Disclaimer: Like always, I'm only playing in JKR's territory, this time with references and concepts borrowed WB's Shadow of Mordor. I only own characters you don't recognize.

Pain. That was the first sensation that entered my awareness. Pain, not of the body, but of something deeper, more powerful. This kind of pain drives a man mad.

I could not see. I could not hear. I could not taste or smell or touch, but I could feel. I could feel that I did not have a body… No wait, I did?

Slowly, there came into my awareness an… other. One not me, but somehow in me. No, around me. I was the one inside.

The body was so small and frail, and the more I paid attention to it the less the pain came. I turned all my attention to this… child? No, not a child, smaller… A babe. A little babe, wrapped in a blanket and placed in a basket before the portal of a home. I knelt with my not-body over its- his- tiny form, and something in me sang out to him. A song of caring, of love, of protection.

I did not know where I was, when I was, or perhaps even who I was, but in that moment, I knew one thing: that I would guide and protect this infant for all his days, until such a day came that I was not needed.

I brushed my not-hand over his face, and the jagged scar on his head. "Rest easy, little one. I will be here. Always."

And, as I felt my strength, my self begin to wane and fade away, into the body and soul of my new charge, his eyes opened and stared straight into mine. One, I saw, was an entrancing emerald green. The other seemed to stare into my core, and icy shade of blue I suddenly realized I knew, and knew well.

That was my eye.

And I knew no more.

/*/*/

When I next came to myself, I felt… diminished. Yet, there was no pain, and I could feel once again. I lay in darkness, on what must be a bed. I breathed slowly, and evenly, as if asleep. But, I was not asleep, I was awake, aware!

Was I?

Suddenly, there was a banging through the entire space I- no, he! – slept, and a gruff voice shouting, "UP, boy! We want some good breakfast from you, and you better make it quick!"

The body jerked awake, and eyes flew open on the first banging. I could feel the heart being rushed with adrenaline (now how did I know that?) and the child- my child – meekly replied, "Yes, Uncle Vernon."

I remained silent an unknown, content to merely observe for now.

It was readily apparent that much time had passed since my last awakening. The infant I remembered was no longer such, and easily able to walk. Judging by the height, walking pace, and speech ability, not to mention limited coordination, I felt it a safe estimate to say the boy was no more than 5, more likely 4, years of age.

Which made the events of the rest of that day all the more appalling and enraging.

I watched as this young child, not fit to wield even a folding knife, cooked enough food to feed a full section of troops and served it to two men while being allowed only a slice of bread, some cheese, and cold meat. I watched as he cleaned the entire abode, quietly crying at times, without rest. I watched as this mere boy again made the food, then was sent outside to tend to the plants and yard. I watched as this toddler did more work than 2 grown men did in a day, enduring the pain and suffering and unbearable labor, and wondered what on earth was done to deserve such treatment.

Somehow, I knew I could enter his memories, and by the same token to be gentle, as he could only take so much. I carefully applied what little Power I had and dove into his recent memories of the past few days, only to find… nothing. I searched further, and further back, more than my charge could ever remember alone, and found something that could have, once, prompted a punishment. The second child (Dudley, the name whispered across to me from another time and memory) had taken a toy from my boy's hands, only to fly across the room less than a minute later back into its original place.

The man (Vernon) had lashed him with a belt, for 'doing freakishness,' and did not stop, no matter how many times he screamed and begged and apologized, until the beast of a man was satisfied the child had 'learned his lesson.'

This happened years ago.

So, when my charge laid in bed that night, sore and tired and hungry, I resolved to help him as much as I could, and get him away from these horrible excuses for humans. I stumbled into a wall in the first step of greeting him, however, upon realizing I didn't know his name. In fact, I didn't think even he knew his name. For some reason, though, I felt as if I should know it already.

Harry.

The voice startled me. It was a woman, a mother, said from… somewhere. The boy, Harry, did not hear it as well. How strange. But I pressed on.

[Hello Harry.] I projected gently, so as not to startle him too badly.

He sat up and looked around, frightened. "Who's there?"

[Shhh… Quiet now, little one, do not speak aloud. Or, at least, not too loud. I will hear you]

The boy whispered now, "Who… Who are you?"

The question stunned me as I thought about it. Such a simple question, and yet… I didn't know. I could not remember my name, my home… anything. I did not know who I was!

But, … I knew who I was in that moment.

[I… am your Guardian, Harry]

"My… wait, Harry? Is that… Me?"

The hope in his fragile voice nearly broke my heart, and the cautious hope I felt inside him finished it.

[Yes, my boy. Your name is Harry. Harry James Potter.]

/*/*/

Over the next few years, I was Harry's constant companion. I helped in any way I could, told him things to say or do to avoid trouble, how to pilfer things he needed, how to lie, and run, and hide. I still could not remember how I knew these skills, and more, how to teach them. It was a point of frustration for us both, at times, but I found it didn't matter. So long as I cared for little Harry, it wasn't a bother at all.

Then, one day after school, something marvelous happened.

Dudley's gang was chasing Harry down the street, playing their most and our least favorite game: Harry Hunting. While it did do wonders for his reflexes, and was an optimal time to test the evasion skills I somehow knew and was teaching, it was never worth the inevitable cracked or broken ribs and bruises all over. This time, though, Harry had run down a dead-end alley by mistake, and now had no way out. He looked around frantically, searching for anything that could help or truly hide him. But there was nothing. I felt so helpless, knowing I was unable to defend my charge and wishing, just like Harry for just one way out…

And then I felt a tingle. As if coming from the back of my brain, a sudden solution came to mind with a startling certainty of success. I acted quickly, knowing that they would come around any second.

[HARRY!] I cried to him, startling him from his shock before I pushed information at him that I had only just realized I knew. A gesture, an impulse, a command, combined to save my precious boy. And me, lending the Power and weaving it just so to work.

He knew to trust me with this, as he did in all things, and so he merely followed the instructions. He looked to the rooftop, clenched his left fist, and pulled from within—

And suddenly, even as I gave him the Power he needed, a different, overwhelming force, shining a brilliant green to my blue swept me aside like so much sand in the tide, and—

The world around us blurred with speed, and just as suddenly stopped as we found ourselves on the roof at the point Harry was focused on.

Then a veritable flood of information broke some dam in my mind, and washed over me, telling me everything I once knew about a subject that would change things forever:

Magic.

I couldn't stop myself from laughing hysterically at all I now knew, and the Power now at my metaphorical fingertips.

'Guardian?' Harry thought at me, his worry about my current state apparent even without the ability to know his mood. 'What… just happened?'

I sent the sensation of a manic grin to him, [That, dear Harry, was Blinking. And there in a whole lot more where that came from…] My giddiness and anticipation was obvious to even him.

I felt him adopt a similar, and dare I say evil grin himself.

"You know what… I really like the sound of that."

/*/*/

A/N: Next up, our Wraith finally realizes his nature and starts teaching Harry a few handy tricks!

A/N #2: Shout out to my first reviewer on this story, INQ8448, for inspiring me to stay up two extra hours and get this out! You're awesome!