Disclaimer: Uh . . . do I have to say that it's illegal in most of the world?

A Diplomatic Affair

"Hello Minerva."

"Headmaster."

"I apologize for interrupting your class like this but I'm afraid I'm going to have to borrow Mr. Potter for a bit."

"You're excused from class Mr. Potter," Minerva warmed a bit to say. "I'm sure Ms. Granger will be kind enough to let you see her notes and to pick up your homework."

"Of course I will Professor McGonagall," Hermione agreed quickly.

"Go on Mr. Potter."

Harry got up out of his chair and walked out of the room. "What's this about sir?"

"You are aware of the fact that I hold a number of positions both here and abroad?"

"Yes?"

"Have you wondered why I never chose to exert my influence as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards to help our cause?"

"I always assumed that . . . yes sir."

"It's ok to doubt me Harry," Dumbledore said kindly. "I understand that your friend Ron thinks that I'm completely off my rocker."

"Yes sir."

"The truth is that the International Confederation of Wizards sounds very impressive, but has little actual power." Dumbledore sighed. "Especially now that the majority of its members . . . former members rather have chosen to leave it. At the moment, it's little more then a grouping of european countries and a few former colonies that have chosen to stay out of respect to their former masters."

"What's this all have to do with me sir?"

"Harry . . . you realise how extraordinary your survival was do you not?"

"Bloody boy who lived," Harry muttered in disgust.

"Precisely," Dumbledore agreed. "I hate to ask you, but your fame could open several doors that have been closed off for centuries in some cases. Harry . . . earlier today I received an invitation to a diplomatic function in the Sultanate of Doha."

"So?"

"So it stated that I was only welcome if I came as your guest," Dumbledore explained. "It is your decision of course but . . ."

"I'll do it," Harry said firmly. "What do I have to do?"

"Just mingle," Dumbledore said with twinkling eyes. "I'll take care of the rest."

"Yes sir, will everyone speak English?"

"There will be a charm put up to allow mutual comprehension," Dumbledore said dryly. "Though I'm told that it sometimes makes . . . odd errors in translation so do not take anything you hear too seriously."

"I understand, should I change into my formal robes?"

"Yes you should," Dumbledore agreed. "As should I come to think of it, meet me in the great hall when you've finished."

Harry walked back to his dorm and grabbed a quick shower before changing and rejoining the Headmaster in the great hall.

"Ready Harry?"

"Yes sir."

"Good." He handed Harry a long wrapped object. "Put this on and we can be on our way."

"The sword of Gryffindor?" Harry asked in shock.

"You earned the right to wear it Harry," Dumbledore explained. "Now shall we go?"

"Yes sir." Harry quickly buckled on the sword and touched the portkey.

They appeared in front of an unpleasant looking man.

"Name?" He asked flatly.

"Harry Potter."

"Ah Mr. Potter, so good of you to accept our invitation."

"Thank you."

"Harry Potter and Guest," the man announced. "Go right in Mr. Potter." He motioned Harry towards a large opening that seemed to hang in the air.

Harry walked in and was dazzled by the sheer number of people and by their odd outfits. Drifting over to the punch bowl, Harry poured himself a drink and watched the crowd.

"Excuse me."

"Yes sir?" Harry replied. He turned to find an asian gentleman giving him an unreadable look.

"Do you know how to use that sword on your hip?"

"No sir."

"Then why are you wearing it?" He demanded.

"Because it saved my life."

"I see," the man seemed to calm. "My name is Ichiro Yamamoto."

"Harry Potter."

"Could you explain how it saved your life?"

"I stabbed it through the roof of a snake's mouth," Harry said. "It was mostly luck and I had a lot of help."

"What kind of snake?" Ichiro asked professionally. "And how large?"

"A basilisk," Harry said. "Not sure how large it was, I'm sure it looked bigger then it was and I wasn't in any condition to take measurements after the fight was over with."

"I understand, may I see the blade?"

Harry carefully drew the blade and held it flat on his hands for the man to take.

"Good steel," he said after a moment of examination. "A bit gaudy but functional."

"It is that," Harry agreed. "I . . . how'd you do that?" Harry asked in shock, the sword had shifted to more functional and less ascetic form.

"I suspect it was acting on your desire," Ichiro replied. "Take your sword back Harry."

"Thank you sir."

"Ichiro."

"Ichiro then."

"Would you like to learn to use this blade? To bring it honor in battle?"

"I would," Harry allowed. "But I'm not sure how I'd go about it."

"I have a gift that would help you learn," Ichiro said with a smile. "And in taking it you would be doing me a great favor."

"It's not dangerous is it?"

"Not to you," Ichiro said quickly. "But it could be to those that wish you harm."

"And it would be doing you a favor?" Harry felt that he should consult with Dumbledore before making any agreements, but it seemed harmless enough.

"You would."

"Then I accept, thank you sir."

"Thank you Harry," Ichiro said with a large grin. "So where are you from?"

"The United Kingdom," Harry said. "England to be precise."

"Really? I hear it rains there quite a bit."

"Sometimes," Harry agreed with a laugh. "What about your home? Where are you from?"

"I am from the nation of Nippon, Daimyo of a small and out of the way Provence of no consequence."

"I'd like to see it some day," Harry said suddenly. "I've never left the United Kingdom before today and I'd love to do some traveling."

"Of course you shall visit it one day," Ichiro said quickly. "You are welcome to visit at any time and I will be happy to offer hospitality, humble though it may be."

"I wish I could offer the same," Harry said weakly. "But I don't even have a humble home, I'd be happy to show you around if they let me though."

"Thank you Harry, I shall keep that in mind. Have you had a chance to meet our host the Sultan of Doha?"

"Not yet."

"Then come with me, he's a friend of mine and would be delighted to hear the story of what happened with the snake. I'd like to hear a few of the details too come to think of it."

Harry spent the rest of the night telling and being told stories of adventure and misfortune and before he knew it, the party was winding down and Dumbledore was at his elbow.

"Time to go Harry."

"Yes sir," Harry agreed.

"All in all I believe that it was a successful night," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "I received some promising leads anyway."

"Good."

"Come with me, we have one more thing to do before we can return to Hogwarts."

"What's that?'

"Our host will present us with a small gift, something to remember the night."

"Oh."

"The important thing is to accept the gift and thank the host for the thought," Dumbledore continued. "Rejecting it would be a rather large insult."

"I understand sir."

"Good, this way Harry." They walked towards the door and Harry could see the servants passing small boxes to the guests as they left.

"Leaving Harry?" A man a few years older then Harry asked as they approached the door.

"Yeah Aliyy," Harry agreed. "It was a great party though."

"Your highness," Dumbledore said in shock. "I apologize for the familiar way he addressed you."

"Harry is a friend of mine," the Sultan said coldly. "And I would appreciate it if you did not interrupt our conversation."

"Of course," Dumbledore agreed quickly.

"So Harry, I understand that Ichiro gave you a rather impressive gift?"

"I suppose," Harry agreed. "He said it would be helpful in learning how to use the sword."

"I'm sure," Aliyy said with a smile. "And as he did it at my party, I can not allow him to upstage me." He gave a signal and one of the servants presented Harry with a jeweled bottel. "Treat her well, she is a bit strong willed and willful, but she has a good heart."

"Ok," a rather confused Harry agreed.

"Thank you Harry," the Sultan said with a smile. "Now if you will excuse me, I have something I must attend to personally."

"Goodbye Aliyy," Harry said to his friend.

"You never fail to amaze me Harry," Dumbledore said to himself. "Come Harry, we must be going."

They stepped outside and Dumbledore held out a portkey. Only moments before they disappeared, a dark shape detached itself from the shadows and took hold of the object.

"Who are you?" Dumbledore demanded after they arrived back in his office.

"I am Keiko," the dark shape replied. "Harry-sama's kunoichi."

"Ichiro's gift?"

"Yes."

"Harry," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Uncork that bottle."

Harry followed the Headmaster's instructions and nearly dropped the bottle nearly dropped it when pink smoke came out of it. And his jaw dropped when the smoke coalesced into an attractive young girl.

"What do you wish of me master?"

AN: Lot's of Harry gets a slave type stories, thought I'd have a bit of fun with the concept. Not sure if I'll write more of it, not too happy with the way I ended it.

Omakes on how this would go . . .

"You have to tell her that this wasn't my fault," Harry demanded. "It wasn't even my idea."

"I'm sure Ms. Granger will understand," Dumbledore said with twinkling eyes.

"You don't know what she's like," Harry hissed. "You didn't have to go to any SPEW meetings."

"I understand that Ms. Granger is going to be a bit . . . put out when she finds out what happened. But . . ."

"So you is Harry Potter sir's servant?" Dobby asked in excitement.

"I am," the girl confirmed.

"Oh Dobby knew that Harry Potter sir was a great and powerful wizard," Dobby cheered. "Finally others is realising this."

"You wish to be his servent also?"

"Dobby's not worthy," the young elf cried. "Dobby's not worthy."