Chapter 5: Conglomeration of Feelings and Mysteries (Part One)
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: Hmm. Last update was November 18, 2005, and still not a lot of reviews. No surprise; don't care anymore. Anyhow, this chapter was thirteen pages long, and I'm still not finished with it. And while I didn't want to divide the chapter up, that's what I did (and it's still eight pages long, this chapter). So the chapter's main point/plot isn't yet revealed in this first half, but it's still good, nonetheless. But I'm basically talking to myself here, cuz no one reads this anyway.
This chapter was created/written in November 2005.
Evening could not have fallen any sooner for the students of Hogwarts, ushering in a much desired and well earned reprieve from the first day's already rigorous school studies. And after having replenished their willowing energy by filling their stomachs with as much food as it could handle, each student went about his or her business to engage in random activities before bedtime.
Until the time came for their evening lessons of Double Potions and Astronomy to commence precisely an hour away, both sets of Japanese and American women all went their separate ways within the enchanted castle to unwind a bit.
Mizuno Ami, however, chose to get a head start on her homework, as always, including her Care of Magical Creatures project that she had promptly managed to coerce her "leftover partner," Minako, into (as everyone else had been paired off by the time the jolly giant, Hagrid, had gotten to the two of them that morning).
"Why can't we just relax for a bit, instead of already barreling into this thing?" Ami listened to the blonde beauty before her complain, as the two sat by one of the many windows within the Ravenclaw common room that early evening.
"We only have one hour to kill before diving into our extra studies, after all. Let's use it wisely!"
Ami couldn't help but lightly smile as she began to reflect upon her friend's current, momentary relapse into her former childhood immaturity. Truth be told, the Ice Maiden was surprised at the peculiar Sorting Hat's announcement of having placed Minako into Ravenclaw alongside her, as it was understood that their house was apparently considered the most intelligent.
It was not to undermine the Love Goddess's own sagacity, however. It was simply due to the substantial evidence that had piled up against the young woman over the years, to suggest her lack of . . . dedication, as it were, to anything non-related to comics, boys, and idol singers.
Ami instantly felt extraordinarily guilty for being already so doubtful of her long time friend's capabilities, which caused her milky hued cheeks to heat up with distress. However, having always been one to base her opinion or views more so upon logic, concrete evidence and facts above anything else, Ami simply could not help herself (in addition to silently worrying for her friend's overall success throughout the rest of the year).
Coming out of her melancholy thoughts just in time to hear Minako heave a bored and frustrated sigh, Ami looked up from her open notebook and gazed kindly at her, readjusting her oval-shaped glasses she'd strategically put on whenever studying.
"Mina-chan, you know that I like to maximize my time as efficiently as possible -- and starting our homework now will only ensure more free time later on," she logically reasoned, reaching out in front of her to open Minako's own notebook for her.
"Now, let's at least begin taking observatory notes on the Sphinx egg first, ne?"
Sighing, Minako carefully placed the awesome egg that had been cradled within her hands onto the table between them. She watched with bored eyes as the unborn creature's continued blood transfusion sporadically decorated its protective shell, as well as the faint, light brown speckles that were gradually beginning to act as a garnish.
"What's to jot down, though? It's looking and doing the same thing it has been since we'd first acquired it into our custody, and when you already started to take notes about it onto you palm," she commented lazily, looking out the window as she stretched in her seat, watching the sun steadily setting behind the tall, proud trees that stoically guarded the castle.
She could see her reflection against the smooth glass staring back at her with mirrored expressions and surroundings. In the corner, Minako saw the orange gleam of fire as it danced with blazing glory within the common room's currently lit fireplace, generously warming up the room in the process.
Curled up in front of it (a bit too close to it, in Minako's opinion) was Taranee, who sat alone, reading a book. The ostensibly shy, quiet girl seemed almost "at home" in her spot, as her face continued to reflect that of complete and utter serenity. Even the flames, themselves, seemed to be somehow thriving off of her presence, burning as though solely for her.
Reminds me off Rei when she's meditating, thought Minako of her best friend with a small smile, before finally tearing her blue eyes away from the window. Looking back at her other friend present, expecting to see her vigorously scribbling down several perpetually well detailed notes into her notebook, Minako was surprised to find the blue haired genius instead simply looking sadly down at it. Her quill rested immobile and untouched in front of her, a rare sight to behold where she was concerned.
". . . Ami-chan? What is it?" asked Minako worriedly as she reached out a comforting hand to her.
Ami immediately looked up in surprise, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment as though forgetting for a moment that she had company.
"Nani? Oh, gomen, Mina-chan . . . I was just . . . Well, I was remembering of how Hotaru would come to me for extra tutoring for her science and math classes back home-- not that she needed my help, though . . .
She was so extraordinarily bright-- if anything, I'd secretly consider her a future rival, since the two of us had shared our common interest in medicine like Mamoru-san . . ." she said softly, her ocean blue eyes glistening with reflection and unshed tears.
She felt Minako wrap a warm hand around her own, and gently squeezed it in comfort and understanding.
". . . I remember that . . . I also remember of how I'd sometimes treat both she and Chibiusa-chan to a shopping spree or day at the spa . . . It would always seem to cheer her up and make her forget about her weakening health and sometimes lonesome home life . . .
I'd like to think that we'd managed to make her feel happy, accepted and loved throughout our friendship with her, ne?" said Minako quietly, after having embarked into her own reminiscence of their seemingly former friend, Hotaru.
Looking up at her blonde friend, Ami slowly nodded in partial assurance.
"I truly believe that she did, Mina-- I really do . . . And, even if she didn't from us, specifically, I know that, without a doubt, she always knew of how much Chibiusa cared for her . . . Those two were inseparable . . ."
Nodding herself in agreement, Minako looked back out the window and sighed, just as a single tear began to trickle down her creamy cheek.
". . . It's just . . . It's just so weird to be talking about her as though she were still dead . . . As though she was never reborn back into this world with the rest of us after Chaos had been defeated . . ." she whispered morosely, pressing her other, free hand against the cool surface of the window.
"Well, technically . . . That's exactly what happened, if you remember what Setsuna said . . . Our Hotaru is dead, and dead too are all of her memories of us . . . I don't know whether to cheer for her second chance at life with a clean slate, or cry at the great, personal loss we're now suffering because of it . . ." Ami weakly contemplated, for once at a loss for a sound idea as her heart was currently breaking too much to even try.
As if reading her thoughts, Minako suddenly cleared her throat and began to verbalize what the smaller girl was about to.
". . . If we're in such turmoil over this, then you know Setsuna-san must be in agony over it all . . . And then to come here to find her attending this school as well? I can only imagine what a slap in the face it must have been for her . . ."
Ami didn't have to bother to respond for Minako to know that she agreed with her point, as the mutual despair on the matter was currently being broad casted within her eyes.
Hotaru had truly been like the daughter the mysterious and distant older senshi never had, and so having to stand idly by, losing her all over again and watch her lead a life separate from their own was undoubtedly going to be a continuous heart wrenching endurance, despite the opposing sentiments she had projected to her younger pupils earlier that day.
Wiping another stray tear away from her cheek, Minako slowly turned her blurred eyes away from the window once more, before weakly picking up her quill and forced a smile.
". . . Well, suddenly I don't feel much like doing 'nothing.' How's about we finish up this homework to help keep our minds off of the past and unchangeable present, before we drown everyone in here with our tears?"
Managing to conjure up a small, but genuine simper of her own, Ami gave Minako's hand one last squeeze before picking up her own quill to recommence her studies.
At least we still have each other, she thought as she let go of Minako's hand and turned a page in one of her textbooks.
And so maybe that will be enough to help us through this now trying time to get over losing one of own . . .
YYYYYYYYY
Taranee sat alone, curled up upon the floor in front of the broad, currently roaring fireplace inside of the Ravenclaw common room. She still had about an hour of free time before her two night lessons began, and around fifteen minutes until she had to meet Hay Lin to begin working on their Sphinx egg project.
I can see that Minako and Ami had the same idea, she noted to herself as she peered over the top edge of the book she was reading to gaze upon her new friends.
As a matter of fact, the rest of the occupants within the common room seemed to share the same notion of conducting their studies, she'd noticed, as they had scattered themselves around the room with bodies hunched over their work.
I think I'm only one in here not doing homework, marveled Taranee, the fire before her crackling within her ears.
And that's actually a first, since I'm usually the first one to suggest doing so whenever hanging out after school with the gang. I guess I'm just too anxious about these additional lessons, maybe . . . But, even still, I'm entitled to indulge in my occasional "lazy moments," since today was pretty jam packed with work as it was . . .
Gazing into the fire's intense being, Taranee smiled softly as the warmth cascaded over her body. Closing her bright, naturally inquisitive brown eyes, her mind began to replay the day's events with a tired, yet satisfied relish.
After all that she'd seen and been through as a Guardian of the Veil, coming to this school and immersing herself within its magic oriented environment continued to trump it by comparison. It truly had been an eye opening experience for the profound young woman to see magic being practiced so willingly and openly, with teachers encouraging it to be done.
I wonder what they'd say or do if they knew that I can control fire at will, she mused silently, unable to resist the impulse to blindly reach out a hand towards the mini inferno in front of her.
The familiar feeling of her red-orange magic began to build up within her and protrude out of her outstretched fingers. Taranee didn't have to open her eyes to know that little wisps of fire from the fireplace were now reaching out to playfully zigzag and swirl in between her fingers, while miraculously leaving them without scorch marks.
A small, content smile slowly began to caress her mocha tinted lips at the same instant a startled cry rang out through the atmosphere.
Falling backward, Taranee's eyes snapped open to see both Minako and Ami rushing toward her, concern and fear shining within their own orbs.
"Taranee! Are you all right? It looked like your hand was on fire!" exclaimed Ami heatedly, trying to examine the surprised girl's appendage.
Uh, oh, thought Taranee. I guess I got carried away there for a minute . . . Maybe I should stay away from open flames while I'm here, just in case-- well, that I didn't start myself, anyway.
Forcing a nervous smile across her face, Taranee shook her head vigorously in response, the multicolored beads within her braid making a clacking sound in the process.
"Oh! Uh . . . I-I'm okay! Really! See?" she hastily assured, hurriedly flicking off remnants of the red-orange sparkles of magic from off of her fingers, before raising them in front of her face for them to see.
Scratching her head in confusion, Minako bit down upon her pink glossed lip as she peered at the unscathed hand before speaking.
". . . But, I swear I saw that your hand was on fire . . . Yey here it is, no burns or scarring . . . I guess we were just seeing things, since no one else has even flinched," she reasoned, the three gazing around the room at this.
True enough, their fellow Ravenclaw house mates had not budged from their spots, heads still buried within their work. One Ravenclaw boy, however, casually rose from his seat right then and made his way to the other side of the room. As he passed he smiled at the girls -- particularly at Taranee-- and said,
". . . I guess you've never seen a 'Fire Illusion' spell before where you two girls are from, huh? Nicely performed, by the way-- you're a pretty skillful witch, it seems. Glad to have you in Ravenclaw with us."
Blushing, Taranee could only nod in acknowledgment and smile as she watched him continue on a moment, before turning her attention back to her two Japanese friends (who were also blushing, although in embarrassment).
". . . Gee . . . I knew we'd inevitably embarrass ourselves while here in some way, but I didn't think that it'd be so soon," she heard Minako mumble softly in Japanese to Ami (apparently forgetting that it was Taranee out of her five friends who had been the only one who understood the language fluently enough), who in turn slowly nodded in agreement before flashing a shy smile at Taranee.
"W-well, at least you're all right, Taranee! And that's what counts! But, how did you learn that spell so fast? When I was flipping through our textbooks earlier today before class, I came across that one, and it says that while it's a fairly easy spell to cast, only a few can perform it immensely well.
And even though Minako and I were at distance when we saw you do it, from the looks of it you were doing a very impressive job of it, Taranee. How did you learn it so quickly and on your own?" she curiously inquired, while Taranee sensed a mixture of awe and jealousy emitting from her.
Taranee smiled inwardly at this for a moment, taking vast pride pride in how far she'd come with her magic over the years. Had it been back when she was fourteen and first endowed with the power over fire, she would have still been deathly afraid of that fact and continued to avoid practicing her skill as she'd used to in the beginning. Now, however, at the overly confident (for the most part) age of seventeen and second strongest Guardian next to Will, Taranee honestly felt that what she had just performed was a simple walk in the park.
Now, though, I'll have to see if I really could be one of those who can perform that spell 'extraordinarily,' she thought in entertained wonder, as she flashed the blue haired girl a sheepish grin.
"Uh . . . I guess I'm just a quick study!" she said weakly, closing her book and resting it upon her lap.
Minako smirked gently and lightly nudged Ami's shoulder with her elbow.
"You don't say? Looks like you've got some competition, Ami-chan! Ami, here, is a notorious genius back home -- aren't you, Ami? There isn't anything on pen and paper that she can't instantly excel at."
Taranee watched as the presumably diffident young woman blushed profusely and smiled meekly (although her chromatic eyes shone with the same amount of pride that Taranee herself had been harboring not moments before).
Apparently Minako's not exaggerating, thought Taranee, surprised that she was beginning to feel jealous (also in the same manner Ami had, undoubtedly for the same reasons).
Although she had never been one to boast about her own grand intellect, Taranee had also never been in the habit of belittling it, either. And, while the prospect of having a friendly academic rival didn't bother her, it still made her feel vaguely threatened.
Just how intelligent was Ami Mizuno, anyway?
Clearing her throat, Taranee forced a small, tight smile onto her face as Ami spoke.
"Oh, Mina, stop. I'm really not that smart. I just study hard and try my best, that's all," she said, her blush intensifying.
Obviously very intelligent, Taranee silently answered the posed wonderment for herself, recognizing the false modesty within the Japanese girl's voice that she herself would often implement whenever praised for her academics back in Heatherfield or her hometown of Faden Hills.
"But since you've already mastered it, maybe you wouldn't mind giving Minako and me a few pointers for later on once we've learned it, ourselves?"
"Yeah, especially if it'll result in earning the attention of the guys here-- or, in Ami's case, the attention of a specific red haired young man," remarked Minako, lightly giggling at Ami's instantly mortified gaping in her direction.
Taranee felt her heart cringe with the familiar pang of regrettable realization. Although there were several other red heads floating around the school she had encountered thus far (and so Ami's interest could have been upon any of them), Taranee had a strong inkling that it was upon the very same young man with whom she'd found herself immediately drawn to upon meeting him a day ago. After all, she did promptly observe the vague, yet still present flirtations between the two after they had met.
"Taranee? You're awfully quiet . . . Is everything all right?" asked Ami, piercing through Taranee's brooding thoughts.
Blinking, the Fire Guardian nodded slowly for what felt like the umpteenth time in the past several minutes and smiled weakly.
". . . Y-yeah . . . I was just thinking of something . . ."
"Oh, yeah? Of what? Hopefully nothing stress-related already," said Minako, resting a calming hand upon her shoulder.
Hit the nail on the head with that one, thought Taranee, a bit too sarcastically for her taste. And she's not even a telepath like I am.
As if on cue, her mind was suddenly infiltrated by a female voice that was not her own, and was emitting fast, impatient thoughts.
Taranee! Where are you? I know you can hear this! And since you can, shake a leg, because you're already five minutes late!
Feeling more expectant than surprised at this mental outburst, Taranee merely smiled as hurriedly stood up.
"Actually, yes it is, Minako! I was just thinking of how I'm late to meet with Hay Lin in the library to work on our own project together! I better get going! But, I'll see you both later at our night lessons!" she said quickly, already sprinting towards the opening in the wall that led out of the common room and into the hall.
"Saved by the bell-- or in this case, the mental bell that is Hay Lin," she mused softly as she headed down the hall and down a flight of stairs that would lead her to the library.
"It would've been pretty awkward if I had to get into detail about how it's quite possible that my new friend might have the hots for the same guy that I do. But, now I'm wondering how he feels and if --"
Taranee's breath sharply caught within her throat as her eyes met with the familiar pair of chestnut jewels that made her heart skip a beat whenever they laid upon her.
"Oh! Uh . . . Taranee! I'm so sorry! I almost ran you over!" Taranee heard him say, too far in a daze to muster up any sort of reply.
". . . Taranee? You all right?"
Shaking her head furiously, she smiled sheepishly at the young man before her, who nervously reached out a comforting hand to rest upon her arm.
Who, me? I'm in heaven now, thanks to you, she thought with a sigh, before verbally responding.
"Huh? Oh, yeah! I'm just fine, Ron, thanks! I was . . . I was just heading to the library to meet my friend, Hay Lin. You remember her, right?"
Ron nodded slowly and smiled a lopsided grin at her, as he dropped his hand away from her person (regrettably, she secretly hoped).
"The one with the blonde pigtails, yeah? Wait, no-- that's Usagi, the 'bottomless pit' of a girl. She's a trip, that one. Anyway, let me think . . . Oh! The other one with pigtails! She's also a really bubbly one. Yeah, I remember now," he said, a small but growing blush forming upon his face.
God, he's even more cute when he does that, if that's even possible, Taranee swooned inwardly.
"So . . . Where are you going?" she managed to ask, while the rest of her remained entranced by his wonderful presence.
"Hmm? Oh! I actually just came from the library, myself, after having been dragged there by Hermione to do our homework. Can you believe it? After seven years of friendship, she still prefers to act more like a mother than my friend.
Then again, my own Mum never gets on me about homework as much as Hermione always does. She's a bit of the resident genius, that one . . ."
Taranee felt her friendly expression falter a bit as she listened to her crush drone on about his friend-- whom he was evidently pretty close with, whether he realized it or not.
But, just how close? It figures that I have to pick a guy who assuredly has his own fan club of admirers-- well, assuming that he's the red head Ami's also crushing on, and Hermione probably likes, as well, for all I know . . . Now, he most likely won't even give me the time of day, she reflected miserably, biting down onto her naturally pouty lips.
"But, I'm sure you could give her a run for her money, though, Taranee. According to your other friend, Will, you're quite the little 'know-it-all,' yourself. Oh! Not that that's a bad thing, or that I was asking questions about you, either!
I just meant . . . R-right, then! I think I'll let you go to the library, now, and I'll just . . . go. See you in the morning!" said Ron, the rouge within his lightly freckled cheeks set ablaze by that point as he stumbled over his words, before offering a quick wave and grin and hurriedly walked up the stairs past her, two at a time.
Taranee, too much in a surprised stupor at what had just transpired to utter a reply, merely stood in her place with a goofy, crooked smile slowly spreading across her face after at last realizing what had just happened.
"Ah . . . man after my own heart, he is . . . Maybe there's some hope, after all . . ."
-- End of Part One
(A.N. Obviously this first half is pretty "emotional" as they all adjust to their "new life," but that's a given, I think. There's far too many people I've incorporated into this story to NOT display emotional scenes in here. So yeah. If that pisses anyone off, sorry, but there it is. Part One. Gotta finish editing part two and revise the ending, so it should be out in a little bit. Please leave a review for this to let me know what you thought of it.)