"Naruto Uzumaki and Hermione Granger were dating" Once the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year, and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again. This was the main source of gossip that was spreading through the school. Mostly Naruto and Hermione discovered at a lot of people already thought the two of them were a couple, to begin with.
One night while Naruto and Hermione had been in the common room sitting in their normal spot each of them reading. Hermione was spirited away by many of the Gryffindor girls up to their dormitory in a giggling mass. Despite the gossip, Naruto was glad to have more students as a buffer between Ron and Hermione. Even if it meant having the Weasley twins having a go at him.
"You think am right don't you Naruto." Hermione had asked him one day as they finished their lunch and were now walking along the Black Lake. At this Naruto started to panic a bit as he tried to think of what to say.
"W-well I think your right about the broom being sent by black, but I don't think it was jinxed." Naruto quickly said as he looked away from his girlfriend.
"How could the broom be from Sirius Black and not be jinxed?" Hermione asked him expectingly.
"I mean with everything that's going on wouldn't you think Dumbledor is checking the mail for something like this," Naruto said.
"I suppose your right about that, but that still doesn't explain why Black would send a broom to Harry, if not to jinx him," Hermione said.
"He probably heard about Harry's old broom getting destroyed by the whomping willow and decided to buy him a new one. to make up for not being around all those years he was locked up in Azkaban." Naruto had said offhandedly that he didn't catch himself till it was too late. Hermione suddenly fell silent at what he had just said.
"Oh Naruto doesn't be silly," she said with a light laugh, at this Naruto let out a sigh of relief at having not been caught. During the remainder of the holiday break before the rest of the school had returned., Ron was furious with Hermione. As far as he was concerned, The stripping-down of a brand-new Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage.
Meanwhile, Hermione, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, was equally as stubborn about the whole thing. Which left Naruto in a pickle seeing as he knew the truth about the broomstick but was unable, to tell the truth.
So with nothing else left for it, Naruto and Hermione started avoiding the common room. Soon the two had made the school library their go-to spot. which wasn't at all a bad thing as the two of them were able to look for any piece of information that could help Hagrid with his defense for Buckbeak in the upcoming hearing.
Which was a good thing too seeing as Hagrid had failed to mention Harry or Ron coming down to see him all winter break. When classes started up again after the new year. The last thing anyone felt like do-ling was spending two hours on the grounds on a raw January morning, but Hagrid had provided a bonfire full of salamanders for their enjoyment.
They spent an unusually good lesson collecting dry wood and leaves to keep the fire blazing while the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs. The first Divination lesson of the new term was much less fun; Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no time in informing Harry that he had the shortest lifeline she had ever seen.
Defense Against the Dark Arts was as interesting as ever, but the state of Professor Lupin was anything but. With the full moon having just passed and thanks to Sirius telling him Naruto was well aware that whenever Professor Lupin fell ill it was due to his monthly condition.
"Poor Professor Lupin, he doesn't look well," said Hermione as they left the class. just then Hermione stopped and turned back around.
"Yeah, but at least he'll have a few weeks to recover it'll next time," Naruto said. At this Hermione gave him a funny look but instead, thought it better, not to say anything.
"Sorry Naruto I forgot something back in the classroom you go ahead ill catch you up." and without waiting for a response she was gone leaving Naruto standing in the corridor. That had been another the blond teen had started to pick up on now that he was dating the bushy-haired girl. Naruto started to notice how she would forget something or need to go to the loo then she would just appear again as if she had never left.
This too had their drawback as Hermione was now able to keep better track of everything he was doing around the castle, as unintentional as it might have been on her part. the blond teen hadn't had any time to deposit food at the whomping willow.
January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather. But the weather wasn't the only nice thing as, after every Transfiguration lesson, Harry would ask about his broom with Ron standing hopefully at his shoulder. each of them still giving him and Hermione the cold shoulder.
"I'm getting real sick this," Naruto said one night as Ron and Harry pushed past them on their way to dinner.
"Naruto don't, it's alright." Hermione said as she grabbed his arm stopping him from moving forward. "really it's fine." she told him. not seeing anything he could do Naruto just let the incident go.
"Alright fine," Naruto said as the two of them continued to make their way down to the Great Hall, only this time Naruto had decided to hold Hermione's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze that brought a smile to the girl's face.
However, things weren't all hand-holding and quick cherished kisses in the library as the immense workload finally seemed to be getting to Hermione. Every night, without fail, she could be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes.
She barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted, even Naruto wasn't made an exception of this fact. A good example of this was when Naruto suggested that shed take a break. Needless to say the blond learned not to interrupt the girl when she was working.
Luckily for Naruto on one such night, he had decided to sneak down to the kitchens to make a quick delivery to Sirius he happened to run right into Neville as he rounded a corner.
"Sorry Neville didn't see you coming thought," Naruto said as he helped the plump boy up off the ground.
"It's alright Naruto no harm done." the friendly boy said, "where you headed off to?"
"Going down to the kitchens for a quick snack." and with that, the two went their separate ways, however that was when Naruto had noticed Nevile had dropped a small piece of parchment.
"Hey Nev... you dropped..." But Naruto got to finish was he was going to say as he noticed exactly what he was holding in his hands. It was a list but not just any old list this was a list of the next week of passwords for Gryffindor Tower. Without a moment to lose Naruto bolted through the castle till he finally reached the school only.
"Téme were are you," Naruto called out as he looked for his Raven. after a few moments the three-eyed bird finally appeared.
"I need you to take this to the shrieking shack you understand Sirius is there," Naruto told the bird and once he received a nod of understanding he tied the list to Téme's leg and watched him fly off in the night. However, while Naruto was in high spirits as he made his way back to Gryffindor tower the same could not be said about his girlfriend as he would later come to find out.
It looked like the end of Ron and Hermione's friendship. Each was so angry with the other that Harry couldn't see how they'd
ever makeup. Ron was enraged that Hermione had never taken Crookshanks's
attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadn't bothered to keep a close enough watch on him, and was still trying to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look for Scabbers under all the boys' beds.
Hermione, meanwhile, maintained fiercely
that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger hairs might have been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudiced against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on Ron's head in the Magical Menagerie.
Personally, Harry was sure that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, and when he tried to point out to Hermione that the evidence all pointed that way, she lost her temper with Harry too. Naruto on the other hand known for the fact that Crookshanks was Innocent, but was unable to say why that was. All in all the past two months of keeping this secret from Hermione was starting to get to him.
The next day Naruto woke up bright and early as usual only this time instead of his usual training he when strain to the kitchens for some food and headed for the Whomping Willow. Picking up a small stone he was able to hit the right noted root to stop the tree from attacking. After that he moved into the tunnel entrance and as fast as they could, bent almost double; he made his way.
On and on went the passage; He was drawing breath in sharp, painful gasps, running at a crouch. . . . And then the tunnel began to rise; moments later it twisted, finally, Naruto could see a patch of dim light through a small opening. It was a room, a very disordered, dusty room. Paper was peeling from the walls; there were stains all over the floor; every piece of furniture was broken as though somebody had smashed it. The windows were all boarded up.
"Hey, Padfoot!" Naruto called out as he glanced around before pulling himself up. The room was deserted, but a door to their right stood open, leading to a shadowy hallway. Just then the sound of footsteps could be heard coming down from the second floor and soon Naruto spotted serious making his way onto the landing.
"Kit you made it!" serious call dog excitedly it had been a good three months since the two of them had last seen each other face to face and it was clear enough that the older man missed the company of his young friend.
"Hey sorry about not being able to make it. it's kind of hard to slip away nowadays but I brought some breakfast." Naruto said is he opened up his robe and deposited the food he had grabbed early that morning from the kitchens. And without needing any more prompting Sirius greedily dug into the meal.
"So how's the Ms.Uzumaki," Sirius asked with a wink once he had finished his food. At the setting question, Naruto became very flustered having been caught a bit off guard by it. Which only caused the man to give out a barking laugh at the boy's embarrassment. Once his laughter had subsided Sirius took on a more serious demeanor.
"All right so what's the plan, Sirius, "Naruto asked glad to get down to business.
"Well that list you gave me was a godsend I should be able to get into Gryffindor Tower without any trouble this time," Sirius said as he rubbed his hands together almost gleefully.
"That's good and all but we got a bit of a problem," Naruto said as he explained what happened to the rat.
"Damn that Peter oh, that clever little rat thinks it'll work a second time!" Sirius bellowed out angrily as he kicked over a piece of furniture in frustration. At this Naruto jumps back a bit surprised at the sudden action.
"Do you think he's still inside the castle?"Naruto asked.
"Oh, he has to be sticking close to Dumbledore is the safest place to be," Sirius said as he plopped down on the tattered old couch in the room. For the next few hours, the two of them brainstormed and went over any possible ways to try and track down Peter. It went so far as to them suggest serious turn himself in and once the rat reappeared Naruto would grab him and bring him to dumbledore's office. But that plan was quickly shot down.
"The map," Naruto suddenly called out having remembered something very important that they had overlooked "Sirius, the map. the Marauders Map, the magic map that shows where everybody is inside of Hogwarts Castle." Naruto said ecstatic and Sirius finally catching on shouted joy.
"That's it kit, well get the map tonight!' Sirius said.
"Wait tonight, why tonight?" Naruto asked
"Think about Naruto, Harry has a quidditch match today. Meaning he'll be exhausted by the end of it and will be sleeping like a log." Sirius explained as they started to quickly work out the dinner details of their plan. And so with his part of the plan worked out Naruto dropped down back into the secret passage and made his way back towards the school.
By the time Naruto had crossed the school grounds and was back inside the castle it was well past lunchtime. Meaning that the quidditch match was already finished and most likely all the Gryffindors would be back in the common room. Moving up through the castle and given that day's password, Naruto stepped through the portrait hole and was surprised to see that a full-blown party was in full effect.
"Well look at what the cat dragged in," Said Fred.
"More like Fox, "corrected George. At the Weasley twins declaration, everyone turned to see that Naruto had just entered the common room.
"Hey, guys I'm guessing you won," Naruto said looking around at all the festivities as he was handed a butterbeer by Dean Thomas.
"Bloody hell where have you been?" asked a gobsmacked Sheamus Finnegan. At the boys' question, Naruto tilted his head and was confused, not really understanding. That is until Fred and George gestured to him as a whole and looking down Naruto finally noticed the state he was in. His school robes were covered in mud while hanging off of him were bits and pieces of twigs and cobwebs.
"Right, well. . .you see," but whatever excuse Naruto was about to say was cut short as the small crowd of boys was pushed aside.
"Naruto what's happened? Where have you been all day." Asked a very irate Hermione
"Oh, hi Hermione," Naruto said with a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Alright let's move it along boys," said Fred
"Let's give the lovebirds some room," said George as he and Fred proceeded to pull up two chairs and sit right in front of them.
"Well, you see. . ." As Naruto thought of what to say he looked to Fred and George for some help but the Weasley twins just smiled back at him with encouraging nods of the head. "I was inside the Shrinking Shack and just lost track of time." Naruto finally said as he settled on part of the truth so this was he wasn't technically lying to his girlfriend.
"The Shrieking shack!" Hermione All but shouted causing everyone in the common room to stop what they were doing and look towards them. This had not been the reaction Naruto had hoped for.
"And how exactly did you manage to leave the school," Hermione asked as she became unnervingly calm.
"I just walked out the front gate," Naruto said the first thing that popped into his head.
"Of course you did," Hermione muttered to herself. But at this point, Naruto was sweating bullets while Fred and George were on the edge of their seats. " And why would you want to go inside the Shrinking Shack in the first place."
"I wanted to see what was inside," Naruto said simply, however this seemed the be the straw that broke the camel's back.
"You are unbelievable," Hermione finally said getting very close to his face as she jabbed him with a finger. "What is this excessive need to put yourself in danger, it's like you think you're invincible, you can't just do whatever you want Naruto. Sooner or later you'll bite off more than you can handle." With her piece said and done Hermione burst into tears.
Before Naruto could say or do anything, she went back to the table she had been working at. Tucked the enormous books under her arms, and, still sobbing, ran toward the staircase to the girls' dormitories and out of sight. with the show now finished everyone got back to the party. Meanwhile, Naruto just stood there rooted to his spot.
"Tough break that," said Fred and he throws an arm over his shoulder.
"Didn't know little Hermione had it in her," said George as he put an arm on Naruto's other shoulder.
"What just happened?" Naruto asked confused.
"That our young and reckless friend was your relationship's first argument." Said Fred
"In time you learn to keep them from getting this bad." Said George as they lead Naruto to the table that had been set up with food for the party.
The Gryffindor party ended only when Professor McGonagall turned up in her tartan dressing gown and hair net at one in the morning, to insist that they all go to bed. As Harry and Ron climbed the stairs to their dormitory, Naruto remained behind that he was the last one in the common room with the place finally empty the went over to the window and taking his wand fired of red sparks giving Sirius the signal to enter Gryffindor Tower.
Finally making it into the dormitory Naruto quickly changed as the rest of the boys were still discussing the days' quidditch match. Naruto climbed into bed, twitched the hangings of his four-poster shut to block out a ray of moonlight, lay back, and waited to listen for the sounds of five snoring boys. Silent Naruto pulled the hangings back and skillfully got out of bed and cross the room without making a sound.
"Padfoot," Naruto greeted the man once he had made it down to the common room where a large black dog was sitting in wait. "Go I'll keep a lookout for you, and keep quiet Seamus Finnegan is a light sleeper." He called after the retreating dog's tail. The following minutes seemed to drag on forever as Naruto waited and listen for any sign of someone getting out of bed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The stillness of the night was broken by a tariffed scream looking up the boy's dormitory Naruto ran over the staircase only to be great by Sirius who was rushing down the stone steps like a bat out of hell.
"What happened!" Naruto quickly asked as the sound of students getting out of bed to grow.
"The rat, the rat was there, I thought I could get him," Sirius said frantically as they moved out through the portrait hole.
"Good sir, Naruto!" said Sir Cadogan had called out joyfully. At this Naruto and Sirius stopped dead in their tracks. he had been seen together by the portrait to Gryffindor Tower no less.
"Sorry kit," Sirius quietly said under his breath, and the next thing Naruto know he had been dropped to the ground by a right hook across his jaw from Sirius.
"What this Sir, Naruto are you alright, the fine make off like a thief in the night. Come back and fight you rouge you curr!" Sir Cadogan called out angrily as Naruto got up off the stone floor. Gingerly he touched his bleeding lip.
"Geez, way to sell it Padfoot." He muttered to himself as he spat a bit of blood out of his mouth. Ignoring Sir Cadogan's cry's for vengeance Naruto stepped back through the portrait hole. Once he stepped inside the common room all eyes turned to him but before anything could beside a second person arrived.
"Now, really, enough's enough!" Professor McGonagall was back. She slammed the portrait behind her as she entered the common room and stared furiously around.
"I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous! Percy, I expected better of you!"
"I certainly didn't authorize this, Professor!" said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. "I was just telling them all to get back to bed! My brother Ron here had a nightmare —"
"IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!" Ron yelled. "PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFE!"
Professor McGonagall while staring at Ron Naruto used this opportunity to sneak back into the crowned and slowly work his way back towards the boys' dormitory
"Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?" he could hear their head of house saying.
"Ask him!" said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back of Sir Cadogan's picture. "Ask him if he saw —"
Glaring suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the portrait back open and went outside. The whole common room listened with bated breath.
"Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?"
"Certainly, good lady!" cried Sir Cadogan.
There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room.
"You — you did?" said Professor McGonagall. "But — but the password!"
"He had 'em!" said Sir Cadogan proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper! Though I would have not let the curr in had I know he would have attacked brave Sir. Naruto, the rouge! Vengeance will be mine!"
"Uzumaki, what has he to do with this?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Why the good Sir, Naruto gave chase and sent the man off into the night the coward." Sir, Cadogan proclaimed.
Professor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk.
"Naruto Uzumaki," McGonagall called out her steely voice cutting the humming of the gathered crowned. And he had only just placed his foot on the stone staircase that lead to the boy's dormitory. "Get back this instance!"