Part I: The Boy-Who-Lived

Two: Those He Befriends

The subtle whispering that had broken out across the hall was suddenly a cacophony of chatter, loud and unpleasant. Tsuna, who had the presence of mind to sneak a glance at the two students he'd befriended on the train, was met with shocked stares. The Boy-Who-Lived, whose heart was now about ready to exit his chest, took a second, less hesitant step forward. The worst was over. The shock had happened and there was no going back. Everyone knew, if they hadn't figured it out yet. He was Harry Potter, but damn it all if he couldn't figure out a way to forsake that blasted name!

Halfway up the steps the brunette stumbled and tripped. Everyone burst out into sharp, taunting laughter. Tsuna ignored the way his eyes started to water and the flashbacks from school in Japan. No matter where he was, it was all the same; children were cruel and thoughtless and would sooner make fun of his clumsiness than even bother to see if he was alright.

For all his embarrassment, Tsuna managed to stand on his own, ignore the pitying look that Professor McGonagall gave him and sit down on the rickety stool with a huff. The professor sat the stiff old hat on his head and the last thing he saw was a crowd of students waiting to hear the hat cry out his House.

Then, darkness.

Immediately, a voice, scratchy and patient, echoed in his mind.

Another Vongola, yes? Strange, yes, very strange. A poor, poor mind corroded by years of purposeful neglect, but a soul unlike any other. A heart strengthened by the need to love and be loved. But the soul, yes, yes, that soul of yours is key. It's hidden, yet strong, but it has yet to reach its potential! You're cunning, and I can see that there is a distinct stream of ambition that runs through your veins. Why, I could place you in Slytherin and you could do well there if you tried. I have sent Vongola there in the past but . . . something in you tells me that you desire another house. Well, I suppose you are too kind for that nest of snakes.

Tsuna remained silent, listening eagerly, if a bit worryingly to the words the Hat said to him. Only part of his subconscious was wondering why the Sorting Hat continued to reference the name Vongola.

And wisdom, my boy! You seem to just radiate wisdom. Ravenclaw herself would welcome you with open arms . . . but the others in that house, while I feel you could make friends there, they just would not understand my putting you there. In fact, I feel that they would tear apart your soul, that beautiful, beautiful soul of yours. No, Ravenclaw is not where you belong, even if I know that you could do well there, if you so wished it.

Hufflepuff, I feel, may be a good fit for you. You would find no shortage of friends, no, you would even find the support you need there. Despite the horrible stereotypes, Hufflepuff is truly the House of hidden gems. But it's a poor fit for that soul of yours. There's just something inside you that not even gentle Hufflepuff would be able to temper. Yes, that strong soul of yours makes you difficult to place. You ache inside. You want to be someone. You don't want to be Harry Potter. You want to be Tsunayoshi Sawada. A difficult path. A brave path. Bravery, it's the heart of hearts within you. You can't see it, yet, and neither can the others, but you are a bringer of change. Your courage will allow you to gain many allies. Yes, yes, I see now, you quiet boy. It was so very clear right from the very beginning. You'll do best in—

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hall burst into rabid applause as the Sorting Hat was lifted from Tsuna's head and he could see again. His eyes scanned the hall, searching for Hermione and Neville. Instead, he found himself staring at the table on his far left. It was silent, but the students in green watched him all the same, even that older boy from the train platform who'd been talking to the grandfatherly figure.

Realizing he had overstayed his welcome on the stool, he stumbled down the steps from the stool and into the awaiting crowd. They ushered him over to the Gryffindor table where a pair of twins were crying out how they "got Potter," but Tsuna frowned at them, trying to sit a bit separate from the rowdy group. He didn't, however, argue, when Neville moved closer. The action caused a feeling of hope to surge in his chest. Maybe he hadn't screwed things up by not telling them that he was Harry Potter. Maybe he could be forgiven . . .

Tsuna settled with just smiling (there would be time for words later, he was sure) and turned his attention back to the sorting, or so it seemed. He appeared to be watching, but his eyes were glazed over in thought.

Harry Potter. Such a simple name, but the effect that it had had on everyone sitting in the Great Hall was . . . rather intimidating. Was he truly that famous? Once more he wondered if they had the right person. He had always been Dame-Tsuna, the class klutz and town embarrassment. Now it was as if every wizard in Britain expected him to live up to some overgrown hype. It was as he had told Hagrid that night when the giant had told him the truth.

(But I'm Tsuna. Just Tsuna.)

He managed pull himself out of his thoughts when that pale blond boy was called up shortly after him. One Draco Malfoy was promptly sorted into Slytherin bare seconds after the Hat was placed atop his fair head.

Eventually, Chrome Rokudo, the girl whose mother had helped him onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters, was called up and Tsuna's eyes flickered over to the boy he knew was her brother, sitting amongst a group of sinister looking Slytherins. The blue haired boy wasn't paying them any mind, instead completely focused on his younger, sickly looking sister who was gripping her sides tightly even as she sat on the stool.

The Sorting Hat was silent for several precious moments before it called out, "Gryffindor!" Tsuna glanced back at Chrome's brother. For the briefest of seconds, he swore that the Slytherin had upon his face an expression akin to pride. Whatever it was, it was gone in an instant, replaced with a haughty scowl that Tsuna was quickly coming to associate with all Slytherins.

Chrome, once the hat had been removed from her head, glanced over at her brother who nodded at her. She nodded back. That was the end of any communication between the two siblings for the rest of the night.

With Blaise Zabini becoming a Slytherin, the sorting ceremony was completed. Everyone gave a final round of applause to all newly sorted children before returning their attention to the front of the Great Hall where the Headmaster was currently standing.

With a tone that was thick with decades of wisdom and patience, he thanked McGonagall and added his words of congratulations to those who had been sorted. Tsuna listened with half an ear, barely registering the four strangest words ever said in succession of each other: "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

"H-Huh?" Tsuna blinked, wondering if it was a side effect of the language potion he'd taken. To be sure, he sent a confused glance to Neville who seemed just as lost as he shrugged in response. And then, like magic (it was magic, Tsuna reminded himself, feeling stupid), food appeared before them.

All the students began filling their golden plates with steaming food and savory sauces. Tsuna eyed the food, noting with disappointment the lack of Japanese cuisine, but followed suit, grabbing several slices of meat and some rice before drizzling it with the sauce nearest to him. Even if it was British food, it was more food than he had seen in his entire life and there was no one to tell him how much he could or couldn't eat. He wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, even an odd one.

It was about halfway through dinner before anyone really said anything to him. Tsuna had been hoping everyone forgot, but he guessed Harry Potter was just too much of a well-known figure to let matters lie. It was, surprisingly, Neville who started the conversation.

"So, why'd you lie to us?" he asked, most of the food on his plate gone. It took Tsuna a moment to realize that the chubby boy was speaking to him. When he did, he choked on the rice he was eating, bright red flooding his face. Hermione, sitting opposite him, grimaced as rice shot across the table.

"Hiie! I didn't lie. I swear!" Neville and Hermione each raised an eyebrow at him. "Ah, I mean, it's kind of hard to explain." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head nervously. Their expressions did not move an inch. "I only found out my name was actually Harry a month ago!" he finally acquiesced, blush deepening. "I didn't know I was a wizard, let alone who Harry Potter was, and then Hagrid comes into my life and tells me I'm this world-famous hero that killed this evil guy and I'm supposed to just accept that?" Tsuna lowered his head to hide his embarrassment as he realized that more than just his two friends were looking at him. Tsuna dropped his voice down to a quieter volume. "I just . . ." His shoulders sagged. "I've always been Tsuna, ever since I could remember. And this Harry Potter that everyone seems to talk about, it's not me, not really. At least, it doesn't feel like me. I just wanted to . . . stay normal. Just for a bit longer. I would have told you guys eventually!" Tsuna truly wished that the floor beneath him would open up and swallow him whole. The judging stares were something he was all too familiar with and they rarely led to anything good.

"I guess that makes sense . . ." Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Well, when Hagrid explained to me how famous Harry, I mean, I was, I didn't want to make friends just because I was famous. I've always had a hard time making friends. For once I just wanted to make some on my own." He blushed at his sudden confession, but, to his surprise the others nodded.

"I've only known you for a few hours, but you seem pretty nice. And, to be honest, I've never really been good at making friends, either," Neville assured him with a happy smile, secretly happy that he wasn't the only one who'd had such issues as a child. Hermione, too, smiled her agreement.

Tsuna ducked his head again, wondering how much hotter his face could get. How embarrassing!

Still, now that he was away from his family and those who would work to scare away potential candidates, making friends was easy. He didn't think he would ever be able to express how happy he was that he had not messed up his first chance outside of Japan to find friends.

The newly formed trio finished their meal while chatting amiably with each other. Hermione explained that her parents were dentists, clarifying to Neville that that meant that they looked after people's teeth. She went on to explain her parents' pride when they learned of her ability to use magic. Tsuna smiled at that, just a little jealous.

Neville told of how he lived with his grandmother, a stuffy old lady who seemed to pick at every single thing her grandson did. While telling the story of how his family thought he was a Squib until they learned otherwise when his uncle let him fall from a window, Neville's ears turned bright pink.

Tsuna, when expressing stories about his own home in Japan, said about as little as he could, avoiding saying anything too specific and instead sticking with stories of general Japanese life. He explained how his (foster) father was mostly away for work, leaving his (foster) mother to raise him and his (adopted) brother alone. His brother was the polar opposite of him. He was strong and popular and athletic and smart. His mother was a little air headed, but meant well, most of the time. He left out that the most of the time part strictly excluded him. Besides that, he was incredibly tightlipped concerning his family.

During the meal, Tsuna learned that he enjoyed British desserts. He loved the chocolate pudding and the pumpkin pasties. He enjoyed the sweets while listening to Neville talk about the wizarding world. Hermione was asking him questions about the things she had read in some of her books. Tsuna learned about Quidditch and wizarding medical care, as well as house elves and animal familiars.

When dessert had cleared away in much the same manner as dinner, the Headmaster stood again, this time walking up to the podium and clearing his throat dramatically. The students all fell silent.

"Welcome to all new faces seated here with us and welcome back to all familiar faces. I'm sure you've all forgotten much of your education over the summer and are eager to gain it all back. First, however, I must tell you all several things. One of which is that, as per every year since its naming, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. As is performing magic in the halls and several other things which you can find on the list posted outside of Mr Filch's office." Dumbledore cleared his throat here. "For the sixteenth year in a row, our fellow wizards from Italy will joining us. They have still had little luck in finding their school since they lost it." He cracked a smile, amusement lighting up his eyes. "Next, the third floor corridor is off limits to all who do not wish to die a very painful death." The man smiled, his eyes twinkling.

Tsuna looked at Hermione and Neville and the thee exchanged skeptical glances. Then, the headmaster's words fully registered.

"Hiiie?!" What kind of school was this?!

"Now pick a tune and together, as is Hogwarts tradition, we will sing the school anthem." Tsuna did not appear to have heard, his eyes comically wide as off-key singing filled the hall. His mind was completely focused on the fact that there was a place in the school that could kill him and not by any foolish accident.

Neville didn't appear to be doing much better. He had gone oddly pale while Hermione looked queasy. Clearly, being warned off of an area in an ancient castle that was a school for magic did little to comfort three socially-awkward eleven-year-olds.

As the children came to terms with the totally out of place warning, the older students around them finished the anthem, the ginger twins at the Gryffindor table being the last to complete their dirge paced rendition.

Dumbledore, who had remained standing at the head of the great hall, seemed genuinely impressed at the twins' choice of tune and gave a small applause, before sending them off for the night. "That is all. Now pip, pip."

A fifth year prefect named Percy Weasley was the one who led them to their common room. It was up several flights of stairs and a decent workout after all the food. However, the cramps growing in Tsuna's side were easy to overlook in favor of the hundreds, possibly thousands, of moving portraits that covered the walls. Old fashioned nurses, men sleeping in chairs, young girls in pretty dresses and more greeted them as they walked past. Tsuna was one of the few who greeted them all in turn, awed by how such things could exist.

Finally, they reached a large portrait of an oversized woman dressed to the nines in pink. She had a demure look about her, and though her gaze seemed to look down at them, she kindly asked for the password.

"Cabot draconis," Percy supplied before explaining how the passwords worked. Tsuna gulped and shared a knowing look with Neville. How on earth were they to remember an ever-changing password that wasn't even in English?

But all worried thoughts left his head the moment he stepped through the portrait hole. Behind it was an entire sitting room bathed in warm firelight. There were desks for doing work, comfy scarlet chairs in front of a fireplace, carpets and drapes and tapestries, and everything was in shades of gold and red. Gryffindor colors, Tsuna was quick to acknowledge.

"Boys dormitories to the first door to the left and girls' the first to the right. You'll find that all of your things have already been brought up. Your schedules will be given to you tomorrow at breakfast." With that, Percy went to the left stairwell and disappeared up the steps. Tsuna and Neville followed soon after, some of the first boys in the room. Natsu, Tsuna's orange cat, was already curled up on the pillow of one of the beds, his things at the foot of the same bed. Neville's bed was beside his. The two of them changed quickly before scurrying under the covers, glad for the warmth they emitted. Both were ready for whatever their first day would bring.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Dawn came with a breath of cool air and a burst of sunlight over the mountains in the distance. The fires that were lit the night before had died to mere embers and would remain so until the sun set. Students were slowly preparing themselves for the first day of classes. Tsuna fumbled with his newly branded wizarding robes until Neville explained how to put them on. He pointed out the wand pocket and explained that until they were taking more advanced classes, they didn't need a wand brace so that was why the robes were made with them.

It was half past seven when Neville and Tsuna headed down towards the Great Hall. They both got lost several times and by the time they arrived, only a few older students dwindled, each gobbling down food so that they could get to classes.

"We're going to be late," Tsuna said as his shoulders sagged. Neville just shrugged as if he had already accepted his fate and then grabbed a piece of toast. Tsuna followed suit and then the two of them began the journey to their first class; Transfiguration.

When they arrived, the two learned that class had been in session for five minutes already. McGonagall sent them both to a desk near the back end of the room with a firm warning (and a threat to turn them into pocket watches) before continuing her introduction.

The week went by much like that, with relatively brief introductions followed by beginning theory. Tsuna found that less than half his teachers seemed to be suitable for their chosen profession.

Their Charms professor, Flitwick, was short and could barely see over his desk, which was rather sad when Tsuna noticed his passion for the subject. Professor Quirrell, their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, quivered and squeaked every time he saw his own shadow. In History of Magic, their professor must have seen half of the events of which he spoke, seeing as he was a ghost (and, from what Tsuna could tell, he didn't even seem to realize it!).

That's not to say that Hogwarts didn't have its share of competent, if overworked, teachers. Professor Sprout and McGonagall both clearly enjoyed their subjects, appearing to find great joy in what they taught even if their students didn't always feel the same way.

Tsuna's opinion of Hogwarts teachers was that they were all bearable, even if they weren't all capable. This opinion remained so until Friday when he met Professor Snape.

The class had started innocently enough. Students milled about in front of the doors to the dungeon-turned-classroom, waiting impatiently for the Head of Slytherin and resident potions professor to grant them entry.

"Snape's my godfather," Draco admitted in a hushed tone as if his words were the greatest secret in all the Wizarding World. Of course, his just-loud-enough-so-everyone-can hear tone said that he didn't mind if everyone knew. It was just another thing Malfoy could lord over all the others he was forced to learn with.

"Wow, Draco," Pansy Parkinson, another first year Slytherin, gushed, her pug-like face scrunching up in what Tsuna thought might have been envy. "I wish I had connections like that. You could be a potions master with a teacher like that as your godfather."

"Yeah, I think Father planned it that way. If I don't take over his position in the Ministry of Magic, I will at least have a backup career."

Tsuna, standing closer to the back of the crowd with Neville and Hermione, resisted the urge to shrink back and roll his eyes, settling instead to roll his eyes in his mind. It wasn't the same, of course, but Tsuna figured that no one needed to know just what he was thinking.

Next thing Tsuna knew, the door was open and thick, opaque fumes began creeping out into the torch lit hallway. Heat also escaped at its chance. And then they were being ushered into the classroom with a few clipped words from the greasy haired professor.

Tsuna, Hermione and Neville grabbed a section of four desks off to the right, surrounded by Gryffindors. Tsuna sat beside Neville while Hermione was left to sit alone in front of them. After only a few moments, Chrome, the shy girl who had yet to so much as say a word to anyone since the sorting, sat down beside Hermione who had no objections in the other girl's choice of seatmate.

Snape, with a sudden swirl of his cloak, was facing his new Gryffindor and Slytherin students, eying them all with a steady gaze. And then he conjured up the register, slowly reading out the names written upon it with a lazy drawl. Most he said without pause, but then, as it had been in every other class, Snape reached Tsuna's name and the pattern was broken.

"Harry . . . Potter." The name was greeted with a sneer. Tsuna felt himself shrink back, a tortoise with no shell. Neville, meanwhile, glanced over pityingly. In all of his other classes, Tsuna always quietly asked his teachers to call him not by the English name his parents gave him, but the name that his foster family had given him. While some teachers, like McGonagall, looked at him strangely, they had all accepted his request, if a bit sadly. Tsuna knew he would not be asking Snape anything of the sort, not with the way venom was practically dripping with every syllable.

"Y-Yes, sir?"

The professor's sneer deepened. "You appear to have mesmerized the school this year with your very presence." His lip twitched and Tsuna tried to ignore how much he was shaking, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. Snape, with a disgusted curl of his mouth, turning his attention back to the register to finish reading the names upon it. Tsuna, meanwhile, released a shaky breath.

Snape moved on to addressing the class.

"There will be no foolish wand waving here." Tsuna nearly sighed in relief. He had tried a few simple spells that Hermione had suggested, but none had worked. He was dreading when they moved on from theory in his classes. Maybe he wouldn't need to dread such things in this class. Then again . . . maybe he would be dreading a whole other aspect in this class.

"It is here you will learn the subtle art of potion making. You will learn to brew glory and even put a stopper on death . . . at least if you are different from the regular group of dunderheads I have to teach."

Tsuna swallowed.

"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Tsuna's eyes widened. How was he supposed to know? He hadn't done much more than glance over his textbooks! Was he supposed to have read through them? Had anyone else?! Hiiiie!

He wracked his brains, ignoring Hermione who was bobbing in her seat, hand high in the air. Chrome was sending her worried glances.

"I don't know, sir." His voice was quiet, almost a squeak.

"Where would you look if I asked you to find a bezoar?" A what? A bee-boar?

"I don't know, sir." His eyes widened as with each question, Snape took a step closer to Tsuna's desk.

"And what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

By this point, Snape was standing before Tsuna's desk, arms crossed and expression cruel. Tsuna's doe eyes were shining with fear even in the dim light of the room. Everyone else was watching the showdown with either pity or glee.

"I-I don't know, sir."

"Thought you wouldn't open up a textbook before coming to class, eh, Potter?" Some Slytherins chuckled. Snape picked up the unopened potions book on the eleven-year-old's desk and Tsuna flinched as it was suddenly slammed down before him.

"Clearly fame. Isn't. Everything." Snape turned back around and, thankfully, left him alone for the rest of class.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"I just don't understand, Tsuna. What did you do to upset him? He acted like you had personally offended him or something." Hermione's eyes searched him from across the table they had settled into at the library. "It's just not right, the way he treated you." Clearly, Tsuna was not the only one who had been badly shaken by Snape's words in class. Hermione, who had had unwavering belief in the infallibility of school teachers was upset just as badly.

"I don't know either. Really." Tsuna stared miserably at the empty parchment he was supposed to be filling for Charms, an essay on the importance of proper wand movements.

"Maybe it wasn't something you did. It doesn't matter anyways, I can tell he hates me already, too." Neville was practically mirroring Tsuna's hopeless expression, but he was writing a letter to his Gran.

The Boy-Who-Lived sighed and leaned back in his chair. He felt eyes on his back as he had almost every day that week when he wasn't in class. He was almost positive it was Chrome's brother again, though he wasn't entirely sure why the boy was sort of stalking him. Tsuna was not ashamed to admit that he got nervous around him. The member of the house of snakes was always smirking, always staring with half lidded eyes as other first and second year Slytherins clamored around him, vying for his attention.

Even that Saturday morning at breakfast, Tsuna swore that the older boy was staring at him, quietly planning something . . . well, something sinister.

When Tsuna had asked Percy about the boy, the prefect had merely shrugged. "He's only second year. From what I've heard, he gives everyone the creeps. Just ignore him for now. I'm sure it's just because you're famous." Tsuna had tried to ignore him, he really, truly had, but he just found that the random staring intensified.

"It's probably just because you melted the cauldron," Hermione comforted awkwardly, but Neville shook his head.

"Nah, he hates me now. I can just tell. He's one of those people who you make mad once and he holds it against you forever. That and he seems to just really hate Gryffindors. Everyone says so."

"Don't say that, Neville!" Hermione looked flabbergasted at such a suggestion. "Next class you'll do better and then he won't bug you so much." The frizzy haired girl looked to Tsuna for support, but he was too busy staring at the approaching figure.

Decked out in the silver and green of Slytherin with indigo hair pulled back and eyes plagued with heterochromia, the second-year student stared down at the now trembling first year.

"Er . . . hello?" Tsuna managed as the boy finally stopped before him, ignoring the other two Gryffindors.

"Let's leave the library for someplace a little more private, no?" The boy's voice was silky, but there was a sharp edge to it. Chrome's brother, Mukuro Rokudo, turned and left the library, so confident in his impression that he didn't need to check if Tsuna was following.

And Tsuna was following, despite Hermione and Neville shaking their heads and mouthing at him not to go.

The second-year Slytherin walked through hallways, ignoring the other students who walked on either side of him. Tsuna toddled after him until the hallways had suspiciously less students.

The older student opened a door with a flick of his wand and the two of them entered the dark corridor. Nonverbal magic?! Hermione said they learned nothing of the sort until they were in at least sixth year! There were no students in the hall that Mukuro had revealed, only low-lit torches, burning in their web-covered sconces.

"So, Harry Potter . . . or Tsunayoshi Sawada, I should say." The indigo haired boy spun on the younger Gryffindor.

"Y-Yes?" Tsuna squeaked, fingers clasping desperately for his wand, something he had yet to use, yet was already a comfort.

"Do you know why I've brought you here?" the twelve-year-old asked, twirling a pale wand in spindly fingers.

Tsuna shook his head quickly, his mouth open as he slowly backed up into a wall.

"I can't say I'm surprised. Gryffindors are not known for their brains. Tell me, Tsunayoshi, who is it that you have been spending your time with here, so far?"

Tsuna stared at the flickering torch light that was back lighting the boy he was currently talking to. "U-Um, well . . . you know . . ."

"No, I really don't. Enlighten me."

"Hermione a-and Neville."

"Yes." Tsuna's response elicited a cool smile. "Well, I'm here to change that. Chrome, my sister. You're housemates, no? You've seen her around, attended classes together, but you haven't really spoken, have you? Kufufu~" The boy's laughter was startlingly terrifying and Tsuna's fight-or-flight instincts were screaming at him to get the hell out of there. "Chrome is why I have brought you here. Now do you know what this conversation is about?"

Again, Tsuna shook his head.

"Then listen here and listen good, Tsunayoshi. Chrome is my sister. She has always been on the shy side and has never been in great health. In fact, her very attendance to this school was threatened by her poor health. Because of these circumstances, she has a terrible time making friends, but I have been watching you and I think, out of all the bumbling fools in Gryffindor, you are the best candidate to befriend her."

"Hiiie! What?"

"Did I stutter, Tsunayoshi? I want you to befriend Chrome. You do not tell her I approached you. You do not let on that you are only doing this as a favour to me. You approach her as if it was your own choice, and you involve her in your school life. You don't ask her about her home life. You don't make her do anything that she does not want to do. You do anything, and I mean anything to hurt her in anyway and I will make sure you never live another day. You let someone else hurt her without doing anything, I'll make sure you never live another day. You so much as look at her the wrong way and I will make sure that you. Never. Live. Another. Day."

The boy's words were punctuated by a wand held to Tsuna's throat, an uncomfortable heat emphasizing the contact. The Slytherin grinned, one red and one blue eye glinting in the torch lit darkness.

"Is all this getting through to you, Tsunayoshi?" Tsuna swallowed and nodded furiously, not a single thought of defiance crossing his mind.

"Good. You'll find Chrome hanging around the Great Hall this time of day, so you better head over there if you want to properly introduce yourself to her."

Again, Tsuna nodded, desperately wishing that the conversation would end.

"I'm Mukuro Rokudo, by the way. It's been a pleasure." And then he was gone. Tsuna sagged against the stone wall, relief flooding through him.

Knowing his friends would be worried about him, Tsuna scurried from the corridor, oblivious to the watchful gaze of a teacher hidden in the next hall.

Back in the library, Hermione and Neville both exchanged worried glances.

"Are you okay?" Neville was quick to ask as Hermione scanned over him, looking for any signs of injury.

"Fine. It was nothing. Just a few bits of advice."

"About what?" Hermione asked, her expression betraying her disbelief. "And why?"

Tsuna shrugged and nervously rubbed the back of his head. "Doesn't matter anymore, does it?" The three of them returned to their previous work, but both Hermione and Neville continued to exchange skeptical glances between each other. Tsuna just pretended he didn't see them. After all, Tsuna had survived worse threats and this one, by far, had the easiest promise to carry out.

It was the next day before Tsuna finally plucked up the courage to approach Chrome. Just as Mukuro had said, she was in the Great Hall around three in the afternoon, her books and several rolls of parchment spread around her, chewing on the end of her quill thoughtfully. Students seated around her, especially ones not from Gryffindor, occasionally gave her eye patch strange looks.

Tsuna walked towards her, taking extra care not to trip over his feet, only stopping when he stood opposite the purple-haired girl.

He cleared his throat. "Er, excuse me, Chrome?"

The girl looked up, single eye wide with surprise, dropping her quill in shock. "Oh, hello," she said softly. Tsuna was sure that this was the first time he had heard her speak at school. Even in classes and in the common room, she'd not said a word. "Was there, um, something you wanted?" she asked to break the silence.

Tsuna startled. "Oh! Yeah! Um, I was wondering if you wanted to join my friends and I in the library to go over some Potions homework. You are always sitting here by yourself, so . . ."

Chrome smiled shyly at him, a dusting of pinks now on her cheeks. "That would be very nice," she agreed with a happy nod. So Tsuna, the kind child that he was, helped Chrome gather her things into her book-bag and walked her to the Great Hall entrance where Hermione and Neville had been told to meet him. If they were shocked to see him standing there with Chrome, they did not show it and easily assimilated her into their group.

The brunette himself ignored the set of eyes following him out of the hall, knowing without a doubt who they belonged to. Mukuro got what he wanted and Tsuna could honestly say that he didn't mind Chrome and was more than happy to be friends with her. Their group had gone from three socially awkward children to four.

Besides, even numbers were better than odd, no?

AN: Thanks for all of the reviews, favourites and follows from the previous chapter! I loved them all.

Thoughts? Ideas? Questions?