Deal

A/N: See rant at the bottom of the chapter.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not.

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Chapter 7

Snuffles glared at the sleeping barn owl that was resting on the back of Minato's breakfast chair, waiting for the family to come home for the day. Tally had let the owl in, but it was apparent that it wanted a reply.

Snuffles glared as he wagged his tail. Tomorrow would be Prongslet's eleventh birthday. He just knew what the letter contained. In fact, he was very certain that there would be two letters – one for each boy.

It made sense, as Naruto's letter hadn't come yet. It would stand to reason it would arrive on Harry's birthday as well. Magic can be a bit persnickety at times.

It's too bad that the family left the home so early in the morning and missed the owl.

Tally had already fed it and taken care of its needs. So now, it was a waiting game.

It wasn't long after that that the trio walked into the door. Snuffles gave a loud "woof" as Tally popped in.

"Masters, an owlly is waiting for you all day. It's over there," she said. "Would not let poor Tally take the letters. Tally did check the letters. They'se be clean."

The two boys grinned and raced to the breakfast nook and the sleeping owl, who startled awake at their loud cheer.

"Boys!" called Minato as he walked into the area. "I will get them."

"But Tou-san!" they cried, freezing in their tracks.

Minato chuckled as he relieved the owl and smiled. "I take it you want a reply?" He handed the letters bearing the seal of Hogwarts to his anxious sons who couldn't wait to tear into them.

The owl bobbed its head.

"Then wait a bit," he told it as Tally popped in with parchment and inkwell. "Arigato, Tally."

As the boys were reading their letters and comparing them to each other, Minato quickly replied:

"Dear Professor,

I am writing to let you know that both my sons, Haru and Naruto Namikaze will be attending Hogwarts, but there is a small problem that must be addressed. If you could meet me at my home, number 6 Privet Dr. tomorrow afternoon about 1 p.m., I will clarify the problem and hope you can offer a solution.

Minato Namikaze"

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Professor Minerva McGonagall, a stern but fair professor, was going through the return mail of the new first years. This job came up every year at the same time. She had a lot of experience with it, but she never failed to be thorough and careful in this job. It wouldn't do to be sloppy when the start into the magical education of a new year group was concerned. So far, everything was going like it should. The children that had been contacted via letter were answering them like they should, which let her check their acceptance of their places here at Hogwarts. The visits to the muggleborns had already been performed, she always took care of that before everything else, as she knew from experience that muggles often needed more time to accept the news of their child having a power like magic, which for muggles was stuff of their fairy tales, not a real thing.

Then she frowned. There was one name not on the list and it should be – Harry James Potter. His name wasn't there. Strange. She was absolutely sure that he would be turning eleven at the end of July this year, which meant his letter should have gone out, like all the others that were born during September 1979 and August 1980.

She checked the letters that were marked as having been sent out by owl again against the master list and yes, his name wasn't there. This was strange and worrisome. She'd need to report this to Albus, but it would have to wait until he was back in the castle. It was always a hassle to contact him via owl, as he had the most annoying habit of switching places all the time, which let him miss several owls in the past. She didn't bother with that method anymore, as it was just an exercise in frustration. She had better things to do with her time. Especially when she had this much work to do.

Another owl entered and dropped off a late return note. She frowned, hoping it was her missing student. No, it was from that foreign friend of James and Lily's before they died. She recalled he was a very polite man who used the strange honorifics at the end of a name.

After reading the letter over several times, she dismissed the owl and stood. Well, she would have to make that appointment tomorrow.

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At one in the afternoon the next day, Professor McGonagall was ushered into a very pleasant living room by a human-looking Tally.

"Thank you for coming, sensei, James and Lily-san spoke highly of you," Minato said with a smile, "Please have a seat and Tally, tea please."

Minerva sat in the offered cushioned chair. She had heard that this man was Japanese and occasionally used foreign jabber in his speech. This must be one of the examples. Nobody she knew would add suffixes to the names of a person.

"A nice place," she complimented in her Scottish rogue. "A house elf disguised as a muggle?"

A tea service appeared before them on the coffee table.

"It's easier that way, sensei, as we are living in a very normal community," Minato explained as he waved his hand over the set. "Care to play mother? I believe that is the term used, ne?"

Minerva smiled. "It is. Well, at least you know your manners, young man." She made her cup first and then his, as she gestured on what he wanted in his cuppa.

They made small talk as they sipped their tea. Once finished, Minerva cleared her throat. "Now then, my time is limited. What is the problem?"

"Sensei, have you noticed a certain name that is not on your list?" he asked.

"I have, and it doesn't escape my notice that I helped deliver the wee bairn across the street going on ten years come Halloween," she replied, frowning at the memory of not being happy about that action, but when Albus Dumbledore got something in his head, he wouldn't be deterred from it, no matter who objected.

Minato pulled out a copy of Lily's will that had a Gringotts' seal on it. "The original is safe, and if something happens to me, then it will be published in the Daily Prophet. He wasn't supposed to go to Lily's sister."

She took the will and read it. She recognized Lily Potter's hand writing and blinked. "This is a mistake! Albus had all the wills sealed for security reasons. He says that wee Harry needed to be with family."

"No, madam, he had them sealed because he wanted to have control over my friends' son," Minato told her, his eyes growing cold and hard. If any of his former shinobi were around, they would be backing away in fear.

"Lily-san didn't want her sister and husband anywhere near her precious son should anything happen. She had a feeling that your Leader of the Light would not allow their last wishes to be fulfilled. And she was right."

Minerva looked thoughtful about that claim, but many things she had noticed would support this outrageous statement. And she herself had protested that Albus left the boy with those terrible muggles. Not to mention that she knew that he had a manipulative streak, even if she was also convinced that he didn't want to actively harm people, even if it could appear like that.

"I see. Well that explained that," she huffed as she took a sip of tea, wishing it was something stronger. "Albus is out of the castle for the moment on ICW business. So, he doesn't know." The word 'yet' was left unspoken.

"Yes, well, there's another problem you should know. . ."

Minerva left not long after that. She was not happy with the situation and knew that Albus would be less so. There was nothing she or the headmaster could do. Magic, especially Christmas wasn't to be messed with.

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Since it was summer break and their father was meeting someone from Hogwarts, the boys plus Snuffles had been sent to the Japanese Consulate for the day.

Minato wanted the boys and Sirius out of the house and away from the Hogwarts professor, just in case she brought someone with her. The Japanese Magical Ambassador was more than willing to take the trio. His son, Kyo, became good friends with the boys when attending classes.

It was also well known that Snuffles was an escaped convict, or rather, an escaped refugee from the harsh prison known as Azkaban.

Minato had brought Snuffles to the Consulate in for questioning, not long after rescuing him. An hour later, Sirius Black was cleared of all charges against him, at least, by IWC standards.

So, if he needed sanctuary, he could come to the Japanese Magical Embassy. The main problem in clearing him fully was the stubbornness of the British Ministry of Magic and the meddling of a certain old man, who didn't want him out and capable of influencing his 'pawn' in ways he didn't accept. And it was an open secret that the British had the horrible habit of letting unwanted witnesses or players vanish before they could be put on trial. Sirius Black wasn't the only one to never get a trial, if somebody that had enough money and influence wanted it to happen. But as long as this concerned inner workings of Wizarding Britain, the ICW couldn't step in.

The boys enjoyed playing video games with Kyo as well as watched a few of their favorite anime shows. Sirius wished he could play along, too, but he was still stuck as a dog.

"Wonder how the meeting's going?" Naruto asked, as he leveled up.

"Dunno," Haru asked as he killed another orc. "GOT IT!"

Snuffles whined.

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Minerva walked back into Hogwarts, still reeling from the afternoon meeting. Minato Namikaze was a man who lived up to his reputation in the Ministry. Albus, unknowingly, had made a powerful enemy in that man.

Mr. Namikaze was powerful and a leader. It was in the man's bearing and voice. He would do anything to protect his sons, both of them. She went over to the list for first years and yes, Harry Potter no longer existed as a name. He was now: Haru James Potter Namikaze. It was right there, next to Naruto Namikaze. That he would be magically adopted into the Namikaze family through a Christmas wish was unheard of. Never in all her days . . .

But the magical adoption had gone through. Magic bonds like that cannot be gain-said. Harry Potter no longer existed and now had a magical family that would fight Albus on every front, if the man didn't back off. There was no way Albus could sweep this under the rug or have a law passed in his favor. The Goblins were prepared to do whatever to help that family to stay together.

That they had been forced to live across from Petunia and that awful husband of hers was criminal. That man, Minato, couldn't do much to the Dursleys, due to certain Magical laws. The fact that he had to take what the Dursleys dished out to keep Albus from interfering was shameful. Equally shameful was the fact that not once in all the years Harry was supposed to live there that the old bampot had ever visited.

Personally, she was looking forward to the dressing down she would give the long-bearded bampot. He had outright lied to her when she asked about Harry's living conditions, especially during the years before Mr. Namikaze had taken the poor boy in. The things she had been told made her slightly homicidal and the target was also clear. She had been right in everything she had warned Albus about and it was even worse than she had feared. But no, her opinion wasn't important.

That man really need to stop playing around with the lives of others. He had no right to interfere like that. No matter what convoluted reason he might give. Her opinion had been shaken well this afternoon. Nothing justified treating any child like that. It was a blessing that Harry, no she should start thinking of him as Haru, had a family again that wouldn't stand back and let bad things happen to him.

She would help that family any way she could, including making sure that both boys remain in the same house at Hogwarts, even if it meant giving them a private room off one of the dorms. That magical bond of theirs demanded that they not be parted. May Merlin help any who got in those boys' ways, because Magic won't.

First, she would confirm the boys' place as first years, then go have a talk with Severus. If he thought she would allow him to follow Albus' lead and be cruel to Lily's boy, he had another thing coming. Then she was going to get roaring drunk, knowing the dour man probably wouldn't heed her warning.

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Minato watched the reeling professor leave as she came, through the front door. He looked at the tall clock and realized he had an hour before the boys came home. Maybe he'd order take-out tonight. Hmm. . .there was a thought. Naruto loved ramen and Haru loved cashew chicken. It wasn't quite Japanese fare, but it was a small reminder of home.

'Well,' he mused as he went into the kitchen to tell Tally. 'I can at least get some work done before the boys and Snuffles get home.'

He smiled. That dog had been an interesting addition to the family. Neither man was gay, but both had a strong love for the two boys. And yet, they lived comfortably together. Sirius could only be himself at night and away from any widows. Well, most windows were charmed to keep the nosey parkers away, as the wizard would say. He would help the boys with any homework or spell work, as needed. Minato would teach both boys shinobi lessons as well as physical training.

Minato chuckled remembering the first time the boys 'played' with Kakashi. They were just starting to learn taijutsu. Naruto was still overcoming his five years of neglect from the villagers. Now, they were mid-genin in strength. By rights, they both should've been ready to graduate from the Academy by now, and on a team.

His thoughts turn to their schooling. Seals and Runes were taught by both men when Sirius discovered how close both disciplines were. Both Haru and Naruto soaked up the lessons like sponges. They were already into fifth year rune studies and intermediate seal studies.

As Sirius said one night, "Harry may look like James, but he's his mother's son."

Minato agreed, as he felt the same way about Naruto. He had his father's looks but Kushina's free spirit.

Both men had the same thought: Kami help Hogwarts.

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bampot – Scottish insult for idiot

nosey parker – British slang that means: an overly inquisitive person.

A personal rant: I have been getting complaints on my writing and frankly I rarely respond to them. I know I cannot please everyone and I don't even try. If you don't like it, don't read. There is no call to leave nasty comments and give chapter and verse as to why you do not like it. Seriously? Again, if you don't like, don't read.

Even some of my most favorite authors here have stories I do not like. So what?

For those that complain about me not following canon? My answer: Why are you reading fan-fiction? Not every story here will follow canon to the letter or it would not be called fan fiction. Get over yourselves.

That said: It has been one year since I lost Frau, who passed Oct. 24, 2017.

She was my muse, my BFF, my beta and co-writer. She helped reign me in when I got on a tangent. She added the color to my stories. I haven't found anyone to take her place, I may never will.

Don't get me wrong both Miriam 1 and White Angel of Auralon do a great job helping me, and I appreciate that BIG time, but they are not Frau.

Until next time. - GF

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The parts of the challenge that has been fulfilled for now:

Rescues Naruto when he was five and grows up in Little Whinging check

Dursley's tried to punish Harry check (sort of)

Sirius is there for Harry check

Minato important to WW check (sort of)