A Forgotten Queen

Chapter Nine

By Chang Liko

Disclaimer: sits in a corner, rocking back and forth, clutching her Snape and Draco plushies to her chest They're mine.

Draco sighed, glancing at the object of his affections from the corner of his eye. It had been several days since he'd found out that she might like him, and he still hadn't worked up the courage to ask her out. Not that he wasn't working on it, it was just harder than he'd thought it would be.

Sighing, Draco shook his head, glancing to the front of the room to the staff table as Dumbledore began to speak.

"Today, we'll be having three new students join our ranks. They had been home schooled before, but, due to unforseen complications, they have decided to join us here," Dumbledore stated, motioning towards a door off to the side of the room as it opened. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Amara Tenou, Michelle Kaiou, and Hotaru Tomoe."

As everyone watched, three people emerged from the room. The first, tall with short dusty blond hair. Upon entering the light of the great hall, all the girls sighed, whispers began, exclaiming about 'his' good looks.

The second of the group, an aqua haired young woman, stood a couple inches shorter than the first. She was smiling softly, her gaze sweeping over the student gathered in the great hall, almost seeming to look for a certain person. Her hand was wrapped around the blond's hand.

The last of the group, a young girl looking no more than eight, was trailing behind them, her hand grasping the aqua haired girl's free hand tightly, her eyes wide as she stared out at the rest of the students, her face extremely pale, more distinct because of her dark hair.

Smiling at them, Dumbledore smiled, saying, "They'll be sorted into houses now. Amara and Michelle are in their final year, and young Hotaru here, is in her fourth year."

Motiioning to McGonagall, Dumbledore watched as she brought forth the stool and the sorting hat. Motioning for the blond to sit on the stool, McGonagall placed the hat on her head.

"Hello there, Sailor Uranus," The hat said, just loud enough for Amara to hear.

"How do you know who I am?" Amara questioned.

"I know a lot of things. It's easy to detect the type of magic that only hovers near a scout. But I must say, I find it strange to see you here. Is Serenity in some sort of danger?" the Sorting hat questioned, his tone worried.

"Not that we know of. Her mother was just worried about her being here with neither of her scouts to protect her. The inners might not be as loyal as they were thought to be, but that doesn't mean that we are the same," Amara replied.

"Yes. That is true. So, I guess that I must sort you into a house," the Hat mused softly.

"Hmm...What house is Serenity in?" Amara questioned.

"Your young Queen has been sorted into Slytherin, but has been given her own room, for obvious reasons," the Hat replied.

"Obvious reasons? You mean...?" Amara questioned, gasping slightly.

"Yes. That is exactly what I mean. She has not noticed that something is different, as it is meant to be, but she will soon," the Hat replied, confirming Amara's suspicions.

"Hmm...I see. So, it has already started," Amara mused.

"Yes," the Hat replied.

"So, where am I going to be placed, wise one?" Amara questioned.

"You, my dear, will be placed in..." the Sorting hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

Loud cheering was heard from the Gryffindor table as the hat was removed from Amara's head, causing her to wince. Rolling her eyes, Amara glanced at Michelle, flicking her eyes towards the Slytherin table before meeting her eyes again.

Nodding once, Michelle smiled as she took her seat on the stool as Amara moved to sit at the Gryffindor table, letting the hat be placed on her head.

"Lady Neptune," the Sorting hat acknowledged, making Michelle smile slightly.

"Wise one," Michelle replied, making the hat chuckle.

"You two are good on my ego. Very few have called me wise," the Sorting hat stated.

"We only state truth," Michelle stated, her voice soft compared to the murmurs going around the great hall.

Chuckling, the Sorting hat mused, "I wonder where I should place you. Neither house is right for you."

"I'm sure that wherever you decide to place me, will be the right place," Michelle stated, her voice agreeable.

"Yes, that I know. But, I am thinking that you would like to be with your lover, would you not?" the Sorting Hat questioned.

Blushing slightly, Michelle smiled, replying, "I would enjoy being placed in the same house as her."

"Very well, then," the Sorting hat stated. "Gryffindor!" the hat cried, earning more cheers from the Gryffindor's as Michelle blushed, moving to sit next to Amara, their eyes trained on Hotaru as she moved to sit on the stool, her eyes wide.

As the hat was placed on her head, Hotaru giggled as everything disappeared from sight, the hat slipping over her eyes.

"Hello, child," the Sorting hat greeted.

Giggling, Hotaru grinned, whispered, "Hello."

"You are a strange one, aren't you?" the Sorting hat stated, chuckling slightly.

Frowning suddenly, Hotaru murmured softly, "You may think that you know everything about us and the others, but you know very little. You may have heard stories, but I was there. I know the ultimate truth; the truth that binds us all to her."

"Hmm...yes, I believe that you do, Saturn. You are, after all, the holder of her secrets; secrets that even she does not know yet," the Sorting hat replied softly.

"It will be soon...she has to return..." Saturn stated lowly, her voice dark.

"Yes...I believe that she will have to return soon. Your earth may end up having to wait longer than the established thousand years for her to return, but there is nothing that can be done," the Sorting hat mused, it's tone resigned.

"Yes...and for that, I am truly sorry for anything she may experience," Saturn stated.

"But, what about the reason she returned so early? Her true love?" the Sorting hat questioned.

"He is not here, nor is he even in this realm. There is someone here who cares for her, but she will never be able to care for him. Her destiny is elsewhere," Saturn stated, her voice softer now.

"I see. Very well, then. I hope that you and your sister know what you are doing," the Sorting hat replied.

Just as quickly as Hotaru had frowned, she suddenly smiled, asking, "So, Mr. Hat? Where am I being placed?"

Sighing softly, the Sorting hat chuckled slightly, replying, "I know just the place for you, my child."

"Slytherin!" the Sorting hat called out, making the other houses boo.

Pulling the hat off her head, Hotaru handed it to McGonagall before bounding down the few steps towards the Slytherin table. Heading straight for Serenity, Hotaru stopped directly before her, waiting to be acknowledged.

Surprised, Serenity turned to the girl standing at her side. "Yes?"

Giggling, Hotaru pointed to the spot in between Draco and Serenity, asking, "Can I sit there next to you? Please?"

Chuckling, Serenity nodded, moving over slightly to make enough room for Hotaru to sit as a plate appeared for her. "Sure! Sit."

Giggling, Hotaru lifted her feet over the bench before sitting down, her eyes going to Serenity again.

Smiling, Serenity ruffled Hotaru's hair, asking, "What is it?"

"You're really pretty! Are you a Princess or a Fairy or something?" Hotaru asked, grinning to herself at the startled look on Serenity's face.

Shaking her head, Serenity frowned slightly, replying, "No. As far as I know, I'm just an ordinary witch that goes to school here at Hogwarts."

Hotaru nodded, seeming to be apparently satisfied with Serenity's answer as she dug into the food that had appeared on her plate. 'You are no ordinary witch, Serenity dearest. You are far from ordinary, and you know it. You just don't know how far that truth reaches. But, soon, you will find out the truth. The question is, will you be able to accept it when you do?'

To Be Continued...

A/N: I apologize that this chapter isn't longer, and that I haven't updated in a while, but I only got the time to write this over Christmas holidays, and I haven't got the internet at home, so I had to wait until I got back to school to post it. Again, I'm sorry for not making it longer, but I did toss in some plot twists and stuff for you. Please, just don't kill me over the little cliff hanger I ended with. It seemed like a good spot to leave it, and make you all want to read the next chapter when I get it out! Anyways, Please Review!!!!