A/N: Thank you all for your reviews, specially to those of you who are new readers to this story, I'm glad that you have enjoyed it. I'm happy to say that I seem to be able to write faster now than before. Maybe because I have been looking forward to this part of the story for so long and I've had a clear picture of what I wanted to do that it's easier for me to write what I want Harry's story to be like. I hope you like it. There's a lot that he has to learn about.

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Disclaimer: Don't own anything that has to do with HP and related characters and places.

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Chapter 2 ~ Number Ninety-Three Diagon Alley

Moody was gone no more than forty-five minutes before he returned to Privet Drive. The Dursleys were still locked in one of the rooms upstairs while Harry, Remus and Tonks waited patiently in the sitting room. Minnie was oblivious to everything else as she hugged Harry's leg with complete happiness.

They heard the pop of Moody apparating and turned to the doorway to wait for his news.

"Right." Moody said as he limped into the room. "He said he will make arrangements. For now, he will stay here with the elf, but she can use no magic. There should be plan by tomorrow morning, but it's obvious that he can't stay here."

Harry's heart flipped in his chest. This was the first time in his life that he didn't have to stay in Privet Drive for most of the summer, and he liked the idea of not being here for his birthday. "Where am I going?" He asked eagerly.

"Don't know." Moody shrugged.

"We'll leave you then. Call Annabella if you need help." Remus said. He looked down sternly at Minnie. "You can stay Minnie, but you can't use any magic, it would only serve to get Harry in trouble." The elf nodded her head energetically. "But don't drive him crazy." Smiled Remus. "I'll see you Harry." He said to Harry.

Moody nodded brusquely to Harry and Tonks waved goodbye and with a pop, all three disapparated from the room.

Harry looked down at Minnie. What could he possibly do with an elf? He asked himself.

Minnie was totally unaware of Harry's consternation. She sat on the floor and looked adoringly up to Harry.

Harry sighed. And he had thought that Dobby was bad.

*~*~*~*

The Dursleys left the room only after they heard Harry making his way to his room and shutting the door behind him. Minnie had walked briskly at his feet and looked blissfully around the room the moment they entered.

She squealed happily and applied herself to tidying up the room.

Harry sat on the bed and watched her. He was too confused to say anything to her.

"Oh Master Harry, Minnie is happy to have found you, Minnie tried and tried for years to get to Master Harry." The elf was saying as she tenderly folded the clothes and robes she found in the messy trunk.

"You have?" Harry asked with curiosity, he never imagined having a personal elf on his own.

"Oh, yes! Lotty and Otty will be happy too. Master Harry will like Lotty and Otty." Minnie exclaimed happily.

"Will I?"

"Oh yes." Minnie squealed as she continued pulling things from the trunk and putting them in order.

"Have you been with the family for long?" Asked Harry, finally occurring to him that he had somebody here who could probably tell him a lot about his parents.

"Since Minnie was born." Piped Minnie. "Mistress Abigail chose Minnie especially for Master Alliaster." Said Minnie.

Harry frowned in confusion. "Who are they?" He asked.

Minnie looked at Harry why surprise. "Does Master Harry know not of his father's father and his grandmother?" She asked somewhat shocked.

Harry shook his head sadly, but at least now he knew who they were. "What were they like?" He asked wistfully, for the first time in his life he was getting names to match to relatives.

Minnie's face brightened, she obviously loved every member of the family and Harry couldn't help but compare her against the other elves he had met. Dobby had been the house-elf for the Malfoys when he first met him, he had been treated badly by them and Dobby had wanted his freedom more than anything. Then he had met Winky and Harry couldn't help but feel pity for her. Unlike Dobby, Winky had not wanted her freedom at all, her life seemed to be totally dedicated to the Crouches and had been devastated when she had been presented with clothes, the only way an elf could be granted its freedom by its master. And then, there was Kreacher. Harry wasn't sorry for him at all. Kreacher had been insane with fervor for serving the Black family, but only those who had been acceptable to Sirius' mother. Because Sirius had not been acceptable for the family, Kreacher had not served him as he served the other members of the Black clan. Harry couldn't help but blame him, in part, for Sirius' death. He couldn't forget that Kreacher had lied to him about Sirius' whereabouts, if he hadn't done so, Harry would've never gone to the Department of Mysteries hoping to save Sirius' from Voldemort.

Minnie was speaking and Harry started to listen it was the first time he heard about his family and he didn't want to miss anything.

"Master Aliaster was a great master." Minnie was saying. She had finished tidying up the trunk and had turned to pick up all the books and parchments that were strewn around the floor. "He loved Hogwarts. Minnie was with him when Master Aliaster started attending. He studied in the Ministry after that until he married Mistress Susan. A great friend of the Minister and worked with him in the Ministry." Minnie said proudly.

"My grandfather worked with Mr. Fudge?" Asked Harry with surprise.

Minnie screwed her face with disgust. "Minnie doesn't like Mr. Fudge. Master Aliaster was no friend of Mr. Fudge. Mr. Fudge wasn't Minister then."

"Oh. You mean he worked with the Minister of that time." Exclaimed Harry. He was relieved to hear that his grandfather hadn't been friendly with Mr. Fudge. Mr. Fudge didn't seem like a man who could've been a great friend of his family.

Minnie nodded. "Master James did too, after leaving Hogwarts." Minnie said.

Harry looked at her with surprised, he had never heard that before. "My father worked in the Ministry?"

Minnie nodded as she arranged the piles of books and parchment on top of the desk. "Master James was advisor for the Minister, just like Master Aliaster."

"What about my mother?" Harry asked.

"Mistress Lily worked for Hogwarts before she came to the Potters." Minnie replied.

"She did?" Asked Harry eagerly. "Was she a teacher?"

"Minnie knows not." Minnie said.

Harry sighed, he had hoped that Minnie could tell him more of what his family was like.

"Were they happy?" Harry asked. His fear that his mother had not loved his father as he had first thought had not left him. The memory of what he had seen in the Pensive in Snape's office had not left him, and he could remember well the antagonism he had seem between his father and mother then.

"Oh, yes. Master James loved Mistress Lily and Mistress Lily did too." Minnie exclaimed, she seemed to be a little surprised at the idea that her previous masters had not loved each other.

Seeing that reaction made Harry's fear recede and he smiled. Here was somebody who wouldn't lie to him about his parents' relationship.

He was about to ask another question, but his aunt's call interrupted him.

"Come down to dinner." He heard Aunt Petunia call.

"Stay here, Minnie. I will bring you something to eat." Harry ordered.

Minnie nodded with a happy grin on her lips and Harry couldn't help but smile at her.

*~*~*~*

That night, Harry slept calmly for the first time since Voldemort's return last summer. He had pulled a drawer from the desk and had piled some of Dudley's hand-me-downs that were too old for him to wear in it, and had told Minnie to use it as her bed. Minnie had smiled happily at him and hugged his leg before climbing into the nest of clothes and had fallen asleep.

Harry smiled and the last thought in his mind before falling sleep was the fact that Hermione would not be happy with him when he told her about Minnie.

The next morning was bright and warm. Harry opened his eyes carefully, surprise to feel rested as if he had slept for hours. He turned to look at the time in the fixed clock by his bed and was surprised to find that it was still early. In fact, he knew that the Dursleys had not woken up yet as he could clearly hear his uncle's snores from the bedroom nearby.

Harry stretched his arms and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He sat up and looked around. Hedwig's cage stood empty on top of the dresser, he noticed that it had been cleaned and no droppings or mice tails remained in it. That reminded him of Minnie and turned quickly to look at the drawer at the foot of the bed.

It was empty.

"Uh-oh!" He exclaimed. He had hoped that he could keep her in his room so the Dursleys didn't have to see her. He dressed quickly and open the door.

The smell of bacon, eggs and sweet bread blended in the air.

Harry walked as quickly as he could without making any noise. He didn't want to wake the Dursleys up. A few minutes later, he found himself in the kitchen watching Minnie preparing a large meal.

"Good Morning, Master Harry!" Minnie piped from the chair she stood on to stir the eggs in the pan above the stove.

"Morning. Minnie, what are you doing?" He asked as he looked at the large stack of hotcakes cooling in the counter.

"Preparing breakfast for Master Harry." Minnie said as a dozen strips of bacon sizzled in a pan.

"Isn't it a little too much?" Harry asked. He had never eaten that much food in his life, at least not in Privet Drive. At Hogwarts he had eaten as much as anybody could eat.

"Does Master Harry not like the food his Minnie prepared?" Minnie asked as her ears dropped around her face.

"I didn't say that!" Exclaimed Harry. "I just think that this is more than enough for me." Said Harry.

Minnie looked worriedly at Harry.

"This is great Minnie, thank you." Harry said with a smile to Minnie.

Minnie smiled once more and jumped down from the chair. She walked up to Harry and grasped his hand.

"Sit Master Harry, Minnie will serve you." Said Minnie as she pulled him toward one of the chairs around the table.

"That's not necessary, Minnie." Harry said hurriedly. "I can serve myself." Minnie's ears dropped once more. "But you can if you want." He said quickly.

Minnie smiled and hurried around the kitchen as Harry sat on his customary chair. Soon, Minnie put a full plate before him and added a glass of milk and another of orange juice. Harry smiled. This certainly was a change for him. Nobody had ever served him breakfast this way, especially in Privet Drive.

He had barely started eating when he heard somebody coming down the stairs. He groaned, he had forgotten that he had planned to take Minnie to his room before the Dursleys woke up.

He was about to order Minnie to hide when his aunt appeared in the door.

"What's this?" She exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"Eating." Said Harry.

Minnie was on top of the chair by the stove taking the bacon from the pan. She stopped to look at Aunt Petunia.

Aunt Petunia saw her and screamed. "What is that? What is it doing to my stove?"

"She is an elf, and she is cooking breakfast for me." Said Harry.

"A what?" Aunt Petunia asked in confusion.

"An elf. A personal elf, really. She belonged to my father and has come to serve me." Harry said.

Aunt Petunia was speechless. She clearly didn't know what to say.

"It smells great Petunia, how did you prepare it so fast." Harry heard Uncle Vernon said from the stairs.

Aunt Petunia turned with consternation to her husband. "Vernon! Vernon!" She called.

"What is it? What-?" He stopped mid sentence at the sight of Minnie on the chair. "What is that? What is it doing in my house?" He thundered.

Minnie squeaked and jumped from the chair to hide underneath Harry's chair.

Harry sighed and put down his fork.

"She is an elf." Said Harry again. "She is here because she belonged to my father's family and she came to serve me."

"What's this? What's this? There are no such things as elves." Uncle Vernon yelled.

"Vernon! Shh! The neighbors." Aunt Petunia said.

"Oh, sorry my dear. You boy, take that thing from my house." He hissed at Harry.

"I can't. This kind of elves stay with their master at all times. There had been a spell that kept her away from me but it was broken and now she is here." Harry explained.

"I'll not have it, I tell you. I'll not have such freaks of nature in my house." Uncle Vernon exclaimed.

"It won't be for long. I was told that Professor Dumbledore would have a plan by this morning and he would make arrangements, but for now she has to stay with me. I'll keep her in my room. It's just that she was here before I woke up and she had just finished prepared breakfast and I forgot to take her back to my room." Harry explained.

Minnie was peering from behind Harry's legs. Her large tennis-balled eyes looked apprehensively at the Dursleys.

The mentioned of breakfast made Uncle Vernon look around the kitchen. The large platters of bacon, hotcakes, eggs, and toast beckoned. He swallowed his anger but looked hungrily at the food.

"Yes, well. If it has prepared breakfast, it's all right then." He said.

Aunt Petunia looked at her husband with surprise. "Vernon?"

"Well, think of it my dear. That thing obviously is a good cook, you didn't even need to tire your delicate hands this morning." Uncle Vernon said.

Aunt Petunia looked around her kitchen and saw that it had been cleaned as well. "Well, if it's making itself useful." She said grudgingly.

Harry snorted silently. The thought of free service obviously countered his aunt and uncle's fear of anything magical

Both Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia walked to the platters of food cooling on the counter. Harry bent down to look at Minnie. "Go to my room, Minnie. Don't leave it." He ordered. Minnie nodded and disapparated with a tiny pop.

"At least it makes a good meal." Harry heard Uncle Vernon grunt.

Harry shook his head in relief. It could've been much worse, he thought before taking his fork back to his mouth. He did agree with his Uncle Vernon on one thing. Minnie did make a good meal.

*~*~*~*

Harry went to his room as soon as he finished his breakfast. He hoped that Dumbledore would let him know soon what was going to happen, he didn't know how long it would take for the Dursleys to keep tolerating Minnie.

He found Minnie cleaning his room. He looked around the bedroom, it had never been that clean since he had moved into it before his eleventh year.

Hedwig was back. She had been gone when he first woke up, but now she was sitting on top of her cage watching closely every move Minnie did.

"Does Master Harry wish something from Minnie?" The elf asked eagerly as soon as she sensed his return to the bedroom.

"No, I'm all right. Thanks." He said. Now what? He thought. What was he supposed to do with an elf?

Thankfully, he didn't have to think too long on that question.

He heard Aunt Petunia's scream and Uncle Vernon swearing.

"Stay here." Harry ordered Minnie and ran out of the room.

"Will you shut up, woman?" A harsh voice said.

Harry climbed down the stairs cautiously.

"Don't you speak to my wife in that manner!" Uncle Vernon exclaimed.

"Moody, just calm down, it is perfectly understandable for Mrs. Dursley to be surprised to see us." A gentler voice said.

"Professor Lupin?" Harry asked as he neared the kitchen.

"Hello Harry. We have come for you." Lupin said turning to the doorway where Harry stood.

"Where am I going?" Harry asked.

"To the Burrow for now, then we'll move again." Lupin said.

"Wait just one minute. You cannot just appear in the middle of my kitchen and take the boy without our consent. We are his guardians." Uncle Vernon was indignant that these strangers would even dare to appear in his house and do as they wished.

"Harry cannot stay here as long as the elf stays with him. I'm sure you would not like to have it around the house where neighbors and visitors could see it." Moody grunted.

"Well, no." Conceded Uncle Vernon. "Why can't you just take it and leave the boy?"

"The elf will stay with Harry. The elf magic bonds them for the rest of their life, unless the bond is severed magically, the elf will follow its master wherever he goes. There are only few wizards with the power to sever those bonds and unfortunately there are none available at the moment." Lupin explained.

"Very well, the boy can leave." Said Uncle Vernon with the air of a man who was granting a huge favor.

"Thank you." Lupin bowed his head, hiding the sarcastic smile that appeared upon his lips. "Pack your things Harry. The others will arrive in fifteen minutes to take you to The Burrow." Lupin said turning to look at Harry.

Harry nodded and run up the stairs to his room.

"Hurry Minnie, we have to pack all my things." Harry said as he entered the room.

"Yes Master Harry, Minnie will pack Master's belongings." Squealed Minnie and hurried around the room gathering Harry's things.

Harry urged Hedwig into her cage before turning to see if there was much to be gathered. Minnie had everything in hand. His trunk was packed in less than five minutes.

"Come Minnie. We'll wait downstairs." Harry said.

Harry pulled his trunk while Minnie took Hedwig's cage. Hedwig sat silently in her cage watching Minnie warily as if making sure that she wouldn't be hurt.

Harry dragged his trunk down the stairs and into the sitting room. Lupin and Moody were waiting there for him, both arguing in whispers. They stopped talking the minute they heard Harry coming down the stairs.

"Ready, I see." Smiled Lupin.

Harry looked questioningly at Lupin and Moody. What had they been arguing about when he was upstairs? It was obvious that it was something of importance, and most likely about him.

"The others will be here any moment now." Growled Moody.

Harry noticed that both men had changed into muggle clothing.

"How are we getting there?" Harry asked. He turned to look at the fireplace. He remembered Mr. Weasley using it a couple of years ago. But the fireplace had been blocked once more, and the electric screen had been repaired by Mr. Weasley soon after they used it.

"A car will be sent to us." Lupin said with a grin.

"What kind of car?" Asked Harry with curiosity. He remembered the Weasleys' old flying car, which was now running wild at Hogwarts' Forest. And then there was the Ministry car that had been sent for their use when Sirius had escaped from Azkaban.

"A private car. Don't worry, the muggles won't have anything to say against it." Lupin smiled.

At that moment there was what sounded like a car parking in front of the house.

"They're here." Said Moody putting a bowler hat on his head at a slanted angle covering his magic eye.

The Dursleys were standing by the kitchen door, waiting to see Harry out.

Lupin opened the door and waved to whoever waited inside the car. "Come Harry, they're waiting for us." He motioned Harry to follow him.

"See you." Said Harry in a cheerful voice to the Dursleys before stepping out of the house dragging the trunk. He turned to see Minnie, but she was no longer there. "What happened to Minnie?" He asked Moody, who was following out.

"Disapparated, she will appear once you get to the Burrow." Moody said.

Harry turned to look at the car, and blinked with surprise. He had never imagined that such a car would be waiting for him. It was a large car, black with shiny wheels. And it looked very expensive limousine, but rather small compared to those he had seen on his aunt's magazines or in the TV. He knew the Dursleys would be envious to see him ride off in it. He turned to the house and saw his aunt and uncle look as surprised as he was.

He stepped lively into the car, and in the process, he caught sight of some of the neighbors, watching curiously from their windows. Harry smiled wickedly and wondered what the Dursleys would say to explain his departure, he was sure that would be a subject of conversation during their party on the next day.

He looked around the car and was surprised once more at the size of it. From outside, it had looked small but once inside, it was really roomy. There was a back seat that could seat up to four people, on each side of the vehicle were two other seats, one could carry five people while the other only three, and then there as a seat behind the driver. A small cooler sat underneath one of the side seats, the other had a small cabinet with pillows and blankets.

Harry sat on one of the side seats, Lupin sat beside him, while Moody sat in the back seat after closing the door behind him. Waiting inside was Tonks and Mr. Weasley.

"Hello Harry, how have you been?" A kind smile appeared on Mr. Weasley's face. But Harry could see in his eyes the worry that he clearly felt for him.

"I'm fine." Said Harry rather abruptly. He was getting rather tired of being asked the same thing by everybody. "How long will it take us to get there?" He asked in a calmer tone, he was rather sorry now that he had been abrupt with Mr. Weasley.

"Two hours, three at the most. This car is rather faster than muggle ones." Said Lupin.

Harry nodded. He knew now that this car belonged to a wizard, who that wizard could be, he didn't know, but it was rather clear that it was somebody wealthy.

"Do you want something to drink? I'm sure that there something in the cooler, there always was something there whenever I used this car." Lupin mumbled as he looked below the seat to open the compartment.

"You used this car before?" Harry asked in surprised. He had never heard Professor Lupin talk about his past. The only thing he knew for sure was about his friendship with his father and that it was because of his monthly indisposition that his father, Sirius and Peter had become animagi.

"Uh-huh" Harry hear Lupin say, "when I was rather young."

"Who owns it?" Harry asked with curiosity. The only wealthy families he knew about were Death Eaters, unless it had belonged to one of them and had been confiscated because of the family's close ties to Voldemort.

"To a very important family." Said Moody before Lupin could respond.

"Right you are." Said Lupin sitting up and a couple of cans grasped in his hands. He offered one to Harry, who took it gratefully.

"How come we're going to the Burrow instead of Grimmauld Place?" Harry asked.

"Can't use it now that Black is gone." Said Moody.

Harry looked questioningly at Lupin.

"The charm only works with the knowledge of the owner. Sirius is not longer there to give us permission to use." Lupin explained.

"Where are you going to meet now?" Harry asked with curiosity, he didn't want to talk about Sirius anymore, and if he was truthful with himself, he was glad that he wasn't going to Grimmauld Place. It would only serve to remind him that Sirius wasn't there anymore.

"Hogwarts for now, but it's such an obvious place, we're going to need to look for a new one very soon." Said Tonks.

"So, am I staying at the Burrow the whole summer?" Harry asked. He didn't mind staying at the Burrow for the whole summer. The house had always something fun for him to do.

"Don't know yet." Said Moody. "Dumbledore said he would see you in two days."

"Why?" Asked Harry in surprise.

"Don't know, said he had things to tell you." Said Moody.

"About time he did too." Mumbled Lupin.

Harry looked at the others with surprise. Was there something that he didn't know? Harry asked himself. Yes there is, he thought. I don't know anything about my parents' life, their family, other than the Dursleys that is, and so many other things that he couldn't think about.

Harry looked out the window and watched the city pass as they drove deeper into the countryside. The day looked calm and sunny, but he couldn't help but thinking that out there was somebody who could only wish him harm.

It didn't take long for the car to make its way into the lane leading to the Burrow. Harry smiled at the sight of the familiar grounds.

"We're here." Said Mr. Weasley with relief. He had been obviously preoccupied during their ride.

Harry looked eagerly out the windows and grinned as he watched Mrs. Weasley, Ron and the twins stepping out the house waiting for their arrival.

Harry heard Ron's "whoop!" as the car drove into the yard.

Everybody inside the car scrambled around the seats trying to find all their personal belongings so not to leave them behind.

The driver stepped out of his seat and ran to open the door.

Moody stepped out first, then Mr. Weasley. Tonks followed him out and stepped out of the way for Lupin. Harry was the last to leave the car, and smiled as he watched Mrs. Weasley run to them. She hugged her husband tightly while she smiled at Moody and Tonks.

"Say Thank you to Martin, Harry." Lupin said to Harry. "He was eager to be our driver today."

Harry turned to look at the tall man holding open the door. "Thank you." He said with a smile. The man smiled back and bowed to him. Harry could've sworn that the man had tears in his eyes as he looked him over. But Harry wasn't sure as in that instant Mrs. Weasley was hugging him.

"Oh Harry dear!" She exclaimed. "I'm so happy to have you with us."

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." Harry managed to say.

"Now, Molly. Leave Harry breathe." Teased Mr. Weasley as he led the group into the house.

Harry turned to look back at the car. His trunks and Hegwig's cage had been unloaded and were ready to be taken to Ron's room, but the car was already pulling out of the yard.

"Ron, help Harry with his things." Mrs. Weasley ordered her son.

"Come Harry." Ron said to Harry as the others went into the house.

They carried the trunk and cage directly to Ron's room. To Harry, it looked exactly as it had been the last time he had been in it.

The walls were still covered with posters of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons. The frog still croaked in the fish tank and Pig still twittered wildly around in his cage. And hanging on the wall, in place of honor, was Ron's new broom.

A cot had been brought into the room and placed directly near the window. Ron dragged the trunk into the room and dumped it near the cot. Harry walked around the trunk and cot to place Hedwig's cage beside Pig's.

"D' you want to eat?" Asked Ron. "Mum prepared a large meal."

"Yeah. I suppose we should join the others." Harry said. "So, what has been happening around here?"

"Nothing much. Mum and dad have been spending a lot of time out of the house, not that she has been too happy about it." Ron said.

"Yeah, they mentioned they were meeting at Hogwarts for now." Harry said.

Ron nodded. "Mum, didn't want to leave us alone, even though Fred and George were staying behind to keep an eye on us."

"Didn't they join the Order? Last year they were eager to do so." Harry exclaimed.

"They wanted to, but mum wouldn't let them, even after dad argued that they were over age and had left school." Ron whispered.

"What did they do?" Harry asked. He couldn't imagine Fred and George staying behind when they clearly didn't want to.

"There was a lot of arguments. Thought they would pull the same thing Percy did, but eventually mum got around them. Said they should be putting more attention to their store instead of the Order, that she wanted to be sure they would be there to take care of Ginny and me if something happened to her and dad." Ron replied.

"And they agreed with that?" Harry sounded surprised.

"Well, they accepted it. Especially since mum has stopped complaining that they left school without taking the N.E.W.T.s. But they're doing so good, and I think mum and dad are proud of them, even though they haven't said so." Ron smiled.

Harry smiled in return. He was happy to know that his investment was paying off and Fred and George were doing so well.

"Business has boomed these last two weeks. Lots of Hogwarts students stopped by to see their stock and they have continued with the mail orders as well. They are still trying to get merchandise out to those that were in the waiting list they compiled at Hogwarts, especially since they used most of their new creations on Umbridge." Ron continued.

"Have you seen their store?" Harry was curious about the twins' premises at Diagon Alley and hoped to be able to visit it soon enough.

Ron nodded with enthusiasm. "Have been helping them around the store lately. Ginny too. They have this large room in the back, they divided it into two. One they use for storage and the other one they call it their lab. They have put all these spells, shield and silencing charms, they use it for production they say. I think they use it to create their new products."

"What do you do when you're there?" Harry asked.

"Help in the store. Ginny takes care of the counter and I take care of the displays and stocking." Ron said excitedly. "They're paying me 25 Galleons a week, so I don't mind being there. And I think mum feels we are safer there and is happy to let us help with the store."

"Do you think they would mind if I go with you the next time they open the store?" Harry wanted to see the premises, and he would help without pay, he didn't care for the money anyways, he just wanted to see the stores. It had been the first time he used his money to help somebody in such large scale and he was eager to see what they had done.

"I'm sure they would want to show it to you, you gave them the money for it anyways." Ron said.

Harry smiled as they walked into the kitchen. Everybody was there waiting for him.

"All settled dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she placed platters filled with food into the table.

Harry nodded as he looked around the room. How the Weasleys expected to get everybody in there, Harry couldn't understand. Only a couple of years ago, when they had as many people as they had in the room right now, they had taken their meal outside, but now, it seemed they had decided to stay inside.

Fred and George were sitting beside Lupin, showing him prototypes of their latest products. Bill was sitting beside Lupin talking animatedly to Tonks and Ginny. Mr Weasley was sitting beside Moody who sat beside the twins. Moody was cleaning his magical eye in a glass of water placed before him. Three seats were empty, Ron and Harry sat, leaving the one next to Mr. Weasley empty for his wife.

"Eat up dear, I'm sure you are famished." Mrs. Weasley said as she placed a barrel of butterbeer in the middle of the table.

Everybody was serving themselves as they chatted.

"Isn't Hermione coming to stay?" Harry asked as he noticed that she was not present.

"In a couple of days. Mother wanted to take her to see some aunt." Ron said.

"She didn't tell me that when she wrote last." Harry exclaimed. Hermione had tried to keep him updated to all the latest news during the last three weeks, since their return from Hogwarts. It seemed that she was trying not to commit the same mistake they had done the previous year.

"Last minute thing. Told her you were coming and she said she would come, but then she said that her mum wanted her to go to visit this aunt." Ron said.

Harry nodded his understanding and turned his attention to his food.

"Stupid fool. Don't know what he thinks he's doing with such a thing." Harry heard Moody say to the Weasleys. "That's not going to placate the public, it's rather late for him to send a convoy to look for the giants. Hagrid said it was late to try to get the giants to join us."

"Fudge is just trying to keep his job. Wants it to look as if he is doing something." Mr. Weasley said.

"Won't do him any good. Even his close advisors have left him. Everybody knows his time is over." Moody said.

Mrs. Weasley shook her head sadly. "Never thought to see the day when the Minister of Magic would be under investigation for close ties to You-Know- Who."

"His own fault. The fool should've been careful of whom he chose as his friends." Moody grunted.

"Umbridge's interview was the last straw." Mr. Weasley said. "People didn't like the idea of having her at Hogwarts and allowed to do as she wished with support from the Ministry himself."

"Azkaban is to good for her." Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. She couldn't help but think of all the things the Minister's Senior Undersecretary had confessed to. Especially the confession to ordering the Dementor attack on Harry last summer.

"Isn't Azkaban different now? I mean, with the Dementors joining Voldemort," Harry ignored the others' gasps, "Azkaban is not as well protected as it was before. Wouldn't it be easier for the prisoners to escape?"

"A charm has been placed around the place. It affects people the same way the Dementor do, except for the darkness and coldness that inhabit the places where Dementors can be found. There's also an anti-apparation charm around it. There are no guards inside though, only boats circling the island." Mr. Weasley explained.

"And that will keep the Death Eaters inside?" Harry asked.

"We hope it will." Moody said.

"At least they all know who the Death Eaters were." Ron said. "Malfoy and the others will not be able to walk around the Ministry in peace."

"Or go to their own houses either." Said Mr. Weasley.

Harry looked confused. "Why? Did the Ministry confiscate their houses?"

"In a manner of speaking. Their vaults in Gringotts have been sealed and everybody living in them have been placed under house arrest. Anti- apparition charms have been placed around the houses and the Floo Network Office has been keeping an eye on their chimneys. Even their owls have been monitored." Moody said.

"And charms have been placed around the grounds to make sure they can't leave the houses on foot or broom." Mr. Weasley added.

"Bet old Draco isn't too happy." Ron sneered.

"Now Ron, it's not his fault that his family is going through such hard times." Said Mrs. Weasley.

"Not for his lack of trying, he was only to happy to lead that squad of Umbridge's. If he was older, you may be sure that he would've joined his father." Ron exclaimed.

Harry nodded vigorously as he ate. He agreed with Ron, Draco Malfoy was sure to follow in his father's footsteps.

"Well, that's something you don't have to worry about any longer." Said Mrs. Weasley.

"What do you mean?" Asked Harry.

"All of the Educational Decrees passed under the Hogwarts High Inquisitor have been repealed. How many where they in total?" Asked Mr. Weasley.

"Seven in all." Answered Mrs. Weasley.

"Does that mean that I can play Quidditch again?" Harry asked excitedly, surely they wouldn't keep him out of the team as it had been Professor Umbridge who had banned him from playing.

"Don't see why not, but that is a decision for Minerva. She must review the punishment and see whether it will stand or not." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Don't worry Harry, old McGonagall won't keep you from playing, she put you in it in the first place." Said Ron.

Harry nodded apprehensively, Ron was right, he thought, there was nothing for him to worry about, Professor McGonagall wanted to keep the cup in her office and he was the one with the most experience in the team now that the others had left Hogwarts. That left only those who had replaced him and the twins when they were banned from playing Quidditch and Ron, who had taken the position that Wood had left two years ago.

The meal ended soon after, Moody, Lupin and Tonks prepared to leave.

Lupin took Harry aside while the others where saying their goodbyes. "Take care Harry, don't leave the house on your own. We'll return soon with Dumbledore. Don't unpack, I have the feeling you won't be staying here for long."

"Will Dumbledore take me Hogwarts?" Asked Harry rather surprised. He didn't know how he felt about the idea of staying at Hogwarts on his own during the summer. He loved the school, but to spend the whole summer there on his own was not something that had crossed his mind.

"I doubt it, just stay out of trouble, ok?" Lupin looked closely at Harry as if he was trying to read his mind.

"All right. I'll stay here and not go anywhere on my own. But if Fred and George want to take me to their store, can I go?" Harry didn't want to think that he could be kept from going to Diagon Alley with the others.

"Diagon Alley will be safe enough. You can go with them if the Weasleys say it's ok." Smiled Lupin.

Harry sighed with relief.

"I'll see you soon." Lupin said clapping Harry's back.

"All right." Harry replied as he watched him walk back to the others. There had been no need for Lupin to tell him to stay as close to the house. He didn't want to meet Death Eaters, or Dementors while he was on his own. He didn't want to be in trouble again, especially after what had happened last summer. Even though it hadn't been his fault and he was only trying to protect himself and his cousin.

Moody, Lupin and Tonks disapparated after saying their goodbyes.

"Off to bed please, we all need to be up early tomorrow morning." Mrs. Weasley ordered.

"Oh, mum. Only a few minutes more." Ginny asked. "I haven't even greeted Harry."

"Well, do it now, but I want you all in your beds in fifteen minutes." Mrs. Weasley said as she started clearing the table.

"Come Harry." Said Ginny as she pulled his sleeve and led him out of the kitchen. Harry looked back questioningly at Ron, who shrugged with confusion and followed them out.

"What d'you want?" Harry asked as they reached the stairs.

"I don't want anything, I just wanted to ask you something." Ginny said in an exasperated tone.

"Well? Spit it out. You heard mum, she wants us in bed in fifteen minutes, and in case you have forgotten, we're supposed to go to Fred and George's tomorrow morning." Hissed Ron.

"I have not forgotten, you lump. And I was not speaking to you." Ginny spat.

"What did you want to ask Ginny?" Asked Harry in an effort to keep Ginny and Ron from fighting.

"Have you heard from Neville?" Ginny asked.

Harry's eyebrows flew upward in surprise. That was not a question he would've expected from her.

"No, Neville and I have never exchanged letters in the summer. Why do you ask?"

Ron was looking as his sister with surprise as well.

Ginny shrugged. "Just asking, he was really affected by what happened at the end of term, that's all." She said.

"We all were, Ginny." Ron exclaimed.

"Well, yes, but we are all used to it. I mean, Harry seems to get into some sort of adventure every year and you and Hermione are always involved in some way. I was there in the Chambers and Luna, well, she really doesn't count, I don't think anything affects her. But Neville is different. He isn't exactly the sort to get into such kind of adventure, now is he? And fighting the people who harmed his parents so many years ago must have done something for him." Ginny said very quickly.

"What do you want us to do? Do you want us to invite him along?" Ron asked.

"No." Ginny glared at Ron. "I'm just saying that we should write to him. See how he is doing."

"If it makes you feel any better, we'll write to him." Said Harry before Ron could say anything more.

"Ok, that's all I'm asking." Ginny said and happily climbed up the stairs to her room.

"What's with her? Why ask us to write to Neville, why couldn't she do it?" Ron grumbled as he and Harry made their way to Ron's room.

Harry didn't answer, but he couldn't help thinking that Ginny was right. Neville had been the raw recruit in their little rescue team. Most of them had faced some sort of danger before except for Neville, and Luna (that he knew of). And he couldn't help but remember the last conversation he had with Dumbledore. Neville could've well been the Boy Who Lived, instead of him, but it was Voldemort who made the choice and Harry now carried the burden.

They opened the door to find Minnie putting Harry's things away. The cot had been made, even Ron's bed, and their pajamas had been placed on top of their pillows. The room had been cleaned and organized. The books that had been lying on the floor when Harry first came in some hours later had been stacked on the shelves. The fish tank seemed cleaner, and even Pig's cage was gleaming.

"Who is this?" Ron exclaimed.

"Oh, this is Minnie. Minnie, this is my friend Ron." Harry said.

Minnie stopped cleaning as she bowed to Ron. "Minnie is glad to meet Master Harry's friends." She squeaked.

"Master Harry?" Ron asked Harry.

"Well, yeah. She is my personal elf." Harry explained.

"You know what Hermione will say about this, don't you." Ron laughed.

"I know, she will throw that spew stuff on me." Mumbled Harry.

*~*~*~*

Harry woke early the next morning. The sun was shining brightly through the window and he could hear Fred and George getting ready in a room nearby.

"Will you move, there are so many things we have to do!" Harry heard one of the twins say.

"I know that you lout, but I can't find the plans for the optioculars." The other twin exclaimed.

"What? If you lost it, I'll kill you."

"Just stop snapping at me and help me look."

Harry looked over at Ron and saw him rub the sleep off his eyes. "What are opticulars?"

Ron shrugged. "Don't know, they just said it was a new product. We should get ready if we're going with them."

Harry left his cot with alacrity. He dressed and hurried as Ron did the same in the other side of the room. Minutes later they were making their way to the kitchen. They could still hear the twins stumbling in their room as they continued their search.

"Good morning boys." Mrs. Weasley greeted them.

"Morning."

"Good morning." They answered.

Ginny was already sitting at the table. Toast, jam, eggs and bacon were placed around the table by Minnie who looked happy as she prepared the meal and levitated the plates to the table.

"Harry, this elf says that she's yours." Mrs. Weasley said as she sat at the table watching Minnie serve them.

"She is, she's his personal elf." Ron said as he sat at the table and started piling food on the plate placed before him.

"Hermione is not going to like this." Ginny said as she chewed on some bacon.

"I know, you don't have to tell me that. But it can't be helped. She belonged to my family and she seems happy, I don't want to throw her out, I don't want another Winky on my hands." Harry snapped.

"Oh lord, you really don't. But Hermione will try to free her, you know that. Look at what she did with the ones at hogwarts. I'm surprised nobody mentioned that, not that they would've said anything with Umbridge there making a mess out of everything." Ron said.

"Well, don't tell her but Dobby said that Gryffindor Tower wasn't being cleaned by the other elves, they were offended by her offerings and Dobby was doing all the cleaning in the tower and taking all the hats and socks she knitted." Harry confessed, he hadn't said anything about that conversation to Hermione, and didn't want her to know. He didn't think she would be happy to find out what had happened to her offerings.

Ron laughed and almost chocked at hearing what had happened to Hermione's knitting. "I can understand why they were insulted, I would be too if I was presented with such misshapen pieces." He laughed. "We really must do something about her, Harry. She can't continue fighting for the freedom of beings who don't want their freedom in the first place. She will end up alienating Minnie here." Ron coughed.

"I know. Lupin said the same thing. He said that Minnie would be offended as well as the others." Harry said.

"The others?" Asked Ginny.

Harry nodded as he swallowed. "Lupin said that my father's family has three personal elves that have served the Potters for generations, there are house elves as well, but because the personal elves are the ones that go with their master, those are the ones that are going to join me. Why do you think they brought me here? They wanted to be sure I was here in case the other elves apparated." Harry said.

"See mum, you always wished to have an elf to help with the house." Ginny exclaimed.

"Yes, but this is not our elf, it's Harry's, it will serve only him." Mrs. Weasley explained, but she was happy that Harry brought an elf, she enjoyed being served breakfast for a change.

Minnie was happily humming as pots and plates hovered around her.

Footsteps were heard in the stairs, clearly the twins were done looking for what they had lost.

"You know what this means?" One of the twins asked as they entered the kitchen.

"I know, we have to start from the beginning." Fred sighed. "But I thought I had left it by my bed."

"Obviously, you didn't." George snapped.

"Is something wrong boys?" Asked Mrs. Weasley, glaring at the twins.

"Sorry mum, but this dunce lost the plans for one of our projects." George said.

"Said I was sorry." Fred said.

"Much good will that do us!" Exclaimed George.

"If you two would clean up your rooms, you would not lose anything." Mrs. Weasleys said. "I'm sure that if you clean your room, you will find whatever you're looking for.

Fred and George looked at each other with commiserating looks, it was clear to Harry that this was a discussion that happened all the time.

"Where's dad?" Asked Ron.

"Gone, he got a call to appear early to work." Mrs. Weasley said.

The twins were looking askance at Minnie who promptly placed a loaded plate before them.

"It's Harry's. We'll explain later." Whispered Ginny as she passed the basket of bread to them.

The twins for once listened to reason and stayed quiet while their mother explained for their father's reason to working early.

".The owl said that he was needed for a special investigation." Mrs. Weasley was saying.

Harry listed attentively to Mrs. Weasley as he ate. Minnie kept his plate full as well as Ron's and the twins', Ginny was clearly done as she waited with a cup of tea in her hands. Mrs. Weasley was also done, with a cup of coffee before her.

"Are we flooing to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked once everybody was done eating and started to get ready to leave for the day.

"Yep. You lot can't apparate yet." Fred said.

Harry silently groaned. Perhaps he shouldn't had eaten as much as he did. Floo Powder was not his favorite way to travel and he was afraid that he would lose his breakfast in the process.

"Hurry up, we have to open the store on time." George urged them.

Ron and Ginny were already waiting by the fireplace, Mrs. Weasley had lit the fire and was waiting with the pot of Floo Powder.

"Now, remember to be careful." Mrs. Wesley was saying as they stood before the fire.

"Don't worry mum, Diagon Alley is one of the most protected places these days." Fred said.

"I know, but just promise you will be careful." Mrs. Weasley pleaded.

"We will, we won't leave the Alley." Said Ron, placating his mother.

Mrs. Weasley nodded, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

"Minnie will stay here to help you with the cleaning Mrs. Weasley." Said Harry, trying to make her forget about her worries, he could still remember watching last year as she tried to get rid of the boggart that had been hiding in the parlor desk in Graumald Place.

Mrs. Weasley nodded again and smiled. "Off you go then." She offered them the pot and watched as each took a pinch of Floo Powder and disappeared after calling "Diagon Alley" as each entered the fireplace.

The last sight Harry saw as he started to spin in the grate, was Minnie carrying a cup of tea to Mrs. Weasley. He remembered Ron once saying that his mother always made tea when somebody was upset. He was glad that now there was somebody there to make tea for her.

*~*~*~*

The store in which they entered was full of color and creative displays. Harry could see a poster of dragon fireworks and spinning wheels in a window. As was common in the Wizarding World, the subjects of the poster moved, underneath it were boxes in assorted sizes of Weasley's Wildfire Whiz-Bangs. In the walls he could see a large collection of candies, some he recognized as Skiving Snackboxes, Ton-Tongue Toffees, Canary Creams and others he had seen Fred and George try out during their last two years at Hogwarts. There were buckets full of fake wands. Boxes of Portable Swamp Kits piled in the middle of the room, surrounded by a swamp that covered half of the store. It was smaller than the one they created as their last trick on Umbridge before they left. Small boats were tied to small poles at each side of the swamp. There were two bridges across it, touching each wall where bags of powder of different colors were hanged.

"Wow." Harry whispered as he looked around.

"What do you think? Neat, eh?" Said George as he looked around proudly.

"Couldn't've done it without you, though, mate." Said Fred as he clapped him on his shoulder.

"It looks great. The swamp was a nice touch." Harry smiled.

"Yes, kinda like a promotion idea. People just come in to look at it and end up buying something, it's working out fine so far. It's one of our best-sellers." George said proudly.

"Was, Lee's idea, so the credit goes to him." Smiled Fred.

"So, Lee comes and visit often?" Harry asked as he followed them to a small office behind the counter.

There was a large desk at one end of the office, behind it were three file cabinets clearly labeled, "Accounting, Product Information, and Sales Projections," there were two chairs in front of the desk, and shelves full of papers and books surrounded two of the walls. A coat hanger stood in one corner and another door was found in the wall adjacent to the door they had come through.

"Lee comes in every day. He works for us now. He's our Promotion agent. Great ideas for promotions, he has. We've been doing really well." Said George as he put his jacket on the coat hanger.

Fred saw Harry notice the other door. "It leads to the other two rooms in the premises, the storage room and our lab." He explained.

Harry nodded, and smiled. "You're quite the entrepreneurs then."

"And it's all thanks to you. Here, you should wear this." George said as he presented a sports jacket to Harry. It was red with "Harry" embroidered in golden thread. In the back were the words "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes" flashing in different colors that changed constantly. He noticed that Ginny and Ron were wearing one too.

"It's our uniform." Ron said.

"Don't see why you couldn't choose another color, I look awful in red." Ginny complained.

"What do you want me to do?" Asked Harry as he put on his jacket.

"You can help Ron. The Canary Creams and Skiving Snackboxes need to be stocked up and if people want to cross the swamp by the boats instead of the bridges, you two need to row them across." George said as he put on a red lab coat.

Fred was doing the same after taking some papers from the shelves. "We're going to be in the lab, so unless there's an emergency, you lot are in charge." He said.

"The door is open to the public in an hour, so don't open it before then unless it's Lee. You can stock until then. It's easier when there are no people around and about." George said.

"Have fun." Said Fred as he pulled his twin through the door leading to the inner rooms.

"I'll prepare the register and clean the counter." Ginny said as she took some small boxes from behind the door and stepped behind the counter.

"Come, let's bring out the boxes we'll need." Ron said and led him through the door the twins had crossed some minutes before.

There was a narrow corridor, two doors across them. Ron pushed open the door at the right. It was full of boxes. Boxes of all sizes were stacked around the room. There was an empty space through the middle and through the end was another door. This door was wide and Harry could see through the small windows at the top that led into the store.

"Here, we have to use these carts because we can't use magic yet." Ron said with disgust as he pushed a large cart to Harry. "Can't wait until we can. We'll just have to do it the hard way for now."

Harry didn't say anything, he was just happy to be of help.

*~*~*~*

It was a busy day for Harry. Number ninety-three in Diagon Alley seemed to be one of the most popular stops for shoppers, especially for young wizards and witches, some of whom had seen these products being used to great effect in Hogwarts.

Several of his classmates visited that day, and Harry didn't mind rowing people across the swamp, which was clearly the store's main attraction. However, as the day passed, he started to notice that he had become an attraction of sorts, as people peered around the entrance and windows to take a look at him, while those who were in the store kept trying to get his attention. He actually heard some people say: "Imagine that, Harry Potter helping us with our shopping, a tale for our grandchildren, that is." "I can't believe it, Harry Potter rowed our boat!" He didn't mind it at first, he was used to that kind of attention, but after a while, it began to pale.

"I'll ask Fred and George to cover for us while we take a lunch break." Said Ron after Harry rowed his fifth consecutive group across the swamp.

"Yeah, I need a break." Harry sighed.

Ron nodded and whispered in Ginny's ear before disappearing through the door behind the counter. He returned a few moments later with Lee, Fred and George, all three wearing the red jackets similar to Harry's.

"Harry, give me your jacket." Said Ginny as she took Ron's and her own. She put them down in a box behind the counter and stepped out.

"Have a nice lunch." The others said and the young trio walked out of the store while dozens of eyes followed them out.

"Phew! I hate it when they do that." Harry said as Ginny and Ron led him through the Alley to a small restaurant nearby.

"I know you do." Ginny said with a teasing smile "But look at it this way, today seems to be the best selling day, this summer."

Harry grinned. That certainly seemed to be true. He could've sworn he talked to more than fifty people, and the day had barely begun.

They had a relatively peaceful meal, even though some people seemed to have followed Harry from the store and whispered behind their hands and peered around the windows to have a look at him.

"Do they have to do that?" Ron exclaimed as he noticed a young witch peer from one of the potted plants.

"You're the one that always tells me not to let them bother me." Laughed Harry.

"I know, but that's when I'm not with you." Ron snapped and called one of the waiters. "Do you have a more private table? I don't know about you, but I don't like people getting their noses where they shouldn't."

The waiter flushed in embarrassment as at that precise moment a girl from the kitchen could be heard screaming "I saw him! I saw him! He is truly here!"

"Yes, Sir. I'll see what I can do." The waiter said and walked purposely to the kitchen door.

Ginny giggled while Harry and Ron exchanged long, suffering looks.

The waiter returned a few moments later, followed with two other waiters. "If you follow me sirs, ma'am, we have prepared something for you." The lead waiter said.

Harry, Ron and Ginny promptly stood up and followed him to a shadowed corner, curtains had been placed around it and several candles lit to make it into a cozy private table. The two other waiters followed with trays carrying the plates that had been served.

"Here you go, I hope you enjoy the rest of your meal." The waiter said after the trio had sat and their plates had been placed before them. "Please call if you want anything more." He bowed and led the other two waiters back to the kitchen."

"Rather stuffy, wasn't he?" Ron said as the curtains closed around them.

Ginny giggled again. "I've never had my own private table before."

"They did go into a lot of trouble to accommodate us, didn't they?" Replied Harry as he looked around.

"Next time, let's go to the Leaky Cauldron." Grumbled Ron.

"Oh, don't be so fussy about it Ron. The poor man was feeling so bad." Ginny chocked as she tried to keep from giggling.

"I suppose." Ron said as he continued with his interrupted meal.

"You don't see Harry complaining, why do you?" Ginny asked.

"Harry is too good, somebody had to do it. I was afraid one of that lot would come and ask for his autograph, I know I saw some with Harry's interview in the Quibbler in their hands." Ron responded.

Harry groaned. "I'm glad to had us change tables then. I don't think I want people coming to me for autographs."

"Let's just finish our meal, and return to the store." Ginny said.

The meal ended soon after. The restaurant manager saw them before they left and treated them to the meal and added some ices as a bonus.

"Never had a free meal before." Ron said in awe.

"Bet he was feeling embarrassed by what happened." Ginny said a little thoughtful.

"Maybe." Harry sighed as they walked back to the twins' store.

*~*~*~*

The rest of the afternoon was as busy as it had been before they left for lunch. By the time the store was closed for the day, the section for the sweets had been cleared, half of the displayed Weasley's Wildfire Whiz- Bangs and the Portable Swamps were gone. And two buckets of fake wands were empty.

"A good day." Exclaimed Lee as he counted the day's profit with Ginny.

"I should say." Fred said proudly as he pulled the window curtains. There were still people out trying to look around the displays to Harry.

"Should've asked Harry to come and help before." George laughed.

"Maybe we should make a product in your honor Harry. As a thank you for your investment." Fred said.

"That's not necessary." Harry blushed.

"Well, maybe not that, but we do owe you our thanks." George said.

"I'm sure you'll think of something." Harry murmured.

"I'm so tired, I can't believe how many boxes we had to stock today." Ron complained as he moved his arms around trying to stretch his back.

"Don't worry little Ronnyckins, we'll be home soon." Fred called as he locked the other rooms.

"Don't call me that." Ron shouted.

"Will you two stop it?" Called Lee. "The bag is ready to be deposited."

"All right. Let's go then." George said.

Everybody walked out of the store and waited a minute while Fred locked it. Harry looked questioningly at Ron.

"We deposit the day's profit into Gringotts before we floo back home." Ron whispered as the group started walking down the alley to the large white building looming over them.

Ron, Ginny and Harry waited in the lobby as Fred, George and Lee followed one of the goblins into the inner caves to their vault.

The lobby seemed relatively empty. There seemed to be only managers and owners of the different stores in Diagon Alley who were present at this time.

It was about fifteen minutes later when Fred, George and Lee were back.

"Come on, you lot. Mum is going to kill us if we take much longer." George said.

They walked down to the Leaky Cauldron, where they waved goodbye to Tom, the barkeep, before stepping into the lit fire and floo to the Burrow. Only Lee stayed behind to have a drink before flooing home.

"We're home mum." Called Ron as soon as they stepped into the kitchen.

It was empty. Except for Minnie who was happily standing on a chair before the stove.

"Hello Minnie, where's Mrs. Weasley." Harry asked as the others went around the main rooms looking for their mother.

"Minnie doesn't know, Master Harry. Mrs. Weasley didn't tell Minnie where she was going." The elf piped as platters loaded with food levitated gently to the table.

"Must be at Hogwarts." Fred said as they sat around the table.

There were popping sounds as soon as he said it.

"Fred, George, Harry, Ginny!" They heard people call in the sitting room.

"Kitchen!" Ginny called back.

Mrs. Weasley quickly walked into the kitchen. "I'm sorry I wasn't here dears, so many things to do." She panted as she started going around the kitchen pulling pots and pans.

"Mum. Mum!" Ron called.

"Yes dear?" Mrs. Weasley stopped with a pan in her hand looking confusedly at Ron.

"Minnie already made dinner, mum. Just come and sit, she prepared your favorite tea." Ron said gently.

"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed in confusion as she noticed the loaded platters in the middle of the table and the steaming pot in front of her usual place. "Thank you. I think." She sighed.

Lupin and Tonks had followed Mrs. Weasley into the kitchen.

"How was your day, Harry?" Asked Lupin as he sat beside Harry.

"Fine. We went to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes." Harry replied as he passed him a platter of potatoes.

"Did you like it?" Asked Lupin.

Harry nodded as he chewed on.

"Best day we had. Thanks to Harry." George said.

"Indeed. What did you do to make it so successful?" Lupin asked smiling down at Harry.

Harry rolled his eyes while Ginny tried to stifle her giggles.

"Lots of people went in just to look at Harry, of course they ended up buying something or other while they tried to have a good look at him." Ron said.

"Don't worry dear, it will pass." Mrs. Weasley said.

Harry looked doubtful, after all, he thought, it has been almost fifteen years since his name went down in history and people are still curious.

"One would've thought that after all this time, they would've forgotten." Harry mumbled.

"The thing is that your name has been in the papers so often in the last two years, people have made you into some sort of celebrity." Tonks said.

The rest of the dinner passed in silence, everybody seemed to be tired after a long day. Mr. Weasley finally made an appearance when the youngsters were getting ready to get to bed.

After saying good night, Harry and Ron fell asleep, exhausted after a good day at work. The last thing Harry saw was Minnie moving quietly around the room putting their clothes away.

*~*~*~*

The sun shone brightly through the window when Harry awoke the next morning. He yawned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before he noticed Ron's empty bed. Minnie wasn't in the room either, he was sure that she was busy preparing breakfast for him.

Harry dressed hurriedly and made his way down to the kitchen, expecting to see Ron and the others breaking their fast before leaving for the store.

He was surprised to find only Mrs. Weasley and Minnie waiting for him.

"Where are Ron and the others?" He asked as he sat at the table and waited while Minnie placed a plate before him.

"They left a few moments ago." Mrs. Weasley. "I told them to let you sleep, Dumbledore will be coming to speak with you today."

Harry had forgotten that Dumbledore was visiting that day and looked down at Minnie, whose ears had dropped forlornly beside her face and looked worried about the thought of Dumbledore's visit.

"I had forgotten." Harry murmured.

"Don't worry dear. I don't know when he will come, but you can do whatever you want as long as you don't leave the house." Mrs. Weasley said.

Harry nodded and turned his attention to his food, there was no point in trying to guess what Dumbledore had to tell him, as he was bound to far off from the real purpose.

Mrs. Weasley worked around the house, helped by Minnie, while Harry spent the day in Ron's room. There was nothing really that he could do. He couldn't fly on his Firebolt, as that meant leaving the house and he wasn't allowed to do that. He didn't want to take out his school notes from the previous year, Hermione was the only one he knew of that did that during the summer. And he certainly didn't want to do any cleaning around the house.

He lay on his bed and watched the Quidditch players in Ron's posters fly around from poster to poster and play a one sided game of Quidditch.

He had lost track of time when somebody knocked on the door.

"Come in." Harry called without looking. He expected Mrs. Weasley had sent Minnie to call him for their midday meal.

"Mrs. Weasley said you were here." He heard a familiar voice say.

Harry turned to the door and smiled at the bushy haired girl standing by the door. "Hello Hermione."

"What is this I hear that you have a house elf. Honestly Harry, you're a member of S.P.E.W. you should know better than be part of the slavery of fellow magical creatures." Hermione began.

Harry groaned with exasperation. He wished that Ron had woken him and had gone to Diagon Alley with them. "Don't start Hermione, and don't you dare knit any clothes for her, she will become another Winky and I don't want that to happen."

Hermione's "Humph!" was full of anger as she crossed the room and sat down in Ron's bed. "I would've thought that after helping Dobby to freedom, you would be more open-minded about the injustice of elf slavery." She exclaimed.

"I've come to believe that Dobbie is one of a kind. Face it Hermione, you cannot set free a race of magical creatures that don't want to be set free. I freed Dobby because that's what he wanted, not because it was something that I wanted. You should've learned that from the way the other elves we've met so far act." Harry replied.

"But it's wrong. Slavery takes the right of away from these magical creatures who could be doing quite well on their own if wizardkind would only allow it." Hermione cried.

"Hermione, what do you think they would do on their own?" Harry asked with exasperation. "The only thing they're happy doing is serving humans. Even Dobby wants only to do that, it didn't matter that he was free to do other things, that's what he wanted to do and that's what he does. Look at Winky, don't try to downplay Winky's depression, because that's what it is. Dobby says that she is still as bad as the last time we saw her and the other elves are disgusted and keep away from her. Really Hermione, the ones you should be helping are those who are treated savagely by their masters, maybe that way you can keep a house elf from becoming another Kreacher."

Hermione had her arms crossed, it was obvious to Harry that she didn't want to accept what he had said about the nature of elves. But it was also obvious that she couldn't ignore it.

"All right, fine. I'll leave your elves alone. I, at least, am trying to do something about the oppressive relationship between wizardkind and elves." She exclaimed and stormed out of the room.

Harry sighed in exasperation. He was expecting a different reception from Hermione, be he supposed he should've expected her to see only Minnie's presence and nothing else.

*~*~*~*

It was late in the afternoon when he saw Hermione again. Ron and Ginny returned early from Diagon Alley and had greeted Hermione excitedly until Minnie's presence was discussed and Hermione and Ron fell into one of their usual S.P.E.W. arguments.

Harry and Ron, as kindred spirits, kept to themselves in Ron's room until it was time for dinner.

"Honestly, she is worse than ever." Ron exclaimed the moment he had entered his room after his argument with Hermione.

"Did she argued about that spew stuff with you too?" Harry asked guessing the reason for his friend's bad humor.

Ron nodded abruptly. "Can you believe her? The way she talks people will think that you're beating your elf."

"As long as it doesn't appear on the Prophet." Harry murmured.

"Why doesn't she see that elves want to serve their masters? It's not like we go hunting for them and take them violently from their homeland. They are born in the houses they serve, I may not know everything there is to know about elf history, I'm sure that she could find it in some book or another, but I do know that elves have been part of magical history for ages. I'm sure that even the Hogwarts founders had elves in their homes." Ron argued.

"I'm sure you're right, mate. But she won't listen to anything we say on the matter. She is entrenched in her views and doesn't want to see anything else." Harry said.

Ron groaned and mumbled to himself. Harry knew that he was still angry at Hermione and for the moment it was safer to stay in the room than going downstairs and meet with the others. Especially with Hermione.

"So how was the day at the store?" Harry asked in an effort to take their mind from their latest argument with Hermione.

"Same as yesterday, but it started to slow down by noon. I think it was clear that you weren't there and only those with real need of buying something returned from the store. All in all, it was a good day." Ron said with a shrug.

"How come you and Ginny came home early?" Harry asked looked curiously at his friend as Ron paced around the room.

"Mum said we should come early today." Ron said. "Did Dumbledore come while we were away?"

"Nope. Perhaps he is waiting until dinner." Harry shrugged.

"Maybe. What do you reckon he wants to talk to you about?" Ron asked with curiosity.

"Dunno." Harry replied.

Ron was about to ask something else when they heard Mrs. Weasley's voice calling for them. "Harry! Ron! Come down please."

"Come, we might as well see what she wants." Ron said.

Ron and Harry made their way down to the kitchen. They could hear Hermione and Ginny talking as well as others.

Ron and Harry walked into the kitchen to find Tonks, Lupin, Moody and Professor Dumbledore waiting for them with the others.

"Hello Harry, please sit down." Dumbledore urged him motioning to the nearest chair.

Harry sat in the chair Dumbledore had pointed to and noticed Mrs. Weasley ushering the others out of the kitchen. The only one remaining, besides Harry and Dumbledore, was Minnie, who stood nervously behind Harry's chair.

Dumbledore smiled at the sight of the small elf. "Don't worry Minnie, I'm not here to take you away from Harry."

Minnie brightened considerably at this news.

Dumbledore then turned to look at Harry. His eyes seemed to dim with sadness. "I'm sorry Harry, it seems that I must spend my time explaining myself to you." Dumbledore began. "You must understand that what I have to tell you was kept from you for your own good. I know that I keep telling you this, and in my old age I have made mistakes, keeping things from you. But unlike my previous secret, this involved others, and it wasn't just you whom I tried to keep safe but other's whose life depend on your safety. Now, don't speak." Dumbledore said when Harry was about to ask something. "Just let me continue. I'll answer your questions after I'm done." He waited until Harry nodded his consent.

"You have always been curious about your family, especially your father's, and so far there has been so little disclosed to you." Dumbledore continued. "That's because your story begins with his. Your father's family has always been among the wealthiest families in the wizarding world. Your father and grandfather were well known in our world, although not in the same way you are. Both your grandfather and father worked endlessly to keep the Ministry from falling under Voldemort's terror, and both lost their lives under his hand. The Potters have always been known for their courage and sense of righteousness and unity. The family motto "Uniti venciamo, uniti moriamo" "Together we conquer, together we die" is one of the most known in our world and all of them have served the Ministry under one capacity or another. It is for this that all the Potters have been in Gryffindor House since the first Potter attended Hogwarts when it was first opened. They have all been intelligent men and women, and they have chosen their mates wisely, and in the process their fortunes have increased exponentially. By the time your father took after your grandfather, the Potters were owners of several pieces of land as well as material wealth. Many people have depended on them for centuries, Harry. After your parents' death, I knew that I had to keep you safe. You know my reasons for choosing your aunt's house. It was only for that one reason that you went to them and not to your father's house. You were never destitute, Harry, awaiting for you is more wealth that you could ever imagine. Gryffindor Manor has been in your family for centuries, is your family seat, and the house in which your ancestors have lived since it was first erected. In fact, you were born in the Manor, and it was in the Manor grounds that your parents made their wedding vows. I chose not to disclose the existence of the Manor before, because I thought it was for the best, you were too young to understand the meaning of having such wealth, you were too young to shoulder the responsibilities that come with it. Even your father didn't understand what it meant to step into his father's shoes, and he had been trained for it since his birth, but he was only two years older than you are now. And I thought that perhaps it would be best to wait for your majority to learn of your inheritance." Dumbledore said.

Harry didn't know what to feel. He was angry that so many things had been kept from him all his life. First by his aunt and uncle, who had kept the truth about himself and his parents' death from him. If it hadn't been for Hagrid's mission to give him his letter, he would have been kept in the dark. But Dumbledore had been in charge of him since the beginning and had kept so many things from him. He couldn't help but think that if Dumbledore hadn't kept the truth about the prophecy, Sirius would still be alive. But there was one thing that hurt most of all. And that was the knowledge of his inheritance. He was kept from knowing his family history, but most important, he was kept from being part of his father's world.

Dumbledore looked worriedly at Harry. But Harry kept still, trying to keep from exploding in anger as he wished to do. It wouldn't do any good anyways, an inner voice said, what is done is done and what is important now is know what must be done now.

"How is it that the other elves have not appeared?" Harry asked softly. "Professor Lupin said that there were more personal elves, and the others would join Minnie when they sensed that she had found me."

Dumbledore sighed softly, Harry didn't know if it was with relief or in thought.

"I told them to stay at the Manor, that you would be joining them soon." Dumbledore said.

Harry looked abruptly at Dumbledore. He had kept his sight on his lap that whole time Dumbledore had spoken. Now he looked directly into the old Headmaster's face. "Am I going to the Manor?" He asked breathlessly.

"I see no reason to keep you away from it. Perhaps it was best that Minnie broke through the spell. It is time for you to know about your legacy." Dumbledore said.

"When will I go?" Harry asked excitedly. He forgot about his anger toward Dumbledore, it didn't matter anymore, he was going to see the place where his father's family had lived for centuries, that was the most important thing to him.

"I will make the arrangements needed for your stay." Dumbledore said. "Tomorrow at noon, a car will be waiting for you. The Weasleys and Miss Granger will be going with you of course, I would prefer if you stay under their care. Gryffindor Manor has undergone several safety spells and charms to keep its people safe but that doesn't mean that it is completely safe. We had thought the same fifteen years ago, and we were proven wrong."

"Does this mean I don't have to return to the Dursleys?" Harry asked with happiness.

"You'll need to return to Privet Drive only at the beginning of the summer, while preparations for your safety are made. But the rest of your holidays you may stay in the Manor." Dumbledore smiled.

Harry smiled back. For the first time in his life, there was a place for him to call home.

*~*~*~*

A/N: There you are, a nice long chapter ready for you. I hope all of you have enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Next chapter, Gryffindor Manor, will soon be ready, I hope. Thank you all for reviewing, those of you who had been constant readers from the beginning as well as those of you who had recently discovered this story. I hope you have all enjoyed it so far and that you continue to do so in the future. Don't forget to review.