A.N.: I thank all who followed, favorited and specially Clarisse Mayumi, Minogaki TenTen, britney case.3, KEdakumi, chibi-Clar and FireRaven15 who took their precious time to review. Your kind words made me feel appreciated.

This chapter is more of an explanation of the reason Kagome was sent to Hogwarts. Since I find very boring exposition monologues, I tried to keep it minimal. Also, we also have a very special guest star.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter two - Of Guests and Explanations

Something was off around the school, Kagome could tell just by watching those bizarre creatures in black that first invaded the train and now seem to be surrounding the area, lurking in the shadows looking for someone or something. Apparently everyone knows what is it about except her. Maybe she should have bought the newspaper back when she was in London, but since no one seemed to care that much about their presence, she choose to concentrate in studies.

This first week have been like a nightmare. First, she was extremely embarrassed in the sorting ceremony as the only non 11 year old to be wearing the magical hat that night, also for been announced as transfer student from Japan, a bloody lie that she must hold by all means. The Sorting Hat said that she would easily fit in Hufflepuff, but she begged to be placed in Gryffindor, for this is the house were everyone she have met so far was sorted.

She felt really bad for lying to Fred and George, her pranksters and very popular friends. They are really sweet to her, introducing her to all of their house mates and some from others houses too. Also, they gave her really helpful tips about the professors, which she really needed.

Kagome could not be more thankful to Kaede for her teaching made her excel at Potions classes. She paid close attention to every instruction from Prof. Snape and George took himself to help her choose the best ingredients. When the professor evaluated her work as deserving an "O", she almost kissed the boy on the mouth in front of the class. Luckily, her mind resumed work and she kissed check and retreat with Fred's tease about wanting a kiss too. Professor Snape did not like the display and now she is probably out of his grace again.

To be at par with the other fifth year students, Mr. Dumbledore asked for several papers and scheduled lots of tests to be taken in the first trimester. Even with the extra work, she was thankful for the distraction. No one contacted so far and she was really worried with her family. It have been more than three months she contacted them and can't help but fear for the worst. Obviously, she hoped, they would contact her in case of any emergency, bad news travel fast afterall.

Picking the can where her message scroll was placed, she made a quick pray and tried to concentrate once more in her task.


Soon a month has passed since the beginning of the school year. It was dinner time and all students were reunited at the Great Hall. An unknown face was at the head table among the teachers, a young man, seeming to be in his early twenties, with long auburn hair and green eyes. Fred noticed that the unfamiliar man keep sending glances to their table, as if waiting for someone to notice him. He brushed it off as nothing and went back thinking about his current problems. He may have developed a crush on Kagome. He started to think about it after the day she kissed George's cheek. Oh, how he regretted not been the one to help her in Snape's classes. Not that she needed much help, she seemed to have a natural talent to deal with concoctions, still for the first time in his life he was jealous of his twin brother.

Then was the fateful day when he and George went to the library and saw Kagome chatting cheerfully with Oliver Wood, the quidditch team captain. They were so immersed that it took full five minutes for the duo to notice their presence at table. Oliver stood and left not before taking her hand and inviting the asian girl to watch a quidditch practice session, she gladly accepted and THEN gave the twins their deserved attention. One look at George and he was equally displeased, but did not let it show in front of the girl.

But where this could be truly a problem? Sure, she may not have the same interest, however she really seemed to enjoy their company. They hang out a lot and he already planned with George to show her their favorite places at Hogsmeade. And then he realised what was the problem. After living his whole life as a dual, his brother's other half, Forge and Gred, he forgot to take in consideration that a romantic relationship happens between two people. Well, most of the time anyway. Not that he really minded sharing a girlfriend with his twin, but first said twin must agree, then the hypothetical girlfriend must agree too.

His thoughts were interrupted by Professor Dumbledore's speech. "My dear students, for the next couple days we will have another guest from Mahoutokoro. He is one of the youngest to take the position as a professor and kindly accepted to teach D.A.D.A while Professor Lupin is away due health issues. Please stand up Mr. Shippou Kurama."

Kagome turned to the professors' table and paled as if have seen a ghost. She dropped the fork she was hold and could barely keep the cup in her trembling left hand. While Professor Shippou made his introduction speech, George, who was at her right side, shook her and asked if she was ok. Fred took the cup from her and put it back in the table while asking if she wanted him to take her to infirmary. She shook her head.

"I'm just surprised. I never expected to see him after I left Japan" explained Kagome.

"You don't seem too happy for his presence" stated Fred.

"He did something bad for you? You can tell us, it matters little if he is graduated. We can still pull a prank on him to make him pay for whatever he did" promised George.

Kagome flushed a little, feeling butterflies in her stomach for their concerned words. Before, she always found boys attentions much of an annoyance, Hojo and Kouga's advances fresh in her mind. But she felt really guilty for thinking about BOTH of them. That's was not good in her book and she refused to play with her emotions until she decided which one she liked most in a romantic way, but that already proved to be an almost impossible task as no matter what she did, she could never imagine one without the other.

"It's ok, guys. Mr. Kurama and I have known each other for a long time and he's someone I miss dearly. I'm really happy to see him after so much time." Reassured Kagome.

When Kagome and Mr. Kurama's eyes met, a big smile of recognition flashed in their faces. Fred and George disliked him immediately.

The man, Shippou, excused himself from the teacher's table and headed to Gryffindor's. Kagome stood and hugged him, crying soundly in his embrace, babbling incomprehensible things in japanese.

"Come on, Kags. You know it's really rude to speak in a way that the others can't understand" said Shippou, smiling fondly at Kagome, who, in turn, was too stunned to say anything coherent. "Tomorrow, if my senile memory is properly working, I will be teaching in your class. We can talk after that. For now, just enjoy your dinner, ok? You two" pointing to Fred and George "I can count on you to make sure this young lady will eat and sleep, right?"

"No problem, Sir! We are her knights in shining armor."

"Under our care, this princess must not suffer any harm."

Giggling, Kagome finally stopped crying. Deciding to help their jest, she tried to stay in character.

"My lord, these two fine gentlemen have been not but courteous to me. I hold them in high regards and hope you can do the same" The miko held the twins hands to corroborate her statement.

"Oh my god, you guys are so cute!" exclaimed Shippou in a loud voice, already heading towards the door. "I can't wait to see how will be your kits together!"

"Shippou!" Kagome's blush going down her neck.

Kagome sat back with a colored face matching the hair of the Weasleys, looking only to her plate, not daring to spare a single glance to any of her fellow Gryffindor mates. From her sides, Fred and George keep joking that now they already have a supporter for when they go to Japan to ask her family for her hand.


The next day, Kagome purposely woke up late to skip breakfast and left the dorm only when it was time for D.A.D.A. Choosing a seat close to Angelina and Alicia instead of her usual spot with the Weasleys, said boys sent a questioning glance that she just ignored. Kagome was still feeling poor-spirited for been laught at last dinner.

Shippou was actually very good at teaching. Held the class attention the whole time, while giving very helpful tips on how to deal with dark magic in several situations. Kagome was very proud of him, who would have guessed that the young kitsune that liked to draw and eat pocky was going to grow up as a skilled wizard. She remembers that even at young age he was very good at kitsune magic, maybe human magic is not so different after all.

The class ended. Shippou led Kagome to his room, placing a sound spell to be sure no one can hear their talk.. It's not that he didn't trust Hogwarts, but when dealing with wizards and witches, walls can really have ears.

"I know you are wondering why I am here and why YOU are here, but first things first. Your family, they are safe, still at the shrine. They sent regards and wish to hear from you soon. Souta was ecstatic when we told you are at a school of magic" Shippou said in a calm manner.

"Thank Kami! I miss them so much. I was fearing something bad happened after I left. I'm carrying the magic scroll that man gave me but aside from the day I was in London, no message came to me."

"We are keeping a low profile so the one who is after you won't notice that your travels are done. As long he thinks you have not completed your portion of the jewel, we can keep searching. Oh, and for that man you might want to know that he's Sesshoumaru and the one accompanying him was Jaken. They took the position as Minister of Magic and Mahoutokoro headmaster." Seeing her questioning glance, he explained. "We keep this facade to protect our kin. Every half century or so one of us take the position to keep humans from discover our existence. From humans, a simple aging charm can do, wizards however are not easy fooled. I will probably be the next in the line, but hopefully someone will show interest to replace me. I don't want to be stuck in office until the next century."

"But how are you faking my travels to the past? I mean, I have been here for the past month and almost three months before I staid in Sengoku"

"Who said you are not home from time to time?" Grinning and grabbing a leaf from his pocket, Shippou stood and then came a poof. Seconds later, no Shippou was there but Kagome, in her classic white and green middle school uniform.

"What about my aura? My scent? I'm positive Naraku would not be fooled just by my looks." Kagome inquired.

"This bracelet you wear. I have it's twin with me. With Mr. Jaken's help, I was able to make an enchant. First and most important, it hides you from most youkai, unless you consciously wish to be seen. That's why I have only approached you after the dinner presentations. I tried to find you with my eyes but I am proud to say the creation exceeded the creator expectations. Everytime my eyes went to the right direction, something made me look somewhere else. Second, it takes little portions of your aura and scent and lead them to me through my charm. Any being would mistake us. If possible, I could jump down the well and Inuyasha would think the well was working again." reasoned Shippou.

Kagome clapped her hands as a proud mother would do. Her little boy was so talented like she always knew he was.

"Why all this trouble? Not that I'm not thankful, it's just not very Sesshoumaru to help me like that." The miko was indeed confused by Sesshoumaru's actions.

"As soon you went down the well for the last time, we went to your mother and explained that you never got to complete the jewel in the past. That Naraku vanished after the battle at Mt. Hakurei with a single shard that have been missing since then. When you left and not came back after a week, Inuyasha went for you but the well stopped working and we feared that somehow Naraku found where you came from and how to use the well. Only I would survive so long to wait for you and try to protect you from him, but alone I could fail my mission. That's when Sesshoumaru showed at Edo for a visit to Rin that I gathered enough courage to ask for his help." Changing back to his own form, he carried on. "I had to offer the only thing he couldn't obtain any other way: information. I traded your forgotten school books for his alliance. Obviously Inuyasha threw a fit when found out but the deal was made."

"Sesshoumaru came with the possibility that maybe Naraku discovered your origins and was willing to waiting five hundred years to take the jewel from you. With his single shard he would know when the guardianship was passed to you. He couldn't risk his whole existence by showing his face before your return from this last trip. When spiders started to gather around Tokyo, we knew that he have started to put his plan in action to follow your movements. Thankfully your shrine grounds are well protected by the God Tree and centuries old charms.

We just need to play the cards as if you have not made your last trip. Unfortunately we weren't able to discover where the bastard is hiding yet, but he's growing eager and leaving more clues to us."

"I can help you, guys! Let me be your shard detector again! I don't want to be just a damsel in distress waiting to be saved from the evil guy!"

"You were never our shard detector. You are family to me, and even Sesshoumaru cares for you in his own way. It's of no use to keep you with us while you could be honing your powers in this academy."

"But I want to be helpful." Her eyes watered. "I can't stay behind while you risk your life because to correct my mistake."

"It's no one's mistake, Kags. Even now, I thank Kami for the chance to meet you in my early life. If there's one to blame in this situation you can blame Onigumo or even Midoriko for creating this damned bauble" assured Shippou.

"Thank you, Shippou" a watery smile in her lips. "I always felt guilty for the joy of meeting you, even if the circumstances were adverse."

A treacherous tear found its way down Shippou's face. He cleaned it with the back of his hand and stood. "Let's go out before people start to think we are doing dirty things here. It would be bad for my bachelor reputation if a rumor is spread about me screwing school girls" he said flashing a seductive smile.

"Eeewwww, that's so gross. If I have not skipped breakfast I would puke right now."

"Just don't worry, ok? You left because we couldn't risk your presence blowing our cover. We protected you and yours since you before were born. We won't fail now."

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