"Maybe...this prophecy is about...A-Azuma," Shiena proposed.

The next day after they heard the prophecy from the Sorting hat, Haru, Suzu and Shiena had a meeting in the library to talk about it.

"Why Tokaku-san?" Haru asked.

"Well, I mean...the darkest individual from the wizarding world of our time, it must be...her grandmother, Aoyasha. And the successor...is has to be her sole relative still alive, right?" Shiena proposed.

"But the successor is supposed to have defeated death in order to take her place. How could Azuma had defeated death?" Suzu wondered.

"Maybe she hasn't yet? Or...Maybe she already has! I mean, she's the sole living member of the Azuma clan, all the other has been killed during the war. It's almost like she had defeated death in a way, isn't it?" Shiena said.

Haru was not convinced. She didn't want to believe Tokaku could be her grandmother's successor. After all, Haru's family had been killed by Aoyasha. She was still trying to convince others that Tokaku wasn't like her grandmother, or her family. But if the prophecy was really about her, then…

"But, what does 'the successor is here' mean?" Haru asked.

"I guess it means they are in Hogwarts High, so it must be a student…"

"Or a teacher," Suzu added. "But anyway, nothing proves this prophecy is real. Why should we believe the Sorting hat?"

"Because...it's a magical hat? So it's just...magic?" Shiena replied, unsure.

"I agree with Shuto-san, nothing proves this theory is true, nothing proves that...Tokaku-san is a bad person…"

Haru then went quiet. Suzu simply looked at her with her usual intrigued gaze, while Shiena seemed regretful.

"Ah, it's true, you...appreciate Azuma. Sorry, I shouldn't have accused her," Shiena apologised. "Maybe you're right, maybe the hat was just...playing a trick on us, as a revenge for waking it up."

"That's a more plausible option. I mean, the Sorting hat might have heard that from someone who was joking or drunk, or a fake seer. Anyway, divination is a really contested magic. It's rarely trustworthy and can be interpreted in so many different ways. Probability is a far more reliable than divination, and statistically speaking, the chances are that this prophecy is fake. Now if you excuse me, I have work to do. I have an exam and my dear prefect as accepted to help me study. Goodbye!"

Suzu rose up and left the library. Haru and Shiena looked at each other, surprised.

"Isn't she a little bit cold? Or she was just too impatient for her date with Kaminaga?" Shiena asked.

"Date? They're going to study together, that's what Shuto-san said…"

"Oh Ichinose, when are you going to stop being so innocent?" Shiena replied with an amused smile.

Haru reminded puzzled. And not just about the date/study session, but about the prophecy. What if...it was true?

This question kept haunting Haru all day. What if Tokaku was really fated to take her grandmother's place, what if she was really her successor? And if she had indeed already defeated death, then it means that...she already took her grandmother's place.

"No, it can't be! Tokaku-san...isn't a bad person."

As Haru was washing her hands, she noticed that someone went into the girl's bathroom. She couldn't see their face, but she noticed that it was a Slytherin student.

Haru wiped her hands and walked towards the exit, but she ended up facing someone, who was blocking the door.

"Hello! How are you? ~" asked a friendly and cheerful girl.

Haru recognized her. She was the girl who bullied Mahiru, and was highly disliked by Shiena.

"Takechi...san. I...I'm fine. And you?" Haru asked politely, despite her worries.

"I'm good, thanks for asking! Hey, I see that you know my name. Can I know yours too?"

"I'm...Ichinose Haru."

"Eh? The girl who survived? Haru Potter? No way! What an honour to talk with you! Hey, can I call you Haru-chi?"

Haru wasn't sure what to think. Takechi looked so nice right now, but Haru had seen with her own eyes what kind of person she truly was. Then why she kept seeing her as a friendly person?

"Um? What's the matter, Haru-chi? You look worried…"

"Uh? Um, well...the other day,you...you were...being mean to Mahiru-chan. You were acting...like a bully."

For a brief moment, Takechi seemed emotionless. Then, a soft smile appeared on her lips, and she looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Ah, so you remember that day uh...Not my greatest moment, I admit. Look, it wasn't what you think. I didn't intend to bully her, I just wanted to get along with her. But...I'm not good at it. I tend to go too far when I try to befriend someone. I do feel bad about what happened, I didn't mean to scare Banba-san. I wanted to apologize, but...Hanabusa-san doesn't want me to go near Banba-san anymore. Can you forgive me, Haru-chi?"

Takechi was looking at her with a sad puppy face. Haru couldn't help but want to forgive her. Takechi looked sincere, and Haru believed in forgiveness. It was possible that Takechi simply went too far with Mahiru, not because she was mean, but because she wasn't good at understanding others' feelings. That was what Haru decided to believe.

"It's okay, I'm sure you meant no harm to Mahiru-chan. But people seem to think you're bad and a bully, so perhaps you should explain yourself to them? Like for example, my friend really seems to disli...distrust you."

"Your friend? Which one? You're always with two girls...the fluffy one or the granny one?"

"The fluffy one? Shiena-chan? Yes, that's her...how is Shuto-san a granny?"

"Well, I mean, she talks like an old man. You know, 'washi'..."

Now that Takechi was talking about it, it was true that Suzu was talking like an old person, using an old pronoun usually used by old men. Haru wondered why, did it have a meaning?

"Anyway, so her name is Shiena-chan uh...yes, I should talk to her. But...I'm afraid she might get the wrong idea if I go talk to her alone, she might think I want to bully her or something. Would you mind going with me, since you're her friend?"

Haru accepted. It seemed like a good idea. After all, what could go wrong?

Apparently everything.

"What...what is she doing here!?" Shiena exclaimed.

Haru, followed by Takechi, had joined Shiena in the schoolyard. And the brunette was far from being happy about this unexpected and even unwanted guest.

"Shiena-chan, Takechi-san has something to tell you."

Shiena looked at Haru liked she had betrayed her, and then gazed at Takechi with hostility.

"What do you want?" Shiena asked sharply.

"To apologize. I know you must be thinking that I'm an awful person, and I can't blame you for that. What I did to Banba-san was wrong and I regret it. I just wanted to be her friend, and I want to be your friend too."

"Uh? You want to be my friend? Don't make me laugh! I want nothing to do with you! I know you aren't sincere right now, you're a liar. I know enough about your kind to know you're one of them, you're...a bully. And I hate those like you! So now leave me alone, I'll never be your friend!"

Shiena began to walk away, but Haru went after her.

"Shiena-chan wait! Please give Takechi-san a chance, I'm sure she was saying the truth…"

Shiena suddenly turned back and glanced at Haru.

"Ichinose...you...I don't know what to say. I mean...Azuma is fine, but Takechi? I told you to be careful with snakes. Once they bite you, it's too late. They are deadly poisonous."

Before Haru could say anything, Shiena ran away, leaving Haru in doubt, worried that she might had lose a friend.


"Kenmochi-san still refuses to talk to you, right?" Suzu asked.

"Yes…" Haru sadly replied.

It had been a week since Shiena got mad at Haru about Takechi. She had stopped talking to Haru and only hang out with Suzu when they were alone together. It made Haru uncomfortable and unable to talk with Suzu, worried that she might make things worst. Potion Class was one of the rare times Haru was okay with talking with Suzu, since Shiena wasn't around.

"Uh? Kenmochi is mad at Ichinose? Why?" Chitaru asked.

"Because I'm friend with Takechi-san and I wanted Shiena-chan and her to make peace," Haru replied.

"Takechi? The bully!?" Chitaru reacted.

"She...she isn't really like that. Takechi-san, she...she regrets what she had done, she didn't mean to cause any harm. She just wanted to explain herself, but Shiena-chan didn't let her and now she's mad at me!"

"Um, I don't know, that Takechi girl looks like trouble to me. I heard terrible things about her. She may look nice, but I don't think she truly is," Chitaru replied.

"I talked to her once. She has the eyes of a liar. I wouldn't trust her if I were you," Hitsugi added.

"Coming from you, it means a lot," Suzu commented.

"But, maybe you're judging her too soon. Maybe she really is a nice person who just had problems with understanding others' feeling…"

"Maybe, but...maybe not. I'm worried about Kenmochi, she seems so innocent, I don't like to see girls like her being in danger. Same goes for you Ichinose, and Kirigaya too."

"Thanks, Chitaru-san. You're so caring," Hitsugi said happily, but it seemed to have something bitter in her smile. "But who's this Kenmochi-san? I don't think I had the chance of meeting her yet…"

"She's a friend. My friend. And I would appreciate if nothing bad happens to her," Suzu suddenly interrupted.

Suzu and Hitsugi glared at each other for a moment. Chitaru looked completely oblivious about that, while Haru found that strange. What was Suzu insinuating? Tokaku, who was once again sitting with them because no one else wanted her, briefly glanced at Hitsugi.

"You guys...you really think Takechi is that dangerous!? Is Kenmochi really in danger?" Chitaru exclaimed.

"Her...or someone else," Suzu replied.

"Stop...Takechi-san isn't that bad, she…"

"She's rotten."

It was the first time Tokaku spoke. It was so surprising that everyone at the table went quiet and looked at her.

"She's...rotten?" Chitaru asked.

"She smells rotten to me. Kenmochi is right to distrust her. It means she has better instincts than I initially thought. Maybe she isn't as weak as I thought," Tokaku added coldly.

"Tokaku-san...Shiena-chan isn't weak, and...you shouldn't judge Takechi-san like that, not you…"

"I'm just telling the truth. There's something wrong with Takechi. And Kenmochi...I understand how she feels about you and Takechi being friends."

"What...what's that supposed to mean?"

Haru couldn't believe what she heard. From all people, Haru thought Tokaku wouldn't judge someone like that. After all, Tokaku was judged badly by others for things she hadn't done.

"Let me translate it for you Ichinose-san, since apparently, Azuma-san is bad with feelings," Suzu began to say playfully. "I don't think Kenmochi is really mad at you, she probably feels betray yes, but I think the real reason she's so pissed is that she's worried about you. She views you as a friend, and she's convinced that Takechi-san is a terrible person, so she's reacting that way because she cares about you. And since Azuma-san said she understands how Kenmochi-san feels, then it means that she also cares about you. Isn't it right, Azuma-san?"

Tokaku replied nothing to this. Haru suddenly felt the same warm feeling in her chest, right on her scar.

"Oh, so she's jealous," Hitsugi replied with a giggle.

"Uh? Jealous of what?" Tokaku replied sharply.

Suzu let out a slightly amused laugh, while Chitaru seemed completely lost. Haru could relate to her, she wasn't sure herself what was going on right now.

"Speaking of that, how was your da- I mean, 'study session', with Kaminaga-san?" Hitsugi suddenly asked with an innocent smile.

"Very good, thanks for asking. I had a great time with Kouko-chan."

"Uh? You had a study session with Kaminaga?" Chitaru asked.

"Yes, I asked her help to study."

"In what?" Haru asked, glad that they were talking about something else.

"Potion," Suzu replied.

"Eh? But...isn't Kaminaga-san terrible in potion class? That's what I heard," Hitsugi replied.

"Oh, she's terrible in practical potion class, but she's good in theoretical class," Suzu replied.

"Yeah, but...you're really good in potion making…" Chitaru commented. "Why did you ask her help for that in the first place? Would it make more sense for you to help her with her studies?"

"Ah, Chitaru-san, so innocent. I like that about you," Hitsugi said with a sweet smile.

Chitaru slightly blushed, even if she didn't seem to understand what was insinuated.

"So, when are you and Azuma-san will have a da- I mean a study session together?" Hitsugi suddenly asked with a sly smile.

"Eh Why would we...I...I don't know. I mean...it's not just up to me to decide…"

Haru glanced at Tokaku. The blue haired girl looked somewhat embarrassed, but she managed to keep her composure.

"It could be a good idea. Azuma-san is good in everything, while Ichinose-san...a little extra lessons won't hurt you. No offence," Suzu replied.

"None taken. But as I say, it's not just up to me…"

"I don't care. If you want to study with me, do as you please. You're always doing it anyway. Your free to sit next to me when I study, there's no rule against that," Tokaku said, trying to look indifferent.

Once again, Haru felt the same warm feeling in her heart.

"Um, ladies, it's great that you're all getting along, I'm all for houses being friends, but...you're in the middle of my class. Don't you think you should focus on your potion? Especially you Ichinose-san, the last time I have seen such a colour in a potion was with Kou- Kaminaga-san, and it explo-"

Irena didn't have the time to finish her sentence that Haru's potion exploded, covering the entire class, as well as anyone in it, with a dirty and sticky greenish substance.


"It...it took us almost all evening…," Haru mumbled, exhausted.

"All I want now is to take a good bath. Even I washed off the potion, I can still feel it on my skin," Suzu commented.

As a punishment, Irena as asked them, Haru, Suzu, Chitaru, Hitsugi and Tokaku to clean up the class. They managed to finish it, and went back to their dormitory. Haru and Suzu had stopped at the bathroom first to wash off the cloth they used to clean.

"I'm sorry...,"

"No need to apologize, Ichinose."

"But it's my fault if we had to clean up the class, it was because of my potion, it was my mess…"

"We distracted you. We should have noticed in what state your potion was before it exploded. It's also our fault. But still, maybe you should really consider taking some extra lessons...with Azuma-san."

"With...Tokaku-san…?"

"She wasn't against the idea. Sure she tried to act as if she didn't care, but I'm sure it would make her really happy if you go study with her."

"You really think so? Despite...what happened today?"

"I don't think Azuma-san is the type to hold a grudge over cleaning, so don't worry," Suzu replied with a wink.

The warm feeling in her chest come back. Haru finished to wash the cloth and twisted it to make it dry. She then left the bathroom with Suzu.

"We have to get it back to the janitor closet. Do you remember where it is?" Haru asked.

"In the staff area. This way."

Haru followed Suzu and they ended up in a section of the school she wasn't familiar with. Haru noticed an old-looking door that seemed different from the others. Curious, she approached it, ready to grab the handle and open it, but…

"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be there."

...she was interrupted.

Haru turned back, and discovered a rather tall woman with short brown hair and red eyes. She was dressed in a grey robe and was wearing just one black glove, and was gazing at Haru with intensity.

"We...we were just looking for… the janitor closet...to put this back in it," Haru replied nervously, showing the cloth as a proof.

The brown haired woman pointed the old-looking door.

"That's not what you're looking for," she simply replied.

"What's behind that door?" Suzu suddenly asked.

"None of your business," The woman replied coldly.

She then stretched her hand.

"You can give it to me, I'll take care of it."

"And who are you?" Suzu asked.

"Isn't obvious?" the woman said with a gloomy smile. "For simple troublemaker and people dirtying the school, I'm just the janitor. But for thieves and vandals, well, you don't want to know what I am for them. Just keep that in mind, in case...you have mad intentions."

The woman took the cloth and Haru and Suzu walked away.

"So she's the janitor. I heard about her. Terry is her name I think. She's Russian," Suzu said.

"Did...did she really think we wanted to break stuff or steal? I would never do that!"

"Let's just go back to our respective dormitory and wash ourselves," Suzu proposed.

But as they headed towards the dormitory area, they encounter someone unexpected.

"Sh...Shiena-chan…" Haru mumbled, unease.

Shiena really seemed to be thinking about ignoring her, but she changed her mind.

"Hi, Ichinose. Shuto," she said coldly.

"What are you doing here?" Suzu asked.

"I could ask you the same thing. I just had a talk with Mizorogi-sensei. I wanted some more info about...animagus."

"We made a mess in Potion Class and has to clean it," Suzu said.

"Uh? Did Kaminaga influence you or what?"

Suzu smiled at this comment. Shiena smiled too, and Haru had almost the feeling everything was back to normal. But it wasn't, since Shiena was making her best to avoid Haru's eyes.

"I already told you to stop talking to me in public, I don't want people to find out we know each other," a woman voice said.

The voice was coming for another corridor, close to them. Haru recognized this voice.

"Is it...Accidia-sensei?" Haru mumbled.

But before Suzu or Shiena could confirm it, another woman voice was heard.

"There's no one around. It's not my fault if you're always avoiding me. There's something we really need to talk about. She's here. And you know what she's after. Why do you think I asked my hound to keep an eye on it?"

"Your hound? It's a friendly way to talk about your ally," Accidia replied sarcastically. "Anyway I know why she's here, I still have some difficulties understanding why the Sorting Hat didn't see through her lies. But worry not, I intended to take another precaution for it. Anyway, it belongs to me after all, I'll take care of it. You on the other hand…"

"Hey, I'm using it for my experience, and you allowed me to! So of course I want it to be safe, lots of my work depends on it."

The three girls approached from the other corridor and discovered with whom Accidia was talking: it was Wilma Schnabel, the uncanny and eccentric Herbology teacher.

"I know, and I also have hopes for those experience. One of them is even primordial to...me," Accidia began to say. "But don't get me wrong, you have no rights on it. And neither do she. I won't let anyone take it from me. This philosopher stone belongs to me."


So yeah, looks like this story will also start with a philosopher stone's arc! Sh*ts is about to start!

Some shippy moments, because...yuri.

Everyone is a TokaHaru shipper, Haru wants to ship OtoShie but Shiena keeps sinking the ship.

And Haru...you're sweet and all but...Otoya isn't just bad at understanding others' feelings, she just can't understand them. She doesn't have any empathy.

So, how things are going to turn out for the Primary Trio. Yeah, you heard me right. Primary Trio. 'Cause unlike the Golden Trio, they ain't in the same house, but each of their houses has a primary colour (sorry Slytherin). Seeya next time!