Shu never thought that he would encounter that special hair from such a close distance. That long blue hair shone brightly, the girl lowered her head, her index finger gently stroking the head of a jet-black Horned Serpent. Shu stood close enough to hear the soft hiss coming from the girl. Her body exuded light yellow magic, so warm.

Ivy Eveland. A strange existence. Shu had seen her many times at Hogwarts. When Ivy would almost vanish into thin air, no one would realize she was there. When Ivy always crouched in the corner of the room, when she read a book, when she rested under a tree, or when Ivy sneaked into the greenhouse. No one noticed she was there, Ivy seemed invisible to everyone.

But Shu always sensed her somewhere. The magic that always radiates from Ivy is very beautiful, very warm, like caresses, hugs full of love. But that feeling is also very fragile, it seems that it will disappear immediately.

"I didn't know you knew Parseltongue." Shu saw Ivy's body stiffen at the sound of his voice. She was too focused on the Horned Serpent to notice that he had been quietly standing in the Apothecacy long enough to observe her every move. "A Parselmouth?"

Ivy did not answer. She quietly withdrew her hand that was stroking the dangerous creature that was the birthday present his father had given him in return. The snake rose to its feet when Ivy left, it leaned forward, as if wanting to slither out of the glass cage that was locking it up, chasing after her. Ivy used her index finger, gently pressing its tip back in, she hissed softly. Shu didn't even need to understand Parseltongue to know that she was telling it not to move.

"It seems to like you."

"It's just lonely." Ivy whispered in reply. Her golden eyes shone with a soft light. Ivy stroked the snake's head again, then withdrew her hand completely. She closed the lid of the glass cage, preventing it from escaping. "It's been a long time since anyone talked to him."

"It's a pity." Shu said indifferently, he shrugged. "Even if he comes with me, I can't talk to him."

Ivy froze, she looked up at Shu. It was the first time they faced each other like this. Shu quietly looked at the girl who was trying to hide under the black robe. She looked... tired, exhausted. Ivy's face was pale, and her golden eyes glittered as if she couldn't hide her fatigue. Shu could smell the weariness that Ivy's magic was exuding in the air. It was running out, and somehow it still managed to sustain this girl's life.

"Are you... the owner of it?"

Ivy quietly looked at the snake in the cage and asked Shu.

"Birthday present." Shu replied. Giving a most dangerous creature as a birthday present to his son, Aldophus Yamino is truly a good father. Shu thought sarcastically, but his face showed no emotion. "So what are you doing here?"

Ivy was startled, her eyes widening as she looked at Shu as if she didn't think he would ask about her. That's right, they're not friends, not even acquaintances. Ivy is... too mysterious. The only thing he knew about her was that Ivy had an older brother, who died in battle two years ago and was awarded the First Order Medal for his service.

And there was also the fact that she was like him, an unwelcome Slytherin. An Eveland, but belonging to the House of darkness, of evil and of bad things. A blood traitor. Shu wonders what her life is like when her brother is honored as a hero, and she has to live with the hatred of everyone. Shu couldn't help but chuckle, at least he wasn't the only one who had to endure those stupid sleepless taunts every day at Hogwarts.

"I need the ingredients to make a potion." Ivy spoke quietly, turning her head to look at the snake again, speaking softly. "Don't forget to feed it. It loves magic."

"Ah, magical food, of course." Shu nodded, not seeming surprised that the Horned Serpent preferred magical food to normal food. It is a dangerous, powerful and mysterious creature. "Any other advice?"

Ivy blinked, seemingly unable to keep up with what Shu said. He frowned slightly, she looked like she was about to faint. He instinctively walked over, gently placing his hand on Ivy's shoulder, feeling her magic swirl around his fingertips. Strong, and weak at the same time. Ivy needs help. But he wondered if he could give her that help when he himself needed it.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Ivy replied. "Just lack of sleep."

Nightmares. Shu could easily understand the meaning behind those words. Nightmares are like a poison that eats people alive. Nightmares haunt them, make them irresistible, uncontrollable, make them thin, draining their magic day by day. What is now after those terrifying days, probably just an empty corpse with no soul, no breath or magic.

"I need to go." Ivy said softly, she avoided Shu's hand. Before leaving, Ivy saw Shu open the snake's glass door, he saw her pursed her lips, then spoke quietly. "Don't touch the tail, it... doesn't like that."

Shu nodded, raised his hand so that the snake crawled onto his arm, it wrapped around his wrist, then raised his head to look at Ivy walking out the door. Hisses rang in Shu's ears and he saw her stop.

'Come visit me.'

Ivy turned her head. Her golden eyes shone with a gentle light. And Ivy answered. 'I can't. You must go with your master.'

"Did it tell you to visit?"

Ivy froze, and Shu thought for a moment that she thought he could understand what Ivy and the snake in his arm were saying. But in reality, he didn't understand, but based on their attitudes, he could make some guesses.

Ivy nodded, softly speaking. "Yes, but I can't."

"I can bring it to you."

Ivy froze, but asked quietly. "Will you?"

Ivy's voice was filled with doubt mixed with...hope. Shu nodded, he raised his index finger, following Ivy's stroke of the head of the snake lying in his hand. Shu could go to Ivy, because no one would want to find someone who was an apprentice of the Dark Lord in the past. No one will find him, but he can find other people. Because Shu needed a way out, and he thought... he thought he'd get what he wanted.

'I'll find you.'

Ivy smiled. Shu didn't understand what the snake said, but this was the first time he saw her smile like that. Filled with warmth, joy, and affection. Is there still a person in this world who can laugh at such a dangerous mystical creature? Ivy Eveland, what a strange existence.

'Goodbye.'

Ivy didn't need to hear Shu answer her question, but already walked away. Shu understood, she didn't think he would come. And for her, when he said that question, it was just idle words.

Ivy heard the sounds again. The sound of magic. She sat quietly at the dining table, the last time Ivy had a comfortable breakfast with her godfather, she had soon forgotten. Ivy took her cup of hot milk and took a sip. Her golden eyes slowly studied the man sitting in front of her.

Phil. How long has this man not slept? Phil's brown hair was disheveled, and his cloak looked old and wrinkled. Ivy put down the cup, watching Phil's gray eyes lock on the breakfast in front of her. She clutched the spoon in her hand, looking down at her plate of pumpkin soup, feeling like not eating today as well.

She wondered what nightmares were devouring his mind and soul today. Ivy could hear it, the soft cries of magic ringing in her ears. As the black lights became clearer, as they tightened their grip on Phil's body. Ivy felt so tired, she wondered how much longer she could endure this.

Godfather is not alone struggling, neither is Ivy. She didn't think that this weak body could withstand the extra pressure. Ivy looked at her skinny little wrists, underneath the wrists that were sticking out of her robes, Ivy could see the scars appearing on her hands. She frowned, Ivy needed to make more potions quickly. Ivy looked into Phil's lifeless eyes and quietly dropped the spoon. She stood up and calmly left the dining room.

"Robin." Ivy called softly, and the man reading the newspaper in the living room startled. Ivy saw Robin's brown eyes looking at her, he's tired, but the smile on his face was still there, that warm and familiar light still on his face. "I'm done eating."

"Ah, would you like to have tea with me?" Ivy shook her head at Robin's invitation. She turned her head to look in the direction of the dining room, where Phil was out of sight. Robin followed her gaze, stifling a sigh. "Why don't you go out?"

"Go out?"

Ivy mechanically asked back, she was a bit dumbfounded, turning her head to look at Robin. He smiled, stood up, and walked over to her, Robin's thin, scarred hand patting Ivy's head. She stiffened slightly, but quickly relaxed when she felt the familiar warmth that Robin's magic brought.

"That's right. Going for a walk is also a good idea."

Ivy nodded. Take a walk? She didn't think she needed to go for a walk right now, but she wouldn't miss her chance to go outside. Ivy needed to find a place to work on her potion, and it's not a good idea to continue doing it in the house when there's already another person here.

Ivy pulled on her hood, she wasn't too fond of people noticing her hair. Too prominent. Ivy walked to the main door, just as she was about to push the door open, it when Robin's voice rang again.

"He'll be fine. He just needs... time."

Ivy didn't answer, she continued walking, as the door slammed shut behind her. Ivy wondered if Robin was comforting her or was he comforting himself. The war took away too many things from them, and left them with many things. Loss, suffering, tears, physical and mental scars. And the wounds may never heal. Ivy wondered, how many people in the world need time.

But time did not wait for them, nor did time wait for Ivy when she decided to step on this path.

"What are you doing?"

Ivy paused, blinked, turned her head and saw Shu Yamino standing outside the garden fence. She could see the black snake wrapped around his shoulder. Shu stood there, hands clasped behind his back, his white shirt and black trousers making him look mature. Shu's black hair hangs down, unlike when he was at school, he always brushed it up. Shu's purple eyes were quiet, watching her every move.

Ivy tilted her head, glanced at the rusty padlock she was holding in her hand, sighed, then asked calmly.

"Do you have a hairpin there?"

"A what?" Shu's voice rose slightly, sounding sarcastic, but Ivy could feel the amusement in his voice. "Do I look like someone who needs a hairpin?"

Ivy shrugged. She glanced at Shu's slightly long hair, wondering what he would look like with a comma hairstyle, with his sideburns secured with clips. She bet there would be a lot of girls, and even boys at Hogwarts would fall in love with his looks.

"Well, a hairpin is a good tool for unlocking locks."

Ivy calmly replied. Shu snorted, revealing a smile on the corner of his lips. From his pocket, he pulled out a folding knife. Ivy watched Shu's pale fingers spin the knife in his hand, then walked towards her. She saw the black snake slither down from Shu's shoulder, and crawl towards Ivy as he approached. Shu knelt down, looked at the padlock in front of them, then picked the lock with the tip of his knife, after a few seconds there was a click, and the lock fell to the ground.

"Not everyone carries a hairpin to open a lock, Eveland."

Ivy glanced at the folding knife in Shu's hand, said nothing, she instinctively stroked the black snake's head as it wrapped around Ivy's neck, then lay motionless. A necklace that looks scary and dangerous. She looked at the smile on Shu's face, got up and pushed open the warehouse door, Ivy reached out to flip the switch, the weak light hanging from the ceiling blinked a few times and then lit up.

"Not everyone carries a folding knife, either."

Ivy whispered back. Shu stood leaning against the door's frame, watching Ivy enter the old warehouse, which has been abandoned since... probably a long time. The furniture inside was covered with dust, and a moldy vapor filled the air, and Shu saw her take out a shrunken box from the pocket of her robe. When Ivy put her hand on it, the box returned to its original shape, a chest, filled with potion tools.

"Why are you here?"

"It asked to come to you." Ivy saw Shu nod his head towards the black snake wrapped around her neck. She heard him enter the room, and the door slammed shut behind them. "He hasn't eaten or moved in a few days, I guess you can help me with this."

"I didn't ask about that." Ivy calmly replied, she dropped her silver cauldron on the floor. Ivy's golden eyes looked up at Shu and slowly continued. "How did you know I was here?"

Shu smiled, his back pressed to the door, maintaining distance between the two of them. Shu knew that Ivy might not like him, and he wasn't too fond of being around her. The two of them have never been in a relationship before. And for some reason, since returning from Apocathecy, Shu wanted to see this girl again. So many mysteries, so many secrets, and so many things Ivy is hiding. And Shu was curious.

"Portkey."

"Portkey?" Ivy tilted her head, looking like she was thinking. Then she lowered her head, looking down at the head of the Horned Serpent that was lying on her shoulder, hissing in Parseltongue. "Did you bring him here?"

"Smoke said he would take me to see you, and I brought him."

Ivy sighed. She accidentally gave this snake a taste of her magic while in Acapothecy. And so there was a connection between her and Shu Yamino's pet, and as long as it could sense her magic, it would always find her anywhere. And with a bite on the Portkey, it would easily bring its owner to her. Ivy wondered what she was thinking at that moment when she gave this snake a taste of her magic.

"Green. Warmth, tenderness and life." The snake hissed with every sound. And Ivy could feel Shu's gaze on his body, he stood there, like a predator watching its prey carefully. "Your magic is great."

"Thank." Ivy hissed in response. "What's your name? Has he given you a name yet?"

"Didn't like that name." The snake hissed every now and then, it raised its head, looking at Shu, looking very hostile. "You should give me a new name."

"Does it want to bite me?" Ivy raised her head to look at Shu, and she saw him leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest and watching the snake warily. "It doesn't look happy, and looks like it wants to attack me."

Ivy snorted, she smiled softly, stroking the Horned Serpent's head. "He said he hated the name you gave him."

Shu raised an eyebrow, straightened up, and walked over to Ivy. He crossed his arms across his chest, looked at the snake, and answered. "I have to say I think the name Nimue is pretty."

"Can I bite him?"

Ivy laughed, pressing down on the snake's upright head, she said cheerfully. "No, you can't." She raised her head, met Shu's eyes, and was a bit dumbfounded. His eyes are really beautiful. Shu's purple eyes are a very attractive point, they are always sparkling, and full of magic. Ivy glanced behind Shu, she blinked, under the dim light in the warehouse, Ivy saw a bony hand resting on Shu's shoulder. "But... Nimue doesn't seem like a good idea."

Shu raised an eyebrow, and Ivy suddenly felt that the move looked adorable. She flashed a smile, he was clearly looking unhappy that both his pet and hers refused to accept the name he had decided on.

"Well, he doesn't really like it."

"Since when do we have to ask our pet what name we give it?"

We? Ivy froze, suddenly feeling that she couldn't keep up with Shu's train of thought. Apparently not noticing her surprise, Shu pressed his index finger to the snake's head the way Ivy usually does, said curtly.

"Then why don't you ask him what his favorite name is?"

"You choose one." Ivy was a little awkward, she looked at the snake's jet-black eyes looking at her, and Shu's gaze was on her. Ivy sighed, gently explaining. "Master has to name you... Nimue? I don't have that right."

"I'll bite him to death." The snake hissed coldly. "Then you can be my master."

"Do not." Ivy sighed, rubbing her temples. "It wants me to name it."

Shu didn't look too surprised by her words, he crossed his arms over his chest, looked at her, and then said. "Then what's your idea?"

"Um... Lethifold?"

"Lethifold?" Shu laughed at Ivy's suggestion, raised his index finger, shook it in front of her, and said calmly. "I decline."

"Lethifold, I like it."

"But you traitor, you like that name, don't you?" Shu rolled his eyes. It's not hard to understand the snake's attitude towards Ivy as it immediately rose, slamming its head on her chin as Ivy said the name. "But Lethifold is a very ugly creature."

"But Nimue sounds like an insult towards a Horned Serpent." Ivy whispered, Shu could see that she was trying so hard not to pout. And then he smelled an unfamiliar scent that was beginning to swirl around his nose. When Ivy's finger glowed softly and she touched Lethifold 's head. The smell of Ivy's magic. "And yes, it likes that name."

Ivy raised her head, she saw Shu's eyes and instinctively wanted to take a step back. Shu was looking at her with a very strange, and somewhat curious look. Lethifold slithered his body, and, having tasted Ivy's magic, seemingly satisfied, curled himself around Ivy's neck, lying down.

"Yamino...?"

"Shu." Shu immediately corrected Ivy's words. He frowned, the name Yamino bringing up a lot of bad stuff. And Shu doesn't like people calling him by that name. His purple eyes looked down at the cauldron Ivy had taken out, he asked quietly. "What are you making?"

"Glamourous Potion." Ivy nodded, answering. She took out a parchment from a box and passed it to Shu. Above is the full list of materials as well as how to make this poison. She watched him quickly read through the information on it, while she cleared a wooden table to lay out the ingredients. "And I need a safe place to make it."

"Breaking into an abandoned warehouse isn't a bad idea." Shu smiled faintly, giving back the instruction manual for Ivy. "But this level is quite similar to N.E.W.T."

"Yes, it is."

Ivy whispered, she lay out a lot of ingredients on the table. Ivy knew that this was a very difficult potion to make, Ivy glanced at her wrist, but she needed it. And Ivy will continue to make it until she succeeds.

"Need any help?"

Ivy was surprised, she blinked, turning to look at Shu. He stood beside the cauldron, looking at Ivy. She wondered if she had heard wrong.

"Of course, I want a bottle of this potion."

Ivy smiled, nodding slightly. "It will be excellent if you can help."

Shu shrugged, walked over to the table, conveniently holding parchment sheets with detailed instructions on how to prepare ingredients.

"Then let's get to work."

Ivy felt a strange magic swirling around her body, she looked up at Shu's shoulder, that bony hand seemed to hide in front of her eyes. But his magic... was strangely warm. Ivy lowered her head to look at the ingredients in front of her, and replied softly.

"You can call me Ivy."

Because, I don't like the name Eveland either.