In The Lord of the Rings, Hobbits are a rather curious lot. For their birthdays, they do not receive gifts. Rather, they give them. Today, I feel like a Hobbit.
For my birthday, I'm going to give a gift.

A gift to my readers.

International Magic is off Hiatus

Needless to say, the next two days for Harry were a bit twisted. Thankfully for him, the class bought the idea that an evil pervert had stolen his way onto the campus. Of course, this had the effect of giving him the illusion of the rugged yet gentle hero; willing to sacrifice himself for the safety and chastity of three of his fellow classmates. Suddenly Ako and Makie's room was getting a bit more crowded. Still, it was better to be famous for something concrete that you did, rather than for some arbitrary reason.

However, the battle wasn't without its casualties. Over half of the combined fighting force of both the Japanese Associations were injured in one way or another. The Ala Alba was no exception. Right now, Harry was standing outside the Mahora infirmary where Shizuna and Konoka were trying to tend to Yue's injuries. While Shizuna had a limited magic capacity, her knowledge of injuries and treatments was incredible. Konoka had insisted on helping her in some way in order to learn better ways to heal people. Right now, the British wizard was trying to heal the hearts of the remaining members of the famous Library Trio.

Nodoka was sitting slumped against the wall, her feet pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees. She had said very little since Takane and Haruna had brought the unconscious Yue into the infirmary. What time she didn't spend in the class, she spent sitting outside the infirmary with her nose buried in a book. If it wasn't for Shizuna, the poor girl would probably have camped there.

Haruna was the exact opposite. She seemed to be twice as motivated now; running around doing one thing or another. But she seemed to have lost the spring in her step that made Haruna the Great Paru-sama. Now she only seemed to be going through the motions. The only time she seemed like her old self was when she stayed with Nodoka; softly whispering to the bookworm, trying to comfort her. Hermione decided that she couldn't take it much longer and asked Harry to help her show their support for the two depressed friends. Ron had been shanghaied out by Kaede and Kotarou for a training trip of some kind, and Hermione was out somewhere trying to scrounge up more girls from 3-A.

A lump formed in Harry's throat as he stared at the back of Nodoka's head while he idly rubbed her back. Haruna was sitting on her other side, hand gripping her knee, talking in a hushed voice to the poor girl. Harry could understand one word in three of what Haruna was saying, but he could feel the gentle, reassuring tone in the girl's voice. Nodoka's head lay in Harry's lap as she stared idly out toward the far wall while he two friends tried to reassure her of Yue's eventual recovery.

The sound of approaching footsteps grabbed the librarian's attention. She sat up from Harry's lap, her eyes scanning the hallway like a foxhound ready for the hunt. To Harry's surprise, Headmaster Konoe and Professor Takamichi approached them. The two librarians quietly stood and bowed in respect to teachers. Harry watched as the headmaster talked to his two students in a calm, reassuring voice. As he spoke, Haruna's shoulders began to relax as she let out a deep sigh; while Nodoka seemed to fidget with her fingers, enraptured in the headmaster's words.

Finally it appeared that he finished, motioning to the door behind them with a flourish of his hand. Both girls bowed again before daring into the infirmary. Takamichi chuckled as he followed the two eager girls inside, closing the door behind them. Harry suddenly found himself alone with the aged man. He instantly sprang to his feet, feeling foolish for acting so rude to the man who had offered him sanctuary so far from home.

The headmaster chuckled as Harry smoothed his blazer of any wrinkles. "I always find it interesting as to how young people act around us old crones," he sighed, his laughter muffled by his beard. "It's always either too much respect or none at all."

"I'm sorry professor." Harry replied, not at all sure as to what he was apologizing for.

"You don't need to worry about offending me Harry-kun," Headmaster Konoe replied, waving his hand. "I've been around enough young people to know when one means disrespect and when one is simply pre-occupied."

Harry's gazed drifted downward for a moment, before he brought his eyes to bear on the sealed infirmary. "I'm just worried," he finally admitted. "Everyone's taking Yue's injury hard."

"Yes, Ayase-san's condition is most debilitating. In fact, I'd even go as far as to say that it is unique."

"Headmaster, what exactly is mana burn?"

The head of Mahora turned down the hall, motioning Harry to follow him. "Mana burn is a condition when a mage is brought into contact with an excessive amount of raw magical energy, or mana."

"I've never heard of something like that before."

The headmaster nodded. "Yes. You're style of magic only utilizes energy your body produces. It is only expelled in the form of an actual spell. However, a mage's magic is not a true part of him. He gathers it from the world around him, brings it into his body, and then channels it into a spell. Mana exists in the world in a raw, unrefined state. This is mostly found around the world's Magical Zones, though some researchers have found ways of channeling their magic back into raw mana."

"And too much of this mana is bad for you?" Harry asked.

"When mana is concentrated to the levels that it was in the World Tree's sap, even a small amount can result in devastating physical side effects. Mana burn is actually a low-level category of mana exposure. We are most fortunate that only her arms were affected. If it had reached the rest of her body, or if she ingested any of the sap, then I'm afraid Ayase-san would no longer be with us."

Harry paused, following the headmaster as he made his way through the school building. "So what can we do?" He asked.

"I have taken the liberty of withdrawing one of my best mages from the field," the old man replied. "She is the greatest healer either of Japan's magic associations has ever seen. My granddaughter is barley on a quarter of her level."

"Where has she been?" Harry asked.

"She's been in America for the past seven years. The United States serves as a highly versatile training ground for mages around the world. The North American Magic Association has made it a long-standing tradition to welcome any mages wishing to better their arts."

"When will she be here?"

"I officially gave the order to return to Mahora about twelve hours ago. It took me longer to contact her than I thought. Hopefully, she will be among us once again by tomorrow." Harry couldn't help but sigh in relief, glad that something seemed to be going their way. "Now, Harry-kun, you should really stop beating yourself senseless about these things."

Harry turned to look at the infirmary door. "I just wish there was something I could do."

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to worry. Once Ayase-san is healed, laughter will once again return to your class. These things happen. The march of time often inflicts great wounds on us. Yet we become stronger because of it."

Harry sighed and turned back to the headmaster. "I don't think Nodoka-san and Haruna-san would see it the same way." He replied, perhaps with more venom than he would have wanted.

The old man, however, smiled at him. "You feel the hurt your classmates feel. I can see Albus was right about you in many ways. Come with me. I've been meaning to sit down with you."

"I'm not sure sir," he replied, not wanting to abandon the girls. From down the hall, however, came the sound of chattering girls. It wasn't long before the better half of 3-A came into view, headed by Negi, Ayaka and Hermione.

Headmaster Konoe chucked aloud and patted Harry's shoulder again. He called to the students, announcing something in Japanese. Negi smiled in reply and nodded. "Harry-kun, come. Your friends will not hurt alone anymore." Harry stole one last look at the infirmary; at the girls lining up to visit their injured classmate, and followed after the headmaster.

()()()

Now that he looked at it, Professor Konoe's office was a far cry from Dumbledore's office. Where the headmaster of Hogwart's private sanctuary felt busy and cramped, the head of Mahora's sanctum felt a bit more inviting. However, if there was one thing both men shared in common was their love of knick-knacks. Various oddities dotted the shelves around the headmaster's office; things Harry had not noticed before. A sheathed sword sat in an elaborately carved stand with a black-and-white picture underneath. Different sized charms, decorated with stunning calligraphy, hung from knotted cords underneath the shelves. Harry took a moment to take everything in before sitting down in front of the headmaster's desk.

"Would you like refreshments," the professor asked. "I may not have pumpkin juice, but perhaps some soda or iced tea?"

"Umm, what?" Harry asked, somewhat surprised at the strange choice of beverages.

"I always find it amusing when people think that us old mages do nothing but sit around and drink tea all day while contemplating our navels. Besides, it gets a bit old. Once you've sat through more tea ceremonies than you can count, you tend to crave something with a bit more snap to it."

"I'm not much of a soda drinker. The Dursleys weren't very keen on those things."

The headmaster snorted. "Yes. I heard they weren't keen on many things. Such as proper care for a child." For a moment, the man's features hardened into a cold mask. However, they just as quickly softened as he leaned back in his chair. "Running a school, you tend to take things like neglect and child abandonment much more personally than not. Sometimes I try to keep it from getting to me, but it gets trying sometimes."

"Well, do you have any Coke?" Harry asked, remembering the taste from way back when; during that one 'good' visit with old Ms. Figg.

Headmaster Konoe soon had several cans of Coke-a-Cola, as well as some sandwiches brought in. Harry waited until his host had served himself before opening a can. The sharp flavor came rushing back to him as he quaffed his first gulp. He shivered for a moment as the carbonation tickled the inside of his mouth. Wizards had many things, but a substitute for soda was not one of them.

"So Harry-kun," the headmaster began. "I trust you have found your class to be welcoming?"

"Yes, very much so Professor." He replied, eyeing one of the sandwiches on the plate.

"I'm very glad to hear that. In Japan, the greatest role one may play is that of the host. It's good to hear you are being well accommodated." Harry couldn't help but pause, staring down at the tin can he held in his hand.

"That's all very nice, but I still wish there was more I could do."

"Harry-kun, you rescued one of your classmates from an assailant of unknown origin. I think that's more than enough." Harry began to open his mouth, but the principal continued. "You stood your ground in the face of an unknown enemy, defended a student of my school, and proved that Albus-san was right about you. You are a very special individual." Harry felt embarrassed. Was he talking about Voldemort? Did the principal worship him for the same reason all of Magical Britain did?

Headmaster Konoe raised an eyebrow, as if reading Harry's mind. "Your abilities have little to do with what happened when you were one Harry-kun. I understand that people see you as 'The-Boy-Who-Lived,' but it was Harry Potter who saved his classmate, not 'The-Boy-Who-Lived.'"

Harry rubbed the back of his head. No one had ever spun it like that. It seemed that every one of his adventures back in Hogwarts was somehow due to his defeat of Voldemort. He didn't have that here. No Death Eaters, no Malfoy, no Snape. For once, he could just be 'Harry.' His smile turned downward as he suddenly came to a realization.

"Sir, I, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say." The headmaster raised an eyebrow. "I, guess that, in a way, since so many people have been saying stuff about me, I don't really know what I'm supposed to do. I mean, Hermione said I was in three different history books before I was ten. I never really had a chance to be myself at the Dursleys, and at Hogwarts, Voldemort kept sticking his non-existent nose into everything. I guess I just feel trapped."

The headmaster nodded deeply. "Fame, especially unwanted fame, can sometimes make people feel this way. Maybe it's good that Albus-san sent you here. Maybe he wants you to re-forge who you are. Why don't you tell me more about yourself Harry-kun? After all, what more is an old-man good for than to help the next generation learn about themselves?" Harry smiled again and told the headmaster about the first time he went to the zoo.

()()()

Headmaster Konoe spoke with Harry for the better part of an hour. It was weird in the beginning, talking about his life with the Dursleys and his early years at Hogwarts, but the old man was very patient. It was unfortunate, however, when one of the men Harry remembered from the week before walked in.

"Father-in-law, you said you wanted to speak to me?"

"Ahh, Eishun-kun, come in, come in." Harry then remembered this man as Konoka's father from Kyoto.

"So, this is young Harry?"

"Yes, I assure you, Albus-san's letters do him little justice. He's quite a fine young man."

Harry rose and reached out a hand to shake. Then he paused, withdrawing his hand before bending over into an awkward bow.

Eishun laughed before bowing in return. "You don't need to worry about that Harry-kun. I'm familiar enough with Western customs." Harry blushed a bit at his fumble, but neither of the men seemed to mind.

"So, are you willing to set up that Omiai for tomorrow?" The headmaster asked.

"If he has received your seal of approval, then yes."

"Harry-kun, my son-in-law and I have some things to discuss. I'd love for you to come back tomorrow. I'm sure Eishun-kun wouldn't mind hearing your story as well."

"Oh, of course." He replied.

"Actually, a few members of the Magical Associations will also be in attendance, so formal attire would be preferred." Eishun added. "I'll have Takamichi-san get you fitted for a suit later this afternoon."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Harry left the office, substantially happier than when he walked in earlier that day. As he walked out into the afternoon sun, Harry couldn't help but smile. Something about his talk with the headmaster just made him feel better about himself and his situation. Maybe he could be 'Just Harry' for a change. He was looking forward to his meeting tomorrow. Perhaps the old man could help shed more insight on how he could be 'Just Harry'

One thought, however, chilled his heart. One word that Eishun said made Harry uneasy. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to Negi during his explanations of Japanese culture. Whatever it was, right now he was incredibly nervous as Setsuna seemed to be barreling toward him; eyes focused on him with what Negi would describe as 'killing intent'. Whatever this 'Omiai' was, it was about to make him hurt.

Don't worry, Setsuna doesn't kill him.

I'll try to get the next update on soon.