A/N: Last chapter I said this story took place summer before 6th, changed it. And I'm sorry my dialogue sucks so badly, I don't talk to people much so that's why, 'cept not really.
The moon was full on the night Harry arrived at Grimmauld Manor. It shone over the manor rooftops and made every strand of dew covered grass glitter in the well-kept lawns. Somehow Harry had been expecting a run down house, concealed and secret. But this was quite the opposite. Much like the palaces in upstate New York ,the buildings were in sections spread over expanses of lush fields and flowers, like miniature villages. In conclusion, the opposite of hidden.
"It's lovely." Harry noted to Tonks, a member of the Order who could change her appearance at will.
"It's yours." She replied.
"I'm sorry?" He was a bit confused what she meant by his.
"In the wizarding world when you turn 17 you get your inheritance, and this is in yours." Tonks smiled waiting for his reply.
"I could throw some awesome parties in this place." Not what was she was expecting, but as she agreed, true.
They flew into the sprawling grounds cautiously, for obvious reasons. Harry stopped to look at this mansion from afar for a moment while they flew. The main building was white with three stories of balconies and columns. The smaller buildings were the same but with only two or one level. And the inside was even better.
Chandeliers of gold and crystal hung in every room and trinkets made of every gem or precious mineral adored the cabinets, which held the most delicate china you would ever see. The walls were covered in lush tapestries portraying the most beautiful scenes in wizarding history and excited portraits of handsome men and women welcoming him into his future home. Harry turned to Tonks,
"Could we talk? I have some questions."
"How 'bout after dinner?" Harry nodded thanks and turned to the excited with a smile,
"I expect you think I've grown?"
"Bragging a bit aren't we?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Everyone chuckled and after saying hello to all the occupants of the home, Harry shuffled to the long and lavish dining table with Ron and Hermione at his side.
"So tell us, Harry, what did you do all summer- constantly tripping alarms and all?"
"Well, I got a muggle girlfriend, so I had a reason not to stay cooped up all summer." A few people awed or some another embarrassing reaction, while others were just surprised.
"Are you still together?" Ginny asked 'casually'. Hermione snorted.
"No, she was rude to Hermione- and we can't have that can we?" It was a total lie, but it still managed to make Hermione blush.
"What a gentleman." smiled, as though Harry was her own well-mannered son- which she had already lost. Harry had learned during desert that Percy left them in a screaming match with their father over the return of Voldemort, something Percy didn't believe. They were now sitting in the large living room conversing about their summers and excitement for the next school year, or lack of excitement. Everyone stopped and turned to the doors the moment they threw open with a thundering crash and hit the wall. Through them stood Dumbledore, wand aloft and eyes twinkling.
"Harry, I was hoping we could talk." Dumbledore announced over the crashing.
"Of course sir." His unexpected visit left Harry curious in what could be happening so urgently, but Harry had always been a curious boy, wondering all the time- especially about Dumbledore. They quickly made their way through expensive hallways to the library on the floor above. There were few windows anywhere and no candles, so of course rather than focusing on the heaps of books he just wondered about how everything was so well lit.
"Harry, I have quite a bit to ask of you tonight."
"Anything, sir." And he meant it.
"So, let's begin with my first question- do you get nightmares?"
"No. Sir."
"Then I want you to create a box, inside your mind, and every piece of information I'm about to give, put in there."
"I'm not sure I can do that…"
"Try. Now, I have to share a prophecy with you."
Harry blinked tears from his eyes. The prophecy practically wrote out his death.
"Sir, are you sure it's me?"
"Yes, Harry, I'm very sorry." Harry nodded, he even saw that Dumbledore was, truly, very sorry. "Well, now onto the next thing, I am dying soon and have things I want to leave to you-"
"Don't say-"
"Harry, its coming soon and when it does, the Ministry will try and keep my belongings for themselves, when they should go to you. The solution I've found is slightly extreme, so I want you to consider it carefully. The old man sounded strangely nervous, something Harry had never heard before. " I think I should adopt you, this way all my belongings are legally yours when I die." The thought of this sent Harry's mind into a total shock, being considered the son of this great man was the strangest thing he had ever heard.
"I will have to think about it."
"Yes, of course, and if I did do this then you know I will have total control of your finances, rather than permission from the ministry to control them, which is actually my other point. This was your fathers house growing up and will soon be yours so it might be in all our best interests if I began to teach you how to maintain an estate and all things with it. If you care to know…"
"Of course, that sounds fantastic." Private lessons with his future 'father' were something Harry had never considered in his wildest dreams. He never really considered Dumbledore a father, more a mentor, but he supposed it would be similar to how they were now. Short and sparse meetings filled with lectures and reassurances. "And Harry there is one more thing. You ought be prepared for lessons with very special friend of mine.