There was complete silence in the room. Everyone was looking at the piece of parchment and after a few minutes Harry broke the silence. "What does this mean?" he asked.

Albus looked at him. "This, my boy, means that you are the heir of the four founders of Hogwarts," he said calmly.

"This is amazing," whispered Minerva. "All the heirs have been believed to be dead for years!" She looked at Albus for an explanation.

"I do not know, my dear," he said and gazed at Harry. "Harry?" Harry was now standing by the window, his back to the room, looking out into the night. He didn't respond to Dumbledore so the headmaster tried again. This time Harry turned to look at him. "Harry, it is late and you have a lot to take in. You should head back to your common room."

Harry was about to protest; he still had questions, but Albus cut him off. "I will answer all your questions tomorrow morning." Harry realised that the next day was Saturday, so he agreed. "You may take this with you, Harry. It is yours to keep safe," said Albus, handing Harry his family tree.

"Thank you, Sir. Goodnight, professors." Then Harry left the headmaster's office. Once they were sure Harry was gone Minerva spoke." What are you going to do?" she asked.

"I do not know," said Albus. "There is much to sort out. Not to mention if the Daily Prophet find out about this…" They were silent for a moment. Albus moved and sat in his chair.

"The boy has too much on his plate at the moment. Surely you won't tell him all-" said McGonagall, sighing.

"I will not keep his heritage from him, Minerva, or anything else for that matter. What happened last year is proof of my mistake of not telling him. I will tell him everything," he said.

"So you plan on telling him that he is now the richest wizard in Britain, that he owns Hogwarts!" she said.

"Yes, though I do not believe the board of governors will be pleased to hear that a 15 year old boy owns this school," smiled Albus. He could just imagine their faces when they found out. "It is late, my dear," he said. McGonagall returned to her office.

When Harry reached the common room it was nearly midnight. Ron, Ginny, the twins and Draco were not there and Harry assumed they had retired to bed. Everyone else was sitting around the fire, talking.

"Wotcher, Harry," said Tonks.

Harry was so busy in his thoughts that he didn't register her talking to him.

"Harry!" Remus called loudly. This time it caught Harry's attention.

"Hmm?" he said and looked up at them.

Remus frowned. "What has you in such a daze?" he asked.

"Oh. Well, this," he said, holding up the family tree.

"What is it, Harry?" asked Mrs Weasley.

"Oh right, sorry. It's my family tree. Professor Flitwick showed me how to make it. It shows my family lines, right back to the founders. It's actually pretty cool; it gives details about powers and stuff." Harry smiled at the parchment.

"Yes, most wizarding families have one," said Mr Weasley. "They are quiet fascinating."

"Harry..." said Bill, "What do you mean, it dates right back to the founders? Founders of what?" he asked.

"Oh, er, the school," said Harry. He wasn't sure if he should tell anyone - Dumbledore hadn't said if he could or not. All the adults looked stunned and had the same sort of expression that Dumbledore and McGonagall had got when they found out. "I don't see what the big deal is, though," he added.

Percy was about to speak but Remus cut him off. "Maybe you should wait to ask Dumbledore, Harry."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, he said to come back and talk to him tomorrow as it was getting late."

"Yes it is. You should head to bed, Harry." Harry nodded at Mrs Weasley and bid them all goodnight before heading up to the dormitory.

It wasn't long after Harry went up the bed that everyone went their separate ways.

HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP- HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP- HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-

Albus Dumbledore was right when he said the arrest of Umbridge would be all over the papers the next morning.

After breakfast the next morning Dumbledore asked to see Harry alone in his office. When they were seated Albus looked at him.

"I assume you have a lot of questions?"

"Yes, Sir," said Harry quickly.

"And I will answer them to the best of my knowledge, but first I must ask you something." Harry nodded and Albus continued. "Have you told anyone about what you read last night?" Albus saw Harry's worried look. "It is your choice, of course, who you tell, Harry, I just wish for you to know that it would be best to keep it to as little people as possible, to people that you trust."

"I told Tonks, Remus, Bill, Charlie, Percy and Mr and Mrs Weasley. And I don't believe they will tell anyone else," said Harry, feeling relieved.

"No, neither do I, Harry," said Albus.

"Can I tell Ron and Hermione?"

"As I have said, it is your choice. You may tell your friends, but you must be sure you can trust them. Have you told them about the Prophecy?"

"No, Sir," said Harry.

"That is also your choice, Harry." Harry nodded. "So, what questions do you have?"

Harry thought about it for a moment then asked, "What surprised you and Professor McGonagall so much when you saw my name and what made you look at the top of the page?"

"Very good questions, Harry, do you have the parchment with you?" Harry nodded and pulled it out of the pocket inside his robes. He unfolded it and placed it on Albus' desk.

Dumbledore magnified the bottom of the page where Harry's name lay.

Harry James Potter (1980- )
Patronus: Stag
Animagus: Badger, Lion, Phoenix, Raven, Snake
Magical Abilities: Metamorphmage, Occlumency/Legilimency,
Parselmouth, Spell Crafting, Wandless/Wordless Magic
Elemental Magic: Air, Earth, Fire, Water

He left Harry to look at it for a moment, to see if he could figure it out of his own. "The Animagi," said Harry, "they match the houses."

"Yes. The house crests were also the founders' Animagi."

"But what about the Phoenix?" Harry asked.

"That, I would think, is your main Animagus, which will be your first to come to you, but it is also very rare for someone to have a magical Animagus," said Dumbledore. "If you wish, I or Professor McGonagall can teach you."

"But I'm under age."

"I do not believe the Minster will object to this. I would also like to teach you to use your Elemental powers," continued the headmaster. "Do you have any other questions?"

"Yes, Sir. What does it mean by me being the heir to the founders? When you and Professor McGonagall found out you were both quite shocked and then Remus, Tonks and the Weasleys were as well."

"I was wondering if you would ask me that." Albus sighed. "Harry, what I am about to tell you is the reason why I think it would be best for you to not tell too many people about the connection to you and the founders." He stood up and walked over to the window. "Harry, with you as the last living air to the four founders you will gain the Hogwarts vault and everything connected with it."

Harry sat still, trying to understand what the headmaster had said. Then it dawned on him what it meant. "You mean I own the school?" he said, jumping out of his seat. "That's not possible, I can't!"

Albus smiled. "Oh, but it is, Harry," he said. "It was made very clear. If the heir to all four founders of the school ever appeared Hogwarts was to be returned to the rightful heir."

"What does that mean, though? I'm not even old enough to do magic outside school, let alone own the building!" Just then there was a knock on the door.

"Come in, Cornelius," called Dumbledore. Harry looked at the door and when it opened he saw the Minster of Magic step into the room.

"Good morning, Albus, Mr Potter," said the Minster. Albus moved to the other side of the room and came back a moment later with the sorting hat in his hands.

"Harry, please sit down," he said to his student.

Harry did as he said and sat back in the seat he had occupied a moment ago.

"Harry, I'm going to put the hat on your head, okay?" Harry had no idea what good this would do but nodded anyway.

Once the hat covered his head he heard the hat talk to him.

"Well, Mr Potter. How nice it is to speak to you again. Albus tells me that you have found out?"

"You knew?"

"Yes, why do you believe I found it hard to place you in your house? And why I gave you Godric Gryffindor's sword in your second year? The headmaster wanted me to prove you are the rightful heir to the four founders."

"But you just said I was."

"Yes, but the Minster needs proof and as I am as old as this school I am the one to tell."

The sorting hat stopped speaking to Harry and spoke to Fudge and Dumbledore. "He is indeed the rightful heir to the four founders."

Then Harry felt the hat being taken off his head and he saw that the headmaster had taken if off. The Minster was now sitting in the seat next to Harry. Once Dumbledore put the hat back in its place he returned to his seat.

"Now the question is, what do we do?" Fudge said wearily.

TBC…