Ratell: First off, I have to say sorry to all those who’ve been waiting for the next chapter to my other two stories, but I just couldn’t help posting this one! I’ve had so many ideas for this one, and I’ve not even come close to running out! Yeah, I promise to post in the others, never fear, but I couldn’t help with this one! Second, I had originally planned on this being about Harry’s children- Lily, James, and Albus- and Ron and Hermione’s- Rosie and Hugo but I just wanted to have Dumbledore in so much, I couldn’t resist making it this way!

Aqua: I can’t think of anything to say right now.

Ratell: Then why did you just speak?

Aqua: Because I wanted to say something, and that was all that I could think of saying.

Griffin: Then you did think of something to say.

Aqua: Whatever.

Ratell: Another thing. I changed things somewhat from the book, but not too much. Some small, some large things, like that Angelina is Quidditch Captain, and that the three wizards stayed at 4 Grimmald Place.

Aqua: Plus you change the total plot of the story!

Ratell: Oh shut up.

Griffin: She had to, so that the shinobi could even get to Hogwarts!

Ratell: Let’s just get on with this story!

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Chapter One- The Letter

Sakura sighed as she stared out the window of her second story bedroom. She couldn’t believe it had been a year since Sasuke had returned; it seemed like much less then that. They and Naruto had spent much-missed time together, talking almost every day.

Even though it was three o’clock in the afternoon, she was feeling pretty tired; a vigorous workout such as the one she’d gotten sparring with Hinata earlier that day was enough to make anyone tired. Also, she’d had a busy day at the hospital.

Sakura leaned forward out the open window, feeling the breeze brush her hair out of her face. Sasuke and Naruto had recently taken it upon themselves to try to convince her to grow her hair out again, but she had gotten so used to short hair that she didn’t have any intention to. It was much easier to take care of, and she could keep it out of her face when she worked more easily. Besides, she just liked it.

All of a sudden there was a hoot from above her. Sakura blinked at the sound and looked up to see if she could spot it. To her surprise, a Sooty Owl, its grey and black feathers ruffled, was sitting on the pipe above her. It blinked down at her.

What the- what on earth is an owl doing here in the day? She thought, twisting around to get a better view. Come to that, what is an owl doing here in the village? I’ve never seen one here…

The owl hooted again and took off. It surprised her again by swooping around and landing on the sill beside her. In its beak was a letter made of parchment. Sakura could just barely make out the green letters on the front.

“Is this- for me?” Sakura asked the owl. Wait, what am I doing talking to an owl?! It can’t understa-

She broke off the thought, because it appeared that the owl was nodding to her. Sakura tried to look at it more closely, but didn’t get the chance to, because it suddenly dropped the envelope and took off, hooting.

Sakura picked up the envelope and read the front. It said:

Miss Haruno Sakura

The Northwest Window

The Second Floor

142 West Street

Konoha

The Land of Fire

If they went to the trouble of putting The Northwest Window and The Second Floor, then I probably should open it, she thought. But who sends mail by owls? Well, okay, Shoushu sends important messages by bird, but…

She shrugged and opened the wax seal, which had an interesting design- a capital H with some animals surrounding it- and pulled out another piece of parchment. She shook the letter open and read it:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chief Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Haruno,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for this year. You and several of the other Konoha shinobi your age will be traveling to Hogwarts this July to begin your training. You will be studying with the fifth years, so will need to learn quickly to catch up with them, but we think that you can handle it.

You will be arriving by train, which will leave on 4th August, in three weeks. The school will pay for your supplies, which will include potions ingredients, books, robes, cauldrons, and of course, wand.

Your train will be leaving from Platform 9 ¾ at eleven o’clock. You will be given a tour of Hogwarts upon arrival. Term will not start until 1st September, so you will have some time to get used to the change of pace and scenery.

We have already spoken with the current Hokage, Tsunade. She is calling this an “extended mission”, but is giving you the choice to come or not to come. She requests that you think about this decision for the rest of the day and night, and come to her office by tomorrow, 15th July, with your answer.

Please write your reply on the back of this letter and send it to us by return owl when you have decided. I will be waiting to hear from you. Remember, if you decline, you will be throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

“If this is all real, and not a big hoax,” muttered Sakura, rereading the letter, “then why are they making a big deal about telling me that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but are at the same time reminding me that it’s all up to me? Sounds kinda fishy to me…”

She put the envelope down and sat down on her bed. “And how could they have gotten the date right? It seems as though they really planned this out. And what do they mean, return owl? This one took-“ She broke off, for the owl hadn’t left, but remained sitting outside her window, watching her. Now that was creepy. The owl seemed to be looking right into her.

“HEY, SAKURA! GUESS WHAT!!” The shout came from outside her window, causing her to jump. Naruto… she thought. What is it now?

Sakura walked to the window and leaned out, to see the said person waving up at her from below. She grinned and waved back.

“What’s up, Naruto? No, don’t shout!” she said hurriedly, seeing him take a deep breath. “Come up here and tell me face-to-face!”

Naruto nodded and, instead of taking the stairs like she’d expected, jumped onto the wall and ran up it, leaping in through the window. Sakura had to step aside for him to get in. She smiled and shook her head at his antics.

“Too impatient to take the stairs?” she said, shaking her head. Naruto grinned and nodded.

“I have something I want to tell you!” he began, but she cut him off.

“Let me guess. You got a letter saying that you’ve ‘been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’, correct?” Sakura said with a twinkle in her eye. Naruto gaped.

“How did you know?”

“Because I got one too, baka,” she said, holding hers up. Naruto stared at it a second, then grinned.

“I should have guessed!” he laughed. “They’re getting out team together again! That means Sasuke has got one, too!”

Sakura’s heart leapt at the notion. “You’re right, I bet he did! Now, who else do you think got one of these?” I’m starting to accept this, despite my doubts and cynicism, Sakura thought, mentally shaking her head.

Naruto though about it a moment. “Well, I bet that Shikamaru got one- he’s so smart. I hope Hinata got one, and if she did, Neji certainly did, ‘cause he has to go with her.”

“I doubt that there are any more then that who got one,” Sakura stated. “It’s highly unlikely that anyone much older or younger will have been accepted. I would guess these ‘fifth years’ are about fifteen or sixteen. We could be older then them, so it’s that reason that tells me there might be younger chuunin and possibly genin, but no one older. That means no jounin, except perhaps Neji.”

“What, no help?” Naruto whined. Sakura laughed and smacked him on the head. He rubbed the place and grinned ruefully.

“So, have we both decided that we are going?” he asked her. Sakura nodded. Better to take my chances now.

“Then let’s go to Baa-chan’s office!” He hopped out the window, and Sakura was about to follow, before she remembered something.

“Wait a second Naruto, we have to send our reply!” Naruto also paused and nodded. Sakura grabbed a pen from her desk and scribbled a short letter of acceptance on the back of the parchment. Naruto borrowed the pen and wrote his own acceptance on his letter, and they sent it by the same owl. Then they took off for the Hokage’s.

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Upon arriving at her office, they found Shizune waiting outside for them. Sakura greeted her, and the woman told them that Tsunade was waiting inside for them.

“She’s in a good mood, and hasn’t been drinking, so if you’re careful she won’t yell,” Shizune said, ushering them in. Sakura grinned. Naruto shook his head.

“Even if Baa-chan was in a bad mood,” he said, scratching his head, “that wouldn’t be a problem for us, right? I mean, we’re like her favorite people!”

Sakura bonked him on the head. “Shut up, Naruto. Let’s just go in!”

Tsunade was waiting at her desk, hands folded in front of her, unusually grave. The expression on her face made Sakura and Naruto shiver slightly.

What, is this a problem or something? Sakura thought.

I hope she’s doing that to tease us, Naruto thought.

Tsunade looked at them as they stood in front of her desk. “So. I would guess that you are here because you have accepted the offer? You know which one I mean.”

Sakura and Naruto nodded. “Hai,” they said together. Tsunade smiled slightly.

“Well, then that makes things easier. I assume that you already sent the acceptance letters. You did make sure that they were polite?” Both nodded again. “Then you had better start getting ready. You are to bring only what you need, and no more. Also, you are going to be given other outfits to wear as ‘regular’ clothes, because you would look suspicious in those bright clothes.”

Naruto and Sakura glanced down at their clothes. Naruto’s black and bright orange outfit and Sakura’s red, pink, and black were definite eye catchers. They grinned ruefully at each other.

“Plus, we will have to do something about your hair, such as dyeing it black,” Tsunade began, but was interrupted by shouts of, “NO!” from both. Her lips turned up at the corners.

“Well, then I guess not. But you will look-“

“We don’t really care what we look like,” Sakura said, running her fingers through her pale pink hair. She really liked it, partly because it was so unique. Naruto liked his blonde, as well. Tsunade sighed.

“You don’t get it,” she said. “We aren’t going to make it known that you are ninjas. This whole thing will be secret from the other wizards. Only the current headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, and the Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, know about this. Not even the other teachers have a clue- unless they chose to divulge this information.”

Sakura and Naruto looked at each other, confused. Naruto spoke up. “Then, what are we going there for?”

Tsunade smiled. “You are going to learn to use magic, which is another name for chakra. Yes, I know you already know how, but the wizarding world is much, much different then ours, and they use wands instead of hand seals.”

Sakura nodded slowly. “I think I get it. But is there another reason that we are going? And why not send Shikamaru or someone else? Why us, when there are more skilled, more intelligent people?”

“Yes, there is another reason that you are going,” said Tsunade. “There is a young man you will be protecting from a distance, as well as his two friends.”

The two chuunin nodded. Sakura said, “Is there a picture of them that we may see?”

Tsunade pulled out a photograph from a drawer of her desk. Before handing it to the two she said, “Here is another way in which they are different from us- you’ll notice it immediately.”

One glance was all they needed to see what she meant. Naruto gave a low whistle, and Sakura gasped softly. “It moves! They are waving and looking around!” she said.

“That’s what I meant. They don’t enchant these pictures that I know of; that’s just what happens. The only time they have to- well, that’s a story for another time. Now, you two are not to tell ANYONE at all, even your closest friends about this mission. THIS MEANS SASUKE.” Naruto and Sakura groaned at this. Tsunade continued, “The more people that know about this, the worse. We can’t risk someone who would cause us trouble finding out. Already about five or six people know, including you, of course.”

She smiled now. “But anyway, you two need to act casual for the time being. Don’t train too hard, but don’t look suspicious. I will call you to my office the day before you leave to give you your final instructions and whatever else you might need for this. Now, you may go!” Having said this, she gave them a cheery wave and a wide smile and shooed them out of the office. Both left, feeling very confused.

They almost ran into Hinata and Neji, who were just outside the door. Hinata looked abashed, as if she’d been spying on them with her Byakuugan (even though she hadn’t). Neji was his usual impassive self.

“Hey, Hinata! What are you here for?” Naruto asked, cocking his head slightly

She smiled shyly. By now she was pretty much over her shyness, but not completely. “Uh, we’re waiting for instructions from Tsunade-sama (A/N okay, I don’t know why, but I can’t remember if anyone calls her that or not! I’ll have to look it up…). She, um, called us here.”

Naruto smiled, his eyes turning into slits. “Hey, great! Hope you guys get a good mission, like we-“ He was cut off as Sakura jabbed him in the side to silence him.

“We have to get going now,” Sakura said quickly, aware that Neji’s gaze was burning holes in her. It kinda freaked her out.

“Good-bye then,” Hinata said with a smile. Naruto and Sakura also waved and then left.

They didn’t speak with each other until they arrived at the deserted training field, where they had, mutually but silently, agreed to head. Sakura hopped up into the highest branches of one of the trees, followed closely by Naruto. They sat together on a branch right near the top.

“So, what do you think of this?” Naruto said, swinging his legs. Sakura sighed.

“I think it’s stupid that we aren’t allowed to tell Sasuke. He’s not going to be happy about this.” She sighed again. Naruto had an idea, though.

“Why can’t we send him letters that don’t really tell about what’s happening, but rather about our mission? I mean,” he added hurriedly as Sakura opened her mouth to scold him, “we could tell him that we are bodyguarding some people for an extended period of time, and tell him the ‘details’ about it. Get it?”

Now Sakura grinned as well, but her smile faded quickly. “I still don’t feel good about not telling him all the truth. He’ll probably realize what we’re doing really early on, and won’t be happy. We can’t just tell him we aren’t allowed to tell. He’d be hurt.”

Naruto nodded slowly, accepting this. His face set. “We have to tell him that we are going to be gone for a while, and can’t tell him the specifics. I know he won’t be happy, but if we tell him it’s for the good of the mission, then he might accept it. Let’s go now.”

He hopped slowly down the tree, not really paying attention to where he was going, but thinking hard. Sakura followed, doing the same.

When they were almost to the place that they usually met Sasuke, Sakura had an idea that made her stop in her tracks. Naruto noticed and also stopped.

“What is it?”

“I had a great idea,” Sakura breathed. “It’ll not be telling, but it’ll give Sasuke the whole- well, most of the whole- story. He’ll be much happier, but we’ll have to give him the code.”

Naruto’s eyes lit up. “Tell me!”

“Okay, here it is. We put, in code, some of the story in one letter, and in the next, more. Or we could… give me a moment here. Got it. I’ll talk to Sasuke about it.”

Both were grinning happily at this solution. They couldn’t wait to tell Sasuke about this.

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Ratell: Okay, a relatively short chapter, for me, but I didn’t want to go too far.

Griffin: Ooo, are you going to make it from the point of view of the others now? The wizards?

Ratell: Perhaps. I haven’t decided yet.

Aqua: That would be really cool. I want to meet them!

Ratell: Ooookaaaaaay… Anyway, to all you who’ve never read my fanfics, my name is Ratell, the author of this story.

Aqua: I’m Aqua, as you may have guessed, and that’s Griffin. –points to Griffin- Yes we are all girls.

Ratell: Reviews are always welcome, flames are not.