(Y/N) took a deep breath as she sat next to a platinum blonde haired girl. She was... interesting, to say the least - she was reading a book upside down. Across her seat was a girl with red hair, who seemed to be flipping through a Quidditch booklet that she brought along with her.

None of the compartments that (Y/N) passed through had only one or two people in it, only this one. The girl had no choice but to sit with two strangers and hopefully not be as awkward as she was when she first attended Mato.

"Um, my name is (Y/N)." She introduced herself and tried to create a conversation. "I'm a transferee from Japan."

"Japan?" The girl with red hair lifted her eyes from her booklet. She looked interested enough for (Y/N) to feel relieved. "You're a Japanese?"

"It's my first time seeing a Japanese person..." The girl who sat beside (Y/N) spoke up with a gentle smile.

"I'm not really Japanese - I'm half. My father is Japanese while my mother is British." The (H/C) haired girl explained, causing the two girls to hum.

"What's the wizarding school in Japan like? Do you play Quidditch?" The red-head asked but stopped herself from continuing as she lowered her Quidditch booklet to her lap and cleared her throat. "Sorry, I haven't even introduced myself yet. My name is Ginny."

"I'm Luna." The girl beside (Y/N) said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you two." (Y/N) nodded and remembered the girls' names. "And um, I attended Mahoutokoro School of Magic. It's a pretty strict school - the teachers don't allow anyone to slack off in classes but almost everyone in the school got along, even if they were from different houses. House prejudice is discouraged by the professors and the headmaster."

"Ooh, there are also houses in your school? What are they?" Ginny's curiousity almost felt like she was way too excited to learn more about the foreign school. (Y/N) was happy about this, of course - she liked talking to anyone about what her school was like, except to muggles since they'd be horrifically confused about it.

"There are four houses in Mato. They're; Toppu, the house where the intelligent and elite wizards and witches who are meticulous and quick-witted mostly ended up in. Seiran, the house where the intuitive and creative students are. Shunrai, the house where the confident and good-humoured students were, and Yosamu, the house where idealistic, adaptable, and protective witches and wizards were." (Y/N) explained with a smile. "I'm in Yosamu - I expected myself to be in Shunrai though."

"We also have four houses in Hogwarts." Luna told the girl as she set her upside book down next to her. "They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. I'm in Ravenclaw."

"I'm in Gryffindor!" Ginny grinned at (Y/N). "Do you play Quidditch by any chance?"

(Y/N) nodded. "Yes, I am one of the Yosamu Quidditch team's chasers. I was honestly hoping I could try out for a chaser position in my new house if there's any available." She replied as she remembered those moments where she played Quidditch against the other houses' teams - she already missed playing the game already.

"That's great! I want to play for my house, but our chasers haven't retired yet so..." Ginny said, making (Y/N) nod. She understood - many twelve year olds in Shunrai were getting restless because they couldn't get a position to play in their house's Quidditch team. 

"Quidditch is a rough game, isn't it?" Luna asked. "I wish I could play but the nargles would come and bother me while I'm playing." She added. (Y/N) tilted her head to the side and turned to look at Ginny to see if she knows what she's talking about.

The red-head giggled and waved her hand in dismissal. "Don't ask." She said. (Y/N) nodded and only smiled at Luna, who was already playing with her anti-nargles charm necklace.

»»-----　♡　-----««

As the three were nearing Hogwarts, they changed into their robes and waited until the train stopped. Ginny wore her Gryffindor robes while Luna wore her Ravenclaw robes. Since (Y/N) hasn't been sorted yet, she wore her plain black working robes and followed the two girls outside.

(Y/N) has been told to follow the first years instead of going with her fellow fourth year students in the carriages in her letter, so she bode farewell to Ginny and Luna. They were younger than her, but they seemed very mature and fun to be around.

"Firs' years! Firs' years, over here!" A giant man with large mustache and furry overcoat yelled out and gestured at the boats where the other first years were sitting in. (Y/N) immediately felt awkward since she would be the only fourth year student that's joining the first years in their boats.

The height gap is just too big.

As (Y/N) walked towards the boats, the giant man stopped and looked down to look at her. "Oi, yer a firs' year?" He asked skeptically with a gruff tone of voice. "Ya don' look like it."

"I'm a transferee, sir." She said with a bow to respect him. It was a habit she got from Mato, since the number one rule that was already taught to the students when they first entered the gates of the school was to bow down and show respect to your superiors. "My Hogwarts letter told me to follow the first years so I could be sorted along with them."

The giant's face scrunched up in confusion. "I ain't hearin' no transferee from Professor Dumbledore before." He said, causing the girl to feel worried and scared. Would she not be able to get inside the castle?

"Well, get in those boats. I don' wanna assume you're suspicious - you're here after all." He said before he continued to call for other first years to ride the boats. (Y/N) thanked the giant and picked an available boat that still didn't have any students in it.

As she sat down, she sighed in relief and began to play with her fingers nervously. How she wished that she was with Ginny and Luna right now - it felt extremely awkward to be with first years and with other people who she didn't know. Her anxiety was just booming through the roof.

However, she stopped complaining and waited for the other first years to come and take their seats. Some first years looked at (Y/N) skeptically and wondered why someone who looks old enough to be a fourth year student was sitting with them.

Nonetheless, (Y/N) ignored the stares and was silent as they all travelled to the majestic castle of Hogwarts through their boats.

»»-----　♡　-----««

As the first years and (Y/N) arrived at the entrance hall of the castle, they were immediately greeted by an animagus professor, who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall. She held a strong, determined look on her face that it somewhat intimidated (Y/N).

However, she got used to the strict teachers in Mahoutokoro that her intimidation of the teacher didn't stick around for too long.

She explained the four houses, the house points, and the house cups. After explaining the houses, she led the first years to the Great Hall. The first years and (Y/N) were formed in a single file line and they all gawked up at the bewitched night sky on the ceiling.

Multiple candles floated in the air that gave the hall the warm illuminating light, along with four long tables that had each of the students in their respective houses looking at the first years to see what kind of people they were going to get this year.

Soft murmurs went through (Y/N)'s ears as she heard some people asking why someone who doesn't look like an eleven year old following the first years. She felt anxious and tried to ignore the murmurs.

In the Gryffindor table, a few students noticed the somewhat tall fourth year student walking among the first years anxiously. Harry, who heard the mutters, lifted his eyes up from his empty plate and looked over to see what his fellow housemates were talking about.

He blinked and felt his heart stop when he saw the girl's (H/C) hair. He gulped and instinctively placed his hand on his ring, his thoughts running rampant inside his mind.

Was it really her? No, but there are also other people who have (H/C) hair. It's not just her. Should he expect that it's her?

He looked down on his ring and saw (Y/N)'s clumsily carved name in it. It read; (Y/N) Tachibana.

Harry's lips quivered. He had to wait - if McGongall called out (Y/N)'s name and she stepped up on the stool to be sorted, it was her.

He felt his heart beating loudly, anxiety now filling his mind. He didn't want to get his hopes up, but at the same time, he hoped that girl to be (Y/N).

He wanted that girl to be (Y/N).

McGonagall cleared her throat as she retrieved a long parchment from the teacher's table. "Now, when I call your name, please get up front to be sorted into your houses." She said before she drifted her eyes down to the very first name that was on top of the parchment.

While the students were getting sorted, (Y/N) immediately felt... uncomfortable. She felt like someone was staring at her from one of the tables so intently. The girl twisted her head around when the feeling became too strong to ignore, her fear and anxiety mixing in together.

She scanned the hall briefly and saw that almost everyone was looking at the groups of first years that was with her. (Y/N) gulped and dismissed the idea of anyone possibly staring at her like that - everyone's attention was on the first years and her, of course she'd feel the eyes of people on her.

The sorting continued and the hat yelled out the house that the students were going to be sorted in. As the initials of the last names that McGonagall announced slowly came close to her own initials, (Y/N)'s heart was already beating rapidly - she could hear her own heartbeat drumming in her ears.

Harry was also sweating. It was almost time for (Y/N)'s last name initial to be announced. Hermione noticed how her black haired friend seemed to be anxious and nudged his shoulder. "Harry, what's wrong?"

The boy didn't reply and kept staring intently at the nervous girl that was a few meters away from him.

As another student got sorted, McGonagall's eyes drifted down to the parchment and announced the next student. "Tachibana, (Y/N)." She said, causing the girl's nervousness to peak as she walked up to the stool and tucked some of her hair behind her ear, revealing most of her facial features to everyone.

Harry felt his body going weak. A soft blush invaded his cheeks with a small smile curling up on his lips. His shoulders loosened in relief and he looked down on his fake silver ring happily.

"It's her." He muttered then realized how good he felt when he confirmed it himself that it was the girl he was waiting for, just a few meters away from him. "It's her." He said, more loudly this time.

"Her?" Hermione asked and followed his gaze at the ring, reading out (Y/N)'s name in her mind then turned to look at the nervous (H/C) haired girl that was being sorted right now. "You mean, that's the girl you were waiting for for five years? That's her?"

"It's her." He replied once more, looking at Hermione in the most lovestruck look anyone could make. This made the Gryffindor girl shocked and concerned at the same time - how infatuated is he to a girl that he met five years ago?

Harry's breathing soon became erratic when he turned to look at (Y/N) once more. He knew that he saw her passing through his compartment in the train. He felt regretful that he didn't get out of his compartment and confirm that it was her, but he felt relieved nonetheless that it really is (Y/N).

She was here in Hogwarts.

She came back.

She came back for him.

Meanwhile, the hat was pondering and talked inside (Y/N)'s mind like it was telepathy. It shocked her, to say the least.

"Ah, this was certainly unexpected... Yes, I can see that you are a creative individual, but also idealistic. Confident and strong-willed as well... You would fit well in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, but..." The hat hummed once more as (Y/N) remained silent while the hat kept trying to wonder where she should be sorted in. "Your values are different from that of Gryffindors... You are very loyal and seem to be known for your adaptability and humility. You don't seem to value intelligence all that much... Better be..."

"Hufflepuff!" The hat roared as the Hufflepuff table clapped in cheers for having a new student in their house. (Y/N) smiled and hopped off of her stool as McGonagall removed the hat from her head. She quickly bowed down to the professor and thanked her before skipping happily towards her new house mates.

Harry frowned and bit the insides of his cheek when he saw (Y/N) being congratulated by the Hufflepuffs in her table. How was she not sorted in Gryffindor with him? Did the world just not want Harry to be with (Y/N) again, even if she was right there in front of him?

"Blimey, she's a tall first year." Ron commented as he watched (Y/N) walking towards the Hufflepuff table.

"She's not a first year - we're the same age." Harry told his friend bitterly and watched as the few other students were getting sorted. "She's a fourth year."

"Eh? Harry, how do you know?" asked Ron in surprise.

"She's (Y/N). The girl who gave me this ring five years ago." The black haired boy answered and drifted his gaze back to (Y/N) in the Hufflepuff table. She was laughing along and greeting a few of her housemates, which made him bitter.

She was supposed to be laughing with him right now.

"That's her? Wait, I'm confused. Does that mean that she transferred here from a magical school in Japan?" The red-haired boy asked once more, causing Hermione to enter the conversation.

"Well, there is a magic school in other countries as well; I wouldn't be surprised if she attended the one that's in Japan." Hermione replied to Ron's question. "Still, it's not everyday you see someone transferring from another wizarding school to another."

Harry wasn't paying attention to his friends' conversation, his eyes were glued to the (H/C) haired girl in the Hufflepuff table.

She definitely grew - her appearance wasn't as dirty and rugged as she was when she was nine years old. In fact, she looked more elegant and clean - with her (H/C) colored locks tucked gently behind her left ear as the right side of her hair covered her right ear, which gave attention to some of the features in her face.

He wondered if she still held the same confident look in her glistening (E/C) eyes like before. He couldn't really tell - she was too far from the Gryffindor table.

She grew up to be beautiful and Harry loved it.

The black haired Gryffindor had to meet her after the feast was done. He couldn't wait to get the chance to talk to her again.

»»-----　♡　-----««

Once Dumbledore gave his speech about getting new visitors this year due to Hogwarts being the host of the Triwizard Tournament, (Y/N)'s hopes of being able to play for Hufflepuff in Quidditch matches plummeted as Dumbledore also announced that Quidditch matches won't be held this year because of the Triwizard Tournament as well.

She frowned and sighed, thinking about how she'll have to wait another year to be able to play. Dumbledore also announced that no students under the age of seventeen are allowed to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, which was understandable as the competition seemed to be very dangerous - the tasks sounded life-threatening.

Of course, some people didn't take too kindly on this, mostly Gryffindors. (Y/N) immediately assumed that Gryffindors are probably the Shunrais of Hogwarts - they like to take risks way too often.

Dumbledore dismissed the commotion that was going on in the Great Hall and told them that this decision was final. Grumbling, the students who wanted to participate silently began to eat their food.

(Y/N) almost fell out of her seat when huge amount of food suddenly popped up in front of her and across the Hufflepuff table. Sure, she also experienced eating with everyone in Mato during the first day of classes but it wasn't this fancy.

"Get used to it," One boy beside her spoke, smiling at her shocked expression. "This happens all the time when there's an occasion."

"I see..." (Y/N) nodded and clapped both of her hands, muttering the words 'Itadakimasu' before grabbing food that she'd like to eat. It's been a while since she held a spoon and fork, especially since she always used chopsticks while she was in Japan.

"My name's Cedric. Cedric Diggory." The boy beside her introduced himself as he watched the girl in amusement. Well, he's never seen anyone clap their hands before eating but Cedric immediately brushed it off since he did hear that she was a transferee from Japan - it was most likely something they did  before they ate.

The girl didn't expect Cedric to introduce himself but smiled at him anyway and briefly bowed at him. "Nice to meet you. My name's (Y/N) Tachibana." She introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you." Cedric returned the smile and back to his food, his gaze sometimes drifting towards (Y/N) as she ate - her posture was straightened and she ate silently with a smile. She was careful to not let any bits of food fall out of her plate and she chewed slowly, almost as if she wanted to savour the taste of the food she was eating.

Mato teachers always disciplined their students to eat properly. (Y/N) learned to abandon her rogue ways of eating food, where she opened her mouth while chewing and gorging everything that's on her plate, as the Mato teachers would get mad at you if you eat in such a disrespectful way.

If you were going to eat, at least eat silently without bothering anyone.

Cedric didn't say anything else though and kept eating. (Y/N) did the same while imagining if she could fly around the Quidditch field for a while with her broom - surely, it wouldn't be illegal to do that as long as she had permission, right?

»»-----　♡　-----««

The feast ended and everyone stood up from their seats. (Y/N) was the last to stand up as she clapped her hands together once more and muttered 'Gochisousama' before placing her spoon and fork on her empty plate and standing up to follow the Hufflepuffs that were on their way to their common room.

The girl slightly cringed at the messy table of the other houses and noticed that Hufflepuffs don't have that many messy eaters. She shook her head and tidied up her robe.

Cedric, who noticed that the Japanese transferee wasn't following them, stopped and waited for her by the door of the Great Hall. He was sure that (Y/N) would get lost if everyone's already on their way.

As (Y/N) was about to walk towards the doorway of the Great Hall where Cedric was waiting however, she felt a hand circling around her wrist. (Y/N) stopped on her tracks and turned around to see who stopped her.

Harry stood behind the girl, breathing softly and staring up at her (E/C) eyes. He felt his heart beating rapidly again - she was here. She was right in front of him.

She's real.

(Y/N) blinked and processed the appearance of the messy black haired boy in front of her. She paused and saw Harry's emerald green eyes and round glasses, her mouth slightly opening once she realized who it was.

"Harry...?"

»»-----　♡　-----««

wc: 3,418