Chapter 2
When Harry opened his eyes, his friends were gone. In their place was the familiar dark and dusty confinement of the cupboard under the stairs. The lock was no trouble for a nineteen year old in a ten year old body. His relatives were out. The wards were tweaked to allow him to leave undetected. He had two days until his letter came.
Operation White Lightning had begun.
It took a lot of explanation, but the Goblins at Gringotts agreed to emancipate Harry and give him full control over all his vaults. His first action was to combine the vaults into one new one under his name alone, bar his school vault. His second was to start an investigation into any money and items illegally taken from him and his parents. Including his invisibility cloak. The third was an anonymous letter, stating every flaw in the ministries way of dealing with Sirius' case. It was subtle, gave away enough hints of anger in the wording, and spoke the right language. It would take some time, and a lot of leaking to the press, but the public would soon be crying out for his Godfather's release. Harry smirked and started on his next plan of action. Horcruxes.
The Goblins were able to seek out the cup on Harry's request. Getting to the ring was a little difficult but achievable. He was in and out of Grimmauld Place without leaving a ripple in the wards. The diary took a bit of bargaining with a certain House Elf. Dobby's bond with the Malfoys was severed, and Harry was handed the diary. That Dobby was grateful and thus loyal to the Great Harry Potter was a perk. Nagini hadn't been turned into one yet, which was helpful as Harry didn't have a clue where to start looking if she had been. That left the diadem. Pity the wards around Hogwarts would instantly alert him to Albus. That is, unless he was an animagus. Now who would suspect him of being that?
With the Horcruxes put in a dark magic blocking box, minus Nagini, and the Dursleys out to the movies, Harry took a trip back to Diagon Alley. He was pleased to find out Sirius was finally being granted a trial. That reminded him. It was time a certain rat got his just rewards. 30 minutes later poor Ron was left wondering where his recently passed down pet had gone to, and Peter found himself making a helpful appearance towards Sirius' trial.
His letter day came and, after the usual fuss with his relatives, Harry was collected by Hagrid and happily taken shopping, dropping large hints about his treatment at his relatives along the way. The Weasley's found him at the station, much like last time. Ron was amazed that he had really stumbled across the Harry Potter. Harry gave him no time to react as he clasped the red-head's hands and began chanting. A swirl of magic reared up. The trio decided that if Harry got to the past he would use his magic to bring the Ron and Hermione from there up to speed on everything that had happened, both in memory and magic. He needed their help and their friendship and it was better than letting them come into Hogwarts blind to the dangers. Harry finished his ritual and sat back. His friend slowly came out of his daze and shook his head.
'Bloody hell!'
'You ok there Ron?' Harry asked.
He smiled in relief when his friend grinned and hugged him, giving him a quick kiss.
'Never better mate. That was weird though. I mean I just went through eight years in a few minutes. Right up to that ritual. Harry if I ever start acting like a git like before, promise you'll hex me'.
Harry laughed as the woman came by with the sweet cart. Grinning he pulled out some galleons and asked for the lot. He turned back to Ron.
'I'll hold you to that, you big git'.
He laughed when his friend chucked a chocolate frog at him and they settled down to eat.
'I heard about Sirius. Good job mate. Done anything else?' Ron asked.
'Plenty. Let Hermione get here and I'll tell you both' Harry replied.
They glanced over as the door opened. Harry was quick to pull Hermione in and perform the chant on her. Once finished he sent a quick retrieving spell and brought Trevor back to Neville. Then he was engulfed in a hug.
'Oh Harry I'm so glad you're ok!'
She kissed him softly, then turned and kissed Ron, pulling them all into a group hug.
'Both of you… Don't ever leave…'
'Never…' Harry sighed.
'Promise…' Ron followed.
They spent a moment just holding each other. Then with a collective content sigh they sat down.
'So Harry, what have you done so far?' Hermione asked, snagging a chocolate frog.
'I've got Sirius out of prison and gathered all the Horcruxes. I've also stopped Dumbledore getting his hands on my parent's money. And I've got Dobby free from the Malfoys and on my side' Harry replied.
'Brilliant mate! So that leaves us with Quirrell, the Basilisk and Voldemort' Ron grinned.
'And Dumbledore of course' Hermione followed with a smirk.
'Then we need to plan ahead to make sure we get these things done, and done right' Harry said.