Chapter 2, let's go! But first things first, let's address some stuff.

iiNeo's review: Thank you for the review. Now for the stuff you mentioned. You're right about Kurama not being evil but mostly misunderstood. But at that time Kurama was just pretty much intent on killing everything that wanted to do anything with him so it is kind of justified? As for Dumbledore being able to feel Kurama. That's something I should change because I didn't really think about that. Same thing about the hat. The Slytherin members aren't necessarily evil. Him being there won't be because he is full of angst and other stuff. Slytherin members are cunning and ambitious and these are traits that Naruto has shown a lot of times. But nonetheless, you were right about some stuff and I need to change them in order. Thank you for pointing these out!

The thing about Naruto is that he could easily fit in any of the 4 houses. It's difficult to choose which house he could be put in but next chapter I should have decided which house he'll be put in.

This chapter is mainly about Naruto growing up and how his childhood went. Like I said last time, because of his different childhood, Naruto WILL be DIFFERENT than the canon Naruto!

Disclaimer: I own neither Harry Potter or Naruto. They are owned by J. K. Rowling and Masashi Kishimoto respectively!

XXXXX

Hagrid had quickly found a nice orphanage for little Naruto to live in and left afterwards feeling sad for both Harry and Naruto to never meet their parents while growing up. Poor orphans wouldn't even know who their parents were.

He could only hope that the Muggle family they left Harry with treated him right.

After that, 6 years had quickly passed by during that time. Naruto's time in the orphanage was short lived because after only 5 years in that place, a young couple had adopted and brought him to their home.

The couple in question, were both former students from the very same Hogwarts but both had wanted to live a normal life and chose not to pursue any career in the wizarding world. Instead, they wanted to live a normal life acting like they were just like other Muggles. Unfortunately for the couple, they had discovered a fact that shook both of them and saddened them greatly.

The wife, Thea was her name, had discovered that she to be blunt was barren/infertile. This had caused both of them to be greatly upset at the fact that they could not have an offspring of their own. They would not have a family of their own. That is until they had stumbled upon a small orphanage in London. At first, they had entered the place without really having fully made the decision of adopting someone. But once they saw him they immediately wanted to adopt him to show him to give him the type of love only a parent could give to a child but also for the couple to know it feels to be parents.

Naruto would always remember the day he had met Thea Bailey and Oliver Bailey. His adopted parents.

~ Flashback start ~

It was during the summer vacation that a four-year-old Naruto was petting a cat with gray and white fur who sat on the windowsill of his room on the first floor. The cat was a bit weird according to Naruto because it would only pop up during the holidays and disappear for the rest of the years. Sometimes it would be during the weekends that she visited and played with him but that was it.

He liked the cat but still found it weird how it would disappear all that often.

He shared a room with his fellow orphan named Billy. Billy was his best friend in the orphanage and had mop of curly black hair along with freckles all over his face. He had become very good friends with him after defending him from some of kids from school that laughed at his face. Naruto understood why they bullied him for having freckles on his face.

Heck, the caretakers of the orphanage absolutely loved his whisker marks. And they showed it every single time by stroking them tenderly every chance they got. Naruto didn't really mind that because it would always feel tickly and make him giggle. He actually didn't know why he had those marks in the first place but he didn't care.

Sure, some of those bullies tried to do the same with him calling him names because of his whiskers and even mocking his hair. His hair was very unruly and spiky. No matter how much the caretakers tried to comb it straight, it would just back go their usual style. Eventually they just gave it up on. Naruto did not care about those bullies' opinions because the others would always like his birthmarks and hair. Especially older women.

Those bullies thought quickly stopped when Naruto actually fought back and showed them why it was unwise to mess with him. He was surprisingly strong for a kid his age according to the adults. They did not know that Naruto coming from a family of shinobi automatically made his body sturdier, stronger and much more athletic than normal humans.

The other kids at the orphanage were nice but weren't so close to him as Billy was. Unfortunately, his best friend was adopted yesterday and he was left here wishing he was adopted too. Naruto never knew of his parents or if he had any family here. His name already was something that caught everyone off guard.

Everyone taught he was from this country called Japan when he was introduced but he looked nothing like someone from there which confused people and himself.

The door of his room being opened caused him to look over and see Mary, a woman of average height with curly ginger hair making her way towards him with a secretive smile.

"Naruto!" she said and scooped him into her arms giving him a hug with the blonde reciprocating the affectionate hug. Naruto giggled into her embrace with the woman smiling to herself seeing him not being so sad after yesterday's events.

"I have a surprise for you" she said setting him down on his bed.

"Surprise?" the kid asked steadily forgetting about supposing to be sad of his friend's departure.

"That's right!" She said sitting next to him. "A couple entered half an hour ago and they decided to adopt you as theirs" she revealed making him go wide eyed. Both of them not noticing the cat eyes widen slightly along with him.

"I'm getting adopted?" he asked gleefully at the prospect of having parents. The caretakers were all nice but they had other kids to care of too but this would mean that there would be a male AND female taking care of him.

Mary had a sad smile on her face, not that Naruto noticed. She was so happy for her secretly favourite orphan. She actually chided herself for that because she wanted to treat them all equally but Naruto was just such a special kid in her eyes that she couldn't help but love him more than the others. Seeing him get the chance to have parents warmed her heart but also saddened it at the same time.

It was selfish of her but she was sad to know that he would be gone from this place and not back. She wouldn't be able to see his smile that could lit up the entire room or his mischievous smirk when someone wronged him or his friends. Him giggling and running around the building when it was time to bath but he would run away causing them to chase.

Oh! She was going to miss him so much.

She was snapped back to reality when Naruto ended his small celebration dance and addressed her "Can I see them" he asked with actually sparkling eyes. It was crazy but his eyes looked like they really lit up into a megawatt lights when he was happy.

Smile still on her face she bends down and pinched his cheeks lightly "Of course! I came up to come get you and introduce you to them" she stands back up and takes a hold of his hand leading him to the exit "Let us go meet them!" Mary left the room together with Naruto not noticing the cat having disappeared after the entire conversation.

Once they had gotten downstairs, Naruto saw a woman who had straight brown hair that went down to her back and green eyes. Next to her stood a tall man with blonde hair and brown eyes. The woman smiled when she saw him and the man had a wide grin on his face seeing him. Now that he finally got here, his excitement died down and he suddenly felt very shy.

Thankfully, Mary encouraged him by giving him a gentle pat and pushed him softly towards the couple.

Thea, the moment she saw him was practically gushing inside her mind at the sight of the cute boy. He looked much cuter than he did in the pictures. He looked so innocent that she just wanted to glomp him and hug him while peppering him with all the love she could give but she refrained herself and patiently waited for him to make his way towards her and her husband.

Once he got close enough, Thea crouched down to his level and with the same warm smile on her face greeted him "Hello."

Naruto gave a bashful smile with a small blush on his cheek "H-hello" he greeted back with a slight stutter. Thea's smile turned even wider seeing that. Oliver crouched down next to his wife and put his hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"My name is Oliver, Oliver Bailey, little fella'" he introduced himself with an easy-going grin making Naruto relax slightly already liking how it was going.

"And I'm Thea Bailey but you can call me Thea if you want" she said introducing herself.

Oliver got a smirk on his face and whispered to Naruto "Yeah you can call her mom too if you want to have her wrapped around your little finger" Naruto gave a childlike giggle liking his mischievous tone.

"Oliver don't try to corrupt Naruto" Thea warned him slightly.

"Me" he feigned a shocked and hurt expression "Honey, I would never do something like that, right Naruto?" he asked winking at his newly adopted son who nodded rapidly with a smile on his face. Thea shook her head at the two schemers.

"Now, what are these amazing pranks I've heard about that you pull off Naruto" the tall blonde asked while Naruto once again giggled and explained his prank towards the older blonde who laughed along with him once he finished and told him how funny he thought it was. Much to Naruto's happiness and joy.

Despite their scheming, Thea was very happy with how they got along so far. When they were out in the city, they didn't really plan on going to an orphanage and looking for someone to adopt. It was by mere chance that they had stumbled upon this small orphanage and made the choice to enter and see it for themselves.

When they went through the orphans and even saw some of them. They had to smile at them having fun. Even if they didn't have parents, they seemed to be content and for that reason they almost left thinking it was better if they messed up by being inexperienced and taking away their fun because of them not knowing how to be parents. But that all vanished when Thea saw Naruto's picture.

She instantly asked for more and happily got it. Both of them had decided to talk it out and heard about his situation. At first, they, like many people linked his name to be Japanese but his appearance said otherwise. They were liking everything about him but after they heard about his best friend's situation, they made their choice.

They wanted to adopt him and to let him feel the same love his former best friend was going through.

Although they were very worried if Naruto would be willing to accept him or brush them off. But now they knew that Naruto had already accepted them. It might not be instantly as his parents but they will take what they can for now.

Both of them had the same thoughts going in their minds right now. And it was:

'Making the choice to the orphanage was the best decision of our lives so far' they thought. After having everything settled, they were leaving to get into their car and go back home. Mary and the others from the orphanage all said their goodbyes with the caretakes holding back tears of happiness for the blonde.

Naruto himself cried but was also happy at the prospect of having a father and a mother to take care of him.

~ Flashback end ~

After having Naruto live with them for more than 5 months, both Thea and Oliver would still say that making the choice to enter the orphanage was their best decision of their life.

'We wouldn't have the little sunshine in our life otherwise' Thea thought smiling as she looked at her adopted son that was holding her hand.

Little sunshine was the nickname she gave him after a month of him moving in. Not only was it because he was joy to be around and his warming and sunny personality but his shiny unique almost golden hair was something she loved. Thea knew for a fact that he would grow up to be a very handsome man.

She could only hope that he would find a good girl in his life to get settled down in the far future.

Somewhere out there a girl that was the same age as Naruto suddenly sneezed getting concerned looks from her parents.

She shook her head letting those thoughts go back to the deepest part of her mind knowing it would come back years later. It was simply too early for this moment.

It was currently snowing while the chilly winter wind breeze made some people shudder from the coldness. Both Thea and Naruto were out shopping for Christmas decorations. It would be the first Christmas they would celebrate amongst each other. But it certainly wasn't the first holiday they would celebrate together.

No. That honour belonged to Halloween. Thea would still have to hold in her giggles upon remembering that time.

~ Flashback start ~

Both Oliver and Thea had been loving their lives as parents. At first, they thought parenting was going to be something difficult because they weren't experienced in it. And with Naruto already being around 5 years old, they thought it would be even more difficult.

But that was proven wrong after 2 and a half months of raising Naruto. They quickly discovered the fact that he was an easy-going child. Naruto, much to their delight had quickly accepted them as his parents and started calling both of them mum and dad.

It was Halloween time and Oliver had decided to prank Naruto by posing as a ghost and scaring him. It was his form of revenge when Naruto had bleached all of his underwear into pink as a prank.

'That little rascal' he thought fondly as even Thea had laughed at him when he told her of what Naruto had done. Currently Naruto was putting on his outfit of ironically a wizard being none the wiser of his adopted father who had taken out his wand and used it to turn off the lights startling Naruto because he hadn't heard any footsteps.

"OoOoOo" an ominous sound rang throughout the room instantly making Naruto shiver as he supressed a whimper and gulped.

"Who's there?" he asked in a squeaky tone making Oliver hold in his snickers.

Using his wand, he opened a drawer causing Naruto to look over towards the direction in a yelp before another drawer was opened.

"OoOoOo" the same sound once again went through the room as Naruto was now sweating profusely while being completely scared by what was happening.

"C-co-come o-out wh-w-what-e-ever you a-are" he stammered in wanting nothing more than to run away towards his mom and be held in her safe arms.

"Na-ru-to" a throaty voice slowly said and it sounded like it was coming from all directions to Naruto making him look around over the room for everything but it was too dark. Just then the light started flickering thanks to Oliver. Drawers were once again being opened and closed thanks to Oliver and he suddenly appeared in front of Naruto with his ghost disguise and the lights barely dimmed making him look even more ominous to Naruto.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" the blonde kid let out a shriek of fear as the light bursts completely breaking it thanks to Naruto but none of them really noticed it because Oliver was too busy laughing while Naruto had run away in fear all the while screaming.

"Naruto!" Thea said worriedly hearing the scream and abandoned everything so she could run towards him and met him halfway down the hallway. Once Naruto saw her, he instantly jumped and latched onto her with a shaking form muttering stuff about ghosts trying to stalk or hurt him.

Thea for her part seemed to be confused by why Naruto was this scared by whatever had taken place but that confusion quickly turned into exasperation when she saw her laughing husband come out of Naruto's room making her understand.

She quickly consoled Naruto and showed him it was only a prank but seeing as how Naruto was genuinely scared made her very mad and she sent her husband a furious expression.

Oliver grimaced slightly 'I may have taken it a bit too far' he thought taking off the ghost costume and going to help Naruto. Thankfully Naruto had gotten over his scared state but vowed to get him. Although Naruto still had gotten a comical fear of ghosts thanks to that prank.

The next couple of days Oliver was subjected to many of Naruto's pranks in retaliation to the ghost prank much Naruto's delight, Thea's amusement and Oliver's chagrin.

~ Flashback end ~

Looking back to her son, she smiled fondly seeing the cute sight. He was wearing a puffy red jacket with a red scarf wrapped around his neck, blue jeans, a beanie with some earmuffs and fingerless gloves wrapped around his tiny hands that were grasping her bigger ones.

He always looked so adorable and innocent that she wanted to scoop him into her arms and hug him with all her might. But she refrained herself. She could pepper him with love when they got back to their cozy home so they wouldn't have to stay in this cold any longer.

They had finished buying decorations for their Christmas tree that Oliver had bought. Naruto, was very excited for Christmas this year because it would be his first time celebrating it with his parent figures. He tugged her hand, urging her to go faster eliciting a giggle from her at his eagerness to get home.

"Alright, alright, we'll walk faster" she finally gave into his urging going much faster than they were than before and arriving.

XXXXX

10-year-old Naruto walked forwards towards his parents who were both lounging on the couch watching TV.

"Mum, dad" he addressed them getting them to look over towards him. The blonde sat next to them.

Oliver rose an eyebrow at the seemingly serious/curious face Naruto was giving them and leaned in to ruffle his hair much to his chagrin "What is it you little rascal" he said with a slight smirk upon seeing him get even more annoyed with the nickname.

Naruto huffed at him but decided to ask his question "How did you two get together?" he asked bluntly getting them to blink.

They definitely did not see a question like that coming. For the past 4 years that Naruto had lived with them, he hadn't bothered to ask anything about their past and they both hadn't told him much about it either thinking it wasn't necessary.

"You want to know how we got together" Thea asked getting a nod. She sat up a bit straighter and asked once again "Why the sudden interest?"

Before Naruto could answered, Oliver smirked and nudged him slightly "heh, you already got someone you like at your school, don't ya?" he asked getting the blonde child to blush slightly.

"N-no" he stammered and pouted when his dad laughed at his stutter.

Thea, sympathizing with her child gave her husband a stern look but was also interested in the topic of Naruto liking someone. If Naruto was interested in someone, even if it was at such a young age. She wanted to see who it was and see if she was good enough for her little sunshine.

She was a mother after all!

"I just want to know how the two of you got together" Naruto said no longer pouting.

"Well…" Oliver said looking towards his wife and saw her nod. He looked back at him and grinned telling him to come closer. He put the boy in his lap and put his hands around his shoulders "We both met each other at the same school and let me tell you the moment your mother saw me, she couldn't take her eyes off of me" he said grinning at him.

Thea rolled her eyes "That is incorrect and you know it" Oliver pouted slightly at her refusal to make him look cool in Naruto's eyes while Naruto snickered. "It wasn't 'love' at first sight as your father said" she said with air quotes "We didn't interact with each other for a while because he was such a delinquent" she said shaking her head while Oliver had a sheepish smile on his face.

Naruto laughed at the embarrassed state he was in.

"I actually did not want anything to do with him but he mellowed down in the second year of our school" she said smiling at the memories. Oliver grinned remembering those times too "I remember the first time he asked me out" she giggled while Oliver looked miffed and once again embarrassed "He was such a nervous wreck and had to be pushed by his friends to finally get the courage to come up to me and ask me out" she giggled once again as Naruto laughed at his seemingly confident dad being in a flustered and shy state.

The couple left out details of where they actually went to school. They did not want him to introduce to the wizarding world as they didn't actually know he was a wizard. Just like they wanted a normal life, they wanted him to live a normal life for himself instead of endangering his life.

XXXXX

Naruto was making his way home on his bike after having gone to his friend's home. When he was close enough, he saw some old looking man with robes standing at the front of his home. He put his bike near the garage door and stepped towards him. Once he neared him the man turned around and Naruto for the first time saw his long beard and found it actually pretty cool.

Albus had been observing Naruto's life as he had told the professor he would. He had seen and heard plenty of things about him unconsciously using magic but never did anyone actually think further about it. His years in the orphanage were nothing special. He hadn't interacted with him unlike Professor McGonagall who had visited him in her cat form.

He hadn't thought about the possibility of him getting adopted until Professor McGonagall told him about it. It came as a slight surprise to him but what was more surprising was that former students of his school were the people who had adopted him.

'Coincidence perhaps' he mused inwardly thinking of the chance of him being adopted by former Hogwarts students. It's been 12 years so far and Albus decided to personally visit the small family of three to tell them about Naruto being a wizard so he can invite him to Hogwarts. It gave him a chance to see former students as well. Granted, they weren't any special wizard like Harry Potter's parents, they were still former students so it would be nice to see them.

Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around and his eyes flashed in recognition seeing the sight. He seemed to have grown up into a fine young boy. His hair had grown considerably longer than the last time he had seen him in the orphanage covering his forehead and framing his face with two bangs. Those strange markings that he still couldn't understand how he had gotten them were still there.

Smiling at the young child he addressed him "Hello, Naruto."

Naruto was confused as to why and how this person knew his name. And what was he even doing here at their home. Did his parents know this person?

"Do I know you sir?" he asked politely.

Dumbledore's smile widened slightly "Ah, I suppose it would be difficult to remember me after so long" he said confusing Naruto even further "Well, I suppose I can introduce myself if you would be willing to let me inside so we can talk with your parents" he suggested as Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly.

He never really trusted strangers in his life but this man had some sort of good vibe around him. He seemed to be a genuine person so he thought it wouldn't hurt.

"Can I at least know your name, sir?" he asked as Thea and Oliver had heard the voices outside at their door and went to see what it was. Dumbledore was about to tell him his name but just then the door opened revealing both Oliver and Thea and upon seeing the headmaster they were surprised and shock.

"Professor?" they both asked at the same time not having expected him of all people to visit them after so many years. Dumbledore gave them a friendly wave while Naruto looked confused and curious.

XXXXX

Fluff, lots and lots of fluff this chapter. But next chapter will start with the action… well, kind of action.

Yes, I decided to let Naruto get adopted by these OC's. I wanted him to be able to go back somewhere during the summer and get him a father and mother figure early on. This'll also change his attitude as I've said many times before that his childhood will make him different.

The house situation will be decided next chapter and the pairing will also be revealed next chapter too.

Do you guy's like Thea and Oliver btw? Oh, and yes McGonagall sometimes visited Naruto when she had free time but only in her cat form.

Thank you for reading and leave a review!