Chapter 4:
As the Hogwarts Express finally reached its destination, Harry found a surprising new addition to the monotony that was the carriage ride to school.
"What the hell is that freaky thing?" Exclaimed Naruto as he stood his ground against Sakura trying to pull him into the carriage.
"Does it matter what it is?" Growled Sakura. "Just get in the damn carriage."
"Harry? What's wrong?" Asked Hermione as she took her seat in the carriage. She was looking at Harry who was staring at the carriage in the same fashion as Naruto.
"Since when were the carriages pulled by…something?" He asked awkwardly.
Both Ron and Hermione frowned as they stared at the seemingly floating carriages. "Nothing ever pulls the carriages…" Said Hermione confused.
But that wasn't what Harry and the shinobi saw.
"I don't like the looks of it." Muttered Naruto. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"But you can see it too, right?" Asked Harry looking desperately at Naruto. "I'm not the only one."
"I can see them, it's alright." Said Luna, walking towards Harry. "They are called threstals," She said, petting one on the head. "You can only see them if you have seen death."
Sakura's ears perked up at the sound of that as she dragged Naruto onto the carriage. Normal school children didn't normally see death right? It was probably for the best if they denied seeing them.
Harry and Luna got on, Harry still a bit shaken. "You can see it too, right?" He asked, looking at the shinobi as the carriage started to move.
Sakura shrugged her shoulders as she subtly squeezed Naruto's hand.
After parting with the shinobi in the Great Hall, Harry, Ron and Hermione slowly made their way to the Gryffindor table.
"I wonder where the others are going." Said Harry glancing around at all the students that were flooding into the Great Hall.
Ron grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. "You don't like them do you?" Asked Hermione.
"No, not particularly." Said Ron in a miffed voice.
"Why?!" Harry asked incredulously. The new students seemed very down to earth to him. Harry felt as if they could become great friends in the following year.
Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno, they just give me the creeps."
"Really Ron, you should be more open to people from different cultures." Hermione said in a matter of fact voice as they took their customary seats at the Gryffindor table.
Dumbledore stood up from his place at the staff table and most of the chatter in the Great Hall subdued. "First off, to our newcomers, welcome! To our old hands, welcome back! I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual announcements." Greeted Dumbledore.
"First years ought to know that the Forbidden Forest is off limit to all students. We also have a few new changes in staff this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank who will take care of our Care of Magical Creatures lessons. I am also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"This year, we will be hosting exchange students all the way from Japan! They will be placed in the fifth year. Please welcome them as they are sorted into the houses!" Dumbledore gestured to the door with his hand and they opened.
Sai, Sakura and Naruto walked through the doors followed by the first years. Naruto's expression was slightly dour considering they were walking in with a bunch of kids.
"Please be patient as they are sorted into the Houses." Said Dumbledore as they lined up in front of the staff table.
Professor McGonagall stood up, list in hand. "The first to be sorted will be…Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto instantly perked up and grinned. He raced up and jumped on the stood, jamming the hat on his head.
"Ah, what a strange mind."
Naruto's eyes widened and he turned, looking for the source of the voice. 'Whose there?!' He thought frantically.
"Certainly not the brightest one either…definitely not Ravenclaw. Well let's see now…you're brave…very brave, you place the lives of others above your own…but I wonder what this dark part of your mind is…
'Don't go there! Please!' Naruto pleaded anxiously. He had a feeling it would not sit well with Kyuubi if he brought in someone strange to visit his cage.
"Well...somehow I think it will be to my benefit if I didn't…GRYFFINDOR!"
There was a polite round of cheers from the Gryffindor table as Naruto bounced off the stool, still baffled by what just occurred.
McGonagall seemed bemused by Naruto's placement as she called the next name. "Haruno Sakura."
Sakura promptly sat on the stool as the hat was placed on her head.
"Ah, another one." Sakura gave a small jump at first hearing the hat talk to her. "Very intelligent mind you have, you would do well in Ravenclaw…Hufflepuff nor Slytherin would do at all. Yes, I think Ravenclaw indeed…"
Sakura glanced at the Gryffindor table where she could see Harry Potter greeting Naruto as he sat down. She grit her teeth. 'Listen hat,' Thought Inner Sakura. 'I'll be placed in Gryffindor or so help me…'
"A feisty mind too!" The Sorting Hat exclaimed. "Well, I see you are brave and of utmost loyalty to your friends, better be…GRYFFINDOR!"
Hermione cheered as Sakura hopped off the stool and joined them at the Gryffindor table to much applause. Malfoy rolled his eyes as he watched Sakura and Naruto. "Look at these suckers, all placed into the loser house Gryffindor."
"Sai."
Sai calmly walked up and waited till the hat was placed on his head. "Well…your mind is like nothing I've seen before. There's hardly anything in here, very unlike the last two…I have an odd feeling about you…SLYTHERIN!"
The Slytherins cheered at finally having a newcomer.
"What's a Slytherin?" Asked Naruto, turning to Harry.
"There's never been a good wizard to come out of there." Said Ron.
Naruto and Sakura exchanged looks.
"Very good, very good!" Said Dumbledore. "Now I would like to introduce our new teacher. He is known as a great warrior where he comes from and it is an honor that he has taken time out of his schedule to teach us. Please welcome Professor Hatake!" Asked Dumbledore, looking down the staff table.
Everyone turned expectedly toward the oddly dressed grey-haired man who was sitting at the end of the table, reading an orange book. But he made no indication that he heard Dumbledore.
"Ah, Professor Hatake?" Dumbledore asked.
Professor Sprout, who was sitting next to Kakashi, gave him a gentle nudge and couldn't help the shocked yelp that escaped her lips when he disappeared in a puff of smoke. There were gasps among teachers and students alike when the doors to the Great Hall swung open and the real Hatake Kakashi stood through.
"Ah gomen," Said Kakashi when he reached the staff table, "I didn't mean to be late, but you see I was..."
"No matter, no matter!" Said Dumbledore cutting him off. "You are here now. Students, please welcome Professor Hatake!" There was a polite round of applause from the students as they whispered to themselves.
"He will be teaching Battle Tatics and Ancient Weaponry so I hope you all will look forward to it." Dumbledore explained.
"Wait till father hears about this." Malfoy said very loudly from where he was sitting at the Slytherin table. "It seems like they'll just give a teaching position to anyone these days. First the oaf Hagrid, now an old man with a mask." His friends gave a hoot of laughter.
"Malfoy." Sighed Ron, rolling his eyes.
The teachers pretended not to hear his comment as Kakashi moved to take his seat at the staff table. Sakura however, would have none of it. She got up and slammed her fists on the table, glaring across the room at Malfoy. No one talked about her teacher like that. He immediately shut up.
"These kids need a lot of work." Sighed Kakashi.
