Harry gets to have some long awaited freedom and fun for the morning in Diagon Alley. Harry finds out some information that will change Harry's opinion of his once respected headmaster, and gets a great shock that could change his life forever.

A/N: I own nothing this is all J.K.R.'s, what a brilliant mind she has.

Chapter Ten- Fleeting Freedom

Harry smiled a genuine smile; he was definitely going to get along with this new Minister of Magic. He was the complete opposite of Fudge, and it made Harry wonder how he had gotten appointed the position. Harry shrugged the thought away, he didn't know anything about politics and he'd like to keep it that way.

Though Harry had no intension of cutting his hair, he was just beginning to like it, a new wardrobe sounded great. He really did wish that he had clothes that actually fit him. Though getting new clothes was now a top priority for the morning trip into Diagon Alley, what he really had in mind when he mentioned shopping; was going to the cauldron shop, the bookstore, and the apothecary. He needed a new cauldron and a special type for the Vampirism Potion. He needed to stalk up on his everyday Potion ingredients, and he wanted to pick up a book on Occlumency and Legilimency. Harry was now determined to find out exactly how Voldemort was getting into his head and he was going to finally put a stop to it.

Harry looked to Lyndira who simply rolled her eyes at her brother but didn't make any objections to them spending some of the morning in Diagon Alley. "Very well, I'll see the two of you boys in an hour, in Flourish and Blotts. Try not to make Harry's presence too well known. Having Voldemort make an appearance in Diagon Alley would not be good… Or worse, Dumbledore," Lyndira visibly gulped.

"Yes Albus would probably skin us both alive if he knew we had his little savior out of his protective cage," Luminous snorted.

Harry's features darkened slightly. "What Professor Dumbledore doesn't seem to understand, is that my life is my own. I realize that what he is trying to do is protect me, but all he is doing is suffocating me," Harry voiced his opinion loudly. "I never asked for his protection." If only he could explain the magic he was learning to Dumbledore, perhaps his leash would be loosened. That brought Harry to another thought. "Luminous, why can't I tell Dumbledore about Merlin's Diaries, he's one of the most powerful Wizards in the world, shouldn't he be able to see the Diaries as well?"

Luminous nodded, "Good question Harry. I already tested him. Dumbledore couldn't even see the first of the Diaries. They just appeared blank to him. I had thought, he of all people should be able to read them, but he is not meant to have them, or know of them. I think it's because he learned Dark Magic."

Harry looked to the man with astonishment and disbelief in his eyes. "Professor Dumbledore used Dark Magic?"

"Uses Harry, I thought that you were aware of this." Harry shook his head numbly. "Most of the spells and wards that protect you, and Hogwarts for that matter, are rooted in Dark Magic."

Anger seeped into Harry's mind. How could Dumbledore be angry with him for using what he thought was Dark Magic when Dumbledore himself practiced Dark Magic? "Hypocrite," Harry whispered. Harry's anger disappeared almost immediately. He was not going to let this news hinder his trip into Diagon Alley. In fact, he was going to have fun, just to spite Dumbledore. Harry plastered a smile on his face. "Well, what are we waiting for, Minister, I've got an entire wardrobe to buy, and," Harry gave Lyndira a wink, "an hour in which to do so."

Luminous hesitated for only a moment and then with a smile and a pat on the back, led Harry out of the loft, down the stairs, and out into Diagon Alley, towards Gringotts. It had been quite a while since Harry had been back, and ten minutes later they were speeding through the tunnels of Gringotts towards Harry's volt. The goblin that escorted them, Harry recognized as the same one that had brought him to his vault the first time. Griphook had Harry hold the lantern as he used his own set of keys to open Harry's vault. Though Harry didn't have his key with him, as he hadn't expected to need it, Harry learned that Gringotts kept a spare key and all he had to do was prove that he was who he claimed to be, which wasn't hard. Not many people have a lightning bolt shaped scar on their forehead.

Harry entered into his vault and his jaw dropped open in amazement. There was at least, twice the amount of gold in his vault then there had been the previous time he had seen it. He turned to Griphook and the bank goblin seemed to know what Harry was about to ask.

He pointed to the wall beside the door, a lit lantern hung over a shelf where a couple of pieces of paper lay. "I believe that your answer will lie with that," the goblin said.

Harry walked over to the parchments and tears started to fill his eyes as he picked them up and read.

Dear Harry,

Since you are reading this then I must be gone from this life. Believe me when I say that I wish that the two of us could have gotten to know each other more. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. I suppose that because I am dead now that keeping secrets would be pointless, and I believe that you should know all the secrets that everyone, especially Albus Dumbledore, has tried to keep from you for so long.

Your parents had left Dumbledore as your guardian if anything were to ever happen to me. But what I never got the chance to tell you is that I have always disagreed with everything he has ever done concerning you. Dumbledore may be a good man at heart, with good intensions; but though he may be a powerful Wizard, he is far from the wisest. He has kept much from you and I am going to tell you all that he has not revealed, as I know it. Be mindful that he has kept much from me as well, but I now believe, what he has told me, is true.

First Harry, the most serious of the secrets Albus Dumbledore's been keeping from you. There was a Prophecy made by Sybil Trelawney about you and Voldemort. It was made shortly before you were born. It is the weapon that the Order of the Phoenix has been guarding all year. Though I really doubt that they know what it fully contains.

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.'

If it hasn't dawned on you by now, and you're quite smart, so it probably has. It clearly states that you must either kill Voldemort or be killed by him. I am truly sorry, and believe me that it took months for me to accept it. I can only imagine what effect it will have on you. If you ask Dumbledore, I am sure that he will let you see the Prophecy as he had shown it to me, through his pensive. He cannot keep something from you that you already know about.

Now that you are probably reeling from the information above, I must reveal something to you that even Albus Dumbledore is not aware of. James Potter, your father, is alive…

Harry dropped the letter as if it had burned him. He took several steps backwards away from it as his heart started to pound and his breath came in shallow gasps. "It's not possible," Harry whispered with a quiver in his voice and his eyes started to sting with tears, it couldn't be.

Luminous' voice snapped him out of his shocked state. "Harry, are you alright?" Luminous asked with concern.

"No," Harry answered truthfully, for the first time all summer, without looking at Luminous. He was still staring at the letter as if it was going to attack him. He walked nervously back to the letter and picked it up to continue reading, maybe he had imagined it. Yeah that was right, it was his imagination playing tricks on him. It was something he wanted to happen so… Harry picked the letter back up and a feeling that hadn't graced his presence in a while, slowly started to fill him. Hope seeped into his heart and tears started to freely fall.

…James Potter, your father, is alive. I know that this must come as a great shock to you. I did want to tell you sooner, but your father insisted that we wait. I did have plans of telling you on you sixteenth birthday, but obviously I was not able to. I am sure that you are expecting me to tell you how to find James, but I'm not going to at his request. He has been in hiding, not just for your safety but also for his own. Your father was once offered the opportunity to become a Death Eater. No, I can't keep this from you, James was offered three times to be Voldemort's right hand man, his most trusted servant. I can't lie to you Harry; your father wasn't the most pleasant man alive when he was younger. He was down right ruthless and powerful; which is why Voldemort favored him. But Lily turned him around; she was even the one that brought him to the Order. Yes, thank the gods for your mother. Had she not been there for us, who knows what would have happened to us. Joined up with Voldemort the lot of us probably would have. Harry I beg you, do not go looking for him. When he feels the time is right, he will find you. Until then it would put you both in a huge amount of danger.

You must be strong, not for Dumbledore or the Wizarding World but for yourself. Don't let Dumbledore continue to treat you like you are the last hope for the world, just because of some prophecy, you are not. You are just one man defeating one Dark Lord. As long as there is Dark Magic and prejudice in the world there will always be a Dark Lord. The time will come one day for the prophecy to be fulfilled, but until that time comes, live life the way you were meant to, and don't dwell on the lives that were lost because of a war that has been raging since long before you were born. Lives will be lost in this war Harry, but it is far from your fault, so do not blame yourself.

Lastly, and to the point, this is my Will and will be carried out automatically upon my death. I have left you the Black Family fortune, along with the house, as I do not need them anymore and I cannot stomach my vile cousin obtaining any of it. Remus has also been given a portion as have the Weasley's but the majority has gone to you so do with it what you will. I hope you spend the fortune on all your heart's desires as you deserve every bit of it.

Though I never really got the chance to know you Harry, I love you as if you were my own son. Do not let this prophecy control the way you live your life. Your parents wanted so much more for you then to see you lock yourself away just to keep yourself safe from the harms of the world. I want more for you then the life I have lived. It is not enough to simply live you have to have fun doing it. But don't go looking for Danger it already has a knack for finding you, you don't need to help it any. Oh, I also have to tell you that Remus does not know about your father, again this was James' decision not to tell him. You may tell him if you wish, but if you do, remind him not to go looking for him, and make sure you're not overheard.

And one more thing; in my closet there is a surprise for you, the password is Kreacher. (Don't ask.)

Love from all of us here on the other side,

Sirius

P.S. Cut out and burn all parts related to James.

Harry shakily picked up the letter and folded it and put it in his pocket. He wiped his eyes dry and then turned to the awaiting Griphook and Luminous, a small smile coming to his lips. My father is alive, Harry thought. "Thank you for pointing out the letter," he told Griphook.

The goblin nodded and handed Harry a small leather pouch. "I noticed that you do not have one of these. It is an easier way to obtain your funds then coming back to your vault every time you need to make a withdrawal."

Harry took the black pouch and looked inside it, it was empty. "I don't understand."

A smile came to Luminous' face. "It is enchanted to allow you to withdraw straight from your vault, all you have to do is tell it how much you need and it will provide it. It will also only work for you, so if it is ever stolen or lost, others can not use it."

"Most Wizards your age who have a vault here already have one. The only reason you have not been given one before now is because they are only offered to Wizards over the age of sixteen," Griphook explained before leaving Harry in his vault.

Harry looked at the small pouch. He supposed it was a Wizard's equivalent of a Muggle credit card. He remembered Dudley coming home with one at the beginning of the summer. He had waved it around as if it were gold. Harry put the pouch in his pocket and turned back to his vault for a moment, thinking that he could never possibly run out of money now. He followed Griphook out and into the awaiting cart where Luminous sat patiently. They were on their way to Luminous' vault when Luminous commented with mocked misery, trying to keep from laughing, on how rich Harry was and how dismal his vault was going to look after seeing Harry's. Harry couldn't keep from smiling to himself after that, which made Luminous grumble about it even more.

As they emerged from the extensive bank and into the brightly sunlit morning, Harry looked around Diagon Alley. The streets were not packed as they had been the last time he was there. It was still early and Harry supposed that it was much busier during the last week leading up to the start of school. Harry found himself wondering briefly whether or not his father was there, somewhere is Diagon Alley, watching him. He was thrown out of his thoughts by Luminous who was saying his name over and over.

"Harry, Harry, Harry," Luminous kept muttering.

"What?" Harry finally asked with a laugh in his voice.

"Finally, back to earth, I asked you, where you wanted to go first," Luminous replied with a mocked exasperated tone.

Harry told Luminous what other stops he needed to make, and they both agreed that Madam Malkin's would be their first stop. It didn't take Harry long to get measured for new robes, and he discovered that he had grown several inches and really did need the new robes, as he doubted that he would fit into his old ones. Harry also picked out some everyday robes that he could wear into Hogsmeade, and after Harry had told Luminous about the Potion, he was going to make, Luminous convince Harry to get a set of robes specifically designed for Potion making. Luminous also egged Harry into getting some new dress robes. Though Harry doubted he'd need them. He picked out a deep burgundy dress robe with gold trim and an emerald green dress robe that really brought out the color of his eyes. They made them appear as if they were glowing.

The witch that waited on them told them that they could pick up his robes in a half an hour, and Harry and Luminous made their way to the apothecary. After that, the cauldron shop, and then to a few other places that Harry was very interested in. Including, Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Harry picked up the newest Quidditch guide for Ron, and a practiced Snitch for himself. Before returning to Madam Malkin's to retrieve Harry's robes, they stopped in a small shop that housed some of the most bazaar objects Harry had ever seen.

Luminous bought a rather interesting looking object that he explained to Harry was the last of a collectors set that he had been trying to hunt down for the past three years. He didn't tell Harry what the small green and gold object was, but Harry soon lost interest when he spotted what could only be a pensive; but it was much smaller then the one Dumbledore and Snape used, and there was an unmistakable ash colored phoenix engraved into the side of it.

"Sir, is that a pensive?" Harry asked the clerk just to be sure.

"Yes, yes it is, but it's a very special pensive that one is," the clerk said with a gruff voice and a twinkle in his eye.

"How so, Sir?" asked Harry curiously.

"Well, it's very old, isn't it? Though I've never tried it myself, the person who sold it to me said that it will store all memories but happy ones. He was very disgusted with the thing actually."

Harry looked at the pensive for a moment and with out even so much as thinking about the cost, Harry said, "I'll take it."

Twenty minutes later and exactly a half hour past the time when they said that they were going to meet Lyndira; Luminous and Harry, now laden with packages and bags, most of which held his new robes, walked into Flourish and Blotts. With a quick hello to Lyndira and a dropping of his things at Luminous' feet by the door, Harry made his way to the clerk. He asked for everything on his book list, plus a couple other books he had heard Hermione talking about getting, and also asked for the most extensive book on Occlumency and Legilimency that they had. The clerk disappeared just as Luminous walked up behind him and asked him about the last book.

Harry turned to him. "Voldemort's getting into my head somehow and I'm certain that Legilimency and Occlumency has something to do with how he is doing it. The more I know about them, the more I'll know how to block him out of my mind," Harry explained this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and then turned back just as the clerk returned.

The clerk dropped the books onto the counter with a thud. "I have just the Occlumency book for you young Mr. Potter, but it is going to take sometime to dig it out of storage out back. I can have it ready for you in twenty minutes if you'd like to come back then."

Harry nodded and then turned to Luminous. "There is a Muggle clothing store down the street from the Leaky Cauldron that I wanted to check out. I passed it on my way here. I should have enough time to get some new clothes if I hurry."

"Excellent idea, I was going to suggest that we go to a Muggle clothing store after here anyways. But Lyndira will have to take you. I have an errand I have to run, and Muggle clothing was never my specialty," Lyndira rolled her eyes at her brother with a smile on her face, and then ushered Harry quickly out of the store, leaving Harry's belongings with Luminous. Harry saw out of the corner of his eye, that Luminous was starting to try to pick up the lot, but suddenly as if remembering he was a Wizard, took out his wand and they incased in a bubble and then shrunk down to a pocket-sized cube.

Harry briefly thought that he really didn't need any minders, but he figured he was pushing his luck with being in Diagon Alley as it was. So he wasn't about to mention it. But he vowed that one day he wouldn't have to answer to anyone and he'd be able to do what he wanted, when he wanted.

Harry followed Lyndira back through the Leaky Cauldron and then down the street. No more then a block down the street and Harry spotted the clothing store he had passed that morning. It was then that he suddenly realized that he had no Muggle money and he looked to Lyndira in dismay. "I haven't got any Muggle money," he said with a frown etching into his face.

"You got your money pouch from Gringotts, did you not?" Harry nodded after Lyndira's question. "It will also supply you with Muggle funds; just ask for it in the specific currency."

A smile slowly came back to Harry's face and he looked over his shoulder briefly, before he entered into the store and was immediately overwhelmed with the amount of clothes there was to choose from. He hadn't thought that the store was this big when he had looked through the windows. Lyndira just laughed and then ushered Harry to the nearest shop attendant murmuring something about making Luminous wait for a change.

And they certainly did make him wait, almost forty-five minutes later, Harry and Lyndira walked back through the Leaky Cauldron, very much weighted down with bags. Harry silently tried to calculate how much money he had spent that morning in the Muggle shop alone. The attendant had been very pleased and practically begged him to come back again and bring all his friends with him.

Harry had also discarded the too big sweat pants and the too small t-shirt. He had been wearing that morning. Lyndira told the clerk at the clothing store that she could burn them for all they cared. Harry now sported, for the first time in his life, a pair of jeans, that actually fit, and a nice green button up shirt, which Lyndira had insisted looked smashing on him. He had also gotten himself two new pairs of cross trainers, one of which he was wearing, and some other nice shoes, including a pair of slippers in the Gryffindor colors. After much embarrassment, he even reluctantly agreed to get some new underwear but insisted that he was to do it on his own, without the attendant, or Lyndira hovering over his shoulder. He had hastily spent ten minutes alone doing so and was glad with what he picked out. He had even gotten some new socks as well.

Luminous was leaning against a wall reading a book, with Harry's belongings strewn around his feet, when Harry and Lyndira finally returned to Flourish and Blotts. Harry made his way to the clerk yet again dropping all of his bags at Luminous' feet as he went by.

Luminous gave him a perturbed look and rolled his eyes, but Harry ignored it with a smile.

The clerk took out his wand and levitated the book to him as Harry approached. "This will probably take you a good month to read," the Wizard said as he dropped the huge book beside his others and dust fluttered out of its pages.

It looked very old and it was thicker then over four of his school books combined, Harry only shrugged. "Probably only an hour," he said under his breath and the clerk, Luminous, and Lyndira, all stared at him. Harry held in a laugh and said, "That was a joke."

The clerk laughed and began wrapping up the book unaware that Harry had been completely serious. Harry paid for his books and was just adding them to his pile of stuff when he shrunk back from the window so fast that he nearly knocked over a display and Luminous in his rush to get out of sight. There was an entire search party in Diagon Alley. It consisted of nearly all of the Order of the Phoenix members he knew and a few he didn't. Harry mumbled a quick 'sorry' to Luminous who was now straitening himself, and reached into one of his bags. He was glad that he had thought of buying a new cloak just as they were leaving Madam Malkin's for the second time. Harry pulled out the black cloak and threw it around his shoulders.

"The Order's looking for me," he said calmly, even though he was angry that Dumbledore had sent a search party for him. He pointed towards the window as he pulled the hood up over his head, hiding his identifying features as well as he could.

Luminous peered out the window. "So they are and two of them are heading this way," Luminous chuckled, and then handed Harry his now cubed sized purchases. "Here put this in your pocket. Dumbledore's with them, but if you keep your hood up, and head down, we should be able to make it to the Leaky Cauldron without being spotted. We can Floo back to Grimmauld Place from there," Luminous was still chuckling as he made his way towards the door.

Harry pocketed his belongings, and after double-checking to make sure that his hood was covering his face, Harry followed Luminous and Lyndira out of the bookstore. "I can't believe that you're laughing when we are most certainly going to get caught," Harry whispered to Luminous as they were approached by Remus and Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"You mean you're going to get caught. I'm with the Minister of Magic. We claim ignorance, we never saw you, we didn't know you were here," Lyndira whispered back and then loudly called to Remus as she and Luminous walked away from him. "Remus what brings you to Diagon Alley today?"

'Traitors,' Harry thought as he rolled his eyes amusingly and moved away from them towards the Leaky Cauldron. He had to stifle a laugh as he passed Tonks undetected, her hair was the worst color he had ever seen it, almost a cross between neon orange and putrid green. He continued towards the Leaky Cauldron but suddenly found Professor Dumbledore right in his path. Harry sidestepped quickly to a storefront window, and pretended that he was looking at the contents inside, when he heard Snape's distinct sneer of a voice coming from almost directly beside him.

A/N: There for another chapter… Will Snape turn Harry in? Will Harry be caught be Professor Dumbledore?