A/N: Contrary to popular opinion, I do not own Harry Potter or Naruto. They belong to JK Rowling and Masashi Kishimoto respectively.

The Hokage sat back in his seat, sighing. It was a nice seat- a tall back, swivel seat, comfortable leather, but right now he was not thinking about furniture. He had recently been reinstated as the Hokage following the demise of the Yondaime, forced into a position from which he had retired a few years previously. He looked at the letter lying on his desk, the one that was currently responsible for the predicament that he was currently in. It was from an old friend of his, one that he had not been in touch with since before the third shinobi war. It was a letter requiring the assistance of a couple of shinobi to watch over a certain person who was of great importance, yet had a knack of attracting trouble. Unfortunately, Konoha was still reeling from the Kyubbi attack and there simply wasn't anyone to spare. All the chuunin and above who were able were being sent off left, right and centre on missions and the genin were required to help rebuild Konoha, and anyway there weren't any spare jounin that could be sent with them to supervise. And as for ANBU… well, they would just be bored. As well as that, they too were required for missions. Although…

And there it was. A seed of an idea planted itself firmly in the Sandaime's mind. There was one young ANBU member who could use time away from the village. Young Hatake Kakashi, also known as Wolf, was the youngest member of ANBU, and more importantly was the last of Team Minato, Minato himself having been killed in the recent attack. And then there was Crow… Crow was an unusual kunoichi. She was the second youngest in ANBU, being two years older than Kakashi, and had also lost her father and genin team during the third shinobi war. However, it didn't appear to have affected her much and she carried on taking missions. She had been promoted to the ranks of ANBU at the end of the war, and was especially useful due to her ability of being able to detect and lay intricate traps, which had saved many lives. Currently, Crow, or Sato Amaya as she was known when not in ANBU uniform, was lying in the hospital after being badly injured on a mission. This guarding job would be a perfect opportunity to help heal the both of them- both mentally and physically. Nodding in grim satisfaction, the Sandaime began writing a letter.

Dear Dumbledore-sama,

Thank you for your letter. Unfortunately, you have caught me at a time when Konoha is recovering from both a war and an attack on the village, and thus we have very few shinobi that can be sent to your school for a whole year. However, if you are willing, I have a proposition.

There are two shinobi who are of the highest ranking who would be able to take up this mission. However, they are in need of recuperation, both mentally and physically, and I fear that it would be impossible at such a time here in the village. They are young, around the boy of which you speak of own age, and very adept at protection mission. My proposition is this: I send you these two shinobi and in return, a bond can form between us and your school, or even world. During these troubled times, alliances and friendships are of the utmost importance.

I hope that you can understand the situation and that a stronger bond can be formed between our village and your world.

Yours,

Sarutobi Hiruzen

Sandaime Hokage, Konohagakure.

Sealing the letter, the Sandaime sent it off using the large tawny owl that had delivered Dumbledore's first letter, and prepared himself for a wait.

0o0o0o0o0

Two weeks later, a sullen Kakashi was packing his bag for a year- long mission. He didn't want to go, but it was an order and orders had to be obeyed. All he knew about the mission was that he was protecting some gaki that probably didn't need to be guarded and potentially forming an alliance. He scowled. Kakashi knew the real reason as to why he was going. The rest of the village seemed to think that he was going to go into a depression and they couldn't deal with it, wouldn't deal with. Konoha was a battered and bruised village that was suffering the after effects of war and attacks. They didn't have the time nor energy to watch or help some kid go through a depression. They had their own lives to rebuild.

Kakashi swept his eyes around the small space that were his living quarters in ANBU, before donning his mask and making his way to the small hospital that was used by injured ANBU. There, you could expect instant treatment and no questions. No one badgered you about missed check-ups and you didn't have to watch other members going past with horrific injuries, and you could almost return to human again. He paused in front of a door, before sliding it open. Crow, the ANBU member that was on the same team as him for this mission, was standing, albeit bent over slightly and clutching the wall for support. The third was there, as was someone who looked as if he could be his older, civilian brother. Kakashi entered the room silently, kneeling before the Hokage.

"Ah, Wolf, good to see you could make it." Yeah right, Kakashi thought. It wasn't like he had a whole lot of choice in the matter. "For this mission you won't be required to wear your mask." Kakashi nodded and reluctantly took off his Wolf mask, clipping it to his belt. He didn't need to look to know that Crow- or Amaya as she was now- had done the same. "I believe you have been told the details?" Kakashi nodded. "Good. Right, Dumbledore-sama here is going to, ah, transport you to where the mission is." Kakashi flickered his eyes over to where the Dumbledore person stood and nodded once more. Dumbledore offered his arm and Kakashi looked at it sarcastically.

"Oh, yes, I don't believe you have apparition here. You will need to take a hold of my arm. Miss Sato, if you could take the other…" Amaya hobbled over and took Dumbledore's left arm. With a smile at the Hokage, Dumbledore spun on the spot and the small hospital room disappeared.

Amaya's first thought was that it was like being forced through a tube. It then changed to feeling like being forced through a tiny, narrow gap which was the perfect place to hide part of a trap. They spun faster and faster, and Amaya was starting to feel dizzy when the spinning slowed then stopped altogether. She swayed a little as all of her weight was placed on her bad leg, but before she could topple over she felt a body lean against her, propping her up. She rearranged the weight, and the body disappeared. Amaya didn't have to look to know that it had been Kakashi who had come to her rescue.

When she was stable, Amaya took a look at their surroundings. They seemed to be outside a series of large houses in the middle of a square. Automatically Amaya noted the possible escape routes, possible hidden traps and places where enemies could lurk in the shadows. There were too many for her liking, and she felt bare and exposed without her mask on. Her hand crept down towards her mission pack, and tensed, ready to attack or defend should the occasion arise. She did not like feeling this vulnerable.

Dumbledore handed her a piece of paper with writing on it in kanji, and Amaya's eyes read the note quickly, memorising the details as she did so.

The Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix can be found at number 12, Grimmauld Place.

She passed the note back to Dumbledore, and suddenly there was a rumbling sound. Amaya became even tenser, but a hand on her arm stopped her from springing- not that she actually could, thanks to her injuries. Houses number 11 and 13 had started to move apart, to the obliviousness of the occupants inside, and a new house appeared. She frowned.

"Was that some kind of genjutsu?" Apparently Kakashi was just as curious as she was. Dumbledore shook his head, but did not elaborate.

"After you," he said instead and Kakashi and Amaya climbed the steps and entered the house.

Kakashi's eyes (well, eye) narrowed as they entered a long, dark hallway. He could hear voices coming from a room, and sensed several civilians standing upstairs. He pressed himself to the wall to let Dumbledore lead him and Amaya down the hallway and into the room that held the voices. It was full of people who immediately silenced as Dumbledore and the two shinobi entered.

"Dumbledore! We weren't expecting you until tomorrow!" exclaimed a red-haired woman.

"Ah yes. It seems that I am ahead of schedule. Unfortunately this is only a flying visit; I only came to introduce you to these two." He indicated to Kakashi and Amaya behind him, and for the first time since entering the room the wizards and witches noticed the shinobi. Kakashi wanted to squirm; he hated attention of any sort.

"These two have come to… ah… guard Harry for the year. They come from the Hidden Continents- Alastor, I assume you have heard of them?" A grizzled, scarred man nodded. Kakashi thought that he could pass for a shinobi any day. "Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, their leader has asked us that, in return for their services, that we form an alliance with their village. They are emerging from a long war and an attack on their village, you see." Dumbledore then babbled on for a bit, Kakashi tuning out. He noticed that the red-haired woman's expression turned from sympathy to shock to pity during the speech, and Kakashi was uncomfortable with the way that she scrutinised him. It reminded him a lot of Nara Shikaku's wife. Strict, but motherly. Eventually Dumbledore stopped speaking and opened the door, going upstairs. Amaya hobbled after him and Kakashi realised that they were off to meet the other occupants of the house.

The journey up the stairs was uneventful, with no scenery that particularly caught his eye. Eventually they made it to a small room with a couple of beds in it, one of which was unoccupied. Several teenagers were gathered there in the room. They too looked at Dumbledore expectantly.

"Good evening, everyone. I have something to tell you. This year, Hogwarts is taking part in an exchange programme, of sorts. Much like the tournament last year, this programme is to strengthen bonds between countries. These two are refugees from their own country, which has been subject to a long and bloody war. They have each come here seeking friendship, and I am counting on you to provide them with that." The teens nodded gravely, and Kakashi restrained a snort. Man, this guy would be great in ANBU, being able to spin a tale like that and still have everyone's complete trust.

"Good. Well then, I believe that is all. Good day." With that Dumbledore swept from the room, leaving Kakashi and Amaya subject to the curious stares and questions of the others in the room. Amaya looked at him in panic and he noticed that her face was strained. He then realised that she probably needed to sit down, that the travel and then the walking up the stairs and the long bout of standing was not helping with her injuries. So he sat down on the unoccupied bed, and Amaya sat next to him.

"Where about are you from?" asked a girl with long red hair.

"Somewhere near Japan," Kakashi said drily.

"Oh. What are your names?" This time the smallest of the three red haired boys spoke.

"Kakashi Hatake."

"Amaya Sato."

"Well, this is Fred, George, Ron and Ginny Weasley, and I'm Hermione Granger," said the bushy haired girl, indicating each person.

"It's very nice to meet you," said Amaya politely, but in a cold detached tone that Kakashi knew was reserved for clients. The motherly red-head appeared at the door just then.

"Oh, you're settling in. Um, we weren't expecting you until tomorrow, so I haven't got any beds ready-"

"That's okay. We are used to sleeping on futons anyway." The woman nodded, relieved slightly.

"Well, Kakashi can sleep in the bed if he wishes, although it would only be for one night. You'll be sharing with Ron and Harry, when he arrives. Amaya, if you'd like to follow me. You'll be sharing with Ginny and Hermione." Amaya stood up and limped off. When she was gone, Hermione turned to Kakashi.

"Why was she limping?" she asked curiously.

"Leg injury," was all the reply she got. Hermione looked down, and then the room started to clear, leaving Kakashi alone to unpack his things. He revelled in the silence as he scanned the room to look for a place where he could set up a temporary shrine to Obito, Minato and Rin.

I got this idea a while back, from Pridian Moon (a great fic, check it out if you like angsty Naruto/HP crossovers) and for ages it was going to be set during the fourth book but I didn't want to do the whol tournament thing. Anyway, this was pretty long (for me) and it was only the prologue. Plus I have a lot of chapter ideas… so watch this space!

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Fallen Quills