Summary: I think the first chapter covers it.

Disclaimer: If I owned either I would not be worrying about money.

A/N: …please don't kill me?

dragons chaotic – Here it is! ^ ^;;

Ivy of Midnight – Sorry! And I don't think the trio is that stupid. Maybe Ron at times but Hermione? But yes, feel sorry for Kiba…he really should have said no.

Kari Suttle – Don't worry, the birdie does things a bit differently…Malfoy is gonna find that out in chapter 8. And I just knew that the staircase thing was too close, but I figured they'd want to do something of the sort before being stuck acting as civilians for a year.

Chimeralchy – does this count? And I know…+bangs head+

Sunao Kinokiita-tenshi – Thanks!

XspriteyX – just wait 'till Malfoy begins making a true ass of himself. Then you really will like the animals.

Brazilia H – I'll think about that…

Ninja2k – Thanks!

MissOrange8587 – sorry for the wait…

Flower Kid is a Leprechaun – …well crap. I didn't know that…thanks for pointing that out. I'll have to go fix that soon.

Chromde – thanks! I had fun with that part.

kittyore9 – oops?

"Ninja's"

"English"

'Thinking'

/Animals/

Chapter Seven: Starting Classes

The next day schedules were handed out, and Hermione, Ron, and Harry were comparing schedules…well Harry and Ron were comparing theirs while pestering Hermione about how she planned to get to all her classes with most of them landing on the same time slot. And Hermione didn't seem to want to answer either boy honestly, if at all.

"Blimey Hermione! How do you plan to be in three places at once!" Ron demanded quite loudly.

"Can you be any louder Ronald? The Slytherins may not have heard you." Hermione snapped, sounding more than a little harassed. Not that the shinobi could blame her. It was their first day, and it had been quite a shock with all the movement and babbling. They had never been so glad for that translation spell than now.

A headache from listening to a crowd in a language they could understand and one from one they couldn't were two very different things.

"But really, Hermione, how are you going to manage it?" Harry asked, also peering over her shoulder to look at her schedule. She growled and stuffed it into her bag.

"I can. There is a way, now stop pestering me!" she snapped once again, glaring the two boys into submission.

"Not possible unless that device she was given makes clones." Kiba snickered into his plate of food.

"Remind me to never let Naruto near it if it does. One original of him is bad enough." Neji deadpanned, making the others either choked or chuckled at his comment. Though they did not have much time to recover from Neji's dry sense of humor before more laughter rang out from across the Hall.

Now shinobi were taught how to detach themselves from their emotions…but with what Malfloy was pulling on the other end of the Great Hall even had Shikamaru repeating the same rule over, and over in his head to keep from breaking it. As it was he was the only one to not do something that would later come back to haunt them.

Kiba had bent the fork he had been holding in half, while growling lowly in his throat, Gaara was giving off an intense killing aura and the sand that followed him like a loyal pet was swirling under the table – and making most of the Gryffindors gag from the smell of blood, while Neji had simply gone rigid with an aura almost to match Gaara's, and was glaring at the wall with such malice that it was a wonder it didn't disintegrate, and even then the cracking of wood could be heard as he gripped the bench.

Now…what was Malfloy doing that made them so angry?

He was making fun of Neji and Harry for fainting when the dementor had entered their compartment. Needless to say they were not taking too kindly to having their charge or teammate made fun of.

"Just calm down everyone…we are not supposed to blow our cover on the first day. Kiba, fix the fork. Gaara, your sand is making the civilians gag. Neji, the wall doesn't need new windows in it." Shikamaru commented, after he was reasonably sure that he was not going to say or do something just as rash as the others.

"Harry…don't let it bother you. Just wait 'till after the Quidditch game, and then we'll see who's laughing." Fred commented, as he eyed Harry's death grip on his fork. Hermione and Ron nodded in sync, in an effort to calm the Boy-Who-Lived down. And then a very disgusting smell reached their noses, and the five of them covered their noses – or mouths – with the rest of the table, and some of the Ravenclaw table as well.

Then they heard Shikamaru talking to his friends, and within seconds the smell was gone. They also caught Kiba muttering something as he fiddled with his fork, saying something that sounded suspiciously like 'damned soft metals' and they were sure that the cold chill in the room had come from the two quiet exchange students, not that they could prove it now since the chill was gone. But it did raise the suspicions of the five.

Yes, five.

Fred and George were not stupid, and they were not going to be left out of this little 'adventure' oh no…not this time. They had noted a few things off already with the four exchange 'students' one of course was in the form of the animals they kept with them. Kiba had a puppy tucked into the front of his robes, Neji had a falcon perched on his shoulder, there was something that looked suspiciously like a rat's nose sticking out of Shikamaru's pocket, and Gaara's kitten was sitting nearby the red-head's plate. This was an unusual assortment of animals, not to mention that they were kept with their owners rather than in the dormitories, like all other animals.

"We'd better go, look, Divination's at the top of the North Tower. It'll take us ten minutes to get there…" Ron commented, breaking the silence, and the twin's thoughts.

"Right. Well come on. Lead the way, we don't know where we are going." Neji said, as he stood up, shouldering his bag, as his actions were copied by the other three, and Harry's group.

"Ah…er…okay, follow us then." Harry said, as they walked off. He had wanted to discuss his suspicions, and Ron and Hermione knew that, but that was not possible when the people who had raised such suspicions were right behind them…and talking to each other in a different language. That only made them more paranoid.

"Well…it looks like we all need to work on controlling our emotions." Neji commented, as they followed behind Harry, Ron and Hermione. He didn't know what the Hokage was thinking in sending them out on another mission for so long so shortly after the failed attempt to retrieve Sasuke. He knew they were pressed for money and able-bodied shinobi, but this was pushing it. Hell, Neji had taken the bandages off for the final time only a few days before the mission had begun!

"…yeah." Shikamaru sighed, thinking about where his sudden anger had come from. Maybe they had not all recovered from the failed mission as well as they had originally thought…if this was so then they were likely to be more wired, emotional, and maybe just a bit more psychotic than a normal shinobi – though that is not saying much – until they fully recovered.

"…I still want to gut him." And Shikamaru was proven correct as Kiba grumbled that comment under his breath.

"Kiba…you need to calm down now." Neji said, his tone completely level. Kiba gawked at him, before yelling.

"What! Hey that idiot was making fun of you! You should be angrier than me!" he snapped, pointing at the Hyuuga's back.

"We are currently scaring our charge." Gaara cut in, and Kiba turned to him instead.

"Thank you Gaara for that wonderful observation. I think we can all see that." He grumbled, and Gaara only blinked and stared at him in confusion.

"Then why do you persist in this behavior?" He asked, and Kiba snorted.

"Like you have room to talk!" he shot back, making Gaara narrow his eyes. He did not like to be reminded of what he had done earlier in his life.

"Inuzuka…shut your mouth before you say something that leads you to your grave." He growled, making the dog-nin take a few steps away from him, and Akamaru whimpered, fearing that his pack-mate was soon going to end up dead.

"Ah…hahaha…oh look moving painting!" Kiba pointed at a large painting that held a bare stretch of grass and a pony. Soon the pony was joined by a squat, clanking knight. What was more amusing was when the picture-knight spotted them it began brandishing its sword around, and hopping around like some demented monkey. Though after a particularly wild swing it over-balanced and fell over. This received a few snickers from their group. Harry shot them a look, and went back to trying to talk to the overly excitable knight. Their attention was brought to the conversation by a shout.

"A quest! Follow me gallant lords and fair ladies!" and then the knight was off, running from portrait to portrait and scaring – or annoying in a monk's case – the occupants as he raced through their pictures. And they did what anything used to such things would do – they chased after it, following behind Harry's group.

By the time they reached the tower Harry's group was out of breath, and leaning on the wall for support.

"Blimey…we're here…but where's the classroom?" Ron asked, as he looked around, also noting that the rest of the class was there, looking as confused as they did. What Harry noticed when he looked around was something else.

The transfers were breathing normally, not winded in the slightest. He was going to talk to Hermione and Ron later about this observation. Before his thoughts could go any further a trap door opened above them, and a silver ladder descended.

It was time for classes.

Harry stared at the classroom in disbelief, wondering if it even had the right to be called such. The second thing he did was wince inwardly. The transfer students were sure to get an…interesting opinion of the teachers if this was the first classroom they had been in, on Hogwarts grounds.

"...well now…what is this supposed to be?" the longhaired brunet asked, as he was the first of his group up the ladder. The way he was looking around told Harry that he was not impressed with the way the place was set up. Not that Harry was either. The heavy incense, round tables, poufs, and squishy looking armchairs, was not what he had in mind for a classroom. So the transfers really couldn't be blamed for their show of slight distain when they entered the 'classroom' at all.

"A classroom…I think." Harry answered, looking around the room, before making his way to a round table, where Hermione and Ron were already seated.

"You think? Didn't you go here for the last two school years?" Kiba, as Neji had wandered off when Harry had not immediately replied, asked following behind Harry like a lost puppy.

"Er…yeah. Never saw a classroom like this though." Harry answered, and Kiba opened his mouth to ask something else, but Ron cut him off as soon as they were close enough to the table.

"Quit badgering him, and get your own table." Ron snapped, before Kiba could say anything, making the transfer scowl.

"I liked your brothers better…" he grumbled, before walking off to seat himself with the other three Japanese students.

"WHAT?...bloody transfers." Ron growled, feathers ruffled from being compared to his elder siblings once again. It was never fun being the youngest, or second youngest. Ever.

"You were quite rude to them to begin with Ron." Hermione unhelpfully pointed out, making Ron gape at her.

"Who's side are you on Hermione?" he asked in disbelief. Harry, who had seated himself between the two, on accident, ducked his head, as if that would help him avoid their argument.

"Ours." Hermione reply to Ron's question was colder than ice. Harry swore his glasses frosted over.

"Er…oh look the professor is here!" He finally found a way to break up the argument, by spitting out something random – which happened to be true, as the professor showed up as soon as he finished his comment.

He got two weird looks for his timing.

"I think the red-head doesn't like me." Kiba said, as soon as he sat down. Gaara raised an eyebrow at this.

"I would assume you are talking about Ronald, and not me." The red-head commented, and Kiba only shrugged.

"Actually…both of you don't seem to like me." Was all he said to that, worried that if he went any further something bad was going to happen. And from the way Akamaru whimpered his dog thought so too.

"Could you just tell us why you are here?" Neji asked, his thinly veiled anger quite apparent. It didn't help that he had chosen an armchair and Miya was perched on the back. With the dim lighting she was only a large black-winged shape, and Neji's features were all but shadowed completely. It took more courage than Kiba wanted to admit to, for him, to speak after he glanced in his direction. He also wondered if Hyuuga took extra lessons in intimidation.

"Ron kinda told me to shove off. In not as few words, but still." He replied, sinking further, if possible, into the pouf he had seated himself on.

"Hmn…I thought they liked you?" Shikamaru asked next, quite aware that Neji was not pleased with this new development. It would be best to give the Hyuuga time to calm down.

"Don't look at me! I thought so too! Damnit…what now?" he felt safer ranting at Shikamaru's question, because the lazy genius was not likely to gut him for such a thing. Only…it was not Shikamaru who replied.

"Try again in the next class." Was the frigidly cold reply from the Hyuuga.

"G-got it." Dear gods that boy scared him. Only two things scared him more at that school, and they were Gaara, and the other guards – the Dementors. No wonder Dumbledore had hired them. Things like that could not be trusted. He was brought back to earth by a voice from the shadows.

"Welcome. How nice to see you in the physical world at last." And that was their cue to stop talking, and look over to the professor.

She reminded them of an extremely large and human shaped bug. That or a valued statue of a petty daimyo, with all the jewels and glitter all over. And with how badly some of it went together.

"She's a teacher?" Neji asked, looking like someone had just shown him a green sky. Not that the others three were any less aghast, but Neji had been the only one to find his voice. But since they were paying no attention to her they all were a bit startled when she suddenly singled out someone from the class.

"You, boy. Is your grandmother well?" she asked the boy who had almost toppled off his pouf. They heard him answer in a shaky voice, saying that he was sure his grandmother was okay.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear." The woman replied, and continued on. The shinobi exchanged glances, wondering if the woman had any credibility in her field or if she was just throwing random things out there to impress them. But as the class went on it became obvious that she was no more able to see the future than any one of them.

"This is a waste of time." Gaara grumbled as he scowled down at the teacup, Neji's, in front of him. Neji only sighed.

"That I have noticed." He muttered. It was only the first day of this class and he already wanted out…not a good sign.

"We're supposed to see things in these blobs of goop?" Kiba, who was seated across from them, demanded in a loud whisper.

"Kiba…" Shikamaru warned, noticing how Neji and Gaara glared at him.

"Seriously. I see blobs. Kinda lumpy goop, but still a pile of goopy mess." Kiba continued, still not catching the glares as he continued to scowl down at the tea leaves.

"Keep it down Inuzuka." Neji finally ground out, and Kiba looked up, a bit startled at the tone.

"Don't tell me you can see things in that mess!" it was supposed to be a question, but came out more as an angry whispered shout. Once again Neji was glaring at him.

"…no. But you are annoying." He said, as he returned to the cup, his brows creasing again in annoyance. But it was then that the teacher decided to come around their table.

"Dears, could you please use English?" she asked, as she heard them talking in Japanese. She received a collective "We will," before they went back to their books. After she had moved away they lapsed back into silence as they tried to figure out how to take this class seriously.

A scream and the sound of breaking china cut their musings short. They shot to their feet, and faced the source of the sound, only to see Trelawney collapsed in an armchair.

"The Grim, my dear, the Grim! The giant spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen – the worst omen – of death!" the professor cried, after noticing that they did not understand the impact of such an omen. However, at the mention of death haunting their charge – whether from such an obvious fraud or not – the shinobi tensed.

"Great…an omen of Death…troublesome." Shikamaru grumbled, as he and the others gathered their things as Trawny dismissed them.

He didn't need to voice the sinking feeling that all of them had.

(A/N: sorry for the wait, but my muse is a bit scattered…I'll try to get the other up soon. And thanks to all for sticking with me! You don't know how much that means.)