A/N: Thank you for your reviews and thank you for your help in pointing out my mistakes. Yes, I do know that Gaara has no surname and his title is 'of the desert', but I did however use that as a surname instead. I agree that Gaara may have been a bit OOC but I'll try my best to keep him in character. And finally ooohhhh a dreadful mistake that I am so glad someone pointed out. It's Shukaku not Shunkaku.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
SandStorms
Chapter Four
Gaara. Gaara. Gaara. Gaara. Gaara opened his eyes abruptly and found himself looking straight into eager chocolate ones. Hermione reddened and slowly backed away from the pale redhead but tripped over a stack of books. She waved her arms furiously and braced herself for impact. Instead, she found herself dangling a few inches from the floor, sand holding her securely around the middle. She stood up cautiously and smiled awkwardly at Gaara. Gaara raised a non-existent brow and slowly raised himself from the pile of cushions he bunched up together the night before. Hermione looked at him curiously and took in his relaxed and disheveled look. He pulled down his loose-fitting black t-shirt and stretched. His shirt came up again, revealing a toned abdomen. Hermione reddened and chose to look around the empty common room instead. Stacks of schoolbooks littered the area around the pile of cushions. Most were cracked open or had pieces of paper sticking out of them.
"You were here all night?" Hermione asked. Gaara put his hands in his pockets and nodded. Hermione's eyes widened slightly.
"Really? Why?" she asked curiously. Gaara shrugged and answered, "I can't sleep."
"Oh… I'm sorry." Hermione said. Gaara bent over to pick up the scattered books and asked, "What for?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do you apologize?"Gaara asked as he set the books down upon the table. His sand shot out and moved all the cushions back into the couches, back to their proper places.
"Nothing. It's just— Never mind." Hermione stammered. Gaara focused on her for a second before turning around and walking towards the boy's dormitory.
"Um, it's time for breakfast… Would you like to come down with me?" Hermione asked. Gaara turned and shrugged.
"Sure. Let me just get ready." Gaara said.
"We don't have classes today, it's Saturday." Hermione noted. Gaara nodded in understanding.
"Thank you for telling me, but I still need to change." Gaara reminded her and tugged lightly on the collar of his shirt.
"Sorry…" Hermione mumbled. Gaara smirked lightly and walked up the boy's dormitory stairs.
"So what do you like to do for fun?" asked Hermione as she and the somber redhead made their way down the shifting stairs. Gaara paused as a stair moved and continued on his way down, only to be yanked to the side by Hermione. He looked at her questioningly.
"This way." She jerked her thumb at another staircase and Gaara nodded. "So, again, umm what do you like to do… for fun?"
Gaara made his way down the stone steps and shrugged.
"I don't know." He replied indifferently.
"What do you mean you don't know? Surely, you must enjoy doing something." Asked Hermione. Gaara reflected silently on the question. He never really did anything for fun. Recently, his days had been filled with endless amounts of paperwork and speeches and other Kage duties.
You found killing fun…. Remarked Shukaku. Gaara frowned and replied, 'That was a thing of the past…'
The tanuki snorted rather loudly. Sure, kid. I doubt that you don't find killing fun. Remember, murder and violence defines you. You are bloodthirsty.
Gaara shook his head.
"No." he said firmly, out loud. Hermione looked at him, surprised, then asked, "Wow, really?"
Gaara looked at her, perplexed. He was getting tired of letting the girl ask questions. He didn't want to humor her questions anymore plus the whole questioning thing was making his importunate migraine worse. They walked into the barely filled Great Hall together and made their way to the sparsely filled Gryffindor Table. Gaara sat down and put his head on his hands. Breathing heavily, Gaara shut his eyes and tried to focus. His mind was swimming and even Shukaku felt the sharp pangs of pain. Gaara looked up, agitated, when he felt someone tap him. He glanced upwards and found himself looking into blue eyes and a freckled complexion. Gaara sighed and propped his head up on his hand.
"Hello." The boy greeted, his fiery reddish orange hair was ruffled, his face was splotched with freckles, and he looked at Gaara curiously while holding out a large hand. "The name's Ron Weasley, mate."
Gaara nodded and grasped the hand held out firmly. Ron winced for a second but shook the domineering redhead's hand. Ron let go and cradled his hand unconsciously.
"So, I've never seen you around before…. What brings you to Hogwarts?" asked Ron. Gaara shrugged and tugged on the sleeves of his polo before letting out a slight yawn.
"Oh…" Ron shifted on his feet uncomfortably until a girl with shimmering silvery waist-length blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes pranced over towards the three. She giggled slightly and tapped the stoic redhead lightly on the shoulder.
"'ello. I was wondering if you were going to eat ze chocolatine?" she asked, batting her long eyelashes. Gaara tilted his head slightly and pointed hesitantly at the plate of chocolate-filled pastries. The blonde nodded and Gaara picked up the large plate. He handed it to the silvery haired female and as she grasped the sides of the large plate, Gaara slowly let go.
"Oof! Zis plate is very 'eavy. In Beauxbaton, our plates ar' made of zis pure crystal and it iz not so 'eavy." Complained the girl. Gaara stood up and took the plate from her long slender hands. The girl gave him a simpering look.
"Where are you sitting?" inquired Gaara. The girl smiled and pointed towards the Ravenclaw (was, it?) table. Gaara nodded and followed the girl to the table where she sat. Her companions—mostly the females—giggled, while the fair looking males rolled their eyes and shot Gaara spiteful looks. Gaara set the plate down amongst the throng of ogling girls and began the walk back to the Gryffindor table when, out of nowhere, a vice-like grip wrapped around his upper arm. Immediately, tendrils of sand lashed out and wrapped itself around the unknown individual's hand. A squeak followed by several yells erupted from the bystanders. Gaara turned slowly to face a frightened silvery blonde haired beauty. The sand slowly returned back into his pockets.
"I'm very sorry… Please do not grab me like that." Gaara warned. The female nodded.
"I was just trying to thank you." She replied fearfully. Gaara nodded in understanding.
"Thank you, by ze way. My name is Fleur Delacour. I am ze champion for ze Beauxbaton's." she smiled triumphantly. Gaara nodded curtly.
"I am Sabaku No Gaara." He in-turn replied. Fleur giggled and shot him a glowing look. Gaara creased his brows lightly. This girl gave off an aura, a certain feeling that had Gaara feeling hot and bothered.
She's hot, remarked Shukaku. Gaara rolled his eyes at the demon. "Be quiet."
Fleur smiled before she sauntered over towards her laughing companions. Gaara turned on his heels and walked back towards Hermione and Ron. Both had rather sullen looks etched onto their faces. Upon sitting, both exploded with complaints and questions. The complaints coming from Hermione and the questions from Ron.
"She clearly had a plate-full of chocolatines on her table!"
"What was she like? Blimey, I bet she's part Veela!"
"…stupid little… Prancing over here and daring to flash her charms at Gaara which he clearly didn't fall for, unlike you, Ronald. And clearly she's not a Veela!"
"What's your deal, Hermione? Gaara, I bet you think she's a rather pretty girl—"
"Of course he didn't! She's al looks but no brain or personality. He's got more brains than some who actually fall for that shallow flirting—"
"How would you know how smart he is?"
"He was reading and studying all night!" Hermione replied smugly. Gaara sighed and clasped his hands together. The pair continued their bickering until the arrival of an untidy haired individual with emerald eyes procured silence from the two. Ron reddened slightly and cast Harry a hateful look, Harry likewise. Ron nodded at Gaara.
"Speak to you later, mate." Ron mumbled before leaving the area. Gaara exhaled and thanked Kami for the silence. Harry plopped himself down and proceeded to attack his toast and eggs. Gaara watched in slight disgust as Harry shoved food into his mouth. Hermione had put on a grim face as her eyes flicked between Ron and Harry. Gaara rested his face on his hand and decided that whatever issue this trio was going through didn't concern him. Fixing his eyes on the table, Gaara inhaled sharply and tugged on the collar of his polo.
Hot and bothered aren't we, Kazekage-sama? Jeered Shukaku. Gaara hissed and stood up abruptly. The heat coupled with the headache he was experiencing was really getting to be too much. Gaara mused silently to himself about how a walk outside would do him some good. Completely resolved to leave the Hall, Gaara headed out of the hall ignoring Harry's curious glance and Hermione's pestering questions.
Gaara shivered slightly as he stepped out from the warm castle and out into the biting cold. The sky was glum and no one was out due to the fact that it was a weekend and it was quite early in the morning. Gaara rubbed his arms lightly as he surveyed the barren area. Sighing with relief, Gaara strode towards a tree near the dark lake and plopped himself down on the damp grass. Closing his eyes, Gaara began the rather tedious process of reinforcing Shukaku's barriers. The beast smashed the weakening barriers repeatedly, much to Gaara's annoyance.
'Will you stop that?' hissed Gaara. The tanuki sneered and let out a jeering laugh. Gaara pinched the bridge of his nose. Recalling the previous day's events, Gaara frowned at the carelessness in which he easily distributed information.
You've been poisoned, brat. That old geezer put something in the water he gave you at the hospital. I was trying to warn you, but I couldn't talk to you at that time. The tanuki reasoned. Gaara frowned and growled in anger as he realized that the stupid beast was correct in his observations. Clasping his hands together and closing his eyes, Gaara sought out the familiar presence of the Professor amidst the large castle. Finding the old man pacing a room, the redhead moved his hands in a fast manner, forming signs.
Albus Dumbledore paced his office hurriedly. He was getting quite stressed especially with this blasted affair involving Harry Potter as an under-aged Fourth champion. Albus also noted that it was about time to check on the young intriguing man called Gaara. Almost as if on cue, the window of Albus's office opened and a massive amount of sand filtered through. The sand settled in front of Albus, continuously shifting and gathering to form a tall daunting figure with hair as red as blood. Albus smiled cheerily.
"Hello Mr. Sabaku, what brings you to my office at this time? Oh, and may I carefully suggest using the door next time? The password is Lemon Drops." Dumbledore said. Gaara took no note of the comment and bore his eyes at the old man's. Dumbledore flinched slightly at the intensity of the young man's gaze.
"Why did you poison me?" Gaara asked, his voice seething. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at the accusation.
"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore asked, clearly confused. Gaara snarled softly before uttering once more, "At the hospital… you put something in the water you gave me."
Dumbledore's eyebrows creased. How was this boy able to detect the Veritaserum in the water?
"It's called Veritaserum and it's not a poison. It was a safety measure that I needed to take so that you may not, under any circumstances, lie to me about your identity. You could have been a killer or a threat sent by Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore explained. Gaara opened his mouth to argue but the way Dumbledore reasoned it out had in-fact made sense. He would, if given the resources, interrogate any intruder who would step into Suna, and Dumbledore was like him, watching out for the welfare of the students. Gaara frowned and nodded.
"But why was I willingly revealing information yesterday?" Gaara asked. Albus gave him a look and then clucked.
"My dear boy, I'm afraid the potion might have had different effects on you judging from the fact that you're not from this world. I'll have Professor Snape take a look later." Dumbledore chuckled. Gaara nodded and made a move to leave but the Professor raised a hand.
"Before you go, I would like to ask a favor from you and perhaps acquire your services…" the Professor said with much seriousness. Gaara raised a non-existent brow. Hoping for a mission or to do something that does not involve petty little questions, Gaara inclined his head and turned.
"What do you need me to do?"
A/N: Please Read and Review. Oh and if you have ideas for a pairing or if you want no pairing, please post it with your review and I'll gladly take it into consideration. :D