Of a Million Spells

Chapter One

D/c: I don't own. Lamesauce. Italics in quotations ["Example…."] symbolize speaking in Japanese.

Harry waited, a bit impatiently, as Mrs. Weasley kissed all her children, including himself and Hermione, and wished them all a happy year. "Enjoy your selves!" she called, waving.

Within moments, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville were seated in a compartment, excited smiles gracing their faces. "This is our sixth year. Can you believe it?" Hermione breathed, her face flushed.

Ron shook his head. "It's one more year, and we'll be seventh years. The top of the chain," He said, a grin on his features.

"That's if you make it, Ron." Harry laughed, raising his arm to ward off a friendly punch to the shoulder.

------

Kagome sat in the teachers' compartment, aware of stares she was receiving from some prefects. She waited impatiently for the train to leave. Curiosity was always her downfall, she knew, but a school of witchcraft and wizardry! How had she never sensed the magic? The power? It was as if the simple letter requesting her teaching services had opened a world of possibilities to her. Magic. She smiled softly, joy illuminating her features. She would be back home, in a sense. Though she would never see her companions again, she would be within a world of magic. Wizards! Witches!

Her musings were cut short, however, as her holy power sparked to life. She could feel them. Demons. Coming to the compartment. A frown appeared, her fingers twitching. What are they doing on the train? The compartment door slid open, and she found herself looking into curious green eyes. "Oh…" she trailed off, moving to stand.

"Please, don't stand on our accord." The young man murmured, motioning for her to sit.

She sat.

She observed the two before her, a wary expression on her face. The one that had spoken was tall and slender, rich crimson hair pulled back from his face with a clip. His eyes were assessing her as well, she felt, and she flushed in embarrassment. Her brown eyes moved to his companion, a shorter demon, though still wiry and muscular. His black hair seemed to defy the laws of physics, and a few lochs fell into his blood-red eyes, which were hostile, shooting metaphorical darts towards her.

She knew her eyes were wide, and she found her mouth opening before she could help herself. "What are you doing here, Demons!?" she blurted.

The red-haired man stared at her, his eyes becoming shuttered, and she felt the flush returning. "We are to teach. And yourself, priestess?" he asked, his tone clipped and cold.

She dropped her gaze. "I'm sorry." She murmured in English. "I didn't mean it to sound like that. I was just shocked." She took a deep breath and held out her hand. "My name is Kagome Higurashi. I'm here to teach as well."

The red-head smiled gently, grasping her hand. "Suichi Minamino. My companion is Hiei."

Hiei didn't bother to awknowlege the greeting.

"Well, hello Minamino-san. Hiei-san. I hope we can be companions in our journey this year." She said brightly, wondering when the hell she had begun speaking like a cultured museum coordinator.

He smiled slightly, nodding. "I as well." They stood in silence for a few moments, and Kagome found herself staring again. 'Oh kami help me,' she thought, 'this man is gorgeous'. "May we sit?" he asked her, vaguely amused by here wide eyed stare.

She blinked owlishly, mouth gaping, before snapping back. "Oh! Sorry! Please!" she moved to the farther end of the sofa to allow them to sit.

"Useless." Hiei muttered, sitting on the armrest.

Kagome glared at him. "Watch it, shorty. I've purified things bigger than you in my day," she snapped.

Hieis hand shot down and Kagome noticed the katana for the first time –brilliant, girl. Good job. Piss off the demon with the pointy thing. Kurama lay a hand on his arm, halting the progress. After all, there were students watching. And they were terrified. It was rather comical, them staring with their large eyes and open mouths.

"Be careful, onna, or you may not have anything to purify with." Hiei snarled.

"Pah." Kagome scoffed.

Kurama sat between them, silently asking the heavens why the hell he was stuck with two arguing idiots.

…

As they stepped off the trains, Kagome hugged her messenger bag closer to her. Her hand briefly caressed it, making sure that everything was still intact. As the three of them began walking to a carriage, Kagome let out a shriek that startled Kurama and Hiei. "What…what…what the hell is that!" she screamed, pointing at the thing that was pulling the carriage.

Kurama and Hiei didn't answer, but stared at the skeletal creatures. They were grotesque, that was for sure, but fascinating. Kurama stepped up to one, rested his hand on its neck. It turned its head to stare at him with blank eyes, sniffed him, then turned forward once more, flanks quivering. "It's a thestral." Said a voice from his right.

He turned, and found him self with an eye full of belly. He, Shuichi Minamino, was too short. Kurama craned his neck to peer into the face of the man beside him. "A what?"

"A thestral. Marvelous creatures really, if not a bi' spooky. Normally, you couldn't see 'em. But th' only exceptions to tha' rule are th' ones tha' o' seen death." The man said in his booming voice.

"Ah. I see." Kurama said, rapidly removing his hand. That creature had suddenly become morbid. "Thank you, sir."

"Th' names Hagrid."

"Thank you, Hagrid. My name is Shuichi Minamino." At Hagrid's baffled and slightly panicked look, he let out a laugh. "My friends call me Kurama." He supplied.

"Well then," Hagrid chuckled, "I'll be seeing you." He waved as he walked away shouting for first years.

…

"Ron...chew your food." Hermoine said disgustedly, watching as one Ronald Weasley shoved everything that he could into his own mouth.

Ron had the grace to blush as he swallowed. "Sorry…"

But Hermoine had already turned to Harry, excitement gracing her features. "Did you hear?" she asked eagerly.

"Hear what?" Harry and Ron echoed.

"We have new teachers this year." She gushed, and Harry rolled his eyes.

"Only you, 'Moine. We always have new teachers, if you haven't noticed. It's like an official...tradition since we've come to Hogwarts."

"Yeah, but are any of them from Japan?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Well….no, but were the hell do you hear these things?" Ron demanded.

"Erm….well…I've kept in touch to McGonogal…" she stumbled, blushing and averting her eyes.

Harry and Ron simply stared, the noise around them doing nothing to stir them from their amusement. "Brilliant." Ron muttered.