From the last chapter
"Sorry Hermione." The three boys chorused, very quietly so they didn't disturb Hitomi from her magazine. The class continued and ended without incident. All the students could literally feel Hitomi's excitement for her first day of classes to be over.
Chapter 7
At the bell everything was quiet in the DADA classroom, a new sense of respect had be instilled in the students. Professor Kanzaki was obviously not a person to mess with. Of course her little brother was the new most popular student in the class, mostly because many of the students wanted the huge exam cancelled. Draco Malfoy, the cause of their grave predicament, also approached Mamoru. He was apparently quiet angry that she had refused to answer his questions and decided that Mamoru would have to answer them.
"Well you pest, where does this husband," he spat the word as if it was foul, "of hers live? What makes him so much better than a Malfoy."
"It isn't my place to say, and it's like she said it's none of your business. Just because you're a Malfoy doesn't mean that you can pry into the private lives of others. Besides your brother didn't have a chance with her since fifth year."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because that's when she first met him on her trip to muggle Japan, he's a great guy not to mention he's selfless and reliable. Didn't your brother stand her up in Hogsmede one time? Didn't your brother notice that she only wanted to be friends after that summer?"
"You don't know what you are talking about peasant. Hitomi Kanzaki is a woman whose role in life is to be a matridge of the Malfoy family." Draco sneered at Mamoru and stalked away.
Fourth Period
Gryffindor/Hufflepuff split 1st years.
"Hello everyone, I'm Professor Hitomi Kanzaki like I've said before today I'm not a difficult teacher and I'm sure if everyone cooperates we will all have a wonderful year. Since lunch you've probably heard of my little speeches and probably some of the Q and A this morning. To save us all time, yes I am happily married and I want for you all to do the best you can I here but be warned just because I'm an easy-going teacher doesn't mean that I will let you all slack off in here. There will be homework in this class but I don't foresee any DADA essay until next month. Are there any questions about the course?" A boy who seemed to cower in fear when she looked at him spoke up.
"Do you work for the dark lord?" Hitomi started to laugh as she walked up to him. She stopped at his desk and knelt in front of him and pulled up the left sleeve of her gown.
"Have you heard of the dark mark that is the symbol of a follower of the Dark Lord?" The little boy nodded his head, "Do you see one on my arm?" He shook his head, "I don't work for the Dark Lord, in the dispute I am neutral you don't have to worry about a thing okay?" He smiled at her and nodded his head. Hitomi walked down the stairs to her desk, "Now class please take out your wands, instead of starting the year with notes you will all practice the all purpose counter spell. I will call you up one at a time and you will all stop this little bird by saying 'finite incandium' and pointing at it okay? Now repeat after me 'finite incandium.'"
The class repeated her "Very good! Now Mr. Pierre please come up and demonstrate to the class…"
The rest of the class went smoothly as the students came up and performed the spell successfully after a little bit of personal coaching. The bell finally rang and she dismissed the students. The students started to pack up their books and leave the class except for…
"Miss Weasley, could you stay for a moment?" The young girl's lip trembled softly as she nodded and placed her books back on the table in front of her. Her friends looked back in worry and wondered thoughtfully if the young girl had gotten in trouble somehow on her first day. Hitomi walked over to the young girl's desk and sat down on the table. "Don't worry sweetie you aren't in trouble I'm just wondering why you seem to be so nervous when I called everyone up to demonstrate the new incantation." The young Weasley's eyes filled with tears,
"I can't do anything right! I'm going to be a disappointment to my entire family if I flunk out of first year DADA!" Hitomi moved to a chair beside her and started to stroke the young girl's hair.
"Flunk out? It's the first day; everyone is nervous and worries about being embarrassed in front of their peers. Why exactly are you thinking that you'll fail this course anyway?"
"I don't know, I just don't seem to be any good at incantations or at understanding anything."
"Do you mind if I braid your hair? It's your first day, it will be confusing but over time you'll get used to it. One day you'll look back on these years and laugh, trust me when I say that what you do in school has absolutely nothing to do with what you'll do for your entire life. It's an opportunity to learn things about yourself; school isn't about memorizing facts and dates. It's learning how to get along with other people and how to follow instructions. Marks mean nothing when you get out of school. Who you are and what you are capable of means everything. And as for this class, I don't intend on failing anyone, all you have to do is volunteer to demonstrate different spells and you'll get bonus marks." Hitomi's hands moved skillfully with her hair, making a gentle braid and she called for the different objects out of her purse, as she needed them.
"Really? So I'll pass this course?"
"Sweetie you'll pass this course and your other courses with flying colors, and to make sure any time you need some help to can ask my baby brother Mamoru to come and get me to help you or you could also ask your friends and your fellow students for assistance. Besides, I've already met Miss Granger and I'll bet that she'll be very happy to help you with any problems you might have."
"I guess she would. But what if I don't meet my parent's expectations?"
"Sweetie the only person's expectations that you have to meet are your own. You shouldn't try your best for anyone but yourself."
"But what if I don't get a job after I graduate?"
"Sweetie you have six years before you graduate and how can you define a good job? Something that makes you a lot of money or something that makes you happy? No one will be disappointed if whatever you do makes you happy. Remember that, it will be one of the most important things you ever learn in school. Okay the braid is all done what do you think?
Ginny smiled as she ran her fingers along the exotic looking French braid.
"My hair stylist taught me that one in seventh year, it's called the 'Twin Dragon Braid' and it's almost time for dinner, why don't you go dry your eyes and go to the Great Hall for supper. I'm sure that your brothers are all waiting for you to come."
"Thank you Professor. That really takes a load off my mind."
"No problem sweetie, hmm I'll perform a small spell to remove the redness and puffiness from your eyes so everyone doesn't worry and your brothers won't come to destroy the Slytherin scum that made you cry."
"You're a Slytherin?"
"My father was, my mother was a Gryffindor, my brother was a Gryffindor and I was in Slytherin. According to my mother you could hear the screams of rage and despair echoing the halls when they started dating in school."
"But but you're so nice!"
"My parents are very nice too, just because someone is sorted into Slytherin doesn't mean that they are born evil or something. It just means that they display certain characteristics and would get along with a certain group of people. It's true that being Slytherin is the most common link to becoming a death eater but there are exceptions. For example the first few years of school I was engaged to a Slytherin. We were friends because our fathers were friends or maybe it was colleges… I know my mother didn't like his family very much."
"If you two were engaged why didn't you get married?"
"I met someone else, compared to my fiancée at the time he was a knight in shining armor and he had this smile that made my heart flutter every time I saw it. My mother was very pleased that I had found someone different."
"What did your father think?"
"You know I don't know. He was never angry about my choice; I have to admit I was slightly afraid to tell him that I had fallen in love with someone else. He wasn't too pleased with me but as soon as he met Van he consented to end the engagement and I admit he was quite impressed when Van asked for my hand in marriage."
"Why did they do that?"
"Because they wanted me to be happy and if I was in a marriage with someone that I didn't love with my whole heart then I wouldn't be happy. Besides I doubt that my father wants my brother and I to have to choose sides if and when there is a war."
"You think that there will be a war?"
"Two opposing forces will soon fight for control of the planet. It's inevitable. But don't worry, it probably won't be a huge battle or a long battle. There are many elements that must be considered before taking a country or a group of people to war and considering all those elements takes time. It's very unlikely that the war will happen in your life time."
Ginny smiled and waved at Hitomi before she dashed out to the Great Hall. Hitomi looked around the room,
"Well I survived the first day of classes." And she left the vacant room. Or at least she thought that it had been empty, as Zilas Malfoy stepped out of the shadows and held her scarf to his face inhaling the perfume before opening the large bay windows and flying away on his firebolt.
Great Hall
Ginny had entered the Great Hall and sat beside Ron. "Gin what happened to your hair?"
"Do you like it? Professor Hitomi calls it the 'Twin Dragon Braid' she did my hair and helped me with my incantations. She's really nice."
"It looks good Ginny. What charm did she use?"
"She only used charms to retrieve things from her purse on her desk. She did the rest by hand."
"Wow I'm sure that mom will love it … you did remember that mom and dad are coming tonight right?"
"In all the excitement I forgot. When are they coming? Seven o'clock?"
"Probably." After a few quiet moments of eating Ginny looked over to Mamoru.
"Mamoru where does your sister live when she isn't at school? She has an odd accent?"
"She lives with her husband." He mumbled around a mouthful of food. Ginny looked at him cocking her head.
"Where?" Mamoru got this look of absolute terror on his face,
"Uh…" He looked over to the teacher's table where Hitomi was mouthing something. "Portugal, she lives in Portugal." Hitomi hit her forehead with her hand, she had mouthed 'Spain'.
"But isn't Portugal a country which requires all witches and wizards to be registered and work in the government?"
"uh…"
"And since her name isn't in any of the recent records from ANY of the government institutions in wizardry, I know that you're lying. So where does she actually live Mamoru?"
"I have a villa in Spain, Ms. Granger. That's where my accent is from. Mamoru gets confused because my villa is about 20 km form the border isn't that right Mamoru?"
"Yes that is exactly right."
"And one more thing Mamoru."
"Yes?"
"Stop plotting against me, I find it quite distracting, not to mention that it is against the rules and father is getting quite discontented with your actions as of late."
"Eep! I'll stop." She patted him on the head.
"Good boy. Oh and before I forget can you keep your kitten out of my room? It doesn't like Van at all and he doesn't like sharing the bed with it okay?"
"I didn't even know it was loose but I'll keep him in my room, scout's honor."
"Good, I was worried for a while that Van and Pitter-pat were going to fight over the bed."
"Pitter-pat? You named your pet Pitter-pat?"
"Uh … my mother named him it wasn't my fault Hermione!"
"Of course it wasn't Mamoru. I remember when you first got Pitter-pat and it was raining and mother made an offhand comment on the rain pittering on the window and he came to her and meowed. It was absolutely adorable!"
"Hitomi, don't you have adult things to do?"
"Ooh I see you'd like me to stop embarrassing you in front of the girl you have a crush on. Remember that mom is coming tonight and to tell her everything that's happened while you've been gone. See you later baby bro." Mamoru turned a bright shade of red as she walked back up to the teacher's table and sat down beside Professor Snape.
"Crisis averted?"
"Crisis averted. I even had the chance to redirect the attention away from me." Snape looked at her thoughtfully.
"Are you still planning the trip to Gaea with a few students?"
"I'm not quite sure, there are several students that I wouldn't want to take to Gaea and I don't know how to word the application without obviously discriminating against those people."
"Well who do you want to invite? Is it too much to hope there are any Slytherins on that list?"
"Slytherins are welcome but they have to be well behaved in unfamiliar surroundings and to be able to live without magic for a few weeks while we study the remains of Atlantis. It should be fascinating to study a different magical culture before wands."
"And being at home for a few weeks wouldn't be too bad either?"
"It's definitely a plus."
"About the conference tonight, are you staying very long? You know that your mother would love to talk to you."
"I'm going to get ready before the conference begins so that I don't have to miss too much of the conference. I wish that the ball wasn't tonight, all those people and parents are coming to see and talk to me and I have to go to a party."
"The disadvantages of being famous Hitomi. Everyone wants to get to know you and adore you." Hitomi stuck out her tongue.
"I didn't ask to be adored or famous. They just gave it to me when I wasn't looking."
Snape smirked and went back to his dinner, Hitomi Kanzaki was quite a spirited child.
AN-Hi everyone, I realize that this chapter is really short but I do have a good reason you see I'm leaving the country for twenty days so I can't post anything and I only had a little bit prepared for this posting and it goes on and on. It's partially because it's difficult to get inspiration with such a difficult crossover. Some of you may realize that Snape is OOC but there is a good reason for that and you'll just have to trust me when I finally reveal the reason to you all in a few (dozen) chapters at the rate this story is going.
I will be back and have some notes (hopefully) and be able to post around May 8-12th now I'm not promising anything so don't hold me to that, I'll have eight hours of jet-lag to overcome before I can accomplish too much.
If anyone has any questions that are in reason like for example an unreasonable question would be who is Hitomi's father. I've gotten that one a few times and if you get me at a good time on MSN I might actually tell you. I promise you'll be very surprised. Please DON'T email me your questions until after May 5th when I get back or I can't promise that I'll get them because my hotmail account gets kinda full when I'm not emptying certain mailing lists daily.
Thank you all for your kind reviews, I will hopefully have more Zilas and the ball/conference next chapter when I get back. Who knows, if I get really bored on the plane I could have ten to fifteen handwritten pages waiting for you beautiful reviewers!
Thank you and I'll miss you all terribly,
Enzeru No Yami