Date: 24 December 2020
Time: After dinner.
Location: Leblanc Estates. Rioux-Martin, France.

Leblanc estates was beautiful covered in snow - Koko couldn't deny that. She had actually grown out of her initial dislike for the manor. Even if her Grand-père made her practise French every day and she had to read two books before Friday, there was something about residing in such a beautiful house that made it all worth it.

Well, maybe not the reading. That was asking a bit much, really.

Her cat was currently in her room, resting. Koko was sitting on a swing in the gardens, a book in her hands. She wasn't reading it, though; she only took it with her to have her Grand-père think she was reading it. She counted herself as a genius for that.

Kicking so the swing would move, Koko allowed herself a soft smile as a small dot of white landed on her nose. She adored snow. There was something enchanting about it, how it could transform an otherwise mundane landscape into something completely extraordinary.

Also, it was very fun to touch.

Koko slipped her book in her leather messenger bag before unbuttoning the top button of her coat so she could pull her hood over her head. As much as she loved the snow, she didn't want her hair to be wet.

She sat on the swing for a few moments more before something caught her eye: a head of blonde hair was weaving through the gardens.

Koko leapt up from her seat, slipping her bookbag over her shoulders, and she began to run.

"Koko! Wait!" Rosalie Leblanc-Wreath's voice called.

Koko turned to face the woman. "What?"

Rosalie took a step towards Koko, her eyebrows drawing together as she seemed to ponder what to say. "We need to talk."

After pausing, her lips in a firm line, she sighed and added, "Please?"

Koko folded her arms over her chest. "Whatever you need to say, can't it be said out here?"

Rosalie shook her head and laughed gently. "No. It's too cold."

With a dramatic eye-roll and a heavy sigh, Koko followed Rosalie back to the manor.

Rosalie took her to Grand-père's study and had her sit in front of a warm fireplace, tea on the table behind her. "I know you are a Leblanc in all but name," Rosalie began, "but it is time to learn of your true heritage. Ignorance can be fatal."

Koko really didn't think ignorance could kill her, but she pulled her knees to her chest and propped her chin on them, ready to listen. "Okay."

She gave no fight - what was the need? Rosalie would tell her anyway, or perhaps the nicer Vienna would. Koko would still have to sit down and listen to a boring lecture about why Henry Riddle had red hair or something of the sort.

What she did not expect was for Rosalie to say five words that acted like darts to her heart.

"Your father was part Veela."

Koko felt her carefully-constructed expression begin to waver, and she fought her emotions down. She would win the fight with herself, but... No. She wouldn't ponder this. It couldn't be true.

"You're lying."

Rosalie shook her head and took off her coat, resting it on a chair before sitting next to Koko on the ground. "I'm not."

Possibly noticing that Koko was not convinced, Rosalie sighed. "This isn't something I would lie about. Your grandfather is how you are a Leblanc - his mum was Bernadette Leblanc, the younger sister of my grandfather, Louis. Your father and I were cousins of some sort.

"It was through your grandmother that you are part-Veela. Aaron Riddle fell in love with a Veela, and she gave birth to Henry and Estella Riddle. And because Henry was your father..."

Koko felt a sharp pain in her mouth that told her she was chewing on the side of her cheek, but she didn't quite care at the moment. "It's not true," she hissed. "Tell me it's not true!"

Rosalie raised an eyebrow. "But that would be a lie, chérie."

Ignoring the 'chérie' that she only let Vienna call her, Koko felt her lips pull back in a grimace. "Why is not knowing going to hurt me? Why!?"

Placing a hand on Koko's shoulder, Rosalie sighed. "I thought you should know sooner than later, just for your own peace of mind when you finally did find out. And... Veelas have their own magic, and you might have some of that, too. has someone ever tried to hit you and then stopped? Perhaps hit their friend instead?"

About to give a strong no, Koko remembered her practice duelling match. Edric had hit his teammate... But that was just a fluke. Everyone made mistakes, after all. "Er... Maybe?"

Rosalie smiled sadly. "I... You should read up on Veelas and part-Veelas," she said, ignoring Koko's immense dislike of reading. "I think it might help you."

With that, she left, and Koko stood to follow her, her fists clenching and unclenching angrily. She breathed as deeply as she could to try to calm herself, but how could someone who was raised as a pure-blood be calm after learning something like this!? She needed Victor, who always knew how to make things better. She would definitely settle for Vienna, but her aunt was off doing things, likely buying Christmas gifts.

A gift. This was an ironic gift, Koko realised. At least, Rosalie thought it was a gift. Koko thought it was the worst gift that could have been given.

As she trekked up the stairs to her room, she felt her eyes roll a final time as her lips drew back into a halfhearted snarl. "Thanks."