Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The Fourth Potter
By: Emerald May
Chapter 27
"Sakura-chan… Sakura-chan… Wake up." A voice said, slicing through the barrier that had fallen over Sakura's sleeping form.
Blinking at the harsh light that seemed to emit from all around, Sakura groggily opened her eyes, sitting up, head in hands. "Urg…"
"You are awake," A pleased voice said as Sakura came faced to face with…
Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura said hoarsely as she hugged her cousin, though very weak. And that is when she realized their surroundings. "Where… where are we?" She wondered out loud. She saw a few objects through the blurry barrier… which she could only guess was the crystal that Tomoyo was incased in.
"Oh… I don't know really…" She trailed off. Then, "But I think this is Hogwarts… Your wizardry school. Since everything I had heard was in English."
Hogwarts. Of course. Now Sakura knew why everything had felt so familiar. She had passed through it once in a dream, and if she wasn't mistaken, it was near the dungeons… and if it were near the dungeons, perhaps Professor Snape could hear their cries and help them – if it was possible to get the attention from through a painting.
"Yes… it is Hogwarts," Sakura said as she filled Tomoyo in.
Nodding thoughtfully, Tomoyo looked up at the top of the crystal. "I see… But how are we going to get out of this crystal? Literally our cage…"
"Uhm…." Sakura said as she pondered. "Let's see… I wonder if any of the spells I learned will penetrate it…" And whipping out her wand, she pointed at the top of the crystal, shouting a spell. But it merely dissolved into the crystal. "Drat…"
"What about your staff? And use one of the cards."
Brightening up, she nodded. "That might work!" Sakura said excitedly as she reached for the pendant around her neck. "Uh… Tomoyo…"
"Yes?"
"It's not here!" She said, now her voice edge with frantic. "I can't have lost it… I just can't… I know I had it before…" And she trailed off. "No…"
"What is it? What do you mean you don't have it?" Tomoyo herself getting a bit anxious.
"I think… whoever put me in here… took the key as well. Only… I think they took the staff rather than the key… It wasn't transformed back into its borrowed form. And Kero and Yue are in it…" Sakura was now close to tears. Without the cards and staff, she and her best friend wouldn't be getting out of the crystal anytime soon.
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The airport had returned to its normal appearance, and the Muggles had not a care in the world about what had just happened – because they knew not of what had been going on.
Defeated, Syaoran kicked the snack machine, causing a few stares from the parents with children. Glaring and muttering a "Sorry", he walked backed to where the Kinomoto duo and the rest of the Quidditch team were at – including his own.
"Ah, Syaoran-kun, old champ," A fellow teammate said, slapping his back.
"Ow… Akuno! Stop attacking your Seeker," He said a bit angrily. He was not in a happy mood. "Where is Meiling-chan?"
And as in answer, a female figure jumped onto his back. "Syaoraaaaaaaaaaan!"
"Gah!" He fell to the floor from the impact as the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Inakuso team snicker at the two. "Meiling! Get off!" And resorting to Chinese so the rest of Japan and England couldn't understand, "Sakura is in trouble!"
That got the Chinese martial artist got to her feet. "WHAT?!"
"Come on…" He grabbed his cousin's wrist, dragging her along to a secluded corner and began to converse with her in Chinese. "Okay, it seems like nobody had noticed what had gone on except Sakura and me. I'm guessing it has something to do with the Clow Cards. Or former Clow Cards anyway."
"You're kidding, right?"
Syaoran's brows furrowed. "Of course not. You obviously didn't see what was happening…"
"What? What happened? Tell me!" She shook her cousin by the shoulders. Though Sakura and Meiling had not been good friends in the past, they were closer than before.
"Okay, okay, stop shaking me!" He hissed. "There was something like a ghost that put everyone to sleep… and seemed to transform the airport into a long hallway – which I think was a link to a portal. I followed Sakura only as far as I could before she seemed to disappear into the 'world'. And I don't know where it was, but I did see moving pictures… So I am guessing it is somewhere in the wizardry world."
"But which one? Mind you, dear cousin, that concealed beneath this world of Muggle technology lies a wizardry one – all throughout the globe." For once, Meiling sounded serious, her usual hyper, giddy voice calm and her demeanor serious.
Syaoran shook his head. "You're right about that… But I don't know…" He trailed off, defeated. How were they supposed to rescue Sakura if they didn't know where she was?
"And Syaoran… Do you think Tomoyo could be in the same place as Sakura?" Meiling inquired.
"You know…" He started out thoughtfully. "She just might be. But the only person we can confide in to help… Though I'd hate to have to ask him for anything…would be Hiiragizawa Eriol."
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Hiiragizawa Eriol was lounging in his armchair in that slightly darken room when Nakuru knocked on the door. In her hand was a platter of mini-bite sandwiches. "Master, I have brought you something to eat."
Turning from the hovering sphere that showed him visions, he invited her in. "Come in, Nakuru."
The door opened and she 'waltzed' in, placing the plate onto a circular table that was beside the armchair. "Have you gathered information about the events going on about in Hogwarts?"
He nodded as he took a sip from the tea that had come along with the food. "Yes, I have in fact. I believe that whoever is behind the capture of Sakura and Tomoyo is the same person who has been preventing the ghosts of Hogwarts from showing themselves. And the same person that is after the powers of Clow." He concluded.
"Oh dear… Suppie-chan is also getting worried about that stuffed-animal guardian – which is a first," She chuckled, remembering how the borrowed form of the panther had been a bit anxious to hear from Kero.
"Why yes, that is a first," Eriol too laughed softly. "But from what I can see," He nodded towards the levitated sphere, "Sakura and Tomoyo are in trouble. They can't get out from where they are at. And even though Sakura's staff has been taken from her… doesn't mean that all is hopeless." He smiled a bit.
"What do you mean, Master?"
"You'll see… we will all see if Sakura Kinomoto is truly capable for being the Clow Mistress…"
Nakuru simply stared at the dark-haired boy. "Huh?"
He laughed before he turned to the glowing sphere, both Sakura and Tomoyo reappearing back into their vision. "Stick around and watch… I'm sure Suppie-chan will be quite the jealous guardian."
And as if on cue, a small 'thud' was heard as Nakuru plopped down on the ground to watch the events happening. And it just so happens that Sakura seemed to have an idea…
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Sakura paced around the small area that she and Tomoyo were encased in. "Hm…"
Tomoyo was fiddling with the frayed ribbon she had been wearing the day she was captured – which was a month earlier. "Got any ideas, Sakura-chan?"
She sighed before she sat down, her back leaning against the crystal's walls. "No… Not yet. I can't stand to be in this place anymore…" She shuddered, not from cold but from fear.
Tomoyo patted Sakura's hand. "It's alright… we'll get out of here somehow. You're smart to figure it out. You always have been." She smiled.
Sakura returned her best friend's smile, though hers had a bit of a grim expression to it. "I suppose so… But I just wish that I had the staff to call upon the cards…"
And then it hit her. "Call upon the cards… That's it!"
"What is Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked hopefully.
"I can call upon the cards by will, with or without the staff!" Sakura said excitedly. Now all will not be lost. "Okay… let's see if I can do this… And I'm sure it will work, if I am destined to be the Clow Mistress."
Rubbing her hands together she held out her arms, as if conquering up the staff, though this time, she was merely conquering up the cards. And an incantation seemed to just flow from her mouth – and it seemed all so natural, though she had never heard of it.
"O' Cards that of Clow,
I call upon thee to aid,
Help me break through this barrier
And let the darkness fade.
Come forth the Cards of Clow,
And let your magic shine,
For by the covenant we are under,
Together, we will combine."
As the incantation came to an end, a flash of radiant light was emitted as fifty-two designed cards seemed to come from all around the crystal's walls, surrounding Sakura, circling faster and faster around her. And then, they came to a halt before each card, one-by-one, dissolved into Sakura' chest – right where her heart was.
As the last card disappeared into its mistress, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief before she fell to her knees. Though the 'spell' had taken a lot out of her, she was not as weak as she used to be. "I-I-I did it!" She shouted triumphantly.
Gleefully, Tomoyo clapped her hands before she helped Sakura to her feet. "You truly are the Mistress of the Cards!" She said, citing the title Sakura earned with a voice edge with pride.
"Yeah… I guess I am!" She smiled happily. "Now… all we have to do is get out… And I think I know how to do it… with a little bend of the Clow rules…
"Shadow Card! Transform Tomoyo and I into shadows so that we can pass through the crystal's barrier! Release!"
And on command, a glowing light came from the center of Sakura's chest and encased Tomoyo and Sakura in its radiance. And shadows they became, almost transparent. And through the crystal they were able to escape and into the room.
"Come on!" Sakura breathed as she tugged on Tomoyo's hand, pulling her towards the shimmering sheet that was no doubt the edge of the painting. And they jumped through, going through, and then coming through the barrier, landing on their feet gently. Footsteps were heard, and they looked to their side… just to see a figure running towards them in a black cloak.
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Severus Snape flipped through the ancient book on his desk, greasy locks of tresses framing his pale face. His fingers groped a quill as he began to furiously write down information - but none that dealt with the art of potions.
"Of course… of course. Why did I not see it before?" He wondered as he read the description in the book, the words faded out, but with a little spell, could be read clearly.
"According to this… A prophecy was made in 1624 by a man that dealt with the mastery of cards. This prophecy was foretelling a danger that would be evident to the cards that he created. Clow Reed stated: A danger will be approaching in the future, more than four hundred years to go, that will result in a 'small' battle which is on the boarder line of good or evil. And one person possesses the destiny." However, the Chinese native's warnings and prophecy were told to be no more than a myth, according to Aine Ravenclaw of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and wizardry, descendent of Rowena Ravenclaw, one of Hogwart's founders' four."
Snape's mouth dropped open in astonishment. So this whole ordeal of the mysterious death in the forest, the disappearing of Hogwarts ghosts, and the mysterious note left by that death in the forest were all connected to Clow Reed. "I should've known…" He muttered. And a memory flashed in his mind from when the death was discovered, how a surprised look at crossed on Sakura's face. "And the Clow Reed persona was Asian… and Sakura lived in Japan her whole life…"
He flipped through a few more pages that just told about the life history of Hong Kong, Hogwarts, and then finally Clow Reed. "Aha…"
"One person will be the one to either break or create the coming of danger. Though not born yet, her destiny has already been laid out. Clow Reed stated: She shall be born in one place… but raised in another. And she will be by far one of the most powerful that ever lived. Initials that she goes by will be 'KS'. To look for more detail about cards, please…" He didn't need to know about 'more cards' – yet.
"Well… that description fitted Sakura. But 'KS'… that is not her initials… Sakura Lily Potter. SLP. Hmm…" And then it hit him. "Of course…her Japanese name is Kinomoto… and if I recall correctly… the Japanese record their names from last to first… Kinomoto Sakura," He finished off. Everything matched to the very last detail.
As soon as he had said the Mistress of the Cards' name, the room darkened. "What the bloody hell…" He muttered before a screen flashed before him, revealing a room that had two figures, almost like silhouettes, walking away from what looked to be a crystal, and towards a door. Then the scene shifted to a corridor, and then to a painting that was an exact replica of the room inside, completed with a crystal and all.
"That can only mean…" But he never did finish his sentence for he was already running out of his office… and towards where that painting was, with a little help from Sir Nicholas' guidance.
Running through the corridor, research papers and ancient reference book clutched in his hand, he turned a corner, catching the sight of two figures coming out from a portrait. "Odd…" But no time to think of odd stuff, like why there were two not one person. He shouted to them to halt, "Stop!"
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"Stop!" The two girls heard the figure shout.
"Run!" Sakura shrieked as Tomoyo needed no farther more instructions as they both dashed off in the opposite direction.
"Stop I say! Sakura Kinomoto!" Severus Snape shouted as his pupil had dashed off into a run, her friend, or whoever, closely behind.
Surprised, Sakura slowed in her tracks. "Wait Tomoyo… That person sounds familiar… Professor Snape?" She asked amazed. How did he know where she was. Was he part of the scam behind her capture and the possessing of the ghosts?
Breathing a bit heavily, he caught up to them. "Yes, it is me. And why are you here, exactly? Shouldn't you be in Japan with the rest of the team? And who the bloody hell is that?" He pointed the dark-haired girl behind his student.
Tomoyo trembled behind her friend. "Well, she is my second-cousin and best friend. Her name is Tomoyo Daidouji from Tomoeda, Japan," She informed him before she darted her own question at him. "And how did you know where we were?"
Taken back, Severus simply glared at the Gryffindor girl. Least she didn't look nearly alike as her father and brother. "Answer my question and I'll answer yours. Why and how did you get back to Hogwarts?"
Feeling that the only way to get his answer from him was to answer his questions. She was merely a student. Yet she was much more powerful. So, she told him the story from the airport to now. "Satisfied now? Answer my question."
"Don't speak to me that way," Severus growled. "Five points from Gryffindor."
She glared at him. "Fine. Would you kindly please answer my question?" She said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, I will." And he told her his story about his research ever since that mysterious death and note had turned up a few months earlier.
"Hm… So you know about the Clow Cards?" She questioned.
"Yes."
"I see…" And she turned to her friend, beginning to speak to her in Japanese. "Tomoyo-chan, we need to contact Syaoran, Meiling, and Eriol. I can get to Eriol but I'll need you to get to Syaoran and Meiling. I'm sure one of them has a cell phone. But we'll need to get to London, away from the wizardry world to make contact. Okay?"
"Hai, Sakura-chan."
"Eriol… isn't that the English child you had gone to visit a month ago?" Snape asked.
Sakura nodded. "Yes."
"What does he have to do with any of this?" He demanded.
"He has everything to do with it. He is the half-reincarnation of Clow Reed."
"What?! Then who is the other half? You?"
"No, my father, Fujitaka Kinomoto."
Severus sighed. "Well, if we want to 'save' our world, better get a move on. What will your friend 'slash' cousin do?"
"She is going to contact Syaoran Li, descendent of Clow Reed, and Meiling Li, fiancée and cousin of Syaoran."
"I see…" Though Severus clearly couldn't see what was up with people marrying interfamily-wise. "And since you are in the middle of this… incident, where do you think I should report?" Strange to be asking a mere child where he should be. But he wasn't, after all, the powerful sorceress in this operation.
"You will follow Tomoyo. She'll need protection so that devil of a abductor doesn't get her again. And you have a wand," She said simply as if that was obvious.
"Now go," She said before the golden symbol of Clow formed beneath her feet. "Fly! Release!" And light pink feathered wings sprouted from her back and she flew into the air. "Handy things, wings are," She grinned at the surprised face of her teacher.
"Oh, I don't have a camera!" Tomoyo pouted.
Sakura laughed, as Severus, somehow, someway, was able to understand her. Maybe it was the magic of the Clow? "Don't worry, Professor Snape. Tomoyo-chan can explain everything to you on the way to Muggle Londen.Tomoyo, tell them to meet me at Eriol's house."
"Hai!" And the three went their separate ways. Seems like Tomoyo-chan was never without a bodyguard, despite where she was, whether Muggle or Wizardry world.
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Author's Note: Yay, another chapter is here yet again! Quick writing, ne? xD I've got lots of ideas… all stuck in my little attic up here. –points to head- So I have lots of things to write and create. Hehe. The end of the story is coming up (a few more chapters then it's over), because, I've introduced a 'bad guy', Sakura is going to save the day, and all will be over. Well, not going to give away too much information… You all have to wait and read. Mwahahahahaha. Now, I said before that I won't be giving out anymore e-mails. Gomen, but it is true! Main reasons are because there as just too many e-mails (not that I'm complaining because they all came with wonderful reviews!) and because it is nearing the end of the story. I've enjoyed writing this story, even if it did go over a two year span. LOL. I've enjoyed giving you readers something to read, even if I posted every what… month? LOL. Well, next chapters are going to be coming soon! Please READ and REVIEW! -lives on reviews!- And until next time, ja`ne!!!