Chapter 1: Revelations

Harry took his trunk into his room and sat on his bed. This summer was going to be bad. The order had threatened his uncle at the train station and that never bodes well. Not to mention that Harry was sinking into a fast depression as a result of Sirius' death. After a few moments there was a knock on the door. Harry looked up confused. Who in this house would knock? Maybe the order changed their mind about leaving him here and came to get him. He cracked the door open to find Dudley standing there looking nervous. "Can I come in?"

"Okay." Harry said opening the door. He decided the best thing to say is nothing at all. Then he couldn't get beat up for saying the wrong thing.

"I just wanted to say sorry for how I've always treated you. Mum and Dad always said that you were a freak and not worth anything and the best thing we could do is try to beat it out of you and stuff. Then when I found out about your world and what you could do they told me it was evil and you could hurt me or kill me and I was afraid of you and thought if I could keep you afraid of me I might be safe. But then that thing last summer really freaked me out. You saved me. Even after everything I've done to you, you had the perfect chance to get revenge, but you didn't. That's when I realized how wrong my parents were about you. If you hadn't known what to do and had your stick thing I'd probably be dead."

"So you came to call a truce or what?"

I didn't really know how to deal with everything and was confused and was having nightmares and anxiety problems so the school sent me to a counselor, and I talked to him about you and me and he says that we have both been abused in different ways and stuff and I was thinking if we could band together we could maybe help each other. I don't know you at all Harry and I'd really like to."

"So friends then?" Harry asked as he stuck out his hand.

Dudley took it and shook. "Friends. I do have to say I thought it would take a lot more than that to get you to forgive me after all the horrible stuff I've done to you over the years."

"Like you said Dud. It's your parents fault. You were just two years old when I got here and they taught you how to treat me. Yeah sure, I wish you would have realized all this before now, but it's still their fault for brainwashing you so completely."

Dudley smiled at Harry and left him to rest after such a long trip. A few minutes after Dudley left Uncle Vernon came into the room. "You ungrateful little freak. Getting your freak friends to threaten me! I'll show you a threat!" He began beating Harry over and over and left just as Harry lost consciousness. Dudley heard his father start to hit Harry and started getting the supplies that he had stocked up on before Harry got home. He went into Harry's room and began to treat his injuries. First he washed off the blood and there were a few wounds that wouldn't stop bleeding so he bandaged them up. He checked for any obviously broken bones and there was nothing for sure though it looked like he at least had bruised ribs and they might actually be broken, but it seemed like Harry wasn't having trouble breathing so at least he wasn't going to die from it. He got out the biggest roll of bandaging and started wrapping Harry's chest. At least his cousin's owl was here so that if it got to be life threatening he could send for help. Dudley realized at this point that no one from his cousin's world would get him out of here unless he was dying. Finally he did the best job he could and left some pain pills and a glass of water on Harry's night table before he eased out of the room and went to bed.

Harry woke the next morning surprised for a moment that he seemed to be bandaged up. He looked over and saw the pills and water and got confused. Then he remembered his conversation with Dudley yesterday. He must have bandaged him up. Just as that thought crossed his mind his door cracked open and Dudley stuck his head in. "Sorry Harry wasn't sure if you were up yet. I snuck you some food from downstairs. It's not much but it's better than nothing. I'll try to sneak you some cake from my birthday party this afternoon too."

"Thanks Dud. This means a lot to me." Harry said gesturing not only at the food but at his bandaged body.

"It's no problem Harry. I got the supplies when I got home last week. I figured you'd need them like usual. You should probably take off the bandages that aren't hidden by your clothes or Dad will freak out if he sees you." Harry hastily did so and began eating the food that Dudley brought him, which included an apple, a dry pancake, and a few pieces of bacon. "Well I better get going. Mum and Dad want to leave for my birthday party in a few minutes. I'm supposed to be getting ready. Rest up while we're gone.

Later that afternoon Dudley got home and went up to Harry's room to check on him. Harry was sitting at his desk doing what looked to Dudley like homework. He sat down to talk to Harry when all of a sudden two owls started pecking at the window. Dudley opened it like a shot afraid of what would happen if his parents heard. As the owls flew in one came to him and the other went to Harry. Dudley tried shooing the second owl over to Harry as well but it just held out his leg with a letter attached to it. Dudley noticed his name on the envelope. "Who in the world would be writing to me?" he asked as he opened it.

Mr. Dudley Dursley,

I understand that you want nothing to do with the wizarding world since you had your magic bound, but we need you to come to Gringotts bank just this once to transfer your titles and wizengamot seats as you are now 17 years old. If we don't hear from you within three days your inheritances, titles, and seats will go to your next living magical relative, a Mr. Harry Potter.

Griphook

Gringotts Account manager

Harry opened his letter at the same time.

Mr. Harry Potter

We require your presence within the next three days for the will reading of one Sirius Black. Please stop in at your earliest convenience. This letter will become a portkey into the main lobby if you say the activation phrase bloodshed.

Griphook

Gringotts account manager

Dudley dropped his letter in shock. "H-H-Harry?" Harry looked up and Dudley motioned to the letter on the floor. After Harry read the letter he looked back at Dudley in shock. "What do you want to do Dud?"

"Well if my magic is bound I can't use any of that stuff anyway so I might as well just let you have it, but it would be cool to see the wizarding world at least once you know?"

"Well I don't really know much about it, but I'm sure there is some way to get your magic unbound and even if there isn't you should at least be able to use the inheritances. I mean if nothing else you'd be like a squib...that's someone born to magical parents that doesn't have magic themselves...and they still get their inheritances. I think. If you want we can talk to the goblins about it."

"Okay sure. When can we go?"

"My letter is a portkey so we can go now if you want?"

"I have no idea what a portkey is but as long as you say it won't hurt me I'm game."

Harry had Dudley grab the letter with him and activated it.

When Harry and Dudley landed in the lobby of the bank they were greeted by a goblin. When they both handed the letters over the goblin asked if they wanted to stay together or take care of their business separately. Dudley, having no idea what he was doing and frankly a little freaked at the sight of the goblin even though Harry had told him about them decided they would stay together and take care of Harry's stuff first. The goblin led them to the will room first. Harry was required to give a blood sample to prove his identity and then the will reading got underway.

A cloth was pulled off of a portrait of Sirius and Harry gasped. He didn't know Sirius had made one. The portrait looked around the room and when he saw Harry he winked at him. Harry couldn't help but smile. Then the portrait began to speak.

"I, Sirius Orion Black, being of sound mind and body to hereby make the following bequeaths. My title as Head of the House of Black will be passed on to my godson Harry James Potter along with all of the money, property, vaults, and so on that I own. I know that he cannot receive the title until he is a legal adult, but I, as the legal guardian of Harry James Potter, hereby emancipate him. Good luck in life pup."

Harry wanted to carry on a longer conversation with Sirius but the goblin told him that the portrait was his as well so he could talk to him anytime and they had a lot of other business to take care of.

"Now, Mr. Potter," the goblin began, "I see here that haven't claimed the main Potter vault which you were eligible to claim at 11 years old. I am curious as to why?"

"I have been to the vault a few times. I didn't know I had to officially claim it."

"I see that you have been to the trust vault, but not the Potter vault. I understand that you have been having your representative handle the money in the vault, but it's still a good idea for you to claim it as well."

"I didn't know I had another vault. What representative?"

"Your other vault was listed in your parents will that you were sent a copy of when you were 11. Did you not read it?"

"I never got it."

The goblin asked Harry to wait a moment. He had a feeling this was going to get complicated. He went and got the full Potter file and brought it back. "Let's see here. I see that you were sent a copy of the will, but it was undeliverable so a Mr. Dumbledore signed for it to get it to you. I'm not sure why you never received it, but here is another copy for you. Mr Dumbledore stated that he was handling your account for you at your request. Is that not the case?"

Harry had already picked up the will and began reading

I, James Henry Potter, being of sound mind and body leave everything I own, all titles, vaults, privileges, and properties to my wife Lily Anne Potter. In the event that she dies with me everything should go to my son Harry James Potter. The Potter trust vault will be available to him immediately and the Potter family vault will be available to him on his 11th birthday. The other family vaults will be available to him when he is an adult by wizarding law.

My family is going under the Fidelus Charm tomorrow and our secret keeper is Peter Pettigrew. If we are found than he is either dead or has betrayed us. The rest of the world will think our secret keeper is Sirius Black, but he is just a decoy.

In the event my wife and I should die before Harry James Potter is of age he should be raised by one of the following families. He is under no circumstances to be left in the care of Petunia Dursley for any amount of time.

Sirius Black

Poppy Pomfrey

Frank and Alice Longbottom

Minerva McGonagal

Amelia Bones

In the event that no one on this list is able to take custody then he should be placed with a kind wizarding family or a wizarding orphanage with a good reputation.

Signed: James Henry Potter

Co-signed: Lily Anne Potter

Witnessed: Albus Dumbledore

Harry dropped the will and couldn't find words. Dumbledore knew all along that Sirius was innocent. Dumbledore knew that he was never supposed to go to the Dursleys. What about all those familys? Did none of them want him? His anger at Dumbledore was boiling over. The goblin then asked again. "Did you give Dumbledore access to your vaults?"

"No I didn't! I never gave him access to anything! He betrayed me! What has he been doing with my vaults?"

The goblin went through his notes. "It looks like there was a monthly withdrawal for 75,000 galleons deposited to Mr. Dumbledore's private vault since November of 1981. There was also 100,000 galleons sent to Molly Weasley's private vault in August of 1991 with additional deposits every summer since for the same amount. Starting in August of 1991 a personal vault was opened for Ron Weasley and 5,000 galleons a month has been transferred there since. In August of 1992 a personal vault was opened for Ginevra Weasley with 5,000 galleons a month transferred there since. If you didn't authorize these transactions we can bring all of these people up on charges."

Harry was now even more stunned. The Weasleys. His surrogate family. Stealing from him. He would have given them anything they asked for but they stole it. "I didn't authorize anything, but let's hold off on pressing charges. I want to wait for the right time."

"Very well Mr. Potter. Now on to better news. In addition to the House of Black you can also claim the House of Potter, House of Wade, House of Craven, House of Dervous, and House of Horlen. All of these houses have seats on the Wizengamot which will give you a total of 6 seats. Do you wish to claim these houses?" Harry just nodded dumbly. He was starting to get a headache. "Very good. The goblin then pushed the six house rings over to him. "Since you have claimed these houses I can give you the next bit of information. You are also a direct heir of Merlin, Lafey, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw." Harry fainted.

Dudley ((a/n: bet you forgot he was there huh?)) snickered, but was pretty shocked himself even though he only understood about half of what was said. The goblin sighed. "Well Mr. Dursley. While we wait for Mr. Potter to regain consciousness would you like to go over your information?"

"Well I'd like to wait for most of it until my cousin wakes up since I have no idea what is going on, but I do have some questions he couldn't answer." At the goblin's nod he continued. "Would it be possible to unbind my magic and what should I know about that? If it is unbound does that change anything? If not what am I able to do with regards to all this?"

"First off Mr. Dursley I was very surprised to find that your magic was bound. Binding a child's magic was outlawed hundreds of years ago without a permit. If there is a permit on file then you can petition to have it unbound, but you will have to explain why you petitioned for it to be bound in the first place."

"I didn't even know about it."

"Well then I would say it was done illegally since the petition has to be signed and the signature validated by the child's blood in the presence of the ministry. No one could have done it for you. That being said you can see any healer and get your magic unbound and then be eligible for your inheritances, titles, and seats on the wizengamot." Dudley filed that information away to ask Harry what it meant later. "You will also need tutoring in magical subjects and magical control since you have already reached your maturity. I'm sure your cousin could help you set up something there."

At that point Harry woke up. When he remembered what happened he blushed bright red and swore Dudley to secrecy. Dudley agreed but reserved the right to pick on Harry for it when they were alone.

"Now as I was saying Mr. Potter. As a direct heir of all the founders you own Hogwarts and have complete control over the wards. Unlike normal wards these wards will respond to your thoughts and the castle's own magic to power them so you need no experience in warding. Just place your hand on any part of the bare wall inside or outside the castle and it will respond to you."

"In that case I would like to press charges against Dumbledore and the Weasley's but only the ones involved. I'm not sure if the others had anything to do with it or not. The only reason I didn't want to is because I thought him being at the school made it safer."

"Very well Mr. Potter we will put that in motion as soon as we leave here."

"If you have no more questions we will move on to Mr. Dursley's business." At Harry's nod the goblin began speaking to Dudley. "Once you have your magic unbound you will be the Head of the House of Evans and the Head of the House of Jordin. You will also be in line for the title Head of the House of Malfoy should Lucius and Draco Malfoy predecease you."

"How?" Harry and Dudley asked together.

"Lily and Petunia Evans were decended from a squib line off the Malfoys a few generations ago. Lily Evans was the first to show magic in that line in over 100 years. Somewhere along the line two more squibs Jordan and Evans married into the line. Dudley as the eldest magical male in the line is in line for the Jordin and Evans lines as long as he can get his magic unbound and accept the titles in the next three days. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do until then. I should also mention that Mr. Dursley is also an Heir of Raveclaw and Hufflepuff and can help strengthen the wards with you Mr. Potter."

Harry thought of something. "How could I be the heir of so many powerful people and not be powerful at all myself? I mean sure sometimes when I'm really scared I can manage to do something powerful but otherwise I'm mediocre at best."

"Hmm. Perhaps when Mr. Dursley gets his magic unbound you should see the healer as well. It is possible that part of your magic was bound, but not all of it."

Harry nodded and said that they would go see a healer right away and come back tomorrow to take care of the rest of Dudley's business. The goblin promised Harry to have his account statements ready when he arrived the next day and the cousins left the bank to find a healer.

As they left the bank Dudley found himself in awe at the magical shopping district. There was so much to see and his head swiveled in every possible direction trying to take in the sights all at once. He found himself startled when he heard his cousin speak. "Don't worry Dud. Once we take care of all of our pressing business we can look around and I'll give you the grand tour"

"Thanks Harry. This is just so much to take in at once. I'm just feeling totally overwhelmed with all this. I don't even know what to think anymore." Harry nodded. He could understand the feeling after all. He had felt much the same the day he found out he was a wizard and first entered Diagon Alley. They proceeded on the way to the healer that the goblin recommended.