...Yo? I didn't forget about this. I swear I didn't. There's just been so much going on with my health-none of it good, and I had the biggest block for this chapter for some reason, and I kept coming back to it every couple of weeks, but wouldn't have any idea what to write, and would leave it without adding anything. I recently went back to read through the fic from the beginning and did some minor editing (just some rephrasing, mostly), and that seemed to get the bunnies running enough to churn out this chapter at least. Anyway, thank you to all readers so far!

Also, remember, AU! Don't question why Rabastan can wander Diagon Alley freely. AU.

By the time the next day rolled around, Harry had managed to come up with a perfect way to get to Gringotts without Dumbledore or the Order finding out. Voldemort summoned Rabastan Lestrange and ordered him to go to the bank himself, and Harry was going to follow him under his Invisibility Cloak. Simple.

And as for why it was Rabastan instead of, well, anyone else? Honestly, it was basically just because Voldemort had told him Rabastan had nothing else important to do that day anyway, and had apparently mentioned in passing that he'd been planning on going to Gringotts in the coming days. Rabastan taking Harry would just kill two birds with one stone for the man, and Harry could find no real faults in that argument...

Late afternoon, after the lunch crowd finally dissipated, Rabastan took a hidden Harry with him to the Leaky Cauldron via a trip of side-along apparation. Ignoring the fearful and apprehensive stares he was getting, Rabastan silently led the concealed Harry into Diagon Alley, and then over to Gringotts, where the two approached an available teller together.

With various spells placed around them, Harry knew the goblin was immediately aware that he was there, and now knowing there were privacy wards around each teller, removed his cloak. To his credit, the goblin didn't even blink at his sudden appearance.

"Good day," said Harry politely. "I'd like speak to the one in charge of the Potter accounts."

The goblin looked at him closely, and then at Rabastan. "And your companion?"

"I was simply escorting him," said Rabastan. "I would like to pay a visit to the vault under the name Rabastan Lestrange, and then I will escort Mr Potter back once his business has concluded."

The goblin wasn't an idiot, and understood immediately. "Very well." He called for two others, and the man was led one way, and the teen, hidden under his cloak again, another.

The goblin leading Harry took him down many long hallways, before they eventually came to a large, solid looking door bearing the nameplate-'Steelclaw'. He knocked, and after a brief pause, was told to enter.

Harry walked in alone, removing his Invisibility Cloak and stuffing it into his pocket as he went, approaching the desk and chairs at the far end of the room. Steelclaw stood and bowed slightly as he neared, looking politely impassive, as most goblins did.

"Mr Potter, I have long been expecting you."

Harry inclined his head in return. "I apologize for not having contacted you throughout the years. I was not made aware that I was required to do so." Thank Merlin for Neville and his lessons.

The two sat, and then the goblin spoke. "Not made aware?"

"No, it seems my Magical Guardian never deemed it fit to inform me of my heritage. It was my godfather who instructed me on what to do a number of months ago. I was still at school, however, and could not leave. I meant to come earlier this summer, but certain...situations prevented me from being able to do so until now."

Steelclaw raised a brow, but seemed to decide not to question it, probably because he didn't really care. "I see." He paused and ran a long finger over his chin. "And how may I be of assistance today, Mr Potter?"

And so, Harry explained. He wanted to see his mum and dad's wills. He wanted a rundown of the Potter accounts, and any others he owned. He wanted to know what Titles he was in line to inherit. And, of course, he wanted to be checked for any outside influence on his magical core, body, and mind.

The goblin listened to him in silence, and then informed him of the fee it would take to do all of this. While a little annoyed, Harry accepted. He'd already been told that goblins did nothing for free, so he knew he didn't really have much of a choice here but to pay. And once he said he would, Steelclaw nodded and left the room to prepare everything that would be required. Hopefully the many galleons Harry was spending on all of this wouldn't be a waste.

Left alone in the office, Harry allowed his mind to wander as he thought of his plans and ideas. The basics would all stay the same, but the finer details would all depend on exactly what was going to be revealed to him in a few moments. Honestly, he didn't expect a whole lot to change, but he figured anything he learned here, he would be able to use to his benefit in some way or another.

When Steelclaw returned a few minutes later, Harry told himself he was mentally prepared for what he was about to learn. Unfortunately for him, he was completely and utterly wrong...

Finished with his business at the bank, Harry was led back to the marble entrance hall, once more hidden under his Invisibility Cloak. Spotting Rabastan standing in the shadows of the far wall, he silently approached him and then gripped his sleeve. Barely even flinching, Rabastan simply began to walk away, leaving the bank and heaing for the Leaky Cauldron so he could be seen making his exit. Who knew when one would require and alibi? Rabastan knew that first hand.

Once they reached a safe place, they apparated once more, returning to the manor. Harry thanked Rabastan for his help, and then returned to his room immediately after. He had a few people to contact first, and then he would inform Voldemort of what he had learned, and how it would affect a few of his plans-the ones he had revealed to the Dark Lord, at any rate. He wouldn't tell him everything. Best to leave some of it as a surprise. It would make things just a little more interesting for everyone involved.

As he reached for his trunk, Harry caught a glimpse of his arms as his sleeves were pulled up at the movement, and grimaced at the sight of the scars. He was going to have some explaining to do to Sirius and Remus, among a few others.

He'd been hasty in what he had done at Number Four, the letter he'd sent, and what he'd done to himself-yes, very hasty. But he hadn't been able to help it. Frankly, he hadn't really been thinking very clearly in the first place.

The Order threatening the Dursleys at the start of the summer break had been a very bad idea. Harry wasn't sure he had ever seen his uncle that angry before. It had honestly been terrifying, and he'd gotten caught up in that fear almost immediately, left feeling like a helpless, defenceless child all over again. He'd felt trapped.

He'd just dealt with it all at first, but after a couple of weeks, things had gotten worse. He'd realized then that it had reached a point where he absolutely had to get out of the house, so he'd tried calling Dobby to help him. But Dobby hadn't come. Then he'd tried calling Kreacher, even though he didn't trust him as far as he could throw him, but Kreacher hadn't come either (Thinking back on it now, Dumbledore had probably put up some special wards that prevented house-elves from entering the property, because Dobby had had no problem getting in before).

Locked in the cupboard with Sirius' knife hidden in there with him, he'd used that to try and unlock the cupboard door. But it hadn't worked (Also Dumbledore's doing, he was sure). He'd been stuck in there, and had no way of leaving unless he was let out, but even when that happened, he was never left alone long enough for him to try and leave the house.

And then things had gotten really bad. Harry had no idea what had happened to his uncle to make him angry like that-it hadn't been the usual explosive angry he'd seen a million times before either. His uncle had been angry in a very controlled way, a way that had terrified Harry all the more. And when his uncle had...finished punishing him, he'd left the room to see who'd just called at the door, because his aunt and cousin hadn't been home.

Those were the only days his uncle hurt him like that. Harry didn't think Aunt Petunia and Dudley even knew about it, and he'd been too scared to ever bring it up. They knew about the beatings, and didn't care about those, obviously, but the rest...

When his uncle had left the room, Hedwig had come to the barred window, as if having waited for this very moment, and Harry had decided that he'd had enough. Yes, he and his companions had plans in motion, plans that would help him with the Dursley situation, but they were no closer to putting those plans in motion now than when they'd started.

Knowing that he had another month of this-that if things didn't work out quick enough during the school year, he'd have another two months of this, and possibly even another whole month after that... He couldn't do it anymore. Everyone had a limit, and Harry had finally reached his.

Even though he knew him dying would ruin practically everything they were doing, he found that he was just too far gone to care. And so he had written that letter to Voldemort, and sent Hedwig off with it, and once his uncle had locked him back up in the cupboard just a couple of minutes later, he had put his new, desperate plan into motion.

He didn't care what happened anymore. He couldn't care what happened anymore. He wouldn't be forgiven for it, he was sure, but he just didn't care.

But then Voldemort had decided to rescue him instead, and now he was here in his manor, and all his plans were not only still moving, but progressing far more than they ever would have if he and Voldemort hadn't come to an agreement. Oddly enough, in some ways, writing that letter had probably been the best thing he could have done in terms of his plans. He almost wanted to thank his uncle for pushing him to that point. Almost.

Actually, thinking about the Dursleys reminded Harry that he still had to figure out what to do with them. As far as he knew, they were still locked up in Voldemort's dungeons. He hadn't gone to see them yet, not sure how he'd react, but Voldemort had pretty much told him that their fate was up to him. It was a big decision, and while Harry really did want revenge on the Dursleys, he wasn't sure what exactly he wanted to do on that front just yet.

Harry sighed and gave his head a little shake. Looked like he had a lot more on his plate than he'd been thinking he did. The sooner he contacted his companions now, the better.

That's it for now. While editing I realized I hadn't really explained Harry's mindset for his actions in the first chapter, so I figured I'd take care of that as well as the bank visit. And I didn't want to spend too much time on the bank visit itself because, well, come on, we've all read a million of these things. We already knew what he learned. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!