Kyaaa! This took longer than I thought... Oh well, I'm not very efficient... =P This might be the last chapter until next weekend because I have (insert evil creepy music here)... school this week!!! Kyaaaa!!! Spring break is coming to an end i_i But I was spoiling you all by giving you so many chapters so frequently, anyway! Yeah. Well, here's the chapter you've all been waiting for! Well, I hope not really... This is kind of a setup for the next chapter... yeah, yeah. I'm evil T_T But here it is anyways!!! Woo.

Inuyasha/Harry Potter don't belong to me, if the whole broke teenage girl look didn't tip you off. But I did draw a picture with a camera in a pie! Mmmm, camera pie!!!

Chapter 5: Gentlemen, let the games begin.



It was a beautiful Friday morning, the birds chirping and singing happily in the trees, the flowers timidly unfurling and directing themselves to the sun. All of nature's beauty was lost upon the inhabitants of Gryffindor tower, snores drowning out the sounds of daybreak through the open windows. Kagome was among them, curled tightly in her sheets and mumbling incoherently into her pillow. The rest of the girls in the fifth year dormitory were also still asleep, their forms buried beneath the thick crimson comforters that were draped over the beds for cold nights. That is, until Hermione was the first to wake. The uncanny talent the girl had for being so punctual was unnerving, the fact her sleep patterns were set to a specific time. This morning was no different, this second morning at Hogwarts that would be routine for the remaining year.

"Oh come on, come on! You're going to sleep the day away, all of you! You can sleep in tomorrow, but we have classes today! Rise and shine!" Hermione literally sprang out of bed and walked over to the windows, pulling back the velvet drapes and letting the sun's warmth and light spread throughout the room. She either didn't notice or didn't mind the glares she was receiving from the previously sleeping girls, their tired eyes peering at her from under the safety of their sheets. Kagome seriously thought it was the latter as she pushed the fabric away from her head. If Hermione had lived with these other women in previous years, it was likely that she had grown immune to their icy stares.

"Mmm... What class do we have first today, Hermione?" Kagome stretched and fought back a yawn, determined to wage war against her fatigue and, hopefully, win.

"Care of Magical Creatures after breakfast. After lunch we have Herbology then History of Magic. We also have Astronomy at midnight. Good thing we have it scheduled on Fridays now so we can sleep in later the next morning." Hermione had already changed into her school robes and was in the process trying to make her hair lie flat on her head, giving up in the end. She had recited the class schedule without hesitation, having memorized the rotation at breakfast the previous morning. "I better get the boys up, be right back."

Kagome wasn't too sure if that was a good idea, but thought it better not to argue with the overly efficient girl. She heard Hermione walk towards the boys' dormitory, footsteps muffled by the carpeted floor until she reached the door. She heard a loud series of knocking, then silence, and then the door being slammed open. Hermione's shouts filled the empty common room and certainly had to rouse the rest of the tower. Kagome then listened as her friend's efforts were rewarded by yells from the boys like 'Hermione??? You're not allowed in here!!!' and 'What the hell do you think you're doing, you stupid git???' and a string of fluid curses mingled with violent threats. Ah, boys.

"Are you coming, Kagome? The boys will be out in a second." Hermione popped her head back through the open door in the girls' bedroom, still smiling and beaming as if being screamed at by the opposite sex was an everyday occurrence. Again, Kagome doubted that it wasn't. She hurried out into the empty common room, creasing down wrinkles in her robes and sliding her wand into a pocket in the fabric.

"Does this happen everyday?" Kagome skeptically looked into Hermione's face as she fluffed her raven colored hair.

"Pretty much. But we are usually one of the first into the Great Hall for breakfast. You would think they would get used to it by now..." Hermione grinned even more broadly as the boys' dormitory door was flung open angrily, three boys standing in the doorway. "It looks like Inuyasha is going to join us today!"

Inuyasha was standing with Ron and Harry, hand still flattened against the door and was fuming. Ron stood behind him and was rubbing at his eyes with an annoyed expression, Harry next to him with his eyes drooped and looking tired with the situation in general.

"Ah! Inuyasha! Are you going to eat with us today? A good meal will help you wake up!" Kagome smiled at him, trying to ease his mood, his left eye already beginning to develop a twitch. Both his eyes, however, widened in surprise at the suggestion, but only for a brief moment before returning to his scowl.

"I wouldn't need to wake up if that stupid girl hadn't barged in and started screaming her frickin lungs off..." Hermione continued to smile, suppressing a giggle at the effects of her work. "...and I would have fallen back to sleep if this blind idiot hadn't fallen over me when he was getting up..." Inuyasha directed his glare at Harry, eye beginning to twitch again.

"I said I was sorry... I was looking for my glasses. They had fallen off the nightstand." Harry explained to the rest of the group, ignoring the staring he felt at the back of his head. "Why don't we all just get something to eat and forget this whole mess happened until tomorrow morning? Agreed? Good." He led the way to the portrait entrance, swinging the painting out and hopping down onto the stone floor. The group made its way to the Great Hall slowly, leisurely walking down the empty corridors and staircases. They entered the great double doors and saw only a few other people sitting at the large tables. They gigantic room was nearly deserted and the mountains of food looked even more enticing with the extra space. They all say down in the middle of the Gryffindor table, but Inuyasha continued walking towards the end of the wooden surface.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Kagome grabbed the sleeve of his robe as he walked by, nearly toppling out of her seat in doing so. Inuyasha looked at her curiously, his violet eyes almost suspicious, but still moved as to sit at the end of the table. Kagome grabbed his sleeve with both of her hands and pulled him onto the bench so he was sitting beside her. "You would look pathetic sitting alone with the Great Hall being nearly empty. Now sit and eat and enjoy, Inuyasha." She released his sleeve and began to chew on a piece of toast. Inuyasha was stunned for a few moments but stayed, finally scooping some food onto his plate and eating. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were startled for a moment but continued their conversations as if nothing had happened.

"So did you remember?" Kagome stopped eating and spread some more butter on her toast and glanced at Inuyasha before biting into it again.

"Remember? Remember what?" Inuyasha was still slightly shocked and now completely confused. He looked up from stabbing his eggs and stared into her face, racking his brain. A stray and unwanted thought crossed his mind in the mad search and nearly caused Inuyasha to choke. 'She's so beautiful...'

Kagome looked at him strangely, her smoky eyes filled with confusion. What the heck was wrong with him? He looked as if someone tried to force a lemon down his throat... "My name, idiot." Kagome chose to ignore the odd look on his face and answered his question. "I told you to remember my name and I would see if you did tomorrow. Did you?"

Inuyasha took a large swig of orange juice and turned back to her, mentally trying not to let his thoughts wander, afraid of the results. It would be better to be mean and keep his mind on track. "What kind of idiotic question is that?"

She huffed angrily and bit into her toast again, staring straight ahead of her at Hermione, who was talking vividly to Ron. Harry was moodily pushing his bacon across his plate, the same tired expression on his face. "It's not an idiotic question, only to you. Here, watch." Kagome turned her head to her left towards the boy poking his bacon. "Harry?"

"Huh?" Harry looked up and sheepishly dropped his fork on his plate, the loud clanging making him cringe. "W-what is it, Kagome?"

"See? Everyone else knows I'm Kagome. It's not stupid." She looked at Inuyasha, who actually seemed to be shrinking back into his chair. Harry watched, baffled.

"Fine. I get it. Your name..." Stay strong, Inuyasha. Don't give in. "Your name is..." Don't let your mind wander. Stay on track. Don't look at her big, blue, eyes... "...you greasy little punk."

"Wha-whaaat???" Kagome dropped what was left of her toast onto her empty plate, the butter smearing on the golden dish. "What do you mean--"

"Pleasure to see you again, too, I'm sure. Letting a girl get insulted so early in the morning, Potter? Despicable..."

Malfoy was standing behind Kagome, Inuyasha and Harry both glaring at the Slytherin boy.

"What do you want, Malfoy? Letting yourself get riled up so early in the morning? Despicable..." Harry smiled to himself as he saw Malfoy curl his lip into a sneer. Malfoy's hands balled into fists, but he suddenly reached out and grabbed a lock of Kagome's hair, forcing her to jerk her head back and give a small cry of surprise. He brought his face above hers and leaned closer.

"Why are you sitting with these scum, girl? Why are you--" Malfoy released her hair and staggered back, clutching his jaw and left hand. Inuyasha had punched Malfoy on his right cheek at the same moment Harry had punched the hand that was holding Kagome's hair. Both fixed him with their iciest stares, and Malfoy continued to smirk, if a little lopsided now.

"Have you and this ruffian staked a claim, Potter? Is this girl really worth so much to you?" Malfoy staggered back and an insane glint caught his eye. "In that case, gentlemen, let the games begin." The Great Hall began to fill up with students as they watched him sit down at the Slytherin table.

"Are you okay, Kagome?" Harry pushed his glasses up the rim of his nose and rubbed his hand.

"I'm fine, thank you. Both of you." Kagome massaged her head and gave each boy a weak smile. "That kid creeps me out..."

"Who creeps you out?" Ron looked up from his conversation with Hermione, stuffing a biscuit in his mouth. "Was someone here a second ago?"

Kagome, Inuyasha, and Harry were silent for a moment, mouths agape at how oblivious the two were to the recent events. Inuyasha broke the silence, looking at both of them as if they were insane.

"What the hell were you two talking about?"

Ron and Hermione looked at the three, at each other, blushed, and then looked down at their plates. Kagome began to laugh, lifting the awkward silence and was forgetting about Malfoy and his cryptic words until their first class.

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Care of Magical Creatures was taught by Hagrid at his hut near the forest. Harry, Ron, and Hermione informed Kagome that he was actually a very gentle giant and was one of the nicest teachers on campus. She was looking forward to the class but was also told that most of the creatures they worked with were more dangerous than Hagrid thought, a weakness in the man. As they crossed the grounds and neared the hut Kagome turned to her friends and gave them a grave and serious look.

"Yes, those books do look awfully intimidating and hazardous."

Strewn all over the lawn were piles of thick leather-bound books, and Hagrid was no where in sight. The Ravenclaws met up with the Gryffindors shortly, both classes equally confused and the teacher still not present. The door of the wooden cabin slowly creaked open, a large and furry head with small black eyes poking out.

"Change o' plans today. I've got some...errr...matters ta attend ta... Your assignment is to jis look in tho' books for information on kitsune... Off ya go!" Hagrid pulled his head back inside the hut, softly shutting the door. All of the kids looked at one another, skeptical and confused, when the giant head stuck through the door again. "Oh! One more thing! Lessee... is there an 'Inuyasha' out there?" The door closed again after Inuyasha had walked inside, not showing the least bit of surprise on his face.

The students waited for Hagrid to pop his head out again, but the gamekeeper seemed to be staying inside his hut for the moment. They ignored the books on the ground and instead lied down on the grass and talked happily to each other. Only a few of the teenagers actually picked up the reading material and skimmed over it like Hagrid had asked. Hermione was engrossed in a thick novel, and Harry and Ron were discussing the giant's strange behavior and why Inuyasha was called inside. Kagome felt like doing neither of these things and laid down on the thick grass, closing her eyes as the sun warmed her with its comforting rays. At the sound of footsteps walking across the ground toward her, Kagome opened her eyes to see a familiar girl standing in front of her.

"Hello, Sango. I haven't seen Miroku if you're looking for him." As Kagome spoke, Sango shifted nervously from foot to foot, twirling a long finger in her silky hair.

"No, that's not it. I have a question to ask, Kagome..." Fidget fidget. "Are you...well... an item with Malfoy...?"

Kagome bolted upright, eyes bulging, ignoring the leaves stuck in her hair. Sango took a step back as the girl proceeded to scream.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???" Several students looked up from their conversations and lounging about, giving odd glances at the two. Sango clamped her hand on Kagome's mouth and dragged her further away from the rest of the class.

"I guess not..." Sango removed her hand, and Kagome regained her breath, locking gazes with the girl before her.

"Why would I...ever...like that...that..."

"Malfoy was strutting around this morning at breakfast saying something like 'She's mine' and that he was going to literally win you over... But he did look a little dazed and out of it." Sango reassured her that Malfoy didn't seem in his right mind until Kagome's breathing calmed down. "I can understand why you dislike the guy... I think nearly everyone not in Slytherin does, really. Me and Miroku came here last year, and I heard some bad things about that kid. But why was he saying things like that today? I nearly choked on my eggs when he came walking by the Ravenclaw table ranting."

"I don't know... First he grabs my face and then my hair. Boy has some serious issues if you ask me..." Kagome sighed and massaged her scalp where he had pulled her hair, cringing. She explained about her two encounters with Malfoy when Sango gave her a blank but disgusted look, elaborating on how greasy and how much of a jerk he is.

"Sounds like he's as determined as Miroku at trying to get a girl..." Sango flushed faintly, resting her chin on her arms. She weakly said the last part of her statement, burying her face in her arms even further.

"Ummm... Why does he do that, anyway?" Kagome leaned closer to the girl, hoping to get her attention. Sango brought her head up slightly, the flush still tinting her cheeks a light rosy color.

"Why? Who knows... The idiot just falls for any girl he sees and asks them if they would like to 'be his female companion' as he put it..." She turned her head so she wasn't facing Kagome, muttering into her arms. "But he gets rejected every time... He's really got some commitment issues..."

"And that's why they...ah...reject him?" Kagome suspected his actions bothered Sango more than it appeared but wasn't going to bring it up. She would admit it to herself when the time came.

"His commitment issues? No, he doesn't even get that far... He wants to commit too much and be with someone so badly that it's like an obsession... And yet... he hasn't asked me once..." Sango mumbled even more, her words barely comprehensible.

"Asked you what, Sango?"

Miroku was walking towards the two casually, earrings glinting from the morning sunlight. Sango jerked her head from her arms, her face bright red and looked horrified.

"Why hello, Kagome. I almost didn't see you over...! Owwiiieee... I didn't even do anything yet, Sango..." Sango didn't seem to hear him and continued to throw small rocks and any other objects at his head, face still burning.

"I'll just... well... leave you two...alone...!" Kagome quickly jogged away from the couple, dodging a few acorns and clumps of dirt. She spotted Inuyasha emerging from the wooden hut and ran up to him, concern etched across her face. "What's going on?"

"Eh? Why would you..." Inuyasha stammered for a response at her sudden appearance but quickly put his tough facade back in place. "T-that's none of your business!!!"

"Oh, not about you!!! What's wrong with Hagrid?" Kagome placed her hands on her hips, her bottom lip stuck slightly out in annoyance.

Inuyasha looked partially crestfallen and partially relieved. She wasn't the least bit worried about him, but she still hadn't invaded his privacy. He turned his head to the side, displaying one of the few emotions that he understood: irritation. "Why would I tell you anything about that stupid kitsune he's keeping in--"

"Kyaaa!!! He has a kitsune??? Is it cute???" Kagome clasped her hands together, ignoring his attitude, eyes sparkling.

Damn it. He let it slip. Now the girl was happy. But was that really so bad after all...? Inuyasha shook his head from side to side, his black hair following his movements and being played with by the slight breeze. All these new thoughts were bugging him... He didn't notice Kagome had left until he heard her excited shriek from the direction he had just come from. She was standing in front of the cabin, talking very happily to Hagrid who stood in his doorway looking slightly proud and bemused. He stepped aside and let the girl in, Harry, Ron, and Hermione following after hearing her shouts of joy. Damn it.

The hut was relatively small compared to the giant that lived in it, but a fire was crackling merrily in the fireplace, warmth washing over the small room. In the center of the cabin was a large wooden table, a large pile of blankets piled in the middle. The blankets stirred and a small nose poked out, the rest of the creature still tightly wrapped in the fabric. The four moved closer, and Hagrid pulled the blankets back slightly, revealing a small fox-like cub, eyes squinted shut as it slept.

"Wherever did you get him, Hagrid?" Hermione looked closer at the cub, watching as its chest rose up and down in its sleep. "Not off of some stranger through a poker game at the pub, I hope..." She looked sharply at Hagrid, who was fidgeting under her gaze.

"Nah, I found him in the Forbidden Forest." Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow. "I did! Little tyke was lying on the ground deep in the woods, clutching the coat of his pa. I found his ma a little bit away, both parents killed from some other creature. He was safe, but hasn't woken up since I found him."

Kagome looked sadly at the kitsune, stroking his fur lightly as he slept on. Poor thing must feel so awful and lonely...

"Ma...ma..." The cub burrowed deeper into the sheets but kept a tiny hand curled around one of Kagome's outstretched fingers.

"Ah..." Kagome gently took her finger away, petting his head as she did so. The bell's faint ringing could be heard faintly across the grounds, the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws hurrying to lunch as the sound faded away. The four students walked quietly out of the hut, promising to visit soon during the weekend. Kagome was the last to leave, waving goodbye to the child that slept so soundly on the table.

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The rest of the day carried on normally. Nothing out of the ordinary happened at lunch, though Inuyasha still sat by himself at the end of the table despite Kagome's protests. The girl, however, was still too preoccupied with the kitsune cub and didn't physically try to drag Inuyasha back.

After lunch was Herbology, the class seeming to go by at extremely slow pace due to the heat of the greenhouses. Kagome glanced up occasionally towards Hagrid's hut, not paying attention to what she was doing, and accidentally dumped fertilizer on a Hufflepuff boy's head. The boy merely shook out his mane of black hair, straightened his high ponytail, and smirked as Kagome repeatedly apologized and flushed with embarrassment.

After Herbology was History of Magic, the only class taught by a ghost. Kagome tried not to doze off like the rest of the class as Professor Binns drudged through his notes, writing down important dates of bloody battles in the past. The teacher made even these events boring and tedious, barely batting a transparent eyelid at the kids that were steadily sleeping at their desks. At one point a student even knocked over a bottle of ink as his head hit the desk, the thick liquid oozing all over the dusty floor. The ghost merely ignored it and continued as students picked up their feet and belongings off the stone floor.

Dinner was eaten quickly and the Gryffindors went back to their common room, having hours of free time until midnight for their Astronomy lesson. Hermione managed to "convince" Kagome to do all her homework during this time and not to wait for the weekend like some other people. Harry and Ron ignored her and continued playing wizard's chess. The girls were two of the only people working and were seated by the fire, the flames casting patterns of light over their parchment. Harry and Ron were deep in their game of chess, and only Harry's outraged cry and cursing as Ron's knight dragged his queen off the board disrupted the mood. The common room gradually emptied out as darkness surrounded the castle. Finally the Gryffindor fifth years, all yawning and rubbing at their eyes, left the tower and headed up a long series of spiral staircases to their Astronomy lesson.

"...and by using their knowledge on the moon's phases, who can tell me which phase the moon will be in tomorrow night?" The teacher pointed with her wand at the night sky above their heads. They were on the highest tower in all of Hogwarts, the cool night breeze making the students clutch their cloaks tighter to their bodies.

"The New Moon where the moon will not be able to be seen at all in the night sky." Hermione was the only one to know the answer and the only one still awake enough to make a reply. The teacher beamed and began to talk about the moon's ever-changing shape, the Gryffindor students too tired to be listening. Kagome could have sworn she saw Inuyasha stiffen in front of her as the teacher continued to talk on and on, but she thought that it was only the chill or her imagination. Inuyasha's peculiar behavior soon left her mind as she found her eyes drooping more and more. The miniscule dots on her star chart began to merge together and become more and more unfocused. She looked up rubbing her eyes at the faint image of the moon, nearly enveloped completely in darkness.

"New Moon, huh..." She whispered and gave into the fatigue, letting her eyes settle closed, thick lashes fluttering to rest on her cheeks.

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A/N: Setting it up for the next chapter...! Which I only partially know what's going on... o_O;;; See, this is coming to the point where I only have a few random scenes planned out in my head. But this whole story was really just a bunch of random scenes in my head, so I guess it isn't anything new ^_^ And as a side note, I've been playing the Harry Potter computer game, and I've gotten to the part where you're trying to stop "Snape" from stealing the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone. I can't get past the part where you have to fly on your broomstick and capture the flying key T_T I have no Quidditch skills and waiting for that little gauge to fill up is driving me mad! And then all the creepy little keys attack you and aaaaaaaah!!! I'm frustrated. Just letting you know. Yessiree Bob.

Next Chapter!!! Ermmm... Shippou actually is conscious ^_^;;; And and... since tomorrow is the New Moon and all... hints at what happens to Inuyasha! I don't know if I'll actually explain it in this chapter or the next... But stay tuned just for the fun of it!!!

And could you guess at the identity of a character introduced in there??? Heehee, it's not that hard really... But he'll be in later chapters as well!!! (How could he not be??) And if you didn't notice who the guy was then I must be driving you insane right now :D Mwahahaaha!!! (Owwwiieee!!! Sunburn burns! It burns so badly *tear*)