Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

"You called for me, Professor?" Harry stood in Dumbledore's office, just a few steps inside the room. There had to be a good reason to pull him out of potions, Snape was going to have his head for the urgency in which Dumbledore had requested his presence. And to send Dobby, of all the house elves...Snape had fire in his eyes as he told Harry to get lost.

"Ah, yes. Harry, my boy, how have things been?" Dumbledore turned away from one of his delicate looking machines that was magically whirring in the background to look at Harry. "Please, sit down. You're not in any trouble, I assure you." He sat, feeling much less nervous now. He couldn't help being nervous. Every time he had been called here before he was either finding out bad news or getting into trouble.

"I've been good Professor," he started. Sitting in one of the large chairs in front of his desk was easy now, knowing he wasn't about to be pummeled with bad news. "I wonder, what could be so urgent as to pull me away from potions? Snape is fuming down there."

"Professor Snape, as you well know now Harry. I'll talk to him about it, he can't stay mad at me for long." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with a spark of humor. Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know just what that humor was. "I have called you here to ask you if you had an opportunity to do any reading with Miss Granger lately? I had sent her a delightful book a few days ago." Harry raised his brows before answering.

"Sir, I think you know as well as I that Hermione doesn't like to share books. Especially ones she hasn't read yet. Be that as it may, and with all due respect, why are you asking me about a book you sent her?" He let confusion layer his voice thickly. It wasn't every day you got called to the Headmaster's office, especially for a book.

"Well I was rather hoping she'd be so intrigued she would share her findings with you. It's a book called 'Inheritances: an Understanding' You see, Harry, in the wizarding community it is considered common knowledge that powerful witches and wizards, upon their 16th birthday, usually come into what we call their inheritance." He paused, and folded his hands neatly over the table as Harry simply watched him. "Most of your fellow students don't need to worry about such things, it's usually just a surge in power. But I was worried about you in particular Harry."

He got up and wandered to the shelving behind his desk to pick up a picture. He smiled, and handed it to Harry when he turned around again.

It was a picture of him, being held by his parents. His mother looked so kind, so gentle. And his dad looked nothing short of ecstatic to be kissing him on the head. Harry felt his eyes start to tingle and pushed back the tears.

"Your parents were particularly gifted and although neither one had received an inheritance, they were extremely powerful together. And since you are a product of them both, I am worried about your well being this summer. Your aunt and uncle are not kind to anyone of this world, I can only imagine what they would do to you should you receive an inheritance there." Harry flinched. It was a move his friends wouldn't have noticed it was so subtle, but you couldn't sneak anything past Dumbledore's shrewd gaze.

"I'll put it bluntly Mr. Potter. I am going to call on favors this summer. Before your 16th birthday, I will have a new place for you to stay. One that is even more protected than the Dursley's house." Harry smiled, on the surface he was glad Dumbledore was going to take him away from that place. But deep down, he knew it most likely wouldn't happen. It was just another plan that would end up backfiring or not working out the way they wanted it.

"You will be going with them for the beginning of the summer while I call upon my favors. But rest assured, I will be getting you out of their house before your birthday. It isn't a sure thing that you'll get an inheritance, but I do not wish for them to find you in a weakened state if you do." After a few more pleasantries, Dumbledore dismissed Harry for lunch and called the potions master to his office to square a few things away.

Harry found a seat next to Hermione, and started piling his plate with fruit while Hermione was busy tucking into a sandwich whilst she read. That must be the book Dumbledore was talking about. She seems like she's almost done with it.

"Hermione?" She managed to tear her gaze away from the tomb once she was at the end of the sentence she was reading. When she realized Harry was the one to try to grab her attention, she blushed. She wasn't used to ignoring him in favor of a book while they were eating.

"Oh Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't even see you come up, I'll just put this away then-"

"Wait!" She paused, shocked he was telling her not to put her reading away at the table. "When I was in Dumbledore's office just now, he told me he sent you a book," She nodded. "I was wondering, what is it? He seemed rather interested in getting you to talk to me about it for some reason." She smiled, knowingly.

"Oh I know. The note that came with it suggested I talk to you about it once I was done reading it. I was trying to finish this today since it's Friday I thought it would give me ample time to talk to you about it in the common room. But if he insisted, I guess there's no harm getting a head start." Harry leaned in, hanging on her every word.

"I'm sure he told you about what an inheritance in, yes?" She continued after his nod. "I thought as much. Well, in this book it says that true inheritances are rare, but not unheard of. It most often happens to witches and wizards who have an ancestor that wasn't human-commonly a parent or grandparent. But it does say extraordinarily gifted witches and wizards are prone to receiving an inheritance in order to better tame the magic inside them. I suppose that's why he called you to his office, really. He must be worried you'll receive an inheritance."

"I don't see why, though. Sure I can master spells and stuff a little faster than some other students here, but I'm complete rubbish at other things." He took a long drought from his goblet of pumpkin juice.

"That may be, but surely you've noticed it."

"Noticed what?" They both looked up at Ron, who was already sat down next to Harry and stuffing his face with a sandwich.

"Harry's magic, Ronald. And I'll thank you to refrain from talking with your mouth full, I have to return this book to Professor Dumbledore when I'm done reading it." Ron closed his mouth, decent enough to look sheepish, and swallowed. "So you're telling Harry about how his magic has been going a little haywire, huh? We thought you were just playing it off, have you really not noticed?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know what you two are on about. There's nothing wrong with my magic."

"But that's exactly it Harry!" Hermione's voice rose with excitement. "You're magic has been getting stronger. When you perform more complicated spells, the air around you practically cracks with how badly it wants to be let out. And simpler spells are becoming harder for you to control. Go ahead, try to make that goblet float." He did, and the goblet soared much higher than Harry intended for it to go. It returned slowly, after Harry had reigned in his magic a little. "See? That's your magic trying to burst out. I would be incredibly surprised if you don't have an inheritance coming." Harry's eyes widened. Has this been why everyone was avoiding making him upset lately? He had pushed it off as the news spreading more rumors about him and stress.

"So what would an inheritance do for my magic, anyways? I think sometimes you guys forget I don't read as much as Hermione and Ron is just privy to more information because he grew up in a magical household." The two just smiled at him.

"Well mate, an inheritance is supposed to turn you into a magical creature of sorts. One that has the physical capability to control more magic with less thought."

"Exactly," Hermione picked up where he left of as he had started stuffing some more food into his mouth. "All of them are some sort of humanoid creature-so it's not like you'd turn into a hippogriff. In recorded history, there's been mostly veela, some vampires, elves, fairies, angels and there was even a dark angel once. All are creatures that can morph their appearance to look like nothing has changed with them."

"But that's not the coolest part," Ron continued for her. "See, most of those creatures have a mate right? Someone they can be with forever. Takes all the guesswork out of a relationship. Plus a lot of them have extra abilities." Harry just rolled his eyes.

"Guys, I really don't think I'll end up getting an inheritance. I just don't see how that's in my cards. Plus, my magic is fine. It's just the stress of having to leave Hogwarts next month…" He trailed off, something neither one of his friends took notice of. Pushing his plate away, he left the Great Hall as they were talking amongst themselves about the perks and disadvantages of having a mate would be.

When he rounded the corner, he almost ran smack into none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Hey, watch where you're going Scarhead!" Harry, startled out of his all consuming thoughts, jumped.

"S-sorry Malfoy. I didn't see you come around the corner." Draco cocked his head, evidently curious at the lack of a bite back at him.

"It's...alright I suppose. Don't do it again." The hesitation was quickly replaced by annoyance at having being stopped from progressing to his lunch and he huffed away. Harry wasn't quite sure what to make of the situation, but he decided to ignore it and head to his next class where he could mull over what he learned in silence.