The Alliance of Magic

 

By: Marie-Claire

Disclaimer: I've been doing this for the past sixteen chapters, so you guys should be used to it by now. CCS is not mine.  Nor is Harry Potter. And the poem 'Tonight I can Write' really does belong to Pablo Neruda. Darn.

Author's Notes: I was actually thinking of putting this story into hiatus. I didn't, if only because of the support of those who read this faithfully, whom i have no wish to disappoint. Thank you for being considerate, and for waiting. I can't promise to update quickly, because honestly, I have become captivated by different fandoms now. But I promise to finish this story, not only for me, but for all of you who have been with me from start to finish. Thank you. 

               

Chapter Seventeen: Prelude to Chaos

                Sakura opened her eyes to a cool, gentle hand brushing her hair away from her face. Nose crinkling a little, she cautiously opened one emerald eye, then the other, face brightening as she smiled tiredly up at her cousin.

                "Sakura-chan, you're awake!" Tomoyo clapped her hands in delight, immediately hurrying to help the other girl sit up on the bed, fluffing her pillows and tugging down the heavy covers to her lap.

                Eyes softening as she murmured her thanks, Sakura took in the glass doors on her right opening up to the balcony, the soft white curtains fluttering gently in the breeze, the mild fragrance of the bouquet at her bedside, the breakfast tray with a single, cheery sunflower beside her water glass, and the general open, airy feel of the room. "I'm not in the Hospital Wing, then?"

                Tomoyo shook her head, masking her amusement as she silently decided not to tell her cousin the lengths Li-kun had taken to ensure that after being healed, Sakura would be taken straight to her own bedroom to recuperate. They were all well aware of Sakura's resentment of clinical, blank, white hospital rooms, and in spite of Pomfrey-san's shouting insistence, Li had effortlessly carried the still-unconscious Sakura back to her room, his amber-eyed stare silencing all further protests from the other Professors.

                She was sure that Sakura would be mildly disapproving of Syaoran's stoic, bordering on rude, actions, but the honorary Ravenclaw fully understood the concern of the Chinese boy and his unwillingness to leave Sakura in the care of unfamiliar people right after such a scare.

                Sakura was just finishing her meager breakfast, hot porridge with a sprinkling of sugar and cinnamon for flavor, when they both heard soft footsteps padding towards the door, opening to reveal a solemn-looking Syaoran. He looked just as immaculate as ever, wearing soft black slacks and a white button-down with the sleeves pushed back to his elbows, if not for the slightly bruised skin under his eyes and faint lines on his forehead, evidence of a night of worried concern.

With a smile towards the silent teen, Tomoyo took the bowl from Sakura, gathering the contents of the tray and going out with a smile to Li as she silently closed the door behind her.

                The cherry blossom determinedly stared down at her clasped hands, not knowing what to expect from her intended. Moments passed in stifling silence, when, with an internal wail of 'I can't take this anymore!' she opened her mouth to talk, when—

Oh.

                The Japanese female's anxious thoughts melted away as she felt strong, warm arms envelop her. One calloused hand on the back of her neck and his other arm draped around her waist, Syaoran carefully pulled her to him, still being careful not to aggravate Sakura's bandaged shoulder.

                "Never, never frighten me like that again, all right, Ying-Fa?" he whispered fiercely to her ear, breathing in the comforting scent of her hair.

                Sakura breathed a whisper-silent laugh on his shoulder. "It's not something I do deliberately, Xiao Lang."

                The young man's eyes hardened as he retreated to the wooden chair by her bedside with one final squeeze. "Not with that intent in mind, but with the way you always try to work past your limit, it looks like that's what you're doing." At Sakura's carefully blank look, Syaoran exploded. "You shouldn't have had that hard a time with those Ravagers, Sakura!"

                "I—" Sakura tried to speak, then cut herself off at the fierce look that Syaoran shot her.

                "I can't believe that you let your reserves get that low and I can't believe I continually allowed myself to be distracted from knowing!"

                "The things I did needed to be done, Syaoran!" Sakura defended herself. "The wards, the new wands, everything! We don't have time to rest now that Thanatos is coming here. I—I don't want a repeat of that—that Massacre ever again! I refuse to let any of these children experience what we did then." Her voice hitched in a sob as she pulled up her knees and buried her face in them, shoulders shaking.

                Syaoran's face had softened again as he drew her into another hug, but his fierce tone brooked no argument. "We won't allow anything like that to happen here. But koi, don't you see that by putting yourself in as much danger as you do by not resting enough, the backlash could be worse? If—" Syaoran swallowed, "If something happens to you at this point, we all fall. It's not a justifiable risk."

                "But we have to be ready for him!" Her voice was muffled against her knees as Syaoran continued to hold her.

                "And we will be. Our Shadows are getting stronger by the day. They'll certainly be worthy opponents to Thanatos' wizard allies. And negotiations with the American and Greater European Ministries via Delavenne and Townsende are going well. Hiiragizawa, Daidouji, and my cousin are effectively working behind the scenes to manipulate the internal politics here at Hogwarts. We will be ready for him, Sakura. But you have to learn to trust us more!"

                The Card Mistress raised her head, staring in distress at the hurt undertones in his voice. "Lying to Daidouji… lying to me. Don't you see how much you hurt us, Ying-Fa?"

                Sakura's eyes teared up, but this time in guilt. "Gomenasai, Syaoran-kun… and—and to Tomoyo-chan as well."

                The young Elemental Master's expression lightened as he carded one hand softly through her hair, flicking a finger at Sakura's forehead and making her mouth twist in a reluctant smile.  

                "By the way, how do you feel? Mei Lin's holding a grudge on the Head Nurse now. She wanted to heal you, you know how my cousin doesn't trust anybody else when it comes to healing, but Pomfrey-san got to you first."

                A reassuring smile. "Tell Mei Lin not to worry. It feels fine. A day's rest—" she faltered at the other's raised eyebrow, "days then," she conceded "and I'll be perfectly alright. But tell me, Syaoran, what's happened since then?"

                The Chinese boy carefully selected an orange from the fruit basket, sniffing delicately at the citrus fruit, before he deigned to answer. "The parents of the students are in an uproar. Nobody expected an attack of that kind, considering the Ministry's continued insistence that the Dark Lord's forces are still weak. And at Hogwarts no less!"

                "Fudge's days as Minister are undoubtedly limited, then?"

                "Hiiragizawa says it'll only be a matter of time now." He confirmed, handing Sakura a few pieces of his peeled orange.

                Sakura accepted with an appreciative smile, popping one into her mouth delicately "And our Shadows?"

                "They've adjusted well to their schoolmates finding out about the real training they do in our classes. It's amusing how those not included in the classes are clamoring now to the Headmaster to be allowed to attend, but Hiiragizawa's staying firm on his non-acceptance policy of the Whites,"  Syaoran answered, flicking a finger at the small trash can at the corner, which zoomed over to him and back after he dropped the orange peelings. 

                "Dumbledore-san can't do anything about it," Sakura agreed. "Eriol-kun took care to break any affiliations between the Shadow Organization and Hogwarts."

                Syaoran shrugged. "He was already expecting his grandfather to attempt to manipulate our Shadows. I hate to say it, but he's good at solving problems before they even occur."

                "Why Syaoran-kun! I do believe this is the first time I've heard you praise Eriol-kun." Sakura teased, poking the Li Clan Head's side, making the boy flinch a little.

                Syaoran grimaced, face a little green. "I can acknowledge that he's not half-bad at what he does, Sakura, but…"

                His words were cut off when Sakura delightedly clasped her hands together. "Eriol-kun will be absolutely delighted to hear you say that, Syaoran-kun!"

                The Chinese boy squawked in alarm. "No. NO. Sakura, you are not telling Hiiragizawa about this!"

                Sakura's laughter drifted out, interspersed with Syaoran's protestations, into the air.  Hearing it, Tomoyo smiled into her hand as she backed away from where she had been listening behind the door. She should have known that her worry of a rift between the two powerful sorcerers were unfounded. The dark aura that had settled over Hogwarts after the attack was finally going to lift, even if only by a little.

                'Things are going to get far, far worse,' Tomoyo thought. 'But as long as Sakura-chan can laugh like that, and make Li-kun smile… maybe everything will still be alright.'

oOo

                "Hey, Hiiragizawa!"

                Eriol looked behind him, raising one hand in acknowledgment at Matthew and Alexander.

                The two American Ministry Representatives skidded to a stop in front of him.  He quirked one eyebrow at Alexander, who was wheezing a little, his blonde hair windswept from their run. "We finally caught up to you!" He puffed at the dark-haired sorcerer.

                "You're like a whirlwind around the castle," Matthew complained. He waved distractedly at a few passing Shadows, who were hurrying through the grassy courtyard on their way to classes, before turning back to Eriol. "How many Ministry negotiations are you taking care of anyway?"

                Eriol breathed a laugh as he continued walking through the yard, the two Americans in tow. "Too many to count, I'm afraid. What did you need me for?" He prompted them.

                "Our Ministry has sent back word." Lex exclaimed excitedly, while Matthew's brown-haired head nodded in agreement.

                Clow's reincarnation tensed as he stopped in his tracks. "Well?" He inquired worriedly.

                Lex waved one hand dismissively. "I don't know what you're so worried about. Whatever you said in those letters and in that one meeting with the Council, you've definitely impressed them."

                The sorcerer's eyes sparkled in gratified pleasure behind his glasses. "Then that means--?"

                Matthew nodded in confirmation. "You have the full backing of our Ministry. Our aurors are being organized as we speak."

                "They'll probably be here within a week." Lex added. "Also, the Superior expressly said that they will deal only with you and the other Asian Representatives, and only a little with the Headmaster. They refuse to show respect to Fudge anymore, that bumbling fool."

                "Then a confrontation with the Minister will not be so far in the future."

                Matthew shrugged, resigned. "Not as if it wasn't bound to happen. People are starting to become more aware that someone's starting to control the reins here at Hogwarts and the British Ministry, and we don't have to tell you that you and your friends are high in their list of suspects."

                "But it's not a bad thing," Lex hurriedly reassured him. "The students here adore you guys, and that perceptions' bound to influence their families around the country. It's highly manipulative of you," he accused, then smiled to take out the bite in his words, "but we know you're doing the good things that the Ministry and Dumbledore should have done long ago, so we're not too worried about it."

                Eriol inclined his head in acknowledgement. "With my family being what it is, can you blame me for being manipulative as a second nature? Rest assured though that when I do so, I don't justify it merely by saying that it's for the greater good." He shrugged gracefully. "Who am I to judge what's for the greater good?" Then he grinned mischievously. "Besides, we are sincerely fond of the students here."

                The two Americans accepted his genuine sentiment with a nod. Ducking beneath an archway and ignoring the shrill squawking of the fairies clinging to the hanging vines as their lodging was disturbed, Matthew asked, "Has the European Ministry sent word, by the way? We'd ask Delavenne, but he's as hard to get in touch with these days as you and Jace."

                "Not yet, but I'm expecting their reply from Ren in a couple of days. Hopefully, it will be news as good as yours." Eriol's dark eyes gleamed behind his glasses as he looked at them somberly. "We will need all the help we can get to survive this."

oOo

                After saying goodbye to the two foreign Representatives, who said that they had to drop by the library to read up on some obscure wards which Jason had asked them to research on, Eriol headed up to the Headmaster's office.

                His grandfather had sent him a missive earlier at breakfast, summoning him to the office. Not that he hadn't been expecting it. The Headmaster was probably furious about the Quidditch Fiasco. Having his fortress breached by Dark Creatures was one thing; having students secretly trained by his grandson and his friends to be competent enough to handle said Dark Creatures? That was another.

                He strode in confidently without bothering to knock, well-aware that his Grandfather had sensed his arrival even from the bottom of the revolving staircase beside the gargoyle. And although he was expecting that this confrontation wouldn't be between the two of them only, he was still quite surprised by the number of people in the room. He gave a small smile of greeting to Snape—who raised one inky-black eyebrow in return—Lupin and McGonagall, and nodded to acknowledge Kingsley Shacklebolt, one of Dumbledore's Auror friends, as well as Arthur and Molly Weasley and their two eldest children. He didn't bother to greet the newer Order members lining the perimeter of the room, considering the air of animosity hovering around them. He guessed that those were the ones who were fully in support of his Grandfather.

                Settling into the chair directly in front of the Headmaster with calm grace, he tilted his head in a short bow, the only sign of deference he would make in this sort of circumstances. More and he might give the impression of being reconciliatory, which would not only make the onlookers smug, but also give Dumbledore the impression of an advantage which he didn't have. "Goodmorning, Grandfather."

                The Headmaster's spectacles flashed. "Eriol."  One twirl of his wand on the desktop and a revolving tea set appeared. "Tea?"

                Eriol smiled a smile that wouldn't have looked unnatural on a hyena. Taking the cup which floated over to him and without taking his eyes away from his relative's face, he made three careful passes over the rim of the cup with his free hand.

                With each sweep of his hand, powder and liquid rose from the cup, which made Mrs. Weasley gasp, not only at the careless display of wandless magic, but what he was implying as well.

                Eriol took a sip, pushing back his glasses as he turned a disapproving eye on the Order's leader. "Really, Grandfather. A Calming Potion, a Nullifier to momentarily weaken my magic, and—"

                "Veritaserum, Headmaster?" Severus Snape choked out. Eriol calmly assessed the Potions Master as he took a closer look at the clear liquid floating eerily between the Headmaster and his grandson. "You've been stealing from my stores!"

                "Albus!"McGonagall looked appalled, one hand on her throat in shock.

                The Headmaster flicked irritably at the floating substances, which vanished immediately. "I assure you, Minerva, I would not have done this if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Don't worry."

                "Don't worry—?" The Gryffindor Head drew herself to full height, turning a cold eye on the Headmaster as she said frostily, "I am not certain that any circumstance would justify slyly administering a Nullifier and Veritaserumon a young man, Albus."

                "And on your own grandson as well," Lupin added quietly, looking at Dumbledore with critical golden eyes as if he had never seen the man before.

"Professors, please." They stared at him like he had grown a second head, boggled by his calm and control in the tense situation. Eriol smiled courteously. "I can't say that I haven't grown used to these kinds of stunts. It's just an unfortunate side-effect of living in the kind of family environment I had." The Weasleys' eyes bugged out at this admission. "But I must say, Grandfather, you must be really desperate for information now. I don't think you've ever attempted to use a Truth Serum of that intensity on me before."

Dumbledore smiled a shark-smile. "You've never show this much insolence before."

Eriol's eyes sharpened a fraction behind his glasses. "Insolence, is it, that we consented to drop everything at your request to help your students? To protect the school?" The younger Order members sputtering fell silent at his suddenly frigid tone. "Were we being insolent when we trained your students to be able to protect themselves should circumstances like the very recent one arose, instead of them just waiting for you to sacrifice them at intervals for the greater good as you saw fit?"

"You are treading very dangerous ground here, Eriol." The Headmaster had half-risen from his seat now, his eyes gleaming as he fingered his wand with clear intent. "I called you here to help, not to hinder the war-effort. Toe the line more and you'll find yourself banished back to Asia with your friends."

His grandson laughed coldly, apparently unaffected by the threat. "You lost all influence over me when I reached my magical majority, Grandfather. Don't fool yourself. We've made friends here, friends we won't allow to be hurt by your war-efforts anymore. And as much as you deny it, we're more involved in this than you want to believe. That's why we want to end this. We deserve an end to this."  

"Hiiragizawa! Explain." Severus barked at him.

Eriol spared him one cutting glance, as if to say that he was doing so of his own volition and not because an overgrown, albeit brilliant, bat was barking at him. "Asia is a secluded magical community, so whatever happens there doesn't always reach over the oceans. But a Dark Lord rose in our continent a few years before as well."

Horrified gasps rose from the watching people. "And—and he's still alive?" Lupin asked worriedly.

The dark-haired sorcerer didn't even glance at him, his eyes distant, and obviously lost in his memories. ""We thought we had beaten him after the Massacre, but…"

"Massacre?" Charlie Weasley asked, morbid curiosity getting the better of him. His long hair swished as he stepped forward, engrossed in Eriol's narration.

A flash of pain streaked across his face, the only brief moment of emotion that he would allow himself to indulge in. "The Li Clan Massacre. The Li Clan, Xiao Lang's and Mei Lin's Clan, is the most extensive and most powerful magical clan in Asia. In one night, a third of that Clan was decimated by the Dark Lord. Sakura's father also perished in that surprise attack, for no other reason than the fact that the Dark Lord knew that nothing would hit Sakura and Xiao Lang more than their deaths. Friends and family, all gone in a single, bloody night." He turned to his Grandfather. "I didn't want to be involved in your schemes again, Grandfather, but when Sakura said that she was starting to feel his existence again in your region, we had to come. And she was right. But the situation has become even worse than we previously thought it would get."

"Elaborate, please, Mr. Hiiragizawa," McGonagall prompted him shakily.

"Last Halloween, we found out that our Dark Lord and yours had merged through a Dark Blood Ritual. He calls himself Thanatos now, and is more powerful than ever." Nodding in acknowledgement of their disbelief, he told Lupin, "You can ask Hadrian if you wish, Mr. Lupin. With his unfortunate connection to the Dark Lord, he will be able to confirm what I have told you."

"If what you say is true, Eriol, then I accept it." Dumbledore said after a few quiet moments. "But you're disturbing things that you shouldn't have touched in the first place here."

"What, Fudge?" Eriol sneered, the first undeniably aggressive expression he had shown from the start. "The Ministry was an institution organized for the purpose of protecting its citizens from threats, Grandfather, and your brilliant Minister has done everything but that, first hiding his head in denial of the Dark Lord Voldemort's return, second by almost alienating other Wizarding Ministries which was only barely remedied by the arrival of their Representatives."

"He's the best we can hope for in this situation!" Dumbledore protested, quailing a little when the professors gave him incredulous looks. Even Shacklebolt snorted at that.

"Someone easily manipulated? Maybe he's the best man only for you." Eriol shook his head determinedly. "You've become so used to maintaining the balance between a world which is not too chaotic and not too peaceful, when you could have done so much better. A Golden Age for magic would have been possible after the first Fall of Voldemort, but you were content with the kind of world that you had, with having people in power who are easily manipulated and threatened."

"And what of it?" Dumbledore countered. His hands were trembling on his desktop, his eyes only a little wild behind his half-moon spectacles. "Do you think these people are ready for a change like that?"

Eriol smiled sadly. "You never gave them that option, how will we know?" Sitting perfectly straight-backed and still in the face of his Grandfather's furious agitation, even Snape had to give him points for being gutsy enough to say the words the Headmaster should have heard long before. "We won't accept anything more than a total purging of evil, Grandfather. Would you expect anything less from me? The corruption in your Ministry, this non-tolerance between different magical species, your manipulations for the so-called greater good… Magic deserves more than that from Her children. If you're not strong enough to set it right, then we will."

When Eriol raised hard eyes to his grandfather, he felt not triumph but pity at the defeat he glimpsed in Dumbledore's eyes. "I'd rather have you as an ally rather than an enemy, Grandfather. But things have to change."

McGonagall cleared her throat, face pale but courageous as the eyes of the room's occupants turned to her. "If this change doesn't start with us," she began shakily, "then how will I face my students?" She straightened, voice lofty as she quirked a small smile at the bemused sorcerer, who clearly hadn't expected the support of one of Dumbledore's own. "What do you need, Mr. Hiiragizawa?"

Eriol's eyes softened when a few more people enthusiastically promised their support. Remus blinked at the sight. They had lost the image of the young man at the heat of the confrontation between the two powerful magic-wielders and had seen nothing but a leader. In the face of that softening, they were being reminded that despite all appearances, he was still a young man, who, no matter how strong, still needed help every now and then.

The dark-haired boy waved a hand at the far wall, where a glittering map appeared, a copy of the one he had shown to the students before, although the blinking dots had moved closer to Hogwarts in a tightening noose. "As you can see, a confrontation with Thanatos is inevitable. We need all our allies here in Hogwarts, and at the soonest possible moment."

"Will the other Ministries help us?" A young voice piped up from the back. "I know that they've sent their Representatives, but with the way our Minister's been acting all high and mighty with them, I won't be surprised if they denied us aid."

"You'd be surprised," Eriol smiled mysteriously. "The American Ministry has promised me their support in this War. With Jason Townsende and the rest of the Representatives' help, their Superior was convinced that a neutral stand was not possibly anymore. Our friends from the American Branch have informed us that their Aurors will be arriving no later than this week to give their support. We're just waiting for the response of the European Ministry, but with any luck, we'll have a favorable response from them as well."

Arthur Weasley gave a faint laugh and a strangled whisper of "How did he manage that?"

"However, we still have to make contact with the people from the Wizarding dwellings surrounding Hogwarts. They have to be evacuated to Hogwarts, and fast. Thanatos will destroy them if they remain there, and Fudge won't consent to sending his Aurors as protection to them when he wants them at his side for his own protection." He turned back to the Headmaster, and they looked at each other for a few seconds without speaking. "Grandfather?" Eriol prompted gently.

Dumbledore let out one tired, reluctant sigh, before he pushed up his glasses (which made the onlookers jump, it was an action which they were so used to Eriol doing) and his eyes cleared. "Minerva. Severus. Remus. I would like you to send missives to all the families in Thanatos' path, as well as all around the countryside. It doesn't matter if they are merely seeking refuge or wish to help in the fight; please assure them that Hogwarts is open to them should they wish to enter. Use the school owls."

The three looked gratified, surprised by the change in their Leader. Even Snape's eyes had gone wide at the order. With a bow to Dumbledore and Eriol, they swept out of the room, barking orders at some of the young Order members to follow them to the Owlery.

"Thank you, Grandfather," Eriol said quietly.

The Headmaster studied his grandson over the top of his half-moon spectacles, smiling ruefully. "I wasn't even aware that I had forgotten my ideals, the vows which I swore to as a child of Magic before you came." He inclined his head a fraction, hands open in a sweeping gesture. "You are a credit to our family, Eriol."

The sorcerer just gave a quiet smile in return, knowing that that was the closest to an apology that he was going to get from his Grandfather.  Fawkes crooned his pleasure softly in the background. Even the phoenix was aware that a complete reconciliation was not possible between the two; too much had happened between them. Eriol opposed too much of his Grandfather's methods and vice-versa for there to be complete peace between the two.

Still, it was gratifying to know that they could still come together when needed. While he meant what he said about not being a pawn of his Grandfather, having the much older wizard as an ally was infinitely better than having him as their enemy, what with all their concentration and focus needed against Thanatos.

'The future is grim,' Eriol thought to himself, looking through the window to the distance, only half-aware of his Grandfather mobilizing the remaining people in his office and assigning them their own tasks, 'but it is not hopeless. Magic-willing, we will survive this.'

oOo

  

                The refugees began arriving in droves mere days after the flurry of messenger owls were sent out of Hogwarts. They came flying in brooms, some through Apparition, while others used the Portkey points that the teachers had hastily set up with the help of some of the sixth and seventh year Shadows. Trudging up the hill towards Hogwarts, their meager belongings floating behind them noiselessly, they stared in fascination at the enormous semi-transparent dome surrounding the castle. 

                "Merlin's beard, what is that?" One wizard with graying hair exclaimed. A young girl, possibly his niece, clutched at the man's hand in fearful awe, sucking on her thumb as she stared mutely at the new addition to the castle.

                "Wards, sir," a Ravenclaw Shadow answered respectfully. Pairs of Shadows had been dispatched to watch over the Portkey stations, to guard against intruders as well as to assist the incoming evacuees. Expertly wielding his silver staff, which had been drawing curious looks from the newcomers, he motioned for his Hufflepuff partner, who was scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes, signaling the other to move to the back in a defensive position. "Erected by the professors in light of the current situation. They will allow no one with the intent to harm the castle and any of its inhabitants to enter."

                A weary-looking witch breathed a little sigh of relief as they started walking up the path, her eyes watchful as well as she clutched her wand in a white-knuckled grip. "The situation is—?"

                "Really dire, miss," answered the Hufflepuff sixth year honestly, hearing her question from the back. "But as it is, there is no place safer at the moment than Hogwarts for all of us."

oOo

                Ginny smiled at the many relieved and tearful reunions taking place all around the castle gardens. Pulling everyone in the Dark Lord's line of fire, especially the families of the Hogwarts students, to the castle had been a brilliant idea. Looking on in fascination as the Colin and Dennis Creevey eagerly bowled over their bemused Muggle parents, who had been wandering around in fascination looking at their new magical environment, she giggled as Luna and her eccentric-looking father walked past, the Lovegood patriarch mumbling excitedly to his serene daughter about Snorkacks and such.

                Near the willows at the edge of the wards, she spotted Pansy Parkinson regally walking towards a stately-looking woman in beautiful silk robes, an uncharacteristically soft expression on her face as she scooped up the wide-eyed blonde toddler who greeted her with a gap-toothed grin and a hug with chubby hands. Not far from the trio, Neville was escorting his stern grandmother past the wards in the direction of the castle. Despite the slightly scolding tone in the Longbottom matriarch's voice as she questioned the Gryffindor's activities during the past few weeks and whether he had been keeping up with his studies, Ginny could nonetheless hear the affection deep in her voice as she nodded approvingly at Neville's improved physique and newfound confidence.

                "Ginny!"

                She whirled around in slight alarm at the near hysterical tone of the voice, wondering who was calling her, when her eyes widened in surprise as she saw her mother, father, as well as Bill and Charlie hurrying towards her.

                "Mum! Dad! And Bill and Charlie?" With a laugh, she dove into their embrace. Pulling back  a little, she questioned, "Then the Burrow?"

                Bill's eyes tightened a little at the corners as he shrugged, "We warded it as best as we could, but we did receive one of the messenger owls, so here we are."

                "How have you been, little sister?" Charlie asked her fondly, slinging a friendly arm over her shoulders. He had always been her favorite brother, and she snuggled closer, giggling as Bill ruffled her hair. "We've been hearing a mighty lot from the Headmaster, but the news is never enough."

                Bill nodded as their parents drifted away, talking excitedly with a few Muggle refugees, who were glancing around nervously at all the people who probably looked strange to them as they held their wizarding children in hand, probably to put them at ease. "A lot has changed since we've been here, I take it?"

                "Oh, that's an understatement if I've ever heard one," Ginny scoffed.

                "We worry about you, Ginevra." Charlie said seriously, and the little Gryffindor sobered at the use of her full name. Her siblings only ever used her full name when they were being serious, and she supposed that all the things they had been hearing about Hogwarts had really worried them.

                "I can't honestly say that there's no need for you to worry, but," she grinned up at her two eldest brothers, "Hogwarts has never had as much hope as it does now. I really, really believe that we're going to make it through this, or at least, we will with the help of Sakura and her friends."

                "Sakura?" Bill's eyes sharpened. "One of the Asian Representatives?"

                Ginny looked up at her brother in surprise as they entered the Entrance Hall, exchanging greetings with Seamus and Dean, who introduced their families to her enthusiastically, before walking on. "You've met?"

                "No, but we've seen her friend. Eriol, was it?"

                Her brow furrowed. "I've heard that he's primarily the head of negotiations with the other Ministries, which must be true considering we don't really see him around much these days. He must be really busy." She shrugged. "Anyways, he's a nice guy."

                The two older Weasleys exchanged wry looks. Nice wasn't the word they would have used. More like intimidating. And powerful. And scary.

                Charlie shook his head. "Anyway, I don't know what to think about them. We've heard that they've been teaching the students how to fight? Isn't that a bit… drastic?"

                Ginny looked at him with unreadable eyes.

                The dragon-tamer fumbled a bit. "Give me a break here, Gin. Mum and Dad sent you to Hogwarts to be safe, you can't honestly expect us to take the news that you've been learning to fight and whatnot lying down!"

                "If they hadn't taught us to fight, then we might as well be dead now," Ginny whispered fiercely. "That attack a couple of days ago… it took everyone by surprise, even the professors. We aren't used to facing anything like that. If they hadn't taught us to protect ourselves, then I'm not sure there'd be any students left to meet their families here right now, Charlie. So don't blame them for that!"

                Bill put a calming hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Ginny. Charlie didn't mean it like that. You know he has a soft spot for you, how'd you think we'd feel knowing that you weren't as safe as we'd thought here in Hogwarts and we weren't there to help?"

                "What'd you worry for anyway?" A caustic voice sounded from behind them and the trio whirled around to see Ron lurking behind one of the pillars, arms crossed and mouth pulled down in a slight sneer. "Ginny's not stupid, she can take care of herself. Besides, I'm here with her, aren't I?"

                Ginny ignored Charlie's muttered "That's precisely why I'm worried" and stared at her brother. "I haven't seen you in a while, Ron. In fact, I haven't seen you after the Attack except when you were skulking to your classes." With a perfectly level voice, though her slightly red cheeks betrayed her simmering anger, she asked sweetly, "You're not embarrassed, are you, brother dear?"

                The youngest Weasley male floundered. He squeaked, "Embarrased? What are you talking about? The only reason why I didn't take care of all of those… those things was because they were too weak for me to use my powers on." He seemed to gain a bit of bravado as he straightened up and thumped one fist on his chest, "With the training fit for Merlin I've undergone under the Headmaster over the summer, you don't think I'd waste my time on the small-fry, do you?"

                Bill and Charlie raised skeptical eyebrows at him, obviously unprepared for the arrogant bent their little brother had embarked upon. Being that they didn't stay much at the Burrow anymore, they weren't as used to this new Ron as their other siblings had been.

                "Oh, quit it already with the bragging, Weasley," a mildly scathing voice spoke from behind the hotheaded Gryffindor, making him jump a little. Ginny waved at Mei Lin, who was staring down a tense Ron.

                "Hi Mei Lin!"

                "Ginevra," Mei Lin nodded with an easy grin and an acknowledging nod at the two older Weasley brothers as Ginny made quick introductions. "I do believe your parents are looking for you."

                 Ginny pouted in dismay at the Chinese girl. "I'm sorry Mei Lin, they didn't have to use you as their messenger."

                The older girl waved her apology away. "Don't worry about it, I was headed inside anyway."

                "Yeah, don't worry about it, Ginny." Ron echoed snidely, having recovered from the Li female's mild dressing down. "That's all she's good for anyway, being Slytherin scum and all that."

                Bill and Charlie rounded on their brother in anger at his rudeness, but was stopped by the careless hand Mei Lin flung out to stop them. Ginny stared at the Asian Representative, knowing that despite her cool expression, her heated eyes showed the spark of her temper clearly.

                "I wasn't aware that I'd been Sorted, Weasley."

                "Bollocks, you weren't!" Ron countered heatedly. "And even if you weren't, you're hanging out with Malfoy's lot awfully frequently, aren't you? Should've known you'd be just as evil as them," and then a sinuous whisper under his breath, "bitch."

                Ginny stiffened in fury and Charlie strode forward to box his younger brother's ears, but Mei Lin was faster than all three of them. With one fierce smile and a snarled "I'm glad you think so highly of me, Weasley," she lashed out with one savage right hook.

                Needless to say, Ron went down like a sack of potatoes.

                While Bill was busy nudging at his brother's out cold body, an expression of part-worry and part-satisfaction on his face and Ginny was congratulating a smug Mei Lin, a coolly amused voice spoke out, "Cara, you really shouldn't have done that."

                Mei Lin whirled around in delight, face brightening once she spotted Blaise, accompanied by two second year Slytherins who grinned up at Mei Lin with quick smiles. Pouting, the Chinese girl demanded, "Did you hear what he called me?"

                "Precisely." Blaise's lip curled up in mild disdain at the downed Gryffindor and Charlie almost went for his wand at the dangerous gleam in the Slytherin's eyes. For all that Ron was a prat, he was still his brother, and with the way the Slytherin was eyeing the unconscious Gryffindor's body, he wouldn't be surprised if parts of his brother's body were circulating around the Wizarding Black Market by sundown. "You should have done much worse."

                Laughing a bit nervously, Mei Lin started dragging the quietly furious Slytherin away, the others following though Bill shot Ron a slightly worried look before shrugging, obviously deciding that Ron had merely gotten what was coming to him. He straightened up though when he noticed Zabini studying him with a curious look.

                "You are William Weasley, am I correct?" At Bill's guarded nod, "I've read your position paper on Goblin Wards during the Medieval Ages. It was very well-thought of."

                Though surprised at the compliment, Bill smiled easily, "Thank you. I didn't know Complex Warding was part of Hogwarts curriculum though."

                "It's not. My father sent me a copy for bedtime reading." Blaise informed him.

                "Bedtime--?"Bill sputtered, ignoring the bemused glance Charlie sent the dark-haired student. "That's what you call bedtime reading?"

                Zabini nodded in the affirmative. "My family is involved in providing security for select Wizarding families as a side business venture, and wards are a particular interest of mine. What do you think of Randall's Theory of…"

                Ginny stared in delighted surprise as the two newly acquainted males started a mildly heated debate, while Charlie smiled in wonder at the easy way the two were getting along. It was obviously a surprise to him to see a Slytherin getting along so well with, well, anyone, considering that when he and Bill had been students in Hogwarts, the Snake House was looked upon with great disfavor, and what news he got from Ron pretty much confirmed the same.

                He shot a quick glance at Mei Lin, who was looking on with a fond, approving expression on her face. He had been prepared for changes in Hogwarts, but not to this extent. And there was no doubt in his mind regarding the people responsible for said changes. However, despite Dumbledore who had previously seemed dead-set against any changes in the status quo, Charlie could see that change was for the best. For the first time, he felt energized about the inevitable Fight as he walked through the school, marveling at the greatly improved social relations between all the Houses. After all, everybody said that there was no hope for a Gryffindor and a Slytherin to get along. With a wry glance at his brother and Zabini, he shrugged, 'Screw that thought then. If there's hope for Gryffindor and Slytherin, there's certainly hope left for us all.'

oOo

                Hogwarts and her inhabitants were treated to a steady procession of foreign contingents in the next couple of days. Everyone, even some of the more flighty professors, had gaped when the doors to the Great Hall had banged open in the middle of dinner one night.

                "Wuh-wha?" The hapless third year who had been just about to exit the Great Hall heading for the nearest loo had blubbered helplessly as he was gently swept to the side as a steady procession of confident-looking witches and wizards in royal blue and black robes, all with wand holsters strapped to either their arms, or waist, or thighs, had marched into the Hall.

                Pansy hid a small sneer behind one well-manicured hand as she nodded indulgently at her younger brother's enthusiastic chatter as she remembered Dumbledore's face at the surprise arrival of the American Auror Battalion. He had been half-in half-out of his seat in alarm when Townsende and the other American Representatives had swiftly stepped in, shaking hands with the formidable Captain of the squad.

                Of course, the European Representatives wouldn't allow themselves to be outdone as well. Within a fortnight, Hogwarts was once again shocked by the arrival of the European Aurors. They differed from their Western counterparts only by their slightly more free-flowing, white robes accentuated by forest green accents and their more delicate facial features, but it was clear that they meant business as well as they headed for the Head Table, where the flustered professors were waiting.

                Both battalions had been immediately dispersed throughout Hogwarts and its grounds by their respective Commanders, after conferring about the current situation with Townsende and Delavenne. A number had also been sent to the Ministry of Magic to coordinate with some of the British Aurors who were stubbornly refusing to leave their posts—or rather, were forbidden by the Minister to abandon their posts as his guards despite all the signals pointing to the fact that they were much more needed elsewhere.

                Everything had started to move much more swiftly, so much so that Pansy sometimes felt that she was being swept along by an unstoppable tide. Fear was still rampant, especially in the Muggle families who had been suddenly uprooted and plunged into a world of chaos galore.

                Still though, Pansy thought with a smug smile as she watched some of the younger Slytherins interacting with some of the parents of Muggleborn witches and wizards, Slytherin House was rising in ranks with a speed that it had never before experienced, even before the decline of their status after You-Know-Who had ruined their reputation as a House after his rampage. Since Muggleborns weren't immediately aware of the stigma against the House of the Snakes, seeing how accommodating they could be, they were more inclined to act in good terms with the students from that House, to the great surprise of some of the more bigoted students like Corner and Chang.

                Pansy wasn't stupid, and neither was her House. They were well aware of the slow but steady changes that were taking place inside the Slytherins' ranks, most of which were being cunningly implemented by the Prince of Slytherin himself, Draco Malfoy. It was almost like an inward revolution, the way that all the ideals of their corrupted House were changing into those which Salazar Slytherin himself had valued. And as Gryffindor as it sounded, Pansy was almost giddy at the thought of being part of something as big as that.

                'Who'd have thought that Slytherin House could come so far?' she thought with great pride.    

                "Is something wrong, Pansy?" Gloxinia Parkinson, the matriarch of the Parkinson family asked regally as she turned an inquiring eye on her daughter.

                Not for the first time did Pansy marvel at the thought of her mother and younger brother safe inside Hogwarts. She was well-aware that had they stayed in the Parkinson Estates, which her imbecile of a father would have gladly handed over to the Dark Lord, her stoic and brilliant mother would merely be roped into You-Know-Who's frontlines, while her sibling would most probably be left behind for dead.

                "Charles, I would think you'd be full after eating five of those tarts. It's awfully bad for your teeth, little brother," Pansy scolded her brother gently, to which he replied with a mischievously gleeful grin. She shook her head at her mother in reply. "Who would've thought that Dumbledore would regain his brain? For all his madness, we are indebted to him for opening Hogwart's doors as a refuge to everyone."

                Gloxinia swept a critical eye over the much larger Great Hall, where everyone was more or less busy catching up with their families, though some students were still eyeing all the foreign Aurors with interest. Aiming a narrow look at the Headmaster, she murmured, "Indebted to Dumbledore? I think not, daughter. This idea wouldn't have occurred to your esteemed Headmaster in a million years. I believe a wise mind has been whispering in the old man's ears for quite some time now. I am gratified to see that he has finally found it within him to listen."

                "Mama, look!" Charles said eagerly as he shoveled spoonful after spoonful of peas into his mouth until his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.

                The eldest Parkinson swept an indulgent hand over her son's curls while Pansy smiled at her sibling. It was this touching scene that Mei Lin came across when she came into the Great Hall.

                "Pansy!" Mei Lin greeted with a smile, Tomoyo in tow as they both came to a stop in front of the pureblood family.

                "Mei Lin, Daidouji." She quickly introduced both females to her mother and brother.

                Tomoyo's eyes brightened when she caught sight of the suddenly shy toddler trying to hide behind his sister. "Kawaii," she breathed softly, eyes sparkling. With a merry laugh and a nod of permission from Gloxinia, she carefully scooped up the unresisting child, who seemed equally fascinated with the Asian female's dark hair which was so unlike his own. "This is your otouto, Pansy?"

                Mei Lin translated quickly, saying "She asked if he was your 'younger brother'" and Pansy nodded at the Japanese girl in pleasant surprise. Despite Charles' exuberance in front of his family, he was normally much more reticent in front of strangers, and the way he had taken to Daidouji so quickly was nothing short of astounding.

                "What's your name, little one?" Tomoyo asked softly, without any of the baby-talk most people used which Pansy privately found annoying, and her mother nodded in approval at the Asian representative.

                "Charles!" The toddler provided with a cute smile. Leaning closer to sniff at Tomoyo's upswept hair, he announced, "You smell pretty."

                Smiling at her brother's antics, Pansy turned to Mei Lin with a teasing smile, "I'm surprised to see you without Draco, Mei Lin."

                "I wasn't aware that I was his keeper, Pansy," the other replied playfully.

                "Please, Li," Pansy scoffed light-heartedly. "Slytherin House is all but waiting for your engagement announcement."

                Despite her teasing tone, Pansy was startled at the Chinese girl's shocked expression. Face paling, she choked, "You don't mean that!"

                Baffled, Pansy shot a glance at Tomoyo, who was looking at Mei Lin as well with a worried frown. "Well, I was just teasing you, but it's not a secret to anyone that it's highly likely."

                "B-but Draco hasn't said anything to me about anything like that!"

                "Miss Li, Draco might have not voiced it out loud, but I've known that boy since he was old enough to sneak enchanted oranges from the Parkinson orchards," Gloxinia said with a solemn smile. "I may have been here only for a short period of time, but I have seen the way he looks at you, and it is a look that he has never given to anyone else."

                To Pansy's continued puzzlement, Mei Lin looked even more shaken. "Draco is my friend. I—I didn't know, didn't even think that it could be more than that!"

                "Would it be so bad if it were?" The Parkinson matriarch asked her gently.

                "Yes!" Mei Lin answered in such fervent distress that Pansy herself began to worry. "Yes, because—I—I can't…!"

                She whirled around, possibly to escape from the Great Hall, when one solid ringing erupted inside the Hall.

                "Bloody Hell, what was that?!"

                Another ring sounded out, echoing throughout the castle. The students' hands immediately reached for their wands as they looked in alarm at the doors of the Hall.

                Suddenly though, Li stood up from beside Sakura at the Gryffindor Table, a look of comprehension on his face. "Mei Lin!"

                The girl turned to her cousin and they erupted into a swift exchange of Chinese words, when finally, Li's expression settled. He rose from the Gryffindor Table, brushing a reassuring hand on Sakura's shoulders on his way in front of the Head Table. Bowing a little, he said calmly, "Forgive the disturbance, Headmaster. It seems as if the Asian contingent, as represented by my Clan, has arrived."

                Whispers spread like wildfire over the Tables at his announcement. Near the end of the Gryffindor Table, Hermione was squirming in excitement at the thought of seeing more wizards and witches from the reclusive continent while her parents looked on in bafflement.

                At the Head Table beside where he had been discussing battle strategy with Kingsley, Eriol stood up as well. "Excuse us, Grandfather." He smiled ruefully. "Yelan Li, Xiao Lang's mother, is not a person one keeps waiting."

                From the Gryffindor Table, Xiao Lang was already pushing the doors to the Great Hall open, with Sakura in tow, while Mei Lin and Tomoyo waited for Eriol to catch up to them before heading out as well.

                One last ring sounded out, the third and loudest, fading out after a moment and leaving the echoing silence of the castle's remaining inhabitants. A second passed with everyone looking at each other, then a sudden mad scramble ensued as the students and their curious families headed out in a mild stampede, intent on getting good spots at the Entrance Hall and the windows of the first floor to get a good view.

                "Why couldn't they just come inside?" Cho Chang griped as she was pushed forward by the crowd of eager onlookers. The foreign Aurors were trying to manage the sudden traffic as they attempted to calm the crowd.

                Millicent Bulstrode shot her a nasty smile, making the Ravenclaw blanch. "No one told you to come, Chang."

                At the Head Table, McGonagall and Snape were heading out as well, followed by the other professors, though at a more sedate pace.

                "Why Severus," Remus said in mock surprised tones. "I didn't know you were interested in the Asian Wizarding population."

                "Shut it, Lupin," the Potions Master replied, giving the other Professor the evil eye as he stalked over to the open doors of the Entrance Hall, looking a little askance and puzzled at the sudden silence of the students. "You dunderheads, what are you all standing around here for—oh."

                Snape's eyes bugged out as he stared out the castle grounds, and behind him, he heard McGonagall's sharp intake of breath.

                "Oh my," Remus murmured behind him, half-amused and half-awed. "They certainly do know how to make an entrance, don't they?"

                Dozens and dozens of men and women cloaked in robes of red and black with prominent gold embroidery were lined up in military precision all around the castle grounds. Some were carrying heavy staves with billowing flags attached; squinting at the Chinese character and symbol on the flags, Remus guessed that it was the symbol of Li's clan. Glowing balls of vibrant fire were floating interspersed between the lines, the resulting flickering of light and shadow lending the new arrivals a certain ominous air. All their faces were calm and stoic as they gazed at the castle doors.

                Syaoran walked down the stairs alone, looking over his gathered people in silence. Back inside Hogwarts, even the first year Hufflepuffs seemed to have ceased breathing in anticipation. Then to the onlookers' surprise, his face softened a fraction, something they had seen him do only for Sakura before. He fisted both hands, knocked them together horizontally across his chest, and bowed to the crowd.

                If seeing the proud boy bow hadn't been enough of a surprise, the spectators' jaws dropped in awe when, almost like a wave, the lines of gathered people all dropped to one knee in apparent subservience, though the people of Hogwarts could see their faces shining in pleasure as they looked up at their leader. It was obvious that despite his long absence, Syaoran was still very much loved by his people.

                Suddenly, from the back of the lines, a tall woman emerged, clad in elegant silk robes. They all watched her walk calmly towards Syaoran, unaffected by the weight of hundreds of eyes staring at her as she did so.

                When she reached the Chinese male standing at the steps, a small, beautiful smile curved her lips, her exotic features softening as she cupped Syaoran's face gently in her hands. She tugged his face down gently, brushing soft, cool lips at his forehead as she murmured a few words in Chinese.

                Eyes closed in joy, though he hid it well, he greeted her in reply, "Mother. Welcome to Hogwarts."

                Yelan Li smiled brilliantly at her son, a strong woman with the same innate dignity as her child, and people began to understand where Syaoran had gotten his disposition from.

                She turned to the smiling Japanese female behind Syaoran, opening her arms in welcome. Sakura laughed lightly as she descended the stairs and was swept into a hug by her beloved's mother. "I'm so happy to see you here, Auntie Yelan," she whispered fervently to the older woman's hair.

                "Call me mother, Sakura." She cast a knowing look at her son, who looked back at her proudly and a little defiantly, and the rings on Sakura's middle fingers as well as the length of silk connecting the rings which floated gracefully at her feet. "If my little wolf has his way, we'll be family soon enough."

                The Cardmistress' cheeks reddened, while the other approaching Asian Representatives laughed as they descended down to join them. Greetings flew all around as Yelan informed them that Syaoran's sisters had opted to be left behind in China with half of their forces, to remain guard over the Clan lands, though they had very much wanted to come.

                Dumbledore, who had been watching the proceedings with interest, coughed a little as he approached the gathered group. "Mr. Li. I trust that these are the forces from Asia?"

                The Li Clan leader nodded in the affirmative. "Mother, this is Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Headmaster, my mother, Yelan Li."

                Yelan inclined her head in a graceful bow, while Dumbledore clumsily followed suit, his white beard brushing the tips of his pointy shoes. "It is a pleasure to have you and yours here, Madam, and an honor as well." He smiled at the matriarch of the Li Clan. "I know we have no right to have asked your people for help in this fight. As such, I would like to extend my deepest thanks for coming to our aid."

                She surveyed him calmly, solemnly. "The Li Clan will always come to the aid of its Son and his friends, Headmaster."

                Dumbledore's beard twitched a little at the mild rebuke, accurately translating it to: 'We did not come for you, old man. We came for Xiao Lang and his friends.'

                 He swept into a short bow again as he allowed the stately woman and the gathered foreign wizards to troop past him into the Great Hall led by Syaoran at the front.

                 

oOo

                Draco stared in interest at the greatly enlarged Hall, studying the new faces interspersed around the students and their families.

                "The Asian delegation has arrived, then?" Hadrian murmured as he too looked around, curiosity lighting his face as they stepped into the Great Hall. They hadn't seen the arrival of the fighters from the Li Clan, having been in the Room of Requirement engaged in a friendly spar.

                "Apparently so," Draco answered as they moved through the throngs of people, cocking his head in interest at the lilting voices conversing rapidly in Mandarin.

                Approaching the Slytherin Table, he looked around curiously, feeling like someone was missing. "The brat isn't coming to dinner then?"               

                For some reason, almost all the faces of his Slytherins were tensely set, apprehension flickering visibly in the features of the younger ones who were still incapable of the air-tight control their elders had over their emotions. Blaise, who had been looking at him with an indescribable expression, nodded minutely to an area at the Gryffindor Table.

                He turned around slowly, wondering at the sudden and intense forbidding feeling rushing through him.

                Draco saw Mei Lin first, an occurrence that was becoming more and more frequent especially after the Yule Ball. He was only barely able to halt the insistent upward tug of the corners of his lips, but was unable to do anything about the softening of his eyes as he saw the Chinese girl, something which his loyal Slytherins did not fail to take note of.

                And then he saw the young man approaching her with a solemn, yet determined set of his face. The male's hood was pushed back, so Draco was able to determine the distinct Chinese features on the newcomer, from the exotic shape of his eyes to his oriental robes. It was, however, the emotion that flickered in the stranger's dark, dark eyes that gave him pause.

                This is someone who knows Mei Lin well, he thought with a niggling sense of alarm. Else he wouldn't be directing such intimacy to her through his eyes.

                He didn't notice Blaise walking up to his side silently. He didn't notice Pansy fisting the folds of her robes as a sign of her distress. He didn't notice how silent Hadrian had fallen beside him. All he saw was how the stranger's face softened as he came to a stop in front of Mei Lin, before he pulled the unresisting Chinese girl into his arms, whirling her around once in his obvious joy.

"Who—?" Draco hadn't even finished uttering his suddenly breathless query when a timid voice piped up from behind them. They all whirled around to stare at Mei Lin's young Slytherin cousin, who was looking up at Draco with sad eyes.

"That's Yao Li." Gulping at the prompting in the Slytherin Prince's suddenly heated eyes, he continued, "Mei Lin's betrothed."

Everyone at the Slytherin table had fallen deathly silent, but even Hadrian, unused as he was to the nuances of the behaviors of the students of the most cunning House in Hogwarts, couldn't fail to notice how white some of the faces around the Table had become. Fingers were tense around silver tableware as they tried to present a calm façade, but more than one Snake was shooting their Prince a worried glance.

Draco, for his part, reined in his emotions admirably well. His heart didn't shatter. Melodrama had, after all, never been part of his character, both as the heir apparent of House Malfoy and Slytherin, and he refused to indulge in raging jealousy over the scene he had witnessed. He did feel his heart give a small ping! however, a small but insistent sound that rang of melancholy and vague alarm.

Face as black and as ominous as a thundercloud, he took his place calmly, almost impossibly so, at the head of the Table and concentrated on his dinner. He did not give Chinese pair another glance throughout the whole of dinner, though Hadrian noticed with some apprehension the alarmed and somewhat sad faces of Draco's Slytherins as they looked back and forth from their prince to their honorary sister. The swift but stealthy dispersal of some of the Slytherins from their Table into the crowd didn't escape his notice as well, Hadrian knowing that they were going to gather information, and fast, about the new arrivals.

They placed no blame on the Chinese girl they were so fond of. Even after being asked by Draco to the Yule Ball, Mei Lin had been obviously careful to not let any of her actions be construed as something more than a very close friendship with the blonde. But they had grown used to the sight of the two, had started to hope that maybe the reason why the brunette had been so careful to still keep a part of her reserved around their Prince was because she was not used to matters of the heart. To find out that her reticence was because of this—this interfering stranger had taken the usually unflappable students by surprise.

                Mei Lin, on her part, was not unaware of the sudden cloaked tenseness that had enveloped the Snakes. With her strained smile and distracted eyes, her companion couldn't help but notice.

                "What is the matter, Mei-Mei?" Yao asked, his stoic face betraying none of the concern that his whispered inquiry showed. Contrary to what the older boy had hoped to accomplish by using the affectionate endearment, though, the girl seemed to become even more saddened.

                "I'm quite sure this isn't the right time to ask, or the right place even," said Meilin with a rueful twist to her lips, "but I have to ask. Have the Elders--" try as she might to conceal her resentment at the mention of them, her voice was still tinged lightly with disgust as she continued, "—have they withdrawn their mandate yet?"

                Yao's calm dark eyes intensified as he looked down on his distant cousin's anxious face. "Mei Lin," he began, and with the use of her full name, the Chinese female knew that he was treating her question with all seriousness. "When the Li Clan Elders proposed our betrothal, though we loved each other only as exceptionally close second cousins, you told me that if yours and our honored leader's relationship was not meant to be, then you could think of no one better to have as your life partner than I." The affection in his eyes wordlessly implied that he felt the same sentiment. "I understood then that the only time when you would actively question the Elders' command is if you find someone whom you can give your heart to."

                He carefully tilted her chin up with gentle fingers, asking kindly, "Am I correct in thinking then that you have found somebody who deserves it?"

                Mei Lin looked up at her second cousin and childhood friend with sad, dark eyes. "Perhaps, Yao. Although," here the girl hesitated as she snuck a peak at the Slytherin Table, and at the blond who was stoically not looking at their direction in particular, "I'm not sure if he'll have me after this, not that he's given a clear indication that he wanted to have me in the first place."

                Yao followed her discreet gaze, the corners of his eyes narrowing. "He would be a fool not to have you, love." Then he turned stern eyes on her. "But you must remember that I have to give my consent before the Elders can be persuaded to dissolve the betrothal. If I find him unworthy, forgive me." Face hardening, "I will not give my blessings to that union."

oOo

                Hadrian caught Ren's eyes as the European Representative nodded at him in agreement as they pushed away from the shadows of the castle walls, headed towards the young woman out on the lawn. They had been watching her for quite some time, both a little puzzled at how she seemed to be greatly preoccupied as she studied the night sky tirelessly, trying to catch a glimpse of something.

                "Sakura!"

                The young Japanese woman turned to her two approaching friends with a smile. "Hadrian," she greeted, "and Ren! What a pleasant surprise! I'd heard from Tomoyo that you two were busy organizing patrol groups for the perimeter."

                Ren gave a small, careless shrug. "Your boyfriend's mother, Yelan Li, is a formidable woman. She already had basic plans laid out regarding that, thanks to the intel gathered by Jason and his group, so it didn't take long to figure out."

                Sakura clasped her hands together in front of her, saying fervently, "That's good. I was worried about that," she confessed. "Although the wards are top-notch and strong, we can't ever be too safe."

                Hadrian merely studied her with unreadable eyes. "I'm more worried about you though, Sakura."

                A look of surprise in her face, she turned to him. "What for, Hadrian?"

                "You've hardly taken a moment to rest ever since things have gotten hectic. Tomoyo told us you'd promise Li that you'd stop overworking yourself." His lips set in a disapproving frown, he shook his head in disappointment. "You never struck me as the type to break promises, Sakura."

                Devastated, she reached out for the other's hand. "Syaoran doesn't need to have another burden to worry about. Besides, how can I rest when—"

                Suddenly, one of the lookouts from the north tower, a young German Auror from the European squad, shouted down in alarm. "Incoming from the North East perimeter! Unidentified airborne beings with high magical levels! Get ready everyone!" Somewhere from within the castle, a shrill ringing alarm sounded out, almost drowning out the sounds of harried shouting that sounded from within.  

                Ren and Hadrian tensed as in a flash, they had drawn their spear and sword respectively, standing at the ready slightly in front of Sakura, their bodies moving unconsciously in a position to defend their friend. The castle doors banged open and a group of aurors burst out, hurrying into position, though nobody was faster than Syaoran, who skidded to a stop beside the Card Mistress.

                "Sakura, what—?"

                They were all startled when she suddenly began to laugh, light, relieved, and joyful laughter as she pushed gently at Ren and Hadrian for them to let her through. A look of understanding was dawning as well on Syaoran's face, and with relieved laughter of his own, he banished his own weapon as he gave reassuring glances at the two Hogwarts Heirs at his sides.

                "Pardon us, it's a false alarm. There is no threat," he called back to the Aurors, who were looking at them as if they had all gone crazy. When the young German Auror who had sounded the alarm sputtered in embarrassment, Li inclined his head politely at him. "You had no way of knowing. We should have warned you that there are still a few friends of ours who had to catch up."

                "More relatives of yours?" Ren asked skeptically, still a little tense, although he had banished his own weapon as well.

                Syaoran shook his head in the negative. "Friends of Sakura…" Then he trailed off as Eriol appeared behind them in a swirl of blue-gray smoke, startling the Auror ranks, which erupted in hushed whispers, and passing them without a word as he moved to stand beside Sakura, who greeted him with a radiant smile. "…and Eriol."

                They suddenly became aware that the families staying within the magical tents in the Northern perimeter had ventured out to check the commotion when Michael Corner's head stuck out from within one of the closest tents. He had probably been visiting his family when the alarm sounded and had hidden at the first sound of danger. He had obviously gotten back his nerve at hearing that there was no threat.

                Swaggering out of the tent, he asked them boldly. "Hiiragizawa got laid? I don't think I've ever seen him look that relaxed in weeks."

                Syaoran's face was cold as he studied the Ravenclaw with a look on his face reminiscent of a hungry wolf contemplating which of his prey's body part it was best to tear a chunk off first.  "Not that it's any of your business, but it stands to reason that Eriol would be happy to be reunited with his friends."

                Snidely, Hadrian added, "Not that you can relate, Corner, seeing as you don't have any friends at all."

                "Why you—?!" His face reddening, Corner made as if to stomp over to them, when a hand suddenly twisted his ear and yanked him back. Whimpering, the younger Ravenclaw looked up at the formidable looking lady who had stepped out of the tent as well, followed by a lanky man with glasses.

                "Young man, I will not tolerate that kind of disrespect towards Mr. Potter and his friends, not after they've done so much for us," the lady said sternly, though her eyes softened as she nodded at the dumbfounded trio. "I am Isabel Corner, this young man's mother, and this is my husband, Stephen." After they had politely exchanged introductions, she continued, "I understand that you three have been partly responsible for the heightened defenses of the castle and its occupants."

                Although taken by surprise by their unexpected defender, Ren answered smoothly, "It was a group effort, Madame. The students all did their part."

                The thin man, who was clearly Corner's father, snorted as he pushed his glasses farther up his nose. "Even my son?" At their impassive faces, he shook his head. "I thought so." He shot a stern look at his offspring, who squirmed in embarrassment. "We were wrong to coddle you as much as we did, Michael. We never raised you to become this way."

                  "We will be talking about your behavior, mark my words," Isabel said in a cold voice.

                "But mother—!" He was cut off when Isabel twisted his ear again. "Ow!"

                As the trio chuckled at the Ravenclaw's plight, a coolly amused voice spoke from behind them. "Serves him right." Looking back, they saw Pansy walking towards them, holding the hand of her younger brother as he glanced around every which way with wondering eyes.

                "Parkinson," Hadrian greeted. He looked past her over to another tent with the flap partially open, spilling orange light out on the grass and framing the outline of a tall woman who was looking at their direction. "Did we disturb your family?"

                Pansy shook her head, blonde curls flying ever which way. "Charles," she indicated her younger-brother, "is much too hyper still from all the desserts he ate to fall asleep anyway." She motioned towards Sakura and Eriol, both of whom had fallen silent, their upturned faces anxiously impatient as they scanned the skies.

                Suddenly, her eyes widened, and at her side, Charles began tugging on his sister's hand excitedly, pointing one chubby finger to the sky. "Sister! Do you see that? What is it? What is it?" He squeaked in excitement. All around them, voices were raised in alarm and excitement as the aurors began running forward to get a better glimpse, while families were emerging from their tents, trying to see what had gotten everyone so excited.

                Syaoran smirked as Corner's jaw slackened in surprise, while beside him, Ren uttered a soft oath in French as he looked disbelievingly at the beings approaching from the sky.

                "Big kitty!" Charles cooed cutely, while Hadrian stared, almost wanting to laugh.

                "That's not a kitty, Charles," Pansy said blankly, eyes fixed on the nearing forms. "That's a—"

                "A bloody great lion!" Charlie Weasley shouted from their tent, his eyes shining in fascination. "With wings!"

                Hadrian watched in awe as the huge lion with angel wings soaring above them gave a mighty roar that rocked the grounds, resisting the urge to whimper a little. 'Oh bloody Merlin,' he thought in disbelief, as the lion tumbled out of the sky, doing corkscrews as it plunged down, straight towards Sakura, who looked as if she was almost crying with joy as she opened her arms in welcome towards the great beast.

                With an earth-shaking thump, the lion landed on the ground. He flapped his powerful wings a little, sending a storm of angelic feathers every which way (making Charles clap his hands and laugh) as the wizards did their best to shield their eyes from the powerful winds. Then he started padding towards Sakura, looking positively feral as he did so.

                "Li." Ren said urgently. "If Sakura is in any way in danger, now would be the right time to say it so we can act already!"     

                Syaoran chuckled while all the onlookers stared at him in disbelief. "Relax, Delavenne. I might not like that great big kitten, but I do know that he'll die first before he harms Sakura."

                This confident statement did not in any way assure the onlookers especially since the winged lion seemed determined to prove him wrong for it began taking big leaps to get to the Japanese teen faster. With another fearful roar, it leapt clean off the grass towards Sakura.

                Shouts of alarm rang out through the grounds, several of the students who had gone out to see the spectacle grabbing for their wands. For his part, Hadrian felt like he couldn't move any slower as he began running towards his friend, dreading that at any second, those powerful jaws would clamp around the asian girl's head and tear it wide open. In fact, everyone seemed to be prepared for that eventuality for they turned their heads away, fearing the worst.

                What they didn't expect was for Sakura to begin laughing as the lion began to lick at her face with large swipes of its rough tongue, low, contented rumbles coming from its chest as it lavished her with its version of affectionate kisses.

                "Bloody hell," Charlie said lowly as he excitedly maneuvered his way through the many tents to stand beside Syaoran and the others. "What is that creature?"

                But it seemed as if the spectacle wasn't over yet, for from the sky, they glimpsed three more winged beings. One looked like a man, but clearly wasn't, what with his ethereal appearance: silvery-light blue hair which reached almost to his feet, a face much too lovely to belong to a normal human, and angel wings much like what the lion had. He was also dressed in clothes that was not in any fashion recognizable to Hadrian, and, upon closer inspection when he unfurled his dazzlingly white wings, was apparently carrying another young man of the same size, one who looked fully human this time and had a strange resemblance to Sakura, with no apparent effort. To Hadrian's surprise, and slight amusement,  Syaoran gave an irritated grumble when he saw the angel's burden.

Ren, for his part, was busy staring at the other two beings that had landed. Unlike the other two, they didn't have angel wings, but rather, delicately beautiful butterfly wings that looked to be made of glittering spun silk. One was a winged woman, with a mischievous face despite her regal appearance, while the other was a panther with a coat of the darkest black, its tail flicking every which way, probably irritated by all the stares they were getting.

                They looked the very picture of subtle contrasts, Pansy thought. The two who had approached Sakura, and had now swept her into a hug such that she was almost completely hidden by the feathered wings, were, despite the differences in their appearances (one was delicate while the other looked wild and feral), obviously Light. There was a gentle glow around them, intensifying as they spent more time with Sakura. The other two, on the other hand, were also glowing, but it was a darker glow. They looked more gothic and mysterious, Pansy thought, just like their Hiiragizawa, who, for all his controlled expressions, was clearly happy and relieved, judging from the gentle way he stroked the muzzle of the panther as he listened to what the winged woman was telling him.

                People began crowding around Syaoran and the others, still a bit wary but fascinated despite themselves, as Sakura and Eriol approached, flanked by their so-called friends. Syaoran looked on in amusement as their voices drifted to them; apparently, Sakura was protesting to the young man with dark hair who had been carried by the angel that "I am not a monster, darn it!"

                They came to a stop in front of their friends, and smiling brilliantly, Sakura started the introductions, choosing not to notice how more than a couple of people edged away in nervousness when the glittering eyes of the winged lion passed over them in warning. "Everyone, let me introduce you to my friends." She placed a gentle hand on the head of the lion, (which, Pansy noted with a little unease, reached up to her chest) and smiled up at the angelic-looking man whose arms were crossed as he studied them with indifference. "This is Keroberos and Yue." Then she gestured towards the sullen-looking but still handsome young man hovering protectively behind her. "And that's my older brother Touya." She made a comical face at that, catching the spectators off-guard and making them laugh.

                With gritted teeth, Syaoran stepped forward and bowed as quickly as he could. "Kinomoto."

                Touya turned a narrow glare at the Chinese teen, then smiled evilly and said, "Gaki," snickering when a vein appeared on the other young man's forehead.

                "You don't get along well, do you?" Hadrian whispered to Syaoran, who was glaring back at Touya.

                Eriol's low chuckle sounded out, apparently having heard Hadrian's whisper. "Well, seeing as Touya-kun here has an incredible sister-complex and is still wholly convinced that Syaoran's trying to steal his sister, while Syaoran is determined to do just that, I'd be shocked if they were all hugs and kisses with each other, ne Sakura-chan?"

                It was Sakura's turn to give a glare to both her brother and her beloved as her face reddened, which made the onlookers chuckle, successfully easing the tension.

                Eriol continued with the introductions after the laughter had died down. "Allow me to introduce you to Spinner Sun and Ruby Moon," he said, gesturing to the panther and the winged woman respectively. Ruby Moon gave them all a graceful curtsy, while the panther's greeting was a yawn full of teeth.

                "What are they?" Michael Corner asked, his face a sickly shade of white as he looked on in fear at the powerful-looking beings.

                Unfortunately for him, Keroberos had obviously taken offense at the slightly disgusted tone which he used. He padded over to the trembling boy, paying no attention to how others drew back hurriedly away from his target. "They are beings who do not take kindly to people who make things hard for their Mistress," he said in a low rumbling voice.

                "And Master," Spinner spoke up, his voice a warm rasp.

                "We might not have been here before to guard them against scum like you before," here Michael's knees started audibly knocking against each other, hearing the dangerous tone that the lion's voice had taken, "but we know you've caused our Mistress distress." Keroberos' powerful wings unfurled, the wingspan almost the length of two Firebolts, "And let me tell you, we don't like that." He snarled dangerously, and Michael Corner fell flat on his ass, his face going ashen at the sight of the needle-sharp fangs of the winged lion before him.

                "Keroberos!" Sakura's warning voice rang out clearly. "Leave him alone."

                With a disdainful huff towards the young boy quivering at his paws, he tucked his wings back and turned around in disgust, making sure that his coarse tail smacked the Ravenclaw at the face as he slunk back to Sakura.

                Letting out a breath at the halted tension, Pansy stepped forward, her voice not betraying any fear in the least as she inquired, "Mistress? And Master? What is that about, Kinomoto?"

                Sakura smiled at her, blushing a little. "Well, they are Eriol and mine's friends first and foremost, of course. But Keroberos and Yue are also my familiars, while Spinner Sun and Ruby Moon are Eriol's."

                Charlie had a look of awe in his face as he stepped closer, and, silently asking permission from Eriol, he ran a hand through the silky fur of Spinner, who gave a rumbling purr at the gentle touch. "I've never heard of anyone having familiars as beautiful as them." His tone of voice implied that, as a Magical Creatures enthusiast, it wasn't very often that he saw a beast that he did not know, and was therefore puzzled by the four's appearance, and Eriol gave him a knowing smile, understanding his thoughts. It was Ruby Moon who answered though, in a voice as dark as the night and just as seductive.

                "Master Eriol's magic gave birth to us, and the Mistress's to Yue and Keroberos," she informed him, smiling a little as the second oldest Weasley blushed at her intent gaze.

                "It is a feat that nobody but them can accomplish," Yue's quiet voice added. He was looking at Sakura with a certain stoic fondness, and the Card Mistress smiled, pleased, at his next words, "and as such, we serve no one else but them, for they are the only ones we have judged deserving of our lives."

                It was a serious pronouncement and the listeners understood the heartfelt truth of it. The solemn atmosphere was broken, however, when Yue winced, his eyebrows raised in baffled surprise as he looked down at his feet.

                Pansy, for her part, was horrified to see that Charles had escaped her grasp and had sidled up unnoticed by everyone to Yue's side, and was delightedly tugging at the familiar's silver-blue locks.  "Charles! Stop that!"

                Keroberos, meanwhile, was rolling on the grass in rumbling laughter, and those who were still looking at the winged beast with fearful respect couldn't help having small smiles at his obvious amusement at his partner's plight. Yue, his eye twitching a little, looked first at his Mistress, who was giggling along with Keroberos, and then at Touya, who was snickering at him with a fond light in his eyes. Giving up on having any help from them, he gave a soft sigh, still with a stoic expression on his face, and then bent down to talk to the toddler, who in turn gave him a gap-toothed grin. "Hai?" he asked softly, and the women in the vicinity just about swooned at the soothing masculine voice, magical being or not.

                The Parkinson toddler, whom before had looked so happy, gazed at the other's fair features uncertainly. He squirmed in place for a few moments, before a determined light appeared in his eyes and he whispered, "Fly?"

                When Yue made no comment, he became more determined. "Fly!" He flapped chubby arms up and down twice in a surprisingly credible imitation of Yue's wings in flight.

                When the Moon Guardian made no move still to do his bidding, the little boy's face scrunched up in frustration. For a few seconds, the spectators thought that he was going to burst into tears, when suddenly, like the true pureblood (albeit being a mere toddler) that he was, his face took on a commanding expression, and, with all his might, did what no other being ever thought of doing to the stoic Guardian.

                He kicked Yue, Guardian of the Moon, faithful friend to the almighty Card Mistress, right on the shin.

                Hadrian's eyes bugged out comically, while Syaoran couldn't seem to decide whether to laugh or to bodily pick up the Parkinson offspring and get him out of harm's way.

                Sakura decided it for him though, when she began chuckling at her guardian's dumbfounded expression. Giggling, she scooped up the sulking toddler, giving him a kiss on the nose as she gave a playful glare at the Moon Guardian. "Yue?"

                The light pink dusting the Guardian's cheeks was the only hint to the embarrassed Yue's feelings as he answered, "Yes, Mistress?"

                "I won't have you being serious all the time!" She smiled at him, and with a questioning look at Pansy, to which the girl answered with an impassive nod, she held out the baby to Yue.

                Obviously remembering what had happened the last time he had refused, he gingerly took the toddler, who immediately stopped sulking and beamed up at the winged being instead. Looking down at the young innocent's face, even the stoic guardian was unable to stop softening a little, the corners of his mouth relaxing from its stern line. Touya, glimpsing the gentling of his friend's features, couldn't stop the slight smile that lightened his face as he and Sakura both stepped away from the pair.

                Just in time, too, for Yue chose that that moment to spread his wings majestically. Most of the watching students couldn't stop their gasps of awe as they beheld the magnificence of the angel wings, their immaculate whiteness, marveling at how they looked so soft and gentle but strong enough to lift both the magical being and the child effortlessly in flight.

                That night, as the full moon shone over the grounds of Hogwarts castle with gentle luminescence, it was as if, for one brief moment, there was no evil threatening their very existence. Families all over the gardens lay back with their friends, gazing with pleasure as the magical beings frolicked on the air: Sakura on Keroberos' back with her brother behind her, glaring daggers at Syaoran, who was riding Spinel Sun, Eriol being supported in flight by the strong arm of Ruby Moon around his waist, while Charles' giggling laughter carried over the night air as he rode the wind with Yue.

                From the ramparts of the EastTower, Draco Malfoy wordlessly gazed at the happy reunion. In his hands he held a ruby red ribbon, which upon careful observation, appeared quite similar to the ribbon that a certain Chinese female had worn in her hair during the recent Ball. In the Slytherin Dormitories, Mei Lin Li is writing a letter addressed to the Clan Elders. Her palm bleeds as she seals the letter with her own blood, The letter will determine her whole life.

                At the Library, Ren Delavenne looked out from one of the open windows, a book of poems open and forgotten on one of the tables.

                The book lies at the table, moonlight illuminating the verses. A quill bookmarks the pages, which lies open at a translation of a poem by the Muggle poet Neruda, entitled 'Tonight, I can write.'

                It is a poem about heartbreak.

                He breathes in the cool night air, a smile playing over his lips as wistfully watched the laughing Card Mistress. 

                It is a poem about hope, and new life.

 

                Peace, that which so many had fought for, had died for, enveloped the castle like a delicate, gossamer cloak. In that one night, in those brief moments, wizards, witches, sorcerers, sorceresses and other magical beings knew peace.

                From the ForbiddenForest, the bone-chilling howl of a wolf held at bay by the powerful protective wards around the castle ululated over the grounds.

                In five days, that peace would shatter into a thousand glittering pieces. Bodies will litter the castle grounds and the vibrant green grass of the gardens will feed on spilled blood.

                On the third floor corridor, from one of the floor-length windows overlooking the Hogwarts grounds, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall wordlessly looked over their school, both with grave and solemn faces.

Evil had come to Hogwarts.