I know it doesn't have much of a plot right now, but please bear with me. It's a miracle just getting a second chapter out and it's draining all of my ideas for this story. Stupid writer's block. I hope this chapter is as good as the first one was.
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Eriol introduced Kero to the class and then described the basic properties of the red gem on his forehead.
"Different gems have different properties depending on what the owner wishes it to have. The magic-user stores power or spells in case of an emergency. A little power is sucked into the gem each day they wear it until it's full. Different stones can hold different amounts of power. Nobody knows exactly what types of stones or shapes hold more magic than others since there doesn't seem to be a set pattern."
The class scribbled down notes rapidly as he spoke.
"Now we will study the properties of the stone of someone with a very different personality." He turned to Kero. "Would you please get Yue for me?"
"Sure," agreed Kero amiably and stepped through the portal Eriol created.
Eriol suddenly thought of something and turned to his class. "Why didn't you tell me to turn my staff into a wand? That way you'll learn some spells too."
"We didn't know you could do that," piped up a brave voice.
Eriol gave a bark of laughter. "After drilling this guy," he knocked Malfoy upside the head with his staff none too gently, "about my powers you didn't think I could do a simple trick like this?" He twirled his staff up into the air and as it dropped, still spinning, it also shrank until he caught it deftly and it had become a wand topped with a miniature sun.
At that moment Yue walked through the portal...
...and into the stone wall.
"CLOW!" he roared with a murderous look in his eye so that none dared laugh at the stone wall imprint on his face. His voice reverberated throughout the whole castle so that those not used to it (the cardcaptor group) looked up in concern.
"What do you...?" began Eriol in a deep voice. He cleared his throat. "Damn it Clow," he growled. "You don't have to stick around that long after you pull that prank."
Your body, not mine, replied Clow smugly.
"I don't see what you can do since I cut off your powers," began Eriol triumphantly.
Yue didn't even flinch as blue fire erupted from his jewel leaving Eriol scorched and smoking on the floor, his glasses shattered and hanging askew.
Then Yue very calmly stalked out of the room past Tomoyo who had arrived just in time to see what had happened, alerted by Yue's roar.
"Um, isn't that the lesson you just taught us?" asked a student tentatively.
"Oh shut up," muttered Eriol sourly.
Tomoyo laughed and sang a short note so that her enchantress power twined around Eriol, repairing the damage. "You did ask for it you know," she informed him before walking out.
"You shut up too," muttered Eriol sullenly.
"I heard that!" Tomoyo's voice floated back.
*~*
It was after dinner that the students were given a rest until the next day.
Harry glanced around making sure that nobody had seen him before pulling out his invisibility cloak. He couldn't forget how Professor Kinomoto had slipped and given him the hint that they had been asked to look after him. Harry wanted to know what was going on and he figured following them would provide him the information he needed.
So he found himself using the Marauder's Map to find the new teachers' rooms. He was lucky that they had all congregated in Professor Kinomoto's room. He slipped in behind Professor Daidouji as she closed the door.
"Really Harry. It's not polite to eavesdrop."
He started and stared at Professor Hiiragizawa.
Eriol turned to the others. "Poor thing isn't used to people seeing auras or having enough magic to see through that cloak, is he?"
"Be nice Eriol," admonished Tomoyo. "Albus said that he lives with his aunt and uncle and from what I've heard, it's a very abusive home."
Sakura frowned. "Why does he have to live with them anyway? I'd be happy to take care of him."
"Please Sakura. We're planning out his life in front of him and he hasn't even said a word. Besides, I want to know what he's doing here. We're not that interesting," said Syaoran.
Harry stared at him in astonishment as the others chuckled.
"Would you like me to list out all of the reasons why we're as strange to these people as we are to - what do you call them - muggles?" questioned Kero.
Syaoran grinned ruefully. "Sorry. I'm just used to it, I guess."
Tomoyo flicked a finger at Harry and the Invisibility Cloak floated up and folded into a little bundle in front of him.
"Tomoyo, I know your affinity with clothes, but I think Harry would like to be able to take his things off by himself," said Sakura with an amused smile.
"It was just a little uncomfortable to see him with that thing on," defended Tomoyo. She turned to Harry. "You're very quiet aren't you?"
"N-not usually. I'm still a bit shocked is all," replied Harry.
Eriol opened the door for him and motioned him out. "If we want you to hear our secrets, we'll tell. Until then you can be as curious as anyone else. Good night, Harry."
"Good night, Professors. And I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused," said Harry, a bit embarassed.
The door shut behind him as he heard Professor Kinomoto say, "He's sweet, isn't he? We have to do a good job preparing him."
Harry's mind was spinning. Prepare him? For what? But he knew he couldn't eavesdrop again. And he trusted them, for some reason. Maybe it was because of how companionable they were with each other. Like Ron, Hermione, and himself were.
*~*
Sakura turned to her companions. "He's sweet, isn't he? We have to do a good job preparing him."
Tomoyo shook her head. "I don't see why we can't just beat this Voldemort guy into oblivion."
"It's his right. They did kill his parents. And besides, he's the Boy Who Lived. What would that do to his reputation if we did his job for him. We can only step in if he's about to get killed," replied Eriol. He changed the subject. "Do any of you know the 5th year Slytherin Draco Malfoy?"
Everyone except for Kero who had helped with the class shook their heads. Yue hadn't stuck around long enough to meet anybody.
He held his hand up horizontal to the floor and concentrated. A miniature picture of Malfoy appeared.
Recognition dawned in Syaoran's eyes. "He's the one I heard talking about the professor who got burnt into a crisp. He sounded very smug." Syaoran smirked.
Eriol coughed. "Yes, well. Don't you think we should do something about the spell his father put on him?"
"Definitely," they all agreed when Eriol fed them the information about Malfoy mentally.
"The students and staff must be absolutely sick of him by now. He's been practically possessed since he was born," commented Eriol.
"Let's try for the day after tomorrow. It's after the full moon and that would help us break the spell," suggested Sakura.
"Sounds all right with me," agreed Tomoyo. She frowned at her camcorder. "Does anyone know how to fix my camcorder? Even with it spelled to work here, it's not working."
"Just give it a good whack," suggested Eriol as he reached for it and dissipated Malfoy's image at the same time.
When Tomoyo pushed Eriol's hand away it distracted him so that he fumbled with the words of the spell. As a result, the purpose changed.
The group jumped when the camcorder gave a large bang. Smoke poured out of it.
"Baka tare!" Tomoyo whacked him upside the head with the camera and then hurriedly took out the video tape. "Oh good," she said relieved. "It's okay."
"I'm not," muttered Eriol gently fingering the bump on his head.
"But what about your camcorder?" asked Sakura in concern.
Tomoyo shrugged carelessly and tossed it into a convenient garbage can. "I brought some extras," she said opening her drawer. Inside were at least ten brand new camcorders.
Sakura sweatdropped.
Syaoran turned to Eriol, who was attempting to shrink the bump, and smirked. "Can't walk and talk at the same time Hiiragizawa?"
Eriol scowled and turned his back on him.
"Oh!" said Tomoyo suddenly. "Nakuru sent a message saying that she would arrive at 7:00."
"What time is it now?" questioned Kero.
"Ten till," replied Yue, speaking for the first time since they had arrived.
"Ten minutes?" asked Sakura knowing that Yue occasionally used the wrong phrase.
"Seconds."
"Konnichiwa!" shrieked Nakuru as she flew through the window and proceeded to squeeze the life out of aka hug each person in turn.
"That has got to be the most God-awful annoying voice," muttered Syaoran.
"SYAORAN-KUN!"
"I take it back," said Syaoran looking around wildly for a place to hide. The habit had stayed even after the engagement between him and Meiling had been broken.
Meiling flew through the window after Spinel Sun and proceeded to glomp Syaoran, Sakura, Tomoyo, and Eriol.
"You must be Eriol," she commented when she was done.
"Yes. And you must be Meiling," returned Eriol.
Meiling nodded absently. "Where's the stuffed animal?"
Keroberos growled. "I am not a stuffed animal!"
He let out a blast of fire.
"Kero!" shouted Sakura angrily.
A staff of gleaming white wood appeared in Meiling's hand and she flicked it out in front of her. The fire hit a barrier invisible to the ordinary eye and dissipated.
Kero looked amazed and then sheepish.
"I heard that the Li clan found magid in you Meiling. Congratulations!" exclaimed Sakura.
"It was buried so that hey couldn't find it until I turned 15 and it errupted in fireworks. Almost burned the mansion down too," added Meiling. "It took Yelan and all of Syaoran's sisters to put it out with their magic."
"Woohoo! Way to go Meiling!" laughed Tomoyo.
"I heard that Kero grew when he regained his true form, but I didn't recognize him," said Meiling. "And you're Yue." She turned to Sakura and Tomoyo and winked. "He's cute."
The faintest shade of pink touched Yue's cheeks.
Sakura smothered a giggle. "Don't embarass him."
"I've never seen him blush before," Tomoyo giggled.
"I'm going to bed," stated Yue coldly and stalked out of the room.
"It's probably time to get to sleep," agreed Syaoran as the others stood.
Sakura stretched languidly. "I'll take you to see Headmaster Albus Dumbledore," she offered.
"Sure," agreed Nakuru for them.
"What were all of you doing in there?" asked Meiling as the group of four left.
Sakura made a graceful motion with her hand and then extended her hand in their direction, fingers spread. The discussion replayed in their minds.
"Screw the spell. I'll just go kick this Draco Malfoy's butt," said Meiling vehemently.
Just then the Devil, aka Malfoy, walked around the corner.
"Back to bed," said Sakura shortly. "And 20 points from Slytherin."
Malfoy sneered. "Who are these three freaks?" he asked glancing at Meiling and the guardians.
"30 points from Slytherin and get your arse back in bed," ordered Meiling.
"Who do you think you are, ordering me around?" said Malfoy contemptuously.
"I'm a professor, an enchantress, and I'm gonna kick your butt."
"Meiling," cautioned Spinel, "I don't think you're allowed to do that."
"Well, what about the ferret thing?" demanded Meiling.
"He wasn't exactly a professor," replied Spinel as Malfoy became alternately red and white before scuttling off toward his House.
"Does everyone know about that?" they heard him mutter.
Sakura sighed and led them toward the stone gargoyle. "Butterfinger," she said and a stair appeared leading up to Dumbledore's office. She raised her hand to knock a split second too late as Nakuru burst through the door.
"Konnichiwa!"
"Nakuru! I thought Master Eriol taught you some manners," rebuked Spinel.
"He tried," answered Nakuru darkly.
Dumbledore chuckled as he surveyedan irritated Sakura, seething Meiling, and bickering guardians.
"They're here," said Sakura looking positively harrassed.
"So I see," commented the Headmaster.
"I'm Meiling and this is Nakuru and," she grinned evilly, "Suppi."
"For the last time," exploded Spinel Sun, "my name is SPINEL!"
Meiling deflected his attack as she had Kero's.
Spinel sat down sullenly, his butterfly wings moving agitatedly.
"Welcome," greeted Dumbledore as if nothing had hppened. "Syaoran told me that you two will start the martial arts class after dinner next Monday. You'll have two classes tomorrow of 5th years. Slytherins and Hufflepuffs first, and then Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Tomoyo began the Muggle Studies class today, so you can talk to her if you have any questions. Spinel and Nakuru, your Astronomy classes will be larger than Muggle Studies since Astronomy is required. You will have Gryffindor and Hufflepuff 1st years and then 5th years. Harry Potter is in that class."
Nakuru and Spinel nodded acknowledging their part in the group's assignment of watching, protecting, and training him.
*~*
Having completed their lesson with tree sprites in Care of Magical Creatures, Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed up to the Astronomy classroom.
"I'm just relieved they weren't pixies muttered Ron.
"Yeah. But I think Professor Kinomoto could have easily handled them," responded Harry.
"Did you hear anything they said last night?" questioned Hermione changing the subject.
"Harry shook his head. "They caught me as soon as I got there. And I'm not going to try it again."
"How did they catch you?" asked Ron puzzled. "Did you step on somebody's robe?"
"No, nothing like that. It was almost like they could see me. And I know I was totally covered."
"Covered in what?" Nakuru popped up in front of them and they shrieked, jumping ten feet. "Sugar?" She grinned wickedly at Spinel.
"Don't even think about it. Not when there's a class to teach. Not ever in fact," warned Spinel.
That was close, Nakuru thought to Spinel.
They're very inquisitive. That can be admirable.
Not when they're so close to realizing things Master Eriol and Sakura don't want them to know, retorted Nakuru.
They'll barely touch the tip of the iceberg, but that's trouble enough. Albus said that they're clever enough to get books from the restricted section, indeed they've done it before, and if they comprehend the symptoms they can find the cause easily, returned Spinel.
Nakuru stood in front of the class and introduced herself.
You make it sound like sorcery is a disease, Spinel.
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Contrary to popular belief (I hope not) I am not dead. I have been really busy ever since school started and apologize to those who eagerly await the next chapter. Don't laugh, I have good reviews to prove it. Thank you for your patience everyone! I hope to get the third chapter out in less time than it took me to update the second. The key word here is 'try'.