Author's Note: I am so sorry for not updating for so long! It's not my FAULT! (points accusingly at no one) Anyway, I have a three-week holiday so I intend to finish as much as I could. And this is what I could finish for now. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Another Boring Day

The warmth of the rays from the window covered the comfortable room and the figure in the bed, who continued to slumber and cuddle in the thick, fluffy blanket. A small peck poked the sleeping figure, who merely grumbled in response.

"Five more minutes…" She muttered, sinking her head deeper to the comfort of her pillow. The poking continued, harder and harder each time.

"Uh!" Her hand snapped at whatever was poking her before turning around and slept again. Feeling exasperated, the owl gave a hard bite at her hand.

"EEP!" Umi squeaked, sitting up immediately, looking at the swollen part of her hand. As she gave it a light rub, her gaze turned to the mischievous owl, glaring as it took off with satisfaction.

"YUME!" Umi threw her pillow to the owl who dodged it easily, giving her owner a playful glance. Umi grumbled as she threw the blanket aside and stood up, stretching to rid of the stiffness in her muscles. After a quick shower and changed into a clean white, elbow-sleeved shirt and blue skirt, and not forgetting her jeweled glove, she stepped downstairs to the center room.

Ascot was already there, sitting on a plush navy sofa in front of the unlit fireplace, deeply absorbed in a thick leather book. Umi noticed that and silently paced to the back of the sofa, looking over his shoulders, who still didn't realize her presence.

"Love potion?" She suddenly spoke up.

"!" Ascot practically jumped a foot and edged to the other side of the sofa lightning fast before hiding the book behind his back and blushing furiously.

"What's that for?" She smiled cluelessly. He just shook his head vigorously before breaking into a series of rambles. "Studying?" He nodded, keeping his eyes hidden behind his bangs. Umi just shrugged it off and walked to the rows and rows of bookshelves on the other side of the room, browsing through each book.

She picked out a not-as-thick leather bound book with the words 'Enchantments for the Advanced' printed in gold letters. Her fingers flipped to some pages of the book before slamming it shut and placed it back to its original position. She turned around to show the swirls in her eyes.

"Well, that's that. Let's go!" Ascot sweat dropped, following Umi out of the room.

The halls were empty and quiet except for the chatters of the paintings and portraits, moving to each other's frames, gossiping of the latest news.

"Where do we go now?" Umi pointed to the directions; which were right, left, or the shifting stairs that seem to lead everywhere.

"Breakfast is at the Great Hall," Ascot said, pointing to the down stairs. And so they traveled down the stairs that changed to a complete different direction after they stepped on it. After many turnings and ups and downs, they reached yet another…

"Dead end…" Umi sighed, leaning against the wall to hold herself together. Ascot looked if not more flustered than she was. "Any ideas?"

"I guess we just have to keep moving on." He sighed and started walking, less than enthusiastic with the fact that he could do nothing to help.

He was too deep in his thoughts that he bumped into something large. Ascot shifted his gaze as he stared wide-eyed at the person in front of him, who is possibly the largest being he had ever seen. Umi wasted no time in staring at the man twice as tall as she was and 5 times as wide, with grizzly beard as wild as his appearance.

"What ar' yeh two doin' back here?" The giant grumbled, though kindly.

"Umm… W, we were lost…" Umi said, though still recovering.

"I suppose yer that knight Dumbledore told us about," he smiled, though not very visible through all those beard.

"Um, yeah… and you are?" Umi continued, feeling somewhat strange about the conversation.

"Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts," he said. "Now what are we standin' around here for? Dumbledore asked for me to fetch yeh." Umi and Ascot nodded, following the giant. An awkward silence followed them, well at least for the two, Hagrid was humming merrily.

The party arrived in front of a large door, where Hagrid pushed open, revealing an enormous room with no ceilings, or at least that's what she thought, for it resembled the outside sky. Sitting in the middle of the room was a long table with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.

"Found them Professor! Lost, they said." Hagrid boomed good-naturedly.

"I can see that," said Dumbledore kindly, his eyes twinkling behind the half-moon spectacle. "Take a seat! It would be unnatural to not be famished after all the excitement."

The two took seat immediately, realizing the emptiness of their stomach. Umi's eyes widened as she saw dishes after dishes spread across the table next to glittering golden plates and goblets, with all the food and so few people there, she wondered.

"Is there other people coming?"

"No, I don't believe so," Dumbledore smiled, helping himself to hand full of porridge.

"Oh," Umi breathed, taking a couple of sausages, looking up into the cloud-less morning sky. "Hm… what happens when it rains?"

"Pardon?" said Dumbledore, looking up from his food. Umi pointed to the sky. "Oh, dear, no! What trouble would that bring, don't you agree?" He laughed. "The ceiling is bewitched to match the surroundings.

Umi gave a small "ooh…" but felt a warm tinge on her cheeks. She continued to bite her sausages when he spoke again.

"The start of a new term is in a couple of days, and you parents would very much like it if they see you before that."

"Oh! Right!" The thought just hit her. Thinking of her parent's reactions can be troubling, but the thought of seeming her parents again made her a great deal happier.

"Like the other students, not to create any suspicions, you both will take the train to Hogwarts. So I will arrange a meeting with you and your parents at the station." Umi merely smiled, though it was hard to hide her excitement. "But it is still a couple of days away, and so enjoy yourself, and be careful."

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall finished rather early, leaving the three with the excuse of important business. There was silence in the Hall, minus the small clinks of forks and knives against the plate. After their meal was finished, Umi leaned back on the chair, sighing, boredom taking over.

"Well," she started, "we've got a whole day ahead of us, now what?" Ascot just shrugged, not knowing the palace well enough for any suggestions.

"Hmm, there's plenty to do in the castle, the castle grounds ar' also worth going." Hagrid stroked his beard thoughtfully. Umi and Ascot decided, as they have nothing to do, might as well go. Hagrid followed behind, heading the same direction back to his hut.

"I heard yer goin' to protect the school or some sort," Hagrid said.

"Yeah, at least that's what Dumbledore said," Umi replied.

"Great man, he is, never been wrong yet," Hagrid said. "But whole idea 'bout you-know-who still among us, don't want to believe it actually, but well, never be too careful can we?"

The grounds were bathed in late morning sun, reflecting on the deep, clear lake. The party arrived in front of the grubby little hut and separate as Hagrid had some business to attend to. And so Umi and Ascot were left alone, with Umi staring into practically nothing and Ascot thanking God that he was actually there next to her. (Thank the author of this, you ungrateful palu.)

"I wonder what Hikaru and Fuu are doing right now..." Umi started, breaking the peaceful silence. Closing her eyes for a full minute, feeling the cool wind, a thought popped out.

"Hey," she smiled turning to face him, "want to fight?"

"Eh?" He gave her an odd look, if only could be seen through his bangs…

"When ever we, as in Hikaru, Fuu, and me, are bored, we take turns sparing with each other, like practice matches," she explained. "And since we are, or to be exact I am, not exactly having the best times of your life, how about it? Or… you're afraid to loose to a girl." She smirked challengingly at him.

Ascot looked a little surprised at first but returned the challenge.

"Just to warn you, Guru Clef had trained me after our first encounter, it wont be that easy to defeat me." He said with a smile.

"I did it before didn't I? And besides, you're not the only one that grew." She shrugged and they both stood up.

Walking in opposite ways, both stopped after a considerable amount of space between them. Taking their stances, Umi drew her armor and sword, gathering in her energy. After a seemingly long second, she took the first move and charge with her sword behind her. In great speed, she leaped up and brought the blade of her sword down on him, who stood still in his stance.

"Shield!" He cried, creating a barrier between them, causing her sword to crash down on the barrier instead. In a rough attempt, Umi pushed her sword in an effort to break the barrier but was thrown back to the rather hard ground as a result.

"Ah! Umi!" Ascot broke his spell and ran towards the figure on the ground and kneeled down at her level, worry clouds his eyes (If we could actually see it…). "Are you ok!"

"Ah… I…" She whispered, sitting up and looked up at him slightly, but it was too already too late when he saw the mischievous glint in her eyes. "Water Dragon!"

Before he could react, the poor palu collided with the rather large, aqua dragon, sending him off about some meters from her.

"Wow, you actually fell for it," she said, slightly surprised yet very much pleased. "I guess that just tells you never to trust your enemy, eh, Ascot-kun?" She said with a mock-ish smile but then frowned as Ascot's form was still static.

"Ascot?" She took a few steps closer and leaned in to see him clearly. Her eyes widened as she saw a smile plastered on his face. His arm shot up and before Umi can react, and well… you know what happens.

"Lightning Call!" Just as he cried that, several bolts of lightning came crashing down on the ground where she stands, wait, correction, where she stood. Luckily, thanks to her training, she was quick to evade the attack, and just in time, but before scoring some minor injuries to her used to be clean clothes.

Sitting on the ground with her newly dusty and charred clothes, Umi watched through the fading smoke as Ascot's form began to rise. As the dust fades, Umi was still on the ground, but with Ascot's figure now smiling oh so innocently to her glaring ones.

"That was a dirty trick!" She said, her brows furrowed as her gaze traveled to her clothes.

"I may say the same to you," he said, laughing lightly, holding out a hand for her to take. She took it as if by instinct and her expressions brightened.

"That was cool though, you really grew a lot stronger!" He blushed profusely at her compliment but then looked troubled at her next remark. "You also grew a great deal, Caldina said you did it for someone, who?"

"Uh, um, I…" He stuttered and cursed at the dancer's evil schemes. "Its… its just t, that… um, I…"

"It's ok if you can't tell me, if its personal that is," Umi cut through his pathetic stutters with a smile, "but if you do change your mind, I'll always be here…" His face brightened slightly thinking that she may also have the least bit interest in him. "… as a your friend."

Easy come easy go, I say. He hung his head sadly as Umi continued to watch, confused at his odd behavior but then just shrugged it off and walked back to the castle.

"Let's go, all this practice is making me hungry!" She said, already half way back while Ascot came running after her feeling rather downhearted. Oh, well…

Some stories up, within the castle walls, a certain wizard watched the pair in great amusement. His half moon spectacles twinkle as they gaze at the knight, sensing the overwhelming power within her.

"My, my, what a year this may be." He mused to himself with a bright smile.

To be continued

Mizunoyousei33: So… how was that? Not that bad right? Right? RIGHT? Answer me somebody! So please review and thanks for the previous ones! You have no idea how one review can make me so happy! (Cries and gags on account of cheesy-ness) I'm surely going to stick to this fic so don't worry if I don't write for long periods of time because I am an extremely lazy, careless, ignorant person. But at least I'm happy! Ja ne!