AN: 1. English isn't my mother tongue, so please expect some mistakes.

2. I appreciate fair comments and reviews.

3. I don't own Harry Potter or anything in the Wizarding World. I merely play in its sandpit.

ANII: After reaching a rather nasty writer's block with my first story, I'm trying my luck with this one. I definitively comes more natural to me, so far. Let's hope, it stays that way. As I write this, I am halfway done with chapter II and I don't plan on releasing this one until I have ate least one or two more chapters done.

Other that that, I want to say, that I would like to read more Harry/Astoria ships, but nobody really seems interested in that kind of story, other than as one shots perhaps. Well, either way, I hope the guys of you, who give it a shot are going to like it. Let me know!

I have another few ideas on further stories. Let's see, if my muse wants me to give them a shot and what comes next. I definitively want to do another take on a Harry/Daphne ship, too.

Well, until then, thanks for reading this one. Cheers!

Chapter I

"God damnit!", she cursed, leaning against the nearest wall. Well after dinner and shortly before curfew she was on her way back to the dungeons. After two hours of flying, the girl was exhausted. Well, it really wasn't flying at all, she thought to herself. She had floated around, trying to gain some experience, some controll in handling a broom. Her mother had never allowed her to attend Madam Hooch's flying lessons. "It's too dangerous.", her mother had told her. "You shouldn't wear yourself out like this."

The girl snorted, pushing herself off the wall. As she was about to continue her way, a near door opened.

The boy who stepped into the corridor looked about as tired, as she felt. She grinned when she noticed who exactly he was. "Harry Potter leaving the girls' lavatory. If that isn't interesting." Her grin only grew as his head shot up in surprise, his eyes widening as he noticed the silver and green accents on her robes.

"I only had to quickly wash my hands.", he got out after a moment. "Nobody's using Myrtle's bathroom anyways."

"I'm sure that's what you did.", she smiled. His emerald orbs were still fixed on her. She'd never seen such an intensity in anyone's eyes.

"Sorry, I don't recognise you. Mind telling me your name since you surprisingly know mine." Still gazing back right into his eyes, she could see them sparkling with amusement now.

"Astoria Greengrass. I'm one year below you."

Harry nodded, a small tug at the corners of his lips. "That's a nice broom you got there."

"Thanks, my sister got it for me."

"You like flying then?", he asked her.

"I like the idea of flying… of the freedom. But I'm still trying to learn it." She paused. "It's harder than I thought."

"Madam Hooch could have teached you in her lessons." Now Harry, too, was smiling.

"My mum wouldn't let me attend."

"Why not?", he asked, frowning.

Ignoring his question, Astoria looked at him for a long moment. With nothing to lose she spoke again. "You're the best flyer in the school. You could teach me."

At first, he laughed. That stopped quickly as he must have seen the seriousness on her face. "You don't want me to teach you, you don't want to be seen with me." His face darkened.

"Why not?", she asked. "Because I'm in Slytherin? Because my house mates wouldn't like it? Because of what Malfoy tells about you?" This time she fixed him intensely with her shining blue eyes. "I couldn't care less what they think and I like to judge people by myself."

"We've only just met a few seconds ago.", he tried. "It wouldn't be safe. And I already have a lot on my plate."

"Well, I could always blackmail you. You know, with the girls' bathroom.", she winked.

"Yeah, excellent blackmail material.", he snorted.

Shrugging, Astoria replied. "It's the only bargaining chip I got."

"Why do you want me to teach you so bad? We've only just met.", he repeated.

"I've got nothing to lose."

Harry studied her eyes for a few long moments. He must have seen something that made him reconsider. "Meet me on the quidditch pitch on Friday after dinner. And please come alone."

She squealed and made a step towards him but stopped as soon as she saw him shrinking back. Instead, she smiled at him once more and said "I'm looking forward to it. It was nice meeting you, Harry."

[++++++++++]

When Friday evening finally had arrived, Astoria Greengrass had made an excuse to her sister after only eating one plate full at dinner. She couldn't await her lesson with Harry, so she went there early. After quickly grabbing her broom, she made her way to the quidditch pitch. Astoria would wait there as she didn't expect Harry to turn up for at least another half an hour. She hadn't seen him at dinner, so he likely had yet to eat before meeting her.

A warm voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Good to see you, Astoria." The girl spun around to face the speaker only to find nothing but air facing her.

"Harry?", she breathed.

After a moment the grinning head of Harry Potter appeared out of thin air. "How… How'd you do that?", Astoria asked with wide eyes.

His grin only widening, he pulled an invisibility cloak from around his shoulders before quickly stashing it away in one of his pockets.

"Wow. These are supposed to be very rare."

"I wouldn't know, it was my father's." Astoria of course knew that Harry's father had been dead for forteen years and no invisibility cloak lasted this long before it's enchantments wore out. Nevertheless, she didn't question him, after she saw the shadow on Harry's face at the mentioning of his father.

Once again, he pulled her out of her musings. "Glad you came alone.", he said, his face soft and eyes warm again.

"How'd you know I came alone?", she challenged with a mischievous smile.

Harry looked, like he wanted to say something but stopped himself in the last second. Instead, he only said: "I'll maybe tell you some other time. Shall we start?"

Astoria smiled and nodded, eager to learn.

Over the better part of the next three hours, Harry had her flying after, next to and in front of him. He always tried to give her advice as she floated but she seemingly couldn't quite get the feeling for her broom. At last, she got increasingly frustrated so Harry soon ended the lesson, claiming frustration would only make it mor difficult.

"Let's try again next week at the same time.", he said giving her an encouraging smile.

Astoria on the other hand, completely ignored his proposition. "You were right in not wanting to teach me. I'm useless.", she mumbled, staring down at her feet.

"No, you're not useless, you'll just have to get to the point where it clicks.", he told her, snapping his fingers to emphasize his statement.

After a moment she looked up into his eyes only to see him smiling with determination shining in his green eyes.

"You realize I'm giving you the quick way to get rid of me here, right?", she asked with a tiny smile on her lips.

"Well.", he started running his hand through his currently particular messy hair. "I found myself enjoying it up there today." Harry gestured to the air, where they had practised. More quietly he added. "And I might get a new friend out of it."

Vulnerability consumed his eyes and was so quickly gone once again, that Astoria wasn't sure, if it had been there in the first place.

"I'd like that.", she mumbled in response.

Later that night, Astoria lay awake in her bed. She pondered about the boy with the unruly raven hair and the mesmerizing emerald eyes. Eyes so full of expression like she had never seen before.

Their lesson had been very trying for her but luckily Astoria had managed to hide it from Harry. She wasn't ready to tell him what was wrong with her and wasn't sure if she'd ever be.

She had told Harry, she wouldn't judge people because of what she heard, because of their reputation. She hadn't lied about that and was happy about it. Harry proved to be nothing like Malfoy pictured him. They said eyes were the doors to one's soul and in Harry's case that couldn't be truer. Astoria had seen amusement, mischief and care in them but also hurt. She couldn't imagine why the boy was hurting.

[++++++++++]

It was a week later that found Astoria waiting for Harry on the quidditch pitch. Unlike last time, he wasn't already there, so she waited. Half an hour later she asked herself, if he'd forgotten her.

She was about to leave, when she saw him appearing out of thin air. This time he wasn't making a fuss about it. He stared at her with no real emotion in his eyes. His face didn't really give away that something was wrong but in the short time they'd spent together she hadn't once seen his eyes emotionless. It was like the glow she found herself growing fond of had completely vanished.

"Harry? What's wrong?"

He seemed to pull himself out of his thoughts before replying. "Nothing, really. Sorry I'm late."

"You said you wanted a new friend.", she reminded him. "Being friends means being there for each other." She paused, looking him straight into the eye. "I won't pressure you, but I can tell you're hurting. So, if you want to talk about it, I'm here."

The two of them stood there looking in each other's eyes. They weren't speaking. At least not with words. Somehow an understanding passed between them.

Astoria couldn't tell how long they'd just had stood there looking at each other, when she saw Harry's eyes briefly flicking over her face. Her breath hitched as she saw the sparks, she'd missed return into his eyes. It was a grateful smile he gave her and Astoria found herself smiling back involuntarily.

"So, I had an idea to make starting to fly easier for you. That is if you're up to it." She could see heat rising into his face, but he didn't break eye contact.

Quirking an eyebrow, Astoria mentioned for him to continue.

"Well, we could ride a broom together for a bit. You might get a feeling for it that way." He looked a little embarrassed but still didn't look away. She found it adorable.

Adorable? Where did that come from. Squashing down the feeling, she nodded. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

Mounting his Firebolt, Harry gestured for her to join him. After she had a secure grip around his waist, he kicked off the ground gently. Slowly at first, he circled in the air. After a few minutes he picked up some more pace and some more a few minutes after that. Soon they were zooming through the air and Astoria found herself screaming in delight.

"Are you ready for some serious flying?!", she heard him shouting over the wind.

Eyes wide she shouted back: "What?! That wasn't serious flying until now?" Turning his head, the only response she got was a lopsided grin. Her Astoria's stomach began to flutter. She wasn't sure if it was because of what he was about to do, though.

Seeing the unspoken question in his eyes she exhaled and nodded. She had nothing to lose after all.

The last thing she saw, before he turned his head back to end their ascend was a strange gleam, Harry's eyes had started to radiate. It wasn't possible for her to finish another thought before the two teenagers were rushing towards the ground with incredible speed and Astoria screamed like she never did before. She never had felt this alive before.

Some time later Harry and Astoria were floating lazily above the black lake. Harry had turned around on the broomstick to face her, a stupid grin on his face.

"Mental, this one.", she said under her breath to what he only chuckled.

Looking up into his face, she saw him quickly sobering. Harry looked away. He'd not once avoided eye contact since she'd met him. Neither of them said anything in the next couple of minutes.

"I don't know, why I'm about to talk to you about this but…" He paused. "But I trust you. I look into your eyes and I feel like, for a lack of better term, I've known you forever."

He looked at her again. "You believe me." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Somehow, she knew what he was referring to and he was right.

At first, she like most of the people had waved Harry's warning of You-Know-Who returning off. It hadn't been a conscious decision to change her mind about the matter, but he wasn't a liar. Astoria would have seen it. He was an open book to her, just like she seemed to be one to him.

Suddenly, the weight of her realization was crushing down on Astoria. Something Harry, of course, had noticed. He nodded sadly.

"Voldemort is coming. First for me, then for whole Wizarding Britain. The Ministry is doing everything they can to make it easier for him and Dumbledore does nothing to help me. Nothing besides interfering in my life, making decisions for me he isn't supposed to be able to make." Harry paused, looking towards the castle, then back to her. Unconsciously brushing over the back of his hand, he continued. "Umbridge is getting to me, because I'm barely able to sleep and because my friends keep driving me away with their nagging, their demanding. It's trying, you know. I feel alone this year, more than I ever did after starting Hogwarts, I guess."

Astoria, once again, reminded herself that she had nothing to lose. She took a shuddering breath. "You are not alone." It was barely more than a whisper. "I'm dying. I'm dying and nobody is able to do anything about it." Harry didn't interrupt her while she seemed lost in thought. He only offered her silent support, like she had offered him. It was all they needed in that moment, though.

"The worst thing is, that because nobody is able to change a thing about it, all they do is belittle me. They want me to live my life with the sole purpose to keep it as long as possible. What are five or ten more years, if all I can do is to stay in a golden cage?" Astoria saw understanding in his eyes, no pity but support. He would be there for her, just like she would be there for him.

"Tell me more about it, please.", Harry softly requested after a few moments. And so she did. Over the next hour she told him all about how several centuries ago, her family had been cursed to lose one member of each generation way before their time. She told him, how the healers expected her to reach her thirties, if she kept exertion to a minimum. If she was lucky.

The girl didn't know, how long she had been finished with telling her tale, when she finally heard him speak.

"You'll live a happy life until you're way past your time." He said it calmly, like one would imagine the famous 'calm before the storm'.

Astoria wanted to let out a snort of laughter at that ridiculous idea, when she met his eyes for what felt like the thousandth time. The laughter instantly died inside her throat. There had been lit a fire inside Harry Potter. His eyes burned, glowed and sparked with determination. It was a sight Astoria Greengrass would never forget in her life.

[++++++++++]

"Have you completely lost your mind?"

Harry had easily brought her back to the dungeons with the help of his invisibility cloak and the awesome map of his. Astoria really needed to remind herself to ask him about it.

She'd entered the common room some time after curfew and had instantly been dragged into her sister's room. In this moment she wasn't sure anymore, if the Slytherin's single rooms were that cool.

Sighing, she decided to humour Daphne. "Come again?"

"Oh, you know exactly what I mean.", her big sister threw her long honey-blonde hair over her shoulder and looked expectingly at Astoria.

"No, I really don't."

Daphne sighed. "You know that I support you. I understand that you want to make the best out of…" She briefly closed her eyes for a short moment. "I understand you want to experience as much as you can but meeting with the Harry Potter of all people?"

Astoria's eyebrows rose to her hairline. "Have you been following me?"

"No, I haven't." Came the reply. "But that doesn't matter. Why did you meet with him?"

"He's teaching me how to fly.", she simply stated. This time she'd made real progress. Harry had made her fly them back and she felt much more in sync with the broom, than she did before. She was glad for the pause they had while talking, though. Without it, she'd be dead on her feet now, even if flying by far wasn't as tyring when the broom actually did what she wanted.

Her sister's face softened at that. "Still, associating with him of all people is a very bad idea."

"And why is that?"

"Well either he is nuts for his claims, or he is being targeted by the ministry and You-Know-Who. Either way not somebody you want to be seen with." Daphne told her. "And that doesn't even cover the problems Malfoy will cause."

"He isn't lying.", Astoria mumbled. "And I can handle Malfoy."

Daphne's eyes widened for a moment. "How can you be sure about that?"

"I simply know."

"Well… w-when that's true, you know, you know you should stay away from him."

"I will not abandon him."

"Why? You barely know him."

"But I do know him… And he needs a friend. Just like me."

She saw hurt flicking over her sister's face. "But you have a friend. You have me, Mum, Dad…" Daphne trailed off.

Taking her sister's hands, she answered: "I know that and I'm so grateful for Mum and Dad, but especially for you because you wouldn't try to limit me." After sorting through her thoughts, she continued. "But I need this friendship. It's really hard to describe why, but I need it. And so does he."

By the look on Daphne's face, Astoria knew, she had convinced her. "Just be careful, alright? And tell me if you need me. Tracey too."

Hugging the older girl, she whispered: "I will, thank you Daph. I love you, you know that, right?"

Nodding, Daphne replied: "I love you, too. So much."

[++++++++++]

The younger of the two Greengrass-sisters had met with Harry Potter two more times since the night of their revelations. They hadn't talked about much else than flying a broom. Well, they really hadn't talked that much at all. Astoria's skill on a broomstick grew exponentially, though. Other than that, the two of them had offered each other good company. And even without talking their understanding of each other increased a lot.

Currently, on a Tuesday night, Astoria was on her way to the second-floor girls' bathroom, where she'd met Harry for the first time about a month ago. During breakfast a tawny owl had brought her a note with the request to meet Harry after dinner.

Reaching her destination, Astoria opened the door to find Harry already there. His eyes lit up when he saw her, but he only gave her a somewhat forced smile. She knew, he knew, she would approach the issue later.

"Hello.", she greeted and gave him dazzling smile. Astoria was glad to see him.

"It's good to see you, too." His smile became a more carefree one.

"So, what are we doing here?"

Nervously rubbing his neck, he answered: "Well, I'd like to show you something. And maybe we could talk some."

"So, you're finally going to show me what you were up to in a girls' lavatory?", an amused Astoria inquired.

Giving her his lopsided grin, Harry turned towards the sink and hissed something she couldn't understand. Her breath hitched. Since her first year the whole school knew about his ability to speak parseltongue. Could it be true? Was Slytherin's chamber real? And Harry wanted to take her there?

He pulled her out of her musings. Behind him the sink was gone. There only was a hole in the floor with stairs leading into the ground. "The Chamber of Secrets… it's real, yeah. I went down there in my second year to try and rescue another student. Except Ron and me, nobody else could have…. or would have." The last part was barely more than a whisper. "Well, I barely got out alive. I was lucky. Now it's safe, though."

"What do you mean? Now it's safe?"

Running his hand through his dark hair, he said: "I somehow managed to kill it."

"Kill what?"

"The… basilisk."

Astoria released a breath she didn't know she was holding. "That's what it was? A basilisk attacked all the people." It was no question and she saw in her friend's eyes that it he told her the truth.

Nobody spoke for a while. Their familiar silence reigning. Only this time it wasn't as comfortable as usual.

When she once again sought eye contact, Astoria saw the unspoken question in his eyes. The offer to take her there. She started walking towards Harry, who gave her an encouraging smile and extended his hand towards her. She took it without hesitation or as much as a thought. It was the most normal thing in the world. And so, the two friends started their way down the stairs.

It took them about ten minutes to pass the caves and reach the actual chamber. They had come across a huge snakeskin and Astoria began worrying, even if she'd never admit it. Harry had noticed it, though. A comforting squeeze of her hand and a smile later, she'd felt way better.

The Chamber of Secrets was like one would imagine it. It was flanked with tall pillars entwined with carved wood. On the far end she could see a huge statue. Astoria suspected it to be Salazar Slytherin. Only when they started moving towards it, she spotted it. There lay a huge snakelike corpse. Well, what was left of it anyway.

Turning to Harry, she stuttered: "I-Is that…?". Her eyes were huge.

"Yeah.", he answered simply, rubbing his neck again.

"How?"

What followed was a fantastic tale of how a twelve year old Harry had entered Slytherin's chamber alone to rescue his friend's sister, how he had managed to kill the basilisk with the help of Fawkes the phoenix, how he managed to get rid of Voldemort's spirit by stabbing his diary and how he nearly died because he'd been bitten. Harry told her all of it and she knew he spoke the truth, like she always knew.

Releasing the hand Astoria was still holding, she hugged the boy gently. This time he didn't flinch back. She merely felt him stiffen briefly before relaxing and hugging her back. She added a mental note in the Harry themed part of her brain to find out why he was uncomfortable with being touched.

"Come on, let's go somewhere more comfortable." The two of them had been lost in their comforting embrace for a few minutes, when Harry gently broke it. Taking her hand again, he led Astoria to a brick wall at one side of the chamber. After she heard him hissing again, the wall opened, much like the entrance to Diagon Alley. Stepping through the opening, they found themselves in a study. She quickly assumed that Salazar Slytherin had built and used it before finally leaving the castle. The room was in surprisingly decent shape. It was about a thousand years old after all.

"I often came back down here in my third year and found this solar. I searched for signs that Voldemort had been in here but I couldn't find any." He paused. "That's good, considering the amount of forgotten magic in those books." Harry gestured towards a wall of books.

Astoria quirked an eyebrow. "How do you know it's forgotten?"

"Well, first, a very large part of it is Parselmagic. Second, I haven't ever come across anything like the rest in the library. Including the restricted section."

"Never took you for the guy to often go to the library. My sister never mentioned you concerning the clash between your years top students."

Harry actually looked ashamed, closing his eyes. "I always enjoyed learning. It comes easily to me, I think." He hesitated. "I- I think, I'm underperforming on purpose."

"What? Why would you do that?"

Still uncomfortable, he replied after a moment. "I never had a good homelife. Part of it was being punished for bringing home better grades than my cousin… I quickly learned how worse grades were better for me…" He trailed off.

Astoria was confused and could feel herself getting angry, but she knew better than to press him for any more details. He would tell her someday. Instead, she embraced him again.

"Well I also tried to read up to our…. connection." Harry had sobered after a few moments. "I couldn't really find anything but it's odd. I feel like there is something… It's like I can always tell what's on your mind by only looking into your eyes."

"Yeah.", Astoria answered softly. "I feel it, too. But… but I really like it.", she admitted, her cheeks rosy.

"I like it, too.", Harry quickly said. "Still, I would like more about it. I thought about asking someone about it."

"I don't think that's a good idea.", she slowly answered. "People would only try and interfere. Let's just keep it… for us."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I can see your point." Once again Astoria found him shooting her his adorable lopsided grin. "For us sounds good.", he added.

The two of them talked for three more hours that evening. Harry told her some about his childhood and Astoria, in return, told him how it was like, growing up at Greengrass Manor. When she asked him about his friends, he told her how their relationship became increasingly strained after they had isolated him during summer break. It didn't help, that the other students gave him a hard time about You-Know-Who's return.

"Why don't you try and get your own quarters?", she asked him. "Nobody you wouldn't approve would be able to enter."

Snorting disbelievingly, he replied. "Yeah, how would I do that? It's not like I'm a Lord or anything."

Astoria's mouth dropped open, her eyes wide. "You… you don't know?"

"I don't know what?", he asked with a frown.

"Well.", she swallowed. "You are a Lord. A Heir at least."

"Yeah, sure." He snorted. His face quickly became serious again after checking her eyes.

"Nobody ever told me…", he trailed of.

Ignoring his statement, Astoria mumbled. "I always asked myself, why all the books about the Ancient and Noble Families have been removed from the library a year before you came here. I heard some older students mention it once in the common room…"

"You think it's got something to do with me?"

"I don't really believe in coincidence.", Astoria told him. She could tell, that he would ponder about it in the near future.

"Would you mind tutoring me?" She knew what he meant. Smiling brightly she nodded.

"Well, I already got some homework for you." He raised a questioning eyebrow and she continued. "You need to go to Gringotts as soon as possible."

He swallowed nervously, suspecting what the visit would be contain. "Will you come with me."

Astoria's face became even brighter. "I would love to."

[++++++++++]

It wouldn't be very long, until she'd start freezing every time she merely took one outside. Autumn and winter in the Scottish Highlands were less than kind to a girl who loved the warmth. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her middle, as the next carriage came close. Standing at a distance to where they stopped at the outskirts of Hogsmeade, Astoria was waiting for her friend. It was a week and a half after he had shown her the Chamber of Secrets.

Stepping out of the approaching carriage, Harry Potter was having a heated discussion with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. His best friends over the last four years didn't seem to like the idea of him being alone in the town.

"Harry, I don't understand why you wouldn't want us to spend time with you today.", Astoria heard Granger whine.

"Yeah, mate. You're not making things easy for us this term.", Weasley added.

"What is that supposed to mean? I'm not making things easy for you?" She could see him taking a deep breath. "You two won't shut up about me having to do this or that. I don't have to do anything." He paused turning to his friends. "And no, it's none of your business what I do or don't do."

"But Harry…", Granger tried only to be interrupted by him.

"But it wasn't my business, what was going on this summer while I was being locked away. You're right Hermione. Good point."

"Mate…"

"Now, if you will excuse me, I have plans." With that Harry left them behind.

Astoria waited until he passed her location. Harry hadn't seen her.

"Well, well. Somebody is eager for good company." She softly called after him. Harry spun around at recognising her voice, his eyes lighting up.

"You could say that.", he shot her his lopsided grin. "It's good to see you."

The girl didn't have to say anything to return the sentiment. She replaced her smirk with a beaming smile and hugged him quickly. Harry didn't stiffen as much as the first time before hugging her back.

"I thought we could use the floo in the Three Broomsticks, as long as it's still early and not so crowded.", Harry said.

"Sounds good to me."

The two of them quickly made their way down the street and into the pub. Once inside, Harry slid a few galleons onto the counter for Madam Rosmerta and they stepped into the floo.

While Astoria gracefully landed in the Gringotts reception area, she had to stifle a laugh as Harry stumbled out and nearly fell on his face. "Not funny.", he mumbled but failed to contain his mock-frown. He snorted.

A rather loud cough brought made them look up to the nearest counter. "How yan we help you today?", the teller asked Harry and Astoria.

"I would like to see, if my account manager is available for a meeting on such a short notice.", Harry politely told the goblin. "My name is Harry Potter.", he added.

"I am sure, Grimbold will clear his schedule for you. You are one of our most important customers, after all.", the teller told him. "I'll take you to his office, Mr. Potter." With that, the goblin hopped down from his podium and led the two teens down a corridor.

A short while later the tree of them stood before a big oaken door and the teller knocked.

"Come in!", a gruff voice called from behind the door.

"Grimbold, Mr. Potter and his… friend are here to see you."

The older goblin's eyes widened in surprise before mentioning for Harry and Astoria to sit down in the chairs in front of his desk.

"Thank you for your help, Sir.", Harry said to the teller, who already was about to leave.

"Please, call me Gamling.", came the answer. "And find me, if you need to visit your vault, Mr Potter." Harry inclined his head in thanks, Gamling nodded once with a toothy smile.

"Now, Mr. Potter, it is good to finally meet you.", Grimbold addressed him.

"Likewise, Sir." Harry, once again, inclined his head. "Allow me to introduce my friend Astoria Greengrass."

The goblin's eyebrows shot upwards. "Greengrass, you say? Well, nice to make your acquaintance, Ms. Greengrass." Astoria returned the sentiment.

"Well, it is rather surprising, to see you here, Mr. Potter. After all you never answered our summons over the last four years."

"T-there must be a mistake.", a surprised Harry spluttered. "I never received as much as a letter from Gringotts."

Now it was the Goblin's turn to look surprised. "Are you certain?"

"Quite.", Harry stated.

"Hmm, please allow me to check something." Harry nodded after a short hesitation. Grimbold stood and made his way to where Harry was sitting. He then waved his hand in front Harry's face and held it there for a few moments. Closing his eyes, he moved his hand again, this time in a slow circular motion. When he finished, the goblin returned to his desk with a huff.

Harry looked at him questioningly, waiting for his account manager to speak up.

"It seems, you have been under the effects of a specialized Anti-Mail-Charm.", Grimbold finally told him while rubbing his temples. "I took the liberty to remove it."

"Thank you, Sir.", Harry said. "B-but I don't understand, who would do that."

"Well, that is not easy to find out, Mr Potter." The goblin paused. "But let us take care of some more… pressing matters." Grimbold shot Harry a questioning look. The boy nodded.

"First, since have reached the age of eleven, you are able to take up your role as the Potter Heir." He told Harry, who had been prepared by Astoria. After his nod, Grimbold continued. "You will have to try on the Heir Ring and see, if it recognizes you. The goblin held out a casket to Harry, who hesitantly took the ring from it. Gulping, he slipped it on his right index finger, what caused the ring to glow blue.

Grimbold gave a content nod. "Now that this matter is settled, in your special case as the last Potter, it is possible for you to become a so called emancipated minor. That basically gives you all the rights and duties you would have as the Lord Potter. You can take up the formal Lordship upon you seventeenth birthday."

Harry glanced at Astoria, unsure what to do. The girl gave him a encouraging smile. Harry could see, she would have him do it. So looked back at Grimbold. "Let's do it.", he stated more confidently than he felt.

The goblin nodded once again. "Please sign here." He placed a sheet of parchment in front of Harry and indicated towards a long, black quill. Harry grimaced but signed his name nonetheless. The parchment, too, was glowing blue.

"I see you already have made acquaintance with a blood quill.", Grimbold grinned.

"Unfortunately." That was all, Harry replied. Astoria saw him rubbing his hand again and made sure to ask him about it later.

The goblin coughed trying to change the uncomfortable topic. "Well. Second, your accounts and investments." He pulled out a bundle of scrolls, handing them to Harry. The boy's mouth dropped open as he saw the numbers. "By the large, everything is in order. The only misfortune is, that we weren't able too 'keep them in shape', as we say." The goblin grinned again. "You see, with the passing of your parents our permission to manage your accounts expired."

Harry looked thoughtful. "What are my options on the matter?"

"Well, you could manage them yourself or leave them unsupervised, like they have been for the last fourteen years." He was told. "You also could do what your parents did and use our bank's service. For a small fee, of course."

"How much are we talking about?", Harry asked the goblin.

"In case of an account like yours, Heir Potter, we normally charge ten percent of the winnings instead of fifteen." Grimbold grinned.

Harry took a moment to think about it, before answering. "Please take fifteen percent.", Harry was now grinning too. "All your effort to 'keep the accounts and investments in the best possible shape' needs to be rewarded.

Astoria didn't think it would be possible, but the goblin's grin grew wider. It was quite frightening.

"Thank you very much, Heir Potter." Grimbold slid Harry another sheet to sign, what he quickly did.

"Now, is there anything else, I can be of service with?"

Harry stood, as did Astoria. "No, thank you, Sir. I will talk to Gamling about visiting my vault."

"Very well. Please expect account statements every quarter." The goblin stood, too. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Heir Potter, Ms. Greengrass."

"Likewise, Sir. Until next time." Both teens bowed their head before leaving the office in direction of the lobby.

"Ah, Heir Potter, Ms. Greengrass. I see you have been successful." Astoria wasn't surprised, Gamling already knew about the change in Harry's title.

"Yes, thank you, Gamling." Harry gave a grateful nod. "Is there any possibility, you could take us down to my vault? I would like to make a withdrawal.", Harry requested.

"Of course, Heir Potter."

Some time later, their cart came to an abrupt stop in front of Harry's trust vault. He'd said, he would visit the Potter Vault at another day. A few days prior, Astoria had told him of the certain existence of more than the vault he knew.

"I'll wait outside, Harry.", Astoria said.

"Nonsense. It's only my trust vault and I wouldn't even want you to wait outside, if it was the Potter Vault." She bushed a little. Finances usually weren't something to involve outsiders.

Walking in, Astoria watched as Harry filled three big leather pouches with galleons.

Twenty minutes later they stood in front of the wizarding bank.

"So.", Harry began. "How about I treat you to some ice cream at Florean Fortescue's before we head back to Hogsmeade?"

Astoria glanced at him and bit her bottom lip. "How about we get you some new clothes before you spoil me.", she returned smiling sweetly.

Snorting, he nodded.

[++++++++++]

It was half past six in the evening, when Harry and Astoria knocked on Professor McGonagall's door. They had spent the rest of the day renewing Harry's wardrobe. Well, Harry had dragged Astoria into a rather new shop, a muggleborn had opened, too. There he'd bought some device she had yet to understand.

After a few hours of shopping Harry had bought them some ice cream at Florean's, like he had promised. All in all she had a very nice day.

"Come in!", their Transfiguration Professor called. "Ah, Mr. Potter, what can I do for you this evening?", Astoria heard McGonagall ask, as she stepped in behind Harry.

"Ms. Greengrass. What a surprise." The Deputy Headmistress took a moment to process seeing them together.

"I wasn't aware, the two of you were acquainted."

"Only recently, Professor.", She piped up, to what McGonagall nodded.

"Please take a seat." They did so. "Now, what can I do for you? Have you had another conflict with Madam Umbridge?" Harry, once again rubbed his hand.

"What is it with your hand, Harry?", Astoria demanded. "That's the third time I've seen you do it."

Harry looked at his feet to avoid her gaze. When he didn't speak after a moment, Astoria turned towards her teacher.

"Madam Umbridge has a… unique interpretation of disciplinary measures when it comes to Mr. Potter.", McGonagall looked uncomfortable.

"She has me writing lines." He whispered before hesitating. "With a blood quill."

Astoria gasped. "Show me your hand!" He complied after a second.

"How is it not scarring already?", she mumbled to herself.

"Well, I found some rather useful healing magic in the Cha…" McGonagall raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Astoria kept Harry's hand in hers and rubbed slow circles on it's back while addressing the Transfiguration Mistress. "Why didn't anyone do something about this? It's illegal."

McGonagall looked distraught. "We tried, but with Fudge backing her up, there is no real chance to achieve something. Not without more political leverage." Astoria nodded absentmindedly. She had to think about this.

After a minute of silence, McGonagall spoke up again. "Well, I believe, there was something else on your mind?"

"Yes, Professor.", Harry quickly replied. "I have a rather strange request to make… I am tired of being harassed and insulted by my own housemates. Even Ron and Hermione are testing my patience." Harry then proceeded to tell his Head of House how strained their relationship had become and how he was continuously being put down by the whole school and, even the Gryffindors.

"I see.", Professor McGonagall replied. "Would you be willing to submit some memories of these occurrences, Mr. Potter?"

"Of course, Professor." McGonagall retrieved a pensive from a cabinet at one of the walls and placed it on the desk. After she teached Harry how to extract memories, he placed copies of his memories in the pensive. The Deputy Headmistress then entered the pensive to review them.

"We'll get you some peace.", Astoria told him determinedly, still caressing his hand. 'And we'll be going to take down Umbridge by the end of the year.', she added to herself.

Harry smiled at her. "I don't know, what I'd do, if you hadn't 'blackmailed' me into teaching you, how to fly." She had to chuckle at that.

He pulled out a velvet box with his free hand and gave it to her. "I-I got that for you while being dismissed at Madam Malkin's. You know, when you discussed the material for my formal robes." His face became slightly red. "I hope you like it. You did so much for me… And I guess I just wanted to show you, how important you already are to me."

She beamed at him, never taking her eyes off his. "You don't need to give me anything to show that. I can see it in your eyes, every time I see you." She pecked him on the cheek. "You are very important to me, too." The last part was added quietly. He must have heard it, though, as he was now beaming, too.

She let out a happy squeal as she opened the box. He had gotten her a bracelet made of goblin silver. There already were two charms attached. A lion and a snake. Astoria held her hand out towards him and he put it on her wrist. She pecked his cheek again and said: "I love it! Thank you!".

Harry still had a smile on his face when Professor McGonagall returned some ten minutes later.

She looked rather devastated as she sat down heavily, summoning a bottle of expensive-looking scotch and a tumbler. Pouring herself a good amount, she looked at Harry. "Mr. Potter, I am deeply sorry. I have let you down these past few years." Their teacher took a swig. "I shouldn't have listened to Albus all this time. He always told me to leave it be, that you needed to learn to deal with problems on your own." Harry's eyes briefly went wide before he narrowed them. "He never listened to me. Not fourteen years ago, not now. I should have done what I thought to be best." She paused. "Not this time, though…" The last part was only muttered.

"What… what do you mean, fourteen years ago, Professor?"

"I was there, Potter, I was there when Albus left you with those horrible people. I-I tried to stop him. He said it would be for the best. I should have taken you with me." McGonagall really looked downcast. Harry had told Astoria some of his relatives and his childhood didn't sound nice at all.

Nobody said anything for a minute, until a visibly shaken Harry spoke up again. "I don't think I'm angry at you, Professor. You only did what you were asked by a mand you trusted."

"You are so much like your mother, Harry. I-I mean Mr. Potter."

"It's okay, please call me Harry."

"Thank you." The Professor emptied her tumbler. "One day I will be happy to tell you some stories about your parents, Harry. Not now, though. We have things to do… I will call a house meeting tomorrow and set Gryffindor House straight." She nodded to herself, scratching away on a sheet of parchment. "Now, you had a request, Harry."

"Yes, well… I would like to request private quarters."

"You would have to be a Lord or at least Heir and emancipated…", she informed Harry.

Harry showed her his ring. "Since today I am. We've been to Gringotts.", he said, sliding a copy of his documents on her desk. She quickly looked it over.

"You normally wouldn't be allowed to leave the grounds.", McGonagall began sternly. "But since it was family business, I will let it slide. Next time, tough, you will have to inform me prior to your absence."

"Thank you, Professor.", they both said in unison, which made them laugh.

"Now to your request… Umbridge will try to interfere but Gryffindor House is none of her business. At least not yet." She sighed. "I will have your belongings moved to one of our free suites. But I would advise against advertising your change in housing. It will save us some trouble, if we are able to keep it from the wrong people." McGonagall stood. "Now come along, Harry. You may also come, Ms. Greengrass, seeing how close you two are." With that, their stern Transfiguration Mistress left her office.