Chapter 4 - The Sorting

Sakura Uzumaki waddled quietly through the corridors of St. Mungos heading toward the permanent damage spell ward. Her target was the Longbottom couple, she had a hunch what happened after the prolonged exposure to the Cruciatus curse. If she was proven correct she knew she would need to bring Ino in to help her. She found the Longbottom's in their room wandering about eyes vacant to the world, the only other person present in the room, was an elderly lady watching the male Longbottom wander around with so much grief in her eyes. Sakura pulled the chart from the wall and examined the brief report given by their original healer way back in 1981, "Let's see, no progression made, provide food and cleaning when needed. What the hell, this is it?" She flipped through the reports to get the name of the healer, "hmm, healer Nott, so Susan was right," the rosette haired woman scowled slightly.

"Excuse me but who are you?" the elderly woman spoke up.

Sakura looked up from the chart before extending her hand in greeting, "My name is Sakura Uzumaki, I was just placed as the Head Healer here at St. Mungos, please to meet you Ms..?"

"Augusta Longbottom," the elderly woman stated glancing over at the man bumping into a far corner of the room, taking a deep sigh. "Frank is my son."

"My condolences Mrs. Longbottom hopefully, with time and patience I can bring them out of this state, with a little help of course," Sakura stated. "Now I need to find out who in their brilliance, let the wife of a known Death Eater look after your son and his wife?"

Augusta head shot up and her eyes narrowed, "Who indeed, I was not aware of such a thing. Most appointments to high profile clientele is left to the Head Supervisor of St. Mungos, since there hasn't been one before you." Augusta went through her memory trying to recall one of the laws that she tried to bury. "If there isn't a Head Supervisory Healer it falls to the Undersecretary of the Minister of Magic."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, "why the Undersecretary, he or she wouldn't know a thing about medicine, It should fallen into a consensus of the available healers who would be willing to give care to the afflicted patient."

"It was made during the height of Voldemort's first rise to power, during all the backpedaling after the war it was overlooked," Augusta stated. "I tried to have the law revoked, when it came up in the Wizengamot."

"Who was the Undersecretary back then?" Sakura asked.

"Fudge actually," the Longbottom elder frowned a with grunt. "I can only assume he must have been bribed at some point by Lucius Malfoy to have that law passed. Malfoy must have used some more bribery to put Alexia Nott as my Son and Alice's healer to keep them out of the way. Only thing that makes sense," the elderly woman groaned sitting back down into her chair. "How in the bloody hell did I miss that."

"Right," Sakura slapped the folder closed and used a small fire jutsu to burn it to ash. "I'll have Mrs. Nott brought before the performance review board by the end of the week, any healer with memory healing aide training could have helped your son and daughter-in-law given enough time," she paused walking up to Alice, the woman's drawn face watching the woman's reaction as she lightly touch her arm. Seeing a visible wince indicated there had been no treatment done for the Cruiciatus curse after effects. "If I wasn't so pregnant right now I could do this on my own, but my chakra stores are currently being used elsewhere," she patted her belly.

For her part Augusta had to cackle somewhat, "I can sympathize what you are going through my dear, judging by the size you are having twins."

"Twin girls, Chiyo Neju and Miko Kushina Uzumaki, one named after someone I hold a deep respect for and one name after my husband's godmother," the rosette haired woman gently rubbed her belly.

"Kushina Uzumaki," Augusta frowned slightly. "Why does that name sound familiar?"

"The Red Hot Habanero of Death, wife of the Fourth Hokage, mother to Naruto Uzumaki the Seventh Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, my loving husband," Sakura smiled warmly.

Augusta gaped at the woman for a second, "Your that Sakura Haruno, apprentice of Tsunade Senju, one of the three people who ended the 4th Great Shinobi War."

"I've been getting that reaction a lot since coming to England," Sakura giggled slightly. "I guess war heroes are a big thing here."

"Yes," the elderly Longbottom chuckled slightly, sitting back down. "Then I have full confidence in my son's care."

XXX

Albus Dumbledore sat quietly in his office, far more subdued than he usually was at the start of a new school term. The last month had not been kind to him, first had been unfortunate discovery of the Defense Against the Dark Arts position had been indeed cursed subsequently tied to the wards of the school, he had to give Tom credit on that. The only way to end the curse was to kill the one who cast the curse or said person reversed it; as such the class couldn't hold the teaching position outside a year perhaps two. He just hoped none of the teachers applying for the position would not be hurt.

While that bit of news was unfortunate, the next bit left the headmaster sucking a particularly nasty lemon drop. Lily Ann Potter nee Evans had been adopted; he suspected this years ago but never went about finding it out if it was true. Now however it came back to bite him in the arse. Lily Potter's biological family had been brought to light with information he hadn't possessed and now he was unable to control the situation which was spinning away from him. Lily Potter's biological family had been reached via the goblins, as well as a slew of magical guardians. But what made the elderly man extremely nervous was the name of the boy's biological family, the Haruno Clan, more accurately put Lily's baby sister, Sakura Uzumaki nee Haruno. That name sent shivers down the old man's spine, one of the Fourth Shinobi War's heroes, a world renowned healer, and the wife of one of the most powerful men in the magical world, while Voldemort feared Dumbledore, the old man knew his former student was absolutely terrified of Naruto Uzumaki. With just reason of course, Naruto Uzumaki alongside Sasuke Uchiha had sealed a demi-goddess into him, that officially ended the war.

But that was not what worried the old man, no it was the fact that Naruto had removed the horcrux from young Harry's scar, as such rendered most of the prophecy moot. The boy was safe from dying to save Magical Britain, so Dumbledore found himself backpedaling thinking of ways to fulfill the prophecy while adjusting to suit the needs of the many, while maintaining the needs of the few and the one.

Sighing rubbing the bridge of his nose, everything had been tossed upside down, "Severus, have the darker families discovered Harry's change of fortune?"

XXX

The man in question stood not far off thinking deeply about his relationship with the late Lily Potter, and how many times he missed the signs his longtime friend had been adopted, he met both of the Evan's parents on numerous occasions and found it odd that Lily had none of their features. Looking up from his musings to address the headmaster, "None, I suspect Madam Bones and Lord Naruto may spring this on the Wizengamot, at the session later today."

Dumbledore nodded, "finding out Lily was in fact, pureblood will send people like Lucius Malfoy and Theodore Nott Sr. reeling for a few months at least, trying to confirm or deny it."

"While letting Lord Naruto pretty much run rough shod over every law that the dark factions are trying to put in place," Severus explained.

"Things will get increasingly difficult to figure out in the months and years to come, my friend. Naruto Uzumaki was given a significant title before becoming Seventh Hokage, he was called the Number one, unpredictable knucklehead ninja, a title he wears with pride," Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "And was a far more notorious prankster than James and his friends."

Severus scowled slightly at the reference but deep down he feared for his job and life these next six to seven years. Not because of Naruto Uzumaki, but if his wife was anything like her elder sister than she had a significant temper to fear. "I must get started on my curriculum Headmaster."

"I understand Severus, thank you," Albus held up his potion, a strange brown potion that he used to hold off his ailments. Keeping his memory sharp and his bones limber, sadly the potions regime only added a few more years to his life give or take, however his age was catching up to him.

XXX

Sakura smirked slightly watching her longtime friend and rival pop into being from a reverse summons, via the slug contract. The blonde haired woman grimaced at the disorientation glancing at the rosette haired woman. "I've always hated that, forehead."

"Sorry it was the only way to get you here as rapidly as needed, pig," the two stared at each other a moment before giggling like crazy pulling each other into a friendly hug. "It's good to see you, Ino."

"Sorry, I couldn't get here sooner. I was on a mission when you found out about your sister," Ino responded sadly. "Must have been bittersweet."

Sakura nodded waddling over to her office desk, and began glaring at the chair causing the blonde woman start giggling again, "What?!"

"Sorry, sorry, it's just you've been doing that a lot," Ino smile still affixed to her face as she helped her pregnant friend sit down.

"You try to sit down when you have something the size of medicine ball strapped to your belly. I'm constantly afraid if I just plop down I'll break the chair," Sakura stated leaning back just slightly for comfort.

Ino looked at her with some form of envy, "You and Naruto are the first of the rookie nine to get married, and have kids. I mean you have Sai and I, Shikamaru and Temari, Choji and Karui," Ino paused wincing slightly, "...Sasuke and Karin...," glancing at her rosette haired friend but seeing no reaction she plowed on, "Lee and Tenten which I never saw coming, Kiba and Samui, because who knew she had a thing for horn dogs. Shino and Suzembachi which is great by the way, I mean the only one who hasn't married is Hinata."

Sakura snorted in disgust, "that's only because she's holding out hope I'll buckle under pressure and let her in. She had her shot and she blew it, twice."

Ino held up her hands smiling winsomely, "You're preaching to the converted, billboard brow. But if the loop holes hadn't been sealed and Naruto had to marry another girl who would you pick?"

Sakura frowned slightly before thinking about all the girls Naruto knew both inside and outside the village, "If you and Sai hadn't worked out, you, or Koyuki, Shion, Kurotochi, Mei, to name a few."

Ino raised an eyebrow, "Me really?"

"Of course you, I know and trust you Ino, same with Naruto though he hides it pretty well." the rosette paused shuddering slightly. "Anyway, I had some pretty grim dreams a few years ago, happened when Naruto went with Shikarmaru to hold his wedding in the Hidden Sand, you know the one that descended into a battle with another descendant of the Sage of the Six Paths."

"I've been trying to forget that one thank you, nearly lost my brothers in all but blood there," Ino stated shivering.

Sakura nodded, "Well the night before I had a dream, where I stayed with Sasuke and Naruto stayed with Hinata. In the dream everything looked peaceful on the surface, but I was miserable and the daughter I had I strongly suspected was Karin's, she looked nothing like me, I simply accepted my role in that world, stopped being a medic-nin just a stay at home mom to a girl that wasn't mine, while Naruto buried himself in his work, even though he had a legitimate family, basically leaving Hinata to raise their kids. You know I've never let that goof ball drown himself in work."

Ino raised an eyebrow, "Not the case for the first five years of your guy's marriage, Sakura. Both of you were buried in your work."

Sakura blushed slightly, "Okay, but did we drag kids into the whole mess. For your information no matter how tired we were even after a long day we would spend a few hours before bed talking, cuddling, or making love. We both agreed not have kids until we were stable enough that both of us would be there for our kids."

Ino shrugged looking only mildly annoyed at the comment about making hours worth of love. "You and Naruto made love for hours, I call bullshit."

The rosette haired woman smirked with pride, "My husband is very attentive and loving plus a stamina god, he feels it would be an insult if I didn't get off at least ten times before going to sleep."

The blonde haired mindwalker turned her head pouting, "whatever, so why did I come here, certainly not to hear you brag about your husband's performance in the sheets."

Sakura coughed a couple of times, but felt a small bit of pride knowing her sex life was one to be envious of. "I have a couple here that had been tortured and have been driven deep into the backs of their minds."

Ino frowned this happened to the occasionally in the Elemental Nations, that's why they had Morino Ibiki, who would try to break their resistance through physiological torture before sending them to Anko for physical torture. "I assume you already healed the physical affects?"

"Yep, but it was tiring, I've had to cut myself off until after Chiyo and Miko are born," Sakura explained some excitement entering her voice at the end of her sentence.

Ino missed the excitement in the other woman's voice, looking a bit worried for her friend. "Please be careful, Sakura, getting chakra exhaustion isn't going to do you or my goddaughters any favors."

Sakura nodded, "That's why I'm not doing anything healing chakra related for the next month, I figure first or second week of October and they'll be here," she said softly rubbing her belly unconditional love in her eyes.

"I take it, Naruto wants carbon copies of you," Ino giggled.

Sakura snorted rolling her eyes, "Yes, and I finally got out of him what he meant after he came back from that three year training trip with Lord Jiraiya."

"You mean the one where he said you hadn't changed at all," Ino snickered at that.

The rosette instead of getting annoyed at her got misty eyed, "He said that I couldn't change perfection. What can a girl say about that?"

Ino scowled slightly, "I am now firmly annoyed at that guy, he makes all other guys look sad. I mean he's great in bed, knows what to say to girl to turn her into mush, and he's easy on the eyes. If I could go back in time..."

Sakura looked down solemnly, "If I could go back in time I'd murder my younger self and take her place."

Ino looked at her friend uneasily before clearing her throat, "Come on let's get that couple out of the self-hell they're in and you tell me about the nephew you now have."

XXX

"Harry Potter!" the boy who lived looked up, before quietly walking forward to take a seat on the stool as Professor McGonagall placed the tattered witches hat onto his head.

"Ah, it's been awhile since I've had another Potter in this school," the hat stated.

"Um, my dad right?" Harry asked.

"Indeed Mr. Potter loads of ambition in that young man's head, a great deal of guile, wit, loyalty, but it was his courage that stood out most of all, he laughed in the face of the Death Eater children. Now let's see where I can place you," the hat explained.

"Might avoid Slytherin or Gryffindor, likely to kill Malfoy or Weasely," Harry thought darkly remembering waiting for the sorting ceremony to begin had met both Ron Weasely and Draco Malfoy, between the lecherous leer directed at Daphne Greengrass to whom he had a wonderful time talking to on the Hogwarts Express and the hateful slurs from Ron, he was bound and determine to avoid either house they were in. "If you have a prankster streak in your threads I'd put Ron Weasely in Slytherin for a couple of days."

The hat chuckled, "Very tempting Mr. Potter, however that will come when his sorting takes place, right now I must focus on you." The hat drifted into a mumbling focusing on Harry's traits which had been changed somewhat. His thirst to prove himself no longer was a sole ambition in his life, instead he wanted to show his aunt and uncle pride in his accomplishments. "Not a bad mind, a sense of happiness in your new family, a mixture of awe and wonder, as well as discipline and strength. Very difficult to place, you have virtues of all four houses, any suggestions Mister Potter?"

"If I had to choose I'd pick Ravenclaw, this way I don't alienate any other of the houses if I wanted friends in say Slytherin and Gryffindor," Harry stated.

"Good choice and I wish many had your insight, then may it be, RAVENCLAW!"

Author's Note: Finally managed to pull time out of my ass to finish this chapter, my physical limitations have been increasing as such I'm probably only going to be dealing with one fic at a time.