"So what are you gonna do now." Astoria was looking at him worriedly with those big, blue eyes that she and her sister shared. They were sitting at the table having a midmorning snack of fresh fruit. Cyrus and Evelyn were taking a walk outside and Daphne was in the library, doing, well, Harry wasn't exactly sure. Nor was he brave enough to ask. He'd admit it: Daphne scared him. He'd never met someone so...cold. It was disconcerting, to say the least.

"I'm not really sure," he replied, shrugging slightly. "I've got to set up lessons, of course. You want to hear what I've planned so far?" She nodded excitedly.

"Alright. I'm planning on taking the goblins up on their offer of an instructor. From him, or her, I suppose, I'll learn both physical and magical defense and offense along with wizard history. So that's one instructor for three sets of lessons, then.

Your dad said he'd teach me "how to be a lord". I'm not really sure what that entails but I assume it includes wizarding law, politics, etiquette, finance, and more history." Astoria nodded in agreement.

"So that's another, what, five subjects, making a total of eight. But that's not everything. I still need lessons in occlumency and animagus training, plus I should review all my school books from the past five years, maybe even for next year, too. So that makes a total of eleven subjects I need to learn by summer's end. Seeing as how the order tends to come get me on my birthday, I really only have until July 31st. And today's what, the 23rd of June?" She nodded in agreement.

"So that leaves me with less than six weeks to learn, well, everything." At this he put his head into his hands and groaned. "I need more time. I need more time!" He threw a grape away in anger, scowling at the unfairness of the universe.

"You done pouting," Daphne's acidic voiced shot from the doorway. He transferred his scowl to her but nodded all the same. "Good, because I just might have a solution to your problem." His eyes filled with painful hope and he looked at her almost desperately.

"We need to go to Gringotts."

"Again?" He had just spent hours there the previous day. He wasn't exactly aching to go back.

"Yes, again," she snapped impatiently. "Go grab your cloak. We'll go now, while my parents are out."

"But why would we want-"

"Look, Potter," she snapped again. "You want to live, right?" He nodded. "And if my plan works out, it'll be worth it, right?" Again she received a nod. "Even if my parents don't approve?" A much more hesitant nod here. "Then get going. We leave in five." She stormed out of the room, her cloak swirling behind her, and Harry turned to Astoria, confusion written all over his face.

She giggled sweetly and prodded him off his chair. "She can be cold sometimes but she really does want to help. If she has a plan your best bet is to go with it. So go on. Go grab your cloak! I'll keep an eye on Mum and Dad."

"Erm, thanks, I guess." She giggled again and pushed him out the door.

"Good luck!"

Five minutes later Harry found himself sprawled across the floor of Gringotts and covered in soot. Daphne stood above him, poised and soot-free, a look of concentration on her face. She was so intent on her goal that she didn't even laugh at Harry, who was rather grateful.

Storming up to the nearest teller Daphne demanded to see Ragnok at once. A flash of Harry's family rings sent him running and five minutes later they were sitting in Ragnok's office, sipping tea.

"Hello Harry, Ms. Greengrass. I must say I'm surprised to see you so soon."

"Me too," Harry muttered under his breath. Daphne's elbow made solid contact with his ribs and he winced.

"Manager Ragnok, I understand that as Friend of the Goblin Nation Potter here has certain rights that most wizards don't." Ragnok nodded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Daphne pressed on, ignoring his penetrating gaze. "Would one of these rights include the use of goblin artifacts like, say, a time turner?"

Understanding clicked in Harry's brain and he sat up straighter. "Daphne, you're a genius!" She smirked at him.

"I know." Harry wasn't sure if it was just the light or what but he thought she seemed rather pleased by his praise. Turning to Ragnok he continued with the thread of conversation.

"You see, Ragnok, I only have a few more weeks of the summer to learn, well, everything, and that's just not enough time. I know you offered the use of a goblin trainer but that only covers part of what I need to learn. If I could use something like a time turner then I could fit all my lessons in and be way more prepared this fall."

Ragnok regarded both of them for some time; Daphne sat there stoically, meeting his gaze unflinchingly, but Harry had begun to fidget rather early. Finally Ragnok spoke. "I take it you wish to accompany him?" He was looking at Daphne as he said this, something that confused Harry.

"I do."

"You do?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Yes Potter, I do."

"But, why? I mean, you don't really need the training, and, erm…"

"You think I don't like you." He nodded and ducked his head in embarrassment. Surprisingly Daphne just shrugged at this.

"To be honest Potter I'm not really sure what to think of you. You're Lord of six of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses and richer than Britain. You practically own the government, and yet you have no self-confidence and no idea how to use any of this power to your advantage. Stranger yet, you don't seem to want to use any of this power to you advantage. It honestly makes me wonder if you're not a Hufflepuff."

"So why do you want to come with me, then?"

"I'd be stupid to pass up on such an opportunity. Think of it, a goblin trainer, a whole extra summer of lessons. I could learn so much!" Her eyes were shining in excitement, reminding Harry of a certain bushy haired friend.

"You sound like Hermione."

She scowled ferociously at him. "I'm nothing like that," she noticed Harry's expression and changed her word at the last minute, "girl at all. I have self-control and don't regurgitate the entire text book when asked a question. I don't throw a fit when someone else gives a better answer than me. I don't nag my friends to do their work to the point of them avoiding me at exam time."

At this point Harry held up his hands in surrender. He was sensing some history there that he didn't really want to delve into. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry I said anything."

"Ah hem, if I may intrude." Harry turned back to Ragnok, blushing in embarrassment. If he wasn't mistaken, Daphne's cheeks were also a little pink. "To answer your question, Ms. Greengrass, yes, Harry has the right to use such a thing, were it to exist. However, I don't think a time turner is the best thing, in this case."

Seeing disappointment cross their faces, he added, "However, I may have something else that works just as well." He turned to the door and began yelling commands in Gobbledygook. Moments later a younger goblin walked through the door and spoke quietly with him for a few minutes.

After he'd left Ragnok turned to his young guests. "Harry, what I'm about to speak about is considered a Goblin secret and is guarded more stringently than our vaults." He gave a significant look at Daphne. "I will trust your judgement on whether we can have this discussion in present company."

It took a few moments for Harry to figure out exactly what he was saying, but when he did he was surprised by his response. "I trust her with my life, sir. Whatever you have to tell me, you can tell her as well." If Daphne was surprised by this she didn't show it, but he thought he felt her eyes on him much more than usual after that.

"Very well, I trust your judgement. We have here at Gringotts a time chamber. When active, each hour that passes outside the chamber corresponds to twenty four hours within the chamber. That means that each day in real time equals twenty four days in chamber time. By this math, an entire year can be lived in just over two weeks real time.

You happen to be in luck. The chamber will be available this Friday for the entire 15 days it takes to live a year. Better yet, the man I had in mind for your lessons is planning on staying in the chamber for the entire fifteen days.

I would like for you to meet him before you agree to anything, though. Have you the time now?"

Harry and Daphne glanced at each other, then nodded. "Very well, follow me." Ragnok led them deep into the tunnel system to a large stone door. Running his finger across it, it slid open and he stepped forwards.

Behind the door stood a large stone room the size of the Hogwarts great hall. In fact, the domed ceiling was enchanted just like the ceiling of the great hall. When Harry mentioned this, Ragnok told them that Rowena Ravenclaw herself had charmed the room as a thanks for rescuing her youngest brother. Its existence had been one of the goblins most closely guarded secrets ever since.

Examining the room further, Harry found that it was divided into sections. On the far right, closest to the door, was an infirmary. Cabinets lined the walls and beds covered in crisp white linen were arranged in rows between the two longest sides of the room.

Seeing his curious gaze, Ragnok explained that the chamber was most often used for sick patients that hadn't the time to fully recuperate out in the real world and thus requested use of the time chamber. Harry nodded in understanding and continued his examination.

A large folding door separated the infirmary from the next section of the room, the living quarters. From what Harry could see, the quarters resembled the American office style of cubicles. Each room had a bed, nightstand, and dresser. A folding wall separated it from the next room, and the next and the next. At the end closest to him he saw a communal bathroom for the males. He assumed the females had a similar one at the other end.

There were two rows of about ten rooms each and it seemed that they were separated by gender. The men were on the right, the women on the left. On the left, what would have been the first two rooms for the women were instead transformed into an open dining area. Ragnok informed them that Rowena had charmed it so that house elves could pop in and out despite the time change to bring supplies.

The infirmary and living quarters together totaled about one third of the caverns' total area. The next third was divided somewhat differently. On the half closest to the door a series of low walls, about four feet high, cut the space into a series of classrooms. A larger wall then separated this front half from the back, which housed a large library.

It was the far end of the cavern that interested Harry the most. The previous two thirds of the cavern were floored and walled in wood and made to look like real rooms. The far third, however, was the same rough stone as the cavern walls. It was entirely open and covered in carved runes.

When he asked, Harry learned that it was the dueling section of the chamber and that the runes prevented any permanent damage from occurring and kept any spell fire localized to the area, so as not to interfere with the rest of the chamber.

It was, in a word, brilliant.

In the dueling chamber the small party found a middle aged goblin pacing the chamber, a piece of chalk in his hand. He was muttering angrily to himself in gobbledygook and occasionally writing random figures and numbers on the walls in chalk.

"Ah, Ironfist. What has that wall done to you to be cursed so unfairly?" The goblin called Ironfist turned to Ragnok and offered a feral smile.

"Who said it needed to do anything?" Ragnok barked a laugh and grabbed his forearm in the typical goblin greeting.

"Ironfist, I would like you to meet Friend Harry Potter and his- acquaintance - Daphne Greengrass. They're the ones I told you about last night." Ironfist looked them over inch by inch, then spat into the corner and addressed Ragnok.

"Hmph. The girls got gumption, for sure. She shouldn't be a problem. Not sure about the boy, though. Seems a little unsure of himself and looks like a stiff wind would blow him over. Still, not bad for a wizard." He turned his attention to said wizard and stepped closer so they were just inches apart.

"You willing to go through hell and back under the so call guise of becoming a warrior? It won't be easy, boy." Harry stiffened at that and looked him right in the eye.

"Bring it on." Ironfist bellowed a laugh and turned to Ragnok.

"He's got guts, he has. Maybe he'll do better than I thought. Have 'em here on Friday and I'll see what I can do." With a nod he picked up his chalk and resumed his pacing.

Ragnok turned to Harry and nodded. "Congratulations, he's agreed to teach you."

"Thank you, Ragnok." Ragnok gave an evil grin full of razor sharp teeth that shook Harry to his core.

"Oh, don't thank me yet, Harry. Ironfist is the best teacher out there simply because he knows no limits to what the body can do. You're in for a rough few weeks, my friend. Once you come out, if you come out, you can thank me then."

With another disconcerting grin he turned and walked them back towards the nearest floo point. With a wave and a call of "Greengrass Manor!" the two young magicals were gone.

Stumbling out of the floo, Harry managed to only fall on his knees rather than his face. Personally he was quite proud. Of course, Daphne still snorted at the sight when she stepped out behind him, once again perfectly poised and soot free. He was going to have to swallow his pride soon and learn how to do that.

"How'd it go?" Astoria was looking over her book on dragons at them curiously from the couch.

"Really well," he replied happily. "Did your parents come around at all?" She shook her head.

"Nope, they're still outside somewhere." Daphne sighed in relief at that and sat in the nearest armchair.

Harry looked at her curiously, then asked, "Why didn't we want them to know where we were, anyway? I mean, we didn't do anything wrong."

"Well, if the goblins didn't have what we needed I was going to suggest we steal a turner from the ministry." His eyes grew wide at that and she shrugged. "What, you've already snuck in once before. The second time would be a breeze."

He nodded, his eyes still wide. "I'm glad things worked out then."

"What worked out?" Evelyn and Cyrus walked casually through the doorway, hand in hand.

"We found a way to solve Harry's problem!" Astoria looked extremely proud of herself as she said this and Harry had to smother a smile.

"And what problem would that be?"

"Fitting all my lessons into the rest of the summer. There just wasn't enough time to learn everything I needed to know." Cyrus nodded.

"I'd noticed that but I couldn't think of any alternatives."

"Yes, well, you probably don't live in the library like Daphne does." Daphne shot a glare Harry's way but didn't attack him, so he felt pretty confident that she was opening up to his sense of humor. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.

"Too true," Evelyn said with a chuckle. "So, Daphne, what did you come up with?"

"In a book on time turners, which I found after a reasonable time in the library, I found a reference to an object that could turn a month into a year, but it was lost long ago in a ministry seizure. The actual seizure, though, had goblins written all over it. I figured if the goblins did indeed have this object, then a Friend of the goblin nation would be allowed access to it." Understanding dawned in her parent's eyes and Astoria began to bounce in excitement.

"Did they have it," she squealed.

Harry grinned at her and nodded. She responded with another, much longer and higher pitched squeal that had poor Cyrus grabbing his ears in pain. "Did they grant you permission to use it," he asked, still rubbing his ears.

"Not only that, but it doesn't take a whole month. We'll only be gone for fifteen days."

"We?" Daphne gave her father a hard look and nodded.

"Yes, we. Did you really think I would pass up the opportunity to get a free years' worth of training from goblins?" Cyrus gave a small laugh at that.

"I guess not."

"So when do you leave? And where will you stay?"

"We need to be at Gringotts at 8 o' clock Friday morning. We'll be staying at the bank the whole time and will come out in fifteen days a whole year older and wiser." Harry's eyes were gleaming in anticipation at this, as were Daphne's.

"Well then, I guess you'd better start packing." Daphne gave a little squeal, sounding very much like Astoria, and ran to give her father a hug.

"Thanks Daddy, you're the best." She ran off to who knows where, leaving a very amused family behind.

"I love you girls, I really do, but must you be so hard on my ears?" After a round of laughter the rest of the group broke apart, Evelyn and Astoria to the kitchen, Cyrus to his office, and Harry to his room.

Since it was a lovely day out Harry changed into shorts and a t-shirt and went in search of Daphne. He found her sitting in her room, glaring at her trunk which was filled to the brim with clothes and books.

"Daphne, you do realize that there's a library in the chamber, right?" She nodded and scowled, never once moving her gaze from the overloaded trunk.

"It's just, what if they don't have everything? I mean, it's rather impossible that they do. And it can't hurt to bring just a few more books." She sounded so much like Hermione at that point Harry just had to laugh.

"Tell you what, I've got space in my trunk. Why don't you add your books to the library in the hidden room?" At his statement her eyes lit up and she gave him a real, genuine smile.

"Thanks." Harry just nodded at that statement as he was finding it hard to think clearly. His heart was racing, his tongue all twisted up, and he suddenly felt nervous.

"You should smile more," he blurted out randomly, cursing his lack of a mental filter. "It makes you look even more beautiful." To his total shock Daphne actually blushed, before slamming her mask back into place.

"Thanks," she said neutrally, though her cheeks were still slightly flushed. After a few moments of awkward silence she asked, "Were you looking for me for something?"

Harry snapped out of his daze, hoping she hadn't noticed his staring. "Oh, uh, yes, actually. I was thinking we could go for a run or a swim or something since it's so nice out." At this she rolled her eyes.

"Of course it's nice out, haven't you heard of weather charms?" Still, Harry noticed that her voice lacked its usual bite and she hadn't intended it to be mean, more like a gentle tease.

"No, actually, but I'm sure you'll tell me all about them." And so she did. As they ran laps around the large gardens she delved into the complex world of weather charms, and then ward charms, and then just charms in general. As she talked her eyes lit up and she let her mask slip just a bit. Harry found that he just couldn't get enough and he was sorry when they were called in to lunch.

It seemed that she was too, and as they parted ways she gave him a pat on the arm and another one of her rare smiles. He practically floated back to his room.

After a filling lunch Evelyn, at Harry's request, gave Harry some tips on using the floo and allowed him to floo from one end of the manor to the other. After only thirty minutes he was consistently landing on his feet and only coming out moderately covered in soot. Grinning in victory, he trotted off to find Cyrus to ask for some advice on how to behave like a lord.

Cyrus's advice was simple: fake it 'till you make it. "You see, Harry, Lords are just everyday people. We're not really that special at all. The thing that distinguishes us from everyone else is that we pretend that we're better." At Harry's frown, he hastily corrected himself. "Maybe not better per se, but special. We are descended from a long line of leaders, the men who created our entire society. I think people would actually worry if we weren't a little cocky."

"But won't people think we're stuck up?"

"Yes, but that's part of the act. We are Lords of a Most Ancient and Noble House, or your case, six Most Ancient and Noble Houses. Frankly, people expect us to be a little stuck up."

"I don't want people to think of me the way they think of Malfoy."

"That won't be a problem. You see, the way Malfoy walks and talks is very much like a lord, but the thing is that when he interacts with the common folk he looks down his nose at them. A proper lord acts sure of himself, confident, and yes, a little stuck up, but they realize that the common folk are the people they are trying to protect, not put down. They recognize that people are actually beings, not something unpleasant on the bottom of their shoe. That recognition shows through in their interactions with others and that is what's going to separate you from the likes of Malfoy.

What I don't think you've noticed Harry is that you are instinctually a good person. You treat others, and not just wizards, as equals. I've noticed it, Ragnok noticed it, and your friend Dobby has noticed it, too. In fact the only one who really doesn't see it is you. When you go out there, don't worry so much. Like I said, you're a good person. They'll see that, and if they don't, then who cares? You own the freaking government, Harry. You don't need the people to like you. Mind, you should want them too and strive to make a good impression, but don't waste too much time worrying about it."

Harry still looked uncertain as he walked out of the room and towards the library. He needed a second opinion and he knew just who to ask.

"Am I like Malfoy now," Harry blurted out as soon as he found her. Daphne looked up from her chair in the library and gave him a confused look. "Because I don't want to be like that," he continued, beginning to babble.

Seeing the problem Daphne set her book now and gestured for Harry to take a seat. After a few more minutes of self-conscious rambling Harry finally passed to catch his breath and Daphne was finally able to get a word it.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Harry looked confused, then realized he hadn't done a good job explaining things and flushed in embarrassment.

"Oh. Sorry. It's just, your dad was giving me lessons on how to be a lord and he said that I have to act better than everyone else and I don't want people to think I'm like Malfoy." She nodded her head in understanding and leaned back, gazing at him thoughtfully.

Finally she asked, "Who exactly do you mean by 'people'?"

"You know, just, everyone out there. People."

"Ah, I see. These would be the same people that worshipped a baby for ten years for defeating a dark lord but didn't bother once checking on him or saving him for an abusive environment? The same people that shunned you in second year for having an ability that was completely out of your control? The same people that didn't bother giving your godfather a trial? The same people that made a boy face a dragon, alternatively worship and then hate him, believe everything they read in the papers, and have abandoned you more times than you can count? Those people?"

He stared at her in shock for several minutes, slowly thinking things through. No he didn't want to be portrayed as anything like Malfoy, but did he honestly care what people thought of him? He'd gone from hero to troublesome boy to hero to criminal back to hero to attention-seeking liar and finally back to hero again all in the span of a couple years. The 'people' he was so worried about were very much like sheep being herded along every which way. Did he honestly want to care about a bunch of sheep? No, not one bit.

Daphne knew the moment her argument had made it through to him, it was written in every line of Harry's body. The previously slouched over boy was now sitting tall. Where he was had been meek and worried he now stood strong and uncaring. His whole aura radiated confidence. He honestly didn't care what people thought of him anymore, and it was liberating. His bright green eyes, still glowing with power, snapped over to hers and she smothered a gasp. What once had been soft green eyes riddled with emotion with now hard and strong. Daphne smothered a smile and he stood; Harry had just gone from boy to man, and it showed.

"My wand should be done by now. I'm going to Diagon Alley to fetch it." Daphne noticed he'd made a statement rather than asked permission and barely concealed a victorious grin. "Would you like to accompany me?"

She nodded and stood, taking his arm. "I would indeed, mi'lord." He grinned at her and she couldn't help but smile back at him. She liked this new Harry.

Evelyn was sitting in the den listening to Astoria go on and on about her friend Sam's upcoming visit and trying to get some reading done when Harry walked in. Glancing up to smile a greeting she stopped and did a double take. She knew that Cyrus had talked to him but she didn't know he'd made this much progress.

Harry stood tall and determined in his black robes with emerald embroidery. His eyes were almost glowing with power and he exuded confidence. Her Ice Queen of a daughter stood tall and proud beside him, her mask firmly in place, but Evelyn could see the pride and excitement in her eyes.

"We're going to Diagon Alley to retrieve my new wand. We shouldn't be more than an hour. Is there anything I can get you while I'm out?" Evelyn had to fight the urge to break eye contact and shrink in on herself. Harry exuded power and her natural instincts were screaming 'submit!'

"No thank you, Lord Potter," for that was most certainly who she was speaking to now. He nodded once to her, once to Astoria, then stepped into the floo and whooshed away. Daphne gave her mother a predatory grin and followed behind him.

Quickly she stood and went to find her husband, only to see him standing in the doorway looking rather shocked. "Why didn't you say you'd talked to him? That's a huge change!" He shook his head in shock.

"Because it wasn't me. The boy who walked out of my office still had his tail between his legs and too many burdens on his shoulders." This was greeted with silence.

"She's good for him," Evelyn finally stated, figuring correctly that her daughter was the one who had instigated this change.

Cyrus nodded firmly. "And he for her." After another nod he went back to work and she went back to reading, though she found it rather hard to focus.

Over at diagon alley Harry was basking in the changed atmosphere. Usually people exuded curiosity when he came and stared at him like he was an exhibit in a zoo. Last visit with Cyrus people had shied away in fear. Now, though, people exuded respect. As he walked confidently down the alley people quickly moved out of the way and stared out of the corner of their eyes at him in awe.

No one blinked twice as he turned into Knockturn and he grinned to himself. It was nice not to be judged for every little thing, not that he cared one way or the other anymore.

Bugsy took one look at him and grinned, standing and giving him a little bow. "Mi'lord, ye've come inta yer own. Suits yah." Harry nodded in acknowledgment and followed Bugsy into the back room, where he was handed a thin black box. Opening it Harry fought not to gasp.

Sitting in the box was the most beautiful wand he'd ever seen. The deep black obsidian had been smoothed and polished to a shine. Contrasting greatly with the black was the silver of the unicorn blood, which formed a vined pattern that swirled around the wand from the bottom all the way to the tip, where the emerald was attached with silver facets. Looking closely Harry noticed that the leaves of the vines each held a small carved rune, also written in unicorn blood.

"'S a beauty, aint it?" He simply nodded and reached for it. "Hold yer horses, boy, 's not quite done yet. Needs a drop a yer blood."

"My blood?" Bugsy nodded.

"Tunes the wand to yah 'n' makes it so no one else can use it." At Bugsy's request Harry pricked his thumb with his handy dagger and squeezed one drop of blood onto the emerald wand tip. Instead of staining it red like he'd expected, the blood simply flowed through the crystal right into the wand itself, where it disappeared from view. A bright flash signified the wand was finally complete.

Picking it up, Harry felt a rush of power stronger than he'd ever felt.

"Lumos," he whispered, and immediately there was a bright white burst of light that temporarily blinded all three of them.

"Wow," Daphne said softly. Harry nodded in agreement, then reluctantly transferred his gaze to Bugsy, who looked smug.

"It's the best one I've ever made." Both Harry and Daphne nodded in agreement.

"How much?"

"One hundred seventeen galleons. I'll even throw in an extra wand holder." He tossed a dragon hide wand holder on the table and Harry handed him his card.

"Take an extra fifteen galleons for yourself, Bugsy. You've earned it." Indeed he had, and as Harry walked out of the shop, Daphne by his side, he was suddenly struck by the realization that defeating Voldemort was becoming more real a possibility every day. He might just make it out of this war alive.