Start your New Years with Itachi and Hogwarts! (And yes, most/all of you guessed it right)
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Itachi stood in the middle of the stone steps of the entrance, breathing out white puffs into the cold air. He was perfectly still, eyes locked on the distant gate, up the path. He wore his wool over cloak to ward off the chill, his red and gold scarf, wrapped around his neck and tucked in his cloak so nothing dangled.
Nearly all the students were gone. He'd awoken to everyone but Ron and Harry waking up to leave. He got dressed with them, talking quietly into the early morning air, before he escorted them down to the entrance hall. Dumbledore was there to see them off, back into the carriages that had originally brought them to the school. That was two hours ago, and he hasn't moved since. Now it was nearing nine, and if his eyes weren't deceiving him—as if they ever did—there was a dot moving towards him.
His face was completely blank, his breathing even, not moving an inch except for his eyes and head as it followed the growing dot, waiting. The emergency scroll had helped him tremendously, but that didn't mean something didn't happen from then till now. It had been months since then.
The carriage pulled to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, the Thestral puffing light breaths in the air as it stopped, and the carriage sat motionless for a bit. Then the door opened and Sasuke's head popped out. He was looking at the ground at first as he readied to jump down, but then he raised his gaze and saw him. "Itachi!" He said happily, grin splitting his face. Quickly, the boy hopped down from the carriage and ran to greet him.
But Itachi met him at the bottom of the steps before he had run four paces, moving faster then the eye could see. He scoped up the boy and swung him around, to Sasuke's sudden squeals of delight. He hugged him tightly, a hand at his back and the other supporting the smaller child.
"Older brother! I missed you!" Sasuke giggled, hugging him back. "You've been gone for months!"
"It's good to see you, Sasuke." He shifted the younger boy so he was resting partially on his hip, like he use to when Sasuke was smaller, but finding it more difficult then he remembered. "You've grown."
"Yup, yup! And guess what? I'm top of my class at the academy! And," Sasuke leaned back slightly looking up and down Itachi with a wrinkled nose. "What on earth are you wearing?"
"Good grief. This place must be horrible. To make Uchiha Itachi show emotion and smile? My kudos for you enduring this mission." A new voice directed the attention of the brothers to the other ninja as he walked up to them.
Hatake Kakashi looked over his orange novel, mask in place, and headband over his sharingan eye. Thankfully, he wasn't wearing his ANBU uniform, merely the average jounin uniform. Mustn't raise unneeded suspicion if suddenly another 'Guard' showed up and knew only him.
"Kakashi-sempai." Itachi nodded, his smile not dropping. He noticed the silver haired ninja's questioning glance at the black, skeletal, winged horse as it began to plod away, towards wherever the carriages were kept. "Thestral. No one who has not seen death can see it. It is tame, don't worry." He explained, causing Sasuke to look at him oddly.
"Ah," Kakashi's single black eye looked him up and down then, a single eyebrow rising. "What are you wearing?" He repeated the question Sasuke asked.
"School uniform. I'm part of the house Gryffindor. The colors change for each of the four houses."
"Brr, it's freezing here!" Sasuke said, shivering suddenly. "How can you stand it? Let's go inside! Please?"
"Certainly." He shifted so Sasuke was on his back before lightly walking up the stairs.
"Be warned, there are things here that will probably shock you. Don't react unless I do, understand Kakashi-sempai?"
He turned and looked at the older ANBU, who was reading in his book. "Sure, sure. No problem." Kakashi waved absently, his eye crinkling in delight to whatever trash he was reading.
"We will first report into Dumbledore-sama's office. Then we can go get lunch." He went through the door, leading the wall through the grand entrance hall.
Sasuke twitched excitedly on his back, arms clamped around his brother's neck as the boy looked around in aw. "Whoa! It's so big!"
"The castle is about the size of three ninja academies. There's also a lake, and a forest with quite a few mythical beasts. I'll show you around later."
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Sasuke stared. And stared. And then stared some more. His eyes were watering from staring too much, BUT HE WOULDN'T STOP! He would win this! He would beat this weird bird that was staring, unblinkingly back at him.
Itachi and Kakashi-san were talking to Dumbledore-sama, and he only understood less then half the conversation, as it was half in English and partly in complex, boring ways when it was in a language he understood. They'd been talking for forever already! What could possibly be so interesting?
So he continued to stare at this big, red bird with the yellow beak, tail and claws. Suddenly, the thought struck him. Was this thing even alive?
Slowly, ever so slowly, he reached out an arm, hand curling so only a single finger remained extended, his tongue poking out slightly as his eyes gleamed. Closer, closer, bit by bit, his heart thumping in his chest, his finger got nearer and nearer, and—!
"SQUAWK!"
"AHHH!!" Sasuke sprung away from the bird as it let out an almost unholy shriek, quickly retracting his arm in fear for the limb.
"Sasuke, stop bothering the bird." Itachi said boredly over his shoulder as Sasuke came scurrying over to him.
"B-b-b-but Itachi! Didn't you see it?! It attacked me!!"
"Sasuke, that bird is a phoenix. They don't attack."
"Itachi!" He whined, up at him as he clutched at the weird clothing his brother wore. "It did attack! And when are you going to be done? You've been talking forever!"
Dumbledore chuckled, taking out a stick. Sasuke eyed him wearily, not letting go of Itachi as his brother absently patted him on the head. He was the first foreigner he met that spoke his language (third foreigner over all, the lady and dude on the train being the other two), but that didn't mean he trusted him. The old man felt funny. "It's been a while since I've had to entertain younger children. Let's see what I can do." He waved his stick and muttered a weird word, but the thing that happened caused not only Sasuke to react, but Kakashi-san as well.
Sasuke clung all the tighter to Itachi's robe and he felt Kakashi jump. Appearing in a spurt of sparks were a few books, a brightly colored cube, some paper and brightly colored pencil things.
"Calm down, Kakashi-sempai. Sasuke, don't be rude. Accept Dumbledore-sama's gift."
"How do I know they're not going to burst into flames or something if I touch them?" Sasuke replied stubbornly, refusing to move.
With a minute sigh, Itachi walked out of his grip, and went to grab the things. "Itachi!" Sasuke hissed, trying to warn him. Why couldn't he see that they were dangerous? They appeared out of freakin' no where!
But they didn't explode, maim, or otherwise harm his brother when he touched them. Carelessly, Itachi looked through both of the books, before picking up one, as well as the paper and brightly colored sticks. "Here," He said, holding them out for him.
"Uh-uh! I'm not touching them!" Sasuke replied, his hands clasped firmly behind him.
Of course, the sudden two fingered poke to the forehead brought his hands back to his front, where upon the things were placed. "Hey!" He said, clutching at them with one hand as he rubbed the spot.
"Now go play."
Glaring patented Uchiha glare number seven—the worst—he just received another pat on the head. Scowling, he stalked back to his corner, this time, away from the bird.
Stupid brother, stupid bird, stupid old man, stupid paper, stupid stick thingies, stupid boo—Hey! This is interesting...
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"Are girls allowed to do that, Older brother?" Sasuke asked with a shutter. Kakashi, Sasuke, Itachi, and Dumbledore were walking through the hall, a few hours later, nearing noon, heading to make sleeping arrangements for the two visitors as they had already eaten in Dumbledore's office. There was no one around, and to break the silence, Itachi asked if there was anything of note happening in school for his brother. Apparently, Sasuke already had budding fan girls.
"Allowed? No. Do they? Yes. Want to know something scary?" Itachi looked down, deadly serious look on his face while he was smiling evilly on the inside at the terrified look on his brother's face. "It gets worse." He whispered for added effect, and the young boy's face drained of even more color.
"You're scaring him, Itachi." Kakashi said lazily, focusing on his book instead of his surroundings. He'd leave Itachi for that. This place made his skin crawl, and he'd rather not focus on it if he could help it.
"I like to think of it as preparing him for the future."
"Hey, Itachi!" A voice caused all heads to move in unison to the source. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were just coming down from the Gryffindor tower, and by judging their bundled up appearances, they were going outside. He himself was still wearing his winter cloak.
Itachi nodded to them, and they faltered slightly at his smile, having never seen it before. Then they noticed the other people. "Good Afternoon, Dumbledore. Er—who're they?" They looked from the grey head of hair to the small boy, who caused recognization to flash across Hermione's face slightly.
"This is Kakashi Hatake, a friend of mine. And this is my little brother Sasuke." He placed a hand on Sasuke's head, who had suddenly hidden behind him, staring at Hermione. From the conversation they just had, he couldn't blame the boy. Still, manners and all. "Sasuke, don't be rude."
"But they all feel funny!" He got lightly smacked on the head, causing his ire. "Ouch! Hey! What was that for?"
"I said don't be rude. I apologize for my brother. This is his first time away from Konoha. His manners are lacking." He switched between the languages, speaking easily in both.
"It's alright. What are they doing here?"
"Kakashi and Sasuke are visiting me for the Holidays." He turned to the silver haired ninja, who looked a little awkward. "This is my charge, Potter Harry, and his friend Weasley Ronald, and his other friend GrangerHermione"
"Yo." He said, saluting them with his book. He then leaned down to him, his book covering his already covered lips. "You have a genin team?"
"I dubbed them Team Six the day I met them." Itachi smirked up to him.
"Well," Harry said, looking between them. "We're all going to go down and visit Hagrid, you wanna come?"
Itachi glanced at Dumbledore, wondering what he should do. The mission was to accompany Harry at all times, and he liked Hagrid. However, he wanted to stick with his brother, and he wished to get Kakashi and Sasuke settled with a spot to sleep at.
"Go on with your friends, I'll show Kakashi and Sasuke to their rooms."
"No, if it's alright," He looked towards Team Six, "I'd like to take Sasuke with me."
"Sure, it's ok." Hermione said, smiling down at the pouty little Asian.
"It is? Ow!" Ron clutched at his shin, ever so kindly kicked. "What was that for?" Hermione glared at him, before catching Harry's eye. He had recognized Sasuke after being introduced, and that was the reason he invited the Uchiha to his interrogation.
"Then it's settled. Hatake-san, if you'd accompany me? Itachi needs to resume his mission."
Itachi smirked at the look the other ANBU shot at him. Though he knew it was a farce, it was still very entertaining to see the look of pure horror and betrayal on Kakashi's face of being left alone and dependant on a magic user.
They made their way down, pausing only at the front door because Itachi took his red and golden scarf, securing it tightly around Sasuke before lifting him in another piggy back ride. "Come on, Sasuke, there's a man I'd like you to meet."
"Why are we heading down to Hagrid's?" Itachi asked as they made their way through the light snow. While their feet and helms of their cloaks got soaked, the ANBU expelled chakra through his feet, walking on top of the snow and thus keeping dry. However, as he was the last in the line, no one noticed this besides Sasuke, who was use to it.
"I'm going to tell him off for not telling me about Black." Harry snapped, suddenly mean.
Itachi frowned. "Remember what I said last night?"
The others looked on in confusion, but Harry scowled. "When you were drunk?"
"Haha, Itachi got snockered!" Ron laughed lightly, picturing it even though he'd seen it and not realized it.
"Drunk or not, my words hold true." He said, taking a step forward and peering up into the taller boy's eyes. "What purpose will this serve? Hm? What mind frame are you in? Hagrid was distraught last night; obviously he doesn't like talking of Black. What do you plan to gain? You know now already. Are you trying to make a friend upset with you?" They had stopped walking halfway to the small hutch that looked like a cake in the wintry snow. They were just black dots themselves, in the mass of frozen crystals.
Harry was glaring at him, but he couldn't think of something to retaliate with.
"But that's not all. He's going to wonder where you learned. You weren't supposed to be in the Three Broomsticks yesterday. Where else were you supposed to have found that out? Found that he, specifically, knew?"
"You weren't supposed to be there either!" Harry finally shouted, sputtering slightly.
"If I had been spotted, they wouldn't have been able to do anything. I only stayed in Hogwarts because I didn't want you to be the only third year." Itachi was increasingly aware of Sasuke's shivering, knowing they should get to Hagrid's hut before too long. "Stop being a self-centered git. You're not the only one in life who has it bad. Don't alienate your friends from wanting to protect you from becoming a mindless avenger, who lives only to kill. I've seen it happen before, and I guarantee I'll see it happen again. I do not wish that fate for you."
Harry was looking away, fists clenched at his sides, as Itachi spoke quietly, in that all sure voice of his.
Finally, after a long silence, Harry started walking towards Hagrid's hut again after taking a deep breath. "Well?" He said when they just watched him. "I said I'd visit him, it's been too long, so let's go."
"What was that all about?" Sasuke whispered into his ear.
"Just doing my mission, Little brother. Protecting my charge." Even if it is from himself.
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Later that night, Ron and Hermione thanked Itachi for putting some sense into Harry, that they had tried but failed. He nodded, and then turned back to Kakashi, who was seated across from him in another chair.
They had been discussing many different things, from recent events in Konoha, who took over Itachi's team while he was away, what Itachi did all day, how the mission was going, even Itachi's thoughts on the whole thing. Sasuke had at first played with Kneazle-Sasuke, but he had been worn out from the trip, even though he slept during the entire second half, and had been put to sleep where he would stay in Dean's bed. Kakashi would take Seamus's.
They talked late into the night, but the delicious smell wafting from the kitchens had made Kakashi pause once, sniffing the air in what could be a longing way. Scabbers even—who Ron let out occasionally, saying he couldn't be stuck in a cage for the rest of his life—poked his head hopefully out of Ron's pocket to sniff the air, only to be promptly attacked by Kneazle-Sasuke, hissing and spitting like no other. Itachi had snatched the kitten off the terrified older boy with out much hassle as he was a ninja, but not without giving the rat a particular look. Very interesting the Kneazle would attack it so viciously.
Team Six went to bed around ten, but the two ninja stayed up till midnight discussing matters.
However, after they went to sleep—Kakashi raising an eyebrow at the futon amongst raised beds—they had been woken up at five thirty in the morning by no less then fifteen house elves. Kakashi, warned previously, watched in amusement as the creatures apologized profusely for waking them up, but Itachi just waved them off, saying get back to work. They did so, apologizing, and placed various packages on the boy's bed. Itachi was surprised to receive a few packages himself, and he looked at them lightly while Kakashi snickered, before the older ninja had to dodge the sudden barrage of kunai.
Unable to go back to sleep, they changed into training gear. First and foremost was to try and beat each other senseless (after which he would give his official Konoha report to Kakashi), which made Itachi smile more then he had smiled in years. He felt positively giddy at sparring again. Well, as giddy as Uchiha Itachi ever could be.
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Whomp! "Oof!"
"Oi! Presents!" Ron said, having chucked the pillow that woke Harry up.
"W-what's going on?" Came the slightly startled voice of Itachi's brother, sitting up with his eyes still closed. He waited a second before he fell back into his bed, asleep again. If Harry and Ron had been anime characters, they would have sweat dropped, but they weren't so they just gave him an odd look and then resumed their business.
Harry fumbled for his glasses, looking out the window once they were on as habit. But the sight caused him to blink. "Oi," He said jerking his head over to where he was looking before Ron greedily opened his gifts. "Is that Itachi and Kakashi?"
Ron hopped up, peering out the window onto the snowy ground. Itachi and Kakashi stood facing each other, their feet slightly spread and their hands behind their backs. The snow around them was compacted in scattered spots, as if there'd been a crowd of people randomly running about on it, falling occasionally.
"I wonder what their doing?" Ron said absently, watching as they saluted each other before turning to go back to the castle in unison. "Oh well," He shrugged before eagerly getting back on his bed and shredding at the paper. "Another sweater from Mum... maroon again... see if you've got one."
They had just gotten to their third package when Itachi and Kakashi came in, slightly damp.
"Morning,"
"Merry Christmas! You got presents too. Who're they from?" Ron asked, nodding to the three boxes. Didn't Itachi say they didn't have Christmas in Konoha?
Itachi glanced at them before turning back, "Your mum."
"What! Oh no, she didn't." Ron groaned, dropping his box of candy he just opened. "She asked if any of my friends were staying at Hogwarts, and I mentioned you didn't know what it was and didn't celebrate it. She must have given them to you, knowing you wouldn't get any."
Itachi easily sat down on his futon, Kneazle-Sasuke crawling into his lap almost instantaneously to purr contently.
"What on earth are the packages for, anyway?" Kakashi said from his bed, book held above him for easy reading.
"It's a holiday here. Family and friends give each other gifts on this day." He unwrapped the first box and withdrew a black sweater with a white Konoha leaf on the center of it. He held it up to examine it closely. To her credit, it was a perfect imitation of the leaf. However...
"It will look smashing on you." Kakashi said smugly from his spot, using a word he gleaned off Ron the previous night. He just laughed as he dodged another barrage of kunai.
"Hey, Harry, what's that?" Itachi glanced over to see the long package he noticed the night before. Harry unwrapped it, and a broom stick fell out, causing the boys to gasp in excitement. What was so good about a broomstick? Sure, it probably wasn't a crappy one as the schools, but still.
But as the conversation progressed, Itachi stood from his stop fluidly and made his way over.
"What is that?" He said, reaching to touch it lightly. He used the distraction of Ron and Harry—who burst out into useless information about the (not a, but THE) Firebolt—to over look the cleaning utensil with his sharingan. There was a very, very complex spell cast on the thing, but that was just the base, the way the thing could fly. Abet it was a more difficult spell then the broom Itachi rode had, or any other he'd seen, but there was nothing else on it. He released his eyes and stepped away, back to his bed, his duty sated.
"Why are they drooling over that thing?" Kakashi asked.
"There's a game played here that uses flying broom sticks," Itachi said, reaching into his trunk to retrieve the few gifts he got for Sasuke, ignoring the way the boys started laughing at the thought of Malfoy. "It is very popular, and that broomstick is apparently the best there is." He set the gifts down on the edge of the bed, gently awaking Sasuke. "Sasuke, time to get up. I have some gifts for you."
A few minutes later, Sasuke was chugging down water after having tried a Cockroach cluster, to the giant mirth of everyone else present who knew what it was.
"Man!" Ron said, nearly weeping. "I never knew you were so cruel, Itachi!"
"There's a lot you don't know about me."
"Hey guys, what's so funny?" Hermione asked as she came in, setting down her large cat. Kneazle-Sasuke came up and attempted to attack Crookshank's tail, much to the other cat's displeasure. But the two soon settled down and stared at Scabbers, waiting to see if it'd dare come out of the metal cage.
"Itachi! That was disgusting! That was NOT A PEANUT!"
Itachi shrugged impassively, absently listing to the conversation behind him as it progressed. "I bought it in a candy shop here. I thought you'd like it."
Sasuke scowled and glared the number five glare—more hatred and less, 'I'm going to kill you in a slow, painful way because you annoy me' then number seven—suddenly becoming very suspicious of the box of brightly colored beans and the chocolate he got.
"Excuse me for a moment," Itachi said, standing up and walking to where his team was arguing.
"Hermione, there is nothing wrong with that broom." He said plainly. Predictably, she turned on him.
"And how would you know? Have you flown it?"
"No," He said, letting his eyes morph to their blood red state, making her start suddenly. "However, you forget my eyes; I can see magic. I already checked out the broom; it's fine. There's nothing on there but a flying spell."
"B-but then, who sent it? No one would spend that much on Harry and not tell!" She said, back wheeling.
"When they want to be known, they will reveal themselves."
"Yeah, Hermione, sod off."
Itachi shook his head as Hermione huffed, unable to continue arguing with him. He made his way back to his bed, looking over to where Sasuke stared intently at the multicolored beans, trying to decide if they were more 'horrible' food items like the 'peanuts'. Itachi got one and ate it, finding it to be caramel flavor.
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MDF: I love how Itachi tortures his brother. I really like these close-sibling type relationships. And I believe Itachi (at the point of killing his family, and it carried on to Akatsuki a little) really does care about Sasuke in his own, twisted way. It makes better sense then "Measure my capacity." Seriously, some of those people took no effort to kill. How is killing a fat, old woman baker measuring your capacity?
In other news, I got a 1970 Blue VW Bug for Christmas! Finally, after 18 years, I have a car to call my own! Pity I still don't have a license, ne? For an image, type this in the browser, removing the spaces. Ht tp// i16.ti nypic . co m/ 2v9ekd0. pn g As a Bonus, you get to see my fugly face as well.
Also, is it just me, or is FFnet not sending you Fic up-date notices, and review notices as well?