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.
Quidditch?
The next several weeks passed in a blur of lots of work, to lots more work, as the teachers piled it on for the end of the year O.W.L.s and the first Hogsmeade trip was approaching fast.
"So what exactly is the Hogsmeade trip?" asked Sakura.
"It's a chance for the students of Hogwarts to get a break form school and to see what a real wizarding village is like," said Hermione.
"Okay…" Sakura still seemed a little confused as she stared at the bulletin board posting of the next Hogsmeade trip, to be held in two weeks. "But what can you do in Hogsmeade? Is it just like a tour thing or can you just see the sights on your own."
"You get to be on your own in Hogsmeade. There's no tour guide, but I could give you a tour as I've been there several times. But mostly there are just shops and pubs, yet still very interesting-I mean, to be around a place of just the wizarding sort, it's pretty cool. I suppose it's kind of like Diagon Alley, but with actual residents of the area."
"That makes sense, I guess," said Sakura. "So there are a lot of wizarding shops then?"
"Yes, but not as many as Diagon Alley," said Hermione.
"Yeah, but the best place is Zonko's Joke Shop," said a tall red headed boy, who had walked up behind the two.
"There's nothing better than a good joke shop," said the red head's duplicate.
"Oh, hello, Fred, George," said Hermione. "I don't think you've all properly met. This is Sakura," she gestured towards her friend. "Sakura, this is Fred and George, Ron's brothers."
Sakura gave a slight bow. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard stories of your practical jokes, very amusing," she said smiling. The two boys, of course, blushed.
"I see our fame has preceded us," said Fred. "Who knew we were already legendary? I mean, we've yet to officially open our shop and we're already getting rave reviews from over sea students."
"Well, Harry and Ron speak very highly of you," said Tomoyo, as she joined the group. "I only wish I could use my camera to record your schemes, I'm sure they're all worth documenting."
"Oh, stop," said Fred, in a mock bashful way.
"No seriously, I do look forward to your future pranks," she said. "And as this is your last year here, I suspect great things to come."
"Thanks," said Fred and George in unison.
"You know we do have great things planned for this year," said George. He and Fred then walked off discussing possible schemes.
"You really shouldn't encourage them like that," said Hermione.
"Aww, why?" asked Tomoyo.
"Because I'll probably have to be one of the ones to punish them when they do pull something off," she replied.
"Well, who says they'd actually get caught?" said Sakura.
"I'd know it was them," said Hermione.
"Yeah, but would any one else suspect them if there was no evidence?" asked Tomoyo.
"I suppose that under certain circumstances I'd be able to let it slide," she replied reluctantly. Just then Ron entered the common room and joined them at the bulletin board.
"Well, come on then," he said making gestures that he wanted them to follow him. "The quidditch tryouts are this afternoon, I want to be able to get some practicing in before then."
"Oh, are you trying out?" asked Hermione. "I wasn't sure that you wanted to play keeper."
"Well, I don't really, but I do want to be on the team," he replied.
"Is it too late to sign up?" inquired Sakura.
"No, you just have to show up, pretty much," said Ron.
"So, how exactly do you play?" she wondered.
"Well, if we hurry I'll give you the short version on the way to the tryouts," said Ron. "That way you'll have at least some idea of what to do." Ron thought for a second, "You do have a broom don't you?"
"No, why?" asked Sakura.
"Well," started Ron. "You will need to fly on one."
"Do you need a broom to fly, 'cause I can fly without one."
"It is sort of an important part of-you can fly without one?" he asked in disbelief. "How is that possible?"
"With the help of my Sakura cards. Actually, I have to see Professor McGonagall today to test my magical prowess in what I've learned here and with my cards."
"What exactly do these Sakura cards do?"
"Well, if you all want to I don't think Professor McGonagall would mind if I gave a demonstration."
Both Ron and Hermione were interested to see how it was that she's able to fly without the aid of a broom.
"Oh, so about a broom though," said Sakura. "I could probably get one, just not by today's tryouts."
"Alright, you could borrow mine for today, since I doubt it'll be more than one person trying out at a time," he said.
"Thank you very much, Ron-kun," she said smiling. Ron, of course blushed, who can resist that face?
Ron tried to explain the basic concept to Sakura, as they made their way to the field. Sakura had never been more confused in her life. Quaffle, Snitch? What kind of words were these any way. Hermione then jumped in to help with the explanation. "See it's kind of like soccer but on brooms, and instead of just one large goal they have three hoops you could put the main ball, or Quaffle through, sort of like making a basket, in basketball. They just add in other obstacles, like the Bludgers. Avoid those at all costs and the Snitch is what signals the end of the game when caught."
Sakura, Tomoyo, Ron, and Hermione then made their way to the quidditch field. Harry was already there to judge the tryouts. Sakura had at least some sense of the game when they arrived, but figured she'd pick it up as she played.
The stands were starting to fill up with the rest of the Gryffindor house, including a few from the other houses, two of which were Hotaru and Syaoran (of course), and those who just want to scope out the competition.
"So, do you think that Sakura-chan has any idea of what she's doing?" Hotaru asked of Syaoran.
"Well, I just know that Sakura takes to pretty much any sport really. Being athletic is one of her greatest strengths," he replied as they made their way over to Tomoyo and Hermione.
"So where's Harry," Hotaru asked.
Tomoyo pointed to the group floating over the field. "He's over there with the rest of the team," she said. "They have to judge everyone together so they can come to a decision once the tryouts are done."
"So when is Sakura-chan going to be up?" asked Syaoran.
"She and Ron are somewhere at the end of the list," replied Hermione.
"They're just saving the best for last," said Tomoyo.
"Oh, I think they're starting now," said Hermione, as players started taking the field. There were about 12 people to tryout for the keeper position. Most of them were 2nd and 3rd years, although there was one 7th year that was determined to join the team. He was over looked every previous year, for good reason, as the only ball he was able to stop during his tryout was the one that hit him square in the face. This of course lost him votes due to the fact he'd admitted that it wasn't on purpose.
The 7th year was approached by a Slytherin "congratulating" him. "That was a wonderful trick-catching the ball with your face. Next thing you know you'll be shooting goals with your ass," the Slytherin mocked. (Poor guy)
"Finally its Ron's turn, then its Sakura's," said Hermione.
Ron's performance was only less than thrilling; although he did manage to block most of the quaffles.
Last, but certainly not least was Sakura's chance to prove her stuff. Since this was her first time on a broom the team suggested that she take a few minutes to get used to it, but she declined, saying that no one else had a warm up time. She was quite a natural on a broom (surprise, surprise); she also managed to block every quaffle.
"Even on Wood's best days he wasn't able to block all of them," exclaimed the team's captain, Angelina.
The vote was unanimous; Sakura was to be the new keeper. Of course, the team didn't want to seem too enthusiastic, so Angelina decided to make an announcement-"Thank you to everyone who tried out. We're going to add up the votes and the new keeper will be posted on the bulletin on Monday."
After the announcement, Harry joined the group on the other side of the field. "So who are you guys going to pick?" asked Hermione.
"I'm sorry, I'm not at liberty to say," he said while grinning.
"It's obvious they're going to pick Sakura," said Ron gloomily.
"That's not for certain," said Sakura. "You were doing far better than all the others. And besides, your brothers are on the team, I'm sure they'll vote in your favor."
"Thanks, but you obviously don't know my brothers very well," said Ron. "But it's okay; I'd rather be beater or a chaser. I'll just tryout again next year."
"Oh, yeah, Professor McGonagall's supposed to be meeting me out here for my check up," said Sakura, just as the professor was making her way towards the group. "If you guys wanna see the 'Sakura Cards' feel free to stick around."
"Miss Kinomoto, Your evaluation starts, now," said Professor McGonagall.
Sakura made her way to the center of the field. Since McGonagall new the basics of Sakura's power, the way they decided to test her skills was to make an obstacle course of things she would have to both block and attack, to test her offense and defensive powers, using both "traditional" magic as well as the CREATE card of Sakura's.
Sakura then took out a small key and said "The key which hides powers of the stars! Show your true form before me! I, Sakura, command you under our contract! RELEASE!" The key then began to glow and transformed into a baton sized wand. Just as she transformed her wand the test had begun. Most of the obstacles were in the air so to show off her first talent Sakura took out the FLY card.
The card hovered above her, as she held out her wand, "FLY!" she yelled. Wings then appeared on her back. The group watching was a bit awestruck at this.
"So that's what she meant by being able to fly without a broom," said Ron.
Sakura put on an impressive display of power weaving in and out of things thrown in her way, with the occasional block from SHEILD and mainly on the offence with her most trusted card WINDY. There was one obstacle that everyone but Syaoran missed. Later it was explained that she had used TIME to get around that part of the test. When all was destroyed or avoided Professor McGonagall had called Sakura back to the ground.
"Well, I'll be showing my notes to the Headmaster," she said. Then, turning to the rest of the group, "Later this week I'll be testing you Miss Daidouji."
Hotaru then exchanged glances with Syaoran. "Professor, when will you be testing us?" she asked.
McGonagall turned to Hotaru, "You two will be tested this week by Professor Snape, as he's head of your house. He'll be notifying each of you prior to your appointment." The two just nodded their acknowledgement. They saved their sour looks of dismay for when the professors back was turned…ugh, who wants to spend their time stuck with Snape.
After a moment of thought Sakura tuned to Tomoyo. "Tomoyo-chan?" she started. "Exactly what is Professor McGonagall supposed to be testing you on? Because as far as I, or anyone else for that matter, knows you never showed any magical prowess before coming here."
"Well, that's sort of what our meeting is about," she said a bit timidly. "We're going to be meeting with the Headmaster as well, since I still don't understand how I'm actually able to use magic either. Apparently he knows as he was the one that had asked for us all specifically to attend this school."
"You mean to say that Professor Dumbledore knows about us all? I mean, how is that possible since we've never even met the guy?" asked Syaoran in disbelief.
"I'm not entirely sure; Professor McGonagall was a little reluctant to talk about it. I suppose I'll find out at my appointment though," said Tomoyo.
Come Monday the results of the tryouts were posted, and as predicted, Sakura was made the new keeper.
"See I told you they wouldn't pick me," said Ron. "I'm not worried though, once my brothers are gone next year, my chances to be on the team next year will be doubled."
"Way to stay on the bright side Ron," said an encouraging Sakura.
"It's not just the bright side; it's the fact of the matter: my brothers would never knowingly let me on the team…even at home they were on the opposing side." The others just laughed nervously at this statement, not wanting to be mean, but also hoping he was just making a joke and not being utterly bitter.
So to change the subject, "I have my meeting with Professor McGonagall tonight," said Tomoyo.
"Oh," said Sakura.
"Yah, oh…"
"Be sure to report back to us any information you can find about why we were all asked here," said Syaoran.
Morning came with no new information. "I'm the one to be asking the questions here, Miss Daidouji, was all she would say," reported Tomoyo. "But on the bright side my ways with the wand are coming along nicely. So she says. This place is so different from school in Japan, I'd never be asked to make a mouse into a tea cozy there…Although I still have no clue as to why I was able to come here and use powers I shouldn't have. She wouldn't even tell me that much, but just summed it up to having a clear aptitude for magic."
"Well," started Hermione. "I was muggle born and had no clear sign of knowing that I'd one day be using magic and be one of the top in my class until I received the acceptance letter."
"But the way that magic was supposed to work, as far as our knowledge, I shouldn't be able to have any sort of knowledge of this world."
"Maybe that's why…you actually were able to know of this world. You were able to pick up on the small signs, and you were there at the right time to catch Sakura on camera. Maybe its your sixth sense that helped you get here…and not to mention the mechanics of the two types of magic are different, as it seems that the use of the 'Clow,' or the now 'Sakura' cards, uses the energy of the magic wielder, as apposed to what you're learning now, seems to be the grasp of being able to use a wand properly. Or something like that."
"I guess that makes sense in a way," said Tomoyo thoughtfully. The rest of the group, however, all had a quizzical if not almost blank stare on their faces.