Labyrinth of Illusion

Hagrid threw open the door to his hut. "Well, Harry!" The half-giant picked Harry up, hugging him tightly. "Sorry I didn't see the last two days. I reckon yeh were busy, with Gwendolyn an' all. Exciting innit?"

Harry gasped for breath, muffled beneath Hagrid's many furs. "Hgrdicntbrf!"

Letting go of the teenager, Hagrid look down. "Wha' was that?"

"I said... I couldn't breath...." He gasped for breath, the colour slowly returning to his face.

"Sorry, Laddie." Hagrid gave Harry a jolt in the arm, knocking the young man about a foot. Before Harry could pitch towards the ground, Hagrid grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. "Don't know me own strength sometimes. Well, come in. Ron an' Hermione ain't with yeh?"

"No, I came alone." Harry stepped into the hut. He was immediately assaulted with the sounds and smells of Hagrid's menagerie. Hagrid's hut always tended to resemble a zoo.

"Care fer a cuppa tea, Harry m'boy?" Hagrid asked.

"Sure. Thank you." Harry sat down. "So, how did speaking with the giants go?"

Hagrid busied himself at the stove, boiling water. "Now, I'm sure yeh don't really want ta hear 'bout tha'."

"No, I do." Harry crossed his arms. "I really do, Hagrid. Everyone's worried about Voldemort and he seems really intent on getting me first. Cedric died because of it. I wish people would tell me what was going on. You and Hermione and Ron were avoiding the question all summer. It worried me."

Stroking his bushy beard in thought, Hagrid sat down. He shook his head. "Harry, there ain't bin much news on you-know-who. Dumbledore figger'd yeh'd be worried if we told yeh tha'. Olympe an' meself have some more convincin' ta do, but the giants are startin' ta see. Tha' better, Laddie?"

Harry nodded. "Thanks for telling me, Hagrid. I've spent so much time... Thinking about it..."

"Don't go worryin' yerself, Harry. Dumbledore will take care of it. If anyone can take care of you-know-who, its Albus Dumbledore." Hagrid moved back to the kettle, which was whistling loudly. "Now tell me, how do yeh feel about Gwendolyn?"

"Ummm...." Harry pushing his glasses up from their resting place on the bridge of his nose. "She seems nice."

"Little moody, from wha' I remember, but still sweet." Hagrid chuckled. "A bit scatterbrained, mind. Reminded me a bit a' Neville Longbottom. Always felt a bit sorry fer her myself. Quiet girl. Why she ever got involved with...." Hagrid trailed off. "Well, I prolly shouldn't be tellin' yeh that."

"Telling me what?" Harry accepted the cup of tea Hagrid place before him. "Who was she involved with?"

"Nuffin. Forget I said anything."

"I want to get to know her. I mean-- She's family. And not the Dursleys! I can ask her about my dad--"

"Now, Harry, yeh should be careful. I don't know how Gwendolyn feels about yer father. After that falling out...." Hagrid trailed off.

"What falling out?"

Hagrid sighed, "Well, Gwendolyn an' James were raised up close. 'er mum died when she was a babe, and 'er dad was away all the time. Almost like brother and sister, they were. But they started t' drift apart when they came here, bein' in different houses and all. Gwendolyn stopped talking ta James all together right before he got married. He didn't approve of her fella." Hagrid sighed. "James always regretted not apologizin' before she disappeared."

"Oh." Harry sighed deeply, slumping down.

"Now, I'm sure she don't have no hard feelins. I mean, she wants ta talk wit' yeh, right? Just be careful wit' how yeh approach it."

Harry rose from his seat. "I should go. Professor Snape gave us a load of homework tonight."

Hagrid gave Harry a shot in the arm, which nearly knocked the boy across the room. "Just be careful, Harry."

**

Nothing seemed amiss until Fawkes began squawking from his perch.

"Konban wa, Dumbledore-Sensei." The calm voice greeted from the door.

Dumbledore's head snapped up, momentarily shocked. He shook his head, adjusting his glasses. "My word.... Good evening to you too, Sakura. Um, have you acquired a new power I should be frightened of? Not many people are able to sneak up on me."

Tucking a strand of dark brown hair over her ear, Sakura Tsukino limped into the office. "My only power is the ability to run into Professor McGonagall."

"And the ability to create quite a stunning entrance."

"'Hi, Professor Dumbledore' just seemed so mediocre. I've always been a bit of a drama queen. I like what you have done in here."

"Thank you. I have been working very hard on it." Dumbledore rose, gesturing to the seat in front of his desk. "It is good to see you, Sakura. You look wonderful. Very different from the last time I saw you. You were fond of kimonos back then."

Sakura looked down at her dark brown trousers and white tunic. "As much as I love the traditional wizarding garb of my people, it is very impractical. Have you ever tried to capture a Dark Wizard wearing a silk robe?"

Dumbledore smiled, chuckling softly. "I'm afraid I've never had that pleasure... So, How have you been?"

"Very busy." She stretched her legs out.

"Where have you been?" Dumbledore looked her over again. "The reports are sketchy, but you look in good condition."

"Been spending a lot of time in the Himalayas. I was chasing a pack of Dark Wizards."

"How did that endeavor go?"

"Those I captured will spend the rest of their lives in prison, living with their dishonour."

"And those you didn't?" Dumbledore felt a slight chill as he viewed the cold expression within the eyes of the young Auror.

"They are not living with their dishonour." Sakura put her hands in her lap. "Your owl seemed very insistent on my coming. May I ask why?"

"I wanted to ask you to take the position of Defense Against the Darks Arts Professor."

"Very funny, Headmaster. First of all, I don't know the first thing about teaching. Second, my... Odd... temperament does not lend itself to working with children."

"I realize this." Dumbledore watched Sakura carefully as she looked around the office.

"Besides, the school year has begun. Isn't it a little late?"

"I have already found someone to fill the position. But I have a different task in which I believe you can assist me."

Sakura sighed, shutting her eyes as she nodded. "I would be happy to do it. But I doubt young Harry will appreciate being guarded."

Dumbledore's eyes widened. "How did you know--"

"It was a logical assumption. News of Voldemort even reaches the Pacific Rim." She looked up, her eyes becoming luminescent gold. "I can also see the fear in your eyes. You fear what will happen to the boy."

"I have grown more fearful. Would you like to know who is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Yes."

"Gwendolyn Maclay."

Sakura didn't flinch. She refolded her hands. "I though Gwendolyn died."

"Up until a few weeks ago, so did we."

"Are you apprehensive about her?" Sakura searched Dumbledore's eyes for an answer. "Do you think she might be untrustworthy?"

"I trust her enough that I am allowing her the position of Defense Against Dark Arts Professor." Dumbledore rose from his seat. "But not enough to have Harry unprotected, not after last year. Remus and Sirius are here; they have been for several weeks. However, they cannot be seen by the student body. You can."

"I will protect Harry as if he was my own son." Sakura got up, bowing.

Dumbledore went to clap Sakura on the shoulder. She turned, moving to the exit before she could be touched. "You will introduce me to the students. I do not want you to put Harry out in the open by having me protect only him. I will watch the whole student body."

He nodded. "That sounds fair. Come, I will introduce you to the different houses. I can tell you what you need to know along the way."

**

"Hey Hermione, whatcha up to?" Ron asked, falling beside his friend. She quickly covered up her books. "You're hiding something."

"I'm- I'm just doing some research," Hermione replied nervously, closing up her books.

"Research? Classes just started, Hermione!" Ron looked at the cover of the book Hermione was poring over. The cover said 'Unsolved Mysteries'. He glanced at another book. It was 'Accidental Curses Throughout the Ages'. He sighed in relief. "So I'm not the only one nervous about Professor Maclay."

"It's weird, Ron. She just VANISHED sixteen years ago. Now she's turned up, completely fine and teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's too weird. It's not right."

"I've been thinking about it myself. It's real convenient, isn't it? Harry thought all of his family was dead. Then BAM! One of them shows up. Wouldn't surprise me if she's been serving Voldemort all of these years."

Hermione shook her head. "I really don't know, Ron. I want to keep Harry safe. That's the most important thing." She lowered her voice even more. "But more important than protecting him... We have to make sure he doesn't get hurt."

"Isn't that protecting him?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I mean hurt emotionally. He might get hurt if he finds out we don't trust his--" Ron slashed his hand across his throat furiously and Hermione went quiet.

"What's going on, guys?" Harry asked, looking at Hermione's stack of books. "Studying already?"

"You know me," she laughed nervously, "I can't help but."

He examined her choice of reading material. "Directional Magic? Does this have something to do with Gwendolyn?"

"Well, yes, Harry...." Hermione admitted quietly. Ron slapped his forehead. Two minutes into having a secret and it was blown. Hermione continued, "with Professor Maclay's return, I have decided to research the curse she has. It's quite fascinating. Apparently, Professor Maclay is only the tenth person ever to get cursed with an incurable misdirection spell and every time they were accidents. The first case was in Beijing in....."

"Sounds fascinating," Harry replied dully, interrupting Hermione. His eyes had glazed over, boredom setting it. Ron gave a smile. He had to hand it to Hermione. She was good at lying. She just made her excuse so long and boring that the other party completely lost interest in what she was saying!

Hermione sat up straight. "It's Professor Dumbledore." Harry and Ron turned. Professor Dumbledore was, indeed, coming into the Gryffindor Common Room with a rather comely woman beside him. She was limping slightly.

"Pardon me," Dumbledore said, clearing his throat. "Would everyone come out of their dormitories. I wish to have a word with all of you."

The Gryffindor students came out of their rooms, looking at their headmaster. He gestured to the woman beside him. "I would like you all to meet Miss Sakura Tsukino. She is an Auror from Japan. Due to the recent events at this school, I have requested that Miss Tsukino watch out for dark activities. Now, as a warning... Miss Tsukino is NOT Mr. Filch. Her job is not to reprimand you for being out of bed or taking points. Her job is to protect you from the Dark Wizards that have seemed to gravitate to the school in past years. As such, you will NOT do anything to distract Miss Tsukino from her job. Are we clear? This is just a precautionary measure, I hope I am not worrying any of you."

All of the students nodded, looking at the slip of a woman. She didn't look strong enough to take down Neville Longbottom, let alone Lord Voldemort!

Dumbledore and Miss Tsukino exchanged a few words in Japanese. Dumbledore tipped his hat, while Miss Tsukino bowed. The headmaster of Hogwarts left, leaving the Auror to look at the students of Gryffindor. She shrugged, going to stand in the corner.

Most of the students retreated back to their dorm rooms. Harry, Hermione and Ron went into a huddle.

"This is kind of weird," Hermione said, glancing at the woman. She just leaned against the wall, surveying the area, "think Dumbledore is worried about your safety, Harry?"

Harry shook his head furiously. "I think he's just worried in general. Geez, I wish he had mentioned something about bringing in security. It's a little freaky."

"Well, might as well be nice," Ron walked over to Miss Tsukino. "HELLO- MISS- TSUKINO," He yelled, enunciating each word, "HOW-DO-YOU-LIKE-SCOTLAND?"

"IT'S-VERY-NICE," Miss Tsukino answered in a similar voice, "EVEN-NICER-THAN-WHEN-I-LIVED-HERE."

Ron took a step back, blushing deeply. "You lived here?"

She smiled, nodding. "I lived in England most of my life. I moved when I was a small child. I even attended Hogwarts in my youth. You must be Ron. Professor Dumbledore has told me about all three of you."

Harry lowered his head. "So you are here to guard me."

"No, Harry. I am here to guard the student body from those who might harm them. Though considering most Dark Wizards special interest in you, I suspect I will have to keep a close eye. I hope this does not bother you."

He shook his head, sighing. "I'm kind of used to it by now."

**

ENGLISH-JAPANESE:

Konban Wa-- Good Evening
Sensei-- Teacher