XXXXXXXXXX Author's Note- Wow been a while, ne? It's my friend Rob's fault, he dragged me to the theaters during the summer to watch AVP and I loved it. Anime kinda went on the back burner for a while. But, my busy work is finally done for the winter (Shrink wrapping boats), so I can devote some time to fic writing again. So here it is, start of year six!
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Sirius carefully placed the wooden chopsticks between his fingers in hopes to have mastered the technique this time. Staring intently at the plate in front of him, he dug the little sticks into the mound of food and squeezed. Lifting the chopsticks up he gave a triumphant whoop before the food decided to rebel and fall to his lap. Makoto laughed gaily at the sight, while Harry merely continued to stare down at his own food.
Makoto Kino's once quiet lonely apartment had been recently filled with her would-be family. Her boyfriend Sirius Black along with his godson Harry Potter had become permanent residents in her building, according to the new records and as far as the superintendent was concerned, the three of them looked very much like a family.
Harry continued to pick at his food, he had glanced briefly towards Sirius, who was cleaning the small mess he made of himself, and couldn't help but noticed how much the years had been taken off of his features. Thanks to Makoto's talents, she had fed Harry's godfather back to complete health and since his pardon, Sirius couldn't have been more happy than he was at that moment. The hoot of an approaching owl gained Harry's attention as a brown school owl stopped long enough to deliver a letter, take a snack, then leave, Harry stared apprehensively towards the envelope.
"Well? Aren't you going to open it?" Makoto prodded, both adults looking silently towards him. Harry hesitated a moment before reaching forward to take the letter, the seal of Hogwarts imprinted on the back.
"School letter", Harry mumbled, he had half hoped it would've been a letter from Madam Usagi Tsukino saying she'd come for a visit, but she hadn't been able to do so all summer, giving excuses with every invitation. Opening the letter he could feel his heart beat pound in his throat, knowing the contents of the envelope would contain the results of his OWLs.
"So? How'd you do?" Sirius asked, moving himself a little closer to his godson, Harry stared unblinkingly at the parchment before him, before handing it over to Sirius. Makoto stood and leaned over her boyfriend's shoulder to read, then both adults looked up at Harry with raised eyebrows. Harry gave a low sigh and continued to stare down at his plate.
"Wow...I'm impressed," Sirius said giving a low whistle. "I can't believe you actually got excepted into sixth year potions...I though ol' Snivellus would refuse for sure", he added, noticing the materials Harry would have to purchase for the school year.
"I wonder if Usagi-chan had anything to do with that?" Makoto asked with a small sly smile, she had kept her voice low, Sirius shrugged in response.
"Who knows, the way Usa keeps herself busy and secretive these days, I'd have to wonder too". Sirius replied, then put down Harry's letter. "Harry, you need to learn how to smile once in a while, your face is going to get stuck like that". Harry couldn't help but produce a little smile, after all, the fact he earned so many owls was beyond him.
"Think we'll arrange to meet the Weasley's in Diagon Alley?" Makoto suggested, before leaving to get dessert in the kitchen.
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Sirius, Makoto and Harry walked along the narrow streets of Diagon Alley, looking around at all of the new things displayed in the store windows. They'd be meeting the Weasleys shortly, so they had a few minutes to spend wandering. A few people had glanced wearily towards the ex-convict, but for the most part, nobody would recognize him.
Ron and Hermione burst excitedly out of Gringott's as soon as the clock struck noon, and sure enough the three they had been waiting for were approaching at a casual pace. The two students hugged Harry, who struggled to gain oxygen, since Ron had yet grown again over the summer and was cutting off the smaller boy's air supply with his long arms. Ron also had gained a bit of fuzzy facial hair which almost made him funny looking in a way. Hermione hadn't changed much, although she had been gaining a lot more male attention lately.
"Harry! You wouldn't believe the rumors we've been hearing all morning!" Ron rushed out, Harry looked disinterested.
"Big surprise", he mumbled to himself. Hermione looped her arm through his and smiled brightly.
"C'mon Harry, cheer up and tell us about your OWL reports, hm?" She suggested as they went along their way.
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Hotaru Tsukino selected her game piece and moved the pawn further up the board. Her opponent took a moment to contemplate her own move before taking the pawn out. The senshi of Saturn took only a few more moves to win the game and watch her opponent's game piece get broken to pieces, Wizard's Chess was her new favorite game.
"You beat me again, Hotaru-chan, I have to wonder about you", Hotaru smirked and brushed a long piece of violet-streaked hair off her face, and crossed her newly acquired set of long pale legs. Since the end of her school year, Hotaru had moved in with someone new, considering her foster mother now newly married would want some alone-time with her new husband. Which was fine with her, since recently she had aged to the same age as her foster mother in order to fill in a position on short notice. Sybil Trelawney, formally of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had mysteriously taken ill and newly posted centaur Firenze had resigned for reasons unknown. Hotaru went from student to teacher in very little time at all. She watched her new room-mate cleaned the mess as the pieces reformed themselves, the older woman looked up with her captive garnet gaze and smiled.
"Almost time to leave for Hogwarts", Setsuna Meioh said, having been asked to fill in for a professor that was to be absent half the year.
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Mrs Serenity Slytherin-Snape watched her husband from the doorway where she was leaning, quietly pouting. Having accepted an extremely dangerous Order assignment, Severus would be away from Hogwarts for quite a few months. Usagi had argued against it, but in the end gave up as she knew she would've done the same thing. She blinked back the threatened tears and stroked her swollen belly, while not especially large at four months pregnant, it was growing steadily with life.
She took a moment to remember the exact moment she had found out about her pregnancy, early in the summer time. It was long before the proposal that she had stood in front of the Mirror of Erised and had seen herself with her now-husband and an infant in her arms. Months later, after having eloped with the man she secretly loved, she had once again stood in front of the Mirror and had seen herself exactly as she was.
"Usagi, I have to leave now", the velvety voice of Severus Snape brought Usagi's attention back to the present as she looked up to see her husband don his long black cloak. "I've left instructions for Professor Meioh, whenever the woman gets here, hopefully she's as smart as you claim she is". The sarcastic remark caused Usagi to smile and move towards her husband with open arms.
"I wish you didn't have to do this", she whispered, choking back the emotions she was feeling so strongly. Severus held her tightly before removing himself from her embrace, lightly kissing her forehead.
"I'll be back soon", he said, and gazed at her longingly before leaving the room. Usagi remained, she stood her ground and gulped back as much oxygen as she could, she couldn't watch him leave, she wouldn't have been able to take it. Sighing, she headed out of the room herself, she was minutes away from welcoming someone she hadn't seen for a long time. Sailor Pluto would be with her soon.
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I'm so tired of being here.
Suppressed by all my childish fears.
And if you have to leave,
I wish that you would just leave.
Cause your presence still lingers here, and it won't leave me alone.
The brisk September air didn't damper the mood of any of the students climbing onto the Hogwarts Express, eager to return to school to begin a new year, promising to be full of surprises. As the train pulled away for the day-long journey one compartment full of students noisily discussed their favorite parts of the summer holidays.
These wounds won't seem to heal,
this pain is just too real,
there's just too much that time cannot erase.
One student, however, sat silently, watching out his window staring at nothing in particular, he was merely lost in his own thoughts. And his sadness. His thoughts lingered on only one person at that time.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.
She was known only as Sorrow, a rogue auror that had literally been trouble since she had first come into Harry's life, a life already riddled with pain and great responsibilities.
You used to captivate me by your resonating mind,
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind.
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice has chased away all the sanity in me.
Sorrow had sacrificed her life to save another, she had been seen by the visions of Hotaru to be a bride, a pure sacrifice. Harry's godfather was alive because of her, but it had cost spilt blood that would stain the heart of one young man.
These wounds won't seem to heal,
this pain is just too real,
there's just too much that time cannot erase.
Harry continued to watch out his window, the voices of his friends a mere blur of noise in his ears, he clutched the emerald pendant hanging 'round his neck, a gift from the woman who had brought him back from death.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.
Usagi Tsukino had promised to see Harry during the holidays, half of them spent staying with his aunt and uncle, the other half with Sirius Black and Makoto Kino in Japan. She had come long enough to drop off a birthday present saying she was too busy to visit.
I tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone.
But though you're still with me,
I've been alone all along.
That didn't matter, though, Harry had spent most of his vacation alone in a room. It was late July when she had come to him in his dreams, and every night since, Sorrow. Although only a wandering spirit now, she had told him she was there to protect him, even if it was only his sleeping mind from Voldemort. Harry's eyes slowly closed as the train lulled him to sleep, he had hoped she would visit him then, as she had told him she was always with him.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.
"Harry, hey Harry!" Ron shook his best friend out of his lulling trance, Harry turned his blurry eyes towards the red head, then focused long enough to notice the train pulling to a stop. "Time to get off, mate", Ron continued, turning to retrieve his things and continuing to chat. "You were asleep and missed the action, mate, Malfoy was making a racket trying to accuse us of trying to hide Hotaru or something. That bloody girl seems to have disappeared or something, nobody knows what happened to her." Ron's words were for the most part a loss in Harry's ear as he numbly collected himself, he had caught Hotaru's name, however, and had wondered once again on what had happened to the Tsukino's. Remus Lupin with fiancé Ami Mizuno had stopped by Makoto's place several times over the holidays, Ami would be taking over for now-retired Madam Pomfry in Hogwart's infirmary. Rei Hino had visited a few times, she still on again-off again seeing the Durmstrang Headmaster Klassen. Minako Aino had gotten herself into professional Quidditch, while infamously dating Quidditch superstar Oliver Wood.
"Alright Harry?" Ron asked, snapping the young man back into attention, Harry nodded quietly as he followed his friends off the train. Taking the carriages to the school, the students crowded into the Great Hall, where Professor Dumbledore could clearly be seen sitting in the Headmaster's chair. Students noticed both staff members gone and new ones sitting there. Two women, Ron admired quite loudly, were oddly beautiful. One with long forest green hair sitting next to McGonagall, the spot next to her empty, and where Trelawney usually sat, was a woman with impossibly pale skin and long black hair styled quite wildly. She caught Harry's eyes for a moment before looking away, Harry narrowed his own eyes, feeling as though he knew the woman. The students were quiet as new first years walked in, Ron leaned over to Harry and was whispering quite fiercely.
"Noticed Snape isn't anywhere to be seen?" He commented, "makes my supper that much better". The student body were curious to discover the identities of the new teachers, shock wasn't the proper word when Divination Professor Hotaru Tsukino nodded in response to her introduction. Draco Malfoy stared towards his ex-girlfriend during the rest of the meal, making a mental note to try and squeeze into that class somehow.
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A group of sixth years made their way into the Potions classroom in the dungeons for their first lesson of the year, Harry was quiet, Hermione was excited. Having decided on Healing, Hermione had to take Potions, but she was ready for it and made it known out loud. They sat together, and instead of the class being mixed with only two houses, it was all four, considering the few that were excepted in. Surprisingly to Harry, Draco Malfoy wasn't amongst them.
"Hermione?" Harry quietly gained the young woman's attention, she was scribbling furiously on her parchment.
"Hm?" She responded with.
"Did you by any chance notice how warm it is in here?" Hermione stopped writing and looked up around the classroom, before turning her gaze to Harry.
"That's odd...you're right", she said, thick eyebrows raised in puzzlement. Nearly everyone jumped when the door slammed open, Snape's typical loud entrance, the students knew. They weren't prepared for what happened next.
"Sorry I'm late", came the breathless sweet voice of their new Potions teacher, Usagi rushed into the classroom up to the desk, depositing several items. She looked up at the stunned faces of her students and smiled brightly. "I'm not sure where to start", she admitted, a pretty blush coloring her face. Still she gained no response from the students until one Ravenclaw student found his voice.
"Madam Tsukino? But it said S Snape on my schedule?" He said, several voices rose up in agreement. Usagi looked at him as though she hadn't heard the question the way he intended.
"That's right", she said, still smiling away, "my Wizarding name is Serenity, not Usagi".
"Bloody hell!" Hermione squeaked, immediately bringing her hand to her mouth, Harry looked at her in surprise. "I mean..." she said after a short moment, "congratulations", she added, her face spreading in a wide grin. The other students noisily began to question what Hermione meant by that, since she seemed to be the only one who had caught on.
"Thank you, Hermione", Usagi said, then she moved to pick up the term's schedule and everyone received a full view of her rounding middle, Harry elbowed Hermione.
"What?" She asked irritably, still smiling towards their new Potions teacher.
"What do you know, that the rest of us don't?" He asked, still staring.
"She married Professor Snape you daft idiot", Hermione snapped, Harry's jaw dropped.
"This is just too much", he thought out loud. One Slytherin girl's hand began waving madly in the air, Usagi nodded towards her.
"Madam Tsuk...I mean Madam Snape, could we...make a love potion?" She shyly asked, other students quieted in common interest.
"That's not allowed", Usagi said after a moment, looking down at her things, then she slowly rose her eyes, "but...I think we could make an exception." The females of the class voiced their excitement.
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"Bloody love potions now, that's very un-Snape-like. And where did the git get off to?"
"Madam Snape said he had some assignment or something", Hermione said between mouthfuls of her food.
"Don't even get me started on the fact that someone as fantastic as her got married to -him-", it's just too weird." Ron stated openly. They quietly filled themselves up with more lunch before it was off to their afternoon classes. Fortunately, all three of them had Defense Against the Dark Arts together.
"Hi Harry", while Hotaru had visually changed, her voice was the same as it had been, Harry looked up at the newly-changed woman who still had the same sad violet eyes. "I missed all of you, you know", she added before walking away from them. Ron leaned a little backwards to admire her retreating form. Hermione smacked him.
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Setsuna proved to be just as strict as McGonagall as the students began their first DADA lesson. She also proved to be quite knowledgeable in her material as well. Neville was sure to sit as close to the trio as possible, having gotten the OWL for the subject (thanks to the TA), he was frightened to death of their substitute.
"More than Snape?" Neville nodded.
"Ever since I heard he would be gone for half the year, I felt my luck was changing for the good, but she's just as scary", Neville admitted openly. Hermione, of course, was the first to point out the symbol softly glowing on the tall woman's forehead. The symbol for Pluto.
"You think she's one of those sen-shee people too?" Ron asked, Hermione nodded.
"Didn't you see her talking to Hotaru, seems like they know each other well", Hermione commented before Setsuna demanded everyone's attention.
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Harry dozed off to sleep, lulled by the familiar sounds of snoring coming from the bed next to his. As soon as sleep overwhelmed him, and dreams began, the raggedly dressed form of Sorrow appeared as she always did. And talked to him as though they were together in person.
"How was your first day?" She asked, folding her hands together as they walked along an imaginary path.
"You wouldn't believe all the strange things that already have happened." Sorrow gave Harry her trademark smile.
"Try me".
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Not to far away, Usagi lay slumbering in her bed, finding it hard to sleep alone now, but sleeping none-the-less after a tiring day. Her dreams weren't pleasant like Harry's, however, her's were disturbing. Distorted images she didn't understand made her body tremble during her nightmares. And the one who visited her had vowed to uphold the promise he made to her.
Voldemort no longer could use Harry Potter's mind, it was protected by another spirit, but one he could visit was the woman who he had watched for years. Usagi was vulnerable to him now without having her husband nearby for protection. He watched her as she struggled against his visions, he smiled to himself with pale thin lips. This would prove to provide him with an advantage, if he could time his movements right.
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AN- There's the intro to the sixth year, whaddya' think? I know this chapter's a lot shorter than what I usually right, but I just haven't been able to devote a lot of time to story writing lately. I'll try harder, though, next chapter, promise!!