Taking care of myself

Chapter 1: Finding Myself

Harry Potter was not in a good mood. When he had left the Dursleys at seventeen years of age he had been quite sure he would never return. Yet here he was, on their doorstep glaring at his stunned aunt. Actually, the glaring part wasn't half bad.

"Where is he?"

"Where is who?"

Harry smirked. "The magical one."

Petunia's eyes widened and she started to slam the door in his face. A very strong hand quickly caught the door before that could happen.

"Ah. Must be in the cupboard again eh?"

Petunia had no choice but to step back as the man, obviously a Potter, stepped into the house. She did, however try to stop him from reaching the cupboard.

"Now see here! I don't know who you are but you're not taking him! He... he's under my protection and will not leave this house!"

Harry looked at his aunt in surprise. "You must care something for the child after all. I'm shocked. However, you don't need to protect him from me." He broke out into a full grin. "After all, why would I hurt myself?" Harry had almost knocked the lock off the cupboard before Petunia finally found her senses.

"Yourself!?"

He turned around. "Yes, funny story that. I got thrown back in time so now I'm here to rescue him from you. Oh don't worry about paradoxes and the like, it won't happen. I've already checked."

"Thrown back in time?"

"Yes. Now if you'll excuse me I have to meet myself." He grinned and threw open the cupboard door. Wide, tear filled green eyes peered up at him.

"Harry, I'm your uncle James (who will for most of this story be called James) I've come to take care of you."

Petunia was doing her best to push James away from the cupboard door. "I will not allow this! The protection! The boy will be unprotected!"

James quickly scooped the five year old into his arms. "I, Harry James Potter do hereby swear upon mine and my mother's blood to care for and protect Harry Potter, child of Lilly Potter until the day I die." A soft, golden glow surrounded the man and child leaving them both feeling warm and safe. Harry, who was exhausted from all his chores and running from Dudley quickly dropped off to sleep deciding that the mystery of 'Uncle James' could be solved later. As he fell asleep, he could swear he heard a woman's voice singing softly as he drifted to sleep.

Upon James' oath, Petunia felt as if an arctic wild was blasting through her then suddenly went numb. "Wha...what was that?"

"His protection has been transferred to me. Don't worry; I'll take good care of him, far better than you ever would. I'll be taking him now and you won't be seeing either of us ever again... you hope." And with that, the two Harry James Potters vanished forever from Number Four, Privet Drive and for a while, from England all together.

Harry smiled as he took a deep breath of sea air and looked around him. The climate was warm, the people were few, magical, ignorant of current events and friendly. The child would grow strong here, he decided. There was a thick, lush forest that spanned the entire island. It even had a dead volcano at the center. The plot of land he had purchased was several dozen acres square and the people that lived closest to him had a couple of kids that would make excellent playmates when time allowed. He smiled as he shifted the child to one arm and opened the door. The place was perfect, absolutely perfect. The house he had magically built was humble but comfortable. It had two floors, three bedrooms, one bath, an expanded kitchen, training room, and den, the door under the stairs led to the training room so there was no cupboard under the stairs and he had already decorated his room and Harry's room. The interior of the home was all bamboo and Harry had simply put up colorful pictures and posters. Both Harry's rooms had a ceiling that had been charmed to show the sky. Most of the furniture was made of bamboo and the color scheme was navy blue, sky blue, white and a hint of crimson. Harry had already bought more than enough clothes for each of them (the child's would grow with him up to age eleven) and had done everything to make the house a home for both of them. Still cradling the child in his arms, he climbed the bamboo stairs (they had no railing but Harry had installed a magical net to catch anyone that fell) and took little Harry to his room to be put to bed. All around the room were pictures of people uncle James intended the boy to meet, know and love. There were also several pictures of his parents. Harry didn't so much as stir as James gently undressed him and put his brand now doggy pajamas on him. He tucked the child into bed and waved his arm to activate the temperature controls and monitoring charms he had already set. He then headed down to the beach. The charms would let him know when little Harry was starting to wake up.