Finished Never a moment of peace Solo

Blue in English, Red in Korean IC Date: July 2022: Chester

This was not good. Eun-ji was smart enough to know as much. She had no idea how long she’s been practicing but by now, she was sweating and short of breath. I’m supposed to look for Charles. We should be practicing together. Her brain reminded her. The witch was too angry to listen to it however. All this nonsense about the party, her mother’s unwillingness to help and the Hunts trampling all over her every opportunity they got. It was just so frustrating. Dancing usually helped clear her mind but when her feelings got too intense, like today, she tended to overdo it. It was a small noise coming from behind her back that finally brought the Ravenclaw back to reality.

Turning around while gasping for breath, she recognized Charles as the intruder. The boy quickly lowered his eyes, looking somewhat guilty. “Sorry I didn’t mean to gawk. Mrs. Hunt told me to find you and you seemed really focused so I didn’t want to disturb you.” Eun-ji didn’t quite know what to say. She wasn’t angry with him but she was a bit embarrassed to be honest. “That was not waltz though…” he continued, seeing she probably wasn’t going to say anything. “No it wasn’t.” The raven-haired girl confirmed. She was pretty sure he recognized it for what it was given how many dancing lessons he must have gotten and therefore she didn’t bother to elaborate. Instead she figured it was time to reveal her plan. “So I was thinking…you know I’m not exactly keen on this whole party idea…” Charles simply nodded, letting her finish the thought. “…and I figured it was unfair my grandparents got away with forcing me do something I don’t want do once again.” The boy nodded again. “So it’s only fair I get to do something I want for a change? And if I manage to piss them off in the process then good…but I need your help.” Her fiancé smirked, clearly already amused by her idea. “So you wanna dance tango then? I’d say that’s a guaranteed way to piss them off.” Perfect! She knew she could count on him to indulge her in her subtle rebellions. “Are you sure? You might be caught in the crossfire.” He most likely knew that but the witch wanted to double check anyway. “Yeah, I’m sure. Now, how about you take a break before we start practicing? I know you are angry but overworking yourself won't solve anything.”

It was a though couple of days for both of them. Since the practice room was part of the Hunt’s summerhouse, they had to play waltz music and listen to the actual one, using earphones. It also meant they had to be quick to switch to waltz every time Mrs. Hunt came to check up on them although thankfully, that was not often. She was too busy organizing the event. “You do realise your mum might not be happy about this either, right?” Charles asked during one of their short breaks. It was a hard work but they were doing well so far. “Yeah but she’ll survive.” The girl shrugged. “I have to so… she should too.” In the past, Eun-ji would feel guilty saying such thing but her mother wasn’t exactly considerate as of late. It put a huge strain on their relationship and they both knew it. The witch was less than happy about said fact of course however it helped her feel at ease when she did stuff like this so she supposed it had its benefits. “Well...since we are going to piss everybody off, I say at least we should enjoy it, don’t you think?” Charles said with a smile as he offered her his hand once more. “Oh I’m planning to.”

END OF PART 2

Blue in English, Red in Korean IC Date: July 22nd 2022: Chester

“Oh come on…you are allowed to rest.” Eun-ji sighed, looking at Charles, who was being especially stubborn today. “We’ve been constantly practicing then you go to ballet classes and come back home to clean the house, which mind you, is already spotless and cook for people that never bother to show up.” Harsh but true. “Don’t get me wrong, I love your cooking but you should treat yourself once in a while. What do you say?” The witch raised her eyebrow. He was not really letting this one go, was he? Sighing once again, she put away her favourite pan. “Alright...How do you feel about Italian food?” The girl asked, leaning against the kitchen counter. She remembered going to a lovely restaurant owned by an Italian family when she was a kid. Incredibly friendly atmosphere and the food was exquisite. It has been ages since she last visited though. “Love it. Lead the way then.”

The witch had to admit she was due for some break. It was also an opportunity to talk to Charles more and prepare him for her cousin’s eventual arrival. The food was as good as she remembered only the guests were not all perfect. “What’s up?” The boy asked, finally noticing her unhappiness. To be fair to him, it wasn’t easy to recognize when she was angry or unhappy about something if she made an actual effort to hide it. He knew her well enough by now to be able to tell though. Eun-ji sighed (she was doing that a lot recently) and looked at the family sitting in the corner of the restaurant. Well…not really sitting. The mother was trying to calm her children down to the best of her ability but it was a lost battle right from the beginning. The raven-haired girl hardly ever mentioned this but she was not necessarily fond of children. “I don’t like children.” She said honestly. Charles raised his eyebrow at that but he didn’t seem to judge her for it. “Why?” He asked for explanation instead. “They are unreasonable; they whine all the time and constantly beg for love.” Did she sound cruel to him? People usually adored kids, no? Not all of them of course but the fact remained that if you said you didn’t, most people would look at you in disbelief. “So basically everything you are not allowed to do?”

The question brought Eun-ji swiftly back to reality. She hated that he could read her so well now. Sometimes he even seemed to understand her feelings better than she did. He was probably right of course, although she did genuinely not enjoy being around most kids, the fact that they were so free to express themselves only made it worse. She stayed silent just watching the boy in front of her, not really sure what to say to that. “You could do that too you know? You are still young after all. You just have to allow yourself to let go.” He made it sound so easy. It almost made her laugh. Eun-ji couldn’t even picture it in her head and her imagination was pretty impressive. “I’ve been restrained for so long I forgot how to unlock the chain. At this point it almost feels more like a safety precaution than anything else.” Her fiancé was trying to help and she appreciated it but people didn’t change so easily. Topics on the other hand? She could do that for sure.

“How is the food? You should eat plenty…tomorrow is a big day.” She was nervous just thinking about it but he probably wasn’t. Charles was not the spotlight and he attended enough of such affairs to be immune to it. “Good but I still like yours better….” He smiled then. “Don’t worry, we are going to do just fine.” LINK TO THE EVENT HERE

END OF PART 3

Blue in English, Red in Korean/ Other people: Violet in Korean, Bold in English

Eun-ji just returned from her ballet practice, which lasted longer than expected but she still wanted to take Morgana for a walk. With all the ball nonsense and everything around it, the girl didn’t get to spend as much time with her furry family member as she would like. Now that freak show was over, she hoped to fix it. To her surprise however, when she entered their home, the black Belgian Shepherd wasn't there to greet her. The witch frowned. Perhaps Charles has taken her then? That assumption was quickly dismissed once she walked into the living room and found said boy lounging on a sofa, reading a book. “Oh…you are back.” He seemed happy for a moment before his brows knitted in confusion. “Alone? I thought you were out with Morgana.” Suddenly alarm bells started ringing inside her head. Morgana never ran away from home, she was well behaved and extremely attached to her owner. Something was not right. “No. I thought you did. I only just got back from practice. Did you see dad? Did he say anything?” Charles put down his book. The confusion was gone, now replaced with clear worry. “I saw him leaving for work and asked if it was okay to stay and wait for you. He said yes but other than that…” He looked at her warily. “You don’t think…” Alas yes...that’s precisely what Eun-ji was thinking as she looked out of the window, observing the Hunts summer house, eyes filled with loathing.

In all honesty, she had found it rather strange that her grandparents still didn’t address her little rebellion at their precious event. She expected them to be furious but instead, there was complete radio silence. A very unsettling one. A shiver ran down her spine and it took a lot of effort for her to stay at least somewhat calm. “Could you stay here? Morgana wouldn’t run away but still…in case she returns on her own. My parents won’t be back for a while. I’ll go and ask my grandmother…Let’s hope I’m wrong about this.” The boy seemed hesitant but eventually nodded. “I’ll call you if she comes back. Be careful.” The witch appreciated his concern but didn’t really have time to dwell on it. She turned around and left the house without even bothering to change her clothes. Anemone would have to deal with it today.

“Grandmother!” The Ravenclaw called immediately after entering the cursed house, making her way towards the living room. “Oh God, why are you making such a fuss?” Great, her aunt was here too and she looked awfully pleased, which was never a good sign. “Where is Morgana?” There was no need to beat around the bush. The older woman was unstirred as always, taking a sip of her tea before finally bothering to answer. “Who?” She looked genuinely puzzled by her granddaughter's question though this time, Eun-ji wouldn’t be surprised if it was indeed a sincere reaction. She highly doubted Mrs. Hunt remembered her pets’ names. “My dog…where is she?” Anemone shrugged, going back to her tea, apparently uninterested. “Why would I know where that fleabag is?” Annabelle snickered at that. Her mother was good at feigning ignorance but the daughter always managed to ruin it for her. She was probably the only Hunt that couldn’t be bothered to hide their emotions unless it was beneficial to her. “Annabelle? Is your father back from his walk yet?” The oldest of the three asked without looking up as if she was talking about weather. Walk? Anwir Hunt didn’t go for walks. Definitely not in Chester at least. “Nope.” The daughter replied cheekily while flipping through her magazine. Eun-ji wouldn’t get anything more from them but she didn’t need to. She knew how to read between the lines and they no doubt counted on it.

She didn’t know how long she’s been running around the town but it was getting dark and she was tired. If she wasn’t so out of it, she would have realised telling Charles to call her if Morgana turned up was a wasted effort. She didn’t take anything with her and despite her usual cleverness, she didn’t bother to go home before venturing out to look for the pup. It was one of those rare occasions where emotions completely clouded her judgement. Morgana was a gift from her grandpa, they grew up together and she was always there to keep her company and offer comfort when nobody else would. She was her best friend no matter what other people might think of such statement. The idea of her being gone from her life forever felt unreal and beyond painful. If Mr. Hunt took her though…was there even a chance of getting her back? Soon the darkness settled fully and there were no people around to ask if they’d seen her. It must be late then. Eun-ji knew but was too stubborn to stop even though she had no trace or clue to hold onto.

Well...she found her clue. Next to the (now closed) train station, there was a familiar violet leash tied to the railing. Surely, he wouldn’t… Except he totally would. If he was responsible for her paternal grandparents' fate, why would he spare her dog? Still she refused to give up hope and followed the rail tracks a bit further. “Morgana!?” The girl would call once in a while but to no avail. Eventually she reached a tunnel and despite her desperation she hesitated. What time was it? Were the trains still running? Oh wait… Network Rail Strike. It’s today! At last, some luck in her misery. Cautiously, Eun-ji stepped into the death trap. There were lights of course, though flickering rather ominously and therefore offering little to no comfort. The Ravenclaw wouldn’t call herself a coward but this was a properly terrifying experience. Still, if she didn’t go tonight, she might not get another chance. Nobody would stop the trains for her just so she could look for her lost pet.

In the end, she didn't find Morgana but she did find her collar. Clean and completely intact. It should have been comforting but Eun-ji couldn't stop feeling that her grandfather was simply playing mind games with her. After all, he thoroughly enjoyed those. She was now completely exhausted both physically and emotionally. Tears were falling without her even noticing them and she didn’t quite know what to do. The Ravenclaw was smart enough to know she could do nothing more today but she would feel too guilty to just turn around and drag herself home. Thankfully the decision was soon made for her.

“Eun-ji-ya!” Eun-ji knew that voice though he sounded much more shaky than she ever rememered it being. “Appa.” Dad. Her voice was nowhere near as loud as her father's. In fact, it was barely even there. Then again, she was shouting plenty today. How did he even find me? The girl did not ask when he approached her and crouched down to her level. “Silly girl...I will always find you. Are you hurt?” The man said as if he could read her thoughts and...was he crying too? He would later explain that the security officer spotted her and called him immediately. Edward was treating his wife and so he recognised Eun-ji pretty easily. Apparently he called after her too but she didn't seem to hear him. “I'm so sorry. You asked me to look after her.” He apologised as he was wiping her tears. It was not his fault though if anything, it was hers. He was at work and she was the one that provoked her grandparents. She was too ashamed to admit it aloud however so she opted to simply shake her head. “Come on...let's get you home. We can put posters around the town tomorrow. We'll find her, I promise.” The man sounded determined while her own hope hang on a very thin thread. “Appa, I don't think...” She didn't dare to finish the sentence and her father pretended not to hear it. Instead, he helped her back up and started guiding her back to the parking lot where his car was waiting, engine still running. He nodded at the security man as he closed the door, obviously not eager to stay and exchange pleasantries. Not today at least. Eun-ji didn't doubt he would eventually.

END OF PART 4

Mentioning: @Flash Holmwood

Blue in English, Red in Korean/ Other people: Violet in Korean, Bold in English

It has been three days of fruitless search for Morgana. Nobody had seen her and whenever someone called regarding their posters, it was always a person who knew doctor Lee and his daughter and wanted to say how sorry they were about the whole situation. It did nothing but give Eun-ji a false hope every time their phone rang. This was her father's last day off and despite taking her for a drive around town, it was becoming increasingly clear neither of them had any hope left. She pretended to be okay and in turn, he pretended to believe that. They were two fools that simply didn't quite know how to talk about their feelings but there was a quiet understanding between them. This was no longer a search, her dad was taking her someplace nice to soothe her mind. She knew him too well not to recognise what he was doing.

Eventually, the car stopped on a narrow dusty road. One that the young witch recalled pretty much immediately. It has been far too long since she'd last been here but it still held many fond memories for her. This was a place she used to visit from time to time with her parents and Morgana if they had a moment to spare during weekends. The forest and the beautiful meadow were a perfect place for walks and letting the dog freely run around. They all loved it here and it was usually devoid of people since it was not necessarily a walking distance from the city area. “I need to make some calls. You wanna check around here? Maybe hang out for a bit?” It didn’t make sense for her furry friend to be here of course. Even if she managed to escape Mr. Hunt’s clutches, she would just return home. No, this was just an excuse to let Eun-ji breathe and gather her thoughts a bit. “Sure, call me when you’re done.” She decided to play along.

The meadow was just as beautiful as she remembered. The smell of wildflowers engulfed her completely, like a warm blanket providing much needed comfort. It was one of her favourite smells. Anybody that met her probably quickly figured out that lavender was her absolute favourite but this was definitely up there with it. Eun-ji brushed her hand over the flowers gently and took a deep breath. When she closed her eyes, she could still hear Morgana barking in the distance. It was painful yet strangely soothing. Smells could be very powerful at times. She briefly wondered what happened to the heather flower she gave Flash during the last ball. Did he trow it away already? Was he fond of the smell like she was? I could ask him. Her brain reminded her. She was meaning to write the boy for some time now but so many things had happened and she was a bit nervous as well. What if he didn’t want her to write? It was a stupid assumption of course. Eun-ji was overthinking again and so before she could change her mind, the girl walked back to her father. As expected he was not on the phone but simply watched her wander around.

“Appa, do you have a paper and pen?” Her father raised his eyebrows though he looked relieved that she was interested in something else other than her recent loss. “Sure I have. What are you going to do? Sketch?” Eun-ji shook her head. It was not an unexpected conclusion since she did indeed enjoyed doing so when she was stressed but not today. “No…I think I want to write a letter to a friend.” The man nodded, wearing a hopeful smile. She didn’t talk about her friends from Hogwarts very often. The witch didn’t want her grandparents overhearing any names and her parents would likely never meet them anyway. She would be too scared to bring them to Chester. “Alright...” Edward dived into the small compartment at the passenger seat and fished out all she would need. “Take your time, I’ll wait here.” The Ravenclaw heard him rummage some more as she walked away but thought nothing of it until she heard a soft click. “Appa!” She didn’t like when someone took pictures of her. “What? You are barely there. This place made you want to write your friend; wouldn’t it be nice to attach some pictures as well?” Alright, he had a point but she could not admit that aloud. “Fine, but don’t take any more than that.” She replied grumpily.

Now that she was sitting in the grass with a piece of paper, she just had to figure out what to write to the Slytherin. She couldn’t really tell him all that was going on. He would worry about her if he knew and he had enough on his plate as it was. She’d have to be careful with her words. In all honesty, Eun-ji wanted to see the boy pretty badly ever since the dreadful ball at Hunts' manor. His presence was always incredibly comforting and he made her feel safe, like everything would be okay. That was just an impossible wish however. The letter would have to suffice for now.

END OF PART 5

Blue in English, Red in Korean IC Date: July 2022: Chester

Ye-jun could be a bit prickly at times since he was quite protective of his cousin but Charles took it in stride and even seemed to enjoy it sometimes. Why would he suffer the younger boy with such patience? He didn't do anything to deserve it. Eun-ji pondered said question ever since Ye-jun arrived to Chester and then it hit her. Ye-jun was the lost brother. Well not really… but apart from Kim, it was the closest thing he had to the lost boy. Perhaps their relationship used to be similar, often bickering without any malice. Ye-jun didn't seem to realize it just yet but Eun-ji could already see them becoming great friends. Something that pleased her greatly. She enjoyed hanging out with both of the boys and it would be truly excruciating if they didn't like each other.

“Stop being so stubborn. I know you like him.” The witch threw her cousin a dirty look. He was complaining about Charles again but none of his words really seemed to hit home. “I don't trust him. Your grandmother chose him, remember?” Eun-ji sighed at that. She could understand why he thought so and she still shared his opinion to some degree but nowhere near as much as she used to. “Yes and he is about as happy about it as I am. Be grateful that he decided to play pretend with me otherwise we wouldn't have a single moment of peace.” The boy huffed, looking a bit skeptical but didn't protest any further. “I'll see what I can do...” Eun-ji felt an immense relief upon hearing those words although perhaps she wouldn't have if she knew what was awaiting her in the future.

In theory, it was a good thing for the boys to find a common ground. In reality however, it got progressively more difficult for Eun-ji the closer they got. Both of them were pretty level headed and proper on their own but put together, they morphed into a rather annoying combo. Turned out they had left their mischievous sides unattended for far too long and now she was getting the burn of it. She’d only just written to Flash about how she was sure they would start playing pranks on her soon but she was mostly joking. Now however, it was clear she couldn't have been more right about that one. Even her food wasn't safe.

“Aish...so spicy.” She spit out the noodles back into her soup and looked at the two other occupants at the table. They were both snickering but still had the audacity to lie to her. “What? It tastes fine to me.” Charles asked feigning innocence. “Besides, you were the one to cook it.” It was obvious they weren't even trying. Charles was good with spicy food now thanks to her efforts but he was still nowhere near her or Ye-jun’s limit. “Nu-uh. You don’t play with food in this house. You want to play with food? Fine but you are doing the cooking from now on.” She pushed the cursed bowl away. “Let’s see how you do.” Immediately the two boys started to panic. Ye-jun was probably used to helping in the kitchen but that didn’t mean he could put together something edible and Charles? Charles was pretty much useless. He was the designated dishwasher if she let him help but otherwise he stayed out of her way.

“Wait no…It was Ye-jun’s idea.” That she could believe. Charles wouldn’t recognize Gochujang paste even if it hit him in the face. “You were eager to join him though.” Standing up, the Ravenclaw went to fetch the red paste herself, making sure to add plenty into the criminals' bowls as well. “And you'd better eat it all.” She warned them as she sat back down, watching both of them with a delighted grin. That would teach them a lesson. “Now you are just being mean.” Her cousin protested in vain. Eun-ji would not force them to finish the soup of course but they didn’t need to know that just yet. “Hush now…you suffer in silence.” As annoying as their collaboration was, she had to admit this was a bit fun. A semblance of normality in her otherwise awful summer. She could use more of such moments if she was being honest but instead the girl was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was truly draining way to live but she didn't dare to complain. It would only make things worse.

END OF PART 6

Blue in English, Red in Korean IC Date: August 2nd 2022

Today was not supposed to be special. She was going to visit her mother’s workplace again while the boys ventured outside. The two never accompanied her to either of the hospitals, apparently finding them too traumatising. Instead, Ye-jun took Charles out to play various sports. Something Eun-ji couldn't do for him since she practised ballet and tried to avoid any leg injuries. Perhaps he could teach me a little bit of figure skating eventually. An owl flew through the window successfully interrupting her morning thoughts. Eun-ji took the letter and gave the bird a treat for job well done. She wondered whether one of her friends thought to write her about their summer but found it rather unlikely. She had written to Flash recently but even if he decided to reply, she didn’t expect it to arrive this fast. Looking at the recipient though, the girl quickly realised the messenger made a mistake. This was not addressed to her but rather to her aunt. What a funny twist of fate. She huffed, slightly amused. Her grandmother enjoyed intercepting her mail all the time, perhaps karma finally decided to pay her back. Had it been anyone else besides the Hunts, Eun-ji would have never dared to open the envelope but as it was, she felt no remorse for her actions whatsoever. It was probably something stupid anyway.

Except…it wasn’t. Even as the Ravenclaw finished reading the letter her mouth still hang wide open. This was not some kind of notice or a letter from a friend. This was a letter from a secret lover. Not just any lover either. Marius Blake, the son of a family Mr Hunt couldn’t stand to be in the same room with. Some kind of old feud apparently. It was bad enough that she cheated on her husband but with a man her father hated? Now that was a bold move even for an airhead such as her aunt. Eun-ji looked at her bedside drawer. It used to be filled with pictures of Morgana but they had all been stolen recently. She didn’t doubt that was a work of the very same woman and it still made her furious. It was the only thing she had left to remember her friend by and she dared to take them away from her? Eun-ji was about to stoop down to her level and she didn’t know how to feel about it.

When the raven-haired girl waltzed into her aunt’s bedroom, without knocking no less, the woman already looked anxious. Did the two of them have some kind of arranged schedule for the letters? It would make sense, considering her parents would kill her if they found out. “Looking for this?” The blonde finally raised her head to look at the the Ravenclaw. Her expression was angry at first, no doubt furious that Eun-ji dared to step into her room without permission but once she spotted the envelope the anger was quickly replaced by sheer terror. Something the young witch never achieved before. She was pretty sure Annabelle Hunt feared her father as much she did but this finally fully confirmed said theory. “Why so scared? It seems lovely.” She said as she read a couple of lines from the paper. Annabelle swiped her arm in the air in a clear attempt to steal the letter but failed miserably. Falling back onto her bed, she started shaking. “Don’t bother. I made a copy. I thought it would be a shame if this one got lost. Other people should get a chance to appreciate the passion, no?”

In all honesty, Eun-ji was horrified. She was deeply ashamed of her actions yet she also enjoyed seeing the other woman squirm. She had shed many secret tears because of her and her family so it felt somewhat gratifying to be on the winning side for once. “What about your father? I heard he likes to read. Surely, he would appreciate this piece of art.” Her voice, filled with fake innocence didn’t waver. “What about it? Should I tell him?” Widening her eyes with excitement, the Ravenclaw watched Annabelle crumble in front of her. For once, she didn’t talk back. Instead, she shook her head violently, muffling her sobs before looking up. “You can’t. He’ll kill me if he finds out. You wouldn’t…” And Eun-ji wanted to believe that. She should have been so sure that she was not be capable of such thing but…the thing was, she wasn’t. Not anymore.

In all the stories she read, the protagonist always took the higher road, fought with honour and came out victorious. Sadly, this was not a fiction. This was her life and fighting while staying true to herself did nothing for her thus far. She was really trying to be the good person here but all she got in return was even more suffering. It didn't seem fair and she was kind of tired of it to be honest. Looking at her aunt now only reminded her of everything she had lost. She had accepted the fact that her paternal grandparents and Morgana wouldn’t be coming back but that didn't mean she made peace with it. After all, why should she? Eun-ji smiled wickedly. “Oh I don't know. I'll have to think about it.” She crumpled the letter in her hand as if to indicate that she had no intention of returning it. It could very well be her lifeline in the future. Hers or somebody’s dear to her heart.

Straitening her back, no longer feeling like she had to whisper, the witch gave her aunt a look that probably spoke volumes. “Perhaps you could do the same and think about why this is happening to you.” She was about to leave before pausing and turning to look at the blonde one last time. “Even saints lose their patience once in a while. I have plenty of it but you've been threading the line for far too long. Steal my things one more time and I might finally lose it.” Annabelle wiped her tears furiously. It appeared she was very much aware they no longer held any power over her niece. “Is that a warning?” She asked through gritted teeth. She looked like she was ready to bury her right there and then but Eun-ji had the upper hand now. The Hunts needed her and she was officially named their heir so Annabelle couldn’t touch her. It was both her curse and an armour. “No...” She paused watching her aunt relax a bit before finishing the thought. “…that is a threat.” And with those words the Ravenclaw finally left the room. She was feeling a bit sick yet entirely unapologetic. After all, this was what they made out of her... she was merely adapting to their own lifestyle.

END OF PART 7

Red in Korean, Other people: Violet in Korean

Ye-jun had to admit he warmed up to Charles fairly quickly. He seemed like a good person but the Beauxbatons student remained vigilant. He heard all about the ball where Eun-ji’s grandparents decided to announce their engagement. This made him very nervous however he didn’t get an opportunity to have a private conversation with his cousin since Charles was always around. Now that the boy had to return home for a day, Ye-jun decided it was as good a time as any to get some answers. The two cousins were playing Godori Korean Go-stop game and Eun-ji was winning. He didn’t doubt she played it a thousand times with their grandparents so it was unlikely he would beat her but he didn’t mind. The wizard just wanted her happy.

“Alright, I admit defeat…” Ye-jun finally broke the silence. Eun-ji raised her eyebrows at that, obviously assuming he was talking about the game and therefore stating the obvious. “…about Charles I mean.” He clarified. “Don’t get me wrong I still don’t trust him one hundred percent but I think he is being genuine.” The witch nodded, seemingly satisfied with his proclamation. He was half expecting to be reprimanded for his persistent distrust but no such thing happened. It appeared his cousin was still a bit apprehensive about her fiancé as well. In fact, it felt like she was grew to be apprehensive about a lot of things these days and Ye-jun hated it. She didn’t seem to trust others like she used to. Her newfound family did her dirty and she carried it with her like a dark heavy burden. It was dragging her down but he didn’t know how to help her. “He is a good company.” Eun-ji finally spoke out.

Before Ye-jun got a chance to start asking the difficult questions, their conversation was interrupted by his uncle, who was just leaving for work. He looked pleased to see his daughter taking a moment to breathe for once. “Having fun?” He asked with a smile while pulling something out of his pocket. “Ye-jun ah…you remember my request, right? Today might be a good day to do it.” And with those words, he handed the Beauxbatons student a golden key. Eun-ji looked rightfully confused but Ye-jun did indeed understand what was being asked of him. They've talked about this on the day he arrived to Chester. “Sure, sounds good.” He confirmed with a smile, getting a gentle pat on his shoulder in return “Good, I’ll see you kids later then.” Ye-jun knew his cousin would have million questions but he interrupted her before she could ask anything. This was supposed to be a surprise after all. “No, just follow me. I’ll explain everything when we get there.”

It took a mere couple of minutes to reach their intended destination. The journey was familiar but their goal was nearly unrecognizable. It was quite shocking sight even for him, who had not been here for five years. He couldn’t even imagine what it felt like for Eun-ji, who had seen this place as her second home. “Oh my God.” Ye-jun nodded, looking at the white greenhouse in an absolute awe. “Let me guess…my father did it?” The boy nodded. “Yeah, he told me he didn’t feel like building a new house that would replace his childhood home but knew you loved helping grandma with her garden. He figured you would like this.” Handing her the golden key from the beautiful building filled with flowers, Ye-jun had let her take the lead. This was supposed to be her safe haven after all. “He hired a professional to start the whole thing and they will be taking care of the garden when you are at school but over the summer, it is your responsibility. I think he wanted to show you himself but...” He paused there not really sure if he should finish the sentence.

Red in Korean, Other people: Violet in Korean

“But he couldn’t bring himself to come here.” Eun-ji finished her cousin’s sentence. She understood of course. It was enough that he had to come here to clean the house and then watch strangers raze it to the ground. He needed a break from the constant reminder that his parents were no longer around. Well grandpa was she supposed but the state he was in only added to her father’s worries. “That’s okay. He did it for me…I don’t need a handover ceremony to understand its meaning.” Because it had one. Sure, she liked to help her grandma in the garden but that alone was not a reason to build a huge garden and a greenhouse for her. No. This was her escape from both, her relatives and the painful reality that was slowly consuming her carefree childhood spirit. The witch was pretty sure her father would join her here eventually but he needed time and she was going to give him as much as he needed. “Come on then. There is a lot to do and I believe you had some questions for me?” Ye-jun gave her a sheepish grin. Guilty as charged then. It was not really that hard to tell. All those looks and his little speech during their Godori games...He was obviously eager to talk to her.

Eun-ji smiled as she reached the lavender section. Perhaps she could pluck some of the flowers and dry them. Give them to someone special? “Let's grab a hose and help these little guys, alright? You can talk to me as we work.” A butterfly flew through the opened doors as she said this. Once again, she was reminded of Elspeth but it was merely a fleeting thought. A fond memory at best. She had lost far too much to mourn her first Hogwarts friend. Granted, they were best friends but while Eun-ji used to miss her dearly in the past, now she was glad not to have her around still. One more person that would be safe, far away from her treacherous family. Noticing Ye-jun reaching up to touch the insect, she gently slapped his hand away. “Oppa...you are not a kid. Leave the butterfly alone.” Her cousin grinned, finally walking to the other side of the glass sanctuary to check the hose as she instructed. "I kind of am though.”[/color][/b] Technically, he was not wrong. They were both teenagers now but they were still young. Just because she didn't feel like one didn't mean she could take that away from others people as well. “So? What did you want to talk about?” The girl asked instead, inspecting the plants for any weed that might prevent them from growing well.

“Charles actually.” Eun-ji raised her eyebrow at that. Didn’t he just say the older boy was slowly growing on him? “I mean...obviously I wanted to talk about your horrendous family but I have yet to figure out what to say to be honest. I think I finally understand why you feel so trapped here but I don’t know how to help so I’m not going to poke at those wounds just yet.” The witch clenched her teeth at the uncomfortable topic. At least he wasn’t going to elaborate for now. “I was just wondering…I know you two decided to play the charade so your grandparents give you a break but have you ever considered that he might actually fall in love with you?” The girl turned around watching her cousin struggle to turn the water on and sighed. This is just so stupid. “Alright, let me do this one. You take care of the weeds. I know you’ve been helping your mother in the garden so you should know what to do.” Ye-jun threw her a dirty look but ultimately handed her the watering device and exchanged their spot without much arguing.

It didn't take long to figure out how the watering system worked. She supposed he was just too nervous about his inquiry to focus on figuring it out. “We are just friends.” She answered simply once the first drops of water fell onto the ferns in front of her. “Says you...you don't know what he thinks...and even if that doesn't happen. What will you do once you turn eighteen?” Eun-ji shrugged at that. “It doesn't matter. I don't see him that way. Even if he does for some incomprehensible reason fall for me, marriage is a two people affair. He can't decide anything on his own and well...once I'm eighteen, I will be done with school and free to live my life however I want. They can't keep me prisoner forever. They couldn't do it with my mother and I don't intend on letting them either.” It was perhaps a too optimistic way to look at things but it would do her no good to lose all hope. She still had some fight left in her.

Ye-jun hummed seemingly lost in thought before grinning like a fox. “You sound pretty sure about that. Is it because you already have someone you like?” The Ravenclaw was horrified. She was glad he had chosen to lighten the mood but this was not it. They were not talking crushes, especially since he could very well meet hers given his frequent visits to Hogwarts. No...nope...not a chance. “No,” she repeated her inner thoughts aloud. Perhaps sounding a little too forceful about it. “I have no time for such things. I'm also in no position to fall in love right now.” Her cousin was still smiling. Why was he still smiling? “Ye-jun, I'm warning you...” The warning however, clearly flew straight over his head. “Ooh you so do...who is it? Your Fall ball date? What was his name?” He paused only for a few moments. “Ah...Aaron.” Eun-ji frowned. She cared about the Hufflepuff a great deal but they were just friends and he had a lovely girlfriend now. Aly was perfect for him. A little ray of sunshine. Something she could never be now. “No...and stop making assumptions about my friendships. I swear...” The Beauxbatons student didn’t let her finish and poked his head from behind the shelf housing a number of baby Petunias. “Ha….how about the handsome fellow from the Spring ball then? The one you decided to play hero for? Surely, he must mean a lot to you.” He asked cheekily. “Lee Ye-jun!” He was not entirely wrong about that one, which was precisely why she had to stop this conversation.

“That’s it…I warned you.” Eun-ji said as she turned around splashing her cousin right in the face. “You better run now.” And as she said this she started chasing him, around the greenhouse. The boy laughed, trying to shield himself from the cold water but it was a lost battle and he knew it. It was ridiculous really but Eun-ji finally felt like a child again. Even if it was just for a few moments, she would take it.

END OF PART 8b

Blue in English, Red in Korean IC Date: August 13th, 2022: Chester

Eun-ji wasn’t supposed to go to the hospital today yet that's precisely what she decided to do. Not because she felt like she didn’t go enough but because it was Gilbert’s birthday. He was scheduled to go home a week prior before his condition suddenly worsened and doctors decided he had to stay a bit longer. Thankfully, he was deemed well enough to go home this afternoon so she thought it might be nice to see him off. The boys were very understanding when she told them about her plan but once again opted not to join her. Instead, they would go to a close by park to play some football. “We’ll see you later then.” Ye-jun bid her a quick goodbye before running off. Clearly eager for some exercise.

The Ravenclaw left the house soon after. She only stopped in a local bakery to buy a small cake on her way to the hospital. It would be terribly rude not having something to share with the young patient and perhaps some others… provided it did not clash with their diets of course. Well…I can always offer it to the nurses if Gilbert's roommates can’t have any. The building seemed awfully quiet when she entered it. She briefly wondered whether she should go and say hi to her father first but eventually decided against the idea. He was not expecting her and he hated being disturbed during his working hours. She barely reached the correct corridor when an angry scream cut through the deadly silence. A patient was being wheeled in by the paramedic but he didn’t seem very eager to get help. This unfortunately happened quite often, especially with drunk and violent people. She watched the medical staff struggle with the man and wondered whether she should help. Her father taught her not to throw herself into dangerous situations unless absolutely necessary but at times like these, it was hard to listen. In a way, it was his own fault. Her brain was wired to offer assistance after seeing him and his mother doing just that all the time.

Eun-ji took one step closer, still a bit hesitant. She was promptly stopped dead in her tracks when the injured man stole a scalpel from one of the doctors and started swinging it around. He was clearly confused and completely out of it but eventually managed to hit his target. The girl didn’t see where the blow landed but the blood splashed all over her, making her take a step back immediately. The doctor’s hold on the patient loosened, stumbling into her. Luckily by this time, the commotion brought more staff to the scene so she knew the doctor would be taken care off swiftly. Among others, her own father appeared as well, looking extremely confused and surprised. “What are you doing here? Are you hurt?” He exclaimed urgently. Eun-ji shook her head, not trusting herself to speak just yet. Some of the nurses looked their way. They knew her well and seemed concerned however, there was no time to check on her as they still didn’t have the situation under control. Edward frowned and looked around. “Alright, get the inpatients back to their rooms.” When his daughter still didn’t move, he rised his voice a little. “Now!” This was enough to wake her from her stupor. “Okay,” she nodded, ignoring the confused looks of many people present. Apparently that was a cue for her father to turn around and finally go help where he was most needed.

Only when Eun-ji finally turned away from the scene did she notice all of the doors on the corridor were indeed open and filled with curious patients. It was dangerous for them to linger there. “Everybody inside!” She started ushering the crowd away. “Let the doctors do their job.” She was on autopilot but even to her own ears, she sounded quite confident. Not to mention she was a well-known face around here and so the patients didn’t protest her efforts. The room that was her initial goal came last and a young boy pulled her in quickly while the rest of the patients shrank back to safety. “You okay?” He asked cautiously. Some of the older women present shook their heads disapprovingly. “Honestly, I have nothing but great admiration for Doctor Lee but sometimes I question his methods when it comes to you.” Mrs. Hwang was wise but this she didn’t understand. Her father knew her well and he did precisely what he was supposed to do in that situation. Eun-ji wasn’t someone who found peace in being comforted...she was not used to that, rather she needed something to do when crisis occurred. Having a task to focus on helped her a great deal. “I’m okay. A bit surprised but okay.” She confirmed calmly. “I’m so sorry Gil…I hoped to celebrate your birthday before you go home but I think I dropped the cake amidst the chaos.” The boy shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I’m pretty sure I’ll get another one from my parents. It is a shame the day got ruined though. I think you should go back and have a shower but maybe you could take me to the parking lot? We can talk a bit on the way though I might have to explain to my parents that you are not a murderer.” The Ravenclaw chuckled at that however it lacked the usual mirth. She was still a bit shaken. “Sure but let’s wait for the things to quiet down first.”

Gilbert’s parents were rightly shocked by the sight of her but after learning about the situation, they pat her back and offered her a ride home. Eun-ji wanted to refuse but her little friend insisted so she gave in. It would be rather awkward to take public transport in her current state anyway. They talked a lot on the way and while wondered whether they would meet next summer as well. He looked much better now but there was no guarantee how long that would last. She supposed as much as her life sucked right now, there were still others who suffered so much more than she did. Perhaps she should stop feeling sorry for herself. “Well…thank you for the ride and happy birthday Gilbert. I’ll see you when I’ll see you, okay?” After all, who could tell when that would be. “Yup…enjoy your shower!” Eun-ji huffed in amusement as she got out of the car. He was truly something, wasn’t he?

When she got home, the house was still devoid of humans but there was a familiar owl waiting sitting on the window. “Hey there little one. Did you wait long?” She asked with a tired smile. It was a tough day but she was overjoyed to receive a letter from Flash. She considered replying after washing up but she was too eager to read it. “Pardon my appearance. Here, have some treat while I mess things up a little.” She bribed the bird first before sitting down. The words on the paper made her strangely giddy. She was happy just hearing from the boy but he was actually interested in seeing her performance? She knew it was not a good idea to invite him to Chester but she couldn’t help it. Who knows…maybe he is just being nice and won’t actually show up. She pretended to be okay with said outcome but she already knew how disappointed she’d be if that happened. It was pretty selfish of her to bring him here but after today, didn’t she deserve a little treat for once?

Later that night, her father would praise her quick reaction and ability to keep calm given the situation at hand. He also asked her if it deterred her from ever becoming a surgeon should she even consider it an option. “No...it's not the first time I experienced something so horrible. Horrible things happen all the time and one angry man can't affect my resolution. If I want to follow in your footsteps in the future, I will.” Edward seemed pleased with her reply and didn't poke into the subject any further. Lees didn't talk feelings and today would be no exception.

END OF PART 9