Hello, wonderful readers! Spring is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the changing seasons than with an exciting new chapter?

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Riddle Room

Severus spent his morning pouring his brews into ampoules and potion containers. He prepared his bed and dusted off the picture of his mother, Eileen. He paced inside his room uncertainly before looking out his bedroom window at the derelict mill down the road from his home. Shaking his head, he grabbed his black chestnut wand beside his mother's framed picture, before marching downstairs to use his living room floo to travel directly into the headmaster's office. As the green flames died around his periphery he heard loud voices echoing inside Dumbledore's office.

Severus stopped dead in his tracks upon hearing a stranger speaking to Hogwart's elderly silver-haired headmaster.

"Albus, I must say this boy is quite intriguing. If I had known he existed a year earlier, he'd already be receiving the finest wizarding education available on the planet," said a man with a peppered beard, wearing a dark blue wizard hat and red robes adorned with a distinctive coat of arms that Severus couldn't decipher. "It's odd that the mysterious portkey boy turned out to be an Uzumaki. I had thought his aunt was the last of the Uzumaki clan, and I don't recall Naomi mentioning him by name. She taught Defense Against the Dark Arts at my school for two years before switching to Alchemy. I'll have you know, Naomi was one of our best professors."

"Agilbert, is it true that Naomi Uzumaki became ill in the United States? I ask because she was once a dear student of mine. Horace Slughorn once said she and Lily Evans were his favorite students during the First Wizarding War," Dumbledore asked with a grandfather smile.

"Yes. Such a shame she became ill with Carter's Ventropsy. She immediately resigned and wrote her will after getting diagnosed. Our last contact was just a few days before her death at St. Mungo's," Agilbert recounted with a frown. "She sent me a letter requesting the Magical Congress to give ownership of all Uzumaki companies to her mysterious nephew."

"All the companies! Even the ones in Japan?" Dumbledore asked, slightly baffled by the news.

"Naomi stated that Naruto is the sole heir to the Uzumaki estate." Agilbert watched Dumbledore's jaw drop even more baffled than before.

"What about his relatives in Azkaban?" Dumbledore pondered.

"His relatives in Azkaban were written out of her will. She also wanted me to make sure he gets a good education…" Agilbert stopped talking and pointed to a picture of Gilderoy Lockhart on Dumbledore's desk. "I'm impressed you convinced Gilderoy to work at Hogwart's. Not only do you get the last Uzumaki, but you also get Lockhart. Where is the justice?"

"Gilderoy will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this fall. Many parents are excited that he has joined the faculty, although I disapprove of his novels becoming required reading," Dumbledore said with a lighthearted chuckle. "Naruto Uzumaki will be an excellent addition to Hogwarts."

"Naruto would get a much better education at Ilvermony, than here. His aunt was a legend in Alchemy and the Dark Arts. Both are subjects your school lacks," Aligbert said matter-of-factly. "The Wizard's Voice recently published a ranking of the top wizarding schools. Our school is ranked number one in safety and learning. Why not offload the boy onto me?"

"The Uzumaki family has been attending Hogwarts since the school first opened. Thankfully, he isn't a squib because his aunt signed him up to attend Hogwarts through a binding magical contract," Dumbledore explained before beaming happily. "Say, Agilbert. Why are you interested in Naruto?"

"Same reason why you're so interested in Harry Potter," Agilbert answered with a slight edging growl. "Naomi changed how alchemy is conducted by implementing transmutational runic seals in the magical process. After everything his aunt did for our school, I'd be honored to teach Naruto Uzumaki myself."

"It's good knowing Ilvermony has such a vested interest in my students, but I can't accept your offer. Naruto Uzumaki is attending Hogwarts this fall," Dumbledore informed. "Our schools are sisters and I hope we can form stronger ties over the next few years."

"Well, I was thinking maybe we could hold a small dueling tournament next year," Agilbert offered, smiling. "We could bring our schools together without messing up your beloved relationship with Durmstring and Beauxbaton."

"The Triwizard Tournament has been going on longer than Ilvermony has been around. Agilbert, I'd be delighted to have more dialogue about having a dueling tournament next year, and it was good catching up with you," Dumbledore said before standing up. "Severus! My dear boy, why have you been silent the whole time?"

"I didn't wish to interrupt your meeting," Severus said nonchalantly while looking directly into Agilbert's light brown eyes. "Mister?"

"Agilbert Fontaine, headmaster of Ilvermony School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States. And you must be Severus Snape! Naomi talked so much about you that I wondered if you two were once married," Agilbert said before chuckling loudly. "She spoke very fondly of you."

"Naomi was fond of you Severus?" Dumbledore asked innocently before fishing his hand inside a plastic bag full of Sherbert Lemon candy. "Oh, yes, I recall Lucious Malfoy hosting a Valentine's Day celebration where you invited her to dance."

"STOP!" Severus fumed in absolute horror.

"Really!" Agilbert exclaimed.

Severus kept his cool and took a deep sigh. He used his mastery of occlumency to prevent his cheeks from becoming flustered. "I'm. Not. An. Exhibit!" he bit out, causing Agilbert to flinch. "It was nice meeting you, Agilbert Fontaine, but I have important matters to discuss with Dumbledore."

The last thing he wanted to do was reminisce with two headmasters about his time at Hogwarts. It took all his training in Occlumency not to leave the room. He spent too many years being judged by his peers about his relationships, and the last thing he wanted to do was open old wounds.

Memories of James laughing above him as he held his bloody nose came to the forefront. That was the day Potter said he was going to die alone…

Dumbledore's awkward coughing brought Agilbert's attention back on the headmaster.

"It was nice speaking to you, Agilbert, but I need to speak to my Master of Potions," Albus said calmly.

"Of course. Until next time, Albus," Aligbert said awkwardly before exiting the room via floo.

Severus grit his teeth for several seconds before looking into Dumbledore's blue eyes. His headmaster had a defeated, almost lost glint in his eyes. The longer Albus remained quiet, the longer he understood his headmaster's pain. Albus popped a Sherbert Lemon candy into his mouth and held his bag forward to Severus.

"Severus, my boy?" Dumbledore greeted cheerfully, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Sherbert Lemon? They are quite good."

"N-no thank you," Severus bit out, pacing closer to Dumbledore's claw-footed desk. "What is this about, Headmaster!" he held out Rufus Scrimgeour's letter and handed it to him. "The head of the Auror's Office showed up at my front door this morning demanding I discharge Naruto Uzumaki from Wool's Orphanage before noon this Sunday. All because you haven't sent out Naruto's acceptance letter, yet you're telling Uncle Sam that he will be attending Hogwarts in the Fall. Which is it?"

Dumbledore's eyes scanned the letter up and down. He tossed it on his desk and sat back.

"Severus, I'm sorry for putting you through this, but you must discharge Naruto Uzumaki from Wool's Orphanage in London. There are many matters that I need to attend to between our fellow wizarding schools. I'm afraid I can't go to Wool's," Dumbledore admitted hesitantly as Severus approached him. "I planned on sending Rubeus to introduce Naruto into the wizarding world."

"Hagrid," Severus uttered in disbelief. "You wanted to choose open-lip Rubeus Hagrid over me!"

"He handled Harry Potter's introduction into the wizarding world splendidly last year. Sadly, he's been busy dealing with an outbreak of flesh-eating slugs messing with the schools cabbages, and Minerva McGonagall is attending to her niece, who is delivering a baby," Dumbledore explained. "I know what you are thinking."

"You are the Headmaster! It's your duty to accept new students, even the ones you are hesitant to accept," Severus snapped slightly aggravated that he had to be the one giving Albus this lecture. "The boy is stuck in the same orphanage that molded He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! As a professor I feel obligated to ensure he doesn't stay there a minute longer."

"It's not even that simple… You are right, it's my responsibility to discharge the boy from Wool's. I should retrieve Naruto myself, but I can't. I need to send his acceptance letter, but I haven't. I've been down this road once before, Severus. I know the dark outcome," Dumbledore said barely above a whisper.

"Dark outcome? He is just a twelve-year-old boy. What's holding you back from discharging him from Wool's?" Severus fumed.

"Because I'm scared, about the past rhyming with the present," Dumbledore explained before looking at headmaster Armando Dippet's painting. "Headmaster Dippet once gave me a top secret Ministry Mission almost sixty years ago. I was to hand a boy at Wool's Orphanage his Hogwarts acceptance letter. I spoke to the headmistress, Ms. Cole, who told me many horrible tales revolving around You-Know-Who."

"And you still accepted him into Hogwarts…" Snape muttered.

"Yes. I was very naive back then. I thought the boy would grow out of his violent tendencies. I've never indulged in this secret with anyone, but only one nightmare still haunts me today," Dumbledore rambled while swirling his Sherbert Lemon inside his mouth. "The nightmare is always the same. I'm sitting inside Tom's room at Wool's. He's smiling sadistically while reading his acceptance letter. The dream always ends with everything burning to ashes."

"Dreams can be very compelling," Severus assessed. "I know the Uzumaki Family better than most, Headmaster. Naomi, despite her beliefs, was a kind woman and a lover of magic,"

"You told me that Naomi and Lucius were the students who convinced you to become a Death Eater," Dumbledore said gruffly. "What happened with Quirrel and the Philosopher's Stone has only worsened my nightmares. I fear I'll fail another student if I set foot inside Wool's again. I can't save Naruto, but you can. Severus, please do me this favor."

"I'll do the Ministry and you this favor. I'll retrieve Naruto from Wool's the day after tomorrow, which should give you plenty of time to draft his acceptance letter," Severus offered diplomatically. "I'm not going to let Rufus and his gang of Aurors lay their hands on him!"

Dumbledore smiled broadly and rubbed his hands excitedly. "Severus, hiring you was one of the best decisions I made. Thank you, I don't know how I can repay you."

"Don't worry about anything, Headmaster. Send me his acceptance letter by owl later this evening and I'll leave on Saturday. There are a few things I have to attend to at Spinner's End tomorrow." Severus shook his head and smiled at his headmaster.

"Again, thank you for doing me this favor!" Dumbledore said graciously while swirling his Sherbert Lemon inside his mouth. "Mmm, are you sure you don't want one?"

"I was never fond of that particular muggle candy. I was more of a Freddo boy myself, before I discovered real Chocolate Frogs," Severus replied with a smirk.

He spun around on his heels and exited the headmaster's office via floo.

XxX Wool's Orphanage XxX

Wool's felt calm by the time Naruto came back from school. Dion and his crew weren't around. Alan and Caroline spent the rest of the late afternoon and night entertaining Mr. Mason and Vernon Dursley, who announced they'd petition to tear down Wool's in the Spring of ninety-three. Not that he gave a damn if Wool's burned to the ground. He never got to speak to anyone about what Dion was planning tomorrow night, so he slept on the issue.

By the time he awoke to go training with Kurama, he scurried downstairs to the first floor without glancing at the Riddle Room. Nothing was out of the ordinary as he squeezed himself through the gymnasium doors.

"Today, I will teach you the secret to using the Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Kurama roared enthusiastically. "First, make two shadow clones!"

"About time, dattebayo!" Naruto beamed. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Two shadow clones were formed without smoke on both his left and right. He had mastered his chakra control to the point where he could make up to ten smokeless shadow clones. His two clones started wrestling each other for no apparent reason, and he had to wrangle them under control.

"Come on, boss, let us fight," said one of the Naruto clones, trying to punch the other.

"Enough, you guys are embarrassing me in front of Kurama," he said with bright crimson cheeks. "It's bad enough I'm mixing up my Japanese and English again. The last thing I need is for my clones to go rogue!"

"He started it," responded the other clone.

"This is what happens after months of not using this jutsu. Your clones are restless because you stopped creating them for combat purposes," Kurama observed.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the shadow clone jutsu has multiple functionalities. It was created for reconnaissance purposes and to prevent Dojutsu users from discovering the real you. When you create clones, the intentions you have in mind while molding your chakra make it so they know their purpose. Before I tell you the secret, I want you to remember that chakra is connected to our intentions," Kurama explained.

"So that's why my clones knew which instant noodle ramen to get whenever I made them go shopping. Does this have anything to do with the secret of the shadow clone jutsu?"

"Not exactly. Just mold your chakra and command your clones to play rock paper scissors over on the River Thames! Once they are done, make them dispel!"

Naruto's two shadow clones ran north. He took the time to stretch and climb onto the rooftop of Wools. He could see the bright lights of London to the North. Up this high, he could even see the London Eye lit up like an ivory Sharigan twisting over the River Thames. Right across it, Big Ben's hands pointed to 5:15.

He traced his fingers over the massive architectural achievements. This world was lightyears ahead of where he had come from, and his breath was taken away every time he looked at them.

"Just my luck landing in a much cooler world, just to be stuck here. Tom told me my family is famous and that there are chakra users here, but where are they?" Naruto lamented. "What's the point of getting stronger if I have nowhere else to go?"

"What's eating you up?"

"The only thing that kept me going forward my whole life was becoming Hokage."

"So what? You can't become Hokage. Once you learn the secret to the shadow clone jutsu, you'll have this world by the balls," Kurama said encouragingly.

"You might be correct, but I feel stuck. We discussed hiding my shinobi abilities, but unless the adults take Dion seriously… I must fight his gang. I have no choice but to fight them! Because time is running out. Beating them isn't the problem, I can dispose of them quickly. I have five different ninjutsu that can have them screaming for mercy within seconds, but if that happens…"

"You will be caught."

Naruto nodded to himself. He looked up at the moon, realizing his shadow clones had dispelled.

"If it comes down to you fighting his gang, I believe the best time would be immediately after tonight's movie. I bet Dion plans to ambush Edon at the third floor library, probably because there won't be as many witnesses," Kurama advised before chuckling. "Good, it appears your shadow clones finished their rock, paper, scissors match."

"So what is the secret to the shadow clone jutsu?"

"Which hand won?"

"Rock, of course! So are you going to tell me the secret or not?" he mentally shouted at Kurama.

"You're slowly killing me, you know that," Kurama said pitifully, almost like the demon was at wit's end. "When you create a shadow clone, and it dispels. The shadow clone's memories and experiences transfer back to you! Now, you understand why this is important."

"So I can create four shadow clones to study something, and they'll do it for me, and I get four times the knowledge and experience when they dispel… DAMN WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN USING THIS!"

"You have! You've somehow failed to grasp the shadow clone jutsu's true purpose, which is reconnaissance!"

"Who needs reconnaissance when I can create an army?"

Before Kurama could respond, Naruto heard rustling from a garden next to St. John's Chapel. His breath was caught in his throat when loud, snakelike hissing and chanting reverberated across the fields where the old garden lay. He ran off the rooftop and landed beside the pavilion between Wool's and the chapel.

The loud chanting grew louder as he twisted around, trying to locate its origin. He approached St. John's Chapel and heard a loud gasping cry. He rushed through the chapel graveyard, which was full of eroded tombstones, including one that looked peculiar. It was the only grave with bright white daisies growing in front of the tombstone, and it had the name Merope Riddle, 1926.

He slowly walked closer to the garden, where he saw a rusted pike-edged Victorian gate holding back sharp, razor-edged white rose vines in full bloom. He saw nothing inside the garden except a massive slanting Martin Oak. The tree had giant overhanging branches that twisted up and down unnaturally.

"Scya Dska ca'si ha'ce swol scycka!" the chanter hissed like a spitting cobra.

Naruto felt goose prickles running up and down his spine as he entered the once-luscious chapel garden. The entire garden looked unkempt with broken stone fountains full of leaves, overgrown bushes that left little room to navigate. He walked down a stone walkway and saw that the rest of the garden was an elevated meadow with the Martin Oak in full view in the moonlight. He slowly walked forward, trying his best to avoid stepping on the dandelions poking between cracks in the stone.

Standing underneath the canopy of the slanting Martin Oak was Tom. He looked almost ghoulish under the pitch black shadows of the tree. The dark-haired orphan stopped chanting and smiled at Naruto.

"Tom? What are you doing here?"

"Naruto, you arrived just in time," Tom said excitedly while walking out of the darkness. "I was expecting you last night in the gymnasium, but I figured we got off to the wrong start."

"Oh, uh, what do you mean?" Naruto said uneasily, taking a step back. "I'm sorry about not showing up last night. I had a long day yesterday."

"Don't worry. I understand you are going through a lot." Tom twisted around and waved for Naruto to follow. "Come follow me, I want to give you a gift."

"A gift?" Naruto repeated perplexed.

He followed Tom until they reached around the Martin Oak. Maybe he was going insane because while moving behind the tree, he noticed the leaves were walking, like literally walking! Tiny creatures were moving on the branches with long, sharp, menacing fingers, two in each hand. These creatures were flat-faced, brown-eyed, and made up of bark and twigs.

"Bowtruckles. Have you ever seen one before?" Tom asked, shrugging his shoulders indifferently.

Naruto stepped forward and observed the creature. He opened his mouth and gasped as the beast gave him a quick bow. Tom smiled as the creatures crawled up the tree.

"What just happened?" Naruto asked, utterly blown away.

"You gained their respect. Few wizards automatically gain the respect of a Bowtruckle," Tom said, slightly startled. "That can't be… Regardless, this makes giving you your gift much less complicated."

"What do you mean complicated? Are those things dangerous?" Naruto asked worriedly.

"Bowtruckles are tree guardians, and they'll protect their trees with their lives. Don't let their size fool you. If a bowtruckle feels threatened, it becomes a very dark and frightening creature. This specific bowtruckle has been here for almost one thousand years, protecting this tree specifically," Tom explained happily.

"Damn this tree has been here for that long or do the tree guardians live that long?" Naruto asked curiously. "Also, how come I've never heard anyone talk about this place at Wool's?"

"Probably because of a horrible incident in forty-one during the Second World War. People are superstitious, but that doesn't mean this garden is evil. I discovered this garden two summers ago out of curiosity. I was never religious and I never bothered to walk across the street. So here you are, my secret garden," Tom said happily before smiling.

"Not much of a secret anymore, is it," Naruto said with a grin.

"Really? I've never seen anyone at Wool's come here. Sometimes grieving ancestors show up for a quick four-minute visit and a photo of a tombstone, but for some wicked reason this little grove in the heart of London is still untouched," Tom said with a frown. "That's why I'm giving you a few gifts to remember me fondly. In case it disappears."

"The construction project?"

Tom nodded. "Stand back, please."

Naruto's smile disappeared, and he was entirely at a loss for words. "Oh, uh, Tom, you don't have to."

"Ha'ce Uduux!" Tom chanted, and the earth beneath their feet rumbled.

Naruto stepped back and saw a small hole next to the Martin Oak opening up and a small creature no bigger than Naruto's hand emerged. It was incredibly adorable with large red eyes, a white belly and a long dinosaur shaped body with a pointed beefy tail swinging from its back. Green viney arms stretched in front of him almost like the creature was a living dinosaur plant.

The creature swung its tail from side to side before slowly curling around Naruto's white Adidas trainers.

"Awww, who is this guy?" Naruto chuckled as he picked up the creature. It cooed in his palm and peacefully fell asleep.

"That my friend is a baby, Strelitzia. They love feasting on fruit and vermin but can go their entire lives without tasting another animal's flesh. They're native to Vienna, Austria and are exceptionally rare. They're magical in their own right and are fiercely loyal creatures," Tom mused with sparkling brown eyes and a wide smile.

"This is one of the sickest creatures I've ever seen. Can Muggles see it?" Naruto asked, only to chuckle as the creature jumped up and gave him a wet lick across his cheek. "Hahahah!"

"Strelitzia can turn invisible upon command. Poachers hunt them because their blood has numerous properties in alchemy. But what makes them interesting is that they can protect their masters from large beasts, and their magical powers only increase as they age," Tom marveled as the creature cooed louder in Naruto's hands. "I should warn you that they get very hungry. Strelitzia eat fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk. However, if they are starving, they are known to eat rats and mice. They love to sleep in rich black soil, but I'd keep it on your person until you find a good pot for it. If a strelitzia senses you are being harmed or it gets frightened. It will release spores that paralyze or knock out anyone breathing it in. Keep it happy because they are extremely aggressive creatures if they aren't cared for."

"You gave me a dinosaur with superpowers," Naruto said with wide eyes and a foxy grin.

"Well, it's not exactly a di-no, uh, what?" Tom stuttered, bamboozled.

"Dinosaurs are cool enough already, but this is… THANKS!" Naruto shouted before giving Tom a quick handshake and a thumbs up without dropping his new pet. "This is the best gift I've ever received."

"Remember I warned you," Tom said before chuckling. He quickly composed himself before saying ominously, "I was thinking about your problem."

"My problem?"

"Dion, his gang, and the Albanian Mafia. They're a rotten bunch, ruthless too, and three out of five carry pistols. They're planning on murdering your friend tonight. You think ratting out Dion is the solution," Tom observed much to Naruto's confusion.

"I don't usually go for the ass kissing strategy either, but if I fight them people will get hurt," Naruto said uneasily.

"I know."

"You know?" he repeated in disbelief.

"Alan and Caroline know what Dion is capable of, but they can't do anything. It's your word against Dion's and he has four thugs to back him up. Believe me, you'll just be the thirty-third kid to confront them about Dion harming someone at Wool's," Tom explained matter of factly.

"Then what is your solution?" Naruto asked slightly on edge. "Why do you want to help me?"

"If you want to find out, you must follow me!" Tom commanded authoritatively before grinning happily. "Because I think we can work together."

Tom rushed around the Martin tree, before twisting his head and back and asking, "Are you coming?"

He followed Tom out of the garden and through the old cemetery beside St. John's. Mist hovered over the ground as he trudged beside Tom. Holding his new grassy pet against his chest, he wondered if he had gone mad. There was something definitely off about Tom, but all doubts were erased as he heard his magical dinosaur plant coo.

Tom entered the gymnasium, and Naruto followed him inside. Darkness and the echoing of footsteps echoed in the night air as Naruto ducked behind the bleachers. Tom was beside him, smirking. He could make out Sully guarding the entranceway to the first-floor stairways. The gangster marched out of the hallway and disappeared behind the bleachers almost 30 meters away. He was staring directly at Sully. It was so dark that the bully couldn't even make him out.

"Watch and learn," Tom whispered before holding his hand out. "Dente Interitus."

Naruto watched Sully fall, writhing his limbs all over the floor while foaming at the mouth. He gagged, screamed, ached, and cried with his fingers twisting inside his bleeding mouth. Sully looked like someone stabbed him in his mouth repeatedly, and Naruto felt his nerves turn cold.

The bully groaned, retched up blood, and pitifully passed out. Blood and drool pooled out of Sully's mouth, causing Naruto to feel sick. He had seen his fair share of blood and violence as a member of Team Seven, but nothing like what he was witnessing now. Tom slowly walked forward, only to stop before Sully. He watched Tom triumphantly step over Sully before turning around and giving him a humble bow.

When they left the gym, Naruto decided he needed to talk.

"What the fuck did you do to him?" Naruto asked worriedly. "Is he going to die?"

"Sadly not. I made his teeth decay and caused abscesses to pop around his gums. He'll be in so much pain that killing your friend is the last thing he's going to do tomorrow night. That's one out of five thugs taken care of," Tom explained. "Now, stop fidgeting and follow me."

XxX XxX

Naruto and Tom slowly walked up the stairwell. It was a silent journey. Neither said a word, but Naruto felt his heart racing with every step. The orphanage felt chillier than usual, so much so he could even see his breath with every gasp. By the time they reached the third floor, his ears were ringing. Tom continued forward, only stopping for him to catch up.

The Riddle Room was just down the hallway. Room 327 felt abnormally dark and monstrous, like the gate to Hell. Tom hummed and skipped his way down the hallways gleefully, which unsettled him beyond anything he had ever experienced. Every cold brush of air against his goose prickles made him flinch. The lightbulbs in the fixtures fluttered on and off. He hadn't felt so on edge since encountering Zabuza during the Wave mission. Hell, he felt more startled now than when Orochimaru appeared inside the Forest of Death.

The Riddle room's door creaked open, and all he saw was darkness inside the room. He stepped back immediately and saw a dark mist surrounding Tom. The older boy stood in the open doorway, spun around, and had the most mischievous smile.

"Naruto, aren't you going to come in?" Tom asked, his shining white teeth fully exposed. "Don't you want your gift?"

"G-g-gift," he repeated. "No. Not in there."

"Aren't we friends?" Tom asked, slightly amused. "After everything I have done!"

Tom stepped forward, his dark-brown eyes now a pure scarlet.

"You can't be… no, no, this isn't possible. The Riddle boy was here sixty years ago!" Naruto nearly shouted, only for Tom to laugh in amusement.

"Naruto, I promise, I mean you no harm," Tom said with glinting scarlet eyes. "I have something for you."

He was frozen in place. Dark fog flooded and swirled up to Tom's knees. The mist started resembling hundreds of tentacles, claws, and hands. Every single unnatural limb moved sporadically in the darkness of Tom Riddle's room. Naruto's strelitzia started chirping and shaking its head in his hands. The dark mist appeared pitch black as it traveled from the Riddle Room into the hallway.

The lights above flickered.

The lightbulb closest to the Riddle Room popped as the tar-thick misty snaked closer to him. He wanted to run away, but he had never been so afraid.

"Run! Run! Don't look back! Just Run!" Kurama roared desperately.

Naruto jumped back, avoiding the misty appendages, before dodging low to avoid being snared by five hands. Primal instinct took over, and he barely flipped back and dashed down the hallway, avoiding a tsunami of cloudy tarlike fog chasing after him. He quickly ran upstairs, without looking back. He jumped into bed, threw his blanket over his body, and breathed slowly until sunrise.

XxX Headmaster's Office Wool's XxX

"Naruto! Come on, lad, are you with me?" Alan said worriedly.

"Sir? What's going on?" Naruto mumbled, stirring himself awake.

He twisted his head and realized he was in Alan's office. Delicate frames of pictures of past headmasters greeting priests, men in suits, and even one of Winston Churchill near a crater next to the orphanage, dated 1941, hung from the walls. Surprisingly, the garden next to St. John's chapel hadn't been bombed. Another photograph was of a woman standing beside a long, silver-bearded man, dated 1938. The office was like a museum. Almost all the pictures were like images caught in time…

Framed on Alan's desk was a picture of him between Mr. Mason, Mr. Dursley, and his headmaster, all in one awkward photograph framed for everyone to see forever!

"I called you into my office. You arrived droopy and slightly startled like you saw a ghost," Alan observed before sipping a steaming cup of tea. "Hopefully not. This morning has been hectic, enough as it is. We discovered Sully writhing on the floor with a knife and quids on his person. Caroline called me from the hospital and said he claims a ghost attacked him."

"Ghost… you can't be serious? Are you?" Naruto asked flabbergasted.

"Didn't I warn you that the third floor is haunted?" Alan questioned before resting his knuckles on his chin. Naruto's jaw dropped and he became fully awake. "That's why I turned the third-floor gym and pool room into a library. Some things are best kept buried."

"Buried?"

"My grandmom worked at Wool's up to the end of World War Two. During that time, there was a kitchen staffer who drowned in the pool room. Around the same period, three orphans went missing. That scandal would have ruined Wool's, but it happened during the London Blitz. Since then, both rooms have opened periodically, but something horrible happens whenever they're open. That's why I turned the rooms into the Third floor Library during Wool's renovation a decade ago," Alan explained before turning his head from side to side. "My grandmom said the Riddle boy took those kids. She couldn't prove it, but I believe her."

"Sir, exactly who is Tom Riddle?" Naruto asked innocently.

"Tom Riddle?" Alan repeated. "How do you know that name?"

"I heard it from one of the older boys," Naruto lied.

"That boy was evil. My grandmom raised four boys during the Great Depression and World War Two. She once saw the Riddle boy hovering outside his room covered head to toe in blood. No one believed her, yet… wait a minute," Alan suddenly became quiet and looked slightly perplexed. "I'm not sure this is a good story for you to hear."

"Why not?"

"Because last I checked you are twelve and this story is PG-13." Alan countered.

"Yeah, but aren't we watching a black market copy of My Cousin Vinny for movie night?" Naruto questioned with a foxy grin. "Isn't that movie rated R?"

"How the hell do you know that?" Alan was entirely taken by surprise.

"I have my sources," Naruto stated while closing his eyes.

"Tell me the source!" Alan commanded, but Naruto shook his head.

Little did Alan know that his source was Caroline. She had been spilling the beans to him since day one, all while behind Alan's back. After all, she was his guidance counselor. She told him Alan would return his headband on the last day of term. Last week, she also mentioned that Kavya had a crush on him. Last night, she said that because he brought good press to Wool's, they were awarding all the orphans a rated R movie about lawyers battling judges in America. It sounded like an excellent movie, too!

"Look, Alan, you were the one who called me in here," Naruto grumbled. "I've stayed out of trouble. I've brought good press to Wool's. And I've gone to school every day since I've been here. That's a damn good milestone for me."

Alan opened his desk drawer and handed the evidence bag containing his headband. He tore apart the plastic seal and felt the soft blue cotton fabric against his fingers. His hands brushed over the blackened etched markings representing Konoha's insignia. The cold steel forehead protector felt familiar, which only made him smile. Iruka-sensei wore this headband for years before handing it down to him.

Alan looked at him oddly as he slid it onto his forehead. His hair flopped back up, and he closed his eyes after tying it. Alan sat in his chair speechless as he reveled in his accomplishment. He didn't just get back his headband.

Once again he was finally a shinobi!

To top it off, he earned back his headband honorably without having to steal it. Weirdly, that made him feel even better, for once he wasn't a failure, he looked in the mirror next to a clock that read 6:50 AM. His reflection made his foxy grin widen. He looked more polished and even upbeat than he did since entering this world. Never again would he ever lose his headband. Such a silly piece of cloth and metal represented his past and who he was.

"Huh, that's an interesting heirloom," Alan said awkwardly. "Where did you get it?"

"I got this from the first person who believed in me," Naruto admitted lightly touching the steel with his fingertips. "No one ever believed in me."

"I believe in you lad." Alan smiled at him and handed him a small envelope. "Go on open it."

Naruto opened the envelope and jumped when a photo dropped out. He picked it up and stared at it. A woman with crimson hair was smiling wide. She had vibrant violet eyes, red lips, pink blushing cheeks, and wore a black outfit in the frame. The woman was waving at the camera when it was taken. Capturing in time one of the most enchanting smiles. Turning over the photograph, he saw an inscription.

Naomi Uzumaki, Big Ben, Westminster, February 22nd 1979

I'm returning from visiting my pregnant sister, Kushina Uzumaki. Finally, I got into that internship program I told you about. Hopefully, when Naruto is born, you'll accept my offer. You can't be the Half-Blood Prince forever.

He reread it several times before looking up at Alan, who was smiling with his hands together. His right eyebrow rose high right as Alan gushed.

"Dr. Granger discovered that photograph a week ago. He was looking into your aunt when he discovered her attending an important seminar on immigrating to the United States. He wanted me to give that to you and well…" Alan blushed and shook his head. "I felt guilty about holding onto your headband."

"Don't sweat it. I can safely say, I truly earned it," Naruto said while looking up at the ceiling. "I really did it, dattebayo!" he shook Alan's right hand and pointed his thumb at his headband. "Just know you'll only get this back over my dead body."

Alan laughed loudly. "I don't often say this but you are one of the best kids to come under my care."

"That's not saying much," he muttered softly.

"What is that?" Alan asked.

The door to Alan's office closed abruptly and Caroline Richardson walked in with a wide grin. "What did you do to get him to open up?" she asked, looking at Alan. "I've spent weeks trying to get Naruto to tell me anything other than, which girls he thinks are cute."

"I DID NO SUCH THING!" he protested with burning crimson cheeks.

Caroline gave him an amused grin and laughed. "Sorry for intruding, lads. I have news that Sully will be in the hospital for several days. Doctors say he might lose all his teeth."

"That bad!" Alan said with a pale face. He shook his head and waved at Naruto to go. "I need to speak to Caroline. Go and eat breakfast. I believe they're handing out acceptance letters for the following term."

XxX Wool's Dining Hall XxX

When Naruto entered the dining hall, it was bustling with chatter. Many students opened various letters over their steaming hot plates of beans, toast, and scrambled eggs. Screams of joy and excitement exploded while many others cried softly over the word rejected. He stood in the middle of the cafeteria confused by all the commotion.

That was when he saw Edon coming towards him. Edon was dressed in his Edwards-North uniform and brushed back his curly black hair while exclaiming, "I did it! I did it!"

"What happened?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"I passed the Sandbach entrance exam. I received a full ride into Sandbach! I can finally leave!" Edon gave him a deathgrip hug that would put Rock Lee to shame. He felt his eyes become teary thinking about Dion's plan. "Naruto, today is the day, I stop living in fear!"

His bunkmate pulled away and blushed only to be thrown into a moshpit of Wool's orphans jumping up and down. Before Naruto could respond to his bunkmate, he was thrown into the growing moshpit. Everyone inside the food hall was jumping hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder. The energy was so contagious that he started shouting joyfully with the growing crowd of orphans.

School was over, and their friends who had suffered years of bullying were finally getting the education they deserved. When he attended the Konoha Academy, he was always forbidden from celebrating with the other students. Now, he was finally part of something!

A soft tug on his right wrist made him twist around to see Kavya Patra holding his hand. Kavya was a fourteen-year-old girl whose parents had died in an automobile accident. She had straight black hair, caramel skin, black almond-shaped eyes, and smooth skin that made him flinch. That's when he noticed his pet strelitzia chirping uncomfortably, which had taken the form of a green bracelet.

His pet didn't seem to like her touching it.

Kavya held his right hand as he jumped up and down. The whole time he hoped she didn't hear his loud chirping magical dinosaur.

When everyone settled down, Dion and his gang soon entered the breakfast hall, causing the room to clear. Naruto escaped alongside Wesley, Edon, and Abhi. He took off his headband and held it in his hands, looking intently at what he had earned. Fellow orphans were beat boxing with thick Jamaican slang at the back of the bus. He looked out his window and saw London bustling with life.

"Tonight we are in for a fight. I'll be honest, I'm not worried about Dion or the Albanian Mafia anymore," Kurama roared.

"Me neither. I think we can agree Tom Riddle is the bigger threat."

"Much greater. That boy was more powerful than Itachi Uchiha and he was holding back. Something tells me he plans to use us," Kurama growled softly.

"Why do you think Tom Riddle gave me that strelitzia? He had me fooled up until he attacked Sully. I was so scared, I couldn't move. Do you think he wants to kill me?"

Kurama remained silent until the bus lurched in front of Edwards-North Academy in the heart of London. The bus's hydraulic brakes flared, students started marching out, and Naruto remained glued to his seat when he heard Kurama say, "Today's not the day we are going to die!"

(A/N) I just wanted to point out that the Strelitzia Naruto receives from Tom is based on Snivy/Superior from Pokemon Black and White. I wanted to give him a unique magical pet that evolves as he goes through Hogwarts. Plus it'll become important to the plot of Chamber of Secrets.

New Spells/Creatures

Strelitzia: Also known as the Grass Snake & the Emerald Lizard. Newt Scamander rated it a XXX creature due to its violent tendencies when hungry and its loyalty to its owners. Strelitzia are one of the most endangered magical pets and were known to be bred for aristocratic wizards and witches in Austria. Grindelwald was thought to have owned one during his Durstring days. These magical/dangerous creatures are well known for protecting their unique mystical abilities and fierce loyalty. Their blood and spores have unique healing abilities. It's rumored that Strelitzia can fend off well-known wizard killers such as manticores and acromantula!

Dente Interitus (Latin. Tooth Decay): Considered one of the most painful curses anyone can experience. This forbidden curse, invented by Grindelwald, causes the targets' teeth to rot out and their gums to explode in painful abscesses. Designed to leave a permanent disfigured face, this spell was most feared during the Global Wizarding War. Hogwarts student Tom Riddle introduced the spell during his final years of schooling to his Death Eater Cult.