A/N: First of all, I would like to thank everyone that is following my story up until this point, you all found a space in my heart and it warms me to see the stats as I go.

From this point on, chapter lengths will vary more than they currently do, I want to start going into greater details and put pieces into position for future chapters.

Next, I have a question for you guys. Should I split my fic up per year, or lump it all together as one massive orgy of HP goodness? Eg. Part one is Voldemort`s attack up to end of Harry`s first year at Hogwarts, part two being shortly after the end of part 1 up to the end of second year, so on and so forth. What say you?

Without further ado, let us away!

Chapter 5 – Rising from the ashes

Tuesday, 31st of July, 1990

Harry Potter woke up to the sound of a dog barking close by, opening his eyes and rubbing the sleep away, he looked to the side and saw a big, shaggy black dog looking at him. He sat upright and the dog jumped on the bed, immediately licking his face and hair. He started laughing loudly, his long hair changing from its characteristic jet-black and crimson, to a metallic blue. The dog jumped of the bed and jumped in circles, before looking at him again.

"Okay, okay. I`m coming! Just let me get dressed first, Padfoot," Harry said, smiling down at the dog, before it bounded down the hall, followed by a loud squeal, broken giggles and a big crash.

"Paddy! Go away!" came from a laughing Dora a few doors down. Padfoot came running down the hall again, towards the stairs. The commotion caused Harry to smile at himself as he washed up and got dressed. He looked at himself in the mirror, buttoning up his white shirt, pulling on a matte black sleeveless vest and looked at the robes in his wardrobe.

"Take the one with the red trim, it goes well with your hair," came from Dora standing at the door. Harry turned to her, his hair turning compeletely red, before he allowed it to return to normal. Dora looked at him with her big violet eyes, almost peering into his very soul, her hair shoulder length and in its usual light blue with a white stripe running from her fringe, tucked behind her ear.

"Happy birthday, Harry," she said, bouncing over to him and pulling him into a tight hug, a mischiveous smirk on her face as she went on, "I hate that you are as tall as I am, now I can`t lean on you anymore!" She turned and ran down the hall, leaving a stunned Harry, that took a few seconds to catch on and start chasing her, feeling a primal urge to growl at her, bubbling in his chest.

"Paddy, stop him! He wants to hurt me!" Dora shouted as they made their way into the kitchen, taking cover behind Sirius, who turned on her and started tickling her mercilessly. Harry made his way over to Andi and Ted, who wished him a happy birthday and each giving him a hug, while laughing at the scene in front of them.

Sirius let go of Dora to go over to Harry. Dora huffed and shook the yellow from her hair as she playfully glared at the two, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked at Sirius and said, "Be glad I don`t have my wand yet! I have a good mind to hex you both!"

"That`s not the proper way for a lady to-"

"Good thing I`m not a lady then!" Dora interrupted, before Harry could finish his statement.

"Dora, that reminds me, when Sirius, Harry and your dad goes to Gringotts, we`ll go buy all your things for Hogwarts. We`ll need to get you an owl as well. We can`t send Nobby with you, dear," Andi spoke absently as she dished up food for them all. Dora sat down, deep in thought, having been fearing this trip ever since she got her letter on her birthday four months ago.

Harry and Dora received a joint gift from Sirius, an ancient leather bound tome with flowing, silver writing across the spine and a big version of the Black family crest covering the entire front cover, a golden border surrounding the crest. The book`s name is 'A Metamophmagus` Journal'. The book will give them a much better idea of the extent of their abilities, as well as help to learn to control it better, as it is essentially a diary that was passed down the Black family from one metamorph to the next, along with personalised training. Seeing as Harry and Dora were the last metamophs alive, Sirius took it upon himself to teach them all he could, going so far as to start teaching them Occulomency as well, although he insists that the Occulomency was also for ulterior motives, that for the time-being, would remain a 'Marauders` Secret', whatever that means.

The second gift Harry received, is the same as Dora`s from a few months ago and his reaction is also exactly the same. He received a brand new Nimbus 2000, along with a high end broom care kit. The broom came with all manner of enchantments, such as cushioning charms, anti-sliding charms and heating charms for cold weather, to name a few. The best feature, is the shrinking charm, that allows for better storage. He started crying with joy as soon as he saw it. Dora just looked at him, with a big smile across her face. Their races would get a lot more interesting now.

"Harry, have you found your mindscape yet?" Sirius asked Harry as they finished off the last of their breakfast. They would be going any moment now and stil had some preparations to do.

"I... I am not sure. I know it`s cold, feels like it is snowing, I think," Harry said, scratching his head. Dora perked up at this and spoke up, "Mine feels like humid and wet and almost forest-like, I think." Sirius looked at them and smiled.

"Why are you doing this with them, Sirius? Is it something to do with their abilities?" Andi asked, looking confused.

"No, no, nothing like that! I will tell them later today, though," Sirius said vaguely, waving them off, getting ready to leave.

0o0o0

Sharpclaw led Sirius, Ted and Harry into one of the smaller conference rooms in Gringotts. They all sat down on the leather chairs provided, around a big, round, mahogany table. Sharpclaw moved some parchments around in front of him and took out an inkwell and a gold and brown feathered quill out of a dark dragon hide briefcase. He adjusted everything evenly and cleared his throat, looking at those in front of him.

"Well, Mr. Potter. First off, let me welcome you to Gringotts. My clan and your family goes back a long way and I hope we can continue doing business together," Sharpclaw said, nodding his head at Harry.

"Mr. Sharpclaw, it is an honor to finally meet you. I want to thank you on behalf of my family, for what you did for us when I was a baby. That being said, may your gold flow just like the blood of your enemies," Harry said, standing up and bowing before the goblin.

"Please Mr. Potter, sit down. I admire your respect, so I will not dwell too much on the past, but on a hopefully prosperous future. Here I have the Heritage Test, as stated in your father`s Will, as well as a box from your grandfather, that was left with me on the day of your birth. We can proceed with whichever you want first," he said, looking at Harry, while pushing a parchment and an ornate golden dagger, along with a gift-wrapped box and a letter towards the middle of the table.

Harry decided to rip the band-aid off, so to speak, and pull the parchment and dagger toward himself. He picked up the dagger and inspected it for a few seconds, then closed his right hand around the blade and pulled it out with his left, clenching his fist over the parchment. After a small stream of blood splashed onto the parchment, the wound sealed itself. The blood seeped into the parchment and after a few moments, it started filling out into red script that looked a lot like Harry`s handwriting.

Sharpclaw summoned the parchment from across the table, turned it around and inspected it:

Harry James Potter (Born on 31st of July 1980)

Father: James Charlus Potter

Mother: Lily Potter nee Evans

Noticable traits: Affinity with Magical creatures (via Potter Family)
Metamorphmagus (via Dorea Potter nee Black)
Parselmouth (via Mother)

Inheritable titles: Potter, Peverell, Slytherin

Potter: Inherited from Father as last surviving member of the House of Potter, claimable after magical maturity or at the age of 17
Peverell: See above, claimable upon reuniting the lost family artifacts, details of which are in the hands of the Potter account manager
Slytherin: Inherited from Mother, last living descendant capable of claiming title. Instructions for claiming can be found in Vault 4 (V-00004)

"What?! How is that possible? Lily was a muggle-born! Her parents and sister are all muggles," Sirius exclaimed, jumping out of his seat, grabbing the parchment and stared at the family tree diagram that appeared at the bottom. His face paled instantly and he started sweating.

"As you can see, Mr. Black, it is not a mistake," Sharpclaw sniped, glaring at Sirius, before continuing, "It appears that Miss Potter was born into a squib line, that started with the first and only son of Salazar Slytherin`s third son. This title is going to you as this line is the only line of continuation available to the Slytherin family. The only other family that would have stood a chance at claiming the title, was the Gaunt family, the last member of which went extinct, because of you Mr. Potter," Sharpclaw said, looking at Harry.

"What do you mean, because of me? How can I inherit the title then? Do I want the title even?" Harry asked, incredulous at what he is hearing. Sharpclaw pulled another piece of parchment out and looked it over.

"Well, Mr. Potter, the last member of the Gaunt family, was one Tom Marvolo Riddle Junior, better known by wizards and witches as the Dark Lord Voldemort, now confirmed to be dead. The reason he claimed to be the Heir of Slytherin, but could not take the title, is because at the time he fell so far into the dark, that he could not show his face in Diagon Alley, much less get into Gringotts," Sharpclaw surveyed the pale faces before him, Harry looked more confused than anything, then he added, "That is why you are hailed as the Boy-Who-Lived, Mr. Potter."

"Oh yes, I heard about that..." Harry said, looking down at the table, his mood plummeting very fast. He toyed with some loose fabrics on his robes, while Sirius sat down next to him again, wrapping his arm around Harry`s shoulders, pulling him closer.

"Mr. Potter, Harry, why don`t you look at that box, while I run to get you access to your new vaults. Just keep in mind, that being the heir to three old families, you will now have a lot of gold for us to look after," Sharpclaw said, standing up adnd heading for the door.

Harry pulled the box closer and took the envelope attached. He cracked the seal and opened the parchment, looking at the elegant script covering the page.

Dear Harry,

I hope this letter finds you well and in good health. If you are reading this, then I did not survive the war and will not be able to see you or your parents on your tenth birthday, much to my dismay.

Even if your grandmother and I can not be there for you, I do hope that this gift would be able to provide some easement and companionship in your good and bad times.

One of the books contained within this box, is a book that explains the Potter family and their connection to Magical creatures. The other being a book on caring and raising a hatchling.

I had an amazing companion, that was left to me by my father, and his father before him. This companion helped me through very difficult times and helped me meet your grandmother as well. (Although, she will never admit it to be true)

My companion, a phoenix, her name was Helios (ha ha I know), her last burning day was a few weeks after your birth and she left me with a very precious gift. She left me with the only egg she ever produced, over all her years. It is this egg that I leave with you, in the hopes that you find companionship.

With this I say farewell, I hope you have a long and successful life.

Your loving grandfather,

Lord Charlus Potter, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter

Harry had tears in his eyes as he opened the box and looked at an egg, about the same size as an ostrich`s, with two books, spines up, next to the egg. Harry took out the egg just as Sharpclaw came in with two notes, one with green trims and one with crimson trims.

"I see you found the egg, your grandfather asked us to place a stasis charm on it and release it in your presence, but only if you are alone in the room, as phoenix chicks are known to imprint on the first living thing they see, forming a deep, mutual, emotional and magical bond, that will serve as a familiarity bond," Sharpclaw said as he ushered the other men out and released the charm, before following the men and closing the door.

Harry stood there, looking at the egg, feeling it heat up and slowly start to form cracks, from which the egg seemed to melt away, leaving a pink chick on a molten pile of egg shells. The chick had a few feathers here and there. The feathers on its body is white, with red and orange edges, whereas the feathers on its head, is white with emerald green edges.

Harry admired the chick in front of him with wide eyes and an open mouth. The chick looked up at him and he felt a warmth spread throughout his body. Harry scooped the chick up in his hands, it started making little squeaking noises and he laughed softly and said, "Hedwig... You look like a Hedwig to me, what do you think?"

Sharpclaw and the other men entered the room again after a few minutes. The goblin looked at Harry and the small phoenix and said, "I see that you were successful, I feel that I must congratulate you and ask that we continue with the rest of the meeting, if you please."

The rest of the meeting was spent with Harry reading the letters from the Peverell and Slytherin accountants. The Peverell letter explained , in great detail, about the Deathly Hallows and how uniting the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone and the Elder Wand, will make one the Master of Death, as well as the Head of the Peverell Family, inheriting their family magic and accumilative funds in their vaults. The Slytherin letter was written in Parseltongue. The letter explained that if he can read the letter, he has the right to enter the vaults. The first vault contained a large amount of gold, that the goblins could only now start calculating, as the vault was sealed for almost 1 000 years. The second vault contained a large marble pedestal in the middle of the room. On the pedestal, rested an ancient leather tome and a ebony, wooden box. Harry opened the tome and saw that it, also, was written in Parseltongue. The first page was a piece of parchment that was stuck into the spine edge.

Dear reader,

If you came upon this book and box, that means that an heir has been named as my father wished. This is his personal tome, for the use of future heirs to live up to what he expected from his family. This book can only be opened and used by one that contains the blood of my father.

Open the box by this book and put on the ring. If you are the heir to our family, the ring should accept you and warm up.

Also, keep this book with you at all times, as will be your guide to be the best heir that you can be. Read the book and you will see that my father was not how everyone made him out to be.

Yours truly,

Salazar Slytherin Jr.

Harry stroked the page, closed the book and picked up the ebony ring box. Opening the box slowly, he is greeted by a black metallic ring, with an almost glowing emerald set on top of it. The Slytherin crest was engraved in the emerald. Harry took the ring out of the box and put it on his middle finger on his right hand. He felt cold sweeping through him and settling in his bones before slowly disappating, to be replaced by a slight heat coming from the ring. Looking at it, he saw it disappear. Thinking of the ring again, it reappeared, much to his delight.

Harry slowly picked up the leather bound tome and moved to put it in his robe pocket, and much to his surprise, it shrunk down to fit. He turned and headed back to the door and told Sirius and Ted that they can leave if they are ready.

0o0o0

Harry, Sirius and Ted emerged from the floo at Black Manor. Harry carried the small Hedwig in his one hand and a stand in the other, making his way toward the stairs, when he heard someone running down the hall. Harry turned and saw Dora on her way over, a slim box in her hand. Dora stopped when she saw the bird sitting in Harry`s hand and squealed loudly, bouncing the rest of the way, a massive smile crossing her face.

"Look! Look! Who is this little one?" Dora asked, stuffing the slim box into Harry`s hand and looking at Hedwig, reaching her hands out and picking the little chick up.

"Her name is Hedwig, she is a phoenix and a gift from my grandfather," Harry said, looking at the look of pure awe and joy on Dora`s face, then asked, "What is your wand made out of? It is beautiful..." Harry looked at the off-white length of wood lying before him.

"It is ash and dragon heartstring, 34.2 centimeters," Dora said destractedly, admiring the small phoenix. She started making cooing sounds and the adults started chuckling at her. Harry took out the book titled 'Phoenixes, Caring and Bonding with the Eternal Flame', opened it and started reading while Dora fawned over Hedwig.

"It`s so unfair! You get a phoenix and I got a raven. I called him Cuddles. Get it, it`s funny!" Dora exclaimed. The little baby shrilled under her ministrations as Harry started preparing something for her to eat. He helped Dora feed Hedwig while saying, "The book says that phoenixes grow and mature very fast. By Christmas break, she`ll be fully grown. If we encourage her abilities, we can use her flame travel to get you back to the castle after break!" Harry started laughing as Dora looked at him, awestruck.

"Do you have everything you need for your first year? I am so jealous, I also want to go!" Harry told Dora and she giggled excitedly as she led Harry to show him everything they got, along with the extra book so she could study ahead. Sirius tries to make a point of getting them prepared ahead of time. He is teaching them a year ahead, in some subjects two years.

Harry is already on second year level with Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms and Transfiguration, but still stuck on his first year work on Potions and the other coe subjects. He hasn`t even considered doing anything for History of Magic. Dora is basically on the same level as he is, but since she is a year ahead of him, she also started looking into electives for third year, to see what she would like to learn. Harry and Dora both had similiar subjects in mind for O.W.L`s and N.E.W.T`s, so they know where to focus more of their efforts.

"So, you two," Sirius said, leaning against Dora`s doorframe, "I want to talk to the two of you about something that you need to keep to yourselves for the time being." Sirius moved forward and plopped himself down on the floor, waiting for them to focus on him.

"You know that I explained to you about Animagi and what that means. You also know how I have been teaching you Occulomency, defending your minds and how to let your mindscape manifest itself and using that as a basis to tap into your magical cores," Sirius explained to them, to which they nodded and looked at him with hope shining in their eyes at more lessons.

"Okay, what would you say if I told you there is a lot more to it than you know so far?" he asked, looking at them both as they sat more upright, smiling.

"Well, I was working on a theory that I didn`t think will be possible, because you are both Metamorphmagi. It seems, though, that my plan might work, since you have both settled into your abilities nicely with the book I got you. What I taught you, are the first steps to becoming Animagi," Sirius said, starting to smile, as the children in front of him were practically bouncing up and down.

"Your meditation and mindscape ventures are very important, as it will help you manifest your animal spirits and help with your transformations. By the pace you two are following, you might even be complete before the Marauders finished!" He barked out a laugh as they really started bouncing.

A/N: Next chapter will be the start of Harry`s journey to Hogwarts. I hope you guys like the setup so far, I really want to focus on the friendships and character developments more than gorey, killey stuff XD