Happy V-day to all of those out there who didn't get something, with myself included! Consider this your chocolate!
XXXXX
Ron was embittered to him over the next day, and Harry was with him (though not to the degree as Ron). Itachi stuck with Hermione, but kept an eye on his charge no matter where he was located. He did, however, take advantage of the situation with the bookworm and asked her to show him every spell she knew one day because he 'wasn't here for two years and was tired of being out of the loop,' and he copied them all, even the ones she had figured out on her own. Quite a few were useless (what good was growing tentacles on your opponent's cheeks? It would cause far too trouble in his world if something like that was to happen) but the rest were something very interesting for him.
The animosity and mourning lasted until the day of the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw match (and he noticed with a bit of surprise that Cho, the girl he met on the train, was the Seeker, meaning he knew all four Seekers in each house outside of Quidditch for various different reasons). After a failed Dementor scare (He caught onto Malfoy at breakfast, and the lack of chilling air/only two also told him they were fakes during the game. He also observed that Harry preformed a full Patronus, and it looked like a stag, though the boy in question didn't seem to know.) Harry caught the snitch, and the entire house celebrated for the rest of the day, including Hermione who was dragged away from her books physically before she started enjoying herself. Ron no longer bemoaned about, but he still huffed away angrily if he saw Itachi, even though the bruise was fading. Several times he proclaimed that Scabbers would have liked such and such, but he was dead, and Itachi seemingly remained oblivious to the comments to Ron's annoyance. Of course, Itachi's words rang true, and there was no body to be found, despite the boy sniffing and searching intently at every odd smell in the place.
But as the day and then the night wore on, McGonagall finally called it quits at around one. Ron and Harry chatted about the match with Itachi shadowing them without their knowing. Itachi meditated after changing as his usual, but didn't have to wait long before the exhausted boys were asleep.
Curling into his futon, he allowed himself to drift off. He idly wondered where Kneazle-Sasuke was. He left the door partially open for her, but due to his paranoia, he kept his kunai pouch under his comforter as well.
XXXXX
A dog poked its head out from around the corner, listening and watching intently. Tonight was the perfect night, everyone would be tired from the party, and thus sleep deeply. He worried over the strange person who had tracked him so well the first time he attempted to get into the common room, but it didn't matter now. No one would be in there but mere boys.
Black turned back to his human form as he approached the picture—who was currently practicing his swordsmanship, but stopped as he saw someone approach.
"Halt! Who goes there? Password?" He said as Black walked in front of him.
"Um," He fumbled with the paper and then began to read off the various passwords in the dim light. "Nitwit, Lotus, Scurvy, Savvy, er... Oddsbodkins, Tweak, nettle... flick, wickert, snockered..."
"Ah! That's the one," The knight said happily, swinging open.
Black crawled into the familiar common room, a smile tugging on his thin lips. From the residue, they still knew how to throw parties. But none of that, he was here to kill, and kill he shall. He will enjoy it immensely when he feels that rat being slowly crushed in his hands...!
He made his way up to the room, the small Kneazle kitten that had started helping him along with that one large cat leading the way. She slipped through the partially open door, and he licked his cracked lips and shifted his grip on the weird dagger the Kneazle had stolen from her master for him, ignoring the sudden bite to his thumb as he accidentally rubbed a sharp edge. What the child was doing with it at Hogwarts in the first place was anyone's guess.
Slowly, silently, he pushed open the well oiled door and slipped inside, leaving it open for a quick escape. He spied the Kneazle rubbing against the post of one of the beds, before loping to her master to curl into his neck, purring contently, her eyes closing as she settled down to sleep. Sirius eyed the child who slept on what appeared to be a large pillow on the ground—why didn't they give the poor boy a proper bed?—before turning to his target. Best to get this done quickly, he thought, locking his eyes and walking forward.
Of course, since he turned away, he didn't see Itachi vanish from his bed, as quick as lightning. Sasuke wasn't even disturbed.
Sirius paused before doing what he intended. ...He was there, only a few feet away—his god child. He spun on his heel and silently made his way to Harry's bed, peaking inside, seeing the eyelids of his best friend's son twitch in dream. He smiled, thinking he looked just like James, before turning away, letting the curtains fall back into place without much noise.
Quick steps brought him to the child Ron—if he remembered the name from the large cat—anger swelling in him. He brought the kunai up and slashed through the curtain, scanning the bed, knife thing poised for the kill... What?! The rat wasn't here, and—! The boy shifted and opened his eyes, staring at Black, who stared back with his own wide eyes. Then the child's eyes snapped open completely and he let out an unholy cry, but Sirius turned and fled, dropping the kunai in his haste, running out the door and slammed it behind him.
He bolted down the hall, through the common room and portrait. He was just about to turn back into his dog form as he ran down the hall and make his escape when suddenly something crashed into his side, pushing him forcefully into a shadowed nook next to a suit of armor.
Black gasped, his eyes widening. His arm was just going to break the grip on his collar, but a hand clamped on his wrist like iron shackles and twisted it, making him close his eyes in pain, and suddenly feeling a knife to his own throat.
"Scream, and I will kill you right now." The young voice said softly with the slightest accent, barely heard over the sudden loud ruckus in the Gryffindor common room. Sirius opened his eyes and focused for the first time on the person—child—who pinned him so effortlessly. Blood red eyes looked deeply into his own, the black comma things swirling, making him wonder what was the point of struggling...?
Knowing the affect of an Imperius curse, Black snapped himself out of instantly, glaring down at the Asian boy who blinked once before his eyes narrowed. "Kill me then, fool, there's only worse things waiting for me." He growled defiantly. Just then a teacher approached, (My god, McGonagall never seemed to age) wearing nothing but a sleeping gown and an irritated expression. Black paled, expecting to be found any moment, she was getting closer! Surely she'd see them, poking out the slight indent, lit partially by the moon light, she was right there and... Passed them without a glance?
"I've made certain we won't be discovered before I'm through with you." The child said quietly, and he came to recognized him as the sleeping child in the room on the pillow. How did—?
"Who are you? Do you know who I am? What makes you can defeat me?" Bluffing, don't fail me now. So what he was using a reputation he didn't deserve?
But the person just smirked. Or at least, he felt like he did. He couldn't tell with the completely blank face, and matching smooth tone. "I know very well who you are, Sirius Black. You do not know who I am. I am ANBU; Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, or 'Assassination Tactics Special Squad' in your language. I have been hired to kill you." He pressed the dagger harder into his throat, and Sirius had to press back farther to avoid being cut. "And I can slice open your throat if you so much as blink wrong."
Sweating, he stared into the eerie eyes, feeling the cool metal all the more. Being in Azkaban for years gave him knowledge on how killers sound, and the way this mere boy spoke showed he had killed before, and he could easily do so again without second guessing, and it chilled Black to the bone. "What do you want?" He said, feeling the blade slice some flesh as his Addams apple bobbed up and down.
"What I want is information. I have already gathered some interesting knowledge in my time here, such as that you're an Animagi who turns into a dog, and your goal is not Harry Potter, since you went to Ron's bed, knowing where my charge was, and you didn't do a finishing blow to him. You've also had plenty of opportunity to kill Harry, despite my presence at his side. My question is simple, and to the point, and this will be a key piece in the puzzle I construct together. If you lie, I will know, and I will not be happy." He tilted his head slight to the side, commas swirling in his eyes. "Who was the Potter's Secret Keeper?" His question shocked Sirius. Why would he ask such a random question?
But his face twisted, hatred for the person boiling to the surface. If this child wanted to know, he would tell him. "Peter Pettigrew, the damn rat—" He snarled, but before he could say more Professor McGonagall stepped back out to talk to the Portrait and upon being told, Yes, the knight did allow a man in, she frantically scrambled back into the room. He was turned to face it along with the boy, and was shocked when the blade was removed and the hand that pinned him let him go.
"I have my information. I am ordered to take out threats." He looked at him, eyes dulling down into black orbs as he turned away. "You are no longer seen as a threat." He walked a step away before looking back over his shoulder, "Run, or be captured by someone other then myself, and they won't be so..." He turned back forward and began walking again. "Compassionate."
Black didn't need telling twice. He did just that, running away on all four paws.
XXXXX
Itachi was escorted to Dumbledore's office immediately once he revealed himself again from the opposite direction at a run, eyes hard as he approached McGonagall, who had came out of the common room white as a sheet. She looked at him for a moment before her face contorted in anger and she escorted him right then and there to the Headmaster's room, too angry to speak and her hand clamped almost viciously on his forearm. He had calmly waited outside when she spoke to Dumbledore alone, the conversation dulled down from the heavy door to nothing but a dulled murmur, but then he was called in and she left, presumably to search the castle.
He stood in his military stance, looking straight ahead. Dumbledore was staring at him, had been for the last few minutes. He knew what he was doing. It was a passive aggressive technique, used to interrogate someone into telling them things when they didn't want to reveal anything without lifting a finger.
He waited for permission to speak, however. He would not fall for it. He had not broken the contract, nor the school rules that applied to him.
"Itachi," The wizard finally said. "Where were you during the break in? This was the reason you were hired, and you've failed in that."
"I was on the grounds, sir." Itachi immediately replied.
"What were you doing there?"
"I was searching for clues of trespassers. I felt that this night was a good time for a break in, as the entire Gryffindor house would have been exhausted from the party. I left the room after setting up a small trip wire made of chakra, and went to search the castle. I went along the path that Black used last time, searching for hints or clues, making sure I was hidden at all points. When I felt my wire go off, I ran directly back but when I arrived, McGonagall was already there and Black was gone. Ordered to come here, I did." His face gave nothing away, looking coolly into the eyes of his employer. He was trained to lie, and while being half drug like a spoiled child by his House Head, he had formed the exact one he would say to his employer, including any details he might ask about.
They lapse into silence, Dumbledore trying to eye the truth out of him.
"I heard about you and Ron..." The man began, taking a point of view Itachi didn't expect so much that he blinked compulsively, confusion glinting in his eye as his hard composure faltered ever so slightly.
"Pardon...?"
"If this is some type of joke you played on Weasl—"
"I would kindly request of you to not degrade me." Itachi nearly snarled, his head bending slightly as his eyes narrowed. "Ronald and I had a small confrontation, but I would never mess with a mission. I am ANBU, not some petty child who plays pranks without thinking of the consequences."
Taken back by the anger, Dumbledore leaned into his chair, watching him seethe. Itachi was appalled, did he honestly thought he turned into a likeness of Black just to scare a pouting child?
"The reason I thought that, Itachi-san, was because of this," He put a small wrapped object with a dull thunk onto the table. At a pointed glance, Itachi stepped forward and unwrapped it, revealing a kunai. "It was found next to Ron's bed, on the other side of your spot, and he confirmed Black was using it."
Itachi looked at the kunai carefully; spotting something most likely had been looked over by the wizards. "This is my kunai." He admitted, recognizing it."How Black got it I am uncertain as I take count every time I use them. The last time that was this morning, I had my full thirty as I made my way back to the dorm to change. The only time I was separate from them was when I showered, but no one was up at that time that I was aware of."His mind immediately went to Ron's rat. Could that thing have...? "You can tell someone who never held a kunai before used this." He showed Dumbledore the part he showed Dean so long ago, "Blood, and it's still fresh. The person who used this cut his finger on this point. No one but the most inexperienced people cut themselves there, and I am not that stupid."
Dumbledore looked at the blade, then back at Itachi, taking a deep, long breath and running a hand over his face. "I had hoped it was just a joke. But this is serious news indeed..."
"What are my orders, sir?" He asked, putting the kunai back into his pouch after wiping it off.
Dumbledore reached up and rubbed at his eyes behind his glasses before sighing deeply again. "I hoped this wouldn't have come to this, but... In light of the recent events, the next time Sirius Black steps on Hogwarts grounds, your new orders are to kill on sight."
XXXXX
Apparently Ron's animosity with Itachi was over. Under the lie that he had been down to the kitchens for something to eat, wanting more then just candy, no one had questioned why he was not in the room during the event. Ron practically mauled him when he appeared the next day (Itachi had searched the grounds the rest of the night), nearly shouting in excitement as he retold the story to him in immense detail. Having witnessed it, he knew some things were embellished, but he acted astounded (for him) nonetheless.
He joined in the group's discussion of how and why Black did what he did, though Itachi left out the parts they didn't know, and his suspicion of the missing Scabbers; there was just something about it... He had also told that Dumbledore and McGonagall had suspected he was the one who broke in to scare Ron, but he vehemently said he would never do that to a friend (To Team Six's pleasure), he would turn into a giant spider instead (to Ron's scowl, and small sock in the arm—to Itachi's scowl).
Ron was an instant celebrity, and he lavished the attention. He told anyone who'd ask in great detail what happened, slowly changing the story until it was all but a short fight between him and Black. Sir Cadogan had been fired, and the Fat Lady was back, only this time she had some troll guards. She also had been told of Itachi, and asked him if he suspected anything was going to happen whenever he went in or out alone. Poor Neville had been punished severely for writing down, and subsequence loosing, the passwords. Itachi suspected they had been stolen directly from his night stand, but the fact remained that he wrote them down and thus had to submit to the punishment of not knowing the password for the rest of the year, forced to wait until someone let him in. 'The Guard' had also been spotted again, sniffing around the castle only to disappear when someone got to close to him. This caused rumors that he was really some horribly disfigured man that was half vampire and didn't trust anyone but Dumbledore to circulate.
Soon, it was time for another Hogsmeade visit. Hermione was against it, Ron and Harry wanted to go, and in the end Itachi said he would allow it only if Harry had some type of method to hide himself while there (it placated Hermione enough). And that led to the question, "What's an Invisibility cloak?"
And so, he found out later that day. It was truly an amazing cloak, something that needed no constant flow of chakra to use, though he still could see the movement of 'magic' when it was worn if he used his sharingan. He wondered if the Hyuuga's Byakugan could see it? Probably.
That morning, while everyone else was still eating breakfast, he and Harry made their way to the one eyed witch, but before they could get into it, Itachi felt a chakra approach. Quick as you please, he wrapped up both him and Harry in the cloak, peering to see Neville—as he had been banned from Hogsmeade as punishment as well—walk sadly by. They were still until the other boy had left the hall, and Harry checked the map to make sure no one else would come upon them before they left. Itachi helped him into the hole before starting to run to catch up with Hermione and Ron, who were waiting in line to go. He argued with Filch for a moment, but eventually his name was found on the paper. Begrudgingly, the man ticked him off and waved them away.
They met with Harry outside Honeydukes, and they began to see the town in the weather far different since the last time they had come. Zonko's was dangerous, but Itachi did snag himself a few of the more interesting tricks, knowing that Shisui would love them and he wanted to give a peace offering to him. Itachi wondered how his dear friend was doing with him gone as he selected a biting tea cup. It has been so long since he had seen him... Soon, Itachi thought, he would see him again and make him realize that their plan was faulty, that they could break off from their families instead of killing off the clan and be free that way.
They were just observing the Shrieking Shack—it seemed just like a run down place to him—when Itachi suddenly turned around. He looked to Harry('s general location) and Ron before he hid himself and Hermione easily in a nearby tree. He put his finger to his lip, and gestured for them to act normal.
"Well, well, Weasley, what are you doing here?" Malfoy sneered as he came up, apparently seeing the red head by himself. He glanced behind him before taking a step forward, thinking he didn't need his body guards. "Suppose you'd love to live here, wouldn't you, Weasley? Dreaming about having your own bedroom? I heard your family all sleep in one room—is that true?"
Itachi appeared behind the boys unnoticed, and quickly knocked out Crabbe and Goyle, dragging them away without a sound. "We were just discussing your little incident, how much of a shame it was that Black didn't finish you off—"
But what ever he was going to say was cut off, as Itachi—hands momentarily blurring in a recession of seals—reached forward and snaked a hand around the Slytherin's mouth. He quickly snatched the hand that reached for the wand, forcing it to twist up painfully behind the owner's back.
Malfoy gasped in pain and shock, trying to angle his head to see who is attacker was. But what he saw, made his eyes widen, his heart to speed up, and his breath to freeze in his throat as a sickening cold bit into every part of him, right down to his bones. A Dementor was bent down to his level, it's dark, tattered hood casting its face into pitch black shadows. Pale, decaying hands were like vices on his flesh, and he felt bile rise from the chilled, slimy touches.
"I think..." It hissed in an unearthly, grim, raspy voice that would haunt him for months to come, more hiss of grave dirt then anything else. "You need a... little kiss..." The Dementor drew out the word, and as it's face came closer, bare glances—shadows among shadows—of thin, pale lips curling up in a terrifying smile that revealed rows of wickedly sharp teeth.
It was all too much for Malfoy to bear, and his eyes rolled up into the back of his head as he fainted, a wet spot growing on the front of his robe.
Itachi carelessly dropped the limp boy as he fell against him, listening to the thump as Malfoy landed on the dirt. Nudging the impossibly blond child with a foot, he shook his head. "I guess I scared him."
There was a pause, before his team cracked up in mirth. They howled in joy, which only grew as Itachi told them what he did. He was clasped on the back, and held onto so they wouldn't fall back to the ground as their all encompassing glee made their knees weak and their sides hurt. They made jibs and jokes as they began to leave the hill, acting out what Malfoy looked like over and over.
But as their laughter finally died down as they neared the bottom of the hill, Hermione had a thought. "What if they tell?"
"Malfoy was the only one conscious long enough to really comprehend the situation, but no need. Behind the illusion, I had my eyes activated."
"But how would that do anything?"
Itachi stopped for a moment, looking towards the sky. "...Remember when I said that my eyes were very dangerous?"
Nodding together, they looked around at each other before he caught their gazes. "I never said who they were dangerous to."
"...What'd you do to him?"
"I altered his memory. What he will remember is coming up here and then seeing a Dementor come out of the Shack." They started walking again, the warm sun beating down on them.
"Itachi?" Hermione said, catching up with him.
"Hm?"
"Um," She glanced away, before peaking back at him. "You said there was another form of your eyes, one you don't have, and they were more dangerous. What can they do?"
He looked at her for a moment, then looked ahead, keeping his eyes blank. "From a mere glance, they can trap you in an illusion so powerful, so perfect, reality and time would mean nothing. It could seem that days past in this genjutsu—illusion—when nothing more then an instant occurred. You are at the caster's complete mercy, unable to do anything but see, feel and experience whatever they wish you to. This genjutsu is so powerful, so horrifying, so real to you, that you can die from it." He stopped right before stepping back onto the cobble pavement and looked to the sky. "Any one of my family who has inherited the Sharingan—my eyes—can achieve those eyes, the Mangekyou Sharingan. But the cost is very high. The Mangekyou requires a sacrifice, and few are willing to pay it."
Wide eyed, they all looked at him. For some reason, he felt they needed to know... Or was it that he needed to tell someone?
He looked at them, locking their eyes with his coal ones. "For the Sharingan, you need to be in a very strenuous situation, life or death. For the Mangekyou... you need to kill your closest friend."
XXXXX
The trip was cut off at that point, all joy sapped from it, and they said goodbye to Harry who went into Honeydukes. The return walk was done in complete silence, occasionally Ron or Hermione would glance his way.
He regretted telling them. He risked his mission. They were not supposed to know that Konoha was not just in Japan, but it was in another world. That ninja were hired killers, to do the bidding of anyone who could afford it. That he was a killer. What it took to get those eyes.
However, they never brought up the subject. They acted as if it never happened. Sure, it was poor acting, but they tried. Things only went back to normal when they went to their charms class a few days later. They were doing Cheering charms, and Itachi got paired with Hermione as Ron and Harry tried on each other.
He snarled now whenever someone mentioned it, but when he was hit by the spell he... he... he... giggled. He bolted from the class, a hand clamped on his mouth—but it was no use! They heard. He was a shinobi! An ANBU! The elite of the elite! THEY DON'T GIGGLE!
Now they constantly teased him when he was silent, which was most of the time, asking if he'd like a cheering charm to loosen up. He didn't like being teased, but he was glad that their group went back to its normal light heartedness around him, rather then treading on eggs whenever they remembered he was right next to them. So he grit his teeth and endured it, kindly asking them if they would like their wands shoved where wands do not go.
They were now on their way to Divinations. When they had crawled up the ladder, they were surprised to see that every table had white, foggy orbs situated on them, partially glowing in the dim light. Itachi and Hermione got their own table, but they moved it closer to Harry and Ron, so they could mutter back and forth about this class as usual. "I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term," Ron muttered.
"Don't complain, this means we've finished palmistry. I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my hands." Harry hissed back.
"At least she paid attention to yours."
"I'd rather she hadn't."
After the usual—Dramatic entrance, predicting the obvious and getting called on it by Hermione—they went to work. Hermione got out her Muggle Studies book and read under the table, leaving the crystal ball open for him.
Shrugging, he placed his hands around it and zoned out, staring into the milky whiteness. He let his mind play with the fog as it drifted under the glass. Oh look, there was a rabbit. Hopping along a field without a care in the world. Nibbling on a piece of grass, sniffing something in the air. And then a snake ate it. Hm. Why do his thoughts always turn so morbid? He shook his head and actually tried to see predictions (or whatever), not picking out fog-shapes and messing with it. He completely zoned, focusing on nothing but the crystal.
A movement caught his eye, a scant few seconds later. He followed it while still maintaining his zone-ness. The shape began to clear, darkening, sharpening... It was... Sasuke?
Itachi watched as a scene showed itself. A miniature dragon (a Chinese Fireball), about the size of a medium dog, played with Kneazle-Sasuke, rolling and tumbling together (well, mainly it was the Kneazle, but the Dragon was astoundingly tolerant of the other creature's antics) while a line of fire burned on the opposite side of a small lake. But then the water, which they were standing next to, started twitching, writhing, flooding the opposite side and extinguishing the flames. Fog-Dragon and Fog-Kneazle didn't notice as the water, stagnant water with dead plants and fish all along in it, rose, foaming at the edges. Unnaturally, it made a wave and approached them, grasping with its white hands of froth. It was getting closer, and closer, why didn't they stop? Why didn't they notice, run for their lives? With a tremendous roar, it came unto them, the Fog-Dragon running to Fog-Kneazle but then the waves whipped them apart and they each struggled, flailing, drowning in the water—
"Seen anything yet?" Harry said, snapping Itachi out of his zone.
"Yeah, there's a burn on this table. Someone's spilled their candle."
Itachi set down his hands on the table, blinking at the harmless fog again. He stilled his trembling hands.
"This is such a waste of time," Hermione hissed. "I could be practicing something useful."
"Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?" Professor Trelawney muttered in a would-be mysterious voice had anyone of them cared.
"I don't need help," Ron whispered, a smile tugging at his lips. "It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight." Team Six burst out laughing, but Itachi didn't join in, still looking at the white in the sphere.
What had he seen? Was it really a prediction, or had he just imagined it all? The Professor saw the grim (again) in Harry's orb, but Itachi didn't move or say anything. Hermione finally snapped and left the classroom for the last time, but Itachi didn't move or say anything. Lavander and Parvati squealed in delight because they remember Trelawney predicting it, but Itachi didn't move or say anything.
But then Ron nudged him in the side. "You see anything?" He asked, a small frown as he saw the slight apprehensive look on Itachi's face.
"I see... A bunny." He muttered to their immense amusement.
XXXXX
MDF: Itachi's a true Seer! Now, only if he actually cared... Well, I guess he could just—if he ever wanted too—get a Job at Hogwarts and become their Divination teacher if he quit being a ninja. But that's highly doubtful; Itachi finds predicting/knowing the future boring and he likes being a ninja.