Disclaimer: Don't own it, won't own it, want to own it. (This pertains to
both CCS and HP)
Chapter Three
The last few days of August passed without much action. Sakura and Syaoran packed all their new things into the trunks that Eriol provided, and Sakura took extra care to make sure that the Sakura was in her special backpack to be carried with her. Syaoran, too, made sure that his sword and charms were in an easily accessible place. When September first rolled around, Eriol took them to the King's Cross train station to board their train.
"What platform is it?" Sakura asked.
"9 and ¾," Eriol replied.
Sakura blinked, "What?"
Eriol smiled, "Yes, platform 9 and ¾. Here, watch them." Eriol had pointed to a group of people. There were five of them, and four had flaming red hair. The fifth had dark hair and glasses. Sakura and Syaoran watched carefully as they approached the barrier between platforms nine and ten and then disappeared, as if there wasn't a wall at all. "Now it's your turn. The only trick is to disappear without being noticed by the Muggles."
"Muggles?"
"Non-magic people. It's a more common term used in Great Britain and America. If you're nervous about hitting the wall, just run at it."
Syaoran and Sakura looked at each other. They gripped their trolleys and then ran at the wall, expecting to crash into it, but instead they just kept running, and when they looked around, they found themselves on a platform labeled, "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."
Eriol followed closely behind them. "Well now, get on the train, and have fun at school. I daresay that you'll have fun. You're welcome at my home for Christmas."
Sakura hugged him, to his surprise, and Syaoran's dislike. He hugged her back. "I'll miss you, Eriol. Thank you so much for all this stuff!"
"No problem."
Syaoran looked pleased when Sakura released Eriol. She went back over to him, and he said, "Well, let's get on the train then."
By the time they were situated in a compartment, the train whistle sounded, and it took off for the school. Sakura sighed, and let Kero and Yue out. "Well, we're off to school...what do you guys think?"
Kero, in his temporary form, looked around, "Seems pretty nice...Do you guys have money?"
"Yeah, Eriol gave us some. Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. It's a little strange, but that's okay. What about you, Yue, what do you think?"
"It seems all right. I hope that you don't get yourself into too much trouble. It would probably be a good idea if I was simply in the book," Yue said.
"You're probably right. Do you want to go back in the book?"
"Yes, actually. Sleep would be the best thing for me right now. Cerberus, on the other hand, is another story," he closed his eyes and returned to the cover of the book.
Just then, the compartment door opened, and the three of them saw three other people. One was the dark haired boy they had seen cross the barrier, and another was one of the red-haired people he had been with. The third was a girl with bushy brown hair. The girl spoke first, "Oh, hello. Um...can we sit in here with you?"
Sakura smiled, "Sure! I'm Sakura Kinomoto, and this is my..." she hesitated. Saying he was her boyfriend would be a little awkward, "My friend, Syaoran Li."
The girl's eyes widened, "You're Sakura Kinomoto? I've read about you! Aren't you from Japan?" Her eyes turned to Syaoran, "And aren't you from Hong Kong? You're a member of the Li clan, right? My name is Hermione Granger, and this is Ron Weasley," she gestured to the red-haired boy, "and this," she gestured to the other boy, "is Harry Potter."
"It's very nice to meet you all," Sakura beamed. Kero, who was hiding behind her bag, chanced a look at them. Sakura giggled, "Kero-chan, just come out. They won't freak out about you."
Kero flew out, and the three of them stared at this floating lion cub with wings. Harry spoke first, "Who are you?"
Kero sounded very smug, "I am Cerberus, guardian beast of the Sakura."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "I call him Kero. You can too. It's all right. Um, Miss Granger..."
Hermione smiled, "It's all right. You can call me Hermione. In England, people don't use surnames as often."
Sakura smiled again, "Okay. Well, Hermione, how did you know about me?"
Ron snorted and sat down, "Are you kidding? Hermione reads like there's no tomorrow."
Hermione glared at him, "Quiet, Ron. Anyway, this year at Flourish and Blotts, I found a book about Clow Reed, by Kaho Mizuki, and I bought it. After she finished with Clow's history in the book, she began to talk about you, and your struggles to become Master of the Clow, and then how you finally turned all of the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards. That must have been difficult. Do you have your cards with you now?"
"Um...Yes...Hold on," Sakura reached for her bag and removed the Sakura. Then she took the key from around her neck, "Key with the power of the stars, reveal unto me thy true form. Release!" The key glowed and became the staff that Sakura was so familiar with. While Hermione, Harry, and Ron gawked at this different magic, and Syaoran observed patiently and silently, Sakura undid the clasp on the book and removed the 20 cards. "Hey, Syaoran, which card should I use?"
After thinking a moment, Syaoran replied, "Why not Flower? She'd be easy to use, and you could always get rid of the flowers later."
"You're right!" Sakura withdrew Flower and Erase from the pile, "Please show them some beautiful flowers!" She tapped the card with her staff, and cherry blossoms and peonies began floating all around them.
Hermione looked impressed. "Wow, that's so neat. They're so pretty."
Harry and Ron looked at each other. Harry spoke up a bit, "If you don't mind, could you get rid of these flowers?"
Sakura shrugged, "If you insist." She pulled out Erase, "Erase, remove these flowers from this place." The flowers disappeared.
Syaoran began the important conversation, "So, what is Hogwarts?"
Ron groaned, "You just had to ask..."
Hermione shot him a look, and then turned back to Syaoran, "Well, it's one of the most famous schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the world. Four of the greatest wizards and witches of the time; Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin founded it. The houses are named after them, and you're sorted into the houses by the school Sorting Hat. What house are you in?"
"Er..." Syaoran and Sakura looked at each other. "We weren't sorted into houses..."
Ron grinned, "Well, I hope you're in Gryffindor with us."
The five of them talked for several hours without interruption. Then the door opened, and three people were looking in. Harry, Ron and Hermione glared at them, and Sakura and Syaoran exchanged glances. Sakura gripped the staff next to her. "What d'you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked maliciously.
The blond boy smirked, "Well, Potter, I just wanted to see how you were doing this term. Quivering in your shoes?"
"Get out of here."
Malfoy's gaze fell on Sakura and Syaoran, "Who're you? I've never seen you here before."
Sakura answered his question, "Um...I'm Sakura Kinomoto, and this is Syaoran Li. We've been transferred into Hogwarts."
"Huh...So Dumbledore's trying to bring in reinforcements already? What's that?" he was looking at the Star staff.
"Nothing. Go away Malfoy," Harry tried to cover for Sakura.
Malfoy ignored him and moved forward to grab the staff. Before he had quite reached it, Syaoran had leapt up and grabbed his wrist. Twisting it almost the entire way around, he glared at him. "Leave her alone."
Malfoy's cheeks flushed slightly and he winced a little. The two boys he was with started forward, but Syaoran let go. Massaging his wrist, Malfoy gave Syaoran a look of such malice that he had never known. Then he turned to go, gesturing for the two large boys to follow him.
When the compartment door shut, Ron was just staring at Syaoran, "Wow...That was awesome..."
Hermione cleared her throat, "Guys, we should probably change into our robes. So you guys leave so that Sakura and I can get our robes on in peace."
"Yeah..." Ron was still staring at Syaoran in awe.
The boys left, and the girls began to change. Hermione looked at Sakura curiously, "Is Syaoran your boyfriend?"
Sakura blushed, "Er...Yeah..."
Hermione smiled, "I won't say anything, I promise."
The girls exchanged smiles.
*~*
The train finally arrived at the station. The five left the train together, but were quickly found by Professor McGonagall. Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked surprised and worried, but this was quickly cleared away when she gestured to Sakura and Syaoran. "Miss Kinomoto, Mr. Li, please follow me. Potter, what are you staring at? Surely you have heard about their special conditions? Or did you spend the entire train ride ignoring them?"
Harry blushed slightly, "Sorry, professor. See you at the feast guys." He left with Hermione and Ron to climb into a horseless carriage.
Professor McGonagall led Sakura and Syaoran into a different carriage. "Now, Kinomoto, Li, you two are entering Hogwarts in an unusual way. You have already had some magic training, but you now need a different sort. I am taking you directly to my office so that you can be sorted before the first years.
"I am assuming that Miss Granger gave you at least a brief history of this school on the train. Also, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley will tutor you, to get you caught up with the other sixth years. Do you understand?" They nodded. "Good. Here we are. Follow me, if you please."
*~*
A/N: Muahaha! Which house will Sakura and Syaoran be put into? What will Kero-chan do? Find out next time, when I have another chapter up!
Chapter Three
The last few days of August passed without much action. Sakura and Syaoran packed all their new things into the trunks that Eriol provided, and Sakura took extra care to make sure that the Sakura was in her special backpack to be carried with her. Syaoran, too, made sure that his sword and charms were in an easily accessible place. When September first rolled around, Eriol took them to the King's Cross train station to board their train.
"What platform is it?" Sakura asked.
"9 and ¾," Eriol replied.
Sakura blinked, "What?"
Eriol smiled, "Yes, platform 9 and ¾. Here, watch them." Eriol had pointed to a group of people. There were five of them, and four had flaming red hair. The fifth had dark hair and glasses. Sakura and Syaoran watched carefully as they approached the barrier between platforms nine and ten and then disappeared, as if there wasn't a wall at all. "Now it's your turn. The only trick is to disappear without being noticed by the Muggles."
"Muggles?"
"Non-magic people. It's a more common term used in Great Britain and America. If you're nervous about hitting the wall, just run at it."
Syaoran and Sakura looked at each other. They gripped their trolleys and then ran at the wall, expecting to crash into it, but instead they just kept running, and when they looked around, they found themselves on a platform labeled, "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."
Eriol followed closely behind them. "Well now, get on the train, and have fun at school. I daresay that you'll have fun. You're welcome at my home for Christmas."
Sakura hugged him, to his surprise, and Syaoran's dislike. He hugged her back. "I'll miss you, Eriol. Thank you so much for all this stuff!"
"No problem."
Syaoran looked pleased when Sakura released Eriol. She went back over to him, and he said, "Well, let's get on the train then."
By the time they were situated in a compartment, the train whistle sounded, and it took off for the school. Sakura sighed, and let Kero and Yue out. "Well, we're off to school...what do you guys think?"
Kero, in his temporary form, looked around, "Seems pretty nice...Do you guys have money?"
"Yeah, Eriol gave us some. Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. It's a little strange, but that's okay. What about you, Yue, what do you think?"
"It seems all right. I hope that you don't get yourself into too much trouble. It would probably be a good idea if I was simply in the book," Yue said.
"You're probably right. Do you want to go back in the book?"
"Yes, actually. Sleep would be the best thing for me right now. Cerberus, on the other hand, is another story," he closed his eyes and returned to the cover of the book.
Just then, the compartment door opened, and the three of them saw three other people. One was the dark haired boy they had seen cross the barrier, and another was one of the red-haired people he had been with. The third was a girl with bushy brown hair. The girl spoke first, "Oh, hello. Um...can we sit in here with you?"
Sakura smiled, "Sure! I'm Sakura Kinomoto, and this is my..." she hesitated. Saying he was her boyfriend would be a little awkward, "My friend, Syaoran Li."
The girl's eyes widened, "You're Sakura Kinomoto? I've read about you! Aren't you from Japan?" Her eyes turned to Syaoran, "And aren't you from Hong Kong? You're a member of the Li clan, right? My name is Hermione Granger, and this is Ron Weasley," she gestured to the red-haired boy, "and this," she gestured to the other boy, "is Harry Potter."
"It's very nice to meet you all," Sakura beamed. Kero, who was hiding behind her bag, chanced a look at them. Sakura giggled, "Kero-chan, just come out. They won't freak out about you."
Kero flew out, and the three of them stared at this floating lion cub with wings. Harry spoke first, "Who are you?"
Kero sounded very smug, "I am Cerberus, guardian beast of the Sakura."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "I call him Kero. You can too. It's all right. Um, Miss Granger..."
Hermione smiled, "It's all right. You can call me Hermione. In England, people don't use surnames as often."
Sakura smiled again, "Okay. Well, Hermione, how did you know about me?"
Ron snorted and sat down, "Are you kidding? Hermione reads like there's no tomorrow."
Hermione glared at him, "Quiet, Ron. Anyway, this year at Flourish and Blotts, I found a book about Clow Reed, by Kaho Mizuki, and I bought it. After she finished with Clow's history in the book, she began to talk about you, and your struggles to become Master of the Clow, and then how you finally turned all of the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards. That must have been difficult. Do you have your cards with you now?"
"Um...Yes...Hold on," Sakura reached for her bag and removed the Sakura. Then she took the key from around her neck, "Key with the power of the stars, reveal unto me thy true form. Release!" The key glowed and became the staff that Sakura was so familiar with. While Hermione, Harry, and Ron gawked at this different magic, and Syaoran observed patiently and silently, Sakura undid the clasp on the book and removed the 20 cards. "Hey, Syaoran, which card should I use?"
After thinking a moment, Syaoran replied, "Why not Flower? She'd be easy to use, and you could always get rid of the flowers later."
"You're right!" Sakura withdrew Flower and Erase from the pile, "Please show them some beautiful flowers!" She tapped the card with her staff, and cherry blossoms and peonies began floating all around them.
Hermione looked impressed. "Wow, that's so neat. They're so pretty."
Harry and Ron looked at each other. Harry spoke up a bit, "If you don't mind, could you get rid of these flowers?"
Sakura shrugged, "If you insist." She pulled out Erase, "Erase, remove these flowers from this place." The flowers disappeared.
Syaoran began the important conversation, "So, what is Hogwarts?"
Ron groaned, "You just had to ask..."
Hermione shot him a look, and then turned back to Syaoran, "Well, it's one of the most famous schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the world. Four of the greatest wizards and witches of the time; Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin founded it. The houses are named after them, and you're sorted into the houses by the school Sorting Hat. What house are you in?"
"Er..." Syaoran and Sakura looked at each other. "We weren't sorted into houses..."
Ron grinned, "Well, I hope you're in Gryffindor with us."
The five of them talked for several hours without interruption. Then the door opened, and three people were looking in. Harry, Ron and Hermione glared at them, and Sakura and Syaoran exchanged glances. Sakura gripped the staff next to her. "What d'you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked maliciously.
The blond boy smirked, "Well, Potter, I just wanted to see how you were doing this term. Quivering in your shoes?"
"Get out of here."
Malfoy's gaze fell on Sakura and Syaoran, "Who're you? I've never seen you here before."
Sakura answered his question, "Um...I'm Sakura Kinomoto, and this is Syaoran Li. We've been transferred into Hogwarts."
"Huh...So Dumbledore's trying to bring in reinforcements already? What's that?" he was looking at the Star staff.
"Nothing. Go away Malfoy," Harry tried to cover for Sakura.
Malfoy ignored him and moved forward to grab the staff. Before he had quite reached it, Syaoran had leapt up and grabbed his wrist. Twisting it almost the entire way around, he glared at him. "Leave her alone."
Malfoy's cheeks flushed slightly and he winced a little. The two boys he was with started forward, but Syaoran let go. Massaging his wrist, Malfoy gave Syaoran a look of such malice that he had never known. Then he turned to go, gesturing for the two large boys to follow him.
When the compartment door shut, Ron was just staring at Syaoran, "Wow...That was awesome..."
Hermione cleared her throat, "Guys, we should probably change into our robes. So you guys leave so that Sakura and I can get our robes on in peace."
"Yeah..." Ron was still staring at Syaoran in awe.
The boys left, and the girls began to change. Hermione looked at Sakura curiously, "Is Syaoran your boyfriend?"
Sakura blushed, "Er...Yeah..."
Hermione smiled, "I won't say anything, I promise."
The girls exchanged smiles.
*~*
The train finally arrived at the station. The five left the train together, but were quickly found by Professor McGonagall. Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked surprised and worried, but this was quickly cleared away when she gestured to Sakura and Syaoran. "Miss Kinomoto, Mr. Li, please follow me. Potter, what are you staring at? Surely you have heard about their special conditions? Or did you spend the entire train ride ignoring them?"
Harry blushed slightly, "Sorry, professor. See you at the feast guys." He left with Hermione and Ron to climb into a horseless carriage.
Professor McGonagall led Sakura and Syaoran into a different carriage. "Now, Kinomoto, Li, you two are entering Hogwarts in an unusual way. You have already had some magic training, but you now need a different sort. I am taking you directly to my office so that you can be sorted before the first years.
"I am assuming that Miss Granger gave you at least a brief history of this school on the train. Also, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley will tutor you, to get you caught up with the other sixth years. Do you understand?" They nodded. "Good. Here we are. Follow me, if you please."
*~*
A/N: Muahaha! Which house will Sakura and Syaoran be put into? What will Kero-chan do? Find out next time, when I have another chapter up!