Chapter 4: Same Old Rough Starts 1/4

Disclaimer: I do not own either Harry Potter (rightfully owned by J.K Rowling) or Naruto (rightfully owned by Masashi Kishimoto) nor do I make any money out of this fiction. I will also add that any sections or phrases in this chapter that bear resemblance to works by either author or from movies based on works of said authors is recreated in the same spirit of free usage and is not for profit.

A/N: Sorry for the delay in this chapter. I have just completed Masters degree so my time (not otherwise spent job hunting) is freed up for writing again.

Ironically, the way I know I have become a semi-dependable updater lately is the renewal of people surprised or upset by my lack of new chapters for a couple months. It's nice really. Been mentioned once or twice in reviews but I never actually stopped writing Silent Humanity, I just took a year to finish writing a chapter. Amounts to the same thing materially for the readers but I never lost interest fully.

More art has been uploaded, including an extraordinary one of Moony, Padfoot and Bandit in the forest together from last chapter, by my generous artistic benefactor, Spiral of Destiny. Follow the second link on my profile to see it.

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(Last Time)

Sirius sat in his chair and dropped his car keys on the table next to him. Remus was due back tomorrow morning after he had settled some unspecified business, but until then Sirius would have to sit in his silent house alone.

Reaching over to the same side table, he picked up a new photo that had been delivered while he was out, already set in an ornate silver frame. He would send Gaara and Harry copies tomorrow in the morning post. For now, he simply wanted to appreciate the picture.

Harry was stood in front of him and Gaara was in front of Remus, nearly five inches shorter than Harry next to him. It was a moving/wizarding picture and it showed Sirius running into the frame, them all trying to stay still, and then Sirius' hand darting behind Gaara's head to give him bunny ears. Everyone but Gaara smiling as the flash went off, the light reflecting off the three pairs of damp eyes.

Sirius lost track of time as he admired the scene playing out on repeat.

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Gaara might not have liked most forms of magical transportation but when they took inspiration from their more sensible muggle cousins, there was the possibility they might actually make something safe to use. Case in point: the train that he was currently riding in that was showing him the entire length of Great Britain and did not necessitate him flying the entire, exhausting, five-hundred mile journey under his own power.

Luna watched Gaara as he watched the scenery pass by; he had not changed at all this summer, as far as she could see. Whereas Draco, on the other hand, who was sat next to her, looked tired and thin and he had been limping.

"Draco, why were you limping?" She asked out of nowhere.

Draco panicked suddenly, looking at both Luna and Gaara across from him, and tried to come up with a convincing excuse. "I, um, well, I ate my breakfast too quickly and it's given me a terrible stitch in my side."

He intently observed their faces, Gaara's especially, and took the stoic, non-expression on the redhead's as a good sign that he found it uninteresting and thus true. Luna did not have much of an expression either, which could have meant anything. Draco didn't much care what she thought so long as she didn't go sharing any theories with Gaara.

At that moment, as had happened a dozen times since they sat down together, Gaara jumped to his feet to hold the compartment door shut when someone tried to open it and join them. It was selfish but most of the teens in the compartment were indeed rather selfish, at least to the extent that they didn't want their reunion to be interrupted by a stranger. Gaara was particularly opposed to their entrances since he had been on the receiving end of so much attention on the platform and in the train already.

When the attempted intruder gave up and walked further down the train, Gaara returned to his seat and continued watching the scenery. Across the roaming fields and rivers, Gaara really did quite like the countryside here. It was just a shame about the weather, changing between sunshine and downpours four or five times between London and the Scottish Highlands.

They had all seen each other multiple times over the holidays and yet they were not entirely lacking in topics on which to catch up. Of course, Draco cared little about Luna's comings and goings and Luna was much more interested in Gaara's activities, as dry and dull as they were, than Draco's comparatively busy schedule. Gaara would have been happy to sit in companionable silence and enjoy the view.

"I am looking forward to seeing your progress." Luna said.

"I still can't believe you managed it so quickly. Honestly, I half expected it to all go horribly wrong and you to end up stuck halfway between forms. Animagus magic is rather tricky, I've heard." Draco smirked.

"I think Gaara would look dashing with a big bushy tail." Luna said, retreating into her daydreams briefly.

"You would." Draco snarked. Really, couldn't Gaara have found a more normal friend, even from the (thus far) mysterious (to him) opposite sex?

"So when can you show us your transformation?" Luna asked, checking that the compartment blinds were still drawn in case the demonstration was to come immediately.

"Not yet. I am still finishing my training." Gaara said.

Neither Draco nor Luna were able to determine with any surety whether Gaara was lying or not when he said he was not able to show them. They both suspected, as they often did, that Gaara was lying to them.

They all lapsed into a pleasant peace for a precious few minutes before Draco nervously broke the silence again, "Something's happening at the school this year…" He started.

"Things do tend to happen at school." Luna agreed.

Draco scowled at her interruption, or her manner, never sure if she was mocking him or not. "Not just anything. My father told me he has been hearing things recently. Whispers in the Ministry; secrets and the like." When Luna's eye shot wide and she looked like she was about to say something, he cut back in, "No, none of your ridiculous theories. He couldn't find out what's going on exactly but he said that the Minister himself is planning something."

"Your father doesn't know?" Gaara asked.

Draco blushed a little, very much unused to saying a word against his father's omnipotence. He knew his father and the Minister had not been seeing eye to eye lately and that it was causing his parents a great deal of stress, but sharing such private details was beyond the confidence he shared with Luna and it was still best left unsaid with Gaara too. Airing dirty laundry was unbecoming.

Gaara knew he should be concerned about whatever craziness the leader of this country's magical government had in store, considering the only previous plan he knew of was posting a thousand dementors around a castle of children; however, all he wanted to do right now was watch the view and worry about Sirius and Remus. Grown men they may be but Gaara was still more concerned about their wellbeing in his absence. All the stupidity that Sirius might get himself into, all the stupidity that Sirius might drag Remus into…

Down the train in a more boisterous compartment sat the Golden Trio and the Weasley Twins, two of Hogwarts most troublesome Gryffindor groups (currently).

"Did you try asking Sirius or Professor Lupin about it?" Ron asked.

"No, I told Gaara I would leave him alone for a while, at least until I catch him up to something and I meant it." Harry said.

"But at least we know there is something to find out now." Hermione added. "I'm with Harry, I think we should wait and see."

"He's definitely up to no good, I can tell you that much, but we might as well wait until he slips up. Not like we've managed to find much out this past year anyway." Ron said.

"We both think you're obsessed with him, don't we, Fred?" Said Fred.

"That we do, George. Gaara is an upstanding gentleman or impeccable taste." Said George.

"We're not obsessed, we're just being vigilant." Ron muttered back at his older brothers.

"I think we all need to focus on our schoolwork this year. No more distractions." Hermione said.

"Distractions like you being petrified or being attacked by dementors, you mean?" Ron jibed. Hermione huffed and Harry laughed.

While the three fourth-years began to fret over the coming academic challenges of the year, Fred and George began to quietly plan their own activities for the year. They had every intention of starting a new pranking contest with Gaara and retaking their uncontested supremacy of the school. It was a 'contest' since neither of them felt safe calling it a prank 'war'.

"I overheard my dad telling my mum about a raid this morning." Ron said after Fred and George went to find their friends, and they could talk in peace.

"This eaves-dropping is becoming a habit." Harry smirked.

Ron blushed but continued. "Some old Auror got attacked in his home."

"And your father was called? Why?" Hermione asked.

Ron had been so excited to hear that his father had been involved in something so exciting at work he didn't think to question why he had been sent with the Aurors to investigate something that had nothing whatsoever to do with the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts. "I'm not sure. Dad seemed like he knew him, the Auror bloke, so maybe he asked to go with them."

"So who attacked him? A dark wizard?" Harry asked.

"I don't think so. I'm not sure, really. I had to stop listening because Ginny was coming and she always tells on me. Whoever it was, they got away."

"Hold on, I remember reading about a supposed attack in the Prophet this morning. Apparently it was false alarm."

"Dad definitely said it happened. Had to call the Healers in for the bloke who got attacked."

"The Prophet lied?" Hermione was indignant that a trusted source of information would mislead the public like that.

"I doubt it's the first time." Harry said, thinking back to what he had read about himself in the few Wizarding History books that mentioned the end of the war and his role in it. A great many stories had been told about that night and Harry's life after it and none of them had been close.

Hermione considered this for a moment before deciding to move the conversation on. "My mother and father bought a new dental drill..."

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The train slowed to a halt in the station and already the corridor was cluttered with teens and preteens, all hustling and bustling to disembark the train. As previously, Gaara had no interest in pushing through the crowds, but clearly he was missing out on some vital factor that enthused all the other students around him. He simply didn't see the fuss.

"It's a home away from home." Luna chimed in, responding to some subtle facial expression she had apparently interpreted. Draco wondered if her ability to work out what Gaara was thinking with even more unerring accuracy than him, who spent a great deal more time with Gaara, was because of her Ravenclaw intellect or her infamous strangeness making itself known.

"Only for people who have no home worth going back." Draco said haughtily with a smirk. As usual, his snark failed to solicit a response.

When the initial bulk of the student body had pushed and shoved their way off of the train, Gaara opened the compartment door and joined the last trickle of trepidatious first years and unimpressed seventh years. Back within sight of his schoolmates, Gaara again had to endure their well-meaning thanks and flattery until Draco and Luna kindly provided interference and blocked their attempts to engage or pat him on the back.

On the heaving platform, Draco had a terrible flashback to last year when he spotted a disparate few people amongst the crowd wearing thick eyeliner, mimicking Gaara's naturally ringed eyes. They reminded him of those fanatical weirdoes last year who had been obsessed with Gaara briefly before they found a new object to harass, or maybe they had taken up a hobby. These people seemed to be wearing the makeup as a fashion statement instead, though still likely inspired by the newly celebrated Defender of Hogwarts. Luckily the wearers mostly seemed to be from Hufflepuff so there was a chance Gaara might not notice them until they had a chance to rethink their ridiculous attempts at trendsetting.

When would these Hufflepuffs learn that they were not leaders?

Draco and Gaara pushed through the crowd, ruing the day that Gaara had mysteriously become a celebrity after months of suspicion and fear (also known as the good old days), while Luna followed after them. Despite being around the same height now, Gaara was still able to force his way past people easier than her slight physique could manage.

It irked Gaara more than he would admit, more than his recent popularity, that the only group on the platform that were entirely shorter than him were the first years, though this might have been because the second years were largely dispersed.

They all took an empty carriage but had to wait for a fourth to join them for it to set off; meanwhile Draco asked about the thestrals hitched to the vehicle, curious about the invisible beasts. He was still surprised by the fact that Luna Lovegood could see them but had no polite means of finding out why that was, or rather who it had been.

An unfamiliar seventh-year Hufflepuff climbed into the carriage and they promptly set off, first having to endure his attempts to thank the miniscule hero.

"It was not a problem." Gaara told him dismissively.

They then sat in silence for the rest of the way since they didn't want to speak casually in front of a stranger, except for Luna who tried once or twice to pull one of them into a conversation, even the Hufflepuff boy. He was either too intimidated to speak candidly in front of Gaara who was definitely glaring at him, or he simply had no interest in talking with the spacey little Ravenclaw.

When they arrived and disembarked, Gaara had to skirt around the thestral bound to the carriage as he walked to the castle since his animal magnetism was still transmitting in full force. Draco watched the area that Gaara avoided and continued to ponder thestrals, especially after Luna approached the space but flinched back and followed closely after Gaara, presumably after the horse-like creature snapped at her or something. He traced the same path that Gaara had walked and they all finished their journey back to school.

"Looks like they finally decided to tidy this place up a little." Draco said cooly upon stepping into the Entry Hall.

The stones looked like they had been polished, he spotted a couple of fresh tapestries that had been taken out of storage, the suits of armour were shining like they never had before, and similarly the Great Hall was looking improved. The stones had been polished to a high shine like the Entry Hall, the banners along the walls had been replaced by fine silk versions, and it even looked like the ancient tables and benches had been replaced by new furniture. The old, heavily worn tables that bore hundreds of carved initials and thousands of marks and dents had been swapped for pristine new ones.

For all the trouble it would be for a witch or wizard to magically repair or replace such simple items, those tables had been around for hundreds of years. The benches had been cast aside in favour of individual high-backed chairs, presumably precisely enough for the number of incoming students.

Gaara could hear people marvelling at how expensive all of this must have been, but reactions to the new seats divided opinion. The Ravenclaws and the Slytherins mostly liked them because they were more dignified and offered greater personal space, whereas the Gryffindors and particularly the Hufflepuffs weren't such fans, having always enjoyed the informality and closeness the benches allowed.

Ron summed up his entire House's opinion when he said, "Looks a bit pompous to me."

The Slytherins promptly began vying for the best seats, collectively believing that the possibility that these would remain their assigned seats for the coming year was too important to leave up to chance. Draco pulled Gaara along with the eager Slytherins, not bothering to bid Luna adieu as she wandered over to her own more orderly House. She was less a pariah than in previous years, she observed, likely because of her apparent association with Gaara, Defender of Hogwarts. This reduced hostility did not extend itself to talking or friendliness, but fewer people were snickering at her and she had not 'tripped' once this evening.

McGonagall, who was waiting for the first years to arrive, believed this was the most prolonged seating the school had seen in all of her years working there. She could still hear squabbles breaking out and the scraping of chairs on stone through the door after it was closed and the new students were entering the castle with Hagrid.

Gaara was definitely in favour of the new arrangement, having always had difficulties with the benches and how close they necessitated sitting to another person. Here there were armrests to maintain correct distance.

The cutlery had also been replaced with silverware, which Draco loudly suspected would last a lot longer on their table than any other that sat a Weasley. Gaara picked up the heavy, ornate knife and wished chopsticks were more prevalent here.

The student body continued to chatter away about the aesthetic improvements to the school and about the opening of the school year. The professors entered from the back entrance and took their places by the head table and Draco observed that some of the staff were sporting new robes, presumably to match the renovated décor, though it was notable that Snape had failed to change for the occasion, his hair just as greasy and his robes just as moth-ridden.

While Draco was preoccupied with the teachers' fashions and Gaara was wondering if he could get away with leaving if he did it before the year's commencement ceremony started, a number of other (more observant) people noticed the range of expressions on the typically excited staff members' faces.

Most of them appeared to be solemn, at best, with McGonagall enjoying the privacy in the Entry Hall to showcase her more openly murderous expression while her colleagues in view of the children had to keep theirs trained. Snape was looking less contemptuous than usual and more concerned or thoughtful, and even Hagrid and Dumbledore were struggling to smile.

When word spread and everyone took notice, minus a couple oblivious exceptions, talking lulled and in the silence Dumbledore stood to start proceedings while Minerva prepared the newest students.

"Good evening and welcome, one and all, to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As many of you will have noticed, the castle has seen a few small changes since you last saw it. While most will celebrate the improvements, please know this: Hogwarts has stood a thousand years against the tests of time and conquest, and it has always held true the tenets of its illustrious founders. No matter what may outwardly change, nor what troubles might present themselves to its attendees, as surely as the stones hold strong, so do the beliefs that make this school thrive."

The students had watched this grim speech silently and did not know what to do when it appeared to be over. It certainly did not seem to call for applause or cheers, instead it felt like they should stay very quiet and look scared.

"As fond as I am of dramatic speeches, I am afraid there is not time for more. It is time for the next year to join us here, into each of their and your Houses. Please, in the trials to come, help those younger and less powerful than yourselves to learn and grow."

With those yet more ominous words, he waved his wand and the giant wooden doors creaked open, admitting McGonagall with her procession of eleven-year olds in tow. They could instinctually gauge the atmosphere in the Hall and were appropriately intimidated, beyond what was normally experienced by the incoming year as they were faced with hundreds of older students.

Harry blocked out Hermione's muttering regarding Dumbledore's warning and gazed at the new students, wondering if there would be anyone interesting joining Gryffindor this year. He did notice that one of the new boys was soaking wet, drenched from head to toe, and he overheard Colin Creevey bemoaning his idiot little brother who must have fallen in the lake.

"Watch out for that one." Ron said, gesturing towards one of the girls straggling at the back of the queue. She looked rather unremarkable but Ron said, "She's my second-cousin, I think, maybe once removed? On mum's side. Anyway, she's horrible. Think of a little girly Malfoy and that's her. Completely rotten, Mafalda is."

Harry resisted the urge to assert that Malfoy was already girly as McGonagall had gone to retrieve the Sorting Hat and he, like everybody else in the Hall that had witnessed last year's Sorting, was very interested to see the state it was in.

"The Hat is looking rather well considering what happened last year." Professor Sinistra said, leaning over to Dumbledore's side.

"Such reactions aren't entirely unheard of. I confess, I spent a little of my precious free time researching similar Sortings after last year's eventful opening. It is rare, but young Gaara's unusual reaction was nothing to be truly concerned over." Albus whispered back.

Truth be told, his research had indicated the opposite of what he had just told his trusted colleague. The only two records he could find in his predecessors' journals that detailed anything similar to what had transpired with Gaara had been caused by two wizards one should not like to be grouped with: Morgaine le Fay and Mercurious the Dark, from the 16th Century. It was likely that it had happened at other times and had simply not been written down or the records had been destroyed. Albus tried not to read too deeply into the fact that two of the worst Dark Lords in Britain's history had elicited the same reaction as whatever was inside of Gaara's mind. Talking to the Hat had achieved nothing, nor had re-examining his memories of Tom's unremarkable Sorting.

"Have any of you seen the House ghosts or Peeves since we arrived?" Hermione asked.

"They're probably off somewhere celebrating one of their deaths or something." Ron said.

"Shh, they're about to start the Sorting." Harry said. He loved listening to the Sorting Hat's song every year, though he could rarely make heads or tails of what it was talking about. Maybe he should consult a Ravenclaw or Hermione about it later.

Colin looked mortified when his brother squelched up to the stool and left it soaking wet after being swiftly sorted into Gryffindor. Ron was the only Gryffindor to cheer for a Slytherin's Sorting when his reviled cousin was sent away from his House.

"The night is wearing on and there is still much to be done and said. Before we may enjoy our wonderful feast, I must make a few short announcements. Firstly, following the departure of Professor Lupin for personal reasons, a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher will be joining us. He seems to be running a bit late but do not let that fool any of you. Alastor Moody is not a man to be trifled with, he is perhaps the most qualified man in the country to further the education of some and commence the educations of others."

Draco had turned so pale that his skin was closing in on Gaara's porcelain complexion, and while the headmaster reiterated the standard warnings and updated rules, Draco explained to Gaara what had him so spooked. He told him of the paranoid, persecutory, prejudiced, crazy old man who fought in the last war and seemed to still be fighting, especially against families like Draco's. Gaara was interested to meet such a hardened warrior in this world.

The third announcement was given with a delay of reluctance that became clear once the headmaster began speaking again. "And lastly, I am saddened to inform you that this year there will be no inter-house Quidditch season."

Before he could continue, the student body were up in arms, shouting their complaints and gesticulating wildly as if Dumbledore had instead announced the creation of a class on Torturing Muggles (which probably would not have caused such uproar with the Slytherins as the lack of Quidditch did). The main question shouted was why it was being cancelled, but Dumbledore quietly waited until the children settled down before he continued.

"I understand many of you are upset, and I share much of your disappointment, but I assure you the reason for this temporary change will become clear after we have all had our dinner."

"I don't think they will be satisfied with just those words." Minerva muttered behind her hand.

"I imagine not, but beyond all of our many other duties, our first priority should be to impart the truth to our pupils. Despite beliefs to the contrary, I have never been much one for subtle words. Better one fretful meal than allowing one in my position to spread lies."Albus replied before signalling the start of the meal.

As the feast appeared and the chatter started up again, Minerva smiled and picked up her cutlery, continuing to talk under her breath, "A century after your Sorting and you're every bit the Gryffindor you ever were."

Gaara enjoyed his meal in silence, ignoring the angry and fearful whispers about how last time the Quidditch was cancelled was because of the opening of Chamber of Secrets, and how the siege by Sirius Black had not put a stop to their cherished sport. So either it shouldn't have been cancelled, or if it had to be, then whatever reason there was had to be serious. Deadly serious.

Gaara was quietly glad that he wouldn't be forced to sit through any more of Draco's games this year.

Midway through the meal, just as Draco was spooning a few extra potatoes onto his and Gaara's plates, the main doors burst open, allowing entry for a crippled, scarred old man who caused Draco's appetite to disappear entirely. Gaara watched the one-legged, one-eyed man hobble through the Great Hall to the head table and tried to work out whether he should be impressed by the battle-scars or disappointed by the remnants of one of the only warriors he had found in this world.

He was surely knowledgeable but Gaara doubted the man would be able to teach them much in the way of practical combat. Certainly would not be able to demonstrate much beyond stationary spellcasting.

All in all, rather disappointing.

That said, when the crippled man wobbled close to where Draco and he were sitting, he spotted a few fresh scars on the already heavily damaged face. Draco had totally frozen by the time the false eye span around to stare at him and Gaara for a few seconds.

Moody approached the staff table at the head of the room and greeted Dumbledore and McGonagall shortly before hobbling over to the empty seat and sloppily eating whatever was in reach, spilling almost as much Butterbeer as he consumed. Clearly the students were all interested in their new DADA professor but Dumbledore made no move to re-introduce him and Moody didn't appear to be paying the Hall any attention at all, unless one looked closely enough to see his fake eye darting around and watching them all.

As far away as he way, even Gaara did not realise he was being intently observed for the most part, although he did get a cold shiver every now and then.

Once dinner had been done and the last of the deserts had been licked out of bowls, Dumbledore stood again, this time walking around the table to stand at the podium once more. He nodded to Hagrid and Snape and they sullenly rose to their feet and walked down the Hall to the doors.

"Now that we have all eaten, I have been asked to allow a special presentation to be held here tonight." With that short prelude, he stood back from the podium and signalled for Hagrid and Snape to open the doors again, this time admitting two dozen reporters from various British wizarding papers as well as international outlets, all clamouring to stand at the front of the Hall, with a few exceptions running over to harass students. One or two ran straight for Harry Potter, resident celebrity student, to ask if he knew what was happening, what he thought about it, how he was coping, et cetera.

He response was, "Uhh…"

Dumbledore noticed the number of reporters trying to bother the children so he clapped his hands loudly enough to gather everyone's attention. "If you would all please gather around the front."

The back door opened after the impatient reporters were huddled around the podium, revealing the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, along with two other Ministry notables, Bartemius Crouch and Ludo Bagman, and a handful of Aurors and assistants. The Ministry officials swarmed out of the back entrance and gathered loosely behind the Minister as he took his position at the podium, waiting as a terrified secretary affixed a microphone to the school furniture all while the reporters went wild over the surprise press conference, having expected this to be a simple school affair they were ordered to attend.

When the task was done, Fudge cleared his throat and began to speak. "Good evening to all the students and professors of our fine Hogwarts, and to everyone listening in across Great Britain. I am interrupting your regularly scheduled programmes to bring you an important announcement from your Ministry of Magic which concerns every man woman and child within our society. Our school, the crowning jewel of European magical education, is to play host to an event that will strengthen our international ties and reaffirm Britain's position within the magical world as a beacon of power and stability.