Hello everybody! Thank you for everybody that reviewed, favorited, and followed, which is a lot of you! I don't have much to say, but one important thing...

I first wanted to have Harry paired with Yang, but as more and more people voted and the story developed in my head, that changed. Harry will be officially paired with Ruby! Sorry to everyone that wanted differently, but it's the way the story will develop...

Okay, that's over with. Onto the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY, which an anime web series, and Harry Potter, which is a book series, both owned by different people who are not me.

Last Edit: 10/22/17

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Yang panted, nearly spent, as she walked and stumbled her way through the bleak woods. It was getting later on in the day, or at least she thought it was; the clouds were covering the sun, making everything darker and dreary. The barren trees didn't help the atmosphere as they loomed over the path that she was taking, causing darker shadows to form in the distance. The dirt and mud squelched beneath her feet, dried tracks of wheels and footsteps showed that the path had been used, but was abandoned now for years. Puddles from the recent rain were still there, making the ground soft and muddy. All in all a fitting atmosphere for what today was.

Yang tripped over her feet with a surprised cry and fell, causing a small splatter of dirt and mud to splatter around. She slowly pushed herself up and brushed off her clothes a bit, and then continued walking, struggling to pull the red wagon with her sister bundled up in it behind her. She had been walking for hours and Ruby had fallen asleep, too young to stay awake for long, exhausted from the journey, and Yang was hoping there was a time and place for her to follow her sister's example when they got to where she was headed.

We're almost there Rubes, just a bit further, Yang said in her mind, a repeating mantra that had been going on for a while now. Soon we'll have a mom again. And then maybe I'll get some answers. She had been planning this trip for days. Ever since she found a picture of her mom (and dad in it) with an address on the back after weeks of questions and searching, she'd been getting things ready. A few snacks, bottled water put into a wagon, the picture, and a dot on a map to find out where she was going was all she had.

It was a long journey to the place she was going. Patch was a large island off the coast of Vale, about 5,000 square miles give or take. However only about a quarter of it was inhabited by humans and Faunus, the rest was wilderness or worse populated with the Grimm. Where Yang was going to was where a small village was located (at least on the map), and then to the outskirts of said village. Yang had hoped to get there and back before her dad Taiyang Xiao Long, or anybody really, noticed she was gone. He was still sad, or depressed -Yang thought was the better word- about Summer's death, who was Ruby's birth mom, and the maternal figure for both young girls. It was the second time his wife had left him, and it hit him hard this time because Summer had no chance of coming back.

My mom, however, will be coming back, even if I have to drag her back with me, Yang vowed, ignoring the fact she was exhausted. And then I'll ask her why she left in the first place. She could feel a burning in her chest at the thought but concentrated on the road again, the torch being fueled by her emotions, her determination.

A few hours ago she had put the things in the wagon and went over to Ruby, who was playing with her plushy Beowolf. "Hey Rubes," Yang said to get her attention.

"Ya?" Ruby looked up with those innocent silver eyes that she got from Summer, brushing a few strands of black hair with red tips out of her face; something else that she got from Summer.

"You want to go somewhere for your birthday?" Yang asked.

"Whare?" Ruby asked, tilting her five-year-old head as she looked at her older sister, a slight lisp from her young voice.

"I'm going to find mom, want to come with?" Yang asked, giving a little white lie about whose mom she was going to find.

"Okey-doke!" Ruby stood up and grabbed her older sister's offered hand and they set off, with Ruby getting in the wagon. Yang bitter-sweetly smiled at Ruby's innocence but said nothing.

That had been several hours ago and they were almost there. About an hour ago Ruby had fallen asleep and was blissfully unaware of their surroundings. Yang, however, was hyper-aware even with her aching muscles fogging and slowing her mind.

She brushed one of her pigtails over her shoulder and glanced around. The trees seemed to be looming over the path and faint rustling could be heard farther off in the forest. More doubt started to seep into her mind; that this wasn't a good idea, that there would be now answers in the end. But she had come too far now. She had to find out what happened to her mom.

I don't even know what her name is. Dad's never talked about her except in passing. Probably because she left and broke his heart before Summer put it back together. And now he's hurting even more. We need her. I need to know why she left. Yang continued walking, glancing around to make sure she was still on the path and that nothing was coming up at them.

A few minutes, or it might have been an hour later, Yang rounded a bend and saw her destination. To her growing disbelief, she hurried closer to make sure that the fading light wasn't playing tricks on her eyes, but it got worse the closer she did get. The house was made mostly out of wood and at one point had windows. But the glass was broken and ground into shards, and the wooden planks that made up the walls were falling out, molded and rotted away. There may have been a second story, but it had partially collapsed on itself due to rot and weather. There may have also been a front lawn, but it had been either overgrown or poisoned since it looked as wild as the forest.

This… this isn't it, Yang thought desperately. This can't be it. Nobody can be here. Nobody can live here. Yang checked the map and the picture again, and they both pointed to this place as the spot. No. No, this is… this can't be. I was so close. I was so close! A single tear rolled out of her eye, devastation flowing through her, sapping what was left of her strength.

Suddenly she could see movement inside the ruined doorway. She stilled as she felt uneasy, as if a dark fog settled over her mind. Then a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness under the arch. Then another, then a third. Then there was growling; a dark, hungry growl that animals have when they are on the hunt.

The growl of the Beowolf.

Yang let the map and picture slide out of her nerveless hands as she stared at her approaching certain death. Then with a sudden horrifying thought, she realized, No, not just mine; Ruby's as well. Yang dragged her out there with her and they were both helpless. They were seven and five years old; they couldn't outrun even the youngest Beowolf. And Yang couldn't move at all. All her energy, her motivation, had drained out of her and vanished like smoke in the wind upon the revelation that her journey was hopeless, pointless even. What hope did a seven year old have against a monster whose sole purpose was to wipe mankind off the face of Remnant? Her inner fire had died.

Oh Oum, I'm sorry Ruby, Yang thought despairingly as the Beowolves crept closer. What a birthday present...

One growled again and that was the signal for the three to attack. Yang couldn't even react as she just watched them leap at the two of them. Another tear came out of her eye.

Suddenly there was a rustle of movement from behind her and then a blur jumped in front. There was a shwing-slash sound, then six separate thumps hitting the ground. Yang watched as the three Beowolves split in half diagonally and the two parts fell to the ground.

There was a caw from a crow somewhere that broke Yang out of her stupor. She looked up and saw a man with black and grey hair that was styled backwards wearing a tattered dark red cloak. He had on a suit jacket that was light grey with black collars rolled up slightly, and black pants and shoes. He was holding a large, segmented scythe that was as tall as he was, silver metal catching the last of the daylight. He turned around and looked at Yang with dark grey eyes. He had a slightly oval face that was chiseled out slightly, looking like the heroic ancient statues from the old Kingdoms, just with a bit more stubble.

"Are you all right?" The man asked, his voice a light, slightly raspy tenor. Yang could only nod as her brain realized who her salvation was.

Uncle Qrow.

Unlike like how Ruby is her half sister, Qrow was the brother of her birth mother. Like her father, Qrow fell into a depression when his sister vanished, and then again when Summer died since they were good friends, but he seemed to be taking it a little better. But it didn't explain why he was here right then.

Qrow seemed to understand that Yang was still in shock and continued talking. "I came after you when Taiyang found you two missing from home. I followed you based on your tracks." He glanced around. "I want to scold you for your idiotic lapse of judgment, but this isn't the place for it. Let's get you kiddos back home." He collapsed his scythe back into a sword, which then folded in half for better storage and placed it on his back. He then went over and picked up Yang who recovered enough to wrap her arms around him as much as she could. Qrow shifted so he was holding Yang in one arm and went to pick up the wagon handle.

Ruby shifted inside the wagon and opened her silver eyes, then yawned and blinked sleepily. She focused on Qrow and a smile crossed her face. "Hiya Uncle Qwow!"

The older man looked down at his niece and gave a smirk. "Hey there Pipsqueak. Ready to go back home?"

Ruby blinked and looked around, seeing the scenery for the first time. She shivered, looking at the ominous trees, but then her gaze reached the house. "What's in dere?" She pointed.

"Nothing," Qrow said softly, "just bad memories and ghosts." He started wheeling the wagon away, still holding Yang.

"Did ya look?"

That question stopped Qrow in his tracks. "Why would I look? It's abandoned, probably has been for years." Yang flinched in his arm, still trying to understand her utter failure and brush with disaster. Qrow tightened his grip comfortingly around her.

"But dere might be something inside," Ruby said.

"Anything in there has probably been looted or destroyed. Let's go back home."

"Pleeze? Look? Iz my birfday," Ruby begged.

Yang was confused as to why Ruby was so insistent about the house. It's an empty shell. There's nothing for us here. "Rubes, there's nothing here," Yang said, her voice weak.

At that moment there was a loud crash from inside the abandoned house…

And a child's yelp of surprise and pain.

Ruby gave a grin. "Told ya."

As soon as he had a grasp on the crystal, it started glowing, leaving Harry in awe at the light, then it became painful when it got too bright. Harry felt himself vibrating and there was a rushing sound. Then it felt as if he was being spun around in one of those spinney things the doctors use on the telly.

Then it stopped and he felt himself land heavily on the floor with a reflexive moan.

Harry tried to make his head stop spinning but didn't have time as a louder crack came from right next to him, then an ominous creaking sound was heard and he suddenly felt himself falling -old, rotten wooden planks breaking underneath the abruptly added on weight. He fell a few feet and cried out when he landed, a shock running up his backside then another when his head connected with the ground, driving the breath out of him. Splinters and planks rained down and stuck in him in the legs and arms, causing bleeding cuts and adding a few more scars to his collection. Something landed on his glasses and caused them to crack. The trunk that came with him barely missed his head, causing some of his unruly hair to get trapped underneath it.

He laid on his back, trying to get air into his lungs and tears silently coming out of his eyes. What just happened? Where am I? What did that crystal do? Did I ruin the attic? Uncle Vernon's goin' to kill me this time. He couldn't see clearly as his broken glasses were distorting his vision. All he could see was shades of black and odd shapes, like he was still in the attic.

As Harry was gasping for breath, he could hear footsteps running towards him and movement as things were being moved. "Oh Monty," he heard a man say. Pieces of wood and other things were being moved off of him, including the trunk. Hands were touching him and Harry tried to push the man away. His brain had started fuzzing up with all of the things that happened and he saw Vernon pawing at him.

"I'm sorry Uncle Vernon, I'll get back to work," Harry wheezed out. "Plzzz don't huuurt me…"

"Shhh, calm down. You hit your head and partially concussed. Try to not move around."

"Wha'?" That's too nice to sound like Vernon. Harry blinked and tried to focus. He could barely see the features of a man through his cracked glasses, but he could tell that he wasn't Vernon since he didn't have his round shape. "Who are-?" Harry cut off as his head spun and fought down the urge to hurl.

"Yeah, definitely concussed," the man muttered. There was a tearing sound and Harry felt something wrap around his head somewhat tightly. "Don't move around. I'll get you out of here." Two hands came under him and lifted him up, being careful around his head to keep it from moving. Harry's glasses fell off but the man didn't stop. He was being carried out and the man said loudly, "Ruby, could you get out of the wagon for a moment?"

"Okay. Whoes dat?" A young girl's voice was heard.

"He was inside the house. He's hurt, so don't bother him a lot. He needs to be in the wagon."

"Okay, I'd be happy to share." Harry tried to see who was talking and all he saw was a small, red and black blur. He shifted his gaze and saw another yellow and brown blur sitting on the ground.

"Don't move," the person holding him said firmly and Harry did as the man said. Harry could feel himself being placed on a wooden platform as the hands moved away. "Ruby, make sure his head doesn't rock around a lot and make sure he stays awake." Someone, Ruby I guess, moved next to him and Harry felt his head being held.

"Don't move," Ruby said seriously, "Uncle Qwow said not to."

Harry smirked at the voice but really couldn't do anything else. A sudden jerk made him come back to the present as the wagon started to move, a wheel squeaking as it turned. Two hands were constantly held against his head and Harry lost track of time as the wagon continued its journey. Occasionally the man and another young girl, the yellow and brown blur hanging off of the man, would exchange a few words, with Ruby chiming in on occasion. Harry would only focus occasionally, but Ruby was keeping him awake by chatting away. It was amazing to Harry that Ruby could keep talking for that long, but she did. There was also a faint smell, but Harry couldn't recognize or focus on it.

After a time, the trees started thinning out and they got closer to civilization. He could vaguely hear the sound of cars and city noises. Harry looked around and saw a bunch of buildings around that were houses, but ones that looked more inviting than the Dursley's house. Where are we going? Where are these people taking me? Are they taking me back to the Dursleys? No, they can't! I don't want to go back.

Harry started to shake, trying to escape, panicking again, but Ruby's hands stilled him. "Hey, don't worry. You will be fine. We're going to help you! You can meet my dad and… oh yea, you can get those boo-boos cleaned. Mom used to do that, but she's not around no more. Me and Yang were out today trying to find her, cuz it'z my birf-birthday, but we found you instead! Oh, can we be friends after your boo-boos are better? I'd… I'd like that," Ruby ended softly.

Harry calmed down and had a smile as he listened to Ruby talk, her innocent demeanor making Harry calmer. He blinked and looked off to the side, knowing now that they were not going to the Dursleys.

As Harry looked on, he had to blink in disbelief. That… man had a tail. Am I seeing things now, or is that just a Halloween costume? A person had walked past them and had a tail. Harry almost believed it was a good costume until the tail waved around like a dog's. To realistic to be fake. Is that person a wizard? Do these people use magic?

The wagon stilled and Ruby jumped out, bringing Harry back to the present. "Hang on a moment kiddos, I need to call your dad," the man said. After getting verbal okays, he pulled something out and started talking to someone. Harry started going in and out of it so he missed the conversation. I'm tired. I think I'll go to sleep now… He closed his eyes, but was jerked awake when the man sharply said something to him.

"Hey! Don't fall asleep on us! Ya hear?"

Fear shot through Harry's body and he mumbled, "Yes Sir…"

"You need to stay awake for your health. If you fall asleep you might never wake up again." That might not be too bad… Harry thought to himself, tempted to close his eyes anyway.

The red and black girl got back in the wagon and held his head again. "You hear dat? Stay awake!" Harry had to grin again at her… everything.

"Alright," he mumbled and tried to keep his eyes open. It was terribly hard though.

They spent some time there, waiting for something until there was a car that pulled up, then somebody shouted in a deep tenor, "Yang! Ruby!" Harry looked and saw a big man with yellow hair, or at least what he made out of the blur since he was missing his glasses.

"Daddy!" Ruby called out while the smaller yellow blur ran to the man, who picked her up in a hug.

"Where did you two go? I had to get Qrow to go after you! Do you know how worried I was?" The man said, scolding the two girls while holding the figure.

"Taiyang," Qrow said, the first man that rescued him spoke up, "maybe you can discipline Yang later, but we found an injured boy and he needs to go to the hospital."

There was silence, then the other man agreed. "Okay. All of you get in the car. And you two," he said to Ruby and the other girl, "I'm not going to let you out of my sight for a while. You're in trouble Yang, but we'll wait until later to talk about this."

Harry heard the girl mumble something and then the red left his vision just before he felt the entire wagon get picked up and moved. Then the slam of doors and the starting of a car ignition. He was still in the wagon, and he could hear Ruby and the other girl talking softly. He had a feeling that things were changing for him, for the better.

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Don't worry, if it felt as if I've forgotten something, I have a plan... trust me.

Anyway, R.R.F.F.!

Till next time, I'm going to get some sleep now. It's 12:10 right now...

-OrangeGalen