InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Magic is Just Around the Corner ❯ Waking Up ( Chapter 4 )

Magic is Just Around the Corner

Chapter five: Waking Up

 

Kagome sat outside by the lake, gazing at the setting sun. For a first school day as a witch, it wasn't all that bad. After the heated battle with Snape, everything was fine. She went to history, then geometry, also this class where you learned to fly on a broom. Then there was transfigurations, and the teacher was surprisingly enough, the same woman who took her to this school in the first place.

 

The only thing that was bugging her now was the approaching doom of Naraku. The damned cross-monkey dressing demon just had to live on and bother her in her own time. Like he hadn't destroyed her future life already, no, he had to make sure it was a living hell while he was at it. Inwardly she seethed and even let out a small growl of hate as her knuckles tightened.

 

“Kagome?”

 

The voice startled her. She had been so absorbed in hating Naraku she had lost track of her surroundings. Turning around she came face to face with that Potter boy, inwardly she thanked god it wasn't Hermione. “Yes?” She answered back, waiting for him to state his business. Kilala, who was sitting on her shoulder, looked over at Harry with her penetrating blood red eyes.

 

Harry fidgeted slightly nervous; he was just going to tell her curfew was almost over. The angered and annoyed look she sent him for simply speaking her name was so frightening that he almost walked away. And her strange cat was pretty intimidating to…Shaking his head at his incredulous thoughts he spoke, “Curfew is over in fifteen minutes, you might want to head back.” A small smile graced his lips; then again, when did he ever follow curfew?

 

Kagome's face lightened slightly, she had no reason to take her frustrations out on Harry. Maybe she should go kill something before she went to bed… “Thanks Harry, I'll leave shortly.” She answered, and then went back to starring at the setting sun.

 

Harry only shrugged, why did he even care if she went back on time or not? He wasn't her parent, not even her friend. The thought saddened him some, maybe he was to used to people liking him at Hogwarts, at least in Griffendore.

 

Shaking his head he turned, perhaps if he hurried back he could talk with Hermione. Call him paranoid, but Kagome seemed very strange to him, to strange…what if Voldermort (Harry forced himself not to shutter) had sent her here to mess with them all, to kill them?

 

Ever since Sirius had died, Harry's views about Voldermort had changed. They weren't one of fear, but one of hate and disgust. The very thought of his name made him want to choke someone and barf. Now he was slightly paranoid that Voldermort would send people to Hogwarts to kill him or his friends. He wouldn't let anyone else die if he could help it, no one else…

 

Kagome smiled, feeling Harry's departure. Finally it was her chance to sneak off into the Forbidden Forest. Maybe she would sleep outside tonight; in a tree…watch the stars…have a campfire, like the good old happy days in the feudal era. Instantly she shook her thoughts away, she had to train, that's what she would do tonight.

 

With her mind set and made, she drew her sword and entered the forest, Kilala following by her side. Tonight her own blade would shed blood. Tonight she would kill to increase her own strength. Tonight, she would start getting ready for the battle ahead…

 

………………………  

Honey brown eyes snapped open. The door was empty, the sun was high in the sky, and she was in a cozy bed, feeling more rested then she ever had in almost three weeks. Slowly she sat up, the covers falling off her form, and goose bumps rose on her arms as the cold penetrated her skin.

 

Kagome turned to see Kilala was sound asleep at the end of her bed. She blinked, unable to believe that she had actually fallen into a sleep un-plagued by nightmares. Again her eyes shifted towards the sun, and instantly she was able to tell that it was at least around three in the afternoon.

 

“I slept for eight hours?” she whispered out in surprise. She had arrived early this morning at seven only to find everyone still slumbering peacefully. Taking advantage of the quiet she climbed into her bed and easily fell asleep within seconds.

 

A small, slightly bitter smile crept upon her lips, “Good thing it's the weekend, otherwise I would have to worry.” She spoke aloud to herself before climbing out of bed.

 

She started to slip off her night clothing when all of a sudden, none other then Hermione burst into the room. Quickly she covered herself back up, hoping that the annoying girl hadn't caught sight of her scars. Turning she pinned Hermione with an irritated stare, “Yes?” she asked crossly.

 

The girl glared at her, “I was simply coming to check up on you. After all, you didn't come to the dorm last night. I woke up to find you fast asleep this morning. Where were you anyways?” she then crossed her arms and gave her almost a scolding mothering look.

“It's none of your concern, is that all you wanted?”

 

Hermione frowned at her, “No, I wanted to know if you would like to join me, Harry, and Ron for a late afternoon snack?” she shot at her bitterly, clearly she had given up on `healing her' by making her talk about her past.

 

Kagome took the invitation into thought. She was after all starving, but would she prefer to eat in the company of herself, or with the three crazy people who were bent on making her life miserable?

 

“Fine, I'll meet you there in five minutes.” A surprised look crossed her features as the words rolled out of her mouth. `What the hell?' that was not supposed to be her answer.

 

Hermione looked just as surprised as her, before a beaming smile was sent her way, “Excellent, I'll let the others know!” her voice was bright and cheery as she turned and almost skipped out of the room.

 

Clearly she was happy…perhaps to happy…Kagome rolled her eyes effectively stopping her thought trail. Now she knew she was paranoid if she was going to start believing that innocent sweat book smart Hermione could be up to anything horrible and evil.

 

She could only picture her grinning like a mad man, her back bent back slightly from her bad imitated evil laugh like the ones seen on TV as her hands stood out to the sides, squirming in delight. Then the evil music would play and it would flash to the `unsuspecting' victim of her plot. Yeah…like that would ever happen…

 

…………….

 

“Yes Harry I'm sure I heard right, she did actually agree to eat with us! Now stop asking, you'll get her suspicious!” Hermione sent a scolding look towards Harry, who, like Ron, was still having trouble swallowing the idea that Kagome had actually willing agreed to eat with them.

 

The three of them sat near the middle of the Griffendore table as they waited for Kagome to arrive. Hermione cast a nervous glance towards the entrance, before looking back at Ron and Harry, “Did you guys get the drinks?” she questioned, looking at them anxiously.

 

Ron gave her a board look, “Now whose going to make her suspicious? Stop worrying Hermione, we got the drinks. Here, this one is Kagome's.” he handed her a glass of pumpkin, which she then proceeded to set to the side, away from the other three glasses.

 

They all lapsed into silence.

 

“You know, I saw quiet a nasty scar on her back when I came into the room.” The two boys looked at her curiously, “I walked in on her by accident when she was changing. It almost looks like…something scratched her…”

 

“Why would you say that?” Harry questioned, “How do you know it wasn't a pitch fork or something different?” Ron chuckled slightly at the comment.

 

Hermione glared at them, “This is not something to be joking about you two! I'm serious, something scratched her! There were long claw marks, almost like she was slashed!”

 

Again, they lapsed into silence.

 

Harry sighed, “Are you sure we should go through with this? Isn't it a little extreme?” his eyes trailed over to the seemingly innocent cup, “And what if her weird voodoo powers find out that her drink is spiked with something?”

 

Hermione gave him a stern glare, “You're the one who's all suspicious about her, you can't back out now!” she looked nervously at the door again, “Besides, if she does find out, and gets mad at us, then we know for certain she is hiding something.”

 

Ron almost laughed at her words, “Hermione, we already know she's hiding something. The goal of this little mission is to find out what that is.” He sent her a little smirk, “Also, aren't we all suspicious of her? Isn't that why we're doing this together in the first place?”

 

Harry smiled at Ron's statement, “Yeah, don't go pinning this all on me. You want to know just as much as I do.”

 

Hermione smiled, “Since when did you guys get all smart on me?”

 

Both Harry and Ron looked at each other, “Since you stopped doing our homework.” Ron answered while Harry nodded in agreement. The three of them laughed.

 

“What's so funny?” the once surprising cold voice of Kagome cut their laughter to a stop instantly. The three of them turned in their seats to get a good view of her, before Hermione smiled and patted the bench spot beside her, “Sit with me Kagome!”

 

If her voice sounded a little to cheery to Kagome, none of them knew, for in the next moment she had taken a seat, and was now watching them closely.

 

Silence.

 

“So…” Ron trailed as he picked up his glass of pumpkin juice, “How's everyone's weekend going?” he asked meekly, taking a huge gulp of juice before setting the glass back down again.

 

Kagome smiled almost an evil smile, “It started off with quite a bang.” She stated, her tense body easing up slightly as the conversation continued to travel on safe grounds.

 

“Mine's good so far, I already finished up all the homework I got yesterday.” She shot Harry and Ron a glare, “Can't say the same for you two though.” The boys only whistled innocently in response.

 

Harry took a small drink of his juice before he spoke, “Mine's been great, any weekend away from home is a good one, no matter what happens.” He stated, and his two friends cheered with a, “Here here!” Kagome only stared at them puzzled, before shrugging.

 

Hermione's eyes briefly landed on Kagome's cup, before she continued to start another string of conversation, “So, who did what during the summer?” at the question, Kagome tensed slightly.

 

“Nothing special really, though my `family' laid off me quiet well.” Harry spoke offhandedly, and Hermione and Ron nodded with a smile, “That's good mate.”

 

Ron took another rather large drink from his glass, “I visited Uncle Charlie for a while, nothing really interesting happened. You know, since everyone's all in high alert over…you know who…we didn't really do much of anything. Everyone's to frightened.”

 

At this statement, Kagome's attention perked. She had heard bits and pieces of information about this You know who person, or Voldermort as few called him. Being new to the wizarding word, she knew nothing of their enemies or the terror that Voldermort had caused.

 

“Yes, but can you blame them? I mean, he bypassed right into the ministry of magic! If he can get there without them even knowing, don't you imagine people would become afraid that he could get anywhere, even here?” She sighed, “Why do you think there are a significant amount of students missing?”

 

Ron and Harry both looked quiet somber at Hermione's statement, and again she was intrigued by this faceless person. Who could cause so much fear in a community where everyone had powers?

 

“We're off subject.” Harry's voice cut through with a surprising amount of coldness. Instantly the two became quiet, sharing knowing looks, before Hermione spoke, “My summer was just as boring, nothing to do but sit around at home.”

 

After silence stretched, the three of them turned towards Kagome with expecting looks. She only shot them a glare, “Found out I was a witch.” Came her curt reply, and Ron raised his eyebrows, “Is that all?”

 

“Yes.” Her voice was filled with almost a daring nature, challenging the three of them to even try and say otherwise.

 

Silence.

 

“Well, I'm hungry, lets ask for some food!” Ron spoke loudly all of a sudden with a bright cheerful smile. He then looked towards the table and spoke clearly, “Biscuits please.” In almost three seconds, his `order' had been filled as a set of biscuits appeared on the table in front of him.

 

They all helped themselves to the food, gobbling it down with hungry greed. Knowing that she needed to eat, they offered her some, and she accepted while taking only two. Again they all lapsed into silence, though it wasn't an uncomfortable one.

 

Hermione sipped on her juice, before glancing once again at Kagome's cup, “You haven't had anything to drink Kagome, aren't you thirsty?” she asked innocently enough, though the two boys tensed.

Eye's narrowed slightly, she replied, “I don't drink pumpkin juice.” Before continuing to munch politely on her second biscuit.

 

Ron took another long swig of his juice, “Have you ever tried it?” he asked after wiping the substance off his lips, “You should at least give it a taste before you make your mind up.”

 

A tense air passed over them as they waited to see if Kagome would take a sip of her drink. Yet, as the time passed, she made no move to do so. Again Hermione began to get nervous, “So…the weather outside is nice?” she offered, and Harry slapped his forehead while Ron groaned.

 

Kagome's eyes narrowed further, “Yes, it's quite pleasant…” she answered stiffly, eyeing the three of them.

 

Almost instantly they grew nervous under her intense gaze.

 

Silence.

 

Suddenly Kagome stood, “Thank you for inviting me to this, snack as you call it. I must be off now, I have homework to do.” At the end of her sentence, she eyed out Harry and Ron who both laughed sheepishly at her statement. Hermione sent them a smug look while saying, “See, I'm not the only one!” while Kagome walked back to the Griffendore dormitory.

 

However, she never was able to reach it. For halfway there, Professor Dumbledore met up with her and asked if she would be so kind as to escort him back to his office. Grudgingly she complied and the two set off.

 

Soon, after walking in nothing but silence, the two arrived at the door of the Headmaster's office, after going up the magic moving stairs. Dumbledore opened the door and motioned for Kagome to step inside. Doing as asked she moved into the room, Dumbledore following behind as he closed the door.

 

He then walked over to his desk and took a seat, motioning for Kagome to do the same. As she sat down he spoke, “I'm sure you're wondering why I've asked you here, Ms. Higurashi.” A nod was the only response she gave.

 

He smiled kindly at her, “I wanted to ask your permission if I could place the hat once more upon your head.” At her questioning look, he continued, “You see, that night when you were first being sorted, the hat had broken into some part of your mind that was off limits. By doing so, it unlocked certain moments in your life that were…well…unsettling.” At her glare he diverted the topic, “What I'm getting at is this Ms. Higurashi, I believe that the hat may have sorted you wrongly. You see, there is no such place as the Kiyoraka house.”

 

“What?”

 

He put a hand up to silence her, “Let me explain my dear.” He then placed his hands on his desk, “You see, I believe that after the hat unlocked your memories, it, well, a simple way to say it is that it malfunctioned.” He smiled slightly at her, “Your flooding memories overwhelmed it and because of that it was not able to sort through your mind clearly.” Here, he chuckled, “Plus there was that little death threat you gave it that impaired its judgment.”

 

Kagome aloud a small smile to grace her lips, before confusion overtook her, “But why did you say I could go to the Kiyoraka house then, if really no such house exists?”

 

Dumbledore sighed a heavy sigh, “Because at the time, it was the only thing I could do. I had to repair the hat, and that would take time, which I did not have at that particular moment. So, being as I did not know which house you belonged to, I let your heart decide, so that you could have a place to stay until I got the hat fixed again. I didn't want the students to worry over you in such times as these. You see, things that cannot be explained to them can lead to wrongful accusations. I felt it was in the best interest of both you and the students to event the kiyoraka house.”

 

Kagome nodded, “And now that the hat is fixed, you wish to find out which house I really belong to, and simple say that I am now forever staying in that house?” she asked him, summing up the rest of what he was going to say.

 

Dumbledore smiled, “That is precisely correct.”

 

She sighed, “Let's get this over with…again…” really, she knew she didn't have much of a choice in the matter. There wasn't any other solution to the problem that she could see other then putting the cursed hat back on her head…and…trusting it….

 

Dumbledore nodded, “Thank you Kagome.” Before he stood and grabbed the hat off of the top shelf. Slowly he walked out from behind his desk, until he was standing just behind her. Then, he proceeded to place the hat upon her head, and once again, the world went dark and noises were shut out.

 

`Hello again, back I see. Now lets see if we can't find you a real house to stay at.' That hat spoke, and she tried to will herself to calm down.

 

`What to do, what to do. Even with a straight mind you're difficult to place.' The hat continued to ramble on to itself, `Much like a mind I had to place six years ago…'

 

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the hat shouted out loud, “Griffendore!” and then it was removed by Dumbledore, and placed upon the top shelf once more until next year.

 

“So I'm an official Griffendore now?” Kagome asked, rolling the idea around in her mind. Dumbledore nodded, “That is correct. You may head to your dormitory now, I will inform the students at supper.” With a small nod, she departed.

 

………………………&# 8230;…………

 

“Well, I had a lovely snack. We found out so much about her! Not to mention we wasted a quarter of a bottle of vertsism (sp?) in her juice that she never even drank!” Ron continued to ramble on as Hermione grew angrier and angrier.

 

“Well it's not my fault she doesn't like pumpkin juice!” she finally snapped, effectively stopping Ron from further ranting, “It would have been a great idea if she liked the beverage we picked out!”

 

That was all it took, and sparks went flying as the two exchanged bicker after bicker. If Harry hadn't been so used to it all by now, he would have snapped himself and yelled at the two idiots. Instead he sighed and rolled his eyes before speaking, rather loudly so he could be heard, “We can do it again, we still have three quarters left. All we have to do is find a drink that she likes. In my opinion, I think we should have just used water, like I wanted to in the first place.”

 

The two stopped bickering and looked over at him. Giving Ron one final glare she turned and walked over to Harry, “That's a brilliant idea Harry, much better then Ron's idea of simply jinxing her.” The last of her sentence was spat out like venom, and once again Harry only rolled his eyes.

 

In no time the two were bickering senselessly. He only opened his book and tried to get his homework done as best he could with all the racket.

 

………………………&# 8230;…………………

 

“Well Kilala, looks like we're stuck in this stupid dorm for the rest of the year…better get used to it.” She told the neko as she petted her gently. Her eyes shifted over to the window as the now setting sun began to sink lower. Did she ever feel tiered…

 

“I guess lack of sleep is finally catching up…I should put on my night suit and head to bed.” She looked at Kilala and smiled, “I have to take advantage of the sudden departure of insomnia.”

 

Quickly she changed, and then cuddled deeply under her welcoming covers. Silence passed between them when she suddenly spoke up, “Who knows, maybe tomorrow, I'll wake up just as refreshed as I was today.” She sighed, “Maybe I am waking up…waking up to reality.”

 

Kilala mewed and within moments, the two drifted to sleep.

 

………………………&# 8230;

 

I'm really sorry I haven't updated this story for so long. I had a major case of writers block. Also, I'm sorry for the shorter chapter then usual as well. Its just, this seemed like a good place to leave it off. Hopefully the next update wont take nearly as long as this one did heh heh…and I want to thank Jacquelinefor the suggestion, it really helped!

 

Also, to all you guys, don't feel afraid to suggest something. Sometimes I really need ideas on where the story can go, or what can happen. It helps, trust me! Anyways, this is getting long so I will depart for now. I will try and update POTU soon, I have the chapter started, but no grantees! Later!