I am so sorry! I've just been so busy, I've been putting it off. I love you all!

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Naruto trudged after Snape, this time way less thoughtful than before. He chattered away happily, ignoring Snape's less than complimentary comments on his intelligence, or lack thereof. He talked about Dumbledore's beard, the moving stairways, the talking pictures, and even Snape himself. Apparently Dumbledore's beard was super cool, it would suck to fall of a stairway, the portraits were creepy and, now that Snape tuned in, he was a huge bastard with a stick shoved so far up his ass it impaled his brain.

"What was that!" Snape whirled around, glaring furiously. He glowered darkly at Naruto, waiting for him to speak up. He completely ignored the way Naruto flinched back a bit, his eyes widening slightly with surprise and a hint of hurt before he could stop it.

Naruto jerked up his chin, a defiant look on his whiskered face. "You heard me, Bastard! Watcha do, get a broom shoved up your ass my an angry lady or something? It wouldn't surprise me, with your personality. Kami, you're almost as bad as Sasuke was when I first met him!"

Severus drew himself up angrily, his lip curling up into a sneer. " I have no idea of this Sasuke person you speak of, but judging by the tone of your voice, I'm going to assume that was not a compliment. On another note, should you ever talk to me like that again, I will have your miniscule brain pickled on my shelves before you can even blink."

He was not expecting the grim smile that came across Naruto's face, or the bitter bark of laughter that came from him. Naruto went on to say " I'd honestly like to see you try. You don't know who you're dealing with, do you? I'm Naruto Uzumaki, one of the strongest ninja in the shinobi world. I have killed ninja with decades of more experience than I have, and I have defeated monsters you couldn't even begin to imagine."

With that, he disappeared. Severus tensed, feeling a presence appear behind him. "I could kill you too, you know. All it would take is a quick jab, and you'll be gone," a deep voice ghosted over his ear, sending shivers down his spine and causing a warmth in his cheeks. As abruptly as the presence was there, it was gone, and Naruto was once more in front of him.

He smiled again, this one even darker than his last. "Do you see now, what I am, and what I can do to you if I wanted to. You're probably afraid of me now, you probably don't want to be around me anymore. You'll leave me all alone like the others, though for entirely different reasons." The last part was said in a whisper, mostly to himself if judging by the far off look in his eyes.

Severus regarded him carefully, not sure how to act. Finally he sighed and said, " Mr. Uzumaki, I do not fear you, nor will I leave you, especially since it is apparently my job to make sure you do not get into any trouble. Besides, I have met men much scarier than you."

With that, he turned away and strode down the corridor towards his room. He pretended he didn't hear Naruto's soft 'Thank you' , or the way he sniffled wetly. When Naruto caught up with him, he chose not to mention the way that Naruto's eyes gleamed with tears, or how he caught the edge of Severus's cloak between his index finger and thumb, and didn't let go until they finally reached Severus's rooms.

Severus had a feeling that Naruto normally didn't ever show such weakness, and the only reason he was doing so now was due to stress/emotional exhaustion. Considering that he had shown up in a strange world with no idea how he got there, coupled with the fact that there seemed to be a weight pressing down on his shoulders, it was pretty understandable. Snape had been the head of Slytherin house and a spy long enough to be able to hone the ability of reading people, and he already picked up quite a lot of things from Naruto already. Judging by the signals he was getting, despite how incredibly well hidden they were, Severus had a feeling his life had not been a happy nor easy one. So, Severus was perfectly happy with letting him hold on to the edge of his cloak. He was not a complete bastard after all, contrary to what many others thought. Most of that was an act he put up for the students, anyway.

They finally arrived at the door to his quarters, and Naruto released his cloak. Severus spoke the password ( Nightshade) and the door swung open, allowing them entry. Severus made his way inside, Naruto following behind him, looking curiously at everything. Severus turned around to Naruto with a glare, pointedly ignoring how he jerked his hand back from touching a small figurine that sat on one of Severus's tables.

"This arrangement shall be temporary, just until a room can be set up for you. You shall sleep in the guest room, which is right across from mine. I do not have any clothing of for a person your size, though I will be willing to transfigure some for you if you truly need it. Headmaster Dumbledore will undoubtedly be taking you shopping for a new wardrobe soon, so that will probably not be necessary. Breakfast will be served at 7:30, if you wish to eat in the morning. I expect you will be able to take care of yourself for lunch, and dinner will be served at 6:30. You are able to explore as you wish, though there are some rooms out of bounds. Mainly, mine and my potions lab. Any questions?"

Naruto shook his head tiredly, his eyes turning a foggy blue with fatigue. He was used to staying up for days at a time, because you had to be if you were a ninja. But he had not slept for days before blowing off some steam and was already tired when he headed to Mount Moyoboku, though he was too angry to really care. Now that he'd had a chance to wind down a little bit, he couldn't help but be exhausted, and it was only force of will that kept him from plopping face down on the carpet for a nap.

Severus seemed to sense this and turned around, gesturing for him to follow him down a hallway. There were three doors on the left side of the hallway, and two on the right. Severus stopped to open one, which turned out to be a linen closet. Severus pulled out a thick comforter that he proceeded to shove in Naruto's arms. The next door he opened was the guest bedroom on the right, and Naruto followed him in. It was a nice sized bedroom, bigger than his at any rate. There was a sheeted four poster bed shoved against one wall, a small nightstand with an oil lamp on top right next to it. A fireplace sat on the wall to the right of the bed, and a huge wardrobe was on the left, right next to a door. On the wall opposite the bed, there was a tall bookshelf, and two cozy little chairs with a small table in between them. There were no windows, since they were in the dungeons.

Severus waved his wand and lit up the fireplace, warming the room almost instantly. He turned around to Naruto. "You are free to hang up your jacket in the wardrobe, and there are shelves inside to put your sandals and pants away. That door is a door to a small bathroom, if you wish to use it. There are extra toothbrushes in a cabinet above the sink, and supplies in the shower if you wish to have one. Good night, Mr. Uzumaki."

Naruto stared wide eyed at his back as he left the room, and barely remembered to mumble a good night in return. The only person to ever offer him such hospitality was Iruka sensei, and that was only once in a blue moon. The thought of a complete stranger letting him bed down with minimal protest was practically impossible in Naruto's mind. Granted, Severus had been ordered to keep him, but he could have easily let him sleep with a blanket on the floor and not give him a bed at all. It would have been fine with Naruto to do so, or to even sleep on the couch. But Severus had given him a whole room to himself, and was even willing to feed him!

Naruto couldn't stop the heat rising in his cheeks, or the warm feeling in his chest as his heartbeat picked up the pace. This wasnt supposed to be happening, as he had just met the man for Kami's

sake! Severus was probably twice his age anyway! There was no way for it to happen! But Naruto couldn't stop it. He thought of the way Severus had told him he didn't fear him, and how he opened up his home to him. How he didn't flinch in surprise when Naruto showed off his strength, as most civilians tended to do. Naruto was always quick to have a crush on someone, and when he did, it was relentless. He had "fallen" for Sakura for years after a short act of kindness, and for Neji when he went after Sasuke with him, though he denied it until it was too late. Now that the person who offered him a kindness even greater than Sakura's was actually of the gender he preferred, he had it bad.

"Damnit Naruto," he muttered to himself, " Why the hell do fall for someone so easily! Oh well, guess there's no stopping it now, is there. Ugh, I could go for some ramen." Naruto had long ago learned that there were some things that just could not be stopped, or changed. Some things could, like the attitude of the villagers, but others couldn't. Like his crushes. Naruto would just have to make sure this crush had no idea what his feelings were. Considering how much Severus had picked up from him already, ( Yes, he had noticed the man analyzing him, but was too tired to really care. He wasn't completely stupid) it was going to be a challenge. Well, Naruto Uzumaki was always up for a challenge!

Now that Naruto got a second look, that bed looked really comfortable. He trudged tiredly to it, and spread out the comforter on top. He shed his ninja pouches, and threw them on the night stand. The clothes and chainmail he tossed on the floor, though his headband went with his pouches on the night stand. The sandals were kicked off and under the bed, while his boxers stayed on. He crawled into the bed and burrowed under the covers, loving the feeling of being in kind of a den. He was fox like, after all. His last thought was, " Hmmm. I could get used to this." With that, Naruto Uzumaki fell asleep for the first time in this strange, new land.

On the other hand, Severus Snape was wide awake, and nursing a good glass of brandy. He was used to complete solitude, and the fact that another person was in his rooms disturbed him greatly. He wanted to make sure the boy was settled down, but his pride would not let him get up and go see. He was the greasy git of Hogwarts! He did not randomly go and make sure strangers were sleeping all right, especially ones that invaded his quarters! But his curiosity got the better of him and he sat his brandy on the side table, scowling at himself. He walked down the hallway to the guestroom, and peered curiously in.

In the dim light of the fire, all he could make out was a thick head of golden hair. There was a strange, almost purring sound emitting from the bundle under the blanket, and Severus couldn't help but creep in. He carefully stepped over the clothes on the floor and stood at the side of Naruto's bed. Severus couldn't stop himself, and gently reached out to run his fingers over a thick blond lock. He turned around and tread softly out the door, making sure to close it softly behind him. He was completely unaware of the bright blue eyes set in a blushing whiskered face watching him.