AN: Sorry I took so long… Anyway to answer your questions (Sorry, I forgot who you are). Yes, I am a college freshmen at a nursing college at Bacolod City.
Rants: Oh man! I just need one more review on each of my RK fics to achieve my goals…groan.
Anyway, I am truly sorry if this chapter isn't that good. I was in a hurry to finish it you see. Gomen!
Warriors of Light
Chapter Four: Nosy Hats and Professors
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"Now that our guests have arrived, we can now proceed." said Dumbledore with a certain twinkle in his eyes.
"Professor McGonagall, if you would be so kind." He continued as he made a gesture with his hand.
The Vice-Head Mistress nodded her head before she swiftly stood up from her chair and reached a hand inside her cloak to pull out a wand.
She gave her wave a flick and a familiar three-legged stool apparated at the foot of the Professors' Table with the same worn-out and patched pointed hat that everyone at Hogwarts knew about resting on top of it.
Celeste eyed the hat with a skeptic look crossing her beautiful pale features.
'What could that be?' She thought; quirking an eyebrow.
Both eyebrows shot up in disbelief as a pair of black eyes appeared on the hat and its rim opened to form somewhat of a mouth.
Celeste's eyes blinked rapidly as the hat started to speak then shrugged her shoulders without concern.
'Why should I be surprised? This is a magical school after all.' She thought ruefully.
The silvery-haired girl focused her attention to the words and phrases coming out of the enchanted hat.
Celeste's lips twitched slightly when she noticed the hat singing, probably about how Hogwarts came to be and such.
'A singing hat…Now I've seen everything.'
Serenity stifled a giggle. How would've thought that there would be such a thing as a singing magical hat?
The Tsuki Hime shifted her eyes to the four long tables before her and her friends. Her gaze passed by the students in mild interest but came to a stop at a particular table.
A pair of piercing blue-gray orbs looked at her as the male owner smirked and gave Serenity a two-hand salute.
Serenity raised her eyebrow in question but then smiled and seemingly looked away.
The long side bangs of her hair permitted Serenity to study the guy from the corner of her eyes without being noticed.
He was cute and certainly better-looking than Mamoru-baka. Even wearing his robes didn't hide the rippling muscles that existed beneath the dark layers of cloth and his blue-gray eyes had an intimidating look in them that contrasted well with his skin which was pale with just a hint of tan.
And Serenity adored his blonde hair, it looked so shiny and the white highlights glistened when light hits it…although the hairstyle needs a little work, the flip-back and gel look simply wouldn't do.
But all in all, the guy was pretty hot…and he seemed to be about her age as well…not counting the 1000 years more of her true age.
Makoto noticed the gleeful sparkle in the silvery-blonde girl's eyes which were focused attentively at something. The auburn-haired girl followed Serenity's gaze and smiled as she saw her hime eyeing a guy…a pretty gorgeous guy might she add.
The Senshi of Jupiter nudged Serenity with her elbow, drawing the other girl's attention.
'Having fun staring at him?' Makoto said telepathically, indicating the blonde boy with her eyes.
Serenity rolled hers but nudged Makoto back good-naturedly.
'Don't you dare say that he looks like your old-sempai.'
Makoto, who was just about to say the same thing, pouted.
'I would never do that…although he does look a bit like…'
Serenity nudged the auburn-haired girl none too gently on the ribs.
'Itai!'
Serenity smirked before she tuned out Makoto's grumbling voice out of her mind and concentrated instead on the hat's singing.
Celeste, who'd caught the telepathic conversation of the two girls, smiled before she relayed the message to Hotaru whom she was having a mental conversation with as well.
The silvery-haired girl could hear Hotaru's giggle in the depths of her mind.
'I'm so happy for Usa-nee-chan. She seemed to have gotten over Chiba-san.'
'So am I Hotaru. She never loved Endymion anyway, even back in the Silver Millennium.'
'Sou ka?'
'Sou…sou. She was in love with a guy who was a prince…or was he a king? Anyway I don't know much about the guy, since I rarely venture out of my home planet to speak with Serenity anyway.'
'…Anno…Celeste-san.'
Celeste noticed the hesitation in Hotaru's voice and spoke.
'There's no need for formalities Hotaru. Call me Celeste…What is it?'
'Anno…do you think Chibi-Usa would still be born?'
Celeste noted the sadness that clouded Hotaru's question and fought down a wave of pity and anger that churned in her stomach.
'I don't know Hotaru. Probably not…but we're all here and we all care for you, especially Serenity and your 'parents'; Haruka and Michiru.'
Celeste's telepathic voice trailed off to a soft whisper.
'You're very lucky to have both of their love.'
The silvery-haired girl chose that moment to cut off their mental conversation and focused her mind on something else.
Celeste felt her violet eyes starting to strain, a sure sign of a tear forming, and closed her eyes tightly for a moment to will them away.
Just then, Celeste felt a familiar warmth enveloping her and smiled as the sudden coldness of her body vanished by the rushing wave of the ki.
Tsuyu always knew when and how to make her feel better. The small dragon was amazing, even from afar her guardian still managed to keep an eye on her.
Something prickled at the back of Celeste's mind and she knew that it was Hotaru trying to communicate with her mentally. She willed her mind to accept Hotaru's.
'Yes?'
Silence greeted Celeste for the first few minutes. The silver-haired girl was about to closed the link when Hotaru's soft voice rang in her mind.
'I'm sorry.'
Celeste managed to twitch her lips into a slight smile.
'There's nothing to be sorry for.'
'Yes there is. You forget…I am also empathic just like Usa-nee-chan though mine's not as vivid as hers'
'I told you there's nothing to be sorry about.'
'If you say so…'
Celeste could feel the unsettledness of their mental link and decided to change the subject.
'So…why did you change your age again?'
'Because I would be better-able to defend Usa-nee-chan, my princess, at this age.'
'Oh…but why a year younger?'
'I don't known…for some reason, I can't seem to make myself older than fourteen. Weird huh?'
'Guess so…'
"…For I am the Sorting Hat!"
All four girls who were each having a telepathic conversation jerked at the sudden highness of the hat's voice.
"Jeez…Does he have to shout it for everyone to hear?" Makoto muttered irritably.
"Does it even have to sing in the first place?" asked Hotaru as she scrunched up her nose in dislike. "I mean, its' not like we need to hear it speaking the school's history and houses in rhymes, does it?"
Both Serenity and Celeste could only shrug at their companions' questions.
"Each of you will be sorted one by one to a House. I shall call your names in alphabetical order." Prof. McGonagall spoke out, interrupting the four girls' musing.
"There's no need Professor. We can sort ourselves just fine." Serenity said.
"Hum…hum." coughed a voice behind them.
All of the girls looked back to see one of the professors, a short plump woman with fuzzy tangling hair that strongly reminded Celeste of a bird's nest held up by an ugly and not to mention weird-looking barrette, stood up. A slight frown pasted across her frog-like face.
"What school are you from, dah-lings?" she asked in a throaty voice that sounded more like a frog's croak.
The four looked at each other uneasily. Setsuna didn't mention about what they should say their school was.
"Err…We were home-schooled." answered Hotaru quickly.
"Hmm…I see…" The professor replied before she willed a bottle of ink to appear, dipped the pointed end of the quill in it, and began to scribble words at a fast rate.
She then stopped and looked up at them. "Are you by any chance related to a vela?" she asked.
Makoto blinked. "Wha?" she said intelligently.
The professor frowned. "I'm not talking to you child." She pointed at Serenity then at Celeste.
"I'm talking to these two."
Makoto scoffed and crossed her arms. "Well sorry." She said stonily, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The plump woman frowned deeper before she wrote down a few other notes in her clipboard once more, muttering all the while.
"My! Such a disrespectful child! Well I guess it comes to being home-schooled. Now, if any of my niece and nephews would do such a thing, I would…"
Makoto gritted her teeth and had a murderous look in her emerald eyes. Hotaru noticed this and gripped the auburn-haired girl's arm, preventing her from doing anything rash.
Serenity glanced at the woman with distaste. She didn't like this professor. She was starting to get on her nerves.
"Anyway, back to my question. Are you two girls by any chance half-veela?" The professor asked once again.
Celeste rolled her eyes. "No we're not." She answered bluntly.
The professor narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure dears? Don't be afraid to speak the truth."
Serenity felt her patience running thin but managed to keep her voice in a calm tone. "We speak the truth, Professor…?"
"Umbridge. Professor Dolores Umbridge."
"Right…" she answered. "Professor Umbridge, we are not of vela blood nor are we related to anyone who is. That we can assure you a hundred percent."
The professor still had a unbelieving look in her face and opened her mouth to ask them another question when Professor McGonagall interrupted her with a stern tone in her voice.
"Dolores, these girls need to be sorted. If you would kindly save your questions for another time, we can begin with the Sorting."
Professor Umbridge glared stonily at the other woman before her lips twisted to a wide smile.
"Why of course, Minerva. Do continue. I'm so sorry to have interrupted."
The short plump frog-faced professor's voice sounded sickeningly sweet. Celeste feared that she would get a toothache from all that fake sweetness.
Professor McGonagall nodded her head at Professor Umbridge before she turned to the girls and said.
"Now when I call for your name, you are to come up here to the stool and sit down as the Sorting Hat chooses your House. We shall start with the names starting with the last alphabet."
"Tomoe Saturn, Firefly Hotaru."
Hotaru gave the three older girls a shy smile before she approached the stool and sat on it. All watched as the Sorting Hat was lowered on the dark-haired girl's head.
The Sorting Hat was silent for a while, perhaps trying to decide where to place Hotaru. Then it opened its 'mouth' and shouted.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Hotaru took off the hat and smiled at her House Table before she took her place once more besides Celeste and Makoto.
"Kanto Jupiter, Lita Makoto."
Makoto smiled before she took her seat as well. The Sorting Hat didn't take a long time for it to decide on…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor House Table clapped and cheered. Makoto flashed them a smile before she returned to her place.
"Gaea Tsuchi, Yuki Celeste."
The whole student body cheered/clapped and a few brave souls whistled and hooted. They stopped however when Celeste sent a cold glare at them.
From his seat at the Gryffindor Table, Ron shivered at Celeste's glare.
"Boy, Harry. That is one icy girl." He whispered to the jet black-haired boy.
Harry frowned slightly. "She wasn't so cold when I talked to her in my dream…"
"What dream Harry?" asked Hermione as she leaned towards the two teens.
"Err…Nothing Hermione." Harry replied uneasily.
"Yeah, nothing at all." Ron added. "So butt out 'Mione."
"Humph! Fine then!" scoffed Hermione and crossed her arms.
During the time of their 'discussion', Professor McGonagall had placed the Sorting Hat atop of Celeste's head.
"Now where shall we put you? Hmm…" started the Sorting Hat.
Celeste frowned as she felt the Sorting Hat trying to rummage through her mind and blocked it.
"What the? I can not read into your mind… Hmm…you are very strong indeed. Your magic is superb."
Celeste scoffed. "I have no magic."
"Oh? Then pray tell, what is this radiating aura you're ejecting unknowingly right now?"
"None of your business."
"I sense a dark tint tainting your pure aura. You have not lived a happy life, have you?"
Celeste growled. "Like I said, it's none of your business."
"If you do not control this dark spot of your power, you could become corrupted…"
"Oh shut up and put me in a House already will you?"
"Fine then but be warned…I choose…"
"SLYTHERIN!"
The Slytherin Table cheered and clapped at their new housemate as Celeste took off the hat and returned to her place besides Hotaru.
"Looks like we're on the same House, El-nee-chan." whispered Hotaru shyly.
Celeste couldn't help but smile at the endearment and clasped the younger girl's hand in hers.
"Yes we are, aren't we?"
The two exchanged smiles for a moment before they shifted their attention to Serenity who was the last to be sorted.
"Hmm…your aura is very powerful, just like the other girl."
"Why thank you, Sorting Hat."
"And like her, you also had blocked your mind."
"True, true."
"Your lives aren't ordinary…even by wizard standards."
"You're probably right."
"Your aura is bright but I sense a something else…sort of an empty void. You are trying to find your soul mate yes?"
Serenity smirked. "Is there such a thing as that anymore? Besides, I have my friends. I don't need a so-called soul mate."
"If you wish, Serenity-hime."
"So you do know then."
"Of course I do, though only little I must admit."
Serenity shrugged. "What's past is in the past. I don't love Endymion and I never did."
"Of course hime…and please tell the Tsuchi no Hime that she wasn't at fault during that time."
"What do you mean, Sorting Hat?"
"I cannot tell, only the Tsuchi-hime can tell you what I speak of."
Serenity pondered on what the Sorting Hat said, so much that she nearly missed the cry of the mentioned hat.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor House Table cheered and clapped once more as Serenity took off the Hat and approached the said House Table with Makoto walking besides her.
Serenity took her seat next to a jet-black-haired and emerald-eyed teen while Makoto took her place besides a tall redhead guy.
"Hey I'm Ron Weasley and this is Hermione Granger." The redhead introduced himself and the pretty brown-haired girl beside him.
"I'm Harry Potter, pleased to meet you." The emerald-eyed teen said as he shook hands first with Makoto; who smiled and greeted him; then with Serenity.
Serenity smiled at Harry. "Pleased to meet you as well Harry." She said politely.
At the other side of the Great Hall, the Slytherin crowd was cheering and clapping at Hotaru and Celeste as they too approached the table.
Celeste unknowingly sat next to the blonde-haired teen Serenity was eyeing earlier with Hotaru beside her.
The blonde teen turned to face the silvery-haired girl and held out his hand.
"Draco Malfoy. Good thing you're in Slytherin, the best House there is."
Celeste raised an eyebrow but clasped the blonde's hand in hers and shook it.
"I wouldn't be so sure."
Draco laughed, much to the surprise of the people who knew him.
"Oh it is. I guarantee." He replied with a wink.
From his high chair at the Professors' Table, Dumbledore watched the two Houses interact with the 'transfer students'.
"It has begun." He muttered so softly that even those who sat besides the Headmaster couldn't hear him.
"I just hope they'll all go through this in one piece."
--To be continued:
Sapphire: Well how was it guys? Good? Bad? Great? Miserable? Please let me know! Review! Review! (grins)