Lionheart: Well, I got a quite a few suggestions for Akatsuki. I have figured out what I'm going to be doing with them and some of the members I mentioned may make an appearance next chapter. As for this one, I am devoting it to the fun and entertaining sport of Quidditch.

As for them able to speak English, let's just say for now, that they, as Shinobi, know many different languages. This general idea isn't very important anyway, though thank you all for pointing it out.

Do enjoy.


Chapter 7

Broomsticks and Flying!

As the week continued on, Harry and Naruto continued following the instructions of the used Advanced Potion Making copy Harry had, which, they found, had belonged once to a user who called himself 'The Half-Blood Prince.'

And each time, to their pleasure, they found it always yielded better results than the 'official' instructions which Hermione used, causing the girl to scowl at them every time Slughorn would pass by her potions and show off theirs.

But Naruto's apparent skill and non-verbal spells and his abilities in potions did not carry on to the other classes. In Charms, Sakura and Hermione demonstrated their abilities by clearing outperforming both Harry and Naruto with highly advanced Charms.

In Transfiguration, Gaara hit the spotlight, outperforming Hermione by transforming a very large creature into a small teacup, which, to Professor McGonagall, was quite impressive.

And so, at the end of the week, a three-way rivalry seemed to have popped up. Naruto and Harry vs. Sakura and Hermione vs. Gaara. And Ron was just kind of there.

It was at the end of the first week, on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon, that Naruto, Ron, Gaara, and Harry found themselves lying in the common room, lazily looking through the overview book Dumbledore had given to the Shinobi. They had just completed their homework. With Hermione and Sakura avoiding them as much as possible to practice on their own, Ron and Harry now had to rely on Naruto and Gaara for their homework. Being Shinobi of the highest class, Naruto and Gaara wrote essays and completed homework quite easily. Sharing with Harry and Ron was no problem either.

"Oh, here's a good one," said Harry, pointing to a spell called, 'Stupefy.' "That one's the stunning spell. It's really good if you want to temporarily paralyze someone. Of course, with the Protego spell it's easily defended against. The problem comes with those who can cast it off quickly." Harry broke off, catching Naruto's scheming eye. The former immediately raised his wand, "Don't. We'll just make a mess."

Gaara laughed, "I think we all had enough of getting hit by spells, Naruto. "Pfft, I'll say," said Ron, who just couldn't forget that he was always Naruto's first target.

Naruto laughed, "Alright, alright, I won't stun you guys. So, what other cool spells are there?" Harry looked upwards, thinking to himself. "Well, there's the 'Reducto' spell, which blasts things into pieces. You know kind of like an explosion. Only works on tangible objects though, and usually used on walls, shelves, you know. Then there's 'Impedimenta.' It's a neat little spell which knocks a person back and is for hard defensive armor. And… the 'Incarcerous,' spell, which summons a rope to choke someone.

And let's see…" Here, Harry paused and flipped through Naruto's book some more.

"Ah, looks like Dumbledore's added the Unforgivable Curses in here. I guess it's important you know about them."

"Why are they, unforgivable," asked Gaara. "Well," said Ron, "the Ministry of Magic decided a while back that anybody using one of these three spells was subject to time in Azkaban. That's the Wizarding prison," said Ron, before the question could be asked.

"Yeah, but anyway," continued Harry, "The first one's the Imperius curse. Anybody hit by it is under the control of the caster. So, basically, it's like taking away your ability to think and such. You do whatever the caster of the spell commands. It can be fought though, by strong-willed people."

Naruto looked impressed, "Wow, this magic is serious. Mind Control; I'd better watch my back." "Yeah," said Ron, "when You-Know-Who was last around, he apparently had scores of witches and wizards under the Imperius Curse. Nobody could tell who was an ally and who was an ally under the Imperius Curse. Those were really bad times."

And not surprisingly, after a week, all the Shinobi had picked up the use of "You-Know-Who, although, like Harry and Dumbledore, they resolved to just calling him Voldemort. "Anyway," said Naruto, "What's the next one?"

"The Cruciatus Curse," replied Harry, "also known as the Torture Curse." When you get hit by this one, your whole body feels like its getting pierced by hundreds of invisible knives. I think Hermione mentioned once; something about this curse attacking you at the cellular level. It's really brutal."

"Don't tell you Neville I said this but, his parents were tortured to the point where they lost their minds," said Ron. "And they were two well-known and strong Aurors. The Aurors are like the Wizarding police."

"Safe with me," said Naruto, shrugging. The blonde turned to the last spell, which showed a wizard getting hit by a green light. "And I'm guessing this curse causes instant death?" Harry nodded, "Yeah, the incantation is 'Avada Kedavra.' There's no way to block this curse with wands or magic. The only way to live is to dodge it."

Here, Naruto and Gaara shared a glance. They would need to test that particular theory. "So, why do dark wizards use them," asked Gaara, jokingly. Naruto chuckled, "I expect they like Azkaban." Ron snorted, "No one could 'like' Azkaban. That place is the dirtiest place in the world, a huge piece of rock in the middle of the ocean. And it's guarded by dementors, Voldemort's servants. They drain the happiness out of you, dementors. In worst cases, they suck your soul right out.

Naruto and Gaara both looked startled and troubled by this fact. "How do you fight them," asked Naruto. "Well, they don't like bright lights," said Harry, "but even that sometimes isn't enough to get rid of them." "There's a spell," asked Naruto, who suddenly had that scheming look again. "Err…yeah, but it's really advanced. It's the patronus charm. It creates a bright light and drives off a dementor. That's just the general idea. Complete mastery of it means that your patronus can take an animal form. Mine just happens to be a stag. Ron over here has a dog."

"Excellent, so what's the incantation," asked Naruto. "Well, it's 'Expecto Patronum,' but just the incantation alone won't save you. You need to fill your entire soul with a happy thought, which by the way, is very difficult. Dementors drain people of happy thoughts, leaving them only with the horrors of their past. So, it's easy enough to practice. The real test comes with actually facing one. We can practice it if you like?"

Naruto waved him off, "Nah, I'll do it some other time. I've got enough spells to perfect," said Naruto, idly waving his wand around. "Actually," interrupted Gaara, "seeing as how you need us to fill in your spots on the Quidditch team, I was wondering if you could show us how to play."

Naruto, who was now muttering, suddenly ceased and sat up. "Oh, Quidditch. Yeah, that sounds fun!"

Harry blinked, "Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that. I better make sure you guys are ready to go before the first game. That means we have about seven weeks. That should be enough for you to get the basics. C'mon, I'll ask Madam Hooch to lend us the balls and you can borrow some broomsticks from the shed."

And so, Naruto and Gaara followed Ron and Harry outside, and down a long winding path. Along the way, it was decided Gaara would fill in the extra beater position, while Naruto would be a chaser.

"So, let's see if I remember correctly," said Naruto, "as the chaser I fly around and try to score the "Quaffle," a big red ball into one of the opponent's three hoops." "That's right," said Harry, "And you also try to prevent the other team from scoring."

"And, as the beater," continued Gaara, "I use a wooden bat and try to prevent the "Bludgers," fast moving balls from hitting my teammates, while aiming for the other team instead. Isn't that dangerous."

"Yeah, it is," said Harry, with a laugh. "But what's fun without a little risk." Naruto and Gaara chuckled. As shinobi, they were raised to become soldiers. They didn't just have fun with risk. They lived in a world where risk is the first thing they learn. "But, seriously, we haven't had any deaths in so long. And the teachers are there, so if anything happens, they'll help you out. I mean you might break a leg or something, but it's no big deal. And to be honest, I'd rather have an occasional broken bone or two, over 'other' things."

Ron laughed, remembering the fiasco with Gilderoy Lockheart, the Defense Against the Arts Teacher the had their second year. "That guy was a nutcase. He removed all of Harry's bone, so they had to give him so medicine to re-grow it."

Naruto's mouth dropped, "You guys have potions that re-grow bones? What…the… okay, please tell me you were joking." Ron smiled ruefully, but he shook his head, "Serious, mate."

Naruto didn't reply for a moment. When he did, it was only after a deep breath, "Okay, too much information, let's just…get these broomsticks." Gaara laughed, "You know, he has a point. You wizards make some sick potions." "Well," argued Harry, "if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have any bones." Gaara tried to look at this way. "I see," he said, though it wasn't clear if he 'saw' anything at all.

"Here we are," said Harry, when they finally reached the broom shed. Disappearing inside, the boy soon reappeared with two very battered looking brooms. "These are old models, but they'll do, until I can order you guys some…nicer brooms. Nimbus 2000's or 2001's would probably do the trick. Oh, and I forgot to mention. On stormy days, make sure you wear goggles and clothing that can conduct electricity."

Naruto sweat dropped, "W-wh-w-whoa! Hold it! You guys play in lightning?" Harry nodded, "Of course." Naruto shook his head, "Geez, are you 'trying' to scare me from getting on this broom. First, you go on about bludgers whacking people off their brooms hundreds of feet in the air. Then, you talk about someone removing your bones, and potions that re-grow them. And now, you're telling me I have to not get hit by lightning? And at the same time I have to try and play a game hundreds of feet in air on an old, used broomstick that's supposed to fly?"

Harry chuckled nervously, "Well, that's why you need better broomsticks. For now, just get the feel of flying. The control and maneuverability isn't good on that one, but it'll help with control when you move on to better broomsticks.

Naruto shrugged, "Okay, here goes nothing." With that the blonde swung a leg over his broomstick. The three others laughed. "What," asked Naruto. Gaara began making spin movements with his finger, while Ron rolled on the floor with laughter. Naruto's eyes narrowed, "wrong way?"

"Yeah, mate," said Harry, who was failing to hide the laughter in his eyes.

Naruto snorted, before switching positions. Immediately the broom rose up on the air. Startled, Naruto swung wildly, and fell off as the broom shot straight forward. "Ohhh," moaned Naruto, as he rubbed his back, "What happened? Why did it just shoot forward."

"Well, when you start moving crazily like that, that's what happens," said Harry, who now got onto his own Firebolt. Here, watch. Gently touch off from the ground to hover, and then ease your broom into movement by leaning your body the way you want to go. Remember, you control the broomstick. The broomstick is just an extension of your body."

"Hrm," said Naruto, swinging his leg over his broom, which had returned on its own. "Well, if you put it that way, let's see what this baby can do." Naruto gently touched off the ground and took a deep breath. And then, the broom shot off. Only, it did not go forward, but backwards. Ron fell laughing again, while Harry was nearly in tears at the sight.

A crash later, and Naruto had returned. "Okay, what did I do wrong this time?" "It's the broom's fault," said Harry, with a laugh. "I told you they were really old. Here, maybe this one is better."

Naruto snatched it away, and swung his leg over again. This time, to the blonde's relief, the broom went forward. "Good," said Naruto, touching back down. "There you go, mate," said Ron, clapping softly. "Now, gently lean forward again, see how far you can go," said Harry.

If anything, Naruto did not gently lean, for, with a battle cry of some sort, the blonde shot off into the air, with a speed even Harry had not expected. Around the practice field Naruto went, doing spins, loops and circles. At one point, the blonde decided to stand on his broom, and with the balance of a pro, he went around their heads, posing in different stances for an invisible audience.

Down below, the three watched in awe. "He's…good," said Ron. "Really good," said Harry, "natural talent maybe? Only a very few select people can stand on a broom on his first time. " "Looks like Naruto's one of the select few. Well, balance is one of our training exercises back in Japan. Maybe that helps too," added Gaara. The Kazekage looked up again, and, this time, winced. "Uh-oh," said Gaara.

Apparently slipping, Naruto was now holding onto the broom with one hand, while hanging from it. Without its master, the broom had begun to flying in small circles. "Hey, this thing is unfair. It was supposed to make a small turn, not a sharp one."

Harry sighed, "It's an old model. It has very poor maneuverability, remember." "Oh," shouted Naruto, who had finally managed to climb back on. Harry looked back at Ron, "Well, I think he would make a good Chaser, how about you?" Ron nodded, "Yeah, he's got a lot of speed, which is good, and he seems to be able to fly well with distraction, which is important for Chasers too, since they often need let go of their broom while flying."

"Hah, that fool," said Gaara, "take a look guys." Harry and Ron looked up. They both laughed. Some distance away, Naruto was hanging by a branch on a thirty foot tall tree. The broom hovered nearby. The three boys ran over and looked up. From what they saw, it appeared Naruto had tried to fly under a branch, but his shirt had got caught, and he was yanked back.

"Hey, I'm stuck!" "That's obvious," said Gaara, laughing. Naruto scowled, "Haha, joke's over, now blast me off of here." Gaara blinked with amusement, before looking at Harry and Ron. All three nodded and raised their wands.

"WAIT! I only need Gaara. H-hold on guys, wait up! No, don't! Ahhh…."

"Reducto," shouted Harry, aiming just a few inches above Naruto's head, at the branch. "Stupefy," shouted Ron, eager to get Naruto as he came down. "Petrificus Totalus," shouted Gaara, eager to get revenge for being embarrassed by him.

The three spells all shot at once; resulted in the branch Naruto was on to literally explode, sending the blonde flying in midair. Then hit by the stunning spell, Naruto was left paralyzed and unable to dodge the body-bind spell, which left him bound, stunned, and reeling from the aftershock of the branch exploding.

"Funny sight," said Harry, peering down at their blonde friend, who was stuck in a very awkward position, with his mouth set on something between a scream and a yell of surprise. "Look at his face," said Ron, trying to rearrange his own, "his mouth is raised over on the left here."

Harry laughed, "Alright, let's get him back on his feet, then Gaara, you can have a try. Enervate," said Harry, pointing at Naruto's throat. The Genin's eyes fluttered for a moment, and then he sat up. Although he had been stunned, he had heard everything going on. With his cheeks turning red, he raised his own wand, "my turn," he whispered.

Harry raised his wand in defense, though it was unnecessary. As Naruto brought down his own wand, a feminine voice yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Have you ever seen a person who is dumbfounded after losing something which was just in his hands? That was pretty much Naruto, as he stared at the empty space, which previously had been occupied by his wand. The wand, meanwhile, sailed in a nice arc, where two females stood. The two females being Hermione and Sakura. Both stepped aside, as the wand clattered to the ground.

"Hermione? What are doing here," asked Harry. "Sakura saw you guys with the brooms, and decided she wanted to have a try," she said, shrugging, "I saw you fly, Naruto, that was pretty good." And coming from Hermione, that was something.

Naruto scratched his head, "Hehe, I've just got talent, don't I?" Hermione's smiled faded a bit, "Modest too," she said. "Umm," said Harry, "anyway, Gaara, you can…"

He broke off however, as Sakura ripped the broomstick from Gaara's hands and swung her leg over. I don't know much, but this shouldn't be hard," she yelled, before shooting off, in a similar manner to Naruto's, though without the yelling. At first, the Kunoichi contented herself with a few laps around the field.

"Not bad," said Harry, thoughtfully, after her fifth lap, "but so far nothing extraordinary." "Just wait," said Hermione, "just because you boys are so quick to jump to everything, doesn't mean everyone is."

And she was right. After her sixth lap, Sakura began to loops in circles, spin, and do daring dives, before pulling up right before the ground. Whereas Naruto was quick and flashy, Sakura was graceful and had perfect timing. Both were valuable in Quidditch, especially for the Chasers.

"Damn, she's good," said Ron, gawking. Hermione smiled, "Watch this," she said. And to Harry, Naruto, Gaara, and Ron's amazement, Sakura flew straight for a branch; similar to the one Naruto had got caught on. For a moment, it seemed she would hit the branch, but at the last moment, she slid to the underside of the broom, and passed right by. Then, with some effort, she pulled herself right side up and, to the boy's further amazement, stood up onto the broom, before flying down and coming to a perfect stop.

"How's that," she asked, with the hint of a smile. Ron's mouth opened and closed a few times. Harry just stared. Gaara and Naruto shared a glance of utter amazement. "Y-you're…good," said Harry lamely. Sakura laughed, "I guess. So, did I make the team?" Harry looked at Ron, Naruto, and Gaara, hoping one of them would answer for him. He didn't want to know what would happen if he said, "no," and he didn't want to just accept her on the spot without looking at Gaara first. And, if he made her wait, she may take it as a 'no' anyway."

"I-I…ugh…you…err…I mean." Sakura frowned, "Huh?" "IneedtolookatGaarafirst!" Sakura raised an eyebrow, "Umm…okay," she said. Hermione laughed, "Geez, Harry, you don't need to act so nervous. Sakura can wait while Gaara goes for a run." "Of course," agreed the Kunoichi, "As the captain you have to choose the two of us who are the best. I know! Go ahead Gaara, show us what you got," she said, tauntingly. Gaara frowned. He did not like the new girly Sakura. Hermione was having too much of an influence on her. Either that, or Sakura was putting her heart and soul into being a sixteen year old, possibly forgetting that she was a twenty six year old woman.

Harry breathed in relief that the two girls seemed so willing to let Gaara have a go. "Alright, Gaara, finally! You're turn." Gaara nodded, and without a word, swung his leg over the broom, the same way Naruto and Sakura had done.

"Here goes," said the Kazekage, before shooting off. The Kazekage followed much the same course Naruto had, spinning, looping, and turning sharply. Unfortunately, as Harry later pointed out with great regret, they were lacking in the excitement and emotion and flashy style that Naruto's flying had.

The Kazekage took it nicely though, just making Harry promise that he could still practice from time to time. Harry readily agreed.

And so, the extra Chaser and Beater positions were filled. Sakura would take the Chaser position, while Naruto would be their Beater. And, even better, both were pretty good to start on the brooms, so the only thing Harry would need to train them in was strategy and special plays. The other thing left for Harry to do was to hold trials for the main team. Unfortunately, after their first training day, Harry was exhausted, and would hold them another day.

Later In The Evening: The Common Room

"Well," said Harry, as the time rapidly approached eight, "I'm going to head out for Dumbledore. Today's my first private lesson. I don't want to be late."

Hermione looked up from Snape's essay, the second to last that he would give before Kakashi took over, "Oooh, we'll wait up Harry. We want to hear what he teaches." "Have fun," said Naruto, cheerfully, before turning back to his Potions book. "Good luck, mate," said Ron, before he and Gaara went back to their own homework.

Harry muttered a good bye, and then stepped through the portrait hole. He was unaware that Naruto very stealthily followed him, leaving behind a perfect Shadow Clone behind him. Only Gaara and Sakura knew that he had done it.

"Now, then, Dumbledore, what are you guys up," asked Naruto to himself, as he ran along the ceiling over Harry, "I can't very well protect him if he's wandering off to you."


Lionheart: This one was so boring to write XD. Oh well, the next one will have some developments. Naruto vs. Akatsuki maybe? Oh, did I say something…Oops…