Disclaimer: I do not own either works, they belong to their respective creators/writers. I only gain writing experience from this.

Summary: An overused plot with a twist: Join us as Naruto discovers his lost family in the world of wizards, wherein discovery of being from the Elemental Lands could mean experimentation and death. The careful game of manipulation and deceit begins as ninja infiltrate the wizarding world, only to find out what home really means.

A/N: In case it isn't clear, this starts with Sasuke's perspective after the feast and fast-forwards through the first day of classes narrated by Naruto last chapter. Hope you all enjoy. ~ with love, depressedchildren

Chapter 11: First Week in the Den

Sasuke's first night in Slytherin had been fairly uneventful. After the feast and Uncle's lecture about showing a united front in front of other Houses, Sasuke went to bed, woke up early, and left to explore the grounds before making it to the Great Hall. He figured Naruto would wake up late, and so Sasuke (rightly) assumed he'd have time to get a good layout of the castle. The rest of the day unfolded as it did without Sasuke giving it too much thought.

However, after news of Sasuke playing a muggle game with Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs had spread, well…he knew to expect the worse. He ate alone at the Slytherin table, but caught the dobe making eye contact with him every time an upper year got close to him. The idiot had his back.

While Sasuke ate his dinner at a sedate pace—no need to make it seem like he was nervous about peer reactions—he saw Flint beckon that annoying blonde first-year. He said a few things to the boy, not quite hiding his sneer in Sasuke's direction. The blonde, Malfoy he thought was the boy's name, called over his trollish friends. They really were not subtle at all.

Sasuke stayed in the Great Hall until other first-years began to make their way back to Slytherin dormitory. He walked in pace with them, and avoided the occasional upper-year trying to trip him. He missed having pants, or more specifically pockets to shove his hands into—it would have added to his image of "I don't care what you think" and his effortlessness in avoiding their "pranks."

Sasuke walked into the common room and knew if he went straight to his room it would make it seem like he did something wrong. So instead, he found a chair in a corner of the room and sat down. He pulled out his Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook from his satchel and began annotating the chapter their lecture was supposedly on with a muggle pen—secretly relishing at the aghast looks of those around him.

He could see several groups of Slytherins talking to each other while shooting him disgusted looks. It would be perhaps another twenty or so minutes before anyone attempted to do anything to him. In that time, he reflected on the reactions his peers had to him.

No one seemed to notice him go over to the Hufflepuff table in the morning—he only aroused attention when he sat with Harry at Gryffindor for that short bit of time during lunch. He hadn't alarmed too many students by sitting next to the supposed muggle-born Hufflepuff in Defense because Sasuke had already been sitting alone. He also sat alone in Herbology until some Ravenclaw sat down next to him. No, so long as Sasuke was the first to sit down, the other Slytherins did not think "badly" of him for whoever sat next to him.

But again, it was sitting for that short bit at Gryffindor table during lunch, and then playing with Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs that got his housemates…gossiping and scandalized. So now the question was how to respond to this disgust. Did he ignore his peers like in the academy? Knowing his luck, it would do the opposite of what he wanted to happen. When he ignored people in the academy it made him "cool." If he ignored people in Slytherin it would not make him "cool" or get them to avoid him, but likely ignite more hostility. Really, all these pure-bloods had so much pride that ignoring them even as a lowly (presumed) mud-blood was an insult worthy of punishment.

What were Sasuke's options? He supposed one was let their "threats" work and stop associating with other houses, but that was: one, stupid; two, not going to work with the dobe; and three, counter intuitive to training Harry.

Ignoring his housemates or kowtowing to them were not viable options. So he had to interact, but the question was how? If he was belligerent that would earn him no favors and lessen his ranking in Slytherin. If he told the truth that he knew the others before sorting it could work but would paint him as some kind of "blood traitor" on top of being viewed as a mud-blood despite his connection to Uncle.

There were some in Slytherin who were more…reasonable and less stringent when it came to associations, so perhaps the truth could work? He had overheard the occasional conversation about befriending Harry Potter—usually as a means to gaining something else. He also knew some of the other Slytherin's cared about how they were perceived by other houses—they didn't want to burn bridges especially when anyone from the other houses might end up becoming the next Minster of Magic.

Sasuke was starting to narrow in on an approach when shadows fell over his corner. He looked up with an eyebrow raised to find the Malfoy boy and his two goons. "Evening," he greeted tersely.

"What are writing with?" the blonde asked disgusted.

Right, Malfoy was a super pure-blood who hated all things muggle. "It's a muggle device for writing, but it makes much cleaner lines than quills can, so I just use it to make notes."

The blonde sneered. "Probably because you can't write with a quill," he said this like it was supposed to be a devastating insult.

"You're right, the orphanage never taught us how to use quills. And now that I think about it no one from the wizarding world offered to instruct me either. Are you offering penmanship lessons, Mr. Malfoy?" No need to sound antagonistic by just using his last name—also, it made him sound like Uncle so it was a subtle reminder to others of his connection to their Head of House.

Malfoy reared back. "What?! No!"

Sasuke just shrugged and turned back to his book like he thought the conversation was over. That got the blond boy huffing. "I wasn't done talking," he snapped.

"Oh, I thought you had just come over to ask about the pen. Did you have something else on your mind?"

"You're making a mockery of Slytherin," Malfoy announced with superiority.

"By using a pen in the common room?" Sasuke replied skeptically. He was playing dumb to see the blonde squirm, but also to reinforce the fact there was nothing wrong with fraternizing with other houses.

Malfoy was losing his cool and even stomped his foot against the ground. "No! By playing stupid muggle games with the other Houses!"

"So you're saying I should play stupid muggle games with my own house?" Sasuke asked with a smirk which only got the blonde more flustered. The young Uchiha chuckled slightly before interrupting the blonde boy. "I am joking."

"It's still…" Malfoy trailed off flustered. Sasuke noted most of the common room was trying to listen in, which really wasn't much of a surprise. They were all calculating him—trying to determine how harmful or useful he could be.

"It makes Slytherin House look like a House of normal kids?" Sasuke finished for the blonde. Malfoy opened and closed his mouth a few times.

Sasuke pressed his advantage. "Frankly, Slytherin needs to work on its image. Do you know how many Hufflepuffs asked if Slytherins sacrificed first-years and defenseless animals? Even a few Gryffindors asked if there was dark ritual hazing happening." These were exaggerations, but it got the effect Sasuke wanted. "How are any of us supposed to develop networks with the other houses when they think we drink sheep's blood and summon demons—or is that too muggle of a reference?"

"That's a muggle reference?" one of Malfoy's goons asked.

Sasuke shrugged. "I don't know. I'm still new to the wizarding world."

"Hags drink lamb's blood and try to summon things," Malfoy mumbled before frowning further. "They think we're all hags?"

Sasuke shrugged again. "Like I said, Slytherin has a very bad image and it can't make things worse to show them there are normal kids here, right?" Sasuke then waved his hand dismissively, "Besides, did you see the points Gryffindor and Hufflepuff got for socializing together during dinner?"

Malfoy frowned but there was a murmur around the common room. "They got House Points?" one of Malfoy's goons asked incredulously.

Sasuke nodded and Malfoy frowned further—more like pouted—as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, house points can't come at the cost of-of degrading yourself to muggle games."

Sasuke sighed and closed his book. "Besides being muggle raised and only know muggle games, I was also trying to gauge Potter's abilities and gain his friendship."

"What?!" Malfoy exclaimed.

"You know that new professor with the really long hair?" Sasuke asked rhetorically—well aware he had the whole room's attention. "He's teaching a combat tactics class and Potter showed an interest in it. To get into the class, you have to take a test on your physical fitness. So, why not hit two birds with one stone?

"I work on my physical fitness and figure out how good Potter will be at that class too while making friends with him. I already have an in with his cousin; now Potter just needs to trust me too. Once he's my friend, well, I'll have an ally who will someday get me some powerful connections, right?"

It was so silent, Sasuke thought he could hear a pin drop in the room. "Are we done?" he asked Malfoy after a moment.

Malfoy blinked a few times before turning away from him along with his goons. Sasuke looked at the rest of the common room with a raised eyebrow. The rest of the students shifted back to their own work.

By the next day, word had gotten around Slytherin and not as many upper-years were trying to trip him in the hallways. He still ate alone at the Slytherin table but walked with the dobe up to Transfiguration.

"So…your housemates look less like they're going to poison you," Naruto commented causally on their way up to the class.

"I gave them Slytherin reasons to not…" Sasuke trialed off and rolled his hand.

"Be tight asses about having friends in other houses?" Naruto supplied with a grin—having likely intuited where tension had come from the previous evening.

Sasuke just nodded his head; that was true enough. "Are we still going to the library after History?" he asked as they began climbing a flight of stairs.

"Sure. The library lady should have the books picked out by then."

"Librarian, dobe."

"Whatever, bastard."

The dobe was grinning and Sasuke felt the corner of his lips quirk up. They continued their walk in relative silence. The blonde eventually crossed his arms behind his head and looked up at the ceiling as they walked.

When they got to the classroom, a few Slytherins gave Sasuke skeptical looks, especially as he sat down at a table with the dobe. Zabini sat across the walking-aisle from Sasuke and nodded his head slightly. He returned the gesture and then the lesson began. To Sasuke's surprise, Naruto was fairly proficient at transfiguration. It only took him forty minutes of the lesson to turn his matchstick into a needle. Sasuke got it just after the dobe.

When the class finished, Sasuke parted ways with Naruto and began to make for the library. Zabini was walking with him.

"Evans is Potter's cousin," the dark skinned boy commented casually.

"Yes." Sasuke glanced sideways and saw the unasked question. "We went school supply shopping together. He wasn't a complete pain so…" Sasuke shrugged.

"He's loud," Zabini commented and Sasuke snorted.

"That he is."

"Still, Hufflepuff means he's loyal," Zabini commented. Sasuke nodded his head slightly and they continued their walk in relative silence. Once they got to the library, they sat at opposite ends of a table and began studying. Really, Sasuke was just trying to make sense of Defense since Quirrel was an utter joke.

Scoffing, Sasuke got out a separate piece of parchment and began writing down a number of questions he had for his uncle.

"Who are you planning to ask those questions to?" Zabini asked quietly.

"My uncle." Sasuke glanced up and shared a look with Zabini, "Quirrel's class is a joke."

Zabini nodded his head partially and smirked al little. "Do you suppose you could share any notes you take?"

"I'm going to be sharing them with Evans and Potter," Sasuke looked at the other boy pointedly.

"Would they be opposed to having another snake in their presence?"

"Thought you were keeping a healthy distance?" Sasuke asked with a smirk in return.

"You made some good points last night. A real Slytherin wouldn't let this chance slip by."

"But can you handle loud idiots?" Sasuke challenged.

"I've been to enough Malfoy social events to have a passing grasp at handling them," Zabini commented coolly. Sasuke chuckled a little before sobering.

"The only thing is, the dobe's good at reading people. If you're not genuine…" Sasuke trailed off and gave the other boy a hard look.

"And you have been?" Zabini challenged back.

"Yes, actually," Sasuke confessed. "Because I know how to look down the road."

"How do you know he's already going to be such a good ally?" Zabini asked casually.

"Like you said, Hufflepuffs are loyal." It was Zabini's turn to chuckle. Sasuke then leaned casually back in his chair and added, "Plus, did you see him in transfiguration?"

"Fair point, Prince. I'll consider what you've said." The boy then gathered his things and left the library. Sasuke stayed for a bit longer before heading down to lunch.

En route, he came across the first-year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. Naruto immediately slung an arm over Sasuke's shoulder and pulled him into an argument over which children's fairytales were better: the Brother's Grim or Beadle the Bard. The debate carried on through lunch at what was quickly becoming a Gryfindor/Hufflepuff table. The dobe would not let Sasuke leave to eat at the Slytherin table.

A few upper-years joined the debate and then the conversation went from who was better to which fairytales were the most gruesome. Somehow, Brother's Grim was in the lead, mostly thanks to Hermione and Sasuke having read the not-so-kid-friendly versions.

"They cut off her heel!?" the dobe shrieked.

"And the other sister's toes, yes," Sasuke drawled in boredom. Ron then tried to argue Babbity Rabbity was just as dark, but had a failing case.

By the time lunch ended, everyone was in agreement that the muggle fairytales were darker but they couldn't decide which fairytales were better. The conversation only petered out when they all made it into the lecture hall for history. Of course, when the first-years discovered a ghost was teaching the class, they began passing notes back and forth to continue the conversation, much to Hermione's bemused frustration.

Sasuke had his hands full just keeping the blonde from freaking out about Professor Binns.

"He's a ghost!" the blonde kept hissing. "He's gonna eat our souls and then our faces and then our souls!" he whispered horrified.

"Yes, he'll eat our souls twice," Sasuke replied with a roll of his eyes. That just made the dobe go pale. "Dobe!" he hissed, "he's not going to do that."

"How do you know? Are you ghost expert!?" he whisper-yelled. Professor Binns didn't notice the commotion.

"Yes! I lived in a neighborhood filled with ghosts and they never once bothered me—really dobe, shut up and calm down," Sasuke hissed. Perhaps referencing the Uchiha district did the trick because Naruto did settle down and just stared at his book the rest of the period.

Once the rest of the students began picking things up at the end of the lesson, Naruto tapped out Sorry in Konoha code.

Once they left the classroom, several Hufflepuffs started to console Naruto. "Are you really so afraid of ghosts, Nathan?" Hannah asked worriedly.

"They're not dangerous like in muggle stories, really," Susan reassured him.

"The Fat Friar is great! You should talk with him about ghosts," Justin suggested. "He'll show you there's nothing to be afraid of."

Sasuke shifted awkwardly. "Dobe, we need to go study," he decided to say, but that earned him some not so friendly looks from the Hufflepuffs. The blonde just nodded his head and shouldered out of the circle of Hufflepuffs.

"We don't really have anything to study yet," Wayne interjected. "We could go out to the grounds and play some more tag instead."

Naruto gave a brief smile and shook his head. "Not today, I promised we'd go to the library." He replied while gesturing between himself and Sasuke.

"Oh, okay," Hannah looked a little dejected but quickly cheered up when Ernie suggested they go play exploding snaps until dinner. Hermione, Ron, and Harry were still waiting in the hall for them and gave the pair confused looks.

"Is everything okay?" Ron asked slowly. "I mean, I get ghosts being freaky and Samuel, you were a bit sarcastic but—"

Naruto flashed a smile and shook his head. "It's alright! Lets' go to the library!" It was not the blonde's best attempt at diverting attention, especially since Ron picked up on the act.

It was still awkward once they arrived and sat down with the books the librarian had pulled. "Come on, dobe, let's get a dictionary," he said after the others got settled.

Naruto raised an eyebrow but followed after him. They found the reference books and Sasuke looked for eavesdroppers.

"I didn't mean it like that, dobe," Sasuke whispered. The blonde looked up at him confused.

"Like what?"

"I don't know…I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

"It's not that I feel bad or embarrassed, it's just…I never thought of the Uchiha district like that," Naruto's words were barely audible. He frowned and swallowed. "I just feel…that had to be so…" he trailed off and closed his eyes.

Sasuke coughed slightly. "It's not a big deal, dobe."

"Yes it is, and I used to be…to be jealous of you a bit, back in the…" he trailed off as an upper year walked closer to them.

"Again, I didn't say that to make you feel bad or sorry for me. I just…I wanted to reassure you that ghosts aren't going to harm you, okay?" Sasuke shrugged and looked at the various dictionaries. "I was just frustrated so it came out wrong."

"It's still…you shouldn't have had to go through that, and especially not alone," Naruto replied and brushed his arm against Sasuke.

"Just promise you won't freak out every time you see a ghost," Sasuke said as he began to turn around with a dictionary in hand.

Naruto smiled slightly before he too turned around and then slung an arm over Sasuke's shoulder. "I won't make promises I can't keep, but I'll do my best not to freak out anymore!" he exclaimed, which then earned him a "shush" from the librarian.

When they got back, Harry gave them questioning looks but they waved it off and diverted attention by asking what Hermione had already found out.

The bushy haired girl launched into an explanation of what the book described as the mind arts and some of the meditations newcomers should do. They looked at the different resources and began compiling lists of practices and meditations. Unfortunately, Naruto and Ron got bored and began to flick pieces of folded up paper at each other. Harry tried to stay focused but quickly got roped into whatever makeshift game the other two had created.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and looked up to see Hermione was staring at the boys in disbelief. She then caught his eyes and they shared a commiserating look before diving back into the readings. By the time dinner came around, they had nearly written two feet of exercises they could do to train their mental defenses so occlumency would come to them easier.

Of course, with dinner came another meal Sasuke was forced to eat with the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. By the time he broke free of the group, Sasuke wanted sleep. He had just dragged himself into the common room when Malfoy and his goons descended upon him.

"So, you were with the Gryffindors all day," Malfoy commented with a sneer.

"Not by choice," Sasuke replied as he shouldered past the blonde.

"I get your plan is to be chummy with Potter, but do you have to snub our House like that?" the Malfoy heir bulldozed right over what Sasuke was trying to say.

Sasuke turned around to face the blonde. "Again, it was not my choice today. I ran into their herd…gaggle—well whatever you call a group of idiots—on my way to lunch. Every time I tried to pull away from their cluster, the dobe kept pulling me back in."

"So you weren't trying to snub us?" Malfoy asked with his eyes narrowed.

"If I could have eaten at Slytherin table and been saved from the inane conversations, I would have."

"Inane conversations?" a first year girl asked, Parkinson he thought was her name. They were currently in the middle of common room, and once more all eyes were on them—it was an assessment, yet some students couldn't help but jump into the conversation.

"What does Potter talk about?" Greengrass asked next to Parkinson.

"Potter doesn't talk much. He'll ask questions, sure, but mostly he just listens." Some of the other kids around them looked a little thoughtful.

"So he doesn't brag or talk about his inheritance, at all?" Malfoy asked a bit perplexed.

"No, he's actually more likely to say he doesn't know something than brag about anything," Sasuke replied slowly. "Is my interrogation done?"

"Only after you tell us what got all those Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors so agitated during lunch," Malfoy demanded.

"They were comparing muggle and wizard fairytales. Like I said, inane conversations."

"Oh. Well, which are better?" Parkinson asked after a moment.

Sasuke groaned. "They never came to a conclusion."

"Well, clearly wizarding fairytales are better!" the girl announced. There were resounding agreements throughout the common room.

"I'm going to bed," Sasuke announced before he could get roped into telling them more about what the other Houses talked about. It was becoming increasingly apparent the other first-years wanted to know what was being said around the famous Harry Potter, and in general what other Houses were talking about. Maybe it was his fault for setting up some kind of expectation with his exaggerations from the other night. Maybe they thought the other Houses only talked about Slytherin when they weren't around? Either way, Sasuke was done with being social for the day.

The rest of the week did not go any better. While classes were fine, it was the socializing element that was driving Sasuke a bit…well, mad probably was an exaggeration. After getting forced to have lunch with the Gryffindor/Hufflepuff crowd the next day, he hid himself away until well after dinner started and slipped in to sit with Slytherins. It was a blissfully non-social dinner, but back in the common room his housemates were hounding him for all the details about what the other houses had said during lunch and between classes, and—Sasuke was going to stab someone. He nearly stabbed the dobe with his quill during Astronomy that night.

By the time Friday rolled around and he had potions, Sasuke felt close to doing something unbecoming of an Uchiha. He barely ate breakfast that morning in the hopes of avoiding gossiping Slytherins and talkative Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs.

He was now outside the classroom for potions and taking in the silence. "Everything alright, Mr. Prince?" his uncle asked in an amused tone.

"Why do they care so much about gossip?" he asked with a bit of a whine in his voice.

"Because they have nothing better to worry about," Uncle replied. "I'd offer to have tea with you but I have the other first year group after lunch."

"How about dinner? Or is that favoritism?"

"Likely favoritism, but if you need to talk to your Head of House after dinner, that is certainly doable."

"Good, I need to talk to someone sane," Sasuke mumbled.

"I thought you were making friends with Mr. Zabini?" Uncle joked, and Sasuke smirked a little—eyes still closed.

"Yeah, but he avoids me when the other idiots are around."

"That's smart of you," Uncle commented, and Sasuke opened his eyes to see Zabini was in the hallway.

"Thank you, sir," Zabini replied.

"Well, likely the rest of your year mates are coming down the stairs," Uncle drawled and turned toward his classroom.

"Planning your dramatic entrance?" Sasuke teased.

"I never make such plans, and watch the cheek Mr. Prince," Uncle replied but there was a tug at the corner of his lips.

Zabini leaned against the wall next to Sasuke. "Are you planning to sit with Gryffindors today?" he asked.

"Perhaps Granger since she's the only one who pays attention, but she'll likely sit close to wherever Potter and Weasley are," Sasuke drawled.

"Are you good at following directions?" Zabini asked, and Sasuke nodded. "Then we can be potions partners."

"That is appreciated."

The two stopped conversing as more students joined them outside the potions classroom. Just as class was scheduled to start, the doors opened suddenly and students filed in. Uncle was nowhere in sight—well, nowhere in sight for those without shinobi training.

Once everyone was seated—Hermione by herself, Ron and Harry partnered up, and Sasuke sitting well away from them with Zabini—Uncle made his presence known. With a swish of his robes, he stalked down the middle aisle and stood before a podium. He then began roll call. Uncle maintained a disinterested voice while going down the names, until he came to Harry's name. He paused briefly before saying "Harry Potter" like the name was an affront to him while also managing to sound unimpressed.

Sasuke schooled his reaction, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Harry frown in confusion while his shoulders rose closer to his ears. When Uncle called Sasuke's alias, he looked up at the man and raised an eyebrow questioningly. To most Slytherins, the gesture could be read as: "you're my relative are you really calling my name like you don't know me?" In actuality, he was questioning the hostility his uncle showed Harry's name. Wasn't that counter intuitive to their mission? In response, Uncle's eyes shifted over to Malfoy for the briefest of moments before resuming the roll call.

Sasuke was trying to parse that response out when Uncle began his speech about potions and it's nuanced art. It was a speech that captured the whole class' attention and had a few students sitting on the edge of their seat. Sasuke paid this half a mind, and used the reflective surfaces in the room to observe Malfoy and his lot.

Malfoy sat with his goons, but was also ensconced by the individuals Sasuke realized had been more vocal about the inferiority of muggles and muggle-born. Was he trying to maintain some expectation for those kids? They seemed to dislike Harry yet also were envious of him. He'd have to ask Uncle what he was missing.

"—if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach," Uncle finished his speech and sent the class into silence. Hermione looked desperate to prove to Uncle she was not a dunderhead, and there were a few Slytherins who now looked a little nervous, while most of the Gryffindors stared with wide-eyed alarm.

"Mr. Potter," Uncle called Harry out suddenly—the boy looked like a Nara dear caught in a lantern light. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" His tone was neutral and his gaze focused on the boy. Through reflective surfaces, Sasuke saw Malfoy and his group smirk or share amused looks—a cruel sort of amusement, but still amusement.

"I don't know, Sir," Harry replied evenly.

Uncle made a "disappointed" noise that sounded more reproachful than anything. "Then let's try again. Mr. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Hermione—who had been raising her hand since the first question—had her hand stretched so far in the air it looked close to dislocating. Malfoy, Grabbe, and Goyle were silently laughing—practically shaking in their efforts to not make visible sound. Parkinson even had one hand to her mouth in a "dainty" attempt to not vocally laugh. Harry's returning stare at Uncle hardened.

"I don't know, sir," he replied evenly, but Sasuke could hear the undercurrent of embarrassed anger.

Uncle shook his head. "A shame. You really ought to know that one—after all, muggles discovered bezoars even if they didn't know the magical properties."

Harry's jaw clenched slightly but he kept looking back up at Uncle almost defiantly. That was a familiar look, one Sasuke had seen from the dobe many a time.

"One more try, Mr. Potter. What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Uncle asked like he was bored. Hermione actually stood up at this point with her hand quivering in the air. In reflective surfaces, Sasuke noted the round faced boy (Neville, was it?) looked confused before his eyes widened. He knew the answer then. Malfoy's group didn't seem to know the answer but instead were watching in some cruel sort of delight and shaking in laughter.

"I don't know, sir," Harry repeated with an edge to his words. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you ask her?" Several kids laughed and Hermione quickly sat down with her hands in her lap.

"Indeed, but I was asking you, Mr. Potter," Uncle drawled. He made a put upon sigh and began stalking the classroom with his hands behind his back. "For your information, class, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as The Drought of Living Death—inspiration, I believe, for some of those Muggle Tales you were all arguing over the other day."

Most of the first years looked to Uncle in surprise. The Slytherin reactions were mixed. Some students were almost sheepish for having been interested in the topic, while others held a sort of superior look. Likely taking the "inspiration" element to mean that muggles hadn't come up with anything and thus reaffirmed the superiority of magic. Most of the Gryffindors were just plan shocked. Ron mumbled, "Mind reader," to Harry. In a reflective surface, at the back of the classroom, Uncle smirked and Sasuke couldn't help but do that too.

"Mr. Prince, why should your muggle-raised classmates know where to find a bezoar?" Uncle asked next as he spun around and made his way from the back of the classroom.

"Because it's a stone found in a goat's stomach. I think its non-digestible material clumped together?" Sasuke replied. He had been curious where the stone came from but still didn't know entirely and hoped Uncle could explain that.

"Correct, and why should any wizard care about this stone, Ms. Granger?"

Hermione blinked in surprise. "Because it can cure most poisons," she replied. Her answer came off as a question in her shock.

"Indeed," Uncle drawled. He then spun on his heel to regard the round faced boy. "Mr. Longbottom, do you know what the difference is between wolfsbane and monkshood?"

The boy looked about ready to faint, and Uncle raised an eyebrow. "Th-Th-They're th-the s-same?" Neville stuttered while trembling in his seat.

"Correct," Uncle said as he spun again on his heel. "Ms. Granger or Mr. Prince, do either of you know another name that plant can go by?"

Sasuke closed his eyes and went back through the list of plants mentioned in the text book. "Oh," he mumbled at the same time Hermione raised her hand.

Uncle gestured to both of them, but Hermione spoke first. "Aconite, sir."

"Correct." Uncle looked to Sasuke. "Do you have more to add, Mr. Prince?"

"It's part of the Ranunculaceae family and is also called the Queen of Poisons," Sasuke replied.

"Correct. Now, Mr. Prince, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Longbottom, why would I expect all my students, muggle-raised included, to know the answers to my questions?"

Most of the class was stunned and blinking. The rest of the class had their heads ducked down in embarrassment. Sasuke raised his hand slowly. Uncle nodded toward him to speak. "Because they overlap with muggle knowledge or stories," Sasuke replied slowly.

"Any other reason?" Uncle challenged.

"Well, with the last two, it would help in case we're poisoned or a potion calls ingredients by different names," Sasuke replied.

"Exactly." Uncle finished his walk around the classroom and stood at the front facing them. "I expect every student, regardless of their familial status, to understand a few fundamental concepts. One, potions can be dangerous. Adding ingredients at the wrong time or making even minor mistakes can poison or injure yourself or your classmates. Two, you will frequently find ingredients used in potions also exist in the muggle world and may have multiple names. Some potion masters may even refer to ingredients by the terms muggles use or used. And lastly, there is no excuse for incompetence in this classroom."

The class was silent for a long moment before Uncle snapped at them to open up their text books and begin to make a boil cure. Students worked at their own pace, and Uncle stalked the classroom. While he did so to stop students from making grievous mistakes, it set most of the Gryffindors on edge. In fact, that round faced boy looked prepared to faint each time Uncle reprimanded his actions.

Two cauldrons blew up during the lesson and lost Gryffindor several house points because of that. Uncle chastised them by saying: "In potions you must be observant of not only your own potion but that of others. Not only is contamination easy to occur, but you must be aware of when ingredients have volatile reactions. Gryffindors, I expected you to be more accommodating for your dunderheaded Housemates."

Several Slytherins snickered but continued working diligently on their potions.

By the end of class, half the Gryffindor class looked defeated. Only Patil, Hermione, and Brown managed "acceptable" potions on the Gryffindor side, while Malfoy and Parkinson received "excellent" marks, and the other Slytherins' potions were deemed "adequate" (except Crabe and Goyle who nearly failed). Sasuke could already hear several Gryffindors grumbling about favoritism as they began cleaning up, but Uncle put a quick stop to it by "lecturing."

"Mr. Malfoy, would you explain to your unprepared classmates the proper way of cleaning residue potion." That question made half the muggle-raised pause in their efforts to clean because Uncle's tone had been very pointed. Once the snooty blonde explained the process (with unnecessary derision in his voice at those who were clearly muggle-raised), Uncle continued to use pureblood Slytherins to explain how to clean up. Each question Uncle posed had this level of disdain to it that was directed at the students who didn't know the proper way of things. It had half the Slytherins laughing.

"Miss Greengrass, would you explain to your yearmates how to properly clean their utensils. Mr. Zabini could you stop your dunderheaded classmates from improperly storing ingredients. For the love of Merlin! Miss Parkinson, educate your yearmates on the proper care of their cauldrons—it's not a bludger, Mr. Weasley." The questions went on and Uncle would add details if any of the Slytherin students missed something.

In the end, they were all let out late, but at least they knew now how to properly clean up after potions. Sure, it came at the cost multiple Slytherins mocking Sasuke and other muggle-raised students.

"He's worse than Fred and George said!" Ron groused as he stomped out of the dungeons. "Did he have to call you out like that?" the boy gestured to Harry. "Did he have to make us all feel stupid?!" The redhead's face was bright red.

"He had seemed…decent on the train," Harry mumbled looking dejected. "I guess he must hate me…"

"I'm not sure it's that…" Hermione added hesitantly. Several Slytherins pushed past the small group, still laughing at the Gryffindors.

"Oh really?! It was like he was picking on Harry, asking all those impossible questions." Ron flailed his arms a bit.

"They weren't impossible."

"Only because you live in books!" Ron replied. At this point, it was just Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sasuke in the hallway. Zabini had hurriedly joined the other Slytherins and the rest of the Gryffindors were practically running out of the dungeons.

"Uncle asked those questions on purpose and not to humiliate you, Harry," Sasuke interjected quietly. The three Gryffindors turned around to look at him confused. Sasuke glanced around again. "How many of your classmates have expected something great from you so far?" he asked Harry who looked confused.

Sasuke sighed and folded his arms over his chest. They were stopped in the middle of the stairs. "Think about it, you're 'the boy-who-lived' and half these people were raised thinking you would be some prodigy or the like." The three Gryffindors nodded slowly, and Hermione's eyes widened in understanding. "Uncle was probably trying to break those expectations so you wouldn't have so much pressure or something."

"Plus, each answer did have some connection to the muggle world. Maybe to remind some of those…." Hermione and trailed off and scrunched her nose before continuing, "well, to show there aren't such big differences between muggle and wizarding society?"

"Exactly," Sasuke confirmed while Ron looked more confused and Harry thoughtful.

"I don't get it," Ron announced before continuing up the stairs.

"Uncle was attempting to lessen some of the hostility those pure-bloods have against the muggle-raised, while teaching us some valuable information."

Ron shrugged. "I don't know about that."

"Why wouldn't he just explain that instead of calling on me like that?" Harry asked as he too continued up the stairs.

"Because that would offend Malfoy. Why Uncle cares how that idiot perceives him…I don't know," Sasuke shrugged and wished he had pockets again.

"Probably because 'Lord Malfoy' is on the Board of Governors," Ron replied, saying the title of the elder Malfoy mockingly.

"So it could be Uncle's job if he seems too sympathetic," Sasuke mumbled.

"I doubt Malfoy's father could get someone fired," Hermione remarked and Sasuke shrugged.

They were now outside the Great Hall, and Sasuke quickly made his way to the Slytherin table to eat alone. The dobe made some noise as Harry came over and then immediately sought Sasuke out. The blonde boy gave Sasuke a look which he ignored. He didn't want to be around any more people. He was tired enough as it was.

When lunch was done, Sasuke left the Great Hall and made for one of the trees by the lake. He sat down and began to read one of the novice Occlumency books. He was coming across a new breathing exercise when someone sat down beside him. It was Hermione. Sasuke raised an eyebrow but the bushy haired girl just pulled out their history textbook. Around three, Harry and Ron began walking toward them.

"Hey," Harry greeted them a bit awkwardly. "Um, Hagrid asked if I'd like to go have tea at his hut, and I asked Nathan to come with me, but he has potions. Would you like to join?" Harry explained, though his words were vague enough to include Hermione.

"No," Sasuke replied, and Ron began to bristle while Harry frowned.

"Er, well, okay," the boy replied dejectedly.

"I could join you," Hermione offered with a smile. Ron scowled with his arms crossed over his chest and Harry still seemed dejected by Sasuke's response. Hermione looked down at the grass. "Never mind," she mumbled before turning back to her book, her shoulders a little closer to her ears than before.

"Come on, Harry," Ron exclaimed and began pulling the brunette off toward the hut at the edge of the woods. Sasuke just went back to his book.

"What's his problem?! Why is he so rude?" Hermione said suddenly.

Sasuke felt a vein pulse below his eye. Couldn't he just read in peace!?

"He's not a very good student, and—"

Sasuke stood up and began to climb the tree, which halted the girl's indignant words.

"S-Samuel? What are you doing?" He ignored the question and climbed to the higher boughs until he couldn't see the girl through the leaves. "You're going to fall and hurt yourself! You shouldn't be climbing trees."

An annoyed sound left him. "I don't want to talk to you. Just go somewhere else or keep reading!" Sasuke snapped. He was at his social limit. Quiet companionable reading was great, but navigating peer reactions was exhausting.

There was a small gasp from below before Sasuke distantly heard the girl moving away from the tree. Sasuke finally got to close his eyes and soak in the quiet. Maybe he could get away with staying out here all night? He could only hope.

TBC

A/N: Mix a socially awkward and introverted Sasuke with sensitive eleven year olds without much friendship experience, and how the misunderstandings ensue.