The trip had been long and exhausting. Hoshimi and Asayake had had to make several stops during their trip to keep their magic from draining away entirely. Asayake had complained the whole way, and, now that they were standing in front of the gates of the school, Hogwarts, it seemed entirely not worth the effort. It was not a beautiful place. Its architecture was old English Gothic and it looked rather gloomy and clustered compared to their old spacious and beautiful school back in Japan. It was also starting to rain outside and Hoshimi shivered under her light coat and her old uniform. So entirely not worth it.
She was half tempted to turn around and apparate back to Japan and face her great-uncle's wrath. She was also half tempted to go and get it all over with. However, on top of all that, she was entirely for finding someplace dry and warm. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Hoshimi really wasn't sure, Asayake pointed out two dark figures running toward them across the grounds. They weren't really dark, Hoshimi reasoned against her darker side. Rather they were rain soaked and wearing dark colored robes. Hoshimi swallowed thickly, as the feelings of unease washed over her in a wave even colder than the rain soaking her body. She did not like it here. She did not want to be in the place that her parents had met. It was so full of memories, so full of sadness that it choked her until she was sure she could not breathe.
Still, she forced air into her lungs, her hand over her heart as the two dark figures reached them, opening the gates. It was a man and a woman, both in their middling ages, but Hoshimi could never tell Europeans well enough to even guess the decade. The man was tall with slick, greasy black hair, cold black eyes and a rather large hooked nose. Over all he was sallow of skin and looked poor of disposition, exactly what Hoshimi had expected of any Englishman. The woman had straight black hair, tied up in a severe looking bun; she also had dark eyes and had a "no nonsense" look about her. Did all the teachers here have sticks up their asses? Or was she just already homesick?
Realizing that she was staring, though they were staring back she reasoned petulantly, she quickly dropped into a bow followed simultaneously by Asayake, no more than required though. She didn't want to be here, so she'd be damned if they got more respect than deserved. They returned the bow then the woman walked forward, reaching out and touching Hoshimi's cold cheek with an equally cold hand. She searched her eyes and then her eyes widened in recognition. However, before she could speak, the man spoke up.
"Minerva, perhaps we should make introductions where it is dry. There is no need to freeze ourselves for the sake of our guests." Hoshimi's eyes cut sharply at him and his eyes widened in recognition as well. Then they narrowed dangerously. What had she done? Fortunately, before she could quite potentially kill the sallow man, the woman, Minerva, agreed and draped an arm around Hoshimi's shoulders and began to lead the two girls up to the castle, leaving their luggage out in the rain. Hoshimi was about to mention it, but a giant of a man, or was it a man of a giant, was seen picking them up, and carrying them with relative ease, making it easy to see the strength of his arms. Where the hell had she been placed?
They eventually made it into what had to be the entrance hall to the castle, and Hoshimi and Asayake quickly cast a series of drying spells until they were sure that they, and their clothes, were completely dry. Then Hoshimi turned back to the two adults and bowed to them once again. Then she spoke to them, her English only slightly accented. "Thank you for your reception. I'm Yamino Hoshimi and this is Tensou Asayake. We were sent by my great-uncle to your school, to participate in the exchange program..."
"And to assess the abilities of the Order of the Phoenix, am I correct?" It was the woman's voice and Hoshimi turned to address her, making sure to keep her face passive and not show any of the surprise she felt at the woman's perception. The woman gave her a small smile, and Hoshimi felt the need to reply.
"If that is how you choose to interpret it, I will not hinder you." It was a diplomatic response. Something her great-uncle would have approved of, not that it mattered with so much distance between them.
"You are very much like your mother Hoshimi. If I am right in assuming that your mother was Kuroimi." Hoshimi fought the rising of blood to her cheeks, but she was damn sure that she had lost, and she quickly lowered her head to hide it.
"You are correct, my mother is called Kuroimi." The woman's smile widened and Hoshimi took a deep breath to keep her blush from deepening. Maybe she was not as stiff as she had thought. The man, on the other hand, was scowling openly, something that would've been frowned upon by her great- uncle, again not that it mattered.
Asayake, meanwhile, was getting impatient. If the fiery girl had ever been ignored this long, it had escaped Hoshimi's memory. "I'm sorry to interrupt any trips down your memory lane, but I'm tired and I'm still cold, and I still am not sure why I'm here!"
"Asayake-chan!" Hoshimi exclaimed. "Watch your mouth! This isn't Japan and we don't own this school." Hoshimi was careful to speak in Japanese instead of the English she had been using, hoping that neither teacher could understand what was being said.
Asayake glared at her, but, miraculously, she shut her mouth. Hoshimi let out a silent breath and turned back to the teachers, bowing once again. "I'm very sorry for my friend's behavior, but we are tired, and we would appreciate getting on with business."
The woman nodded and smiled. "Why, of course, I'm Professor McGonagall, deputy head-mistress, and I teach transfiguration." She gestured to the still scowling man next to her. "This is Professor Snape, and he is our potions master."
"Yes," the man, Snape, murmured with silky evil, "And, though you may think that academics don't matter here, they do to me, and you will try in my classroom, or I will make your lives difficult."
He was trying to threaten her, but she was used to such treatment and merely tilted her head, giving him no answer at all. Instead, she turned to McGonagall. "If it's possible, may we please speak with Headmaster Dumbledore?"
She nodded and turned, pushing Snape along with her, and together they led the girl's to a gargoyle, murmured a word that went over Hoshimi's comprehension and behind it to a sliding, spiral staircase, much like a muggle escalator. They stepped onto it before Asayake could voice any objections to moving staircases that Hoshimi knew she would make just to be difficult.
Then they entered a large office filled with strange gadgets of which Hoshimi could only identify half of, and portraits of what looked like old headmasters of the school. She stared at them in fascination as the two professors made their exits and went, she supposed anyway, to find Headmaster Dumbledore. She walked around the room, gazing at each of the portraits in turn until she found one that caught her eye. It was of a sharp looking man with a pointed beard and green robes. His name was, she glanced down at the brass plaque name below the frame, Phineas Nigellus. She looked back up at him and noticed his dark eyes were open and regarding her with interest as well.
"What is your name?" He murmured through the picture, and she nearly jumped three feet in the air. Pictures that moved she was used to, but not talking ones. She just managed to hide her surprise, and rasped her answer.
"Yamino Hoshimi." Her hand went up to touch the painting, but something, some force repelled her hand, and she lowered it, disconcerted. The man, meanwhile, was looking at her with considerable interest.
"Kuroimi's daughter then. Sirius's daughter then." She nodded and he gave a smirk, nodding his head in approval. "Good boy after all. He managed to carry on the family line."
"Are you related to me then?" She asked. She felt Asayake come up behind her, and she leaned against the girl for support.
"In a way, yes I am." He murmured, surveying her from head to toe in his painting, nodding his head in what seemed like approval. It was as though she were live stock he might have been buying.
"He's actually your great-great grandfather Hoshimi-san." Hoshimi and Asayake turned toward the entrance to the office to see a wise-looking, kind old man with lavender robes, and half-moon spectacle that magnified his twinkling blue eyes.
"Dumbledore-sama." Both girls chimed together and bowed deeply as one. They then rose and watched the man in what had to be poorly disguised wonder, and Hoshimi cursed herself, working harder to conceal her emotions.
"Hoshimi-san, Asayake-san, welcome to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please take a seat." They nodded and did so as he engaged them in small talk, asking them about their trip and the weather in Japan and other such pleasantries, until Hoshimi was quite sure Asayake would explode. Asayake was not one for small talk and beating around the bush. She was straightforward and direct, and Hoshimi treasured that in her. However, at the moment, Hoshimi knew she had to interrupt the small talk, or she would have yet another one of Asayake's rude outbursts to deal with.
"As much as I enjoy comparing climates Dumbledore-sama, I would like to discuss the matter at hand, and what your plans for us might be."
Dumbledore nodded his head sagely and regarded her quietly, his eyes never leaving her face until Hoshimi stared at the floor. Legilimens. Mind- reader. She shifted ever so slightly in her chair, extremely uncomfortable. She had not even thought to block it out. She was not even sure if she could have. It was so stealthy and so powerful that even if she had seen it, she would not have been able to stop it.
"Of course Hoshimi-san. Since your job is not only to investigate our resistance, but also to get as close as you may to your betrothed I shall put you both in Gryffindor. It would be the most advantageous place to put you. "
She opened her mouth in protest then quickly snapped it shut. Gryffindor? That had been her father's house, James' Potter's house. It was the equivalent of Hi, and it was no place for a Kage.
"Dumbledore-sama, are you really sure that's wise? I could do better in... In... Oh what is it called?" She thought for a moment. "In Slytherin. I'm better suited to its... intricacies and intrigues, and it would be an opportune position to spy from."
He gave her a smile that made her believe he knew exactly what she was thinking, and she was sure she did not like it. She hated mind-readers. Hated them!
"I am sorry Hoshimi-san, but Gryffindor is the best place for you to do the work you were sent here to do. I've spoken with the Sorting Hat, and it has agreed to place you in that house, despite what your true calling may be."
Hoshimi could have screamed, and, had she less self-control she would have. This was going to be a miserable time for her. She could see no good thing about this place, and now she wasn't even placed with people she would be comfortable being around. It could not get worse.
"Of course Dumbledore-sama, I'm sure you've thought about this." The words came from her mouth automatically, as though she were some kind of robot. Her family's creation indeed. Beside her, Hoshimi felt more than saw Asayake stiffen in anger. She reached out and put a hand on the fiery girl's arm. She did not want a scene here. Not now.
Asayake seemed to understand, because she did not shout out, and Hoshimi lowered her arm and turned back to Dumbledore his eyes looking at her with... what was that? Understanding? It couldn't be. Her family didn't understand her, so how could she expect it from perfect strangers?
"This placing will be for the best I assure you Hoshimi-san. Now, there is one more thing I must discuss with both of you before we end this meeting."
Hoshimi and Asayake raised identical black, slim eyebrows as Dumbledore looked more serious at this point than at any other during their discussion. What the hell could he want from them?
"I have spoken with your former headmaster, and I have been informed of your activities at your old school. You will be warned here and now that these activities will not be permitted, and will result in your expulsion if you attempt them here."
Hoshimi could have expected no less from the man. However, she was very willing to attempt getting expelled from this school, and he had provided a way for her to do it, her own indulgence. Then Hoshimi thought about it, and she realized that Dumbledore was making an empty threat. It was of too much importance that they be here. He was trying to intimidate her, and she found she hated it.
Both girls murmured their understanding, and Dumbledore released them to walk around the school until the feast. They quickly bowed their way out of the room then down past the gargoyle where they sunk down to the flagstone floor and sighed. Asayake looked at Hoshimi and gave a grin, wrapping and arm about the girl's shoulders.
"Well, at least we can get expelled whenever we want to." Hoshimi gave a strangled laugh and buried her head in the other girl's shoulder.
"If only we could be expelled. It will never happen you well know. Great- Uncle will never let it happen, and neither will Dumbledore-sama. They both need us here and covert. They can't afford to make a scene." Asayake sighed and laid her head on Hoshimi's, knowing what Hoshimi said was true. This sucked royally, she thought bitterly, tightening her grip on Hoshimi. They had been sent to this God forsaken place, and now they were being scolded for no reason. This world had gone to hell.
Asayake sighed and pulled her head from Hoshimi's and leaned it back against the cool stone of the walls. She closed her eyes a moment before sighing and getting to her feet, pulling Hoshimi up with her.
Hoshimi looked up at her, and Asayake gave her a grin. "Come on Hoshimi- chan. Let's explore this ugly castle."
Hoshimi nodded and kept her hold on Asayake's hand as they moved down the corridor into a large stairwell filled with portraits on every square inch of wall space. It went up more floors than Hoshimi could ever even begin to count, and, most amazingly or perhaps most horrifying, the staircases that should have been at every access point were not there. Instead there were nearly a hundred and fifty staircases of varying shapes, sizes, materials, and states or disrepair. It was breath taking, and both girls spent several minutes staring at them all with mouths open.
"We'll never find our way around this school..." Asayake murmured walking forward to watch the stair cases move from floor to floor, area to area with something akin to awe on her face, and Hoshimi moved to join her.
"And just what are you two doing wandering the school?" They both turned on their heels to face the intruder, and Hoshimi recognized him as the sallow, scowling teacher from before. He seemed to be scowling more now as Hoshimi looked at him closely, taking in his long dark hair and piercing eyes. If not for the permanent expression of loathing and disdain on his features, he probably would have been very handsome indeed. However, the disdain deepened as he realized she was staring at him, and he repeated his question impatiently.
Hoshimi bowed her head softly to show she meant no disrespect, though she doubted this western brute had any idea what it meant. "I apologize if we disturb you with our presence, but we were told we were allowed to explore the castle, and we are taking that opportunity."
Her politeness seemed to only anger him further, and she actually found herself taking a step back as he approached her and took her chin in her hand and tilted it up and to the side, disgust filling his features.
"You look just like her..." He then released her and spun away, his robes trailing behind him like all enveloping darkness waiting to swallow him up.
Hoshimi rubbed her chin gently as Asayake wrapped her arms around her and placed her head on Hoshimi's shoulder, lending comfort. "Look just like who?"
Hoshimi had no answer.
A few hours later, after getting lost several times and running into some rather disgusting doxies, the pair of girls found themselves waiting in an ante-chamber, waiting along with sniveling ten and eleven year olds to be sorted into their houses. It was rather humiliating to watch the little lake soaked brats nearly piss their pants in anticipation for the sorting, and Hoshimi was very glad that she did not have to enter the chamber with them. She was also glad that the children kept a nervous distance from them, especially when Asayake looked at them with her glowing, blood red eyes. Hoshimi detested children.
Then, thankfully, McGonagall-sensei entered the room and escorted the little nuisances from the room, not before giving them a quick nod. Then she closed the door behind the last child with a quiet snap and Hoshimi leaned against the wall, sighing.
"I hate waiting." She muttered darkly as Asayake leaned on the wall opposite her, crossing her arms across her chest. Both were silent, both were worried, and both could not help but wonder what was going to happen to them next. It was hard enough for Asayake, moving to another school across the world and worlds away from her old school, but, at least, she was going to be sorted into a house that suited her. Hoshimi had no such luck, being sorted into the very house that was her opposite in every way. This was going to be hell.
After what felt like an eternity, the door once again opened and the girls stepped cautiously into the great hall amid hundreds of pairs of staring eyes, just in time to hear Dumbledore's next words.
"These girls are exchange students from Mahou Yuri Academy, and will be staying with us for the next two years, and graduating with the current six year class." There was a great murmuring amongst the students in the crowd, and Hoshimi stiffened, trying to make herself seem taller and more impressive, though she was sure she was lacking. None of that showed on her face though. She would kill herself if she let anyone of these fools see that she was in the least afraid of them. Above the titter of the students, Dumbledore continued.
"They will be sorted into an appropriate house in the same manner as any of you and will be joining the classes that the sixth years are taking. I expect you all to welcome them and treat them with respect no matter their house. Now, we shall sort them." He nodded to McGonagall.
"Tensou, Asayake."
Hoshimi watched, barely daring to breathe as Asayake left her side and made her way to the stool, where McGonagall-sensei placed and ugly, old, torn and patched, English style wizard's hat on her friend's head. It was on her head for barely a moment when the hat's tear at the brim opened up, and it shouted out to the crowd.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The crowd on the far wall of the great hall erupted into loud raucous cheers as Hoshimi nearly jumped three feet in the air. More things that talked! Hoshimi then glanced over at the table that was cheering, Gryffindor, and she cringed inwardly. She did not wish to go there, and she watched with a mix of horror and disdain as Asayake made her way to the table. Hoshimi felt like she was going to be sick.
"Yamino, Hoshimi."
She felt as though her feet had turned into lead as she made her way, slowly reluctantly, to the stool in the center and warily sat down upon it. The hat was then placed on her head, and she waited.
"Ah, so you are the other one." A voice whispered into her very mind and Hoshimi resisted the urge to shiver. She hated any kind of telepathy.
"Hai." She murmured ever so softly, not realizing that she had reverted back to Japanese. The hat sighed as she assumed it must be going through her mind.
"You don't belong in Gryffindor at all do you? No, you belong in Slytherin with your own kind. You even requested it, but you were denied." The hat sighed again before continuing. "I am sorry. I would place you there if I could, but it's for the best that I place you in... GRYFFINDOR!"
She did jump as the hat shouted both into her mind and into her ears, but no one noticed as the far end of the hall again erupted into cheers, and the hat was removed from Hoshimi's head. The girl looked about the hall for a moment, and her eyes settled on the opposite corner of the hall where students sat, looking grim faced and none too pleased with the results. Slytherins. She looked at the house with longing for a second longer before turning back and making her way toward the Gryffindor house, where she was greeted with handshakes, which she did not take, and pats on the back and Hoshimi felt herself stiffen in discomfort. This was much too friendly for her. As quickly as she could, Hoshimi freed herself from them and took a seat with Asayake at the far end of the table, far away from any other classmates. She refused to think of them as hers.
Both girls then turned back to Dumbledore, who began what must have been a normal welcoming speech, but Hoshimi was deaf to whatever he was saying. She didn't really care what he had to say. She had played her part. She watched dimly as he introduced someone up on the staff table and everyone gave scattered applause. She then completely lost any sense of focus for the rest of his speech, and it wasn't until she smelled food that she pulled out of her trance.
She blinked and looked down at the food in surprise. Then she looked back up at Asayake. "Where did this come from?" Her voice came out normal and calm, as though she were asking about a mathematical equation, but Asayake knew that Hoshimi was shocked witless.
"He said something, and it appeared... Are you going to eat the vegetable tempura? Because if not..." Hoshimi wasn't listening anymore; she was instead looking down at the array of Japanese food in front of her in delight. Without another word to Asayake, Hoshimi picked up her chopsticks and loaded her plate with sushi, sashimi and other goodies, such as a bowl of udon and miso soup. And she had thought she would starve! She dug into her food with a voracious appetite, though she still somehow managed to make it look neat. She had forgotten how draining her earlier trip had been, and she was making up for it now.
She was so involved with her food that she didn't notice three people approach her. Asayake did though, and she stepped on Hoshimi's foot to get her attention. Hoshimi looked up and none too pleased, glaring at Asayake a moment before gazing up at the three expectantly.
They looked away under her gaze, and she grinned inwardly. Her not so good nature had been restored with the food she had already had half devoured. When they didn't speak, Hoshimi grew tired of the staring contest and finally broke the silence. "May I help you?"
The boy in the middle with dark messy hair and green eyes and lightning bolt scar on his forehead shifted uneasily for a moment before speaking. "Uh, well we just came to welcome you to Gryffindor and Hogwarts in general. I'm Har—"
"Yes, I know who you are Harry Potter." Hoshimi interrupted impatiently, getting gracefully to her feet and attracting the attention of the entire great hall. She nearly cursed aloud as the entire hall went silent. She didn't want a scene.
Asayake stood up beside her and Harry's two minions, a boy of considerable height, flaming red hair and a long nose, and a girl about her own height with bushy brown hair, chocolate eyes and a shrewd, by the book type of look that Hoshimi didn't much like. She then turned her eyes back to Harry, who held out his hand for her to shake. Hoshimi looked at it a moment, and did not take it. Instead, she nodded her head in the way that one equal acknowledges another.
"I am Yamino Hoshimi, and this is Tensou Asayake. Thank you for your welcome to our school." She didn't want to continue the conversation. She didn't like the feel of everyone's eyes on her even less than before, and she was afraid she would say something she would later regret. Unfortunately, the famous Harry Potter had other plans.
"It's good to meet you both. These are my friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger." He gestured to both in turn, and Hoshimi focused on the girl, who had been giving her a superior sort of look ever since Hoshimi had looked up at them. She chose to acknowledge Hermione.
"Hermione is an interesting name. Wasn't the original Hermione the daughter of Helen? Didn't her two suitors kill one another over her?" Hermione blushed and finally lowered her gaze from Hoshimi as Hermione caught her meaning. Hoshimi grinned inwardly as Ron, who apparently had not the faintest idea of what had just transpired, looked at her food with disgust.
"Are you eating raw fish?!" He asked incredulously and loudly, and Hoshimi resisted the urge to groan at his idiocy.
"Yes, is there something wrong with that? I can think of several English foods that are less than savory." Asayake spoke up this time and Hoshimi looked at her gratefully. Ron sputtered as he met her eyes and fell silent, and Asayake gave the smallest of smirks. Asayake loved intimidating people.
"Is there anything else you wished to discuss?" Hoshimi inquired politely, and Harry looked as though he wanted to say something, but her held his tongue and shook his head. "Good, no offense," yes offense, "but I'm quite frankly starving, and I wish to get back to my meal."
She ended the conversation there; it was obvious and even they realized it. They walked away, and Hoshimi and Asayake sat back down in their seats amid a now loudly buzzing hall.
Oh yes, it would be a long two years.
