Disclaimer: I own NOTHING

The Fourth Potter

By: Emerald May

Chapter 26

Touya Kinomoto glanced down at his water-proof, digital watch that adorned his left wrist. "Hm… The kaijou's plan should be arriving in a few minutes… But Daidouji-chan still hasn't come here."

Fujitaka Kinomto nodded silently as he had taken notice in the young girl's absence. "True… After all, Sakura and Tomoyo are second cousins – and you too, Touya-kun." He chuckled at his son's face as he shot his father a glance that clearly said 'Hey, I'm her second cousin too.'

As the two were lost in conversation that included the 'Chinese Gaki's' whereabouts, Tomoyo's whereabouts, and Yukito's whereabouts, they never heard the small patter of running feet approaching them with rapid speed.

And then…

"ONII-CHAN!" A shriek was sounded as the elder Kinomoto sibling was clobbered by Sakura Kinomoto.

"Gah, Kaijou!" A surprised Touya yelped slightly as his arms immediately went around to hug the younger sister that technically wasn't his sister. But his wording got him a good kick at his ankle, and he only shook his head as his father laughed. The little Hogwarts student dashed into her father's arms, warm embraces exchanged.

Not too far away, Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were watching this scene out of the corner of their eyes as the Gryffindor Quidditch team also took note of this.. but they were clearly more interested in the magnificent scenery of the outside world of Japan.

Harry Potter walked up, a bit tentivley since Touya had let his gaze shift to where the black-haired boy was standing. "Uh… Hello. My name is--"

"Harry Potter," Another voice had sounded, a slight edge of ice within the tone. The male figure folded his arms across his chest as Touya sent a death glare at the boy.

"Baka gaki." Was softly heard.

Emerald green eyes lit up excitedly as Sakura ran to the boy dressed in a green suit… that strangely resembled the battle outfit of a certain Chinese boy by the name of…

"Syaoran-kun!" And he was nearly thrown off balance at his fellow card captor's embrace. Stunned he awkwardly hugged Sakura back, his cheeks crimsoning to a deep red. A growl was heard and fists were clenched as the elder brother eyed the Chinese boy and his sister.

By now, Fred and George Weasley had tried conversation with the other Quidditch player of Hong Kong, but with little success.

Fujitaka looked back at his 'daughter's' true brother, a warm smile on his face. "Where will you and your teammates be residing at?" He asked curiously.

"There is a magical realm right here in Tomoeda," Harry started out, stumbling over the foreign name as he continued, "and that is where we will all be staying for the next month."

Fujitaka nodded softly as his gaze went to where his daughter was chattering without a care in the world with her friends. He looked back to Harry. "Well… if it is alright with your headmaster, I would like to ask him if Sakura could stay back at her old home," Harry's expression faltered just slightly at the though of his sister leaving their side, "And you as well. But I'm afraid I don't have any other room for the rest of your team," He finished off, with a small smile.

Touya simply looked on, watching the conversations around him. Suddenly, his dark brown orbs darted to the side of the airport as he caught sight of a silvery figure, hovering above the crowd. It looked like a ghost… but it did not take on a friendly expression like Nadeshiko always wore.

No. It looked to be consumed with evil. And all his fears were soon brought to reality.

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

The ghost's eyes were sunken in as it slowly muttered an incantation, chanting softly as the unknowing people began to feel sleepy… and then dropping to the ground, each one fast asleep.

Sakura was laughing as she talked to Meiling when she heard a many thuds around her. "What the…?" She whirled around, just in time to her hear name being called before Touya fell to the ground, falling into a blissful slumber.

"Onii-chan!" She shouted as her brother hit the ground with a thud as sleep overcame his senses.

And within a minute, no one was left standing… except Syaoran and Sakura. Sakura knelt down shaking Meiling. "Wake up!" She grasped Meiling's hand as she searched for a pulse. There was one, a very steady one at that. At least she now knew they were not dead – but Meiling and everyone else that had fallen under the spell of evil, were disappearing.

With a shriek, Sakura dropped the transparent hand and simply stared in horror as her friend was no longer there.

SHIIIING!

Syaoran had called upon his sword, but the blade was pointed to the ground. No use wasting energy on nothing. Following his lead, Sakura chanted the spell that would release the staff into her hands.

"Look at the ground!" Syaoran shouted. Sakura followed his stricken gaze, seeing the floor and their surroundings transforming. A marble floor began to overtake the blood-red tint of the airport's natural flooring. But they were no longer in an airport, but in another place… that seemed to be another dimension.

"What in the world is going on here?" Sakura murmured. Her fellow card captor merely shook his head in confusion.

Sakura…

She blinked as she heard her name being called in an eerie tone. "Syaoran… did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

Sakura... Sakura…

"That… My name is being called…"

The 'Little Wolf' cocked his head as he stared at Sakura in confusion. His amber eyes shifted to his right as he caught sight of a floating figure that seemed almost transparent. "Huh…?"

Sakura glanced at Syaoran before she noticed the ghost. "AIE!" She shrieked in fear, jumping behind her friend. "W-w-what is that?!" She yelped, almost hysterical. Syaoran couldn't help but roll his eyes, though feeling a bit protective as he held his ground, his sword now drawn parallel to the ground.

Trembling, she peeked out over Syaoran's shoulder focusing on the silent, floating creature. And then her eyes widen as she muttered a single name, "N-Nearly Headless Nick…"

Syaoran glanced behind him, facing Sakura. "What…?"

She pointed to the floating figure, it's face disoriented and gruesome. She winced before she repeated herself. "Nearly Headless Nick. He is one of the ghosts at Hogwarts…. Gryffindor's house ghost at that fact…"

"I'm not quite getting your point…" Syaoran muttered.

"At the start of the school year… Six ghosts vanished without a trace. And they had still been missing…" She said. "And Harry told me about Nearly Headless Nick… But I had never met him."

Syaoran quirked an eyebrow. "Then how do you know this is him?"

Jade hued oculars narrowed slightly in determination. "Because… I can sense the 'Hogwartian' presence in the air – and from the aura that surrounds him…"

Sakura…

"There is my name again… It seems…" But she never got a chance to finish her sentence as her eyes glazed over, her staff pointed downward as she slowly began to walk towards the ghost, her staff trailing behind her.

Syaoran clenched his fist before he grabbed Sakura's forearm, yanking her back. "Snap out of it!" But her only response was to continue walking as her free arm gripped his hand like iron, wrenching it away from her flesh.

Stunned, he grabbed her again, shaking her. "WAKE UP!"

Nothing.

Syaoran! Help me!

Syaoran blinked as he let Sakura go, currently focusing on that voice in his head. "T-Tomoyo…?" It sounded as if she couldn't get through to Sakura, as if the magical barrier couldn't be penetrated by family vibes.

"Hey Sakura, I think--" But he was cut short as Sakura's form slowly began to disappear, staff and all. "NO! Sakura-chan!" He lunged after her fading stature but was too late for he plummeted to the ground, Sakura no where to be seen.

Syaoran-kun…. Sakura-chan…. Help me…!

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

Sakura…. Come to me….

No! Why can I not stop? She wondered. Sakura's feet walked in the direction of that voice that was in her head, yet seemed to be all around her. She tried to stop her steps, but to no avail.

An invisible force was pulling her closer and closer to the presence of evil. She managed to tighten her grip on her staff, just in case this person was looking for this – or so she thought from what Kero had told her a couple of months ago.

She could hear Syaoran's voice… but it seemed so far away, not to mention her vision was quite blurry. She couldn't make out anything around her.

Closer, Sakura…

And as if by magic, the voice that was luring her towards… wherever, it was broken by a frantic call.

Sakura! Fight it!

The voice, it sounded so familiar… and so close to kin… like… TOMOYO!

Although it was painful, and her whole body felt numb, Sakura's fingers twitched a bit… slowly, slowly, slowly, and then gripped the staff in her hand. A brilliant flash of golden-pink light erupted around her. Her senses heightened; her vision was returning to normal; the sounds around her was evident; and her strength returned.

And as fast as the flash appeared… it disappeared into her staff. She glanced around, taking in the sights. The place seemed awfully familiar, yet she couldn't put her finger on it.

Her sure and confident steps led her down the darkened corridor. She could've sworn she had been here at one point and time – but when?

"Wait a second…" She murmured as she noticed a bloodstain on the ground, kneeling down to inspect it. When she let her fingers brush across it, her fingers burned. "Ouch!" She yelped, jumping back. And then she looked up, seeing a painting in front of her… that was moving.

"Moving paintings… The wizardry world…" Sakura concluded.

And she thought she heard something from within the portrait. She squinted her eyes, looking into the portrait. She couldn't see anything except a dark room.

The painting showed a dark room, with various Dark Magic items here and there. And scattered across the floor was human blood… and unicorn blood. And in the center of the room, hovering above the ground in a crystal was a fallen figure, crouched in fear almost.

The figure's long black tresses were sprawled around the shoulders. The figurine's status seemed to be weak, and it's form proving it to be a girl – a girl that Sakura knew quite well.

"T-T-Tomoyo!?" Shrieked the Card Mistress. And as if she could hear her second cousin, Tomoyo lifted her head up weakly. It looked as if she had been deprived of food for awhile, and barely living off of little water.

Not able to speak, she moved her lips. Sakura made out three words. Sakura. Help. Me.

"So… we finally meet… Kinomoto Sakura," A silky, smooth voice said behind her. But it did not sound so friendly.

She gulped as she turned around, forcing back a scream. She would not seem frightened. "Who are you? And how do you know my name?"

"Oh… you'll know soon enough." And in a swift motion, he whipped out a wand, and pointed it at Sakura's face. After an incantation and a flick of his wrist, too fast for Sakura to comprehend, a flash of blue light hit Sakura in the center of her forehead, a crystal appearing, glowing vividly.

Sakura's reaction was to try and run, or shoot a card at him… but her eyes closed. She felt sleepy, so very sleepy. She felt the staff slip from her fingers, and her stance falling to the ground. But she felt no pain as her world turn back. And her staff was now vulnerable to the unnamed figure.

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

Author's Note: Sorry for not updating in quite a while. It's summer, so I've got things to do, places to go, and people to meet. Not to mention studying for the PSAT and required summer reading to do. Well, here is the chapter, and until next time, ja'ne!