"Oh man," Kiba sighed happily, sinking deeper in a padded chair of the Gryffindor common room, "now that is what I call a feast!" He grinned, kicking off his shoes and putting his feet up on the table in front of him.

Rock Lee soon joined in, flopping down on the couch next to his friend and putting his arms behind the headrest. "Yes Kiba, I agree," the third year chimed, "it was an excellent meal."

Naruto watched his friends with only slight interest, his mind once again wandering freely in space. That voice-the one that called him earlier: he couldn't stop thinking about it. He didn't know why, of course, but there was something about it that bothered him. Perhaps it was because the more he relayed that moment in his head; the more he thought he recognized the voice.

"Argh!" He said suddenly, slamming his fist on the table, "this is so frustrating!"

Kiba and Lee jumped, startled. "Dude," Kiba responded, sitting up farther in his chair, "what's the matter?"

"Uh…." His turn to sigh, the blond recoiled his fist. "Well….did you-did you guys hear anything at the banquet, you know, right after the headmaster told us all to settle down?"

The other boys exchanged quick looks with each other, before choosing to answer Naruto's question.

"Yeah we did," Kiba replied, raising an eyebrow, "like, every student in the school practically! Weren't you paying attention?"

"No, I mean-yes-I mean…." Another sigh, this time Naruto sagged his shoulders, and dropped his chin a bit. "Look, uh, what I mean is did you two hear anything else?"

This time Lee raised an eyebrow, "what are you talking about, Naruto?"

"Like, someone calling my name."

"Hm…." Lee didn't answer right away, instead tilting his head towards the ceiling as he brought a hand up to scratch his chin. "With the exception of Kiba and myself, I don not believe anyone else asked for you." He answered triumphantly, putting both hands on his hips. Naruto stifled a laugh, but only for a moment before Kiba pulled him into a headlock.

"Heh, maybe you were just talking to the voices in your head. Wouldn't surprise me anyway-"

"KIBA INUZUKA!!!!! Get your feet off that table this instant!!!!!"

All three boys flinched, Kiba himself releasing his friend before turning his head to face a very angry pink-haired girl marching towards them, waving a book in the air furiously.

"Aw man," Kiba moaned under his breath as he rolled his eyes "not her."

The girl was increasing now, taking longer strides, and her lips pursed together as she glared the trio. "What is wrong with you?!" She spat, only inches from them now.

"I could ask her the same question." Kiba whispered to Naruto, clearly not caring in what the girl had to say. However, Rock Lee, who, up until this point had been staring at the angry girl in awe, popped up from the sofa, waving his hands in apology.

"I-I am sorry, Sakura," he stuttered, an awkward smile on his face, "My friend didn't mean to-"

"'Didn't mean to?!' Sakura echoed, now clearly more upset than before, "More like wasn't aware of it!!!!"

Lee's positioned slackened slightly as he placed a hand behind his head, "then shall we consider this as nothing more than a misunderstanding?" He suggested, sweat begin to dot his forehead.

Sakura's brow furrowed deeper, a cold look appearing in her aqua green eyes. "I will not!" She snapped, right up into the third year's face, taking pleasure in the sharp flinching motion he made, "Clearly you and your foolish friends have no consideration of the rules!! A dirty table will not be tolerated, and neither will a lack of respect in students!"

Naruto and Kiba groaned in unison as they wearily watched the pink-haired girl yell at their friend. Haruno Sakura was probably the most irritating girl in the Gryffindor house-always telling the other students what to do. Most thought it was because the girl had issues with authority, while others, such as Naruto, knew she was nothing more than a teacher's pet. The previous year, both Naruto and Kiba witnessed her countless times asking for every assignment, raising her hand for almost every answer-and being called on as well- and even chatting with the professors as they passed through the hall. Now, there was nothing wrong with the professors, but talking to them for the mere purpose of socializing could not and would not be tolerated in Naruto's rulebook. Unfortunately, his set of rules were not the same ones Hogwarts followed.

After about five or so minutes had gone by, Naruto had had enough. Jabbing Kiba subtly in the elbow, he whispered, "Come on. Just apologize to her, okay?"

Kiba's face wrinkled up in obvious disgust. "Why? Why should I say I'm sorry, Naruto, huh? I didn't do wrong, did I?"

"Well, no, but-" he paused, "-but if it'll get Sakura off our backs, and leave poor Lee alone, then I say it's worth it."

Kiba made a noise in protest, but his friend's constant 'come on, it won't kill you''s were enough to make him finally remove his feet from the table, and stand up. Reluctantly he glared at the two arguing in front, very-no-extremely annoyed with what was going on. Neither, in fact, seemed even aware that he had risen, until Kiba brought a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat.

"Yo, Sakura!" He spat, doing nothing to hide the frustration in his voice.

She turned around sharply to face him, her white teeth gritted together. "What?" She replied, equally as harsh.

Kiba sighed, clenching his hands into fists. "I'm sorry okay? It-" He cast a 'do-I-have-to-do-this glance over at Naruto, who responded simply with a 'just-get-it-over-with' nod. "I…." Kiba took a deep breath. "I'msorryfordisrespectingthefurnitureitwaswrongandyouwererightandIpromiseitwon'thappenagain. There. Happy now?"

Sakura blinked, not sure what to make of the boy's 'apology.' Well, she thought it was such, but Kiba had spoken so fast she wasn't exactly sure what it was he had said. However, unwilling to appear confused, Sakura merely reached up with a free hand to brush back her short hair, scowling at the trio before her. "That's all right." She said in a cold voice. Then, added, with a hint of warning in her tone. "Just see to it that doesn't happen again."

Taking one last look at the boys, and wrinkling her nose in disgust, Sakura dropped her arm, turned, and marched out of the common room.

Naruto, Kiba and Lee said nothing, a silence falling on them as their eyes followed the angry girl out of the room. As they watched, they listened, hearing her footsteps echo as her shoes hit the hard stone floor. Finally, when he was sure she was no longer in ear-shot, Lee fell back against the couch, heaving a sigh.

"Wow." He muttered, wiping the sweat from his face with his hand, "I was not aware Sakura was so…."

"Eccentric?" Naruto chimed in, rolling his eyes.

"Obnoxious?" Kiba piped up, crossing his arms as he too, collapsed into the couch.

"No," Rock Lee said shaking his head, "I was thinking more of….forward."

"'Forward?'" Naruto asked, mimicking the way Lee had said it, "What do you mean?"

The third year paused, his thick black eyebrows massaging his forehead in thought. "Well," he answered after a moment, "We never see any other girls in this house speaking to us like that-"

"Dude," Kiba cut in, "you don't see any girls at Hogwarts speaking to us like that."

Lee laughed. "True true. But notice how she's the only girl in Gryffindor that you actually know by name?"

"That's not true!" Naruto cried in defense, "I know lots of other girls' names!"

"Really?" The older boy challenged slyly, "Okay then, Naruto. Prove it." His dark eyes danced about as he propped himself up, getting a better view of the common room.

"Hey what are you-"

Rock lee held a finger to his lips. "The next girl that comes into this room, you must greet by name. First name." He added, just incase any confusion had been made.

Naruto shot him a look, grinning. "You're on!" He alleged excitedly, waving a fist at his friend.

Lee smiled. "Great. Here is your chance."

As if on cue, a girl about Naruto's age came strolling into the common room, clutching a rather large book to her chest. The second year's eyes widened as he saw her, for the girl had somewhat unusual appearance. She had long, jet black hair that fell a little below her shoulders, and large pale eyes, much like the other girl's in the Hufflepuff house. However, what struck Naruto the most about her was her rich blond bangs that were hanging in front of her face. They stuck out like a sore thumb, obviously having been dyed, nevertheless, his mouth dropped a little as he stared at her.

The girl must have noticed this, for she sauntered over to the three, her cheeks slightly pink. "Heeeeeeello!" She chimed, speaking in overly high voice and waving.

"Good evening!" Lee echoed, eyeing Naruto, "It is a nice night, is it not?"

The girl nodded, grinning. "Yeah, yeah it is!" She replied, a little too enthusiastically, "Nice to finally be back at Hogwarts, huh?"

She suddenly turned her direction to the other two, a curious gleam in her eyes. "Hey, Naruto," she questioned, still smiling, "You think anything unusual's gonna happen this year?"

"Uh….what do you mean by that?"

The girl shrugged, "I dunno. Just wondering, is all. I mean, after last year's incident-"

"Hey!" Kiba piped up, "Stop acting like it was our fault, okay? I mean, for goodness sake, Hikari! You were there, too!"

Naruto slapped his forehead upon hearing the girl's name. Hikari. Of course, Naruto thought bitterly, How could I forget someone like her? And in my own year?

Out of the corner of his eye, the blond saw Lee give him a 'I-told-you-so' look. Naruto wrinkled his nose. Not to mention the fact that I forgot something while Kiba remembered it-her-the name. He sighed, ruffling his blond hair.

"Huh?" Hikari said, noticing, "You okay, Naruto?"

Again, he sighed. "I'm fine. Just-uh-tired. It's been a long day, after all." He tried to smile at the girl, but all he ended up doing was giving her an awkward look. He was still feeling humiliated, after all, and was dreading what both his friends would say to him once Hikari left.