Here's chapter 15 guys!
The meeting with Snape was horrific, and Naruto quickly decided against the prank of dressing him up as Bruce Wayne, even if Snape could do the Batglare© without the need of a mask. His punishment for the Sith prank was to test every potion that Snape knew wouldn't kill him that were made during that whole day. It didn't matter if said potion was complete, or if it had the wrong ingredients. All the failed results, as well as the results of the few successful potions, were things Naruto wouldn't want to go through again, and vowed to never reveal to anyone outside that room. What made it worse was that, because all chakra was /5 in Hogwarts including Kyuubi, his healing abilities were diminished by 5. So, rather than healing quickly from the potions' effects, Naruto sometimes had to beg for an antidote. After being dismissed, and a long night of completing the homework and catching up in History of Magic, or at least it seemed that way with the help of Shadow Clones, Naruto went to sleep. His dreams were of Konoha, but some of his friends from Hogwarts and the Order were there.
The first class of the next day was Double Muggle Studies. Naruto originally joined the class to learn more about the muggle world. The technology of the muggles surpassed that of the Ninja Nations, and anything he learned in that could be put to good use there. He could become rich selling muggle technology! But the class was very boring. Since the Mana in the air was so thick, muggle stuff didn't work within Hogwarts, so the class focused more on muggle societies and behavior, and had few examples or explanations of common muggle artifacts. After the bell rang, Naruto decided to stick with the class, even though it didn't teach him everything he originally wanted.
Double Transfiguration with the Gryffindors was next, and Professor McGonagall proved herself to be just as serious about classwork and homework as Snape, but many times more understanding and patient. Ron and Harry failed to cast a single Vanishing Spell, but Hermione and Naruto succeeded. Hermione did hers first though, so she got 10 points while Naruto only got 5.
Since Lunch hour was next, Naruto decided to join his friends. Unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to sit at the Gryffindor table during meals. Luckily, Ron and Harry were so behind on homework, Naruto could join them in the library. However, Naruto only managed to count to three. "Where's Hermione?"
"She's spending lunch without us," Harry told him. "She's cross with Ron's comment about her knitting."
"Hermione knits?" Naruto asked. "It'd be pretty hard to turn pages in her books while her hands are busy..."
That made Ron smile briefly, before remembering he was a dangerous Slytherin with a bad luck wand. "Got that right. She's been making what she called hats for the House Elfs."
"Why is she making hats for them?"
"She believes that House Elfs don't like being slaves." That word made Naruto a little upset. "They like their jobs, even if they only wear rags. Hermione's trying to free them, so she leaves around little hats for them to pick up."
"Well that's dumb," Naruto told him, receiving another small grin. "I thought they had to be presented with clothes, not touching clothes. Besides, who do you think does the laundry in this giant castle?" Thinking it over, Harry realized Naruto was right. Their dirty clothes were always cleaned up and put away neatly every morning. "How else do you think the stinky shirts and pants around the beds of Malfoy's Right Arm and Left Arm are cleared every night?" Quickly realizing who Malfoy's Right Arm and Left Arm were, the two Gryffindors laughed loudly before being silenced by the creepy librarian.
After the finished up most of their homework, Naruto couldn't using Shadow Clones since they were in a crowded location, they went to Care of Magical Creatures together. On the way down the hill, Naruto noticed Harry fiddle with his forehead, as if it tingled or irritated him, but decided to ignore it. Naruto also realized that this class would be a good time for a prank, and made one preparation. He hid said preparation when he ran ahead of Harry and Ron, out of both eyesight and hearing range. The class was held next to a large hut. Professor Grubbly-Plank was standing next to a table that reminded Naruto of a couple bridges the Hogwarts Express crossed. On the long table were what looked like twigs. Twigs... twigs... twigs... Which creature looks like branches again? Naruto could tell when Malfoy and his conjoined twins arrived by the guffawing, and could tell who they were laughing about. Naruto quickly channeled a narrow ray of KI at them to stop it.
"Everybody here?" the professor asked, counting the number of students in attendance. They really need to get a class role... "Good! Gather around, but not too close." Once everyone could see the table, Grubbly-Plank continued. "Who can identify these little creatures?"
Wait a minute. Not branches, bows! Naruto's hand barely went into the air after Hermione's, who had rejoined her friends for the class. Turning to look at her, Naruto saw Malfoy give a horrible imitation of her. When they saw him, Naruto looked at the creatures, looked back at them, then gave a grin that said "I have a horrible prank planned, and you're my targets."
Hermione correctly identified them as Bowtruckles, and gave a brief explanation about them. "Excellent research Hermione! Ten points to Gryffindor. By the end of this lesson, I'd like each and every one of you to give me a sketch with labeled body parts of a Bowtruckle. I should have enough for groups of three."
Everyone broke into groups of friends and got a Bowtruckle. Ron grabbed the thinnest one while Malfoy nabbed the largest one. Harry, meanwhile, went to the teacher and asked where 'Hagrid' was, without receiving an answer. "Maybe, the idiot of an oaf got injured over the summer," Malfoy gibed at Harry. Clearly getting the reaction he wanted, he pressed on. "Maybe that oversized lump is in the middle of something bigger than him."
Harry would have asked what he meant by that, but Malfoy's Bowtruckle bit him hard. Shrieking like a little girl, Malfoy tried to shake him loose. He was, however, unsuccessful, and the little bugger started kicking and scratching as well. Some of the Gryffindors got a laugh out of it, and Harry saw Naruto's Evil Prank smile return. After a few minutes of watching him act like a marionette in the hands of a toddler, the professor showed it some woodlice. The offending Bowtruckle reluctantly let go of Malfoy, and slowly started eating it's new meal.
While the Golden Trio were talking about what Malfoy said, Naruto paired up with Avery and a boy named Blaise. Blaise, however, was interested in more than just the creature. "Why do you hang around with the half-blood, blood traitor, and mudblood? As a Slytherin, you deserve better than them."
"First, don't you dare call anybody traitor or mudblood!" Naruto growled at him. "Besides, I think the Weasley's interest in muggles is important to protect the Wizarding community."
"Blood traitors like them? How can trying to be like a muggle benefit us pure-bloods?" Avery was interested in this answer as well.
"If we don't learn to act like them in public, we'll stand out. Muggles will notice the way we dress, that we don't know how to use the most simple of devices, and how we seem to go on business without a car or buying a train, bus, or airplane ticket, for example. If they start asking questions, they'll find the answers, and no amount of Memory Charms will stop that curiosity." Hearing that maintaining their way of life will ensure the discovery of wizardkind shocked the Slytherins for a second. "And as for your question, they became my friends before I came to Hogwarts as a student, before I was sorted into Slytherin."
"And why would an orphan like you be sorted into Slytherin anyways? Are you a pure-blood?"
"I don't know. I was raised in a muggle orphanage, and don't know who my parents are. I was sorted into Slytherin because I had all the traits of Slytherin, but in a good way. The Sorting Hat took so long because I also had strong traits for Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, as well as some for Ravenclaw."
At this point, the Bowtruckle they were sketching took a swipe at Blaise, who was holding it in a rough manner. When he dropped it, Naruto caught it before it could hit the ground. He then channeled some soothing chakra into it, rather than KI, and held it gently, never over-stretching a limb to get a better look. "This is one problem with the belief of blood supremacy. All life is special, and worthy of protection. It doesn't matter if it's a pure-blood, muggle-born, muggle-raised like me and Harry, a House Elf, or even a Bowtruckle. If you don't give a life respect, that life will eventually turn on you."
Those words gave the two boys some new and interesting thoughts, but Blaise seemed to remove them after a few seconds. Surprised that a student could hold a Bowtruckle like a baby, and without an offering of food, Professor Grubbly-Plank told Naruto that he was a natural with magical creatures and awarded him five points.
When class was over, Naruto rejoined his Gryffindor friends on the walk back up to the castle. Ron quickly scooted to be on the opposite side of the group, but Naruto ignored that. "If Malfoy insults Hagrid again..."
"Then let me handle it!" Naruto offered. "You saw how well my Bowtruckle Shadow Clone worked out. I can do better next time."
"YOU were the Bowtruckle? Good jobe mate," Ron praised with some laughter, before realizing that he was fraternizing with the enemy. Harry laughed as well, but Hermione just gave Naruto a stern look.
As they passed some greenhouses, some students a year below them ran out. One of them, Ginny, greeted Harry warmly before heading off. Luna comforted Harry again about her believing in him, before telling another girl about something called a 'crumple-horned shorkack'. Another student, a Hufflepuff with dirty-blonde hair, also told Harry he and his family believed him. Seeing his friends take a left into one of the greenhouses, Naruto said goodbye.
His next period was free, which Fukasaku used to train in Frog Kata and practice Sage Mode. With thirty minutes to spare, they set up the class, then continued their spar. When students arrived, Naruto noticed that Filch the caretaker was there as well. It made sense; even if he didn't have enough Aura for magic, he may have enough for a small amount of chakra. Many of the students were also doing some small warm-ups and exercises; they learned their lesson from yesterday. When class started, Naruto noticed a small increase in the four star students, mostly in Ron. He also could see small amounts of chakra, but no clear network, in Harry and a few others. Those that had a distinct chakra network were given a small hit of the Chakra Charm to boost their reserves, but it left them a little tired since they couldn't access it yet. For the opening run, some students managed to run a little farther than yesterday, and some had gotten better and taijutsu. During one of the practice spars, Ron actually managed to lift Goyle into the air with a strong kick. Taking a look at his chakra levels, Naruto saw that his chakra network was no longer full. Ron managed to wield his Chakra! With this revelation, Fukasaku gave Gryffindor fifteen points for being the first to do it, and taught him a few hand seals and exercises to help mold and use it. Naruto and Pa were perplexed that he managed to unlock it so fast, put blamed the large Aura as well as the unusual surrounding Mana. At the end of class, Naruto gave the class a small amount of the Chakra Charm, with a little extra for Ron.
Next up in the day was Quidditch tryouts for Slytherin. At first, the other Slytherins jeered at him. When they saw his broom, they said he couldn't get onto the team with just that. But Naruto was determined to prove them wrong.
The first exercise was basic flying. They'd have to travel in a group, weaving around the stands. Naruto, with his faster broom, sailed not just around the towers, but also between and around the other flyers. Quite a few of them crashed, left the group, or just plain quit when Naruto got too close. But Naruto never touched them.
The second round was similar too the first. However, a Quaffle was added, and various players who wanted to try out for Keeper lined up at either pitch. The rules for each keeper block-off were that the first to miss two more than the opponent was off the team. Nets were attached to the hoops, so that the ball could be easily retrieved for the next bout. The Chasers would be paired with two from the last year's team, and would have to pass often and aim well for both the fellow Chasers and the goal hoops. Naruto excelled here as well, throwing many spin shots and curve balls that tricked many aspiring Keepers.
The third round was bludger practice. A 'dead' bludger would be charmed to 'attack' the beater with the Oppugno Jinx, who would have to whack it towards several moving targets of varying sizes and speeds. Naruto didn't participate in this one, since he didn't want to be a Beater. It was the fourth round that he wanted.
During said round, a few 'touched' Snitches from previous matches were released onto the field. The prospective Seekers would have to catch them first. Naruto, with his ninja training, would spot the snitches before the other participants, and his skills learned in Quality Quidditch Supplies' back room impressed everyone watching. After the tryouts, a burly student came up to Naruto, introduced himself as the team captain Graham Montague, and offered him the position of Seeker. Naruto eagerly accepted, since this meant he could now be Harry's rival.
During the tryouts...
Umbridge's office was a pink monstrosity. It looked like they were in the mouth of some kind of viper. The walls were lined with what looked like fangs, but were actually rows of dishes, with live pictures of cats and kittens that would drive even a cat-owner insane. In the center of the room was her desk, with Umbridge seated in it like some kind of lumpy dark pink tongue. Harry had unsuccessfully talked to Umbridge about letting him off Friday afternoon, then was told to sit. He was given a quill by Umbridge and told to write 'I must not tell lies' until the message 'sunk in'.
Half an hour into the punishment, a familiar cackle was heard. "SO I HEARD THAT THIS PROFESSOR DOESN'T LIKE TO USE DEFENSIVE MAGIC! IF THAT'S TRUE, LET US HAVE SOME FUN!" With those words, Peeves freaked Umbridge out by appearing through her table. In his hands was a large bag of balls, each with varying colors. Ignoring her shrieking, for the most part, Peeves whipped out the brown balls and threw them at the cat dishes. Within a few short seconds, the caterwauls were replaced by feline shrieks and barks. Soon enough, the smoke cleared to reveal a room of live dogs.
While Umbridge bemoaned the loss of her cats, Peeves just cackled. "YOU REALLY DON'T LIKE TO USE MAGIC! THIS WILL BE A GREAT TRICK!" Peeves grabbed the green balls and threw them everywhere but at Harry. When the smoke dispersed through the window, everything that was a shade of pink now was the same shade, but of forest green. The shrieks of the cats was nothing compared to Umbridge when she saw that not only were the clothes she was wearing changed, but the ones in her closet and trunk as well!
"YOU STILL WON'T DRAW YOUR WAND? I CAN'T BELIEVE I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS!" The next ball he pulled out was very large, black, and with white skulls and crossbones. But before he could release it, Umbridge whipped out her wand and charmed it back into the bag. "SO YOU DO APPROVE OF DEFENSIVE SPELLS! I'LL MAKE SURE TO LET YOUR STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT THIS!" With a snort and a few cackles, Peeves left. With a disheveled mood and room, Umbridge ended Harry's detention early so she could fix all the damage, remove the dogs, and return her sweet kittens.
When Naruto arrived at dinner, he saw Harry sitting with his friends, chatting with Fred and George. He saw the way Harry carried his hand, and knew something happened to it during the detention. Guessing what they were talking about, Naruto decided to pay them a quick visit. "He did WHAT?!" exclaimed the duo.
"That's right!" Naruto boasted quietly to them. "I was Malfoy's Bowtruckle, and convinced Peeves to prank for me. My first prank with him was the one we did to Umbridge during Harry's detention. I figured he needed it." Harry thanked Naruto for the laugh and for the early dismissal. "If you don't surrender this war, Peeves and I will be forced to use the Ultimate Prank on you." With those words, Naruto departed to the Slytherin table.
How did you guys like this chapter. Now you guys know another one of my reasons for not putting Naruto into Gryffindor; they're now Quidditch rivals!
I can't think of any major review critiques at this time...
Important Review Responses:
Lockflower: The original version of this story was taken down, because I had too much 'original' text. So most of my followers may or may not have noticed that and switched over to this new version.
Inumiru: 'original' as in originating from the original author.
Corvus corax alba: Nope. Crabbe and Goyle are meatheads. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STARTING A COVER!
Peace out!
AnonymousGX