Hey everyone!

Shall we say this is the end of January and beginning of February update all rolled into one because of how late these are going up? I am writing again and I cannot believe I am able to say that! Feels so good though to be able to say that. I hope January has been amazing for you and chapter 1 of 2024 is coming to a close. See you next month!

Lots of love,

LSH xxx

Sisters Divided – Part 16:

Tina, Queenie and Lally stood glued to the edge of the Eyrie unable to believe what had happened.

"I think we should talk," came Vicência Santos' voice and the Goldstein Sisters turned and nodded softly.

"She's not an evil person," Tina said.

"She isn't. That I can see," Vicência spoke before leading the others away from the top and down to a point where they could talk.

The group sat down and everyone else appeared.

"Your sister is not in trouble. I do believe I saw a side to Grindelwald that I haven't seen before. I do think he treats Flora differently and I do not understand why."

"Did you see the marks on their hands?" Dumbledore asked.

"I did but I don't understand what it means," Tina said and Dumbledore sighed.

"There is a prophecy about a witch who is neither evil nor good being on the wrong side of the War. She will be able to influence Grindelwald in ways that aren't known and she will change the course of the War without knowing it," he said, "the worst part is that she will possibly grow to love Grindelwald…"

"No, no, no," Queenie said as she shook her head and looked at Tina, "our Flora? I can't be. She's not evil… she's good…"

"All the signs are there," Vicência spoke as she thought, "Grindelwald wouldn't let her go and he clearly said that he wouldn't harm her. His reaction when she stopped the Cruciatus Curse hitting its target. He was horrorstruck when he realised that it was her. She is far from evil and will not be arrested or tried for her actions. She is not in control of her actions and is the light in the dark," she said and Tina relaxed a little.

"Thank you. Flora isn't evil. She is just caught up in events that she has no idea about," the oldest sister replied, "I hope we can get her back one day."

"She may do more good than harm being in Grindelwald's hands," Lally said, "if she has the powers to influence Grindelwald then she may buy us time to come up with a plan of action," she added, "we want Flora back but she may be what we need to help turn the tide."

"She and Rosier must be allowed to wander the streets of New York, and nothing happen to them," Tina spoke as she thought, "she is coming to Queenie and Jacob's wedding. Grindelwald is allowing her to come. I'm not sure why he treats her differently to the others he commands."

"I know she felt the pain of the blood troth," Dumbledore spoke, "that's why she fell to the floor. Between that and the Cruciatus Curse she was weakened to the point where she would not have been able to defend herself. That's why he instantly retrieved her."

"She felt the troth breaking?" Queenie asked, shocked at that news, "how?"

"They're in love… or falling in love… the way he was with her and not caring who saw," Dumbledore spoke as he remembered back, "she fell to the floor the moment the troth started to break and that was something that both Gellert and I would have felt. We were freed and Flora was caught in it as she is tied to Grindelwald."

Tina sat on the floor as she tried to process everything that she was being told in that moment. It was hard to imagine what her sister was going through, let alone the pain that she much have been feeling as events had unfolded. She looked up as she felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Lally there. Her best friend and the one who'd helped raise Flora.

"She's lost and there is nothing I can do…"

"She isn't lost and we just have to pick the right moment to try and get her back," Lally said, "she's safe there. You heard Dumbledore. He cares about her and treats her differently than others. He needs her for some reason and that is what we do not know yet."

"I should have protected her more in Paris," Tina sighed, "we got separated and then I couldn't find her again. I knew, at that point, that she'd been taken and that was when I knew that I may have lost her."

"We haven't lost her. She's helping us from within the enemy camp," Lally said as she looked at Tina, "Santos will think of a plan and we will get her back. When the time is right she will be snatched back by us. Just you wait and see." Tina could only nod as she thought about everything that had happened.

The days moved slowly on and everyone went back to where they were… except Lally, Jacob and Newt who were now sat in the apartment the Goldstein Sisters had. Flora's room just the way she'd left it before they'd headed to Paris and Tina had closed the door.

"She will be coming to the wedding won't she?" Tina had asked.

"Yes. You were there when Vinda said that she would be allowed and Grindelwald said that he would allow her to come. Family means a lot and he seems to know that it is important that Flora is there so Vinda Rosier is accompanying her. My guess is that she isn't able to Apparate to wherever Grindelwald is basing himself as she can't come alone," Queenie said.

"I know but it's Grindelwald and I still don't trust him," Tina said with a sigh as she looked at her sister, "thinking of Theseus Lally? I know the two of you seemed to get on well with each other," she said trying to deflect attention away from herself.

"Tina Esther Goldstein trying to change the subject I see…" Lally smirked as she looked at her friend, "I would like to think that he'll be at the wedding. I mean Newt needs to have someone to help him. I assume he is the best man after all."

"That he is," Jacob said, "there is no other wizard more suitable for the role."

Tina had begun to get lost in her thoughts, her mind on her sister and hoping that she was OK and being taken care of.