Note: Hee. Much Umbridge hating.

Itachi waited until the clapping died down. He was one of the few that actually seemed concerned about the hat, aside from McGonagall and that ghost. The clapping fools. Itachi threw them a wave of killing intent which quickly dampened their spirits. The hat had found him out then…? Intriguing.

"Abercrombie, Euan."

The Sorting had begun. Itachi could care less who among them went into which house. As the line of first years thinned, it finally came to him. The young girl who was trying on the hat put it on the stool and hurried to join Slytherin. McGonagall looked at him from the rim of the parchment.

"Uchiha, Itachi."

Moving up the raised dais, Itachi took the hat, sat down on the stool and put it on his head as instructed. The last thing he saw before the Hat cut off his vision was McGonagall's face looking at something behind him. He knew she was looking at Dumbledore.

Darkness filled his vision, and then a voice.

Well, well, what do we have here…?

"Greetings." Itachi spoke softly.

Greetings, Uchiha Itachi. You are the second who has passed through those doors and bearing a powerful soul.

"So people tell me."

Indeed. Your red eyes are a powerful tool, but don't let it get to your head.

"The Mangekyo Sharingan has its price. I am willing to pay them." Itachi said dryly.

So you do, so you do. Well then, let's get started. You thirst for power, but you are held back by something… you are smart, but tainted somehow. A tainted knowledge will no doubt deny you Ravenclaw's grace. Loyalty. You only have a little. Hufflepuff will not suit you. Bravery….. you have that. And courage. But the taint of Slytherin has denied you Gryffindor.

"That cannot be." Itachi growled. "I must be in Gryffindor."

You lack the qualities the Gryffindor house possesses. No, Slytherin is the best for you.

"If you sort me into Slytherin, I will make a very bad enemy." Itachi threatened. "You will die. I promise you that. I may be an 11 year old, but I am powerful, powerful enough to kill every student, every teacher in this idiotic school that you treasure."

You plan to kill your own clan.

"Slaughtering Hogwarts will make good practice."

But you will spare your younger brother. Tell me then…. If you want to be in Gryffindor, why would you spare only your brother?

"He is… special."

Silence.

If I sort you into Gryffindor, I know I will regret it. Rarely does an heir of Slytherin in mind come to Hogwarts.

"You won't regret it."

Very well then. I have made my choice. Good luck, Uchiha Itachi, and I do hope I do not regret this.

The rip in the Sorting hat opened once more, after perhaps five minutes of contemplation. The murmurs of the students died away as the hat cleared its throat.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Itachi yanked the hat off his head and placed it on the stool. In a billow of black robes he went towards the Gryffindor table and sat down right across Harry.

"Welcome to Gryffindor, mate." Fred clapped him on the back. Itachi growled under his breath. George grinned at him. "We got the Uchiha!" The twins cheered. It took a glare from McGonagall to make them stop.

Finally, after 'Zeller, Rose', Dumbledore stood up and spread his arms wide.

"To the newcomers, welcome! To our old hands, welcome back! There is a time for speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

There was a chorus of laughter and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down again. The food appeared magically. Itachi raised an eyebrow for a moment before reaching over and taking the food that seemed remotely edible. Dumbledore must've been thoughtful, for Itachi spotted some sushi amidst dishes of European food.

'What were you saying before the Sorting?" Hermione asked the ghost. "About the hat giving warnings?"

"Oh yes." Said Nicholas, who turned away from Ronald's over enthusiastic eating habits. "Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before…"

Itachi picked up his spoon and fork, staring at it questionably before taking out a pair of wooden chopsticks from his pocket and using that to eat the sushi. While he learned to use the spoon and fork back in Grimmauld Place, Itachi liked to use chopsticks when he ate sushi. It was just wrong if he didn't.

"…always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school, and always the advice is the same. Stand together, be strong. But I've never heard of it saying that bit about You-Know-Who."

Itachi looked up from his sushi. "How can it know the school's in danger if it's a hat?" Ron asked. The Uchiha pondered this for a moment when the ghost gave its reply.

"I have no idea. It lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks things up there." Nicholas replied.

"I could try. That's what Wolf taught me." Harry spoke, looking over at where Draco Malfoy was holding court. "But if he keeps going like that, fat chance."

"You ought to try." Itachi interjected. He lowered his chopsticks. "Because that's what kept the founders four together. The founders stayed together until Slytherin's love of pure blood outcast him. You shouldn't be fragmented." Itachi spoke. "Since that will only make the Houses split. You should be together. Work with each other, even if you hate them. Sooner or later, you'll find their true quality, no matter what House they are, and that will help you decide."

"Decide what?" Harry asked.

"Whether or not you will be the one to kill them." Itachi replied cryptically.

That said, Itachi turned back to his meal.

When the noise level in the hall was creeping upward, Dumbledore stood up again.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students, and a few of our students ought to know that by now too."

Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged smirks. Itachi wanted to smash their heads together for being proud of a foolish venture.

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes. The list, as you all know, is taped to his door."

Itachi watched as Dumbledore swept a hand towards him. "We have a guest this year. He is Uchiha Itachi, hailing from Konoha academy in Japan. He will stay here for an entire school year as this year's foreign exchange student." Applause rang in the hall. Itachi did not stand up.

"Also, we have to changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures, and Professor Umbridge, the newest Defense against the Dark Arts teacher."

Itachi did not clap. The woman made a coughing noise that cut Dumbledore's speech short. He wanted to kill her. Wave after wave of killing intent washed off him. He spotted the few beads of sweat dripping down her brow as a sign she was truly scared.

"Thank you, Headmaster." The toad simpered pathetically. "For those kind words of welcome."

Itachi wanted to kill her NOW as she launched into a long speech that only served to make the Uchiha resolute. So the Ministry was interfering with Hogwarts. That much he summed up from her pathetic speech.

But he couldn't kill her, not now. He had a job to do and that was earning her trust.

"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was a most illuminating speech." Dumbledore said as he stood up. "As usual, Quidditch tryouts will take place…"

"It was certainly illuminating." Hermione whispered. Itachi nodded. The boys were looking at them both quizzically.

"Look underneath the underneath." Itachi advised. "The Ministry is going to interfere with Hogwarts, baka gakusei."

The boys faces lit up. "Damn." Harry grumbled. There was a great clattering and banging among them. Dumbledore had just dismissed the school. Itachi stood up.

"What is the password?" He asked. Hermione gave him a small piece of paper. Itachi pocketed it and headed to the Staff table.

"Dumbledore." Itachi called out. He stepped up to the Staff table. All of them were still seated. "You did not tell me things were this bad." Itachi hissed. "This is the worst mission I have ever undertaken. You ought to be---"

"Hem, hem."

"Get some cough drops, you stupid woman!" Itachi wanted to yell. But a warning glare from Dumbledore made him halt.

"Speak in English, please." She asked sweetly. So sickly sweet that Itachi wanted to wring her neck.

"I was saying…" Itachi calmed himself down in a flash. "…That I would like to applaud you on your speech. It was wonderful, really. In fact…" He turned on the Sharingan and centered his hypnotizing gaze onto her toad-like face. "… I would like to assist you in those matters."

Umbridge, eyes unfocused, smiled under the hypnotic Sharingan. "Yes…" She said mistily. "You will be… a student teacher."

Itachi deactivated the Sharingan, threw a glance over his shoulder and followed the few that were filing out the Great Hall.