Author's Notes:
Another chapter, finally! Sorry it took me so long. With all the school work and laziness going in, it's a bit hard to write.Oh, and Iforgot to put the disclaimer on the first chapterso here it is; I don't own any of the Rayearth characters no matter how much I want to steal it. Well that was stupid. Aaaaaaaaanyways, enjoy!
Chapter 2: The Arrival
Umi fell with a THUD unto the hard ground in the middle of a large and quite beautiful circular room. With strange silver instruments stood on spindle legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of men and women, all of whom seem to be starring at the new visitor with curiosity.
Moving portraits? Umi thought and taken the rest of her surroundings. An enormous, claw footed desk with a shabby, battered wizards hat sitting on a shelf behind it. And also a golden perch behind the door on which a crimson bird the size of a swan watched her. With the glittering golden tail and gleaming golden talons that completed it's handsome features.
"Fawkes is a phoenix, fascinating creatures aren't they?" Umi noticed for the first time that the headmaster was there all along, chuckling, sitting behind his desk with another personsitting opposite of him, an odd expression on his face. Her cheeks warmed slightly and stood up, dusting herself. "Their tears have healing powers and they make a highly faithful pet." He said, but Umi just stared with her head shifted slightly to the side.
"Nani?" She asked in her native tongue. Dumbledore looked up in surprise but dispersed into a chuckle.
"Of course," he took out his wand and gave it a casual flick. Right at that moment, Umi felt her throat warm for a mere second before it faded.
"Eh? What happened?" She then noticed the change in her voice. "Eh! I'm speaking English!"
"Yes, you are." Dumbledore said with an amused expression. "Why don't you take a seat. Standing can be quite tiresome." Umi obeyed right away and sank into a very comfortable chintz armchair.
"Well, as you can see, you have been summoned here to aid this school as a guardian. Which means to protect this school from any means of danger-"Dumbledore was then cut off by the man sitting in the chair beside Umi.
"Please, Dumbledore, is this necessary?" He said. "I mean, all this none sense you said about He-who-must-not-be-named still alive and such. And putting yourself into much trouble with these kind of things you yourself aren't sure of?"
"But on contraire," He replied kindly, "extra precautions are needed. But of course, it is only a believe that Voldemort may still be alive." The other man flinched at the sound of the name. "Though usually my guesses are correct." The other sighed in defeat.
"Whatever you wish."
"Excellent," Dumbledore beamed and turned back to Umi, "this is Cornelius Fudge, the minister of magic." He turned to Fudge once more. "And this is Umi Ryuuzaki, who I believe is the magic knight of water."
"Yes, well," Fudge waved it off, not caring much and searched his pockets until he found a scroll. "The Ministry of Magic here agrees to allow Umi Ryuuzaki to stay in Hogwarts as a guard and the use magic at all times, though not abuse it." He handed the scroll to her, which she took with no hesitation.
"Of course, the ministry has taken care of notifying your parents of your stay here and your adventures of your previous year." Umi's jaw dropped.
"Everything?" She asked nervously, thinking how her parents will take the fact that she visited and saved fantasy-like world.
"Well that settles that, do you understand?" Dumbledore smiled, ignoring Umi's last question, who just nodded.
"Well then, I do have some business to attend to, so I'll just be off. Good day." Fudge said and left.
"I am sure you know what you are supposed to do?" Dumbledore asked kindly. Umi raised a hand.
"Who's Vol-do-mord?"
"Yes, I was getting to that… Voldermort," He corrected, "was and probably still is a powerful dark wizard. He caused a lot of chaos 11 years ago, and now I believe he's still alive and avenging the one who turned him to what he is, Harry Potter."
"Harry… who?"
"Harry Potter, the boy who survived after the attack, and is foretold the only one who could kill Voldemort once and for all told in a prophecy. Your duty is to protect and help him stay out of trouble." Silence, Umi nodded understandingly.
"And also… in this school there is an item of value, a very valuable item called the Sorcerer's Stone, a stone that can turn everything into gold and into an elixir of life, which could be Voldemort's target. It is hidden in the room on third floor corridor, guarded by a three-headed dog. This information is known by the teachers, but none of the students must know"
"I understand… but… how about Hikaru and Fuu?"
"Your friends are also protecting the other schools for its item of value, and before I forget…" Dumbledore searched his pockets and took out a turquoise oval gem. "The Master Mage wished me to give this to you, he said it would allow you to communicate to your companions through your jeweled glove."
Umi took the gem in her palm, watching it flicker from the light. She brought the tip of the gem to her jeweled glove and, to her surprise, it shone bright blue. The gem was absorbed into the jewel and disappeared. Umi waited but nothing else happened.
"Clef also told me that it would do have a special effect when one of you are trying to contact one another."
"Like a phone," Umi mused, tapping her finger to the jewel. Just then something hit her. "Oh! This is a school… So how about the supplies I'm supposed to have?"
"Not to worry," Dumbledore said, "The supplies will be brought to you as a payment for your assistant, and we also provide you with some pocket money. And also…" He flicked his wand and the window opened, letting in a silver blur. A silver owl landed on Dumbledore's desk and hooted.
"She is our gift for you, I thought it may help you on your journey." The owl jumped to Umi's seat's armrest, allowing her to pet it.
"Thank you! She's beautiful!" Umi said happily, stroking the silver silky feathers of the owl.
"But, you will also others who will help you on your journey," he said, though Umi was too preoccupied with the owl she looked up after a while with a 'what?' look.
"It's late, don't you think?" Dumbledore said, "you have an awfully long week ahead of you, so off with you." Umi look confused and jumped when someone suddenly appeared next to her.
"Take her to the extra room, Minerva." A strict looking woman nodded and turned to Umi, who look alarmed at the stare.
"Come on," she said and walked towards the door. Umi gave a quick bow to Dumbledore before hurrying off.
The two headed off through the many stone halls, passing through moving paintings and staircases before they reached a polished mahogany door with bronze handle.
"This is the room you will stay in," the woman said. "Breakfast would be at the Great Hall and no leaving the room past 10 o'clock."
"Right… thank you… um, ma'am." Umi smiled hesitantly.
"Its Professor McGonagall," she said briskly and turned to leave, leaving Umi standing there alone.
"Alright then…" Umi spoke after a second and turned to the door. She turned the cool handle and stepped inside quitely. She had thought the room to be no different than a hotel but it was 100 more superior.
Inside was a large room, quite like a living room, with comfortable couches and armchairs, a coffee table, and a large fireplace with a warm fire blazing within it. Bookshelves lined the rest of the room with beanbag chairs scattered around. The room was magnificent.
She was too absorbed in the interior of the room that she didn't realize that she was not alone. Her gaze finally locked to another person in the room, looking through the many books in the shelves.
"Ascot?" She whispered, "Ascot!" The brown-haired boy turned in surprise and blushed as Umi ran up to him. "What are you doing here?"
"Umi!" He stuttered as Umi looked up to him. "Um… Clef… I mean… Aaah!" He gave up, the way Umi looked at him made his insides flutter. He took a deep breath.
"ClefwantedFrio,Lantis,andmetohelpandsendushere!" (figure the sentence yourself, hehe) He said in one breath. Umi merely blinked but then smiled.
"That's great!" She beamed, "I was worried that I have to do this all alone, I have a friend with me!" Ascot cringed at the word 'friend', whether he was happy she considered him friend or that he was only a friend to her, I have no clue. But still, blush, blush, blush.
Umi looked up in confusion at his silence and noticed that he wasn't wearing his normal white and green clothes. He had on a long-sleeved, black turtleneck and baggy black pants. (I personally think it would look REALLY good on him) Although the clothes looked strange on him, it was a perfect fit (I mean it looks good, not size).
"Nice clothes," Umi started, still looking at his clothes.
"Uh, thank you." Ascot blushed still (when does he not? It's so cute!), "it feels a bit awkward though…"
"No, no! It looks perfect!" Umi smiled her 'charming' smile. Ascot kept his bangs covering his eyes and mumbled.
"Oh! That reminds me! I didn't bring any clothes for here!"
"Uh, I'm pretty sure that some of your things are already here," Ascot said, losing the blush. "That's where I got mine."
"Hm?" Ascot pointed to two spiral staircases that lead to a room each.
"The left is my room, so I think your room is the other one."
"Thanks!" Umi turned to the staircase on the right, "Good night then!" She said and hurry to her room. Ascot watched her leave and went to the left staircase, trying to shake the memories of her smile and the fact that they would stay together for a quite period.
In her room, Umi jumped to a queen sized bed and looked around the beige walls and polished side table and wardrobe. Her owl was already there, waiting, at an owl post. Her bags put aside neatly on one side, though her clothes were already placed in the wardrobe. The owl hooted sleepily and Umi yawned. But then she felt a strange sensation on her right hand, as if it was dipped in icy water. She noticed that her jeweled glove was flashing slightly. She tapped the jewel and two circular holograms appeared.
"UMI-chan!" Hikaru's voice shouted. Umi was practically 2 feet away from where she had stand.
"Hikaru, Fuu!" Umi cried when she regained her composure.
"Hello," Fuu smiled, looking somewhat flushed.
"Fuu, why are you all red?" Hiaru wondered.
"A certain prince of your there also, huh?" Umi grinned, causing Fuu to turn beet red.
"Um, no, I mean… yes but didn't Clef sent Lantis and Ascot also?" She stuttered, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah!" Hikaru cried, "Lantis is here also, we're going to have so much fun! It is really cool here!"
"Yes, it is quite beautiful," Fuu said, losing the blush.
"Yeah, it is," Umi smiled. They chatted a while until…
"FUU!" An echo was heard from a distant.
"Ferio!" Fuu looked away from the communicator.
"What are you doing? We weren't done with the-"
"Good night!" Fuu, blushing furiously, cut off quickly and one of the holograms disappeared.
"Looks like Fuu'shaving lots of fun there," Umi sweatdropped.
"Are they playing a game?" Hikaru asked with her cat ears out.
"…" Umi sighed, "Well I got to go also, night Hikaru."
"Night, Umi!" The light from the jewel dispersed with Umi looking at it with a smile. She let herself fall backwards and felt a sudden sleepiness. She turned to her new friend and yawned.
"Good night…" She stared the owl for a few seconds, which the owl was staring back with blue-gold eyes. "…Yume." She decided and drifted off to sleep.
to be continued
Mizunoyousei33: hope that's long enough…. The next chapter might also take a while, hopefully not. Ah, well… Reviews please!