Darkness and Light

Chapter 3

Updated as of 12/31/09

Ooh. Sorry for the long delay. Finals and work and other assorted excuses. This is one of those chapters that I can't change too much with, no matter how much I hate it...please bear with it, though! This begins the sort of fan-stuff I wish I hadn't wrote, but I did, so I'm going to see how I can transform it to make it better!

Harry watched as the very large and very strange group of newcomers trailed behind Hagrid and the first years, off to the shore where they would take an enchanted ride to the castle. Behind him, Hermione and Ron watched for the carriages.

"What do you think they want?" Ron asked.

"What?" Harry said, not really paying attention. He turned around to the two.

"There's something really off about them." He said, crossing his arms. "I just...feel something weird in my gut from them."

"You're hungry." Hermione suggested.

"Not the point," He continued. "I mean, suddenly all these transfer students are showing up? And I could swear I could hear that cat say U-as-gi's name."

"Usagi, Ron." Hermione corrected him. "And I don't think you should be so harsh towards them, you don't even know them!"

"You just want to know more about them!" Ron argued.

"Of course I do, they come from Japan, they have so many different types of spells and magic, I want to learn about them!" Hermione retorted, crossing her arms as well. Luckily, the carriages began showing up. Harry went ahead and got on one of the smaller ones, Hermione and Ron following suit. Their argument didn't stop once they started moving, however.

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe they're with You-Know-Who?" Ron asked. "I mean, they keep their faces hidden until they know it's us-"

"I highly doubt anyone connected to You-Know-Who could get in here!" Hermione defended.

"They did last year, didn't they?" Ron asked. Yes, Harry remembered that very clearly. The princesses from the Moon Kingdom of the past had stayed for half a year at Hogwarts for whatever reason, and the very first night of term, a few Death Eaters had snuck in to capture them. That, really, was one of the few incidents that happened the previous, lazy year.

"A fluke, I mean, they were royalty!"Hermione said. For some reason, that seemed to shut Ron up, even make him look a bit down.

"I kind of miss them. They were really pretty. I think. I don't really remember them." He sighed.

"It's not like we really talked to them much." Harry shrugged, finally able to get a word in. Hermione, however, was not finished.

"If you're going to be concerned about anything, be concerned about how Malfoy was freaking out when he saw Rei's face." She spoke. The two boys looked at her odd, was she defending Malfoy? Hermione realized her mistake and quickly added, "Not that I mind that he left, but it was kind of strange."

"Those Three Lights were more strange." Ron said. "I don't get why everyone likes them-"

"They're great international singers in the magical world!" Hermione exclaimed.

"They look like girls!" Ron yelled back.

Hermione didn't even bother thinking of a retort, she simply huffed and turned her head sharply to the side, looking at the trees surrounding them.

"Hermione," Harry said, trying to dispel the negative mood. "Just don't break up with me because of them."

Most of the remaining ride had gone by in silence, Ron's growling stomach causing the three to finally laugh and start chattering away again as they made their way into the Great Hall along with all of the other students, garbed in robes of black. The new students, Usagi and crew included, were already waiting by the head table for the sorting to begin.

After everyone had settled in, Dumbledore rose from his place at the High Table and adressed his students, arms wide open and smiling broadly.

"Another year has come!" He announced, voice clear and bright. "Welcome, to our old and new students, and to our beloved faculty! Before we sort our new students into their houses and eat what I know will be quite the meal, I would like you to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Miss Setsuna Meoh."

The students and teachers clapped as Setsuna, a dark skinned Asian woman stood up from her seat at the end of the high table next to Snape. Her hair was long and green, and her eyes were thin. She smiled and nodded before sitting down. She was still wearing the robe, though not the hood, making her much less intimidating. Harry saw the key-like staff leaning on the wall behind her.

"Now," Dumbledore began again. "I do have one more announcement. You may have noticed that we have a great number of older students with us who are new to our school. These students come from Mousetsu, a Japanese school of magic. This school...no longer exists. It was recently attacked and destroyed by the Dark Lord and his followers."

This statement sent a wave of whispers throughout the students. If they could attack one school of magic, could they attack Hogwarts?

"These students, along with Professor Meioh, have come here and I ask that you treat them with our best hospitality and to help them with whatever they need." Dumbledore said. He waited a minute for the whispers to stop before resuming. "Now then! Professor McGonagall, if you will..."

"When I call your name, please come forth," Professor McGonagall said, stepping forward. "Achor, Sarah." A tiny girl with black hair stumbled forward and sat on the ancient stool set right in the center.

"Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted almost immediately. "

Aino, Minako," The professor called. Minako walked up gracefully and put on the tattered hat.

"Why didn't they tell us?" Ron whispered as the hat sorted Minako into Hufflepuff, much to the delight of that house.

"If your school got destroyed by You-Know-Who, it wouldn't really be something you'd love to spread around, would it?" Hermione answered.

"Maybe someone close to them...was killed." Harry suggested. Behind them, Rei was sorted into Gryffindor. She took a seat next to Ron. She seemed to instantly know what the three were talking about and nodded.

"Yeah, um, sorry we didn't tell you earlier." Rei said, speaking as if she couldn't believe that Dumbledore had told them. "We weren't sure if we could."

Michiru was sorted into Ravenclaw, the boys of the raven house cheering especially loudly. Rei sighed and clapped.

"Is that why you were hiding yourself?" Harry asked. Rei didn't answer, not until after Makoto was sorted into Hufflepuff.

"It was quite the terror." Rei explained. "No one was sure why, if it was just a random act of terror to scare everyone, or if they were looking for someone, but we were told to hide ourselves until we were under the protection of Professor Dumbledore."

Seiya sat down next to Rei, he had been sorted into Gryffindor while they were talking. Taiki had been sorted into Ravenclaw and, surprisingly, Yaten into Slytherin.

"I was telling them about what Dumbledore said." Rei said.

"Oh." Seiya said. And in a language that the trio did not understand, Japanese most likely, he added, "That lie? He could have told us ahead of time."

"Us? We didn't even know you were coming." Rei said.

"But he apparently knew you were coming or he wouldn't have made up a story like that..."Mousetsu"..."false." Very funny, that man." Seiya said. Rei thought about it and nodded. Had Cosmos contacted him ahead of time?

Another loud round of applause indicated that another one of the transfer students had been sorted, this time it was Ami who had been sorted into Ravenclaw.

"But, yes." Rei continued in English. "You see, we are the only remaining students."

"Oh, my!" Hermione exclaimed, clapping her hands to her mouth. "I'm so sorry."

"It's alright." Seiya added. Harry noted that his accent was a bit different then the others, his and his brothers's. It was as if neither English or Japanese was their first language.

The group sat in silence, watching the rest of the sorting. Haruka was sorted into Gryffindor (and made sure to sit on the other side of the trio, away from Seiya who it was clear she hated). Hotaru, not surprisingly, was sorted into Slytherin. Chibiusa and Usagi were very quickly put into Gryffindor. After her, there were only three more students, yet it still seemed like an eternity to Harry until the time when Dumbledore stood up once more and said, "Let the feast begin!"

The plates filled up with food and the hall erupted with talking and munching and cheers. Harry loved Mrs. Weasley's cooking, yes, but Hogwarts food would always hold a special place in his heart.

"Honestly! Hotaru in Slytherin!" Chibiusa muttered."That hat was just..." She took a bite of a lightly buttered roll and seemed to forget what she was saying.

"When was the last time we ate a real meal?" Rei asked her friends, looking lovingly at the spread.

"This food is much too salty and sweet." Haruka complained, though it did not slow her down any. Even Ron was put to shame by the amount of food Usagi had consumed.

"Um." Chibiusa said, looking up at something. "Why is he staring at you, Rei?"

The entire group turned to look, and sure enough, Harry saw Draco staring at Rei in between bites of butternut squash soup.

"Um, if you don't mind me asking, what happened on the train?" Hermione asked. Rei wasn't sure what to say, her eyes darted quickly to her friends.

"I don't know, really." She said.

"He remembers you." Haruka explained shortly. This didn't make sense to anyone, not even Rei, not until her eyes went wide with realization.

"But, how-" She started. Haruka stopped her. Harry had a suspicious that his and his friends' presence was what did it. Rei obliged, however, and their dinner was relatively quiet until they left for Gryffindor Tower.

Even in this strange castle, Rei's powers of divination were stronger then ever. Something...she sensed something wrong. As soon as everyone was asleep, she threw on her red cloak and slowly crept through the castle, wand at the ready. There was a negative, yet familiar feeling somewhere in the halls. Hopefully, she thought to herself, she was wrong. But after descending two floors, she heard a shuffling of feet that nearly spooked her half to death. She concealed herself behind a statue only to hear a drawling voice, "Really?" It was Draco. Rei came out from her hiding and saw the blonde boy standing casually in corridor. He did not flinch at her fact this time. In face, his face, illuminated by the moon pouring through the window, was quite blank.

"Um, about earlier-" Rei said, not quite sure to say to this boy.

"Why did you come back?" Draco asked her suddenly, staring at her hard.

"Why did...what?" Rei asked. Did this boy know that they had been there before? Did he know more then she remembered?

"You're in danger!" He hissed urgently.

"What are you talking about?!" Rei exclaimed. "I don't know who you are!"

This seemed to set him off course a bit. He looked her over once more. "I didn't either until I saw your eyes. Then I remembered everything."

"Well, great!" Rei said, somewhat sarcastically. "We don't remember anything, only that we were here in our past lives."

"You...you really don't understand why you're in danger then." The boy said. He looked away from her, almost...ashamed? "I forgot everything until now, and...I forgot everything that I achieved for myself.I was so close to escaping that life..."

"What's...?" Rei asked. This boy was very strange indeed, he yelled at Harry as if they were mortal enemies but talked to her like a gentle bird.

"I'm really sorry, okay?" Draco said, not facing her. "I didn't know that it was you. I would have never done it."

"What did you do?" Rei asked, hoping that this boy who seemed so sad was not connected to the terrible feeling that still grew strong inside her heart. She looked at Draco, who slowly turned to face her. His eyes were a cold steel, a cold steel which flared up for only a moment before--

She didn't even know what happened, only that his lips were suddenly on hers. She didn't know if she should pull away, but this kiss seemed almost desperate, Rei was afraid to stop, she felt like if she did, the boy might disappear. Yet it was over as soon as she started, he pulled back quickly.

"We never got to kiss before." He explained. Rei cocked her head.

"What sort of relationship did we have when you knew me?" Rei asked. She wouldn't mind so much if this boy was her boyfriend, though she imagined they would fight quite a bit. Draco smiled at her question, only for a moment before his face returned to the same neutral state.

"You have to go." He told her. "And, I'm really sorry."

Before Rei could snap and yell at him, what exactly was he sorry for? The feeling inside her grew so suddenly she almost threw up from the darkness it brought her. Her eyes grew dark for a second and she stumbled back. She could swear that she felt him behind her, holding her up, but when she turned, he was gone. But she did know to go up. Up towards Gryffindor tower.

Wrapped snugly in the blanket her mother had made for her when she was younger, Hermione tried desperatly to sleep. There was no way she would be tired during her first classes. There was just no way! Every so often she would drift off, only to jerk herself back to reality. Why wouldn't her body let her sleep?

Suddenly there was a swooping noise, much like the wings of an owl magnified tenfold. Hermione heard a scraping on rock and the sound of covers moving rapidly, and finally, the last assurance that she was not dreaming, Lavender exclaimed, "Monster!"

Hermione's eyes shot open and she saw what appeared to be a hybrid between a woman in a black catsuit and a giant butterfly standing on the ledge of the window over Lavender's bed, staring at Rei who had just rushed in from somewhere. The girl shrieked again and ran out of the room, Parvati following suit. Hermione jumped up as well but the woman flew over to the door and struck her backwards.

"Hermione!" Usagi exclaimed. She jumped out of her bed and joined Rei.

"Hey!" Chibiusa yelled from the other side of the door. She burst in, causing the strange creature to fall forward onto Hermione. Hermione's mind froze, she didn't know what to do, she didn't even have her wand in her nightclothes. The butterfly woman drew a hand with half-foot long claws into the air, ready to strike at Hermione;s throat-

"Oh no you don't!" Haruka shouted, entering suddenly and throwing her body, elbow-first, at the creature, who flew back with the impact.

"I don't know if I can..." Usagi said suddenly, looking at the small item in her hand.

"You can! You have to!" Chibiusa shouted. She herself raised a small item into the air.

"Believe in yourself, Usagi!" Haruka exclaimed. Hermione stared at the temporary immobile beast, why were these girls not running? Suddenly, the girls raised their items to the air and shouted to the heavens,

"Moon Eternal..."

"Mars Crystal Power..."

"Uranus Crystal Power..."

"Chibi Moon Eternal..."

"Make up!"

There was a flash that happened in an instant, and once it subsided, Hermione saw that Usagi had transformed...into the very person she idolized, Sailor Moon!

"You!" Usagi, no, Sailor Moon addressed the creature who had found its legs again. "You attacked us right when we were going to sleep! On behalf of girls needing their beauty sleep, we...wait..."

"Sailor Moon, there's no time to rethink this-" Rei, also in similar uniform, growled.

"No, this is a youma!" Sailor Moon exclaimed. "You're Papillon!"

"The youma that you and Sailor Venus fought?" Rei exclaimed.

"And healed!" Sailor Moon cried.

"This is a monster you fought previously?" Haruka, in a sailor uniform of blue, asked. Sailor Moon did not have time to answer, as the creature charged at them, its arm a sharp blade. The girls jumped out of the way, the creature's razor-sharp appendage lodging itself in a bed.

"Maybe I'm wrong." Sailor Moon said. "Anyway, I'm Sailor Moon-"

"Sailor Mars!" Rei introduced herself.

"Sailor Uranus," Haruka said gruffly,

"And Sailor Chibi Moon!" Chibiusa said.

"...and we will punish you!" Sailor Moon finished as Papillon stood up. The creature either did not understand or care what the four girls had to say, as she caged recklessly at them again, right at Hermione. She locked her eyes on the paralyzed girl's and lunged forward, her sythe-like arm burying itself in the very top of Hermione's shoulder. He young girl screamed and everything before her went black, though she could feel everything. It was as if her very energy was being depeleated at a rapid rate. At this rate, even with such a small wound, she could very well die within minutes.

Hermione felt hot tears on her face, the only thing she could feel that wasn't numb or painful. She could hear voices, Sailor Moon's, maybe, but they were distant. It this what they meant when they said that the people close to Sailor Moon got hurt? At least...at least she got to meet her once.

"Get up."

"Who..." Hermione couldn't move her mouth, but the voice was in her head anyways.

"Get up. You have to save your new friends."

"I can't move." Hermione said. Thought.

"It's not real."

"What?"

"You're fine if you think you're fine." The voice in her head said. "And. You. Are."

"But why me?"

"Because the Moon and Mercury are aligned tonight."

"So?"

"Open your eyes."

Hermione gathered the strength to open her eyes to find white moonlight pouring over her body...and as her vision cleared, the youma now on the other side of the room being thoroughly pummeled by Sailor Uranus, she could see it out the window! Mercury and the moon aligned! But this wasn't right, something was happening. A small light was creating itself in front of Mercury...then a beam hit Hermione in the chest, a sort of blue-ness surrounding her like ribbons.

"No..." Sailor Moon said, astounded, as she turned away to look at Hermione.

"It can't be! Rei said. "Not here, not in this place..."

It was like ice surrounded her for a moment, and in that moment, Hermione could see what she thought was herself...She was wearing a blue outfit quite like the others yet her bow was shorter and her crystal was not in the shape of a heart. Her hair seemed less bushy, but tinted a very odd color of blue.

As the ice dispelled and she felt all of her strength returned, Hermione's mouth opened and the words slipped out, "Sailor Chibi Mercury."

"You can't be!" Uranus exclaimed. She was then hit backwards by Papillon, who once again came towards Hermione. She grabbed her wand from the bedside table and watched as it was encased inside of a decorative pen with the symbol of Mercury. She waved it at the youma and said a spell that she didn't even know, "Gelidus Orbis!" A ribbon of ice jumped from her wand and encircled the creature, binding it and causing it some sort of pain.

"Silver Moon! Crystal Power Kiss!" Sailor Moon exclaimed, holding her white tier in front of her. There was a small eruption of light, and then Papillon was gone.

"This is..." Sailor Uranus spoke after a moment of silence. "We need to tell Dumbledore."

"Are you guys okay?" A voice shouted. Seiya ran in, followed shortly by Professor Meioh. They both stared at Hermione and her odd costume. They could see right through her, they knew who she was.

"So, wait..." Chibiusa asked. "Sailor...Chibi Mercury?"