Kindred Spirits
by Tailkinker
This is a work of fan fiction based on the Harry Potter series and the Sailor Moon franchise created respectively by J.K. Rowling and Naoko Takeuchi. The characters and settings belong to their respective owners and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered as part of the official canon of either series.
The Goblet of Fire
Harry sat on the bottom step of the main staircase and looked at the Goblet of Fire.
A barely-visible magical circle shone around the Goblet—an age line, Dumbledore had called it. Harry had already seen it repel the Weasley Twins, whose birthday—the first of April, of course—left them just a few months too young to compete.
Harry's concern was centered around a single point: The drawing of the Champions for the International Challenge was the next day, on Hallowe'en. And that day, so far as Harry was concerned, was the worst day of the year.
"Hi, Harry-kun." Hotaru, moving with her usual silence, sat down on the step next to him. "Thinking about entering?"
"Nope." Harry shook his head. "Every year, something tries to kill me. It'd be nice, this year, to give that a miss. And for once, I can see it coming...and get out of its way."
Hotaru giggled. "True."
"Besides. The rewards don't really sound worth it. Fame? I'm the Boy Who Lived, and I hate every minute of it. Money? A thousand galleons?" He snorted. "I've got a hundred times that in my trust vault."
"Who's put their names in?" she asked.
"I've seen the entire Durmstrang and Beauxbatons delegations," said Harry. "They queued right up and dropped their names in. From Hogwarts, I've seen Cedric Diggory, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, and the Ravenclaw seventh-year girl's Prefect."
"Linderina Crane," said Hotaru sourly. "She's...not a nice person. I thought Cedric was a sixth year?"
"His birthday was in September," said Harry. "So he's seventeen, so he can enter."
Hotaru nodded. "What about the Mahoutokoro students?"
"Haven't seen them yet." He glanced up at the sound of people approaching. "Actually, I think that that's them now."
Indeed, the four Japanese students were approaching, led by their Deputy Headmistress. All four of the girls were looking around the castle with frank admiration. One of them—the blonde girl—glanced their way, grinned and flashed them a 'V' sign.
Mahoutokoro clearly did some things differently than the European schools, as the four girls lined up just outside the age line. Meiou-sensei then called out, "Aino Minako."
"Hai!" The blonde girl stepped forward, and dropped a piece of parchment in the Goblet of Fire.
"Very confident," observed Hotaru.
"Hino Rei."
The girl with the long black hair stepped up to the Goblet. She paused, bowing toward the flame, then tossed her name in.
"Kino Makoto."
The tall girl with the ponytail seemed a lot less confident than her classmates. She hesitantly stepped across the line, then glanced back at Meiou-sensei. In Japanese, she said, "You're sure this is legit, Setsuna?"
Harry schooled his expression; if these students were up to something, he didn't want to reveal that. Plus, who called a Professor by their given name?
Actually, not a good point. He did the same with Moony.
"You know it is." Meiou-sensei replied in the same language. "Don't worry; I doubt they'll have anything that would challenge you."
Harry glanced at Hotaru, and was pleased to see that he wasn't the only one who found this exchange odd. Hotaru also looked a bit puzzled.
Makoto dropped her name into the Goblet of Fire, and stepped back.
"Mizuno Ami."
"Un." The blue-haired girl stepped forward and dropped her name into the Goblet. She glanced over at Harry and Hotaru, then turned to the Professor.
"Mind if I socialize a bit?" she asked.
"Go on," said Meiou-sensei. "We'll see you at dinner."
The girl bowed, and the other four turned and walked out, the blonde waving as she did so. Ami walked over to Harry and Hotaru.
"Good afternoon." Her English, like Meiou-sensei's, was clear and only lightly accented. "I'm Ami Mizuno. Pleased to meet you."
"Harry Potter." He stood up slowly, and bowed.
"Hotaru Tomoe."
"Ah!" She switched to Japanese. "Pleased to meet you, Tomoe-chan."
Hotaru opened her mouth, then paused. "I'm sorry. I...my father was Japanese, but our family came to England quite some time ago. I know a few words, but I'm really English, not Japanese."
Harry was impressed. He knew Hotaru hated lying, but her statement wasn't technically false.
"Oh. So sorry." Ami's hand flew up to cover her mouth. "I suppose I was just excited to meet a Japanese person living in England."
"Not a problem," said Hotaru. "I'd not mind learning a bit more about Japan, and I know Harry would be interested, too." She tilted her head. "Would you like to sit with us during dinner?"
"I wish I could," said Ami. "Unfortunately, since the Goblet will be choosing, I have to sit with my classmates." She gave a wry grin. "I expect our class representative will be chosen."
"Is that the blonde girl?" asked Harry.
"Yes. Minako Aino."
"The tall girl seemed kind of hesitant," said Hotaru. "She's not being pressured into entering, is she?"
"Not exactly," said Ami. "She's...ara...She doesn't think she's got a decent chance of being chosen."
"Because she's a coral robe?" asked Harry. Both girls looked at him with some confusion. He turned to Hotaru and said, "The colour of their robes indicates the degree of their education. For Makoto to be wearing coral indicates that she's...not the most studious."
He'd looked into Mahoutokoro as soon as he'd heard that they'd be attending. He'd looked into Beauxbatons and Durmstrang as well, but since he didn't have any French or Russian friends, he hadn't looked into them as deeply.
"I see why you might think that," said Ami. "But she is capable in other ways. Ways not measured by robes. But yes; that's why she thinks she won't be chosen." She sighed. "But Meiou-sensei feels she's a good choice, so..."
"So she's pressured Makoto into submitting her name?" asked Harry.
"No, just...convinced her that it wouldn't be a waste of her time." Ami sighed. "Makoto wants in; she just thinks she won't be picked."
"Ah. I see." Harry nodded.
That has nothing to do with her concerns about being 'legit', he thought. Now I'm certain that they're up to something.
The students were mostly silent as they waited for the Goblet of Fire to produce its results. Only a few nervous whispers broke the tense silence. Then the flames above the Goblet of Fire turned blue, and spat out a piece of parchment. Dumbledore caught the parchment as it fluttered down towards him, and opened it.
"The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"
The Great Hall burst into applause as the attractive blonde girl that Ron had been drooling over stood and made her way towards the door at the top of the Great Hall. Harry noticed another girl in Beauxbatons blue bursting into tears. Ought to be glad she dodged that bullet, he thought.
The Goblet of Fire spat out another parchment, and Dumbledore caught it and opened it. "The champion for Durmstrang is Victor Krum!"
"Should have expected that," said Ron as he applauded madly.
"Why?" asked Harry. "Just because he's a good Seeker doesn't mean he's good at everything."
"He must be at least somewhat," argued Ron. "Otherwise Karkaroff wouldn't have brought him."
"The champion for Mahoutokoro," continued Dumbledore, "is Ami Mizuno!"
Harry might have misgivings about Mahoutokoro's presence at the event, but he'd found he kind of liked Ami. He applauded as the shorter girl made her way to the top of the Hall.
The Goblet of Fire spat out another scrap of parchment, and Dumbledore snagged it out of the air. "The champion for Hogwarts is Cedric Diggory!"
"He's a solid choice," said Hermione as she applauded. "Nobody will complain about a Hufflepuff, and they deserve some glory."
"Plus you fancy him," teased Ron.
"No more than every other girl in the castle," retorted Hermione. "He is rather pretty."
"Excellent choices all around," said Dumbledore. "And I would like to say that while supporting your own Champion is natural, be sure to offer your support to all four of—"
The Goblet spat out a fifth piece of parchment. Dumbledore turned and stared as it fluttered down to the ground.
Harry suddenly had a very bad feeling about this.
Dumbledore waved his hand, causing the slip of parchment to rise into it. He opened it, and frowned.
"Harry Potter."
Of course.
Hermione and Ron were staring at him.
"I didn't enter my name," he said firmly. "I promise you that."
"Harry Potter!" called Dumbledore more loudly. Harry stood, and walked towards the Headmaster. He saw Hotaru staring at him in shock.
Please, let her believe I didn't enter this thing.
He stopped before the Headmaster, who looked down at him with an expression of sadness.
"Through the door, please, Harry."
Harry nodded, then continued up to the head of the Hall.
The other four champions looked at him in some surprise as he entered. Fleur was the first to speak.
"Do they want us back in the Great Hall?"
"No," said Harry bitterly. "There's been a complication...one that I really should have seen coming."