Previously

Why should you choose our school? To forge your own identity. To be who you were meant to be, not as the whole world wants you to be. To learn your destiny and prepare. To live in both magical and muggle worlds. To find freedom and acceptance.

"Wow," Hermione said softly. "You're famous. You're a hero." She looked at Harry in awe. Harry just continued looking at the paper. If he was famous why did he live with people who hated him, who abandoned him?

"What are you going to choose?" He asked Hermione.

"Oh! I don't know. My pamphlet says that Hogwarts is the best school in Europe but the Academy of Magicks sounds really good. I think I'll just have to let my parents decide. What about you?"

"The Academy of Magicks, no question."

"Shouldn't you ask your relatives first?" Hermione asked a bit confused.

"They won't mind," Harry replied. 'Or care' he thought but didn't say anything.

"Oh my goodness, I can't believe we are going to be learning magic! We need to get books and prepare. We need to find out what the schools teach so we wont be behind. We'll be at a huge disadvantage to people who grew up with magic. I don't know any magic, do you? I had no idea before I got my letter that magic even existed. I mean I hoped but…" She trailed off looking a bit frantic.

Harry did know a bit of magic and lit up his reading light in his hand. A ball of light appeared in his outstretched hand. Hermione squealed, looking at the light in awe.

"I use it for reading at night," Harry said. "I can do a few other things too. You just need to wish for it." He closed his hand and the light went out. "You try."

Hermione held out her hand concentrated. A light flickered over her hand for a few seconds before becoming a softly glowing ball. Hermione gasped and the light went out.

"Did you see that?! I did magic!" She jumped up and Harry clapped. "I'm a witch, an actual witch. Oh I can't wait to show my parents."

"Speaking of your parents don't you think you had better go? They don't know where you are." Hermione looked horrified.

"Oh no. I forgot. I didn't realise. I'm sorry, I have to go. Wait! Here's my number. Call me and we can get together to get our school things." She scribbled a number down on a piece of paper before rushing out the door.

Hermione was normal.

This was something she was neither proud of or disappointed in. Her parents were dentists, they had a nice town house on the outskirts of London and a decrepit old dog named Billy. She got worked hard to get good grades in the good school her parents sent her, and believe that every mystery could be solved using books, logic and listening to your elders.

But Hermione had a secret. After her everyday normal life, when she was tucked up in her bed, she dreamed of something more. Of dragons and mermaids. Heroes and demons. Witches and sorcerers.

Magic.

Of course Hermione didn't believe in magic. Honestly, how could such nonsense be real? This school, Hogwarts, must be just a cruel joke played on her by the kids at school. Who did they think she was? Still in the deepest parts of her soul, where there resided a shining light she didn't even know she had, she hoped.

She never expected to find a hero in Surrey. She never thought his weapon of choice would be an old stick. She never dreamed he would chose to rescue her. But that's exactly what happened at the end of July in 1991.

He was her hero. He showed her magic. He touched a part of her that lay beneath layers of practicality and logic and for the first time in her life made her believe that there was more to the world than what she could see.

For the rest of her life nothing would ever shake Hermiones conviction that it was Harry Potter that made her a witch.

After Hermione left Harry went back to the parchment and looked over the story of his parents death. The Dursleys had always told him they had died in a drunken car accident. But if the parchment was to be believed they were wizards. Heroes. The Dursleys must have known. That must be why they hated him. He was a wizard.

Well he wasn't going to put up with it any longer. He was going to go to school and learn magic. He was going to make his parents proud. Pulling the acceptance letter over to him a thought occurred to him and he deflated. How was he going to pay for everything? The Dursley weren't going to. They wouldn't even buy him new clothes. Grabbing the question parchment, he asked

How am I supposed to pay for everything? Where do I get all the supplies?

Easy. Your parents left you a great inheritance. All you need to do is go to Gringotts and prove who you are. A simple blood test does this as you don't have your key. The goblins, (who run the bank, be polite to goblins) will issue you a key so you can get money at any time. Gringotts is located on Diagon Alley accessible though the Leaky Cauldron on Charring Cross Road. All the shops you will need are located on Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, or Vertic Alley.

An inheritance? The Dursleys can't have known about that or the would have taken it away. They were always complaining about a expensive he was to keep. Well it was decided. Getting the letter, Harry hesitated for only a fraction of a second before writing 'Accept' on the bottom. Instantly more writing appeared on the letter.

Thank you for accepting our invitation. This letter can be used as a portkey to Gringotts and the school. To get to Gringotts simply hold the letter and say 'portus Gringotts'. And to get to the school say 'portus Academy'. We look forward to seeing you.

Harry decided to wait until he could talk to Hermione before going to get his things. He didn't see her at the library for the next couple of days so he decided to call her.

"Hello, Granger residence?" a voice answered.

"Um… Hello. This is Harry. Harry Potter. I was calling for Hermione."

"Oh, Harry! I was hoping you would call. Hermione mentioned you got a letter like she did. She's been bursting with excitement ever since she came home. Hold on a second I'll get her."

Harry waited and soon Hermione came on the line.

"Harry! I'm going to Hogwarts. One of the teachers came around yesterday. A professor McGonagall. She was ever so nice and she turned the coffee table into a frog! She turned it back again of course. Did you know that wizards use owls to deliver their mail? I really want to get one but Mum says I have to wait and see. Have you decided which school you are going to yet?" Hermione spoke really fast and Harry had a bit of trouble keeping up.

"Yeah, I choose the Academy of Magicks. I was going to get my stuff tomorrow if you want to come?" he answered when he managed to work out what she had asked.

"Tomorrow?! Hold on a second, I'll ask." There was some talking in the back ground that Harry couldn't make out, then Hermione was back. "Sure that would be great! Do you want us to meet you or do you want us to pick you up?"

"I'll meet you at the bank in Diagon Alley, Gringotts at 11.00." That should give him enough time to prove to the goblins who he was and get some of his inheritance.

"Great! Ok we'll meet you there. At 11. See you tomorrow."

The next morning, at 10 o'clock Harry was dressed in his best clothes, (Dudley's old best, they were too big for Harry) with his backpack over his shoulder and ready to go. Picking up his letter, he screwed up his eyes, gathered his courage and said "portus Gringotts." As soon as the words were out of his mouth he felt a pulling sensation around his navel and opened his eyes to see a one of the most impressive sights he had ever seen.

Harry gasped at the huge building made of white marble. Cautiously he walked up the steps to the door which had the following words engraved on it:

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Most pay dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

'This must be Gringotts,' Harry thought with awe. He pushed open the huge doors and found himself in a totally different world. There were men and women in what appeared to be bathrobes. They looked pretty strange to him. Strange looking creatures Harry assumed were goblins were counting gold, silver and bronze coins. He walked up to one of the lines that was empty.

"Excuse me sir. My name is Harry Potter. I was told I could claim my inheritance here." Harry asked kind of intimidated.

"Inheritance offices are that way," that goblin stated without looking up. Another goblin came forward. Harry followed the goblin for a while until he came to a door that said Assistant Goblin Griphook on a plaque. Harry knocked on the door and was bid to enter.

"Mr Griphook?" Harry said.

The goblin just nodded in affirmation. He motioned for Harry to sit down in one of the fancy looking leather chairs. Harry did so.

"We require a blood sample to confirm your identity and heritage. Hold out your hand." Griphook snarled. The goblin came over, mumbled something, and pointed his finger at Harry's. A drop of blood seemed to seep out of the skin and hovered over his hand.

Harry was amazed at some of the first magic he had seen.

Griphook moved the blood drop over to a heavy marble bowl. The drop fell down into the bowl. He turned to Harry.

"Place your hands on the bowl and recite your full name."

Harry did just that. A second later the bowl seemed to fill with a light blue mist. When it cleared the drop of blood had expanded and now form words. It read:

Harry James Potter

Heir to the line of

Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Potter

Vaults 23, 218, 436, 637, 854, 916

Approximate Net Worth: 8.3 billion galleons

Parents: James Theodore Potter

And Lily Marie Evans Potter

Harry couldn't believe it he was filthy rich and apparently a very influential member of society.

"Well? Are you going to visit your vaults?" the goblin asked.

"Er… sure." Harry answered, still trying to understand how he could possibly have so much. Still in a daze, he followed the goblin down a dark torch-lit tunnel to a cart. Harry climbed into one of the carts and it set off through a maze of tunnels and caverns before coming to a stop at vault 23. The door to the vault had a crest with two dragons, one black the other silver sleeping curled around each other with what looked like depictions of the four elements in the background. The word Potter was emblazoned over the arch along the top. There was, however no handle.

"State your name and demand entry." Griphook supplied.

"I am Harry James Potter, and I demand entry." Harry told the door. The crest seemed to glow for a minute before the great doors swung open. What met Harry's eyes was amazing. There were mounds and mounds of gold silver and bronze. Around the walls there were five huge bookcases with ancient books upon them that didn't even look aged. Harry started walking around the vault looking at everything in awe.

Leaning against one wall was a nice looking trunk with a book sitting on top. It was mahogany with silver fastenings and an obsidian plate attached to the lid with same crest that was on the vault door and the name 'Harold Orion Potter' engraved on it. As Harry place his hand on the top admiring the craftsmanship the plate changed, it now read 'Harry James Potter'.

'I guess it's mine now' Harry thought in amazement. Picking up the book that was sitting on the trunk he saw that is was an instruction manual. Reading the instructions and features of the trunk, Harry was bowled over at all the incredible things magic was capable of making possible. The book said that the trunk had three room sized compartments which were fully decorated. It also had a special feature that you could walk from compartment to compartment from within the trunk. All you had to do was place your hand on the wall and a list of compartments to choose from would appear, much like the buttons on an elevator. It also had a feature where you could link the trunk with a school bag and it would send what you want into the bag and vice versa. The trunk recognizes you by reading your magical signature and taking a voice analysis. It also had a shrink and enlarge system for easy travelling. Another useful feature is the feather light enchantment upon it.

Flipping through the manual Harry first followed the instruction that would activated the security systems and gave his magic and voice pattern to the trunk. Then he shrunk the trunk and pocketed it. Grabbing handfuls of the gold, silver and bronze coins he stuffed them in the pouch the Griphook had supplied him with.

Looking around the vault to see if there was anything else he should take with him, he spotted a few pedestals in one corner. On one was a rather interesting book that was entitled 'Animagi, Release the Wild Within, by James Theodore Potter AKA Prongs'. Harry picked up the book reverently. This was written by his father. He stared at the book for a few seconds before snapping out of it and putting the book in his backpack. Looking at the other pedestals there was a small earring with a blue stone. The note said that while this earring was worn the person who wore it have a light shield against legilimency and would also allow greater ease in learning occulumency and sorting his mind, helping with memory recall. Not knowing what occulumency or legilimency were, the earring still sounded like a good idea and Harry decided to get his ear pierced later.

On another pedestal toward the back of the vault lay a book. As Harry got closer to it he could feel a soft sense of something coming from the book itself. Walking up to the book, he got a good look at it. It was a heavy looking book, bound with leather about five centimetres thick. 'Potter' was embossed in gold on the cover. Harry slowly lifted his arms to pick up the book, feeling like something was going to happen. As he lay his hands on the book the strangest feeling washed over him. It felt like the book loved him, like it was happy he was there. It felt like coming home. Harry snatched the book up and clutched it tightly to his chest allowing the feeling to wash over him as tears ran down his face.

He was loved. He was wanted. He was home.

Auther Note:

This is not a Harry/Hermione fic. Sorry to those who requested it. I like Harry/Hermione. I read Harry/Hermione. But I can not write Harry/Hermione. There will be no pairings in this story.

Also Hermione will not be going to the Academy. They will go to different schools. At least for now. I have plans for their third and fourths years. That is if I wirte it the long way. I may set up the basics and skip to their seveth year.

Tell me what you think. I'm always open to ideas.