The Halloween feast had ended less than an hour ago but instead of being tucked in his bed stomach full celebrating a successful mission, Naruto was instead carrying a sleeping bag as He Harry Ron and Hermione. Headed for a corner inside the Great Hall. Along with the rest of the houses in the school, Dumbledore had ordered all the students to sleep in the Great Hall for tonight as the teachers began to comb through the castle. The reason for this being that Sirius Black had been unable to enter Gryffindor Tower and had decided to completely slash the portrait of the Fat Lady to ribbons.
"Do you think Black's still in the castle?" Hermione whispered anxiously.
"No," Naruto quickly said with absolute. certainty. This seemed to calm Hermione's nerves a bit but Ron and Harry were not convinced.
"Dumbledore thinks he might be." Said, Ron not liking how quickly Naruto dismissed the issue.
"It's very lucky he picked tonight you know," Hermione said as she and they climbed fully dressed into their sleeping bags and prop themselves up on their elbows to talk. "The one night we were in the tower. . . ."
"I reckon he's lost track of time, being on the run," said Ron. "Didn't realize it was Halloween. Otherwise, he'd have come bursting in here." At this thought, Hermione shuddered. All around them Naruto could hear people asking one another the same thing: "How did he get in?"
"Well nothing we can do about it now," Naruto said as he let out a loud exaggerated yawn. "Night." And with that, he rolled over to face the wall and fell asleep. The other three were left watching their blonde friend seemingly not care about an escaped mad man having just broken into the school.
"Unbelievable," said Ron shaking his head and looking at the sleeping blonde incredulously.
The school talked of nothing but Sirius Black for the next few days. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and wilder; Hannah Abbott, from Hufflepuff, spent much of their next Herbology class telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub.
The Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall and replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat gray pony. Nobody but Naruto was very happy about this. Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels, and the rest thinking up ridiculously complicated passwords, which he changed at least twice a day. In short, things weren't looking good for Naruto and Sirius.
"He's a complete lunatic," said Seamus Finnigan angrily to Percy. "Can't we get anyone else?"
"None of the other pictures want the job," said Percy. "Frightened of what happened to the fat lady, Sir Cadogan was the only one brave enough to volunteer." It took that first week for things just to start getting back to a routine before Naruto was able to talk with Sirius.
"What happened?" Naruto asked a frustrated Sirius who was eating the food he had brought him. The two had finally met up on the edge of the Forbidden Forest near the whomping willow after dinner.
"The portrait wouldn't let me in," Sirius said bitterly as he refused to look up from his food.
"So, you just slash the Fat Lady it to pieces. Things are going to get a lot harder now." Naruto said the front door would no longer be an option in getting into the school. "The new portrait keeps changing the password twice a day every day."
"Don't worry there is more than one way to get inside Hogwarts, you just focus on trying to get the password. . . . no more mistakes," Sirius told the blond roughly as he finally finished his food.
"Hey, I thought if you could get out of Azkaban, getting into Gryffindor Tower would be easy." Naruto shot back not liking the man's tone.
"Alright, maybe I was aggressive." Sirius finally admitted. "I just want to get my hands on Peter."
"Don't worry I promised you we'll get him and I never go back on my promises," Naruto told Sirius with such confidence that the man couldn't help but feel some hope rise in him. The next day after Transfiguration Naruto, Ron, and Hermione watched as Professor McGonagall called Harry to stay after class.
"What was all that about?" Ron asked once Harry had caught up with them in the Great Hall for lunch.
"I'll tell you later," Harry said as he looked at Naruto. Ron still didn't know about Naruto and thought that Naruto didn't know about Harry and Black. The rest of the week had gone by pretty quickly without much incident however while doing his astronomy work one night with Hermione, Naruto realized that it was a full moon tonight. Remember what Sirius had told him about Lupin the man was currently a Werewolf. So it was with no surprise that the next day when they all filled into Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Lupin was missing.
"Sit down, I will be covering this lesson for Professor Lupin," Snape said at this the class broke out into quite mercers of confusion.
"Silence!" Quickly the class stopped talking as Snape took the roll call.
"It seems that Professor Lupin has failed to leave any information on what this class has so far covered," Snape said as he walked behind Lupin's desk. "Dear me I will have to inform the headmaster on this." The class started to grow a bit uneasy at the thought of Snape getting Lupin in trouble. However, before Snape could say more the classroom door opened.
"Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin, I -" the whole class turned around to see that Harry had just walked in.
"This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down. Snape said but Harry didn't move.
"Where's Professor Lupin?" Harry asked not noticing that irritated look on Snape's face.
"He says he's is feeling too ill to teach today," set Snape with a twisted smile. "I believe I told you to sit down?" Put Harry stayed where he was.
"What's wrong with him?' at Harry's continued questions Snape's black eyes glittered.
"Nothing life-threatening," Snape said looking as though he wished that it was. "Five more points from Gryffindor and if I have to ask you to sit down again it will be fifty." Finally realizing the seriousness of Snape's threat Harry walked over in sat next to Ron in the open seat he had saved for him.
"Now as I was saying before Potter interrupted Professor lupine has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far," a Snape started to talk again Naruto spaced out getting the feeling that most of this lesson was going to be spent the majority of class putting down Lupin. During his talks with Sirius, Naruto had been told of the hateful rivalry between Snape and the Marauders. At first, when he thought about it Naruto honestly took Snape's side. Much to the disbelief and annoyance of Sirius.
Naruto had never liked bullies having been a victim of it during his time in the village. So when he was told about the reasoning behind everything Sirius and James did to Snape. Naruto thought they were a bunch of real bastards just because Lily was friends with Snape. But any sympathy Naruto might have given the potions master was thrown out the window when he figured out from everything Hermione had told him about the way Snape treated Harry. Snape hated James and Harry look like James, so Snape hated Harry because James got the girl.
It almost made Naruto shudder when he thought what if Sakura had a kid with Sasuke and that kid looked like Sasuke would Naruto end up hating that kid. However, before Naruto continue to think further on this he was brought out of his thoughts when he heard Snape addressed the class.
" - werewolves,"
"But, sir," said Hermione seemingly unable to restrain herself." we're not supposed to do werewolves yet were do to start hinky-punks."
"Miss Granger," said Snape in a voice of deadly calm. "I was under the impression that I am teaching this lesson not you and I am telling you are to turn to page 394," he glanced around again. "All of you! Now!"
"I think you could teach this lesson better than him," Naruto told Hermione under his breath in an attempt to cheer the downcast girl up.
"You thinks so," Hermione asked the blonde a bit surprised by what he was saying.
"Yeah you better believe it," Naruto said giving her a big toothy grin. This caused Hermione to become a bit flushed in her cheeks. However, before they could say anything else to each other Snape called out to the class.
"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" said Snape. Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione, whose hand, as it so often did, had shot straight into the air.
"Anyone?" Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was back. "Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between —"
"We told you," said Parvati suddenly, "we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on —"
"Silence!" snarled Snape. "Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are. . . ."
"Please, sir," said Hermione, whose hand was still in the air, "the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf —"
"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger," said Snape coolly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all." Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. At this Naruto lost control of his magic. It was one thing to be a jerk all the time, but no one made Hermione cry. Suddenly the windows close to the teacher's desk exploded inwards, a few of the girls let out frightened cry's as those closes to the teacher's desk had to duck for cover.
"Naruto, stop it," Hermione called out in a slight panic, and looking over the class saw that Naruto was shaking in silent fury.
"Uzumaki, come with me now," Snape said slowly as he pulled out his wand and repaired the broken window with a wave. However, Naruto didn't move from his spot but instead continued to look at Snape in anger.
"Now!" Snape called out, but it wasn't till Hermione placed a hand on Naruto's arm did the blonde finally calm down. Realizing what had happened he quickly gathering his things followed Snape out of the room.
It was a short and silent walk to the Headmasters office. Once he reached the stone griffin that hid the winding staircase. Snape said the password, once it moved aside and revealed the spiral staircase that led to the Headmaster's office and they continue their way till finally reaching the office door. After Snape knocked on the door and they were told to come inside Naruto spotted the Headmaster sitting behind his desk looking over several documents.
"Severus shouldn't you be teaching a class," Dumbledore asked politely however this caused Naruto to snicker a bit.
"Headmaster this boy had gone too far," Snape said as he started to tell Dumbledore about what happened in class. "He is clearly in fit to attend this school."
"Very well Severus, I will notify Minerva and she will see to it that Naruto is properly punished," Dumbledore said and without another word, Snape turned and left the office.
"Naruto why don't you tell me what happened?" Dumbledore asked as he looked over his half-moon spectacles, So Naruto explained what had happened in Defense Against the Dark Arts with the windows. When he was finally done Dumbledore let out a deep sigh.
"I see, so after Professor Snape's cruel remark to Miss. Granger your anger got the best of you and it appears you performed accidental magic." Dumbledore said " I must ask that you try to control your anger Naruto. Magic is a powerful force that can be triggered by powerful emotions. However, your magic is especially unique and you just always try to understand it." Naruto and nothing but nodded his head in understanding
"It's just that Snape was being a complete jerk. Why ask a question if he didn't want an answer." Naruto said at this Dumbledore only nodded his head.
"I understand Naruto and I will be having a word with Professor Snape, I believe it would be best if you skip the rest of this lesson and go straight to the great hall for dinner," Dumbledore said kindly and with that Naruto left the Headmasters' office and started to make his way down towards the great hall. By the time the rest of the third year Gryffindors arrived in the great hall for dinner Naruto was greeted with many cheers over not being expelled from Hogwarts.
"Hey, guys," Naruto called out when Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down next to him.
"Naruto, what happened what did Professor Dumbledore do?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"Nothing the old man just told me that it was accidental magic because I had gotten really mad," Naruto explained to them what Dumbledore told him.
"Oh, Naruto you must try to control your temper," Hermione said Harry agreed just earlier this year he too had lost his temper and blew up his aunt Marge.
"Yeah I know don't worry," Naruto told them, but something told Hermione this wouldn't be the last time Naruto would end up having to go to Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Hey Naruto" just them the Weasley twins had come to sit across from them.
"Just heard what happened." Said Fred.
"Good job with Snape." Said, George.
"We agree with you, Naruto." Said Fred
"Right one hundred percent." Said, George
"How'd you two hear about it", Asked Ron to which the twins pointed down the table to where Dean and Neville were telling everyone around them. At this, a few of the older Gryffindor girls winked and waved to Naruto, who was now standing to get a bit red-faced at their attention. This only caused them to break out into giggles at his reaction.
"Keep up this devil-may-care reputation Naruto", said Fred
"And you'll have to beat them off with a stick come next Hogsmeade weekend." Said, George. At this, Harry, Ron, and Naruto had looks of confusion.
"Girls love a bad boy," the twins finished.
"Really", said Harry. Taking another look at the girls' Naruto admitted that there were very pretty. Would he go out with one of them if they asked him? Back in the village, Sakura had been the only girl he had ever really liked but that opportunity was no longer a possibility. Hogwarts on the other hand was starting to show that maybe getting a girl to go on a date with him wouldn't be that hard.
"Bloody hell," said Ron in amazement. At this the was a loud claret as Hermione slammed her plat on the table before staining up and storming out of the great hall.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Naruto as Ron and Harry looked between each other.
The next morning Naruto awoke early like he always did ready to train but he was supposed to see that Harry was already up and dressed in his Quidditch team uniform.
"Morning" Naruto said as he quickly got dressed realizing that he wouldn't be able to train today. Looking out the dormitory window he could hear the thunder rumbling overhead, the pounding of the wind against the castle walls, and the distant creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest.
"Are you going to train out in that?" Harry asked the blonde as he looked out the window.
"Nope, you going to play out in that " Naruto asked as he took looked out the window.
"Yup," Harry said and so together the two boys headed out of the portrait hole. For some time they were the only ones in the Great Hall. Harry slowly eating his porridge while Naruto at a full plat and when over a spellbook Hermione had gotten him from out of the school library. Just then the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team showed up.
"It's going to be a tough one," said Wood, who wasn't eating anything.
"Stop worrying, Oliver," said Alicia soothingly. "We don't mind a bit of rain." But it was considerably more than a bit of rain. Such was the popularity of Quidditch that the whole school turned out to watch the match as usual, but they ran down the lawns toward the Quidditch field, heads bowed against the ferocious wind, umbrellas being whipped out of their hands as they went.
"I'll see you two after the match I'm going to go get a good seat," Naruto told Ron and Hermione as he split off from the main crowd and instead headed towards the staircase that led up to the topmost row of seats where no one else would dare go due to the weather.
"Mental that one I'm telling you," Ron told Hermione as the two of them watched Naruto runoff without a care in the world for the storm around him.
"Padfoot, you made it good," Naruto said once he had spotted a large shaggy black dog that had been waiting for him at the foot of the empty staircase. His only response was a bark as the two started to make their way up to the top stands. The wind was so strong that the Quidditch teams staggered sideways as they walked out onto the field. Naruto cheered for his friend as Sirius howled. Rain was splattering over Naruto's face he had to pull the hood of his cloak over his face.
"look it's starting," Naruto called out as he saw Harry pull his right foot out of the mud with a squelch and swung it over his broom. Madam Hooch put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill and distant —they were off. Naruto saw Harry rise fast, but his broom was swerving slightly with the wind. He held it as steady so he could and turned.
Try as he might for most of the match Naruto was having a hard time trying to follow the game. Harry he noticed was mainly just flying around up and down the pitch in search of the Golden Snitch. Meanwhile, the rest of the team was having difficulties trying to score goals through the large golden goal post. At one point the whole Gryffindor team headed back down to the field and into a huddle. After a few minutes the game was back on, but if Gryffindor was winning Naruto couldn't tell them at that moment a flash of lightning illuminated the field and Naruto got a good look at Harry who was looking right at him and dog Sirius. Fortunately for Naruto, he had his hood drawn up so if Harry recognized he wasn't sure.
Suddenly Harry threw himself flat on his broom handle and zoomed towards the opposite direction. Naruto watched in amazement at the speed and skill his friend was moving through the air. Then something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Naruto had gone suddenly deaf — what was going on?
Standing to look over the edge of the railing Naruto saw down in the field least a hundred Dementors they're hooded faces pointing up at him we're standing beneath Harry. An intense cold swept over him. Naruto felt his breath catch in his chest. Sirius had scurried under a seat whimpering in fear. The cold went deeper than his skin. It was inside his chest, it was inside his very heart. . . . Naruto's eyes rolled up into his head. He couldn't see. He was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder . . . And then, from far away, he heard laughter, sick twisted joy, then the pleading screams of a child. . . His screams. . .
Whatever was going on this was nothing like before when he passed the Dementors on his way to Hogsmeade village with Ron and Hermione. Any of them and Dumbledore weren't nearby to keep them at bay for him to not feel their effects. Screams. . . the screams grew louder in his mind. . .screams of pain. . . cries of laughter. . . screams of pleading. . .a thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him and he knows no more.
He didn't have a clue where he was, or how he'd got there, or what he'd been doing before he got there. All he knew was that every inch of him was aching as though it had been beaten. Naruto blinked it was very bright and looking round he saw the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore in front of him and Téme who was sitting on his shoulder.
"Good afternoon, Naruto." Said Dumbledore smiling down at Naruto. Then Naruto remembered.
"The match," Naruto said looking down at his heavily bandaged body. "It was the Dementors at did it, wasn't it?" Dumbledore only nodded at him. Naruto swallowed and looked around him. He realized he was in the hospital wing. He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets, and his body was so wrapped up he looked like a mummy. Next to him was a table piled with what looked like half of Honeydukes.
"Tokens from your friends," said Dumbledore, beaming. "What happened down at the Quidditch pitch was a great misfortune. It has become apparent that the Dementors just like with Mr. Potter have a strong effect on you."
"How long have I been in here?" Naruto asked trying not to think about what he had heard in his mind.
"One week. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger and Mr. Potter will be most relieved you have come round, they have been extremely worried." Dumbledore said as Téme flew off his shoulder and landed atop Naruto's.
"Hey buddy," Naruto said as he scratched him under his beak. "A week not too bad so, not that I'm complaining but how come I'm not dead." Naruto knew a fall from the top of the stands should have been lethal.
"That is by no small feat a miracle on your part." Dumbledore started to explain. "You see after the Dementors arrived at the Quidditch game several people began to fall ill. You and Mr. Potter had it the worst of most, and I believe this has to do with your difficult upbringing. However, as I was able to catch Mr. Potter as he fell I had only been able to slow you down a few feet from the ground."
"Man I sure am glad I can still heal so quickly," Naruto said realizing that he might not have been alive right now if it wasn't for his unusual fast healing.
"Indeed you have some strength in you my young friends," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Alas, I fear I should be going before Madam Pomfrey comes and tells me off for not letting you rest." And with that, the Headmaster left the hospital leaving with his Raven and his pile of sweets. Looking over Naruto started to pick at the candy that had been left for him as he looks over the cards.
Naruto had received get-well cards from almost all of Gryffindor House. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the Weasley twins Fred and George and Ginny to name a few. He may almost have died but at this moment looking over all the cards he had received Naruto couldn't be happier. A few hours later of sitting in bed and being hand handled by Madame Pomfrey as she removed his bandages. Naruto was glad when he was told he could finally leave, he had just finished getting changed when the door to the hospital wing opened and in walked Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Naruto you're awake," they called out as they ran over to him.
"How are you feeling," Hermione who had been so worried about him raced over and threw her arms around Naruto pulling him into a hug. "I was so worried about you" She quietly whispered to him before releasing the hug
"What happened to you, Dumbledore wouldn't say," Harry Asked.
"Hey guys let's get out of here before Madame Pomfrey changes her mind about me getting to leave," Naruto said happy to see his friends. So quickly they all left the hospital wing and started to die down to the great hall for dinner. Along the way, Naruto had to fill them into what had happened to him at the Quidditch match and what Dumbledore had told him about the Dementors.
"Oh, that's just awful Naruto you're sensitive just like Harry to the Dementors," Hermione said.
"Hey I'm not sensitive." both Naruto and Harry said together indignantly. But Hermione just rode her eyes murdering under her breath"boys".
"Well you'll be happy to know Lupin's back and he said we don't have to do that essay for Snape anymore." You said happily as they answered the Great Hall. That night's dinner was a happy event as Naruto had to make up for a week of missed meals. Plus everyone happy to see him out of the hospital wing wanting to say hello.