Harry Potter and the Twelve Tailsmen

[Houndoom_Lover]

Well, fellow readers...This is where the plot line from Dark Hands Washed picks up, so I hope you all enjoy this one if you enjoyed my last one. *sighs*

Contains stuff from the last Harry Potter book, and as always, you can find most of my stories on fanfic'

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"Sometimes he (Death) gets bored of running at them, flapping his arms and shrieking...”

The preface

You know who?

Tom Marvolo Riddle, name he was given at birth, became one of the world’s darkest wizards known to man kind. From a humble start in an orphanage, this heir of Slytherin excelled at everything he attempted to do. After graduating from Hogwarts, he became Voldemort; otherwise know as He-who-must-not-be-named, You-know-who, and the Dark Lord, respectively. It is known, now, that he traveled far and wide looking for ways to make himself stronger than any man alive. And though he succeeded, he did so in the most terrible ways. It is believed he studied under a another dark wizard, whose whereabouts, or even if he is still alive, is unknown.

As Voldemort, he had followers, known as Death Eaters (see chapter ten, under Followers of the Dark Arts). He and his followers, during his first rule, took control of the wizarding world with fear. The Dark Lord was vanquished for the first time by Harry Potter, when a killing curse backfired. Voldemort would again rise, thirteen years later. His rule, this time, was short, but caused the death of many brave witches and wizard (See casualties of wars). Again, Harry Potter defeated him, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

- Excerpt from the Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts. (1999 ed.)

Good and evil both exist in our world, like Gods and Devils. But throughout history, there have been many evil Gods, so why can there not be good Devils? Therefore; good and evil must slide together somewhere, to create this murky darkness we call death.

Many people fear death. It’s just as simple as that. No one, or very few, can look dead in the eye, and say, “I am ready.”

I do not fear death; rather, I fear the eternal silence, the nothing that some say come with death. And if you look at it in the right light, then yes, it is a kind of death fear, but now, turn off the lights.

Are you scared?

But yet, you aren’t dead. That is my fear, the silence...the black abyss that waits.

-A journal entry

The girl that wrote that was currently sitting in the corner of a bathroom, surrounded by shards of mirror. She was crying, her arms around her knees. She would sob there for many hours, before asked to come out by a tall, suave, businessman.

These tears, these were real. The only real tears she had ever cried were for herself; this shallow and hideous creature that sat on the bathroom floor that was carpeted by a neon pink rug. The rug that clashed with the blood on her hands, but if you ask me, I find red goes charmingly with pink.

Someone knocked on the door, breaking Emma’s solitude. She stopped crying, waiting in anticipation for the knocker to speak, wanting to spill her spleen on the first person she came into contact with.

Yet, no one ordered for her to come out of the bathroom this time, which rather irked Emma, who could feel the knocker’s presence like an itchy pair of woolen socks.

“Yes?” Emma said, no longer able to take the lingering feeling that generated from the door. It made her tense up, like she was waiting for an attack. When no one replied, she stood up, brushing the glassy debris off her ripped, stained, and more then a day old clothes as she moved to the door.

Opening it, she stuck her head out, looking around. No one was there, but someone was, that she was sure of it. Emma sighed harshly; this room was too small to conceal anyone, so they must have walked off. She found her feet moving reluctantly into the living room.

“…You will take your group and,” Valmont commanded, noticing Emma out of the corner of his eyes. He was a tall man, with hair in a ponytail that was so blond it looked white. Dressed in a fine green suit, Valmont was the quiescence of a businessman.

“About time,” He said softly, as the girl hesitantly walked out into the opening. There were many gathered there, some she knew, and some she didn’t. She lowered her shoulders, and head in humility, her eyes probed the group; greedily.

There stood the Enforcers, and Emma’s eyes narrowed with hate when she saw them. From to right to left: Finn was the leader (or how she put it in her mind) of the Enforcers. Their leader was a tall man, with red hair and an obsession of the disco era that was visualized in his wardrobe.

Then was Chow, who was the shortest adult in the group. This Asian man wore a tough guy leather jacket and pants, with tacky orange sunglasses.

And finally, there was Ratso, who, in Emma’s mind, looked much like a monkey in a suit with a Band-Aid on its nose.

The others, all men, and in scores of ten, were listening to Valmont give his orders. With Shendu gone, he was now free to take control of his life. To do what see saw fit, and what he saw fit currently, was to cause Emma some childhood trauma.

Emma lifted her head up, looking directly into Valmont’s eyes. She now knew how she looked, and she blamed him. There were taunts, jeering taunts, she heard, rattling in her mind. But for all purposes, there were just two; Emma and Valmont.

Valmont smirked, “I have a very special assignment for you, Emma.”

Around China Town, CA

Emma popped her gum loudly, leaning against the tall lamp post that flickered weakly down on her new block. She’d be close to school, and Jade. How clever, she admitted to herself, that Valmont would move this close it him. His enemies would never look here…though, she could see why.

The new Headquarters was a dump. It was a large brick building, but not the pretty red-ish kind of brick; it was the nasty gray kind, with broken windows and mossy mold growing on the side. But, at least it was big, a good three floors.

One of the moving boys dropped a box, making a sound that possible was a very broken lamp.

Emma tore her eyes from the pale blue sky, “Careful with that,” She sneered, “You’re not being paid to be oafs.”

The moving boy she addressed had an acne problem. Emma was thinking how pitiful and disgusting he was, licking her drying teeth. His short blond hair was slicked in awkward direction, by use of hair gel, and his sideburns of doom were laughable.

This pimply fool, with his pieced ears, kicked the box to the front door. They were almost done, and his fellow movers, two other adolescent boys, came down the stairs, each holding an expensive looking electronic.

“Yo!” The blond one snapped, “We’s done wit’ dis!” His voice went down octaves as he talked. The others joined him, shoving stuff the stolen goods into a thick black bag.

The blond one was the shortest, the tallest being a heavy set with muscles and a thuggish haircut, and the in-between height belonged to the teen with a nose ring, and several other pricings and a fly-straight hairdo that covered some of his face.

“Excuse me?” Emma inquired, her distorted face somewhere between fear and insult. She took a step back, “Those don’t belong to you.”

“Oh?” The blond asked, mockingly, and then turned to the tall thin teen, “MC Cobra, empty dat bag out.”

Emma did smirk at this, but it quickly slipped off her face when they’re conversation continued.

“Why’s dat, Ice?” MC Cobra replied, dumping the bag out carelessly, throwing the black bag to the boy called Ice.

“I’ve found a better use for it,” They all seemed to get where he was going with this. The largest of the three cracked his fists.

“What’s that?” Emma said in a snide voice, sounding braver than she really was, “A bag for you face?”

“Nah, be-otch, it’s for yours!” Ice retorted, turning to look at the largest one in his group, “DJ Fist, wasn’t there a dumpster out back.”

His thuggish friend nodded, and they advanced. Emma’s back hit a pole as she backed away from them, her expression much like that of a frightened cat.

“When Valmont hears about this-“She snarled deadly quietly, but it just made them chuckle. There was a retracting feeling in her chest, and her eyes blurred. Emma groaned inwardly, as the bag was closing in on her head.

Thud

Emma opened her eyes, feeling pleasantly warm. Odd, she wasn’t usually pleasantly warm. One eye reveled complete blackness, her new bad eyes, while the other one showed her a view of a small room, with white washed walls, and a yellow wooden floor. There were many crates and other such this thrown here and there, and she gathered she was sitting on a large plush sofa, with a blue blanket wrapped around her.

“Oh good, you’re up,” Tohru, a large Japanese man, with a black and white arrangement of clothes, walked up the stairs, holding a tray full of food.

Emma gave him a weary look, sitting up as best she could. She watched him place the tray on her lap.

“Thank you,” She said simply, holding the tray with one hand and touching her bad side of the face with the other. It was bandaged, Emma opened her mouth, but Tohru smiled, and answered with out being asked.

“You are very lucky that Uncle was just coming back from the store,” He gave her head a light pat, and her hair ruffle, “Now eat up, you’ll feel better!” The large man lumbered away.

Emma sighed, looking at the bowl of steaming hot brown soup, and crust-less white bread sandwich. She was hungry. Taking a bite, Emma’s eyes widened in surprise. It wasn’t as god-awful as she expected. In fact, it was delicious.

She soundly devoured the sandwich, and very garlicky soup, and pondered if she should get up and look around, but she just couldn’t keep her eyes open.

This short slumber was cut…short, when Emma jerked awake, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. That old Uncle Chan was hovering over her, eyeing her like she was some strange creature, or a bomb.

“Can I help you?” She asked snidely, nearly forgetting she was in his house thing, she quickly added, “I suppose I should thank you for saving me…I think.”

Uncle raised an eyebrow, “What where you doing there, all by yourself?”

“Minding my own business,” Was her snooty reply, a reply that earned her a two finger flick on the forhead.

“Ow!” Emma rubbed her forehead grumbling. Well, if he wanted to know something, than she’d just make it up, “I wished to make a house call on Jade, because I was lonely.”

Old Mr. Chan gave her a look that clearly told her he didn’t believe her at all, but he said, “Jade went with her uncle, she will be back soon.”

The snooty British girl jumped up, throwing the blanket down on the sofa.

“Well, I’d best be on my way, then!” She announced pompously, but Uncle grabbed the back of her filthy clothes.

“You can go bathe,” Uncle said, with a knowing tone, “shower is down the hall.”

The look of surprise claimed the half of her face that was visible, “Why are you doing this?”

“Ancient Chinese Proverb,” He let go of her, holding a finger up. Emma already began to move out of the room, causing Uncle to screech, “One more thing!”

She stopped, giving him an extra pouty look, “Yes, sir?”

“When one saves another,” Uncle started, once he was sure he got her attention. His voice was careful, every word weighted, “they are responsible for them.”

Emma’s voice gave a twitch, much like a smile. Her teal eyes darted to and fro, they glanced to the floor, and then existed the room.

An hour an hour later

“Oooo, you were so cool!” Jade Chan was hanging from a tired Jackie Chan’s arm, as she chattered like a happy monkey all the way home.

An exhausted Jackie opened the door to Uncle’s Rare Finds, Jade swinging off his arm with a thud on the floor.

“Those robbers didn’t know which way you were throwing punches!” The little Chan mimicked what she had saw, throwing fake punches in the air.

“Oh Jade,” Jackie chided wearily, walking mindlessly into the storage room, and flopping on the nearest couch.

“Aaiya, get your grubby fingers off Uncle’s Ming Dynasty calendar!” Uncle’s voice rang throughout the shop, cause Jackie to sit up and Jade to look excited. She raced to the other room.

“How can I dust, sir, if I can-not-touch your, “Emma and Uncle were in a tug of war, each grabbing ends of the calendar, “antiquities?”

“Ooooh, Emma can dust,” Uncle retorted, “but Uncle is sure she was stealing!”

“What are you doing here?” Jade had been watching this, her eyebrows raised, and her arms crossed. The two looked at her. Emma quickly let the priceless old thing, turning her back on Uncle.

She was wearing a pair of Jackie’s pants, and one of his blue sweaters, both rolled up several times.

Uncle replaced the Ming calendar, looking hassled, “Humph, she wanted to visit you. Though Uncle doubts-“

“Ahhh, Jade, a pleasure to see you once more!” Her drawling voice was particularly pompous; she grabbed Jade by the shoulders and led her into the kitchen.

The kitchen was small, and cramped, especially because Tohru was in it, baking cookies of the chocolate chip verity. There was a tiny wooden table, clean, with four chairs, two pulled open, welcoming their butts.

Emma sat down as though she owned the place, and indicated that Jade should do the same.

“So…” The blond started, looked at Jade with an inquisitive eye, “How has your summer been?”

“Um…” Jade narrowed her eyes, confusedly, “O…kay? What happen to your face-?”

“Grand, grand!” Emma waved her hand, looking away, “I have just three words for you.”

“What are they?” Tohru placed the plate of cookies, straight from the oven, between them. Emma leaned forward, wiggling her finger to indicate that Jade should too.

“Girl-Scout-Cookies.” Emma whispered, picking up a cookie with her nail as to not burn herself, “You can make a dozen of them for 2.50, right?” She didn’t wait for Jade to answer, “But if we charge seven dollars for a box, which contains a dozen. Therefore, we make four dollars and fifty cent profit!”

Jade ignored this, and ate a cookie. She fanned her tongue, as Emma waited for a reply.

“Careful,” Tohru said kindly, “They’re hot.”

“You use to work for Valmont, did you not, Mr. Tohru?” Emma grabbed a few cookies, a few being four, and stood up.

Tohru nooded, taking off his oven mitts to clean up.

“You should have stayed,” Emma continued, “I would have enjoyed…your company.” Jade jumped off her chair, grabbing the plate with an ow; she followed Emma in to other room.

“You know,” Jade began, her voice as sly as Emma’s had been, “my birthday to tomorrow.”

“I didn’t know that,” Emma said, fringing curiosity, “You’ve blessed me new information.”

When she saw her disappointed face, Emma added hastily, “I would like to ponder that someone should be treated to ice cream, and shall!”

“Well, I hate to tell you that your pondering is wrong,” Jade grinned, stuffing a cookie in her face, swallowing, she added, “I know this perfect place-“

“Alright you two,” Jackie Chan said, fatherly as he walked into the room, “time for- are those my clothes?”

“Yes, you should really invest in pure cotton, Mr.Chan,” Emma pulled on the collar of his rather itchy blue shirt.

Jackie rolled his eyes, putting his hands on his hips, “Well, it’s time for little Miss. Shoplift to go home.”

“Little Miss Shoplift? Mr. Chan, I find that comment a tad perpostous!” Emma poked her nose to the air, “Good day to you, sir!” She stomped out of the shop, the little bell dinging.

Jade sighed, looking up at Jackie. When Jackie looked down and asked, “What?” Jade just sighed, and ate another cookie.

Ah! Sweet freedom, but you know, there accusations weren’t too terribly off. She took a long narrow package out of Jackie’s massive sweater. Emma rubbed the address; it wasn’t address to this pawn shop, but another one. So, Uncle had stolen it first, therefore, it really wasn’t stealing, wasn’t.

Emma started down the darkening street. A nice fog was picked up, blocking the lights from the lap-posts that towered ahead. This fog didn’t bother Emma at all, she felt at top of the world, now that her belly was full, and she was clean. Yes, the world was perfect.

No demons, no devils, no magic. Just sweet summer business- The same thoughts Valmont was having right then. Oh, what fools they were…

Some dark and spooky place

A commanding voice broke the silent of the room; “Gan-Ren-Chui.”

There was a loud poof, and a purple-ish blue smoke filled the dark room. An evil laughter filled the room, so loud, the wooshing noise the came behind the man that was laughing was bearly audiable. The man opened his eyes, his right eye was grey, and the other was green.

[Shuppet Master]

A Harry Potter crossover with Jackie Chan Adventures? Sounds cool! I always wanted to try that, but I never got the motivation.

Can't wait to see where this goes.

[Houndoom_Lover]

Thank you! Well, good thing I'm here then ^_^!

This chapter was the first first chapter, I wanted to get to it before the title was stolen. So...know it's the second chapter...anywho, here it is!! ^_^

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As Fickle as the Rat

A young man looked out with emerald eyes, stood on top of a frog shaped rock. His glasses hid the feeling of total abandonment, and for the better, he thought. The man felt the uneasiness one usually feels when one was about to do something totally stupid.

Tall and straggly, his clothes seemed to hide this fact, long trench coat over baggy jeans, like any other typical teenager, if only he was. His messy hair hid a scar...such a scar…

He scanned ahead, though he knew it was pointless. He could see nothing in this fog. Unnatural…

Somewhere else, a rather small Chinese girl was just waking from a horrible nightmare, one that involved a snake.

A huge snake that slithered into the shop, leaving eggs behind, was the monster of her dream. It was huge and black, like no snake she had ever seen before.

The dream Jade had wandered down stairs, sleepy as though she would be in real life. She remembered smashing the eggs, but even though she destroyed them, small snakes came out of them. Again and again, until she was covered in snakes…

That dream was SO real. Jade really liked snakes, too.

In that same city, that same filthy city, another girl was up. The only difference was, however; she had never gone to sleep. The new hideout did not suit her at all, because it over looked the city, a disgusting part of it. (But it was closer to her friend) Down there, they looked like rats crawling though a maze of desolation. Lights that blinded the stars at night, cars that spat fumes into the air…filthy slug monsters.

She ran a hand through her golden blond hair before placing her forehead on the cold glass of the window. Sounds of sleep swung in and out of her room through the ventilation system. Apparently the Enforcer’s were here…What was that!? The summer fog broke slightly, showing a shadowy figured down on the street below. The person was holding a flashlight down there…

Maybe he’s lonely, she though, a grin sprawling on her face. So that it twisted into one that a Finn quote can only describe it; “Freeeeaky”. Other than that, the night’s darkness hid her face nicely, the dark fitted to her body like a beloved glove. The girl in the darken room slid a cross her room where the nightstand stood. Her long finger hand (the left one) went across the table, blindly, looking for something.

It was found. She placed a half mask on her bad side. It was like girls night out, she thought, continuing to get dressed. Maybe her hair needed brushed, maybe a lot of things. She slid out the doors of the building like a shadow, her own trench coat billowing as she walked.

Jade Chan walked down stairs, thankful that it was summer vacation (Finally!). Not only that; it was someone’s birthday soon; her Birthday. She tried to go back to sleep, but found that she couldn’t. The dream and the day kept her awake. It was as though her eyelids were excited.

She had gotten sheepy one piece from her Grandmother, and was wearing it now. The silly blue sheep looked up at her on the pink background, not her style, but she didn’t want to ‘offend the spirits’ as Uncle put it. They weren’t dead, so his argument made no sense.

Walking into the kitchen, Jade pulled open the fridge and got out the orange juice. Looking tired, she took out a glass from the cupboard and started to pour. Then, slowly, she sat down- then jumped back up.

Jade had nearly sat on a box, one that was heavily wrapped in tape.

“Aww, you shouldn’t have,” She told the imaginary gift giver, picking it up and placing it on the table.

“Hmmm…,” Jade licked her lips, pulling the chair from the table’s side and up by the counter where the knives were kept. Probably for the best…

Getting out a large bread knife, she placed it on the chair and put the chair back to its proper place in the world. Taking the knife steadily in her hand, she opened the box as quietly as she could. Jade gasped, wishing she never did.

A glass snake, not glass…maybe stone, it hardly looked real. It glared up at her with its black stone eyes like tiny Black Holes she learned about in Science class. Maybe, just like them, they’d suck her up as well.

“Ugh,” Jade groaned, closing the box and re-taping it the best she could, “their not getting a thank you note from me.” Rubbing her eyes, she slowly walked up stairs, back to bed.

At six o’clock that morning, something magical happened. A letter, small and square, slipped into the mail slot of Uncle’s Rare Finds. And everyone knows there is no post on Sunday.

[Shuppet Master]

Hmmm...something tells me that letter is for Jade.

I really hope Jade gets more of a role in this story. She's my favorite character from the JCA series. (Maybe because she's a little trickster. )

[Houndoom_Lover]

Jade is squee-tastic! I wanna be like her when I grow up!!! ^.^

Inner me: What, a little girl?

-_-...She's not in this episode, erm, chapter, but don't let that make you sad, because she's all up in this here story!

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Stubborn Ox yields to no stick

Harry Potter was unusual in many ways. He retained the looks of youth in his pale thin face, his eyes were a brilliant green and shaped like almonds, his black hair was messy, but then again, it always was, and no amount of magic could change that. Oh! And, he was a wizard, and not just any wizard, he was the only wizard to ever survive the killing curse…twice.

Harry held his wand tightly, feeling strangely hopeless, but it was to be expected, if your day was this bad…

He admitted that the light from his wand wasn’t helping him see much at all in this thick fog. Harry took off his glasses with his left hand, and wiped them on his trench coat. He put the, now smeared, glasses back on. It wasn’t much better.

He’d been waiting for hours for Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasel, his two best friends and allies in this task, but neither of them had shown up. Nothing was going right today, nothing at all.

Harry had gotten wind where the Elder Wand was, but alack, it was not there. He now was soundly lost. Just like the Elder Wand…

Two days ago, someone broke into Albus Dumbledore’s grave. Not only did they steal the wand, they stole Albus’s bones. Who ever broke into the grave took the time to strip the flesh off his bones, leaving it to fester.

Just thinking about it made Harry rage on the inside. When he found out who did it-

Something rustled in the fog, causing the hair on the back of his neck to stand on end. It could have just been a cat…or a robe. He felt his heart beat against his chest, making breathing painful.

Yes…someone was out there. Feeling daring, Harry yelled out; “Whose there?”

Harry waited for a reply, when none came; he lowered the wand and extinguished the light.

“I am,” A replied finally came (Harry jumped, almost dropping his wand), in the form of a dry sneer from a girl, who sounded British. This should have comforted Harry, but it didn’t. He ran a list of all the evil witches he knew…Not that that would help him any, besides, she sounded too young.

“You are?” He asked back, walking slowly closer. Who ever it was happened to be by the lamp post, which made the fog thick and milk. Harry lifted up his wand to eye level, “Wanna step where I can see you?”

“Certainly,” Came the confident reply of the voice in the fog. The owner of the said voice seemed to be walking forward when the light from the lamp-post exploded into darkness.

It went cold, incredibly cold, like it would never be warm again. Wait…the fog, the cold, and that overwhelming sense of never being happy again. Urg! Harry, feeling incredibly stupid, thought of his arms around Ginny’s warm body, and then cast his Patronus.

“Expecto Patronum!” He roared, as silver stag with a massive rack shot from the end of his holly wooded wand. It danced amongst the fog that soon became a mist as the Dementors were distinguishing.

Harry was breathing hard, but felt accomplishment run through him as the lamp post re-lit itself, and that was just as good as a bar of chocolate.

Speaking of which…He spotted a body laying on the cold pavement, not a stone throw from him, and walked quickly to it. The speaker, he had been right, was a girl. With a harsh sigh, he lifted her up from the ground.

She was out cold, as far as Harry could tell. He lifted her up on his shoulders, with as much nudging as possible to make her awake, if he had to carry her far, he’d just levitate her or something.

The girl made a noise, moving her head so her blond hair fell over her face.

“Do you live here?” Harry asked, slowly. She was heavier than he expected her to be. He leaned her against the red-ish brick, looking around. She was the only one here, as far as he could see.

The girl was wearing a freaky Cheshire cat mask; it leered at him with yellow slanted eyes, eyes that lived on a deep purple plane of existence, giving rent to a sharp yellow tooth smile. But the mask was only half.

It only covered half of her face, the uncovered part was twisting in pain, internal, Harry knew. He carefully asked again; “Is this your house?”

He held her up; her body was cold as the bricks she was laying on. The girl gave him a sort of rolling nod, pushing her shoulders against the house with force.

“I…can…do it,” She stammered, between shallow breaths, “myself-go.” Her teal eyes shot Harry as distrustful look, but he wasn’t going to go just because someone told him too.

“C’mon,” He told her as gently as he could, pulling her along. With a flick of his wand, he opened the door and started up the stairs in front of him.

The stairs were possibly endless, Harry thought, as he trekked up them. Not that this girl made his task any easier for him, she kept on trying to shake him off, insisting that she could do it herself, and that nothing wrong was going to happen.

Harry had no idea how many Dementors there were, but it wasn’t that that bothered him, what bothered him was that they swarmed here. He knew the United Kingdom had been whittling them down since he defeated Voldemort…

The American’s surly wouldn’t keep them alive here then, would they?

Finally, after what felt like several minuets of stair climbing, Harry came to the brown door. He opened like the first one, swish and flick.

Harry gave a sigh of relief when he saw that the door had a dark room behind it, and not more stairs. The room had the air of being hastily done and packed in a small amount of space. There was a massive red sofa, with a tiny table and a big screen T.V in front of it.

He made a beeline towards it, laying the Dementor plighted girl down. Harry, then, dug into his pockets, his hopes getting up every time he felt a wrapper.

The girl tried to sit herself up, gave up, and fell back down, spitting venomous at Harry, though he couldn’t hear what all she was saying, not that he needed to. Finally, he found a single lonely Chocolate frog, unmelted thanks to chocolate perseverance magic,

He took it out of his pocket, and laid it on the table. The girl seemed to have gotten a hold for herself now, and was looking at Harry with a curious, suspicious, eye.

“Do you know what that was?” He asked, if she was a witch, her parents may be able to help him out. He could find the school that was near by, or better yet, where the President of Magic was located.

She, however, did not reply, but looked frighten like, over his shoulder.

Harry was about to tell her that it was okay, when the lights were flicked on loudly.

“What the bloody hell are you doing in my living room?” Asked a man’s voice, it was drawling, rather surprised, and British also.

The man standing in the door way was wearing a silken green night robe, and an arrogant look on his face. His long blond-white hair was pulled back in a pony tail, with his cold eyes looking at Harry with spite and mild surprise. All in all, Harry was reminded very firmly of a pre-Azkaban Lucius Malfoy.

Harry stood up, standing his ground, though he had no right to, as it wasn’t his house.

The shock fell off the man’s face as quickly as it came, giving Harry such a look of repugnance that his wild accusations in his mind were only proven correct.

“Eat that,” He told the girl softly, before taking brave strides towards the man, “Sir, do you realise you’re daughter was attacked by Dementors?”

The man’s eyebrow rose, “No, I didn’t know that, now please, “He inclined lightly to Harry, his voice still civil as he said, “Get out of my sight.” His eyes glanced up at his lightening shaped scar, and Harry watched him look.

“What’s going on, V-Man?” A tired voice asked, this one belonged to a man, tall, but not taller than ‘V-Man’. He had red-ish orange hair, sideburns of doom, and was wearing something that was only fashionable in the 80s.

“Please escort Mr.Potter out of the building,” V-Man put his hands behind his back, straightening out, “Finn.”

Finn grabbed Harry roughly by the arm, starting to pull him along.

“Come on, Kid,” The man named Finn yawned widely, dragging him along. Harry pushed away, hard. If he was going to be ejected so forcefully, he had to know.

Free from Finn, he asked the white-blond hair man boldly; “Are you related to the Malfoys? Can’t you help me?”

“OUT!” The man roared, his anger flaring up suddenly. Finn moved quickly, jolted away. He grabbed Harry, who found himself practically flung down the stairs and outside.

“Come back during business hours, kid,” Finn jeered as he slammed the door after Harry.

With a sigh, Harry pulled out a small piece of paper with addresses on it. Three down, and only one more to go. A shop called Uncle’s Rare Finds.

Valmont recovered himself quickly, turning to Emma as he heard the front door slam. He closed his eyes, before ordering; “You better eat that, it’ll make you feel better.”

Emma picked up the Chocolate Frog, looking at it with disdain. With a snort, she stood up, wobbling slightly, as she walked across the room.

“That was odd; do you often associate with young boys?” Emma sneered, though weakly, at Valmont, who looked all for the world like he’d liked hit her. But, this time, he didn’t. He just let her got to her room.

Valmont sighed as she slammed her door, his brow furrowed. Finn shut the door behind him, slightly out of breath.

“Y-yo, do you think we could of got a pad with less steps?” Finn complained, though it looked like his boss wasn’t listening to him.

“It seems I have miscalculated…” Valmont rubbed his lips, thoughtfully, looking at Finn as though he didn’t realise he was there, “Good night, Finn.”

And with that, Valmont turned away from Finn and went back to bed, leaving the stunned man to blink several times, before he too went back to bed.

Emma’s bedroom

Emma threw herself on the bed, with a grunting noise. She had undressed, wearing her beddings. She pulled out the long, narrow package that she snaked back at Old man Chan’s place, from her trench coat, which was on the floor.

Her long nails cut through the poor taping job, prying the lid off the bottom. She gasped, her face twisting in disappointment. It was just a simple stick! Well, it looked like it hand a handle on it. Emma reached down, hesitated, and threw it to the side.

She felt as though she was doing something dirty, by wanting to touch the stick. Emma got off her bed, strode across the room, and opened the door. She did a quick look around; making sure no one was there. There wasn’t.

She went back to her bed, sitting on it Indian style. With a deep breath, Emma picked up the long box and reached inside with her left hand.

There was a powerful surge in her arm that made her drop the stick. She gave a tiny yelp, as her fingers tingled with unusual warmth. She heard movement in one of the room, holding her breath until she was sure it stopped.

The stick had rolled off the bed and on to the floor. Emma crawled to the end of the bed, and reached down for it, fearful. She snatched the stick back up, gripping it tight was the zap returned. Sparks flew, sparks in the colours of green and silver, from the end of the stick, causing Emma once again to throw it, this time at the pillow.

“Well, then, you clever little stick,” She muttered, crawling back to the head of the bed, spring creaking under her. Emma gave a wide yawn, and a small shutter. She still felt rather cold, a cold that the stick took away.

She gripped the stick firmly, let its warm spread down her arm. Yes, that was much better. Her eyes settled on Chocolate Frog, its little purple and blue wrapper was covered in stars with the golden word Chocolate Frog on it.

Emma opened it as silently as she could, though the fat lot that did her, because she screamed as the chocolate amphibian leaped from the package.

She wanted the slimy thing to stop hopping about! It kept on getting closer, leaving little cocoa stains on her white covers. She flicked her stick in its direction, and a red light shot out from the tip of it.

The frog stopped in mid-hop. It fell on the bed, with a tiny thud. Emma looked totally stunned…did she do that?

What else could she do?

She gave a frog a determined look, and flicked her amazing stick again. Slowly, but surly, the frog transformed from a rich milk chocolate to a green spotted frog. Another flick and the frog moved again.

“Wicked,” Emma breathed, picking up the frog. It was cold in her hand, and she could feel it breath. It was real. “I’m going to name you…Arthur.”

The frog gave a ribbit, which Emma took to be a yes or something.

“How do you like that?” She asked, with a small smile. She sat him on the floor, so he wouldn’t fall from anywhere. Still with a smile, she picked up the wrapper and realised there was something still in there.

She shook it out it to the palm of her hand, with an intrigued look. A tiny card fell into her palm, and sparkled gently. Emma held it up to the dim lamp light, and read;

Harry Potter

The boy who lived

The chosen one

Harry Potter is the only known person to survive a killing curse. He did so twice. Once when he was only one, in which he defeated the Dark Lord, and again, when he once more defeated the Dark Lord. Harry Potter plays Seeker for the Chudley Cannons, who have won the world cup for the first time since 1892, with his friend Ronald Weasly.

Emma flipped the card over after reading quickly. It was that boy! His kept on flipping his messy black hair, hiding his lighting shape scar.

She made a note to ask Valmont about it in the morning, she thought, putting the card down, and shutting her eyes. And with her magic stick still in her hand, she drifted off to sleep, a sleep filled with dream of coldness.

At six o’clock that morning, something magical happened. A letter, small and square, slipped under the door of the Dark Hand’s new HQ. It floated up the massive stairs, did a cartwheel in the living room, and slipped under the door of Emma’s bedroom.

China town, after Harry was kicked out of the HQ

Harry lost no time looking for Uncle’s Rare Finds, glancing at the numbers as he power walked down the sidewalk. He assumed he was going the right way, but then the house numbers jumped up by ten.

So, irritably, he crossed the street quickly, for there was no time to lose.Harry, lost in his looking, didn’t notice when something hard ran right into him.

“Harry!” A familiar voice cried, dripping in panic. A Hermione Granger looked up at Harry, with her eyes wide and her wand out.

“What’s going on?” He demanded, looking around. There was no Ron in sight, nor were there assailants.

Just then, Ron dashed out from a narrow alleyway, his robes slightly ripped. His freckled face was flushed red, which marched his hair uncannily.

“Well, Stunning them didn’t work,” He called, give Harry a reproaching look, “Nice of you to join us, you know, we’re just fighting for are lives.”

Harry felt overwhelmed, again he asked, rather angrily; “What’s going on?!”

“Well,” Ron pulled his torn sleeve up,”You see we’ve made some friends while you were gone.”

Those ‘friends’ materialised in front of them, looking menacingly. Each one was a different size, and held a different weapon, but all three gleamed with such a negative power that was so strong it was visible. They all were red, in basically the same outfits, with strange blue markings on them.

The one wielding a massive hammer swung at them with a surprising swiftness. The trio let out a cry, as the hammer made an indent in the cement, the three laying around the hole, yet quickly gathered themselves.

“What are these things?” Harry asked, as they ran. He made a quick turn, the other two following him. A boomerang like weapon went soaring over his head, almost hitting Ron, who was the tallest.

“I don’t know!” Hermione cried, “Our spells just bounce off them!”

Hermione suddenly stopped, turning to face these strange demons, with a screwed up face, as though she was in deep concentration.

“Hermione?” Ron hissed, grabbing her arm, “What are you doing?”

“Expecto Patronum,” From the tip of Hermione’s wand sprouted a silver otter that galloped hissing and spitting at the three. It charged, ramming its head into the shortest one, who exploded in a puff of blue-ish smoke.

“You’re brilliant!” Ron pulled her back, just in time to avoid the massive dark energy hammer. With a flick of the wand, Ron summoned a silver Terrier, who yipped and snapped at the largest warrior.

“We’re Dissaperating!” Harry barked, as the Terrier was beat to a silver mist.

“Good call,” Ron replied, still clinging to Hermione. With a snap, the three disappeared into the night, leaving the last two creatures to peer about confusedly. When they seemed confident that their quarry was no where to be seen, they too, disappeared.

[Shuppet Master]

Hmmm, seems Emma has some magical talent.

Great story so far, especially the meeting with whats-his-name's goons and the trio. Poor Ron, having a wimpy Patronus.

[Houndoom_Lover]

Yep, poor Ron and his whimpy wand- I mean! *looks about, and coughs* Thanks a buntch! It only gets crazier from here!

I had to break this chapter into threes, because it was just sooo long. Around page 40 I desided this -_-...Enjoy! ^.^

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The Return of the Black Tiger

10:00 A.m., Uncle’s Rare Finds

Jade jumped out of bed, her black hair messy from that fitful night of sleep, but her face was full of eagerness, because today was the day. It was her birthday!

She quickly got dress, pulling off the pajama bottoms, and top, exchanging them for a pair for baggy jeans, a long sleeved white tee-shirt, and a baggy orange and yellow hoody vest, even though it was summer.

Jade quickly brushed her hair, teeth, and all the other things that needed to be done. She raced down the stairs, with a massive grin on her face.

“The birthday girl is here!” She shouted as she ran, “We can all start the…party?”

Her face fell as she saw that no one was paying attention to her, not Jackie, not Uncle, not ever Tohru. They were all packing, and moving suitcases that looked suspiciously like hers and Jackie’s.

“What’s going on here?” She whined, looking very upset. They couldn’t have forgotten, could they have?

Jackie noticed his niece, giving her a smile, “We’re packing so we can move back to Section 13, Jade, isn’t that exciting?”

The look on Jade’s face made Jackie put away his smile, “Oh, don’t worry! We didn’t forget about your birthday!”

“Good,” Jade placed happy back on her face, “because for breakfast, I want a huuuge stack of chocolate chip pancakes, with whip cream!”

Jackie gave an awkward laugh, “Umm, how about a big birthday lunch?”

Before Jade could reply, Tohru lumbered to them, holding a small square envelope.

“Jade, you have mail,” He said, sounding surprised. Jade looked at him curiously, taking the letter in her hand.

“Oo, isn’t it a birthday card?” She tired to look innocent, but gave Tohru a wink as she opened it up. The contents of the letter made her brow furrow.

“What is it, Jade?” Jackie asked, as Uncle handed a box full of their clothes.

“It’s…a letter from someplace called Hexministers,” Jade pulled out the letter, but that wasn’t it. There were other letters, which seemed to just fly out of the envelope and one that rolled all the way to the floor.

“Bwah!” Jackie cried, instinctively trying to catching the letters. He dropped the box on his toe, causing him to cry out and topple back towards on Uncle, who in turn dropped all the things he was carrying.

“Jaaaaaade!” Both the Chan’s cried, though it was hardly her fault. Tohru was helping Uncle up, as Jade rubbed the back for her head, grinning.

“My bad,” She said, then scampered out of the way as they picked the boxes up. She seemed to have been totally absorbed in reading, a miracle, to say the least.

Same time, new Dark Hands headquarters

A freshly washed Emma wandered into the tiny kitchen corners, looking around for someone, anyone. There was no one in the living room, and when she knocked on what she assumed to be Valmont’s room, no one answered.

But, she had struck gold when she stumbled into the kitchen. There was no Valmont, nor Finn, or Chow, but a Ratso, who looked as though he was looking for something.

“May I help you?” Emma greeted, pulling a chair for herself.

“Oh,” Ratso looked down at her, mercifully, she had her mask one; a mask that she had crafted all by herself, a time ago when she was in Alice and Wonderland at her old Grade School. (She was surprised when she found that it still fit her, it was a simple task of cutting it in two.)

“Umm, do you know where Valmont would keep the spare keys?” He asked, still rummaging through the drawers. Emma got up off the chair, though she was shaking her head.

“No, I’m afraid I don’t,” Then, she added sneeringly, “Though I doubt he’d just give away the spare to the likes of you, or anyone, for that matter.”

“I guess you’re right,” He said thoughtfully, starting to walk away. Emma managed to find a small bowl, and was taking a box of cereal down (she was just tall enough to get it), when she noticed Ratso was leaving.

“Hold it!” She barked, and to her surprise, he did indeed hold it. Emma held out the box and the bowl, with a super pouty look on her naturally pouty face.

“What?” Ratso asked, giving her a confused look.

“Make me cereal!” She demanded, placing the bowl and box on the table, sitting herself down.

Ratso didn’t see the problem in doing that, after all, no one ever asked him ever to make cereal. And as soon as she was happily munching cereal, he made a quick exit.

Emma ate her cereal in silence. It is only in total silence does one realise how loud one can eat cereal. She began to crunch slower, and slower, until the loud sounds of cereal eating were at a minimal. But, even in this silence, Valmont still managed to stare the willy out of her.

“Did you sleep well?” He inquired with a smirk, knowing he’d startle her. Emma, who had been slumping, sat up straight, and pulled her elbows off the table quickly, as though they weren’t on there ever.

“Mary Queen of Scots!” Emma exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock, “I could have gone into cardio arrest! I’m sure that would have looked jim crack and dandy for your pay check.”

“What ever do you mean?” Valmont asked airily, placing a small square, opened, letter by her bowl and exited the room as quickly as he came.

Emma’s visible face looked outraged, how dare he read her mail! She sniffed, pulling out the contents. Then, she had her second surprise of the day.

Several more papers shot out, like pale confetti, along with another one that rolled out over her bowl of soggy flakes and milk, and on to the floor. Emma read the first sheet of paper quickly;

Dear Miss Emma C.,

We will be expecting you in our numbers at Hexminister, the best school of super teaching of essential and magical arts in America, if not the world. This letter includes all the rules of the school, any information you need to know, the list of school supplies, and a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian. This must be signed and sent before Labor Day. Thank you.

You future overlord,

Principal Pliny Viola

At the bottom of the letter as what looked like a grey cheetah, and bold, medieval letters that said Hexministers.

Emma’s face gave a twitch…what…what did this letter mean? She closed her eyes. Of course…She was right, wasn’t she? He always tried to hide it, the world of magic. That man, that awful man!

She gathered the rest of the spewed out contents with a little more force that necessary. When they where all together, they formed a patchy, long list of school supplies.

Uniforms
First Year students will require:
1) At least three sets of Hexminister uniform for your gender and year.
2) One dress robe, any color.
3) One set of head gear of your gender and year.
4) A pair of protective gloves
5) One winter cloak for your gender and year
6) One pair of winter leggings for your gender and year
7) One black bag to carry your belongs in during school hours
8) One pair of boots, plain, black
9) One pair of dress shoes, black

Class Books
First years will need the following:
Protection for the Unprotected by Dillard Killmore
A History of Magic (volume one and two) by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
Natural History by Pliny the Elder
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Draft and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Science, Standards in Learning by Artor Downing
Mathematical Equation by Council of Math
A Beginner’s Guide to Trasfiguration by Emeric Switch
The Almanac of Alchemy by Edward Elric
So you like to draw lines? by Norbet Tibbs
Your Path in the Stars by Celina Hawkens

Other
All first years will need a wand. Whether they use this past their third year will be up to them.
A cauldron, pewter/iron, standard size two
One set of chemist equipment
One telescope, power at least seven, height no higher than five feet
One brass scales
One protractor
One calculator
One animal familiar

And again, this letter ended with a cheetah, and the Hexminister’s emblem. Emma looked about, but the ‘need information’ was no where to be found, but then she looked back at the letter.

The words had rearranged themselves into a completely new letter. Emma felt her heart skip a beat- Letters aren’t really suppose to do that, but then again, pictures aren’t suppose to move, sticks, or shall I say, wands, don’t exist…but, well, of course they exist.

She took a deep breath, as though she was going to dive in, and started to read again.

You will be picked up at The Art Institute, on Russian Hill at 800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94132. When you find your way through, our Dark Watchers will help you to the Dark Vans. These are the school transportation, if you are not there by the designated time, you will be left behind.

Emma’s brow furrowed. What was this about Dark Watchers and Dark Vans? What was the right time? And where was that permission slip? She rubbed her forehead, where was Valmont?

She placed the papers into a nice pile, placed her bowl in the sink (with out rinsing it, she was never very good in the kitchen), and went to look for Valmont with as much dignity as a curious, and rather angry, girl could.

“Valmont!” She raged, such a rage that would cause Darwin to roll in his grave.

Valmont was sitting upright, legs crossed, in the large red sofa, the Sunday Newspaper open to the stock market. He wasn’t really reading it, however; he seemed to be lost in contemplation.

“Address me as sir,” Was his reply, not taking his eyes from the newspaper.

“Well, sir,” Emma retorted, with a fake politeness, “It seems I cannot find the permission slip- surly you wouldn’t have seen it. A man of you…stature, daren’t rifle through peoples mail!”

“I’ve already sent it,” Valmont replied shortly, flipping a page masterfully.

“S-send it?” Emma looked rather affronted, “You- But, No,” Scowling, she regained her composure, “You’re not my Father!!”

“But I am,” He lowered his newspaper, though Emma felt he was safe behind the couch, she still hunched her shoulders, as though preparing for an attack, “you legal guardian.”

Emma lowered her eyes, shamefully. How right he was…and as though to add insult to injury, he said, “Your Father and I went to Hexminister when we where young.”

“What?” Emma snarled, her voice getting loud, “Well, why not?! Rebecca gets to go to a private school? Magic, no doubt! - But, what does Emma get!? A slap on the wrist, a public school, and lies about magic not existing!”

Valmont folded the newspaper, standing up with a surprising calm, “You were just born at an unfortunate time, that’s all. Though,” His voice now acquired a tone that was meant to annoy her, “I can see why Clive did so, look at what you’ve done with your powers so far.”

“…” The colour on Emma’s face left, maybe to go play volleyball or something.

“You’re sister was home schooled in her earlier years, I’m sure, “Valmont continued, “When she was your age.”

“Come again?”

“It means she was school at home-“

“Yes, yes!” Emma snided, rounding the sofa, and sitting down on it, looking at Valmont intently, “I know what home school is! Elaborated!...sir,” She added hastily.

“You see,” He started, sensing that this was going to be story time,” when Clive moved back to his homestead in England, he thought he’d be relatively safe there, ho he decided to rear a family.” He said this in a tone of voice that was clear that he found the notion of raising a family to be a silly one.

“And you stayed here?” Emma inquired, but Valmont ignored her, ploughing on.

“In any case, it was a mistake, because right after Rebecca became of schooling age, the Dark Lord rose again,” Here he paused, as though carefully selecting them from his mind, “So, it was within good fortune that he was, is, such a likeable fellow, and that Rebecca really did turn out to be a Squib.”

“A what?” The girl’s eyebrow rose up her forehead, questioningly.

“A Squib is someone born in a magical family that has little or no magical powers,” Valmont retorted, the sound of his voice indicated that he was losing his temper, “Now, please, do not interrupt me again.”

“Yes Sir,” Emma said meekly, because she wanted to know more.

“Clive, for some reason, decided that it was best to hide your magical talents, as well, and once he found out, of course, “Valmont, again paused, as though tempting Emma to interrupt him, but she remained silent, so he continued on, “Squibs don’t usually show up that often in a single family like that, so I don’t know what he was playing at…”

He stood up suddenly, reaching around the sofa for his cane. Emma leaned back, instinctively, though felt no need to stand up. He seemed to be done talking, so Emma asked a question that was itching at her, “Father was a Squib, then?”

Valmont gave her a curt nod.

“…Then, were you a Squib as well?” But as soon as she had said those words, she instantly regretted it.

Valmont whipped the top of his cane off, revealing the whole thing to be encasement for a stick, or as she knew now, a wand, its handle sparkled in the poorly lit room.

“A wand is the mark of a wizard!” He spat, waving it angrily in her direction. It did not give off any sparks, but Emma was thankful for that. He replaced his wand, so that it was a cane was more.

“Go get ready,” He ordered, regaining himself quickly.

“For?” Emma ventured, getting off the sofa as gracefully as one can.

“We’ll be picking up your school supplies now, it’s best to get them early, “He told the bitter and confused looking Emma, “but my Enforcer have taken the day-“

“You give them sick leaves? Ha!”

“So, it seems I’ll be taking you,” He finished. They looked at each other in the eye; there was a stiff silence, then-

“I can take myself,” Emma said, firmly, “if it’s too much trouble.”

Valmont laughed at this, “And find your body weeks later in a dumpster? Go get ready.”

Emma muttered a ‘yes sir’, and made a slow exit from the room, she turned to him, and asked, “What familiar did you have, Valmont, sir?”

He ignored this question, going towards the kitchen as though he had not heard Emma, though Emma was sure he had.

[Houndoom_Lover]

I think I missed some italized things....Hmmm.
----------------------------------------

The Return of the Black Tiger, part two

(The shopping)

Outside a SaveaLot

“Are you sure it’s here?” Jackie asked, looking at the SaveaLot in disbelief. He found it hard to believe that there was a whole street that sold magical goods. The SaveaLot was neighboured by ugly buildings and a bleeding sewer, all in all, not a nice neighbourhood.

Jade was bouncing beside him, hardly containing herself. Her brown-ish eyes sparkled with mischievous joy, like imp lamps in a storm of mischief. She clenched a piece of paper with nothing on it, or as far as Jackie could tell.

“It is here!” She insisted, grabbing Jackie by the hand, “C’mon! Can’t you see it?”

“Not…really…,” But, nevertheless, he allowed Jade to pull him along into the SaveaLot, with a look of unconvinced-ness. Then, Jackie Chan had his mind blown.

As they entered the store, or what Jackie was sure was a store, it had transformed into a walkway of magic, and that’s no metaphor. The shops sprouted from the sides, filling the shop with sounds, smells, and sights. To their left was a shop selling robes and dresses, and to their right was a shop selling produce. There were more shops, but all the shops were made the same, blinding white with golden roofs.

Jackie looked down at Jade, his mouth open. She looked up and grinned.

“Best-Birthday-Ever,” And with that, she dashed amongst the people, and such people they were!

There was what looked like a massive fish women, who towered over head, with a hat made of live parrots, but that wasn’t all. There were several African Americans in white robes, very hairy huge men, and several thin people, who were creeping in the shadows and throngs of so many others that it would take a life time to see them all. Some looked normal, some did not.

There were carts on the golden pathway, were animals, from the quick tiny mice to very graceful giraffes, carrying baskets and lists in their mouths, and then there were winged creatures of every size and shape doing the same. This place was alive! But Jackie had to ignore all of this the best he could, as he chased after his niece.

“Jade! Wait for me!” He yelled, as he ran after her, pushing aside people as politely as he could, which he had to do often, now that he thought about it.

He found Jade transfixed in front of one shop, panting, Jackie joined her in looking.

The shop had a massive window front, which looked as though it had been freshly cleaned. The overhang was green and blue, which caused it to stand out on this block, as all the shops had pure blue overhang. The window was showing examples of magic, by showing an exploding cat and a stick waving over it every time it exploded. The inside of the shop was dark, despite how brightly everything else was lit around them, and that it was day time. It didn’t look like anyone was home, even though it has a sign that said ‘open’.

“Let’s get the wands first,” Jade said eagerly, as a flying monkey landed close by them, “then, we’ll get me a pet!” She made a noise of pure joy and entered the shop without waiting for Jackie to reply. It was like a dream come true!

“But Jade,” He said, as he followed her into the shop, “We don’t have that much money, we’ll have to get things cheaply if we want to-“

“AAaah, do we have a young witch?” Came a kind voice from above them. Jackie and Jade jumped, as something or someone flung itself down from the ceiling. The figure stepped into the light, the only light in the building, it seemed.

The being was a man, tall and thin, he looked slightly sick, and was very pale. But his bloodshot eyes looked at them with interest, as he said, “Welcome to Winshild’s Wands and Magical artifacts.”

“Winshild?” Jade asked tactless. She was grinning wildly, unable to contain her excitement, she felt like she was going to explode! Everything was amazing, it was like, you turned your head and there was something spouting five of what you turned. “Like, windshield?”

“Jade!” Jackie scowled, “Please, forgive my niece, Mister.” He gave the dark robed man a tiny head bow, which he dismissed with a flick of a hand.

“Nonsense, I get that a lot,” He laughed to himself, walking swiftly over to his many high shelves, “but, aren’t you here a little early? Avoiding the crunch?”

Jackie didn’t know what the crunch was, but he didn’t ask, “Nope, it’s her birthday.” He pointed to Jade, grinning.

Jade, the birthday girl was smiling widely at the thin man, who was now climbing is very clean shelves, picking up long narrow boxes, and every once in a while giving them a good shake.

Jackie, seeing that she wasn’t going to wander away, secured himself a tiny wooden chair. As he sat down, he took a good look at the place. The wood had an over scrubbed look, and everything smelled like pinesall. There was one desk, where the cashregeister sat, and this was also very clear. The only merchandise Jackie saw was the amazing amount of small boxes.

“So,” The man asked, a pale hand picking up another box, “What’s your wand hand, little girl?”

“She’s-“Jackie started, but was interrupted by Jade, who was more than eager to answer questions.

“I’m right handed,” She replied, “And my name is Jade! What do you know about Hexministers, and where are the other artifacts?”

The sickly man laughed, very loudly, amused at Jade’s enthusiasm. He threw down a box to Jade, who caught it with ease. The shopkeeper clung to the shelves like a monkey, looking at Jade expectantly with his dark bloodshot eyes.

She opened the box, looking down the stick, or rather the wand. It was white wooded, with a pale blue handle. Jade picked it up, and gave it a whirl.

“Nope, nope!” The man shook his head, throwing down a box from one shelf below, “Well, let’s stick with unicorn hair…beech wood is rather tricky.”

This wand was darker in colour, with a green-ish handle. Jade looked rather agitated at it, as she put the other one away. What was he expecting her to do? Blow stuff up, well, she hated to disappoint him.

And this went on, wand after wand, some yielding sparks or blowing something up (to Jade’s delight), but each time the creepy man shook his head, and threw down another wand, until Jade had tried out all the wands on the shelves, and the desk groaned with the weight of them all.

“A tricky one,” He said for the ten thousandth time. The shopkeeper climbed down quickly, landing with a thud of the floor that caused Jackie to jerk awake.

He had managed to fall asleep. Jackie was now wiping some drool off his face, as he watched Jackie being taken into a tiny closet by the man…WOAH!

Jackie jumped up, rushing towards the two with the sleep of a mildly panicked mammal. The man gripped Jackie’s arm, lifted an extra pale finger to his lips, and pulled him inside with Jade.

“These are my special wands,” He announced, with pride, as he flicked the closet light one. There were only three wands in this closet, all lined with dust, unlike everything else. The air of neglect and mould lingered here, as the man breathed hard on them.

The dust flew everywhere, causing both Jackie and Jade to cough.

“Take your pick, Little Lady,” The man said, standing to the side. “Each one has a core, a powerful (he lowered his voice quickly) totally illegal core that I haven’t been able to get rid of-“

Jackie gasped; he took Jade aside, or as far aside as one could be in a closet, “You can’t buy them, Jade! Not if they’re,” He lowered his voice even more, “illegal.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Mr. Winshild said genially, with a massive grin on his face, clearly he had heard them, “think of it as a little birthday present…”

Jade dived, when she heard that phrase, on the wand box on top. Despite Jackie’s groans, she opened the wand box and gazed at the wand. The wand’s wood was dark of can be, with a handle that was white.

She gave the strange shopkeeper a suspicious look; this wand didn’t appear to be any different than the other wands to had whished around, but she picked it up anyway.

It was like being hit by lightening; only it was just in her arm. Warmth travelled up her arm, then back down again, so that her wand shot out gold and red sparks, as though it too could feel the warmth.

Jade face was lit up with glee, as she flicked and twisted her wand about. With each twist and flick, it replied with different puffs of smoke. The man clapped his pale hands together loudly, him too looking gleeful; the only one who didn’t share in this glee was Jackie.

The Chinese man folded his arms, looking upset by this turn of events, “You have been very kind, but-“He grabbed Jade, yanking her out of the closet as he threw the door open, “Jade can’t except…um, such a generous gift..”

“It isn’t a question of whether she wants it or not,” The man said, briskly, following them out, “it’s the one of it wants her. It picked her, and now…“ He waved them off, pushed them out of his shop. Jackie turned around to complain just as the door was slammed on in his face.

“How rude,” Jackie muttered, as Jade was checking off one wand on her list, with a pen she had produced from her pocket. He gripped Jade’s hand quickly, as a person with their hood pulled far down his face brushed by, and entered into the shop.

Jade shivered next to Jackie, looking around confusedly, before Jackie could ask what was wrong, Jade pointed across the street. She dashed off, disappearing once more in the throngs of people.

Winshild’s Wands and Magical Artifacts

The hooded figure entered the well-kept shop. The shopkeeper was busy putting the tried, but failed wands back on the sheaves, as he muttered to himself in a sing song voice.

“One Nunda heartstring down, one manticore tail stringer and Thunderbird feather to go-oo!” Mr. Winshild noticed the figure as he turned around for more wands. The figure was unnaturally thin, even with the hooded robe on. And though its face was hidden, it was even a feeling on completely evil. The figure was holding a small steel cage, with a fiery phoenix in it.

The shopkeeper’s good natured face slipped on, and one of fear replaced it.

“May I help you?” He asked the figure, in a voice full of dread. His bloodshot eyes were wide, as he walked from around the desk.

“Yes,” The figure replied shortly, it was a man’s voice, one use to giving orders. “Do you have the Cloak, or shall I show you my…disappointment?”

Nonplussed, the pale man pointed a long finger at the other man’s cage.

“You can’t bring the bird,” He said, regaining his composure, “I’m afraid, it might cause some of the stuff to go off.”

Grumbling, the hooded man placed the caged bird on the partially wand covered desk. The shopkeeper strode past his new customer, kneeling down besides odd coloured floor board. He took out his own wand, flicking it; he changed the ‘open’ sign, to one of ‘closed’.

He flipped the odd coloured wood, really a trap door, opened. Mr. Winshild and the hooded man descended down the stairs, while the shopkeeper stammered along things like; “You were good to keep faith in me.”

Outside, one very tired Harry Potter leaned his head against the cold window of some shop. Ron and Hermione, tired as well, and sore on top of it, caught up to Harry, panting.

“Fred was right,” Ron said, bitterly, “Clifton Avenue is a zoo.”

Just then, two zebras speaking in deep Brooklyn accents walked by, commenting on today’s weather. Seeing this, Hermione’s eyes went wide. This place really was a zoo. Before she could comment on this, however, Harry gasped.

“Fawkes,” He said softly, wiping his breath off the window to get a better look.

“Bless you?” Ron said jokingly, taking a peek inside with him. Ron raised a red eyebrow, spotting the said caged bird among the wands, “Yep, that’s a phoenix, mate.”

“No, it- I mean, it is, but it’s Fawaks!”

“Harry,” Hermione said lightly, her voice sounded tired, “it’s highly unlikely that that phoenix is Fawkes. I mean, do you think he would have flown all the way over-Harry, what are you doing?!”

She sound that, in a rather affronted tone, because Harry threw open the door, and entered.

“Hermione,” The raven haired almost adult said, his voice hushed as the two of them followed him in, wearily. “I think this is the wand shop!”

“Excellent,” Ron lowered his voice as well, looking cheered up, “We can stun two birds with one wand! This way, we’ll get this stuff done and be in time for dinner, you know, there was a block back there selling deep fried twinkies…”

Harry, giving a massive grin, went to pulled open the bird cage’s door, though it was hardly the best of timings. The trap door popped open, as a hooded figured started to walk out from the downstairs, with a mass of silver in his arms.

“What are you doing?!” He cried, but it was too late. The bright red and golden bird gave a mournful call, and vanished in a thousand flames. The hooded figured roared, as another man was making his way up the steps quickly.

Before the three could act, the hooded man lifted up this twisted short staff, and said three words that vibrated with power; “Gan-Ren-Chui.”

From blue mist arose the creatures that attacked them the night before. They wasted no time in attacking them. Harry, who grabbed Ron, and Ron who grabbed Hermione, dived behind the desk covered in wands.

The red creature with the hammer slammed down, so wands flew everywhere.

“My shop!” The shopkeeper wailed, looking very much like Scream from the painting.

Rouge wands that flew in every which direction were spraying magic here and there, creating a scene of chaos in the small shop.

The man in the hooded robe began to chant something inaudible, his free hand pointing in the direction of the trio, when a wand landed on his robe. He let out a cry, and started to stamp it out.

Harry, who took a chance peek over the ruined desk, lifted his wand. He sent a stunning spell towards the evil wizard, who caught it squarely in the chest; it caused him to fly back, and into the shopkeeper. The two were sent tumbling down the stairs.

The trapdoor closed above them, as a blue smoke flitted upwards through the cracks.

“Shall we run for our lives now?” Ron asked coyly, as the creatures and the walls had them surrounded.

“Sounds like a plan,” Harry replied, putting his wand away. “Wanna do the honours, Hermione?”

“With pleasure,” She smirked, casting her Protronous. The bounding silver otter flung itself at the closest red creature, the one with numb-chucks, dissolving him into blue smoke.

The three ran out, forgetting about the wand for now. They’d solve this mystery, but first, the Cannon’s had Apples to beat.

Claustrophobia&Books

Claustrophobia indeed! Jade entered the shop, feeling as though she had gained a ton. The reason for this? All the bookshelves, and there was many, as it was a book store, where unnaturally tall, and close together, giving the shop a feel of some tiny maze.

Her brown eyes took in the glory of the shop, because not only were there books, there were also shrunken heads, spiders that would reach down and pick up a book, only to exchange it for another, and so many people!

She took a glance at her list, and shrugged it off. She’d get to that, but first thing was first; easing her curiosity. Jade started down the empties row, where there was only one boy, who was looking very upset.

“Need help?” Jade asked, kindly and curious, as she walked up to him. He flinched back at first, but relaxed with a sigh. The boy was a little taller than her, but barely, with orange hair, an equally orange robe and eyebrows (which were long, and furrowed with worry).

“N-no, I don’t-“He stammered, backing away from Jade as though she had some sort of disease. She looked up, there was a book slightly out of its place a shelve or two up.

“I can get that for you,” She stepped up on the bottom of the bottom shelve, using it as a step up. Jade stretched as far as her arms would go; finally, she pulled the book down.

“Here you go,” She said with a smile, handing him the book. He took it, though said nothing. His eyes were wide and trained over her head. Jade took a quick look over her shoulder and gasped.

A man with fly away straw coloured hair, a rather pink face, and a very menacing smile towered over Jade. His body looked as though it was made from straw as well, and would possible snap in two if a strong gust of wind came by. His eyebrows practically touched each other, as he scowled down at Jade.

“Come along, Jimmy,” The man said, in a rather monotone voice. Jimmy gave a small ‘Okay’ and scuffled over to him. The man, most likely his dad, pushed him along rather roughly.

“Bye,” Jimmy said weakly to Jade, looking even more forlorn than before. Jade definitely heard the word ‘muggle’ being used, and she was sure that it was being used for her. Well, fine! She stared angrily after them; all she had done was help! What a jerk!

Jade, entering a state called sulk, jumped as Jackie touched her shoulders.

“C’mon Jade,” Jackie told her, whispering, “let’s hurry up, or we’ll be late for your own Birthday.”

“Why are you whispering?” Jade asked, suspiciously, but Jackie just took Jade’s hand and pulled her up the row. They were soon standing in a long, booooooooring, line. And after much, groaning, fake snoring, and Jadeing, Jade and Jackie were next at the cashregister.

“Excuse me?” Jackie asked politely to the Chaser, a young boy who looked tired, “We need one first year package.”

“At what school?” He asked in a bored tone, as though he had asked this same question several times that day.

“Hexministers!” Jade cried, loudly, eager to speak. She wanted these books, think of all the cool magic she could do once she had the books. And this time, she though happily, no one can yell at me for doing magic, not even Uncle!

The boy yelled to someone who was working in the back, and he was handed a bundle of very heavy looking books, which he handed to Jackie.

Groaning, he asked how much it all was.

“Four Gallons, five Sickles, and two Kunts,” The teen said, tired like, completely ignoring Jackie’s confused look.

“C-can I write you a check?” He asked, hopeful. The teen nodded, and Jackie gave a thankful sigh. He placed the books on the counter, wrote out the check, grabbed the books, and quickly left.

“But, Jackie, what are Gallons-“Jade asked, much too loud, as he pulled her out of the shop, looking sheepish.

The next shop, Jackie was introduced to magical ATM machine, which spat out large round golden coins (twelve in all), medium silver coin that were also round (twenty seven of these), and small bronze ones, all of which came in a black leather bag, that Jackie tied awkwardly on his belt.

“Well, Jade,” Jackie started, as the exited the science shop with chemicals and a telescope. Jade’s things were getting considerably heavy, “what do you have left on your list?”

“Just a fuzzy wuzzy to call my own,” She replied happily, then with an undertone of displeasure, she added, “And my uniform, ick.”

Jackie groaned, “Couldn’t we come back later for them?” His back was making some nasty sounds back there; he was inclined to blame the cauldron and the school books on this one.

“Don’t worry, J-Man, I’ll carry them,” Jade assured him, taking a bag from his arms. Naturally, it was the lightest bag, but hey, it was her birthday! Giving him an award giving grin, she wandered off into the streets, much to Jackie’s dismay, to find a pet shop. And she found one.

Pliny’s Fine Fowlary

There was more than just fowl in this place, though there were many squawking birds. There were rats the skipped with their tails, dogs with forked tails, mini-lions, and several kinds of owls that Jade didn’t know the names of. There were creatures that Jade couldn’t believe were being sold, even creatures so astounding, that Jade had no names for them in her mind. She wanted to pick up every one of them, and take them home.

The shop was lined with caged, lit with a yellow light, painted yellow everywhere, and smelled strongly of, what else, animals. There was a single door, painted yellow, on the far side of the shop. The worker of the shop seemed to be asleep as it desk, he too was unusually yellow.

“Hmm, should we wake him up?” Jade asked, though she was already sticking her fingers in cages. A large black bunny was sniffing her hand, then transformed into a top hat. “Wow, Jackie, look at this-!”

“Jackie Chan?” Asked a drawling voice, in disbelief, “I can’t even go on an outing with out you mucking about in it?”

The owner of the voice was of course, Valmont, who had stepped out the adjoining room, closing the yellow door behind him, as a satisfied Emma stepped out with him.

“What are you doing here?” Jackie cried, his eyes wide. This was the last place he was expecting to see Valmont, especially after what happened. His money was on that he fled the country…it seems he had lost that bet.

Emma stood beside the smirking British man, with a two headed snake (though its body looked like it was made for three) around her shoulders. She was wearing something remarkably like a green wrapping paper dress, which made Jade giggle at the sight of it.

“My dear friend,” Emma turned her attention to Jade, (after hissing lightly to the twin headed snake) which made the smaller Chinese girl jump back, hitting the rabbit cage.

Her friend had mastered the art applying make-up, but no amount of make-up can hide missing chunks of skin, and damaged eyes. Shendu had left his mark on her face in a brutal way, there was a large part of her face missing that covered had previously covered the left jaw area, so now the whole world could see her sharp white teeth in all their glory, but it did make them quiet dry. Then there was her left eye, blood filled and painful looking.

“My dear friend,” Emma repeated, less endearing than before, “Quick, before I change my mind,” She added venomously, striding over to Jade.

Meanwhile, Valmont and Jackie were having some sort of a stare down.

“So,” Jackie said, breaking their silence, though it was still tense, “do anything interesting lately, Valmont?”

“If I was,” Valmont replied suavely, “I wouldn’t be informing you about it.”

The sleeping man gave a loud snore, which broke the tension slightly. Valmont, his eyes still on Jackie, laid down two Gallons, and several Knuts on the yellow desk. Much to Jackie surprise, the sleeping man quickly took the money, and muttered, “Have a lovely day, Mr. Malfoy.”

“You too, Doctor Pliny, it was such a pleasure seeing you again,” Valmont said airily, though he drop this tone when he spoke to Emma, “Hurry up now, time is money.”

Jade gave a tiny cough, reminding Emma she was still there. The taller girl looked down, as though Jade was some sort of annoying puppy, wanting to be fed.

“Ah, yes,” Emma said, looking as though the next words would bring her unnameable pain, “I owe you a birthday present, I do believe.” She placed her arms behind her, her clothes making a squeaking noise as she did so.

Jade raised an eyebrow, giving Emma a look of disbelief. She folded her arms, not buying it, “Are you saying you’ll buy me a pet?”

“Did I stammer?” Inquired her opposite number, who then with out waiting for Jade to reply, took her arm and pulled her along to the back room.

“Nice kid you have there,” Jackie said dryly, “Valmont.”

Whatever Valmont replied with, Jade didn’t hear. Emma had led her into a sound proof room, darker than the one outside it, and very cramp, due to the amazing amount of cages. And it was a good thing that it was sound proof, because there was a great deal of noises being made, mainly barking by a patch of puppies that Jade felt drawn.

“Anything you want!” Emma announced pompously, leaning back upon the cages as though she owned the place, “Skys the limit-“

“How about this one?” Jade asked, interrupting her on purpose. She was holding a filthy, ratty, grey puppy. His eyes were large, his tongue was dripping with drool, and his tail was wagging. Around his tiny neck was a sign that read, ‘Free to a good home’.

“You’re kidding me,” Emma gave Jade a withering look, rolling her eyes, “That thing is positively scruffy.” She turned to the door, throwing it open and leaving, feeling thoroughly insulted. “See you at school then, if you’re here for that, that is.” Emma slammed the door shut behind her.

Jade, confused, patted the dog on the head, “Its okay…Scruffy, “She smiled, and the dog barked.

By the time Jade had left the dark room, Emma and Valmont had left. There were a few cages on the floor, as was Jackie. Doctor Pliny was too busy picking up his precious animals, calming them down. A long snake like creature, with a cat head, had gotten out of the cage, and was now clinging to the yellow hair, eyed, skin, man’s arm.

“Dreadful, dreadful,” He muttered, pushing the creature back into the cage, completely ignoring Jackie, “Oh! I see you’ve picked a pup!” Pliny smiled sweetly at Jade, who looked taken back. “What are you going to name him?”

Jade lifted up her puppy in a Simba like way, “Scruffy, Emma gave me his name.”

Jackie wiped his lip light, it was bleeding. He got himself up, picking up Jade’s stuff. With a casual smile, forced however, he said to Jade; “How about that uniform?”

Robes R’ Us

Scruffy barked merrily, wiggling in Jade’s arms as they looked for a store that sold the necessary uniforms, finally, they found a massive one called Robes R’ Us.

Jade groaned, this was her least favourite part of private schools, the stinky uniforms. Deciding she’d be bored, she followed Jackie who put on false excitement when she saw three very shift people.

They were in a line, all hunched as though they were trying to steal something, each in a jackets that looked as though they were made just for that. Jade narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her super hero spy intuition kicking in. She watched them watch into the shop.

“You’re right Jackie,” Jade said, trying to sound as grown up as humanly possible, “I sure make sure I get the right sizes and everything. “

“Very good, Jade!” He encouraged, going to open the door when Jade jumped in front of him, looking distressed.

“You can’t come in here with me!” She insisted, looking sternly at Jackie.

“Oh Jade, you’re being silly,” He went to reach for the door again, but Jade grabbed his arm, practically hanging from it like a monkey. Her face was still sternly, which caused Jackie to sigh and put her down.

“Jackie,” She whined, “How will it look if you walk in with me?” When Jackie didn’t have an answer to this, because it made no sense to him what-so-ever, he gave a grudging sigh, Jade the money bag, and said he’d wait outside for her. As soon as Jade entered the store, she smirked.

Now, to see what those three were up too…

“Dude,” One of the shifty boy, perhaps twelve and perhaps Asian, his hair was dyed blue, and done up in long spikes said, “Check it out.”

He hit the arm of one of his friends, the one with red hair, most likely the same age as the Asian boy, and looked equally shifty, to get his attention. He raised an eyebrow, and turned to what his friend was pointing at.

There was a girl, who looked older than the boy, looking at the girl’s first years uniforms. Unlike the boys, which were wee black suits, with silver buttons, and girly white frills, they were frilly black dress, like the kind you’d place on a porcelain doll.

She herself was wearing something equally atrocious, something much like a wrapped gift one would find under the Christmas tree.

“Man,” He whispered appreciatory, loudly enough for her to hear, as he watched the girl pick up one frilly dress, looking disdainfully at it, “what I wouldn’t give to unwrap her”

The two boys snickered, and soon they became a threesome of snickers, as a rather large boy with thatched hair on his head joined them, not really knowing what they were laughing at, but honestly, when does that matter?

The girl lifted a short black dress off the rack, and turned to them with a bored expression on her face; “Why, is your virginity itchy?”

The Asian boy flushed, clenching his fists, but the girl was slightly disfigured, so he still had ammo. With a nasty little smirk, he ploughed on, ignoring his red headed friend’s snickers.

“What-did ya do,” He started, warming up, “get hit by a bus?”

His red headed friend let out a little howl of laughter, as though it was just too much for him.

“No way!” She retorted, exasperatingly, forging surprise, “I was just going to say that to you.” And with that, she walked away, her hips in full swing.

“Charley, that was like,” The red head snickered, leaning against the circular rack next to them with white dress shirts on them, “the saddest thing I ever saw.” He fell back a bit, hitting something person like, who gave a little ‘oh’.

“Charley got served by a girl!” The larger boy clamoured, pulling his stringy orange sweater of over his head, so he could try on one of the school suits.

“Shut up you guys,” Charley said, sounding put out when the red headed boy pulled out a girl. And this girl was Jade, who had been eavesdropping on them, while watching them like a hawk in the dressing rack.

“What do we have here?” The red head asked, tauntingly as Jade struggled against his hold. This made the group renew with snickers, at the newest attraction, the woes long forgotten thanks to T.V and Splenda.

Jade gave him a swift kick in the leg, causing him to exclaim in pain, and let go of her. He said something a child his age shouldn’t know, looking bewildered when Charley pushed him.

“Who’s getting served by a girl now, Frank?” He teased, looking far happier.

Jade stuck her thumbs to her head, stuck her tongue out, and wiggled her fingers. All this was accompanied by a very rude noise. This noise must have snapped Frank, because the little red head threw a punch to Jade that would never land. Why? Because she grabbed his fist and twisted it behind his back.

When Frank gave a yowl of pain, help soon arrived in the forms of Finn, Chow, and Ratso, much too Jade’s horror. Oh, but the horror show doesn’t stop there folks!

“Jade,” Jackie cried, he had wandered into the shop after realised that Jade had pulled this once before when she was a strange man walk into a Starbucks. In her defence, he did end up killing everyone in there, and almost smiting Jade had Jackie not come to her rescue, “are you fighting?!”

“But Jackie-“ Jade started at a whine, when Finn interjected; “Someone needs some help with parenting skill.”

“Whoa, you’re…” Jackie looked at them, his jaw dropped, his eyes wide, “parents?!”

“No, but why do you say it like that?” Finn asked, giving Chan an upset look, “Nope, Frank’s my nephew.” He ruffled the red head’s hair, after Jade let him go. Chow and Ratso said similar things; nephew, the sister’s kid. But still…who would let those three be in charge of kids?

Just then, in this stand-off of moments, Emma (who was the girl from few moments earlier) tromped out of the changing room, wearing something that made Jade grown. She looked up, and above here, where Emma’s outfit came from, was a sign that read ‘Hexminsters’.

Emma looked like one of those frilly Goth girls, with a black lace dress far too short, stockings far too pink, and pig tails far too stupid looking for Jade to wear with out wanting to vomit. Though this picture of cuteness didn’t prevent her from being her discourteous self; “It’s a bloody reunion!”

A Valmont, who had came just in time to hear this rudest of out bursts, gave Emma a firm strike on the top of her head. She let a small sound of pain, instantly rubbing it after he hit.

“If I ever hear you talk about my Enforcers like that again,” He threatened, his tone normal and light even, “I’ll have you locked up, with only Shakespeare to read.”

There was a slight look of indigent-ification, mixed with horror on Emma’s face. She mumbled a yes sir before strutting off towards the cash-register.

“Hey, Uncle Chow,” Charley asked, having moved closer to him this whole time, “Isn’t that, like one of your main sales merchants?”

“A sales merchant?” Valmont gave a strange smile, which told his three workers one thing; a pay-cut, and not the good kind.

“Paper or plastic?” The woman at the cash-register asked, her voice reaching back to the back of the shop.

“Why?” Came the voice of Emma, “I’m wearing them out.”

“I meant how you’re going to pay.”

“Ooooo, grocer humour, how droll.”

Before the angry reply came, Valmont gave them a rather stiff nod, taking that as a queue to leave the shop for bigger and better things, leaving the Enforcers and their nephews with the Chans, who looked at each other with dislike.

“You have everything you need, kids?” Finn addressed the nephews, who nodded, returning all of Jade’s faces with ones of equal childishness.

“Who are these losers, huh Uncle Finn?” Frank asked, looking up demandingly.

“Those are the Chan’s we told you about-“

“The bum who works with the old man in a junk shop that’s paid to interrupt your business?” Charley asked in a hush. Jackie looked outrage, a bum?!

“And this is his snot noise brat that went to juvi like nine times?” Frank ventured, now to Jade’s out rage. She’s never been in a juvi-hall all her life, detention, maybe, but…

“Yeah, well,” Finn said, sensing this conversation not going in the right direction, “we better get going.” He started off, with Chow following.

“Later Chan,” Spat Chow, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his leather coat, with Ratso following.

“Yeah,” Ratso agreed thickly, and the wee Enforcer’s Junior, as Jade saw them, walked after him, their clothes in arms. The three took their left hands, stuck it to their foreheads, and formed an L with them.

“Losers!” They sang in unison as they stomped off, loudly and obnoxiously like young boys are prone to do.

Jade made a charge for them, he fists flinging, but Jackie held her back by the hood of her sweater-vest.

“Come oooooon,” She whined, pulling as much as she could. Just a little bit more. She’d aim for the head, it be quick- Almost there…!

“Jade, the battle not fought-“He started, but Jade interrupted.

“I know, I know,” Jade said loudly, which made Jackie smile and let go of her. She added in undertone, entering sulk mode; “You couldn’t even let me kick butt on my birthday.”

[Shuppet Master]

Wow, Jade and Emma aer both witches? Sounds interesting. I think Harry is going to meet Jade soon. Interesting that Valmont hid his wizard status - maybe that is why Shen-Du contacted him, because of his wizard status. ^_^

[Houndoom_Lover]

Yep, magic is flyin' everywhere these days! I blaim radiation! Hmm, let's see if you're right. And that whole Valmont thing, that'll be important later ^_~.

On another note- longest chapter ever -_-

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The Return of the Black Tiger, part III

There was much cake and birthday presents to be opened and had at Jade’s festivities, and afterwards, for a while, the summer eased on like a light wind, never to harsh to remind one of changes, but never in the doldrums to make one desire change.

Unfortunately, the winds of change were a blowing, and there was nothing Jade Chan could do about it. It wasn’t that she didn’t want school to start, it was just…she didn’t know what to expect. At her last school, she hadn’t come off as a big hit, but now she’d have to make whole new friends, and that sounded like a lot of work to her. The date was Labor Day, night to be more precise, the last night of summer to the mind of a child; however, no one had contacted Jade about when school started. She started to think the whole thing was a hoax…

But, when she asked Jackie, he told her it happened, giving her a curious look every time. Reassured, she travelled up the stairs with a refreshed determination. She was going to go to a private school, not to learn to cram, or cut paper, or make clothes, but magic. Really magic that she was allowed to do, suppose to do!

Jade closed her eyes, as she moved up the stairs, savouring the enjoyment of her delicious reality; she heard something that sounded like a fog horn.

Jade jumped, taking the stairs now by twos. She flung the door open to her room at Section 13. It was small, with grey metal walls, though it contained all her things she needed, like a small bed, a bookshelf, and a tornado’s worth of stuff on the floor.

Her school letter, which she has placed on her nightstand, had jumped up off it, and was now bellowing something awful.

“Jade!” Jackie called from downstairs, “What are you doing up there?”

She heard his footsteps climb up the metal stairs, creating guilt based panic in her tiny self. Jade leapt up on her bed, jumping up and down as she tried to grab the letter, but it flew away every time she was close.

Jackie entered Jade’s room, saying something about how she shouldn’t have her music up so loud, when Jade gave a final attempted to catch the letter by jumping off her bed, on to her nightstand and into the air, her arms flailing as the letter flew out of the way, and into Jackie’s face.

“Bwah!” He cried, pulling the letter off his face. It had stopped screaming now, as though it was waiting for Jackie to come in. Jade hit the floor with a dull thud, giving a small sigh, and a withering look.

“Jade, what have I told you about using magic with out permission?” He held the letter down, reading it as he scolded, “Even if you’re going to that magic school…Oh…Are your things packed?”

Jade gave Jackie a massive smile, and pointed to a pile of assorted kick-knacks on the floor; “You bet, chief!”

He sighed while his niece laughed, still grinning widely.

San Francisco Art Institute, night

“Are you sure this is the place, Jackie?” Jade said sceptically, no, it was more of a teasing manner, as he seemed reluctant to let his niece enter a locked building at night. Scruffy, who was at her feet, gave a worried growl.

“Its what it says,” Inhaling, as though to make a rush up the stairs, Jackie did just that, knocking on the rich doors of the Art Institute. When no one answered, he gave a sigh of relief when something freaky happened.

The door opener thing moved up to eye level with Jackie, slowly, it transformed into a head of what looked like a leopard.

“Name your purpose,” It boomed, cause Jackie and Jade to jump. It looked at them with unblinking brass eyes, waiting for an answer. Her faithful pup barked at the knocker insanely, until Jade picked him up and hushed him.

“Like, in life?” Jade joked. Apparently, the handle didn’t think this was too funny, as it gave a blood chilling roar that shut Jade up very quickly. There was a pop, and all the lights around them went out, bathing them in darkness.

“Enter,” It whispered, throwing the doors open. The whole place seemed pitch, and even big brave Jade seemed a little hesitant about going inward. She gave Jackie a shaky laugh, as he handed Jade her massive school bag.

“See you on the weekend,” Jade waved, walking through the doorways. Jackie heard her say ‘Don’t do anything kick-butt with out me’, but it sounded echoic as the doors closed behind her. Jackie watched the handle turn back to normal, giving a troubled sighed. Why couldn’t things be normal?

Jade looked around in awe, wishing aloud that she wanted a flashlight. Scruffy’s tail stopped wagging, as it had been earlier. He whined, looking up at her. She looked down, it was like he was trying to tell her something.

“Duh!” She slapped her forehead, pulling out her long magical stick from her pocket. With a whirl and a loudly said spell word, her wand turned into a magical (stick like) flashlight, illuminating her surroundings.

Jade put Scruffy down, so she could look around more easily.

By the tip of her wand, she walked through the empty dark halls, with painting and sculptures as her companions.

“Come on, Jade,” She chide herself, keeping the wand close to her face, “keep yourself together, you’ve been in creepier situations.” Or so she though, her wand suddenly pulled on her arm, lifting her off the floor as it propelled her to the nearest elevator, art blurring by as she went.

She hit the back of the elevator (it opened as she neared it). It was unfortunately dark, and Jade was thankful for his wand. Scruffy followed, barking madly.

“Anymore days like this, and I’m going to sign up for yoga classes,” She rubbed her shoulders, pulling her backpack off.

“Arf,” Agreed Scruffy, as the door closed with a ping. An annoyingly slow song was playing overhead as she watched the elevator numbers light up as she descended. Soon, she hit the basement…

The doors opened to revel a marvellous wonderland! Well, that is if you liked death and rolled around in disease. Thick silvery cobwebs crept down around the corners of the room, spreading out like silver dusty wings, covering the black painted basement. There were torches lit along those walls, casting eerie shadows everywhere. Skulls hung from thin strings from the ceiling, leering down at the room’s four occupants.

Besides Jade, the room held two girls and one boy. One girl was sitting on the floor, her legs crossed; she had massive breasts that seemed cartoonishly large for her thin body, brown straight hair, and massive around glasses that made her brown eyes look super sized; a large bat was flying around her, screeching happily.

The other girl looked distinctively Asian, and seemed to be the boss of the group, if the had a boss, with sleek black hair, royal looking eyes, full lips, and a powerful looking body; she was standing up, brushing out her hair with a golden brush; a small creature that looked suspiciously like a certain pokemon, known for its speed, claws, and darkness.

And the boy, who gave Jade a wave, he had his blond hair gelled in many directions, mellow green eyes, and just a mellow look about him. He too had a dog, though it was black, with a forked tail. All three were wearing their school uniforms.

Jade looked at them, pulling on her sweater. Just then she remembered that massive rule list she never read; “…Is it casual Tuesday?”

Somewhere upstairs

The art work took on sinister shapes, as they were being illuminated and dimmed at strange and spastic times, as though a flashlight was being turned off and on. Of course, as we know, this light came from a wand of a particularly frightened girl who looked as though she was creeping into her teen years.

She had been smart enough to wear her school uniform, though her shapely legs shook in their school approved white stocking, perhaps out of chills, but most likely out of fear. There was a snake around her neck, and it looked lopsided, as though it should have had three heads, instead of just two. The left one gave her a soothing hiss, but this did not stop her be-stocking legs from shaking.

She hissed back, taking slow steps forward, and her short black skirt bobbing as she walked. Where were they?! They had all her things- if they were going to jump out and scare her…well, they had another thing coming. They-

“BOO!” Charley jumped out from behind a very ugly statue, causing Emma to scream and send sparks up in the air. This blue haired, brown eyed boy chuckled, as the girl’s face got all red.

“Charles! Oh! You- you, neophyte!” She stammered, which quickly turned into a screech. “Where are my belongings?!” Her patchy, proud, pouty, scarred face was the colour of strawberries as she glowered at him.

“Babe, stop calling me that,” He replied, with his street twang twanging along in his voice. He ignored her complaining, it was like this when he was with her, but they’ve all learned to cope-erm, they being Charley, Frank, and Chucko, and to cope meant to cope with Emma.

Charley looked dashing in his inky black suit, with a ruffly white long sleeve shirt, looking messy already. His shoes were scuffed and his hair was unusually messy today, as though he had been asleep in a washer machine.

“Where are your things?” She questioned, calming down. Truth be told, she was eager to have company.

“Dumped it off with Chucko, like you” He said casually, but when he saw a mean…almost evil look on Emma’s face, he added forcefully, “But not like you, I just did it so I could come and get you, so hurry up!”

“Of course,” Emma said, but there was a look about her that Charley didn’t like. They had spent some of the summer together; as their uncles worked together…Emma gave him the willies sometimes, but she was so deviously brilliant, he could almost forgive her for it.

“How do we get down there, then?” She continued, watching him walk a head of her with narrowed hers. Charley scowled, not answering. He knew what she was trying to do, trying to trick him out, he’d be a step ahead, he’d-

“Charles,” Emma said sharply, dropping her cat and mouse voice. This had real fear in it. The Ohmygod sweet Jesus kind of fear that made Charley’s heart speed up, even though as he whipped around there was nothing to see but a freaked out British girl.

“What’s wrong wit’ you?” He breathed, holding over the spot where his heart would be. He looked over to were her teal eyes were staring and saw nothing out of the ordinary, “Don’t do that!”

“I witnessed movement over there!” She insisted, stomping her shiny black buckled foot on the floor, which apparently upset the floor, as it gave a shutter underneath them. Emma gasped loudly, grabbing a hold of Charley.

He blushed, tilting his head away from her chest, trying to get his wand out of his pocket. When he found that he couldn’t (as his pants were a slight too tight), he took Emma’s wand out of her hand, shinning the light around.

“There’s noffin’ dere,” He assured her, but he was wrong about that. A hundred percent wrong, for there was something there, a large something.

This large something was that ugly statue that they passed by a few seconds earlier. It was a massive stone dog, whose creator thought it would have been creative to give it massive horns, one eye, and a pole slammed into its back. Massive stone teeth grew out of its jaw; it reared its front paws, and then leapt towards them.

Emma screamed girlishly, clinging to Charley for dear life. He stumbled back, falling down on to the well carpet floor. He cringed, raising Emma’s wand.

“What’s dat spell?!” Charley screamed, pushing Emma off him, “Now!”

Emma seemed speechless, as the stone monster was about to fall on them. They closed their eyes, prepared for death or pain or whatever, but it never came. Emma was the first one to open an eye.

“You bonnie of a fool!” She snapped, keeping her blooded eye close, “What did you do, stun it successfully, you practically wet yourself. How very man of you.”

“Me?!” He looked at her angrily as she sat up, “You’re the one screamin’ like your giving birth! And I didn’t stun noffin-“

“Anyone,” Someone corrected softly. A man, a very tall man, stepped out of the shadows. He was so…impressive. His skin was a dark blue, with yellow eyes that looked over tiny glasses, which sat on a rather large nose. His clothes were old fashion, in top hat and cane kinda way. There was just…power and fear, suffocating…coming from him. “And it was I who stunned the beast, isn’t that right, Arcana?”

Their attention was brought to the boy he was cleching. It was such a shock that they didn’t notice him before this man with such power mentioned him, how freaky. The boy was thin, with a willow’s peak of blond on his head. His brown eyes were narrowed with anger.

“Yes sir,” He said stiffly, giving Emma such a glare. Yes, Emma felt that the glare was directed towards her, indeed. But why? She didn’t even know this kid who stared at her with such dislike.

“Now get along,” The man of power told him lightly, letting the boy go. He walked, or maybe glided, no, he was definitely walking towards them. Emma puffed herself up haughtily, but Charley could feel her arms shake next to him.

“Get along?” She asked, indignantly, “What was that? Who was that? What are you doing?”

Emma’s rudely stated question was smile upon, and the reason for her rudeness was because he was moving closer yet to them. He placed a large gloved hand on the stone creature, causing it to disappear completely. The children on the floor both gasped, but the boy who was standing just looked mildly bored and disgruntle.

“Please, address me as sir,” He smiled dreamily down at them, “I’ll be your Introduction to Magic teacher, Mister Spooky.”

Emma and Charley both gave a giggle, though Emma was much more of a snort and was passable as a sneeze. Her sly eyes widen, looking vaguely innocent up at their future teacher. She gript Charley’s shoulder to pull herself up, closing again her bad eye, pouting poutier than any person really should.

“Oh,” Emma breathed, “I was soooo scared, if you hadn’t shown up-“She turned her head from him, blushing coyly. With a curled up hand over the lower half of her mouth, she motioned to Charley to stand up.

“Oh, come off it!” The boy named Arcana shouted, “No one’s buying-“

Mr. Spooky wrapped a large sleeved encased arm around the waist of Emma, who gave her snickering companion a look of fiendish delight. Arcana, however, looked like his mother just slapped him…with a fish.

With Emma and their apparently easily fooled teacher at the front, Arcana and Charley walked behind, shooting each other dirty looks.

Soon, they came to the magical elevator, which opened as though it could sense their magical presence. He ushered the children in, but did it so swiftly, that they weren’t quiet sure how they got there.

“Three going down,” He said softly to the metal box, that was hung on cords. (A phrase here which means an elevator) It pinged, and slid its doors shut.

“See you at school,” He whispered, tilting his hat. And with those parting words, the elevator descended at a frightening pace.
It was a short time before the whole basement was full of little ,and some not little, first years who filled the room respectively with explosions, loud voices, and strange child and animal smells. Jade looked about, though stuck to the group she first met, until she caught sight of that shifty looking Frank character.

She pushed her way through the crowd of strangers, like a festering mall, only with out the cool things to buy, and a food stand. She found him; finally, leaning on the wall closes to a red door she hadn’t noticed before with his large companion.

“God, where’s Charley?” Frank griped, twirling his wand absentmindedly in his fingers. A sickly green bird on his shoulders gave a mournful cry. “…Hey, Chucko, you listenin’?”

Chucko, instead of replying, pointed to Jade, who took a step back and stepped on something soft.

“Oh!” Jade cried, now falling forward. The soft thing she stepped on was a large orange cat thing, with a massive yellow mane. It looked a little like Chucko himself, in fact. The cat hissed at Jade, climbing up Chucko’s body, lying on his shoulder like some sort of orange boa.

“Good Catso,” He cooed, starching it on its furry head, “Did the loser upset you?”

“Loser!” Jade cried indigently, “I’ll show you a loser-“ She rolled up her sleeves, (no longer was she upset about not wearing a uniform, as many kids were still in their pajama) when a sharp British voice stabbed into her ears.

“Did you even bother reading the rules,” Emma taunted, a smirk stretched across her face. She carefully licked her dry, visible teeth, before continuing, “Jade Chan?”

“Why?” She shrugged her shoulders, avoiding Emma’s eye (and her face, more or less), “It just give me ideas.”

A boy, who Jade remember as Charley, walked up behind, looking as though he had been stuck on a ceiling then slammed to the floor, “Ya mean you think?” He groaned, not missing a beat.

The whole group laughed, minus Jade, who scowled ugly like. She opened her mouth to retort when the red door threw itself open, and let out a blast of frigid air.

The frosty wind swirled around, under the skirts of many little girls, and the ankles of boys whose pants were too short. This chilly call beaconed the wee kiddies to come through it.

“Give me my bag, Chucko,” Charley said suddenly, as Frank looked outside. Chucko chucked the bag at him and the bag squeaked in response. The three rushed threw the door, as though they already knew what was out there.

“See you at School,” Emma sneered profoundly as she walked by, “Jade”

They were the first through the walkway, with Jade following them. This sidewalk was lit by lamps and fireflies, but what amazed Jade the most was that they were above ground when they had once been in a basement. Jade ran to catch up at to the group that just dissed her. At least she knew them.

[Houndoom_Lover]

Happy Birthday, Shuppet Master!! ^-^

-------------

The Return of the Black Tiger, part IV (that’s four, right?)

Something blue hit Jade’s face, a dragonfly, maybe…no… Oh my God, they were lighting the walkway with Fairies! Fairies and glowing snow fell from a magically black sky, though the sky was starless, moonless, and cloudless, and yet still it was snowing. Jade felt herself grow in joy, her apprehension drowned by this magical moment.

“Blimey,” She heard Emma say a head of her, as the doors to the dark vans opened wide.

Jade looked around, there were many kids who didn’t seem to terribly impress by this at all. It made Jade wonder, was there a whole world she didn’t know about? Her? Jade the self-appointed demon smasher-in-er? Naw, she reason, their parents must just work for the school. She was wise to reason this way, because Jade was vaguely right.

As the front doors of the vans open, tall creatures in heavy coats, with dark skin, and other knick-nacks stepped out of the vans. They held lanterns, that at once, as though trained to; they all set down on the grass, and looked up at the sky.

Have you ever noticed when someone looks up, that you have to look up too? Well, this is what happened, and Jade (and everyone else) felt compelled to look upwards. Stars suddenly danced in the sky, grabbing attention of a single child and lead each and every one of them to a van.

Jade found her self in a warm cozy van, that shut its door as soon as she entered, but she wasn’t the only one in there, much to her displeasure, well, that she wasn’t sure of that. Their faces weren’t the friendliest.

An Emma and her juvenile delinquent friends looked confused as how they got there. All their things had been nestled in with them, as though they consciously decided to get into the van.

“What on earth…?” Emma placed a hand on her forehead, squinting her eyes in distrust. She gripped the seat belt that was around her, making a move to unbuckle it when the doors locked loudly.

“Dudes,” Charley, who was sitting next to Emma, said in a rather quaky voice, “I seen I movie like this once…”

Jade was taking in the van (and attempting to avoid any inter-van confrontation); it was covered in something almost blanket like, with seat belts like sea weed in different places. It looks as though some one could legally sit on the ceiling…

“What happened in it?” Chucko asked, he was sitting next to Charley, looking slightly hungry and fearful. Next to Chucko sat Frank, who seemed to have the pleasure of having all their pet thing piled on his legs. There was a dark mirror like wall the separated the front from the back seats.

“There were some scary music, and den they all-“

“Charles,” Emma retorted curtly, furrowing her brow, “Please stop talking, you’re causing my brain to feel suffocated by stupidity.” She slammed her hand against the side of the car, it rattled the window slightly, but they didn’t go down. Emma was fidgety like the little girl she really was.

“What are you doing?” Inquired a new voice, all the children heads turned forward to watch the rest of the dark screen go down.

Emma and Charley gasped, it was the strange teacher that had saved them earlier! The man grinned jovially at them, tipping his hat.

“It is my pleasure to boat you all (“This isn’t a boat,” Frank input.) to the very elite school were you will most likely all flunk out of, expect you, my dear.” He gave Emma a very…paedophilic leer and wink, as the dark window started to roll back up.

“Wait!” Emma cried suddenly, her face red and confused, “how do you roll the windows down?”

She received no answer, except for the snickering of the (as Jade dubbed them in her mind) Enforcers Jr. She turned her head towards them, bearing her very pointed teeth at them all.

“OOoh, Emma’s got a boyfriend,” Jade joined in, unable to contain it. It made the trio laugh even harder. Emma’s scarred un-makeuped face looked disgruntle, as her comrades jeered at her.

“Silence,” She bit, her hand diving down into her skirt were she stowed her want, “Or I’ll silence you!”

And as though to add to this, Scruffy squirmed out of his newly acquired pet carrier, like some sort of furry Houdini, he instantly started to bark like a madman.

“Guys, get your animals off me-!” Scruffy jumped up, licking Frank’s be freckled face. (don’t tease him about them though, he’s sensitive about that.) He then hopped over to Jade’s lap, drooling, wagging, and barking in access.

“You actually brought that filthy creature here?” Emma sneered jollily, happy to have a change in subjects. She dropped her angry face as quickly as she placed it on.

“But,” Jade said, lifting up Scruffy and turning him towards her, “you gave him and named him for me!” Scruffy snarled in agreement, causing Emma not make a thin noise between her teeth. Named it? Hardly!

“I wouldn’t-“But Frank interjected, teasingly of course, but unable to contain himself, “Becoming a Lesbian on us?”

From outside, the van at the head of the line gave a nasty swerve, and several loud cries were heard from inside, one being an Augruy, and a hiss of a cat, and at least one snake, a chatter of a weasel, and cried from many children as the van filled with blue smoke.

Arcana’s body jolted back as the vans went into full speed. Brooding, he watched the world go by in purples and blues.

“That wrench,” He said loudly, causing a tall and lean girl to make a snorting noise of agreement. The blond boy grinned, slightly, as he continued to bash the girl that wasn’t there, “Surrounded by boys, of course.”

“Kinda like you are?” The girl by the other window farthest way away with short blond hair, and almond dark eyes commented, “Only with girls?”

Arcana leaned forward, shooting her a glare, “Who the fuck are you?”

“Courtney Crumrin,” Courtney replied curtly, folding her arms and legs at the same time. A large black let out a loud mew as she did so, “Whose caring?”

Arcana gave her a cold calculating look, before saying his first name. Then he returned to the window, there was a short and frosty silence before he spoke again, “And this is Lady (he may a small head gesture to the tall girl), and this is Sasha (he gestured to the other girl with a hand flick, she was short with brown hair and eyes, she nodded when he gestured to her. She had her glasses on a tilt), pleasure to meet you finally…A Crumrin.”

“Great,” She grumbled in a reply, she just wanted to be left alone now, but now they were looking at her with interest.

“Crumrin, like as in Aloysius Crumrin?” Sasha inquired, her body bouncing even though the rid was smooth.

Courtney looked surprised, but settled back down. She assumed her parents said yes to her going there because it was a boarding school, and rich people do that, and she was right about that, but maybe…just maybe her. She’d think about that later, a real school of magic was going to be cool either way.

Though a change of subject would be nice before Sasha decided to ask for her Uncle’s (greatgreatgreat?) number, “Who do you hate that girl, anyway?”

“You mean that filthy necromancer?” This is where Courtney stopped caring or listening to him. What the heck was wrong with necromancy? She read the book of her Uncle’s, it was really interesting. She had hoped these people would be better, but it almost seemed like tricking her parents to let her come her was more work than the profit.

The Dark Vans drove up a twisting dirt road, which was perched upon a hill, which faced the dark Pacific Ocean. And on that hill stood a huge grey castle, with no windows, and open door. It was like a fortress, a fortress surrounded by a forest that held unthinkable nightmares. This was Hexministers; the most magical place on the West Coast, and the most foreboding.

The vans pulled up to the front of this castle like building. The first van screeched to a halt in front of the building perfectly, blue smoke bellowed out of its cracks like a massive thundercloud. The doors flew open, and out came a singed, vomit uponed Emma, followed by the Enforcers Jr. (as Jade dubbed them) looking remorseful as best they could, but every once and a while they gave a snicker.

Jade jumped out, carrying her things. She had never seen a more uninviting building in all her life.

“HA!” Roared a voice behind them, causing Jade to up, with her eyes wide, and hand over her heart, she turned to see who it was. A blond boy, who we know as Arcana, strode over, with Sasha and Lady at heel. Courtney followed only to be up the hill.

“Can’t handle the ride?” He inquired meanly and loudly as he past, “you filthy Necromancer?”

Doctor Spooky walked out of the van just then, quickly helping Emma up, who looked as though she was going to pass out or fall over. She gasped hard, trying to push him away. She didn’t need help- but he wouldn’t let her go.

“Hey,” Charley snapped, no longer looking amused by Emma’s predicament, ‘no one calls Emma names like dat!”

Soon, the first year students were gathered around them, as though expecting to see a fight. They weren’t disappointed. Charley rushed Arcana, who was caught of surprise, his silk red tie grabbed by him, but in a smooth motion, Arcana knocked Charley off by utilising his fist and Charley’s eyes. Charley hit the ground particularly hard, which caused his friends (minus Emma who was busy being sick) to try to join in the fray.

Doctor Spooky took no notice of this, with Emma; he was making his way to the head of the mess of children, face grimmer than usual. He watched the other Dark Watchers with a sort of disdain. None of them seemed to terribly interested in helping him out. With a sigh, he called; “First years, follow me or be eaten!”

Some came, and more followed, with their squawks and squeaks and whatnot behind him. Like some sort of strange pid piper (he liked to like that skeleton chap from that horrible little Alphabet books, you know, the one with ‘A is for Amy, struck dead by an axe’?), he led the children up the old and broken stairs, to the great front door of Hexministers.

Jade managed to push her way to the front, followed by another girl, who seemed to just want out of the crowd. With a great heaving sigh, Jade broke through to the front, rubbing where she had been elbowed painfully.

The door was truly amazing! It was dark and sticky looking, with angry old men carved into its corners. She watched anseitiy as Doctor Spooky reached was the highly polished door knob…She caught Charley’s face as she watched, he had a nice shiner. Man! They hustled up there! It was like they were trying to protect Emma or something, like little bodyguards. Jade giggled at this as the door was opened.

“What’s so funny?” The girl asked, who pushed her way through the crowd like Jade. She didn’t appear too amazed by what was going on, rather, disappointed, maybe. Her facial features would soon ease up as they entered the hall.

It was coloured grey, like everything else, with grey window hangings and whatnot. ‘Well’, Jade though as she noticed movement on the wall, ‘they’d never have to worry about dusting.’

Others noticed the wall movements, as the hall melted into the main chamber room thingy. Along the wall, there was grass, the moved and swayed to an invisible unfelt breeze, but that wasn’t all- something stalked the grass, but all Jade saw was a stubby end of a grey tail. And that’s not all! There were floating tables, and benches, with floating heads that illuminated the room. They past the first years screaming bloody murder. It was all so much, that Jade felt light headed.

“Wow…” Someone finally said, though more of a whisper then a said. Along the animated walls was one long table that was attached to the rounded walls of the room. There were so many people; they were of all races and nationalities. I’ll explain them now, but if you want to skip on to the important story part, please locate the next paragraph that starts with Jade, thought Jade herself will never forget these people, even if she never sees half of them again.

The very first person Jade’s eyes met was a man, maybe a boy, who looked remarkably fish like, with a bowl like hair cut of black hair. He was possibly Japanese, and very small. To his left was the total opposite, a white robe wearing African American man, who had to be more then six feet tall, next to him, Doctor Spooky took his seats, leaving the first years too look around confused as other teachers (?) took their seats.

There was a woman, scantily dressed, and looked as though she was made of plants. A man who looked as though he had fur all over his body and cat’s ears, sat next to the plant lady and started chatting. To contrast them, there was a man who had simple blond hair in a pony tail, and a very bored look on his face; he was in a red coat. There was a lady with deep blond hair, a pony tail as well, but on top of her head, her face was covered with a crossword puzzle book, and next to her a man was trying to get her attention by turning a silver spoon gold. A man with a huge beard and very pointed hat was looking up at the ceiling, and appeared to be equally bored. Another man with glasses was itching his long nose, having a very animated conversation with a dark robed women whose hair looked like two prongs- it reminded Jade forcefully of something, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

The next group of teachers were rolling balls back and forth to each other, seeming amused, they all had freakishly blue eyes, and practically looked the same, that is if you weren’t counting their constantly changing hair. By them, another very youthful looking teacher, with tiny glasses, and red hair was reading the daily newspaper, fidgeting frightfully.

Jade wanted to keep up looking at the teachers, when the floor beneath the first years rumbled as though it was hungry for their little bodies. Steam leaked up, reminding Jade of the Iron Chef, and…her eyes narrowed, no longer impressed.

A man was moving up from below, much like the Iron Chef, he was also in furs and what not, arms stretched out. Someone watched a little too much Food Channel- the man on the platform roared something that Jade didn’t catch, and out climbed taller, equally miserable looking students from underground.

And in such a wonderland, one would think the children with the very bored (and miserable) looks on their faces would buck up or something to that measure. Jade decided then, when she got to the next grade, she would grin like a masochist on fire when she climbed up those magical stairs. (She would later find out, in years to come, that the older students had to wait down in the basement, and recite the school rules in a monotonic chant.)

“Watch out!” Someone cried, Jade wasn’t sure who or where the cry came from, it sounded as thought it came from everywhere.

Knowingly, thanks too many years of having to ‘watch out’. She moved out of the way before looking up—which was a good thing, as where Jade’s head once was was a mighty leg of an even mightier metal table.

The cold large thing came down with a colossal thud, and was followed by many other thudding cold metal tables. The screaming skull lights flew above over head, and over to the be-furred man, illuminating him for all to see.

He was yellow. His skin, his eyes, his hair, his clothes- all of him was a yellow colour, but not a sickly yellow that comes from having illness or smoking, just a yellow one.

“Class!” He roared, the same voice that called them to watch out earlier. It was like his voice had become a magical surround sound system, hitting a beat on their ears. “Students, fellow Teachers- Welcome back, and welcome a new,” He wore a grin, no, it was more of a smile, Jade thought. A ditzy smile at that, like one of those cut-out blind girls from one of those mobster movies she loved to watch.

“I am your Principal,” He continued, his smooth voice waxing over them like a wave of waxy noise, “And I will be ruling you all with an iron fist for one hundred and eight days and nights, so you should all probably get to know my name.”

A boy, who was seating some seats down from Jade, gave a little groan. It was that mellow looking boy, with his bright blond hair gelled to tiny points. They looked so much a like, they had to be related, Jade figured. Only a relative can make someone make a noise like that.

“…Viola (insert last name),”At the sound of his name, a good (sort of) hearted chuckling trickled throughout the students, new and old alike, and soon the animals joined in making all sorts of beastly noises. Viola was a funny name, but weather the name or something more caused them all to laugh, it broke down the barrier. The room now was at ease, the tensions felt by both man and beast had been banished. He seemed to have known about this magical law, a never ending one that stated kids hate school, magical or not.

“And why I tell you my name, you might ask?” This strange, fur wearing, yellow lanky man stepped forward on his smoking platform, grabbing an imaginary rope, and pulled.

A spot-light appeared in the front-ish part of the staff table, drawing Jade’s attention (nd everybody else, for that matter), not that Jade’s attention ever wavered once. It was just too cool.

It stopped being too cool right then.

At first, they saw the tip of a magician’s hat (black, if you really must know), and then the wearer of this hat.

Emma’s head slipped off Frank’s shoulders, landing with a dull clunk, and a sound of pain. Maybe this was just because it hurt, but Jade made one too, and we know why,

“I’d like you all to meet,” The Principal announced in the way one would do to try and create tension, “Mister Foo, your new Gym Teacher.”

Haw Foo looked out at the students as he took his seat, looking strangely be-fitting in his charcoal cape that he now wore.

“We’re going to die.” I, here, break grammaritical rules on purpose, because Jade was fairly sure she was going to die the very next day, if they had gym. Her look of unabashed horror was accompanied by another groan from Emma.