The Warriors Path

A/N: Hey guys. I know it's been a really long time since I posted for this story but I realized that I was essentially making a super hero story and that I didn't have a reliable way to balance the sides. So, I decided to revamp this fanfic. I've adjusted the time frame a little to suit my story as well as adding or taking away some aspects. Obviously, this is going to be a non-cannon/AU fic due to the changes I'll be making. Any and all characters that are not JK Rowling's are mine and are fictional. The events depicted here within are not real but are based off a multitude of different experiences. Not sure about ships or bashing but I definitely will include some based on how the story plays out. Thanks so much for your patience with me and any constructive criticism I've gotten. As always, I am not JK Rowling nor do I own the Harry Potter series. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy. Fenris.

Chapter 1: Finding a purpose.

Ash, smoke, and dust filled his lungs as he ran ducking, dodging and weaving in an effort to avoid the bullets screaming past him. With a grunt, US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Gunderson, took cover behind a low wall with the rest of his squad. 'Somebody get on the fucking air and call in support! We're surrounded!' The roar of his Lieutenant came ringing through the cacophony of hellish sound like a cold wind through a jacket. The men of the notorious 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, a.k.a. Darkhorse, let loose the dogs of war as they brought hell to the land of the living. Bullets sang their deadly song as they ripped through the air, walls, and men. Grenades, mortars, and other explosives boomed, and the earth seemed to tremble in fear and horror as man fought man with the terrible weaponry of the 21st century. The little no name town they were in didn't even matter, not to the Marines and probably not to Al Qaeda. Kyle doubted that it would still exist by the time they were done. He was shaken out of his thoughts by the Lt's voice. 'Gunny! Get your ass in a perch and give em hell!'

'Oorah!'

And he was moving. Taking the stairs two at a time he ducked into a room on the fifth floor and set up on a table in the middle of the room. With his spotter Neil right next to him Kyle began to line up his shots.

'Target: Officer, Distance: 600 yards, Wind 2 knots, moving left to right. Hold ¾ MOA up, half MOA left. Fire when ready.'

Time seemed to slow as Kyle controlled his breathing and he waited for that space between heart beats. Then he smoothly pulled the trigger till it broke. Kyle's M40-A3 sniper rifle roared as it spat out the 165 grain .308 boat tail hallow point. It left the barrel at over 2,800 ft. per second and hit the target with 2,900 ft. lbs. of energy. The bullet ripped through the left side of the target's chest, punched through tissue, muscle and shattered the ribs before piercing the heart and exploding out the back in a spray of blood and gore. The man dropped like a puppet with cut strings. Kyle calmly worked the bolt of his rifle and fired again. For almost twenty minutes the two sides fought, wreaking havoc on the town in an effort to kill each other. 'Gunny!' crackled through the small radio. 'Move two blocks back now! Air support is 2 mikes out.'

'Shit! We need to fucking move!'

Slinging his rifle over his shoulder and grabbing his M4 from beside the door, Kyle bolted down the stairs with Neil on his tail. 'Come on we gotta move!' The two men practically flew down the stairs as the headed for the alley. 'Stack up on the door!' Kyle poked his out and immediately pulled his head back. In the next second a fusillade of bullets smashed into the wall where his head had been a moment before. 'Fucking hajjis. Go! I'll cover you!' Kyle stepped out and unleashed a barrage of fire as Neil sprinted towards the rest of the squad. Ducking back into cover he reloaded. '30 seconds! Kyle move!' came over the radio. With a deep breath, he raced out into the street once more firing as he moved. He was 100ft from the door when the world exploded and he blacked out.

o00O00o

It seemed like an eternity. Kyle had been stuck in the hospital for 4 months after the events that had transpired in that no name village somewhere in Afghanistan. And now he left with his life shattered and no purpose. He had been honorably discharged from the Marine Corps with a Purple Heart, 2 Bronze Stars, a silver Star, and the Navy Cross for his actions in combat, but now he had no idea where to go next. His mind drifted back to a time when he had been happier. He still remembered that fateful day when he had left the family that had built up around him in order to defend his country. He doubted that he would ever forget it.

Flashback:

Kyle walked up to the cozy little cottage that was hidden away in a small town called Godric's Hallow in England. When he knocked a woman's, voice answered. 'Coming!'

Kyle smiled at the sight when the door was flung open. A fair skinned, scarlet haired, green-eyed woman stood in the door way with a beaming smile on her face. 'Kyle! It's good to see you. Come in, will you?'

Kyle laughed, 'Of course.'

'James! Kyle is here.'

A tall dark-haired man with hazel eyes stepped off the bottom of the stairs with a bundle in his arms. Handing his son off to his wife the man gave Kyle a hug. 'Damn it's good to see you Chaos.'

'It's good to see you too Prongs. You and Lily both. It's been too long.'

'Yeah. It's been what almost 3 years since we saw you last? Not since we left Hogwarts after Graduation in 98.'

'No, I was at the wedding but had to leave soon after.'

'That's right. So, what have you been up too?'

'I had some things to take care of at home.'

James nodded knowingly. It came as no surprise to him that Kyle's grandfather, the man who had raised him, past on recently. The old Viking had been going on 122.

'So, how is little Harry?'

Lily came back from the kitchen. 'He's been great. He is already displaying small signs of accidental magic, nothing major yet, and he is already walking and knows some numbers and letters.'

Kyle laughed. 'Why am I not surprised? He probably gets it from the two of you. I would bet he got his brain from the both of you.'

The adults all laughed. James slung an arm around Kyle. 'Come on. Let's go watch some football or whatever you call it on the muggle tevy that you set up.'

Lily frowned but they knew she was joking by her tone. 'Why I ever married a dimwit like you is beyond me. Honestly, you'd think he would have learned by now.'

The men laughed and walked into the living room where Kyle had set up the tv that he had given the Potters as a wedding gift. A couple of magic suppression and power runes later and the tv worked on and around magic. The old friends relaxed as they caught up. At 20 something years old and a major part of the magical civil war that was occurring in England, they hadn't had much time to just be themselves. They were just setting up for dinner when the peace was shattered. 'Kyle!' James yelled, 'You need to come see this!'

'What's uppppppp? Oh shit!'

In the silence, the news announcer could be heard clearly. 'At 8:45 this morning the World Trade Center was hit by a hijacked United Airlines flight that departed from Boston. At 9:03 a second plane hit the World Trade Center. Osama bin Laden, the leader of the terrorist group called Al Qaeda is taking responsibility for this terror attack on American soil. President Bush is….'

The announcers voice cut off as Lily turned off the tv. Kyle was shaken out of his shock. Quickly he started to grab his things.

'Kyle, what are you doing?'

'Getting my things. I need to go.'

'What? Kyle, I understand that your country was attacked but there is nothing you can do about it.'

'I still have to go.'

'But why? There is nothing that you can ….'

'STOP! Lily just stop, please stop. I love you like a sister, but I have to go. This means war. And no matter where I am I can't escape it. They will call people to fight. I can tell you for a fact, without having to ask that men like me, men whose fathers were or are war heroes are already packing their gear. I have to go. It's my home, my country. Those are my countrymen that they killed. I can't do anything from here.'

James sighed. 'But Kyle, there is a war here.'

'As much as it hurts to say, it's not my war. Voldemort is a monster and if given the chance to kill him I would. But I can't even fight him. The ministry does nothing and no matter how much I argue with him Dumbledore won't change his tactics. You guys don't need me. Not right now. I swore to protect you and stand by you no matter what and I will. But you are in the hands of the most powerful wizard this world has seen since Merlin. What am I going to do that can top that? That can offer more protection than that? Yeah, my Norse heritage gave me a few unique abilities and I am more powerful than most, maybe even the two of you. But I cannot fight like this. Waiting to be attacked and then hoping to make it there in time. No, I have to go home.'

Lily looked at him with tears in her eyes before she rushed to him and pulled him into a hug. 'Stay safe,' she whispered, 'and you had better come back to me, to us.'

Kyle nodded. 'I will.'

James shook his hand solemnly. 'Good luck and good hunting Chaos. Give em hell.'

Kyle gave him a dark and grim smile. 'You know I will.'

Than with a muted crack he turned on his heel and disappeared.

Flashback end:

Kyle would never forget that night. But that had been eight years ago and now he had no idea what to do next. He was dragged from his thoughts by his cell phone ringing. Pulling it out of his pocket he groaned. The display read Caroline Sharp. Caroline was a CIA agent he had meet while working in Special Ops. They had dated and then gotten married after he got back to the States but after a few years their jobs had basically driven them apart. Kyle answered and started talking. 'Hey look, I'm sorry I know that I said I would get the divorce papers to the attorney but it's been a busy day and….'

'Kyle, it's not about that.'

'What?'

'Do you remember that request you made that night back when we were starting to seriously date?'

'Vaguely.'

'You asked me to let you know if I ever came across a certain name.'

Kyle froze, then he spoke with hope, grief and despair in his voice. 'What did you find.'

'That name, Harold, Harry, Potter appeared in MI6's records a couple of days ago. Apparently, he is an 9-year-old male who lives in Surrey, England. He came up in the records because his teacher had his class take a test designed by the English Board of Education. Based on his scores the kid is a genius. He has perfect scores in Math, History, Literature, all the basics plus he has apparently been studying Latin and Greek with older students. His file says that he has near perfect recall, and with time can understand everything short of metaphysics. He even plays the guitar and violin. Who is this kid? And why are you looking for him?'

'I owe some friends a debt.'

'So, what are you going to do? Kidnap him or something?'

'NO! That kid is their son. I swore to protect them and they died because I wasn't there. It's too late for them but not for Harry. What's his address again?'

'Number 4 Privet Drive, Surrey England.'

'Why is that familiarrrrr. Oh, my fucking god. That bastard didn't! HE CAN'T POSSIBLE BE THAT STUPID!'

'KYLE! What the fuck are you talking about?'

'That address, that's the address of Harry's Aunt Petunia. Petunia hated Lily, Harry's mom. And she has the kind of vindictive and viscous streak to take it out on a kid. Her husband is even worse.'

'Oh my God. You don't think?'

'I need to go. I have to pack.'

'I'll send you the info you need. Meet me at the airport in an hour.'

'What? Meet you? Why?'

'Man, you are dumb sometimes. If you're going to get him away from them, you have to adopt him. And they are not going to let an American Marine, no matter how distinguished, who is barely two months out of the hospital after surviving a battle in Afghanistan adopt by himself. Harry will need a mother figure.'

'And what do we do once we gain custody of him?'

'We will cross that bridge when we get there.'

'Right, I'll see you in an hour then.'

'See you then.'

Kyle cut the call and began throwing clothes into a bag. He had places to be and things to do.