Finally, we get to go on the train. I'll end my update here.

Quote of the Update: "Harry wished he had about eight more eyes." –The Sorcerer's Stone.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Sakura. This message will shoot paintballs in five seconds. Five…four…three…Operation terminated.

Jaded Angels and Silken Blossoms

Chapter 4: Diagon Alley and Platform 9 ¾

***

            "Wow…so this is Diagon Alley."
            Diagon Alley was much more than just an alley. It was a place for congregation, shopping, and fun. Well, mostly shopping. We stopped by a robes shop and I got my school robes fitted and made. I got my cauldron and everything else. I got my inks and quills and parchment, and all my other supplies.

            Now all I needed was a wand.

            Ollivander's Wand Shop was a small, quaint little shop filled to the breaking point with—you guessed it—wands. Mr. Ollivander himself was an elder man with a strange aura about him. He looked and felt weird. But, he was wise beyond my reason.

            "You're Angel Indigo," he smiled. "The first American to buy a wand from my shop, you are."

            He measured my wand arm and started handing me wands. I waved them around, causing havoc and destruction all over the store, until at last, we found the wand.

            "A special wand, this one," Ollivander said, smiling. "Made of cherry tree wood. 12 inches. Phoenix feather core, this is a very special wand. It usually goes to our oriental population, that kind."

            Cherry tree wood, exactly a foot long, with a phoenix feather center? This was getting creepy, people. Very creepy.

            "Wow, cool wand, Angel," Ron said. "Not many people get a cherry tree wand."

            "Yeah, I know," I smiled. "Wanna go to the bookstore?"

            "Uh…"
            "We have to, Ron," said Ginny. "We've still got to get your books, remember?"

            "Oh, yeah."

            While Ron was getting his books, I was glancing around the other sections. I still had a full pocket of wizard gold in my pocket. My pockets are usually pretty blank, so a full pocket was a good thing for me.

            "Hey, Angel, look at this," Ginny said, holding up a book. "It's a cookbook."

            "Hey, isn't Molly's birthday coming up?" I asked. (AN-We don't know when Molly Weasley's birthday is, so I'm going to say that it's August 25.)

            "Yeah! I've got some spending money, we can pool together to buy it," Ginny said, grinning. "Mom would like this one. It's for stuff from around the world."          

            "Like what?"

            "Well…there's sweets, like German chocolate cake…and fudge…and sakura mochi…wow, that sounds good!"

            "Sakura mochi?"

            "It's a sweet rice cake with ground cherry blossom petals," Ginny said.

            "How much is it?"

            "Two galleons. I've got three…"

            "Okay, we'll get it. Don't show it to your mom, come on," I glanced around. "Let's go."

            "Excuse me?" Ginny said to the guy at the desk. "We'd like to buy this, please."

            "Of course. That'll be two Galleons."

            Ginny handed him one and I handed him the other.

            "Can you double-bag it?" I asked. "It's a birthday present."

            "Cool, for your mom?"

            "Hers," I said. "I'm just staying with them."
            "Oh, that's nice of you," said the guy. "I hope she likes it, this is one of our most popular cookbooks."

            "I think she will," Ginny said. "She loves to cook."

            "I bet you want some of that American fudge in here," said the guy. "My girlfriend made me some. It's delicious, really. And she made it by hand. Without a speck of magic."

            "Your girlfriend must be really nice," I said. "What's her name?"

            "Sakura."

            That did it for me. Those were too many coincidences in one day. Something was up with Sakura, and someone wanted me in Japan during Christmas. And I was going to be there.

            "Hey, do you have any books that you would suggest, sir?" I asked.

            "Hmm...I would suggest Hogwarts, A History. Even if you don't go there."

            "I'm going there, so I guess I'd better read it," I smiled. "How much?"

            "A Galleon."

            "Sold, sir."

***

            August 25, Ginny woke me up with perseverance unlike any other day before. Molly's birthday had arrived and Ginny, Ron, and I had planned a huge dinner for her. We got Charlie and Bill to take her out, while Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, and I fixed up the house (which was a war unto itself), made dinner, and placed her pile of presents from each of us on the table.

            Boy, was she ever surprised when she came home to a clean house, a big dinner of her favorite things (which included my spaghetti, I might add), and a pile of presents just for her.

            "Oh, you…you're so wonderful!" Molly shouted. "Who did all this?"

            "Well…it started out just Angel and me," Ginny said. "But then we got Ron in on it, then, well…Angel sent Sakura after Charlie and Bill and…it fell together."

            "Oh…you three, come here!" Molly hugged Ron, Ginny, and me all at once. We were all blushing by the end of it.

            "Open your presents, Mum!" Fred said.

            "They're all good."

            "Even the one from us."

            "Which one first?" Molly looked at all the presents.

            "Ours last, Molly," I said.

            She just dove into the presents and came back up for air with all sorts of different things she loves. Including a new knitting set, a stress relieving spell book, a booklet of coupons to get the twins to do several different things (guess who), and a box of her favorite chocolates.

            When she finally got to our gift, Ginny and I exchanged a quick, hopeful grin. Molly opened the book and yelled with joy.

            "I saw this in the bookstore, how did you girls know I wanted it?" she grinned, speechless.

            "We know how much you love to cook, Molly," I said.

            "Yeah, Mom."

            "Look, we made you spaghetti, too."

            "I showed Ginny how to make it, so she'll be able to make it for you from now on, too," I said, grinning.

            "Thank you, girls. So much. You don't know how much this means to me," Molly smiled around again.

            As we dug in to dinner, I thought of how much I was going to stress to Syaoran of this. He was disbelieving in how effective it was going to be. Boy, was he going to be surprised.

***

            The last six days passed without a hitch. I started packing my trunk on the twenty-eighth and finished up on the thirty-first with some Muggle clothes for the relaxing hours of the weekends.

            "You're leaving tomorrow," Ginny said. "Mom, Dad, and me will be the only ones in the house. I still have regular school until next year."
            "Yup. Aren't you glad? I mean, you'll get to have the house all to yourself. I know most girls in your shoes would be glad to get rid of her brothers," I smiled. "Actually, I wouldn't know much about it."
            "Why's that?"

            "I don't really know that many people," I said. "I usually don't trust them. I've got a sense for character in other people. I didn't really have that many friends in Kansas. They all thought I was weird."

            "So…those four girls…?"

            "They moved away when we were eight," I shrugged. "I never saw them again."

            "Oh…"
            "That's how all of my friends were. I knew them for a short time, and then they move away," I shrugged. "And I never see them again. But this time's different. Now I've got Sakura. I can send her out to find people in the magical world."

            "And you've got me," said Ginny. "If you send Sakura out once a week, I'll send a letter back. You've got a friend in me."

            "That's a song," I smiled. "A Friend in Me. Cool. I promise."     

            "Cool."

***

            The next morning was a rush to get out of the house. Unfortunately, Ron, Fred, and George did not have the same insight I did to pack early. They were rushing about, looking for socks and underwear. Lucky enough they'd had the sense to put their books, robes, and wands in their trunks when we bought them.

            "Are you sure you haven't seen me slipper?" Ron shouted down from the attic bedroom.

            "No, Ron!" Molly called for the thousandth time.

            "Is it always like this?" I asked Arthur and Ginny, who were seated calmly as we ate our breakfast.

            "Yeah," Ginny nodded.

            "It's been like this since Bill was a first year," Arthur said.

            "That's a long time," I said. Trying to ignore the hustle and bustle, I ate my breakfast of sausage and biscuits and orange juice. I didn't touch the milk or eggs. I don't like eggs, and I'm semi-allergic to milk.

            "So how are we getting there?" I asked.

            "Ministry Taxis," Arthur answered. There was a loud chorus of honking. "Speak of the devil. That's them. Molly, the taxis are here!"

            "Oh, fine. Ron's still looking for his toothbrush and Fred and George are looking for who knows what!"

            "Percy and I are already packed," I said. "We'll put our things in the taxis, then go help them. You going to help, too, Gin?"

            "Sure."

            "Right, then, I might as well help, too," Arthur said. "I'll put the trunks in, you go help those gents."

            "All right, Arthur," I nodded. "Don't forget Sakura's cage. I gave her a message to take to little Dee and told her I'd be at Hogwarts. Think she'll get there all right?"

            "I'm sure she will," Molly said as we all ran up the stairs. "She's a smart owl, that one."

            "Ginny and I'll help Ron, you guys help Fred and George," I said. "Come on, Gin."

            "Off to rescue my brother," she rolled her eyes and grinned.

            In my stay at the Weasley house, I had never gotten to see Ron's attic room. He was a little messy, he always said, and he didn't want "girls mucking it up." You know, being a typical boy.

            When we got up there, I could see why.

            "It's a wonder you can find anything in this mess," I muttered. I couldn't even see Ron in the sea of orange. You could tell the boy loved Quidditch. And the Cannons.

            "Ron!" Ginny shouted. "We're here to help. Where are you?"

            "I'm right here," he emerged from the closet, carrying several pairs of jeans and T-shirts. "I need help. I can't fit it all."

            "It's no wonder," I said. "Come on, Ginny. We'll sort this mess out."

            I started piling things up neatly. Ginny followed my lead, and Ron decided to find the rest of what he needed to be put in the trunk.

            "Okay, Ron, you'll need another shirt and your toothbrush. That's all," I said. I piled his schoolbooks and his other clothes in neatly, settling his robes on top. The essentials went in a compartment that Ron didn't seem to even know about, because he was gaping at it so much. The rest of his things went in rather smoothly and we were carrying his well-balanced and organized trunk down the stairs, Scabbers the rat tucked neatly in his inside pocket.

            "Thank goodness you got him sorted out," Molly said. "I'm shocked, it only took you ten minutes."

            "Some good organization was all he needed, that and some familiarity with his own trunk," I chuckled. "There's a compartment on it that he didn't even know was there. Imagine that."

            "Yes, I agree," Molly nodded. "We're all set. Let's go."

***

            We arrived at the station about fifteen minutes before the train was set to go. It wasn't my best time, but it wasn't the worst, either. I wish I could tell Syaoran how exciting this all was.

            "Okay, Percy, you first. Show Angel how it's done," Molly pointed to the platform barrier. "Here's your ticket, Angel, I almost forgot."

            Platform 9 ¾

            Okay. I'm officially freaked. I looked up in time to see Percy disappear. Fred and George did the same, followed by Ron.

            "Excuse me." A boy with messy black hair appeared. (AN-Duh...I wonder who dat is…)

            "Yes, dear?" Molly asked.

            "How do you…do you…get…um…"
            "On the platform?" He nodded. "Well, you go straight at the wall, and don't stop. Better do it at a bit of a run, if you're scared. Ron, why don't you show him. I think Angel missed it a few times, too. This is Ron, my son, and Angel, our foreign exchange student. This is their first time at Hogwarts, too."

            "Hi," I said. I watched Ron carefully as he ran through. "Why don't you go first?"

            "Okay…thanks," he said. "Angel, wasn't it?" I nodded, but he was already running toward the wall.

            "Angel, you're turn, dear."

            I ran toward the wall and prepared for impact, but it never came. I ran out of the wall and into a platform clearly labeled Platform 9 ¾.

            "Bye, Molly, bye, Ginny!" I shouted. I climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express, lugging my trunk along the hallways. I was lucky it had wheels. As I checked each compartment through the foggy windows, I saw many shapes. I was looking for an empty compartment, or at least one with only one person. I found one at the end of the train, with the least number of people occupying it. Inside was the same boy from before and Ron.

            "Hello, boys," I smiled. "Mind if I sit here, too?"

            "Not at all," the boy shook his head.

            I heaved my trunk into a corner and sat down next to the boy.

            "I'm Angel Indigo, sorry about all the confusion," I smiled, holding out my hand. "I'm from America."

            "Harry Potter," he said.

            "Harry Potter?" Ron's eyes went wide. "You're really him? Do you really have the…the…"
            "The what?" Harry said.

            "The scar?" Ron whispered.

            "Oh, this?" Harry lifted his bangs and revealed an etched lightning bolt- shaped scar.

            "Where'd you get that?" I asked.

            "Angel, have you any brains at all?" Ron asked. "That's Harry Potter, the one who defeated You-Know-Who!"

            "Voldemort?" Harry said.

            "Don't say his name!" Ron protested.

            "Who's Voldemort?" I asked, ignoring Ron.

            "I dunno any more than you do, really," Harry said. "All I know is that he killed my parents and then went after me."

            "And he survived with nothing more than a simple scar!" Ron proclaimed quietly. "He's legend, Angel, legend! I can't believe Ginny never told you. Or Malfoy, for that matter."

            "I've only known Draco for three weeks of my life, Ron," I said. "He stayed two weeks when we were one year old, then a week before I came to you guys. And he's always so mysterious, it's no wonder not many people like him."

            "It's true, then," said the smooth voice of my cousin. "What they're saying further up. Harry Potter's going to Hogwarts."

            "Hey, Draco, what's up?" I said, grinning. "Who're your friends?"

            "Angel, didn't expect to see you back here, hanging around with Weasley and Potter," Draco said, and his eyes were so cold they froze me where I was. "I'd think you'd know better after staying with them for two months, Angel, that the Weasleys are bad news. Redeem yourself. Come on, then. You'd do well to not hang around those who stain the name of wizard."         

            "Who are you and what have you done with my cousin?" I asked. "You're not Draco. You can't be. He'd never say such mean things."

            "I don't think you really got to know me very well, Angel," Draco said. "What with your parents breathing down my father's neck about being nice to you."

            "It was all…just an act?" I murmured.

            "Please," Draco said. "Do you really think that I, or even Crabbe and Goyle here, would ever hang out with a mudblood like you? The half-breed daughter of a Squib and a Muggle?"

            His words stung worse than a thousand bee stings.

            "You take that back, you—" Ron said a few choice words that would definitely make Molly faint. "How dare you, she's your cousin."

            "So are you, backstabber," Draco growled. "What? You gonna fight us? Go ahead and try."
            "Why you—"
            "No, Ron," I said. "Leave it alone. I know one thing, Draco Malfoy. You've just made an enemy of someone you won't soon forget. Now get out before I call the Head Boy."

            "Ooh, the Head Boy, I'm so scared," Draco said, his voice dripping in sarcasm. "What are you gonna do, Angel? You're a perfect little Angel, there's no way you could hurt me, even after you went through all that trouble to lose the weight that made you so ugly. Now that I can see your eyes without those piggy cheeks, it makes you even more displeasing to the eye."

            "Get out."

            "What?" Draco laughed. "You gonna hex me?"

            "No. Something a little more painful," I said, smiling sweetly. And I kicked him where the sun don't shine. Crabbe and Goyle lifted their friend an walked out, him hunched over in pain. "I hope he can still have children after that."

            "Unfortunately," said a girl as she entered the compartment. "Are you all right?"

            "Yeah," I smiled. "Hey, Ron, I didn't know you knew those words."

            "It's worth it, that stupid little—"

            "What was that word he called me, though?" I asked. "Mudblood."
            "It means dirty blood. The Malfoys think they're better than everybody else cause they don't have any Muggle blood in them."

            "Oh. Draco was really starting to fool me," I said. "He really was. Alls I know is he is definitely not the one I'm taking from Slytherin House."

            "Taking?" asked Harry.

            "Yeah," the girl sat down in the seat. "Haven't you heard yet? She's Angel Indigo, the foreign exchange student. I'm Hermione, by the way. Hermione Granger."

            "Pleasure to meet you, Hermione," I said. "How'd you know I was the exchange student?"

            "I overheard it from the Prefect cars," she said. "The Griffindor House Prefect has a very loud voice."

            "That's Percy," Ron said. "He's been gloating about it all summer."

            "Really? I haven't noticed," I said.

            "He's jealous," Ron explained. "You're making history, Angel. You're the first ever magical foreign exchange student. And you get to go and choose the next few from Japan."

            "Choose the next few? I didn't hear anything about that," Hermione said.

            "Well, please, keep it between us, all right?" I asked. "I'm going to Japan with this new teacher, Hiragana or something like that. I have to choose seven people, at least one from each House, to go with us. Please keep it under wraps. I don't want people begging me to pick them until Christmas."

            "It's a secret well kept," said Hermione.

            "Between friends," Harry said.

            "Between us," Ron said, grinning.

***

            The rest of the ride was uneventful, with the exception of the arrival of the food cart. There were so many different kinds of wizard candy to try. My favorite was Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. They do mean every flavor. I swear I had a silver flavored one.

            We arrived at the train station in Hogsmeade and were greeted by a huge man with curly black hair and a beard. He was gigantic. Ron was stupefied by his height, while Hermione and I simply stared.

            "Hello, Hagrid," said Harry. He looked at him as a friend.

            "Hello, Harry. You found some friends, I wager?"

            "Yeah."

            "Introduce me later, then," Hagrid said. "We've got to get to the boats. Firs' years! Over this way, everyone."

            We followed the huge man through a patch of woods and arrived at a port with several rowboats. There weren't any oars. How were we going to get across? We were across a lake without a paddle.

            "No more than three to a boat!" Hagrid shouted. Harry, Ron, and I shared a boat, while Hermione climbed in with a chubby boy who reminded me of my decreased bulk.

            "FORWARD!" Hagrid bellowed and the boats pulled forward on their own.

            "Cool!" I shouted. "So, Harry. You seem to know Hagrid pretty well."

            "Yeah. He came and rescued me from my aunt and uncle," Harry grinned. "He's really cool. You'll like him a lot, once you get to know him."

            "A gentle giant, am I right?"

            "Yeah."

            "Cool."

***

            And that's a wrap! We're on the lake, headed for the Sorting. Will Angel follow her Uncle's footsteps into Slytherin, or will she become a fluke? And who is this mysterious teacher? Why has he come to Hogwarts? Why does he have the same last name as Eriol Hiiragizawa? Find out!