The One I Love The Most

Chapter 10: The Fourth Sorcerer at Hogwarts

By: mycherrywolf (mycherrywolfhotmail.com)

When Syaoran opened his eyes, he found himself on something similar to a deserted island except instead of palm trees and such, he was surrounded by cherry blossoms. He got up from the ground and dusted the sand off his Hogwarts robes hastily. He needed to find Sakura before the magic of Riyo and Meiling wore off.

"Where should I go? Blast Elvira for putting us in this situation." Syaoran cursed. "Blast me for being for being so darned stupid."

Syaoran went into the dense forest of cherry blossom trees seeing that it was the only place to go other than out to sea. He tried cutting off some branches that were blocking his way with some magic but he realized that magic couldn't be used here unless it was more powerful than Sakura's magic. His magic definitely did not fit under that requirement.

Syaoran heard some growling sounds. He immediately dismissed it thinking that it was his own stomach. After all, he hasn't eaten much for a while, certainly not enough to sustain him for this kind of journey without feeling hungry at least once. Little did he know how wrong he was about that.

 Moments later he heard the same growling noise only it was much louder now and it seemed as if it... multiplied? No that can't be, he only had one stomach. He later on found out what exactly that noise was.

A pack of hungry and vicious wolves emerged from the darkness. Poisonous drool dripped from their fangs as they came even closer to Syaoran. Normally this would've been a cinch for Syaoran. I mean, he isn't called "Little Wolf" for nothing, but this case was different. His magic was completely useless and he was weak from his vigil over Sakura. Syaoran cursed himself again for being so careless, he should've thought of this even before he decided to dive into Sakura's dreams.

He placed himself in defense position waiting for the wolves to attack. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.

Dumbledore's Office

"...And now Syaoran-kun has dived into her dreams in hope that he will be able to pull her out. It's not sure if he'll succeed but it's the best shot we've got." Eriol finished. Tomoyo stifled a cry that was about to come from her. She couldn't be weak – not now of all times. She had to be strong for Sakura.

"I see..." Dumbledore stood up from his seat and began pacing around the room. He looked at the portraits hoping that they could aid him but each of them sadly shook their heads. None of them had ever worked with a sorcerer as close as Dumbledore was doing at the moment. "And Miyu?" he asked.

Eriol turned to Tomoyo for an answer. It was she who led Aisa back to the Great Hall before coming to Dumbledore's office. "She's with her Ravenclaw friends right now but she promises not to say anything about Syaoran-kun and Sakura-chan." Tomoyo replied.

Eriol looked from Tomoyo to Dumbledore. "Something tells me that she knows a lot more than she's letting on."

"Why do you say that, Eriol?" Dumbledore asked.

"I had a talk with her." Eriol started. "Right before you came in with Syaoran-kun; I was talking with her in Sakura-san's room. Apparently, she knows about the three of us being sorcerers and I have a feeling that she knows who placed the spell on Sakura-san. I could sense fear in her. Maybe she works for a sorcerer or maybe she is one herself, which we do not know. I have still yet to investigate her background. It wasn't clear to me before... Why did I ignore such a crucial detail? I'm disappointed in myself; I'm not what I should be."

Tomoyo placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Everyone makes mistakes Eriol-kun. It just so happens that now is a time you made one. Mistakes can be fixed. I know everything will be alright." She said, half to comfort Eriol and half to convince herself of her own words.

Eriol laughed hoarsely. "I should be the one saying that to you." He told her, smiling wistfully. Suddenly he narrowed his eyes at the fireplace.

"Tomoyo-san, let's return to Gryffindor Tower. I'm sure that Hermione needs help to avert inquiring minds who want to know." Eriol said pushing her out the door.
"Ara?" Tomoyo looked at the fireplace confused. "Okay... I'll see you later Professor Dumbledore." She called out.

"I'll return as soon as I bring Tomoyo back, Albus." Eriol said before shutting the door behind him. Dumbledore looked at them leave curiously.

A moment later, there was a whooshing sound and an old wizard walked out of the fireplace. Dumbledore stood up right away. "Cornelius, what a surprise." he said.

Gryffindor Tower

"Hermione, why won't you tell us anything?" Ron demanded. "Every time we ask something about Sakura and the others you always change the topic. It's just like... back when you had the time-turner." He looked at her suspiciously. "You don't have another one of those do you?"

"Of course not!" Hermione huffed. "I promised myself I wouldn't use another one of those, those are too troublesome for me to deal with."

"Then what are you hiding?" Harry asked Hermione. "Aren't we your friends?"

"Yes you are," Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "But-"

"But what? Friends don't keep secrets from each other." Ron argued.

"You two are being unreasonable!" she finally snapped. "Do you even know what else friends do? They trust each other! So if I am your friend then please trust me when I say that there is nothing to tell!"

Eriol and Tomoyo then entered the common room. The three wizards instantly stopped talking.

"We didn't disturb anything did we?" Eriol asked, very much aware of what had happened.

"No, nothing at all." Harry replied.

"No, nothing at all." Ron echoed. "You didn't interrupt anything." He added with a warning look from Hermione.

Eriol sighed in relief. "I'm glad. Now, I must leave Tomoyo-san with you. Please take care of her Hermione." He nodded at her and walked back out the portrait entrance.

Tomoyo turned around and looked at the closed entrance, hurt that she didn't know even half of what was really happening. Instincts told her that Eriol didn't want to let her know everything. Heck, she knew that even he didn't know the whole truth.

"Hmm..." Ron sank into one of the chairs by the fireplace. "No offense or anything but that Eriol character can be quite mysterious sometimes. Like he knows far too much..." he turned to Harry, "He's slightly creepy mate."

"You have no idea." Hermione and Tomoyo chorused. Harry and Ron exchanged looks. 'Girls...'

Suddenly Tomoyo frowned as a sudden thought came to her. Hermione noticed this and linked her arm with Tomoyo's. "Girl talk." She told Harry and Ron who both dashed back to their dorm, not wanting to know what they were going to be talking about.

Hermione led Tomoyo back to the Girls' dorm, shaking her head at the two boys.

"It makes me wonder why I ever became friends with those two..." she murmured.

"It's because you three trust each other in your beautiful friendship." Tomoyo said as she opened the door.

"Tomoyo, is something wrong?" Hermione asked her, sitting down and motioning for Tomoyo to sit down beside her. Tomoyo didn't say a word as a sad look crossed her face once more. "I'm sorry; if you don't want to talk about it then you don't need to." Hermione said, afraid that she was being offensive.

"I don't know..." Tomoyo said after a long pause. Hermione scooted closer to her, taking Tomoyo's hand in her own.

 "Lately everyone's been different. Sakura-chan's been more aggressive, Syaoran-kun's been acting foolishly and what more, Eriol-kun isn't telling me anything. I can't talk to Meiling-chan because it's outside of her control and I still have to worry about Miyu. I'm not even powerful enough to help out in any way and my magic is next to nothing. I can't do anything to help people. Usually I am happy because I always want to see a smile on Sakura-chan's face and since everything started I've been trying more than usual. I don't want to see Sakura-chan like this; she's one of the most important people in my life." Tomoyo finished, a few tears escaping her shut eyes.

Hermione took in a deep breath and looked at her hands which were clasped over Tomoyo's. "Tomoyo, I can-" she suddenly stopped upon seeing a light violet glow on her hands where Tomoyo's tear drops had fallen. She had raised her hand to take a closer look when Tomoyo lifted her head to look at Hermione, wondering why she had suddenly stopped talking. Hermione hid her hand behind her back hoping that Tomoyo wouldn't see the glow from her tears. Sure enough, Hermione was able to see a light purple glow on Tomoyo's face where her tears had stained her cheeks.

"Tomoyo, everything will be alright." She said, placing her right hand on Tomoyo's shoulder. "I'm not just saying this to comfort you but I'm saying this because I believe in Sakura and Li. They are great sorcerers, they will pull through. Contrary to popular belief, there can be a "Happily ever after" in real life, it does not happen only in fairy tales. And besides, I'll be here whenever you want to talk so please don't cry. For Sakura, please don't cry."

Tomoyo chuckled lightly and started drying her tears. "You're right. Sakura-chan wouldn't want to see anyone cry over her."

Tomoyo stood up and went to her trunk beside her bed. She opened it and pulled out a long cloth and a bit of a pause.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, confused. Tomoyo grinned at her, all previous signs of sadness wiped away.

"I'm going to make a costume for Hermione and a costume for Sakura when she comes back!" she said, taking out another bit of cloth and her sewing kit.

"You don't need to make me one." Hermione said backing away to the door.

"Oh yes I must! I make costumes for all my friends!" she said showing Hermione a picture of the Cardcaptor gang with everyone in costume. Hermione sighed.

"Fine then... Do you need to measure me?"

"No," Tomoyo assured. "I think you're about my size so I already know what to do."

"Very well then," Hermione said, opening the dorm door. "I'm going to the Library; I want to look for another book to read." '...and while I'm at it, find out from Professor Nakuru why Tomoyo's tears had some sort of aura if she is supposed to be a wizard just like me.' She thought. Tomoyo, however, was not listening to Hermione but rather, busy picking thread colors. Hermione closed the door behind her slowly, trying as much as possible not to disturb Tomoyo though she highly doubted that even a raging hippogriff would be able to distract her.

"Now, it's time to get some answers."

Dream Sequence

Syaoran winced, the bite in his arm throbbing painfully as the wolves looked at him hungrily. His shirt was torn and one of the wolves had been lucky enough to sink his poisonous fangs in his left arm. His chest was slashed pretty badly and it was pouring blood. He was tired and getting wearier by the minute due to the poison. Two wolves leaped at him, teeth bared. He ducked, sending a roundhouse in their direction leaving one wolf unconscious. Syaoran wiped some blood from his lip as he looked around. There were still 3 wolves left and he had a feeling that more were coming.

"Sakura!!!" he yelled while kicking another wolf that had leaped at him. "Sakura!!!"

Suddenly, loud rustling could be heard. Another wolf emerged from the dark end of the cherry blossom forest, much bigger than the ones Syaoran had been fighting for the past hour. Syaoran gulped loudly. He was having a hard time fighting the poisonous wolves.

He watched as the 3 smaller wolves stepped back, giving way for the larger one. Syaoran could sense what was happening. The biggest one would make the kill and eat his filling. The remaining wolves would devour what was left of him. Syaoran glared at the biggest wolf. He wouldn't let it happen to him, not while he had to save Sakura. He stole a glance at his bloodied arm, wondering what the condition of his body was back at Hogwarts. Everything that happened to him in the dream world would be half of what would happen to his body back in the real world. 'Hopefully my body in the real world didn't get the poison half of my condition.'

Sakura's face flashed in Syaoran's mind. 'I can't let her stay here!' he clenched his fist, ready to attack the large wolf when suddenly he heard a familiar cry.

"Syaoran-kun!"

Dumbledore's Office

Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic looked positively furious. "Dumbledore, you have meddled far too much! I want you to stop telling me what to do, I am the Minister of Magic and I know what is best for the Magical community!"

"The way you think is best may not always be the most effective path Cornelius." Dumbledore said quietly.

"Are you trying to say that I am an incompetent wizard?" Fudge demanded, pounding his fist on Dumbledore's desk.

"Of course not, I was merely stating that there may be a more sufficient method than an all-out war."

"There is no other way!" Fudge yelled. "You just want-"

Fudge was suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in." Dumbledore said. The door opened revealing a slightly tired Eriol. "Good afternoon Eriol." He said, nodding his head.

"Good after-" Eriol started but was promptly cut off by Fudge.

"Excuse me young man but I have important matters to discuss with the Headmaster. Please proceed back to your class now." Much to the Minister's surprise, Eriol shook his head.

"I'm sorry Minister but I have matters of greater importance of which to discuss." Fudge laughed.

"And pray tell, Mr. Eriol exactly what are you going to discuss? Perhaps a way to overthrow me and place Dumbledore here as the Minister of Magic?" he asked, his ears turning red from rage. "Is that it?"

"Cornelius, I think it would be best if we-" Dumbledore started but Fudge interrupted him.

"Let the boy speak first!" Eriol and Dumbledore exchanged knowing glances.

"Minister," Eriol started. "I am here to discuss the alliance between the Sorcerer's Community and Hogwarts which I have made."

Fudge started bellowing in laughter. "The Sorcerer's community? Preposterous! All the sorcerers have died out, there is no possible way for them to have survived over the years and in addition, how can a boy like you make an alliance?"

"You'd be surprised." Eriol said. He let his blue aura flare a little, just enough for it to be visible to Fudge's eyes. Sure enough, Fudge's eyes nearly popped out upon seeing his aura. Dumbledore smiled. This was getting a lot more interesting.

"B-but you're a..." Fudge stuttered while slowly backing up.

"Sorcerer." He finished, letting his aura flare out more to scare Fudge.

"B-but sorcerers are e-extinct! Driven t-to h-hiding by their f-fear of w-wizards and eventually d-died out!"

"Extinct? Died out?" Eriol let out a hollow laugh. "Driven to hiding by the fear of wizards? Impossible. We are much more powerful than any of you. I alone could wipe out this entire school and all of Diagon Alley with one spell and I am not even the most powerful one there is. You'd better think twice before you open your mouth if you want to maintain your ability of speech." He said coldly.

"Now, leave."

Fudge looked at Dumbledore and at Eriol. Huffing in outrage, he went to the fireplace and tossed some floo powder into the flames. "Ministry of Magic!" and with that, he disappeared.

"Thank you." Dumbledore said to Eriol who smiled back at him.

"It's nothing. I never liked the Minister that much anyway. Always been a big headed buffoon, always will be." Eriol said, sitting down on a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. Suddenly he felt an aura surge somewhere in the castle. A light violet aura. Eriol wrinkled his brow. Whose aura did he just feel?

"Is there a problem Eriol?" Dumbledore asked, breaking through his thoughts.

"No, nothing." He replied. He would just have to check it out later on. "Now, it's about Ginny Weasley..."

Nakuru's Office

Hermione played with her fingertips nervously as she watched Nakuru pace around the room in deep thought. "So... do you think she really is one of you?"

"Well, technically Yukito and I aren't sorcerers. We are their guardians and bear their aura residue but we are not authentic sorcerers. But yes, it seems that she is a sorceress." Nakuru sighed and plopped down on her armchair.

"Wow, I never would have bet... Tomoyo a sorceress, it's amazing. Hers was probably the aura I felt a while ago. I'm sure Eriol must have felt it... He'll be calling me in a while..." she muttered.

"Should I tell Tomoyo that she's a sorceress?" Hermione asked Nakuru.

"No, not yet. You must tell Eriol first. Right now, he's with Professor Dumbledore so you'll just have to go back to your dorm for now until you can speak with him."

"Yes Professor." Hermione obediently replied. "I'll see you later Professor." She said with a small wave and left the room.

Nakuru waved back absentmindedly. "Looks like we've got another sorceress at Hogwarts."

Sakura's Room

"This is bad." Riyo said, frowning. She could see traces of blood beginning to show themselves on Syaoran's chest. Meiling looked at her worried.

"What's wrong Riyo?"

"I just remembered something. I have heard about these cards, the one that hurt the Card Mistress." She told Meiling.

"You have? But how? Even Hiiragizawa has not heard of them so says Syaoran."

"Well, I have been staying amongst those of the Wizarding World to get away from the Elders and the Li Clan." Riyo admitted guiltily.

"Why did you want to get away from the Elders?" Meiling asked.

Riyo frowned darkly. "That is another story that I do not think you should know yet." She then returned to her slightly cheerful disposition. "Anyway is why I am not usually at the Li Manor. Once, while at Hogsmeade, I overheard one of the Death Eaters of that Lord whatever telling another Death Eater of magic cards. He particularly described one which would fulfill one's heartfelt dream – in their dreams. The longer they stay under the spell of the card, the more they would forget... about everything except their deepest desire."

"What do you mean?" Meiling asked, looking at her cousin, worried.

"Syaoran has been in the Card Mistress' dreams for more than two hours. Who knows how much he has forgotten."

"But surely he wouldn't forget about his mission? About his family and friends?"

"Hopefully he will be strong enough to resist it but truly," Riyo shook her head sadly. "There is no way of knowing whether or not he shall triumph."

Dream Sequence

Syaoran couldn't believe it. Sakura had saved him from the wolves! With one word from her, all the wolves, including the biggest one, retreated back into the shadows, whimpering. He watched as Sakura started rubbing some sort of cream on the arm where he had been bitten. Contrary to her black Hogwarts robes she was dressed in a simple white dress that reached right below her knees with elbow length sleeves and a silver sash around her waist, looking very elegant indeed. He didn't understand why he couldn't take his eyes off her. There was something... something different about her.

Syaoran yelped as he felt his chest sting as Sakura rubbed some ointment on his chest where he had been slashed. "That stings!"

"Sorry, but it's the only thing which will do the trick. It'll sting more if you keep the wound unprotected like that." Sakura tore off the hem of her flowing skirt and slowly started wrapping up Syaoran's arm.

Suddenly a bird darted past surprising Sakura, who found herself in Syaoran's arms, nose to nose with him. Blushing, she backed up and continued wrapping his arm.

Syaoran watched her, taking in her beauty. She looked so peaceful and happy, very much unlike the Sakura he had seen back at Hogwarts. He winced as she tied it tightly.

"Does it hurt?" she asked concerned.

"No, it doesn't." he assured her. "Go on and use my shirt for the rest of the wrappings. It's already battered enough."

"No, your shirt won't do. It's too bloodied up, it may infect the wound. It's bad enough that you got poisoned but infection won't help at all." She said, ripping another strip from her dress. Syaoran blushed as he saw this. Her dress was barely covering her thighs. Sakura noticed this too and blushed more than Syaoran. She then went to wrapping up the wound on his chest.

"What are you doing here, Syaoran?" she asked.

"I'm here to bring... to bring...." Syaoran wrinkled his forehead. What was he supposed to do again? He looked at Sakura and their eyes met. "I think... I came here... to..."

"Don't you know?" Sakura asked as she tightened the knot on the gauze and sat down on his lap.

Syaoran winced. Ah! Now he remembered! He smiled as Sakura wrapped her arm around him and laid her head on his chest, closing her eyes for rest.

"I came to stay here with you."

-To be Continued-

AN/ Ooh! Syaoran forgot why he went into Sakura's dream! How is he gonna get out of this one? And what's with Ginny Weasley? Why does Tomoyo have sorcery for powers all of a sudden? Why doesn't Nakuru want Tomoyo to know that she is a sorceress? Why did Riyo want to get away from the Li Manor and why do boys disappear when it's time for girl talk unless they are gay? And the most important questions of all, why did I take so long in updating and when will I update the eleventh chapter? Find out most of the answers in the next chapter of "The One I Love The Most: The Heart Never Forgets"