Chapter 4: New Year, New Professor
The summer holiday was coming to a close, as Naruto and his friends arrived at the train station to board the Hogwarts Express to go back to the castle for the new year. Itachi is still posing as Naruto's pet crow Kage, as he still is going to help out the boy as much as he can, while also serving as his messenger. But a few things happened before the day they left for the Hogwarts express. The kids have gotten their Hogwarts letter that had their list of books and supplies, but they also got confirmation that a new professor was going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts which everybody shrugged as they know what is going to happen. But the real kicker was that two prefect badges were sent and they were for Hermione and Ron. Now the twins were ok with Hermione, but with Ron they were annoyed as they expected either Naruto or Harry to get the badge. Naruto was alright with the outcome as he didn't see himself as the type of guy to boss people around, while Harry was fine with it, even though he was pretty jealous of the outcome. "Harry, could you follow me for a second?" Sirius asked the boy, as Harry and Shizune, Sirius' girlfriend, were talking about something. Harry nodded and followed his godfather to some room. "What is it?" Harry asked as Sirius was going through his pocket. He handed the boy an old photo, as Harry looked at the old photo. "I wanted you to have this. This is the original Order of the Phoenix," Sirius explained as the boy looked at him. He points at a woman, "That's Marlene McKinnon, she was killed two weeks after this was taken, they got her whole family. That's Frank and Alice Longbottom —"
Harry's stomach, already uncomfortable, clenched as he looked at Alice Longbottom; he knew her round, friendly face very well, even though he had never met her, because she was the image of her son, Neville. "They suffered a fate far worse than death," Sirius sadly explained. "It's been fourteen years. Still a day doesn't go by I don't miss your dad." Harry was silent, "Do you think there is going to be another war?" he asked. Sirius nodded, "I believe so." Sirius patted the boy's back and told him to keep the photo as it now belongs to him. Harry soon joins up with his friends as they board the train after waving goodbye to the adults. The train ride was alright as some of their friends came and said hello and all that jazz. Naruto and Harry learned that their new friend and fellow Triwizard tournament champion, Cedric Diggory, finally became headboy and they congratulated him. Surprisingly Malfoy and his cronies haven't come by to their compartment to throw their usual insults.
Anyways, while the train ride was going smoothly, Naruto was sleeping. However he wasn't having a good dream as he was having a nightmare. He was remembering what happened that night on the day of the final task of the Triwizard tournament. Jiraiya's dead body and Menma slaying Jiraiya, he remembered it all. But that wasn't the worst part, as he found himself looking at a burning Hogwarts and on the floor lied the bodies of his friends and allies looking dead, and soon he stares at Menma who runs at him and slashes his blade at him. Naruto woke up in a fright, surprising his friends in the compartment. "Naruto! What's wrong?!" Hermione asked as she and her friends looked at the blond worriedly since he was hyperventilating. "I keep remembering that night…my sensei died…I keep getting this damn nightmare. If I could just forget what happened that night…the pain…even for a second…this time…it can be different…it has to." Harry nodded, "I understand Naruto…I keep having these dreams…that Voldemort returned…and even though he did, it still haunts me…even after the tournament."
Naruto decided to get up and head out of the compartment. "Where are you going mate?" Ron asked. "Just thought I need to go out for a little walk, clear my mind off of things," Naruto explained as he got out of the compartment. He decides to go for a walk in the hall and he encounters Neville. "Oh hey Naruto," Neville said, greeting his friend and fellow Gryffindor. "Hey Neville, I see you got yourself a cactus there," he said pointing out the cactus Neville was holding. "Oh this little thing here, yeah I have been recently trying to take care of it, what about you, any plants you've taken care of?" he asked. "Eh I've been taking care of a bonsai tree, though I also care for a Centaurea cyanus also known as the blue flower," Naruto explained. Neville nodded, "You have to show me one of your plants one day, Naruto. Anyways want to come inside the compartment?" he offered. Naruto took up the offer and entered the compartment and saw that Ginny was there along with some other girl sitting beside the window. The girl beside the window looked up. She had straggly, waist length, dirty-blond hair, very pale eyebrows, and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look. She looks up from her book, "Oh hello, you must be Naruto Uzumaki," she said. Naruto was surprised that the girl knew her name, despite him not introducing himself to her or even knowing her name.
"Yeah and you are…" he asked. "My name is Luna Lovegood," she introduced herself. Naruto nodded and sat down, as he was still thinking about the dream he had. Luna kept staring at the blond as if he were one the eighth wonder of the already seven wonders of the world. Naruto notices this and asks, "Is there something I can help you with?" he asked politely. Luna shakes her head, "No it's just that you have this far-away look, as if you were thinking about something that happened to you recently or a long time ago." Both Ginny and Neville gulped as it was a poor subject to touch upon with the blond, but luckily Naruto sadly chuckled as he waved his hand. "It's fine guys, and to answer your question Luna, yeah I've been thinking about some thoughts lately." He explained everything regarding the thoughts he had from his loss to that nightmare. The whole time, Luna was listening intently as she hadn't interrupted the boy nor got distracted by something else. "That is what I've been thinking about," Naruto stated. Luna was silent until she responded, "Naruto I understand everything. I know what it's like to lose someone I cared for. But just because they're gone doesn't mean that they haven't left you entirely." Naruto was surprised that a girl like her could have lost someone once close to her, "But how? How exactly does a person not leave you if they die?" Naruto asked as he's still trying to figure it out. "The ones that you love may have died and left you in the physical world, but they haven't left your heart. What I mean is that the memories of the times that you spent together will always be within you and will never die, so I take that belief with stride everyday," Luna said.
Naruto was thoughtful, "That's pretty interesting, so wait who did you lose when you were young?" Ginny and Neville gave Naruto a look of reproach for introducing that kind of subject, but Luna wasn't mad. "It's ok you two, there is no harm in asking. To answer your question Naruto, I lost my mother when I was nine years old." Naruto was shocked, "I'm sorry for your loss." Luna shook her head, "It's fine Naruto, I accepted her death and I know that she is watching over me." Naruto was surprised that Luna was taking this lightly, after all one shouldn't be talking about death just because they meet for the first time. "You know Luna, if you want, we can be friends, I mean hey the more the merrier, am I right?" Luna smiled, "Sure nothing wrong with that," she stated and the two became friends.
The group talked before Naruto heads back to his compartment, as the train was arriving close to Hogwarts station. Naruto and his friends got off the train as the train finally arrived at the station. The four were just minding their own business when all of a sudden, they were confronted by Malfoy and his cronies. "I'm surprised the ministry is letting you walk around freely Potter. Better enjoy it while you can. I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it." But before Malfoy could leave, Naruto grabbed Malfoy by the collar of his jacket, and punched him in the face, making him fall to the ground. Crabbe and Goyle tried to retaliate, but Naruto was quick enough to throw them to the floor. To add insult to injury Naruto kicked all three of them in the balls to make sure they don't even think of retaliating. "Piss of Malfoy or else I'll do even worse, especially you two chodes," Naruto said threatening them. Malfoy and his cronies scampered, though they had one last say, "Bunch of freaks, the lot of them," he replied as he and his friends groaned in pain due to them getting kicked in the manhood.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Harry yelled in frustration. "He's not worth it Harry," Ron said, holding his friend back. "It's only Malfoy. What do you expect?" Anyways the four head off to the carriages, ready to get to the castle. Harry finds Daphne there waiting for him and the group joins her on the carriage. Neville and Luna also came along in the carriage, but there was something surprising to both Naruto and Harry. "Harry, are you seeing what I am seeing?" Naruto said pointing at a black, rake thin, almost bone like horse with wings. "Yeah, what is that thing?" Harry asked. The others raised an eyebrow, "There's nothing there you two. Nothing is pulling the carriage, it's pulling itself as always." Luckily Luna came to the two's defense, "It's fine you two, I see it as well."
"Everyone this is Looney Love-I'm sorry Luna Lovegood," Hermione said blushing at her mistake as Naruto gave her a WTF expression. Given how Naruto and Neville already met her, they didn't have to introduce themselves. Naruto notices Luna's necklace, "Hey Luna, I've been meaning to ask what's up with your necklace?" he asked. "It's a charm actually. To keep away the Nargles," she said nonchalantly as she was busy talking with Neville. This is going to be an interesting year.
They finally arrived at the castle, dressed in their school robes, as they arrived at the Great Hall. Everybody took a seat awaiting the whole speech Dumbledore was presenting, but there was another person there dressed in all pink standing next to Dumbledore. This person shocks Naruto and Harry and also angers the two making the others confused. "What's wrong with you two?" Hermione asked. Harry explained that the woman, Dolores Umbridge, was at his hearing and was one of the few wanting to expel Harry, and also she worked for Fudge, which shocked Hermione and the others. Both Naruto and Harry had this feeling that the Umbridge woman was not to be trusted as the two loathed her for some reason. She gave a long ass speech, and let's just say that it was really annoying. After that was over with, the feast began, but Naruto had this feeling that this year is not going to go so well. Oh the blond has no idea that he is correct.