A/N: Well, here's chatper two! I don't really know what to put here, so make sure to rview me with any questions you have! Enjoy!
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Seize the day, or die regretting
The time you lost
It's empty and cold without you hear
To many people to ache over
Seize the day - Avenged Sevenfold
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kagome slowly opened her eyes, not knowing where she was at first. Before the panic set in, the memories of the previous day shot into her mind. Time seemed to stop at seeing Inuyasha's worried, paniced, and even slightly scared face. Tear sprung into her eyes. Not wanting anyone to see her tears, she quickly wipped them away and sat up. But no one was in the room. Kagome swung her legs over the side of the bed, opened the bedroom door, and quietly crept down the stairs.
Once she reached the bottom step, she was met with the sight of the family that had taken care of her, sitting at a long table, talking, laughing and eating.
"Oh! Come, come, sit down, eat. Now, what was your name deary?" Mrs. Weasely asked, as she ushered Kagome to an empty spot at the table.
"Kagome Higurashi." She answered shyly.
"Beautiful name. Come now, eat up." The cheery woman grinned.
"Uh, Arigato. I mean...thank you." Kagome made a small head bow before looking at her food. On her plate was an egg omlet, some hash browns and mixed fruits. The food, she was familiar with, how ever the utencils...sad to say, Kagome hed never used a fork before. She had always used chopsticks. She carefully picked up the silverware, upside down, and held it in front of her face, as if she were studying it. It was so different.
Harry noticed her curiousity and, while trying to maintain his laughter, cleared his throat to get her attention. With her focus on him, he swiftly used his fork to pick up a peice of omlet. Kagome giggled lightly before following his lead and doing the same.
"Kagome, we're going to Diagon Alley today to get school supplies. We'll help you out, okay?" Harry smiled.
"Uh, okay. Thank you." She said sheepily. 'I hope they take yen...'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Two hours, and one trip through the fireplace later, the Weasely family and thier new straggler appeared in the streets of Diagon Alley. Kagome, after shaking off her shock of the transportation, stared around her in slight wonder. There were people in what to her looked like costumes everywhere, even magical creatures were scattered in the streets. Upon seeing them her mind went on battle mode, at first thinking they wre demons. She sighed. 'Hopefully, I wont have to get use to it. I just want to find Inuyasha and go home.'
"We only need our books for the new year, so do you want to us to help you find your stuff Kagome?" Harry asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"I'd appreciate that, thank you." Kagome smiled.
"Alright, first stop is the Robes shoppe." He said, taking her arm and leading her toward the shop.
It didn't take long for her to pick out her new uniform, and was quickly fitted with the help of Mrs. Weasely and Hermione. The rest of the afternoon went the same. They'd rush around Diagon Alley gathering books, clothes, and other various magical items. Much to Kagome's releif, they took yen. Much to her dissapointment, she'd be broke soon. By the time the others had gotten all of thier things, the only thing left on the list for her was a wand.
While everyone else was at the restaurant across the street, Kagome entered Olivander's Wand shop. Upon entering, Kagome was met with an old man with stragely hair, on a ladder over the many wands. He smiled at her and quickly climbed down. "How may I help you?"
"I'm here for a wand." She told him.
"Ah, of course you are!" He laughed hartily. "Now, lets see what I can do..." Olivander immediatly set to work, searching through rows, piles, stacks and groups of wands galore. He took out tons of boxes, examining them for a moment, then putting them back. Eventually, he stopped. Slolwy, as if examining her like he did his wands, he approuched her. "Missy, you already have your wand."
"What? No I don't." Kagome stated as if he was an idiot.
Olivander gave her an 'I know what I'm doing' smirk. "Than what's that right there?"
Kagome looked over at the red bow and quiver of arrows that sat on her shoulder. "It's my bow and arrows..." She said slowly before realization dawned on her. Her bow was the sacred bow of Mt. Azusa, and she had made every single one her her arrows by hand, using the fallen branches of Goshinboku.
"You see missy, it's not the witch that chooses the wand, the wand chooses the witch. Every wand is perfectly fitted for it's wielder. I could never give you another wand, even if I tried." Ovilander explained.
"I see what you're saying, and I think you're right, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a bow and arrows. How am I suppose to use them as a wand?" She asked.
The old man thought it opver for a moment before an idea stuck him. He walked over to his desk, scribbled something onto two pieces of paper, then handed them both to Kagome. "Give this note to your house head, and this will explain how you are to use your bow."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After a long day, the group finally made it to platform 9 3/4....of course, when Kagome heard 'platform 9 3/4', her first reaction was to say;
"There's no such thing!" She had exclaimed.
"Don't worry deary, Harry didn't get it at first either." Mrs. Weasely laughed. She guided the new girl to the pillar between platforms 9 and 10. "Now, all you have to do is run strait at the wall, and you'll pass right on through. Fred and George will go first to show you. Fred, George, go on." As told, the twins took a running start and seemed to disappear. Kagome nodded, took in a deep breath and pushed her cart right through. After a moment of darkness, she emerged in another train station, this one filled with the same creatures she saw at Diagon Alley.
She didn't even notice the other wizards and witches coming out of the wall behind her. They seemed to be talking about something, she could hear Mr. and Mrs. Weasely saying thier farewells and making sure they had everything, but she wasn't paying attention. She was too engrossed in the new world around her. But suddenly, a high pitched mew reached her ears. Kagome's heart started beating furiously with hope. She'd know that mew anywhere. She whirled around, to see a small two-tailed fire-neko skimmpering toward her.
"Kirara!" She exclaimed, scooping up the tiny cat and allowing her to lick her cheek.
"Come on Kagome! We're boarding!" Harry called out to her from a few feet away.
"Coming!" She answered. "Kirara, quick, hide in my backpack!" She whispered, unzipping her bag for the cat to climb in. Kagome ran after the wizards, leaving her cart behind to be stowed by the train's staff.
As she climbed on board, the wizards told her to go ahead and find a seat in thier section while they went to visit some old friends. Not one to waste an opportunity, Kagome nodded, then rushed off to find an empty cabin. Once she did, she quickly shut the sliding glass door and sat down, opening her bag as she did. The two-tails leapt out gracefully and landed on her lap.
"Kirara, how did you get here?" She asked, checking to see if perhaps she had somekind of note attacthed to her.
"Mistress and Monk have been very worried. They sent Kirara to the well when earth shoke after Miko and Hanyou left. Well has been tampered with, allows anyone to pass to this world. Monk has sealed it, so as not to let Demons pass." The tiny cat explained, her high voice like little bells.
"What?! Oh thank kami Miroku sealed....wait..." Kagome's face paled in surprise. "Kirara...you can talk?"
Kirara nodded her head. "In a way. One can only understand Kirara when they have won Kirara's trust. Miko has a time ago-"
"Then why haven't you spoken before?" Kagome interupted.
"There was simply nothing to say." Kirara shrugged. Kagome laughed lightly, absent mindedly stroking Kirara's impossibly soft fur. "Miko? Where is Dog Hanyou? Kirara does not smell him near." She asked.
Kagome sighed sadly, fighting back the inevitable tears that came with the subject of Inuyasha. "I-I don't know Kirara. That's why I'm going to this school, so maybe I can learn more about different ways to use my powers. Then I can find him, and we can go home." She looked down at her with a sweet smile. "I'll be rather lonely, and I think having a bit of Sengoku Jidai with me might help."
"Kirara wishes to help."
The sudden noise of laughter started coming closer to the cabin. With a paniced realization, Kagome realized that they'd find out Kirara was a demon if they saw her. She didn't know if they even knew what a demon was, or if they thought all demons were bad, but Kagome didn't want to take that chance. "Quick! Kirara, is there some way you can hide your demon appearance?" She asked.
"Of course." Kirara giggled before closing her eyes. In a flash of flame that didn't burn Kagome's lap, Kirara's tails became one, and the red of her eyes turned white, leaving her with bright emeralds.
Just in the knick of time, Harry, Ron and Hermione came through the sliding door, each taking a seat in the cozy cabin. Hermione was the first to notice the new guest. "Oh, Kagome! Is that you're cat? She's beautiful!" She gushed, reaching out to pet her. Kirara mewed proudly at the witch's compliment.
"Um, she's my friend Sango's cat, but we practicaly live together, so she's kind of like my own. She was, uh, with me and Inuyasha when the inncident happened. She just found me. Her name is Kirara."
"She FOUND you? At a magic London train station? Smart cat, unlike Crushanks." Ron mummbled, glaring at Hermione.
"Oh grow up Ronald, Crushanks would have gotten along with you just fine if you hadn't stepped on the poor thing." Hermione snapped back.
"I-"
"Guys," Harry interrupted, "leave your petty arguements for the common room."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After a few hours on the train, and lots of explaining to Kagome how things worked at Hogwarts, they finally arrived at thier destination. Kagome hopped off the train, her new school robes flowing out behind her. Her choice was a plaid mini-skirt, black knee-high socks and a black sweater with her robe on top. Kirara hoped onto her shoulder as the two took thier first look at thier temporary home. The Hogwarts castle stood tall and proud in the distance, illuminated by the soft light glowing through the windows. Kagome and the wizards walked towards the carriges, being pulled by strange, and ugly, skeleton pegasus'.
"What are those things?" Kagome asked. Kirara growled shortly at the creatures.
"You can see them?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Of course I can, they're right there." She said, pointing in thier direction.
Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance. The creatures could only be seen by those who've seen death, and by the looks of it, both she AND her cat cat had seen them. 'Just what's with this girl?' They all thought.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Great Hall was just as stunning as the rest of the castle, with it's impossibly high ceilings and beautiful thousand year old architecture. Thousands upon Thousands of students were already in thier seats when Kagome entered. Before she could ponder where to sit, an elderly woman in green robes called out to the crowd, silencing all. "New students, please come up here. It's time to be sorted." She stated.
Kagome ran up to the front, as instructed, and stood in the croud of first years and other new students. One by one, they went up and sat on the stool, the Placement hat on thier head, telling them what house they'd be in. Kagome chewed her bottom lip nervously.
"Kagome Higurashi." Professer McGonagle called out.
Kagome was ripped from her thoughts at the sound of her name being called. With a deep breath, she made her way through the crowd, toward the woman and the...talking...hat. She took a seat on the stool, as Prof. McGonagle lowered the hat onto her head.
The sorting hat's leathery face scrunched up in thought. "Hm...interesting, very interesting. I've never had one like you...this will be very difficult. I sense, kindness, selflessness, a deep caring for others that would be perfect for HufflePuff. But also a wisdom and thirst to learn that would fit well in RavenClaw. But I think the best choice for you would be...GRYFFINDOR!"
Kagome let out a sigh of relief, as she hopped off the stool and ran to wear her new friends had already cleared her a seat. She sat down and beamed happily at everyone. This was going to be a long and hard journey, and she was glad that she had already made some friends. They all graciousky welcomed her to thier house, thouht Harry seemed a little more enthusiastic. This did not go unnoticed by Fred and George. Poor Harry would be in for it later.
After about 10 minutes, all of the new students were sorted into thier houses and chatting amoungst themselves happily. An elderly man with long white hair and a beard, dressed in regal looking robes stepped up to the podium. All was immediatly silent. The Professor Dumbledore smiled at the student body. "Welcome all, to another, safe, year at Hogwarts. Before we begin the feast, I'd like to make a few anouncements. First, I'd like to welcome the true Professor Madeye Moody into the position of Defence Against the Dark arts." Madeye stood and and gave a curt nod to the clapping students. "And secondly, acknowledgement goes out to Harry Potter and his compainions, who just last year, defeated the most powerful dark wizards in history." The applause boomed through the Great Hall at this point. After giving it time to quiet down, Dumbledore continued. "And on one last note, I feel that I should inform you all, of the danger rising once again. The ministry feels that I should leave this out, but you have the right to know, to prepare youself. We may have an uprising by...Voldemort's followers." He said with great difficulty. "Just before the year started, a creature showed up on School Grounds-"
Kagome froze, giving her undivided attention to the man at the front. Her mind went numb, the only thing she could hear was him speaking, she could only see him up at the front.
"-and proceeded to attempt an attack on our teachers. Rest assured, we have the beast in custody, and are interogating it. If it refuses to cooperate, we will have it...taken care off."
She was going to be sick.
With a clammy hand over her mouth, Kagome jerked up and ran out of the Great Hall, shoving through the tall oak doors.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After splashing cold water onto her face, Kagome proceeded out of the girl's dormatory bathroom and towards her bed, where Kirara waited, already curled up on the doft covers. She absent mindedly pet the cat's head as she walked by, not even glancing down. Her eyes were fixed on the window. It was raining outside, and the soft pitterpatter of the droplets hitting the glass seemed to calm her nerves. She sat on the window sill, able to fit her whole body, and folded her knees into her chest. With one arm wrapped around her, she used the other to place a hand on the cold glass. She closed her eyes, trying to feel for a presence.
Nothing.
A soft sob racked her body. She didn't want to be there, in some foriegn land, feeling like she was trapped. She wanted her mother there, to tell her everything was going to be alright. She wanted Sango to be there, to have someone to talk to about girl things. She wanted Shippou there, to make her smile. Hell, she even wanted Miroku there, to offer his wisdom, and a punching bag if he went too far south. Kagome glanced over at Kirara, who was now sitting up, facing her with wild eyes. She smiled, and pushed her legs out further. Kirara mewed and skimpered over to jump in her lap. At least she had Kirara, to comfort her, and help her through this. Help her find him...
"Inuyasha..." She cried, tears falling freely. He was here, somewhere, she knew it. But she couldn't feel his youki, which meant he was weakening. They had probably placed a protective spell over his prison too. She cried louder at the thought of the hanyou, leaning her head against the cool glass. Inuyasha was probably sitting somewhere, alone, cold, weak, maybe even frightened...but if she knew him as much as she thought she did, he wasn't giving up. He'd find a way to help her find him.
If only she could see him, touch him, hear him, she'd tell him everything she'd held back. How much she loved him, needed him.
"I need you Inuyasha..."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Well, there you have it! As you can see, I've changed a few things. Voldemort is now deadlez, because I didn't want the story to revolve around him. And don't be too mad at the wizards. After all that they had been through, they're paranoid that Voldemort's followers with try to finish his work. My theory is that when they saw Inuyasha and felt his demon half's dark power, they paniced. I just couldn't find a place to put that in this chapter.
Also, I hope adding Kirara AND making her able to talk wasn't too, amature/mary-sure storyish of me, but when I got the idea it was a MUST. I found it as a good way to introduce the problem with the well, and I quite like the idea of Kirara being bale to talk. Especialy since it's in third person. She's just so damn cute!!!! -huggles Kirara-
Kirara: Now review human, before Crazy Authoress has her way with you!
She warned you...