kuro 🍯

Liya screwed up. Massively.

It was only a small fight — she didn’t expect things to escalate as fast and as explosive as it did.

Liya wasn’t even sure when or how the topic of conversation had shifted to muggles — she let out a small shudder at the very reminder. While she was not as fanatic as certain pure-bloods on the (useless) concept of blood purity, it was no coincidence that Liya disliked muggles too.

“The horrors I was subjected to when I lived in London were unimaginable. Everyday was a living nightmare in that backwards society.” Liya had told Hiroki in hushed whispers as they were seated at the DADA tower in between classes. She had beckoned him to sit closer - which he happily obliged - for the fear of being eavesdropped on.

The occasional student walked past every so often, and Liya knew that she had to be especially careful with her words because there were plenty of busybodies who wouldn't hesitate to use that information against her.

She wrinkled her nose, reaching into her bag to pull out a chocolate sweetie, “Which is why I’m glad to be in the wizarding world, although there’s still so many of them in Hogwarts.”

Liya took a thoughtful bite, ignoring Hiroki’s astonished stare, “Maybe someone should do something about it in the future…”

“Liya,” He began before he glanced at his fellow classmates she was just speaking of. He ran through his words carefully in his mind — he knew he couldn’t possibly understand the full weight of what Liya had gone through but he also couldn’t help but see the good in people — it came naturally to him, after all.

He took her hand in his and rubbed her knuckles, hoping the repetition would provide some comfort. “I know this doesn’t take away the pain you’ve experienced but I’m sorry, Liya. You didn’t deserve any of what happened in London.”

He gave her hand another gentle squeeze, fighting every fiber in his being from enveloping her in a giant hug and holding her firm against his chest. To comfort her in any small way he could. He knew he would never truly be able to understand the depths of what she had gone through after all.

But he looked up at his classmates again, feeling a small pang of guilt. They did nothing wrong. They got pushed into this fantastical world of wizardry and have inevitably experienced discrimination and hardship in their own way. They might be facing the same sort of things that Liya had.

Nothing was right about this situation and Hiroki knew that the ideal world required intense progression on both sides rather than a segregation of muggles and wizards. But maybe… it was possible. A river will flow no matter what but you can control the path it takes.

“Perhaps there is a way for us to live in harmony. People are people after all. We’ll find it.” It might’ve been a silly and idealistic stance for Hiroki to take but he had read about the importance of collaboration and unity. Perhaps he could build this utopia with Liya in his own way.

Liya contemplated his choice of words — perhaps there was a way for everyone to live in harmony. He wasn’t wrong per se, a small part of her naively believed that there was a way elsewhere had the circumstances been different - in another life, in another timeline - but not in the world she wanted to advocate for.

“While that may be true to an extent, having a segregation of muggles and wizards would be for the greater good. There won’t be any more discrimination or prejudice.” She looked up at him ruefully, tightening her grip on his hand slightly, “It’s like righting a wrong…and it would be peaceful.”

Hiroki’s gaze was steadier now. “I’m not saying that the muggle world and the wizarding world needs to be fully integrated - there’s far too much of a power imbalance. But what do you propose to do with muggles when they exhibit magic? Or if a wizard falls in love with a muggle? You can’t possibly say you would forbid it.”

At that point, Liya was thoroughly enjoying the conversation (not that she would ever admit to Hiroki, of course). No one had challenged her views in such a way, it was fun — and prepared her rebuttal for future resistance.

“Forbid is a strong word, so the key would be to significantly limit the number of incoming muggle students to Hogwarts each year…maybe an entrance exam of some sorts? We could even gamify it to increase the stakes,” Liya let out a blissful smile, just thinking about it - a new world of law and order - made her satisfied. She was going to do some good to the wizarding world, and it would be met with great response.

“The sky is the limit and the world is my oyster, but that’s not important now.”

This time, Hiroki could feel his frustration bubbling, threatening to make an appearance. For her sake, he tried to force it down, though his words came out harsher than he would have liked, “But it’s wrong, Liya. They’re people like us, the same everything, except for magic.”

He could see a flash of anger on her face. Liya’s sunny disposition had quickly turned sour, her eyes narrowing with suspicion, “Look, I don’t expect you to share the same views as me - but at least see where I’m coming from, this is for the greater good …!”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back — Hiroki snapped.

“No, Liya, your mindset needs to change. It’s dangerous.” He let go of her hand, cursing inwardly about how strangely empty it felt, “I won’t sit there and let you insult my friends.”

With that, he packed up his things and walked away, leaving Liya alone all over again.

Now in the privacy of her dorm, Liya buried her hands in her face with a groan. She had her pity party — a shamelessly long one at that. Empty boxes of chocolate frogs were scattered around, with an alarming number of tissues thrown at the side.

Liya sat up straighter, she needed a distraction. At least that was the excuse she told herself, all she really wanted was to show Hiroki what he was missing — all of her.

Liya reached for her quill, routinely dipping it in her signature purple ink. She knew exactly who to call for help.

***

“Thanks for agreeing to do this, Sebastian.”

“Are you kidding?” He bobbed his head up and down, practically bouncing off the walls at the prospect alone, “A fake date is still a date with the Liya Chang!”

“Slow down, I’m taking you out for butterbeer, not taking you to bed.” Liya told him sharply, as she steered him to The Three Broomsticks.

At that statement, Sebastian flushed, the shade matched her red lipstick. He raised his hands in mock surrender, “Can’t blame me for trying…by the way, why are you doing this?”

Revenge.

“I’m controlling the narrative,” Liya told him smoothly, straightening her dress as they neared the establishment. “Get ready, he’s inside.”

As if a switch had been flipped, Sebastian hurried to open the door for her as Liya stepped inside — as confident and as poised as a peacock.

Immediately, Liya spotted Hiroki sitting near the front with Nila, a pretty Gryffindor who always seemed to be suspicious of her.

Liya wasn’t fazed one bit, in fact, she was thrilled to have another member of the audience for this lucrative show.

Sebastian offered her his arm as they strolled to a booth near the back, ignoring Hiroki’s gaze on her.

“Hiroki’s staring daggers at me.” Sebastian observed, sliding the menu to ‘his girlfriend’ opposite him.

“Good, that’s the point.” From her peripheral vision, she could see Hiroki staring straight at her, his poor attempt to hide his fists that clenched to his hands was …almost laughable.

“Now don’t flinch.” Without waiting for him to respond, Liya leaned over, pressing a quick kiss on Sebastian’s cheek.

And as if nothing happened, she sat back down to inspect the drinks menu nonchalantly.

Across from them, Hiroki was seeing red — he was absolutely livid! How dare she trample over him like this with some…nincompoop!

“I’m going over there,” Hiroki stood up abruptly but before he could make a move, Nila grabbed his arm, “Sit back down.”

This time, Hiroki faced Nila, and she was temporarily stunned by the immense hurt in his eyes…raw hurt mixed with undiluted anger.

At that moment, Nila couldn’t have hated Liya more.

“Look, she’s clearly pulling this act to get a reaction out of you, don’t give her that satisfaction.”

She glanced back at Liya, who was engrossed in a riveting conversation with Sebastian. They were talking so loudly that Nila managed to catch snippets of their conversation — ‘delicious butterbeer, excellent company’… ‘couldn’t be happier’… ‘do you have any plans afterwards?’

Liya was chatting a mile per minute, and seemed completely oblivious to Hiroki’s uncharacteristic burst out. No, she had to be aware, Nila thought, narrowing her eyes at the brunette, she’s just playing dumb.

She turned back to Hiroki, gently patting his hand, “I’ll give you two options, we can leave now or ignore them and finish our butterbeers.”

“I can’t just sit here in silence while that imp tries to steal my girlfriend — ”

“Liya’s pulling this crap to get a rise out of you! Do you really think she’s not aware of this blithe fact?”

Nila’s words must have finally registered to him as Hiroki’s shoulders slumped in defeat. At that moment, he resented Liya — how easily she could do all that just to make him jealous.

Hiroki sourly agreed to stay long enough to finish their butterbeers (which didn’t take long, he basically downed the glass in one go).

On a moment of impulse, he excused himself, walking straight to Liya’s table, his hand clenched — the unmistakably white ribbon just peeking out.

Liya only blinked at him, doe-eyed and all. “Can I help you?” She asked politely, and far too impersonal for someone she shared such an intimate history with.

Hiroki didn’t say anything. He unfolded his fist, and carefully laid the ribbon in the middle of the table before walking off with Nila hot at his heels.

Liya could only stare at the ribbon in disbelief, her heart racing, blood pressure rising.

Sebastian was first to break the silence, “What’s that?” He didn’t know if he wanted the answer to that, seeing as Liya’s trembling fingers gingerly held the inanimate object as if it could jump up and bite her at any second.

“My hair ribbon.”

The consensus was unanimous — Hiroki had officially broken up with her, and no amount of trickery or deception could salvage that.

“I’m so sorry Liya…”

“Don’t be,” Liya channeled a bright smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Let’s continue with our drinks.”

Despite her composed exterior, she couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in her heart much longer.

***

After parting ways with Sebastian, Liya knew she needed to get out of this place.

The constant reminder of Hiroki was everywhere, it was dizzying. With every corner she turned, Liya could only see him — The Three Broomsticks? The venue of their first date. Honeydukes? The place Hiroki often frequented, because he noticed how she always snuck a piece of chocolate frog in between her study sessions.

These minuscule habits Liya thought trivial? Hiroki always took notice of. It was as if had a sixth sense when it came to her, selflessly putting her needs before his even when she scolded him otherwise.

She needed to get out. Now.

The concept of love and heartbreak were powerful, all-consuming feelings — and when one has felt the two so deeply, so virtuously , drives one to do stupid things. And even Liya - ever so composed, ever so level-headed Liya - was not immune to the fact.

For some it could be drinking butterbeer till their heart was content, for others it could be wallowing in self-pity. But for Liya? It was taking out an entire poacher camp without any wiggenweld potions.

It was against her better judgement to mess with the poachers — Liya couldn’t care less about what they were doing. Albeit using illegal means, they were still hustling to make money. Who was she, a mere Hogwarts student, to interfere? Apparently, it was that night she decided to question everything she stood for and throw caution to the wind.

In hindsight, it was a horrible decision really…and one she realised too late as she awoke the next day in the Hospital Wing. Nurse Blainey hovered before her with a grim frown reserved for only the most disappointing students.

“What in Merlin’s name happened?!”

Liya squinted, her eyes forced to adjust to the harsh, sun-lit corridor, “I don’t remember.”

Liya did, in fact, remember. But what Nurse Blainey didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

Nurse Blainey let out an irritated sigh, handing (more like shoved) Liya a vial with thick brown glop, “I expect you to finish this before I come back to check on you again.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Liya inspected the vial in the sunlight, which was the wrong move because the mysterious looking liquid looked even more unappealing than before. She did not want to know what was in that bottle of horrors.

She placed the vial down harshly on the table beside her, and leaned back into the pillows (which were much too hard for her liking). Though, an incessant thought lingered in her mind: how did she end up in the Hospital Wing in the first place?

Liya recalled successfully taking out the camp, the feeling of accomplishment, and then…black.

So who brought her here?

The question was left unanswered as a slew of regular visitors every day left no room for quiet contemplation.

One night, a familiar Gryffindor slinked in. If Liya hadn’t been wide awake, she wouldn’t even have noticed her coming in. In an attempt to look more presentable, Liya fluffed her hair and straightened up.

She greeted the Gryffindor with a smile, sugary sweet and polite, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Nila didn’t smile back, “You can drop the act, Liya.”

At that statement, Liya only pouted, twirling her hair carelessly, “Oh come on Nila, it’s just us girls. You don’t have to look like you want to rip my head off.”

Nila was not amused nor entertained in the slightest. In her eyes, no amount of sweet talking would ever make up for the fact that Liya was dangerous. And the further she stayed away from Hiroki, the better.

Nila merely stared straight at Liya, her voice stern with warning.

“Stay away from Hiroki,” she eyed the plethora of bandages on her arm and legs, “Endangering your own life for some sick game of yours? That’s low, even for you.”

Liya scoffed, she didn’t know whether to laugh at her wildly inaccurate assumption, or be insulted that Nila had thought she was incompetent, failing to get the job done.

“If I really wanted to 💀 myself, I would have succeeded. I assure you, this wasn’t planned.” She told Nila matter-of-factly, her eyes now devoid of any previous ‘warmth’…All Nila could see reflected back was a deeply insecure girl under an enormous ego.

And if Nila hadn’t hated Liya as much as she did, she might have felt sorry for her.

Liya finally dropped her act.

Nila chose not to dignify her with a response and glanced at the gifts that lay on the floor which enveloped Liya like a cave with its varying heights and sizes. Her eyes laid on a particular bag of presents for a second too long, and Liya followed her sightline — it was a purple gift bag filled with enough honeyduke sweets to feed a small army and tin of herbal tea leaves.

“That stupid idiot.” Nila muttered under her breath before walking out, ignoring Liya’s heightened suspicion. Curiously, Liya picked up the gift bag, she hadn’t gotten the chance to properly examined it.

And when Liya had just examined a little closer, she realised that the tin of tea leaves was imported from Japan.

Liya made the connection instantly.

A rush of emotions - confusion, anger, frustration and…immense guilt - hit her like a tidal wave. Figuratively of course, but the pain was very much physical — a relentless ache in her blackened heart.

Hiroki still cared for her, in his own way.

Reaching out for her parchment, Liya let her quill tip rest on the page, the purple ink seeping through the back. Was she really going to do this?

Oh yes she was.

Remembering all the sweet moments with Hiroki - all the laughter, the tears, the love - she would be damned if she let him go like this.

And so, Liya began to write…