I own nothing *runs off sobbing*

Chapter 9

"And I am sure you already know who I am?" the serpent-like man says, his too thin lips shifting into a condescending smile that almost makes Naruto scoff. If this guy thought he was interesting then he definitely did not get the memo that ninjas were in town. He watches calmly as the wizard moves, taking a seat in an armchair near the window to Naruto's left. The blond nods in return - because he does know, no point in lying now – and extends a hand in greeting, a wide, fake smile on his whiskered face – he hasn't had to fake a smile like this in years, it actually hurt a bit, who would've thought?. The unnaturally white man doesn't acknowledge the gesture, he just watches Mrs Malfoy's garden, the same one the ninja himself was immersed into before. Well, it is always nice to know you have things in common with the evil guy, right?

"What is it you wish to discuss, ninja?" the soft, deep voice resonates within Naruto and he briefly wonders why he's trying to rule the Wizarding world by force when with a voice like that he could have the world kneeling, no fuss or blood spilling, just a well prepared speech. And wasn't he supposed to be super, Sakura-level smart too? Regardless and digressing, Naruto straightens his back and prepares for what could be the most interesting talk of his life, it isn't every day that one got to talk to a socio-psychopath , every couple of years, maybe, but this had to be good. Completely different thinking patterns and all Sakura warned them about before this mission come to mind.

"Why are you so set on getting rid of all muggleborns, half-bloods and muggles?" No one ever accused him of being a coward so why start now? Also he never had quite got the hang of the whole "talking around the subject" thing anyway so better safe than sorry.

"Shouldn't your kind revel in the kill, thus function on the, and I loath to say this, but it is quite accurate, muggle saying 'shoot first, ask questions later'?" the wizard asked, sitting down with his long flowing robe and prideful posture looking every bit the Lord he was posing as, even with the 'Dark' attached to the name – hell, it might have even made more sense like that. Naruto, had he been a lesser man, would have been afraid or at least nervous, but seeing as he was still alive and not, you know, dead, he figured Voldemort was at least intrigued by him. He liked his chances.

"Shouldn't you? You seem the type and actually are from what I've heard. You're not the kindest leader, are you?" Maybe you shouldn't antagonise the killer, moron, a voice in his head that sounds too much like Sasuke tells him and he almost scoffs, he vaguely hears the dark, amused snort of the Kyuubi inside its cage vibrating through his body.

"Do you wish to die? I think my reasons are clear enough and as for my subjects, most of them are not worthy of even speaking my name. While I do most times prefer being feared, it is quite … tiresome on occasion. I am sure you understand, Mr Uzumaki." Seriously, shouldn't the voice be all shrill, crazy-like and shit? It does seem unfair. Had he not looked like that, I might freaking … I don't know what, but any ways. And didn't Sakura-chan mention he used to be rather good-looking? Why would he want to ruin that even with the whole eternal life deal? Aaaand I should have been listening... shit!

"Uhm... can you repeat that and … maybe not kill me?" he asked grinning and knowing he might be pushing his luck – because, hey, when isn't he?! He turns back to stare at the garden for a few minutes while he listens to the steady breathing of Voldemort, before moving to take a seat opposite to the wizard. Now, he was paying attention.

~.~.~

Sasuke felt his hair tickling the back of his neck as he ran, fast and unyielding, against the icy air and the deep snow. He felt his eyes watering, he couldn't feel his tongue any more, dry and harsh as it now was, and his skin felt frozen. He wondered briefly that if he were to look at his hand now would he see it purple-blue and stiff, stone-like, before he scowled at the ridiculous idea. He closed his black eyes for mere seconds to rest them, to get some sort of relief, but not long enough to grow weary, he had to move, he had to hurry. The fight might have already ended and she could be dead by now.

"NO! Stop thinking that!" he hisses to himself, loud enough that it rumbles through the whitened branches of the trees. He moves one hand to his thigh, digging into his weapon's pouch to retrieve a kunai. He grips the blade, ignoring the pain as it cuts into his flesh and then the sting as it settles in, instead choosing to hold it tighter still. She was his fault, she had been taken because of him.

He stops, his feet stilling and bending as he crouches down on the branch, his breathing hard and erratic, his heart thumping wildly in his chest, his throat chocked by worry. He hasn't felt this much worry in years, he might have never felt this even. He wasn't sure how, but he knew he had to save her. She shouldn't have been there, he should've sent her off the minute he saw trouble, instead he let himself be swayed by her big, innocent green eyes that reminded him of her and long, soft brown locks, and loud, joyful attitude. He was truly foolish, Itachi had been right.

His eyes close again at the thought of his late brother and he feels the lump in his throat grow with guilt and heartache. Itachi was just another of his failures, another innocent life lost because of his stubbornness and idiocy. So, he'd be damned if he let this young girl die due to his mistakes. Ignoring the water in his eyes that was most definitely not from the cold any more, Sasuke pulls out his kunai and grips his unsheathed katana. He will not be responsible for yet another life lost, another life cut short because of him. No more!

He wakes up sweating and gasping for breath, his heart pounding painfully against his ribcage and his lungs aching. He stares ahead, his eyes grazing the empty wall and the large trunk at the feet of his bed, and with a hand he swipes his forehead. Still panting and with his mind plagued by the dream, he throws the blanket off and let's his feet touch the cold ground. A sigh escapes his mouth as the cold soothes his burning flesh and he has half a mind to just lie down on the floor to cool down. He doesn't though, instead he exits his bedroom, the bedroom he should be sharing with the dobe, and slowly, blindly, searches for the bathroom. He needs to cool off.

He stumbles, a loud smacking sound in the dead of the night, prays that Sakura doesn't awaken, and turns on the light in the small room. He steps inside, scrunching up his eyes as the light is too bright for his still sleepy orbs, and feels his way for the sink. He grips the edge and moves in front of it, turning on the water and letting it flow until it's freezing. He groans when he lets his hand sink into the small pool and then splashing some onto his face. He feels his knees tremble under the pressure, he swears inwardly for his state and then splashes more water to ease the … pain?

He doesn't hear nor see nor sense when Sakura exits her own room, her too-large T-shirt clinging to her curves and her pink hair in disarray, bleary green eyes only half opened. She enters the bathroom, holding out a hand for him, but he still doesn't see her. She shakes her head fondly, thought her eyes show some irritation, before gripping his shoulder. He jumps, turning suddenly and presses her to the cold tile. A shocked yelp escapes her, her eyes wide open now, her heart beating double-time. She feels the soft material of his pants brush the naked skin of her legs as he shoves a leg between her own, she gasps at the strong hold he has on her wrists above her head and she whimpers as his chest, expanding and retracting with each breath, brushes against her own.

His eyes are dark already, but she somehow sees them darken more as he recognizes her and he slams his mouth over hers, lips crashing and tongues entwining, teeth clashing and passion erupting. Another whimper is torn from her when his wet, heated lips trail a path down her throat, suckling and lick and occasionally nipping at the expanse of skin.

"Sa- haa... suke... ugh.. puh-please..." she murmurs yet she doesn't know what she means. Does she want him to stop or move things further along? She can't think, she can't speak, she can't feel anything but his mouth on her collarbone, and his hands gripping her left thigh possessively and his leg between hers doing... doing … Oh... that. Her head is turning to mush and her muscles seem to join in as well because she's pretty sure she'd fall were it not for his hands around her, holding her steady.

"Sakura" hewhispers, his voice horse and low, lower than she'd ever heard and Kami, her name in that tone has her thinking all sorts of things... fun, dirty things... but... they have to...

"Stop... Sasuke, stop." she says, weakly she knows, but he hears and moves away slowly, letting out a disappointed sigh and running a hand through his ruffled – had she done that? – hair. He closes his eyes briefly, opening them to only nod and move away, leaving fast to lock himself in his room. Sakura pants for a couple of minutes, resting on the wall. She then takes shaky steps out and towards her own room, knowing that in the morning things will go back to the way they'd always been and secretly wishing they wouldn't. This chase was already growing troublesome and she just wanted to know for sure is it was just a game or not for him. It wasn't for her, that much she just realized.

~.~.~

Hermioneturned on her side, shutting her eyes and letting sleep overtake her as her mind went back over the many things she'd done today. She tried to sleep, but her brain was too loud and she couldn't get the image of bloody Malfoy out! It was infuriating and quite frankly, disconcerting to see him whenever she closed her eyes for the shortest bit. She saw him when she blinked and that wasn't normal, what had she gotten herself into, now? She twists and rolls in her bed, the night too warm, too suffocating for her, keeping her awake and alert. She stands up, a scowl on her face and furiously rubbing at her eyes, before huffing and slamming her head into her pillow once more, stubbornly closing them tightly. She refuses to open them even as they ache from lack of sleep and she ponders the reason for that. Why should they hurt so much that you couldn't close them when you are tired, it makes no sense! But she quickly realizes she should just stop, stop thinking, stop moving around, just stop and fall asleep. Yet knowing this and actually doing it seem to be two very different things so she is left to pull through a long, long night. She does wonder if Harry had any more luck today with Professor Slughorn and if Ron... if Ron would just apologize already. She finally dozes off two or three hours later, the same time a certain Draco Malfoy returns to his dorm after trying to fix a Vanishing Cabinet, the same time Sakura makes up her mind to ask Sasuke about his feelings the next day, the same time Sasuke curses himself upon realizing what his heart is telling him and the same time Naruto and Voldemort finish their talk, both smiling... and it's not even that fake for either of them now.

~.~.~

"So, Mr Uzumaki, am I to understand you would be willing to help me in my plan?" the smile is chilling at the very least, the man-serpent's teeth stark startling white as are his lips, though thin. Naruto shifts his view on the man's red eyes, seeing them dance with amusement and realizing that this creature could have been saved before it turned so corrupted.

"No. Your plan dictates thousand or more people, innocents, dying and I could never condone that, however I am willing to admit that while Dumbledore is right in his accusations to you, he has chosen the wrong method in dealing with it. You told me that had Lucius Malfoy not disappointed you and had Dumbledore not pushed you, Draco wouldn't have to endure this impossible task of yours. I don't like it, I don't even think I would ever find it the right way of dealing, but I do understand some of the reasoning behind the choice, which is more than I do Dumbledore's. So no, we won't help, but we won't play by the wizard's rules either." and with that Voldemort nods and disappears into a small cloud – apparition, it's called, his mind supplies – and Naruto sighs. The talk had gone differently than he'd ever imagined or could have imagined. A good different, but still, unexpected.

"Now, let's do what you came here for" he whispers to himself and exits the room in search for the inhabitants of the Manor. He has not much to wander aimlessly as Narcissa Malfoy walks suddenly down the hall towards him. He sees her stop, faltering against the decision of either approaching or avoiding him, before making up her mind. She determinately walks forwards, stopping directly in front of him.

"Good evening." her tone is cold, harsh, impersonal. He feels, frankly, a tiny bit intimidated. He'd always thought of mothers protecting their children as either frightening or insane, seeing as his own had given her life so that he could live his. This conversation had two directions, one being he escaped with his life intact, barely, but still alive, or he'd acquire an ally, a truly powerful one at that.

"Mrs Malfoy! How great to see you here. I see where Draco got his looks from!" he exclaims, his voice too high, too nervous, and his body too tense. He could feel his heart pumping out of his chest and the damned fox howling with laughter at his fear. He forces a smile onto his face and hopes for the best. He'd fought Madara and Orochimaru and he'd freaking talked for a few hours with Dark Lord Voldemort, he shouldn't be scared of Narcissa Malfoy, should he? Oh, but he was...

A small smile flickered across her mouth, her red lips tilting upwards so briefly he's thought he'd imagined it. He blinked and it was gone, back was the stone cold expression and the unyielding gaze that chilled his very soul and the obvious spark in her power at her son's name. Never fuck with a mother, right? Hadn't Sakura-chan said that a while ago?

"You have met my son, I see. Very well, how have the two of you been acquainted?" she lifted on soft, arched eyebrow and her vibrant blue eyes sparkled in the warm candle light. Naruto gulped as he had met the Malfoy once, maybe twice and while both his team mates had talked with the boy, he himself hadn't had the chance. What to say? What to do? He hadn't been this afraid when he'd seen the snake-creepy look of Voldemort, why is he now? Well, his mind provides, because he did look terrifying, it was there in his face and eyes and dark smile, with her... you've nothing of the sort.

"Yeah... I've seen him around the school, but I have to say... I think Sakura, my colleague would be better to talk to, I haven't really talked to Draco, you see. She has been helping him though. With school work and also with his task." he closed his eyes when he saw her jaw clenching and the fire in her eyes appearing.

"I have never wanted my son to become this." she says slowly, so quietly he almost doesn't hear. It is then that Naruto realizes her position. She has no choice in this any longer, and if anything what he'd read on and about Voldemort was true, then neither had her husband. Before, yes, but this time was different, Voldemort was less human, more monster.

"I understand and I promise you we'll try our best in keeping him safe." she nods, her eyes watering, but she blinks the tears away as fast as they appear. She leads him to his bedroom and wishes him a good night. He falls asleep faster than he's done in years. He wonders whether it is the comfy bed or the exhausting day, but he is snoring before he reaches a consensus. He dreams that night of Hinata back home, waiting and working, soft and headstrong, kind and precise, fearful and fearless. He smiles.

~.~.~

Morning comes to Sasuke in the form of a headache from hell. His head is pounding and stabbing and just plain hurting so badly he actually curls in on himself in bed and then dizzily walks to take a shower. The warmth of the water soothes his nerves and clams the pain a bit, but it is still present when he forces his arms into a top and his vision still blurs when he stands up too fast from the bed. He swears, loud and colourful, ready to slam the door in his wake from sheer irritation, but his sense of preservation tells him it wouldn't be a good idea. He decides it is correct at least today and refuses to think about why he might have had the dream he'd had. Ignoring it might not make it go away, but it wouldn't do that much wrong, he figured.

He blinks softly, slowly, as if to steady himself, he had rounds to do soon and no amount of pain will cause him to ignore his duty. The last time that happened … well, safe to say it won't again. He straps his katana to his back, fixes his weapon's pouch to his thigh and off he is. He wonders briefly whether he should switch with Sakura and watch the tutoring instead, but as he chews his sandwich and sips his pumpkin juice at their table, surrounded by the many, many students, he decides that patrolling the school would really be the better choice. He never had the patience to keep guard over meddling children, and he more than hates having to play chaperone to two arguing teens – which is what Granger and Malfoy seem to be, according to Sakura.

He downs the rest of the liquid, stands up and exits the Great Hall. His mind takes him to Naruto and whatever he may be doing at the Manor, at Sakura who should be on her way to the library and then on the fact that the Potter boy has been making no progress with Slughorn. In order for Dumbledore's plan to move along and thus for them to know more about what may be coming, Harry Potter needs to get those memories.

He is walking past the Astronomy Tower entrance when he realizes he should check on Harry as well. He is grateful for the Gryffindor Common Room as it's the closest to the Tower and he wastes no time in entering. He knows that there won't be too many children inside as they mostly have classes, yet he also is aware the Potter will be there. Both he and Sakura have learnt his schedule be heart, only the dobe hasn't – not that that is a surprise considering it is the blonde after all – so he is sure he'll find Harry inside, probably with the rest of his friends bar Granger for obvious reasons. He ponders if she told her so-called best friends about her deal with Sakura, but it doesn't matter to him regardless.

He is assaulted by the extremely bright, ostentatious combination of red and gold all over the room, but he calms himself quickly only to be taken by surprise at the sight of Harry alone, with his Potions book? Last he'd heard Potter didn't have Potions until next week, so why waste time with it when he had an exam later that day at History of Magic? And why do I even know that? Sasuke brushes a hand through his hair, combing the tresses and probably causing it to stand on end. He is silent as he approaches the boy, his footsteps light and his movements precise. He looks around the room, seeing that it is empty and then focuses back on Harry. Whatever he may be doing, he doesn't want others to know.

"Now what is this, Potter?" Sasuke mutters as he snatches the book from the boy's hands and steps back as a scream of indignation bubbles from Harry's lips. He ignores the yells, however loud and irritating they may be as his eyes find a very interesting writing. On the first page of the book, which is well worn out and old, musty even, lays the inscription "This is the property of the Half-blood Prince". He frowns and opens it further along, somewhere near the middle and reads on the sides of some potion or another annotations and scribbles and cuts. Whoever had this book, whoever this Half-blood Prince is or was, he was an extraordinary potion's master which would in fact explain Harry performance this year. From what he'd seen of the boy's achievements, potions hadn't been quite up his alley, as they say, until now. Initially, he and the others had thought it because Snape had gone, but that couldn't be as Harry was now better than Granger. This book must have been the reason for this unexpected improvement.

"Give it back!" he hears Harry scream and feels his headache return with a vengeance as a stab of agony flashes through his skull. He faces the boy, his eyes glaring and angry. He is astounded when the brunet does not cower nor in any way stand down, Sasuke almost feels... proud of him in a way. He questions whether they had underestimated Harry and how prepared he was to face this Voldemort, or maybe it was all bravado and the boy was working on bluffs instead. He didn't seem all that powerful, or that smart for that matter, despite having Hermione as his best friend.

"What were you reading? Where did you find this?" the serious tone and the icy stare seemed to work on the young wizard as he trembled a little.

"Why do want to know?" But not that well it would appear. Sasuke was starting to understand why one 70 year old all-powerful wizard might want the kid dead, it was due to sheer annoyance.

"I am here to protect you, however I can't do that if you withhold information. What were you reading?" patience was running thin and his head was bursting. He should make a stop at the infirmary after this, just in case. It might be the lack of sleep – he hadn't really slept well since he's gotten here – or perhaps the fight with the dobe from the night before.

"I found a spell … it says it is meant for enemies." Harry admits at last and Sasuke nods. If that is the case than it isn't quite that bad. "Now, what does this spell do?"

"I don't know, it doesn't say. " Great! Because that is what he needs to hear.

"Don't try it unless you figure out what it does. Understand me?!" the rise in volume and the intensity of this new glare might be a bit too much, but it is Harry's fault for his headache returning so it is only fair to at least scare him a bit. Sasuke doesn't stay to see if his words are to be acknowledged, he'd off to see Madam Pomfrey for a cure. His head is splitting in two!

~.~.~

"You two keep working, I'll be back soon." the pink haired woman says as she leaves the classroom. She knows she shouldn't leave the two alone for long, they don't exactly get along, but she hopes they won't get into a fight at least. Plus they have a History test coming up so they both need to sturdy, it should keep them busy enough until she returns.

Sakura Haruno strides through hallway after hallway, making her way to the Headmaster's office. Her jaw is set, her teeth gritting against each other, hands by her sides straight and tense muscles guiding her movements. She had always been stubborn, she realizes as she makes her way determinately, but she has also always had the best intentions at heart. She became a ninja to help people, then she chose to be a healer as to further that desire, but in all her years, whatever may have been asked of her that seemed inhumane or cruel, she'd found a reason for. It may not have been the right reason or even a good enough one, but it had existed, always. Her orders had been tough many times in the past, she'd had had to kill on multiple occasions, men, women, children, elders, people who couldn't save themselves, innocents sometimes, people who've done worse things that she, monsters. It didn't matter for there had been something coming out of it, most times good, but this … Dumbledore's plan for these children … was it really worth it? Maybe, but leaving them alone to do it? She wasn't sure.

"Lemon drops" she utters the password and the griffin opens and the stairs reveal themselves to her once more. She hastily climbs up, her shoulder-length hair bouncing with every step.

"Professor?" she asks, her voice leaving no room for argument. She is here for answers and she shall have them soon. Her best friend is Kami knows where, talking to who knows who, risking his life as she has done a thousand times over for his friends, only this time it isn't them that require his help. No, this time he is doing it for strangers, people that they don't understand and that don't understand them in return, people who have power, but who have grown dependent on it, that take it for granted. She knows Voldemort is evil, that he should be killed, and fast too, but she hopes that this war that is coming after them, that this kids will have to fight in will teach this world one thing. At least that, teach them to take care of other more so no other poor child will have to go through what Harry did or to become what Tom Riddle has.

"Ms Haruno, I was not expecting you." he says, but his voice is weak. She finds herself in shock as she takes in the state of him. Her keen eyes scan his body, whatever she can see of it, for injury and she discovers that his hand has gotten worse. The sickening blacken flesh had only grown to cover his whole hand, stopping just below the wrist. She feels her eyes widening and her hands itch to either heal or at least investigate this affliction. The tissue seems to be rotting away and she is vaguely reminded of a flesh eating disease she had once come across in Earth Country, about five years ago. It had not manifested itself like this, but the result had been similar. If it was related, then the old wizard was dying as it was. The reason for his death was quickly becoming obvious, but her anger at the man had not lessened.

"No, I suppose not, but I have to ask once more. Why can you not offer Draco Malfoy or his family a chance to fight against this tyrant that rule over them? They may yet take it." she speaks softly now, urging him to understand her and what she is asking for. The white haired old Headmaster just shakes his head.

"I cannot, Ms Haruno, as it is essential that young Mr Malfoy try to kill me. As you are aware, I have asked Professor Snape to do the deed and that is quite crucial is my plan is to work. Mr Malfoy is, as you would have it, collateral damage. It is not personal nor is it my desire to endanger him, however he has received the mark. He serves Lord Voldemort already." Sakura is back at gritting her teeth and tensing her muscles by the end of his tirade. Does he realize he is basically destroying a life? That he is giving Draco no chance to either change or to make his own choices, his own path? Had Naruto listened to the villagers when he was a child would she even be here, now, alive?! Would Sasuke? Had Naruto not helped Gaara find his own way what would have happened?

She breathes in, slowly and with deep gulps of air. She feels her temper spiralling out of control for a few seconds before she reigns it in again. She decides that their mission orders have loopholes that they can use and manipulate. That they have to protect the school and its students not do what Dumbledore says and that she really should talk to her shishou soon about this. And also she wants Naruto to return so all three of them can talk about their next course of action. The information he may have gathered is important and decisive in what they will do from now on. She bows gracefully and respectfully to the wizard and then exits the office. She takes her time getting back to Draco and Hermione. She is just about ready to head there when she sees Sasuke storming off down a corridor. She follows, the decision she'd made last night weighing on her heart.

~.~.~

Naruto Uzumaki wakes up well rested and with a craving for food like he'd never had before so he swiftly makes his way down for breakfast. He is still so dazed by his rest that he only remembers where he is when he sees the incredulous look on Lucius Malfoy's face as he stuffs his mouth with whatever he is eating. He chocks which leads to a bout of throat hurting coughs which leads to a lack of air in his lungs and thus to tears running down his whiskered cheeks. He doesn't know whether the arrival of Narcissa is a blessing or a curse, but as she takes her seat by her husband's side and begins explaining why there is a rude, loud and underwear-only clad blond in their house, Lucius seems less inclined to Crucio him into next Thursday.

Once the coughs subside and they have all eaten – and Naruto actually gets dressed that is – Lucius invites the man into his office. Once the 24 year old enters he realizes exactly who he is dealing with. From the furnishings to the expensive looking carpets to the carefully, but creepy pictures decorating the walls and then, to Naruto's unending surprise, to the peacocks outside the window, it is obvious that the ninja has to deal, once again, with a spoiled rich moron about to do a big mistake in his life, consequently dragging the rest of his family down with him. Then, the Kyuubi jinchuuriki remembers that Lucius has already done the mistake, now he's about to let it take over the rest of his life, which may not even last that much longer. And wasn't he supposed to be in wizard prison soon? He'd heard about it while at Hogwarts, when did he get out?

Looking at Mr Malfoy now, Naruto begins to see the signs, the dark circles under his eyes, the flashes of fear in his glazed eyes, the incredibly thin shape his body is in, all of them point to it. Naruto remembers some of these same signs in Sasuke, the sunken eyes, the skeletal form, but not the fear, never the fear. Then again, ninja prisons didn't have dements? Dementators? Not that either. DEMENTORS! That was the word! So yeah, ninja prisons didn't have dementors, they had torture which hadn't had that much effect on the Uchiha except for the scars.

"Mr Malfoy, if you would please listen to me." he reinforces his earlier statement. "It doesn't have to be like this. Voldemort – "

"Don't speak his name!" the near hysterical scream almost made him step back, but he was stronger than that.

"He is not what you think. He doesn't care about your war of supremacy against muggles, he doesn't care is you're pure-blood or not as long as you are willing to serve. He let you rot in Azkaban!" he hopes he got the name of the prison right, it seems so because Lucius just got three shades whiter. The platinum haired wizard appears to hesitate before he sits in his chair facing away from Naruto.

"I know" he murmurs, quietly and almost resentfully, resigned to his fate.

"Then fight back! At least to help your son!" the blond tries to reason, but a mocking laughter emanates from Lucius.

"It's too late. Draco already bears the mark. It is far too late. I have failed them again." he utters the last sentence no louder than a whisper and Naruto almost doesn't hear it. He sighs and faces the window, looking down at the white majestic peacocks.

"It doesn't have to be." he says, but Lucius seems to have said all he wanted as he speaks no more. The ninja slips out of the room silently. He stares at the clock. It is time for him to depart.

"Naruto." a silky voice forces him to turn around. Almost as soon as he does he feels a groan of exasperation at the back of his throat. He so did not want to see Voldemort this morning. "Come. There is one last thing I wish to discuss with you." the man-snake continues.

Begrudgingly, Naruto agrees. They converse as they both descend to leave. They speak of the war to come, the Dark Lord once more tries to sway the ninja on his side and the younger man in turn declines and promises that were they to meet in battle, he will out up a fight unlike any Voldemort had ever or would ever witness. Naruto swears that had things been different – Voldemort not evil or Naruto not working to protect Hogwarts – they might have … been allies, not friends, because the wizard doesn't have friends nor does he know what it means to have friends, he's a sociopath, but not really enemies anyway. Voldemort smiles condescendingly at the sentiment, but does not deny the possibilities, they would have made great allies. And then Naruto leaves. He needs to reach the castle fast, things are about to change. He has found some very interesting things about Dumbledore's past he wants to talk about with Sakura-chan and the ass-hole that is Sasuke.

~.~.~

Hermione is at the last shred of patience and Malfoy is not making things easier at all! Had she not witnessed him showing a bit of humanity towards her, when he saved her that night so long ago in Myrtle's bathroom, then she'd be hard pressed to say he was a devil-spawn! All right, she may be overreacting slightly, but she had never met someone quite so infuriating in her life and she knows Ron!

"Granger, for the last time, I don't care if it's Ivan the Truffle as long as it's a troll! I know all their names already, we've been over them a thousand times! What I need to know is what happened!" he yells, his grey eyes boring into her own hazel coloured ones and it is takes all she is to not slap him right there. He didn't know half of the names and he knew the events better than herself, no matter what he claimed. Just because he grew up in the magical world … wait, what?! Did he just admit to not knowing something?

"Well, it's actually Ivan the Brute, but that is beside the point. The events are repetitive, if you know the first wave – which you do! – then all you need are the general's names to apply. Trolls aren't that creative or that smart." she concedes and takes another deep breath to calm herself. She hadn't expected to fight over trolls all morning, with Malfoy of all people.

"Fine!" he yells and slams his book. "Kind of like Weasel, right?" he continues with a malicious smile and that is the last drop. She snaps so suddenly that he doesn't register when she moved from her spot near the front of the classroom to his, but before he know it, he feels a sting against his cheek and the pain hits him. It isn't really that bad, the mark hurt far worse – hell, the punch in third year was worse – but it still angers him enough that when she prepares to slap him a second time he catches her wrist, followed by the second one, and throws her over the desk, his body covering her own as he glares.

Hermione yelps at the pain in her hands and back, and groans when she feels weight on top of her, but she doesn't expect to meet fury-filled grey eyes gazing into her, nor does she expect the wave of heat that flashes through her. As soon as she realizes the position she's in, though, she begins to struggle, twisting and bucking and trying to kick him off. She barely recognizes the look of surprise on his face before the weight lifts and he swings his bag over his shoulder, leaving. She sit up, leaning against the desk and still breathing harshly through her mouth when Sakura, flushed and pensive, enters the classroom. The ninja tells her she can go too, since it's obvious Draco isn't coming back. And … Since when do I call him Draco?