Disclaimer: I own nothing besides this story.

Pairings: DeidaraxSakura - Slight ItachixSakura

Author's Note: One of the reviewers expressed interest in ItachixSakura pairing (which is also one of my fav XD) so this fic will be a DeixSaku fic, but hints of slight ItaxSaku in it. Not a long chapter, my brain seemed to have stuck. Got a feeling things are progressing too fast and characters getting slightly out of character. Please review and tell me what you think! XD A side note: You'll notice that I alternate between Deidara's 'un's and 'yeah's. I'm not sure which one is the most accurate, so I incoperated both, and to keep it from getting too repetative.


Chapter 2 – First Day at Hogwarts

"Whoa."

"Impressive, yeah."

"It's awesome!"

"…"

The four shinobis had been taken to their rooms by Dumbledore, who had left smiling, leaving them to admire their surroundings. In the morning, Dumbledore had visited the recovered ninjas in the hospital wing. The process of getting them home might take around a year, so in the mean time, they would be staying at the castle. The headmaster had also offered a job to the ninjas for an astoundingly high amount in the form of jewels. The shinobis had accepted. Besides, what else were they suppose to do for the better part of the year? Their task was to guard one Harry Potter, and the school, from a criminal wizard named Sirius Black. Dumbledore had also warned the ninjas of the Dementors and explained what creature it was. Considering their backgrounds, Dumbledore had said, that it might be best if they avoid the dark creatures as much as possible. The headmaster also introduced an over-eager house elf called Dobby. If they needed anything, just call out his name and the elf would arrive.

The castle amazed Sakura. She saw moving suits of armour, moving and talking paintings, ghosts, talking gargoyles, disappearing steps (she stepped through one of them), the sky in the Great Hall (she knew it was a form a genjutsu, but it was still amazing), and the owls in the Owlry. The ninjas' room was on the same level as the staff room. Behind the oak door that led to their quarters, there's a small sitting room with a large portrait of a female cloaked in black at the far wall. The shinobis would give a password to the portrait before proceeding into their quarters. The sitting room was for students if they needed to contact one of the guards, and would have to ask the portrait to call them out.

The room behind the portrait was quite extravagant. There was the circular common room, with doors leading into bedrooms. The room was decorated in red and gold with a touch of black. The walls were swathed in velvet red cloth with a black trim like curtains to keep the heat in in winter. To the left, a fireplace burned brightly, armchairs and small tables around it. Next to it stood a long table, high backed chairs surrounding it. The floor was decorated with a variety of rugs laid on polished wooden floorboards. An open room with no doors was at where the far wall should be. It was a miniature library. Bookshelves lined against the walls, a tall window at the right lined by red velvet curtains spilled sunlight into the room and onto the massive fur rug of a polar bear. To the right of the common room stood five doors, equally spaced out.

Itachi moved first, leaving the others to gawk at the room. He pushed down the sleek golden handle of one of the doors and opened it. The bedrooms were spacious and every bit as extravagant as the common room. The plush carpet was black. A window with a ledge on the inside was set at the far wall, overlooking the Black Lake. A queen-sized four-poster bed with black silk coverings was set against the wall to his right. A desk and a chair with a bookshelf were against the left wall. Itachi noticed another door, this time with a silver handle, besides the desk. Walking into the room and towards the door, he opened it. It was the bathroom. There was a shower stall, a tub, a toilet, and the sink. It was plain, but elegant. White was the main theme with gold furnishings.

Itachi walked out of the room to inspect the other four rooms. The design and colour were all the same. He remembered Dumbledore telling them that this was one of the rooms reserved for guests. Upon finishing his inspections, the Uchiha spared a glance at his team and Sakura. Kisame was going into one of the rooms, ready to claim it as his own. Sakura was inspecting the library in interest, while Deidara plopped down in an armchair in front of the fireplace.

"This is really comfortable, un." Deidara sighed, reverting back to his home language.

Itachi went back in one of the rooms, decided he should follow Kisame's example.

Sakura picked out a book titled Hogwarts: A History. Dumbledore must've put in these books to help them learn more about this world. She doubted guests would need to know about An Introduction Towards Magic, A Guide to Magical Creatures or Job Selections: Why the Ministry Is the One! Making her way back to the armchairs, she stopped at the sight of Deidara, a stab of fear ran through her. She shook it off.

'Haruno Sakura, you are being an idiot. They won't hurt you, they have nothing to gain in doing so.' Sakura thought vehemently to herself. Nodding, as if confirming her thoughts, she walked the rest of the way and plopped down into an armchair a seat away from the S-classed criminal, opened the book, and ignored him.

Deidara glanced side-ways at Sakura. He remembered her. Hell, of course he would. She killed Danna and helped saved the Kazekage. Even though it was only one and a half years ago, the medic had grown. Her figure was fuller, she had grown taller, and her hair was grown out, reaching past her collarbone. Idly, his hand took out a dollop of clay. Instantly, Sakura's eyes snapped over.

"What are you doing?"

"Moulding, un." Deidara replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I know, but you had better think twice before going off to explode things." Sakura's eyes glinted dangerously.

"Relax, yeah. This is normal clay. I'm just bored, un."

Visibly relaxing, Sakura went back to her book. Deidara's gaze slid back to the pink haired teen, his fingers busy. The dying fire illuminated Sakura's features. Silently, Deidara admitted that Sakura was…cute.

"Wacha makin'?" Kisame asked as he came up behind the explosive expert. The shark man glanced down and barked a laugh. "Do you know what you're sculpting?"

At this, Deidara glanced down and blushed. He quickly hid it when Sakura glanced over once more, this time with curiosity.

"What is it?"

"Er, nothing, un. Go back to your book or whatever, yeah." Deidara stuffed his creation into his sleeve. Kisame walked away, chortling. The small sculpture had been a profile of Sakura, her other side was still unmade.

For the rest of the day, the group explored the castle and the grounds thoroughly, including the dorm rooms of the four houses (The portraits had let them in at the sight of the ninjas). Sakura was beginning to realize that once she got past her fear of the Akatsuki and look past the fact that they're S-classed criminals, they're actually all right. Funny even. They ate their meals in their common room (Dobby happily brought up food from the kitchen). In the afternoon, they read up on the culture and history of this world (Itachi being the most successful of them to remember the facts because of his Sharingan) until nightfall.

Sensing someone approaching, Itachi lifted his head. It was the woman called McGonagall.

"The students would be arriving in a few minutes. Please follow me to meet with the rest of the staff." Professor McGonagall swept out of the library after an uneasy glance at them. She didn't like the idea of these foreigners guarding the school. The girl looked all right, it's the others she worried about. In fact, it was Itachi that made her nervous the most. But if Dumbledore trusted them – to an extent at least – then she would put up with them.

Professor McGonagall led them down the hall and into a small corridor, a few turns later, she opened a door and into a room. It was a room that connected to the Great Hall. Inside stood the professors of the school, including the headmaster. Itachi noticed the man from the infirmary among the professors, and was glaring at him. Itachi glared back, his Sharingan activated. He had a feeling that any encounters with this man would not bode well in the future.


Harry and Hermione made their way from McGonagall's office and down the marble staircase to the Great Hall, followed by the professor herself. Harry was still a bit irritable by the fact that he had been the only one that fainted when encountered with the Dementor. Hermione was unusually happy, but he brushed it off. It was a sea of pointed black hats in the Great Hall; each of the long house tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering b the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick, who was a tiny little wizard with a shock of white hair, was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the Hall.

"Oh," said Hermione softly, "we've missed the Sorting!"

Professor McGonagall strode off towards her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry and Hermione set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, towards the Gryffindor table. People looked around at them as they passed along the back of the Hall, and a few of them pointed at Harry. Had the story of him collapsing in front of the Dementor travelled that fast?

He and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron, who had saved them seats.

"What was all that about?" he muttered to Harry.

Harry started to explain in a whisper, but at that moment the Headmaster stood up to speak and he broke off.

Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. Harry watched him beaming around at the students as the Hall quietened down.

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as a few of are very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…"

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

He paused, and Harry remembered what Mr Weasley had said about Dumbledore not being happy with the Dementors guarding the school.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors."

Percy, who was sitting a few seats along from Harry, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the Hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.

"On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year, and also the new comers who would be staying with us for the year."

Harry saw four strangely dressed figures coming out of a room to the side of the Hall he hadn't noticed before. They stood beneath the teacher's table, looking around the Hall.

"Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic, applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.

"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed in Harry's ear.

Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing. He also noticed that Snape's glare redirected itself at the four standing below him.

"Who do you think the newcomers are?" Hermione asked in a whisper.

Before Harry could reply, Dumbledore had continued.

"As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at each other, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leant forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.

"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have set us a biting book?"

As the applause died away, Dumbledore started speaking again.

"Please make the newcomers, whom I've hired as extra guards for the year, as welcome as possible. They came from a different land, and the culture difference will be hard for them to get used to. Warnings for the Dementors applied. Please do not provoke the guards, disobey them, or attempt to fool them. Their quarters will be along the same corridor as the staff room – if anything urgent came up, that is where you can contact them. May I introduce, Sakura Haruno, Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Deidara of Iwa."

As a hesitant applause rose, Harry saw the one called Kisame – who looked extremely like a shark to his astonishment – whispered something questioningly at the one called Deidara. But…

"Is that blonde a guy or a girl?" Ron asked. Harry shrugged, having the exact same thought in his head.

"It's a guy." Hermione said confidently.

"How do you know?" Ron shot back. Hermione hesitated.

"Well, it looked more like a guy than a girl. See, he's taller, had broad shoulders, and the jaw is more masculine."

"The blonde could've been wearing high heals, the shoulders could be because of the cloak, and I can't see the face clearly from here." Ron argued.

"Er…well…I still think it's a guy."

"Well, I say it's a girl."

Harry drifted away from their debate over the blonde's gender when he noticed someone watching him. He found himself staring back at the black haired man. As the headmaster called for everyone to start the feast, the man broke off the gaze and headed towards the empty seats Dumbledore had set aside for them next to him.


"Deidara of Iwa?" Kisame asked the blonde in an incredulous whisper as the crowd clapped unenthusiastically. "You abandoned your village ages ago!"

"Well, it will sound weird if the old man announced it with just my name, yeah." Deidara grumbled as they jumped up and over the table and into their seats instead of going to the side of the dais and up the steps. Takes too much time. Ignoring a few gasps of surprise from teachers and students alike.

"Why didn't you make one up then?"

"It'll sound crap, yeah."

Sakura shook her head slightly as she sat down. Dumbledore smiled at her and she smiled back. As the feast progressed, Sakura was shocked to find out that the headmaster had actually known the founder of her village. Itachi listened to the conversation silently, while training his eyes on their charge. The boy wasn't much. Itachi had decided. Unruly black hair, green eyes, wears glasses and a skinny frame. He doesn't understand how someone like him could become so famous just because of a scar.

As the feast dwindled to an end, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time the students went to bed. Itachi watched as three kids – Harry included – went to congratulate the giant of a man. As McGonagall shooed them away, the murderer of the Uchiha Clan saw his charge shot an uneasy glance at him, but quickly looked away when he saw that he was watching. Hn. The kid isn't a complete idiot, that's good to know.


"So what now?" Sakura asked back in the common room, thanking Dobby as he poured her green tea.

"Bomb anyone who dared to go out of their dorms at night, un?" Deidara asked hopefully. Disregarding the medic's glare, he took a bite of a strange looking pudding Dobby had brought up. "This stuff's pretty good, un. What is it?"

Dobby bounced on the balls of his feet.

"It's a popular dish with the students, sir, Dobby thought sirs and miss would like it too, it's Pig Liver Pudding with –"

Before Dobby even finished, Deidara hurriedly spat the desert back out, running towards his room and undoubtly into the bathroom. Kisame snickered. He had known what the stuff was, and had purposefully given it to the explosive expert. There's more disturbing ingredients than pig liver in the pudding – most which he would not even consider touching.

The house elf's floppy ears drooped.

"Did Dobby offend sir?"

Sakura patted his head, looking warily at the pudding that sat ominously on the table.

"No, no. It's fine, we're just not used to the food."

"Deidara does have a point." Itachi's soft voice said from his position in front of the fireplace, tuning out the unnecessary chatter. A book propped open in front of him.

"What, blowing up the client's students?" Sakura snapped. She's getting more comfortable around the criminals in each passing minute, which disturbed her a little. It was only a day with them, but the atmosphere around them was as if she'd known them all her life.

"No, but we should keep an eye on them. Set traps in front of the portrait holes. Give them some sort of seal in ways of contact in case of emergency." Itachi said, standing up.

"What, now?"

"I'll take the red house." In a flash he was out of the room.

"Pft." Kisame heaved Samehada to rest on his shoulders. There won't be much use for it here in the school now, but he's not going anywhere without it. "The longest sentence he said since he got here was a command. Tight-assed bastard…" Kisame muttered darkly as he headed for the portrait hole. Turning around to look at the wide-eyed Sakura he added. "I'll take the blue house then."

"Does miss need anything from Dobby?"

Sakura turned her attention to the forgotten house elf and smiled.

"No, that's okay, thank you Dobby."

The house elf bowed several times before winking away. Deidara stumbled back into the common room, still looking a bit green.

"Where's everyone else, un?"

Sakura repeated Itachi's order. She decided she'd take the Hufflepuff house and let Deidara deal with the green house – Slytherin if she's not mistaken. Sakura accurately read his look and glared.

"No, Deidara, you can't blow the students up."

"But – "

"No."


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