Draco sat on Harry's bed, watching him pack up everything with a flick of his wand. Harry was as organized as can be and was taking much longer than necessary. He was packing everything into one trunk, which was enchanted so that all seven compartments together would hold as much space as a small house. It wasn't surprising that Lucius brought Harry this for his birthday as he had as many books as a library. It was a requirement that the Death Eaters each give Harry a present for when the occasion demands it. For example, Yaxley had bought Hedwig for Harry for Christmas, and Bellatrix gave him dragon skin gloves so that Hedwig could perch on his hand without slicing his flesh with her talons. Of course, the beginning of term wasn't until September and it's only July, but Harry wouldn't wait.

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Yes?" Harry called.

It was Yaxley. "Sir, the Dark Lord wants to see you."

"Coming!" He nodded to Draco, who remained in his room, as Harry went into Voldemort's throne room. "Yes, Father?"

"I have decided that since today is your birthday before you go to Hogwarts, I want to give you a present." He paused. "No, two presents as make-up for all the years I haven't given you any." When Harry widened his eyes in surprise, Voldemort chuckled in his humorless voice. "Your first present is..." He summoned Hedwig and flicking his wand at her, muttered an incantation.

In moments, she was aflamed, and Harry nearly lost his composure over his animal friend. However, the flame didn't kill her. Instead, it turned her into a white phoenix with red flight feathers, tail feathers, with red flecks mixing with the white. After transforming she swooped down onto Harry's arms and looked at him with her yellow eyes. Obviously, the transformation hadn't changed her memories or anything.

Harry was speechless. "Thank you, Sir."

Voldemort chuckled once again. "It's about time you learn some respect. Now, your second present..." There was a hissing sound and a large snake slithered towards Harry. It was as large as a boa but it was poisonous. Harry could see venom dripping from its fangs as it stopped in front of him, regarding him with calculation.

"These two presents are yours to use." With that Voldemort voiced his dismissal and Harry bowed in thanks and left.

Harry stroked Hedwig on the head and asked to himself, "How did he do this? And for me?" Harry smiled as the phoenix nuzzled against his cheek affectionately. He turned to the snake who was staring at him with eyes that made it obvious that he was loyal to him with his life. "Voldemort chose wisely," he whispered.

Draco looked up when he entered and yelped. "Where did they come from, Harry?"

"Voldemort. Birthday presents," Harry answered happily. Draco was the only one he ever showed his feelings in front of. "This is the best year ever!"

Draco smirked. "You always say that every year. Not that I'm surprise. We all give you the best."

Harry took his wand and flicked it at Hedwig's old perch, enlarging it to fit the new Hedwig and he vanished the cage altogether. "I don't think phoenixes like cages, don't you?" He turned to his snake and asked in Parseltongue, "What's your name?"

"My name is the name you give me. My name will shape me, and give you authority over me. A name you choose for me, choose it wisely."

Harry thought for a second before saying, "Erykah seems perfect, even though it's normally used as a girl name. It means 'ever powerful'."

"Thank you for the name."

Draco stared at the snake and said, "Wow, two powerful creatures." His voice had a hint of jealousy in it and Harry laughed. "Whatever I have is also yours. You know that! No need to get jealous!" Draco replied defensively, "I am NOT jealous. I just want to buy a snake myself."

"Good luck with taming it," Harry replied, closing his open trunk. "Hmm, I have to go to Gringotts today. Care to join me?"

Draco nodded eagerly and grabbed Harry for Side-along Apparition. The soon appeared in front of Gringotts and Harry whispered, "I've been keeping this a secret from Voldemort for a while, so don't go blabbering about it. When I first came to Diagon Alley, I was alone, so naturally, he doesn't know about this." He pulled Draco through and up to a goblin walking down the walkway and whispered, "Griphook, could you show me to Lord Rockhand? The owner of Gringotts?"

Griphook looked up at Harry and, recognizing him, said in a semi-fond voice, "This way, Mr. Potter, sir." Turning, he gave Malfoy a stern look that obviously meant, "This is private. Wait here." He showed Harry to a large office and Harry walked inside. "Lord Rockhand?"

"Ah, my polite friend. It's been a while. I assumed you're here to learn about your inheritance? And how is the terrible Dark Lord doing? Not torturing you I hope." The goblin walked up to Harry, looking up at him.

"No, of course not, and yes, I'm hear to learn about my heritage." Harry bowed his head politely.

The goblin nodded and motioned for him to sit down. "I will only need a sample of your blood to tell you which families you're an heir to. I assumed there's many as your father was the only heir to many pureblood families." He cut Harry's finger and allowed a drop of blood to drip onto a piece of paper. His blood disappeared into the paper and then writing appeared:

Harry James Potter is the only heir to the pureblood families of Potter, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Ainsworth...(it continues for four more families).

"Interesting, my friend. Somehow, you're a direct heir of all these families. Before, you and You-Know-Who were both heirs of Slytherin, but now, he is the current heir while you will be the future heir after he dies because he took you under his care. Their blood runs through your veins. You're even the direct descendent of Merlin himself! Goodness!" Lord Rockhand's grin wavered slightly as he informed Harry, "However, Harry, you can't reach your inheritance yet as you're not of age. However, I will give you a parchment telling of your inheritance and all the papers you need concerning it. I think you will look forward to receiving your inheritance, as then you will be, if not close, to being the richest man on earth."

Harry nodded, shocked to the core on the inside, but maintaining his calm look on the outside. "Sir, please don't tell..."

"...the Dark Lord?" the goblin finished for him. "Don't worry, Mr. Potter." His eyes twinkled. "All vaults at Gringotts under our care is safe. Oh, and I have a feeling you want to transfer all your treasures into one vault. It will be much easier to keep an eye on it that way."

"Oh, yes, please!" Harry nodded vigorously.

"Now, I have to give you..." He snapped his fingers and a ring appeared in his hand. It was a simple gold band with the Potter family seal interwoven with some other families seals. Harry could vaguely make out the badger of Hufflepuff, the raven of Ravenclaw, the lion of Gryffindor, and the serpent of...Salazar Slytherin. "Wear this and on the day you turn seventeen, you will automatically receive all of your inheritance. So, just in case you might be...busy," the goblin's eyes darkened, obviously thinking of Voldemort, "you won't have to come all the way to Gringotts to claim everything. The ring will also signifies that you're the Head and Heir of all these families. Oh, it's also useful in that whatever ward you want to put over your estates, just cast it over your ring and it will apply to them all, saving a lot of time. You can do it now if you wish; you can do whatever you want with your inheritance now. You just can't actually go into the estates or take out your money until you're seventeen. A spell is put over the ring, so that it will...change when necessary."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused, but the goblin only smiled mysteriously.

"Now please sign all of these papers and your inheritance will be yours immediately on the night you turn seventeen and will remain yours, providing you still wear your ring of course."

Finished with the paperwork and organizing his inheritance, Harry took the ring and slipped it on his middle finger. "Sir, could you help me cast a Fidelius Charm on all of my estates...with some powerful wards?" Harry had a vague feeling that one day, he might actually have to go into hiding.

"Of course, Mr. Potter. Oh, and here are the papers associated with the estates and the rest of your inheritance," Lord Rockhand said, handing Harry a folder bulging with maps of his estates, his current budget, his trust fund, etc.

"Thank you...for everything, Lord Rockhand."

"Always a pleasure, Mr. Potter - the Boy Who Lived."

......

Draco paced. It was getting extremely dark and Harry still hadn't come out. "Where is that...?"

"Malfoy, why are you pacing?" asked a voice behind him, making him jump. "Let's go home now."

"Harry, what's going on?" Draco asked as he grabbed Harry's arm, both apparating to the Death Eaters' hideout.

"Let's just say that today has surprised me greatly." Then Harry thought inside his mind, However, money isn't everything...