::03::
Feeling more than sobered at the news of Mad Eye's death, everyone moved back inside the Burrow where Bill conjured some glasses and procured a few bottles of Firewhisky from the cabinet and they all saluted a toast to Mad Eye. Naruto didn't much like the taste of Firewhisky as he did Butterbeer, especially when it was like someone literally set his throat on fire, but he drank it all the same. His memories of Mad Eye were hazy and he couldn't remember actually speaking with him, but he did recall his gruff attitude and finding his mechanical eye strange.
Quickly excusing himself as he watched Tonks sob into a tissue for the thousandth time, Naruto stepped out of the kitchen and into the sitting room. He felt lost; distracted. He felt like a very long time had passed since he had woken up, excited to cook breakfast for Sakura when in reality it had only been a few hours. Sakura was gone, taken, from right underneath his nose. Was she hurt? Was she alive? Naruto realized he never had to worry about Sakura before, not like this. She had to worry about him plenty of times – the time he and Sasuke fought at the Valley of the End, the time he had gone Four Tails…so many times he had put himself in danger. Naruto never realized how crippling the feeling was.
Naruto looked around the sitting room, hoping to distract himself. He had never been to the Burrow before and it wasn't like anything he had ever seen before. Every inch of every space was filled with stuff. Naruto wondered if this is what happened when seven people lived under the same roof. But there was something warm and comforting about the Burrow. It was worn and lived in, and somehow they felt more like a home than his own apartment did. Naruto half laid down on the couch, his cheek resting against the worn fabric.
"Are…are you ok?" A hesitant voice asked.
Naruto's eyes flickered up and he found Hermione standing a few feet away from him. Her body seemed nervous; rigid and her hands were clasped roughly on the ends of a jacket that looked entirely too big on her.
"Yeah." Said Naruto quietly as he sat up. "Sorry."
He stood up and Hermione instinctively took a step back. Naruto stared at her, confused and Hermione opened her mouth to say something before she snapped it shut again.
"Hermione?" Ron asked, stepping into the sitting room, followed by Sai and a distracted looking Harry. "The meetings over. We're off to bed." He said, gesturing to the stairs.
"Right." Said Hermione, vigorously shaking her head. She glanced at Naruto again and shame colored her features. "Right." She repeated before she quickly turned and headed for the stairs, leaving the boys standing by themselves.
Ron was silent for a moment before he spoke up. "Mum says you can bunk with us for the night."
He didn't wait for Naruto to respond as he began heading in the direction that Hermione disappeared to.
Harry watched Ron go before he turned to Naruto and Sai. "They'll come around." He said. "You should follow me."
Naruto glanced at Sai in a rare show of deferring to his opinion. Sai only shrugged. "We won't make much progress tracking Sakura tonight. And at least it's safe here."
Naruto had to agree. He suddenly felt dead on his feet.
They followed Harry up a couple of flights of rickety stairs before finding Ron's bedroom. Ron was already settled in his sleeping wear and was setting out some spare blankets and pillows. Naruto didn't comment on the Quidditch posters decorating the walls and instead grabbed a blanket and pillow before settling on the floor. Within mere minutes, Naruto was sound asleep and snoring.
His snoring was loud and restful and Sai took it to be a sign that he felt safe surrounded by himself, Ron and Harry. After about an hour, Ron's tossing and turning finally ceased and Sai could even hear him softly snoring. Sai, however, remained fully awake although his body language told anyone looking at him that he was asleep.
He could still Harry's chakra fitfully spiking and Sai had a gut feeling that the impulsive wizard was going to do something. Sure enough, at close to two in the morning, Harry's bed creaked and Sai could hear the boy rummaging around the room, silently picking up his pack and creeping out the door and down the stairs. As soon as Harry left, Sai sat up and looked around the room. Naruto was still fast asleep, having kicked the blanket off and had it strewn around him. Ron was still asleep as well.
Silently, Sai crept out of the room. Harry was already of the house and walking out on the dirt road when Sai caught up with him.
"Harry." Sai called out softly.
Harry spun around quickly, his wand pointed at Sai. Sai took a step back, one hand slowly reaching for the brush at his belt if need be.
"Don't try to stop me, Sai." Said Harry through grit teeth. "I've had it with people giving their lives up to protect me. I've got to go; you'll all be safer once I've gone."
"Where will you go?" Sai asked.
"Dumbledore's given me a mission, one that I need to do by myself. The sooner I get started, the sooner Voldermort dies." He said.
Sai shook his head. "Listen, I don't understand much, but I think I understand this. Nobody is doing anything for you."
Sai clearly caught Harry off guard as his eyebrows creased and he lowered his wand.
"Imagine you go off to complete your mission. What happens if you die? As far as I understand, you are the only hope anyone has of surviving. As long as you're alive, there's still hope for everyone else. Nobody is dying for you. They've died trying to protect their one chance for survival."
Sai's words had a rather sobering effect on Harry. Sighing, Harry turned to look back down the road he had planned to walk down and then back at Sai. "I suppose…you've got a point, even if it isn't a very flattering one…" Said Harry as he walked back toward Sai.
Sai looked almost confused as he walked back to the house with Harry. "What wasn't very flattering about it?"
"Never mind." Harry grumbled.
The death of Mad Eye Moody hung over the Burrow like a thick smoke; no one could seem to shake it as the days past. Naruto felt the thick haze of depression more than anyone else, only it had nothing to do with Mad Eye Moody.
He had taken a step outside the Burrow, ready to start tracking Sakura, when he realized he had absolutely no idea where he was. Not only that, but Naruto had realized, like a ball of ice dropping into the pit of his stomach that he had no access to the wizarding world, nor any idea where to go. London was a city with more people in it than the entire Land of Fire…assuming she was even in London. With those odds, where did he even begin?
It didn't help that when Sai broached the topic with Mrs. Weasley, she grew alarmed, crying "You're just children! It's too dangerous, you can't leave!" Apparently she didn't quite understand the dangers they faced on a near daily basis.
Naruto had chucked a garden gnome – the first thing he had seen – at the garden wall when Sai had told him the news.
"So what are we supposed to do now?" Naruto snapped. "Just leave Sakura here? Who…who knows what Orochimaru could be doing to her!"
"Tsunade only said she suspected Orochimaru." Said Sai. "For now, we gather intelligence and wait until we can get some definite leads." Said Sai. He had left Naruto to fume in the garden alone.
The Burrow was incredibly cramped in the days coming. Order members were frequently in and out of the Burrow as they could no longer trust the safety of 12 Grimmauld Place. The Delacours – Fleur's parents – were arriving in a few days for the wedding and Mrs. Weasley was frantic with making sure everything was neat and orderly for their arrival. She had been delighted when it seemed Naruto and Sai were going to stay put and had immediately put them to work along with Harry and the rest of the Weasley children. Naruto grumbled and complained about it, but for the most part, it kept his mind occupied and off of Sakura.
Previous friendship aside, the ninja's continued presence in the Burrow had seemed to cause some tension between Harry and his friends. Now that they knew who they really were, Ron and Hermione were more than a little hesitant in Naruto and Sai's company. Only Harry seemed truly at ease. Naruto had saved Harry's life twice, once from Voldermort's killing curse and the second time from Itachi Uchiha. Despite knowing all that Naruto was capable of, Harry found no reason to ever think that Naruto would harm him. But it was harder to convince Ron and Hermione of this when they hadn't been there and traditional conventionality told them to be afraid.
It was early morning when Naruto walked out into the Weasley's garden to clear his head. The garden had become a sanctuary for Naruto; a place for him to think away from the hustle and bustle of the Burrow. No one bothered him in the garden; Mrs. Weasley was too busy working everyone to death for them to have any time to come outside. And Naruto found the garden gnomes particularly funny which was an added bonus.
The garden was chilly and misty as pink streaked the horizon. As Naruto stepped out into the garden, he was surprised to find he wasn't alone. Hermione was sitting on the garden wall, a thick blanket wrapped around her shoulders as she stared at the coming sunrise.
"Hermione." Said Naruto, coming to stand behind her.
Hermione startled, quickly turning to look at him with wide eyes. "Oh…Naruto." She said hesitantly before turning back toward the sky, her shoulders hunched.
Naruto stared at her back a beat more and he could practically feel the tension in her shoulders. Naruto frowned and scratched the back of his head, unsure of what exactly was going on with the bushy haired witch. He jumped with ease onto the wall beside Hermione which earned him a startled yelp as Hermione hastily tried to put some space between them. Naruto watched her for a moment before dropping his butt down onto the wall.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked, rising an eyebrow.
"Wrong?" Hermione asked, her voice a tad high. "What would be wrong?"
Naruto only stared at her, raising his eyebrow higher and it was then that Hermione let out a defeated sigh.
"I'm sorry." She said, her head hanging.
"For what?" Naruto asked, confused.
"For being afraid." Hermione said quietly. "Harry keeps telling me that I shouldn't be…that you wouldn't hurt us…"
"I would never hurt you!" Said Naruto, his eyes widened that Hermione could ever think such a thing. "Why would you think that?"
Hermione shook her head, tugging the quilt tighter around her shoulders. "Books. I read so much about ninja when we were back at Hogwarts…both before and after we found out who you were…" She shook her head again before looking at him. "You kill for money." She whispered.
Naruto recoiled from her words as if she had hit him.
"How can you do it?" She asked. "How can you just…"
"I don't do it for the money." Said Naruto heatedly. "I do it to protect my village!"
Hermione didn't say anything, her expression guarded. Naruto turned his body to her, his fists clenched as he tried to make her understand. "I didn't become a ninja because I cared about money or wanting to kill people. I became a ninja because there are people that are precious to me and I would do anything to protect them."
Hermione turned away from Naruto, lost in thought.
"Hermione." Said Naruto sharply, but Hermione ignored him.
"Hermione!" Said Naruto, grabbing her hand where it lay on the ledge of the wall they were sitting on. She turned to him sharply, jerking back as she tried to pull his hand from his grasp but Naruto held on tight. Her fingers were ice cold but they warmed instantly in his.
"I'm not a machine." Said Naruto, his voice ragged. "You can't forget the fact that people are dying. It hurts me just as much as it would hurt you."
Hermione stared at him, her expression wavering. "If someone hired you to kill Harry, would you do it?" She asked.
"No." Said Naruto fiercely.
"And if they said you had to do it to protect the ones you love, then what?" She challenged.
Naruto frowned, his eyes blazing. "There would have to be another way. Harry is my friend too."
Hermione considered this before finally, she stopped resisting and her hand relaxed in his. Naruto let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding and together, they both turned their heads back to watch the sunrise.
Naruto barged into Ron's room and collapsed on the floor, Sai delicately shutting the door behind them. "Your mom's working me to the bone." He complained to Ron. "And I hardly even know her."
"It's an attempt to keep us from planning anything." Harry said with a roll of his eyes. He was lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. "I've got a feeling that she's under the impression that if we can't talk with one another, then it will discourage us from setting out on our own."
"That and she's totally crazy about Bill and Fleur's wedding." Said Ron, as he shoved some clothes into his dresser drawer. "This is the first wedding in the family and with a family full of boys, Mum didn't think she was going to be doing much wedding planning. She lucked out that Fleur's from France."
"How are you here, Hermione?" Naruto asked, turning his head toward her where she was sitting on the floor sorting through a large pile of textbooks.
"She forgot that Ginny and I changed the sheets yesterday." Hermione replied with a grin. "Anyways I need the time to start packing. I wanted to be able to leave at a moment's notice…" She trailed off when she noticed Harry's gaze on her.
"Packing…for school?" Sai asked as he looked through the items that Hermione was currently sorting into piles.
"Nah." Said Ron, slamming his drawer shut. "We aren't going back to Hogwarts this year." He ignored the glare Harry sent his way.
"What?" Said Naruto, shocked, "Why?"
Harry shook his head and sat up from the bed, his expression exasperated. "Listen guys. I know you said that after Dumbledore's funeral that you wanted to come with me…"
"What?!" Said Naruto, jackknifing off the floor. He turned to Harry incredulously. "Dumbledore is dead?" He asked in disbelief. "Why didn't anyone say anything before?"
"How did he die?" Sai asked curiously.
"Snape." Said Harry through gritted teeth.
Naruto shot to his feet. "The grease ball?!" He cried. Naruto couldn't believe it. He fell back to the floor in a heap as Sai calmly contemplated the newest revelation. That would be one less person they could seek help from then…
"Listen," Said Harry, trying to redirect the conversation after Naruto derailed it. "Dumbledore left me a mission before he died, and I'm going to accomplish it. But I'm perfectly fine going it alone. In fact, I'd rather –"
"Here he goes." Said Ron rolling his eyes.
"As we knew he would." Hermione replied, turning back to her books.
"Listen!" Yelled Harry.
"No, you listen." Hermione snapped. "We're coming with you. This was decided months ago…years ago really."
"But –"
"Shut up, mate." Ron advised.
"And I've been thinking…" Said Hermione hesitantly, "But…Naruto, Sai? Perhaps you would like to…come with us?"
"Hermione!" Said Harry, exploding off the bed. "You can't just…you can't just invite people along as if we're off for a fun day at the cinema!"
"The what?" Said Ron, but he was dutifully ignored.
"No, Harry." Said Hermione fiercely as she slammed down a copy of Hogwarts, A History on the floor. "I know that. But, well I've been talking with Naruto and…do you even know why they here?"
She gave Harry a pointed look and Harry paused, realizing that no, he didn't know why Naruto and Sai were back. He thought he heard Naruto mention something about investigating a kidnapping when Lupin had questioned him, but he hadn't heard the ninja say anything more on the subject and he had so much on his mind he didn't even think to ask.
"No, I didn't think so." Said Hermione in a clipped tone.
"Hermione…" Said Naruto sheepishly. "It's ok…"
"Sakura's been kidnapped." Said Hermione in a brutally honest tone as she stared directly at Harry and Ron. Sai gave Naruto a look.
"That's…horrible." Said Harry finally, after a few moments of silence. "I'm sorry I didn't ask sooner."
"Blimey, that's suspicious." Said Ron. "And brought here of all places?"
"Naruto and Sai don't know the wizarding world like we do. If they try to fend for themselves, I fear they'll never find her." Said Hermione.
"So…you're suggesting that we combine Dumbledore's mission with Naruto and Sai's mission to find Sakura?" Said Harry, raising an eyebrow.
"I am." Said Hermione imperiously, lifting her chin as if daring anyone to say otherwise.
Ron did just that. "Are you sure that's the best idea? As if we won't already be dealing with enough…" He trailed off as Hermione shot him a murderous glare.
Harry sighed. He didn't feel comfortable asking Naruto and Sai to accompany them and he did feel that what Ron said was true about now having to juggle two missions. But, it was also true that he would feel undeniably safer knowing that Naruto and Sai would be around. He knew deep down that they meant no harm and that they were more powerful than he could ever imagine.
"Alright." Harry relented. "Naruto, Sai, would you like to –"
Harry didn't get to finish as Naruto tackled Harry, giving him a bear hug. "Thanks, Harry!" Naruto shouted as Sai shook his head. "This is the best plan we have so far!"
"Oh…" said Harry, fixing his glasses as Naruto pulled back.
"And thank you, Hermione!" Naruto cried as he smothered her. Hermione blushed red as Ron glared at the pair of them when they weren't looking.
"Well now that that's settled…" Said Hermione, brushing down her hair embarrassingly when Naruto finally pulled away from her, "Harry, Ron and I have already made all the necessary precautions."
"Precautions?" Said Harry.
Hermione gave Ron a look which made him rub his ear embarrassingly. "Well, when we don't go back to Hogwarts, they'll suspect we're with you, right?" Ron asked, "So Fred and George helped me transfigure the ghoul in the attic. When the Death Eaters come around to check on me, it'll look like I'm ill here with spattergroit." He explained.
"A ghoul?" Naruto shrieked excitedly, a decibel too loud for the wizard's ears. "Where? Can I see it?" He asked excitedly.
"Nah, you've just eaten." Said Ron, ducking his head.
Naruto frowned, looking dejected.
"And I've modified my parent's memory." Explained Hermione. "If I survive this, I can find them and lift it, but until then…they don't know they have a daughter." She said a bit sadly.
Naruto placed his hand on Hermione's knee and she looked at him, the pair of them sharing a knowing glance that Harry couldn't even begin to fathom.
"So," Ron cleared his throat and reclined on the bed, pointedly ignoring Naruto and Hermione, "How do you destroy a Horcrux anyway?"
"Horcrux?" Questioned Sai.
"A dark object." Said Ron.
"An object that was created by Voldermort to hide a piece of his soul." Added Harry.
Naruto's eyes grew wide at the thought. "How can that be good?"
"It makes him immortal." Harry said quietly.
"How?" Asked Sai. His hand passed absentmindedly over his heart, as if that's where he believed the soul resided. The whole concept of a soul and the fact that it could be split and hidden in the first place seemed eerie and strange to Sai.
"You have to kill someone." Said Harry, uncertainty swimming in his green eyes, just under the surface.
"Kill someone?" Asked Naruto raising an eyebrow. "That's…that's it?"
"Yeah, come to think of it," Said Ron, "You lot could easily –"
"Ron!" Hermione snapped, cutting him off before he could complete his sentence. She sent a glare his way before looking toward Naruto with apprehension. Sai seemed unperturbed, but Naruto seemed to catch the drift of Ron's sentence as his eyes blazed and his hands clenched into fists. Harry bit his lips as his eyes darted between Naruto and Ron.
"Ron, that was really inconsider –" Hermione began before the door suddenly flew open, crashing against the wall with a ban. Mrs. Weasley, her hair frazzled and her face frightening as Naruto, Harry and Ron jumped to their feet.
"I'm sorry to break up this cozy little gathering," She said, her voice trembling, "But we have a wedding coming up and I was under the impression you were willing to help."
"Of course!" Hermione said, looking frightened. "We'll help right now." They all shuffled out of the room, terrified of the wrath of Mrs. Weasley.
"Hag." Naruto muttered under his breath.
Tsunade,
There is no time for preamble; no time for pleasantries this time around. Ever since Naruto's participation in the Battle at the Department of Mysteries last summer, I regret to inform you that Voldermort has taken a perverse interest in him. Unfortunately, this is not the worst of my news. He has discovered how to open the portal. I do not know how, but I do know that he has sent someone through in search of the boy. As I write this now, I hope I am not too late in informing you. If I am not, then I hope you will accept an old man's warning to take every precaution you can to protect the boy. Even I am afraid to think of what would become of both of our worlds should Voldermort lay hands on him.
I am sorry, Tsunade. I was nothing but a desperate and foolish man when I sought your help a year ago and now I fear we must face the consequences.
Forgive me,
Albus
Kakashi folded the letter Tsunade had given him once more and put it into the pocket of his tactical vest before twisting the doorknob to Sakura's apartment. Someone had relocked it so Kakashi carefully jimmied a piece of wire into the keyhole, twisting it a couple of times before the lock released with a click.
He stepped inside the apartment and closed the door softly behind him. A fresh carton of milk and a dozen eggs had spilled from a basket that had been dropped on the floor right in front of Kakashi's feet, the milk mixing in with the yolk from the cracked eggs. Kakashi nudged the basket aside with his foot, noting the pink ribbon that had been tied to the basket which only made him sadder. Kakashi picked his way over the wreckage to the window where there was a large pool of blood staining the hardwood floor. Whether the blood was from Sakura or her captors, Kakashi didn't now. He dipped his finger into the blood, smearing it across the pads of his index finger and thumb before smelling it. A metallic tang assaulted his nostrils confirming it was real and not some sort of ploy.
Judging by the amount, only a deep gash or a head wound would have caused this much blood. Kakashi surveyed the rest of the damage before his eye finally landed on a couple of glass shards. Careful not to step on anything, Kakashi made his way over and picked up a piece between delicate fingers. It was smooth and oddly shaped…unlike anything that Sakura seemed to have in her kitchen. There were only a few pieces scattered around so whatever it was couldn't have been big. If Kakashi were to hazard a guess, he would say it was a small glass bottle…perfect for perfumes or…
Kakashi glanced down, spotting a couple drops of a strange liquid. Kakashi's first thought was that it was saliva, but then he noticed there was a strange sort of iridescence to it. Kakashi pondered the oddity for a moment before he bit his thumb, smearing blood across the ground.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
A cloud of smoke erupted from where Kakashi placed his hand and when it cleared, a small, disinterested dog was sitting there, his tail wagging lethargically.
"Kakashi." The dog acknowledged.
"Pakkun." Said Kakashi with a bow of his head. "I hope your nose is feeling up to task." He gestured toward the small drops of clear liquid.
"Quite the mess." Pakkun muttered before he bent his head and inhaled. The dog frowned for a moment before bending down to smell the liquid again.
"It's a strange smell." Said Pakkun finally. "Like a flower…perhaps a lily? Yet not quite. And Valerian…not the flower though." Said Pakkun, shaking his head. "The smell isn't nearly as strong, nor as…pretty enough. I would say the root."
Lily and Valerian root. Perhaps a couple of years ago, Kakashi would have been baffled as to what extracts of lily and Valerian root could do. Now, however, Kakashi knew that in the hands of a skilled potions maker, those two ingredients could be used for anything from a deadly poison to a love potion. Kakashi didn't yet know what the iridescent potion was yet, but he was willing to bet it wasn't the latter.
But now that Kakashi knew it was a potion, that got his mind spinning in a different direction. Orochimaru couldn't have possibly made the potion himself. There were dozens of potioneers in the wizarding world, of that Kakashi had no doubt. But was it coincidence that Voldermort just happened to have a potions master under his thumb? And if Orochimaru had indeed linked up with Voldermort…
Kakashi stood up abruptly as his mind began to careen into dark territory.
"Boss?" Said Pakkun, staring up at the grey haired ninja.
He would need to be sure. He could travel to 12 Grimmauld Place directly. It was still summer after all and with any luck, Severus Snape would be among the Order members gathered there. He could ask him to identify the potion…ask if he had been the one to make it. Voldermort could have easily commanded the potions master to concoct the potion for him, with Snape none the wiser as to what it would be used for. During Kakashi's brief stint as Hogwarts professor, Kakashi had sensed that most people weren't fond of Snape, but the man had never acted unkindly toward him. And Kakashi understood better than most what a precarious position he was placed in as Dumbledore's spy.
His mind was set then. Kakashi didn't know how much had changed in the wizarding world since he had been there, but hopefully it wasn't much.
Sakura couldn't tell if her eyes were opened or closed. Everything was blanketed in darkness, no matter which way she turned her head. Lifting her hands in front of her, Sakura couldn't even make out their outline, even when she pressed them to her face. The panic was beginning to steadily rise within her.
The was the first time in what seemed like a long while that she was totally and completely lucid. The last thing she remembered was coming back home after a late shift and sitting down at the table for a cup of tea…
Sakura felt the back of her head suddenly, but everything felt normal. She dragged her fingertips lightly across every inch of her face, but nothing seemed amiss.
She remembered glimpses of fragmented images, but nothing that she understood or explained what happened to her. She remembered a tugging feeling, like she had been leaving her stomach behind while the rest of her moved in a different direction…but even that faded away into nothing.
Why couldn't she remember? The panic had settled in fully now and she was beginning to hyperventilate. She felt like she was going to suffocate; that she couldn't suck in breath fast enough. She tried to move her legs to stand, move, do anything but she found she couldn't. She was paralyzed!
She needed to relax. That was the first thing she told patients who had just survived a traumatic experience and were going through aftershock. Closing her eyes, Sakura wiped all her thoughts from her brain and after a couple of attempts at drawing air, she finally drew a long enough breath to calm her racing heart. Once she was breathing normally, Sakura began to take mental notes of what she knew for sure. Judging by the material beneath her, she was lying on silken sheets. Her captor – whoever it was – did not capture her to torture or kill her; she was here for some other purpose then if they were treating her this nicely. She could move her upper body, but it was difficult to move her lower body. Perhaps she had been placed in some sort of body bind that was no wearing off? Her mouth was parched and her stomach was gurgling. She had not eaten or drank anything in at least a day.
So that was it. She had been here a day or likely for longer…Was anyone looking for her? Did they even know she was gone? And most importantly, who the hell had taken her? And why?