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Disclaimer:I do not own, nor claim to own, anything pertaining to Inuyasha nor Harry Potter. Just the ideas that pop into my mind ;) Oh, and I took some snippets from the first book as inspiration for the chapter, which is why it'll seem vaguely similar. I did try to switch it up a bit though ^^;
—A Little Taste of Learning—
First day
"I see you have met Fawkes."
At the sound of the calm, aged, and raspy voice, Kagome turned from her spot to peer over at Dumbledore as he stepped inside his office, his lips twisted into a wry smile.
At eight she had appeared in the Headmaster's office via Floo, only to find it empty save for the bird and portraits with moving pictures. A quick scan of the plaques underneath told her that these were the previous Headmasters of Hogwarts.
One of said portraits – a woman named Dilys Derwent - was polite enough to let her know that while the Headmaster was expecting her, something came up and he had to step out for a moment. The deceased Headmistress went on to say that Kagome was welcomed to look around the office, but to please refrain from letting her curiosity getting the best of her, for some things in the office were better left untouched.
Kagome had a feeling if she wanted to keep all her fingers, she would do well to listen to the warning...
Offering Dumbledore a polite smile in greeting, Kagome nodded. "He's a rather magnificent bird – very handsome," she complimented, turning back to admire Fawkes with a soft grin. She reached out slowly, using a finger to trail against Fawkes' downy feathers under his beak.
The red and orange bird let out a gentle, beautiful trill, his song echoing softly in a calming melody. Fawkes was preening from the admiration and attention and was obviously enjoying every second of it. He was a prideful bird after all.
Dumbledore smiled, and proceeded to make his way to his desk. "Yes, phoenixes usually are. Very intelligent creatures as well," he murmured quietly, eyes sparkling at the way Kagome's own orbs widened in excitement, her head snapping over to look at him. "I'm afraid my Familiar will soon become spoiled from all the attention my visitors give him," he went on wryly, eyes crinkling when Fawkes gave an mock indigent twitter.
"A phoenix?" she exclaimed wildly, eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
Dumbledore chuckled but nodded.
Kagome let out a soft, low whistle, looking at the bird in a new light, impressed. "Wow, that would explain it then,"
Dumbledore let out another chuckle, and motioned her to the seat across from his desk. "Well, before I introduce you to your Professors and send you off to your classes, I wanted offer you something that might prove to help you advance faster," he began as Kagome took a seat and a secretive smile spread across his face. "Considering your past, the ministry was quick to grant permission, especially since the term has yet to start."
Kagome blinked, head tilting slightly in curiosity. "Oh? And what is it?" she murmured thoughtfully.
Dumbledore blue eyes twinkled. Opening one of the drawers of his desk, he pulled something out and held it up for her to see. The light glinted off the slender gold chain from which a pendent of sort, gold metal twisted in some sort of abstract design, dangled lightly.
The Headmaster's lips quirked. "Here is a solution to your dilemma. You are in need of a way to catch up on three years of studies in too little of time – seeing as you are so familiar with... how should we put it, fiddling with time?" His sly smile widened. "What better than to use a timeturner?"
"The rules in this class are few and simple," the man before her announced in a languid drawl that was barely louder than a whisper. He looked down at her imploringly with his dark, intense eyes, face slightly pinched as he appraised her.
Kagome, dressed in the plain outfit of a white shirt, skirt, and robe dictated by Hogwarts standards as she sat at the middle table in the front, managed to match his stare bravely, and fought to keep her face neutral as she waited for her potions teacher, Professor Snape, to continue.
His eyes narrowed, and he resumed his lecture. "Pay attention - I do not allow for distractions, nor do I allow insubordination. Do not speak out of turn. Keep quiet, sit still, listen, and only ask questions if you absolutely must," he stressed.
"Rarely will your wand be needed here. As I tell my other students; there is an art, a beauty to crafting potions. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death – assuming you aren't as dim as those I usually teach," while most of his speech was said with a certain flourish, his tone took a dry turn at the end.
He was walking up and down the room as he listed off the rules and said his speech, and stopped back at her desk as he finished.
He stared down his nose at her, haughty almost. "You have been given two weeks to catch up on three years of class. Even with your little trinket, it is impossible," he told her bluntly and Kagome sweatdropped. He sure was one to cut to the chase... "So we will stick to the essentials given each year for now, and then continue on with extra lessons during the year to learn which we have skipped."
Kagome wisely kept her mouth shut and nodded diligently. Severus paused and his eyes narrowed, not sure to take it as genuine or mocking.
Dismissing it for now he leaned in, peering at her closely as he loomed over her. "Would it be too much to assume that you opened your book before coming to class?" he challenged in a severe, soft voice.
Kagome assumed it was to intimidate her, and she remained relaxed. She'd been fairly warned by Hermione, Harry, and Ron about this Professor, and how he wasn't one to cross. "No, sir," she replied. "I have been... advised to read a little, beforehand," she worded gently.
Snape's lips thinned, and he eyed her keenly. Dumbledore had informed all of them of her current living arrangements, and he didn't need to guess who had offered her that advice. "A bezoar? What is it and where would I find it?" he demanded suddenly.
Kagome's lips pursed in thought, and she paused momentarily before answering slowly. "It's a stone that can save you from most poisons, found in the stomach of a goat."
Snape's chin lifted a bit, and he tried again. "Tell me what I would get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Kagome's eyebrows furrowed and her eyes shut in thought before she hesitantly answered. "A sleeping potion, I believe."
Snape nodded curtly, satisfied. "And a powerful one at that, so much so that is known as the Draught of Living Death." Reaching over, he opened her book of Magical Drafts and Potions, passing the first couple of pages before stopping. "First, the guidelines on crafting potions; what and what not to do when working with ingredients that are potentially dangerous – even deadly. Get your quill and parchment – outline it."
Kagome's own face pinched at his words and his gaze turned piercing. "Something wrong?" he drawled out, as if daring her to say something smart-aleck.
It wouldn't be the first time someone whined about doing bookwork instead of working on potions.
Oblivious, Kagome drew out her supplies like he ordered, and had already dipped her quill in ink.
She glanced up at him, eyes flashing with innocent curiosity and held up the quill. "It's just, after eight years in regular school, I've used a pencil. It'll take some getting used to, that's all," she murmured thoughtfully as she started scanning the text, and her lips twitched in a wry smile.
She went on as she started writing. "But I gotta admit, I wonder why pencils aren't used. Do quills have another significant use, other than the obvious? If not, pencils might be more convenient. Or pens even," she added as an afterthought.
Severus slowly raised an eyebrow. Was she serious? "Pencils break," he countered flatly. "They dull easily, and need to be sharpened incessantly."
Kagome glanced up and dipped her head, giving him that. "True, but ink runs out," she pointed out, and smiled at him. "And spills." Her head tilted. "Hm, maybe because it's traditional? That would make sense..." she mused, a hint of good-natured cheekiness
Snape snorted. "Just get to work," he murmured dryly, tapping her text book before turning, wondering why he let himself be drawn into such pointless banter in the first place. He rolled his eyes when he heard her soft giggles, soon followed by the soft scratching of quill against parchment.
As she went to work quietly and quickly without fuss, Severus let out a mental relieved sigh. At least she was a quiet student.
Maybe these next two weeks wouldn't be so horrible, if she continued as such.
His spirits rose even higher when the girl proved to have quite an aptitude for potions crafting. Though, he would never admit it out loud.
However, the aptitude she possessed was a bit too advanced for a beginner who just learned of magic.
Quickly enough she finished outlining the guidelines, and as soon as she finished he assigned her the task of her first potion – the easiest, and most simple one to see how she fared: a cure for boils.
Silently, he observed as she weighed dried nettles and crushed snake fangs patiently, her movements comfortable, deliberate, swift, and all without looking rushed. He studied her as she stewed her horned slugs with smooth gestures, and watched as clouds of acid green smoke wafted from her cauldron, accompanied by a hissing sound, before she took the cauldron off the fire before adding the porcupine quills.
When Dumbledore told him of the danger she was in, how Voldemort was interested in her, he was skeptical of course - even more so when he first laid eyes on her. The object she possessed was one thing, but the girl personally?
Why would the Dark Lord covet the powers that this slip of a girl, one so young, could offer? For what would he need them for?
But there was more to her than what met the eyes as she brewed the potion with skill that only came with experience, and now, he could tell she was filled with more mysteries he was intent on unearthing.
Soon, sooner than he expected for someone on their first try, she finished.
Kagome looked up at her teacher, only to find him watching her intently. She fidgeted slightly, a little unnerved, especially at the possible thought of him watching her like that the whole time without her noticing.
When he raised in eyebrow in question at her silent stare, prompting her, she cleared her throat, a little nervous. "I finished," she said quietly.
He gazed at her, "I see," he murmured simply. With grace, he drew himself up and strode over, peering into her cauldron. Grabbing the ladle he scooped some of the potion before pouring it back in, testing the viscosity. He let out a 'hn', nodding shortly as he peered at the color and sniffed delicately.
Gently, he placed back the lade and whipped out his wand, waving it over and clearing out her cauldron. "It is acceptable," he deemed it. "This one next," he decided, taking his wand and waving it over her text book, the pages flipping continuously until it reached the one he desired.
Kagome nodded and went to work, gathering the ingredients.
The next few days went on as such. He would lecture, ask questions, and then assign potions for her to brew. She went through them with accurate speed and elegant finesse. It was as impressive as it was suspicious.
And after a few days, Snape saw fit to speak up. "Higurashi," he called out.
Kagome halted, and glanced up at him. "Yes, Professor?"
"For someone who just learned of wizardry, you possess quite a skill with potions. Care to explain?"
For a moment, he thought she wasn't going to answer. And as much as it irked him, in the position she was in, it was for the best that she wasn't naïve.
In the end she answered, but he could tell she was holding back. "These past few days wouldn't be the first time I've brewed a remedy," Kagome said vaguely.
Now it all made sense. "Ah, yes," Snape murmured, "Dumbledore informed me all about your... unique situation, Higurashi. I was, however, unaware how far your... studies went," he said slowly.
Kagome shrugged. "It was nothing like this though – these are more complicated, especially with the unusual ingredients."
Snape nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "Understandable, all things considered. A different continent, and after so long..." he trailed off suggestively, turning to move back to his desk.
Kagome froze. When he said Dumbledore explained, she thought he meant only about her abilities. Not about her travels to the past! "He told you that too?" she blurted out incredulously, eyes wide.
Snape paused to raise an eyebrow from over his shoulder. "I am one of the very few privy to certain aspects of your past," and he let out a derisive snort. Knowing Dumbledore though, he most likely didn't divulge everything.
"Regardless, the fact that a priestess with a connection to the Shikon no Tama is now attending Hogwarts this year, well, that's something Dumbledore didn't need to explain," he remarked flatly.
Kagome looked at him, astonished, and she threw her hands up in exasperation. "So everyone does know!"
Snape shook his head with a hint of aversion. "The public, no. But anyone with their hands in the ministries around the world..." and he trailed off meaningfully and Kagome cursed her horrendous luck. "It happens to be one of the worst kept secret in the wizarding world," he went on dryly, thoroughly disgusted. And, no doubt, it had already leaked out to their enemies as well.
Snape sneered at the thought - confidentiality in the Ministry was a complete and utter joke. "Your identity and past remains a secret though, but it is really all a matter of connecting the dots," he informed her bluntly.
A moan escaped her throat as Kagome shut her eyes in disbelief. "Lovely,"
Snape snorted wryly. "Isn't it?" he murmured, and he spun around, his robes swishing around his ankles. "Now, back to work. Time is of the essence if you want to do some catching up in my class. Just because you are a few years behind does not mean I will allow for leniency." He sneered at the word.
Kagome groaned quietly, and wished she was back in Japan in regular school. Harry and them warned her that this teacher would push her hard, she just didn't know how right they were. "Yes Professor..."
Fifth day
Rushing, Kagome bustled into Professor McGonagall's room, breath heavy as she was practically halfway deep in her bag fishing out her books.
Despite it already being a week, she was still getting lost. She totally blamed it on the castle and not her knack for getting lost though; it was just so freaking humongous..
And that stupid ghost, Peeves, wasn't helping either... She didn't figure out until after the third time she asked for directions that he was just screwing with her...
'Hmm, maybe I could try purifying him...?'
Kagome snorted. It was a tempting thought...
She found her way to her desk without bothering to look where she was going, and dumped her books onto the table with various thuds. She plomped down into her seat, exhausted – she had ran the last five minutes to get here – and looked up to check the small clock on Professor McGonagall's desk.
When she found a pair of round yellow orbs with black slits staring back at her, Kagome jumped and screamed, the quill and jar she had just dug out from her bag sent flying across the room as her hands clutched at her rapidly beating heart. The jar hit the corner of one of the other desks, shattering upon impact.
A gray tabby cat was perched at the edge of McGonagall's desk, just staring at her with intelligent yellow eyes unblinkingly.
If that wasn't a big of enough scare, Kagome watched in shocked fascination as the feline leapt from the desk, and transformed right before her eyes.
There stood Professor McGonagall in all her glory, fighting off the urge to smile in utter amusement. Her eyes though had no problem expressing it as they gazed at Kagome from over her spectacles.
However wry her tone was, there was an admonishing edge to it. "You are late, Miss Higurashi," she pointed out, glancing meaningfully at the clock to her left.
Kagome, meanwhile, was still trying to catch her breath and calm her heart. "I – I got lost... again," she mumbled through breaths, swallowing thickly. "I took a wrong turn, and then another..." she winced, trailing off sheepishly.
Professor McGonagall's eyes glinted in amusement. "I see... do try to be more punctual in the future. It might help to even leave a few minutes earlier to ensure you do," she advised as she slipped her wand out and waved it at the mess on her floor. The spill seemed to clean itself, the ink pouring back into its reformed jar, before levitating back to settle before.
Kagome watched it with entranced eyes, impressed. "Nifty..." she murmured, and then remembered the Professor's advice. She nodded quickly, seeing as she had an hour break before this lesson and always went to the library anyways. "O-oh, yeah... Of course..."
Slipping into 'lecture mode' Professor McGonagall spoke in the strict, attention snatching whisper she always did. "What you saw a moment ago was an example of an animagus transformation. It is one of the most advanced branches of Transfiguration, and only wizards skilled enough may achieve such a form," she began. "The animagus is a reflection of inner yourself - one is only able to change into a single animal that suits their personality."
At those words, excitement bubbled inside Kagome, and she wondered what kind of animal she would turn into. The possibilities were endless and Kagome could only imagine how useful the ability would be, to walk amongst people as a common pet.
Her lips twitched into a grin as she imagined all the ways she could get back at Fred and George for tricking her into playing guinea pig.
When they asked her if she would help them plan their little joke business, she had no inkling to what she was agreeing to when she said sure.
Now, she would never take anything from them, food especially, without getting suspicious... While that cheat potion, or Genius an Hour, as they so horridly named it, worked and tasted fairly well - like marshmallows - the after effects were horrible.
She didn't leave her bed for three hours, and got to know a bucket fairly well in that time span.
Obviously, they still needed to work out the kinks for that one...
Professor McGonagall almost sighed at the predictable expression that crossed the girl's face, shaking her head at the evil little grin. Honestly, all children were the same... "However," she interrupted Kagome's wild imagination of revenge. "You should know that it is required by law that you must register to legally transform into your animal form, and it is punishable if discovered that you are not."
Kagome pouted at that, a little disappointed. What was the point in turning into an animal to be sneaky, when everyone would already know...?
Professor McGonagall closed her eyes, holding back a sigh. Again, children...
"Regardless, there will be no changing into animals, or even attempting to, for some time. As it is extremely advanced, it is just as dangerous, and, well... you do not want to know what will happen if attempted wrongly," she said, making sure to have a note of absolute pity in her voice and let Kagome's fourteen year old imagination do the rest of the work for her. "There are only seven successful and registered Animagi in the twentieth century for a reason."
By the grimace the girl was making by now, Professor McGonagall was sure she was imagining ten different outcomes of an Animagus transformation gone awry, and whatever it was, it wasn't pretty.
It usually never failed to work in warding curious children off from doing just that...
"No, instead, we will practice a spell somewhat similar. It's one thing to transform an animate object into an inanimate object, but another thing completely to try it the other way around. But for now, I want you to transfigure an animal into a goblet, and see how you do..."
Reluctantly, Kagome tapped her wand at the frog sitting innocently on her desk three times, and pointed to the animal as she pronounced the words, "Fera Verto!" A crystal clear light shot from her wand, hitting the animal.
Mouth gaping slightly and face screwed up in a wince, she peered through squinted eyes at the vomit green goblet that waddled across her desk with its four webbed feet.
Even her face took on a similar color as she watched it go into circles and stumble. She was going to be sick!
Professor McGonagall let out a sigh tinged with exasperation. "As bright a student you are, Miss Higurashi, your skills in transfiguration are lacking," she intoned, waving her wand at the wobbling goblet.
As it transformed back into the frog it originally was, Kagome breathed a sigh of relief, straightening. Kagome bit her lip, looking sheepish as the Professor's comment finally registered. "Guess it's just not my strong point?" she said weakly.
It was, after all, her sixth try...
Kagome guessed Professor McGonagall wasn't exaggerating when she said 'Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts'...
Said Professor's lips twitched. "Evidently..." she murmured, walking past. "Now try again, and this time, focus solely on the object you wish to turn the frog into, enunciate the words precisely, and tap gently..."
Tell me what you think! XD Hopefully I got a good grasp on the characters (Probably not Snape, but I figured, Kagome's not a Gryffindor or anything so... lol.)
Till laters,
RainLily^^
A big huge honking thanks to these awesome reviewers!
MoonPrincess1989, Athena Sapphire Night, Pissed Off Irish Chick, MidnightReader1, Eva318, LittleNK, InfiniteWhiplash, SweetHunniiBunnii. HalfBlackWolfDemon,Stebba stud28, Lily887787, Valleygoat, bella cullen the original, Mistra Rose, Gemava, Tenshi 'Gome, Bishonen'sFoxyMiko, ShiTsukisama, xXkUmiKoXx-, GeneralTao01, Fna, maxeyn, dragonfly1339,
