------------****Disclaimer: I don't own 'em ~rips cardboard box angrily~ ooohhh! What have I done?!? ~starts crying~ I need a new cardboard box!
****Author's Note: Wow! I can't believe I'm getting such nice reviews...I'm starting to come down to a decision about who our favorite heroines will be paired with, and I've got a vague idea...remember, Hotaru's vision didn't give a specific guy...hehehehehe....
And now for the thank you's:
Sailor Bree: hehehe, hai!
Kiwi: I did, but gomen for this one being late...I've got a busy, busy life!
Tenshi-Chikyuu: Arigatou! You're so nice! Hmmm...Draco/Hotaru...I suppose people could see that coming, although it'll be hard if I want to keep our fav bad-boy student in character...and Snape/Usa? Oof...I dunno...I'm getting more votes to put her with Sirius...and they do hate each other...er...
JasonC: I promise I'll answer all questions soon!!
Solus Nox: hehehe, wanted to try something new
Blue Frost: I'm glad you brought that up, 'cause it drives me nutters when people make characters totally ooc...takes the good right out of the fic
Sharem: Oh yes, I had fun writing that part ;)
Makura Koneko: Ron is so cute!
Sapphireskies, blue wind, alexz, catlion: oof...I don't know, we'll see how the meeting between them goes, but I'm still musing over who she'll end up with, if she's going to end up with anybody at all...
Starfury3000: hai, lots of possibilities, but your guess is as good as mine ^-^
TheSoverignofSelenity: now that you've mentioned it, I read the Yami interview, it was funny!! And the vision will have meaning, but I'm not sure of what yet ~grins sheepishly~
****
Two weeks had passed quickly, life at Hogwarts had suddenly gotten more exciting considering the Quidditch season was about to begin. Harry was itching to try out the Firebolt in the first Quidditch match in nearly two years. It was early on a Saturday morning, Harry had just waken up from Ron's excited chatter in the Gryffindor tower, he was considering trying out for the Keeper position himself, although the twins continued to make fun of him. Harry quickly dressed in his Quidditch robes and gripped his Firebolt tightly, rushing outside to the Quidditch pitch, Ron, Hermione and Neville following closely behind.
Harry was all too excited about the weekend, Saturday would consist of Quidditch try-outs and team practice, and Sunday was the first Hogsmeade trip of the school year. He couldn't wait to introduce his new favorite Hogwarts adult to his godfather and his former DADA teacher. Harry gave an enthusiastic wave to Usagi as he approached the Headmistress on the Firebolt. She warily eyed the broomstick before breaking out into a sunny smile.
"Good morning", she said, as the others rushed out to meet her as well. "Lovely day to be outside..." She commented, her crystalline eyes glittering merrily, she glanced towards Madam Hooch who was talking with some Hufflepuff players. "It seems some positions need to be filled..." Usagi commented, but was cut off when another figure approached the group.
"And the new Keeper better be good too..." Oliver Wood commented, he smiled towards Harry, who's face lit up brighter than Usagi's. "Hello there, Potter, good to see you again!" The burly Irish boy greeted, giving Harry a friendly slap to his arm. "Some pretty good prospects..." He glanced towards Minako and Makoto who were practicing as well, he caught Minako's eye and she rushed over to join the group.
"Oh, Oliver! Are you staying for the whole day?" She asked, clasping her hands together and pouting. "You're so cute! It would be a shame to see you leave!" Usagi rolled her eyes, but Wood's cheeks colored a bit as he gave Minako a shy smile.
"Sure I am, you are trying out?" He asked suddenly, but the suggestion seemed to be a good one, Minako looked at Usagi, raising her eyebrows in question.
"Could I, Usa-chan?" She asked, "Mako and I could fill in the missing positions for Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, you know". Usagi considered it for a moment, not knowing whether it'd be fair or not, but considering they were pretty close to seventh-years anyways, she smiled and nodded her head.
"I don't see why not", Usagi answered with, Minako smiled happily and latched onto Wood's arm, she then squealed in delight.
"Arigatou!!" She thanked her princess, the use of Japanese didn't seem to fizz on the others, as they all knew the origin of their new staff, although Hermione seemed to mouth the word, storing it in her memory. Makoto had noticed the absence of her companion, and walked over to the group, she gave Wood a wink.
"What'd I miss?" She asked, looking around.
"Usa-chan's going to let us be on the Qudditch teams!" She chimed out happily, Makoto's face spread into a grin.
"Sugoi! Arigatou, Usa-chan!" Makoto's grin suddenly faded, she turned to Minako and tightened her grip on her broomstick. "Who's playing Seeker, and who's playing Keeper?" She challenged, glaring at the hold Minako had on Wood. The Irish boy noticed and detached himself from the bubbly blond, moving closer towards Harry, Usagi noticed and intervened.
"Why don't you both try out for either position, then the best one will be assigned to either team." Usagi smiled in triumph, she had made a wise suggestion, and found herself very happy at the idea. Minako and Makoto continued to glare at each other as they approached Madam Hooch to explain the arrangements. They mounted their broomsticks and flew into the air, towards the already air-born Hufflepuff team, who required the new Seeker.
Rei had walked out to the pitch by this point, learning quickly of what was going on. Everyone on the ground watched the air, amused, as Minako and Makoto took turns playing either position with the Hufflepuff team. When it was Minako's turn to play as Keeper, she seemed to have a tenancy to knock the Quaffle as though it were a volleyball, sending it hurtling towards the ground. She gave out an excited squeal of delight at this, shooting Makoto sneers.
"She's a natural..." Wood mumbled out loud, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "She'd make an excellent replacement." As if to prove the point of which would make the better Keeper or Seeker, Makoto dove for the snitch and grabbed it just before crashing into the ground. As soon as both of them landed, they were bombarded by all those who were on the ground. Minako and Makoto, however were still arguing.
"I still think I'm faster", Minako insisted, narrowing her eyes at Makoto, "I'd make a good Seeker", and Makoto shook her head, but stated her thoughts as well.
"I'd make a good Keeper, considering I am tougher than you...but I'm the faster one..." They continued to argue, until Rei gave each a slap to the side of the head, the DADA teacher looked towards Wood.
"You pick", she suggested, but Wood was at a loss for words, as both Makoto and Minako were giving him pleading looks.
"I'll have to think about it", he muttered, starting a new argument involving the rest of the group.
****
It was especially noisy in the Great Hall at lunch time. Other students had approached Oliver Wood, as soon as he was spotted, and noisily fought for his attention. Usagi had saved him, though, and suggested he seat himself with Harry to keep himself safe from the still-arguing senshi.
"Don't feel bad, Oliver, they do this all the time", Usagi had said, "*all* the time". She also seated herself at the Gryffindor table, which did earn her a few looks from others, but she payed no attention. She glanced towards the Slytherin table, she could see how Draco was attempting to earn Hotaru's attention, but was failing, as her foster daughter continued to hold a solitary demeanor. She frowned at this, but decided against intervening again.
"How are your lessons going?" Hermione asked, snapping Usagi back to the Gryffindor table.
"Good, actually", she said, which was truthful as she was a slow learner, but once she knew what she was doing, it came natural. Charms wasn't the only subject that she was lacking knowledge in, however, there was one more subject, which caused her to glance towards her would-be tutor if she had decided to ask for lessons.
She had caught Snape's eyes, if only for a moment, before she looked away, the memory of the first night still lingered freshly in her memory. After making the comment about Draco, she had immediately turned and walked away, Snape had not followed, and had not made a counter to the comment. After that night, she had avoided the Potions Master at all times, and seemed to be lucky enough that they did not encounter each other at all again. Usagi hadn't told any one about the scene, as a pang of guilt did take over, although thanks to the horror stories she received from those who were not fans of the professor, the guilt was only slight.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked, Usagi looked up, but shook her head, then returned a sunny smile.
Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table, Draco continued to ask Hotaru all sorts of questions, but received little to no answers. The violet-eyed girl merely studied her plate of food as though it were the most interesting thing in the world.
Hotaru fit in well at Hogwarts, she seemed to excel in every class after Hermione had helped her get up to speed in what she had missed. So far Divination was her best class, but only because she had always had the 'Inner Eye', as Professor Trelawney would put it. She had earned self-proclaimed rivals, Gryffindor students, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, who used to be Trelawney's favored students. Ever since her first class, however, Hotaru had taken the role as 'teacher's pet', although neither herself, nor her foster mother believed the vision.
Another student that posed a bit of a problem was Pansy Parkinson. The pug-faced Slytherin girl had a mad crush on Draco, although she didn't seem to understand that Hotaru had no interest in the blond-haired boy at all. Draco was getting on her nerves a little too much, trying to find out every little thing he could about her. Hotaru wouldn't reveal, though, as instructed by her foster mother, she was never to speak of what she really was.
"Aren't you ever going to say anything?" Draco demanded, annoyingly. Hotaru sighed, but decided that the only way she was going to get rid of the blond-haired Slytherin, was if she opened up, if only a little bit, reluctantly.
"I don't have special powers..." She said, glancing at Draco, he sneered and continued to annoy her.
"I don't believe you...I saw that mark on your head glow..." He mentioned pointing towards the symbol of Saturn on her forehead. "What wizarding family does your mother come from? I've never heard of the Tsukino's...sounds like a muggle name to me..."
"It is a muggle name...my mother was raised by muggles...but her real mother was very powerful." Hotaru watched what facts she gave out as to not reveal too much.
"Oh? What was her real mother's name?" Draco continued to prod.
"I don't know...she's never told me".
"That doesn't seem right to me", he sneered, "I know all about my family history". Hotaru shot Draco a glare.
"My mother says she will tell me when the time comes", Usagi still had refrained from telling the whole story about her first encounter with Dumbledore, there were facts that the princess had left out, that Hotaru still wondered about. Luna and Artemis were just as silent, and wouldn't answer any of the violet-eyed girl's questions whenever she would ask.
"Will you show me how to do that trick with the repelling charm?" Draco decided to change the subject quite quickly after Hotaru went into silence again. Hotaru rose an eyebrow.
"What repelling charm?"
"The thing you did to the Devil's Snare...can you show me how to do that?" This was an interesting question, which Hotaru didn't know how to answer.
"I'm not sure how I did it..." She truthfully said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Ask your Mother", Draco suggested, feeling eager to learn new more powerful skills to impress his father with.
"No", Hotaru said simply and left the table, leaving Draco to sulk out loud.
****
Sunday morning approached not quickly enough, Harry and Ron rose early again that morning, quite unusual for the weekend, but were too excited to sleep in. They hurriedly dressed and rushed down to the Common Room where Hermione was waiting for them. She placed her hands on her hips.
"What took you so long?" She asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, she received dirty looks from both boys, but then all three rushed out of Gryffindor tower and down to the Great Hall to meet Usagi and Hotaru. Only the violet-eyed girl was there, though, she joined Harry, Ron and Hermione as soon as they rushed in.
"Where's...your...Mother?" Ron asked, out of breath, and breathing hard.
"Probably slept late again..." Hotaru mumbled, but they were interrupted by a flustered Headmistress as she rushed into the Great Hall herself, looking disheveled.
"Sorry...hate...mornings..." She forced out, producing grins from the others.
"Do you think maybe we should bring some food with us?" Ron asked, remembering the last time Harry met up with Sirius, he seemed starved and devoured what Harry had brought him in no time.
"That might be an idea..." Three pairs of eyes looked towards Usagi, who knew exactly what they had in mind.
"Let's go to the kitchens..." She suggested quietly, "I owe Dobby his pay still".
****
Several students ranging from third year to seventh poured through the entrance to Hogsmeade excitedly, many of them heading straight for Honeydukes to spend all their money on various sweets. However, a group of five made their way towards the infamous Shrieking Shack instead. It wouldn't have looked too out of place, four students chancing the haunted place, but considering the Hogwarts Headmistress donning a long white cloak with a hood pulled over her head caused several people to look their way as they walked down the street. But none in the group seemed to mind at all.
They reached the Shrieking Shack within a few minutes, Harry in the lead and Usagi in the rear, they let themselves in and followed along the hallway to the room where Harry had first met Sirius two years previous.
"Sirius!" Harry called out, filling the now-silent house with a loud echo. They heard a reply, and knew that both Sirius and Lupin were waiting for them. "We brought food!" Harry added, slowly emerging into the room of interest.
A crackling fire was lit in the fireplace (AN: there is no mention of a fireplace in this room in Prisoner of Azkaban, I'm just adding for my own purposes ^-^), Sirius was standing by it, his hair still long and near his elbows in length. Lupin was seated in a chair by the bed, still dressed in shabby robes. They both came over to greet Harry when he entered the room, Ron and Hermione following closely behind. Hotaru came in next, an amused smile playing on her lips listening to the near-by cursing of her foster mother at not being able to see in the dark.
"This is Hotaru Tsukino, she's the Headmistress' daughter", Harry mentioned, Hotaru nodded shyly towards Sirius and Lupin. Finally Usagi found her way to the room, still muttering curses under her breath, but then lowered her hood to get her first glimpse of Harry's infamous godfather and past DADA teacher. For the first time since they first entered the Shrieking Shack, silence filled the house as Headmistress, godfather and werewolf studied each other. Sirius seemed to hold a shocked expression on his face, Usagi noticed and broke the silence.
"Is something wrong?" She questioned, raising her eyebrows. Sirius shook his head.
"No...I was just expecting someone..."
"Prettier?" Usagi asked, smiling sweetly, Sirius chuckled, Lupin had a smile playing on his lips as well.
"On the contrary, I was going to say *older*, and if I may...you're quite pretty..." This produced a deep red color to grace Usagi's cheeks. They even turned deeper, when Sirius took her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "I am Sirius Black, and I'm pleased to meet you, Madam Tsukino", he made the proper introduction. Usagi nearly melted, but giggled instead. After Sirius let go of her hand, Lupin approached and also took her hand to kiss it as well.
"I am Remus Lupin, and I am charmed as well", he said. If it was possible, all evidence that Usagi had pale skin disappeared as she turned positively scarlet.
"I am charmed too", she forced out, her cheeks beginning to hurt from the wide grin on her face, "forgive me, but I'm not used to such customs..." She mentioned, as the greetings she just received were very different from Japanese customs. Lupin suddenly went pale as he eyed the crescent mark on Usagi's forehead. She noticed and brushed her fingers lightly over the mark.
"Don't worry about that, the mark doesn't have the same effects as the real moon". Lupin calmed at hearing this, "it's just a birthmark..."
Harry deposited whatever food items he had hid under his robes on the bed, after seeing this, all others with such items followed suit. Sirius eyed the food hungrily, a lopsided grin spread across his face.
"Madam Tsukino let us sneak into the kitchens..." Ron mentioned, stuffing a cauldron cake into his mouth, "bloody convenient, I never seem to be able to get enough at breakfast..." Hermione shot Ron a disapproving glance, but the red-head didn't seem to notice. But the comment produced laughter. Lupin motioned for Usagi to take his seat, but she shook her head and lowered herself to her knees on the floor near the fireplace. The other students followed suit, removing their school robes, which were much lighter than a few moments before. Usagi also removed her cloak, she had on a white gown with sleeves that started at mid-biceps and trailed to end at a 'v' on her hands. The bodice was shaped much like a corset, although backless.
"I've heard a lot about you both..." Usagi mentioned. Sirius had resumed his leaning position against the wall near the kneeling group, while Lupin had re-claimed his chair.
"Unfortunately, we haven't had the same pleasure." Lupin commented politely. Sirius intervened once again with his blunt comments.
"Are you married?" He suddenly asked, taking notice that Usagi was not wearing a wedding band. The princess blushed in response, glancing at the floor for a brief second, but then meeting Sirius' eyes.
"No", she said, "why do you ask?"
"You have a daughter..." Sirius pointed out, motioning towards a quiet Hotaru.
"Foster daughter..." Usagi gave Hotaru a sunny smile, "I adopted her as an infant, although I love her as though she were my own." Briefly, the memory of Chibi-Usa played itself in Usagi's mind, but she quickly willed it away, as to not wishing for the pain. "I was the only one who could offer her the care she needs..."
"Yeah, Hotaru has an interesting form of magic, I saw it during Herbology." Hermione mentioned, both Sirius and Lupin rose their eyebrows at this, Usagi's eyes widened and she glanced towards Hotaru.
"You had an outburst? Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, sharply. Hotaru gulped and warily eyed her foster mother.
"I didn't know it was a big deal..."
"Not a big deal! Not a big deal?!? I don't want everyone at Hogwarts to know that you're the senshi of death..." She suddenly stopped speaking, bringing her hand over her mouth.
"What?" Ron asked, the others looking at the princess intently, curiosity written all over their faces. "She's the *what*?"
"Uh...nothing...nothing..." Usagi laughed nervously, but the others' expression failed to change. With a sigh and a glance at her foster daughter, she took a deep breath and created what explanation she could without giving away too much. "Hotaru is...advanced...she draws her magic directly from Saturn, it's nothing unusual of course, but she has not yet learned to control the power, which is the reason she had the *outburst*".
"Do other wizards or witches have this power?" Hermione asked. Usagi nodded, obviously she herself knew she was lying.
"It is an uncommon gift, but it can be learned, or one could be born with it", inwardly Usagi winced, she didn't like the secrecy, but she had herself decided the senshi would keep their true identities a secret until they could be appropriately revealed.
"Does that mean you draw your power from the moon?" Hermione asked, motioning towards the crescent mark on the princess' forehead. Again Usagi nodded.
"It took me awhile to learn to use my gift, as I said before, I had all my schooling in muggle schools." Usagi's story worked, everyone appeared to believe what she had said, and nothing more on the subject was brought up. The princess glanced towards Sirius' long hair, deciding she would change the pace of the conversation.
"You know, Minako could probably take care of that..." She mentioned, Sirius knew she was directing the comment towards him.
"Take care of what?"
"You're hair, she's quite good with improving the outer appearance..."
****
"He actually got to the entrance, before James pulled him back..." Sirius was beside himself with laughter, while Lupin held a frown on his face, disapproving of how Sirius seemed to justify the joke he had played on Snape during their schooling days. The students were laughing as well, but Usagi's eyes widened when hearing how Sirius had plotted Snape's death.
"Sirius, that's mean!" She scolded, no matter how much she disliked the Potions Master, the trick was still cruel. Sirius stopped laughing, but couldn't remove the grin off of his face.
"He deserved it!" He defended himself with, but Usagi still had her eyes narrowed, "well, if you knew what he was like..."
"I do know what he's like, and I don't like him either, but that still doesn't give someone a right to...er..." She trailed off, the same small pang of guilt that she had was beginning to grow, if only slightly, "it seems I am guilty of a crime as well."
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, the grin still plastered on his face. Usagi smiled sheepishly.
"I kind of...er...slapped him..." She mumbled, but was evidently loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. Again a bout of laughter burst out, Ron especially looking happy. Usagi noticed, then rose her eyebrows trying to look innocent, "well...he deserved it!" After the repeating of the same words earlier used, Usagi gave a sweet smile towards Sirius, who returned it with enthusiasm. "I guess he really does make enemies easily..." Usagi commented.
"Well, he did save my life once..." Harry cut in. The room suddenly went quiet, Usagi spun her attention to the boy with an expressionless face.
"What?" Usagi nearly shouted, the pang of guilt ever-so growing stronger.
"In my first year, when Professor Quirrel jinxed my broom during a Quidditch match, Snape counter-cursed to stop the broom from completely knocking me off". The memory of the Philosopher's Stone incident was suddenly refreshed in the memories of those who were involved.
"That's true..." Hermione added, "he even refereed the next game to make sure it didn't happen again...we all thought he was the one trying to kill Harry in the first place." Hermione bit her lower lip, feeling guilty about how everyone had spent the last little while making fun of the professor. Now Usagi's guilt was full-fledged.
"Oh..." She said, not being able to place words, "I obviously received the wrong first-impressions".
"No you didn't..." Ron insisted, "he's still the same greasy git we all hate!" He exclaimed.
"*Hate* is a very strong word", Usagi said softly. Again silence filled the room, until Lupin broke it.
"That is true", he offered, sending Usagi a shy smile, "and Severus *did* make me the Wolfsbane, regardless of his dislike towards me as well."
"Wolfsbane?" Usagi questioned, the subject suddenly being changed. "What's that?"
"A potion, that helps me control myself while I am in my werewolf state...a rather recent discovery."
"But you can't make it?" Usagi mentally reminded herself that she was lacking in that particular subject, and the question of whether to ask to be tutored in it arose again.
"No, I do not have the access, nor the vast knowledge in that area, so I am still quite dangerous during the full moon".
Noticing the time, Usagi motioned for the students to prepare to leave, everyone rising from their seated positions and putting their cloaks back on. Goodbye's were exchanged, as Usagi sent the students off before her, so she could have a moment alone with the adults. She turned briefly to Sirius and Lupin.
"When's the next full moon?" She asked, Lupin was quiet in thought for a moment.
"In three weeks, I believe". He answered, rising his eyebrows in question.
"Well, if you think you can be here in three weeks, I'll have the Wolfsbane potion ready for you". Usagi insisted, a mischievous look crossing her features. Lupin and Sirius looked at each other for a moment, then both returned their attention to the princess and nodded their heads.
"I would be ever so grateful, Madam Tsukino", Lupin said, bowing his head slightly towards the princess.
"Usagi", she said.
"Excuse me?" Lupin questioned, slightly confused.
"The students have to call me Madam Tuskino...I've almost forgotten my name...call me Usagi." She insisted, Lupin nodded politely, while Sirius grinned.
"See you in three weeks, *Usagi*", Sirius said, taking Usagi's hand and kissing it like he did when she first arrived, "I'm looking forward to seeing you again". He winked at her, causing her to blush slightly.
After bidding her farewells, Usagi exited the Shrieking Shack, and met the awaiting students outside, she motioned for them to continue down the street, as it was nearly time to leave. They were about to go into The Three Broomsticks when certain Slytherin students moved into view. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were just exiting the pub, a sinister smirk appeared on Draco's face.
"I've been looking for you", he commented towards Hotaru, who replied with a dark glare, but he ignored it and turned towards Usagi. "Madam Tsukino, I was wondering if I could escort your daughter around Hogsmeade, since it is her first time?"
"Nice sucking up", Ron commented dryly, Crabbe took a menacing step towards the red-head when Draco rose an arm to stop him.
"I'm not sucking up, Weasley, Tsukino should be with her own kind..." The smirk widened into a grin. Usagi also could pick out the notes of sucking up, but she smiled anyways and turned towards Hotaru.
"I don't see why not, have a good time, Hotaru", she said, and walked into The Three Broomsticks. Hotaru's eyes widened as she had just been left to her most un-favorite person at Hogwarts. Hermione, Ron and Harry shot her sympathetic looks as they began to follow their Headmistress. Before they entered the pub, Ron turned to smirk at Draco.
"We know something you don't know", he crooned in a sing-song voice, referring to learning of Hotaru's power source, but didn't give Draco the time to reply as the Gryffindor students disappeared from view.
"Know what?" He demanded from Hotaru, who sighed in exasperation.
****
That evening, after everyone had returned from Hogsmeade, Usagi's mind seemed to be off in her own little world as the other senshi traded details of their first trip into the small magical village. After telling Minako she would soon have an opportunity to perform a make over, the princess directed her thoughts towards the task she would perform herself in only a few minutes.
It was after the evening feast at the moment, and the senshi were gathered in Rei's room. After deciding what tactics she would be using, Usagi rose to her feet and headed to the door.
"Where are you going?" Rei asked, the conversation ceasing at that particular moment.
"I have an apology to make", Usagi mumbled softly, before exiting the room.
She roughly knew which way the dungeons were, after numerous tours she had made during the day, meeting many of the students between classes. She was mixed with both fear and dread right at that moment, since the last time she had spoken with the Potions Master, it hadn't been a pleasant conversation. As soon as the princess felt the air grow several degrees cooler, she knew she was in the dungeons, but where exactly was the problem. She stopped walking and shivered, seeing her own breath cloud up in the air. Movement from paintings on the wall, directed her attention towards one moving character in particular.
"Good evening milady!" The knight greeted, "You're beauty compares to nothing less than the moon itself this eve", he commented. Usagi laughed in delight, momentarily forgetting her troubles.
"And what is your name, Knight?" She asked, the knight in the painting pulled his pony to a stop in a painting with green landscape.
"I am Sir Cadogan, and I have come to court the lady that wanders so..." He droned, but Usagi had other issues to attend.
"I can not stay this evening, Sir Cadogan, I was hoping you could tell me where I might find Professor Snape's office?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. The knight in the portrait seemed quite disappointed at hearing this, but he bowed gracefully and reared his pony into motion.
"Follow me, milady!" He called out, Usagi had to keep up at a quick pace to not lose sight of Sir Cadogan. But as promised, he had led her to the room she wanted and bid her farewell as he raced off along more portraits, disturbing the other figures in the paintings along the way. Usagi faced the door and took a deep breath before knocking lightly. When she received no answer, she opened the door slowly to let herself in.
Professor Snape moved around the various shelves in his office, looking for particular ingredients that were to be used in the lessons the next day. He immediately turned around sharply when he heard the knock at the door, and glared darkly at the one who entered.
"What do you want?" He demanded, his voice very cool. Usagi stopped in her tracks for several moments before taking a deep breath and answering.
"To apologize", she said simply. Snape rose an eyebrow at this, and moved towards his desk, standing behind it. Usagi again moved and stood on the opposite side of the desk, a calm expression on her face, "it seems I've made the wrong impressions about you".
"Oh?"
"Yes, I feel terrible about the other...er...that night". The princess could feel her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. Snape noticed, he sneered in response.
"What changed your mind?" He asked. Usagi looked up at him, not being able to remove the look she had on her face.
"Facts...that I didn't know about before". Snape nodded his head once, the sneer turning into a look of triumph.
"Ah...in that case, I accept the apology." Relief flooded Usagi at hearing this, silence filled the air as she collected what bravery she had to make the next question.
"Also...I need to ask a favor." Snape had moved to return to what he was doing before the Headmistress had entered, but faltered after hearing this. He turned on the spot.
"Already? Don't you think you've asked for enough tonight?" Usagi felt like slapping Snape again, but she didn't move, and forced a smile.
"It's just, I've been getting lessons from Professor Flitwick, although I do excel at most areas of magic, I'm an expert in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration is easy, and Divination comes natural, I am lacking in a few though...Charms being one, and Potions being the other..."
"No." Was the immediate response, Snape approached Usagi by this point, giving her a stern look, but Usagi bit her lower lip to prevent herself from having an outburst of anger.
"Please? I really should know how..."
"That's pathetic." Snape cut in, he began to head towards the door before he was suddenly jerked back into the spot. Usagi had grabbed onto his arm, and had planted her feet firmly to the ground.
"Do not make me beg", she said quietly, "I *am* your Headmistress after all", she tried her best to be intimidating, but Snape ignored her and tried to pull his arm from her iron grip. Usagi then tried using a pleading look on her face, which came rather natural, and brought her hands from Snape's arm to his hand. The Potions Master flinched at the contact, Usagi's skin being quite warm compared to the shockingly coolness of his own. "Please??" She tried again.
They were interrupted when another figure entered at the door. Hotaru was holding a box of candy and fell quite silent when she saw her foster mother and the professor. She thought to herself that they had obviously made up.
"I'll be with you in a minute", Usagi said, smiling toward her daughter, who nodded and vanished from the doorway. From being distracted, Snape managed to wrench his hand away from Usagi's grip, and gave her a cool glare.
"Fine." He said, "but you will be here, every night, after the evening meal during the week." Usagi suddenly burst into smiles at hearing this.
"Thank you!" She squealed in delight.
"Be *prepared*", Snape added sharply, before returning to the shelves of ingredients. Usagi happily rushed out of the office, where Hotaru was waiting, she took her foster daughter's arm and hurried them out of the dungeons to the warmer areas. As soon as they were close to the Slytherin Common Room, Usagi finally slowed down and took a glance at Hotaru, and when realizing that the box of candy was Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, she confiscated them eagerly from her foster daughter.
"Hey!" Hotaru complained, still angry as well for being abandoned, but a smile crossed her features when Usagi's face screwed up after eating a bean that was flavored to taste like brussel sprouts, the princess immediately selected another bean, she relaxed after tasting strawberries.
"So, did Draco buy you these?" Usagi questioned, a playful smirk on her lips.
"Yes", Hotaru spat out, not looking at her mother.
"Did you tell him what I had told everyone about your powers?"
"Only a little, he wouldn't stop bothering me", Hotaru whined, "so now he says he'll pay more attention in Rei's class". Usagi laughed at hearing this, Rei seemed to be doing well in her teaching position, the students tended to enjoy the hands-on activities more than book work. "So you don't hate Professor Snape anymore?" Hotaru suddenly changed the subject, finally looking at her mother.
"I never hated him, I just...don't like him very much, and I only apologized so he'd agree to tutor me...that way I can make the Wolfsbane potion for Remus".
"But you didn't tell Professor Snape that?"
"Of course not! I would've asked to be tutored at the beginning of the year, but he and I didn't get along, but now I have motivation to put up with his mean comments." Usagi stuffed another bean in her mouth. "Mm...chocolate".
"By the way, Harry wants to know if you marry Sirius, could he move in with us..." Usagi began laughing gaily at hearing this.
"He did?" Hotaru nodded, her expression remaining the same as it always was, but the princess was full of laughter, "why would he want to move in with us?"
"He hates the Dursleys...the people he lives with".
"Oh. Then I understand why he feels that way...I'll have a talk with him." Usagi then headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room, and spoke the password, the portrait of the Fat Lady opened allowing her in. Just as she suspected, Harry, Ron and Hermione were still up, quietly talking by the fire. They immediately looked up when they heard the princess enter.
"Madam Tsukino!" Harry exclaimed.
"Hotaru told me about your question..." After Ron and Hermione heard this, they picked this particular time to head up to their own rooms. Usagi sat next to Harry and gave him a soft smile.
"Wouldn't you be my godmother? If you married Sirius?" Harry asked, already knowing that Usagi knew about what he had asked Hotaru.
"Only your parents could name who your guardians would be, and since I wasn't married to Sirius back then, that means legally I wouldn't be able to gain custody of you". Usagi felt a rush of pride at seeming so much wiser than the students, but she also felt a rush of pity as well when a sad expression crossed Harry's face.
"Oh..."
"That doesn't mean you couldn't stay with me, though..." Suddenly the sad expression changed just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Really?" Usagi nodded.
"Now, you better get to bed, it's getting really late." Harry nodded and rushed up to his own room. Usagi, all smiles, headed back to her own room, eagerly awaiting for the next day to arrive.
****
AN: Big thanks to my imouto, Megami*Silence for helping me clear my writers block, I'll have the next chapter out fast (faster if I get reviews...~cough~ no pressure...)!
Voting poles now open:
Usagi/? Who will the Headmistress fall for, if she falls in love at all?
Who will Oliver Wood pick for either position? And will he be paired with anyone?
****Author's Note: Wow! I can't believe I'm getting such nice reviews...I'm starting to come down to a decision about who our favorite heroines will be paired with, and I've got a vague idea...remember, Hotaru's vision didn't give a specific guy...hehehehehe....
And now for the thank you's:
Sailor Bree: hehehe, hai!
Kiwi: I did, but gomen for this one being late...I've got a busy, busy life!
Tenshi-Chikyuu: Arigatou! You're so nice! Hmmm...Draco/Hotaru...I suppose people could see that coming, although it'll be hard if I want to keep our fav bad-boy student in character...and Snape/Usa? Oof...I dunno...I'm getting more votes to put her with Sirius...and they do hate each other...er...
JasonC: I promise I'll answer all questions soon!!
Solus Nox: hehehe, wanted to try something new
Blue Frost: I'm glad you brought that up, 'cause it drives me nutters when people make characters totally ooc...takes the good right out of the fic
Sharem: Oh yes, I had fun writing that part ;)
Makura Koneko: Ron is so cute!
Sapphireskies, blue wind, alexz, catlion: oof...I don't know, we'll see how the meeting between them goes, but I'm still musing over who she'll end up with, if she's going to end up with anybody at all...
Starfury3000: hai, lots of possibilities, but your guess is as good as mine ^-^
TheSoverignofSelenity: now that you've mentioned it, I read the Yami interview, it was funny!! And the vision will have meaning, but I'm not sure of what yet ~grins sheepishly~
****
Two weeks had passed quickly, life at Hogwarts had suddenly gotten more exciting considering the Quidditch season was about to begin. Harry was itching to try out the Firebolt in the first Quidditch match in nearly two years. It was early on a Saturday morning, Harry had just waken up from Ron's excited chatter in the Gryffindor tower, he was considering trying out for the Keeper position himself, although the twins continued to make fun of him. Harry quickly dressed in his Quidditch robes and gripped his Firebolt tightly, rushing outside to the Quidditch pitch, Ron, Hermione and Neville following closely behind.
Harry was all too excited about the weekend, Saturday would consist of Quidditch try-outs and team practice, and Sunday was the first Hogsmeade trip of the school year. He couldn't wait to introduce his new favorite Hogwarts adult to his godfather and his former DADA teacher. Harry gave an enthusiastic wave to Usagi as he approached the Headmistress on the Firebolt. She warily eyed the broomstick before breaking out into a sunny smile.
"Good morning", she said, as the others rushed out to meet her as well. "Lovely day to be outside..." She commented, her crystalline eyes glittering merrily, she glanced towards Madam Hooch who was talking with some Hufflepuff players. "It seems some positions need to be filled..." Usagi commented, but was cut off when another figure approached the group.
"And the new Keeper better be good too..." Oliver Wood commented, he smiled towards Harry, who's face lit up brighter than Usagi's. "Hello there, Potter, good to see you again!" The burly Irish boy greeted, giving Harry a friendly slap to his arm. "Some pretty good prospects..." He glanced towards Minako and Makoto who were practicing as well, he caught Minako's eye and she rushed over to join the group.
"Oh, Oliver! Are you staying for the whole day?" She asked, clasping her hands together and pouting. "You're so cute! It would be a shame to see you leave!" Usagi rolled her eyes, but Wood's cheeks colored a bit as he gave Minako a shy smile.
"Sure I am, you are trying out?" He asked suddenly, but the suggestion seemed to be a good one, Minako looked at Usagi, raising her eyebrows in question.
"Could I, Usa-chan?" She asked, "Mako and I could fill in the missing positions for Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, you know". Usagi considered it for a moment, not knowing whether it'd be fair or not, but considering they were pretty close to seventh-years anyways, she smiled and nodded her head.
"I don't see why not", Usagi answered with, Minako smiled happily and latched onto Wood's arm, she then squealed in delight.
"Arigatou!!" She thanked her princess, the use of Japanese didn't seem to fizz on the others, as they all knew the origin of their new staff, although Hermione seemed to mouth the word, storing it in her memory. Makoto had noticed the absence of her companion, and walked over to the group, she gave Wood a wink.
"What'd I miss?" She asked, looking around.
"Usa-chan's going to let us be on the Qudditch teams!" She chimed out happily, Makoto's face spread into a grin.
"Sugoi! Arigatou, Usa-chan!" Makoto's grin suddenly faded, she turned to Minako and tightened her grip on her broomstick. "Who's playing Seeker, and who's playing Keeper?" She challenged, glaring at the hold Minako had on Wood. The Irish boy noticed and detached himself from the bubbly blond, moving closer towards Harry, Usagi noticed and intervened.
"Why don't you both try out for either position, then the best one will be assigned to either team." Usagi smiled in triumph, she had made a wise suggestion, and found herself very happy at the idea. Minako and Makoto continued to glare at each other as they approached Madam Hooch to explain the arrangements. They mounted their broomsticks and flew into the air, towards the already air-born Hufflepuff team, who required the new Seeker.
Rei had walked out to the pitch by this point, learning quickly of what was going on. Everyone on the ground watched the air, amused, as Minako and Makoto took turns playing either position with the Hufflepuff team. When it was Minako's turn to play as Keeper, she seemed to have a tenancy to knock the Quaffle as though it were a volleyball, sending it hurtling towards the ground. She gave out an excited squeal of delight at this, shooting Makoto sneers.
"She's a natural..." Wood mumbled out loud, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "She'd make an excellent replacement." As if to prove the point of which would make the better Keeper or Seeker, Makoto dove for the snitch and grabbed it just before crashing into the ground. As soon as both of them landed, they were bombarded by all those who were on the ground. Minako and Makoto, however were still arguing.
"I still think I'm faster", Minako insisted, narrowing her eyes at Makoto, "I'd make a good Seeker", and Makoto shook her head, but stated her thoughts as well.
"I'd make a good Keeper, considering I am tougher than you...but I'm the faster one..." They continued to argue, until Rei gave each a slap to the side of the head, the DADA teacher looked towards Wood.
"You pick", she suggested, but Wood was at a loss for words, as both Makoto and Minako were giving him pleading looks.
"I'll have to think about it", he muttered, starting a new argument involving the rest of the group.
****
It was especially noisy in the Great Hall at lunch time. Other students had approached Oliver Wood, as soon as he was spotted, and noisily fought for his attention. Usagi had saved him, though, and suggested he seat himself with Harry to keep himself safe from the still-arguing senshi.
"Don't feel bad, Oliver, they do this all the time", Usagi had said, "*all* the time". She also seated herself at the Gryffindor table, which did earn her a few looks from others, but she payed no attention. She glanced towards the Slytherin table, she could see how Draco was attempting to earn Hotaru's attention, but was failing, as her foster daughter continued to hold a solitary demeanor. She frowned at this, but decided against intervening again.
"How are your lessons going?" Hermione asked, snapping Usagi back to the Gryffindor table.
"Good, actually", she said, which was truthful as she was a slow learner, but once she knew what she was doing, it came natural. Charms wasn't the only subject that she was lacking knowledge in, however, there was one more subject, which caused her to glance towards her would-be tutor if she had decided to ask for lessons.
She had caught Snape's eyes, if only for a moment, before she looked away, the memory of the first night still lingered freshly in her memory. After making the comment about Draco, she had immediately turned and walked away, Snape had not followed, and had not made a counter to the comment. After that night, she had avoided the Potions Master at all times, and seemed to be lucky enough that they did not encounter each other at all again. Usagi hadn't told any one about the scene, as a pang of guilt did take over, although thanks to the horror stories she received from those who were not fans of the professor, the guilt was only slight.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked, Usagi looked up, but shook her head, then returned a sunny smile.
Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table, Draco continued to ask Hotaru all sorts of questions, but received little to no answers. The violet-eyed girl merely studied her plate of food as though it were the most interesting thing in the world.
Hotaru fit in well at Hogwarts, she seemed to excel in every class after Hermione had helped her get up to speed in what she had missed. So far Divination was her best class, but only because she had always had the 'Inner Eye', as Professor Trelawney would put it. She had earned self-proclaimed rivals, Gryffindor students, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, who used to be Trelawney's favored students. Ever since her first class, however, Hotaru had taken the role as 'teacher's pet', although neither herself, nor her foster mother believed the vision.
Another student that posed a bit of a problem was Pansy Parkinson. The pug-faced Slytherin girl had a mad crush on Draco, although she didn't seem to understand that Hotaru had no interest in the blond-haired boy at all. Draco was getting on her nerves a little too much, trying to find out every little thing he could about her. Hotaru wouldn't reveal, though, as instructed by her foster mother, she was never to speak of what she really was.
"Aren't you ever going to say anything?" Draco demanded, annoyingly. Hotaru sighed, but decided that the only way she was going to get rid of the blond-haired Slytherin, was if she opened up, if only a little bit, reluctantly.
"I don't have special powers..." She said, glancing at Draco, he sneered and continued to annoy her.
"I don't believe you...I saw that mark on your head glow..." He mentioned pointing towards the symbol of Saturn on her forehead. "What wizarding family does your mother come from? I've never heard of the Tsukino's...sounds like a muggle name to me..."
"It is a muggle name...my mother was raised by muggles...but her real mother was very powerful." Hotaru watched what facts she gave out as to not reveal too much.
"Oh? What was her real mother's name?" Draco continued to prod.
"I don't know...she's never told me".
"That doesn't seem right to me", he sneered, "I know all about my family history". Hotaru shot Draco a glare.
"My mother says she will tell me when the time comes", Usagi still had refrained from telling the whole story about her first encounter with Dumbledore, there were facts that the princess had left out, that Hotaru still wondered about. Luna and Artemis were just as silent, and wouldn't answer any of the violet-eyed girl's questions whenever she would ask.
"Will you show me how to do that trick with the repelling charm?" Draco decided to change the subject quite quickly after Hotaru went into silence again. Hotaru rose an eyebrow.
"What repelling charm?"
"The thing you did to the Devil's Snare...can you show me how to do that?" This was an interesting question, which Hotaru didn't know how to answer.
"I'm not sure how I did it..." She truthfully said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Ask your Mother", Draco suggested, feeling eager to learn new more powerful skills to impress his father with.
"No", Hotaru said simply and left the table, leaving Draco to sulk out loud.
****
Sunday morning approached not quickly enough, Harry and Ron rose early again that morning, quite unusual for the weekend, but were too excited to sleep in. They hurriedly dressed and rushed down to the Common Room where Hermione was waiting for them. She placed her hands on her hips.
"What took you so long?" She asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, she received dirty looks from both boys, but then all three rushed out of Gryffindor tower and down to the Great Hall to meet Usagi and Hotaru. Only the violet-eyed girl was there, though, she joined Harry, Ron and Hermione as soon as they rushed in.
"Where's...your...Mother?" Ron asked, out of breath, and breathing hard.
"Probably slept late again..." Hotaru mumbled, but they were interrupted by a flustered Headmistress as she rushed into the Great Hall herself, looking disheveled.
"Sorry...hate...mornings..." She forced out, producing grins from the others.
"Do you think maybe we should bring some food with us?" Ron asked, remembering the last time Harry met up with Sirius, he seemed starved and devoured what Harry had brought him in no time.
"That might be an idea..." Three pairs of eyes looked towards Usagi, who knew exactly what they had in mind.
"Let's go to the kitchens..." She suggested quietly, "I owe Dobby his pay still".
****
Several students ranging from third year to seventh poured through the entrance to Hogsmeade excitedly, many of them heading straight for Honeydukes to spend all their money on various sweets. However, a group of five made their way towards the infamous Shrieking Shack instead. It wouldn't have looked too out of place, four students chancing the haunted place, but considering the Hogwarts Headmistress donning a long white cloak with a hood pulled over her head caused several people to look their way as they walked down the street. But none in the group seemed to mind at all.
They reached the Shrieking Shack within a few minutes, Harry in the lead and Usagi in the rear, they let themselves in and followed along the hallway to the room where Harry had first met Sirius two years previous.
"Sirius!" Harry called out, filling the now-silent house with a loud echo. They heard a reply, and knew that both Sirius and Lupin were waiting for them. "We brought food!" Harry added, slowly emerging into the room of interest.
A crackling fire was lit in the fireplace (AN: there is no mention of a fireplace in this room in Prisoner of Azkaban, I'm just adding for my own purposes ^-^), Sirius was standing by it, his hair still long and near his elbows in length. Lupin was seated in a chair by the bed, still dressed in shabby robes. They both came over to greet Harry when he entered the room, Ron and Hermione following closely behind. Hotaru came in next, an amused smile playing on her lips listening to the near-by cursing of her foster mother at not being able to see in the dark.
"This is Hotaru Tsukino, she's the Headmistress' daughter", Harry mentioned, Hotaru nodded shyly towards Sirius and Lupin. Finally Usagi found her way to the room, still muttering curses under her breath, but then lowered her hood to get her first glimpse of Harry's infamous godfather and past DADA teacher. For the first time since they first entered the Shrieking Shack, silence filled the house as Headmistress, godfather and werewolf studied each other. Sirius seemed to hold a shocked expression on his face, Usagi noticed and broke the silence.
"Is something wrong?" She questioned, raising her eyebrows. Sirius shook his head.
"No...I was just expecting someone..."
"Prettier?" Usagi asked, smiling sweetly, Sirius chuckled, Lupin had a smile playing on his lips as well.
"On the contrary, I was going to say *older*, and if I may...you're quite pretty..." This produced a deep red color to grace Usagi's cheeks. They even turned deeper, when Sirius took her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "I am Sirius Black, and I'm pleased to meet you, Madam Tsukino", he made the proper introduction. Usagi nearly melted, but giggled instead. After Sirius let go of her hand, Lupin approached and also took her hand to kiss it as well.
"I am Remus Lupin, and I am charmed as well", he said. If it was possible, all evidence that Usagi had pale skin disappeared as she turned positively scarlet.
"I am charmed too", she forced out, her cheeks beginning to hurt from the wide grin on her face, "forgive me, but I'm not used to such customs..." She mentioned, as the greetings she just received were very different from Japanese customs. Lupin suddenly went pale as he eyed the crescent mark on Usagi's forehead. She noticed and brushed her fingers lightly over the mark.
"Don't worry about that, the mark doesn't have the same effects as the real moon". Lupin calmed at hearing this, "it's just a birthmark..."
Harry deposited whatever food items he had hid under his robes on the bed, after seeing this, all others with such items followed suit. Sirius eyed the food hungrily, a lopsided grin spread across his face.
"Madam Tsukino let us sneak into the kitchens..." Ron mentioned, stuffing a cauldron cake into his mouth, "bloody convenient, I never seem to be able to get enough at breakfast..." Hermione shot Ron a disapproving glance, but the red-head didn't seem to notice. But the comment produced laughter. Lupin motioned for Usagi to take his seat, but she shook her head and lowered herself to her knees on the floor near the fireplace. The other students followed suit, removing their school robes, which were much lighter than a few moments before. Usagi also removed her cloak, she had on a white gown with sleeves that started at mid-biceps and trailed to end at a 'v' on her hands. The bodice was shaped much like a corset, although backless.
"I've heard a lot about you both..." Usagi mentioned. Sirius had resumed his leaning position against the wall near the kneeling group, while Lupin had re-claimed his chair.
"Unfortunately, we haven't had the same pleasure." Lupin commented politely. Sirius intervened once again with his blunt comments.
"Are you married?" He suddenly asked, taking notice that Usagi was not wearing a wedding band. The princess blushed in response, glancing at the floor for a brief second, but then meeting Sirius' eyes.
"No", she said, "why do you ask?"
"You have a daughter..." Sirius pointed out, motioning towards a quiet Hotaru.
"Foster daughter..." Usagi gave Hotaru a sunny smile, "I adopted her as an infant, although I love her as though she were my own." Briefly, the memory of Chibi-Usa played itself in Usagi's mind, but she quickly willed it away, as to not wishing for the pain. "I was the only one who could offer her the care she needs..."
"Yeah, Hotaru has an interesting form of magic, I saw it during Herbology." Hermione mentioned, both Sirius and Lupin rose their eyebrows at this, Usagi's eyes widened and she glanced towards Hotaru.
"You had an outburst? Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, sharply. Hotaru gulped and warily eyed her foster mother.
"I didn't know it was a big deal..."
"Not a big deal! Not a big deal?!? I don't want everyone at Hogwarts to know that you're the senshi of death..." She suddenly stopped speaking, bringing her hand over her mouth.
"What?" Ron asked, the others looking at the princess intently, curiosity written all over their faces. "She's the *what*?"
"Uh...nothing...nothing..." Usagi laughed nervously, but the others' expression failed to change. With a sigh and a glance at her foster daughter, she took a deep breath and created what explanation she could without giving away too much. "Hotaru is...advanced...she draws her magic directly from Saturn, it's nothing unusual of course, but she has not yet learned to control the power, which is the reason she had the *outburst*".
"Do other wizards or witches have this power?" Hermione asked. Usagi nodded, obviously she herself knew she was lying.
"It is an uncommon gift, but it can be learned, or one could be born with it", inwardly Usagi winced, she didn't like the secrecy, but she had herself decided the senshi would keep their true identities a secret until they could be appropriately revealed.
"Does that mean you draw your power from the moon?" Hermione asked, motioning towards the crescent mark on the princess' forehead. Again Usagi nodded.
"It took me awhile to learn to use my gift, as I said before, I had all my schooling in muggle schools." Usagi's story worked, everyone appeared to believe what she had said, and nothing more on the subject was brought up. The princess glanced towards Sirius' long hair, deciding she would change the pace of the conversation.
"You know, Minako could probably take care of that..." She mentioned, Sirius knew she was directing the comment towards him.
"Take care of what?"
"You're hair, she's quite good with improving the outer appearance..."
****
"He actually got to the entrance, before James pulled him back..." Sirius was beside himself with laughter, while Lupin held a frown on his face, disapproving of how Sirius seemed to justify the joke he had played on Snape during their schooling days. The students were laughing as well, but Usagi's eyes widened when hearing how Sirius had plotted Snape's death.
"Sirius, that's mean!" She scolded, no matter how much she disliked the Potions Master, the trick was still cruel. Sirius stopped laughing, but couldn't remove the grin off of his face.
"He deserved it!" He defended himself with, but Usagi still had her eyes narrowed, "well, if you knew what he was like..."
"I do know what he's like, and I don't like him either, but that still doesn't give someone a right to...er..." She trailed off, the same small pang of guilt that she had was beginning to grow, if only slightly, "it seems I am guilty of a crime as well."
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, the grin still plastered on his face. Usagi smiled sheepishly.
"I kind of...er...slapped him..." She mumbled, but was evidently loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. Again a bout of laughter burst out, Ron especially looking happy. Usagi noticed, then rose her eyebrows trying to look innocent, "well...he deserved it!" After the repeating of the same words earlier used, Usagi gave a sweet smile towards Sirius, who returned it with enthusiasm. "I guess he really does make enemies easily..." Usagi commented.
"Well, he did save my life once..." Harry cut in. The room suddenly went quiet, Usagi spun her attention to the boy with an expressionless face.
"What?" Usagi nearly shouted, the pang of guilt ever-so growing stronger.
"In my first year, when Professor Quirrel jinxed my broom during a Quidditch match, Snape counter-cursed to stop the broom from completely knocking me off". The memory of the Philosopher's Stone incident was suddenly refreshed in the memories of those who were involved.
"That's true..." Hermione added, "he even refereed the next game to make sure it didn't happen again...we all thought he was the one trying to kill Harry in the first place." Hermione bit her lower lip, feeling guilty about how everyone had spent the last little while making fun of the professor. Now Usagi's guilt was full-fledged.
"Oh..." She said, not being able to place words, "I obviously received the wrong first-impressions".
"No you didn't..." Ron insisted, "he's still the same greasy git we all hate!" He exclaimed.
"*Hate* is a very strong word", Usagi said softly. Again silence filled the room, until Lupin broke it.
"That is true", he offered, sending Usagi a shy smile, "and Severus *did* make me the Wolfsbane, regardless of his dislike towards me as well."
"Wolfsbane?" Usagi questioned, the subject suddenly being changed. "What's that?"
"A potion, that helps me control myself while I am in my werewolf state...a rather recent discovery."
"But you can't make it?" Usagi mentally reminded herself that she was lacking in that particular subject, and the question of whether to ask to be tutored in it arose again.
"No, I do not have the access, nor the vast knowledge in that area, so I am still quite dangerous during the full moon".
Noticing the time, Usagi motioned for the students to prepare to leave, everyone rising from their seated positions and putting their cloaks back on. Goodbye's were exchanged, as Usagi sent the students off before her, so she could have a moment alone with the adults. She turned briefly to Sirius and Lupin.
"When's the next full moon?" She asked, Lupin was quiet in thought for a moment.
"In three weeks, I believe". He answered, rising his eyebrows in question.
"Well, if you think you can be here in three weeks, I'll have the Wolfsbane potion ready for you". Usagi insisted, a mischievous look crossing her features. Lupin and Sirius looked at each other for a moment, then both returned their attention to the princess and nodded their heads.
"I would be ever so grateful, Madam Tsukino", Lupin said, bowing his head slightly towards the princess.
"Usagi", she said.
"Excuse me?" Lupin questioned, slightly confused.
"The students have to call me Madam Tuskino...I've almost forgotten my name...call me Usagi." She insisted, Lupin nodded politely, while Sirius grinned.
"See you in three weeks, *Usagi*", Sirius said, taking Usagi's hand and kissing it like he did when she first arrived, "I'm looking forward to seeing you again". He winked at her, causing her to blush slightly.
After bidding her farewells, Usagi exited the Shrieking Shack, and met the awaiting students outside, she motioned for them to continue down the street, as it was nearly time to leave. They were about to go into The Three Broomsticks when certain Slytherin students moved into view. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were just exiting the pub, a sinister smirk appeared on Draco's face.
"I've been looking for you", he commented towards Hotaru, who replied with a dark glare, but he ignored it and turned towards Usagi. "Madam Tsukino, I was wondering if I could escort your daughter around Hogsmeade, since it is her first time?"
"Nice sucking up", Ron commented dryly, Crabbe took a menacing step towards the red-head when Draco rose an arm to stop him.
"I'm not sucking up, Weasley, Tsukino should be with her own kind..." The smirk widened into a grin. Usagi also could pick out the notes of sucking up, but she smiled anyways and turned towards Hotaru.
"I don't see why not, have a good time, Hotaru", she said, and walked into The Three Broomsticks. Hotaru's eyes widened as she had just been left to her most un-favorite person at Hogwarts. Hermione, Ron and Harry shot her sympathetic looks as they began to follow their Headmistress. Before they entered the pub, Ron turned to smirk at Draco.
"We know something you don't know", he crooned in a sing-song voice, referring to learning of Hotaru's power source, but didn't give Draco the time to reply as the Gryffindor students disappeared from view.
"Know what?" He demanded from Hotaru, who sighed in exasperation.
****
That evening, after everyone had returned from Hogsmeade, Usagi's mind seemed to be off in her own little world as the other senshi traded details of their first trip into the small magical village. After telling Minako she would soon have an opportunity to perform a make over, the princess directed her thoughts towards the task she would perform herself in only a few minutes.
It was after the evening feast at the moment, and the senshi were gathered in Rei's room. After deciding what tactics she would be using, Usagi rose to her feet and headed to the door.
"Where are you going?" Rei asked, the conversation ceasing at that particular moment.
"I have an apology to make", Usagi mumbled softly, before exiting the room.
She roughly knew which way the dungeons were, after numerous tours she had made during the day, meeting many of the students between classes. She was mixed with both fear and dread right at that moment, since the last time she had spoken with the Potions Master, it hadn't been a pleasant conversation. As soon as the princess felt the air grow several degrees cooler, she knew she was in the dungeons, but where exactly was the problem. She stopped walking and shivered, seeing her own breath cloud up in the air. Movement from paintings on the wall, directed her attention towards one moving character in particular.
"Good evening milady!" The knight greeted, "You're beauty compares to nothing less than the moon itself this eve", he commented. Usagi laughed in delight, momentarily forgetting her troubles.
"And what is your name, Knight?" She asked, the knight in the painting pulled his pony to a stop in a painting with green landscape.
"I am Sir Cadogan, and I have come to court the lady that wanders so..." He droned, but Usagi had other issues to attend.
"I can not stay this evening, Sir Cadogan, I was hoping you could tell me where I might find Professor Snape's office?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. The knight in the portrait seemed quite disappointed at hearing this, but he bowed gracefully and reared his pony into motion.
"Follow me, milady!" He called out, Usagi had to keep up at a quick pace to not lose sight of Sir Cadogan. But as promised, he had led her to the room she wanted and bid her farewell as he raced off along more portraits, disturbing the other figures in the paintings along the way. Usagi faced the door and took a deep breath before knocking lightly. When she received no answer, she opened the door slowly to let herself in.
Professor Snape moved around the various shelves in his office, looking for particular ingredients that were to be used in the lessons the next day. He immediately turned around sharply when he heard the knock at the door, and glared darkly at the one who entered.
"What do you want?" He demanded, his voice very cool. Usagi stopped in her tracks for several moments before taking a deep breath and answering.
"To apologize", she said simply. Snape rose an eyebrow at this, and moved towards his desk, standing behind it. Usagi again moved and stood on the opposite side of the desk, a calm expression on her face, "it seems I've made the wrong impressions about you".
"Oh?"
"Yes, I feel terrible about the other...er...that night". The princess could feel her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. Snape noticed, he sneered in response.
"What changed your mind?" He asked. Usagi looked up at him, not being able to remove the look she had on her face.
"Facts...that I didn't know about before". Snape nodded his head once, the sneer turning into a look of triumph.
"Ah...in that case, I accept the apology." Relief flooded Usagi at hearing this, silence filled the air as she collected what bravery she had to make the next question.
"Also...I need to ask a favor." Snape had moved to return to what he was doing before the Headmistress had entered, but faltered after hearing this. He turned on the spot.
"Already? Don't you think you've asked for enough tonight?" Usagi felt like slapping Snape again, but she didn't move, and forced a smile.
"It's just, I've been getting lessons from Professor Flitwick, although I do excel at most areas of magic, I'm an expert in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration is easy, and Divination comes natural, I am lacking in a few though...Charms being one, and Potions being the other..."
"No." Was the immediate response, Snape approached Usagi by this point, giving her a stern look, but Usagi bit her lower lip to prevent herself from having an outburst of anger.
"Please? I really should know how..."
"That's pathetic." Snape cut in, he began to head towards the door before he was suddenly jerked back into the spot. Usagi had grabbed onto his arm, and had planted her feet firmly to the ground.
"Do not make me beg", she said quietly, "I *am* your Headmistress after all", she tried her best to be intimidating, but Snape ignored her and tried to pull his arm from her iron grip. Usagi then tried using a pleading look on her face, which came rather natural, and brought her hands from Snape's arm to his hand. The Potions Master flinched at the contact, Usagi's skin being quite warm compared to the shockingly coolness of his own. "Please??" She tried again.
They were interrupted when another figure entered at the door. Hotaru was holding a box of candy and fell quite silent when she saw her foster mother and the professor. She thought to herself that they had obviously made up.
"I'll be with you in a minute", Usagi said, smiling toward her daughter, who nodded and vanished from the doorway. From being distracted, Snape managed to wrench his hand away from Usagi's grip, and gave her a cool glare.
"Fine." He said, "but you will be here, every night, after the evening meal during the week." Usagi suddenly burst into smiles at hearing this.
"Thank you!" She squealed in delight.
"Be *prepared*", Snape added sharply, before returning to the shelves of ingredients. Usagi happily rushed out of the office, where Hotaru was waiting, she took her foster daughter's arm and hurried them out of the dungeons to the warmer areas. As soon as they were close to the Slytherin Common Room, Usagi finally slowed down and took a glance at Hotaru, and when realizing that the box of candy was Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, she confiscated them eagerly from her foster daughter.
"Hey!" Hotaru complained, still angry as well for being abandoned, but a smile crossed her features when Usagi's face screwed up after eating a bean that was flavored to taste like brussel sprouts, the princess immediately selected another bean, she relaxed after tasting strawberries.
"So, did Draco buy you these?" Usagi questioned, a playful smirk on her lips.
"Yes", Hotaru spat out, not looking at her mother.
"Did you tell him what I had told everyone about your powers?"
"Only a little, he wouldn't stop bothering me", Hotaru whined, "so now he says he'll pay more attention in Rei's class". Usagi laughed at hearing this, Rei seemed to be doing well in her teaching position, the students tended to enjoy the hands-on activities more than book work. "So you don't hate Professor Snape anymore?" Hotaru suddenly changed the subject, finally looking at her mother.
"I never hated him, I just...don't like him very much, and I only apologized so he'd agree to tutor me...that way I can make the Wolfsbane potion for Remus".
"But you didn't tell Professor Snape that?"
"Of course not! I would've asked to be tutored at the beginning of the year, but he and I didn't get along, but now I have motivation to put up with his mean comments." Usagi stuffed another bean in her mouth. "Mm...chocolate".
"By the way, Harry wants to know if you marry Sirius, could he move in with us..." Usagi began laughing gaily at hearing this.
"He did?" Hotaru nodded, her expression remaining the same as it always was, but the princess was full of laughter, "why would he want to move in with us?"
"He hates the Dursleys...the people he lives with".
"Oh. Then I understand why he feels that way...I'll have a talk with him." Usagi then headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room, and spoke the password, the portrait of the Fat Lady opened allowing her in. Just as she suspected, Harry, Ron and Hermione were still up, quietly talking by the fire. They immediately looked up when they heard the princess enter.
"Madam Tsukino!" Harry exclaimed.
"Hotaru told me about your question..." After Ron and Hermione heard this, they picked this particular time to head up to their own rooms. Usagi sat next to Harry and gave him a soft smile.
"Wouldn't you be my godmother? If you married Sirius?" Harry asked, already knowing that Usagi knew about what he had asked Hotaru.
"Only your parents could name who your guardians would be, and since I wasn't married to Sirius back then, that means legally I wouldn't be able to gain custody of you". Usagi felt a rush of pride at seeming so much wiser than the students, but she also felt a rush of pity as well when a sad expression crossed Harry's face.
"Oh..."
"That doesn't mean you couldn't stay with me, though..." Suddenly the sad expression changed just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Really?" Usagi nodded.
"Now, you better get to bed, it's getting really late." Harry nodded and rushed up to his own room. Usagi, all smiles, headed back to her own room, eagerly awaiting for the next day to arrive.
****
AN: Big thanks to my imouto, Megami*Silence for helping me clear my writers block, I'll have the next chapter out fast (faster if I get reviews...~cough~ no pressure...)!
Voting poles now open:
Usagi/? Who will the Headmistress fall for, if she falls in love at all?
Who will Oliver Wood pick for either position? And will he be paired with anyone?