Chapter 5: The Meeting an Old Friend

The next day Remus submitted a request for a year long sabbatical. Severus had kept his mouth shut this time at Harry's request, but they still needed the fake Moody here next year, so Remus submitted the request and Dumbledore obliged. Harry decided to look into this supposed curse Riddle put on the DADA position 'I need to break it so when Remus comes back in fifth year he won't get effected by it.' He thought.

Later that week Harry took the test for Ancient Ruins and passed with flying colors thanks to Hermione. "I've noticed you like to study now Harry is that something you developed in the future?" she asked as they sat in the library.

"Actually no I think its because I don't have that loyalty potion to Ron in my system." He replied, "The potion made me want to do what Ron wanted to do since I was loyal to him, and he wanted too goof off."

"So your saying you would've been a book worm like me had you never met Ronald Weasley?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Most likely. I remember before I got here I was so eager to learn, but then after meeting Ron I started slacking off just because he wanted to take it easy." He says, "I mean even before I came to Hogwarts I was a good student. I purposely kept my grades average because if I out did Dudley my Aunt and Uncle would get pissed. I'm mean I'm Lily Evan's son, former Head Girl of Hogwarts, and my dad James Potter was right behind her and Severus in grades. However in my last life I, the son of two very intelligent people, had no drive to be anything more than a passible student. Doesn't that sound odd?" He asks her.

"Now that you put it like that yes it does…extremely odd." Hermione says.

"See!" Harry says smiling, "Now remember to be wary of any food or drink Dumbledore, Ron, or his mother gives you." Hermione nodded firmly.

Soon it came time for them to head home for the summer holidays. Harry and Hermione actually slipped away from Ron and found a compartment with a lone blonde Ravenclaw girl. Harry recognized her immediately as Luna Lovegood. "Hermione, lets sit here." He says smiling.

Hermione looked at Harry curiously, "Do we know her?"

Harry smiled, "She becomes a very good friend in fifth year…she's a year younger than us and were she in our grade she's be battling you for top spot…though she is a little…eccentric."

"Alright then." Hermione opens the compartment, "Hello there may we join you?" she says to the girl.

Luna looked up from her copy of the Quibbler. She smiled, "I've been waiting for you. Harry…Hermione."

Harry raised an eyebrow as they walked in and closed the door before casting privacy and Notice-Me-Not charms then took a seat, "What do you mean you've been waiting for us?" he asked.

"Well I went the whole year all alone with no friends but on June fourth I dreamed about the two of you talking to me while on the train. I'm Luna Lovegood, but you already know that." Luna looked at them with her dreamy smile, "So how does it feel to be thirteen years old again Harry?"

Harry's eyes widened, "What do you…" he suddenly started to get scared.

"Don't worry…Death won't punish you…see he can't since I am a child of Fate." The blonde says.

"A child of Fate…" Hermione began thinking and her eyes widened, "You're a seer!"

Luna smiled, "Exactly, true seers are considered children of Fate since we can see Fate's designs."

"I wonder why you never said anything in my last life." Harry said curiously.

"Well I would assume the me you used to know wasn't sure whether you'd understand, but now that you've met Fate and Death and you remember the encounter you're much more receptible to the truth." Luna smiled.

"Well I'm now very glad I decided to have us sit with you." Harry smiled.

"But does that mean Trelawney is a child of Fate?" Hermione asked.

"Mmm yes and no." Luna said, "She is more of a receptacle than a true child of Fate. Fate uses her briefly to share prophecies while a child of Fate, like me, can see Fate's design all the time."

"Fascinating." Hermione said quietly.

"Says the girl who believes Divinations is bollocks." Harry teased.

"No, I think Trelawney's method of teaching it is rubbish." Hermione defended herself, "I don't doubt what Luna has told us because she new the truth about you without you telling her."

Luna giggles, "You two are definitely soulmates."

Harry looked at Luna and shook his head vigorously when Hermione glared at him, "What are you talking about Luna?"

"Harry didn't tell you?" Luna asked, "I'm sure Fate told him that you and Harry are destined to be."

"Luna." Harry whispered trying to get her to stop.

"Harry James Potter when were you planning to tell me this?" Hermione was now facing him with a fierce look.

"Ummm…I uh…I thought it was unnecessary." He said looking away, "I didn't want you to feel pressured to follow some 'destiny' someone else planned for you…" he looked a bit sad, "I thought you'd prefer it that way."

"That's not for you to decide Harry!" Hermione barked, "I'm sure being your soulmate would be better than being Ronald Weasley's potioned wife." She growled.

Harry sighed, "Look I'm not expecting you to suddenly be in love with me Hermione. That'd be ridiculous. Though I will admit that after Fate told me about it and without having any potions in me…I didn't hate the idea…" he mumbled the last part.

Hermione's face reddened a bit as she looked away, "Is that so?" she said, "I don't really mind either." She said that last part extremely quietly.

"Pardon?" Harry asked.

"Nothing." She immediately said.

Luna watched the encounter and giggled a bit, "Your two are adorable." She said between her chuckles. When she calmed herself she smiled, "I'll be sure to let you know if any ill willed plots are directed your way this time."

"That'd actually be very helpful." Hermione said.

Luna smiled then looked to Harry, "By the way Harry you should take that artifact along with you when you go to see the goblins." She was looking at Harry's bag, "They will be able to take care of it for you without destroying the artifact itself."

"Hmmm, but I kind of promised Helena I'd destroy it." He said as he started to think quietly.

"Truly Helena just wants to insure it can never be misused again." Luna said, "You could preserve it and lock it within the Potter family vault. Then you'll be fulling her wishes without destroy such an ancient artifact."

Harry smiled, "That's great advise Luna…I appreciate it."

She smiled, "Glad to help." Luna smiled.

Hermione nudged Harry with her elbow, "We'll talk about this soulmate business later you understand me." She mumbled.

He chuckled nervously, "As you wish." He said back.

The three of them rode the rest of the way having pleasant conversations. They noticed they were getting close to the platform and Harry sighed, "Geez now I have to go put up with those disgusting relatives of mine."

"I'd still like to murder those bastards myself." Hermione said, "I mean they killed you…twice."

Harry smiled, "I won't be there for long. If all goes as planned I'll be living with Sirius by the time of the World Cup."

"Harry just so you know..." Luna began, "The Potter family owns sixty five percent of the shares in the Daily Prophet…you should use that to your advantage."

Harry grinned, "That would have been nice to know in my last life. That Skeeter hag will be much easier to handle next term."

"Skeeter?" Hermione asked, "The columnist from the Daily Prophet?"

"Yea. My last go around she repeatedly wrote damning articles about me. She got scoops about private conversations. Turns out she is an unregistered animagus, a beetle. She used it to spy on people." He had a wicked grin on his face, "I think I'll offer her an olive branch…well more of an ultimatum."

"Oh my, I see Madam Skeeter having a hard time very soon." Luna giggled.

"You're definitely a seer." Harry smiled at her, "Rita is definitely in for a lot of trouble if I have anything to say about it."

The group laughed heartily at his joke as they pulled into the station. Luna stood up gathering her things before heading to the door, "I do hope the both of you will write to me this summer it'd be great to have friends to write to."

"Of course we will Luna." Harry said, "Right Hermione?"

"Yes of course." Hermione smiled.

"I look forward to our correspondence together." Luna smiled and made her exit.

Harry and Hermione stepped onto the platform and they were immediately approached by Ron, "Where have you two been?" he growled.

"What do you mean Ron we save you a seat you never showed up." Harry said through a fake smile.

"What?!" he growled, "I looked all over for you!"

"Well then that's your fault." Hermione spoke up, "We waited the entire ride and you never showed. We rode the hole way with a second year Ravenclaw girl."

Ron looked as if she had just slapped him, "Seriously?" he exclaimed, "That ridiculous Harry you should have come to find me?"

"Uh, why would I do that? I'm not your keeper Ron." Harry said.

Again Ron gaped at them, "Wh…wha…you'd rather sit alone with Hermione and some random girl than to come find me?"

"As I said Ron…" Harry looked at him, "It's not my responsibility to keep track of you."

"Why are you being like this?" Ron in an accusatory tone.

"What are you talking about Ron?" Harry asked, "I don't get why you think I should make tracking you down my highest priority."

"Because your supposed to-" the red head started but he was quickly interrupted.

"Ron what are you doing?" Came the kind motherly voice of Molly Weasley.

"Hello Mrs. Weasley." Harry said smiling his fake smile.

"Harry dear lovely to see you, and Hermione look at you, you've grown so lovely." Molly said to her and Harry could swear he could hear a bit of disdain in her voice when she spoke to Hermione.

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said.

"Now what's keeping you?" The Weasley matriarch asked.

"Oh Ron was just telling us why its my job to go looking for him when he didn't show up in our compartment." Harry said.

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Well Harry and I found a compartment and waited for Ron to join us." Hermione told the red headed woman, "but Ron never showed. So we ended up riding the whole way with a second year Ravenclaw. We made a new friend though."

Mrs. Weasley had a concerned look on her face, "And you didn't go looking for Ronald, Harry?"

"Well that's what we were just discussing Mrs. Weasley." Harry replied, "Ron is under the impression its my job to keep track of him. I don't understand his reasoning."

"Well he's your friend Harry, don't you want to enjoy your trip together." Ron's mother asked.

"Sure, but it's not my responsibility to make sure he joins us." Harry said, "If he was so worried about enjoying the ride with us he should have found us himself."

Mrs. Weasley looked absolutely shocked, "Well I guess your right. Come along now Ronald I have to go get dinner ready. We look forward to seeing you this summer Harry." She then pulled Ron away quickly as she joined her other children.

Harry turned to Hermione, "We better go I'm sure your parents are waiting on the other side." Harry said as they gathered their trollies and moved through the platform barrier.

On the other side were Hermione's parents waiting with smiles. Harry didn't even have a chance to offer them a greeting when his uncle Vernon's cranky voice shouted, "Boy! Don't keep me waiting!"

"I'll see you later Hermione. Don't worry I'll deal with them." Harry whispered in her ear before pushing his trolley over towards his uncle.

When Harry got back to Number Four Privet Drive he started pulling out his things. Harry moved his stuff into the house a smile on his face. When they got inside Vernon snarled, "What are you smirking about? Put your school things in the cupboard."

"Yea that's not going to happen Vernon." Harry said smiling.

Vernon's face immediately went red with anger as he whipped around, "What the hell did you just say to me boy?"

Harry smiled, "I said I'm not putting my things in the cupboard. Did you go deaf while I was away?"

Vernon Dursley looked ready to punch Harry but before he could approach Harry's wand slipped into his hand almost immediately, "As I told you when I turned your sister into a blimp last summer, 'Try me'."

Vernon immediately went pale, "What do you plan to do then? Run away?"

"No not at all. Actually your greatest wish will be coming true in a few weeks." Harry told him, "A new guardian to take me in will be coming forward soon I'll be out of your house in about two to three weeks. Until then I will take my things to my room so I can complete my homework on time and study for next year. I will not be waiting on you hand a foot. Do your own chores from now on I won't be here for much longer so better get used to it."

Vernon and Petunia, who had come in midway through Harry's speech, both looked god-smacked, "You're serious?" Vernon said growling.

"Yes, Sirius is the name of my new guardian actually." Harry smiled and looked to Petunia.

"Y…you mean…Sirius Black…but he's a murderer!" Petunia squealed.

"Oh he was framed and I have the proof. I will be submitting it to the Ministry of Magic and then he will get a proper trial and be exonerated. However while he is innocent of murder, my godfather has been known to lose his temper. If I tell him about all the things you've done to me…well he may just become a murder." Harry was grinning as his aunt and uncle looked terrified, "I assume you understand our new arrangement?"

"Perfectly." Vernon said, "You'll just stay in your room then."

"Yes," Harry said, "You don't even have to bother feeding me. I know you hate wasting your precious food on a 'freak' like me. You leave me alone I'll leave you alone, and when I leave I promise not to tell my godfather of all your…misdeeds."

"Very well." Vernon snapped, "Off with you then."

Harry smiled and took his things up stairs, 'That went better than I planned.' He thought as he set down his things. He looked around his room, "Dobby," he called.

There was a pop and the elf stood before him, "Master Harry calls Dobby?" the elf says.

"Hey buddy can you do me a favor?" Harry asks.

"Of course Master it is Dobby's pleasure to assist you." The elf bowed a bit.

"I'll need you to bring me meals from the Hogwarts kitchen for the next few weeks until I leave this place." Harry told him.

"Consider it done Master Harry." The elf told him.

"Thank you, you can bring breakfast around eight or nine in the morning, lunch around one or two in the afternoon, and dinner around six or seven at night."

"Very well sir Dobby will go get your dinner prepared then." The elf said and snapped away.

Harry flopped on his bed and sighed, "Well that'll make life fairly easy for now."

~ ~ ~

Deep within Gringotts, in the Head Account Manager's office, the goblin named Ragnok VII was looking over the letter he received from Heir Potter:

Sir Ragnok VII,

Thank you sincerely for your letter. I am as shocked as you to learn I was supposed to meet with you on my eleventh birthday. I am currently at Hogwarts but the term will be ending shortly. I shall make plans to visit the day after I return on the Hogwarts Express. I will try to be there by Eleven O'clock in the morning. I request you meet me in the lobby to avoid anyone trying to block our meeting. I hope you will be patience with me if I show up a little late since I live with muggles. It may be hard to be there exactly at Eleven, but I will do my best.

May your vault over flow,

Harry James Potter

The goblin grinned, "Mister Potter is quiet intelligent. He is aware someone is attempting to thwart our meetings. I hope he remembers which goblin was the one who showed him to his trust vault two years ago…I'll behead that traitor." He laid the letter aside, "I look forward to meeting you…Harry Potter." The goblin smiled.

Up Next: Harry and the gang meet up at Gringotts for the reading of his parents Wills.