Well hello everybody! That took longer than I thought. Thank you for all your awesome reviews, they really make my day. Well I oughta get on with it XD so… enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or Harry Potter.

Rain

Chapter Two

For the rest of the trip from store to store through Diagon Alley Sakura seemed grimly pleased with herself for the harm she had inflicted upon Sai. After she had calmed down from outright anger into quiet simmering she thought that he probably wasn't getting as far away from her as possible because he had distaste for her and being close to her but because he was simply getting out of the way because Olivander had returned with another wand. She was still mad, though.

Sakura fingered the piece of wood in her hand experimentally flicking it in certain ways and muttering incantations according to the book that sat open in her lap. It was cherry wood eleven inches with a dragon heartstring core, very sturdy, she was told. A stray jinx or two may have gone a bit close to hitting Sai who sat opposite of her in the train compartment watching her nervously, but nothing he couldn't dodge if needed. Sai's wand was white wood eleven inches with a basilisk scale core, also sturdy. One thing that Sakura discovered from the books was that this mission was going to be a cakewalk. The spells were bright and slow, easily recognized and dodged. Any genin that could dodge a shuriken could easily get out of the way of one of these things. Not to mention the words necessary to invoke the spell. Sakura read something on silent casting, which would be more difficult to see coming, but still easily avoided.

Wizards may be fine and well against each other, but against a shinobi they were a bit more than screwed.

"Hag," Sai said, breaking her concentration from a spell, – or maybe he didn't and she just wanted to "accidentally" fling a hex at him which he deftly dodged – and nodded towards the compartment door on the other side of which were three teens who were arguing in muffled tones and glancing at Sai and Sakura from time to time. They were clearly discussing whether or not they should join the two of them in the compartment or look for another one. Before they could make a decision out in the hall Sakura got to her feet and walked over to the door, sliding it open making the three jump back a step, and put on her best winning smile.

"You may join us if you like," She said moving out of the way and gesturing into the compartment. Two of the three looked cautiously inside first, looking at Sai particularly who just smiled and gave a small wave, but the third bounded happily inside and plopped down in the seat that Sakura had recently occupied.

"See, mate?" The cheery red head said as the other two walked in, "Told you they wouldn't mind."

"Really, Ronald," the only female of the group said, he curly brown locks bouncing as she placed her hands on her hips, "You just took her seat."

Sakura looked at the red headed boy who took on a sheepish look and smile.

"That's alright," She said and went to sit down in the vacant space next to Sai, "I'll sit here."

The brown haired girl took a seat next to the red head, in the middle of the row and the last of the three sat beside her and just looked out the window vacantly. The boy had messy black hair and green eyes. His skin was fairly pale and he wore round glasses – cue shiver at the thought of Kabuto that the glasses bring forth. He seemed to be pouting just a bit.

Sakura and Sai exchanged a look. That was the boy.

"Aw, chin up Harry," The red head, Ronald, said, "So you're not a prefect, lucky you; the less responsibility the better. You have more important things to worry about."

"Now I know we promised to sit with you a little while but…" The brown haired girl glanced nervously at her watch.

"Don't be late, go to the prefect carriage," Harry said turning to flash them a small smile.

The girl stood up and grabbed the red head's arm, beginning to slide the carriage door open.

"Come on we should have been there six minutes and twenty-four seconds ago," She said as Ronald awkwardly waved at Harry with the arm the girl was dragging him by as the disappeared into the hall the compartment door clicking shut behind them.

The boy turned sullen as they left and looked back to the window, casting a suspicious glance at Sai and Sakura every once in a while. Paranoia was good to a point. In a shinobi's line of work it could save someone's life. The boy seemed to finally get that Sakura and Sai were studying him and suddenly the air turned awkward.

"Um…" The boy began nervously, "I uh… I've never seen you around school before, but you look a bit old to be first years. Um… are you… transfer students? … Or something…"

"Yes," Sai spoke first, "We come from Japan, and we went to the Kyoto Academy of Magic. We are transferring for better opportunities for certain classes that aren't offered there. My name is Sai."

"I'm Sakura," the pinkette smiled brightly and held out her hand to the nervous boy sitting across from them. He seemed to lighten a little bit and took her hand firmly in his, shaking it before withdrawing.

"Harry. Harry Potter," The boy said, "But I suppose you might have already known that."

"We heard the one boy say your name, Harry," Sai said, "But even from so far away we have heard the name Harry Potter, but not much of it."

"We've also heard that… things are dangerous in wizarding England nowadays…" Sakura said feigning ignorance and fear, "There are rumors of a dark wizard gathering power… the return of Voldemort."

"You're not afraid to say his name?" Harry asked, "Most people I meet are. Although living so far away from it all, you must not know much about that – and I'm sorry but is that your natural hair color?"

Sakura paused and stared a moment at the abrupt change in topic before she gave a small laugh and nodded.

"Yes, it is," She said.

"It's… pretty," Harry said with a smile.

Sai didn't know exactly what happened but suddenly he was angry. Schooling his expression he inched closer to Sakura. The pinkette noticed immediately the change in his aura and his movement towards her and pondered it for a moment. Could he be being… protective of her? That's ridiculous, and the kid had just complimented her hair.

"Well, thank you," Sakura said, suddenly self-conscious. She reached up and patted down her hair, straightening nonexistent imperfections.

Sai pondered his own reaction to the compliment. It was a harmless comment, and did not anger Sakura, in fact she seemed flattered. Why the sudden flash of… what? It wasn't anger exactly he realized. Was there a word for the strange feeling? It was… sort of frustration and… irritation… and… something else he couldn't place that all wrapped into one emotion. So strange. Sai was broken from his thoughts as he felt the presence of light footsteps walking down the hallway towards the compartment.

He turned his head to the door as it slid open to reveal a girl. She had long blonde hair and her smoky blue eyes had a distant look to them. She looked around the compartment and smiled at each of them before speaking in a light voice.

"Is it alright if I sit here?" She asked, "All the other compartments are full and the wack-spurts led me here."

Sakura and Sai smiled at her while Harry looked at her nervously, and a bit like she'd grown a third head.

"Of course," Sai said and gestured to the seat opposite the two shinobi, next to Harry.

"Oh, good," She said and walked over next to Harry and sat down, "The wack-spurts are never wrong, you know. My name is Luna Lovegood, you must be new students. The snuffs are buzzing around you like crazy, they're very curious about new people."

Harry looked distinctly uncomfortable and Sai and Sakura exchanged a look wondering just how right this girls head was screwed on.

"Ah… yes," Sakura said amiably, "My name is Sakura Haruno and this is Sai…"

"Hatake," Sai quickly supplied their agreed upon alias with a smile, "Sai Hatake."

Luna blinked in response fixing Sai with an odd look before shrugging it off with a smile.

"Good to meet you both," She said and turned to the increasingly uneasy boy at her side, "And you're Harry, right? I always have wanted to meet you, I'm only a year below you but houses are so separated."

Harry gave her a small smile but offered no words.

Unperturbed by the miniscule response Luna pulled out a magazine from a bag she carried on her shoulder labeled the "Quibbler" and began to read it… upside-down.

A small croak sounded from the doorway and the group just realized that the door had been left open.

"Trevor?" Harry said, looking at the bulbous amphibian that sat quite comfortably in the doorway.

"Has anyone seen-?" A frantic voice sounded from the hallway, "Trevor!"

A nervous looking slightly chubby boy – note to self call him pleasantly plump for fear of Chouji-esque response at being called chubby – with short brown hair scooped up the toad and looked into the compartment sheepishly.

"Um… sorry – oh, Harry!" The boy seemed to recognize Harry and smiled, walking into the compartment and taking a seat right next to Sakura – Too Close, Inner Sakura screamed, and Sakura inched towards Sai – "How was your summer?"

"The usual," Harry said with a grimace, "How about yours, Neville?"

"Good!" He said happily, "My parents… they're finally showing signs of coming around, isn't that great?"

"That's wonderful, Neville," Harry said genuinely.

The boy sat with his toad firmly under one hand and the other hand curled around a potted plant that looked something like a cactus. The boy seemed to just notice that he was sitting next to two unfamiliar people and his face turned red.

"Oh!" He said, "Um… Hi, I'm Neville, I don't think I've seen either of you around before."

"Sakura Haruno," Sakura said, smiling.

"Sai Hatake," Sai said with a nod towards the boy.

"Um… great to meet you."

Uncomfortable silence followed, the only ones seemingly unaffected was the blonde happily reading her upside-down magazine and Sai, content to stare at the ceiling. Neville poked at his toad in his lap and Harry slid further toward the window away from the strange girl. Sakura sighed and pulled her legs up onto the seat with her, hugging her knees to her chest.

She missed home already, she realized. Meeting new people was all well and good but Sakura had always liked familiarity. Sakura glanced at Sai who stared blankly at the ceiling of the compartment and couldn't help but smile. Sai really did try – though she was beginning to believe more and more that some of his "unsuccessful" attempts at grasping emotion are things that he is doing quite on purpose – and could be very sweet. A familiar face in this strange place was a great thing to see and it brought her a sense of comfort just looking at him; her own little slice of home.

Sakura was staring at him. She had now actually been staring at him for a total of fourteen minutes and thirty-two seconds. Sai stared at the ceiling seemingly oblivious to her attention but inside he was a whir of emotions. It was awkward he decided at first which is why he did not let her know that he knew she was staring, otherwise it would become even more awkward and she would look away; which was something he decided he didn't want if this was the warm feeling he got when she did.

And suddenly everyone was covered in purple dust.

Sakura decided that trains were the second thing she did not like about this place. After the contraption started moving Sakura's stomach began to lurch. She smiled wryly; she could heal a dying man with blood all over, his insides clearly visible, but she got sick from riding a train. Silence in the compartment had ended after Neville's plant had basically exploded. They chatted amiably for a while and Sakura and Sai fed them lies about their lives when the conversation topic turned to them. They weaved tales they knew would spurn sympathy, kinship, and hopefully – as was their first task in their mission – friendship as well. Sakura spoke of a single muggle mother – poor dear – and Sai would evade the topic of his parents giving the illusion of tragedy.

Sai's eyes had glazed over and he became silent for a while after that and Sakura realized that there was no deceit there. Sai must have never known his parents, being recruited into Root. It was likely that he was orphaned and Danzou snatched him up. Sakura had learned much through her years as the Hokage's apprentice, and she knew that Danzou was not a good man. He was not above anything. The thought of the man and what other atrocities he has committed other than the creation of Root made her stomach churn even faster than it had before.

When the train lurched to a stop Sakura sent her thanks to kami before she gathered her bag from the compartment above their cabin, eager to be off the train. She tossed Sai his bag as well grabbing his wrist before he could mutter a word of protest and dragged him off the train. All the students had begun pooling off of the train and crowding the station, it was late at night – darkness having falling a little less than an hour ago. Breathing in fresh air and settling her errant stomach Sakura smiled as the fresh smell of nature and the lake filled her senses. She turned to find Sai looking at her and she felt her stomach churn again, but in a different way.

A good way.

Sakura blushed deep red.

Sai smiled.

Out of the corner of her eyes her needed distraction came as their three new friends came walking off of the train. Harry was looking around, likely trying to spot his missing friends. Sakura brushed past Sai and walked over to them smiling brightly.

Sai stayed where he had stood for a moment longer, breathing in deeply, wondering what it was about that breath after just getting off the train that had made Sakura looked so peaceful and content with the world. He smelled trees, the smoke from the train, and the lake. It was nice he supposed, but whatever comfort it was supposed to bring him like it had Sakura was squashed by nervousness as people bustled around him. He turned and spotted Sakura's bright hair by the train, talking to their charge and moved deftly through the crowd that had begun to flow around them, taking a place close by her side.

Standing near her was something he found he didn't mind – and shouldn't should he wish to avoid bodily harm.

"A'righ!" A loud booming voice came over the crowd. Sakura and Sai turned to see a very large man with a dark bushy beard and hair holding a lantern, "Firs' years come wi' me to the boats."

Sakura and Sai recognized the man from the description given by Dumbledore as the one they were supposed to go with up to the school.

"Harry," Sakura said, tapping the boys should as he turned to walk towards where other students were loading onto carriages being pulled by strange skeletal horses, "We were told to go with the first years, since we're new and all, so we'll see you there?"

"Oh, alright," Harry seemed a bit dejected that they were leaving him with Neville and Luna but he smiled anyways, "Yeah, sure."

With that he turned and disappeared into the crowd with the two odd students. He heard him happily yell as they went their own way towards Hagrid.

"Ron! Hermione!"

Sakura and Sai went straight up to the giant who was ushering the short little first years towards the lake. The man positively beamed.

"Well there, yeh must be the transfer students" – a poorly concealed wink let them know that he was in on everything and did indeed know who they were – "Grea' teh meet ya. M'names Rubeus Hagrid. Yeh must be Sai and Sakerah."

He dragged out her name, mispronouncing it but she didn't have the heart to correct him as he smiled brightly at his accomplishment.

"C'mon then, to the boats," He turned and led them all down to the docks where he loaded them all on the boats, each seeming to push off from the dock on its own. Finally he got in the last one and Sai and Sakura joined him along with three other first years. The boat pushed ahead faster than the others to take the lead.

"And tha'" He said gesturing upwards, smile threatening to spill over the limits of his face, "Be 'ogwarts."

Oohs and ahhs were heard from the first years and Sakura looked up to find herself muttering the same. The castle seemed ancient but there it stood, sturdy as can be. It was truly a breathtaking sight. Sai, too, seemed transfixed upon the castles ever growing stone walls.

It seemed there was only one person who wasn't staring at the castle. Sakura's eyes caught sight of a young boy, blonde hair shining in the moonlight, staring into the dark depths of the lake.

"Did you see that?" He pointed into the lake and the other first years all scrambled to his side of the boat. Sakura reacted quickly as the boat shifted in weight and the blonde boy started to tumble forward. She caught him by the back of the shirt, his nose just touching the water. Sakura saw something move in the water just beneath him. He squealed as she hauled him back up into the boat. The boy, terrified, latched onto Sakura as Hagrid knelt down worriedly and patted the boys back.

"Thank yeh, miss," He said, gratitude flooding his tone.

That was very easy earning his respect.

"I didn't see anything," the first year girl in the boat huffed.

"Yeah, me neither," The boy grumbled, shooting an irritated look at the scared blonde boy.

Sakura held the boy just a little bit closer and Sai shot them a glare that nearly made the two wet themselves. Sakura started at his reaction but didn't question as he slid an inch closer to her on the bench and leaned back, looking up at the stars.

The blonde haired first year was now Sakura's biggest fan. When the boy finally looked up to thank her she caught sight of brilliant blue eyes and nearly cried at his resemblance to Naruto. The kid blushed when she smiled at him, waving it off, and pulled away from her embrace looking at his feet.

When they got off of the boats the boy stuck close to her, grasping onto her robe and looking very nervous. Sakura – kind nurturing girl that she was – didn't complain and allowed him to stay attached to her. They now walked in the hallways of the magnificent castle after Hagrid handed them off to a tall stern-looking woman who introduced herself as Professor Minerva McGonagall. She walked brusquely, the first years with their short legs rushing to keep up with her. They walked up a set of steps and came to a stop before large doors on the other side of which muffled chattering could be heard.

"Now," The woman spoke up, "When we walk through those doors you are to calmly follow me to the dais where I will then call each of your names. You shall come up as I call you and the sorting hat will be placed on your head. You will then be sorted into one of four houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin" – she nearly spat the last name – "While you are here your house shall be your family…"

Sakura and Sai tuned her out as she began to talk about houses, family, and inter-house unity. The boy at her side clenched tighter at her robes and she patted his head. The boy was short, even for his young age but she also figured he could be no younger than ten. Even with her small stature she towered a good foot and a half over him.

Sakura turned her attention back to the woman, who pursed her lips, seeming to just now realize that most people had not been listening for a good portion of her speech. She turned sharply and opened the doors and sound poured over everyone. Sakura and Sai kept to the back, minding the stares they were receiving, as the students all filed into the great hall. The blonde boy nervously kept to her side as they walked up and gathered around the dais where a lone stool sat with a battered old hat on top of it. Sai scoped out the hall, eyes lingering on the table decked in green and lined with people who looked not particularly friendly before moving to settle on Harry who sat with the two that they had first seen on the train. He had heard him say the names Ron and Hermione.

Professor McGonagall pulled out a scroll and read the first name.

"Dianna Beck."

The girl walked up to the stool eagerly, seeming to know what was going to happen. McGonagall picked up the hat and the girl sat down on the stool. The hat was placed on her head and she clasped her hands together, smiling brightly.

Suddenly the hat appeared to have a face and it opened its mouth, startling some of the first years.

"Ravenclaw!"

It continued this way until there were only a few students left. Sakura and Sai noticed that neither of their names had been called even though they had passed the H's.

"Jacob, Sheffield."

The boy at her side jumped to attention and Sakura gave him a gentle pat on the head for encouragement before pushing him towards the stool. He nervously slid onto the seat and the hat was placed on his head. A few moments of silence passed before the hat yelled.

"Hufflepuff!"

Sakura sighed; at least the Hufflepuffs all seemed nice.

The boy passed by her as he went over to his own table, a relieved look on his face. She smiled at him and watched as the Hufflepuffs welcomed him with open arms.

The last few students were sorted and Sakura and Sai were the only two standing in front of the students and teachers.

"Now, then," McGonagall spoke loudly over the whispers overtaking the hall, "We have two new fifth years joining us. They have transferred here from the Kyoto Academy of Magic in Japan. I expect you all to be kind to them both and welcome them warmly."

Applause followed, which seemed only to be done because it was the appropriate thing to do.

"Well, then," the witch said, "Sai Hatake, shall you go first?"

Sai stepped up to the stool and sat down knowing what the hat would say before it was even placed on his head. For appearance's sake they were to be 'sorted', but the hat was strictly instructed to place them in Gryffindor. The hat, however, decided a chat was due first.

So then, you're one of those shinobi that are here to protect the school. Good, you've the makings of s Gryffindor in you, a fine guardian. She's in your hands.

"Gryffindor!" The hat yelled.

Puzzled by the invasion of his mind Sai shot a glance at Sakura before walking over to the Gryffindor table where he was waved over by Harry.

"Sakura Haruno."

Sakura went and sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. She refrained from reacting when she heard its voice in her head.

And you're the other one then. Ambitious little thing, aren't you?

Sakura decided that she did not like the hat.

Haha and a bit of a spitfire, I see. You're smart too, but cunning even though your battle technique wouldn't make you out to be. I'd love to put you where I want but I've got my instructions so better be-

"Gryffindor!"

Sakura tore the hat off herself with a huff and put it not so gently on the stool before she went to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Sai who shot her a concerned look.

"Doesn't matter," She mumbled as others looked at her strangely. Whispers gained volume until Dumbledore rose from his place at the high table and addressed the students. He welcomed them and spoke of the forbidden forest that they caught sight of as they made their way to the castle and of items that were prohibited on school grounds – his eyes twinkling at the mention of some. Sakura refocused on his words as he introduced their enemy.

"The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher" – queue dark look from an equally dark man that would put and Uchiha to shame – "Will be filled by Professor Umbridge, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic-"

"Hem, hem.

The woman in pink – dear god she was an insult to her hair color – stood, eerily sweet smile on her face. The woman with her curly, poofed out hair and large frame looked very much like a toad.

"Thank you for that fine introduction Headmaster-"

Sakura was going to enjoy thoroughly destroying this woman.

Soon enough the woman stopped talking – their ears safe from her shrilly, arrogant voice for now – and Dumbledore finished his speech, again welcoming the 'exchange students'. Food then suddenly flooded the tables and Sakura schooled her expression, trying not to show her shock. She was supposed to be a witch and know all about this.

"Oh hey, Sakuwa," Ron Weasly said through a mouthful of food, "'Mione here'sh a muh'le-born 'oo."

"Well I don't exactly know if I'm…" Sakura placed an expression of false sadness, "I could be half-blood… how did you know that?"

"Harry told me," He said, thankfully after he had swallowed.

Harry looked down at his plate, poking at his food.

Sakura and Sai looked around, seeing nothing they recognized in the immediate vicinity. As soon as the though passed their minds a bowl of ramen appeared before them. Sakura smiled and thought of Naruto as she ladled some into her own bowl.

"So Sakura, Sai," The brown haired girl, Hermione, said, "What classes are you taking?"

"Oh, well we're taking the regular classes along with Arithmancy and Ancient Runes," Sakura said, thinking of the list of classes she had and books she had bought.

Hermione immediately brightened.

"That's brilliant!" She said, "Maybe we'll be in the same class."

"Maybe," – yes we will, you're Harry Potter's best friend, it's our job to protect you as well – "I really hope Sai and I don't get separated either," Sakura said honestly, "It's a bit scary being here in a new place."

"So you two have been friends a while?" Harry asked, "Not just that you were transferring together?"

"Oh yes," Sai said, "Sakura-chan and I are very good friends for a long time now."

Sakura nearly rolled her eyes.

Nearly.

But she settled for smiling softly at the boy who now found himself on the end of endless questions from the trio of friends.

"So…" Ron began. Sakura new that tone. That was the tone that Naruto spoke in when he was about to say something tactless, or Sai when he was going to say something insulting but not really mean it as insulting – or did he? – or when Ino was going to ask an question that would make Sakura turn red, "Are you two, ya know… together?"

Not so bad then, not as bad as she was expecting – wait.

"No!" Sakura's voice took on a high pitch and she repeated the word over and over so that they would never forget it.

She missed the flash of hurt that crossed Sai's features.

"Oh, ok," Ron seemed satisfied for now and started talking again of random things until Dumbledore stood and a hush fell upon the hall. He announced that it was time to turn in and for the prefects to direct the first years to their houses.

"Alright!" Ron stood up and yelled out over the table standing up and punching a fist in the air – dear god… Gai… Lee… image… make it go away! - , "First years follow me!"

The Gryffindor first years stood and followed him, the first ones out of the Great Hall. Harry and Hermione follow after and Sakura and Sai stick close to them as students begin pouring into the halls. They all branch off in four different directions and Sakura and Sai follow their charges and the rest of the Gryffindors up several flights of stairs until they come to a stop just at a portrait of a rather large lady.

"Alright, remember the password for the year, its Mimbulus Mimbletonia."

The portrait of the fat lady swung open and the excited first years scrambled inside followed by the much calmer older students. Sai scanned the hall quickly before he was the last to enter the room following behind Sakura. The portrait closed shut behind them and he took in the warm common room that they had walked into. People had already plopped down on a couch and in chairs or yawned dramatically and headed upstairs. Ron grabbed the attention of the first years in the room.

"Alright, girls dorms over there," pointing off to a set of stairs the left, "Boys over there," pointing to the same on the right, "Your names should be on plaques outside the door so find your room and your trunks should be waiting there. Curfew is eight, just as a reminder, stay out of the halls past then."

Ron, though seemingly and idiot, looked like he was fitting into the position of prefect rather well. Sai noticed Harry skulking off towards the boys dorms and after giving a nod to Sakura followed after him.

"Come on, Sakura," Hermione said, "Let's go get settled in."

Sakura had a room with Hermione, of course, and Sai had a room with Harry and Ron, also a given. They were both lucky, as they slipped out of their rooms later after everyone had fallen asleep that their roommates seemed to be heavy sleepers. They met down in the common room, cloaks covering their forms and hoods up. Sakura caught sight of Sai's ANBU mask and found one of her own being shoved into her hands. She turned it over tracing the markings, mask seeming to grin wickedly at her. She looked up to see Sai with the mask on and put on her own.

They nodded to each other and Sai pulled out a scroll, whipping it open sat on the ground pulling out a brush. After a series of quick strokes and a hand sign several mice poured out of the page and hurried up the stairs to the dorms or hid in corners of the common room. Again Sai painted on the scroll and this time a lion emerged. Sai rolled up the scroll and stood. After another nod they slipped out of the common room to scout their territory, splitting up, ink lion following Sai one way, and Sakura leaping up to the banister of the stairs and preparing to jump down to the next landing.

Their mission had begun.

The Dark Lord was eager, Severus noted. He was nearly giddy in fact – if such a word could be used to describe him. And to be called to a meeting the night the students arrived? Severus tried to melt into the wall and become as inconspicuous as possible. A happy Dark Lord was never a good thing.

"Tonight, my brothers and sisters we gain a powerful ally!" He yelled, grinning at his captive audience, "This man shall help us tear down the old fool and that wretched boy once and for all!"

Out of the very shadows themselves it seemed that this man appeared, dark hood covering his face. He knelt before Voldemort, a –scaled? – hand to the floor. He rose and tossed back the hood revealing grey hair styled back and one snake-like yellow eye, the other dark and normal looking. He turned to the assembled Death Eaters and Severus nearly cringed at the resemblance to the Dark Lord. Snake scales covered the half of his face that held the snake like eye and those were indeed scales on his hand, the other seemed to be normal though.

"My name is…" he spoke as if in two voices, one lighter and the other darker, deeper, more sinister. He nearly hissed each syllable of his name "Orochimaru."

dun Dun DUN! Yeah well I kinda pushed Akatsuki to the side in that first chapter, even though I love them to death, so I figure why not make Orochimaru the bad guy. Cause he's a snake dude and all that and yay I'm so original .