AN: Thank you to all the reviewers. After the second Hurricane in like 2 weeks I've been really busy with classes and everything to post. Now there's a third that looks like it's heading this way…I hope not. Anyways here's chapter 11!

Athenakitty: You always ask such great questions! I hadn't thought about Howlers, for now let's just say there I is some kind of ward to keep them out.

Egyptian Flame: I hope you like this chapter, I'm not sure how long to make each chapter what's the standard length people usually have for a chapter? I'll see what I can do, most times I just write until I feel like I've done enough for that particular point.

I've got some good stuff coming up for next chapter; you'll see Harry's return to Hogwarts either in chapter 12 or 13 so keep reading!

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS ANYONE? I'm starting to think about it more but I'm not too sure yet which way to go.

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Harry stood still breathing deeply. Hearing movement behind him his eyes snapped towards his relatives.

"What is the meaning of this boy? It's not enough that old crackpot drops you on our doorstep with just a note and no explanation- but to barge into our home with no respect for us! I wont have it!"

Apparently Vernon Dursley wasn't capable of tact or any sort of restraint. After the conversation they had Harry would have expected at least some. He let out a sigh. This would create problems. He knew that the Order was going to be watching him even more closely than they ever had before.

"Vernon, don't forget the discussion we just had. I do hope you realize this situation requires some semblance of brain activity on your part. Dumbledore has made his position on certain matters clear to me, I will not be leaving this house over the next few days, stick to our agreement from earlier. Let me be, I'll do the same, and we wont have any problems."

With that Harry made his way back upstairs anger shifting through his green eyes.

"What am I supposed to do Crystal, I know you're supposed to leave soon, but how am I supposed to finish my training with them watching so closely?"

Crystal was his spirit guardian and had been charged with instructing Harry in his powers to a certain level, her and the Shadow Guardians had all been a big part of his developing his powers lately, but he knew that the final stages he had to do by himself, something that they had expressed to him before. It wasn't a surprise but with the unexpected hook of Dumbledore's plan to basically trap him inside the house he was presented with a problem.

"Harry calm down first of all. I know this is unexpected but life is full of the unexpected. It is a challenge you will have to work through on your own. You have proved a resourceful person and I have no doubt in your abilities. You need to learn to control your power under your own guide, without any help from myself or the Guardians."

Harry let out a frustrated groan.

"I know that Crystal! But…no I know, I can figure this out you all have taught me so much about myself, don't worry. Thank you Crystal."

He sat on his bed and settled into a relaxed position to meditate leading him to a place in his mind that looked like the entrance to the Shadow Realm.

"Harry?" came Frost's voice as his shadow form revealed itself. Though he wasn't asleep Harry could put himself into a deep meditation and communicate with the shadow guardians.

"I'm safe Frost, Dumbledore was just here Harry explained the events of moments before. Crystal will be leaving by morning I'm sure you know. When are you and Zephyr leaving back to the realm?"

"We only came to guard you to your home. We cannot stay; we will be gone by morning as well. But no worries, you can communicate with us in this way. We will be able to come to your realm now and then in shadow form. We will miss you Harry." he said sadly.

"Wow, I knew you would all be leaving me to go this on my own but I didn't really know what that meant until now. After all that time with you all it will be so strange without you there all the time." Harry explained.

"We are not truly gone from your life Harry, we will always be in you through our teachings, you can still talk to us now and then. But you need to learn certain things without us as I'm sure Crystal has told you. If you are in dire need we will help you in any way we can you know that, you are one of us now." he said proudly.

Harry lay back on his bed quietly letting Dysis lay next to him on a pillow and Tempest curling into his side.

"At least I still have you two" he spoke into their minds telepathically.

He drifted off into a restful sleep thinking of how he could maintain the training he knew he needed.
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Harry awoke to a nip at his fingers. Tempest.

"You know…I think we need to figure out some things today, how about a little trip to the kitchen I'm hungry" Harry said outloud.

He rolled off the bed stretching and then walked downstairs. Hearing the sounds of the Dursley's eating breakfast he steeled his expression and pushed through the door, they ignored him.

He went about putting water into a small bowl for his pets. He took a plate and glass and turned to the table. He sat next to Dudley who for once in his life was not stuffing his face. After eating breakfast under a strained silence and the occasional comment he spoke up.

"I'll be seeing about my school things and a few errands today so I will be gone for most the day." Harry said.

"Don't expect me to take you to anyplace of that freakishness boy!" Vernon grumbled.

Some things no matter how you tried never changed.

"I will have one of Dumbledore's Order accompany me for my school supplies."

He stood up in a graceful move and headed back upstairs without any other comments.

Gathering some clothes he headed to the shower. He was wary of using magic in the house because of the additional wards he knew Dumbledore had erected. He brushed his teeth and dressed in a pair of muggle blue jeans and a lightweight gray button down shirt with long sleeves he rolled up slightly, it would cover his tattoos since his appearance charm for them had worn off already, pulling on a pair of comfortable muggle sneakers he placed his throwing darts into two wrist guards which he'd charmed in black leather with a Celtic knotwork pattern imprinted. He pulled back his hair into a low ponytail, and strapped his wand to a holster under his shirt glad he'd charmed them wandlessly the night before so he wouldn't have to worry about renewing the charm for at least another day.

He sat on the floor and pulled his mother's trunk towards him. Turning it this way and that he finally settled on the wandless approach and lay his hand on the lid over his mother's initials. Opening it he found old books and parchement organized neatly. He picked up the old robes to move them aside but the color caught his eye. Green and Silver. Slytherin colors?

Harry dug through the books and pulled out what seemed to be a journal. Carefully opening it he saw the first entry was dated during his mother's first year at Hogwarts…he flipped through to the end and saw that it stopped on October 28th when he was one year old.

He sat there for a while reading entry after entry absorbing anything he could to get to know his mother. No one ever really talked about her to him, except Sirius but never in detail. He found that his mother was in Slytherin House, and had been top of her year every year. She was very smart, and loved art. He was reading into her fifth year when things changed.

Journal,

I found out something I could not have imagined today. I found out that I'm not really an Evans. My father isn't really my father. You see, we had to do this heritage potion in class today, even those of us who are muggle born had to do it. It's a potion that you are supposed to apply to parchment and say a spell over it and it reveals your family tree. We're supposed to write a report on our findings.

Apparently, my real father is someone important. I don't know if I want anyone to find out about this, I know people would start to make a big deal out of it. I think I'll go to the library and research who he was, who the family is.

Love,

Lily

Journal,

This is amazing. I've researched my real father's name. It turns out that his full name is Eric Reginald Merlin Landon Hufflepuff Sampson. He was an heir to two of the greatest wizards to ever live! I don't know how exactly it's gone unnoticed that I'm his daughter but I think it's best if I keep it to myself for a while....

Love,

Lily

He ventured back down stairs leaving Dysis and Tempest in his room. He walked out of the house and into the backyard and sat on the porch.

"I need to go to Diagon alley to get school supplies and other things I need, I'll be gone for a while." he said shortly.

He spoke into the seemingly empty yard. He knew they heard him. He walked back inside to the living room and waited. A few minutes later the doorbell rang.

"Harry" came the greeting.

Harry's expression was not friendly.

"Tonks."

To her credit she at least looked normal for once, her hair a subdued brownish blond, her eyes a dark brown, nothing to make her stand out like the usual neon hair.

"I'll be back later."

They headed to Mrs. Figg's house. Harry pulled out the cloak he'd packed. It was a basic cloak, non descript so as not to draw attention. He pulled up the hood. Tonks cast a charm over him to keep people from really paying attention to who he was. She thanked Mrs. Figg and took some floo powder and in a moment she had disappeared to Diagon Alley.

A moment after her rather rough landing in the back of the shop the flames flared green again. Expecting Harry to fall out as he always did she stepped out of the way. He simply stepped out of the fireplace without so much as a stumble his training in martial arts in the Realm leaving him with excellent balance. They headed out the back of the Leaky Cauldron, Tonks using her wand to tap the necessary bricks.

Harry watched the archway open, seeing what no normal wizard could, the magic flowing from the bricks as they rolled away, a mass of colors and power signatures, a gift of shadow arts.

They walked into the alley and Harry headed towards Gringott's. They walked into the bank and Harry headed to one of the tellers.

"I need to see my account manager Griphook please."

The goblin looked up at him and nodded after a moment. Signaling another goblin Harry followed him to a hall of offices. Outside the door he paused.

"You wait here" he said to Tonks.

"I should go in with you to be safe."

"That won't be necessary, Gringott's is one of the safest places in the wizarding world, besides I would rather Dumbledore left out of my financial dealings." He retorted.

He knocked and Griphook opened the door.

"Welcome sir, please do come in."

Once settled, Harry took the offered croissant and coffee Griphook had ready for him. One thing he knew was that having money gave you a certain power, one he was realizing more and more. He had expressed his like of the coffee and snacks at Harmen and Associates when he'd been there and they had obviously put the word in.

"Griphook, I trust you are doing well?"

"Yes sir, I have received a rather nice raise since your last visit. What can I help you with sir?"

"Well I will be in Diagon Alley making some purchases this afternoon but I would like some things to be unknown. I wish to buy some potions ingredients as well as a trunk that I do not wish to be seen purchasing. I know they have a mail order catalog for the potions ingredients but I know this way will be much faster. As for the trunk, I have some company watching over me and would rather they not know about that particular purchase."

"Oh I don't see where that will be a problem sir. If you could please write a list of required potions materials, I can send for a brochure for the trunk, it will only take a moment." Harry nodded and Griphook sent a runner to the shop.

Harry listed all the ingredients for veritaserum, healing potions, and various potions he'd learned during his stay in the realm. He wrote down the ingredients to the potion that he coated his throwing darts and daggers in. One was a sleeping potion that would make a person unconscious for hours until awoken by the antidote. The other was an anti-healing draught that would prevent any magical healing to any wounds inflicted. He took the offered brochure a moment later and looked through choices. Finally he decided on a combination of two trunks.

Ultimately the design would have 4 large rooms one which would be set up as a potions lab, with all the needed equipment and ingredients. One room was set up as a fully functional bedroom with large sleigh bed and wardrobe as well as a bathroom. The third room was designed to be a working kitchen with cupboards charmed to replenish all his favorite snacks and a muggle style refrigerator with other necessities. The last room was one he designed to be a dueling room with top of the line training equipment as well as muggle exercise equipment. The trunk also had an optional room that could be set up as a library, which he included; there was also one drawer that allowed him to access any needed things- sort of like a summoning charm. All he would have to do is think of the items he needed and open the drawer and it would appear from whatever room it was in. A useful quality so he could put his clothes into the bedroom closet but not have to actually go into the trunk to get his clothes if he was in a rush. He ordered the trunk be charmed fire and waterproof, as well as unbreakable.

He went through catalogues and chose a color theme for the bedroom and fixtures. The furniture all to be made of oak wood, with varied blues and greens and deep burgundy colors. The library was decorated in a lot of creams and browns. Basically the layout in the trunk would be similar to the house he was having built and he included a note to contact Evangeline for other specifics. The most important feature was the protection and warding spells cast on the trunk. No one would be allowed to enter or open the trunk without being keyed in by Harry, and magic inside the trunk was undetectable. He knew that he would have to continue his training both with and without magic, and this would allow him to do that without worries from the Ministry. Harry signed all the needed papers and left to finish his shopping.

He headed to Florish and Blotts to pick up some books he thought would be interesting, having already finished his summer homework and read through both 6th and 7th year texts.

He walked the aisles of the bookstore thankful there was not such a big crowd. One book he picked up was on magical animals and their evolution. He gathered some quills made from medium sized black feathers, and inks in blue, green and black, knowing he was low having used his current supply in the realm during his studies. He made his way to the checkout after a while.

"That will be 45 Galleons."

Harry reached a hand into his moneybag from Gringott's that had been charmed to give him the amount of money he needed when he reached his hand inside. They left soon after with Harry's books in a bag charmed to be feather light by Tonks. They headed to the apothecary where Harry bought the potions set for the year and some others ingredients he'd forgotten on his list but he purchased them anyway garnering a raised eyebrow from Tonks when she saw some of them but he dismissed it.

He bought himself a new set of cauldrons and potion vials as well as a nicer set to be delivered to the trunk maker to be put into his lab. They left the store and Harry walked to another store and Harry started looking through the display cases picking out a watch made in white gold with black diamonds on the face. It had an unbreakable charm and anti-theft charms. It also had a feature that allowed him to program a portkey to any destination to be activated on a set password.

"We have quite a few other accessories that you might like," the salesman spoke up after realizing that money was not an issue with Harry.

Harry simply declined knowing that he'd planned on getting some other things in muggle London.

"So are you going to talk to me at all during this trip?" Tonks asked as they finally left and headed back through the Leaky Cauldron.

"What exactly do you want me to talk to you about?"

"Well, just where you went for 3 weeks and maybe why you left would be good for me" she said angrily.

"Well I don't really feel like talking about that now, besides anything I say would just get back to people I'd rather not deal with right now. My personal business is my own." Harry said icily.

"We are trying to protect you, you need to listen to us! Dumbledore knows what he's doing- you have to trust us to help you."

"See that's the big problem, I don't trust him, I don't trust you and I don't have to do anything unless I see fit." Harry retorted.

He hailed a cab and they set off to a store he'd seen during his last shopping trip in London. Tonks ogled some of the muggles they passed but said nothing.

10 minutes later they headed into a muggle electronics store. The general theory was that muggle electronics wouldn't work at Hogwarts but Harry had found a few charms to get around that problem.

"Good afternoon sir, miss, how can we help you today?"

"Actually I'm looking for a cellular phone, and maybe a computer as well, a lap top? But I'm not sure what would be best."

"Well then let's look over here at the cellular phones first." The man brought Harry to a display case and took out 3 phones. "These are some of the best models we have currently. All these have the same general features but this has a couple extras, like a digital camera." He rambled on and Harry finally decided to get a phone that flipped open, it had a color screen, it was pretty basic but Harry didn't want to have something with too many features since he knew he wouldn't need them all.

"Now what are you looking for in a computer?"

"Well my cousin has one at home that is nice but I want one that I can travel with, something lightweight would be good."

"Any specific price range?"

"Not really."

"Well we have here a light weight model by Sony, it has all the features a desktop would have and it has some extras that come along with it most people like. There is a CD drive that allows you to burn CDs and another that is what's called a zip drive that allows for saving more documents."

Harry finally chose a lap top that was black with a lot of features simple features once again and left the store soon after. "Are we almost done? We shouldn't be gone this long it's not safe."

"Oh please, I know that there is more than just you following around me, I told you that I had things to do so deal with it."

They walked the streets until Harry came to the store he was hoping for. He went inside and headed towards the equipment he needed. He ordered a full weight room set to be delivered to Evangeline's office with a note telling her his new contact information for the cellular phone and asking her to shrink the items and owl them to him later.

Harry stocked up on some of the non-magic things he'd always wanted growing up with the Dursley's. He bought himself a stack of music CDs and DVDs to entertain himself.

Later that day Harry returned to Privet Drive with Tonks on his heels. To say the day had tested his control was an understatement. He couldn't have been more fed up with Dumbledore and the Order than the way he felt being followed like he had that day.

Dudley gaped at him when he saw the electronics bags.

"Dad! That's expensive stuff, where did he get money from!"

"After all the years we have fed you, given you clothes, and put a roof over your head and you hold out on us boy!"

"Don't you mean all the years you gave me rags to wear, starved me, and left me in a cupboard for the first 11 years of my life hoping I would die?" he answered back with a voice edged with steel.

Vernon paled.

Harry brought his things up the stairs and set them on the floor of the bedroom.

Hello Dysis, how was everything today? he asked the snake picking her up.

Rather uneventful, I went exploring the house a bit.

Well that sounds fun enough; I brought you back some treats.

Harry took out some special snake treats he'd gotten from Magical Menagerie and pulled out a toy he knew Tempest would love.

Tempest I have something for you as well, look!

It was a muggle ball for kittens to play with.

Tempest pounced on the ball and wrestled with it a bit making it roll under Harry's bed.

Harry settled on his bed and began reading the book he'd bought on magical animals. He quickly turned to the part on magical birds. He'd known since he left that there was something different about Hedgwig, he couldn't communicate as well with her as his other pets, and there had to be a reason.

Magical owls cannot be bonded to their owners in the same sense that other familiars can. They can communicate certain ideas through suggestion but it takes a strong mind skilled in projection of thoughts to do so correctly. Skills learned through occlumency can be a big advantage. Being magical animals owls have magical properties outside of their traditional post deliveries. Snow owls can withstand strong rainstorms as well as snowstorms. Their natural habitat is in the mountains of the Alps and Rockies. Only one snow owl every 5 years can bond with a wizard. These are powerful birds and it is said that if the owner is a powerful wizard or witch the innate magical abilities of the bird can be accessed, if not they will be seemingly normal owls. As of this publication no known wizard or witch has observed any other magical properties to these birds. Usually at the owl's 7th birthday it will enter the time frame, which allows for such changes.

"Hmm. I wonder if that's what's happening to you Hedwig. Are you 7 yet?"

Hedwig hooted softly in reply.

Harry shuffled through some parchment he had in his old trunk looking for his certificate of ownership from when Hagrid gave him Hedgwig.

She would be 7 in two days.

"Well then, I guess that means we should try the bonding then huh? It would be nice to really talk to you, you were one of my first real friends you know" Harry spoke stroking Hedwig's feathers as she sat on her perch.

A tap at his window caught his attention. There were two owls carrying a parcel between them and another post owl carrying a letter.

Harry let them in and gave them all water to drink and let them rest before they left.

He unwrapped the large package knowing what it was. His trunk. Made of a fine oak wood and what seemed to be dragon hide, with gold fixtures and what he now knew as his family crest imprinted on top, depicting a sword, bow, and wand with a rolling wind and fire surrounding it. He took the other letter in his hand and opened it.

Harry,

I have spoken to your companion for the day and she has expressed concern over some potions supplies you bought. I hope that you are being careful with your studies Harry. Do not attempt things beyond your training. Our own resident potions master is wary of some of the things you have bought. I hope you are well.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore,

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry crumpled the parchment and sat back on the bed.

Do you three want to go in my trunk, I'll be in there for a while.

Dysis wrapped herself around Harry's arm and Hedwig settled herself on his shoulder. He grabbed his purchases in one hand and set his palm on the top of the crest saying the password in the language of the Shadow Guardians.

"Password setting Harry James Potter, Rais Korvans" (Focus and Strength).

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Over the next few days Harry fell into a routine of exercise and training with his powers. He spent most of his time in his trunk, learning the limits of his powers and pushing himself to go beyond them. That first day he set up all his weight equipment in the training room and set up the workout space. He made his first official meal in the kitchen there, which wasn't really anything more than chicken and vegetables, but he enjoyed it. He spent the second afternoon bonding with Hedwig and finding out the elusive secrets of her heritage. She did show other magical abilities. She could turn into a second form. Sort of like and animagus the owl being the form she projected to the world, when she transformed she radiated power. Her second form was a dark Phoenix/Firebird. Where her owl feathers were snow white, her Phoenix form was a glossy black that seemed to absorb light edged with silver and gold. Her eyes changed from the golden brown in her owl form to striking silver.
To say her new form was a bit of a shock is an understatement, for years people had thought they understood how a Phoenix came into being but obviously there were still some secrets to learn. Hedwig's Phoenix form was her true form and the owl form simply a mask she wore. She seemed to enjoy her Phoenix form more now that she could access it so Harry let her remain that way and gave her a new name, Bronwyn, which meant dark purity, so as to not raise suspicions if people heard him call her Hedwig. Now that he could talk to her they had long talks about his life with the Dursley's, since she had been the only one to really see what he was put through.

By the end of that week Harry had successfully brewed a number of pain relieving potions, including one for the after affects of the Cruciatus, a number of sleeping draughts and what he liked to call, curses in a potion. Those were the ones he laced his throwing darts and daggers with. He trained every morning for 3 hours in his different fighting styles, and spent an hour using the weights. By far the thing he spent most time doing was studying in his library. He had learned a lot about magic during his stay in the realm but he dedicated himself to learning the theory and history behind magic, and learning more about his inherited powers.

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"Albus, what will we do when the school term starts. We must think of the children's safety!" Molly Weasley insisted.
The Order of the Phoenix key members had gathered at Hogwarts to discuss the situation of Harry Potter. The wizarding world was weary of the young boy-who-lived because of the recent news reports.

"I understand your concerns but trust when I say that everything will be taken care of."
The meeting broke up soon after, and all that was left were Professors McGonagall, and Flitwick.
"We discussed our plans to place wards around Harry once he returns to school. I believe we only have one incantation to complete is that right?" McGonagall nodded.
The three went into a shielded workroom off of the Headmaster's office and finished their binding incantations to the proper items.

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Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger sat at the kitchen table of the Burrow with the Weasley family. Molly Weasley had prepared her usual feast of a breakfast for the house. The children all sat around the table talking and joking as they finished their meals.
"So mum, what did Professor Dumbledore say about Harry?" Ron asked through a mouthful of food.

"Don't worry about that boy Ron, everything will be taken care of."

"Mrs. Weasley, what will happen once we go back to Hogwart's?"

"You'll be find children, Harry will be taken care of, and you're safe from him."

The fireplace chose that moment to flare to life. Out stepped Bill Weasley soon followed by Charlie.

"Morning everyone." Said Bill.

"What's been going on here, I got a newspaper this morning that said some really bad things about Harry…" Charlie began.

"Yea so did I, what's going on?" Bill said.

The two older men settled at the table with cups of coffee and plates of toast and sausage.

"Well the articles are just as they say. We believe Harry is going dark, he has been secretive, and he disappeared for three weeks with no sign of him! He's changed, the boy is dangerous I say." Molly said angrily.

"Harry…dark? That's not true, there's no way he would ever be dark, or join You Know Who…!" Bill spoke surely.

"It's true, after all the things he's caused over the years I don't know how you're surprised, he's nearly gotten Ron and Hermione killed every year at Hogwarts. He's a danger to them and the other children." Molly spoke adamantly.

"Where are you getting this from, you know Harry, it wasn't his fault those things happened. I cant believe you're blaming him like this, turning against him…especially you Hermione, Ron I could expect, he's always been jealous of Harry…. but you…" he said angrily.

"Don't say that to her! You have no idea what we've been through to be friends with him! Mum's right he is dangerous. If he hasn't gone dark then he's lost his mind the way they say he's acting…!" Ron yelled.

"How did the paper get all these details anyway? The things they said were only known by select few!" Charlie demanded.

"It doesn't matter how they found out, just that they know the truth about him! He's evil!" raged Ron.

"It was you wasn't it? Damn it Ronald Weasley! You should be ashamed of yourself! Why would you tell the press something like that! You were supposed to be Harry's best friend!" Bill yelled making his mother's angry yell pale seem like a kitten growling.

"I didn't tell the press, Percy found out about the Deptartment of Mysteries and came to talk to me, he was worried so I told him what happened. He said that we needed to do something about it, that Harry's dangerous. He works for the Minister, he knows what he's talking about. He says they have been keeping an eye on Harry, said something's not right with him, even since he was a little kid! Don't tell me I'm wrong for talking to him, he's my brother, and he was concerned!"

"We are lucky someone finally made us realize how dangerous Harry really is! I won't have him endangering the lives of good, innocent people!" Molly yelled.

"I guess the rest of you feel the same seeing as none of you are even trying to defend Harry?" Bill asked in disgust looking at the twins, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and his Father.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're all crazy, how you can turn against someone who trusts you as much as Harry does, who loves you like the family he never had…well I hope you can look yourselves in the mirror someday, what you've let happen is unforgivable…." Charlie said as Bill nodded in agreement.

"Let us know when you've come to your senses!" Bill said. They both went back through the floo. They stepped out into a filled Leaky Cauldron and after transfiguring their clothing to muggle style they walked into muggle London. Following the streets they walked to a side alley and aparated reappearing a block away from the apparition barriers of Privet Drive. They walked down the street towards his home in the late morning sun. Knocking on the door 10 minutes later.