Disclaimer: I don't own Mai hime/Mai Otome. I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: umm. A big thank you to Anon, chum-sa, karai-san, 0mauie0, guest, guest123, leeyou, Lagar, Shadowcub, Romanica, nooneyouknow, twenty-six whitewave, dancingfirestar, nomask, clara76120. For reviewing my 'Sweet, sweet revenge' story. Some of you begged for a sequel but I have no confidence in writing smut right now. Maybe some other time. So here is the prequel? I'm not very familiar in writing first person POV, so please point out any mistakes. you can read this as part of the world in Sweet, sweet revenge, or treat it as a completely different story, I might continue this depending on whether people want me to or not. Maybe I"ll write a one shot in Natsuki's POV for sweet, sweet revenge.

This prequel will be about Natsuki in her 3rd year, and meeting Shizuru for the first time. This is written in Natsuki's POV.

Spells will be in italics

Warnings: Contains swearing, underlying sexual themes, alternative universe, and out of character. Don't reprimand me for spelling 'mommy' as 'mummy', they're in England not in America.

The School Healer

By S

"Mummy will miss you, so, so much!"

My mother and little sister are currently sobbing onto my newly brought robes. This is all happening at platform nine and three-quarters. My Hufflepuff friends and their relatives are glancing at us, all looking amused. I don't even know why they're crying, I swear this happens every single time. It's not like I'll be gone forever, I go home every break, and it'll only be another few weeks till I see them again.

"Mother, Alyssa, I'll be home in a few weeks," I try again, while keeping a close eye on Mikoto. She is currently staring at the train in awe; I don't think she has ever seen a train. I don't blame her; she grew up in a shrine. At least she is not running away in curiosity. I spent three days looking for her last week because she was chasing a bird.

My mother is shaking her head at me, "Five weeks is too long!" and Alyssa is sniffling loudly again now that my mother mentioned it.

I want to roll my eyes, but I can't really blame them. Ever since father died, I've been the acting figure of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Kruger. I don't think I'm feeling any better to see my best friend and her mother cry with each other. Perhaps muggle-borns are more sensitive? I have no idea. My best friend and her mother are currently living with my family, my mother said something about single mothers needing to stick together.

Today, I'm starting Hogwarts for my third year. I had quite an eventful summer, my family and I went to Japan to greet a relative and bring her to England. If I don't lose Mikoto on the way from platform to train, it should be her first day at Hogwarts.

"Okay, I have to go," I pull myself off the crying women, both of them protesting. "Take care of yourself, please. Alyssa, please look after mother."

Alyssa sniffling, holding onto my mother, "Of course, come on, mother," she says, almost coldly with her nose held high.

Sometimes, I'm so thankful I have a mature sister. I have no idea what my mother is going to do when Alyssa comes to Hogwarts next year. Perhaps cry with Nao's mother instead.

I look around and see that my best friend had finally stopped crying.

"Let's go, Natsuki," Nao says, striding towards me. If I didn't know better, it was kind of hard to believe that she was just sobbing like her pet died. Her voice is still slightly nasal from all the crying. Her eyes are almost as red as her obnoxious red hair. This summer she dyed her black hair fully bright red. She said she wanted to look like some guy in a Japanese music picture on her top-lap. Or lap-a-top. Whatever muggles use these days. But I doubt it. It's probably just puberty.

I'm walking to the train dragging my trunk with Nao beside me.

"Sis, where is Mikoto?" My little sister asks before I go into the train.

I frown and look around the platform. Oh, dammit. That little brat is nowhere to be found, I really don't want to spend another three days looking for her.

"She went on the train already," my best friend says, "Oh, and Mai said she'll meet us in there."

I'm not sure how she managed to talk to Mai when she was crying, or even see Mikoto. But I sigh with relief anyway.

Mai is one of my close friends. She is some sort of princess from Japan, I'm not very sure. I met her on my first train ride to Hogwarts and she had been so clingy that now we're friends. I think it's because I told her I'm half Japanese. I wanted to introduce Mikoto to her but Mai was nowhere to be found when we got on the platform.

I say goodbye to my crying family and got onto the train.

"Here, take my trunk, I'll go look for Mikoto," I transfigured my trunk to a lighter weight, giving it to Nao.

"Okay, " she says without a witty comment, probably still upset for leaving her mother, "I'll go look for Mai's compartment."

I was about to knock on the first compartment till I heard the group of Gryffindors from my year.

"Tate," I hear the guy whine, "have you seen Natsuki?"

I knew instantly who it was so I quickly turned to knock on another compartment. The guy whining in there had been annoying me for the past three years; he says he's in love with me but he has never held a proper conversation with me without blushing and calling me pretty. Shallow bastard.

By now I've checked most of the compartments, there is just two left, one is locked and the other one isn't. Knowing my luck, Mikoto must be in the locked compartment. I didn't spend a whole summer with her without learning anything about her. I still remember the day she locked herself in the toilet for a whole day. She said something about shrines not having such 'pretty' toilets. I shudder to imagine the toilets they use.

I use the unlocking charm at least three times on the door and it finally opens. Instead of seeing Mikoto, there is just one blonde lady in the compartment.

"I'm so sorry– " I apologise half way till I realise the lady is asleep. No wonder the compartment door was locked. Surprisingly, I haven't seen her at Hogwarts before, and she looks more like a sixth year instead of a first year. She is wearing some sort of muggle clothing that Nao wears. A one piece white dress with a pink cardigan.

Unfortunately I was too loud with the door so she groaned and moved her legs, her dress suddenly riding up her long...bare...legs.

The legs are really pale, I don't think I've ever seen such smooth, flawless looking skin...I almost want to touch –

Merlin! What on earth am I thinking?!

I quickly look up and instead I notice the smooth line of her jaw, her bare clavicle to the gradual swell of her –

"Hmm?" A drowsy, half-awake voice interrupts and I quickly avert my eyes, feeling guilty for no reason.

I look up to see the brightest chestnut coloured eyes I have ever seen. The sunlight from the window is giving her eyes a slight velvet tinge. She sits up straight, smooths out her cardigan and pulls her dress back down her legs.

I feel my face heat up involuntarily and I quickly apologise, "I'm so sorry! I'm in the wrong compartment – "

"Clearly, " she cuts me off, sounding slightly amused.

I frown, realising she just rudely interrupted my apology, but it was still my fault for entering her compartment uninvited.

"Yes, I'm really sorry about – "

"I thought I locked the door," she interrupts again, sounding slightly confused.

"Again, I'm very – "

"I placed a very powerful locking charm," she looks thoughtful.

I frown, feeling my patience wearing thin, not sure if she is complimenting me or reprimanding me, "Yes, I'm very – "

"I was having a very nice dream, " she interrupts again. I feel all the blood rush to my face when I remembered her groaning. I really don't want to know what kind of dream she was having.

"I'm really so– "

"Now, I'm feeling cold with all the cold air you are letting in, " she pouts at me.

I swear she is either clueless or purposely teasing me!

My temper finally snaps, "Will you please let me finish before you rudely – "

"Interrupt my sleep?" she concludes innocently.

This woman is unbelievable! How can anybody be so infuriating?! I suppose it is my fault for waking her up from her scandalous dream, but why couldn't she at least let me finish the apology? I can feel my mouth agape in disbelief and I quickly close it, not wanting to make a fool of myself.

Now she is standing in front of me, just a few inches taller than me, her hand reaching towards my face.

Is she going to slap me? I quickly close my eyes.

I feel a warm gentle touch on my left cheek and I open my eyes to see the burgundy coloured eyes staring into my own. I feel my breath hitch when she ran her single finger down to my jaw, sending a shiver down my back.

"Cute."

And then she giggled and walked back to her seat.

That single word sends me into an indignant splutter of nonsense as the all the heat gathers around my neck and ears.

"You-You are so...!"

She smiles at me innocently, "I'm what? Pretty? Beautiful? Graceful?"

I cannot believe her!

"Ugh!..You-you idiot!"

I slam the compartment door, not missing the loud giggle that came afterwards.

I could still feel the tingle on my face where she ran along her finger. I place a hand over my heart to feel it racing, I don't know if it is either from anger or disbelief. Who does she think she is, to touch my face?! That woman was completely infuriating. Why did I even bother apologising? I have never met anybody so aggravating!

After calming down and swearing a string of colourful words, I open the last compartment. Mikoto better be in there or I will strangle her the next time I see her.

"Where have you been?" Nao asks me incredulously, as soon as I step into the room, "Mikoto was in here the whole time!"

I frown. Trust my luck to find Mikoto in the very last compartment after searching the entire train. I see her hugging Mai's left arm. Huh. I guess I don't have to introduce her to Mai. They seem to be very friendly already. I hope this means I don't have to look after her at Hogwarts. Hell, I hope she doesn't get sorted into Hufflepuff, I don't want to spend all my time looking after that brat. This summer was probably the most stressful summer, ever. The fridge was always constantly empty from her large appetite and I had to keep looking for her whenever she ran off.

"I searched the entire train," I deadpan, sitting down, while my best friend burst out laughing. "I even broke into a locked compartment and met the most frustrating woman." I massage my temples to calm my temper so I don't start swearing again.

"A first year?" Mai asks, looking a bit too comfortable having Mikoto on her arm.

Frowning, I cross my arms, "No, I don't think so. She looks a bit older than me, maybe sixth year?"

"Does Hogwarts take exchange students?" Nao says, flipping through her magazine.

I shrug. I just hope I don't ever see her again.

"What happened?" Mai asks in concern.

"Ugh!" I exclaim just thinking about that woman. I exhale loudly, crossing my arms. "I don't want to talk about it."

Nao and Mai share a worried glance but know not to push me. I can't help it. I just don't feel like explaining anything. I will probably throw a fit of rage and swear non-stop. It is best they don't know.

"Takeda came in here at least three times, " Nao changes the subject. Mai laughs.

I shudder, "I saw him asking people about me," I know she is teasing me, she knows exactly how much he annoys me.

I quickly get up and lock the door in case he tries a fourth time. Nao snorts at me knowingly.

"Was that really necessary?" Mai says, slightly frowning.

"You just hope to see Tate when he comes back with Takeda," I say, watching her face flush.

"No! I just think it's rude, what if the trolley lady comes by?"

Before I could argue back, Mikoto looked up in excitement, "food?"

I face palm, can this brat think of anything else other than food? I cannot help but hope she won't be placed into Hufflepuff. People always say that Hufflepuffs are for left overs, this sounds kind of mean but, if she gets sorted into Hufflepuff it will only prove the theory true. Hufflepuff is meant to be the house of loyalty. Judging by many times she ran away from me this summer, she is most definitely not loyal to anybody but food. I cringe, what if the Sorting Hat misplaces that loyalty for food and places her in Hufflepuff?

Something must be done.

I look at Mikoto and she smiles at me.

"Listen, Mikoto, you like Mai right?" I ask bluntly, it took me most of the summer to get her to talk to me. So she must really like Mai if she is so willing to attach herself to her arm. They are all looking at me curiously.

"Yep!" she chirps and Mai instantly blushes to a dark shade of red. Nao raises an eyebrow at her.

"You want to be with her, right?"

"Yep! I like Mai!"

I smirk. This is almost too easy. Mai is covering her face in embarrassment and Nao starts laughing.

"Mikoto, you like Mai and food." I state seriously.

Mai and Nao are now staring at me in confusion. Only Mikoto is nodding feverously.

"Mikoto, you really like Mai and food."

She nods at me happily.

"Mikoto, you really really like Mai, and food."

"OKAY, NATALIE!" Mai shouts my English name, which means she's either really angry at me or frustrated at me right now. "I'm sure Mikoto gets your point."

I flip my hair smugly, while she looks at me in embarrassment. "Yes, she will."

At this time somebody knocks on the door, and tries to open it, "Natalie?" a hopeful voice says, "Did you say Natalie? Is Natsuki in there?"

I cringe and close my eyes while Nao snorts very loudly. I knew I was right to lock the door.

Mai looks apologetically at me. She shouldn't have shouted my name; I bet the whole corridor heard her.

My best friend comes to my rescue, "Is that Takeda?" she asks loudly.

"Oh! Hey Juliet, is Natsuki in there?"

I watch the scowl on Nao's face when her first name was mentioned. She made all of us call her Nao instead of Juliet when people started asking about where her 'Romeo' was hiding.

"I have no idea who you're talking about!" Nao replies innocently, probably angry with what he called her.

I love my best friend sometimes, I really do.

"Natalie Natsuki Kruger, I'm looking for her, did you see her?" he says without taking the hint.

"Oooh!" Nao says sarcastically, "her."

"Yes, her!" he says excitedly, "Is she in there?"

"Oh yes, I saw her. But no, she's not in here."

"Where is she then?" he asks.

Nao shuts her mouth for a moment to look at me. I stare back expectedly. What the heck is she waiting for?

"Helloooo?" Takeda says.

My best friend smirks widely, almost wickedly. In fact, I'm feeling quite worried now, that smile means she is up to no good.

"She's taking a dump!" she says happily. Mai laughs into her robes.

Oh, bloody hell. I can't believe her! I cover my heating face in mortification. I changed my mind, I don't love my best friend, I hate her so much.

What made it worse was after that, Takeda was thanking her profusely behind the compartment door and said he would go look for me in the bathrooms, all while Nao and Mai laughed loudly.

"At least I got rid of him, but I didn't tell him where you were taking a dump," Nao offers, her eyes wet with tears of laughter.

"Where else would I be to do...ugh! Nevermind!" effectively throwing both of them into another fit of laughter.

Bitch. I glare at her with the coldest look and she laughs even louder.

"Hey," she finally stops laughing, and frowns, "I did it for your own good. He should be too horrified to go after you now."

She had a point. "Thanks," I say unwillingly and hesitantly. Perhaps Takeda will be too disgusted to talk to me after that. Nao is such a Slytherin, cunning little snake somehow twisting the story to look good. She is still my best friend, and she did look out for me by sending him away. I think.

The train finally arrived at Hogwarts and I'm trying to get out without letting Takeda notice me. I'm really not in the mood to deal with him today. I decided to get off the train as quick as possible.

So my friends and I are walking quite urgently off the train when he suddenly calls out to me.

"Natalie!"

Oh, why does this always happen to me? I swear I have the worst luck.

"Natsuki!" he calls my Japanese name. Does he honestly think I will react to my Japanese name more than my English name? Who does he think he is?

I quickly rush past Mai and Nao only to be blocked by the largest trunk I have ever seen. It was at least three times bigger than mine. I seriously have bad luck, I couldn't even jump over it. As I walk around it I bumped face first into something soft.

"oompf" I almost fall over and a set of arms hold me by the midsection.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean – " I let go of her and quickly stand up straight. I look up and see the familiar burgundy eyes. "...You!"

Trust my luck to bump into the person I don't want to see, while running away from another!

She's smiling at me with a twinkle in her eyes, "Are you here to 'interrupt' me while I'm walking to the castle? Wasn't interrupting my sleep enough?"

She is so infuriating! Ugh! I flush involuntarily, "Again, I said I'm so– "

"Natalie!" Takeda interrupts happily.

I sigh. Why is everybody interrupting me today?

He caught up to me, trying to hug me like usual with his arms spread out. I frown, pushing him away and he awkwardly had his arms back down again.

"Where were you on the train?" he asks sadly, pouting.

Oh no, please don't –

"Juliet said you were taking a dump, I looked for you in all the bathrooms!" he continues loudly, and sadly creating a rush of giggles around us. This idiot is so dense I want to kill him. I also really want to strangle Nao right now.

I face palm my rapidly heating face, hearing the loud melodic giggle from the woman behind me. I recover from my moment of horror to stare at him with the coldest, menacing glare I could manage. It seemed to work and he cowered a bit.

"Go away," I say coldly and I quickly turn on my heel to walk towards the castle. Thankfully he isn't following me, I think he finally got the hint that I'm in a bad mood. Either that or he figured out that he told the whole crowd I was taking a dump.

The infuriating woman is staring curiously at me so I am raising my eyebrow at her. I walk past her and towards the school.

"Welcome to another year of Hogwarts!" Professor Granger grins happily towards the four tables. "Now, for the most exciting part of the evening," she walks to the centre of the hall and places the Sorting Hat on the chair. "Let us welcome our new students!"

Professor Graceburt pulled out a list and started calling out the names and the four tables welcomed the newly sorted students to their tables.

"I think that girl is Tate's girlfriend," my fellow Hufflepuff friend Kazuya tells me, pointing to one of the girls.

"Which one?"

"The one with...um...four pig tails."

Wow. Talk about excessive. Maybe I should tell Mai to get four pig tails as well.

"Isn't she only eleven? Isn't that a bit young?"

He shrugs at me, "Tate told me she's very clingy." I suppose Mai has some hope, she's very clingy as well.

Professor Graceburt then called out: "Huit, Shiho!"

The four pig tailed girl walked up the chair and placed the hat on her head eagerly. At first she was smiling happily and then the hat gave a loud snort. Everybody looked at it in surprise.

"I'm doing this for your own good...SLYTHERIN," the hat shouts.

Her smile was completely wiped off her face and she slouched all the way to the Slytherin table.

"I wonder what happened," Kazuya says while laughing, "Tate looks relieved."

"Minagi, Mikoto!"

I have never felt so nervous in my life. This moment determines the happiness of the rest of my magical school career. I stare at her and she seems to notice me. I quickly mouth to her 'MAI' and she nods understandingly. Thank Merlin.

I cross my fingers under the table as she sits on the chair, pulling the hat over her spiky hair. The hat barely touched her head and it yelled out: "RAVENCLAW"

Wow, that was fast. It was as if the Hat didn't even consider other houses. I suppose it does kind of make sense considering that Mikoto only took three days to learn and speak English by watching the romance drama with my mother. I look at the Slytherin table and Nao is looking extremely confused. I don't blame her, I'm feeling quite confused myself. I hear Mai squealing in happiness as she pulled Mikoto into a hug.

"Attention please," Professor Granger says while tapping her silver cup, "Now that all the students are sorted, I would like to address a serious situation occurring today in Britain."

For some odd reason, I am feeling a great sense of dread. Knowing my luck, it can't be anything good.

"According to world statistics, Britain is now suffering severely from obesity," she says as the whole great hall exploded in giggles. "Quiet please! This is very important, we have decided to introduce healthy meals to your diets, we do not want our magical world to die out from being overweight– "

Nobody was laughing anymore.

"–but we will do this by introducing new meals slowly, so that you can adjust slowly to the change, first we will change the little things, like the condiments – "

NO! This cannot happen! She cannot do that! Oh, please, please, please, not that, anything but that! How can adjusting condiments be a little change? In my opinion, that would be the biggest change in all my meals!

" – in particular, mustard, aioli, tomato sauce and perhaps the most fattening condiment of all – "

No, please no!

" – mayonnaise will be changed to a sugar-free – "

I wasn't listening to the headmistress anymore. I feel my heart plummet and break. I haven't felt this bad for years. I feel like crying. Meal times were the only times that made me happy when they gave us unlimited mayonnaise.

" – if you wish to make any complaints, please tell it to your head of house – "

Oh wait, there's still hope! Perhaps I could make a petition and ask my head of house for help. I let out a sigh of relief and finally notice my surroundings. My Hufflepuff friends are all staring at me rather worried. I suppose I'm not surprised. Most of them know about the love I have for the condiment. I can hear the loud laughter from my best friend echoing from the Slytherin table. Bitch.

"Before we start eating," Professor Granger beams, "I would like to introduce you to a new member of our staff. Madam Promfrey is retiring and we are lucky enough to receive a top graduate of the Beauxbaton Academy of Magic. She will be in charge of the infirmary, and I trust you all to treat her with the utmost respect. She will also be the temporary Head of the Hufflepuff as Professor Sprout is away on maternity leave."

I look around the Hufflepuff table to see them as surprised as I am. Maternity leave? Isn't she like, seventy two? Since when was she married? Magic is incredible if she managed to conceive at that age. I can only hope my new Head of house is as nice as she was. I really need to make this petition.

"Please welcome, Madam Viola!" Professor Granger says happily and the rest of the staff clap to welcome the new nurse.

I clap along with the rest of the great hall until I see the familiar long legs I saw on the train. I stop clapping completely when I recognise her face. She walked up to the front of the great hall and wandlessly cast a sonorus on herself.

"Good evening," she says politely from the teachers table. I see her glancing around the hall and then her eyes finally land on me with a smile.

"My name is Shizuru Viola."

Then she winked at me.

Ugh! That infuriating woman!

A/N: Well...I hope you liked it.