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Chapter 9: True Friends

While Professor Dumbledore plotted against Harry. Harry himself was busy continuing on with his training. Now Harry had another task before him and it wasn't something he was particularly looking forward too.

"But why Sorian do I have to do this" Harry asked in a whiny tone

"Because your Majesty it is expected of you, and this is for the people. Now once again one two three one two three." Sorian said as watched Harry lead one of the female servants across the ball room floor.

"I just don't get it I have already passed the Trials of Excalibur do I really have to have a coronation and then this bloody Coronation Ball." Harry asked

"I'm afraid so your Majesty it is tradition." Sorian said trying not to smirk at the young man who had only a few weeks ago become his King.

"I'd rather have dueling practice with Gladius at least that torture is less embarrassing" Harry said as he stepped on the young woman who had volunteered to practice dancing with the young king.

Of course Harry had turned several shades of red and apologized profusely to the now limping woman. Sorian had decided that it was then time to end the kings "Dancing Lessons" if one could call what Harry did as dancing.

"Have you decided your Majesty if you will be inviting any of your friends to your coronation. Perhaps a young lady" Sorian asked

"I don't know how I'm going to break it to them. I mean I know Hermione will support me no matter what, but Ron I'm not so sure about." Harry said uncertain as to what his friends would say when they found out about his birthright.

"You have to trust in them. If they can not accept this as part of you then they were probably not your friends to begin with. Now on to other things I believe you said you wanted to go into London for a spot of shopping." Sorian said

"I forgot all about that. Do we have time for that I mean I have so much work to do, and all of the training…" Harry began

"Your Majesty even the King needs a day to relax. I was also thinking that perhaps you might want to meet up with a few of your friends from school. We will of course have to arrange the proper amount of security for your trip out, but I believe it can all be arranged." Sorian said

"Wow…that would be absolutely brilliant. When can I let them know?" Harry asked excitedly

" Whenever you like your Majesty." Sorian said

Without missing a beat Harry took off at a dead sprint for the tower where all of the royal messenger birds stayed. Inside the tower was not your usual brown messenger owls. Instead Harry had found out several days earlier were Phoenix's. These majestic and ancient birds had been used as the royal messengers for the House of Pendragon since the days of Arthur. While Harry had thought about sending one of these beautiful birds he knew that if he had done that he would have tipped his hand about what was going on around him. While he was sure Dumbledore knew of his heritage he wasn't sure if the others in the Order knew. So he approached his faithful friend Hedwig.

"Hello girl. Do you feel like taking a trip for me." Harry asked as he observed the snowy Owl hoot in agreement.

"Well, I need you to take these to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. I don't want you to wait for a reply just fly back. Do you understand?" Harry asked the precocious bird who's response was to hoot. Then with a few powerful flaps of her Wings the beautiful snowy owl left the tower in search of Harry's friends.

Albus Dumbledore paced his office in Hogwarts wondering if Severus would be able to set everything up. He knew that if Harry was going to make an appearance to anyone it would be young Ms. Granger. Dumbledore knew that the relationship between the two young people was something to be watched. Dumbledore had hoped that perhaps Harry would gravitate towards Ms. Weasley. However, this was not to come about if ever there was a chance for young love it had passed. As the years went by Harry and Hermione grew closer and closer. Despite the constant efforts of Mrs. Weasley and himself. Although to be fair Mrs. Weasley's was more benevolent than anything.

Just as Dumbledore was about to take a seat. One of the many magical devices that had for so long been a staple of his office and part of the decorum. Dumbledore knew what this device did better than any other. This strange creation monitored the mail sent by Harry to any of his friends. In the misty ball an image would form of the person that Harry had sent a message too. As the image began to settle. Dumbledore knew who this person was. Harry had sent a message to Hermione. Immediately Dumbledore ran over to his flew.

"Severus Snape" Dumbledore said into the green flame and then stuck his head through the fireplace.

"Headmaster, what may I do for you." Snape asked in his usual slick tone

"Severus, young Harry has contacted Ms. Granger. Make the necessary arrangements. I do not want her hurt, but we must do what is necessary to ensure Harry is brought back under our wings." Dumbledore said his eyes loosing the usual twinkle and taking on a dark image.

"I will do all that is necessary" Snape said with a wicked smile.

As Dumbledore and Snape plotted against Harry. Another person in an affluent London burrow received some of the happiest news she could have wished for.

Dear Hermione

I hope that you are not to upset with me for disappearing, but I didn't really have a choice in the matter. As you can guess I am no longer living with the Dursley's. I have found out some things about my past that Dumbledore had hidden from me. I hope all is well with you. I can't wait to tell you everything that has happened over the last few weeks. I just don't think that a letter is the proper place to tell you this. I am going to be going into London on 29 July. If you are willing I'll meet you at Gringotts at 1000. Just send word with Hedwig if you can meet me. I really hope you can come.

Love

Harry

To say that Hermione was relieved to receive the letter from Harry was something of an understatement. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted from her chest. She of course would want to meet Harry. She was unsure as to why they would have to meet at Gringotts. Normally, if they were going to meet somewhere they would normally meet up at the Leaky Cauldron. This however was not important the most important part was that she was going to get to see Harry in a couple of days. As she thought of her best friend she could feel her pulse beginning to race. She knew that everyone expect her and Ron to eventually get together. As far as she was concerned this was never going to happen. She liked Ron well enough. However, every time she thought that there might be some possibility of a romantic relationship blossoming he would do something to knock those thoughts off track. Harry on the other hand had always been there for her. They may have had their disagreements, but in the end they both really cared about each other. This was the thoughts that were racing through her head as she ran down stairs to ask her parents for a ride to Diagon Alley which she was sure they would do for her.

While Hermione was beginning to feel the excitement of the long awaited reunion of her best friend Harry. The other member in the Golden Trio was having a reaction of a different sort. To say that Ron was slightly agitated by the sudden reappearance of Harry Potter was something of an understatement.

"I can't believe him. He just disappears and suddenly he sends us letters saying we should all get together like nothing has happened. I bet he wants to meet at Gringotts just to show off all the money he has. Maybe, Snape is right he is just an attention seeking upstart. I bet he loves all of the attention that he gets for being the Boy-Who-Lived. With a swift motion Ron crumpled the hand written note that Harry had sent him and threw it to the ground. He then placed the letter that had been attached with his addressed to Ginny and threw it into his trunk. He would be damned if he let his sister get involved with the attention seeking fool.

A/N: Sorry about the long wait between updates. Unfortunately, my mother who has cancer has taken a turn for the worst. I will still be updating the story. It just might take me a little longer to crank out the chapters. Please keep reading the next chapter should be one of the better ones.