The Call of Magic
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Inuyasha.
A/N: Wow! I have been getting some incredible reviews! I am really flattered! ::Grins:: I like to mix cannon with cannon, rather than, say, make it during Harry's non-existent sixth or seventh years. It makes things more interesting. I find that Umbridge will add a nice flavor to the story. She is one of the most well written characters in all five books- anyone who can draw practically universal hatred from the entire HP fan base is an impressive character in my books. Characters like Voldemort and Snape, even though loathed by all the main characters in the books, have developed quite a following among the fans. (Not that they are badly written, but no character in the entire series has elicited the intense feelings of dislike from me like Umbridge has.)
As for pairings, I have decided that they will be the same as in the cannon. This means that there is a great deal of sexual tension between Kagome and Inuyasha- although neither really acts on it. Harry/Cho will be making a brief appearance as well. And if this story ends up going to the Sengoku Jidai, Miroku and Sango will be, well…them.
Warning: This chapter contains spoilers for episodes 60-65, read at your own discretion.
Another note: The sorting hat song used in this chapter is directly from the fifth book. I probably couldn't come up with one this good!
Chapter Four:
Kagome felt her already fluttering stomach give a nauseating lurch. The woman who had come in was obviously not too pleased with Kagome being here. She was toad like in appearance, with baggy cheeks and puffy eyes.
"I came here to see why you are late for the opening feast, Albus. I overheard Minerva telling Severus about a muggle in the school. Is this her? Why have you not yet erased her memory?" Kagome realized the woman she had met before had left,
"This girl cannot be affected by our spells Dolores. She has miko powers." The woman called Dolores's tone changed,
"What? Don't be ridiculous Albus. All people with such powers died out long ago!" Prof. Dumbledore smiled,
"Rare, Dolores, but not dead. Try to use a memory charm on her, and see for yourself- if you do not believe me." Her eyes narrowed,
"Very well." The professor took out her 'stick' and muttered something under her breath. There was a flash of light and everything went blank.
'Where am I? Who are these people?' Just like with the barrier, her body began to glow with pink light. The bemused expression that had been in place left, and her fogged mind began to clear. Her hand unconsciously went to the Shikon shards at her neck, which were once again warm to the touch.
She looked at the female professor, who had a shocked expression on her face.
"'How come I lost some of my memory, Dumbledore-sensei?"' His gaze, which had been resting on Dolores, once again fell on her,
"'Prof. Umbridge attempted to perform a memory charm on you, Kagome. However, as I was going to explain before, I believe that if any foreign magic enters your body, it will automatically begin to purify itself. Our spells, unless incredibly powerful, will only be able to hold for a few seconds before it is expelled from your body."' Realisation dawned on her. That was why the shards were getting warm!
'Every time I purify myself to get rid of foreign magic in my body, the shards, even though they're already purified, react as if I were purifying them.' Memories of her ordeal with Tsubaki came back in full force.
The Kuromiko(1) Tsubaki had attempted to control Kagome by means of tainting the Shikon shards that Kagome wore around her neck, and forcing them by magic into her body. Kagome had fought it enough to keep herself from killing Inuyasha, but in the end Tsubaki had created an illusion to keep her conscious mind occupied. At that time she had done the exact same thing as she had done now, but the defiled Shikon no kakera had been far more powerful than the spells that these people casted.
She suspected that Tsubaki herself had been more powerful than these 'wizards' seemed to be- but it could have simply been the fact that Kagome had trouble fighting the miko powers of others.
During her little bout of nostalgia, Umbridge and Dumbledore seemed to have gotten into a dicussion,
"She will have to stay here until the Ministry has decided what is to be done with her." Said prof. Umbridge tersely. Dumbledore, however, did not seem pleased with the idea.
"Surely we must send her back to Japan, She can be dealt with by the authorities there." Umbridge sniffed disdainfully,
"We shall contact them by owl. We cannot risk such a dangerous breach in muggle security." With that, the frog like woman exited the office. Dumbledore turned to Kagome,
"'It appears that you are stuck here for the time being. Perhaps we can arrange for you to attend some of the classes," He smiled kindly, "After all, only a few of them require the use of a wand. You will have to be sorted of course, I believe you will be most comfortable staying with people your own age."' Kagome wasn't sure what she was feeling at this news.
She had been in situations such as these before, however, then she had not been so far away that Inuyasha and her friends couldn't help her. Furthermore, those times she had not given her mother a date that she was going to come home. Who knew what her relatives were going to do now that she was missing. Guilt twist at her insides, she was going to make everybody worry! A feeling of helplessness took hold, and she sighed.
"'Come along then…I have already kept the students waiting for long enough. You will be sorted along with the first years."' She nodded stiffly and followed him out of the office.
***
She was led to a room where there were many eleven-year-olds, whom she assumed to be the first years. They were all chatting excitedly, and there was a feeling of communal anxiety that hung around the crowd of jabbering prepubescents. Kagome could only pick up some of what was being said, as they were speaking at a pace she was not used to. What she did catch was an indecisiveness regarding the way the sorting was done, it appeared that a great deal of these children were just as clueless as she was.
They were met by the woman that had met Kagome in the entrance hall. She proceeded to introduce herself as Professor Mcgonagall. After giving a brief description of all four houses, she led them into an enormous hall.
Nothing Kagome had seen so far compared to this amazing spectacle. There were four grand tables with students sitting at them, which she guessed to be the house tables. Candles were floating in the air and the ceiling was enchanted to look like the sky outside.
The entire hall was charged with anticipation. You could tell that they had been waiting. The first years and Kagome made their way to a podium. On it sat a stool with a haggard looking hat placed upon it. The hat suddenly burst into song:
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
'Together we will build and teach!'
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest.'
Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest.'
Said Gryffindor, 'We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name,'
Said Hufflepuff, Til teach the lot,
And treat them just the same.'
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pureblood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with duelling and with jighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though / must fulfil my duty
And must quarter everv year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you…
Let the Sorting now begin.
Stunted applause filled the hall, and Kagome had the distinct impression that the people here had not been expecting that type of song. McGonagall began to call the students to be sorted. Kagome was too nervous to pay attention to the others being called, but when she heard her name, she walked onto the podium. Exited bickering broke out amongst the students as she put on the sorting hat.
'Ah…a miko I see. You have gone back in time? How very curious. Hmm…you have a good mind, and a great thirst to prove yourself…you are incredibly loyal and you are very hard working, you would fit right into to Hufflepuff. But what's this? You are very courageous…yes, the place for you is GRYFFINDOR!'
Kagome sighed with relief, and made her way to the cheering Gryffindor table.
***
Inuyasha blinked up at Kagome's mother,
"'In-gu-rand?'" She smiled at him,
"'That's right."' His eyes narrowed considerably,
"'And this land is across the sea?"' She nodded patiently,
"'That's right."' Inuyasha growled inwardly, he could understand why Kagome hadn't told him. If he had known, he would not have let her go, regardless of how many times she had 'sat' him.
Suddenly, the thing called a 'telephone' rang. Mrs. Higurashi stood up and walked to get it. After a few moments he saw her eyes widen. His enhanced hanyou senses also picked up a heightening of her heart rate. She hung up the phone and turned to him.
"'Inuyasha-san…my cousins just called…Kagome has gone missing."'
***
A/N: Well, this is the longest chapter I have written so far. And I actually had a little bit more that I could have written, but I decided to save it for the next chapter.
(1) Kuromiko- Black/dark miko
Next Chapter:
Kagome gets to know Gryffindor, and decides which classes she wants to attend. Meanwhile, her mother books a flight to London, and Inuyasha insists on coming. How will the Gryffindors react to Kagome? Find out in the next chapter of The Call of Magic!