Hey! LOOK WHO'S BACK! Mwaha. Thankyou all once again for reviewing. Also: I got a review from someone who wanted me to pair Harry with Malfoy. Well, lemme tell ya, this isn't the first one! *Glares at her best friend* And a few things about this chappie. I used the chorus of an Avril Lavigne song and included a passage of my poem "You." So sue me. Anyway, sorry for the late chapter, but hey, what can I say? I have homework, Youth Group, and track. And when I'm free I just wanna relax. Also, I never got to send my manga into TOKYOPOP's RISING STARS OF MANGA for the first contest (I didn't finnish it on time) and I have a new idea for a manga, and I'm set on sending somethin' in this year, so I'm busy with that. Plus I've got a bunch of girls lining up at school begging me to do pictures for them. I'm booked. And most of all, I only write when I feel like it. So get outta my face. I don't need ya nagging me. For those who talk to me online, I'll blockya. For those who email me, I'll delete everything you send me. For those who are authors, I'll flame your stories that I havent even read. For those who are none of the above, you'll find your name in the next chapter and some nasty words. Maybe I'm in a bad mood right now. Maybe I'm PMSing. Maybe I don't mean any of this. Maybe I've been posessed by an evil demon who wants all of you to suffer. But we'll never know, will we? So...on with the story.
Fang of an Immortal
Chapter Seven
Valerie
Syaoran smiled down at Sakura. He hugged her tight and kissed her again.
"We better get going." she said in a soft voice.
Syaoran nodded, but wouldn't let go.
He glanced up at the clock and his eyes widened.
"Sakura...? Everyone is already downstairs."
"So?"
"They have to pass through _this_ common room to get there." Syaoran winced. He hadn't meant to use that tone of voice with her.
"I know." Sakura said camly.
"What should we tell them? I mean, I don't exactly have the _best_ reputation in the school and you don't want to--"
"The truth." Sakura interupted.
"Huh?"
"We'll tell them the truth." Sakura repeated.
"But, the talk--"
"Let them say what they want to say." Sakura said as she looked up at him. She smiled, her eyes bright and alive, so unlike those moments when they would glaze over and look dead. "I don't care what they say. The fact that you're with me is all I need."
Syaoran was stunned, not knowing what to say. Of course, he couldn't be any happier. But he was stunned that this innocent, beautiful young girl would be willing to give up her reputation just so she could be with him.
After a few moments of akward silence for Syaoran, and blissful silence for Sakura, they got up, and went to their rooms to get ready, then met in the common room, where they kissed and embraced one another once more and then headed out hand in hand.
***
The Gryfindor table was all but calm. In was abuzz with gossip, and the other three tables couldn't get a word in or out of them.
"Can you believe it?"
"Did you see it too?"
"What an unlikely couple!"
"Poor Sakura...she would've looked, much better with me!"
"I wish I had been brave enough to get Li!"
Simmilar exchanges were made, and the Gryffindor table was louder than the other three combined.
"I think Li did something to her. I don't think she likes him at all! He probably hurt her!" Harry insisted stubbornly.
Tomoyo shook her head and Eriol sighed. They had explained it over and over, but Harry wouldn't look at it any other way than "he hurt her."
But the gossip was put to silence as the doors slowely swung open. All of the Gryffindors were immediatly silenced and the rest of the room followed their gaze.
There, walking hand in hand were Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li, Sakura looking more radiant than ever and Li having lost the stone that had displayed itself in his glare for the past year that they had known him.
Harry stared, not able to decipher what he was seeing, Tomoyo beamed, girls felt depressed over their loss and mad at Sakura for making the move before they could, boys feeling the same way toward Syaoran while thinking "how could she fall for him?" and Malfoy choked on his scrambled eggs.
The couple seemed to notice the stares, and Li seemed to become uncomfortable. But Sakura smiled sweetly and stood on tip-toes to whisper in Syaoran's ear (him also having to bend down; he had reached an amazing hieght of six-foot-two, her being a "pathetic-five-foot-seven" according to Sakura, although all the other girls just squirmed in envy at Sakura's "perfect proportions"). To everybody's amazement a grin spread over his face, and his eyes were ignited with a mischievious fire. And then he surprised them once more by letting out a whole-hearted laugh.
Sakura giggled along until they reached her usual spot at the table with Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Tomoyo, and Eriol. Sakura took a seat, and Li turned toward his usual spot at the table but Sakura grabbed the sleeve to his robe.
"Where are you going, Syao?"
Syaoran stopped. One reason was because it was so obvious where he was going, another reason was that he loved that name Sakura had just entitled him with, but most importantly was because he loved the voice who was behind the nickname.
"I'm going to my seat." He said without turning.
"There's an empty seat right next to me! Sit with us!"
This time Syaoran turned, staring wide-eyed at the girl he loved so much.
"I'm not going to let you sit alone like you do everyday! I don't want you to be alone!"
Syaoran just stood there.
He didn't make any move to indicate he was going to sit down.
And inside, he hesitated.
Sure he wanted to sit there.
He didn't want to turn down Sakura's invitation.
He loved her too much to do that. (Who _could_ help but love her?)
But a part of him hesitated all the same.
What if he was dreaming?
Or what if this had all been a cruel trick, to get his hopes up and then hurt him?
No, Sakura would never do that.
But then something came to his mind: what if he wasn't completely welcome?
His mind and thoughts swung around like a mobile.
What if he was unwanted by someone.
He was right.
Harry glared at him through his unruly midnight bangs.
He didn't want Syaoran to sit there.
He didn't want to know him.
But after what seemed like hours, Syaoran took his seat.
Only then did he noticed Harry's glares.
A song drifted into his head at that moment:
~YOU DON'T KNOW ME, DON'T IGNORE ME, YOU DON'T WANT ME THERE, YOU JUST SHUT ME OUT, YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT IGNORE ME, IF YOU HAD YOUR WAY YOU'D JUST SHUT ME UP, MAKE ME GO WAY~
Syaoran grinned. Knowing himself, he would someday play that song for Harry.
Harry saw the grin and frowned. Was he scheming something?
Sakura and the others chatted, and eventually Harry found himself taking part in the conversation.
But Syaoran sat there, watching Sakura.
Remembered that poem he had read once, and had applied a few passages of it to his life up until now:
"And it always frustrates me
Because whenever I reach out to you
Our fingers are only a few inches apart
But as long as you know my name
I'm happy to love you from afar"
But now he wiped that passage from his mind and searched his memory for an new one.
He couldn't find any.
He'd try later.
Right now he was just basking in his love for the girl right next to him.
He didn't need to be a part of the conversation.
He just needed to be near her.
Eventually they departed for class, and Sakura politly turned down a few offers to sit with other students and sat with Syaoran.
In potions, Snape stalked in, and was in a bad mood and seeing a happy couple made it worse. But no matter what he threw at them, he couldn't bring Syaoran's or Sakura's spirit down.
Sakura even made it through Binn's class without fainting (although she felt somewhat sick).
Then it was time to go to a new class that had just started that year. It was a class for rooting out a student's strong point in magic and improving it even more. It also applied for those who had other types of magic. A sixth sense, traditional magic, elemental magic, and others of the like.
Sakura looked at the name on the door. In bold letters were 'Specialties' and below that was "Miss Adams."
A plain and simple name, easy to remember.
Sakura gripped the key that hung from her neck. She hadn't used the staff since a few days before she left home.
The students filed in, laughing and yelling.
There were tables that fit three people. To Syaoran's disgust, Malfoy was in the class, and seemed to be eyeing Sakura.
Syaoran and Sakura sat down up front. Looking around, Sakura noted that it wasn't only sixth years. There was one first year, a couple of second years, a few third years, five fourth years, and a handful of fith years, Ginny Weasly being one of them. Seeing that she was alone and looking for someone to sit with (the class had students from all four houses) Sakura beckoned Ginny to sit with her and Syao.
Ginny approached, looking nervously at Li.
She was still alittle afraid of him, and she wasn't sure if he wanted someone sitting with them; maybe he wanted Sakura to himself?
But he surprised her by flashing her a warm smile and she sat down.
Gossip reached their ears:
"Did you see the name?"
"Miss Adams?"
"Hah! She must be one of those old ladies who never got married!"
"Probably strict too!"
Sakura turned to Ginny and started up their own conversation.
Then the door to the teachers office banged open and out hopped a young girl.
She had blond hair cut in a modern fashion (the front being shorter than the back) and large blue eyes.
Now, when I say "hopped" I mean, literally hopped.
She hopped as if her feet were glued together. She grabbed the banaster (think Lockheart's office, with the stairs leading up to his office) and hopped right over it, falling a good twenty feet and landing, unfazed by the fall and ran to the front of the class. She stood up and held the palm of her hand up.
"Hey guys! I'm your teacher!"
Everyone stared at the girl in amazement. She couldn't bave been any older than twenty four!
"The other teachers made me put up 'Miss Smith,' but I'd rather have you call me Valerie!"
She was very enthusiastic, and obviously a very bouncy and bubbly girl.
"Now, I'm sure you've heard about this class. I'm sorry I couldn't start it earlier, but I convinced them to add this class in at the last minute, so I've been setting up and eating meals in my office. That's why you haven't seen me."
All the girls watched in admiration of this girl who should've been a model, and guys watched with...other things in mind.
"Now, before I take role, I'm going to test all of you. I want you to take out your wands and cast your favorite spell. I'm going to start at the back."
Valerie moved to the back and watched, not missing any detail. She asked everyone the same questions--"Do you have any other kinds of magic? Sixth senses? Do you know any elemental spells? Any kind of magic passed down from the family?"
Eriol was allowed to preform a new magic he created, and Hermione found herself to be quite good at one of the elements--ice. Ginny was shocked to find she had a specailty for fire, Valerie was especailly inpressed with Syaoran's traditional magic, and Harry found himself letting out bolt after bolt of electricity.
"You have a talent for thunder." Valerie nodded at him and reached out. She lightly touched his scar with her index finger and said, "That's why your scar was shaped like this."
Sakura was last.
Valerie stood, staring at Sakura. Finally she said softly, "You're the Master of the Clow."
Sakura gulped and took out her wand. She preformed her spell and braced herself for the laughs.
One thing that greatly disturbed the teachers and confused the other students--despite being the Master of the Clow, her spells turned out to be so incredibly weak, the professors were already talking about keeping her in the sixth year the following school year.
Sure enough, people snickered at her attempt to preform a standard dueling spell (Valerie had let Sakura cast it on her).
"YOU GUYS SHUT UP!" Valerie suddenly roared. The class fell into dead silence.
"Sakura, what do you use when you use the Clow Cards?"
Suddenly the whole class leaned forward in their seats(except fot those who had seen her use them before). Sakura had refused to tell any of the students about the Clow Cards.
Sakura thought for a moment, and then took her key from around her neck and held it up. The other students were confused. That was it?
Valerie examined it for a few minutes and then spoke.
"You do know that you can preform normal spells with that, don't you?"
Sakura's eyes widened and she looked back at Eriol. He nodded slowly. She looked back at Valerie as she started to speak again.
"Why don't you try it now? Then you can use one of your cards."
The whole class got excited. They didn't even know how the cards worked.
"But...my cards are in my room..."
"I'm sure they come to you when you call them?"
Sakura had forgotten about that, and she nodded. She stood up and nervously walked to the front of the class as the other students had done.
Holding out the key, she quietly chanted the words (she was a little embarassed) and suddenly yelled "RELEASE!"
The magic circle formed below her feet and a wind sprang up from nowhere causing her hair to whip around her. The key grew until it became a long pink staff.
Syaoran stared. The staff was different from the last time he saw it. Alot different. Somehow Sakura had used her magic to further the power of the staff. It was still pink, but not as bluntly pink as it used to be.
It was now a soft, pale shade of pink. Silver wrapped the bottom of it, and a soft pink jem was set at its hilt. The top still had a ring, but it was not the same as the ring that had held the star. It was a larger, silver ring with the same material webbed in the center giving it the appearance of a dream catcher, and from a leather thong hung pink and white beads and two white feathers. Syaoran could tell that this staff was even stronger than the last. not only that, but the staff was a foot taller than Sakura.
"Now, cast the same spell." Valerie instructed. Sakura nodded and did as she was told. As soon as the words left her lips, however, Valerie was sent flying accross the room to crash into a bookcase. She rolled away just as it was going to fall on her.
Sakura stared in horror, along with many others in the class. When Valerie had clambered to her feet, Sakura opened her mouth to beg for forgiveness, but found her voise was snared in an invisible trap in her throat.
But Valerie surprised everyone by praising Sakura and telling her to throw away her wand; the staff would do.
"Now...I would love to see the legendary Clow Cards in action." Valerie grinned. Sakura nodded, and then stopped.
"But...which one...?"
"Anyone you want." Valerie said cheerfully. And then she added, "Have you created any yourself to add to the collection?"
Eriol was shaking his head to silently answer the question when Sakura's tongue created words Eriol thought he would never here after a question like that.
"Actually...yes..."
"Well, why don't you use that?"
"It's really nothing special..." Sakura went on to explain that around the age of thirteen she had taken up the glaive and had quite a collection of them. Eventually she had created the Glaive Card which which could turn her staff into a glaive.
"Well, then use another card. Like an elemental card? It's your choice.Why dont you call them to you?"
Sakura immediatly started mumbling something and another stange wind sprang up. She held that position for several minutes untill the classroom door burst open and a book flew in. It ceased its flight infront of Sakura and dropped into her hands.
Opening the book, Sakura withdrew a long card and put the book down on her desk.
Looking up at Valerie, she asked her what she should do.
"Use the card on me."
Sakura's eyes widened and half the class gasped.
"Don't worry!" Valerie said, winking. "If I die, I'll just have to teach as a ghost."
Sakura gulped at the last sentance, but then shook her head.
"You won't die, even if I put all of my power into this Card."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Gimme your best shot!"
Sakura nodded and threw the card infront of her. It stopped it in mid air and she tapped it with her staff. The magic circle reappeared under her when she screamed "WINDY!"
Suddenly Windy appeared, just as beautiful as ever. Anyone who hadn't seen the Cards before just gaped. Turning to Sakura, her hair flowing around her shoulders, Windy asked her Master what she should do without having to use words.
"Trap her." Sakura said quietly.
Windy turned to Valerie and charged at her. Valerie raised her wand, bracing herself. She opend her mouth to utter a spell when Windy was suddenly gone. Lowering her gaurd, Valerie looked around for her 'foe,' but she couldn't see her. She couldn't _see_ her. Suddenly she shot a spell in a toward her own desk and Windy suddenly appeared dodging it in time. Windy once again dissappeard, but suddenly there were swirls of green and white around Valerie's arms and legs, and though she struggled, she couldn't free herself. Finally her movement ceased and she hung there, looking expectantly at Sakura.
With a muttered command to withdraw, Sakura set Valerie free and put Windy Card in her pocket.
Valerie stood, inspecting Sakura. All of the bubbly, care-free school-girl look was replaced by a pretty, yet unformiliar mask of ponder and thoughtfulness displayed itself on her face. Finally her eyes lit up and she grinned.
"That was amazing! You've honed your skills to a point that only you can find away to improve. When your in here, I'll be teaching you elemental magic; you dont need and help with that from me!" She pointed to the staff.
Suddenly the bell rung.
"Oh, look at the time!" Valerie exclaimed. "No home work! Shoo! Sakura, I would like to talk to you."
Syao, Ginny, Tomoyo, and the others waited outside the door.
"Sakura, you are truly amazing. I'm going to have some fun this year with you! Oh and by the way, can I see your wand? No, no, no, not your staff your wand."
Sakura handed her wand to Valerie, and in on fluid motion, Valerie snapped the wand in two on her knee and through it over her shoulder.
"You won't be needing it." Valerie grinned. "Off you go!"
Sakura started to the door but then stopped.
"Um,Valerie?"
"Yes, Sakura?"
"Um, if you dont mind me asking...how did you know where Windy was when she had turned herself into a stream of air?"
Valerie grinned.
"I have a sixth sense."
Sakura blinked.
"I can sense anything with a spirit."
"Oh..."
"Ya better get goin'! Your friends are waiting outside."
Sakura looked over but saw no one; Valerie had sensed them though the wall.
As Sakura headed toward the door, Valerie called her back.
"Sakura?"
Sakura looked back.
"Yes, Valerie?"
"Ya know how you said you know how to use the glaive?"
Sakura nodded.
"Ya think you could teach me?"
Sakura blinked. Teach a teacher?
"S-sure..."
Valerie grinned.
Sakura turned. Right when she was about to cross teh threshold, Valerie called her back once again. She sighed and turned around.
"Sakura?"
"Yeah?"
"You can call me Val."
Sakura grinned at this. Finally she made it out the door. Sakura and her friends laughed and chattered about the day and what Val had said. There were no more classes and they had the afternoon to themselves. They were heading towards Hagrid's, and though Sakura was laughing with the rest of her friends there was a feeling in the back of her mind that told her that something was wrong. Very wrong.
....All I have ta say is my friend wanted me to name Val "Bobette."
Fang of an Immortal
Chapter Seven
Valerie
Syaoran smiled down at Sakura. He hugged her tight and kissed her again.
"We better get going." she said in a soft voice.
Syaoran nodded, but wouldn't let go.
He glanced up at the clock and his eyes widened.
"Sakura...? Everyone is already downstairs."
"So?"
"They have to pass through _this_ common room to get there." Syaoran winced. He hadn't meant to use that tone of voice with her.
"I know." Sakura said camly.
"What should we tell them? I mean, I don't exactly have the _best_ reputation in the school and you don't want to--"
"The truth." Sakura interupted.
"Huh?"
"We'll tell them the truth." Sakura repeated.
"But, the talk--"
"Let them say what they want to say." Sakura said as she looked up at him. She smiled, her eyes bright and alive, so unlike those moments when they would glaze over and look dead. "I don't care what they say. The fact that you're with me is all I need."
Syaoran was stunned, not knowing what to say. Of course, he couldn't be any happier. But he was stunned that this innocent, beautiful young girl would be willing to give up her reputation just so she could be with him.
After a few moments of akward silence for Syaoran, and blissful silence for Sakura, they got up, and went to their rooms to get ready, then met in the common room, where they kissed and embraced one another once more and then headed out hand in hand.
***
The Gryfindor table was all but calm. In was abuzz with gossip, and the other three tables couldn't get a word in or out of them.
"Can you believe it?"
"Did you see it too?"
"What an unlikely couple!"
"Poor Sakura...she would've looked, much better with me!"
"I wish I had been brave enough to get Li!"
Simmilar exchanges were made, and the Gryffindor table was louder than the other three combined.
"I think Li did something to her. I don't think she likes him at all! He probably hurt her!" Harry insisted stubbornly.
Tomoyo shook her head and Eriol sighed. They had explained it over and over, but Harry wouldn't look at it any other way than "he hurt her."
But the gossip was put to silence as the doors slowely swung open. All of the Gryffindors were immediatly silenced and the rest of the room followed their gaze.
There, walking hand in hand were Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li, Sakura looking more radiant than ever and Li having lost the stone that had displayed itself in his glare for the past year that they had known him.
Harry stared, not able to decipher what he was seeing, Tomoyo beamed, girls felt depressed over their loss and mad at Sakura for making the move before they could, boys feeling the same way toward Syaoran while thinking "how could she fall for him?" and Malfoy choked on his scrambled eggs.
The couple seemed to notice the stares, and Li seemed to become uncomfortable. But Sakura smiled sweetly and stood on tip-toes to whisper in Syaoran's ear (him also having to bend down; he had reached an amazing hieght of six-foot-two, her being a "pathetic-five-foot-seven" according to Sakura, although all the other girls just squirmed in envy at Sakura's "perfect proportions"). To everybody's amazement a grin spread over his face, and his eyes were ignited with a mischievious fire. And then he surprised them once more by letting out a whole-hearted laugh.
Sakura giggled along until they reached her usual spot at the table with Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Tomoyo, and Eriol. Sakura took a seat, and Li turned toward his usual spot at the table but Sakura grabbed the sleeve to his robe.
"Where are you going, Syao?"
Syaoran stopped. One reason was because it was so obvious where he was going, another reason was that he loved that name Sakura had just entitled him with, but most importantly was because he loved the voice who was behind the nickname.
"I'm going to my seat." He said without turning.
"There's an empty seat right next to me! Sit with us!"
This time Syaoran turned, staring wide-eyed at the girl he loved so much.
"I'm not going to let you sit alone like you do everyday! I don't want you to be alone!"
Syaoran just stood there.
He didn't make any move to indicate he was going to sit down.
And inside, he hesitated.
Sure he wanted to sit there.
He didn't want to turn down Sakura's invitation.
He loved her too much to do that. (Who _could_ help but love her?)
But a part of him hesitated all the same.
What if he was dreaming?
Or what if this had all been a cruel trick, to get his hopes up and then hurt him?
No, Sakura would never do that.
But then something came to his mind: what if he wasn't completely welcome?
His mind and thoughts swung around like a mobile.
What if he was unwanted by someone.
He was right.
Harry glared at him through his unruly midnight bangs.
He didn't want Syaoran to sit there.
He didn't want to know him.
But after what seemed like hours, Syaoran took his seat.
Only then did he noticed Harry's glares.
A song drifted into his head at that moment:
~YOU DON'T KNOW ME, DON'T IGNORE ME, YOU DON'T WANT ME THERE, YOU JUST SHUT ME OUT, YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT IGNORE ME, IF YOU HAD YOUR WAY YOU'D JUST SHUT ME UP, MAKE ME GO WAY~
Syaoran grinned. Knowing himself, he would someday play that song for Harry.
Harry saw the grin and frowned. Was he scheming something?
Sakura and the others chatted, and eventually Harry found himself taking part in the conversation.
But Syaoran sat there, watching Sakura.
Remembered that poem he had read once, and had applied a few passages of it to his life up until now:
"And it always frustrates me
Because whenever I reach out to you
Our fingers are only a few inches apart
But as long as you know my name
I'm happy to love you from afar"
But now he wiped that passage from his mind and searched his memory for an new one.
He couldn't find any.
He'd try later.
Right now he was just basking in his love for the girl right next to him.
He didn't need to be a part of the conversation.
He just needed to be near her.
Eventually they departed for class, and Sakura politly turned down a few offers to sit with other students and sat with Syaoran.
In potions, Snape stalked in, and was in a bad mood and seeing a happy couple made it worse. But no matter what he threw at them, he couldn't bring Syaoran's or Sakura's spirit down.
Sakura even made it through Binn's class without fainting (although she felt somewhat sick).
Then it was time to go to a new class that had just started that year. It was a class for rooting out a student's strong point in magic and improving it even more. It also applied for those who had other types of magic. A sixth sense, traditional magic, elemental magic, and others of the like.
Sakura looked at the name on the door. In bold letters were 'Specialties' and below that was "Miss Adams."
A plain and simple name, easy to remember.
Sakura gripped the key that hung from her neck. She hadn't used the staff since a few days before she left home.
The students filed in, laughing and yelling.
There were tables that fit three people. To Syaoran's disgust, Malfoy was in the class, and seemed to be eyeing Sakura.
Syaoran and Sakura sat down up front. Looking around, Sakura noted that it wasn't only sixth years. There was one first year, a couple of second years, a few third years, five fourth years, and a handful of fith years, Ginny Weasly being one of them. Seeing that she was alone and looking for someone to sit with (the class had students from all four houses) Sakura beckoned Ginny to sit with her and Syao.
Ginny approached, looking nervously at Li.
She was still alittle afraid of him, and she wasn't sure if he wanted someone sitting with them; maybe he wanted Sakura to himself?
But he surprised her by flashing her a warm smile and she sat down.
Gossip reached their ears:
"Did you see the name?"
"Miss Adams?"
"Hah! She must be one of those old ladies who never got married!"
"Probably strict too!"
Sakura turned to Ginny and started up their own conversation.
Then the door to the teachers office banged open and out hopped a young girl.
She had blond hair cut in a modern fashion (the front being shorter than the back) and large blue eyes.
Now, when I say "hopped" I mean, literally hopped.
She hopped as if her feet were glued together. She grabbed the banaster (think Lockheart's office, with the stairs leading up to his office) and hopped right over it, falling a good twenty feet and landing, unfazed by the fall and ran to the front of the class. She stood up and held the palm of her hand up.
"Hey guys! I'm your teacher!"
Everyone stared at the girl in amazement. She couldn't bave been any older than twenty four!
"The other teachers made me put up 'Miss Smith,' but I'd rather have you call me Valerie!"
She was very enthusiastic, and obviously a very bouncy and bubbly girl.
"Now, I'm sure you've heard about this class. I'm sorry I couldn't start it earlier, but I convinced them to add this class in at the last minute, so I've been setting up and eating meals in my office. That's why you haven't seen me."
All the girls watched in admiration of this girl who should've been a model, and guys watched with...other things in mind.
"Now, before I take role, I'm going to test all of you. I want you to take out your wands and cast your favorite spell. I'm going to start at the back."
Valerie moved to the back and watched, not missing any detail. She asked everyone the same questions--"Do you have any other kinds of magic? Sixth senses? Do you know any elemental spells? Any kind of magic passed down from the family?"
Eriol was allowed to preform a new magic he created, and Hermione found herself to be quite good at one of the elements--ice. Ginny was shocked to find she had a specailty for fire, Valerie was especailly inpressed with Syaoran's traditional magic, and Harry found himself letting out bolt after bolt of electricity.
"You have a talent for thunder." Valerie nodded at him and reached out. She lightly touched his scar with her index finger and said, "That's why your scar was shaped like this."
Sakura was last.
Valerie stood, staring at Sakura. Finally she said softly, "You're the Master of the Clow."
Sakura gulped and took out her wand. She preformed her spell and braced herself for the laughs.
One thing that greatly disturbed the teachers and confused the other students--despite being the Master of the Clow, her spells turned out to be so incredibly weak, the professors were already talking about keeping her in the sixth year the following school year.
Sure enough, people snickered at her attempt to preform a standard dueling spell (Valerie had let Sakura cast it on her).
"YOU GUYS SHUT UP!" Valerie suddenly roared. The class fell into dead silence.
"Sakura, what do you use when you use the Clow Cards?"
Suddenly the whole class leaned forward in their seats(except fot those who had seen her use them before). Sakura had refused to tell any of the students about the Clow Cards.
Sakura thought for a moment, and then took her key from around her neck and held it up. The other students were confused. That was it?
Valerie examined it for a few minutes and then spoke.
"You do know that you can preform normal spells with that, don't you?"
Sakura's eyes widened and she looked back at Eriol. He nodded slowly. She looked back at Valerie as she started to speak again.
"Why don't you try it now? Then you can use one of your cards."
The whole class got excited. They didn't even know how the cards worked.
"But...my cards are in my room..."
"I'm sure they come to you when you call them?"
Sakura had forgotten about that, and she nodded. She stood up and nervously walked to the front of the class as the other students had done.
Holding out the key, she quietly chanted the words (she was a little embarassed) and suddenly yelled "RELEASE!"
The magic circle formed below her feet and a wind sprang up from nowhere causing her hair to whip around her. The key grew until it became a long pink staff.
Syaoran stared. The staff was different from the last time he saw it. Alot different. Somehow Sakura had used her magic to further the power of the staff. It was still pink, but not as bluntly pink as it used to be.
It was now a soft, pale shade of pink. Silver wrapped the bottom of it, and a soft pink jem was set at its hilt. The top still had a ring, but it was not the same as the ring that had held the star. It was a larger, silver ring with the same material webbed in the center giving it the appearance of a dream catcher, and from a leather thong hung pink and white beads and two white feathers. Syaoran could tell that this staff was even stronger than the last. not only that, but the staff was a foot taller than Sakura.
"Now, cast the same spell." Valerie instructed. Sakura nodded and did as she was told. As soon as the words left her lips, however, Valerie was sent flying accross the room to crash into a bookcase. She rolled away just as it was going to fall on her.
Sakura stared in horror, along with many others in the class. When Valerie had clambered to her feet, Sakura opened her mouth to beg for forgiveness, but found her voise was snared in an invisible trap in her throat.
But Valerie surprised everyone by praising Sakura and telling her to throw away her wand; the staff would do.
"Now...I would love to see the legendary Clow Cards in action." Valerie grinned. Sakura nodded, and then stopped.
"But...which one...?"
"Anyone you want." Valerie said cheerfully. And then she added, "Have you created any yourself to add to the collection?"
Eriol was shaking his head to silently answer the question when Sakura's tongue created words Eriol thought he would never here after a question like that.
"Actually...yes..."
"Well, why don't you use that?"
"It's really nothing special..." Sakura went on to explain that around the age of thirteen she had taken up the glaive and had quite a collection of them. Eventually she had created the Glaive Card which which could turn her staff into a glaive.
"Well, then use another card. Like an elemental card? It's your choice.Why dont you call them to you?"
Sakura immediatly started mumbling something and another stange wind sprang up. She held that position for several minutes untill the classroom door burst open and a book flew in. It ceased its flight infront of Sakura and dropped into her hands.
Opening the book, Sakura withdrew a long card and put the book down on her desk.
Looking up at Valerie, she asked her what she should do.
"Use the card on me."
Sakura's eyes widened and half the class gasped.
"Don't worry!" Valerie said, winking. "If I die, I'll just have to teach as a ghost."
Sakura gulped at the last sentance, but then shook her head.
"You won't die, even if I put all of my power into this Card."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Gimme your best shot!"
Sakura nodded and threw the card infront of her. It stopped it in mid air and she tapped it with her staff. The magic circle reappeared under her when she screamed "WINDY!"
Suddenly Windy appeared, just as beautiful as ever. Anyone who hadn't seen the Cards before just gaped. Turning to Sakura, her hair flowing around her shoulders, Windy asked her Master what she should do without having to use words.
"Trap her." Sakura said quietly.
Windy turned to Valerie and charged at her. Valerie raised her wand, bracing herself. She opend her mouth to utter a spell when Windy was suddenly gone. Lowering her gaurd, Valerie looked around for her 'foe,' but she couldn't see her. She couldn't _see_ her. Suddenly she shot a spell in a toward her own desk and Windy suddenly appeared dodging it in time. Windy once again dissappeard, but suddenly there were swirls of green and white around Valerie's arms and legs, and though she struggled, she couldn't free herself. Finally her movement ceased and she hung there, looking expectantly at Sakura.
With a muttered command to withdraw, Sakura set Valerie free and put Windy Card in her pocket.
Valerie stood, inspecting Sakura. All of the bubbly, care-free school-girl look was replaced by a pretty, yet unformiliar mask of ponder and thoughtfulness displayed itself on her face. Finally her eyes lit up and she grinned.
"That was amazing! You've honed your skills to a point that only you can find away to improve. When your in here, I'll be teaching you elemental magic; you dont need and help with that from me!" She pointed to the staff.
Suddenly the bell rung.
"Oh, look at the time!" Valerie exclaimed. "No home work! Shoo! Sakura, I would like to talk to you."
Syao, Ginny, Tomoyo, and the others waited outside the door.
"Sakura, you are truly amazing. I'm going to have some fun this year with you! Oh and by the way, can I see your wand? No, no, no, not your staff your wand."
Sakura handed her wand to Valerie, and in on fluid motion, Valerie snapped the wand in two on her knee and through it over her shoulder.
"You won't be needing it." Valerie grinned. "Off you go!"
Sakura started to the door but then stopped.
"Um,Valerie?"
"Yes, Sakura?"
"Um, if you dont mind me asking...how did you know where Windy was when she had turned herself into a stream of air?"
Valerie grinned.
"I have a sixth sense."
Sakura blinked.
"I can sense anything with a spirit."
"Oh..."
"Ya better get goin'! Your friends are waiting outside."
Sakura looked over but saw no one; Valerie had sensed them though the wall.
As Sakura headed toward the door, Valerie called her back.
"Sakura?"
Sakura looked back.
"Yes, Valerie?"
"Ya know how you said you know how to use the glaive?"
Sakura nodded.
"Ya think you could teach me?"
Sakura blinked. Teach a teacher?
"S-sure..."
Valerie grinned.
Sakura turned. Right when she was about to cross teh threshold, Valerie called her back once again. She sighed and turned around.
"Sakura?"
"Yeah?"
"You can call me Val."
Sakura grinned at this. Finally she made it out the door. Sakura and her friends laughed and chattered about the day and what Val had said. There were no more classes and they had the afternoon to themselves. They were heading towards Hagrid's, and though Sakura was laughing with the rest of her friends there was a feeling in the back of her mind that told her that something was wrong. Very wrong.
....All I have ta say is my friend wanted me to name Val "Bobette."