Harry's Summer Rescue
Harry and Hermione had just freed the Hippogriff, Buckbeak, from his execution. However, they needed to wait 3 hours until their other halves have gone down the tunnel under the Whomping Willow. With nothing to do, Harry asked a question,
"Hermione, how did you feel when you first got your letter?"
"What?" asked a confused Hermione.
"Well, since there's nothing to do but wait, I'm curious, Ron and I never really talked to you anything about your family, or anything that goes home at home," responded Harry.
"Oh, you don't really need to know about my everyday life Harry, I'm no one special, just a buck-toothed bookworm who always nags you two.
"Don't say that, without you, I couldn't have ever pass that potions riddle defending the Sorcerer's Stone, or how about that time when you found out it was a basilisk that was in the Chamber of Secrets? Don't ever put yourself down, you're my best friend, you and Ron are special to me, okay?" Harry had told her with so much honesty in his eyes that Hermione began to cry.
"You're special to me too Harry." 'In more ways than one…" Hermione said while hugging the raven-haired boy.
"So, can you answer my question now?" Harry asked.
"Heh, oh fine. Well, when I got my letter, we were skeptical at first, I mean a school for magic? It doesn't seem authentic doesn't it? That was until……"
And so, Harry and Hermione started to bond. Hermione, talking about her past and present experiences, and also when she was picked on because of her appearances and her study habits. Harry talked about his pasts too, albeit reluctantly, because he has never talked about the beatings he took from the Dursleys. They even talked about small things, like their favorite colors, and future jobs.
Unaware to the two children, a figure above them dressed in a black cloak with a black hood covering his whole body was watching them. His facial features were hidden from sight by a white mask with two dark eyeholes, but if one were to look close enough, you may see two dazzling blue eyes. Of course getting close was suicide when this man is concerned. Seeing that the children were rising from the ground, the masked man nodded and then jumped from tree to tree towards the castle.
Fast forward….
It had been a night of many revelations, if Harry were to describe the events that happened a few days ago. He had found out the truth behind his parents' murder, gained a godfather, only to lose him again, and then freed him to go to who knows where. He had also formed a deeper bond with his best friend Hermione. Their Q and A session about his life at the Dursleys seemed to have stirred something in Hermione, a protective instinct for Harry, and also one of hatred and disgust for the Dursley family. "I mean, how could they treat him that way!" She had told Dumbledore of what Harry had told her. Dumbledore was also appalled at the actions that the Dursleys had wrought upon young Harry. As a young boy, he was beaten and was made into a slave, Dumbledore had suspected that the Vernon and Petunia Dursley hated all things "abnormal" but to literally beat upon the poor boy just because he was different? The old wizard had not anticipated that.
"Perhaps, it would not be a good idea to send Harry there again for more than a week." Dumbledore had said when Hermione barged into his office, dragging a reluctant Harry and a confused Ron. Hermione was frightening sometimes eh?
"Well, he can always stay at The Burrow; my mum would take care of him, right?" Ron had suggested.
"It is ultimately Mr. Potter's decision, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore said to the children.
"Perhaps I may make a suggestion? Potter-san has stayed with the Burrow once or twice am' I correct?" A deep voice with a slight oriental accent cut in. "Why not stay with Granger-san, the two were talking to each other that night about Harry visiting for once did they not?" The invisible man continued.
"Ah Uzumaki-san, I did not expect you to at this hour, your journey was not unpleasant I take it?" Dumbledore looked behind the children as a man with a black cloak materialized.
"Whoa! Where did you come from?" Ron asked in surprise as the three turned around.
"Honestly Ronald, he must've used an Invisibility Charm, right?" She looked knowingly at the blonde-haired man known as Uzumaki.
"I'm afraid Granger-san you are wrong, it is a technique used in my land known as Genjutsu, or Illusions, but don't be sad, you didn't know ninjas existed right?" the man informed Hermione, who looked embarrassed at being corrected and was shot by a smug look from Ron.
"Ninjas? It's like those muggle martial art films my cousin always watches, right um sir?" Harry hesitantly spoke.
"Eh, close enough, but your red-haired friend should stop ogling my sword or else he might drool on the carpet." By this point Uzumaki had taken a seat, parting his cloak to reveal white leather armor and a short sword strapped at his side.
"Erm, sorry." Apologized Ron.
"Anyway, I haven't introduced myself, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I am your new guardian, courtesy of old man Dumbledore himself." Naruto informed them.
"WHAT!" all three kids shouted, causing Naruto to wince.
"Ow, my sensitive ears… What, you got a problem with that?" Naruto had stood up and stared at them.
"Settle down children, it was my idea to call in an old friend. With Pettigrew escaped, Voldemort might once again go after Harry, and since the wards at the Dursleys are not functional, I have Uzumaki-san here to protect Harry, should the need arises." Dumbledore said with a calming tone, "So where would it be, Ms. Granger's house, or Mr. Weasley's house?" Dumbledore asked Harry.
"Erm, since you don't do magic I-" Harry never got to finish his sentence as Naruto interrupted
"Can't do magic? I've been trained to do magic by the old man himself, plus, with my watch, I can teach you everything you need to know from climbing trees with your feet to summoning a gigantic Yakuza frog to kill a gigantic snake. Can't do magic, ridiculous…" Naruto muttered the last part. "Besides, I find magic is too long with your fancy wand movements." He demonstrated this by taking out his own wand and doing a Wingardium Leviosa to a teacup on the desk. "However, you can shorten that movement with Ninja training." He did the same movement, although this time his hand was a blur. "Anyway, I suggest you go with Granger-san here, her intellectual abilities and protective nature should make for at least a well-balanced summer. If everything becomes too boring…. Well, I can remedy that." He finished it with a smirk similar to the Prankster twins, Fred and George. "Besides, your house is safer to protect since there's less people to muscle my way through."
"Well, um…." Harry was undecided, so Naruto made one last suggestion.
"You know, this Lord Voldymold guy sounds like someone who really would look out of place in a normal neighborhood, and from what the old man over there told me about, he wouldn't think to look for you in a 'seemingly defenseless' non-magical neighborhood. Plus, you would be out of the house for once and still not be overwhelmed by this world?" Naruto finished.
Dumbledore had been confused as to why Naruto was pushing for The Granger Household, however, he looked closely and saw Harry and Hermione were both standing closer, subconsciously. Then he knew, The Power the Dark Lord Knows Not! He thought. If this works, Harry, Hermione, I am happy for you two.
"I believe that the choice is yours Mr. Potter, though going to Hermione's home for the summer has the added bonus of having been to both of your friends' house."
"Well, what do you think Hermione?" Harry asked her uncertainly.
"Oh please, Harry would you go? My parents would love to meet you, and besides they've been bugging me about inviting a friend over for the summer, so please?" Hermione told Harry with hope in her eyes, or actually it was known as the Puppy Dog Pout. Harry had no chance, no chance at all….
"Go on mate, my dad would invite you two for the World Quidditch Cup near the end of summer anyway, so you would stay at The Burrow after all." Ron added in.
"Well, okay fine. Hermione, I will go to your home, I'm curious at how you are outside of school anyway." Harry shrugged, not really caring, but inwardly, he was shouting for joy at spending time away from the Dursleys, though a week with the Dursleys was still enough to make him afraid.
"Then it is settled, Mr. Potter, I believe that you and your friends will need to pack up for tomorrow, I shall see you all later." Dumbledore said.
"Don't worry kiddo, I'll be with you all summer, and for that week, we'll go on a pranking rampage with your so-called "family." Naruto said, ruffling Harry's hair as he passed by.
As the kids left, Naruto turned to Dumbledore with a serious expression, "Have you told him yet?"
"No, not yet, I fear he is too young to-"
"Damn it old man, he's proved his maturity by his actions tonight and previous years. If you tell him five years from now, he'd feel betrayed!" Naruto stood up and stared at his eyes, "Tell him by the end of the fourth year, do not prolong it any longer." With that he left Dumbledore's office.
Well, here it is, the start of a new adventure….. will romance between the two teenager ensue? Will the Dursleys survive the combined might of Konoha's Number 1 Prankster and the son and heir of the Marauders? Find out at the next chapter…. Summer Break!