For those who asked what incident Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke got themselves into, it's explained in the first chapter.
Out of all the classes Hogwarts have offered them so far, Herbology and Potions have been Sakura's favorite. Though she strives to do her best on every subject, those two were the ones she could say she enjoyed attending the most.
Sakura smiled as she delicately plucked the beans of her Puffapod. Carefully, so as to not accidently drop them or have it contact with any solid object and thus instantly bloom them. Her gardening gloves were charmed so the beans wouldn't bloom on the material, but that made plucking them difficult and a bit delicate. There hasn't been any accident in class so far, thank Ashura, but the professor said the spores could cause dizziness and would be a waste in potion-making if handled improperly.
Mayhap, she could chalk her favorability up to her parents. Her father, the green thumb that he was, managed the garden in their home and had a hobby in the art of Bonsai Cultivating. He was especially fascinated when she told him about the plants they were taught in her first year. Meanwhile, her mother was an excellent cook, and helping out in the kitchen had always been part of Sakura's day-to-day life ever since she could remember.
Herbology and Potions, were just like gardening and cooking, in her humble opinion. The only difference was that the former set had magic involved.
After gingerly turning the pot of violet and indigo blossoms around to check for any seedpods she missed, Sakura glanced over across the aisle over to the long table where Naruto was. She tried to stifle a chuckle at his exaggerated concentrated expression. After a small incident involving a Spiky Bush, Naruto had since then developed a sort of animosity towards magical plants that had him putting up his guard.
It was a relatively peaceful day for once. She could always count on it whenever she had classes with Hufflepuffs, and also because the professor had been especially strict in her warnings so even her fellow Gryffindor classmates had kept their mouth shut as they worked on their dexterity.
"Do you need some help, Hinata?" she asked the girl beside her as she noticed her fussing over her own pot from the corner of her eye.
As always, the pale-eyed Hufflepuff's cheeks flushed as she fidgeted a simple answer. She liked Hinata. She was her partner in Astronomy and was her seatmate in Potions last year. The girl was quiet and easy to fluster, but she had been nothing but polite and kind in the few sentences they've exchanged. She reminded her of a very skittish rabbit, honestly. Sakura believed that they were at least good acquaintances at this point. She honestly wanted to be her friend but her own shyness and Hinata's constant flusters made things a bit awkward at times. But this time, she's determined to befriend the girl, or at least, get them to exchange more than three sentences.
"I-I don't w-want to i-i-impose…" she said softly, her head bowed down so her bangs hid her eyes.
"I don't mind!" Sakura chirped, "I'm done with mine anyway."
She gave her an encouraging smile as she reached out her own gloved hands towards Hinata's pot. One of the seedpods were stuck at a secluded spot between the flowers. Sakura kept the blossoms apart while Hinata opened the pods to pluck the beans out with a minute shake of her fingers.
Somehow, Hinata's shyer demeanor had lessened Sakura's own shyness.
"T-Thank you, S-S-Sakura," she gave her a small smile despite her stutter once she took out the last of the beans.
The pinkette mirrored with a wider smile, "Happy to help."
"Miss Haruno, Miss Hyuuga, is there something the matter?" their professor called from where she sat behind her own long desk in front of the greenhouse as she observed the students.
"Not at all, professor!" Sakura answered before turning to Hinata, "We should go over and have ours checked."
Hinata nodded and both girls carried their pots and soft pouches full of Puffapod seeds. The professor first checked their plants, turning them this way and that to check if they missed any pod or bean as well as the condition of the flowers before finally checking the beans. Once satisfied, the professor took their pouches, half of which would be used as potion ingredients, and graded them with O's next to their names on her sheet for doing a perfect job.
Sakura smiled brightly while Hinata sighed in relief. They both thanked the professor after telling them they can leave early. At that permission, there was a sudden increase in activity from their other classmates as they, too, would like to leave class early.
"I'll wait for you outside, alright?" the pinkette whispered to Naruto as she passed by his table after getting her bag. Two more Hufflepuffs took their pots to be checked and started a line.
"Thanks, Sak!" he beamed her way before speeding up his work, determined to get an early dismissal as she did.
"But be careful," she hissed at his fast plucking before turning on her heel to the greenhouse doors.
Each greenhouse in Hogwarts is reserved for each year level housing the magical plants they would be covering in that year. Each is also built with the necessary safety measures tailored to counter such flora in case such accidents arise. Greenhouse 2, obviously, was reserved for second-years.
"Uhmm… S-S-Sakura?" Hinata came up to her suddenly just as the pinkette closed her locker. Before entering the glass house were small rooms containing small lockers labeled with students names meant to store their garden tools and equipment.
"Yeah?" she tilted her head curiously. She wasn't sure if her stuttering came from her apparent skittishness or if she's still not used to calling her by her first name even though she had already given her permission since the start of the term, and vice versa.
"Y-You and N-N-Naruto are pretty c-close, right?"
Sakura watched her fidget as a new wave of blush flared her cheeks. Her pearl eyes still wouldn't meet hers. Honestly, she thought she had cataract at first but after Sasuke, she learned that it was a hereditary trait of the Hyuuga family. Both clans have the same ability to 'see' magic with a few differences she wasn't privy to.
"Uhh yes?" she answered, unsure where the ravenette's coming from, "We're friends. Why?"
"N-N-No reason!" Hinata's entire face became as red as a tomato before dashing off to where her locker was.
"O…kay?"
Blinking, Sakura walked out of the greenhouse with her bag slung across her chest with a thoughtful, confused expression. What was that about? Did Naruto prank her or something? She grimaced at the thought before mentally crossing it out. One of the reasons she didn't openly sought Naruto's companionship last year despite him being nice to her was his tendency to create pranks at every turn. Though it has mellowed down since the start of this term (she had heard of some upperclassmen grumbling about toads), but he's never targeted anyone inconsiderately. If there were, they were usually collateral damage.
Lost in her thoughts, Sakura unknowingly bumped onto someone hard enough that she fell on her bum.
"Watch where you're going, mudblood," the harsh spat of the slur made the pinkette visibly wince as she propped herself up from the grass and dirt.
Her verdant eyes travelled up to a set of male uniform and robes, distinguished by a green and silver tie.
"I-I'm sorry," she apologized regardless.
"As you should," instead of helping her, the unfamiliar boy sneered down before deliberately side stepping away from her as if she was some dirt on the road.
What the hell? A part of Sakura felt indignation as her hands tighten into fists it tore the blades of grass underneath her palm. She's heard enough of that from Sasuke (initially) and other bullies to understand enough of the gravity behind that slur.
"S-Sakura? Are you alright?"
She turned her head to see Hinata close the greenhouse door behind her, having followed after her slight squeak earlier. Hinata approached her in a way that suggested wanting to help her up but then immediately froze when she heard her name by the rude Slytherin Sakura bumped into.
"Lady Hinata, what are you doing out of classes?" he asked with a more controlled but still stern voice, making Sakura turn her gaze back to him again. He doesn't look any older than her, but she hasn't seen him in any of her classes shared with Slytherins. He had long dark brown hair much like Hashirama's too, but what set him apart was the hard expression in his pearl eyes that was a stark contrast to Hinata's soft and nervous iridescent ones.
Why do boys always have to look so serious?
She wondered back to when she first met Sasuke and his haughty flair. Though he certainly mellowed out with her and Naruto, he would still look serious with others.
Maybe it's a pureblood thing?
She thought but then shook her head at the thought of Hashirama's happy-go-lucky persona, Itachi's polite smile, and even Tobirama's stoic yet careful expression.
"N-N-Neji…" Hinata shook slightly, bringing her fists to her chest and lowering her chin in a familiar defensive position.
"Did this filth coerced you into ditching classes?" he didn't look at her but they all knew he was referring to the pinkette- whose brows furrowed deeper at his words.
"N-No!" Hinata shook her head vigorously yet still refused to look up, "S-Sakura and I finished our task early s-so the professor allowed us an early dismissal."
As the ravenette explained, Sakura stood up to her feet and patted the dirt and blades of grass off her bum. Yet when she looked back at Hinata and noticed the slight tremor on her shoulders, Sakura's brows furrowed in both suspicion and worry.
"Hey, Hinata-" she began but was rudely interrupted.
"I see," Neji said in a louder tone that made Sakura suspect him of deliberately interrupting her, "Still, you shouldn't consolidate with filth who don't know their place. It's bad enough that you've been sorted into Hufflepuff so please don't forget your station, Lady Hinata."
There wasn't a shred of sympathy in his words.
Pressing her lips together in a thin line, Hinata could only nod mutely at the Slytherin's words before he motioned for her to follow him. They walked a few steps away when Hinata turned her head back to Sakura briefly to give her a really apologetic look.
All the while, the pinkette watched them go, unconscious of how her fists tightened into a ball.
"Vera Verto," Naruto casted after tapping his Ash wand on his toad three times.
"I think you missed a spot," Sasuke snickered as he pointed at the rough, warty surface of his water goblet. It even let out a croak once in a while.
"Shut up, I was doing great!" the blonde huffed indignantly, "You do it then if you're so perfect."
Challenge accepted, Sasuke straightened in his seat and tapped on the black cat sitting quietly before him on the desk, "Vera Verto."
In a quick blur, the cat morphed into a glass goblet with hints of design even surrounding the rim. The only thing that kept the Uchiha from smirking triumphantly was the furry black tail that curled around the bottom.
Naruto sputtered a laugh that only earned him a glare.
"At least mine was better than yours, dead last."
"Sakura! Sasuke's calling me really mean names again!" Naruto whined to the pinkette that had been silent since lunch. They had free period for the next two hours so they decided to go to the Study Hall to start on their assignments (much to Naruto's dismay) as well as practice on their transfiguration spells since they have a practical test coming up. "Sakura?"
Feeling the blonde bump her shoulder, the pinkette blinked out of her daze and looked up from her open book which she hadn't turned a page in quite a while.
"Sorry, Naruto. I was just thinking."
He pouted, "Well, can you show us the animal-to-goblet spell again? I was sure I pronounced it right this time!"
She turned her eyes towards his warty goblet and to Sasuke's own tailed one and immediately knew the problem.
"You have to have a proper posture to cast the spell, Naruto. Like this," Sakura straightened in her seat, just like how the professor taught them, before turning to Sasuke, "and you have to visualize every part of the animal transfiguring into the goblet. Not just the general part of it."
With her Cherry wand, she tapped thrice on the borrowed dove from one of the cages in the transfiguration classroom and casted the spell. Although her spell wasn't as instantaneous as Sasuke's and Naruto's, she was still able to successfully transfigure the dove- embossed designs and all, that some parts of it even shone under the light.
Feeling meek at Naruto's praise and Sasuke's nod, she undid the spells on their animals for them to let them practice again. Oblivious of the pair of dark brown pools watching her from another table.
"Hey."
Sakura felt the light kick to her shin under the table before she heard Sasuke calling for her.
"Ow," she hissed, and even threw the raven-haired a pouty glare as she rubbed her shin. Which, unsurprisingly, he just dismissed.
"You've been quiet for a while and I mean the something's-bothering-you kind of quiet. What is it?" Sasuke didn't spare her any careful words as he asked right away.
Sakura's eyes widened and she felt her cheeks warm minutely at the realization she had been caught. She wasn't aware she had fallen into a daze again. Her parchment with a half-finished second paragraph only affirmed it for her.
Its amazing and equally annoying how perceptive Sasuke can be. Even to Naruto, whom he immediately understood whenever he talked about a prank he concocted.
"It's nothing serious," she tried with a smile but his eyes only narrowed at her suspiciously. Really, she should've known he wouldn't buy her words. And in true Slytherin fashion, he used a tactic that would undoubtedly make her spill the beans without doing the effort himself.
"Naruto," he called to the blonde who'd just scratched out a word in his parchment, "Something's bothering Sakura and I think it's making her upset."
"What?! Is that true, Sakura?! Are you hurt anywhere? Was some git being mean to you? Did you forget to return a book on time?"
She couldn't help but wince at Naruto's outburst. She knew well that the blonde was only concerned but there's no need to exaggerate. It's almost nagging.
Still, that didn't stop her from throwing Sasuke a full-on glare this time. A gesture that would've both made them proud since he started teaching her how to express herself (both good and bad), if not for the current situation. Sasuke however, just continued to look on expectantly, knowing that she'd crack under Naruto's tirade.
She'll just find a way to get back at him later.
"Calm down Naruto. I'm not hurt, I promise," she sighed before giving him a reassuring smile that effectively convinced him, "And I'm not upset either… maybe a little…"
"That still means you are!" Naruto pointed and Sakura knew then that she had no choice but to confess.
She chewed on her lip for a moment before leaning in towards the table, to which the boys followed suit. Naruto even cupped a hand to his ear in a conspiring gesture.
Sakura whispered, "Someone called me a mudblood filth…"
Instantly, their expressions warped. Sasuke's twisted into a mixture of both a remorseful look and anger. The former knowing that he himself had openly called her such a slur just last year. Even though he's sworn to never call her such a thing again, on account of their friendship, he's had instances of slipping once or twice to another muggle-born student. Thankfully, Sakura hasn't caught any of those slip-ups.
As for Naruto, his brows knitted into anger as he opened his mouth to shout in indignation. However, having already anticipating this, Sakura clamped her hands on his mouth and hissed her words to convince him out of it. Really, she didn't need this kind of attention.
"What happened?" Sasuke pushed.
Sakura sighed as she let go of Naruto's mouth. A frown still plastered on his face.
"It was my fault, I guess. I bumped into them but they still called me that even when I apologized."
"That still doesn't give them the right to say that!" Naruto protested, making the pinkette smile at how the blonde was angry for her. No offense to Sasuke, but she feels a bit closer to Naruto due to the fact he's a half-blood. Even though he carried his mother's clan name, he was still versed with the muggle world and therefore was sympathetic to muggleborns like her. "Who's the smarmy git anyway?"
Hesitating for a moment, Sakura raised her head up and twisted it here and there until she spotted him sitting two tables directly behind her.
"Him," she pointed discreetly over her shoulder, "I think his name is-"
"Hyuuga Neji," Sasuke hissed and sent her another light kick under the table, "Of all the people you had to bump into, it had to be that Hyuuga?"
Sakura kicked him back this time, making the Slytherin reach down to rub his own shin, "It's not like I meant to bump into him."
"Either way, it's best if you stay away from him. If there's anyone more blood prejudiced, it's the Hyuuga, and Neji's the worst of them all," Sasuke advised.
"Hyuuga? That sounds kinda familiar," Naruto hummed.
"We have a classmate named Hyuuga Hinata, Naruto," Sakura reminded, "She's in Hufflepuff."
"Oh yeah! Now I kinda remember. She let me borrow one of her quills once. Are they what, siblings or something? She's kinda nice."
Sasuke shook his head, "He's in a year above us, and they're cousins. Hinata has a little sister but she's not old enough to attend Hogwarts yet, but from what I heard, they're considering on making her attend Beauxbatons instead."
"You sure know a lot about this stuff," Sakura commented, impressed.
He huffed and crossed his arms, "I'm a Slytherin. Knowing about people is basic. Besides, I'm from the first family of House Uchiha. I'm supposed to know these things."
"He looks like a troll," Naruto said before directing his fox-like grin at the pinkette, "Wanna get back at him?"
"Naruto! You did not just ask me in harming another student."
"What? There's no harm in a little prank. Besides, we can't just let him say something like that to you and allow him to walk around unscathed."
Sasuke chimed in, "While revenge is something I can get behind, can you not be a Gryffindor this time? It's one thing if it's some other student but this is Hyuuga Neji. Even some of us in Slytherin think he's too stuck up."
"This coming from you?! Then he really must be something else!" Naruto mocked a gasp, making the raven-haired glare at him and kick him in the shin too. Naruto hissed, "Fine, fine, but you gotta tell us if he's bothering you, okay? I don't give a hippogriff's tail who he is. No one can insult my friend and get away with it!"
Naruto's passion and Sasuke's firm nod of agreeance made Sakura's heart tickle and warm.
"Thanks guys."
"Ugh! That Tobirama is such a pain!"
Sakura perked her head up as she heard the door to the girl's lavatory open and slam close. She was inside one of the stalls when two sets of footsteps came in and stopped in front of the sinks, as indicated by the sound of rushing water.
"Now I have to cancel on my date because the professor that git ratted me out to wouldn't allow me!" the girl from earlier continued, shrieking.
"I did tell you it was a bad idea," another girl sighed. "You probably got carried away and that's how he caught you."
"No! I was really careful! I swear to Ashura I was! I tell you, he's definitely got some trick or spell to do this. How else was he able to catch so many students so easily?"
'I don't think you have the right to complain since you technically broke some school rules,' Sakura mentally commented.
"While I do admit it's a bit weird, you can't deny he's efficient."
"Yeah… but I'm still so pissed off I don't care if he's easy on the eyes. If only he didn't have such a stick up his ass, he'd be easy to get along with.
"He'd be more fuckable, you mean," the friend giggled, and in her stall, Sakura felt her face flush a deep scarlet at their shameless words.
The former snickered, "Well it certainly wouldn't be a loss with that kind of face. I'd love to see what kind of face he'd give when he's let lose."
"Easy there. Don't forget the rumors circling around him that he's some dark wizard in the making."
"You don't seriously believe that, do you?"
"It does sound a bit exaggerating but there's a bit of truth to rumors, right? It has to come from something, after all."
Whatever part of the conversation they had left, Sakura wasn't able to hear as they finally exited the lavatory.
On her way to the library, Sakura couldn't help but be reminded of the rumors around Tobirama. Sasuke mentioned it, but it was the first time she heard it from other students. Probably because he's an upperclassman that she wasn't able to hear that part of the grapevine. Ever since their little incident at the library, they started some sort of unspoken agreement to talk whenever they happened upon the library at the same time. Talk, being the only term she could think of, when if fact they hardly talked apart from discussing magic theory and basic muggle science.
It would be a lie if she said Tobirama's curiosity and eagerness reflecting in his glamoured eyes didn't make her giddy.
So far, he hasn't done anything that's considered 'dark' to fuel those rumors. Apart from the glamour, she honestly doesn't have much to suspect him of being a 'dark wizard in the making'. On the contrary, she's developed some sort of admiration at how keen and insightful he is when it comes to magic.
Sasuke may tie with her scores in their year but he's not eager in discussing theoretical magic. Probably because he grew up with it that the concept didn't amaze him anymore than it does her. As for Naruto… well, he's Naruto.
So, in a way, she's glad to have someone to talk to about these things.
Still, that didn't mean she should let down her guard, right? Or so Sasuke said in one of his lessons. Especially since she's not sure what kind of label they have on their relationship.
'Definitely not friends… acquaintances? Study-buddy?'
Sakura snapped from her musings when she turned around the corner and saw the white-haired Senju she's been thinking about. He was at the end of the hall, in front of the large double-door entrance of the library, talking to Sasuke's brother like the other day.
She peered at them curiously. They didn't seem to notice her since they were deep in conversation. Though she couldn't hear what they were talking about at that distance. Then she saw Itachi pass a folded piece of parchment to him to which Tobirama opened and read immediately.
Itachi made some small hand gestures as he talked and by the end, Tobirama refolded the parchment and nodded while he said his response. After, she noticed Itachi bob his head in a nod as well before turning on his heel to walk down the adjacent corridor, leaving the white-haired wizard to himself.
The pinkette watched him tuck the parchment in his pocket before deciding to finally enter the library. She chose that moment to follow suit. Though she's curious at what they were talking about. Does Sasuke know? He didn't mention that his brother and Tobirama were friends.
She entered the library to see Tobirama lift one of the books in the Returned cart parked beside the empty librarian's desk.
"Good afternoon, Mister Senju," she greeted politely. He hasn't allowed her to call him by his first name and he's still insistent on calling her Miss Haruno.
He turned his head up and he opened his mouth to greet her back but then his face suddenly twisted into a frown. He held his hand up as he whipped his head to the side.
"Miss Haruno, why don't you go ahead to your table first? There's something urgent I must deal with first. I will be with you shortly," he said without looking away from the direction he turned his head to, and just walked away without waiting for her reply.
Sakura would've complied if she didn't notice how he brandished his wand from his sleeve as he jogged away.
It was one of these times, that Sakura's curiosity got the best of her and she followed suit. Wondering about what might've caught his attention to make him bring out his own wand.
Either she's sneakier with her feet that he didn't notice or he didn't bother to stop her from following him, Sakura jogged up carefully. His long strides were two of her own steps, until he stopped abruptly.
"Arresto Momentum," he casted without a single beat out of place.
That's when she noticed a dozen sacs that looked like water balloons (but who knows what's in them?) hover over a pair of Slytherins who jumped in surprise.
Then Tobirama transfigured two of the nearby books into eagles who zoomed forward. They heard of couple of shouts until the eagles returned from the corner of bookshelves, dragging a pair of older Gryffindors. Their talons dug hard onto their cloaks.
That's when chaos ensued. It wasn't hard for Sakura to put two and two together. The pair of would've-been Slytherin victims began a tirade against the caught Gryffindors, to which, unsurprisingly, the lions retaliated with a berating barrage of their own. They were arguing about some offense the other party has done before and it was just a back and forth like that for a bit until Tobirama finally spoke up and started reciting the rules they just broke.
"You don't understand! They-!" one of the Gryffindors said, face flushed with anger.
"I don't care what transgressions happened between you. You were about to break school rules and deliberately attempted to cause harm on other students!" Tobirama barked back, making Sakura visibly wince from behind the corner where she was eavesdropping.
Thus, reminding her of that time when she caught him attempting her spell on her own and started scolding her in a similar manner. Now she understood why most students don't like him and always accused him for being such a stickler for rules. She didn't like the way he berated her either.
It was then when another prefect and librarian came rushing forwards. No doubt having heard of the commotion. Sakura watched as Tobirama explained what happened, making the strict librarian angry, especially at the realization that they almost costed some of the books in their otherwise revenge.
The other prefect, an older Hufflepuff, tried to handle the situation in a calmer manner. In the end, they decided that twenty points would be taken from each Gryffindor and the Hufflepuff prefect escorted them to their Head of House to exact proper punishment. Both of which didn't forget to send a scalding look at Tobirama's direction.
Sighing, Sakura had decided that she'd had enough of the spectacle and decided to go to her usual desk. Just in time when Tobirama turned to the two smug Slytherins and dashed their relieved expressions with a threat that would've scared the pinkette.
"The next time you think of cursing someone when their back is turned, don't start crying when someone decides to take revenge in the same way," he said, and deducted thirty points from each of them as well as gave them detention.
.
"I apologize for the wait."
Sakura looked up from the book she had been reading. It didn't take long for him to catch up with her.
She shook her head, "It's okay. What was that about?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Just a little situation that required my prefect duties."
The pinkette bit her lip at that. She wasn't sure what to feel about how easily Tobirama switched from aloof and polite to stiflingly strict. Never mind the fact he just easily casted a transfiguration spell non-verbally as if it was second nature to him.
"Alright. So, uhmm… how's the spell coming along?" she tried to change the subject.
"I believe I will have a breakthrough soon. I just need to know the correct formula to use to ensure its success," Tobirama explained.
Following their water-making encounter, and Tobirama's deliberate failure to conjure the spell no matter how much Sakura tried and explained the principle and process behind it, the white-haired Ravenclaw decided to go with the usual approach and create the spell from scratch. Using her explanation as a guide. Should he be successful, he claimed it would be a definitive version of the Aguamenti Charm.
"What about you?" he nodded towards the book in her hand about Ancient Runes.
At that, Sakura sighed and her lips pursed a bit, "It's a lot harder than I thought. I'm still trying to grasp the basic and fundamentals of the most commonly used runes so I don't think I'll be able to help you, nor do I think I'll be able to create my own spells soon."
"Do not fret. You won't learn about this subject until next year if you take is as an elective. So be content with what you know for now. It is commendable enough that you are learning ahead of your peers already."
Sakura smiled despite herself against his stoic expression. Even though what she saw earlier and how he handled the situation still bothered her a bit, she couldn't help but feel relieved, even a bit elated, at his praise. She has no doubt by now that Tobirama was a very capable wizard. The fact that he never once mentioned or even asked about her blood status was just the cherry on top.
"Miss Haruno."
"Yes?" she tilted her head curiously.
"Now that you mention it, would it be alright for you to help me with a little exercise?"
"Exercise?"
"Nothing strenuous, I assure you. If you remember our previous conversation, I said that I have a theory on why you were the only one who could perform your water spell with such ease."
Sakura blinked, "Yes, I remember. What do you want me to do?"
"If you're amendable, I wish for you to perform a series of spells. I will take responsibility should anything happen, of course."
"Oh… I guess… that's alright."
.
He led her up to the seventh floor. In the left corridor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Sakura kept her silence as she tried to stave down her nervousness with her curiosity. Especially when Tobirama started pacing three times in front of an empty wall, only for said wall to reveal a hidden entrance. She jumped at the sight of twin iron doors depicting a witch and wizard on each door holding their wands to their faces as if in challenge.
"Come," Tobirama instructed and Sakura immediately followed suit.
Once inside, she gaped at an expansive room with its walls alternating between mirrors and rock. Sheets of blue and gold sheets hung above the ceiling to give the room a sort of decoration as sconces lit up the entire expanse perfectly.
"Where are we?" she wondered aloud.
"The Room of Requirement, although some also call it the Come and Go Room," he said as he moved forward to the center of the nearly circular room. Sakura looked up to him as she followed, prompting him to say more, "I believe this room will be far more suitable to conduct our exercise. You are free to cast spells here without repercussion and any damage you might incur will easily be remedied."
"How did you know about this place?"
"I found it, in my first year," he said after a moment's hesitation before turning to stare at her in the eyes, "This is a very useful secret of the castle so I trust that you keep this place a secret. It would be… detrimental should other students make know of it and abuse its power."
"You… really trust me with this?" Sakura asked, wide-eyed.
"Yes."
At that, Sakura's smile bloomed widely. Her nervousness and whatever impression he gave earlier in the library immediately replaced with relief and giddiness. Her heart tickled at the thought that he would trust her with such a secret.
Tobirama, in response to her glee, just silently stared at her for a few heartbeats before turning on his heel. He took out his wand and with a swishing motion, a sparring wooden dummy appeared before them and he reached into his robes to take out a folded piece of parchment.
"Now, I want you to perform these spells."
He passed over the paper and Sakura read through each. Thankfully, none were considered dark, "I know most of these spells but there are some that I'm not familiar with and don't know how to perform."
She had a feeling that they were advanced spells.
"I'll teach you."
And teach he did. Just like how he gave her an overview of spell-making, Tobirama guided her through each step for those spells she didn't know of. And whether he was discussing to her the right posture, wand movement, or pronunciation, he added explanations and the principles behind the spells to help her understand better. Which was perfectly effective because that's how exactly she studied for something.
She didn't know how long it took, and some spells took a while to release, but by the end of it all, she was able to perform all of the spells on the list successfully. Some, he even asked her to repeat twice or thrice. She wasn't exactly sure what sort of hypothesis he had or what result he thought would come out of this test, but her mind couldn't dwell on it when she was this excited by the fact she just learned new spells.
"I see now," Tobirama spoke up after she casted the final spell that sent the dummy back a couple of feet away. Sakura panted with sweat dripping a bit from the side of her face due to casting one spell after another, "would you like to hear what I learned from your display?"
"Yes please," Sakura nodded eagerly.
And with that ever-aloof expression, Tobirama said, "I have concluded, that you have exceptional magic control. A feat that's considered extremely rare- rarer than a Seer being able to foretell a completely accurate prediction."
Sakura gasped, unsure of what to make of what he just said. Was it all true? She's read about magic control once but that topic was only mentioned in passing in the book she read. She didn't know it was some sort of trait or talent.
"However," Tobirama continued, "As exemplary as your control may be, your magical output, your power, Miss Haruno, is pathetically weak."
Before anybody calls me out on how cruel Neji is in here, keep in mind that I'm basing him off as the Neji at the start of the series. Someone bitter and hard on himself before Naruto worked his talk-no-jutsu on him. But don't worry, he'll get better, eventually.
Not much TobiSaku interaction here but I'm just laying down the groundwork in this chapter for these two in the future.
Ciao~!