A Twinkle Of Emotions
Chapter 4: Slice Of Hogwarts
Allowing his boredom to be heard, Naruto released an obnoxiously loud yawn sending ripples of annoyance through the silent library. Normally, he would have enjoyed studying in the Hogwarts Library, but rather than learning advanced spells and potions he was busying himself with the homework assigned by his mother. While he found the problems easy, the amount she had assigned made the task extremely tedious. Fighting past his drowsiness, Naruto returned to the long sheet of problems, scribbling through the preset problems with ease. Transfiguration rarely posed a challenge to him, yet, Minerva went out of her way to add more homework for him.
"Naruto, it's almost noon. We should be heading to Potions with the Ravenclaw." Susan muttered softly plopping down to Naruto's right. Shuffling her books to the side, she scanned over the scroll of problems in exasperated defeat she had been present as had all First Years when Professor McGonagall had assigned the homework. Though she expected Naruto to know the basics of Transfiguration, she marveled at his expert knowledge, "Wow! How are you solving these problems so fast?"
Smirking at her silent praise, Naruto puffed his chest out in a small moment of pride, "Transfiguration is one of my best subjects."
"I guess being the son of the Transfiguration Professor helps." Susan murmured to herself, "Come on, I heard Potions is the hardest class."
Rolling his eyes at her nervous spluttering, Naruto picked up his books and neatly positioned his papers. Turning to Susan and beckoning her to follow, Naruto marched straight for Snape's classroom. He visited the Potion's Room enough to know the directions by heart, trudging down the dungeon stairs, he turned to Susan, "Snape's not that bad, he's just very broody."
Entering the Potion's room before Susan came up with a response, Naruto took a seat close to the front and dropped his books on the aging table. Susan took her place to his side and looked around her surroundings in wonder. Dingy in appearance the room held every need of a Potion's Master, choked up with ingredients of all degrees and cauldrons of all sizes Naruto smiled eagerly at the possibilities forming in his mind. Snape never minded him playing with his supply at times he would even help.
"What do you think we're going to learn today?" Susan whispered quietly ignoring the various gazes sent their way by their fellow classmates. Like Gryffindor shared classes with Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw attended their own classes together. Turning to her side, Susan quickly swallowed her next question as the dungeon doors swung open and Snape quickly strolled in placing himself before his class scanning the students with a cold ferocity.
"This class will have no incantations nor silly wandwaving, you all have been so fascinated with. For those select few who posses the predisposition, I can teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. Bottle fame itself and brew Potions none can match." Snape began directing the more pleasant part of his monologue on Naruto, "Let us begin then, what would I get if I added Powdered Root of Ashpondel to an infusion of Wormwood?"
"A Draught of Living Dead." Naruto answered swiftly.
Staring at the boy for a moment longer, Snape hid any emotion and crossed his arms, "In this class we raise our hands, Mr. McGonagall."
"Sorry." Naruto muttered sheepishly avoiding Snape's harrowing gaze, missing the glimmer of approval from the Potion Master's dark eyes.
"If you are so inclined to speak without permission, tell me what Potions require Fairy Wings." Snape challenged purposing throwing out information only a Fifth Year would know.
Pondering the question for a moment, Naruto replied albeit slowly, "The Girding Potion, the Beautification Potion, and the Draught of Perception."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Write down everything Mr. McGonagall said." Nodding his head at the confident affirmation, Snape turned to the rest of his class and shouted instructions, "Ten points to Hufflepuff for the excellent answer."
The lunch where hundreds of Hogwarts Students gathered remained uneventful until the famous Harry Potter strolled in with the Wesley clinging to his side. Raising his brow in their direction, Naruto simply returned to his lunch ignoring the awed expressions Susan and Justin wore at the sight of Potter. His opinion remained unchanging of Potter, while he sympathized with his confusion Naruto did not consider the seemingly incompetent wizard to be nothing more than another run of the mill student.
"I heard he's an excellent flyer." Susan commented taking a bite of her food though her mind was still enamored by the presence of Harry Potter.
Nodding his head at Susan's comment, Justin quickly added, "Didn't he give some cheek to Snape during Potions?"
"I imagine that ended well for him." Naruto said almost chuckling at the image of an enraged Snape turning his silent fury on Potter. Though he held no love for the bespectacled wizard he pitied the boy. Snape held grudges, considering his time spent with the Potions Master Naruto knew full well on how Snape would react to do to Potter, "Come on, we should head back to the Common Room, the Potions homework is going to take some time to finish might as well work on it now before Charms."
Finishing off the last of his bread, Justin shuffled to his feet, "Alright, but I want your help on Transfiguration later."
"Actually paying attention when my mum is teaching helps." Naruto snarked to which Justin shoved him in a fit of annoyance.
Giggling at their interaction, Susan shuffled her books to the side and frowned at the sight of Malfoy and his group of hooligans, "What is Malfoy doing now? I thought Dumbledore punished students for using 'mudblood' as a word?"
"Mudblood?" Justin questioned quietly turning to Naruto and Susan for an explanation.
Naruto's visage darkened at the mention of the word, "It's a derogatory term for muggle born wizards."
"Hmph, those Slytherins love using that word. Especially Malfoy and his gang, you better stay away from them, Justin. They will do anything bully the muggle born, no matter what." Susan muttered furiously scowling at the Slytherin group with an unchained contempt. She hated how they acted especially how they treated the muggle born. What baffled Susan more than their unwelcome hate was that the Professors did not seem to notice, Snape however refused to even punish his precious Slytherins essentially allowing them to act on their own whim.
"Come on Susan, don't let them get you riled up." Naruto said putting a hand on the witch's shoulder and dragged him away from the cackling group of Slytherins.
Making their way back to the Hufflepuff Common Room, the trio gathered around a table nestled before the roaring fireplace and began going over their homework. As promised, Naruto began listing off specific points of importance Justin had missed during one of his mother's lectures. Susan worked on her Potions Paper keeping her eyes glued to the large sheet of notes taken during class. Once Naruto finished off his very Minerva like mini lecture he unfurled his Charms homework and began scribbling away.
"Naruto? What are the ingredients for a Befuddlement Potion?" Susan asked.
Rather think about the question or even sparing Susan a glance, Naruto quickly recited the ingredients in an instant, "Scurvy Grass, some Lovage and plenty of Sneezeworts."
Blinking at her friend's response, Susan shook off her surprise and copied what Naruto had said and proceeded to the next question. Her silence made Naruto look up as he pondered Susan's question from before, giving his friends odd glances he asked, "Why did Snape put a question for Fifth Years in here?"
"Fifth Years? Does Professor Snape expect us to know so much?" Justin grimaced at the Advanced Potions feeling dread over the next assignment Snap would hand out.
"You're not supposed to get it right, he always asked me these questions last week during our lessons." Naruto admitted his attention now firmly planted towards the other two. True enough, with time Snape had apparently tolerated him enough to give him enough notes each week he was in Hogwarts. It soon evolved into lessons and before either of them realized, the Potions Master had taken Naruto under his wing. Shifting from basic information on Potions, Naruto's unquenchable hunger for any and all magic allowed Snape room to expand on their already curved lessons pushing the First Year to advanced levels of Potions.
"Must be nice to be Snape's favorite." Justin muttered aloud clasping his face with his hands and groaned in frustration. Susan kept herself quiet but nodded in agreement.
Rolling his eyes, Naruto dropped his quill and muttered softly, "I'm not his favorite."
"Yeah sure, keep telling yourself that Naruto." Susan replied snorting in mild amusement. Returning her attention towards the large scroll of Potions homework that Snape had decided to make extra hard because of her blonde friend. Glancing across the sheet once again, Susan paused and handed it right over to Naruto, "This is your fault."
"Oh calm down Susan, it's not that hard." Naruto said his tone placating masking the obvious humor hidden behind it.
Standing beside his boiling cauldron, Hogwarts resident Potions Master studied his brewing Potion with a sharp calculative scowl. Anger still flooding him over his first encounter with James Potter's boy, had brought back some glaring memories. Shaking his head, Snape reached to his side and produced a small bowl containing crushed Anjelica leaves. Pouring it in his almost completed cauldron, Snape watched it bubble up before diminishing seconds later. In order to brew a Blood-Replenishing Potion, precision was key it contained several dangerous ingredients many frowned upon.
"Making another Blood-Replenishing Potion?" The loud voice of Naruto asked aloud snapping Snape out of his concentrated posture.
Glaring at the robed figure of his student, Snape sent him an annoyed scowl and returned his gaze to the cauldron, "Hand me the Essence of Daisyroot."
Doing as commanded, Naruto grabbed the oddly shaped ingredient and passed it off to the older wizard. Watching Snape finish preparing the last of his potion, Naruto plopped himself down on a stool. Snape muttered the final incantation and returned his wand into his robes, approaching his long time student, Snape took the seat opposite of the boy.
"So, can you teach me the Invisibility Potion now?" Naruto asked his eyes sparkling in an untamed delight at the mention of the infamous potion. In his time in Snape's office he managed to get his curious hands on the Potion Master's supply of Invisibility Potions, safe to say Hogwarts was not safe from pranks until it worn off six hours after the chaos. While he was horribly punished by his mother, Snape almost smiled at the amount of paint left in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Your mother might kill me." Snape mused offhandedly all as he opened up an aging book on Potions his eyes scanning every which word. Minutes later, Snape placed it down for Naruto and motioned towards the page, "Make a successful Shrinking Potion and I will teach you the Fungiface Potion you have been so curious of. I imagine causing your victims to break out in fungi would be quite the punishment, would it not?"
"You want me to give it to Potter?" Naruto asked the tone in Snape's voice clear enough for him to understand.
"It would be amusing, though if Minerva found out I shall not live through the day." Snape muttered aloud. He in his lifetime faced all sorts of terrifying beings, even Voldemort himself but when it came to Naruto's safety Minerva McGonagall became nothing short of a demon. Coming face to face with the furious mother after Naruto had been hurt scared the Potions Master to no end, in those handful of moments Snape truly feared for his life, "Make sure Potter isn't your only victim, it would be amusing if you blemished the entire Gryffindor House."
"It gets boring pranking them, all they do is complain about the Slytherins." Naruto all but whined as he grabbed hold of five caterpillars and tossed them into the cauldron, making sure to heat it vigorously as Snape instructed him ages ago. Adding his already peeled Shrivelfigs, Naruto watched his Potion turn purple and added in the rat spleens. Off to side as Naruto brewed his concoction, Snape smirked at the techniques the boy employed from Naruto's expert movements alone he could already tell the boy utilized his personal instructions compared to the books.
In a matter of thirty minutes Naruto had completed the necessary actions and all they needed was to wait. The Shrinking Potion while not an all too advanced Potion, it was tricky to get it into excellent form. Second Years learned it early on, but he made most of his Fourth Years brew it to perfection so far only a small number had managed to meet his up-surd standards. Beckoning Naruto over to him, Snape brought out his personal book on recipes and handed it over to the boy who eagerly snatched it from him, "Flip to the fifth page. You will find the Fungiface Potion there, once your Shrinking Potion is complete bottle it and begin preparations for the Fungiface Potion."
Bolting into action, Naruto hurriedly read through the notes and began bringing out a small tray of bottles for his Potion. In record time, the blonde managed to clasp all ten bottles filling them with the Potion and turned to the large rack of supplies Snape kept for himself. While Naruto busied himself with preparations, Snape grabbed a random Potion and uncorked it, turning to the supply of rats he kept for such occasions Snape poured a single drop on an unsuspecting test subject. To his supreme approval, the rat immediately shrank to finger size.
"Well done, boy." Snape muttered endorsing the expertly brewed Potion with a single twitch of his lips. The boy showed an unchallenged amount of talent in regards to Potions and other forms of magic gave him potential to even surpass Dumbledore. Making sure to keep his praise at a minimum, at times Snape could not help but smile at the untamed vigor his student showed. Snapping out of his thoughts, Snape approached the boy and motioned towards the emptied cauldron, "Make sure you clean up before you leave."
Nodding in response, Naruto stopped and shifted his attention over to his mentor, "I heard Potter made Seeker for the Gryffindors, is that true?"
"Yes." Snape replied scowling at the mention of Potter's success. The boy showed flashes of his father, though the supremacy of his student's skills already trumped Potter's own capabilities. With Minerva's blessing, he taught Naruto just about everything he could to polish the boy's potential if Naruto continued to grow like he had in the past years there would be no doubt Naruto would surpass himself and Minerva. Hell, even Dumbledore's position of Grand Sorcerer would be threatened by the boy, if Dumbledore's comparison of the young Naruto to himself were anything to go by, "Do not concern yourself with Potter, focus on your studies his celebrity will do nothing for his capabilities."
"You know, mum played for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team." Naruto commented as he began lighting a second cauldron.
"Hmm, it is a shame you are not in Slytherin. I would love to see you crush Potter for the Quidditch Cup."
Groaning softly, Susan looked down at her porridge in defeat. It had been some time into lunch when she compared her work to Naruto's, seeing their different answers she could only hang her head in defeat. Naruto left abruptly for some time to learn from Snape leaving her and Justin to complete the imposing task of completing their homework, safe to say they were not going to be given good grades by the Potions Master. Though Justin lucked out in his Transfiguration paper, she did not hold the same blind luck resulting in a poorly answered list of answers.
"Snape is going to kill me." Susan whimpered softly as she returned her friends homework, "Naruto you have to save me."
"If you let me have the rest of your Fizzing Whizzbees." Naruto said smirking at her defeated look, in seconds the unfinished package of Whizzbees were shoved into his hands. Looking down at the barely completed Potions homework he chuckled and scribbled down believable answers on her paper. Snape knew his hand writing by heart, considering how classes were going so far the Potions Master would never do anything about him helping Susan. Topping off her homework for an acceptable grade, he handed it back to Susan, "Don't worry, you'll pass."
"Harry, your face!" The loud shriek of Ronald Weasley filled the large room catching everyone's attention.
Smirking at the sight, Naruto made sure to hide it well especially at the scrutinizing gaze of his mother. He had snuck five bottles of his Fungiface Potion into the Gryffindor Butterbear and the other half in the Slytherins. Justin could not hold off his laughter as he shared a smirk with Naruto, all as Susan looked mortified at the fungi growing on her hero's face. Laughter filled the entire Great Hall as more and more fungi popped from the unsuspecting houses creating chaos for students and Professors alike.
"Who would do such a thing?" Susan gasped slightly at the various students now sporting a new look. Her attention now quickly drawn to Naruto and Justin she flashed them curious glances, "Did you two do it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about Susan." Naruto replied as he flashed her a smile, "The Fungiface Potion is too advanced for me. Come on, Susan, it's funny! Look at Mr. Celebrity over there."
"He looks as charming as ever." Justin added sharing an equally large smile like Naruto. The duo laughed audibly as they watched the boisterous Weasley and Potter try to fix their newly added cosmetics.
Off to the Professors table, Snape did not bother hiding the smirk drawn across his usually scowling countenance. Minerva looked both confused and furious creating an entirely new expression, while she turned to her child she could not exactly blame him. First of all she had no proof and second, the boy could never get past the gathered Professors in order to add the concoction to their drinks. Storming over to the students, Minerva studied them and turned to Snape, "Severus, do you have a Potion to rid the students of the fungi?"
"Of course Minerva, though I may need to brew some more." Snape answered as he made his way past the various tables flashing Naruto a ghost of a smile as he stomped past the blonde.
Hours after the fungi incident, Minerva paced her office to find the person behind the prank. Her first suspect was her beloved child, while she cherished the boy he tended to play pranks on just about everyone. Considering the amount of orange paint that had covered the Gryffindor Commons Room a year ago, she knew Naruto could cause quite a bit of chaos if he wanted. That was one of the reasons her precious boy currently sat on one of the plush chairs overlooking the large fireplace situated in her office.
"Now tell me Naruto, what were you doing before lunch?" Minerva asked her usually smiling visage contorted into a narrowed frown. Though she informed Dumbledore immediately the older wizard merely chuckled in amusement. In order to placate her, Dumbledore allowed her to find the culprit and punish he or she appropriately, both Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress knew it could only be Naruto but neither had any proof. Considering how Dumbledore adored Naruto, Minerva doubted the aging wizard would do anything other than give Naruto a slap on the wrist.
"I was with Susan and Justin, mum." Naruto answered truthfully a cheeky grin now plastered across his countenance. He loved his mother and vice versa, but Minerva would never allow anyone to get away with a prank and not be punished him especially. Considering how he spent an entire month locked away in their home in Hogsmeade since he painted the Gryffindor Common Room orange Naruto knew his mother would not willing allow him to get away with it.
"What exactly were you three doing?"
Thinking about a proper answer, Naruto finished his box of Assorted Sour Strips shrugging in turn, "We were just walking to the Great Hall after Charms Class. You can ask them if you want mummy."
Frowning at the response, Minerva knew Naruto was telling the truth. She already questioned both of them and they gave the same answer, coming back from class and heading to lunch. Crossing her arms she studied her child once more and audibly sighed, "Naruto, if I find out it was you who did this you will be banned from having ramen for an entire year."
"You can't do that mum!" Naruto cried out horror masking his previous cheekiness.
"Of course I can, I'm your mother. I can do anything." Minerva responded waving off the fear in her child's voice. She knew Naruto loved the dish, during Naruto's ninth birthday she had found a small cart selling ramen noodles in London. Knowing the correlation between it and her son's name, she bought him a bowl to gauge the blonde's reaction. Much to her surprise and confusion, the boy loved it and frequenting the ramen cart became a tradition for the family of two. Though she never understood why Naruto loved it so much, she willingly downed the dish in order to please her baby boy, "But you didn't do it so why worry?"
"R-Right."
Spotting the nervous twinkle in her child's voice, Minerva pressed on motioning over to a chess set bundled up on her desk, "Why not join me for a game, darling? We never get to spend much time anymore."
"Of course mum." Naruto said taking a seat opposite of his mother as she set up the board. Once the board was fully set up, Naruto decided to play red while Minerva took white and as a result received the first turn.
"Pawn to A3."
"Knight to E6."
Taking a moment to look across the board, Minerva made sure she did not fully look up at Naruto as she commanded a second pawn forward, "Now tell me, darling how is your first year in Hogwarts?"
"Good, but nothing's challenging." Naruto grumbled throwing his hands up in exasperation. True to his word, the various subjects rarely challenged him in any form or shape, all they did was give him an astronomical amount of tedious tasks to perform.
"Well, Severus has taught you quite a bit in your time together." Minerva said frowning at the loss of her Pawn. She gave Severus her blessing when he convinced her to allow him to take Naruto under his wing. Severus, true to his word, taught Naruto plenty in the art of Potions and then some. Though Naruto wished to pursue all branches of magic, Severus' tutelage Naruto excelled in Potions and Charms. Allowing one nostalgic smile to cross her gentle visage, Minerva remembered how excited Naruto had been when she approved of his tutelage.
About half an hour passed as mother and son played their game, neither spoke much other than the off handed comments. Board nearly cleared, Naruto frowned at his current situation. Having lost his Queen in an early blunder he was left fending off Minerva's well calculated assault. Naruto never won a single game against Minerva, she would aways win regardless of how he played. And in three more turns, Naruto's King piece laid shattered on the large checkered board.
"Can we play again?" Naruto quickly asked turning to his mother.
Shaking her head, Minerva motioned over to her door and smiled kindly, "I'm sorry my little fox, but all students must be back in their dorms soon. Go along, we will play another time."
Bouncing from his seat, Naruto planted a quick kiss on Minerva's cheek before sprinting out of her office. Waving her wand to the side, Minerva restored her destroyed chess pieces. Taking another moment to ponder her current situation, the Gryffindor Headmistress returned her wand to its original position. While she enjoyed her time with Naruto, her child did not confess to the prank. Perhaps she would need more time to question her child.
Rather than return to his room, Naruto hid away at an empty hallway watching the shifting stairs rotate in various directions. Producing his wand, Naruto muttered a quick incantation for the Invisibility Charm and vanished form sight. Strolling towards Snape's office, Naruto made sure to keep his movements quiet. Having experience sneaking around Hogwarts after Snape taught him the Invisibility Charm, Naruto found his body remained out of sight but every step he took he made a noise others could hear.
"What are you doing now, Naruto?" Snape muttered aloud not bothering to turn his head in the direction of his now open door.
Taking a seat on one of the few chairs in Snape's office, Naruto shrugged and studied the boiling Cauldron Snape labored around, "Nothing, I got bored and decided to come here."
"You want to learn about the Spells I promised you." Snape mused deducting Naruto's rather bland behavior in a single calculating glance. Naruto studied under him for years figuring out what Naruto was thinking became a simple task for the Potions Master. Deciding to stop his Potion Making in order to speak to his student, Snape motioned over to the large stack of papers neatly positioned atop his desk, "Finish grading the Fifth Years assignments and I will teach you."
Nodding in acceptance, Naruto walked over to the papers and studied them for a moment. Apparently Snape did assign all of his classes much harder course-loads to all of his classes. Snape mentioned his shrewd methods early on in their training, something about breaking in the classes before actually teaching them Potions in their skill range. Looking over the first set of homework, Naruto sighed and muttered in annoyance the tedious work he wrinkled his nose at the answers. Making sure to mark each and every paper on any mistake no matter how small, Naruto scribbled on ignorant of the grin showered upon him by Snape.
An hour or so passed and Snape with a single bored sigh bottled up his Potions and stored them away. Now, collapsed against the table Naruto snored aloud erecting a single annoyed frown from Snape. Releasing another sigh, he strolled over to Naruto's sleeping figure and shed the long black cloak and wrapped it around the young blonde. Flicking his wrist towards his usually empty fireplace Snape ignited a large fire allowing his normally dingy dungeon to glow in the aforementioned warmth. Glancing over his office once more Snape opened the large dungeon doors making sure the unusually creaky doors didn't awaken the sleeping blonde.
"Severus has Naruto snuck away to your office again." Minerva called aloud catching the Potion Master's attention.
Turning his head over to the Transfigurations Professor, Snape nodded and motioned over to the sleeping form of the young McGonagall. Watching the doting mother scurry over to Naruto, he witnessed one of the few tender moments Minerva showcased to her beloved child in private settings. As Minerva planted a gentle kiss on Naruto's forehead, she shuffled the cloak over Naruto and strolled out of the dungeon nodding to Snape in turn. Once the doors inaudibly shut, Snape raised his brow at the expectant look plastered across Minerva's wrinkled visage.
"Did you teach Naruto to make the Fungiface Potion?" Minerva all but demanded as she stared at Snape with extreme scrutiny.
Nodding in affirmation, Snape replied, "I did, he wanted to learn another brand of Potions and the FungiFace Potion was simply on the list."
Muttering something inaudible, Minerva bid Snape a good night and pondered how severe of a punishment she would hand out to her child. It seemed she would need to put a ban on ramen once again.
Chapter End
A/N: Just an update for those who have been messaging me about it, yes, I plan on releasing chapter 5 soon after. As promised I have split up the original chapter to help with the flow of the story.
Like always, thoughts and questions?