An hour later they were all sitting at the Gryffindor table for dinner. Naruto at his dinner trying not to think about the day they had as Ron and Hermione watched Harry nervously all through dinner, not daring to talk about what they'd overheard because Percy was sitting close by them. When they went upstairs to the crowded common room, it was to find Fred and George had set off half a dozen Dungbombs in a fit of end-of-term high spirits. Getting their normal spots on the couch facing the fireplace Naruto, Ron, and Hermione watched as Harry quickly moved through the common room and headed up the staircase to the boy's dormitory.
"Do you think he's alright?" Hermione asked the two of them nervously in a low voice to avoid anyone hearing her.
"No," Naruto said as he took out a piece of parchment some ink, and a quill from his school bag he always left in the common room. Hermione looked upset by this but didn't say more while Ron got up.
"I'm going to see if he's alright." And with that, he headed for the boy's dormitory. Quickly Naruto wrote down a quick note to Sirius. Putting everything away Naruto walked over to the window and throw it open. Bringing two fingers to his lips Naruto gave a loud whistle into the night. This caused everyone in the common room to stop and look at him. A moment later the sound of fluttering wings was heard as Naruto's pet raven Téme landed on the window ledge.
"Take this to him alright," Naruto ordered as he held out the note for Téme to take in his beak. As the raven took off into the night Naruto closed the window, turning around he saw that everyone was watching him. Thinking quickly he brought a finger to his lips and giving a foxy grin and a wink told the room at large. "Secret."
Returning to his seat Naruto looked over at Hermione who couldn't help but still at her blonde friend and the way he acted at times. A few minutes late Ron came back down from the boy's dormitory and rejoined them on the couch.
"How is he," Hermione asked concerned.
"He's asleep, what you re'con we should do," Ron asked worried about his friend. "You don't think he'll go after Black, do you." At this Hermione gave a little gasp of shock.
"Well if it was me I would," Naruto said looking away from the two of them and staring into the fire. As Ron and Hermione talked Naruto was deep in thought things were going to be a lot more complicated now that Harry had the Map of Hogwarts, he would have to be more careful now.
"Naruto. . . Naruto. . . NARUTO!" snapping out I'd his thoughts Naruto turned to look at Hermione who had been trying to get his attention. "Are you alright?"
"Sorry, I was thinking about something," Naruto asked her as he gave a sheepish chuckle. "What are we talking about."
"We're talking about talking with Harry tomorrow about this whole Sirius Black situation," Hermione explained.
The Following morning Naruto woke up First before everyone else as usual. Quickly getting dressed he silently left the boy's dormitory and leaving Gryffindor Tower he moved through the castle and makes down to the school grounds in record time. Reached the Whomping Willow he didn't have to wait long before Sirius the dog appeared.
"Sirius we have a big problem what are we supposed to do now," Naruto said quickly as soon that the dog had become a man.
"Naruto tells me what happened you note only said Harry knows, what does he know," Sirius said not understand what the boy was panicked about. So very quickly Harry explained everything that happened yesterday at the three broomsticks.
"So, Harry thinks I betrayed his mother and father?" Sirius said as he took a moment to think. "Naruto, I think it best that you not come down to see me as often, with Harry having the Marauder's Map I could be discovered at any moment," Sirius told him
"So, then where are you going to hide out now?" Naruto asked and after a moment of silence, Sirius finally spoke.
"The Shrieking Shack, you can't see it from the map." And so, Sirius and Naruto made plans that Naruto would deposit food at the entrance of the tunnel that lay under the Whopping Willow and Naruto was to only come down to the shack once he had the password to Gryffindor Tower. Needed some time to clear his head Naruto walked over to the black lake and tossing off his cloak he got to work on his training. Two hours later Naruto re-entered the castle to see that the vast majority of the students were completely skipping going inside the Great Hall for breakfast and instead we're opting to get Filch the caretaker to start taking them down to Hogsmeade station to catch the train.
Moving past the crowd Naruto entered the Great Hall and sat down for some breakfast. The only other people at the Gryffindor table were the Weasleys Percy the twins Fred and George and Ginny. Harry Ron and Hermione for nowhere to be seen most likely still up in Gryffindor Tower.
"Hey, guys." Naruto greeted them happily as he pulled off his thick winter cloak before taking a seat next to Fred and George and across from Ginny.
"Well if it isn't Gryffindor's resident bad boy," Said Fred.
"Just come back from The Forbidden Forest," said George.
"Or maybe he's gone and jinx Snape."Said Fred.
"Or petrified Mrs. Norris, again," said George at this Naruto and the twins started laughing, even Ginny giggled however Percy did not look pleased.
"That's enough you two you shouldn't be encouraging such behaviors," Percy said as you tried to scold his younger brothers to no avail. "It's a miracle he hasn't been expelled yet."
"So you guys heading back home for the holiday?" Naruto asked as he inclined his head towards all of their trunks.
"Yeah, Mum's been having kittens over Black breaking into the school." Said Ginny explained.
"I say it's only a matter of time before black slips up and the Dementors get a hold of it you mark my words this will all be over in a few months," Percy said trying to sound important but nobody was paying attention to him. Naruto and the Weasleys continue to talk for some time till finally Filch and few teachers were starting to lead the students to the station."
"Bye guys have fun back home," Naruto said as he waved off the Weasley's by the front doors of the castle as they joined the rest of the students leaving the school. Starting to head back through the castle to Gryffindor Tower, Naruto made a stop at the library remembering the book he needed should be there according to a Dumbledore had told him.
"Yes, can I help you," ask Madam Pince the Hogwarts School librarian, I'd rather strict looking woman boney cheat, and dressed in dark green robes her black hair pulled up into a tight bun.
"Yeah Dumbledore said you'd have a book for me," Naruto said hoping he could get his book and get out of there as quickly as possible. Madam Pince gave him an appraising look for reaching under the counter and pulling up a rather small old leather book.
"Thanks," Naruto said as he quickly grabs the book and exited the library. Taking a look through the book Naruto saw that it was a handwritten text. At the very front of the book was a small message that had been written down addressed to him.
Dear Naruto,I do not know how you came to learn of this spell but I do hope you will understand how dangerous it can be. I also trust that you will be able to truly master this spell for all the right reasons. Sincerely Albus Dumbledore.
"Wicked," Naruto said as he started to go through the little journal of notes. There was some explanation of the spell and surprisingly well-drawn illustrations on the proper movement of the spell. It was clear enough to Naruto that Dumbledore must have done all this himself. Which somehow made the whole thing that much more important to Naruto.
"Hey guys," Naruto said when he finally made it back to the Gryffindor common room. "What's going on." Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the only ones in the common room.
"Naruto where have you been all morning?" Hermione asked as she rushed over to him and started to check him over for any signs of injuries.
"Hermione I'm fine, I was just training, and then I when to pick up my book from the library." Naruto quickly explained as he tried to get the girl to calm down. It seemed to Naruto that lately Hermione was always worried about something.
"Come on we're going to Hagrid's," Harry said and before Naruto could ask what was going on he was pulled out of the portrait hole by Hermione as she and Ron chased after Harry. They moved down through the now empty castle and out through the oak front doors.
They made their way slowly down the lawn, making a shallow trench in the glittering, powdery snow, their socks and the hems of their cloaks soaked and freezing. The Forbidden Forest looked as though it had been enchanted, each tree smattered with silver, and Hagrid's cabin looked like an iced cake. Ronknocked, but there was no answer.
"He's not out, is he?" said Hermione, who was shivering under her cloak. Ronhad his ear to the door.
"There's a weird noise," he said. "Listen — is that Fang?"
Harry and Hermione put their ears to the door too. From inside the cabin came a series of low, throbbing moans.
"Think we'd better go and get someone?" said Ron nervously.
"Hagrid!" called Harry, thumping the door. "Hagrid, are you in there?"
There was a sound of heavy footsteps, then the door creaked open. Hagrid stood there with his eyes red and swollen, tears splashing down the front of his leather vest.
"Yeh've heard?" he bellowed, and he flung himself onto Harry's neck.
Hagrid being at least twice the size of a normal man, this was no laughing matter. Harry, about to collapse under Hagrid's weight, was rescued by Ron and Hermione, who each seized Hagrid under an arm and heaved him back into the cabin. Hagrid allowed himself to be steered into a chair and slumped over the table, sobbing uncontrollably, his face glazed with tears that dripped down into his tangled beard.
"Hagrid, what is it?" said Hermione, aghast.
Harry spotted an official-looking letter lying open on the table.
"What's this, Hagrid?"
Hagrid's sobs redoubled, but he shoved the letter toward Naruto,
"It's a letter," Naruto simply said as he took it from the giant man.
"Give me that." Said Ron impatiently as he started to read aloud:
Dear Mr. Hagrid,Further to our inquiry into the attack by a hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident. However, we must register our concern about the hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated. Yours in fellowship . . .
"But you said Buckbeak isn't a bad hippogriff, Hagrid. I bet he'll get off—" Ron tried to say but Hagrid cut him off.
"Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee for the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures!" choked Hagrid, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "They've got it in fer interestin' creatures!" A sudden sound from the corner of Hagrid's cabin made Harry, Ron, Naruto, and Hermione whip around and they saw Buckbeak
"I couldn' leave him tied up out there in the snow!" choked Hagrid. "All on his own! At Christmas." Hagrid crocked out again.
"You'll have to put up a good strong defense, Hagrid," said Hermione, sitting down and laying a hand on Hagrid's massive forearm. "I'm sure you can prove Buckbeak is safe."
"Won't make no diff'rence!" sobbed Hagrid. "Them Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o' him! An' if I lose the case, Buckbeak —" Hagrid drew his finger swiftly across his throat, then gave a great wail and lurched forward, his face in his arms.
"What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?" said Harry.
"He's done more'n enough fer me already," groaned Hagrid. "Got enough on his plate what with keepin' them dementors outta the castle, an' Sirius Black lurkin' around —" Naruto, Ron, and Hermione looked over at Harry at the mention of his godfather's name.
"Listen, Hagrid," he said, "you can't give up. Hermione's right, you just need a good defense. You can call us as witnesses —"
"I'm sure I've read about a case of hippogriff-baiting," said Hermione thoughtfully, "where the hippogriff got off. I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened." Hagrid howled still more loudly. Harry and Hermione looked at Naruto and Ron to help them.
"Er — shall I make a cup of tea?" said stared at him. "It's what my mum does whenever someone's upset," Ron muttered, shrugging.
"Yer right. I can' afford to go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together. . . ." Fang the boarhound came timidly out from under the table and laid his head on Hagrid's knee. "I've not bin meself lately," said Hagrid, stroking Fang with one hand and mopping his face with the other.
"Worried abou' Buckbeak, an' no one likin' me classes —"
"We do like them!" lied Hermione at once.
"Yeah, they're great!" said Ron, crossing his fingers under the table. "Er — how are the flobberworms?"
"Dead," said Hagrid gloomily. "Too much lettuce."
"Oh no!" said Ron, his lip twitching.
"An' them dementors make me feel ruddy terrible an' all," said Hagrid, with a sudden shudder. "Gotta walk past 'em ev'ry time I want a drink in the Three Broomsticks. 'S like bein' back in Azkaban —"
He fell silent, gulping his tea. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him breathlessly. Naruto had no idea Hagrid had been sent to Azkaban. Then Hermione said timidly, "Is it awful in there, Hagrid?"
"Yeh've no idea," said Hagrid quietly. "Never bin anywhere like it. Thought I was goin' mad. Kep' goin' over horrible stuff in me mind
"But you were innocent!" said Hermione. Hagrid snorted.
"Think that matters to them? They don' care. Long as they've got a couple o' hundred humans stuck there with 'em, so they can leech all the happiness out of 'em, they don' give a damn who's guilty an' who's not." Hagrid went quiet for a moment, staring into his tea. Then he said quietly,
"Thought o' jus' letting Buckbeak go . . . tryin' ter make him fly away . . . but how d'yeh explain ter a hippogriff it's gotta go inter hidin'? An' — an' I'm scared o' breakin' the law. . . ." He looked up at them, tears leaking down his face again. "I don' ever want ter go back ter Azkaban." The trip to Hagrid's, though far from fun, had nevertheless had motivated them to help Hagrid win his case against the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. Naruto, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to the library the next day and started looking for books that might help prepare a defense for Buckbeak.
Meanwhile, in the rest of the castle, the usual magnificent Christmas decorations had been put up, even though hardly any of the students remained to enjoy them. Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe were strung along the corridors, mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armor, and the Great Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden stars. A powerful and delicious smell of cooking pervaded the corridors, and by Christmas Eve, it had grown so strong that Naruto was having a hard time trying to say out of the school kitchens.
On Christmas morning, Naruto woke up bright and early for his morning training. Only this time as he got dressed in the semi-darkness of the common room he stopped when he spotted a small heap of parcels that the foot of his bed that had appeared overnight. Slowly Naruto started to approach them picked up the first package it was from Ron's mother, Mrs. Weasley. She had sent him an orange knitted sweater with a blue letter "N" on the front, also a dozen home-baked mince pies,
Moving to the next he saw that it was from Hermione. he received a book of spells 101 useful Charms for every day, starting to flip through Naruto saw all kinds of spells he was eager to learn. From Harry and Ron, he received an assortment of items from Honeydukes and Zonko's. From Ginny, he got a fine eagle feather quill and from Fred and George a lock picking kit. Naruto could feel a warmness swelling up inside of him like a balloon was being inflated inside of his chest. He had received Christmas gifts from all his friends, never had Naruto been happier in his life.
Gathering up his this Naruto headed down the common room deciding that today he would take a break from his training so that he could enjoy his gifts. However, he wasn't the only one in the common room there sitting on the couch in front of the fire bundled up in a blanket with her new scarf a, book in her lap, and her cat at her side was Hermione.
"Marry Christmas Naruto," she greeted as she stood up from her spot. Dropping his things on an empty table Naruto rushed over and pulled her into a hug.
"Thanks for the gift I love it, Hermione," Naruto said happily as he let go. Hermione couldn't help but giggle at the large goofy grin on Naruto's face.
"Thank you for the lovely scarf you gave me, come on let's sit down," Hermione said, and together they sat on the couch each sharing their sweet's from Ms. Weasley while Hermione pointed out what she thought were some useful spells for Naruto to learn out of the book she gave him.
"Hey buddy," Naruto greeted as Hermione's cat Crookshanks hopped on his lap and started to our and rub himself on Naruto's chest.
"He does like you," Hermione said as she watched Crookshanks try and paw at Naruto's whiskers.
"Maybe he thinks I'm a big cat or something," Naruto said with a light chuckle as the cat suddenly grow bored and hopped off of him and went to go lay down in front of the fireplace.
"Um, N-naruto," Hermione said sounding a bit nervous. Looking up Naruto saw that she was looking from the common room window to the staircase leading to the boy's dormitory.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Naruto asked never before seeing the girl look this nervous before.
"I was wondering if. . .if I could touch your whiskers," She very quickly blurted out. " I've done some research and nowhere does it mention anything about it in the wizarding world where it occurred naturally," Hermione explained hopefully that her explanation justified her reasons.
"Sure," Naruto said. However, Hermione had not heard him as she continued to go odd on another long-winded explanation about some book on halfbreeds. Giving a roll of the eyes at Hermione's, Hermione'ness, Naruto just reached over and taking her hand in his brought it up to his face.
"Oh," Hermione had been cut off midstream at the feeling of Naruto's face. "Just like a cat's." As she began to gently rub her thumb across Naruto's cheek as she pet his whiskers when something unexpected happened.
"Mhmm, purrrrrr," Naruto had started to purr at the strange new sensation he was feeling. Subconsciously he closed his eyes and leaned his face into Hermione's hand. Hermione too was so in tranced by what was happening that she leaned in close to the blonde-haired boy and started to rub his other cheek. After a few minutes, Hermione had finally stopped and opening his eyes Naruto saw that their faces a foot from each other. Up close Naruto was able to notice how pretty Hermione's eyes were.
"She's pretty." Naruto thought At the same time Hermione could feel the heat rising in her cheeks at the way Naruto sapphire blue eyes bore into hers. Without realizing it both teens were starting to lean their faces in closer to each other. They were now inches apart as they both closed their eyes ready to let this happened. Naruto was so close to Hermione he could smell the faint hint of coconut coming from her hair as her hot breath hit his lips.
"BANG!" SQUUUUAAAAAK!" the sudden loud sound of something crashing into the common room window brought the moment that almost was to a crashing stop at both teens jumped apart finally realizing what was just about to happen.
"I-Im going to see if Harry and Ron are up yet." Hermione almost shouted as she snatched up Crookshanks and headed up towards the boy's dormitory. This all happened so quickly that Naruto didn't understand what had happened.
"Oh my god, I almost kissed Hermione," Naruto said to himself but before he could think more on this another loud bang drew his attention to the window. "Téme?" Getting up Naruto got up and opened the window to let the raven in.
"What's that you got," Naruto said as he saw a small parcel attached to its leg taking the item Téme flow past Naruto and came to rest at the top of a bust of pallas that sat above the portrait hole. Looking it over he saw a dirty paw print on the side, ripping it open Naruto saw what Sirius had given him.
"Wow, thanks Sirius," Naruto said happily as he turned over the black and silver pocket knife he had been given. Turning it over in his hand Naruto got a better look at the blade when suddenly the sound of a loud commotion came from the boy's dormitory. A few seconds later Hermione came storming down that staircase Crookshanks in hand. Before Naruto could say anything to her he walked past him without a word and headed up the staircase to the girl's dormitory.
"I'd I miss something?" Naruto asked out loud to the empty room unsure of what had happened to make the girl so mad.