Authors Note::
Along with you getting the prologue to my story, you shall also receive the first chapter. Each chapter after that, will follow each other in a week times span – hopefully, I won't be without a computer come update time. Who knows, I may update even faster then that. As for any questions that need answering, those answers will be given within the following chapter where I hope to answer to the best of my ability… But enough blabbing on my part.
Disclaimer:: I do not, what so ever, have any sort of right over Card Captor Sakura or Harry Potter. They belong to there own wonderful creators, I, am simply borrowing them.
Balance Between Both Worlds
Chapter One :: Moving Forward
Two pink and gold brass rimmed trunks were situated on the front porch of the Kinomoto house. The end of the summer holidays were drawing close to an end, and within a simple matter of days parents would be seeing their children off to school for another years worth of learning. Much to the dismay of many a student, who would rather enjoy another few weeks of freedom.
Stepping out from the shadow of the house, into the setting rays of sunshine, emerald pools glanced around at the houses and scenery that they knew so well. It would be a few months before they would see the area again, maybe even longer. Pursed lips soon gave way to a sigh as the girl turned around to face the dark haired man leaving the house behind her. Quickly embracing him, she did her best to force the water from filling her eyes, but it was clearly evident that no such thing would happen.
Seeing the tears that escaped his imouto's eyes, Touya smiled down at the girl in his arms. Pulling away slightly, he raised his hand and wiped away the falling drops of water with his thumb.
"Everything will be fine Saku." He said softly embracing her again. "And if you need me, send word all I'll be there as soon as possible..." As much as his voice held the love, care, and concern of a brother who adored his younger sibling, there was an underlying tone close to that of being hard and deadly.
Something that little sisters couldn't escape from big brothers. Not to mention the fact that he was still sure something else was going on that he did not know about.
A giggle escaped Sakura's lips as she let her arms drop and took a single step back.
"I'll send you an owl as soon as I can, with as many as I can to follow. With what Grandpapa has me doing, I do not know how much free time I will have."
Touya's brow creased ever so slightly at her words. The thought of her not keeping in the best of contact, which would be everyday, didn't fit with him all that well. However it wasn't like he could receive an owl at his dorm window on a constant basis either.
"Just be careful..." He mumbled as Sakura planted a kiss on his cheek.
He really was going to miss her, but it was for the best. There Grandfather would be around twenty-four-seven if she was in ever need of anything. "Stupid school, have to make things so complicated!"
"I will...No need to fret brother of mine!" She called back to him while she descended their front path with both trunks in tow.
Shaking his head softly, Touya watched as the girl reached the curb before pausing. Her head looked every direction possible before pulling out a finely decorated white-based wand. She would never forget the day her Grandpapa took her down to retrieve the item that would grow just as important to her as the star wand.
-Flashback-
A girl with chin length auburn hair and sparkling emerald green eyes dashed down the busy cobblestone walkway in a rather hidden place called Diagon Alley. Passer-bys smiled, and pointed at the five-year-old girl, erupting into chatter with their partners about the excited emerald eyed beauty.
"Hurry Grandpapa!" The girl shouted, as she bounced in front of a shop, waiting for her uncle to catch up.
Soon enough, her emerald eyes landed on a man with long silvery gray hair and twinkling blue eyes set behind half-moon spectacles.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" The elderly man said joyfully at the excitement of his young great-great granddaughter.
Grabbing her Grandfather's hand with her tiny one, she dragged him through the shop door beneath peeling gold letters; Ollivanders. Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 BC.
The tinkling of a bell rang throughout the store as the two entered, signalling arrival of new customers. Emerald green eyes widened in awe at the sight of many box's that held different kinds of wands, and to think they were made by one person. A small chuckle came from the girl's uncle from her surprised face, which was slowly turning a soft shade of pink.
"Ahh..Albus. Welcome!" A voice said behind the two.
"Ollivander, how are you?" Albus said as he shook the man's hand.
Sakura watched the two as they conversed. Mr. Ollivander was an elderly man with wide pale eyes, which shone like moons. His hair was white, and his matching coloured bearded was short and well trimmed.
"This is Sakura..." The voice of her Grandfather had brought her too look at the wand maker.
Smiling, she bowed.
"It is...ni-nice to me-eet y-yo-uu" She replied, stuttering with the foreign English words in which she was beginning to learn to use.
Mr. Ollivander smiled as her bent down to look at the girl.
"It is nice to meet you too Miss Sakura."
Sakura smiled back at him, watching as he nodded his head, the man already seemingly thinking of something else, he left the two and disappeared into the back. Taking a glance at her Grandfather, Albus turned and smiled. Looking back, she saw the wand maker carrying a long narrow back box. Clasping her small hands together, she let out a squeal of delight, but soon calmed down as the words of her Grandfather passed through her mind. "Wands choose the witch or wizard, and it is a rare occasion if a wand-buyer may find a wand on the first try." Looking from the wand to , she smiled as Ollivander pulled out a wand, and handed it to her.
Nodding her head slightly, her little hand reached out and grasped the wand end. Before she was able to do anything, the wand was removed from her grasped and replaced by another, but that too was snatched away and replaced. Going through wand after wand, along with the words "No, no, no", "Tricky customer we have here today", or "Try this", eventually all of the wands were lying in a pile on the shops hardwood floor.
walked off to the back of the shop once more. Sakura looked up at her Grandpapa and then down to the floor with sad emerald eyes. Seeing his granddaughter's sad look, he placed a hand on the girls shoulder and gave it a squeeze Sakura looked up to her Grandfather, who gave her a reassuring smile, and pointed. Turning, her eyes landed on a rather thoughtful aged man who now held a white narrow box. Watching as the man removed the lid, and pull off a piece of silk clothe, Sakura watched as he pulled out a white coloured wand from the holds of silver bindings.
Ever so slowly, Mr. Ollivander handed over the wand, and ever so slowly Sakura took it in her small grasp. Just as her hand took hold of the wand, a glow of gold and white surrounded her, and with a small wave of her hand, she restored the store to its original state. Green eyes large in wonder, she brought the item closer to her and looked at it in awe. Not paying attention to what her Grandfather or was saying, she observed her new wand. She realized that the wand was not just white, but had an intricate gold design that traveled up to the tip of the wand. Rotating the finely made wood, her brow creased in concentration, Sakura eventually made out what the design was.
Situated between a sun and a crescent moon, was an even more complex design. But following the swirls, and continuing the rotation, Sakura's ever observant emerald green pools soon discovered that what she had been staring at for what seemed like hours was a phoenix. At least, that's what she picked out the jumble of golden lines.
A presence of a hand on her shoulder brought the girl out of her thoughts and observations. Looking up, she saw that it was her Grandfather and gave him a warm smile, and then looked to the wand maker.
"Thank-you so much for the wand !" She said beaming.
"You're quite welcome Miss Sakura. Just make sure you take care of it," He said as he smiled down at her.
Nodding her head rather vigorously, she gave the man a small wave before finally following her awaiting Grandfather out the shop door.
-Present-
"Sak'ura. Sak'ura, you be in there?" A voice asked as a hand passed before dazed looking eyes, bringing the teenage girl out of her old memories.
Blinking a few times bringing her emerald eyes into focus, they looked at the teen before her.
"Sorry Stan! I kind of zoned out." She replied with a laugh while smiling sheepishly.
"Awe...It's al'right Sak'ura." The slightly older boy said, as he began the task of loading her trunks onto the purplish-blue double Decker bus.
Smiling, Sakura helped her friend with her things. Stepping up into the bus, Sakura turned around to take one last glance at her brother. Smiling as bright as she could, to try and reassure his unease, she waved.
"I love you Onii-chan!"
Once receiving a smile and wave in return, the auburn haired girl disappeared for a few short moments before becoming visible through a window. Seating herself on an empty bed behind the driver Ernie Prang, she made herself as comfortable as possible. Although the ride wouldn't last all that long, being something magically helped to perform its proper duties, it wasn't exactly made to be the smoothest of rides. Glancing out the window, Sakura's mind drifted back to the reason why she was going to the wizarding world.
-Flashback-
It had been a month since her father's death, in which life in the Kinomoto house hold had changed, but remained the same.
For what seemed like the thousandth time, Sakura walked into the kitchen, carrying a few bags filled with groceries to the fill the emptying kitchen cupboards. Her brother was currently at work, and as far as she knew, Kero was up in her room playing his video games. Placing the various continents away, her eyes caught sight of an envelope with emerald green writing. A sigh between sadness and annoyance escaped her lips as she plucked the letter from the fridge door. Eyeing it for a moment, she finally walked into the living room.
Running her hands over the letter, she plopped herself down on the couch. Leaning back, she tossed the letter onto the glass coffee table in which she continued to stare at it. It was the 31st of July, the final day in which Hogwarts accepted the replies for attendance. She wouldn't reply like the previous years, and just like the previous years, she wouldn't attend. They started coming the following year after capturing the void card, who knew that everyone would have decided to start keeping secrets.
Sensing the presence of a silver aura didn't draw her attention to the aged man who had suddenly appeared in the living room, for the letter still held her gaze.
"I'm not going."
A sigh escaped the white bearded mans lips, it was the same every summer since the time she had received her acceptance letter after her twelfth year birthday. Although it should have happened on her eleventh, her summer after finally transforming all of her Sakura Cards, a rather interesting experience happened, leaving her on a quest like no other. By then however, Meilin and Syaoran Li had left for Hong Kong, and her best friend Tomoyo had left with her mother for London.
Feeling the couch sink slightly on her right, Sakura tore her gaze from the cursed letter and looked up into the worried face of her Grandfather. Life as of late had been rather hard on him, and as many times as she asked what was wrong, their were the same amount of times that he would answer saying things were just fine. Leaving her to wonder if his time was simply drawing closer. Which scared her at a rather large degree, but she had known that fate had a hand in everything. Even if you could choose your own destiny.
"I understand your reasoning's behind not wanting to come to the school Sakura, but you cannot stay upset at them forever…"
Raising a hand before his niece had a chance to interrupt, Albus continued in his ever calm and rational voice.
"Just remember that you too hold a secret for which you have never told them."
"But unlike them Grandpapa, although I couldn't tell them at the time what I was going through, you know I would have told them in the end. Not that they were around anyway." Emerald green eyes turned to a deep forest green as the girl tried to burn the letter with her eyes as she spoke.
Not that it wouldn't be hard to do such a thing, a simple command was all she needed, but alas by some unknown force, her hardened look returned to her Grandfather.
"That's what friends do, they stay truthful to one another."
Her tone had turned rather bitter, and although a part of her couldn't help but agree with what Albus had said, she still was rather hurt by what had happened. So many times she could have taken the incentive and confronted them, but every time she tried, something in her just couldn't do it.
Running his fingers through silky auburn locks, Albus stayed quiet for a few moments before a sigh of defeat escaped his lips. Causing his granddaughters attention to zero fully on him in seconds.
"I think my child, is time for me to explain the entirety of the situation happening in my part of the world."
Nothing in his demur was sitting well with her, not at all. The man she had known to be so full of life suddenly did look like a man on his death bed. And the scared her to the core of her being. Clasping her hand with his, Sakura looked at her Grandfather in great worry, not saying anything, but waiting for him to continue in his own amount of time.
"As you know, through-out the past few years, various occurrences have been happening around Hogwarts causing many to worry. Especially those that are happening within the non-magical world that you have been helping keep under control. "
Well of course she had known, how could she not when so many of those in which she knew resided in the Wizarding realm in which she too belonged? Not only that, as much as the loss of her Father had left her emotionally occupied, her duty in protecting the magical and the non could not be forgotten.
"The thing is Sakura, the dark forces have been brewing, and the one known as Lord Voldemort has, risen to power once again."
Blue orbs watched that of green widen, in many ways Albus had always been slightly glad that Sakura had decided not to attend school, but throughout recent time, there was no doubt that his wonderfully talented and powerful granddaughter could have been of great use. Watching the emotions play across her face, he could clearly see what she was thinking, and whom she was thinking of.
"No harm has come to them. I assure you that my Cherry Blossom. And as much as I'll regret what I'm going to say, and knowing you're brother will clearly disapprove, our world is in dire need, and I would be greatly in debt to you if you would look out for-"
"Don't Grandpapa." Smiling softly at her Grandfather, Sakura's eyes shone with approaching tears. "In a way I wish you would have told me this sooner, but I understand you had your reasons…"
-Present-
A rather harsh jolt caused all current reflection to return to the hidden folds on her mind as Sakura came to the realization that the bus had come to her stop. Standing up and stretching, she walked to the front of the bus. Giving Ernie a hug, Sakura hopped off the bus and her eyes looked at the familiar area. It was good to be back.
"Will ye be alright?" The familiar voice of Stan said from behind her causing the auburn haired girl to turn around with a smile.
"Yes, I'll be fine Stan." Giving him a hug and a peck on the cheek Sakura withdrew herself and looked up to the blushing boy. "It was good to see you again."
"Twas nice to see you again too Sak'ura"
Smiling and waving one last time, she took hold of her trunks, turned around and walked to the entrance to the pub. Not that anyone seemed to actually see it, people passed without further care, to busy with there own lives to notice anything out of the ordinary.
Letting go of one of her trunks, she opened the door and stepped in, pulling her two trunks behind her. Not even having the chance to have taken even three steps into the pub, the owner Tom swooped in on her.
"Welcome back Miss. Kinomoto!" The man said with a smile taking hold of her two trunks, letting her know in some silent way there was no use arguing because she'd lose just like every other time.
Letting out a giggle, she smiled.
"It's good to be back. And please Tom, call me Sakura!"
The man smiled and nodded.
"Well Sakura. I believe you would like to rest. Would you care to follow me?"
Nodding her head with an amused look on her face, the two made their way up the stairs, passing closed doors with golden numbers printed upon them. Various noises came from the closed doors, but then again various creatures, and people slept behind them. Soon enough, Tom stopped in front of a door, with the gold numbers '16' printed upon the door. Sakura smiled and slightly shook her head at the number. She still wondered how she always got the same room since her first stay at the pub.
Tom opened her for now bedroom door, stepping inside; a smile came to her lips. The room was the exact same as when she left from her last trip. White curtains hung at the window that overlooked the Diagon Alley, a cherry wood desk was placed in the corner with a matching wardrobe and canopy bed. The bedding was white with gold trimming, and the canopy top was white.
"Will that be all Sakura?"
"Oh!" Laughing slightly, the girl nodded her head. "Yes Tom. That would be all, thank-you."
Smiling and nodding his head, he retreated from the spot he set down her trunks and moved to the door.
"I'll have a plate of dinner sent up for you, I'm sure you would like to get some sleep. You do have a busy day a head of you."
Before Sakura had a chance to say anything further more, the man was already out of her room. Shaking her head, her attention was soon placed to putting the things she would require the next two days at the ready. Diagon Alley was sure to be a bustle the following day. Family's would be gathering the last things required for any child they may have attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
True to Tom's word, which had happened not at all long ago, he brought up her dinner just as she was about to pull out her parchment and ink.
"Thank you again Tom. Do have a goodnight, I'll be down in the morning for breakfast."
Nodding his head, he bade her a goodnights rest and then left to attended any who may have been in need of it. Turning to the food, she ate in silence, which she couldn't help but slightly enjoy. It was different, but it allowed her a few moments to gather her thoughts and prepare to write the letter in which she had promised her brother. Which of course wouldn't take her all that long.
Setting out parchment, ink and quill, Sakura first readied herself for bed before finally taking a seat at the desk. Dipping the quill in the ink bottle, her neat script of writing raced a crossed the yellowed paper, filling with words that told of her safe arrival and the already missing feeling she had for her annoying yet greatly loved older brother. Setting down the quill, and capping the ink jar, Sakura stretched from her position in the chair. Standing up, she made the short distance to her bed. Turning off the single lamp she had been using for light, her head soon hit the soft pillow. Not long after that, Sakura was fast asleep mentally preparing herself for anything that could happen upon the rise of the sun.
