Ch. 1 Prologue

My name is Stephanie, and this is my story. I didn't really know how to start, so how about when I was a moon (month) old? Clan kids' brains develop faster than human ones, so I was about as smart as a 6-season (year) old. This is the first memory I have, but also by far the worst.

I was with my mom, Snowstripe, in our 'den', which was just our word for our house. Snowstripe had been tense all day, and I had a feeling that something bad would happen. We were both Warriors, and when we thought something bad would happen; that's usually a good time to start packing. Snowstripe had insisted that we were safe, that my father (whoever the heck he was) couldn't ever find us. She never told me who my father was, only saying that she would tell me 'when she thought I could handle it.' I never understood her cryptic way of talking, but I could understand that he wasn't a good person.

Suddenly, she tensed. I'd been practicing shifting into a wolf pup, and she suddenly grabbed me and shoved me in the secret compartment in the bottom of the one dresser. I could still see her, but she couldn't see me.

"No matter what happens, do not come out. No matter what happens to me, no matter what he says, stay quiet, and stay put." She snarled. She was always soft-spoken, so I was stuck in place simply by terror for awhile.

Then, the house shuddered as the door flew inwards. I managed not to yelp as the ugliest, scariest, most evil-looking, (could I even say person?) entered the house. He was pale, furious, and dangerous-looking.

What I didn't know was his name, until I heard my mother say, in her calm, soft way: "Voldemort, it's been awhile." He sneered at her, and then said something to his snake. Part of my mind heard it as nonsense, snarling and hissing, but I could understand it.

"Nagini, check the house, it must be here, none of her friends knew where it was." Somehow, I knew the 'it' in that statement was me. I silently slid backwards, trying to hide in the back of the compartment.

The snake uncurled, slithering around, flicking its forked tongue, searching. It stopped outside the dresser. Voldemort smirked, motioning to one of his entourage. (Did I hear him say Bellatrix? What kind of name is that?) The crazy, terrifying woman opened the drawers one by one with a flick of her stick. I froze, again, desperately hoping that she wouldn't find the secret switch.

Snowstripe barely blinked, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she was worried. She just stared off into space. When Bellatrix shook her head, Voldemort lifted his wand, screaming a word that I didn't recognize.

"Crucio!" he shrieked, and as I heard his normal voice for the first time, my blood froze. Whatever he did, it hurt my mom. I almost couldn't stay still and quiet as I heard her scream. Apparently, whatever this word did, it was torture. Her scream was agonized, and I just huddled in the corner, not wanting to watch, yet unable to take my eyes off the scene. They left her fall, only to make her scream again, louder, and with more pain in her voice each time. I shuddered, not knowing what to do.

They continued for three days, nonstop. Well, not quite nonstop. Every hour, Voldemort ordered his followers out. (Death Eaters, he called them.) Each time, he asked only two questions.

"Where is it? It should know what its mother is feeling. Maybe you two can meet up wherever useless weaklings go when they die." He would say 'it' like it was an insult, as if she wasn't proud of her child. Even I could tell this was bait, and she could too, because she never told him where I hid, never even glanced my direction. I could never hear the second question; I could only hear my mother's snappy response.

"Oh, you're planning to commit suicide? You really should inform the Ministry of Magic, they'll be thrilled." I never understood this, mostly because I wasn't listening. I was enjoying the few minutes of near silence, or maybe just the absence of my mother's agonized screams. He would always follow the same pattern. Come; ask questions, leave; more torture.

Finally, I heard the voice scream the word that had given my mother so much pain, a brief, weak scream, then silence. I dared to look for half a second, instantly regretting it. My mother, the warrior that taught me all I knew, was dead. I could tell by the strange scent already starting to seep into my hiding place. I heard their creepy laughing, and completely forgot what my mother had said. I bolted from my hiding place, huddling next to her limp, cooling body. I didn't know what to do, so I just lifted my tiny wolf muzzle and howled my misery.

I heard his voice shriek a new word, and as a blast of green light hit my left foreleg, I tripped, hitting my head on a chunk of wood that had been a part of a wall. As I lay there, stunned, I could hear them moving away. Common sense, terror, and the fact that I couldn't see straight kept me from moving until they were gone.

As soon as they left, I sat up, shaking the stars out of my eyes. I huddled next to my mother's body until morning, as she had explained the Warrior's death ceremony went.

When I felt the dawn sun, I sat up carefully, licked the part of my leg that still ached from the curse, and I somehow knew that the only reason they'd left was that the curse he'd yelled was supposed to kill me. I couldn't make out the exact words, but I knew I would never use them.

Next, I started planning. I was on my own now, and I had no clue where to go. I shifted, staying low to the ground as I grabbed different things my mother had told me to keep with me at all costs. The knife she'd made for me, hoping that she would be the one to teach me to use it. The bag she'd made for herself, but told me I could have in an emergency. Sorry mom, this is an emergency. I thought, hoping what she'd said about our Warrior ancestors was true. That was the only thing that kept me calm; the fact that she said that she would always be with me.

The last thing I grabbed was something she'd called 'unnecessary, but useful,' a small, gem-looking thing that she'd always warned not to let it get warm. It looked like a dark red ruby, and it was precious to me because it was hers.

I shifted again and set off. Snowstripe had taken me to what she called 'safe houses' many times, so I knew the routes well. The one closest to us were the Potters,' I had a soft spot for them because they were really nice, and they knew all about Warriors. I walked carefully because my left leg still hurt, despite the herbs I put on it, following the trail, terrified that the Death Eaters would come for me next.

It seemed like forever until I got there, but I carefully padded up to their door around sunset, three dawns (days) after my mom died. It still didn't seem real. Lily was inside with James, but they came quickly when I scratched carefully on the door, not wanting to leave marks. I would've used the doorbell, but I wasn't tall enough.

The instant they saw me, they let me come in. Lily noticed my limp, and quickly put more antibiotic on it. James was more interested in where my mom was, but after a few seconds, he seemed to realize what had happened.

"She's gone isn't she? Your mom?" He asked gently. Since they knew about Warriors, they were never ones to use the stupid 'baby talk' that everyone else did. If they wanted answers, they asked the questions. I nodded miserably.

"Death Eaters?" Lily put in questioningly. I nodded again. I quickly used the first skill I had learned, sending my thoughts to others, and explained what had happened, not in detail, but I explained. Lily glanced at James, and I added I'll leave if you want, I can handle myself. They'd been really nice, but it seemed like people I cared about tended to get hurt.

"Awww," James groaned. "We would've said 'hit the road,' but now that you offered. Lily'll never let you leave." I glanced at Lily questioningly, and she shook her head. I wasn't sure if he was being serious or not, but I was honestly offering, not trying to guilt them into keeping me. Lily had known my mom better than James obviously because she suddenly glanced at me, then at him.

"James, Snowstripe was never a joker, and I doubt she would have taught her daughter that. She was honestly offering to leave." She explained. James suddenly looked sorry.

"Just joking. Your mom was a really good friend of ours; we'd never leave her daughter in need of a place. We owe her that, and probably more" He said, and I relaxed. Lily showed me where I could stay, and for about a season (year) my life was pretty good. I stayed a wolf, and they got used to me really quick. When Harry was born, I stayed. I really got attached to the kid.

They'd sent me out on a shopping trip when Voldemort caught up with them. I got back in time to take a chunk out of him with my claws when he aimed for Harry. Lily and James, the nearest people to parents I'd had in my life, were dead before I got back, but at least they'd died quick.

I attacked with all the strength in my wolf form, and that was a whole freaking lot, but he smacked me off, knocking me silly in the meantime. I saw him aim for Harry, the kid I practically considered a brother, and say the curse. I saw it fly towards him, then almost bounce off and fly back to Voldemort.

In the explosion that followed, I got blown out of the house. I finally managed to get back up, scrambling for a footing as I ran up to Harry's room as fast as I could. I wasn't sure exactly what had just happened, but I was sure Voldemort would be back. I curled down next to Harry, keeping him sheltered from the snow with my fur, and slept.

After a few hours, a giant man arrived on a motorcycle. I wouldn't have glanced at him twice, except for the minor fact that the motorcycle was flying. He came inside, not doing much, since the house was already destroyed, and came upstairs. I got up, growling, and showing that, despite my exhaustion, I would not let him hurt my friend.

He carefully glanced at me, and then at Harry. As soon as he saw that Harry was unharmed, except for the lightning-shaped cut that I could only assume came from the curse that bounced off of him, he relaxed.

"I don' know who you are, but I promise not ter hurt 'im. Professor Dumbledore sent me. I'm Hagrid." He said, trying to calm me down, I guess. I let him go over to Harry, watching him like a hawk. Hagrid didn't look at me, except when he went to pick Harry up. I put my ears back, but nodded, and he seemed to understand that while I didn't specifically like it, I would allow it.

He walked out of the ruin, with me trailing behind. I nuzzled Lily and James gently, saying a wolf/warrior goodbye to the people I respected as parents. I hopped on the back of his motorcycle, and it was Hagrid's turn to nod, showing that he got the message that I was coming, one way or another. I curled back down, and he sat Harry next to me. Then, we took off.

Flying was awesome, and it seemed like the ride was over too soon. The instant we landed, Hagrid said hello to two people I couldn't see. I hopped off the motorcycle warily, not wanting Harry to be left with strangers. Hagrid quickly explained that I'd been there before he got there, and was apparently going where Harry went. The man, Professor Dumbledore, nodded.

"Yes, Hagrid, I should have warned you that Lily and James adopted their school friend's daughter after she was killed a few months back. Miss Cloudkit here seems to have gotten quite attached to young Harry." I growled softly, not liking it that this new person had Harry out of sight, even if only by millimeters. I might have the mind of a 10-season-old, but I also had a pretty hotheaded wolf brain, and that part of my mind was very protective. The lady, Professor McGonagall, looked horrified.

"How do we know she won't hurt him? She seems pretty dangerous." She exclaimed, looking worried. Professor Dumbledore laughed, as though that thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

"She's had a rough night, and she doesn't know us. It's a wonder she hasn't attacked any of us yet, but I'm confident she won't harm Harry." He answered calmly. "Her own mother was killed rather brutally a few months ago, and no doubt she feels a little bit guilty that everyone she's lived with is gone, except Harry, so no doubt she'll be determined to keep him safe."

Professor McGonagall looked like she was having trouble believing anything he said. "Besides, she's a Warrior. Just because she has the body of a child, she probably thinks about 50 years above witch and wizard kids her age. She has the self control of an adult, if not someone older. Hagrid, did she in any way harm you as you remove Harry from the house?" Professor Dumbledore added when Professor McGonagall remained looking unconvinced.

"Nope, she growled a few times, but she was a good little wolf." I glared at him when he called me 'little,' but when Professor Dumbledore held Harry down at my level, I eagerly checked to make sure he was okay. I nosed his hand gently away, sniffing at Harry's face. That was mostly the wolf part of my brain, but I wanted to check on him, none the less. Professor Dumbledore smiled, and for the first time that night, I relaxed.

After some debating, I was told that I was allowed to stay. I gave my best attempt at a grin, and everyone laughed quietly. Professor Dumbledore gently placed Harry on the steps with a letter, explaining what had happened. He quickly wrote out another, insisting that I would be allowed to stay. (Even if they said I couldn't, I'd gotten pretty good at hiding.)