Disclaimer: I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura, Sailor Moon, Lord of the Rings, nor Harry Potter. They are the sole property of the original creators, i.e. not me. This story is merely to entertain; mainly me. So please don't hurt me legal persons.

Ooh, I'm Shaking in My Little Boots

The next day the group was excited to be attending the same classes, that is, after the Gryffindors and Slytherins attended Charms and Transfiguration, respectively.

During breakfast both Hotaru and Syaoran received owls that were to monitor their progress. As Syaoran's letter was not very positive, he decided to put off answering it until later. Hotaru, however, was quite excited to receive her letter from the sailor soldiers and quickly wrote a summary of her time at school so far. This would be a common occurrence at the end of every week for her. Syaoran's letters would be arriving practically everyday, as Touya didn't trust him in the slightest.

The first classes went by easily enough and the group caught on rather quick, even Tomoyo was rapidly catching up to the other 5th year students. After their classes had ended the group met up in front of the Great Hall so they could make their way to Professor Snape's Potion's class together.

Snape was standing at the door to give seating arrangements as the students entered. "Ah, it's the new transfer students, we finally meet," he said in a friendly tone that seemed completely forced. "As you're all new, I'll quickly review the rules of my class. There is to be no talking unless I approve; you will stay in your seating arrangements that I have chosen unless I say otherwise; and you will follow directions exactly as I give them. Is this understood?"

"Yes, Professor Snape," they all said in unison. Snape eyed them suspiciously.

"What, no snide comments, rude gestures, or rolling of the eyes?" he asked. Hotaru raised her hand, "Yes?"

"Students in Japan are taught to respect their teachers and elders, Professor," replied Hotaru.

"Is that so? Hmm…well, since you four don't seem to be trouble makers, go ahead and sit where you like in groups of two. If there's any disturbances coming from any of you, I won't hesitate to change your seats and deduct points from your houses."

"Yes, Professor." The group walked in and found only three other people in the room: Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. The four decided it was best to stay as far away from them as possible. Syaoran and Sakura formed one pair, while Tomoyo and Hotaru formed another.

The next group to enter was Harry's, but the trio was completely separated. Then the other students finally started to show up.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Snape came into the room and immediately started to bark out orders. Everyone rushed to get out their parchment and quills to take notes.

Sakura and the other transfer students found it best to use Japanese characters, as Japanese is, after all, their first language. Well, Syaoran found it easier to use Chinese, of course.

Since they were required to take home economics classes during their schooling in Japan, the group was fully used to following instructions of the cooking sort; the two pair's potions also came out perfectly. Snape hated to have to give good marks to Gryffindor, but as Tomoyo and Sakura were paired with those from Slytherin, he had no choice. "See class, this is how your potions are supposed to look." Snape showed the class the two perfectly blue potions. "Done correctly these potions should be blue and be able to heal most any injuries caused by minor spells and hexes."

"This would have been handy years ago," said Harry under his breath. He was remembering some of the different spells used when he and his friends were fighting Draco and his bodyguards.

"What was that, Potter?" asked Snape angrily. "20 points from Gryffindor."

"He can't do that," Tomoyo whispered to Hotaru. "That's so unfair." Snape turned his attention to Tomoyo.

"Did you wish to add to the deductions, Miss Daidouji?"

"No, Professor," she replied shamefully.

"Then I suggest you remain silent."

"Yes, Professor," Tomoyo looked down in disgrace, she'd never had problems with teachers before. But this teacher seemed to hate every student. That is, unless you're a Slytherin. Tomoyo could see a smug smile coming across Draco's face. If it was in her, Tomoyo would have borrowed Syaoran's trait, and scowled like there was no tomorrow. Unfortunately, being around Syaoran didn't rub off too much and she remained polite, if not a bit miffed. Seeing where Tomoyo's glance had been, Hotaru decided to scowl for her. Draco's smile quickly faded upon seeing Hotaru's expression. He then went back to his potion that had somehow turned a dark green.

Hotaru was pleased to have such control over someone. She figured it was her Sailor Saturn side that enjoyed this. After her rebirth from when she stopped an evil being that was bent on destroying the world, Horaru's mind and her alter ego, Saturn, were merged so as to make a more complete person, instead of the two extremes. Hotaru was completely nice and polite, while Saturn would stop at nothing to get what she wanted and mildly enjoyed destruction; then again, that's why she's known as the Sailor Soldier of Death and Destruction.

Potion's class wasn't even half way over, and yet Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, and Hotaru were completely finished. All the group could do was sit and wait, as they were all too afraid to talk, since they noticed house points seemed to be a very big deal to everyone. Snape noticed the four were doing nothing but twiddling their thumbs. He thought that any student not busy with work was planning something that would disrupt the class. So, Snape decided to send the four to groups having the most problems.

"See if you can't get things straightened out," Snape said. "I usually don't allow group's help, but at the rate some of these students are going, they might just end up blowing up the school." The four almost laughed at this statement, but his voice hinted that he was being quite serious. "Miss Daidouji, you're to help Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom. Miss Kinomoto and Mr. Li, go and help Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle. They'll need more than one person to straighten things out. And Miss Tomoe, you'll be helping Mr. Malfoy, as he opted to not allow his partner's help I'm switching you and his partner. Perhaps things will flow more smoothly the rest of the year with you two as partners."

Hotaru was completely shocked, to say the least. She couldn't help but think, 'He planned this, didn't he. I know this is some sort of conspiracy.'

To Hotaru's surprise, Draco was just as shocked to learn of this change in events. Hotaru decided to avoid looking at him and concentrate on the potion, which was now a fierce red. "What the hell did you do?" she asked, astonished that anyone could have gotten something so completely wrong. "How did I get stuck with this mess," she thought out loud.

"I did the best I could, it's not my fault I was paired up with-" he stopped abruptly as Hotaru put her hand in the air so as to silence him.

"I wasn't referring to the potion," she said, making Draco feel a bit hurt. Hotaru figured it might be best to keep thoughts like that to herself, as she didn't actually enjoy hurting people's feelings, then moved to get started on the potion. "Let me see your notes." Draco handed her his parchment; Hotaru raised an eyebrow in question. "Well, I suppose you could have done the potion correctly if you'd written legibly. You actually used the wrong ingredients, although I think this can be fixed, I just need my notes I took when I got bored in Arithmancy, hold on while I retrieve my belongings."

When Hotaru returned with her notes she immediately started telling Draco what ingredients they needed to salvage the horrendous mess he made of the potion. Draco wasn't entirely convinced that she was telling him the correct ingredients. "Let me see your notes." He grabbed the notes from Hotaru almost rudely. "What in the world is this supposed to be?" he asked trying to make sense of the markings on the parchment.

"It's Japanese," she said, then added in thought, 'You uncultured swine.' Draco could tell she was suppressing some sort of rude comment, so he decided to play it cool try to act in his usual disinterested manner. He then tossed the notes carelessly on the desk.

"Well, I suppose I'll have to trust you're actually telling me the right ingredients," he said dryly.

"Oh, like I trust this teacher to not count this against me if your potion blows up?"

"I take it you don't like Professor Snape?"

"That's not the problem," she said almost defensively. "I just don't feel he likes anyone."

"That's not entirely true, I mean he likes the Slytherins well enough, I mean I know he likes me."

'Surprise, surprise,' she thought. "Well, your potion's fixed." Draco was somewhat baffled by this statement, but the potion had turned the right color. He hadn't even realized that she'd been adding ingredients as they were talking.

"Well that wasn't so hard," said Draco.

"Speak for yourself. You only just ruined it. You didn't fix it. Next time try to pay attention while you're writing and perhaps you'll actually add the correct ingredients."

"Well, if you're going to be my partner, I don't really have to worry about taking incorrect notes."

"If you think I'm going to do all the work while-" Draco interrupted her in mid sentence.

"I didn't mean to imply that you'd be doing all the work. I just meant that you'd be able to catch my mistakes before I ruin another potion."

"Oh." Hotaru was slightly embarrassed that she had jumped to conclusions. "Yeah, but I think you should still learn to write legibly or you could end up creating a potion that could possibly injure yourself and others."

"Did I detect a hint of concern?" he asked. Hotaru looked slightly shocked at this, but tried to regain composure.

"Well, of course, for the other students." She then changed to a mocking tone, "Did you think I'd care if you got hurt? I just don't want be blown up." She then suddenly changed to a more serious tone, "It's happened before, and I'm not looking forward to a third time."

"Third time?" he asked extremely puzzled. Hotaru knew she'd said way too much.

"Oh, I was just joking." She laughed nervously.

"Somehow I don't believe you," he said then paused to think. Draco looked at Hotaru questioningly, "Does it have anything to do with that conversation you had the first night? Tell me what that 'sailor' thing was about."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"You can't be trusted," she then shook her head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't pass judgement so quickly, as I don't know you well enough. However, I haven't known you long enough to know whether you're trustworthy or not. But still, you shouldn't concern yourself with my affairs as they don't include you." Draco opened his mouth to respond but was stopped short as Snape told the class it was time to go. Hotaru quickly gathered her belongings and joined her friends in the hall. They were going to head to the Great Hall for lunch when Draco stopped them.

"Wait, I need to talk to you," he told Hotaru.

"Was that a demand or a request?" she asked but didn't bother to wait for an answer. "Well, either way I have neither reason nor need to talk to you, so if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way. Good day to you, sir."

"But-"

"I said 'good day'," she interrupted and strode away quickly with her friends close behind.

"What was that about, Hotaru-chan?" asked Sakura.

"I don't know, but I don't really care; it was probably something cruel and I didn't want to hear it."

After lunch was Care for Magical Creatures with Hagrid. Sakura and the others were glad to be outside for a change. She'd hated the dungeon looking classroom, as it had no windows and brought images of Crabbe and Goyle's horribly screwed up potion. She was just relieved that as it boiled and bubbled, the potion didn't get on her as the concoction had turned acid like and left scorch marks on the desk where the drops had landed. She and Syaoran had to make the inept Crabbe and Goyle start from the beginning again, as there was no way to recover their potion by any means. Sakura then shook the thoughts away.

The class met outside of the gamekeeper's hut, and awaited the arrival of the teacher. Hagrid came out of the hut with his dog, Bore. Sakura was a little shocked at his height, as Hagrid was a half giant. Tomoyo saw the surprised expression on her friend's face.

"It's all right, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said soothingly. "He's really nice. Harry took me to meet him. He only looks slightly frightening."

Sakura's shock slowly faded as Hagrid began to speak and his voice was no where booming enough to be frightening. She guessed he must be a 'gentle' giant.

Hagrid told the class that since the creatures for the day's class wouldn't be in until the next meeting they could have a free period; he then added that they should read chapter 1 in their books to learn about the creature for the next class.

Sakura's group decided to spend their free time by the lake, since it was such a beautiful day and none of them wanted to waste it by going inside. Harry's group, even Hermione, couldn't pass on an opportunity to spend time outdoors. The two groups made their way to a tree near the lake, except for Hotaru who was somewhat lagging behind the others. Draco took this chance to approach her.

"I need to talk to you," he said, walking up behind her. Hotaru turned to address him, and had every intention to tell him off but a sort of distressed look on his face made her give in.

"Fine," she said throwing her arms up as if in surrender. "You win, what do you want?"

"Well I wanted to…oh, put your arms down," he said. Hotaru quickly dropped her arms. "I just wanted to talk to someone. I mean, I do have friends that I talk to, but no one I can really trust."

"But you'll trust someone you've only just met?"

"Well, I guess, but I also want to earn your trust by telling you this."

"Okay…go on."

"Here's the deal-I know something that is crucial to the safety of everyone at this school. The problem is that if I tell the wrong people my family could be sent to Azkaban." Hotaru just looked at him awkwardly. "A prison for wizards."

"Oh," Hotaru said before adding. "Well, if it's crucial to the safety of thousands as compared to, what, three people, I suggest you spill it as the lives of many outweigh the few."

"You might be right, but if you'll listen to my predicament perhaps you'll help me figure out another option."

"All right, shoot."

"You know about Harry and his dealings with a certain someone right," he waited for Hotaru to nod her understanding before continuing. "Well after the last battle he-who-must-not-be-named was utterly drained of most of his energy, which left him open to attacks. Which was exactly what happened."

"So Voldemort was attacked, is he dead?"

"He's still very much alive, due to the fact that he had experimented with immortality, but he was apprehended shortly after and placed under strict supervision."

"So, what's the big deal, his power's gone right?"

"Well, he no longer has his powers nor the ability to regain them, but there is still a very big deal."

"And that would be…" Hotaru said trying to prod him on.

"He was attacked by an unidentifiable creature that seemed to emit a powerful energy."

"And that'ssss…bad?" she said drawing out the words as if she didn't seem to think that it was the right one to use.

"Well, yeah. I mean, even though 'his' energy was low that still didn't mean that he didn't have power to be absorbed. And once 'his' remaining power was gone the creature had then started in on 'his' followers, one of which was my dad. The creature succeeded in taking the powers of several followers, which left them dead. And my father would have died as well if the remaining followers hadn't decided to jump in and attack the creature. The creature then got incredibly furious and although the followers were able to injure it, the creature escaped; but not before vowing revenge on those that hurt it."

"Okay," said Hotaru trying to let everything sink in. "Just how does getting revenge on the 'followers,' as you call them, have anything to do with the students at this school?"

"Well, when he vowed revenge, he swore that he would destroy their children and any other person to get in his way."

"Even so, how would he know where to find their children?"

"He also mentioned something about being able to absorb memories along with power, and since most of the followers children go to Hogwarts, well one can imagine that the parents would know where the school is."

"Ooh, look at me, I'm shaking in my little boots," Hotaru said feigning terror. "I mean, isn't Dumbledore the most powerful wizard, or something that even Voldemort was afraid of? So, why worry?"

"Maybe you should worry, as Dumbledore is very powerful he's not psychic and as no one but 'his' followers know of the creature's existence, one can bet that even the great Dumbledore won't be able to protect us."

"Oh. Well, you should really tell someone, maybe, say, Dumbledore, so as he can protect us."

"Uh, hello, I can't tell Dumbledore as he hates my family and would gladly see my dad in Azkaban."

"Then what about the elf teacher, she seems nice enough and as she has probably never met your family so she can't make a biased decision on ratting them out but just be able to explain things to Dumbledore without the risk of your family going to Azkaban." Draco kind of had an odd expression on his face that seemed to say 'I never expected good advice from anyone.'

"Thanks, Tomoe. You know, I've never actually been given good advice before."

"Well you're welcome. So, when are you going to talk to her?"

"Sometime this week, I suppose."

"That's not good enough, how about tomorrow as that's when we have class with her, I'll even wait for you after class. But I should probably join my friends now. So tomorrow. After DADA." She and Draco then parted ways. When Hotaru joined the group they all demanded to know what he wanted. She replied to these demands as, "It's a funny story, I'll tell you later."

So how do you like things so far? I'll have the next chapters up as soon as I finish them. I hope you're enjoying reading my little story, as much as I enjoyed writing it. -