Author's note: First of all, I went to see Deathly Hallows Part 2 on Saturday. I was speechless. The duel was amazing, Neville was spectacular, and, most importantly, the "I'll go with you" moment proved the existence of H/Hr. I'm not kidding. You'll know it when you see it if you haven't yet. I swear, no matter how it ended, Harry and Hermione belong together, and that proved it. Sorry, I got excited and started babbling… Anyway, if you haven't seen it, you need to! The end of an era, the beginning of something better. I just don't know what it is yet. We'll know when we see it. In my heart I feel like I lost a best friend. I know that Harry Potter will always have an amazing fan base no matter how old it is, and that's what makes it one of those culture changing, life transforming eras, like the Beatles. Harry Potter changed my life, and I can only hope that it changes many others for the best.

After all these years, I just want to say one more thing: may your mischief always be managed.

Harry often wondered what real families were like, and as he stood by a large telephone booth, he realized he hadn't found his yet. More accurately, he thought, he'd lost his and was looking for a new one. He sighed and made his way down a random street; he wasn't really paying attention to where he was going because he was thinking about what to do next and the family issue. He decided that moping about a family he didn't have was rather useless, and he turned down an alley street where he saw the oddest sign. The Leaky Cauldron. That didn't seem to be a normal name for any type business and he remembered the word from his supply list. Harry didn't really know what to think but figured there was no harm in finding out exactly what this place was. He entered the seemingly abandoned building and was surprised to see people dressed in robes and tables cleaning themselves. He went up to the barman and asked, "Excuse me, but could you tell me where Diagon Alley is?"

"'O course! Right this way, lad," The man said cheerfully. "Name's Tom," he said leading Harry to the back of the pub. They entered a store room which had Harry look around suspiciously. Tom pulled out his wand and tapped a seemingly random pattern on the bricks. Harry was watching the wall and was amazed to see the bricks jump out of the way, revealing a number of shops on a long cobblestone street. There were people bustling all along the street in a hurried manner. "The bank's down the street, biggest building made of white marble."

"Thanks," Harry said. He made his way to the bank. That solved half of his money problem, but he needed money. He was busy examining everything his way to the bank, that he almost missed it, as impossible as that seems. He walked up the steps with an expression of reverence. The word Gringotts carved into the building in all capital letters and inlaid with gold. He saw a short mean looking creature in a gold and scarlet uniform standing outside a pair of bronze doors. The creature bowed to him and he bowed back, just being polite. He saw the surprised look on the creature's face and suspected that the creature didn't greet many polite people. He walked further and came upon a set of silver doors with an inscription engraved on them:

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sins of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly for their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

There were two more of those creatures that bowed to him, and he bowed back to them. They also looked surprised, but Harry shrugged it off. He had things to do. He walked up the isle and stopped at the desk of one of the creatures that was looking at an assortment of precious stones. He looked down at Harry as if he were scum but Harry didn't show he was intimidated.

"Excuse me, sir; I was wondering where I could get money, some type of loan maybe…" Harry trailed off. There was another expression of surprise on the creature's face. Harry wondered why once again.

"Name?" the creature asked in a sort of growl.

"Harry Potter," Harry replied.

The creature paused, "You already have an account with us."

Harry paused. "Oh… Well, is there some way I could see my…" he paused looking for the right word, "my assets."

"Of course. This way, Mr. Potter," the creature said. He led Harry to another room which had a set of solid oak doors. When the creature left him there, he looked around and examined the many book titles that lined the walls. Some were in a strange writing that he didn't understand and some were books on warding and other things. Harry wondered what these things were but figured that's what he would be learning in Hogwarts.

Harry started when the door opened. He saw another creature and vaguely wondered what exactly there creatures were. The creature motioned for Harry to sit and took a seat himself. "You are Mr. Potter, correct?" The creature asked.

"Yes, sir," Harry said, fidgeting in his seat.

"To confirm your identity we need a drop of your blood," he said procuring a knife. Harry nodded and made a small incision on the pad of his thumb. The cut was held over a small golden bowl and a few drops went in. The bowl glowed softly for a moment before a key appeared on the table with a small 'plink.' "Ah, yes… The Goblins know this key well; it's been used in your family for more than a few generations," the goblin said. There was a slight rustling as what Harry now knew to be a goblin was looking through a file that wasn't there a moment ago. Harry was about to ask a question but was stopped when the goblin said, "Now, Mr. Potter, you must be aware that you cannot gain your full inheritance until you reach the age of thirteen. Gaining said inheritance would make you an adult in the both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds. You wished to see your assets; here they are." He handed the Harry a piece of folded paper and Harry glanced at it. Harry hid his surprise at the number of zeros. "Do you wish to do any other business today?" The goblin asked as Harry handed the paper back to him.

Harry cleared his throat and said, "I'd like to make a withdraw."

Harry had a bag of gold in his pocket as he walked down the street. He wasn't sure where to go first, but decided he would need something to put all his school supplies in. He looked around and spotted a sign that had a trunk on it. He made his way there and went inside. There was a bit of a queue. He stood behind a couple and their daughter. Her hair looked familiar and he was sure he'd seen her before but tried brushed it off. He kept thinking about it and sighed softly in frustration. He was about to speak to her when she spoke, "Daddy, I was wondering if I could get a few extra books…"

Harry choked on the breath he was taking as he heard her voice. The girl from the zoo; that's where he'd seen her. He was still coughing as they turned around to look at him. He took a deep breath and hit his chest a few times. He cleared his throat and smiled at them briefly to show he was alright.

"I know you," the girl said. She was studying him as if trying to figure him out or quite possibly trying to look into his soul. It was an odd thing to think, but she was staring rather intently. He opened his mouth to say something when she said in that same soft voice she used at the zoo, "You're the boy from the zoo, the one who thanked me…"

Harry nodded and said, "Yeah, and you're the girl who asked if I was alright." He was kind of glad that he actually got to see her again. Maybe they were meant to meet again, but he didn't believe in fate.

She smiled at him, showing her buck teeth a little. "Where's your family?" she asked. The question made her frown as if she might be remembering something extremely unpleasant. Harry, for one, didn't doubt that. Anyone who had ever been within a ten yard radius of his uncle would be frowning at the mention of him.

He was tempted to make up an excuse like 'they're in the next shop' but stopped because of the same feeling that he had at the zoo; the one he didn't know. "They're not here."

Her mother spoke up asking, "Why not?" She seemed to think his family was rather negligent, if you were to go off of her tone and the slight frown on her face. She didn't know how right she was.

He studied her for a moment. She had almost the same facial features as her daughter, the same smallish nose and shape of the eyes. Instead of the warm, curious brown eyes she had a deep blue-green that was very intense. She looked kind enough, though. He went with a half truth, "They dropped me off; they're very busy."

The adults looked pleased at this, outwardly at least, but their daughter looked dubious. He knew why: she had heard the way his uncle talked him. Thankfully, she didn't press the subject and said, "I'm Hermione Granger."

Harry smiled as kindly as he was able, which was rather hard for someone who had no reason idea what a truly kind smile was, "Harry, Harry Potter. It's nice to see you again."

Hermione smiled as well, he must have done something right, "Yes, it is. Are you going to Hogwarts?" She seemed genuinely excited and interested. Her smile got wider with each passing moment. Harry thought her cheeks might split apart.

"Yeah, first year." He said. Maybe, for the first time in his life he could have a friend. He didn't really know how to do that, though. It was worth a shot.

She smiled like it was the best news she had heard in her life. "Me too!" she exclaimed. She was practically bouncing with excitement. Harry smiled at her exuberance; she was cute. He grinned as she began chattering about anything and everything she was expecting at Hogwarts. Harry got a few words in, as well, but mostly he was content to let her talk. He parents looked at each other worriedly and her mother looked like she was about to say something before the salesman came up to them. They placed their order and were pleased they wouldn't have to lug around a huge trunk. Hermione's parents said it was time for them to leave when Hermione suddenly asked, "Since Harry's here alone can he come with us to buy supplies?"

Harry was surprised but said, "That's alright, I'll find my way around." He didn't really want to wander around alone, but he didn't want to bother them either. He was quickly over ruled by Mrs. Granger and Hermione. They insisted so he conceded. He placed an order for his trunk, the simplest trunk they had, and had the man shrink it so he could put it in his pocket. He was told to tap it once with his wand to make it normal size when he wanted.

"Where to first?" Mr. Granger asked. He was smiling like he already knew the answer, and Harry would bet his vault that he did. Mr. Granger's eyes were twinkling mischievously.

Hermione was bouncing excitedly again, "The book store!" They made their way to the book store, Flourish and Blotts, and stayed there an hour longer than necessary to satisfy Hermione. Harry also bought a few extra books. When her parents started to call for them, he managed to get her away from the books by reminding her about the rest of their school supplies. They went to a few different stores and managed to find everything they needed. All of their shopping was done except for their wands.

They stopped in front of a shop that had the words Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. in peeling gold letters over the door. They walked in and found no one in the shop. Harry became wary of this place where this strange atmosphere was twirling and making him uneasy. He felt so much energy in this place that it was making him feel a little sick. A part of him seemed to think that he was feeling magic and not energy. It was probably right, it usually was after all.

Harry watched as an old man appeared from the back of the shop. "Ah," he said, "yes, here for your wands, I expect." They were about to answer when he continued, "Of course you are. You first, young lady, hold out your wand arm." She did so. A measuring tape flew out of his hand and started to measure her arm, her height, her fingers, and so on. Some measuring was important, but the space between her nostrils really wasn't necessary, Harry thought. "Name?" the old man said suddenly appearing nearer to them.

"Hermione Granger," she said. She seemed confused. Maybe she was wondering about the nostril thing too…

The man was silent for a moment before saying, "Yes, here we are! Try this one…" Hermione grabbed it and he immediately pulled it away. "No, this one," he said. Then he pulled it away again. He did this several times, making her wave some of them sometimes. Then, suddenly, purple sparks flew out of the wand she was holding. "Yes, yes this is the one!" Ollivander said happily. "Ten and three-quarter inches, dragon heartstring, vine, and flexible. Excellent for charm work and transfiguration." He paused. "That'll be seven galleons."

Harry was called up next. "Name?" the old man asked during his measurements.

"Harry Potter," Harry said.

"Potter, you say?" Ollivander said pausing. "Ah, yes I remember your parents well…" There was a pause as the man got lost in his memories. "Your mother got the swishy willow, ten and a quarter inches long, nice for charm work. And your father! Yes, Mahogany, eleven inches, pliable. Made for transfiguration, very powerful." This was unexpected, and Harry didn't know what to think; no one had ever told him anything about his parents. "Yes, well, let's get on with it then!"

Harry's wand choosing went on for a bit longer than Hermione's. Harry was getting rather bored with the whole thing, but knew he needed a wand so he kept quiet. Then, finally, something remarkable happened. Mr. Ollivander handed him a wand saying, "Try this one. Phoenix feather, eleven inches, cherry, supple, great for defense and transfiguration." He grabbed it and felt the air around him swirl and warm up. Red spark were shooting out of the tip of his wand. He grinned knowing they were finally done. "Ah, Yes… The wand finds the wizard, as always." Harry thanked him and paid his seven galleons and left with the Grangers.

Harry was listening to Hermione chatter about anything and everything as he sat at one of the tables in the Leakey Cauldron with the Grangers. This was the best day he'd ever had, no Dursleys, no beatings, no cupboard. He could get used to this. He realized that he shouldn't get his hopes up though.

"Harry, where are your parents?" Mrs. Granger asked. Her eyes were filled with concern, definitely not something he was used to.

Harry paused, looking down at the table and tracing the grain of the wood. There really was no easy way to tell people these things. "My parents are dead…" he all but whispered.

Mrs. Granger looked at him sadly and asked, "Who do you live with then?"

"My aunt and uncle," was the automatic response. He couldn't tell them that he was never going back; they would just ask why and that was a sensitive matter. It was better to pretend that he still lived there for a while at least. He quickly thought up a lie, "They said they'd come pick me up around eight o'clock or half past. They have jobs that keep them busy all day…" Harry hoped that this was acceptable.

There was a moment that the two adults looked dubious but Hermione interrupted them with the question, "I've been wondering… Where did you get that scar?"

"Hermione Jane Granger!" her mother exclaimed, shocked.

Harry didn't want her to get in trouble so he quickly said, "It's alright, Mrs. Granger, really." He smiled sadly at Hermione before responding, "I've had it all my life. My aunt and uncle told me I got it in the car crash my parents died in, but I know it's not."

Hermione frowned, obviously not satisfied with the vagueness of his answer. "So, how exactly did you get it?" she asked. "If you don't mind me asking…" she added hastily at her mother's stern look.

"I don't really know," Harry sighed. He really didn't. He knew how his parents died, but not where his scar came from, although he had suspicions. "I mean, it could have been the car crash, but when my aunt told me about it she looked like she was making it up." He was lying. He wanted to tell her the truth, that his parents were tortured and this probably came from a knife, but her parents probably wouldn't like that. If he ever got the chance, he knew he'd tell her the truth. Part of him wasn't ready to tell anyone, so he'd wait.

Suddenly, a tall stern looking woman came up to their table and said in a think Scottish accent, "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I take it you're ready to go."

"Ah, yes," Mr. Granger said standing. "We best be on our way. Come on, Darling," he directed at Hermione.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Hermione said with a smile. She hopped up and turned to go, but before she left she turned to Harry and said, "Bye, Harry. I'll see you on the train."

The Professor paused and looked closely at him for a short moment. "Harry? Harry Potter?" she asked, completely stunned.

Harry watched her warily for a moment, "Yes, Professor."

"I knew your parents," she explained. She stared at him for a moment. "You look so like your father… but not your eyes. You have your mother's eyes…" she trailed off; her voice was softer, less stern. She collected her thoughts and cleared her throat. "I hope to see you at Hogwarts, Mr. Potter," she said in her stern tone.

Harry smiled slightly, "I hope to see you too, Professor, and thank you." He watched them go and waved at Hermione when she turned around to look at him again. He sat there for a few more moments and then he went up to the barman. "Excuse me, how much does a room cost?"