Hey everyone. So this is my new story, in a new fandom - not really sure how well I write these characters, but it's worth a shot.

This is only the first chapter, and I've already written the next... four(?). I'm just posting this now to see if there's anything important I've missed with the characters, and how interested people might be.

So enjoy!

(Oh, and believe it or not, I don't own these - shock horror)

"Has anyone seen Jack?"

The question hung in the silence. Bunny looked away, while Sandy stared at the floor.

"Not since the last meeting…" Tooth answered him, wings beating nervously.

North rested his head on his fist speculatively. "I wonder why he never joins us?"

At this, Sandy ceased his study of the floorboards and waved his arms. Once he had the others' attention, golden images flitted over his head rapidly in his attempt to convey a message.

"Uh, Sandy mate," Bunny began. "We can't understand it when you talk so quick."

The golden man looked put out for a minute, before trying again in a more controlled manner.

"Ah!" exclaimed North. "He is nervous of our company?"

"What?" asked Bunny sceptically. "Frostbite doesn't get nervous – otherwise he wouldn't be so irritating!"

"Maybe…" Tooth began tentatively. "Maybe he's just not used to company? He has been alone for a long time."

"Three centuries," North agreed. "But how can we make him feel welcome here?"

Bunny snorted. "Who cares?"

Tooth opened her mouth to argue, but one look at Bunny's face told her that he was only protesting for the sake of it. He obviously cared about Jack as much as the rest of them.

"So what should we do?" she asked instead.

The four of them looked at each other for a minute, contemplating the best course of action.

Suddenly, Sandy put his hand up, with a light bulb over his head. The others looked over to him, North inclining his head to indicate they were paying attention.

A question mark, followed by a crescent moon appeared. The others looked surprised.

"We should ask the Man in the Moon?" Bunny translated.

They thought about it for a moment, before North nodded. "Yes. Manny will know what to do."

"He doesn't usually have anything to do with this sort of thing," Tooth commented.

Bunny shrugged. "Might as well try."

The centuries-old Guardians of Childhood made their way to the room with the skylight.

North stood before the circular glass window, arms raised. "Manny," he began. "We need help – how can we help Jack to fit in here?"

For a few minutes, nothing happened. Bunny sighed, and made to turn around, when they saw an ethereal moonbeam cut through the air. On the floor, a spot was highlighted, and from it emerged a small crystal. Despite not having been used to communicate across the atmosphere for at least two decades, the stone gleamed brightly. Through the smooth outer casing, cracks in the rock made swirling patterns not dissimilar to Jack's frost.

Above the gem, mist swirled, the moonlight giving it a silver glow. Gradually, the mist cleared, and the Guardians could see the beginnings of a shape beneath it.

"A castle?" Tooth frowned.

And sure enough, the mist had formed the shape of a huge castle, with classic turrets and bridges framed by braziers of fire.

North raised an eyebrow. "I recognise that place." He thought for a moment. "An… acquaintance of mine, Albus Dumbledore, teaches there. I believe it's called 'Hogwarts'."

"A school?"

Bunny's question was met with a shrug. "I assume that attending school will get Jack well acquainted with people. And if it's Hogwarts, he's unlikely to stand out."

Tooth cocked her head. "How come?"

Once again, Sandy waved his arms, but this time no one paid attention.

"It's school of magic," North explained. "They're used to strange things."

Bunny grinned at North calling Jack strange, but decided not to comment. He was distracted by a sharp pain in his arm, and he looked down to see Sandy, fist curled.

Realising he had the pooka's attention, Sandy pointed vigorously back to the image. Bunny looked back at it, to see the picture changing. It blurred, as though zooming through the castle walls, and focussed on the figure of a boy, about fifteen.

"I think I recognise him…" North muttered. "He looks like kid in Albus' newspaper… Harry Potter, I think."

"Do you think the Man in the Moon wants Jack to protect him?" asked Tooth. "I can't think of any other reason he'd be shown."

North clapped his huge hands together. "Sorted! Jack will go to Hogwarts and protect Harry Potter!"

Bunny crossed his arms. "We need more information than that, mate. How old does he have to be? How will people see him? How-"

"Enough!" responded North jovially. "Manny will sort all that out. I'll talk to Albus and get Jack admitted in right year."

"How long have we got?" asked Tooth.

"School starts in September," North explained. "So Jack would have to stay in England for few weeks to get himself ready… Meaning we have about two days."

"And we don't actually know where Jack is," Bunny pointed out.

At that point, there was a loud smash, followed by the tinkling of broken glass. The four Guardians' heads snapped up to the window, shielding their faces from the falling glass.

"Uh… Hi?" Jack grinned sheepishly. His hoodie was coated in the dust from the broken window, making it shimmer even more than usual.

"Well, Bunny, I think that solves your problem," North grinned.

"Sorry I'm late, I was – hey, who's that?" Jack pointed at the figure of Harry.

Bunny, Tooth and Sandy looked at North. He sighed. "Very well, I will explain. Jack, we need you to protect this boy."

Jack shrugged. "Okay, what from?"

There was a pause. "We're… We're not quite sure."

Jack looked at them disbelievingly. "Seriously?"

"Anyway," North coughed. "You will guard him in secret, by attending his school."

The winter spirit's eyes widened. "School? But…" He bit his lip. "People won't be able to see me."

North smiled. "No worries, Manny will take care of that. We will send you tomorrow."

Jack had a panicked look on his face. "But..." he began again, looking at them as though wondering whether voice his thoughts. "That involves lots of reading and writing, doesn't it?"

The others were confused, not really noticing his expression.

"Well, yeah," said Tooth. "Is that an issue?"

"Um… I…" Jack looked at them nervously, wondering if they'd laugh at him. "I-never-learnt-how-to," he said in one breath.

North and Bunny exchanged confused glances. "Wha-"

"Oh, Jack!" Tooth exclaimed. Apparently her speed as part hummingbird extended to her being able to understand fast speech. "That's fine, we'll help you."

"Tell you what," North began, since he still had no idea what Jack had said, but it was clear it embarrassed him. "You get some rest for tomorrow, and we'll sort everything out."

Jack looked between them and sighed. "Okay." He walked to the door, and one of the yetis led him away.

"So what was that about, Tooth?" Bunny asked curiously.

"Jack never learnt to read and write," the fairy explained.

North smiled. "No problem! I'll ask Albus if he can help."

A noise like a steam train interrupted them. They turned to see Sandy with steam coming out of his ears. Using his silent language that the others had long since adapted to, he told them his concerns.

"You think Jack will feel like we've abandoned him?" Tooth questioned. "I see what you mean, but-"

"But if Manny wants him there, it must be good," North finished.

Although he didn't say it, Sandy wondered how 'good' the Man in the Moon's decision to leave Jack alone for so long was.

"Anyway," Bunny added. "Frostbite will enjoy himself, and he'll get used to people again."

With their decision seemingly made, the four returned to their duties and homes for the night.

Lying awake in North's guest bedroom, Jack stared at the ceiling. A lone tear slid down his cheek, before freezing to his skin.

Absently pulling it away, Jack whispered to himself, "Why are they sending me away?"