For those following Naruto GX: Red Moon, SORRY! It's must easier to prep these chapters over multiple small periods of time than entire duels where you must remember the contents of the hand, field, grave, AND banished zones.
The following Monday brought a surprise. Naruto saw a new person at the staff table, well over seven feet tall and with a badly injured head. When Dumbledore announced that Hagrid was back, and going to teach Care of Magical Creatures, many Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs cheered and shook his hand, including Naruto's friends. The Slytherins, however...
"I can't believe Dumbledore is letting that oaf teach classes for another year," Malfoy sneered. "If I was him, he would have been sacked years ago!" He exclaimed while rubbing his arm.
"What happened to your arm? Was it in his class?" Naruto asked, curious about what Hagrid's classes would be like.
"In our first class in the third year," Malfoy told him, "he brought in a wild Hippogriff. That bloody bird attacked me! Nearly ripped my arm off, that beast did!"
'Oh yeah!' Naruto remembered Buckbeak from a wrong turn in Grimmauld Place, and already heard that story from Harry. 'If that's third year, I can't wait to see fifth!' "Let me guess, you didn't listen to the teacher and didn't appeal to its pride before approaching, like the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them says. Knowing you, you insulted it, which triggered the attack." That silenced Malfoy.
Hagrid's first lesson was that day, but Naruto and Harry didn't get him til tomorrow. Said class broke the rules immediately and took them into the Forbidden Forest, a place Naruto didn't yet have permission to explore.
Hagrid seemed pretty excited for this lesson in a forest full of dangerous creatures. When they arrived at a clearing, he immediately started the class "Gather roun' everyone! Today we be stud'en a marvelous creature. I got some meat 'ere for 'em, but I'll give 'em a call." Two shrieks and a few minutes later, Thestrals started coming into the field. Naruto knew Harry could see them, and only two others could. He recognized Neville from DA lessons, and the other boy was a Slytherin named Theodore Nott. One of the smarter Potions students, he didn't participate in the Naruto pressuring, but he rarely was against it either.
"Aren't they beautiful?" Hagrid asked aloud. "Well, 'ow many of you can see 'em?" Naruto and the three others raised their hands. "O' course you can see 'em 'Arry! You too Neville? An'... what's your name?" Hagrid asked, turning to the Transfer Student.
"I'm Naruto Uzu..."
"Hem hem!" A voice rang out from behind the students.
'Please not her!' Naruto pleaded. 'Please not now!' But it was in vain; Umbridge was making her inspection. During the next minute or two, she used every method of trickery and deceit to make Hagrid look bad. 'She's trying to get rid of him! And a lucky detention from Harry, who may make an outburst at her methods, would make her day!' Naruto realized, now angry himself. Once Hagrid got back to teaching, Umbridge started going around to students; mainly Slytherins. "Naruto," She started, catching his attention, "how well can you understand him?"
Naruto could understand why she started with him. First, she was checking how close Naruto, a Ministry concern and potential threat, was to a possible Order member/Dumbledore follower. Second, as the new kid, he didn't get used to Hagrid's accent yet. "Not very well," he admitted. Behind her back, he could see Harry send him a sharp glare. "But that's because I'm under a translation charm. His accent makes him hard to understand in Japanese. Why don't you ask someone else who speaks English?" Umbridge left him alone after that, and the lesson went relatively smoothly. The rest of the Slytherins gladly gave Umbridge what she wanted; horrible answers.
To Naruto's surprise, it wasn't Harry who was the most upset at her methods. It was Hermione. "That fowl, lying, twisted, ancient gargoyle!" She raved on the path back to the castle. "She's attacking him like that just because his mother was a giant..."
"Wait, he's half giant?" Naruto clarified. "... Is that where he gets his thick accent?"
"Not at all. That's a West Country accent. Many muggles and wizards speak that way," Hermione told him, a momentary pause in her fuming. "But still, he lesson wasn't that bad at all!"
"But didn't she say they're dangerous?" Ron asked.
"Hellooooooo Ron," Naruto told him, "we just spent an hour observing them up close!"
"Not to mention," Harry continued after Naruto, "they pull the carriages we ride to Hogwarts."
"They can look after themselves," Hermione finished. "It's was very interesting that so few people can see them. Thanks again Naruto, you really helped everyone else by transforming into one."
"Yeah," Ron agreed with her. "But four kids in one class... Then again, with Naruto being a ninja, he probably sees death all the time."
The Malfoy entourage passed by, making a jibe at Ron's Keeper abilities, before Naruto spoke. "Actually, I can remember only five or six people dying."
"Who were they?" Harry asked, interested.
"There was a boy named Yota, one of my few friends when I was young. He drowned saving me. Then there was my friend Haku, and his mentor and my enemy Zabuza. They died together in front of me. Old man Hokage died during the invasion, and Jiraiya was killed by Pein."
As much as the trio wanted to know more about them, they saw Naruto's down look. They knew their memories must still haunt Naruto. Since the next lesson wasn't paired together, they separated for the day.
Too soon, December arrived. If the class schedules and homework weren't bad enough, the weather was killing Naruto. They didn't call it the Land of Fire without a reason; he wasn't used to this weather at all! Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology were terrors to his almost frostbitten fingers and toes. Luckily, Chakra moved indoors. Dumbledore gave them permission to hold the class in the Great Hall after the tables were put away. In said class, Ron and a couple others started to sense his chakra network, and were given basic chakra control exercises. Hemione was busy with Ron on Prefect Duty, and it showed in Ron's, Harry's, and Naruto's grades.
Only two things made Harry and Naruto feel better. The first was that Harry and Naruto were invited to the Burrow for the holidays. While Naruto wasn't familiar with Christmas, he couldn't wait. The second was that Naruto finally found a way to be involved in DA; make a Shadow Clone for the Room of Requirement before returning to the Common Room. While this NaruClone couldn't be the target of any spells, he would practice said spells on the various dummies around the room and give people who are excelling at the current lesson tips for chakra control or taijutsu.
When NaruClone arrived in the Room of Requirement, somebody was already there. He could tell by the hundreds of decoration hung about, including gold ornaments saying 'Have a very Harry Christmas!' When said boy arrived, they took down all the Harry decorations before Luna arrived.
"Hello Harry Potter, Naruto Uzumaki. Did you put these up?" she asked, gesturing to the mistletoe. Naruto was told earlier that a Christmas tradition was kissing under the mistletoe, and NaruClone was determined to avoid as much of it as possible. "Good, they're commonly filled with Nargles."
The boys would have asked about this creature, but the three Gryffindor Chasers came in hurriedly. They had found a new Seeker; Ginny Weasley. They also got new Beaters, but Naruto didn't know them. Soon, the room was filled, and everyone went over the basics. First was the Impediment Jinx. Neville, a boy who could barely hold his wand right, was now able to freeze Harry three times in a row. NaruClone watched as Harry then examined the room. Cho was flustered each time Harry was near, but Naruto could tell something else was going on. Whenever NaruClone turned to look at her, she was always looking pointedly away from him. Second came Stunning. Those who excelled their first few Stuns went to Naruto, who gave them tips for the chakra class. Cho, after a little while, also joined this group and tried to practice close to, and with, Naruto as much as possible.
All to soon, it was time to go. Naruto hadn't froze any coins, so there we no extra Slytherins running around. Still, they left cautiously, in groups of no more than three. When the room was almost cleaned out, with only Harry and Cho left, NaruClone dispelled.
Half an hour later, Naruto connected with his three friends via mirror. What he first heard shocked him. "Did you and Cho kiss?" Hermione was asking Harry.
"Wait!" Naruto called. Since Harry was to stunned at how fast Hermione figured it out, and Ron was still reeling, Hermione picked up the mirror and moved it where they could see each other better. "Harry kissed Cho? Why couldn't my Clone dispel AFTER it happened!"
Harry was still to flustered to answer, and Ron did a weird victory symbol with his hand. "Well," Ron began, "how was it?"
"...Wet," Harry answered. All he got was stares, especially from Ron and Naruto. Did he french kiss her? "She was crying."
"Oh!" Naruto said. Even he thought french kissing was disgusting. "But why was she crying?"
"Hmph! Boys," Hermione said. "Can't you guys comprehend her at all?"
"Comprehend?" Naruto asked. Ron told him it meant understand.
"To start, it's clear she's feeling very sad, because of Cedric dying. I expect she's feeling befuddled because she liked Cedric, but now she likes Harry and can't work out which she likes best. With that question, she'll feel guilty, since it's a possible insult to Cedric's memory to kiss Harry at all. Also, as both the Boy who Lived and the Boy who Lies, she'll be worrying about what everyone else might say about her if she starts going out with Harry. She probably can't figure out what her feelings towards Harry are, even with all this, because he was the one who was with Cedric when Cedric died, so that's all very mixed up and painful. It's also possible she likes a certain Slytherin who was also there and got both Harry and Cedric back to Hogwarts safely. If not, she at least feels gratitude towards him, since he gave her a chance to see Cedric again, as well as rescuing Harry. But these emotions she's feeling towards him are further confusing her thoughts as to which boy she likes the most, and how she likes them individually. Oh, and she's afraid she's going to be thrown off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because she's been flying so badly."
That entire speech, just about one girl's thoughts during a split second, silenced all three boys. "Bloody hell," Ron said dazed. "You can't feel all that at once. You'd explode."
"Just because you got the emotional range of a teaspoon," Hermione countered.
That retort made Naruto laugh hard on his end. After calming down, he realized just what Hermione said near the end. "Wait a second... Who does Cho like that's in Slytherin? Do I know him?"
"I don't know, maybe," Hermione began. "Do you know any other boy, who is not a Death Eater, currently in Slytherin, and was present at the graveyard the night Cedric died?"
"No," Naruto told her, lifting fingers to count out who was there where Hermione could see. "The only boys there were Cedric, Harry, and mys-ohhhhh..." Naruto said, realization dawning on him. Ron looked ready to talk, and Naruto wasn't sure if he wanted to hear it. "Well, goodnight everyone!" He said, closing the connection.
But he had a hard time getting to sleep. Unlike most of the girls there, Cho was Oriental; very close to what people from the Ninja World looked like. While the other girls' appearances seemed different and strange, that sense of familiarity made Naruto like Cho a little more. Thinking back, Naruto remembered many times when Cho would look like she wants to pair with him but chicken out, as well as other times when she would spend half the class looking at him. Were those because of interest or attraction, or just simple curiosity at a new boy with new abilities?
After a restless hour of trying to sleep, Naruto decided to practice his Sage Mode. Immediately upon entering it, Naruto felt that dark presence from the Gryffindor Quidditch lockers again. It was hovering right on Harry's forehead, who was thrashing in his sleep. Leaping out of bed, Naruto made his way to the Head of House's room and knocked loudly. After a minute or two, the door creaked open. "How may I... help you?" Snape drawled, upset that he was awakened after barely falling asleep.
"Sorry professor," Naruto began. He then explained everything that he sensed. Soon after the explanation ended, a portrait spoke in Snape's office, alerting him to a Headmaster summons. Too big a coincidence, Snape allowed Naruto to accompany him, a fact Flitch didn't like.
When they reached Dumbledore's office, the professor was busy with a couple of his weird silver instruments. He only gave a quick glance at the door before returning to his original position. "So good of you to come Severus. We've waited too long..."
"Professor," Snape interrupted, speaking a little more politely than normal, "someone wishes to... tell you what he sensed."
Surprised, Dumbledore turned around, ignoring his equipment. "Good evening Naruto. Did you sense the same thing as last month?" Naruto nodded. "Can you give me a better description?" Naruto then repeated everything he told Snape, maybe with a few more minute details. "... Indeed," Dumbledore mused, gazing back towards his desk, or maybe a certain drawer on said desk. "Naruto, I have moved Harry and the Weasley family to the Order Headquarters. Their father, Arthur, was attacked, and my portraits alerted me when he was carried past them."
"What! Attacked! How bad is it? Is there a Wizard hospital?"
"Indeed. They're taking Arthur to St. Mungo's, one of the best hospitals in Britian. Do you wish to join them, or remain here at Hogwarts?"
Naruto thought it over. As much as he wanted to be with his friends, he knew he couldn't abandon his training with Pa, nor his other classes. "I'll stay for now, but can I go with them to St. Mungo's?"
"That will be arranged," Dumbledore promised. He then conjured up a note and signed it personally. "Thank you Naruto, for your information on what happened tonight. This note will let you pass by Filtch and other teachers as you return to your Common Room. I bid you good night."
Harry and the others had settled down in HQ. Harry had recounted his story at least four times that night, but one thing about what he saw made him confused. What was Naruto doing on Order business with Arthur that night?
Remember how I said in the AN that I had plot twists in mind? Ka-BOOM! Two in one chapter! One minor, one super! Of course, this means I may have to make up classes for some NaruCho interaction. (Wow. That pet name actually works! I didn't even think of it til the instant I wrote it down.)
Important Review Reply:
ctg: 1. It was my plan from the start. 2. Various plot twists/ideas that have been, or currently aren't, detailed yet. These include Malfoy semi-confidante/spy, Quidditch Rival, and other plot twists nobody else I've read thought of doing. 3. I had a huge Poll with over 25 'Naruto motivations' and 7 votes per person, which lasted over 10 chapters long. Each motivation was worth up to 3 total points towards up to 2 houses. With around 200 points, Slytherin won over the last place, which was in the 40's, by a long shot. It beat Hufflepuff by at least 30, Gryffindor was a decent third place, and Ravenclaw wasn't even close to even Gryffindor. The results matched EXACTLY what I thought of Naruto's core personality, at the time of Sage Mode Training. In order of least to most: battlesmart but not booksmart, brave, loyal and friendly, cunning battle strategies and ambitious dreams of Hokage Hats with revenge-seeking for Jiraiya's death. 4. Slytherin has more written classes with the Gryffindors than other houses, and hence was easier to write about classes Naruto had with Harry. 5. Read what the Hat said again. Naruto is a Pure-hearted Slytherin. It's kind of like how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. To rephrase, all notable evil Hogwarts graduates came from Slytherin, but not all Slytherins become evil wizards.
Peace out!
AnonymousGX