Standard disclaimer is still active…just ad the fact that I do own the centaur Arina…now it's updated.

Chapter 4

Monday mornings were never quite a happy time. Hermione, the 5th year girl prefect had given Dean, the 5th year boy prefect the boy's schedules yesterday to hand out. Harry cringed when he saw that Monday mornings he had double Divination. He was not up to sitting almost 3 hours in the smoke filled tower with Professor Trelawney. After Divination was lunch and then double Potions with Professor Snape. Harry knew that this schedule would kill him. Tuesdays he had Transfiguration and Herbology in the morning, with Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms after lunch. Tuesday from 11pm to 1am he would have advanced Astronomy. Thursdays he had the same schedule, except the lack of Astronomy. Wednesdays and Fridays he has free time until lunch after which he would have History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures. It was when he was thinking about his own schedule, when he wondered what Makoto's would be like. He wondered if perhaps she would only have the 5th year classes, or if she was taking extras of the same class. Hermione and Ron weren't any more civil to her, especially when she told them that she wouldn't have to take the O.W.L.S. at the end of the year.

Harry walked down into the common room before breakfast and found Makoto staring into the fire. He didn't want to disturb her, but he also didn't want her to miss breakfast.

"Makoto?" He asked walking closer to the chair she sat in. He saw a long sheet of muggle paper coming from her hands. Her face was hard pressed, as if she was angry and a lone tear fell down her cheek. She looked back into the fire and tossed the document into it. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths before turning back to Harry.

"Sorry about that, I just got some bad news from a few of my friends. It seems that the school I was going to is not happy that I can not attend that as well as Hogwarts and I seem to have been kicked out." Makoto said a bit depressed.

"Well, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would take you on as a full time student here." Harry said with a smile.

"That would be all well and good if I were a witch, Harry. But the school I'm talking about is a muggle high school. If I get kicked out of one more muggle school by the time I'm of age to drop out, none of them will except me anymore." She said sadly.

"You were still signed up to go to a muggle school?" Hermione asked as she came down the stairs from the girls' dorms.

Makoto nodded sadly. "Setsuna was going to privately tutor me and then send in my tests, but they won't except that. The only thing is…I have to be here as well." She suddenly looked into the fire to see a floating head. "Hello Rei." She said somberly.

Hermione and Harry looked into the slightly discolored flame to see the elegant face of a young girl. Her eyes were a strange violet color and her hair was jet black.

"Mako-chan, I just heard about your school." Rei said a bit sadly.

Harry saw Makoto cringe.

"I'm guessing Usagi-chan opened her big mouth?" Makoto asked. The head nodded. Makoto turned to face Harry and the slightly suspicious Hermione. "Guys, this is a friend of mine from Japan, Rei Hino. She's a Shinto priestess and fire reader."

"Fire reader, you mean she can see the future by reading fire?" Harry asked trying to remember what Professor Trelawney had said during class.

Rei nodded. "I'm also able to communicate through any flame, be it by fire place, candle, or even a lighter. It comes very naturally to me." She said with a smile.

Hermione scowled. Another rare ability like fire reading, done by none other than a friend of Makoto's. Her suspicions kept rising on this young girl. 'I think I'll have to do some more research into this.' She grabbed Harry's robes and started pulling him away.

"Don't be too long Makoto, you don't want to miss breakfast." Harry called back to her as he was forcefully pulled out the door.

Makoto turned back to Rei. "Things are not going well. No one trusts me."

Rei smiled. "Well, I think you would probably be more popular than Harry if you told them who you really are."

Makoto groaned. "Don't remind me. It just feels strange being able to use my powers in front of people, but I'm unable to actually tell them who I am."

Rei looked sympathetically to her friend. "We're still here for you Mako-chan. And you have Setsuna-san to keep you company. Haruka-san said that she would personally come and beat anyone that gave you a hard time."

Makoto laughed. "Thanks for cheering me up, Rei-chan. Tell everyone I miss them."

Rei nodded and her head slowly vanished. Makoto looked up to see Setsuna standing behind her.

"Better not let any of the students see you're here. They'll start wondering how you got in." Makoto smiled.

Setsuna gave a small smile. "I know what happened with your school. We can stick to the plan of me tutoring you, and I can send the results in anyway. The only thing is, until you're out of high school I'll have to be your teacher."

Makoto nodded. "I don't think that's a bad idea. I know it takes you away from your duty, but we'll work something out."

Setsuna smiled. "You should get down to breakfast."

Harry and Ron slowly made their way to Divination. Breakfast was oddly quiet at the Gryffindor table as students attempted to ignore Makoto. Harry tried to strike up a conversation, but all his attempts failed miserably. Makoto ate quickly and hurried off, presumably trying to get to Divination early to get away from her peers. Harry and Ron slowly climbed the rope ladder to find everyone in their seats already. Makoto was seated at the small table that Harry and Ron usually sat at. Harry slowly walked over to her, but Ron looked reluctant to go, but slowly took hi seat, finally seeing the annoyed expression that Lavender was giving him for standing over her. Harry watched as Makoto shuffled the Tarot deck in front of her. She started looking at the cards and smiled as she placed them down. Figures shrouded in shadows were on each card. Amazingly she happened to pull all of the major arcana in one shuffle. The first one she placed down was the Moon. The shadowed figure seemed to be bathed in moonlight and purity. The next was the Sun. A golden light or peace surrounded the shadow. The next was Temperance. A bright purple light surrounded the shadow, which seemed to swirl as if time stood still whenever it was used. Judgement was placed down next. A strong golden light seemed to blow around in the picture. Next was the Star. The sea foam green light appeared to move as if it were waves. The next was Death, which glowed an eerie purple, but seemed not to be as evil an omen as one would think. The Lovers card was placed next. A warm orange yellow light radiated love and kindness. The next was the Hierophant. It seemed as if water and ice formed around the shadow figure. The High Priestess was placed next. A warm fire roared around the figure. Makoto was just placing down the Strength card, which seemed to have a storm surrounding the shadow, when she caught sight of Harry and Ron looking over the cards. She quickly put them back into a stack and the cards suddenly disappeared.

Harry and Ron looked at Makoto strangely. "How did you do that without a wand?" Ron asked looking around for the cards.

"Do what?" Makoto asked trying to sound innocent.

Before another sound could be uttered the eccentric Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney came sweeping into the room. She stopped in front of Harry and pointed. "You have a clouded future. I see death, destruction, and rebirth surround you like a blanket. You have a very old soul…older than my own. You are able to communicate with nature, am I correct?" She asked as she continued pointing to Makoto.

Makoto smiled and nodded.

"I see very strange things from you, my friend." Trelawney turned to Harry at that moment.

Harry rolled his eyes knowing a death prediction was coming for him.

"Young man…you take care of her. You are both connected…and it is up to her whether you live or die." The eccentric professor walked away.

Harry looked at Ron, and both looked over to Makoto suspiciously. Makoto was banging her head against the table.

The rest of the time in Divination Harry noticed Makoto kept very quiet. He was wondering what she had to do with him, if anything. Ron on the other hand tried to keep Harry and Makoto as far away as possible. As Harry and Ron walked down to lunch, they both saw Makoto head off to the wing the Headmaster was located in.

"Maybe she's asking to leave?" Ron said as they sat down.

"Who's asking to leave?" Hermione asked as she sat down with a huge book in front of her.

"Oi, Hermione, this is our first day of classes and you already have your nose in a non-school book." Ron said rolling his eyes.

"Quiet you, I found something that you should both hear, and its concerning Makoto." Hermione said quietly. She cleared her throat. "Ecomancy, is very rare and ancient ability. The first person said to hold this ability was the Goddess Demeter. Every year she would bestow this gift upon a new high priestess or loyal follower. An ecomancer has the ability to understand and talk to all things in nature using not words, but thoughts, which are only shared if both subjects agree upon a link. This is only the case in animals. Plants of all types seem to readily communicate with an ecomancer. An ecomancer's true gift, besides communication with animals, is the growth of plant life. Because ecomancers hold such life giving power over plants, plant life is very apt to protect an ecomancer and their companions from all forms of danger.

As in all cases of magic or special abilities, ecomancy can be used for both good and evil, as the Gods were neither good nor bad. There is no real way to know what side an ecomancer is on, but chances are, if the ecomancer talks to animals freely and opens up many links, it either means that they have nothing to hide from their animal companion, or do not care about hiding their true nature." Hermione finished closing the book.

Ron and Harry looked confused.

Hermione sighed. "Don't you understand. When an ecomancer opens a connection with an animal, there are no secrets between them. All of the ecomancer's thoughts just as all of the animal's thoughts can be read like an open book."

Harry started to understand, though Ron still had a blank look on his face. Harry turned to look at him. "Makoto was talking to both Hedwig and Pigwidgeon and they both continued to talk with her. It means that she's not here to do anything bad."

Ron's eyes went wide. "If that's the case, then why did she loose us points already?"

Harry kept quiet, but a voice from behind him startled him. "It's because my parents died in plane crash." Makoto said sadly sitting down.

Hermione looked down at her hands and Ron was trying to understand what a plane was.

Hermione looked up. "Makoto, I'm sorry. I've been behaving like a real git."

Makoto smiled. "It's ok. I understand that you can't be to careful when Harry's involved."

Ron looked at her. "What's a plane?"

Makoto laughed. "A plane is a large mechanical device, shaped like a bird, that uses oil as a power source to fly from one point in the world to another. Most of the time planes are very safe, but it seems that for some reason, magic was used to bring down the plane. It wasn't a Death Eater attack, because the Dark Mark was not shot into the sky, but someone wanted that plane down."

Hermione looked at her. "Well you had family to turn to, right?"

Makoto shook her head. "The only family I had was an uncle that lived in England. He supported me, but with the situation he was in, he couldn't take me in. I was sent to a few foster homes and a halfway house, and I've been living on my own since I was 14."

The four stopped talking as a letter flew from the head table over to Makoto. She opened the letter and with wide eyes looked over to Setsuna who only nodded. A second later an owl flew into the hall and carried a letter over to Makoto.

Harry's eyes looked to the writing and he was shocked. "Makoto, how do you know him?" He asked pointing to the writing.

Makoto opened that letter a quickly read it. "It seems that I am to take the three of you to meet a mutual acquaintance of ours so you hear the whole story."

Ron looked at the letter. "Who?"

Harry stared at the name written on the front of the letter. "Sirius."

The four newfound friends walked quickly into potions and took seats. Ron sat with Hermione and Makoto sat with Harry. They didn't really talk, just took out their supplies and watch the other students file into the room. Malfoy glared at Makoto before walking to sit with the Slytherins. All noise stopped when Professor Snape walked into the room.

"This year it is my privilege to teach you enough to pass your potion's O.W.L.s. I could care less if any of you pass or not. Potion making is not a learned art, it is something you must be born to do." His black robes billowed around him as he stopped in front of Makoto. "Ah, yes, our new Gryffindor student. Just because you are excused from your O.W.L.s does not mean I will treat you any different."

Makoto smiled. "I don't expect that sir. I only wish to be challenged."

Snape smirked and looked over to the Slytherins who started snickering. "Is that so Miss Kino. Then you wouldn't mind answering a few questions for me?"

Hermione paled. "Sir, she's never had potions classes before."

Snape glared at Hermione. "5 points from Gryffindor for arguing with me, Miss Granger. Now, Miss Kino, why don't you tell the class what you know about kumina."

Makoto smiled widely. "Kumina, also know as Caraway, is a medicinal plant used to help cure scorpion stings, snake bites, fever, respiratory diseases, digestive problems, and stomach troubles. Caraway was an important ingredient in love potions. It also offered protection from the evil eye. In addition, it prevented mischievous spirits and thieves from entering the house."

The class was silent. If Harry didn't know better, he would have thought that was Hermione that answered.

Snape almost seemed to smile. "Very good Miss Kino. I shall reward you with the 5 points I took from Miss Granger. Now, tell me about Cowbane."

Makoto smiled again. "Cowbane is a very poisonous plant and internal use will quite often lead to a painful death. The symptoms are cramps, hallucinations and eventually paralysis of the respiratory organs. Despite the dangers, this herb is used as a painkiller and also as a remedy for epilepsy and cramps, but only when mixed with other herbs to dilute its power."

Snape walked back up to the front of the room and uncovered the board where the instructions and ingredients for a potion were written. "This potion is generally given out to students who consume too much food." Snape glared at Crabbe and Goyle. "The potions should be a very bright orange in color. If it is any other shade than that when you have completed it, it means you screwed up and made a very dangerous poison. Do NOT touch it if that is the case. And Longbottom, do try not to burn a hole in your cauldron." The Slytherins busted out laughing.

Makoto looked at the ingredient list: Kumina, Cowbane, Coriander, Dill, and Sweet Cicele. She took out the ingredients that she already had and followed everyone else to get the rest. Harry sat and watched in horror as Makoto poured water into their cauldron without even measuring. She then went about adding the herbs in the correct order, chopping neatly and quickly what had to be chopped and crushing those that were dry. Again she added ingredients without measuring. Harry sat back, knowing that he was going to fail this class if Makoto was his partner. She turned to him and smiled.

"Don't be scared Harry. I may not have much practice with potions, but as I said on the train here, cooking is my life."

She heard Malfoy behind her. "Professor Snape, Kino isn't measuring her ingredients, I think she's trying to kill us."

Snape quickly turned around and walked over to Makoto and Harry. "Is this true Miss Kino, you have not measured anything?" He looked at the potion bubbling away.

"Yes sir." She said a little scared.

Snape walked quickly over to Malfoy's table. "And Mr. Malfoy, I'll assume you measured everything?"

Malfoy smiled and nodded once.

"Then I think you need to go over and check on Miss Kino and Mr. Potter's potion." Snape said standing back.

Malfoy smiled and walked over to the table, only to stop once he saw the potion inside. Bubbling in the cauldron was an orange potion, getting brighter as time went by.

"Mr. Malfoy, I will remind you of what I said at the beginning of the class. Some students and it seems Miss Kino is one of them, are born to make potions. I think you finally have some competition in class Mr. Malfoy." Snape said walking back to the front of the class.

Hermione and Ron walked over to Makoto and Harry. Hermione looked surprised. "Is it just me, or did Professor Snape seem almost happy?"

Ron nodded. "Not only did he not give Slytherins points during class, but he actually GAVE Gryffindor points."

Harry looked at Makoto. "He also seemed very happy to talk to you about herbs."

Makoto blushed. "I had to come here during the summer so the teachers could know how far I am in the classes I took. I happened to advance very rapidly in potions, and Snape was very surprised that I could make a potion from a seventh year book. The classes that I'm not taking with the other 5th years, I have to come here and Snape is independently teaching me advanced potions."

Ron looked scared. "You are actually taking EXTRA potions classes?"

Makoto nodded. "My first class and all classes after lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Wednesday all morning."

The three of them paled. "You like potions that much?" Hermione asked.

"I like cooking, and if the only way I can do that is to make potions, then so be it." Makoto said crossing her arms.

Harry smiled. "I understand, if I could do nothing but Quidditch practice I'd be very happy."

Hermione smiled. "I like all my classes."

Ron rolled his eyes. "You would."

The four of them laughed as they put their completed potions into clear containers and gave them to Snape before leaving the dungeon.

Dinner was a bit more pleasant then breakfast and lunch. Though Makoto was still ignored by most of her peers, she at least had a few friends to talk to. She very happily went into explaining how to make a similar chocolate layer cake than the one served with desserts. Hermione and Ron filled Makoto in on some of the more intricate details of their adventures with Harry, while Harry himself sat blushing furiously. As one point Ginny, Ron's sister came over and added her details to the adventure she took place in. When the tables were cleared and everyone was to head off to do there own thing, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Makoto walked up to the head table to meet with Setsuna.

"Ok, our guest is waiting in the side room." Setsuna said leading the small group into the room off of the main hall. A large black scruffy dog sat looking at all those the entered.

Makoto and Harry both smiled and Makoto launched herself at the dog. "Uncle Sirius!" She yelled happily.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry watched as the dog grew into a tall man. Sirius smiled down at the tall girl. "It's good to finally see you again Makoto."

Hermione's mouth dropped. "You mean, YOU are her uncle from England?"

Ron looked shocked. "No wonder why she couldn't stay with you."

Harry looked at the adults in the room. "What's going on?"

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