Happy New Year everyone! Hopefully 2017 is a lot better than 2016 was, both in terms of me updating and throughout the world in general. Enjoy!


As a large fireball barreled toward Gai, the shinobi easily darted out of the way. As fearsome as the dragon was, it was actually quite slow, having become accustomed to using its size and fire as its main source of defense.

"Thirteen!" Gai shouted. "How much more firepower do you have? I can do this all day! Can you?"

In response, the dragon flared its wings, taking out a few trees as it did so and gave a high-pitched screech before taking aim again. The fireball went over Gai's head and a couple shinobi that were looking on had to dart out of the way to avoid getting singed.

"Fourteen!"

"I have a feeling that the training grounds will burn completely down before that creature even considers stopping," Tenten muttered to Neji. The pair were sitting well out of the dragon's range. Lee was much closer, cheering Gai on while giving Harry tips on how to perform each move and promising to teach the more advanced ones at training the following morning. Harry was watching the entire exchange

"It's quite a fascinating creature," Neji stated, examining the dragon closely with his byakugan. He grimaced as a fireball disintegrated the tree right in front of him and Tenten, having gone over Harry and Lee's heads by only a couple of feet.

"Fifteen!"

"Fascinating how? It would be great against an army of soldiers but it's too slow to take out most shinobi," Tenten said with slight contempt. "And most shinobi can replicate its fireballs with a jutsu."

"The energy system coursing through its body…the only thing similar I've seen to it before is the energy system that Harry has. It shouldn't be possible…There are no animals that have chakra systems, so why does this creature have the same energy system as Harry?"

"Ask Harry's newest teacher," Tenten said with a small shrug. "He's supposedly an expert on that particular energy system, though he didn't really seem to be the type to take on students."

"That was said about Kakashi as well," Neji replied. "And probably most of the jounins that ended up taking on genin teams."

"That's different though. Genins already have basic training when they're put on a team and none are as young as Harry. Harry barely knows how to read right now."

"I'm fairly positive Naruto barely knew how to read when he managed to get to the genin stage," Neji muttered. Tenten glared at him.

"Be nice," she warned. "I thought you respected Naruto."

"I do but I can also state facts. He's an orphan and, until recently, wasn't particularly well liked by the village. He didn't meet Iruka until he entered the Academy and despite the Third Hokage's orders, I doubt that anyone would have tutored him beforehand and taught him simple things like reading and writing. Besides, you've met Naruto. Do you really think that he would have had the ability to sit still long enough to learn how to read?"

Tenten gave a reluctant sigh, forced to admit that Neji had a point, but she refused to actually say it out loud.

"Sixteen!"

"This is going to go on all night," Tenten sighed before calling out, "Lee! It's nearly time for Harry to go to bed!"

Both Lee and Harry gave her appalled looks.

"No!" Harry announced stubbornly. "Harry stay here! Harry watch Papa!"

"Note to self, work on getting him to stop talking in the third person," Tenten muttered under her breath. Neji nodded in agreement.

"You need to go to bed, Harry," Tenten said, speaking louder now. "Every shinobi needs sleep, even though many think they don't. Sleep is essential for you to grow stronger and become the best shinobi you can be."

Normally that was enough for Harry to become willing to go to bed but tonight he adopted a stubborn look.

"No! Harry stay here and learn how to train dragon!" the four-year-old announced. When Tenten took a step forward, ready to pick Harry up and carry him back to Gai and Lee's place kicking and screaming if she had to, the boy kicked off his sandals and the training weights he insisted on wearing before running straight toward the dragon.

Neji, Tenten, and Lee took off after Harry but the child had been the closest to the dragon and was used to outrunning and outmaneuvering the team when it came time for his bath.

Lee grunted as he was forced to move out of the way of a fireball. He had been just a second away from catching Harry—his fingers had touched the back of the boy's shirt—but the dragon thought he was Gai and had targeted him.

Gai and the other shinobi studying the dragon watched in horror for a split second before all rushing to save Harry from an almost certain death. The Norwegian Ridgeback didn't even hesitate before letting out its longest stream of fire yet, aimed directly at the stampede of shinobi. As it did, Harry reached the dragon's tail and began climbing up its back, using its spikes to pull him up higher and higher.

When it needed to take a breath, the dragon turned its head to regard the small creature crawling up its back. Harry laughed as the dragon stuck its head in his face and patted it on the nose as it sniffed him.

A couple of the shinobi cringed as they watched the encounter, certain that the creature would swallow Harry whole. After all, he was bite-sized to the dragon.

After sniffing the odd little creature and determining that it most likely couldn't do any serious harm to her, the dragon turned its attention back on the green furless animal that kept annoying her. After sending one last fireball towards it and the other creatures that insisted on approaching her, she turned around and started to stomp off, waving its spiked tail back and forth and hoping that it would hit anything that followed after her.

Harry clung to the dragon as it walked away, waving to his father and older brother in excitement as the dragon took him deeper into the forest. This was turning out to be quite a fun adventure, definitely more fun than going to bed. Gai and Lee followed after the odd pair, hoping to catch the dragon unaware to rescue Harry. Tenten and Neji were tailing Gai and Lee, trying to figure out if the Hokage needed to become involved now. After all, there was a civilian's life at stake because no matter how hard anyone or any child tried to argue that they weren't a civilian but a shinobi instead, no one obtained shinobi status until after graduating from the academy or had been given the rank by the Hokage.

After walking for a couple of miles, the dragon found a place to settle down for a few hours and burned a nest in amongst the trees before kneeling down and wrapping her tail around her body to protect her more vulnerable body parts like her eyes and stomach.

There were a few nudges on her back that continued down to her legs. The dragon raised her tail just high enough to see the odd little creature setting its two legs on the ground and walking around, chattering in a language that was slightly familiar but the dragon was too tired to try and figure out what it was saying. The matter would just need to wait until she had slept for a few hours.

That decision made, the dragon's tail flopped over her eyes again and she pressed it tight against her body, making sure that her newest interest was firmly wedged between her lower right leg and her tail where it couldn't escape.


Severus Snape was very irritated. It was only the second day of lessons and already his pupil was late. Maybe the boy took after his birth father more than he thought…Severus pushed that thought away because it was no use dwelling over it at the current moment. He had committed himself to teaching for the next several years, though how he was supposed to teach under these circumstances escaped him.

The door burst open and Severus glared at the green clad shinobi, who looked like he had far too much energy after supposedly facing a dragon.

"You're still alive? How…unfortunate but I suppose you can be useful and answer my question. Where is my student?" Severus asked sharply as Gai strolled through the door. The green clad man gave him a guilty grin.

"Harry spent the night in the Forest of Death with his newfound friend. Lee was trying to convince her to let him come to lessons but I told them I would come and inform you of the situation."

Severus grit his teeth. He knew he would regret asking the following question but he needed to know that it wasn't laziness on Harry's part. "Why exactly did you let him spend the night in something called the Forest of Death?"

"We were trying to tame the dragon—"

"A useless endeavor," Severus interrupted.

"—And Harry climbed on its back to avoid going to bed. She took a fancy to him—"

"She?" Severus questioned.

"According to Harry," Gai said.

Of course. It was only logical to correctly assume that a four-year-old knew a dragon's gender when he had never seen that type of creature before.

If Severus maintained his sanity over the next few years, it would be a bloody miracle. He really needed to find the ingredients to brew headache relievers because he had a feeling he would need a lot over the coming years.

"And so, she didn't want to relinquish him into our caring arms and Harry seemed content to spend the night curled in her embrace. Of course, we always had someone watching over the pair but now it's morning and she's reluctant to let him go. She's been quite motherly."

Quite motherly.

"If I am to understand you correctly, you are telling me that a four-year-old spent the night in a forest with a dragon and wasn't eaten," Severus drawled.

Gai gave him a grin and a double thumbs up. "You've understood it correctly! Harry has already proven that he's prepared to go through the training of being a shinobi if a dragon and the thought of spending the night in the Forest of Death didn't faze him in the slightest!"

Well, Severus knew what he was doing today. Instead of studying English when he finally managed to show up, would show Harry what ingredients he needed for headache relievers and the boy could hunt them down.

Yes, that sounded like a wonderful plan.


As the students filed into the Great Hall, greeting friends and housemates they hadn't seen on the train, attention was slowly drawn to the empty staff seat at the Head Table.

Every year Albus tried to pay attention to the Sorting of the first years but this year he would barely remember where more than a handful of students were Sorted. He was too focused on his missing staff member.

Where was Severus? He avoided Hogwarts during the summers but he was always back before the Welcome Feast had started. This was so unlike the Potions professor and it was troubling to Albus, as he had never been unaware of where his staff members were.

"Good evening," Dumbledore said once the Sorting was over. "A few notes before we begin our feast. Like always, I feel I must remind students that the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden. Mr. Filch has also asked me to remind you that the use of magic is forbidden in the corridors and anything from Zonko's Joke Shop will be confiscated.

"Now, I'm sure that you returning students have noticed an absent face from our ranks. Professor Snape has been delayed on his travels and his date of return is currently unknown."

There were cheers at that announcement and the Headmaster waited for them to die down before he continued to speak. "Until Professor Snape can return to us, his classes will be covered by a guest professor. I'm sure you will all join me in wishing for Professor Snape's speedy return."

There were a few snickers in response to his comment. Albus gave the snickering students a disappointed look before spreading his arms wide and smiling.

"For our first years, welcome to Hogwarts. For our returning students, welcome back. Now enjoy your dinner!"

Albus Dumbledore waited until every student and staff member had left the Great Hall after the feast before returning to his office and pulling out a quill, purple ink, and a piece of parchment to scribe a letter. Hopefully he would receive a reply (and his Potions professor) back soon.


Nearly two months later

"Severus, I believe I see an owl at your window," Shizune commented as she started putting breakfast dishes away. "With a letter attached to it as well. Is this a common occurrence?"

"In the world I come from," Severus said. "It's how mail is delivered, like you have your eagles and hawks. However, this is the first I've received since coming here. I had believed that they wouldn't be able to reach me. Let it in."

Shizune opened the window and the great gray owl flew in and perched on one of Severus' chairs he had to go with his kitchen table, holding out the leg the letter was attached to. Severus relieved the owl of its burden and raised an eyebrow when the great gray flopped forward, seeming to pass out.

"It must have had quite the journey," Shizune stated.

"Apparently," Severus said dryly as he opened the letter. He sighed when he saw the vibrant purple ink. Without needing to look at the signature, he knew who it was from.

Dumbledore.

Severus,

We missed you at the Welcome Feast. You must have forgotten to inform me of your travel plans and must have been severely delayed to not return back to Hogwarts this September 1. I hope that it was nothing that I did and if it was, I assure you that it was unintentional. Please let me know when I can expect your return and when you arrive back at Hogwarts, we should meet for tea and you can tell me all about your travels.

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts

Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock

Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards

"Do you need to pen a reply?" Shizune asked as Severus began tearing up the letter into little pieces after reading it.

"Eventually," Severus responded. "That can wait for tonight. I have a student to teach."

Shizune smiled. "He's growing on you."

"Like a wart," Severus drawled. "Since I have kindling for a fire, we'll be learning Potions today. I'm sure he'll be most enthusiastic."

"More so than usual?" Severus glowered and refused to answer. Shizune laughed at his expression. "Well, I hope that you plan to review your headache relievers," she said. "Lady Tsunade was wondering if she could get a few more samples for further examination."

"She can get some more when she starts paying for them," Severus said. "If she's going to insist on using them as hangover cures and not for their rightful use, she can pay for her misappropriation."

"I'll let her know and when I check in later this week, I'll tell you what her response was."

"Don't bother," Severus muttered under his breath as Shizune left his apartment. "I already know it's going to be something crude."


Christmas holidays

A great gray owl flew crookedly through the Headmaster's office before collapsing on Dumbledore's desk, unable to maintain enough energy to stand straight and hold out its leg for proper delivery.

Both of Albus' eyebrows shot upwards as he recognized the owl as the one he sent to Severus at the beginning of the term. He had begun to lose hope of ever getting a reply and would have notified the Ministry of Magic about Severus' disappearance if he hadn't heard from the man when the new year rang in.

With quick hands, Albus unrolled the scroll, taking note of its unusual texture. It felt like the parchment he received from his East Asian colleagues on the International Confederation of Wizards. Well, that gave him an idea of where Severus was if he had need to actually hunt down the wayward wizard.

Albus,

I'm taking an extended sabbatical. I won't be returning until September 1 of the year Harry Potter is due to attend Hogwarts because you'll have no need of me until then. Do me a favor and don't try to meddle too much while I'm away.

Severus Snape

Dumbledore frowned as he reread the letter a third and a fourth time. Severus' reply was quite the letdown and only gave him more questions rather than answers.

Ah, well. He had better tell Substitute Professor Lemmings that his position had been extended until the end of the school year and possibly indefinitely. Thankfully it was the Christmas holidays and he could start putting ears and eyes out for Severus until Albus could actually find time to go and search for the man himself.

Albus quickly penned a reply but before he could attach it to the great gray, the owl summoned up the last bits of its energy and flew out the window and into the Owlery, where it would make sure to tell its companions to never again deliver mail to Severus Snape unless they wanted to spend weeks recovering from the exhaustion it took to make the trip.

For the next few years, it would puzzle Albus to no end that every owl in the school refused to accept his letters to Severus, inquiring for updates and asking for hints regarding the man's location. They would deliver letters to everyone else except for Severus.

It was almost as if they were boycotting that particular trip…