Chapter 10
Hermoine escaped from Ron's room and leaned against the closed door, breathing hard. She could not believe it! It was a dream come true! Ron had asked her to the Christmas Ball. She ran down the stairs and into the common room when she saw Sakura and Kero speaking animatedly in Japanese.
"Sakura," breathed Hermoine. Sakura and Kero turned to see a flushed Hermoine walking towards them. Kero furrowed his brow as he munched on the cookies Sakura had brought from the great hall.
"What's up Hermoine? You look flushed!" asked Sakura.
"Yeah like how Sakura looks after she snoggs that Syaoran kid," said Kero. Sakura raised her fist at him and he backed away, laughing nervously.
"Well, I did just snogg someone…" Hermoine trailed off and she blushed. Sakura gasped while Kero gaped at her.
"WHO?" squeaked Sakura as she pulled Hermoine down onto the chair beside her. Hermoine did not reply but blushed harder. Sakura suddenly realized who it was.
"Not Ron," breathed Sakura. Kero's eyes widened. Before Hermoine came down, he and Sakura were discussing what was happening up there. Sakura betted on a plate of cookies that they were snogging and Kero betted that they killed one another.
Please… don't tell me that you-
Hermoine blushed harder and nodded. Sakura threw her fist in the air and laughed while Kero felt faint and floated pointlessly onto Hermoine's hand. Sakura continued laughing while Kero whined.
"What?" Hermoine asked blankly. Sakura stopped laughing for a minute and told Hermoine about the bet. Hermoine joined in the laughter and Kero groaned.
"MY COOKIES!!" He whined.
"Tell me the details!" begged Sakura when they stopped laughing. Kero sighed. What a weird mistress he had!
JapanSyaoran and Tomoyo sat at the dinner table at Tomoyo's house, sipping wine silently.
"How do you think Sakura is?" asked Tomoyo absently. Syaoran shrugged.
"I just hope that she's alright," he murmured as he raised his glass to Tomoyo. Tomoyo smiled and returned the greeting. As Syaoran put his glass down, he rose to leave but a sudden bust of light behind him made him stop in his tracks. He did not dare hope and turned. Tomoyo was staring at Kari happily and Kari nodded to Syaoran. Syaoran caught the message and grinned. Tomoyo looked at Syaoran, bewildered.
"Let's go." He said simply. Tomoyo lit up and smiled her brightest smile at the angel. Kari stepped away and behind them was a portal of colours. They both stepped into it without hesitation, out of the present world, to a place where dreams came true…
They both stepped out of the portal to find themselves in a strangely familiar room. There were sleeping portraits of sleeping people, who are really snoring and strange machines clicking in the background. A small caw attracted their attention and they turned to see a fiery bird with astonishingly orange feathers. They recognized the bird at once as it flew onto Syaoran's shoulder. Syaoran stroked it absently and looked at Tomoyo with a bemused expression. They, somehow, had landed in the headmaster's office. The thing is, the headmaster wasn't there. Just as they thought of that, the door of the room opened and a man with midnight blue robes and white, long beard which was covering at least ¾ of his face. Fawks, the phoenix on Syaoran's shoulder, flew to the old man and onto his arm. Dumbledor smile warmly at the two new comers.
"I see that Kari had finally regained her powers," Dumbledor said softly as he made his way to the seat behind the desk, waving his wand to make two more. Syaoran and Tomoyo sat down.
"Yes, Professor. But can you tell us what is going on exactly? I'm still in a bit of a muddle now," confessed Tomoyo. Dumbledor chuckled and told them in full detail about the prophecy and Sakura's job.
"Where is she now?" asked Syaoran. Dumbledor smiled.
"She's at the Gryfindor common room now. I think that she's ready for… visitors." Said Dumbledor with a twinkle in his eyes. The portraits, who have been earnestly eavesdropping on the conversation, knew what Dumbledor meant and sniggered. Tomoyo looked down a hid a grin. Syaoran, who was the targeted jokes now, groaned and buried his flushed face into his hands. Why must he be always be the butt of everyone's joke?
"Too bad Eriol isn't here. Or else I could have teased Tomoyo," muttered Syaoran bitterly. Tomoyo laughed and shook her head, sighing at the thought of her boyfriend.
"Yeah, too bad," she said at last and looked at Dumbledor. Syaoran stood up too and they grinned at Dumbeldor.
"See you, Professor. I suppose that we won't be a discrepancy to the daily workings of Hogwarts this Christmas?" asked Tomoyo politely. Dumbeldor shook his head.
"Speaking of Christmas, there's going to be a ball tonight. Maybe you two would like to join us?" asked Dumbledor. Tomoyo's eyes started sparkling when she heard the word, 'ball' and Syaoran grinned.
"You shouldn't have mentioned that. Now she's psyched." Said Syaoran as he inched towards the door slowly. Tomoyo did not notice but clasped her hands together.
"Did you say, ball? With all the GOWNS?!?! Ahh! Kawaii! I'm going to make a new dress for Sakura. And a suit for Syaoran too! Yeah! Hey! Syaoran! Wait up!" cried Tomoyo as she ran out of the Headmaster's office after Syaoran, leaving a very bemused man behind her.
Syaoran saw Tomoyo chase after him and ran a little faster to the Gryfindor common room, ignoring curious stares from students. Tomoyo was catching up and Syaoran was coming nearer and nearer to his target. Just then, he remembered something…
He did not have the password to get it.
Syaoran almost cried in despair when he stopped in front of the fat lady's portrait. They lady peered at Syaoran curiously.
"Who are you?" she asked. Syaoran did not have time to answer as Tomoyo was already cornering him, guarded with the most cruel torture equipment. Her measuring tape. She approached him slowly, grinning like a mad woman. Syaoran gulped nervously. He was wishing, for once, that Eriol were here to control his own woman. Syaoran resorted to his only way out.
"Sakura- chan!" he screamed. Tomoyo froze for a second but continued advancing towards him. Syaoran panicked and glared at Tomoyo.
"Come any closer and I will attack you. Don't make me hurt you Tomoyo," growled Syaoran. Tomoyo laughed evilly and grinned.
"Try me," she retorted and swayed her hands, making the piece of tape swirl. Syaoran felt cold sweat on the back of his neck.
"SAKURA KINOMOTO!!!" He shouted and the door to the common room swung opened. Syaoran turned and then he saw her. Her auburn hair and emerald eyes filled with shock.
"S- Syaoran?" stammered Sakura. She could not believe it! When she heard her name being called the first time, she dared not imagine that it was really Syaoran. Now, she realized that he was really here. Syaoran looked terrified.
"Sakura, Tomoyo heard about the ball and-" started Syaoran but before she could react, Syaoran dragged her back into the common room and behind the chair. Tomoyo entered with an evil gleam in her eyes and Sakura realized what had happened. Tomoyo was after Syaoran because she wanted to make clothes for him. They must have heard about the ball. Despite herself, Sakura laughed nervously and stepped away from Syaoran. He gaped at her.
"You're in this alone," said Sakura with a grin. Syaoran looked at Sakura, then Tomoyo, and then realized that there was someone else in the room.
"Hey Hermoine, Kero!" Kero's name came up in a yell as Tomoyo pounced on him. Syaoran scrambled in his feet and ran behind Sakura. Sakura laughed.
"Come on, stop it you two. You're both making a fool of yourselves. Tomoyo, Give- me- that!" warned Sakura as she yanked the measuring tape from her hands. Tomoyo groaned but regained her composure, running towards her best friend to give her a hug.
"I missed you!" exclaimed Tomoyo. Sakura laughed and gave her best friend another hug.
"Hey, what about me?" asked Syaoran with a small pout. Sakura laughed and hugged him.
"You get a better one," whispered Sakura and gave him a peck on the cheek. Everyone in the room sniggered and Syaoran groaned.
"Why do I always get teased? First, that Eriol teases me. Then it was Dumbledor and his portraits. Now its you guys." Said Syaoran with a small grin. Sakura linked her arms in his and laughed.
"You should realize that Tomoyo's going to make those clothes for us," reasoned Sakura. Syaoran shook his head.
"Can't. The ball's this evening. She can't work that fast!" exclaimed Syaoran as he saw Ron coming down the stairs with a puzzled looked on his face. Hermoine flushed visibly and Sakura avoided Kero's gaze, as she knew that she would start laughing if she did.
"What's going on?" asked Ron as his gaze landed on Syaoran and Tomoyo.
"Wait a minute… you both look familiar," thought Ron aloud. Tomoyo just grinned.