Summary: Hogwarts' forbidden forest plays host to many creatures, and centaurs are not the only intelligent ones. What if instead of meeting Firenze in the forest, Harry was saved by a fox before the centaur could interfere? Who is this fox, and how will he affect the fate of our favorite golden boy hero? No bashing, no slash, no pairings yet.

Disclaimer: Do I own anything? Well, let me ask you something else first. Do you see Naruto and Harry being completely, overpoweringly, unrealistically epic? Is Sasuke dead? Are Itachi, Jiraiya, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Minato, Neji, and all my other favorite characters alive? Do you see an OC that looks just like me married to Kakashi? No? Well, there's your answer.

Warnings: Uh...nope. Nothing. Right now anyway...

Talking - "People need to stop using YOLO as an excuse to do stupid things."

Thinking - 'Agreed'

A/N: Hola peeps! KDTBpantherwulf here with a fanfic idea that's actually been bouncing around in my head for the better part of a year. Finally decided to write it, and see if I could do something with it. I haven't seen too many ideas that are all that similar to the one I have in mind, so if I fall into any cliches, someone please tell me. This is my first Harry/Naruto xover, so please don't hate. I'd appreciate reviews, and flames will be used to heat my coffee. Also, I haven't really watched any of the recent Naruto Shippuden episodes, I just know that Neji is dead, and the Tobito people were right. I think. Not much of the Naruverse will really be included here, and most of what is will be after manga-time. So...yeah. Enjoy!

5/18/2013 A/N: Yay! This fic is now being beta-d by RoxyConan-Kun, so the horrifying mistakes are gone! Woohoo!

01/31/2016: I'm editing this whole thing now that I've revamped my plot. No major changes in this chapter, just a couple of odd grammar spots fixed.

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Harry was confused. And scared. But mostly confused. Minutes before, he'd been roaming the forbidden forest with Draco and Fang in search of an injured unicorn for a detention assigned by his head of house. They'd found it, and it was dead, which was horrifying in itself. However, that wasn't the most dreadful thing, for as they stood by and watched in transfixed horror, a figure in a black, hooded cloak came out of nowhere, and began drinking its blood. Sufficed to say, both were terrified, but Malfoy cracked first and screamed before fleeing, Fang hot on his heels.

As the figure looked up, Harry found that he was too terrified to do much other than gape, and his scar was so painful that it felt like it was on fire. The figure began stalking toward him, and as he backed away, a small cynical part of his brain not overcome with pain, fear, or adrenaline wondered if tonight was the night he would die. Maybe it was his fate for having cheated death once already? He backed himself up against a tree, and the figure kept slowly closing the distance, seemingly not in any rush.

Then, he heard a sound that didn't belong, leaves rustling from behind him, and a low pitched but loud growl. He quickly snapped his head to the side, practically giving himself whiplash, and came face to face with a large fox. And large it was, being about the height of a donkey, with razor sharp fangs glinting in the dim moonlight, red-orange pelt bristling, and glowing purple eyes focused completely on the black cloaked figure in front of it, ignoring Harry.

It snarled, and the black clad figure hurriedly backed up before disappearing. It made a motion to follow, then seemed to shake its head, which really didn't make sense since it was a fox after all, before turning to Harry. Said first year was certain it was going to eat him, and covered his face with his hands. When the seconds ticked by, and nothing happened, he peeked an eye out from behind his fingers to see the fox staring at him, giving him an unimpressed look, if foxes can do that.

"Uh...nice fox. Please don't eat me." He murmured apprehensively. He didn't really have a very good reputation with animals of the canine family, he thought, remembering Aunt Marge's dogs. He flinched when the fox huffed at him, and was surprised when instead of biting him or something equally violent, it merely brushed its tail lightly against his face and sat down next to him on its haunches, looking for all the world like it wanted him to climb on.

"Um..." Harry was dumbfounded to say the least. What happened to the fierce fox from just a moment ago? As he stared, the fox seemed to roll its eyes, which again isn't remotely possible for a fox, and Harry squeaked (though he would later insist it was a very manly grunt) when he was suddenly picked up by a furry appendage and deposited on the fox's warm, soft back.

It had glanced at him, to all appearances seemingly checking to see that he was settled, before it set off at an easy lope through the forest. "Er..." And now we come to the present. As Harry sat atop the large fox, marveling at the apparent ease at which it carried him, he wondered where the fox was taking him. It seemed to know where it was going, wherever they were headed, but Harry was slightly afraid that it was taking him back to its den to eat him or something. 'I don't think it would save me just to kill me later though. Seems like it would be a waste of time...' He thought reassuringly to himself, relaxing slightly and burying his hands in the fox's warm fur.

He shivered slightly in the cool air; it was nighttime, they were in Scotland, and he only had his school robes on to keep him warm. The fox seemed to feel him, as it tightened the tail wrapped around his waist and picked up its pace, the easy lope turning into a canter. The wind whipped through his hair as he threw his head back, the feeling similar to that of a broom, yet different at the same time. As the fox bounded through the forest, Harry felt his adrenaline fading, and glee building up within his chest, and he did nothing to stop it. He let it free, his shrieks of delight and bubbling laughter bouncing off the trees surrounding them. In those few moments, he felt as though he'd truly been set free, as though all his worries had momentarily left him.

All too soon though, it was over as the fox slowed from its run to a walk again. Harry realized that he was at the edge of the forbidden forest, and sighed unhappily. He didn't want to leave his new-found friend, or at least he considered the animal a friend. Seeing as defeating a troll together made people friends, certainly being saved from a dangerous, black-cloaked figure applied a well.

However, it didn't seem that he had a choice, as the fox's tail that was wrapped around him lifted him from his warm and comfy spot upon its back. He was deposited to its side, and he walked around to its front to say goodbye. "I don't know if you can understand me," He said slowly, feeling kind of stupid, but gaining confidence as he continued. "But I'd like to thank you for saving me tonight. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't been there to help me." He shivered, a combination of lingering fear and the chilly air being its cause.

He took a deep breath to gather his courage, not certain even after the non-hostile behavior the fox had displayed through this encounter if it would react well, and stepped forward to wrap his arms as far around the fox as he could. Being a small 11 year old, this wasn't very far, but the fox seemed to appreciate the gesture, as it stretched its head over his shoulder so that they were standing in a mutual pseudo hug.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye." He said regretfully, and was surprised when the fox seemed to sigh before leaning back and butting his chest gently with its head. 'Though on second thought, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by anything in the magical world anymore. How is this surprising after meeting a three headed dog?' They stayed in their embrace for a few moments more, before they both took a step back. Harry watched as the fox turned around and, with one lingering look backward, retreated into the forest, disappearing amongst the shadows of the trees.

He watched as its red-orange fur was swallowed by the darkness of the forest, his heart heavy, before shooting green sparks up from his wand to call the others to him. Minutes later, which he had spent fidgeting anxiously in the darkness by himself wishing the fox hadn't left, Hagrid came crashing out of the forest, crossbow up and ready, the other three first years trailing behind him with red faces. Obviously the pace had been rough, as Neville practically collapsed on the ground as they came to a stop, and Hermione was gasping for air. Even Draco was affected; he couldn't keep up his superior expression as his hair was askew, his robes were dirty, and he was gasping as much as Hermione, ruining the whole effort.

Hagrid rushed over, and frantically began looking him over "Harry! Are yeh alright? Did yeh get hurt at all?" Hagrid asked while patting the dirt off his clothes, practically making him collapse from the force. Before Harry could answer, Hagrid continued, "When Draco came runnin' towards us, I ran straight to the clearin', but yeh weren't there! I though' summat 'ad happened to yeh when I found the dead unicorn, but no you! The centaurs didn't seem worried, but they never do, ruddy horses..." Hagrid trailed off into inaudible mutters.

"Don't worry Hagrid, I'm fine. I was saved by this enormous fox. I didn't even know they grew to be that big!" Harry said, reassuring Hagrid as the other first year detentioners caught their breath from sprinting through the forest after Hagrid.

"Giant fox? Didn't know we 'ad giant foxes. Wonder why I've never seen 'em during my rounds..." Hagrid mumbled to himself, though it was heard by Harry, confusing him a bit. 'Well, even as the groundskeeper, I guess he wouldn't know of everything in a forest this large.'

"Well you lot, let's get yeh back up to the castle. This detention's over since we found the thing that was hurtin' the unicorns, and I'm sure yer ready to get to yer beds." Hagrid said to the four first years. Neville picked himself up off the floor, Hermione kept taking deep breaths to refill her lungs, and Draco attempted to clean himself up as they made their way to the castle.

Harry was lost in thought about his new friend, wondering if he'd ever see the fox again. 'What if it gets hurt or something?' He thought, completely ignoring the obvious fact, that being that the fox wasn't anywhere near helpless, as the young are wont to do when there's something they want. 'I'll make sure I see it again, even if I have to go out into the forest and find it myself!' He thought determinedly. His determination wavered slightly when he remembered his most recent encounter with the forest's other inhabitants. 'During the day. I'll go during the day. Less scary then.' he thought, shuddering. Neither he nor his companions noticed the purple eyes that tracked their progress until they were safe within the castle walls before disappearing back into the forest.

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A/N: Kay, so, first chapter. Yay! Well...it's more of a prologue than a chapter I guess. If you haven't figured out who the fox is, you deserve to be lynched. It's not too hard, honest. Just think. Who else has a hero complex and a connection to foxes? ...and if you say Minato or Kushina, I will bite you. Even if you'd be right...XP I'll get another chapter out as soon as I can, but high school sucks. As does writing Hagrid. His accent is funky. I don't have a beta, so if anyone catches any mistakes, feel free to PM me about them, or if you wanna be a beta, that'd be nice too! Sometimes though, things that look like mistakes are just cause I made up a word. ^.^ ' Guess that's all for now...Ja ne!