The Gryffindor Guardian 2nd ed

by Miranda Shaw

Voldemort is back. Dumbledore calls on Snape's ex-girlfriend who happens to be a Gryffindor Guardian. But who does she really answer to?

1. Author's Notes: Please read this first

Before you begin reading this story, allow me to give you a background of the plot.

The story begins a couple of weeks after the end of Harry's fourth year in Hogwarts.

The story does not revolve much around Harry. Rather it revolves around Severus Snape and his ex-girlfriend, Mariannah Potter. Mariannah happens to be Harry's long lost aunt and Hogwarts' new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.

Before any of you start flaming me about the known fact that Harry does not have any other relatives on his father's side, please be reminded that this is fan fiction. If you don't like the idea of me toying the HP universe this way, stop now and search for other HP stories which you'd think would be more worthwhile of your time.

I started writing this story last year, placing it on www.fanfiction.net under the alias Miranda Shaw. Since then, I have revised the story three times. The last time was actually a complete overhaul of the whole plot. I decided to plot out Mariannah's character first on 8x5 inch sheets of paper. I also plotted timelines of main events that had happened throughout the story. So far, I have 21 chapters worth and still growing. What you see here are the final approved chapters, to be released on a one-chapter-per-week basis.

The most common complaint I've received was that the character, Mariannah Potter, is actually a Mary Sue. One reviewer was kind enough to explain to me what a "Mary Sue" actually was. I have taken great pains since then NOT to make her into such a character. I am disappointed though that some readers (who perused the original storyline) did not even go past the fourth chapter to see that the protagonist is not really as powerful nor as perfect as her students would think. She has her weaknesses, both physically and psychologically. So read through first before you consider her to be another "Mary Sue".

I welcome comments and constructive criticisms with gusto! Just email them to TheGryffindorGuardian@yahoogroups.com. You don't have to be a member of the yahoogroup to be able to post your reviews there. You can even read the other reviews on the archive. You'll notice that you won't see your post right after you email them. Not to worry. I make it a point to read each and every review sent to the list and add my responses at the bottom of each. Which is actually the reason why the list is on moderated mode.

That said, I now present to you The Gryffindor Guardian.