Chapter 4
King's Cross Station was a busy bustling place. Men and women rushed from platform to platform trying to find and catch their trains in a hectic haphazardly manner. But just in-between platforms nine and ten was a hidden platform just for the students of Hogawrts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the famous Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Wizarding families stood with their children giving out hugs and kisses and farewells. Mothers fretted. Fathers were harried. Owls and cats called out to one another. Children just wanted to find their friends and leave already.
Amongst the throng stood Shuichi and his mother Shiori. For several minutes they just stood there looking at each other in silence. A bittersweet smile slowly bloomed across Shiroi's face.
"You're growing up so fast. It's a little sad. Soon I won't be able to call you my Shuichi-chan." she said with tears in her eyes. A sudden wave of emotion washed over Kurama and it scared him a little. There was a slight but painful tightening sensation in his chest.
"I'll miss you okaasan." he replied with a tight throat and burning eyes. Shiori pulled him close. A few traitorous tears escaped.
"You'll write to me every week? And come home for Christmas?"
"H-hai."
"Y-you should probably get going or the train will leave without you."
"Would that really be such a bad thing?" he joked. Shiroi laughed weakly. Quickly he gave her a peck on the cheek and hurried aboard the train. Finding an empty compartment he poked his head out the window and waved to her as the train lurched to life. With a tearful smile she waved back. Reluctantly he pulled his head back in as the train picked up speed, leaving the station far behind.
xXx
Kurama stared out the window as the train charged through the countryside. However, his gaze was turned inward.
He remembered a time when he felt no such emotions as he did now. He cared for no one. He only cared about himself. His life was hard and cruel. The vixen that birthed him found his coloring unnatural and disturbing. In a world where the unordinary was a thing that was to be feared, that meant he was abandoned by the vixen as soon as he could feed himself. Where ever he went he was shunned or harassed by others, even his own kind. Perhaps that was why he became heartless…to save himself from the pain. But somehow within the past eleven years that changed. Now he was full of new emotions he never experienced before. It was confusing. Something was happening to him and he didn't know what it was. By taking that infant soul and body for his own did he somehow obtained the heart he never had? Did that pitiful immature dying soul fill that void somehow?
The sound of the compartment door sliding open broke him out of his introspection. A tall lanky boy about his age stood there with an uncertain look on his freckled face.
"Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full."
"Go ahead." The boy smiled gratefully and sat on the opposite seat. He ran a nervous hand through his fiery red hair.
"Name's Ron Weasley."
"Shuichi Minamino." Ron raised an eyebrow.
"Japanese." he supplied.
"Really? I mean I don't want to be rude or anything but you don't, well, look Japanese."
"My mother was originally from here but left when my dad died during the war."
"Oh, sorry."
"Don't worry about it." There was an uncomfortable silence. Shuichi pulled out a book and read, aware of Ron's blue eyes flicking to him then back out the window every so often. Suddenly the compartment door opened once more. This time a girl with brown bushy hair stood there with a determined look on her face. A short plump blond boy stood behind her with tears streaking his round face.
"Have you seen a toad?" the girl asked in a rather demanding tone.
"Err, sorry. No." The blond boy burst into tears.
"I-I'll never find Trevor! I bet some m-mean cat ate him! M-maybe he h-hates me!" The girl tried to comfort him but he just seemed to deteriorate. Ron looked as uncomfortable as ever.
"That's not true." Shuichi replied gently. "I bet he went for a walk. He's probably just exploring. How about you ask one of the older students to use a summoning charm on him?" The girl smacked her head.
"Why didn't I think of that! Of course! With a simple summoning charm he'll fly right to us!" She hurriedly escorted the boy somewhere else on the train.
"Bloody hell…" Ron muttered.
They went back to sitting there in silence. Minutes turned into hours as the sun slowly made its decent. It was just passed sunset when the door slid open again. In the doorway proudly stood the rude annoying boy from the robe shop flanked by two rather dim looking heavy set goons. Kurama was exasperated and the boy's triumphant look didn't help his temper. Ron had a similar spiteful look. Apparently the boy was well known.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A weasley and the pretty boy with an attitude problem. I've been looking for you."
"Oh my. I had no idea. I'm flattered. Really. You shouldn't have." Kurama said in a fake surprised-but-happy voice that contradicted his stormy face.. The boy's face turned red. Ron looked at him as if he were noticing him for the first time.
"Watch it red. You have no idea who your talking to." the boy sneered.
"A rich boy who needs a good spanking?"
"I'm Draco Malfoy." he stated rather proudly. Kurama remembered the name from a lecture Shiori gave him about the families who were fond of or out-right supported Voldemort's cause. With some it was about power while for others it was wealth and influence. Others were just stupid and supported the cause because they actually believed in it. From the look of things it seemed as if it was options two and three for the Malfoys.
"Shuichi Minamino, your majesty." Draco reddened further.
"You should be careful Minamino. You don't want to make the wrong friends, or enemies for that matter, around here."
"Or what? I'll be annoyed to death?" Kurama challenged with a raised eyebrow. Draco gave a weak growl and charged. Kurama simply stuck out his foot.
BAM!
Draco tripped and flew headlong into the window. Surprisingly the window didn't break. Unsurprisingly Draco's nose broke. With a few choice curses muffled by his hand trying futilely to stem the blood flow he left with his lackeys trailing after him dumbly.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful though Ron kept looking at him funny. A voice over the intercom announced the immanent arrival at the Hogsmeade station. They changed into their robes in silence. Soon enough the train slowed to a stop. Students jostled one another as they streamed out into the balmy night air. Towering over the crowds was a giant of a man with shaggy beard and hair in what could've been a bearskin coat with a bucket sized lantern in hand.
"First years! First years over here! All first years!" the man boomed. Shuichi immediately gravitated towards the man. Soon a good number of students were gathered around.
"That everyone? Then follow me!" The man lead them away from the other student to the edge of a large lake where a small fleet of boats waited.
"Two to a boat!" Shuichi sat with Ron in the nearest boat. As soon as they where all in the man chose an empty boat to himself.
"Forward!"
The boats quietly glided over the water. Some leaned over the sides of the boats looking into the lake or splashing while the more nervous sat perfectly still as if a single movement could overturn the tiny vessel. Several 'Ooo's and 'Ahh's went up as the castle came into view. It was a large ancient looking structure on top of a cliff overlooking the lake. Hundreds of windows glittered and shone in the night like fireflies or precious gems. The moon hung just above the rooftops in the cloudy sky like in a painting. They all ducked as the boats passed though a vine covered cove into a small cave with steps heading up to the castle. A pair of heavy oak doors loomed ahead. With a trashcan lid sized hand the giant man pounded on the doors. Slowly they opened. A rather severe looking woman greeted them in emerald green robes. She gazed at them over her square glasses with a look that clearly said 'don't mess with me'.
"Thank you Hagrid." Hagrid gave her a curt nod and shuffled off. The woman turned her attention back to them with a serious expression.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." she began as she lead them deeper into the castle. " I am Professor McGonagall. I am the professor of Transfiguration and Head of Giffindor.. While you're hear you'll be sorted into one of four houses. The houses are; Huffelpuff, Griffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Your house will be your home and your housemates will be your family. You will obey and respect not only your Head of House but all of your professors. Your studies are to be taken seriously." Professor McGonagall ushered them into a small gloomy room beside a second set of heavy oak doors. "Now, before you are taken into the Great Hall to be sorted in front of your peers we need a few minutes to prepare. You will stay in this room until I come for you. In the mean time you may want to make yourselves presentable." she stated pointedly to a few students. With one more challenging gaze she swept out of the room, closing the door behind her with a solid thud. Once she was gone a murmur of conversation started up nervously.
"How are they going to sort us?" a timid girl asked.
"Dunno. Maybe it's a random pick." one boy supplied.
"No! My brothers told me we'd have to fight a troll!" Ron said.
"A-a troll!"
"Yeah, they sort you based on how you fight it. Brave if Griffindor, sly if Slytherin, cunning if Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff if you run away or try to befriend it." Shuichi gave an incredulous look.
"And you believed them?"
"Well how else would they do it?"
"They use an enchanted hat. You put it on your head and will sort you into a house that matches your characteristics."
"Well that's lame…"
Minutes ticked by. More and more students were becoming nervous. Other that a few bickering ghosts passing through on their way to the feast, no one came fore them. A few troublemakers began voicing crazy ideas on what was going on to scare others. Finally McGonagall reentered.
"We are ready for you now. Form a single line and follow me." Hastily they all shuffled into a line and dutifully followed her out of the room to the second pair of oak doors that slowly creaked open. A few students gasped.
The Great Hall was, well, a big long hall. Four long tables lined the length with a slightly smaller table atop a podium at the front facing the doors. Hundreds of older students sat at the four tables, ceasing their conversations as the new students approached. Dozens more candles floated lazily above the tables, the flickering light they cast bouncing off the golden tableware. The ceiling itself was charmed to reflect the night sky outside completed with moon and stars. As they approached the front Shuichi could see the bedraggled looking Sorting Hat that his mother had told him about sitting lifelessly on a three legged stool in front of the teacher's table. And at the head of it all sat Albus Dumbledore in bright blue robes smiling at all the new and returning students with twinkling eyes. Professor McGonagall halted the line, directing the student to line up in front of the teacher's table so the teachers and students could see them better. Then everyone's attention turned to the Sorting Hat. A tear near the brim opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing…
Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
The hall burst into a round of applause as the hat bowed to each of the four tables before going still one more. McGonagall pulled out a long piece of parchment and began listing off names alphabetically. A student nervously ran up and sat on the stool and the hat was placed on their head. A few seconds later the hat shouted out the name of the house the student belonged to. One of the tables clapped and the student hurried over to them. Name after name was listed off. The round faced boy who lost his toad, Nevil Longbottom who accidentally ran off with the hat still on his head, was placed into Gryffindor along with the bossy bushy haired girl, Hermione Granger. Draco Malfoy naturally went to Slytherin.
Then Shuichi's name was called.
Calmly he approached the stool. He could hear some of the female students whisper in what he considered to be a hopeful yet conspiratorial way that gave him a sinking feeling. The Headmaster gave him a small wink as he sat down. A few girls leaned over to see his face better when the hat fell over his eyes.
'Hmm, interesting. Very interesting. I must say that this is a honor, to sit on the head of the infamous yoko Kurama. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your little secret. Not even the Headmaster. Now where to put you…cunning, brave, hardworking, intelligent…you could go anywhere really. But I see that you possess a great curiosity and intelligence that few could match. So it'll be…' "Ravenclaw!"
Shuichi took the hat off and went over to sit with the other Ravenclaws who were clapping rather energetically. Avoiding the rather friendly females he sat next to another handsome boy who seemed sympathetic towards his situation and the House Ghost, the Grey Lady, and watched as the rest of the students were sorted. Ron went to Gryffindor. As the last student was sorted and sorting hat taken away by the caretaker McGonagall rolled up the list and took her place at the teacher's table. After a short speech from the Headmaster about illegal objects, the Forbidden Forest and the third floor corridor being off limits, the Headmaster spoke a few silly phrases and the food magically appeared in front of them. Soon the hall was full of the low drone of conversations and clinking silverware.
xXx
Kurama sat up in his bed in the boy's dormitory in Ravenclaw Tower. His dorm mates slept soundly in the plush beds. The dormitory like the rest of the tower was airy and richly decorated in deep blues and rich bronzes. Stars were painted on the domed ceilings. Arched windows provided breathtaking views. The only thing keeping other students out of the tower was a brass eagle knocker that would pose a riddle to whoever tried to enter. It was all rather lavish.
He could get used to this.
His thoughts turned once more to his mother Shiori. She was porbably lonely by herself in the house. He had suggested that she get a pet to keep her company but she brushed it off. Kurama felt more guilty than ever. It seemed as if he was only giving her heartache by leaving. They'd never been apart before now. He sincerely hoped she found a friend or, even better, a boyfriend while he was away. Kurama sighed as he flopped down onto his bed.
'Why am I so worried about her for? She's a grown woman!'
xXx
Omake
Shuichi was eating quietly when one of the girls near him spoke up.
"So handsome, since you're new here and all how about I give you a tour of the castle after classes tomorrow?" There were several cries of outrage from a few other nearby girls.
"Trying to get a little action already? What, are the beaters just not cutting it anymore?" one jibbed.
"Yeah! Not to mention a few of the prefects! Are you trying to form a harem or something?" another supplied.
"Besides, you'll only corrupt that beautiful soul of his! Before you know it he'll be smoking in the corridors between classes and slamming back shots of Firewhiskey faster than you could say expelled!" They continued to bicker back and forth while Shuichi leaned over to the boy next to him who was called Roger Davies.
"Are all the girls here going to be like this?" Roger gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Well…not ALL of them…"
Translations:
Chan- little
Hai- yes
Okaasan- mother
AN: So far it looks like it's going to be yaoi! I have an idea about the parings but if you have a really good idea then let me know even if it's not a serious one. You know, like one sided parings just for kicks. Remember to review!
Edit: Ok, so I got a little mixed up and accidentally put Cedric in Ravenclaw. My bad. I fixed it so that it was another Ravenclaw. To jog your memories, Roger Davies was the one who went to the Yule Ball with Fleur.