Disclaimer is in chapter 1.

"What are you on about, anyway?" Harry hissed, pulling Xander into the kitchen, away from his 'family'.

Xander just grinned unrepentantly, "Come on, the looks on their faces was awesome."

Harry glared at him, then closed his eyes and finally smiled a bit. "It was wasn't it?"

Xander nodded, grinning widely.

"What did Sirius have to say?" Harry sighed.

"Actually, that's the funny thing..."

"Xander..." Harry growled.

Xander grinned unrepentantly, "Believe it or not, the message is pretty much what I told you guys. 'Cept you're not a Sir yet."

"What?"

"You don't know much about the Potters, do you?" Xander asked, mostly rhetorically.

Harry looked down for a moment, then shook his head. "I know I look like my dad, with my Mum's eyes... Mum was brilliant, or so people say, and Dad was a natural flyer. More than that?"

Harry just shrugged.

"Yeah, we figured that. Look, the Potter family has a Hereditary Knighthood," Xander said, "It's conditional, basically kicks in when you do a service to the realm."

Harry grimaced, "Voldemort."

"Well, yeah, but not the one you're thinking about. The Wizengamot locked up all the evidence on what happened to you as a baby, so that's right out." Xander said, "But you know, killing a huge honking snake to save the life of a citizen of the realm, not to mention protecting the school, that qualifies."

Harry blinked, "Really? But, I mean, you were there too."

"My family didn't earn a hereditary knighthood," Xander said with a lopsided grin, "So I guess I'd have to earn mine the hard way. Anyway, that's part of it. More to the point, Sirius wants to ask you if you're willing to take on the duties of the Regent of House Black."

"What?"

"You heard me, man."

"I meant what duties, git." Harry snapped.

"Well, there I can't help you too much, but some of it would be political, some of it would be family related." Xander shrugged, "Stuff like readmitting Sirius' cousin, Andromeda to the family."

"Why would I have to do that?" Harry frowned, confused, "I didn't know you could kick someone out of the family. Would have expected the Dursleys to have done that to me by now."

Xander rolled his eyes, "She married a Wizard born to non-magical parents. Sirius' mum was a real bitch, apparently, and his dad was whipped. So Sirius wants you to ask her if she'd like to be readmitted, and then do so if she wants in."

"I can do that I guess," Harry frowned, "But I don't know anything about running a family."

"Well, you'll have Andromeda, Sirius, and Mrs. Malfoy to help."

"What!? Why would I accept help from a Malfoy?" Harry practically snarled, "Draco and Lucius..."

"Are pricks, yes I'm aware. Draco's mother, though, is Narcissa Black." Xander said clearly, "She's a pureblood, and proud of it, but she's not stupid about it either. Besides, you'll need advice from someone who thinks like that."

"I can't trust a Malfoy, Xander."

"Harry, this is politics. You can't trust anyone," Xander grinned, "Doesn't mean you can't listen to them, though."

"Can't Sirius just tell me what to do?"

Xander shrugged, "Legally, Sirius can't have contact with anyone in England. Oh yeah, that reminds me... here."

Xander fished a spell phone out of his pocket and tossed it to Harry, who caught it and goggled at it for a moment.

"What's this?"

"Spell Phone. Sirius' number is S. ." Xander said with a smirk. He still couldn't believe Sirius hadn't gotten the gag when he assigned the number to his phone.

Harry opened the flip part of the phone eagerly and then stopped and stared, "These aren't letters."

"No, they're runes." Xander said.

"I can't read this."

Xander rolled his eyes, "Oh yeah, Man, this is what taking Care and Divination gets you. Here..."

He twisted the dials to the right combination, then handed it back to Harry. "That's the combination to Sirius' phone. Just hit the center rune to connect."

Harry did so quickly, then hesitantly lifted the phone to his ear. "S... Sirius?"

Xander stepped away, giving Harry some privacy to talk to his Godfather.

Xander was leaning on the door frame that led to the kitchen, giving Harry his time alone when a thin woman approached him.

"Were you serious about what you said?" She demanded.

"About what? The Sir stuff?" Xander asked with a shrug. When she nodded, he went on, "Mostly. He's not a Knight yet, but the Potter family holds a hereditary slot I guess. Harry qualifies. His Godfather is Lord Black, though, and this little meeting is semi-official."

"About what?"

"The Black family is in need of a Regent, at least until Lord Black can get his legal status cleared up in Britain." Xander replied. "Harry has enough swing to make things happen, and he's a Black through his grandmother I think, so if he accepts he's the best choice."

"Will he be moving out?"

Xander looked at the woman, wondering at the slight tone of tension in her voice. "I don't know. I guess that'll be up to him, as far as I know anyway. What does it matter? It's not like he's here more than a couple months a year anyway."

She seemed to want to say more, but then just left. Xander watched her leave, but finally shrugged it off. None of his concern.

"Xander?"

"Hey man, you talk to the mutt?" Xander asked as Harry came out of the kitchen.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Yeah. I did. I'm in."

"Cool." Xander said, pulling out his own phone. He spun the dials around with his thumb, then punched the middle rune and waited for it to connect. "Herms? Yeah, could you ask your mother to make that an appointment for two? Yeah, I'm bringing a friend. It's a surprise, that's who. What do you mean, you don't like surprises? Everyone likes surprises. Yeah, yeah. Just call me when you have a time. Thanks."

Harry watched, amused, when Xander flipped the phone shut. "Herms?"

Xander shrugged, grinning, "Lord she hates that name."

"I'm shocked you get away with it." Harry chuckled, "What's her number on this thing anyway?"

"HJ Granger," Xander said, "In Ancient Norse."

Harry grimaced, "Were you TRYING to make these insanely hard to use?"

"I don't know, were *you* trying to actually learn anything when you took *Divination*?" Xander countered, rolling his eyes. He'd heard about those classes, hell the entire school knew about Harry's Divination classes. "I mean, other than the date of your death and all."

"Ugh." Harry groaned, "Don't remind me. I hate that class."

Xander shook his head, "I can't figure out what you were thinking. Ok, seeing the future? Cool in concept, but seriously... if you could teach people to do it, would you?"

"Huh?" Harry blinked.

"I wouldn't." Xander admitted candidly. "I'd just quietly buy my lotto tickets and play the markets. Last thing I'd want is a bunch of teenagers screwing up my income cause they knew how to tell the future too."

"What are you talking about?" Harry looked totally lost.

Xander grinned, shaking his head, "Harry... anyone who tells you that they can teach you to read the future, is scamming you. No one is stupid enough to give up a secret THAT good. Care sounds sort of exciting, though. I think I would have thought about it if I'd known Hagrid would be teaching. Seriously, that guy needs a wakeup call when it comes to the concept of 'dangerous to little KIDS', but his classes' sure sound like they'd be fun to watch."

Harry shook his head. He really wanted to defend his friend, but even he had to worry about Hagrid sometimes. Not to mention about what Hagrid might do without thinking something through.

He sighed, putting that aside for a bit, "What do we do now?"

Xander shrugged, "Dunno. We need new suits, but that'll have to wait until we get a call back from Herms. Her mom is setting it up. Tell me you don't wear those on purpose, cause man... even my Hawaiian shirts aren't that ugly."

Harry looked down at the cast offs he'd inherited from Dudley and sighed, "These were Dudley's."

"The guy needs a diet." Xander said simply, shaking his head.

"He's on one." Harry grinned before glancing around guiltily. "And is NOT a happy camper."

"Alright, you have money?"

Harry shook his head, "Just a few galleons."

"Ok, I'll spot you some English cash, I've got a few hundred dollars' worth. We'll get you some decent casual wear." Xander said after a moment, holding up a hand as Harry started to object. "Don't worry about it, I'll get it back from Sirius. Or, you know, from you when you have access to the vaults and all."

"Are you sure?" Harry wasn't quite as concerned as Ron was over who had money and all that, but he didn't like the idea of freeloading off anyone. His 'family' had long accused him of just that, and it was a bit of a raw nerve.

Xander just nodded, "Yeah. You need some clothes, man. You're not just Harry Potter, you know. You're about to be Sir Potter..."

"Sir Harry."

"Huh?" Xander blinked.

"You use the first name for Knighthoods," Harry explained.

"Really?" Xander grimaced.

"Yeah, why?"

"Ech." Xander shook his head, "Sir Harry sounds stupid, glad it's you man."

"Oy!" Harry objected.

Xander just ignored him and went on, "Oh, and we need to buy a blank book. A journal or something like that."

"What for?"

"You've got the Marauder's Map, right?" Xander asked.

Harry nodded hesitantly, not really wanting to give away one of his more prized secrets.

"Well, I think it's time you got your own copy of the Coven Grimoire."

The closest mall to Privet Drive wasn't much, all things considered, but it suited for what Xander and Harry needed. After they'd gotten Harry a selection of Tee Shirts, Jeans, new shoes and the like, they unceremoniously tossed his hand me downs in a dumpster and checked out the closest thing the place had to a stationary store.

A suitable journal was not to be found in the place, leaving Xander to sigh.

"Well, a trip to Diagon will probably turn up something." He said as Harry looked over the pens and writing tools in the place. "You see something you like?"

"Huh?" Harry looked up, surprised.

Xander rolled his eyes, "Come on. We've got some things to finish before we're done for the day."

Harry nodded and the two left the mall.

"Xander..." Harry trailed off, sounding uncertain.

"Yeah?" Xander looked back, noticing Harry looking away sharply as he did. "What?"

"Did... Did my mum really write that book you told me about?"

"She helped." Xander said, "Along with Draco and Neville's mothers."

Harry grimaced, "That's just too weird. Why would my mum have anything to do with Draco's mum?"

"Why would your Dad have anything to do with Sirius?" Xander countered with a shrug, "They were both Blacks back then. Draco's a tool, but I think that mostly comes from his dad."

"I guess." Harry muttered, unconvinced.

"You don't need to take my word for it, and hell I don't know that I would trust Mrs. Malfoy if I were you anyway," Xander replied, "Best I can see is that she's really only concerned with the Black family, she doesn't care too much about you."

"Too much?"

"Well, she was your Mom's friend, so there's probably something." Xander said thoughtfully as they walked, "But the fact that your grandmother was Dorea Black is probably more important to her in a lot of ways."

"So... I'm related to Sirius?" Harry asked, sounding hopeful, "By blood I mean?"

"I guess. Also to Mrs. Malfoy and Draco," Xander smirked.

Harry grimaced, then groaned.

Xander chuckled, then went on, "That would also make you related to Andromeda and her daughter, and there's another Black sister in Azkaban I think."

Harry nodded, "I've heard a little about her. Bellatrix I think."

"Not sure beyond that, though. Just guessing, but the way purebloods are, you're probably related pretty much to every one of them in some way or another." Xander said with a smirk, then paused and grimaced.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I just realized that my Mom and Dad are both from pureblood lines too. Lord, I'm probably the product of kissing cousins myself." Xander admitted with a sigh. "I'll have to check and see how badly messed up the American lines are, just out of curiosity if nothing else."

"You didn't know?" Harry blinked.

"What? About my family?" Xander shrugged, uncaring. "Nope. Never really cared, to be honest."

"Why not?" Harry was baffled, he couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't care. "I wish I knew more about my family."

"Yours are dead," Xander said, then winced, "Sorry, but I mean... mine are living and don't care enough to check up on me. Why would I care about them? Why don't you know more about your family, anyway, man?"

"I know a bit." Harry said defensively. "I mean, I've seen some photos that Hagrid got me and stuff. Dad was a great flyer, and really good at transfiguration. Mum was a genius at charms, I think..."

Harry trailed off a bit, looking sad, "No one seems to want to tell me about them."

"Probably tough to talk about dead friends to their son," Xander said after a moment, "I guess I'm surprised that they didn't tell you more than that when you asked, though."

Harry was silent for a bit, "Yeah. Hagrid told me a bit about them, but that's it."

"Who all did you ask?"

"Hagrid, and I guess Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore." Harry said.

"You guess?" Xander stopped walking, turning to look at Harry incredulously. "How do you 'guess' you asked them?"

"We talked a bit about them, I mean. I asked what they were like... I think." Harry looked confused.

"Harry, man..." Xander hesitated, "Mate. You've got to do more than guess."

"Huh?"

"I told you, people aren't going to just come up and start talking to you about your dead parents." Xander said, shaking his head, "hell most of them probably think you know everything. Half the school believes you're a stuck up prima donna, who's too good to hang around anyone, so you're not exactly approachable even without the whole dead parents thing."

"What? But I'm NOT!" Harry protested.

Xander held up his hands, "Man, you don't need to tell me. You're Hermione's friend, she's not a horrible judge of people... Lockhart aside..."

Harry couldn't help but grin a little at that mention, but Xander just went on.

"Besides, we've bled on the same dirt as one of my 'great' uncle's would say," Xander said, "but most of the kids in school see you as the Boy Who Lived, remember? And you only hang out with Weasley and Hermione, so you're not exactly the open, friendly sort."

"Ron and Hermione were the only ones who really tried to be my friends." Harry said softly.

"That's not true." Xander said, looking up. "Lots of kids tried, Hell *Draco* tried, if even half of what he said about your first meeting was true. Those two were just the only ones stubborn enough to keep coming back even when you were ignoring them."

"I don't ignore people!"

"No, no I guess you don't." Xander said, a few more puzzle pieces dropping into place. "But you don't act like a normal kid either."

"Oh great. I guess I can't do anything normal then." Harry growled.

"Probably not." Xander said with a smile that brought another growl from Harry. "You really want to be, though?"

"Yes!"

Xander flinched back from the sharp rebuke, then shrugged. "Alright man, don't blow a gasket. Me I wouldn't go back to normal for all the gold in Fort Knox."

"What?" Harry asked, confused.

"I'm a Wizard, Harry. I *love* magic." Xander said earnestly, "it's awesome. I've never studied, or worked so hard in my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I can make things fly with a word and a wave, how could I give that up?"

"I didn't mean I wanted to give up magic," Harry muttered, "I just don't want all this Boy Who Lived crap."

"What's wrong with fame?" Xander asked, shrugging. "Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my parents for it... not even back when they were screaming at each other. But it's not like it's all bad."

"What's good about it?" Harry asked bitterly.

"Gotta be something," Xander smirked, "Lots of people where I come from do anything for it."

"They're mental then."

"Whatever you say then," Xander shrugged, "but the point I was making is that people see how you act, and they think you're stuck up."

"I am not!" Harry snapped again, glaring at Xander.

"Didn't say you were, but that's how people see you." Xander replied. "Look at it from their point, Harry. You're famous, probably rich most of them figure, and you only really talk to a couple people. Oh, and the Quidditch team, but they don't count. What do you expect, anyway? That people will instantly see you for you? Why should they? They have a perfectly good fantasy that pretty much explains it all, don't they?"

Harry scowled at him, "Great. So now I'm a stuck up git, just like Draco."

Xander laughed, "Oh I don't think anyone thinks you're as bad as Draco."

Harry rolled his eyes, "So what do I do?"

"I dunno." Xander shrugged.

Harry stared at him, surprised.

"What? I'm fourteen, man. I don't know crap about being popular," Xander replied, "my entire life is about Magic, my family, and exactly two more friends than you hang out with. Asking me for advice on making friends and influencing people is like asking your pal Ron for lessons in table manners."

Harry choked, remembering Ron stuffing food into his mouth that it was going to vanish on him.

"Seriously, man, we can see him chewing his food from the Slytherin tables," Xander said, "What's up with that anyway? My money says that the Twins kept stealing his food when he was younger and this is his way of making sure he gets to eat."

Harry laughed.

He felt guilty about it, Ron was his best friend, but the truth is... he could easily see the twins doing just that, and it did explain a lot to be honest.

"You are going to have to do something about it, though." Xander said after they both stopped chuckling.

"What? About Ron's eating?"

"No," Xander said, then paused, "Well maybe. I mean you'll have to start acting different if you want to be the Regent for House Black."

"Huh? Why?"

"Cause you're the guy in charge. The family needs you to be the guy people can talk to, come to for help. I mean, what good are you if you only talk to Ron and Hermione?" Xander asked. "Turning on that Boy Who Lived charm wouldn't hurt either."

"I'm not doing that."

"Then you fail, dude." Xander said just as his spell phone went off.

Harry stared at him, uncertain what to say as Xander answered it.

"Hey. Herms? Ok, we're good? Cool. Yeah, we'll be there. Thanks, and thank your mother for me." Xander said into the device. He hung it up and nodded to harry, "We've got our appointment, couple hours, unless you're changing your mind?"

Harry looked down, then shook his head.

"No, I said I'm in. I'm in."

"Cool. Let's go see a girl about a suit."