When Naruto entered through the doors of Hogwarts, she didn't expect to be called with a shout - NARUTO! - The blonde let out a shriek and jumped almost glued to the ceiling in fright before seeing Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw, she was a very sweet girl from the same year as her... but she was definitely a gossip, it wasn't the first time she left Naruto hanging from a branch or glued to the ceiling in fright when she undoubtedly has a scoop, surely very exaggerated, but a scoop, after all.

-Oh... Mandy, hello - Naruto relaxes his heart and sighs before smiling at his Ravenclaw partner.

- For Merlin's sake, you have to know this! - Mandy said as she raised her arms, her golden curls moving with her movements - I know you're close to Hermione Granger, right? -

Naruto blinks and feels the thorn of worry slowly digging into his chest - yeah? -

-I don't want to scare you - at that moment Naruto really got worried - but I heard that she has been paralyzed -

- What?! – Naruto exclaims loudly before feeling a great desire to see how true this "Gossip" was, jumping agitated Naruto goes to Mandy -oh I-I h-have to go, we'll talk later ttebayo! - Naruto runs and leaves his luggage next to the rest of those returning from vacation and goes to the dining room

- Oh hey Naruto! - Harry greets as his friend approaches at high speed.

- How were your…? - Ron was confused when he saw that Naruto didn't return the greetings of the people who passed by or asked about his vacation.

Then Harry frowns at the wrinkled forehead and bright blue eyes of concern - Hermione! I heard she had been paralyzed! Where is she...? - then Ron and Harry looked at each other understanding that Naruto even without being here had his... methods of finding out the information-

- No, it wasn't! Something else happened and… - Ron hesitated before both boys led Naruto to the infirmary.

He saw Hermione's light whiskers and hairy nose and could only blink wondering what had happened in his absence - How…? - the question makes Granger blush and Harry jump a little, but makes Naruto relax when he sees that his friend had not been paralyzed.

- Anyway, how did your holidays go?

-oh... that -Naruto looks at the ground and at his feet -I presented the exams to advance in rank-

- Rank up? - Ron doesn't understand and Hermione sighs.

-Ron, Naruto is a ninja and he said he was a genin, gennin is a rank right? - Naruto nods quickly and gives Hermione a smile, she was smart something he wasn't... the blonde shakes her head fiercely, then Hermione looks at him with a little concern - you sounded a little sad... didn't it go so well? -

-I'm in the finals -that makes Hermione smile thinking if she could help her friend study for said exams- I have to face a person in battle and he is much stronger than me-

- Are you going to fight?! - Ron asks approaching, he had read in Naruto's letter during the wave mission that he had fought, but now it sounded much more shocking when Naruto used the word "battle".

-I think you're exaggerating a lot harder than I am -Harry laughs- I saw you kick Pansy in the face-

-I don't think it's the same, but thanks for trying! -She laughs and looks at the girl -Now yes... What happened?-

Silence …. A great silence followed Naruto's poor question…

Hermione took a deep breath and let out a growl as if she was swallowing her pride. "I... made a mistake when making a potion." Naruto blinked once... twice... three times, before reacting.

-Mione chan… making a mistake in a potion?! - The fluffy-haired girl blushed from the embarrassment that was slowly increasing at the look of disbelief that Naruto was giving her.

-Everyone makes mistakes sometimes - Ron says, while Harry nods quickly.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were thankful that Naruto didn't ask much more about it…

Naruto sighs the next day in history of magic class, his mind was too busy to notice many holes in what Hermione said, he stretched his arms on the desk as he felt goosebumps rise from the teacher's ghostly voice but the sleep that super boring monologue gave him was slowly taking his life away, at that precise moment he believed that class would end when she would become an old woman and he honestly didn't think he had the time to sit there learning about the medieval assembly of European wizards , she barely knew about that there were "many lands" on this side of the veil and that they were divided into magical people who were few and non-magical people... muggle and knowing that already made her brain scramble.

She shook her head a little to focus and let her brain go to what she had left behind in Konoha… the teacher she hoped would be different when she returned.

Frowning, he turned his head slightly and glanced at Ron snoring with his book standing imposingly to cover it, turning his head again he saw Harry who had the quill in his hand, but his head was nodding too, wanting to fall asleep.

But she knows that she couldn't just be thinking about that… her foot moved anxiously, at the sight of people being petrified and Hermione not saying anything about her note about… the basilisk , Naruto knew she could be wrong that she was usually wrong, but she had a lot of hope that they had found the creature.

Naruto couldn't believe what he was seeing as he walked down the hall to his last class… potions as he looked at his essay he heard Ron sigh -A subpar one, oh come on it wasn't that bad-

Harry speaks in a mocking tone as his essay gets an Acceptable - You did the essay in half a day when we were given two months to do it, why do you think it was unsatisfactory ? - Ron rolls his eyes at the mockery.

-Keep going like this and you'll end up like Hermione -Harry just laughs and both boys look at Naruto –How did it go...?-

-I-I don't think so. Maybe this essay isn't mine ttebayo - she turns her head looking at her classmates who were now really curious and trying to look over her shoulder at the essay that according to Naruto wasn't his.

Harry couldn't help but feel the sarcasm creeping up at the situation -Naruto… -

- Yeah? -

-You know that Professor Binns orders us to mark the page on the cover, right?

That makes the blonde puff out her cheeks and look like a fighting cock - I know! -

Harry smiles - so if you didn't forget to write your name, there's no way they would give you an essay that wasn't yours -

Naruto sighs and nods - okay! If it's mine, but - Naruto turns and holds up the sheets in front of Harry and Ron's now shocked and open-mouthed faces - not the note, it's just impossible -

Both boys now understood why Naruto was denying this so much, his whiskered friend had previously managed to get an A for Acceptable, but this was an S… an Exceeds Expectations.

- You got a bad... I mean exceeded expectations! And it was in History of Magic... You're Hermione and you used a potion. Mmmh!? - Harry covered her mouth almost instantly making Naruto turn his head in confusion.

-Nothing, nothing, what Ron had wanted to say was, wow this is one of the subjects that you hate the most and yet… just wow –

Naruto looks at the paper again…

-You know Uzumaki, if Professor Snape saw you reading those papers over and over again he would scold you even if you were doing something... productive? - Draco says as he saw his blond partner who was looking at those papers that were slowly wrinkling under Naruto's fingers.

-Just... maybe it was because you helped me find the most important details- the blonde muttered more to herself, but Draco just raised an eyebrow and without being able to bear the curiosity he moved a little avoiding making physical contact with Naruto, but enough to see what his annoying but friend was reading only to be surprised to see an S.

-I never thought I'd ever see more than one half-breed A in your newsletter - Naruto puffs out his cheeks a little, but quickly deflates.

-Me neither, me neither - Naruto expected a mockery or for Draco to continue saying as he would never have expected but there wasn't much after that, he looked at his partner who was going back to reviewing his potions notes and his cauldron.

Draco felt a small blow in his chest as his heart skipped a beat too hard as he felt Naruto's gaze on his - w-what? -

-I thought… you would say something else, I don't know - that makes Draco look at the paper again.

-Well I forced you to sit in a chair for days reading the books and doing them, my effort to make you put effort into this was at least rewarded in a strange way - Draco rolls his eyes and that makes Naruto let out a chuckle before covering his mouth.

Naruto had finally finished assimilating it, that note was his, that S was... well taking all the credit wasn't right, as Draco had said in his haughty voice, his grown-up self was that he had forced her to be in a chair for days to finish it and Hermione to correct some parts.

Well the blonde sighs as she walks down the hall before climbing onto one of the stairs before they went up, not noticing that someone had stood next to her -Naruto - the voice was soft and endearing, it was distinctive enough for Naruto to realize who the person was without looking at her.

-Hello Lu chan - at the end the blonde looks to her side with a small smile at her friend from Ravenclaw, the girl carried different books in her arms like Naruto, assuming that her classes finally ended she went to the dormitories of her house.

Luna turns her head confused when she sees the sadness on her friend's face, her strawberry earrings moving along with it -you look very discouraged... is something wrong? - Naruto sighs.

-something must happen for me to be discouraged –

-mmh not necessarily -Luna disagrees and shakes her head -you can be discouraged when nothing happens at all and even be the cause of being discouraged -but then Luna gently points at Naruto's face -but those eyes are full of confusion as if… you're not sure of something-

That statement makes you think how smart Luna was to know all that -well... you're right ttebayo- Naruto starts walking again when the stairs reach their destination and Luna accompanies her -I don't think I can win, I don't even think I can face him! -Naruto lowers his head a little and before reaching the middle of the hallway he stops -I told Neville once that it was okay to be afraid, I told Mione chan that we have to face them, but... I really don't think I can do both, I don't want to be afraid and I don't want to face him, I feel like I will lose -Naruto didn't know what had made him say all this... maybe it was that he wanted to see the way Luna saw the world and thus have an answer as unique as the Ravenclaw girl is.

-Losing… that is something very ambiguous, do you know what it is to lose or win? Or what it is to be brave or a coward? -Luna says softly -There are many things that define losing or winning, losing may mean failing an exam or not achieving something you long for or winning is passing it and defeating everything that is in front of you, being brave is someone who is able to face danger even when afraid and a coward is someone who runs away -

-… okay, why are you telling me this ttebayo? - then Luna looks directly into Naruto's blue eyes clashing between colors.

- Because I don't believe in the meaning of losing, Naruto, you don't lose, you try and if it's not what you were looking for you try again until you finally win, but what exactly do you win? What do you seek to achieve with that victory? Just to defeat someone? I don't think there is a real reason to win-

-I… I don't just want to defeat him because he's the one I have to beat, the one I have to win, I want to do it because he hurt a very kind person… very sweet and I want -Naruto's eyes had a different shine- I want him to see the way that as he says "a loser" sees the world, one in which the destiny he is talking about does not exist –

-Then I don't know why you're so discouraged, you have a reason to win that's not just to defeat, you're looking for something specific so just go and chase it - Luna finished giving a small smile...

Luna's words made Naruto frown a little as he thought as he entered the room seeing that three of his classmates were already sleeping, he sat on the bed and closed the curtain as he changed –"just go and chase him" - Naruto couldn't think of how he could start chasing him.

She grabbed her large nightshirt before going to bed, the kneazle was hidden under her bed, it didn't come out when Naruto as he settled under the blankets and looked at the stuffed rabbit –"what would mouse do in these things?" -then she closed her eyes but didn't fall asleep and let her mind wander through the memories she had of the anbu –"surely you would tell me to stop doubting so much and start thinking about what to do" -she wrinkled her nose and clenched her fists –"and... to believe more that... I would achieve it -then she took a deep breath and her mind went to remember the fight between Neji and Hinata-

They struck in quick movements with the palms of their hands and used two fingers for surely more precision in their attack on the Chakra networks, the Byakugan was able to see those networks and the precise position of the organs.

Naruto remembered that way of fighting while Neji stretched out his arm and hit the center of Hinata's chest making the girl vomit blood... something that she would undoubtedly want to forget in the long term, but for now... She would take Hinata's attempt as something to learn from, something that would help her win, that way she would feel like she was dedicating this victory to her.

-Well let's talk to Hermione and Naruto tomorrow, they should know about this- Naruto raises an eyebrow when he hears Harry and Ron's voice before they safely separated to change and go to bed.

She wasn't quite sure what Harry wanted to talk to her about and she was curious now, but she didn't let it distract her.

The palms resonated with each blow even against the air due to the impulse of the Chakra that became visible at the point of impact, Neji threw his hand into the air and aimed under Hinata's chin and sent her flying.

then finally Naruto makes up his mind and sits down before looking for his notebook that was between the nightstand and a pencil, before taking his wand and saying the words softly - Lumos - the wand shone illuminating Naruto's entire bed slightly piercing the red curtains around it... she was a little proud of not having flooded the entire room with a blinding white light... then again she lay down on her stomach and left the book on her bed, with the wand in her left hand and the pencil in her right.

- "Let's see, Neji has his speed in his favor, the blows that can leave you unconscious and out of battle by blocking the Chakra points, in addition to having the Byakugan and being a prodigy" -she finishes the list before writing "Naruto" next to it to compare –"w-well, then I have… I have… -that was depressing Naruto a little when he feels his mind getting a little cloudy.

- large reserves of Chakra - it was soft, almost a whisper.

Naruto snapped out of his trance and smiled as his mind gave him something… he heard a loud bang… again as if someone had slapped their face –"Well I have large reserves of Chakra, although… that won't be very useful if I block them all I should… avoid that and the only way is for me to improve my taijutsu in this time as I had thought before, but… How do you improve taijutsu? I don't know" -Naruto sighs -oh Lumos -he repeated softly again as the light went out, turning on instantly.

Naruto thought about it for a long time even as his head reeled with falling asleep but he only closed his eyes for a second but when he opened them he heard the little birds chirping and a soft paw on his face "Noo! I fell asleep" she gets up angrily, it was barely dawn as she opened the curtain in a sigh, the kneazle was confused when he saw his owner move as she picked up her uniform releasing her anger in snorts.

-Hey, Naruto can you hear me? -Harry calls and makes Naruto raise his head and sees a book on its side in front of her.

-You say again… Where did you find that? - Harry snorts at how distracted his friend was.

-Where Myrtle had been thrown by someone, it belongs to a certain TM Ryddle and that's not all! -Harry stops and Ron continues.

-TM Riddle is one of those who received an award for services to the school fifty years ago - that surprises Naruto and he looks at the notebook with suspicion.

-Wow... Why would anyone want to throw away something so old and belonging to someone so important? -Harry sighs.

-I wonder that too, but maybe it was because it was blank? - that made Naruto take the notebook in his hands and open it and Harry was right, the pages didn't have a single thing written on them -I wanted to see what you thought since you're quite unpredictable - that makes Naruto blink several times.

Unpredictable

One thing to add to her short list of things she surpasses... wait, Neji Hyuga wasn't unpredictable like her, he knew how to fight, he was a proud boy and as stubborn or more than her, his way of fighting... he must have a pattern depending on the level of skill and who he fights against , surely during their fight he will try to humiliate her... crush her, show that he was superior in everything.

-We're going to tell Hermione this afternoon when she leaves the infirmary, Harry stands up with Ron, both boys look for the blonde only to see an empty seat...

Naruto went to the furthest area he was allowed and pulled on his robe before leaving it next to the grass beside the large hollow tree.

He closed his eyes and returned to the fight between Neji and Hinata, he raised his hand and adjusted his feet until he was in the main pose of the Hyuga taijutsu, he felt his blood run through his veins and the Chakra slowly accumulate in his palms, then it began...

She imitated Neji by pushing his palm into the air, listening to the impact against it, before repeating it with her other arm, the sound was as if she were colliding with someone with force, each blow impacting and then she visualized herself, Naruto was Neji and Naruto was her enemy to defeat.

She saw herself as she tried to miserably defend herself against Neji's blows, as she managed to quickly block his Chakra networks to her arms and legs, before landing a good blow on her and leaving her on the ground.

And that Naruto-Neji wasn't half as fast as him.

He opened his eyes finding his open palm against the air just as the final blow struck, his pupils contracted as he thought, squinting, he lowered his palm and began to twist his fingers together.

Then he went to his robes and took out his notebook and began to draw, he drew the points where the major Chakra connectors connected, his shoulders, wrists and chest, before drawing Neji Hyuga in the taijutsu stance and again pointing out his strongest points, but now… also the weakest ones.

She spent the last of the daylight sitting next to the hollow tree arranging her own taijutsu.

- "I need something that will give me time to prevent an attack", enough time to return it or get away - Naruto draws a silhouette with his leg stretched out and the other one tucked in, keeping his distance was necessary if he wanted to win and keeping one leg in front at least made the Hyuga style a little uncomfortable, and his arms were kept close to his body to block and hit when necessary - maybe… he needs to polish himself a little more and… -

-Miss Naruto - Naruto jumped almost dropping his notebook and raised his head to see Professor Minerva.

-oh… -she reacts when she sees the sky that was slowly getting darker.

- Do you know that curfew is now at six? - Naruto nods, she knew it - Then what are you still doing here at six thirty? -

-W-well Professor McGonagall I'm... preparing for an exam? - Minerva looked at the notebook she was clearly drawing in before.

-Don't lie to me, Miss Naruto - Naruto quickly shakes his head.

- I'm not lying! -Naruto shows his drawings -I have to go through-

Minerva didn't have to think too hard to know that Naruto wasn't taking a drawing test, instead she watched as the blonde drew different combat stances that she herself had never seen.

-Be careful- Minerva said softly before raising her voice, one that Naruto recognized as the strict but kind woman that was his head of house -it is better that you go to dinner and then to the dormitories- Naruto stands up taking his robe and nods, jumping a little on his feet and putting his robes back on.

-Yes, I'm leaving! -Naruto runs back to the castle...

Harry could tell that Naruto was busy with something that was really important to her, so he decided not to tell her much in the meantime, he still saw her spending time with the others from different houses, but she always carried a notebook and the crayons he had given her, no matter where she went…

Naruto got into the taijutsu pose he had been starting to prepare in sketches and writings, and arranged his hands in a signature jutsu - kage bunshin no jutsu - a clone appeared performing the Hyuga stance - are you ready leader?! - the clone asked before Naruto nodded and the clone launched forward, palms crashing against the air even hearing the Chakra resonate against the air, Naruto rotated and spun every time his clone tried to hit her in vital points, the clone pushed her palm against Naruto's shoulder and pushed the leg that was always forward back leaving the other forward quickly.

-Alright now- then the clone attacked again and before Naruto could do anything the clone hit his hand on Naruto's stomach - Aah! - he gasped for air when he fell to the ground and the clone vanished -… there are people who say that your greatest enemy is yourself… I-I think I understand those words now ttebayo - he mentioned while clutching his stomach in pain.

-I see you're excited about the match we'll have against Hufflepuff -Wood mentions agitatedly having already finished his morning laps watching as Naruto continued to run around at a faster speed -b-but I think it's t-time f-for a-well-deserved rest-

- I'll rest when I'm done! - Naruto exclaims, pushing himself forward without Chakra, keeping his breathing as stable as he could.

-Okay, and how many more are left? - Wood asks with a raised eyebrow.

- o-eight more and I'll finish the laps, then I'll start warming up by stretching and then with taijutsu! - Naruto takes one more lap to answer and Wood, although impressed by the little Bludger, didn't think this training had to be so hard... although he didn't know exactly what taijutsu was...

-I-I'm not going to do push-ups anymore, I'm sick of it - Draco breathes very heavily as he sits ungracefully on the grass, his voice sounding almost shrill as he watched the blonde do push-ups.

-I-I'm t-finishing up this morning- Naruto says finishing the last push-up, he had started like he usually did before the Christmas holidays, going out at four in the morning to run meeting up with Oliver at five thirty to finish that routine but instead of finishing at the same time as Oliver Naruto continued running until six and did a little warm-up before training his new taijutsu at six thirty, before meeting up with Draco to jog again and now he added a little more training after that.

- Why are you training so hard? - Draco asks when his breathing stabilized.

Naruto sits up looking at Draco, the Slytherin boy could see the golden hair shining from the sweat that ended up sliding down Naruto's forehead -w-well… - Naruto frowned, the blue of his eyes darkening to a deeper shade -I have to pass an exam where I live and… cutting out most of the details, I have to face a person for the final test - Draco didn't think it was possible that here at Hogwarts they would have a battle between two students as a test.

-I still don't understand why you're killing yourself now doing all this exercise- Draco remembered when Uzumaki had kicked Pansy in the face and the slap he had received just a month and a half ago, his annoying partner was strong, so he didn't understand why...

- Because I'm weak! - Naruto answers, but no longer with that sad tone, he was strong and sincere, full of energy like the blonde was, but at the same time the words didn't fit.

Draco had heard Uzumaki call him 'stupid Naruto' before but he always thought it was something Draco thought Uzumaki didn't mean it, but now, he realized that... Uzumaki did have a weak spot and a part of him didn't understand why he was showing it to him . "You're not weak... I think you forgot how aggressive you were when you hit Parkinson in the face or me." Naruto lets out an awkward laugh, having forgotten that he had slapped Draco.

-I'm not as strong as I seem-

- So you're calling me weak, half-blood? - Naruto wants to deny it... but he can't, Draco sighs - well whatever, you're not weak -

-Draco, I wanted to say this… I-I d-didn't w-want you to make fun of me, but-Naruto squirmed a little, rubbing his fingers together, searching for the words-I was the worst of my classmates where I live and the person I'm supposed to face was the best of his year… a prodigy and on top of that he has a year more experience than me in battle… that's why at first I refused to think that I could beat him-

Draco wasn't surprised by the fact that Naruto wasn't the best, but he was the worst, being the blond who always tries to give his best, he is surprised by that idea -but... -

-Now even... sometimes I think I won't be able to beat him, but I really want to try, I want to give it my all even if in the end I don't make it to the next round, I want to leave a mark on that person, show him that a loser like me can stand up to him - Naruto's eyes shone with a new determination, she had received much more help than she expected, many more guides, things that she herself could follow.

-do it- Draco corrects and Naruto puffs out his cheeks.

- I know! - The boy rolls his eyes, but I smile softer than usual…

Naruto goes to visit Hermione in the infirmary, only to turn his head in confusion when he sees the girl reading a book… that wasn't the surprising thing, it was a spell book and she had a bunch of pages strewn across her bed, the whiskers that hadn't been completely removed yet twitched before she raised her head and smiled, her fluffy hair doing so with her -hey Naruto- she greets.

Naruto jumps to his feet and returns the greeting happily - hey Mione chan! - he walks to sit at the foot of the bed looking curiously at the papers - What are you doing? Oh, does it have to do with that thing about? - Hermione shakes her head quickly.

-This is… with you! -That makes Naruto jump and he looks at the paper in confusion -Well, I'm not the best at fighting, but I thought I could help in another way and, but! So that he can finish some more details than just, "he can see everything" -Naruto laughs amused, but he feels a pleasant pounding in his chest… in his heart…

- I'm listening! Any idea is great ttebayo! - Hermione smiles and shows him the paper, Naruto opens his eyes wide with very blue saucers - noo... -

Naruto couldn't help but let out a squeal at the adorable whitish-pink baby bunnies in the cage - but how cute! Why are they here? -

-Oh Miss Naruto good morning -Naruto turned his head to see Professor McGonagall.

-Good morning Professor McGonagall - Naruto was crouching in front of the cage - Why are there rabbits here at Hogwarts? - Then Naruto started to alarm - They're not... fluffy food, right? - The teacher has a soft smile and shakes her head.

-No, it's for the transformation class we were supposed to have this week, but there was a mistake and they sent babies that are no older than fifteen days - that makes Naruto let out an excited squeal and he gently puts his finger through one of the bars of the cage, feeling the soft fur of one of the bunnies - which is why I have to wait a couple of months before giving that class -

-I see, ttebayo- Professor McGonagall waved her wand and the cage opened, a rabbit slowly coming out and reaching Naruto. The whiskered blonde looked adorably at the rabbit she was now holding in her hands. - Where are you going to stay? -

-I'll leave them with Hagrid to take care of them- Naruto caresses with a finger before worrying- is something wrong? -

-Hagrid mentioned that something or someone has been killing his roosters, I'm worried that the same thing might happen to the bunnies - McGonagall nods, saving that information for herself for later as she watches Naruto gently return the rabbit to the cage.

-I thought you might like to hold it a little longer- Naruto shakes his head.

-I've never liked animals much- Naruto mentions casually.

-maybe you just haven't approached it the right way-

-mmh maybe… who knows - Naruto says softly before standing up.

The kneazle watched the exchange from upstairs, his eyes sad and narrowed before he jumped off the railing to return to Gryffindor Tower.

Naruto felt his clone hit his arm and held back from writhing in pain as it then hit his chest before fading away in a puff of smoke, breathing heavily as she fell to the ground, sweaty and tired… also tired of training and training –"because I can't get any better" –

-wow… I saw how you multiplied Naruto - the girl in question jumps at the voice and stands up seeing Cedric approaching.

-Yes, they are just clones… -Naruto did not give it much importance.

- You know I can't do that, right? - That surprises Naruto, before remembering that... they didn't have Chakra - It was amazing seeing you fight against... yourself? - Cedric laughed at how weird that sounded - But it seems like you yourself don't think it's impressive - Naruto clenches his fists and just gives a small smile.

-I can't beat my clone... how can I beat... - She didn't finish her thought, but she felt strange when Cedric raised an eyebrow at her.

-Naruto, following the law that it is your clone both physically and mentally, then… don't you think you are being unfair to yourself? Look… clone already knows what you will do, it is you after all -… that broke Naruto's brain and made him understand all this time -if you have been improving it means that your clone has too, maybe you have no way to prove it -

- Now I understand! - Naruto suddenly makes the corresponding signs and a kage bunshin appears in front of her - Hey, why didn't you tell me that you knew what I was thinking? - the clone Naruto rolled his eyes.

-because I myself just realized that I know it -

-You're awful -

-If I'm horrible, you're horrible. I only did what you wanted.

-bad- Naruto started to curse, but Cedric stood between the two Narutos.

-Enough you two... Naruto, well whatever, you can't just curse... yourself - Naruto looked at his clone who shook his head.

-Aah no, don't you dare - Naruto made a sign and the clone vanished.

-Okay, I think I understand now, thanks for telling me ttebayo, now I have to think of something to help me train - Cedric laughed and ruffled Naruto's hair gently, who just walked away, taking his robe and walked away.

Draco Malfoy should be furious, maybe that's why his face was burning and his heart was beating so fast.

He was not a faithful follower of the rules, he preferred to only follow them when they worked in his favor, but if they didn't... he was garbage.

He rolled around in his bed, he couldn't sleep, he didn't understand why, he only knew that he was too restless, he put on some shoes and a black sweatshirt and went out to the Slytherin common room, he let out a small exhale watching the cold come out in the form of smoke, it was cold at this hour.

His stomach growled and he decided he needed something to eat to get back to sleep, there were apples and such in the common room, but he didn't want any of that right now he wanted something sweet... and not so healthy.

I search through a chest where Craig and Goyle used to sneak things away only to find piles of empty packets - gluttonous - he growls under his breath before standing up and walking down the halls to find the kitchen.

He had to be careful, if Filch saw him... He was just bad.

He was near the kitchen and heard loud footsteps, he took out his wand and tensed immediately, but it was too fast, too intense when someone grabbed him by the sweatshirt and slammed him against the wall around the corner, that hand was still on him -how about that- he didn't have time to say much more when he felt a hand over his mouth, when a ray of moonlight hit the face of his captor he saw bright blond hair and blue eyes that looked at him with too much amusement.

And we're back at the beginning of the story, Draco's heart felt like it was being pounded against his chest too hard and a dragon had spit its flames in his face. "Filch's there," Uzumaki points around the corner before placing a finger on his lip. "Shhh," she silenced the Slytherin.

Draco could hear Filch's footsteps and the creaking of his lamp.

Before he got too far away to hear, Naruto sighed and lowered his hand, releasing Draco from his diving suit in the process. "What do you think you're doing?" Draco whispers, but he's too strong.

-I'm hungry ttebayo- Naruto whispers back before raising an eyebrow- and you, Mr. Draco? - The boy let out a squeal at the mocking tone of how "Mr. Draco" sounded in Naruto's voice.

Draco looked first at one of the walls, then at the floor and then at the shoes... no, they were Uzumaki's sandals, before realizing how the blonde was wearing, she was wearing a white t-shirt that was undoubtedly too big and very soft pajama pants, Draco wondered if he didn't feel cold with such little things since it was just the beginning of spring.

When Naruto let out a laugh, Draco tried to avoid showing his curiosity at what the blonde found so funny. "Let's go get something to eat," she exclaimed in a low voice. Without time to give an opinion or to refuse, she grabbed him by the sleeve of his sweatshirt and pulled him along with her to the kitchen.

When they entered the kitchen, it was still too late… or was it too early? For the elves to be cooking, but in the silence they could hear and see through the dim lighting of the oven. They could see how the dishes were magically washed with a sponge while another one dried them with a cloth.

She walked slowly to where she knew they kept the chocolate bars and strawberry candies that she liked so much, and she climbed onto the ledge with great skill.

I hum in glee as I pull out the jar of candy, Draco saw that the candy was wrapped in pink packaging and had a strawberry drawing in the middle and he handed it to Draco in a flash, causing the boy to hold the glass jar out of instinct -hold it while I pull out the chocolate bars- Naruto whispers and Draco growls softly.

When she finds him she lets out a shriek and throws herself down to stand next to Draco, walking ahead of him, leading the way again, the boy could have said no or simply abandoned the blonde.

But his feet moved faster than his mind and he walked with her until they reached a corner of the kitchen, Naruto sat on the floor and patted his side - come sit with me - Draco looked at the floor, then at Naruto and back at the floor before mumbling under his breath and sitting at a healthy distance from the blonde.

He was literally the most uptight person, avoiding contact when Naruto would bump into him. Taking the candy and trying to give equal portions to both of them before taking out three chocolate bars and giving them to Draco.

The boy finally gives up and begins to relax, everything was quiet and the oven that was always on with magic gave off a pleasant heat unlike the Slytherin living room and bedrooms.

Naruto took a bite of the chocolate bar and let it melt in his mouth adoringly, before looking back at Draco. "Those chocolates are the best," Naruto mentioned with his mouth full as he took another bite.

Draco looked at the chocolate bar that he had removed the packaging from a little - do you do this very often? - Naruto turned his head curiously.

-You should tell me that it is often for you, although I do it every time my head spins too much - Draco did not understand what he meant by that - and you do it often? -

-I'm not the great Saint Potter, I don't get into trouble every time I can - he let out a dry laugh and rolled his eyes.

-Well... So you don't think it's exciting? - Draco turned his head to look at her only to let out an undignified squeal when Naruto's face was too close, his heart leapt in his chest with what he thought was disgust, he avoided looking at her and instead turned his head and looked at her stretched out legs and finally let himself lean against the wall.

-Exciting. What's so exciting about getting caught? - Then Draco felt the atmosphere change and moved to how Naruto felt, it was mint... Almost electrifying.

- It's exciting! Not the fact that you get caught, that's a... - Naruto closed his mouth abruptly - Garbage, but the excitement you feel when your heart races knowing that people are around you and you're escaping from everyone and everything -

Draco let out a dry laugh -Uzumaki running away… that's something new- the Slytherin boy only needed to give Naruto a look to understand what he was talking about.

-the looks weigh - Naruto squirms before taking another bite -I know that nobody looks at me here like they normally do... they are nice - Draco only had the word "here" engraved in his mind and he wanted to squirm as much as Uzumaki, he didn't know what the blonde was going through... and before he didn't care enough... He was the priority and he always thought that he got together with Uzumaki for the charming pleasure of making fun of his stupidity, but the more Draco got to know, the less fun he had, but... the closer he got to understanding , then Uzumaki broke the bubble of gloom that surrounded them with applause that warmed up the atmosphere -but that's okay... -She smiled brightly at him before stretching out her fist -She opens her palm- Draco only hesitated for a couple of seconds before a candy was dropped into the palm of his hand, there was no contact, but… Draco could feel her, her gaze was shining too brightly… too strong -Thank you for listening to me- Naruto said feeling his voice sharpen -Now- she smiles in a more cheerful way -I see that you like sweets-

-How could they not- Draco stops dead when he realizes he's speaking too casually and swallows his words so nothing else can escape.

"Draco likes sweets," she squeals, stretching her chocolate-filled hands into the air before bringing them together.

Draco felt too good... too comfortable, listening to the blonde chatter and chatter until she yawns, having finished the last bar and her candy, he doesn't know until what time they stayed or if it was dawn, only in a moment they got up and walked together down the hall, keeping their distance until they reached the stairs -goodbye Draco - Naruto didn't expect an answer... he almost never got one and he went up.

-Goodbye - Draco muttered before heading back to the Slytherin common room….

Naruto was confused as she entered the large dining hall, the atmosphere was heavy as it usually was since they started paralyzing people, but it wasn't helping with the new decorations, the walls were covered in large bright pink flowers. And from the pale blue ceiling fell confetti in the shape of hearts.

-... What? - She slowly advances until she sees Ron and Hermione, Harry was probably tired from his training yesterday so he decided he wasn't going to ask about him right now.

Ron had such a disgusted face that Naruto thought he was going to vomit slime like he did a few months ago. "Oh good morning Naruto," Hermione said with a... weird giggle.

-… good morning? Do you know what's going on? - Ron lets out a grunt.

- It's February 14th! That's what's happening and that's evil - Ron didn't finish his insult and took a deep breath.

Sitting down she sees Harry make the same face she had when she entered, walking slowly it seemed like he had gone to the wrong place, then he saw them and slowly walked towards them - can I know when this... celebration started ? - Harry asks and sees Ron mutter.

- Happy Valentine's Day! - Lockhart shouted - And I also want to thank the forty-six people who have sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of preparing this little surprise for all of you... and it doesn't end here! - Naruto thought about the celebration and remembered that in Konoha it was something similar, but it was done in April, he still has the funny memory of how many sweets they had given Sasuke and the boy didn't even like sweet things! So he took advantage of the moment and ate them all when no one was looking, well Sasuke did, but he pretended not to, keeping his eyes half-closed and avoiding seeing when Naruto was actually doing him a favor.

Then Naruto saw a bunch of grumpy looking elves enter the dining room, but they were wearing a golden winged suit and were also carrying tents.

- My loving card-carrying cupids! - Lockhart laughed - they will be going around the school all day today offering you Valentine's Day greetings! And the fun doesn't stop there! I'm sure my colleagues will want to share in the spirit of this day. Why don't you ask Professor Snape to teach you how to make a love potion? Although Professor Flitwick, the rascal, knows more about such charms than any other wizard I have ever met! -

Naruto was confused, she didn't know if Professor Lockhart was stupid or just didn't notice the death glare the Potions teacher was giving her or how poor Professor Flitwick was covering his face, she would never ask him for such a " love potion "

-I don't understand why they give so much importance to this date - Naruto says while he has a lollipop in his mouth, during the entire first block of class elves had been coming in and out... no, cupids giving them cards.

- I don't understand it either! - Harry says irritated walking next to Naruto, Ron was somewhere else without being sure where he was.

Then they saw another cupid, but this one was different, he looked at Harry as if he had a dedication - oh, no, not here! - Harry let out a squeal frowning, many of the first year children were looking at him, he pulled Naruto to put him in front of him as if that would work so that the elf would not give him this dedication.

Naruto let out a squeal as Harry pulled her along and looked at the little elf with an awkward laugh -mmh h-hello-

The elf clears his throat - Mr. Potter, I have to give you this -

- ¡NO! –

Then Harry took Naruto's hand and they started running away from the elf, while Naruto laughed out loud at his friend's face flushed to the ears.

- We're skipping class! - Harry seemed to pout as he just narrowed his gaze and was startled when another cupid appeared, he stepped back and stood behind Naruto to cover him looking warily at the creature.

It was she who reached out her hand and handed Naruto a lollipop - an anonymous gift - she says simply and leaves, Harry looks at the lollipop that Naruto still has in his mouth and the one he has in his hand.

-You... have you been eating lollipops all morning? - Naruto just shrugs as he opens the package and jumps to his feet.

-Anonymous gave me lots of sweets - she exclaims stretching out her arms.

-Naruto… anonymous isn't a person, you use anonymous when you don't want your identity to be known - Harry explains and Naruto just laughs and quickly puts the cherry lollipop in Harry's mouth.

-That doesn't matter much- Naruto walks with Harry through the courtyard -Although they are going to scold us, ttebayo- Harry sighs and mumbles.

- Why did Professor Lockhart come up with this bloody idea? - Harry curses.

-It's not that bad - she bounces gently on her feet, Harry answers mockingly.

-You are not the one who was about to be sung to, instead you enjoy many anonymous lollipops and chocolates -…

-Oh Cupid -Naruto says seeing how the elf sighed -You can give this to Draco Malfoy -Naruto extends his hand showing a simple chocolate -He likes sweet things! And I received many so… -The elf nods and takes the chocolate -Thank you! -He exclaims.

Draco had received sweets from some of the girls in his house, Pansy had been one of them, she had given him a bar of dark chocolate and the others gave him similar sweets, since apparently the popular opinion about him was that he didn't like sweets, apparently, that was why he let out a growl when another house elf appeared slowly approaching.

-sr. Malfoy –

-No, I don't want any more, get out - he says throwing away the dark chocolate bar.

-But Mr. Malfoy -I try to repeat

- No! Don't you understand? Get out - Draco says crossing his arms, before getting up and walking to the door.

-Miss Uzumaki has a gift for you - Draco stops between leaving or staying, he turned around and saw a small, normal, simple but sweet chocolate and at that moment he couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh.

-At least it wasn't bitter - he approaches and takes the chocolate, now noticing that all this celebration had bittered him a little and that he was again that hateful child that Uzumaki had told him he was last year, sighing he turns a little and looks at the elf who was playing cupid, somehow he reminded him of the house elf they had at home, he hadn't dealt with him much for a year and a half since he entered Hogwarts, he was almost completely sure that Uzumaki knew how his family treated the elf in the mansion, he would be furious with him and maybe get a good punch, taking a deep breath, he only grunted quietly a "thank you" before leaving quickly...