Of Stranger Magic

Harry Potter x Naruto Story

Of Stranger Magic Chapter 10.

Summary 1: "You two will be taking this mission it'll probably be one of the most important missions of both of your lives." stated Tsunade tiredly, "Is there a particular reasoning for that Hokage-sama?" asked Shikamaru standing just a tad more straighter in his slouched posture. "Dumbledore-sensei is an old friend." stated simply by Tsunade. "But Shishou-" "I said he was a friend, not that he was mine."

Summary 2: "I'm trusting you to do this for me Severus. It is of the upmost importance that you get those two to the headquarters as soon as possible." "Of course headmaster, but are you sure about these ninja?" "Absolutely. I believe we are in need of a stranger magic than our own."

Chapter Excerpt: Sakura glanced around the room, filled with shocked students, each showing clear signs of disdain for the pink clad woman. Her own look of disdain matching the younger kids as she thought of the woman mocking the color many used to describe her, she would have continued glaring at the woman until she saw an almost unperceptive nod from a now disguised Shikamaru and her eyes found Harry's currently looking around the room as well taking in the other students faces, her frown seemed to grow in its displeasure as Harry seemed to stop on Shikamaru. Yes she would surely need to have words with this boy, and soon.

Pairings: Shikamaru Nara x Sakura Haruno; Draco Malfoy x Hermione Granger.

Minor Pairings: Sasuke Uchiha x Hinata Hyuuga; Naruto Uzumaki x Ino Yamanaka; Ron Weasley x Luna Lovegood; Harry Potter x Parvati Patil.

Rated: M

AN: This chapter has been edited and previous unnecessary author's notes and comment replies have been removed for your reading pleasure. Enjoy.

…

Previously:

…

Owl and Jaguar felt cold.

But they were used to the cold biting deeper and deeper into their scarred flesh. They met genin with greater killing intent than the despair these creatures projected. They noticed the lights were sucked from every corner of the environment, even the sun's rays which seeped through the glass windows, seemed to have vanished without a trace.

He had never seen such a fear inspiring sight than what lay before him now. He wanted so desperately to tear his eyes away from them but could not find the strength to do it himself. He found that Jaguar's cold voice helped him along with the other witnessing students to scurry back into the compartments fully and to roughly slam shut their doors.

Everyone was struck into silence the female guard's words echoing inside everyone's heads as the scene they just witnessed replayed at the same time.

"So they don't bleed. What a disappointment."

Harry found his attention for the stout looking woman and her little speech wavering. And looking to and fro between his classmates found himself lucky he lasted this long to her speech. He noticed really the only ones following along to what the pink toad was saying were Hermione and a few of the Ravenclaws, along with the teachers. He also took notice that the quiet which always accompanied Dumbledore's speech was breaking as students put their heads together, whispering and giggling. Over at the Ravenclaw table, Cho Chang was chatting animatedly with her friends. A few seats along from Cho was Luna who had once more gotten out her own copy of The Quibbler. Meanwhile at Hufflepuff table, Ernie Macmillan was one of the few still staring at Professor Umbridge, but he was glassy-eyed and Harry was sure he was merely pretending to listen in an attempt to live up to the new prefect's badge gleaming on his chest, proudly.

Professor Umbridge seemed to not care one way or another whom was listening to her tirade. In fact Harry was nearly positive that a full scale riot could have broken out under her nose and she wouldn't have even blinked her bulbous eyes twice at the scene so long as she still had parts of her speech that still needed speaking.

Yet despite the warning all he could really wonder was, 'How do they know?'. For when Harry was drifting off due to the flat-faced woman's speech, and his eyes wandered to the faces of the others in the hall. The faces that were there did not include Owl nor Jaguar's.

…

Now:

…

Sakura glanced around the room.

She noticed with disdain it was filled with shocked students, each showing clear signs of dislike for the pink clad woman. Her own look of disdain matching theirs as she thought of the woman mocking the color many used to describe her. It didn't take a lot of skill to realize that even this woman's voice was used in her arsenal of pissing people off. It was much too sickeningly sweet to be anything other than bile inducing. Her attention was drawn short however, and despite how she would have continued glaring at the woman, she saw an almost unperceptive nod from a now disguised Shikamaru and her eyes followed his nod quickly and found Harry's, currently looking around the room as well, taking in the other students faces, her frown seemed to grow with her displeasure as Harry's eyes seemed to stop on Shikamaru.

Yes she would surely need to have words with this boy. Soon. Sakura nodded once towards Shikamaru as the toad woman concluded her speech and Dumbledore stood once more finishing his now shortened speech. Once he started speaking of herself and Shikamaru, she quickly shunshined off of the ceiling silently, leaving Shikamaru to his fate with the students.

There were loud movements coming from the Great Hall a few moments later and everyone of the students began to file out of the hall the 'perfects' she remembered they were called, first fled out of the hall all too eager to get away from the pink menace and lead the new students to their dorms as soon as possible. They quickly noticed her and parted quickly to avoid her as she waited. Just as she was about to give up her wait and merely drag Potter out of the hall kicking and screaming she spotted him, hurriedly trying to reach the common room before curfew. He was in such a rush thinking of the events which just transpired he ran straight into Sakura. She staggered backwards a bit but was able to compose herself even before Harry landed swiftly on his bum.

It had never really clicked in her head before but now, that he was up close to her, she could clearly see that the boy shared the same eyes as she herself did. Though it was probably mere coincidence than anything else. She silently cleared her throat and spoke deftly as Potter rose to his feet.

"Have to be careful, Potter. Bad things happen to those who don't take note of what's happening around them."

She did not give him time to reply back to her advice before she turned her back to him and began walking towards her and Shikamaru's current quarters.

She allowed a smirk to grace her masked face, as she chose to ignore the footfalls of the running boy.

…

Harry had never made it to the common room as quickly as he did within those few moments, he had apparently made it there a few moments after Hermione and Ron because he cautiously took a seat on one of the recliners as the two finished ushering the first years to their rooms. It did not take long for Hermione to take hold of the silence and create a conversation.

"We had thought you'd have been a little while, we were going to meet back at the Hall as soon as we dismissed the kids." she said concerned

"Yeah well, I kind of got persuaded to leave a little earlier than intended." Harry muttered darkly, taking a deep shuddering breath.

Ron's eyes furrowed in confusion as Hermione lit up in realization at the same time.

"Jaguar was there, outside the doors to the Great Hall. It was like she was waiting there for someone. I had just assumed it was Owl or one of the teachers." Hermione trailed off quietly...

"Nope. Just little old me apparently." Harry lowered his voice, quite dramatically as he heard other students begin to pile into the common room, "She warned me. Said something like, 'Having to be careful.' and, 'Take note of what's happening around me.'"

"Well she does have some good points. It's not like we've had a normal year at school so far have we?" asked Ron with a quiet chuckle. Though the other two weren't exactly agreeing with him they couldn't outright argue with Ron's perspective either.

"I don't know though. Something about Owl and Jaguar … they're just off, somehow..." said Harry as Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

"I think I'll go off to the library see if I can find anything at all about where they're from or just something ..." said Hermione a new determination set in.

"Hi, Harry." waved Parvati, a smile lit up Harry's face as he waved back enthusiastically and after a brief nod from Ron, made his way over to the girl.

"Think I'll go upstairs and take a nap, before starting on that potions essay."

…

It had been about an hour since Ron had left to go take his 'little' nap and Harry honestly couldn't remember a time where he felt so at ease. Probably since the Dragon's test about eight months ago. The relaxed feeling he had though was soon dashed away as he noticed for the umpteenth time Seamus and Dean look his way, though this time when he caught there eyes the two left to go up to the boy's dormitories.

"I'll catch you tomorrow for breakfast, Parvati?" asked Harry then continued at her nod, "I think the day's finally catching up to me and I think I'll go on to bed now."

"I'll hold you to breakfast then Harry." she giggled before skipping off towards the girl's dormitories.

When he got up to the dormitory followed closely by Neville, Dean and Seamus were talking quietly as they were in the process of covering the walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. They quickly stopped speaking however when Harry pushed open the door, and made his and Neville's presence known. Harry wondered if they were talking of him, then if he was merely being paranoid, but thought better of it recalling the faraway looks he received while in the common room with Parvati.

"Hi," he said moving to his own trunk accordingly.

"Hey, Harry," said Dean, who was putting on a pair of pajamas in the West Ham colors. "Good holiday?"

"Not bad." muttered Harry, as a true account of his holiday would have taken most of the night to relate, and truth be told he really did not want to face it just right now anyway, "You?"

"Yeah, it was okay." chuckled Dean, "Better than Seamus's anyway, he was just telling me."

"Why, what happened, Seamus?" questioned Neville as he placed his Mimbulus mimbletonia tenderly on his bedside cabinet.

Seamus did not answer immediately; he was making rather a meal of ensuring that his poster of the Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team was quite straight. Then he said, with his back still turned to Harry, "Me mam didn't want me to come back."

"What?" said Harry, pausing in the act of pulling off his robes.

"She didn't want me to come back to Hogwarts." Seamus had said the words slowly like if speaking them at a normal rate would hinder Harry's ability to understand them.

"But – why?" Harry was completely astonished. He knew that Seamus's mother was a witch and could not understand, therefore, why she should have come over so Dursley-ish.

Seamus did not answer, however, until he had finished buttoning his pajamas.

"Well," he began in a measured voice, finally turning around to make eye contact with Harry, "I suppose … because of you."

"What d'you mean?" said Harry quickly. His heart was beating rather fast, he thought he already had an idea of where this conversation was heading, and he felt rather vaguely as if something was closing in on him.

"Well," said Seamus again moving towards his bed, "she … er … well it's not just you … it's Dumbledore too …"

"She believes the Daily Prophet?" asked Harry already having come to this realization making it less of a question and more like a statement. "She thinks I'm a liar and Dumbledore's an old fool."

Seamus met his eyes once more and boldly stated, "Yeah, something like that."

Harry said nothing, however. He threw his wand down onto his bedside table, pulled off his robes, stuffed them angrily into his trunk, and angrily pulled on his pajamas. He was sick of it; sick of being the person who was stared at and talked about all the time. If any of them knew, if any of them had the faintest idea what it felt like to be the one all these things happened to … Mrs. Finnigan had no idea, the stupid woman, he thought savagely.

He got into bed and made to pull the hangings closed around him, but before he could do so, Seamus spoke, "Look … what did happen that night when … you know, when … with Cedric Diggory and all?"

Seamus sounded nervous and eager all at the same time. Dean, who had been bending over his trunk, trying to receive a slipper, went oddly still and Harry just knew the other boy was now listening hard.

"What are you asking me for?" Harry retorted coldly, "Just read the Daily Prophet like your mother, why don't you? That'll tell you all you need to know."

"Don't you have a go at my mother!" snapped Seamus

"I'll have a go with anyone that calls me a liar," said Harry

"Don't talk to me like that!"

"I'll talk to you how I want," said Harry his temper rising so fast he snatched his wand from his bedside table. "If you've got a problem sharing a dormitory with me, go and ask McGonagall if you can be moved, stop your mummy worrying –"

"Leave my mother out of this, Potter!"

"What's going on?" asked Ron groggily becoming aware of the now constant yelling around him.

"He's having a go at my mother!" Seamus yelled

"What?" asked Ron, "Harry wouldn't do that. We met your mother, we liked her …"

"That's before she started believing every word the stinking Daily Prophet writes about me!" said Harry at the top of his voice no one but Dean and Neville noticing the new presence in the room.

"You know what?" said Seamus heatedly, casting Harry a venomous look, "He's right, I don't want to share a dormitory with him anymore. He's a madman!"

"Actually boys, I think I'm the most insane out of all of us in here." spoke a cold deep voice from behind Ron. The two fighting boys, along with Ron, soon joined in with Dean and Neville as the five of them steadily stared at the masked ninja.

"I am sure Dumbledore will be very disappointed. It hasn't even been a full 24 hours we've been here and already I'm having to break up a fight. Finnigan. Potter you are both out of order here. I suggest the next time you two decide to fight to do so more quietly where it will not disrupt mine nor Jaguar's patrols. What if it was a real threat coming from this room?"

Neither boy bothered to answer with a dignified reply. "Also, I hate to break your hearts, boys, but McGonagall won't change your sleeping arrangements so don't' even bother. Now if you ladies are finished I still have the Slytherin dorms to check out."

The five Gryffindors stood in the exact spots Shikamaru left them in, none of them moving for a good few minutes before they all trudged off to bed and fell into fitful sleeps.

Not one of them said another word.

…

Hermione had looked high and low all over the library looking for any reference possible that could shine some light on the mysterious looking guards. As she researched she noticed that the closer she got to finding something out the more Dark Arts books she looked through. It was on one of the less than desirable aisles that she reached out a hand the same time someone's hand reached across hers.

Hermione looked up startled, figuring she would be the only one in the library now, and met the same pair of steely grey eyes she did the day they were entering the platform. And just like that day instead of the hard, glaring eyes he usually reserved for Harry and Ron, Draco was currently looking at her in a softer, dare she say it gentler way.

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

The two looked at each other for a while before they both broke out in soft chuckles the awkwardness leaving them.

"Didn't ever expect to find you on this side of the library, Granger." stated Malfoy observingly, once more leaning towards her to grab the book he originally intended before bumping into her. She only managed to read a few words before he quickly hid the book from her sight. Rise and Fall of-

"Shouldn't be surprised to find you on this side of the library, Malfoy." the young heir managed a small smile at this and Hermione surprised her own self by smiling back at him. She quickly shook herself of the insane act and reached over for the book closer to Malfoy. She too took in his noticing gaze and hid the title quickly hoping he would not be able to read it fast enough to register the title. Though before he could ask her they both turned quickly upon seeing a shadow fall over them.

"Hermione. Draco." Jaguar spoke quietly, "It's five minutes past curfew and I'm afraid I'll have to escort you back to you dorms now. If not for the fact it isn't safe then how about to spare the two of you detention?" bribed the pink haired woman upon seeing the two stubborn children wanting to argue.

They both soon lost their gusto at her words and solemnly nodded moving to put back their picked out books, though Jaguar stopped them.

"I do so enjoy a good book every now and then and once I mentioned it to Dumbledore he told Madame Pinch not to be surprised should a few books go missing every now and again. As far as I'm concerned I won't tell if you won't tell." and with that she turned her back to Hermione and Draco much like she did to Harry, and began walking away, only stopping shortly to allow them time to pocket the books and catch up to her.

Madame Pince glared at the three of them until Sakura slammed the doors to the library shut after them.

…

Hermione was rather embarrassed.

She knew the Fat Lady had her moments but this was just ridiculous. The large woman was currently drinking some fancy wine (one Hermione was sure she did not need to drink considering) out of one of the knights's helmets. She and quite a few of the other surrounding paintings were currently singing along with her to one of Twisted Sisters' more popular songs. Honestly, Hermione hadn't even heard the song yet.

And while it was obvious at first Malfoy enjoyed her slight humiliation, he was quite over it now and only wished for the singing to stop so the woman would let her in so he could go off and torture someone somewhere else. Hermione knew it wasn't fair to badmouth him like that but at the same time she honestly couldn't bring herself to care either. She was annoyed and just wanted to curl up in her bed and read this damned book that could hopefully help her learn more about what exactly Owl and Jaguar are.

Jaguar too, grew tired of waiting for the Fat Lady to come down from her fun ,so it was with great shock that Hermione and Draco saw the woman walk up to where the Fat Lady sang and watched as her hand glowed green and proceeded to touch the entrance to the common room. She had backed up just in time before the portrait swung open and allowed Hermione entrance. They barely heard the muffled cry's of the Lady, "Hey you can't do that!" before Jaguar ushered her in and motioned for Draco to follow after her towards the dungeons.

"Draco." Jaguar's soft voice spoke to him, he had almost forgotten she could speak she was so quiet, "Draco. I know a lot of you." at this point in time she looked at him through the slits of her mask and he was shocked to find emerald eyes staring back at him. The mask made her look dangerous and evil but there was a slight hint of concern there as well. It warmed his heart until he stomped those feelings away. He didn't even know this woman's true name.

"I want you to know. That the sacrifice they are making you take. You do not have to take. Say the word and I shall be there to help you."

Draco's whole body stilled. Not that it was any concern for Jaguar or himself, they were merely a few meters away from the entrance of the dungeons anyway. His mouth went dry with shock and the only word he found himself uttering was, "Why?"

"Because you remind me of an old friend," was her simple answer, "and I pray you turn out differently from him."

Before he could reply back she had already vanished.

…

Olde and Forgotten: Sorcery or More

The book almost glared at Hermione as she sat across it. She had already read through half the chapters and already some of these creatures were so vague about forty-two of them could be described as what Owl and Jaguar are. From certain Nymphs to Erlkings to Djinn it just seemed impossible to figure out what exactly Dumbledore had guarding the school.

More importantly though, Hermione found her will to continue reading, slipping. She kept going back to the book Draco had picked out. There were only a few books beginning with that title but her mind kept going back to a certain one. The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts. Hermione was almost without a doubt positive that this was the book Draco had picked out. If not because the Rise and Fall of the Goblin Wars and Rise and Fall of Ministers: The Good the Bad and the Dirty was something she thought Draco would really care less about. Though it made her wonder exactly what he could want with that book. She remembered reading it before school, in fact this book is what helped her recognize Harry on that first train ride. It was littered with references of him and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. More specifically she remembered with a shock an entire chapter being dedicated to The Dark Mark.

She really hoped that that chapter wasn't why he was going to check out the book.

…

"I don't like it here." grumbled Shikamaru tiredly as they met up at around two in their room.

"I don't either." admitted Sakura, "These kids are … troublesome."

Shikamaru either didn't care or could not find a better word to describe some of the students. So he instead chose to continue talking.

"Did you confront Draco?"

"Yes," Sakura replied removing her mask and placing it on her holster belt, "It went better than expected. And your intel on Harry?"

"Troublesome." Shikamaru replied looking out the window towards the castle grounds, "He and another boy, Seamus got into quite the little shouting match. I daresay it would have gotten worst before it got better."

"Hmmm." replied Sakura moving towards the pile of paperwork near her bed.

"We should see Dumbledore." he muttered quietly as Sakura once more hummed in agreement.

"I don't like being kept in the dark." finished Shikamaru opening the window and jumping out quietly.

"Aah. But it's so nice there." Sakura giggled to herself completely alone.

…

Of Stranger Magic

Edited: 06/20/12

AN: This chapter has been edited and previous unnecessary author's notes and comment replies have been removed for your reading pleasure. I hope you've enjoyed the revised version of Of Stranger Magic Chapter 10.

Dark Wolf Love