March 27th 2013 NARUTO/Harry Potter X-Over

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR NARUTO.

Warnings: Minor Slash (male/male pairing) Does not follow Naruto world canon, and differs in OoTP.

Pairings: HP/LV, Naruto/?, SS/?

A/N: You may skip these author notes if you so like. These are basically just my rantings.

Sorry about giving you this chapter this late. I know that most of you are most likely pissed off, because I'm being tardy. And for that I apologize. But now, here's the next chapter. But, please, don't expect me to give another chapter any time soon. I will update when I can - not when you demand - I have illness to attend. And as for story itself, it goes the way it goes, there is no clear plot or thought that I follow. I just write what comes in my mind, by free hand. Sometimes, somethings are written because I get inspiration from my own everyday life, what I see in news or something that happens for me. Or how I feel at the moment.

On the other note, I have a doctor's appointment soon, and I already fear how it will go. I have not taken my meds as regularly as I should have, and I have the feeling that she will nag at me until my ears turn red and deaf. But I have to go see her. The pain in my joints is becoming unbearable soon and I'm starting to have trouble in moving - again. I just fear that I will have to get knee surgery - not that I have it yet, that goes in unforeseeable future. There have been some talk about knee surgery, you see. But hopefully things won't go that bad, ne?

On the brighter note, my little sister Senna will be giving birth her first child in any day now! I will become aunt again! We know that baby is girl, but she and her husband have not yet decided baby's name. I can barely wait to see her! I have already one niece, three-years-old Amanda, she will be four-years-old in November 5th. Little Manda is absolute sweetheart.

― ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ― Enjoy Reading! ― ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ―

Stillnight Presents

Heroes of All Sorts

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― ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ― CHAPTER THREE - TRUTHS COMING OUT ― ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ―

Morning after what had occurred to Harry with Voldemort in his mindscape, Harry was unusually thoughtful but otherwise rather cheerful. Ron and Hermione didn't have any inkling why he was so merry when he had been so moody and depressed overall since end of fourth year. But then again, Hermione supposed that it was because he had finally been able to sleep nearly nine hours without waking up, as Harry had said when they walked down to Great Hall for breakfast.

When owl post arrived Harry recognized instantly the owl swooping down, letter tied to his leg. Owl perched Harry's shoulder. Hermione watched curiously as Harry took letter from owl and spoke to owl.

"Good morning, Archmonde", Harry cooed at owl and gave him a piece of his sausage. "Are you waiting reply for this or just keeping company for me this morning?" he asked and scratched the owl under beak. Archmonde gave a hoot that Harry somehow deciphered as that Archmonde was just keeping company.

Harry folded letter open and saw only few lines written lines. Letter seemed to practically radiate desperation, and Harry realized that now was something very serious going on. Frowning, he read quietly.

"Meet me as soon as you can. I found out the answer for your connection with the Dark Lord. It's utmost importance for you to know it as soon as you can. Come to my home, alone. Maelstrom."

As soon as Harry finished reading the letter he stuffed it to his robe's pocket. "I have to go, Hermione, Ron. I have to meet someone in this instant. This is very important. Unfortunately I can't take you with me. But I will tell you about it if it possible", he said and stood up.

"But...!", Ron protested immediately, but Hermione saw how serious Harry's expression was.

"No, Ronald", Hermione said sternly and grabbed red-head from arm to stop him. "We will wait here. This is clearly important to Harry. He will tell us if and when he can. You will not pressure him about this now", she said slowly like to a child.

Ron blushed hotly and his expression was angry, but somehow he held his tongue for once. Usually he blurted what ever he was thinking, not much caring about his words.

Harry hugged Hermione and said, "Thanks, Herm." He left from Great Hall and as soon as he was out of Castle he put his invisibility cloak on and sprinted as quickly as he dared under the cloak. He felt slightly excited to learn why he was connected to Voldemort but he could not help but also feel a bit scared.

In Hogsmeade Harry slipped to Naruto's home yard and knocked to door.

Door was opened by distraught and worried Naruto. Wordlessly Harry was led to living room where books and parchment were laying everywhere in a mess. Harry threw his cloak and outer robes to couch.

"Harry, please, sit down", Naruto said with scratchy voice.

Now Harry was certain that this was something very worrisome, because Naruto had called him by his given name. Usually Naruto called him 'Mr. Potter'. Harry sat down obediently and didn't argue with older man, waiting patiently him to tell. He didn't want to pressure already distressed older wizard.

Naruto paced restlessly in front of Harry, and stopped then, taking deep breath. "Harry... I found out how you and the Dark Lord are connected to each other. Tell me... Have you ever heard of term a 'horcrux'?", he asked finally.

Harry was puzzled. "No", he shook his head. He had not indeed, but he could guess that it was something very bad.

Naruto drew calming breath and continued. "A Horcrux, Harry, is created by committing act of most heinous crime. Usually murder in cold blood, with purpose of prolonging their own life with other's and doing so without any regret splits human soul, and those fragments and shards of soul can be cast away and locked inside of an item that is very important and has great personal value. That act causes person to become immortal and they can not die as long as they have a horcrux somewhere safe. It anchors the person to the mortal plane, making one impossible to die or to be killed", he explained.

At this point Harry was faintly looking sick and pale. He already was guessing what Naruto was saying next.

"That is also the reason why the Dark Lord didn't die the night he tried to kill you, Harry. It is now so clear. This the only one thing I think of as to why he survived when he tried to kill you and killing curse back fired to him instead...", Naruto said and bit his lower lip.

Harry waited patiently, digesting what he had heard. He felt terrified that Voldemort had crafted a horcrux, rendering himself immortal.

"However, there has never been made of living horcrux. They have always been a lifeless objects. And that is what happened that night, Harry... Dark Lord made you of his horcrux, unknowingly and unintentionally, however."

Harry had gone deathly pale. He had not guessed that Naruto would have discovered something of this magnitude.

Naruto gave sad look at Harry and touched Harry's forehead, traced the scar with his fingers. Now that he was aware of it, he could feel the foreign presence in scar. It was true, he had hoped, so dearly hoped to the end that it would not be true... "For the Dark Lord to be killed and defeated for good, Harry, you... have to die first..."

Harry slumped in his armchair, gone pasty white. Blood rushed in his ears and heart hammered furiously in his chest. Silent tear slid down his cheek and fell off. "I have to die...", he murmured, unknowingly sending wave of deep desperation and sadness through his link to Voldemort. And then he suddenly, just without warning, burst into tears. He had not cried since had been a small child.

Naruto couldn't stand watching it any longer. He scooped the crying teen to his arms and sat in chair rocking him, rubbing soothingly his back. And poor, poor child sobbed his heart out.

― ◦H◦o◦A◦S◦ ―

Voldemort was middle of meeting, handing out new assignments for his Death Eaters when he was hit with wave of excruciating sadness and desperation out of blue. He knew that it was Potter, it could not be anyone else. He nearly staggered on his feet under the pressure of those emotions. He swiftly covered his face with his robe's sleeve. Tears were running down his pale face.

"This meeting's adjourned", he rasped out, dismissing the meeting despite that it was not over yet. As other Death Eaters were leaving the room, he breathed out. "Severus, stay with me.." and Severus stayed at his lord's side. Only when others had left, Voldemort staggered down to his armchair and revealed his tear-streaked face.

Severus was astonished. "My lord?", he questioned with uncovered shock.

"The Potter boy... Something... happened to.. him. I need to... find out", Voldemort rasped and closing his eyes he delved down the link, following it to the boy.

Potter's mind was currently in utter chaos. Memories whirling and fluttering around aimlessly. Dark Lord grasped the first one that he could grasp onto, which happened to be Harry's recent conversation with Naruto. After witnessing the memory he understood. And he immediately retreated to his own mind. That had given him a lot to think.

"Severus...", Voldemort gasped. "The child... I cannot kill him... I will not allow it to happen", he said. "He must be protected."

Severus did usually very admirable job masking his emotions, but this time it proved to be impossible. "My Lord?", he questioned uncertainly, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. "What do you mean?"

"He is my soul", Voldemort revealed. "Killing him would be killing myself."

Severus eyes widened with realization. Now his dear Lily's son was safe from the Dark Lord, he felt relieved. But not from Dumbledore, yet, he knew it. "How do we go from here now on, my Lord?" he asked. He would do anything to protect Harry, even to give up on his own life if it would save him.

Voldemort's face had an odd, unusual expression. It was something of determination and something else that Severus had never before seen in his face. "We will protect him", he said with conviction. "Any means necessary."

― ◦H◦o◦A◦S◦ ―

Harry had earlier felt that Voldemort had snooped in his mind, most likely searching answers for his sudden outburst. He did nothing, he had no reason to. He and Voldemort were the one, sharing the soul.

Naruto offered Harry a brotherly comfort and cared about him in general, and now he needed care and comfort more than ever before. He needed time to come into terms with that he was a horcrux. Apothecary and Tea-house were in care of his clones, so they were not reason to worry and leave Harry alone at moment of need.

Not much later raven-haired teen fell asleep, exhaustion taking its toll on Harry. And Potions master could not blame the child for it. Instead he carried the boy into upstairs to guest room to rest. After taking off outer ropes, he tucked the boy into bed under the quilt. He returned to downstairs to living room to tidy it up. He had a feeling that he would be soon having visitors, regarding Harry. He stacked all parchments and scrolls to a neat pile.

Two hours later, he knew that he had been correct. He was in task of writing all information up to his personal journal about the mind link and horcruxes for Harry for later use, when the door bell finally rang. When he opened the door, behind it stood two men, one of them being Hogwarts' resident potions professor. Other man was wrapped into thick, dark cloak and robes, hood concealing his face. Naruto could catch scent of snakes from him.

Wordlessly he let them in, and led into kitchen. In kitchen he made tea and warmed up some dango. When everyone had sat down and taken tea mug and stick of dango, Naruto said, "You hurt him and I promise you that I will kill you both myself if need to be", his eyes flashed crimson with slit pupil. Both men flinched involuntarily back wards. Good, they were afraid of him.

"We will not hurt him", Voldemort said, and laid his hood down. Usually people feared his monstrous appearance, but not this one. This one did not feel fear when facing him, he obviously was not afraid. "The boy is my soul, I strive to protect him. He shan't be harmed. Not by my hand or that by of my men."

"Good, remember that, Dark Lord", Naruto said with narrowed eyes. "Should you ever forget it, it shall be your undoing", he gave meaningful, crimson glare at bald, pale man. "You will not see your death coming if you hurt him."

Voldemort was rather impressed the power and fear-inducing presence other was emanating. Even Dumbledore wasn't able to a such a feat even during his youth and prime. Yet this young man, not even in his prime yet, was radiating a such a power, succeeding his own. It would not do well to anger this man unnecessarily. "Where is he now?", he asked instead of voicing his thoughts.

"Sleeping, let him rest", Naruto replied, keeping his eyes at the Dark Lord. "He suffers from insomnia and rarely sleeps without aid of sleeping draughts."

Severus was relieved that Potter was safe, now at least. "How you were able to figure out that is a horcrux?", he asked, need to know gnawing his mind.

Naruto leaned back in his chair and regarded both of men with his now normal, cobalt blue eyes. "Harry told me everything he knew about his and Dark Lord's connection, what that old foolish man had told him and what he had discovered by himself within time", he said, eating his now already cooled dango. "Deducting from that, using my vast library here and at my parents home, and with help of my mother and ...", he said sighing. "Well, regardless... It was not an easy feat under any circumstances", he continued fingering his empty dango stick. "It was both a shock and a surprise to me as well. Not many in these days uses a horcruxes anymore, because they have unsavory side-effects, mostly leaning towards insanity and mental instability.

Voldemort nodded to that. It was true. Had he known it back then when he was younger he would not had used a horcruxes, but rather to find another way to achieve his immortality. It was still not too late to fix the situation. He would do it first when he had more time. And perhaps, he would send his Death Eaters to chase after a muggle legends of immortality. They had interesting views about immortality and intriguing legends. They had to have some sort of truth in there to exist in first place. And that should keep his Death Eaters busy for months, if not for a few years.

And that was beginning of sort of friendship of Naruto and Voldemort.

― ◦H◦o◦A◦S◦ ―

Later that same day Harry woke up, feeling slightly better. He was slightly disoriented at first but then what had happened came back to him. He sat in bed, leaning against headboard, feeling confused, scared and very much alone. This was something he couldn't - wouldn't - tell to his friends. He didn't know anymore what to do. He was so lost.

Was it selfish from him that he wanted to live? To not to kill Voldemort so that he could live? Was it selfish that he wanted to find love, have kids of his own and live a long life before he finally would die, most preferably from old age or in some crazy adventure?

If so, then...

No, he didn't want to think about it at all. All of his life he had been selfless, done what was asked of him and been bossed around by people who hated him and would love to see him dead.

It was his life and he should be able to what ever he wanted with it, right? Sure, he was still young and seen as a child, but he certainly didn't feel like child with all that shit that had happened in his life so far. As he had told Voldemort on other night, he had ceased from being a child that night he had been left on his relatives doorstep.

If his mom and dad were still alive... They would go ballistic, that much he could easily deduct from what Sirius and Remus had told him about his parents. His mom had been redhead, and she had been notorious for her fiery temperament - according what his godfather had told him about his mom, though it wasn't much.

Harry sighed and got up from bed and stretched. His head felt slightly fuzzy. He blushed as he remembered that he had cried like a little child earlier and felt little bit embarrassed. He hadn't really cried since he had been four years old. Not like that, at least. What would Naruto think about him? He stepped outside onto hallway and searched for loo. He needed to relieve his bladder and wash his face. He was absolutely certain that he looked terrible.

He spotted the loo's door not far away from his own room. He looked himself from mirror and made a face seeing his own reflection. He was right - he looked absolutely terrible. His face was paler than normally, his eyes were slightly red and puffy from crying and his hair was absolute mess. It was sticking every which way in most atrocious way possible. At the moment however he was too distracted to care about his appearance. He washed his face and tried to flatten his hair, but it just wouldn't stay down. After relieving himself and washing his hands, he went downstairs.

In living room, he came face to face with Voldemort himself.

"Ah. You came", Harry stated simply.

Voldemort stared at Harry's deep green eyes and noted that in depths of those eyes he could see loneliness and how lost the boy felt right now. It also first time that he really took look at boy. And he noted that he seemed much older than he really was, despite that he didn't look older than fifteen or sixteen, which in itself was quite contradicting.

"I felt your... emotions", he stated. "I had to come to see you", he continued. "And in light of what we have learned here today, you can rest assured that you will be protected and kept safe from any danger. That including Dumbledore and that Umbridge woman. Severus has already started to take a measures against that woman. She will be punished."

Harry was bewildered and he gave wide-eyed look at bald man. "If... If you say so, Tom", he replied.

Voldemort's crimson eyes moved to stare at scar on teen's forehead and his hand rose on its own accord to touch it. Harry backed slightly warily away. He didn't want to get hurt again, but he they both were surprised that when the dark lord touched jagged scar, only thing they both felt was warm tingling. Harry in his scar and Voldemort on his cool fingers. It didn't hurt. At all.

Things had finally changed between them. And Harry knew that it would be okay, for once, to be selfish.

― ◦H◦o◦A◦S◦ ―

Voldemort sat on couch in his manor. Harry had returned to Hogwarts with Severus and he himself back to his own manor in Little Hangleton. It was first time since his resurrection that he had seen the boy in person, though he had met him on occasion or two in joined mindscape, something that they had created after their first meeting. To keep their own privacy.

When he had touched Harry's scar earlier, he had finally felt the piece of his soul on scar. The presence wasn't malevolent or dark, just neutral, dormant magic in there. And it was slowly merging with boy. It was startling.

By the time Harry would twenty or twenty one, their souls would be merged together, tying them together for eternity. If they would die now, their souls would still separate from each other, but they would always have some form of connection, no matter if they were reincarnated how many times. But after they had fully merged, they would never be separate from each other. They would always seek each other out, no matter the time, place or as who they would be reincarnated. They would be soul-mates - they wouldn't be able to live without each other. If they did, they would go mad or die from loneliness.

That was something to think about. It wasn't possible to pull his soul fragment back to himself anymore. It was too late for that. If he had known about it earlier, like when Harry was still just three or four years old, it would still have been possible to extract the soul out without killing the child... But now...

Nonetheless... He wasn't even sure if he wanted to get that soul fragment back. It was more safe with Harry than it would be within himself or anywhere else.

Voldemort sighed heavily and run his hand across his bald head. He wasn't sure what to think anymore or what to do. Suddenly, the very rules of the game had changed. His connection to Harry had stabilized him, along with the piece from diary that had returned to him. He was regaining his very sanity, he had lost decades ago. He was starting to realize that things had gone very much wrong, that his goals had changed so much from his original ones, that it wasn't even funny.

He had to start fix this mess before it would be too late. There was still time, just barely, though. And first thing to do would be to gather all of his soul pieces back and reabsorb them. It would be dangerous, because of prominent possibility of going permanently insane from agony it causes. But he knew that he would be able to endure it. He had to, he had no other choice.

He stood up and trudged to kitchen. It was in rather terrible condition, just like the rest of the house. There was a lot of dust every where. With sigh he started to clean kitchen so that he would be able to make tea for himself. Only few rooms of house were usable. Perhaps, it would be time to get some house-elves to care for this place before it would collapse down to his neck. After kitchen was suitably enough clean he made tea from tea-leaves Naruto had given him.

And then, there he stood, steaming mug of tea in his hands, wondering about Harry and himself, and their relationship. Deep inside he knew that things were already starting to change. For better or worse, he didn't know yet, and it was yet to be seen.

On outside it started snow again. First time in decades, a very much genuine smile, tugged his thin lips. For good or ill, he was changing. Finally.

And that was something.

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TBC.

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