Hi ho. This is the chapter where Harry, Ron and Hermione get introduced. By the way, I'm starting a poll on which the couples should be. I've worked out S+S, E+T, He+R, H+G and that's about it. Who should Sara be with? My friend says Draco, but, yeah. E-mail me 'bout it, kay?
Here are some answers to your questions.
Shinigami: I don't want to say too much, but yeah to most-all-of your question. But shhhh it's a secret.
Shadow: I know you reviewed chapter two, but thanks for the review.
Emma: You really should write one! Mine are usually really stupid, but look at this one. And no, I haven't read that story, yet.
Chiruri: I'll get to your story ASAP. ^_^;
Devil's Angel: I know, but that's the whole idea.
Tomoyo-Chan: Thanks for being my first and second reviewer!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: (No, this is not a person. It is my disclaimer ^_^;) NOT MINE!!!!!!!! Boohoo.
A New Riddle
Chapter Five
Hogwarts Starts and Sara's Dark Moment.
As the Hogwarts students travelled along in the Hogwarts Express, many rumours were sent around.
"I heard something killed Fawkes and is still on the loose." Was one.
"Nah, that's not it. Moaning Myrtle flooded the toilets too much."
"Really?"
"Yeah. My big brother said so."
Meanwhile in another compartment Harry, Ron and Hermione talked about it, too.
"So, what do you think really happened?" Ron asked.
"Maybe Dumbledore decided to change castles." Harry suggested.
"Could be." Hermione said.
"Ginny told me that when she went to buy her books, she saw Malfoy talking with this girl who's starting in year five. Her name's Sara. She also heard them say something about a Basilisk and then screams from the people in the crowd."
"Truly?" Harry asked, now really interested.
"Yeah. And she has it in for Malfoy. She absolutely hates him."
"Big surprise." Hermione laughed. "I think we should get changed. We were told a while ago that we were almost there." The three got up and got changed in the closest bathrooms. Unfortunately, Ron and Harry ran into Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.
"I heard you got yourself in trouble at Diagon Alley." Ron said as they passed each other. "Something to do with a Sara?"
"She's just a worthless Mudblood, not like it should count to you." Malfoy sneered.
"She's going to Hogwarts, or wherever we're going." Harry said. "Sara's starting in year five."
"I know. One of her friends already explained it to me. I think I should be going. I've already seen enough trash today to suit my liking." Draco said before he left, his two companions snickering.
"'I've already seen enough trash today to suit my liking.'" Ron mimicked once they left. Once the two boys got changed, they went back to find Hermione already dressed and waiting in the cabin.
"What happened to your robes, Harry?" she asked, examining the small hole in his cloak.
"Dudley had his shot at ironing. It was a project and this was the first thing he could find." Harry groaned. Hermione got her wand out and pointed it at the robe.
"Robellious Repairum." She stated clearly and the cloak was sowed back together before their eyes.
"You're getting good at that." Ron laughed. Hermione flashed a huge smile at him and they stayed there like that for a while. Harry turned quickly, noticing the moment shared between the two. He watched as the cabin door slowly opened.
"Hey, Ginny. How are you?" he asked, walking out of the door while grabbing her arm gently, leaving Hermione and Ron. Ginny instantly blushed and followed him out. "They're in another moment. If they like each other so much, why can't they just say it?"
"George told me that he saw a love letter to Hermione in the bin. Ron hasn't had the nerve to give one to her. Fred says he talks to her in his sleep. Now that my room has been moved close to his, I can hear him mumbled something. They both camped out in his room once."
"I can believe that."
"Yeah."
"Hello, Harry. Good to see you again this year. Why don't you grab your stuff because we'll be pulling in in two minutes." The snack-lady said as she passed Harry and Ginny.
"Thanks." Harry said, bravely walking into the cabin. "You two finished yet?"
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Never mind. We should get ready. We'll be there in two minutes." He said, picking up his luggage.
~*~*~
When the students were getting off the train, Sakura and company were told to wait and greet them.
Sara stood beneath a tree, staring at the people who were walking in. And then she saw a familiar face, the one that belonged to Hermione Granger, the only person to ever like her. Hermione, too, spotted Sara.
"Sara, what are you doing here?"
"I'm attending Hogwarts. You?"
"Me too."
"Who's your friend, Hermione?" Ron asked from behind Hermione. He was there with Harry.
Ron, Harry, this is Sara. She was a foster child that lived with me for a while. We became as close as sisters. "Sara, this is Ron Weasly and Harry Potter." Sara's eyes widened at Harry, and then turned to slits. "What's wrong? Haven't you ever heard of him?" Sara then stormed past them, aware that she practically knocked the famous teen off his feet when she collided her shoulder into his.
"What's her problem?" Ron asked, grabbing Harry by the shoulders to steady them.
"She always had a little problem with people." Hermione said, bashfully.
"Especially me." Harry groaned.
"Harry! I think that's the Sara that Ginny told me about!" Ron exclaimed. When hearing her name, Ginny went over to them to see what they were talking about.
"What's with me?"
"Describe the Sara girl that you met at Diagon Alley please." Hermione asked.
"Well, she has shoulder length brown hair, brown eyes, and a real bad attitude. She also had a snowy owl that she called Blizzard. Have you seen her? I've been looking for her for forever."
"Yeah, we just met her. Did you know that she and Hermione were like sisters?" Harry asked. Ginny's mouth nearly dropped. That was the second time that day that Harry had talked to her out of the blue. "She doesn't exactly like me."
"Who doesn't?" a burly voice asked from behind them. They turned around and saw Hagrid towering over them. "'Ello there."
"Hagrid. Hello." Hermione said, rushing up to him and giving him a hug. Ginny walked over to Ron and patted him on the shoulder.
"There, there." She teased. Ron quickly swatted her away, blushing all the while.
Then out of nowhere, a beautiful snowy owl appeared and landed on Ginny's shoulder. She smiled. "Hello, Blizzard." She said, tickling him under the chin.
"Blizzard. Return." Sara said sternly. She had ran back after Blizzard. The last thing she needed was a social owl. Blizzard flew gracefully back to her and perched high on her shoulder.
Harry noticed a little green thing following her everywhere, despite her swatting it away when she was sure no one was watching.
"Now, now students." A clear voice said, getting everyone's attention. "We have gotten you here so early so you can explore the place and take in your new surroundings. The luggage will be put in the ballroom and then you can have some time to yourselves. I believe most of you will want to catch up with old friends." Dumbledore said. Everyone followed him to the ballroom where they were all amazed.
"Syaoran, I didn't know you had a ballroom." Sakura whispered to Syaoran.
"Neither did I." He chuckled.
"Students! Tonight we have a few special announcements, but until then, have fun!" Dumbledore chuckled. Voices erupted through the ballroom and just as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were about to leave, they were grabbed by McGonagall and led to a place where the new year five students stood.
"Syaoran, Sakura, Tomoyo, I think, Meilin, Eriol, and Naoko, this is Hermione Granger," she started.
"You mean Sara's friend?" Sakura asked.
"Yes. Like I said. This is Hermione Granger, Harry Potter," she said, waiting for the whispers, but got none, "And Ron and Ginny Weasly."
"I remember you. You were with Sara at Diagon Alley." Tomoyo said, pointing to Ginny.
"Yes, well, it seems that Miss Riddle is the new celebrity at Hogwarts. You know what it's like, don't you Harry? Now I should leave you ten. I want you to talk about things, maybe Mr. Li could show them around and Miss Granger can talk to you about what it's like to be at Hogwarts and what to expect from the teachers. I'll go find Miss Riddle for you now." She said before she turned and left.
"Hello, like she said, I'm Eriol Hiiragizawa. It's a pleasure to meet you all." Eriol said, bowing lightly, causing Ginny to giggle.
"Hi, I'm Sakura Kinomoto. I've already met little Ginny here." Sakura said, waving.
"Hello. I'm Tomoyo Daidouji, Sakura's-or Ying Fa's- cousin and clothes designer."
"I thought I recognised you! You're from that movie-Power of my Star, aren't you?" Harry asked. He could remember her on the front of Dudley's DVD cover.
"I like his accent." Giggled someone from behind them.
"Chibi Clow. You came from England. Why don't you have and accent like that?" someone else asked. Syaoran turned around angrily.
"Didn't you promise that you would stay in the library?" he asked his sisters.
"Mother said that we could go 'cute-boy-finding'." Fuutie argued.
"Then go search elsewhere."
"No. We don't want to." Feimei complained. "And besides, I think the one with glasses is cute." She giggled in Chinese.
"Do you mean me or Harry?" Eriol asked, in English.
"Harry." They chimed at the same time. Syaoran brought out one of his elements, fire, from his jeans pocket and set it alight. The four girls ran away screaming.
"Don't mind them. They're Syaoran's older sisters." Sakura said after a while. Syaoran still hadn't said anything to them. "I know you're angry that your mum made you come here, but that doesn't give you a reason to turn Sara on us."
"She's right. You wouldn't survive one day being like me." Sara's voice came from behind Ron, Harry, Ginny and Hermione.
"Hi, Sara." Ginny said. Sara rolled her eyes and walked over to the furthest wall and leant up against it, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"She isn't exactly social." Tomoyo said. "Oh, and this is Naoko Yanagizawa and the one with black hair is Meilin. She's Syaoran's cousin. And she is Sara Riddle." She said, pointing over to Sara. "I believe you guys have already met her."
"Yeah. She wasn't too nice to Harry, though." Ron said. Just then a small purple cat came running into the room, followed by a large ginger cat that looked more like a small tiger.
"Lilac! Are you okay?" Tomoyo asked, running up to the frightened cat.
"Tomoyo-chan, you do realise that she can't answer you, right?" Eriol chuckled. Tomoyo turned around and stuck out her tongue. Hermione walked over to the other cat.
"Crookshanks, stop pestering other cats." Hermione said and then picked up her cat with much difficulty.
"That monster's still alive?" Ron asked.
"He isn't a monster."
"He's about the size of a young tiger." Meilin said. "I love him. He's gorgeous."
"I know. I got him in year five. He tried to eat Ron's rat, Scabbers."
"MORE CHOCOLATE!!! GIVE ME MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!" a voice rung out through the ballroom. Eriol and Sakura quickly turned their heads to look at each other.
"Oh, no." the both mumbled.
Then a small black flash came out of nowhere. Everyone ducked when it came at them, but then after the third time, Eriol stood up and put his hand up above his head. He closed his eyes, searching for its aura and when he felt it right in his hand, he clasped his fingers down on it. Then before anyone could see what had happened, he stuffed it in his jacket pocket.
"It's gone." He said to everyone.
More laughter was heard, this time it was two voices and two little things floated out from the hallway connecting the ballroom to the dinning room.
"Did you see Suppi?" the first said.
"He flew faster then I've ever seen him! We have to…" the second one agreed but then stopped when they realised that they were being watched.
"Manaturs. I told you to stay in my room." Sara spoke up from her spot. She hadn't moved an inch, even when Suppi had almost hit her. She looked up and uncrossed her arms. "Your lucky I wont let Blizzard eat you."
"And that's the hate that has all the teachers saying that you are just like your father." Mana said before he could stop himself. He watched as Sara took a card from her pocket. Then she felt her hand being pushed down. She looked up to see that Eriol had made his way over to her.
"You know what I can do. I can seal all of the cards again forever and I will if your behaviour does not improve."
"Yes, Miss Lain." Sara said, putting the card back in her pocket.
"What the hell was that about?" Ron asked, his mouth was hanging wide open, but his question stayed unanswered.
"And you, Kero. I told you the same thing but instead you shove sweets down poor little Suppi's throat. When he's better, I want you to apologise. Now get back up to my room." Sakura snapped, leaving everyone wondering.
"But that's six flights of stairs to fly up." Kero groaned.
"I could always give you to Sara to deal with."
"I'm there." Kero said, flying out of the room as fast as he could. Mana was following behind him.
"What are we going to do about Suppi?" Tomoyo asked.
"I'll get Nakuru to take care of him." Eriol said leaving.
"Blizzard." Sara called out from behind them. The gracious bird flew in and landed on Sara's shoulder. She then walked over to Eriol. "Give Blizzard whatever it is. He'll take it up with Mana." Eriol handed the high Suppi over to Sara, who told Blizzard to follow Mana upstairs and not to eat it.
"All that was over a toy cat?" Ron asked.
"Well, it's charmed so it acts like it's real." Eriol lied.
"So it's like the chocolate frogs?" Harry asked.
"CHOCOLATE?!" Suppi said, halfway out of the room.
"They won't know. We all live in the Muggle World." Naoko said.
"Then how do you know about all of this?" Harry asked. "I do to and I knew nothing about until five years ago."
"Hmm, yeah. The famous Harry Potter. He didn't even know what he was famous for." Sara chuckled.
"It would be nice if you could say something nice once in a while." Eriol groaned.
"Professor McGonagall said that you were quite a celebrity, yourself. What did she mean by that."
"That is my business."
"Rules have been given out. We aren't to ask her about family or history." Tomoyo said. "So what can we expect from our teachers?"
"There's Potions with Professor Snape, Herboligy with Professor Sprout, Divination with Professor Trelawny, Care For Magical Creatures with Hagrid, Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, Charms with Professor Flitwik and we learn how to use our broomsticks with Madam Hooch." Hermione said.
"And we have Defence Against the Dark Arts, but we've had a different teacher each year ever since we started school." Harry said.
"It's all your fault. If Voldemort wasn't after you then everything would have been fine." Ron said, blaming Harry.
"Who's he?" Sakura asked.
"You're joking right?" Hermione asked.
"No. I haven't heard of him either." Tomoyo said.
"It's just like we don't know why Harry's famous." Syaoran said.
"Harry's famous because he put a stop to Voldemort. And he was only a few months old, too." Ron said, bragging for him.
"It's stupid, really. Voldemort was a very powerful magician who killed many people and he comes across one little brat who smiles at him and he loses his powers." Sara said.
"I thought you live in the Muggle World." Hermione said.
"I do, but my knowledge of the your world is amazing. Like I said, five minutes in my mind would send any sane man insane."
"Don't use your vocabulary all at once." Snickered someone behind them. Two more people joined his laughter. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny knew this laugh all too well. Sara looked up at him from her spot against the wall and couldn't help but laugh at him. But this laugh still wasn't one of joy; it was one of tease and hate.
"Notice how the only time that you don't run away from me is when you have, what, Dumb and Dumber behind you?" Harry couldn't help but laugh at her statement.
"Really funny, orphan." Draco snapped.
"That's where you're wrong. My father is still alive."
"Then why don't you live with him?"
"Because he can't take care of me."
"Because you're too much of a brat. Either that or he doesn't want you." Sara reached for another card in her pocket.
"Sara, come on, please, don't hurt him. He has no idea what he's doing. Please." Sakura said, running over to her. "We don't want the Time Card to be used again."
Sara slowly slid down the wall and Sakura noticed that her aura was turning black. Eriol, Syaoran, Hermione and Ginny ran over to her to see what had happened. Hermione grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her violently.
"What's wrong with her? Sara! Snap out of it!" she screamed. Sakura quickly turned to Meilin.
"Meilin, I need you to go up to Sara's room and get Mana. I'll lend you the Dash Card." Sakura said, getting her wand out and telling Dash to lend Meilin its powers. "Tomoyo, you need to go get Yelan."
"Okay." Tomoyo said with a quick nod of her head. She ran out of the ballroom and to a second kitchen that was being used as the Staff Room. "Yelan, we have a problem with Sara."
Meanwhile, Meilin had gotten Mana and was now sitting by Sara.
"Come on, Sara. Wake up, snap out of it. He doesn't know anything." Mana said as he tried to get Sara out of her mood. Naoko walked right up to Draco and slapped him across the face with everything she had.
"I hope you're proud of yourself, y'know. You have no idea what Sara could have done to you for saying that. You're just lucky Sakura calmed her down before she could have done anything."
"Mana," Syaoran said quietly. "Look at the card she's holding." Mana flew down to look at the card and made the sound of distaste.
"What the hell were you think of? You got her so angry that she created it again!" Mana yelled at Draco. "I don't see why I shouldn't put you in intensive care."
"Like a flying toy could do anything." Malfoy laughed. Then his laughter stopped when he watched as Mana's wings grew larger and then enveloped himself. Seconds later, a small dragon appeared where Mana was.
His wings were now blue with some red in it and he had two purple jewels, one on his head and one was part of the metal moon-shaped plate on his neck. He was about the size of Keroberos in his true form.
"What a pathetic dragon." Sakura mumbled and then Malfoy's laughter started up again. Mana walked over to Sara and grabbed a card from her pocket. Both he and the card started to glow and Manaturs started to grow larger.
"The Big Card. It's too bad you didn't think of that when we used to tease you." Eriol chuckled, only to have to jump out of reach of Mana's tail. He then turned on Malfoy.
"Manaturs! You get back to your small form this instant!" Yelan yelled. All the teachers had assembled by the door and were gaping at Manaturs. "This is no reason to kill." Mana slowly shrunk, his gaze never leaving Draco, but soon he was his original size and then he transformed back into little Mana. "Good, now calm down. What happened?"
"He said exactly what the little kid back at the orphanage did, y'know, the one where she had to use the Time Card?"
"Oh,"
"Sakura calmed her down, but she's been stuck like this ever since." Eriol said.
"He's lucky I did, otherwise there wouldn't much left of him. She created the card again." Sakura informed them.
"Which card?" Draco asked.
"Never you mind, young man. That
was very inappropriate for you to say something like that. We can't even begin
to imagine what Sara has gone through."
"Come on, Mr. Malfoy. We should get you
three out of here. You too, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasly." Madam Hooch said, as
she grabbed Draco by the shoulders and led them out. "I do believe the rest of
you are her friends."
Yelan walked over to Sara and placed her hands firmly on Sara's shoulders and started to shake her. "Sara, wake up Sara. Draco has been taken away. He isn't here anymore." Suddenly, Sara stood up, still holding the Death Card in her hand.
"It worked." Meilin breathed. "Wow, Sara, you really had us worried." Sara started to walk out of the room. Mana quickly floated up to her face.
"Hey, hello, Sara?" he asked and then he looked at her eyes. They had turned black. The dark brown was there no more. He gasped, having seen this look once before. It was exactly like the day she killed the boy. "Where's Draco?"
"Madam Hooch is escorting him out." Dumbledore said.
"With the power of my heart, I wish to unlock the Dark Key. I wish to reveal the Dark Wand that belongs to me. I, Sara Riddle, The Card Keeper, Command the wand to take shape. Release!" Sara said as if she was in a trance.
The room was filled with a black mist as Sara called out the Dark Wand, the instrument that was used to use the Dark Cards: The Death Card, Fire Card and the Power Card.
"Death Card, your target is Dr…" Sara started again before her body fell limp on the floor. A quick little squeal came from Naoko who was now standing behind her, armed with Kero, who was dangling loosely from Naoko's hand.
"I think I killed them both!" she squealed.
"Nah, you just knocked them unconscious, but what gave you the idea to hit Sara over the head with my Guardian?" Sakura asked.
"Well, I didn't want her to kill anyone, I mean she would be kicked out of school, and all, and Kero was the first thing I saw and you are such a cool looking dragon, Mana!"
"Ah, thanks. What should we do with Sara? She is going to be so angry with you when she wakes up." Mana said. He examined Sara for a while and then realised that she wasn't holding the Death Card anymore. But then he noticed that her wand was lime green again. Something by her abruptly went up in flames and Mana noticed that it was the Death Card. He smiled a smile of relief. "Can someone carry her up to her room?"
"She can use Float. While you're taking her up there, do you think you'd be able to take Kero, too?" Sakura asked, pulling out the Float Card. She told it to carry Sara up to her room. All it had to do was listen to Mana's directions.
All they had to do now was nervously wait for Sara to wake up, protect Naoko and Malfoy and get through their first year at Hogwarts.
~*~
There is no such thing as high hopes in this story, is there? I'm sorry if this is late. We have limited hours on the Internet so we have to pace ourselves.
I hope this story isn't too predictable. That's the last thing I want to do.
