Disclaimer: Blah blah, don't own, jabber jabber.
Slight AU: The curse was broken somewhat earlier in this story; just after the older Sohma teens (Tohru, Yuki, Kyo) had turned fifteen. The story begins in mid-May. Also, some of the plot details involving Voldemort have changed, but you'll find that out later.
Okay, I hope everyone likes this n.n I tried my very best to be accurate and keep everyone in character. If I got anything wrong please tell me!
"What's wrong, Honda-san?"
Tohru turned her head slightly to see Yuki standing at kitchen's entrance. "Hello, Yuki-kun," she said breathlessly. "I can't fix breakfast right now, I'm very sorry!"
"Tohru, what are you doing?" Kyo's sleepy voice came from behind Yuki. In the months since the curse had broken, the cousins had been getting along slightly better, although their rivalry continued in many areas; school grades, height, and in particular both their relationships with Tohru. Of course, the sweet Tohru remained obliviously neutral, frustrating them both.
"Owl-san has arrived!" Tohru continued in the same breathless tone. "I think he's hungry."
Both boys craned their necks to look over Tohru's head and the odd situation became clear. A regal looking barn owl, or "Owl-san" as Tohru had so politely named him, was perched haughtily on top of the refrigerator. Feathers were scattered everywhere and some had nestled in Tohru's long brunette locks.
Tohru grinned sheepishly when she noticed Yuki and Kyo's incredulous stares. "I thought I might shoo him out the window, because I thought perhaps he had lost his way...but it seems he is in no hurry to leave...I'm sorry for chasing you, Owl-san!" Tohru bowed apologetically to the owl.
"Don't apologize to the bird, moron!" Kyo groaned, thumping Tohru on the head. "It's just an owl. I'll chase him out for you."
The bird stared at him unblinkingly, with what seemed to be an expression of contempt. Kyo glared back.
"Get out of here!" Kyo commanded. The owl didn't move. "Go on! Move it!" The owl grew bored and rotated its head until it was staring at Kyo upside-down.
"Get out, Owl-san— I mean, you damn bird!"
"It's not working, Kyo," Yuki commented with a long-suffering sigh.
"OH YEAH? YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER?"
Ten minutes later, the owl was daintily taking leftover sukiyaki from Yuki's fingers. "This doesn't look like a Japanese owl at all...Honda-san, it looks like he has some kind of paper attached to his leg," commented Yuki. Kyo was sulking by himself in the corner of the kitchen, drinking milk straight from the carton. "Kyo, stop that, it's disgusting," Yuki added mildly. Kyo glared and chugged the last of his milk.
"He does have something attached to his leg," Tohru gasped. "Maybe it's hurting him! Oh, let's get it off!" For all of her panic, Tohru's fingers were gentle and nimble as they worked at the bindings tying the paper to the owl's scaly leg. He waited patiently as Tohru removed the paper.
"Kyo-kun, Yuki-kun, the paper is folded very neatly," Tohru announced. Both young men looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "This means...it wasn't stuck on Owl-san's leg by accident!" Tohru beamed, very proud of her deduction. Yuki smiled; Kyo rolled his eyes.
"Tohru, it was tied to his leg with a length of twine," Kyo sighed. "We already knew someone had tied it on there."
Tohru deflated like a burst soap bubble. Then she suddenly perked up again with a huge smile. "Kyo-kun is so smart!" she said happily. Kyo suppressed an embarrassed grin and instead said "Humph" and turned away.
"I wonder who tied it there," Yuki wondered aloud. "Let's unfold the paper and see what's on it, if anything."
"No, Yuki-kun!" cried Tohru as Yuki reached for the paper. "You can't do that!" Yuki paused and Tohru continued, taking the paper out of Yuki's reach. "Opening other people's mail is very rude," Tohru said almost apologetically, clutching at the folded piece of paper. "Plus it would be breaking the law. I can't let Yuki-kun break the law."
"I'll break the law, then!"
All three turned to see Shigure standing in the doorway, striking a dramatic pose. Kyo moved closer to the window, as if plotting his escape. Shigure beamed and strolled into the kitchen.
"What have you found, my lovely little flower?" he teased, taking the paper gently from Tohru. "I'm guessing our avian friend here brought us this lovely surprise!"
"How the hell did you know?" Kyo demanded. A strange sort of look crossed Shigure's face, but he recovered almost instantaneously and grinned. "Why, I've been listening at the door, of course!"
Kyo clenched his teeth and balled his fist, but said nothing as Shigure turned towards Tohru again.
"It's so wonderful that I have my little Tohru around to keep these rowdy boys in check! Why, Yuki might have broken the law if it weren't for my cute wife!"
"SHIGURE—"
"Calm down, boys," Shigure said reprovingly. "As I was saying, I will break the law. One of us has to open this letter, and since I am the adult here, I will make the sacrifice and shoulder the burden of being thrown into jail!"
Tohru started to protest, but Shigure had already opened the letter with a flourish. "Ah," said Shigure, his face dropping.
"What is it?" Yuki asked.
"I'll be going to jail after all," sighed Shigure, "for I have illegally opened your mail, Tohru-kun!"
"M-my mail?" squeaked Tohru.
"Well, also Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun's mail," Shigure added as an afterthought.
"Who the hell is sending us mail by—by OWL?" Kyo demanded. Shigure shrugged, seeming totally unconcerned. Kyo joined Tohru and Yuki at the table and the three bent over their letter. Yuki quickly scanned the script.
"I don't understand," Yuki said with a frown creasing his brow. "I knew it couldn't be a Japanese owl...though why would someone write us a letter in English?"
"Read it and see what it says, Yuki," Shigure suggested mildly. Yuki bent to the paper again.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Misters Kyo and Yuki Sohma and Miss Tohru Honda,
We are pleased to inform you that you each have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"What in the world?" Yuki said incredulously. He was the best at reading in English, so he had finished first. There was a pause as Kyo and Tohru continued to read. Suddenly Kyo stood up and slammed his fist into the table.
"What the HELL?" Kyo demanded. "Is this some kind of stupid joke?"
"I don't understand," murmured Tohru. "Oh, I wish my English were better!"
"Don't worry, Honda-san, it doesn't make sense to any of us," Yuki told her reassuringly. "It's not your English that's the problem. I've never encountered the word 'Mugwump' before..."
"Look," Kyo pointed out. "There's another small piece of paper attached..." He removed the smaller piece of paper and laid it on the table. It was a note, written in the tidy but stiff Japanese used by foreign scholars.
Greetings, Sohma Kyo-san, Sohma Yuki-san and Honda Tohru-san.
I understand that you may be somewhat confused by the letter you have just received. I would like to meet with you and explain a few things. I will stop by Sohma Shigure-san's house at noon tomorrow. Please be there to receive me. I apologize for inviting myself into your home and hope that I may somehow make it up to you.
-Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts Headmaster
"This has to be a goddamn joke," Kyo growled.
"Well, we'd better prepare for our visitor!" Shigure said cheerfully. "Tohru-kun, please choose some tea for tomorrow and make sure the house is tidy!"
"Y-yes!" Tohru agreed and left the kitchen quickly.
"Wait, WHAT?" Kyo yelled. "You're taking this crap SERIOUSLY?"
"You're letting a stranger invite himself into our home?" Yuki bristled.
Shigure smiled somewhat darkly. "Wait and see," he said mysteriously. He left Yuki and Kyo to fume by themselves, grinning enigmatically.
That's it for the first chapter! Please, please review so I know if I should continue this or not! See you all next chapter (hopefully u.u)
-Lysi