CHAPTER 7: HOPE

Its leering, bulbous eyes reflected the stark blue light of the full moon. Wisps of rancid red breath seethed in consistent hisses. The wheezes discharged from deep within its throat: it either laughed or it coughed. The hole under its eyes, appearing to be a mouth, displayed three rows of razor sharp fangs, each dripping with a sticky fluid. The creature reflected that of a shadow, only menacing both in darkness and light consumption.

Harry thrust his wand firmly, sending long, great sparks towards the beast, distracting it temporarily. Regaining confidence, Ginny was at the opposite end attempting to do the same as Hermione struggled to assist a frazzled Ron out of harm's way. Draco stood motionless, staring, completely petrified.

Syaoran turned away from the horror floating above them and looked at Sakura. Her eyes were returned to their normal colour, but they weren't alert. She stared blankly at the demon. Her mouth gaped open like a mindless zombie. But, he'd thought for a moment prior, that she had spoken?

'Sakura, where are you?' he whispered.

All this was still confusing to him. She was the possessor of the Clow Cards. But, they weren't Clow's, they were of her own name and power, 'Sakura'. She held fifty-two of the world's greatest threats of elements and disasters. She had chaos in her very hands. This one girl had the key to destruction, or salvation.

A tear fell from his eye. He felt so lost.

'Sakura...'

Another tear dropped down.

He watched it in slow motion. It landed onto his jade necklace. The wolf-headed stone seemed to come to life and swallowed the tear. It started to shimmer with green light. The light started to spread across Syaoran's body, covering him in a cloak of stars. He was overcome by warmth, and felt that everything was going to be fine.

At that passing time, Sakura's necklace began to shine and a pale purple light enveloped her stiff body. She closed her eyes and sighed. Something wonderful, something amazing filled her heart. Then the lights emitting from their necklaces faded.

Sakura pulled away from Syaoran gently and stood up. She gazed up at the demonic beast in bewilderment. She saw that Harry had placed a Sealing Charm over it, but the shield was wearing thin.

'Move, Harry!' she commanded. She glided smoothly to Harry's side and with a sweep of her arm, the barrier shattered, releasing Voldemort's hideous form.

Syaoran ran to her and cried, 'Sakura! What are you doing?'

Sakura held up her hand and stopped him. He wasn't able to see her face, but the tone of her voice told him she was smiling.

'Thank you for caring about me.'

Syaoran then realized that somehow his feelings had helped Sakura recover. He stood back and watched as she summoned the Sealing Staff.

The ominous, dark cloud of evil grinned wickedly, mocking the minute glow of Sakura's aura.

Sakura held her wand with both hands, closed her eyes and concentrated, focusing on the Sealing Staff and the power of the cards. Her knuckles whitened as her grip tightened, the powers melding within her body and into the Sealing Staff.

'With the power of my star, we are one! Our powers meld; we bind and cast out the evil! Help me to defeat the evil known as Voldemort!'

Syaoran and the others watched as the Staff's golden star spun rapidly as a funnel of shimmering lights engulfed her. When the lights faded, Sakura, if not for the fluttering of her robes, appeared as a statue cast in gold. Sakura and the Sealing Staff had merged as one, brimming with unbridled energy.

Syaoran staggered forward. 'Sa-Sakura...'

A force erupted from under Sakura's feet and blasted Syaoran and the others back, casting them into the lake, away from danger. Syaoran struggled to his feet, though the water reached past his chin and shouted, 'Sakura!'

'Don't call to her, and don't run to her. We can't do anything, even you, Syaoran,' said Hermione, supporting Ron around his waist as he still cringed with pain.

'She knows what she's doing,' muttered Harry. Syaoran exchanged a stern nod with Harry and started treading water.

Sakura raised her head and opened her eyes. Two white lights shone in the night. She spoke with a voice like wind chimes. 'I will destroy you. For the innocents you hurt. For those you have murdered.'

The Dark Lord's snicker erupted from the pits of his misty belly. 'No, Card Mistress. Even with all the powers you hold, card and wand, you are no match against me. I am invincible.'

She brought her gold hands together. As though gathering thread at a loom, her fingers appeared to knit light together skilfully, until they created sphere of pure white energy, which grew rapidly until it shone like a small star. She immediately thrust the sphere forward. The sphere buffeted into Voldemort's centre. He cackled as the ball swelled within him and seemed to dissipate. However, moments later he let out a strangled scream, like fingernails being scratched against the surface of a chalkboard, and his form dispersed into shreds. He quickly formed as whole again and burst into a fit of rage, sending a shower of thunder crystals hammering towards her.

Sakura pressed her hands together and a great gold shield appeared before her, covering her entire body as the crystals were deflected and sent rebounding back towards Voldemort. His mangled mouth widened disproportionately to accommodate the crystals. He then shot out a swarm of Boggarts that immediately transformed into terrifying ghouls, faces shattered and broken, teeth dripping with blood.

Sakura's moonstone eyes widened as she reacted quickly and brought up her arms and sent a cluster of white light shards towards them, disintegrating the monstrous creatures on impact, except for one, which hurtled towards her.

Two glass wings sprouted from the smalls of her back and she leapt into the air like a Firebolt. Shimmering, she dashed into the air and pivoted around, sending a rush of white energy forth and destroying the ghost.

Her wings faded as she landed with clumsy footing on the ground, and turned to stare angrily at Voldemort. 'You will be vanquished!'

He grinned wickedly. 'It ends now.'

Voldemort opened his mouth, and a stream of green light spewed out, thundering towards Sakura.

She thrust her hands forward and cast her own white light. The two powers clashed together in an explosion of colours, their collective energies taking the form of two mighty winged dragons. The dragons writhed and twisted around one another, tearing at each other's hides. With each stroke and tear to her dragon, Sakura cried out in pain. It suddenly seemed to become too much as she fell to her knees. She whimpered and sunk her head down. She was failing.

Voldemort laughed and declared, 'I WILL BE THE VICTOR! GIVE YOUR POWER OVER TO ME!'


Sakura cried out in pain, her will fading, and her head sinking into the damp earth. The darkness swirled over her head as her power waned. She was terrified. She wasn't going to win. Voldemort screeched with laughter. Sakura sobbed bitterly as a deep cold encroached her body, Voldemort's dragon slowly eating away at hers.

Suddenly a warm hand cupped her shoulder. She then felt four other hands at the nape of her neck, at the small of her back, on her other shoulder. She craned her neck around. Everyone stood behind her, lending her their power. 'You'll be killed!' she cried.

'We won't be killed, as long as we work together,' said Syaoran. 'We believe in you.'

'We believe in you,' the others said in unison.

'Believe in us. Believe in you,' whispered Syaoran. His hand was positioned on her left shoulder. All their powers channelled through her, and she could feel her strength return.

She raised her head, her jewel eyes narrowed. Her hands released a great burst of energy, a shining light framed by ribbons of swirling fire, water, earth and wind. The energy engulfed Voldemort.

'NO! THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE! NOOOOOO!'

Voldemort's darkness was overcome, and he was sent into the atmosphere. As he slowly descended down to earth, Sakura stood and in a final burst of energy, scattered the last remnants of the Dark Lord across the sky.

They watched in silence as the night became still.

Shortly, the silence was broken by their sudden whoops of laughter. Harry and Draco hugged each other and Hermione, Ron and Ginny joined hands and danced around in circles.

'Ha-ha! Take that you great git!' bellowed Ron toward the forest.

Syaoran watched Sakura stare off into the distance. As she turned her head slowly, she started to glow. Her eyes fluttered shut as she collapsed to the ground, her form returned to normal, the Sealing Staff lying beside her. Syaoran rushed over and lifted her carefully into his arms. The others turned around in alarm.

'We need to get her to the Hospital Wing!' Syaoran exclaimed as he started up the hill. The others followed hastily.


Hermione and Ginny heard a faint murmur. They quickly raised their heads up and saw that Sakura was starting to stir. She was lying under crisp white sheets, her head rested back and her hair spread out like a fan. She lay on a single wooden bed in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey worked her magic across the room on a boy with a Locked Limbs problem.

Hermione took Sakura's pale hand and squeezed it. She peered away sadly as the dull morning light cast through a small arch window.

'Sakura,' she said quietly, 'how are you feeling?'

Sakura squinted her eyes and shook her head groggily. 'My head's a little fuzzy,' she said quietly. 'What's happening?' She yawned, her eyes opening slightly. With the first sight of the room, she sat up straight in bed, startling Hermione and Ginny.

'Why am I here?'

Ginny clasped her hands to her mouth and tears brimmed in her eyes. She appeared distraught –Sakura hadn't the slightest idea why— and hurried out of the wing, her shoes clacking against the white-stoned floor and echoing out the doorway.

Shortly, Ron and Harry entered.

'Ron? Harry?' said Sakura and blinked in confusion. 'What's wrong with Ginny?'

Ron and Harry looked livid. Pink crept up to Ron's cheeks and he opened his mouth –

'No, don't,' shot Hermione.

Ron shut his mouth abruptly, glowering.

Hermione ushered the boys out of the infirmary with help from Madam Pomfrey. Hermione took her place beside Sakura in a chair and took her hand. She stared at her friend earnestly. 'Sakura, tell me the last thing you remember.'

'What?' squeaked Sakura. After a moment or so, she replied matter-of-factly, 'I was just going to board the train to school. What am I doing in the hospital?'

Hermione narrowed her eyes and said seriously, 'Tell me what month it is?'

'August,' said Sakura, furrowing her brow. 'What's the matter?'

Hermione sighed dejectedly.

'Hermione,' Sakura said gently, placing a hand over her friend's. 'Please, what's wrong?'

Hermione regarded her with a pained look on her face. 'Sakura...a lot happened since that last fleeting memory of yours. Perhaps, if you'll give me time, I will explain.'

Hermione continued to explain what had taken place over the course of their fourth year. Sakura sat quietly, her face expressionless as she listened.

After what seemed like hours, Hermione drew a shuddering breath and wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks. 'Syaoran carried you to the castle and brought you here, to the infirmary. You've been unconscious for five days, and now you're awake.'

Hermione took the deck of cards from the top drawer in her side table, and flicked through them until she found the Void. She handed it to Sakura, who took it weakly and stared at it blankly.

'This is the new card, responsible for taking away your capacity to feel, and there is something else...'

Sakura didn't take her eyes off the card. 'This Syaoran...the boy that saved me...he was my friend?'

Hermione wiped her eyes with her robe sleeve, 'Yes,' she sniffled. 'The two of you were very close.'

Sakura shook her head furiously. 'No! If we had been, I would remember!' She dropped the card into her lap. 'Why are you telling me this?'

'Because Syaoran cares about you!' exclaimed Hermione. 'He almost died protecting you.'

'But he's a Slytherin, and Malfoy's best friend, at that,' Sakura said, trying to dispute this information, desperately denying it. 'How could I become friends with him?'

Hermione's eyes flushed with fresh tears. 'Please, listen.'

Sakura suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to run. She frantically tossed the sheets away and bounded out the door. She swept past Harry and Ron who were seated outside the Hospital Wing. They watched after her in confusion. It seemed even though she had defeated Voldemort, the effects of the Void card remained – it was driving her mad.

Hermione's words burned in her mind. Why didn't she remember?

She seemed to be possessed as she hurtled down the spiral stairs, down corridors, through connecting rooms, and out into the grounds. She winced at the bright light of the morning, peering frantically into the distance. Her heart drumming deafeningly in her ears, she let out rasping breaths and stared around madly.

Her chest ached, her mind screamed. Why didn't she remember?

Then the voices came, whispering, cackling, sinister, deafening. She wanted them to stop. She had to get away.

She slowly raised herself and stared up at the castle's tall turrets.


Now at a desirable height above the castle's turret, Sakura turned slowly towards the horizon, her arms outstretched, and nightgown fluttering around her. The voices would stop.

She closed her eyes and took a step forward.

And she fell.


It was finally quiet, she thought with relief as she opened her eyes which stung with a bright light.

Gradually, an unfamiliar face appeared in her vision. She raised her body and stared at this strange person, a boy, with brown hair and almond eyes wide with concern. She hadn't seen him before, but immediately considered who he must have been.

'Syaoran,' she said quietly. She looked around and noticed she had landed on the grounds just around the castle, the impact with the ground cushioned by Syaoran. 'I'm still here,' she uttered as realisation hit her. 'I'm not dead.'

'S-Sakura?' the boy asked, reaching towards her. 'Are you okay?' He pocketed his 'Wind' element card that he had used to soften the fall.

Sakura started to giggle feverishly. 'Why?' she asked.

'Why, what?'

'Why did you break my fall?'

He stared hard at her as her giggle turned into a laugh. Tears started pouring down her cheeks.

'Why did you fall at all?' Syaoran demanded. He was walking to class when he had noticed her tumbling out of the sky above, and nearly land right onto him.

Sakura let out a barking laugh, staring at him blearily through tears. 'I don't know...I wanted to die.' She pointed a finger at him. 'And you broke my fall.'

Syaoran still didn't know what to make out of this except the fact that she had attempted to kill herself.

'Why the hell would you do that!' Syaoran demanded, causing nearby students to look over curiously.

Sakura gazed up at him, looking entranced. She was trying to figure him out. Syaoran's shocked stare softened.

'Syaoran...' she cried softly, suddenly looking frightened.

'Tell me...what's happened to you?' Syaoran asked, trying to calm himself down and rid them of unwanted attention.

Sakura looked down at her feet as a single tear fell from her face. 'I...I don't know. I don't know who I am; who you are. I don't know what to feel anymore.'

Syaoran stared at her, distraught. She was suffering and he didn't know how to help her. He recalled the moments they had shared together; those playful, glowing looks she gave him. The way she smiled. The way she laughed. He wanted to hear it again. He wanted to see her happy. But now all he felt was powerless, overcome with emotion as it dawned on him finally. He was losing her.

'Sakura,' he whispered, as he raised her chin to get a closer look into her eyes.

Her eyes were alert but she didn't know him, truly know him. He felt the pain sting inside his heart. He felt it before, but he didn't understand it then. Now he did and he wanted to be honest with her, and honest with himself. His throat tightened and it seemed suddenly hard to swallow, but he would not let this opportunity go by.

'I don't know what to do, Sakura, but please don't lose hope. I'm here now, and...I love you.'

Sakura looked at him with shock. Was this what she had wanted to hear all along? As though sensing her need for reassurance, Syaoran smiled, gazing at her, he repeated it.

'I love you, Sakura.'

She took his hands roughly and focused on their warmth. This calmed her.

Suddenly, they began to glow a misty white, their auras mixed together. From their auras formed two cards, followed by two spirits: Void, a small smoky-haired girl, and Love, a pink heart accented with gold wings.

'Do not give up,' Love echoed.

Void nodded. 'Not all is lost, there are but memories.'

Sakura looked at Syaoran, her heart racing.

'Syaoran...the Yule Ball...when you didn't come over and didn't dance with me...when I gave you a present and you didn't give me one right away...when I found out you had a fiancé...I-I felt so hurt...' she began to cry. Like a tidal wave, the memories rushed over her. She felt suffocated by these memories, like she was drowning. She started to sob. 'But I loved spending time with you, and I've felt this way for so long. Syaoran...I-I love you too! I really love you!'

Syaoran pulled her into his arms and murmured, 'I'm glad.'

Sakura suddenly grew limp; her head slumped onto his shoulder. Syaoran recoiled quickly, still grasping her shoulders.

'What's wrong?' he exclaimed. Was something happening again?

Syaoran started shaking her uncertain if she was okay.

'Her energies have been slightly drained but she will recover soon,' whispered the Void. 'Now it is time.'

Before his eyes, Void and Love merged into one entity, brilliant lights of white and gold combined, burning into the horizon.

Students stared out from every window in Hogwarts. People came rushing. The light could be seen from as far as Hagrid's hut. Students from every house came rushing over in curiosity.

There, on the ground, lay a completely new card. On it blazed the word 'Hope', beneath the smoky-haired girl gently embracing the winged heart.

Syaoran grinned at the card and then at Sakura who had slumped onto his lap, asleep.

Professor McGonagall appeared behind him quite astonished. 'What is going on?' she shouted, 'My Transfiguration class was interrupted due to these bizarre lights, and we were learning how to transform Muggle lamps into...' She paused as she noticed Sakura on the ground.

Eriol had also come over and looked carefully at them and grinned.

Snape on the other hand, looked rather cross, as his Potions class—featuring morphing potions, was also interrupted. He glared down at Syaoran, to him a wretched excuse for a Slytherin, and then at the Gryffindor girl.

'Mr. Li,' he said harshly, 'I don't recall seeing you in class—'

'Oh my, oh my...my Merlin! What is all this? What is all this?'

Syaoran tore his eyes away from Snape, turned, and found Professor Trelawney hovering above Sakura, inspecting the sleeping girl. Her floaty robes wafted around her like swirling mist of bottle green. Her bony arms jingled with bracelets, her eyes bulged behind thick-rimmed glasses.

'Ah...this is how I had foreseen it...' she said in her misty voice. She rotated around to face her class of third-years, actually taking interest in what she was saying. 'As you see, as I had seen...that one day, there would be a marriage of the opposing houses...The Beast and the Serpent...as one...this is what you see before you...' she swept her long and bony arm over the scene, '...It has come to be...' she allowed the Hope Card to float toward her and was just about to reach for it when—

Syaoran snatched it away.

He pocketed the card and gestured at Trelawney to move out of his way. He looked away from everyone else, his eyes focusing on Sakura, praying that she would wake up quickly.

Everyone was watching. Everyone saw. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin, together.

'Severus,' cautioned McGonagall, as Snape's face went a sickly pink, then red, then purple.

'WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?' roared Snape, spit flying from his mouth. He was doubly annoyed having been interrupted mid-speak by the Divination professor.

Syaoran immediately looked up at his Head of House. His eyes widened in alarm.

Someone appeared from behind the long black robes of Snape. Draco, Syaoran's best friend.

Draco's grey eyes shone with an odd combination of rage and bewilderment. He seemed to utter the name of his friend— 'Syaoran?' – Yet his voice was throaty, weak and barely audible.

Syaoran felt something stab deep within his heart. Guilt.

He looked away. He knew how Draco felt; he knew what it would do to his reputation, to his friend, and their entire house.

Eriol swept by a baffled Trelawney and knelt in front of Syaoran.

'Let us keep the card in my possession for a while—it will die down in time.' Syaoran was hesitant, but handed Eriol, reincarnation of Clow Reed, the Hope Card. Eriol hid it in the front of his robes, stood up and stepped aside.

Behind him, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny appeared. Hermione was the only one that appeared pleased by what they saw.

Syaoran's mind spun. It was all too much. He felt the cold sweat form as his eyes drooped slightly. He took rasping, shuddering breaths. His world went black.