𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 ⤿ 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘺𝘭𝘦

𝟐 ➣ 𝘊𝘏𝘐𝘠𝘖 𝘛𝘈𝘒𝘈𝘖

ＣＨＩＹＯ ＴＡＫＡＯ ＳＡＴ ＮＥＡＴＬＹ behind her desk, sipping coffee and reading the daily prophet. She had been extremely busy from the past year, and hadn't had a proper chance to catch up on the real world. Her niece had sent her a letter, reporting back with great news, however Chiyo simply couldn't find time to celebrate it correctly. She was Head of the Music Department at the Ministry, something she enjoyed profusely. Music had always intrigued her at a young age and music had been her friend since she acknowledged the demons and voices in her head. She wasn't really what one would actually call a Saint, she had carried the darkness over to Lin, as an attempt at getting rid of it. However, it merely split into two, leaving the other piece in her.

"So, what fun thing are you doing this weekend?" Chiyo looked up to see her girlfriend, Samantha Dagny, enter with a box of treats. Chiyo sighed, knowing fully well that Samantha was going to try and seduce her with the treats, and she knew she was going to win.

"Nothing much, I'm headed to Hogsmeade to meet up with Lin." Chiyo said, folding the newspaper. "What about you?"

"Stringing along." Samantha replied, and Chiyo frowned. "I have to meet Lin at some point Chiyo! Especially since you asked me to marry you." Chiyo swallowed hard, she had forgot she proposed to Samantha. Her life had been a mess ever since the arrest of Lucius Malfoy. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"Sammy, you know it's been hectic. I didn't do it on purpose."

"I know the entire Ministry has been hectic, even your department, but that's a load of crap. If you can find time to go to Hogsmeade, then you must have time for me." Samantha sighed. "I'm still meeting Lin."

Chiyo sighed, she wasn't winning this one. "Fine, she's a bit... odd though."

"If you're so amazing, then she must be too." Samantha beamed. "Now, have some treats."

**

Chiyo sat with Samantha at The Three Broomsticks, holding her hand for warmth, though none came. She was terrified Samantha would be able to see through Lin's facade, and up till this point no one had been able to connect the dots on who Lin truly was and Chiyo hoped it would stay that way. For now at least.

Lin entered with a raven haired boy, who looked like he'd murder you if given the opportunity. They were holding hands, and Chiyo racked her brain. Did Lin mention any of this in the letter? Lin looked entirely bored out of her wits, though Chiyo wouldn't exactly blame her, she too was bored.

"Greetings, this is Gregory Goyle. I trust you know who he is aunt, I did mention him in my last letter to you." Chiyo cursed. She didn't remember anything from the letter. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"No, it's just been really hectic lately and it sort of slipped my mind." Chiyo argued, letting go of Samantha's hand. "You said he was close."

"He's my lover." Lin said, though she said it with an extremely straight face. "Who might this lovely lady beside you be?"

"This is Samantha Dagny-"

"Samantha Dagny at your service kid! You say he's your lover? What do you like about her?"

"-my own lover." Chiyo sighed, she knew bringing Samantha was a bad idea.

"I like her eyes I guess." Goyle muttered, clearly uncomfortable. Lin forced a smile.

"Are you leaving today?" Lin asked Chiyo, who gave a small nod when Goyle offered to fetch the Butterbeers. Samantha offered to help him and Chiyo nearly jumped in joy.

"You detest him."

"Oh by the gods aunt! He's not my kind, he's pleasing to look at, and he falls perfectly into the plan but Merlin so be the death of me, he's boring, I mean he's fun to tease and kiss but he lacks a lot." Lin said, looking behind her to see if the two were returning, thankfully, they weren't.

"Still having trouble convincing Malfoy's son that you're friends?" Chiyo asked, also glancing behind Lin. "And when you say he lacks a lot, do you mean in that department?"

"Yes, to both your questions." Lin nodded, and she glanced behind her just in time to see a certain dirty blond haired girl enter with the boy who lived, the Weasleys and the know it all. "Can this day get any worse?" She muttered to herself when she and Luna made eye contact, Luna had waved at her and Lin only rolled her eyes. She made sure Luna was looking at her when she kissed Goyle the second he sat down.

"Talk about impatience, huh?" Samantha chuckled and Lin gulped her Butterbeer down.

"Let's talk a walk." Chiyo suggested to Samantha, who gave her an odd look but when she saw the urgency in Chiyo's eyes, she stood up and wrapped the thick, black scarf around her neck once more. "So?" Chiyo asked once outside. "She's a bit odd isn't she?"

"She is, but I like her." Samantha shrugged. "When are you going to tell her about us being engaged? You introduced me as your lover, not as your fiance."

"When the time is right Samantha." Chiyo said, kicking at the snow and watching the tip of her purple boots turn a darker shade.

"When will that be?" Samantha asked. "Stop acting as though you're not human Chiyo, you're perfectly capable of producing feelings like I do."

"I'm not having this conversation with you again Samantha. You know fully well I hate it as much as you do." Chiyo argued and saw Lin and Goyle exit the building, with a redhead boy following close.

"Thanks a lot you big brute!" The boy yelled at Goyle, who simply smiled at him.

"You're welcome Weasel." Lin snapped back, standing defensive before Goyle, who raked his arm around her tiny waist.

"I was being sarcastic you emotionless freak!" His pale face turned red with fury, even his freckles disappeared. "Why would I thank you two?"

"Maybe Ronald, you should've left me to finish Luna off. Maybe you wouldn't be shivering outside The Three Broomsticks, while your friends dine with warmth sitting in their flesh." The boy, Ronald, only sighed and walked away, his heavily booted feet sinking into the soft, cold, wet snow.

"We'll deal with him later on." Goyle assured her and held her hand. Chiyo could see Lin getting irritated but to her surprise, Lin laid her head against his broad chest. Something was wrong with her niece. She had never seen her show this much emotion. But then again, when did she herself show any true emotion?

"Don't mention this to Draco." She heard Lin say to him, her head still against his chest, as though someone had super glued it on. It looked odd to see her niece act so normal, so... human. The Takao family had secrets, many secrets the world was not ready for. Like the fact that Lin and her aunt were something else. There was a reason why her mother tried shielding her from Chiyo. She failed however.

Chiyo only took Samantha's hand in hers, holding her tightly. She had never seen Lin act so human before, it scared her to death. If Lin had inherited this darkness that brewed inside her, why was she afraid of her? The two walked away from the The Three Broomsticks.

"Aren't you going to say your goodbyes?" Samantha asked, looking back at Goyle and Lin, noticing that they were kissing again. This time, Lin had her arms, which were thickly dressed in two jumpers, around Goyle's neck, which was thick with his scarf. Goyle's hands were tightly gripped on her waist, pulling her closer, hungry for more. She could see Goyle's hands easily and not discreetly slither their way down to her butt, Samantha thought Lin would've minded, but she didn't, in fact she curled her fingers into his black curls.

"I already did." Chiyo replied. Samantha said nothing. She knew Chiyo was odd, but this was something different. Samantha at that moment, didn't even know who she was marrying anymore. "I'll explain." Chiyo muttered, kissing her lips quickly before they disappeared on the spot.