A/N: Kyaaa!!! Sorry this took so long to come out!!! School is eeeevil! I
had a science test and a Latin quiz on Friday even though we just came back
from break on Wednesday and I had to write an essay on extreme emotions in
Romeo and Juliet and I have another Latin quiz on Monday and a science quiz
on Monday and an English quiz on Tuesday and a history test on Thursday and
a math test sometime next week and aaaaaaah!!! @_@ School is time consuming
and the spawn of Satan . But on a happier note... Here's the 6th
chapter!!! ^_^;;; The next one will probably be out next weekend or
sometime around there =P Enjoy!!!
Inuyasha/Harry Potter don't belong to me!!! If they did I would be rich and I would build a machine to clone myself and my clone could go to school and take all my tests and then I could live my life watching anime and reading manga and I am the run on QUEEEN!!!!
Chapter 6: Argh! Shippou ahoy!!! (heehee, pirate theme that has nothing to do with the chapter ^_^)
"Ah!!!"
Kagome bolted upright in her bed, knocking one of her many feather filled pillows to the floor. She breathed heavily, sucking in air in short ragged breaths, as she let her eyes adjust slowly to the dimly lit room. At the sight of Hermione's bushy hair across from her and the other girls in the dormitory sleeping soundly, Kagome's breathing finally slowed down enough for her to look around the room calmly. She wiped beads of sweat from her brow and picked up the pillow from the floor, falling back into bed and letting her eyes flutter shut.
"Just a dream, huh..." She nestled further into her covers, trying to forget the images that had swept across her mind just moments before. Instead, she tried to focus on thoughts like 'I wonder what time it is?' and 'Why won't that stupid bird shut up?'
A high-pitched and shrill whistling shattered the peaceful quiet of the dormitory. Kagome tried to ignore it and mentally cursed the other girls for being such deep sleepers. It was Saturday and Kagome wasn't going to let some obnoxious bird ruin her only time to sleep in. The bird, though, had other plans. There was silence for a moment and then the flutter of many wings coming from outside of the windows, the heavy curtains blocking her view. Suddenly, at least three new birds joined the symphony, all singing it seemed just for Kagome's benefit.
Kagome finally gave in, throwing off her sheets and stomping towards the window with her fists clenched. She peeked her head through one of the curtains and was blinded by the immense amount of light for a few moments. She rubbed her eyes, cursing the birds and their 'nice' (and other words she used) welcoming of the morning. Well, at least she basically knew what time it was. Kagome hit the large window, not caring if the other girls woke up, and watched with satisfaction as the group of birds flew away chattering angrily. One of these days she was going to have to look up a charm to repel the feathered nuisances...
Kagome sighed, fist still pressed against the hard glass, knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep in for her first Saturday of the school year. A faint whistling drifted gently to her ears, the girl first thinking it was another bird out to spite her. But the faint melody sounded too deep and coarse for a bird to be singing. She scanned the grounds below her and finally let her eyes settle on the retreating form of Hagrid, whistling as he returned to his small wooden cabin.
"Eep! The kitsune!" Kagome threw open the curtains, flooding the dark room with light. Hey, if she couldn't sleep, neither could they. A few muffled groans and whines followed Kagome as she hurriedly put on a pair of jeans and a dark green sweater and ran out of the room. She hopped through the empty common room as she struggled to put on her sneakers, the room dark without the fire dancing in the fireplace. Kagome pushed open the portrait, the fat lady gone and most likely wandering into another picture, and jogged down the deserted corridors.
"This school is so different than Tomoeda..." Kagome looked around at the seemingly endless halls with the many moving portraits on the walls, the clanking and rattling of the suits of armors as they turned to watch her run past the only sound of the morning. True, it was great finally being a student in the fabled Hogwarts, but the coziness and being so near to home in her small school back in Japan also had its perks. Her mother and father had gone to Hogwarts years before, and Kagome had decided to follow in their footsteps, always envious of the stories her mother often told her. Most of the students at Tomoeda had been sad to see her leave after four years, but a boy named Hojo seemed near tears and had promised to write to her every day. Kagome had very conveniently forgotten to tell him the new school she was going to attend and said she was ill every time he came to visit her over summer. She hadn't received one letter from him yet...
"Kyaa! I haven't written to Mama since I got here!!!" Kagome quickly turned around and began running the way she had come. She dashed back into Gryffindor Tower, threw open the door to the girls' dormitory, ignored the angry curses directed at her, grabbed a piece of parchment and a pen, and ran out. She scribbled a messy letter saying everything was fine, leaving out the adventures with the centipede and Shikon no Tama so as not to make her mother worry. She also wrote at the very bottom that she had met Harry Potter and his friends and that Souta better not ask for his autograph again. Kagome climbed a set of spiral stairs until she reached a thick wooden and rotting door, pushing it open with a loud creak, and thanked the school for supplying owls for students. She tiptoed around all the droppings on the stone floor of the tower until she reached a large brown owl, snapping his beak at her as she tied the letter to his scaly leg. The owl flew off arrogantly, still snapping his beak in disapproval at being given an assignment so early.
Kagome watched the owl fly away, wishing she could fly with it back home, even if just for a moment or a brief glance of her family. The annoyed hooting of the owls in the tower tore her away from her thoughts, and she quickly walked out of the tower, avoiding the mess at the level of her feet. Kagome ran through the halls again towards the huge oaken doors that led to the grounds, her loud steps against the stone floor filling the empty corridors. She resisted the urge to throw open the doors to Great Hall and answer to her pleading stomach as the aroma of eggs, pancakes, bacon, biscuits, etc. drafted by. The girl mentally chided herself and continued to ignore the rumblings in her stomach, finally reaching the double doors that were the gateway to the school and the world around her.
Kagome pushed against the thick wood, suddenly feeling insignificant and small at the size of the doors that dwarfed her. She heard the door creak slowly shut behind her as she made her way down the many steps leading to the grounds. She shivered slightly from the chill morning air and rubbed at her pine green sweater as a stray breeze caught and played with her raven black hair. The dew wet her socks and sneakers while traveling to the small hut directly before her. Kagome knocked lightly on the wooden door, feeling increasingly foolish. The door opened slightly, and Hagrid welcomed her warmly, closing the door after her as she stepped inside the cabin. The warmth of the small fire washed over her, making her more feel more relaxed and comfortable after the winds outside. She momentarily forgot the purpose of her journey, and she gave a small yelp as a pitiful whimpering reached her ears from behind her.
"Oh! Is the kitsune okay...?" Kagome walked over to the small bundle still lying on the large table, petting its head lightly as it tossed and turned in its fitful sleep.
"Jus' hungry, I reckon... But he won't wake up for anything I cook for 'im..." Hagrid motioned at the plates strewn across the table, accidentally knocking one of the dishes from its perch. Kagome watched in silence as the plate shattered from the impact, but what she guessed as biscuits landed heavily on the floor, creating a small dent in the wooden panels. Well, no wonder...
"Ummm... Maybe he just needs something... with ummm... a stronger smell to wake him up... Like some food from the Great Hall..." She gave the kitsune a final stroke and walked towards the door, waving to Hagrid who was picking up the broken plate. "I'll be back in a second, and I'll bring some food back for us, too!"
Kagome shut the door and ran back up to the castle, breathing becoming heavy from all the exertion. The stairs seemed endless and she pushed open the front doors thankfully, her eyes adjusting from the brightness of the outside world to the dimness of the torch lit castle. She nearly ran to Great Hall, unable to ignore her stomach's protest any longer. The room was practically empty, only a few other early risers eating at this hour.
Kagome hurried over to the Gryffindor table, almost sitting down and gorging, but drew her wand and muttered a few rushed words. A thin and long piece of cloth flew from her wand, unfolding on the table and spreading out over the bacon. Kagome threw all of the bacon on the plate into the cloth along with a plate full of biscuits, a few pastries, some waffles, some pancakes, and a little bit of this and that. She waved her wand again, the cloth folding over and tying around its bounty, bulging from the new items. It floated near her wand's tip, and she grabbed a pitcher of orange juice in her free hand and left the Great Hall with a few curious glances directed her way.
Kagome quickly walked out of the castle and down the steps, carefully keeping the floating bundle hovering before her with her wand. The journey back to Hagrid's hut was slow with the food, but she was able to catch her breath again from running around all morning. She nudged open the door with her left shoulder, her hands full.
"I've got the food! Maybe this will get that kitsune up! You do like--" Kagome turned around and nearly dropped her wand and the pitcher, but kept her composure and instead let her eyebrows rise to nearly her hairline. Inuyasha was apparently in the middle of a conversation with Hagrid when she walked in, and he looked at her with a very annoyed expression on his face. Hagrid, however, beamed at the girl standing dumbfounded in his doorway and took the bundle from its spot in the air, placing it on the table. He opened the package very carefully for someone with such large hands, and clapped in joy as its contents tumbled out onto the table.
"What the hell is all of this for?" Inuyasha still wore his annoyed expression as he looked at Kagome, wondering why the girl had a sudden urge to bring so much food to a lonely little shack so early on a Saturday morning. Hagrid was humming to himself as he took out a pile of plates from a small cupboard, while Kagome sighed and explained.
"We were hoping that the kitsune would wake up if we brought some warm food. I brought some extra for me and Hagrid, but there's plenty, so help yourself! I'm starving!"
Kagome pushed Inuyasha down into one of the large chairs around the table, helping Hagrid carry the plates and glasses. She sat down next to Inuyasha and smiled at him as she offered him a plate. He took it hesitantly as Hagrid sat across from them in a much larger chair. They all took some of the food onto their plates, the mountain of goods diminishing quickly. Kagome saved most of the bacon and some biscuits for the kitsune sleeping to her right, slapping Inuyasha's hand away as he tried to grab at the plate for the bacon.
"This isn't for you! It's for-- Kyaaaaaaa!!!!" Kagome glared briefly at Inuyasha and looked down at her plate, fork poised and ready. Except, there was no food for her to eat. Only a large cream colored ball of fluff remained on her plate, bobbing up and down as it ate the remnants of her food. "Wha-wha--" Kagome dropped her fork, clattering noisily as it dropped to the floor.
A little head turned to look at the girl who was making so much noise behind him. He licked his small fingers and flopped down on the girl's plate, his cream colored tail becoming sticky in the syrup left on the dish. The kitsune stared innocently up at the girl with large blue eyes, still sucking on the tips of his dainty fingers.
"He...he..." Kagome stuttered and pointed at the little creature sitting on her plate, the only remains of her breakfast being licked off his fingertips. Inuyasha let his mouth drop open, and Hagrid looked overjoyed the kitsune was finally up. Kagome continued pointing at the culprit who was sitting before her, his tail wagging happily in a lake full of syrup. "He's so cuuuuuuuuuute!!!!"
Kagome grabbed the kitsune and hugged him tightly, nuzzling her face against the small cub's rough orange hair. Inuyasha let his mouth drop further, eye twitching as he watched her press the small boy against her. Hagrid was clapping and laughing in the background, not even paying attention to the activity across from him. Inuyasha grabbed the kitsune's tail protruding from Kagome's tight embrace and held him upside down in front of him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing???" Inuyasha shook the boy in his hands roughly, ignoring Kagome's squeals of protest.
"None of your business, stupid! Put me down!!!" The kitsune tried to shake out of Inuyasha's grasp, but gave up and continued to hang by his tail.
"Kyaaaaa!!!! It talks!!! Did you hear that, Inuyasha??? It can talk!!! It's so cuuuuute!!!" Kagome giggled happily before she caught the disgusted glance Inuyasha was giving her, huffed angrily, and started whining at him to put the 'adorable little guy' down. The 'adorable little guy' used this distraction to his advantage and sank his teeth down into Inuyasha's nose, jumping from his hands and into Kagome's outstretched arms.
"How do ya like that, dog boy? No one messes with Shippou and gets away with it!!!" The kitsune stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha and snuggled deeper into Kagome's protective embrace. Inuyasha cursed fluently (Kagome covering Shippou's 'virgin ears') and the girl began to lecture Inuyasha on his behavior and language. Hagrid however interrupted the bickering teenagers, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes.
"Ah, this is one o' the happiest momen' o' my life! Best get Fang back inside now they yer up... Wouldn' let him in while you were sleepin'! But I guess you gotta stay here with me since..." Hagrid broke off, leaving the room with an uncomfortable silence. Shippou snuggled deeper into Kagome, shutting his eyes and warding off the horrible memories of seeing his parents killed.
Kagome clutched him more tightly and timidly looked at Hagrid, who was looking like he was on the verge of tears again. "Ummm... If you don't mind... Do you think I could take Shippou-chan around today?" She looked at the quivering child in her arms, mouthing to Hagrid 'Just until he feels better'.
"I s'pose..." Hagrid winked at her and rubbed the kitsune fondly on the head. "Ya hear that, boy? Yer going with Miss Kagome today and all her friends!" He looked up at the aforementioned girl. "Hey, where are Harry and Ron and Hermione?"
"Probably still sleeping away in their beds... I woke up early because... Well, I couldn't get back to sleep!" Kagome laughed nervously and clumsily got out of her chair. Inuyasha looked at her curiously, still rubbing at his sore nose. Shippou stared up at her from his cozy spot in her arms, fingers entwined in her dark green sweater. Hagrid nodded, not noticing her strange behavior, and held open the door as she walked out, waving. Inuyasha sat there for a moment but quickly followed, slamming the door shut as he walked into the cold air.
"OI!!!" He ran up to the girl and the kitsune, the former surprised at his appearance and the latter utterly disgusted. They began walking back towards the castle, Shippou sticking his tongue out at Inuyasha from between Kagome's arms. Inuyasha tried to ignore him, thinking Kagome wouldn't believe slamming the kitsune into a tree would be very heroic or handsome. He turned his attention to the girl next to him, trying not to think about how a blunt object would like great on that damn boy's head. "Why were you acting so funny? Why'd you wake up so early?"
"Why were you in Hagrid's hut so early on a Saturday morning? Life's full of mysteries, isn't it?" Kagome turned her gaze to the boy beside her, but Inuyasha didn't seem pleased with her answer.
"Hey, I asked you first!!! Answer my question!!!"
Kagome stopped walking and her smoky blue eyes became large and round. "Do you really want to know?" Inuyasha nodded dumbly. "Well, I'll tell you if you answer my question. Easy as that." Kagome closed her eyes and began walking again, Inuyasha staring dumbly at her back.
"O-oi!!! Wait up!!!" He ran up to her once more, Kagome glancing behind her as he caught up. A silence settled over the three, with the exception of Shippou mouthing names like 'stupid' and 'idiot' at Inuyasha. Kagome shivered slightly as the wind picked up and her hair whipped her face. She tried to rub her arms as best as she could while still holding the kitsune when she felt something heavy and warm go over her head.
"Hn?" Kagome poked her head through a hole in the fabric, Shippou's face soon joining hers as he gasped for breath as it draped over folded her arms.
"It's my favorite sweater. It'll keep you and that stupid kid warm." Inuyasha looked to the side, a pink tinting his cheeks. Kagome let her arms slip through the large sleeves and pulled Shippou from the neck hole. She held him tightly in her arms as she looked over the red fabric, smiling warmly at Inuyasha as they walked up the stone steps to Hogwarts.
"Thanks..." Kagome continued smiling as she pushed open the large door and entered the castle, Inuyasha shuffling behind.
Shippou, however, wasn't the least bit thankful at Inuyasha's apparently blatant attempt to suffocate him. "Idiot..."
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Kagome and Inuyasha met Harry, Ron, and Hermione about to go into the Great Hall, the two boys being dragged there by an extremely perky Hermione. It seems she even had a schedule for the weekend, though later than the one during the weekdays. They were one their way to breakfast but stopped at the sight of Shippou in Kagome's arms. She retold the entire story, Shippou dozing quietly in her arms, while she and Hermione continued to squeal on how adorable he was. The three boys stared blankly at the girls, and Inuyasha rubbed his nearly bear arms trying to get some warmth in the dank castle. His thin white cotton shirt could only protect him from so much.
"Not to be rude, Kagome, but I think that sweater is a little big for you..." Hermione stopped playing with the sleeping kitsune's toes and looked skeptically at Kagome's wardrobe.
"Eh? Oh! This isn't mine." Kagome waved her hand aimlessly, as if hoping that would be enough of an answer for the other girl. Inuyasha's cheeks flushed again and he found the suit of armor behind him very intriguing.
"Really? Whose is it?" Hermione questioned further and played with the loose red sleeve.
"It's not Malfoy's is it?" Ron stuck his tongue out at the thought but laughed at Kagome's disgusted expression. She shook her head quickly, making Shippou snap his eyes open at her sudden movements.
"Then whose is it?" Harry was now very curious. He had a feeling he knew who the sweater belonged to but wanted to make sure. He glanced at Inuyasha behind him, still wearing his thin long-sleeved shirt.
"It's that idiot's sweater!!! He tried to kill me with it... now lemme go to sleep..." Shippou rolled over in Kagome's arms after pointing at Inuyasha, nuzzling against the red fabric at Kagome's chest. Inuyasha's face soon matched the shade of the sweater as the group looked at him, very surprised.
"Keh!!! She was cold!!! That's it!!!" He stomped away, the sound of his feet against the floor resounding in the corridors.
"Well, he has some anger issues..." Ron scratched his head lightly, laughing slightly at the angry cursing echoing down the hallways. "Sweater looks dashing on you, really Kagome, but if you don't mind I'd like some food..."
Kagome nodded and mumbled something about Shippou eating all of her breakfast. They entered the Great Hall and soon forgot Inuyasha's oddly tense attitude.
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Kagome didn't see Inuyasha for the rest of the day. She wanted to give him his sweater back and apologize for embarrassing him, but he was no where to be found. She left breakfast early and headed for Gryffindor Tower, expecting to see him fuming in one of the overly stuffed chairs by the fire. After she climbed out of the portrait hole she wandered around the castle, still clutching Shippou tightly. She ran into Miroku sometime around lunch on her way to the Great Hall.
"Ah! Kagome! How nice to see you again! What are you doing here?"
"Actually, I was going to go to lunch. Miroku, have you seen Inuyasha? And...ummm... why are you couched down like that?"
Miroku was hiding behind a stone column, tenderly prodding at his red cheek. "No, I haven't seen Inuyasha..." He winked at her. She looked at him strangely. "And what do you mean? Can't a man sit however he pleases and wherever he wants?"
"Miiiiiiroooookuuuuuuuuuuu~!!!" Sango's voice echoed down the emptying hall, dangerous and sounding preeetty angry.
"Miroku... What did you do? She's coming this way you know..." Kagome stared at him, an 'Oh gods not again' expression on her face. Shippou shifted restlessly in her arms.
"Ah! Kagome! Don't let her know I'm here!" For the first time Kagome actually saw Miroku scared. He was waving his hands frantically and sweat was rolling down his face.
"Well, I would help you if I knew what happened..." Kagome continued to stare straight ahead, Sango's booming voice getting closer.
"Alright, alright! I...errr... misinterpreted how she was sitting at breakfast and... well... apparently Sango doesn't like to be touched in that manner..." Miroku again prodded at his sore cheek. "She slapped me and I ran fearing for my life. Now you won't let her know I'm here will you?"
"Ah! Sango!" Kagome kicked Miroku hard in the shins so he stumbled further into the shadows, one, to hide him from the homicidal Sango rounding the corner, and two, to hurt him for his stupidity and hormones. Miroku grumbled in pain as Kagome quickly ran to meet her friend, excitedly showing the drowsy and confused Shippou to Sango.
"He's so cute, Kagome!!!" Sango's mood seemed to have lightened considerably since the appearance of the kitsune, but she stopped from stroking his tail and locked gazes with Kagome. "You haven't seen Miroku, have you?" There was an unnerving glint in her eyes but a faint blush painted on her cheeks as she mentioned his name.
"Umm... no! Why do you ask?" Kagome nervously shook her head to tear her gaze from the other girl.
"Oh... errr... no reason..." Sango looked down, coughing slightly into her hand and brushed a stray piece of hair from her face that had fallen out of her loose ponytail.
"Umm... Ah! Have you seen Inuyasha? I have something to give back to him!" Kagome settled Shippou back into her arms, adjusting the overly large red sweatshirt as he tried to get comfortable. The two girls walked off into the Great Hall, talking about the trouble with boys. Miroku groaned in pain as the left, wondering how a kick from such a small girl in sneakers could hurt so much.
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Kagome finally gave up on her search for Inuyasha when night fell. She was strangely tired but still had some homework to finish up that she didn't want to put off until tomorrow. Hermione was proud of her but had finished all of her homework the night before and took Shippou with her into the girls' dormitory so he wouldn't disturb Kagome. Ron just yawned, said a barely audible goodnight, and went to the boys' dormitory as the Gryffindor common room gradually emptied out. Harry said good night and eyed the red sweater Kagome was wearing suspiciously before following after Ron.
Kagome worked diligently as the fire in the fireplace eventually dwindled down to ashes, writing an essay on how the bloody battle of 1752 between the wizards and the goblins affected everyday magical life. Her eyes finally drooped as the fire gave off its last glow in the now pitch black common room. Kagome's head settled in her arms and sleep overcame her.
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When Kagome woke the dark of the common room was the only thing to fill her senses. Kagome lifted her head from her arms slightly and saw a pair of golden orbs staring back at her. Her breath caught in her throat and she stumbled backwards, frantically rubbing at her eyes and thinking she was still dreaming. She held her arms in front of her face in an attempt to protect herself and cautiously opened one eye, expecting to be torn to shreds like she always was at this point in her dream. As her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness around her, she saw no one else in the common room, the only movement from the curtains blowing in the wind.
Kagome shakily walked over to the open window and shut it, leaning against the windowsill. The moonless sky provided barely any light, the only illumination the dimly shining stars in the night sky. She drew the curtains and walked towards the girls' bedroom, muttering to herself.
"New Moon, huh..."
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A/N: Does that count as a cliffhanger? Oh well, you'll find out more later! I think... But I didn't like the ending to this one as much anyways... My sister wants the computer and I have to write this quickly! Which means I'll write even more!!! Yaaay!!! I also had to help wash the car in the middle of this chapter (I was the 'Hose Wench' ^_^). Oh, and someone guessed Naraku as the guy briefly mentioned in the last chapter! I should probably stick the main baddie in this story somewhere, shouldn't I? But that wasn't him! Good guess though, I wouldn't have thought of that ^_^;;; And I like the very enthusiastic and supportive reviews!!! They make me feel so special and loved!!!
Next Chapter!!! Actually, I have no idea what's gonna happen... But I do have a week to think about it I suppose.. o_o;;; Just look forward to...ummm... whatever it is! It'll have people in it ^_^;;; Oh, and I might just jump directly to Halloween after the next chapter... Writing about September and most of October would just draw the story out and make it boring -_-;;;
And I told you I would have some flirting in between for those of you who picked up on Harry's feelings!!! If I just had a steady IY/K romance with no other conflicts then it would get tedious after awhile... =P But don't worry, I am a steadfast IY/K fan ^_^ Notice all the lovely moments in there? And if you're wondering, Kikyou plays no part in this story!!! Yay!!! Oooo, I hate her T_T See you later!!!
Inuyasha/Harry Potter don't belong to me!!! If they did I would be rich and I would build a machine to clone myself and my clone could go to school and take all my tests and then I could live my life watching anime and reading manga and I am the run on QUEEEN!!!!
Chapter 6: Argh! Shippou ahoy!!! (heehee, pirate theme that has nothing to do with the chapter ^_^)
"Ah!!!"
Kagome bolted upright in her bed, knocking one of her many feather filled pillows to the floor. She breathed heavily, sucking in air in short ragged breaths, as she let her eyes adjust slowly to the dimly lit room. At the sight of Hermione's bushy hair across from her and the other girls in the dormitory sleeping soundly, Kagome's breathing finally slowed down enough for her to look around the room calmly. She wiped beads of sweat from her brow and picked up the pillow from the floor, falling back into bed and letting her eyes flutter shut.
"Just a dream, huh..." She nestled further into her covers, trying to forget the images that had swept across her mind just moments before. Instead, she tried to focus on thoughts like 'I wonder what time it is?' and 'Why won't that stupid bird shut up?'
A high-pitched and shrill whistling shattered the peaceful quiet of the dormitory. Kagome tried to ignore it and mentally cursed the other girls for being such deep sleepers. It was Saturday and Kagome wasn't going to let some obnoxious bird ruin her only time to sleep in. The bird, though, had other plans. There was silence for a moment and then the flutter of many wings coming from outside of the windows, the heavy curtains blocking her view. Suddenly, at least three new birds joined the symphony, all singing it seemed just for Kagome's benefit.
Kagome finally gave in, throwing off her sheets and stomping towards the window with her fists clenched. She peeked her head through one of the curtains and was blinded by the immense amount of light for a few moments. She rubbed her eyes, cursing the birds and their 'nice' (and other words she used) welcoming of the morning. Well, at least she basically knew what time it was. Kagome hit the large window, not caring if the other girls woke up, and watched with satisfaction as the group of birds flew away chattering angrily. One of these days she was going to have to look up a charm to repel the feathered nuisances...
Kagome sighed, fist still pressed against the hard glass, knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep in for her first Saturday of the school year. A faint whistling drifted gently to her ears, the girl first thinking it was another bird out to spite her. But the faint melody sounded too deep and coarse for a bird to be singing. She scanned the grounds below her and finally let her eyes settle on the retreating form of Hagrid, whistling as he returned to his small wooden cabin.
"Eep! The kitsune!" Kagome threw open the curtains, flooding the dark room with light. Hey, if she couldn't sleep, neither could they. A few muffled groans and whines followed Kagome as she hurriedly put on a pair of jeans and a dark green sweater and ran out of the room. She hopped through the empty common room as she struggled to put on her sneakers, the room dark without the fire dancing in the fireplace. Kagome pushed open the portrait, the fat lady gone and most likely wandering into another picture, and jogged down the deserted corridors.
"This school is so different than Tomoeda..." Kagome looked around at the seemingly endless halls with the many moving portraits on the walls, the clanking and rattling of the suits of armors as they turned to watch her run past the only sound of the morning. True, it was great finally being a student in the fabled Hogwarts, but the coziness and being so near to home in her small school back in Japan also had its perks. Her mother and father had gone to Hogwarts years before, and Kagome had decided to follow in their footsteps, always envious of the stories her mother often told her. Most of the students at Tomoeda had been sad to see her leave after four years, but a boy named Hojo seemed near tears and had promised to write to her every day. Kagome had very conveniently forgotten to tell him the new school she was going to attend and said she was ill every time he came to visit her over summer. She hadn't received one letter from him yet...
"Kyaa! I haven't written to Mama since I got here!!!" Kagome quickly turned around and began running the way she had come. She dashed back into Gryffindor Tower, threw open the door to the girls' dormitory, ignored the angry curses directed at her, grabbed a piece of parchment and a pen, and ran out. She scribbled a messy letter saying everything was fine, leaving out the adventures with the centipede and Shikon no Tama so as not to make her mother worry. She also wrote at the very bottom that she had met Harry Potter and his friends and that Souta better not ask for his autograph again. Kagome climbed a set of spiral stairs until she reached a thick wooden and rotting door, pushing it open with a loud creak, and thanked the school for supplying owls for students. She tiptoed around all the droppings on the stone floor of the tower until she reached a large brown owl, snapping his beak at her as she tied the letter to his scaly leg. The owl flew off arrogantly, still snapping his beak in disapproval at being given an assignment so early.
Kagome watched the owl fly away, wishing she could fly with it back home, even if just for a moment or a brief glance of her family. The annoyed hooting of the owls in the tower tore her away from her thoughts, and she quickly walked out of the tower, avoiding the mess at the level of her feet. Kagome ran through the halls again towards the huge oaken doors that led to the grounds, her loud steps against the stone floor filling the empty corridors. She resisted the urge to throw open the doors to Great Hall and answer to her pleading stomach as the aroma of eggs, pancakes, bacon, biscuits, etc. drafted by. The girl mentally chided herself and continued to ignore the rumblings in her stomach, finally reaching the double doors that were the gateway to the school and the world around her.
Kagome pushed against the thick wood, suddenly feeling insignificant and small at the size of the doors that dwarfed her. She heard the door creak slowly shut behind her as she made her way down the many steps leading to the grounds. She shivered slightly from the chill morning air and rubbed at her pine green sweater as a stray breeze caught and played with her raven black hair. The dew wet her socks and sneakers while traveling to the small hut directly before her. Kagome knocked lightly on the wooden door, feeling increasingly foolish. The door opened slightly, and Hagrid welcomed her warmly, closing the door after her as she stepped inside the cabin. The warmth of the small fire washed over her, making her more feel more relaxed and comfortable after the winds outside. She momentarily forgot the purpose of her journey, and she gave a small yelp as a pitiful whimpering reached her ears from behind her.
"Oh! Is the kitsune okay...?" Kagome walked over to the small bundle still lying on the large table, petting its head lightly as it tossed and turned in its fitful sleep.
"Jus' hungry, I reckon... But he won't wake up for anything I cook for 'im..." Hagrid motioned at the plates strewn across the table, accidentally knocking one of the dishes from its perch. Kagome watched in silence as the plate shattered from the impact, but what she guessed as biscuits landed heavily on the floor, creating a small dent in the wooden panels. Well, no wonder...
"Ummm... Maybe he just needs something... with ummm... a stronger smell to wake him up... Like some food from the Great Hall..." She gave the kitsune a final stroke and walked towards the door, waving to Hagrid who was picking up the broken plate. "I'll be back in a second, and I'll bring some food back for us, too!"
Kagome shut the door and ran back up to the castle, breathing becoming heavy from all the exertion. The stairs seemed endless and she pushed open the front doors thankfully, her eyes adjusting from the brightness of the outside world to the dimness of the torch lit castle. She nearly ran to Great Hall, unable to ignore her stomach's protest any longer. The room was practically empty, only a few other early risers eating at this hour.
Kagome hurried over to the Gryffindor table, almost sitting down and gorging, but drew her wand and muttered a few rushed words. A thin and long piece of cloth flew from her wand, unfolding on the table and spreading out over the bacon. Kagome threw all of the bacon on the plate into the cloth along with a plate full of biscuits, a few pastries, some waffles, some pancakes, and a little bit of this and that. She waved her wand again, the cloth folding over and tying around its bounty, bulging from the new items. It floated near her wand's tip, and she grabbed a pitcher of orange juice in her free hand and left the Great Hall with a few curious glances directed her way.
Kagome quickly walked out of the castle and down the steps, carefully keeping the floating bundle hovering before her with her wand. The journey back to Hagrid's hut was slow with the food, but she was able to catch her breath again from running around all morning. She nudged open the door with her left shoulder, her hands full.
"I've got the food! Maybe this will get that kitsune up! You do like--" Kagome turned around and nearly dropped her wand and the pitcher, but kept her composure and instead let her eyebrows rise to nearly her hairline. Inuyasha was apparently in the middle of a conversation with Hagrid when she walked in, and he looked at her with a very annoyed expression on his face. Hagrid, however, beamed at the girl standing dumbfounded in his doorway and took the bundle from its spot in the air, placing it on the table. He opened the package very carefully for someone with such large hands, and clapped in joy as its contents tumbled out onto the table.
"What the hell is all of this for?" Inuyasha still wore his annoyed expression as he looked at Kagome, wondering why the girl had a sudden urge to bring so much food to a lonely little shack so early on a Saturday morning. Hagrid was humming to himself as he took out a pile of plates from a small cupboard, while Kagome sighed and explained.
"We were hoping that the kitsune would wake up if we brought some warm food. I brought some extra for me and Hagrid, but there's plenty, so help yourself! I'm starving!"
Kagome pushed Inuyasha down into one of the large chairs around the table, helping Hagrid carry the plates and glasses. She sat down next to Inuyasha and smiled at him as she offered him a plate. He took it hesitantly as Hagrid sat across from them in a much larger chair. They all took some of the food onto their plates, the mountain of goods diminishing quickly. Kagome saved most of the bacon and some biscuits for the kitsune sleeping to her right, slapping Inuyasha's hand away as he tried to grab at the plate for the bacon.
"This isn't for you! It's for-- Kyaaaaaaa!!!!" Kagome glared briefly at Inuyasha and looked down at her plate, fork poised and ready. Except, there was no food for her to eat. Only a large cream colored ball of fluff remained on her plate, bobbing up and down as it ate the remnants of her food. "Wha-wha--" Kagome dropped her fork, clattering noisily as it dropped to the floor.
A little head turned to look at the girl who was making so much noise behind him. He licked his small fingers and flopped down on the girl's plate, his cream colored tail becoming sticky in the syrup left on the dish. The kitsune stared innocently up at the girl with large blue eyes, still sucking on the tips of his dainty fingers.
"He...he..." Kagome stuttered and pointed at the little creature sitting on her plate, the only remains of her breakfast being licked off his fingertips. Inuyasha let his mouth drop open, and Hagrid looked overjoyed the kitsune was finally up. Kagome continued pointing at the culprit who was sitting before her, his tail wagging happily in a lake full of syrup. "He's so cuuuuuuuuuute!!!!"
Kagome grabbed the kitsune and hugged him tightly, nuzzling her face against the small cub's rough orange hair. Inuyasha let his mouth drop further, eye twitching as he watched her press the small boy against her. Hagrid was clapping and laughing in the background, not even paying attention to the activity across from him. Inuyasha grabbed the kitsune's tail protruding from Kagome's tight embrace and held him upside down in front of him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing???" Inuyasha shook the boy in his hands roughly, ignoring Kagome's squeals of protest.
"None of your business, stupid! Put me down!!!" The kitsune tried to shake out of Inuyasha's grasp, but gave up and continued to hang by his tail.
"Kyaaaaa!!!! It talks!!! Did you hear that, Inuyasha??? It can talk!!! It's so cuuuuute!!!" Kagome giggled happily before she caught the disgusted glance Inuyasha was giving her, huffed angrily, and started whining at him to put the 'adorable little guy' down. The 'adorable little guy' used this distraction to his advantage and sank his teeth down into Inuyasha's nose, jumping from his hands and into Kagome's outstretched arms.
"How do ya like that, dog boy? No one messes with Shippou and gets away with it!!!" The kitsune stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha and snuggled deeper into Kagome's protective embrace. Inuyasha cursed fluently (Kagome covering Shippou's 'virgin ears') and the girl began to lecture Inuyasha on his behavior and language. Hagrid however interrupted the bickering teenagers, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes.
"Ah, this is one o' the happiest momen' o' my life! Best get Fang back inside now they yer up... Wouldn' let him in while you were sleepin'! But I guess you gotta stay here with me since..." Hagrid broke off, leaving the room with an uncomfortable silence. Shippou snuggled deeper into Kagome, shutting his eyes and warding off the horrible memories of seeing his parents killed.
Kagome clutched him more tightly and timidly looked at Hagrid, who was looking like he was on the verge of tears again. "Ummm... If you don't mind... Do you think I could take Shippou-chan around today?" She looked at the quivering child in her arms, mouthing to Hagrid 'Just until he feels better'.
"I s'pose..." Hagrid winked at her and rubbed the kitsune fondly on the head. "Ya hear that, boy? Yer going with Miss Kagome today and all her friends!" He looked up at the aforementioned girl. "Hey, where are Harry and Ron and Hermione?"
"Probably still sleeping away in their beds... I woke up early because... Well, I couldn't get back to sleep!" Kagome laughed nervously and clumsily got out of her chair. Inuyasha looked at her curiously, still rubbing at his sore nose. Shippou stared up at her from his cozy spot in her arms, fingers entwined in her dark green sweater. Hagrid nodded, not noticing her strange behavior, and held open the door as she walked out, waving. Inuyasha sat there for a moment but quickly followed, slamming the door shut as he walked into the cold air.
"OI!!!" He ran up to the girl and the kitsune, the former surprised at his appearance and the latter utterly disgusted. They began walking back towards the castle, Shippou sticking his tongue out at Inuyasha from between Kagome's arms. Inuyasha tried to ignore him, thinking Kagome wouldn't believe slamming the kitsune into a tree would be very heroic or handsome. He turned his attention to the girl next to him, trying not to think about how a blunt object would like great on that damn boy's head. "Why were you acting so funny? Why'd you wake up so early?"
"Why were you in Hagrid's hut so early on a Saturday morning? Life's full of mysteries, isn't it?" Kagome turned her gaze to the boy beside her, but Inuyasha didn't seem pleased with her answer.
"Hey, I asked you first!!! Answer my question!!!"
Kagome stopped walking and her smoky blue eyes became large and round. "Do you really want to know?" Inuyasha nodded dumbly. "Well, I'll tell you if you answer my question. Easy as that." Kagome closed her eyes and began walking again, Inuyasha staring dumbly at her back.
"O-oi!!! Wait up!!!" He ran up to her once more, Kagome glancing behind her as he caught up. A silence settled over the three, with the exception of Shippou mouthing names like 'stupid' and 'idiot' at Inuyasha. Kagome shivered slightly as the wind picked up and her hair whipped her face. She tried to rub her arms as best as she could while still holding the kitsune when she felt something heavy and warm go over her head.
"Hn?" Kagome poked her head through a hole in the fabric, Shippou's face soon joining hers as he gasped for breath as it draped over folded her arms.
"It's my favorite sweater. It'll keep you and that stupid kid warm." Inuyasha looked to the side, a pink tinting his cheeks. Kagome let her arms slip through the large sleeves and pulled Shippou from the neck hole. She held him tightly in her arms as she looked over the red fabric, smiling warmly at Inuyasha as they walked up the stone steps to Hogwarts.
"Thanks..." Kagome continued smiling as she pushed open the large door and entered the castle, Inuyasha shuffling behind.
Shippou, however, wasn't the least bit thankful at Inuyasha's apparently blatant attempt to suffocate him. "Idiot..."
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Kagome and Inuyasha met Harry, Ron, and Hermione about to go into the Great Hall, the two boys being dragged there by an extremely perky Hermione. It seems she even had a schedule for the weekend, though later than the one during the weekdays. They were one their way to breakfast but stopped at the sight of Shippou in Kagome's arms. She retold the entire story, Shippou dozing quietly in her arms, while she and Hermione continued to squeal on how adorable he was. The three boys stared blankly at the girls, and Inuyasha rubbed his nearly bear arms trying to get some warmth in the dank castle. His thin white cotton shirt could only protect him from so much.
"Not to be rude, Kagome, but I think that sweater is a little big for you..." Hermione stopped playing with the sleeping kitsune's toes and looked skeptically at Kagome's wardrobe.
"Eh? Oh! This isn't mine." Kagome waved her hand aimlessly, as if hoping that would be enough of an answer for the other girl. Inuyasha's cheeks flushed again and he found the suit of armor behind him very intriguing.
"Really? Whose is it?" Hermione questioned further and played with the loose red sleeve.
"It's not Malfoy's is it?" Ron stuck his tongue out at the thought but laughed at Kagome's disgusted expression. She shook her head quickly, making Shippou snap his eyes open at her sudden movements.
"Then whose is it?" Harry was now very curious. He had a feeling he knew who the sweater belonged to but wanted to make sure. He glanced at Inuyasha behind him, still wearing his thin long-sleeved shirt.
"It's that idiot's sweater!!! He tried to kill me with it... now lemme go to sleep..." Shippou rolled over in Kagome's arms after pointing at Inuyasha, nuzzling against the red fabric at Kagome's chest. Inuyasha's face soon matched the shade of the sweater as the group looked at him, very surprised.
"Keh!!! She was cold!!! That's it!!!" He stomped away, the sound of his feet against the floor resounding in the corridors.
"Well, he has some anger issues..." Ron scratched his head lightly, laughing slightly at the angry cursing echoing down the hallways. "Sweater looks dashing on you, really Kagome, but if you don't mind I'd like some food..."
Kagome nodded and mumbled something about Shippou eating all of her breakfast. They entered the Great Hall and soon forgot Inuyasha's oddly tense attitude.
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Kagome didn't see Inuyasha for the rest of the day. She wanted to give him his sweater back and apologize for embarrassing him, but he was no where to be found. She left breakfast early and headed for Gryffindor Tower, expecting to see him fuming in one of the overly stuffed chairs by the fire. After she climbed out of the portrait hole she wandered around the castle, still clutching Shippou tightly. She ran into Miroku sometime around lunch on her way to the Great Hall.
"Ah! Kagome! How nice to see you again! What are you doing here?"
"Actually, I was going to go to lunch. Miroku, have you seen Inuyasha? And...ummm... why are you couched down like that?"
Miroku was hiding behind a stone column, tenderly prodding at his red cheek. "No, I haven't seen Inuyasha..." He winked at her. She looked at him strangely. "And what do you mean? Can't a man sit however he pleases and wherever he wants?"
"Miiiiiiroooookuuuuuuuuuuu~!!!" Sango's voice echoed down the emptying hall, dangerous and sounding preeetty angry.
"Miroku... What did you do? She's coming this way you know..." Kagome stared at him, an 'Oh gods not again' expression on her face. Shippou shifted restlessly in her arms.
"Ah! Kagome! Don't let her know I'm here!" For the first time Kagome actually saw Miroku scared. He was waving his hands frantically and sweat was rolling down his face.
"Well, I would help you if I knew what happened..." Kagome continued to stare straight ahead, Sango's booming voice getting closer.
"Alright, alright! I...errr... misinterpreted how she was sitting at breakfast and... well... apparently Sango doesn't like to be touched in that manner..." Miroku again prodded at his sore cheek. "She slapped me and I ran fearing for my life. Now you won't let her know I'm here will you?"
"Ah! Sango!" Kagome kicked Miroku hard in the shins so he stumbled further into the shadows, one, to hide him from the homicidal Sango rounding the corner, and two, to hurt him for his stupidity and hormones. Miroku grumbled in pain as Kagome quickly ran to meet her friend, excitedly showing the drowsy and confused Shippou to Sango.
"He's so cute, Kagome!!!" Sango's mood seemed to have lightened considerably since the appearance of the kitsune, but she stopped from stroking his tail and locked gazes with Kagome. "You haven't seen Miroku, have you?" There was an unnerving glint in her eyes but a faint blush painted on her cheeks as she mentioned his name.
"Umm... no! Why do you ask?" Kagome nervously shook her head to tear her gaze from the other girl.
"Oh... errr... no reason..." Sango looked down, coughing slightly into her hand and brushed a stray piece of hair from her face that had fallen out of her loose ponytail.
"Umm... Ah! Have you seen Inuyasha? I have something to give back to him!" Kagome settled Shippou back into her arms, adjusting the overly large red sweatshirt as he tried to get comfortable. The two girls walked off into the Great Hall, talking about the trouble with boys. Miroku groaned in pain as the left, wondering how a kick from such a small girl in sneakers could hurt so much.
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Kagome finally gave up on her search for Inuyasha when night fell. She was strangely tired but still had some homework to finish up that she didn't want to put off until tomorrow. Hermione was proud of her but had finished all of her homework the night before and took Shippou with her into the girls' dormitory so he wouldn't disturb Kagome. Ron just yawned, said a barely audible goodnight, and went to the boys' dormitory as the Gryffindor common room gradually emptied out. Harry said good night and eyed the red sweater Kagome was wearing suspiciously before following after Ron.
Kagome worked diligently as the fire in the fireplace eventually dwindled down to ashes, writing an essay on how the bloody battle of 1752 between the wizards and the goblins affected everyday magical life. Her eyes finally drooped as the fire gave off its last glow in the now pitch black common room. Kagome's head settled in her arms and sleep overcame her.
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When Kagome woke the dark of the common room was the only thing to fill her senses. Kagome lifted her head from her arms slightly and saw a pair of golden orbs staring back at her. Her breath caught in her throat and she stumbled backwards, frantically rubbing at her eyes and thinking she was still dreaming. She held her arms in front of her face in an attempt to protect herself and cautiously opened one eye, expecting to be torn to shreds like she always was at this point in her dream. As her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness around her, she saw no one else in the common room, the only movement from the curtains blowing in the wind.
Kagome shakily walked over to the open window and shut it, leaning against the windowsill. The moonless sky provided barely any light, the only illumination the dimly shining stars in the night sky. She drew the curtains and walked towards the girls' bedroom, muttering to herself.
"New Moon, huh..."
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A/N: Does that count as a cliffhanger? Oh well, you'll find out more later! I think... But I didn't like the ending to this one as much anyways... My sister wants the computer and I have to write this quickly! Which means I'll write even more!!! Yaaay!!! I also had to help wash the car in the middle of this chapter (I was the 'Hose Wench' ^_^). Oh, and someone guessed Naraku as the guy briefly mentioned in the last chapter! I should probably stick the main baddie in this story somewhere, shouldn't I? But that wasn't him! Good guess though, I wouldn't have thought of that ^_^;;; And I like the very enthusiastic and supportive reviews!!! They make me feel so special and loved!!!
Next Chapter!!! Actually, I have no idea what's gonna happen... But I do have a week to think about it I suppose.. o_o;;; Just look forward to...ummm... whatever it is! It'll have people in it ^_^;;; Oh, and I might just jump directly to Halloween after the next chapter... Writing about September and most of October would just draw the story out and make it boring -_-;;;
And I told you I would have some flirting in between for those of you who picked up on Harry's feelings!!! If I just had a steady IY/K romance with no other conflicts then it would get tedious after awhile... =P But don't worry, I am a steadfast IY/K fan ^_^ Notice all the lovely moments in there? And if you're wondering, Kikyou plays no part in this story!!! Yay!!! Oooo, I hate her T_T See you later!!!
