Not a bad start for chapter 1. A respectable number of hits … but only two reviews?

Maybe you're feeling shy. To break the ice, let's have a poll:

If you could pick someone from Hogwarts to enter into a pactio with the Ala Alba, who would you choose?

-(scene break )-

The mood in the Great Hall was festive; at least it was at the Gryffindor table. After the initial courses were consumed they were replaced with delicacies that most of the students at Hogwarts did not recognize. A platter appeared in from of Ron Weasley, who examined its contents with a clearly puzzled expression.

"Oy! What's this?" He complained as he sniffed the platter's contents. "It smells like fish!"

There was a pile of chopsticks and Hermione picked up a pair, and to Ron's surprised she wielded them expertly.

"It's sushi, Ron. It's a Japanese delicacy." She replied as she picked up a piece, dipped it in some sauce and popped into her mouth.

"Sushi! Blimey, what's that?"

Hermione shook her head in disapproval.

"Honestly Ron, you pure blooded wizards live too sheltered a life. Next summer I'm taking your family out to some restaurants. I swear Ron, you live off a diet of Shepherd's Pie and Fish n' chips."

Ron stiffened at the mild put down.

"That's not true … I also like bangers and mash."

"Then it's time to expand your horizons." She replied as she picked up what she thought might be a safe choice for him, a California Roll. She raised it to his lips, still holding the chopsticks expertly. He shook his head in reply.

"I'm not eating that! It smells … weird."

"Ron, you're such a baby sometimes. Harry, you try it!"

Before Harry could protest Hermione pinched his nose. He instinctively opened his mouth, where she deposited the Americanized piece of sushi. Harry accepted it reluctantly and ate it.

"That wasn't bad Ron. You should try it."

Asuna laughed at the scene in front of her, while she loaded her plate up with different kinds of sushi. A platter of Nikuman (pork buns) suddenly materialized and Asuna helped herself to some as well.

Harry stared while the red haired girl with bells in her hair continued to stuff her face. He felt somewhat surprised as the stereotype for Japanese girls he was familiar with was that they were dainty and refined. This girl was not, judging by her appetite, but then again she didn't look Japanese. Her red hair was natural and she had European features, but what was most striking about her was that her eyes were not of the same color: one was blue and the other eye was green. As she cleaned her plate she noticed that he was looking at her.

"We … didn't get anything … to eat on the train." She remarked in English with a heavy Japanese accent, now wishing she had worked harder in her 4th year English class, which was of course taught by Negi. Harry smiled in reply.

"We did eat chocolates … but they kept escaping."

Harry chuckled.

"Chocolate frogs will do that. My first one also got away … Miss?"

Asuna began to stand up, preparing to bow when she remembered where she was. Stopping herself she extended her hand in the western style of greeting and Harry reciprocated, shaking her hand.

"Kagurazaka, Asuna … I mean Asuna Kagurazaka … Mr?"

"Harry Potter." He replied.

Asuna's dichromatic eyes widened.

"So you're Harry Potter? You're the most famous wizard in the world!" Asuna remarked enthusiastically.

Hermione extended her own hand to Asuna.

"Hermione Granger. Nice to meet you Kagurazaka-san. Please don't say things like that to Harry, it will only go to his head. And he isn't the most famous wizard in the world. That honor belongs to the Thousand Master."

"I'm not so sure about that. Harry is really popular in the Mundus Magicus." Asuna replied. "And just call me Asuna. We aren't in Japan after all."

"Right. May I ask you a question Asuna?" Hermione queried.

"Of course." Asuna replied while she sipped on some pumpkin juice.

"Are you Japanese? Forgive me, but well, you look Caucasian."

"I'm an orphan and I grew up in Japan."

"Interesting … I have another question … if you don't mind. I've never heard of Mahora School of Magic. Where exactly in Japan is Mahora?"

Asuna chuckled.

"Mahora isn't a magic school, even though there a quite a few Mages and Wizards there. Our headmaster is a wizard himself."

Hermione nodded.

"I remember now, it's where the giant magic tree is located … what is it called … the World Tree?"

At that moment Chamo came bounding down the table with a pork bun in his mouth.

"You got that right Jōchan!" The ermine spoke. "Albert Chamomile at your service!"

Hermione and Harry both guffawed.

"A talking ermine? Don't let Hagrid see you, he might add you to his collection of magical creatures."

Chamo whipped out a cigarette and lit it up, taking a deep drag before continuing.

"Actually cutie, I'm a faerie."

"Put that out!" Ron hissed. "Students aren't allowed to smoke at Hogwarts."

"Well, I'm not a student, so too bad!"

Harry laughed and glanced at Asuna, who was also laughing.

"Leave it to the pervin' ermine to break the rules. Anyway, Negi teaches us magic on the side, except for Yue over there. She actually attended Ariadne Academy in the Mundus Magicus."

"So you're saying that the rest of you are neophytes?"

Asuna chuckled.

"It's worse than that. I can't cast spells."

"So you're a squib?" Ron asked.

"She's no squib brother. The reason Anesan can't cast spells is because she has magic cancellation powers." Chamo interjected.

"What's that? Magic cancellation?" Harry asked.

"Honestly Harry, do you or Ron ever do any extracurricular reading?"

"Uh … no … why would we want to do that?" Ron replied.

Hermione glared at her red headed classmate.

"Well, if you did you would know that those blessed with magic cancellation are immune from all spells and potions. The caveat is that it also means you can't cast any spells either."

Harry marveled upon hearing this.

"You mean the Adva Kedavra curse wouldn't work on her?"

"That's right brother!" Chamo confirmed. "But Anesan has other abilities. Show them your card Asuna."

Asuna reluctantly pulled her pactio card out and handed it to Hermione, who examined it.

"Most of the girls in the school have one or more of these. Even I have one." Ron and Harry grinned at Hermione, who handed her card to Chamo. "Oh grow up, Fred and George gave it to me. I didn't even ask for it."

Chamo examined the "Charta Ministralis" with Hermione's image on it carefully before looking back at her.

"I have bad news sister, this card is a fake."

"Well of course it is, I mean who would have a real one? Students aren't allowed to enter into Pactios." Hermione asked in an irritated voice.

"Asuna's pactio card is real." Chamo informed her.

Hermione's jaw almost dropped.

"You aren't joking? You mean to tell me that this is a real Pactio Card? You entered into a pactio with a wizard? With who, may I ask?"

"She did it with Negi."

"With Professor Springfield? You formed a pactio with your teacher?"

"What's the big deal?" Asuna asked. "We all did." She added as she gestured at her classmates.

Chamo turned to face the other Ala Alba girls. "Hey ladies, get over here, there's someone you need to meet."

The girls excused themselves from their new fans and approached Asuna and Chamo.

"Ladies, please introduce yourselves to Mr. Harry Potter, and show him your pactio card." Chamo requested the Ala Alba.

The Mahora contingent politely bowed, and proceeded to introduce themselves, one by one.

"Yue Ayase."

"Nodoka Miyazaki"

"Setsuna Sakurazaki." The swords maiden flashed her two pactio cards.

"Konoka Konoe"

"Haruna Saotome, but you can call me Paru." She said as she winked at Harry.

"Kaede Nagase, ninja at your service, de gozaru."

Harry's eyes widened. "You're a ninja?"

"Hai" Kaede replied with a smile.

"Fei Ku. But I not Japanese, I Chinese"

"Chachamaru Karakuri" The gynoid announced her monotone.

"Chisame Hasegawa. Is it true that you guys don't have any technology here?"

"I'm afraid so." Harry replied.

"Weird." Chisame added as she stepped aside. "And I used to think Negi was mental."

"Kazumi Asakura … Aisaka-chan! Where are you?"

A young ghost popped her head through the table top.

"Sorry! My name is Sayo Aisaka."

"Where were you girl?" Kazumi asked.

"I was talking with a ghost named Myrtle. Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm the only ghost at Mahora, and it's nice to meet other ghosts." She replied as she bowed to Harry. "I am honored to meet you Harry-san, Hermione-san and Ronald-san"

Hermione giggled. "The honor is ours, Sayo-chan."

Kazumi pulled a digital camera out of her pocket. She pressed the on button several times, but it wouldn't turn on.

"Negi-kun wasn't joking when he said that electronics don't work here. Say Chisame, can you do something about this?"

"I don't know … I guess it's worth a try … I don't see how these people can live without computers … it's like living in the stone age."

She produced her Pactio Card and addressed the table.

"Any wisecracks about my attire … and you're dead … ADEAT!"

Chisame was engulfed in a flash of light and she was transformed into her alter ego, Chiu-san, and she wielded her mighty scepter. Her transformation did not go unnoticed by the student body, that was expected. What wasn't expected was that a few of the students stood up and stared at her, some of them pointing at her.

"You're … you're … Net Idol Chiu!" A Ravenclaw boy finally shouted.

Ron turned to Harry. "Can today get any weirder? And what's a Net Idol Chiu?"

Harry shrugged in reply, not knowing the answer to either question. Chisame ignored her local fans and tapped the digital camera with her scepter.

"Ego electrium regno!"

Kazumi grinned as her camera came to life.

"The charge should last for about an hour." Chisame told her. "Click away!"

Hermione marveled.

"But that's impossible! Electricity doesn't work at Hogwarts!"

Chamo jumped on her shoulder.

"That's the Power of Pactio for you sweet cakes. Say … could I interest you in entering into a Pactio with Negi?"

Asuna grabbed the ermine by his neck and throttled him.

"You're never satisfied, are you, you erotic ermine? Or is it just the 50,000 ermine bucks you'll get? If you had it your way, Negi would kiss every girl in Hogwarts."

Almost every girl in the Great Hall tuned towards Asuna with a hopeful look in her eyes. She frowned. "Forget it! It isn't gonna happen! You guys are a bunch of pedophiles like Ayaka! Or have you forgotten that he's only 11 years old?"

The disappointed girls moaned as they turned away.

Up at the teacher's table Chisame's little demonstration did not go unnoticed.

"Professor Springfield, I see that your student's are not shy about flaunting their pactio powers." Snape commented in a dry monotone.

"Well, this is a school of magic Professor Snape; I don't see any harm in …"

Negi was interrupted by Professor McGonagall.

"I'm sorry professor, but we don't allow our students to form Pactios at Hogwarts. I know they're popular in Wales and the Mundus Magicus, but very few wizards have pactio partners in England.

"I'm sorry … I wasn't aware that …"

"Pactios are a crutch professor." Snape interrupted. "They make Wizards complacent and … weak."

Negi smiled politely. "I'm sorry Professor Snape, but I respectfully disagree."

Snape eyed the young wizard.

"How does that muggle saying go? Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is Professor Springfield?"

"What do you have in mind?" Negi asked with a hint of wariness in his voice.

The students were finishing their meals and a few overheard Negi and Snape's discussion.

"A wizards' duel."

Negi stood up, clenching his fist in his excitement.

"Professor, I accept your challenge!" The young wizard beamed.

Snape smiled.

"Excellent, I will arrange for it tomorrow after class. You don't mind dueling with a seventh year student? If that is unacceptable I can select a younger champion to face you…"

"I agree Professor. A seventh year student would be an unacceptable." Negi replied.

Snape was now grinning.

"I understand Professor; would a 4th year opponent be more to your liking?"

Negi shook his head.

"No Professor, that would not be acceptable either."

Snape chuckled.

"Then pray tell Negi, with who would you to duel?"

By this point the Great Hall was silent, as everyone was now eavesdropping on the conversation.

"I would like to duel with you, Professor Snape."

A wave of murmurs made its way around the Great Hall.

"Asuna, is Professor Springfield a good dueler?" Ron asked his fellow red head.

"Negi-sensei is the best dueler on the Mundus Magicus." Chachamaru answered the question.

Ron grinned as he stared at his nemesis, his most hated instructor.

"Wicked!"