A/N- Hello guys and welcome to my first ever Harry Potter AU fic! As you can see this is a theme that has been used several (but thankfully, not enough) times. I aim to keep it as relatively close to canon as possible but of course when you're dealing with a samurai wizard there are bound to be things that will be extremely AU. This will mainly be a Harry/Ginny fic. Anyway enjoy and don't forget to R&R!

Prologue

Halloween was usually a time of fun and laughter. Parents supervised their children as they darted from house to house, looking to add to the mountain of sugar growing in their goodie bags whilst dressed as a frightening monster of myth and legend. Unbeknownst to the non-magical community, many of these creatures were very real and even more dangerous than they could possibly imagine. Halloween was also a time when the ambient magic of the world was at its strongest, especially magic of the Dark Arts, which was why a certain Dark Lord chose this holiday night to attack and destroy the one prophesied to destroy him.

Wearing a long cloak with a hood pulled over his head to conceal his less-than-human features, Lord Voldemort stalked into Godric's Hollow, located in the West Country of England. Silent as a viper stalking a mouse, he practically glided over the grass and footpaths of the small village. He was briefly waylaid by a small Muggle child, who excitedly complimented the Dark Lord's attire before running back to his parents. Voldemort was tempted to kill the filthy Muggles, but decided that his mission was more important.

Continuing on his way, Voldemort soon found himself standing before a small white cottage surrounded by a vine-infested wooden fence. Some vines could be seen climbing up along the outer walls of the cottage as well. Perhaps it was intentionally left that way to give the cottage a sense of homeliness and to give it that fairy tale look of old. Not that anybody could see it, except for Voldemort. The cottage was protected by a Fidelius Charm, a powerful spell that magically hid an item from the rest of the world. The secret of the object's location was guarded by a Secret Keeper, who was the only person who could willingly tell someone of the Charm. Unfortunately for the inhabitants of the cottage, Voldemort was told of the Potter's location by someone they considered a close friend, dearest Peter Pettigrew. Drawing his wand, Voldemort marched up the steps of the cottage, prepared to secure his claim over the Wizarding World.

oOoOoOo

James Potter laughed as he watched his one year old son Harry clapping happily and pointing at the light show he was making with his wand. The small boy attempted to grab the sparkling lights with his chubby hands, but to no avail. Leaning against the doorway into the living room stood James' beautiful wife Lily, who watched their child with a serene look on her face. They watched as Harry's attention was quickly diverted to the family cat, who had been trying to sneak past the baby as quietly as it could.

James laughed when Harry practically pounced on the poor feline and grabbed its tail, then pulled it into a tight hug. The cat meowed grumpily as it was subjected to Harry's ministrations, but the orange fluff ball was used to the torture by now and knew that Harry would get bored of him soon.

Its predictions proved true when Harry let go of the cat and yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Lily smiled and picked up her son, cradling him lovingly as she prepared to take him up to his room in the nursery. James stood up from the couch, pocketing his wand and prepared to follow his wife. Just as he exited the doorway a loud GONG sounded loudly, shaking the walls of the house. James walked over to the front window of the cottage and saw the menacing cloaked form of Lord Voldemort.

"Lily, take our son and go!" James commanded, drawing his wand. "Voldemort's here!"

"Voldemort? How would he know where we were?" cried Lily.

"He must have gotten to Peter. Now go! I'll hold him off!" urged James.

"But James-"

"GO!" Lily nodded her head, but quickly pulled her husband into a hug and kissed him fiercely, knowing that it would probably be last time she saw him alive. She quickly darted up the stairs while James turned around and faced the door.

The door was blown off its hinges by a curse from Voldemort, and James barely ducked in time before it flew over his head and smashed into the wall behind him. Voldemort stepped forward, grinning evilly as his bright red eyes flashed in the darkness.

"Where is the boy?" the evil man demanded.

"What boy? There are a lot of boys living here in Godric's Hollow, you know," replied James offhandedly. Voldemort glared at the man's defiance.

"You dare mock me?" challenged Voldemort. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" James rolled out of the way of the curse and fired off a round of multiple jinxes and curses, all of which Voldemort easily deflected. James ducked as another Killing Curse was fired at him and shot off a Reductor Curse at the ground near Voldemort's feet. The explosion sent the Dark Lord crashing into a wall but he quickly recovered and disarmed the younger wizard.

"Impressive James," complimented Voldemort, "it's a shame you didn't join me when you had the chance."

James glared at his foe. "What? you think that because I don't have my wand anymore I can't hurt you? I'll punch you in the nose! OH WAIT!" he mocked, pointing at Voldemort;s noseless face. Voldemort was stunned at James' brashness, and James used the advantage to slam his fist into the evil wizard's pale face. Voldemort staggered back in surprise at the attack. Just as James was preparing for another swing, Voldemort pointed his wand at the man and fired a Killing Curse. The curse struck James directly in the chest and sent him flying. James Potter was dead before he hit the ground.

oOoOoOo

Lily knew her husband was dead from the sound of a body hitting the ground. Crying silently, she closed the nursery door shut and locked it before placing Harry, who was beginning to stir, into his cradle. The baby looked up at his mother, crying "Mumma?" Lily smiled sadly and stroked his messy black hair, soothing the child.

"It's alright Harry," she whispered, "Mummy's here. Mummy loves you very much." Harry smiled and reached out for his mother. Just then the nursery door blew open and Voldemort stepped forward with a murderous look on his face.

"Step aside girl, and your life will be spared," he hissed, pointing his wand at Lily.

"No! Not my baby! Not Harry!" Lily cried.

"Move away girl!"

"No please kill me instead!"

Voldemort shrugged. "So be it," he said and shot a Killing Curse at Lily.

Lily turned around to face her son. "I love you Harry!" she shouted before her body was consumed by the sickly green light and she fell to the ground, dead.

Voldemort stepped over Lily's body carelessly and peered into the cot which held Harry. Harry, seemingly unaware of the danger he was in, smiled up at Voldemort and raised his arms in the air towards the Dark Lord, wanting to be hugged. Voldemort sneered.

"This is the one who was meant to defeat me?" he scoffed. Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry's forehead. "Goodbye, Harry Potter. Avada Kedavra!" The green curse left the tip of Voldemort's wand and struck the baby on the forehead, but instead of being consumed by the boy's body and killing him, it circled around him for a moment before rebounding at twice the speed as when it left Voldemort's wand.

"What the-?!" was all Voldemort could say before he was struck by his own curse, ripping the piece of his soul left from his body and flinging him through the nursery wall and out the other side. The explosion blew a hole straight through the roof and demolishing much of the rest of the cottage as well. Voldemort's soul let out an ear-splitting screech before vanishing into the night, leaving the now crying boy by himself.

oOoOoOo

Sirius Black knew something was wrong the moment Peter failed to show up for the third Order meeting in a row. Remus wasn't there at tonight's meeting, but that was because the full moon was the night before and he was still recovering from the ordeal. Dumbledore wasn't there either, so that left Minerva McGonagall in charge of the meeting's proceedings. But he couldn't concentrate on what was going on. He was vaguely aware of Alastor Moody talking about upgrading the security in Diagon Alley and Arthur Weasley's reports of the goings on in the Ministry.

Suddenly a chime went off loudly the reverberated off the walls of the Burrow, where they were meeting. Upstairs crying could be heard from both of the two youngest Weasley children and Molly had to excuse herself to care for her two babies.

Sirius paled. That was the alarm to signal if the Fidelius Charm surrounding James and Lily's house failed, which could only mean one thing. He stood up from his chair so quickly it fell back, startling everyone else.

"Sirius what's wrong?" asked Minerva, but he didn't answer, heading straight for the door and outside before he Disapparated.

oOoOoOo

Flying the rest of the way to Godric's Hollow on his enchanted motorcycle, Sirius parked it right outside where the Potter's house should have been. He vaulted over the bike and ran as fast as he could with his wand out and gasped at the sight.

The Potter's house was clearly visible, with the front door missing and smoke billowing out from a hole in the roof where Harry's room was. Calming himself, Sirius took a few steps forward and peered carefully inside the front. He saw the door, splintered against the wall opposite. There was a hole in the floorboards from a curse, which Sirius had to jump over to avoid falling into. He then saw some more broken floorboards and pieces of a wall covering a still form. Sirius removed the debris from the body and found a lifeless James, his glassy eyes staring at nothing. Sirius' body shook from shock but he forced himself to calm himself. He had to make sure Lily and Harry were ok.

Calming himself, he closed his best friend's eyes and stood up. Taking a deep breath, Sirius squared his shoulder and climbed up the stairs and headed towards the nursery. The door was blown off there as well, but the was a hole in the wall next to it with a cloaked body. Voldemort, Sirius growled in his mind. He quickly kicked the body as hard as he could to make sure it wasn't going to get up, then walked into the nursery.

Sirius choked back a sob when he saw Lily's body slouched on the floor he crouched over and closed her eyes as well, fighting back tears. He knew she was dead, but where was Harry? His question was answered when he heard a faint cry coming from the cot. Sirius rushed over to the small bed and saw Harry looking u at him with his big emerald green eyes. Blood was leaking from a lightning bolt-shaped wound from his forehead, but other than that Harry looked fine.

"Siri?" asked the baby. Sirius smiled at the baby and picked him up.

"I'm here kiddo," soothed Sirius.

"Where Mumma?" cried Harry. Sirius glanced over to Lily's body and swallowed the knot forming in his throat.

"Mum's having a rest Harry," answered Sirius. Harry seemed to understand, for he curled himself up as close as he could to Sirius' body and fell asleep in his arms. Sirius walked down the stairs, purposely not glancing in the direction where he knew James' body lay.

Sirius heard someone approaching and shifted Harry so that he could hold him in one arm and drew his wand, pointing it to the remains of the front entrance. A massive figure blocked the doorway. A giant? Did Voldemort send someone to finish off Harry? thought Sirius.

"Sirius?" boomed a loud voice. Sirius sighed in relief and pocketed his wand.

"Hagrid? Is that you?" asked Sirius. The massive man crouched lower so that Sirius could see his bushy beard and beetle-black eyes.

"It's me. Wha' happened 'ere?" said Hagrid as he moved over to allow Sirius outside.

Sirius sniffed. "Voldemort came and tried to kill Harry," he sniffed. Hagrid looked at him in shock.

"James and Lily?"

"Dead," replied Sirius sorrowfully. "Voldemort tried to get Harry but something happened and Voldemort's gone.

"Gone? As in dead?" Sirius shook his head.

"I don't think so. We all know that he took steps to ensure his immortality."

Hagrid's eyes filled with tears and he pulled out a handkerchief the size of a tablecloth. When he calmed down, Hagrid looked down at the sleeping baby in Sirius' arms.

"Dumbledore sent meh," said Hagrid, "he said I 'ave to take 'Arry to the Dursley's."

Sirius' eyes widened. "Petunia? She hated Lily and anything to do with magic! Why would Dumbledore want Harry there?"

Hagrid looked uncomfortable. "I dunno, but Dumbledore said something 'bout blood wards to protect 'Arry."

Sirius glanced down at the sleeping Harry. "He won't be safe there. The danger will be inside the home not outside," he whispered. He straightened himself up and glared at the giant man. "Look Hagrid. I can't allow you to take my godson, regardless of what Dumbledore said." He raised his hand to stop Hagrid's reply. "I know Dumbledore means well but he will at Harry as a means to and end. Voldemort isn't gone and for whatever reason believe's Harry to be a threat. I'm going to take him somewhere safe until he's ready to come home."

Hagrid looked stunned for a moment. "Sirius, everyone thinks that yeh were the Secret Keeper," he said. Sirius shook his head.

"That was the plan. I told James that everyone knew I was his closest friend so I became the decoy while Peter was the real Secret Keeper." Hagrid's eyes widened in shock at the revelation.

"Peter Pettigrew?" stammered the half-giant. Sirius nodded, then looked at his bike.

"Hagrid, take my bike and use it to get to Dumbledore. Try to explain the situation to him and tell him I'll get back to him as soon as Harry is safe to explain everything," said Sirius. He handed Hagrid the keys to the motorbike and stepped back.

"Where are yeh gonna take 'im?" asked Hagrid quickly. Sirius smiled sadly.

"Somewhere safe," was all he said before he disappeared with a crack!

oOoOoOo

Dumbledore frowned as he sat in his office inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After Hagrid returned without little Harry and told him that Sirius Black had disappeared with the boy, Dumbledore was angry. Then Hagrid revealed to him that Mr. Black was not the Potter's Secret Keeper, he was both a little startled and relieved. The revelation convinced Dumbledore that Sirius had Harry's interests at heart, but he still wasn't comfortable that Sirius had rejected Dumbledore's plans for the Dursleys to take care of the boy. Minerva

He was aware that Lily and Petunia had never gotten along but he was positive that Petunia would put aside her own self-interests to take care of her sister's only son. After all, Petunia had a son about the same age as Harry.

Sighing, Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and stared up into the ceiling. Harry's disappearance definitely complicated his plans.

oOoOoOo

Meanwhile, across all of Wizarding Britain, people celebrated the fall of You-Know-Who and the sacrifice of the Potters. Many raised their glasses and chanted "To Harry Potter! The Boy-Who-Lived!" all the while wondering what had become of the boy.