Hello, again!
Among other things, this chapter will be bringing in two more characters that will be integral to the story: Ginny and Luna. However, only Luna will be with Naruto, while Ginny will wait until Sasuke shows up. Sasuke will either get simply Ginny, or a harem of his own, but the harem would most likely be smaller because most of the other characters I could really think of off the top of my head to pair with him alongside Ginny are redheads. Don't want him to hog ALL the redheads.
Also, I won't really be doing the whole 'Nargles, Wrackspurts, etc.' with Luna, mainly because I have trouble making any sense of what exactly she's talking about when she does say something like that.
Underlined is straight from original for story purposes. NOTHING ELSE! OTHERWISE IT IS STRICTLY MY IDEA! (Not sure if anything else will be underlined, but just in case)
Bold and Italicized is in a different language to the main language.
Don't own Harry Potter or Naruto.
Not everyone is so easily convinced
"HINATA!" he cried.
"What? What's wrong?" asked Hinata after a little bit "Why are you so upset?"
"I'm currently in a school that is lead by a crib robber!" Naruto angrily told her.
"Dumb-door's a crib robber? I'm missing something here. Let me have a loo- oh shit!" said Hinata
"Yes." stated Naruto. "Because of him, Harry Potter is in reality Jade Yuhi, Kurenai-san's kidnapped daughter! And until we know how to get me back, we can't even remotely tell Kurenai-san about her!"
As he finally made it out of the castle, Hinata's next statement summed up what the two were thinking about the whole fiasco Naruto was stuck in.
"NOT GOOD!"
However, he was too focused on what he discovered to notice that two of the students had followed him outside. A red-haired girl and a blonde-haired girl about the same age, coming down from two different directions to eat breakfast around the time Naruto left the Great Hall. Recognizing him from the night before, the red-haired girl asked her friends still in the Great Hall. "Everything okay, you guys?"
"Oh, good morning Ginny." answered Hermione. "We uh, had a rather interesting morning thanks to Naruto."
"Naruto? You mean the boy from last night? The one that just went outside?" asked Ginny.
"The very same, Ms. Weasley." answered Dumbledore. "Although I'm afraid none of us quite know why he left like he did."
However, Ron was fuming. The new guy had kept him from an easy meal, then completely terrified him from doing anything about it. Although I'm now starting to see why they were so interested in him.
However, despite what Dumbledore said, Ginny wasn't quite convinced Naruto's departure was random. No way someone would walk out like he did without being angry at something.
"You do realize that he probably doesn't have much about this place at all?" she asked. "I'm pretty sure that means he shouldn't really be out and about without a guide."
"Perhaps we could help him, Ginny." said Luna, surprising the group. "He's most likely by the lake, so might be best to start there."
Recognizing her childhood friend's unique sense of the world, Ginny quickly had her fill of breakfast and then went out with Luna to speak to Naruto. She idly noticed that both Harry and Hermione were wanting to go with them, but were hesitant. Each of them worried they did something to cause Naruto's reaction. Helps in reading faces when I have to deal with an entire pack of brothers. Especially when two are twin pranksters.
It was just then that Ginny remembered the newest additions to the grounds of Hogwarts. "He doesn't know about the dementors, either!" she declared before running outside, Luna close behind.
However, the two didn't quite have to worry, because upon getting out of the castle, they noticed Naruto down by the lake, no dementor in sight. Sighing in relief, Ginny apologized to Luna for unconsciously doubting her, then called out to Naruto. "Hey, Naruto!"
Turning around, Naruto saw the two girls coming to him. Wondering who they were, as well as what they wanted, he glanced at their hearts. What he saw there caught his attention pretty quickly.
Luna had to deal with all of that at a young age. Looks like she could use some help. Thought Naruto. As for, Jinni-no Ginny?, it seems that she at least suspects the truth about Jade. She could possibly help.
"Can I help you?" he asked the two.
Luna, realizing that there was something about Naruto that reminded her of herself, explained. "Hello, I'm Luna Lovegood, and this is my friend Ginny Weasley. We would like to help you become accustomed to Hogwarts, however long you may be here. There is also the problem of-"
"Dementors." stated Naruto.
"Yes. That's correct." said Luna, starting to get an idea of Naruto. "Unless, that is, you don't require assistance."
While Luna and Naruto were talking, Ginny was stumped. Naruto already knew about the dementors, but didn't seem to have actually encountered them. So how did he know about the monsters?
"The mind may forget, but the heart always remembers." said Naruto cryptically, like he somehow knew just what she was thinking. "I'm also from the same place as Harry."
Now she was shocked. What? He can read minds or something?! But Luna was the one who answered her unasked question this time. "I don't think he can actually use Legilimency, unless it doesn't allow you to read a person's mind." Turning to Naruto, she asked "What exactly are you reading?"
She's good, but I'm still not real sure if I can trust either of them. Thought Naruto. "Hey, Hinata."
It was a few moments before she answered. "Yeah?"
"What do you think about Luna and Ginny? Can they really be trusted?" asked Naruto.
"Let's see..." she said, contemplating the end results. "...I think it would be best to go straight up with them. Just make sure that they know to keep it to themselves for the time being."
"Yes, ma'am." acknowledged Naruto before responding to Luna's question. "I'm reading your hearts."
Even Luna was surprised by the answer given. Reading their hearts? Even knowing their young age, and subsequent lack of worldly experience, the ability to read a person's heart wasn't something one would expect. But even so, Luna's experiences so far did allow her to understand the Naruto was telling them the truth. But she then remembered something the he said earlier. "I'm willing to believe you, but I would like to know one thing."
"Why I said 'I'm also from the same place as Harry.'?" asked Naruto. After Luna nodded, the boy sighed. "Harry isn't actually Harry."
"I knew it!" declared Ginny, before quickly withdrawing in on herself a bit in embarrassment, catching Luna by surprise. This has been quite shocking, even for me.
Naruto merely chuckled a bit before continuing. "Yes, Ginny. However, I know her real name. Jade, daughter of Kurenai Yuhi of Konoha." Now Luna's head was starting to ache from the conversation, but unfortunately, the shocks weren't quite done. "It was that old man, Dumb-door, who turned her into Harry Potter." But it was the last part that got through to the two girls the hardest. "She was just born when kidnapped."
The resounding cry, while not loud enough to be heard throughout the entire castle, was still loud enough to be heard by a quarter of the building "WHAT!?"
This is quite a strange occurrence. mused Dumbledore, somewhat wondering around Hogwarts a bit. Naruto appearing out of nowhere at the beginning of the school year, especially in that state he was in. However, he developed a frown upon thinking about Naruto. his mind was the most protected I ever encountered. Not only that, during breakfast today, he looked at both me and Harry right before leaving like he did. Could he possibly...no...maybe. I'll have to be sure somehow.
Just then, his train of thought was interrupted by Professor McGonagall's voice. "How is he, Albus?"
"Hmm. Oh, yes. Mr. Uzumaki is fine." replied the man. "In fact, he's already had breakfast in the Great Hall, actually."
McGonagall was surprised. Normally Madam Pomfrey would keep her patients in the Hospital Wing through breakfast. "What got Poppy to allow him to leave her care after just a night?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "Poppy didn't actually have much of a choice in the matter. Apparently he doesn't quite trust Healers, so the first chance he got, he left there. Hagrid encountered him after he landed on the ground floor from, according to him, about 3 floors."
McGonagall couldn't believe it. A child, with a gaping hole in his chest, was completely healed in a matter of hours! And not only that, he free-falled 3 floors without a scratch! As she was about to inquire further, said topic of conversation came up to the pair and stoically asked "Opening in third-year Gryffindor?"
However, even with the seeming lack of emotion, the two teachers didn't have any problem understanding that the question was only a formality. But Dumbledore managed to catch the underlying statement.
He's not going to take no for an answer.
Great, he knows. I don't know how, but he knows. And now he's forcing me to either put him with Harry or risk losing Harry. Sigh.
Thankfully, for him, Naruto then said "Unlike you two, Harry will survive with my help."
After that, Dumbledore was quick to agree. While he didn't quite know about Harry's real background, let alone her original name, but he did know that Harry's history here wasn't quite the best. If he can help Harry survive, at least long enough, then the plan will have a greater chance of success.
He didn't notice Naruto's brief moment narrowing his eyes as he left with McGonagall for her classroom.
"Until we meet again," said Professor Trelawney faintly, "fair fortune be yours. Oh, and dear" - she pointed at Neville - "you'll be late next time, so mind you work extra-hard to catch up."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione descended Professor Trelawney's ladder and the winding stair in silence, then set off for Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration lesson. It took them so long to find her classroom that, early as they had left Divination, they were only just in time.
Harry chose a seat right at the back of the room, feeling as though he were sitting in a very bright spotlight; the rest of the class kept shooting furtive glances at him, as thought he were about to drop dead at any moment. He hardly heard what Professor McGonagall was telling them about Animagi (wizards who could transform at will into animals), and wasn't even watching when she transformed herself in front of their eyes into a tabby cat with spectacle marking around her eyes.
"Really, what has got into you all today?" said Professor McGonagall, turning back into herself with a faint pop, and staring around at them all. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not got applause from a class."
Everybody's heads turned toward Harry again, but nobody spoke. At least, not until Naruto made his presence known.
"Whoever believes Trelawney is an idiot."
"I see." said Professor McGonagall, understanding. "Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?"
Again, Naruto answered her, because her students were focused solidly on Naruto's sudden appearance out of seemingly nowhere. "Harry."
"Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, fixing Harry with her beady eyes. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sibyll Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet, so it would be best for you to believe Mr. Uzumaki, despite how I never speak ill of my colleagues-"
Professor McGonagall broke off, and they saw that her nostrils had gone white. She went on, more calmly, "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney-"
She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off handsome today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in."
Hermione laughed. Harry felt a bit better. It was harder to feel scared of a lump of tea leaves away from the dim red light and befuddling perfume of Professor Trelawney's classroom. Not everyone was convinced, however. Ron still looked worried, and Lavender whispered, "But what about Neville's cup?"
She didn't notice Naruto until his hand took hold of her shoulder, causing her to jump from the unexpected touch. With a hardened stare, he said "Brown-san, we make our own fate." He then turned to Professor McGonagall and said "Begin when you wish."
When the Transfiguration class had finished, they joined the crowd thundering toward the Great Hall for lunch.
"Ron, cheer up," said Hermione, pushing a dish of stew toward him. "You heard what Professor McGonagall said."
Ron spooned stew onto his plate and picked up his fork but didn't start.
"Harry," he said, in a low serious voice, "you haven't seen a great black dog anywhere, have you?"
"Yeah, I have," said Harry. "I saw one the night I left the Dursleys'."
"Omens are either patterns or illusions." said Naruto, right behind them. "Nothing else."
"Bloody hell!" said Ron, startled by him. "How are you doing that?"
Naruto, instead of answering, turned to Harry and said "We need to talk."
Not entirely too sure about Snape yet, but Draco and Ron will be in the 'You'll never learn.' category, while Dumbledore will eventually learn his lesson. Although it will still take him a while. As for why: I never did quite reveal Dumbledore's reasons for the kidnapping in the first place, now did I?
Some of you may complain a bit about the length of some chapters, but as a heads up (and this goes especially for anyone reading my other stories as well), that's mainly because of boredom, wanting to be finished with the chapter, and plot development. I want to try for an actual story, not something that's more or less 'This guy had a problem, got a boost, fixed it, the end.' That's not a story in my opinion, even for toddlers. It should show things such as just what the problem is and how the main character(s) went about to fix it.
Until next time. Please let me know what you think.