A.N. REVIEW CORNER

Aerialrapier: A quick note about the snake. In the first chapter I mentioned it was an Australian Coastal Taipan, I did not mention that it was albino my bad I forgot. Yes I did change the snakes name yes there is a small story to it you will find out later.

Remzal Von Enili: Thank you I might just do that. Good Idea though maybe with a green background?

Dovakiin4578: Sorry about the lack of comma's I was writing at three in the morning, I couldn't sleep. On the other hand, I will see if I can find you a Hamburger.

Arishaa: Of course they will be friends, I can't let Harry get all the love now can I?

Friendships and Konoha Updates

Harry wandered out into the common room, his book bag slung over his shoulder searching out an empty table he set it down to do his homework. He had discovered that Transfiguration came easily to him it was all visualization. He was going to research what McGonagall did at the beginning of class yesterday. That transformation could be very useful if he got a good discrete form. He pulled out his transfiguration book and opened it to the bookmarked section of Gamp's laws. He had about an hour till potions and he wanted to get his research done ahead of time. He was joined quietly by his neighbor Blaise, the Italian boy he had found was very quiet and liked people watching. He was very good at reading people and would potentially make a very good ninja.

"You're staring Harry is something on your mind?" Blaise spoke quietly.

"Just thinking you would make a good ninja is all." Harry commented idly back as he swiped a bang from in front of his eyes.

"I appreciate what I assume is a compliment but what is a ninja?"

"A shadow, assassin for hire, mercenary. Japanese in origin, ninjas were farmers who during the age of the shoguns were used in espionage and such. The perfect proverbial snake in human form essentially." Harry laid out the basic definition of what a ninja was.

"Oh, I appreciate the compliment then." Blaise responded.

Harry started on his flow chart for his essay as they conversed quietly as time ticked away. Soon students started to congregate for the next class, he and Blaise packed up and joined the horde of students going to the potions classroom. They met the students from Gryffindor on the way, automatically Malfoy, blonde idiot that he had shown himself to be, picked a fight with a red headed boy. They bickered back and forth eventually drawing their wands on each other. Harry sighed and stepped forward.

"Expeliarmus" he jabbed his wand at them, catching theirs as they soared through the air.

"Potter what the hell are you doing!" Malfoy yelled.

"Yeah Traitor stay out of this!" the red head yelled as well.

"Well, I don't know about you both, but if you would pay attention to your surroundings there are other people present who could become collateral damage if you two went at it, not to mention I really do not wish for Slytherin to lose points for not showing proper etiquette in the hallway of a school. In addition, if you care to look over at the alcove over there closely there is a distortion in the air indicating that someone is there most likely Professor Snape, now I don't know about you two but I really don't want to piss him off. If you two want a go at each other, do it in a sanctioned duel." Harry said patiently. He watched them pale as Professor Snape let go of the disillusionment charm he was using.

"Potter! Wands!" he barked, Harry handed them over without a fuss. "Five points to Slytherin for masterfully diffusing the situation, everyone inside the classroom now. Malfoy, Weasley! Here to me." Harry and Blaise flowed into the classroom with everyone else settling into a table at the back of the classroom. He pulled out his reaction chart and tools as Blaise did the same. He looked next to him to see who sat there. It was the boy Neville from the train, he was shaking.

"Hey Neville right?" Harry spoke quietly gaining the nervous boy's attention.

"Yes, what do you want." Neville squeaked instantly defensive. Harry raised his hands indicating he was harmless.

"Are you ok? You're shaking." Harry said slowly so the boy didn't take his concern for harassment.

"I'm cold and Professor Snape scares me." Neville mumbled almost too quietly.

"Ahhh, would you like the incantation for the warming charm? I copied down a few useful ones since it gets pretty chilly down here." Harry said offering a little paper pad that he had copied the charms on. Neville mumbled something under his breath.

"What was that?" Harry said not missing a beat.

"I said I'm not good at magic, I'm pretty much a squib." He muttered loud enough so only Harry could hear.

Harry snorted, and Neville flushed mistaking his intention.

"No, Your not!" he stated suddenly making Neville look at him sharply in confusion.

"You wouldn't be here if you were, but back on subject would you like me to cast it on you for right now. Nothing else I promise, just the warming charm."

Neville nodded hesitantly. Harry made a zigzag motion with his wand and incanted.

"tepidus "

Neville startled slightly as a warm feeling overtook him before he relaxed again.

"That better?" Harry asked, Neville nodded.

"Now I don't know what to do about the professor but if you want you can check with us if you have questions, do you have a reaction chart?"

Neville shook his head, Harry pointed his wand at his and muttered,

"Gemino" He gave the duplicate to Neville, who accepted it gratefully. Suddenly the door slammed open, Professor Snape ushered in a scowling Malfoy, and Weasley both students shot angry glares at Harry who just shrugged them off blankly. His Professor spoke breaking the sudden startled silence.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word. Like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." More silence followed this little speech as his silky voice resonated in the air.

"POTTER! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood." Harry referred to his reaction chart for the effects of both plants quickly.

"A really strong sleeping draught sir, I'm not sure of the name though." He replied quickly. Snape looked at him for a moment.

"It's nice to see you're prepared for class." He said, some of the students snickered.

"Finnegan! Where would you find me a bezoar?" he whirled on the Irish Gryffindor.

"I don't know sir." The boy said avoiding eye contact.

"Very well let's try another one Weasley! What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolvesbane?"

Weasley muttered something.

"What was that speak up boy!"

"I said I DON'T KNOW YOU GREASY GIT!" the red head snapped back, his face turning an interesting shade of fuscia. Neville shakingly raised his hand attracting the professors attention.

"Couldn't open a book before you came to class eh Weasley! Longbottom what!" he snapped out as he saw the nervous boy.

"Sir it's the same plant sir." He said quietly though everyone heard. Snape eyed him appraisingly,

"very good Longbottom maybe you aren't as dunderheaded as most." Neville perked up a little bit at that, while Weasley shot him a scowl. Harry smiled at the boy warmly. Their professor spoke up quickly.

"For your information, Potter, yes you were correct asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. Finnegan, A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and Wolvesbane, as Longbottom said they are the same plant, which also goes by the muggle name of aconite." The class stared at him except for the back corner with Blaise Neville and Harry who were writing or rather Harry set up a dicta quill since his hand writing was chicken scratch, he would have to work on that. "Well why aren't you all copying this down." there was a sudden rummaging for parchment and quills, over the noise Snape barked.

"And there will be Points taken from Gryffindor for your cheek Weasley!"

Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs, Harry and Blaise looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing suddenly filled the dungeon, emanating from the other backside of the room. Weasley had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, that whole side of the class was standing on their stools while Weasley, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.

Snape descended on the unfortunate duo like a great swooping bat.

"I suppose neither one of you thought to remove the cauldron from the fire before adding the porcupine quills. Get him to the hospital wing, the rest of you bottle what you have and give it to me. After that you are dismissed with two feet of parchment due next class on why following proper procedure is important." He snapped out vanishing the mess. Harry, Blaise and Neville cleaned up quickly and made their way out of the classroom. Blaise decided to speak up next.

"Hey do you all want to head to the library and get a head start on our potions?"

"You don't actually mind me hanging out with you?" Neville asked timidly, a disbelieving look on his face.

"Not at all, your decent enough for a Gryff, despite what some of the house pulls we don't buy in to the rivalry all that much. It's kind of stupid really." Harry replied while Blaise nodded.

"Oh ok then. I appreciate it." Neville smiled a small smile.

They made there way to the Library and claimed a table in the corner away from prying eyes.

"So do you all want to do formal introductions since we are going to be study partners?" Harry asked. Blaise shrugged and Neville nodded.

"Ok My name is Harry Potter and I like martial arts, mythology, anything to do with Japanese culture and Magic in general. I am 11 as of July 31st and I hate my fame. I am looking forward to finding out what my family specialized in magic wise. My current goal is to find my other cousins and move in with them."

"Neville Longbottom, I love Herbology and I might come to like Potions as long as I stay out of the Professors sight he is rather scary. I really don't care for Quidditch but I like being able to run around. I would like to prove everyone that I am not a squib and get good grades. My goal is to become a Proper Lord for House Longbottom." Neville said quietly.

"Blaise Zabini, I would like to get out from my mothers shadow so I am not tarred with the same brush as her. I dislike a lot of things in the muggle world with how they destroy nature and I am not fond of muggleborns forcing their culture on to us. That is not to say that I will not give somethings a chance, my goal is to find an Arithmancer to apprentice under, arithmancy is my favorite subject even if we can't take it yet." Blaise said nonchalantly as they all took out their books.

"Neville why do you want to prove your not a squib, you wouldn't be here if you were." Blaise asked and Neville flushed.

"Promise not to tease me for it?" he asked and Blaise nodded.

"I didn't do a lot of accidental magic until right before I turned eleven and my family thought I was a squib because of it. I-I fell out of the third story window and bounced down instead of hurting myself. My Gran was ecstatic that I did magic, I feel really horrible though." He said sadly.

"Have you been checked for a baby block?" Blaise asked, Neville looked up at him questioning.

"Now that you say I don't think I have, but I don't want to be a bother."

"Why don't we go see the healer here, she should be able to check." Blaise stated.

"I don't see why we can't I mean we don't have Herbology till tomorrow and history isn't till 5:00. Do you want to go see if you still have a block on you Neville?" Harry asked.

Neville nodded slowly, in awe that they were trying to help him instead of ridiculing him about it. Together they walked to the Hospital wing after they gathered their stuff. They walked into the white ward and sat down on the chairs in the waiting area. It took a few minutes for Madame Pomfrey to come to see them.

"Well what have we here? None of you seem injured so may I inquire as to the reason for the visit." Pomfrey asked when she bustled in.

"I would like m-my c-core checked for a baby block p-please." Neville stammered embarassed. Madame Pomfrey pursed her lips for a second before nodding.

"I can do that for you as well as check for others just to let you know though if I find anything I have to speak to your Grandmother before removing it. Am I clear?"

Neville nodded feeling slightly relieved, he glanced over at the two Slytherins who encouraged him to come and they both smiled at him encouragingly. He let a slight smile shine through before nodding at them.

"Well Neville find us when it's over and let us know ok. We have to get back to the Library to finish the essay, I'll let you borrow some of my general notes when you get back." Harry stated as they stood up to leave.

"Yeah hey thanks you guys." Neville waved them off before following the infirmary matron. Madame Pomfrey bustled him into a cordoned off room.

"Ok Neville I need you to remove your robes and shirt so I can cast the diagnostics ok." She said as she busied herself with her recording quill and parchment for the records. Neville nodded and did as told sitting on the edge of the bed. She set up the quill and parchment and tied it to her wand. Moving her wand in a rather complicated pattern she intoned.

"Ostendo sum ullus vinculum."

Neville hunched in on himself as he felt the wash of magic flow over him nervous of the results. The quill was writing quickly as the magic continued to flow. All to suddenly it ended making Neville jump slightly. Madame Pomfrey frowned as she looked over the results.

"Oh my it seems like you have three different block on your magic. Only two are active though. Good lord child how are you casting magic at all! I need to get your Grandmother this is rather serious." She tsked some more as she moved to the fireplace in the infirmary waiting room.

It was several hours before Harry and Blaise saw Neville again. He never even came to dinner that night. They caught a glimpse of his face before heading to the dungeons for the night as he left the infirmary. Draco was being his normal obnoxious self and called out to him, only to be ignored completely as Neville walked in the opposite direction. Harry smiled at sight of the fuming blonde who was grumbling under his breath. He retired to his room and started his wind down exercises for the day after hissing hello to his snake.

~In Konoha~

Naruto was bored out of his mind, the academy was sooo dull. Iruka Sensei was droning on and on about the founders of his village and Naruto couldn't bring himself to care. He wanted to get home so he could study that book on sealing techniques he found. Once he had heard that the Fourth Hokage was good at sealing Naruto had taken it upon himself to follow in his idols footsteps. To his surprise he found the art came extremely easy to him. His mind churned with ideas in how to utilize seals in his pranks. He was currently tied to his chair being forced to attend the class by Iruka. He sighed and laid his head down on the desk to wait it out.

Sasuke stared out the window of the classroom scowling. Ever since his brother killed off his family he had deadend his heart to the world. There was simply nothing to live for. He hoped he could graduate so he could get strong enough to avenge everyone.

A.N. Sorry again peeps for cutting the chapter short but I have stuff to do.