Disclaimer: All the Harry Potter characters obviously belong to J.K Rowling. The rest are mine, thanx!

A/N: I'm mentioning it once more- slash is mentioned! Very lightly. But if any one has a problem with it , can't do much. Rest of you, hope you like it! This is my first fic, so all reviews are really helpful!

Chapter 2

"Could you guys wait for a minute? I'll get some sweets for Kero." Sakura said as she walked to the counter. Riya looked triumphantly at Tomoyo, "Pay up. I told you she wouldn't be able to resist buying the sweets." Tomoyo looked at her with narrowed eyes, "How did you know? Sakura has not bought sweets for Kero for the last two weeks" Riya's grinned widened, "Exactly, she hasn't. And since it is the start of the holidays, she decided its ok to indulge him."

Li cocked his eyebrow, "You had a bet on weather or not Sakura would buy sweets for Kero?" Two heads nodded warily. Li had a reputation of being incredibly protective about Sakura. He glared at them, "Next time inform me about it. I want to place my bets." Riya didn't bother hiding her surprise; "You are going to place bets on something involving your girlfriend? Li shrugged, "It is quite funny and I always wanted to bet on this. I'll tell Sakura once she comes back." "Awww that's cute. ", replied Tomoyo, "You almost never meet guys that are so honest. Li, I'm proud of you." Li looked like he wanted to sink through earth. "Forget about it," he muttered.

Sakura came in time to see a red faced Li glaring while the other two tried to control their laughter at his expression. Sakura looked around in surprise, "What's going on?" "We were just talking about how we had bet on weather or not you were going to buy sweets for Kero." replied Riya. Li shot her a grateful look. A pause. Sakura sighed ruefully, "I suppose I would have placed my bets, had it been someone else."

Riya patted Li on the shoulder, "There. All done." Li rolled his eyes, as slung his bag over his shoulder, "I have to go now. Football practice in twenty minutes." Giving Sakura a kiss, he walked off in the opposite direction.

Night was coming upon them quickly. Sakura, Tomoyo and Riya walked quietly, looking at the pink-purple sky, puffy clouds scattered everywhere. There was hardly anyone else on the road. But none of the three were worried. They had done this before. And then it happened.

It sounded like a car backfiring. Three heads peered into the alley. It was a small side road that ran along three-quarters of the perimeter of the park. Because of this, it was a winding road, with a few blind corners. Tomoyo walked into the alley, looking around, "I don't see a car." Sakura followed her friend, nervously, "I don't think we should be here." She looked at Riya, who was walking beside her, her stance alert. "What's wrong?", asked Sakura. Riya shook her head, looking reluctant to open her mouth.

Suddenly something in black, rushed past them, pushing Tomoyo in the process. "Owww!" exclaimed Tomoyo as she landed on the pavement. Her friends rushed to her. "Are you alright?" asked Riya, her concern evident. "Yeah," replied Tomoyo, "A hard landing, that's all. Who was that?" Riya scanned the area systematically. "No idea. But I think we should leave." Sakura nodded, "Definitely agree. As soon as possible." She looked at Tomoyo, "Are you able to walk?" Tomoyo nodded. Sakura and Riya helped Tomoyo to get up. But before they could start walking away, a cold, harsh, rasping voice came up.

"Where is he?"

There were two of them. Tall, dressed in what could be called robes, they started shuffling towards the group. Tomoyo took a few instinctive steps backwards. A white mask covered their faces and each held a pointy wooden stick.

"We don't know," replied Sakura shrugging her shoulders casually.

Under other circumstances, Riya would have laughed. The robes, the stick that couldn't even stab anyone. But her instincts were running amok. When it came to such situations, Riya gave a lot of credence to her instincts, just as she was trained to do. And right now her instincts were telling that the seemingly inconsequential piece of wood had the potential to do great damage. Knowing that Sakura would be getting ready to fight, Riya looked at her. Just in time. Sakura was just about to take the necklace out, when she saw Riya looking at her warningly.

The three friends took a few steps back. This brought a smile on the voice of the shorter one. "Well," he leered, "look at you. Never thought they made Mudbloods as pretty as you." The taller one walked a few paces ahead, stopping in front of Tomoyo, who seemed frozen in place. He trailed the stick down the side of her face, "Scared, are you?" he said in a soft voice. "That's alright love. You should be scared. I'm very dangerous." Riya resisted the urge to roll her eyes, since Tomoyo could be in grave danger. The man continued, "Besides, pretty thing like you are so much more…appetizing like this." The shorter man gave a creepy giggle. And Riya acted.

Using her feet, Riya pushed the man away from Tomoyo. The other man stopped giggling and looked at her, confused. She brought her elbow against his face and heard the satisfying crack of bone breaking. The taller man came towards her in rage. Riya smirked. Men could be so predictable. She had realized that rather than physical strength, these men were relying on those sticks. The man snarled, "You'll regret that, you bitch." He pointed the stick at her. Riya looked on, unimpressed "I don't think so."

These weren't even going to last five minutes. But that was okay in this instance. She wanted them to get lost as soon as possible. The man stared back, bewildered. By now all the mudbloods were either quivering in fear or begging for their pathetic lives. This one looked at indifference, mixed with mild annoyance. This agitated him even more. He charged towards her. Riya took hold of the hand clutching the stick, brought it around with a snap. The smaller man, who looked like he had a broken nose and a few broken teeth, pulled the other man who was looking at his broken wrist with horror and they both disappeared with a pop.

The three friends looked at each other in silence. Tomoyo shuddered, "Well, that was creepy. That man…yuck." Sakura gave a small smile, "That's one way of putting it." She looked at Riya puzzled. "Why didn't you let me use the Clow Cards? Or for that reason, why didn't you use your powers?" Blue eyes met green. "I had a feeling that we shouldn't have let them seen that we possess magical powers. Just trust me on this."

Sakura nodded. Sometimes it was just simpler to accept the suggestions Riya gave them. She had an eerie sixth sense about such things. And things worked out for them in the end. Usually. Tomoyo dusted off her clothes, "So what next?"

Sakura shrugged, "We call Eriol."

He was stunning to look at. Tall, lean, muscled with forest green eyes, dirty blonde hair that fell messily over his forehead, he was every woman fantasy. And currently, he was sitting in a corner of the room, sulking.

The room was large, airy, and full of light, its architecture odd for this part of the world. Its arches and vaulted ceiling were reminiscent of European cathedrals, giving a few hints about the origins of the occupants of the room. The other man sat in the opposite corner. Unlike the man sulking in the corner, who only wore some sort of loose cotton trousers, he was in jeans and shirt. He wasn't as stunning as the other man, his eyes a gentle blue, his features more delicate than his other half. His hair was a fairly tamed brown, with highlights of pale gold and black intermingling without clashing or attracting attention about the strangeness of it. On the whole, his appearance belied his reputation as one of the deadliest.

He watched the pouting man with amusement. He called this Gabriel's 'brat mode'. Usually an easygoing person, some days Gabriel woke up to be irritated by the smallest things. Like how someone was five minutes late. Walking over to his mate, Michael rolled his eyes. "Will you relax? There must be a reason for Riya to be late. She can be even more obsessive compulsive about timings than you." Gabriel glared at his lover, before sighing. "It isn't like her."

Michael smiled at his mate's obvious concern. It was about four years ago, when Eriol H had brought Riya from London with him. At that point they weren't in the picture. An orphan almost all her life, Riya had caught Eriol's eye because of her magical signature. Brought up in Britain by the Clow incarnate's guardians, Riya remained in UK, even when Eriol had left for Japan for a few brief months. When she became, Eriol brought her to Japan, where Li Syaoran's family adopted her. For the first time Riya had family and friends, who knew who she was and helped her.

It was perhaps a few months after Riya's arrival when their clan had to ally themselves with the Cardcaptor and her friends. Gabriel, who usually warmed up to people very, very slowly, took a liking to Riya within a few hours. Even he did. After the incident, Gabriel had a thought that would have turned a few heads- he wanted to train Riya. And Michael wholeheartedly agreed to help him with the training. Their clan was the most supreme in the world when it came to fighting techniques, even though they were peaceful. Clans mentored less than a handful in a millennium. And here were two who would take a single student, a human. And not only were they the best fighters, one was the prince and the other his mate. But before Gabriel and Michael could voice their thoughts, Riya's identity was discovered. And the vampire clan asked Li's grandfather for the opportunity to train Riya.

And now, four years later Riya was considered a formidable warrior even within the vampire clan circles. And while she was well known in the powerful vampire clans of Asia and Europe, (incidentally their clan was the most powerful in Asia and many of the clan members were European including, Gabriel and Michael) her existence was kept a secret from others magical species.

The familiar, purposeful footsteps broke the couple's reverie. Gabriel immediately brightened up, a speculative smile coming alive on his face. Michael smiled the sudden transformation. Riya walked in, absently brushing her hair back and smiling at them as she did so. Her hair was held back in a simple ponytail and was dressed in baggy jeans and a slightly loose T-shirt. Gabriel smirked, "This is the first time in three years you are late." Riya gave an absent smile in response. Usually when someone tried to annoy Riya too much or even once depending in her mood, they ended up with sharp, scathing retorts. Michael's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"

Riya smiled, "Don't miss much, do you? I had to stop at Sakura's house to check something. Eriol is arriving tomorrow." Gabriel cocked his eyebrow, "Why?" Riya shrugged, "Yesterday we ran into some men who tried to attack us with some sticks." As the vampires' faces paled and a dangerously angry expression came into their eyes, shrewd blue eyes looked at them piercingly, "You wouldn't know anything about it, would you?" As they remained silent and hesitant, Riya smiled, "Don't tell me. I already have my suspicions and I will ask you later for confirmation. In the meantime, don't do anything or have anyone do anything." Smirking at the two sets of innocent eyes, Riya continued, "That doesn't work on me. I have seen you do for the last four years."

Gabriel rolled his eyes, "Fine, we won't do anything. But you have to tell us whatever you are going to get up to. We have to know." Riya unsheathed one of the swords, throwing it over to Gabriel, who caught it easily. "Fine," she said, not questioning the urgency in his voice, "it's a deal. Now, shall we begin? Lets see if I can kick your-"

Gabriel broke in, "No need to go on, I know what you are going to say. Thank you for offer, darling, but I am a happily mated vampire and only person who has any right to do anything to my arse is Michael. You understand, don't you?"

"Shut up, you dirty minded idiot!"

They had all assembled in Tomoyo's living room. It was big enough to accommodate everyone and no one would disturb them. Their excuse was an impromptu sleepover in which even Li was invited. While a few suspicious eyebrows were raised in the Kinomoto household, Sakura had been given permission.

Everyone was sitting silently, all lost in their own thoughts. Sakura and Li were sitting on a couch, Sakura looking contemplative and Li looking worried. Kero sat in a corner quietly eating some pastries. Riya sat in an armchair, her eyes looking as they were seeing far away. Next to her was Yue, leaning casually against the wall, his eye briefly resting on the two girls, once in a while. Tomoyo had gone to find some more pastries on Kero's request (in Sakura's words demand).

Everyone was jolted back to the real world as the door creaked gently. Tomoyo stood in the doorway, holding a tray laden with pastries and grinning. "Hey guys. Guess who I found on my way back." She stepped aside to let occupants of the room gaze at a familiar, lanky, blue haired figure. Riya smiled, "Its good to have you back, Eriol."

The stars were out, noted Sakura. It had been evening when Eriol had arrived. After all the greetings, the incident had been told a few minutes ago. Eriol was sitting quietly, lost in thought. Everyone sat expectantly for an answer, including her.

As the silence in the room became unbearable, Riya sighed. "Were they wizards?" she asked bluntly. Everyone looked at her in surprise. Eriol gave a faint smile, "I hadn't realized how varied your education with the vampires was." Riya smirked, her suspicions apparently confirmed, "It was the sticks." "Wands", Eriol corrected.

"Are either of you going to explain your conversation to us?" snapped Li. Eriol nodded, "Of course, my little descendent." Li closed his eyes in exasperation. Eriol looked at Sakura, "the individuals whom you encountered are known as wizards." Tomoyo frowned, "How did Riya know about them?" Riya shrugged, "As Eriol said, my private education is …varied. Anyway they are humans with magical powers."

Sakura looked at Eriol, "They are like us?" Eriol shook his head, "No. You and Li can loosely be classified as sorcerers. Wizards are less powerful than sorcerers. Even the powerful ones will only perhaps match a low level sorcerer. Also they use wands to concentrate their magical energy, which is only of the most basic mediums. What they have on their side are the numbers."

"If there are so many of them, why haven't we seen any?" asked Kero. "They are mostly concentrated in Europe, North America. There just aren't that many in this part of the world" replied Eriol, " And they tend to live away from non-wizards. Whatever wizards are here in Japan, they are not seen often." "They have their own community which lives in secret." elaborated Riya, "I suppose their policy is 'Live and let live."

"Actually, they are quite unaware of other types of magic existing," interjected Eriol, "What they do know, they are not aware of its full potential. In fact, for them, wizarding magic is the most powerful and the only one worth mentioning."

"So they don't realize that sorcerers exist?" asked Tomoyo. "Only perhaps a handful. For the rest, sorcerers just exist in their legends.", replied Riya.

"How can they not realize that other magics exist?" "Because everyone makes sure of it. The ignorance gives us an advantage. The wizards have a Ministry of Magic. If they find out about us they will interfere in our affairs, something they have no knowledge about. And since there are so few of us left, despite our powers we will be cornered."

"So if they think," began Yue, "that we do not exist and they do not want to be discovered, what happened that evening?" "That would be my question too.", added Riya," My teachers never told me why wizards pop up all over the world threatening people."

All eyes landed on Eriol. A long pause followed. Eriol sighed, "About twenty years ago, there was a wizard named Lord Voldemort. He had a large amount of followers and a twisted ideology. He wanted to cleanse the world." Riya frowned, "That sounds eerily like Hitler. What did he want to get rid of?" "Muggles," replied Eriol. At the blank faces Eriol explained, "That's what wizards call the non-wizards or as they think the, non-magical people. There are many wizards and witches who have one muggle parent or a come from entirely muggle families. Voldemort wanted them to be eradicated along with rest of the muggles who had no connection with the magical world. Many wizards followed him and the others were against him. About 17-18 years ago there was a great war going on in the wizarding world. People were ending up dead, murdered. Then one day Voldemort decided to attack this family called the Potters. The husband and wife died…"

"Child of Prophecy," murmured Riya, her gaze blank. Everyone turned to look at her. She looked at Eriol, "The baby survived, didn't he?", she asked. Blue eyes narrowed. "How did you know?" asked Eriol. "I don't know," she replied discomfited at the attention, "it just came to me. When you mentioned the Potters. Go on, tell us. What happens?" His eyes still on Riya, Eriol continued, "The child survived and Voldemort disappeared. The boy was hailed as a hero, 'The Boy Who Lived'. He lived with his aunt and uncle, who hated him according to what I found out. He goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which is headed by Albus Dumbledore, a very powerful wizard.

"This was a fabulous lecture," drawled Riya, "but what is going on? Right now?"

"Two years ago, Voldemort was resurrected and their second war is stirring up."

Pin drop silence. Everyone looked lost for words. Riya laughed silently. After all, lost for words was not something you saw everyday in this group. Riya doubted it was the fact that this Voldemort (is the that even a name?) was back that had taken away their ability of speech. More likely, it was the word resurrect.

"Can these wizards raise the dead?" Li exclaimed incredulously. Eriol sighed, "Technically, he never died, but after the child survived, he was left only a wisp of his former self. Whatever magic was used to bring him back to life was so twisted to achieve the resurrection that its original purpose was destroyed. Also, most likely it would have involved a lot of pain and blood and not for Voldemort."

"So let me sum it up," began Tomoyo, "Voldemort was defeated and the wizarding world was living in peace. Two years ago he was resurrected and has started on a rampage once again. And probably a war will start once again. The thing is, are you going to do anything?"

Eriol smiled devilishly, "Actually after you told me what had happened, I started thinking." "And?", Riya looked at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes.

"I have a proposition for you."

"Two lattes and an espresso please."

It was one of the coffee shops near the city centre. People sat in groups around chrome tables which matched the café's décor. Riya, Gabriel and Michael sat in the corner of the shop. Two pairs of eyes were planted firmly on Riya.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Spill. Who were they?"

Riya quietly took a sip of her coffee. Gabriel grimaced, "How can you drink that?" Riya nodded towards his latte, "I don't know how you can drink that, but you don't see me making a hue and a cry all over it, do you?", she replied bluntly. Gabriel glared at her. Michael looked on with the neutral interest of one who had seen all this before. The corners of Riya's mouth lifted as she looked at a pair of eyes looking back at her woefully. The owner of the said pair of eyes brightened up considerably the brief smile. "You should smile more often. It makes you more approachable."

Riya rolled her eyes, "Shut up, Gabe. Besides I am approachable."

Michael shifted uncomfortably, "Not really. You see," he continued hurriedly, "you are very beautiful." At this point Riya rolled her eyes sceptically "And you can look very intimidating at times. And you have this aura in everything you do. The way you walk, the way you fight, everything. And this aura says 'Don't mess with me because I can chop you up into thousand little pieces if you cross the line. If I want."

Riya grinned, "Really? I do?"

"Oh yeah."

"Then what's the problem? This is great."

"What?"

"Yeah. Why are you complaining? You two have it. So do your mum and dad, Gabriel. And it more like 'Do not mess with us unless you want an slow painful death'."

"Yes, but it took us many, many years to cultivate that image," groused Gabriel, "And you seem to have been born with it. Bitch." Riya grin became wider at the open insult. "Plus you are too young. Wait for another two hundred years."

Riya's grin took on a touch of steel, "You are never too young."

"So," began Michael, adding a spoonful of sugar to his cup, "they were wizards?" The atmosphere around the table at once became sober. Riya sighed. As long as the words weren't spoken she could try and forget for a while about what was happening. Somewhere across the world, several people died terrible deaths and the rest lived in terror. Ordinary people who had no idea of what was going on saw their friends and loved ones die random deaths.

"Yes"

The grin faded and shoulder stood stiffer. Blue eyes usually full of amusement became cold and harsh. When Gabriel became like this even she refrained from making comments. This was not Gabriel, her teacher, but Gabriel, the leader of all the vampire clans in Asia. Gabriel's father Darius headed their clan which was the most influential in Asia. Gabriel on the other hand headed the Asian council of vampires and had the loyalty of all the clans. When Riya had first heard this, she had rolled on the floor, laughing, much to the Gabriel's chagrin and Michael's dire amusement.

Gabriel sighed, "This changes everything."

"Why?"

Gabriel moved his hand carelessly, "Because looking at you, I know you are getting involved and it comes at a time when the vampires are also making a few, brief changes in their relationships with the wizards."

"Brief changes?"

Michael shrugged, "Yes, well, at times of war tangible alliances have to be made. If Voldemort does win, he will not make trouble with vampires. But none of us want death and enslavement of millions on our conscience. So we are obviously siding with the other side. This relationship will be as brief as possible because most wizards are narrow minded and blind in their views and prejudices. And annoying. Very annoying. Although that has been my personal opinion to date. Remember the 'most', just in case you do meet up with a few nice ones."

During this time Gabriel was looking at Riya with renewed interest. "What are you kids up to?"

Riya looked at him blankly, "What are you talking about?"

Gabriel waggled his finger, "Don't give me that look. I have seen you all through your adolescence. I know all your looks. And I know you are going to get involved. And I want you to tell me what you are going to do."

Riya gave a strange, cherubic smile, "It's nothing, really." At the continued glare of two men, Riya shrugged, "We, as in Sakura and me, are going on a little trip. That's all."

Even Michael looked suspicious, "Where are you off to?"

"Hogwarts."

"WHAT?"

"So you've heard of the place then."

"RIYA!"