Hey folks another update here. Finally coming back around to Gifts of the Sage and putting some content out for it. Hopefully you all enjoy it. I think now that we will be getting more into Hogwarts and seeing more of the content that made Harry Potter what it was this story will only get better.
I know some people felt that Lily and Snape together was a bit weird, but truthfully I felt that had their relationship while at Hogwarts gone even slightly differently they likely would have ended up together. Adding our boy Hagrid to the mix was just making it better because who doesn't like Hagrid. If you don't just gotta wonder what's wrong with you.
As if the addition of a hidden landmass behind a new magical barrier wasn't enough. Or the changes with the previous generation's characters, there will be plenty more changes. Especially with this chapter coming up, the sorting happening and all.
Another thing someone brought up to me was that they felt Naruto was angry toward Haley. I was trying more to go for the fact that Haley and Hermione share a very curious nature, one that grates on other people's nerves after a time. Naruto isn't a naturally patient person in the first place so he did become annoyed by the girls' constant questions. However he by no means dislikes either girl, if anything he is warming up to them very quickly.
Anyway enough of that, I want to round this Author Note out with a simple bit of recruiting to try and bring folks into a community full of readers and writers of Fanfiction. A server on discord hosted by AizenTheGoat and jam packed with writers from across the site all interacting and chatting. Whether you are needing help developing a fic, want recommendations for good reads, or simply want to relax and talk to others of a similar interest, this server has something for you. A link can be found right here → /dV9hH5zd5F
If you have an issue with that, feel free to pm me for a link or help to get onto the server.
Anyway lets get on to our story!
It seemed that buying the other kids snacks from the trolley was the right decision. Between keeping them all distracted for a while, and being able to pick something else up for himself, Naruto was actually enjoying the ride for the most part. Trains weren't really a thing back home. His homeland was terribly behind the times, but even if it hadn't been it wasn't all that much larger than all of Great Britain was. Supposedly it had been a massive landmass before the Sage had established his Gift, but now it was easy enough to travel via a broom in a short period of time.
He had gotten a chance to ride in a few non- magical vehicles besides the plane that he and Jiraiya had used when he first came to the outer world, but they didn't really compare to the Hogwarts Express. There was just something about the mix of comfortable seating, relatively good company, beautiful countryside passing by, and the excitement in the air for reaching their destination. It was honestly magical.
Naruto nearly made himself snort in smothered laughter at the terrible joke. This life away from home was so…pleasant. Even though the weather was gray and rainy more often than bright and sunny like back home, there wasn't the same air of tension. Well, perhaps in some cases there were.
Naruto wasn't the most perceptive person back home. He wasn't the most perceptive person here either, but he also was far from a naive child. There was far less conflict between ancient families and magical nations in this land, but that didn't mean there weren't issues.
He had spent part of the ride on the train reading some of his schoolbooks just as he had over the previous days to leaving for Hogwarts. There were so many differences in his people and those of this place, but many of the same problem remained just painted in a different form. A simple look at the barely concealed scar on Haley's forehead and Naruto was reminded that it was best he not lower his guard even here.
As if to remind him of the problems of the outer world, Haley's childhood friend Ron began running his mouth about his pet rat. Haley herself seemed displeased by the fact teh creature was crawling about on the red-headed boy's lap, though she sent him a very forced smile as Ron chattered at her about the creature.
"My big brothers gave me a spell that's supposed to turn him yellow." He half-way boasted.
"Really?" Neville asked, though even the shy timid boy seemed a bit disbelieving.
"Well, Fred said it would." Ron huffed. His expression changed to a smile. "Want to see?"
"Let's see it." Hermione said, excited to see some real life magic being used.
"Yeah, lets see it." Haley said with a small smirk directed toward the boy. Naruto could tell by the glimmer in her green eyes that she expected him to fail somehow.
'She's more like her father than she initially lets on.' Naruto grimaced while thinking of the gruff man's personality.
Ron cleared his throat almost comically before circling the tip of his wand around Scabbers the rat, all while chanting a ridiculous rhyme. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow."
At the end he flicked his wrist and a small breeze and flash of light brushed along the rat sending the box of candy it had been interested in to the floor. Otherwise nothing happened at all.
Ron sighed before glancing over to the eldest boy in their midst, Naruto and shrugging. Naruto smiled kindly at the boy and sent his own shrug back as if to say it was no big deal. The other passengers in the cabin were less willing to be content with the failed spell.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" Hermione asked, missing somehow that Ron's brothers had clearly played a trick on him.
"If it is it's not very good." Haley tossed in, causing Ron to glance over to Neville and Naruto.
The older boy shrugged again before leaning back into his seat as the girls got wound up.
"I've only really tried a few simple ones myself." Haley admitted.
"That's the same for me, just some of the beginner spells from our textbooks." Hermione replied.
Soon the two girls were chatting back and forth again leaving Ron and Neville to focus on their rat and toad respectively. Each had their hands full it seemed. Ron's rat seemed intent on snacking on every item he had with him, food or not, and Neville had nearly lost his toad half a dozen times.
Thankfully the ride was short enough that the marvel of it all didn't wear off before they all took turns changing into their robes. It wasn't long after that the train began slowing down and coasting into the station at Hogsmeade.
Naruto remembered the town from when he and Jiraiya had first met with Professor Dumbledore and McGonogall. Nothing had changed, not that he had expected it to in just a few short weeks. As they all disembarked they were met with the booming voice of the half-giant Naruto had met when shopping with the Snapes and Grangers in Diagon Alley.
"First years, right over here! Oh, you too Mister Naruto." The man called jovially.
"Nice to meet you again Mister Hagrid. Just call me Naruto please." Naruto said politely as he stood alongside the kids a year younger than him.
"Ah, well the same for you then, just Hagrid." He said with a smile.
Naruto glanced toward the other students as they filed off to their own transport from the station to the castle. Among them he noticed a girl around his own age seeming to try and give a pep talk to a first year student. They shared several traits, though they weren't by any measure copies of one another. Naruto had to guess they were sisters judging by the way the elder girl was encouraging the younger one.
"Ah, hullo there Haley." Hagrid greeted drawing Naruto's attention back to his unintentionally made clique.
"Hello Hagrid." Haley said happily while Ron and Neville awed up at the big man.
"Right, this way to the boats! Come on now, follow me." Hagrid called out to the collection of first years, and Naruto.
As he expected, the boats were enchanted to ferry the students across the lake to the castle proper. Still he minded Neville to make sure he didn't drop his toad, or somehow drop himself over the side of the little craft. It was impressive magic. Simple but on a large scale for such a simple spell. Not to mention Naruto could tell that it was leaving an impression on the students, just as it was for himself.
As they saw the castle for the first time in person, Naruto realized how spectacular it looked from the middle of the lake at night. It truly was an impressive sight. No wonder they had a tradition of the first time students coming to the school in such a way. Another method to make their schooling here all the more memorable.
Once inside, things were no less impressive than they had been outside. Tall stone walls and ornate stonework for the doorways. Every pillar and banister seemed beautiful and rustic. It was like stepping into a fairytale, and that thought came from a boy raised in a place most of his now, fellow students would consider a fairy tale.
As they came to the top of the stairs to the great hall they were stopped by Professor Mcgonogall. Naruto smiled up at her and sent a small wave. While she didn't return it she tilted her head ever so slightly and smiled back at him. She then clapped her hands once to gain the attention of the excited and chattering students and began her own speech.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. In a moment you will enter through these doors and join your fellow students in the Great Hall. But, before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." She announced while a few of the more knowledgeable students prodded one another at the thought of a specific house they wanted to be sorted into.
"Now, while you are here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, but any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup." McGonogall continued.
As she spoke Neville's toad tried yet again to get free only for Naruto to catch it and hand it back to him, getting a buck toothed grin from the younger boy in return.
"Thanks." He whispered.
"No problem. Just try and keep a better hold of him. He's been jumping out of your hands since we got on the train." Naruto whispered back. Neville simply nodded shyly. It didn't fill Naruto with all that much confidence in Neville not losing his familiar.
"The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily." McGonogal finished before stepping into the main hall leaving the students where they stood.
The children slowly began to chat between one another until, one voice, louder than the others called out to Naruto's little group. A voice that sounded familiar, if only in the tone it had. He already had a mild distaste for it's owner but he'd try and not put a certain someone's actions on their shoulders. At least as best as he could.
"It's true, then. What they were saying on the train. Haley Snape is coming to Hogwarts this year with our class." That set whispers among the other students going. Some asked who that was, but the vast majority quietly repeated the title of the-girl-who-lived between themselves.
"This is Crabbe and that's Goyle…and I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy" The pale blond haired boy said as he stepped up in front of her.
Ron snorted despite himself while Naruto watched on as they interacted.
"Think my name is funny do you? Well no need to ask for yours. Red Hair and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." Malfoy practically hissed.
Naruto sighed at that. This scene was all too familiar. His own start of the academy back home hadn't been all that different. Except the names were different and he and his classmates had been five at the time. The distaste for opposing families also didn't seem to come with the looming threat of a duel, which was a vast improvement from his home.
"You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Haley." Draco said as he leaned in close to the girl making her uncomfortable.
"Yours may be a half-blood family, but you're descended from the Princes according to my father and he went to school with your father for a time. Back before the war. But you don't want to go around being friendly with the wrong sort. It wouldn't help you in the long run." He insisted.
"I suppose you'd know which families she should steer clear of then. Whis are the…wrong sort, right?" Naruto asked as he stepped up beside the girl, causing her to look up at him for a moment before taking a small step back from Malfoy and releasing a small sigh of relief after Naruto had taken the attention off of her.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Draco asked.
"Naruto Uzumaki, of the Uzumaki Elder Clan, from the Elemental Nations. Is that one of the wrong sort of families to you?" Naruto asked with a polite, yet frightening smile.
Draco's eyes widened. As did a few other childrens', though most remained oblivious. Before the conversation could continue, McGonogall returned and lightly tapped Draco on the back to gain his attention. For a moment Draco seemed unsure before glaring up at Naruto and shooting a thin smile toward Haley. He then stepped back over to the larger boys he had introduced earlier.
"We're ready for you now. Follow me. Naruto you will be first." She said as she led them over to the doors.
They followed, as orderly as they could, behind the elderly witch. As the doors swung open some of them gasped and craned their necks to take in the breathtaking sight of the great hall. Floating candles, incredibly long tables, massive carved statues on the walls, and most amazingly the appearance of the night sky in place of the ceiling.
"It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky." Hermione explained, though Naruto wondered who asked. The girl was going to step on someone's toes eventually. She was less like Haley than he had first thought.
Whereas Haley was impossibly curious about everything, trying to learn all she could. Hermione, on the other hand was a bit of a know-it-all. Always flaunting her intelligence, which was impressive, but also quite annoying.
"I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." She added.
The group gathered at the foot of the raised area where the teachers all sat along a table. Hagrid and Dumbldore were both there as was Haley's father who seemed content to not lock eyes with the girl as the first years took their places.
"Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." She said before turning to look at her superior as he stood from his gilded chair.
"I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first-forgive me, newcomers, please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also our caretaker Mister Filch, has asked me to remind you that the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Lastly, This year, Hogwarts is proud to include in its ranks of newcomers an exchange student from far away. A land some of you might have even thought to be a myth. I speak of this young man here, Mister Naruto Uzumaki of the Elemental Nations. He will be joining us for his second year, and hopefully, should we enthrall him with our practices for several more years to come. Mister Uzumaki will be sorted into a house first before our fresh set of first year students so please welcome both him and your underclassmen as they settle into the school. Thank you." He finished before sitting back into his seat.
McGonogall motioned for Naruto to step forward. The boy obliged, taking the offered seat on the stool before the whole room and doing his best with over a hundred sets of eyes trained onto him. No easy task, even for someone from the Elemental Nations. Actually it was probably worse for someone from there. They were not known to be fond of a lot of attention where he was from.
As Naruto waited, McGonogall lowered the hat onto his head. It was odd. The hat began to talk almost the moment it was set upon his head. It mumbled for a moment before humming loudly in thought.
"Interesting. I can't recall a head like yours before. You are a tricky one too aren't you. Hard to pick for. Hmm. Well you'd fit here and there quite well but the most fitting had better be Slytherin!" The hat called out, getting a cheer from the students of Slytherin house and modest clapping from most of the others as well.
McGonogall removed the hat and motioned for Naruto to take his place with his new house mates. As he did so he turned to watch the proceedings for the rest of the students.
"I didn't know he was going to be a dark wizard…" Ron whispered to Haley, Hermione, and Neville getting a confused look from Hermione, a conflicted one from Neville, and a very irritated one from Haley.
"My father was a Slytherin and is head of Slytherin house." She said darkly to the Weasley boy, causing him to swallow and look away.
"Now, when I call your names, you will come forth as Mister Uzumaki did. I will then place the sorting hat on your heads like I did with him and you will be sorted into your houses. The first shall be…" Mcgonogall said before she took a look at the list. "Hermione Granger."
Hermione froze for a moment before she began mumbling to herself as she slowly made her way up to the seat. As she mumbled though Ron caught the sound of it and made a face before turning to Haley.
"That one's mental." He whispered.
"Shut up, Ron." Haley harshly whispered back causing the boy to pout at the angry reply.
The hat shifted and hummed similarly to how it had with Naruto. Not for near as long though before suddenly crying out Hermione's house clearly for all to hear.
"Ravenclaw!" It hollered.
Hermione seemed pleased as the audience politely cheered and her fellow Ravenclaws directed her to a seat. She made her way over and Naruto sent the girl a small smile as she grinned toward him. He wondered if he would have many opportunities to interact with Hermione, or any of their other newly made friends if they were separated into different houses.
"Draco Malfoy." The professor called and the blonde moved forward to take the stool. The hat had barely brushed the tips of his hair before it cried out for Slytherin.
'Figures.' Naruto thought with an annoyed expression clearly written on his face. The only person he'd found he truly disliked so far, beyond simple annoyance and they shared a house.
"I'm telling you Haley, there's not a witch or wizard who went to Slytherin that hasn't gone bad." Ron said only to cry out in pain as she stomped on his toe.
"Stop being an idiot. And my dad didn't go bad, he's a war hero and your just being stupid." Haley quietly reprimanded.
From his spot at the head of the room, Severus watched the interaction and smirked ever so faintly. The sight of his little girl putting that brat Weasley, the worst of the bunch in his opinion, in his place brought him nearly to laughter. He just wondered what it was they were talking about. Though he suspected a guess at Ron, believing the Slytherin to be evil was the cause. All his older brothers were Gryffindors and thereby Slytherin's biggest rivals.
"Neville Longbottom." McGonogal called.
As the boy approached the stool, Haley glanced up at her father who was talking to Professor Quirell the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for the year. She had been told by her father several times to beware the twitchy man, and to never be alone around him. When asked why though he had always told her that it was just a precaution. Still he'd made her promise.
Oddly as she looked up at her father and the other teachers her head, specifically around her scar, began to throb and ache causing her to whimper ever so slightly. Ron thankfully was still too busy pouting from earlier to catch it, but her father saw it and began to stare at her intently. He wanted to go and ask her what was the matter but she seemed fine enough that he could wait to catch her after the meal.
"Hufflepuff." The hat declared for Neville.
"Ronald Weasley." The professor called and Ron was shocked briefly before grinning like mad and making his way up to the seat. Halfway up though his confidence died away and he slowly and carefully eased his way under the hat.
"Ha! Another Weasley." The hat said startling the boy as it did so. "I know just what to do with you…Gryffindor!"
Ron's smile came back in full force as he sighed in relief and hopped off the stool. His brothers stood and clapped loudly, hollering for him as they welcomed him to their table.
"Penelope Potter." Mcgonogal called and Naruto noticed that the girl stepping forward was the younger of the two at the station earlier.
Haley noticed her father's reaction to the girl's name. It was small. A tiny downward curling of his lips, but she knew there were some troubles with the Potters from time to time. Evidently her father and Penelope's father didn't get along in the slightest. They hadn't for as long as they'd known each other, according to her mother.
"Interesting, interesting. Well, it had better be Ravenclaw!" The hat called, and the girl's face seemed to pale terribly.
Slowly she stood and made her way to the Ravenclaw table sitting beside Hermione. Penelope didn't look happy to have been sorted though. At least not to Naruto and, after a brief glance toward where he had seen her elder sister sit he realized why. Penelope's older sister sat at the Gryffindor table staring with a mix of anger and shock at her little sister. She didn't applaud or cheer. All she did was stare at the poor girl.
"Haley Snape!" McGonogal called, pulling his attention back to the front of the room as the professor continued to sort the students.
Haley grimaced as the room devolved into a flurry of whispers at her name alone. She despised it. Her father looked none too pleased either. Sadly their distaste for the actions of the rest of the school didn't really matter and she made her way up to the stool as all the others had done before her. Carefully she sat down and the hat was lowered onto her head causing her to flinch as it wriggled slightly on her skull.
"Hmm, difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. A good mind, as well. There's talent, lots of it, and a desire. More of a thirst, to prove something. Hmm. To prove yourself. Now where to put you?" The hat asked as it turned and twisted on the girl's head.
Haley briefly thought of it. She could be happy in any house she supposed. Slytherin had her house guest Naruto and was run by her father. Gryffindor had been her mother's house and she knew the Weasley's well. They would look out for her like big brothers. Hufflepuff had Neville, and honestly the nicest looking people. Lastly Ravenclaw had her newest friend Hermione. It also wasn't Gryffindor or Slytherin. Her parent's two houses and the center for plenty of school fights according to her parents.
"Ravenclaw…please send me to Ravenclaw." She quietly whispered.
"Oh? Are you so sure?" The hat asked.
"Yes, please." She replied.
"Well since you are asking so nicely, it had better be Ravenclaw!" The hat bellowed out getting a cheer form the Ravenclaw table and polite clapping from the rest of the room. It was clear though that the other tables had wanted the girl-who-lived at their tables.
As she made her way to her seat, Hermione greeted her warmly and some of the older students were excited enough to move from their chairs to welcome her. She looked back up to the teachers to try and gauge her father's opinion and got a simple nod of acceptance in return. She hadn't expected much more than that truthfully, but she was happy that he didn't seem bothered that she was not a Slytherin. As she moved to sit her eyes locked with Professor Dumbledore who seemed to be staring quite intently at her before he lifted his cup as if offering a silent toast toward her. A bit confused by the actions of the old man, Haley turned her attention back to Hermione.
Soon the sorting was finished and the new arrivals had each settled in at their respective tables. Naruto was a bit annoyed to find the Slytherin table was avoiding interacting much, as if they were trying to figure him out first. Or, he suspected they were trying to figure out if he was worth interacting with. It made him miss having Haley and Hermione buzzing about with their incessant chatter. At least a little bit. It would have been nice to have some company at the least.
McGonogall called the hall's attention, quieting the students from their conversations and allowing for them to turn their eyes to the now standing Dumbledore. He smiled down at the room, grandfatherly before clearing his throat to speak.
"Let the feast begin." The old wizard said while flourishing his hands.
As he made that announcement food seemed to materialize on the tables in front of every simply appeared out of thin air making the first year students and Naruto's eyes widen in surprise. Naruto had seen plenty of magic over his life, but this sort of thing was why he was here. Well one of the reasons he was here. Such an interesting use for magic. One that he was pretty sure any witch or wizard could enjoy, no matter their politics or blood.
Soon the children of every age were digging into their food. Naruto was a bit put off by the way Crabbe and Goyle went after their plates of food, but noticed that they weren't the only slobs. He himself had only acted like that twice. The first time his mother had still been alive and had punished him severely. It was only fair because they had guests over for dinner at the time. The second had been Tsunade, and he never forgot his table manners again. The woman could be caring if she really tried, but Naruto felt like she enjoyed being a disciplinarian.
As the meal continued, ghosts made their appearance. Naruto was immediately uncomfortable but did his level best to act calm and continue to eat his fill. Thankfully no-one's attention remained on him by this point as the ghosts laughed and cheered loudly, drawing the eyes of all the younger students. Ghosts were rather common back home. There were plenty of conflicts to have caused them after all. However Naruto never enjoyed their presence like some weirdos he knew. As a little boy they had terrified him too.
"So, you're Penelope Potter?" Haley offered the girl sitting across from her.
"Yes." The girl said simply a bit awkward with the attention on her. "You're the girl-who-lived for real then. Haley Snape?"
Haley sighed lightly at that. She couldn't escape her foul title no matter where. She nodded though and tried to strike up a conversation with the girl. It became rather easy and soon Hermione had joined in with the three girls happily chatting and sharing stories with one another.
Hermione was able to tell the girls about life in the muggle world while Penny, as they had begun to call her, told them about the upper class life the Potters enjoyed. Haley's life, despite being infused with magic from the day she was born, was not so different from Hermione's they had found.
Unlike Naruto who had already begun to become a bit distant from his housemates, Ron who was too busy stuffing his face, and Neville who was simply far too shy, the girls easily added a new friend to their mix. THough none noticed the displeased looks on both Severus and Penny's elder sister's faces.
Thankfully for the boys, the meal didn't last too much longer after that and the prefects led their houses off to the dormitories. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor took much of the same path, a relief for Ron who had yet to make friends with his housemates outside his elder brothers. Haley and Hermione had practically adopted Penny into their midst, though all three stopped when an older girl stood in front of them.
"You got Ravenclaw." She said simply with a cool expression.
"Yeah." Penny said, lowering her head slightly.
"Penny...stop that. You need to get some confidence or people will walk all over you. Look, at least you didn't get Slytherin. This way at least dad won't be too mad." The girl said as her eyes flicked over to Haley. "I won't mention your housemates in the letter though. I'll leave that to you."
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Hermione asked.
The girl quirked an eyebrow as she turned her attention to the final member of the trio. She seemed to be sizing her up before simply pivoting and walking off rudely. A curtain of dark hair trailing after her.
"Who was that?" Haley asked Penny while Hermione stammered at the rude dismissal.
"My elder sister, Evangelina Potter. She's a Gryffindor like my dad was when he came to Hogwarts." Penny explained.
"Oh, my mother was a Gryffindor. What about yours?" Haley asked as they began to rejoin the rest of their house. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were separating now as they each headed off toward their dormitories.
"She is a half-blood from France. She went to Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts." Penny explained simply.
"Half-blood. Do blood lines matter as much over there as they do here in Britain?" Hermione asked as they climbed the stairs with the others.
"It matters everywhere doesn't it?" Penny asked.
"No. Not where I'm from." Haley said resolutely.
The girls became silent for a time after that before Hermione began commenting on random factoids about Hogwarts drawing her two friends into conversation once again.
While things were going rather simply and pleasantly for the girls, and not too awkwardly for Neville and Ron, Naruto sadly found himself in an uncomfortable situation. The rest of his new house was curious about him and almost the moment the group had reached the Slytherin dorms they had collected around him blocking his path. He'd instinctively reached for his wand but the oldest students among the group, some even being sixth and seventh years mirrored his actions. Slowly Naruto's hand moved away from where his wand was kept and they too relaxed.
"So, introductions then?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, something like that." One of the older boys replied.
"Are you really from beyond the Gift?" A girl asked.
Naruto took in a breath before nodding. This was going to be annoying, he could already tell.
"So, you really don't have any muggles where you're from?" Draco asked him causing Naruto to narrow his eyes. He could see where this was going.
"No, we don't have any muggles." Naruto replied.
"Cause The White Witch killed them all right?" A first year girl asked.
Naruto sighed. He wasn't proud of that bit of his ancestry. "Yeah, nearly all of them."
"Nearly?" Goyle asked.
"Her sons smuggled as many to safety in the outer world…your world before she could kill them too." He explained.
"So they had blood traitors back then too." Draco said sharing a look with his two larger friends.
Naruto stepped toward Draco at that. The Sages were the founders of the Elder clans. His clan. He wasn't about to listen to some twerp bad mouth the two most legendary members of his family tree. The Elder clans may have often fought one another back home, but one thing was certain, you did not disrespect the Sages in front of them.
"Those, blood traitors, as you so eloquently referred to them Mister Malfoy, are arguably the two most powerful and legendary wizards in history. All of history. They are also the direct ancestors of Mister Uzumaki here who can fully trace his lineage back to them uninterrupted. I would imagine someone who puts such emphasis on such things as blood and heritage would show some proper respect when facing someone of that sort of bloodline." A cool voice said as Professor seemed to fade into view from the darkness of the Hogwarts dungeon.
The students almost immediately began to disperse. It was no secret that Severus didn't tolerate the ideals of blood purists within his house. Something that irked a great many pureblood houses. Especially those such as the Malfoy's.
"Best to find out if you are a blood traitor soon, Uzumaki." AN older boy commented before turning away alongside his fellow housemates.
The other Slytherin quickly faded into the darkness of the dungeon halls. Eventually all that remained in the corridor was Professor Snape and Naruto himself. The pair stood in silence for a time staring after the retreating Slytherins, before slowly turning to one another.
"Professor…" Naruto said tilting his head slightly in thanks for liberating him of his housemates. They had all very easily filed themselves into the mental category of problematic annoyances for the boy.
"Uzumaki. You will find that your stay in Slytherin may not be a pleasant one. I might venture to even say it most definitely won't be, as long as you remain ambivalent toward the politics that run rampant within the house." Snape warned.
"I don't care for politics. This isn't my homeland your problems and my problems have nothing to do with one another." Naruto replied.
"I have to say I was stunned to see you sorted into Slytherin. You continue to stun me. Use the cunning that got you placed here. It doesn't matter if you care not for the politics of Britain, you are staying here for an extended period of time. You must adapt or you'll find that the dungeons of Hogwarts are easily made into a tomb." Severus never wavered in his tone, sounding almost robotic as he spoke.
"I'm not like the kids of your country, Professor. You know that. I have nothing to fear from brats like them." He boasted darkly.
"Perhaps not from them, but the moment you harm one of them, even in self defense, you will find that whatever they could dish out paled in comparison to the forces their parents can wield. Pure-bloods are very protective of their children. At least when it comes to those they deem as lesser. Muggles, Muggle born, half-blood, foreigner. To be different is to be an enemy." Severus tried to warn him yet again.
"I see. Thank you professor. Now, I'll just go find my bed." Naruto said as he bowed his head slightly.
Snape spoke no more. He simply watched the boy with his dark eyes as he followed after the other students that had retired to their dormitories. He sighed slightly before pinching at the bridge of his nose. He wasn't sure who would be more of a pain to handle, the blood purists trying to take root in his house, the fact his daughter looked to already be getting chummy with the daughter of someone he despised, or the boy that Albus had so graciously decided was his responsibility.
"If I find you had some sort of part in him being sorted into Slytherin, Albus…Merlin help you." Severus hissed to himself, before striding off in his typical dramatic way toward his own bedroom.
As Haley, Hermione, and Penny were led into the common room of the Ravenclaw dorms, they gasped at the appearance of the room. It was a wide, circular room with graceful arched windows and soft blue and bronze curtains of silk draped around the walls to soften it. The floor was covered in a charmed blue carpet that seemed to dance with stars that reflected off of the domed ceiling.
"It's beautiful." Hermione breathed out in shock.
"It really is gorgeous." Penny agreed.
"It's pretty, but you both saw the door right? It didn't even have a handle or keyhole just the knocker that the prefect spoke to." Haley said.
"Remember all the dorms are similar. They have a secret entrance that only opens with the right password." Hermione said. She and Haley had read about it together while going over their school books.
"I know, just it's a bit different to see it in person I guess. I grew up surrounded by magic and this all is still so much to take in." Haley said as she looked over the airy room.
"Allright, for the girls your dorms are right through there, boy are on the other side." The prefect pointed as they spoke.
"What about our things?" Hermione asked.
"They've already been taken in for you. The bed that your items are placed with is yours." The prefect said before waving the kids off.
The students filed off into their respective dorms. Each room held a small collection of students with the three new friends being the last door in the hallway. As they pushed it open the trio of girls found their room to be spacious and comfortable. There were only three of them, but six beds along the circular walls each with their own dresser and curtain to gain some privacy sat in a pattern that cut the room like a pie with six desks at the center organized in such a way to help the girls study together should they need to.
"It's like a princess's room." Hermione said as she slowly spun to take in the appearance of the room.
"Maybe if there were six princesses." Penny said as she moved over to the bed that had her things.
"Still, it's very nice." Hermione said with a wave of her hand.
"You can't argue that. We also have three extra beds. There is so much extra space." Haley said as she went and sat on her bed as well and began opening up her luggage.
"I wonder if Naruto, Ron, and Neville's dormitories are anything like ours. I bet they're all splendid." Hermione said still enamored with her new home.
Haley and Penny's sudden awkward silence drew Hermione's attention and she cocked her head to the side as she looked over at them. While Hermione had seemingly devoured more books on basic knowledge regarding Hogwarts than either of the other girls, she was still a muggle born and things that were more common knowledge for them was still quite new to her.
"I'm sure your friends Ron and Neville have nice rooms." Penny said awkwardly.
Hermione blinked. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Haley sighed. Before she flipped open her copy of Hogwarts: A History. "This passage here. It says that the Slytherin dormitory is down in the dungeons. They even extend under the lake and are dark and dreary."
"Really?" Hermione asked surprised.
"Yes, it even extends out underneath the lake and evidently can be very chilly according to my dad." Haley commented as she shut her book.
"With dorms like that it's no wonder they turn dark. Maybe if they gave them a new dormitory to stay in." Penny half-mumbled to herself.
Haley's head snapped toward Penny and her face immediately drew back into a faint scowl. She regarded Penny for a moment, as the Potter girl seemed to realize she said something unsavory and her hands shot to her mouth with a gasp. Hermione sat glancing back and forth between the two at the interaction.
"That came out wrong. I don't mean to say your father or the other good Slytherin are bad people!" Penny quickly amended.
"Oh yeah? Just that the rest are condemned to be bad and are all death eaters. Maybe my dad secretly is one too?" Haley mockingly asked with a cutting tongue causing Hermione's eyes to widen and Penny to frantically shake her head as her new friend became angry at her.
"No, that's not what I meant!" Penny pleaded with Haley as the green eyed girl's eyes narrowed to slits.
"Then what did you mean?" She asked haughtily.
"I-I…Well I don't know. I didn't mean anything. My father just says things like that from time to time. But he says that a Slytherin like your father, is an exception. I don't really know anyone from Slytherin though." Penny said as she quickly hopped up. She was already insecure and now tears built into her eyes slightly at the thought of turning her possible new friend against her.
"I need to go get changed and ready for sleep." Penny said as she hurried out of the room and to the bathroom.
Haley stared after her and her eyes softened as she realized she overreacted. It just grew tiring to hear so many people talk poorly of her father and some of his old friends. As if they were freaks defying nature by not becoming some sort of villains. Like they should have all been Death Eaters, just because of something a stupid hat said.
"What was all of that about?" Hermione asked in bewilderment at the interaction between the other two girls.
"Ugh…it was stupid. I shouldn't have said anything." Haley admitted as she flopped backward onto her bed.
"I think you made her cry, Haley." Hermione said a bit caught off guard and uncomfortable with the way her friend had been speaking.
Haley was silent for a while staring up at the ceiling and feeling incredibly guilty for that. She was an introspective girl typically and able to figure out her own emotions if she took a moment and logically thought about them. Usually that is.
As she stared up at the blue silk above her, Hermione eventually gave up on getting an answer and began unpacking her own belongings and putting them away. Haley's mind swirled with thoughts of why she had snapped at Penny like that. She realized she was pushing her own thoughts onto the other girl.
Not about her father and the people who badmouthed him. He hardly seemed bothered by such things. If anything, usually he seemed a bit more cheerful when they said such things, like they had made themselves out to be fools for him.
No, it was something else. She had asked the hat to place her specifically in Ravenclaw earlier because she knew what being in either Slytherin or Gryffindor would mean. The weight both carried along with them in the previous war and the issues she heard about rarely when her parents didn't think she was eavesdropping. She had effectively run away as if she was ashamed of Slytherin and afraid of Gryffindor.
"I'll apologize when she comes back." Haley said quietly.
Hermione glanced over to her friend and smiled slightly. "Good."
The two girls helped one another unpack and waited for their new friend to return. When she finally did, Haley was relieved how easily Penny accepted her apology. The Potter girl repeatedly spouted off her own apologies as well. After making up, Haley and Hermione helped Penny unpack and put her things away as well.
Finally they all bedded down for the night. Excited and a bit worried for the first day of actual classes starting in the morning.
While Haley and the girls had lucked out with a sparsely populated room, only sharing it between the three of them, Naruto had won the dorm room lottery. As close as one could while still being in Slytherin. A room for eight people, entirely to himself.
"Good." He said to the empty room before he removed his wand and began applying a basic ward to the room.
Old habits die hard, and he had secretly done something similar back at the Snap residence. Nothing that would have stopped the Snapes themselves from entering but those outside of Naruto, his dog, and the family would have to at the least stop and break his spell to get in. Giving him some warning that someone was coming in.
It was cooler than Naruto would like but he couldn't say he despised his dormitory or common room. The Common room especially had a grand palatial feel that reminded him of some of the Elder clan estates back home. It felt just as cold and lonesome as they did too.
At least the sight of the lake through the massive windows was nice. He'd heard some of the older Slytherins telling the first years that occasionally they could see the giant squid, which was definitely exciting. The sound of the lake water was already making him tired as well. He doubted he'd be able to study here without falling asleep so he would have to head to the library which he didn't mind all too much.
He unpacked his items and organized them how he liked. Taking the bed furthest from the entrance as his own. He had the full room to himself but he didn't really want to spread out through the entire chamber and risk losing something.
Once he was finally done, he realized the sounds of the lake were beginning to make him tired but he still had to write some letters. The first of which was a long-term mission update. That was headed to Tsunade and would include such exciting observations as, it rained a lot here, the people were strange, and the school materializes food in the dining hall somehow. He was pretty sure at least that last one would be interesting to his Hokage.
He chuckled at the half assed report before sealing it up and setting it aside. He had a few more letters to write still. Sakura and Hinata were both getting one each. He didn't want to deal with a pouty Hinata who was upset he hadn't written to her often enough, or worse yet an angry Sakura who felt ignored by him.
The next two had been to Tsuande and Shizune. They were the closest thing he had to family after all. Plus Tsunade's temper might have been legendary but Shizune wasn't a slouch when it came to punishing him when she felt he had made a mistake.
Finally the last pair were going to Kakashi and Shikamaru. They were being sent separately though. Their contents wouldn't please the girls and might actually get him in trouble back home had they been read by anyone they weren't addressed to.
With that handled, he summoned both his familiar Kova and his owl. Thankfully Kova could be summoned back and forth from his place in the elemental nations. The letters to Kakashi and Shikamaru would go directly to Kakashi that way. The owl on the other hand would first go to Misses Snape, then on to deliver the messages to the Elemental Nations.
As both disappeared, his owl up and out the chute for the common room, and Kova into a poof of smoke, Naruto finally laid back on his bed and heaved out a sigh.
"I'm exhausted and it's not even really the first day." He grumbled before promptly dropping off into a dreamless slumber.
And that is that. An end to the second chapter. No where near the length of the first, but this is probably closer to what you should expect for this fic. I hope you enjoyed. We will have a lot more to come in this story so stay tuned.
Till Next Time