to that shack as soon as possible. She must answer its calls-

"Ack!"

Her charmed scarf activates and successfully trips her, making her tumble and roll forward several times before faceplanting in the icy cold snow.

"Yoshiko-chan!"

She shakes her head in bewilderment, adrenaline still high in her veins, and blinks up at her worried friends. Hanamaru quickly checks her over while Ruby has her wand out as she scans the perimeter. They are half way between the Shack and the fence, and certainly way too far to call for anyone's attention. The winter sky is forebodingly dark, illuminated only by the moon and faint glow of Hogsmeade's shops in the distance.

Yoshiko breathes heavily and shakes her head one more time, her mind now calm enough to access her situation. It's been months since this last happened, and it always had something to do with the Forbidden Forest. Yet this time, the compelling force comes directly from that Shack.

"We need to contact the others," Hanamaru says firmly.

"I-I've already sent a message," Ruby adds, holding out the gold-rimmed piece of parchment that she's scribbled on. Before they came to Hogsmeade, Dia had given each of them the parchment that she's placed the Protean Charm upon. This spell enables them to communicate with one another in case of emergency.

"Thank you," Yoshiko whispers in a shaky tone, smiling when Hanamaru huddles closer and Ruby pats her shoulder. She's more freaked out than she would ever admit, so she's very thankful for their company.

They wait there in the snow, alert and nervous. They are too wary to move from their spot in case something happens, and they trust that the older witches would arrive soon enough. To their surprise, Riko comes towards them from the west side of the barren forest while Dia could be seen heading towards the Shack. The Ravenclaw's expression is full of worry and consternation as she crouches besides the trio.

Seeing their questioning gaze, she elaborates as she gestures at the direction she came from. "Dia-san and I were over there - there was a hut within the woods where… Chika-chan, You-chan and I once used it as a hideout, for our research."

Yoshiko and Hanamaru shares an understanding glance, while Ruby furrows her brows.

"I… I haven't gone back there since," Riko clears her throat and struggles to maintain a placid tone. "Well, nothing's changed in that place since then. The Hut is still fully Warded from intruders, but now that this happened, perhaps there is a connection to the Shack even though it's far enough from it…"

"You mean, whatever makes me blank out every time, is connected to-?" Yoshiko feels dismay twisting in her stomach. She's always guessed it, that the peculiarity she experiences has something to do with Riko's quill and those feathers. Now that her speculation is confirmed, memories of that day with the black tendrils begin to surface again and it's taking all of her willpower to keep the panic at bay.

"Most likely," Riko replies grimly as she leads the trio away from the Shack. "We need to go back to Hogsmeade to meet up with Chika-chan and You-chan. Dia-san says she's going to investigate the Shack - Kanan-san and Mari-san messaged that they are on their way so-"

They pause when a howl echoes through the desolate clearing.

It is a savage, heart-piercing sound.

"T-That's not Kanan-san," Riko turns around just in time to see flashes of spells around the Shack. "Dia-san!"

The Kurosawa heiress has her saber out, slashing and deflecting Curses while returning fire towards the three cloaked figures converging around her. Four more silhouettes trudge out of the Shack, their movements jarring and awkward as they slowly move towards the fight.

"Onee-chan! We need to help her!" Ruby is ready to sprint to her sister's aid if it weren't for Riko's firm grip on her shoulder.

"I-I can't… I need to keep you safe, all three of you, that's what Dia-san would have wanted." Even as she says that, the Ravenclaw is also looking at the vicious fight with a conflicted frown. She conjures up her Patronus and sends the silver rabbit off to the direction of Hogsmeade, most likely to look for Kanan and Mari since they could not alert the authorities due to the Unbreakable Vow.

Ruby and Riko flinch when a particularly powerful Curse shatters Dia's Shield Charm, and it is only due to the heiress' fast reflex that she avoids and deflects the following onslaught of Jinxes. Yoshiko hasn't even realized her hand is shaking, but she certainly can feel Hanamaru's trembling form against her.

"We need to go, there's no way we can just stay here while Dia-san is in trouble!" Yoshiko swallows nervously. "The scarf will activate if anything happens again, Lily, so I'll be fine. We'll be okay, and we'll help however we can."

Riko nods grimly and flicks her wand before tapping the trio on each of their heads. Yoshiko blinks at the odd sensation of an egg cracking and something travelling down her body. She glances down at her hands only to find thin air. Likewise, her friends have also been rendered invisible from the Disillusionment Charm.

"You must stay out of range, and do not draw their attention unless you are absolutely certain you will not be discovered. Promise me, please," Riko glances at the direction where her Patronus had gone off, biting her lips in trepidation. "Kanan-san and Mari-san haven't responded since their last message, so there's a chance they may be caught up in a fight as well, so we'll need to hold off those attackers as long as we could."

Upon hearing verbal agreement, Riko then runs towards the Shack, firing Stunners as she goes. The trio blindly reach for each other before carefully following after her, mindful of the footprints left in the snow.

Once they are close enough, the three girls could feel the air heavy with raw magic, the atmosphere tense enough to stop them in their tracks. Riko is good, very good, yet even she seems to be struggling as those cloaked figures keep her on the defensive with their barrage of Dark Magic. At least, the enemies appear to be leery of Dia's sword since they carefully keep their distance as they circle around the two witches.

"I don't think we can help even if we w-wanted to zura," Hanamaru murmurs fearfully, and Yoshiko could feel Ruby nodding in agreement. Truly, this fight is beyond their abilities, a whole different league for mere First-Years like them. Dia was correct in what she said long ago, that the trio is trained to defend themselves but not to attack. As much progress as they have made over the term, as advanced they are compared to their peers, they are still green leaves.

The rapid exchanges of Curses and Charms, the switch between offense and defense, and the sheer repertoire of spells are too much for them. Yoshiko could barely keep track of the enemies' whereabouts, let alone their attacks and how to counter them.

Suddenly, one of those four silhouettes join the fray. The biggest one lunges at Dia, who reacts before the stranger even reaches midway.

"Confringo!"

The blasting Curse hurls the assailant back towards the Shack while creating a shower of burning snow around them. The cloaked figures manage to shield themselves in time but Riko quickly follows up with a powerful Aqua Eructo, forcing them to stay there or else the torrent of water would have smashed them away as well. Twirling and flicking her wand, Riko causes the jet to freeze and locking the three attackers in place.

Before Yoshiko could cheer, another chilling howl immobilizes her in place.

All eyes are on the fallen form against the cracked wall of the Shack, as well as the other three silhouettes whose tattered cloaks have been blown off from the Curse earlier. The four men appear clean-shaven and are dressed respectably, but they all share the same blank expression as they stare at the moon.

Dia's sword is pointed towards them as she stands protectively in front of Riko, whose wand is trained on the three frozen attackers.

The stalemate doesn't last long, for the four men howl at the moon again in unison before a horrific transformation begins to take place. Bones cracking, muscles rippling and fur sprouting, four hulking werewolves stand where the humans used to be, with their lips curled to reveal savage fangs and their nails elongated like claws.

Dia gapes at the creatures, her hand lowering just an inch from shock. That minimal movement is enough to signal one of the werewolves to spring into action.

"Dia-san!" Riko fires an Impediment Jinx at the werewolf bulldozing towards them, but the spell merely bounces off of its furry chest. Dia pushes Riko away just before impact and is knocked down by the werewolf's pounce.

The sword, gripped in place by its powerful jaw, is the only thing preventing the creature from biting Dia's throat. As if it isn't chaotic enough already, the remaining three disperse in different directions, one heading towards Hogsmeade, one away from the Shack, and one right towards…

"Shit!" Yoshiko almost stumbles, her shaking hand holding her wand in front of her but no spell comes to mind. Even though they are invisible to any onlookers, the werewolf must be able to smell them. What can they do, if no Jinxes or Hexes seem to work?

While she is paralyzed with fear, Ruby suddenly empties the candy bag onto the snow and Transfigures the pile into rabbits. The werewolf pauses, sniffing curiously between the critters and the spot they are standing. After a tense moment, it decides to chase after the magicked rabbits and disappear into the barren woods.

"Good call, Ruby! Now we need to-"

"Lacarum Inflamarae!" Due to Dia and Riko being occupied, the cloaked assailants are able to free themselves enough to conjure balls of fire to melt the ice holding them in place. Riko had utilized a binding spell to summon ropes and pull the werewolf off of Dia, who quickly slashes at its ankles.

Whimpering in pain, the werewolf collapses in the snow, bleeding and heaving. With one enemy incapacitated, the two witches turn their attention back to the cloaked figures and soon, the nerve-wrecking spell-exchanges resume. However, Dia and Riko are obviously unsettled and worn out by the fight, distracted by the possibility of those other loose werewolves returning for them.

"It doesn't seem like they've noticed us yet, what should we do now?" Yoshiko really wants to help, but she knows that they would only burden the older girls.

"The village zura! One of t-those werewolves went that way, right? Surely the Aurors would be summoned and- Protego!"

Hanamaru's yelp is all the warning they have when something slams into the Shield Charm and against them. The three girl collide into one another and fall onto the snow in a heap of tangled limbs. The werewolf, disorientated from the collision, is growling at them with its ears perked and shoulders rigid. Yoshiko glances at herself and discovers that the Disillusionment Charm has worn off. They only have seconds to act before the beast pounces.

"Oi, ugly brute! Come get me!" Yoshiko rolls away from her friends and fires a Bombarda at the werewolf's leg, causing a small explosion of snow. The creature seems unaffected by the Charm, but the noise and rubble successfully catch its attention.

As soon as the werewolf turns towards her, she darts for the woods while firing random Jinxes behind her to slow its movement. She could hear Hanamaru and Ruby shouting at her, Dia and Riko's calls, but their voices are covered by the beast's guttural snarls.

The only thing keeping her from freaking out or breaking down in tears is the refusal to lose.

She is Yohane, the great fallen angel! There are still so many mysteries unresolved, so many things she still wants to achieve, she will not meet her end here! Ruby and Hanamaru have already saved her earlier, it's her turn to return the favor!

As she runs past the barren trees and stumbles over the roots concealed by the snow, she's reminded of her encounter with the Acromantula. Inwardly thanking Mari for that horrible but helpful experience, Yoshiko Transfigures the brittle branches into thicker planks, blocking the werewolf just in time before it jumps on her.

Yoshiko struggles to her feet and resumes running, noting how her magic is not as effective due to the fragile state of these trees in comparison to the ones in the Forbidden Forest. She continuously Transfigures the roots, trunks and branches to walls and crossed bars, but the werewolf plows through each and every single obstacle like they are nothing.

I've only made it angrier! Yoshiko bites on her lips hard, using the pain to overcome the panic as she wills her legs to move faster. Thankfully, this chase between predator and prey comes to a stop when she stumbles upon a logger cabin. Running on instincts now, she hurries for the door, unlocking it and locking it with spells.

She leans against the table to catch her breaths while casting Charms to strengthen the walls, knowing that the werewolf would catch up any time. The cabin is expectedly empty and there are only sparse supplies left behind by the former occupant. She glances at the small fireplace, scowling at the lack of kindles or metallic pokes and tongs she could have used.

Her grip on her wand tightens as she listens to any sound. Unnerved by the silence, she is tempted to venture out to check if the werewolf is still set on hunting her. Her efforts would be a waste if it returns to the Shack!

She yelps when the cabin and the ground quake from a powerful slam. The werewolf must be repeatedly bashing against the wall and door, trying to force its way in. Yoshiko is morbidly reminded of the Three Little Pigs, except unlike the fable, she has nowhere to run and her hiding place is not impervious to the big bad wolf's strength.

Just as she fears, the wooden wall begins to fracture in spite of her Charms. She braces herself and pours as much magic as she could to the tip of her wand. A moment later, the salivating werewolf bursts through the cracked wall, its jaws agape as she shouts.

"Reducto!"

The Curse strikes the werewolf square in the chest, but it does not break or disintegrate as it's supposed to. At least, the force of the spell is enough to propel it towards the pillar, snapping it in half. Yoshiko's eyes widen as the roof crumbles down onto the creature and around her. She fumbles for a Shield Charm, but the hastily-cast magic only protects and cushions her from the worst.

Her vision becomes obscured by dust and rubble while broken planks clutter around her. Trapped beneath the demolished cabin, she barely has room to wiggle and the dusty air sends her into a coughing fit.

A vicious growl snaps her out of her dizziness, and her heart almost leaps out of her throat at the sight of the werewolf's fangs an inch away from her face. Likewise, the beast is trapped beneath the planks but unlike her, its limbs are confined and possibly crushed by the fallen roof's weight.

Yoshiko gulps fearfully, noticing the way its crazed yellow orbs follow the minute movement of her throat. She feebly scratches at the ground, attempting to reach her wand that had rolled away during the fall.

"Dammit! W-What am I supposed to do now?" She can't do wandless magic while there's a possibility that the mad beast would break free and end her.

In response, the werewolf snarls again with froth dribbling around its cut lips. Suddenly a scorching fury replaces the terror in her heart, and Yoshiko finds herself screaming at the creature. "You! This is all your fault! If it weren't for you and your buddies, I would be enjoying the most amazing Year's end with my friends! Yet, you attack them, attack me, and for what? What did we ever do to you?"

She's read about Lycanthropy and knows that the werewolf would not be conscious enough to answer her, but that only makes her angrier. "Those cloaked people! They're the same ones who have been attacking Dia-san, aren't they? Just what do you want with us? Is it about Pureblood? Then how about Lily? How about me? Just what the hell are you people!?"

The werewolf growls again, though its lust for blood seems to have diminished. They glare at each other, their distance close enough that Yoshiko could smell its foul breath and see her own reflection in its moon-like eyes.

No, there is one wandless magic I can try. Yoshiko recalls how Mari used it without her wand, or how Dia did the same with her wand but non-verbally. If she focuses enough, surely she can successfully cast the spell with the target so close and vulnerable.

This is her chance to find out more about their attackers.

Schooling her expression to the coldest she could muster, Yoshiko speaks clearly in her husky tone. "Legilimens!"

The world around her seems to melt then and there, the dimensions morphing like smoke and water while black tendrils of magic swirls around the edges of her vision.

She is standing in what seems to be an underground cavern, with water dripping from the high ceiling and countless pipes surrounding her. The stone path is carved with ancient runes, but she has seen enough to recognize the marks of the House of Slytherin. Looking around, she has no trouble picking out the details in spite of the dim lighting. The material of the wall and the ancient feel of the atmosphere can only mean one thing.

This must be somewhere within Hogwarts.

"Will this batch finally work?"

The speaker is wearing a familiar, inconspicuous cloak as those that attacked Dia, so perhaps this is even the same person. Another walks up to her, grabbing her arm and injecting her with a serum. No, not her, but rather the werewolf when he was still in his human form. This is his mind she has delved into after all.

The memory then begins to deteriorate, melting together with other images. She recognizes Hogsmeade, some pub, Dia-san and the Shack, and finally she sees herself.

She could feel the werewolf's intense emotion towards her. She couldn't discern if it is rage, fear or even any negative feeling at all. It just feels so overwhelming that she's starting to empathize with the unfortunate transformed man. The desire to hunt and hurt grows stronger and stronger as she tries to sift through the distorted memories for clues.

The cloaked figures again, blurred images of herself, Dia-san's sword, feathers imbued with magic, cauldrons boiling some sort of concoction, vials of red liquid that are presumably blood, and even more images of herself.

What, I didn't know I'm that important to whatever they are doing. Dread churns in the pit of Yoshiko's stomach, the anger and bravado from earlier fading. They were sort of calling for me, weren't they? Every time I blanked out, they must be nearby, summoning me, baiting me… but why? Why me? I'm just...

For some reason, she is unable to complete that thought. For the first time in her life, she is afraid to consider herself to be a 'fallen angel'.

Black tendrils of magic flood over her senses until she's half-floating and swimming in the quagmire of darkness again, just like that time with Kanan and Hanamaru by the Lake.

Before her consciousness completely fades, she manages to hear one thing clearly.

"She is perfect. We will need to get her first before the Kurosawa heiress."

[athyrabunlord]

The thing I liked the most about your latest chapter for LLSHP AU was all the owls flocking to You as it reminded me of the Animal Set cards where You's an Owl I know this isn't a nice addition you mentioned about how owls liked her way back in the concept arts before those cards were even released I think Its made me curious why is she portrayed as one is it her personality? I'm beginning to wonder if her Animagus is an owl too It could be why she's a good seeker good at flying reflexes & sight

Eheh~ (CV: Saitou Shuka) I was pleasantly surprised when the animal set came out and You was an Owl! I’ve always seen You having affinity with birds (considering who her mom is lmao coughbirbcough).

II find it ironic and meaningful that You, who has bad eyesight, is the all-seeing Owl. You is observant of others, especially those she cares about, yet she doesn’t see herself very clearly, does she? An Owl can turn its head 180 degrees but it can’t truly see itself, can she? I’ll probably ramble pages of Aqours’ respective animal selves and symbolism so I’ll stop here XD!

As for her Animagus, I never finalized hers or others’, since it is advanced and complex magic that only few has achieved. Even in the original HP, few have known Animagi form - Harry himself, though most likely a stag like his father, is never specified to have achieved Animagus form, though understandably given all the events he experienced throughout school. That’s why, in my LLSHP, only KanaDiaMari have done it, and I’ve only given Deputy Headmistress (fox), Charms Professor (panda) and the Transfiguration Professor (owl) known Animagi form.

Both You and Ruby excel at Transfiguration though, so perhaps in later years, they will achieve Animagus forms.