Eriol managed to arrange transport for himself, Sakura and the other two; Harry's group were being given a lift by Ron's parents. Sakura had made sure she would get up at the right time and found she actually had to wake Kero up to ensure he was aware of what was going on so he wouldn't create a scene.
Upon arriving a King's Cross station Sakura's group met up with Harry's group who had allowed Ron's parents to get Ron's siblings on the platform first.
"Here are your tickets!" Hermione said, handing them four heritage-style tickets. "You'll have to keep them with you!" She added. Sakura looked at her ticket and was shocked by the platform's number.
"Platform 9¾ how do you get to?" She asked, too shocked to get her English grammar right.
"Follow us and we'll show you!" Harry answered confidently, so Sakura's group got all their wizarding gear on some trolleys, which Ron pointed out, and followed the experienced three into the station.
(I would like to point out that platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross are not linked and aren't in the main part of the station! J.K. Rowling must've made a mistake while writing.)
"I can't see any sign of it!" Shaoran commented as they were led along platform 9.
"That's the point!" Hermione replied. "It's gotta be kept hidden from muggles!"
"What muggles are?" Tomoyo asked her in surprise.
"Non-magic folk!" She answered, Eriol made sure that Sakura's group could understand what she meant by folk.
"Ah," Harry commented passing under an arch between platforms 9 and 10, "Here we are!" Sakura and Shaoran looked round in confusion, all they could see were platforms 9 and 10.
"Where is third platform?" Tomoyo asked them.
"Right there." Ron answered, pointing to the wall between the platforms. "Shall I go first?" He asked Hermione.
"Oh, go ahead Ron!" She replied, so Ron aligned himself with the wall and charged straight through.
gasp "How do you do that?!?" Sakura asked both Harry and Hermione.
"It's perfectly simple." Hermione answered. "All you do is walk straight at the wall between platforms 9 and 10!"
"It can be unnerving," Harry commented, "So you'd be best running at it!"
"How about Tomoyo and I follow you through, Harry?" Eriol asked him. "And then perhaps Sakura and Shaoran could follow Hermione afterwards." Sakura, Tomoyo and Shaoran were having great difficulty with calling mixed company they didn't know too well by their given names.
"Alright." Harry agreed ambivalently, he then aligned himself up and waited for Eriol and Tomoyo to line up behind him. Upon the certainty that they had done so, he charged towards the wall and slipped straight through. Eriol followed closely, but didn't charge, just walking through the wall; Tomoyo waited for a while and made a run at it, carrying some uncertainty, and also vanished through the wall. Sakura was flabbergasted; this wall clearly had more of an effect than just passing through a (seemingly) solid object.
"Are you ready?" Hermione asked them, Shaoran nodded with only a glimmer of nervousness, Sakura also nodded but had one of her hands on her key of stars, just in case. Hermione charged forward vanishing through the wall; Shaoran was the first to follow and also vanished. Sakura's personal feelings now guided her as she ran after them, when she came to a stop she was amazed by her surroundings, the wall she passed through was behind her and a completely new look to the station surrounded her.
"Koko ni!" Over here! Shaoran called out to her, Sakura spotted were they were and went over, she was stunned by the sight of the train they were meant to board.
"Just give your trolleys to the porters," Ron told them, "Your stuff won't get mixed up with anyone else's!" And he went off to board the train.
"You'd better get on board once you've given your luggage to the porters!" Harry added. "The train's due to leave soon." He indicated the luggage carriage with porters standing around it and he and Hermione went to board the train.
Sakura's group had difficulty finding a compartment on the Hogwarts Express as most were filled with other students, Eriol led them from carriage to carriage but they still found no compartment with spare seats.
"Hello again!" Came a familiar voice from up ahead. "Why don't you lot come and sit with us!" They looked towards the source of the voice and spotted Harry Potter gesturing towards one compartment.
"So, how did you guys get into this?" Ron asked them as they sat down, with Sakura's group facing backwards and Harry's group facing forwards. Shaoran and Sakura were now filled with nervousness as their minds tried hard to make an excuse, fortunately Eriol filled in for them.
"We had some important business in Japan!" He told them. "We might've been invited earlier, but we had to recuperate!" Sakura and Shaoran took a while to absorb this excuse and confirm it.
"Err, hai!" Tomoyo added, notifying Sakura's response and playing along.
"Is it true you have a lot of earthquakes in Japan?" Hermione asked them, Sakura shook her head and replied.
"I only been in one earthquake while alive, it was not that serious though! A few things falled from the shelves." Just then a rattling sound came down the corridor and a tea lady with a snack trolley arrived at the door to the compartment.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" She asked them; Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other for a bit and Harry answered.
"Four chocolate frogs and… two boxes of Bertie Bott's every-flavour beans, please!" He measured out the price from a mound of gold coins in his pocket. Upon received them he handed them over to Sakura's group "These are for you!"
"Really?" Sakura asked him, he nodded his head and she gasped. "Arigato gozaimasu!" Thank you very much! She replied.
"Don't worry about the chocolate frogs!" Ron told them. "They only move because of a magic spell! Besides it's the cards you want!" Sakura and Shaoran were bowled over by the last bit.
"Cards! What cards?!?" Sakura asked. "What do they do?!?"
"Calm down, Sakura-san!" Eriol told her, he added the following information in Japanese. "Futsū no kādo sorera desu!" They are ordinary cards! "Except that they move like in a film!" Tomoyo opened up her chocolate frog and was startled as it leapt out the box and on to the window.
"Catch it!" Harry and Ron called out in unison; Tomoyo only just got it before it exited.
"Dō yū kanji desu ka?" What's it like? Sakura asked as Tomoyo tried it.
"Sore wa chokorēto dake desu!" It's only chocolate! She replied confidently, finishing it off.
"Well," Ron asked her eagerly, "Who've you got?" After comprehending what he meant Tomoyo looked at the card in the packet.
"Lupin-san!" She replied.
"Ah, I remember him!" Harry commented. "He was the best DADA teacher we've had so far!"
"D-A-D-A?" Sakura queried.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts!" Hermione answered, Sakura was stupefied now as her mind began to comprehend what the Dark Arts could be.
"Maybe these will help you to relax!" Shaoran commented, offering her a packet of Bertie Bott's; she took one out with a trembling hand and popped it in her mouth.
"What flavour is it?" Ron asked her, Sakura let out a sigh of relief as she replied.
"Sakuranbo. I mean 'Cherry'."
"Sorry about her." Tomoyo said to Harry's group "She's sensitive about those sorts of things." Shaoran now helped himself to a bean.
"Orenji." Orange. He commented.
"Err… you mean 'orange'?" Ron queried, to which Shaoran nodded.
"Like some would you?" Sakura asked them opening the other packet.
"I'll chance it!" Ron commented, taking a bean. "Uurghhh! It's onion! 'ow d'yer get so lucky?!?" He groaned.
"Again?" Sakura asked Eriol, she was asking what Ron had said.
"He said 'How did you manage to be lucky enough to get good flavours?'." Eriol answered.
"Go for what you feel," Sakura said in reply to Ron's question, "And you will be rewarded!" Now Ron was bewildered.
"Please?" He asked Eriol in the same context.
"She said 'If you feel a bean is good then it has a good chance of being so!'." He replied, just then the door to the compartment slid open and three cheeky-looking boys stood there.
"Wha's goin' on, Scar-'ead?" The slim one at the front said.
"Leave it off, Malfoy!" Harry replied, Draco turned to Sakura's group and said.
"Some new frien's, eh 'arry? So," He added turning to Sakura specifically, "What's a nice girl like you 'anging round this bunch?"
"Again?" Sakura asked.
"He says 'Why are you with us?'." Ron answered bitterly, then Draco grabbed Sakura's arm and pulled her up to meet his face.
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo gasped in fear.
"Why don't we find somewhere alone together?" Draco asked her.
"Don't upset Sakura," Eriol advised him, "It might well be the last thing you do!" Draco looked at him and sarcastically replied.
"Awww! What's she gonna do; suffocate me with 'er 'air? Ooh, please don't hurt me!" His two assailants laughed at his sarcastic attitude, Draco commenced to drag Sakura towards the door. Now Sakura raised her free hand and cried out.
"Īe!" No! And, thusly, Draco was thrown back into his assailants and they all fell over backwards. It was clear to everyone that Sakura's hand didn't even touch Draco; telekinesis without wand or actual incantation was unheard of in Hogwarts, even Voldemort was not so powerful. Filled with fear, Draco's group ran off down the corridor while Sakura returned to her seat.
"I not seen that behaviour before!" She commented while Harry's group were completely flabbergasted by what just happened.
"Beware of them in future," Hermione advised her, "They are among the worst bullies in Hogwarts!" She then added. "We'd better change into our robes. Will you two come with me while we leave the boys here?" The last sentence was directed at Sakura and Tomoyo, who complied.
"First years, this way!" Hagrid called out as the train pulled into the station, as the students got off Sakura became a little nervous upon seeing Hagrid.
"Don't mind him!" Harry told her. "He has a friendly disposition!"
"Hai!" Yes! She replied, she then turned to Hermione as her companions drew up beside her. "Go with first years, do we, or not?" She asked her.
"First years and new students go the same way!" Hermione replied and went off after Harry and Ron while Sakura's group went towards Hagrid.
"This way to the boats!" He called out, once sure that all first years were with him.
Sakura was startled by the way that the boats all moved by themselves once everyone was on board, but the sight of Hogwarts itself was astonishing from her point of view, she had never been anywhere so big and rustic.
"Is absolutely amazing!" Tomoyo commented.
"The school is thousands of years old!" Eriol told them.
Everyone was led through a maze of corridors and up several flights of stairs to be greeted by Professor McGonagall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" She announced. "Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. Namely Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin! While you are here your house will be like your family; your triumphs will earn you points, any rule-breaking and you will lose points! At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup." While they waited most of the first years gossiped among themselves.
"Watashi ureshī mina-san kibō shite!" I hope everyone will be happy! Sakura commented to Tomoyo and Shaoran while Eriol just stood there with his same cool smile, he nudged Tomoyo when McGonagall came back as she was still looking at Sakura even when Sakura had turned to face the professor.
"We're ready for you now!" She told them all. "Follow me." And she led them into the Great Hall; Sakura was awed by the sight of the ceiling, or apparent lack thereof.
"Tenjō ga arimasu! Dō yū kanji yoru sora!" The ceiling is there! It just looks like the night sky! Eriol informed her. Just then McGonagall stopped them and said.
"Before we begin the sorting, Prof. Dumbledore would like to say a few words!" At this an old-looking man in the middle of the table ahead of them stood up and said.
"One major rule all new students must remember is that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students! Furthermore I wish to notify all students that we have four exchange students joining us this year; although they'll be sorted like the first years, they'll be classified as fifth years!" And he sat down.
"Now," McGonagall stated, lifting an old wizard's hat of the stool, "When I call your name you will sit on this stool, I will place the sorting hat on your head and you'll be sorted into your houses!" With that she commenced to read out each name of every first year; Sakura, Tomoyo and Shaoran were amazed by the hat actually speaking a house name time after time to sort the students.
"Sore wa atama-yomimasu desu!" It's a mind-reader! Eriol whispered to them. The was a long pause after all first years were sorted leaving Sakura's group standing in the middle of the hall.
"Tomoyo Daijoudi!" (she pronounced it 'Tom-MOY-oh DIE-jew-dee') McGonagall announced; Tomoyo stepped up, making sure she had no tension that might upset the hat, and waited as the hat searched through her capabilities and her desires.
'Most intriguing,' The hat said in her mind, 'A strong selflessness and a willingness to aid others, a bit of a philanthropist. And you have a love for a Miss Kinomoto.' Then it called out. "Gryffindor!" And Tomoyo went over to the Gryffindor table.
"Eriol Hiiragizawa!" (she pron. 'Eh-ree-ol He-were-geez-A-wah') Eriol was absolutely calm as he could remember how Clow Read went through the ordeal.
'Ah,' The hat said in his head, 'Clow Read returns! I know just what to do with you!' And it called out. "Gryffindor!" And Eriol went over to join Tomoyo.
"Sakura Kinomoto!" (she pron. 'Sa-KOO-rah Key-nom-motto') Suddenly Dumbledore sat forward with a glimmer of intrigue on his face as she stepped up, unable to shake out the last bit of tension.
'Hmm,' The hat went. 'You are the heir of Clow Read?!? I wouldn't think a young girl like you would be the heir?'
'Neither did I!' Sakura telepathically replied. 'I was unsure of it at first; worried I wasn't good enough!'
'Well,' It carried on, 'Strong courage, desire to protect, no real sense of superiority or inferiority. No contest!' And it shouted. "Gryffindor!" Tomoyo would've applauded and cheered 'till the cows came home if a hand gesture from Prof. McGonagall hadn't silenced her.
"Shaoran Li!" (she pron. 'Sh-OW-oh-run Lee') And he came up to the hat looking like Mr. Spock.
'Hmm,' Went the hat, 'Difficult, very difficult! You carry many of the attributes that Harry Potter does! A fair player and not one to let personal feelings get in the way except for a few. Better be…' And it called out. "Gryffindor!" Shaoran was both relieved and embarrassed by this.
"I wonder who the new DADA teacher will be." Harry commented as the students chatted amongst themselves, Sakura was intrigued by the various topics.
"I haven't known one DADA teacher who lasted for more than a year!" Hermione commented.
"W-why?" Sakura asked her.
"Well," She replied, "They were either working for Voldemort (said in a whisper) or they were incompetent!"
"Except for Prof. Lupin," Harry commented, "But he resigned because someone snitched on his condition!"
"What condition?" Sakura asked him.
"Well," Harry replied, lowering his voice, "He was a werewolf!"
"Hoe!" Sakura gasped in surprise and shock.
Suddenly Prof. McGonagall tapped the side of her glass and called out. "Your attention, please!" And everyone became silent. Prof. Dumbledore stood up and announced.
"Students of Hogwarts, members of the faculty, I would like you all to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Then Prof. Snape chuntered to himself.
"And let's hope he lasts longer than his predecessors!" The doors to the hall opened and in walked a young-looking man wearing glasses and carrying a jovial smile, he went up to his position at the staff table. Sakura's group were now blatantly flabbergasted.
"Please to welcome…" Dumbledore started, but Sakura and Tomoyo finished for him.
"YUKITO-SAN?!?" McGonagall gave them a stern look, which they soon caught on to.
"…Professor Yukito Tsukishiro!" Dumbledore finished, ensuring all protocol was met.
"Mina-san kon·nichi wa!" Hello everyone! He said, 99 of the students couldn't understand what he just said, but Dumbledore helped out.
"Professor Tsukishiro gives you his greetings!" He tells the whole school. While everyone else politely applauded, Sakura's group responded.
"HAI!" They all called out.
Time passed as the students all talked among themselves; everything seemed to be going well, but Snape seemed to be interrogating Yukito, fortunately Yue came to Yukito's aid in replying to Snape's questions, but Snape was suspicious by Yukito's delayed responses. Then McGonagall repeated her 'attention' procedure and Dumbledore announced.
"Let the feast… begin!" And plates of just about every kind of food imaginable appeared on the tables. Sakura gasped at such a major accomplishment of creation.
"Get stuck in!" Ron told her and her friends, she was bewildered by this.
"Help yourself!" Eriol explained, so she did.
"I wonder where all the ghosts are?" Fred Weasley commented. "They're usually around the hall at this time!" Just as he finished speaking a loud noise echoed through the hall.
"HOOOEEEEEE!!!" The sound rung in all Gryffindor students' ears, Harry turned round to find the source of the voice and saw Sakura had disappeared.
"Where's Sakura?" He asked Tomoyo and Eriol in particular, Tomoyo made a brief peep under the table and replied.
"She still around! You never told us there were ghosts here!" Harry looked at her bewildered and asked her.
"Why?"
"Sakura just can't stand ghosts!" Tomoyo replied. "Even the suggestion of them is bad enough!"
"I had no idea she was Spectrophobic!" Hermione commented.
"She isn't!" Shaoran replied. "She just can't stand ghosts!"
"Hoeee!!!" Came a weaker cry from under the table.
"I hope they don't get offended!" Harry commented.
"Might I suggest," Hermione suggested, "That we all work together to try and help Miss Kinomoto over come her fear of ghosts!" While Harry nodded and Ron just shrugged, Tomoyo and Eriol replied.
"Hai!" Yes! With Shaoran saying the same after a brief blushing, meanwhile Sakura was steadily rising from under the table.
After dinner the houses were led back to their dormitories; Sakura was in awe of the pictures not only moving, but also by the fact that they could orally interact with them indicating that they could actually see outside the picture. Eventually they came up to the portrait of a fat lady.
"Password?" She inquired, to which the prefect replied.
"Glutus Maximus!" And a doorway opened up to the common room; Sakura's group, along with the 1st years, were told where everything was.
Sakura had some trouble sleeping that night, her mind kept returning to that fact that there were ghosts in the school.
"Sakura, kurikaeshimasu 'Kami watashi o itamimasen!'" Sakura, repeat 'Ghosts can't hurt me!' Kero advised her, Sakura took a while to get the hang of it, but she continued to do so as she dropped off.
