And now! The moment you've all been waiting for! The newest installment of Magical Opportunities! Home edition. Without further ado, let me introduce those that helped to make this possible: My reviewers!
mae-E – Don't worry, I will put Usagi with Mamoru! He's going to be a seventh year Ravenclaw if you were wondering. As for the scouts…well, I haven't decided how exactly I'm going to do it, but they will definitely never be true sailor scouts.
no-name – Thanx! n.n
Aphrodite2 – I had a happy writing, thanx! And of course I didn't put them all in the same house! That'd be way too boring! n.-
Cris – THANk YoU! n.n
Nercia Genisis – I'm so glad that my story rocked your socks! Btw, I think Dobby's looking for a new pair, can you lend him one? n.-
Chapter Three: Separation Anxiety
"Potions. I hate potions."
"Come on Usagi! Quit moaning and focus. Now, what type of dogwood leaf do you use and how many of them?" Ami picked up a second sheet of Usagi's notes and scanned them.
"Four," Usagi answered gloomily, "and its California dogwood."
"No, it's not. It's a rough dogwood according to your notes."
"I can't do this!" Usagi cried out, slamming her potions book shut with a bang. Ignoring the librarian's scowl she crossed her arms and buried her face in them.
"Usagi!" Ami replied, taking her glasses off and staring, "What is the matter with you?"
"Nothing! I just…I'm so tired of all this!" Ami nodded and began packing up their things.
"I know just what you need."
"What?"
"A night out."
Renée huffed in annoyance at the group of first years blocking her way and pushed through them. Terrified, they scampered away, casting glances over their shoulders.
"Renée," her friend chastised her as they reached the bottom of the stairs, "Really now. You don't want them getting the wrong impressions."
"Sure I do. It makes my life easier that way. They move, I get to class on time. It's a good system." Hotaru frowned at her but said nothing. They entered their potions class early and Renée promptly started getting her notes out for a quick review. Hotaru sat down next to her, casting nervous glances at the professor as she did so. Twining a piece of violet streaked obsidian hair around a finger, she chewed her bottom lip in thought.
"Belladonna. Six petals for a triple dose, three for a normal. One hair from a unicorn's mane, not it's tail…" Renée shook her head as Hotaru went on mumbling. Her friend was an over-achiever when it came to extra credit. She on the other hand, was practical. You simply maintained a 100 in all your classes and you didn't have to worry about extra-credit.
Finding her quill, Renée growled angrily as she felt her hair slip. Annoyed, she took it all down before putting it back up in her customary twin knots, reading her notes the entire time.
"…It should be blue, not navy, and have a skin on top…" Hotaru recited as she switched to tugging on her earring instead. Renée rolled her eyes and poked her friend.
"Bell rang." she whispered as professor Snape strode by.
"We will be preparing a memory enhancing potion today instead of tomorrow as planned." His lip curled up in a small smile. "For some of you, if you manage to get it correct, it will be a victory in itself. Others may need it just to complete this assignment." He flicked his wand at the cupboards, letting them fall open. "You have thirty minutes; begin."
"Creevy!" Snape barked, causing the boy to jump slightly. "Ten points from Gryffindor for that mistake! You couldn't be more careless if you tried!" He swished his wand, cleaning up the spilled potion.
"Switch partners I think." He glanced around before snapping: "Creevy with Johnson." Creevy paled and moved to go sit with the Slytherin who was grinning nastily at him. "And Miss Weasley with…Tsukino." Ginny glared at her cauldron. Renée gaped at professor Snape. Why did she have to move? Stupid little – She calmly gathered her things together and moved to sit next to the redhead.
"Miss Weasley, you may thank your previous partner. Because of his fumbling you shall now have only ten minutes to brew the potion and you will be graded on it. Perhaps Miss Tsukino can help you. She will be graded on her potion however and not this one." Ginny gaped at him before shutting her mouth in fury. Renée glanced over her shoulder at Hotaru, who was silently adding mushrooms to her potion while Johnson's previous partner sliced them.
"Lets just get this over with." Ginny hissed, moving to gather a second set of ingredients from the cupboards. Renée smirked and leaned back on her stool, putting her hands behind her head. "Of course Weasel, whatever you say." Ginny blushed angrily and stomped off. Renée grinned. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all.
"I take it potions didn't go to well." Hermione inquired as Ginny stomped through the doorway of the girl's dormitory.
"No," she snapped, "it didn't. Snape got nasty after Creevy spilled his potion and I got paired with Tsukino." She spit the name out as though it was something foul.
"The strawberry-blonde with that strange hair style?" Hermione asked, turning the page of her book. Ginny nodded, flopping down on her bed. "She's fifth year's version of Malfoy." Hermione made a sound of agreement.
"I just want to get out of this place!" Ginny exclaimed suddenly. Hermione closed her book to look at her.
"Well, it's a Wednesday night, but…" she glanced at the clock. "I've got an idea."
"What is this place?" Usagi shouted over the music. She squinted in the flashing lights to keep track of Ami.
"Magical Opportunities!" Ami yelled back. Usagi grinned.
"Awesome name!" Ami nodded in agreement and pulled her skirt a little lower. It was dark blue fabric that shimmered in the half light. She was also wearing a light blue top. Silver hoops of graduating sizes adorned her ears and silver heels decorated her feet.
Usagi nearly jumped up and down with glee, her gold crescent moon earring swaying. She was wearing a white, pearly skirt and matching top, gold heels, and an armband in the shape of a cat. Her blue eyes sparkled. "Do they have a bar?"
"Yes but we are underage." Ami said doubtfully. Usagi shrugged and grabbed her arm, dragging her off.
"So? We'll get something normal than. Let's just have fun!"
"This is where you wanted to take me?" Ginny said in astonishment. She looked at the sign over the door which glared a bright neon blue. "Magical Opportunities? Hermione! This is a club!" Hermione grinned.
"I know that! What?" She glanced at Ginny, who was giggling helplessly. "I do know how to have fun once in a while!"
"I know! I'm sorry." Ginny wiped her eyes carefully, making sure not to smear her make-up. "Lets go."
"Damn did I need to get out!" Renée said as she entered the club, eyes shinning. She immediately made a bee-line for the dance floor, Hotaru trailing behind her. Stopping so suddenly the black-haired girl bumped into her, Renée gasped.
"Aw merde! Merde, merde…!" She looked with obvious distaste at the couple in front of her on the dance floor. It was none other than Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger. "What the hell are they doing here!" She glowered at them before turning away, edging her way through the crowd to the other side of the floor, hoping to never see them again.
Hotaru frowned and followed. She wished Renée would step back for a minute and quit being so prejudice. It wasn't like her.
"Hey! Isn't that Tsukino over there?" Hermione asked suddenly, pointing at the retreating form. Ginny turned quickly and scowled. Black leather mini-skirt, pink fishnets, black and pink corset top, lots of ribbon – "Yep, that's her all right."
"You want to go somewhere else?"
"Nah, ignore her. If she gets on my nerves I'll just let slip I saw her here." Hermione shook her head with a tiny smile.
"Sometimes I wonder if you think too much like a Slytherin." Ginny smirked in response.
"Only when I'm forced to."
"Wait…Tsukino, Tsukino…it sounds familiar…" Ginny gave her a strange look.
"It is Renée's last name if that's what you mean-"
"No." Hermione shook her head. "I think," she said slowly, "That it is also the last name of one of our exchange students."
Hotaru bumped into someone and turned to apologize, the first thing popping out of her mouth her native tongue.
"Gomen sa!"
"Gomen sa!" Hotaru started at the reply and looked up. A pair of sapphire eyes met hers.
"Nani!" Hotaru breathed. The girl's eyes went wide. Hotaru shook herself.
"Are you one of the new exchange students?"
"Hai! Mizuno Ami." Ami inclined her head slightly and pulled Usagi over.
"And this is Tsukino Usagi. Usagi, this is…"
"Tomoe Hotaru." She murmured. "I apologize again but I really must be going…" Hastily turning to leave, she bumped right into Renée.
"Oomph! Hey! I was just lookin' for ya, what happened?" Renée looked up at the other two girls, eyes narrowing as she caught them staring. "What?" she snapped. "Never seen a witch before?"
"Renée!" Hotaru said shocked as she got her balance. "Actually I just bumped into them by accident and-"
"Renée…" the blonde one, Usagi, was muttering to herself.
"Yeah, it's my name. Wanna make somethin' of it?" Renée said waspishly.
"No, it's just that I have a niece in England who's name is Renée." Usagi said half to herself. Renée froze. She looked Usagi over well and paled. Then she fled.
"Renée!" Hotaru called. Ami's eyes suddenly opened even wider as a revelation struck her. "I'm sorry, I have to go after her." Hotaru turned and slithered her way through the crowd, leaving the two gaping after them.
Ginny felt someone slam into her shoulder and whirled around angrily, on edge from seeing Tsukino. "Watch where you're going!" Surprise took hold of her as she recognized the almost pink strawberry-blond hair.
"I wouldn't have to if you got out of the way!" Renée snarled, anger lashing out as she found an outlet.
"Oh! I'm just supposed to get out of your way every time you glide by? Who died and made you queen of the world?" The words seemed to strike a nerve and Renée reeled back as though she'd been hit.
"Vous etez les merde! You are below the stuff I scrape off my boots in the morning!" Renée screamed back. "How dare you talk of things you know nothing about!" Ginny stared at her in confusion and anger. Tomoe suddenly showed up, grabbing Renée's arm, which held her wand, and dragged her away. Ginny hadn't even seen her draw it. In amazement, she looked down at her own hand holding her wand. Hermione's clear voice broke through her thoughts.
"Did you notice…" Ginny looked up. "She was crying."
Down in the Slytherin dungeons, Renée scrubbed the last of her make-up off her face and threw herself onto her bed. Hotaru came over and sat down next to her, smoothing Renée's pink hair back. Renée sniffled into her pillow, getting herself under control. Hotaru just waited.
"She…the exchange girl…the blonde one." Renée took a deep breath before continuing. "She's…well, she's my aunt." She sighed and turned over so she could face her best friend. "Tsukino is actually the oldest wizarding family in Japan with the purest blood.
"My father, a pureblood, died when I was two. My mother re-married when I was seven. Only, she married a muggle. My grandmother was furious and nearly disowned her. Amazing since she was the kindest and most tolerant woman I knew until then." She closed her eyes. "All I wanted was to get away. Get away from them, from everything. They hated her. They hated me because I was her's, even though I'm a pureblood. And when I saw part of that family, I flipped." She opened her eyes. "I was scared." Hotaru hugged her.
"You came into Slytherin house for me. You argued with a hat to be with me because I told you you were my first friend. What kind of person would I be if I deserted you now? I promise I will be there for you all the time Renée, I promise they will never hurt you." Renée smiled.
"I'm going to go to sleep happy then." Hotaru hugged her again and blew out the candle.
"Then get some sleep." Hotaru said as she left silently, closing the door behind her. Renée didn't sleep for a long time. All she could do was remember…
She wished she didn't have to.
Magical Blessings! And Please Review! It is a proven scientific fact that they make writers update faster.