Harry, under the influence of Voldemort, went to open the window to drop out, when he heard the sound of Petunia shouting at Vernon over what he said to Harry. She told him he wasn't allowed anywhere near this house again and that she would send him his things. A minute later he heard the front door slam open and shut and then the sound of a knock at his door.

"Harry, dear, please don't lock yourself away, you still have a present from me to open, I'd really like to see you open it now." His aunt's voice sounded shaky and emotional. The sound of love in her voice made Harry fight for control over his mind. At this the shard of Voldemort in his mind panicked and made Harry forget the minutes between the door locking and his Aunt Petunia talking to him.

When Harry was back in his mind he didn't remember any of the rage he felt towards Vernon. He closed the window and opened the door to see his aunt and cousin standing there, his aunt's hand outstretched with a small wrapped package. Harry took it and unwrapped it to find a key.

"This is your house as well now, Harry, it's only right that you have a key."

At this Harry openly cried and the trio hugged.

Meanwhile in the back of Harry's mind the shard of Voldemort was coming up with a new strategy.

A week before they were set to return to Hogwarts saw Harry and Dudley in Diagon Alley, with a very nervous but supportive Petunia. This was a new experience for the three of them, Dudley and Harry both came with Hogwarts Professors the first time, when Harry mentioned that it was Mcgonagall who took him, Dudley mentioned that it was Professor Snape who showed him around and neither were particularly fond of small talk.

"They'll hire anyone these days." Petunia remarked.

This was Dudley's first time having his mom with him in the Wizarding World, and for Harry it was the first time stepping foot in it with family. For Petunia the whole magical world was a foreign one, the pub entrance didn't impress her, but the wall that turned into an archway at the tap of a few bricks did. Everything after that point left her shocked and amazed. They first walked to Gringotts Bank, to a side entrance that muggle born wizard's used to exchange sterling for Galleon. After Petunia pulled £100 out of her purse to exchange it, Harry remembered that in the wizarding world he was very wealthy.

"Aunt Petunia, I have my own vaults here at the bank, why don't we just withdraw some money from there? I have enough." He asked quietly as they waited in the line.

"Oh honestly Harry, I don't mind. I couldn't ask you to spend your money." She replied, looking like she would like to, but doesn't feel right doing so.

"Really, I have enough. Let's just go around to the main entrance and we can have a look."

With that they left and Dudley and Petunia got their first look inside the bank, it truly was amazing. They walked over to the part of the bank dealing with old estates and family vaults.

They approached a younger looking goblin named Riptooth and Harry asked to enter his vault.

"Which Vault do you wish to enter?" Was the Goblin's response, seemingly annoyed at something.

"As far as I know I only have one vault here, right?" Harry was thoroughly confused at this point.

"You are Harry Potter, correct?" At Harry's nod he continued. "As such you have a few vaults in your name. Would you like me to summon the list?" Riptooth looked annoyed at having to take even more time out of his day.

"Please, I'd like to know," was Harry's simple reply to which the Goblin snapped his fingers and a piece of parchment appeared in front of him. He handed it over to Harry and he read the list.

Harry James Potter

Father's side:

Potter Family Vault(Via Lineage) 3.5 Million Galleons and Potter Ring

Potter Heir Vault (Via Lineage) 50,000 Galleons

Peverell Legacy Vault (Via Lineage) 10 million Galleons, No Ring

Gryffindor Legacy Vault (Via Lineage) 5 Million Galleons, No Ring

Black Family Vault (contested) amount undisclosed during contesting, ring also unavailable

Mother's side:

Lily Potter Personal Vault (Set up in the year 1979) 18,000 Galleons, No ring

Other's:

Slytherin Legacy Vault (Via Conquest) 10 Million Galleons, no ring

Harry knew he was wealthy, but didn't know he was wealthy. The Goblin spoke when he looked up. "As you are decently wealthy I would personally recommend acquiring a lawyer, as many in this world would wish to see your gold in their hands."

While Harry was shocked at how much money he had, the shard of Voldemort filled with glee. He simply had to possess Harry long enough to gain access to the Slytherin vault. So hard was Voldemort planning that Harry's mind was also on the Slytherin Vault. They rode down in the cart and the journey was far too short to have taken them down into the lower areas of the bank. They stepped out at the Potter Heir Vault and the Goblin opened it for them.

Inside was the mountain of gold Harry had seen once before.

"This is all I thought I had. The rest was unknown," Harry said as he filled two bags with gold, silver, and bronze coins and handed one to Dudley who was shocked at just how much money Harry had given him. Easily more than he had ever held.

They left the bank without visiting any other vaults and went about their shopping. It was an amazing day that, like Harry's birthday, they would remember for life.

To begin their shopping, they stopped to get new robes and then went to look at animals. Almost immediately Harry's green eyes locked with the Amber eyes of a snowy white owl. She was beautiful and Harry knew he would buy her. It was after Dudley spotted a barn owl that he thought was cute and they both paid for their pets that Harry heard a voice from the cage and asked who spoke.

"The only thing I can hear is that snake hissing Harry." Dudley answered after a moment of listening. Harry approached the snake and spoke to it.

"Are you speaking to me?" He asked the snake feeling slightly stupid for a moment. The feeling of stupidity was only fleeting though, as the snake responded.

"Finally someone who listens to me. Yes human, I was the one who spoke to you." After a short back and forth with the snake, that was too quiet for Dudley and Petunia to hear over the other animals, Harry decided to buy the snake as well, believing that he and the snake had a connection. Petunia wasn't overly thrilled to have a snake in her house, but wanted to be supportive.

Of course not all good days are wholly good. Towards the end of the trip they decided to get their books and then go for food. They got all of the books required for the year as well as bonus books on everything from curse scars to magical plants. Harry even got his hands on some old books that gave off an aura of power and wisdom. As they were leaving they came across a fight between Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy. Even though their sons tolerated each other, clearly they didn't.

They had just gone through a display containing Gilderoy Lockhart books, but at that very moment the author made an appearance to break up the fight and fix the display. As he had placed the last book on the shelf his eyes locked on Harry's and then shifted to his scar. His grin stretched and he pulled Harry to his side and exclaimed.

"Dear patrons of this fine book establishment, I know you've all come here to receive signed copies of my autobiography 'Magical Me'! However I would be remiss if I didn't introduce you all to a very special young man. This here is Harry Potter." He moved Harry's hair to show his scar, which bothered Harry greatly. "What young Mr Potter didn't know, when he stepped into this bookstore, is that he would be leaving with a copy of every one of my books, free of charge." To this there was loud applause and camera flashes. Harry was beginning to get a headache and so, their shopping finished, they set off.

Entering onto the Hogwarts express to return to the school had Dudley feeling a lot better than he had this time last year. For one he had friends here now, and now he walked aside his cousin, proud to be related to his best friend.

They got into a section of the corridor, intending to find a carriage, when they bumped into a first year who looked very excited to see Harry.

"Oh my god, you're The Harry Potter, it's such an honour to meet you, My name's Colin, by the way. Colin Creevey. I've read all about you, how you defeated Voldemort after he killed your parents. I wouldn't know what that's like, I have family, so I've never been alone. What's it like?" He asked with his voice full of excitement. Harry was immediately furious at the first year but as he opened his mouth to shout at the kid he heard another, incredibly unexpected,voice shout at him.

"What sort of a question is that? Why would you ask such a disgusting question? Family is incredibly important and personal and for you to even think of asking such a horrible question I should curse you" Blaise shouted from behind Colin, surprising everyone that he was defending Harry.

"I'm not alone, Colin." The name was said with disdain. "Dudley here is my cousin." As he said that, Blaise looked between the two of them while hosting a weird look on his face.

"Oh no Harry, I didn't mean to be rude I was just trying to get to know you. I promise I didn't want to offend you. Please believe me." Colin scrambled for words to try and placate his hero and undo his faux-pa.

"You said I was all alone and asked about my dead parents, Colin. Get out of my face now or else I will also curse you for your insolence."

He left at that and Harry and Blaise met eyes and nodded at each other before the latter left and the former entered a carriage and waited for the rest of his friends, still pissed off at the first year's actions. The first to arrive were Theo and Neville.

"Hey guys, we haven't heard from you at all summer. Theo spent most of the summer with me at Longbottom Manor." Neville began and Theo took over.

"My father died as a result of breaking an Oath. I'm now guaranteed to inherit the Nott family fortune, but… it feels hollow. My mother killed herself a few years back, as you know, and now I have nobody left in my family. If it wasn't for Neville being such an amazing person I'd have been completely alone." Neville blushed at that and Theo smiled. "If it wasn't for you two." He gestured to Harry and Dudley. "Neville and I would probably not have become friends."

At the topic of unlikely friends who should enter but Ron and Draco, laughing about their fathers fight. Hermione never joined them, but Harry knew that her and Ron would do nothing but bicker. If Harry went back home for Christmas he would make sure he and Dudley sat with Hermione.