The Truth about Fred

By Sessha-chan

Disclaimer: If I owned this stuff why would I be writing fanfiction?

Chapter 1

Meet Fred

Sakura toyed with the tiny magical key that hung around her neck, trying to pay attention. It was not that the lesson was boring or that her teacher was dull, but she was being plagued by reoccurring visions every night for the past week. Kero had advised her to write everything she remembered down and her notebook was almost full. Ever since her ascension to the position of the world's most powerful magician six years ago, she had become quite used to peering into the future, but these were new.

I wonder what it means, she thought. Maybe I should talk to Eriol and get his opinion. As Clow Reed he should know something.

She was torn away from her thoughts by the final bell of the day ringing. School was finally over and she did not have cheerleading so she could go right home. Tomoyo had choir and Syaoran had soccer practice so she did not have anyone to walk home with.

Kero was waiting for her when she got home. Both Toya and her father had long since found out about her magical exploits and the truth about Kero-chan-the-cute-and-innocent-plushy. Still, it looked like no one else was home yet.

"Kero? I've gotta call Eriol. I need Clow Reed's knowledge," She mumbled, dialing the phone number of her mentor. "Eriol? Is it all right if Kero-chan and I come over? I need Clow's knowledge on some visions I've been having,"

"So, Sakura," Eriol said as he sat back in his impressive European style chair, "Tell me about these visions you have been having,"

Sakura put her teacup down and handed Kero a cookie. "Well, they started a week ago. They always begin the same way with a strange castle surrounded by a magic I have never felt before. And there's this boy with the purest green eyes I've ever seen. That's all that I can see of him, the rest of him is in shadow, but he's fighting a man with the most frightening red eyes. They both feel of magic but so different from each other. Like black and white. And they're fighting like they want to kill each other," Sakura looked pained. Violence had never sat well with the young magician.

Eriol sat in silence, pondering his student's words. Sakura identified his expression as his 'well, I didn't see this one coming!' look. She nervously waited for him to say something.

"This castle, could you draw me a picture of what it looked like in your vision?" he asked. Sakura nodded and, with a wave of his hand, Eriol conjured up a piece of paper and a pencil and handed them to her. "Please take as much time as you need,"

Taking the paper and pencil Sakura got to work, recalling as best she could the many turrets, towers, windows and walls. Her stokes were at the same time both messy and precise and in a few moments she handed the rendering back to her mentor.

"Is this any help?"

Eriol studied the sketch with a small frown. "Yes it is Sakura-chan. If I am correct in my prediction, you should start packing your bags. And tell my Dear Descendent to do the same. I must contact a friend of mine to confirm this and until then please be ready to go to Europe,"

"Europe?" Sakura gasped, "Why am I getting visions of Europe?"

"I believe that it is because of how much your power has grown over the years Sakura-chan. Six years ago you surpassed the power of the Great Clow Reed and you have only been growing ever since," Eriol smiled proudly. "When I was Clow Reed I would often receive visions from around the world. Now that you are more powerful than I, I am not surprised at this turn of events. Although the fact that I did not foresee the same events is pleasing," he smiled some more. Sakura rolled her eyes. There was nothing her mentor loved more than the unpredictable and the unpredicted and now that his ability to see into the future had been cut in half he seemed to be enjoying life twice as much. Go figure.

"So what does it mean, Eriol?"

"That the war has finally broken out," he said calmly, taking a sip of his tea. Sakura gasped in horror.

"War?"

"Oh yes, it was only a matter of time,"

"Where?"

"In the Wizarding World of Europe," he took another sip of his tea.

"Wizarding World?" Sakura wondered, "What is that?"

"That," Kero answered, "is what the Wizards call the communities they formed,"

"Wizards?" Oh, she was lost. "What are Wizards?"

"What do they have to do with Sakura?" Kero cut in, " I don't like 'em and you know it. Too stuck up by a long shot,"

Eriol smile at Sakura, deftly ignoring Kero's rant. He sometimes forgot that she did not have knowledge on everything. She learned so quickly that it was sometimes hard to keep up with her.

"Wizards are people who use magic but in a different way than us magicians. If you divided the majority of the world's magic users into three categories there would be the Magicians, Sorcerers and the Wizards with the Magicians at the top and the Wizards at the bottom. That is not to say that they cannot be formidable in their own right. They have, in fact, developed quite the ingenious method of manipulating magic," he seemed quite please for some reason.

"So who are they at war with?"

"Why, more wizards or course," Eriol answered, "They are the only magic users who tend to congregate together and form communities of their own. Magicians and Sorcerers historically tended to, and still do, integrate themselves into the surrounding communities of regular people just like you, Syaoran-kun and myself have done,"

"Why would they do that? Make their own community, that is," Sakura wondered.

"Because they think that they're better than everyone else," Kero snorted and gobbled down another cookie. Eriol smiled some more.

"It is true that largely they do not know of the existence of Magicians and Sorcerers, and as such tend to hold themselves in higher regard than everyone else," he conceded.

"So what can we do?" she looked down miserably at her tea. It was probably cold by now.

"Right now? You and my Dear Descendent can start packing. And you might want to inform Tsukishiro-san of our plans as well. I do not think that Yue would be pleased if you when anywhere without him accompanying you,"

Sakura nodded, a worried frown creasing her forehead. Eriol escorted her and Kero to the door of his impressive home and bid them good day. He watched with kind eyes as his former guardian and his successor, the Master of the Sakura Cards, disappeared down the street.

"Spinel," he said, turning to head back into the parlor, "Could you fetch the mirror? I must talk to Albus,"

Spinel Sun looked up from the book he was reading and blinked his big kitty eyes at his creator in surprise, "That Dumbledore Wizard you met back in London?"

"Yes. He is the Headmaster at the school Sakura-chan had been dreaming about,"

Spinel nodded and flew off to fetch the mirror. When he deposited it in his master's hands he stepped back to observe.

Eriol set the round mirror on a stand on the table before him and watched impassively as it responded to his bidding. His own youthful reflection melted away and was replaced by the face of a weary looking Witch in a pointed green hat and spectacles.

"Yes? Who are you? Do you know what time of night it is?" she demanded peevishly. Eriol studied her silently.

"I take it you are Professor Minerva McGonagall?" he asked at last. The witch nodded. "My I inquire as to where Albus is? I need to speak with him concerning his school,"

"Albus," she visibly fought back tears, "Albus is dead. He was murdered at the end of last term,"

"Did he? That was unexpected," Eriol suppressed a smile. It would not do to make light of the woman's grief, "Then may I inquire as to who is currently Headmaster of Hogwarts?"

"That would be me," she replied smartly, "I am Acting Headmistress in Albus' stead,"

"Excellent. My name is Hiiragizawa Eriol, formerly the Magician Clow Reed. What can you tell me of the currant state of affairs in the Wizarding World?"

"Oh wow!" Sakura exclaimed, "It's just like in all the pictures!"

"I am glad you like it Sakura-chan," Eriol smiled.

Yes, they had arrived in London, all seven of them. Sakura had asked Syaoran to come and of course Yue and Kero had insisted on following their master and Eriol had come with Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun. Toya wanted to come but he had collage classes to attend and several part time jobs to juggle so Sakura threatened to seal him in the country if he insisted any more. So he entrusted all of his big-brother-protectiveness on Yukito's shoulders, certain that Yue would do his best to keep Sakura safe.

Eriol led them from the Airport through the winding streets of the history filled city to the train station called King's Cross. The hodgepodge group of foreigners wound their way through the thick crowds until they reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten. All four guardians and Sakura noticed the barrier and illusion on the brick wall. Syaoran ran his hands inches over the surface, also sensing the magic.

"I can feel something there, but I can't pinpoint what it is," he said finally, stepping back.

"That is the portal to the platform nine and three quarters, the Wizard's train station," Eriol explained, "We shall take the train from there to a school called Hogwarts,"

"Hogwarts?" Yukito mused, "Strange name,"

"Yes, well, Wizards seem to enjoy that type of thing," Spinel shrugged.

"What's this about pig pimples?" Kero asked.

"Hogwarts, Kero-chan," Sakura explained, "The school we're going to,"

"Indeed. As it is we should continue," Eriol said as he stepped through the wall.

They emerged in a moderately busy platform that hosted an obscenely bright red train. People were already boarding and Eriol led them on as well. All of the compartments were uncommonly full. It took them a while to find one that looked promising. In a compartment near the back of the train sat a lone boy in his late teens with obviously dyed dark red hair and brown eyes. He jumped when they opened the door, as if he had not expected anyone to come across him.

"Hello," Eriol smiled, "Would it be alright with you if my companions and I sat with you?"

"No one else is," the boy shrugged and moved his duffle bag to the floor at his feet. When everyone was settled Sakura introduced herself and her friends.

"You feel familiar, have you ever been to Tokyo?" she asked. Fred Sagitta, as he had introduced himself, shook his head.

"No, I'm sorry, I've never really been out of Britain,"

"Are you sure?" she pressed.

"I'm sure. Until recently I've been going to school,"

"School? Like Hogwarts? That's where we're going now," she nodded. Fred stiffened.

"Why would you be going to Hogwarts in the middle of the year?" he asked casually.

"Research," said Yukito and Nakuru at the same time. The two Guardians glanced at each other, shrugged then when back to doing whatever they had been doing.

"Research? What are you researching?"

"How Eastern Magics differ from European Magics," Syaoran shrugged. "When I told my mother about this trip she demanded I 'use my time wisely and send her a detailed report of everything I learned during my travels,'" he quoted gravely. Sakura and Nakuru giggled while Eriol and the other three Guardians just smiled.

"And you don't want to get on her bad side," Sakura nodded sagely. Syaoran groaned.

"If I did I might as well sign my death certificate myself," he said seriously. Sakura patted his arm.

"You mother's that scary?" Fred asked. Sakura and Syaoran nodded.

"My mother is the head of the Li clan and yes, she is scary," Syaoran said, staring intently at his hands. Oh, the memories of growing up in a female dominated home.

"She's not that bad," Sakura was slow to defend. She had, after all, only met the auspicious lady only two or three times. Syaoran shot her a tortured glare. She shut up.

"So, where are you headed, Mr. Sagitta?" Yukito asked.

"Hogwarts as well," he admitted with a shrug, "I have some business to take care of,"

"Why didn't Tomoyo come?" Syaoran asked Sakura. Sakura shrugged.

"She and her mother were out of the country. I think they went to France for a week for some designer convention, and I couldn't reach her,"

"She must be enjoying that," Yukito commented.

"I hope so!" Sakura smiled brightly.

"Sakura-chan? May I speak with you in the hall?" Eriol asked, rising. Sakura nodded and followed her mentor out with a smile to everyone else.

"What does he want?" Fred asked.

"Eriol's probably just making sure Sakura's feeling alright. He worries over he almost as much as her brother does," Nakuru huffed, still feeling put out that her Toya had chosen Yukito over her. It just did not seem fair.

"Why wouldn't she be feeling alright?"

"Who knows,"

Out in the narrow corridor between the compartments, Eriol escorted Sakura a few feet from their compartment.

"You said he felt familiar. Does he feel the same as the boy in you visions?" he asked. Sakura hesitated before nodding.

"But that boy had green eyes not brown,"

"Come now Sakura, you well know the ways people with no magic use to change their appearance. You shouldn't always trust your eyes," he admonished gently, "If you must, use The Mirror to reflect his true appearance,"

"I trust my senses," she decided.

"Then we shall alert the others to keep an eye on Mr. Fred Sagitta,"

"I hope we can get this over with quickly. I do want time to see what I can of Europe while we're here and we can't do that when we're waiting in one spot," Sakura sighed.

"We could do a tracking spell,"

"And mess with the Tapestry of Fate? She'd strangle me with a Lifethread,"

"You've been reading too much,"

"You mean we have to walk all the way to the school?" Syaoran groaned.

"It's not that far..." Fred muttered, trying to convince himself.

Eriol smiled mischievously, "Come now, it won't take us that long. Mr. Sagitta has a broom and Syaoran, Sakura and I can cast spells to enable flight,"

Taking the hint Sakura fished her key out of her shirt and tossed it up into the air, "Key that hides the forces of Darkness! Show your true identity! By the sacred covenant, I, Sakura, command you! Release!" she cried and grasped the staff that formed. "Fly! Come on Yuki, I'll carry you since you can't fly right now," she offered as impressive translucent white wings sprouted out of her back and lifted her off the earth.

Syaoran sighed and pulled out a sutra, "Flying Steps," and the sutra vanished into a lifting wind.

Eriol summoned his own staff in the same manner as Sakura and was also lifted off the ground. He beckoned Nakuru towards him and soon everyone, including Fred, was airborne.

It was only a matter of minutes before they arrived at the great castle school called Hogwarts. Sakura paused when they landed to stare up at the great edifice. "This is the castle," she murmured.

"Eh?" Yukito asked, "The castle from your visions?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Yue says it feels familiar,"

"Had Clow been here before?"

"I don't think so, but then again he could have come here before he created the Guardians,"

"Come, we are expected," Eriol cut in, starting up the grass to the impressive entrance steps. He led the merry procession into the castle. A harried looking Witch met them.

"I take it that these are the people you mentioned, Mr. Hiiragizawa?" Professor McGonagall said by way of greeting. Eriol nodded.

"Yes, This is my successor, Sakura Kinomoto, a descendent of Clow Reed's, Syaoran Li as well as our friends Yukito Tsukishiro and Nakuru Akizuki. And these two are the Guardians of the Sun: Kero-chan and Spinel," everyone bowed in turn, "Oh yes, and this is Fred,"