AN: Some serious time jumps. you all know the cannon .

The Mountain Man loomed in the doorway.

He grunted in effort as he ducked into the shack. Once he was inside, he replaced the door.

(AN: And rather than rewrite the story we all know and love… time skip to them exiting into Diagon Alley.)

The street was filled with what could only be Wizards and Witches from every walk of Wizarding Life.

Wizards in silk robes haggled over the cost of Rat Spleens and Newt eyes with Witches in wool. Some were patched, some were spotless. But all were not wearing what Uncle Vernon would call normal.

Harry Potter loved it all.

They found themselves heading into the Bank. Hagrid was plowing through the crowded street, not really noticing that the other people were really there. He had, since his third year at Hogwarts, noticed that few would stand between him and his target.

Harry, the wee waif, floated in his wake.

At the bank, they were led to the carts, and soon were flying down the tracks. Harry whooping as only a preteen on a rollercoaster can.

Hagrid was holding on tight, the Ferris-Carbide groaning under his grip, as he fought to keep his stomach on the inside, thanking Merlin that he had passed on Thom's Offer.

They stopped at vault number 687. As the Goblin parked the cart, and climbed out, and requesting the lantern, Harry scrambled out and bounced on his toes.

As the excited wizard rubber necked trying to see everything at once… Hagrid heaved his bulk from the cart.

A flick of his wrist, the goblin sent the cart onwards.

Trading the lantern for the key, the Goblin unlocked and opened the door. Trading the key for the Lantern, he stood on the side as Harry stepped into the vault and stopped.

In the ten foot cubic chamber three, three feet tall piles of gold coins gleamed in the ensconced torch light. There was a pile of Silver and a pile of copper in the back…

On the pile In front of the door, a black leather sack, about half the size of his head, with the initials of HJP in a silver metallic thread, lay basking in the glow of the light reflecting off the coins.

Harry Gasped, and picked up the bag. Examined it closely.

Suddenly the thread attacked him, wrapping around his right arm. Between one breath and the next, it went from embroidery to a silver chain bracelet. A tendril crept across the back of his hand and looped about the middle finger. It displayed the Potter Crest.

"I love Magic." Harry Whispered.

"Careful there. Not all magic is benign." The Goblin sneered from the doorway.

"How much do I need to get?" Harry asked.

"A good rule of thumb, twice as much as you think you will need." The Goblin snarked. "And even then you might not have enough."

Harry Frowned at the pile in front of him, before just scooping coins into the sack. After six scoops he noticed that the bag was not getting fuller.

Noticing the boy's confusion, the Goblin called him over. Inspecting the bag, he nodded. "The bag is bigger on the inside. And it will pass you the coins you need when you put your hand in."

Harry bounced it in his palm, trying to judge how much he had.

"You should have enough for everything." The Goblin smirked again.

After he pulled the strings tight, a tendril from under his wrist snapped out and grabbed the pouch and drew it in and swallowed it. Harry frowned and reached for it and it reappeared… only to vanish as he drew his hand away.

"Awesome."

He exited the vault and the stone doors swung closed on expertly hung hinges.

"As for the other item…" Hagrid swallowed, "Could we walk?"

The Goblin sneered at the man who was in size to Wizards as Wizards were to Goblins. He turned and walked into the dark… taking the light with him.

The two 'humans' were quick to follow.

At the vault numbered 713 the Goblin stopped and had Harry hold the Lantern as he ran his taloned finger down the smooth stone wall and a multitude of clicks and pops heralded the wall splitting and two doors swinging out towards the group.

As soon as the door was open wide enough for him to do so, Hagrid leaned in and grabbed the paper wrapped object on the floor and pocketed it.

The Goblin, whom Harry had learned was Cart Operative Griphook, snapped his taloned fingers and a few minutes later an empty rail cart arrived.

The two non Goblins exited out into the sun soon after.

"Okay Harry." Hagrid stopped outside of Madam Milken's and guided. "Get your robes while I get a little something to settle my stomach."

In the robe shop…

HPWC

It was now Halloween. The dinner feast.

Harry was dragging Ron to warn/rescue Hermione. Ron had been wearing the ice a bit thin. If anything happened to the witch because the prat had mouthed off, or if he didn't offer a sincere apology, he would deny that Ron was his Friend or Mate.

Professor Quarrel had just run into the Great Hall yelling about trolls and fainting.

As they rounded the corner, they saw and smelled the troll duck into the girl's loo… and heard Hermione scream.

Like the Gryffindor students they were, they followed on its heels.

The brute swung its club and Hermione ducked under it.

The loo was trashed.

Harry thrust his wand arm forward, thinking that the slave bracelet would extend the Holly and Phoenix wand into his grip. Instead, a thin chain launched from the back of his hand and looped about the neck of the brute.

The Troll dropped its club, as it tried to pry the garrote from its flesh.

The chain then exploded three inch spikes from each chain link. The Troll's grunting and clawing grew frantic.

Then the 'device' on Harry's wrist retracted the chain… cutting through the thick flesh… nearly decapitating the beast.

"Ron." Harry Growled, "I believe that you have words for Hermione… and make me believe them."

"Really Hermione. You can't just hide in the Loo every time someone says something that upsets you." Ron shook his head. "Or you will never leave the Loo."

"Is that everything?" Harry

Ron thought for a minute. "Yeah that should be it."

The chain bracelet became a chainmail mitten and Harry swung it at Ron's face. "It seems that you are not that different from Malfoy after all."

"Mister Potter, what are you doing here, in the girls loo?" Enter McGonagall.

"Professor I…" Hermione began.

"Was having a bad day." Harry snarled. "Ron was suffering from a bad case of Git, mouthed off where She overhead him, and she had to sort out a few things. Seeing as though she missed the warning, I came to find her, and Ron followed to either seek glory in my shadow or to apologize to Hermione."

"We got here right on the heels of the troll. Once the troll was dealt with, Ron was supposed to apologize, but instead he made a truthful comment and thought that was it." Harry over rode Hermione's start. "You are a Gryffindor, Hermione. You can't hide in the Loo, or like Ron said, you will never leave it. Now, like the good students we are, we take our comeuppance and head back to our dorms." He turned back to the Professor… only to notice that others had joined her.

Snape Sneered at the body on the floor. "How did you kill it?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Harry snapped back. "So I will just say Family Magic."

McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose. "Get to bed. I will deal with you later."

Harry escorted Hermione from the room… leaving Weasley on the floor.

"That's not good." Snape watched the dark haired boy walking away, chatting with the witch at his side. "At least it took until fifth year for me to bolox up badly enough to be left on the ground."

"What are you talking about?" Minerva turned to look at the Potion Master.

"In my fifth year, in a fit of anger… I said the one thing I shouldn't have. And Lily walked away from me."

"But James…"

"Potter ran with Black. They hung with Lupin for much the same reason as he does Granger. But Ron is more like Pettigrew. Whatever Weasley did, he will have to bust his hump to earn back a spot at Potter's side." The man shook his head. "I'll take the boy to Poppy. I'm heading there anyhow."

"Okay. I'll have Hagrid dispose of the body." McGonagall turned to find the big man.

HPWC

In the Dorm, Percy stopped them. "Where were you?" He was trying for 'proper' but was only pulling off 'pompous'. "And where is Ronald?"

"I went to get Hermione when we were sent to our Dorms. As she was seeing to a personal matter, she would have missed the warning. As it turned out… it was moot. The Troll decided to inform her… personally. After dealing with that issue, McGonagall sent us here."

Hermione just glared at Harry.

"And Ronald?" Pressed Percy.

"Last I saw him was in the girl's loo on the third floor." Harry Potter shrugged. "You can ask McGonagall when you report to her…Sir." Harry guided Hermione to their chair by the fire.

Dean Thomas was the first to approach the pair. "So… what happened to the Troll?"

"Something threatens my Pryde." Harry smiled evilly. "I removed the Threat."

"Permanently." Hermione said softly… and yet everyone in the common room heard her. "I didn't see the whole thing as I was ducking under the swinging club, but Harry thrust out his hand, and pulled it back… and the Troll's head landed between its feet." She swallowed. "Ron offered some not so good advice, before Harry punched him in the face."

The whole House looked at the lad.

"He threatened Hermione. He threatened my Pryde."

"And by Pryde, you mean…" Neville stuttered out.

Harry smiled at the chubby chap. "My Pryde. Lions form family groups called prides. While our House Crest is a lion, we are also proud eagles. You cross the eagle with a lion…"

"A Gryffin." Hermione shook her head. "But wouldn't Ron be a part of your Pryde?"

"Not really. He is more like a jackal that trails along with me to get a share of my kills so he can live the easy life." Harry shook his shoulders. "It was by his words that my Friend was put in danger. When I said I was going to find her, he said that the Professors would take care of everything so he could just get to the food being sent here first."

"And they would have been too late if you had not been looking for me." Hermione paled.

"You remember the first words I said to Malfoy?" Harry smiled at the Lass.

"He had just entered the compartment and dismissed the three of us as a blood traitor, a squib, and a muggleborn. He offered to introduce you to the right sort of wizard." She cocked her head at the lad in glasses. "Your exact response; 'I think I can tell the Right sort for myself, thanks."

"And Weasley?" Bell asked.

"It was not my intention to give the impression that he had been judged to be the right sort, it was just easier to let the yapping pup run at my heels than to drive it away."

"So… you would be okay with a squib as your friend?" Neville stepped forward.

"Well best friend is taken… by my best mate is open if you want it?"

"Scion Potter, I would like nothing better." Neville closed the distance and clasped forearms with Potter.

"Scion? My friends call me Harry."

"It seems that I have some things to teach you." Neville grinned. "Harry."

Unnoticed by the room, the chain had wrapped around Neville's wrist… before it became two. Now each Wizard had a chain bracelet linked to a ring on the middle finger. Where Harry's had the Potter Crest, Neville's had the Longbottom Crest.

"Just out of curiosity…"

"Who is this..."

"Best friend?"

The Weasley Twins spoke left, right, and both.

"Why Hermione of course." Harry grinned at the girl. "Yes she is a bossy little swot… but she is My bossy little swot." He turned to glare at the twins. "And no one threatens what is mine."

The whole room shivered at the implied threat.

Just then Lee Jordan dove through the portal. "Cor, I just saw Hagrid carrying the troll out of the castle!"

"So what." Mclaggan sneered.

"Body was over his right shoulder. The head was in his left hand!" The black lad shrieked.

"I wonder what happened to the club?" Harry asked.

"You could declare that it be delivered to you." Neville grinned at his best mate. "After all, you killed it."

"Huh?" Harry turned to look at the larger lad.

"If it was a creature, you could claim the carcass. But as a Beast of near human intelligence…"

"It was smarter than some we could name." Johnson whispered to Spinnete.

Neville ignored the interruption, "You can claim its weapon as a war trophy. Or demand up to twice its value in gold."

"I will bring it up with Professor McGonagall in the morning unless she comes by before breakfast." Harry patted Hermione's shoulder. "You okay?" He grinned evilly, "Or should I leave you in the care of Patil?"

Hermione glared at the boy. "I am good."

"Then I am going to bed before I fall down… or worse…" he grinned at the girl.

Hermione slung a heavy cushion at him with both hands and he ducked, before she could make a hit. She stormed up the lady's stairs, sporting a small grin.

The cushion volley took the twins by surprise… dropping them both.

They looked at each other.

"This means War!" Left declared.

"But on who, the thrower or the ducker?"

They nodded. "Both!"

"That's Whom!" Was yelled from across the room and up the stairs.

TBC