Harry Potter and the Collided Worlds

by Sokai

Every story has a beginning, and this one isn't any different. 'Certain' letters addressed from a 'certain' school are arriving to two sets of 'certain' girls . . . while a 'certain' fated hero collects his thoughts within preparation for his final year at said 'certain school. . . .'

5. Chapter 4

Chapter 4: New Class; New Professors; New Emotions

By: Sokai

Disclaimer: To be short and frank, I do not nor will I (sadly) ever own the great workings of Harry Potter, Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon, or W.I.T.C.H. I'm not that talented. I am, however, talented enough to manage to concoct this chaotic fanfic combining all three worlds, and manage to make it all look good/easy, owning the storyline and any new spells or attacks I might create (although, clearly having been inspired by said series/book). So, alas, I dare you not to enjoy this undoubtedly bumpy ride alongside me! Ha! Okay, okay; I'll shut up now, especially since this wasn't short OR frank. HeHe Still . . . enjoy reading (AND leaving massive reviews!).

Note: Yes, yes, I know: "WHERE'VE you been! It's about TIME you update!" I am sorry! I am! But life has been so busy! Work, work, blippin' work:Cries: PLUS, editing ONLY takes a gazillion years to conduct (well, if you're truly serious about it, anyhow), and anything worth doing is worth doing right, right:)

Oh, well! Anyway, thanks so much to everyone who've contributed to the 25 reviews I've gotten so far (Wish it would have been more by now . . . sniff LoL) for this story, and the growing fanbase I have accumulated since its "debut." :Dances:

So yeah, not much to say about this episode, except it's chapter 4, it's mine, I wrote it, and it's kinda long but not really. LoL Have fun! AND REVIEW! )

This episode was created/written in August 2005.

When Harry had awoken the next morning for breakfast (purposely early so that he could avoid the bombardment of questions from his roommates about his behavior last night at the feast), to say that his mood was dolorous would have constituted as a critical understatement.

He felt positively no joy coursing within his heart; there was merely vexing resentment, hatred, and an ultimate betrayal of his heart surging through his veins. How could it have led him so far astray and allowed him to make such a fool hardy mistake like that? Harry immediately tried to rationalize his unfortunate befouling, going back to his initial thought that it had all indeed been some sort of crazy sleeping vision that Hotaru Tomoe had not been sorted into Slytherin last night. However, Harry then quickly returned back to reality and dismally recalled that he truly led a cursed, sort of life.

Despite that, though, for no more than a nanosecond (although a second nonetheless), Harry had found himself regretting the memory of his pleading and asking the Sorting Hat not to place him in Slytherin as it had wanted to in his first year. He would undoubtedly despise Malfoy, without question; however, he would have at least been with Hotaru . . .

No. No, this was all utterly, and completely wrong.

Regardless, what was done was done, and Harry would simply just have to live with it. Hotaru was now here at Hogwarts for the entire year, in the house he loathed the most, and she was clearly just as heartless and cruel as the rest of them to have been placed within it.

And Harry could no more be with someone like that, than he would ever call Lord Voldemort a close friend of his.

It was decided: today would mark the first of many that Harry would promptly ignore and keep his distance from the young Egyptian woman.

At least all of this happened before anything could grow deeper, Harry thought to himself, crestfallen while walking into the empty Great Hall, the sun just barely beginning to rise.

Too busy with his own dwellings, Harry did not notice the lone figure of a young woman sitting in the far corner of the Slytherin table, placidly reading a book.

Looking idly over the novel, spotting him first, the woman closed it and slowly arose from her spot to leave, however decidedly executed a U-turn instead to head towards him at the last minute.

". . . Fancy seeing you here; how are you?"

Instantly tensing up at the sound of a voice, thinking he was alone (and at the one voice he readily recognized and had absolutely no desire to converse with at that given moment), Harry gritted his teeth before turning around in his seat at the Gryffindor table.

Remember, Harry -- do not show your disappointment; it's precisely what she craves so that she can have the chance to ridicule you, he silently coached, clearing his throat as a forced, disinterested scowl played across his face.

"Oh. It's you. Is there something I can help you with?"

Harry watched as the former object of his affection snappily look taken aback by his abrupt and rude response.

For a moment he felt his hardened barrier began to melt away, while he stared into her mesmerizing violet gems; however, he quickly remembered she was now more or less the enemy, and cold remarks (as well as rude behavior) was the only thing she and her other Slytherin house mates were accustomed to.

Hotaru, still reflecting a bit of justified indignation and disheartenment within her eyes, steadily returned the harsh glower that the young man before her was currently throwing her way.

Harry momentarily thought to himself that, had this been some kind of staring contest (or if looks could kill), he would have lost miserably, and then be promptly rushed off to the all too familiar Hospital Wing, barely clinging to life.

"Oh, then I am sorry. For a second there, I thought that I was conversing with the same, assumably kind individual I'd met back in Diagon Alley; however, it appears as though I was gravely mistaken. Perhaps I'll just go then," said Hotaru, her words icy and short, chilling Harry to the core and making him wish more than anything to go back in time to stop this twisted disaster from happening.

Before his heart could undo him and proceed to do all of the talking for him, Harry's head timely took care of things.

". . . Well, no one asked you to go out of your way to come talk to me, now did they? No. So, why don't you get lost and never do it again, huh, Tomoe?"

Not wishing to gaze upon whatever righteously surprised or angry expression that might have crept upon the beautiful dark mistress' face just then, Harry speedily stood and left the Great Hall before Hotaru could.

He headed swiftly towards the direction of his first class, hoping to seize the opportunity to clear his head for a little while.

I don't know how much more of this I can take! It took just all about of my energy to keep from cracking and stopping myself from being such an uncharacteristically awful pratt to Hotaru, thought Harry's broken heart, so to speak, while making his way closer to his classroom for momentary solitude.

Perhaps, but it was either that, or let her break your heart more than she already has, mate; think of it as "being cruel to be kind." Besides, she doesn't even care, anyway! She's probably going to find her new "boy-toy," Malfoy right this second to have a good laugh at your expense, knowing that she got to you at all! It will take a lot more than some silly girl to unravel you like this; FORGET ABOUT HER! scolded Harry's ironclad head, causing him to rub it gingerly as a light headache came on.

. . . Maybe . . . But, if I had to be "unraveled" by "some silly girl . . ." I still wish it could have been by her . . . groaned Harry's throbbing heart, as he at last reached his destination and sat down upon the cold ground outside of the classroom door, where he remained until it began an hour and a half later.

YYYYYYYYY

Their first breakfast within the walls of Hogwarts had truly been a sight to behold for both the Sailor Senshi and the Guardians of the Veil, as never had they seen so many different dishes to choose from for just one breakfast sitting (save their tantalizing experience at the Sorting Hat Ceremony feast the previous night, of course, which had left them all immensely full and sedated).

It would have been all the more enjoyable for the few sorted into Gryffindor, had Hermione stopped eyeing their filled up plates and muttered something about "unfair elf practices and exploitation" every so often.

Meanwhile, it was all Cornelia could do to keep from not leaving the table, as she had grown more and more uncomfortable from all of the inexplicable doe-eyed stares from the boy named Neville, who chose to sit conveniently two seats diagonally across from her.

She eventually took her mind off of her discomfort by choosing to focus her attention (alongside a very sleepy Irma, and unusually chatty Will) upon Usagi and Rei, who both barely touched their food (to which Cornelia honestly found strange -- at least in regards to Usagi, as Cornelia had learned quite fast, within the first twenty-four hours of their friendship, that the Japanese girl had a voracious appetite like no other).

When asked what was the trouble, all the three Guardians had been permitted was a faint,

". . . Nothing . . . just a lot on our minds . . ." This was, little did the trio realize, not even beginning to touch the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

For as soon as Usagi had caught sight of a young woman with long, black hair and lavender streaks rising from her seat at the Slytherin table, making her way unaccompanied to the door, both she and Rei quickly excused themselves from their own table to do the same.

And now there they all stood, Usagi-tachi, outside of the Great Hall and near the main staircase, while partially surrounding a very perplexed looking Hotaru.

Usagi, eyes brimming with confused, yet ecstatic unshed tears, was the first to break the unbearable silence that had held the six women in captivity for the last several minutes.

"Oh, Hota-chan! I'm so happy to see you! We all are! And just look at you -- all grown up into a breathtaking young woman! Boy, that was fast this time, ne? A-anyway! How old are you now? Fifteen? Sixteen? If only Chibiusa-chan could see you now . . ." she gushed in slightly garbled Japanese due to her uncontrollable excitement, moving from her spot and rushing forward to embrace her long lost comrade, when she was instead greeted by a slightly rough push to the chest unexpectedly.

Catching their princess before she could fall and possibly injure herself, both Rei and Makoto looked up at the erstwhile Senshi of Death and Rebirth with confused, embittered eyes.

"What's the big idea, Hotaru? You could have seriously hurt Usagi-chan like that!"

However, before any of them could react, Hotaru took off up the staircase at a furious pace, her long flowing hair whipping wildly behind her.

". . . What was that all about, minna? You would think she'd be happy to meet up with us after all this while! Not run away as though she couldn't understand us, or didn't even know us!" exclaimed Minako, in exasperation.

". . . That is because Hotaru does not understand you, nor does she know you, indeed, Mina-chan . . ."

Startled, the quintet of young women whirled around at the sound of a sudden, albeit very familiar, calm voice sounding from behind them.

There, standing before them all, was a tall, slender young woman seemingly within her early to mid-twenties; however at the same time, she appeared to possess a timeless sort of beauty.

The woman gingerly tucked a strand of her long, forest green hair behind her tanned ear, her wise maroon eyes shone with mixed emotion while they gazed upon each girl before her.

The senshi let out equal, surprised gasps simultaneously, and excitedly rushed to greet the lone woman.

"Oh, my God! Setsuna-san! You're here! It's been so long! Wait a sec! You're here? Why are you here? What's happened?" Usagi rambled, beginning to panic. She, as well as the others, knew full well that the Senshi of Time and Space only reappeared, after having been gone for so long, on the verge of a new, impending battle.

Meiou Setsuna slowly raised a slender hand up to silence her friend and Moon Princess, and lightly smiled.

"It is nice to see that I have not been forgotten after all this time -- even more nice to see that you have not changed one bit, hime-sama.

Anyhow, fear not, my friends, for I am not here under trying times or circumstances. On the contrary, I am here under a more . . . 'lax' capacity, if you will . . ." she softly trailed off, before uncharacteristically twirling around in her spot to model off her attire the Inner Senshi hadn't honestly taken notice of due to their jubilation until then.

Ami's blue eyes twinkled in understanding as she spoke first.

"Oh, wow! You mean you are going to be teaching here, Setsuna-san? How wonderful! Which class?" she asked curiously, looking over the older woman's teachers' robes, hers mauve in color.

Setsuna smiled warmly at the petite girl and winked before responding, a faint blush gently grazing her cheeks.

"Ever the expeditious one, Ami-chan -- I have no doubt within my mind that you will excel supremely well throughout the course of your enrollment here.

Anyhow, I will be the new Astronomy professor, as my predecessor has retired, and I, of all people, would naturally have the most extensive knowledge of such things -- although I am quite certain that your headmaster is not aware of such a fact.

As I was saying, I was sent a letter asking if I would be interested in the position. It was perfect timing, quite honestly, as I had just recently vacated the time realm to try my hand at 'civilian living.'

It had been under Neo Princess Serenity's request when I had visited with her in the future before arriving here . . . Although, perhaps it was more like a plea, rather than a mere request . . ." thoughtfully smiled Setsuna once more, before continuing.

"She has grown into such an even more lovely young lady, minna -- she sends her love, of course."

"So, wait . . . What happened?" Minako suddenly piped up, face wrinkled in confusion.

". . . I have no idea how you landed in Ravenclaw with Ami-chan, Mina, with half of the things you say sometimes," muttered Rei in playful annoyance, while Ami and Usagi both sweat dropped.

Makoto, loudly clearing her throat on purpose to redirect everyone's attention, stepped forward to rest a welcoming hand upon Setsuna's arm and smiled warmly at her.

"Well, I, for one, am very glad to hear that you've finally allowed yourself a chance at a normal life, Setsuna-san -- no time like the present, ne? Although, I suppose, again, you of all people would know best about time . . . A-anyway! It's just perfect that you can be here to share this experience with us! How wonderful!"

The Time Guardian regarded the brunette with kind eyes and nodded, her smile unnoticeably beginning to falter at those last words.

A brief moment of silence shortly followed, as each senshi stared at one another, thinking of what to say next.

Suddenly, Usagi spoke up, hurriedly remembering something that had been said.

". . . Setsuna-san . . . What did you mean before . . . About Hota-chan, and how she didn't know what was said, as well as not having recognized us?"

At this, Setsuna's already weakened smile at last disintegrated while she let out a small sigh.

She moved in closer to her young friends before responding, looking about their surroundings as if to ensure that there were no eavesdroppers who might be able to understand Japanese.

". . . I mean exactly that, Usagi-chan; minna . . . In a manner of speaking, the Hotaru you, we all knew and loved dearly, died and remained as such after our final battle with Galaxia-sama . . .

You see, after we had each died and were eventually brought back, thanks to Usagi-chan's unrelenting strength and courage, Hotaru was the only one to have revived herself by her natural way -- that is, through the power of Saturn.

Of course, had Usagi not been able to retrieve everyone's starseeds, Hotaru, at least, would have simply been reborn with said power. For, although our particular starseeds do grant us the ability to become Sailor Senshi, our respective powers, in which we hold within us, derive from our specific guardian planet -- in Hotaru's case, the planet Saturn and its power over Death and Rebirth.

However, because within each rebirth, Sailorsaturn must be reawakened within her in order for her to become the senshi she is, had Hotaru's starseed not have been successfully retrieved, that would cease to be the case.

She would have gone on to live a normal life, bearing only the identities of a young Saturnian princess by birth and successful young woman by environment until her dying day -- and of course, one day return to this Earth to begin the cycle of life all over again as her power entitles her to do as such," she began, closing her eyes in reflection.

"Anyhow, in the aftermath, as you are aware of, Dr. Souichi Tomoe aptly got transferred into a new lab division at his job. However, what you were not aware of, was that he had opted to be relocated -- from Tokyo, to the furthest operation within his department, which happened to be Egypt.

He could no longer bear to stand idly by, while his only daughter risked and gave up her life on countless occasions, losing her all over again time after time . . . And so, he did the only thing he thought was best -- and that was to uproot her and raise her in a new environment, with a new chance at life, free from the knowledge of her true heritage and past . . ."

". . . So . . . that's why she acted as though she truly did not recognize us . . ." Ami murmured in solemn astonishment, the first to slightly understand and recover from the emerald haired woman's surprising revelation concerning their former comrade.

Setsuna nodded meekly, while lightly frowning.

"Correct, Ami-chan . . . I, of course being the Time Guardian, knew of Hota-chan's new whereabouts -- as well as her father's understandable motive to shield her from her demanding and often heartbreaking former life -- as I'd sometimes allow myself a more in depth glimpse into her time line . . .

However, while I truly do sympathize with Dr. Tomoe's desire, and am happy that his daughter has had a chance at a normal life, I must admit that I have found myself missing her terribly . . ."

Usagi felt her heart beginning to break as she gazed compassionately at the normally stoic woman, watching as her flawless features became marred by the despondent expression spreading across her face.

The others immediately understood that, if anyone of them were to miss the formerly health-depleted and melancholy young firefly the most, it would always be Setsuna.

Not including the two remaining Outer Senshi, Ten'ou Haruka and Kaiou Michiru (who were currently busy touring the world over, for Haruka's racing and Michiru's orchestral concerts), also having been extremely close to Hotaru and helped in raising her after her first rebirth as well, Setsuna had always seemed to be the closest to her.

Perhaps it was due to the fact that, before befriending Usagi and her friends, both women were loners, perpetually drifting the world aimlessly in a sea of regrettable solitude. And as Sailor Senshi, both of their duties, their destinies, had truly been tough and demanding of them; they understood that their roles as soldiers eternally took precedence over any desire their heart's might have yearned for.

Still, no matter how lonely or how hard it might have been for the Senshi of Time to continue to carry out her duty as Time Guardian, leaving her friends and loved ones behind to interminably guard the Time Gates, she knew that Hotaru, by far, had had it the hardest.

The young princess of Saturn had been bestowed with a semi-charmed, cursed life, that no other could imagine, nor dare to take on as their own. Hotaru had previously held a continuous existence filled with so much hurt, despair, and unrelenting turmoil that no one -- especially not a child -- should ever have had to endure.

That was why, although it truly pained Setsuna to be well aware that this "new" Hotaru could not and would not remember her in the slightest, she was nevertheless happy that her young friend was now able to be away from the pain and torment that had clung to her like her shadow, expanding over eons.

Emitting a low, faint sigh, Setsuna forced a tender smile across her face, as she rested a hand upon Usagi's shoulder and lightly squeezed it.

". . . I know what you are thinking, my princess; my queen, and you need not worry yourself over my feelings -- neither should the rest of you. You have all come here to learn and broaden your horizons, and so has Hotaru. I have come to teach.

This is what shall come to pass, and nothing more.

Now, then! You had all better hurry and go find your first class before you are late on the first day! I will see you all a little later," she said, waving her hands to dismiss her young friends and pupils.

As they all began to climb up the staircase, other students at last making their way out of the Great Hall and heading in sporadic directions towards their own classes, Setsuna suddenly called out to them once more.

"Oh! Minna, one more thing: while I am quite certain the temptation will be great to explain things to Hotaru and who all of you truly are, I must insist that you do not attempt in doing so. It would not be fair to her, or her father, who worked so hard in protecting her, to lay something so heavy upon her like that . . .

In fact, I think it would be best if you all made as little contact with her as possible . . . This, I know for fact being extremely unfair to all of you to ask such a thing; however, the life that Tomoe Hotaru holds within her possession at the moment is one that does not, cannot, and will not include any of you . . . That is how it should be . . . I am sorry . . ."

Before any woman could offer any sort of rebuttal, Setsuna abruptly turned and gracefully, yet swiftly, descended down the staircase and headed down the hall, her tall, confident demeanor managing to instantly clear a path as students and staff alike automatically moved out of her way.

. . . How it pained me so to request such a thing of you, my friends -- moreover to deceive to you . . . Demo, my true intentions to being here cannot be compromised until it is the right time . . . At least I know that they will be safe within these walls in the meantime . . . Oh, my sweet Small Lady . . . if only you could see what has become of our Hota-chan now . . .

YYYYYYYYY

Taranee Cook rubbed her stomach in an alleviating manner, while leaving the Great Hall after breakfast and heading outside into the fields where her first class, Care of Magical Creatures was being held.

Never in all of her life had she eaten so much food in a two day capacity, and was now currently feeling the repercussions to having done so.

" . . . I wish I could have a chance to lie down before class," she lightly murmured to herself, fantasying about resting within her new bed chambers that she shared with Minako, Ami, and an Asian girl named Cho Chang.

Taranee had admittedly been worried that her new house mates might not like her, as she did still have the tendency to be shy and reserved on occasion; however, so far, and for the most part, her fellow Ravenclaw mates had been more than welcoming.

She'd even managed to luck out, having been able to share a dormitory with those she already knew (with the exception of Cho, whom she would have to later get to know as time went on).

Taranee was also beginning to notice (now that she'd decidedly discarded her non-corrective glasses, making her slightly wonder if that had something to do with it) a small, but fast growing fanbase of boys who seemed to be doing a bit of noticing themselves.

This whole experience was, in more ways than one, quite new to the thoughtful intellect, and perhaps would have been all the more enjoyable, had her friends and fellow Guardians been placed into Ravenclaw with her . . .

Or, perhaps if she had been placed into a certain crimson haired boy's house instead . . .

Taranee's mocha tinted cheeks instantly took on a deep, rosy hue to them at that last thought, just as she and the other Ravenclaws arrived to an open clearing not too far from the back of the castle.

She snapped out of her reverie as she heard Hay Lin's familiar giggle sounding from her right, the Asian girl's Hufflepuff house mates beginning gradually to surround the two.

"Uh oh! Looks like somebody's blushing! So! Taranee! What, or who are you thinking about to cause such a deep, scarlet blush to --"

" -- Hello, Hay Lin! Hello, Taranee; Makoto! How was yer first night at Hogwarts? Good, I trust!"

Taranee and Hay Lin whirled around in time to watch the tall Japanese brunette manage to shake the familiar grizzly giant's massive hand in a semi-sturdy fashion.

"It was great, Hagrid, thanks! I slept like a baby! Which was a good thing, considering that when I woke up this morning, Makoto was snoring pretty loudly -- I thought that it was Irma for a second there . . . Oh! Sorry, Makoto," babbled Hay Lin, apologizing to the emerald eyed young woman, whose turn it was to blush.

Taranee couldn't help but smile, internally thankful for her friend's sometimes fleeting attention span, clearly already forgetting about interrogating her earlier.

Hagrid put on an extremely exuberant grin of his own, apparently finding humor in what was said.

"Y'know, Hay Lin, yeh should consider yerself lucky then, that yer not bunkin' with me! I've been told that my snores could raise the dead an' rattle their bones, ter boot!"

Giggling at this news, the three women walked ahead of the crowd with their friend and instructor, as he led the way towards of a long row of covered olive colored baskets set up at the very center of the clearing.

Waiting until every student had gotten settled, forming as a tight circle around him as they could, Hagrid gruffly cleared his throat and rubbed his hands together.

"G'mornin', class! Yeh all know who I am, but in case yeh've forgotten, I'm Professor Rubeus Hagrid -- though a simple 'Hagrid'll' do . . ." he said, lightly blushing as though embarrassed by his title of instructor.

Hay Lin leaned in towards Taranee and whispered in her ear, while practically bursting out of her skin.

"I wonder what's with the baskets . . ."

Whether or not he'd heard her, it was unclear, nor did it rightly matter, for just then Hagrid adapted the jolly girl's personality for a moment, as he gushed excitedly,

"Have I got a treat for yeh lot! It wasn't easy, an' certainly took more than a lot coaxing the Ministry of Magic ter agree ter allow Dumbledore ter let me do so, but what I have in these here baskets are one of the most sought after eggs yeh'll ever encounter for people in my trade, at least -- despite the fact that most believe them ter be nothin' but a mere myth. Codswallop, in my opinion!"

To say that Taranee was now currently perplexed would have not at all done justice to the sentiment; however, the impulsive fear of the unknown immediately overpowered the former sensation before any righteous questions could have been formulated.

Makoto, who was standing next to the African American young woman on her left, unconsciously took a step forward while asking,

". . . What kind of eggs are inside of the baskets, Hagrid?"

Receiving faint but growing murmurs of agreed curiosity around him, Hagrid stepped forward, bent over in front of the closest basket to him and pulled out a medium sized oval baseball. At least, that is what it initially looked like to Taranee, as well as everyone else around her -- and with good justification.

At first glance, Hagrid's newfound possession certainly did resemble a baseball from far away, as it mysteriously donned two, bright red lines running down along either side of it.

However, upon closer inspection, the students could all see that it truly was an egg -- as to its species, that continued to elude them.

". . . Isn't it beautiful? T'ain't no finer sight than ter witness life at its very beginning, eh?" said Hagrid, beaming down at the off-white, brown speckled sphere within his large hands.

"Oh, wow . . . Is that . . . That can't be a Sphinx egg . . . can it?" A young woman slightly behind Hay Lin hesitantly inquired, her warm brown eyes twinkling as she marveled at the sight.

Makoto curiously gazed at the unique looking white streak trailing down the girl's medium length, chocolate colored, french braided hair and silently wondered if it was some sort of "in" style where she was from.

Meanwhile, that announcement made by the girl only excited Hagrid all the more, and made Taranee instantly back away as he moved closer.

"That's exactly what it is, Desmona! This, an' the rest of the eggs present, are indeed Sphinx eggs! Straight from Egypt, too! Went and collected 'em just in time, too, the poor dears . . ."

Taranee's face went completely ashen by this point, while Hay Lin murmured into her ear once again.

". . . Hey, you know a lot about mythology and stuff, Taranee -- what with that perfect 'A' you got on that Labyrinth essay a few years back. I thought Sphinxes didn't really exist, and it was just that big statue thingie in the Giza plateau near Cairo, Egypt?"

"They don't . . . Er, well, that was the understanding, anyway. My school, 'Aslcepius' Academy for Enchanted Beings,' teaches a lot about myths and its ties to magical instances, so that's why I actually recognized that egg to be that of a Sphinx," said Desmona, offering an explanation to the sight before them before Taranee could (not that she really wanted to).

Feeling all eyes now fixated steadily upon her, the young Grecian blushed furiously, beginning to fiddle around with her french braided ponytail.

Hagrid walked over to her and carefully placed the egg within her hands, smiling broadly.

"Well, then I'm sure yeh'll have no trouble caring for yer egg -- yeh an' yer partner, tha' is."

"What? Care for? Us?" squeaked Taranee, at last reclaiming her senses.

"That's right, Taranee! This will be yer term assignment! In each basket yeh see, there is one Sphinx egg, which all look like the one Desmona here is holdin'. Yer job -- yeh an' yer partner I'll assign yeh - is ter nurture, look after, an' care for yer egg until it is ready ter be hatched.

The way ter tell is by its shell: right now, they're all white with bright red lines running down it -- except for this one. Looks like it might hatch sooner than the rest!

Y'see, the egg begins ter change from white, ter off white with faint brown speckles, ter a dark golden sort of tint when it's time ter hatch."

". . . Then, what's the red lines for?" asked Hay Lin, scratching her head thoughtfully, while gazing in awe at the egg within a slightly rattled looking Desmona.

"Oh, tha'? That's just the baby Sphinx's blood, o' course," responded Hagrid casually, as though the concept of having to babysit and care for a once thought to be mythical creature's blood decorated eggs was a normal occurrence.

"Do you think it'd be too late to drop out?" asked Taranee, wrinkling her nose.

Hagrid chuckled.

"Nothin' ter worry about! As yeh can see from mine an' Desmona's hands, none of the blood gets on them! Nah, it's just the baby's own slowly but surely transferring itself into its body. An' once it's ready ter hatch, the blood lines on the outside turn dark brown, like dried up blood -- it's such a sight!"

"Yeah, I'll bet," a skiddish-sounding Ravenclaw girl from behind Makoto muttered, as Hagrid walked back over to the baskets.

"Right, then! Everyone, if yeh'll please, make a neat line of two as I call out yeh an' yer partner's name ter get yer egg!

An' before yeh even ask, yer other mates, Gryffindor an' Slytherin will have their own, different sort of term project ter do, so no neglectin' yer duties by tryin' ter get them ter take care of yer egg!

Besides, I left the care takin' of such a wonderful creature up ter yer houses, because it takes sheer intellect, as well as nurturing, kindheartedness ter effectively succeed."

As Taranee got on line to claim her partner and regrettably her new egg, her heart nervously racing, she silently wondered what the rest of her day had in store for her . . .

YYYYYYYYY

"That woman has got to be kidding me! 'Use your inner eye to see the future?' Baka . . ." fumed Hino Rei in Japanese, leaving the North Tower where her Divination class had been held, and began to head to her last class before lunchtime.

"Isn't that being hypocritical or something, Rei-chan? I mean, you're psychic just like she is," questioned Usagi softly, brushing her short bangs from out of her eyes, while her long, golden hair hung freely upon her shoulders for the day (which was succeeding in earning her a lot of admiration from passers by).

Rei shook her braided, pigtailed head, apparently reversing the role of hairstyles with her future queen.

"Professor Sybill PatriciaTrelawney is hardly a true psychic, Usagi-chan! The way she went on about death auras around certain people in the class and fatigue being a classic sign of bad omens? Come on! I think I would know better than anyone if danger was on the rise."

Usagi giggled, playfully tugging at her friend's robes, while the two continued to make their way to their next class. The sea of fellow students gradually began to diminish, as they each swiftly made it to their destinations one by one.

"Know what I think? I think that you're just worried that you might have 'competition' for top spot of 'Big Psychic on Campus.'"

Rei stopped dead in her tracks, looking at her friend with incredulous eyes.

"Hardly! Even if that were the case -- which it's not -- I wouldn't have to worry, because that woman isn't psychic! Please! If she has even an ounce of genuine, psychic powers within her, then you have a secret admirer you'd never expect. Or, even better: you'll excel in your classes better than I, of course, naturally will!"

"Nani? What's that supposed to --"

"-- Hey, Usagi; Rei! How are you finding your first day at Hogwarts so far?"

Both senshi turned around to see Hermione, Ginny, and Luna approaching them, Hermione and Ginny smiling warmly in greeting, while Luna slowly blinked her long eyelashes at Usagi, perpetually in her dream-like state.

Usagi emitted a tiny groan, trying to hide her face with her vast river of hair, while Rei returned the warm gesture and bowed in welcoming.

"Hello, you guys! Things are going just fine, thank you. No major calamities yet," she replied in English, tilting her head to the side in reflection.

Ginny grinned, winking.

"Well, it has only been half a day -- give it time. I remember my first day: I woke up with an extremely bad hair day. Anyway, what class did you guys just come from?"

"Divination with Professor Trelawney . . ." mumbled Rei in instant irritation, causing both Usagi and Ginny to giggle, while Hermione let out an annoyed sigh and Luna continued to stare off into space towards the Moon Princess.

"Ugh, that woman continues to give teachers a bad name, the way she goes on about that psychic rubbish of hers. I was in her class for only a short while in my third year, before I simply couldn't take her nonsense anymore . . . Ha! Psychic, indeed . . ." submitted Hermione, rolling her brown eyes while scoffing.

Usagi began to tense up, not because of Luna's incessant glances (which were becoming quite bothersome at best), but for sensing the Senshi of Fire's righteous indignation beginning to build up.

". . . So, you're saying that you do not believe in psychic abilities, or in people who claim to be clairvoyant, Hermione?" inquired Rei, firmly resting a hand upon her hip, as her amethyst colored jems pierced questionably into the slightly confused young woman before her.

Hermione cleared her throat, not quite understanding why her new friend was suddenly seeming to take offense in her platform of non-belief in psychics, however she continued to stand her ground.

"That is exactly what I am saying, Rei. There is no such thing as psychics! Everything that happens is all left up to fate, and perhaps just mere chance! Those who believe otherwise in such blathering as what Trelawney teaches are most likely without true, credible wizarding power -- that, or are simply too lazy to grab their own lives by the horns and seize the day."

Although she had no qualms for being so forthright about not buying into the idea, Hermione did, however, immediately regret the way it had all come out, and her implications towards Rei of being some no talent witch.

". . . Oh, Rei, I'm s --"

" -- Come on, Usagi; if we don't hurry, we will be late for class. It was nice running into you, Ginny and Luna -- catch you later. Oh, and Hermione -- I'd suggest that you watch where you walk a bit more closely . . . wouldn't want to trip up . . ."

And with that, the fiery priestess briskly walked off, leaving an embarrassed Usagi to try to mend whatever damage her friend's defensive remark might have inflicted.

"Oh . . . Oh, wow . . . I, uh . . . Please accept my apology for Rei's behavior . . . She, uh . . . didn't get much sleep last night! Yeah, that's it! And, um . . . Right! Sorry, again! Hey, Rei! Wait up!" Usagi breathlessly called out to the raven haired woman and began to rush after her, however not before hurriedly apologizing to her new comrades.

"What . . . was that . . . a . . . about, Rei-chan? You could've . . . seriously hurt . . . Her . . . mione's feelings . . . Boy, do you cover a lot of ground when you're steamed!" remarked the exhausted blonde, at last catching up to the Marsien Princess right outside of the door to their next class several minutes later.

Rei at last stopped walking and stood still to better accommodate her friend's desperate need to rest, sighing lightly while rubbing her temporal lobes.

". . . Gomen nasai, Usagi-chan . . . honest . . . I mean, I was pretty offended by Hermione's unfair remark about psychics -- how could I not be? Demo . . . I guess I just took my frustration of what Setsuna-san told us about not being allowed to speak with Hota-chan out on Hermione . . ."

Nodding sadly in agreement, having regained her strength and normal breathing, Usagi led the way inside of the dimly lit classroom, where a couple of students were already waiting patiently at the desks . . . One of them happening to be their former friend in question.

"Oh, Kami . . . There she is, Rei! It really isn't fair to have to be so close, yet so far away from one of our dearest friends and sister senshi! Imagine if Chibiusa-chan were here to witness this and was unable to interact with very her best friend in the world . . ." murmured Usagi quietly, sadly eyeing the lone young woman sitting at the very front and center of the classroom, idly flipping through what looked like one of her textbooks.

" . . . I wish there was some way we could still be a part of her new life . . . even if it's a 'different' Hotaru . . ."

Rei nodded with heavy melancholy, as the two took a seat three rows behind their "lost" comrade.

"So do I, Usagi-chan . . . Demo . . . Well, I suppose this really is for the best, ne? I mean, this is a pretty vast school, and this is the first class we've had today with Hota-chan in it as well -- so the likelihood of our seeing her often are quite minimal . . .

Besides, you saw the way she reacted when we all greeted her this morning -- she looked at us as though we each had two heads . . .

Iie . . . our meeting hardly held any significance or impact on her, Usagi . . . and it's probably better that way . . ."

YYYYYYYYY

For one so blessed (and sometimes cursed) with embodying clairvoyant abilities, Rei was only half right in her assumption about her former friend.

While she had been right to believe that their first encounter with Tomoe Hotaru might not have been at all positive, to simply say that it had "hardly made any kind of impact upon her" was far from true.

Hotaru sat at the very front and center of her third class of the day before lunch, relieved to still have a vacant seat next to her so that she could be free to sift through her impending thoughts -- much like she was currently sifting idly through her textbooks, as though trying to find the answers.

Ever since she'd first woken up that morning, Hotaru suddenly felt different.

No. That was not entirely true.

Hotaru had felt slightly different earlier on, ever since first setting foot inside of the castle of Hogwarts -- it was just that now, today, it was somehow magnified.

Hotaru's mind strained to try to zero in on the precise moment (or perhaps trigger to her discomfort), while continuing to flip through the pages of her book with one hand and drumming the desk with her long fingernails with the other.

She'd managed to isolate the problem into two "major occurrences" of the day thus far: the strange, sudden and unrighteous behavior of the boy named Harry Potter, and later the bizarre bombardment perpetrated by five Japanese young women.

While Harry's newfound (and certainly unexpected) cold, harsh attitude towards her certainly made her feel acrimonious towards him thereafter (a far cry from the positive, almost jovial emotions she had surprisingly found herself beginning to harbor for the young man, shortly after their meeting back in Diagon Alley), Hotaru knew that that wasn't the "different" feeling she was trying to effectively understand.

Sure, truth be told, it still bothered her to know that the guy whom she thought might have held some sort of attraction for her -- right when she felt as though she was beginning to hold for him in return -- suddenly instead despised and loathed the very ground she walked on for whatever the reason.

However, if there was one thing her father taught her over and over while growing up, it was to never allow things or people to get to her, as well as never live in and dwell on the past.

And this was something Hotaru always took pride in living by . . . Although, she suddenly found herself reflecting upon the past quite a bit lately . . . as mysteriously limited and erratic as it was, now that she thought on it . . .

While growing up in Alexandria, Egypt, as an only child, it had granted her a relatively charmed sort of life, courtesy of her father, Dr. Souichi Tomoe's high ranking position within the lab division of his job.

Hotaru had grown up quite happy, with all of the love, support and protection of her family and many, many friends. And, despite having all the opportunities of a "lush life" she had always been accustomed to, it only ever made her feel truly blessed and humble, rather than selfish or spoiled.

But by her fourteenth birthday, however, Hotaru had begun to yearn for more.

She knew that her father had always meant well in his desire to be slightly more than overprotective of her. Although, Hotaru had, by that point, truly begun to wonder if it was normal for Dr. Tomoe to have gone so overboard enough as to ironically give her all the freedom of the world -- so long as it was only to be utilized within the confines of their city.

That was more than enough reason as to why, when she'd received her acceptance letter to Hogwarts unforeseenly one day, Hotaru pressed and urged until at last persuading her father to allow her to go and finally spread her wings to explore the world.

Although, now I'm so chock full of confusion, I don't really know if I can "explore the world" just yet, thought Hotaru to herself, having finished with one book and moving onto another to thumb through.

Suddenly hearing her name being lightly murmured from behind her, the violet eyed young woman turned in her seat to rest her orbs upon two of the five curious women who had "ambushed" her earlier that morning.

Seeing that they now had an audience, the female duo instantly stopped talking, and painfully, it seemed, forced themselves to look away from their prior assumed topic of discussion.

Hotaru continued to look on for a few moments before slowly turning back in her seat, a confused, light frown spreading across her face, as an uneasiness began to cascade over her.

. . . It sounded as though my name was being uttered by them, but . . . Why? And why did they and their friends "attack" me like that this morning, too?

Thanks to them, I for some reason feel . . . I don't know . . . Almost uncomfortable within my own skin . . .

I wish Papa had let me taken that Japanese class I had wanted to, instead of making me take French, otherwise I'd have known what they had been ranting about to me . . .

As Hotaru continued to mull things over within her mind, the classroom by now much more packed, a petite girl with short cardinal colored hair and light, honey-brown eyes quietly took a seat next to her, while at the same time a small, elderly woman with long, flowing white hair, dark, ancient eyes, and an astute demeanor entered.

The elderly woman slowly, yet gracefully made her way to the front of the room, capturing most of the classroom's attention in the process.

"MRS. LIN!" suddenly exclaimed the red head next to Hotaru, as well as a blonde haired girl and light, chestnut haired woman in unified shock. This startling outburst caused the entire class to look at the three with surprised confusion, while it succeeded in snapping Hotaru out of her deep reverie.

. . . I guess it's about time I put my deep, befuddled contemplations to rest for now, and pay attention to this . . . odd outburst . . .she thought, eyeing the young woman next to her a moment before lightly smirking in slight amusement.

YYYYYYYYY

Will, Cornelia, and Irma all stared in unexpected astonishment at the aged woman standing before the class with a small, but growing, knowledgeable smile upon her face.

The same woman, who had been the Guardians' mentor for the past three years, was now apparently one of their many new teachers.

"Good morning, students! As your three classmates just revealed so exuberantly, my name is Professor Yan Lin, and I will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor," stated Hay Lin's grandmother, Mrs. Lin calmly, her smile still in place, while her mystic eyes began to twinkle with growing excitement.

"Well, now! Let us not waste any time, shall we? Please open your text books, and turn to page fifteen, where we will begin our three week study of the Fylgja."

As the once quiet classroom began to echo with the sounds of shuffling seats and page-turning, Will took it as a brief opportunity to try to share a glance with her two friends, who were seated adjacent to her -- however, they were too busy carefully whispering to one another to notice.

". . . Is something the matter? You seem a bit bothered and look a little flushed," Will heard the sable haired girl sitting next to her gently murmur, as they both finished flipping to the correct page.

Will had been so enveloped in her shock of seeing the original Guardian of Air here at Hogwarts, that she had totally forgotten that she was sitting next to anyone.

"Oh . . . Y-yeah, I'm just . . . fine, thanks . . . It's just that I already know Professor Lin . . ." Will responded as quietly as she could, offering a faint, reassuring smile to the girl.

The young woman nodded in understanding.

"Ah, I gotcha . . . Was she a former teacher of yours, or something?"

Will paused, then inclined her crimson haired head slightly in reply.

"Right . . . Something like that . . ."

The girl merely smiled lightly at Will before turning her attention to her book. The Keeper of the Heart couldn't help but gaze at her a little longer, as a suddenly strange feeling briefly overtook her.

Hmm . . . That's odd . . . I suddenly feel . . . I don't know, actually . . . Must've been those Pumpkin Pasties I crammed into my mouth and quickly ate on my way here . . .

Huh . . . This girl kinda looks a lot like Rei -- well, despite the different shade in eyes and skin tone . . . I wonder if they've met yet; for all they know, they could be twins . . .

Will continued to muse until she heard her name being called, and rather loudly at that.

"Miss Vandom! Since you have already found some time to daydream while within my class, it seems, how about you read for us the first paragraph?" Mrs. Lin suggested, smirking lightly at the now embarrassed young woman, a few classmates snickering at the display as they watched her face begin to rapidly match her flaming red hair.

"Oh! U-uh . . . Sorry, Mrs. -- I mean, Professor Lin . . . I was just -- never mind . . . I'll just begin reading my book now!" apologized Will, a sheepish smile upon her visage, before beginning to read the first passage as instructed by her professor.

"'The Fylgja, literally translated into 'she, who follows,' is a Norwegian shadow soul, often an individual's guardian spirit. They are usually invisible and take an animal form in dreams, as it was believed to correspond to the person's character or way of living -- probably conceived of as the person's soul. On the rare occasion that they are seen by someone who is awake, it is an omen of death. Some legends imply that the Fylgja is a doppleganger . . .'"

Will slowly looked up from her open book to gaze at her instructor just in time to watch her steady, gentle smile evolve into a very satisfied simper, as though either pleased that it had been Will to read such a thing, or that having done so resulted in several, nervous gasps from her pupils.

Will looked over at Cornelia and Irma just in time to catch the both of them flash her a look as if to say, "Is she serious?"

"Thank you, Miss Vandom! Now, then! As your fellow classmate just finished reading, a Fylgja is very much like your doppleganger -- in fact, I would go as far as to say that it is your doppleganger.

To give a little back history on the doppleganger from yours truly, German for 'double walker,' legend prescribes that everyone possesses a doppleganger, or Fylgja. It is forged from its real counterpart's own will and soul.

Now, it is true that they are traditionally invisible, although always there . . . Much like how your shadow is ever present, even on a cloudy day, or within a dimly lit room such as this one . . ." Mrs. Lin paused before continuing, her eyes dancing in delight at the reaction that that comment had sparked within some of her students, watching them nervously maneuver within their seats to try to gaze at their skulking shadows.

"Taking on the form of an animal is quite common for the Fylgja to do; if I went around the room right now and asked if any of you have, at one point or another, dreamt of some sort of animal without any explanation as to why, I am quite positive that half of you would be able to tell me that you indeed have."

Immediately some hands flew into the air at this, and Mrs. Lin promptly called on Ron Weasley, who offered,

"Well . . I'm not really sure that it's my . . . supposed guardian Fylgja or not, but . . . I always used to dream of . . . well, a pig when I was younger . . ." he said, instantly regretting having done so, for a small group of Slytherin boys began to snicker vehemently, right on cue, led by a pale faced, silvery blonde haired boy.

"Hear that? Weasley wasn't dreaming of his guardian! He was dreaming of looking into the mirror and seeing himself!" the boy ridiculed, a few more wicked Slytherins joining in with the guffawing, as poor Ron's face morphed into that of a bright red tomato.

Will glared back at the boy with disgust, increasingly disliking the serpent-oriented house as a whole as the day rolled on.

Mrs. Lin stared calmly and evenly at the young man, undaunted by the sudden antics.

". . . In a way, that is somewhat correct, Mr. . . ."

". . . Malfoy. Draco Malfoy," the pompous-looking blonde submitted proudly, staring back at Mrs. Lin with triumph, as though happy that she seemed to be backing up his obvious insult with apparent truth.

"Yes . . . Mr. Malfoy, thank you. As I was saying, your . . . 'colorful' claim that Mr. Weasley was seeing himself when he dreamt of a pig was, as I said, correct in a way. For as the book states, they are a representation of your personality or character. And, within the Chinese Zodiac, if I may, the pig is a model of sincerity, purity, tolerance, and honor . . ." the antiquated woman explained, smiling kindly at Ron in reassurance.

"This does not mean, however, that this could have been Mr. Weasley's shadow soul . . . Perhaps it merely had been a recurring dream -- tell me, Mr. Weasley: did you ever feel 'connected' to this pig whenever you would see it within your dreams? By that, I mean, did you ever feel familiar with it, and feel that, despite its outer appearance, it represented far more than one would initially perceive?"

"Well, not really, no . . . When I actually think on it, my brother, Charlie's old friend, Rosemerta, used to bring her pet pig over to the house all the time when I was little . . . Used to give me the willies, that pig, having been quite large and all -- not to mention vicious, I remember . . ." Ron recalled, shivering involuntarily at the memory, while Malfoy and his apparent comrades once again snickered at his expense.

Mrs. Lin only smiled in acknowledgment, choosing to bypass Malfoy's rude hoodwinks, as she continued.

"See? Case solved! Again, if you have dreamt of a certain animal quite often that you believe might not reflect your true personality, not all do -- at least not that of your own. Some are said to reflect the opposite of who you truly are . . .

Which will bring us to the more important part of today's lesson! And that is the downside to the Fylgja! It should be understood right now, before we continue on with our study of these beings, that while a Fylgja is indeed your guardian-spirit, they can and will be quite the tricksters.

Oh, yes, indeed! Tricky and mischievous at times, it is said that some grow bored or tired of merely watching you live the life that is, in a way, theirs as well, that they will sometimes neglect their 'protecting duties' for a certain extended period of time to wreak havoc upon your life."

"How so, professor?" Neville piped up from behind Will, sounding extremely nervous.

Mrs. Lin tilted her ivory colored head gently towards him in recognition and lightly grinned, as though it was good news that these so-called protectors were able to freely take sabbaticals for the sake of ruining their charge's life.

"Nothing too serious, mind -- after all, they are your guardians, true and true. No, just little things like causing you to 'lose' a favorite pair of socks, or cause you to get in trouble with your parents for something you honestly may not even remember doing.

Ever end up breaking an arm, or twisting an ankle doing something you normally excel at? That would most likely be the Fylgja, missing in action from protecting and guiding you."

"Well, geez -- these Fylgja-doppleganger-thingies don't sound very good or nice to me . . . We're probably better off," muttered an ash-blonde maned Gryffindor girl at the very back of the room, receiving several nods of agreement around her -- including a few Slytherins, which honestly surprised Will to witness.

Yeah . . . sounds very much like our pesky Astral Drops, too . . . Will reflected acrimoniously, knowing that both Irma and Cornelia were currently thinking the same exact thing.

Mrs. Lin raised a withered hand up to sooth the faint, confused murmurs that were beginning to erupt within the classroom.

"I understand wholeheartedly, of your frustration and confusion. I have found myself lying in bed with a sore back many a time from the simplest of tasks I used to be able to do with much ease, and -- oh, wait. Never mind; that is merely due to my old age, not my Fylgja!" she smirked broadly, pleased to see that her less than amusing joke had managed to delight quite a few of her students regardless, lightening their previously worried state.

Even the dejected Slytherins couldn't help but to chuckle at that, although the Keeper of the Heart of Candracar was quite sure that it was more aimed at their teacher's expense.

In either case, however, it did not prevent the old woman from continuing to smile confidently.

"To answer your indirect inquiry, however, they are only wayward mainly when their charge is either being a bit too wayward themselves, or disrespectful towards their protection.

That is, when they feel that their presence and guidance is being taken for granted, they will do that as a way to . . . 'set things and you right' . . ." Mrs. Lin explained, smirking, as she began to eyeball the three of the five Guardians of the Veil present with a knowing glance that almost stated: "You should know about this all too well, ladies . . ."

Will lightly groaned in private humiliation, sinking into her seat as Mrs. Lin carried on with her lecture.

"There are quite a few theories in regards to the true orientation of the Fylgja, actually, which we will spend some time during our study deciphering, if you will.

Some scholars believe that if you are inherently good, so too will be your Fylgja. It will relay helpful, honest advice and assistance to you, acting as your 'conscience.'

However, the most common theory, is the 'Yin/Yang effect' -- which imparts that if you are good, your counterpart is evil, and vice versa. The idea is that the 'Malevolent Fylgja' will attempt to take over your life by appearing before your loved ones and acquaintances.

It replaces your daily activities, where your may have been negligent. If you are a workaholic, for example, the Fylgja will spend more time with friends and family, until you find yourself literally written out of your own life and left a mere shadow of your former self. For you see, according to legend and its theories, it is the ultimate, eternal goal of the evil counterpart to assume your life -- and if successful in doing so, the roles are reversed forever. . ." stated Mrs. Lin darkly, sending chills down the spines of every student within the room.

"But, there is nothing to be alarmed about, for besides all of that being nothing more than a mere theory -- a legend, although it may want to manifest itself, the Fylgja is only able to do so during the new moon, when you do not cast a shadow. And it would have to complete its 'evil task' in reserving the roles for a full cycle of the moon for it to be permanent."

The ebony haired girl seated next to Will suddenly spoke up, her violet eyes flickering with renewed curiosity.

". . . Excuse me, Professor Lin, ma'am, but I was wondering if you could explain the part about seeing a Fylgja while awake being an omen of death . . ."

"Ah, yes, of course! The most important part! Thank you for having reminded me, Miss . . ."

"Tomoe, ma'am; my name is Hotaru Tomoe," the onyx locked beauty softly yet confidently murmured, locking eyes with Mrs. Lin.

The elderly woman smiled warmly at the far younger woman named Hotaru, her own eyes prolonging the gaze upon her a moment before speaking, as though studying her.

"Yes, well, this is quite possibly the one thing you should never hope for your Fylgja to do -- quite honestly, I myself would prefer to receive a thousand pranks a day by my own than to ever see it with my waking eyes.

For, if you ever did, it is indeed an omen of death . . . Sometimes a warning to another's death -- perhaps a loved one; however, more often than not it is of your own demise . . .

It should be known, as well, that some depict that instead, should you die, so too does your Fylgja and vice versa -- for the two of you are forever linked at the point where the shadow is cast . . .

Well, then! That is about all the time we have to discuss the Fylgja for today! For homework, I would like all of you to construct a dream log, and record any and all curious occurrences within your dreams that perhaps involve an animal of some sort that could very well be your Fylgja. Good day, everyone!"

The entire class remained arrested within their seats for several moments, staring in disbelief at their professor's incredible (not to mention unappreciated), abrupt transition from something so ominous, to immediate lightheartedness.

Once the initial shock wore off, however, everyone gratefully began to rise from their seats and quickly shuffled out of the classroom, while Will, Irma, and Cornelia chose to stay behind, for obvious reasons.

Waiting until the last student scurried free from the once crowded classroom, the trio of Guardians immediately cornered the expectant wise old woman.

"I know what you would say, girls; however, now is not the time -- I am starved! I will see you briefly at lunch in a few minutes, and then later this evening for your private 'catching up' tutorial lessons."

And with that, Mrs. Lin gingerly sidestepped Cornelia and gracefully walked out of the classroom.

The three lone women gazed at one another in confusion, before Irma spoke up.

"Right, because that was just about the weirdest thing that has ever happened -- well, in the past hour, anyway. Is it me, or does Hay Lin's grandmother get more and more cooky as each day passes?"

Scratching her blonde head, Cornelia merely shrugged.

"Could be Irma; could be. I wanna know what she's doing here, and how come Hay Lin didn't even bother to tell us that she would be," she commented, linking her arms within her friends's own, as the three headed out of the classroom and towards the Great Hall for lunch.

YYYYYYYYY

"I didn't know, myself, Cornelia -- that's why!" Hay Lin defended exuberantly to her blonde friend's inquiry several minutes later, inside the gradually crowded Great Hall.

None of the five Guardians had yet ventured over to her designated house table to partake in the array of delicacies magically laid out just yet; they stood together, ambiguously huddled around one another, off to one side near the entrance doors. Several students administered to them odd looks as they would enter and pass by.

Will lightly sighed, as she thoughtfully tugged upon a few strands of her short, vermilion hair that had managed to break free from the small, tight ponytail she had just finished tying up.

"Well, did she at least tell you why she's here, Hay Lin?" she asked quietly, in order to continue to maintain their private conversation.

Hay Lin nodded in response, beginning to mimic Will by playing with her own raven hair.

"Yeah, she did. Me and Taranee both saw her after our first class, Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid -- which is really fun, by the way! Wait 'till you guys have it later!

Anyway! After class with grandma -- you know, after getting over the shock of seeing her here -- she explained to us that she had received an employment letter from the school, about a month before we had received our acceptance letters.

She wasn't at the ceremony last night, she said, because she didn't get here until this morning, for whatever reason she didn't say and I didn't bother to ask; I was wondering why she seemed the least sad to see me go when I'd left -- it was all a surprise!"

Seemingly satisfied with Hay Lin's iridescent explanation to her grandmother's sudden and surprising presence, the quintet began to disperse until Irma stopped them abruptly.

"Wait a sec, you guys! If Mrs. Lin got a letter to teach here, d'you think this means that that ol' Dumbledorf dude over there knows about . . . you know?" she questioned, raising a tanned finger to her chin in reflection.

"Hey, yeah -- Irma raises a good point. I mean, he or someone else in charge here obviously had to know that Mrs. Lin does have quite the extensive knowledge of creepy crawlies, and 'things that go bump in the night' that you'd need a good defense against . . . Oh, and it's Dumbledore, Irma, not 'dorf . . .' Dork . . ." playfully chided Cornelia, sticking her tongue out at her friend, who returned the gesture, as Hay Lin lightly giggled at the display.

Looking straight ahead towards the staff table, Will frowned lightly in contemplation, as her honey-tinted eyes momentarily locked with her headmaster's own in question. His ignoble, kind blue eyes twinkled clandestinely while he stared back at her, smiling softly beneath his long, wispy white beard before turning his attention back to his conversation with a fellow teacher.

". . . I don't know, Cornelia. I suppose it could be possible. But, I think he would've 'cornered' us, so to speak, by now to ask us about our . . . 'abilities . . .'" she said, having chosen her words carefully, as the Great Hall was, by that point, quite congested.

"Look, Mrs Lin said that we'd see her later on tonight for our 'catch up' lessons, so we can ask her then if we get the chance. For now, let's just continue to keep things 'under wraps' and play it cool, all right? Okay, Taranee? Hey!" Will called out to her apparently distracted friend (who had been quiet throughout the entire course of their deliberation), as she was the only one among them not to have offered any sort of remark.

Irma and Hay Lin both grinned in amusement, while Cornelia snapped her fingers in front of their dazed friend's face.

"Huh? Wha --"

"-- She's fine, Will; she was just busy drooling over a certain young Gryffindor carrot-top over yonder," Cornelia teased, wrapping her arm around the blushing mocha skinned young woman.

The five Guardians began to head towards their separate tables in a fit of giggles, however not before Irma humorously remarked,

"Speaking of drooling and Gryffindor men, it seems as though someone's got the major hots for you, 'Miss Natural Green Thumb.' Shock . . . gasp . . . Oh, rapture! Yet another guy has it bad for our fair maiden -- want me to tell Mr. Longbottom to take a number, Princess?"

Something inside of the normally cool-tempered Guardian of Earth snapped just then upon hearing those words, for she let go of Taranee and turned to the ever-joking young woman and said, through clenched teeth,

"Do you think it'd kill you to have any other 'flavor' besides sarcastic? I don't want you to tell him anything, or any other guy here, for that matter.

Contrary to popular belief, I am here for my education, not for flirting! Oh, and for your information, there is more to me than just my looks and popularity."

Irma, the only one undeterred (or so it seemed) by the fair-haired woman's unseasonable outburst -- while the rest of them stood planted within their spots in dumbfounded shock and watched Cornelia canter away -- forced a quiet laugh before stating,

"Heh . . . And here, after all this time of knowing her, I thought being popular with oodles of fashion sense and guys fawning over her was the only 'flavor' that she had . . ."

YYYYYYYY

"And then she told me to 'watch my step, because I wouldn't want to trip up . . .' I mean, at first, I naturally thought it was some sort of threat or something, but --"

" -- But then, on our way to our separate classes, right after she left us and before Hermione and I parted ways, ourselves, Hermione completely missed the first step of the spiral staircase to her Ancient Runes class and tripped! If I hadn't been there to catch the back of her robes in time, she could've ended up falling all the way down!"

"Exactly my point, Ginny! Which is why I'm going to be watching that Rei Hino like a hawk, from now on! She must have put a hex or something on me without my having realized . . ."

For the past several minutes, both Hermione and Ginny had been gushing heatedly about Hermione's brief spat with the ebony haired Japanese young woman, and of the unfortunate, near fatal mishap on her way to her last class before lunch.

Harry had just arrived at the Gryffindor table to catch remnants of the last of the conversation, just as Ron automatically handed him the pitcher of Pumpkin Juice, knowing by now that it was usually one of the things his friend would first reach for during lunchtime.

"Oh, would you two give it a rest, already? Rei did not put a hex on you, Hermione! From what it sounded like, you probably just hurt her feelings, because she might believe in psychics.

Hell! Maybe she is one, and that's why your remark seemed to offend her so much, and she called that tripping thing correctly. Now pass the Steak and Kidney pie," Ron finished, stating his theory in a way that conveyed the end of the debate.

Whether or not Hermione and Ginny ceased discussing the very confusing topic merely because Ron had implied that they do so, Harry could not tell, for the proverbial star of the matter had suddenly entered the Great Hall with Usagi and made their way to the Gryffindor table.

"Good afternoon, everyone! I hope all of you had a great morning! Mmm! Everything looks so great! Scoot over, Ron, please? Thanks!" said an energetic Usagi, as both she and Rei approached the table and took a seat on either side of the red haired boy.

"Sure, thing, Usagi! Here, pull up a plate! I've seen the way you eat, and I gotta say that I'm impressed! Looks like I've got me some competition, eh, Neville?" joked Ron in good humor, causing Usagi and Ginny to giggle in amusement, while Neville stared off into space from where he sat next to Harry.

"Oi! Mate, you all right? Looks like you had a bad piece of ham or something," asked the crimson-locked young man, splitting his attention between his seemingly ill friend and Usagi, who was now hungrily busy filling up her plate with an assortment of dishes.

Harry nudged the disconcerted Neville in his side in an attempt to snap him back to reality, succeeding.

"Huh? What was that, now? Oh! S-sorry, you guys . . . I was just thinking . . ." Neville revealed, blushing softly in embarrassment and looking in the direction of Cornelia (who, for whatever reason, had opted a seat all the way near the doors by herself, while both of her fellow American friends, Will and Irma, sat a few seats away from her as though to keep a safe distance).

"Oh -- was it about Cornelia?" casually asked Usagi, whose speech was slightly muffled by a mouthful of food.

Everyone looked over at her in surprise, causing her to blush when she'd finally noticed -- however not as strongly as Neville was at that moment.

He leaned across the table towards her and whispered,

"H-how did you know, Usagi?"

Shrugging, Usagi smiled softly as she swallowed her food.

"What? I figured everyone knew -- including Cornelia, seeing as it's been obvious you have feelings for her since the very beginning."

Slumping back in his seat, his face set ablaze by his perpetual mortification, Neville lightly sighed.

"Gee . . . and here I thought I'd had a handle on things . . ."

"You have told her, right?" asked Rei, finally speaking up, after having calmly ate her food in silence, despite the obvious remaining tension between she and Hermione.

Neville slowly shook his head in defeat.

"Well . . . no. I haven't even said 'hello' to her yet! I always end up losing my voice and freaking out whenever I see her coming . . . Besides, she probably thinks I'm some kind of loser or something, anyway . . ."

Even though he truly felt bad for his confidence-wavering friend and wanted to comfort him as he normally would have, the topic of hopeful relationships was starting to dampen the carefully constructed "good mood" that Harry had cloaked himself in to throw his seasoned friends off the radar.

It was all hitting a little too close to home, seeing as he was currently going through a bit of teenage angst, himself, and so he quickly changed the subject.

"So! Rei! I hear that you're apparently a psychic!"

This unanticipated statement had caused both Rei and Usagi to choke upon their beverages, and Hermione and Ginny's face to drain of color without delay.

"What? Was I not supposed to say anything?" Harry honestly inquired, looking around the table and searching for answers within the jolted faces of his companions.

It was Ginny who had recovered first, as she forced a laugh and roughly cuffed Harry's arm.

"Heh heh! Such a kidder, this one! No, Rei! What Harry meant by that was, we had told him about the awkward spat between you and Hermione this morning, and how she really did 'trip up,' as you put it, not long after you had said she would!

So, Ron here, had made the joke that you might be psychic, and not Trelawney, as we all habitually discredit her as, anyhow. Anyway! Speaking of, though, Hermione was actually just about to apologize for that -- weren't you, Hermione?"

It was then Hermione's turn to be prodded by the red head, and she cleared her throat slowly, while her esteemed pride became moderately bruised for having to submit.

". . . While I truly don't believe in psychics, it was wrong of me to generalize anyone who happens to as moronic -- especially if you believe in them . . .

You're my new friend, and so I would truly hate to already lose our still-forming relationship over yet another moment of my mouth getting the better of me . . . I'm really sorry, Rei . . ." Hermione apologized sincerely, faintly smiling across the table at the amethyst-eyed girl, whose previously furrowed brows at last relaxed while gently returning the fair simper.

". . . Apology accepted, Hermione . . ."

The clique of friends continued to eat in silence for several more minutes, having run out of things to say, while the rest of the Great Hall steadily filled with happy, carefree banter of their first day back to their classes.

Finally, at the end of lunch, Ron pulled out his schedule from out of his pocket and lightly scoffed to himself.

"What's the matter with you, Ron?" asked Ginny, having just finished eating her corn on the cob and set it back down onto her now empty plate.

Her older brother looked up at her in alarm, as though he hadn't realized that he was not alone.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I was just wondering how Hermione managed to convince me, Harry and Neville to take that new class for sixth and seventh years with the both of you -- 'Elemental Magic.' Sounds like a waste of time, just like Ancient-bloody-Runes -- or maybe that's why you made us take it in the first place!"

Harry, Ginny, and Neville all groaned simultaneously, while their Japanese friends looked on curiously, as Ron and Hermione stared daggers at one another.

"For the last, final time, Ronald! Ancient Runes is not a waste of time! Each year is more and more riveting! As for this class, I'll admit it was a bit of a stretch, even for me, to sign up for -- you know, given that it's said that that type of magic is only an allegory.

However, if I'm ever going to be as versatile a student, witch, and individual as I am able, I need to take as many different classes as possible before graduation! So, forgive me for wanting to enrich your lives!" defended a heated Hermione, who gingerly stood up from the table and got ready to go to the class in question.

". . . Are they always like this?" inquired a baffled Usagi, watching Hermione and Ron walk ahead towards the doors.

Harry smiled lightly, nodding regrettably, as the rest of them rose from their seats to follow suit.

". . . You'll get used to it pretty quickly, Usagi -- trust me. Anyway, I hope we'll find a spot to sit, though. I heard from Dean Thomas that this new class teaches both the sixth and seventh years together, and all four houses at once. And now, with the extra exchange students who might take it, it's going to be really chaotic in there."

"Why do you suppose that is? Doesn't sound like it's gonna be an easy feat for the professor teaching it. I certainly hope that they have an assistant or something to help out . . ." said Ginny, exiting the Great Hall with her friends, every sixth and seventh year currently out in the hall and all heading towards the same destination.

Within several minutes time, outside in the front of castle, Ginny's and Harry's curiosity had been quenched -- at least in regards to how every student would fit inside their classroom.

For apparently, the great outdoors was to be their "classroom," as an abundant of yellow cushions set in five, circular rows were placed neatly upon a soft patch of grass.

Directly within the center of the primary circle was a single, larger cushion, brighter in its yellow tint, also unoccupied much like its smaller companions.

"Hmph. What is this? Are we going to hold hands and tell one another how much we love the other? Oh! Or, even better! Maybe we'll manifest our AWOL professor and tell them how much we adore them?" chided a sneering Malfoy from behind, surrounded by his usual following, as he purposely rammed into Harry's shoulder while passing and taking the lead of the massive group approaching.

"Well, I've already found the down side to taking this class," mumbled an irritated Will, coming up from the rear and beginning to walk next to Harry, who was frowning bitterly.

He nodded heavily, exhaling slowly just as the two stopped a few feet away from the well placed cushions.

"Tell me about it. You've only had to put up with him for one day -- try taking him on for seven years. It's a wonder I haven't gone mad because of him . . ."

Well . . . for that . . . and other things . . . Harry thought morosely, after responding to his new friend, looking directly across from him to watch his rival whisper something no doubt sinister into a neutral-looking Hotaru, who was standing next to him.

Suddenly, Harry felt dreadfully debilitated, wishing he could go back up to his room, or even back to his relatives (however, never by choice or desire on both ends), the Dursleys, just to try to get away from the nagging, incessant and parasitic emotions eating away at his tough resolve not to get involved with the dark vixen Hotaru.

But, how was that ever going to be possible, when she had been in almost every single class with him today? And if she wasn't, she was still very much on his mind; it might not have always been within the foreground, but she was there nonetheless.

Harry was about to try to switch spots with Ron, when a loud, popping sound suddenly sounded through the air.

Cries of alarm filtered into the atmosphere, as a large, billowing cloud of yellow smoke appeared within the primary circle above the equally canary cushion.

"Please! Do not be alarmed, my bright new pupils! This is just my way of showing off and making a bit of grand entrance!" a deep, melodic type of voice with a distinct, yet undetectable accent bellowed out from within the now diminishing smoke.

". . . It is also my way . . . of greeting you . . ."

When the smoke completely cleared, the students gradually calming down (Ron and Harry snickered to themselves at catching a rattled Malfoy clinging onto Goyle, and then immediately shoving him off before anyone else could have seen), they could all now see a very tall, slender young man standing before them, with a gentle smile spreading across his tawny face. Loose strands of his long, silky and snow white pony-tailed hair gently caressed his visage with the help of a sudden, cool breeze.

While the boys all gazed at their new teacher with genuine curious eyes, the majority of the girls, however, looked on with dreamy, half lidded eyes and resembling Luna in that offense (who, ironically, at that very moment, found the few speckles of dirt upon her new shoes to be far more fascinating).

Harry lasted a good thirty seconds before giving into his own, private intrigue and checked to see if even Hotaru was now entranced by the dashing young man. He was relieved to see, however, that although she was observing her new professor, her gaze held no look of adoration but only of mere respect.

But, wait -- you shouldn't care if she fancies him or not, Harry, remember? You shouldn't and you don't. You don't.

Harry, so caught up in his silent reassurance of his newfound "immunity" to the dark haired beauty, almost didn't hear the enigmatically silver-eyed gentleman speak once again, this time in introduction.

"Greetings, everyone! My name is Professor Latnemele Tirips, and I am quite confident that all of you know which class this is. However, in case it has perchance fleeted from your memory so suddenly on your way here -- just in the same way that a Muggle kite might from one's hand with the help of a strong enough wind -- this is Elemental Magic," he said, turning slowly around within his minuscule sphere to get a chance to face each of his countless students, while a gentle simper grazed his lips.

"Now, while again, I am ever confident that the bulk of you know what class this is, indeed, I am also very confident that the majority do not know why you are in it."

Everyone who could see Professor Tirips merely stared blankly at him, confusion setting in, as he mysteriously trailed off, while those who could only hear him waited anxiously for him to continue.

Professor Tirips tucked the strands that had been continuously tickling at his flawless features gingerly behind his ear before elaborating and clasped his hands behind his back.

"Now, then! Before we officially begin our class and I ask you to take a seat on the very comfortable cushions placed before you, allow me to ask you all a bit more formally: why are you in this class?

Of all of the offered, free-choice classes to take and subjects to study, what compelled you to ultimately choose this as the one that would be the first of your afternoon classes? I must warn you, however, that this is more of a rhetorical question, so no hand-raising need be necessary."

The apparent eccentric that was Professor Tirips patiently stood within his ring, expecting his students to actually bother to search within themselves to figure out their reasons for deciding to take his class.

". . . If I'd have known that this abandoned art form of magic was going to be taught by some jolly old crackpot, I'd have never have signed up . . ." murmured an auburn haired Ravenclaw sixth year two circular rows behind Harry's, his voice dripping with disdain.

"And it seems we have a first of many assorted reasons why we have joined my class! Who said that, so that I may commend you on your honesty!" said a cheery Professor Tirips without an ounce of sarcasm within his voice.

The poor sixth year looked positively ashen, as he slowly raised his hand and brought his instructor's attention reluctantly onto him. Professor Tirips, however, simply continued to smile and shook his head.

"No need to look frightened, my good man! On the contrary, you should feel relieved, for you just demonstrated -- although verbally, which, again, had not been required -- exactly what I had asked.

You searched within yourself to find the true reason why you signed up for this course; and, from the sound of the things, it appears as though you remain within any of your chosen classes only if the professor is credible -- otherwise, you leave, correct?"

Those around him watched as the meek-resembling Ravenclaw slowly nodded, his tanned cheeks growing rosy.

Professor Tirips lightly chuckled at this.

"No need to be so abashed! It simply means that your motivation happens to intellect, and surrounding yourself with equal -- if not better -- geniuses such as yourself, yes? Then I am afraid that I might have wasted your time, as I have am indeed not the smoothest wand within Ollivander's shop.

So! For those of you who joined this class based upon the type of teacher you would acquire are free to go! Also, anyone who might have signed up as a way to pass the time; cast foolish spells; try to earn the attention of your secret admirer just because they signed up; or, perhaps because a friend did, and anything else I may have neglected to mention -- as I am sure I have -- then you are also free to leave, as well."

Hesitating a moment, looking on in shock, the Ravenclaw boy gave a small shrug before stepping out of the circle and headed back towards the castle, several others following suit.

By the time the last individual had gone, a little more than a third of the class had left. Despite this, however, Professor Tirips continued to leer warmly, as he pulled out his wand from within his golden robes.

"Now, then! Won't need the extra cushions, now will we? Please! The rest of you -- do have a seat at long last!" he stated cheerfully, waving his wand and causing the abandoned surplus of cushions to vanish just as the remaining students sat down.

To Harry's dismay (as well as delight), while he, his new, jovial professor (who, for some reason, reminded him more and more of Hay Lin in a way), and his old and new friends all sat down upon the comfortable cushions together, he saw that Hotaru was one of the still good amount of students who had chosen to stay behind. Even more so distressing than that, so had Malfoy, as well as his following (who undoubtedly had because of their leader).

Professor Tirips took a slow, relaxing deep breath, just as another calming breeze swirled around them, before both he and his ample cushion suddenly levitated several feet from off of the ground.

"There, now . . . In this way, everyone can both hear and see me while I instruct -- and feel relaxed and cheerful, since yellow is a very happy color, after all; it's why I chose it as the hue for your cushions, you know. I thought we'd start our first of many days together on a blissful note."

"Um . . . excuse me, professor, but . . . speaking of class . . . It's already been about twenty minutes in, with only just a half an hour remaining, and we've not even begun to do any book work yet," questioned a slightly bothered Hermione, flipping open her textbook to the first page and earning a few resentful stares from some of her fellow students, who happened to be rather enjoying the continuous lax setting their instructor had been providing.

Professor Tirips beamed at this and lightly shook his head.

"I applaud your eagerness to learn, my young pupil -- an admiring quality, indeed! Alas, there will be another time for book work; today, and for the remaining half hour as you were so kind to point out, we will simply . . . listen . . . Listen to the wind blow, as it roams free with its endless amount of energy and unlimited boundaries . . ."

And so, for the remainder of their very abnormal, yet very "liberating" first Elemental Magic class (with a few given murmurs from Hermione, stating how this was stunting her academic flourishing, while Ron would occasionally whisper of how he was now glad that she'd forced him to take it), every sixth and seventh year, as well as foreign exchange student present "meditated." The very thing they were "listening" to, meanwhile, kept them all company, as it played with their belongings and robes, causing them to "dance."

While he did this, two questions persistently ran through Harry's less than relaxed mind: was the immensely idiosyncratic Professor Latnemele Tirips' class always going to carry on in this manner; and, more importantly, was Harry always going to feel so lacerated over the regrettably surrendered opportunity that was the esoteric Hotaru.

--End of Chapter Four

(A.N. Chyea, I know -- such a "lazy" sort of ending. Yes, yes, I am not REALLY REALLY fond of it, myself. I'll change it later . . . Of course, that won't matter to any of YOU because YOU won't get to see/read the changes I'd make cuz it's on my disk. LoL

And I'm sure I've missed a few editorial mistakes, but it's 2:54 am in the morning right now, and I just can't go back and re-read what I already manually edited before coming onto the computer to do it. I just CAN'T. This thing was SO evil to me! I SWEAR, I've must have tried at LEAST a dozen times this past week to edit it on the computer, and EVERY time I got pretty far into the process, this evil thing crashed on me! Grr . . . hiss . . . spit. LoL

ANY-blippin-way, WASN'T that fun reading this chapter, kiddies? It was like being there on their first day back with them, right? ) Y'know who this new teacher reminds me of? A hippie. LoL Cuz he's all, "Duuuuuude, check out this nature and junk . . . it's like . . . HERE, man . . ." LoL Okay, sorry; I'm in a giggly-stupid mood right now; it's the massive fatigue/sleepiness. :)

So, yeah! I don't REALLY REALLY like this chapter, but overall I think I did a pretty good job of it. Poor Harry and his "forever," getting annoying teenage angst about Hota-chan. As my good friend, Michael loves to tell ME just to annoy me since he knows I hate the phrase: build a bridge already, Harry, and get over it. LoL And WHAT was up with Cornelia at lunchtime? Geez . . . ;) I think MY favorite scene, besides the surprisingly creative/neat description of the Sphinx eggs bit I did -- which would TOTALLY kick arse to get a fanart picture of one HeHe -- would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Yan Lin, and their talking about Fylgjas/Dopplegangers. Creepy stuff, huh? LoL

Not sure if you've noticed just yet, but yours truly is kind of a huge mythology buff and just knowledge-crazy overall. ;) So while I did reinforce some of the info from some of my books and random sites I'm gonna promptly cite before someone comes at me and "yells," most of that stuff came from me own noggin. ;) That is, the "facts" and stuff. Some parts I manipulated and stretched out to fit the plot, in case some of you are like, "Hey, they don't do that." or whatever. So, yeah! That's that, I think. I HAVE to finally update my frickin' other stories, too already! Phew:) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! LOTS AND LOTS OF REVIEWS! C'MON, MY PALS! PLEASE DON'T JUST READ MY STORY, OR "HIT" IT -- AS I SEE I HAVE 1044 HITS AND ONLY 25 REVIEWS -- AND DON'T LEAVE AT LEAST some KIND OF REVIEW . . . SNIFF. :)

Oh, yeah! And I know there's no such words as "Marsien" or "Saturnian," when I referred to Rei and Hotaru in that manner. However, for those who've read my Sailormoon ficcies on here, I don't like calling Rei a "Martian Princess" because it doesn't really sound "regal" enough -- plus it sounds just plain weird for her. LoL And I just think "Saturnian" sounds cool, so yeah. There you go. LoL

ALSO, PLEASSSSSSSSSE do NOT leave me a review, telling me how I got my "facts wrong" about anything in regards to Harry's teachers, or Yan Lin being dead technically. Please, once more - as I am SURE someone will be lazy and NOT read my clear statement about how while this story holds true, for the most part, to everyone's personality and plot -- slightly -- it is an alternate reality. THANK you. :)

To learn more about the infamous legend/myth of the doppleganger, feel free to e-me and I'll give you the sites I'd referred to, since they don't show up on here. :)