Ok, so this is going to be the last chapter I post until Easter because I'm Christian, and I'm the sort that follows Lent and gives things up for forty days...I'm giving up extraneous media, which means no posting on Fanfiction or DeviantArt until Easter. It does not mean, however, that I have to give up writing and drawing, so I'm going to work on stuff that I can hopefully post on Easter Monday because I go to a Catholic school that gives its students Easter Monday off.

Aside from that, another round of thanks to Meimeiaru8, who gave me the idea to make Itachi a prankster. Now, because I picture Itachi as a serious character who thinks of pranks as frivolous, I decided to give him a rationale (I think that's the word) for joining the Weasley twins – he wants to keep his ninja stealth skills in shape. I'm hoping to dedicate a chapter to him and the Weasley twins at some point. Continuing...

The next day, after managing to keep Tobi from accidentally melting his sixth cauldron in a row, Itachi decided to go to the library with the two Ravenclaws of the Akatsuki.

"So Sir Leader wants us to look up spells that we can translate into ninja techniques?" he asked.

"It would appear so," Sasori said.

"You know, I'm never going to get used to seeing you outside of that ugly puppet shell you always wore," Kakuzu told the red head.

"I'm not going to get used to it either," said Sasori. "And I'm not even a puppet myself anymore. But of course, we're surrounded by civilians, so I don't feel overly vulnerable."

"As long as, of course, my a- of a partner doesn't attack you himself," Kakuzu muttered.

"I think Hidan respects Leader, sir, enough to leave other Akatsuki members alone," Itachi said.

"He's an insane Jashinist," Kakuzu said as they entered the library.

"The key word was think," Itachi said as he headed straight for the section of the library on Defense against the Dark Arts.

"I'll check the section on dueling," Kakuzu said, leaving.

"I'll take the charms section," Sasori said, heading off.

l l l

Itachi was skimming a seventh year defense book, wondering how it was possible that he could fully read and understand another language without having formally learned it, when he heard two males discussing various ways to annoy a certain toad-like, cat-loving teacher. At first the S-rank nin ignored the two, passing off their prank-plotting as childish nonsense. But then he remembered how much Sasori and Kakuzu had complained about the woman and her complete dumbing-down of the Defense against the Dark Arts curriculum (they'd only known that the course had been changed because they'd heard older students raving about the previous two Defense teachers), and had disliked the woman and her attitude enough to walk out of her class, so he decided to investigate.

The two plotters were twin redheads who both looked like they were either sixth or seventh year students. Itachi listened as they worked on plans for dung bombs and a spell that would recolor her pink room neon colors and that would change all of her cat items into dog items. He became interested when they tried to work out a plan that would allow them to avoid being caught by the caretaker, Filch, his cat, Mrs. Norris, or the professor herself. Then, questioning his own sanity, he approached the twins.

"Oi! Hello, firstie! You didn't hear anything, ok? Now go away…" said one twin.

"…And we won't tell Madam Pince that you're reading a seventh year Defense against the Dark Arts textbook," said the other twin.

Itachi frowned. "I just want to help," he said. "I haven't taken Professor Umbridge's class yet, but I know people who have and haven't liked her at all."

"Oh? What house are you?" asked one twin.

"Hufflepuff," said Itachi.

"Smart, you don't wear your House colors after school hours," said the other twin. "I'm Fred, and I'm a Gryffindor."

"And I'm George, also a Gryffindor."

"Would you like a cream puff?" asked Fred, holding out a pastry with yellow cream.

Itachi immediately sensed that it was laced with the special wizard chakra. He politely declined. "If you want to lower your chances of getting caught while pranking Professor Umbridge, you should first observe her and learn her schedule, particularly when she leaves her office after school hours. Once you've established that, have a comrade set off a dung bomb on the other side of the school to draw away Filch and his cat. That way they'll be far away while you two can prank her office."

"Hm, he's good for a 'puff," said George. "I think…"

"That we should recruit him," Fred finished. "Guess what, kid?"

"Hn?"

"We like the way you think," said George. "In fact, you think a bit like the Marauders."

"Who are the Marauders?" asked Itachi.

"Pranksters that we emulate," said Fred. "Except the Marauders wouldn't split their group up."

"But it's a good idea," said George. "How'd you come up with it?"

"It's logic," said Itachi. "A diversionary squad draws the attention away from the hit squad, which silently does its job and leaves."

"I like it," said Fred. "Since you came up with it…"

"…Would you be interested in helping enact the plan?" asked George.

Itachi paused. Then he decided that he could use some stealth work in order to stay in practice. "I would be interested."

"Great! We'll meet you here every day until we figure out Umbridge's schedule and get a diversion team," said Fred.

Itachi nodded and drifted back into the shadows of the library, wondering what he was getting himself into.

l l l

On the other side of the library, Sasori silently skimmed an advanced charm book. He was minding his own business, when he was interrupted by a pale boy with pale eyes and pale hair.

"Didn't think the Weasley's had another kid," he said snidely.

Sasori looked up, annoyed. Did he really look that much like these Weasleys that Madam Hooch had thought he was related to? "Who are you?" he asked.

"Draco Malfoy, and you'd do well to remember that," said the pale boy.

"Of course," Sasori said, turning back to his book.

"So, are you related that Muggle-loving family?" asked Draco.

"Does it matter to you?" Sasori asked, trying to ignore him.

"Yes."

"That's too bad."

"I don't like being ignored," warned Draco.

"Too bad, because I don't like being bothered," said Sasori.

"I'm a prefect; I could easily get you in trouble for being disrespectful," said Draco.

"Wonderful. Which house am I in?" asked Sasori, knowing well that he'd changed out of the wizarding clothes he'd been loaned by one of his House-mates and gotten back into his much-preferred ninja clothes (without, of course, the flashy Akatsuki cloak).

"Gryffindor, of course," said Draco. "All Weasleys are Gryffindors."

"Ah," said Sasori.

"I'm going to march you right up to the Head of your House, as well as to your brother, and accuse you of disrespect to a prefect!" Draco exclaimed.

"Fine, fine; just let me check out my book," said Sasori lazily.

"No, we're going now," Draco snapped.

"Fine. Kakuzu, I'm leaving this here. Make sure no one grabs it," Sasori said over his shoulder as he followed Draco. He heard either Kakuzu or Itachi grunt in acknowledgement.

l l l

Sasori followed Draco for no other reason than that he was bored. He couldn't wait to see the pale prefect's face when he learned that he was not, in fact, a Weasley. It would teach him not to make assumptions based on who-knows-what, and it would be amusing to watch Draco make a fool out of himself in front of the Head of Gryffindor and his supposed brother.

Draco went straight to Professor McGonagall's office and asked that she call a Ronald Weasley there. Five minutes later, a confused redhead walked into the office.

"Weasley, I'm charging your little relative with disrespect to his betters," said Draco.

"My relative?" Ron asked. "Which one?"

"This one!" Draco exclaimed, pointing at Sasori.

"You clearly didn't pay attention during the Sorting, Malfoy," said Ron. "That's one of those last-second exchange students who turned up."

"What?" Draco asked. He turned to Sasori. "You told me you were a Weasley and a Gryffindor!"

"I said nothing of the sort," said Sasori.

"What's your name?" Draco demanded.

"I'm called Akasuna no Sasori," said Sasori. "Or, Sasori of the Red Sand."

"Strange name," said Ron. "Why red? Because of your hair?"

"Because I'm known for turning the sand red wherever I go," Sasori said, smiling slightly. He wasn't going to tell these civilians how exactly he turned the sand red, of course, but a half-truth was better than a straight-out lie. "Tell me, Prefect Malfoy, why did you think I was a Weasley?"

"Because of your red hair," said Draco. "All Weasleys have red hair."

"But are all redheads Weasleys?" asked Professor McGonagall. Draco didn't answer.

"I'm not a Weasley, and I'm not in Gryffindor," said Sasori. "I'm an exchange student in Ravenclaw. Never take things at surface appearance, and never, ever, make assumptions based off surface appearances. You're more likely to make a fool out of yourself or get yourself killed that way." He turned to Professor McGonagall. "May I leave, Professor?"

"Yes," said Professor McGonagall. "You too, Mr. Weasley. You're both dismissed."

As they walked out of the office, Ron turned to Sasori. "That was so funny! Too bad you're not actually a Gryffindor. I like you. So, why didn't you just tell Malfoy that you weren't a Weasley?"

"One, because he probably wouldn't believe me, and two, because it would be fun to see him learn that he can't make assumptions based on appearances," said Sasori.

"That sounds like a Ravenclaw answer if I ever heard one," said Ron. "So, uh, if the Slytherins give you any trouble, just give me a shout, ok?"

Sasori nodded and went back to the library.

"What was that all about?" Itachi asked, handing Sasori his book.

"Some prefect thought I was related to someone he knew, and decided to charge me with disrespect to my betters because I wouldn't give him a straight answer," Sasori said. "I think his ego's been brought down a few notches."

"Hn," said Itachi.

Gotta love the universal Uchiha answer. I don't even know if that's canon - I've just read so many fics that include it that it's kinda made itself canon to me. Yes, Sasori totally shamed Draco. He's an evil little puppet! I don't know whether to make Draco mad at him or interested in him. Mad would probably be more in character, but what if Deidara has someone to compete with for the position of 'brat'? Though Sasori can't really call Draco 'brat' because technically, Draco's four years older than him... Disregard my rambling.

I'll see you in about forty days!