Prologue

Harry stared at the old man in front of him with shock. Had he just said what Harry thought he said? Ron and Hermione sat frozen, and Ginny looked to be close to tears. The long silence was broken by Ron suddenly yelling, "WHAT THE…... WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!"

Hermione gasped looking scandalized that he was being so disrespectful in the presence of their Headmaster. She opened her mouth, looking ready to scold Ron for his behavior, when Professor Dumbledore spoke,

"I truly am sorry, but this is the only way that Harry will be safe." The twinkle in his eyes had dimmed somewhat, but he was still firm about what he had said. "Harry must go to a different school, I'm sorry, but it is safer for him." Ginny was now shaking her head, tears leaking out of her eyes. She seemed to be mumbling, "No, no."

Harry just sat through the whole talk, looking straight ahead, his eyes emotionless. "Harry…?" Hermione asked tentatively, when it became clear that he was way out of it. Everyone looked at him, and Ginny touched Harry's shoulder lightly.

It seemed as if he had not heard her, nor did he appear to have noticed the touch. He just continued to stare ahead. Then he said, in a quiet, emotionless voice, "Where am I going?"

His friends openly gaped at him, not believing that he was agreeing this quickly. Dumbledore sighed. "You will be going to Japan, and will be studying at a school called Meiji Academy of Magical Talent." Even as he said it, Dumbledore seemed to sadden, but he plowed on. "My friend, Himura Kenshin, is headmaster there. He will be good to you….." Albus trailed off, seeing that Harry was having an internal war with himself.

Suddenly, every piece of glass in the room exploded with a magnificent BOOM, showering them with hot shards. Everybody cringed and threw up their hands, attempting to block the barrage. The old Headmaster's eyes crinkled, he was smiling broadly. It seemed as if Harry had lost that war.

But the smile was soon lost, as Harry stood up, pushing his friend's hand away, his whole body radiating anger. His eyes sparked an unnatural emerald, lit with the internal fire of rage. "Why am I being sent to….Japan?" Harry spat out the words, his voice deadly quiet, which was even more frightening then what it would have been if he was yelling. "First you take Sirius away. Then you want to take me from my friends! What is your reason to take me from my friends?"

Dumbledore shivered at the boy's tone. On the surface, it was calm, emotionless. But underneath, it held so much venom, it was almost more than he could bear. He answered soothingly, "It is for your own safety, Harry. It will be safer there, as Kenshin is an admirable wizard, and swordsman, now that I think about it. You will learn more there than you will here, and it is safer."

The old man emphasized the last word, so as to impress the concept into the youth's mind. Harry just stared at him with a cold indifference.

"Tell me, then. How is it safer? How is it safer their with the Himura guy, at this so called Meiji school, hmmm? Safer there than it is here with my friends, the Order, and you, hmmm? Is it? You know, I don't know if I can trust you anymore."

A long silence once again stretched in the room after that little speech, Harry glaring at Dumbledore, and Dumbledore looking at him sadly, in understanding.

"I know how you feel Harry," Dumbledore began in a soft, gentle voice, "and believe me, I know that it hurts. But, you must do this, for your safety, and for everyone else's. You will be protected there. You can find new friends, but still keep your old ones. You will learn new things there. The power you seek to kill Voldemort-" Ron, Ginny, and Hermione shuddered-"is there, and you will find it. You can send mail to your friends through me. I'm sure that you understand."

After a while, Harry icy demeanor lessened a bit. Harry stood for a moment longer, then sank into the couch. He looked so utterly helpless in that slumped position. Finally, he mumbled, "How long will I be staying…." He hesitated for a second, then plowed on, "at the Academy?"

Everyone seemed to relax now that Harry had calmed down, and Ginny returned her hand to Harry's shoulder. "Only for the summer, for your own safety. We have made arrangements. There will be a guard with you at the school, and all the students here will not know of this." Dumbledore sighed then. "It pains me greatly, but it is necessary."

Harry nodded slowly, then got out of his chair and stalked to the door, and then turned around and said coldly, "I'm sorry about the glass…" He turned around and walked out, leaving a handful of teenagers shocked, sad, and confused, and a certain old man, looking, if possible, somewhat amused.