Madison had reverted back her old California ways during the summer, going back to the slang and casual clothes. She was wearing jeans and a dark blue tank top under an open jacket. She was becoming a lovely young woman, and seemed to have acquired more confidence over the summer...

Aside from the tan, Yvette now also sported more freckles than before (as if that was possible) and had lost nearly all of her French accent. Instead, she had picked up quickly on the California lingo. Now, when she and her best friend spoke to each other, it was with a vocabulary that was barely

comprehensible to anyone other than their fellow teenagers.

Madison brushed her dark ponytail over her shoulder and turned to Yvette. "I think we have everything we need for school..." She grinned.

"So...there's Leaky Cauldron or Florean Fortescue for some ice cream...where do you wanna kick it?"

"Leaky Cauldron!" Yvette replied brightly with a lazy smile. She looked down at the flip-flops she was wearing, and the jeans she had cut raggedly with Muggle scissors to make capris.

"Leaky Cauldron it is!" Madison led the way, slinging her bag over her shoulder. Entering the tavern, she looked around, trying to see if any of her fellow classmates had decided to stop for a butterbeer.

Peesey was as white as a sheet. He hadn't done anything over the holidays and it seemed that he hadn't done much whilst at school either (staring at the wallpaper). He, at this time, was just starting his day with a butterbeer before going shopping for books etc with his mother.

He sat in the corner of the Leaky Cauldron, and watched as Yvette and Madison entered. He looked up at them hopefully as his mother was going on about how nice he might look in his new black robes.

Madison waved, spotting him, and headed over to say hi. "Hey, Peesey! What's up? You looking forward to fourth year starting?

Oh, is this your mom?" She smiled. "Hello! My name is Madison and this is Yvette. We go to Hogwarts with Peesey..."

*Peesey's mother eyed her suspiciously* "Er, hello dear," she said nastily

"Hi," said Peesey quickly "yeah, I suppose - are you?" ignoring his mother completely. He got up and went to the bar....

"We are, I..." Yvette said to his back and didn't bother to finish as he turned to get some drinks. She blinked twice and then smiled at Peesey's mother.

"Hello, Mrs. Grunfu...uh...uttock. How are you?" After a bit of difficulty in remembering the last name, she gave her a brilliant smile.

"I went with my parents to the United States to visit my grandparents. We go there every year, so it was nothing too exciting." She shrugged and then sat down. "Can you believe all the books we have to get? It seems like I'm taking so many classes, but I'm really excited about some of the new options."

********

Winifred held her letter up and read it over once more. "I think I have everything then," she said to no one in particular. She hadn't changed much over the summer, though her dark brown hair had grown out considerably. She was sporting a knee length khaki skirt, a three-quarter length black shirt, maryjane style shoes, and a black headband.

The tall stack of books she had just purchased at Flourish and Blotts seemed ominous as she carefully made her way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Along with the required courses, Winifred decided to take Mythology, Folklore and Magic, Astronomy, Arithmancy, CoMC, and Ancient Languages.

Before entering the Leaky Cauldron, her eyes glanced in the direction of a darker alley down the road. Could it really have been a whole year since last time she had been in Diagon Alley? Her thoughts drifted to the multitude of things that happened over the school year until the door almost opened in her face. "Sorry," she mumbled to the customer walking out as she shuffled in.

Spying Madison, Yvette, and Peesey, she waved and walked over to their table and set her books down. "Hello! How have all your summers been?"

"Hey!" Madison greeted. "Summer was great! Yvette went with me to visit my uncle's family in California..." She grinned. "I think the Cali sun turned her into a beach chick...What about you guys?"

"Hmm, nothing exciting happened to me, went to visit Windsor castle - I dunno why the muggles make such a fuss about that place" he said drearily. "What about you Wini?"

"I went with my parents to the United States to visit my grandparents. We go there every year, so it was nothing too exciting." Winifred shrugged and then sat down. "Can you believe all the books we have to get? It seems like I'm taking so many classes, but I'm really excited about some of the new options."

**********

Shinrei Hikari stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron and into the area with the brick wall that would lead into Diagon Alley.

Melanie Stewart, the sister of Jonathan Sinclair, had advised her to meet Jon here that morning. Shinrei herself had just arrived at such a meeting place through the Floo Network--she had exited through a previously arranged fireplace destination at the Leaky Cauldron.

She looked around. Jon was still not there. Maybe she had arrived early. She was rather excited about going back to school. Her summer spent at an entirely different setting compared to Kossawa had given her a sense of enthusiasm about her new-found "freedom" from such tiring rigidity.

She set her big black backpack and boxed Rakurai down onto the ground. She looked up at her black owl Makura fluttering above her head. "You may have a look around, if you wish, old friend," she told the owl. "You always know where to find me, anyhow."

Makura understood and flew off. Shinrei paced about, waiting.

Jon had himself arrived the day before and taken care of most of his shopping - for books and the like on the Friday. However, he was waiting for Shinrei to arrive before visiting the Quidditch shop. There was no guarantee either of them would be selected for the team but a new broom was still a must!

His sister had advised him that Shinrei would be coming that morning and therefore he was keeping an eye out for her - popping back to the Leaky Cauldron very 15 minutes or so. This time he was rewarded, there she was!

"Shinrei! Welcome. This is quite mad isn't it having to travel all the way down to London from Scotland in order to travel back to Scotland!"

Shinrei grabbed her things and rushed up to meet him. "Ohayo, Jon-kun," she greeted him, smiling. "As you put it, there may be an extent of novelty in the idea, although it does seem quite irrational."

"Do you know of a place where I can store my belongings for the time being?" She waved her backpack and Rakurai box for emphasis. "And have you found a broom you like? Or have you already bought one?"

"Yes, a few of us are leaving our belongings and purchases in one of the Leaky Cauldron's parlours. I've passed the shop two dozen times since yesterday but I've resisted looking inside at brooms until you came along. I didn't just want to buy on a whim."

Jon looked towards the pub, "I need to pop in there any way - the Headmaster wants the Prefects to watch out for a new student. From China apparently."

"All right. I shall go with you, then," Shinrei said. "I really need to leave my things behind. Melanie-chan has given me plenty of very beautiful clothes that used to belong to her and my backpack is ready to break its straps from being so full. I do not think it can withstand a lengthy expedition such as one through Diagon Alley."

Jon smiled, "I can imagine."

"We can look at the brooms together, then. I was planning to buy a broomcare kit for my Rakurai as well." Said Shinrei.

Jon's last statement was what really piqued Shinrei's interest. "From China, you say? Do you know who this new student is?"

As he led the way back into the Leaky Cauldron he consulted the letter that the Headmaster had sent to him. "Right - his name is Hupi Jian and he is part of the Mian-Ju-Tao Northern Order of China. Apparently should be very easy to spot as he will be wearing the saffron robes of the Order."

He noted that Yvette, Madison, Peesemould with a woman he assumed was his Mother as well as Winifred Fanel had gathered at one table.

*************

The Qiao-yuan, the Mian-Ju-Tao equivalent of what Westerners called a Portkey, was a bo staff. Hupi Jian's great-uncle Xian deemed that the very weapon he brought to Hogwarts as a boy almost fifty years ago would likewise be bequeathed to his great-nephew.

Jian's parents Kourin and Hikou died when the boy was only a very small child. He was then sent to live with his sole surviving relative, his great-uncle Xian, a monk of the Mian-Ju-Tao Northern Order.

Jian grew up with the monks of the Order, trained with them, ate what they ate, believed in what they believed in. He would not be considered as a brother until he had reached 18 cycles, but his lifestyle more or less assured that he was going to be one of them.

Hupi Xian was now pushing seventy years. His eyes, however, we like slits. The eyes of the fox. The Hupi family always had eyes like that.

Xian turned to face his great-nephew as they reached the outer boundaries of the temple grounds. He spoke in a rough voice.

"You have everything there, boy? Your list of Western books?"

Jian was almost fifteen, with narrow black eyes and sun-browned skin, a face that was obviously not into smiling much. His hands were callused. His body was lean and well muscled; it belonged to that of a full-fledged Mian-Ju-Tao-trained fighter.

"Yes, uncle."

Xian's rough hands caught his nephew's shoulders. "You take care of yourself, boy. No one there to give you a beating when you feel like forgetting your prayers or meditation."

"I have never forgotten them, uncle."

"You sure you do not want we to go with you to London?"

"There is no need, uncle. I can manage, as I always have." The corner of Jian's mouth quirked as he looked at his great-uncle.

"Very well, boy. The only mistake I have ever done by you is to have made you so strong as you are now."

"Thank you, uncle. I owe everything to you." Jian stepped back and picked up his homespun luggage sack. He dropped his uncle a very low bow as the old man handed him the bo staff.

"You give my regards to Albus Dumbledore, boy," Xian said. "Tell him he would always be welcome at the temple if he wishes to visit."

"I will do that, uncle." Jian took the bo staff and shifted his grip on it. "Fare you well, uncle. I shall see you next year." He looked at the point of his grip and began to count softly. "One. Two. Three."

The world slowly began to whirl. "Goodbye, Uncle."

"Goodbye." Xian watched as the boy disappeared from view, then walked back to the temple.

***************

The Qiao-yuan led him straight to the yard of the Leaky Cauldron. It was night when he left the mountains, but here in London it was morning. Time zones, Jian thought.

They had oriented him that some students of Hogwarts would be meeting him inside the eating-place, one called the Leaky Cauldron.

He stood for a moment on the yard and watched the place that loomed before him. There was only one visible doorway and it seemed to lead straight into this Leaky Cauldron.

He brought his luggage-sack closer to his body, protectively, and walked through the door, feeling a little strange in his saffron robes. His bare head felt cold.

Hupi Jian walked straight into the Leaky Cauldron and was a little put off by the dimness of the place. It smelled strange, foreign. People dressed in Western clothes were seated around it, with a few other people standing about and talking.

His attention was caught by a tall fair-haired boy and a smaller girl with black hair. He wondered if they were from Hogwarts. Headmaster Dumbledore had written that students from the school would be looking out for him, hence he had to wear his saffron Mian-Ju-Tao robes for identification.

Jon spotted Hupi Jian almost immediately as he came through the door.

He quickly walked over and extended his hand in greeting. "You must be Hupi Jian. Welcome to Great Britain. Professor Dumbledore said to keep a watch for you. I'm Jonathan Sinclair, the Sixth Year Prefect for Gryffindor House and this," he turned towards Shinrei "is Shinrei Hikari, who joined us from Japan late last term. She is also a Gryffindor."

Like many Westerners he was unsure of the differences between the various Far Eastern cultures and felt somewhat out of his depth as a result.

"I wasn't sure – have you been already assigned to Gryffindor House?" He knew that for older and transfer students these things were handled differently in some cases where in others the Sorting Hat was used.

"Yes. I am Hupi Jian," he replied, staring at the outstretched hand before remembering that it was the handshake offer done by Westerners. He shook Jonathan Sinclair's hand. "Thank you. I am glad to arrive here."

He shot the girl, Shinrei Hikari, a glance. He did not offer his own hand in greeting to her. They were not supposed to touch females.

He looked away from her. "I do not a have House yet, no. I will ask Headmaster Dumbledore about my House."

"Welcome, Hupi-san," Shinrei said, wisely stepping backwards so as not to make the Chinese boy more uncomfortable than he already was. "I am pleased to meet you." She bowed her head in greeting.

Hupi Jian had glanced at her as if she was Lord Voldemort or someone extremely fearful. Monks were always rather unsettled around women. Her stay at Kossawa had raised issues regarding that, but few could refuse the will of Kanjou Hashimoto. Then again, she wasn't much of a woman to speak of.

She gave the newcomer a once-over and decided he looked very well-trained for someone so young. Perhaps he would make a good sparring opponent; she had not encountered Shaolin-style fighting techniques in practice. She had only come across Sohei for the most part, and they bordered on ninjutsu. Shaolin was mostly kung-fu and vastly different.

"Yes, of course. I imagine that he will see you and any other newcomers upon arrival." Jon noted that Hupi Jian was uncomfortable with Shinrei. He knew that women had different status in different cultures he just wasn't sure what this indicated with Hupi Jian

"Anyway would you like to accompany us to the Robe shop where you will be fitted with your official robes for school? Have you a wand?"

"No Hogwarts uniform," said Jian, "but I have a wand, yes. You will accompany me to buy books and uniform?"

"And what will I call you?" he asked, looking from Jon to Shinrei and back again, afraid of being disrespectful. "You call me Jian, my birth name, yes?"

He had been advised by his great-uncle to offer his given name. In Mian-Ju-Tao they did not put much into names; they were used to addressing each other as "brother." Jian was called "little brother" by all.

His eyes once again strayed to Shinrei. He was painfully aware she was looking at him. What was it with females? He wondered nervously. This one was much smaller than he was but she made him feel unsettled.

Jon smiled. "You may call me Jonathan which is my birth name. At school the wizards often just call each other by our surnames - so I'd be addressed as 'Sinclair' by some of my classmates. Teachers will be more formal and call you Mr. or just use your surname depending on how they feel - they rarely use forenames."

He paused, "Yes, I will accompany both you and Miss Hikari to buy books and uniform." This was his way of suggesting to Jian that girls were treated with more formality out of respect unless you were invited to call them by their birth names, " Do you have your lists and have you selected your optional subjects. If you haven't the bookshop in Hogsmeade our local village near Hogwarts will be able to get textbooks."

He turned to Shinrei, "While Jian is being fitted for his robes, we can visit the Quidditch shop. Will you be needing any school robes?" He knew girls often liked to buy new robes whether they needed to or not.

********

Luis Enrique Verga stood at the Muggle London street and shifted his grip on the brown duffel bag that contained all his possessions in the world. As he had when he returned to Hogwarts, he was wearing his jeans and leather jacket. He had saved all his money to buy wizard clothes, not Muggle ones.

It was a crazy idea, travelling from Hogsmeade to London and going back again in a few hours. He had not travelled to London via any magical means--he had hitchhiked and ridden trains and buses. Muggle means were safer, as far as he was concerned.

He reached into his pocket. His fingers found the parchment with the list of books for incoming Fourth Years.

Fourth Year. He was seventeen, but he would only be in the fourth year. It was very funny.

He sighed resignedly, then walked down the narrow gap between two Muggle stores to arrive at the front entrance of the Leaky Cauldron. He wondered who among his schoolmates would he see first.

Just moments before Luis entered, Jon Sinclair was about to suggest that Jian's luggage-sack and Shinrei's backpack be left in the parlour with the other luggage while they shopped.

He remained a little concerned that two Gryffindors Yvette Monclere and Madison Avalon were conversing with Slytherins but he wouldn't embarrass them here. He had no friends outside of Gryffindor except for a couple of Ravenclaws and thought that sort of distance was preferable especially concerning Slytherins. He thought it highly unlikely that Jian would end up in Slytherin.

A sudden movement by the front door caught Shinrei's attention. She turned to face in that direction. A tall figure stood framed by the dim light. The self-assured stance and the black leather jacket was unmistakable.

*Gods. It was him. Luis Verga.* Without thinking, she whipped her head back and grabbed Jon's arm, very tightly. She also edged closer to him.

"Jon-kun," she said urgently, "where is this parlour where we could leave our things? I believe Hupi-san and I need to park our luggage before we can go shopping any further, ne? I may not need new robes but books can surely be a burden."

Jon had not seen Luis and was slightly caught quite off-guard by Shinrei's grabbing his arm and had turned to answer her, "It's just next do." Then movement by the front door caused him to look up and he saw Luis. Bad boy Slytherin from head to foot. Still Shinrei obviously didn't welcome his attentions from the way she was acting. So why didn't he just stick to girls like Katia and Sarah?

Luis would have been very struck by how beautiful she looked in person. He had sketched her face from memory so many times that he had lost count. The countenance with its exotic contours and eyes filled with secrets.

Luis would have been very struck, indeed, if he did not see Shinrei holding on to Jonathan Sinclair's arm as if for dear life. But he saw her doing so. It was not a very nice thing to see.

Luis Verga was a Slytherin. He was not easily dissuaded, even if the way Shinrei stood close to Sinclair pretty much indicated that they might as well have gotten married over the summer. He quickly stomped on the thought.

The slow, confident sneer he had learned to imitate from Snape spread deliberately through his face as he began to make his way across the room to where they stood. He noticed a strange-looking bald boy dressed in orangey robes with them--this one looked quite out of place.

"Buenos dias," he greeted as he approached, gray eyes blazing. "I take it your summer was well?"

"Yes - it was brilliant! Thanks." Jon gave an encouraging look at Shinrei. He wouldn't embarrass her by mentioning that they'd spent time together though he'd like Luis to know.

He suddenly remembered his manners, "Excuse me I should introduce you to our new student - Hupi Jian, who is just joining Hogwarts this term. You've already met Shinrei Hikari."

He turned to Jian, "Jian, this is Luis Verga a former student of Hogwarts whom we visited the school at the end of last term."

He addressed Luis again, "So, Dumbledore accepted you back or are you here on some other business?"

Shinrei still had not let go of Jon's arm, nor had she loosened her grip one little bit. At the back of her mind, she was aware that she was pressing close to Jon like a frightened child. But it was the least of her worries.

"Yes, we have met," she bit out, disconcerted under Luis's gray stare. "Ohayo, Mr. Verga."

At the mention of Hupi Jian, she had a sudden flash of inspiration and immediately released Jon. She went over to the Chinese boy instead and said, "We will leave Jon-kun and Mr. Verga to discuss the previous holidays, Hupi-san. Kindly accompany me to the parlour, so we could leave our things." She squarely met Jian's eyes and silently told him to agree to her suggestion.

Shinrei's sudden movement over to Jian had surprised Jon. From the frying pan into the fire as Jian seemed the last person to agree to go off to a side parlour with a member of the female persuasion!

"We do have a lot of shopping to do before we leave for Kings' Cross Station. I am sure there will be plenty of other times for Luis and myself to discuss the holidays especially if he's here to get supplies for Hogwarts."

He wasn't sure but it was a way of drawing the other young man out!