Daphne: "Tenth chapter! I hope you enjoy it.

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Hogwarts-Sakura Style

by: Daphne LI

Chapter 10.















"Happy Christmas to me, Happy Christmas to me! Happy Christmas to mee-hee, Happy Christmas to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Ron sang, as he jumped down the stairs Christmas day. The week before had been rather dull for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, because most of the other students had left for Christmas Vacation. But now it was Christmas day, and Ron had woken them with his annoying song.

"Yes, Happy Christmas to you, now shut your bleeding mouth and go back to sleep!" Yelled a half-asleep Hermione. Harry just groaned and turned over in bed. Ron let out an annoyed sigh, and then got a mischievous grin on his face.

"Oh, bloody hell! Crookshanks has ripped through all the presents!" Ron shouted, pretending to be enraged.

"WHAT?!"

"NO, CROOKSHANKS! BAD KITTY!" Hermione cried, as she and Harry came tumbling down the stairs from their dormitories. Ron broke into uproarious laughter and doubled over, trying to catch his breath.

"You---should have seen your faces! It was bloody priceless!" He chuckled, as they both shot him death-glares. Harry went for Ron's stomach, while Hermione took his neck; she didn't get very far. Before her hands could latch onto his neck, he had secured them in his own, and placed a set of dizzying kisses on her lips, much to Harry's annoyance. Hermione immediately calmed and gave a delighted moan as Ron's lips trailed down her neck.

"Alright, you two! Break it up. Snogging is for the bedroom, not in public- or in front of me!" He added, as they turned bright red. The two guilty shuffled away from each other and made at the presents.

"Oh! Look what Sirius sent me!" Harry laughed, holding up a prank-playing kit. Remus had also sent him some dung bombs ("Just in case!") and some filibuster fireworks. Ginny had given him a crystal stag that she had managed to make on her own, which Harry had stared at in awe, and then protectively stuffed it in his pocket so he could examine it later, when Ron and Hermione weren't there. Harry was also delighted when he reached three packages that read, 'From Sakura, Tomoyo, and Rika'.

First he opened Sakura's, and found several books on Animagi and how to become them. Harry got the suspicion that they were normally not used for public use, and he wondered where she had gotten them. Tomoyo had given him a small camera, with a spell on it that made it so anything he took a picture of, would be like a movie when he got the film developed. Rika had given him a portrait of a rambling countryside, complete with waving flowers and a distant forest. If you listened carefully, you could hear the trees rustling in the slight breeze that moved across the picture.

"Cool!" Ron exclaimed. The 'Mortal Angels' had gotten him several 'Ron- like' presents, including a autographed picture of themselves as a joke. Ron, however, had enjoyed this present the most, and had set it up so he could see it from his bed. Hermione had gotten a book on different hair- styles to use, and she had immediately gone at her hair with fervor. After a while, she had managed to do a *very* fancy french-braid, which Ron gaped at for a while, before she pulled him into their second snog session of the day. Harry rolled his eyes and then pulled the crystal stag out of his pocket, looking it over carefully. It seemed to have a distinct aura of Ginny too it, and as he moved it across his hand, he felt a comforting feeling rush through his veins. Suddenly, a small, red blinking light caught the edge of his vision and he looked over to see something lying on the floor. It looked like a small, black piece of square plastic, with a blinking light in the very center. Curious, Harry went over, picked it up and ran his finger over the light. There was a slight buzzing noise, and than Harry was astonished to see Ginny sitting right next to him!

"GINNY?!?!" He shouted, much to the girl's amusement. Ron quit kissing Hermione, opened his eyes, and gave a yelp, while Hermione simply gaped.

"Happy Christmas, everyone!" She said cheerfully, he voice echoing and sounding far off. They simply stared at her and she grinned.

"It is a transmitter that Dumbledore gave us to communicate with. Except this one is a little different. I am actually projected into the room with you all, until the conversation is finished. In fact, even though you can't see it, Sakura and everyone else are here with me, and watching us talk!" Ginny added, giggling.

"Wow! So this is how the teachers have known how you have been! Oh, and Happy Christmas to you, too." Harry said, finally coming out of his stupor. She smiled and then noticed that he still had her present clutched in his hand. She blushed and looked over at her brother.

"Snogging with Hermione again, were you?" She teased, much to his embarrassment. He then frowned.

"Ginny, why didn't you tell me you were going?" He asked. She looked troubled.

"Because I knew that if I did, you would freak out at me." She answered simply. Hermione crossed her arms in a disbelieving way.

"Uh-huh...so explain to us why, exactly, the teachers are acting so protective of you all of the sudden?" She countered. Ginny visibly paled.

"I don't know what you are talking about, 'Mione. I am in the company of several *very* famous people, and it can be quite dangerous at times." She said, skittering around the question. But Hermione was not ready to give up.

"And what about this sudden interest that a certain wizard-namely 'You-Know- Who', has in you?" She pushed. Unfortunately, she pushed just a little too hard.

"Who said anything about Voldemort wanting me? Now, if you will excuse me, we have a very big party to attend, so I need to go now. I hope the rest of your vacation goes well!" Ginny called, as her image shimmered and then evaporated into thin air. Harry, Ron, and Hermione gaped at each other.

"Something is *definitely* going on." Harry mumbled, looking down at the crystal stag in his hand. It almost seemed to be glowing, but that was impossible-right?

~*~*~*~



"Ginny, I would like you to meet our friends! Chiharu, Yamazaki, and Naoko, this is Virginia Weasley. Ginny, these are Chiharu, Yamazaki, and Naoko." Rika introduced that night, at the party. It was a Christmas party that Sonomi had set up in their honor. During their stay, Sonomi had become quite close to all three of the magical-world born students. Even Draco, who had always openly showed violent hatred towards Muggles, had melted under this kind woman's hand. Presently, the girls were introducing their new friends to their old ones.

Ginny was in a simple, long-sleeved, light green dress. It's skirt reached to her knees, and it clung in all the right places. She wore green pumps on her feet and her hair was pulled back into a french braid. The dress had been made by Tomoyo, who had taken great care in fitting it just to Ginny's tastes.

Sakura, who was nearby, was wearing a forest-green dress that clung to her upper body, but fluttered out at the skirt, which reached to just above her knees. The sleeves of her dress fell away at the elbow, but trailed down clear to her wrists. Her hair was pulled up into a half-ponytail, and held there by a red ribbon. She wore dark-green pumps on her feet, and the only jewelry that she wore was the emerald heart necklace that Syaoran had given her for Christmas.

Meiling was in a light-red gown, that flowed to her knees. The sleeves were tight and reached to her wrists, and the neck was a V. She wore high-healed red shoes, and a string of pearls about her neck. Her hair was pulled up into ringlets at the top of her head, and secured there by pearl pins.

Rika was wearing a light blue dress that reached past her knees, and had long, scalloped sleeves. It had a round neck, that was touched off by a bit of lace. She wore blue pumps, and a gold chain strung with sapphires, around her neck. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, with several blue ribbons entwined in it.

Lastly, Tomoyo was in a lavender dress that reached to just below her knees. The sleeves were three-quarter, and the neck was a slight V. She wore purple pumps on her feet and a string of amethysts around her neck and on her right wrist. Her hair was pulled up into sleek coils at the top of her head and secured with amethyst pins.

The young men had gone for casual dress outfits. They all wore dress shirts, slacks, and black shoes. Syaoran wore dark green shirt and pants, Eriol blue, and Draco and Neville wore black. Presently, Eriol and Syaoran were introducing Draco and Neville to Yamazaki and some of their other old friends.

"Wow! You all look so great! To think that you are going to a private school in *London*! That is so romantic!" Chiharu squealed. Everyone looked at her in confusion.

"Since when was Chiharu interested in 'romance'?" Rika asked. Naoko grinned.

"Since Yamazaki asked her to marry him." She said slyly. Everyone gaped.

"You're getting married?!?!"

"Where, When?"

"Congratulations! I was waiting for you both to come to your senses!"

"I get to make your wedding dress!" Tomoyo shrieked, causing everyone to look at her funny. Chiharu was practically glowing as Yamazaki walked over to them and slid his arm around her waist. They shared a very passionate kiss, and got cheers from all of their friends.

"Now, you can tell them about Ukawa." Chiharu shot back at Naoko. Naoko blushed and turned away.

"Um...he is a very good friend..." She stammered. Chiharu snorted.

"They are practically engaged." She corrected, much to Naoko's embarrassment. Just then, a handsome, blonde-haired young man came over and slipped his arm around Naoko's waist. She smiled up into his green eyes and then he led her off. Her friends tried to contain their snickers.

"Well I'll be." Rika murmured.

"Things certainly have changed." Tomoyo added softly, her eyes softening. Eriol nodded.

"They most certainly have."

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"What a night!" Rika moaned after the party, as she kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto her sleeping bag. They had all decided to sleep in the ballroom, so they could talk and party all they wanted. Tomoyo had secured several bags of popcorn, candy, and chips, and some sodas. She had also brought out a huge stack of cd's and had placed them near the large sound- system for later. Her mother had secured the butler and several gardeners to lug in the giant TV set and DVD player.

The girls had placed their sleeping bags in a circle, with their heads in the middle, while the boys formed a smaller circle the same way, next to them. The snacks and things were placed in between the two groups.

"Now, what do you want to do first. Movies, or games?" Tomoyo asked,

"Games!" Naoko called out, her eyes shinning. It had been a long time since they had had a sleep-over.

"Fine. The choices are, 'Spin-the-Bottle', 'Truth-or-Dare', or extended stories." Eriol said, his voice brimming with laughter. Syaoran glared at him, but said nothing.

"Erm-extended stories sounds like fun." Neville said hesitantly. Half the people in the room gave relieved sighs, while Eriol, Tomoyo and Chiharu looked disappointed. Syaoran grinned at Eriol's foiled attempt to get Sakura and himself to tell the reason that they were going to China; yes, Syaoran knew that that was *Eriol's* wish, Tomoyo only wanted to tape a 'kawaii kiss', while Chiharu was bummed because she wouldn't get a chance to kiss Yamazaki. They got into a circle and Sakura quickly explained the game for those who had not played it before.

"Alright, I'll start." Sakura continued. "Once there was a very beautiful princess who lived in a shinning palace. She had everything that she wanted, except one thing-" At this, Sakura motioned to the person on her left, who happened to be Eriol.

"-a biker dude. She had always wanted a rough and tough man, but her father had made it clear that she was to marry a stiff and horrid prince. So-" Eriol stopped and pointed to Yamazaki, who was across from him, amid snickers and giggles from his friends.

"-so she ran away into the forest. There, she encountered a dragon, who was well known for eating virgins. Hey, did you know that virgins-" Yamazaki never got to finish, because Chiharu hit him over the head and began to strangle him. As he fell to the floor, Yamazaki quickly pointed to Neville, and the game went on, despite a short interlude when Yamazaki and Chiharu began to make out, and Tomoyo informed them that she had to tape it.

Half an hour after this, the group decided to change into their pajamas and then get ready to watch movies. When they were through, Tomoyo held up a whole sheaf of DVDs.

"Which ones? We have, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'Princess Monanoke', 'Spaceballs', and a whole lot more." Tomoyo said, spreading them out. In the end, they chose to watch 'Princess Monanoke' and 'Spaceballs'. After that, they spent a few more hours chatting, till it was way past midnight; but when you have been away from your friends for so long, what else would you do?!

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Four days later, they were on their way to China, flying in one of the Li's private jets. Wei had come to pick them up, and see them safely back to the Li home.

"China is so much bigger than Japan, isn't it?" Neville questioned.

"It most certainly is, Mr. Longbottom." Wei answered, as he poured Neville a cup of tea. Meiling was sitting next to him, looking excitedly out the window. Across from them, Tomoyo and Eriol were quietly plotting ways to get Ginny and Harry together. In front of them, Sakura and Syaoran slept, Sakura's head resting on her soon-to-be-fiancee's shoulder. Across from them, sat Ginny and Nakuru, who were cooing over Rose. Fujitaka, Touya, and Yukito had decided to take a later flight and meet up with them in a few days.

Suddenly, the 'Fasten Seat-belt' sign flashed on, and Tomoyo was forced to wake up Sakura and Syaoran. After the plane landed, Wei guided them through the mob of reporters, well-wishers, and other people, to the limo that was waiting outside the airport. It did not take them long to reach Syaoran's house after that.

"Oh my bloody-" Neville began, but Meiling covered his mouth and grinned at the rest of them. They had just gotten out of the limo and were now standing in front of Syaoran's home; or should I say, mansion...

"Welcome to the Li mansion. I hope you will enjoy your stay. Personal tours will begin as soon as introductions are over." Meiling said in a funny voice. The others laughed and all the tension was gone. They slowly walked into the entrance hall, admiring the marble floors and fern-like plants that resided in the hall. Suddenly, a beautiful, black-haired woman walked into the room and smiled at them.

"Sakura darling! How are you?" She greeted, stepping forward and hugging Sakura. Sakura hugged back and smiled.

"Very well, thank you." She said, stepping back. Syaoran moved forward and stiffly bowed to his mother, who hugged him as well, much to his embarrassment. She was then introduced to the three new people and greeted Tomoyo, Meiling, Rika and Eriol.

"LITTLE BROTHER!"

"Sakura-chan! You are looking soooooooo kawaii!"

"OH! More cute people!"

"Aren't they adorable!"

Everyone who knew Syaoran's sisters groaned and backed up, leaving poor Ginny, Neville and Draco open to the hyper girls advances. Soon, the three foreigners began to look quite ruffled, and Yelan was forced to separate her daughters from the guests. Even Nakuru seemed to be a bit overwhelmed by the girls and clutched to little Rose as if her life depended on it. The baby had woken and was now staring at the four hyper girls with a look of innocent curiosity. Syaoran saw this.

"Don't even ask. You will want to stay away from them. You don't want to end up with bows and ribbons in your hair, do you?" He warned. The baby gave a gurgle and then yawned, blinking her big eyes. Her audience grinned at this and Nakuru reminded them that Rose needed a rest.

Meiling led them all to the second floor and showed them their rooms. Syaoran was the first room to the right, and it was all green, just like his favorite color. Sakura had been put in the bedroom next to his, and hers was all pink. Tomoyo was next to her, and her room was all different shades of purple. Eriol came next with a blue room. Across the hall from Syaoran was Meiling's room, which had different shades of rose and red in it. Ginny's room was next, with a light green room. Rika chose the room next to Ginny, which was painted all in light blues and greens. Draco was next, his room was a sort of yellow color. Lastly was Neville's room, which was in light orange. Nakuru and Rose were in a room on Syaoran's sisters wing.

"Perhaps we had better get some sleep. We have a long week coming up." Tomoyo suggested. The exhausted group did not argue, and within the next hour, everyone had fallen asleep, dreaming of sweet things that they hoped would come true.

~*~*~*~



"Oh, Ginny! You look so beautiful!" Sakura breathed, as Ginny came out from behind the screen. The girls were now getting ready for the engagement party was being thrown for Sakura and Syaoran. Tomoyo had made all the girls dresses again, and all the girls agreed that she had done an admirable job. Earlier that week, Sakura and Syaoran had gone to the Elders with their decision, and suffice to say, the Elders were thrilled.

Ginny was now clad in a shimmery, forest-green satin dress that reached to the floor; it was fitted so it was almost like a second skin, hugging her feminine curves and showing off a lot more skin than usual. It was a V- necked, halter dress, and it had a slit up the right side of the skirt that reached to just above her knees. Every time she took a step, the slit would open to reveal well-toned legs. She wore a string of emeralds across her throat, an emerald bracelet, and some dangly emerald, tear-drop earrings, courtesy of Sonomi, who had given them to Ginny as a Christmas present. Her hair was pulled up into ringlets at the top of her head, and secured with emerald-encrusted pins (also a present from Sonomi). Some curls were allowed to escape from the rest and fell down to frame her lovely face. A pair of high-healed, forest-green stiletto slippers completed the picture.

Meiling was garbed in a clingy, wine-red silk dress with spaghetti-straps and a skirt that reached to the floor. She also had a silk wrapper that wrapped around her shoulders, giving her an enchanting look. Her hair was pulled up into a *very* fancy bun at the top of her head, and was secured with ruby-red ribbons. A necklace strung with rubies hung about her neck, she wore a ruby bracelet, and a pair of ruby studs in her ears. She wore ruby slippers on her feet.

Rika was wearing a baby-blue, strapless chiffon dress, that had a tight bodice, but flowed out from her curvy waist all the way to the floor. She wore an aquamarine choker, bracelet and dangly earrings. Her hair was pulled back into a fancy half-ponytail, and the ponytail part was braided and then pined up in a crown at the top of her head with aquamarine pins. Blue slippers finished off the picture.

Sakura was clad in an off-the-shoulder, soft pink satin gown, that clung to her body quite exquisitely at the top, and then flowed out at the skirt. The skirt reached to the floor, and a slit ran up it's right side, to just above her knee. Her hair had been pulled up into ringlets as well, but a few of them were allowed to fall down, framing her face and neck quite lovingly. She wore a choker studded with pink diamonds that Yelan had sent her, and pink diamond tear-drop earrings, also courtesy of Yelan. Pink, high-healed slippers completed the effect.

And for her own dress, Tomoyo had concocted a dress of creamy satin and silk, embroidered with pearls. The dress had spaghetti-straps, and it's skirt floated down to the floor, pooling around her. It hugged her curves just right, and it looked absolutely ravishing. On her wrist she added an amethyst bracelet, and a string of amethysts and pearls hung from her neck. Her earrings were pearls, with a tiny amethyst centered directly in the middle of the setting. Her hair had been braided tastefully around her head, with a few strands allowed to flow out and curl about her face and at the nape of her neck. The creamy-white slippers she wore on her feet finished off the effect.

"Now, Ginny, you will be first to go down the staircase. I will be next, then Tomoyo, then Rika, and then Sakura." Meiling stated, looking around at all the anxious, nervous girls. They nodded and exited the room.

~*~*~*~

It was time. Everyone else had entered the Ballroom, and now it was Sakura's turn. Timidly, she approached the staircase and began to walk down, oblivious to all the admiring glances and comments that she was getting. Instead, her eyes searched the crowd until she found her father, brother and Yukito, standing beside her friends. Touya was glaring, but for some strange reason, he looked proud. Then her eyes searched the crowd until they rested upon the person who was waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase. He was in a dark-green tuxedo, and looked quite handsome. His chestnut locks were still in their every-messy style, but his eyes held something close to rapture as he watched her descend. It was Li Syaoran; Her Xiaolang.

Sakura finally reached the bottom and took his outstretched hand. It was required that they dance the first dance together, but neither of them minded at all. Tenderly, as though touching something celestial, he pulled her into his arms and swirled her into the dance. The two stared into each other's eyes, hardly aware that there was anyone else in the room, until they heard a quiet, "Kawaii!" from the audience. Syaoran groaned at Tomoyo's overused phrase, and Sakura blushed.

"Everyone is watching us." She whispered. Syaoran grinned.

"I wonder why!" He laughed. She smiled and then looked around. Eriol had just pulled Tomoyo onto the dance floor, and they were grinning at each other. Meiling and Neville had snuck out onto one of the balconies and were slowly swaying to the music, wrapped in each other's arms. Earlier that week, Neville had shyly asked Meiling on a date, and she had happily accepted. Rika and Draco, who had been talking animatedly and sipping sparkling-cider from stemmed glasses just a few minutes before, had disappeared from the scene entirely. Ginny was presently wandering around the room, taping everything with one of Tomoyo's extra video cameras.

"Why don't we go out into the gardens and dance. It will be less crowded there." Syaoran murmured into her ear, as he led her out into the night. Behind them, Tomoyo broke away from Eriol, grabbed both him and Ginny, and dragged them towards the gardens as well, pulling another of her camera's out of nowhere.

In the gardens, Tomoyo ducked behind a bush, her camera trained on the now dancing Sakura and Syaoran. Eriol snuck up behind her and placed his warm hands onto her shoulders. Ginny decided that she was thirsty, and she ducked back inside to secure herself some raspberry sparkling cider.

"Well, the engagement is official now." Syaoran commented, looking down at her lovingly. Sakura got a mischievous look on her face and smirked.

"I can break it off anytime I want..." She threatened. He frowned and growled at her as she pulled away from him and pretended to walk calmly away. Syaoran growled again and reached out to grab her arm, his face pinched into a scowl...

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