Anyways, Read, Review, and of course Enjoy! XD
Disclaimer:I do not own, nor claim to own, anything pertaining to Inuyasha nor Harry Potter. Just the ideas that pop into my mind ;) Again, a good chunk of this chappy was taken from the book and movie, mixed and reformed. Also, some dialogue is the same, some isn't.
—An Ominous Warning—
Harry shot up, eyes wide and stunned. His breaths were harsh, tendrils of his hair were plastered across his forehead with sweat. What was that?
He wanted to believe it was just a nightmare that played on his fears. Merlin did he want to believe it.
But then, who were those other men? The snake? And what was that about Draco? Why would he dream about things or people he didn't even know?
And it, it just seemed so real. It felt like he was right there in the room, watching.
And that scared him the most, because if – if that nightmare of his was actually real in any way...
Then that would mean Voldemort really was after Kagome...
But why?
All these theories, questions and more spun around and around in his mind, overwhelming him.
And then, suddenly, excruciating pain shot up to his scar and he winced, his hand whipping up to press his palm against it. His jaw clenched and his teeth gritted against each other, a groan caught in his throat but he forced it back, not wanting to wake up Ron.
"Harry? Harry!"
Said boy looked up quickly, eyes squinting to see, mouth wide as he gasped, startled. It was even harder to see in the dark light, despite the faint lighting the candle that she was holding offered. It was blurry but he saw dirty blond, curly hair pulled back in a ponytail. "H-Hermione?" he croaked, voice dry and cracked from sleep.
"Yes, are you alright?" she asked him, voice tight with concern. The candlelight glinted off her brown eyes which churned with worry.
He nodded, waving off her concern, "Yeah," he mumbled, reaching out for his glasses. "Bad dream," he told her quickly as he found them, and put them on.
Vision cleared, he looked up to see her face up close to his and, surprised, jerked back for distance. "Shit," he cursed as he hit his head against the wall. "Don't do that," he breathed out at the unexpected close proximity.
Hermione winced hearing the 'thunk' and gave him a sheepish smile. "Sorry!" she exclaimed quietly. "But it's time to get up. Breakfast is ready and we need to leave soon," she whispered.
Harry nodded tiredly. "Alright," he murmured and yawned.
He blinked when he noticed she was still hovering over him. "Er, hi?" he asked, confused.
Her dark eyes glittered in the light with worry and hesitation. "Your dream... was it?" she hinted, eyeing his scar.
Harry sighed, and nodded. "Yeah, it was. But it was... weird..."
When it was obvious that he wasn't going to divulge information, and with what little time they had, she suggested. "You should probably tell someone Harry. It could be a sign." she said, almost like a mother.
When he didn't answer she propped her free hand on her hip and looked down at him meaningfully.
Harry sighed in exasperation, but also in wry amusement. "Aright, alright, I will – I promise," he added, seeing her skeptical look.
Hermione nodded, pleased, and turned around to wake Ron. "Wake up! Wake up, Ronald!" she shouted in a loud whisper right by his ear.
Harry chuckled to himself when she woke their friend, laughing even louder when Ron snatched his blanket up to his chest to 'protect his modesty'. "Bloody hell!" the redhead breathed out swiftly, staring up at her widely.
Hermione just scoffed in mixed disbelief and exasperation, shaking her head. "Honestly, get dressed," she exclaimed as she made her way downstairs. "And don't go back to sleep. Come on, Ron! Your mother says breakfast's ready!"
Ron looked over at Harry, seeing his crooked smile, and plopped back into his bed groaning.
It was going to be a long morning...
.
.
They were eating breakfast inside today, the three of them, the twins and Ginny. Mrs. and Mr. Weasley were in the kitchen, talking to each other. Kagome didn't have to wake up for another couple of hours, and Bill, Charlie, and Percy were going to meet up with them at noon via Apparating.
Everyone was really too groggy to make any small talk. Added to that fact, Harry was too lost in analyzing his nightmare to even think to try. He stared at the spot Kagome usually occupied, spacing out.
What about her could possibly have Voldemort so interested in her...? And he mentally groaned – this was going to bug him forever...
"...arry...? Harry!"
Harry jumped, blinking rapidly. "Huh? What?" he blurted out, looking around frantically.
That was when he noticed that the unoccupied spot usually taken up by Kagome, was no longer actually empty.
Blue eyes stared back at him, confused, concerned, and with a hint of amusement. Harry ducked his head in embarrassment, his face flaming.
From beside him Ron snorted in laughter. Even Hermione giggled lightly.
"You okay mate?" Fred from across from him, sniggering.
Beside him, George was doing the same, a wry grin on his face. "You look a bit out of it," he murmured between laughs.
Blinking over at them, he nodded hurriedly and grabbed his fork, scooping up a sausage and stuffing his mouth. "'Eah, 'o course..." he mumbled between chews, trying to wave it off.
It wasn't very convincing, as they all just snickered under their breath.
Harry chanced a look at the black-haired witch, and after swallowing, he cleared his throat a little. "Uh, not hungry Kagome?" he managed to ask neutrally when she didn't grab a plate, trying to divert their attention.
Kagome smiled at him, and shook her head. "Nah, not yet. Still waking up right now," she said tiredly, hurrying to cover her mouth in a little yawn.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw Hermione quickly look down at her plate, staring at it intensely as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
His eyebrows furrowed in realization, "You're up early," Harry commented casually, "Not having trouble sleeping, I hope?" he murmured nonchalantly, taking a bite of his eggs.
Barely, but still noticeably, Kagome stiffened. Hermione hid a scowl and not so gently kicked at Harry.
He jerked in his seat slightly, but gritted it out, his jaw twitching.
But Kagome shrugged a little, her eyes growing distant – like it did a couple nights ago. "I just have a lot on my mind, that's all..." she murmured softly.
The trio shared a look, and Harry looked back down at his plate, fists clenching as flashes of his nightmare bombarded his mind.
She wasn't the only one...
.
.
Harry was acting... unusual...
That's what Kagome thought, anyhow. But who was she to say anything, when she barely knew him?
But still... the way he was staring at her...
Usually, she wouldn't mind a boy like Harry staring at her.
He was cute – she wouldn't even try to deny it. He was rather handsome with his messy hair, his lazy grin, and intense, striking green eyes. And then there was his easy going personality and bashful yet boyish charm that made it fun and natural to just sit back and talk with him.
She could see herself becoming really good friends with him – Ron and Hermione too of course.
Her lips twitched in reminisce – a bitter sweet smile.
They were total opposites – Ron was goofy, laid-back, and emotionally oblivious to a fault, while Hermione was the kind of no-nonsense girl, exceedingly bright with the quirky sense of humor. They reminded her a bit of Sango and Miroku, the way they acted towards each other, and she wondered if there was anything more to it.
It also made her wonder about her friends.
'I wonder how they're doing after I left... Knowing Miroku, Sango's probably already pregnant with three little one's on the way...'
Kagome grinned wryly and and couldn't help but giggle at that. Because this was Miroku, and he would be so intent on Sango bearing his child, it would be just his luck she would bear three.
But she sobered quickly, getting back to her original train of thought.
So really, who would care? It was nice to know she was attractive enough to be stared at – her time with Inuyasha and his usual blunt and tactless comments that she knew he never really meant but still hurt to hear him say, didn't do her self-confidence any good. It got better once she accepted that they were better off as best friends instead of an item, but still.
No one wanted to hear their best friend rag on them, whether that person meant it or not.
So if Harry was actually staring at her like that, she would have found it flattering and even endearing.
But she knew better.
The look in his eyes was peculiar... she was sure they were searching. Thoughtful with a hint of suspicion of sorts. Or maybe it was curiosity?
Either way, he had the look of a person who just found a mystery, and was searching for more clues – more answers. More something...
To pick it apart to discover everything about it.
Kagome shook her head as she finished dressing. Or maybe she was just imagining things. Maybe she had become paranoid, after all the fighting to survive and what not she endured. It was possible, considering...
Kagome eyes dimmed slightly as she remembered, and she sat on her bed, slipping on her socks and shoes.
Earlier that morning, she had another one of her nightmares. Of the final battle.
And sadly, it was a particularly nasty one...
With her being so busy during the week, learning spells and potions and herbs and history and using the time-turner to do it, not only took her mind of the past, but really wore her out. So much to the point that she passed out in exhaustion at night with little to no nightmares.
And she was infinitely grateful for it too. There was a part of her that was glad she came to England. She was a little homesick, yes, and she missed her family terribly, being able to talk to them but...it was a refreshing change of scenery, a way to get away.
She had no doubt in her mind that if she was back at the shrine, she would be simmering in the depths of depression.
Everyday she would have woken up and be reminded every waking moment of the day of her loss – of the Feudal era, of her friends, her family.
Surrounded by the familiar, that wasn't familiar anymore. The Sacred God Tree, the Bone Eaters Well. Her room even, filled with only fading memories of the times with Inuyasha, sitting on her window sill or her bed, glaring at her petulantly or pouting or brooding or sulking while she furiously tried to study or do homework to catch up in school.
Filled with the reminder that those reminders would remain only that and forever so, never to be repeated and relived...
Kagome scoffed wryly, tears prickling her eyes. 'Who would have ever thought that all those times that stressed the hell out of me, would have been some of the best times in my life...?' she thought sardonically. Oh, the irony.
Her mother, her brother, and her grandfather... they didn't know, didn't remember. Sure, they were told about the past, but they didn't really know. They didn't experience it with her like before. And... and she was grateful for that fact, that they would live blissfully ignorant to what happened, never to have seen nor to have experienced the fear – from seeing her running from the well in tears, in frustration, from seeing the wounds, the scars, the blood.
'Or even from the nagging thought as I returned to the Feudal Era regardless of it all, every one of us wondering if that would be the last time we'd see each other - if those hugs and kisses and words would be our last...' the thought drifted across her mind, and she swallowed thickly.
She was glad, no doubt. She always felt guilty about that. 'No family should have to go through that experience, worrying if their daughter was safe, alive.'
But regardless - it just twisted the proverbial knife in her chest even more.
She wanted comfort, but how could they offer it when they would never know what she was experiencing? They would go on with their day, sympathizing but never grieving with her. It would be hard, to see their happiness while she was in pain, but it couldn't be helped and she couldn't blame them. It wasn't their fault they couldn't remember.
'It doesn't stop it from hurting, though...' she silently confessed, petulant and maybe a hint bitter.
Here, in England, it was easier. Easier than expected, really, when Shippo and Sesshomaru told her coming to a whole different country was for the best. Oh, she trusted them, of course, so she only put up little of a fight on the decision. Sure she was skeptical when they said Hogwarts was not only the best but the safest place to hone her craft, but she understood now.
It was safer, not only for her but for her family. Once word got out that the Shikon Miko resurfaced, rumors of the jewel returning as well would follow and spread like wildfire, whether they were true or not.
Japan was the lion's den of all demons, and they would flock to her like moths to a flame, seeking out her aura, the jewel, and the chance to end the Shikon Miko once and for all.
Here in England, while there were still threats, it was for the most part wizards. Hogwarts was practically an impenetrable fortress, and she learned very few would openly go against Dumbledore. And Shippo and Sesshomaru wouldn't be very far either. She could get away from the past, throw herself into her studies, and shift her focus.
And there was the added bonus that she was in her father's native country. She had always wanted to visit before, to see the sights he might've seen, to someway connect in the way they never had the chance to before he died.
Here there were no painful reminders, at least not as many. There was no sitting in bed, tossing and turning and thinking back at what she could have done different, to save Inuyasha and Kouga and all the others. And even when she did have nightmares, they were only mild.
But when she had that talk last night with Harry, it accidentally dredged up the memories. And those memories brought back those nightmares.
Screaming. Blood. Roars from the demons, from Naraku, from Inuyasha, from all the attacks. Inuyasha's haunting voice...
'Kagome!'
'Kagome watch out!'
'...Take... take care, Kagome. You've been the greatest friend a half-demon like me could ask for... Stay alive, you stupid, wonderful girl. I'll kick your ass and bitch your ears off if you die of something other than old age and before you have a pack of sniveling kids and grand kids.'
Kagome let out a choked sob, her shoulders shaking violently as his famous last words came back to her once more, rushed as he felt death creeping up on him. But the wry twist of her lips couldn't be helped. Seconds away from death, he was still Inuyasha. Insulting her, threatening her, and complimenting her all at the same time.
'Sesshomaru – take Tetsusaiga. You're a bastard but you're still my brother. Take care of Kagome, protect her, and I'll see you in hell. And both of you better kick that son of a bitch's ass or...' And then came his last breath, shuddering and scratchy. 'Or I swear-!'
'We will...' she had said quickly, knowing it was time, tears falling in a steady stream before she let out a small sob. 'I promise...'
And he died there, eyes fluttering to a close, the light leaving his amber orbs with his classic half-smirk plastered across his face, knowing, trusting, believing they wouldn't let him down.
Kagome sighed and rose, taking a deep, calming breath and swiping at her eyes.
It was time to go, and it would be best to push back those dark memories and think of happier times when there was laughter and grins. Today was testing day, and she needed to focus. To think on the brighter side of things, of her situation.
To see that silver lining...
'Dark, painful memories aren't the only thing Inuyasha left behind... but bright, happier ones as well...' she reminded herself. She had to keep to telling herself, and maybe, in time, she'd be able to think of her silver-haired, dog-eared best friend without turning into a blubbering mess.
'Remember him not as he was in death, but as he was in life...'
Passing the full length mirror on her way out, she couldn't help but leave the room with a slight bounce to her step as she snorted in amusement at her reflection.
At least this school uniform had a longer skirt...
.
.
Kagome's eyebrows furrowed in concentration, her wand in her hand. She was in Charms at the moment, her last class of the day, taking a test to review what she knew so far.
"Remember, saying the words properly is very important!" Professor Flitwick reminded her, voice loud and upbeat as he spoke right near her ear.
Her concentration broken, Kagome twitched. While she liked and admired the Professor, she wanted so bad to glare at him for pointing out the obvious.
After a week, that little tip was all but beaten into her – and by almost all of her teachers too...
Stifling a sigh, she focused once more. In a gliding movement, Kagome waved her wand. Swish and flick. "Win-gar-dium Levi-o-sa!" she said confidently.
A grin crossed her face as the feather in front of her began levitating.
Kagome let out a triumphant "Ha!" as she clapped happily.
Professor Flitwick grinned. "Marvelous! Now for the next on-!"
He didn't get a chance to finish, as a ghost came speeding through the room.
Kagome groaned as she recognized the ghost – Peeves.
He was laughing obnoxiously. "Looks like the little game went bad. Bad, bad, bad. Interrupted and sent into chaos. So very sad," he ranted, cackling evilly now.
Kagome blinked, eyebrows furrowing. "Game...?" she muttered to herself, racking her brain to figure why that was so important. "What game?" Kagome asked, curious.
Professor Flitwick however seemed to figure it out. "You mean the Quidditch World Cup?" he asked Peeves, face serious.
The ghost just laughed even harder. "Yes! Yes! A dark omen – a sign! You-Know-Who's, of course!"
And with that, he passed through the wall.
Kagome, still rather confused, looked over to see Professor Flitwick white with fright. She blinked worriedly, "Professor?" she asked slowly.
Her voice jolted him from his reverie, but he just shook his head. "My apologies Ms. Higurashi, but I will have to cut your test short today. You pass, seeing as you had the other spells down with little to no trouble." The Professor told her, grabbing his things before leaving. "You should probably head back to the Weasleys," he said hurriedly before rushing through the doors.
Kagome blinked, her head tilting curiously as realization dawned. "Didn't the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry go there?" she wondered quietly to herself...
.
.
Harry came to slowly, his eyes tired and groggy. His head ached with pain.
He groaned a little, shifting as his body ached. The ground, cold, hard, and somewhat rocky, was not the best place to lay on...
Carefully, he pushed himself up, oblivious to the world around him. He reached out blindly, feeling the ground, and breathed out in relief when he found his glasses not too far from him, miraculously unharmed.
He pushed them on, blinking when his eyes began stinging. That's when he noticed the smoke.
Harry looked around him frantically, anxious and aware, keeping an eye out. Dread filled him as he realized what happened after he blacked out. Those people in the masks – they practically destroyed the campsite.
Tents were left in ruin as sticks and burnt cloth. Faint screams here and there reached his ears. Unconsciously he felt for his wand, only to find it missing. He cursed under his breath.
Standing, he stumbled quietly as he tried to find his footing. His head felt like it was floating and it was hard to think.
Harry's head snapped up a second later, green eyes narrowing. Heavy, rushed footsteps were coming closer and closer to the clearing, staggering towards him.
He crouched, ducking behind what was left over of a burnt down tent. A dark figure passed him, and Harry's eyes squinted, trying to peer through the flowing smoke.
It was too stocky to be a female, but other than that, that was all Harry could tell in the lack of light.
He watched silently, holding his breath as the figure seemed to look around before glancing up. Then, without any warning, the figure's arm shot up, a wand in his hand.
A voice cut through the silence. It was a quiet mutter, like a spell being cast.
"Morsmordre!"
A gasp ripped from his throat, surprised as a green light shot up to the sky, forming an image before him.
It was a crude formation of a colossal skull, of what seemed like glittering green smoke. It rose higher and higher, with a serpent spilling and twisting from the mouth.
And suddenly, the world around him broke out in shrill, terrified screams.
He stared up at the mark, confused. What was so scary about that mark?
Then suddenly, pain shot up to his forehead, his scar. He grunted, clutching his head.
"Harry!" shouted a familiar voice. "Harry?" shouted another.
Harry faintly registered their shouts as Ron and Hermione, coming to look for him. But he didn't call out, his eyes stuck to the man before him.
"Harry!" The shout was louder now, closer.
Light, hurried footsteps sounded behind him then, and Harry jumped around to see Hermione running up to him, her face a ghastly pale with horror and fright. Behind her was Ron, his face equally pale as he looked behind him, watching out.
They must have saw the person too, he realized.
"Harry, come on! Move!" she begged him in a stricken whisper, grabbing his sleeve and tugging him backwards. She kept on casting furtive glances behind him, but then focused on getting them out of there.
He blinked, startled to see her. He stumbled as she yanked him with more force when he didn't move, but otherwise stood his ground. "W-what's wrong!" he exclaimed, casting a glance over his shoulder too.
The figure was gone, running away when he heard the voices.
"It's the Dark Mark, Harry!" Hermione moaned quietly as she kept pulling.
Harry started to turn, and before he got the chance to ask what that meant, a series of popping noises announced the arrival of a onslaught of wizards and witches. They seemed to appear from thin air, surrounding them.
He whirled around, and instantly realized one thing – each of these wizards had brandished their wands, and every wand was point right at them.
He didn't even have time to think.
"Duck!" he yelped, seizing his two friends and pulling them down to the ground with him.
"Stupefy!" roared a chorus of voices, and then a blinding series a flashes lit up the area and the air above them rippled as a powerful wind swept by.
They raised their heads a fraction of an inch to see jets of red light flying over them, crossing over one another and bouncing off trees and whatever was left of various tents, rebounding in the darkness.
"Stop!" yelled a voice they recognized, and they saw Mr. Weasley running over, waving his arms, gesturing wildly. "Stop! That's my son!"
The wind calmed as the spells stopped, and Harry raised his head a little higher and saw that the wizard in front of him had lowered his wand.
The three of then rolled over as Mr. Weasley strode toward them, looking terrified.
"Ron, Harry," - his voice sounded shaky as helped them get up - "Hermione, are you all alright? You're not hurt, are you?" he asked worriedly.
They didn't get a chance to answer as a cold, curt voice cut in. "Which of you conjured it?" he demanded with a hint of hysteria.
It was Mr. Crouch. He and the other Ministry wizards were closing in on them. Mr. Crouch's face was taut with rage.
Mr. Weasley's head snapped to look at him incredulous. "Crouch, you can't be-"
The man cut him off, snapping. "Do not lie!" His sharp eyes darted between them, his wand. pointing in their faces, following his gaze. "You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!"
Harry's eyes widened. "Crime?" he breathed out in disbelief, his body rigid. "What crime?"
Hermione shuffled closer to him, whispering, "It's the Dark Mark, Harry. His mark."
Harry froze, his head snapping back up to the image. "Voldemort," he blurted out, realization filling him. That was why his scar started to hurt.
"Barty," whispered one of the Ministry wizards, a witch in a long woolen dressing gown to be precise, "They're just kids, Barty, they'd never have been able to-"
"Where did the Mark come from, you three?" Mr. Weasley asked quickly.
Harry turned, pointing behind him. "Over there – I saw someone, but he ran away,"
Mr. Crouch stiffened, and looked over at the ministry wizards. A wizard, one with a scrubby brown beard, stepped forward and Harry blinked when he realized him. It was Amos Diggory, Cedric's father.
They had met earlier that morning, sharing the portkey that brought them here with the father and son. "Our stunners went right through there... good chance we got them..." Mr. Diggory was saying.
Crouch waved for two of the wizards, Mr. Diggory and another they didn't recognize, to go.
A few seconds later a shout rang out – Mr. Diggory. "Yes! We got them! There's someone here! Unconscious! It's - but – blimey..."
"You've got someone?" shouted Mr. Crouch, sounding highly disbelieving. "Who? Who is it?"
They heard snapping twigs, the rustling of leaves, and then crunching footsteps as Mr. Diggory reemerged from behind the trees. He was carrying a tiny, limp figure in his arms.
Harry recognized the tea towel at once. It was Winky - Mr. Crouch's house elf.
Well, shit...
Well, hopefully this chapter explained some unanswered questions. Of course, not everything is out in the open – take a good look of the title, it's supposed to that way ;) Hehe.
Basically, part of the reason Kagome left so easily is because she wanted to get away. Part of it is that she trusts Shippo, and she knows he has a good reason when he said it was safer. Another significant part that's not really said, but more implied, is that the whole magic thing side-blinded her, making her even more shocked after the whole 'final battle done and over and she's back in her 14 year-old body' ordeal, and everything following happened pretty quick so she just let it happen.
So, yep, hopefully that explains a lot lol. Anyways, how do you all like it? Well, see you all next week!
Till laters,
RainLily^^
A big huge honking thanks to these awesome reviewers!
MoonPrincess1989, coolgirl0147852, Eva318, Wicken25, AngelofDarkness95, maxeyn, LittleNK, fierynightangel, XxkUmiKoXx, Bunny.W.K, Bishonen'sFoxyMiko, dragonfly1339, ShiTsukisama, Valleygoat, Blackmoon OniOokami, ArmyWife22079, mistrarose, Tenshi' Gome, InfiniteWhiplash, Aisublackrose,
