Quidditch, Rebus and Rheingeld

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Albus Dumbledore making a farewell speech, the birth of the Gryffindor Mystical Five, Quidditch tryouts, and the new Hogwarts faculty. Muraki gets a nasty surprise by means of Chibi Suzaku. And...the newest craze hitting wizarding children and hobbyists everywhere...Rebus and RHEINGELD~~~!!! And...a mystery "date", involving Asato and Elene. ^^;; R/R please! On an added note, the edited Sorting takes place in the previous chappie. Read on and ye be the judge of what I have written here.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yami No Matsuei and Harry Potter; they are owned by Youko Matsushita-sensei and J.K. Rowling, respectively. Rebus and Rheingeld are mine, though, along with the OC's; on another note, the Rebus card game is based on a card game in Tales of Destiny II (or more appropriately, Tales of Phantasia II) mixed with a little Final Fantasy VIII and IX, so no suing!

Everybody in the Great Hall was looking at the ancient man up front, and Asato, who was struck by his mere presence, was quiet as well.

"Welcome...welcome, to another wonderful year at Hogwarts! I am most delighted to see you all here, especially to the newcomers to the Hogwarts family, the first years!" the old man said in a surprisingly strong, audible voice, and by the twinkling expression in his eyes Asato could tell that he was really very delighted. The old man cleared his throat. "Before we start the Start of Term Banquet, I would like to say 5 words to you: Mymphus, Ohrlic, Bercroft, Kyriean, and Rothgar."

"Thank you!"

Asato blinked. "Wha...what was THAT he said..."

"He just recited the 5 goblins who pioneered the Wizarding - Non Human Peace Treaty of 1375. Unfortunately, the head ortalion or basilisk turned all of them to stone before the Treaty was signed because one of the hosts forgot to remove a crowing rooster outside his inn where they were to sign it," Hisoka muttered as he got his fork and knife. "Suffice it to say, no treaty had become very successful after that. Crispy chicken, Asato?"

Asato blinked. Sure enough, the gold platters spread in front of their plates were magically filled up with food, and it was everything he only dreamed of in his wildest gastronomical fantasies: beef and pork casseroles, chicken pot pies, fried crispy chicken, lamb chops, pork chops, pot roast, succulent steaks, bowls and bowls of mashed potatoes, silver boats of gravy, buttered vegetables, mojo potatoes, chicken curry, fish croquettes, and for some strange reason, bouillabaisse-filled bread bowls. Asato got a little of everything and started to eat.

Soon, the talks became relaxed then turned to their families.

"I'm 3/4 Muggle. Our family used to roam the Irish countryside until the Snitchers got most of them, and Papa married a Muggle with strong wizard sympathies just to be able to survive," Eilie Finnigan said, nodding. "My mum's quite a rebellious type, and my grandfather couldn't do much about it so he just let us be."

"I'm pure Muggle, and my parents were terrified when I got the letter; they were forcing me to drop it and do Eton, instead," Kyle Bowman said through a mouthful of beef casserole. "Mum was very scared the Snitchers would get to them in no time, they've been doing those rounds lately...I managed to hitch a ride on the Knight Bus and my mum's sister had a bit of string pulling over at Eton so that's why we're still in one piece."

"My mum's Muggle-born but my dad's pure wizard stock, so I'm half and half," Darwin Weasley said, cutting up his steak. "Mum was thinking of sending me up to Coventree after Hogwarts; I do hope I pass enough S.N.O.R.E.s to get in."

"..." Asato blinked. "What are S.N.O.R.E.s?"

"Supremely Nauseating and Overwhelming Reductor Exams," Hisoka replied as he put a cut-up steak into his mouth. "It's a must if you want to enter a really great job of choice nowadays. Students with top O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s are the only ones allowed in, and that's saying quite a few."

"O.W.L.s are Ordinary Wizarding Levels taken when a student is in his 5th year at Hogwarts, while N.E.W.T.s are taken whenever you are going to apply for a job other than getting admitted at Coventree," Yutaka added. He shrugs. "Dad wants me to become an Auror, and they say the best Auror training in the entire wizarding world could only be found at Coventree. Almost all of the able-bodied people who used to teach over here have moved to Coventree, after the Giant Wars 12 years ago."

"Giants?"

"Giant GIANTS." Yutaka made a rather exuberant swinging gesture with his arms. "They're really huge. I never realized that there are still lots of giants up and about; Dad reckoned the last ones were killing each other off in a rather alarming rate, now that they don't have that much options to survive anymore. Anyway, there was a group of them who were so close to almost ripping Hogwarts in half. Nobody knew how they manage to get past those Cloakers...there was talk going around that it was an inside job, and almost all parents pulled their children out of Hogwarts faster than you can say 'Quidditch'. It was quite a while before they sorted things out and Hogwarts was back in full operations the next school year. Suffice it to say, the student population took a drastic drop, when the first years by that next year totaled to only 11. It's feared that magical education would be wiped out if we all don't do something really fast; if that happens, then those Dark wizards would be laughing themselves hoarse as we don't stand a chance against the enemy if we're all scattered and divided to the 4 winds. It's a good thing that the Council of High Wizardry has successfully managed to curb that scenario...but then anything could still go wrong. I mean, wizarding people are totally scared out of their wits. Nobody knows who friends or enemies ARE anymore."

"How awful..."

The last morsels and bowls and tureens and plates of their very hearty dinner were all cleared up, and the plates became magically clean again. Dessert of every kind soon appeared: all flavors and all blocks of ice-cream, with their many variations of garnishing: crushed almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, peanuts; candies of all shapes, sizes, and colors, syrups and sauces of every kind: strawberry, dark chocolate, white chocolate; candied fruits; rich, creamy cakes and pies and pastries, chocolates of every kind, shape, color, and filling: mint, liquor, nuts, fruit sauce, or melted chocolate; jellies, puddings, candies, cookies...it was a dessert lover's idea of pure heaven. Asato helped himself to a little bit of everything on his plate, and started eating again.

Soon dessert was finished, and the old man stood up again, after they all had their fill.

"I would like to take this opportunity, before your respective prefects trot you off to your respective Houses, to talk about several important things that would be happening here at Hogwarts. First, I would like to congratulate the first years for a job well done; you are the reason why hope still survives in these very trying times of the still ongoing hatred and persecution against us wizarding kind. I am very happy that you all made it here, for hope is rekindled again that this institution and other magical learning institutions, for that matter, would be still standing firm, to impart the very vast and ever dynamic knowledge of everything known to wizardkind. I all thoroughly thank you from the bottom of my heart."

The upper years applauded very heartily, and the first years either smiled sheepishly, blushed, or took to hiding under their respective House table from sheer shyness. Asato did a hybrid of all 3; Hisoka pulled him to his feet before he could safely duck under the table.

"Second...as our caretaker Argus Filch is in quite a very unfortunate bind right now and has to be taken to the hospital wing...he has told me earlier before hand that he has included 675 more banned objects, giving a grand total of around 2,345 items banned in corridors and especially...classrooms. The new list include Self-Cursing Wands, Biting Bookstraps, and Tooting Toot-Notes. I would like to inform first years that magic in corridors are forbidden, although some still find a rather inventive way of hexing a classmate by means of the Wondrous Wiggling Wagbrows...I should really place an order of those from the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes..."

Professor MacGonagall cleared her throat.

"...where was I? Oh! Yes. Magic in corridors is forbidden, as the Forbidden Forest is forbidden, Hogsmeade is forbidden to anybody lower than third years, defacing school property is forbidden...I guess THAT goes without saying...and a host of others. Mr. Filch has a list of those many terrible don'ts plastered outside his office."

"Third...I am VERY pleased to announce, that starting this year...we would be having 3 new teachers. Stand up and be seen as I call you up, if you please. First, I am very, VERY pleased to welcome back into this institution, your new Quidditch teacher. Everybody, let's give a round of applause...to Mr. Harry James Potter."

"Harry Potter?!"

"I can't believe IT~~~!!!"

"He's really HERE~~~?!"

Asato looked over at the staff table. A man stood up, wearing a deep green cloak and deep green pointed hat. He had black hair that was haphazardly everywhere underneath it, and deep green eyes behind shiny glasses. He smiled, took a small bow, and was greeted by thunderous roars and applause.

"Harry POTTER~~~!!!"

"Wow!"

"An international QUIDDITCH player~~~?!"

The teachers at the staff table erupted in wild cheers; Asato noted that the woman beside him and the giant of a man at the end of the table were giving him the loudest applause, along with the old man himself.

"For Arithmancy...fresh from graduating with highest honors at Coventree and and a doctorate from Beauxbatons Academy in France...Mrs. Hermione Weasley."

The woman wearing a gold cloak and pointed hat beside Harry Potter stood up and smiled at the students.

"The only woman who got PERFECT O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s in the ENTIRE HISTORY of HOGWARTS?!"

"You have GOT to be KIDDING."

"And she's my mum," Darwin Weasley said proudly.

"And finally...for the Defense Against the Dark Arts...may I introduce my nephew, Grein Alberich Eldewynn Sigismund Silverbough. He would also be teaching Elven Studies in years four to six."

Grein Silverbough nodded and smiled at the students, wearing his beautiful silver cloak and silver pointed hat, the candles shining in his glorious silver hair. Several girls in the audience sighed and swooned; some of them actually fainted.

"Silverbough-san!" Asato said happily.

"You've MET him?" Yutaka asked in wonder.

"Yes, he said he's a friend of my father's...he gave me a note from him on my 10th birthday."

"He's SO dreamy..." a sixth year Gryffindor girl sighed.

"I hear he's part Elven. I wonder if that's true?" her companion mused, a dreamy expression in her eyes.

"Just LOOK at HIM. He's too GORGEOUS not to be part Elven..."

The audience all clapped enthusiastically for the new faculty members. Harry Potter, Hermione Weasley, and Grein Silverbough all took small bows then took their seats.

"Fourth...the England Rebus League would be holding a screening for England's national junior team, open for third years to seventh years. The screening will come sometime near Christmas. I guess all of those aspiring to be one of the English junior Rebus team should start flexing their Rebus Tarot skills right now; you all need to get a lot of practice."

"Fifth...it has come to my attention that a contingent from our quite far-off wizarding community in Japan has arrived, in order to take their higher magical learning over here at Hogwarts. I understand that they are their school's finest, and in behalf of all of the Hogwarts community, I welcome you all here. I am VERY glad that you could all join us; it is nice to know that they have come from across the seas to be with us now, and their presence makes this year and the coming years to be of utmost importance for the rekindling of lost brotherhood. Again, my sincerest welcome to you, dear Japanese first years."

At this, several whispers broke off all over the place, like so many little hissing fires. There were others who applauded them, however, although it was scattered; Asato noticed that Yutaka's lips were in a thin straight line, and Hisoka was frowning slightly.

"And last, but certainly not the least..." The old man paused for a while and waited until all the whisperings died down. He cleared his throat before continuing. "As you might have probably heard from your parents, read from the Daily Prophet, or heard from grapevines wherever you might be situated...I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, would be retiring from active service as the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the end of this term, for 70 glorious and wonderful years. No, it isn't a rumor. It's off to the sunset for me."

At this, there were several more whispers. Asato blinked. "So he's Professor Dumbledore...?"

Yutaka nodded. "Arguably the BEST Headmaster Hogwarts ever had."

Professor Albus Dumbledore waited again patiently for the furor to die down before continuing on.

"It'll be quite a while before another Headmaster shall fill my place, and the Board of Chancellors has narrowed the aspirants down to three, after careful debate and deliberation. Alas, they still need a full year before they could actually vote another new one in. Hopefully, as the year ends, the Board would be able to choose the worthiest candidate to fill my post and he or she be successfully initiated as the new Headmaster or Headmistress of Hogwarts by the next school term." Professor Dumbledore gave them all a bright smile. "So. What are those long faces for? It's not the end of the world. A year may be too short, but let's make this the best year of all the best years you've all had at Hogwarts...and, this goes to the faculty members who had been under my wing, too. I would all surely miss you, as I will miss the many twists, turns, and rooms upon rooms of this magnificent castle, of which I was also a part of, during my Gryffindor years, when I was still very young and innocent of the ways of the wizarding world." He got his wand from beneath his cloak, which Asato noticed, were sewn with many spectacular moons and stars.

"So...before you all trot to bed...pick your favorite tune...and...off...we...GO...!!!"

There was the thundering of feet as the students clambered to each of their Houses with their prefects in the lead. Asato was trying to remember everything that was in his new, strange home: the floating, rotating staircases; the paintings that moved and talked; even the shiny suits of armor that he swore turned to look at them as they passed. There were lots of hidden passageways and corridors they passed through; more moving and talking paintings; pearly white ghosts (to which some of their other first year companions shrieked); and the floating spectral menace, Peeves the Poltergeist. Their prefect, a tall sandy-haired boy whom Yutaka told him was named Reginald Longstreth, who had been pointing to them several points of interest along the way like some tourist guide, stopped then pointed to the mischievous and otherwise rude spirit, who was busy writing rude words on the walls, punctuated by loud raspberries every now and then.

"Peeves, Hogwarts' resident poltergeist fatale. Ever since the Bloody Baron has taken to the Slytherin hallways and absolutely refused to go out of it in his 20 year strike, he's been lording it all over the other ghosts in this castle. Mr. Filch has never had a good night's sleep since then; the Bloody Baron's the only one who can control Peeves." Reginald Longstreth then looked over at Peeves. "Peeves! You're doing some redecorating again?"

Peeves cackled loudly when he turned and saw the first years all staring wide-eyed at him. "Ooooh! What cute little firsties! Is it that evil time of the year again?"

"Yes it is, Peeves." Reginald frowned. "So unless you stop that defacement, I will call for the Bloody Baron."

"Hah! Nice try. They've given him enough reason to have himself trapped inside his own loony bin; he won't be chasing after ME!" Peeves let out another loud raspberry.

"You might be smug now, but I think Professor Dumbledore has thought of a brilliant plan. You see...there's a NEW Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I don't think you'll want him crossed."

"Not afraid of any beasty teacher, I would handle him just fine!" To that Peeves cackled again and shot out of sight, pelting the startled first years with the Permanent Stick-Up Crayons and left.

Reginald sighed. "Well, he'll have the shock of his life. Good thing Professor Dumbledore hired a Kiephrael..."

"?" Asato blinked.

He didn't have enough time to think what that new term meant for they already arrived right in front of a large portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"OK everybody, the password to the Gryffindor Tower is the lock AND key of this very dormitory; I want you all to remember it, and as it is quite ill yet to let anybody outside Gryffindor know about the password...please be reminded that this password would remain to be ALL SECRET at all times," Reginald told them. He looked at the portrait. "Stellar scalar skin scones."

The portrait swung forward, and they all clambered through the round hole and emerged in the Gryffindor common room, which was filled with lots of comfortable, squishy armchairs gathered around the blazing fireplace.

"The girls' dormitories to the left, the boys' dormitories to the right," Reginald told them. "Lights out for first to second years would be 8:00 sharp; anybody caught wandering in the school corridors after lights out would be dealt with accordingly. Oh, and if you're planning to go out, at least come with a friend, 2 friends, or an army, even. Lay off the Forbidden Forest, don't do magic in the corridors...what else...OH! If you want to survive Hogwarts, please be strongly reminded that DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT to get on Argus Filch's bad side. He's a nasty old git, and he's got that skeletal cat of his, too. First years far wiser and more careful than you are now are given hell by Filch, so I say again: NEVER GET ON ARGUS FILCH'S BAD SIDE. Is that perfectly clear?"

The first years all nodded.

"If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask either me or Derek." Reginald nodded, then smiled. "Well then, everybody, goodnight. And welcome to Gryffindor."

They all went obediently to their own dormitories.

"He DID say it's lights out at 8, right? Now why would he caution us to go out in two's, three's, or an army?" Yutaka wondered.

"Every first year has his own dark side," Hisoka said wisely. He nodded over at the door right in front of them. "We're here, look."

Asato looked at the round door in front of them. A small gold plate on which was written "FIRST YEARS" hung a good distance atop the shiny gold doorknob.

Yutaka reached out and opened it, then saw Seiichiro already unpacking his trunk at the foot of his own four poster bed.

"HEY! What on EARTH are you doing HERE?!" Yutaka called out.

"I HAPPEN to be BILLETED here." Seiichiro turned to look at the 3 of them, turning SD, his eyes devilish little slits, an ominous black aura emanating from his being. "And I'm here to save EVERY-SINGLE-KNUT. Don't THINK you could get away with IT."

Yutaka sweatdropped.

"I think I'd take my chances sleeping in a room with a Gringotts goblin than with that FREAK." He hung his head down low, several spirit orbs floating about his head. "This is going to BE an absolute NIGHTMARE..."

Asato turned chibi puppy and blinked, while Hisoka sighed.

"I guess there's no way out of this, Yutaka." He looked over at him. "Wall-side or window-side?"

Asato soon knew why it was safe to come with a friend, or two, or three, or even a whole army.

It was SO easy to get lost at his new school, and to top it all off, he was getting nausea from all the translating that goes right through his head, from Number Nine's Translate-A-Scribe stone.

Several Gryffindors he had met along the way had been kind enough to point him towards the right direction, and Asato was short of hysterics every time he tried asking questions in simple English (Yutaka was kind enough to lend him an English-Japanese dictionary). And to top off his horror of horrors, Kazutaka seemed to have memorized every single detail of his real-time foray into the unknown.

Asato tried avoiding him, but he seemed to pop up as suddenly as any of the ghosts floating around Hogwarts; it was even worse than having a stalker trailing you. Kazutaka's seemingly innocent greeting ("Alright, Tsuzuki-san?") was enough to send shivers up and down his spine, and Hisoka, who was with him most of the time now that he knew Kazutaka was stalking him, was short of throwing his entire bag at the odd boy every time they met in the corridors.

Aside from trying to avoid Kazutaka every time he would walk down the corridor unattended, Asato knew that learning magic is going to be as hard as trying to learn English on his own (Yutaka and Hisoka had been quite helpful, but he still sneaks in a random English lesson every night before he goes to sleep while Seiichiro recites his "Evils Of The Wasted Knut One Time Too Many" in that annoying monotone). The classes were interesting, and since he was the only one who was still not that yet that adept in speaking, reading, and understanding English, his teachers were kind enough to lend him some notes, and Hisoka and Yutaka helped him with translating and learning English at the same time.

He soon started to get over his random fits of hysteria (happens every time he sees Kazutaka walking down the hallway towards him) and started learning. They were to study the night skies through their telescopes every single night, and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. At this, Wakaba was quite adept; she was an apprentice shrine maiden or miko back at Japan, and she had been studying the heavens as their shrine's next in line until this offer came from Hogwarts itself.

They had to go to the greenhouses 3 times a week to study Herbology, a study of different magical plants and fungi, and learn what they were used for. This class was taught by quite a forgetful wizard named Professor Neville Longbottom, who spent an entire class hour looking for his glasses, which Eilie Finnigan pointed out, was sitting on top of his head. Then he went into a long speech about the uses of the Faerie Plant, when they were actually about to study the many different uses of the Tweaking Tweakbush. Suffice it to say, Professor Longbottom realized it too late for the bell now rang for their next class.

The MOST BORING CLASS ever, even after 20 years, was the History of Magic. It was also the most curious class because it was the only class taught by a ghost. Professor Binns was still as soporific as ever; now with those many names and events and great schisms that happened the last 20 years, it has become even more boring. It was so boring Asato didn't realize he had already fallen asleep until Hisoka poked him with his quill, and the entire class was looking at him.

"What happened?" Asato asked as they all filed out of the classroom.

"You were delivering a monologue," Hisoka answered him.

Asato didn't try to ask what it was after that.

Professor MacGonagall taught Transfiguration, the study of changing something into something else, and Yutaka was hoping she'd teach them how to change a human being into a beanie cushion right away so that he could practice on Seiichiro. She was quite a formidable teacher, and warned them severely that if she finds any of her students slacking off, they'll be sent back to the Muggle world via Hogwarts Express and never come back.

Professor Delia Marberry was the Charms teacher, the study of a variety of charms ranging from harmless to devastating (the most popular charm among teenage wizards and witches nowadays was the Clear Face Charm; done incorrectly it could sprout an entire herd of buffaloes traipsing down your nose, or could even wipe your entire face structure into oblivion). Potions was done by quite a very irritable greasy-haired middle-aged man named Professor Snape who seemed to enjoy nicking points off Gryffindor by all things trivial just for the fun of it. Asato was traumatized after that particular first class because Kazutaka was actually sitting right next to him, and he didn't want to experience anything like that again. He didn't eat dinner that night, and forgot to have breakfast the morning after.

Defense Against the Dark Arts proved to be hell for Asato, as he didn't have breakfast then, he was bombarded by a million nauseating sensations as all sorts of scents from girls' perfumes mingled into one malodorous mass right inside the stuffy little classroom.

"I really think I should take you to the hospital wing, Asato," Yutaka told him. "You look a little green."

"I'm...fine." Asato's eyes turned to little spirals. "Why have they decided to put perfume so heavily this DAY?"

"The Professor in question is way CUTE," Hajime muttered ominously. He pouted. "Why do I have to be stuck in a roomful of GIRLS?!"

Grein entered a little while later, smiling at them angelically (think: a super-duper gentle version of Rayearth OVA's Guru Clef version...with a dash of that irresistible Fujitaka-sensei CHARM~~~~!!! ****^o^**** Now is he gorgeous or is he GORGEOUS~~~?! ****DROOL****). Several girls sighed.

"Good morning to you all. This is..." Grein looked at the slip of paper he held in his hand, his short silver hair falling gloriously over his beautiful, startling ice blue eyes. "...Gryffindor?"

They all nodded.

The class went on smoothly (punctuated by dreamy sighs and swoons every now and then from some of the Gryffindor female populace; for some strange reason, only one of them wasn't affected), and at the end of that class, Grein went over to where Asato was then handed him a small parchment.

"My Uncle Albus relayed to me that High Priest Konoe wishes you to learn English," he said. "Would 2:00 Saturday afternoon next week be fine for you? If there was any other way I could teach you soon...but...the Council had been very insistent..."

"That'll be fine, Silverbough-san," Asato replied.

"Alright, Asato?"

"Yes, Silverbough-san."

"Oh, alright." Grein nodded. "See you Saturday next week, Asato."

That first week passed in a blur; then came the second week, where things started to heat up between Kazutaka and Asato.

They were having their first flying lessons with the Slytherins, and it was enough to raise a groan from each and every single one of them.

"If they stop hitting me, I'll eat a broomstick," Hajime said gloomily. "They still haven't let up regarding my Shikigami..."

They arrived at the sweeping smooth flat lawn somewhere on the opposite side of the grounds to the Forbidden Forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance, punctuated by shrill cries that boomed out of it every now and then.

Harry Potter stood waiting for them, a rueful smile on his face. There were neat lines of 20 broomsticks on each side, and the Slytherins were already there, whispering among themselves then stopping abruptly as Professor Potter spoke up.

"Good day, everyone," he greeted them. "Nice day for flying, isn't it? Winds not that willful...visibility A-OK for Quidditch conditions...well, why don't you all stand beside your respective broomstick and we'll all begin?"

Each of them hurried towards his own broom, and Asato looked at his own. It looked very old, and if he wasn't careful, he'll lose what's left of the thin twigs left hanging on the end if he would just bend over and pick it up, much less fly above the ground a couple of inches. Asato wondered wildly if he could manage to fly a flying stick instead.

"Alright, stick your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!'" Professor Potter called up front.

"UP!" every single one of them shouted.

Asato's broom jumped into his hand at once before he could reach the end of the word he just uttered; it was one of the very few that did. Yutaka's broom started doing cartwheels all over the place, Hisoka's had twitched jerkily, Seiichiro's didn't move, while Hajime's shot up and struck him very hard to his face that sent him reeling back from the many stars he could see right in front of his eyes.

He fell over and promptly passed out amidst hysterical laughter of the Slytherins (silenced with a look from their teacher); Wakaba stuck an o-fuda on him before Eilie Finnigan could just lean over and tried pulling him up to his feet.

"Even professional Quidditch players get grievously injured just because they forgot a few simple rules in mounting safety," Professor Potter explained, as he started moving down the ranks of each still struggling student left. "Just hold your brooms like so, and you'll save yourself a trip to Madame Pomfrey's ward. Broomsticks can sense your fear, like horses...it's for the best that you show them who's in control, and that you are not afraid. Remember, you use the broom, not let the broom use YOU. Odd, but true." He looked around. "Any student here who's afraid of heights? Flying?"

There was silence.

"Well...it's quite normal to be afraid of flying and heights, so don't be shy. Remember that not all wizards or witches are comfortable up in the air with those pigeons flying them close by. It could save you a LOT of Skele-Gro later. None...? OK."

Professor Potter demonstrated them how to correctly mount a broom without sliding off, and the proper grip for safety and stability. He recited broom do's and don'ts, demonstrated a proper kick-off, then stood back and watched his students go through their paces and carefully made notes on their flying forms, and offered some helpful advice.

Soon, they were zooming all over the place. Professor Potter warned them about getting too close to the Forbidden Forest. It was then when Kazutaka decided to give him chase.

Asato was just minding his own business flying smoothly over a bunch of his other classmates when Kazutaka snuck up behind him and smiled sweetly. "Alright, Tsuzuki-san?"

The effects were instantaneous. Asato zoomed off without another word, his broom sensing his hysteria, and Kazutaka made it even worse by zooming after him.

"Hey, wait up for me, Tsuzuki-san! Why are you avoiding me? I've been trying to find you last week, and you didn't show up when my Sneaky Stalk-Sneaks told me otherwise!" Kazutaka called after him.

"Why don't you stalk OTHER people, for that MATTER?! Why do you HAVE to stalk after ME~~~?!" SD Asato cries out, dodging Kyle Bowman who was seriously doing a broomstick pirouette, with Jason Portman trailing behind him.

"I just have to, Tsuzuki-san," Kazutaka said simply, smiling again. "If I hadn't known you'll be going here, then I would have no other reason in going to Hogwarts. Father was really thinking of sending me to Durmstrang, instead."

At this, Asato became even more hysterical. Quick as a lightning bolt, he shot his way towards the Forbidden Forest's airspace (^^;;). Professor Potter was aghast.

"TSUZUKI~~~!!! What do you think you're doing?! Don't head over that WAY~~~!!!" he calls out, grabbing his broom to go after him.

"Don't worry, Professor, I'm right behind him!" Kazutaka calls to him, then went off after Asato.

"MURAKI! Oh...darn it!" Professor Potter shot off after them. Several students went back to the ground, and huddled together, their voices strained with fright.

"That's where those giants were supposed to have taken refuge!" Gregory Northridge said, looking fearfully over at where Asato, Kazutaka, and Professor Potter had gone to.

"I thought they were all rounded up in Timbuktu?" Harriet Hart asked, blinking.

"No, they were sent to exile somewhere in the Transylvanian Alps," Darwin Weasley said with a small little nod. "Mum said so. She said it was just so awful leaving them right in the middle of nowhere, but...if they were allowed to roam around in a Muggle-inhabited area, I shudder to think what could REALLY happen."

"Well, YES, but my dad said there are lots of Dark creatures roaming around in there...ever since the centaurs had retreated back to their homeland further west, the Forbidden Forest has become even more forbidding," Jason Portman whispered. "The unicorns were fast disappearing at a very alarming rate; Dumbledore had put them into a forest reserve somewhere up Hogsmeade to save what's left of them. I hear his nephew was the one assigned to look after them, along with the other poor, innocent magical creatures being slaughtered by those evil fiends. Hagrid's here to prevent any of those things come up to Hogwarts Castle for a cup of tea."

"Figures, Dumbledore's nephew's Elven," Kyle Bowman put in. "Elves are known to be staunch guardians of Nature. They also serve as Nature's magical gardeners and veterinarians."

"Are they, really?" Eilie Finnigan asked with interest.

"The only elves I know of are house elves, and they keep pretty much to themselves," Frederick Seton told them. "And I thought they were only legend?"

As the other students debated about Grein's possible Elven heritage, Asato, meanwhile, was almost at the Forbidden Forest. Kazutaka was calling out to him, although Asato could safely say that his voice sounded a little too ecstatic for his taste.

"Tsuzuki-san! Come back!"

"NO~~~!!!" Asato called out, looking over his shoulder. "I'd rather take my chances being taken pot shots at by wandering trolls than come back with YOU~~~!!! Stop chasing ME~~~"

It happened so fast, Asato didn't have time to react. There was a deafening crash, and Asato only had enough time to look up front to see a very huge skeletal zombie standing right in front of him, roaring, then reached out to swipe Asato with his very sharp-nailed bony fingers.

Several students watching them screamed.

Asato managed to dodge the swipe with very quick reflexes, but another swipe was sent towards his way. He could only remember wishing somebody would help him, before a flurry of glowing, fiery red feathers swirled on about him and blackness drew him in and he knew no more.

"..." Asato opened his eyes slowly, everything coming into slow focus. He saw shadowy shapes floating in front of his eyes, along with several whispers, then he felt somebody sit down somewhere beside him, and that's when his eyesight slowly cleared.

"Asato! Thank goodness you're AWAKE~~~!!!"

He blinked. He saw the face of Yutaka peering down at him anxiously, his corn yellow eyes very concerned.

"Where am I...?" Asato asked weakly.

"Hospital ward. You gave Professor Potter one heck of a nasty surprise when your Shikigami burst into flames protecting you. High Priest Konoe said it would happen real SOON, but I bet he'd be falling of his dais of an office table once he hears from Number Nine that you've awakened them already." Yutaka was now looking at him with awe. "You were really good in sending that lich off to limbo, Asato. I've never seen anything quite like it."

"?"

Yutaka nodded, then gestured to his bedside table. It looked as if the whole candy shop had suddenly sprouted beside him. "Gifts and tokens from your admirers. They were really surprised when that thing nearly killed you and you survived...and it's the talk of the whole school. But then...there are still others who see you, and US, as freaks, in the general matter of things. A Slytherin started campaigning for throwing us all out after that fiery fiasco by 1,000 signatures...Professor Dumbledore quickly noticed that the Slytherin in question used Self-Signing Ink...suffice it to say, Professor Dumbledore put his foot down and allowed us to stay."

"OK..."

There were whispers again, and Yutaka looked over his shoulder to see who it was who arrived. His eyes became wide. "I don't believe THIS..."

"What?"

Grein appeared a few seconds later, holding something that suspiciously looked like another candy shop ready to sprout anew. He smiled at him. "Are you feeling fine now, Asato?"

"Y-yes, Silverbough-san..." Asato was surprised. "Uh...why are you..."

"Well, in the light of things, concerning your Shikigami awakening...Mr. Potter informed me as soonest, as soon as he had you taken here 5 days ago. We were really worried that you won't be waking up again...but Makoto had been through this same kind of thing, and Madame Pomfrey told him then that he used the hospital ward so much he ought to pay rent."

"5...days..."

"Your roommates had agreed to take down all your assignments for you, for you needed lots of bed rest," Grein replied again. "It's thoroughly draining the first time around, but you'll get used to it, sometime soon. Meanwhile, you rest easy...I'll come fetch you later tonight. It's concerning the Arcane classes."

Asato nodded slightly.

"Oh, before I forget..." Grein looked behind him. "Miss Falcrest?"

"..." Elene Falcrest appeared from behind Grein looking at them shyly. She was also holding something that suspiciously looked like another candy shop in the making.

Yutaka blinked. "Uh..."

"Elene Falcrest would be joining our classes at the Arcane," Grein told them. "She's really talented, and I hope you would all get together very well. And..." He looks over at Asato. "She's going to be your classmate at your English class, too. The only different thing is, I'll be teaching her Japanese, while you learn English."

Asato stared at her.

Elene blushed, then held her package closer.

"Well? I'll see you tonight." Grein put his package down on the floor, seeing that there was no available space on the bedside table. Elene put hers down, as well.

Grein nodded over at Yutaka. "Look after him."

"Yes, Silverbough-sensei."

The 2 of them left, Grein talking to Elene in soft, muted tones. Asato stared after them.

"WOW! She got you a REBUS TAROT STARTER SET and a Rheingeld ARENA~~~!!!" Yutaka's eyes turned wobbly. "She must REALLY like you, man."

"Hey~~~!!! What's the big IDEA~~~"

"But Elene Falcrest...Arcane?! I wonder how could she be so freakishly gifted, like any of us..." Yutaka mused. He tossed Asato a bag of Chocolate Frogs. "Better start eating sugar, mate. It's still a long way off to recovery."

"Where's..."

"Seiichiro's pestering Hajime, Wakaba's off baking a cake for you somewhere, and Hisoka's chasing after Kazutaka...don't worry, that odd little bastard won't get away from what he's done to you. Besides, your Shikigami burnt him up real GOOD." Yutaka grinned. "Double chocolate or mint, Tsuzuki?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

AUTHOR'S NOTES: ............................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................................................................****GRIN****

How's THAT for a chase SCENE?! Damn, Muraki could sometimes BE a little too aggressive. I don't think you'd want to see them chase each other around the Quidditch field for that matter. Oh WELL. Stay tuned for that CHAPPIE~~~!!!