Wow. I mean, just WOW. It is even POSSIBLE to write such a shit chapter after that long of a wait? (Apparently, it is...) I'm so sorry for the long wait! I've been focused on ATWSS for a while, so it kind of got pushed aside... This chapter is so short and full of crap, but there's no way I'm gonna put it on a haitus. So, uh, try to enjoy it. (Keyword: TRY)

Please read and review, and don't forget to vote! (Not like it's gonna make much of a difference. Itachi's one away from fifty.)

Votes:

Itachi: 49

Deidara: 23

Hidan: 17

Draco: 10

Pein: 6

Fred: 5

George: 3

Madara: 3

Sasori: 3

Harry: 3

Lupin: 2

Kisame: 1

Ron: 1

Sasuke: 1

Suigestu: 1

Sakura just barely stifled a huff of annoyance.

Ever since Professor Trelawney had announced 'You have the Grim!', everything had gone downhill. Apparently, their charge also had 'The Grim'. Sakura had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but she could really care less.

This is so stupid. she grumbled inwardly. It's just some ugly little shape made out of tea leftovers. Big freak'n deal.

Seriously. Why is everybody so afraid of this big bad 'Grim'?

I've got no clue, but since when is fortune-telling worth anything?

Never. What are we supposed to do – stop in the middle of a battle and check our fortune? Oh yeah. That's really gonna help.

Sakura sighed, resting her cheek in her palm. Deidara copied her motions. Her eyebrow raised. His did as well.

Two can play at that game.

Sakura turned her head to sit her chin on her hand. Deidara did the same. They stared each other down.

Silence.

A few of the students had sensed the tension and turned to watch the show. Others were nudging their neighbors and pointing it out. Among them was the charge and his companions, and Draco and his crew.

Sakura made a childish face at Deidara, and he threw the same back. Draco snorted and Ron snickered. A few quiet laughs spread through the room.

Sakura lifted both hands to either side of her face. Deidara mirrored her action. They both slapped their hands onto their cheeks. Then, suddenly, both of their expressions went blank. They each dropped their left hand and pointed at the other with their right.

"You're copying me," Sakura deadpanned.

"So, yeah?" Deidara asked bluntly.

"Why are you copying me?"

"Because I'm bored, yeah."

"Then go copy someone else."

"Too late – I'm already copying you, yeah."

"What could be so fun about copying me?"

"Because you're weird and hard to predict, yeah."

A vein twitched on Sakura's forehead, but Deidara wasn't able to mirror it.

"Who's the real weird one around here?"

He suddenly acquired a matching vein on his forehead.

"The one with pink hair, yeah," he ground out.

Sakura's eyes narrowed.

"What about the one that looks like a girl?" she shot back.

A couple gasps sounded and Deidara's eyes narrowed. A few of the guys snickered, Draco included.

"What about the one that's supposed to be a girl, yeah?"

Everyone sat on edge as the temperature dropped a few degrees.

"What?" Sakura hissed.

Deidara felt very scared all of a sudden, but he was too far in to back out now.

"You heard me, yeah." At least his voice didn't quiver.

No one noticed that the class had ended a few seconds earlier. They also didn't notice the door beginning to open as Sakura leapt across the table at Deidara.

o o o O O O o o o

Sakura and Deidara sat in Dumbledore's office, heads hung in shame. Expressions that clearly spelled out 'Oops' adorned their faces. Itachi and Kisame stood on either side of the two, one smirking and the other emotionless. Dumbledore sat at his desk, folded hands resting against his lips.

"I believe I made myself clear the first time," the Headmaster stated quietly. Sakura and Deidara winced. "Please refrain from engaging in any other fights. I cannot have my students endangered."

"Gomen, Dumbledore-sama," Sakura mumbled, face hot with embarrassment. "It won't happen again." Deidara nodded in agreement.

"Is that not what you said the last time?" The pair flinched.

Wow. Nice going, Sakura.

Get lost. You weren't much help.

Geez. Don't bite my head off.

Beat it!

"Have no worries," Dumbledore continued in his quiet, powerful voice. "I have no intention of sending you all away; Mister Madara is quite a close acquaintance of mine. I know that he does not take well to failure or inability to complete an assignment."

Oh, how right you are.

Very.

So, so true, yeah.

"But," Dumbledore stated, eyes glittering apologetically, "if my students are in danger, I will be forced to send you both home. I do not wish to do so, but I must keep the best interest of the school in mind."

"Understood, Dumbledore-sama," Sakura murmured, bowing her head. "We will control ourselves." Dumbledore gave a small nod and a smile. Sakura raised her head slightly, eyes flickering, but said nothing.

"Is there something...you wish to tell me?"

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise.

Mind reader?

No; if he could read our minds, he would have sent you and me away a long time ago. "Actually...yes, Dumbledore-sama."

"Go on," he murmured, motioning gently with his hands for her to speak.

Deidara and Kisame glanced at her in confusion, while Itachi's face remained passive.

"Is there some place where we could train?" Sakura asked.

"Hm? Whatever do you mean?"

"You know we are shinobi," Sakura said levelly. "And if you were stranded in our world for some time, you must have seen other shinobi constantly training and honing their skills."

"Ah, yes," the Headmaster agreed. "I remember Mister Madara practicing his fighting abilities many times. Very well. You may train outdoors on the Hogwarts grounds."

The three – not four, seeing as Itachi's face never changed – seemed uncertain.

"But then, wouldn't the students notice our...unique fighting style? We don't use magic, after all..."

Dumbledore appeared to think it over.

"Yes, you have a point," he murmured, rubbing his beard. "Ah. I know. You will have to use your...jutsu with your wands outside, for I cannot have my school damaged. But for anything strictly physical, you may use the Room of Requirement."

"'Room of Requirement'?" Sakura echoed.

"It is a particularly useful room," Dumbledore explained faintly, a faraway twinkle coming into his eyes. "Whatever one needs will be presented in it."

Sakura and Deidara exchanged surprised glances.

"Could it even provide things that we may need from our world?" the medic asked.

"I don't know," Dumbledore admitted. "It probably will, but no one has ever needed something from another world."

Sakura smiled.

"I think the Room of Requirement would be perfect."

Dumbledore smiled as well.

"Splendid." He met Sakura's eyes evenly. "Is there still something that you...wish to tell me?"

Sakura's smile turned sheepish.

Caught again. "Yes, Dumbledore-sama," she said in slight embarrassment. "Forgive me if this sounds impolite, but I don't believe our living arrangements are suitable..."

"How so?"

She once again had her companions' attention.

"I believe that we should be transferred to either a single or two houses."

"Is that so?" Dumbledore inquired in surprise. "And why is that?"

"It would make our job much easier if we could communicate freely," Sakura explained. "And since the Gryffindor and Slytherin Houses always share the same classes, Kisame and Itachi are unable to keep an eye on Harry-san."

"I understand," the elderly wizard said quietly. "A student has never once changed houses in the history of Hogwarts, but I believe this time, I will make an exception."

o o o O O O o o o

Since the four of them had been sent to Dumbledore's office, they were all very late to their second class. The Headmaster had changed their schedules – well, a couple of their schedules – and given new ties to Itachi and Kisame. Itachi was now officially in Slytherin, and Kisame in Gryffindor.

Sakura glared at the floor as they walked to their now-shared class. She had hoped to be put in Gryffindor, but nooo. She heaved a sigh. At least she wasn't alone anymore.

They all stopped outside a door. Sakura checked the schedule again to make sure it was the right room. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The muffled talking inside the room stopped, and the sound of light footsteps reached them. The door opened a moment later, revealed a slightly-irritated McGonagall.

"Ah," she said is surprise. "The both of you have finally decided to come to class, have you?"

Sakura and Deidara winced invisibly. McGonagall's eyes roamed to Itachi and Kisame.

"And why are you two here?"

"Dumbledore-sama changed our houses and schedules," Itachi replied smoothly. The professor's eyes widened. She glanced down at their ties, and sure enough, their houses had been changed.

"I see," she murmured after a moment. "Very well, then. Come in."

McGonagall stepped away from the door, leaving it open for them to enter.

"Take your seats," she said gruffly. "Itachi, Kisame" – they tried not to twitch at the pronunciation of their names – "since I was not informed of this change, your animals were not brought into the classroom. You both will have to take turns with your friends. Sakura, Deidara, take your pets."

That was fine by Kisame. (He had never gotten a pet; he was sharing the owl – Taki – with Deidara.)

Sakura smiled when she spotted Haran in a cage at the back of the classroom, right next to Taki. She walked forward, ignoring the whispers of 'what are Huffelpuff and Ravenclaw doing here?', and grabbed both cages. Deidara took the owl from her and claimed the first open seat he found, Kisame sitting next to him. Sakura took the seat on Deidara's other side – at a different table – and Itachi took the one next to her.

"Class, quiet down," Professor McGonagall declared. The whispers immediately halted. "Both Mister Itachi and Kisame had been transferred to Gryffindor and Slytherin." And just like that, loud objections rang through the room. "Students, cease this at once!" It didn't work.

"Why'd they get switched?" Lavender Brown called.

"That can't be allowed!" Hermione added. "It must be against the rules!"

"Silence!"

The class flinched, going quiet at McGonagall's angry voice.

"Professor Dumbledore has decided to transfer them, and you will not question his judgement!" she snapped. "Continue on with the lesson!" She glanced at the four shinobi. "I'm sorry; I thought there would be enough time to teach you all what you missed, but it seems that I was mistaken."

A quick glance at the clock and schedule times proved that.

"It's not a problem, McGonagall-san," Sakura answered for them. "We will learn it...the day after tomorrow." She noticed with a small frown that the classes rotated every other day. Professor McGonagall gave a slight nod.

No sooner than she nodded, class was dismissed.

That was pointless. Inner Sakura muttered. We just now sat down.

Sakura sighed as she put Haran back where she had been, soon followed by Deidara and Taki. The medic stuck her fingers through the cage and petted her cat.

"Ja ne, Haran-hime," she whispered. "I'm sorry that I have to go. I'll make it up to you; I promise."

Kisame rolled his eyes and Deidara snorted. Sakura sent them both sharp glares. They said nothing.

"Hn. What does the schedule say?" Itachi murmured.

Sakura pulled the paper from her pocket and unfolded it, looking it over.

"Next is...ah. Next is lunch." Kisame seemed to sigh in relief. "After that, we have Care of Magical Creatures, and then the day is over."

"Thank Kami, yeah," Deidara grunted.

"Tomorrow, we'll have double Potions in the morning, and Defense Against the Dark Arts in the afternoon. We just repeat those every other day."

"That's confusing, yeah," the blond muttered as all four walked out of the classroom. "Why can't we just go to each one every day, but cut the classes shorter, yeah?"

Sakura shrugged.

"Maybe it's more efficient this way."

The four didn't speak again until they reached the Great Hall a few minutes later.

"Itachi, Kisame," Sakura said to get their attention, They both looked at her. "You're sitting with us, now."

"Yeah yeah," Kisame muttered, waving it off. "We got it."

Sakura took a seat beside Malfoy, and Itachi sat on her left. Deidara sat beside Ron, and Kisame sat across from him, beside Hermione. Food sat in bowls before them, along with silverware and goblets filled with water.

Sakura looked down at the food uncertainly.

"What is it?" she asked no one in particular.

"It's called stew," a girl named Pansy Parkinson snickered. "Or are you too stupid to figure that out?"

Sakura glared at her, and Itachi sent the girl a cold look, freezing her on the spot.

"Hn," he grunted.

They both murmured silent 'Itadakimasu's and paused. Sakura picked up a spoon.

"What a strange instrument," she commented. "I suppose this is what they use instead of chopsticks." Itachi agreed.

Everyone within hearing range stared at her, not comprehending a single word of what she had said.

"Look at them," she sneered, dipping the spoon experimentally into her 'stew'. She gave no indication that she was saying anything bad about the people around her. "It's so amusing to see them like that. They haven't got a clue what I'm saying."

"Hn. When are we supposed to contact Leader-sama?" He copied her actions.

Sakura took a sip of her stew. "This stuff isn't bad," she mused. Itachi gave a quiet 'hn'. "After five days. We'll have to figure out a way to get a scroll to him, though. I have many in my pack, so we won't have to worry about running out." She paused for a moment. "How do you think we'll get back?"

"We will most likely be forced to return to the place at which we arrived," Itachi replied quietly. "That would be my theory."

Sakura considered it for a moment. "I think we should ask Dumbledore-sama for one of those 'port-keys'."

Draco caught the word 'Dumbledore', and wondered absently what they could be talking about. Itachi glanced at Sakura from the corner of his eye.

"Ah. That would be the better decision."

Sakura looked at him in surprise.

"It isn't every day that the great Uchiha Itachi admits a girl out-thought him." She received the infamous 'Uchiha Death Glare' in return. "I'm honored, Itachi."

Itachi grunted, eyes closing when he realized that his glare wasn't having the effect he'd hoped for. He said nothing more. Sakura shot him a dirty look as she took a bite of her stew.

"You Uchiha's are all alike."

Congratulations, Sakura. You are now the winner of yet another Uchiha Death Glare, copyright of the Uchiha Clan of Konohagakure.

"You're almost as bad as Madara," she muttered. "Thank Kami that I've never met your brother. I think I'd go insane." Itachi remained silent, not even gracing her with an uneffective glare. "Don't get me wrong; I respect the not-talking part, because I do that, myself. But the whole 'I-am-holier-than-thou' shit is getting old."

Another death glare.

"Hn. You're annoying."

Sakura twitched, glaring at Itachi.

"And you're ugly, but that's not gonna change, either, is it?"

Super Uchiha Death Glare times two.

A few guys snickered at the comment, and Pansy seemed to be insulted by the insinuation. Itachi continued to glare for a moment before a blank expression took over. He placed his spoon down and stood.

"Oh, real mature, Itachi," Sakura retorted. "What– are you running away because I didn't swoon over you like some stupid little bimbo?"

A couple people gasped.

"I don't believe it is me that's immature."

Sakura glared furiously after him.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

Itachi didn't answer as he left the Great Hall to do Kami-knows-what.

"Bastard!"