Authors Note: I would like everyone to know that whoever reviews gets a chapter dedicated to them! I will also answer any reviews to the best of my ability so… this chapter is dedicated to I-sold-my-soul-for-a-cookie!
To Escape My Reality: The whole blood thing I have planned and there might be a little romance between them throughout the story, though I don't really have everything planned yet.
R&R!
Secret Rose
Chapter 4
The Road to Magic
Saya found herself in her bed once again. She tried to remember what happened. The last thing she could remember was that boggart turning into Diva with Kai and Riku… She shook her head, she didn't want to think about it.
She opened her eyes to find Haji sitting in a chair next to her. She sat up.
"Saya! Take it easy, you'll lose your strength." Haji said, clearly worried about her.
She waved it off. "I'm fine Haji. How long have I been asleep?"
"About three days. Let me go downstairs and get you some food to get your strength back.' He said, standing up to leave.
She shook her head. "I'll go down, I've been stuck in this bed long enough." she said, getting up.
Haji looked worried still but let her get up. She realized she was in pajamas, her fuzzy pink ones she had worn the other day.
"Who put me in pajamas?" she asked.
"Mrs. Weasley did." he answered.
She nodded and found herself downstairs, holding onto Haji's hand for support.
"Saya! Are you alright sweetie? You should be upstairs getting some rest. Let's get you back up there, you need to rest." Mrs. Weasley said, very worried, but not nearly as worried as Haji.
"I'm fine. Just a little hungry." Saya said.
"Well, you've been out for three days, so I expect you would be. Let me get you something."
"Thank you." Saya said as Mrs. Weasley disappeared into the kitchen.
Saya noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the room as well. Hermione seemed to be staring at Haji's cello case on his back.
"Um.. Haji, I was wondering, what is that you always carry around?" Hermione asked.
"It's my cello." He replied shortly.
"Ooh, you can play?" she asked and when he nodded she continued. "Do you think you can play us something."
He looked to Saya who nodded and sat down. He set his case down and opened it to reveal a very shiny, very large cello. He grabbed a chair and sat it in the middle of the room. At that moment Mrs. Weasley came in with a plate full of food for Saya. She set it in front of her and then spoke to Haji.
"Ooh, you play the cello? Are you playing something for us?" Haji nodded and then set up his cello.
He picked up his bow and began to play. The Hermione, Mrs. Weasley and Ginny (who had just walked in) looked like they were about to cry. Ron and Harry had their mouths open and Saya just sat with her eyes closed, fully enveloped in the song.
When he was done, the girls clapped but the boys weren't done being surprised.
"Bloody hell! I didn't know you could play like that! It was amazing!" Ron exclaimed, being the first to regain his composure, if that's what you could call it.
"Thank you."
"So where did you learn to play like that?" Ginny asked.
"Saya taught me."
They all turned to look at Saya. "Wait, you can play too?"
She nodded and said, "Yeah, but Haji's a lot better than I am."
"Well either way, that was beautiful Haji." Mrs. Weasley said. "Now if only Ron could play like that."
"Hey!"
"Oh, it's not that I'm not proud of you. But it would still be nice if you could play."
Ron then proceeded to glare at Haji. When Saya saw this, she began to laugh. Soon enough, everyone was laughing.
The next few days seemed to fly by and before they knew it, it was time to board the Hogwarts Express. That morning they all got dressed and Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Haji and Saya all got into a car which would take them to a place called King's Cross where the train that could take them to Hogwarts was.
They all got out of the car and got their things. Saya and HajI followed Mrs. Weasley until they suddenly stopped between platforms 9 and 10.
"So, which one do we go to? Platform nine or platform ten?"
"Actually, the train is platform 9 ¾. Just watch." Hermione said noticing Saya's confused look.
Saya watched as one by one they passed through a wall. It was her turn next and she was going to be followed by Haji and then Mrs. Weasley. Saya pushed the cart directly towards the wall and expected to crash. Instead, she passed right on through. She soon found Haji and Mrs. Weasley right behind her when they passed through the barrier.
"Welcome to the Hogwarts Express." Mrs. Weasley said smiling.
In front of them was a very large scarlet train with gold fancy letters that said The Hogwarts Express. They stood there for a minute before boarding the train.
"Have fun and learn something!" Mrs. Weasley yelled as the train pulled away.
Now was the challenge of finding a compartment empty enough for the six teenagers. Luckily enough, they soon found a rather large compartment with only two people in it. A girl with long light blonde hair who had a rather dreamy look in her eye. There was also a boy with brown hair and who was a little heavier, just slightly.
"Hey Neville, Luna. Mind if we sit here?" Harry asked.
"No, go ahead." Neville said shaking his head.
The last two people to go into the compartment was Saya and Haji. Luna looked up smiling and Neville was wide-eyed because of the beautiful girl and the man who had the large case on his back.
"Uh… h-hi." Neville said.
"Hi, my name's Saya and this is Haji." Saya said while Haji nodded.
They all put up their luggage on the luggage rack and Ron was trying to get on Haji's good side by lifting his case up into it. Ron picked it up, "Bloody hell! How do you carry this like it's weightless?" Ron had then proceeded to drop the case.
"You get used to it." Haji said.
"Here Ron, I'll get it." Saya said, because she was already over there.
"I really, really doubt you're going to be able to lift it up Saya." he said, but handed it to her. "Don't get disappointed if you can't lift it."
Saya smiled a little to herself. "Thanks, I'll try not to be disappointed." Saya took the case from Ron and lifted it up in a matter of seconds. She always thought it was funny when people took her to be weak because of her size.
Ron stood wide-eyed. "How in the bloody hell did you lift that up there?"
"I'm a lot stronger than I look." Saya smirked. Everybody was laughing at Ron, who's ears went red, almost as red as his hair.
"So where are you two from?" Neville asked.
"Japan." Haji replied. Saya noticed that he had been talking a little bit more lately, probably so that people don't get suspicious because almost every teenager talks a lot.
"Really? That's fascinating." Luna said, not looking up from her copy of the Quibbler, which was upside down.
"Yeah, I suppose it is. It is far away after all." Saya said.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful until a kid with greasy blonde hair walked in. Behind him were too large teenage boys who both had brown hair.
"Oh look who it is, it's the Chosen One." when he said chosen one, his words were dripping with sarcasm.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry said, blocking Malfoy's view of Saya, Haji, and Hermione.
"I heard there were some new transfers and that they were in here with you. They're probably just as dim witted as you." he added with a smirk.
Saya stood up, "I don't appreciate being called dim witted when you haven't even met me." she said, now looking Malfoy straight in the eye.
Malfoy looked shocked and then regained his composure, "Well, I was certainly wrong." he said smirking and put his arm around Saya.
"Remove your arm from Saya." Haji said, now standing up.
Malfoy smirked even more. "Or what?"
"You really shouldn't have asked that." Saya said, sighing.
Haji walked up to Malfoy and punched him in the stomach, making him stumble back into the wall of the hallway. It took his two goons a second to realize what happened and soon enough, they were going after Haji. Haji took care of one of them with no problem, he just elbowed his neck, rendering him unconscious. The other goon had stood behind Saya, trying to use her as a shield.
"S-Stand back or she gets it!" he yelled and everybody but Saya and Haji gasped. They both knew what Saya could do.
"HajI, it's fine. I have this." she said, making everyone confused.
Saya raised her arm and elbowed the chubby teenager in the face. He stumbled back and she quickly crouched down, sliding her foot around and tripping him. He fell back onto the unconscious teenager.
"If I were you, I'd run." HajI said as the two that were conscious dragged their unconscious friend back.
"That was amazing! How did you learn to fight like that?" Ginny exclaimed.
"Well, Haji and I spar a lot I guess you could call it. I suppose that's just how we were raised."
"I can't believe that you knocked out Goyle and that Saya elbowed Crab in the face!" Neville exclaimed.
"Yes, it was quite interesting." Luna said.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful, though it looked like Harry and Ron had almost taken everything off the trolley. Soon enough, the guys went to find a different compartment to change into their robes while the girls stayed and changed in their current compartment.
"Ooh, I think we're here!" Hermione squealed, clearly excited.
"Wow, that castle is huge. Is that the school?" Saya asked, looking out the window.
"Yeah, it is." Harry said.
Everyone began to walk out but Saya realized something, "Wait, what about all of our luggage? Don't we bring it in with us?"
"No, they take it up to the castle." Ron explained.
They all walked outside to see a huge, huge man yelling, "Firs' years! O'er here! Firs' years!"
"Who is that?"
"That's Hagrid, he teaches Care of Magical Creatures and he's the grounds keeper here." Neville told them.
"Oh, I see. I wonder if we're supposed to go with the first years. I'll go ask him." Saya said, walking towards Hagrid.
"Hi, I was wondering, we're transfers and we're not sure to go in the carriages or go with you. Do you know?"
"You can jus' go wit' the carragez." the giant said.
"Oh, okay. Thank you!" she called to him, getting ready to hop in the carriage. "What are those things pulling the carriages?" she asked no one in particular when she saw what looked like a horse's skeleton.
"You can see them?" Harry asked and when the transfers nodded he continued, "They're called thestrals. Only people who have seen death can see them. Only Luna and Neville besides me can see them." Saya nodded and headed into the carriage, being followed by Haji.
Soon enough, they found themselves at the large castle doors. They all got out when a woman Saya recognized to be Professor McGonagall walked towards them.
"Hello Professor." Hermione said.
"Hello." she replied back before turning to look at the transfers. "You two will be sorted right after the first years, so if you could, please follow me."
They did as they were told and found themselves standing outside of the Great Hall with a bunch of sweaty and nervous first years.
"I heard that we have to fight a troll to get in." one of them said.
Saya decided to have a heart and tell them, "Don't worry. It's nothing like that. All that we have to do is put on a hat that will tell us which house we're going to be in." They all looked much more relieved.
Professor McGonagall walked back in. "Alright, I want you all single file in a line."
They sorted themselves into a decent line and walked into the Great Hall. They all seemed to be nervous again, no doubt at all the stares. However, Saya and HajI knew it was because of them that there were so many stares and whispers.
"Now, when I call your name, please step forth, sit on the chair, and put the hat on. First is Ammers, Shelby."
A small blonde girl stepped forth and put the hat on her head. Soon enough the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!", earning a very loud cheer from the Hufflepuff table.
This went on for awhile until Saya and Haji were the only ones left. Professor McGonagall noticed all the whispers and thought that it would be good to explain.
"Now this year, Hogwarts will be having two new transfer students from Japan. If you could, Ms. Saya Otonashi step forward."
Saya stepped forward and placed the hat on her head. She suddenly found that there was a voice in her head. "Ohhh… you're different from the other students. You're immortal. Well, no matter, let's see where to put you. Hmm… there isn't very much darkness in you, so Slytherin is out. Very nice mind you have, you could do well in Ravenclaw. Very loyal, a good trait of a Hufflepuff. But you are very brave and risk everything for those you love, a strong trait of a Gryffindor. Do you have any preferences?"
"If you could, I would like to be in Gryffindor please." Saya said mentally.
"Well, I suppose. If that's the case then it's GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled to the other students and staff.
Saya hopped off and sat next to Harry at the Gryffindor table which was cheering extremely loudly.
"Now, we also have Mr. Haji Hayashi." Professor McGonagall said.
Haji looked surprised at his last name, but only Saya could tell. He sat on the stood and put the hat on his head as well. "So, it seems you're immortal as well, just like the one before you. Well, let's see… Aah, extremely loyal, one of the most I've seen. You're especially loyal to that girl. Very brave and smart, but just like Saya, you're not a very dark person so Slytherin is out. I'll give you the choice as well, though I feel Hufflepuff would do you the best."
"I would like to follow Saya." he said mentally.
"Aah yes. Well then, GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled.
Haji sat next to Saya while the Gryffindors continued to cheer, happy that they got both transfer students.
"Well this works out. Now you know some people in your house already." Hermione smiled at them.
Professor McGonagall stood up at the podium and gave a speech, something about Weasley's whizzes and a forbidden forest. Just after she was done, the table filled up with food. Saya definitely looked like she could pass out in excitement.
Saya dug in while Haji sat there, not eating anything. This earned him some confused looks from fellow Gryffindors. "Aren't you going to eat?" Neville asked.
"I'm on a special diet, so I'll go down to the kitchens and get something later." he lied.
Unfortunately for Saya and Ron, dinner was eventually over. They all stood up to leave when Professor McGonagall walked over to them. "If I could have a word with Ms. Otonashi and Mr. Hayashi. If you could like, you can wait for them, since they don't know where the common room is."
The other teens nodded while Saya and HajI followed Professor McGonagall a few feet away. "I've been made aware of two things. One being that Saya needs regular blood infusions. Starting tomorrow you'll get those after class in the hospital wing every other day. I was also told that the case that you carry around is your weapon. Seeing as how you are protecting the school, you will be allowed to carry it around. If you get asked, just tell them that there are things that you need in case of an emergency, as you have a medical condition, and that you wouldn't like to talk about it. Now then, go on to Gryffindor tower. I'll see you in transfiguration tomorrow."
They nodded and followed the other teens to a portrait of a rather large lady. The transfers soon found out that the portraits moved and talked. "Password?" she asked.
"Flaming earwigs." Harry said.
The door swung open to reveal a room with maroon and gold furniture and wallpaper along with a fireplace which was giving off a cozy warmth.
"So Saya can follow me to the girl's dormitory and Haji can follow you two." Hermione said while Harry and Ron nodded.
"Goodnight Saya." Haji said.
"Goodnight."
Soon enough everyone was asleep. (Except for Haji the poor guy, he had to lay there so no one would get suspicious. He can't even play the cello.)