Prue: Why, happy belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Aimee: *sweat drop* Prue, they dont know you yet.
Prue: *sweat drop* Okay well then. Im Prudence Rose P-
Aimee: Thats enough intro for you.
Prue: How bout this: My name is Prue, but I'm not Prue Halliwell from Charmed, but I am named after her! ^-^
Aimee: *blinks* O-kay...
Prue: *whispers* I'm a character in Aimee's story too, but unfortunately, my part doesnt come up yet.
Kero: Hurry up! I want the party to get started!
Prue: Aimee, he wants his present.
Aimee: *rolls eyes* Yeah, yeah, whatever. Be patient, Kero.
Prue: Patience is a virtue, and so is prudence! ^-^
Aimee: *mutters* Maybe I shouldn't give you guys your present.
Kero: Hey, I heard that!
Aimee: Well, if you didn't give Suppi sugar, you would deserve it!
Kero: *whines* It's the Christmas season, Aimee! The season of giving!
Ruby Moon: C'mon! What kind of party is this?
Prue: Isn't it the snow bunny's birthday?
Suppi: Let's check! *checks calendar* December 25: Yukito's birthday. Yup, I guess it is.
Yukito: Dont forget, January 3: Aimees birthday.
Aimee: Well since its Christmas Break, I decided to write a holiday special in honor of Christmas, Yukis b-day, New Years, and my birthday!
Kero: And YES! I get a speaking part!
Yue: It's not a chapter, it's a story related to the main story.
Prue: Wow! Yue spoke more than seven words!
Aimee: He's just lucky to have a part in the story too.
Nakuru: And what are we? Chopped liver?
Aimee: Well, if I decide to finish part 2 of this story, then you'll show up, Nakuru.
Ruby Moon: At least she's mentioned in this story! *wails* What about me?
Prue: You get to introduce the story, Ruby Moon.
Ruby Moon: *happy* Okay!
Aimee: Don't forget the disclaimer.
Ruby Moon: *rolls eyes* Eriol Hiiragizawa, Tomoyo Daidjouji, Kaho Mizuki, and blah blah blah belong to Clamp; Lily Evans, James Potter, Harry Potter, and so on belong to J. K. Rowling. Anyone else belongs to Aimee, and so does the ideas of this story
Everybody: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ruby Moon: Hey! Disclaimer over! Just read this, even though its not a chapter, because it gives major spoilers to the rest of the story, so thats your Christmas present from Aimee to you! Dont forget to review. Hey, everybody, wake up!

Eriol looked at his wife lovingly. They were finally married! He smiled. Tomoyo certainly had changed; now the bitterness that she held about Sakura's wedding was long gone. Now she was able to love again.

Ring ring.

Eriol stroked Tomoyo's hair lovingly before leaving the bed to answer the phone. The thought that it was at the dead of night and no one would dream of calling then never occurred to him.

"Eriol."

"Kaho?" He hadn't heard her voice in yearsthe last was when she broke up with him. But Eriol knew that Kaho wouldn't call him if it werent important.

"Eriol, he's coming. Tom Riddle wants to inflict pain, to harm-"

Eriol wasn't even listening anymore. Voldermort? After him? Oh, good lords- Eriol's panicked gaze rested on the peacefully sleeping Tomoyo.

No, I can't have him come here. Tomoyo- I'm sorry, but this is for your safety. I don't want you to die. Better me than you.

Eriol hung the phone up and used his magic to quickly gather the things he needed. Before leaving the room, he turned back to gaze at Tomoyo one last time. He kissed her soft, sweet lips then closed the door behind him.

The Christmas I Spent Without You, part 1

Year 16

"Wow, the tree looks great, Yelan!"

"Need help with the star?"

"Yum! Can I have more?

"Hey, come back here with my present!"

Tomoyo Hiiragizawa looked at the joyful Christmas scene before with a trace of a smile. But that nagging feeling- that feeling of loneliness would be always in her heart. It would never go away.

Not until he came back, because only he could fill that void.

And the void widened as every year passed that she spent without him. Sure, there were people who could subdue this pain... Sakura, Ying Fa, Eli, Meiling... but only to soften this hurt.

This was year sixteen already. He left on the 25th of June: Christmas marked half the year passed. So it was sixteen and a half years. That was a hundred ninety-eight months. And she wouldn't even start on how many days...

And now... Sakura was gone. Having both of them gone was too much of a blow on her. Tomoyo knew that they were not dead. It was a deep instinct within her that she could not contradict. They were gone in a way that she could no longer reach them.

If Tomoyo couldn't bear it when Ying Fa and Eli had gone, this was much worse. Oh, how she hoped that this Christmas would be different.

It will be, Tomoyo knew. It has to be different.

~Flashback (but in the same year)~

Tomoyo opened the door to see the most unpleasant woman she had ever encountered. Tomoyo struggled to smile pleasantly, glad that Meiling and Xiefa were right behind her.

"To what may I owe the pleasure of seeing you, Madam Umbridge?" Tomoyo said, her voice pleasant.

Dolores Umbridge's face was twisted in a frown. Whether or not it was a good thing, Tomoyo didn't know.

"Please, come in," Meiling said just as courteously.

"No thank you, I'd rather make this quick and short," Umbridge said tartly.

"Dolores..." Xiefa warned. Xiefa had a higher ranking of office in the Ministry, and Dolores had to give the commanded respect that the position demanded.

"Here," Umbridge said, thrusting a thick manila envelope to Tomoyo.

"What's this?" Tomoyo questioned. It couldn't be right? Her breath was caught when Tomoyo took the papers out and read the opening letter. Meiling peered over her shoulder

"It's the papers granting you to have your children back under your custody," Umbridge said sourly, as if she really didn't want that to happen.

"Tomoyo," Meiling breathed. "You get to have Ying Fa and Eli again!"

"Thank kami!" Tomoyo squealed happily as she hugged everyone, even Umbridge. Life was beginning to look up.

~End Flashback~

Tomoyo smiled at the flashback. Ying Fa would be delighted. How Tomoyo couldnt wait to see her daughter again!

Tomoyo looked around the empty room. This house is where everything startedfrom when Eriol left... to when I met Lily.

Approx. 6 months after the departure of E. Hiiragizawa

"Tomoyo!"

"Matte!"

"Oh, Tomoyo-sama..."

The last comment came from Madison. Running blindly, tear-stricken Tomoyo tried to escape from her prison to find her husband, Eriol Hiiragizawa.

Except it wasnt a prison. It was the Li Clan Household in Hong, Kong China. Tomoyo was kept inside or else she would have went and searched after him and seriously hurt herself.

Not only herself. Her unborn children also. It was discovered that Tomoyo was going to bear twins, a daughter and a son.

And Tomoyo had magic. Technically, her unborn children bore magic, but if Tomoyo was angry and frustrated enough, she could use that magic for her own purposes

So Tomoyo would endanger more than three lives: the lives of herself, her daughter and son and perhaps even more.

Which was why Sakura and the others tried so hard to keep Tomoyo inside, where she could do very little damage. But it would also hurt Tomoyo for not doing anything.

Tomoyo stopped. She was at the front doors, the doors to her freedom. Tears still slipping down, she tried to figure out the person who was in her way.

"Oh, Tomoyo..."

Meiling.

Meiling! Meiling doesnt know, Tomoyo figured. She pushed her friend away and ran straight into someone elses arms.

"Sorry, Tomoyo, but we know about what happened and we cant let you go."

More tears fell as Tomoyo heard the great front doors closed. Everyone was against her! They didnt want to help her, they wanted to stop-

Tomoyo's train of thought stopped when she realized she was in someone's arms. Male arms. Vision still blurry, Tomoyo looked up. Black hair, the blue eyes through the glint of glasses

Then the sense of smell came through. Tomoyo pushed the imposter away. "You're not Eriol!" she screeched.

"No," The male paused. "My name is James Potter."

But Tomoyo wasn't listening. "Who are you?!" she screamed again, this time at a female.

A female who looked too familiar- but she wasn't Sakura Li, Tomoyo knew. Angry and frustrated, Tomoyo retreated back into her room. She needed to calm down. If no one would help her, she would find him herself.

Meiling looked at her students apologetically. "Lily, James, that was Tomoyo."

---

Lily Evans and James Potter, Tomoyo thought sourly.

"Tomoyo-sama, they are just here to help," the soft voice of Madison the guardian said. "In three days is Christmas Eve. They'll stay here until you decide to talk to them. Even if it means not returning back home."

"They don't have to stay here. They can go back where they came from," Tomoyo coldly said.

"They've also been missing schoolwork for the grades they need to graduate next year."

"I'm not stopping them to go back."

"They have information about Eriol-sama," Madison finally said.

Tomoyo stared coldly at the other being. "If it's not Eriol in person, then I'm not speaking to them."

Madison seriously irked Tomoyo. Madison was a Moon Guardian from the future sent back in time, to help Tomoyo through the hard times, or so she said. She looked exactly like Tomoyo, down to her wavy lilac-tinted hair to her amethyst eyes. Madison acted as Tomoyo's shadow, a really annoying shadow that Tomoyo couldn't shake off. Madison calmly pointed out the facts, but her heart went out to Tomoyo.

"You know, living in bitterness and resentment is not good for the health," a new voice said.

Meirin was the Sun Guardian to Madison. Meirin looked like Meiling, but the part that he was supposed to help Meiling through the hard times was still a mystery. Meirin had more of an outgoing personality, but like Madison, he cared for Tomoyo also.

As for who created them, the two wouldn't say. Something about they would find out later.

"Can I tell you the hard, cold truth, Tomoyo?" Meirin said. "The reason we came was not because we wanted to change the future."

"We do not have that kind of power. Your life was predestined," said Madison.

"You mean it was meant for Eriol to just go up and leave like that?" Tomoyo demanded. But the look in Madison and Meirin's eyes said a definite yes.

"We were sent because we wanted to help soothe the pain. This, right now, the absence of your husband, is just the tip of the iceberg. Even in *our* time, the hurt becomes worse."

"And when is your time?" Tomoyo snapped.

Meirin and Madison exchanged glances and nodded. "Ten years from now," Meirin said.

"And Eriol-sama still had never returned," Madison added unemotionally.

Tomoyo's face paled at the fact. Ten years and he never returned? Then her heart hardened. He'll come, and he would tell her what's going on. But the pain encased in her heart told her that Eriol wouldn't, and what Madison said about things getting worse was true.

"I'm going to sleep," Tomoyo said coldly, pulling the covers over her head. Long time ago she had diminished the hope that all of this was a nightmare and she'd wake up, finding everything the way it had been. It was really happening and she didn't know how to cope with it.

Madison and Meirin looked at each other again. We'll find a way to make sure Tomoyo talks to the wizards.

---

Tomoyo tossed and turned in her bed. Not being able to return back to the land of pleasant dreams, Tomoyo got up and decided to get a drink. Even if she was six months pregnant, she was not entirely helpless.

Outside of her room, Tomoyo hear a soft noise. Thirst forgotten, Tomoyo recognized the sound. Someone was playing the piano. Softly, so not to wake up everybody sleeping just like how Tomoyo would find Eriol when he was restless one night.

But, Tomoyo thought as she placed her hand on the handle of the door and pushed, it wouldn't be Eriol. I would have to wait least ten years… ten very long years…

The pianist sat up straighter, acknowledging Tomoyo's presence, but still continued the song. Tomoyo remembered the dark auburn hair… it would have to be Evans, since Sakura was more interested in a drum set.

Tomoyo sat near Evans, near enough for the witch to see her, but far enough so that she wouldn't interrupt her playing. Tomoyo watched her fingers move across the black and white keys as she recognized the familiar wedding song.

"I'm sorry," Lily said, still continuing to play. "But whenever I see the piano, I have the urge to play. Especially since Meiling-sensei has been teaching us music."

When the relationship between students and teacher deepened, Meiling insisted in having Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Bella, and Rhea in calling her Ms. Meiling, or Meiling-sensei, instead of Ms. Li. She immediately refused when they asked if they could call her Professor, joking that she would rather keep to her age than seem older. (The students were older than Meiling by at least three years.)

"Hong Kong is really nice. I've never been anywhere out of Europe," Lily continued, still playing on the piano. "It really is a different taste of culture. But I like it. Everything about it. Except, I'm more interested in learning the Japanese language, since my sister majors in it and speaks to me in Japanese."

Tomoyo noticed the hurt flashed in her eyes. Perhaps do worse than use the Japanese to talk to her. And she was right- Petunia targeted the insults to Lily in Japanese.

"As I've said, I had never been out of Europe. I was born in London, and my best friend was Arabella Figg. She moved, though, but when I went to Hogwarts and we became friends again." Lily paused before continuing. "Hogwarts is a school where wizards and witches learn magic. I didn't know I was one until I had gotten the letter. You see, no one else in my family has magic, so I was different than everybody else…"

Tomoyo realized what the older girl was doing. Lily was trying to make some kind of connection with her, trying to be her friend. Lily was making Tomoyo comfortable by telling all about her life, so that Tomoyo wouldn't have to think about her own problems. But she was also keeping the pain to herself so she wouldn't thrust her problems onto Tomoyo.

"But in Hogwarts I felt like I belonged there. I met more people like Bella and I, like James," Tomoyo saw the auburn haired swallow sadly as she said the name, "Rhea, Remus, Sirius, Peter, and many more. The seven of us are close friends, however." Lily smiled at the thought. "My parents wanted me to at least finish three years of college, and all of us, save Peter, went to the same college. Meiling taught us, and she is a very good teacher, despite her experience and her age."

Lily then broke off, realizing that she jumped too far in her story… now it would be the time to tell about how she and her friends found out about the Hiiragizawas. But Lily didn't want to start, at least not yet, because she knew how much love could hurt someone, and she didn't want to hurt the younger woman sitting next to her…

"Evans-san?" Lily broke out of her thoughts and looked at Tomoyo, surprised and nervous. This was the first she heard her speak calmly. Tomoyo's voice was beautiful, like she would be a great singer.

Tomoyo looked at Lily with a sad smile. "It's okay. My husband left me, and I accept that fact." And in her heart, Tomoyo did accept that Eriol was truly gone. "But I believe that he will come back, even if that day may not be soon. I will wait until that day, no matter how long it will take."

Tomoyo's eyes averted the green ones, and Lily knew that she was about to cry. Without thinking, Lily's hands left the black and white keys and wrapped around the Tomoyo. "Your husband, I bet, had a reason for leaving you. The others say that is was his destiny to leave you, but I don't care. It has to be more than that, and I know it. I met him as Eli Moon, and he taught me how to play the piano. I know where his mansion is; I used to go there before I left for Hogwarts. I'll take you there myself, when you're able to, and we'll find out exactly why he left you. I promise, as your friend, from here on now."

Year 1

"Thank you! I've always wanted this!"

"Here, Merry Christmas."

"Kawaii! Baka!"

Tomoyo suppressed a giggle as she watched her daughter say simple *sounds*, not words, but similar to the actual word first to her cousin and then to her brother. The three were inseparable.

Eriol Hiiragizawa the second, nicknamed Eli was the oldest, being born on March 31 that year. Ying Fa Lily Hiiragizawa, named after Sakura and Lily, was born on April 1, but acted older than her brother by being the first to say words. Hisui Nadeshiko Li was the youngest, born on October 31, with black hair and green eyes.

"So how do you feel?" Sakura asked. Even if it was said in a light tone to not disturb the happiness, Tomoyo's mood dropped, knowing fully well what her best friend meant.

But another glance at the children made Tomoyo smile. "Considerably better, even if I know that he won't be here in time for their first Christmas."

"You really do love them, don't you?"

Tomoyo looked directly at Sakura's emerald eyes. "Of course I do. They remind me of Eriol and how much I love him. I'm glad that I have Eli and Ying Fa when Eriol is not here."

Tomoyo then looked at her children again, missing the sad look that passed through Sakura's eyes. You could say that having magic was a burden: Sakura definitely knew what was about to come.

A small, flat package was given to Tomoyo. Tomoyo looked back to see Sakura's cheery face. "Merry Christmas," Sakura said.

"But Sakura, you've already given-"

"Just open it, Tomoyo," Sakura interrupted.

Tomoyo slid the ribbon off and gasped. "You're not serious."

Sakura grinned. "It's time for a reunion, don't you think? Syaoran and Naoko are coming too, and so are the children."

Speechless, Tomoyo looked at the three tickets in her hand bound for London.

Year 2

"Rockin' around the Christmas tree…"

"At the Christmas party hop…"

"Mistletoe hung where you can see…"

"Every couple tries to stop…"

"Rockin' around the Christmas tree…"

"Let the Christmas sprit ring…"

"Later we'll have some pumpkin pie…"

"And we'll do some caroling-"

"Like what we're doing right now!"

Laughter filled the air as they chuckled at Arabella's joking comment. The Muses: Tomoyo, Sakura, Rika, Rhea, Naoko, Meiling, Lily, Chiharu, and Bella were singing carols for the fun (or else everybody would have brought out their instruments).

Tomoyo smiled at her music group's audience: the children of The Muses. Of course, Bella, Meiling, and Naoko had none (one not able to marry, another not wanting to get married, and the other unable to bear children) but it didn't matter. Zachary, the oldest, was six and the child of Rika. Chelsea, also six, was Chiharu's daughter.

Twins Eli and Ying Fa were only a year old, but they were advanced for their age; Eli listened as if he understood when someone spoke, and Ying Fa could speak simple words. (Her vocabulary mainly centered on 'kawaii' and 'baka,' however.)

Harry was also a year old, and due to the company of the twins, he only spoke one word over and over (though no one knows what it meant): Cho. Hisui, just barely finished a year, was already displaying the sweet innocence inherited from her mother's side. And young Xiaolang jr. was still an infant.

But there was something wrong with Xiaolang, and all the mothers knew it. He cried too many times for a child his age. But Tomoyo's sharp eyes caught Bella's- Bella knew something more than everyone else. Tomoyo saw the same in Kaho's eyes.

Yep, everyone was in England alright- home to the Dark Lord Voldermort. Tomoyo, Sakura, and Meiling lived in the Mansion, the mansion that used to belong to Eriol but was given to Kaho, the mansion that was right on the border between the Wizardry World and the Muggle world. Bella lived on the Muggle side. Chiharu was visiting her aunt (Professor Sprout) on the Wizard side. Rika was also visiting, but stayed at the Mansion too. Rhea and Lily lived in Godric Hallow on the Wizard side.

Tomoyo looked back to see the seven children- well actually only six could been seen, since Sakura was worrying about Xiaolang. She smiled at the scene.

Chelsea was trying to act all grown up by sitting prim and proper, and looked disdainfully at her friend Zachary, who was his usual troublemaker self. Really, all Zach was doing was trying to make Chelsea smile, which he succeeded when he tickled her.

Then there were the four one-year-olds. Tomoyo spotted her daughter quickly- it was easy to find an auburn head in a group of brunettes. Ying Fa was glaring heatedly in two directions, her lips in a childish pout. Tomoyo smiled when she saw what made Ying Fa so angry. There was Eli, playing a game with Hisui, making her laugh and giggle. Ying Fa twitched when Hisui leapt up to hug a surprised Eli. Tomoyo shook her head, bemused. No doubt the love Tomoyo shared for her own cousin had passed down to her two children. And to have rivalry at a young age!

Then Tomoyo looked at the other person Ying Fa glared at and almost burst out laughing. Poor Harry kept looking at the little-auburn haired beauty, but every time he did, he caught the angry glare in Ying Fa's blue eyes. Quickly he would duck his head down, only to look curiously again at his- at least what Harry thought was- best friend. Ying Fa clearly knew that Harry liked her and didn't like it one bit, maybe because Harry wasn't the one she wanted to like her back. What a complicated love triangle, and only Ying Fa was the only gifted one to know the gist of it!

Tomoyo sighed and looked out to see snow falling under a crescent moon- while toying with a similar charm on her necklace. Oh Eriol, if only you were here to see this.

Year 3

"Hush little baby don't you cry…"

"Cho! Cho! Cho!"

"Yay! Cho!"

"Shhh!"

"…"

"…'K…"

Tomoyo peered from behind the door where the seven children were. Over the year, Sakura found a way to stop Xiaolang from crying- Ying Fa (or named Cho by Harry since the poor boy couldn't say "Hiiragizawa" because she wouldn't let him call her my name) Ying Fa had to hold Xiaolang and he would instantly quiet.

Ying Fa learned to cradle the now year old boy in her small arms and was rocking him in a rocking chair. She didn't know the words to the lullaby, but she could at least hum it. Harry was the one repeating her nickname, and Hisui (or Jade, who was also named by Harry) was the one congratulating her best friend for calming her brother.

Even if Tomoyo couldn't see his face, Tomoyo knew that Eli was feeling left out and jealous because of his twin sister. Chelsea and Zachary were also present; the mothers were now so busy that they trusted the seven year olds to watch the other children. Chelsea, as usual, was trying to act older than she was and reprimanded Harry and Hisui for being too loud.

Tomoyo knocked on the door so that the children would know that she was present. "Harry, Chelsea, Zachary, time to go home." The three nodded obediently and Chelsea grabbed Harry's hand so that he wouldn't get lost before he was to go home as they left the room.

"G'night, Tomo-obasan," Hisui said while she hugged Tomoyo before she plopped herself on her bed. Jade's bed was in the same room Xiaolang's cradle was in. Eli and Ying Fa's room was next door.

"Good night, Hisui-" Tomoyo caught herself and corrected it. "Good night, Jade-chan." Hisui smiled brightly- she liked her English name better. Then Hisui grabbed her teddy bear and played with it while she waited for her parents to bid her good night.

Eli hugged her too. "Good night, mommy." He left through the door that connected the children's door and sat in his bed so Tomoyo could tuck him in.

Tomoyo turned back to see her daughter. She was humming the last words, and slid off the rocker. Tomoyo took the sleeping Xiaolang in her arms so she could put him in his cradle. "Thank you, Ying-" The look in her daughter's eyes stopped her.

Ying Fa suddenly seemed older and more tired. She's not only becoming rapidly precocious, Tomoyo though, but something- no, destiny is pushing her to be more mature. With her free hand, Tomoyo reached around her daughter and hugged her tight. Ying Fa hugged back. She knows, Tomoyo realized.

Then all of a sudden a million lights exploded around her, blinding her from being able to the Li children's room clearly. Things began to refocus, but somehow it seemed like Tomoyo was not in the same room anymore. Shouts were being heard, a child's cry, but the sounds muffled. Slowly the new room and sounds were started to become clearer- "Go!" a male's voice said, someone all too familiar, and the room too, even if it was turned to shambles, and the child's cry even louder-

"Good night, okaa-san," Ying Fa said, bringing Tomoyo back to reality. Startled, Tomoyo looked at her. Ying Fa looked at her mother confused. What was that? Does Ying Fa know about this? Tomoyo pondered as she placed Xiaolang in his cradle.

Quickly, she tucked her daughter and son in their beds, kissed them good night, and turned off the light. Closing the door, she leaned on it with a sigh as she fingered her crescent moon necklace.

"Tomoyo-chan?"

Tomoyo jumped, and saw Kero. "Kero, don't do that."

Kero bypassed the comment. "What's wrong?"

Tomoyo sighed as she thought about the Order of the Phoenix meetings she went to with Sakura and Lily and the others… "It's the whole destiny thing, Kero. I don't want it to happen, but what can I do? I am nothing compared to fate."

"Fate does not control our every action, Tomoyo. Fate is just a structure we follow, a guideline throughout life. Without it, we would have no purpose to live."

Tomoyo turned to Kero, anguished. "But Ying Fa? She's just a child, Kero."

"She's more than 'just a child', and you know that, Tomoyo. It's her destiny."

Tomoyo slumped to the ground. "I hate it. I hate it, hate it, hate it." She sighed again. "Isn't there another way? Maybe Dumbledore or Minerva…"

Kero didn't know how to answer that. There was nothing to do, because destiny had already followed its course.

"I think Ying Fa knows," Tomoyo said suddenly. Kero listened. "She's been quiet lately, and more attentive to what were whispering. She may not understand it, but she at least knows the general picture…and her powers are expanding."

"Nani?!"

Tomoyo smiled sadly. "I've always wondered why it was only Ying Fa to quiet Xiaolang, and I think I know why. She's taking his premonitions away while he has them."

"Really! I never thought about that."

Tomoyo's smile turned into a frown. "But I don't think she knows that she is taking his premonitions. Or that she is using magic. She definitely needs to learn how to control it," Tomoyo said as she thought of the almost-real premonition that Ying Fa had given to her, or rather Xiaolang through her daughter.

"Exactly. That's why she's going to Hogwarts so Dumbledore can teach her," Kero said. "Then everything will be fine."

Tomoyo sighed again as she averted her eyes to look to the moon again. But why does it seem that it will only get harder, and worse? My heart clenches…something is going to happen, and it pains to not know what. Why is it that I fear what is to come?

Year 4

"There, there, Ying Fa, everything will be alright."

"Eli? Come here, please."

"Shhh. Just sleep, the two of you. It will be okay."

Tomoyo struggled to keep her own tears down. She had to be the strong one here, but Tomoyo felt like crumbling at anytime. Eli and Ying Fa would not cooperate. Ying Fa seemed to have an endless supply of tears and Tomoyo didn't know how to stop her. Eli was silent, unmoving, but as his mother Tomoyo knew that when he was alone he cried too.

Lily and James Potter were dead.

This Christmas was not a happy one. It was not too long ago when Hisui's birthday came around- that Halloween night was still when *he* came and turned everybody's life upside down.

It was extremely important to get Ying Fa away from Voldermort as quickly as possible, and so everybody was in the Li Mansion again. No, not everybody. Bella remained behind. Chiharu also stayed behind- it was lucky that she took Chelsea and Zach to the Muggle side for them to start school and avoided the whole thing. Rika was not so lucky. She was still intent on finding her cousin Severus Snape, and allowed Chiharu to take her son- but because of her and her husband's interference, they were dead too.

Rhea fled- that night was a full moon and Remus needed as much help as he could get. Naoko left long before- the Daidjouji Corporations were falling into disarray and Naoko volunteered to take up the position and fix it. Sakura and Tomoyo had made it safely back to China with their families. Meiling was nowhere to be found- there was no news, no death, and not contact from her either.

Tomoyo remembered that night so clearly. With a start, she had woken up and immediately felt something was wrong. Tomoyo got out of bed quickly and ran to the third floor, to the wide window that faced Godric Hallow. Sakura and Syaoran were already there. Before their very eyes they saw the green flash, and they knew very well what it meant. The Killing Curse.

Sakura spoke first, her voice full of panic. "It's happened! Lily and James were killed!"

"Calm down Sakura, calm down-" Syaoran tried to soothe her.

Tomoyo had a chill in her bones. That premonition last year that she showed me- Tomoyo's heart plummeted- It was when Lily and James were- Tomoyo couldn't breathe- But that's not why she gave it to me- it's because, it's because- Tomoyo ran down the stairs to the second floor to the children's room, frantically turning on all the lights.

It's because it was her future as well-

Tomoyo came into the Li children's room, but she didn't see that Jade was not in her bed or that Xiaolang was wide-awake. She came into her own children's room, and turned the light on.

Eli sat up in his bed; already awake, but silent and motionless, looking straight ahead of him but his mind somewhere else. Ying Fa's bed was completely empty.

She had that premonition because she will take part in it, she will be there…

Upstairs, Sakura screamed. "WHERE IS HISUI AND YING FA?"

Nearly a month later, the Hiiragizawa family was still in tears, still hurt. Tomoyo gave up. Hugging her two children tightly, her tears mixed with the tears of her children. Tomoyo remembered something Madison said to her long time ago, when she was still pregnant.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg." Your right, Madison. Somehow I know that this is only going to get worse.

Year 5

"Any luck with Tomoyo?"

"It's no use. She won't eat, she won't speak, won't move…!"

"Give her time. A lot of things has happened."

"But I wish she would do something; speak, cry, scream, I don't know! Just a sign that Tomoyo's not going to waste away like that!"

Tomoyo stared out of the wide window, seeing the full moon. She couldn't cry. There was no use. No more tears would fall. She couldn't enjoy life anymore. Tomoyo refused to believe that she deserved it, that this was what destiny had her in for.

Tomoyo just snapped one day. Eriol was gone, Rika was gone, Lily was gone… She went crazy again. But this time it was worse. The last time Tomoyo was raving mad when Eriol left and she had to be kept inside- but this time, this time, Tomoyo lost more. Like Eli, Ying Fa decided to hole herself up and keep the pain of losing her favorite aunt within her.

It hurt Tomoyo to see that her children decided to hide their grief. Others may have been fooled that they were over it, but Tomoyo was their mother, dammit! She knew of that pain, when someone was trying to hide it and knowing that her children were in so much pain at such a young age-… so Tomoyo snapped. She went crazy all right, screaming at Ying Fa and Eli, throwing things, cursing her life…

It just so happened that Dolores Umbridge was present at the scene. Disgusted at the way Tomoyo was treating her own flesh and blood, she took them away. She took Ying Fa and Eli into a foster home, far, far away from her. She couldn't have any contact with them whatsoever, couldn't even be in the same country as them, and there was no leeway in proving her innocence.

Dolores Umbridge knew about magic, that's for sure. She knew about the death of Lily and James Potter. She found out that Eli and Ying Fa's father had left before they were born. She learned that Tomoyo had been insane before. But it just gave her all the more reason to plant herself between Tomoyo and her children. And Umbridge could fix it to make it permanent.

Tomoyo looked down at her lap and picked up an object. The blade of the knife glinted in the moonlight. She could end her life, right then and there. It was destiny anyway- Tomoyo would have to die sooner or later. Tomoyo pointed the knife to her heart.

Suddenly she heard a phoenix shriek and Tomoyo dropped the knife. A hand caught it before it could have pierced Tomoyo.

"You were going to end your life?" Yue asked. It was not in an accusatory way, it was more like the guardian was stating the thought.

Tomoyo drew out a long sigh. "One can think about it."

"But can one go through it?" Yue gave her the knife.

Surprised, Tomoyo looked at Sakura's moon guardian. Wary of the guardian, Tomoyo didn't take it. Yue nodded at her decision and the knife disappeared.

"You hesitated."

Slowly, Tomoyo nodded. The fear that should have hit her seconds ago came back full force. Why did she think of actually killing herself? Why did she hesitate?

"There was something holding you back," Yue continued.

Tomoyo's hand suddenly went to her necklace. Why else did she not take the knife? There was a chance that Eriol would come back, there was a chance that she could see her children again, there was a chance for everything. Hope.

That's what brought me this far. And that's what's going to bring me through: Hope.

Swallowing, Tomoyo closed her eyes and a lone tear fell.

"It will be hard."

But Tomoyo will learn to survive only on hope. Because destiny has its ups as well as its downs. She will work at it. Tomoyo will wait. Tomoyo will be patient. Tomoyo will have hope.

Year 6

Merry Christmas, Ka-san. It is hard without you. But Naoko-san and Tzao-san are nice. Naoko-san is there is help and Tzao-san is training me. I am learning to keep control over my magic. Many times I lose control, but Tzao-san is always there. I am also learning how to fight. It is very, very hard, but all I need to remember is that Halloween night and I work harder.

Merry Christmas, Mother. I am keeping my promise. I am protecting onee-san like you told me to. But I feel like it is unneeded. Ying Fa is learning martial arts. She can protect herself, and if not, she will not back down anyway. And Cedric-san is protective of her too. More than me.

I know something is up. It concerns me, doesn't it? I want to know, Ka-san. But I know it is not your place to tell me. I know it has something to do with destiny. Hai, I know everything about it, or I think I do. I bet Harry is involved. And Tom Riddle too. I am afraid, Ka-san. I am afraid of my destiny, and Harry's too.

There is a strange feeling in me. I know I have the power to look into the future, but I know that has nothing to do with that. But my heart- in my heart I feel sadness. Cho will have to leave me. I do not want her to go, Mother. She is my sister. I want her to stay. It matters if Jade is far away, but it matters more if Ying Fa is. I want to know why Cho has to go.

I am going to die, aren't I Ka-san? It is my destiny. To die. But everyone dies, but somehow I know that my death will be different. Ka-san, I do not want to die! But for Harry- I will die for Harry if I have to. Oh Ka-san, I need to see him! The last time I saw Harry, he was pathetic. I don't mean it that way, Ka-san, but he was as good as dead the last I saw of him. I need to see if he is all right, Ka-san.

Ying Fa still cries, Mother. We have different rooms but I can tell that she cries in her room. I can just feel it. When she cries, it makes me want to cry too. Something big will happen, and it will take my sister away. I do not want that. Something big. What will happen? I want to know. It will include Cho, and I must know why. Why must it be her? Why not someone else? Why not me?

Tomoyo swallowed. She knew it would not do well to look back at the old entries, but she wanted desperately to have a connection with her children. Flipping to a blank page, Tomoyo wrote her response in the notebook as she remembered the day Jade gave her this notebook:

"Jade-chan?"

Jade looked suspiciously around her and closed the door. Quickly, she went to Tomoyo and thrust a marble notebook to her.

"What's this?"

Jade placed a finger on her lips, telling Tomoyo to stay quiet. She whispered, "It's a notebook with my magic. You can write to Cho and Eli in it. Cho and Eli have their own notebook and they can write to you, too. But your notebook is special. When Cho and Eli write in their notebooks, the ink disappears in theirs and appears in yours. But when you write in yours, it will not disappear but it will still go to them. It will be like keeping all the letters they give to you as well as your own responses. But Cho and Eli's notebook is not like that. All the words disappear after they read it."

Tomoyo smiled and hugged Jade. "Arigato."

Jade smiled but then whispered one more. "Just be sure not to tell anyone and remember to hide it. You're not supposed to write to them, and Tou-san would get me for this."

Even if Tomoyo could not see her children, just writing to them, though under illegal terms, gave her enough hope. She knew about her children's fears and suspicions, and they told her things they would not tell anyone else.

It may still be a burden on her heart, but it was the best thing that could happen. As long as she had her children, there was always hope. And she would give hope to her children.

Year 7

"Merry Christmas Mrs. Hiiragizawa!"

"Ohayo gozaimas Hiiragizawa-san."

"Here is a folder of the week's profits, your coffee, and there is a board meeting in an hour, Tomoyo-san."

Tomoyo smiled at her employers as a greeting and took the folder and coffee from her secretary. "Thank you, Julie. Remind me five minutes before the meeting, as usual."

Julie caught her boss' arm. "You're getting better, Tomoyo-san. I will be sure to tell Umbridge about it."

Tomoyo smiled at her. Julie was distantly related to Umbridge, and because of that, Julie was appointed by Social Services to watch Tomoyo. Julie was always there to help, and more sympathetic. However, she did feel an obligation to tell if anything was wrong.

A Christmas tune filled the air and Tomoyo fumbled for her cellphone. "Moshi moshi, Tomoyo speaking."

"I have your children," a harsh voice full of malice.

Tomoyo froze. Oh kami, a kidnapper? In shock, Tomoyo dropped her phone.

"Tomoyo-san? What's wrong?" Julie asked.

Panicked, Tomoyo said, "Julie, get me connected to my children."

"But Tomoyo, you're not allowed-"

Ring, ring.

This time it was the company's phone. Tomoyo stared at it. Julie reached for it- "Don't!" Tomoyo warned.

Julie frowned, then pressed the speaker button. "Taylor Fashions, how may I help you?"

"As I was saying, I have your children," the sinister voice said.

"Who are you?" Tomoyo managed to say. Julie's fast typing skills were on the computer already, trying to find out what happened.

"Tomoyo-san, there has been no notice of a kidnapping-"

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Lucius Malfoy."

Malfoy? Isn't he the one-?

Julie already had him. "Lucius Malfoy, a wealthy man in England. He has a wife, Narcissa Malfoy, and a son, Draco Malfoy. He is-"

"Muggle, I would rather talk to the head herself, instead of listening to your insolent dribbling," Malfoy drawled.

Julie glared at the phone. She turned the phone off, cutting the speaker off. "He's just a vile piece of trash, Tomoyo-san. He just scared you to spite you." But Tomoyo already went into her room.

Madison! Tomoyo called silently. The guardian returned the call, and Tomoyo heard her voice.

//Breathe, Tomoyo, breathe. //

/But Lucius Malfoy! He's Voldermort's right hand man! / Then Tomoyo heard her cellphone ring again. She hesitated.

//Answer it, Tomoyo. He wants to talk to you. He is not used to such ways, you know. //

"Your daughter is perfect for the Dark Lord," was his opening response. "Understand this, she will be for him and him only. No one else. *Especially* no one else. She under my care, Rowena. No need to worry."

"Don't call me that," Tomoyo snapped. "If you dare touch my daughter-

"Oh, I won't. She belongs to the Dark Lord. Exquisitely stunning. Blue eyes, intelligent, and brimming with powerful magic-"

"What are you doing with her?!"

"Relax, Rowena. Young Cho stays with my son. They'll be married to ensure that she will stay with us-"

"Married…?" appalled Tomoyo barely managed to say.

"Do not oppose us Malfoys, Ravenclaw," the man snarled. "Do not do the same your predecessor did and fight against Slytherin. You know what the consequences are if you do. Either she joins our side or you die, Tomoyo Hiiragizawa. Remember that."

Tomoyo sank to the ground, trembling, as the other cut the line. He cannot hurt her, but he can hurt me. Either way, I die, Lucius Malfoy. That is my destiny- or else Ying Fa will not be able to fight at her best. History repeats, Malfoy, so that is the way it will be. We will oppose, and I will die. It is fate. My fate.

Year 8

"Feel the spirit, because Christmas time is here…"

"May I have this dance?"

"Would you like something to drink?"

Tomoyo took another sip from her wine glass. Why the heck did she even attend this Winter Gala? She had no partner, and she was not willing to go dance with a complete stranger. Okay, maybe not complete strangers, but her acquaintances from different corporations. Still, Tomoyo was not having fun.

Tomoyo put her glass down and headed for the front doors. It was time to leave. She grabbed her warm overcoat and finally went outside on the veranda to freedom. Tomoyo looked up and smiled at the beautiful sight of a crescent moon against a background of twinkling stars.

"Leaving already, Tomoyo?"

Tomoyo froze, her heart beating faster. She already knew who it was just from the sound of his voice. "Yes."

Brian Rives chuckled behind her. He was the one who Tomoyo appointed for managing her husband's own business, the Hiiragizawa Corporations. As soon as she had done it, Tomoyo regretted it almost instantly.

Brian Rives was a dashing man around her age, with golden-brown hair and a charming smile. Worst of all, he had blue eyes- eyes that reminded Tomoyo of two special people in her life: her husband and her daughter.

Tomoyo shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the thoughts, and walked toward her waiting limousine. Brian gently grabbed her hand and pulled Tomoyo into his arms.

"Why are you going? The party's just started, Tomoyo."

Tomoyo could just feel his muscles through the layers of the black and white tuxedo. Could he hear my loudly beating heart? Could the others inside hear my heart? Whatever Brian was saying was not coming to her head correctly. Against her will, her eyes looked up to see his deep blue cerulean eyes. He smiled.

"Look, Tomoyo. Mistletoe."

Tomoyo barely had enough time to comprehend and check to see it was true when Brian lowered his head and his lips met hers.

to be continued (when it is finished) (p.s. year 8 is not done yet…)

Prue: Hello, it's me again! ^-^ Okay, there are two polls. The first is that if anyone wants part 2 of the story above, please review and tell Aimee yes for part 2.
Nakuru: *bounces in* Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!
Prue: *pushes Nakuru off* Nakuru, It's Prue's Corner, not Nakuru's corner.
Nakuru: But it doesn't say Prue's Corner! And I just want them to say yes because I'll be in it!
Prue: But Aimee never wrote it yet!
Nakuru: So? She promised me if she did write it, I'll be in it!
Prue: She said if!
Nakuru: *to everybody* Just say yes!
Prue: Say no to drugs everybody!
Nakuru: *sticks her tongue out to Prue* You're mean.
Prue: *shakes head* You know, Aimee is not even half-finished of the next chapter.
Nakuru: So what? I'm not in it. She can do it later.
Prue: This is *my* time, Nakuru, okay? We'll just see what the polls say.
Ruby Moon: *pops in* The second poll is-
Prue: Hey! This is my time! I'm supposed to say it! The second poll is if anybody wants the people who were killed by Voldermort to come back.
Ruby Moon: You mean have them not die, because you can't bring back the dead.
Prue: Aimee will figure a way to bring back the dead. She has Supreme Author Powers, you know.
Kero: In any case, Aimee wants to know who to bring back. Let's check the death list again. *brings out scroll and glasses*
Prue: That's my part, you annoying guardians! *takes the scroll*
Kero: Hey, I'm saying it! *pulls it back*
Scroll: *rrrrrriiiiiiippppppp*
Suppi: Ha! I have the hardcopy on the computer! *holds the laptop*
Yue: You've joined their side of insanity, Suppi.
Suppi: Suppi?! Suppi?! Who is that? *drops laptop*
Kero: No! My lines! *reaches for it but misses*
Ruby Moon: Mine! *misses too*
Nakuru: Hehe, it's mine! Hey, where is it?
Prue: And the death list is: *smiles smugly* Naoko and Tzao Chang, Fanren, Feimei, and Fuutie Li Xiaolang Li, Narcissa Malfoy, Remus Lupin, Rhea Silver, and Takahashi Yamazaki.
Aimee: But the list is revised! Anyone who was killed by Voldermort, I said. That includes Rika and Yoshiyuki Tereda, and Chiharu Yamazaki, *including* Lily and James Potter, and etc, etc.
Nakuru: So vote! Do you want part 2-
Ruby Moon: Or do you want Aimee to work on chapter 9 of the this story? Say yes, or you shall receive the end my blows.
Yukito: Part 2 is the last part of the Without You side story, so it really wouldn't hurt to say yes.
Aimee: You guys only want me to because you're in that part of the story and you guys can't be patient until the end of the Magic Present story to come in.
Kero: Or do you want everybody who died by Riddle to come back or not? So vote and we'll see you the next time!