Disclaimer: Check first chapter for full disclaimer and other warnings.

Chapter 3 – The Legacy

Harry didn't move for a few minutes, watching the ceiling, before bending over the bed's edge, and picking up the book from the floor. It didn't glow anymore but, curiously, it seemed to Harry that the book belonged to him. He opened it a crack, in case it was howling or biting like some of the worst books of the Restricted Section of Hogwarts' Library. It wasn't. So he began to read the first page, intrigued by the obviously hand-written introduction.

Dear descendant,

As I am nearing the end of my life, I put together everything of importance I discovered and which is not documented in any other book. As to put away those snakes, I also charmed this book so that only my blood will be recognized by it. Others won't be able to read it; it will be blank to them. On page 3, you'll find a spell to transform its appearance so that other people will think they read some book or another, your choice.

I hope you find interesting the information this book provides, I sure enjoyed myself writing it. Even if my reputation preceded me and a prank or two is good for your health, I didn't prank the book. But you can find prank recipes everywhere in the book. Sorry for the lack of order, but these recipes I write as they come. Besides, this book is short, but it's packed to the brim with useful information. Feel free to prank your friends, as well as your enemies! Merlin knows Salazar hated me for these...

You will also find that you'll only have to read this book once, all its content will be dumped into your mind through our blood link. You'll never forget it, literally! Be sure to keep it in a safe place for your descendants too!

Yours truly,

Godric Gryffindor

Harry's head was swimming, and it wasn't only because of his lack of food. That one page he read was changing all his perspective of himself. He was not the worthless freak his relatives always told him he was. He was not only the Boy-Who-Lived. He was a descendant of Gryffindor!

A crack in front of him startled him and he almost dropped the book, but he hid it quickly under his covers while looking at the house-elf that just appeared in front of him with a platter of food.

"Dobby!"

"Harry Potter sir!"

Harry was delighted to see that the house-elf, previously clad in rags, was now harbouring the distinctive uniform of Hogwarts house-elves. Not all house-elves are despised by their owners, and the population of healthy and content servants was an asset for the school inner workings.

"It's good to see you, Dobby. I see that Professor Dumbledore hired you."

Dobby scrunched his face then answered quickly "Yes he did, Harry Potter sir. Now good sir must eat because he is hungry."

Missing the face Dobby made, because he was effectively famished, Harry wolfed down the slices of beef roast and the accompanying vegetables, drowning them with pumpkin juice. He then tore through the cheese at the same speed, and slowed down only when half-way through the strawberry cake. Dobby was impressed. "Is Harry Potter sir needing something else? Dobby can bring pudding or sandwiches too."

Harry laughed. It feels good to laugh, he reflected. "Yes Dobby, I'd like that, thanks. If not right now, I may be hungry again later."

While Harry finished his cake and juice, Dobby had fetched said items and, after a little chit-chat, he left Harry for the night. Harry looked at his watch and, seeing that he got at least a full hour before meeting Ginny – something he was eagerly waiting to – he decided to read some more of the book. It seemed to be written without a plan in mind, and started by just listing interesting and mundane stuff alike, such as anniversary dates for some unknown people. As he read, Harry felt his mind absorbing the given data like a sponge. For instance, after reading the first three pages, he felt that he could cast the spell to change the book's appearance. Trusting that nobody would find strange a copy of Quidditch through the Ages on his nightstand, he gave that book's title, look, and content to his ancestor's diary. To him, though, only the cover had changed. 'Of course', he reflects, 'you have to remember to speak about the same book to your friends.'

The following pages were speaking about animagus transformation, and his interest was piqued. He didn't know anything about that beforehand but, curiously, the concept of escaping the down-to-earth reality called to him, and the few examples of birds caught his interest. Closing his eyes, he already envisioned himself flying across the country, with powerful thrusts against the winds. His mane would be flowing in the wind like his hair was doing when he was on a broom, something he liked very much. Wait a second here! Since when do birds have manes? He didn't have time to ponder this, as the infirmary door opened quietly and closed as well, without anyone being seen entering. He stored his book away, and the next thing he knew, Ginny Weasley was shedding his Invisibility cloak away and sitting on the bed next to him. They started to discuss gently about things, the Chamber, and more things. Speaking like this, without hindrances, seemed to do both some good, healing their psychological wounds. Harry didn't speak about the book, though, because he wanted to read it all before speaking to his friends about it. After two hours of quiet chat, they decided to turn in for the night, and gently gave each other a hug. But, when Ginny left the ward, Harry's eyes involuntarily turned towards the book and a curious feeling of expectation took hold of him. He grabbed the book and continued to read.

Apparently, Godric Gryffindor had made interesting discoveries about people changing forms. Whereas most people thought that the animagus self-transfiguration is a natural talent that you get from your parents, he proved that it was possible, for someone not able initially, to train to gain that skill. Of course, the whole process was easier for someone with the proper genes. The training process was described also. Going further, Godric showed that an animagus can also train to get more than one animal form, but explained that it was very difficult to achieve. All his research on these topics was explained in the book, and was so groundbreaking at that time that no other book spoke about it.

Then, the research had been oriented towards metamorphmagi, wizards and witches that are able to change their facial features, and, to a less extent, their body. Drawing parallels between the two techniques, the research made by Gryffindor finally described a global and unifying theory, as well as practise exercises to become a shape shifter. That would be the ultimate achievement in self-transfiguration. Attempts had also been made towards self-transfiguration into objects and back, but the main problem of an object generally not having a conscious mind did cut the research short. After all, if you transformed into a mere chair, how did the chair know how to turn back? That's why the next few pages dealt more on object charming, and more specifically, how to give a conscience and movement to objects. That part had been made in partnership with other wizards and witches, especially Godric's founder mates Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. 'Perhaps that cooperation made that charmed objects are current around the magical world.' Harry assumed silently. 'After all, Gryffindor is better known for his bravery than for his magical research. I just can't wait to tell the others about the shape shifting part!'

Briefly glancing at his watch, Harry realized that time had flied while he was reading, and decided to stop where he was and sleep for the remaining few hours of the night. Still hungry, he finished his sandwiches and pudding, once again wondering at his renewed appetite, before curling up and preparing for sleep. But the exhilaration of reading Gryffindor's innovative discoveries and numerous prank recipes was such that Harry wasn't able to sleep peacefully now. So, after turning around in his bed for some time, Harry took one half of the Dreamless Sleep Draught before going back to sleep, this time.

Around the same time, in a Ministry facility...

Kingsley Shacklebolt was happy. He was an Auror, a law-enforcement officer appointed by the Ministry of Magic. And, as his personal file indicated, he was also a veteran of many battles, and currently in charge of the Cleansing team in London. The Cleansing team had nothing to do with the tidiness of the roads, but rather the elimination of pests. Such pests included small and large groups of generally underground, generally malevolent, and sometimes powerful creatures. The previous mission had successfully destroyed a werewolf nest, and all the raging beasts had been captured. As they were incontrollable all the time, the three true werewolves had been killed. The bitten werewolves, only sensitive to the full moon, were currently being questioned under some truth serums to check if they could be released. The current Ministry policy was to file them, and if they were not guilty of anything, release them with a potion to be taken near the full moon to avoid the effects of it, and addresses where to get more of that potion. If any werewolf was caught free in his wolf state, he was killed without warning, so the potion was an asset to these werewolves' own health, as well as the one of the general public. Still, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, was trying to pass laws to kill any and all werewolf, unsuccessfully yet.

So, Kingsley Shacklebolt, head of the Cleansing team, was happy. But not only because the whole werewolf operation success: the following important operation, involving a group of vampires freshly arrived from abroad, was advancing fast. One of their contacts, a shoddy underground barman named Cody Hardmak, had spotted new faces with pointy teeth earlier on, and that called for action. Kingsley was considering several personal files opened before him, all from Aurors not currently on the field, and he finally chose four of them. As the action has to be immediate, he called for the four chosen Aurors using a magical device called a Comtact. That device served the same goal as post owls, but was quicker, and notified recipients mentally, thus silently and without alerting visual effect. It also awakened them if they are asleep. The communication was one-way, though, and only to be used for emergencies. As most Ministry-controlled artefacts, they also were only released to Aurors. Writing the names of the four chosen Aurors on the Comtact, he sent them a meeting room address. By doing so, he knew that the Ministry anti-Apparation wards around that very meeting room would be lowered for these persons to enter and exit once, a very useful function of the Comtact. He smiled. Knowing those four, he should get to the meeting room quickly or they would arrive before him. He fetched the mission file, exited his office, and headed there.

As he opened the room's door, he noticed that almost all of them were already there and seated. 'I'm getting old', he reflected; 'only one is missing'. He closed the door as the last Auror, a young witch with vibrant blue hair, apparated in the room and tripped on the last chair, before seating, blushing.

"Nymphadora Tonks" he said, half-calling the roll, half-mocking her clumsiness. Still, being the only Auror metamorphmagus, her presence in such missions was always an asset, as you never knew when you had to impersonate an enemy. She raised her hand.

"Stuart Lengley" a stocky bald man with a leather jacket raised his hand. His face was scarred from previous battles, and he constantly wore square sunglasses. Few people had ever seen his eyes, and he never smiled either, because his eyes and teeth were an indication of his rare origins, something he had been ashamed about a long time ago. Nowadays, he was more at ease about his part-goblin blood, mainly because the endurance it gave him allowed him to survive many encounters.

"John von Libbrecht" a perfect contrast to the previous Auror called, the tall and wiry frame of John raised a manicured hand. His dirty blonde hair was falling over piercing blue eyes, and his business-looking suit could have impressed any low-class meddler. He had been raised in a noble household and, despite being disowned because of a dark affair he hadn't wanted to take part in, he was still very meticulous about his own person.

"Melinda Thomson" despite her English name, the little Auror had every Asian physical aspect, including a sophisticated-looking kimono. Suspecting an urgent mission, she had taken her katana with her already, and was tying it to her belt when her name was called. Raising her head, she merely nodded to her superior and finished the complicated knot.

"Thank you for coming. You understood the urgency. Here is the file." Kingsley said as he was duplicating the mission file with a temporary spell. No need to lose important files to prying eyes, and these professional would memorise the file anyway.

"Our contacts in Albania then in France told us of a group of vampires, directed by an elder, wanting to put a foot on our grounds. They are particularly violent, and we noticed a few new vampire-related crimes from Dover to London. Our suburb sources found them at the address given in your file. It's a very shoddy block, near a dump, so beware for external problems. So far, only two vampires have arrived, but if we cut their base, the following travelling bats will be shot down by our friends. You are to report to me when finished, or if any unexpected opposition arises. Any question?"

They understood. They were formed for this, and they already accomplished this kind of mission. No question was asked, and they raised and salute as Kingsley got out of the room. "That crack team will destroy these vampires" he thought "each of them is able to handle twice as many. Except Tonks, but she lacks only the experience." While confident on that mission's success, he couldn't prevent a small shiver while moving between offices, and stopped a full minute beside an innocuous wall poster about recycling.

Back in Hogwarts' hospital wing...

Having taken only half of the potion, Harry woke up fresh and proper just when Madam Pomfrey got out of her apartment. The only indication of his nightly activities was a mild headache, certainly due to his intensive reading. Casting the diagnostic spells, Poppy Pomfrey noticed the headache, but everything else was in order. As a result, she gave him a white bubbling glass of potion to relieve his headache, before sending him to breakfast. Just as he was ready to leave, though, his book held firmly in his arms, he was mildly surprised to see Albus Dumbledore entering the room.

"Good morning, Harry."

"Good morning, Headmaster. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, thanks, but I wanted to have a little chat with you before you meet other students."

Harry thought for a second, and then looked up his Headmaster expectantly. "Is this about what you told the other students about me?"

Dumbledore chuckled "Exactly. Insightful this morning, are we?"

Harry blushed "Well, Gin... I mean, my friends told me that you told them my recovery was because of the basilisk, but it's not true, is it?"

"Well..."

"And I saw Dobby yesterday, so I think that, before hiring him, you asked him to tell the story."

"My my my... you really are insightful this morning, Harry."

"Well, you know, it's just adding clues."

"Right on one, Harry. I did that, but feared that you might risk retribution from... certain students... if the truth was to be told. If you could keep your story to your close friends, though, I would not appear crazier that I already do."

"I'll do that, sir."

"About the story, are there details I can get from you that Dobby didn't tell me about? As for why you did this at all, for instance."

"It wasn't my intention to leave for Malfoy's place, but Dobby brought me there through his own magic." Harry grimaced "Quite painful, this one."

"Yes. The house-elves have their own branch of magic, but it's not the same as the magic we human wield. Personally, I have never travelled that way before, but hearing your recollection of it, I think I'd abstain. Other details?"

"Well, I think Dobby told you I made so he was freed?"

"Yes, and it was quite a risky move too... I wonder if standard school punishments could give you some sense to avoid danger, but I recall that the school year is ending. Besides," he continued, raising his hand to forestall Harry's stuttering "it's not like you go for the action, rather the other way around."

Harry's gaze fell to the floor, and he muttered "As if I have the choice."

"Still, you decided to grab Dobby and landed out there. So that one is on you, Harry. But we could continue for hours, and I thank you for freeing an obviously abused house-elf. Anything else?"

Harry shook his limbs "I got hit by curses, but it seems I healed correctly. And I don't recall Dobby entering Malfoy's library right after me so... I got there and Mr Malfoy followed and started to curse around. The books and shelves were falling and... and that's all, I think. I was so badly wounded already that I think I fainted. I gather that Dobby found me and got me here?"

"Right again. Still, nothing transpired from Malfoy Manor since then. I only had a call from Narcissa requesting that her son return there three days ago." the Headmaster began to think aloud "Perhaps Lucius doesn't want the outside world to know about you acq... errm... freeing his house-elf. I don't know."

They both fell into a thoughtful silence, Harry thinking about his brief and involuntary exploration of Malfoy Manor, and Albus reflecting about Harry's talent to get himself into trouble. The headmaster broke the silence after a few minutes.

"Well, Harry, I asked for a friend of mine to check on young Ginevra because of her trials this year, and I'll ask him to do the same with you." Harry's eyes lifted to meet his. "His name is Remus Lupin, and he will meet you once per week. I'll owl to inform you of the schedule and the meeting place once you get home." Harry grimaced at this. Now that he knew Hogwarts, he couldn't think of his relatives' house as his home. The wretched people, called relatives, that lived there made the place look like an emotional dump. The grimace wasn't seen by the Headmaster, as he continued speaking. "You will see that you can ask him about anything, especially your family."

Harry looked up, startled. "My... my family, sir?" It had been a quest of sorts for Harry, for as long as he remembered, to get information about his parents. His relatives had told him that they were good-for-nothing freaks like him, and that they had died in a car accident, but that last part had always been said uncomfortably, and they had never said anything else. Albus Dumbledore didn't know all that but, still, he knew what lied in the Mirror of Erised when Harry was looking at it last year. Harry has seen himself and his parents. So, in Harry's opinion, the Headmaster could at least have told him some of the story by himself. After all, as their Headmaster in their time, he should know things.

"Yes Harry. Remus was a good friend to your parents', and I feel that he may tell you interesting stories about their youth."

Harry's eyes were watering already, his previous thoughts totally forgotten. "Thank you! Thank you, sir."

Seeing that they were finished discussing, the Headmaster turned back towards the door, and looked to Harry expectantly. "Will you join the rest of us for breakfast, Harry?"

"Oh! Oh yes, I'm famished."

"Which growing young man isn't? Though young Ronald seems to beat everyone at this." Albus chuckled.

"Yes" Harry answered as humorously as his professor, just before following him through the door. "Yes he is."

They entered the Great Hall together and, as they directed themselves to their own place, Harry wasn't able to miss the sudden silence spreading through the hall, followed by urgent whispers and people nodding in his direction. "Great," he thought, "the rumour mill is crazy as ever." Still, it didn't sound as hostile as the beginning of the year, when everybody was thinking he was the new Dark Lord in making. As he passed the Hufflepuff table, Susan Bones, a second year blond girl, stood up and went to shake his hand.

"Congratulations on your recovery, Harry. Thank you."

He blinked at her, not understanding.

Luna Lovegood, one of Ginny's year mates, rose from the Ravenclaw table, and headed towards them. "I always thought that only you could get us rid of that cockatrix, Harry." she uttered dreamily.

"It wasn't a cockatrix, it was a..."

"Whatever." she answered, true to her reputation of semi madness.

Terry Boot, another year mate of Harry's, stood also, and patted him on the back. "Don't play modesty, Harry; everyone knows what you did for the school and your resulting illness. Thank you, too." he started to clap his hands, looking at the students seating at the Hufflepuff table, who joined him immediately. Soon, the whole hall was booming with the clapping of students' and even teachers' hands. Only some Slytherins did not participate, even when their Head of House was applauding politely.

Harry was speechless, and after the clapping died down, he could only mutter a vague "t'was nothing" as the three students seated themselves again. Numbly, he resumed his walk towards Gryffindor table and took his usual seat in front of his friends, barely registering that Ginny had changed her usual seating arrangements and was now right next to him. He was still famished, though, and started to tear through his already filled plate.

Already filled?

He stopped and inspected his plate, only to find his favourite food on it, and his favourite beverage in the glass in front of him. Curious, he casts a glance at his friends. Hermione looked back at him pointedly, with laughing in their eyes; whereas Ron was looking to his right, with a frown. Turning right, Harry was pleasantly surprised to find the familiar face of Ginny mere inches from his own, and looking back with a smile. After a few moments, during which a chuckle was heard from Hermione, and a snort Ron, Harry gathered his wits, and flashed a big grin to Ginny.

"Thanks, Gin."

"I thought you were hungry after your long convalescence, so I filled your plate. That way," she added with a twinkle in her eye "you wouldn't be late for your lessons."

"Well... thanks, Gin."

Hermione chuckled again. "My, aren't we talkative today, Harry?"

Harry turned back to her, and threw her a pointed look, smiling, before tucking in. He really was starving, and even with Ginny's helping, he was still hungry. After a second, then a third service, his friends were quite stunned, as it wasn't customary for him to eat as much.

Ron grinned. "Way to go, mate! Next breakfast, we'll start at the same time and we'll see who can ingest the most."

Pausing to swallow a whole glass of pumpkin juice, as he doesn't want to spread his mouthful around the table like Ron sometimes did, Harry answered. "As you wish. But I think that, after replenishing my batteries from this week of lying down, I won't eat as much as now."

Ron frowned "What's your bat-her-eez?"

Harry and Hermione seemed lost for a second, then laughed merrily. "Muggle technology, Ron." Hermione explained "When Harry will have his normal energy level back, he won't need as much food as right now, that's what it means."

"Oh... Ok, then."

Harry checked his watch and, startled, stood up brusquely and stuttered "I need to get my books for Potions or I'll be..."

"Skinned alive?" Ron interrupted, grinning. Then he and Hermione picked something on the floor, giving it to him. It was his school bag.

"I packed it for today, mate." Ron said.

"Wouldn't want you to miss a beat." Hermione chirped.

As they prepared themselves for another day of lessons, Harry felt a tentative touch on his right hand. Turning right, he grasped Ginny's hand and, leaning to her ear, whispered "Have a good morning, we'll see each other later." before kissing her quickly on the cheek. They both blushed, and separated. The whole scene had been caught by Hermione, while Ron, nose in his bag, was oblivious.

Minutes later, as the trio descended the stairs towards the Potion classroom, Hermione couldn't refrain from singing a romantic tune under her breath, while stealing glances towards Harry. Ron was speaking about Quidditch, and about the fact that their Potion professor was still a greasy git. And Harry was thoughtful, ignoring his friends' antics. Actually, the Potion class seemed interesting, comparing to the previous ones. Without Draco to make fun of Harry and his friends, the Slytherin were quite silent, and professor Snape seemed less prone to take points from Gryffindor. All in all, the day was starting well.

To be continued in next chapter: Up, up, and Away...

The boy got a wealth in word,
Left by his kind ancestor,
The thing yours truly would want:
A review, or if you can't...