Hello fellow readers! It sure has been a while. I apologize for not updating and neglecting this story, but I got some writer's block and then just decided to leave the writing for a while, focusing on other aspects of my life. I've recently given up a certain hobby of mine and have been left with some time, as well as a nagging feeling to accomplish something meaningful to myself. I will be spending some time on writing and seeing where it goes, hopeful that I will once again find my love and passion for creating something that may be appreciated by others. As for this story, I've gone back and reread it from the beginning, and I have to say that I find some parts of it a bit cringe, haha. Either way, I've decided to leave it as-is for the most part, except for the last chapter that had been posted. I've removed chapter 8 altogether and made some adjustments, as well as corrected some timeline discrepancies that were pointed out to me in the review section. Speaking of which, a small reminder that reviews actually do mean a lot and are one of the driving factors behind frequent updates, so keep that in mind ;) I am always open to constructive criticism and will not take things to heart, I promise! Anyway, I've wasted enough of your time with my comments as is, so please enjoy.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all associated characters are all wonderful creations of one J.K. Rowling.

"Professor, I have a question" Harry spoke up. "Yes, what is it, Mr. Granger?" McGonagall asked with a raised eyebrow. Harry once again resisted the urge to correct her, as there would be plenty of time for that. "It says in the letter that students are allowed to bring an owl, a cat, or a toad. Do you think it possible for us to take Hestia along?" He said, reaching out to ruffle her feathers. I don't see why not, exceptions have been made in the past. I will first have to bring the matter to the Headmaster and ask for permission though. Do you know what type of bird Hestia is?" She asked, curious to find out about the bird that had previously caught her interest. "Not really, but I'm fairly confident that she's magical though." He replied, not wanting to share how they came about to have her. "Very well then, You should be notified before the start of the term. Now, if you don't mind, I think I will take my leave. You've been more than hospitable as is, and I wish not to intrude any longer." She said, getting up from her char and straightening her robes. "Of course, let me escort you out Professor," said Dan while getting up as well. He led McGonagall out of the living room and towards the door, leaving behind two very excited magical children, and an anxious mother.

July 31, 1991. 9:53 P.M.

Harry was currently laying on his bed staring at the ceiling, sleep eluding him due to all the events that had transpired earlier that day. And what a day it had been! Magic? They weren't alone? Of course, he had always suspected that there might be others, but it was nice to have his suspicions confirmed. This was definitely the best birthday he had ever had!

He was brought out of his musings by the sound of light tapping coming from the entrance to his bedroom, followed by the slight turning of the door handle and a girl with brown, bushy hair in an oversized jersey and pajama bottoms walking in.

She proceeded to close the door as gently as she could before Harry spoke up.

"Can't sleep?" He said, giving her a knowing look.

"Yeah… There's just so much to process" she said, walking over and sitting down at the foot of his bed, Hestia fast asleep on her perch beside it.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." He replied.

He had no doubt in his mind that her brain was in overdrive, planning, playing, and replaying the day's events. Analyzing every single detail, no matter how minuscule and insignificant it may seem.

"Hey, Harry?" She said after a moment of silence, looking out the window and into the distance.

"Yeah? What is it?" He asked with slight concern. She usually wasn't this quiet, especially when she was excited about something.

"Everything is going to be different now, isn't it?" She said, eyes staring into the dark, summer sky. The moon shone behind a small cluster of clouds, showering Hermione with its silver light and revealing a pretty, worried face. Not that Harry would ever admit to thinking that.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking, "Yes, it is… But trust me, it's for the better." He added quickly. "We've been given a gift, and it's our responsibility to make sure that it doesn't go to waste!"

"I know, I know, I'm not denying that. But what about Mom and Dad? They… they aren't like us… We will barely be seeing them as it is, what happens to them if they have no place in this new world?" She said, finally looking at him.

"Then we will make place for them in it." He said softly, emerald eyes sparkling in the dark room with determination. "We will give it our all and become the most powerful wizards there ever were, then nobody will ever dare say a thing".

Hermione responded with a small smile, not completely convinced.

"I want to give you something," Harry said, suddenly getting out of bed and kneeling down beside it. He reached under and pulled out a small box from which he procured a familiar golden necklace, the brilliant emerald glinting under the moonlight.

"Your mother's necklace? Harry, you know I can't-"

"I want you to have it." He said, taking hold of her hands and staring into her eyes. "Take care of it for me, please?" He said, giving her a pleading look that she knew all too well, one which she could never say no to. She nodded her head silently and let Harry place the necklace around her neck, before turning back towards him.

"Well, how do I look?" She said, the dark room hiding a small blush."

Harry took one look at her and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Dorky".

The next thing Harry saw was a pillow being swung over his head.

August 1, 1991. 9:41 a.m.

Harry was looking around Diagon Alley in wonder. He had never seen anything like it before! The street was bustling with people, all wearing different colored robes and pointy hats, making him feel completely out of place. The shopping area continued in one direction towards a grand, concrete building, an assortment of restaurants, shops, and other sights ornamenting it all along the way.

He turned around and shot a glance towards the Grangers. Dan and Emma were sitting on a nearby bench, still sick from traveling through the Portkey, while Hermione stood beside them, ready to help in whatever way they may need.

It had been an interesting experience, to say the least. There had been a small notice on the instructions, stating that this mode of transportation was likely to cause intense, temporary nausea. It did nothing to prepare them for the trip though. He never thought he would experience what it felt like to be stuffed through a narrow straw. He and Hermione had escaped relatively unscathed, slightly tripping on their arrival. Dan and Emma on the other hand had not been so fortunate.

After a small rest, they finally made their way through the busy alleyway.

The first shop to catch Harry's eye was Quality Quidditch Supplies. A small group of kids not much older than him was gathered in front of the shop's window, partially blocking his view from the displayed broom. He heard them talking excitedly about the Nimbus 2000, which he assumed was the name of the model. Fastest racing broom in the world, huh? That certainly sounded fun, albeit a little cliche. He just realized how funny that actually was. Witches and wizards on brooms? Hah!

The next shop they passed was Magical Menagerie, something which was hard to miss, considering the amount of noise coming from inside the building. And if that didn't catch your attention, then the strong stench certainly did. He saw Hermione ogling at a snowy owl from the corner of his eye. It was perched outside, grooming its plumage and not making a nuisance of itself, as if the behavior of the other animals were beneath it. He recalled the letter from Hogwarts mentioning that students had the option of bringing a familiar to the school.

His thoughts drifted back to the previous day's morning, when had made the conclusion that the wizarding world was a tad behind technology-wise, all this from how their mail had been delivered to them.

Really, a freaking messenger bird?

The fact that the wizarding fashion was outdated by a couple of centuries only helped to solidify his conclusion. What was this, the 12th century? If mail by messenger birds was the only form of communication available to a society with unlimited potential, where creativity seemed to be the only hindrance that they possessed, then he feared the type of people wizards might turn out to be.

Probably lazy, if he had to take a guess.

Yes, getting an owl might prove convenient in the long run. He would convince Dan and Emma to get it before the end of the day, labeling it as an early birthday present for Hermione.

He was already looking forward to seeing Hestia's reaction when they came back with a beautiful snowy owl. She will probably behave in some overdramatic way, hoping to get more attention from her spoiling carers. It's a shame she didn't want to come, but he couldn't really blame her. Crowds and confined places had never been her favorite.

She had also taken one look at the Portkey and point-blank refused to leave her perch as if she knew what the function of the small item was. Now that Harry thought about it, she probably did.

They made their way further down the street, Harry taking note of the shops where they would be able to get their essentials for school. Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Flourish and Blotts, Slug and Jigger's apothecary, and… Ollivander's. His anticipation grew, realization finally dawning in on him that this was all clearly very real. He was so close to being the proud owner of a new wand, that he could almost feel what its grip felt like in his hand. Literally. He shook it off and turned away from the wand shop.

Patience, Potter. All in due time.

He could already see Gringotts Bank right ahead, so he took Hermione's hand in his and tugged her towards the entrance, motioning for the Grangers to pick up their pace. Dan and Emma just rolled their eyes and shared a quick, amused look before trailing after them towards the bank, where they were once again reminded that they had entered a completely different world.

Seeing the goblins had been a small shock to Harry and the others. They first encountered them standing guard outside of the building, covered in full body armor and equipped with a variety of weapons, ranging from partially concealed daggers to great battle-axes. They stood proud and still, menacingly looking at anyone who dared come too close. The Grangers had quickly composed themselves and kept a respectful distance, going inside the building and heading towards the first available bank teller.

The goblin, who introduced himself as Griphook, was momentarily caught off guard by the politeness and respect that the adults showed when speaking to him, something that was a rare sight between wizards and goblins. He automatically assumed that they were muggle-born, something that was confirmed shortly after.

When he took a look at whom they wanted to open up the accounts for, his eyes were instantly drawn to the necklace decorating the girl's neck. Upon closer inspection, he immediately recognized the Goblin-forged amulet, something he had last seen around Lady Potter's neck. A lost Potter Family Heirloom, resting around the neck of a muggle-born girl. If any pureblood saw this, he would be willing to bet all of his gold that they would be completely outraged.

As for how a mere muggle-born girl came about to be in possession of such a valuable trinket… His eyes darted over to the boy next to her, quickly taking in his emerald green eyes and the legendary lightning scar.

The Boy-Who-Lived.

Griphook quickly detected the opportunity he had been presented with. If the Goblins were to build good relations with the famous Boy-Who-Lived, they could potentially build a strong alliance and have the protection of a powerful Head of House in the Wizengamot! He could be someone who would speak in their name and defend them against the unfairness of all pureblooded bigots and their absurd laws!

Yes, this would have to be played just right… First things first, he would need to inform the Head of Gringotts before deciding on any course of action. He would ask for approval to oversee any and all interactions with the Potter Family, as well as the Granger Family. He was confident he would get the green light, considering he had previously served as the Gringotts liaison and accounts manager for the Potter Family before their untimely death.

He turned back towards the Adults.

"Mr. And Mrs. Granger, I apologize for the inconvenience, but I have remembered something that needs my immediate attention. If you would please follow the guards to my office, I will be with you momentarily. In the meantime, do enjoy the refreshments that have already been set out on the coffee table." He said before slightly bowing and making his way to the Director's office.

Harry turned towards the approaching guards, who were also decked out in full battle armor just like their brethren outside. They signaled for the family to follow, not uttering a single word on the way to their destination. They lead the way into the back of the bank through spotless marble halls, lit by torches that were emitting way more light than they should be capable of.

Harry and the Grangers had been escorted into what was an exceptionally elegant office. A raging fire lit underneath a beautifully crafted marble fireplace, two roaring dragons running along the sides, so delicately chiseled that they almost seemed to come alive. There was a small mahogany coffee table in front of the fireplace with the promised refreshments, surrounded by two comfortable-looking armchairs and a large couch. On the other side of the room was a magnificent oak desk, with two bookshelves, pushed up against both opposing walls. Hermione had instantly headed towards the books while Dan and Emma occupied the couch. Harry followed them and took a place in one of the armchairs, helping himself to some macaroons and refreshments.

After what seemed around 10 minutes, the door to the office opened and admitted the familiar Goblin, Griphook. Hermione quickly closed the book she was taking a look at, embarrassed at the clear invasion of privacy, and headed towards the bookshelf to place it back.

"Hogwarts: A History, huh? It's an interesting read if I do say so myself. Though I do happen to find some of the content a bit… controversial. Why don't you take it? A token of goodwill, if you may" said Griphook with a kind smile.

"Thank you, sir." Replied Hermione, wrapping her arms around the large tome and giving a small bow, not wishing to disrespect the Goblin. She proceeded to take a seat next to her parents while Griphook sat down in the remaining armchair, something which reassured the Grangers, given that he could just as easily have taken a seat at his desk to portray an image of authority over them.

"Getting back to the matter at hand, you wish to open bank accounts for Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger, is that correct?"

"Yes, Sir. As a side note, we would also like to make small deposits into these accounts, both would be to pay for their school tuition." Dan replied.

"Of course, we can get that taken care of in no time at all. I assume you'll be exchanging muggle currency for Galleons?" He said, snapping his fingers which caused the drawers in the oak desk to fly open and release a stack of papers that floated to and neatly landed on the coffee table.

"Assuming that Galleons are the local currency, yes, that is correct" replied Dan.

"I have all the necessary paperwork right here, all that would be needed is signatures from the two account holders and their guardians once you have read the terms over. However, before we proceed there are a few things that I believe we should discuss.

Griphook cleared his throat and proceeded to speak. "First and foremost, you may currently not be aware of this, but you are acting guardians to one Harry James Potter, Heir to the Potter Family Fortune and Wizengamot seat." He said while studying their expressions, letting the information sink in.

"Excuse me Sir, but what exactly is the Wizengamot?" Asked Hermione with a small raise of her hand.

"Very insightful, Ms. Granger." He was starting to like this muggle-born girl more and more.

The Wizengamot is wizarding Britain's high court of law and parliament, predating back to the medieval Wizards' Council. When the Ministry of Magic was established back in 1707, the Wizengamot was incorporated into the newly-created Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It serves both as the main legislative body of the Ministry of Magic, as well as its highest tribunal. It is usually made up of around fifty members, including the Chief Warlock, who acts as an impartial executive figure, and the judges.

"Now, as I was saying, your son currently holds a great many responsibilities as the last acting Heir to his House, the Ancient and Noble House of Potter. Once he comes of age, which is on his 17th name day, he will inherit all of House Potter's wealth, estates, and any remaining properties, along with the responsibilities of being Lord of House Potter. I shall have a list sent to you by owl containing all present assets and properties of the family, along with any relevant addresses which may interest you.

"Thank you, sir. Could you perhaps elaborate on how large this wealth is, exactly? In British Pounds if possible?" Harry asked, his heart pounding fiercely in his chest.

"With the Potter Estates, various businesses producing constant reliable income, private island and small properties scattered around the globe, it is difficult to keep track of your House's exact wealth. If I were to give you a rough estimate, I would say it is around 12 billion Pound Sterling." He said while inspecting his long fingernails.

Harry took a moment for that to sink in. Potter Estates. Private Island. TWELVE. BILLION. POUNDS. That was more money than he could spend in several lifetimes! He took a deep breath and gathered himself. This was not the place to lose his composure.

He took a quick look at the Grangers and realized that they didn't seem to be processing the information much better than him, not that he could blame them.

"Well, that's… Overwhelming." He said with a small pause.

"I have no doubt about that, . I should mention, however, that you do not currently have access to the aforementioned wealth. You would first need to come of age and take your seat as Lord Potter in the Wizengamot.

He could clearly see the disappointment in the child's face and decided to give him some good news as well.

"Nevertheless, I am pleased to inform you that your parents opened a trust fund for you shortly before your birth. This trust fund is automatically topped off annually with 10,000 Galleons on your name day until you come of age. In case you're wondering what the exchange rate for Galleons to Pounds is, there are around 5 Pounds to a Galleon. Your trust fund currently holds 110,000 Galleons, or 550,000 Pound Sterling, free to spend at your will." Griphook said with a small, amused smile.

Harry didn't even hesitate before he spoke up.

"Excuse me Griphook, but you seem to know rather much regarding my family's financial status. Am I correct in assuming that you will be acting as the accounts Manager for my family?" He asked, the Grangers curious as to how he made that assumption.

"That is correct, Mr. Potter," said Griphook, straightening his back. "I have watched over your family's finances for as long as I can remember, going back to when your Grandfather, Fleamont Potter, was acting Lord of House Potter. I have great respect for your House, Mr. Potter, and offer my assistance with anything you might need help with" he said, with a small tilt of his head.

"I really appreciate that, Griphook. As a matter of fact, I would be in need of your help right now. Would it be possible to pay off the Hogwarts tuition for Ms. Granger and myself using the aforementioned money? I believe there should be enough funds in the account to cover the tuition for the both of us, and then some."

"Certainly Mr. Potter, though there will be no need to pay for your own tuition. I believe that was all taken care of when you were born. I'll make the necessary arrangements to have Ms. Granger's tuition paid for right away" said Griphook, summoning another batch of paperwork from his desk.

"But Harry, there's no need to do that, we would be more than glad to -"

"Please Daniel, allow me to do this. This is the least I can do to repay your family. And I'm not sure if you heard this, but I'm rich!" He said a little bit louder than he intended.

"Well… as much as would l would like to say no, common sense and experience tells me that you will not change your mind regarding this, so I would like to thank you on behalf of our family instead," he said, giving him a warm smile and reaching out to give him a pat on the back.

"Thank you, Dan, it really means a lot" Harry responded, smiling back at his family.

As touching as this moment was, there was one more thing which the Granger family needed to be informed about. Griphook cleared his throat and spoke up.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but now that all finances have been taken care of, there is one more important subject that needs to be tackled. I would like to warn you in advance that what you are about to hear may not please you in the slightest" he said in a serious tone, to which the Grangers sat up.

"You have our undivided attention, Griphook," Harry responded.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but tell me, what do you know about your parents?" The goblin asked leaning forward.

The question completely threw Harry off-guard, but Griphook had not given him any reason to mistrust him so far and he was sure that there was a point to it, so he decided to answer.

"My Aunt and Uncle always said that they were drunks who died in a car crash," he said in a low voice.

Hermione got up from her seat and went over to comfort Harry, as this was the first time that they had heard him speak about his parents.

"A CAR CRASH? GUUK UHL DEE WHY, HOW DARE THEY?" The goblin exploded, a furious look plastered across his face. He took a look at the terrified expressions of his guests and quickly recomposed himself.

"I sincerely apologize for my outburst, for it is in my goblin nature. But trust me when I say that it is justified!

"Saying that James and Lilly Potter died in a car crash is a great insult to their memory. For not only were they close friends of the Goblin Nation, Mr. Potter, but they gave up their lives in the great wizarding war! They sacrificed themselves to save the boy-who-lived, the wizarding world's savior! They gave their lives to save you!"

Well there you go, chapter 8 all chiseled. I'm much more satisfied with it now, and hope you guys are too! As always, reviews are encouraged and much appreciated!

P.S. I already have chapter 9 written, just finishing up editing and so, I should have it posted before the weekend.