A/N: So, another chapter, this was meant to be posted much earlier but my creative writing tutor said some things about my original story that made me lose hope for a few days. He said my writing style sucks and I need to change everything about it. I let it get to me and took it to heart. I'm still not over it completely so I apologise in advance if this chapter isn't as good as the others.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Harry Potter.

Enjoy~

Her hands clenched tightly by her side as she moved, following the trail to where Naruto was, her body shook with each trembling breath she took. More blood had been spilled thanks to her and guilt spread through her. She was a killer, she mercilessly murdered Sasori and others in the Battle for Hogwarts. Tears slipped from her emerald green eyes like a river of sorrows that only grew deeper, her vision was blurry from her tears and her head injury from fighting Kisame. Blood soaked the bandage wrapped around her head but she wouldn't ask Sakura to heal it, she had seen the disgust in the pinkette's eyes as they left the cave. To Sakura, she was a freak and she wasn't about to let anyone she didn't trust heal her. Her hands clenched tighter, drawing more blood as her nails bit into the pale skin, she had so much blood on her hands. Blood that wasn't her own. Death, murder, hate. It followed her everywhere and even in this place she couldn't escape it. Her magic revelled in the killing of Sasori, it wanted her to destroy him and some of it was dark and twisted. Was she becoming like Voldemort? Had the piece of his soul that resided within her for so long corrupted some of her magic? Perhaps she was more like him then she thought. She stopped dead, the thought of being anything like that monster made her feel sick. She fell to her knees grasping at her head as she let out a loud sob.

"Ana? Are you okay child?" Chiyo asked as she watched the girl crumble before her eyes. She approached Ana, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder but the violent jerk from the girl made her remove it and step back.

"I-I just need to be alone," her eyes were wide, "please leave. Just continue ahead, I will catch up."

"I don't think that's wise," Chiyo said slowly, her worry increasing.

"Just leave!" Ana shouted, her voice cracking slightly as her magic exploded around her like a rush of wind. Chiyo left after a long stare at the witch, taking an uncaring Sakura with her.

Ana slowly moved her hands away from her head, bringing them in front of her eyes to stare at them. They shook violently, her blood gently dripping from crescent shaped cuts her nails had made earlier. Blood. So much blood on her hands. She cried out, stumbling towards the shallow water she had been running beside before Chiyo had left. Ana dunked her hands into the water, scrubbing at them furiously. While her blood disappeared from her hands, the stain of her past would not be cleaned so easily.

"Get it off," she whispered desperately, her hands rubbing furiously fast at blood that was only visible to her. All those that died in the war and Sasori's blood mixed together on her hands to form one horrifying shade of vivid red. An eternal blame that rocked her to the core. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Tears joined the water as her apology became a mantra to her. It was a vicious cycle of scrubbing and apologising.

'There is no good or bad, there is only power and those too weak to seek it,' Ana froze as the hissing voice echoed around her head, her eyes going impossibly wide. She shook her head, refusing the claim. If this is what power was then she didn't want it. If power made you kill, she wanted to be as powerless as possible. She didn't want this.

"Now that's a lie," Ana's head shot up and there before stood the devastatingly handsome Tom Riddle. She shook her head again, backing away from him, fear in her eyes. No, he wasn't there, he couldn't because she killed him. That's right, his blood stained her hands too. He was just in her imagination. He wasn't real. "Oh am I not? I think you will find I am very real." He reached out his hand and grabbed her wrist, pulling her hard towards him. She gasped and cried out in pain, he revelled in the sound.

"N-No you can't be, this is just like before when Hermione appeared-"

"Do not compare me to that filthy little mudblood," he hissed at her, his features morphing into the grotesque snake-like features of Voldemort. He twisted her wrist hard, smiling as she writhed in pain before he released her wrist. He took a deep, calming breath before he transformed back into the handsome head boy with pristine Slitherin robes. "See what you made me do my dear," he cooed mockingly, "be a good girl and I won't have to hurt you."

"How?" Ana implored, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed brokenly.

"How am I here?" Tom asked, grinning maliciously, "do you think dark magic is so easy to get rid of? My dear I never left. You, my pretty little horcrux, are my container."

"No," Ana denied pulling away from him only to stop when he snarled at her. He pulled her close to him, his arms wrapping around her waist, trapping her against him. "We got rid of the horcruxes, Voldemort got rid of the one inside me."

"That's not entirely true dear," Tom laughed, cold and dark like a winter night, "Only the caster can reverse the spell that created the horcrux, my older counterpart may have killed you for a moment, but he didn't kill the horcrux. Do you know what that means?" He laughed again as Ana shook her head. "It means you were saved by the soul inside you. I saved you."

"Why didn't the soul die?" a sob tore through her body, "Dumbledore said-"

"Tch, that old fool knew nothing of the power of dark magic," Tom hissed, his arms tightening painfully around her, "let me tell you how horcruxes really work. You see when a horcrux's vessel is broken, the soul that resides within it moves. It can go back to the owner or, if the person made more than one horcrux, it moves to next vessel. So each time you destroyed my horcrux, my soul moved into the next vessel and made it stronger. Which was why the locket tried to kill you in the lake, it had the original spilt piece and the piece from the diary you stabbed in your second year. So by the time it came to show down between you and Voldemort, you had an almost fully intact soul within you. Therefore I was able to save you from the full effects of the killing curse, and as the stronger part of the soul, I was able to weaken Voldemort enough for you to kill him. You're welcome for that by the way. So when you did kill him that piece of the soul went into you."

"So why haven't you taken over me?" Ana whispered, her eyes wide as she realised the sacrifice her friends made was in vain. Voldemort was alive.

"Oh my dear you have it all wrong, Voldemort isn't alive," he chided as if she were a naughty child, "I am Tom Riddle, the perfectly sane soul that just so happens to reside within you. I can't take over your body, I can only appear when you have these…shall we call them insane moments? It is a rather unfortunate flaw in the design of the horcrux but still I am alive."

"No," she shook her head again desperately and tore herself away from him, he let her, watching in amusement as she crawled away from him. Her fear excited him and made him long to put her under the crutiatus curse. "It's not fair."

"My dear, haven't you realised it yet?" He asked, mockingly as he followed her slowly, "life isn't fair. You're stuck with me, though I suppose in light of recent events, you could say that you are a …what was the word, you know what that blonde brat is… ah yes, a jinchuriki. Except instead of those monstrous tailed beasts, you get the man who killed your parents. A jinchuriki, power of the human sacrifice," he laughed cruelly, "befitting really, the girl-who-lived is all about sacrifice."

"Ana!" A voice shouted and Ana saw a flash of an orange jumpsuit and suddenly Naruto was there, standing between her and Tom. "Are you okay?"

Ana didn't answer, she couldn't because she had never been more relieved in her entire life. This boy, whose life was as messed up as hers was, gave her courage. He was like a beacon of hope and at his encouraging smile she found herself standing and walking forwards. She stopped when she beside Naruto and reached out to grip his hand tightly. He squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Go away Tom," Ana said softly, looking at him in resignation, "I may have your soul inside of me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let it affect the way I live my life. I am Ana of Konoha. I am no longer the girl-who-lived."

"I will never go away my dear," he gave a mocking smile, "I will be there inside your head. But don't worry, I won't hurt you. I'm going to show the wonders of dark magic and I will be the one to make you enjoy killing and when the time comes. Once you embrace the darkness inside you, I am going to have you kill that blonde brat you cling to and then, there truly will be no escape from me." He hissed angrily as his form wavered like an out of focus lens, until he disappeared altogether.

Naruto frowned, casting his gaze between Ana and the spot Tom had vanished he opened his mouth to speak only to watch in horror as the girl crumbled to the ground, tears pouring freely from her eyes as her hand clenched over her heart. He said nothing, only knelt beside her and did the only thing he could think of. He pulled her close to him and simply held her. His blue eyes glanced up at the sound of movement, suddenly remembering they weren't alone. His team, team Gai, Gaara and the other Suna nin that came to meet them were there with him. Sakura stepped forward and Naruto felt a sudden unease grow within him.

"Hey, who was that guy?" There was a hint of malicious intent in Sakura's voice, her smile growing at the lack of an answer, "he seemed to know you pretty well. In fact you seemed very intimate."

"He…" Ana whispered, her voice quiet and unsure, "that man killed my parents. That man is the reason everyone I have ever loved is dead…I thought I killed him…I-I…" there was a long silence as what had happened settled into her and anger, fear and hate swept through like a tidal wave. "They died for nothing! How could this happen? Why…why, why, why?" She looked up desperately at sky, searching for answers, though she didn't know whether it was God, fate or herself she sought them from. "Why is it always me?"

"Ana," Naruto whispered comfortingly before frowning, "Wait, how can that guy be alive if you killed him?"

"You have your bijuu," she whispered as she looked at him with haunted green eyes, "apparently so do I, only minus the tails and double the manipulation skills."

"Get away from her Naruto-kun," Sakura said angrily, flexing her fists. "You heard what that guy said, he's inside her head! She is evil and dark and she is going to kill you. Can't you see what she is doing? She wants to use you and then take Sasuke-kun away from me, I mean us." Inner Sakura roared to life, angrily hissing at the girl while outer Sakura glared with a triumphant light in her eyes.

"Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke," Ana mocked as she stood from Naruto's embrace and made her way towards the pinkette. "Do you think I want him? Has some part of your brain managed to cook up some hair-brained idea? I don't know the guy, I want nothing to do with that damned Uchiha. Gods Sakura your so annoying, I can't stand it, but I put up with you because of Naruto, however if you ever say I want to kill Naruto again," she paused in front of Sakura, staring up at her with furious emerald eyes, "I won't hold back any longer."

"That's enough," the voice was deep and slightly rough, one that Ana wasn't familiar with and looking up her eyes met the pastel green eyes of Gaara. "This is not the time or the place for such an argument. We need to return to Suna."

"You…you're," She as confused, the last time she had seen him, he was dead and far beyond the reach of any living mortal. "You were dead," disbelief coated her speech as she stared incredulously.

"I know," Gaara said, his eyes looking regretful as he cast a glance behind him. Ana followed his gaze and found a body laid out on a stretcher, a sheet covering it. She frowned trying to connect the dots and looking around, she let a startling gasp as she noticed one person missing. "My life was replaced with hers. She is a hero."

"No," Ana shook her head, denying the claim whole heartedly, "don't glorify her like that."

"Ana," Kakashi said, a warning tone in his low voice. "Have a little respect for both Chiyo and the kazekage."

"I don't care if he is the kazekage, he has no right to declare her a hero. He doesn't understand." Her eyes never wavering as she stared at the red haired kazekage, "she didn't give her life to be a hero." Her hands clenched by her sides, "Chiyo gave her life because she believed in you. Please, don't call her such a name. She was Chiyo and that's who she should be remembered as, not the hero who saved the kazekage."

Gaara said nothing, but she knew the message had gotten to him and that was all she needed. She allowed Naruto to carry her back to Suna. She felt drained, emotionally and physically so when Naruto offered she accepted. She slept peacefully, surrounded by the comfort that Naruto offered but there in the back of her mind was Tom Riddle. Shrouded in darkness, waiting and biding his time for the moment when he would strike. He couldn't wait for his moment to shine.

The day after they arrived back in Suna was Chiyo's funeral. It was a morbid affair as funerals often were. But it irked Ana that people who came to procession could only whisper of her heroic deed in saving Gaara, Chiyo's life meant more than that. She remained behind long after the people left, Team Kakashi and Gai had left no long ago but still she stood before the gravestone. In her hand lay a puppet, small in the palm of her hand and something a child would play with. It was clear and shimmered like glass but it was made with her magic and reaching forwards she placed it on top of the stone. The gravestone shimmered, the magic made puppet becoming attached as the preservation charm it held bled into the stone. Kneeling down she pulled out her wand and conjured a wreath of evergreen.

"The-girl-who-lived, that is what you called yourself," Gaara said quietly from behind her, startling the girl from her thoughts.

"I hate titles," she told him in return. "I have many, the-girl-who-lived is my most popular one. I was given it as a baby and as soon as I stepped into the magical world, it defined me. No one saw Ana, they merely saw the-girl-who-lived but I was fine with that as long as it meant I was seen that I was…" she trailed off unable to find the right words.

"That you were acknowledged," Gaara finished for her gently, she nodded her head.

"It was so much pressure to live up to fame my name possessed," she looked down at her wand clenching it tightly in her hands. "It buried me until I didn't even know who I was anymore and suddenly I wasn't Ana. I was this hero, put on pedestal for people to gawk at like I was some sort of freak show. I didn't want that for Chiyo."

She felt him kneel beside her, for a moment she thought he was praying until he leaned over and whispered in her ear. "I see you Ana and I know who you are," she turned her head and was greeted by a small smile.

"Who am I?" she whispered desperately to him.

"You are Ana, a girl who cares deeply for her friend, enough to go against an entire organisation. Enough to defend a person you don't know because your friend cares for them," he looked away, seemingly shy and Ana realised the tips of his ears were pink. "Naruto told me what happened, how you all found me inside the cave. You defended me, even though I was dead and a stranger. That is who you are."

She couldn't find words to speak with as the words she had longed to hear came from his mouth. She was Ana. Just Ana. Tears slipped from her eyes but this time she was happy and unable to keep from expressing her feelings, she threw her arms around Gaara. Startling the kazekage as they both tumbled to the ground under the force of Ana's hug. He didn't know what to do, this was something he had no experience in. Mechanically his arms moved around her, awkwardly hugging her back as she whispered a thank you, his ears turning bright red in response.

"Hey Gaara, you're my brother and I love you and all, but don't you think it's a little inappropriate to be doing those kinda things in front of Chiyo's grave." The embracing couple jerked away from each other, both blushing furiously as they stared at Kankuro's amused form.

"It was just a hug," Ana replied shyly, looking everywhere but in Gaara's direction.

"No need to defend yourself to me," he chuckled, "besides it's about time Gaara got some action, I mean he's eighteen years old and he's never looked twice at a girl, you go get him." He winked at Ana, who couldn't be more mortified if she tried, before his expression turned serious. He looked over at the grave, noticing the added glass-like puppet and moved over to it examining it carefully. "Did you do this?" Ana nodded, "it's perfect, Chiyo'll love it."

They left the gravestone then, Gaara returning to his duties as kazekage and Ana visiting the hospital to check on Kakashi's condition. It was there Naruto filled her in properly on what had happened when they parted. Deidara had tried to capture Naruto, but thanks to Kakashi's training and quick thinking actions, the Akatsuki member never succeeded. Though he tried his best to separate the jounin from the jinchuriki. It was then Kakashi came up with the idea to use his mangekyou sharingan on him, severing Deidara's arm. But as they finally managed to get Deidara onto the ground, Naruto began to get taken over by the Kyuubi's chakra and Kakashi was forced to focus on sealing that away.

Kakashi was forced to use his mangekyou again when Deidara decided to blow himself up. The copy nin had over used his sharingan and was hospitalised in Suna until he regained some strength so they could travel back to Konoha. Though he didn't have long to rest for the meet-up at Tenchi Bridge was happening soon and they need to inform the hokage of it. They were leaving Suna in two days.

Ana was walking through the many halls of the kazekage building, where they were staying as honoured guests. It was late at night but she couldn't sleep, she had too much to think about and not even Naruto's presence was enough to keep her thoughts at bay. She was startled slightly as someone called her name and turning she caught sight of Gaara's elder sister smiling brightly at her.

"Ana right?" Temari asked, her smile turning mischievous at the other girls nod, "my name is Temari. I was wondering if you could help me out a little."

Warning bells went off in her head at that smile, as well as a pang of sorrow. It was the same smile Sirius had when he was about to pull a prank or meddle with someone. "It's nice to meet you Temari, what is it you want my help with?"

"You mean you will do it?"

"Yeah."

"Brilliant," Temari held out a tray to her filled with food, covered to keep it hot. "Could you deliver this to Gaara? He gets so wrapped up in his work that he forgets to eat so I always have to bring him food. However I have some business to attend to, it would really help if you do this for me."

"Oh sure, I don't mind," Ana smiled, happy to help. She grabbed the tray from Temari and, after getting the directions, set off towards the kazkage's office. Not noticing the triumphant smile Temari gave.

When she arrived before the door of Gaara's office she paused, feeling nervous. She shook her head and gather the courage Gryffindor's were renowned for and knocked. Receiving a reply on the other side, she opened the door and entered. Gaara sat at his desk, scribbling away, he didn't look up as she approached him.

"Bringing me food again Temari?" a hint of amusement laced his voice.

"I'm not Temari," Ana said cheerfully, smiling as Gaara's head shot up, "but I do bring food curtesy of Temari."

"Ana," surprised, Gaara watched her set the food down on his desk before perching on the edge. "Why are you here?"

"Temari asked me to bring you this," she shrugged lightly, "and I'm going to stay and make sure you eat it all, Temari told me you don't eat properly."

"Thank you," Gaara whispered blushing slighty as he quickly pulled the tray towards him and started eating. A part of him embarrassed at being watched and another part immensely happy Ana cared.

Ana smiled, happy he was eating before looking round the room. It was a normal office complete with filing cabinets and a plant. Her green eyes fell on the kazekage hat and she grinned, "do you really have to wear that hat?"

"Yes," he told her between mouthfuls, watching as she reached over his desk carefully to grasp the hat. She lifted it and placed it carefully on his head. She smiled at him and peeked her head under the overly large cap and giggled.

"You look cute wearing it Gaara."

"I do…?" He looked at her perplexed as what she said sank in. His eyes widened as he stared at her still smiling face peering at him under the cap of his hat, a small tint appearing on his face as he recalled his conversation with Kankuro.

They had just gotten back to his office, Kankuro still smiling impishly at catching his brother with Ana. Gaara immediately moved to his desk and began to work. It was silent for a long while, until Kankuro could take no more and he turned to his brother. "Would you have kissed her if I hadn't have interrupted?"

"Excuse me?" Gaara asked, confused.

"Ana," rolling his eyes, Kankuro moved closer to Gaara. "Do you wanna kiss her?"

"Why would I?" He was genuinely confused by Kankuro's questions. Why would he want to kiss a girl he barely knew? That was something only couples did, only people in love did. He didn't want to kiss those luscious, full red lips. He didn't want to watch them become swollen under his kisses and he didn't want hear her become breathless. He swallowed thickly as he imagined it, realising that perhaps some part of him did want that. This girl who looked at him as a person, not as a kazekage or a monster, and just saw Gaara, had made him want to kiss her. To taste her lips.

"…would you Gaara?" the kazekage blinked, realising he had been too lost in his thoughts to pay attention to Kankuro.

"What did you say?"

"I said, then you wouldn't mind if I took a shot at Ana would you?" Kankuro shrugged, "you might not have noticed, but I have. That girl is beautiful and I'm not the only one who's noticed it."

"You won't touch her Kankuro," Gaara said suddenly, standing up. The outburst surprising both the kazekage and his brother. Gaara frowned, thinking quickly, "She is a Konoha citizen and like Naruto's sister. I forbid you to have any relationship with her."

Gaara stared at Ana, his green eyes glancing down to her lips and quickly he shot forwards and pressed his lips gently against hers. It was a small kiss, innocent and chaste. The kind a young boy gives his first crush. It didn't last long but it was enough to make them blush and stutter as Gaara pulled away. Ana quickly stumbled out and excuse to leave and fled the room, Gaara watched her leave with something akin to awe in his eyes. Ana closed the door behind her and rested against it, breathing deeply, lifting her hand she pressed her fingers to her lips and smiled. Unaware that she had mirrored the exact same thing Gaara was doing.

A/N: So what did you think? The scene with Tom Riddle wasn't actually supposed to happen like that, she was just supposed to have a mental breakdown... but Tom appeared and slotted right into my plot...

Did you like the cute little scene with Gaara and Ana... I like it ^-^, I just couldn't resist making it so cute and innocent.

Please review and let me know what you think. I really appreciate it.