Yes its a cliche but frankly any story in which Harry sorts is life out and doesn't include shopping I'm not sure I really trust.
The two weeks were up and Harry couldn't wait for actual human contact, he had heard the Dursley's clattering about the house oblivious to his presence but he made sure he never saw them. Dobby was a godsend but he was still rather enthusiastic about the situation, not that that was a bad thing but it wouldn't do him any harm to actually talk to someone.
Hedwig had been and gone again he had decided that Hagrid then back then Hermione and Weasleys and back was the best way, that way he could relay the information about Samson to Ginny. The route would be even quicker soon since Hermione was going to France so Hermione would send her off to Hermione separately and less frequently but with longer letters. Hermione's response to his letter had seemed odd at first, she seemed relieved and had nothing but praise for him for studying s diligently. The relieved tone was odd at first until the letter made mentioned of not needing her anymore if he was going to study so hard.
He was rather upset for his friend. She too had rather a difficult upbringing, though through no fault of her parents, but that of other children, that in conjunction with barely seeing her at the end of the year must have affected her and her apparently low self-esteem. In Harry's reply he made sure he told her in no uncertain terms how much he needed her, she was after all one of his first ever friends too.
Ron's responses were typical, joking about letting the side down but there was an undercurrent of understanding. Perhaps he was maturing...slightly.
Hagrid's response was rather gratifying. Apparently Samson was staying with him and Fang though Fang no longer went into the forest with them as the daft dog was afraid of Kalcon. Samson had no such fears and apparently enjoyed the short breaks with Kali. Hagrid saw Kali everyday and Kalcon twice that week, telling the pair that Harry was asking after them and that all was well. While the situation with the familiars was not ideal, it seemed to be working out as well as could be hoped.
It was Ginny's response that he was most heartened by. She didn't say much about herself, he had noticed that while she was improving she was still rather shy around him, but she did say she would like to train too and that as soon as she finished the letter she was going to try and write to Bill about everything.
He had carried on with his morning exercises, completing his circuit for only the second time. His progress with press ups and sit ups had stalled but not stopped and he was on twenty-five of each. He was amazed at the difference the diet had made, while it was impossible to eat food that was especially bad for you at Hogwarts, having a relatively strict healthy eating program made the world of difference, most of his experience eating with the Dursley's was take what you can when you can, the relative quality of the food was not a factor. This diet though left him with boundless energy and he was easily maintaining the healthy appearance given to him via the bond.
He was waiting outside the house when Professor McGonagall arrived. They had decided that disturbing the Dursley's as little as possible was the best tactic.
"Mr Potter, I see you're ready to go. I have the full day free and hopefully Filius and Bathsheba can join us this evening to assess the wards on The Kiln."
"You really think we'll be able to go there today Professor?" He asked cautiously unwilling to let himself believe it just yet.
"I'm certain of it Mr Potter. We have a backup plan if the trip to the bank is unsuccessful. Now, hold onto my arm, we are going to side-along apparate. It is a rather unpleasant sensation but a most effective way to travel."
Holding tightly onto his Professor's arm he heard a pop as he felt almost like someone was trying to force him through a rather small tube. Before he had time to properly assess his situation he had arrived in Diagon Alley. It took him a moment to gather himself as his Professor looked on. "I'm not sure I like that Professor."
"No, not many do, but it does have its advantages. Now aside from Gringott's is there anywhere else you would like to go today?"
"Well, I think I need at least one new cauldron and some potion vials." The Professor raised an eyebrow. "I've err..." He faltered under her stern gaze. "I've been reading the book Professor Slughorn recommended and based on that going back and trying to make Potions again, the ones from the last two years. I'm not very far along but I've been doing one a day for the last ten days or so."
"And they worked?"
"I think so Professor, they've come out how the books say they should, and it seems a waste to throw them away and if the animagus potion is going to be sitting in a cauldron for two months I'll need another"
"Indeed. Very well a new cauldron. Anything else?"
"Well, Flourish and Blotts might be useful, I was interested in animagus books." He whispered conspiratorially.
"Very well, if that is all, let us-"
"Err Professor?"
"Yes child?" she asked, not unkindly though Harry bristled at being called a child.
"W-Would it be possible for me to get some regular clothes? I've never had anything that wasn't Dudley's but if I don't have to go back there I never want to wear his things again." He looked at her hopefully
A look of understanding and sympathy crossed her face as her heart went out to the boy in front of her who had had so little good in his life. "Of c-course Harry." Her voice emotional. "We can make our way to muggle London after the bookstore."
The pair made their way to Gringott's and a teller.
"Key?" asked the goblin forcefully, not looking up from the parchment in front of him.
"I am here to escort Mr Potter to his Family Vault. This letter from his magical guardian should suffice."
After looking up in surprised at Harry's name, the goblin perused the letter in front of him.
"Very well. Nimlock!" another Goblin scurried over to the pair "please escort Mr Potter and the Professor to his Family Vault." The Goblin bowed low then turned and marched away as the pair sped after him.
On reaching the doors to the vaults they were beckoned through and into a cart. The Professor seemed unfazed by the cart ride and even managed to talk a little about his family history before they reached the vault.
"While not of the true wizarding nobility, the Potter line is one of the oldest on record. They are also rather comfortably well off. As befitting the master craftsmen they traditionally were, they were paid handsomely for their services, sometimes in gold, sometimes through exchange of services or talents and sometimes through knowledge. While by no means extensive, from what I remember the Potter library is home to a number of rare and unusual works. Due to the occupancy spell these tomes should be in your vault."
"Occupancy spell Professor?"
"Yes when the Master or mistress of an ancestral home dies, all non-fixed valuables are automatically brought to the family vault until such time as a new rightful occupant of the home claims it."
"So everything that should be in the house will be in here? Won't it be rather crowded?"
"Gringott's has contingency plans for just such an occasion and each family vault has a number of rooms. One for money one for furniture, one for decorations such as artwork or antiques, one for weaponry et cetera."
"Weaponry?"
"Yes the Potter's amassed a rather intriguing selection I am led to understand. Now here we are." As the cart stopped Harry was surprised by the length of time taken to reach the vault. He was even more surprised when he looked at the image on the vault door. He looked at the Professor confused "A winged boar?"
The Professor smirked "Yes Mr Potter."
"Like the ones at Hogwarts?"
"Yes. It is not widely known but almost all the statues in Hogwarts are Potter creations. In honour of the quality of their work the Founders allowed the Potter emblem to adorn the gates of their institution."
At this point Nimlock interrupted, "Mr Potter if you will place your hand upon the door."
As Harry did so he felt a sharp pinprick on his thumb and after a moment the large door swung inwards.
"Mr Potter, I must inform you that due to the nature of your trust vault you are not allowed to remove any coins from this vault." the goblin warned sternly. "Your trust vault is replenished each year from the coins here."
Harry nodded in understanding and moved through to the vault. Inside he was met with a relatively small square room with three doors leading off it. He had been followed in by the Professor and Nimlock and it was again the goblin who spoke.
"Sir, there is a particular enchantment that is at work on this vault, I was unaware of it until now as I had never entered here. The goblins of Gringotts offer a service upon the establishment of a family vault whereby when any of the direct bloodline enter, the antechamber answers their most pressing need. For example, if books are stored here on a permanent basis and that knowledge is required the book would appear in here rather than forcing the vault holder to search through the vaults themselves."
"Wow, so if we needed the location of my ancestral home and the answer was in this vault it would appear in this room?" The goblin merely nodded in response.
As Harry looked around the antechamber he noticed a small pile of papers on one of the shelves. Grinning he walked over to the shelf and quickly rifled through the papers searching out the necessary details. He found them on a map of the Lake District with the coordinates of 'The Kiln' clearly marked. Turning to share the information with Professor McGonagall, he was surprised to hear the tinkle of metal on stone and he looked down to see a silver ring on the floor. Bending down to pick up the ring he saw it appeared to be a silver metal possibly platinum. The ring was large and the front portion adorned with a royal blue square inset with an intricately designed winged boar made of the same metal as the ring itself. He looked up at Professor McGonagall who nodded at his unasked question and he put the ring on his right index finger.
A light of the same royal blue surrounded the ring as it resized itself to fit him and he felt an odd warmth emanating from the ring itself.
"Err what just happened Professor?"
"The real reason we had to come here today Mr Potter. A number of ancestral homes, particularly those which have occupancy enchantments, require the rightful heir to wear the house ring before the fittings are restored to the home. Not all have them which is why I hadn't mentioned it but now that you have claimed the ring and been accepted I dare say you will find two of these rooms significantly emptier."
Harry had forgotten about the doors off the vault, and quickly looked through them. Two of the rooms were indeed empty; the third looked to have not quite ten times the amount of gold that was in his trust vault, but nothing else. Knowing that he could take nothing else from the vault the trio departed.
On the way out he asked Nimlock if they could stop at his trust vault to withdraw funds and fifteen minutes later the pair were back in the open air.
Harry had thought his trip to Gringott's suspiciously simple and harboured strong hopes that he would soon see his new home. He was to be disappointed. The hour in Gringotts was supplemented with fifteen minutes buying cauldrons, vials and mobile heat stands and half an hour in Flourish and Blotts as the Professor was asked to recommend alternative textbooks by numerous customers. That took the pair to eleven o'clock but hopes of a short trip to muggle London for clothes and lunch were dashed when he saw where they were going for clothes, the department store was huge! It was three very hungry hours later that the pair emerged, though Harry had a completely new wardrobe. The pair quickly made their way to a sandwich shop and Harry wolfed down his lunch, quite aware of the disapproving glare of his Head of House but too eager to see his new home to care. The professor must have understood his enthusiasm as she ate the sandwich with greater gusto than decorum would usually allow her to permit. Once the late lunch was finished the professor, who had shrunk and lightened all of their current purchases, took hold of their bags and Harry's arm and with a warning of apparition moved them to the designated coordinates.