I'M BACK! AND I'M NOT DEAD! (dodges books being thrown at me) Ugh, I know, I know, It's been forever, and this chapter's shorter than my normal, but the next one is longer, I promise, or it will be once I get it done. Plot bunnies have infested my brain and I had to clean them out before I could get back to this story. An update on my life (if you care, but you prolly don't), I'm now in college (Wee! NOT!) and my service dog's been with me for almost 5 months now, and he's still a puppy, so we're working out any issues he still has. You can expect the next update within the next month, or maybe sooner, depending on how many essays I'm going to get before now and then.
And so, ON WITH THE STORY!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Naruto. Duh.
A few days after the Stone and Quirell Fiasco…
It was a hectic and stressful week for the Professors of Hogwarts. After Harry, Ron, and Hermione (The Golden Trio as the Professors dubbed the three) had stopped Quirell from getting the Stone, the Professors had to calm down the students and try to carry on the remaining days as normal. On top of trying to find a new DADA Professor for the next year, the students wouldn't stop talking about what they had heard happened, and some of the most absurd tales had flown through the halls.
It had been a few days since that day had passed, and Naruko was currently in her classroom after supper, trying to finish up grading the tests her students took yesterday.
"Who makes a PE class take a paper test? Why can't I just make them run around the lake a few times and call it good?"
Naruko grumbled quietly to herself as she marked another 85% and set it in another pile before she reached for a new test. This carried on for a few more minutes, with only the sound of quills scratching on parchment, when a knock rang out from the classroom door.
Startled, Naruko looked up at it before calling out, "It's unlocked!"
She heard the shuffle of feet beyond the door before the knob twisted. The tumbler clacked as the person opened the door, and when it swung open, Harry stood in the doorway. She noted that he looked hesitantly into her classroom.
"Come in, Mister Potter."
He stepped into her classroom and shut the door behind him before walking around the mat towards her desk. Naruko pointed to a chair off to the side that was smaller than one of the bar stools.
"Grab a chair and drag it over here. I'll only be a moment more. Wish these blasted papers would grade themselves…"
She saw Harry smile out of the corner of her eye at her grumbling and did as she asked. Naruko marked a few more papers, a 94%, a 71%, and a 98%, before setting her quill aside and looking over her desk at him.
"Now, what can I help you with, Mister Potter?"
"I wanted to thank you, for saving me."
Naruko blinked before raising an eyebrow, "And when did I save you?"
"With the stone. Professor Dumbledore said that after I blacked out you got into the chamber a few seconds before he did, and that you pulled Quirell off of me."
Naruko gave a sad smile, "Ah, yes. I'm sorry though, if you wanted me to tell you what happened, Dumbledore's forbid me from disclosing what happened in there."
Harry shook his head, "No, it's ok. Professor Dumbledore told me enough of what happened, I just wanted to thank you for being there."
Naruko nodded her head, "And I'm glad I was there in time to stop him from killing you. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?"
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but seemed to decide against it and closed his mouth with a 'click'.
Naruko gave him a look, "Harry…"
He sighed, "Quirell… said some things in there, while I was tied up."
Harry seemed to think to himself for a moment before looking up at her, "Sensei, you're friends with Sna- I mean, Professor Snape, right?"
Naruko caught his slip and laughed quietly, "Yes, Mister Potter. I do consider myself friends with Professor Snape, but what does that have to do with what Quirell said to you?"
"Does Professor Snape hate me?"
Naruko stopped and looked at Harry closely for a moment before sighing and shaking her head, "No, he doesn't, and while that may seem hard to believe, Professor Snape holds no hatred towards you."
"But why-"
"Mister Potter."
Harry stopped and watched Naruko, who turned her head to look out the window. The sun had long since set, the waning moon shone brilliantly against the black sky, and the stars all twinkled joyously. Naruko could faintly make out the shape of Hagrid walking towards the Forbidden Forest with a dim lantern in hand. After drawing her thoughts together, she sighed.
"Severus Snape is a very peculiar man. He holds many secrets, and he knows more than he lets on, but he is bitter and very distant because of his childhood. You saw the photos in the album I gave you, yes? The ones of your mother and a black haired child?"
Harry nodded his head.
"That boy was Professor Snape. He had known your mother even before they went to Hogwarts together, and she was a close friend of his for many years."
Harry's eyes showed confusion, "But, if he was friends with my mum, then why-"
"Your father, however, Mister Potter, from what I can tell, was a very brash, stereotypical Gryffindor during his years of Hogwarts, and had a love of playing not so innocent pranks on the Slytherin students… Care to take a guess as to whom?"
"Professor Snape…"
Naruko nodded, "Indeed. This is as much as I know, Mister Potter, and I know it may not make sense, and that some of my facts may be wrong, but if you wish to know more, I would suggest heading down to Professor McGonagall tomorrow and asking her, or, if you were to summon up some of your famous Gryffindor courage, I'm sure Professor Snape would be willing to tell you more about your mother. Just try not to stray to the topic of your father if you speak with him, alright?"
Harry nodded and smiled, "Thanks, Sensei."
"You're welcome, Mister Potter, and I'm sure I don't have to say this, but this information about him should not circulate around the Gryffindor common room."
Harry nodded his head and got up from his seat before putting it back where he had gotten it from. As he made his way back towards the door, Naruko called him out.
"Mister Potter!"
Harry stopped and looked back at her.
"I expect for you to also properly thank Professor Snape for giving up some of his photos for your photo album soon, and without the other two-thirds of the Golden Trio, preferably."
Harry nodded his head, "Of course, Sensei."
Naruko smiled and made a shooing motion with her hands, "Now scurry along, Mister Potter. You need your rest, and I have more tests to grade."
"Goodnight."
"Pleasant dreams, Mister Potter."