Chapter FIFTEEN

After they eat, Sakura listens as Dumbledore rattles off a bunch of things because she is sure her teammates aren't listening at all.

The Headmaster tells them about how certain items weren't allowed on school grounds, and that they were forbidden from entering the Forbidden Forest. She could just imagine Naruto and Sasuke competing to see who could explore it first and makes a mental note to make sure they know for sure what the consequences would be if they messed up their mission for something so stupid. He then says that the Inter-house Quidditch Cup was not being held this year, which led to most of the school groaning.

Suddenly, the doors are thrown open with a loud BANG. Sakura whips around, ready to draw a weapon in a moment's notice, and eyes the man that had dramatically stepped through. She can instantly tell that this man has known war. If his limp, deep scars, a fake eye, and a chunk of missing nose aren't enough signs of that, Sakura can see something swirling within his eye, something she could easily recognize and relate to.

Dumbledore cheerily introduces him as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and only him and Hagrid clap. Everyone else did not seem quite done with staring at the man, but the Headmaster continues with his speech. He tells them about how a special event, the Triwizard Tournament, something that hadn't been held in over a century, is being hosted by Hogwarts.

There are surprised exclamations from all around the room. Dumbledore proceeds to explain how the event was an interschool event held between Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatton. By the end of his brief explanation, something about a champion picked from each school to compete in magical events, Sakura can see Naruto and Sasuke fighting to enter. When the man mentions the death toll, the reason the tournaments had been canceled, she groans.

"Only students who are of age, seventeen and above, may enter."

This announcement is met with another series of groans, but when Sakura slowly looks over her shoulder again she sees Naruto and Sasuke leaning towards each other and whispering.

"If those idiots get themselves killed," she mutters, and the people around her turn to her curiously, "I hope you have a huge trashcan, Draco, because I am not going to drag their bodies home."

"We're fourteen," someone says. "We can't enter."

Sakura inwardly rolls her eyes, because little do they know.

Naruto catches Sasuke the moment they are dismissed. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Sasuke rolls his eyes. "And how am I supposed to know what you're thinking?" He smirks knowingly, though, and Naruto grins.

"We're going to the dorms, Naruto," Justin calls. "You're new, so make sure you follow the prefects and don't get lost."

Naruto pats the Uchiha on the shoulder. "Talk tonight," he whispers, and raven nods. "Later," he calls a little louder, and he rushes over to join the three Hufflepuffs.

"Each house has a common room, and each common room leads to places to sleep," Earnest explains. "Ours is located near the kitchens."

"You need a password to enter each of the common rooms," Hannah continues. "To enter ours, you need to tap out 'Helga Hufflepuff'."

Naruto has no idea what that means, but he groans as he remembers the last time he had been asked to remember a pass-speech.

The common room is a comfortable looking thing, and Naruto can tell from the direction the windows are facing that during the day, the entire area will be lit by sunlight. A perfect pulls him aside to tell him that there is a bed set up for him. He introduces himself as Cedric Diggory and offers to take him up there. He bids Earnest, Justin and Hannah Goodnight before he follows the technically older boy into a smaller but equally as comfortable-looking room with four beds.

"That one's yours," Cedric says, pointing. "Your bag's have already been brought in. If you have questions, feel free to ask anyone."

Naruto thanks the boy with a grin and he is left to sort out his stuff by himself. He plops down on the soft beg and dumps the content of his bags onto the mattress. He checks to make sure no one will be approaching anytime soon before he pulls out his shinobi equipment and hides them where he can easily access them. He then dumps the rest of his things around.

Once he is finished, he creates a shadow clone and then takes off the uniform to reveal his shinobi attire underneath. He casts a simple genjutsu to conceal himself then sends his clone out back out. He slips out after his clone then out of the common room without being noticed. Once he is outside, he reaches out with his chakra again and then sneaks off in search of his teammates.

Once they are out of the main hall, Sasuke turns to Fred. The twins appear to have taken a liking to him and Sasuke tries his best not to cringe at how Naruto-like they are. "I want to go look for my friends," he tells them, and they easily understand.

"Sure," he says. "Didn't you talk to Naruto already though?"

Sasuke shrugs. "Just want to bid Sakura goodnight as well."

George steps up behind his brother and snickers. "Girlfriend?" He asks.

Sasuke makes a face and ignores the mocking whistles. He turns and begins to make his way through the crowd, only to stop and turn around. "Why are you following me?"

"You can't trust Slytherins," George says easily. "I don't mean your friend, but the rest, they're a nasty bunch."

"It's an unspoken rule," Fred agrees. "Never be around a snake alone."

Sasuke scoffs. "I guess she'll fit right in, then."

The twins laugh. "Besides, you don't know your way around," George continues.

"We'll guide you to the Gryffindor common room after you're done," Fred finishes.

Sasuke shrugs, seeing reason in their argument, and does not say any more as they follow him. He easily catches sight of pink among the sea of duller hair colors. "Sakura," he calls, and while it is quiet, the pinkette hears. She turns around, catches his eye, says something to the people around her, and begins forcing her way through the crowd. He winces as he sees a kid being flung away. Draco comes after her, and Sasuke decides it must be for similar reasons as his own accompaniment.

"Hey," she says as she reaches his side.

"Hn," he replies and nods at Draco, who is glaring at the Weasley twins behind him, though he does not say anything.

Sakura rolls her eyes. "Do your housemates need dictionaries?" She asks. "Interpretation guides?"

Sasuke stares at her and Sakura sighs. "Naruto wanted to come to see you too, but he was dragged off," he says. "He says later."

Sakura's eyes flash, but she easily conceals her understanding with a smile. "Okay." She turns to look at Draco, then down the empty corridor. "Well, I guess I'll see you around," she says.

Sasuke nods and watches her vanish before he turns back towards the twins. "I'm done."

"Why was Malfoy with her?" Fred asks and makes a face.

"His parents know our parents," Sasuke says. "Lucius Malfoy is the one that helped us with the transfer, and I guess Draco just feels responsible."

"Poor her," Fred mutters. "She seems like a nice girl." He grins when Sasuke is unable to stop his scoff from escaping. "What's her name again?"

"Sakura," Sasuke says. "And she is as annoying as Naruto."

He follows the twins back to the common room. Once he is unpacked, he announces that he is retiring early, leaves a clone in his place, and slips out.

Here's chapter fifteen, friends!

Darque: So they snek snek.

Raven: Indeed.

Darque: I like Gaara.

Raven: I have no idea where that came from, but okay.

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