Daphne: "Hello again! Now, I want to clear something up. I had someone
complain about the fake last name I gave to Draco Malfoy, which was
'Winner' (the person thought I had taken the name from 'Gundam Wing'). I
didn't mean for this to annoy anyone, and in fact, I completely forgot that
Quatre 'Winner' was Quatre's full name! So please, do not get annoyed! I
only wrote down the first name that came to my mind, and Winner was it. So
quit complaining!
Now that I am done with my little rant, please continue with the story, and then Review!
Oh, yes! I am sorry for not writing for so long! I was sort of grounded from the computer for a week...hehehehe, don't ask. So anyway, please forgive me!
~*~*~*~
Leopard Spots and Zebra Stripes
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 3.
"Ahhh!!!!!!! Hogwarts, sweet Hogwarts!" A black haired young man exclaimed, as he climbed out of the horse-less carriage with his three friends, and looked up at the huge castle with sparkling brown eyes.
"The Threshold of Youth! Or should I say, the Threshold of Pranks?" This time, the speaker was a boy with dark mahogany hair, and laughing chocolate eyes.
"I couldn't agree more!" Said another boy, with dark blonde hair and lively blue eyes.
"Hey, did you guys hear? That muggle-born, what's her name? Evans...Lily! Lily Evans! Well, she is coming back...tonight!" The fourth spoke up. He had short blonde hair and watery blue eyes. The other three boys did a slow turn towards him.
"WHAT?!?!"
"I thought that we had run her out of town, for good!"
"Yeah! What is she doing back, Peter?" James Potter complained. Peter Pettigrew shrugged.
"I don't know. All dad said was that she was coming, along with a hippogriff load of other people." He answered.
"Good! More pranks to pull!" Serius Black sighed in contentment. Remus looked unsure, but he followed his fellow Marauders into the Great Hall. They were some of the last in; the first years were already being sorted.
"Damn, we missed it!" James hissed, as the last student was sorted. Serius shrugged.
"The sooner we can eat, then!" He chuckled. Food, pranks, and girls, were the only things on the fourteen year-old's mind at present, it seemed. But that was all about to change.
"Now, I want to announce that an old student of ours, Miss Lily Evans, is joining our school once again, along with her four friends, plus some exchange students from Japan and China. Now, I want you all to be on your best behavior." Dumbledore said, standing up.
"Oy! Exchange students! I wonder if any of them are cute?" Serius wondered. It was just then that a change took place in the Great Hall. Everything disappeared, including all the people, and a strange garden appeared, taking the place of everything and everyone that had been there before.
"What in the bloody hell is going on?!" Serius shouted. There were murmurs raging around the room, but they were immediately silenced by what James Potter recognized as a silencing charm. He should know! Lily Evans put many silencing charms on him while she had been attending here! Unable to see or hear his friends, James sat silently, wondering what was going to happen next. It didn't take very long for anyone to figure it out.
"I call the swing!" A sweet, lilting voice cried. James sat in shock as a breathtakingly beautiful girl ran right through him, and to a tree standing not too far away. She sat down on the swing and began to rock, her pink skirts fluttering about her legs. There was a soft chuckle as a boy about a year younger than himself walked up to her and sat down on the swing next to her. He gave put his arm about her waist, and then began to push the swing back and forth with his feet. James then turned his attention to the other people who had just rushed into the room, and got the shock of his life.
There was a boy almost identical to him, standing right in the middle of the room! He was talking to a girl who looked strangely familiar...wait! Red hair, green eyes...that was the infamous Lily Evans! And boy, had she grown! Her hair now reached to mid-back, but her body still lacked to curves he liked on girls...now that girl that looked like Evans, with the red-brown hair and brown eyes...she had a body to die for! Unfortunately, she seemed to be taken by that blonde young man up in the tree, who looked ridiculously like Lucius Malfoy...
Ah! Then there was that other red-head, but her attention was stuck to the boy who looked like him. James looked around again, and saw yet another red- head, lying on the grass and reading a book. The boy snorted at this, and turned his attention to the raven-violet haired girl who was talking with that brown-haired girl. The brunette was being pushed by some red-headed boy, who looked an awful lot like Arthur Weasley, and then there was the black-blue haired young man with the blue eyes, who was laughing at something the girls had said...
James turned his attention to the lone girl near the girl who had entered the room first. She had long blonde hair, and bright, cornflower blue eyes. She was quite lovely, and James immediately guessed that this was that Foreign Minister's daughter, Arabella Figg. The other girl with raven hair that was walking around and picking flowers...she must be one of Arabella's friends or something. Then came an even more shocking thing, that nearly caused James to fall from his seat.
"You may look like Potter, Harry, but you sure don't act like him. You, unlike that scum, are a gentleman!" Came Lily's voice. James growled, as the look-alike of him bowed and offered her a swing. James felt something close to jealously rise to his chest. More conversation that offended him greatly began to take place, but ended when the lovely raven-violet haired girl began to sing. Sweetly, each girl sang one verse, and then, surprisingly enough, Evans finished the song in her own lilting voice. Everything seemed to be going fine, until Evans spoke up again, after the red-head who was reading had spoken.
"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." Lily called, as she began to swing again. James felt a mixture of guilt and disgust enter his being. Then came Dumbledore's voice.
"I am sorry you feel that way, Miss Evans. Perhaps we can change your mind!" The old professor's voice said.
"HOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"
~*~*~*~
As James watched, the garden faded from view, and the Great Hall returned. Sakura, who had yelled 'hoe', had fallen right through the swing, onto the teachers platform with Syaoran not far behind. Draco toppled onto the Slytherin table, while Rika fell on the bench next to him. Lily landed in the middle isle with a scream, and Bella shrieked as her swing disappeared out from under her. Eriol managed to catch Tomoyo, and Ron had Hermione around the waist before the swing dissolved from under her. Sophia had jumped at the commotion, and Molly bumped her head on the Ravenclaw table, that just happened to appear directly over her.
"Bloody hell! Can you be more careful, Dumbledore?! I nearly lost my lunch!" Ron shouted, releasing Hermione and glaring at the grinning professor.
"Wow! What an entrance! Now, where is the camera, and which side do you think is my best side?" Arabella grumbled sarcastically, as she stood up.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, professor?! Startling us like that! The nerve!" Hermione snapped, brushing herself off. Ron chuckled and walked down to Molly, who was struggling to get out from under the table. He helped her up, and then went to make sure Ginny was alright.
"I am sorry, but it is time for supper. You had plenty of time to play this afternoon." Dumbledore chuckled, motioning to their seats.
"Yeah...but we were swimming in the lake then. And before that we were on the training grounds you made for Syaoran...and then before that we went for a walk in the Forbidden Forest..."
"YOU WHAT?!" Professor McGonagle stood up, looking outraged. Bella giggled maniacally, her eyes twinkling.
"We only walked at the edge of it, professor. Bella is just being a hag." Lily corrected, gaining herself a slap on the arm.
"Well, then miss Evans, I cannot punish you for that. The forest is beautiful this time of year. Now, how about we introduce you." Dumbledore stood up, and motioned them to the front of the room. They lined up, and then Dumbledore indicated that Lily should speak.
"I am Lily Evans...but I am sure you all remember me." She said in a dangerous voice. Several students looked uncomfortable, but the Marauders just grinned. They were already thinking of pranks to play on 'Evans and her gang'.
"I am Sophia Heath, and I am from the US." Sophia said, her eyes twinkling at the room. Several young men stared interestedly. Then Bella came forward, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Arabella Figg, US, champion prankster, happy to kick the butt of anyone who challenges me or offends me." The girl crowed, a dangerous glint entering her eyes. The Marauders laughed and elbowed each other. She was going to be fun to play with!
"Molly Shepherd, I'm from the US, and am a casual acquaintance of Lily and Sophia." Molly stated, her nose up in the air. Bella looked offended.
"Hey! You missed me!"
"No I didn't. I just didn't acknowledge you, because I am going to act as if I don't know you." Molly snapped, turning away. Bella grinned and shook her head.
"Uh-oh. I don't want to know how this will turn out! Anyway, I'm Ron Craven, and this is my sister, Ginny." Ron said, winking at Molly. She blushed and looked away. Hermione took her turn, and was rewarded with many glares when she proudly admitted to being a 'muggle born'. Then Tomoyo went, and Eriol made a few comments about himself. Draco went after him, and someone was bold enough to ask if he and Lucius were related. Draco had smiled, but made no comment.
"I am Harry Ivers, and this is my sister, Rika." Harry stepped forward, Rika by his side. James caught his eye, and Harry smiled mysteriously at the younger version of his father. James looked confused, but smiled back.
"I am Sakura Kinomoto, and I am pleased to meet you." Sakura gave a small curtsey, and many of the young men in the room began to drool. Syaoran growled and stepped forward, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Syaoran Li, you can address me as 'Li'." He said shortly, giving everyone one of his death-glares. Many of the people in the room shivered under his look.
"Very good. Now, if you would join your table, we could begin the feast." Dumbledore stated, motioning to the Gryffindor table. The group took their seats, and then looked up at the professor expectantly.
"Oh yes, and Miss Figg...I am sure that everyone appreciated your little 'transforming of the room' act, but next time, make sure there is no one in the Great Hall, before you do it." The old professor chuckled. Bella's friends looked at her angrily, but she grinned and began to talk with a girl next to her, whom Lily recognized as a girl from her dorm when she had attended the school.
Like always, the food appeared in front of them on golden platters, and like always, everyone hurried to dig in. But something was different...something that the Marauders just couldn't put their fingers on, until...
*BOOM!!!*
*SPLAT!*
*SQUISH!*
*SMACK!*
*SHLORP!*
All at once, the food that had once been on the Marauder's plates, was now all over their faces and robes.
"Surprise! Happy Birthday! If you are good little boys, we will even throw in a dung-bomb to go with that!" Bella yelled, getting up from the table and booking it out of the room. Sophia raced after her, practically dying in hysterics, and Lily was laughing so hard, she fell off the bench. Sakura and Molly were giggling behind their hands, while Tomoyo, who had pulled a camcorder out of nowhere, taped the whole thing. Rika was choking on a bit of food she had been chewing when it had happened, and Ginny and Hermione were snorting into their mashed potatoes. All of the young men in their party were laughing maniacally, except for Syaoran, who was chuckling darkly.
"I...I think that we...will eat in the...kitchens tonight, professor..." Lily laughed, trying to find her voice. Meanwhile, the Marauders were seething in anger, their eyes filled with dislike at the group who was now getting up and walking out of the room.
"I am going to get you, Evans!" James shouted at her back. She laughed even harder.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, you guys, welcome to Hogwarts!" Her voice rang out, as they left the Hall.
~*~*~*~
"Take these lips that were made for kissin'!" Bella sang, as she sat with her friends in the common room later that night. She was sitting in a deep chair, reading a muggle romance novel, while Lily and Sophia watched a brutal game of Wizard's Chess, between Ron and Harry. Draco, Ginny, and Rika were next to them, cheering for both teams.
Hermione was reading 'Hogwarts, a History' over for the fourth time, and was sitting at a table not far from the game. Syaoran was reading something on wizard duels, while sitting in an overstuffed arm-chair. At his feet, Sakura had seated herself on a pouf, and was carefully going over her Sakura Cards, which she had luckily brought with her (she had managed to convince Lily and her friends that they were simply special playing cards for a Japanese game). Tomoyo was next to her on another pouf, fixing random Hogwarts robes so they would fit their owners better. Eriol and Molly were seated on opposite sides of a couch, both immersed in boring-looking books.
"Take these hands that were made for touchin'...and feelin' you!" Bella went on. There was a soft chuckle, and she turned to see the four Marauders standing at the entrance of the portrait. Bella was delighted to see that the food was still covering them.
"OH! The twenty-four hour spell worked!" She laughed. The boys, who had been grinning, now frowned at her. Lily looked up from the game and started to laugh.
"The great 'pure-breds' have been outwitted by an two Americans and a 'muggle born'! Oh whatever shall they do?!" She giggled. This made the four boys even angrier.
"Evans, I know you put this spell on us! Take it off, now!" James shouted, his beautiful brown eyes flashing dangerously at her. Lily shook her finger at them.
"Ah-ah-ah! I only *found* the spell. Sophia cast it, and Bella had the idea to explode your food. So really, it was not my fault. I only found the spell because Bella wanted to show you what fools you were." Lily stated, turning away. James's face got beat red, and his three friends looked no better.
"You...you...mentally impaired women!" Serius yelled, his fists clenching.
"Psychopaths!" Remus added.
"Mudblood!" Peter finished. At his comment, even James, Serius and Remus looked at him in disbelief. Bella's face went serious, while Lily went pale and reached for her wand. Sophia stood up, and took her wand from her pocket as well.
"Patrificus Totalus!" Bella, Sophia and Lily said at the same time. The three spells mingled, and then hit Peter straight in the chest. The boy went rigid, and then fell to the floor with a thump. Bella's face became delighted.
"He should be paralyzed for at least three weeks! I wonder how long *four* spells would last..." Bella chirped. The Marauders looked at the girl in astonished disgust, and then conjured up a stretcher so they could carry Peter to the Hospital Wing. The three boys walked solemnly out, but when they had just reached the portrait, James turned and growled.
"This isn't over yet, Evans." He hissed.
"I'll be ready for anything you throw at me." She spat at his retreating back.
So that was how Harry, his friends, and the Card Captor gang spent their first day back to school, in the past.
~*~*~*~
*Meanwhile, in the year 2002...*
Meiling whimpered as the ground ceased to shake, and everything became deadly silent. Neville, who had draped himself over her to protect her, sat up and helped her to her knees. She got up shakily, and looked around.
"Oh my bloody..." Neville couldn't finish his sentence. They were now on the outskirts of the Quidditch Field.
The Quidditch field that had just had a deadly battle on it.
The Quidditch field that should have been no more than a large crater after all that power exploded...
The Quidditch field that was looking just as good as before. No crater, no burning rubble, no bodies...nothing but green grass.
"No...NO!" Meiling moaned, her voice filled with anguish. Syaoran was gone. Sakura was gone. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, Rika, Tomoyo, Eriol...even Kero and Spinnel were missing! Meiling looked out through tear- filled eyes, to see Yue and Ruby, still in their true forms, lying unconscious on the ground nearby.
"They're gone! They're dead!" Meiling sobbed. Neville placed a shaking hand around her waist, and held her close.
"What happened?"
A shaky Touya was standing behind them, little Rose in his arms, the baby strangely silent. Neville shook his head, and Meiling sobbed in answer. Touya's face twisted in horror, and then immense grief. He clutched Rose close, and buried his face in her tiny neck. Fujitaka came up behind his son and put his arm around him, his face registering shock and sorrow.
"Little brother."
"Dead..."
"Why?"
"No...poor brother!" These comments came from Syaoran's four sobbing sisters. Their mother was standing behind them, her face stony; if you looked close, however, you could see tears filling her eyes. A little ways away, Arthur and Molly Weasley were holding each other for comfort, while their sons comforted their wives/girlfriends and each other. Hermione's parents were huddled near Professor McGonagle, their faces pale and horrified. Dumbledore, strangely enough, was nowhere in sight.
"How could this happen?" Came Cornelius Fudge's voice.
"If you had listened to Harry in the first place, this wouldn't have happened! We would have captured Peter Pettigrew, and everything would be normal again!" Professor McGonagle hissed, her eyes flashing. Fudge drew back.
"How was I to know that Serius Black was innocent? When Mr. Potter first announced it, he was acting half crazy! There was no proof that he wasn't, after all!" Fudge shot back.
"SILENCE!!!"
Everyone turned to see a livid Albus Dumbledore, standing in one of the entrances.
"That is quite enough. Now, there is much explaining to do, and I am afraid that Mr. Longbottom and Ms. Li will have to explain most of it. Now, since the truth has finally come out, I believe that I may reveal a little secret of mine. Serius? You may show yourself, now." Dumbledore stated, looking around at them. A large black dog trotted out from behind Meiling, and looked up at the professor. Then, all at once, it began to transform. Before any of them could blink, the infamous Serius Black stood before them, now devoid of any and all accusations of being a Death Eater.
"Serius! Oh, they're gone! They're gone!" Meiling sobbed, throwing herself into his arms. Serius hugged her tightly, his face empty. Remus crept up behind him and hugged his friend.
"It will be all right, Seri. Remember?" Professor Arabella Figg asked, stepping forward. Serius nodded, and then turned to Dumbledore.
"We have a lot to explain." He sighed. There was a shuffle from behind them.
"Yes you do! And you can start by telling us how it is possible that we are here!" Came a laughing voice from behind them.
~*~*~*~
Now that I am done with my little rant, please continue with the story, and then Review!
Oh, yes! I am sorry for not writing for so long! I was sort of grounded from the computer for a week...hehehehe, don't ask. So anyway, please forgive me!
~*~*~*~
Leopard Spots and Zebra Stripes
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 3.
"Ahhh!!!!!!! Hogwarts, sweet Hogwarts!" A black haired young man exclaimed, as he climbed out of the horse-less carriage with his three friends, and looked up at the huge castle with sparkling brown eyes.
"The Threshold of Youth! Or should I say, the Threshold of Pranks?" This time, the speaker was a boy with dark mahogany hair, and laughing chocolate eyes.
"I couldn't agree more!" Said another boy, with dark blonde hair and lively blue eyes.
"Hey, did you guys hear? That muggle-born, what's her name? Evans...Lily! Lily Evans! Well, she is coming back...tonight!" The fourth spoke up. He had short blonde hair and watery blue eyes. The other three boys did a slow turn towards him.
"WHAT?!?!"
"I thought that we had run her out of town, for good!"
"Yeah! What is she doing back, Peter?" James Potter complained. Peter Pettigrew shrugged.
"I don't know. All dad said was that she was coming, along with a hippogriff load of other people." He answered.
"Good! More pranks to pull!" Serius Black sighed in contentment. Remus looked unsure, but he followed his fellow Marauders into the Great Hall. They were some of the last in; the first years were already being sorted.
"Damn, we missed it!" James hissed, as the last student was sorted. Serius shrugged.
"The sooner we can eat, then!" He chuckled. Food, pranks, and girls, were the only things on the fourteen year-old's mind at present, it seemed. But that was all about to change.
"Now, I want to announce that an old student of ours, Miss Lily Evans, is joining our school once again, along with her four friends, plus some exchange students from Japan and China. Now, I want you all to be on your best behavior." Dumbledore said, standing up.
"Oy! Exchange students! I wonder if any of them are cute?" Serius wondered. It was just then that a change took place in the Great Hall. Everything disappeared, including all the people, and a strange garden appeared, taking the place of everything and everyone that had been there before.
"What in the bloody hell is going on?!" Serius shouted. There were murmurs raging around the room, but they were immediately silenced by what James Potter recognized as a silencing charm. He should know! Lily Evans put many silencing charms on him while she had been attending here! Unable to see or hear his friends, James sat silently, wondering what was going to happen next. It didn't take very long for anyone to figure it out.
"I call the swing!" A sweet, lilting voice cried. James sat in shock as a breathtakingly beautiful girl ran right through him, and to a tree standing not too far away. She sat down on the swing and began to rock, her pink skirts fluttering about her legs. There was a soft chuckle as a boy about a year younger than himself walked up to her and sat down on the swing next to her. He gave put his arm about her waist, and then began to push the swing back and forth with his feet. James then turned his attention to the other people who had just rushed into the room, and got the shock of his life.
There was a boy almost identical to him, standing right in the middle of the room! He was talking to a girl who looked strangely familiar...wait! Red hair, green eyes...that was the infamous Lily Evans! And boy, had she grown! Her hair now reached to mid-back, but her body still lacked to curves he liked on girls...now that girl that looked like Evans, with the red-brown hair and brown eyes...she had a body to die for! Unfortunately, she seemed to be taken by that blonde young man up in the tree, who looked ridiculously like Lucius Malfoy...
Ah! Then there was that other red-head, but her attention was stuck to the boy who looked like him. James looked around again, and saw yet another red- head, lying on the grass and reading a book. The boy snorted at this, and turned his attention to the raven-violet haired girl who was talking with that brown-haired girl. The brunette was being pushed by some red-headed boy, who looked an awful lot like Arthur Weasley, and then there was the black-blue haired young man with the blue eyes, who was laughing at something the girls had said...
James turned his attention to the lone girl near the girl who had entered the room first. She had long blonde hair, and bright, cornflower blue eyes. She was quite lovely, and James immediately guessed that this was that Foreign Minister's daughter, Arabella Figg. The other girl with raven hair that was walking around and picking flowers...she must be one of Arabella's friends or something. Then came an even more shocking thing, that nearly caused James to fall from his seat.
"You may look like Potter, Harry, but you sure don't act like him. You, unlike that scum, are a gentleman!" Came Lily's voice. James growled, as the look-alike of him bowed and offered her a swing. James felt something close to jealously rise to his chest. More conversation that offended him greatly began to take place, but ended when the lovely raven-violet haired girl began to sing. Sweetly, each girl sang one verse, and then, surprisingly enough, Evans finished the song in her own lilting voice. Everything seemed to be going fine, until Evans spoke up again, after the red-head who was reading had spoken.
"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." Lily called, as she began to swing again. James felt a mixture of guilt and disgust enter his being. Then came Dumbledore's voice.
"I am sorry you feel that way, Miss Evans. Perhaps we can change your mind!" The old professor's voice said.
"HOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"
~*~*~*~
As James watched, the garden faded from view, and the Great Hall returned. Sakura, who had yelled 'hoe', had fallen right through the swing, onto the teachers platform with Syaoran not far behind. Draco toppled onto the Slytherin table, while Rika fell on the bench next to him. Lily landed in the middle isle with a scream, and Bella shrieked as her swing disappeared out from under her. Eriol managed to catch Tomoyo, and Ron had Hermione around the waist before the swing dissolved from under her. Sophia had jumped at the commotion, and Molly bumped her head on the Ravenclaw table, that just happened to appear directly over her.
"Bloody hell! Can you be more careful, Dumbledore?! I nearly lost my lunch!" Ron shouted, releasing Hermione and glaring at the grinning professor.
"Wow! What an entrance! Now, where is the camera, and which side do you think is my best side?" Arabella grumbled sarcastically, as she stood up.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, professor?! Startling us like that! The nerve!" Hermione snapped, brushing herself off. Ron chuckled and walked down to Molly, who was struggling to get out from under the table. He helped her up, and then went to make sure Ginny was alright.
"I am sorry, but it is time for supper. You had plenty of time to play this afternoon." Dumbledore chuckled, motioning to their seats.
"Yeah...but we were swimming in the lake then. And before that we were on the training grounds you made for Syaoran...and then before that we went for a walk in the Forbidden Forest..."
"YOU WHAT?!" Professor McGonagle stood up, looking outraged. Bella giggled maniacally, her eyes twinkling.
"We only walked at the edge of it, professor. Bella is just being a hag." Lily corrected, gaining herself a slap on the arm.
"Well, then miss Evans, I cannot punish you for that. The forest is beautiful this time of year. Now, how about we introduce you." Dumbledore stood up, and motioned them to the front of the room. They lined up, and then Dumbledore indicated that Lily should speak.
"I am Lily Evans...but I am sure you all remember me." She said in a dangerous voice. Several students looked uncomfortable, but the Marauders just grinned. They were already thinking of pranks to play on 'Evans and her gang'.
"I am Sophia Heath, and I am from the US." Sophia said, her eyes twinkling at the room. Several young men stared interestedly. Then Bella came forward, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Arabella Figg, US, champion prankster, happy to kick the butt of anyone who challenges me or offends me." The girl crowed, a dangerous glint entering her eyes. The Marauders laughed and elbowed each other. She was going to be fun to play with!
"Molly Shepherd, I'm from the US, and am a casual acquaintance of Lily and Sophia." Molly stated, her nose up in the air. Bella looked offended.
"Hey! You missed me!"
"No I didn't. I just didn't acknowledge you, because I am going to act as if I don't know you." Molly snapped, turning away. Bella grinned and shook her head.
"Uh-oh. I don't want to know how this will turn out! Anyway, I'm Ron Craven, and this is my sister, Ginny." Ron said, winking at Molly. She blushed and looked away. Hermione took her turn, and was rewarded with many glares when she proudly admitted to being a 'muggle born'. Then Tomoyo went, and Eriol made a few comments about himself. Draco went after him, and someone was bold enough to ask if he and Lucius were related. Draco had smiled, but made no comment.
"I am Harry Ivers, and this is my sister, Rika." Harry stepped forward, Rika by his side. James caught his eye, and Harry smiled mysteriously at the younger version of his father. James looked confused, but smiled back.
"I am Sakura Kinomoto, and I am pleased to meet you." Sakura gave a small curtsey, and many of the young men in the room began to drool. Syaoran growled and stepped forward, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Syaoran Li, you can address me as 'Li'." He said shortly, giving everyone one of his death-glares. Many of the people in the room shivered under his look.
"Very good. Now, if you would join your table, we could begin the feast." Dumbledore stated, motioning to the Gryffindor table. The group took their seats, and then looked up at the professor expectantly.
"Oh yes, and Miss Figg...I am sure that everyone appreciated your little 'transforming of the room' act, but next time, make sure there is no one in the Great Hall, before you do it." The old professor chuckled. Bella's friends looked at her angrily, but she grinned and began to talk with a girl next to her, whom Lily recognized as a girl from her dorm when she had attended the school.
Like always, the food appeared in front of them on golden platters, and like always, everyone hurried to dig in. But something was different...something that the Marauders just couldn't put their fingers on, until...
*BOOM!!!*
*SPLAT!*
*SQUISH!*
*SMACK!*
*SHLORP!*
All at once, the food that had once been on the Marauder's plates, was now all over their faces and robes.
"Surprise! Happy Birthday! If you are good little boys, we will even throw in a dung-bomb to go with that!" Bella yelled, getting up from the table and booking it out of the room. Sophia raced after her, practically dying in hysterics, and Lily was laughing so hard, she fell off the bench. Sakura and Molly were giggling behind their hands, while Tomoyo, who had pulled a camcorder out of nowhere, taped the whole thing. Rika was choking on a bit of food she had been chewing when it had happened, and Ginny and Hermione were snorting into their mashed potatoes. All of the young men in their party were laughing maniacally, except for Syaoran, who was chuckling darkly.
"I...I think that we...will eat in the...kitchens tonight, professor..." Lily laughed, trying to find her voice. Meanwhile, the Marauders were seething in anger, their eyes filled with dislike at the group who was now getting up and walking out of the room.
"I am going to get you, Evans!" James shouted at her back. She laughed even harder.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, you guys, welcome to Hogwarts!" Her voice rang out, as they left the Hall.
~*~*~*~
"Take these lips that were made for kissin'!" Bella sang, as she sat with her friends in the common room later that night. She was sitting in a deep chair, reading a muggle romance novel, while Lily and Sophia watched a brutal game of Wizard's Chess, between Ron and Harry. Draco, Ginny, and Rika were next to them, cheering for both teams.
Hermione was reading 'Hogwarts, a History' over for the fourth time, and was sitting at a table not far from the game. Syaoran was reading something on wizard duels, while sitting in an overstuffed arm-chair. At his feet, Sakura had seated herself on a pouf, and was carefully going over her Sakura Cards, which she had luckily brought with her (she had managed to convince Lily and her friends that they were simply special playing cards for a Japanese game). Tomoyo was next to her on another pouf, fixing random Hogwarts robes so they would fit their owners better. Eriol and Molly were seated on opposite sides of a couch, both immersed in boring-looking books.
"Take these hands that were made for touchin'...and feelin' you!" Bella went on. There was a soft chuckle, and she turned to see the four Marauders standing at the entrance of the portrait. Bella was delighted to see that the food was still covering them.
"OH! The twenty-four hour spell worked!" She laughed. The boys, who had been grinning, now frowned at her. Lily looked up from the game and started to laugh.
"The great 'pure-breds' have been outwitted by an two Americans and a 'muggle born'! Oh whatever shall they do?!" She giggled. This made the four boys even angrier.
"Evans, I know you put this spell on us! Take it off, now!" James shouted, his beautiful brown eyes flashing dangerously at her. Lily shook her finger at them.
"Ah-ah-ah! I only *found* the spell. Sophia cast it, and Bella had the idea to explode your food. So really, it was not my fault. I only found the spell because Bella wanted to show you what fools you were." Lily stated, turning away. James's face got beat red, and his three friends looked no better.
"You...you...mentally impaired women!" Serius yelled, his fists clenching.
"Psychopaths!" Remus added.
"Mudblood!" Peter finished. At his comment, even James, Serius and Remus looked at him in disbelief. Bella's face went serious, while Lily went pale and reached for her wand. Sophia stood up, and took her wand from her pocket as well.
"Patrificus Totalus!" Bella, Sophia and Lily said at the same time. The three spells mingled, and then hit Peter straight in the chest. The boy went rigid, and then fell to the floor with a thump. Bella's face became delighted.
"He should be paralyzed for at least three weeks! I wonder how long *four* spells would last..." Bella chirped. The Marauders looked at the girl in astonished disgust, and then conjured up a stretcher so they could carry Peter to the Hospital Wing. The three boys walked solemnly out, but when they had just reached the portrait, James turned and growled.
"This isn't over yet, Evans." He hissed.
"I'll be ready for anything you throw at me." She spat at his retreating back.
So that was how Harry, his friends, and the Card Captor gang spent their first day back to school, in the past.
~*~*~*~
*Meanwhile, in the year 2002...*
Meiling whimpered as the ground ceased to shake, and everything became deadly silent. Neville, who had draped himself over her to protect her, sat up and helped her to her knees. She got up shakily, and looked around.
"Oh my bloody..." Neville couldn't finish his sentence. They were now on the outskirts of the Quidditch Field.
The Quidditch field that had just had a deadly battle on it.
The Quidditch field that should have been no more than a large crater after all that power exploded...
The Quidditch field that was looking just as good as before. No crater, no burning rubble, no bodies...nothing but green grass.
"No...NO!" Meiling moaned, her voice filled with anguish. Syaoran was gone. Sakura was gone. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, Rika, Tomoyo, Eriol...even Kero and Spinnel were missing! Meiling looked out through tear- filled eyes, to see Yue and Ruby, still in their true forms, lying unconscious on the ground nearby.
"They're gone! They're dead!" Meiling sobbed. Neville placed a shaking hand around her waist, and held her close.
"What happened?"
A shaky Touya was standing behind them, little Rose in his arms, the baby strangely silent. Neville shook his head, and Meiling sobbed in answer. Touya's face twisted in horror, and then immense grief. He clutched Rose close, and buried his face in her tiny neck. Fujitaka came up behind his son and put his arm around him, his face registering shock and sorrow.
"Little brother."
"Dead..."
"Why?"
"No...poor brother!" These comments came from Syaoran's four sobbing sisters. Their mother was standing behind them, her face stony; if you looked close, however, you could see tears filling her eyes. A little ways away, Arthur and Molly Weasley were holding each other for comfort, while their sons comforted their wives/girlfriends and each other. Hermione's parents were huddled near Professor McGonagle, their faces pale and horrified. Dumbledore, strangely enough, was nowhere in sight.
"How could this happen?" Came Cornelius Fudge's voice.
"If you had listened to Harry in the first place, this wouldn't have happened! We would have captured Peter Pettigrew, and everything would be normal again!" Professor McGonagle hissed, her eyes flashing. Fudge drew back.
"How was I to know that Serius Black was innocent? When Mr. Potter first announced it, he was acting half crazy! There was no proof that he wasn't, after all!" Fudge shot back.
"SILENCE!!!"
Everyone turned to see a livid Albus Dumbledore, standing in one of the entrances.
"That is quite enough. Now, there is much explaining to do, and I am afraid that Mr. Longbottom and Ms. Li will have to explain most of it. Now, since the truth has finally come out, I believe that I may reveal a little secret of mine. Serius? You may show yourself, now." Dumbledore stated, looking around at them. A large black dog trotted out from behind Meiling, and looked up at the professor. Then, all at once, it began to transform. Before any of them could blink, the infamous Serius Black stood before them, now devoid of any and all accusations of being a Death Eater.
"Serius! Oh, they're gone! They're gone!" Meiling sobbed, throwing herself into his arms. Serius hugged her tightly, his face empty. Remus crept up behind him and hugged his friend.
"It will be all right, Seri. Remember?" Professor Arabella Figg asked, stepping forward. Serius nodded, and then turned to Dumbledore.
"We have a lot to explain." He sighed. There was a shuffle from behind them.
"Yes you do! And you can start by telling us how it is possible that we are here!" Came a laughing voice from behind them.
~*~*~*~