Hey guys so here is chapter 10 i will be posting the pairings at the end of the chapter. I wanna take a moment and address that once again this is not a canon fic. yes alot of the story will have some of the same things from canon HP but for the most part, this is all me. I do love that people voice their opinions but please at least keep an open mind.
Anyways i hope this chapter comes better than last chapter. now then onto the story! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own either.
September and half of October passed and though Harry had been subjected to stares and whispers from his peers during his previous school years, it did nothing to soothe the anger that he was beginning to feel. It did not help that the Daily Prophet had been painting him in a negative light since the end of last year. Even within his own house, he was talked about though they refrained from sending him glares or staring at him for too long, something he suspected Gaara, Kankuro and Naruto had to do with, not that he could prove it. He found that spending time in the dungeons with his Potions Professor either practicing Occulmency or brewing potions helped him stay calm. He also spent time with Sirius whenever he could find time between his classes, homework, Quidditch Practice, and the lessons with his Potions Professor.
Sighing and somewhat relaxing, Harry leaned his head back against the headrest of the chair he was currently occupying in the common room. His eyes close as the conversation of his peers surrounded him.
"Have you all adjusted to being here yet?" Ron questioned chewing on a sugar quill.
"I suppose, the nightly patrols that we do have helped us learn the castle quicker than what most new students probably learn." Naruto mused.
"Yes well you all have a job to do, it is probably expected of you to patrol." Hermione replied not looking up from the parchment she was currently writing on.
"What's this Hogsmeade weekend that I keep hearing about?" Kankuro questioned as he leaned back against the couch.
"It's a trip to Hogsmeade village for all third years and above, a way for students to get out and have a little bit of fun." Hermione once again replied.
"Do you think that is wise with Voldemort out there?" Naruto questioned.
"Probably not but he would be stupid to try and attack right now, he does not want to alert anyone to the fact that he is back. With the wizarding community denying his return, he is able to move freely and build up his army." George stated sitting down next to Ron on the couch.
"George is right. We overheard the adults talking one night back at headquarters before you lot arrived. With the Ministry denying his return, he can gather his ranks and do as he pleases. The fact that they are trying to explain away any deaths muggle or otherwise just proves how desperate Fudge is to deny it." Fred commented. "But let's not talk about all that the most we need to be worrying about is our schoolwork and avoiding Umbridge."
Harry snorted at that and opened his eyes. "Yeah like that is possible. She is constantly watching our every move and that of the teachers."
"Oh Harry you really need to not let her get to you." Hermione said looking up at him.
"It's not like I am purposely doing it, I just can't help myself with her. It's like she purposely says things to get a reaction out of me."
"All the more reason...Harry what's that on the back of your hand?" Hermione questioned standing up and walking over to where Harry sat.
"Nothing." He said quickly pulling his sleeve down. Grabbing his hand Hermione pushed his sleeve up exposing his hand and the writing on the back of it.
I must not tell lies
"Harry is this from the detentions you have been having with Umbridge?"
"It's not a big deal Mione."
"Harry yes it is, Blood Quills are against the law! They are right up there with Unforgivables! You have to report this."
"No, I am not going to report it, they wouldn't believe me anyway. Professor McGonagall told me to keep my head down when I went to her before." He yanked his hand away and stood up. "Just leave it be, It'll heal up in a few days, I just need to try not to let her get to me that's all." With that he left the common room and headed for his bed in the dorm he shared with Ron and the other boys in his year.
Sighing Hermione sat down and wiped the tears away that were threatening to spill. "We can't let her get away with it, I wonder how many other students have been subjected to that in her detentions."
"How did you know what it was that she was using Hermione?" Fred asked.
Blushing slightly Hermione sighed. "I read some of the books at Headquarter's, about Wizarding laws and such. Though the Black library is mostly dark...Anyways I read about them. They used to be used as a torture device."
"Of course you read about them." Ron muttered before looking around at the group. "I say we report it, it's not legal."
"Or just let us handle it." Gaara said softly. Seeing his baby cousin being tortured in that manner had caused his protective side to awaken. "We can make sure that she never hurts another student." He smirked before standing up and leaving the common room as well via the portrait hole the others staring after him.
"I almost feel sorry for her." Kankuro said smirking.
"Why?" Ron questioned.
"Gaara is one of the most dangerous people I know. Especially when it comes to the people he cares about being hurt." Naruto spoke softly sharing a look with the older Sand Sibling. "We will just have to wait and see what he has planned for her."
"Anyway we can help?" Fred asked.
"Yeah, Harry is like family to us." George agreed.
"That is something you will need to ask Gaara." Kankuro stated stretching. The twins nodded before leaving through the portrait hole as well to track down their redheaded friend.
"I'll go see if I can't talk to Harry." Ron stated standing.
"Mind if I join you?" Naruto said following after Ron as he made his way to the dormitory. With everyone else gone, Hermione sighed and packed up her things back into her bag knowing that she wouldn't be able to focus on her homework.
"You know that he will be okay right?" Kankuro said standing and walking over to where Hermione stood tears running silently down her face. She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. She felt hopeless, her best friend was hurting and there was nothing she could do to help him. She understood somewhat what it felt like to be made an outcast, before coming to Hogwarts she had no friends and for awhile even after finding out that she was a witch and was introduced to the world of magic, she had been alone until the night that Harry and Ron had saved her from that troll during their first year.
"I just feel so hopeless. I don't know what to do to help him."
"You know, Gaara and Naruto both used to be in a similar situation as Harry, constantly being talked about and judged for something out of their control but with the right support, they realized that they weren't alone, not truly. All you can do is to be there for him even if it's silently. He will come to see that he doesn't have to face all of this alone." Kankuro stated softly and brushed a few Hermione's tears away.
"Thanks Kankuro. I guess I needed to hear that." Hermione said smiling sadly and wiping the rest of her tears away before finding herself enveloped in the arms of said shinobi in a comforting hug.
"It's no problem Hermione, if you ever need to talk, I'm always here to listen." Kankuro said before stepping back and heading up the stairs to his own dormitory that he shared with Naruto and Gaara leaving a stunned Hermione standing beside the dying fire, because really, in the two months that she had known him, aside from the playfulness that he showed, she had never seen him hug anyone, not even his own siblings.
A week later
"You know you really shouldn't let them help."
"Why is that Temari?" Gaara questioned from his perch on the rafters watching Delores terrorize some first year students.
"They could get expelled from school if they get caught."
"That won't happen. I have spoken to them in length about being subtle. She won't know who is responsible for it."
"Hmm well just be careful. On another note, Hermione has found that room that she spoke with us about during summer."
"When shall we start teaching them then?"
"I am unsure, I was going to discuss it with you and the others. Hermione and I got to talking about possibly starting a defense group for learning the things that Umbridge isn't teaching in class."
"So a practical lesson group then."
"Yes. She thinks that Harry would be the best because of all the times in the past he has had to face Voldemort or for instance Dementors, i think that is what she called them, anyways according to her, our baby cousin knows more about fighting against them than anyone else in their year."
"I don't know if I should feel relieved by that or not."
"I know what you mean, when she told me all that our baby cousin has gone through the last four years, I had a strong urge to steal him away from this place and let Albus and his followers face Voldemort." Temari stated snorting.
"As much as I am inclined to agree with you, we cannot, he has people he cares about here. Just like we do back home." Gaara said softly before holding his hand up to stop her from replying and motioning to someone hidden in an alcove not to far from where he was perched. Lowering his voice he addressed her again. "This is where the fun begins."
A few days later (after Gaara and Temari talk)
"Snape we need to talk, now."
"Unless it is about Harry I do not appreciate you barging in here mutt." Snape snarled barely glancing up at the man before him. It did not matter that they had come to a truce or were civil towards each other for the sake of their godson, he did not care for Black and never would. He merely tolerated the man for Harry's sake.
"I wouldn't willingly be here otherwise Snape." Sirius stated just as coldly.
"Then spill. I have papers to grade and have to prepare for Harry's lesson tomorrow night as well."
Sighing Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "I am concerned for him. He is starting to push the others away, his friends, his cousins, he isn't even speaking to me about what is bothering him, every time I ask he shuts down and makes up a reason to leave quickly."
"I see. And this is my concern how?"
"You have been in his shoes Snape, as much as I hate to admit it, you may be the only one who can get through to him! He needs to know that he isn't alone."
"There is nothing to be done Black, he will open up when he is ready to push him now would do nothing but cause him to close down even more. Or are you too stupid to know that?" Snape snarled standing up and walking around his desk. He had a very bad week so far, he had dealt with students in all of his first through third year classes blowing up a cauldron or two, been summoned by both Albus and the Dark Lord, been put under the Cruciatus Curse and he was not in the mood to deal with someone who he greatly disliked.
Sighing Sirius crossed his arms across his chest. "I know that Snape but I hate seeing him this way. He is sinking into depression! The more that is printed about him and the more Umbridge attacks him and his peers judge him and make fun of him the more he pulls away from everybody. How can you sit there and just pretend that you don't see it?"
"I see it and I am helping him the best I can by helping him occlude his mind. The sooner he grasps it the sooner he can learn to push those feelings aside. It is not the best option but until the truth comes out and the world sees that he has been speaking the truth this whole time, there is nothing else to be done. He will come to us and talk to us when he is ready and if not us then one of his friends."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm not but I also know as you so kindly pointed out, I know what is it like to be made fun of and judged. He is a strong person Sirius, he has been through so much that he struggles to find his place in the world. This is a difficult time for any teenager but especially him. He is being thrust into the center of this war even if we don't want him to be."
Running his hands through his hair Sirius took a seat at one of the tables. "I know that he is and you are right, I wish we could stop it. Stop him from being thrust into the middle, but I can't. I think what gets him the most is that there is so much information being withheld from him."
"Albus feels it's best. He feels Harry is not ready to carry all that is going on outside of what he already knows and what he has to focus on."
"That may be true but is there honestly nothing that we can do?"
"Aside from Occlumency? Maybe teaching him how to defend himself?"
"You mean, teach him how to duel against Voldemort's forces?" Sirius gazed up at the surely Potion's Master curiously. It did have it's merits, maybe if they taught Harry and even some of his friends how to duel, how to defend themselves then maybe, just maybe Harry would come out of the depression he was watching him fall into.
"Exactly like that. That toad isn't teaching them anything worthwhile, I have been tossing around the idea for awhile now. Though I do not recommend doing it before Halloween." Snape replied leaning against his desk.
"I can agree to that. Shall we approach him with the idea after the first Hogsmeade weekend then?"
"Before. We can plan the lessons around Quidditch, his normal classes and his Occlumency lessons."
"How are those going by the way." Sirius questioned.
"He is able to block most of his thoughts now. Though I can still enter his mind with no problem. He is working on building up his defenses. Last time I entered, he had created a forest with a meadow in the center of it."
"I see. I will take my leave then. I have an afternoon class to attend to."
"Very well." Severus watched as Black left and sighed softly. This year was turning out to be a very long year and to make matters worse, he was pretty sure that Delores Umbridge was using some sort of torture device on students that had detention with her, he just wasn't able to prove it. Returning to his desk he turned his attention back to the papers that were waiting to be graded, smirking he wrote a big T at the top of the paper.
Students never really did grasp the concept of how much their textbook could help them with getting better grades than what they normally got.
Hey guys so here is chapter 10, I hope you all enjoyed it! It is time to post the results of the poll. The results are as follows.
Shika/Temari-20
Kankuro/Hermione-13
Gaara/Luna-21
Naruto/Harry-32
Ron/Sakura-7
I know there was alot more options but these are the ones that got the most votes. That being said, I would still like to Pair Ginny up with somebody and I know who but he won't be joining until at least chapter 12 if not later. Feel free to guess who it is that I'll be bringing in, I won't reveal it though :P
So far it seems that as long as Sirius and Severus have Harry in common, they can indeed carry on a civil conversation and even make plans to help Harry out. And before anyone makes a comment, yes I know Canon Gaara wouldn't prank anybody BUT since this is not canon, he is going to join George and Fred in tormenting Umbridge. And no i don't feel bad about it at all :D She is a horrible person who deserves so much worse.
I want to take a moment to thank TrenchCoatMan for giving me some ideas for this chapter. I do plan on bringing in Kurama soon so don't worry guys! Our favorite Tailed Beast will be making an appearance!