Im baaack! well yes it been too long but i must blame school. First year of college and there were piling essays on me so i had no time to write but now i'm back and hopefully better then ever! hope you enjoy this action-pack chapter.

Disclaimer: The Harry potter and Naruto characters and plot are not mine. They belong to their owners

Chapter Fourteen: Through the Trapdoor.

In years to come, Naruto would never quite remember how he had managed to get through his exams when he half expected his vampire friend to come bursting through the door at any moment, declaring to suck his blood or whatever. Yet the days crept by and there was little to no hint that the vampire even existed. His horrible dreams were few and far between, and the voice in his head had disappeared long ago. He even checked to see if Fluffy was still alive behind the locked doors.

It was sweltering hot, especially in the large classroom where they did their written papers. Naruto had to wipe his forehead every two minutes to prevent a sweat stain getting on the parchment. They had given them special, new quills for the exams, which had been bewitched with an Anti-Cheating spell.

They had practical exams as well. Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if the could make a pineapple tap dance across a desk. Professor McGonagall watched then turn a mouse into a snuffbox – points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was, but taken away if it had whiskers. Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness potion.

His last exam was History of Magic. One more grueling hour of answering questions about crazy old wizards who'd invented self-stirring cauldrons and he'd be free, free for a whole wonderful week until their exam results came out. When the ghost of Professor Binns told them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, Naruto couldn't help cheering with the rest. The worst part about school was finally over. Tests… Naruto hate tests.

Naruto lagged behind as the other kids pooled out into the hall and headed out onto the sunny grounds. Naruto would have followed them but he had other plans. Naruto slowly walked down the hall till he found the closest classroom. Making sure no one was watching him he opened the door slipped into the room silently closing the door behind him. The second the door was closed Naruto was tackled in a bone-breaking hug.

"Cant... BREATH!" Naruto choked out. Angelina quickly released him putting an arm on his shoulder and grinning widely.

"What's up short stuff?" Angelina asked sweetly

"Not a short stuff." Naruto grumbled under his breath, Angelina had some how picked up "short stuff" from Aaralyn and now she used it all the time. Naruto looked over to the tables and saw the Weasley twins sitting there grinning at him. Naruto walked up to the table the twins were sitting on and leaned against it on his elbow.

"So Naruto how did you enjoy those horrible-,"

"– Terrible,"

"– Dreadful,"

"– Final exams?"

"Uhg, don't mention those words" Naruto groaned scrunching his face up as if he ate something sour. "They took so long; I think I died a little bit inside during the History of Magic exam." The twins chuckled slightly.

"Oh just wait, the exams get longer and harder." Fred said. Naruto groaned; he really hated tests.

"Now back to what we called this little meeting for." George said interrupting Fred, "It's the end of the year and we finished all of ours tests, our time is no longer spent studying -,"

"– and now we're bored."

"Exactly Fred, so now we have to think of super awesome -,"

"–but surprisingly simple -,"

"Prank to end the year."

"But me and George here are really tired of thinking, so we decided to give you a chance to do some pranking Naruto!" both Fred and George smiled widely and Naruto was stunned for a second.

Fred and George's sudden offer caught Naruto off guard but his mind was still buzzing through prank ideas. Problem was, all of Naruto's good ideas have already been used back in Konoha, and sadly he started putting off pranking ever since he became a ninja. Naruto remembered one of his oldest pranking ideas he had never done. It was awesome and very simple, but also very, very dangerous.

A long, sly grin grew on Naruto face, Fred and George looked at each other quickly before speaking.

"Alright Naruto tell us your plan, we can see your brain working -,"

" – and we see smoke coming out of your ears."

"Ummmm, well you… I will… ummmm." Naruto said slowly trying to figure out how to exactly tell them his plan….but he gave up. "You know what, I'll just show you."

Naruto crossed his fingers and with one loud popping sound the room was filled with smoke. When the smoke cleared the room was filled to the brim with girls. None of the girls looked anything like Naruto; they were all different height and skin colors, some had brown hair some had red. But the one similarity was that all the girls looked like they had just got out of the shower, their hair was wet and sticking to their neck, and they were all naked in very small towels. The twins spun around in a circle staring at the girls their mouths wide open.

"Naruto, how did you do this?" Angelina asked an eyebrow rose in irritation.

"Oh it's a simple trick really, I just create clones and cast an illusion on them." Naruto said shrugging. He walked over to the door he came in and slowly opened it checking the hall outside. There were kids everywhere, walking down the hall talking to each other enjoying their relaxation time, but there was not a teacher in sight. It was all clear.

Naruto turned back to his group of naked women clones, leaving the door behind him slightly ajar.

"Alright guys, you know what to do!"

With a loud cheer the towel clad girls ran at the door at once.

"GAH!" Naruto screamed out and he jumped out of the way just in time to avoid be crushed by the naked stampede. The girls had filed out into the hall and the effect was immediate, there were high pitch screams from the girls and whistles and cheers from the boys rippling through the corridors.

Fred and George ran over to Naruto and picked him up by either arm and dragged him out of the classroom. Their grins were so large the corners of their mouth were practically touching their ears.

"Come on Naruto -,"

"– we don't want to miss all the fun!"

Fred, George Naruto and Angelina all went out to the hall to a scene of total chaos. The towel girls were running in either direction down the corridor. The left led deeper into the castle and the right led to the entrance hall. The boys were all following close behind them trying to get a peak at them naked.

Naruto heard a door slam and the sound of Snape yelling rang out through out the hall.

"What in Merlin's beard is going on here?"

The girls began squealing and all at once towels could be seen thrown high into the air. The boys cheered loudly and Snape began cursing loudly as the naked girls ran past him deeper into the castle.

"Oh man -," Fred said and the twins instantly dropped Naruto onto his feet.

" – We can not miss this." George cried out and the twins ran after the group of now naked girl running through out the castle.

Angelina watched the Weasley twins chase after the group of girls shaking her head.

"I need to follow them, make sure they don't cause any more mayhem," Angelina said turning to Naruto. "Are you coming with?" Naruto shook his head vigorously.

"No I'd rather not get in trouble for this, so I'm goin to hide for awhile." Naruto said

Angelina looked thoughtful "Ya that makes sense, if Snape found out it was you he would skin you alive." Naruto shivered at the thought. "Or poison you…" Naruto audible gulped

"Exactly, that's why its time for me to disappear, See you later Angelina!" Naruto said and he turned and half jogged, half ran to the Entrance Hall. The run was very short. There were barely and kids in the halls , it looked as though all the naked girls had made to the field outside and were enjoying the sun. Naruto turned a corner and saw an unexpected sight.

Draco and Hermione were standing in the hall having a conversation. Well it was more like Draco trying to tell Hermione something and Hermione was trying to ignore Draco.

"Well, well, well what's going on here?" Naruto said crossing his arms. Startled, Draco and Hermione jumped slightly and turned to Naruto.

"Oh hey Naruto didn't see you there." Hermione said once she saw who it was. She shifted slightly and pushed some stray hair out of her face and behind her ear. "I was just discussing with Malfoy here why he hates me."

"But I keep trying to tell you I don't hate you!" Draco hissed out his pale face starting to flush. His smirk that would usually be plastered on his face was gone.

"You hate Hermione?" Naruto asked curiously raising an eyebrow

"No I don't!" Draco growled irritably

"You sure act like you do." Scoffed Hermione

"How so?"

"Well for starters you just got me and Harry in a load of trouble, don't think that I have forgotten!" Hermione hissed, Naruto looked between the two slightly annoyed.

"How was I supposed to know you were going to be there? I thought it was going to be Potter and Weasley!" Draco snapped back.

"Ya sure," Hermione huffed and she turned and walked away towards the main doors that led outside. Draco ran to catch up with Naruto hot on their heels. This situation kind of reminded Naruto of all those lame soap operas Sakura and Ino use to talk about all the time, all of which were annoying and stupid. He had to try and break it up.

"Uh, guys?" Naruto said but was promptly ignored.

"And I bet you didn't mean for me to almost get in trouble back when you challenged Harry to a duel. Midnight duel indeed!"

"Exactly!" Draco said shaking his head. "I tricked Weasley and Potter to a duel, not you. I never intended to get you into trouble. How did you even get involved?"

Hermione slowed to a stop and she looked at Draco out of the corner of her eyes.

"Well I knew you had tricked them and I tried to stop them so they wouldn't lose any house points. I kind of got locked out of the common room that's why I followed them." Hermione whispered softly. She then turned to Naruto to get some kind of silent conformation that Draco was telling the truth. Naruto simply nodded and Hermione visibly relaxed. It looked like she had finally believed him.

"Then how come we never hang out any more?" Hermione said softly looking turning to Draco.

"Well it's hard to see each other out of class when we are I different houses," Draco muttered "and that our two houses are sworn enemies." He added. Hermione nodded sadly, she seemed to understand perfectly well.

"That idea is still so ridiculous." She muttered. After becoming friends with Harry and Ron she slowly stopped hanging out with Naruto and completely stopped seeing Draco, and sadly enough she hadn't even noticed till now.

"Well we could hang out now!" Hermione said her eyes widening a little "I promised to hang out with Harry and Ron today so you could-,"

"Oh no." Draco cut in ceasing Hermione speech. "There is no way I would be caught in the same breathing zone with my arch enemy."

"Arch enemy?" Hermione asked

"Harry." Naruto added

"What about Ron?"

"Bah," Draco scoffed "That simpleton isn't even worth the time to hex. But even so unless you don't want me to hex your little friends to next Halloween having me there is probably not the best idea." Draco had a sly smirk on his face

"Gah, you boys and your egos." Hermione said shaking her head; she quickly turned to Naruto "Do you want to join me?"

Sweet… an alibi, the very thing he needed.

"Sure," Naruto said quickly "I have nothing better to do."

"Fine," Draco drawled. "I just hang out with Blaise, or maybe Crabbe and Goyle they're a treat to talk to."

Naruto smiled widely and patted Draco on the back. "You have fun with that; I promise I'll meet back up with you later." Naruto said, he could tell Draco was trying to guilt him into staying but it wasn't going to work with a raging Snape on the loose. Draco grumbled a reply, spun around and walked off.

"Well, come on then." Hermione said and she jogged to the large front doors with Naruto right behind her.

It was a beautiful day outside; it was warm out, bright and sunny with not a cloud in the sky. The grass outside was bright green and swayed serenely in the wind. Kids were everywhere laughing and playing games. Surprisingly there were still a lot of naked girl clones outside too. Some were playing in the lake splashing each other, and quite of few of them were kicking around a soccer ball with Dean Thomas who didn't seem to mind.

On top of a large hill overlooking Hagrid's cabin was Harry and Ron who were lying in the grass staring up at the sky. Hermione and Naruto hustled over to them; Hermione sat down next to Ron and Naruto next to Harry. The second Hermione sat down, she starting talking about school.

"So how do you think you did with Professor Binn's test? It was far easier than I thought it would be. I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or uprising of Elfric the Eager."

Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterward, but Ron said this made him feel ill.

"No more studying." Ron sighed happily "You could look more cheerful Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."

Harry rubbed his forehead for about the fifteenth time.

"I wish I knew what this means!" he burst out angrily "My scar keeps hurting – it's happened before, but never as often as this."

"Go to Madam Pomfrey." Hermione suggested

"I'm not ill," Harry said. "I think it's a warning…"

"Maybe it's a warning that lighting will strike you." Naruto suggested but Harry glared just at him. "Hey it's an idea." Naruto said grinning broadly.

Ron couldn't get worked up; it was too hot for that.

"Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once; he's not going to try to again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

Harry nodded, but he couldn't shake off a lurking feeling that there was something he'd forgotten to do, something important. When he tried to explain this, Hermione said, "That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."

Naruto sighed as he leaned back and stared up at the blue sky his mind empty of all thought. He just sat back and relaxed. It was the first time in a while that Naruto didn't have something to do. When ever Naruto wasn't studying for his exams, Naruto was in the forest training his tail off. He continuously did his charka control exercises along with learning two more wind Justus and even some basic sword techniques. But he still sucked with the sword. Naruto is always on edge thinking this vampire could attack at any minute that Naruto never seemed to have time to rest. But today was going to be different, a day of total relaxation.

Suddenly an owl flew across the sky with a note clamped in its beak and a random thought came to him.

"Hagrid was the only one that sent me letters." Naruto said softly. Harry had heard him and looked over at him.

"Huh?"

"Hagrid was the only one that sent me letters." Naruto repeated

"Ya me two, he use to ask me and Ron to come down to his hut and tell us stories. He would some times slip in a super secret he wasn't supposed to tell us," Harry chuckled "He would really let important stuff slip if he was drunk it was hilarious." Harry said. Naruto stared up into the sky for a second before something popped into his mind.

"Hey remember that time when Hagrid first got that dragon?" Naruto muttered

"Umm yeah, why?" Harry drew his eye from a low flying cloud to look at Naruto again.

"Didn't Hagrid say he was at a bar?"

"Yeah, what about it -," Suddenly Harry's face paled considerably. Naruto and Harry seemed to have the same thing cross their minds, as the two of them jumped to their feet startling Ron and Hermione.

"Oi, where're you two going?" Ron muttered sleepily

"I've just though of something," Harry said as he and Naruto began running down the hill. "We've got to go see Hagrid, now!"

Well that day of relaxation didn't last long.

"Wait, why?" Hermione panted, hurrying to keep up with the two of them.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Harry said "That what Hagrid wants more then anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"

"What are you on about?" Ron asked, but Harry said nothing.

Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers and sleeves were rolled up, and he was shelling peas into a large bowl.

"Hullo," he said, smiling. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"Yes please," Ron said, but Harry cut him off

"No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"

"Dunno," said Hagrid casually, "he would' take his cloak off."

He saw the four of them looking stunned and raised his eyebrows.

"It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head – that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."

Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas and Naruto stood on the other side of Hagrid.

"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?" Naruto asked

"Mighta come up," Hagrid said, frowning as he tried to remember. "Yeah… he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here… he asked a bit about the sorta creatures I look after… so I told him… an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon… an' then… I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks… let's see… yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted… but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home… so I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…"

"And did he – did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked, trying to keep his voice calm. Hagrid was about to speak when three naked girls sprinted passed his cabin and back up the hill towards the castle, being followed closely by a couple of boys.

"What in the blazes!" Hagrid cried out, as the peas in his hand feel into the bowl.

"Hagrid focus!" Harry yelled, Hagrid stopped yelling and stared down at Harry.

"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry repeated.

"Well – yeah – how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep –,"

Hagrid suddenly looked horrified.

"I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" he blurted out "Forget I said it! Hey – where're yeh goin'?

Naruto, Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't speak to each other at all until they cam to a halt in the entrance hall, which seemed very cold and gloomy after the grounds.

"We've go to go to Dumbledore," Harry said "Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape -,"

"- Or Moldybutt!" Naruto chimed in.

"Or Voldemort under that cloak – it must've been easy, once he'd got Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?"

They looked around, as if hoping to see a sign pointing them in the right direction. Besides Naruto, the other kids had never been sent to his office. And Naruto couldn't even remember what floor Dumbledore's office was on.

"We'll just have to -," Harry began, but a voice suddenly rang across the hall.

"What are you four doing inside?"

It was Professor McGonagall, walking briskly down the corridor carrying a large pile of books.

"We want to see Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said rather bravely

"See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want to do. "Why?"

Naruto swallowed – now what?

"It's sort of a secret," he said, but he wished at once he hadn't, because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared.

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she said coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."

"He's gone?" Harry said frantically. "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time -,"

"But this is important."

"Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Uzumaki?"

"Look," Naruto said throwing caution to the winds, "Professor – it's about the Sorcerer's Stone –,"

Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn't that. The books she was carrying tumbled out of her arms, but she didn't pick them up.

"How do you know - ?" She spluttered

"Professor, I think – I know – that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

She eyed Naruto with a mixture of shock and suspicion.

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow," she said finally.

"I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."

"But Professor -,"

"Potter, I know what I'm talking about," she said shortly. She bent down and gathered up the fallen books. "I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."

But they didn't

"It's tonight," Harry said once he was sure Professor McGonagall was out of earshot. "Snape's -,"

"- Somebody!" Naruto cut in

"Somebody's going through the trapdoor tonight. This person has found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note; I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."

"S-so what are we going to do?" Hermione asked looking from Harry to Naruto.

"I'm going out of here tonight and I'm going to try and get to the Stone first." Harry said

"You're mad!" Ron said

"You can't," Hermione whispered "After what McGonagall said? You'll be expelled!"

"SO WHAT?" Harry shouted. "Don't you understand? If Snape gets hold of that Stone, Voldemort's coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, can't you see? D'you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it's only dying a bit later than I would have, because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"

He glared at them.

"You're right, Harry," Hermione whispered

"Wow that was easy," Naruto muttered looking from Hermione to Ron. "Usually I have to punch people to get them to listen to me."

"I'll use the invisibility cloak," Harry said "It's just lucky I got it back."

"But will it cover the four of us?" Ron asked

"All – all four of us?" Harry gasped

"Oh well I don't need to be under your cloak." Naruto said shrugging "And you don't know where the Slytherin common room is."

"Right so only three of use will be under your cloak." Ron said smiling

"No guys you can't!" Harry began but was immediately cut off by Ron

"Oh, come off it, you don't think we'd let you go alone?"

"Of course not," Hermione added briskly. "How do you think you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go and look through

my books, there might be something useful…"

"But if we get caught, you three will be expelled, too."

"Not if I can help it," Hermione said grimly. "Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and ten percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that."

Naruto crossed his arms giving a large sly smile. "Well it looks like your stuck with us Harry."

Harry worked his jaw trying to find something to say but nothing came out. Finally Harry sighed and spoke in voice barley above a whisper. He looked up and down the hall to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

"Alright… you can help but we have to do this tonight. Naruto, do you think you can make it to the door of Fluffy at eleven tonight?"

"No problem," Naruto said giving him a wide smile, "I am the stealthiest man around!"

"Oh right I forgot," Harry added "you're a super ninja or something like that."

"See its ok now," Ron started, "Naruto's a ninja – wait wha?" Ron's eyes widened and both he and Hermione spun around to look at Naruto… but he was gone. It was only the three of them standing in an empty corridor.

"How did he…" Hermione began but she trailed off as she looked back at an embarrassed Harry.

"Harry…" Ron said playing with his sleeve "What's going on?"

After dinner the three of them sat nervously apart in the common room. Nobody bothered them; none of the Gryffindors had anything to say to Harry any more, ever since he lost all those points a few months ago. This was the first night he hadn't been upset by it. The three of them were huddled close together listening to Harry recount the events in the Forbidden forest a couple weeks ago.

"How the in the world did you forget to mention this?" Ron asked for the forth time.

"I don't know," Harry, said shrugging "Between learning that Voldemort is close by and dealing with exams, it kind of slipped my mind!"

"But what if Naruto's in league with You-Know-Who? He could be acting as a spy and is going to kill you when you reach the Stone!" Ron insisted

"Oh I highly doubt that." Hermione said and Ron scoffed at her words

"Oh and how is that?"

"Well before school there would be no way for Naruto to even know who You-Know-Who is."

"And why is that?"

"Well he isn't even from this dimension now is he?"

"What?" Ron gasp and even Harry's jaw dropped

"Honestly do you two read?" Hermione said exasperatedly, she grabbed her bag, pulled it up on her lap and reached in. "When I heard Naruto was a ninja I remember I saw him from the Daily Prophet a while back. So I went back to the library to the Daily Prophet archive. It was very easy to find – here it is!"

Hermione pulled a long newspaper from her bag and folded it out on the table in front of her. On the cover was a picture of Naruto and Dumbledore walking out of Ollivander's wand shop. There were words below it in large black print, which read

Boy from the New World?

We have a private interview with Albus Dumbledore about his journey through the portal that mysteriously appeared over the Atlantic Ocean. He story and more on page 6 section 4

"Whoa." Ron muttered

"Ya," Hermione said "It says that during the summer some sort of inter-dimensional wormhole opened up somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. This portal to another world was only open for about fifteen hours, but that was long enough for Dumbledore to go through and come back with one boy."

Hermione paused for dramatic effect listening to the silence amongst the group.

"The boys name was Naruto Uzumaki but no other information was giving about him. No age, no general background description. All he said was Naruto was going to be enrolled in Hogwarts this year. So no one knows Naruto is a ninja."

"But the teachers must know right?"

"Oh they must know Dumbledore wouldn't keep that from his staff. He probably kept it from the public so people wouldn't freak out. I'm pretty sure the teachers were nervous about Naruto though." Harry looked at Hermione curiously

"Why would that be?"

"Well its obvious isn't it? Naruto was sorted into Slytherin House. All the strongest Dark wizards in the world came from Slytherin, especially You-Know-Who!"

Harry sat there and let it sink in. Sure Slytherin was a house full of vile kids, and Naruto's best friend was Malfoy… But Naruto was different. He really was not the average Slytherin that's for sure.

"But Naruto's not like the other Slytherins; he's actually a nice person." Harry stated, Ron and Hermione nodded "I doubt Naruto would kill anyone."

"Anyone innocent," Hermione added, "If I come to his job he might actually have to kill people." That idea chilled Hermione to the bone but she threw it out of her mind, the last thing she need was the thought that a lose friend was a murderer plaguing her thoughts.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm glad Naruto is on our side." Ron muttered his two friends agreeing with him. He then look up and stared around at the crowded common room. "So what do we do now?"

An air of unease settled amongst the group. They looked around hoping no one was listening in their conversation.

"All we can do now is sit and wait."

"Why are you being difficult, you know you can't come with me…" Naruto said in a cool and collected voice.

But he got no answer.

"You can't stop me from going if that's what you're trying to do." Naruto hissed beginning to lose his cool.

Still no answer.

"WHY DON'T YOU ANBSWER ME!" Naruto screamed as he couched down glaring at his cat that was lying on top of his ninja uniform. Spice-cat stared back at Naruto's deranged eyes and gave a long yawn. Naruto sighed and gently gathered Spice-cat into his arms petting her slightly. He placed Spice-cat on its make shift bed and filled his bowl with a little cat food.

"I'll be back later tonight ok Spice?" Naruto said softly, Spice yawn once more and began eating her food.

Naruto rushed over to his bed and began putting his ninja gear on. He was late, he got lost in a conversation with Blaise about werewolves and lost track of time. He slipped on his facemask and zipped up his hoodie. Naruto looked around his room and picked up his shuriken pouch and kunai cases and attached them to his pants. It was sort of hard to attach them due to his hands shaking in excitement; he had seen real action for a while.

"Anything else?" Naruto muttered to himself as he took one last look around the room. His eyes landed on his sword that was lying on the dresser, begging to be used. Naruto debate whether or not he should take his sword, knowing he wasn't very good, before giving in. He needed to break it in one of these days. So he picked up his sword and slung it over his shoulder letting it lay on his back. Naruto walked briskly out of the room turning the light off behind him. He strode through the common room quickly, ignoring the looks he got from the other Slytherin.

"Naruto, where are you going?" It was Draco; he was sitting on the couch next to the fire accompanied by Blaise, Pansy and Theodore. They were all staring at the sword strapped to his back curiosity shining in their eyes.

"I've got some business tonight," Naruto said quickly still walking towards the door. "Don't wait up for me."

As Naruto walked through the door to the dungeon he ran right into Rachael.

"Oh blimey I'm so sorry Whiskers," Rachael's voice trailed off as she eyed the sword on Naruto's back. "Where are you about to go?"

"I have something I have to do for Professor Snape and Hagrid; I'll be back later tonight." Naruto wasn't sure why he lied to Rachael, but he felt the need to make her feel better.

"Stay safe." Rachael said seriously

"I will." Naruto said half lying. Rachael stared him in the eyes for a couple before enveloping Naruto in a large hug.

"You better." Rachael muttered and without a backwards glance she walked into the Slytherin common room.

Naruto stared at the closed Slytherin entrance stretching his head. He wasn't sure what was up with Rachael; she had been acting differently towards him ever since Christmas break.

"Girls." Naruto mused before disappearing into the shadows.

Peeves the pesky, plundering poltergeist was bobbing right in front of the third corridor door, loosening the carpet so that people would trip. Suddenly there was a creak at the stairs in front of Peeves catching his attention.

"Who's there? Know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?" He rose in the air and stared at the stairs "Should call Filch I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen."

Then quite suddenly a gruff cold voice sounded through the halls.

"Peeves, the Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."

Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. He caught himself in time and hovered about a foot off the stairs.

"So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, sir," Peeves muttered greasily. "My mistake, my mistake – I didn't see you – of course I didn't, your invisible – forgive old Peevsie his little joke, sir."

"I have business here, Peeves," croaked The Bloody Baron "Stay away from this place tonight."

"I will, sir, I most certainly will," said Peeves, rising up in the air again. "Hope your business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother you." And he flew off.

Light at the stairs shimmered, and instead of The Bloody Baron appearing in thin air, Harry, Ron and Hermione emerged from under an invisibility cloak.

"Brilliant Harry!" whispered Ron wide eyed. "Looks like we're home free."

"Not quite." A cold voice came from the shadows ahead of them and the trio froze. They peered into the darkness around them with baited breath, waiting for someone to pop out. Then a black clad kid fell from the ceiling and landed right in front of the trio. It was Naruto.

"God Naruto," Hermione gasped "Never scare us like that again."

Naruto was grinning scratching the back of his head, he opened his mouths to reply but Harry interrupted him.

"Come on guys we have to hurry up, Stone might be stolen already." Harry instantly took the lead and a few seconds later, they were there, outside the third-floor corridor – and the door was already ajar.

"Well, there you are," Harry said quietly, "Whoever is after the Stone is already past Fluffy."

Seeing the open door somehow seemed to impress upon Ron and Hermione what the might be facing.

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you." Harry said turning to his friends "You can take the cloak, I won't need it now."

"Don't be stupid." Ron scoffed

"We're coming." Hermione muttered

"Let's do this." Naruto said

Harry pushed the door open

As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met their ears. All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in their direction, even though it couldn't see them.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered

"Looks like a harp," Ron said

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," Harry said "well, here goes…" Harry pulled a flute out from under his cloak. It wasn't really a tune, but from the first note the beast's eyes began to droop. Harry hardly drew breath. Slowly, the dog's growls ceased – it teetered on its paws and fell to its knee, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep

"Keep playing." Naruto said and he rushed over to the trapdoor. He could feel the dog's hot, rancid breath as he past the giant heads. He clinched the rusted handle and with a grunt swung the trapdoor open. Naruto looked down and peered into a black abyss.

"I can't see anything," Naruto muttered, he looked up to Hermione and Ron once they made it to his side. "Want to go first Hermione?"

"No I don't!"

"All right, Ron?" Ron gritted his teeth but nodded. He stepped carefully over the dog's leg and looked down the hole. Ron closed his eyes and began mumbling to himself before he stepped out and fell in to the darkness. Hermione squeaked as she watched Ron disappear.

"Well it's your turn Hermione." Naruto said. Hermione didn't answer; she just nodded dumbly and inched to the edge and looked down…. But did nothing. Naruto sighed as he watched Hermione. He didn't want it to come down to this. As quick as a flash Naruto placed a hand and Hermione's shoulder and before she could do anything Naruto pushed Hermione into the hole.

"AAAHHHHHHH!" Hermione screamed all the way down, but was silenced once she hit the bottom.

"Huh, it's not that deep." Naruto mused; he looked over to Harry and called out to him. "Harry!"

Harry jumped slightly and stuttered on the flute, one of Fluffy's feet twitched.

"It's your turn Harry." Naruto said and Harry nodded.

Harry ran over to the hole and froze. Oh dear am I going to have to push him too? Naruto thought, but at the last second Harry closed his eyes and jumped in feet first. The second the music stopped Fluffy's three heads shot up and six bloodshot eyes glared down at Naruto. Luckily for Naruto Fluffy was still on its side giving him enough time to jump through the trapdoor and slam it the door behind him as he fell. Cold, damp air rushed past him as he fell down, down, down and –

FLUMP

With a strange muffled thump he landed on something soft. He sat up and felt around, his eyes not used to the gloom. It felt as though he was sitting on some sort of plant.

"Are you ok Naruto?" Came Hermione's voice from somewhere to his right.

"Ya I'm not hurt." Naruto said standing up slowly, he eyes had already grew accustom to the light. But flinched when a fist came flying out and hit him in the face.

"Ow, what the hell was that for?" Naruto yelled holding his cheek, and he heard Hermione scoff.

"That's for pushing me down here. We must be miles under the school." She said looking up at the trapdoor.

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really." Ron said

"Lucky?" Hermione shrieked "Look at you both!"

She jumped up and struggled towards the damp moldy wall. She had to struggle because the moment she had landed, the plant had started to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles. As for Harry and Ron, their legs had already been bound tightly in long creepers without their noticing. Naruto tried to move but found that his feet had also been wrapped up tightly. He quickly pulled out a kunai and started hacking at the plant tendrils.

"Die, die, die, DIE!"

Hermione had managed to free herself before the plant got a firm grip on her. Naruto had cut off his plant and jumped up and using chakra attached himself to the side of the wall, far out of the reach of the plant. Now they watched in horror as Ron and Harry fought to pull the plant off them, but the more they strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant wound around them.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered them. "I know what this is – it's Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," snarled Ron, leaning back, trying to stop the plant from curling around his neck.

"Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" said Hermione.

"Well, hurry up, I can't breath!" Harry gasped, wrestling with it as it curled around his chest.

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare…what did Professor Sprout say? – it likes the dark and the damp –"

"So light a fire!" Harry choked out

"Yes – of course – but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, wringing her hands

"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT!"

"Oh, right!" Hermione said, and she whipped out her wand. But Naruto had already finished his hand signs.

"Katon Ryuuka no Jutsu!" Naruto yelled out, he took in a large gulp of air and breathed out a jet of fire.

The Devil's Snare caught on fire instantly and it wriggled and writhed in pain. In a matter of seconds, the two boys seemed to just fall right through the plant. And instant later Hermione also fell down and disappeared as if swallowed up by the plant. Closing his eyes Naruto jumped feet first towards the Devil's Snare. He hit the plant and fell right through and hit a marble floor underneath it. Naruto got up quickly and found the other were also on their feet.

"Are you guys ok?" Naruto asked

"Ya we're good," Harry huffed out wiping plant slime off his pants. "Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione."

"Ya," Ron said "and lucky Harry and Naruto didn't lose their heads in a crisis – 'there's no wood,' honestly. By the way Naruto, do all ninja's do that fire breathing thingy?"

"Well ya most of my people can, I only just learned them so I don't know any really powerful ones."

"So you don't need a wand to breath fire?" Hermione asked

"Nope, it's kinda like wand-less magic except it's made from energy within our own body so it has limited use."

"Fascinating," Hermione said her eyes twinkling in the darkness "You must tell me how it works –,"

"There's no time," Harry said cutting across Hermione "This way." He pointed down a stone passageway, which was the only way forward.

All they could hear apart from their footsteps was the gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. As the passageway sloped down, Naruto began to hear a strange fluttering noise coming from the end of the hall.

"Can you hear something?" Ron whispered and both Harry and Hermione paused to listen.

"Yeah I do," Hermione muttered "Do you think it's a ghost?" Naruto felt his inside begin to freeze

"I don't think so… sound like wings to me."

"There's a light ahead – I can see something moving."

They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was heavy wooden door.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" Ron asked

"Probably," Harry said "They don't look very vicious, but I suppose if they all swooped down at once… well, there's no other choice… I'll run."

Harry took a deep breath, covered his face with his arms, and sprinted across the room. Naruto watched Harry run across the room unscathed, nothing had happened. Hermione and Ron ran across the room to help with the door but Naruto sauntered through the hall staring up at the docile birds. Hermione had tried to use a Alohomora charm but it didn't work.

"Now what?" Ron asked

"These birds…they can't be here just for decoration." Naruto said and the three other kids looked up with him they watched the birds soaring overhead, glittering - glittering?

"They're not birds!" Naruto gasped "They're keys! Winged keys – look carefully. So that must mean…" he looked around the chamber while the others squinted up at the flock of keys.

"…yes – look! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!"

"But there are hundreds of them!" Hermione said

Ron examined the lock on the door.

"We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one – probably silver, like the handle."

They each seized a broomstick and kicked off into the air, soaring into the midst of the cloud of keys. They grabbed and snatched, but the bewitched keys darted and dived so quickly it was almost impossible to catch one.

Not for nothing for Naruto and Harry were the youngest Quidditch players in a century. They could probably catch anything that crossed there path. After a couple minutes of weaving about through the whirl of rainbow of feathers, Harry noticed a large silver key that had a bent wing, as if it had already been caught and stuffed roughly into the keyhole.

"That one!" he called to the other. "That big one – there – no, there – with bright wings – the feathers are all crumpled no one side."

Ron went speeding in the direction that Harry was pointing, crashed into the ceiling, and nearly fell off his broom.

"We've got to close in on it!" Harry called, not taking his eyes off the key with the damaged wing. Ron dived, Naruto rocketed upward, the key dodged them both, and Harry streaked after it. It sped towards the wall, Harry leaned forward and with a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one hand. Everyone's cheers echoed around the high chamber.

They landed quickly, and Harry ran to the door, the key struggling in his hand. He rammed it into the lock and turned – it worked. The moment the lock had clicked open, the key took flight again, looked very battered now that it had been caught twice.

"Ready?" Harry asked the other two, his hand on the door handle they nodded, he pulled the door open.

The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything at all. But as they stepped into it, light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an amazing sight. They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were the white pieces. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Naruto shivered slightly – the towering white chessman had no faces.

"Now what do we do?" Naruto asked crossing his arms.

"It's obvious isn't it?" Ron said. "We've got to play our way across the room."

"Of course we do." Naruto groan, behind the white pieces they could see another door.

"How?" Hermione asked nervously

"I think," Ron said "we're going to have to be chessmen."

He walked up to a black knight and put his hand out to touch the knight's horse. At once, the stone sprang to life. The horse pawed the ground and the knight turned his helmeted head to look down at Ron.

"Do we – er – have to join you to get across?"

The black knight nodded. Ron turned to the other two.

"This needs thinking about…" he said. "I suppose we've got to take the place of three of the black pieces…"

Naruto, Harry and Hermione stayed quiet, watching Ron think. Finally he said, "Now, don't be offended or anything, but neither of you are that good at chess -,"

"We're not offended," Harry said quickly. "Just tell us what to do."

"Well, Harry, you take the place of the bishop, and Hermione, you go next to him instead of that castle, Naruto you'll play the queen."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight," Ron said

"Why do I have to be the girl?" Naruto muttered crossing his arms

The chessmen seemed to have been listening, because at these words a knight, a bishop, and a castle turned their backs on the white pieces and walked off the board, leaving four empty squares that Ron, Naruto Harry and Hermione took.

"White always plays first in chess," Ron said, peering across the board. "Yes…look…"

A white pawn moved forward two squares. Ron started to direct the black pieces. They moved silently wherever he sent them. Harry's knees were trembling. What if they lost?

"Harry – move diagonally four squares to the right."

Their first real shock came when their other knight was taken. The white queen smashed him to the floor and dragged him off the board, where he lay quite still, facedown.

"Had to let that happen," Ron said, looking shaken. "Leaves free to take the bishop, Naruto, go on."

Every time one of their men lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of limp black players slumped along the wall. Twice, Ron only just noticed in time that Harry, Naruto and Hermione were in danger. He himself darted around the board, taking almost as many white pieces as they had lost black ones.

"We're nearly there," Ron mutter suddenly. "Let me think – let me think…"

The white queen turned her blank face toward him.

"Yes…" Ron said softly, "It's the only way… I've got to be taken."

"NO!" Harry and Hermione shouted.

"That's chess!" Ron snapped back. "You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me – that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But – ,"

"Do you what to get the Stone or not?"

"Ron -,"

"Look, if you don't hurry up, the Stone might have been taken already!"

"There's no other alternative." Naruto said

"Ready?" Ron called out his face pale but determined. "Here I go – now, don't hang around once you've won."

He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor – Hermione screamed but stayed on her square – the white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he'd been knocked out. Naruto cursed softly under his breath.

Shaking, Harry moved three spaces to the left right in front of the king. The white king took off his crown and threw it at Harry's feet. They had won. The chessmen parted and bowed, leaving the door ahead clear. With one last desperate look back at Ron, Harry and Hermione charged through the door and up the next passageway.

"What if he's -?"

"He'll be all right," Naruto said, trying to convince himself. What Ron did was stupid and very brave. Sadly enough Naruto probably would have done the same thing.

"Who do you reckon is next?" Harry asked

"We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must've put charms on the keys; McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, whatever Binn's found and Snape's…"

They had reached another door.

"All right?" Harry whispered

"Go on." Naruto answered.

Harry pushed it open. A disgusting smell filled their nostrils, making the three of them pull there clothes over their noses. Eyes watering, they saw, flat on the floor in front of them, a troll even larger then the one they had fought on Halloween, out cold with a bloody lump on its head.

"Holy crap," Naruto muttered. "That's the biggest troll I've ever seen!"

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry whispered as they stepped carefully over one of its massive legs. "Come on, I can't breath."

He pulled open the next door, the three of them hardly daring to look at what came next – but was nothing very frightening in here, just a table with seven differently shaped bottles standing out it in line.

"Snape's," Harry said. "What do we have to do?"

They stepped over the threshold, and immediately a fire sprang up behind them in the doorway. It wasn't ordinary fire either; it was purple. At the same instant, back flames shot up the doorway leading onward. They were trapped.

"Look!" Hermione seized a roll of paper lying next to the bottles. Naruto looked over her shoulder to read it:

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,

Two of us will help you, whichever you would find

One among us seven will let you move ahead,

Another will transport the drinker back instead,

Two among our number hold only nettle wine,

Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.

Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,

To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:

First, however slyly the poison tries to hide

You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;

Second, different are those who stand at either end,

But if you would move onward, either is your friend;

Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,

Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;

Fourth, the second left and the second on the right

Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.

Hermione let out a great sigh and Naruto, amazed saw that she was smiling. Naruto could practically feel his brain turning to mush.

"Brilliant," Hermione said. "This isn't magic – its logic – a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic; they'd be stuck in here forever."

"Uhhg I hate puzzles." Naruto groaned "Why don't me drink all the bottles and see which one work?"

"Don't be stupid," Hermione said absent mindedly "Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire; and one will get us back through the purple."

"But how do we know which to drink?" Naruto asked

"Give me a minute."

Hermione read the paper several times. Then she walked up and down the line of bottle, muttering to herself and pointing at them. At last, she clapped her hand.

"Got it," She said. "The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire – toward the Stone."

Harry looked at the tiny bottle, there was barley enough left for two gulps.

"There's only enough there for two of us," He said. "That's hardly one swallow."

Harry looked up at Hermione with worry. Hermione looked from Harry to Naruto.

"Which one will get you back through the purple flames?"

Hermione pointed at a round bottle at the right end of the line.

"You drink that," Harry said and cut off Hermione before she could speak. "No, listen, get back and get Ron. Grab brooms from the flying-key room, they'll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy – go straight to the Owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold Voldemort off for a while, but I'm no match for him, really."

"But Harry – what if you lose to You-Know-Who?"

"Well – I have Naruto to help me right?" Harry said pointing to Naruto, Naruto puffed up his chest and stuck out his chin. Hermione's lip trembled, and she suddenly dashed at the two boys and threw her arms around their necks.

"Hermione!"

"Harry – Naruto – you two are great wizards, you know." Harry and Naruto looked at each other confused

"I'm not as good as you," Harry said, very embarrassed, as she let go of them

"Me!" Hermione exclaimed tears rolling down his face "Books! Cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – Oh you two better be careful!"

"You drink first," Harry said. "You are sure which is which, aren't you?"

"Positive," Hermione said. She took a long drink from the round bottle at the end, and shuddered.

"It's not poison?" Naruto asked anxiously.

"NO – but it's like ice."

"Quick, go, before it wears off."

"Good luck – take care -,"

"GO!"

Hermione turned and walked straight through the purple fire.

Harry and Naruto looked at each other before staring down at the tiny bottle.

"Well… this is it." Naruto said and Harry picked up the tiny bottle.

"Yup, well cheers!"

Harry tipped the bottle and took a sip and passed it on Naruto, draining the rest of the bottle in one gulp. Strangely enough it did feel like ice flooding through his body. He put the bottle down and walked forward; he braced himself, saw the black flames his body but it didn't burn. For a moment all he could see was black flame – then he was on the other side of the next chamber. What he saw was not what he expected.

It was a small room, the ceiling only a foot over their heads. The three walls were made completely of sparkling glass with some writing of an unknown language. The walls on their right and left had tall glass coffins standing up on the wall. At a quick glance Naruto counted no less then twenty coffins. The strange thing was there was nothing inside the coffins. To Naruto's left directly next to the door was a glass podium with two pair of glasses and a long black fingerless glove. Directly across from them was another door, but there was no handle or hinges on this door just the same strange writing. Harry ran over to the door and tried to push it open but it didn't budge.

"It won't open," Harry groaned "What do we do now?"

"I'm not really sure," Naruto said looking from Harry to the podium next to him. "Maybe we have to try on these glasses."

Harry looked wearily at the pair of glasses before shrugging.

"It's worth a shot." Harry said and he walked over to the podium and picked up one of the glasses inspecting it, Naruto pick up the other. "I wonder what they're used for."

Harry put on the glasses, looked up and gasped. Naruto's head shot towards Harry who was staring ahead at one of the coffins.

"What is it?" Naruto called out, Naruto turned towards the coffin Harry was staring at and put on his glasses. What Naruto saw caused him to scream, but his scream was caught in his throat. In the coffin ahead, in all the coffins were ghosts. These were not average ghost, these were cursed malevolent spirits all looking down at the two of them with disturbed hate filled eyes, each ghost more terrifying and dangerous then the last. All of the ghosts were thrashing around inside the coffins trying to get out and attack them.

Naruto was frozen to the spot his eyes glancing over all the ghosts. Harry had walked over next Naruto without him noticing and began to shake him.

"Snap out of it Naruto, we have to find a way out of here." Harry said bring Naruto back to earth. Harry looked over at the podium and pointed at the fingerless glove. "What do you think that is for?"

Naruto shrugged and walked over and pick up the glove.

"I don't know, you think it might be some Dumbledore invention?" Naruto pondered fiddling with the glove. He then slid the glove on his left hand; it turned out it had a sleeve that could stretch all the way down to his forearm. There was a long little pocket on the glove that had enough room to fit a wand in it snuggly. Naruto looked up at Harry who shrugged. Naruto pulled out his wand and slid it into the pocket. The pocket was deep enough that the entire wand fit inside, no one would be able to tell it was there unless they took a close look. The black glove fit nicely with his outfit.

Suddenly there was a loud clanking sound and a bang from somewhere above the ceiling and the podium began to sink into the ground.

"What's going on?" Harry yelled over the clanking noise which was growing louder.

"I don't know," Naruto roared over the noise "I think it was a booby trap!"

There was another loud bang and the door at the other side of the room slid open. Without thinking twice Naruto and Harry ran through the door down a long glass hallway, until the path stopped and split off into opposite directions, one path going left the other going right.

"Which way do we go?" Harry asked.

Naruto wasn't exactly sure which way he should go. He looked left, and then looked right and felt a strange pull in his mind. His instincts were calling to him.

"Let's go right." Naruto said and he looked back at the chamber they came from. Through the glasses Naruto could see, that at the very end of the room one of the coffin lids had opened and a pale figure had walked into the room. Naruto heart nearly skipped a beat. "We have to go, now!" Naruto turned to his right and ran down the glass hallway. Harry almost looked back before following Naruto. When Naruto and Harry ran to the end of the hall they meet another fork in the path.

"What the hell is going on here?" Naruto yelled

"Naruto I think I know what this is!" Harry said and patted Naruto on his shoulder to get his attention. "I think this is a maze!"

"A maze?" Naruto whispered "So we have to find a way out of this puzzle?"

"Yeah and we'll probably have to fight those ghosts in the coffins."

Naruto shivered slightly and looked back the way they came, a strange chill was coming from the area behind them.

"Well let's get going." Naruto said and he let his instincts take over. He ran down the left hall with Harry hot on his tail. At the next fork in the road Naruto took another left and then a right. Then there was another loud bang and suddenly in front of them and a wall slid out blocking their path forward, Naruto looked behind Harry and saw another wall sliding out blocking their way back.

"What the hell is going on?" Naruto cried out. The walls on Naruto's left and right slid back revealing to new paths.

"The maze's paths must alternate periodically." Harry said shrugging

Naruto groaned "It just couldn't be easy for us could it?"

A loud raspy groan came from the end of the hall to Naruto's left. Naruto and Harry turned on the spot and through their special glasses saw a giant translucent ghost. It was as tall as Hagrid with throbbing bulging muscles that looked like it could easily snap and twelve year olds back. Luckily for them it was looking in the opposite direction. Naruto quickly began back up and tilted his head whispering to Harry.

"We've got to go quick, before he sees us!"

"Come on lets go this way." Harry said. He pulled at Naruto's collar and ran full tilt down the opposite hall. After about 20 feet they hit another intersection, two paths going left and right and one leading straight ahead. There was another loud clanking coming from the ceiling and the path to their left was blocked off as a wall slid into place.

"Which way now?" Harry questioned uneasily, his gaze was stuck staring at the door. Naruto stared down the path straight ahead of them trying to decide where to go. His nerves were completely shot and his thumping heart was getting in the way of thinking.

"Um, I think we should head down the right." Naruto said and the two of them began to jog down the small hall.

The path was long and winded around in what felt like circles. After a few minutes the two of them reached a dead end.

"Crap!" Naruto yelled stomping his feet. "I so don't want to go back the way we came."

CLANK

Just as Naruto finished talking the wall to his left and right side opened revealing brand new paths. The air around Naruto turned icy cold and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. In the hall on Naruto's right stood a skinny ghost, just about his height wrapped up in what looked to be a destroyed straight jacket. There was what looked like a small bird cage wrapped around the ghosts head and it mouth was sown shut. The fingers on the hand where replaced by long skinny knives. In a flash the ghost lashed out and Naruto barley had time to raise his right hand to block. Naruto could feel the knives slicing through his sleeve and cutting his skin.

"GAhhh!" Naruto yelled out as he back pedaled into Harry. Naruto grabbed his arm and could feel his warm blood spilling from the wound. Naruto took a quick glance down the hall they just came from and saw the hulking ghost coming towards them. "RUN!"

Harry and Naruto turned and sprinted down the path behind them trying to get away as fast as they could. Naruto never looked back as they hit a right hand turn and continued running. All too soon they hit a dead in. Naruto pressed himself against the wall trying to force it to move. No dice. Naruto and Harry turned and faced the path they came to see three ghosts turning the corner and gliding quietly towards them. As they drew closer Naruto and Harry pressed their back harder against the wall.

"What are we going to do?" Harry muttered under his breath not taking his eyes off of the ghosts.

"W-w-well we could run passed them if they get too close." Naruto answered as he grasped his wound willing the bleeding to stop.

"Can't we hit them with a hex or something?" Harry asked starting to run out of solutions

"What, have you ever tried to hex any of the ghosts back in school?" Naruto asked shifting his eyes towards Harry.

"Well no, why?"

"It doesn't work."

The ghosts were close now, only twenty feet away and closing in. Naruto was freaking out now, his lungs hurt from the cold air; he could hear every thump of his heart roaring in his ears. The ghosts were only ten feet away now, and Naruto could see the glowing bloodshot eye of the mad ghosts.

CLANK

Quite suddenly a wall slide out directly in front of the ghosts closing Harry and Naruto into a small room. Both Naruto and Harry slide down the wall sighing out a breath of relief.

"Oh man that was close." Naruto said laughing lightly. Harry looked over to his companion and his eyes were instantly drawn to the crimson liquid coating his arms and hands.

"Naruto, you're bleeding!" Harry exclaimed pointing at his arm, Naruto just looked down at it dumbly.

"Oh this? Nah it's no bleeding any more, look!" Naruto folded up his right sleeve showing his blood stained skin, as he wiped away the blood perfectly fine skin showed underneath. "I heal faster then normal people; a flesh wound like this isn't dangerous to me."

"Well that one problem solved, now how are we going to get out of here alive?" Harry asked and Naruto got up and started pacing in the small space.

"Well this maze is made out of glass right? Maybe we could just break our way through!" With a look of hard determination Naruto reared back his leg ready to kick. Harry put up a hand to try and get Naruto's attention.

"Um Naruto I don't think that's such a good -,"

BANG

"OUCH SONAVABITCH!" Naruto yelled out holding his foot in pain.

"- idea…" Harry finished.

"What the hell are these things made out of diamond?" Naruto growled massaging his foot. Harry stood up inspecting the wall.

"No I don't think so, its probably enchanted glass and these writings might be a spell that makes it impenetrable even by ghost. I'm not exactly sure how it so strong though. With we are goin to survive this we nee to come up with a plan that does not involve breaking stuff."

Naruto hobbled over to Harry still grimacing over the pain.

"Well what do we know? We that they're ghost so that means that none of my weapons will work on them and I doubt if I know any spells that can help us. The problem is they can hurt us if they want to." Naruto sighed and sat back down on the ground.

"But what about the stuff we got off the podium?" Harry asked pointing at the silver glasses on his face "These have helped us see the ghost, hasn't it? But we don't know what that glove does. Maybe the glove will help us fight back!"

Naruto inspected glove on his hand with new found interest, and he found on the tip of each finger was very small grey writing.

"Hmm you might have some thing there Harry," Naruto said flexing the glove. "Maybe I can actually hit the ghosts back!" Naruto threw some lazy punches and dodged as if he was fighting someone. Harry watched Naruto shadow box and his eyes moved from the glove to the sword strapped on Naruto's back. He inspected the intricate design on the swords hilt and noticed something very familiar.

"Hey Naruto," Harry said and Naruto instantly stopped punching to look over at him.

"Yeah?"

"Come over here, I have something to show you."

As Naruto strode over to Harry who was signaling him to turn around, when he was close Harry slowly slide Naruto's blade out of its sheath and showed it to him.

"Look at this," Harry said pointing at the symbol on the hilt. "Doesn't this look familiar?"

On the hilt was a letter that looked very familiar to the ones on the wall, it was a capitalized J attached with what looked like an O. Strangely enough the blade was glowing a light blue and along the edge of the sword symbols had appeared along the blade also very similar to the others on the walls.

"Naruto," Harry muttered "Where on earth did you get this."

"We-well I got it from Dumbledore as a Christmas present." Naruto said lowly his eyes glued on the glowing blade. "But it never glows like this; nor have these letter ever shown up before. I don't know what's going on."

"Dumbledore?" Harry looked up at Naruto trying to figure out what Dumbledore had to do in the equation. "So, Dumbledore must have giving this to you to fight the ghosts!"

"But he gave it to me so long ago, and how was he supposed to know I would be in this situation in the first place?"

"I have no idea. Maybe Hagrid tipped him off that we were on the case. Maybe Dumbledore can read minds! Whatever it is it doesn't matter because we have this sword to help us and that's all that matters." Harry handed the sword back to Naruto. Naruto handled his sword so gently it looked as though the sword might break; he gazed down at the sword in wonder taking in every detail from the glowing blade to the designs on the hilt and fully understanding its power. And for once Naruto truly appreciated the gift Dumbledore had sent him.

"This is so sick." Naruto muttered under his breath as he grasped the handle tighter in his hand. And slowly a sly grin spread across, a glint shined in his eyes as he spun the blade in his hand. "You know what this means Harry?"

Harry eyed Naruto curiously with an eyebrow raised. "Dumbledore gives strange presents?"

"Nah, it means we have to go out and kick some dumb ghost a-," Naruto was cut off as another loud clank sounded from somewhere above the ceiling and the wall right behind Naruto slid open revealing a new path.

Icy cold air shot up Naruto's spine making the hair on the back of his neck stand again. Naruto's breath rose in a white mist as the sudden cold enveloped the room chilling Naruto to the bone. Harry's face was pale as a sheet of paper and he was hugging himself trying to stay as warm as possible. Naruto felt a large ominous malevolent presence hanging in the air behind him seeping into his system making his heart race, his breathing slowly becoming ragged. Naruto was too afraid to look behind him but he couldn't sit there and wait it out, who knew when the next cycle would hit their room. Naruto slowly spun around his sword out in front of him and his eyes fell upon a long dark passageway, There was no one in the passageway though , no ghosts or ghouls or crazy snake like men in a black cloaks gliding along the floor, But Naruto could sense somebody was out there waiting, watching. The passageway was giving off that eerie feeling that something or someone was watching you right outside your line of sight waiting to strike when you least expect it. Naruto's courage was slipping away, his smirk was completely gone and the sword was hanging uselessly by his side glowing even brighter then before.

Quite suddenly Naruto felt a hand on his right shoulder and looked over and saw Harry standing there. His face was pale and he was shaking slightly from the cold but his eyes burned with a determination to get out of this maze, and live to see another day… and maybe get to the Sorcerer's Stone. Harry opened his mouth to speak and his voice cracked a bit.

"N-Naruto we have to go, w-we can't stay here much longer, they'll find us!"

"R-right." Naruto muttered as the both of them slowly took a step forward. They slowly crept down the hall constantly looking around for an attack, but nothing happened.

"We should probably go faster." Harry whispered and he pushed Naruto lightly to urge him forward. Naruto simply nodded and began jogging down the hall Harry close on his tail.

"This is strange," Harry muttered "This cold – it feels like there are ghosts all around us but we haven't been attacked at all." Right when Harry finished his sentence then another long clank could be heard and the sound of a wall sliding open came from behind them. They turned on the spot their eye focusing on the entrance to the new hall. But nothing came out. Harry and Naruto let out a long sigh in relief. But they froze almost automatically as a burst of cold air hit them; they looked back at the opening and saw a ghost glide into the hall behind them. And then another, and another and before Naruto knew it there were seven ghost gliding towards them.

"RUN!" Harry yelled and the two bolted down the hall not daring to look back.

There were two more loud bangs and the sound of doors sliding open echoed off the walls. The path twisted to the left and on the other side of the turn stood the hulking ghost, its lopsided grin leering down at them. Naruto pushed harry behind him as he raised his left fist. This was a perfect time to see if the glove really did work against these ghosts. As the ghost took a step forward Naruto threw caution to the wind and threw a hard punch at the ghost's stomach.

It connected. The look of surprise that was etched on the ghost's was almost comical as Naruto's fist crashed into its sternum and the hulking monster began to fall back. Quick as a flash Naruto brought his blade down slicing through the ghost. Naruto had tensed a little bit expecting there to be some resistance, but the blade cut through the ghost as if it was butter. The ghost's imagine split in half then burst into glowing blue particles.

"Holy cow." Harry muttered as he watched the ghost disintegrate into nothing.

Naruto didn't reply, he was already off down the hall and Harry had to run to catch up with him.

"We can't fall behind." Naruto grunted as they ran down the hall "I don't want those ghosts catching up with us. I can take them on one a time, but it gets tough once they start surrounding you."

They continued down the passageway for more then ten minutes, the path twisting left and right randomly. Every once in a while Harry would look behind them to see the coast is clear. Harry might not see the ghosts, but he could definitely feel them coming.

AS they took the next left Naruto suddenly halted causing Harry to crash right into his back.

"Hey what's wrong, why did we stop?"

"Look ahead of us."

Harry looked over Naruto's right shoulder and nearly gasped. At the end of a very long hall was a large wooden door with what looked to be a silver handle and was slightly ajar. Harry's spirits skyrocketed.

The next moment many things happened at once. A loud clanking was heard from above and about four feet away a wall on the right side slid open letting in a freezing cold breeze. There was a hissing sound behind Harry and he spun around to see the wall directly behind him opened up revealing about four ghosts cramped in the little hall. Out of the corner of Harry's eyes you could also see ghost piling out from the hall they just came from.

They were surrounded.

"Na-Naruto!" Harry whispered shivering uncontrollably as the temperature around them dropped easily below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Naruto roughly grabbed Harry by his collar and shoved him towards the door and he jogged past the open hall door just as ghost began filing in. Harry looked back at Naruto to see the ghost slowly surrounding him. "NARUTO!" Harry called out.

"Run, Harry!" Naruto barked out, his was spinning around trying to keep the ghosts in his line of sight. "Run to the door Harry, I'll catch up!" Harry didn't run to the door right away but he slowly backed up making sure Naruto didn't get hurt.

One of the ghosts that were between the two boys lunged at Naruto arms out. Naruto ducked the arms and slashed ghost across the chest with his sword. The ghosts image shimmered for a second then exploded in a glowing blue fragments. Naruto lunged for the next ghost but something wrapped around his foot and tripped him, Naruto spun midair and his sword sliced through the face of a ghost that was looming behind him. Naruto hit the ground hard and in seconds the ghosts were upon him slashing at his clothes and reaching for his face.

Harry was almost to the door but as he watched Naruto fall to the ground he started running back towards him. "Naruto!"

Naruto looked up to see Harry running back to him. "Noo." Naruto moaned out as he slashed at the ghost causing them to fall back. Naruto struggled to his feet but the cold was freezing his joints making it hard to move. Harry was twenty feet away and the ghosts were surrounding Naruto again.

Harry was ten feet away when-

CLANK

A wall slid out right in front of Harry blocking Naruto exit to the door. Naruto stared as his one hope for freedom closed shut entrapping him in this maze. Naruto could faintly hear Harry yelling out his name on the other side of the wall. Claws ripped at Naruto back slashing through his clothes and skin and fist the size of a sledgehammer slammed into his head. Naruto collapsed on the ground feeling the cold touch of these monsters reach and tear at him.

The sword in Naruto's hand began glowing brighter and bright and began to shake violently in his hand.

Naruto gave a feeble swipe with his gloved fist, he felt it connect with one them but that didn't slow down the assault. He felt a clawed hand pull at his hood and warm blood began seeping from his back down to his front.

The sword was blindingly bright now and it was almost impossible to hold in his hands. Naruto could feel the sword drawing upon it chakra. The shaking was almost too much for him when –

BOOOM

The sword let loose a giant shockwave of power, blue energy exploded from the sword and smashed into the ghost destroying them on contact. The ground shook and the walls vibrated, the energy smashed into Naruto and he flew back and crashing into on of the glass walls behind him, his head hitting it with a loud THUNK. Pain exploded in Naruto's head as his vision was blurred by fireworks and white fire. His whole body was screaming in pain, it was unbearable. It was too much, Naruto fell forward his head hitting the cold floor his nose smashed. Blood splatter his face as his vision darkened.

Seconds later Naruto knew no more.

T.B.C

A/N well there it is! My birthday was last friday so this is my late b-day present to my viewers hope you enjoyed it. now i know that there will probably be alot of questions rising up, feel freee to ask but next chapter will probably answer all the question that you got from this chapter. Now i would like you to now REVEIW *GASP* yes that dreaded word, reveiw leave a comment your fave quote what ever! let me see what you think. Until next time

Grembari out