Harry Potter and the Dawn of a New Age

Summary: AU. In the summer after Harry's sixth year Harry receives a letter from the late Sirius Black. Secrets come out and we realize just how far Dumbledore will go to keep his "weapon" under his control. Dumbledore bashing. Powerful/Independent Harry.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. All the credit goes to J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros. I am not making any profit off of this.

AN: I have read many fan fictions so I will try to keep this story as original as possible. If I accidentally use something someone else has already used I am sorry. Send me an email and I will give due credit on my next chapter. This is my first time writing ff so don't be too harsh. I welcome any constructive criticism you might have.

Chapter One Birthday Surprises

Harry Potter blearily looked at the clock. 12:01 AM! Why on earth was he awake this early? Tap, tap, tap. He looked at the window and saw seven owls. Why would anybody receive seven owls at midnight? The answer was because today was July 31st, Harry Potter's birthday. Harry got up and quickly let the owls in and went back to his bed. All the owls were trying to give their packages to him first. Once he finally got all his packages and the owls watered and sent out again, Harry laid back down to sleep.

Harry woke up refreshed. The first thing he did now that he could use magic was clean Hedwig's cage. Once that was finished, Harry settled down on his bed and summoned his presents. He decided to open the ones from his friends first. The first one he picked up was from his best mate Ron and his family. From the Weasley's he got the regular sweater and pies. From Ron he got a quidditch book called, Everything a Quidditch Captain Needs to Know About Captaining and a letter.

Hey mate!

Congratulations on finally being able to use magic! How's your summer? Hope those nasty muggles are treating you better (you would think they would after that talk you-know-who gave them ). Nothing much going on here at you-know-where except for meetings and me, Hermione, and Ginny having to clean all the time. Luckily we get to use magic this time. It makes it so much easier. Hermione just got here five days ago so it's gotten a little better but we still don't get to hear anything important. Dumbledore said you probably have to stay there for four or five more weeks before you can come here and to warn you not to do anything stupid since you can do magic now. Sorry mate, he made us promise to tell you that. Don't let the muggles get you down.

Ron

Dumbledore. Just that name pissed him off. After he dropped the bombshell of a prophecy on him at the end of fifth year, Dumbledore had been ignoring him and refusing to tell him anything. He'd been ignoring him for a year! He wouldn't even give Harry permission to use magic for the first couple of weeks during the summer to train for the upcoming battle! And who was he to tell him what to do now that he was of age. He was a legal adult now in the wizarding world! He was getting really fed up with the Headmaster.

Harry pushed those thoughts aside and picked out Hermione's present. She got him a box of sugar-free candies and another book called A Strategic Look at the First War as well as a letter.

Dear Harry,

How has your summer been so far? I hope those awful muggles are treating you nicely. I can't believe anybody can treat family like that! I sent you a book on the First War. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what happened in the last war. Maybe we can learn from their mistakes. I know it sounds boring but I couldn't put it down! I'm sure you will love it as much as I did. I've asked Professor Dumbledore when you could come to Headquarters and he said you have to wait another four or five weeks. Now I know what your thinking Harry but the Headmaster knows best. He's only has your best interest at heart. Professor Dumbledore asked me to remind you that you need to stay inside and not leave the house for any reason and that he hopes you use your magic responsibly. He said you are safest there. Please listen to him Harry. Please learn from the last mistake. I will see you in four or five weeks!

Love,

Hermione

How dare she remind him that he led his friends into a trap! How was he supposed to know what was going on? Dumbledore wouldn't even talk to him let alone tell him that Tom was after something. Sure he was over the guilt of Sirius's death but that didn't make it any better. Just another wedge between him and the Headmaster. And she thinks that Dumbledore only has his best interests at heart! If he could just make her understand everything he had put him through to keep him "safe."

Not wanting to ruin his birthday any more, he looked around for another present. He found the one from Moony and Tonks. They had given him a set of first year Auror training books and also a letter.

Hey Prongslet,

How's your summer going so far? I hope those muggles are treating you better since Moody, Tonks, and I "visited" them again. Hopefully they'll behave better than they did last summer. Remember that if they give you any problem at all to let us know ASAP and we will be more than happy to "visit" them again. Tonks sends her love. I don't know what I would do without her. I still can't believe she married an old werewolf like me! I'm living a dream! Enough about me, congrats on finally being an adult now and being able to use magic! I remember when your father and Sirius turned seventeen. They had a full out duel as soon as they could. I had never seen them use that much magic. I was amazed at how powerful they both were and how much magic they knew. I never thought they paid attention in class. I guess they proved us all wrong. I'm sure Gringotts has contacted you about your inheritance by now. I will be there at 8 o'clock this morning to pick you up. DUMBLEDORE DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS. He told everybody at an Order meeting 2 weeks ago we were to keep you in that house no matter what. I promised Prongs, Lily, and Padfoot that I would take you Gringotts the day you turned seventeen if they couldn't. Be ready because we will have to get there and back before any one notices. Tonks has the first shift at 8, then Bill, and Moody has the last shift. They all know what is going on so don't worry. None of us agree with what Dumbledore is doing to you. Be prepared with your invisibility cloak, wand, and letter from Gringotts.

Moony

Harry hurried up and searched through the pile of packages on his bed for the letter from Gringotts. He finally found it and looked at the seal. It was a beautiful yet plain seal with a set of gold scales super-imposed on a silver and blue crest. Harry hurried up and opened the letter.

Dear Mr. Potter:

As is customary on the day your turn seventeen, your presence is requested at the London branch of Gringotts. We need to discuss the status of your inheritance and what is now expected of you. Just present this letter to one of the tellers and they will escort you to my office. I look forward to our meeting.

Sincerely,

Grephus S. Falkirk

Potter Family Accountant

Harry looked at the time and saw that it was 7:25! Harry hurried up and went across the hall to get a shower. He would open up the rest of his presents later. He had to get ready before Moony showed up! By the time Harry was ready with everything it was 7:55. About that time, Harry heard a knock at the front door and hurried to answer it. Harry opened the door to find a smiling Moony. Once they finished greeting each other, Moony told Harry they would be portkeying to the Ministry so that Harry could get his Apparation license and then they would go to Gringotts and Diagon Alley. Once Harry was sure he had everything they both grabbed on to the portkey and Moony said the activation word, Freedom.

AN: I hope you guys like it. Let me know what you all think. Don't be too harsh on me since it is my first chapter. Things are about to get interesting. I'll try to have the next chapter up ASAP. --- Joefus.