Is it just me, or do my chapter titles get crappier and crappier? Ah well,
no matter. The girls have arrived at Hogwarts, yes indeed, and Makoto's
about to meet her brother (if you couldn't guess ::grins::)
Enjoy!
Chapter Three - The Castle and The Brother
"There she is, kids. Hogwarts," Hagrid announced.
His words set off a set of excited murmurs and the girls each tried to get a better look, peeking around Hagrid's enormous body and trying not to fall off the flying motorcycle they were currently riding on. Their trunks had been sent to the Hogwarts Express station via a young witch who traveled with them by a flying car. Looking around for a glimpse of the castle was not as easy as one might think, however, because of Hagrid's bulk and fears of falling nearly one hundred and fifty feat to the ground.
"I can't see it!" Makoto complained.
"Mienai mo!" Rei added.
"Hold on ... I think ... yeah! There it is! Sugoi ... " Ami breathed.
A looming castle was slowly becoming more visible through the clouds that they were traveling through. As they neared it, and lowered slowly towards the ground, Rei and Makoto were able to see it, and were just as impressed as Ami.
"It's amazing! When you said school I had no idea you meant this, Hagrid!" Makoto shouted over the noise of the wind, "It's not a school, it's a whole other world!"
"Yep. T'aint no nicer place fer a school. Jus' wait'll yeh meet Dumbledore! Finest Headmaster Hogwarts has seen in a century, if yeh ask me."
The castle grounds, and the castle itself, were even larger once the motorcycle landed. Off to one side was a large stone hut that stood right in front of a sprawling forest, which the girls deduced was Hagrid's hut. There was a large field a short distance away from the castle itself, and what it was used for the girls didn't know, but they were sure it was something important. The castle itself was at least eight floors and had many towers, which reached up to ten stories. They had obviously landed at the back or side entrance, or one of them, because there was no long entry path or grand doors, just a short hill and an arch way. There were three teachers standing by, waiting to greet them. Two were women and each stood about twice the size of the male.
"Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout," Hagrid said as they were approached.
"Welcome back, Hagrid," said McGonagall.
She was a stern but kind looking woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun and a pointed hat with a wide brim. She looked down at the three girls and smiled warmly, but they had the impression that she didn't smile often, just the same.
"Jillian Potter," she said, "And you must be Ami Mizuno and Rei Hino. Welcome to Hogwarts. I do hope you won't be bored waiting for the start of the fall term."
"Thank you, Professor," Makoto and Ami chorused.
"Arigatou," Rei said shyly, blushing.
"Ah, don't be shy, Rei-chan. Buck up, you'll be speaking perfect English in no time," Makoto assured her friend.
"Why don't we go inside?" tiny Professor Flitwick suggested, "You'll be wanting to meet the Headmaster, of course, and he wants to meet you. Then we'll have to start getting you caught up in your classes, won't we?"
"Caught up?" Makoto asked.
"Not your friends, dear," Sprout said, "They're the proper age for first years. You my dear, should be a third year, and as such, you'll need to make up two years of classes. That's why you're hear so early ... among other reasons."
"Other reasons?" Makoto parroted.
"They shall be explained in due time. This way, please," McGonagall said, turning on her heel and leading the way through the castle grounds to the huge castle.
They came to a statue of a gargoyle on one of the lower floors and stopped in front of it.
"Chocolate Frog!" McGonagall barked.
At once the gargoyle jumped aside as the wall behind him split in half, creating an entry way to a long flight of dizzying stars. Finally at the top was a large door with a griffin shaped knocker. McGonagall opened the door, ignoring the knocker, and they entered. The Headmaster was sitting at his desk reading a piece of parchment and seemed not to notice the small group of people.
"Professor Dumbledore," McGonagall said, announcing the Headmaster to their presence, "I have our new foreign student."
The bearded man looked up and smiled widely at the three of them. He stood from his desk and moved so that he was face to face with Makoto, nodding as he looked at her.
"You've your mother's hair and eyes. Welcome to Hogwarts, Jillian, Ami, and Rei."
"Thank you, Professor," the three chorused, a distinct Japanese accent mingled with the English.
"Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, and Hagrid are only a few of your teachers. Madam Hooch, Professors Snape, Lupin, Vector, Sinistra and all others will be here in due time. Some, because you are not taking their classes, you will not meet until the school year," Dumbledore paused, letting the girls digest the new information, "The others will arrive before hand, but only after you've had proper time to catch up in Herbology, Transfiguration, and Charms."
Not knowing what else to do, Makoto nodded dumbly. Suddenly this witchcraft business was starting to seem less and less appealing, seeing as she would be spending the summer indoors while Ami and Rei played in and explored the huge castle. As if reading her thoughts, Dumbledore chuckled.
"No, no," he assured her, "Not all your time will be devoted to your studies. You will be given your schedule and will follow it like a regular student during the week. Whatever periods you have 'off', so to speak, may be spent however you wish. Except, of course, entering the Dark Forest, which is strictly forbidden to all students except on detention."
Feeling the rush of excitement come back, Makoto, Rei and Ami turned to each other and grinned widely. They couldn't wait to being their lessons, and with a castle as big as this, there were surely many places to explore. Suddenly Makoto remembered the bracelet she'd been sent, and held up her wrist.
"Professor, with my invitation, I was sent this. There was no clue as to who sent it, no return address, and the only thing inside was a note that said not to take it off. Do you know who sent it?"
"It is rather beautiful ... " Dumbledore mused, "Perhaps you have an admirer."
"But ... "
"I am unaware," he interrupted, "As to who sent it to your home. Perhaps you shall find out later this year."
Makoto nodded silently, dropping her wrist, and Dumbledore patted one of her shoulders and turned to McGonagall.
"Would you care to be their tour guide, Minerva?"
"Certainly, Professor Dumbledore," the Transfiguration teacher said, gathering up her robes for easier movement, "Follow me, please. You'll be staying in the Gryffindor dorms until you are Sorted into your houses."
"Sorted?" Ami asked, "How does that happen?"
"You shall see on September first," McGonagall said with a small smile, "This way please. Your trunks have already been taken to your rooms."
Waving to Hagrid, who happily waved back, the three girls followed McGonagall out of Dumbledore's office. As soon as they were out sight, the other professors turned on Dumbledore, each asking questions at a rapid pace. The Headmaster put up his hand for silence and it was granted.
"Yes, I am serious about this. No, he doesn't know. Yes, she does. And yes, Jillian and Harry Potter will meet before this week is out."
* * *
Harry Potter was a very unusual boy. He detested the summer holidays as much as any other boy would a final exam, and he never made a fuss about his birthday; it wasn't like he ever received many presents. His parents had been murdered when he was very young, so he had never really known them and he also happened to be a wizard. The only to have ever survived Lord Voldemort, a Dark wizard of the worst kind, he was known throughout the wizarding world as The Boy Who Lived. Because of this Harry knew, his Muggle relatives, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley Dursley, who hated anything they considered 'abnormal', despised him.
Last year had been a particularly hard one for Harry, though it had started out exciting. He had almost lost his best friend Ron, and had been forced to watch Cedric Diggory die right in front of him, by the same curse that had killed his parents. With Cedric's death still weighing heavily on his mind, and the fact that he could not stay in regular contact with his godfather, Sirius, Harry was sure he was going to go insane.
Contact with Ron and Hermione had helped, however, and in just three months and two weeks time he would see them again for their fifth year at Hogwarts. Thoughts like that were the ones which helped him wake every morning, like it was helping this particular morning. Only this morning, those thoughts were getting extra help from particularly loud banging noises.
"Wake up in there!" shouted an excited Aunt Petunia, banging on the door, "You've got a letter from that school of yours."
When Harry didn't answer immediately, (he was still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes) the banging increased, both in speed and volume.
"Well?" she shrieked, "Get up!"
She's probably afraid of it exploding, Harry thought, grinning, as he pulled on his glasses and the room came into better focus. He tried to tame his fly-away hair so it covered his thin, lightening bolt shaped scar but, as always, nothing happened so he shuffled down the stairs, still in his pajamas. He was surprised by a plate of buttered toast being shoved in his face, with a nice bowl of marmalade. Taking two pieces and the marmalade, Harry looked around at the very happy faces of his only living relatives.
"Don't tell me, let me guess ... " Harry paused, "You've either won a vacation for one to Antarctica, or a vacation for three to the Bahamas."
"Neither," Uncle Vernon said, "Your school wants you to go early. You leave today. I'll even drive you to King's Cross. Someone'll be waiting for you there."
Ah, so that was it. He'd be leaving for Hogwarts early ... "You're sure?! You mean, I can leave?" Harry asked excitedly, the words finally fully registering.
"Yep. And try to stay over the next summer, will you?" Vernon asked pointedly.
Harry nodded happily, only too glad to have an excuse not to see the Dursley's for any longer period of time than he absolutely had to. Besides that, he considered Hogwarts his home. The secret passage ways, the classes, the teachers (most of them, at any rate), all his friends, everything he could ever want was there. Hogwarts had been far more of a home to him than the Dursley's ever had been and ever would be. Grinning wider than he had all summer, Harry ran upstairs to begin packing.
"All righ' Harry? Didn't have too much trouble gettin' here?" asked a familiar voice.
Harry stopped pushing his cart with a sudden jerk and whirled around to face a very familiar and friendly face. Uncle Vernon was long gone, so he had no reservations about running up to the giant man and hugging him, a hug that was promptly returned.
"No, no trouble. They were just as glad to be rid of me as I am to be rid of them," he said.
Hagrid smiled widely, but his expression sobered and he leaned down so he could look Harry in the eye.
"Yer not still thinkin' 'bout ... You-Know-Who an' what happened las' year, are yeh?"
Harry shook his head, but realized that would be lying and stopped.
"Well," he amended, "I am thinking about it. It's hard not to remember watching someone die and I don't think Cedric would be very happy if I just forgot about him ... but I've been pulling through."
Hagrid nodded and clapped Harry's shoulder. "That's my boy comin' back. Good job too. Dumbledore's got a bit o' a surprise fer yeh."
"A surprise? You mean like a really early birthday present?"
"Not exactly ... " Hagrid laughed, pulling out his pocket watch. The laughter immediately stopped. "Blimey! We're later 'n' I though'! Come on, then. Best be gettin' off."
* * *
A surprise ... for me ... I wonder what on Earth Dumbledore has in mind.
Harry walked through the Great Hall, with Hagrid by his side, just in time for lunch. He nodded hello to the House ghosts, Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gray Lady, the Bloody Baron, and the Fat Friar, as they walked to the Head Table where the teacher's sat, still musing over Hagrid's words. But the head table wasn't there, he noted with interest. Instead, a table to fit nine people comfortably was there (and with all the places set), Dumbledore at the head and McGonagall at his side. Harry was of the impression that they never left the school. Besides them, he noted, were Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout.
"Welcome, Harry!" said Dumbledore cheerfully, "Glad you could join us so early. I trust your relatives didn't give you much trouble?" he winked.
Harry smiled at the old Headmaster and shook his head.
"No, no. They were just as happy as I was."
Sprout motioned for Harry and Hagrid to sit, and they did. The plates, excluding three, were filled instantly with the wonderful food that the Hogwarts kitchens always produced. Helping themselves to chicken, potatoes, steak, gravy, ketchup, and pumpkin juice, they started to eat, and got through a few minutes of un-interrupted eating before Dumbledore spoke again.
"Harry," the Headmaster began, setting down his fork, "There is a reason we decided to bring you here three months in advance of the term."
Harry looked up from his chicken, startled, but he did not say anything. Rather, he watched Dumbledore as the old man collected his thoughts.
"There is ... something you should know, Harry, before the term starts. ... And ... there is someone we want you to meet."
"Meet?" Harry wondered aloud.
The Headmaster nodded solemnly, but there was a distinct twinkle in his eye that made it seem less serious. "Yes. ... You see, Harry," he paused, "You are not an only child."
"What?!"
"You ... " Dumbledore took a deep breath before continuing, "You were three when your parents were attacked. ... That's why you remembered their last words so well when the Dementors came too near ... You have a younger sister, by two years. She was adopted by the Kinos, a lovely couple, originally from Japan but living in Britain. She had disappeared until recently, you see. Your memory was modified not to remember her, as hers was modified not to remember you."
There was a long pause while Harry tried to digest this new information. He was an older brother. ... His memory had been modified ... he could have lived with his younger sister. Dumbledore's words replayed in his head: You have a younger sister, by two years ... disappeared until recently ... Something about the way he was talking didn't register properly in Harry's mind. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but ...
"Wait!" he cried suddenly, "You keep using present tense! But ... "
McGonagall nodded, and spoke, filling in for Dumbledore, who was choking up.
"She's alive. You and she should have met in your third year, but we couldn't find her. Severus, Albus and I have been sending owls all over the globe for the past two years trying to locate her, and finally we received word back from Japan just a fortnight ago," McGonagall paused to smile at Harry, "She's here in the castle right now, with her friends. Lost, I'd expect, though they've been here for three days. We're trying to get her up to some third year classes, since she missed her first two years. She was supposed to be here for lunch -- "
At that moment, the Great Hall doors banged open and loud footsteps could be heard running through the Hall. There was the distinct sound of robes swooshing along behind their owners. McGonagall put a hand up to her mouth to cover a smile, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Sprout and Flitwick smiled outright.
"Gomen nasai!" a breathless female voice cried out in British accented Japanese.
She came to a stop just a few feet behind Harry. The other two pairs of feet stopped just two seconds after the first.
"We got ... lost ... too many ... hallways ... stairs kept ... switching while ... we were ... on them," the girl panted.
Harry fought down the urge to laugh, knowing he would not only make a bad impression on them, but he would be scolded for it by McGonagall later, who'd taken on the role of his grandmother from the side lines. The girl who owned the voice sounded a lot like Ron when he was late for a class.
"Not a problem my dear, no trouble at all," Dumbledore said kindly, smiling.
The remaining three plates were filled with food and he motioned for the newcomers to sit down. Harry still hadn't turned around to see what they looked like (he was sitting at the end of the table opposite Dumbledore). Out of nervousness or disbelief he didn't know, but something was telling him that his sister was behind him, and he wasn't quite sure he was ready to see her.
"Harry," McGonagall started, "This is Rei Hino and Ami Mizuno."
At their names a black haired girl came forward, nodding at him in greeting, then a blue haired girl, who smiled and bowed. Harry hazarded a guess that they were all from Japan, and knew then who the remaining one, the one who had been speaking, must be.
"And this, my boy," Dumbledore began, "Is Makoto Kino. Or, as you might know her by, Jillian Potter."
Harry stood from his chair slowly, turned around, and came face to face with a girl who looked nothing like him, at first. He had raven black hair, while she had an auburn colored (which reminded him of his mother's hair from what he'd seen in pictures). His hair was messy to the point that he'd given up all hope of ever taming it; hers was a thick, shiny mass that stayed put in a neat braided pony-tail, though he noticed her bangs were rather untame.
Then he saw the similarities. They were both tall and lanky, though she was not as tall as he was. Their skin color was very similar and they held themselves in the same way when standing. He looked into her eyes, and knew they were related. Her eyes were the very same shade of green his were, and could only have come from their mother. Then he noticed something, something that would have erased any remaining doubts, had he had any. She had a small scar, in the shape of a lightning bolt. It was not on her forehead like his, hers was right on her collar bone peeking out from her robes, just barely visible. She took a tiny, hesitant step forward, as if she too, could not believe that he was real.
"O ... oniisan?" she asked him, looking both terrified and ecstatic.
"She means 'brother'," Dumbledore said in the background.
The memory modifier suddenly seemed to lose its effect, because Harry suddenly remembered holding onto a sobbing baby girl as a man in a dark cloak approached them. The screaming of their parents had long since stopped; they'd been killed. She clung to him for protection as they were advanced upon, them being backed up against their parent's bed with nowhere to run. There was fire burning all around and then ...
"Jillie!" Harry whispered in awe.
She was alive! His remaining relatives no longer consisted simply of the Dursley's, he had a sister. Now he understood why he'd been brought to Hogwarts three months early, McGonagall and Dumbledore wanted him to catch up with his sister!
His whispered nickname for her seemed to have broken some sort of spell, and she ran forward, nearly knocking him over with the strength of her hug. There were sounds of sobbing and choked back tears in the background, even from McGonagall. Hagrid blew his nose loudly into the tablecloth and they could hear Dumbledore saying "there, there," not only to Hagrid, but to Jillian's friends and the other professors as well. The moment seemed to last forever, but in realty it was only two minutes. Harry and Makoto took their seats next to each other and the feasting commenced, punctuated by sniffling sounds. Only after they were finished did anyone dare speak again.
"Potter," McGonagall began, "Why don't you take your sister down by the lake. You can talk there, but have her back by three o'clock sharp."
"All right, Professor," Harry agreed, uncertain as to why their was a time limit.
Makoto giggled lightly.
"I've got Transfiguration at three, that's all," she explained.
"This is so strange," Makoto sighed.
They were sitting by the banks of the Great Lake, staring at the giant squid as he floated along the waters. Harry looked over at his younger sister curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean ... " she started, but cut herself off, looking for words, "I grew up in Britain for seven years. One if you count the time with our parents, and six more with the Kinos, my adoptive parents. They were kind people, but they'd always made it very clear to me that I was adopted, but my name was Kino Makoto and nothing else. I never really knew why, but I still loved them and considered them to be my parents."
Here she paused and Harry waited for her to continue. He had a gut feeling that nothing would come out if he pushed her too hard.
"When I was seven, they told me they'd decided to move to Japan. I didn't put up a fight or anything, there was no reason to. We got on the plane and took off. ... Somewhere over India ... the plane ... we ... crashed. Everyone except me was killed. ... Even the Kinos."
Harry fought back the urge to gasp in shock, but he did not fight the instinct to put one arm around her. She leaned into his warmth gratefully, wrapping her arms around herself.
"When the rescue team finally arrived, I was the only one left. They salvaged what they could of our luggage, and took me to the house we were supposed to move in to. Our furniture had been sent a few days before, so everything was waiting for me. I've been on my own since then."
"You can't mean that."
"I can so," she replied, grinning weakly up at him, "But I don't. I was on my own for three years, until I met Rei-chan and Ami-chan. They became my little sisters. Rei-chan's grandfather took me under his wing. But I've never really known family."
"You have me," Harry said confidently, "You've always had me, we just didn't know it. And you'll always have me."
At his words, Makoto felt the barriers around her heart break and floods of tears began streaming down her cheeks. Harry pulled her closer to him and let her cry into his robes, rubbing her back and hair soothingly. When she finished crying, Makoto didn't pull away from him for a while, and Harry didn't force her to.
"Oniichan?" she finally asked, pulling away.
"Mm?"
" ... I've missed you."
Harry hugged her to him again.
"And I you," he paused as a thought struck him, "Come with me. I want you to see the other side of the Great Lake."
Looking dubious, Makoto nodded. Harry sprung to his feet and held out his hand, which she took, and helped her up. Then he jogged off towards the front of the castle, her following after him. They stopped on a bridge over the moat, surrounded by flowers and vines and trees. Makoto looked around in awe.
"Sugoi ... " she whispered.
"What?"
"Amazing," she blushed this time, "Sorry. I forget I'm not in Japan."
He grinned, "Don't worry. It's perfectly understandable. I'd want a secret language that the professors couldn't understand, if I knew any. Consider yourself lucky, Jillie."
"Oh, I do," she replied airily, and they both laughed.
They leaned on the bridge railing and Makoto waved down at their reflections. Harry's reflection waved back, though Harry himself didn't. Makoto's eyes widened in amazement.
"This place really is wonderful!" she announced.
Harry agreed wholeheartedly. They continued walking the vast grounds until they wound up on the Quidditch pitch in the stands. Sitting up on the top row, Makoto stood and flung out her arms.
"I feel like I could fly," she giggled.
"You could," said Harry thoughtfully, "And you will, once Hooch gets here. She's the flying instructor."
"Brilliant! ... Ne, ne ... what's this field used for?"
Harry brightened considerably and stood himself.
"Quidditch," he said, proudly.
It didn't produce quite the reaction he'd hoped for, however, because Makoto just gave him a blank look and said, "What?"
"Quidditch. See, there are seven players and four balls. There are three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper, and a Seeker. I'm Seeker for the Gryffindor house team."
And he proceeded to explain all the rules, fouls, delights, and problems of the game Quidditch. From the way he spoke, Makoto guessed he really loved the game, and that his position was highly important. She hid a grin from her face as he continued to speak, he looked like an over-eager child in a candy store at Christmas.
My brother ... I think we're going to get along just fine.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So, how'm I doing? Let me know!
Also, someone reviewed asking if the Outers, Mamoru, Usagi and Minako were going to appear. Let me clear that up right now, so there's no more confusion: NO they will NOT. This story will be based on Makoto, Ami and Rei alone. (I may make an exception for say, Hotaru, but otherwise, forget it.)
Enjoy!
Chapter Three - The Castle and The Brother
"There she is, kids. Hogwarts," Hagrid announced.
His words set off a set of excited murmurs and the girls each tried to get a better look, peeking around Hagrid's enormous body and trying not to fall off the flying motorcycle they were currently riding on. Their trunks had been sent to the Hogwarts Express station via a young witch who traveled with them by a flying car. Looking around for a glimpse of the castle was not as easy as one might think, however, because of Hagrid's bulk and fears of falling nearly one hundred and fifty feat to the ground.
"I can't see it!" Makoto complained.
"Mienai mo!" Rei added.
"Hold on ... I think ... yeah! There it is! Sugoi ... " Ami breathed.
A looming castle was slowly becoming more visible through the clouds that they were traveling through. As they neared it, and lowered slowly towards the ground, Rei and Makoto were able to see it, and were just as impressed as Ami.
"It's amazing! When you said school I had no idea you meant this, Hagrid!" Makoto shouted over the noise of the wind, "It's not a school, it's a whole other world!"
"Yep. T'aint no nicer place fer a school. Jus' wait'll yeh meet Dumbledore! Finest Headmaster Hogwarts has seen in a century, if yeh ask me."
The castle grounds, and the castle itself, were even larger once the motorcycle landed. Off to one side was a large stone hut that stood right in front of a sprawling forest, which the girls deduced was Hagrid's hut. There was a large field a short distance away from the castle itself, and what it was used for the girls didn't know, but they were sure it was something important. The castle itself was at least eight floors and had many towers, which reached up to ten stories. They had obviously landed at the back or side entrance, or one of them, because there was no long entry path or grand doors, just a short hill and an arch way. There were three teachers standing by, waiting to greet them. Two were women and each stood about twice the size of the male.
"Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout," Hagrid said as they were approached.
"Welcome back, Hagrid," said McGonagall.
She was a stern but kind looking woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun and a pointed hat with a wide brim. She looked down at the three girls and smiled warmly, but they had the impression that she didn't smile often, just the same.
"Jillian Potter," she said, "And you must be Ami Mizuno and Rei Hino. Welcome to Hogwarts. I do hope you won't be bored waiting for the start of the fall term."
"Thank you, Professor," Makoto and Ami chorused.
"Arigatou," Rei said shyly, blushing.
"Ah, don't be shy, Rei-chan. Buck up, you'll be speaking perfect English in no time," Makoto assured her friend.
"Why don't we go inside?" tiny Professor Flitwick suggested, "You'll be wanting to meet the Headmaster, of course, and he wants to meet you. Then we'll have to start getting you caught up in your classes, won't we?"
"Caught up?" Makoto asked.
"Not your friends, dear," Sprout said, "They're the proper age for first years. You my dear, should be a third year, and as such, you'll need to make up two years of classes. That's why you're hear so early ... among other reasons."
"Other reasons?" Makoto parroted.
"They shall be explained in due time. This way, please," McGonagall said, turning on her heel and leading the way through the castle grounds to the huge castle.
They came to a statue of a gargoyle on one of the lower floors and stopped in front of it.
"Chocolate Frog!" McGonagall barked.
At once the gargoyle jumped aside as the wall behind him split in half, creating an entry way to a long flight of dizzying stars. Finally at the top was a large door with a griffin shaped knocker. McGonagall opened the door, ignoring the knocker, and they entered. The Headmaster was sitting at his desk reading a piece of parchment and seemed not to notice the small group of people.
"Professor Dumbledore," McGonagall said, announcing the Headmaster to their presence, "I have our new foreign student."
The bearded man looked up and smiled widely at the three of them. He stood from his desk and moved so that he was face to face with Makoto, nodding as he looked at her.
"You've your mother's hair and eyes. Welcome to Hogwarts, Jillian, Ami, and Rei."
"Thank you, Professor," the three chorused, a distinct Japanese accent mingled with the English.
"Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, and Hagrid are only a few of your teachers. Madam Hooch, Professors Snape, Lupin, Vector, Sinistra and all others will be here in due time. Some, because you are not taking their classes, you will not meet until the school year," Dumbledore paused, letting the girls digest the new information, "The others will arrive before hand, but only after you've had proper time to catch up in Herbology, Transfiguration, and Charms."
Not knowing what else to do, Makoto nodded dumbly. Suddenly this witchcraft business was starting to seem less and less appealing, seeing as she would be spending the summer indoors while Ami and Rei played in and explored the huge castle. As if reading her thoughts, Dumbledore chuckled.
"No, no," he assured her, "Not all your time will be devoted to your studies. You will be given your schedule and will follow it like a regular student during the week. Whatever periods you have 'off', so to speak, may be spent however you wish. Except, of course, entering the Dark Forest, which is strictly forbidden to all students except on detention."
Feeling the rush of excitement come back, Makoto, Rei and Ami turned to each other and grinned widely. They couldn't wait to being their lessons, and with a castle as big as this, there were surely many places to explore. Suddenly Makoto remembered the bracelet she'd been sent, and held up her wrist.
"Professor, with my invitation, I was sent this. There was no clue as to who sent it, no return address, and the only thing inside was a note that said not to take it off. Do you know who sent it?"
"It is rather beautiful ... " Dumbledore mused, "Perhaps you have an admirer."
"But ... "
"I am unaware," he interrupted, "As to who sent it to your home. Perhaps you shall find out later this year."
Makoto nodded silently, dropping her wrist, and Dumbledore patted one of her shoulders and turned to McGonagall.
"Would you care to be their tour guide, Minerva?"
"Certainly, Professor Dumbledore," the Transfiguration teacher said, gathering up her robes for easier movement, "Follow me, please. You'll be staying in the Gryffindor dorms until you are Sorted into your houses."
"Sorted?" Ami asked, "How does that happen?"
"You shall see on September first," McGonagall said with a small smile, "This way please. Your trunks have already been taken to your rooms."
Waving to Hagrid, who happily waved back, the three girls followed McGonagall out of Dumbledore's office. As soon as they were out sight, the other professors turned on Dumbledore, each asking questions at a rapid pace. The Headmaster put up his hand for silence and it was granted.
"Yes, I am serious about this. No, he doesn't know. Yes, she does. And yes, Jillian and Harry Potter will meet before this week is out."
* * *
Harry Potter was a very unusual boy. He detested the summer holidays as much as any other boy would a final exam, and he never made a fuss about his birthday; it wasn't like he ever received many presents. His parents had been murdered when he was very young, so he had never really known them and he also happened to be a wizard. The only to have ever survived Lord Voldemort, a Dark wizard of the worst kind, he was known throughout the wizarding world as The Boy Who Lived. Because of this Harry knew, his Muggle relatives, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley Dursley, who hated anything they considered 'abnormal', despised him.
Last year had been a particularly hard one for Harry, though it had started out exciting. He had almost lost his best friend Ron, and had been forced to watch Cedric Diggory die right in front of him, by the same curse that had killed his parents. With Cedric's death still weighing heavily on his mind, and the fact that he could not stay in regular contact with his godfather, Sirius, Harry was sure he was going to go insane.
Contact with Ron and Hermione had helped, however, and in just three months and two weeks time he would see them again for their fifth year at Hogwarts. Thoughts like that were the ones which helped him wake every morning, like it was helping this particular morning. Only this morning, those thoughts were getting extra help from particularly loud banging noises.
"Wake up in there!" shouted an excited Aunt Petunia, banging on the door, "You've got a letter from that school of yours."
When Harry didn't answer immediately, (he was still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes) the banging increased, both in speed and volume.
"Well?" she shrieked, "Get up!"
She's probably afraid of it exploding, Harry thought, grinning, as he pulled on his glasses and the room came into better focus. He tried to tame his fly-away hair so it covered his thin, lightening bolt shaped scar but, as always, nothing happened so he shuffled down the stairs, still in his pajamas. He was surprised by a plate of buttered toast being shoved in his face, with a nice bowl of marmalade. Taking two pieces and the marmalade, Harry looked around at the very happy faces of his only living relatives.
"Don't tell me, let me guess ... " Harry paused, "You've either won a vacation for one to Antarctica, or a vacation for three to the Bahamas."
"Neither," Uncle Vernon said, "Your school wants you to go early. You leave today. I'll even drive you to King's Cross. Someone'll be waiting for you there."
Ah, so that was it. He'd be leaving for Hogwarts early ... "You're sure?! You mean, I can leave?" Harry asked excitedly, the words finally fully registering.
"Yep. And try to stay over the next summer, will you?" Vernon asked pointedly.
Harry nodded happily, only too glad to have an excuse not to see the Dursley's for any longer period of time than he absolutely had to. Besides that, he considered Hogwarts his home. The secret passage ways, the classes, the teachers (most of them, at any rate), all his friends, everything he could ever want was there. Hogwarts had been far more of a home to him than the Dursley's ever had been and ever would be. Grinning wider than he had all summer, Harry ran upstairs to begin packing.
"All righ' Harry? Didn't have too much trouble gettin' here?" asked a familiar voice.
Harry stopped pushing his cart with a sudden jerk and whirled around to face a very familiar and friendly face. Uncle Vernon was long gone, so he had no reservations about running up to the giant man and hugging him, a hug that was promptly returned.
"No, no trouble. They were just as glad to be rid of me as I am to be rid of them," he said.
Hagrid smiled widely, but his expression sobered and he leaned down so he could look Harry in the eye.
"Yer not still thinkin' 'bout ... You-Know-Who an' what happened las' year, are yeh?"
Harry shook his head, but realized that would be lying and stopped.
"Well," he amended, "I am thinking about it. It's hard not to remember watching someone die and I don't think Cedric would be very happy if I just forgot about him ... but I've been pulling through."
Hagrid nodded and clapped Harry's shoulder. "That's my boy comin' back. Good job too. Dumbledore's got a bit o' a surprise fer yeh."
"A surprise? You mean like a really early birthday present?"
"Not exactly ... " Hagrid laughed, pulling out his pocket watch. The laughter immediately stopped. "Blimey! We're later 'n' I though'! Come on, then. Best be gettin' off."
* * *
A surprise ... for me ... I wonder what on Earth Dumbledore has in mind.
Harry walked through the Great Hall, with Hagrid by his side, just in time for lunch. He nodded hello to the House ghosts, Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gray Lady, the Bloody Baron, and the Fat Friar, as they walked to the Head Table where the teacher's sat, still musing over Hagrid's words. But the head table wasn't there, he noted with interest. Instead, a table to fit nine people comfortably was there (and with all the places set), Dumbledore at the head and McGonagall at his side. Harry was of the impression that they never left the school. Besides them, he noted, were Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout.
"Welcome, Harry!" said Dumbledore cheerfully, "Glad you could join us so early. I trust your relatives didn't give you much trouble?" he winked.
Harry smiled at the old Headmaster and shook his head.
"No, no. They were just as happy as I was."
Sprout motioned for Harry and Hagrid to sit, and they did. The plates, excluding three, were filled instantly with the wonderful food that the Hogwarts kitchens always produced. Helping themselves to chicken, potatoes, steak, gravy, ketchup, and pumpkin juice, they started to eat, and got through a few minutes of un-interrupted eating before Dumbledore spoke again.
"Harry," the Headmaster began, setting down his fork, "There is a reason we decided to bring you here three months in advance of the term."
Harry looked up from his chicken, startled, but he did not say anything. Rather, he watched Dumbledore as the old man collected his thoughts.
"There is ... something you should know, Harry, before the term starts. ... And ... there is someone we want you to meet."
"Meet?" Harry wondered aloud.
The Headmaster nodded solemnly, but there was a distinct twinkle in his eye that made it seem less serious. "Yes. ... You see, Harry," he paused, "You are not an only child."
"What?!"
"You ... " Dumbledore took a deep breath before continuing, "You were three when your parents were attacked. ... That's why you remembered their last words so well when the Dementors came too near ... You have a younger sister, by two years. She was adopted by the Kinos, a lovely couple, originally from Japan but living in Britain. She had disappeared until recently, you see. Your memory was modified not to remember her, as hers was modified not to remember you."
There was a long pause while Harry tried to digest this new information. He was an older brother. ... His memory had been modified ... he could have lived with his younger sister. Dumbledore's words replayed in his head: You have a younger sister, by two years ... disappeared until recently ... Something about the way he was talking didn't register properly in Harry's mind. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but ...
"Wait!" he cried suddenly, "You keep using present tense! But ... "
McGonagall nodded, and spoke, filling in for Dumbledore, who was choking up.
"She's alive. You and she should have met in your third year, but we couldn't find her. Severus, Albus and I have been sending owls all over the globe for the past two years trying to locate her, and finally we received word back from Japan just a fortnight ago," McGonagall paused to smile at Harry, "She's here in the castle right now, with her friends. Lost, I'd expect, though they've been here for three days. We're trying to get her up to some third year classes, since she missed her first two years. She was supposed to be here for lunch -- "
At that moment, the Great Hall doors banged open and loud footsteps could be heard running through the Hall. There was the distinct sound of robes swooshing along behind their owners. McGonagall put a hand up to her mouth to cover a smile, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Sprout and Flitwick smiled outright.
"Gomen nasai!" a breathless female voice cried out in British accented Japanese.
She came to a stop just a few feet behind Harry. The other two pairs of feet stopped just two seconds after the first.
"We got ... lost ... too many ... hallways ... stairs kept ... switching while ... we were ... on them," the girl panted.
Harry fought down the urge to laugh, knowing he would not only make a bad impression on them, but he would be scolded for it by McGonagall later, who'd taken on the role of his grandmother from the side lines. The girl who owned the voice sounded a lot like Ron when he was late for a class.
"Not a problem my dear, no trouble at all," Dumbledore said kindly, smiling.
The remaining three plates were filled with food and he motioned for the newcomers to sit down. Harry still hadn't turned around to see what they looked like (he was sitting at the end of the table opposite Dumbledore). Out of nervousness or disbelief he didn't know, but something was telling him that his sister was behind him, and he wasn't quite sure he was ready to see her.
"Harry," McGonagall started, "This is Rei Hino and Ami Mizuno."
At their names a black haired girl came forward, nodding at him in greeting, then a blue haired girl, who smiled and bowed. Harry hazarded a guess that they were all from Japan, and knew then who the remaining one, the one who had been speaking, must be.
"And this, my boy," Dumbledore began, "Is Makoto Kino. Or, as you might know her by, Jillian Potter."
Harry stood from his chair slowly, turned around, and came face to face with a girl who looked nothing like him, at first. He had raven black hair, while she had an auburn colored (which reminded him of his mother's hair from what he'd seen in pictures). His hair was messy to the point that he'd given up all hope of ever taming it; hers was a thick, shiny mass that stayed put in a neat braided pony-tail, though he noticed her bangs were rather untame.
Then he saw the similarities. They were both tall and lanky, though she was not as tall as he was. Their skin color was very similar and they held themselves in the same way when standing. He looked into her eyes, and knew they were related. Her eyes were the very same shade of green his were, and could only have come from their mother. Then he noticed something, something that would have erased any remaining doubts, had he had any. She had a small scar, in the shape of a lightning bolt. It was not on her forehead like his, hers was right on her collar bone peeking out from her robes, just barely visible. She took a tiny, hesitant step forward, as if she too, could not believe that he was real.
"O ... oniisan?" she asked him, looking both terrified and ecstatic.
"She means 'brother'," Dumbledore said in the background.
The memory modifier suddenly seemed to lose its effect, because Harry suddenly remembered holding onto a sobbing baby girl as a man in a dark cloak approached them. The screaming of their parents had long since stopped; they'd been killed. She clung to him for protection as they were advanced upon, them being backed up against their parent's bed with nowhere to run. There was fire burning all around and then ...
"Jillie!" Harry whispered in awe.
She was alive! His remaining relatives no longer consisted simply of the Dursley's, he had a sister. Now he understood why he'd been brought to Hogwarts three months early, McGonagall and Dumbledore wanted him to catch up with his sister!
His whispered nickname for her seemed to have broken some sort of spell, and she ran forward, nearly knocking him over with the strength of her hug. There were sounds of sobbing and choked back tears in the background, even from McGonagall. Hagrid blew his nose loudly into the tablecloth and they could hear Dumbledore saying "there, there," not only to Hagrid, but to Jillian's friends and the other professors as well. The moment seemed to last forever, but in realty it was only two minutes. Harry and Makoto took their seats next to each other and the feasting commenced, punctuated by sniffling sounds. Only after they were finished did anyone dare speak again.
"Potter," McGonagall began, "Why don't you take your sister down by the lake. You can talk there, but have her back by three o'clock sharp."
"All right, Professor," Harry agreed, uncertain as to why their was a time limit.
Makoto giggled lightly.
"I've got Transfiguration at three, that's all," she explained.
"This is so strange," Makoto sighed.
They were sitting by the banks of the Great Lake, staring at the giant squid as he floated along the waters. Harry looked over at his younger sister curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean ... " she started, but cut herself off, looking for words, "I grew up in Britain for seven years. One if you count the time with our parents, and six more with the Kinos, my adoptive parents. They were kind people, but they'd always made it very clear to me that I was adopted, but my name was Kino Makoto and nothing else. I never really knew why, but I still loved them and considered them to be my parents."
Here she paused and Harry waited for her to continue. He had a gut feeling that nothing would come out if he pushed her too hard.
"When I was seven, they told me they'd decided to move to Japan. I didn't put up a fight or anything, there was no reason to. We got on the plane and took off. ... Somewhere over India ... the plane ... we ... crashed. Everyone except me was killed. ... Even the Kinos."
Harry fought back the urge to gasp in shock, but he did not fight the instinct to put one arm around her. She leaned into his warmth gratefully, wrapping her arms around herself.
"When the rescue team finally arrived, I was the only one left. They salvaged what they could of our luggage, and took me to the house we were supposed to move in to. Our furniture had been sent a few days before, so everything was waiting for me. I've been on my own since then."
"You can't mean that."
"I can so," she replied, grinning weakly up at him, "But I don't. I was on my own for three years, until I met Rei-chan and Ami-chan. They became my little sisters. Rei-chan's grandfather took me under his wing. But I've never really known family."
"You have me," Harry said confidently, "You've always had me, we just didn't know it. And you'll always have me."
At his words, Makoto felt the barriers around her heart break and floods of tears began streaming down her cheeks. Harry pulled her closer to him and let her cry into his robes, rubbing her back and hair soothingly. When she finished crying, Makoto didn't pull away from him for a while, and Harry didn't force her to.
"Oniichan?" she finally asked, pulling away.
"Mm?"
" ... I've missed you."
Harry hugged her to him again.
"And I you," he paused as a thought struck him, "Come with me. I want you to see the other side of the Great Lake."
Looking dubious, Makoto nodded. Harry sprung to his feet and held out his hand, which she took, and helped her up. Then he jogged off towards the front of the castle, her following after him. They stopped on a bridge over the moat, surrounded by flowers and vines and trees. Makoto looked around in awe.
"Sugoi ... " she whispered.
"What?"
"Amazing," she blushed this time, "Sorry. I forget I'm not in Japan."
He grinned, "Don't worry. It's perfectly understandable. I'd want a secret language that the professors couldn't understand, if I knew any. Consider yourself lucky, Jillie."
"Oh, I do," she replied airily, and they both laughed.
They leaned on the bridge railing and Makoto waved down at their reflections. Harry's reflection waved back, though Harry himself didn't. Makoto's eyes widened in amazement.
"This place really is wonderful!" she announced.
Harry agreed wholeheartedly. They continued walking the vast grounds until they wound up on the Quidditch pitch in the stands. Sitting up on the top row, Makoto stood and flung out her arms.
"I feel like I could fly," she giggled.
"You could," said Harry thoughtfully, "And you will, once Hooch gets here. She's the flying instructor."
"Brilliant! ... Ne, ne ... what's this field used for?"
Harry brightened considerably and stood himself.
"Quidditch," he said, proudly.
It didn't produce quite the reaction he'd hoped for, however, because Makoto just gave him a blank look and said, "What?"
"Quidditch. See, there are seven players and four balls. There are three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper, and a Seeker. I'm Seeker for the Gryffindor house team."
And he proceeded to explain all the rules, fouls, delights, and problems of the game Quidditch. From the way he spoke, Makoto guessed he really loved the game, and that his position was highly important. She hid a grin from her face as he continued to speak, he looked like an over-eager child in a candy store at Christmas.
My brother ... I think we're going to get along just fine.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So, how'm I doing? Let me know!
Also, someone reviewed asking if the Outers, Mamoru, Usagi and Minako were going to appear. Let me clear that up right now, so there's no more confusion: NO they will NOT. This story will be based on Makoto, Ami and Rei alone. (I may make an exception for say, Hotaru, but otherwise, forget it.)