"What do you know, you do sleep, Itachi. Here I was, thinking you were just a demon that didn't and in the middle of the night you plot ways to take our souls to hell."

Sakura blinked open her eyes into the brown solemn gaze of a redhead.

What, what? Sakura brushed a paw forward realizing immediately she was still in her rabbit form and the warmth that encased her belonged to Itachi.

The young adult before her made a sour expression, "Of course, it makes perfect sense you'd only sleep with a giant fat demon rabbit." He stood back and crossed his arms.

Hey! That was rude!

Itachi lifted his head off of her back, his black hair falling upon her face and eyes.

She sneezed and pawed at it.

He pulled his hair away. "Good morning, Sasori."

"What's with the hare?" Sasori asked, not bothering with formalities.

"It's my familiar," Itachi said, and then without batting an eye. "I summoned it in the Forbidden Forest from the very pits of darkness."

"Are rabbits allowed as familiars?" Sasori's eyes narrowed in thought. "I know the Hyuga's have peacocks, but rabbits?"

"When they've been summoned from the great beyond," Itachi said, deadpanning. "Yes."

Sasori looked between her and Itachi before shrugging. "Well, does it do anything interesting?"

Itachi leaned back on his elbow. "It reads, and takes souls to hell. No plotting needed anymore. I can get some well earned rest."

Sasori didn't even crack a smile. "I see. Well. Great being roommates with you."

"The pleasure is always mine, Sasori," This time Itachi did smile, his most wicked foot tickling one.

"Now I have to watch out for a rabbit and you. I wondered how sixth year could get worse than our O.W.L. Year."

"I do enjoy raising the bar."

Sakura would have been cracking up laughing had she been human. Or flushing, at the petting Itachi was now giving her ears with his spare hand. Probably both if she were honest. Her teeth clicked together as she purred; his fingers rubbed the tips of her ears. Ahh, just right.

"If it does anything to me, I'll feed it poison."

A chill went up Sakura's back. Ok, maybe Sasori wasn't joking?

"I never said I wanted your soul."

"Oh?"

"First years, the fresher the better."

Sasori tilted his head to the side. "I suppose I could see that."

"The rabbit will make it easier to lure them."

"Not with those eyes, nobody will take the bait."

"Bait for what?" Another male asked.

Sakura immediately recognized him by the amount of rivets in his face. Although she flushed when realizing it wasn't just his face that had metal piercings, but his breasts and stomach too. Muggle-born as well.

Kisame had greeted the guy in a very big hug when he'd seen him at King's Crossing at the beginning of the school year. Said guy had not returned it. Had that made him more or less gangster than Kisame? Sakura hadn't been sure. But the black clothing, he'd been a goth right? Maybe that was it.

"Soul sucking," Itachi answered on Sasori's behalf, still keeping his face completely flat and expressionless. "This rabbit will help lure in the first years, Yahiko."

The man crouched by the bed.

"You're not going to get any muggle-borns. It looks like a giant version of the Black Beast of Arrgh," Yahiko smiled and then laughed at his own humor.

Sakura also wanted to laugh. Well at least someone here had humor and was a muggle-born. If only her own year hadn't discounted their heritage. Maybe she should be looking to the upper years. They seemed much more confident in themselves than her peers. Perhaps her peers would get it in a few years?

"I'm sorry, what?"

"A muggle thing. Not sure you'll ever understand even if you wanted to."

Sakura couldn't help herself, she lunged at Yahiko, as if to go for his throat.

The man caught her, of course, but her weight threw him off and they were both then on the floor. She booped his nose.

He let out a laugh, rough and heavy. "Just like the fucking thing. Shit, Itachi. As if you needed something to be more terrifying."

"It's a rabbit. It's cute."

"Like hell it's cute," Sasori uttered.

Hey!

"It's the Beast of Arrgh," Yahiko laughed. "Oh, Konan is going to love this. She'll want to make it part of the Akatsuki. Nagato will have a fit."

Akatsuki? She'd never heard such a term before. Sakura hopped off the bare-chested man, flushing as she considered just what she'd done and the nakedskin she'd just touched. Oops. She looked to Itachi for an answer about the Akatsuki. Was it a magical term?

Itachi peered over the bed. His brows touched his forehead. He looked so confused and perplexed, likely still considering the Monty Python reference. Ugh, purebloods. No pop culture allowed.

She looked around her, noticing again the bare chest, and mostly bare legs of Yahiko. She could feel her face warming. Sasori was dressed more presentably, in a flannel night dress. Pureblood too, then.

Well if they were up, they were bound to get dressed. It was time she took her leave before she saw even more skin.

With a nod of her head to them, she hopped out the door. The good thing with being an animal was that the doors were automatic instead of requiring actual human intervention. The best, really. Why they weren't automatic for humans was a bit odd if one thought about it.

Off she went, down the stairs of the dormitory. It was still early, no one was in the main room. The breaking dawn casted light upon the common room in a golden hue. Well, meditation first. Then she'd take a nice long nap. Thankfully it was the weekend.

She looked behind her. No one emerged. She hopped up the stairs quickly to the girls dormitory. Once inside, she reached her bed without stirring any of the other occupants. She climbed the stairs made of books that she'd left just for this purpose. Once on top of the last step she jumped into the opening in the blue velvet curtains. Once safely inside, she transformed. A moment later she brushed back the curtains, yawned as if she'd just awoken and then sat cross legged on the sill facing east. She greeted the rise of the sun with her thoughts on the light.

At breakfast, the owls dropped more bad news upon the table.

The headmaster left after reading the paper, but not before shoving it into Kakashi's hands and whispering something in his ear. The rest of the staff read their own copies with solemn faces. Most of the students seemed unbothered by the news, not even having a subscription to the Daily Prophet. But those that did from magical households reacted. Neji stalked off to the Hufflepuff table to speak with the Hyuga clan heiress. Itachi closed his eyes, wincing as if in pain. Muggle-borns, though, had breezed through the convention decisions, not understanding the impact. How many had not read the contract they'd signed? Did they know that if war was declared, they'd be the ones on the battle front?

She needed to finish that book.

Thus far, dark magic hadn't sounded too difficult. Oddly metaphorical, and sensual; but not hard.

Neji tutored her that afternoon in potions. And while he was busy digging through his things, she scanned the prefect schedule like normal, paying attention to names.

Itachi had a night shift that ended thirty minutes past midnight. Konan was the Hufflepuff prefect. Nagato was a Slytherin one. Interesting. All sixth years, perhaps they were just closer than her year.

Sakura sighed. She'd hoped her year would be close, too, but instead the only real friends she had were Naruto, Sasuke, and sometimes Ino. Recently though, Ino had been more focused on how she looked rather than what she learned. It drove Sakura insane. But Ino was a pureblood, her father part of the Auror Corps. Ino got special training from her father, she was confident in her skill. All of her magical friends seemed to be. Well, all her friends had something to fall back on, at least in the magical world.

Sakura had her family, and the muggle world. Sakura even polished her muggle skills. She could almost get a degree with all the college credits she'd earned through online platforms.

Once seventh year came, she'd probably leave just like Kisame. Get out. But she wouldn't be able to do that, not for a few more years. The contract she'd signed meant if war came, she must fight for Hogwarts.

She shook her head, dislodging such thoughts.

Focus on the book.

At midnight, Sakura exited her dormitory as a bunny, taking care to be quiet. No one. Good. Ravenclaws were predictable regarding bedtime.

She hopped down to the main floor and made her way to the chair Itachi typically sat in. She didn't jump into it, but instead curled up on her feet and waited in front of the cooling embers of the fire.

Another thing about animals. A human would trigger the fireplace to burn brightly; but animals, not a change.

Sakura lowered her head to her paws and awaited Itachi's return.

She had no way to tell time, but while she waited she made her mind busy. She contemplated the few dark spells she knew of. The famous three curses. Well, were they dark? They couldn't be light. To torture, kill and dominate were of the darkest of nature. Kakashi had quizzed them on the words and their intent, but had never dived deeper. Where had they been classified in the spectrum of magic? Was there a spectrum? Obviously they were illegal outside of wartime, but were they super dark, kinda dark, neutral? Well - those spells were probably super dark. Not to mention, her quest to find neutral had ended in defeat. Madam Hara had scoffed at her.

But there must be a spectrum, right? Everything had a spectrum, be it difficulty or even the visual spectrum. There was not just black and white in the world. That meant there was something in the middle. What about a tripping jinx? Where would it fall?

The portrait hole opened. Itachi and Ouka, the female prefect, stepped through. She bid Itachi goodnight with a flirtatious shoulder squeeze and wink.

Sakura tensed at the interaction; Itachi did pretty much nothing, just gave a smile and bid her farewell.

Itachi's gaze fell to Sakura then.

And then, so did Ouka's following Itachi's interest. Her eyes lit up.

"Oh, look at the rabbit! Isn't it cute?"

Oh no.

Sakura didn't want to like Ouka, especially not after seeing the closeness she had to the number one most wanted male in Ravenclaw Tower. But Ouka was as sweet as all the other interactions Sakura had had with her. The young woman walked slowly, kneeled and stretched out a hand, being considerate in her movements.

Sakura gave just one quick nose blow out and in. Sweat. Well, Ouka had been patrolling the dungeons according to Neji's chart, which meant she'd had to go up and down stairs.

Ouka took the sniff as a sign to pet. Those blue manicured nails got her just right and her leg thumped on its own accord.

"Feel this fur, Itachi, it's so soft." Ouka then leaned in and sniffed.

Sakura stiffened. What did the lady just do? Right next to her ass.

"It even smells like roses. Whose familiar do you think this is?" Ouka asked, scratching more and sniffing less.

"Mine."

Ouka stopped her scratching and turned. "What?"

"The rabbit is my familiar. I recently acquired her." Itachi studied Sakura and then turned his attention to Ouka."She was injured and I nursed her back to health. She's very loyal."

Itachi walked over, kneeled down and then gave Sakura a pointed look, "And needy. If she doesn't get read bedtime stories she won't go to sleep."

Ouka placed her palm to her heart. "Oh, that is so sweet, Itachi. Your kindness never ceases to amaze me."

Sakura could practically see the hearts coming from Ouka's eyes. Way to milk the situation, Itachi. Sakura's whiskers twitched.

"What's her name?" Ouka asked.

Itachi gave Sakura another pointed look, which Sakura felt herself returning. How had he not planned on that question coming from Ouka's mouth?

"Bunny."

Ouka's hand dropped, yeah not so cute. Glad to know the great Itachi was not so perfect in the naming department. But oh, no. It hadn't actually worked. The female prefect's smile got even larger. She lowered herself more and touched her mouth to Sakura's forehead to give a kiss.

Sakura shrunk away from the maroon lipstick covered lips. She had no idea how to get that off white fur, but it probably would be a giant pain.

"Well it's nice to meet you, Bunny-boo."

"Just Bunny." Itachi was losing points by the second with Ouka, but Sakura was quite thankful for the correction.

"Ah yes, well, ok." Ouka straightened. "I'm glad you finally have a familiar, Itachi. One that you really connect with. Bunny seems very sweet."

"I grow fonder by the day. The fact that Bunny knows my schedule so quickly must show how close she is to me." A glare followed that.

Ruh-roh. Sakura looked away from Itachi. Well, maybe she'd overstepped her bounds. But Itachi had said the book could not leave his room. How else was she supposed to read it?

"Awwww."

Ugh. Even Sakura in human form would have picked up on the fact that 'Bunny' was most definitely in trouble just by the tone Itachi had just used. How oblivious was Ouka?

"Have a good night, Ouka," Itachi said softly, "It's time for Bunny and I to get to bed. I've some reading to do, it seems."

"Of course, sorry," Ouka quickly got off her hands and knees. "Night, night, Bunny. Goodnight, Itachi. Sweet dreams." The 'sweet' was pronounced in the lowest and sultrest tone Sakura had ever heard.

Sakura was then promptly scooped into Itachi's arms, and he gave a groan as he got back to his feet. "I think you're heavier today than you were yesterday."

Sakura kicked him.

"Let's have a chat about my schedule."

It was a one sided conversation really. Itachi silenced his bed and then berated her.

"By lunch, everyone will know you as my familiar. That means if you get into anything, like the restricted section again, it will come back to me. Not to mention, word will reach my mother by tomorrow evening," Itachi glared. "She'll send Shisui after me to get a picture."

Well, she'd forgotten about Ouka. And Ouka wouldn't have noticed her if Itachi hadn't practically screamed 'look over there!' with his stare. Itachi hadn't even needed to claim her. What was with that! But she had to confess, sending Shisui after anyone seemed like quite the punishment.

The seventh year Gryffindor Head Boy was loud and obnoxious; Sasuke avoided him like the plague. Everytime Sasuke didn't escape in time, he got his cheek pinched and embarrassing stories told about his diaper changes to onlookers.

She drooped her ears, as if she really took his words to heart and then looked up at him, trying to widen her eyes to look as innocent as possible. She snuffled her nose.

"You don't care," Itachi said, "You just want to read the book."

At the word book her ears perked.

His glare deepened.

No, Sakura! Her ears re-drooped immediately. Sad bunny. Be sad bunny.

With a sigh, Itachi leaned against his headboard and looked down at her.

"Fine." He reached a hand to his desk and pulled the book from it.

Book!

Sakura hopped to Itachi's side and got cozy beside him, propping her head on his hip.

"One chapter. That is it."

Sakura turned and gave a good long blink in understanding.

She got two out of Itachi; five kicks to get him to do it though.

He didn't let her leave after, either. Instead he wrapped a hand around and once again dragged her up and used her haunch as a pillow. He was lucky she didn't have to fart. What was wrong with humans and wanting to put their heads so close to the tush. Sure, she had large thighs, but they couldn't be that comfortable.

But, it was Itachi Uchiha. That pleased the human. The internal rabbit instincts were happy with the safe location. So with a yawn, she let herself enjoy the warmth and fell asleep to Itachi's even breaths.

She woke before dawn, Sasori's trod to the bathroom loud to her sensitive ears. She gently moved away from Itachi so as to not wake him, then left. Carefully scanning the room multiple times, she then made her way to her dormitory to begin her new morning meditation ritual.

Itachi had been wrong about one thing. It didn't take until lunch for the whole school to learn of his familiar. Nor did Mikoto need to sick Shisui upon Itachi's person - Shisui needed no such request.

Sakura was more than a table away when Shisui slammed his hands down upon the Ravenclaw table beside Itachi. "Where's Bunny? I've got to meet Bunny. I heard it's bigger than eight cats put together."

Hey! That was mean! She was like two or three cats in size. Maybe four.

Itachi took some time in responding to the outburst as he held a cup of tea to his lips. He took a sip. "No."

"Why not?"

Itachi sat down the teacup. "Because you are loud and that terrifies any animal."

"I can be quiet," Shisui whisper-yelled.

"No."

Shisui pouted and his eyes, well Shisui could give really good puppy dog eyes. Sakura would have given in.

"No."

By lunch, an owl swooped in dropping a large package for Itachi. He unwrapped a camera at the table. Itachi gave a sigh as the quidditch captain next to him laughed.

Looked like word had reached his mother.

Itachi pinched the bridge of his nose.

Itachi's night shift was the same all week, so around the same time Sakura hopped down the stairs of her dormitory, being just as careful as before. No one was present. She sniffed the air. No strong cologne or scent.

Instead of waiting at the fireplace where one could be seen from the opening, Sakura hopped up and into Itachi's armchair. She didn't want to get pets from Ouka, as nice as her nails were.

Only one chapter tonight, she promised herself. She had potions in the morning and Neji was going to kill her if she failed another practical.

What she hadn't planned on was Shisui.

The door opened; Sakura tucked her ears and waited patiently for Itachi and Ouka to bid each other farewell. But no conversation came. No Itachi.

Instead another Uchiha graced the common room, one wearing a red and gold tie.

He hadn't yet noticed her, his gaze on the stairs to the sixth year dormitories.

Shisui didn't even turn around, he just sat in the chair. The chair she was fully occupying, because laying down, she flattened into the circumference of several cats, but less than eight!

Shisui was heavy.

She let out a gasp of pain and kicked.

Shisui bolted up and turned around. Immediately he was on his knees in front of the chair. "Oh no, oh no. I am so sorry."

He reached for her head and she squished herself as far away as possible from his hand.

He froze. "Sorry."

He dropped his hand to the couch cushion; Sakura relaxed slightly.

"You are just as precious as Ouka said. No wonder Itachi's so taken with you."

Sakura flushed. Wait. Itachi was taken with her? Err, well. Bunny, her? Since Itachi had never acknowledged her real existence, she'd take what she could get.

"Mikoto is going to have a field day with you. This is great news, a good distraction from the sour diplomacy; it sounds like war is a sure thing at this point."

War? Sakura rested her chin on top of his knuckles. Go on. Nobody talked about it, at least not openly. Just in whispers. Just in magical circles, everyone shut up when a muggle-born like her came by. As if it wouldn't impact them. But the truth was, it would. Maybe that is why they shut up. They knew muggle-borns would just be cannon fodder.

He fingered underneath her chin, eyes stern.

"Things are going to shit, little bunny. They are going to ask Itachi to lead in battle, I just know it." Shisui sighed and turned slightly so that he was sitting on the floor with his back against the legs of the armchair. He rested his head on his shoulder as he looked into the fire. "He's not ready. He's not ready to fight. Not ready to kill. They ask too much of him already. I'm so worried. Why couldn't Madara have named me as clan heir?"

He turned his gaze to Sakura.

"But you'll bring him some joy, yeah? Make sure he doesn't get too down?"

She didn't really know what she could do, but she nodded.

He tickled her chin, "You are a smart one." He moved his hand to the top of her head.

She didn't care for the weight of his hand and she shifted back to her corner.

"I'm sorry little bunny. But you are soft. Ouka wasn't kidding."

The door opened.

Shisui's head bolted up then, neck craning to look around the other side of the chair.

Sakura heard voices.

Shisui put a finger to his lips and then used his wand without uttering a word, vanished from sight.

At least for a second.

Sakura narrowed her gaze. It was a lot like invisibility in Halo games she played with her cousin. The second he moved, it gave away his position. She might not have depth perception, but she could clearly see his outline. He backed up to the fireplace mantel and stood there waiting.

Then it was like he was gone. Interesting…

Itachi and Ouka bid each other good night.

Itachi paused by the fireplace. Had he seen the movement too?

"Aww, no Bunny tonight, Itachi?" Ouka crooned.

Ugh. That was pitchy to Sakura's sensitive ears.

Itachi turned to look back at Ouka over the armchair, and then his eyes caught sight of Sakura's form.

His lips tilted up, just a fraction. "Looks like she just found a more comfy place than the floor."

"Oh," Ouka's footsteps returned to the main floor and soon Sakura was looking up and into the woman's brown eyes. "Aww. Someone was taking it easy."

Pet. Pet. Stroke.

Sniff. Sniff. Sniff.

Ugh. She was glad she bathed tonight. Now that people were smelling her, she was going to have to get more careful about it.

"She smells so good."

Good, old fashioned, muggle deodorant would do that. It was a 'Secret.'

Sakura looked up at Itachi, hoping he could read the 'Save me' look on her face.

He was smiling instead. Likely enjoying the torture Sakura was enduring of someone smelling so close to her behind. Come on, people! Well, maybe payback. With a flush she remembered sniffing Itachi up.

Movement then caught Sakura's eyes. Shisui was on the move, walking closer.

Sakura fluffed her fur, sat up and thumped her back feet. The humans didn't react.

Shisui inched closer. Sakura opened her mouth and well… Tried to growl.

What really came out of her mouth sounded like a mix between a sneeze and a raspberry.

Ouka at least stopped sniffing her. "Uh oh, is she sick?"

"I'm not sure." The smile was gone from Itachi's face.

Shisui was close. Look, Itachi! Nothing ever good came from Shisui sneaking up on anyone. Last time he'd thrown Sasuke in the lake.

She thumped her back foot and she blew again.

They all just looked more confused.

Shisui was at Itachi's shoulder then. Not waiting for whatever prank to befall Itachi, Sakura leapt at the invisible figure, like she had Yahiko this morning.

He dodged, and she clattered to the ground. She whipped back around and lunged again. He dodged, moving more towards the inner of the room and away from Itachi.

"What is she doing?" Lunge.

"I've no idea." Dodge.

"Maybe she needs to go potty." Lunge.

Dodge. "Could be."

Shisui was now right to the side of a coffee table. Perfect, he wasn't keeping track of his surroundings.

She changed the direction of her approach, making it such that he'd be more likely to go to his right.

He didn't disappoint. He slammed right into the table, toppling it over. Everything on it, the books and coasters, crashed on the ground to be followed by the loud thump of Shisui hitting the floor.

"Shit. Ouch."

Sakura pounced onto his stomach, the soft gut portion.

"Oof."

Itachi had his wand out and was canceling the invisibility within a second, red eyes glowing in the room brighter than the fire roaring behind him.

It took a long moment, but then –

"Shisui," both Itachi and Ouka sounded exasperated.

Itachi lowered his wand.

Shisui had his hands up and open. "Itachi, good evening. How is your night going?" Shisui scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

Sakura took a hop onto the chest muscles and then blew a raspberry in Shisui's face.

Shisui pointed a finger, "Hey, I thought we had a deal. I said keep quiet. Don't you know what shush means."

She blew another one. All bets were off if he was going to prank.

A strange chortling noise came behind her causing her to turn.

Itachi was leaning over, hand wrapped around his stomach. At first she thought that Itachi was sick but then he looked back up, and his smile was wider than she'd ever seen, wider than when he'd been evil to her. And the noise was his laughter.

Ouka, Shisui and Sakura stared dumbfounded at the sight. It was Shisui who recovered first.

"You've quite a tenacious and loyal defender," Shisui said with a smile and then he started laughing too.

Ouka followed soon after. And then Sakura blew another raspberry, which only caused Itachi to gasp for breath between his fits of laughter.

That night, once all had recovered, she got five chapters out of Itachi. It turned out, blowing raspberries would cause him to chuckle which woke him up, which meant more reading time.

Needless to say, she failed the potion's practical.

Neji shot a stinging hex at her.