Daphne: Hello again, everyone! Here is the second chapter, hot off the
press, and ready for your reviews! Please enjoy!
~*~*~*~
Leopard Spots and Zebra Stripes
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 2.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy-Warty, Hogwarts!"
"Lily, would you shut up?! You have been singing that for the last two hours!" Molly Shepherd called. She was sitting by the window in their compartment on the Hogwarts Express, trying to read. Her red hair spilled over her shoulders, and her brown eyes flashed daggers at Lilly. Beside her, Sophia Heath sat, reading a fashion magazine called 'Teen Witch'.
"...teach us something please! Whether we be old and bald, or young with scabby knees!" Arabella Figg continued the song for Lily, her eyes sparkling.
"The second part refers to us, Molly, and the first refers to you! At least, that's the way you act!" She laughed, getting herself a pillow in the face.
"Shut up, Bella. That song may have been funny the first time, and even the second, but I stopped liking it at about the forty-fifth round." Molly snapped, burying her nose back in her book; it was called 'Prefects and What They Stand For'. The other three girls rolled their eyes.
"Pillow fight!" Bella shouted, stuffing a pillow in Lily's face. Molly rolled her eyes.
"Oh, for the love of...muggffff!!!!" She shrieked, as a pillow pelted her in the face. She tugged it away violently, and then began to slap Sophia, who had been the one to do it, over the head. Sophie laughed and ducked out of the way, only to have another pillow slung at her from the direction of Lily. With an indignant yell, she pelted Lily with her own pillow, hitting Bella in the process. Suffice to say, they had quite a war before the cart lady came in and broke it up.
"So...what do you think the new students are going to be like?" Sophia asked, as she took a bite of pumpkin pasty. Bella shrugged.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore's letter said that they were from Japan, and they were our age...oh! There are also supposed to be some cute guys in their group as well." Lily commented, causing Sophia and Bella to squeal. Molly rolled her eyes.
"There are more important things in life, than boys!" She grumbled. Bella and Sophia looked offended.
"Name one!" Bella taunted.
"I'll name a few. School, family, friends, homework..."
"HOMEWORK?!?! Molly, you're out of your mind!" Sophia shouted, looking indignant. All the while, Lily sat in her seat quietly, looking out the window, a troubled look on her face.
"Lily, what's wrong?" Bella finally asked, putting her arm around her friend. Lily sighed and turned to look at her.
"What if the new students are the same? What if they hate muggle-borns too? I have enough pressure on me from the other students and the Marauders, I don't need any more." Lily sighed. Bella thought for a moment.
"We are here for you, Lily, even if no one else is. We know who you really are, and they can kiss my butt if they still believe that muggle-borns are inferior." Bella fumed, causing Molly to gasp at her wording.
At fourteen, Lily, Bella, and Sophia had become quite close, and understood each other like the back of their hands. Molly, at sixteen, was the most sensible of the four girls. She was serious, but knew how to have fun at the same time, even though she would never admit it. She prided herself at being smart and in charge of things.
Bella was fun-loving, and a ham. She loved to play jokes on people, and liked it even more when she heard their screams, or remarks of her pranks. She was relatively good at school, and she could be serious when she wanted to be. She was also the most perceptive of the group, besides Lily, and she knew when her friends were feeling bad or sad, just by looking at them.
Sophia was also fun-loving, but in a more quiet way. She was into style, and she was quite lady-like. But if any of her friends were upset or in danger, that lady-likeness disappeared and was replaced by any emotion that was needed at the time.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you, Molly. Here at Hogwarts, there is this guy that you just have to meet! His name is Arthur Weasley, and he is really nice...most of the time. He is tall and has red hair and green eyes..."
"I don't want to hear about any *men*, Lily. They are inferior beings that were only put on this planet to be breading stock!" She huffed. Arabella and Sophia broke into giggles, and Lily smiled.
"And women are any better?" She teased. Molly looked offended.
"Of course we are! We are the superior beings! Without us, men would be extinct." She pointed out.
"Molly, remind me to write that in my diary tonight. Men: put on this earth for breading stock. Women: put on this earth to be sheet-wearing peace- keepers, and bearers of other peace-keepers and more breeding-stock!" Arabella laughed. Molly shot her a glare and sat in icy silence the rest of the way to Hogwarts.
~*~*~*~
"It looks just like it did during our time!" Tomoyo exclaimed, looking around the Great Hall. They had decorated it so it would look just like the 'Garden' back in their own time, except with a few changes...
"Now we all have a swing to swing on!" Sakura laughed, sitting down on one that was strung underneath the sakura tree. There was another swing on the other side of the tree, where Ginny had taken up residence, and then two more swings, strung up on the tomoyo tree just across the way. Tomoyo and Hermione were presently rocking back and forth in those. Rika was swinging in still another swing, that was strung up in a large oak tree in the center of the Hall. The boys were all sitting on branches, on different levels of the huge oak, and watching the girls talk.
"So today is the day." Sakura finally sighed, after a long pause. Everyone looked over at her and nodded. Harry looked anxious, and Rika was wringing her hands, which she had taken off the ropes of the swing to lay in her lap.
"I will get to see mother...alive." Harry croaked, clearing his throat. Rika looked at him and smiled reassuringly.
"And it will be great. She'll never know!" Rika giggled. For some reason, this seemed quite funny to all of them, because soon, they were all laughing.
"Well, it looks as if you are having quite a good time! But may I intrude upon your time, for a moment? There are some people I would like you to meet." Everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore standing in the doorway, his eyes sparkling. Three figures stood behind him, looking nervous. And in the very middle of them stood...
Lily Evans.
~*~*~*~
"POTTER?!?!" Lily shrieked, her green eyes flashing. Harry stepped back, his own green eyes widening with shock and fear. There she was! His mother, after all these years...and looking so young! The situation would have been funny, if it hadn't been so serious. Harry then remembered the temporary change in his last name, and then pretended to look confused.
"Excuse me? Do I know you?" He questioned, trying to look innocent. Confusion wreathed the beautiful girl's face, and for a moment, she shrank back, gazing at him. Meanwhile, her three friends watched her in worry. Harry took this time to look over Lily Evans. She had red hair that reached mid-back, and green eyes just like his. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her red lips pierced in confusion. Beside him, Harry could feel Rika trembling in excitement.
"Ms. Evans, you must be mistaken. This is Harry Ivers. He attended that private Wizerding school that I told you girls about." Dumbledore cut in calmly. Lily's face immediately lost it's confused look, and she smiled, a pretty, lilting smile.
"A pleasure to meet you, Harry. I apologize for my rudeness. You see, I thought that you were someone else." She giggled, embarrassed. Harry smiled.
"You will have to tell me about this 'someone else' later. I would like to hear about him." Harry chuckled. Beside him, Rika giggled and stepped forward.
"I am Rika Ivers, Harry's sister." She whispered. Lily took a liking to the girl immediately, but was quite surprised by the resemblance between Rika and herself.
"Pleased to meet you, Rika." She said. Just then, Arabella, Sophia, and Molly stepped forward, looking cautious. Ron let out a sharp gasp, and then pulled Harry to the side, while the others greeted the newcomers.
"Harry! That's my mum!" Ron hissed, pointing at the second red-headed girl. Harry choked and looked at Molly, his eyes wide.
"Well I'll be!" He began to laugh. Ron glared at him and quickly made his way over to meet the younger version of his mother.
"Ron Craven, at your service." He said teasingly, leaning over and kissing Molly's hand. Molly's cheeks went red, and she giggled.
"Pleased to meet you, Ron. I am Molly Shepherd." She chimed. Ginny grinned as she realized just who this girl was.
"Hello, Molly, I am Ginny Craven, Ron's sister. And this is Hermione Granger." Ginny pointed to Hermione, who was looking shocked. Molly nodded at both girls, and then walked over to meet the others.
"You know, if I didn't know better, I would think that you were Lucious Malfoy." Lily said thoughtfully, looking Draco over. The young man squirmed under her stare.
"Well, I am going to take that as a slight, since you obviously do not like this Lucious. My name is Draco Winner." He said politely. Lily's face broke into a smile, and she shook his hand.
"Pleased to meet you then, Draco. I can see that you are nothing like Malfoy, so I have nothing to worry about." She laughed. He smiled at her gently, and then they joined the rest of the group.
"Well, I will leave you to get aquatinted." Dumbledore said with a satisfied smile, leaving the room. They all called goodbye, and then want back to talking with each other.
"Do you like to sing?" Tomoyo asked Bella. The other girl's face lit up.
"You bet! I love it, and so does Lily, although she would never admit it. Sophia isn't so good, and neither is Molly, but they can sing if they have to." Bella said, causing the two girls to glare at her, while Lily giggled. Tomoyo grinned.
"Sakura, Rika and I are in a singing group. Perhaps we could sing sometime, together. Ginny is rather good too." Tomoyo added as an afterthought. Bella and Lily looked eager, while Ginny blushed at the complement.
"I'll do the make-up. I'm good at that, at least!" Sophia laughed. Molly sniffed.
"You are so..."
"Immature? Molly, you really need to get some fun into your life, and loosen up!" Ginny stated, rolling her eyes. Molly looked at her in astonishment, and then shook her head.
"I like things just the way they are, thanks." She snapped. Ginny grinned mischievously, and then flicked her wand in Molly's direction. The girl's school robes immediately changed into a short, black and white, tiger- stripped skirt, and a black tube-top. She wore black sandals on her feet, and her hair was done up in a french braid. Molly looked at herself in horror, and growing curiosity, while her three friends giggled helplessly.
"Because of your bravery and show of style towards Molly, we hereby dub all of you honorary members of the 'We Hate Marauders' Club. Now, would you like to join the 'Be gentle on Remus', group, the 'Peter is a Moron' group, the 'Serius Drinks Water from the Toilet' group, or the 'Kill James because he is a Freak' group? Counseling is included in the last two groups mentioned." Bella trilled, causing the whole group to break up laughing.
Yes, it this was going to be a very interesting adventure!
~*~*~*~
"Tomoyo, sing."
"Sing what, Bella?" Tomoyo asked. It was about a month later, and all the group had draped themselves over rocks along the shore of the lake. The giant squid was waving it's tentacles lazily, as the girls talked.
"The one you sang last week, by that singer called 'Myra'." Bella said. Tomoyo glanced at Sakura and Rika, who nodded. It was a song from their time, by an artist from their time, but they had decided that it would be safe to mention the song, since Lily and the others had no idea the true origin of it.
"All right. Sakura, hit it!" Tomoyo said, pointing at her emerald-eyed friend. Sakura grinned, and waved her wand. Automatically, music streamed out of nowhere, and Sakura, Tomoyo and Rika stood up.
Tomoyo:
Miracles Happen! Miracles Happen!
I can't imagine, livin' my life without you, now; Not ever having you around, We found a way out...
Sakura and Rika: On you I can depend!
Tomoyo:
Don't have to look back, during our life the fall will come, There are a million reasons! I'm lookin' at, I don't want this to end!
Nothing! Nothing should ever bring you down!
Sakura and Rika: Oh-oh-oh-oh!
Tomoyo:
Knowing, what goes around will come around!
All:
You show me please, it's not blind, I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles happen, once in a while, When you believe!
Sakura and Rika:
Miracles Happen!
Tomoyo:
You show me dreams, come to life, That taking a chance on us was right, All things will come, with a little time, When you believe!
There is no question We found the missing pieces, I picture it completed! It's fallin' into place,
Sakura and Rika:
It's fallin' into place
Tomoyo:
This is the moment, you and I are looking out! Someone is watchin' over us, Keepin' me close... Closer to you everyday!
Nowhere, Nowhere on earth I'd rather be!
Sakura and Rika:
Oh-oh-oh-oh...
Tomoyo:
No one, can take this away from you and me!
All:
You show me please, it's not blind, I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles Happen, once in a while, When you believe!
Sakura and Rika:
Miracles happen! When you believe...
Tomoyo:
Your soul is a shining light, Your heart has the will to fight! You can do anything, don't be afraid, Were gonna find a way!
Sakura and Rika:
Heart has the will to fight, Ah-ah-ah-ah
Tomoyo:
Oh, yeah!
Sakura:
Miracles happen!
Rika:
Miracles can happen...
Sakura:
Miracles happen!
Rika:
Miracles can happen!
All:
You show me please, it's not blind! I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles happen once in a while, When you believe!
Sakura and Rika:
Miracles Happen!
You show me please, it's not blind, I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles Happen!
They all sat for a moment, stunned into silence, and then Draco stood up and hugged his girlfriend.
"That was wonderful! You are going to have to sing it for us when we...see our relatives next." Draco said, catching himself. Everyone laughed and then clapped, while Sakura, Rika and tomoyo blushed. No one but Sakura had noticed that Tomoyo's eyes had been fastened to Eriol's face the whole time they were singing, and to tell the truth, the auburn haired girl was presently gloating over her friends obvious infatuation with the boy.
"OH! What time is it?!" Lily shrieked, sitting up quickly. Harry looked at his watch and looked startled.
"Damn! We're late to supper! And the rest of the school is coming, tonight!" He groaned, getting up and brushing himself off.
"Harry! Watch your language!" Ginny exclaimed, as he helped her up. He grinned at her.
"Yes, mother!" He teased, and then ducked as he hand whisked past his cheek.
"Violent, aren't we?" He laughed, jumping to the ground and bounding back towards Hogwarts. Ginny growled and jumped off her rock, chasing after him. The others laughed and quickly followed. They made quick time, getting back to the Great Hall, but when they got there, it seemed to still be the 'garden' that they had created.
"Oh, well! More time for us! I'm not feeling particularly hungry, are you?" Ron asked, jumping onto one of the Oak tree limbs.
"I call the swing!" Sakura trilled, racing for one of the swings on the sakura tree.
"Which one?" Bella laughed, looking at the numerous swings hanging from the majority of the trees. Tomoyo giggled at Bella's comment, and then hurried over to claim one of the swings on the tomoyo tree.
"I call first dibs on the swing next to Sakura!" Bella shrieked, racing over to the other swing near Sakura's. Hermione hurried over to secure the one next to Tomoyo. Rika took her normal swing under the oak, and grinned as Draco draped himself over the limb that her swing hung from, and gently pushed the ropes with his feet.
"Here, Lily. There is another swing here." Harry said, bowing, and pointed to another swing across from Rika's. Lily grinned.
"You may look like Potter, Harry, but you sure don't act like him. You, unlike that scum, are a gentleman!" Lily giggled, as she sat on the swing. He grinned.
"Hey, some of us have it, and others don't. I just happen to be lucky enough to have it!" He joked, as he sat down and leaned against the trunk of the tree. He patted the ground beside him, and Ginny sat there, looking a bit nervous. Ron was pushing Hermione on the swing, while Syaoran had joined Sakura on her extra-long swing, and was now propelling them both back and forth as they talked. Molly had rested herself underneath another sakura tree, and was now in the middle of reading a thick book. Eriol had taken to leaning against the tomoyo tree, and was talking animatedly with Tomoyo and Hermione. Sophia could be seen running back and forth, picking flowers and enjoying the scenery.
"Do you think that Professor Dumbledore will make us transform everything back to normal, when the others get here?" Lily asked anxiously. Eriol turned to her and shook his head.
"He won't. I have spoken to him about it, and he is going to let us keep it this way, so whenever we want to just...get away, we can come here." Eriol called. Lily nodded, and continued swinging.
"Dancing Bears, Painted wings, things I almost...remember," Tomoyo began slowly, almost hesitantly. Sakura smiled an continued.
"...And a song, someone sings, once upon a December!" Sakura pointed at Rika, who continued the song.
"Someone holds me safe and warm! Horses prance through a silver storm..." Rika motioned at Ginny, who hesitantly continued.
"Figures dancing, gracefully, across my memory..." She looked at Lily, who grinned.
"Far away, long ago, glowing dim as an ember! Things my heart, used to know! Things it yearns to remember...and a song, someone sings...once upon, a December!" She finished, her sweet voice wavering at the end. Arabella sighed.
"That is the saddest song...and yet, it is so beautiful! And you didn't even sing the whole thing!" She whispered.
"It sort of reminds me of Lily. You see, she has so many memories of this place...most of them unpleasant, but she is coming back again, and will have to re-live them all over again. But there is hope, yet! She has us, now!" Sophia crowed, hugging Lily from behind. The red-headed girl blushed, and grinned.
"Yes, and we are your friends, Lily. Don't forget that!" Sakura chimed, her sweet voice ringing true.
"You know, I wonder what they would say if they knew that I was a muggle- born." Hermione commented thoughtfully. Ron glared at the air in front of him.
"They would like it, and if they didn't, they would have to answer to me...and Harry, and Draco, plus Syaoran and Eriol." He growled. Ginny giggled.
"Oh, my brave brother! So gallant and wise, now if only he would learn how to not embarrass himself in front of women..." Ginny laughed and began to run as Ron chased after her, growling. The group laughed, including Molly, who had been silent most of the time.
"I really don't see what will be so bad! I mean, the students that go here can't be all that bad." Molly mussed. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Molly, you keep thinking that way! But I can assure you from experience, Hogwarts is not always a pleasant place to live, especially if you are a muggle-born." She called, as she began to swing again.
"I am sorry you feel that way, Miss Evans. Perhaps we can change your mind!" Came a voice.
"HOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"
~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
Leopard Spots and Zebra Stripes
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 2.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy-Warty, Hogwarts!"
"Lily, would you shut up?! You have been singing that for the last two hours!" Molly Shepherd called. She was sitting by the window in their compartment on the Hogwarts Express, trying to read. Her red hair spilled over her shoulders, and her brown eyes flashed daggers at Lilly. Beside her, Sophia Heath sat, reading a fashion magazine called 'Teen Witch'.
"...teach us something please! Whether we be old and bald, or young with scabby knees!" Arabella Figg continued the song for Lily, her eyes sparkling.
"The second part refers to us, Molly, and the first refers to you! At least, that's the way you act!" She laughed, getting herself a pillow in the face.
"Shut up, Bella. That song may have been funny the first time, and even the second, but I stopped liking it at about the forty-fifth round." Molly snapped, burying her nose back in her book; it was called 'Prefects and What They Stand For'. The other three girls rolled their eyes.
"Pillow fight!" Bella shouted, stuffing a pillow in Lily's face. Molly rolled her eyes.
"Oh, for the love of...muggffff!!!!" She shrieked, as a pillow pelted her in the face. She tugged it away violently, and then began to slap Sophia, who had been the one to do it, over the head. Sophie laughed and ducked out of the way, only to have another pillow slung at her from the direction of Lily. With an indignant yell, she pelted Lily with her own pillow, hitting Bella in the process. Suffice to say, they had quite a war before the cart lady came in and broke it up.
"So...what do you think the new students are going to be like?" Sophia asked, as she took a bite of pumpkin pasty. Bella shrugged.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore's letter said that they were from Japan, and they were our age...oh! There are also supposed to be some cute guys in their group as well." Lily commented, causing Sophia and Bella to squeal. Molly rolled her eyes.
"There are more important things in life, than boys!" She grumbled. Bella and Sophia looked offended.
"Name one!" Bella taunted.
"I'll name a few. School, family, friends, homework..."
"HOMEWORK?!?! Molly, you're out of your mind!" Sophia shouted, looking indignant. All the while, Lily sat in her seat quietly, looking out the window, a troubled look on her face.
"Lily, what's wrong?" Bella finally asked, putting her arm around her friend. Lily sighed and turned to look at her.
"What if the new students are the same? What if they hate muggle-borns too? I have enough pressure on me from the other students and the Marauders, I don't need any more." Lily sighed. Bella thought for a moment.
"We are here for you, Lily, even if no one else is. We know who you really are, and they can kiss my butt if they still believe that muggle-borns are inferior." Bella fumed, causing Molly to gasp at her wording.
At fourteen, Lily, Bella, and Sophia had become quite close, and understood each other like the back of their hands. Molly, at sixteen, was the most sensible of the four girls. She was serious, but knew how to have fun at the same time, even though she would never admit it. She prided herself at being smart and in charge of things.
Bella was fun-loving, and a ham. She loved to play jokes on people, and liked it even more when she heard their screams, or remarks of her pranks. She was relatively good at school, and she could be serious when she wanted to be. She was also the most perceptive of the group, besides Lily, and she knew when her friends were feeling bad or sad, just by looking at them.
Sophia was also fun-loving, but in a more quiet way. She was into style, and she was quite lady-like. But if any of her friends were upset or in danger, that lady-likeness disappeared and was replaced by any emotion that was needed at the time.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you, Molly. Here at Hogwarts, there is this guy that you just have to meet! His name is Arthur Weasley, and he is really nice...most of the time. He is tall and has red hair and green eyes..."
"I don't want to hear about any *men*, Lily. They are inferior beings that were only put on this planet to be breading stock!" She huffed. Arabella and Sophia broke into giggles, and Lily smiled.
"And women are any better?" She teased. Molly looked offended.
"Of course we are! We are the superior beings! Without us, men would be extinct." She pointed out.
"Molly, remind me to write that in my diary tonight. Men: put on this earth for breading stock. Women: put on this earth to be sheet-wearing peace- keepers, and bearers of other peace-keepers and more breeding-stock!" Arabella laughed. Molly shot her a glare and sat in icy silence the rest of the way to Hogwarts.
~*~*~*~
"It looks just like it did during our time!" Tomoyo exclaimed, looking around the Great Hall. They had decorated it so it would look just like the 'Garden' back in their own time, except with a few changes...
"Now we all have a swing to swing on!" Sakura laughed, sitting down on one that was strung underneath the sakura tree. There was another swing on the other side of the tree, where Ginny had taken up residence, and then two more swings, strung up on the tomoyo tree just across the way. Tomoyo and Hermione were presently rocking back and forth in those. Rika was swinging in still another swing, that was strung up in a large oak tree in the center of the Hall. The boys were all sitting on branches, on different levels of the huge oak, and watching the girls talk.
"So today is the day." Sakura finally sighed, after a long pause. Everyone looked over at her and nodded. Harry looked anxious, and Rika was wringing her hands, which she had taken off the ropes of the swing to lay in her lap.
"I will get to see mother...alive." Harry croaked, clearing his throat. Rika looked at him and smiled reassuringly.
"And it will be great. She'll never know!" Rika giggled. For some reason, this seemed quite funny to all of them, because soon, they were all laughing.
"Well, it looks as if you are having quite a good time! But may I intrude upon your time, for a moment? There are some people I would like you to meet." Everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore standing in the doorway, his eyes sparkling. Three figures stood behind him, looking nervous. And in the very middle of them stood...
Lily Evans.
~*~*~*~
"POTTER?!?!" Lily shrieked, her green eyes flashing. Harry stepped back, his own green eyes widening with shock and fear. There she was! His mother, after all these years...and looking so young! The situation would have been funny, if it hadn't been so serious. Harry then remembered the temporary change in his last name, and then pretended to look confused.
"Excuse me? Do I know you?" He questioned, trying to look innocent. Confusion wreathed the beautiful girl's face, and for a moment, she shrank back, gazing at him. Meanwhile, her three friends watched her in worry. Harry took this time to look over Lily Evans. She had red hair that reached mid-back, and green eyes just like his. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her red lips pierced in confusion. Beside him, Harry could feel Rika trembling in excitement.
"Ms. Evans, you must be mistaken. This is Harry Ivers. He attended that private Wizerding school that I told you girls about." Dumbledore cut in calmly. Lily's face immediately lost it's confused look, and she smiled, a pretty, lilting smile.
"A pleasure to meet you, Harry. I apologize for my rudeness. You see, I thought that you were someone else." She giggled, embarrassed. Harry smiled.
"You will have to tell me about this 'someone else' later. I would like to hear about him." Harry chuckled. Beside him, Rika giggled and stepped forward.
"I am Rika Ivers, Harry's sister." She whispered. Lily took a liking to the girl immediately, but was quite surprised by the resemblance between Rika and herself.
"Pleased to meet you, Rika." She said. Just then, Arabella, Sophia, and Molly stepped forward, looking cautious. Ron let out a sharp gasp, and then pulled Harry to the side, while the others greeted the newcomers.
"Harry! That's my mum!" Ron hissed, pointing at the second red-headed girl. Harry choked and looked at Molly, his eyes wide.
"Well I'll be!" He began to laugh. Ron glared at him and quickly made his way over to meet the younger version of his mother.
"Ron Craven, at your service." He said teasingly, leaning over and kissing Molly's hand. Molly's cheeks went red, and she giggled.
"Pleased to meet you, Ron. I am Molly Shepherd." She chimed. Ginny grinned as she realized just who this girl was.
"Hello, Molly, I am Ginny Craven, Ron's sister. And this is Hermione Granger." Ginny pointed to Hermione, who was looking shocked. Molly nodded at both girls, and then walked over to meet the others.
"You know, if I didn't know better, I would think that you were Lucious Malfoy." Lily said thoughtfully, looking Draco over. The young man squirmed under her stare.
"Well, I am going to take that as a slight, since you obviously do not like this Lucious. My name is Draco Winner." He said politely. Lily's face broke into a smile, and she shook his hand.
"Pleased to meet you then, Draco. I can see that you are nothing like Malfoy, so I have nothing to worry about." She laughed. He smiled at her gently, and then they joined the rest of the group.
"Well, I will leave you to get aquatinted." Dumbledore said with a satisfied smile, leaving the room. They all called goodbye, and then want back to talking with each other.
"Do you like to sing?" Tomoyo asked Bella. The other girl's face lit up.
"You bet! I love it, and so does Lily, although she would never admit it. Sophia isn't so good, and neither is Molly, but they can sing if they have to." Bella said, causing the two girls to glare at her, while Lily giggled. Tomoyo grinned.
"Sakura, Rika and I are in a singing group. Perhaps we could sing sometime, together. Ginny is rather good too." Tomoyo added as an afterthought. Bella and Lily looked eager, while Ginny blushed at the complement.
"I'll do the make-up. I'm good at that, at least!" Sophia laughed. Molly sniffed.
"You are so..."
"Immature? Molly, you really need to get some fun into your life, and loosen up!" Ginny stated, rolling her eyes. Molly looked at her in astonishment, and then shook her head.
"I like things just the way they are, thanks." She snapped. Ginny grinned mischievously, and then flicked her wand in Molly's direction. The girl's school robes immediately changed into a short, black and white, tiger- stripped skirt, and a black tube-top. She wore black sandals on her feet, and her hair was done up in a french braid. Molly looked at herself in horror, and growing curiosity, while her three friends giggled helplessly.
"Because of your bravery and show of style towards Molly, we hereby dub all of you honorary members of the 'We Hate Marauders' Club. Now, would you like to join the 'Be gentle on Remus', group, the 'Peter is a Moron' group, the 'Serius Drinks Water from the Toilet' group, or the 'Kill James because he is a Freak' group? Counseling is included in the last two groups mentioned." Bella trilled, causing the whole group to break up laughing.
Yes, it this was going to be a very interesting adventure!
~*~*~*~
"Tomoyo, sing."
"Sing what, Bella?" Tomoyo asked. It was about a month later, and all the group had draped themselves over rocks along the shore of the lake. The giant squid was waving it's tentacles lazily, as the girls talked.
"The one you sang last week, by that singer called 'Myra'." Bella said. Tomoyo glanced at Sakura and Rika, who nodded. It was a song from their time, by an artist from their time, but they had decided that it would be safe to mention the song, since Lily and the others had no idea the true origin of it.
"All right. Sakura, hit it!" Tomoyo said, pointing at her emerald-eyed friend. Sakura grinned, and waved her wand. Automatically, music streamed out of nowhere, and Sakura, Tomoyo and Rika stood up.
Tomoyo:
Miracles Happen! Miracles Happen!
I can't imagine, livin' my life without you, now; Not ever having you around, We found a way out...
Sakura and Rika: On you I can depend!
Tomoyo:
Don't have to look back, during our life the fall will come, There are a million reasons! I'm lookin' at, I don't want this to end!
Nothing! Nothing should ever bring you down!
Sakura and Rika: Oh-oh-oh-oh!
Tomoyo:
Knowing, what goes around will come around!
All:
You show me please, it's not blind, I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles happen, once in a while, When you believe!
Sakura and Rika:
Miracles Happen!
Tomoyo:
You show me dreams, come to life, That taking a chance on us was right, All things will come, with a little time, When you believe!
There is no question We found the missing pieces, I picture it completed! It's fallin' into place,
Sakura and Rika:
It's fallin' into place
Tomoyo:
This is the moment, you and I are looking out! Someone is watchin' over us, Keepin' me close... Closer to you everyday!
Nowhere, Nowhere on earth I'd rather be!
Sakura and Rika:
Oh-oh-oh-oh...
Tomoyo:
No one, can take this away from you and me!
All:
You show me please, it's not blind, I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles Happen, once in a while, When you believe!
Sakura and Rika:
Miracles happen! When you believe...
Tomoyo:
Your soul is a shining light, Your heart has the will to fight! You can do anything, don't be afraid, Were gonna find a way!
Sakura and Rika:
Heart has the will to fight, Ah-ah-ah-ah
Tomoyo:
Oh, yeah!
Sakura:
Miracles happen!
Rika:
Miracles can happen...
Sakura:
Miracles happen!
Rika:
Miracles can happen!
All:
You show me please, it's not blind! I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles happen once in a while, When you believe!
Sakura and Rika:
Miracles Happen!
You show me please, it's not blind, I don't need wings to help me fly! Miracles Happen!
They all sat for a moment, stunned into silence, and then Draco stood up and hugged his girlfriend.
"That was wonderful! You are going to have to sing it for us when we...see our relatives next." Draco said, catching himself. Everyone laughed and then clapped, while Sakura, Rika and tomoyo blushed. No one but Sakura had noticed that Tomoyo's eyes had been fastened to Eriol's face the whole time they were singing, and to tell the truth, the auburn haired girl was presently gloating over her friends obvious infatuation with the boy.
"OH! What time is it?!" Lily shrieked, sitting up quickly. Harry looked at his watch and looked startled.
"Damn! We're late to supper! And the rest of the school is coming, tonight!" He groaned, getting up and brushing himself off.
"Harry! Watch your language!" Ginny exclaimed, as he helped her up. He grinned at her.
"Yes, mother!" He teased, and then ducked as he hand whisked past his cheek.
"Violent, aren't we?" He laughed, jumping to the ground and bounding back towards Hogwarts. Ginny growled and jumped off her rock, chasing after him. The others laughed and quickly followed. They made quick time, getting back to the Great Hall, but when they got there, it seemed to still be the 'garden' that they had created.
"Oh, well! More time for us! I'm not feeling particularly hungry, are you?" Ron asked, jumping onto one of the Oak tree limbs.
"I call the swing!" Sakura trilled, racing for one of the swings on the sakura tree.
"Which one?" Bella laughed, looking at the numerous swings hanging from the majority of the trees. Tomoyo giggled at Bella's comment, and then hurried over to claim one of the swings on the tomoyo tree.
"I call first dibs on the swing next to Sakura!" Bella shrieked, racing over to the other swing near Sakura's. Hermione hurried over to secure the one next to Tomoyo. Rika took her normal swing under the oak, and grinned as Draco draped himself over the limb that her swing hung from, and gently pushed the ropes with his feet.
"Here, Lily. There is another swing here." Harry said, bowing, and pointed to another swing across from Rika's. Lily grinned.
"You may look like Potter, Harry, but you sure don't act like him. You, unlike that scum, are a gentleman!" Lily giggled, as she sat on the swing. He grinned.
"Hey, some of us have it, and others don't. I just happen to be lucky enough to have it!" He joked, as he sat down and leaned against the trunk of the tree. He patted the ground beside him, and Ginny sat there, looking a bit nervous. Ron was pushing Hermione on the swing, while Syaoran had joined Sakura on her extra-long swing, and was now propelling them both back and forth as they talked. Molly had rested herself underneath another sakura tree, and was now in the middle of reading a thick book. Eriol had taken to leaning against the tomoyo tree, and was talking animatedly with Tomoyo and Hermione. Sophia could be seen running back and forth, picking flowers and enjoying the scenery.
"Do you think that Professor Dumbledore will make us transform everything back to normal, when the others get here?" Lily asked anxiously. Eriol turned to her and shook his head.
"He won't. I have spoken to him about it, and he is going to let us keep it this way, so whenever we want to just...get away, we can come here." Eriol called. Lily nodded, and continued swinging.
"Dancing Bears, Painted wings, things I almost...remember," Tomoyo began slowly, almost hesitantly. Sakura smiled an continued.
"...And a song, someone sings, once upon a December!" Sakura pointed at Rika, who continued the song.
"Someone holds me safe and warm! Horses prance through a silver storm..." Rika motioned at Ginny, who hesitantly continued.
"Figures dancing, gracefully, across my memory..." She looked at Lily, who grinned.
"Far away, long ago, glowing dim as an ember! Things my heart, used to know! Things it yearns to remember...and a song, someone sings...once upon, a December!" She finished, her sweet voice wavering at the end. Arabella sighed.
"That is the saddest song...and yet, it is so beautiful! And you didn't even sing the whole thing!" She whispered.
"It sort of reminds me of Lily. You see, she has so many memories of this place...most of them unpleasant, but she is coming back again, and will have to re-live them all over again. But there is hope, yet! She has us, now!" Sophia crowed, hugging Lily from behind. The red-headed girl blushed, and grinned.
"Yes, and we are your friends, Lily. Don't forget that!" Sakura chimed, her sweet voice ringing true.
"You know, I wonder what they would say if they knew that I was a muggle- born." Hermione commented thoughtfully. Ron glared at the air in front of him.
"They would like it, and if they didn't, they would have to answer to me...and Harry, and Draco, plus Syaoran and Eriol." He growled. Ginny giggled.
"Oh, my brave brother! So gallant and wise, now if only he would learn how to not embarrass himself in front of women..." Ginny laughed and began to run as Ron chased after her, growling. The group laughed, including Molly, who had been silent most of the time.
"I really don't see what will be so bad! I mean, the students that go here can't be all that bad." Molly mussed. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Molly, you keep thinking that way! But I can assure you from experience, Hogwarts is not always a pleasant place to live, especially if you are a muggle-born." She called, as she began to swing again.
"I am sorry you feel that way, Miss Evans. Perhaps we can change your mind!" Came a voice.
"HOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"
~*~*~*~