It's a miracle! I, Mystical Magician, have this new, rather long chapter out in about a week. Aaaaalleluia, aaaaaaalleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleeeeeluuuuiaaaa! Remember, read and review.
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"Is it just me, or do the professors seem a little tense?" whispered Hermione to Harry, Ron, and Draco.
"Whatever do you mean?" questioned Draco sarcastically as the four of them watched Neville break down at sword point. He had dropped an empty potions bottle in the hallway on the way to breakfast, and the crash of broken glass had caused Professor Li to whirl around violently, sword out. Where he had kept it was still a mystery.
"Sorry," muttered the professor as he sheathed his sword and headed toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"You three go ahead. I want to ask him something," said Hermione, turning to follow Li.
"Oh, no," protested Ron. "We're not going to let you get skewered alone."
Draco and Harry nodded in agreement, somewhat less than enthusiastic.
"Fine," sighed Hermione. "Just hurry up."
The group entered the classroom only moments after Professor Li had and stopped short. Professor Kinomoto - sweet, kind, quiet, somewhat dense Professor Kinomoto - was sitting there with a large sword and a bow leaning against the desk next to her and a pile of arrows at her feet. One arrow was in her lap and she seemed to be casting a spell on the arrowhead as she fingered the edge. Professor Hiiragizawa was nowhere to be seen, even though it was his classroom.
"Oh, hello," said Sakura cheerfully, looking up from her work.
Syaoran merely grunted.
"Um...w-well...we w-w-were just," stuttered Hermione.
"Uh uh," cut in Draco, hands up in protest. "Leave us out of this."
"What's going on? All of the professors seem edgy and now you have all of these...these...weapons," said Hermione.
The two professors exchanged glances. With a small sigh, Professor Kinomoto turned to them. "I sure hope you studied your spells."
"Of course," replied Hermione. "We have OWLs after all."
She shook her head. "You don't, although I wish you did, that that was all you have to worry about."
"OWLs are canceled?" Ron looked like Christmas had come early.
"Yes."
"Why?" Hermione looked almost crestfallen.
The professors exchanged glances once again.
"War has come to Hogwarts. If all goes well, none of the students and very few of the professors will fight. A volunteer army has been training here for months," Sakura informed them solemnly.
They paled. War - at Hogwarts? But Dumbledore was the only wizard You-Know-Who was afraid of and Harry had already defeated him numerous times. Plus, they had these powerful young teachers. What sense did it make to choose to fight on Hogwarts' ground?
They were about to express their confusion when Professor Dumbledore appeared in the doorway. He smiled somewhat vaguely at the students before turning to Sakura and Syaoran after glancing quickly over his shoulder.
A door appeared on the far side of the room. "Take a left and it's the fourth door on the right. Severus and Minerva are already there," informed Sakura, quick to understand what was happening.
He thanked them and hurried away.
"What?" asked Harry, totally at loss.
"Professor Daidouji has been a bit obsessed with the Lord of the Rings," said Sakura.
Draco and Ron had no idea what she was talking about, but pretended they did, as Hermione and Harry nodded in comprehension.
"She likes dressing people up in costumes for any type of battle, or for no reason at all," continued Sakura.
"Two Galleons that she was trying to braid his beard like the dwarf's," betted Professor Li.
"Gimli," murmured Hermione as Sakura replied, "You're on."
"But what did that have to do with the door?" asked Harry.
"Well, Mr. Potter," she said with a smile. "We warded a room for anyone who wanted to escape Professor Daidouji. We, of course," she said, gesturing to both herself and Syaoran, "can't avoid her." She looked vaguely disappointed. "She's been doing this since before I began capturing - er, I mean, since before I was nine." Professor Kinomoto finished nervously.
Syaoran snorted. "Professor Daidouji wanted to give Professor McGonagall elf ears and an elven style dress, as well as letting her hair down out of her bun. It doesn't matter that she won't be on the battle field; manning the fort's a good enough reason for Daidouji. Professor Snape...what was going to happen to him?" he asked Sakura.
"He was going to get a helmet and gauntlets. They were quite pretty, actually."
"Probably why he ran for it," suggested Professor Li.
Meanwhile, Hermione was staring at Professor Kinomoto's elegant sword. It seemed familiar, as if she'd seen it somewhere before.
Sakura noticed her staring at the blade and picked it up. "I've never much taken to a sword, not like to a bow and arrow," she commented. "A sword does have its advantages, however. Though I hate to admit it, it's better at channeling magic than an arrow is. And if this wasn't so light I wouldn't be able to do half of the little tricks I know."
"Alleivuyae!" exclaimed Hermione, finally recalling the illustration she had seen in one of the many old, dusty books she had read. "The third most powerful blade in the world next to Excalibur and the Sword of the Elements. How did you get it?"
"Through another test. I couldn't refuse lessons from Professor Li after I received it," replied Sakura with a scowl. "His is the Sword of the Elements by the way."
Syaoran glared at her as the four stared at them in awe.
"They weren't supposed to know that," he complained.
"They weren't supposed to know a whole bunch of things, and they do," retorted Sakura.
Just then Professor Daidouji appeared in the doorway. "Oh, Sakura-chaaaaaaan," she called in a sing song voice. "I have the perfect costume for youuuuuu."
"Um...shouldn't we do that later, like after dinner?" questioned Sakura as Syaoran mouthed, 'Run, run for your lives!' behind the Muggle Studies' professor's back.
The four inched their way out the door, watching the professors warily, before bolting into the hallway.
"They're not serious about a war, are they?" asked Ron nervously.
"They sure looked it," replied Harry grimly.
"Don't say a word about it to anyone," warned Hermione, looking each boy in the eye. "They're planning something and a panic definitely won't help the situation."
"Yes, Miss Know-It-All," drawled Draco, but without his usual mocking tone. All of them were worried.
~*~
The fifth years all cheered at the news of the canceled OWLs and the fact that final exams were canceled as well was an added bonus. No one asked why.
Dinner soon arrived and a bleak mood settled on the castle for no apparent reason. As everyone settled down to eat the chime of a glass rang out through the Great Hall and Dumbledore stood to make his announcement.
"All students will please go straight to their dormitories after dinner and gather up whatever you feel is needed to amuse yourselves for several hours. Then come right back here. Any dawdling or horse playing will result in severe penalties. Do not forget your wands. That is all."
For several moments there were only hushed conversations before the noise built up to its usual volume. Something was definitely happening.
"I hope this was the right choice," murmured Tomoyo glumly.
"The war or to gather everyone in one place?" questioned Eriol.
"To gather all the students here. If there is even one little fluke they could all be injured or worse. The Death Eaters would have a field day."
"We've been over this before," said Meiling kindly. "We'll have professors guarding every entrance to this room and four of us will be supporting a shield. Splitting them up into dormitories gives them more of a chance of slipping out or hiding when we need them together. Besides, their four Houses are so far apart from each other that you'll need to Floo to them if you want to get there quickly."
"Remember, there's safety in numbers," added Eriol.
"I hope we're right," sighed Tomoyo as she toyed with her food, staring into space.
"Come on, Tomoyo," said Sakura when the Great Hall was less crowded. "You had a costume for me, remember?"
"Of course I do!" exclaimed Tomoyo, at once starry-eyed and enthusiastic. She immediately jumped to her feet and practically dragged Sakura out the door and to their rooms.
"Touya and Otousan are upstairs!" Sakura managed to inform the group before she was out of hearing range.
The laughs at the display were somewhat strained. No one noticed Nakuru slip outside as well.
~*~
The hallways were dimly lit. A shadow flitted noiselessly from hiding spot to hiding spot, stalking the man.
The stalker's aura was carefully hidden and the form allowed a small smirk to appear, the barest twitch of the lips.
This was too easy.
The shadowed form glanced around with both regular and magical sight. No witnesses, no booby traps. The perfect moment.
She leapt from her hiding place onto the man's back, causing him to stumble forward. He barely kept himself from falling flat on his face.
"TOOOUUUUYYYYYYAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!" shrieked Nakuru happily, glomping him to her heart's content.
He had a surprisingly girly scream, she reflected afterward.
"SIT!" he bellowed, forgetting one little thing. Nakuru had latched onto his back, which would therefore bring him down as well.
She lay on top of him happily, very much content. Master Eriol's sneaky, underhanded method does work, she thought to herself.
Touya grimaced, trapped beneath her for far too long for his liking.
Nakuru didn't bother to get up once the command had worn off and it took Touya several minutes to realize this.
~*~
Sakura looked at her new costume.
"Lord of the Rings, ne?" she commented.
"I figured this would be best for this battle," replied Tomoyo. "Take off your clothes."
"The door had better be locked," threatened Sakura as she obeyed. She couldn't grudge Tomoyo the little happiness this gave her. Merlin knew there wouldn't be much to laugh about for a long time to come. Sakura blinked. I've been among wizards and witches for far too long, she thought wryly, realizing she'd used their most popular curse.
Tomoyo proudly held up a chain mail vest after wrestling a plain white shirt and dark slacks onto her friend. "It's as light and strong as I could make it. It'll turn any weapon away, magicked or not, but it won't work with spells. I didn't want a helpful or healing spell to slide off when you need it," she explained anxiously.
"It's beautiful," murmured Sakura, gently fingering the delicate, shimmering metal.
After getting the chain mail onto Sakura, Tomoyo threw an intricately embroidered dark green tunic over it. Next, she presented a cloak, the color of the Forbidden Forest canopy at midnight.
"This will make people overlook you when you use it. I figured the costume should be dark so you can hide when you need to without fear of any bright color being seen."
"Good idea," praised Sakura with a smile. "Everything is gorgeous and easy to move in. Including the boots," she added, looking down at the brown footwear.
Tomoyo hugged her tightly. "Be careful," she whispered to her cousin.
Sakura was strongly reminded that they were only 16 and preparing to go to war with an army bent on destruction.
"You too," Sakura replied sadly.
There was a knock on the door and then Eriol, Syaoran, and Meiling trooped in, all wearing their ceremonial robes.
"Ready?" asked Syaoran softly.
Sakura nodded. "We need two more people to hold the shield over the school. Otousan and Oniichan came here for that reason and I want Tomoyo and Meiling to be those two shielders. Do you know your places?"
Tomoyo and Meiling nodded.
"Good. Has Remus returned?" Sakura had been asking for him all day, wanting to give him his spell, but he had been out practicing and doing maneuvers.
Meiling shook her head. "Some volunteers are getting jittery and he's helping to keep them calm. We only have about-" she glanced at the clock, "-an hour until Voldemort gets here. I think he'll just stay and go out with them then."
Sakura sighed, disappointed, and stood, sending the bauble containing the werewolf's spell up to his bedroom dresser. "I need to talk with Minerva. See you later."
The silence after she left was strained and unusual.
Sakura glanced in the Great Hall and noted with some satisfaction that all was going well. There was no panic, though that was probably because only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco knew what was going on. She didn't bother to check for any missing students, knowing that the professors, including her own group, had already done so.
She continued on to the room adjacent the Great Hall and walked in. Minerva was staring into space with a worried frown and jumped when Sakura entered.
"You're sure you want to watch?" asked Sakura quietly.
"If I'm to protect the school I need to know what's happening outside," replied the professor stubbornly.
"It definitely won't be pretty. And others will probably want to see what's happening to friends or family members as well."
"Grindelwald wasn't pretty either," said Minerva, shuddering at the memories of war. "No battle is."
"Ron, Draco, and Hermione will want to see what's happening to Harry."
"And why would Harry be outside?"
"You'll see," replied Sakura sadly. "I don't like it either, but it must be done this way."
Minerva sighed. It seemed that all she had gotten from these professors were secrets and mysteries. Granted, they were good teachers, especially Eriol Hiiragizawa. He had said that they saved their best person for Defense Against the Dark Arts, since they would be needing that skill more than any other this year, if worse came to worse.
Sakura studied her for a moment. "As you wish," she said finally, and drew Mirror and Twin from the belt Eriol had given her for Christmas.
She took out her 'wand' and twirled it deftly, spinning it into the air. A bright light flared and when she caught the wand it became her staff.
"Mirror!" she cried, tossing the card into the air and striking it. Immediately a mirror appeared in front of her, hovering at chest level.
Minerva watched with interest. Sakura didn't use her cards much and this was the first time she had done it in front of Minerva.
"Twin!" Sakura called and suddenly there were two identical mirrors, each rounded with Chinese characters along the frame.
The cards returned to Sakura's belt and the staff shrank into the key. She wouldn't be needing a witch's wand anytime soon.
Finished with her cleanup, she turned to the Transfigurations professor. "You will be able to see wherever traces of my magic linger," she explained, "which should be almost everywhere. Just say the name of the person or place you want to see and they'll show it to you. I made two in case you want to see two different places, or in case any visitor wants to check on someone else. What they won't show you is the layout of the armies and the grounds from a map or bird's eye view. We'll need something different for that. I'll be right back."
She walked into the Great Hall and scanned the Gryffindor table. "Ah," she said to herself and her long legged stride brought her quickly to where Harry and Hermione watched Ron cream Draco at wizards' chess.
"Harry, come with me, please?" she requested.
"Watch his bishop," she told Draco as Harry followed her out of the Great Hall. Sakura nodded to Professor Flitwick as they passed him by.
"You have your Marauder's Map in your trunk, yes?" she said once they were outside.
"How did you know?" asked Harry, positive he'd never taken it out near her.
"It's a secret," she said with a smile. "Could you bring it to me? Quickly. I'll be in there." Sakura gestured toward the room where Professor McGonagall was waiting.
He raced to the Gryffindor tower as Sakura returned to her colleague's side. "I had Harry get the Marauder's Map. It shows anyone on Hogwarts' grounds."
"How did he get it?" asked Minerva, curious.
"His dad, Remus, Sirius, and Peter made it. The Weasley twins somehow got hold of it and gave it to Harry in his third year."
"And he's put it to good use, I expect?" commented Minerva, her mouth in a thin line of disapproval.
Sakura just grinned.
Harry soon returned with the map and crashed through the door, panting. "I've got-" he began and paused, embarassed when he realized that his Head of House was there as well. "Er...hello Professor McGonagall."
"Hello Potter," she replied.
Sakura set the parchment on the desk next to the two mirrors and then looked up at Harry.
"Would you like to do the honors?" she asked gallantly.
Harry shrugged and brought out his wand. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," he intoned and tapped the paper.
Sakura watched Minerva out of the corner of her eye and saw her mouth twitch at the password. "Typical," murmured the Transfigurations Professor.
"You can use this to warn you of any intruders or if the army is about to storm the school itself," explained Sakura.
Minerva raised an eyebrow and looked in Harry's direction.
"He already knows about this," said Sakura.
"Of course," replied Minerva dryly. "He usually does."
Harry could feel himself turn red.
Sakura turned to him with her usual cheerful smile. "Why don't you see if Draco's still in the game. He needs all the help he can get against Ron."
Harry grinned in return. "He's even worse than I was. And I'm not going to let him forget it," he informed her as he left the room.
Minerva laughed. "Who would have thought that those three would add Draco to their number?"
Suddenly something scaled, snake-like, and shimmering white in color appeared on Sakura's shoulder with a small pop and the girl shrieked.
"That's a nice way to greet a friend," it said dryly as Minerva stared.
"Is that a Chinese dragon?" asked Minerva. They were rare and very little was known about them aside from what was in legends.
"This is Kazemusuko. Son of the Wind," she introduced, translating his name into English. She glared at him. "You could have warned me." Sakura winced as he shifted and his small claws gripped her shoulder and fidgeted as his whiskers tickled her face.
"Where's the surprise in that?" he asked.
"Well, since you're here, you can make yourself useful."
"You know I'm not supposed to interfere with mortal lives."
"But you're not," Sakura protested, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "You're just helping your friend out, healing a few people she likes, that sort of thing."
Kazemusuko gave a dry cough that Minerva realized was his laugh. "Of course."
He slithered down her body and Sakura winced once more as his needle sharp talons pricked her skin.
"Why couldn't you just fly down to the ground?" she demanded irritably.
Minerva noted with interest that the dragon had no wings and wondered how he was able to fly.
"Come," Kazemusuko said imperiously.
Sakura followed, muttering under her breath as she went to introduce Poppy Pomfrey's new assistant to her.
~*~
About half an hour later the army was tense and ready for their confrontation. Sakura was at a window with her bow and a quiver of arrows waiting for Voldemort and his army to appear. The rest of her group sat waiting for her signal and the students in the Great Hall were unusually quiet, most of them trying not to panic as they learned the cause of the tension.
Suddenly a whole crowd of figures in black appeared, each still and quiet, sure that they would catch Hogwarts unawares. The majority waited in front while a smaller group appeared behind the school, all waiting for their master's signal. Before he could give it, a single arrow flew from a tower window, landing point first in the dirt at Voldemort's feet, catching them all by surprise.
Immediately after, a girl appeared, standing face to face with Voldemort, the most feared wizard of his time.
"Good evening, Dark Lord," she said with a mocking bow.
"Do you know who I am, little girl? You are lucky I am in a good mood tonight or you would be dead by now," he hissed, red eyes flashing.
"I doubt that very much, Voldemort," replied Sakura with a sneer. "I believe it is you who has forgotten me."
One Death Eater could take her insolence no more. "Aveda Kedavra."
Green light flared and died down. There were gasps and murmurs from both the Light and Dark sides when they realized that she stood before them, alive and well toying with the Killing Spell she had caught with her bare hands.
"I don't suppose," she said almost absently, "that you remember the little girl whose power was only half trained? I don't suppose you remember that you thought she would be an easy opponent? I don't suppose you remember the 53 cards you challenged her for? And you wouldn't understand that whether you defeated me or not, the cards would never go to you."
Her eyes flashed dangerously as Voldemort narrowed his eyes in recognition.
"We have all trained and grown into our power," she continued as 10 figures appeared behind her. "We are more than a match for you."
The muttering in both armies grew louder. Who were they? What were they?
"So Cardmistress, you knew I would come?"
Sakura nodded in acknowledgment as whispers traveled among the soldiers. Cardmistress, the most powerful sorceress in the world explained each person to his neighbor. "I encouraged you. It was not hard with all of the anger and hate you have for Hogwarts, its Headmaster, and Harry Potter."
"And you would fight me?" Sakura could see the fear he tried to suppress.
"Not I," she replied. "You should know that."
Turning to face the school she chanted, "Harry Potter, I summon thee. Child of light, I summon thee. Hope of his world, I summon thee."
Harry appeared, looking surprised and horrified as he realized where he was.
"Harry," murmured Sakura sadly. "I'm sorry, but this is your geas, your fate."
Voldemort looked more relaxed, and took on his usual arrogant air. "I will duel him?"
"Yes," replied Sakura. "No on shall help or hinder either of you. In addition none of you will be able to use the Killing Curse." She tossed the one she held up into the air.
Remember what I taught you, said a voice in Harry's head and he looked up, startled. It was the voice from his dreams. It was Sakura.
Looking back at Voldemort, the fear once more coursed through his veins. He'd gotten lucky before, but he would need skill, not luck, to get out of this alive.
Get into your places, she sent to Tomoyo, Meiling, Touya, and her father.
The four of them disappeared and reappeared outside of Hogwarts, each standing in a cardinal direction.
The Dark army fidgeted, wanting to destroy and kill.
Sakura took her staff and brought out Firey. Stepping back she called upon the card and a large circle of flames appeared around Harry and Voldemort. "The flames will keep any who think to help them out," called out Sakura.
Next, she took out the other three element cards and tossed them into the air striking them with her staff. "Guard your charges!" she called, gesturing to the four who were preparing to set up the shield.
Albus Dumbledore tensed at the head of his group, waiting for her signal.
"So be it. The second war begins!"
As if released from a spell the two armies charged and Touya, Tomoyo, Meiling, and Fujitaka threw up their shield like a blanket over the school.
"Wind spirits of the east, I call upon you for protection!" called out Touya, a brisk wind circling his body.
"Earth spirits of the south, I call upon you for protection," chanted Fujitaka and a quaking in the earth under him answered.
"Water spirits of the west, I call upon you for protection," intoned Tomoyo and a small stream of water from the lake wound its way toward her in reply. Three quarters of the school glowed dimly.
"Fire spirits of the north, I call upon you for protection," said Meiling and flames appeared, clinging to her harmlessly as the shield flashed, and then stabilized.
All around them battle cries and shouts of the wounded sounded.
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I apologize if north and south are mixed up. I couldn't quite remember which element went where. On a happier note, I've decided to insert teasers from the new CCS/HP crossover (once again, not a continuation or sequel to this story) I'm planning to promote the product, or whatever. They won't be in any kind of order. It could jump around from the end to the beginning to the end to the middle. Who knows?
There was a knock on Minerva's bedroom door.
She stirred and opened her eyes blearily, not bothering to put on her glasses.
"Go away," she growled, and immediately drifted off to sleep.
The knocking came again, more insistent.
Muttering under her breath she fumbled for her wand where she kept it on the bed stand and cast a hex in the door's general direction before closing her eyes.
Her door opened and Albus walked in. Neither of them noticing Sakura who slipped in after him, invisible.
"Minerva?" he called, turning on the lights.
"Albus go away. I just got back and I haven't slept in two days," she hissed into her pillow, vastly disappointed that her hex had failed.
"Minerva, please. You weren't there when I warned the other professors and I didn't want to mention anything in front of Miss Smith."
Minerva reluctantly reached for her glasses and sat up. "What?" she demanded.
Sakura fixed her gaze on the two of them. What warning?
"Someone or something is in Hogwarts. I've had my suspicions and Severus confirmed them after having met someone at one of his meetings."
I never heard this, thought Sakura. It must have happened when I followed the students to Hogsmeade. Eriol, I'm going to kill you. They'll never know, you said. It'll be perfectly fine, you said. Ooooohhhh, when I see you....
Minerva immediately focused her piercing gaze on the Headmaster. "A Death Eater is in Hogwarts?" she asked fearfully.
"I don't believe the person to be a Death Eater, nor this presence in the school. But some things are certainly strange and as of yet I've been unable to fathom what's happening. Be careful, my dear. Good night." Dumbledore stood and let himself out.
Sakura followed him silently and Minerva fell asleep once more.
She had to be more careful or these wizards and witches would find out about her before she, Eriol, Syaoran, and Tomoyo were ready.
For a moment Sakura considered going back to Dumbledore's office, but decided against it. Sleep was more important at the moment. She needed to stay alert.
So how was it? Confusing? Yeah, well, it'll be much more clear once I start writing it correctly.
Sayonara,
Mystical Magician