A/N: I'm not making money from this. This is J.K.'s world, I'm just playing in it.
Another crack and they landed in the official apparition point for the Alley, one that she hadn't been using earlier that day. Luckily, with so much magic, and with it being such a common practice, the Ministry weren't able to trace her magical signature. The owls immediately flew off to go and hunt, and Harry sighed in contentment beside her. "I love this place. Reminds me that I'm truly a wizard, you know?" he commented as they began to head for the Leaky Cauldron.
"Despite the fact that you go to a magical school, where you're taught magic and portraits move?" Alexandra countered, coaxing a laugh out of the young boy. She smiled in triumph. Five points to Gryffindor, she cheered internally, but she kept a calm face. They entered the pub and sat down at a well-lit table with a copy of today's Prophet lying abandoned on it. "Ooh! I've been meaning to pick one up! There should be a Gringotts announcement about me somewhere…ahah!" she exclaimed when her finger landed on it.
"Listen to this Harry, how exciting!
Gringotts Bank is pleased to announce that Alexandra Lily Potter has accepted the Headship of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, along with the temporary Headship of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter.
Lady Potter-Black, as she is now known, has made it clear that as soon as the presumed Potter Heir, Harry James, comes of age or feels that he is ready, she will renounce the title and pass on the Headship.
We at Gringotts offer our congratulations to Lady Potter-Black, and our deepest regards."
Alexandra beamed at Harry, who grinned at her excitement. "Look, this one on my left hand is the Potter House ring, you'll wear a similar one when you complete the Heir ritual later today. When you turn seventeen, or whenever after that, you'll wear this one!"
"I'm not sure I'll be able to accept the Heir ring, Alexandra. It seems that there's a lot to learn about etiquette and stuff, what if I mess it up this summer?" he confided, leaning back in his chair and looking down at his feet.
She reached across the table to take his hand. "Harry, you don't need to worry about that. I will teach you everything you need to know over the summer, and if you make mistakes before then, no one will ever call you out. They know exactly how much power we wield between the two of us. Come on, kiddo, the Head of two Ancient Houses and the Boy Who Lived. We got this."
The moment was interrupted by the arrival of Tom at their table. "Hi Tom. Could I have a Casesar salad with a small side of fresh fruit and water to drink please?" she said politely, glancing between the barkeep and the menu. The elder man winked at her. "Right you are, my Lady, and what'll it be for Harry here?"
Harry ordered steak and chips with steamed vegetables, taking a subtle cue from Alexandra's choice. Tom ambled off to put their order in, and Alexandra started up a conversation about Hogwarts while they ate their food. Harry was raving about the Christmas decorations in the Great Hall when their meals arrived and that sparked a thought as she speared a tomato.
"That reminds me, you have a decision to make. You get to pick where we live. I have a list of all our combined properties here, and I recommend a house in Britain, and also not the Den. It belonged to your father and Sirius, and it served as their bachelor pad. Not quite what we're looking for, I think." She took a sip of water and produced the list with a flourish.
"So, our conditions leave only Black Manor in Cornwall, Grimmauld Place in East London, Potter Manor in Kent, or Araniel House in Yorkshire. It's completely up to you, Harry, I don't mind." She said after scanning the list.
Harry nodded firmly, "I think Potter Manor. It's where my parents would have lived, where I would have lived without Voldemort and the war."
Alexandra smiled at the young boy, and pulled out her money pouch. Both of them had finished their meals, and she left the appropriate amount plus a tip on the table, and they left the pub.
Back in the Alley, the crowds had died down a bit, enough for Harry and Alexandra to make their way to Gringotts without interruption. They walked in together, Alexandra's heels clacking against the marble, and her floor length robes flowing behind her. Next to her, Harry cut a much less impressive figure, with Dudley's hand me downs completely drowning him. We'll definitely be paying Madame Twilfitt a visit after this. She spotted Griphook at an empty desk and made her way over, Harry at her side like a duckling following its mama.
"Greetings, Teller Griphook. May I present my cousin, Harry James Potter. I think you've already met. We would like to complete the Heir ritual for House Potter." She announced, resting her left hand on Harry's shoulder, who was grinning up at the goblin.
"Good afternoon, Lady Potter-Black, Mr Potter. If you would follow me, we can begin the ritual." Griphook led the way to the meeting room they had used the day before and produced the Potter ritual bowl. Harry, after being instructed as to what to do, slit his palm, and stated his name as the blood fell on the bowl. The same flash of amber magic lit the room and the Potter griffin reappeared. It nudged Harry's shoulder and tucked its head under the arm of the giggling boy, who obliged and wrapped his arms around the totem. The griffin then nudged Alexandra's elbow and looked pointedly between her and her cousin.
"Yes, yes, I understand, I'll look after him, I promise." She laughed, and the griffin nodded its head in approval and vanished. Griphook looked impressed, and handed Harry the Heir ring, which was similar to the Head ring, only the band was silver rather than gold and the stone was slightly smaller. They thanked Griphook and Alexandra asked permission to apparate out of the bank.
They landed with a crack outside the clothes shop, where Laura, the employee from the day before, was reopening the shop after lunch. Seeing the woman outside, Laura yelled for Madame Twilfitt before ushering the two inside and setting the sign to 'Closed'. She knew that they would make more money from Alexandra than any customers they would have had anyway.
"Laura! This is Harry, and we need the same things as yesterday, but obviously for an Heir. No expenses spared, just like yesterday." She explained, pushing Harry slightly forward. Madame Twilfitt arrived and she grinned at the two of them.
"Wonderful to see you again, my Lady. I must admit I'm enjoying providing the formal wear for two such prominent figures in our society." She gushed, flicking her wand at Harry to begin measurements.
"I must warn you though, don't go too overboard, I fear that he'll shoot up over the summer." She cautioned, and giggled when Madame Twilfitt looked at her in mock horror.
"My dear, I'll have you know that the only reason clothes from my prestigious establishment is because of damage and wear and tear. All of the items you have and will purchase can be altered to fit a growing boy like Harry." She sniffed in mock objection, and then laughed at her own antics.
The next few hours passed quickly as they had the day before, filled with trading banter with Madame Twilfitt and Laura, and occasionally Harry would chime in with a witty remark. They left the shop with bags of clothes, and smiles on their faces.
They repeated the process at the same department store in Muggle London that Alexandra had visited the day before. Harry changed into a pair of smart black jeans and a blue button-up shirt and shoes the Muggles called Vans.
As they approached the sports shop, Alexandra began to explain the benefits of physical fitness to a confused Harry. "In a duel, Harry, if you can keep moving for longer, you can avoid more spells for a longer time, giving you an advantage over your opponent, who will likely not be as fit as you will. Not to mention that it'll keep you healthy and improve your Quidditch skills. In fact, I might even suggest that to your captain…"
Harry selected a few t-shirts and sleeveless shirts as she had, along with shorts, joggers and sports socks. He picked out two pairs of Nike shoes, and she picked up another pair as well. She planned for one to be indoor and the other outdoor, and she also grabbed a few water bottles and a sweat band for their hair.
After apparating back to the Alley, they bought ice creams and as they ate them they ventured into a miscellaneous items shop, where they bought wand holsters for their arms and duelling kit: baggy black trousers that allowed movement and soft dragonhide boots that masked their footsteps.
Together, they called back their owls and Harry wrapped his arms around Alexandra, who had an owl on each shoulder, and with a crack they apparated to their new home, Potter Manor.