CHAPTER: IV

"Who was inside?"

"Are they important?"

"Did they have food?"

Questions were coming from everywhere once Haruhi entered the compartment. She told them about the Host Club and explained to them about Ouran Academy, so they could understand how wealthy and significant the students were, and that she was only there because of scholarship. Everyone stared at her in awe.

"Scholarship…" Ron whispered. "Don't you have to be a super-genius to get that? I heard dad and Bill talking about it when I was younger."

"You don't have to be a super-genius," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes. "But, you do have to be intelligent."

"Ooh it seems like 'The Best Witch In Our Year' has some competition!" Ron said laughing. Hermione didn't speak for the remainder of the journey.

"We should be nearing Hogwarts," Harry said standing up, "Better change into our robes. There was quite a hassle as everyone was trying to get things out of their trunks. And more of a hassle — and a bloody nose, which Hermione neatly repaired — from someone being elbowed in the face. Haruhi looked around and saw that the others had red, gold, blue, and bronze complimenting the black uniform, which was the only color that Haruhi had on hers.

"What do those colors stand for?" Haruhi asked.

"It stands for the houses we were sorted into," Harry replied, "There are four: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff."

"How are we sorted?"

Hermione knew she was needed, so she stopped giving the silent treatment and said, "At the beginning of each school year, the magical Sorting Hat is placed on each new student's head, during the Sorting Ceremony. The Sorting Hat announces the house the student is bound to join. The Hat sorts by judging each student's qualities and placing them in the most appropriate house."

"Wow, it's a lot different from Ouran," Haruhi said, "What qualities does each house represent?"

Again, Hermione answered her question, "Gryffindor values courage, chivalry and boldness; Hufflepuff values hard work, patience, friendship and fair play rather than a particular aptitude in its members; Ravenclaw values intelligence, knowledge and wit; and Slytherin values ambition, cunning and resourcefulness."

Haruhi became silent wondering which house she will be sorted into. "What houses are you all in?" She asked.

"Well," said Harry, "Ron, Hermione, Neville, and I are all in Gryffindor. And Luna, is in Ravenclaw."

"I'm sure — with brains like yours, you'd be placed in Ravenclaw," Ron said. Hermione acted like she didn't hear the comment.

"Thanks," Haruhi said, smiling. She felt nervous all of a sudden. As the others conversed, Haruhi silently wondered what house she'll be placed in. There was a knock on the compartment door and it slid open.

A boy, probably a 5th year came in and asked, "Is Haruhi Fujioka in here by any chance? She is needed in the prefects compartment…"

"Well, go on then," Ron said.

"But my stuff —"

"Don't worry, it will be taken care of." Ron replied gesturing at the door.

"Thanks for letting me stay in your compartment, I'll see you soon," Haruhi waved and walked back to the Host Club. She slid open the door and found herself looking at six gorgeous — half-naked guys. She stood there, frozen unsure what to do next. Her face growing steadily redder with each passing second. They were changing into their robes, but she didn't understand why they had to take off their shirts — she enjoyed the view nonetheless. I mean c'mon! Six handsome guys with great bodies — topless? Haruhi didn't know how long she had been standing there. She heard muffled laughter, possibly from the other compartments, which was more than enough to smack her back to reality. She quickly shut the compartment door shut, and leaned on it breathing heavily. She certainly didn't want to go inside now, after the embarrassing intrusion she just made.

Draco was changing into his robes and saw a girl with long hair passing by the compartment. He ran to the window — knocking down Zabini on his way there — and saw it was indeed, as he thought, the pretty girl from before.

"What in the world was that for!" Zabini said angrily. Draco ignored his comment and quickly thought what he should do. He made up his mind to go and talk to her, to find out her name and everything about her. He was about to open the compartment door until Zabini laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" spat Draco.

"You're really going out like that — with half of your robes stuck in your pants?" Draco looked down, and just as Zabini said, half his robes were indeed, stuck in his pants. He scrambled to fix his robes and walked out into the corridor of the train. He looked to the direction the beauty went and received a jolt in his stomach as he saw her sitting outside of the prefects carriage. Draco straightened his robes and fixed his hair wishing he had a mirror for approval. He started walking, but decided to change his stance — to a cooler, smoother-looking one. Butterflies fluttering furiously in his stomach, he tried to decide what to say to her in his mind. 'What is going on with me?' Draco thought to himself. 'I'm usually smooth with the ladies, why am I so nervous now?! She's just another pretty, beautiful, radiant, gorgeous, stunning — what was he saying?!' Draco shook his head trying to block his mind from unwanted thoughts. She looked so pretty just sitting there — he froze — someone was coming out of the prefect's carriage. Draco jumped into the nearest compartment, which was full of screaming girls — shocked by the sudden intrusion. A tall boy with reddish-orange hair came out of the prefects compartment and sat next to the gorgeous girl. They were talking about something that Draco was desperately trying to hear, but gave up in defeat. He just stood there, oblivious to the smiles the girls were giving him. The two just sat there talking and then he put his arm around her. Draco felt a sudden surge of jealously flowing through him. He wanted curse that boy for touching her — who was he anyways? He had never seen him before. The boy helped the stunning creature up and guided her into the prefect's carriage. Draco just stood there lost for words, as the compartment door slid shut. 'If only I had Potter's invisibility cloak,' he thought to himself. Draco realized there was nothing to be done — at least until they reached Hogwarts, and was forced to retire back to his compartment. Draco took his seat next to Zabini, who was eyeing him suspiciously. 'What's wrong with him? Why is he acting this way? Is it because of that girl?' Zabini thought to himself.

"Where did you go, Malfoy?" Crabbe asked.

"Oh, just outside — needed to walk around… My legs were starting to cramp…"

"Oh, Okay," Crabbe said, as he took out another pumpkin pasty and shoved it in his mouth. Ignoring the looks of disgust everyone was giving him.

Zabini gave a sly smile and asked, "So Malfoy, what do you think of that girl?" Everyone in the compartment froze. Making it apparent that they were all wondering the same thing.

Draco hesitated and said, "What girl? What are you talking about Zabini?"

Zabini gave a heartless laugh, and said, "Don't play dumb with me… You know that girl — the one you tripped for." Goyle laughed, but ceased seeing the look Draco was giving him. Draco couldn't tell them how he felt about her — even he didn't know his own feelings yet. Lie! Draco's mind seemed to be telling him. But what if she finds out what I said about her? — Who cares just lie! Your reputation is at stake — but reputation isn't everything! Stop being stupid, see this is what love does to you! Draco stopped arguing with himself and thought, 'Love? Is this what this feeling is? The way she always seems to haunt my mind at every given moment? When I seem to lose my cool every time I see her? How my heart fills with warmness and light making me regret all the bad things I've done making me want to start all over from the beginning? Is this love?' Everyone was staring at Draco, holding their breath waiting for his answer. 'No, this can't be love! I don't even know her name! I've got to get a hold of myself,' Draco thought furiously.

Draco looked up giving everyone his trademark sneer, "What's with this attitude you're giving me Zabini?" He glared at Zabini careful not to lose eye-contact, or else this whole cover-up will be blown.

"I hope you didn't forget that I have excellent contacts, and that I can make your life — or your mother's — very miserable, it all depends on your next move…" Draco said in a dangerous tone, glaring at Zabini.

"I — Er — sorry…" Zabini said, admitting defeat. "It won't happen again…"

"I'll make sure it won't," Draco said, sporting a triumphant grin.

Haruhi sat outside the prefects carriage, her face still brilliantly crimson. There was no way under any circumstances, she would go back in that compartment. 'Maybe I'll just stay out here until we reach Hogwarts,' Haruhi thought to herself, 'Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Anything is better than going back in there,' she shuddered thinking of what would happen facing the Host Club after what she'd seen. Considering her options, the compartment door slid open, knocking Haruhi off-balance and she fell onto someone's legs. She looked up and saw Hikaru Hitachiin's handsome face grinning down upon her.

"Enjoying the view?" He asked grinning, closing the compartment door behind him.

"Eheheh… Sorry Hikaru," Haruhi apologized, as Hikaru sat down behind her.

"Ah, it's alright," Hikaru said, waving his hand, "So, did you like what you saw?" Hikaru said, raising his eyebrows grinning.

Haruhi blushed and stuttered, "I- I well — that's beyond the point." Hikaru laughed.

"So you did enjoy it," Hikaru said, putting his arm around her. "Don't worry… I won't tell the Host Club you enjoyed their chests — but not as much as you liked mine right? I've been working out," Hikaru said, as he winked. Haruhi laughed, there was no point in arguing with this guy.

Hikaru stood up and said, "C'mon, a beautiful lady like yourself shouldn't be sitting outside." Helping Haruhi up by the hand, he slid open the compartment door, and followed her inside. Haruhi was greeted by a hug from Hunny.

"Haru-chan!" Hunny sang out, "Where did you go? I missed you Haru-chan!" Hunny looked at her with big watery eyes- looking like he was about to cry. 'Aww so cute!' Haruhi thought to herself.

"I just went to change into my robes," Haruhi said, smiling at Hunny. Hunny laughed and hopped back to his seat next to Mori. Haruhi stared around, they were all wearing the Hogwarts robes. They looked different in a way — more mysterious perhaps? She couldn't really describe it. It suited them though — almost everything they wear suits them, the reward for being strikingly good-looking. You look good in whatever you wear. She almost forgot that just minutes ago she had seen them shirtless.

"Oh — Err — sorry for… Uh, intruding — and uh — seeing — Err — yeah," Haruhi stuttered, her face filling up with color again. She laughed nervously. Tamaki stood up, walked over to Haruhi, and held her hand once more.

"It is fine, beautiful Haruhi, you didn't mean us any harm. And, we are used to lovely ladies like you, seeing our bodies," Tamaki said.

"Huh?!?!?" Haruhi said in disbelief, "You mean you've slept with —"

Tamaki's whole face turned red and yelled, "What?!?!"

"I can't believe you! You naughty —"

"Huh??!??!? No!!!! Heavens no!!!!! We wouldn't do something like that!!!!"

"Then, why did you say ladies are used to seeing her bodies huh?" Haruhi said in an accusatory tone.

"I meant from physical examinations!" Tamaki explained, "You see, we're popular with the ladies at Ouran — I don't know why you never heard about us — and they make a big deal out of physical examinations. The ladies come and gather round to see our bodies." Haruhi thought that was the stupidest thing she had ever heard. Hikaru and Kaoru roared with laughter. Even Mori and Kyoya managed a smile. Hunny just sat there eating a mountain load of sweets. Hikaru and Kaoru gestured for Haruhi to sit in between them. But before she could reach her seat, Kyoya grabbed her arm and pulled Haruhi close to him. Their faces were inches away from each other. 'Is he going to kiss me?!' Haruhi thought panicking. He turned Haruhi's head, so that his mouth was an inch away from her ear.

Kyoya whispered, "You know the twins are why you saw our bodies. They created a note and paid this guy to give it to you knowing full well that we wouldn't be done changing by the time you arrived. You weren't even needed here… yet." Kyoya sat back down on his seat.

Haruhi rounded on the twins, "You tricked me into coming here?"

"Well, yeah… What would you expect from us?" Hikaru said.

"Exactly — troublemaking twins bored in a train, with a pretty girl we just met, who thinks all of us are handsome — right?" Kaoru said grinning. Haruhi smiled and took a seat in between the twins.

Grinning, Haruhi said, "Yes, did I really expect anything less from the Hitachiin twins?"