She only half-consciously verified the book titles as the volumes were handed to her. She was thinking about Kossawa--and the Order of Izanagi.

She had not heard from them for months now. Kanjou-sama had been unheard from as well. What was happening? Would her Ordination still continue? Had they forgotten she existed?

Shinrei did not know why such questions suddenly sprang to mind, now of all times.

After she had gathered all her books, she thanked the assistant and brought them over to the counter. She looked around as she did-the place was a lot smaller compared to the archive cellar of Clan Kossawa, though the books of Flourish and Blotts looked a lot more modern and, of course, Westernised.

She still preferred the scrolls, the katakana and hiragana and the bold mysterious strokes of the quills of the Kossawa scribes.

Shinrei took her wrapped package of books and went over to Jon. She tapped him on the shoulder and said: "Jon-kun, I got books for all the six options I am considering. Are there any other good books for background reading on Fourth Year subjects? I believe I still have a little extra money left."

Jon had been lost in his own thoughts while Shinrei and the others were getting their books.

When Shinrei returned, he smiled. "I'd save your money Shinrei. The library at Hogwarts has all the books you would find here for background material and there is also a good bookshop in Hogsmeade."

He paused, "Look I'm getting rather tired of Luis' remarks about us. I don't know what his problem is aside from being a Slytherin. I think they are embarrassing for Jian as well. I hope you don't mind but I think it would be better if you travelled to Hogwarts with your other 4th Year classmates - for Jian as well."

"I'll take your word for it, Jon-kun," Shinrei agreed. "I have to consider the holidays and the rest of the term and make sure my money will last well throughout."

She shifted her grip on her assortment of packages, considering Jon's words about Luis Verga. "I could not really understand why he acts the way he does, this Luis Verga." A memory floated to the top of her mind and she could not help voicing it. "However, he apologised to me on the day he arrived at Hogwarts. He said I was the last person he wanted to hate him. What could he possibly mean by saying so, Jon-kun?"

"Perhaps he is not as ill-mannered as he appears," she contemplated in a soft voice. "But of course I shall do well to travel with my fellow Fourth Years. And Hupi-san, of course."

Every single word.

Luis Verga heard every word of the conversation between Shinrei and Jon--the conversation about /him/. He was not Ninjutsu trained like Shinrei, but Capoeira fighters had light, soundless feet. He was standing behind the shelf, hidden by tomes, directly next to them when they spoke about him.

This was exactly what he deserved. It was really very amusing. Painfully amusing.

Nobody could really ever understand why he acted the way he did, except maybe Dumbledore--who knew the whole story from the very beginning to the deadly chase. Because it was the only way to keep himself and his sanity safe. The ice was the only thing that kept him thinking straight.

It was a damned cruel world and he was prepared to return it in kind.

Luis walked off, stopping several aisles away when spotted Jian. "Tell them I'll be going ahead to the train," he told the bald boy without preamble. "See ya."

He gave Jian a nod, shoved the paid parcel of books into his duffel and made his way out of the shop. He walked on until he made it to the middle of the Diagon Alley street, under the warmth of the sun.

*********

Jon was somewhat embarrassed about Shinrei's question after his last attempt to explain. He knew full well that Luis was drawn to Shinrei. His caustic comments about their being the 'couple of the year' was born of jealousy. Jon's staid nature battled for a few seconds with his regard for Shinrei and a desire to be honest with her.

"Look." he said, "I have to admit to you that I am completely at sea with this sort of thing. So I am probably going to make a terrible hash of it."

He took a deep breath, "Luis thinks that you and I are well... are romantically involved and that is upsetting him. I don't want to push you away Shinrei - not at all - but well people will assume - probably have already assumed that our friendship is well...more than ... friends. I am deeply fond of you I won't deny it but I don't believe that you feel that way about me, do you?"

He hoped he didn't have to spell out what he meant by 'that way' to her. He knew he wasn't the sort of boy that set girls' hearts a flutter. The more time he spent with Shinrei, the more it was obvious that he was likely to get his heart broken not by her being cruel or rejecting but by the inevitability that she couldn't return anything but friendship.

This is why he felt it best to let her go now and immerse himself in his studies and own friendships.

Shinrei stared at him. "You are doing so all because of what Luis Verga is thinking about *us*?" she said carefully. "I thought it beyond you to mind what a strange Slytherin boy is thinking, Jon-kun."

A short laugh escaped her throat, mirthless and a little bit hurt. "Gods, Jon-kun. You are the first real friend I ever had outside of Clan Kossawa. Kami-sama..." Shinrei's voice trailed off as she shook her head in disbelief, still very bewildered.

"I shall have you know that I am also deeply fond of you, Jon-kun. Nothing can change that."

Jon felt just terrible about the way things had gone in the last few minutes. He blushed deeply. He just was not equipped to deal with this kind of situation.

"Of course we are friends, Shinrei. Nothing can change that. I have a deep regard and respect for you. Yet no matter how many times I say to Luis Verga that he is just fantasising about this - that we are not a couple - there still is a little part of me that starts to wish that we were."

He smiled at her, "Look, this doesn't mean I am going to do something foolish and I don't want to push you away. I just think I need to focus on my duties a little more. I don't want you to feel isolated here but I don't want to hold you so close that you perhaps begin to mistake your feelings of friendship for me for love. I know that for girls of your age sometimes such things happen and that would be taking advantage and I'd never do that."

That he also felt extremely vulnerable, didn't need to be said. It was obvious in his stance, his voice and his eyes.

Cold, cold ice consumed Shinrei. She felt a dead, leaden weight descend on her as she looked, unblinking and expressionless, at Jon. She was every inch the heir of Kanjou Hashimoto. Every inch the perfect unfeeling samurai.

"I thank you for your candour, Jon-kun," she replied, her words very clearly uttered, as if she was saying them in a speech before a large audience. "You are, as always, most kind." She bowed, very deeply. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu."

She smiled at him then, a grateful smile that lit up her entire face but somehow did not reach her eyes. "I shall go find Hupi-san and tell him about our itinerary. Will you wait for us here, or...?"

She let the question trail off, waiting for any other suggestions from him.

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

Branwen had selected far too many books and had duly paid for them.

Whilst she was waiting for them to be parcelled up, she let her gaze wander around the rest of the shop. She had been so busy finding fascinating books that she didn't strictly need, that she hadn't noticed any of the other students. She spotted the prefect, Jon, and Shinrei...he must be, what? Sixth year now?

Branwen thanked the assistant and shifting the heavy parcel to a comfortable position she made her way over, grinning from ear to ear.

*I have insulted Shinrei by expressing my feelings* thought Jon. He just wanted to flee and a few moments later when Branwen came up he felt momentarily saved. Just for a moment, then it was from firepan into the fire.

"So, if it isn't our new sixth former!" Branwen teased, smiling warmly. She had a bit of a soft spot for Jon and thought a little gentle teasing would loosen him up a bit. She nodded at Shinrei in greeting but turned back to the boy, "So, been busy during the holidays? I have to admit completely absorbing myself in muggle culture." She pointed to her colourful T-shirt for some band that the pair was unlikely to have heard of, and shrugged, "I always find it so hard to get back into the whole magic thing....the robes...." She pulled a face, eyes still gleaming with mischief, "But I'm sure I can put comfort aside for a while."

She had blossomed during the holidays, not so much growing upwards but rather outwards, and her confidence, much increased, shone from her.

Jon coloured slightly at Branwen's approach. She was undoubtedly a very attractive girl brimming with confidence. Girls these days never seemed to embody that demure quality that could make a boy feel as though he might be their protector. They were all fighters or whiz kids or so sure of themselves as to reduce a wizard of his age to jelly.

"Muggle culture really?" he said looking as instructed at her T-shirt and then finding that he might have looked a little too long and then blushed and stammered a little.

"Robes, agreed not very comfortable though I have to say they are a lot less distracting than..ummm I mean."

Inwardly was dying with embarrassment - falling straight into the kind of trap such girls liked to set. A victim of his hormones, making a complete idiot of himself in front of Shinrei was well. He wanted to enter a monastery immediately. Either that or find Ravenclaw Prefect Isaac Dunes and demand he share his magic formula that allowed him to resist the charms of the opposite sex.

"I'd better go look for Jian." he said, "Branwen if you're headed for the Leaky Cauldron could you take Shinrei there to collect her things? I'll follow shortly."

Shinrei was very thankful for Branwen's rather timely arrival. It seemed to cut through the tension that was slowly beginning to mount between herself and Jon. The girl seemed like a most welcome distraction--for Jon.

She smiled inwardly.

"No, you need not bother" she said in reply to Jon's suggestion, "I shall go look for Hupi-san myself. I was planning on asking him about matters on martial arts training."

Shinrei smiled and bowed to Branwen. "We have but met briefly, Branwen-san, on the very day I arrived at Hogwarts. It is good to see you again. I hope your summer was most wonderful. I shall see you both later. Branwen-san, Jon-kun." She rendered a bow as she said each name.

Quickly, she picked up her packages and stepped away from them to search the other bookshop aisles for Jian.

Jon looked in Shinrei's direction as she left to find Jian. He then seemed to gather himself together and turned back to Branwen.

"I really want to leave right now but I expect I will stay and wait for her to return and never mention this again."

He wasn't quite sure why he said this to Branwen or whether she had even picked up on Shinrei's icy demeanour that had cut him to the quick.

He felt as though he was as dull as the Cleansweep he still held in his hand. Maybe Quidditch wasn't such a good idea if that meant spending more time in Shinrei's company.

Branwen rolled her eyes after Shinrei and turned her warm smile back to Jon.

"Tell you what, I don't approve of wallowing, unless it's over me of course, " She winked, "Why don't you escort a maiden over to the Leaky Cauldron and maybe we can catch up with the holiday gossip."

She smiled sympathetically, "She really isn't your type, you know. You need a sweet natured young lady...bit of refinement.." She winked again and indicated that they should leave and find Butterbeer.

Jon smiled at Branwen. "Thank you for the offer but Shinrei and Jian don't know their way around and they need to go to the apothecary shop before leaving. I'd be failing in my duties as a Prefect if I didn't stay with them."

His nature was such that duty was something he could hide behind if necessary.

He blushed slightly at her words about Shinrei. "You don't think Shinrei is refined? I find her so. She is very caring, she just doesn't have romantic feelings for the likes of me that's all. She deserves a prince or someone similar not a clod who hasn't the first clue about courting a girl of her station. I have insulted her with my attentions. I must not embarrass her further. I'll be OK."

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

Alone once more, Luis stood uncertainly at the middle of Diagon Alley. He still had to pick up potions equipment and ingredients and he would be done then.

He quickly went on to finish his shopping, ducking into shadows and alleyways when he saw young people who looked suspiciously like Hogwarts students.

He bought brass scales, a cauldron, new gloves, phials and flasks. He completed his required potions ingredients and gratefully exited the apothecary, glad that he hadn't run into a Hogwarts student. Because when he thought about it, he was a freak case in the school: a seventeen-year-old Fourth Year.

Luis once more stood in the middle of the street and wondered where he would go to next. Most likely the train station...

**********

Finally bursting outside, Mahou took a deep breath, bending over with her hands on her knees. Looking over, she noticed a boy a ways away from her, standing on his own. She stood up straight and walked over, holding her bags in her arms.

"Excuse me," she interjected, "I'm Mahou.. Mahou Amberstone. I'm new to Hogwarts.." She stopped, not really knowing what else to say, knowing her accent blared like a bike rider in florescent yellow. "I donnae ken ye, sir, an ken tha' ye donnae ken me.. I was jus' wonderin' if ye knew where I could get th' potions ingredients an' th' cauldron? I ha'e a cauldron o' me own.. but it be iron an' abou' 3 feet tall.." She smiled awkwardly.

Luis smiled down at the Irish girl and extended a friendly hand.

"Hello. Buenos dias. The name is Luis Verga, also from Hogwarts. Pleased to meet you, Miss Amberstone. It would be my distinct privilege to show you where to get your potions needs."

Mahou shyly took Luis's hand, shaking it lightly, her grip not very strong. "Nice ta meet ye, too, mister Luis Verga," she said, hoping her accent didn't sound too terrible. She was always afraid no one would be her friend were she to show her accent. She smiled at him, her strange, vivid, lime-green eyes glittering. "Thank ye fer offerin' ta show me where I can get th' potions ingredients. 'Twould be most helpful."

As she started to walk, Blackfoot fell into step beside her. "Are ye nae new ta Hogwarts, then? I used ta go ta Cerrydwin's School fer Gifted Girls. We learned how ta design rituals an' make wands," she explained. "Me teacher said I could craft wands professionally when I got outta school." She shifted her many parcels, most of them containing books.

"It would be nice if you call me Luis," he said with a grin, shifting his duffel on his shoulders and eyeing her heavy packages with an amused expression.

"As for your question, no, I'm not new to Hogwarts. Age-wise, I'm supposed to be in the seventh year now but I quit after my third year. The Headmaster was very kind in allowing me to return and resume my magical education, starting from the fourth year."

Mahou walked alongside Luis, enjoying the sunshine, when he spoke. Looking up at him, she smiled, nodding. "Luis ye shall be, then," she told him, shifting her bags again. She had one with robes, four with books, and one that held the kit to care for her wand. She paid a bundle for that one.

"Seventh year?" Mahou asked, sounding more shocked than she meant to. "Tha' would make ye.. seventeen er so, right? Wow.. tha' be nae much aulder than me.." She quirked her mouth. "Tha' was nice o' th' Headmaster ta let ye come back, Luis. Master Dumbledore let me come inta Fourth year, too, after being at Cerrydwin's. Me Ma was in Gryffindor, an' tha's where th' Hat put me."

"You look like you could use some help with those, Mahou," Luis added, gesturing to her packages. "Would you mind if I carry some of those parcels for you?" He noticed a red furball circling his feet. "This your familiar?"

She grunted and shifted her bags again.. maybe she shouldn't have bought all those books. One spine poked out of the opening, boasting the alchemy class's title.

"Oh," Mahou cried, reacting to Luis's suggestion about taking her bags, "I guess tha' would be alright, Luis.. thank ye." She handed him a few of the bags, keeping a couple for herself. "Blackfoot be me familiar, aye.. Ma gave 'er ta me on me birthday. I was wantin' an owl.. but Blackfoot be more than I can e'er ask fer." She smiled at the little fox who gave a little jump.

Suddenly, a sharp wind came up and tugged at the girl's hat, which was tight around her ears. With her arms full, the half-elf couldn't pull on it in time.. and the wind jerked it right off her head. Horror-struck, Mahou streaked after the hat, forgetting the bags she dropped, trying in vain to catch the hat before her ears could be seen. She couldn't let anyone know.. not now.. not when she was finally getting friends...

"Oh, please, hat.. come back.." Mahou whimpered, racing after the hat. She knew elves had semi-superior speed.. but she couldn't use it.. not here.. She ran with her hands over her ears, tears threatening to fall from her strange, slanted eyes.

Luis caught sight of Mahou's unusually pointed ears ("Elf," he thought dimly) before his reflexes snapped into rapid reaction to the moment at hand.

He dashed after Mahou and caught up with her easily. He threw the packages in his arms up into the air and used the split-second's time to withdraw his wand from within his leather jacket.

"Verso!" he said calmly. The packages remained suspended in mid-air. The hat was flying away, faster with every passing second...

"Accio Mahou Amberstone's hat!" he said, pointing his wand at the flying hat. In obedience, the hat whizzed back towards his waiting hand.

Just as quickly, Luis drew a circle above his head and muttered his favourite spell, an illusion/ concealment charm that would render the occupants of a certain circle of space invisible to others' eyes. "Vacefio."

He took a few more seconds to catch his breath and shove the wand back into his jacket. "That was close, no?" he asked, grinning with exhilaration, dangling the hat in his hand and offering it back to the Irish girl.

He was sure the whole episode took less than thirty seconds to complete. Z.D. would have been proud, he thought ironically.

Mahou stood there, mortified with herself. She hadn't thought to use magic at all.. she was an ELF for goodness' sake.. she had some innate powers that she didn't know of.. but the LEAST she could have done was remember to use magic.

"Thank you.. Luis.." Mahou whispered, too ashamed and afraid to do much else. She clenched her hands, left over right, unusually-glittery tears slipping from her lime-green eyes. "I didn't even think to..." she stopped. Tilting her head down, Mahou stared at her hands.

"Please donnae tell anyone, Luis," she pleaded, not looking up at him. "I. I want friends.. an' no one would be my friend if they kenned wha' I am." She sniffled, clenching her hands tighter. She lifted her face and looked up at Luis, not reaching for the hat. "Ye donnae ken wha' it be like ta be me.. everyone ridiculing ye fer bein' half elf, half-human. I donnae belong anywhere.. no' in yer magical world.. no' in Da's elfin world." She turned her body to face Luis, Blackfoot rubbing against her leg. "Please tell me ye will keep this a secret fer me.. please.."

Staring up at him, Mahou realised how weak she must seem. But right now.. she didn't care. Luis knew she was an elf and she didn't want anyone to know. She really didn't.

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

Jian saw Shinrei approach him at the corner of his eye--he was in an aisle a good distance away and had been busily browsing through a book entitled "The Home Life and Social Habits of Oriental Muggles." He knew he was supposed to go look for Jonathan and Shinrei right after Luis told him he was leaving the shop ahead, but he had gotten side-tracked by the many fascinating books held by the shelves of Flourish and Blotts.

Reddening, he shoved the book back into the shelf and picked up his wrapped Hogwarts set books. "Luis Verga said he goes ahead," he said to her, not meeting her eyes. "He left the shop, Miss."

He looked more closely at her face and saw that it was blank and very stiff, yet her eyes held a glazed look that was intended to ward off pain. Only a true warrior could pull off a face like the one worn by Shinrei Hikari--a determined countenance that would not even flinch even if struck by the Cruciatus Curse. He felt slightly envious, yet this was overshadowed by a burst of admiration and even greater concern.

What happened? he was tempted to ask her. Who hurt you?

"Do we go now?" he asked. Then it slipped off his tongue, as his hand instinctively slid into the left sleeve of his robes and closed around the fabric contraption that held his Needles--"Are you well, Miss?"

Few knew that Hupi Jian was also well trained in pressure points--and was extremely skilled as to where to use Needles. The trained part of him suddenly realised the female needed...help.

"I am well, Hupi-san," Shinrei replied, her face frozen in the expressionless mask. "And, yes, we are leaving."

She took in the sight of his hand half-concealed in the sleeve and the rather curious-yet-concerned look on his face. She had a very strong suspicion that someone of his background had Needles and the like at hand for use in first-aid situations. She found this strangely caring and yet did not press the issue.

"If you have bought all our Hogwarts books, then we shall be heading to the apothecary next and then to the train. I believe we leave for school in about an hour."

Jian saw the look in her eyes.

She knows, he thought. She knows about the Needles. Or my healing abilities for that matter.

The idea did not surprise him much at all.

Jian nodded. "Yes, I have bought all my Hogwarts books, Miss. I am also ready to leave."

Shinrei nodded in response and turned and led the way back towards Branwen and Jon.

"Hupi-san and I still need ingredients for potions," she said to Jon, "and I believe I have spotted where the apothecary is. Would it be all right if Hupi-san and I were to buy what we need from there now? We could meet at the Leaky Cauldron in a little while, Jon-kun."

"Luis Verga also said he goes ahead to the train, Jonathan," Jian added. "I have no objection in going with Miss Hikari to the apothecary."

It would be better if he was close by if ever anything happened to her. Shinrei Hikari indeed looked like she was not well, even if she denied being so. What was wrong with her? he wondered. It seemed as though she could freeze all her insides with just a mere thought of it.

His gaze was caught by a female standing beside Jonathan. This one was Caucasian, dressed in the clothes he saw on young Muggle females whenever he and the brothers went to the cities. He swallowed hard and immediately looked away.

Jon saw Shinrei and Jian approaching and composed himself.

He was silently grateful at her offer to undertake the trip to the Apothecary without him. He was also relieved to hear that Luis had left for the train. He had no doubt the Slytherin boy would pick up on the distance between himself and Shinrei immediately.

"Yes of course, Shinrei, Jian. I will see you in a few minutes then." His natural reserve had kicked in.

He then turned towards Branwen. "Miss Evans. May I escort you then to the Leaky Cauldron?"

Shinrei smiled and nodded at Jon and Branwen. "We shall see you both later, then."

She turned to address the boy beside her, who seemed to be trying hard not to get flustered at the sight of Branwen. It was very amusing. "Hupi-san?"

"Yes, Miss Hikari. Let us go." Jian secured his packages and prepared to follow Shinrei's lead.

Shinrei bowed to both Jon and Branwen and also secured her own parcels. She glanced and nodded at Jian, indicating she was ready to leave.

She walked out of Flourish and Blotts and back into the street. The life and movement there was very much welcome compared to the dim stillness of the bookshop.

She addressed Jian as she began to stride towards the apothecary. "Hupi-san. If you do not mind my asking...do you specialise in any martial art? Of course, I have heard about your Order and those similar to it but I really am very curious. My master was once a Sohei himself. Kyoto Sohei."

"Shaolin," Jian answered, "we are Shaolin. We are less martial than Sohei. Our kind are mostly healers and workers. We fight when we really must, yes?"

Jian looked over his school list once more. "I have need of potions ingredients and equipment, Miss. I have no plan to miss the train too."

He knew she would somehow find it obvious he was trying to switch topics. He did not care. Jian found discussion of his background very disconcerting--he just did not have much to say about it, or much to say about anything else for that matter.