I hope you enjoy this. I wrote this story with my friend Melissa. Thank you
heaps, Melissa! ^_~ It certainly isn't the first CCS/HP fanfic ever written, but it doesn't follow the same stereotyping as most CCS/HP fanfics do. Our story focuses more on how Sakura and Syaoran meet and fall in love, but not all that senseless mush, lost focus, and no story at all. Believe me, it does actually have a story. I don't care for reviews as such I just wanted to share our story with willing readers. Please keep an open mind that it was written by fans for fans and we don't wish for anyone to copy
our idea/s. Thank you very much. ^_^

-CHAPTER 1-

Thirteen-year-old Sakura Kinomoto made her way down the narrow aisle, passing cabins that held many array students, male and female, aging 11 to 18, members of four different houses. These four houses were Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Each renowned for its own specifications, whether it be for cunning or intellect, there was rivalry dwelling within every corner of Hogwarts Express.

Her short auburn hair swayed gracefully with the movement of the train, and her emerald eyes sparkled. Sakura maintained her balance by pressing her hand against the cool glass windows of the shifting cabin doors. She stopped to one on the left, marked with Gothic golden numbers: 256. She opened the door and shut it behind her.

'Hey, Sakura,' said a boy with flaming red hair. He gave a toothy grin as he stared at the bunch of pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs in her arms.

Sakura sighed happily and slumped back into the cushy padded bench next to a pretty girl with wavy brown hair. She handed Ron a packet of chocolate frogs then turned to a boy with dark messy hair and glasses. 'Here you go, Harry.'

The boy looked up with a pair of identical green eyes and smiled gently. 'Thank you very much, Sakura,' he said politely, accepting a pumpkin pasty and returning to read his book, Broomsticks and Bits.

Sakura turned to the girl beside her. Hermione's light brown eyes met hers and they exchanged best-friend smiles. Hermione took a pasty and ate it. They were on their way to Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This was Sakura's fourth year. In the previous four years, she had learnt many other forms of magic other than her cards. Sakura was surely one of the brightest students in their year. Only rivaled by none other than Hermione Granger. The two were inseparable. They were just as close as Harry and Ron were. The pairs clicked, and they were all friends. Sakura came from quite a strange background. Most of her family's magic had often been concealed from the possessors. But since she had mastered the cards, she was one of rare magical capability and excelled in studies beyond belief.

Harry was known as 'The Boy Who Lived'. He'd escaped the power of Voldemort during his infancy. Praised as a hero, for he'd found ways to confront the terrible forces that threatened the wizarding-world's security. Sakura had been in assistance as well. All in the school knew the foursome; either adoring them or loathing them. Only few who had been accepted as transfer students sent from other magic schools were unaware of their bravery and courage. But that was the Gryffindor's way. The courage of a lion, the bravery of a gallant golden beast.

* ~ * ~ *

Syaoran stared out the window, watching the flocks, rolling mountains, green pastures, blue and grey skies washing by in a flurry of color. He sighed and turned to a boy with slicked back blond hair, grey eyes and sharp features. This was Draco Malfoy: Harry Potter's rival and possible arch nemesis.

The two were bickering even during the first walk up the great stairs to the castle. This boy was selfish and snobbish, his family rich, he came from a long line of pureblooded wizards and witches. He was such as a clone of his own father, Lucius Malfoy whom most of the Ministry of Magic feared. His jealousy of Harry was not so easily hidden, for the pouting and constant moaning Syaoran had to endure.

Sitting alongside of them were Crabbe and Goyle. Syaoran only took their surnames into mind, as they stood more like bodyguards of Draco than friends. They were very tall, very thick, and very hairy. One had a basin- shaped haircut and the other a very short crew cut. Very stupid, very dull expressions. Thickheaded slurred answers. Them it was: Crabbe and Goyle. The two lumps that carried out Draco's orders. They were all from the house Slytherin. All Slytherins were seen as slimy, good-for-nothing, lying backstabbers and cheaters. This was the house from which most dark wizards were developed. So had it been for Riddle and his deceptions. The Dark Lord hadn't been heard about since the second year. Syaoran didn't like that perception of Slytherin, but what was he to say? He'd agreed with himself long ago that he was nothing but stubborn and selfish. Slytherin had only made him worse.

Syaoran growled silently as Draco slapped him hard on the back. He whipped his messy chestnut-haired head around and leered with piercing amber eyes. Malfoy sniggered darkly and pointed through the window entering into the aisle and to the cabin next-door.

'There's the Potty,' said Malfoy.

There came a faint sound of laughter.

Draco seethed. 'Stupid, pathetic mudblood.' He leered at the back of Hermione's head.

Syaoran fawned little interest but his eyes scanned the glass and fell onto the head of auburn. He raised his head slightly, trying to capture a glimpse of the owner's face. Malfoy saw his cause of action and pulled him down again. He shook his head slowly.

'Don't bother. Just another mudblood.'

Syaoran moaned and averted to the fast paced window.

'Another dull, boring year as a filthy Slytherin...' he muttered under his breath.

* ~ * ~ *

The train came to a slow and steady halt. Sakura looked up, her mouth full of chocolate cauldrons. Ron dittoed Sakura, Hermione tried to finish the last sentence in her book before another chapter began, and Harry was trying to steady his glasses.

Malfoy was one of the people crossing Harry's compartment, so he sneered at Harry. As Malfoy ordered, Crab and Goyle brushed Sakura's gang off. Syaoran sighed and made sure his face was hidden away from Sakura. But Sakura saw and sensed great power from Syaoran and since he was the last person in the line of Hogwarts students, Sakura quickly stepped out of her compartment and walked up to him. 'Hi,' Sakura said, smiling sweetly.

Syaoran grunted and looked away, but Sakura ignored that and extended her hand.

'I'm Sakura Kinomoto.'

Syaoran realized Sakura was waiting for a reply, so he quickly avoided her gaze.

'I'm Li, Syaoran.'

Sakura smiled brightly. 'You said your last name first, does that mean you came from Japan?'

Syaoran couldn't think of anything to say, so he said the first thing that came to mind. 'No, you dumb ass. I come from China, stupid!'

With that, Syaoran caught up with the line while Sakura was left there all alone.

She gaped after him. 'H-How rude,' she said sadly.

Then Harry, Hermione, and Ron jumped out of their compartment. 'You should never be nice to a Slytherin,' snapped Ron, trying to make a point.

'Ok,' sighed Sakura. She joined her group of friends, but now she felt like she wanted to be his friend, as well as despising him because he was a Slytherin. She felt terrible.

* ~ * ~ *

Above Hogwart's hung an ominously large, gray cloud. The wind had let loose all it's fury on the hard, stone castle, and only the magic emitted from inside Hogwart's kept it from crumbling to the ground. Under no circumstances was it remotely safe to be out in this weather, and so Sakura, already drenched to the soul, hurried inside the sanctuary. Sakura quickly made a small fire in her palm, and squeezed the water out of her hair. 'I'm late! I'm late!' muttered Sakura to herself, as she began hurrying to class. Pushing through the huddled mass of students, Sakura stuck a hand in her bag, desperately searching for her textbook.

'Argh! Where is it?' she moaned. As if she wasn't late enough. 'Uh...oh.' Sakura slowly pulled a hand out of her school bag. With wide eyes the cherry blossom stared at her ink-covered hand. 'Oh, no...not the ink!'

Inside the poor girl's bag a tiny bottle of black ink had erupted, apparently crushed by the massive books also inside. Presently, the black ooze slowly dripped past her wrist, down to her elbow-

'Hey!' Sakura let out a sigh of indignation.

All her hundred or so books lay tumbled onto the floor, her bag ripped, and everything covered with shining black ink.

'Who...?' Sakura cast a glare around the Great Hall, which was now empty, since every other Hogwart's student had gotten to class. Well, everyone except for... 'You!' Sakura and Syaoran said at the same time, each pointing a finger at the other.

Syaoran quickly bent down, avoiding Sakura's gaze. 'Sorry about that...late, you know...here,' said Syaoran, hastily using his free hand, pulled a small piece of fabric out from between the folds of his robes. Handing the handkerchief to Sakura, he smiled a quick smile, but it was still there. 'Better get that ink off before it stains your shirt.'

Sakura, closing her mouth, which was wide in surprise, looked at her arm. The black ink was now at her elbow, and encroaching on her shirt. 'Thanks...' Sakura took the handkerchief and began to squeeze ink out of her already sopping outfit.

Suddenly, a rude cough was heard behind Syaoran. The startled boy straightened, and then turned slowly. It was Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. And none of them looked too happy. Syaoran, sensing their extreme displeasure and Malfoy's hard glare, shoved Sakura's books back into her arms.

'Here!' Syaoran barked coldly at Sakura, who was - if possible - more stunned than before. 'And next time, learn how to carry books, mudblood!'

Syaoran turned on his heel and strolled over to Draco and his cronies, who were leaning against a wall. The four disappeared into the Slytherin dungeons without another glance at Sakura. Sakura reached into the pocket of her robes, pulling out the ink-stained handkerchief. Surprisingly, one corner had remained pure white, not black like the rest. On that corner, Sakura could make out a yin-yang, and around it, Clow's seal. She lightly brushed the yin-yang and seal, which glowed green at her touch.

* ~ * ~ *

The heavily aged door swung open with a heavy creak. Heads swiveled round to see a sopping wet Sakura. Several sniggered as she sprinted into the room and took her seat beside Harry, dumping her books on the bench. The teacher looked away from the chalkboard and peered over her square-shaped spectacles. 'Ms Kinomoto,' she said sternly, tapping impatiently with her wand.

Sakura looked up hesitantly and smiled nervously. 'Y-Yes, Miss?'

McGonagall gave a weary sigh and walked over to the bench. She gazed hard down at Sakura for a time before giving an abrupt snort and turned back to the board. 'You've just missed the way of changing a purse into an armchair.'

Sakura whipped her head up and stared at the other students. Some had fully changed, others were half done, and then she looked down at hers: a pale- pink fluffy handbag. She looked up to meet McGonagall's harsh gaze and winced. 'I-I'm very sorry, professor,' she bowed her head.

McGonagall cleared her throat. 'That is quite all right. But from now on I must insist that you try being here on time.'

Sakura nodded slowly. 'Thank you.'

'As I was saying,' she thundered, startling the class, making them jump in their seats. 'Because we are having a transfer of new teachers of other professions, new classes will be opening soon. Such as Muggle Cheerleading and Muggle's Physical Education.' She began to pace across the room, eyeing each student individually. 'And I know you've all been waiting for this announcement for some time, they've allowed me to hold for you an Animagus class for those who haven't taken it as of yet.'

Sakura and Harry wore identical smiles. Ron and Hermione grabbed each other's hands and laughed with delight. The class rang with the joy and happiness of the students.

'But,' said McGonagall, 'there is another thing.' Everyone grew quiet and let her continue. 'Since we need to make room for these new courses, we'll need to join together some of our recent classes. Therefore, this class shall move in with the other onto the next line.'

Ron's face turned bright red, he stood up and cried, 'Not with those filthy Slytherins!'

Harry and Hermione exchanged shocked looks.

'It is not necessarily put that way,' said McGonagall calmly. 'There will be a blend of all four houses, and so, Mr. Weasley, you may not be 'stuck' with Mr. Malfoy.'

The tips of Ron's ears turned pink and he sunk back into his chair, embarrassed. 'O-Oh.'

But the frowns of most of the students lingered by the end of class. Sakura held the handkerchief in her pocket and sighed as she walked beside Hermione whom raved on about the book she was currently reading. Ron and Harry were bickering over having to have 'another' class with Malfoy, for Potions seemed torture enough.

Hermione caught the worried expression of Sakura. 'Sakura, what ever is wrong?' Sakura gave a quick smile, but it wasn't convincing. 'This morning I met this boy. He seemed very sweet, he helped me pick up my books, but,' she sighed and lowered her head. 'He was a Slytherin.'

Hermione bit her bottom lip. 'Oh, my.'

Sakura nodded and gave Harry and Ron a quick glance. They seemed to have forgotten the Slytherins and were laughing at Harry's jokes of his cousin Dudley Dursley. Dudley was the width of four Harry's, and after much hesitation, his mother had finally decided to put him on a diet for he was growing a fair bit overweight.

Sakura looked up. She saw Malfoy with his arm slung around the neck of the boy, Syaoran. Draco's goons, Crabbe and Goyle ambled behind them, trunks- for-arms folded, and thick pudding-basin-heads guffawing. Syaoran's head turned slowly and he saw Sakura. Draco hauled Syaoran around the corner. Sakura stopped and stared after them. Hermione saw the look in her dear friend's eyes and knew. Harry and Ron also saw this, but they weren't staring, they were glaring. After the Slytherins had rounded the corner, Sakura seemed to break out of her trance and turned to the trio with a disarming smile.

'Well, let's go.'

They followed after her uncertainly to Ms Sprout's class of Herbology.

* ~ * ~ *

The next morning, Sakura woke up and for the first time in her life, she was early. She gasped at her watch on the dresser and smiled. Quickly she ran out Gryffindor Tower as if to escape time and be as early as she could, very early. But, she could never beat Hermione. And sure enough, there was a girl with her head stuck in a book about magical creatures and such. Definitely Hermione. Sakura sat next to Hermione and wolfed down her breakfast, Hermione sometimes looking up from her book, as she seemed a little messy at times. When Sakura finished eating she pulled out her pocket-calendar Tomoyo had given her, digital - of course. Sakura had placed a charm on it so it wouldn't break.

'Hey, that reminds me,' said Sakura. She clicked through her schedules to today's date. 'Oh dear!' sighed Sakura. 'How could I forget Tomoyo's Birthday?'

She pulled out her wand and cleaned it a little - it had some left over ink on its tip, perhaps that is why it turned Sakura's purse into a mutated living wallet in class - Sakura pulled out a sheet of paper, a quill, and some ink and quickly wrote a good letter that was about two pages. It was written, asking about Yue, birthday presents, everything important. Then with a smile and a stroke, Sakura's elf owl, Bokuna, flew off with the letter and a chocolate frog.

'Hope that candy doesn't scare her,' Hermione joked. The two girls laughed as early birds flocked in for the lovely breakfast awaiting them.

Throughout the day, Sakura went to Harry's Quidditch practices, learned about the Yule Ball from the homeroom teacher, and watched Hermione do a little trick to make Sakura's paper machete swan come to life and fly away.

The next day, a tiny elf owl flew slowly to Sakura at the great hall. When it dropped its huge package, it fainted. Hermione treated it as Harry and Ron looked at Sakura's note.

All it read was:

Check the package. -Tomoyo

'Check the package?' Sakura said curiously.

She opened the package carefully, then when the last piece of tape was pulled free, a creature sprang out of the box and landed in Sakura's lap. 'A RAT!' screeched a girl sitting down the row from them. The screams of girls flooded the hall as Hermione stood on the table. Ron followed to see what all the fuss was about as did many other students, young wizards and witches. After the girls had calmed down, Sakura noted softly, 'This is Kero, my guardian. The little guy I've been talking bout.'

'Oh,' breathed Hermione, smiling cheekily as she peered over at the girl whom had screamed in alarm at the prospect of there being a rat in Sakura's package.

* ~ * ~ *

It was after dinner. They sat in a small circle before the warm fire in the common room. The foursome huddled around the small yellow creature, staring over the handkerchief with Clow's symbol, deep in thought. It was the third evening of their first week back in Hogwarts; they were yet to become prepared for it again.

Sakura yawned softly and stretched. 'What do you think, Kero?'

Cerberus looked up at his mistress with beady eyes. He raised an eyebrow. 'Shouldn't you be preparing for that Animagus Class tomorrow?'

'Oh, that's right, they're combining all four houses tomorrow,' said Hermione with a twinkle in her eye.

Sakura brought Kero and the handkerchief in her arms. 'We'll figure it out later. I guess we should start some homework.'

Hermione clasped her hands to her face and positively screamed, 'Oh no! I forgot my homework!'

Several second years turned and stared at her.

Hermione leapt to her feet and hurried up the staircase to the girl's dormitories to fetch her ink and scrolls. She came down two minutes later with arms full of work from Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. 'Isn't it exciting? This is more advanced than even Professor Lupin's!'

'You'd think so,' mumbled Ron, folding his arms. 'What's it with you and homework? You ask the teachers for extra exercises for the fun of it.'

'There's nothing wrong with wanting a bit of a challenge,' quipped Hermione, setting her things on the table around the corner.

'That new DADA teacher is bloody strange. She's like a female version of Snape,' muttered Ron to Harry. Harry shrugged his shoulders.

'Stop whining and come and work with me,' chimed Hermione. Ron muttered something about 'girls' and slumped beside Hermione. Harry and Sakura nodded in confirmation, knowing the circumstances between the two.

* ~ * ~ *

That morning along the Gryffindor dining table at breakfast, a light blue elf owl came soaring down with a small package tied to its right foot. The minute owl cooed softly, blinking its bright red eyes.

'Good morning, Bokuna,' said Sakura, giggling. 'What do you have for me today?'

Bokuna twittered and held out her leg. Sakura untied the yarn from her small talons and opened the letter which was written in Japanese. She read it aloud to Hermione and Ginny that sat beside her.

Dear Sakura, I have a surprise in store for you. Not to spoil it, but I will see you soon. - Eriol

'Hoe? See me soon?'

Sakura sent Bokuna away with a 'thank you' note and some toast for the tiny creature's journey. Everyone in the Great Hall began to walk toward the entrance to the morning classes. Harry and Ron ran to them out of breath. They had been standing around the Hufflepuff table talking with some friends.

'Hey, come on, Animagus Class,' exclaimed Ron, tugging at Hermione's arm. 'Come on!'

'It's so unfair,' complained Ginny, 'I didn't pick the class this year and now I have to wait.'

'Don't worry, you'll get your chance,' said Harry, giving her an encouraging smile.

Ginny's face turned as red as her hair. She murmured, turned on her heel and ran after her third-year friends from Ravenclaw. Harry scratched the back of his head and chuckled.

'Well, I guess we should get going then,' said Ron.

He and Harry jogged ahead, leaving Sakura and Hermione behind, taking their time. The Slytherin table was starting to empty, swarms of evils slithered past the other students, hissing, smirking and doing things Slytherins were most expected to do. Syaoran was among the crowd, exchanging jokes of mudbloods and Hufflepuffs. He turned and saw Sakura. He snagged the end of his robes and stumbled. Something strange passed between them. It was similar to a flash of electricity, only it didn't hurt. But they both felt it. It was a connection.

'Sakura? What's wrong?' said Hermione.

Confused, Sakura broke her gaze and stared numbly at her feet as she followed the crowds of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor leading to McGonagall's old room. 'I-It's nothing.' Hermione tilted her head. Sakura looked up at her with a convincing smile. 'Really, I'm fine.'

* ~ * ~ *

The year was split into two separate classes but Sakura and her friends remained in McGonagall's classroom. McGonagall stood at the front reading over a scroll. The new tutor had just entered. He had short dark hair, very pale skin, deep blue robes, a pair of round spectacles and friendly dark blue eyes. He looked very much like Clow Reed. He walked forth and bowed, presenting himself to the class. 'My name is Eriol Hiirigizawa. But you may call me Eriol if you wish. I prefer to be addressed by my first name.' There came murmuring around the room as Eriol continued to smile.

He walked to Sakura and whispered. 'Didn't I write that I would see you soon?' Sakura nodded, thunderstruck. He chuckled. 'I was finally able to strengthen my powers and reclaim my natural form.' He clapped his hands together. 'Very well, we may begin today's lesson.' He took out an ebony wand, tapped it against the blackboard and a trail of chalk appeared. It read in cursive Today's Lesson: Choice of Animal.

'Remember, each of your transformations determines the person's ability to imagine, their intellect and personality,' explained Eriol, walking over to Professor McGonagall's side. 'Now as you have seen before, Minerva changes into a cat, much resembling her former human self.' He noted her thick square glasses. They seemed to stay like dark rings around her eyes when she was a cat. The whole class sniggered. McGonagall pursed her lips. Eriol continued. 'But it is purely by you. You may be either a quaint little mammal - a mouse, or just to say something demanding and of high authority - a dragon perhaps.'

Eriol stopped and gave Malfoy a quick glance. Draco sneered at his remark.

'But in order to come by this,' he flicked his wand and a pile of textbooks appeared in his free hand. 'You must study!'

Most of the class moaned.

Ron and Harry looked over at Hermione. She was giving the new tutor a glowing look, bouncing up and down in her seat in anticipation with a great smile plastered on her face. Eriol handed out the books. 'I apologize, but I believe the best way is to work with people we are unfamiliar with. Please split into partners - no friends please - someone you have never socialized with in a kindly manner.'

McGonagall left for further business. Sakura watched anxiously as Harry and the others shuffled away to other rows. She wasn't familiar with anyone and all the Gryffindors were paired off already.

Syaoran was having the same trouble. Malfoy partnered with another Slytherin, not caring for the teacher's word. Crabbe and Goyle, being incredibly stupid, sniggered and partnered with each other. Finally everyone but Sakura and Syaoran were with partners. Eriol smiled mysteriously and approached Syaoran as he stood near the front, looking around. He stopped. 'Mr. Syaoran Li.'

Syaoran turned quickly and stared at him wide-eyed as if he'd been confronted. 'H-How do you know my name?' he stammered.

Eriol smiled an almost evil smile. 'Why, you are Syaoran Li, no?'

Syaoran nodded slowly, narrowing his eyes.

'Don't you have a partner?'

Syaoran shook his head, his frown turned into a glare.

Eriol's face brightened and he waved Sakura over. 'Miss Kinomoto, why not be a partner to this young man?'

Sakura and Syaoran stared at each other, then exclaimed, 'Him/Her?!' pointing a finger at each other.

'Of course,' said Eriol. He gave Syaoran a quick pat on the shoulder, turned and walked to the door. 'I need to do something. Inform me if anything goes wrong. Oh, and class!' Everyone looked at him. 'Pages 12 to 45 through chapter 7 and continue onto 16 when you've gone over imagination questions 20 - 30.' And with that, he left.

Hermione, Sakura and Syaoran were the only ones that didn't groan.

Sakura fiddled with her Sakura Key dangling from a thin golden chain around her neck. She looked up at Syaoran and smiled shyly. 'Do...Do you want to...?'

The textbook hung under Syaoran's right arm as he glanced at her. 'Whatever.'

Sakura followed him to an empty table. Harry, Ron and Hermione watched them from the corner of their eye. Malfoy scowled in their direction for the entire lesson.

* ~ * ~ *

Sakura sat up straight in her bed at two in the morning. She felt cold and a chilling wind was wafting into the room. But the window wasn't open. She turned and saw Peeves the poltergeist puffing his cheeks up like a blowfish. He was an ugly short twisted man with curly-toed shoes and a tacky orange bowtie.

'Peeves,' she screamed, 'get lost!'

'Didn't do nothin',' he cackled as his eyes glinted in the dark, 'Kinomoto! Japanese kimono girl!'

Sakura grabbed her wand. 'Flipendo!'

She summoned a whirlwind of green light and sent him flying through a wall. His shrieks were long but eventually faded. Sakura cursed the name of Peeves and groaned. She just remembered she had left her Potions book in the library. There was no admittance to the library in the mornings and Snape would surely deduct 20 points from Gryffindor. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and yawned. Harry had learnt a duplicating spell and had given Sakura and the others each a copy of his invisibility cloak.

Sakura exited the portrait hole wearing only her light pink nightgown and her hair fastened into two ponytails. The fat lady grumbled and scolded her, but Sakura ignored her and walked down the stairs shielded from view by the cloak. She stepped over trick step and proceeded down to the corridor. It was very gloomy. Her bare feet numbed against the cold stone floors and she shivered from the drafty chambers she passed. She ignored the many pairs of eyes from the paintings hung along the walls. She turned a corner slowly and screamed as red eyes glared at her.

Sakura's stomach lurched.

Mrs. Norris, Filch's tawny grey old cat and familiar arched her back and hissed. Sakura stepped away slowly, cautiously. One wrong move, and the feline would signal.

'What is it, my pretty?' came an oily voice.

A hand stretched forward baring a flaming torch. Filch stood three feet behind Mrs. Norris. He hobbled forward, his lame leg shuddering under his weight. His good eye, piercing blue, leered into the darkness. He saw nothing. Filch limped in front of his pet and grabbed handfuls of air. Sakura screamed and ran.

Mrs. Norris sprinted after her.

Sakura whimpered, her feet padding the damp floors as she desperately tried to lose the cat. The feline's calls became less apparent and eventually stopped. Sakura was just about to stop when she knocked right into something -

'HOOOOOEEEEEE!'

She fell and landed hard on her back. She lay there, whimpering with pain, fearing the worst.

'Who's there?'

Sakura opened her eyes. That voice sounded familiar.

She raised her head and had to cover her mouth to stop herself from gasping. Syaoran stood in front of her wearing deep green pajamas, looking around. 'Hey! Who's there?' he repeated. 'Peeves, if that's you, I'll...'

Sakura crawled back nervously, the cloak slid off of her.

Syaoran turned and flinched. 'Y-Y-You're...y-you...what are you doing lying on your ass?'

'Um, I was just...' she stopped abruptly and narrowed her eyes, 'wait...you should tell me what you are doing here!'

They stared angrily at each other. Then something clicked. They stopped glaring and looked away.

'If you give a damn, I'm heading down to the library for extra study. Snape'll have a hissy-fit if he knows I don't listen to his mumbling. You know the bull, "bad name for Slytherin",' he said hastily. 'Now you tell me.'

'I-I left a book in the library yesterday,' murmured Sakura.

'Well,' said Syaoran, smirking, 'a very mudblood thing to do - leave your stuff lying around all over the place.'

Sakura's eyes flashed, 'Mudblood is an offensive term you purebloods use for those of us who don't come from complete wizarding families! I'll have you know that most of the greatest wizards of our time are of muggle lineage!'

Syaoran was surprised by her defense. He quickly hid his shock behind a dark smile. 'Such a powerful mouth for such a small Gryffindor girl.'

'You're disgusting!' snapped Sakura, 'I didn't think you were all that bad, that you weren't just a Slytherin. But I see that I was wrong.' tears were brimming in her eyes. 'What makes you think you're superior to us? We both have magic, we're the same, aren't we?'

Syaoran felt taken aback and suddenly stammered, 'I'm sorry.' He didn't understand the shame he felt. He did this all the time. He was a Slytherin, they had no shame or regret. So why did he feel so guilty?

Sakura shook her head. 'Forget it. I know you don't want to displease your master. You're his pet, aren't you? He drags you around by a leash.'

'Don't talk about Draco that way,' snapped Syaoran, 'He may not be a bloody saint, but he's my friend. Damn it, he never lets me down. You understand friendship. Whatever it is you have with that Hairy Poofter.'

'His name is Harry Potter!' she cried indignantly. 'I'll put a hex on you if you cuss again. And I'm warning you - I know plenty of them.'

Syaoran was halfway through answering when he was interrupted by a shriek. Two glowing red eyes burned in front of them like two blazing stars.

'What should we do?' panicked Syaoran.

'Quick! Come under here with me,' said Sakura, whipping out the cloak. 'It should be big enough for both of us.'

Syaoran hesitated at first but ended up huddling under it with her.

They watched as Filch limped past them, waving his torch ahead, filling every nook and cranny with orange light. He passed by them, carrying Mrs. Norris under his arm. Then they were gone. 'That was close,' said Sakura with a strangled sigh.

'Yeah,' Syaoran said, 'where'd you get this thing anyway?' He stared at the cloak over their heads.

'Well, Harry actually,' said Sakura haughtily. ' An invisibility cloak is extremely rare, you know.'

Syaoran gave her a withering look. 'You say the poofter gave it to you?'

'Harry! His name is Harry!'

'Yeah, yeah, calm down,' He grabbed her hand. 'Come on.' He dragged her down the corridor. Sakura tried to pry his hand off her wrist but he had a firm grip. She soon found out what he had meant.

'The library?' she breathed.

'Yeah.' He pushed the wooden door, which squeaked as it opened and admitted them. 'You want your book back, right?'

And there it was, Sakura's book was where she had left it, laying on a worktable in the study area. She took it and held it to her chest. She turned and found him gone. 'Huh? Where are you?' She swiveled around and found him picking at the lock on the door of the restricted area. 'No! Stop! What are you doing? That's restricted!' she moaned, walking over to him.

'I know,' he said. His tongue stuck out at the side of his mouth as he fiddled with the rusty iron lock. Sakura thought for a moment that he looked quite cute. But she quickly brushed the thought aside. 'There.' He lifted the lock and chain and dropped them onto the floor. 'Free admittance.'

'But, we can't!' she said, exasperated. 'It's against the school rules!'

'But I am against the rules, remember? I'm a Slytherin,' he chuckled and skulked into the shadows.

'No, really?' she said sarcastically, following him. 'What're you looking for?'

'Snape said something about dragons liver working in a substitute potion for the Bulgarian Speckle-duck Cold.'

'I thought you said you don't pay attention.'

'I don't.'

He opened the book to the middle. A man's face emerged on the page with a widened mouth began to scream. The cry filled the entire library like a fire engine siren and echoed out the doors. Syaoran slammed it shut. It continued to shriek. Syaoran grabbed Sakura's wrist and pulled her out. They scampered out of the library covered with the invisibility cloak.

When they had found an empty hall somewhere on the third floor, they stopped and caught their breath. Syaoran slumped his back against the wall and slid down to the floor howling with laughter.

'Why are you laughing?' demanded Sakura, flustered from running. 'We could have been caught!'

Syaoran glanced at her. 'It was fun,' he shrugged.

'Nearing expulsion is fun?!' Sakura threw her arms in the air. 'I give up!'

'Give up what?'

Syaoran had stopped laughing and was giving her his undivided attention.

Sakura squeaked and looked the other way, clutching her book tightly. 'Um, nothing that matters.'

'No really, tell me,' said Syaoran.

'You'll just laugh,' she said defiantly.

'No, I won't,' said Syaoran. He raised his hand between them and held out his pinky.

Sakura stared hard at his finger. 'Pinky-swear. I promise I won't laugh.'

Sakura looked like she was thinking about it and then linked her pinky with his. They shook it once and withdrew.

'It's just...even though our houses are supposed to be rivals, I was hoping if we could, you know...be friends?' Syaoran seemed to have forgotten his promise not to laugh. 'I've had it with you,' sighed Sakura, defeated. 'I've got my book, you had your fun, and we can leave.'

Syaoran stopped laughing without delay. 'You're going?'

'Well it's done, right?' she said coldly. 'And since you don't want to be friends, I suppose this is the last time we shall ever have a decent conversation. Goodnight, Syaoran.'

She turned and Syaoran grabbed her wrist. She turned to glare at him, but the sincere looks in his eyes prevent her from doing so. 'Hey, I'm sorry. I was kidding,' he said gently. 'This whole thing really is one big Slytherin act.'

'Well I'm not laughing,' said Sakura sulkily.

'If it means that much to you,' he said and smiled, 'sure, I'll be your friend.'

Sakura's face lit up like a Christmas tree. 'Really?'

'I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings being inconsiderate or something. You know that bull,' he said, shaking his head slowly.

'One more thing,' she said, her eyes full of hope. 'Please stop swearing?'

Syaoran ran a hand through his hair and moaned. 'Girls and manners.'