Daphne: "HOE!!! Last chapter! I really hope that you have enjoyed this
story. I am sorry that I didn't update it as fast as I did the first one,
and I hope that you will review!
Also, a few of you have been asking for a sequel. I warn you, I have seriously thought about it, but am not sure...you'll have to convince me! Now, the third story would focus mostly around the children of these characters, and their adventures...and romances. Please write me and tell me what you think!
Oh, tiny little note. I have put up a few ideas of stories that I have, on my biography. But I have had one other idea since then, and I would like to run it past you, so I am adding a summery of it to the *end of this chapter*, to see what you think. It will be a Tomoyo+Eriol, and it is a little sad, but really good, I promise! PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PARTICULAR STORY!
~*~*~*~
Leopard Spots and Zebra Stripes
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 10.
"I found one!" Meiling shrieked, thrusting a huge book beneath Neville's nose. Neville groaned and looked at the passage that she pointed out.
"It is a portal! It will let us go through time, to when they are. Then, we can spend as much time as we need there, trying to find them and get home!" The girl cried. Sirius, Bella, Sophia, Remus, Severus, Lily and James hurried up behind them, looking at the spell.
"Simple enough. Come on! We have to hurry!" James commented, rushing to get the ingredients.
"Let's get everyone into the Great Hall. It will be better that they see this." Arabella stated, as she and the other's rushed from the library.
~*~*~*~
As Harry entered the dark room, his senses were already strained to their highest point. The room was silent, cold, and echoed something horrible, just adding to the tension. Harry quickly made his way to a corner of the room, hiding in its shadows.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Quiet, imbeciles! Do you want them to hear us?!" Came a hissing voice that Harry knew all too well. With a 'pop', no less than twenty men appeared in the middle of the room, their wands drawn and ready. They moved towards the doors, and one of them tried to open them.
"UGH! It won't open, master!"
"FOOL! Get out of the way!" Voldemort stepped up to the doors, his wand pointed at them. Harry knew that it was now or never. With a stealth that even surprised him, he hissed a stunning spell and several of the Death Eaters fell to the floor, unmoving.
"WHAT?!" Voldemort searched for the person who had taken down his men, and with a gulp, Harry stepped out of the shadows.
"Miss me, Tom?" He asked, managing to keep humor in his voice. Voldemort's face turned red in anger at the use of his old name, and this young man who used it so easily.
"James Potter." He hissed, his eyes narrowing in hatred. Harry chuckled.
"No. That would be my father. I am *Harry* Potter, proud son of James Potter." Harry's voice had become deep and strong, full of conviction and assurance. Voldemort sneered.
"You lie. James Potter is but a boy. A little boy who will soon die."
"Not if I have anything to do with it!" Harry stated, muttering a binding spell and falling five more of the Death Eaters. Voldemort hissed.
"Fine, Potter. Play that way. AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed, shooting the spell straight at Harry. Luckily, Sakura had remembered Voldemort's favorite spell, so the shield repelled it beautifully.
"NO!"
Again, Harry threw a spell at Voldemort's henchmen; six more men down, and only nine more to go, besides Voldemort. He couldn't make this too intense. It just had to be enough to prove that he would be a roadblock in Voldemort's way, unless he was dead. That would be all it would take.
"Yes, Voldie. Can't you see? You can't get to me? Nor will you get to the rest of the school! The door is sealed and it will never open!" Harry figured it was good to make Voldemort think that it was him who had sealed the door, instead of Sakura. Carfully, he pointed his wand at Voldemort, fully intent on sending a stunning spell at the man. But Voldemort had other ideas.
"I'll get you yet, Potter! You and your parents!" He hissed. There was a pop, and everyone but Harry disappeared.
"Yes, you will." Harry whispered, tears entering his eyes. With a defeated sigh, he went over to the doors. Now what was that knock that Sakura had shown him? Oh yes!
*Knock, knock*
*Knock, knock, knock!*
~*~*~*~
"Sakura? Everyone...what are you doing?" Lily asked, puzzled. For there, in front of the majority of the school, stood eight silent, stone-like students, their wands all pointed at the group in front of them. Several of the students had tried to force their way in, and Sakura's group was forced to take drastic action.
"Nothing but saving your lives. You can't go in there." Sakura said in a monotone voice. Lily gasped, and fell back, staring at them with wide eyes.
"What are you talking about?!" James snapped, stepping forward. Syaoran also stepped forward, to guard his fiancee.
"You heard her. Don't ask any questions." He hissed, shooting his death- glare at James. James did not falter, however, at the glare, but at the high, horrible voice that suddenly broke through the awful silence.
"NO!"
"That was Voldemort!" Sirius choked, his voice going pale as he and the other students backed away from the door. Sakura nodded.
"He was trying to attack the school. We locked him in there...with Harry." She stated.
"NO!!! He'll kill Harry!" Lily choked, as she fell against James's arm.
"He won't. Harry won't let him." Eriol assured her. Just then, there was the sound of two long knocks, and then three short ones.
"See! He's fine." Sakura stated, turning around and opening the door. There stood Harry, his hair ruffled and his eyes filled with tears. Rika and Ginny quickly walked up beside him and hugged him.
"You can go in now. He's gone...and he won't be attacking the school for a long, long time." Harry murmured, burying his face in Ginny's shoulder, and hugging her close.
"We did it. The future is set, now." Harry whispered. Ginny smiled and they walked into the Great Hall together. Everyone followed, looking confused. They all sat down, even the professors, though all were on their guard, watching Sakura and her friends carefully.
"All right! No one moves an inch until someone explains to us why we were just stuck out there, while Harry and Voldemort were in here...and how Harry came away without a scratch!" James finally yelled, standing up.
Sakura sighed. It was time for them to know the truth.
*CRASH!!!*
Before Sakura could even open her mouth, a crash of thunder echoed through the Great Hall, and to everyone's growing horror, a strange swirling pool of dark blue substance began to form directly in front of the head table. It was cris-crossed with tiny lightning-bolts, and it swirled counter- clockwise from the center. Sakura stood watching, transfixed with the sight.
"Well, this is it. We got our wish." Eriol murmured, standing up and pulling Tomoyo up beside him. The rest of their party stood as well, watching the portal get bigger and bigger until it was an oblong shape. Then, someone emerged from it. A brown haired someone.
"Hey, hey, hey! Long time no see!" Neville laughed, his brown eyes sparkling at his friends. Then, Meiling appeared behind him, her face shining.
"SAKURA! TOMOYO, RIKA, HERMIONE, GINNY!" She shrieked, racing down the steps and into her friends arms. Neville hurried down, clapping his friends on the back and greeting them.
"Oh, we missed you so much!"
"You'll never believe how hard it was!"
"Yeah! They hated each other!"
"It was soooooooo funny!"
"No kidding! Hey! We got to be young again! Isn't that cool!"
"Did Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus tell you everything?"
"How is Arabella?"
"What about Uncle Severus?! Don't you dare forget about him!"
"How much time has passed since we came here?"
"Ohohohohohoho! How is Sophia? She promised to tell me all the new fashions, but when we got sucked here..."
"SILENCE!!!"
Everyone fell silent, staring at the younger version of Dumbledore.
"Oh my gosh! Professor Dumbledore...you're younger!" Meiling gasped. He smiled at her.
"I am, seeing as it is several years before you are supposed to see me...and even exist!" He chuckled.
"WHAT?!?!" This came from Lily, Bella, Sophia, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. The Cardcaptor group and the fabulous three plus Ginny, Draco, and Neville turned to stare at them. They had completely forgotten that they were all here!
"Um...we um..." Ron managed to stutter, just as two more people fell from the portal, laughing.
"Man! I think I just fell into the 'Twilight Zone'! Hey, doesn't this rock, Moony? We get to see ourselves as we really were!" Sirius laughed.
"UNCLE SIRIUS!!!" Rika shrieked, throwing herself into the older man's arms. He laughed and then quickly pulled Harry into a tight hug as well.
"Whatever, Padfoot! Comere', you big lump!" Remus laughed, pulling Harry over so he could pat him on the back.
"COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!" James shouted, causing the group to turn back around.
"Gee, James, you sure look young! Man! Did I really look like that? Man, you...I mean I need a haircut!" Sirius stated, as he wrinkled his nose at the younger Sirius, who was now standing up, his mouth open. James turned pale and clutched Lily to his side.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" He asked. Sirius's face fell, and he looked back at his companions.
"You had better explain, before we go home." He murmured to Harry.
"All right. First of all, everyone shut up and calm down!" Harry shouted, his voice sounding deep and strangely like James's. Everyone in the room fell into a stunned silance, and Harry smiled.
"Very good. Now some...all right, all of you are wondering what is going on here, so I will not leave you hanging. We," he motioned to all of the people up on the platform with him, "are from the future."
There was a stunned silence, while everyone took this in. The younger Sirius, who had looked close to fainting, was now looking over his future self in something close to awe.
"If that is true...how did you just spend the last five years here?" James asked in a deadly low voice. It was then that Severus Snape stood up, his face pale.
"I warned you, Lily! I warned you to stay away from that Potter!" He hissed, as Lucious stood up behind him.
"We were in the Three Broomsticks, POTTER, the day that you talked with that *Weasley* girl." He sneered. Harry turned pale and Ginny clutched his hand.
"Wait a minute! Weasley? You mean Arthur Weasley? And Molly?!" Lily asked in shock.
"I suppose we should introduce ourselves. I am Ron *Weasley*." Ron stated, stepping forward. Hermione stepped up beside him and grasped his hand.
"Hermione Granger." She said. Slowly, the group formed a line beside them, as they introduced themselves.
"Eriol Hiiragizawa."
"Tomoyo Daidouji."
"Sakura Kinomoto."
"Syaoran Li."
"Draco Malfoy." At this, Lucius turned pale, and Draco smirked at him.
"Hey, father. Your looking young...and alive." Draco left the rest of the sentence hanging, and many of the Slytherins stared at the blanched younger version of Lucius.
"Ginny Weasley, the seventh and final member of the Weasley clan...at least for this generation!" Ginny said teasingly. Lily, Bella and Sophia gasped in delight at Ginny's words, but they still looked shocked. Finally, it was Harry's turn. He turned pale and stepped forward, his eyes meeting James's.
"I am Harry Potter." He said in a low voice, his eyes staying level with his young father's. James didn't seem surprised.
"Your mother?" He asked. Harry smiled.
"Observe the eyes." Was all he said. Lily gasped, but smiled. Then, after looking at Sirius for confirmation, Rika walked to her brother's side.
"Rika Rose Sasaki Potter, second and final child of Lily and James Potter." She murmured. Lily's eyes filled with happy tears as she gazed at her daughter, and Rika's filled for another reason. She would never see her mother alive again.
"Rika, what's wrong?" Lily asked softly. Rika choked and shook her head, saying nothing.
"How come you didn't remember Rika?" Harry hissed to Sirius. Sirius sighed and leaned over.
"There were some things that were washed out of our memories the moment you left. That was one of them. I mean, we remembered that most of you came...but only when Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Rika and Eriol came back, during our time. And even then, the memory of Rika was held from us until just a few days ago." Sirius whispered, before straightening.
"We have to go, Sirius. We are out of time." Remus said softly.
"Wait! If you and Sirius are here, then where are Lily, James, Sophia and I?" Bella asked. Remus simply smiled benignly at her, and turned towards the portal.
"Thank you for everything, Professor." He said to Dumbledore, before entering the time-warp once more. Everyone hesitated, looking at Dumbledore, trying to figure out what to say.
"Come on, come on! We don't have all day. Draco, you first!" Sirius commanded. Draco smiled, and with one final goodbye, he stepped in, closely followed by Rika, Neville, Meiling, Eriol, Tomoyo, Sakura, Syaoran, Hermione and Ron. Harry paused, looking down at his parents longingly, as Ginny hugged his waist.
"I love you, now and forever." Harry murmured to his parents. They smiled and waved, their shock still there. Sirius waved cheekily at his younger self, and then stepped through.
"Here we go." Ginny whispered to her love. Harry smiled wistfully and nodded. Together, they stepped into the time-warp, and it immediately closed behind them. A white light washed over the Great Hall, and just as Sirius had said, memories were wiped clean.
~*~*~*~
"UNCLE SEVERUS!!!" Rika shrieked, as she toppled out of the time warp, into her guardian's arms. Then she lay there, crying. Draco watched on as Neville, Meiling Sakura, Tomoyo, Syaoran and Eriol fell through, and were immediately hugged close by their parents/guardians.
"Do you have any pudding?" Kero cried, flying over to Syaoran's sisters bravely. It was only moments until he was completely covered in kisses, ribbons, and other girlish decorations.
"KAWAII!!!"
Ron and Hermione also got the same treatment as they came through, and Harry and Ginny came out next, and were hugged close by Molly and Arthur Weasley.
"Rika, why are you crying?" Ron asked, as soon as his brother's were through giving him rough hugs. Rika sniffed.
"We got to see mother and father *then*...but we will never see them again, ever." She whimpered. At this, Sakura grinned, and looked slyly at Eriol, who smirked. The adults were also looking smug.
"Sakura, what is so funny?" Harry asked weakly, his sorrow overbearing him. She simply smiled again.
"Look behind you, Harry." She whispered. Harry's eyes widened, and he did a slow turn, coming face-to-face with two people he thought he would never see again.
"Mum? Dad?" His voice was no more than a whisper, as tears flooded his vision and he ran blindly into his parent's arms. Rika gave a shriek and quickly joined them, her happy cries filling the room. Sirius quickly made his way over to Arabella, and he put his arm around her, while Remus did the same with Sophia. Ron managed to pull Hermione away from her parents and was kissing her gently on the cheek. Draco had been pulled into the flurry of Potter hugs, as had Ginny.
"Everything is right once more. Voldemort is gone, and peace has been restored." Syaoran murmured, resting his chin on Sakura's head. Eriol nodded and pulled Tomoyo into his arms.
"What do you say? Double wedding?" Tomoyo asked teasingly. Sakura grinned and nodded, while their fiancee's groaned jokingly. Meiling squealed and pulled Neville over.
"I get to be the Maid Of Honor!" She cried. Everyone laughed. What had begun as a pain and fear-filled year, had ended in love and wonder.
~*~*~*~
*Approx. one year later*
*DING-DONG, DING-DONG, DING-DONG*
Wedding bells filled the warm May air, and happy shouts of 'Congratulations' could be heard in the streets of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's leader, Li Syaoran, had just been married to his childhood sweetheart, Li-Kinomoto Sakura, in a double wedding with their friends Hiiragizawa Eriol and Hiiragizawa-Daidouji Tomoyo.
"Oh, Sakura! You look sooooooo lovely!" Meiling Longbottom squealed, her eyes sparkling. Her husband, Neville stood beside her, his eyes twinkling with life. They were presently in the reception room, sitting at the head table while their friends sat around them, talking and laughing.
"Thank you, Meiling." Sakura whispered, blushing. She was wearing a lovely, off-the-shoulder wedding dress, with a full skirt and long train. Tiny embroidered cherry blossoms ran up the skirt and bodice, giving it a lovely affect. Naturally, Tomoyo had made it, along with her own gown, that was full skirted as well, with see-through long sleeves and a scooped neck.
Sakura looked around, sighing happily. To her left was her beloved husband, and to her right was Eriol. Tomoyo was next to Eriol, and next to him were Draco and the pregnant Rika Malfoy. On Rika's other side were Harry and Ginny Potter, with their one-year old twins, James and Lily. On Syaoran's other side, sat Meiling and then Neville with his infant daughter, Lydia, then Hermione and Ron Weasley, and their one year old son Donavon, bringing up the end on that side.
(A/N: Confused? Here is how the seating goes!)
(Ron, Donavon, Hermione, Neville/Lydia, Meiling, Syaoran, Sakura, Eriol, Tomoyo, Draco, Rika, Harry, James, Lily, Ginny.)
On the lower tables sat Kinomoto Touya and Nakuru, with their lovely, two year-old daughter Rose, and their month-old son, Yuki (named affectionately after Yukito). Beside them sat Kinomoto Fujitaka, and beside him was Daidouji Sonomi. Yelan and her daughters were seated next to her, and they were all chatting happily.
On Touya's other side, sat Yukito, who was looking affectionately down at his namesake. Beside Yukito were Lily and James Potter, and sitting beside James was Arabella and Sirius Black, with their one-year old son, Orion. Beside Sirius sat Sophia and Remus Lupin, both occupied at the moment, taking care of their one year-old daughter, Vivian. Remus had also been healed, thanks to Sakura's heal card, so he no longer had to worry about the coming full moon, or changing into a werewolf. Severus Snape, who was seated beside them, quieted the little girl's crying by making funny faces at him. There were also many of their fellow students from Hogwarts attending, plus quite a few of the Professors.
(Severus, Remus/Vivian, Sophia, Sirius/Orion, Arabella, James, Lily, Yukito, Touya/Yuki, Rose, Nakuru, Fujitaka, Sonomi, Yelan, Syaoran's sisters.)
"Life is good, isn't it, Syaoran?" Sakura asked later, while they were all dancing. Behind them, Kero and Spinel raced around the deserts table, scaring anyone who tried to get near to their precious 'key of life' (Kero had slipped Spinel some sugar). Syaoran smiled and hugged his wife.
"It certainly is, my love. It certainly is." He murmured, as he watched the other happy couples dance and talk. They had made some amazing friends, shared wonderful secrets, and most of all, found the love that all of them had been yearning for. Syaoran smiled as he listened to the song that was playing.
'A circle of friends. That fits us perfectly. That's what we are, now and forever. A circle of friends.'
We were made to love, and be loved
But the price this world demands with cost you far too much
I spent so many lonely years just trying to fit in
Now I've found a place in this circle of friends!
In a circle of friends, we have one father
In a circle of friends, we share this prayer,
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends!
"I love you, Sakura." He murmured, as they slowly danced into their future.
~*~*~*~
~*~THE END~*~
All right. Here is the summery for my story "LOVE OF AGES".
Eriol is a ten year-old mute/crippled boy, who doesn't have any friends except for his personal nurse, Molly Totum. When Eriol is forced to move to Tomeda, Japan, neither of them expect it to be any different. But neither are counting on the kind ways of a certain little girl...named Daidouji Tomoyo.
Everything is perfect for the first time in Eriol's life, until one day he becomes horribly sick and is forced to move back to England. Heartbroken but better physically, Eriol swears to never allow anyone close to his heart again.
But ten years later, Milly invites a famous young woman to stay with them during her stay in England. Dubious, Eriol agrees, but he is shocked when he realizes that the very woman who is staying at his home, is the self- same one who befriended him all those years ago!
*Now, how about a preview?*
~*~ "You are excused for recess." Omata-sensei called. The students shuffled to put everything away and leave the room. Milly walked up to speak with Omata-sensei, leaving Eriol all alone. Or so they thought...
A soft, tiny hand cupped Eriol's chin and lifted it gently, so his eyes found the sparkling amethyst ones in front of him.
"Hello! I'm Tomoyo." The girl said in a musical voice. Eriol was stunned, but all he could do was grunt. Tomoyo smiled, her eyes searching his.
"You may not be able to move or talk, but your eyes are expre...esspres..."
'Expressive.' Eriol filled in in his mind, shock still coursing through his body.
"They talk!" She finally concluded. Eriol mentally smiled. Perhaps this girl was different...
"Would you like to come outside with me?" Tomoyo asked softly, her lovely eyes roving his earnestly. Eriol grunted eagerly, and Tomoyo smiled.
"Totum-san? May I take Eriol outside?" Tomoyo called. Milly turned around in shock, and got an even bigger surprise when she saw the little girl's hand holding up her young charge's head.
"I...I suppose. But I will have to go with you." She stammered, unable to believe this little girl's kindness. Tomoyo cheered and then with much struggle, began to push Eriol out of the room. Omata-sensei smiled as he watched his most perceptive and kind student push her new friend out the door. ~*~
~*~*~*~
Also, a few of you have been asking for a sequel. I warn you, I have seriously thought about it, but am not sure...you'll have to convince me! Now, the third story would focus mostly around the children of these characters, and their adventures...and romances. Please write me and tell me what you think!
Oh, tiny little note. I have put up a few ideas of stories that I have, on my biography. But I have had one other idea since then, and I would like to run it past you, so I am adding a summery of it to the *end of this chapter*, to see what you think. It will be a Tomoyo+Eriol, and it is a little sad, but really good, I promise! PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PARTICULAR STORY!
~*~*~*~
Leopard Spots and Zebra Stripes
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 10.
"I found one!" Meiling shrieked, thrusting a huge book beneath Neville's nose. Neville groaned and looked at the passage that she pointed out.
"It is a portal! It will let us go through time, to when they are. Then, we can spend as much time as we need there, trying to find them and get home!" The girl cried. Sirius, Bella, Sophia, Remus, Severus, Lily and James hurried up behind them, looking at the spell.
"Simple enough. Come on! We have to hurry!" James commented, rushing to get the ingredients.
"Let's get everyone into the Great Hall. It will be better that they see this." Arabella stated, as she and the other's rushed from the library.
~*~*~*~
As Harry entered the dark room, his senses were already strained to their highest point. The room was silent, cold, and echoed something horrible, just adding to the tension. Harry quickly made his way to a corner of the room, hiding in its shadows.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Quiet, imbeciles! Do you want them to hear us?!" Came a hissing voice that Harry knew all too well. With a 'pop', no less than twenty men appeared in the middle of the room, their wands drawn and ready. They moved towards the doors, and one of them tried to open them.
"UGH! It won't open, master!"
"FOOL! Get out of the way!" Voldemort stepped up to the doors, his wand pointed at them. Harry knew that it was now or never. With a stealth that even surprised him, he hissed a stunning spell and several of the Death Eaters fell to the floor, unmoving.
"WHAT?!" Voldemort searched for the person who had taken down his men, and with a gulp, Harry stepped out of the shadows.
"Miss me, Tom?" He asked, managing to keep humor in his voice. Voldemort's face turned red in anger at the use of his old name, and this young man who used it so easily.
"James Potter." He hissed, his eyes narrowing in hatred. Harry chuckled.
"No. That would be my father. I am *Harry* Potter, proud son of James Potter." Harry's voice had become deep and strong, full of conviction and assurance. Voldemort sneered.
"You lie. James Potter is but a boy. A little boy who will soon die."
"Not if I have anything to do with it!" Harry stated, muttering a binding spell and falling five more of the Death Eaters. Voldemort hissed.
"Fine, Potter. Play that way. AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed, shooting the spell straight at Harry. Luckily, Sakura had remembered Voldemort's favorite spell, so the shield repelled it beautifully.
"NO!"
Again, Harry threw a spell at Voldemort's henchmen; six more men down, and only nine more to go, besides Voldemort. He couldn't make this too intense. It just had to be enough to prove that he would be a roadblock in Voldemort's way, unless he was dead. That would be all it would take.
"Yes, Voldie. Can't you see? You can't get to me? Nor will you get to the rest of the school! The door is sealed and it will never open!" Harry figured it was good to make Voldemort think that it was him who had sealed the door, instead of Sakura. Carfully, he pointed his wand at Voldemort, fully intent on sending a stunning spell at the man. But Voldemort had other ideas.
"I'll get you yet, Potter! You and your parents!" He hissed. There was a pop, and everyone but Harry disappeared.
"Yes, you will." Harry whispered, tears entering his eyes. With a defeated sigh, he went over to the doors. Now what was that knock that Sakura had shown him? Oh yes!
*Knock, knock*
*Knock, knock, knock!*
~*~*~*~
"Sakura? Everyone...what are you doing?" Lily asked, puzzled. For there, in front of the majority of the school, stood eight silent, stone-like students, their wands all pointed at the group in front of them. Several of the students had tried to force their way in, and Sakura's group was forced to take drastic action.
"Nothing but saving your lives. You can't go in there." Sakura said in a monotone voice. Lily gasped, and fell back, staring at them with wide eyes.
"What are you talking about?!" James snapped, stepping forward. Syaoran also stepped forward, to guard his fiancee.
"You heard her. Don't ask any questions." He hissed, shooting his death- glare at James. James did not falter, however, at the glare, but at the high, horrible voice that suddenly broke through the awful silence.
"NO!"
"That was Voldemort!" Sirius choked, his voice going pale as he and the other students backed away from the door. Sakura nodded.
"He was trying to attack the school. We locked him in there...with Harry." She stated.
"NO!!! He'll kill Harry!" Lily choked, as she fell against James's arm.
"He won't. Harry won't let him." Eriol assured her. Just then, there was the sound of two long knocks, and then three short ones.
"See! He's fine." Sakura stated, turning around and opening the door. There stood Harry, his hair ruffled and his eyes filled with tears. Rika and Ginny quickly walked up beside him and hugged him.
"You can go in now. He's gone...and he won't be attacking the school for a long, long time." Harry murmured, burying his face in Ginny's shoulder, and hugging her close.
"We did it. The future is set, now." Harry whispered. Ginny smiled and they walked into the Great Hall together. Everyone followed, looking confused. They all sat down, even the professors, though all were on their guard, watching Sakura and her friends carefully.
"All right! No one moves an inch until someone explains to us why we were just stuck out there, while Harry and Voldemort were in here...and how Harry came away without a scratch!" James finally yelled, standing up.
Sakura sighed. It was time for them to know the truth.
*CRASH!!!*
Before Sakura could even open her mouth, a crash of thunder echoed through the Great Hall, and to everyone's growing horror, a strange swirling pool of dark blue substance began to form directly in front of the head table. It was cris-crossed with tiny lightning-bolts, and it swirled counter- clockwise from the center. Sakura stood watching, transfixed with the sight.
"Well, this is it. We got our wish." Eriol murmured, standing up and pulling Tomoyo up beside him. The rest of their party stood as well, watching the portal get bigger and bigger until it was an oblong shape. Then, someone emerged from it. A brown haired someone.
"Hey, hey, hey! Long time no see!" Neville laughed, his brown eyes sparkling at his friends. Then, Meiling appeared behind him, her face shining.
"SAKURA! TOMOYO, RIKA, HERMIONE, GINNY!" She shrieked, racing down the steps and into her friends arms. Neville hurried down, clapping his friends on the back and greeting them.
"Oh, we missed you so much!"
"You'll never believe how hard it was!"
"Yeah! They hated each other!"
"It was soooooooo funny!"
"No kidding! Hey! We got to be young again! Isn't that cool!"
"Did Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus tell you everything?"
"How is Arabella?"
"What about Uncle Severus?! Don't you dare forget about him!"
"How much time has passed since we came here?"
"Ohohohohohoho! How is Sophia? She promised to tell me all the new fashions, but when we got sucked here..."
"SILENCE!!!"
Everyone fell silent, staring at the younger version of Dumbledore.
"Oh my gosh! Professor Dumbledore...you're younger!" Meiling gasped. He smiled at her.
"I am, seeing as it is several years before you are supposed to see me...and even exist!" He chuckled.
"WHAT?!?!" This came from Lily, Bella, Sophia, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. The Cardcaptor group and the fabulous three plus Ginny, Draco, and Neville turned to stare at them. They had completely forgotten that they were all here!
"Um...we um..." Ron managed to stutter, just as two more people fell from the portal, laughing.
"Man! I think I just fell into the 'Twilight Zone'! Hey, doesn't this rock, Moony? We get to see ourselves as we really were!" Sirius laughed.
"UNCLE SIRIUS!!!" Rika shrieked, throwing herself into the older man's arms. He laughed and then quickly pulled Harry into a tight hug as well.
"Whatever, Padfoot! Comere', you big lump!" Remus laughed, pulling Harry over so he could pat him on the back.
"COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!" James shouted, causing the group to turn back around.
"Gee, James, you sure look young! Man! Did I really look like that? Man, you...I mean I need a haircut!" Sirius stated, as he wrinkled his nose at the younger Sirius, who was now standing up, his mouth open. James turned pale and clutched Lily to his side.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" He asked. Sirius's face fell, and he looked back at his companions.
"You had better explain, before we go home." He murmured to Harry.
"All right. First of all, everyone shut up and calm down!" Harry shouted, his voice sounding deep and strangely like James's. Everyone in the room fell into a stunned silance, and Harry smiled.
"Very good. Now some...all right, all of you are wondering what is going on here, so I will not leave you hanging. We," he motioned to all of the people up on the platform with him, "are from the future."
There was a stunned silence, while everyone took this in. The younger Sirius, who had looked close to fainting, was now looking over his future self in something close to awe.
"If that is true...how did you just spend the last five years here?" James asked in a deadly low voice. It was then that Severus Snape stood up, his face pale.
"I warned you, Lily! I warned you to stay away from that Potter!" He hissed, as Lucious stood up behind him.
"We were in the Three Broomsticks, POTTER, the day that you talked with that *Weasley* girl." He sneered. Harry turned pale and Ginny clutched his hand.
"Wait a minute! Weasley? You mean Arthur Weasley? And Molly?!" Lily asked in shock.
"I suppose we should introduce ourselves. I am Ron *Weasley*." Ron stated, stepping forward. Hermione stepped up beside him and grasped his hand.
"Hermione Granger." She said. Slowly, the group formed a line beside them, as they introduced themselves.
"Eriol Hiiragizawa."
"Tomoyo Daidouji."
"Sakura Kinomoto."
"Syaoran Li."
"Draco Malfoy." At this, Lucius turned pale, and Draco smirked at him.
"Hey, father. Your looking young...and alive." Draco left the rest of the sentence hanging, and many of the Slytherins stared at the blanched younger version of Lucius.
"Ginny Weasley, the seventh and final member of the Weasley clan...at least for this generation!" Ginny said teasingly. Lily, Bella and Sophia gasped in delight at Ginny's words, but they still looked shocked. Finally, it was Harry's turn. He turned pale and stepped forward, his eyes meeting James's.
"I am Harry Potter." He said in a low voice, his eyes staying level with his young father's. James didn't seem surprised.
"Your mother?" He asked. Harry smiled.
"Observe the eyes." Was all he said. Lily gasped, but smiled. Then, after looking at Sirius for confirmation, Rika walked to her brother's side.
"Rika Rose Sasaki Potter, second and final child of Lily and James Potter." She murmured. Lily's eyes filled with happy tears as she gazed at her daughter, and Rika's filled for another reason. She would never see her mother alive again.
"Rika, what's wrong?" Lily asked softly. Rika choked and shook her head, saying nothing.
"How come you didn't remember Rika?" Harry hissed to Sirius. Sirius sighed and leaned over.
"There were some things that were washed out of our memories the moment you left. That was one of them. I mean, we remembered that most of you came...but only when Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Rika and Eriol came back, during our time. And even then, the memory of Rika was held from us until just a few days ago." Sirius whispered, before straightening.
"We have to go, Sirius. We are out of time." Remus said softly.
"Wait! If you and Sirius are here, then where are Lily, James, Sophia and I?" Bella asked. Remus simply smiled benignly at her, and turned towards the portal.
"Thank you for everything, Professor." He said to Dumbledore, before entering the time-warp once more. Everyone hesitated, looking at Dumbledore, trying to figure out what to say.
"Come on, come on! We don't have all day. Draco, you first!" Sirius commanded. Draco smiled, and with one final goodbye, he stepped in, closely followed by Rika, Neville, Meiling, Eriol, Tomoyo, Sakura, Syaoran, Hermione and Ron. Harry paused, looking down at his parents longingly, as Ginny hugged his waist.
"I love you, now and forever." Harry murmured to his parents. They smiled and waved, their shock still there. Sirius waved cheekily at his younger self, and then stepped through.
"Here we go." Ginny whispered to her love. Harry smiled wistfully and nodded. Together, they stepped into the time-warp, and it immediately closed behind them. A white light washed over the Great Hall, and just as Sirius had said, memories were wiped clean.
~*~*~*~
"UNCLE SEVERUS!!!" Rika shrieked, as she toppled out of the time warp, into her guardian's arms. Then she lay there, crying. Draco watched on as Neville, Meiling Sakura, Tomoyo, Syaoran and Eriol fell through, and were immediately hugged close by their parents/guardians.
"Do you have any pudding?" Kero cried, flying over to Syaoran's sisters bravely. It was only moments until he was completely covered in kisses, ribbons, and other girlish decorations.
"KAWAII!!!"
Ron and Hermione also got the same treatment as they came through, and Harry and Ginny came out next, and were hugged close by Molly and Arthur Weasley.
"Rika, why are you crying?" Ron asked, as soon as his brother's were through giving him rough hugs. Rika sniffed.
"We got to see mother and father *then*...but we will never see them again, ever." She whimpered. At this, Sakura grinned, and looked slyly at Eriol, who smirked. The adults were also looking smug.
"Sakura, what is so funny?" Harry asked weakly, his sorrow overbearing him. She simply smiled again.
"Look behind you, Harry." She whispered. Harry's eyes widened, and he did a slow turn, coming face-to-face with two people he thought he would never see again.
"Mum? Dad?" His voice was no more than a whisper, as tears flooded his vision and he ran blindly into his parent's arms. Rika gave a shriek and quickly joined them, her happy cries filling the room. Sirius quickly made his way over to Arabella, and he put his arm around her, while Remus did the same with Sophia. Ron managed to pull Hermione away from her parents and was kissing her gently on the cheek. Draco had been pulled into the flurry of Potter hugs, as had Ginny.
"Everything is right once more. Voldemort is gone, and peace has been restored." Syaoran murmured, resting his chin on Sakura's head. Eriol nodded and pulled Tomoyo into his arms.
"What do you say? Double wedding?" Tomoyo asked teasingly. Sakura grinned and nodded, while their fiancee's groaned jokingly. Meiling squealed and pulled Neville over.
"I get to be the Maid Of Honor!" She cried. Everyone laughed. What had begun as a pain and fear-filled year, had ended in love and wonder.
~*~*~*~
*Approx. one year later*
*DING-DONG, DING-DONG, DING-DONG*
Wedding bells filled the warm May air, and happy shouts of 'Congratulations' could be heard in the streets of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's leader, Li Syaoran, had just been married to his childhood sweetheart, Li-Kinomoto Sakura, in a double wedding with their friends Hiiragizawa Eriol and Hiiragizawa-Daidouji Tomoyo.
"Oh, Sakura! You look sooooooo lovely!" Meiling Longbottom squealed, her eyes sparkling. Her husband, Neville stood beside her, his eyes twinkling with life. They were presently in the reception room, sitting at the head table while their friends sat around them, talking and laughing.
"Thank you, Meiling." Sakura whispered, blushing. She was wearing a lovely, off-the-shoulder wedding dress, with a full skirt and long train. Tiny embroidered cherry blossoms ran up the skirt and bodice, giving it a lovely affect. Naturally, Tomoyo had made it, along with her own gown, that was full skirted as well, with see-through long sleeves and a scooped neck.
Sakura looked around, sighing happily. To her left was her beloved husband, and to her right was Eriol. Tomoyo was next to Eriol, and next to him were Draco and the pregnant Rika Malfoy. On Rika's other side were Harry and Ginny Potter, with their one-year old twins, James and Lily. On Syaoran's other side, sat Meiling and then Neville with his infant daughter, Lydia, then Hermione and Ron Weasley, and their one year old son Donavon, bringing up the end on that side.
(A/N: Confused? Here is how the seating goes!)
(Ron, Donavon, Hermione, Neville/Lydia, Meiling, Syaoran, Sakura, Eriol, Tomoyo, Draco, Rika, Harry, James, Lily, Ginny.)
On the lower tables sat Kinomoto Touya and Nakuru, with their lovely, two year-old daughter Rose, and their month-old son, Yuki (named affectionately after Yukito). Beside them sat Kinomoto Fujitaka, and beside him was Daidouji Sonomi. Yelan and her daughters were seated next to her, and they were all chatting happily.
On Touya's other side, sat Yukito, who was looking affectionately down at his namesake. Beside Yukito were Lily and James Potter, and sitting beside James was Arabella and Sirius Black, with their one-year old son, Orion. Beside Sirius sat Sophia and Remus Lupin, both occupied at the moment, taking care of their one year-old daughter, Vivian. Remus had also been healed, thanks to Sakura's heal card, so he no longer had to worry about the coming full moon, or changing into a werewolf. Severus Snape, who was seated beside them, quieted the little girl's crying by making funny faces at him. There were also many of their fellow students from Hogwarts attending, plus quite a few of the Professors.
(Severus, Remus/Vivian, Sophia, Sirius/Orion, Arabella, James, Lily, Yukito, Touya/Yuki, Rose, Nakuru, Fujitaka, Sonomi, Yelan, Syaoran's sisters.)
"Life is good, isn't it, Syaoran?" Sakura asked later, while they were all dancing. Behind them, Kero and Spinel raced around the deserts table, scaring anyone who tried to get near to their precious 'key of life' (Kero had slipped Spinel some sugar). Syaoran smiled and hugged his wife.
"It certainly is, my love. It certainly is." He murmured, as he watched the other happy couples dance and talk. They had made some amazing friends, shared wonderful secrets, and most of all, found the love that all of them had been yearning for. Syaoran smiled as he listened to the song that was playing.
'A circle of friends. That fits us perfectly. That's what we are, now and forever. A circle of friends.'
We were made to love, and be loved
But the price this world demands with cost you far too much
I spent so many lonely years just trying to fit in
Now I've found a place in this circle of friends!
In a circle of friends, we have one father
In a circle of friends, we share this prayer,
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends!
"I love you, Sakura." He murmured, as they slowly danced into their future.
~*~*~*~
~*~THE END~*~
All right. Here is the summery for my story "LOVE OF AGES".
Eriol is a ten year-old mute/crippled boy, who doesn't have any friends except for his personal nurse, Molly Totum. When Eriol is forced to move to Tomeda, Japan, neither of them expect it to be any different. But neither are counting on the kind ways of a certain little girl...named Daidouji Tomoyo.
Everything is perfect for the first time in Eriol's life, until one day he becomes horribly sick and is forced to move back to England. Heartbroken but better physically, Eriol swears to never allow anyone close to his heart again.
But ten years later, Milly invites a famous young woman to stay with them during her stay in England. Dubious, Eriol agrees, but he is shocked when he realizes that the very woman who is staying at his home, is the self- same one who befriended him all those years ago!
*Now, how about a preview?*
~*~ "You are excused for recess." Omata-sensei called. The students shuffled to put everything away and leave the room. Milly walked up to speak with Omata-sensei, leaving Eriol all alone. Or so they thought...
A soft, tiny hand cupped Eriol's chin and lifted it gently, so his eyes found the sparkling amethyst ones in front of him.
"Hello! I'm Tomoyo." The girl said in a musical voice. Eriol was stunned, but all he could do was grunt. Tomoyo smiled, her eyes searching his.
"You may not be able to move or talk, but your eyes are expre...esspres..."
'Expressive.' Eriol filled in in his mind, shock still coursing through his body.
"They talk!" She finally concluded. Eriol mentally smiled. Perhaps this girl was different...
"Would you like to come outside with me?" Tomoyo asked softly, her lovely eyes roving his earnestly. Eriol grunted eagerly, and Tomoyo smiled.
"Totum-san? May I take Eriol outside?" Tomoyo called. Milly turned around in shock, and got an even bigger surprise when she saw the little girl's hand holding up her young charge's head.
"I...I suppose. But I will have to go with you." She stammered, unable to believe this little girl's kindness. Tomoyo cheered and then with much struggle, began to push Eriol out of the room. Omata-sensei smiled as he watched his most perceptive and kind student push her new friend out the door. ~*~
~*~*~*~