New Friends
A skinny boy with many freckles,
red hair, glasses, and a prefect badge joined them.
"Good day, Harry." He said. Sakura could hardly believe he was Ron's
brother!
"Um, hi." Harry replied, trying not to laugh. "This is Sakura
Salmalín, Percy. Sakura, this is—"
Percy offered a hand. "Percy Weasley, miss. And where might you come
from?"
Sakura smiled and took the hand. "Silverlake, sir. By Tortall."
Percy choked on his steak. "You're the daughter of the Duke and Duchess
Salmalín?"
"Well, duh, Percy." Ron snapped. "Who else would she be the
daughter of? Snape?"
Hermoine glared at him. "Ron, that's not funny!"
Sakura took a bite of glazed barbeque. "You boys are very loving
siblings." She giggled.
"Says who?!" They snapped together.
Harry, Hermoine, and Sakura laughed.
"Snape is the potions teacher; he's rude and cares only for his own house.
McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, doesn't favor any house, however, she
strict. Hagrid... he... teaches Care of Magical Creatures; he's nice and likes
everyone but Slytherin... actually, he even puts up with them." Hermoine
explained. "Professor Trelawney teaches Divination; she's a old fraud who
delights in telling students' deaths. Professor Sprout instructs Herbology, and
the dead Professor Binns teaches History of Magic. The professor who
teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts is Lupin. He's young, tall, intelligent,
and nice. He does his job well. Astronomy is taught by the beautiful Professor
Leilani and Elementals is taught by kind Professor Gaea."
"Let's see," Sakura said, "This is my schedule...
| 7:00- Breakfast | 8:30- Astronomy |
| 9:30- Transfiguration | 10:30- Potions |
| 11:30- Care of Magical Creatures | 12:30- Lunch |
| 2:00- History of Magic | 3:00- Elementals |
| 4:00- Defense Against the Dark Arts | 5:00- Herbology |
| 6:00- Dinner | 7:30- Homework/Free time |
| 10:00- Bed | 10:30- Lights out |
As everyone finished their main food, dessert
appeared. Sakura selected Yorkshire Pudding, Strawberry-Kiwi Pie, and Apple
Juice. A chubby little 7th year looked at her and asked,
"Aren't you the one who messed up Malfoy?"
"That's Neville Longbottom," Hermoine told her.
"Well," Sakura giggled. "I guess you could put it that
way."
George and Fred Weasley, Ron's other brothers, slid down towards her.
"Way to go! What's your name? Sakura?" Fred smiled.
"Thank you, and yes. Malfoy was being a pert."
"No surprise." Fred said dryly.
Sakura took a bite of the Pie.
"He tried to perform Avada Kedavra." Hermoine whispered, and
Sakura blushed as George coughed on orange juice.
"How did you survive?"
Sakura's blush deepened while she told them what happened.
"And you just... reflected it?" A first year, Larissa Quinn, asked.
"Well," Sakura explained, "I did have to draw on my own
power."
When everyone was done eating, Sakura, Harry, Hermoine and Ron went to the
common Room.
By the end of the day, many people had wanted to hear Sakura's story. Ron took the liberty, and stretched it until Sakura stopped him.
"What are you doing?" She exclaimed.
"Telling everyone your story!" Ron replied.
"Hah! That is NOT what happened! You'll make them think I'm..." She trailed off.
"Immortal?" Hermoine suggested, and immediately clamped her hand over her mouth.
Sakura stared at her. "How did you know?"
"Well," Harry stammered, "we overheard you telling Malfoy. And why did you tell him? He'll enlighten everyone at Hogwarts that your mother is a goddess!"
She smiled. "Oh, no, he won't. My mother knows the other Gods and Goddess. She learned a Silence trick from one goddess, and taught it to me."
"Oh." All three said in unison.
Sakura laughed and went to bed.
Sakura woke up to Kurai hooting in her ear. She looked at the clock; 7:15 A.M.
She sighed and went to get her clothes. She picked a light baby teal satin dress with expanding long sleeves and skirt, white hose, and her black shoes. Sakura did her hair in braided circlets atop her head, then went down do breakfast.
As she went down to breakfast, she overheard two Slytherins talking. Sakura recognized the voices as Sylvester Royd and Aeron Ridgley.
"There's something about her, I tell you. It isn't natural for someone to be beautiful, graceful, and nice, and perhaps smart, (we'll see, we have her in Doubles Care of Magical Creatures) and not have some fault or secret."
"You're right. We'll have to investigate... her past, her present, records. Keep quiet though."
Sakura sighed and thought, I'll just have to quiet. Make sure they have nothing to find.
She finished walking down the Hall and picked a chair between Harry and Hermoine, and across from Ron.
"You look nice," Hermoine complimented. "Don't you think so, Ron? Harry?"
"Yes." They muttered together.
Sakura giggled and grabbed strawberries, bread and cheese cream, caramel pudding and orange juice.
She took a bite of the bread & cheese cream and asked, "So what do you plan to do today?"
"Knowing Hermoine, STUDY." Ron teased.
"Oh, be quiet Ron. Well, we'll do our homework and then visit Hagrid at his cabin, if you'd like." Hermoine replied, taking a bite of milked cornbread (cornbread in milk).
"I'd love to!" Sakura's eyes lit. She gulped down her juice. "We only have 10 minutes left!"
They finished their breakfast and hurried to Astronomy.
"Centaurs have learned to read planets and stars. They can tell when certain events will happen. It is my hope that by the end of the year, you will know as much as any centaur. I hope you will be able to tell when dramas and births will occur. Can anyone tell me the definition of 'Astronomy'?"
Sakura, Hermoine, and Hina Rowen raised their hand.
"Yes, Miss Salmalín."
"It is the study of the planets and stars, ma'am."
"Very good. Five points for Griffindor."
Professor Leilani handed out notes and a worksheet.
"Use the notes to answer the questions on the worksheet. Tomorrow we will use a globe of a nebula to study." She explained.
Sakura glanced at the worksheet:
1. What can stars be used to predict?
2. Are they more likely to predict good or unpleasant occasions?
3. What other beings besides than centaurs and humans can read stars?
And down to...
15. Would you rather be a centaur or a human to read stars and planets? Why?
She started on her worksheet. Fifteen minutes later, the bell rang, and she rushed to Transfiguration.