The days, weeks and months continued to fly by. Yuki was grateful for one thing, and that was the fact that they were attending a school. Studying was something that had always come naturally to him, and doing his schoolwork was something that was very grounding to him; especially in a world where things still did not feel quite real.

"Studying's really the only thing I'm good at," he confided to Hermione one day, as they walked to class together. He sighed and tipped his face up towards the sky, letting the crisp, early-winter air flutter across his cheeks.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Hermione laughed. "Reading is one of my favourite things in the world. It's really incredible that there are so many things out there to learn."

Yuki smiled sidelong at her. "The thing is, Miss Granger, you're very intelligent. You can work out puzzles and you're clever and quick and eager to learn."

"And you're not?" Hermione teased.

"No," he said quietly. His face was contemplative. "I'm not clever. I just know how to memorize things, that's all. I just work hard."

They walked in silence for a moment. Hermione turned her head to look at him; his lavender eyes were closed, and he still had his face tipped up to the sky.

"I'm a dull person, really," Yuki said, with a sad smile. "Boring."

"Is that really true?"

Yuki stopped walking and furrowed his brow. He was about to answer, but something about Hermione's expression silenced him. He started moving again, vaguely aware of his shoes crunching on a small patch of frosted grass.

After a moment, Hermione looked over at him with a smile. "You know, Yuki, I don't find you dull at all." She grinned and then ducked into the Herbology greenhouse. Involuntarily, a large smile crossed Yuki's face as he followed her in.

Yuki couldn't help himself; he was starting to really care for his newfound friends. Distant, painful, sharp and sweet memories from his childhood had always created something of a barrier in Yuki's heart; the patter of tiny feet in games of tag, the laughter of children, and then – that fateful day. The day he forgot what he was, forgot entirely to be careful with girls. The day Hatori had given him an anguished look before asking him to wait outside the room. The day his friends filed out one by one, blank expressions on their faces. He had tried to make eye contact, but he was no longer their friend Yuki. It was terrifying to scan familiar faces and see no recognition; like being lost at sea. Perhaps, all these years, Yuki had subconsciously shielded himself from experiencing that terror again by avoiding the familiar. If no one was too close to him, if he didn't come to expect recognition, then its absence wouldn't be quite so…

Somehow, though, his guard had started to let down. Logically, he knew that the threat of losing his friends was still there. He had the acute feeling that if Akito sent word, they could and would be brought back to Japan immediately. The curse may have been broken, but it was still a secret, and Akito was still the Head of the family. Hatori still had the power to erase memories, and Yuki could not confidently say that he wouldn't use it. Despite all these things – perhaps it was the ocean between him and Japan, perhaps it was the dream-like feeling of Hogwarts – Yuki felt safer now than ever before.

And to think…Hermione did not find him dull at all. She wouldn't know it, but her words glowed in his heart for a long while.

Kyo, on the other hand, did not feel safe at all. He was irritable. Something was gnawing at him from the inside. He couldn't quite figure it out, but he was nervous.

He was worried about Tohru. It was difficult to put his finger on, but she seemed…quieter than usual. Not in any obvious way. Her eyes would be distant, or her sentences would trail off here and there. He wondered if anyone else would even notice.

He had been avoiding Tohru. He knew she knew it. Kyo couldn't help himself; it was unimaginable to face her now, when he couldn't get Kyoko's image out of his head. "A promise, kiddo," Kyoko said to him that day. "I'll put it on your tab!" she had called after him, on the last day they talked. He saw her slender form, laughing eyes, brilliant hair blowing in the wind; even as he said those childish, angry words to her. She had forgiven him then.

Some promise. Kyo was failing miserably to uphold it.

As Christmas approached, the Japanese trio received a disturbing letter. Disturbing to Kyo and Yuki, anyways; Tohru was thrilled. There, in Shigure's unmistakable penmanship, were the words: P.S. We're coming to visit for Christmas!

The words were at the end of a typically obnoxious Shigure letter, but they stood out like they had been written in neon green. Kyo and Yuki gaped, while Tohru clapped her hands delightedly.

"They're coming here?"

"All of them? Only some of them?"

"Harry-san, Hermione-san, Ron-san! You will finally meet the Sohmas!"

"Stop grinning, Tohru, that's not good!"

Tohru laughed happily as Kyo grabbed her face between his hands. "Quit laughing!" he growled playfully, which only made her laugh even more. He let out a chuckle before noticing that they had an amused audience. Kyo let go of Tohru with an embarrassed "Hn!" and dove back into his breakfast.

Harry was not a naturally perceptive person, but even he saw the expression on Tohru's face as Kyo retreated after breakfast; wistful and pink-cheeked, she silently packed her bag. Hermione shot him a glance; he knew she was seeing it too.

"Why are you avoiding Honda-san?" Yuki demanded, catching up with Kyo. He wasn't usually so direct, but he was growing tired of Kyo's attitude. Kyo scowled at him, but did not answer.

Yuki had had enough. He grabbed the front of Kyo's robes and backed him against the wall. "I don't understand what your problem is, stupid cat," he snarled in Japanese, "but you're hurting Honda-san. I can't allow that."

"Yuki! What's going on?" Ron called from behind, his voice shocked. He was rushing towards them, Harry and Hermione in tow. Yuki ignored them.

"What's your problem, Kyo? You're avoiding everyone," Yuki continued, his voice level but laced with anger. Kyo turned his head so that he was facing Yuki full on. Yuki dropped the front of Kyo's robes, so startled was he at his cousin's resigned expression.

"It's better that way," Kyo said quietly.

Yuki's annoyance flared up again. "You think so, do you? You think that hurting Honda-san's feelings, and pushing away people who want to be your friends, is better somehow?" Here he switched back to English, gesturing to Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"He's right," Harry said, stepping towards Kyo. "We want to be your friends. What's up with you, anyways?"

"You don't understand a goddamned thing, do you, damn rat?" Kyo growled at Yuki in Japanese. He shouldered roughly past Yuki and stalked off.

Later that day, Harry and Tohru happened to meet each other on the way out of the library. "Hullo, Tohru," he said.

"Harry-san, hello," she replied with a bright smile. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Harry said, smiling back. He really liked Tohru; she was a genuine person, and he couldn't help but feel comfortable around her. Today, however, something seemed a bit off; her cheery tone seemed a little forced.

"Look, I wanted to ask you something," Harry said as they started walking.

"Anything, Harry-san!"

"Er…it's about Kyo." Her smile faltered, but Harry continued. "What's…going on with him? And you?"

Tohru's face turned cherry red. "Ah, Harry-san! Going on? With Kyo-kun and…and…me? What could possibly be going on with…ah, well, I don't—" she flustered. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean!"

"I didn't mean it like that!" Harry choked out, equally flustered. "I meant…I'm sorry, Tohru, that came out all wrong."

"Of course it did, Harry, you have close to no tact," Hermione said reproachfully. Harry and Tohru both jumped backwards.

"Hermione!"

"So, Harry's gone and put his foot in his mouth, Tohru?" Hermione said with an amused smile. Tohru, recovering a bit from her embarrassment, smiled and shook her head.

"Hmm…" Tohru made a discontented little noise. "I want to answer your question, Harry-san, but I cannot…what is happening with Kyo-kun?"

That wasn't really what Harry had been wondering, but Tohru so rarely talked about Kyo that both he and Hermione listened sharply to her words. Of course, Tohru mentioned Kyo quite frequently and expressed worry over superficial things – was he cold, had he eaten enough – but it was not often that she directly addressed his stony silence since the Thestral incident.

Harry had shared his and Kyo's cryptic Hallowe'en Eve conversation with Ron and Hermione, which confirmed their suspicion about the curse. Harry doubted that Kyo had shared his theories about Dumbledore's involvement with Tohru, and he wanted desperately to ask her, but something held him back.

"I…I don't know what I did, or what I said," Tohru said softly. "He won't talk to me…"

"I don't think you said anything wrong, Tohru," Hermione responded gently.

"It was that day, you know," Tohru continued, matter-of-factly. "With the…the…Thestrals," she finally grasped the correct word. "He remembered something awful."

"Yuki told us about Kyo's mother," Harry said.

"No," Tohru said with a sad smile. "Kyo-kun didn't see his mother die…he didn't even know what had happened. He doesn't remember her very well. This was…something else."

"He tells you a lot, doesn't he, Tohru?" Hermione said.

"He used to…not everything, but some things. I am always discovering new things I don't know about Kyo-kun…" Tohru smiled, and shook her head. "Please forgive me."

Harry could sense her walls going back up. He hadn't even realized that Tohru had been putting up walls in the first place until now – but there it was, that guarded, polite smile that signaled the end of a vulnerable moment.

"Tohru," Harry said sharply. "What changed in the Sohma family before you came here?"

His question had the desired effect; Tohru took in a sharp breath and took an involuntary step backwards.

"E-eh?" she stammered.

Hermione caught Harry's eye and he nodded. They had to tell Yuki and Tohru sooner or later that they had been looking for the Sohma family's secret; it wasn't bound to be a pleasant conversation, but it was necessary.

"Something changed, didn't it?" Harry pressed on. "But it didn't feel right. It felt strange."

"Yes, it did," came a cool voice from behind them. Yuki stepped out from behind a pillar. "I truly didn't mean to eavesdrop, but this conversation is rather interesting." He smiled darkly; but his eyes were fierce.

"We're sorry, Yuki," Hermione said. "We didn't mean to pry, but-"

"Yes, you meant to pry," Yuki snapped. "You meant to and you did. You have no idea what you're getting into, so I suggest you stop immediately."

"No," Hermione shot back. "I'm afraid it's too late. I'm still sorry, Yuki, but-"

"It doesn't matter how sorry you are!" Yuki's voice was louder than Harry had ever heard it. He stepped protectively in front of Hermione, but Yuki merely continued as if he hadn't. "You're stupid, all three of you! You don't understand anything, do you? Do you know what happens when you get sucked into this family? You get hurt!"

"You lot keep telling us," Harry said through gritted teeth, "that we don't understand. You know what, then? Make us understand!"

"He is right, Yuki-kun," Tohru said, putting a hand on Yuki's arm. "They want to help us."

Yuki was shaking with barely controlled rage. "You can't," he spat out. "You just…"

"Come on, then," Harry said in a forced, jaunty voice. "Let's all take a stroll, find Kyo and Ron, and you can tell us about what horrible friends we are because we won't just sit and watch…whatever is happening with you three. It'll be great fun!" He grabbed Yuki's arm roughly and began to walk down the corridor.

"Harry," Hermione warned half-heartedly. Getting no response, she gave up and followed him.

By the time they found Kyo and Ron, Harry and Yuki were shooting glares at each other and not speaking. The atmosphere was so tense that no one commented on the strange fact that they had found Kyo and Ron sitting companionably in the Owlery. Instead, Harry stepped towards them.

"So," he said angrily. "We all need to have a chat."

"The rat finally figured out that you three were doing some digging?" Kyo smirked.

"I've known for a long time," Yuki retorted sharply. "And I want it to stop."

"Sorry, mate," Ron spoke up. "It's too late for that."

Yuki glared at him, but Ron was unfazed. "You reckon something bad will happen if the Sohmas find out what we know?"

"Oh, it will," Kyo said.

"For once, I agree with that idiot," Yuki conceded. "If the Sohmas find out you know something you shouldn't, they will take steps to correct it."

"So?" Harry said belligerently. "They can't hurt us."

"Oh, it's not a matter of hurting," Yuki said with a dark smile. "The question is, then…how much do you know?"

"We know you're cursed," Hermione said. "Well, you were. Not anymore." Yuki nodded tightly, and Hermione continued. "You couldn't hug anyone of the opposite sex, you transformed into animals, and there were twelve of you."

"Ah," Yuki said. "And that's all you know?"

"Well, yes," Hermione admitted. "A curse that showed up in feudal Japan, very rare, affecting what were referred to as the Twelve. Historians lost track of it and could only presume it had either been broken or had been hidden very well."

Kyo laughed suddenly. "Well, rat," he said to Yuki, "Isn't that interesting? Westerners wouldn't really know the significance of that, would they?"

"Of what?" Harry asked in exasperation, but Yuki wasn't listening.

"Wait," he said, his voice dangerously on edge. "You…you stupid…you helped them?"

"Not really," Kyo said with a sharp grin. "I just told them I believed in them, that's all. I knew Granger was smart enough to figure it out, or at least I thought so. I didn't really count on the Western perspective screwing things up, though."

Yuki opened his mouth to say something, but Kyo cut him off. "You can't pretend you don't see it," he said in decidedly impolite Japanese. "The curse broke too soon, didn't it? This isn't just about the Sohmas anymore, Yuki. The curse has some significance. That addled old man interfered, and he did it for a reason, and we're at this insane school for a reason. We need to understand why. This isn't just about our stupid family dramas anymore."

Yuki's shoulders slumped, and he sighed deeply. The anger left his eyes and he ran a hand through his normally impeccable grey hair.

He turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione, all of whom were thoroughly confused by his sudden change in demeanour. "Hermione," he said. "Did you hear what Kyo said about Western perspective?"

"Yes," she said carefully. "So an Easterner reading the same thing would have caught something that we're missing?"

"Yes," Yuki said. "A legend, involving twelve animals."

"Oh…" Hermione's brow furrowed. "Oh!"

"What is it?" Harry and Ron chorused in unison.

"The Chinese Zodiac," she said, her eyes full of wonder. "The twelve animals of the Zodiac."

"The what now?" Ron looked confused.

"You know, Ron," Harry prodded. "It's the…er…the thing you use to tell your fortunes, or something…You know, year of the Monkey, that kind of stuff…"

"Must be a Muggle thing, then," Ron said, mystified.

"So…" Hermione said, raising an eyebrow. "You're the Rat, then, Yuki?"

Yuki nodded. Kyo's constant refrain of "stupid rat" hadn't gone unnoticed by Hermione's sharp ears.

"What're you, then, Kyo?" Harry asked. Kyo bristled visibly and shook his head.

"Kyo-kun is the Cat," Tohru said, speaking up for the first time. "The Cat is not a worthless animal." Her tone was suddenly impassioned but also imploring. "When I was little, it was my very favourite Zodiac animal."

Seeing the confused expressions on the English trio's faces, Yuki sighed. "In the legend of the Zodiac, the animals were called to a banquet."

"Oh…" Hermione suddenly realized something. "Yes, I remember the legend. The Rat was the very first to arrive and…the Rat tricked the Cat, so the Cat could not attend the banquet, and was not a member of the Zodiac."

"Well, then…" Harry looked from Kyo to Yuki and then back again. "That explains a lot."

Kyo made a frustrated noise and jumped to his feet, making to leave. Ron grabbed his arm.

"No, mate, you're not leaving yet."

For some reason, even though Kyo's strength would have allowed him to get free easily, he gave up and returned to his seat with a scowl.

"Then…" Harry said, his mouth agape, "that's why that Akito bloke is…"

"God," Yuki and Kyo said in unison, with matching bitter tones.

"So why's Voldemort looking for him?" Harry asked. "Does he have some sort of power?"

"I don't know," Yuki said. "It's hard to tell. He has power over…over us."

"He's pathetic," Kyo snapped. "He just screams and cries and forces everyone to bend to his stupid whims."

"That's not very kind of you, Sohma," came a familiar, unpleasant voice from the doorway. Everyone whirled around to face Professor Severus Snape, who was looming like a giant bat.

"Surely students of your admittedly low calibre have better things to do than loiter about," Snape continued, smiling cruelly. "Studying, perhaps, or attending to your many missed homework assignments?"

"How long've you been here?" Harry demanded.

"Long enough," Snape smirked. "Ten points from Gryffindor, Potter. I don't appreciate your tone. Now, run along, before you manage to put your other foot in your mouth."

Later, in the common room, Harry remembered something. "Er, Ron," he began.

"Yeah," Ron said absently, staring into the merrily crackling fireplace.

"Kyo's not avoiding you, then?"

Ron's ears turned pink. "Well," he muttered. Hermione motioned encouragingly for him to continue. "You know, I figured…he'd, er, want someone to talk to or something…because…" Ron lowered his head. "I know what it's like to be…you know…second best a lot. No offense, Harry…"

Harry nodded, signaling that no offense had been taken.

"So, sometimes we just…talk about stuff, you know? I've been trying for ages to get him to at least talk to Tohru again, but there's something he feels guilty about. I dunno what it is, but…I think Tohru would forgive him, wouldn't she?"

"Ron," said Hermione with a warm smile, "You're really quite kind sometimes, you know?"

Ron blushed scarlet and muttered incoherently. "Er…no…I really…"

Kyo himself entered the common room at that moment. Harry waved tentatively, gesturing for Kyo to come sit with him. After a moment of hesitation, Kyo made his way towards them and sat down.

They sat in silence for a few moments, no one really knowing quite what to say. Kyo sighed deeply and leaned back into his chair.

"I'm sorry, you know," he muttered. "About…being a jerk."

"It's OK, really," Harry said. Hermione and Ron nodded their agreement. "Kyo…what's up between you and Yuki? Why d'you…hate him so much?"

"Because he's –" Kyo's eyes flashed, but he took a deep breath and stopped himself. "It's not…his fault, really. Potter, you understand…sometimes, you're just…destined for something, right? Everyone around you pushes their stupid ideals onto you, and for some reason you have to just go along with it, because someone up there hates you and decided that's how it's going to be."

Harry did understand, very well, although he wouldn't have put it quite that way. He nodded.

"The stupid rat – Yuki," Kyo corrected himself, "Yuki and I are both victims of that, in a way. Only that lucky bastard got the good end of the stick. The rat…the rat is the first, the best, the most treasured. The cat, well…" He smiled darkly. "I have my own destiny to fulfill, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it."

Hermione spoke up, somewhat timidly, since Kyo still intimidated her. "Kyo…why do you have to do what the Sohmas say? Why does Yuki? Aren't you free?"

Kyo laughed bitterly. "Hell, no. We don't turn into animals anymore, but that's the strange thing – we feel just as connected to the Sohmas as ever, and for some reason we're still listening to that pathetic Akito. That's why I think that old man meddled somewhere he shouldn't have and…forced things along for his own purposes."

"Dumbledore's not like that," Harry said hotly, defending his Headmaster. "He's a good man."

"Yeah, sure," Kyo replied. "He might be. Doesn't mean he doesn't have a plan. Don't tell me you don't know what it's like to be kept in the dark, Potter, while the grown-ups plot and scheme."

Harry slumped back in his seat. He desperately wanted to argue with Kyo, tell him that the adults in his life were doing no such thing, but he couldn't. Kyo's words were tapping into the frustration that had been building for years now – he, Ron and Hermione had proved themselves perfectly capable. They had handled things that many adults had never even seen, but for some reason, no one would tell them anything. He knew Ron and Hermione felt it too.

"What about Tohru? Where does she fit in?" Ron said, changing the subject. Kyo flashed him a look of annoyance; they had been over this topic before.

"Yes," Hermione agreed. "What does Tohru have to do with the Sohmas? I've never quite been able to figure it out."

"No kidding, brainiac," Kyo said sarcastically. At the slightly hurt look on Hermione's face, he gritted his teeth. "Gah. Forget it. I just meant that no one's able to figure it out, why Akito let her get so close. I think he's been using her for something. She's…that moron is just letting him do whatever he pleases. I don't understand why she's even here with us, instead of just…having a normal life, back in Japan."

"Yeah, wonder what her parents think of her gallivanting off across the world with two blokes?" Ron mused.

Kyo shot him a look of mild surprise. "Didn't she tell you about her parents?"

"She's never mentioned them," Hermione mused. "Are they…"

"Dead," Kyo said shortly, his tone suddenly angry. "Her dad when she was little, and her mom…Whatever. They're dead."

Harry felt a rush of sympathy for Tohru. Ron and Hermione looked startled, but Harry wasn't surprised that Tohru had never mentioned it in conversation. He hated telling people – "My parents are dead" was a phrase that stung deeply. He hated the finality of it, but how else could you say it? He thought, not for the first time, that perhaps he and Tohru were not so different. The last thing he ever wanted was those pitying side-glances from people who didn't even know him, and he imagined she felt the same.

No one knew what to say for a moment, and they all watched the sun set outside the window, magnificent oranges and pinks streaking across the Hogwarts grounds. Hagrid and Fang could be seen outside Hagrid's hut, Fang frolicking joyfully in the frosted remnants of the pumpkin patch while Hagrid looked on fondly.

"There's something we're missing," Hermione said, an edge of frustration in her voice. "There's something we're not understanding."

"I know," Kyo replied. "Lord Whatever is looking for Akito, but…"

"Why?" Harry finished his sentence. "And why send you three to Hogwarts? So you can learn magic? What's that going to…" He trailed off, brow furrowed.

Ron was playing with a wizard chess piece – a pawn. In frustration, he knocked down the king. The pawn wriggled out of his hand and shouted unintelligible curse words at him in a tiny voice as the king grumbled and picked himself up.

"Oh shut it, you," Ron muttered, but he let the pawn march away to its box anyways. Harry watched it go. Hermione was right, they were missing something; it was tugging elusively at the edge of his mind, but for some reason, the answers were eluding his grasp.

Dun dun duuuuuuun!

Ahhh. I don't know about you all, but I'm relieved Kyo's friends with everyone again. Hahaha, I'm so attached to all these characters...even though I put them through terrible things and fights with each other...This is the last emo chapter for a while, I promise!

Okay, now I owe everyone a bit of an explanation. To put it simply I've just had a really bad year, with two deaths in the family, legal battles with a former roommate, my boyfriend being hospitalized, and schoolwork piling up. I'm so sorry I dropped NN for a while without a good explanation. I really do want to finish it. Feedback is always welcome! If you have any guesses as to plot details, feel free to share 'em, although I might not confirm or deny...hahaha.

I want to say a huge, enthusiastic, loving THANK-YOU to everyone for coming back! I got a surprising and delightful amount of reviews not just from new readers, but also old readers who came back and somehow managed to get back in the swing of things. If anyone's reading this and this applies to them, even if I didn't hear from you, I LOVE YOU TO BITS. I also LOVE NEW READERS TO BITS. You're all wonderful!

Much love, and feel free to kick my ass if I start slacking again,

Lysi

P.S. I'm trying to respond to every review, but I'm kind of dumb and sometimes can't figure out if I've responded to something already or not. If you want to get in touch with me and I haven't responded to your review, please do PM me or even email me at lysi dot aria at gmail dot com.