A/N: Standard disclaimer's on the first chapter, so I don't think I have to repeat that. Anyways, Updated early to elaborate on the general direction of my very first Harry Potter FanFic.

This is a Beta'd version, courtesy of Snakefang93


Present day July 31, 1991

Black Ancestral Manor (Renovated)

#12 Grimmauld Place (Location, Unplottable. House, Warded)

Sirius Black sat back and relaxed on the main room's couch, revelling on the memory of the moment about ten years ago when his life drastically changed, maybe not entirely for the better but not exactly bad either. The first time he held his godson after accepting the reality of James' and Lily's death, something changed in him. He couldn't explain what it was exactly only that it felt like he added about twenty to thirty years of maturity to his out-look in life. Most of the marauder in him died along with James that night.

After taking up Lordship over the noble house of Black, Sirius proceeded on putting to action James' and Lily's Will. He contacted Remus to ask help raising Harry because he knew that he couldn't do it alone. Remus' furry little problem provided the perfect opportunity to contact Severus Snape so that he can finally make peace with the man for he knew that Lily meant a lot to Snape as well; that and they needed him to teach them how to brew the wolfsbane potion, even offering pay for Snape's teaching services, no matter how long it took for him to pound the skill into their skulls.

With Remus' problems solved, it was only a matter of cleaning up his house he inherited after his bitch of a mother died, promptly disinheriting Bellatrix from the Black family line when she was carted off to Azkaban for the torture of Alice and Frank Longbottom. Alice took about five years until she was deemed fit to be released from St. Mungo's Hospital whilst her husband hasn't shown any improvement for the past ten years. Sirius also reconnected distant family ties, reinstating his cousin Andromeda Tonks back into the Black family line, as well as doing business again with the Noble house of Greengrass which was distantly related to the Blacks through marriage.

Last order of business that was needed to be done was Harry's blood adoption. James and Lily simply asked that Sirius be Harry's guardian and trusted that he would take care of their son, but to Sirius, he wanted it more binding and adopted Harry as his heir. He was sure that Harry would already grow to be a very remarkable and powerful wizard, what with his parents being both an unspeakable in the department of mysteries. Lily in Charms, Warding, Spell Creation and Development and James on… stuff Sirius never wanted to know about and gladly chose obliviation rather than stating a vow of silence like what he did with Lily. So it would be better if the House of Black had a wizard of Harry's calibre as it's head. The thought confirmed his decision to adopt Harry magically.

Sirius' expectations didn't disappoint as Harry showed an insatiable thirst for knowledge much like how Lily and a certain Black family ancestor who became a Hogwarts Headmaster during their time. When Harry was five years old, they lived at a holiday house of the house of Black in France with Remus who finally mastered brewing his special potion. France being one of the most innovative wizarding nation no longer had the statute or decree for reasonable restriction of underage wizardry, as long as magic was performed under adult supervision. Harry attended Beauxbatons' elementary; diligently learning proper wizarding etiquette, the French language as well as Latin, basic transfigurations, charms and magical theory. Such practice has been adopted throughout most of the wizarding communities all over the world save magical Britain; in fact before entering the ninety's, the Americans have been experimenting on implementing muggle devices for magical use, although there were no positive results till now.

Sirius is pulled from his early morning musing when he hears his godson's bedroom door open and close. He was simply astounded by the boy descending the stairs with a floating book in front of him, his arm stretched out. "Morning Harry, I take it Snape's gift arrived on time again?"

Harry turned towards his godfather seated on the couch and hummed a confirmation, "I'm building up my mindscape, I think I'll have Professor Snape look at the method I chose to organize my thoughts school". While building a mindscape sounded like much progress, it actually wasn't much in reality. Building a mindscape helped a mind art's practitioner to go directly to one's thoughts, without even searching, which was the case when a practitioner uses a 'legillimens' on an untrained mind.

Sirius nodded, accepting his godson's decision, "On another note," Sirius took out a rectangular wrapped box and tossed it to Harry who caught it, "Happy Birthday cub." On cue, their head elf, chef, and Harry's nanny when he was small, called Missy appeared into the room with a soft 'pop', carrying a slice of his birthday cake.

"Thanks Missy,"

"Not at all Master Harry. I is also reminding Master that his Miss Daphne floo called earlier about buying school supplies after having lunch together at the leaking cauldron at about eleven o'clock." The elf said to her charge.

Harry beamed and promptly swallowed his bite of cake, "Thanks again Missy," the elf bowed and popped away to start her head elf duties.

Sirius observed patiently while Harry undid the wrapping to his present. Came fell a specially tempered dragon-hide wand holster and a coupon' for a custom wand from one of the shops in Knockturn Alley.

Harry beamed at his godfather with bright emerald eyes to express his gratitude.

Sirius smiled back at his godson's reaction while entertaining an errant thought, 'At least presents can still make him act like a kid his age… well… sometimes.'

"I trust you know the way to the custom wand shop at Knockturn? I'll have escorts shadowing you." Sirius said as he handed Harry the usual portkey ring that was voice activated.

"Yes, Padfoot. I know the drill, always keep on sight, don't panic in the sign of danger, worst comes to worst; grab Daphne and portkey out, Ministry rules be damned." Harry said in a mockingly deadpanned tone complete with an eye rolling effect and a smirk after; making Sirius grab his godson and ruffle his already messy unruly hair.

After a sharing a moment of laughter, "Guess I'd better get ready, I didn't notice the time fly when I started to read this morning." Harry said as he closed the levitated Occlumency book, grabbed it from the air to carry it back to his room.


July 31, 1991 10:00am

The Leaky Cauldron

The Leaky Cauldron's fireplace blazed in emerald flames to reveal a young wizard at around age eleven landed kneeling on his right knee, much like how a knight knelt to his king. Harry had adopted this method of landing via Floo network when it was apparent that he had inherited his father's clumsiness at that particular method of travel. In his godfather's opinion; that was about the only unfavourable trait he'd inherited from James, everything else were either great or brilliant.

The bartender noticed the young man's arrival and he scurries off towards Harry, "Mr. Potter, what can I do for you today?" he asked as he held out a hand for Harry.

"Thanks Tom, Diagon Alley please." Harry requested after steadying himself.

The bartender Tom was always amused at the young wizard, such humility for an heir of not just one but two noble and ancient houses was simply unheard of; if he didn't see it for himself on a regular basis, he wouldn't have dreamt of it being possible. "Of course, right this way." He said leading the way to open the arch way for Harry to Diagon Alley.

"My gratitude again Tom." Harry said with a wave as he made a beeline for the most prominent structure on the alley, Gringotts. He needed to withdraw for his expected purchases of school requirements and a few other extra; one never knew when there's a good book lying around.

Inside the wizarding bank, Harry approached an available goblin teller, "May I speak with my account manager?"

The goblin looked up, spotting his Potter family ring hanging from a silver chain on Harry's neck, "Ah yes, Mr. Potter. Right this way."

The goblin leads Harry to his account manager's office, he enters and greeted. "Greetings Griphook." Harry bowed slightly.

"You as well Mr. Potter, withdrawal for your school supplies?" Griphook asked which was answered with a nod from Harry.

Griphook handed him a small pouch which is magically expanded inside containing his money from a drawer magically connected to his trust vault, "I took the liberty of adding a couple hundred for your personal usage." The goblin account manager stated.

"Insightful as always, thanks Griphook. Until next time." Harry said again with a bow, and waved as he exited the door to head back to the Leaky Cauldron to meet up with his fellow eleven year old and long time friend Daphne Greengrass.


"How about some dessert at Florean Fortescue's Daph?" Harry asked as they have just finished a wonderful lunch. He called her 'Daph' just to annoy his friend knowing that she wasn't overly fond of the name which sounded so 'daft'.

Daphne suppresses a grin and playfully rolled her eyes at Harry, "I knew I shouldn't have gotten you addicted to ice cream all those years ago… but… Deal, your treat. Thank you Harry." She said with a radiant smile that threatened to be infectious as she headed towards the Diagon Alley entry way with Harry in tow, held by the wrist.

Harry chuckled at his best friend's antics as he lets her drag him towards the ice cream parlor.

As they got to the ice cream parlor, they took their usual table outside the shop. It has always been an unspoken hobby that Harry and Daphne shared to just sit back and watch the hassle and bustle of Diagon alley as countless witches and wizards crisscrossed from shop to shop as they shopped for their needs, some leisurely and some in a rush. They even dubbed the alley as 'Coordinated Chaos', usually around the time they knew school was about to start at Hogwarts.

This year isn't so different, only this time they'd be joining the laid out mess. Just as soon as they finish their cold, sweet, minty treat.

Harry and Daphne spent their time in reverie as they went through their dessert. As they were finishing, "Hmmm. I knew she'd be back for those books." Daphne said and giggled.

"Who?" Harry asked having finished his own ice cream.

Daphne pointed toward the archway entrance to Diagon alley. A girl with bushy brown hair walk through the archway with what seemed to be her parents and a stern looking woman Harry remembered to be called Professor McGonagall of Hogwarts. He recognized her from a huge group photo his godfather showed him once.

"Oh. Muggleborn… hang on, aren't muggleborns led through Diagon Alley around the middle of July?"

"Uhh hmm… she was with the rest of the group two weeks ago when the Hogwarts' Professor led them through all the purchases. I didn't catch her name but Ms. Bushy brown hair practically begged her parents to buy her the extra books but apparently their galleon exchange was just enough and Gringotts was closed for the day." Daphne explained.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she is as much of a bookworm as you Harry." She added with a teasing grin.

"Well then, with her… that would make three of us won't it?" Harry shot back with his own playful grin.

They both laughed at their own expense, "On another note, shall we start with our school supplies as well?"

"Sure, I propose we buy our trunks first then get fitted for school robes. Shall we Milady?" Harry suggested then starting another playful banter.

"Certainly Milord." Daphne beamed while giggling lightly at his dramatics, grabbing Harry's offered arm as they set off to do their shopping.


Harry got himself a custom trunk with magically expanded compartments. One compartment's for his clothes and other necessities, the other two will be for his books; not just the school books but also the ones he specifically favored from Black manor's library and of course a few reference books that he might find use of for his school work.

Daphne only bought a custom magically expanded single compartment trunk. Her reason for that being, she only needed to bring her clothes, school robes and a few muggle designer casual wear, and then teasingly pointed out that since Harry was bringing half of his library with him, she needn't bring her own. Suffice it to say that Harry was floored with that reasoning and just proceeded to hurry the both of them to Madam Malkin's for fitting.

"So, you handle our first year course books and I'll get our potions ingredients and cauldron. Then we meet by the entry way to Knockturn Alley. Got your portkey ring? I have mine right here." Daphne said as she held up her right ring finger.

Harry nodded, "Got mine right here as well; and Sirius' people will be shadowing us as usual. See you in a bit Daph." He then headed to Flourish and Blotts to purchase their school books.


Yeah, I'm not really that good at making up Goblin names; so I used Griphook instead. oh, and if anyone's looking for Kreacher, well let's just say that he's not the Head elf at the moment, thus no reason to interact with his 'Masters'. Lastly, rest assured that whatever Harry gets from the custom wand shop, won't be ridiculously powerful. Rare core maybe, but not too rare. I think Phoenix is rare enough if you really think about it. By the way, Reviews and Opinions on what you think, I leave it to the reader's discretion though one can hope for reviewers and critics to at least be nice. :)