Chapter 2: Planning Ahead

Harry spent the next few hours getting used to his younger body again. He had been nearly six inches taller and a bit less scrawny than he currently was. It felt strange to him, standing in the bathroom looking at himself in the mirror, "What a difference four years makes." He says to himself as he looked himself up and down. He looked at his scar and noticed the usual bulging scar looked to be fading. "Nice that'll be a bonus." He says and he moved to get dressed.

It was Saturday, so there were no classes to attend. It was then he realized he'd have to go through all the same classes he took before, yet for some reason he didn't seem to mind this idea. Perhaps his older self coming back to his younger body rid the body of the nefarious potions that dulled his desire to learn. He thought back to his last life when he only really learned new spells because his life was in danger otherwise he would goof off with Ron, but this was a far cry from the excited eleven year old who wanted nothing more than to learn magic. It made him wonder just how long had Dumbledore been potioning him. The thought made him angry, but he didn't have time to worry about that he had to prepare for the coming Monday.

Harry walked out of the bathroom passing the snoring Ron Weasley, his blood seemed to boil remembering Death told him the red head will start potioning Hermione next year to get her to like him. Some deep primal part of him wanted to jump at the bastard and begin beating him senseless, but Harry controlled himself taking a few deep breaths before leaving the room. He couldn't risk kicking Ron to the curb just yet. Not until after they discover Peter he needed another witness. He went down to the common room and spotted the familiar bushy haired girl sitting at the sofa in front of the fire place. Harry wasn't sure if it was because he knew the truth about them being soulmates, but he felt a sense of completion just from being in her presence.

He walks over and leaned against the back of the couch looking over her shoulder. She was reading her Ancient Runes text book and making notes. She was so focused she didn't even hear him come down nor had she noticed he was right behind her. He smirks a bit then says, "Getting some cramming in before exams?" he asks quietly.

Hermione Granger jumped when the quiet voice disturbed her silence. Her book that had been sitting in her lap fell to the floor. She whipped her head around glaring, "Harry James Potter don't you ever do that again!" she exclaimed in a whisper, "You almost gave me a heart attack." She says panting.

Harry walks around and picks up the book for her, "Sorry Hermione." He says as he passes her the book.

She snatches the book back and she situates herself and opens the book back up. "What are you doing up so early this morning anyway?" she asked glaring at him.

Harry shrugged, "I just woke up." He intended to tell her the truth but not yet, he decided to wait till all four of the ones he intended to tell the truth to were all together and that would be in two short days. "I'm going to do a few things wanna meet up for breakfast in an hour?" he asked.

"Yea alright I have to finish studying this though." She says as she opens her book back up to the page she was originally on.

"Don't blow a fuse Hermione." Harry teases as he turns and walks out of the common room. As soon he slipped past the sleeping fat lady Harry threw on his invisibility cloak. He knew Remus was currently in possession of the map but as early as it was he was fairly certain Remus was either asleep of getting ready for his day.

Harry made his way to the entrance of the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor and paced in front of it like he once did. As soon as the door appeared he immediately went in to find the oh so familiar Room of Hidden Things. He immediately began looking around the same area he found the Diadem of Ravenclaw which was, to him only seven hours ago. It didn't take him long to pull out the small velvet box that had been buried under the pile. He sighed, "I have to find them all over again…" He climbed down from the pile and stood on the floor. He then walks around until he finds the vanishing cabinet Draco Malfoy used in their sixth year to let Bellatrix and her fellow Death Eaters in.

He pulls out his wand aiming it at the cabinet, " Reducio" the cabinet shrunk before his eyes down to the size of a small rectangle. "This might come in handy…if Draco can fix it I'm sure I can, especially with Hermione's help." He picks up the small building block looking cabinet and slips it into his pocket. "Now…what do I do with you?" he asks curiously as he looks at the velvet box.

He then remembered something Fate had said and his eyes widened, "Dobby!" he calls out loudly.

There was a pop behind him Harry whipped around seeing the elf and a broad grin appeared on his face. Harry walked over and hugged the little elf tightly. The elf stood there stiff as a board at the hug, "Harry Potter sir?" he asks, "Dobby has been hoping you'd call for him." The elf says.

Harry pulls away, "Are you alright Dobby? Where have you been?" he says as he starts examining the elf particularly the spot where Bellatrix's knife had landed in his last life.

"Dobby is fine Harry Potter." The elf tells him the his voice sounding confused.

Harry let out a sigh of relief that his little friend was alive again he pat the elf's head, "Good I'm glad you're doing well." Harry said smiling, "So have you found a new place to work?" Harry said curious if the elf was working at Hogwarts yet.

"No sir Dobby has been asking for payment for his services now…no one wants to be paying Dobby." The elf said.

"Hmmm, well would you like to work for me Dobby?" Harry asks smiling.

Dobby's eyes widened, "You want Dobby?" Harry smiled and nodded. Dobby started sobbing loudly.

Harry smiled, he chose to do this so he could keep the elf, who had saved his life at the cost of the elf's own, close. He wanted to be sure Dumbledore couldn't use the elf against him. Harry promised to pay him what ever Dobby wanted and in exchange Dobby had to promise never to punish himself as Harry had witnessed the elf do many times in his second year. The bonding ritual took a matter of minutes and when done the elf looked much healthier than before.

"Dobby? Why do you look better than you did before?" Harry asks.

"Because of you Master Harry." The elf said flatly, "The longer an elf goes with out a master to serve the weaker his magic gets. Dobby was getting close to asking to work here at Hogwarts if he couldn't find a new master."

Harry looked the elf over and he looked even better than he did in his old life. His skin was a pinkish color and his eyes were bright and clear. "Interesting…but okay are you ready for your first task?"

The elf nodded eagerly, "Dobby will do his best Master Harry."

Harry rolled his eyes about being called 'Master', "Okay do you know if Gringotts will allow you to pull money from my vault?"

"Yes sir now that I'm your elf the goblinsies will be able to see your magic in Dobby. Dobby will just need your key."

Harry pulled out his Gringotts key and held it out for the elf, "Alright then I need you to go to Gringotts, withdraw some money, then do a little shopping for me. First I need you to get me a messenger bag with an Undetectable Extension Charm on it, then I need you to find a potions shop and purchase the freshest Wolfsbane Potion they have, also I need some books on defensive magic the advanced ones. You got all that?"

Dobby gave Harry a firm nod, "Yes Master Harry Dobby will take care of everything."

"Excellent," Harry smiled, "When you've got everything wait to bring it to me until I'm completely alone alright?"

"Yes sir." Dobby said before snapping his fingers and vanishing.

Harry smiled as he stood up straight, "Well that will set more than half my plans in place for Monday. Harry then tapped his wand to velvet box and magical bindings came out of the wand and wrapped themselves around the box sealing it tightly. He then threw his cloak over himself as he walked out of the room. Upon returning to the common room, while staying under the cloak, he saw Hermione was no longer there. He quietly slipped upstairs to find Ron still snoring obnoxiously. He doesn't remove his cloak as he opens his trunk quietly and slips the velvet box inside. He closes it then adds numerous locking and security charms to the trunk.

Ten minutes later an uncloaked Harry walked into the Great Hall spotting Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor Table her Ancient Runes book propped up against a jug of juice. Harry comes over and plops down beside her. She jumps a bit, not as much as she did earlier, but that didn't stop her from glaring at Harry. He smiled at her, "Are you going to read all day Hermione I'm sure you've got the entire book memorized by now."

"I'm just making sure I don't forget. What if I mess up a translation?" she said sounding exasperated. Harry rolled his eyes and grabbed the book closing it, "Harry! Give it back!" she growled.

"Eat first." He said firmly. Tucking the book on the opposite side of him out of her reach.

She narrowed her eyes, "Fine you better not have lost my place Harry." She says grumpily.

"I wouldn't dare risk the wrath of Hermione Granger." He says smiling. This felt so nice, just yesterday he was in a middle of a war and now he is was enjoying breakfast with his best friend those memories seeming to be so far away.

An hour went by, Harry returned Hermione's book after she had what he considered a proper breakfast, then she resumed reading. He would never admit it to her but in his last life while just he and Hermione were alone in the tent he actually read that book four times cover to cover. The subject was indeed intriguing he was already considering dropping Divinations since the class was useless to him. "Maybe I'll switch to Ancient Runs." He said quietly, thinking he only thought it.

Hermione's head turned his way slowly looking at him with wide eyes. It was then he realized he had just said that out loud, ' Oh bloody hell.' He thought to himself this time.

"Harry you really should it's a fascinating subject!" She had the biggest grin on her face, "Which elective are you going to drop? Divinations I hope."

"Yes, you were right the class is bloody useless. Just keep it between us for now please." He says rolling his eyes, "Last thing I want to hear this weekend is Ron griping about me dropping the 'easiest class in the school'."

"Speaking of…" Hermione said nodding her head toward the door.

Walking into the Great Hall was Ron, and he looked extremely grumpy. The red head walks up to them and plops beside Harry, "Why didn't you wake me up?" he asked in an accusatory tone.

"Because I woke up before dawn." Harry responded sounding annoyed. His tone didn't escape Hermione's attention, she looked at Harry worriedly while Ron began piling on food onto his plate.

"Good move I wouldn't have liked that mate." The red head says as he starts greedily stuffing his face.

Harry looked at the boy who was stuffing his face as if he hadn't eaten in days. A slight look of revulsion crossed Harry's face, another something Hermione didn't fail to notice, but she kept quiet about it. The group sat in relative silence while the red head continued to gorge himself. Soon Harry stood up, "I need to go take care of a few things I'll meet up with you guys later." He said more looking towards Hermione than Ron.

"Mokay wets pway chess ater den." Ron manages to say with a mouth full of food.

Harry had to control his facial expressions he wanted to hurl seeing that display, "We'll see, I'll find you later." He then walked away.

Harry made his way to Professor McGonagall's office and knocked before he heard, "Come in." Harry entered the room finding his head of house sitting at her desk working over some paper work. She looks up, "Mr. Potter what can I do for you today?" she says before returning to her work.

"I wanted to talk to you about changing my electives." He said.

McGonagall stopped and looked up, "Finally taking your education seriously Mr. Potter?"

"Yes actually, I'd like to drop Divinations. You and Hermione were right…it is a 'wooly' subject. I'd like to switch it to Ancient Runes." He said flatly.

McGonagall looked surprised and please at the same time, "Very well I will have to request before you leave for the summer holiday's that you pass the exam. I recommend you have Miss Ganger tutor you. If you pass I'll submit your request." She said a slight smile on her stern face.

"Thank you ma'am." Harry said then turned and left the woman's office.

Harry felt a strange sensation as he walked down the hall, he could feel that Dobby was ready to deliver his items. Harry quickly slipped into an empty classroom and locked the door before casting privacy charms. "Alright Dobby."

The elf suddenly appeared, "Master Harry, Dobby has what you requested." He holds out a black messenger bag.

Harry took it and opened the flap he then stuck his arm in and smiled when the bag swallowed his whole arm, "Perfect Dobby! And the potion?" he asked.

Dobby snaps his fingers and a phial appears in the elf's hands, "This took Dobby longer than the bag but Dobby found it. The potions lady said it had finished brewing just this morning before dawn."

"Excellent Dobby." Harry smiled as he cast an Unbreakable and a Stasis Charm on the phial before slipping it into his new bag. "Lastly the books?" The elf told him the defense books were already in the bag. "Perfect Dobby great work."

"Master Harry…" the elf said quietly as he reached into the folds of his pillowcase and pulled out a letter, "While Dobby was at Gringotts one of the goblinsies gave this to Dobby." He holds the letter out to him. "He said he needs to see you."

Harry took the letter and smiled, "Interesting, I bet we are wanting to talk about the same thing." He smiled as he opened the letter.

Dear Mr. Potter

My name is Ragnok the VII, I have been the Potter family account manager for the last fifty years like my father and his father before him. It has come to my attention I have yet to meet you. This is a grave error. I should have met with you on your eleventh birthday however you never arrived. I assumed you didn't know of your account with us, but today I found your house elf in Gringotts lobby stating he was Harry Potter's elf. I had immediately intervened and had the elf join me in my office. He tells me you have been attending Hogwarts for three years now and states you have been to Gringotts multiple times. You can imagine my confusion when I heard this seeing as you should have met with me long before now. At this time I request your presence in my office as soon as possible to go over the matter of the Potter Family estate.

Thank You,

Ragnok VII

Head Account Manager of Gringotts

Potter Family Account Manager

Harry smiled then whipped around and wrote a reply to the goblin. After finishing it he turned and passed the letter to Dobby, "Take this reply to him Dobby. Do not give it to ANYONE but sir Ragnok. Understand?"

The elf nodded vigorously, "Of course Master Harry Dobby follows your orders sir!" he says taking the letter and snapping away with a pop.

"Summer vacation is going to be interesting for you Dumbledore." Harry smiled.

Up Next: The fated meeting arrives and Harry spills the beans to his four confidants!