Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Some portions of this fic are directly taken from the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
This Chapter was Revised on 8/21/09
Harry Potter, the Guardian, and the Sorcerer's Stone
Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived
Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Rubeus Hagrid stood outside of Number Four Privet Drive, Dumbledore holding a small bundle.
McGonagall started when Hagrid suddenly let out a wounded howl.
The watcher smirked.
While the woman comforted Hagrid, or at least got him quiet enough to keep them hidden, Dumbledore stepped over the low wall of the garden, slipping a note into the folds of the blanket before returning to the other two, leaving the boy on the front porch.
After a few minutes, in which the three adults did nothing but stare at the bundle, Hagrid left, stating that he needed to return Sirius' bike.
McGonagall left not long after.
Dumbledore stayed a few moments longer to return the light to the street lamps before he too, was gone, leaving only the watcher and the child.
'Harry Potter,'a voice whispered in the watcher's mind.
The watcher smiled.
"Indeed." came the reply.
"After years of searching, we have finally found him. We will keep him as safe as we can…. This one has a hard life ahead of him."
The voice was quiet a moment. 'You are the boy's guardian, Tarana. But Fallen and Yoko?'
Tarana smiled dangerously. "The Malfoy and Zabini guardians can be swayed if the need be."
The voice spoke quietly in response. 'You will not go to them now?'
Tarana shook her head slowly. "No. The time will come, when the guardians rise to power once more. This is a time of witches and wizards. Let them have their fun. This generation…the Guardians will be busy in the future. True, I desire to be with my friends and family, on the same side. More than anything however, I wish to rest," She whispered.
'…. Go to the boy. As you said. We will keep him safe.'
Tarana walked silently from the shadows of the lawn across the street from the Dursley home, revealing not a human body, but the sleek, powerful body of a black panther.
She silently looked down at the sleeping child, who was yet unaware of everything that would come to him in life.
Unaware of his importance to two different worlds.
Unaware, that he was the Boy Who Lived.
Tarana brushed her muzzle against the boy's cheek and he stirred, opening sleepy emerald eyes.
'Rest young one. I will protect you,' she projected, smiling as Harry's eyes slid closed.
Lying down, she curled her body around the infant, keeping him warm in the now-November breeze and laying her head protectively over Harry, she fell into a light slumber, waking only when sounds of movement came from the house.
She was gone when Petunia Dursley woke Harry with her scream.