Authors Note: Hello, my lovelies! I know it's been ages since I last updated, but it's taken me a while to write this chapter due to real life getting in the way. I started College once again in September, having taken a year off, and with all my assignments and tests, getting time let alone inspiration to write has been difficult. To top it off, my cat died in November, and he'd been my companion for 19 wonderful years. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Hopefully, it won't take as long to get another out, but I won't promise because I really don't know how long it will take. I have four assignments and two tests this week, so definitely not for at least two weeks, perhaps more depending on inspiration and time. I hope you all haven't given up on me, and thank you for all the wonderful and kind reviews.

Authors Note 2: Updated and edited as of November 24, 2016.

Landing with a thump, Theodore and Harry straightened themselves and their clothing.

The green eyed lord looked around them.

Vaguely, in the distance to the east, he could see the edge of the orchard that bordered the Burrow. To the west was a road leading down a gentle sloap towards a small village. On the edge of the village was a house that looked like a Rook from a chess board. Harry realised that the Rook-shaped house must be the Lovegood home as Luna once said it was shaped like a chess piece.

Turning to the large gate in front of them, Harry pulled out a small knife.

"What are you doing?" Theodore asked.

"The Goblins told me that my ancestors were really into blood wards and made sure that the strongest of wards covered all their properties. The only property not covered was the one in Godric's Hollow, where my parents died. The blood wards were interfering with the Fidelius spell that Dumbledore cast over it so my dad dropped the wards until he and mum could find out how to make them work together. They had figured no one would sell them out, so they'd be safe" Harry replied. "I need to use a bit of my blood to unlock the gate, since no one has been here since my parents went into hiding"

"Ah. It's pretty common amongst the serious purebloods. The Potter family, though, has always been more on the relaxed side when it comes to blood and such. I had figured that they would have gotten different wards by the time your father was born"

Harry laughed softly as he sliced into the pad of his left ring finger. He then smearing the produced blood onto the Potter crest at the center of the gate.

The blood covered crest – A shield portraying a stick within a circle, within a triangle behind the head of a Griffin – glowed blood red for several seconds before the gate creaked open on its own.

"Shall we?" Harry asked. He received a nod from Theodore.

The two teens passed through the gate, and Harry sighed happily as he felt a warm feeling rush over him.

"I take it the wards just accepted you as Lord Potter and the Head of the Family?" Theodore asked with an amused chuckle.

"They did" Harry confirmed. "It was really pleasant. Like a warm hug"

"That's a good sign" Theodore assured the smaller teen, "If it were cold, then you'd know the wards were only accepting you because they had no other choice. The warmer and more comforting the feeling, the more you know that you'll do right by the family. Wards like these, the true blood wards, are cast by the Lord of the Family. These ones feel pretty old. They'd have been made hundreds of years ago and strengthened over time."

"Yes…The wards here are old. This cottage was here before all the others. The building itself has been replaced several times throughout the generations, but the wards, the land, was first settled by my ancestors about two decades or so before Hogwarts was founded" Harry smiled and looked around.

The front garden was greatly overgrown and the cottage ahead was covered in ivy and other invasive plants, but he could tell it had once been a beautiful little cottage that his whole family had loved.

"I thought you said this was one of the newer ones?" Theodore asked.

"I meant the building." Harry replied. "This building was made by my grandparents for my father. They had figured that when he was grown up, he would want his own property to live in with his family. At least until my grandparents were ready to pass on the lordship to my father and settle down for a sort of 'retirement' in a cottage somewhere. They completed the building when my father was in his second year. The Goblin's said that the last cottage on this land was burned down by a rampaging dragon about two hundred years ago and no one bothered to replace it because we had so many other properties with houses and such"

They walked towards the cottage, but were startled by the sudden appearance of an old house elf in a tattered pillow case.

"Is yous real?" The elf croaked in a hoarse voice. "Is Master Harry finally home?"

Harry knelt down in front of her and gently touched her shoulder. "I'm home"

The old elf burst into tears. "Master!"

"Shh, don't cry. Now's not the time for crying. It's a happy occasion, right?" Harry smiled, and the elf's tears lessened as she sniffled.

"D-Does Master Harry has any orders?" the elf asked hopefully.

Harry looked up at Theodore, who nodded.

Glancing back at the elf, Harry said, "I do. I need to know how all my properties are doing. A mean wizard hid my heritage from me, so I haven't been able to visit any of the Potter properties. I don't know which ones need repairs or if I need to get more house elves."

The old elf straightened up, pushing out her chest in pride, "Missy is Head Elf! Missy knowses everythings that Master Harry need to be knowingz!"

"Well then, Missy, could you take Theodore and I on a tour of the cottage and tell us about how the other properties are doing?"

"Of courses, Master Harry sir! Follows Missy, please!"

Missy took the teens on a tour of the house. She told them all about the house and what she felt needed to be done to revitalize it, because the elves could only do so much maintenance without their masters orders.

"Mistress Dorea left presents herez for youz, Master Harry!" Missy said as they stopped in front of a door to the left of the kitchen. "This wases to be Master Harry's nursery, yes. Mistress Dorea hadz a little of the Sights, and saw that Master Harry wouldn't live here until he was having childrens of his own. So, she changed it without Masters James or Charlus knowing! Looksie! Looksie!"

Harry opened the door and had to force the tears back.

The nursery was decorated with dark wood floors and walls with a forest painted on them. The forest seemed to come alive as different magical creatures of all shapes and sizes peeked around tree trunks or out of pushes. A stag and Doe darted out of the tree line on one wall to play in an open grassy field next to a window, where a fawn staggered to its feet and took its first shaky steps.

"Mistress Dorea madez room special for Master Harry because she knewses that Master Harry wouldn't bez able to live here as baby and would has hard living until nearly adults age!" Missy exclaimed. "Mistress Dorea charmed rooms to not come to life until Master Harry came here for first times! She saidz that Master Harry is to be being happy when he becomes Lord Potter! Master Harry is needing to know that Mistress Dorea saw with Sight what would happens to Master Harry and that she made sure no one would harm Master Harry again! Master Harry too special and powerful!"

Harry smiled softly at the elf. "Thank you for showing me this, Missy, and telling me about Grandmother. It means a lot to me"

Missy blushed. "Anythings for Master Harry!"

Harry turned to Theodore, "How are the wards looking?"

"They're a little weak from not having anyone strengthen them since your grandparents last did, but they seem to be in very good shape otherwise. If you spend a little time here soon and cast a few of the basic ward strengthening spells, they should be back to full power within a few days."

"I'll ask Bill for a reference book, then. Or maybe I have one somewhere at one of the properties. Either way, it's stood this long without my help, it can last another week or two." Harry said with a nod.

"Did you want to keep looking around?" Theodore asked.

"Hm, there doesn't seem to be much else. We've gone through the kitchen, sitting room, study, bathroom and the three bedrooms and the nursery. It'd take a while to look around outside, so that's best left for another day. The next property is Potter Manor. A lot of the buildings were destroyed in the last muggle war by stray bombs, so it's only this cottage and Potter Manor that are fully standing. Godric's Hollow, as you can imagine, is partially destroyed due to the backlash from the killing curse Voldemort cast" Harry mused.

"Let's go, then. I'm interested in meeting some of your ancestors. They should have portraits up in the Manor" Theodore reached out, and Harry handed him one end of the Portkey.

"We'll meet you in Potter Manor, Missy. Is there an elf or two you can spare to clean this place up a little. Just some dusting and sweeping is fine for the time being"

"Yes, Master Harry! Missy will gives the jobses to Tick and Tock! They be the bestest cleaners!"

"Thank you. See you soon"

One disorienting trip later, they were standing in front of a grand set of gates, easily twice as large as the last properties gates. Harry repeated the same blood-letting process to open the gates of Potter Manor.

Entering the manor, the teens found themselves standing in the foyer.

Due to the house elves living in the manor unless taken to one of the other properties, the Manor was as clean as a whistle. It would probably be safe to eat straight off the counters, it was so clean.

The foyer led to a grand staircase that branched off at a landing mid-way. The two different staircases from that point on led to different wings of the Manor.

Above the landing hung a large painting of a man and woman.

Both had dark hair, though the man had brown eyes and the woman had grey.

The woman smiled when she saw Harry.

"Step forward, Harry, and let your Grandfather and I have a good look at you!" She said.

Theodore nudged Harry forward.

With shaking legs, Harry walked up the stairs and to the landing below the painting.

The woman, Dorea, gazed down on Harry with fondness.

"I knew you would grow into a handsome young man, Harry" She said after several long minutes of silence. "You have your fathers hair, I see. That's rather unfortunate…though it does suit you. It must be a pain to control it"

"I've given up on trying to control it" Harry said wryly.

"A wise idea" Dorea's husband, Charlus, said with a sigh. The man flipped his ponytail over his shoulder. "There's a reason I keep my hair long"

"Enough of the hair!" Dorea exclaimed. "Harry, who's that strapping young man by the door?"

"That's Theodore Nott, grandmother." Harry replied. "He's helping me check the wards and properties."

"A Nott?" Charlus asked in surprise. "Aren't they a Dark family?"

"Nott, come up here" Harry beckoned the brunet over.

Once Theodore was standing next to him, Harry looked up at his grandparents with a serious face. "Nott isn't like the rest of his family. His father was a Death Eater working for the Dark Lord Voldemort and was arrested during the first war, though he escaped from prison last year only to be put back in before summer started. His mother was very tolerant, and his older sister is in a serious relationship with the oldest Weasley boy and may very well marry him."

"Charlus wasn't saying it as if it was a bad thing, dear" Dorea placated. "The Potter family, until Charlus's father, were a Dark family. Even then, until James took over for Charlus, we were gray. After all, I was a Black before I married Charlus. You do know the history of the Blacks, don't you?"

"Vaguely" Harry replied. "Sirius Black was my godfather but…he was imprisoned without a trial after my parents secret keeper betrayed them. He wasn't even the secret keeper, that was Pettigrew! I only met Sirius when I was in third year…and until last year I didn't really get to talk to him much. We sent letters occasionally, but he was on the run. They were short and to the point."

"Oh! You poor dear!" Dorea cried out. "Who did you stay with, then? Was your home life as bad as I saw it would be in my visions?"

"My mothers muggle sister" Harry said. "Did you ever meet my mum?"

"No, I can't say we have" Charlus said. "We heard a little of her from James, but we died before we could meet her. James only ever came by here with her once and Dorea and I were off being cleaned by the elves at the time so we didn't get to meet her"

"My mum was a muggleborn" Harry said. "But she was called the brightest witch of her generation. She got top marks in all her classes at Hogwarts, and didn't conform to house rivalries according to Sirius. She was best friends with a Slytherin during school despite being a Gryffindor, until he fell into the wrong crowd and called her a mudblood. Her home life…well her parents were proud she was a witch. Her sister, my aunt Petunia, was jealous though. Petunia hated everything mum was. Mum was the beautiful one, mum was the smart and talented one, mum was the witch. Petunia began to hate mum over time and then I was just dropped on her doorstep in the middle of the night with nothing but the basket I was in, a blanket and a letter. She was forced to take me in, and took it out on me. I was a house elf to my aunt and her husband, and a punching bad for my cousin. I…I wasn't even allowed to see a healer after my uncle beat me for no reason. If he didn't get a promotion at work he would blame me. I was 'the freaky criminal boy' they 'graciously' took in."

"Harry, child, if you go into my study you'll find some of the best law books of the last hundred years. I have several books that are self-updating" Charlus said. "Take them and make sure those muggles are put behind bars!"

"Thank you, grandfather" Harry said.

Theodore surprised Harry by putting his arm around the shorter boy's shoulders. Harry blushed softly from the contact.

"Don't worry, Harry. Everything will turn out, just you wait. The Goblins are nothing if not thorough, and they'll find all the evidence you need to put those muggles behind bars if you pay them a small fee."

"I-I already have. I'm just waiting for the results. They're also looking into Dumbledore, since he was the one that went against my parents will and put me with the Dursley's."

Dorea changed the subject, and Harry spent some time getting to know his grandparents.

They talked for a solid hour before Harry said goodbye to his grandmother and grandfather, stating that they wanted to take a look around the manor.

Calling for Missy, the teens got the full tour of the Potter ancestral home.

"This place is certainly built to impress" Theodore commented as he and Harry looked around a lavish ballroom on the ground floor.

"Seems so" Harry replied. "How could anyone feel at home in a place like this? It's way too fancy"

"Compared to some of the homes I've seen, this is actually rather subdued. You should see Malfoy Manor. There are white peacocks all over the grounds and their ballroom is almost completely covered in gold and silver. Gold on the walls, silver on the ceiling, it's terribly gaudy" Theodore winced at the very thought of the Malfoy ballroom.

"I'll try to keep away from Malfoy Manor, then" Harry shuddered. "That doesn't sound pleasant at all"

"It's not. Now, is there anywhere else to see?"

"It doesn't seem so. Missy said that this was the only room we hadn't visited yet, so we can probably move on. It's getting rather late in the day, though, so I think we should have a late lunch before heading home" Harry said.

"Good idea" Theodore agreed. "Will we eat here?"

"Might as well. We're already here and it will give the Elves something to do. I'm sure the poor things miss having people to take care of"

The two teens settled down for lunch in the sun room, which overlooked a beautiful, if rather overgrown, garden.

"How do the wards here feel, Nott?" Harry asked as they ate.

"Better than the last property" Theodore answered. "Your father likely lived here until he married your mother and settled down elsewhere. The wards just need a few very basic refreshers, then they'll be as strong as ever."

"That's good" Harry smiled softly. "I suppose I'll live here for the time being. I'm currently staying at one of the Black properties. It's filled with objects that I'm pretty sure are very dark. I don't want to risk cleaning any of the Black properties out without help from Bill or someone that knows about dark magic."

"Perfectly understandable" Theodore acknowledged. The brunet slathered some butter on a croissant, then took a large bite of it.

Harry had trouble holding in his laughter, which caused Theodore to raise an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry, but the way you just bit into that croissant was the complete opposite of proper pureblood etiquette!" The green eyed lord laughed.

"Some of us appreciate moments like this where we can drop all pretenses and stuff our faces silly" Theodore mocked an insulted huff, "You should see Draco when he has freedom such as this. He practically shoves his hand into a jar of raspberry jam and eats it just like that. Well, to be fair, he does use a spoon. It's just, half the jam ends up on his hands and being licked off anyway so he might as well not use it at all!"

Harry's laughter increased, and Theodore soon joined him.

"Thank you for coming with me today, Nott" Harry said once they'd calmed down. "I've had a lot of fun"

"It's been quite interesting for me as well" Theodore replied, "So no need to thank me. If possible, I'd like us to be friends and friends do these sorts of favors for each other"

"I think I can handle being friends" Harry smiled.

"Good. So, what's our next course of action?"

The young Lord contemplated for a moment. "Well, we've done quite a bit of walking today and none of the other properties have fully in tact buildings nor have they had them for years. Now that I know the names of some of my elves, I can call them and have them search the properties for any missing items. I say we call it a day and rest up for tomorrow because we'll be robe shopping with a Malfoy and we both know how he can get when it comes to his clothes. He threw a fit over some crumbs Goyle dropped on him while at Hogwarts"

"Yes, that's true. Alright, since you'll be staying here, I'll excuse myself" Theodore finished his croissant and stood up. Harry walked with him to the floo which was still connected to the network, according to Missy.

"I'll see you at ten tomorrow" Harry said.

"Yes. See you at ten, Potter." Theodore said with a slightly awkward smile.

"I, er, I'd like to hang out again! I-if that's okay" Harry blushed and looked to his feet.

"That'd make me very happy, Potter"

"Harry" the green-eyed lord insisted. "Call me Harry"

"Then you have to call me Theodore or Theo" the brunet retorted with a small smirk.

"I can do that" Harry, cheeks still stained a rosy pink, smiled.

They said one last goodbye before Theodore was swept away by the floo network.

Missy showed Harry to the master bedroom, where he flopped backwards onto his bed and sighed.

"Merlin…I'm such a fool" Harry murmured as he threw one arm over his face, laying on his back with his legs dangling off the bed. "'I, er, I'd like to hang out again'. I'm such an idiot! Just because N-Theodore is good looking and smart and kind…No! No, no, no, no, no! Don't go there, Harry! Theodore is just a friend. Just a friend. But…then…why does my chest hurt over the fact that we're just friends?"

Harry sighed and moved so he was fully curled up atop the bed.

"I'll just have to give it some thought…"

Authors Note: Alright! That's chapter 10 done! Reviews will be used to pillow Harry's head at night, and flames will be used to keep him warm and cook for him. So, next chapter we get to see how Draco and Blaise will react to Theodore and Harry becoming friends. I love you all, and I'm terribly sorry for taking so long between updates. I'll try to be better!

IMPORTANT: Due to concerns over the pairing, I felt the need to clarify something. Harry is a teenager. Despite how mature he can act sometimes, his hormones are completely out of whack. Again, he's a teenager. He's sixteen. He's never been on a date before, never had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Just because he begins crushing on someone doesn't mean they'll go out, or that they'll end up marrying. He's going to date multiple males before he settles down. He might go out with a boy once or twice before they decide that they're better off as friends, or have a summer fling with a wizard who's visiting the country for a while. I really don't know where his relationships will end up yet. But like any teenager, Harry is going to be confused about his emotions. It doesn't help that his only basis for "normal" relationships are his muggle relatives and, to a lesser extent due to only seeing them for possibly a few days/weeks each summer, the Weasley's. He's going to have to do trial and error to figure out what it is he wants and needs in a partner. I have not decided the pairing yet, though I AM leaning towards Harry/Theo, Harry/Blaise, Harry/Draco or Harry/single Weasley boy. These are not guaranteed pairings. I'm going to throw Harry into several situations, and see what happens from there. For all I know, Harry could end up having a wonderful relationship with Viktor Krum while they both play professional Quidditch. I really have no clue that will happen in regards to relationships. I barely have any idea where each chapter will go. I just sort of wing it, which is what I will do in regards to the pairing.

I'm sorry for the rant, but I've had several messages complaining about a possible Harry/Theo pairing. I had originally planned for a Harry/Bill story, but as you can all tell, Theo's sister just kinda jumped in there and stole Bill away. Relationship wise, I'm back to square one.