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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, The Immortal Series belongs to Tamora Pierce. This story was inspired by "In the Shadow of the Forest" by Utena Anthy Antics.
AN: I'd like to tell you all about a decision I'm struggling with at the moment. I recieved the question "Is this a prequel to Lady Serenity?" a little while a go, and I answered; "kind of"... I'm thinking of changing that. Everything up to this point was prequel material...I will tell you when (& if) that changes.
Mage by Jess S
Chapter 3: Introductions and Tests; Fate and Destiny
James, having closed his eyes after the collision, slowly opened them, only to become entrapped in the most beautiful pair of eyes he'd ever seen. Bottomless pools of shimmering emerald stared up at him, wide with surprise. Those eyes were finely framed by auburn lashed, and set in pale, creamy skin that covered flawless features. She was probably wearing some kind of light lip-gloss, which made her already soft, luscious lips all the more appealing as they shimmered in the torchlight, parted as they were from the soft gasp he'd heard when they'd collided.
"If it's all well and good, Potter," a cool voice came from just ahead of him, like the person was standing right over him, "would you mind coming back to the world of the waking and getting off my friend?"
James blinked again, before hurrying to stand up and offer a hand to the girl he'd landed on, an apologetic grin falling in place automatically. "Sorry about that," he offered, as the girl accepted the offered hand allowed him to pull her to her feet. "I was in a bit of a rush."
"Don't worry about it," the girl replied, her voice a soft, sweet melody unlike any he'd ever heard.
He felt a tug from his hand and realized he still held her small delicate hand in his larger Quidditch strengthened one. Reluctantly he released it, as he struggled to remember her name. She looked like she was around his age, so she had to be either a fourth, fifth, or sixth year, and she had to be in Gryffindor, as she'd known the password only moments before. So why couldn't he remember her? He knew everybody! Even the Slytherin girl's of his age group! But he couldn't remember ever seeing her before...
He was brought out of his thoughts as the girl in question turned slightly, and he noticed the Prefect badge glittering from its place on her robes.
She brought the delicate hand he'd been holding a moment before up to toss some of her fiery red locks over her shoulder. The stunning smile she flashed at the nervous group of first years (who he hadn't really noticed were standing around them) seemed to reassure them.
"Well, as I was about to say before our little accident - which should teach you to be careful when you're going into or leaving the Tower - the Password is Interlunium. It's a good idea to check the message board before leaving in the morning, as it will tell you if the password is changed early, and what it is. Otherwise, it will be changed every other week, and there will always be a notice on the board to tell you what the new password is." She smiled, "Any questions?" Not the least bit perturbed by the ringing silence that followed her question, she turned to the still open portrait hole, "Please follow us then."
Remus stepped aside, holding the portrait open for her and the others, once they'd all entered, he raised an eyebrow at James.
"Nice move, Prongs!" Sirius laughed. He and Peter had run out after their two Prefect friends, not entirely sure of why they were doing it, but... The show it had brought them to was more than worth it!
"Shut up, Padfoot..." James sighed, having finally found the ability to speak once again. However, his eyes were focused on the portrait, which Remus had already allowed to close, nonetheless he almost thought that if he tried hard enough, he'd still be able to see the angel on the other side.
"Helloooo... Earth to Prongs!" Sirius called him back to reality, and made him aware of the fact that all three of his friends were snickering.
James sighed again, "Alright, enough already!"
"Oh, come on, Prongs!" Sirius snickered, "it's not everyday that you zone out because of a pretty face!"
The raven-haired Prefect silenced him with a glare. Once they'd finally stopped laughing, he shook his head, "Who is she, anyway? I didn't recognize her..."
The other three Marauders looked at each other.
"Come to think of it," Sirius replied, "I didn't either!"
"Nor I," Remus nodded in agreement.
Peter only nodded his agreement.
"None of you recognized her?" James stared at them. "She's a the other fifth year Gryffindor Prefect, how could none of us have seen her before?"
"What'd you mean?" Sirius asked, frowning, "Figg's the new Prefect, she was wearing the badge!"
"Well," Remus cut in thoughtfully, "I wouldn't be surprised if both of them are. After all, McGonagall picked the two of us as Prefects, it only makes sense that there would be two girl's as well..."
"Please, Miss…"
"Lily," she told her.
"Please Miss Lily, when do classes start?" the girl asked hesitantly.
"First of all, what's your name?"
"Molly, Miss, Molly Meadows," the younger redhead replied.
"It's nice to meet you, Molly." Lily smiled at the younger girl, before answering her question, "Classes will start tomorrow. You will receive your schedules during breakfast, or, if you wish to see them earlier, you may ask our House Head, Professor McGonagall for it. There's a jar of fine white powder on the mantle, just toss it in and ask to speak to Professor McGonagall." She thought a moment before continuing, "You are not allowed to be outside of the Tower between ten-thirty in the evening and five-thirty in the morning, unless you have the permission of a teacher, or an emergency. However, you will find that a continental breakfast is laid out in the Great Hall no later than six o'clock, and the full breakfast is always ready by seven and will be served until ten of nine. First period starts at nine o'clock." She finished, taking a deep breath, "Anything else?"
There weren't any hands up.
She smiled again, and nodded. "Well then, I'm sure you're tired, so we'll just finish this up." Walking over to the message board she'd mentioned earlier, Lily drew her want and tapped the roll of parchment with the dormitory postings on it twice, muttering the proper spells under her breath before pointing at a box that sat on the Gryffindor Common Room's fireplace mantle and then waving it to include all of the first year Gryffindors. In response, the posted parchment glowed a soft red, which quickly shot over towards the box, making it glow a slightly brighter red. The box disappeared in a flash of golden light, before many small ball of light shot towards the startled first years. "Reach out your hand, please," the redhead witch instructed, even as all of the other Gryffindors, minus her friend watched in confusion.
When the first years complied, the ball of light stretched to wrap itself around their wrists, and then solidified into what looked like a muggle watch that had a small compass in place of where the miniature clock should be.
"This device is set along the lines of a Muggle compass, but instead of pointing north it will point to whatever destination you need it to within Hogwarts walls. There is, of course, a charm that serves the same function, but it takes some training and practice to perfect and is therefore useless to you. While inactive, the arrow will always point in the direction of the nearest Gryffindor Prefect. To activate it, simply tap it with your wand twice and when the arrow glows, tell it where you want to go and it will point you in the right direction until you have reached your destination."
Ignoring the looks her friend was receiving from around the room -- obvious relief from the first years and everything from shock to admiration to doubt from everyone else -- Arabella continued, smiling as she followed Lily's lead. "You may notice that the arrow is currently glowing, and therefore active, as it was preset to guide you to your dormitories for its first use. Once it has led you there, it will become inactive... Any questions?" After a moment of silence the fifth year nodded, "Alright then, you'll find your trunks are already in your dormitory. I know that this day has been both very trying and very exciting for all of you, and many of you are probably suffering from homesickness. Believe me, we've all been there and you'll find most of your year-mates miss home too. The best thing you can do is try to settle in a little and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day for you."
Lily nodded in agreement, "If you need help with anything, you may use your wristband to call us, as well. If you look at the side there is a small knob there, which should be easy to turn. Turn it clockwise and then push it in. This will release a small ball of red and gold light, similar to what you saw before, which will find the nearest elder house mate that is willing to help and guide them to you. Once they reach you the light will go back into the band, resetting it... If there are still no more questions, I hope all of you sleep well. Good night, and, once again, welcome to Hogwarts."
The Marauders continued to watch in silence as the first years headed for their dorms. Once they were gone, the common room was almost entirely empty. This wasn't surprising, because it usually happened. The train-ride and the feast usually tired people out, so they'd head straight to bed. The socializing would come tomorrow...
"Excuse me," Sirius called, when the redheaded Prefect turned to go up to her dormitory.
She turned back and blinked, her wide green eyes conveying her surprise. "Yes?"
"Sorry if I'm holding you up," Sirius began, offering the smile that had melted many girls' hearts.
This girl, however, just blinked, before offering a soft smile in return. "It's of little consequence. Do you need help with something?"
"No, no," Sirius shook his head, still smiling, "I just wanted to beg an introduction." He informed her, offering a hand. "I'm Sirius Black."
The redhead took the offered hand with one eyebrow slightly raised. "Pleasure," she replied, glancing at the other three Marauders.
"Oh, and these are my friends and fellow Marauders; Peter Pettigrew-"
"We can introduce ourselves, Padfoot." James cut him off, smirking slightly at the glare his friend offered him, before turning to the object of his admiration. "I'm James Potter."
"It's nice to meet you," the redhead replied, drawing her hand away, "again." She finished with a raised eyebrow and a playful smile that made his heart flip.
He was more than a little disappointed when she turned her attention to Remus, who stood a foot to his right.
"Remus Lupin," the last Marauder replied in his soft, soothing voice.
"Once again, a pleasure," the redhead smiled. "You - and James, isn't it? - are Prefects too, right?"
Both nodded.
"Then I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again, but for now I must bid you goodnight, before I find myself not able to climb the steps to my dorm." She murmured, before turning away and making her way to the steps again.
"Wait!" James called out, halting her. "You didn't tell us your name!"
She turned her head slightly to smile back at him, "It's Lily, Lily Evans. Good night, gentlemen." A moment later her vibrant form had disappeared around the corner of the winding staircase.
"Lily..." James released a soft breath, the name coming off with the reverence of a prayer.
"Gentleman?" Sirius gasped, his eyes wide, "Me?"
The other three Marauders rolled their eyes.
"No, who is she?" Another replied.
"No ones really sure, but it sounds like she comes from a really powerful pureblood family, and she's been home schooled the last four years."
"Why wasn't she sorted?"
"She was, over the summer. She's one of the Gryffindor Prefects."
"Prefect?"
"Yeah," a third boy broke in, "they say she broke a bunch of records when they tested her over the summer!"
"Why isn't she in Ravenclaw, then?"
"Don't know..."
"Ignore them," Arabella told her friend as they passed the group.
The boys had stopped talking when they saw the two Prefects coming, and they were still staring at Lily. It made her nervous...
The brunette shook her head, "Don't worry, you'll be fine. You handled last night rather well." She complimented, with a soft smile.
Lily sighed, "Hai..."
Arabella shook her head again... 'If the scrutiny of three fourth year boys in the hallway bothers her, I don't know how she's going to survive breakfast!' But there was no more time to worry about that, as they were crossing the entrance hall, only to pass through the open double doors into the Great Hall.
To say that the redhead was nervous would be an incredible understatement. But one look at the Gryffindor first years, and how nervous they were, made her set her fears aside. Smiling brightly she walked down the aisle, passing the 'Marauders' along the way, with Arabella following one step behind her.
His friends shook their heads sympathetically, not liking it anymore than he did. Potions and it's Professor were bad enough, but;
"On top of that, why do we have to have it with the Slytherins?" Peter added the thought that was on all their minds.
"Well, on the bright side," Sirius added, smirking. "You can get to know Lily better, Prong."
James then did something that was completely out of character for him: he blushed.
"Yup!" Remus agreed, "We'll even help you get paired up with her."
James glanced at him, "How?"
"One of us will pair up with Figg, and then you can ask Lily." Sirius told him. "I'll-"
"I will pair up with Figg, Padfoot," Remus interrupted him. "It won't do James any good if you prank his crush's best friend."
"Best friend?" James blinked, "How long have they known each other?"
"Yeah," Sirius scoffed, "I don't see how anyone could hang out with that girl!"
Two of the others just rolled their eyes; Peter was too interested in his breakfast to notice.
"Well, for one thing," Remus began, "She met Figg before she met any of us, because Figg stayed the summer, and Evans came to school a few weeks early. So they had a while to get to know each other."
"But that doesn't mean their friends!" Sirius protested. "Acquaintances, maybe, but-"
"Well, she seems very comfortable with Figg, even if they are only acquaintances..." Remus interrupted, nodding toward the entranceway.
James immediately spun around to look. And for a moment he stared, entranced once again, then he noticed something else and growled. "What's he doing?"
Immediately, three of the four Marauders were on their feet, and Peter followed after swallowing another bit of eggs, once he'd realized the others were going somewhere...
Lily stopped and turned slightly to meet Lucius Malfoy's cool gaze. "Konnichi wa, Malfoy-san."
Arabella blinked in surprise. It wasn't the Japanese that bothered her, she didn't know much, but she knew that the two of them had just exchanged 'good-morning's' formally, although she didn't know what Malfoy had called Lily. She also didn't know why Lucius Malfoy was talking to Lily, and why the two seemed to know each other, although Lily didn't appear overly fond of the other. Lily had somehow changed with those words too, she seemed slightly different from the graceful, smart, but warm and exuberant girl Arabella had grown used to, to someone more refined, colder, and more exacting...
"Dou koko Japan kara?" You're here from Japan?
"Hai."
"Dono gurai irrasshaimasu ka?" Are you staying long?
Lily shrugged, before beginning to turn away. "Sumimasen ga, demo oyakusoku ga ariniasu. Sayonara." I'm sorry, but I have an appointment. Goodbye.
"What, Lucius?"
"Just a thought, but you might want to consider paying some attention to the new girl."
"The transfer student?" The Half-Blood Prince raised a dark eyebrow as he shook his head. "Why would I pay any mind to a new Gryffindor Mud--"
"She is not a Mudblood, Severus. She is a Pureblood, her mother's house boasts the oldest magical lineage known. Traceable even as far back as the Ancient Moon Kingdom and the Alliance between planets."
"The Silver Millennium?"
"Yes," the fair haired Slytherin nodded, smirking again as he watched the Marauders leaving the Great Hall, one of them shooting him confused glares the whole way to the door. "And if that isn't incentive enough to make yourself known to her, you might also care to notice that a Slytherin interacting with her seems to irritate Potter."
Now, Severus Snape smirked, "I'll keep that in mind, Lucius..."
The green-haired Guardian of the Gate of Time turned from the dimensional window she had been watching the current Moon-Terran Princess in, bowing deeply to the last true Princess of the Moon as she did so. "Quite well, it seems, My Queen. She has a good friend in Miss Arabella Figg and appears to be settling in with no great difficulties... Suggesting that she be made a Prefect was an inspired idea."
Serenity smiled softly, her silvery eyes focused on the window that showed her descendent walking through the halls of Hogwarts beside the young, dark-haired witch that had apparently become a good friend over the previous weeks. "I knew that the responsibilities of a Prefect would serve to distract her from what homesickness she might feel... As it would me."
"Yes, it is apparently a very strong genetic tendency in your family, My Queen."
"You're hardly one to talk, Sailor Pluto." Serenity laughed lightly shaking her head, before her expression turned serious. "Have you discovered what became of Rose and Derek?"
At this the Senshi of Time's expression darkened. "No, My Queen. I apologize. But the windows into the time stream have been very eratic as of late...what with--"
"The rebirth and approaching awakening of the other Senshi, yes, I know." The Last Lunarian shook her head again, sighing. "Just when everything was supposed to be put right this had to happen."
Pluto sighed as well, "I wish I could offer some consulate, My Queen, b--"
"It's all right, Pluto. I know you aren't prone to encouraging false hopes... But the assassination of a member of the royal family and her husband is troublesome."
"I was given to understand from General Ezakiya's report that their deaths did not appear to be intended as assassination."
"No, in light of similar deaths all around Wizarding Europe we don't think the killer is even aware that they have slain a high ranking member of the Crystal Court... but I don't find that overly reassuring." Serenity shook her head again. "One descendent and her husband dead, another a squib who wants no connection to her ancient and/or magical history and lineage and another who's powers are not yet completely under control even while she tries to fit-in a world that cannot hope to understand us... What a family I have... I should have severed my ties with the Keepers of Fate and Destiny long ago..."
"You could not do that, My Queen. Doing so would have meant the death of Small Lady Serenity, for the Earth is the only suitable home for it's Princess as a child, only the Moon could match it and the only way to severe your ties with the higher Guardians would be to leave this system behind, to it's sure destruction, something I doubt any member of your family could ever do..."
"It is something no senshi, royal or otherwise, could do and live. You're right." This time Serenity's eye's closed in the sadness of current times, before she opened them again, her mind once again in command where her heart had taken over before. "Continue to search, and keep an eye on Lily. I have several members of the Crystal Court watching her as guardians, but I'd feel better if I knew a Senshi were doing so as well."
"As My Queen commands," the Sailor Senshi and Last Princess of Pluto bowed deeply.
"And continue to investigate the situation in Europe. Call me if you believe it might require my interference."
"But Beryl--"
"Is a child. We both know that she is no match for me, never was. I could have destroyed her at any time I chose since her rebirth. I still can."
"But you want to test the other Senshi."
"Fate and Destiny declare it a necessity..."
"And it keeps them civilians longer. Unbound by the duties of the Crystal Millennium and its Royal Court." Pluto bowed again, "I shall do as My Queen commands... but shouldn't I continue to watch Galaxia? Chaos with the powers of a Senshi--"
"Is dangerous. But it isn't killing anyone, merely steeling star seeds, which means that I can restore the Senshi and undo the damage with little trouble once the test is complete."
"Which will not be for several years."
Serenity shrugged as she spared her descendent, who was now frowning at a group of young wizards outside the Hogwarts Potions Classrooms, one last glance before turning. "We have waited for this time for over a thousand years, Pluto. We can wait a few more."
End Chapter 3.
Translations:
Interlunium - change of moon/time of new moon
Liberi Luna – Child of the New Moon
Hai - Yes
Lily-hime - Princess Lily
Konnichi wa - Good morning (formal)
Malfoy-san - Mr. Malfoy
Dou koko Japan kara? - You're here from Japan
Dono gurai irrasshaimasu ka? - Are you staying long?
Sumimasen ga - I'm sorry/excuse me
Demo oyakusoku ga ariniasu - I'm sorry, but I have an appointment.
Sayonara - Goodbye
Ja matte ne - See you later
Hime - Princess
Senshi - Soldier (with the power of a star seed, the life force of a planet/star/etc. behind them in this case...)
Since we're not really supposed to answer reviews in the story postings anymore, I won't. I'll try to use the review response system, or the mailing list if you respond there. But I would like to thank everyone who did review for doing so.
Honestly, I have no idea when the next time I update will be. I only put this up because the chapters of this fan fic are usually shorter than some of my other stories, and I felt bad for leaving you hanging for so long. I'd pretty much forgotten about the story until Sugarplumfairy05 reviewed it. Good job! You got my attention:-P It's rare that a reviewer is actually able to do that. And thank you for the compliments, veiled as threats that cannot be or not. I'm glad you like my stories. I'm working on the other stories, so they might be ready soon.
Until then, I hope everyone liked this chapter and will try to get more up soon.
As I just mentioned reviews do help. I don't want to be accused of being a review-whore or anything of the sort, but I can honestly tell you that reviews usually help me focus on stories. If I'm not sure where to go with something (sometimes my muse runs away with a subplot and it becomes something totally different from what I originally intended in a single scene, thus forcing me to rewrite a parts or even a whole story line. The latest example of this would be the Lacaena in QotA. I hadn't planned them until I started writing the discussion they were first introduced in, and then everything just sort of fell into place. I love it when that happens. Sometimes it doesn't work though. Sometimes I get tied up in my own storyline and need some incentive to cut myself out and figure out another direction to go in. This is where reviews help. Whether it is one encouraging review that took a lot of time or dozens, it helps. This is actually the reason I ask for reviews most of the time. This story isn't tied up at the moment. I just have to make myself write more of it. But several of my other stories are currently in knots. One of them gives me a headache when I try to figure it out, which kind of makes me feel bad for the readers that are trying to figure out where I'm going, but... such is life, I suppose.
Anyway, if you took the time to read my long-winded rant, the point is reviews usually equal the continuation of stories, now more than ever. Outside of fan fiction I'm getting ready to go back to college, working three jobs and trying to write some stories of my own. So no reviews means why focus on fan fiction?
As I said before, I hope you liked this update, I'll try to put more up soon...whether that "soon" is in anther three years or a few weeks is up to you.
Bye!
Jess S
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