Disclaimer – Unfortunately, I don't own anything. Please read and review but most importantly – ENJOY!
A/N – I AM SO SORRY! I never intended to go this long without updating, especially since I've already written most of the ending. I've been really busy lately with exams and family meet and greets. But how could I leave you on such a cliffhanger? Once again, I apologize. This isn't a long chapter, but it does act as a link so I'm afraid you'll have to be content with this for now. I hope you like it and please tell me what you think.
Dumbledore cleared his voice and the students in the great hall fell silent. The evening meal had yet to start and many students had noticed that two seats had been added to the staff's table.
"None of you know but during your afternoon lessons today Lord Voldemort was once again caught, along with his supporters. His return to Hogwarts also prompted the return of two of our previous guests. May we all welcome, again, Sakura Avalon and Li Showron." There was silence as the two sorcerers entered the hall before it erupted in applause. The young couple took their seats and the food appeared on the tables.
Sakura felt uneasy as she knew the majority of the students eyes were on her and Li. She looked to the Chinese boy to see how he was handling it but he was busy in conversation with Professor Dumbledore. She sighed but was then tapped on the shoulder.
"You're not eating, Miss Avalon." Professor McGonagall stated and smiled. Sakura smiled back.
"It feels a bit strange to be back here."
"I'll say, since the majority of my time here the last time we were here was spent in the hospital wing." Sakura turned and Li smiled at her. He leaned towards her and whispered.
"It'll be alright, just ignore all the students. Or imagine everyone to be naked." He laughed as Sakura's face coloured at his words. She glanced at him before laughing as well, the tension easing out of her body.
"Look at the way he makes her relax, it's so sweet."
"So cute!" Parvati agreed with Hermione before continuing the discussion with Lavender. Hermione turned back to Harry and Ron, who made a faced.
"Just because you don't have a romantic bone in your body doesn't mean you have to make faces, Ronald." In reply, the ginger stuck out his tongue before muttering something that sounded very much like "Girls!"
Harry shook his head at his friends as their argument went on. He wanted very badly to say that they sounded like an old married couple but he felt that both of them would stop talking to him then. As he piled some potatoes onto his plate he felt eyes on him and he looked up. The Chinese boy's amber eyes were fixed on him and although he wanted to look away he found he couldn't. Then the sorcerer looked away, turning to his female companion and Harry sighed.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Apparently he had sighed very loudly as both Hermione and Ron were looking at him.
"They're back. They shouldn't have to be here but they are. They're not safe anymore." His words stayed with the three friends for the rest of the night. But as they watched the couple they got the feeling that they were safer than anyone else at Hogwarts.
"How long will you be staying this time?" Sakura and Li shared a look as the transfiguration teacher asked the question.
"Just until our power has fully returned. The card we used to bring everyone back uses a lot of our magical energy up and we'll need it fully if we're going to use it to go back again."
"Plus, we promised our friends that we wouldn't be gone too long this time." Li added to Sakura's reply and she nodded. Dumbledore turned to them.
"How long will that take?" The two sorcerers shared a look.
"A couple of days, three at max."
"Then you are our guests during that time. I would like to give you both a tour of the castle and then you may sit in on some of the lessons the students learning, if you wish." Sakura's eyes lit up as the headmaster spoke then turned to Li.
"Please?" She asked, her eyes begging him. Li stared at her before smiling.
"Okay, but no longer than three days. Anymore and your brother will kill me." Sakura squealed with delight before leaning forward and hugging the Chinese boy. He accepted the hug easily and it took a moment for the two to part. They smiled at each other before turning to resume the conversations they had been having.
At the end of the feast Dumbledore stood and the hall fell silent. He smiled at the two sorcerers before indicating them to the rest of the hall.
"Our two friends have agreed to stay with us for a while longer so tomorrow they will receive a guided tour of the castle and the day after that they will be sitting in on some lessons. I ask all of you to show them the greatest courtesy while they are staying with us, I know I do not need to remind you of what they have done for us nor what they can do when they feel threatened." He shot Li a look, indicating to Sakura that that had been a topic of their conversation. "Sleep well!"
The students took his final words as a cue to leave for their dormitories. As they left, many students glanced at the pair of foreigners as they left, wondering where they would staying the night. The same thought was currently in their own minds and they turned to the headmaster to ask him. He smiled at them.
"I have arranged a room to be transformed for the duration of your stay. I will allow the two of you to share that room but you must take note that this is a special occasion. I do not want a repeat of your activities when you were last in the hospital wing." He paused and leaned in closer to Li, but still making sure that Sakura could hear. "Or rather, I do not wish to know about it." Sakura instantly coloured, as did Li but he quickly laughed and turned away to try and hide it.
"This way, if you will follow me." He led them slowly towards their room, pointing out certain 'landmarks' so they could find their way there on their own and telling them how to get to the dormitories of the students. When they arrived they were in front of an ordinary wood door. Dumbledore bid them a good night before leaving them standing in the corridor. Li grinned at Sakura before leaning forward and opening the door.
Inside was one of the most beautiful rooms the pair had ever seen. The walls were a faint gold, with all the material in the room being the same but more vibrant colour. Directly in front of them was a bedside table, with a bed on either side of it. The two beds were identical in design, both being very large with immense headboards. Either side of each bed was a door, leading to a silver colour theme bathroom, one for each of them. Everything in the room was amazing.
"This must have used a lot of magic up." Sakura stated as she sat down on her bed. She sunk into the mattress, almost being enveloped in it.
"Magic works differently here. Just a few spells would have created this." Sakura looked at Li before nodding. She bounced slightly on her bed, grinning at the boy in front of her. A mischievous glint entered his eye.
"So, whose bed are we going to sleep in?" Sakura threw him a look before moving towards the bathroom.
"Its late and I'll need some sleep if I'm going to be awake to learn anything tomorrow. But, you can warm up the bed if you like." A smile filled her face at the look on Li's face before she closed the bathroom door. The young Chinese boy stood startled for a moment before turning to his bathroom to get ready for bed.
A couple of minutes later Li re-entered the bedroom to find Sakura already in bed. He smiled and walked over to her, bending down to kiss her on her forehead before whispering
"Goodnight Sakura, sweet dreams." The sorceress smiled before the Chinese boy blew out the candle and both fell asleep, their dreams filled with images of the other.
A/N – Short I know, the next few chapters will be longer as you have requested. Also I warn you now that this story is nearing its end. But don't worry yet, there's still a few more chapters to go! Here's hoping I update soon! Stay tuned folks!