Chapter 3: Decisions and explanations
*~*~*~*
Sakura was now sitting in front of her father and brother. Yukito and Kero were here too. She had just told them about her dream and Eriol's request. Touya was now pacing along the table, still not believing what her friend had asked her to do.
"Has he gone mad? You have exams at the end of the year! And how will you explain you absence to your school? This is just crazy. You can't go for no one knows how much time without anyone."
"We will be with her." Yukito said calmly. "I mean, Yue, Kero and I occasionally. She will be perfectly safe."
"That's not the point, Yuki!"
Sakura sighed at her brother's reply, but didn't look away from her father. Since she had told him, he hadn't said a word. He was looking at Touya with a growing smile one his face. Finally, he stood up and put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Are you sure you're her brother and not her father?"
Touya stopped pacing and looked disbelievingly into his father's eyes. Fujitaka Kinomoto smiled before turning his eyes to his daughter.
"This could be a good occasion to learn a bit more about occidental civilization and to improve your already good English."
Sakura just nodded, not really knowing what her father meant. When he saw that, Fujitaka's smile grew a bit wider.
"You will go in England as long as Touya goes with you and if you promise that you will write to me at least once a week."
Sakura jumped around the table and straight into her father's arms. Touya calmed down instantly, appalled that he hadn't thought about that before. Yukito and Kero smiled to each other, thinking it had more than a good idea to have explained to Sakura's father all about her powers.
*~*~*~*
The plane's wheels touched the ground and Sakura woke up with a start. She had had the dream again. She had seen these green eyes, so similar to her own, watching her from beside the lake. She remembered the first time she had such dreams: it had been the day before she had found the Clow Cards. At that time, she had dreamt about the Final Judgment. Later, she had dreamt about her 'final battle' with Eriol as she was changing the cards into Sakura Cards. She was wondering what this dream could mean.
Syaoran put a hand on her shoulder, wearing his look 'Don't worry too much'. Sakura smiled and stood up as everyone began to get ready to get off the plane. The Card Mistress took a look inside her bag to see that Kero was still sleeping, visibly happy. Syaoran smiled as he opened his own bag to look at his own guardians, Feng, who looked like a lizard and Lung, a curious little bird, sleeping as well. Finally, Tomoyo and Sakura were the first outside, not even waiting for the others. They quickly made their way through the passport control and to the meeting point. There, a smiling Eriol was waiting for them.
"Hello! It's nice to see you again."
Sakura nearly broke Eriol's neck in a huge hug. Tomoyo satisfied herself with a kiss on his cheek. When he was able to extract himself from Sakura's arms, Eriol looked around to see the others coming their way.
"So, how is my cute little descendant?"
"I've already told you not to call me that." Syaoran growled.
With a smile, Eriol led the team toward the exit, their luggage being sent to his home magically.
When they finally arrived there, Sakura, Tomoyo and Syaoran couldn't help but smile. His mansion looked a lot like the one he had owned back in Tomoeda. As he opened the door, a shout could be heard from inside and a flash of pink shot past everyone to jump on Touya.
"I was sure you will come along. It had been such a long time."
"Nakuru?"
"Don't get angry, ok?"
"I can't breathe anymore!"
And everyone sweat-dropped as they saw that Nakuru was nearly strangling Touya. Eriol let everyone come in and settle their thing before calling them for tea. As they were sitting around cakes and cup of tea, Eriol cleared his throat. Immediately, Nakuru and Suppi transformed into their true forms of Ruby-Moon, a tall girl with pink and black dress and butterfly wings, and Spinel-Sun, a black panther with blue and black wings. Taking the hint, Kero and Yukito became Kerberos, a yellow lion with yellowish white feathered wings, and Yue, and tall angel all dressed in white and blue with blueish white wings and hair. Lung, the little lizard, changed into a very impressive green Chinese dragon, the same size than Kerberos, while the little bird Feng became Feng Huang, an as impressive Chinese phoenix, as big as his fellow dragon, all in white, black, blue, red and yellow. After everyone finished, Eriol began speaking.
"I did a bit of research, mainly in the memories of Clow Reed. As I told you on the phone, Sakura, the only place I know, or well knew, which looks like your dream is Hogwarts. This is a school for young wizards and witches, where they learn the basics of magic. It had been founded something like a thousand years ago. In the occidental world, magic is something very restricted. There is even a Ministry of Magic here. Anyway, Clow was one of the first students of the school. That's how I know about the place. Personally, I've never been there."
"They've got a school to teach magic?" asked Syaoran quite disbelievingly.
"It's not at all your kind of magic. Here, everything functions differently, when it comes to magic."
"So what about the boy?" asked Sakura.
"Long time ago, a powerful wizard named Tom Marvolo Riddle went wrong. Using very dark powers, he tried to take over the occidental wizarding community. If he had succeed, he would have probably attack the rest of the world afterward. However, numerous were those opposed to him. Among them, there was a young couple. One night, Voldemort turned out at their home and killed them. But when he tried to kill their one-year-old son, his spell backfired and hit him instead. During the past years, Voldemort tried to rise to power again, but never succeed until two years ago. That's all I know. I don't really like to go and see the occidental wizarding world."
"Why not?" asked Sakura, out of curiosity.
Eriol looked for his words before answering "Most of them are arrogant and think they are better than anyone who can't do magic. And, with the exception of a very few, they think that their magic is the only one worthy studying."
"How strange. It reminds me of someone else." Syaoran smiled to Eriol, as he said these words.
Eriol grinned back at Syaoran. Sakura stood up, thinking about what Eriol had said, pacing next to her chair.
"Well, we just have to stay next to this school and show up when things become dirty."
"Not so easy, dear. Here, magic is something highly restricted."
As the team stared at Eriol, Ruby-Moon felt she had to explain.
"The occidental wizarding world is totally unknown from the rest of the world, in particular those who don't possess any magic inside them. There is a Ministry of Magic, with a whole bunch of rules. Legally, neither Eriol nor the whole of you are allowed to do magic here, because you are what the Ministry called 'under-aged wizards'. The only way to be allowed to do magic here is having a diploma."
"Wait a second." Syaoran said. "Eriol, you've just said that you never went to this school."
"I didn't, but Clow Reed did. In fact, he was one of the first students of this school. I had a deal with the Ministry of Magic. I didn't go to school and in return I use my powers only when I really need them, as long as I'm in England that is."
Sakura stopped pacing and stood in front of Eriol.
"I want to help this boy. Clow Reed had created the Clow Cards to protect and cherish. Well, I want to protect him."
Everyone recognized Sakura's look and Eriol smiled slightly as he stood up. He calmly walked to his fireplace and took a small handful of a powder that was just next to it. Sending flames burning magically inside the fireplace, he then threw the powder inside.
"Albus Dumbledore."
With this, the flames turned green and to the surprise of nearly everyone in the room, the head of a rather old looking a man appeared into the flames.
"Eriol, what a pleasant surprise! I haven't heard from you for a long time."
"I know and want to apologize. But you know my position when it comes to your world." As the man nodded, Eriol went on. "I'm afraid this call is about business. Are you free at the moment?"
"Yes, but not for long sadly."
Eriol stepped aside and, to the stupor of the others, the man walked into the room by the fireplace. He was wearing long robes, had long and white hair and beard and twinkling blue eyes behind a pair of half-moon shaped spectacles.
"That's quite impressive." Tomoyo murmured.
Dumbledore shot a warning glance to Eriol who just smiled and looked at his friends.
"Everyone, this is Albus Dumbledore, the actual Headmaster of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Albus, let me introduce you to Sakura Kinomoto, Mistress of the Sakura Cards formerly known as the Clow Cards, Syaoran Li, Master of the Syaoran Cards, Tomoyo Daidouji, their best friend, and Touya Kinomoto, Sakura's older brother. Yue and Kerberos are now Sakura's protectors while Lung and Feng Huang are Syaoran's."
As he was talking, Eriol had pointed out everyone to the older man. After that, he offered him a chair. Dumbledore relaxed visibly at the mention of the Clow Cards and sat down.
"Sakura called me yesterday with a very strange dream." Eriol carried on. "Although she's never been there, she dreamt of Hogwarts and a boy. She saw this boy dead and wishes to prevent this from happening."
As Albus looked at her with his twinkling eyes, Sakura smiled slightly and began telling him about the dream. After she was done, Eriol and Dumbledore exchange a look, saying to the others that, as usual, Eriol hadn't told them everything he knew. With an exasperated sigh, Sakura looked at Yue and Kerberos. Both of them shrugged lightly, knowing full well it wasn't even worthy to bother trying to know what Eriol was hiding. Dumbledore stood and fumbled inside his robes. Then he presented letters to Sakura, Tomoyo, Syaoran and Eriol.
"These are letters telling that you're accepted in Hogwarts, as foreign students willing to learn our magic. Of course, Card masters, your guardians are allowed into the school as well. You will begin with the sixth year students and assist to the classes. However, you will not be obliged to do the homework, except if you want to. Mr. Kinomoto, you're too old to be a student, do you mind be a teacher?"
"No. I know a lot about fighting techniques, if you need."
Dumbledore nodded. Tomoyo's hand went up slowly.
"Excuse me but, I don't have any magic."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled over the dark-haired young woman. Eriol answered instead of him.
"You don't have any oriental magic. But, you do possess the gift for occidental one. I'm sure of that."
"And so do I." Dumbledore added.
"I've always told you that you had magic!" said Sakura laughing.
Dumbledore laughed along with Eriol before going back to the fireplace and taking some Floo Powder. Throwing it in the fire, he clearly said 'Hogwarts castle, Headmaster office'.
"I expect to see you all the first of September, at Hogwarts." With that, the wizard stepped into the flames and disappeared. After that, Eriol looked at his friends.
"I think we've got things to do."
*~*~*~*
A/N I know that I didn't bother with the problem of language. I also know that I've a bit messed with the timelines, but hey, it's my story ^_^
For those who don't know, Lung is the mightiest dragon of Chinese mythology, ruler of the sky and weather. Feng Huang is simply the name of the Chinese phoenix.
Next chapter: Diagon Alley.
*~*~*~*
Sakura was now sitting in front of her father and brother. Yukito and Kero were here too. She had just told them about her dream and Eriol's request. Touya was now pacing along the table, still not believing what her friend had asked her to do.
"Has he gone mad? You have exams at the end of the year! And how will you explain you absence to your school? This is just crazy. You can't go for no one knows how much time without anyone."
"We will be with her." Yukito said calmly. "I mean, Yue, Kero and I occasionally. She will be perfectly safe."
"That's not the point, Yuki!"
Sakura sighed at her brother's reply, but didn't look away from her father. Since she had told him, he hadn't said a word. He was looking at Touya with a growing smile one his face. Finally, he stood up and put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Are you sure you're her brother and not her father?"
Touya stopped pacing and looked disbelievingly into his father's eyes. Fujitaka Kinomoto smiled before turning his eyes to his daughter.
"This could be a good occasion to learn a bit more about occidental civilization and to improve your already good English."
Sakura just nodded, not really knowing what her father meant. When he saw that, Fujitaka's smile grew a bit wider.
"You will go in England as long as Touya goes with you and if you promise that you will write to me at least once a week."
Sakura jumped around the table and straight into her father's arms. Touya calmed down instantly, appalled that he hadn't thought about that before. Yukito and Kero smiled to each other, thinking it had more than a good idea to have explained to Sakura's father all about her powers.
*~*~*~*
The plane's wheels touched the ground and Sakura woke up with a start. She had had the dream again. She had seen these green eyes, so similar to her own, watching her from beside the lake. She remembered the first time she had such dreams: it had been the day before she had found the Clow Cards. At that time, she had dreamt about the Final Judgment. Later, she had dreamt about her 'final battle' with Eriol as she was changing the cards into Sakura Cards. She was wondering what this dream could mean.
Syaoran put a hand on her shoulder, wearing his look 'Don't worry too much'. Sakura smiled and stood up as everyone began to get ready to get off the plane. The Card Mistress took a look inside her bag to see that Kero was still sleeping, visibly happy. Syaoran smiled as he opened his own bag to look at his own guardians, Feng, who looked like a lizard and Lung, a curious little bird, sleeping as well. Finally, Tomoyo and Sakura were the first outside, not even waiting for the others. They quickly made their way through the passport control and to the meeting point. There, a smiling Eriol was waiting for them.
"Hello! It's nice to see you again."
Sakura nearly broke Eriol's neck in a huge hug. Tomoyo satisfied herself with a kiss on his cheek. When he was able to extract himself from Sakura's arms, Eriol looked around to see the others coming their way.
"So, how is my cute little descendant?"
"I've already told you not to call me that." Syaoran growled.
With a smile, Eriol led the team toward the exit, their luggage being sent to his home magically.
When they finally arrived there, Sakura, Tomoyo and Syaoran couldn't help but smile. His mansion looked a lot like the one he had owned back in Tomoeda. As he opened the door, a shout could be heard from inside and a flash of pink shot past everyone to jump on Touya.
"I was sure you will come along. It had been such a long time."
"Nakuru?"
"Don't get angry, ok?"
"I can't breathe anymore!"
And everyone sweat-dropped as they saw that Nakuru was nearly strangling Touya. Eriol let everyone come in and settle their thing before calling them for tea. As they were sitting around cakes and cup of tea, Eriol cleared his throat. Immediately, Nakuru and Suppi transformed into their true forms of Ruby-Moon, a tall girl with pink and black dress and butterfly wings, and Spinel-Sun, a black panther with blue and black wings. Taking the hint, Kero and Yukito became Kerberos, a yellow lion with yellowish white feathered wings, and Yue, and tall angel all dressed in white and blue with blueish white wings and hair. Lung, the little lizard, changed into a very impressive green Chinese dragon, the same size than Kerberos, while the little bird Feng became Feng Huang, an as impressive Chinese phoenix, as big as his fellow dragon, all in white, black, blue, red and yellow. After everyone finished, Eriol began speaking.
"I did a bit of research, mainly in the memories of Clow Reed. As I told you on the phone, Sakura, the only place I know, or well knew, which looks like your dream is Hogwarts. This is a school for young wizards and witches, where they learn the basics of magic. It had been founded something like a thousand years ago. In the occidental world, magic is something very restricted. There is even a Ministry of Magic here. Anyway, Clow was one of the first students of the school. That's how I know about the place. Personally, I've never been there."
"They've got a school to teach magic?" asked Syaoran quite disbelievingly.
"It's not at all your kind of magic. Here, everything functions differently, when it comes to magic."
"So what about the boy?" asked Sakura.
"Long time ago, a powerful wizard named Tom Marvolo Riddle went wrong. Using very dark powers, he tried to take over the occidental wizarding community. If he had succeed, he would have probably attack the rest of the world afterward. However, numerous were those opposed to him. Among them, there was a young couple. One night, Voldemort turned out at their home and killed them. But when he tried to kill their one-year-old son, his spell backfired and hit him instead. During the past years, Voldemort tried to rise to power again, but never succeed until two years ago. That's all I know. I don't really like to go and see the occidental wizarding world."
"Why not?" asked Sakura, out of curiosity.
Eriol looked for his words before answering "Most of them are arrogant and think they are better than anyone who can't do magic. And, with the exception of a very few, they think that their magic is the only one worthy studying."
"How strange. It reminds me of someone else." Syaoran smiled to Eriol, as he said these words.
Eriol grinned back at Syaoran. Sakura stood up, thinking about what Eriol had said, pacing next to her chair.
"Well, we just have to stay next to this school and show up when things become dirty."
"Not so easy, dear. Here, magic is something highly restricted."
As the team stared at Eriol, Ruby-Moon felt she had to explain.
"The occidental wizarding world is totally unknown from the rest of the world, in particular those who don't possess any magic inside them. There is a Ministry of Magic, with a whole bunch of rules. Legally, neither Eriol nor the whole of you are allowed to do magic here, because you are what the Ministry called 'under-aged wizards'. The only way to be allowed to do magic here is having a diploma."
"Wait a second." Syaoran said. "Eriol, you've just said that you never went to this school."
"I didn't, but Clow Reed did. In fact, he was one of the first students of this school. I had a deal with the Ministry of Magic. I didn't go to school and in return I use my powers only when I really need them, as long as I'm in England that is."
Sakura stopped pacing and stood in front of Eriol.
"I want to help this boy. Clow Reed had created the Clow Cards to protect and cherish. Well, I want to protect him."
Everyone recognized Sakura's look and Eriol smiled slightly as he stood up. He calmly walked to his fireplace and took a small handful of a powder that was just next to it. Sending flames burning magically inside the fireplace, he then threw the powder inside.
"Albus Dumbledore."
With this, the flames turned green and to the surprise of nearly everyone in the room, the head of a rather old looking a man appeared into the flames.
"Eriol, what a pleasant surprise! I haven't heard from you for a long time."
"I know and want to apologize. But you know my position when it comes to your world." As the man nodded, Eriol went on. "I'm afraid this call is about business. Are you free at the moment?"
"Yes, but not for long sadly."
Eriol stepped aside and, to the stupor of the others, the man walked into the room by the fireplace. He was wearing long robes, had long and white hair and beard and twinkling blue eyes behind a pair of half-moon shaped spectacles.
"That's quite impressive." Tomoyo murmured.
Dumbledore shot a warning glance to Eriol who just smiled and looked at his friends.
"Everyone, this is Albus Dumbledore, the actual Headmaster of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Albus, let me introduce you to Sakura Kinomoto, Mistress of the Sakura Cards formerly known as the Clow Cards, Syaoran Li, Master of the Syaoran Cards, Tomoyo Daidouji, their best friend, and Touya Kinomoto, Sakura's older brother. Yue and Kerberos are now Sakura's protectors while Lung and Feng Huang are Syaoran's."
As he was talking, Eriol had pointed out everyone to the older man. After that, he offered him a chair. Dumbledore relaxed visibly at the mention of the Clow Cards and sat down.
"Sakura called me yesterday with a very strange dream." Eriol carried on. "Although she's never been there, she dreamt of Hogwarts and a boy. She saw this boy dead and wishes to prevent this from happening."
As Albus looked at her with his twinkling eyes, Sakura smiled slightly and began telling him about the dream. After she was done, Eriol and Dumbledore exchange a look, saying to the others that, as usual, Eriol hadn't told them everything he knew. With an exasperated sigh, Sakura looked at Yue and Kerberos. Both of them shrugged lightly, knowing full well it wasn't even worthy to bother trying to know what Eriol was hiding. Dumbledore stood and fumbled inside his robes. Then he presented letters to Sakura, Tomoyo, Syaoran and Eriol.
"These are letters telling that you're accepted in Hogwarts, as foreign students willing to learn our magic. Of course, Card masters, your guardians are allowed into the school as well. You will begin with the sixth year students and assist to the classes. However, you will not be obliged to do the homework, except if you want to. Mr. Kinomoto, you're too old to be a student, do you mind be a teacher?"
"No. I know a lot about fighting techniques, if you need."
Dumbledore nodded. Tomoyo's hand went up slowly.
"Excuse me but, I don't have any magic."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled over the dark-haired young woman. Eriol answered instead of him.
"You don't have any oriental magic. But, you do possess the gift for occidental one. I'm sure of that."
"And so do I." Dumbledore added.
"I've always told you that you had magic!" said Sakura laughing.
Dumbledore laughed along with Eriol before going back to the fireplace and taking some Floo Powder. Throwing it in the fire, he clearly said 'Hogwarts castle, Headmaster office'.
"I expect to see you all the first of September, at Hogwarts." With that, the wizard stepped into the flames and disappeared. After that, Eriol looked at his friends.
"I think we've got things to do."
*~*~*~*
A/N I know that I didn't bother with the problem of language. I also know that I've a bit messed with the timelines, but hey, it's my story ^_^
For those who don't know, Lung is the mightiest dragon of Chinese mythology, ruler of the sky and weather. Feng Huang is simply the name of the Chinese phoenix.
Next chapter: Diagon Alley.
