A/N: All the typos in the previous draft are terrifying. I'm glad that I'm doing this edit/revise version… Anyway, thanks for reading and, again, I appreciate any feedback!

Disclaimer: I do not own Love Live Sunshine! Or Harry Potter franchise.

Words: 5,045

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

Chapter 3 - House of Slytherin

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

"Hanamaru Kunikida!"

Yoshiko snaps out of her daze and subconsciously reaches out to grab Hanamaru's hand.

"It'll be okay, Yoshiko-chan."

Faced with the girl's soothing smile, she nods and slowly loosens her grip while Ruby does a cute gesture with her arms, "Ganbaruby!"

Oddly, the two girls find themselves relaxing under their friend's support. Hanamaru inhales deeply and walks resolutely to the front of the Great Hall, where the Sorting Hat is placed innocently on a stool.

After Riko Sakurauchi had ushered them inside, they were greeted by the Deputy Headmistress who were lining up the other new students. Yoshiko has been on auto-pilot since then, walking when instructed for her mind is still whirling with the pretty Prefect's words, unable to appreciate the exotic interior of the Castle. Perhaps, she once witnessed her birth parents' deaths and that's why she could see that Thestral creature? After all, her childhood memory is pretty much a blur.

It's not such fact that bothers her, but the fact that a stranger seems to know about her more than she does herself. She feels exposed, and she dislikes feeling vulnerable more than anything.

She had been hungry before but not anymore, not with the Sorting still in progress and has now reached the trio's turn. She could feel Ruby's hand gripping the sleeve of her jacket as they both stare hard at their friend. Hanamaru's eyes are closed as if she is napping with the Sorting Hat perched askew atop her head. However, after only a few moments, the folds on the magical hat move in a way akin to human lips and announce clearly for all the occupants to hear.

"Hufflepuff!"

One of the four long tables burst into cheers as the students of yellow and black robes welcome their newest addition. At least, the Hufflepuffs look like a friendly bunch, and an older girl even offers Hanamaru some snacks when she notices the younger girl's hesitant steps. Yoshiko can't help but smile in relief when Hanamaru waves at them.

"You think she'll be alright there?"

Ruby's quiet voice sounds confident. "Yes, Hanamaru-chan should fit into Hufflepuff just fine-"

"Ruby Kurosawa!"

The redhead let out a sharp squeak that is drowned by the commotion in the Great Hall. Frowning, Yoshiko notes how the students and even the staff are murmuring amongst themselves. Is the surname 'Kurosawa' that big of a deal? She recalls their time together on the train and wonders exactly what kind of weight a Pureblood surname carries.

"You're Ruby, got it? Just show them what you got," Yoshiko strikes a pose before gently nudging her friend forward. The shorter girl swallows hard but keeps her head low as she slowly walks towards the front like she's marching to her execution, which it is in a way. All eyes are trained on her as the noise dies down until Yoshiko can almost hear her own heartbeat.

The Sorting Hat remains unmoving and silent on Ruby's head for a long time. Her hands are gripping the edge of the stool so hard that her knuckles have turned white.

"Hufflepuff!"

The Great Hall is filled with whispers once more as Ruby shakily leaves her seat. Her eyes are suspiciously damp but there's also determination in the way she holds her head high. She smiles rather bashfully when she joins Hanamaru and the rest of her applauding Housemates. Seeing her two friends sitting together so far away causes her previously found bravado to fade like an extinguished candle. Would she be fortunate enough to be Sorted with them?

Sighing, Yoshiko tries not to flinch and fights down her nausea, which is worsening each and every single time one of her peers is called to the front. She tries to remember what Ruby told her about the four Houses and re-evaluates her options again. While it would be amazing to be Sorted into Hufflepuff with her friends, Ravenclaw would be a more suitable choice for her. The House of blue and bronze is famed for their intelligence and creativity, which basically sum up the awesomeness that is Yohane. Not to mention, that pretty Prefect is also from Ravenclaw, isn't she? There are so many things she wants to ask Riko who, at least, appears friendly enough.

"Yoshiko Tsushima!"

She bites down the reflex to shout 'it's Yohane!' and raises her chin proudly. Unlike the case with Ruby and other Purebloods, her walk towards the front doesn't garner any commotion. One of the perks of being a Muggleborn is that there should not be any other biased opinion or expectation towards her. Smirking, she allows her gaze to wander about the Great Hall, waving cheekily at her two friends and even at Riko, who returns the gesture albeit hesitantly.

Looking up, she grins in approval at the many floating candles and how the ceiling is either transparent or enchanted to look like the sky above. With the stars' blessing, Lady Fortune would surely smile upon her at last. The staff table at the front are filled with wizards and witches of various age, some wearing friendly smiles and some appearing as austere as stereotypical stern instructors. Sitting on the throne-like chair at the center is the Headmistress, whose soft smile belies the sharpness of her eyes. Those eagle-like gaze, Yoshiko realizes with a sinking heart, is trained upon her form.

Shaking off the unease, she dons the Sorting Hat and is about to sit down when it screams out its verdict while barely touching her hair.

"Slytherin!"

Shocked, she fumbles and drops the magical object as equally stunned silence greets her. Dazedly, she returns the now silent Hat onto the stool and turns towards the sea of blank faces. There is no cheer, not even a minute movement, when she nervously approaches the table of green and silver hue. The Slytherins hastily control their confused expressions and acknowledge her presence with grace. Some glance at her with genuine curiosity while some doesn't even bother hiding their disdain. All of them do remain politely quiet as the Sorting continues, while the sensation of doom resumes the churning in her stomach.

Why Slytherin? Isn't this House known for its blood purity? She did grow up at the orphanage, so perhaps her birth parents were Purebloods? She has no proof and, judging from the majority of her Housemates' reaction, she will remain a mere Muggleborn in their eyes. Yoshiko sinks in her seat, unable to pay attention to anything happening around her as her mind buzzes with endless possibilities.

After the faculty members' introduction and the Headmistress's speech, which she barely heard, the start-of-term feast finally begins much to the students' approval. Admittedly, all of the food looks amazing, like one of those fancy all-you-can-eat buffets she's seen in movies, but she is unable to savor their exquisite taste. Compared to the boisterous Gryffindors, mingling Hufflepuffs and quietly chatting Ravenclaws, the Slytherins eat their meal with dignity of nobles and barely a word of conversation.

Yoshiko anxiously observes their etiquettes, noting which utensils to use with certain food items.

"So, Tsushima is your last name, right? Where are you from?"

An older girl asks from across the table, which perks the interest of her peers. Seeing no malice from their expressions, Yoshiko musters up the courage and talks a little bit about herself. Expectedly, some coolly return to their meal when she confirms their suspicion of her Muggle background. The others appear to be amused by her story and her dramatic poses, though there is a calculating gleam in their eyes that make her rather uncomfortable. They also ask her questions now and then, though it feels more like an interrogation than the fun exchanges she had with Hanamaru and Ruby on the train.

"Enough. This may be a feast, but I also expect all of you to observe the etiquette of dining."

Upon the commanding voice, the Slytherins wordlessly return to their meals in obedient unison. Grateful, Yoshiko peers up from her plate only to lock gaze with piercing emerald eyes. The raven-haired senior has a deadly kind of beauty and has a certain viper-like vibe that intimidates her to avert her eyes. At least, she is able to finish the rest of her meal and even savor the delicious desserts without intervention. Still, rather than such oppressive silence, she would have enjoyed the strawberry cake better with Hanarmaru and Ruby's company.

Sighing, she inwardly bides her two friends farewell and prepares herself for the beginning of another phase of solitude. Perhaps it is because of everything that's happened, the shroud of fatigue prevents her from keeping her spirits up. Despondent, she gets up from her seat as the Prefects usher members of their respective Houses out of the Great Hall. Her peers have already formed cliques, not that she can see herself joining them anyway.

"Yoshiko-chan!"

"What-? Why are you two here?" Yoshiko could not contain the flutter of joy in her voice upon seeing Hanamaru and Ruby at her table.

"We just want to see if you're alright zura." "And s-see if you'd like to h-have breakfast with us tomorrow?"

Surprised and touched, Yoshiko hastily makes a pose to hide her damp eyes. "Ku ku ku, certainly, my little demons. The great Yohane will grace you with her presence…but wait, you two are in Hufflepuff now and I'm in Slytherin, how is that possible?"

"Oh, m-members of the same House do spend more time together but it doesn't mean we can't mingle. That's w-what our Prefect told us when we asked her earlier." "Yup! I'm sure we'd still have classes together too zura."

Yoshiko glances over their heads to see a Hufflepuff Prefect waiting patiently for them by the door. The older girl even gives her a friendly wave, prompting her to shyly look away. "Heh, that's good to hear. I kinda envy you two though. It seems like you both got Sorted into a nice House."

Hufflepuffs are known for their loyalty, kindness, patience and dedication, just to name a few. Truly, Yoshiko can't think of a better House to fit her two amazing friends.

"O-Oh, Slytherin is a great House too, Yoshiko-chan. They're resourceful, clever," Ruby says quietly, her voice cracking a little. "Determined, strong leaders…"

"And achievement-oriented."

Ruby cringes while Yoshiko lowers her eyes instinctively at the presence of the austere senior from earlier.

"Go. It is impolite to keep your Prefects waiting." The older girl gestures at the Hufflepuff and Slytherin Prefects.

"O-Onee-chan…"

Surprised, Yoshiko and Hanamaru shares a look before they stare dumbly at the tall girl. Their eye color is the only thing this scary Slytherin has in common with the woodland critter-like Hufflepuff. Even then, Ruby's eyes are warm and friendly, while her older sister's are frigid and forbidding.

The Head Girl doesn't even spare her sibling a glance. "A Hufflepuff suits you," she says before briskly walking away. Ruby bites her lips, her gaze filled with pain as she watches her sister's back.

Growling quietly, Yoshiko is about to chase after the older girl, ready to tell her how they almost got lost and how Ruby was in danger and all, but Ruby stops her.

"Don't, Yoshiko-chan. It's fine. I'm okay. I'm very glad to be Sorted into Hufflepuff." Though still sad, she truly looks happy and even a bit proud.

"Hnff, if you say so. Still, I didn't think someone like that is the 'Onee-chan' you've been mentioning. Ack, wait, she's the Head Girl… of my House! I'm doomed!"

Ruby chuckles a bit at her antics. Hanamaru links their hands together and speaks slowly but firmly. "I don't have any siblings so I don't understand, but remember what we said on the train, Ruby-chan? Yoshiko-chan and I are your friends, ne? You'll have us at least."

"Yup, what Zuramaru said. I, the great Yohane, will have breakfast with you two tomorrow like I promised, so I better not see a frown on your face then, got it?"

Nodding, Ruby gives them a small smile and Yoshiko resists the urge to pat her head. While this isn't the best-case scenario, she is glad that at least Hanamaru and Ruby are together.

She would just have tackle the hardship of being Sorted into Slytherin by herself. This must be a trial, a test of worthiness, set by Satan Himself!

After making sure her measly single luggage was safely delivered to her room, Yoshiko is ready to explore the Castle. The hype and trepidation earlier prevented her from admiring the school of magic after all, and curiosity has wholly fueled her into action.

It's not as if her presence would be missed anyway.

Her fellow Slytherin First-Years, while polite enough to bid her goodnight, have already classed her as an outsider. She's resigned to spending time in her own House alone, though the fact doesn't bother her as much as she thought it would. Each student's room is an individual suite and fitting for the House of Purebloods, and she does appreciate the privacy. If she won't be able to make friends, why not have her own space so she could at least be shielded from judging eyes?

Sneakily, she tiptoes down the corridor and to the Common Room, noting how soft the tatami mats are under her socks. Perhaps due to generous donations from certain families, the inner decor has been modified in traditional Japanese style. The kotatsus in the center of the chamber, populated by students earlier, are now vacated as it is after curfew. She pauses and slips into one, sighing at how pleasantly warm it is and how tempting it is to just fall asleep then and there. Alas, she really wants to explore the Castle so she reluctantly drags herself out and surveys the area.

Some might consider the Slytherin Dorm cold and sinister, but Yoshiko absolutely loves the eerie green hue and silver color scheme. This is the great fallen angel's lair after all, and the fact that it is located underground bodes well with her. The round lamps, hung on chains from the stone ceiling, have various designs of snake, fox, leopard and other predatory creatures, possibly in honor of past alumni who hail from this House. Tiny engravings could be seen parts of decor, though shadows prevent her from deciphering the writing.

Yoshiko grins to herself. In the future, there will surely be a lamp with obsidian black wings to commemorate her awesomeness!

She poses in front of the lamps and mutters some sort of oath before slipping out of the dorm for her grand midnight adventure. There's something comforting about darkness that she cannot deny. Certainly, danger lurks in the shades, but it also provides the perfect cover for her. With only the moon as her witness, she feels she could be who she is freely. Smiling, she looks out of the window, her great night vision enabling her to make out the silhouette of the forest in the distance. She still recalls that odd tug in her mind, the inexplicable feeling that compels her to explore the forest earlier the day.

One of these days, when she feels that she is strong enough, she will return there to seek whatever it was that called her.

After a while, she concludes her little adventure has failed as she is still unfamiliar with the Castle layout. It just isn't fun since she keeps running into dead ends. Where are the 'ghosts' she's overheard her Housemates talk about? And those portraits sure don't look very animated, with the way each painted individual snooze, some louder than others. She's sorely tempted to wake up one of them, but decides against the idea in case the person screams bloody murder and alerts the whole Castle of her sneaking around after curfew.

Disappointed, she is about to trace her steps back to the Slytherin Dorm when she hears the creaky groans of the moving stairways. She was surprised when she saw them the first time after the dinner, but not anymore. In fact, she's more annoyed by the stairs' capricious nature as their switches only serve to hinder students from getting to their destinations and nothing else.

Still, the fact that they're moving means someone else is out there, at this hour, just like her. Curious, she carefully approaches the source of noise and notices a small figure clinging to the railings for dear life. The staircase has clearly stopped moving and would probably not change direction again for a while, so why is the girl not taking this chance to get away?

"Zura…"

Blinking, Yoshiko reacts before she realizes it. "Come on, Zuramaru, get moving already!"

"Yoshiko-chan?"

"Yeah, it's me. Here, give me your hand." Without waiting for a response, she grabs the brunette's cold hand and pulls her up the stairs. Once they've reached the safety of the even floor, Yoshiko exhales deeply and tries to reclaim her hand but her friend is still gripping it rather painfully.

"Er, it kinds hurts-?"

Hanamaru loosens her hold slowly, only to wrap her arms around the taller girl's. Flustered, Yoshiko is about to tease her but she then notices her slight tremors.

"Hmm, are you scared of the dark, Zuramaru?"

"E-Eh? Not really. It's just that, I lost my glasses earlier when the stairs suddenly moved and, well, I c-can't really see zura. My vision isn't that bad, but without proper light I can barely see my fingers in front of me."

"Really?" Yoshiko decides that she does have a superior night vision. She can see Hanamaru's form just fine in spite of the sparse candles and moonlight. "Heh, good thing I showed up then. The great Yohane saves the day… er, night!"

"Yes, thank you, Yoshiko-chan."

Not expecting such response, Yoshiko scratches her cheek and tries not to sound too happy. "No problem, it's a fallen angel's duty to help her little demon! We'll get you back to your dorm and er, I guess we'll ask a professor or someone about getting replacements for your glasses."

"Yeah, I really do need glasses. I wouldn't be able read without them zura."

Yoshiko sighs in fond exasperation. "So, what're you doing out here so late?"

"Oh um," Hanamaru squeezes the taller girl's arm. "We just want to see if you're alright, Yoshiko-chan, after seeing how you were walking far behind your Housemates…"

"We?"

"Yes, Ruby-chan's worried too. She wanted to come but," at this, Hanamaru lowers her head sadly. "T-There was a Howler - that's a special mail that shouts - it was sent by the Kurosawa patriarch. Our Head of the House stopped it from yelling the entire content but, um, the rest of us all got the gist. Ruby-chan… she was crying."

Just imagining tears on her friend's face makes her heart ache. Yoshiko swallows hard. "Y-You should've stayed with her then. Why-?"

"Ruby-chan insisted to check up on you, so I told her she should rest and I'll go find you."

"Geez…" Touched by her friends' concern, she feels guilty about wanting to explore while they wonder about her wellbeing. "What's the big deal of her being in Hufflepuff? What's the deal with Purebloods, anyway?"

"I really don't know zura. From what I've learned, all of the Kurosawas have been Sorted into Slytherin, except for Ruby-chan," there's a slight tremor of anger in Hanamaru's voice. "And I'm glad she's in my House, not Slytherin. No offense, Yoshiko-chan, but it would've been awful if she's there."

"None taken, and I agree. My House's atmosphere isn't really suitable for her."

"It's that bad huh? They haven't been mean to you, have they?"

"Not really." Strictly, none of the Slytherins have outright insulted her and that's honestly more than she could've asked for. It'll take time for her to decide which is worse, being ignored or picked on. "Yohane-sama is gonna make it to the Hall of Fame no matter what anyway."

"Hehe, well, just let us know if anything happens, okay? Yoshiko-chan's the type to handle everything on your own after all zura."

"Hmff! Who's the one stuck on the stairway? What would've happened to you if I didn't sneak out to explore?" Yoshiko has the urge to flick the brunette's forehead. "You're the worrisome one, not me."

"Well, I guess I would've just fallen asleep there until someone finds me in the morning zura."

Yoshiko decides to flick her forehead anyway. Ah that feels good.

"What was that for zura!"

"Heh, I admit I can easily see you snoozing there. You eat and sleep- ack!"

Alright, she deserves that jab to her stomach. Pouting, Hanamaru also tightens her grip until Yoshiko feels like the circulation is cut off in her arm.

"Ow! What a disrespectful little demon!"

"Yoshiko-chan's fault."

"Hey, I did save you from the evil stairs! Be respectful to your heroine!"

"Heroine… huh?" Hanamaru smiles softly then. "Right, Yoshiko-chan's dependable as always."

The embarrassed fallen angel clears her throat. "About that, I still want to say I'm sorry, um, I really don't remember you, even though you seem to know me quite well… I mean! Good enough for a little demon."

"It's not your fault Yoshiko-chan. To be honest, I don't know exactly what happened either. We were both so tiny, but it's thanks to you that I got interested in magic zura."

"Oh yeah? What happened?"

"You saved me with magic."

"From what?" Yoshiko is excited by the revelation that she really does know how to use spells when she was young, but her mind still comes up blank.

"I don't know what those things were but I remember the fear," Hanamaru clutches at her chest. "It's the most terrifying feeling and I-I'd never want to feel the same again."

"You won't," Yoshiko poses smugly. "I'll be here to save the day again."

"Gosh, look at you two adorable mice! Midnight rendezvous? How romantic~"

Yoshiko muffles a shriek as she pulls an equally surprised Hanamaru behind her.

"Oh sorry, didn't mean to scare you two~" The newcomer does not look apologetic at all, not with the way she grins, like she's found a brand new toy. The voluptuous tall blonde has an oddly familiar feline-like smirk and a pair of bright chartreuse eyes, and her blue robe and scarf indicate her to be a Ravenclaw senior.

"W-Who are you! W-What do you want?"

"Kya~ So aggressive! But you know," the older girl's playful tone suddenly drops to a threatening tenor. "Bad kiddies who run around after curfew sometimes… disappear without a trace, capisce?"

Yoshiko gulps as the stranger leisurely takes out her wand and points straight at her.

"I-It's my fault we're out here after curfew zura. Yoshiko-chan's just helping me find my glasses. I lost them earlier."

"Oh? That's still no excuse. Just be glad I found you two before the big bad wolf, ne?"

As if on cue, a bloodcurdling howl can be heard in the distance. Out of reflex, Yoshiko tugs Hanamaru closer against her and the latter also clings with a frightful squeal. Neither want to repeat the same experience as the forest incident.

"Sorry sorry, it's a joke," this time the blonde does look somewhat sheepish as she lowers her wand. "Ka… the wolf is, hmm, on patrol duty and would not harm younglings like you two. We work together and that's just its way of communicating with me."

"That wasn't funny!"

"But look at you two, so cute! I couldn't help it!"

At this, the two jump apart with fierce blushes. Giggling, the blonde twirls her wand and brightens up the hallway by lighting up several more candles. "I'm Mari Ohara. Don't hesitate to call upon me if you need any help again, ne, Yoshiko-chan, Hanamaru-chan~"

"How do you know our names zura?" "W-Why should we trust you?"

Mari winks and instead of answering, she holds up her wand. "Thick, rectangular frames, correct? Accio glasses!"

A few moments later, Hanamaru's lost glasses zoom past the two stunned girls and into the blonde's waiting hand. The object is a little bent and cracked, evidence that it must have fallen a great height.

"Oculus Reparo~" Just like that, the senior Ravenclaw fixes the glasses in a jiffy.

"T-Thank you so much, Mari-san!" Hanamaru puts on her glasses and turns around to face Yoshiko with a bright smile, only to gape in horror at something behind her.

Yoshiko does not dare to move when she senses an oppressive aura approaching her.

Mari waves cheekily. "Hey, Dia~!"

"Yoshiko Tsushima."

She winces at the full use of her name and fearfully peers up at the Slytherin Head Girl.

Yup, she's dead meat.

"Please stop moving."

"Y-Yes!"

Dia Kurosawa is scary. It's hard to imagine her being related to Ruby at all, let alone sisters. And unlike at the feast, there is some kind of sword strapped to her trenchcoat. While it's currently sheathed, Yoshiko briefly wonders if she would get executed or something later if she isn't careful.

It's entirely possible too, since there's no witness now that they're the only ones in the Slytherin Common Room.

She tries not to squirm as Dia continues to peruse a scroll in her hand. She's been told to kneel in formal seiza pose to reflect upon her misconduct, though she's starting to lose sensation in her legs. That Ravenclaw senior Mari is supposed to escort Hanamaru back to the Hufflepuff dorm but, surely, she would not be punished the same way Dia is doing to her!

The disgruntled fallen angel allows her mind to wander, ignoring the prickling, numbing pain in her legs which also keeps her awake at this ungodly hour. How much time has passed already? It's infuriating and utterly tedious how she isn't allowed to move or speak. The tatami mats no longer feel pleasantly soft but painfully hard against her knees, and those animal decors over the lamps seem to be smirking at her predicament too!

"Do you understand what you did, Tsushima-san?"

Yoshiko fights down the urge to fidget under Dia's frightening stare. "Er, you mean, by sneaking out of the dorm to explore the castle? L-Like I said, I'm sorry okay? T-This is my first time being in a magical environment so I couldn't help myself."

"You are not entirely lying at least," Dia says wryly as if she could read her mind. "Slytherins are known to have certain disregard for rules, Tsushima-san, though that does not mean you will go unpunished."

"Eh? This isn't the punishment?" Dismayed and at her limit, Yoshiko flops backwards and allows her legs to stretch out, sighing at the pleasant sensation of restored blood flow.

"I did not say you could get up."

She scrambles to get back to seiza position, whimpering when her legs protest through sharp stings.

"Enough. I will overlook this since it is indeed your first day and you were not exactly paying attention when our Head incited the rules."

Though grateful to be set free at last, Yoshiko scowls defensively. "Well yeah, I was trying to get used to being the only non-Pureblood here…"

"Indeed, your Sorting came as a surprise to many. However, rest assured, you will not be treated any differently than any students. The House of Slytherin does not tolerate such behavior," Dia sets down her scroll and gazes straight into her eyes, speaking in a steely tone. "As you know already, our esteemed Head of the House is also the Deputy Headmistress, so many tasks and responsibilities have been deferred to me. Therefore, please do inform me if any … unpleasant situations arise, and I will deal with them."

"R-Really?" Yoshiko didn't expect the Head Girl to be on her side

"Of course. Your blood has nothing to do with how you perform academically, and even then, that does not reflect your person either."

Stunned, Yoshiko could only gape comically at the Pureblood. Her first impression about Dia may be wrong then, especially since she sounds like she means her words.

"H-How about Ruby then?"

Akin to a porcupine's spikes erecting, Dia's eyes darken at the mention of her sister. "What about her?"

"I heard from Zuramaru, there was a Howler from the Head of the Kurosawa? She was quite upset and-"

"That is not your concern."

Even though Dia's voice holds a fatalistic edge that warns her to just back down, she ignores her instincts and snarls. "Of course it is! Ruby is my friend! I'm worried about her!"

The elder Kurosawa's expression is unreadable. "Is that so? You… and Kunikida-san, were with her on the train, correct?"

"Yeah! We met at the train station actually, she helped us get Zuramaru's heavy suitcases up on the train with nifty magic!" Yoshiko folds her arms and raises her chin proudly. "Then she told us all about Hogwarts, showed us some simple but awesome spells too. She said you taught her all of those."

"She said that, did she?" There is a soft quality in Dia's expression then, which convinces Yoshiko that the aloof Head Girl is more than she seems.

"Yeah, she's really looking forward to school too, but that Howler-"

"Like I said, you do not need to concern yourself with such matter," Dia says flatly. "Such… incident shall not happen again. Tsushima-san, you may leave now. I suggest you get as much rest as you can. You have a busy day tomorrow, and you can explore the Castle fully then."

Sensing that she's dismissed, Yoshiko harrumphs and limps away from the Common Room. She is confused by Dia's stance, that she'd be so aloof about her own sister while willing to help out an unrelated Muggleborn who got Sorted into her Pureblood House. Still, though scary, the older girl doesn't seem so bad. She's fair at least, and Yoshiko is content with that.

She does agree with Dia that she has a busy day tomorrow, so she should catch some Zs rather than deplete her brain power to ponder about things she probably won't find answers to.

For Hanamaru and Ruby's sake, she needs to be fully rested and ready to put on a smile.