Chapter 4: A Long Day

Nobody in the Burrow got out of bed until one in the afternoon. They were all exceptionally hungry so lunch was made quickly. The family sat at the table and Mrs. Weasley walked up to Hermione and Ron. She handed them letters from Hogwarts and then looked at Harry.

'Harry, you didn't get a letter. Are you sure you told Professor McGonagall that you would be attending this year?' Mrs. Weasley asked.

Harry took a bite of toast and after eating it he replied to her. 'Yes, I got it last night, but I didn't bother to open it.' Harry was about to continue talking and explain how he got the letter but was interuppted by a scream. It was Hermione.

'I'm Head Girl! Ron, hurry up and open your letter! Open it!' Hermione shouted gleefully.

'Well obviously you are Head Girl. Who did you think it was going to be?' Ron replied as he opened his letter. He let the papers fall to the desk and looked at both of them. One was a booklist, and the other was just a letter with the ticket for the train attached and a notice about the new Headmistress. He also had a note saying that he was still a Griffindor Prefect.

'Harry, there is no transfiguration books on this. Neville was right.' Hermione said to Harry.

'Well, there is a probable explanation for it. I heard they were having trouble finding a Transfiguration Teacher but got the Defence one right away.'

'Yeah, Professor Lupin is the teacher.' Harry said as he opened his letter. He reached in and pulled out four pieces of paper. One was the book list, and then one with the ticket, one informing him that he would continue as the Quiddich captain, and lastly, a paper with a badge attached to it. Head Boy. Harry looked at the letter, and examined it.

Dear Mr. Potter,

You have been appointed to Head Boy of Hogwarts. You along with the Head Girl, will be responsible for looking out for the safety of the students. You will report any misdeeds to your head of house, or directly to, I, Professor McGonagall. You will also watch over the Prefects and make fair that they are working and not slacking and actually are doing a fair job.

Headmistress of Hogwarts,

Professor Minerva McGonagall.

'I am Head Boy. I am also the Quiddich Captain. Ron, you are still our Keeper right?'

'Not unless I am moved to Slytherin.' Ron said with a grin.

Days passed and their supplies were bought by Mrs. Weasley. The other new Prefect for Griffindor was Ginny Weasley who was surprised. Now everyone in the Weasley family, except the twins, were prefects. Lupin was eager to hear if any of them got the Head Boy or Girl spot and replied right away.

Harry, Ron and Hermione,

Congratulations Head Boy Potter, and Head Girl Granger. We all knew you would be the Head Girl if you returned to school Hermione, but not to many people thought Harry would. I knew he would though. Ron, don't feel bad about still being a Prefect. If it makes you feel any better, when I was in school, me and Lily were the prefects but in my seventh year I was still a prefect because James became Head Boy. It isn't to bad, because after all, you are Harry's friend right? Well, be prepared for your NEWTs this year. I have to tell you, they weren't as hard as everyone imagines them to be. Just pay attention in your classes and you will do fine.

Best of luck,

Professor R.J. Lupin.

The next day, Harry and Ron woke up early and Flooed to the Ministry of Magic. Here, they entered a room, taking their Apparation exams. First, they had a written test which both scored over ninety percent. Next was the practical exams. Their first task was to apparate across the room into the blue circle. Harry did it with ease, since he apparated him and Professor Dumbledore to Hogsmede from a cave far away, where Voldemort had hidden one of his horcruxes. Ron had trouble with it but they both managed to make it through the hour and half process with both passing. As harry left the Ministry Percy ran up to Harry, out of breath.

'Harry ... Congratulations ... Head Boy ...' Percy was gasping for air and began to cough, 'Minister, wants to ... First Floor ...' Percy sat down at a bench and then Harry went up to the first floor. Standing in front of a big door was two Aurors. He recognised one of them but didn't know the other. The person he recognised was Tonks. She winked at Harry as he walked into the office and there he saw Kingsley Shacklebolt just ending a conversation with the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. Kingsley rose from the seat he had been sitting in and walked out of the room.

'Harry, just the person I was waiting to hear from. Please, take a seat,' The smile on Scrimgeour's face was hard to believe but Harry smiled back, not trying to be rude, 'I hear you aren't going to Hogwarts. Is this true? You want to go out and face You-Know-Who?'

'Of course I want to defeat Voldemort,' Rufus shuddered when Harry said the name, 'but Mr. Scrimgeour I am returning to Hogwarts this year so I will have a chance at becoming an Auror. And please, call him by the name. Fear of the name only leads to fear of the person or thing you are talking about.'

'So you are returning to school instead of going off to face er... Voldemort? You know, you don't need your seventh year of Hogwarts. I would gladly get you a job as Auror.' The minister had said the last bit fairly fast compared to the first.

'I'm sorry, but I will not accept that. I will become an auror the same way everyone else did. With Constant Vigilance.'

'So, Harry, have you thought about the proposition I made a while ago?' Scrimgeour asked Harry this before. Last year he asked Harry to help the ministry and be like a person people would think that could destroy Lord Voldemort. Of course it was more like being a mascot for the ministry and Harry wouldn't do it because they locked up Stan Shunpike, a man who worked on the Knight Bus and was throught to be a Death Eater when everyone knew he just liked showing off and making a few lies to try and be popular.

'I thought about it the last time you asked me, and the answer is still no. Now if you do not mind, I will be leaving.'

Harry stood up and walked out of the office. Harry took the lift back to the main floor but Ron was no where to be found. 'Probally out showing off.' Harry thought, and then he walked to the Apparation area. Harry closed his eyes and thought of The Burrow, but he couldn't apparate there. Harry guessed that there were wards up or something so he thought of another place. He closed his eyes and with a pop, he appeared in Diagon Alley. Harry wasn't sure of where to buy Floo Powder and he then realised that he didn't have any money so there was only one place he could go. He looked far up ahead and saw Gringotts, the Wizarding Bank ran by Goblins. Harry walked up to the front desk and was immediately recognised.

'Ah, Mr. Potter, we have been expecting you for weeks! As you might of known, all of the gold from Mr. Black's vault is now located in yours because you were his heir. We expected you for weeks now though because there are some things that need to be done. We are aware that you became of age a few weeks ago and we have some stuff to discuss. Griphook! Cover front desk while me and Mr. Potter talk!'

The goblin opened a door and Harry walked in as another goblin walked up to the table and sat down. Harry and the one goblin, that Harry learned was named Ognar, entered a room and they sat at a desk.

'Take these, and please sign them,' Ognar said, pushing an inkwell, a quill and some kind of contract. 'The Potter family vault. Only a person with Potter blood can wield the key, either than us goblins. Only goblins and you, as the last remaining Potter can hold on to it. You sign these papers and you get the vault. It contains many family antiques. The last time I was in it is when I showed your father to it back when he came of age. There were papers in there that he didn't even have time to get to because he was planning something at the time and had came for gold.'

Harry quickly signed the paper and then it began to burn once he was done with it. In it's place was a key made of gold and had a small crest on it. 'Will you take me to the vault? Well, if you have time?'

'Of course, Mr. Potter, it would be my honor. That would be down in the family vault and business vault area. Seven Hundred and up. But which one was it? Ah yes, eight hundred and twenty eight. Remember that number please?'

Harry and Ognar entered a mine cart and after a ten minute trip of swerves and big turns they stopped. Harry looked as he saw a huge vault. At the top it said Eight Hundred and Twenty Eight then in the middle it had the same crest as on the key and at the bottom was the name Potter. The goblin took the key and inserted it. The vault opened and Harry entered. In one section he saw gold and then at the back was shelves. He looked at them and saw a book called The Potter History, and other books to do with the Potter family. He moved along and saw a box. He opened it up and inside of it was a ring, covered in gems of all sorts. It was the Potter family ring. Harry looked at the ring and then placed it on his finger, he took it off and put it back in the box and closed it once again. He looked over and saw a cabinet with a folder in it. Harry sat at a desk and placed the folder on it. He opened it up, and the first thing he read was Potter Family Manor. He picked it up and read the paper and signed his name at the bottom. He continued to turn pages, signing page after page and then he reached another page. It was some kind of list, like the DA had in his fifth year.

Potter Family Estate Invitation List

This list is the equal of a Fidilus Charm, except there is a difference. You are the secret keeper and when you pass on, the people invited will no longer be able to find the house. Every person who sees the address written by the secret keeper, which is the person hopefuilly reading this, will be added to the list. You can remove them from your house if you look at this paper and say: 'Remove' followed by the name.

The Potter Estate is located at Number 8 Hogsmeade Country.

Harry stared blankly at this and placed all the edited papers into the folder once again. He was in shock from what he read and then left the vault. 'I never knew any of it. I cannot believe it.'

'Well, another note, I believe you can access the vault from home as they are connected by magic I think. Most family vaults are.' Ognar explained more about it as they rode back to the main entrance and Harry left. Harry strode down the street and stopped. He thought of The Hog's Head, The Three Broomsticks, Zonko's and Honeydukes. He opened his eyes and found himself in front of Honeydukes. He entered the store and walked up to the two people who owned it.

'Welcome to Honeydukes? Can we help you?' the lady asked Harry.

'Its pretty strange seeing people come here. School at Hogwarts isn't in.' the older man said looking suspiciously at Harry.

'I am looking for directions to the Hogsmeade Country area.' Harry told the two.

'Walk towards Zonko's and then go down the road. You will come across number Number One and Two and so on up to Six and Seven.' Harry was told by the couple. Harry thanked them and ventured towards his new home. He reached the area in one piece but only saw six and seven. He remembered that his was Number eight, and then a giant building with huge stone gates appeared there. Harry looked at it, and realised that he was home.