Disclaimer: If you really want to read a disclaimer, just look back on chapters 1-8, ok?
A/N: I was actually going to have this and the next chapter as one, but I thought it too long, so I cut it in half. Hope that's ok with everyone!
*~*Chapter 9: Holiday Woes*~*
By the time Harry and Sakura had been realised from the Hospital Wing, everyone in Hogwarts knew at least part of Sakura's story. She became the "new celebrity", to put it in Snape's words. Sakura was constantly being badgered into showing off her powers whenever she walked through the halls, which she didn't mind at first. But it became quite annoying after a while. People pointing at her while she walked through the corridors, total strangers asking her about the match and such. When she finally did put on a show, it was for her fellow Gryffindor's only.
"Hey, Sakura!! Show us some of that magic of yours!!!" a first year shouted one day in the Common Room. Syaoran glanced at her to see wht she would do. So far, she had politely declined each and every person who asked her this.
"So, you going to say 'no' again Sakura?" Harry asked over Quidditch Through the Ages. Sakura smiled at him.
"No, not this time! I am tired of people asking me, so I'll show just this once." Harry stared back at her, first in surprize, then in excitment. She got up and ran to the stairs that lead to the dormitories. After about five minutes, she came back with her Sakura cards in hand. Kero was flying right behind her.
"Are you sure this is wise, Sakura? What about what Professor Dumbledore said?" Kero asked Sakura. She calmly took out her sealing wand and smiled at Kero playfully.
"I already had a talk with him. He said, and I quote, "I see no harm in displaying your powers, as long as no one is hurt and that is is during your own time." Basicly, just don't show off during class." She sat back down in her chair by the fire and went through her cards one by one. Ron, Hermione and Harry were intruiqued by her cards.
"Hey! Wait a moment. This isn't Clow's symbol on the back! What's wrong with these cards?" Kero answered Hermione's question
"Nothing's wrong with them!! Sheesh. After Sakura here captured the Clow cards and became the Mistress of the Cards, the cards needed to draw power from their new master. When she transformed the cards, they started to draw power from her star, thus changing their look. I find them to be rather cute myself," he added. Hermione thought about this for a while.
"That sounds exactly like somthing Eriol was talking to me about..." Ron glared at her briefly. He still didn't approve of all the time those two were spending together, but if ever said anything about it, Hermione might know that he...
"Hey, Ron, what's wrong? You look like you just swallowed an Acid Pop," Harry remarked. Ron immediatly snapped out of his daze and smiled sheepishly back at his friend.
"Naw. Just thinking..." Harry smirked.
"You sure you should be doing THAT? You might hurt yourse-OOF!!" Any more words that might have come from Harry's mouth were blocked by a feather-soft coushion, sent his way by Ron. Sakura and Hermione shared a fit of giggles while Syaoran stared blankly. After the laughter was out of her system, Sakura focused her attention on the Sakura cards again.
"Let's see... Lock, Flower. I'll save that for another time. Uhhh....Earthy...? No, WAY too powerful. Ah!! Mirror! Perfect!" Sakura lifted the Mirror card out of her deck and stood up. She turned to Syaoran.
"You arn't going to do some magic, Syaoran?" Syaoran stared back, blushing furriously.
"You have magic too, Syaoran??" asked Ron. Syaoran blushed even harder, if that was possible.
"I think it's a bit crowded in here for my magic..." he mumbled. Sakura took a good look at the Common Room and nodded her head.
"Yeah. I guess you're right. Oh well." She moved out into the middle of the room. She pushed back a crowd of people that had immerged to watch her.
"I want everyone to stay back. I've never done this in such a crowded area, so I don't know what might or will happen. Although, I think it's pretty safe with the Mirror..." She held the Star wand out in the palm of her hand and began to chant.
"Key that holds the power of the Stars! Reveal your true form to me! I, Sakura, command you by contract! RELEASE!" The wand grew longer. A few people in the "audiance" gasped. "Mirror!!" Energy swirled around her as the Mirror card took physical form and stared curiously at the students that made a circle around her. Everyone was silent for a moment before someone called out from the audiance.
"Well? What does it do?" Mirror looked puzzled at all the sudden attention and turned to Sakura as if to ask what to do. Sakura smiled kindly back.
"Take my form, Mirror." Mirror suddenly smiled and nodded. She transformed into Sakura's mirror image, reciving appluase fom the students.
"Is Toya here?" Mirror asked Sakura quietly.
"Oh! No, he's back home, I'm sorry," Sakura said. Mirror looked saddened by this. Suddenly, the first year who had asked Sakura to show her powers approched the two Sakuras in amazment. Mirror watched her curiously.
"W-Wow... Can.. Can she take my form too?" she asked quietly. Mirror knelt down to meet the small girl's eyes and stared.
"You want me to look like you...?" she asked. The girl nodded her head silently. "Would it make you happy?" Again, the girl nodded, a bit hesitant this time. Mirror closed her eyes and took the form of the girl. The small girl stared silently for a moment, then started to squeal happily. She laughed as the crowd applauded once more.
"Thank you!!!" she said. She suddenly huged Mirror. Mirror was stuned for a moment, but soon started to laugh along with the girl and returned the hug. Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron quietly.
"Did you see that? The Mirror card has emotions, like a real person. Not just some magical card."
"Yes," Ron said. "She made the girl happy, and enjoyed it."
"That is one thing I really liked about them," someone behind them said. All three turned to see Syaoran standing behind them. "Each and every card has a different personality. The Watery card is violent, while the Windy and Wood cards of equal strength have soft and gentle natures. Kind of like Sakura's..." he added while watching Sakura laugh along with the others.
All through the night, the Mirror card played with the Gryffindor students, laughing along with them as she mimmiced their apperances. Finally, at 10:00, Sakura called it a night.
"Alright! I know you have been having alot of fun, but I really need to go to sleep now." she said as she broke appart the large crowd around the Mirror who was taking Alicia Spinnet's form at the time. "I am really sleepy right now. I have no time for games, please." Fred and George stepped up with devilish grins on their faces.
"How 'bout we make a bargin, eh? If you can figure out which Alica is the real one, we'll let you leave," said Fred.
"But if you guess wrong, we get the Mirror for another 30 minutes!" George declaired.
"30 minutes?!? Who do you think I am? An owl?? No way. 10 minutes," Sakura exclaimed.
"Fifteen."
"Ten." Sakura said firmly. George did an overly dramatic sigh and aggreed. Sakura smiled and immediatly moved to the Alicia on the right.
"This is the Mirror card," she said simply with a smile on her face. The Alicia that she had indicated returned back to her normal form with a look of deep disapointment. Sakura saw the sad face and frowned slightly. "I promise to bring you back to see them some other time, alright? Cheer up now!" Mirror looked estatic at the thought of comming back. She nodded and returned to her card form. Sakura smiled and said goodnight as she ran to join Syaoran and the others by the staircase.
"That was really cool, Sakura," Ron commented. ''Is it true what Syaoran said? That all the Cards have different personalities?" Sakura nodded and let out a big yawn.
"That's right. I'll tell you about it tomorrow...*YAWN*...Oh, boy. Hermione? You'll help me understand Metmorphasis charms soon right?''
"Tomorrow. The test is Friday for heavens sakes!" Sakura and Hermione were discussing Charms as they said goodnight to the boys and went to their dormitories. Harry, Syaoran and Ron literaly fell into their beds; they were exhusted from studying for friday's charms quiz AND tomorrow's potions test. Harry let out a groan as he hit his foot on the bed post. 'Stupid bed..' he said to himself. He quickly recovered from the bed's assult and buried himself in the heated covers. Harry was soon dreaming about what it would be like to punch Snape's greasy face into the floor, blissfully un-aware of the dangers that lurked only a few hundred metres from his window.
*~*~*~*
Wormtail was nervous. No, beyond nervous. He had failed his master once again, plus, the Card Mistress was attending the school. Although, that wasn't his fault. But his Master would still be angry. Oh! How he wished he hadn't returned to him! He might still be in that warm castle, sleeping peacefully next to the child he had stayed with. Instead, he was freezing his butt off in this stupid forest...
"Wormtail..." The balding man jumped at the sound of his master's voice, echoing from nowhere.
"Y-yes...?"
"You have failed me, yet again. Tell me, Wormtail, why is it must I find out that the one who bares the Clow Cards is attending the school, AFTER she has ruined your plan? Hm? Explain this to me." Voldemort hissed, finally appearing from the trees. The short man stuttered to find an explanation, though he was having no luck what-so-ever.
"W-well, you see I....uh..What I-I was trying t-to do was...I-I w-was..."
"ENOUGH! This is the last blunder I'll have from you. But, I will give you a second chance. You are lucky Wormtail, Lord Voldemort does not give second chances easily."
"Y-Yes!! Oh, Master! You are too kind... What is it you want me to do?"
"Wormtail. It seems as though we won't be able to reach Harry with that card carrying brat around. So, we will go after a new target for now."
"Sire, do you mean...?"
"Yes Wormtail. The Card Mistress."
*~*~*~*
The next two months at Hogwarts went by rather fast. Soon, the grounds were covered with a thin blanket on snow. Care of Magical Creatures was canceled untill the snow lifted. Hagrid seemed extreamly miffed by this, but continued his gamekeeping duities none the less. As usual, the dungeons where Potions class was held were as cold and as drafty as ever. Everyone huddled around their cauldrons in an atempt to keep from freezing. Even Snape could be seen huddled over a cauldron fire from time to time, much to the displeasure of the cauldron's owner.
Professor McGonagall put the list as to who was staying over the break. Harry was first on the list, obviously. The Dursley's had become extreamly cruel and cold lately. Harry felt that he might freeze over there with both the cold and their attitudes towards him. Besides, it wasn't as if they cared where he was...
Ron and Hermione had decided to stay also. Ron's parents were very insistant on this in their last letter:
~~~~Letter~~~~
Ronald, concerning the Winter Holiday's, your father and I feel that you would be safer at Hogwarts. Seeing how recient events have occured, your father and I will be out of town during your break, making it unsafe to come home. I'm sure you won't mind, but we wanted to tell you anyway. Please notify your brothers and Ginny. Take care and I love all of you!!
Mom~*
~~~~~~~~~~
"Well, their right about one thing: I don't really mind staying here. But, I do wish I knew what they were doing. You know anything about it, Harry?" Ron said after reading the letter. Harry sat in front of the fireplace, staring at the night sky, deep in thought.
"Most likely what Dumbledore asked them to do for him back in our fourth year, remember? In the Hospital Wing?" Ron nodded his head slowly. He really didn't like the fact that it might have something to do with You-Know-Who. Hermione, who had been studying for a Potions final (which Harry and Ron were supposted to be studying for at the moment), sat up and let out a sigh.
"I really don't think that we should worry about it myself. Right now, it's none of our business and you two have a final to study for!" she rasped. Ron sighed dramaticly while Harry chuckled silently.
"Her~mi~on~ie~! Why must you ruin the moment? Besides, we were just trying to break down what my mum had wrote me! It's not like we were meddling!" Hermione stared at him a moment before rolling her eyes and lashing back.
"But why must you do it when there is a big final tomorrow! You haven't even touched your notes, Ron! How do you expect to pass this final, let alone pass the O.W.L's?"
"Hey! I can pass this final just fine! I'll have you know that I've been doing alot of studying, right Harry?" Harry jumped back waved his hands.
"Oh no you don't. I'm staying out of your fight!" With that, Harry got up, collected his things, and headed for the dormatories. As soon as he was out of his friend's sight, he allowed himself a small laugh.
Those two fought with eachother even more than Sakura ate in a week. Now THAT was alot.
And speaking of Sakura...
"...Oh, Syaoran! I'm so confused! What should I do?" Harry looked up to the top of the dormatories and saw Sakura and Syaoran leaning over the railing. Sakura's normal pink face was now red from what looked like frustration. She stared out at the rest of the Common Room, her eyes twinkling in the firelight. Syaoran had his right arm slung around Sakura's shoulder in a comforting way. Harry felt a slight blush comming over his cheeks.
"I don't know. Where ever you want to. I mean, it is Christmas," Syaoran said. Harry suddenly felt like he was spying. This sounded like a private conversation between them, one Harry didn't think he should be eaves-dropping on. He tryed to slip away un-noticed. He would have succeeded too, if only Syaoran didn't have eyes like a hawk...
"Harry..?" Harry froze at the top of the steps. *Oh man! What if they find out I've been eaves-dropping?!*
"Harry? That you?" It was Sakura. Harry quickly turned around to face his two friends. He saw Sakura's face light up as soon as he was facing them.
"Yah..." he responded weakly. Sakura rushed over to Harry and looped her arm around his while she dragged him down the stairs with Syaoran following.
"Great! I need some advice, and I think you can help me!" Sakura exclaimed. Harry, by this time, was very red and could not use his senses properly. He had never been in this position with a girl before...
"Harry?" Sakura's soft voice snapped him back to reality. He suddenly found himself in one of the armchairs by the fire in the Common Room with Sakura facing him. Ron and Hermione were quietly studying at opposite ends of the room while Syaoran sat in a nearby chair.
"Uh... If it's mine to give, it's yours..I guess," he said quietly. He mentaly slapped himself for acting so strange around a girl. Sakura was just s friend who happened to be a girl, just like Hermione. Right?
"Great! I just wanted to know if you are staying here over the winter break. Are you, Harry?"
"I always stay at Hogwarts during Christmas." Sakura's eyes widened.
"Always? Don't you want to go home, or is your family doing something?" Harry, to Sakura's surprize, laughed loudly. "What?" she questioned. "What's so funny?" Harry shook his head slowly as he lifted his head to meet hers.
"I suppose since you just met me... Well, let's just say that my aunt and uncle arn't too fond of me....Nor am I fond of them..." Harry muttered. Sakura was about to comment on this, but thought better of it and shrugged it off.
"So, know anyone else who might be staying over?" she asked instead. Harry nodded.
"Yah, Ron and Hermione are going to stay. What about you Syaoran?" Harry said as he turned to Syaoran.
"Yes. I'm staying as well." he replyed. Sakura sighed.
"Well, my problem is, I don't know what to do! I want to go back home and see my family and friends, but I also want to stay here... As I said before, I don't know what to do..."
"Hmm... I can't really help you on this, Sakura. I mean, it's your decision. If you want to go home, than by all means, go home. Christmas should be spent with family and friends," Harry replied knowingly. Sakura let out a grumpy sigh.
"But that's just the problem! I don't know where to go! I want to go home and spend Christmas with my family and friends back home, but at the same time, I want to spend Chirstmas here with you guys..." she said saddly. Just then, a soft tapping was heard. Syaoran turned his head in time to see Sakura's owl, Reed, at the window with a large package tied to it's leg. He quickly let the owl into the Common Room. Reed fluttered to Sakura, with a slight difficulty due to the weight of the package, and landed on her empty lap.
"Reed! She came back!" Sakura carefully untied the string around her owl's leg and gave her a praising pat. Reed closed her eyes in pleasure, hooted softly, and flew out the open window. No doubt she was headed to the Owlery for a well deserved rest.
"Well?" Ron and Hermione had moved to closer armchairs but were still suspiciously far from eachother. "You going to open it now, or what?" Sakura slowly untied the blue satin ribbon that bound the otherwise plain looking white box. She shook it once. An odd sort of shifting was heard, not unlike clothes shuffling around. Sakura lifted the lid to find three wrapped items and two pink letters, both sealed with one of Tomoyo's personalized stickers. She lifted both letters in the air and squealed in delight.
"Look, Syaoran! They're from Tomoyo!! Tomoyo!" The amber-eyed boy couldn't help but smile at the girl's happiness. Harry let out a quiet laugh. It was not a rare sight to see Sakura in a joyous mood like this, but whenever she was in one, it was contagous.
Sakura examined the letters closely to find that only one was addressed to her.
"Sakura: Please give this CONFIDENTIAL letter to Eriol. Oooooo.... She underlined confidential twice! Better keep this safe." Sakura said as she slipped Eriol's letter into her cloak pocket. She then directed her attention to the other letter which was addressed directly to her.
"Well Sakura? You just going to keep us in suspense?'' Syaoran asked playfully. Sakura stuck her tongue out at him and read the letter out loud.
"Dear Sakura,
How are you doing? I sure hope you are having fun at your new school, Pig's Wart or whatever...
You don't know how happy I was when I got your letter (although, it was a big shock when I saw a Great-Horned owl outside my bedroom window in four in the morning!). It really made my day! I wish I could have gone with you to England, but, sometimes even our most powerful wishes can be ignored. *sigh* I miss you terribly and was hoping you would be comming over for Christmas, but it seems that that won't be happening.
Your father informed me that he and Touya will be traveling to Hong Kong to speak at a lecture on archeology that will unfortunatly keep them there the entire break. Your father said that he was sorry if you had any plans with them.
I would invite you to stay at my house over the break, but my mother has just informed me that we have been summoned to America to test out one of her companies latest products. My mom argued with them for hours about bringing the product here instead of America, but they wouldn't yield. So, it seems I will be spending Christmas away from home as well. I was really looking forward to seeing my Sakura too... :(
Oh! And before I forget, the three packages in the box are for you, Li-kun and Eriol-kun. DON'T YOU DARE OPEN THEM UNTILL CHRISTMAS!!! They're your christmas presents and I want it to be a nice surprize.
Hope to hear from you guys soon! I don't think you can write to me in America, because I don't know where we will be staying. Ah, well, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and stuff like that!
Untill Next Time,
Tomoyo ^__^"
Sakura gently set the paper down and wiped away a tear. It was always so good to hear from close friends. Syaoran moved over and placed his arm around her slender shoulders.
"You alright, Sakura?" he asked softly. She nodded and let out a short laugh.
"I..I just miss Tomoyo..That's all." He frowned. Maybe it was better if she just went home..?
"Hey, Sakura. Cheer up! It's almost Christmas after all!" Hermione exclaimed as she moved over. She smiled at Sakura and pulled a tissue from her pocket and gave it to her. "No more crying, ya hear? Now, come on! We gotta put your stuff away. Come on!" Hermione grinned as she pulled Sakura up and out of the chair. She dragged the girl up the staircase and waved a farewell to the boys. Ron smiled at Hermione's gesture. That was just one girl who knew exactly what to do in any given situation.
Harry sat up and said, "Well, it is getting late. I think it's best if we call it a night. How 'bout you two?" Ron shrugged and yawned.
"I g-guuuuesss so. Awoh. Excuse me! I guess it is late." Syaoran shrugged.
"Sure. I'm ready for some sleep." he said. They made their way up the stairs. Syaoran paused at the bottom with a worried expression.
"Syaoran? What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"It's nothing...Nothing," Syaoran replied. Harry stared on for a moment before turning around and heading up again. Syaoran continued slowly.
*What was that?!? I felt a dark presence nearby...* He closed the curtains around his bed and stared at the ceiling. *It flashed by so fast...*
"I hope I'm wrong about this..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alright then! That chapter's done. Hope you guys likey! The next chapter will be comming out real soon! I promise! Although, I don't know about any of the others...I got a real bad case of writers block for this one part, cuz I gotta somehow get the entire gang to a new place and I'm thinking about how I should do it... I hope I can figure out soon...
Ohh!!! My birthday's tomorrow!!! I'm going to be fourteen!! Hip hip HORRAY! I'll put my next chapter up on that day too. I hope. If not, I'll be up on Saturday, not friday. On friday, I have a trip to Disneyland on friday!
Ok! Time to answer some questions cuz I got way too much time on my hands!
Moon Man: Don't you worry! I got this really cute scene between Sakura and Syaoran planned for the next chapter! Very fluffy (hopefully!)!
rene-chan: Actually, Cho's had almost a year to get over his death. Besides, she can't dwell on him forever. I'm sure he would want her to get on with her life!
I think that's it... Eh! Alright.... ACK! Braindead!!! Ok, next chapter will be entitled, "Christmas". BWAHAHA! Christams time is here! You know what that means! That's right! PRESENTS!!!
A/N: I was actually going to have this and the next chapter as one, but I thought it too long, so I cut it in half. Hope that's ok with everyone!
*~*Chapter 9: Holiday Woes*~*
By the time Harry and Sakura had been realised from the Hospital Wing, everyone in Hogwarts knew at least part of Sakura's story. She became the "new celebrity", to put it in Snape's words. Sakura was constantly being badgered into showing off her powers whenever she walked through the halls, which she didn't mind at first. But it became quite annoying after a while. People pointing at her while she walked through the corridors, total strangers asking her about the match and such. When she finally did put on a show, it was for her fellow Gryffindor's only.
"Hey, Sakura!! Show us some of that magic of yours!!!" a first year shouted one day in the Common Room. Syaoran glanced at her to see wht she would do. So far, she had politely declined each and every person who asked her this.
"So, you going to say 'no' again Sakura?" Harry asked over Quidditch Through the Ages. Sakura smiled at him.
"No, not this time! I am tired of people asking me, so I'll show just this once." Harry stared back at her, first in surprize, then in excitment. She got up and ran to the stairs that lead to the dormitories. After about five minutes, she came back with her Sakura cards in hand. Kero was flying right behind her.
"Are you sure this is wise, Sakura? What about what Professor Dumbledore said?" Kero asked Sakura. She calmly took out her sealing wand and smiled at Kero playfully.
"I already had a talk with him. He said, and I quote, "I see no harm in displaying your powers, as long as no one is hurt and that is is during your own time." Basicly, just don't show off during class." She sat back down in her chair by the fire and went through her cards one by one. Ron, Hermione and Harry were intruiqued by her cards.
"Hey! Wait a moment. This isn't Clow's symbol on the back! What's wrong with these cards?" Kero answered Hermione's question
"Nothing's wrong with them!! Sheesh. After Sakura here captured the Clow cards and became the Mistress of the Cards, the cards needed to draw power from their new master. When she transformed the cards, they started to draw power from her star, thus changing their look. I find them to be rather cute myself," he added. Hermione thought about this for a while.
"That sounds exactly like somthing Eriol was talking to me about..." Ron glared at her briefly. He still didn't approve of all the time those two were spending together, but if ever said anything about it, Hermione might know that he...
"Hey, Ron, what's wrong? You look like you just swallowed an Acid Pop," Harry remarked. Ron immediatly snapped out of his daze and smiled sheepishly back at his friend.
"Naw. Just thinking..." Harry smirked.
"You sure you should be doing THAT? You might hurt yourse-OOF!!" Any more words that might have come from Harry's mouth were blocked by a feather-soft coushion, sent his way by Ron. Sakura and Hermione shared a fit of giggles while Syaoran stared blankly. After the laughter was out of her system, Sakura focused her attention on the Sakura cards again.
"Let's see... Lock, Flower. I'll save that for another time. Uhhh....Earthy...? No, WAY too powerful. Ah!! Mirror! Perfect!" Sakura lifted the Mirror card out of her deck and stood up. She turned to Syaoran.
"You arn't going to do some magic, Syaoran?" Syaoran stared back, blushing furriously.
"You have magic too, Syaoran??" asked Ron. Syaoran blushed even harder, if that was possible.
"I think it's a bit crowded in here for my magic..." he mumbled. Sakura took a good look at the Common Room and nodded her head.
"Yeah. I guess you're right. Oh well." She moved out into the middle of the room. She pushed back a crowd of people that had immerged to watch her.
"I want everyone to stay back. I've never done this in such a crowded area, so I don't know what might or will happen. Although, I think it's pretty safe with the Mirror..." She held the Star wand out in the palm of her hand and began to chant.
"Key that holds the power of the Stars! Reveal your true form to me! I, Sakura, command you by contract! RELEASE!" The wand grew longer. A few people in the "audiance" gasped. "Mirror!!" Energy swirled around her as the Mirror card took physical form and stared curiously at the students that made a circle around her. Everyone was silent for a moment before someone called out from the audiance.
"Well? What does it do?" Mirror looked puzzled at all the sudden attention and turned to Sakura as if to ask what to do. Sakura smiled kindly back.
"Take my form, Mirror." Mirror suddenly smiled and nodded. She transformed into Sakura's mirror image, reciving appluase fom the students.
"Is Toya here?" Mirror asked Sakura quietly.
"Oh! No, he's back home, I'm sorry," Sakura said. Mirror looked saddened by this. Suddenly, the first year who had asked Sakura to show her powers approched the two Sakuras in amazment. Mirror watched her curiously.
"W-Wow... Can.. Can she take my form too?" she asked quietly. Mirror knelt down to meet the small girl's eyes and stared.
"You want me to look like you...?" she asked. The girl nodded her head silently. "Would it make you happy?" Again, the girl nodded, a bit hesitant this time. Mirror closed her eyes and took the form of the girl. The small girl stared silently for a moment, then started to squeal happily. She laughed as the crowd applauded once more.
"Thank you!!!" she said. She suddenly huged Mirror. Mirror was stuned for a moment, but soon started to laugh along with the girl and returned the hug. Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron quietly.
"Did you see that? The Mirror card has emotions, like a real person. Not just some magical card."
"Yes," Ron said. "She made the girl happy, and enjoyed it."
"That is one thing I really liked about them," someone behind them said. All three turned to see Syaoran standing behind them. "Each and every card has a different personality. The Watery card is violent, while the Windy and Wood cards of equal strength have soft and gentle natures. Kind of like Sakura's..." he added while watching Sakura laugh along with the others.
All through the night, the Mirror card played with the Gryffindor students, laughing along with them as she mimmiced their apperances. Finally, at 10:00, Sakura called it a night.
"Alright! I know you have been having alot of fun, but I really need to go to sleep now." she said as she broke appart the large crowd around the Mirror who was taking Alicia Spinnet's form at the time. "I am really sleepy right now. I have no time for games, please." Fred and George stepped up with devilish grins on their faces.
"How 'bout we make a bargin, eh? If you can figure out which Alica is the real one, we'll let you leave," said Fred.
"But if you guess wrong, we get the Mirror for another 30 minutes!" George declaired.
"30 minutes?!? Who do you think I am? An owl?? No way. 10 minutes," Sakura exclaimed.
"Fifteen."
"Ten." Sakura said firmly. George did an overly dramatic sigh and aggreed. Sakura smiled and immediatly moved to the Alicia on the right.
"This is the Mirror card," she said simply with a smile on her face. The Alicia that she had indicated returned back to her normal form with a look of deep disapointment. Sakura saw the sad face and frowned slightly. "I promise to bring you back to see them some other time, alright? Cheer up now!" Mirror looked estatic at the thought of comming back. She nodded and returned to her card form. Sakura smiled and said goodnight as she ran to join Syaoran and the others by the staircase.
"That was really cool, Sakura," Ron commented. ''Is it true what Syaoran said? That all the Cards have different personalities?" Sakura nodded and let out a big yawn.
"That's right. I'll tell you about it tomorrow...*YAWN*...Oh, boy. Hermione? You'll help me understand Metmorphasis charms soon right?''
"Tomorrow. The test is Friday for heavens sakes!" Sakura and Hermione were discussing Charms as they said goodnight to the boys and went to their dormitories. Harry, Syaoran and Ron literaly fell into their beds; they were exhusted from studying for friday's charms quiz AND tomorrow's potions test. Harry let out a groan as he hit his foot on the bed post. 'Stupid bed..' he said to himself. He quickly recovered from the bed's assult and buried himself in the heated covers. Harry was soon dreaming about what it would be like to punch Snape's greasy face into the floor, blissfully un-aware of the dangers that lurked only a few hundred metres from his window.
*~*~*~*
Wormtail was nervous. No, beyond nervous. He had failed his master once again, plus, the Card Mistress was attending the school. Although, that wasn't his fault. But his Master would still be angry. Oh! How he wished he hadn't returned to him! He might still be in that warm castle, sleeping peacefully next to the child he had stayed with. Instead, he was freezing his butt off in this stupid forest...
"Wormtail..." The balding man jumped at the sound of his master's voice, echoing from nowhere.
"Y-yes...?"
"You have failed me, yet again. Tell me, Wormtail, why is it must I find out that the one who bares the Clow Cards is attending the school, AFTER she has ruined your plan? Hm? Explain this to me." Voldemort hissed, finally appearing from the trees. The short man stuttered to find an explanation, though he was having no luck what-so-ever.
"W-well, you see I....uh..What I-I was trying t-to do was...I-I w-was..."
"ENOUGH! This is the last blunder I'll have from you. But, I will give you a second chance. You are lucky Wormtail, Lord Voldemort does not give second chances easily."
"Y-Yes!! Oh, Master! You are too kind... What is it you want me to do?"
"Wormtail. It seems as though we won't be able to reach Harry with that card carrying brat around. So, we will go after a new target for now."
"Sire, do you mean...?"
"Yes Wormtail. The Card Mistress."
*~*~*~*
The next two months at Hogwarts went by rather fast. Soon, the grounds were covered with a thin blanket on snow. Care of Magical Creatures was canceled untill the snow lifted. Hagrid seemed extreamly miffed by this, but continued his gamekeeping duities none the less. As usual, the dungeons where Potions class was held were as cold and as drafty as ever. Everyone huddled around their cauldrons in an atempt to keep from freezing. Even Snape could be seen huddled over a cauldron fire from time to time, much to the displeasure of the cauldron's owner.
Professor McGonagall put the list as to who was staying over the break. Harry was first on the list, obviously. The Dursley's had become extreamly cruel and cold lately. Harry felt that he might freeze over there with both the cold and their attitudes towards him. Besides, it wasn't as if they cared where he was...
Ron and Hermione had decided to stay also. Ron's parents were very insistant on this in their last letter:
~~~~Letter~~~~
Ronald, concerning the Winter Holiday's, your father and I feel that you would be safer at Hogwarts. Seeing how recient events have occured, your father and I will be out of town during your break, making it unsafe to come home. I'm sure you won't mind, but we wanted to tell you anyway. Please notify your brothers and Ginny. Take care and I love all of you!!
Mom~*
~~~~~~~~~~
"Well, their right about one thing: I don't really mind staying here. But, I do wish I knew what they were doing. You know anything about it, Harry?" Ron said after reading the letter. Harry sat in front of the fireplace, staring at the night sky, deep in thought.
"Most likely what Dumbledore asked them to do for him back in our fourth year, remember? In the Hospital Wing?" Ron nodded his head slowly. He really didn't like the fact that it might have something to do with You-Know-Who. Hermione, who had been studying for a Potions final (which Harry and Ron were supposted to be studying for at the moment), sat up and let out a sigh.
"I really don't think that we should worry about it myself. Right now, it's none of our business and you two have a final to study for!" she rasped. Ron sighed dramaticly while Harry chuckled silently.
"Her~mi~on~ie~! Why must you ruin the moment? Besides, we were just trying to break down what my mum had wrote me! It's not like we were meddling!" Hermione stared at him a moment before rolling her eyes and lashing back.
"But why must you do it when there is a big final tomorrow! You haven't even touched your notes, Ron! How do you expect to pass this final, let alone pass the O.W.L's?"
"Hey! I can pass this final just fine! I'll have you know that I've been doing alot of studying, right Harry?" Harry jumped back waved his hands.
"Oh no you don't. I'm staying out of your fight!" With that, Harry got up, collected his things, and headed for the dormatories. As soon as he was out of his friend's sight, he allowed himself a small laugh.
Those two fought with eachother even more than Sakura ate in a week. Now THAT was alot.
And speaking of Sakura...
"...Oh, Syaoran! I'm so confused! What should I do?" Harry looked up to the top of the dormatories and saw Sakura and Syaoran leaning over the railing. Sakura's normal pink face was now red from what looked like frustration. She stared out at the rest of the Common Room, her eyes twinkling in the firelight. Syaoran had his right arm slung around Sakura's shoulder in a comforting way. Harry felt a slight blush comming over his cheeks.
"I don't know. Where ever you want to. I mean, it is Christmas," Syaoran said. Harry suddenly felt like he was spying. This sounded like a private conversation between them, one Harry didn't think he should be eaves-dropping on. He tryed to slip away un-noticed. He would have succeeded too, if only Syaoran didn't have eyes like a hawk...
"Harry..?" Harry froze at the top of the steps. *Oh man! What if they find out I've been eaves-dropping?!*
"Harry? That you?" It was Sakura. Harry quickly turned around to face his two friends. He saw Sakura's face light up as soon as he was facing them.
"Yah..." he responded weakly. Sakura rushed over to Harry and looped her arm around his while she dragged him down the stairs with Syaoran following.
"Great! I need some advice, and I think you can help me!" Sakura exclaimed. Harry, by this time, was very red and could not use his senses properly. He had never been in this position with a girl before...
"Harry?" Sakura's soft voice snapped him back to reality. He suddenly found himself in one of the armchairs by the fire in the Common Room with Sakura facing him. Ron and Hermione were quietly studying at opposite ends of the room while Syaoran sat in a nearby chair.
"Uh... If it's mine to give, it's yours..I guess," he said quietly. He mentaly slapped himself for acting so strange around a girl. Sakura was just s friend who happened to be a girl, just like Hermione. Right?
"Great! I just wanted to know if you are staying here over the winter break. Are you, Harry?"
"I always stay at Hogwarts during Christmas." Sakura's eyes widened.
"Always? Don't you want to go home, or is your family doing something?" Harry, to Sakura's surprize, laughed loudly. "What?" she questioned. "What's so funny?" Harry shook his head slowly as he lifted his head to meet hers.
"I suppose since you just met me... Well, let's just say that my aunt and uncle arn't too fond of me....Nor am I fond of them..." Harry muttered. Sakura was about to comment on this, but thought better of it and shrugged it off.
"So, know anyone else who might be staying over?" she asked instead. Harry nodded.
"Yah, Ron and Hermione are going to stay. What about you Syaoran?" Harry said as he turned to Syaoran.
"Yes. I'm staying as well." he replyed. Sakura sighed.
"Well, my problem is, I don't know what to do! I want to go back home and see my family and friends, but I also want to stay here... As I said before, I don't know what to do..."
"Hmm... I can't really help you on this, Sakura. I mean, it's your decision. If you want to go home, than by all means, go home. Christmas should be spent with family and friends," Harry replied knowingly. Sakura let out a grumpy sigh.
"But that's just the problem! I don't know where to go! I want to go home and spend Christmas with my family and friends back home, but at the same time, I want to spend Chirstmas here with you guys..." she said saddly. Just then, a soft tapping was heard. Syaoran turned his head in time to see Sakura's owl, Reed, at the window with a large package tied to it's leg. He quickly let the owl into the Common Room. Reed fluttered to Sakura, with a slight difficulty due to the weight of the package, and landed on her empty lap.
"Reed! She came back!" Sakura carefully untied the string around her owl's leg and gave her a praising pat. Reed closed her eyes in pleasure, hooted softly, and flew out the open window. No doubt she was headed to the Owlery for a well deserved rest.
"Well?" Ron and Hermione had moved to closer armchairs but were still suspiciously far from eachother. "You going to open it now, or what?" Sakura slowly untied the blue satin ribbon that bound the otherwise plain looking white box. She shook it once. An odd sort of shifting was heard, not unlike clothes shuffling around. Sakura lifted the lid to find three wrapped items and two pink letters, both sealed with one of Tomoyo's personalized stickers. She lifted both letters in the air and squealed in delight.
"Look, Syaoran! They're from Tomoyo!! Tomoyo!" The amber-eyed boy couldn't help but smile at the girl's happiness. Harry let out a quiet laugh. It was not a rare sight to see Sakura in a joyous mood like this, but whenever she was in one, it was contagous.
Sakura examined the letters closely to find that only one was addressed to her.
"Sakura: Please give this CONFIDENTIAL letter to Eriol. Oooooo.... She underlined confidential twice! Better keep this safe." Sakura said as she slipped Eriol's letter into her cloak pocket. She then directed her attention to the other letter which was addressed directly to her.
"Well Sakura? You just going to keep us in suspense?'' Syaoran asked playfully. Sakura stuck her tongue out at him and read the letter out loud.
"Dear Sakura,
How are you doing? I sure hope you are having fun at your new school, Pig's Wart or whatever...
You don't know how happy I was when I got your letter (although, it was a big shock when I saw a Great-Horned owl outside my bedroom window in four in the morning!). It really made my day! I wish I could have gone with you to England, but, sometimes even our most powerful wishes can be ignored. *sigh* I miss you terribly and was hoping you would be comming over for Christmas, but it seems that that won't be happening.
Your father informed me that he and Touya will be traveling to Hong Kong to speak at a lecture on archeology that will unfortunatly keep them there the entire break. Your father said that he was sorry if you had any plans with them.
I would invite you to stay at my house over the break, but my mother has just informed me that we have been summoned to America to test out one of her companies latest products. My mom argued with them for hours about bringing the product here instead of America, but they wouldn't yield. So, it seems I will be spending Christmas away from home as well. I was really looking forward to seeing my Sakura too... :(
Oh! And before I forget, the three packages in the box are for you, Li-kun and Eriol-kun. DON'T YOU DARE OPEN THEM UNTILL CHRISTMAS!!! They're your christmas presents and I want it to be a nice surprize.
Hope to hear from you guys soon! I don't think you can write to me in America, because I don't know where we will be staying. Ah, well, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and stuff like that!
Untill Next Time,
Tomoyo ^__^"
Sakura gently set the paper down and wiped away a tear. It was always so good to hear from close friends. Syaoran moved over and placed his arm around her slender shoulders.
"You alright, Sakura?" he asked softly. She nodded and let out a short laugh.
"I..I just miss Tomoyo..That's all." He frowned. Maybe it was better if she just went home..?
"Hey, Sakura. Cheer up! It's almost Christmas after all!" Hermione exclaimed as she moved over. She smiled at Sakura and pulled a tissue from her pocket and gave it to her. "No more crying, ya hear? Now, come on! We gotta put your stuff away. Come on!" Hermione grinned as she pulled Sakura up and out of the chair. She dragged the girl up the staircase and waved a farewell to the boys. Ron smiled at Hermione's gesture. That was just one girl who knew exactly what to do in any given situation.
Harry sat up and said, "Well, it is getting late. I think it's best if we call it a night. How 'bout you two?" Ron shrugged and yawned.
"I g-guuuuesss so. Awoh. Excuse me! I guess it is late." Syaoran shrugged.
"Sure. I'm ready for some sleep." he said. They made their way up the stairs. Syaoran paused at the bottom with a worried expression.
"Syaoran? What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"It's nothing...Nothing," Syaoran replied. Harry stared on for a moment before turning around and heading up again. Syaoran continued slowly.
*What was that?!? I felt a dark presence nearby...* He closed the curtains around his bed and stared at the ceiling. *It flashed by so fast...*
"I hope I'm wrong about this..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alright then! That chapter's done. Hope you guys likey! The next chapter will be comming out real soon! I promise! Although, I don't know about any of the others...I got a real bad case of writers block for this one part, cuz I gotta somehow get the entire gang to a new place and I'm thinking about how I should do it... I hope I can figure out soon...
Ohh!!! My birthday's tomorrow!!! I'm going to be fourteen!! Hip hip HORRAY! I'll put my next chapter up on that day too. I hope. If not, I'll be up on Saturday, not friday. On friday, I have a trip to Disneyland on friday!
Ok! Time to answer some questions cuz I got way too much time on my hands!
Moon Man: Don't you worry! I got this really cute scene between Sakura and Syaoran planned for the next chapter! Very fluffy (hopefully!)!
rene-chan: Actually, Cho's had almost a year to get over his death. Besides, she can't dwell on him forever. I'm sure he would want her to get on with her life!
I think that's it... Eh! Alright.... ACK! Braindead!!! Ok, next chapter will be entitled, "Christmas". BWAHAHA! Christams time is here! You know what that means! That's right! PRESENTS!!!