My inner waiting period for this chapter was either 100 reviews, or the 1st of Dec. Sadly, I'm still a couple away from 100. But, anyway, here you go!

Edit: Thanks to Karin Kinomoto for the beta!

XXXXX

News of both his boggart and Neville's spread like wildfire throughout the school, though the fact that his eyes changed was never mentioned. Perhaps it was because the people witnessing it either didn't notice, or just thought it was that he had gone insane and that was a reputation of it. To his enjoyment, no one sought him out anymore, and they no longer mobbing him during meal times. Whether it was because he now seemed human, or because they were scared he'd go berserk and kill everyone was anyone's guess. However, Snape's temper shortened dramatically as the stories of him wearing Grandma-Neville's outfit circulated. Itachi rather enjoyed potions, but he didn't like how Snape bullied Neville even more, as it reminded him even more of his father. So Itachi took to partnering with him, helping him with a firm hand and watchful eye (telling him that the best method was to prepare all of the necessary ingredients and constantly check with the board before beginning to mix his potion, much like cooking) so Snape rarely had a situation presented to which he could legitimately berate the boy, much to the Potion Master's ire.

Itachi, as well as everybody in school except for Team Three, also took to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Despite how wrong it turned during their first lesson, Lupin still brought creatures for them to practice on, including Red Caps, and Kappa, which was very interesting for him to study something supposedly from his homeland. He'd heard myths, but they were only legends in Konoha, for which he was certain of since the creatures would be pathetically easy to be spotted and even captured by a competent ninja.

The only class he disliked (and that was because of the sheer boredom it caused him) was Divinations. The melodrama the Professor did the first day carried over, infecting both Lavander and Parvati so they started treating his charge differently. The only amusing thing at all to Itachi was that Professor Trelawney barely glanced his way, even though he was without a doubt certain that any true Seer would know the horrifying experiences he was sure to have, and she seemed keen to pounce on those. One out of every three ANBU died horrible deaths before leaving the profession, one out of six were captured and tortured, one in ten went mad from it all, and not a single one in history escaped a life threatening injury at least once in their careers. His odds were not good.

Other then boredom, he had to also suffer through the horrible smell, a woman that could attract any Aburame male she wished by looks alone, and trying to read brown blobs for hours on end.

But the young ninja's favorite class had to be Care of Magical Creatures. After the first day, however, Dumbledore seemed to have stepped in on their curriculum, because Hagrid said that 'They were inexperienced and needed to work their way up the food chain.' However, they 'moved along the food chain' very quickly, covering the entire single X rated beasts in a bare handful of lessons before moving on to the double X two at a time. It was quite common to find him deep in a discussion with the large man about some type of creature such as the chimera as he absently handled a fairy and a puffskein. His interest was much to Hagrid's enjoyment, and the large man promised to bring them something 'fun' for their final lesson, much to the rest of the class's displeasure. Another benefit to the class was that, despite still being with the Slytherins, Hagrid kept to his word and Malfoy had been removed from the class indefinitely. It was found out that the child would only get the needed credits for the class by taking care of the school Thestrals every single day in the mornings and evenings.

But as October began, Itachi found a problem with his mission. Harry appeared to be on some type of sports team, 'Quidditch', which would mean his charge would spend a lot of time outdoors in the open, practically shouting 'Attack me!' while he zoomed around on a stick with twigs. Oliver Wood, the captain of the team, indirectly alerted Itachi of this problem one day when he reminded Harry to come to the meeting later that day. Itachi was quick to think of a plan, resolving to use his genjutsu abilities to their full extent, hiding in the field ever watchful for potential dangers. However, he couldn't leave a kage bunshin alone with Ron and Hermione in all that time (he didn't have enough energy, as the practices lasted hours and there always was a chance of it being dissipated accidentally) or risk being found out, so he had to think of an excuse to be away. He eventually brought this concern to Dumbledore, and he now regretted that action, his original plan abandoned. Not because that the old man couldn't think of one either, or he thought Itachi of as incompetent, but of the solution.

Itachi joined the Quidditch team.

He wasn't a 'real' member, per say. Dumbledore had gone to Oliver and had told that Itachi would very much like to participate in the team in any way he could, and as a foreign exchange student on limited time, he should get to experience that which was Quidditch while he had the chance. Faced with someone 'denied' the 'pure bliss' of Quidditch, Oliver was quick to agree, placing Itachi as the opponent so the team could practice moves. He would be a beater one moment, a keeper the next, and a chaser right after that. There was never any need for him to be a Seeker, as that position required more luck and timing then anything. He would also fill in for anyone who was sick for a match, but that was unlikely to his secret relief; he didn't particularly like flying, and only held back his dislike to keep up his disguise. He remembered with slight discoloring what had happened during his first Flying lesson, given quickly by Harry at their next meeting.

"Ok, what you need to do is hold your hand over your broom, like this," He mimicked what Harry did over the Nimbus two thousand (what Itachi was to know was a good broom) over his own broom, a barrowed one from the school that didn't look too badly beaten down, but had definitely seen better days. "And say, firmly, 'up!'" Harry's broom bounced easily into his hand.

"Up." He said, but the broom didn't move. He scowled, ignoring the way Harry tried to reason it out while looking a little nervous and hissed, "I said, up!" The broom jumped to his hand with a bit of force.

His charge then went to quickly explain how to mount the broom without falling off, where and how to grip it, how to take off and land, steer, and what do to if he did fall off to minimize the impact. He showed Itachi how to do it all while the Uchiha was safely on the ground—Itachi watched him fly through the sky closely with the sharingan... just incase—before telling Itachi to get in the air.

More nervous then when he first entered the academy, he jumped into the air with the broom awkwardly between his legs. He apparently did it with a 'bit' too much force for the broom to handle, as he shot into the air very quickly. Before he crashed into Katie Bell, he implemented one of the moves Harry showed, rolling out of the way. Unfortunately, he didn't know the broom had an abnormal lean to the left, and he then shot to the ground as the result. Only just jumping off before he landed with a sickening crash; he instead thumped heavily onto his back, making him loose his breath. But before anyone could land around him, he snarled and forced himself up, onto the broom again and into the air, this time to level off and lazily hover a good thirty feet off the ground, trying to fight off the drift he had. "This broom is horrid." He said simply when the entire team had come over to him. Instead of disappointed at his lack of flying ability—in his opinion. Anything he didn't get immediately was a failure in and of itself—Harry and the rest of the team were impressed he got it so quickly and after such a bad start.

He supposed, flying was... exhilarating. It was like being turned into a helpless mouse and told to run across a snake pit or risk being squashed by a giant boot. Definitely qualifies as exhilarating, but Itachi was far from becoming a junky. He liked his feet either on something he could stand on (water, trees, the ground and so forth) or know exactly how much energy went into the jump so he would know exactly how long he'd be defying gravity, where he would land, how he would land, and that he was NOT dependant on a magical object.

But he bit back his dislike for it, lied that he enjoyed it—It was exhilarating—and continued to dutifully showing up to every practice (but with a different broom) as the weather got colder and wetter. It was one evening after another practice that Harry and he came into the common room, with all in it ruffled up excitedly. "What's happened?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione as they were sitting at the better seats, working on their star charts. Almost wearily, Itachi sat down as well and asked to borrow some paper and a quill so he could start on his potions essay he hadn't done yet. Receiving the items quickly, he began, remembering the topic sentence easily. Damn Quidditch cutting into his homework time. At least he was writing faster then when he first learned, now.

"First Hogsmeade weekend, end of October. Halloween." Ron gestured to a poster over on the bulletin board.

Itachi paused slightly on his essay, listening intently to the conversation. It was pure luck that Itachi didn't have a permission slip signed either—not that he'd need it if he really wanted to go—so he'd be able to keep tabs on Harry. McGonagall? Letting him go? Ha! That's funny. He resumed his essay as the conversation shifted to Ron's pet rat, Scabbers.

Itachi never trusted the rat. It just seemed weird to him, even though he scanned it with his Sharingan and it turned out to be normal. It'd been with Ron's family for years, and nothing happened with it. But, he silently swore, if it came near his things, he'd kill it first and ask questions later.

Just then, Crookshanks attacked the bag where Ron said his pet was, and sure enough, a terrified rat flung itself out. Itachi quickly snatched up the small mammal in one hand as he stood, knocking away the cat lightly when it tried to claw up him to get to the rat.

"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, trying to get the terrified rat that was now dangling piteously from Itachi's hand. "This is all your stupid cat's fault, Hermione!"

"Ron, all cats chase rats!"

"If you do not put him in a cat-proof cage, Ronald," Itachi said, handing over the rodent when the hissing feline was picked up by its owner. "Then prepare for it to get eaten."

"Why should Scabbers get put in a cage? He was here first, and that cat has got it out for him!"

"Because he is a rat." He replied, sitting back down into his chair and resuming working. "Rats go in cages or get eaten by cats—that don't go in cages because of their nature. Life isn't fair, and either accept it or don't, but know it's your fault if he gets killed. You're smarter then the cat; outwit it."

He didn't look up, even as he heard Ron's feet stomping away, making his way to the dorm room.

XXXXX

Ron was sulky the next day, but he had promised to look into cages by the time they were in Herbology, working at a Puffapod.

They had finished, and made their way to transfigurations, but the sound of a girl crying made Itachi look away from the twitchy Potter, who was undoubtedly waiting to ask McGonagall about Hogsmeade. He and Team Six made their way to Lavender, who was the source of the disturbance. He nodded to Dean as he caught the other boy's eye—they hadn't become best friends from the discussion after the incident, only reaching a certain understanding between them—before focusing his attention on the girl.

"What's the matter, Lavender?" Hermione said, looking worried.

"She got a letter from home this morning," Parvati, who was comforting the sobbing girl, told them quietly. "It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a fox."

Itachi frowned slightly, listening absently as the conversation progressed. All thus fuss over a rabbit? This is why ninja did not have any emotional connections; it turns them into sobbing buffoons. Itachi ruthlessly squashed the voice in his head that reminded him of his own connection. That was Sasuke, it was different, he told himself.

"Well, not necessarily by a fox," the girl sobbed as he tuned back in, "But I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn't I?"

"Oh," Hermione said. Itachi turned and caught her eye suddenly, giving her a warning glare and slightly shaking his head in an obvious, 'leave it' order. Just because you don't believe it doesn't mean you can convince others who want to, he said without words.

Wisely, she nodded, and stepped away from Lavender.

Soon they were seated in the classroom after McGonagall opened the door. Itachi sat himself next to Harry, on the end seat next to the middle isle like normal. It was the best spot for his sharingan, which he used heavily in this class. He ignored how twitchy his charge was, growing as the class wore on, and dutifully wrote down his notes on how to transform a desk into a boat.

"One moment, please!" McGonagall said at the end of class, as they were packing away their things. "As you're all in my House, you should hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting the village, so don't forget!"

"Please, Professor, I—I think I've lost—"

"Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom. She seemed to think it was safer. Well, that's all, you may leave."

"Ask her now!" Ron hissed over to Harry, who was looking apprehensive. "Go on!" He cut off Hermione's mild protests stubbornly.

Itachi followed Harry as he made his way up to their house head, causing Ron and Hermione to stare, but Harry didn't seem to notice.

"Is there something I can help you with?" She said, her eyes flickering from Harry to the ANBU.

"Professor, my aunt and uncle—er—forgot to sign my form," What a horrible lie, Itachi thought. He's going to have to teach the boy how to lie properly. "So—er—d'you think it would be all right mean, will It be okay if I—if I go to Hogsmeade?"

"I'm afraid not, Potter," She shuffled papers around on her desk, not looking at them. "You heard what I said. No form, no visiting the village. That's the rule."

"But—Professor, my aunt and uncle—you know, they're Muggles, they don't really understand about—about Hogwarts forms and stuff. If you said I could go—"

"But I don't say so. The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission. I'm sorry, Potter, but that's my final word. Uchiha, is there something you'd like to discuss with me?"

Harry jumped and turned to face him, but he just looked on blankly. "I am just telling you in advance that I do not have this form either, and my parents are too far away to contact easily. Therefore, I will stay here at Hogwarts during the Hogsmeade trip." He tilted his head ever so slightly, his meaning flashing behind his eyes. He and she both knew he didn't need the slip at all, because his name was already on the list, the headband still on his arm was all the permission they needed. She nodded, more to his secret meaning then to his words.

"Well, you two better hurry to your next class, or you'll be late."

Team Six hurried down the hall, "Looks like you won't be the only third year left, Harry."

"Yeah, you'll have Itachi, at least."

"We'll bring back lots of candy for you both!"

"I thought you were a full adult in your village," Harry asked him. Itachi shrugged, a habit he found himself doing.

"I am. However, this is another country, and I am subjected to the rules of this school. She said no form, no go, and I must follow that."

"Thanks," He said, smiling slightly, as if Itachi was only not pressing the issue because of him. In a way, he was.

"It is of no consequence. Now let us move quickly, or we really will be late."

XXXXX

On Halloween morning, Itachi was meditating lightly on the ground while waiting for the others to awaken, already finished with his morning routine. The rest of the Gryffindors had been sympathetic towards their plight, and Itachi was surprised to find that Dean Thomas could forge rather well, as the boy offered to forge the signatures of both their parents on the slips. This prompted a forging match between the two, with other students betting on who'd be able to forge better and faster then the other. Itachi won, naturally, and had come off with a cut of the profit from the bets (collected by the Weasley twins). He split that with Dean, impressed that a person without the sharingan could fake someone else's writing so easily.

Soon enough, Harry and he made their way down to the Great Hall, for breakfast. Harry looked depressed and hid it poorly, but Itachi, of course, didn't look any different then normal.

"Don't worry about us," Harry said as they accompanied Ron and Hermione to the entrance hall. "We'll see you at the feast. Have a good time."

Malfoy made a passing rude comment as they walked away, hatred bubbling in his eyes as he glared at Itachi. He never did get over the fact Itachi so easily could have snapped his wrist, but chose not to.

After telling the sleepy fat lady the password, they climbed through the whole into their common room. It was abnormally empty for a day off, with only first and second years and a few older students who didn't wish to go to Hogsmeade again. Harry was quickly ambushed by a fan boy—which would have fit even in Konoha's standards for them—but quickly brushed him off, saying he had to do a essay in the library.

"Come on, let's go." He muttered to Itachi, and they crawled back out. The fat lady snipped at them for pointlessly waking her up before falling back asleep.

They made their way in the general direction of the library—Itachi wouldn't mind, really, to go there as there were so many fascinating books, a love he shared only with Hermione—but they turned off and started wandering.

Suddenly, he stopped. "Can we help you with something?" Itachi said, turning slowly. Harry jumped and turned to see Filch, who obviously had just finished seeing off the other students.

"What are you doing?" He asked, eyes flashing. Filch was the only one of the staff not told who Itachi was, and thus he suspected him of doing something as well.

"Nothing." Harry said honestly.

"Nothing! A likely story!" Filch said, and Itachi couldn't help but smirk slightly. What an incompetent person. His cat was better. "Sneaking around on your own—why aren't you two in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?" His eyes flickered between them, as if trying to read their minds for the plot they didn't have.

"Because we wished not to go, obviously." Itachi said dully before turning and giving a 'follow me' glance to Harry as he turned and started walking away. "We were going to visit Hedwig, Harry had promised to show her to me."

"Well..." Filch said, caught off balance. "Don't get into trouble!" He snarled finally, storming in the opposite direction.

"Wouldn't think of it," He muttered blandly as Harry caught up with him. They went up a flight of stairs, as visiting the snowy white owl did seem like a good idea, but a voice stopped them as they passed by a door.

"Harry, Itachi?" Lupin said, poking his head around his door. "Where are you two going? Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"Hogsmeade," Harry replied, almost nonchalant.

"We were not going anywhere specifically, Professor." Itachi said, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Ah, well then, will you come in? I have a Grindylow, for our next class, and we can have some tea."

"A what?" Harry asked, following Itachi as they made their way into the office.

"Water demon," Itachi said automatically. "Likes to live in the bottom of lakes in the water grass, and sometimes merpeople use them as pets."

"Very good, Itachi. You've been reading ahead, hmm?" Lupin smiled over at the ninja, "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappa. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle."

Itachi examined the monkey like thing interestedly, turning down a cup of tea as Harry and Lupin talked (With Divination, he was losing his taste for the stuff). After he sated his curiosity, he made his way to silently sit in the spare chair before the Professor's desk.

"Something worrying you, Harry?" The teacher was just asking.

"No," He lied pathetically, but then corrected himself and glanced Itachi's way. Hm? "Yes. You know the day we fought the boggart?" Ah.

"Yes...?"

"Why didn't you let me fight it?" He swallowed and glanced Itachi's way again, but Itachi just looked at him calmly. "And why did you tell Itachi to step in front of me?"

"The reason I didn't want you fighting the boggart I thought was obvious. Hagrid told had told me of how fast Itachi was, and so I thought it'd be easiest for him to step in before the boggart focused on you. I apologize for that, Itachi."

"No one knew what could have come of that. Not even myself; I had thought something completely different would appear. There is no need for your apology." Itachi replied, sitting still in his chair with his hands clasped in his lap lazily.

"Why? Why stop me? I don't get it..."

"Well, I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort." Lupin said, frowning slightly. Harry just stared, and Itachi was carefully blank. "Clearly, I was wrong. But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic."

The conversation drifted, Itachi watching it all in calm assessment as he did nearly everything in life. He was mildly surprised when Snape came in with a steaming goblet, which Lupin began drinking dutifully. Itachi was a little apprehensive towards it, thinking it was poison due to the animosity between the two men, but the following conversation made him relax. He knew Lupin was a werewolf, having been told when he accepted the mission. He had been told everything he needed to watch out for, and that included the teacher in front of him. He had also been informed of the potion that made the man harmless—just never saw it before—so he didn't react one which way over the situation as Lupin fed his charge half truths.

Soon, they excused themselves, and left.

XXXXX

Enough candy to make Itachi's eyebrows raise slightly was dumped into his and Harry's lap that evening. He listened with curiosity as Ron and Hermione explained the places they had been. The other two listened in aw and shock as Harry explained what had transpired in Lupin's office before they made their way down to the Great Hall.

Itachi looked around the Great Hall slightly, taking it all in. A mass of live bats flew every which way, chattering so they wouldn't crash into anything. Bright orange streamers also snaked through the air, matching the hundreds of carved pumpkins. After a carefully placed question, he listened to Ron explain all about the holiday of All Hallows Eve, and he was mildly amused. The children of a country dressing up in costumes and wandering about his home town in search for candied goods—surely making most ninja jumpy as hell for possible threats, easily hidden among the masked faces and probably terrifying the children as a result. Still, even though there were no costumed people in the hall, Itachi was nervous, feeling that this would be a great time to spring a surprise attack. He kept a close eye on the doors throughout the meal, and made it a point to sit right next to Harry, and in a way that he was slightly blocking the boy from anyone at the entrance.

The food was better then normal, and Itachi watched with sickening fascination as the Gryffindors' ghost reenacted his own brutal beheading. After the meal was done and digesting, he kept to Harry's elbow, eyes constantly scanning the crowd for possible dangers, and the ground for clues. Sure enough, his instincts were right, and they soon found a disturbance in front the Gryffindor portrait hole.

"Why isn't anyone going in?" Ron asked, brows knitted together in confusion.

Itachi watched, his eyes hard, as Percy Weasley called for Dumbledore. He followed Team Six as they tagged along behind the Headmaster as he made his way through the crowd. Methodically, Itachi examined the scene.

Someone had tried to get through the door, attempting to tear their way through when the fat lady hadn't let them in without the password. Great chucks of canvas were littered on the ground, and a few tattered pieces still clung to the painting's frame, most clawed away by hands alone. They hadn't been able to get through, and the fat lady—a witness—had escaped. This was very interesting indeed, but he knew whoever did this was gone. Even a non-ninja would have known better then to stick around.

Dumbledore caught his eye, and Itachi nodded ever so slightly in return.

Then, Peeves showed up, cackling happily. He confirmed what Itachi had already knew, and then told who did it. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

He quickly sent a kage bunshin with Team Six and hid himself easily into a shadow until all the Gryffindors left.

Once they were gone, he came out, and stood before Dumbledore in his militant stance, expectedly. "Get to work, Itachi-san. I will let you find and sweep the path way from here to the entrance while my teachers take the other side of the castle. If they find anything, they will tell you first." He said with a nod before he brushed past him.

For one of Itachi's caliber, it was embarrassingly easy to get into his room, despite not being able to get in through the portrait door. He changed quickly, leaving his robes out so he could change back when he was done.

Sliding his mask into place, he adopted the cold, detached personality (more so then his normal one) that came with it, and went to work. If any one were to see him, they would not know it was Itachi.

He started at the door, casting a few jutsu, his sharingan blazing behind the eyeholes of his weasel mask. He found a trail, the faint footprints leading away from the portrait and larger then a student's, but not the size of any of the teachers. He followed them, crouched low to the ground, looking at nothing but the trail, and turned around a corner when they suddenly disappeared. He blinked, and then searched, and then found dog prints—ones that belong to a particularly large one—his mind clicking instantly. Animagi. Black was an Animagi, and turned into a large dog. He frowned as he tracked the prints easily. It was very possible Black saw Harry before. The 'Grim' was what Ron thought it was, but the ANBU didn't think so.

But if Black saw Harry before, why didn't he kill him then? If he was skilled enough to escape an inescapable prison, break into Hogwarts and escape without anyone seeing him, then surely knocking off a boy with a twig would have been easy. And even if he didn't see Harry before, and the great dog he saw when he left his Guardians house was just a stray, the man could have went into the Great Hall and easily killed Harry that way with a well aimed curse from behind a door, even if Itachi was there and watching, especially with the Ghost's distraction.

His mind buzzing with thoughts, he followed the pad prints with little difficulty, past a worried looking McGonagall who jumped at the outfit, and out the main entrance. Easier to follow them in on the dirt rather then the stone floors, Itachi ran at a light pace, straight into the forbidden forest, his breaths coming out in even white puffs out the sides of his mask.

The air was biting cold, and was getting worse as the night wore on, but Itachi didn't notice. He followed the now muddy steps, around trees and bushes, excited as he seemed to get closer, the tracts fresher. But then they started thinning out, as if the beast was partially flying between steps. He slowed, crouching low to the ground, gaze fixed on the last muddy paw prints, heavily dug into the ground as if he had jumped with as much force as he could. They ended in a minute clearing with a small, still, silvery white pond that steamed slightly to the side.

The air was cold, and the night dark, but it didn't hinder him with his sharingan in the slightest. The air was abnormally still, and he knew he was deep into the forest, and wondered why he had yet to come across one of the many beasts within it. Senses on high alert, he stepped in the direction where the prints had been leading, further into the small, dark, wet clearing. He paused, hearing the sound of about fifteen horses, running easily his way, as if use to traveling through the woods. He placed a hand onto the soggy ground, feeling through the slight vibrations how close they were instead of stupidly trying to see through the trees.

Flinging himself out of the way as an arrow landed where he had been crouching, he landed on all fours, mask facing what could only be Centaurs as they galloped towards him. He expertly dodged the hail of arrows that were firing towards him, slicing away a few that got too close with his katana.

The arrows stopped when they realized they were pointless, but he was quickly surrounded nonetheless.

"Leave me be," He told them, not rising from his crouch. If he wished, he could kill every one of them in a second. But it'd be a pointless killing, and Itachi never did pointless things.

"You, who hide behind a mask and move through our forest with more grace then a unicorn, are not welcome. This is our forest, and oddities such as you have no place here, almost human!" One of them, a chestnut colored one with long flaming hair and many scares across its body, snarled.

Itachi stood, letting his katana hang easily, gleaming in the moon's light. "If what you said, that I move with more grace then a unicorn, is true, then how is it that you know I was here?"

"The forest cries out from your touch, and the stars darken with your presence. You do not belong here, leave." The same one spoke, face twisted in anger.

Itachi tilted his head slightly, bringing up his free hand and gently sliding his mask out of the way to the side of his head. His eyes were closed, but he heard their gasp of surprise upon seeing his child's face. Quicker then they could see, he vanished from his spot, appearing to stand on the back of the one who spoke, grasping the centaurs hair and yanking back to expose his throat, katana placed against the bared flesh.

The Half man half horse reared, but Itachi easily remained balanced on the twisting body, jerking the hair around like reins until the thing went back to all fours, panting in surprise and fear as the others shouted in fright from it, pointing their bows at him, eyes wide and confused to what to do.

"I'm afraid you are in no position to give me orders," He said calmly into the human ear, letting out his large chakra, pressing in on the magically adept creatures before drawing it quickly back. "Tell them to stand down, or I will kill you all before you blink. I kill not for fun, but I will not hesitate if I need to." He let his blade bite ever so slightly into his throat, drawing a thin drop of blood

With a jerking movement of the horse man's hand, the bows were lowered. "A child has no place to know what death is like as intimately as you. No wonder the earth and trees draw back from you." The centaur growled, looking straight ahead instead of at Itachi, fists clenched at his side.

Itachi, ignoring what the beast man said, pointed to where the muddy paw prints were with his Katana, twisting his fisted hand slightly until the centaur walked over, panting with fright, nostrils flared.

Almost lazily, Itachi dropped down after moving his mask back, releasing his hold, but the centaur didn't move away from him, clearly terrified to do so. It had probably never met a being (let alone a human) who could wield chakra on command, and such a high amount as well.

"My mission is to protect one Harry Potter, and currently my prey is this man." He gestured to where the paw prints were, the twisted weasel mask giving nothing away. "He entered the castle, and escaped while I was guarding the boy in another location. The prints I tracked here vanished, and if you can communicate with the forest, I would like you to find where he is for me."

Visibly trembling, the centaur made no move to cover his hatred of Itachi. "Why should we help you, almost human child?"

"I am adept at tracking. But this vexes me. I am not like my friend, Kakashi-sempai, who can track a Falcon through the sky. If you tell me if this man has left, then I will have no more reason to be in your forest. If he hasn't left the forest, then telling me where to capture him will also mean my soon retreat." He turned his seemingly eyeless gaze back to the half man, seeing him visibly flinch back.

Tense, the horse man walked to the nearest tree, letting his hand and forehead rest on it. Itachi waited quietly, patiently. "The man-beast you seek has left the forest," He said, turning to glare at Itachi. "Your purpose is gone, almost human child."

"Very well, I shall leave your precious woods." Itachi stood from his crouch, sliding his katana back into its back-mounted sheath after wiping the slight blood off, then calmly walked the way he came.

"How can you trust that I'm truthful, almost human child?" The centaur said suddenly, hooves clopping the ground nervously.

Itachi paused, but didn't turn back. "I don't trust your truthfulness. I trust in the fact you wouldn't want to be caught in a lie by me." And he continued on his way, hopping lightly into the branches for a quicker exit, leaving the beasts to snort angrily and gallop out the small clearing.

XXXXX

Itachi made his way back to the castle, within ten minutes. He met with Dumbledore, who was waiting for him at the front entrance. Not even an hour had passed since coming upon the portrait.

"Report," He said, as Itachi crouched in front of him.

"Black made a direct escape through the western hallway, from where he also entered. He left the castle by the front entrance, and then made his way into the forbidden forest. Once deeply into the woods, I suspect he got onto a broom, as the tracks suddenly vanish, but the last ones shown he had leapt with some force." He kept the fact Black was an Animagi to himself, as he suspected there was more to the eye then appears at first glance. Look underneath the underneath, Kakashi-sempai always said. His mission was to stop all threats, not be completely truthful. "I abandoned my search because the centaurs reacted negatively to my presence."

"Very well. Your charge is in the Great Hall, along with all the students. You are dismissed."

"Understood." Itachi bowed and made his way back to the Gryffindor tower. With as much ease as before, he changed back into his school clothes, exactly the way he was earlier, and made his way to the hall.

He switched with his clone—after retrieving information out if it—with no one the wiser. Everyone was whispering, and he gleaned what they knew off them. All ninja knew to never underestimate gossip, though most of it was very funny to him.

The night ticked on, and soon it was three in the morning. Itachi knew he wouldn't sleep that night, but he was surprised to note that Team Six were also awake. Itachi listened along with Harry as Percy, Snape, and Dumbledore discussed the continued searching of the castle.

"What about that guard you hired?" Snape said, informing Itachi that he did not know they were here, awake. "If he was worth anything—"

"Professor Snape, he has already evaluated the situation. He did far more tonight then the Dementors could ever hope to. Speaking of them, I must go inform them that our search is complete. Excuse me."

With that he left. Harry glanced over at Ron and Hermione, their eyes reflecting the enchanted ceiling, before he looked next to him. 'Who are they talking about?' He mouthed, knowing Itachi was the most perceptive of the group.

Itachi placed a finger to his lips, before silently pointing over to the door. A regular clone stood there, barely visible in the darkness, weasel mask firmly in place and fully adorned in ANBU gear. It was mainly there to distract Black if he came in for just a moment, when Itachi would take full advantage of the situation and take him out. But now he had another purpose; distraction. If a guard seemingly showed up, but they never saw him, then suspicion would be raised, and Itachi could be revealed. That must not happen.

He leaned forward, whispering just loudly enough to be overheard by anyone who cared. "That man's a tracker. I saw him working outside when we were coming down through a window. I wonder if he has found Black's hiding spot?" When telling a lie, feign innocence by asking a question about it.

XXXXX

MDF: Not quite as long as the previous, but still its 12 pages.

I have that Sirius didn't use the Whomping willow in this story for this escape. Before you comment on it, it's because it comes into play later. Assume that Sirius had a stolen school's broom waiting for him where he'd fly towards one of the entrances of a secret path and leave that way, not going directly towards it. The broom then crapped out on him, and he threw it away.