Deal

1934

Chapter 13

As the Christmas holiday was fast approaching, those within the castle return to normalcy.

Hermione Granger started to tone done her know-it-all attitude. She stopped offering unsolicited advice in her usual condescending attitude. She thanked the brothers for their support and help, one night in the common room.

Weasley had not only received a detention for his cruel words, but lost fifteen points. He still blamed her for that night, but he was afraid to say anything, for fear of the Namikaze brothers. They could be brutal; even his brothers didn't cross them.

The one and only time the Weasley twins tried to prank them, they found their prank was not only turned against them, but something more interesting was added.

According their father, Naruto was his mother's son. Naruto pranked the twins by trapping them in their beds using ninja wire, honey, and feathers. They never did figure out how the firstie got into their dorm rooms without them knowing.

The boys made sure that the twins knew they were not only out-classed, but outmaneuvered by the legacy of the Marauders. The twins never tried again.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Haru and Naruto continued to train with their father, who slipped into the castle several nights a week. Professor Flitwick oversaw many of their training sessions, plus he had a few dueling spars with their father, Minato.

The boys loved watching their father duel with the Head of Ravenclaw as much as the two men enjoyed facing off against each other.

The boys still ignored most of the politics between the pure-bloods against the muggle-borns and between the Gryffindor and Slytherin.

They refused to get involved.

Haru didn't get placed on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He just wasn't interested, despite his Head of House's and the Quidditch captain, Oliver Wood's insistence. He just wasn't interested in the sport.

Of course, his House didn't appreciate that he turned down the position as seeker.

Draco Malfoy continued to make a pest of himself even after the boys pranked the stuffing out of him. The blond Slytherin was being very Slytherin about it.

"You would think he's more Gryffindorish than Slytherin, don't you think?" Haru asked Naruto in front of several Slytherins. They didn't take that comment well, but couldn't deny the truth of it.

"Yeah," Naruto agreed. "He's not very cunning, is he?"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Weasley's mouth got him in a lot trouble several times since that Halloween. Plus, he was lazy, had no manners, and was rude to everyone that didn't fit his ideals. He insisted that he was Haru's best mate, no matter what Haru said about it. It got to the point where Ron Weasley became the second-most pranked first year student, after Draco Malfoy.

The most interesting thing that happened to Weasley was that his pet rat, Scabbers, came up missing. No one knew where it went. Many of the girls in Gryffindor threatened the twins and their little brother dire consequences if they found it among their things.

After that, the twins couldn't help but back off.

"We are in the presence of pranking greatness, brother mine," one said.

"Yes, Gred, we are. Who knew that two little firsties were related the Great Ones!"

"Please give back Scabbers," they begged. "It's a pet. You shouldn't prank a pet."

Haru shrugged. "We don't have it. Sorry. Even we know that pets are sacrosanct. Sorry, but we just don't have it."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

It was getting close to the Christmas hols. Albus Dumbledore had to revise his plans. Since the beginning of the school year, he had been on the back step. Someone had foreseen and disrupted Dumbledore's plans for everything that was happening.

It started when Harry Potter hadn't shown up for the Welcoming Feast. Then Minato Namikaze informed him that he had adopted Harry and changed his name.

The goblins audited the Potter Accounts and demanded all out-standing keys be returned. Thankfully, he didn't dip into those accounts, except for sending monies to the Dursleys and Mrs. Figg, for Harry's benefit. Dumbledore never knew that they hadn't gotten said money, as Minato had stopped it, once he became Harry's legal guardian.

The goblins were also wanting everything that belonged to Harry that he and the Ministry had in their possession. That meant he had given back James' cloak, James and Lily's wands, and several tomes he had taken from their estate.

Then there was Sirius Black. The man was innocent and had never received a trial. Dumbledore's plan for his continued incarceration was completely destroyed, especially when Peter Pettigrew turned up naked as the day he was born, tied to the Ministry's fountain with his Dark mark showing for all to see. Two wands were found on Pettigrew's person and were snapped on the ground below him.

Too many people saw it to hush it up. Pictures appeared in the Daily Prophet with a letter by both Harry and Black challenging the Ministry to prove his guilt, since he never had a trial. Harry asked for a copy of his magical sworn god-father's trial transcript to be read to him in front of the Wizengamot.

Said trial was still pending.

Then, there was the troll incident. Albus shuddered at he remembered seeing the headless body and wondered how two first years managed to kill it.

Miss Granger had no memory of it, being so traumatized by the experience.

The boys' explanation sound feasible, but there was something off about it. He viewed the situation several ways, but their description was all was too pat.

Now it was coming close to Christmas. He really wanted to keep Harry here at the castle, but he knew that his adoptive father would never allow it. Albus thought he could manage to salvage a part of his plans. He just needed for the boy to stay.

But how?

He looked at the embedded kunai behind his desk and scowled. He had tried several spells, and even tried pulling it out, but nothing worked. He wished he knew how it worked. He didn't know what to make of it. There were no spells on it. However, he did notice the runes, and even they defeated him.

Just how did that man use that strange dagger to get into Hogwarts?

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Minato had the feeling that the headmaster would try something over the Christmas Holidays. He was certain of it. It would be what he would do. However, he was certain the old wizard would use someone instead of doing it himself.

So the night before the boys were during to return home, he discussed his plan with them after their training. After he went over everything, he asked if they understood.

"Got it, tou-san," both boys agreed. They were looking forward to pranking the headmaster.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Breakfast was over. The boys were coming down from their dorm to get their trunks when the headmaster stopped them.

"Harry, my boy, could you come to my office for a moment?" Albus asked.

Haru ignored the Headmaster as he continued past him. Time and time again, the headmaster had been warned that he would not answer to anything but Haru.

"Sorry, Haru, my boy. It won't be long. You can run along, Mr. Namikaze. He'll join you later."

"Where Haru goes, I go," Naruto informed him stubbornly. Albus couldn't dissuade him, either.

Both boys dropped their trunks at the bottom of the stairs and started to follow the headmaster.

Once in his office, Albus informed them that he was revoking Haru's permission to go home.

"It's for the greater good, my boy. I'm sure your father will understand."

Haru looked at Naruto, who looked back. "Looks like tou-san was right."

"Sorry, sir, but we are going home for the Christmas hols. Tou-san has plans for us," Naruto said as the boys moved together. Haru pulsed at the embedded tri-prong kunai behind the headmaster's desk.

Albus pulled out his wand and fired off a Stunner. When the spell froze both boys, there was a poofing sound; smoke erupted from where the boys stood causing him to pause for a second.

What in Merlin's name just happened?

Suddenly, there was a familiar flash of yellow, and Albus sighed.

Why couldn't anyone understand that his plans were for the Greater Good?

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

On the train ride home, Haru and Naruto were enjoying their friendship with Neville and Hermione when Naruto stiffened.

"I take it, Tou-san had been right?" Haru asked.

Naruto nodded. "Tou-san is probably with him now."

Hermione and Neville exchanged a glance as the boys giggled at the thought.

Whatever their father did, it had been quick, for he was waiting for his sons at the station.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Albus sighed at his ruined desk. The interesting thing about it: Minato hadn't used any magic that he could detect. He did a few hand gestures and a bolt of lightning erupted from his hand.

His beautiful antique desk hadn't stood a chance.

What must he do to get everyone to understand he was only doing was best for everyone? Harry needed to be under his leadership, if the Wizarding World had any chance at all.

Just then, his floo flared. Now what?

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Minato was patiently waiting for them on the platform when the Hogwarts Express pulled into Kings Crossing Station, while chaos erupted around him. Parents were greeting each other as they too were waiting for the Express and their children's return.

He was looking forward to spending the holidays with his sons. He had several training sessions planned. It wouldn't be all training; there were several mini trips also planned.

Suddenly a pair of very loud voices called out: "TOU-SAN!"

Minato staggered as he was tackled by two hurling objects. Behind them, he could hear a girl's giggle.

"Tou-san, this is Neville Longbottom-san and Hermione Granger-chan," Haru introduced to his father. "This is my, er, sorry, our chichi – Minato Namikaze-san."

Minato smiled, knowing that his son got the order reversed. In Japanese, it was surname first, then given, but since he did a mix of both English and Japanese, it could be forgiven, for now.

As they were heading for the exit, Neville was hailed by his grandmother. With a promise to write over the hols, he disappeared into the emptying station platform.

A pair of red-headed adults tried to stop the Namikaze family to speak to them, but the crowd didn't allow it.

Once outside, Minato was introduced to Hermione's parents.

Dan and Monica Granger thanked the boys for being their daughter's friend. It was all she talked about in her letters.

Haru and Naruto blushed, then shrugged. "She needed a friend," was all they would say about the matter.

Again, an exchange of addresses and promises to write was made before the two families departed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sirius stood in front of the Wizengamot. He finally got his trial that he needed to clear himself. In the gallery was his godson and the man who had arranged for it.

Fifteen minutes later, Sirius Black walked out of Number 10 Court Room freed. There was no evidence that Sirius was guilty. It helped that Peter Pettigrew had been found and confessed how he had set both the Potters and Sirius for the fall.

"Sirius!" Two boys ran up and jumped on him, knocking him to the ground. A few purebloods that left the Court Room "tsk"ed in disgust by the wild display. However, some chuckled as the boys dog-piled the freed wizard. The tall blond that had taken Harry away from Sirius was laughing at the ruckus.

Albus watched the laughing boys and sighed. He had the Potter's will sealed so that no one could take Harry out of his control. How did he miss Lily? That wonderful, inventive, not to mention highly intelligent, witch. She out maneuvered him beyond the grave.

He would need to rethink his plans, yet again.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

A/N: Sorry for the shortness of the chapters. I can not do long chapters. Sometimes, the chapters really do dictate their length and I am hard pressed to make them longer. Then I get a chapter that surprises me (which is rare) and go over 2000 words in the rough draft. Sorry but that is just how I write.

Until next time. - GF