Chapter 6...
By: Mikairi
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and InuYasha do NOT belong to me. I'm not making any profit from this fanfiction...sadly... :-P
Note: If you see any writing inside these like this it means it is written in a letter. ;)
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Phump.
Kagome groaned as something fluffy and warm crashed into her face.
"Sota, you little brat, it's too early." She muttered still half asleep. She rolled over and grabbed the ball of fluff roughly and threw it as hard as she could. She nearly fell out of bed in shock when it gave an indignant hoot, and there was a flutter of wings.
Kagome opened her eyes and looked around. She had completely forgotten. She wasn't in her ruffled, pink bed at her house in Tokyo. She was in a four poster in Gryffindor Tower of Hogwarts School to learn magic. There was a significant difference that only a sleepy and drowsy mind could mistake. 'It feels like a dream.' She thought as she gazed out of her curtains at the other sleeping girls. It was only dawn, she had been rudely awakened by, an owl.
Kagome looked to the floor and saw the tiny owl still lying on the ground.
"Kya!" Kagome jumped out of bed and carefully lifted the unconscious owl off the ground. "Sorry! I'm so sorry!" She cradled the ruffled owl and placed it gently on the sheets, before she noticed the scroll of parchment tied to its tiny leg.
"What's this?" She untied it and pulled the scroll open carefully. It was a letter from home, actually it was a letter from her home 450 years ago. It was Sango's careful writing that covered the page in Japanese.
Kagome-chan, how are you? I hope you're doing well at your new school, (Kagome smiled faintly as "school" was spelt wrong). Everyone here is all right, though Shippou and Inuyasha miss you very much. Especially Inuyasha, he won't admit it. You know him, though.
'I know him only too well,' Kagome thought wryly.
We were able to find two more shards three days ago, they were in a badger demon near Kaede's village. But don't worry no one was seriously injured.
Kagome cringed, ' "Seriously injured?!" In the Feudal Era, that can mean many things, usually not good things either.'
Miroku broke his ankle, and Inuyasha inhaled some nasty poison gas. Right now we're resting at Kaede's hut and everyone is recovering just fine. But we've come into a problem. When you left you took the Shikon no Tama with you.
Kagome froze. 'I completely forgot, how could I be so clueless?!' She reached around her neck and a wave of panic came over her. 'It's...gone.' She jumped off her bed and threw the covers, effectively sending the semi-conscious owl crashing to the floor with a dull "phlump." There was no sign of the jewel. 'But, I can feel its presence its here, it has to be.' She got to her hands and knees and peered under the bed. Nothing.
"No! It can't be gone where is it!" She cried miserably.
She searched for ten more minutes before flopping, defeated, back on to the bed. She snatched up the letter and read on.
Don't worry, we trust you Kagome, and Inuyasha will get over it. But we need it back here because it's almost whole again, and we don't want Naraku to discover its whereabouts and make an attempt through the well. That's why we've made plans for Inuyasha to go through the well and get it.
"NANI!?"
Kagome dropped her jaw. Inuyasha at Hogwarts?! Now there was a bad idea.
He talked to your mother about it and she said he should come during the Christmas Holidays. I'm not sure on what day, but we made him promise not to mess anything up for you when he does come. Write back soon, Kagome-chan we all miss you!
Signed, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kirara, and Inuyasha.
Kagome dropped the letter where it floated to the floor. This was just too much. How was she supposed to get through her classes when she was concentrating on where the Shikon no Tama was and if she would even ever find it? Not to mention the fact that she had no friends here yet and she didn't know where anything was in the school. She needed to find the jewel before someone, or something, else did. She looked around hopelessly, what she needed to do so, was help.
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Twenty minutes later, Kagome was wide awake and dressed. She wanted to be prepared for her first day and she had been trying to make a plan for when she would be able to look for the jewel.
She had started pacing across the common room when she heard someone coming down the stairs of the Girl's Dormitory. It was Hermione Granger, her brown curls unmistakable. Hermione looked up, surprised.
"Good morning, up early aren't you?" She inquired as she adjusted the stack of books under her left arm.
"Yes, I couldn't sleep, I'm too nervous." Kagome replied, "Where are you off to?"
"Well, I'm going to the library to look up a few things for school, get a head start you know. Oh, which reminds me!" Hermione pulled a thick book from her large stack and handed it to her, "This is 'Hogwarts: A History,' it's mine but you can borrow it for as long as you like, I practically know it by heart." She said briskly.
"Thanks so much." Kagome said brightly. The book looked ancient and was torn in a few places but as she flipped through the pages it looked extremely interesting.
"You know, I've never met anyone who was interested in that book besides me." Hermione said looking at her curiously.
"Not interested? Why wouldn't they be?" Kagome replied baffled. She couldn't wait to learn everything about the magical world, and she thought of the book in her hands as a key. Why someone wouldn't find a book on magic and its secrets interesting was a mystery to her.
Hermione beamed, "If you like, would you want to come with me to the library? You can check out books, and get to know the school better."
Kagome was about to answer when there was a great noise of shuffling feet, and a boy came thumping down the stairs to the Boy's Dormitories. He was soon followed by two other boys Kagome didn't know, who were both yawning hugely.
Then a familiar red head appeared carrying what appeared to be a squirming pair of fur earmuffs.
"I mean what could he have been doing?!" Ron exclaimed brandishing the puff ball to Harry, "Look at him, his feathers are all ruffled and bent."
"Was he in the owlery?" Harry asked as he poked at the squirming fluff.
"No, I lent him to Dumbledore, he said he needed it for something important, maybe its Order business!" Ron said excitedly.
Kagome sweat dropped.
It was the owl that had delivered her message from Sango. 'Oops.' She thought guiltily.
"Really, it looks as if he was attacked by some-" But Ron froze, realization dawning on his face. He whirled around angrily, "Hermione!"
Both Hermione and Kagome looked up in surprise.
"Ron, Crookshanks was with me all night if that's what you're thinking. He would never be able to attack Pigwidgeon, he's too fast for Crookshanks. And besides, he hasn't gone after him before." Hermione stated simply.
Ron opened his mouth to say something but Kagome interrupted him.
"Ron, listen it wasn't Hermione's fault." Kagome paused, noticing that all eyes were on her, "You see, you're owl was delivering me a message from my family back in Japan. It flew into me when I was sleeping and I hit it into the wall by reflex. I'm really, really sorry." Kagome finished, she could feel her face burning.
She was surprised when the sandy haired boy she had seen before started laughing. "You tried to kill Pig? Cheers!" He exclaimed brightly, "I've been trying for the past year. Bloody annoying thing it is."
"Shut up, Seamus." Ron muttered.
"No! It honestly was an acci-"
"I wouldn't worry about it, Pig will be just fine." Harry said grinning, "Ron, you're not upset are you?" Harry asked.
Ron who had finally got Pigwidgeon to wake up, turned to Kagome, his ears burning, "N, no, no, of course not. It was an accident right?" He asked suspiciously.
Kagome put her hands on her hips, "Of course it was, I would never purposely do something like that! It's so cute!" She added.
Ron scoffed at this, before throwing Pig out the window, "I'm hungry let's go down to breakfast."
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Kagome was just getting used to the many moving staircases when she remembered about the jewel. Her stomach gave a violent lurch and she nearly walked off the landing, had Harry not grabbed her arm. They reached the Great Hall and Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron quietly, "Would you two mind if Kagome joined us today, it's her first day and all."
"Why would we mind?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yeah, she's nice." Ron added, "Better her than Luna." he said shuddering.
"Shut up." Harry snapped.
They took their seats just as the morning post arrived, Kagome noticed that Pigwideon was amoung the owls, looking perfectly fine, as he fluttered happily. A large black owl swooped down and dropped a package into Kagome's cereal bowl.
Ron looked at her curiously before asking, "Is that a broomstick? Do you play any quidditch?"
"I've never played in my life." Kagome replied as she began tearing off the brown paper. She lifted the wrappings off the table and a bow and arrows fell out with a clatter.
Ron looked at them and sighed, "Too bad it wasn't a broomstick. Have you seen the new QuickSilver?"
"Bow and arrows? what are you going to use those for?" Harry asked, curiously as Kagome lifted the gleaming, mahogany bow.
"I'm a miko." Kagome answered simply. She glanced at Ron and Harry who were both looking very baffled, but Hermione's face lit up in recognition and, what looked like, amazement.
"Oh my, a miko?! I know what those are!" Hermione said excitedly, "You have to be really, really powerful to be one, don't you? I thought they had all died out centuries ago, atleast that's what it said in my book, 'Magical Mysteries of the Ancient and Modern World.' It went into a lot of detail about one particular Miko, or in English, "Priestess," her name was Midoriko. It's said that there was a war between the demons of ancient Japan and-"
"You still haven't explained what a mika is." Ron protested.
"It's not 'mika' it's pronounced, 'miko,' with an "O," Ron." Hermione corrected sounding rather miffed, "And if you would be patient and listen I was just about to explain-"
Ron exchanged a withered look with Harry before turning to Kagome and asking, "What's a "mikO," exactly?"
"Well, you see a miko, or priestess, is a girl who has extremely powerful magical, or holy, powers. Usually these powers are used in healing and purifying things that have been tainted with evil. It was like Hermione said, in ancient Japan, Mikos fought against evil demons."
"How?" Ron asked.
"With this." Kagome picked up the bow. If I were to shoot an arrow, my powers would be transferred into it and would purify whatever it hits.
"Have you ever, err, have you ever shot a demon?" Harry asked.
Ron snorted into glass of pumpkin juice, "I'm sure she travels all over the country, chasing demons." He said sarcastically.
"Actually-" Kagome stopped. Should she tell them about Feudal Japan? But Kagome was saved when the topic quickly changed as Ron was handed his time table from Professor McGonagall.
"Oh, no...I have double potions with the Slytherins! Of all classes!" Ron groaned.
"Me too." Harry said dully.
"Me too, what class do you have next?" Hermione asked.
"Potions with Slytherin, is that bad or something?" Kagome asked looking at the others.
Harry's face darkened, "Well... yes. Professor Snape is the teacher and he's horrible. He hates everyone except those from Slytherin, his own House. I guess you could say we, especially, are on his bad side."
"That doesn't sound fair." Kagome exclaimed, "Why doesn't anyone say anything I mean, have you tried talking to him-"
"There is no talking to him, you'll see. He's just a greasy git." Ron said maliciously.
"But not all the teachers are like that." Hermione said quickly catching the anxious look on her face, "Honest. All the other teachers are fair and pretty nice."
"Well, you would say that." Ron muttered snidely.
"Hey, have you seen the new Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher?" Harry asked, "I didn't see anyone last night at the feast."
"Hey your right! I think there was an empty seat at the teacher's table last night, and there's an empty seat now, too." Ron said craning his neck to look at the front table.
"Well, we'll find out won't we? We have that class on Wednesday, well I do." Hermione said as she gathered up her books. "Let's get to class early."
"I don't know why we bother, he's just going to get us for something else. Harry here just has to breathe loudly and he docks ten points." Ron said as he picked up his bag.
Kagome grabbed her own bag and slung her bow and arrows over her shoulder. In her time table she had discovered that she was to have "Miko Training" sessions with Professor Sinistra in the afternoon. This is what she had come to do; learn as much magic as possible so she could destroy one of the most evil and powerful demons of ancient times. 'Maybe when I get back home, I'll be just as strong as Kikyou ever was.' She thought determinedly.
She followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of the Great Hall and down into the dark dungeons.
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Kagome left Potions Class with a detention, a brilliant blue rash, and a bad attitude. She never thought someone could be so cruel unless they slaughtered villages and ran around in a monkey suit, but no. Professor Severus Snape the Potions Master was the lowest of the low. And Kagome was positive that he had the power to read minds. 'I'd know that feeling anywhere.' She thought darkly.
Kagome had entered Snape's classroom with a feeling of foreboding, the shelves were covered in jars of slime and, what she sensed, of demon organs. Although it was late summer outside, the dark classroom was cold and clammy. Snape had stalked inside, "in all his greasy-haired glory," Ron had said. He had walked right up to her and asked her if she was the foreign exchange student, Kagome Higurashi. When she had nodded in reply he asked if she was capable of any speech never mind English. The Slytherins were hardly any better, although Draco hadn't been in class, she had been sure she had seen him in the Great Hall...
Snape then had them pair up into partners and concoct a potion of vitality, which was supposed to restore any living thing to full health. Kagome had gotten paired with the sandy-haired boy named Seamus Finnigan. Seamus had accidentally broken a single glass vial, and Snape swooped down on them. He had accused Seamus of vandalism and had taken five points away. When Kagome had tried reasoning with him, explaining it was an accident, he took ten points away. All the while smiling like it was the funniest joke. He had picked on the boy named Neville Longbottom, until he became a nervous wreck and ruined his own potion.
'I can't believe he did that.' Kagome thought as she tilted her head against the cold wall.
After Neville had properly melted his own cauldron, Snape blamed Harry and Hermione for the whole disaster. Kagome had slipped on Neville's spilt potion and landed right in it. It had burned her skin turning it a nasty shade of electric blue, while large green boils began forming in spots. Snape had merely insulted her for being clumsy and gave her a detention for causing a "scene."
"What scene?! The whole room was in chaos!" Kagome yelled out to no one.
"What's his problem!" She shouted, her voice echoing off the empty halls.
After her burn he had sent her to the Hospital Wing. Except, she didn't know where that was. So now she was left to wander down the wet, dark halls in the dungeons. She was hoping beyond hope that she would come across someone who could help her.
"Doesn't seem to like you very much."
Kagome jumped at the voice. She looked over and saw Draco Malfoy peering into the potions classroom.
"But what can you expect? You are a Gryffindor, after all." Draco drawled, smirking as smoke billowed out of Neville's spilt potion. "Gryffindors are so conceited its path-"
"You talk about them as if they're only one person." Kagome interrupted.
"They're are all the same." Draco answered.
"All the same, huh? I don't understand how you can say that. I suppose with that logic then all Slytherins are the same; they never vary, they all have the same goals in life and-"
"Ridiculous."
"You think so? Me too." Kagome answered. She winced, her arm was beginning to turn blackish violet.
"Does it matter that I'm in Gryffindor?" She asked quietly. "I mean, if I had been sorted into Slytherin, then it would be perfectly fine, but I'm not... Is that how you work?" Kagome asked her voice had gone dangerously low, and her eyes pierced his gray ones.
Draco's smirk faltered for a moment, "You don't even know me. What are you playing at?"
Kagome leaned back against the wall. 'He's right about that, I don't know him. The only thing that I have is this feeling. I mean, everyone has some good in them. Draco is no different. But it's true, the only thing I know for sure is what happened all those years ago, but he doesn't know, not yet at least...'
"You know what I think?" Kagome asked her cheerful demeanor returning. "I think that you secretly want to talk to me. Even if I am in Gryffindor and you're in Slytherin Why else would you show up here, where I'm by myself, and there's no Slytherins to please." She smiled brilliantly at Draco, who just scowled back.
"Higurashi, this is the door to the potions classroom, that's why I came back here." Draco retorted, a smirk back in place.
"And yet, you haven't gone inside." Kagome mused, "I'm not forcing you to talk to me, in fact, you spoke to me first."
"I most certainly did no-" Draco stopped, from where Kagome was standing she could faintly see a pink stain on his cheeks. He looked back into the potions classroom, a minute passed, and Kagome asked something that had been nagging at her since last night's feast.
"I have a question for you." She began, staring straight ahead.
"What."
"I know it's none of my business, but, your brother Demetrius. Well, he's in Gryffindor." She said gently.
Draco's expression darkened and his eyes became cold like steel. "Demetrius is no brother of mine," he snapped back, "Filthy, little blood traitor..." But there was something in his voice that almost contradicted the words he said.
Draco looked up at Kagome and was surprised to see how glassy her eyes looked. Maybe it was just the light, but he was almost sure that no one had ever looked at him that way before, not even his own mother.
Kagome looked away, it was one of the most sad things she had ever heard of. She had been living in Feudal Times, where families were ripped apart by war, demons, sickness, starvation, and death. But she only just realized how horrible it was when families were ripped apart by their own doing... by four houses... by a silly sorting hat... by prejudice...
A wave of dizziness fell over her, and she felt sick to her stomach. Somehow she wanted to think it was this idea that made her feel so bad, but it probably had more to do with her festering arm. He looked at her, as if trying to decide on something. Kagome adjusted her bag and walked up the corridor. She muttered as she passed him, "I don't think you mean that," before she ascended the stairs out of the dungeons.
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"What on earth have you been doing!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked at the sight of Kagome's arm which was at this point black and hissing out jets of steam.
"I was in potions class and spilt some vitality potion on my arm, but I don't think it was made right-" Kagome said.
"Obviously not! You should have come straight to me! How long has it been like this?" Madam Pomfrey demanded as she began mixing the contents of a bowl furiously.
"Maybe a half an hour?" Kagome replied, she wasn't entirely sure.
Madam Pomfrey bristled in reply, she strode over to Kagome and applied the liquid to her arm. The burning stopped and Kagome could feel the skin tingling pleasantly. Madam Pomfrey wrapped her arm from wrist to elbow with cotton bandaging, "Now, I want you to come back here tomorrow so I can check on it." She instructed, "It should be all right, now off to class with you."
"Thank you." Kagome said before hopping off the bed and disappearing out the door. She glanced at her watch, 'Potions will be over in half an hour, it's double classes today. Well, I'm not going back there,' she decided. Then a thought struck her, 'I can use this time to find the jewel.'
Kagome stopped and concentrated, searching for the familiar sensation of the jewel shard's presence. Her face fell, she couldn't feel a trace of it, it's presence was lost among the magic that filled the school. Kagome turned down a dark hallway, trying to find Gryffindor Tower. She pushed aside a tapestry, depicting a large dragon setting fire to a tree, revealing a door. She pushed it open and stepped through.
Kagome was beginning to enjoy Hogwarts's secret passageways and doors, well, now that she wasn't trying to get to class. She looked at her watch, 'I have lunch in twenty minutes. I'll have to try and find my way back soon.' But she was too curious to stop now. She was in a darkened hallway, the little light that shone through the grimy windows revealed a threadbare carpet and old peeling paintings on the walls, who's occupants were all asleep.
She passed a particular painting and was surprised when she saw a beautiful, young miko; her black hair tied in a loose bun on her head. She was sitting under the shade of a tree, sharpening arrow heads and humming as she worked.
Kagome leaned closer, the girl looked very familiar. The miko looked up sharply, grabbing her bow and notching an arrow, "Who goes!" She shouted in Japanese. The miko looked at Kagome and her eyes widened. She threw her bow and arrow aside and dropped to her knees, bowing respectfully. "Kikyou-onee-sama!"
"Kikyou?" Kagome asked surprised, "I'm not Kikyou, my name is Kagome." Kagome explained, "Who are you?"
The miko looked up at her suspiciously, and Kagome was able to see a patch over her right eye. Kagome gasped in surprise, "Ka, Kaede?"
"I am the miko Kaede," She answered in dignified Japanese, "And you are a student, but why do ye look so much of my sister Kikyou?"
"Well, it's hard to explain, you see I'm her reincarnation, I think." Kagome said rather awkwardly.
Kaede stood up placing her arrow back into a satchel and slinging her bow over her shoulder. She nodded in understanding. "That would explain it, Kikyou has been dead for many years." Kaede brushed the grass from her clothes. "I apologize for before, there have been strange happenings just of late, and I find that I must always be on my guard." She looked at Kagome curiously, "Are you lost, is that what brought ye down this way?"
Kagome looked back at her watch, she was five minutes late for lunch, "Yes, I am. Could you show me the way to the Great Hall?"
Kaede nodded, "Of course, follow me." She walked over the grassy hill and disappeared from sight. Kagome waited a few minutes before she returned with a black horse. Kaede mounted her horse with ease, opposed to the elderly Kaede Kagome knew. She flicked the reigns, and trotted over to the left, vanishing behind the frame of the portrait. Kaede reappeared in the next portrait over and continued; traveling from portrait to portrait. Kagome followed her out from behind the tapestry, up three staircases and down four winding hallways before she emerged into the bright entrance hall.
"This is where I will leave ye, Kagome." Kaede said.
"Thank you." Kagome replied, bowing politely.
Kaede did the same, and before she galloped off into the next frame she said, "If you need my assistance in the future, you know now where to find me."
"Kagome, there you are!" Kagome turned in time to see Hermione rushing towards her. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kagome said, "I thought you'd be at lunch already?"
"Ron and Harry are," Hermione explained, "but I came to find you because I thought you might have gotten lost. Snape's horrible, he knew it was your first day. I can't believe he gave you a detention. Maybe if you go to Professor McGonagall about it, maybe she can do something." Hermione said frowning.
"Thanks, but don't worry about it, really, I'll be fine." Kagome said, "Why don't we get some lunch, I'm starving."
Kagome and Hermione walked into the Great Hall and made their way to the Gryffindor Table. Kagome spotted Ron and Harry, their heads were bent low and they were talking quietly. When Kagome approached them, she was just able to hear the words, "D.A." and "requirement."
Harry looked up noticing her, he nudged Ron, who was still whispering and he stopped.
Kagome sat down, "Hello, Harry, Ron."
"Hi, how's your arm?" Harry asked noticing the bandage.
"Oh, it's all right." She sighed, "is he always like that?" Kagome asked miserably.
"Who? Snape, yeah. Stupid git. He hates the Gryffindors loads more then any of the other houses." Ron replied.
"Yeah, but I don't know, it seems like, like he, he-"
"Hates you especially?" Harry finished for her.
Kagome looked up at him, "Was it that obvious?" She asked dully.
Harry shook his head, "No, but I used to feel the same way. Then I found out he did hate me especially."
Kagome frowned, "Why would you say that?"
"Well, Snape and my Dad used to go to school together and they hated each other." Harry explained.
"With a passion." Ron added through a mouthful of ham and cheese sandwich.
"So now Snape hates me and he never lets me forget it." Harry finished
"Cheer up, you three." Hermione said as she flipped through her book, "We don't have potions class again until friday. We've got Herbology with the Hufflepuffs next, that's not bad."
"I don't. I have training for the rest of the afternoon." Kagome said reading her time table.
"Training for what?" Ron asked.
"Miko training. I'm guessing I'm the only one who has that class." Kagome asked.
"I didn't even know Hogwarts offered that class." Ron declared.
"Hogwarts has never offered that." Hermione said, "Maybe it's a new course this year."
"No, I think it has to do with my mother." Kagome explained. Ron and Harry were looking at her quizically so she explained, "I come from a long line of priests and priestesses, but my powers are unusually stronger. My Mother wanted me to perfect or tame them this year and so that's why I'm studying with a Miko here. It's something that I need to learn."
"Why, er, why do you have to take miko lessons?" Harry asked.
The answer to that question would require more time to answer than lunch period and much aspirin. "Right now, I can't say, I'm sorry." Kagome said apologetically. 'Not that they'd believe me even if I did tell them.' She thought dully.
Hermione marked a page in her book, "You don't have to tell us, don't worry." She smiled. "After lessons today, I'm going to the library to work, since I didn't go this morning. Harry and Ron won't come," She shot a look at them, "But do you want to?"
"Sure." Kagome agreed, she looked at her watch, if she didn't leave now she was going to be late for her class. "Oh, I better go now, which way to the grounds?" She asked hurriedly.
"There's a path leading from the front door, go down the left side, the grounds are near the edge of the lake." Harry instructed.
"Thanks!" she called as she dashed out of the Great Hall and disappeared from sight.
"I wonder why she needs extra lessons." Ron wondered out loud.
"Maybe she needs them, like when I needed to learn Occlumency." Harry suggested. "It must be important, she seemed very closed up about it."
"Well, she doesn't know us very well." Hermione said as she gathered her books in a neat stack on the table. "I don't think it's something that she can tell just anybody."
"I wish I could be out on the grounds shooting at things on a day like this." Ron said wistfully as gazed at the brilliant blue sky.
"I'm sure it's much harder than that, Ron. There's a section on it in my book," Hermione explained, "It takes real concentration and dedication to become a miko, I don't think there are many real ones alive today."
"Come on, let's get to class." Harry said standing up, "At least we get to be outside for the rest of the day."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered thier books and left the Great Hall to the greenhouses.
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Kagome walked down the sloped path, her arrows on her back and her bow in hand. 'I wonder what Professor Sinistra is like,' she frowned, 'I really hope she's nothing like Snape.' As she rounded a bend in the path, she saw the glistening water of the lake. Standing at the water's edge was a tall, slender woman with her back to her. She was wearing the traditional clothes of a miko, only her hakama was navy blue instead of the traditional red. Her dark brown hair was braided down to the middle of her back and tied with a long white ribbon.
Kagome reached the bottom of the hill and stopped. The miko didn't move, 'Perhaps she didn't hear me coming?' Kagome thought. "Umm, Professor Sinistra?" She asked tentatively. The teacher stood motionless still. Kagome began only took two steps when-
"Stop."
Kagome froze mid-step, surprised.
"I'm Professor Sinistra, your teacher for this class, welcome." She said, turning around and smiling warmly. She had olive colored skin and her voice was low and smooth. Her brown eyes were her most prominent features; thick lashes brimmed her almond-shaped eyes, giving her a dark and mysterious look. "Kagome Higurashi, is it? Excuse me, but I must ask you, where is the Jewel of Four Souls?"
Kagome's face faltered, "Umm, it's, well, right now? It's, umm, in the castle." '...Somewhere.' Kagome thought guiltily.
Professor Sinistra nodded, she picked up her bow and began to test the string, "Please...find it."
'She knows?! How does she know that it's los-misplaced?!' Kagome thought stunned. "I will." She replied quietly.
"By the way, where are your robes?" Professor Sinistra asked, looking up from her bow.
"Robes?"
"For training, of course. Well, I didn't think you'd to bring some with you, so," Professor Sinistra pulled a wand from her pocket and flicked it. A white kimono jacket spun together from the wand's end, and floated gently to the ground. It was followed by a red hakama and sandals.
"Th, thank you." Kagome said with wide eyes.
Professor Sinistra then made a slashing movement in the air with her wand and a screen appeared, "Hurry and change, I would like to start the basics today."
Kagome gathered her new robes and vanished behind the screen, moments later she emerged. She tied her hair back with a white ribbon and glanced at her reflection in the lake. Kagome frowned, her resemblance to Kikyou was uncanny, especially in the robes that she always wore. She was pulled from her thoughts as Professor Sinistra had pulled a scroll from thin air and handed it to her.
"This year, I'm going to help you learn to control your miko abilities. But, along with training you shall learn of mikos and events in history. The Shikon no Tama will appear in your studies often this year, though you must know a great deal about it already." She said, smiling mysteriously. "This is a list of books that I would like you to read during the school year. The first book is rather more of an introduction, but it should be very useful in learning the daily practices of a miko. I assume that you understand the beliefs?" Professor Sinistra asked.
"Yes." Kagome answered as she skimmed through the list of ten books or so. Some of the titles were written in Japanese and others English, "Professor, will I find all these in the library?"
"I believe so, but if they don't own a copy, just ask me. I have a rather extensive library of my own, miko and astrological books mostly." Professor Sinistra replied.
Kagome folded the list and slipped it into her robe pocket. Professor Sinistra slung her bow over her shoulder and picked up her satchel of arrows. She reached into her pocket and pulled a short strip of paper out. "Could you would hold still for one moment?"
Kagome straightened up, trying not to move too much. Professor Sinistra held the paper up straight and let it go. It shot at Kagome where it attached to the center of her chest. Kagome glanced down and watched as spiral writing spread over the paper. Professor Sinistra held her hand out and the paper flew back to her. She read the paper quickly before looking up at Kagome, surprise written on her face.
"This is quite extraordinary, I daresay, this year should prove most interesting." She said giving off another mysterious smile.
"Professor, what is that?" Kagome asked politely, pointing at the paper.
"This is your test results. I tested the levels of your magical ability, and the results are on here." She explained, "Every witch and wizard has a certain amount of magical powers. The lowest amount you can have on the scale is seventeen, anything below that, and you're considered a squib. Between seventeen and twenty-five is considered average. Someone who has a number higher than twenty-five has a larger than normal quantity of magical powers or abilities."
"So, If you don't mind me asking, um, what was my number?" Kagome asked trying to digest the new information.
Professor Sinistra's face flickered in amusement, "Well, I'm not allowed to tell students what their numbers are. You see, knowing might affect a students behavior in the classroom. And normally, teachers don't need to test the levels of their students magical abilities. Only in this case, Miko training, are these tests required, because in order to be a miko you need to have a high average or above to be one." Professor Sinistra said, as she began walking towards a large grassy field.
Kagome followed her. "But, this once I'll tell you, only because I feel you have the right to know. This class will not be easy." She said, "Your results said that you had a score of forty-two, which is pretty impressive for your age."
Kagome looked at the ground, she could tell she was blushing, "But, I've never done a spell in my life, I don't even know any real magic."
"It doesn't matter, you were born with magic in you, and in this case a lot of it. This year you're going to have to learn six years of magic. I'm sorry you were robbed of those six years and I'm sorry about your father." Professor Sinistra said gently, her eyes softening as she looked at Kagome.
"It's not your fault, of course, but thank you." Kagome said rather awkwardly. She looked across the field and noticed two red targets. "Is that what we're doing today? Archery?" Kagome asked changing the subject.
"Oh, why yes, yes it is." Professor Sinistra replied, snapping back to her usual manner, "Well, first I'd like to see how you do shooting at stationary targets. When you're ready, Kagome."
Kagome pulled a bow from her satchel, and notched it on the string of her bow. She pulled it back and took aim, 'Come on, hit the mark.' She thought, trying to concentrate only on the small circle that seemed miles across the lawn. She let the arrow fly, it ripped through the air as it soared, shining with a familiar purple light with blinding intensity. It hit the target dead on, but almost as soon as it struck, the target was blown to brilliant smithereens, and a large cloud of dust, smoke, and debris was all that remained.
Kagome sweat dropped, "Umm, Sorry, Professor." She said sheepishly, glancing back at her.
Professor Sinistra had an incredulous look on her face, before she seemed to snap out of it. "Ah, well, I suppose I should have put a protectment charm on it before we started, don't worry. Accio target!" She exclaimed. The remains of the target zoomed from the crater and landed in front of them. The red cover clearly showed an arrow-head sized hole in the very center.
"Well, done, Kagome! I believe your arrow hit dead on. Reparo!" The target became whole and unscorched, Professor Sinistra waved her wand and put a protectment charm, and something that made the target hover and dart around. "I want to see if you can hit moving objects, as accurately as stationary," she explained. Professor Sinistra banished the target back across the field where it darted through the air, hitting it would be much more difficult.
Kagome notched another arrow and pulled back, 'If it would just hold still for a moment-' Kagome released the arrow. It streaked across the grounds wrapped in purple light, scorching the grass below. Another ground shaking explosion and the target vanished in the debris.
"So much for my protectment charm," She said in amusement, "Accio target!" Professor Sinistra shouted. A large ball of flame hurtled towards them, and they both had to dive out of the way as it came skidding to a halt. Professor Sinistra stood and brushed her robes off, she pointed her wand at the target and extinguished the remaining flames. She leaned over the target and inspected it. "Not too bad, rather off center. You just need practice is all. Reparo! shall we try it again?"
................................................................................................................................
Kagome spent the rest of the afternoon practicing her archery. Professor Sinistra had told her that her stance was off and after correcting it, Kagome's accurarcy had improved greatly. By five o' clock Professor Sinistra dismissed her, reminding her to read book one on her list and to write notes as she read.
Kagome trudged back up the hill to the castle, she was thoroughly exhausted. Her arm that she had hurt in potions had become sore from the repeated use. She massaged her arm, wincing. Whenever she used her miko powers it always seemed to take a lot of her energy. 'I can't wait for supper.' She thought as she reached the front doors, 'I still need to meet Hermione in the library, Snape assigned those questions about vitality potion and I should start on my book.' Kagome pulled the book list out of her pocket and read the first title, "A Guide for: Magical Mikos."
Kagome pulled the heavy wooden doors open and slipped inside the Entrance Hall. She walked into the Great Hall and scanned the Gryffindor Table for Hermione, Harry, and Ron. Kagome frowned as they were noticeably absent from the table. In fact. there were several empty seats at the Gryffindor Table, and as she looked around the Hall, she noticed the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Tables were rather sparse of students. The only table that was completely full was the Slytherin Table.
'Perhaps their classes are running late?' Kagome thought. Although diner had started ten minutes ago. Kagome looked back at the Gryffindor Table, and saw Demetrius sitting at the far end, and looking rather dejected, as he pushed his peas from one side of his plate to the other. 'He doesn't seem to have any friends.' Kagome thought sadly. She looked at the few Gryffindors, who were sitting with their backs to him. Kagome boldly strode forward and stopped next to Demetrius, "Mind if I sit here?" She asked gently pointing to a seat across from him. He looked at her mildly surprised and shrugged. Kagome took this as a 'yes' and sat. He stared back down at his plate and began constructing a mountain out of mashed potatoes.
"My name's Kagome what's yours?" Kagome asked making a stab at conversation. A few Gryffindors looked at her and began whispering furiously, she shot them a glare and turned back to Demetrius smiling.
He looked up and said in a dull tone, "Demetrius."
"So, you're a first year student, huh?" Kagome asked brightly.
He nodded sullenly, still staring at his plate.
Kagome smiled in triumph, she was glad that he had at least responded to her questions, "You know it's my first year here, too."
He glanced at her before turning his attention across the hall, Kagome followed his line of vision and realized who he was looking at.
'I can't believe Draco stopped talking to his little brother because he was sorted into Gryffindor.' Kagome thought as she watched Demetrius's gray eyes swirl with emotion.
Kagome thought fast, "Hey, do you think you could show me to the library? It's just, I'll get lost." She said giving him her most brilliant smile.
The boy pulled his eyes off of Draco and looked at her. He glanced down at the table and muttered, "Sure, got nothing better to do."
They got up and walked out of the Great Hall, unaware that a certain Slytherin boy had seen the whole thing.
Kagome and Demetrius had walked up two staircases and were down an empty hallway that lead to the library, when she finally decided to break the silence. "Demetrius, your brother is Draco, isn't he?" Kagome asked politely.
Demetrius tensed at this, "Yeah, he's in Slytherin."
"I've met him before, in Diagon Alley, he's really," Kagome paused, "he's really-"
"A jerk." Demetrius said bitterly.
"Well, that wasn't the word I was going to say." Kagome began, "And what do you mean, "a jerk," he's your brother."
Demetrius whipped around, "What do you know! He is too a jerk! He won't even talk to me because I'm in Gryffindor! None of my family will now!" Demetrius shouted as tears of anger threatened to fall from the corners of his eyes.
Kagome was very much taken aback, Demetrius must've been as well. He clapped a hand to his mouth and took several steps away from her, looking very frightened. He spun around and took off down the hall, he stumbled around a corner and disappeared from sight.
Kagome stared down the empty hall and sighed, she didn't feel much like studying now. 'This sibling rivalry is all too familiar.' She thought disgustedly. She decided to get her book at least to read later. She walked to the end of the hall and pushed the heavy door open. She walked as quietly as possible to the front desk.
The librarian emerged from a back room and glared through her glasses at her, "Can I help you?" She asked in a harsh whisper.
"Yes, do you have the book, 'A Guide for: Magical Mikos,' by Rei Hino?" Kagome whispered back.
"One minute." The librarian replied and she disappeared under the desk.
She stood up straight a few minutes later with a black leather bound book with gold lettering. "Here you are, it will be due back in two weeks from today." She pulled a quill from an ink pot and placed it over a piece of parchment, "What's your name and house?"
"Kagome Higurashi and I'm in Gryffindor."
"All right, off you go." The librarian whispered briskly as she scribbled the information down.
"Thanks."
Kagome hurried back to the Gryffindor Common Room, 'I hope Hermione isn't mad, I mean, she wasn't at diner or the library.' Kagome thought as she climbed through the portrait hole. 'I'm just too tired to do any sort of studying.' She looked around the Common Room, but no sign of them. She glanced down at her watch, 'Almost six o' clock, diner should be over by now.'
Kagome trudged up the stairs to the Girl's Dormitory, she kicked off her shoes and was about to collapse onto her bed when she noticed the letter on her pillow. She ripped it open and read,
Kagome, I'm terribly sorry, but I can't meet you in the library today. Harry, Ron, and I won't be back until late this evening. I'll explain everything when I get back. See you. From, Hermione.
Kagome yawned and placed the letter on her bedside table, she laid back on her bed and closed her eyes. She didn't have much time to wonder about Hermione's mysterious letter, because she was asleep within minutes.
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A/N: Finally ch 6! It took my awhile to see how this chapter was going to go, but it's done, thank god! lol
Now on to chapter 7, which will be out soon...
...hopefully... ; )
-:- Mikairi -:-
By: Mikairi
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and InuYasha do NOT belong to me. I'm not making any profit from this fanfiction...sadly... :-P
Note: If you see any writing inside these like this it means it is written in a letter. ;)
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Phump.
Kagome groaned as something fluffy and warm crashed into her face.
"Sota, you little brat, it's too early." She muttered still half asleep. She rolled over and grabbed the ball of fluff roughly and threw it as hard as she could. She nearly fell out of bed in shock when it gave an indignant hoot, and there was a flutter of wings.
Kagome opened her eyes and looked around. She had completely forgotten. She wasn't in her ruffled, pink bed at her house in Tokyo. She was in a four poster in Gryffindor Tower of Hogwarts School to learn magic. There was a significant difference that only a sleepy and drowsy mind could mistake. 'It feels like a dream.' She thought as she gazed out of her curtains at the other sleeping girls. It was only dawn, she had been rudely awakened by, an owl.
Kagome looked to the floor and saw the tiny owl still lying on the ground.
"Kya!" Kagome jumped out of bed and carefully lifted the unconscious owl off the ground. "Sorry! I'm so sorry!" She cradled the ruffled owl and placed it gently on the sheets, before she noticed the scroll of parchment tied to its tiny leg.
"What's this?" She untied it and pulled the scroll open carefully. It was a letter from home, actually it was a letter from her home 450 years ago. It was Sango's careful writing that covered the page in Japanese.
Kagome-chan, how are you? I hope you're doing well at your new school, (Kagome smiled faintly as "school" was spelt wrong). Everyone here is all right, though Shippou and Inuyasha miss you very much. Especially Inuyasha, he won't admit it. You know him, though.
'I know him only too well,' Kagome thought wryly.
We were able to find two more shards three days ago, they were in a badger demon near Kaede's village. But don't worry no one was seriously injured.
Kagome cringed, ' "Seriously injured?!" In the Feudal Era, that can mean many things, usually not good things either.'
Miroku broke his ankle, and Inuyasha inhaled some nasty poison gas. Right now we're resting at Kaede's hut and everyone is recovering just fine. But we've come into a problem. When you left you took the Shikon no Tama with you.
Kagome froze. 'I completely forgot, how could I be so clueless?!' She reached around her neck and a wave of panic came over her. 'It's...gone.' She jumped off her bed and threw the covers, effectively sending the semi-conscious owl crashing to the floor with a dull "phlump." There was no sign of the jewel. 'But, I can feel its presence its here, it has to be.' She got to her hands and knees and peered under the bed. Nothing.
"No! It can't be gone where is it!" She cried miserably.
She searched for ten more minutes before flopping, defeated, back on to the bed. She snatched up the letter and read on.
Don't worry, we trust you Kagome, and Inuyasha will get over it. But we need it back here because it's almost whole again, and we don't want Naraku to discover its whereabouts and make an attempt through the well. That's why we've made plans for Inuyasha to go through the well and get it.
"NANI!?"
Kagome dropped her jaw. Inuyasha at Hogwarts?! Now there was a bad idea.
He talked to your mother about it and she said he should come during the Christmas Holidays. I'm not sure on what day, but we made him promise not to mess anything up for you when he does come. Write back soon, Kagome-chan we all miss you!
Signed, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kirara, and Inuyasha.
Kagome dropped the letter where it floated to the floor. This was just too much. How was she supposed to get through her classes when she was concentrating on where the Shikon no Tama was and if she would even ever find it? Not to mention the fact that she had no friends here yet and she didn't know where anything was in the school. She needed to find the jewel before someone, or something, else did. She looked around hopelessly, what she needed to do so, was help.
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Twenty minutes later, Kagome was wide awake and dressed. She wanted to be prepared for her first day and she had been trying to make a plan for when she would be able to look for the jewel.
She had started pacing across the common room when she heard someone coming down the stairs of the Girl's Dormitory. It was Hermione Granger, her brown curls unmistakable. Hermione looked up, surprised.
"Good morning, up early aren't you?" She inquired as she adjusted the stack of books under her left arm.
"Yes, I couldn't sleep, I'm too nervous." Kagome replied, "Where are you off to?"
"Well, I'm going to the library to look up a few things for school, get a head start you know. Oh, which reminds me!" Hermione pulled a thick book from her large stack and handed it to her, "This is 'Hogwarts: A History,' it's mine but you can borrow it for as long as you like, I practically know it by heart." She said briskly.
"Thanks so much." Kagome said brightly. The book looked ancient and was torn in a few places but as she flipped through the pages it looked extremely interesting.
"You know, I've never met anyone who was interested in that book besides me." Hermione said looking at her curiously.
"Not interested? Why wouldn't they be?" Kagome replied baffled. She couldn't wait to learn everything about the magical world, and she thought of the book in her hands as a key. Why someone wouldn't find a book on magic and its secrets interesting was a mystery to her.
Hermione beamed, "If you like, would you want to come with me to the library? You can check out books, and get to know the school better."
Kagome was about to answer when there was a great noise of shuffling feet, and a boy came thumping down the stairs to the Boy's Dormitories. He was soon followed by two other boys Kagome didn't know, who were both yawning hugely.
Then a familiar red head appeared carrying what appeared to be a squirming pair of fur earmuffs.
"I mean what could he have been doing?!" Ron exclaimed brandishing the puff ball to Harry, "Look at him, his feathers are all ruffled and bent."
"Was he in the owlery?" Harry asked as he poked at the squirming fluff.
"No, I lent him to Dumbledore, he said he needed it for something important, maybe its Order business!" Ron said excitedly.
Kagome sweat dropped.
It was the owl that had delivered her message from Sango. 'Oops.' She thought guiltily.
"Really, it looks as if he was attacked by some-" But Ron froze, realization dawning on his face. He whirled around angrily, "Hermione!"
Both Hermione and Kagome looked up in surprise.
"Ron, Crookshanks was with me all night if that's what you're thinking. He would never be able to attack Pigwidgeon, he's too fast for Crookshanks. And besides, he hasn't gone after him before." Hermione stated simply.
Ron opened his mouth to say something but Kagome interrupted him.
"Ron, listen it wasn't Hermione's fault." Kagome paused, noticing that all eyes were on her, "You see, you're owl was delivering me a message from my family back in Japan. It flew into me when I was sleeping and I hit it into the wall by reflex. I'm really, really sorry." Kagome finished, she could feel her face burning.
She was surprised when the sandy haired boy she had seen before started laughing. "You tried to kill Pig? Cheers!" He exclaimed brightly, "I've been trying for the past year. Bloody annoying thing it is."
"Shut up, Seamus." Ron muttered.
"No! It honestly was an acci-"
"I wouldn't worry about it, Pig will be just fine." Harry said grinning, "Ron, you're not upset are you?" Harry asked.
Ron who had finally got Pigwidgeon to wake up, turned to Kagome, his ears burning, "N, no, no, of course not. It was an accident right?" He asked suspiciously.
Kagome put her hands on her hips, "Of course it was, I would never purposely do something like that! It's so cute!" She added.
Ron scoffed at this, before throwing Pig out the window, "I'm hungry let's go down to breakfast."
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Kagome was just getting used to the many moving staircases when she remembered about the jewel. Her stomach gave a violent lurch and she nearly walked off the landing, had Harry not grabbed her arm. They reached the Great Hall and Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron quietly, "Would you two mind if Kagome joined us today, it's her first day and all."
"Why would we mind?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yeah, she's nice." Ron added, "Better her than Luna." he said shuddering.
"Shut up." Harry snapped.
They took their seats just as the morning post arrived, Kagome noticed that Pigwideon was amoung the owls, looking perfectly fine, as he fluttered happily. A large black owl swooped down and dropped a package into Kagome's cereal bowl.
Ron looked at her curiously before asking, "Is that a broomstick? Do you play any quidditch?"
"I've never played in my life." Kagome replied as she began tearing off the brown paper. She lifted the wrappings off the table and a bow and arrows fell out with a clatter.
Ron looked at them and sighed, "Too bad it wasn't a broomstick. Have you seen the new QuickSilver?"
"Bow and arrows? what are you going to use those for?" Harry asked, curiously as Kagome lifted the gleaming, mahogany bow.
"I'm a miko." Kagome answered simply. She glanced at Ron and Harry who were both looking very baffled, but Hermione's face lit up in recognition and, what looked like, amazement.
"Oh my, a miko?! I know what those are!" Hermione said excitedly, "You have to be really, really powerful to be one, don't you? I thought they had all died out centuries ago, atleast that's what it said in my book, 'Magical Mysteries of the Ancient and Modern World.' It went into a lot of detail about one particular Miko, or in English, "Priestess," her name was Midoriko. It's said that there was a war between the demons of ancient Japan and-"
"You still haven't explained what a mika is." Ron protested.
"It's not 'mika' it's pronounced, 'miko,' with an "O," Ron." Hermione corrected sounding rather miffed, "And if you would be patient and listen I was just about to explain-"
Ron exchanged a withered look with Harry before turning to Kagome and asking, "What's a "mikO," exactly?"
"Well, you see a miko, or priestess, is a girl who has extremely powerful magical, or holy, powers. Usually these powers are used in healing and purifying things that have been tainted with evil. It was like Hermione said, in ancient Japan, Mikos fought against evil demons."
"How?" Ron asked.
"With this." Kagome picked up the bow. If I were to shoot an arrow, my powers would be transferred into it and would purify whatever it hits.
"Have you ever, err, have you ever shot a demon?" Harry asked.
Ron snorted into glass of pumpkin juice, "I'm sure she travels all over the country, chasing demons." He said sarcastically.
"Actually-" Kagome stopped. Should she tell them about Feudal Japan? But Kagome was saved when the topic quickly changed as Ron was handed his time table from Professor McGonagall.
"Oh, no...I have double potions with the Slytherins! Of all classes!" Ron groaned.
"Me too." Harry said dully.
"Me too, what class do you have next?" Hermione asked.
"Potions with Slytherin, is that bad or something?" Kagome asked looking at the others.
Harry's face darkened, "Well... yes. Professor Snape is the teacher and he's horrible. He hates everyone except those from Slytherin, his own House. I guess you could say we, especially, are on his bad side."
"That doesn't sound fair." Kagome exclaimed, "Why doesn't anyone say anything I mean, have you tried talking to him-"
"There is no talking to him, you'll see. He's just a greasy git." Ron said maliciously.
"But not all the teachers are like that." Hermione said quickly catching the anxious look on her face, "Honest. All the other teachers are fair and pretty nice."
"Well, you would say that." Ron muttered snidely.
"Hey, have you seen the new Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher?" Harry asked, "I didn't see anyone last night at the feast."
"Hey your right! I think there was an empty seat at the teacher's table last night, and there's an empty seat now, too." Ron said craning his neck to look at the front table.
"Well, we'll find out won't we? We have that class on Wednesday, well I do." Hermione said as she gathered up her books. "Let's get to class early."
"I don't know why we bother, he's just going to get us for something else. Harry here just has to breathe loudly and he docks ten points." Ron said as he picked up his bag.
Kagome grabbed her own bag and slung her bow and arrows over her shoulder. In her time table she had discovered that she was to have "Miko Training" sessions with Professor Sinistra in the afternoon. This is what she had come to do; learn as much magic as possible so she could destroy one of the most evil and powerful demons of ancient times. 'Maybe when I get back home, I'll be just as strong as Kikyou ever was.' She thought determinedly.
She followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of the Great Hall and down into the dark dungeons.
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Kagome left Potions Class with a detention, a brilliant blue rash, and a bad attitude. She never thought someone could be so cruel unless they slaughtered villages and ran around in a monkey suit, but no. Professor Severus Snape the Potions Master was the lowest of the low. And Kagome was positive that he had the power to read minds. 'I'd know that feeling anywhere.' She thought darkly.
Kagome had entered Snape's classroom with a feeling of foreboding, the shelves were covered in jars of slime and, what she sensed, of demon organs. Although it was late summer outside, the dark classroom was cold and clammy. Snape had stalked inside, "in all his greasy-haired glory," Ron had said. He had walked right up to her and asked her if she was the foreign exchange student, Kagome Higurashi. When she had nodded in reply he asked if she was capable of any speech never mind English. The Slytherins were hardly any better, although Draco hadn't been in class, she had been sure she had seen him in the Great Hall...
Snape then had them pair up into partners and concoct a potion of vitality, which was supposed to restore any living thing to full health. Kagome had gotten paired with the sandy-haired boy named Seamus Finnigan. Seamus had accidentally broken a single glass vial, and Snape swooped down on them. He had accused Seamus of vandalism and had taken five points away. When Kagome had tried reasoning with him, explaining it was an accident, he took ten points away. All the while smiling like it was the funniest joke. He had picked on the boy named Neville Longbottom, until he became a nervous wreck and ruined his own potion.
'I can't believe he did that.' Kagome thought as she tilted her head against the cold wall.
After Neville had properly melted his own cauldron, Snape blamed Harry and Hermione for the whole disaster. Kagome had slipped on Neville's spilt potion and landed right in it. It had burned her skin turning it a nasty shade of electric blue, while large green boils began forming in spots. Snape had merely insulted her for being clumsy and gave her a detention for causing a "scene."
"What scene?! The whole room was in chaos!" Kagome yelled out to no one.
"What's his problem!" She shouted, her voice echoing off the empty halls.
After her burn he had sent her to the Hospital Wing. Except, she didn't know where that was. So now she was left to wander down the wet, dark halls in the dungeons. She was hoping beyond hope that she would come across someone who could help her.
"Doesn't seem to like you very much."
Kagome jumped at the voice. She looked over and saw Draco Malfoy peering into the potions classroom.
"But what can you expect? You are a Gryffindor, after all." Draco drawled, smirking as smoke billowed out of Neville's spilt potion. "Gryffindors are so conceited its path-"
"You talk about them as if they're only one person." Kagome interrupted.
"They're are all the same." Draco answered.
"All the same, huh? I don't understand how you can say that. I suppose with that logic then all Slytherins are the same; they never vary, they all have the same goals in life and-"
"Ridiculous."
"You think so? Me too." Kagome answered. She winced, her arm was beginning to turn blackish violet.
"Does it matter that I'm in Gryffindor?" She asked quietly. "I mean, if I had been sorted into Slytherin, then it would be perfectly fine, but I'm not... Is that how you work?" Kagome asked her voice had gone dangerously low, and her eyes pierced his gray ones.
Draco's smirk faltered for a moment, "You don't even know me. What are you playing at?"
Kagome leaned back against the wall. 'He's right about that, I don't know him. The only thing that I have is this feeling. I mean, everyone has some good in them. Draco is no different. But it's true, the only thing I know for sure is what happened all those years ago, but he doesn't know, not yet at least...'
"You know what I think?" Kagome asked her cheerful demeanor returning. "I think that you secretly want to talk to me. Even if I am in Gryffindor and you're in Slytherin Why else would you show up here, where I'm by myself, and there's no Slytherins to please." She smiled brilliantly at Draco, who just scowled back.
"Higurashi, this is the door to the potions classroom, that's why I came back here." Draco retorted, a smirk back in place.
"And yet, you haven't gone inside." Kagome mused, "I'm not forcing you to talk to me, in fact, you spoke to me first."
"I most certainly did no-" Draco stopped, from where Kagome was standing she could faintly see a pink stain on his cheeks. He looked back into the potions classroom, a minute passed, and Kagome asked something that had been nagging at her since last night's feast.
"I have a question for you." She began, staring straight ahead.
"What."
"I know it's none of my business, but, your brother Demetrius. Well, he's in Gryffindor." She said gently.
Draco's expression darkened and his eyes became cold like steel. "Demetrius is no brother of mine," he snapped back, "Filthy, little blood traitor..." But there was something in his voice that almost contradicted the words he said.
Draco looked up at Kagome and was surprised to see how glassy her eyes looked. Maybe it was just the light, but he was almost sure that no one had ever looked at him that way before, not even his own mother.
Kagome looked away, it was one of the most sad things she had ever heard of. She had been living in Feudal Times, where families were ripped apart by war, demons, sickness, starvation, and death. But she only just realized how horrible it was when families were ripped apart by their own doing... by four houses... by a silly sorting hat... by prejudice...
A wave of dizziness fell over her, and she felt sick to her stomach. Somehow she wanted to think it was this idea that made her feel so bad, but it probably had more to do with her festering arm. He looked at her, as if trying to decide on something. Kagome adjusted her bag and walked up the corridor. She muttered as she passed him, "I don't think you mean that," before she ascended the stairs out of the dungeons.
.......................................................................................................................
"What on earth have you been doing!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked at the sight of Kagome's arm which was at this point black and hissing out jets of steam.
"I was in potions class and spilt some vitality potion on my arm, but I don't think it was made right-" Kagome said.
"Obviously not! You should have come straight to me! How long has it been like this?" Madam Pomfrey demanded as she began mixing the contents of a bowl furiously.
"Maybe a half an hour?" Kagome replied, she wasn't entirely sure.
Madam Pomfrey bristled in reply, she strode over to Kagome and applied the liquid to her arm. The burning stopped and Kagome could feel the skin tingling pleasantly. Madam Pomfrey wrapped her arm from wrist to elbow with cotton bandaging, "Now, I want you to come back here tomorrow so I can check on it." She instructed, "It should be all right, now off to class with you."
"Thank you." Kagome said before hopping off the bed and disappearing out the door. She glanced at her watch, 'Potions will be over in half an hour, it's double classes today. Well, I'm not going back there,' she decided. Then a thought struck her, 'I can use this time to find the jewel.'
Kagome stopped and concentrated, searching for the familiar sensation of the jewel shard's presence. Her face fell, she couldn't feel a trace of it, it's presence was lost among the magic that filled the school. Kagome turned down a dark hallway, trying to find Gryffindor Tower. She pushed aside a tapestry, depicting a large dragon setting fire to a tree, revealing a door. She pushed it open and stepped through.
Kagome was beginning to enjoy Hogwarts's secret passageways and doors, well, now that she wasn't trying to get to class. She looked at her watch, 'I have lunch in twenty minutes. I'll have to try and find my way back soon.' But she was too curious to stop now. She was in a darkened hallway, the little light that shone through the grimy windows revealed a threadbare carpet and old peeling paintings on the walls, who's occupants were all asleep.
She passed a particular painting and was surprised when she saw a beautiful, young miko; her black hair tied in a loose bun on her head. She was sitting under the shade of a tree, sharpening arrow heads and humming as she worked.
Kagome leaned closer, the girl looked very familiar. The miko looked up sharply, grabbing her bow and notching an arrow, "Who goes!" She shouted in Japanese. The miko looked at Kagome and her eyes widened. She threw her bow and arrow aside and dropped to her knees, bowing respectfully. "Kikyou-onee-sama!"
"Kikyou?" Kagome asked surprised, "I'm not Kikyou, my name is Kagome." Kagome explained, "Who are you?"
The miko looked up at her suspiciously, and Kagome was able to see a patch over her right eye. Kagome gasped in surprise, "Ka, Kaede?"
"I am the miko Kaede," She answered in dignified Japanese, "And you are a student, but why do ye look so much of my sister Kikyou?"
"Well, it's hard to explain, you see I'm her reincarnation, I think." Kagome said rather awkwardly.
Kaede stood up placing her arrow back into a satchel and slinging her bow over her shoulder. She nodded in understanding. "That would explain it, Kikyou has been dead for many years." Kaede brushed the grass from her clothes. "I apologize for before, there have been strange happenings just of late, and I find that I must always be on my guard." She looked at Kagome curiously, "Are you lost, is that what brought ye down this way?"
Kagome looked back at her watch, she was five minutes late for lunch, "Yes, I am. Could you show me the way to the Great Hall?"
Kaede nodded, "Of course, follow me." She walked over the grassy hill and disappeared from sight. Kagome waited a few minutes before she returned with a black horse. Kaede mounted her horse with ease, opposed to the elderly Kaede Kagome knew. She flicked the reigns, and trotted over to the left, vanishing behind the frame of the portrait. Kaede reappeared in the next portrait over and continued; traveling from portrait to portrait. Kagome followed her out from behind the tapestry, up three staircases and down four winding hallways before she emerged into the bright entrance hall.
"This is where I will leave ye, Kagome." Kaede said.
"Thank you." Kagome replied, bowing politely.
Kaede did the same, and before she galloped off into the next frame she said, "If you need my assistance in the future, you know now where to find me."
"Kagome, there you are!" Kagome turned in time to see Hermione rushing towards her. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kagome said, "I thought you'd be at lunch already?"
"Ron and Harry are," Hermione explained, "but I came to find you because I thought you might have gotten lost. Snape's horrible, he knew it was your first day. I can't believe he gave you a detention. Maybe if you go to Professor McGonagall about it, maybe she can do something." Hermione said frowning.
"Thanks, but don't worry about it, really, I'll be fine." Kagome said, "Why don't we get some lunch, I'm starving."
Kagome and Hermione walked into the Great Hall and made their way to the Gryffindor Table. Kagome spotted Ron and Harry, their heads were bent low and they were talking quietly. When Kagome approached them, she was just able to hear the words, "D.A." and "requirement."
Harry looked up noticing her, he nudged Ron, who was still whispering and he stopped.
Kagome sat down, "Hello, Harry, Ron."
"Hi, how's your arm?" Harry asked noticing the bandage.
"Oh, it's all right." She sighed, "is he always like that?" Kagome asked miserably.
"Who? Snape, yeah. Stupid git. He hates the Gryffindors loads more then any of the other houses." Ron replied.
"Yeah, but I don't know, it seems like, like he, he-"
"Hates you especially?" Harry finished for her.
Kagome looked up at him, "Was it that obvious?" She asked dully.
Harry shook his head, "No, but I used to feel the same way. Then I found out he did hate me especially."
Kagome frowned, "Why would you say that?"
"Well, Snape and my Dad used to go to school together and they hated each other." Harry explained.
"With a passion." Ron added through a mouthful of ham and cheese sandwich.
"So now Snape hates me and he never lets me forget it." Harry finished
"Cheer up, you three." Hermione said as she flipped through her book, "We don't have potions class again until friday. We've got Herbology with the Hufflepuffs next, that's not bad."
"I don't. I have training for the rest of the afternoon." Kagome said reading her time table.
"Training for what?" Ron asked.
"Miko training. I'm guessing I'm the only one who has that class." Kagome asked.
"I didn't even know Hogwarts offered that class." Ron declared.
"Hogwarts has never offered that." Hermione said, "Maybe it's a new course this year."
"No, I think it has to do with my mother." Kagome explained. Ron and Harry were looking at her quizically so she explained, "I come from a long line of priests and priestesses, but my powers are unusually stronger. My Mother wanted me to perfect or tame them this year and so that's why I'm studying with a Miko here. It's something that I need to learn."
"Why, er, why do you have to take miko lessons?" Harry asked.
The answer to that question would require more time to answer than lunch period and much aspirin. "Right now, I can't say, I'm sorry." Kagome said apologetically. 'Not that they'd believe me even if I did tell them.' She thought dully.
Hermione marked a page in her book, "You don't have to tell us, don't worry." She smiled. "After lessons today, I'm going to the library to work, since I didn't go this morning. Harry and Ron won't come," She shot a look at them, "But do you want to?"
"Sure." Kagome agreed, she looked at her watch, if she didn't leave now she was going to be late for her class. "Oh, I better go now, which way to the grounds?" She asked hurriedly.
"There's a path leading from the front door, go down the left side, the grounds are near the edge of the lake." Harry instructed.
"Thanks!" she called as she dashed out of the Great Hall and disappeared from sight.
"I wonder why she needs extra lessons." Ron wondered out loud.
"Maybe she needs them, like when I needed to learn Occlumency." Harry suggested. "It must be important, she seemed very closed up about it."
"Well, she doesn't know us very well." Hermione said as she gathered her books in a neat stack on the table. "I don't think it's something that she can tell just anybody."
"I wish I could be out on the grounds shooting at things on a day like this." Ron said wistfully as gazed at the brilliant blue sky.
"I'm sure it's much harder than that, Ron. There's a section on it in my book," Hermione explained, "It takes real concentration and dedication to become a miko, I don't think there are many real ones alive today."
"Come on, let's get to class." Harry said standing up, "At least we get to be outside for the rest of the day."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered thier books and left the Great Hall to the greenhouses.
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Kagome walked down the sloped path, her arrows on her back and her bow in hand. 'I wonder what Professor Sinistra is like,' she frowned, 'I really hope she's nothing like Snape.' As she rounded a bend in the path, she saw the glistening water of the lake. Standing at the water's edge was a tall, slender woman with her back to her. She was wearing the traditional clothes of a miko, only her hakama was navy blue instead of the traditional red. Her dark brown hair was braided down to the middle of her back and tied with a long white ribbon.
Kagome reached the bottom of the hill and stopped. The miko didn't move, 'Perhaps she didn't hear me coming?' Kagome thought. "Umm, Professor Sinistra?" She asked tentatively. The teacher stood motionless still. Kagome began only took two steps when-
"Stop."
Kagome froze mid-step, surprised.
"I'm Professor Sinistra, your teacher for this class, welcome." She said, turning around and smiling warmly. She had olive colored skin and her voice was low and smooth. Her brown eyes were her most prominent features; thick lashes brimmed her almond-shaped eyes, giving her a dark and mysterious look. "Kagome Higurashi, is it? Excuse me, but I must ask you, where is the Jewel of Four Souls?"
Kagome's face faltered, "Umm, it's, well, right now? It's, umm, in the castle." '...Somewhere.' Kagome thought guiltily.
Professor Sinistra nodded, she picked up her bow and began to test the string, "Please...find it."
'She knows?! How does she know that it's los-misplaced?!' Kagome thought stunned. "I will." She replied quietly.
"By the way, where are your robes?" Professor Sinistra asked, looking up from her bow.
"Robes?"
"For training, of course. Well, I didn't think you'd to bring some with you, so," Professor Sinistra pulled a wand from her pocket and flicked it. A white kimono jacket spun together from the wand's end, and floated gently to the ground. It was followed by a red hakama and sandals.
"Th, thank you." Kagome said with wide eyes.
Professor Sinistra then made a slashing movement in the air with her wand and a screen appeared, "Hurry and change, I would like to start the basics today."
Kagome gathered her new robes and vanished behind the screen, moments later she emerged. She tied her hair back with a white ribbon and glanced at her reflection in the lake. Kagome frowned, her resemblance to Kikyou was uncanny, especially in the robes that she always wore. She was pulled from her thoughts as Professor Sinistra had pulled a scroll from thin air and handed it to her.
"This year, I'm going to help you learn to control your miko abilities. But, along with training you shall learn of mikos and events in history. The Shikon no Tama will appear in your studies often this year, though you must know a great deal about it already." She said, smiling mysteriously. "This is a list of books that I would like you to read during the school year. The first book is rather more of an introduction, but it should be very useful in learning the daily practices of a miko. I assume that you understand the beliefs?" Professor Sinistra asked.
"Yes." Kagome answered as she skimmed through the list of ten books or so. Some of the titles were written in Japanese and others English, "Professor, will I find all these in the library?"
"I believe so, but if they don't own a copy, just ask me. I have a rather extensive library of my own, miko and astrological books mostly." Professor Sinistra replied.
Kagome folded the list and slipped it into her robe pocket. Professor Sinistra slung her bow over her shoulder and picked up her satchel of arrows. She reached into her pocket and pulled a short strip of paper out. "Could you would hold still for one moment?"
Kagome straightened up, trying not to move too much. Professor Sinistra held the paper up straight and let it go. It shot at Kagome where it attached to the center of her chest. Kagome glanced down and watched as spiral writing spread over the paper. Professor Sinistra held her hand out and the paper flew back to her. She read the paper quickly before looking up at Kagome, surprise written on her face.
"This is quite extraordinary, I daresay, this year should prove most interesting." She said giving off another mysterious smile.
"Professor, what is that?" Kagome asked politely, pointing at the paper.
"This is your test results. I tested the levels of your magical ability, and the results are on here." She explained, "Every witch and wizard has a certain amount of magical powers. The lowest amount you can have on the scale is seventeen, anything below that, and you're considered a squib. Between seventeen and twenty-five is considered average. Someone who has a number higher than twenty-five has a larger than normal quantity of magical powers or abilities."
"So, If you don't mind me asking, um, what was my number?" Kagome asked trying to digest the new information.
Professor Sinistra's face flickered in amusement, "Well, I'm not allowed to tell students what their numbers are. You see, knowing might affect a students behavior in the classroom. And normally, teachers don't need to test the levels of their students magical abilities. Only in this case, Miko training, are these tests required, because in order to be a miko you need to have a high average or above to be one." Professor Sinistra said, as she began walking towards a large grassy field.
Kagome followed her. "But, this once I'll tell you, only because I feel you have the right to know. This class will not be easy." She said, "Your results said that you had a score of forty-two, which is pretty impressive for your age."
Kagome looked at the ground, she could tell she was blushing, "But, I've never done a spell in my life, I don't even know any real magic."
"It doesn't matter, you were born with magic in you, and in this case a lot of it. This year you're going to have to learn six years of magic. I'm sorry you were robbed of those six years and I'm sorry about your father." Professor Sinistra said gently, her eyes softening as she looked at Kagome.
"It's not your fault, of course, but thank you." Kagome said rather awkwardly. She looked across the field and noticed two red targets. "Is that what we're doing today? Archery?" Kagome asked changing the subject.
"Oh, why yes, yes it is." Professor Sinistra replied, snapping back to her usual manner, "Well, first I'd like to see how you do shooting at stationary targets. When you're ready, Kagome."
Kagome pulled a bow from her satchel, and notched it on the string of her bow. She pulled it back and took aim, 'Come on, hit the mark.' She thought, trying to concentrate only on the small circle that seemed miles across the lawn. She let the arrow fly, it ripped through the air as it soared, shining with a familiar purple light with blinding intensity. It hit the target dead on, but almost as soon as it struck, the target was blown to brilliant smithereens, and a large cloud of dust, smoke, and debris was all that remained.
Kagome sweat dropped, "Umm, Sorry, Professor." She said sheepishly, glancing back at her.
Professor Sinistra had an incredulous look on her face, before she seemed to snap out of it. "Ah, well, I suppose I should have put a protectment charm on it before we started, don't worry. Accio target!" She exclaimed. The remains of the target zoomed from the crater and landed in front of them. The red cover clearly showed an arrow-head sized hole in the very center.
"Well, done, Kagome! I believe your arrow hit dead on. Reparo!" The target became whole and unscorched, Professor Sinistra waved her wand and put a protectment charm, and something that made the target hover and dart around. "I want to see if you can hit moving objects, as accurately as stationary," she explained. Professor Sinistra banished the target back across the field where it darted through the air, hitting it would be much more difficult.
Kagome notched another arrow and pulled back, 'If it would just hold still for a moment-' Kagome released the arrow. It streaked across the grounds wrapped in purple light, scorching the grass below. Another ground shaking explosion and the target vanished in the debris.
"So much for my protectment charm," She said in amusement, "Accio target!" Professor Sinistra shouted. A large ball of flame hurtled towards them, and they both had to dive out of the way as it came skidding to a halt. Professor Sinistra stood and brushed her robes off, she pointed her wand at the target and extinguished the remaining flames. She leaned over the target and inspected it. "Not too bad, rather off center. You just need practice is all. Reparo! shall we try it again?"
................................................................................................................................
Kagome spent the rest of the afternoon practicing her archery. Professor Sinistra had told her that her stance was off and after correcting it, Kagome's accurarcy had improved greatly. By five o' clock Professor Sinistra dismissed her, reminding her to read book one on her list and to write notes as she read.
Kagome trudged back up the hill to the castle, she was thoroughly exhausted. Her arm that she had hurt in potions had become sore from the repeated use. She massaged her arm, wincing. Whenever she used her miko powers it always seemed to take a lot of her energy. 'I can't wait for supper.' She thought as she reached the front doors, 'I still need to meet Hermione in the library, Snape assigned those questions about vitality potion and I should start on my book.' Kagome pulled the book list out of her pocket and read the first title, "A Guide for: Magical Mikos."
Kagome pulled the heavy wooden doors open and slipped inside the Entrance Hall. She walked into the Great Hall and scanned the Gryffindor Table for Hermione, Harry, and Ron. Kagome frowned as they were noticeably absent from the table. In fact. there were several empty seats at the Gryffindor Table, and as she looked around the Hall, she noticed the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Tables were rather sparse of students. The only table that was completely full was the Slytherin Table.
'Perhaps their classes are running late?' Kagome thought. Although diner had started ten minutes ago. Kagome looked back at the Gryffindor Table, and saw Demetrius sitting at the far end, and looking rather dejected, as he pushed his peas from one side of his plate to the other. 'He doesn't seem to have any friends.' Kagome thought sadly. She looked at the few Gryffindors, who were sitting with their backs to him. Kagome boldly strode forward and stopped next to Demetrius, "Mind if I sit here?" She asked gently pointing to a seat across from him. He looked at her mildly surprised and shrugged. Kagome took this as a 'yes' and sat. He stared back down at his plate and began constructing a mountain out of mashed potatoes.
"My name's Kagome what's yours?" Kagome asked making a stab at conversation. A few Gryffindors looked at her and began whispering furiously, she shot them a glare and turned back to Demetrius smiling.
He looked up and said in a dull tone, "Demetrius."
"So, you're a first year student, huh?" Kagome asked brightly.
He nodded sullenly, still staring at his plate.
Kagome smiled in triumph, she was glad that he had at least responded to her questions, "You know it's my first year here, too."
He glanced at her before turning his attention across the hall, Kagome followed his line of vision and realized who he was looking at.
'I can't believe Draco stopped talking to his little brother because he was sorted into Gryffindor.' Kagome thought as she watched Demetrius's gray eyes swirl with emotion.
Kagome thought fast, "Hey, do you think you could show me to the library? It's just, I'll get lost." She said giving him her most brilliant smile.
The boy pulled his eyes off of Draco and looked at her. He glanced down at the table and muttered, "Sure, got nothing better to do."
They got up and walked out of the Great Hall, unaware that a certain Slytherin boy had seen the whole thing.
Kagome and Demetrius had walked up two staircases and were down an empty hallway that lead to the library, when she finally decided to break the silence. "Demetrius, your brother is Draco, isn't he?" Kagome asked politely.
Demetrius tensed at this, "Yeah, he's in Slytherin."
"I've met him before, in Diagon Alley, he's really," Kagome paused, "he's really-"
"A jerk." Demetrius said bitterly.
"Well, that wasn't the word I was going to say." Kagome began, "And what do you mean, "a jerk," he's your brother."
Demetrius whipped around, "What do you know! He is too a jerk! He won't even talk to me because I'm in Gryffindor! None of my family will now!" Demetrius shouted as tears of anger threatened to fall from the corners of his eyes.
Kagome was very much taken aback, Demetrius must've been as well. He clapped a hand to his mouth and took several steps away from her, looking very frightened. He spun around and took off down the hall, he stumbled around a corner and disappeared from sight.
Kagome stared down the empty hall and sighed, she didn't feel much like studying now. 'This sibling rivalry is all too familiar.' She thought disgustedly. She decided to get her book at least to read later. She walked to the end of the hall and pushed the heavy door open. She walked as quietly as possible to the front desk.
The librarian emerged from a back room and glared through her glasses at her, "Can I help you?" She asked in a harsh whisper.
"Yes, do you have the book, 'A Guide for: Magical Mikos,' by Rei Hino?" Kagome whispered back.
"One minute." The librarian replied and she disappeared under the desk.
She stood up straight a few minutes later with a black leather bound book with gold lettering. "Here you are, it will be due back in two weeks from today." She pulled a quill from an ink pot and placed it over a piece of parchment, "What's your name and house?"
"Kagome Higurashi and I'm in Gryffindor."
"All right, off you go." The librarian whispered briskly as she scribbled the information down.
"Thanks."
Kagome hurried back to the Gryffindor Common Room, 'I hope Hermione isn't mad, I mean, she wasn't at diner or the library.' Kagome thought as she climbed through the portrait hole. 'I'm just too tired to do any sort of studying.' She looked around the Common Room, but no sign of them. She glanced down at her watch, 'Almost six o' clock, diner should be over by now.'
Kagome trudged up the stairs to the Girl's Dormitory, she kicked off her shoes and was about to collapse onto her bed when she noticed the letter on her pillow. She ripped it open and read,
Kagome, I'm terribly sorry, but I can't meet you in the library today. Harry, Ron, and I won't be back until late this evening. I'll explain everything when I get back. See you. From, Hermione.
Kagome yawned and placed the letter on her bedside table, she laid back on her bed and closed her eyes. She didn't have much time to wonder about Hermione's mysterious letter, because she was asleep within minutes.
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A/N: Finally ch 6! It took my awhile to see how this chapter was going to go, but it's done, thank god! lol
Now on to chapter 7, which will be out soon...
...hopefully... ; )
-:- Mikairi -:-