Author's note:

And...I'm publishing Chapter 2 just ONE day after Chapter 1! However, from June 2 onward, I'm returning to school so I probably can't update very often till after exams in Oct. But for the whole of November and December, I can probably do 1 chapter a day! Yeah!

Chapter 2: Shopping and Potter Manor

Harry stood outside Gringotts looking around with wide eyes. He had only been there once, the previous year and he had not had much time to explore. Harry had just come from his meeting with Griphook, and had on him letters from his parents, property deeds and a sackful of galleons. He had also found out that Ronald, Dumbledore and Ginny had been stealing from him! He was glad, however, to find out that Hermione was indeed his true friend. As he made his way to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink after the shocking revelations from Griphook, he attracted odd stares from the witches and wizards in Diagon Alley.

Walking into the Leaky Cauldron, Harry was unnerved by the stares he was attracting yet again. When Tom walked over to take his order, he could not help but ask "Hey Tom, what's with all the stares?" Tom shifted uneasily before replying "Um... ya in... muggle clothes that is... torn and too big?" Harry mentally sighed, Madam Malkins would be his first stop. "Ah... One butterbeer please". Tom nodded, shuffling away and reappearing moments later with a bottle of butterbeer. As Harry sipped on his butterbeer, he took out his father's letter.

My dearest Harry,

If you are reading this than I must have died at the hands of Lord Voldemort. I left this letter with Griphook with instructions to explain about your heritage and pass this letter along to you. I can only hope that your mother is still alive. If that is not the case, I believe she has a letter for you too. My dearest Harry, I am very sorry that I have not been able to see you grow up. It was your life or mine, and you will always be the most important to me. If you are reading this letter, Griphook would have informed you about the betrothal contract between you and Daphne Greengrass. I hope that you will happy with her. This contract is unbreakable, and if not fulfilled, you and Daphne might lose your magic.

Harry, you were a very powerful baby, so your mother and I had to bind your core. At Potter Manor there is a trunk with unlimited space. In it, your mother and I have stored books, our diaries and a instruction sheet on how to undo the binding on your core. To enter, you must cut your palm and place your bloody palm on the crest. Harry, the most important thing is, DO NOT trust Albus Dumbledore. He took my invisibility cloak from me, promising to return it but never did. We wanted to confront him, but by that time, we were already hiding under his Fidelius charm. I would like you to reestablish the alliances with House Longbottom, House Bones and House Greengrass.

Love,

James Potter

Your father

Picking up his mother's letter, Harry wiped his tears off his face.

Harry, my baby,

I wish I could have been with you, watching you grow up. You must NOT trust Albus Dumbledore. He sees you as the savior of the wizarding world. Harry, lead your life the way you want. Work hard and study hard. From what I understand, you are betrothed to Daphne Greengrass. Her mother, Isabell Greengrass, is my friend. You can trust the Greengrasses. Your father mentioned the trunk in his letter, and I would like you to know that you should have been given the trunk by Sirius Black, your godfather at age 6. If Sirius was not able to take you in, you should have gone to the Longbottoms, Boneses, or the Greengrasses. Under no circumstances were you to go to my sister, Petunia Dursley and her husband.

Harry my dear, enjoy your life. I can't wait to meet my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Love

Lily Evans Potter

Your loving mother.

Harry wiped his tears off his face and sniffled. He would have to go to Potter Manor immediately. Shopping could wait. "Potter Manor" Harry pressed his lips to his ring, disappearing in a swirl.

-HPHPHPHPHPHPHP-

Harry landed in a clearing surrounded by a forest. Confused, he looked around until he spotted a large rock bearing the Potter Crest. He stepped forward confidently, swiping his palm with a silver knife he had found on the rock, pressing his palm on the crest.

A large manor rose, seemingly from the ground. A elf appeared in front of Harry, its hands on its hips, bearing a frown on its tiny face. "Who be you? What are yous doing here?" The elf took a closer look, disbelief spreading across its face before clicking its fingers. "Master Harry is back! Master Harry is back!" The five elves danced around Harry in glee.

"Alright now. What are your names?" Harry broke out into a smile at the elves' show of devotion. "Master Harry, I be Petey. I be the head elf of Potter Manor." "Master Harry, I be Rallie. I take care of the cooking." "Master Harry, I be Callie. I be the Lady Potter's elf." "Master Harry, I be Pinny. I be your personal elf." "Master Harry, I be Hosy, I be taking care of the manor and cleaning."

Harry smiled. "Okay, Petey, Rallie, Callie, Pinny and Hosy, I'm going to bed now. Tomorrow morning, I'll be going to Diagon alley. First, Pinny, can you bring me the trunk left by my parents?" Pinny popped away and returned instantly with a big black trunk embossed with a golden Potter crest. "Master Harry, you must put your finger on the crest. It will take a blood sample." Harry did as he was told, opening the trunk, finding a piece of golden parchment on top. Following the instructions on it, he pointed his wand at himself, chanting, "Remove cuneos in anima mea, in mea core removere caudices" A silver light surrounded him, covering him from head to toe. He felt a rush of magic from his core, free for the first time in years.

Harry barely made it to his bed, collapsing on it and falling into a deep sleep.

-HPHPHPHPHPHPHP-

Harry woke up to the sound of chirping by his window. A snow white owl was pecking on his window, surrounded by chirping birds. He stretched and yawned, walk over to the window and opened it, startled when the owl flew in. The owl immediately flew in, bit his finger a drank some of his blood. "Harry! I am your familiar. I've been knocking on your window since last night. I am Hedwig. I just bonded to you!" "Well, Hedwig, pleased to meet you! I'm Harry. I'm so sorry for making you wait all night. Would you like to sleep in the owlery for now? I'll buy you a perch when I go shopping." Hedwig nipped him on his ear playfully before flying off to the owlery.

-HPHPHPHPHPHPHP-

Harry reappeared at the portkey point in Diagon alley, wearing one of his father's on robes that his elves had managed to shrink for him. His first destination was Madam Malkin's. There, he bought a whole new set of school robes in acromantula silk, and all sorts of robes, dress robes, muggle pants, shirts, underwear and anything he could think of. At first, Madam Malkin was skeptical of his ability to pay for all the clothes, but he just flashed his bag of galleons, and she said no more, throwing him all sorts of clothes to try on.

After paying a gleeful Madam Malkin 200 galleons, he left the shop, heading towards Flourish & Blotts. He stopped 5 metres in front of the shop and groaned. Gilderoy Lockhart was signing books today, and the shop was so crowded. He edged his way inside and picked all his school books, making his way to the counter when Lockhart spotted him and grabbed him, telling him to smile for the cameras.

Harry, startled, screamed, "Touch me like that again, you wanker, and I won't hesitate to sue you! And you will address me as Lord Potter!" Lockhart took a step back, trying to contain the chaos. Harry shoved past Lockhart, who was blabbering something about teaching at Hogwarts. As if that idiot could teach! As Harry was a bout to step out of the door, Draco Malfoy intercepted him. "Ah... Famous Harry Potter, can't even enter a bookstore without making tthe front page..." Lockhart had already pushed Harry's patience to the limits, and Draco Broke right past those limits. "Malfoy, for the last time, its Lord Potter! Say something like that again and I'll sue you for slander!"

-HPHPHPHPHPHPHP-

Harry reappeared in his bedroom in Potter Manor. All in all, it hadn't been too bad a day. He had went shopping, got a familiar and embarrassed this Lockhart guy and Malfoy.

And, thanks for reading! Next chapter: Visiting the Longbottoms, Boneses and Greengrasses!

Cassiopeia Virgo Black