Disclaimer: I don't own Mai hime/Mai Otome. I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: A big thank you to topsykrets, noah114, chum-sa, Hermione, onepercentsane, 0mauie0, saya-nyan, romanica, trumm12345, seaosofserenity, nomask, gregori, leeyou, guest123, ghellibo, ian.23, sammykhann, maid of space vin and various anonymous guests for reviewing the first chapter. It was originally intended to be a one shot, but here is part two. It is currently 4 in the morning and I'm afraid this chapter might not make sense in some parts, so I might rewrite it when I'm feeling lucid. I had difficulty describing mayonnaise. I personally don't like mayonnaise, but I always had the ability to make my friends eat weird things.

This prequel will be about Natsuki in her 3rd year, and meeting Shizuru for the first time. This is written in Natsuki's POV.

Spells will be in italics

Warnings: Contains swearing, underlying sexual themes, alternative universe, and out of character.

Chapter two

By S

Why? Why me? Why do these things always happen to me? First Mikoto, Takeda, my mayonnaise, then Shizuru Viola. At the moment, I am still feeling gloom about the mayonnaise.

I have loved meal times at Hogwarts; the elves always made the most proper mayonnaise in Britain. But not today.

I stare at the food on the table. My first day back at Hogwarts and the mayonnaise is replaced by a poor vegan substitute. It lacks the creamy egg yolk, the sour tang of lemon juice, and the distinctive sweet scent of orange zest. It was the most perfect condiment; it can even be eaten as dessert. It could create the perfect balance if added to other recipes especially if the taste of meat/fish is too overpowering. Even with chocolate cake. If it was too sweet, the added sour tang of the lemon juice from the mayonnaise, created the most perfect balance between sweet and sour. It went perfectly well with everything. The mayonnaise always made everything just right.

The new texture is different; the new substitute is runny and tastes like vomit and corn flour.

I frown, fully aware the Hufflepuff table is quiet and observing my reaction.

Again, why me? I lose my mayonnaise, my dignity, all in one day. Adding salt to the wound, the woman I called an idiot earlier is now the Head of Hufflepuff. Although temporary, I need her help now. They can't keep serving this disgusting substitute. I can't believe they even bother calling it mayonnaise.

I stare at the woman sitting at the staff table, she is chatting happily with Professor Raderick which just frustrates me even further. The headmistress mentioned I can only complain to the Head of House. Oh, why did Professor Sprout have to conceive now and go on maternity leave? I really don't want to talk to that new nurse. How could I make a complaint to her when I just called her an idiot a few hours ago?

She notices my staring and gives me a small smile.

I feel my ears burning at being caught and I quickly look away. Ugh! Why did she have to teach in this school? Even worse, why did I have to bump into her on the train? This is all Mikoto's fault.

I really can't bring myself to talk to that woman; she pissed me off at least twice in a day. First, rudely interrupting me, touching my face like a damn pervert, and then letting Takeda catch up to me while I was running from him! I suspect that gigantic trunk that blocked me was hers to begin with!

I sigh in frustration, staring at the poor excuse of a substitute covering my food. I don't think I have an appetite anymore.

I dimly notice my Hufflepuff house visibly cringing, looking at a spot behind me; Kazuya turns around to talk to the person standing me.

"Hey, I really don't think this is the time to –"

"Natsuki!" the person rudely cuts off Kazuya's warning, "I heard about the meals!"

Ugh! Takeda has annoyed me enough for one day already, didn't he get the message a few hours ago? I turn around and give a low growl.

"Go away!"

I crawl out of bed, not looking forward to breakfast. After all, what is there to look forward to? I change into my robes, carrying my textbook for my first class.

I open the common room door, surprised to see Nao standing there waiting with Mai and Mikoto. They are probably worried about me after last night. My bad temper was probably too obvious when I stormed into my common room.

"Good morning, Natsuki," my best friend says with a smile, "you look like shit – ouch!" she holds her arm in pain at Mai's slap.

"That was uncalled for!" Mai reprimands Nao, and then turns to me, "We er...wanted to show Mikoto where the Hufflepuff common room was at. After all, we don't want her to get lost. "

I doubt she would get lost. She will probably just cling onto Mai's arm for the whole day. But it was still kind of nice for them to check on me. I'm thankful they didn't ask if I was okay or anything, they know I hate it when they ask me that.

I roll my eyes. "Good morning to you too, let's go to breakfast."

The walk to the Great hall was silent, as if my friends were trying to find a way to cheer me up.

"Hey, um...let's sit at the Slytherin table instead of Hufflepuff," I say to my friends.

Nao raises her eyebrow at me, "Why?" she asks. I point at the Gryffindor table where Takeda sat. She smiles, "Oh, good idea actually. "

The houses Slytherin and Gryffindor have great animosity towards one other. I personally think its ridiculous, but apparently it is tradition. If I sit at the Slytherin table, Takeda will probably stay away.

I look at the staff table. Oh good, Madam Viola isn't here yet. I eat my breakfast, trying my best to ignore the missing flavour. We are sitting next to Tomoe Marguerite, another fellow Slytherin in my year. She is...a bit weird. Her father is the Ministry of Magic and sometimes I feel she is faking everything she says. But then again, she is a Slytherin so she probably is. Nao told me that Slytherin has a status ranking and Tomoe is somewhere near the top. Everybody knows that in politics everybody needs to be acting, so she probably is faking everything. I think Nao and Tomoe share a weird interest in Japanese music picture. They both dyed their hair an obnoxious weird colour: Nao's dyed hers bright red, while Marguerite dyed hers teal blue.

"Why do you keep looking at the staff table?" Nao asks.

"You're imagining things, Nao," I instantly retort. Was I that obvious? I quickly avert my eyes and instead I see the four pig-tailed first year glaring at the Gryffindor table.

I raise my eyebrows, "What's with the new first year? She looks pissed off. "

Nao smirks and whispers in a quiet voice, "Apparently, last night her 'boyfriend' was talking to Mai and she got really jealous. From what I heard, they aren't even together, but she already told most of the first years that she is dating Tate."

Wow. Some girls are sure delusional. She's just as bad as Takeda.

"Hurry up and eat! You two eat so slowly. There's only fifteen minutes left to our first lesson!" Mai says in a slight panic. I cringe at how Mikoto is stuffing her face. I swear she eats like the black hole, all the food magically disappearing into her small body. Most of the Slytherins are looking at her in disgust. I don't blame them, Mikoto probably just ate most of their breakfast.

Mikoto then looked up and whispers something in Mai's ear. Then Mai looks at the staff table with a frown. I look at Mai with a questioning look and she mouths to me 'later'.

At this time the whole great hall becomes quiet and people are whispering. I look around and see Madam Viola walking to the staff table. I suppose she slept in since there's only fifteen minutes left for breakfast.

She sits down next to Professor Raderick and they start chatting like old friends. I frown. I hope they're not in a relationship. That man is too old for her, he's like what? In his mid thirties? Now she is drinking tea, why isn't she eating any food? Is our food not good enough for her? I admit the new changes to the meals are terrible, but Hogwarts serves good traditional breakfast food. I suppose she's just adjusting to the English taste. I see her smiling at Professor Raderick. Ugh! This is so frustrating. Spoilt Beauxbaton French woman.

My best friend coughs to get my attention.

"What?" I say, feeling annoyed.

"Natsuki, you are being too obvious," she says in a dry tone.

"Am I?" Was my hatred for her that obvious? I turn to look at Madam Viola again, in that moment she looks up from her cup of tea and smiles at me.

Then she winks at me.

I quickly look away, feeling embarrassed at being caught staring. I feel my heart race at the frustration. I know she is mocking me! Why the hell is she the infirmary nurse? She looks like a sixth year for goodness sake; she's too young for that job!

Marguerite sighs audibly, holding her chest, "I think...I'm in love. Did you see that? She just winked at me," she says excitedly at Nao, who only stared at her as if she was crazy.

The hell? Is Tomoe insane? I knew dying her hair bright teal blue was crazy enough, but she hasn't even met Madam Viola! How can she be in love? And I certainly hope she isn't unfortunate enough to meet that infuriating woman. Tomoe is just like Takeda! Shallow!

Nao turns to look at me with a worried look, "Natsuki, I think you have competition,"

I turn towards her with a frown, "What competition? What in the world are you talking about?"

She sighs, looking exasperated, "Deny it all you want. I can recognise a love sick expression when I need to."

"You idiot, I am not lovesick!" I face palm, resisting the urge to hit her. "I don't even know her!"

Even worse, now Tomoe Magureite is looking at me like a comrade in war. "Natalie, I don't blame you, " she says sympathetically, "actually, why don't we go visit her together? You are so lucky she is your head of house."

I look at her in disbelief and politely reject her. I swear I am not lucky; in fact I have the worst luck in the world. I even have yesterday's events to prove it; the evidence is now sitting at the staff table. Why the hell would I want to go visit a woman who is most likely able to cause me more emotional harm? Nao is now laughing at me. That bitch. I knew she was teasing me the whole time. She looks behind me and laughs even more.

"Natalie," Takeda says from behind me, "I was wondering, if you would like to – "

"Go away!"

Obviously, sitting at the Slytherin table didn't help.

" – the key concept is visualisation. You must imagine all the little details and imagine them to morph into the new shape, as quoted from your text book, the laws of conversion is defied by– "

I listen to Professor Granger define theory of transfiguration in perfect detail from the textbook. In fact, if I took out my book it will be exactly the same. While I admire her ability to do that, I really don't think this is a good way to teach. I can see my classmates falling asleep.

"Mai, what did Mikoto say to you at the table?" I ask, while trying to transfigure the colours on my slipper.

Mai frowns, transfiguring her slipper back into a leather shoe, "she says she knows Professor Raderick. She thinks he is her father."

I drop my slipper and stare at her in shock. This is big news, I'll have to tell mother. Mikoto's mother left England one day due to a broken heart and died when Mikoto was only four. It took us years to track down her family, we wouldn't have found her if it wasn't for the shrine contacting us. If I find out that Professor Raderick is really the father, I will give him hell for leaving his only daughter alone in a shrine.

"But, she has never met her father!"

"I don't know...that's what she told me."

Now I think about it, they have an uncanny resemblance towards one another. The eyes are the exact same shade of hazel and the hair as well. It had been so obvious. How could I not notice before?

"Miss Kruger, Miss Phoenix, is everything alright?" says Headmistress Granger. Probably wondering why we're talking instead of transfiguring slippers. Now is my chance, if I don't want to talk to the head of house, I'm going to talk to her instead.

I went straight to the point. "Professor, about the condiments, could you please change mayonnaise back to the original recipe?" I ask bluntly.

Professor Granger frowns but looks surprised, "What is wrong with the new mayonnaise? It's healthier with the new recipe. In fact, it has only has one quarter amount of the calories compared to the old recipe. I even consulted a dietician. "

I have no idea what she meant by ca-lo-rees, or even the die-a-tea-tion. I don't like the sound of die-a-tea-tion, judging by how it is pronounced: it sounds like it is trying to cause me death, which is probably what it is trying to do. I know she is muggle born, so it's probably some muggle kind of thing. But what do muggles know that we don't? They obviously don't know how to construct a good mayonnaise recipe!

"But professor, it's disgusting!"

Nao and Mai are looking at me with their mouths wide open in shock.

"Miss Kruger!" the headmistress says in disbelief, "I do not appreciate that tone and attitude. We are doing this for the future of Great Britain! If there are any future complaints, please go tell it to your head of house. "

"But – "

"Unless you can prove to me that majority of the school is upset by the condiment, please gather a petition to your Head of House."

"But my head of house hates me!" I accidently blurt out and my friends choke in surprise.

She looks at me, unimpressed with her hands on her hips. "I am sure Madam Viola does not hate you, that is a terrible excuse. Now get back to transfiguring your slippers."

I am staring at my slippers in defeat and Mai is patting me on the back.

"It'll be okay, Natsuki. We'll gather a petition," she says. "Let's write an argument for it first and show it to your head of house."

Nao looks impressed, "Wow, you haven't even met the head of house. You must be really desperate to lie that she hates you."

I sigh audibly, covering my face. I didn't bother correcting her; I really don't want to talk about the incident on the train. I have the worst luck, now I really have to talk to Madam Viola.

"Well..." Mai says sheepishly, "who knew mayonnaise could cause such a great reaction from the Ice Princess?"

I frown at the nickname while Nao bursts out laughing. "Shut up, you two."

"Welcome to your third year of Defence against Dark Arts!" Professor Raderick says with a smile exposing his impressive pearly whites.

Some of the girls in my class swooned. I notice Mai blushing, again. As much as she denies it, I know she has a small crush on Professor Raderick. I admit he is good looking, handsome face with thick, dark locks. But he is over thirty: he's old enough to be my uncle. There is also the possibility that he is Mikoto's father. What are these girls even thinking? The concept is absolutely disgusting!

"I am Professor Raderick...you can call me Rad...or you can call me Radical," he winks and flashes another smile.

I don't know why he is introducing himself again, he taught us for the past three years. This is disgusting and inappropriate.

" – all the lovely ladies like to call me Radical. Especially after...actually you are too young to hear this. "

Inappropriate! Over inflated ego almost as bad as Madam Viola! Unprofessional! Why is he even here to teach? Although I admit he is a very good teacher, he is so disturbingly lecherous and should be put into Azkaban. Professor Granger once said that Professor Raderick is the most humble person alive. What the hell happened? I suspect that she was also bewitched by his pretty face.

I notice Mai letting out a small infatuated sigh. I face palm. Is this the curse for girls who are going through puberty? I can't help but notice that I am the only one here who is sane, perhaps along with the other guys in my class.

"Ew!" my best friend whispers to me, looking horrified. Okay, perhaps Nao is sane as well.

After an hour of rolling on the ground dodging stunners, I walk up to the teacher. As much as I don't want to talk to him, it will either be him or Madam Viola. I certainly don't want to talk to Professor Graceburt, she will lecture me for hours about the obesity rate. My history of magic teacher is a ghost, and doesn't understand anything apart from Goblin wars. Madam Armitage will also lecture me for hours, she's always talking about the 'greater good', which really leaves me no choice. The other lecturers probably wouldn't even care.

"Professor Raderick?"

"Yes?" he says. I notice how his smile doesn't reach his eyes. "How may I help you, Miss Kruger?"

"I have a complaint to make in regards to the meals – "

"Ah, I'm afraid you have to tell that to your head of house. I am the head of Slytherin so I wouldn't be able to represent you," He cuts me off, frowning. "But I can help you if it is class related."

Oh, bloody hell. The headmistress probably added all this trouble to ensure she doesn't have to deal with it herself. She probably warned him about me.

"I understand, thank you for your time."

I walk to the hospital wing feeling a great sense of dread. After talking to Professor Raderick, I wrote a general argument for my petition to show Madam Viola, and hopefully gain her approval despite calling her an idiot yesterday. I wipe my sweaty palms on my robes and knock on the door.

"Come in!"

I open the door to see Madam Viola sitting at her desk, writing in a book. Beside her desk is the large trunk I tried to run around yesterday while avoiding Takeda. I sigh. This woman has caused me so much distress.

"Madam Viola," I say as politely as possible despite calling her an idiot on the train.

"Yes? How may I –" She looks up from her book and recognises me, " oh, it's you, Miss Kruger," she says while smiling.

"Why do you know my name?!" I ask instantly, looking at her suspiciously. I don't recall ever introducing myself to her, she was too busy interrupting me on the train.

She stares at me, grinning back with an innocent look, "I am the head of the Hufflepuff. So, of course I will know about the brilliant students in Hufflepuff."

I feel my face heat involuntarily so I quickly look away. It is sort of suspicious coming from her. But perhaps she isn't so bad.

"Thanks."

"You have been avoiding me, yes?"

She noticed? Well, what did she expect? Even if I broke into her compartment, she was extremely rude for interrupting me constantly, not to mention obnoxious!

"I have no idea what you are talking about," I say defiantly.

"Miss Kruger, why are you in the infirmary?" she tries instead, then she frowns, "You're not hurt anywhere are you?"

I shake my head, feeling surprised at the concern, but then again she is just doing her job. "I'm here for other matters."

"You are here to visit me?"

"Ye – what no! I'm not, " She pouts for a split second before going back to that blank grinning expression. I swear she wants to give me a premature death. "I'm here to talk to you about a petition, and I need you to appeal to the headmistress."

She looks curiously at me, "What kind of petition?" she places down her quill to give me her full attention.

I take a deep breath, "Traditional recipes should not be changed as it may disrupt our magical society."

"Traditional meals?" she asks, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

I nod in reply.

She raises an eyebrow at me, "Surely, this is too much trouble for meals. What are you trying to achieve? Actually, let me take a look at your petition argument. "

I hand her the petition, noticing the warmth when brushing my hand with hers. I stand patiently as she read the stack of pages. Her eyebrows shot to her hairline and the corner of her lips twitched.

"This is a very elaborate argument for this petition," she looks at it thoughtfully, "please correct me if I'm wrong, this whole passage cleverly disguises and thoroughly convinces the reader that the 'Mayonnaise' is a traditional meal."

I sniff and cross my arms, not making any eye contact. "Indeed it is. "

She stares at me for a moment in shock and then bursts out laughing. I stare at her in disbelief. She is so rude! First on the train and now in the infirmary, why did the headmistress employ her? She is terrible! I glare at her and she seems to calm down when she realises that I was serious.

"I apologise," she says grimly, "I don't think I have ever laughed so out of control before,"

That is not making me feel any better! I'm feeling too angry to yell so I continued to glare.

After staring at my face, she starts looking confused. "But, the condiment is not a meal."

"I believe in my petition, it – "

"Yes, it thoroughly expresses that mayonnaise is a meal, but will anybody believe you to sign this?"

I smile, although she rudely interrupted me, I am glad she is finally taking my petition seriously. Perhaps I have wrongly judged her on our first encounter.

"I'm sure the headmistress will be satisfied with my petition. You will be surprised with how many people support this," I say, watching her reaction. She looks sceptical. I won't be in charge for getting signatures anyway; Nao owes me for what she said to Takeda yesterday. People have been sniggering around me all day, asking me if Takeda found me while taking a dump. I'll make her gather all the signatures. Even if her methods are somewhat questionable, they often work.

"And, what will I get in return for helping you with this petition?" she asks, still looking at the small booklet.

I look at her in disbelief. I cannot believe her! For a moment I thought she was nice!

Sensing my shock, she continues, "Surely, you do not expect me to do this for free?"

"All you had to do is sign this and give it to the Headmistress; you're the head of the house!" I say angrily.

"True, but only temporary, I'm also extremely busy with the infirmary. Children get sick and injured daily."

"No they do not!" I can't believe this woman, she is absolutely terrible. It is late summer and early fall, they have no reason to get sick! She is just saying that as an excuse.

She eyes me, "Have you seen the state of the stairs? They move for goodness sake! I'm so glad they do not have this at Beauxbatons, I fear for the children who fall from those stairs."

I really want to ask her why she wouldn't just stay in France instead of causing me all this stress, but I really need this petition.

"But they haven't! If you have read Hogwarts: A history, you would know that there had been no accidents for the past hundred years from those stairs!"

"Ah, ha! Miss Kruger is quite the book worm."

She changed the topic so rapidly, for a brief second I felt slightly confused. I feel my eye brow twitch as she stares at me with a pursed mouth, looking as if she is trying not to laugh. I kept my mouth shut knowing she is trying to get a reaction out of me.

She looks slightly disappointed at my reaction but continues, "And Miss Kruger has proven my point. So there had been accidents a hundred years ago."

I face palm, "But that was over a hundred years ago!"

"It still might happen now! But let's not get off topic here, " she waves at me dismissively, and I feel my temper flare, "let's talk about what you will do for me."

What the hell does she want from me? Judging by the size of her trunk, I really doubt she is in any financial distress.

"I...don't know. I doubt you need galleons. What do you want?" I ask warily.

She stared at me intensely, showing me her lovely crimson eyes. She licked her bottom lip and I briefly saw the tip of her red tongue swiping across her rosy lips.

"I...want you," she says in a low soft voice. I feel like my face is about to combust. I blink rapidly in surprise.

I can't believe her! She is worse than Professor Raderick, completely inappropriate, unprofessional and absolutely lecherous! But at least Professor Raderick had never so openly proposed for such unspeakable things!

"Wait what? You-you want..." I splutter indignantly, feeling my body rapidly heat up.

She purses her lips and I see twitching around the ends.

"I want you and your time to help me settle in this infirmary. After all, I'm not very familiar in this school. You can be my health assistant. Unless you have other extracurricular things to do, then I want you here at least three times a week. "

My mouth is wide open, I quickly close it.

She stares at me for a moment, then her lips quirk up a little.

And then she giggles.

Ugh! She's so infuriating! She was purposely teasing me the whole time!

"Ugh! You-you are so – "

"It's a good idea, is it not? I will even give you extra school credits," she cuts me off indifferently with a large grin.

I stare at her for a moment, trying not to lose my temper.

Taking a deep breath, "I will think about it. I will give you a reply another day. Thank you for your time, Madam Viola," I say in resignation, taking back the petition. I huff and start walking towards the infirmary doors, keeping my mouth closed so I won't say anything I regret. Calling her an idiot on the train was fine; I didn't know she worked for Hogwarts. But now I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get away with it without a detention.

I slam the infirmary door, again not missing the loud giggle that came afterwards.

A/N: Hope you liked it!