Chapter one

Harry Potter couldn't believe his three free weeks at the Leaky Cauldron had come to an end. He had never felt more normal and more relaxed as he had over the last weeks. He had found out information about his family, courtesy of the goblins. He had been able to shop for proper clothes and shoes for the first time in his life, he had also bought a few pairs of new glasses. He wanted contact lenses, but he had to wait until he was sixteen unless he had a parent or guardian give permission. He was never going to ask the Dursley's for anything, not anymore.

Harry had also been able to do all his school work during the day while eating ice-creams, so he never had to do it by torch light late at night. He had also been given advice by many adults about his electives, so he had written to Professor McGonagall to request he change from divination to ancient runes. Her response had been that it was too late, so he responded that he will not be returning to Hogwarts, he would either give up magic and go to muggle school or move overseas and go to school in America. It only took a few hours for his classes to be fixed to his liking, without an explanation.

Harry chuckled at the thought of Dumbledore and McGonagall panicking that Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived didn't want to stay at Hogwarts when he couldn't take the classes he wanted. Even though he hated using his fame he decided since so many thought he already did to get away with things he might as well take advantage of it. Harry had planned to let the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly know if he had to leave he would, and he wrote that in his letter to McGonagall since he knew what would happen the moment she realised just how far Harry was willing to go. He knew what would happen, they would either give in or call his bluff, which wasn't a bluff. Harry had already spoken with the goblins to make sure they informed anyone asking about him that Harry had opened Gringotts accounts in America ready for the move. Harry knew the headmaster would have contacted Gringotts, so it all worked out perfectly for him.

Harry realised he'd been so naïve for the first two years, allowing Ron to talk him into skiving off lessons or homework, allowing Hermione to boss him around or to nag him into doing what she wanted or do the work when she wanted. He was not going to allow those two to tell him what to do anymore and if they didn't like it then that was there choice. He knew they would do everything to get him to agree with them, but nothing will change his mind. They might be his best friends and he cared about them a lot, but he realised it was time to start making his own decisions, since he had no parents, it had to be him. He had almost died a few times in the first two years, this time he was staying away from danger and just concentrating on his studies, but he was going to do it his way.

After surviving the Dursley's since he was one, he realised that unless he did well in school then he might end up back there, until they kicked him out then the ministry could work on a guardian for him, he was not going to let that happen, not if he could help it.

Harry had worked out a couple of things with the goblins, one was to stop all payments, then they were going to send word to the Dursley's that they would need to show all their receipts on what they spent the money on, everything that was involved with Harry's care. They would need to continue to do that until he was seventeen where he would leave Little Whinging for the last time. He could just imagine how panicked Vernon and Petunia were trying to work on ways to prove they bought for Harry when they never did. Harry had shown the goblins his memory so they knew they were expecting to be lied to, then they would take the Dursley's into their custody, where using goblin magic they would get the truth out of what they spent the money on that they got for Harry's care.

Harry wasn't a vindictive person but right now he didn't really care, he wanted some payback for the shit life he'd had at the Dursley's. He hoped it would end up where he would never have to return to Surrey. If he did he would have some protection from now on, a small device the goblins supplied Harry with, for a price of course. It would allow Harry to use magic without a wand or get picked up by the ministry. He knew he would only use it if they tried to starve him, make him work from morning until night, like he had to for years, but he would definitely use it if Vernon or Dudley tried to hurt him again. Vernon, Petunia and Dudley were petrified he would curse them or change them into toads, Harry figured dragon dung would be best. Every time he thought of turning the Dursley's into dragon dung he couldn't help laughing.

Harry had just finished shopping for his new robes and all his school supplies, he took them back to his room before he decided to sit outside in the sun. So now he was sitting outside Florean's ice-cream parlour having one of their great ice-creams. He heard his name, he turned to see Hermione and Ron hurrying towards him, both loaded with bags.

'Hi,' Harry smiled.

'You got new glasses,' Ron said as he sat down.

'Yeah, got rid of those old things, but I bought a couple of pairs, I also had all the charms done on them so they shouldn't break like those muggle glasses.'

'They look good, but oh Harry, I'm glad you're okay, we heard what happened with your aunt.'

'She's not my aunt, she's Vernon's sister and a bitch, she deserved what she got. Anyway, I'm fine, been having a great time staying here, Florean gives me ice-creams a dozen times a day, I'm sure I've put on a stone just in three weeks. But how were your holidays?'

'Great, Egypt was fantastic, Bill took us around to see all the old tombs.'

'I'm happy you had a great holiday, thanks for the newspaper clipping, you all looked happy.'

'We were, it's hot though, mum and dad constantly used cooling charms on us.'

'How about you Hermione, have a good holiday?'

'Yes, we went to Italy, very educational.'

'Same old Hermione, thinking of studying instead of having fun. So what's with the basket?'

'Oh, I got a pet, a cat called Crookshanks, but he seems to want to eat Scabbers, so I'm keeping him in the basket until I get him to my room at the Leaky Cauldron.'

'Scabbers is sick, we think he ate something that didn't agree with him,' Ron pointed to his pocket.

'I hate to say it Ron, but maybe he's just getting old. I know rats don't live that long whether they are normal rats or magical rats.'

'I know, I've thought of that as well. But I got him a rat tonic to see if it will help. Oh we're all staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight, mum and dad figured it was easier. We can floo straight from the pub to the platform.'

'Cool, Tom explained about the floo connected to platform nine and three quarters. One thing that always bugged me about the train.'

'I'm sure a lot of things bug you mate, but what in particular is this time?'

Harry shook his head at Ron, 'Well, what if you live in Scotland, why should you have to go all the way to London just to head back there, it's ridiculous. I mean if I get a home it will either be in Godric's Hollow, which is in wales, or Scotland somewhere, probably near a loch. If I lived there now I wouldn't want to take all day just to head back where I started.'

'I never thought of that, but I'm sure there are plenty of students who live close to Hogwarts. The thing is, how do we know they do take the train?' Hermione asked.

'I heard a couple of kids talking about it last year. Not about them but they know someone that has to floo from Scotland to the platform just to go back. Anyway, let's forget about how backwards that is. Have you finished buying everything you need?'

'Yep,' Ron pointed at his bags.

'Um, I meant to write but I wasn't sure when you would return. But I changed my elective from divination to ancient runes. I realised if I want to go into warding then I will need ancient runes and really, I don't believe in prophecies or fate, chance all that. I think we make our own choices and our own fate so divination is not something I want to do.'

'I always figured you might be an Auror, like your dad was,' Hermione said.

'No, I might be pretty good at defence, but fighting is not the life I want. I like the idea of warding homes or things and I plan to have my home warded with everything I can, when I buy one.'

'So you wouldn't move into Potter manor?' Ron asked cautiously.

'No, it's way too big, I don't like that type of thing. I want a nice cosy home, probably one or two bedroom cottage, something for me and one for guests. I know it'll be isolated, probably in the woods or something, but that's as far as I've thought so far. I need to survive Hogwarts before I think seriously about it. So I'm saying this now, I'm not getting involved with anything dangerous, I don't care if another giant basilisk pops up, I'm not lifting a finger, or a wand, let the hopeless teachers deal with it.'

Hermione and Ron both raised their eyebrows, they realised that their friend has changed. He seems more confident now, he's even talking about the future, something he has never done before. Both hoped Harry got his wish about and nothing happens at Hogwarts this year.