Note: Congratulations to Kyo's only 1 who is Antebellum's 200th reviewer. Whee A chapter, nice and long as promised. xP
The days before September 1st were full of activity. Itachi was called into several Order meetings. The first started August 6. A man named Snape delivered a report, all the while glaring a hole through Itachi's ANBU mask. Itachi paid the glare no heed. Kakashi-sempai told him of that man… eternally moody. Itachi glared back with the Sharingan, and hen Snape quickly tore his gaze away from the hypnotic red orbs behind the Weasel Mask.
Heh.
After the meeting, the main looked straight at Itachi. "I suppose you've hired another one, Dumbledore?" He drawled, looking at the Headmaster. Itachi stayed silent. Dumbledore gave a nod. "Yes. As per contract with Konoha." He looked over at the Uchiha. "Itachi here is one of the most gifted shinobi Konoha has ever had. He will serve."
"Humph. Undercover? He's too young." Snape growled. "He'll be a first year."
Itachi cleared his throat. He may be 11, but he wasn't stupid. "Pardon my intrusion, but I think I can pull off being a 5th year." He said flatly. Something about his voice gave chills down Snape's spine and he turned and walked away.
Itachi glared at his retreating figure before deactivating the Sharingan. "Kakashi-sempai warned me of him." Itachi noted in Japanese. "He has two chakra cores; one on his chest, and another on his arm."
"It is called the Dark Mark." Dumbledore spoke. "He serves the one we fight. He is a spy, just like what you are going to do."
"What would you have me do?" Itachi spoke flatly.
"I want you to protect the boy. The training given to him by Kakashi saved his life last year, and the life of Cedric Diggory. I want you to guard him as well as unravel the mystery behind the Ministry of Magic." Dumbledore replied. "Konoha will be paid, as always."
"As you wish." Itachi turned. "Also, Dumbledore…"
"Yes?"
"You might want to investigate those fleshy-colored sticks on the ceiling." Itachi spoke. "I have detected them with my Sharingan and they are enhanced to listen in, so to speak. It would bode well if you told Mrs. Weasley."
Dumbledore gave a smile. "Yes, of course I will."
Itachi left the room.
Nothing much happened the next few days. The Potter boy seemed content to stay at home. However, when his friends arrived, the house exploded into camaraderie. They were amazed, to say the least, when Itachi finally spoke up. He had that effect on people. He could melt into the crowd and stand out when he wanted to. Itachi looked at them from the blank eyes of his Weasel Mask. The twins, Fred and George were handing out flesh colored straws to them.
"---those Extendable Ears…"
"Wait, I want one too."
"It would bode well for you to stop eavesdropping." Itachi purred. Ron halted mid-grab. Hermione looked at him and Harry was surprised to see him there. Fred and George stared at him.
"Who are you?" Ron asked, blinking. Itachi gave a sort of bow.
"ANBU Weasel, at your service." He replied. "I will be your Hogwarts guard for this school year."
Harry gave a smile. "You're Wolf's teammate then?" He asked brightly. Itachi gave a grudging nod. "How is Wolf?" Hermione asked. "He's been a good friend during our third year. How is he?"
Kakashi was probably in the Snow Country by now. Itachi cleared his throat. "Fine…. Wolf is fine. He has been on a mission these past weeks."
"He'd survive." Harry spoke resolutely. "Wolf's a survivor."
"You mean you're one of THEM?" George asked, eyes widening. Fred sided up to Itachi. "Well, my man, you HAVE to teach us those techniques."
"Move away from me and you will not be hurt." Itachi growled. "I am your guard. I am not here to be your friend. This is a mission, and emotions are things to be locked away."
Harry stared at him. "Wolf taught us that friendship was the key to teamwork." Harry offered a hand. "Even if you don't want it, I offer my friendship…. Um…"
"Very well… Itachi spoke. He reached out hesitantly and shook Harry's hand. "I am…Uchiha Itachi."
The days before August 30, Itachi went on field missions with the Order. Tracking down wasn't his specialty, but interrogation and spying was his forte. Itachi was most often paired with Sirius Black as they prowled the streets, seeking Death Eaters. Itachi used his Sharingan to interrogate them when they caught one.
Black wanted to kill them, but Itachi was wiser. He simply sent them away with a slight amnesia.
At the end of a particularly productive day, Itachi and Black were headed back to Grimmauld Place when the man halted.
"What are you doing?" Itachi growled. Black pointed at him with his wand. "You're… unnatural." He spoke. "You've never used a wand since we first became partners."
"That is not for you to discuss." Itachi replied. "Nor is it your business." He turned. "It is getting late."
"Hold it. How can I trust you?" Black asked, grabbing a hold of the ANBU's arm and turning him around. He was met with a Sharingan-enhanced glare.
"Let go of me." Itachi hissed. "And you will live."
Slowly, Black let go. Itachi glared at him for a moment before deactivating the Sharingan.
"It is not for you to know." Itachi stated. He turned and went back to walking. Black stood there for a moment before walking as well.
The school letters came around the 30th of August. Itachi was in the lobby when he spotted Mundungus with a bunch of letters in his hand. The Uchiha held his hand out.
"Morning, 'Dung." He said, recalling the way they called this man. He was a known drunkard, engaged with dark dealings that weren't really allowed inside the law. Mundungus looked at him. "'s you, ain't it? Here…" He gave the letters to Itachi. "The kid's Hogwarts letters!"
Itachi took the letters from him. "Thank you, Dung." He turned and went upstairs. Harry was in the process of cleaning Hedwig's cage. Ron was relaxing on the couch and Hermione was reading one of Itachi's school books.
"Hogwarts letters." Itachi announced. He handed the letters to their respective owners, and found that there was one for him too. Itachi's brow furrowed. Didn't he get his letter a long time ago? As Ron celebrated his becoming a prefect, Itachi was engrossed in his letter.
Uchiha Itachi, ANBU Weasel
Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London
30 August 1995
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Itachi turned the envelope over and broke the seal. He yanked out the parchment papers. Booklists for his school year and one letter that was labeled 'Konoha'.
Uchiha Itachi-san,
Thank you for accepting my proposal. Your duties, so far are satisfactory. You are expected to be in the same House as Harry Potter. For your cover, you are a foreign exchange student. You will be a fifth year, but you will be Sorted along with the First years. Your duty will be to protect the boy and unravel the mystery behind the Ministry; therefore I would like you to gain the new defense against the Dark Arts teacher's trust. It is necessary.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
PS: Look in the envelope.
Itachi lowered the letter and surveyed the contents of the envelope. There, a small piece of paper was tucked in among book lists and requirements.
Itachi took it up and unfolded it. It was a drawing. Somehow, Dumbledore had found a way to send Sasuke's letters to him. Sasuke's writing was a childish script, but Itachi felt a smile on his face as he saw the drawing. It was him and Sasuke, drawn childishly in blue crayon. There was a message written in red crayon, and Itachi read it with a small measure of difficulty.
I miss you. The letter began. Otousan said taht you were away on a misshun. Itachi smiled at the spelling. Well, Sasuke tried. I miss yuo, when will you be cumin bac? Tachi says hello tooo. Tachi was the name of the stuffed weasel. Itachi looked back at the letter. There was more childish script in Sasuke's unsteady hand.
'Kashi says that you went where he went. Is the candy ther good? Wrighte back, k?
And then a farewell, written in his mother's hand.
Good luck with the mission, Itachi. I'm proud of you.
Uchiha Sasuke, Mikoto and…Uchiha Fugaku
Itachi's eyes widened and he struggled to stifle a laugh. His father had picked a yellow crayon to sign his name with. Probably at Sasuke's urging
Itachi folded the letter and put it into his pocket.