Diagon Alley (Reprise!)

AUTHOR'S NOTES: OK, this is the 4th chappie! Asato goes into Diagon Alley for surprises and then some. The journey to Platform 9 and 3 quarters was very EVENTFUL to say the least, and there he meets the rest of the gang! THEN HE GETS SORTED~~~!!! XD XD XD I want my SORTING HAT~~~!!! 3 R/R PLEASE!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yami No Matsuei and Harry Potter; they are owned by their respective authors. I own the OC's portrayed herein, though. So no SUING~~~!!!

Hermione Weasley was very startled to say the least when the mail for the Council of High Wizardry came in the daily morning owl post that particular day.

"Anything from Hogwarts?" Regina Weasley asked, as she struggled to wrestle (^^;;) her hyperactive nieces onto their high chairs, who were in their very restless stage. Regina, who preferred to be called Ginny, understood the tireless patience one would really need whenever he or she had to deal with the newest Weasley twins. Her mum had a really hard time with George and Fred, and now it was VERY easy to see whom her twin nieces took after. George had been really proud of Eldanne and Eldenne, and he said that he was VERY relieved when he saw for himself that the legacy of his and his other twin brother's were safe and secure by means of their DARLING nieces.

"I'm very relieved we have someone to pass the torch on to, when we finally decide to kick the bucket," Fred told them in a joking manner when they all met during Sunday dinner last week. "At last the legacy of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes would live ON in the hearts of MANY~~~!!! Well...when they grow UP, that IS."

Molly Weasley gave him a glare so withering Fred had silenced himself halfway through the sweet rice pudding. The atmosphere in the Weasley household, the Burrow, was akin to the atmosphere of having to trod over broken eggshells, wherein one un-witty remark would make Mrs. Weasley snap. It hadn't really been the same when wizarding folk like themselves could still walk freely under the sunlight without fear or persecution from all the Muggles around them, which seemed like centuries ago. The defeat of the Dark Lord should have been made a time for great rejoicing, but something caught them unprepared and now Muggles are out for wizard blood. Count Lucius Malfoy to make things really worse for all of them. Almost all of the wizard families they knew had become so frightened of even going out for a stroll through Muggle London to get to the Leaky Cauldron without being hunted down by angry lynch mobs even if they heard just any single thing that was not really quite right with them. Ernie Saddleberry from the hill beyond the Burrow was last seen carrying milk bottles to his Muggle customer in the next village 2 days ago. Apparently some nasty Snitcher revealed information that he WAS a wizard, and he was NEVER seen again. There were rumors of Death Eaters going on and about every Muggle village or city tossing unforgivable curses here and there, although nobody was quite sure what made them become even more terrible and powerful and ruthless. As a result, Muggles became terrified of anybody who was acting oddly out of place, and whispered gossip in the Leaky Cauldron or remaining wizarding family in the village of Ottery St. Catchpole told of Snitcher "victims" as being hauled off to a place even more terrible than what the wizard prison of Azkaban was many years ago. In any case, Mrs. Weasley's reaction was VERY understandable, for Arthur Weasley, William Weasley, Charles Weasley, and now Ronald Weasley are out there at the expense of their very own lives, a swinging scythe suspended right above their very heads which, if they took one wrong slip, could very well mean the END of being ALIVE. Fred and George were left to take care of the women and children, if the Snitchers would cause any trouble, and Hermione was very afraid for her children, even if they WERE half-Muggle.

"No, not anything," Hermione said in a small voice. "I sure HOPE Hogwarts is STILL in one piece, the last time I've heard from Hagrid was like 2 years ago."

"Of course it's still standing, Hermione," Ginny told her as Eldanne started spooning Cerelac over her twin sister's hair. "You received your S.N. O.R.E.'s last week."

"I know. Still...I couldn't help it." Hermione bit her lip as she held up the unmistakable gold envelope for Ginny to see. "I got one from the Council of High Wizardry, though. It's concerning the 'special class' Professor Dumbledore's nephew would be handling."

"Professor Dumbledore's NEPHEW? I didn't know he even HAS one," Ginny replied, her brown eyes wide.

"I didn't know either," Hermione confessed, tearing the edge of the envelope open. "Sirius had been sending me regular letters from his 'place' every single chance he gets, whenever he's not on the run from those horrid Snitchers. He was very surprised when Professor Dumbledore told him about his nephew and about that 'special class' he was very excited about. Sirius DID tell me that Professor Dumbledore would be receiving the verdict from the Council of High Wizardry very soon, and I guess it's very urgent as they sent me a letter, as well."

"Well, you ARE the special emissary," Ginny told her. "You're Muggle-born and very clever and even the slyest Snitchers could not even mistake you as a witch by a hair. Besides, you had been under their wing, as assistant to Head Sorceress Essena Olbeck. As your training during your last term at Coventree."

"I know. But I don't want to know what they should say about it. I'm very frightened." Hermione sighed. "But then again, I should stop acting silly and start acting like any respectable 30 year old woman would. Harry would have my head."

She peered down at the parchment, read silently for a few minutes, then her eyes widen. She looked over at Ginny, who was looking at her sister-in-law expectantly. Ginny cocked her head to one side. "Well?"

"They've approved it." Hermione was now very shaken. "This...this is good news, but...when did we even...how did it even..."

"That's great! Those Dark Wizards wouldn't stand a chance by now! It's time for us to get things back in order to the way it WAS." Ginny looked at Hermione. "Why aren't you happy, Hermione?"

"Section 34,567, paragraph E: '...anything dealing with High Fayre and Aetheria is strictly forbidden, even in very dire situations'. Oh Ginny, this time they've done it! The Council must have found a way around that particular written law as to get on with this CLASS. They've become really serious." Hermione nodded. "I will be heading to Hogwarts on September 1st; I shall have to see for myself if the Council had done the right thing. There's still little precious time to be wasted, and if this fails, then all hope would be lost for the entire wizarding world. I have to go tell Harry."

"It is Darwin's first day at Hogwarts and you will be taking him. Yes, I understand." Ginny nodded. "I'll go tell mum right away."

Asato was still looking through the list of his course books, trying to memorize them by heart, as he followed Number Nine to the back of the pub, where the narrow pathway ended in a battered dead end wall. Asato walked right onto Number Nine's back because he wasn't looking, then he looked up, surprised.

"Stand back, a little, if you please," Number Nine told him, brandishing a small wand. Asato looked at it interestedly. Ever since he arrived at the Leaky Cauldron last night, he really, REALLY wanted to see some serious magic. But his exhaustion got the better of him and fell asleep right away the moment he hit the soft, warm cushion of the bed. The Gushoushin had mysteriously gone too. The last thing he remembered before drifting off to Never Never Land was hearing them tell Asato that Number Nine would be picking him up this morning, and so he waited. Number Nine was the one who would be taking him to go buy his "school supplies".

Number Nine's wand went 3 bricks up, then 2 bricks across, and he nodded and tapped the wall with it. The wall before them suddenly had a small hole at the brick where Number Nine had tapped (the brick wiggled out of the way), and the hole became bigger and bigger until they were facing an archway large enough for a giant-sized man could go into, and he turned to look at Asato and gave him a small smile.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Master Asato," he said with a small bow. "If you please?"

Asato slowly walked inside, his amethyst eyes wide and blinking. He soon saw himself walking down a cobble stoned street lined with neat little shops at the side, and filled with MANY people that were both ordinary and curious at the same time. He could see them wearing strange cloaks and pointed hats and talking in such excited voices it seemed as if they had been really dying to tell each other THOSE things that sounded so familiar yet very strange.

"Have you heard the latest in Quintessential Quidditch?! I hear the World Cup would be featuring ONLY 7 TEAMS!"

"I guess we should be thankful we're lucky, I thought we only had 7 PLAYERS left."

"The Snitchers are just getting to us, don't you think so? Just listen, 230 wizard raids in just over 3 DAYS~~~!!! At the rate we're going, we'll only have Quidditch with half a Quaffle left and all the Bludgers wiping out what's left of the audience."

"Ah, I do miss Quidditch," Number Nine said with a dreamy sigh. "The Japanese contingent was supposed to head for the World Cup, but sadly, the Dark Wizards Society of Tokyo unleashed a horde of goblin foxes with serious panache for the Bogguleus Curse at them and they lost a lot of heads. Figuratively. The poor folks had to be entered into the Institute of Mental Magical Health and had thought of themselves quite erratically as a bunch of yuki onna even if they were all men. Too bad. I'd never see Kamikaze Katsuragi do a 900 on his Sleipnir 200 ever AGAIN."

Asato looked over his shoulder and saw Number Nine, and saw the archway turn back into a wall all over again. He blinked. "Quidditch?"

"Well then, let's go get yourselves your school supplies. But first we have to drop by Gringotts. Alright, Master Asato?" Number Nine nodded. "Let's go."

Asato was wide-eyed. Number Nine was smiling as he gazed at the young Tsuzuki as they walked down the familiar cobble stoned pathway again. "So? We'll get your uniform first. Um, you don't mind if I slip back to the Leaky Cauldron for some change and a glass of orange whiskey? I'll just meet you when you finish getting your uniform, I won't take that long."

"OK," Asato said mechanically.

"Listen Master Asato. Just keep this Translate-A-Scribe stone close to you for a while, you'll find it real handy when talking to the merchants. Alright?"

"Yes, Number Nine."

"Good, good. See you in a bit then, Master Asato."

He was gone with a small wave and a smile. Asato waved back at him, then he slowly turned on his feet, his stomach turning into lead. Now what's wrong in this picture? A Japanese boy left in the middle of (obviously) British English Diagon Alley. He gulps. He sure hoped that he would be fine by himself and not transport himself to Transylvania by accident.

He looked around. There were lots of really interesting shops, and Asato wished he had 20 more pairs of eyes so he could look at them all at once. There were a couple of shops down his path that certainly piqued his interest: shops overflowing with books as huge as Grecian columns (he recognized them as books when one elderly man stopped and opened one of them on display outside, where a series of squiggly writing could be seen going across the soft yellowed pages from top to bottom); an Apothecary (BARGAIN PRICE~~~!!! 50 Sickles to a dragon liver scoop); a wizarding equipment shop (Try our latest self-cursing wands - a must for every Snitcher fearing wizard! Trial stages, buy at your own risk [trigger wand handles]); a sweets shop (Asato restrained himself on buying the Triple Cream Fudge Nut Sundae which could be eaten in cups as huge as dinner plates); a magical pet shop (Buying secondhand phoenixes - starting price 150 Galleons); a shop filled with broomsticks; and even one with nothing inside (Madame Constance Picuous' Invisible Shop of Invisibles - your dream wardrobe for just about NOTHING!). Asato was reminded of that fairy tale he always read by candlelight as a little boy and was reminiscing about it when he soon found himself standing in front of a shop that proclaimed Madame Malkin's - Robes for All Occasions.

He gulps and goes inside. Madame Malkin, he surmised, was a pretty redheaded young woman dressed in all mauve.

"First year at Hogwarts? Oh, I'm really happy to see you, I haven't seen much first years the last 10 years I'm minding this shop since mum passed away," the young woman said. "Please do come in. Another boy's being fitted up just now, I'll just go get the tape measure."

Asato nodded, then walked into the room that was located at the back. A boy was already there who looked at him just as the self-measuring measuring tape (^^;;) measured the distance from his chest to his knees.

Asato blinked. The boy smiled at him kindly. "Hello. Hogwarts too?"

Asato nodded, then was surprised to hear him talk to him in Japanese.

"Don't be surprised. I'm Japanese like you. Just arrived today, Saki had been so disagreeable mother had to bring him to the Lunarium just to keep quiet. By the way, are you by any chance Asato Tsuzuki?"

"Y-y-yes," Asato stammered. "How...how did you..."

"Oh, High Priest Konoe had been prattling on for weeks on end saying that he's found the last Tsuzuki. He was ever so joyous when he told us in class that day. And besides, those amethyst eyes aren't common. It's the birth mark of every Tsuzuki." The boy smiled, his silver eyes crinkling in mirth. "My name is Kazutaka Muraki, by the way. Did you come with those chickens?"

"Chickens? Oh, you mean Gushoushin?" Asato shook his head. "No. I came with Number Nine instead."

"Too bad. I was hoping I'd get some of their chicken fluff before they get hauled off to the Hogwarts library anytime soon."

"What? Are they to be there as librarians?"

"Curious, why Professor Dumbledore agreed to such arrangements. Talking chickens normally don't get any jobs except traveling as sideshow freaks. Oh well, you can't have them all."

Asato decided that he was liking Kazutaka Muraki less and less every passing second.

"So what have you decided upon receiving your letter as Arcane? I was hoping to become a Summoner." Kazutaka smiled at him in a creepy way. "But then again, I definitely can't compete with you, as the last Tsuzuki. But I'll try real hard. You can't ignore all those 12 Shikigami guarding you anyway."

"Shi...Shikigami..."

"Alright, let's get you fitted," the young woman announced, hurrying in with a tape measure in her hands. "Would you stand beside him, please?"

Asato gulped. He had a feeling Kazutaka Muraki had definitely liked that arrangement, and he was getting goosebumps. He sure wished Number Nine would hurry and get him pretty soon.

Number Nine came soon and helped Asato with his shopping. They all brought all the necessary items needed for his first year stay at Hogwarts and then helped him pack for his ride to Hogwarts the very next day.

Asato had some trouble putting his books and his equipment into trunks he would be using to transport all his things a little hwile later when he decided to ask Number Nine that one question that had been bothering him ever since the day he had met Grein.

"Number Nine...who am I exactly? Am I that special? How could I even become special? The only thing I'm good at is running away when those kids lob stones at me whenever I came home every afternoon."

"Yes you are, Master Asato. You are very special."

"What is it with being a Tsuzuki? Am I supposed to become a super human or something?"

"You'll learn in due time."

"And what are Shikigami?"

"The Gods protecting the Crimson Shrine. They are the ultimate birth right of every Tsuzuki born as the next heir. They are just asleep within you, waiting to be called forth if the need ever arises."

"I...could call them forth?"

"Yes." Number Nine saw the very frightened look on Asato's face then he smiled and patted his head. "You'll be a great man someday, Master Asato. Don't be frightened. The Gushoushin and the rest of your classmates at the Arcane would help you out just fine if you ever feel too anxious." He nodded. "Now get some sleep. We have a long way to go tomorrow morning."

The Hogwarts Express, the shiny scarlet steam engine train (^^;;) looked every inch as marvelous as Number Nine said it would be.

Asato looked around and saw the platform jampacked with people, mostly parents with their children, and the cacophony of meowing cats of every shape and color, owls hooting, and irritable croaks of toads that were clearly indicating that they were very tired and needed to rest added to the confusion that was now reaching its breaking point as the time of departure drew nearer.

Number Nine helped him with his trunks as he got into a spare compartment.

"Write to High Priest Konoe as soon as you get yourself settled in Hogwarts," Number Nine told him. "Just send it by Seymour - he'll know where to find him."

Seymour was the beautiful silver eagle owl Number Nine had bought for him for his pet. The magnificent eagle owl was currently asleep with its head nestled comfortably under its wing.

"OK."

Number Nine was nodding as he got a small brown paper wrapped parcel from somewhere within his robe pocket then gave it to Asato.

"Take care of this at all costs. This is your pair of Translate-A-Scribe reading glasses. High Priest Konoe had sent this via Unspeakable Owl Post just a while ago."

Asato nods.

"Alright. I trust you'll have the a great time at Hogwarts? Write me if you ever need anything. I'll be at your dorm step in a jiffy."

"Yes, Number Nine."

Number Nine gave him a hug.

"Have a good time, Master Asato. Master Makoto did, and he would be very sad if his son wouldn't have a good time."

"I will."

Number Nine left, and soon Asato was all alone.

At least for a couple of seconds.

He hears a couple of Japanese-speaking voices, and soon a corn blond haired young boy pulled the sliding compartment door open.

He grinned, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses.

"Eh! Mind if we sit down here? all the compartments are full. By the way, my name is Yutaka Watari. What's yours?"

Asato opened his mouth to answer, when another voice came from somewhere behind the newcomer.

"That's Asato Tsuzuki."

Both Asato and Yutaka Watari turned to look. Kazutaka was smiling at them benignly.

"Glad to see you aboard the Hogwarts Express, Asato. I'll be seeing you very soon." With that, the pale boy smiled again and was soon out of sight.

The small light brown haired pale boy beside Yutaka sniffed, then frowned.

"I hate him. He's so evil."

Yutaka grinned.

"So how do you like Hogwarts Express by far, Asato Tsuzuki?"

*******************

NOTES: YUKI - ONNA are snow women of ancient Japanese legends. They are only seen in snow storms and if they found a guy they like, they'll lure him in and freeze him to whatever evil purpose they would so want to do with him. Yuki - onna of note include Yukina of YYH, Yuki (I think) of Hell Teacher Nube, and Teacher Yuki of Akazukin Chacha.