Harry Potter and his whole world belong to JK Rowling. I am borrowing a few characters from her.

Summer

Harry stared at Dumbledore, too shocked for words.

"I…You…what?" he stammered. "What?"

"You are the last descendant of Godric Gryffindor," Dumbledore repeated. "I was not sure until earlier this year, but I already had my suspicions. When you found your wand, it emitted red and gold sparks, Gryffindor colours." He looked seriously at Harry. "You were able to pull the sword out of the Sorting Hat. Remember what I said?"

"'It would take a true Gryffindor to pull that out of the hat'," Harry answered. "But why would the Sorting Hat have even considered putting me in Slytherin then?"

"Because it's like you said; the Sorting Hat could sense Slytherin's power in you. However, there is no doubt, Harry. I have been researching your bloodlines since last summer. You are who I say you are."

"But how?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Godric Gryffindor was your father's ancestor. He was your great-great-great-et cetera-grandfather."

Harry sat there, staring at Dumbledore, trying to digest what the Headmaster was telling him.

Dumbledore reached into his desk and pulled out a roll of ancient parchment. He unfurled it and pushed it toward Harry; it was Harry's family tree. Harry stared at it.

"This is yours, Harry," Dumbledore told him. "To keep. It belongs to you."

He stood, still staring at the parchment. He looked at the top of the tree, where it said the name Godric Gryffindor. Then he looked at the bottom, where the name Potter, James was written. A line beside it pointed to Evans, Lily and under that was his name.

"Thank you sir," he said, slipping the parchment into his pocket without looking any closer at it. "But…why did you wait so long to tell me? If you've always had suspicions…why wait to research?"

Dumbledore frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure why I waited, Harry. I suspected it when your father was here at school as well. The ability to do wandless magic, as you have shown in the past, as your father showed…that is very much a trait of Godric Gryffindor."

Harry was shocked. He'd known that he could do some magic without a wand, but he'd thought that every witch and wizard could do that.

The heir of Godric Gryffindor. He wasn't sure what to make of that information.

"I'll let you get back up to your dormitory," Dumbledore said quietly. "I know you'll have some packing to do. I'm not certain if Remus mentioned it, but if you wish to go back to Headquarters once you've been to your aunt's for a week, you may. Just give Remus a telephone call like you did last summer."

Harry nodded, still dazed. He started toward the door.

"Harry?"

"Yes?" he said, turning back to Dumbledore.

"I'm very happy that we got Sirius back. This time, since his innocence has been announced, he will be able to actually help the Order, if he still wishes to do so. I know he felt that he wasn't able to help a whole lot. This time, I won't have him stay cooped up inside."

Harry nodded, his throat tight.

"Thank you, sir. I know that being able to help will mean a lot to him."

Dumbledore nodded. Harry turned and left.

He made his way slowly up to the Gryffindor common room. Students looked his way as he passed. He didn't notice.

It sure seemed like everything happened to him. Voldemort's equal. The heir of Godric Gryffindor.

He stopped suddenly at the portrait of the Fat Lady, something dawning on him all of a sudden. She stared at him as he spun on his heel and went back down the staircases.

"Remus!" he called a moment later, knocking on the door of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. There was no answer so he raised his fist again, pounding on the door. "Remus, I need to ask you something!"

Still no answer. He growled in frustration and pushed the door open. Remus was not there.

Harry paused. There was still half an hour before the Leaving Feast would begin, so he wouldn't be in the Great Hall. Could he be with Grawp again?

Harry had just turned to go get the mirror to call Remus when the door to Remus' office opened and he came out of it. He stopped when he saw Harry.

"Harry?" Remus moved forward, concern evident in his grey eyes. "What's going on?"

"I need to talk to you," Harry answered. "Didn't you hear me knocking?"

Remus shook his head. "No, I was washing up for dinner, because I wanted to go speak to the Headmaster about Fang first. I must not have heard over the water."

He sat on the edge of his desk, still watching Harry. "What is bothering you?"

"I just spoke to Professor Dumbledore."

"Ah." Remus nodded. "What new revelation has he made this year?"

Harry raised his eyebrows at Remus before answering.

"He told me that I'm the last descendant of Godric Gryffindor."

Remus said nothing for a moment; his expression remained unchanged. He just stared at Harry. Then he shook his head.

"Professor Dumbledore told you that you're the heir of Gryffindor?"

Harry nodded, watching Remus closely. He still showed no emotion of any kind.

Remus sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "It makes sense why you would be the equal over Neville Longbottom then. Well…it makes more sense than it did before, I mean."

Harry nodded again. "I had a question though," he said softly. "When my parents died, we were living in a place called Godric's Hollow. Is there…well, is there any connection between Godric's Hollow and Godric Gryffindor?"

Remus looked at him, his eyebrows raised. His eyes were slightly puzzled.

"I don't know, Harry. I never wondered before." Remus stood and walked over to the file cabinet. He reached in and pulled out a roll of parchment. "We'll have to research it over the summer, if you're coming to stay. However, I've done some researching of my own on another matter. A similar matter."

Harry watched as Remus moved back his desk and unfurled the parchment. Harry leant forwards to look at it and saw another family tree.

"What is that?" he asked, standing to get a better look.

"Your mother's family," Remus told him. "I was curious about Mark Evans."

Harry's head snapped up and he stared at Remus. He'd forgotten all about Mark Evans. He hadn't given the first year another thought since he'd refused to play for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"I'd forgotten about him," Harry admitted. "Did you find anything?"
Remus shook his head and pointed down at the bottom of the parchment. "I copied this out of a Muggle book, so I'm not even really sure how accurate it is, but according to this, your mother had one sibling, Petunia Evans. She had one child with Vernon Dursley, Dudley. There's no mention of a Mark Evans on here." Remus grinned at Harry. "He's not related to you. It's just pure coincidence that he lives in your area."

Harry felt relief wash over him. He wasn't sure why, but he didn't want to be related to Mark Evans. The attitude that the first year had shown annoyed him greatly.

"You know, you're the second person in ten minutes to give me my family tree," Harry told Remus. He grinned as he pulled the ancient parchment from his pocket. He rolled it out on the desk for Remus. "Professor Dumbledore gave me this. It's my dad's family tree."

Remus sat down in his chair to look at the parchment.

"I'm somewhat surprised that your dad's family didn't have a tapestry like the Black family did."
Harry stared at Remus, feeling his temper start to rise. Remus glanced up.

"No, I didn't mean it like that, Harry. I wasn't comparing the attitudes. Most old pure blood families have the tapestries. But I suppose it could have been destroyed in the house at Godric's Hollow." He glanced back down at the parchment. "I would never compare the Potters to the Blacks. Your father's family were a lot like the Weasleys. Very understanding, very patient and very open minded. They knew about me right from the first summer. We didn't tell Mrs. Black until we were sixteen and Sirius let it slip in front of her. She had a fit and threw me out of her house."

Harry sighed sadly, wishing he could say something. There was no emotion on Remus' face, just a look in his eyes that suggested bitterness. He looked down at his hands.

"I'm glad to know that my dad's family were open minded at least," he said quietly.

Remus smiled as he carefully rolled the parchment back up. He handed it back to Harry.

"So you never have answered my question," he said lightly. He leaned back in his chair and put his feet on his desk.

"What question?" Harry asked, confused.

Remus chuckled. "Of whether you would like to come to Headquarters over the summer or not."

"Oh!" Harry exclaimed. "Of course I want to. I don't want to spend more time with the Dursleys than I have to. I'd also like to go see Sirius whenever I want, and I sure wouldn't be able to do that at the Dursleys!"
Remus grinned at him. "I had hoped you would say that. I was going to go talk to Dumbledore about taking Fang over the summer at least. The Weasleys have Buckbeak now, and I'm sure Sirius wouldn't mind if I brought Fang to headquarters." Remus grinned again. "Besides, once Sirius is better, I'm sure he'd love to have another dog to wrestle with."

Harry smiled. "It will be nice to spend almost an entire summer with people who actually like me."

Remus smiled sadly. "I'm sure it will." He stood and brushed off his robes. "Well, Harry, I should get to the Headmaster's office before the feast." Harry stood and walked with Remus to the door.

"See you later, Remus," Harry said, heading back toward Gryffindor Tower.

"Good news," he announced as soon as he walked into the boys dormitory. Ron glanced up at him from the floor. He had robes and books spread around him and looked like he'd been in the middle of packing his trunk. "I'm not related to Mark Evans."

Ron snorted as he pulled himself off the floor. "I could have told you that," he said. "He's nothing like you. But then, neither is your cousin, so I suppose being related doesn't really matter."

"Well, look at you and Percy," Harry pointed out. "Well, all your family and Percy. He's very different from the rest of you."

"That's because he's a git."

Harry chuckled as he started gathering his clothes and books.

"What did Dumbledore want?"

Harry didn't answer right away. He wasn't sure if he was even supposed to tell anybody.

"Well," he said slowly, turning to face Ron. He could tell Ron. "He had more news for me."
Ron paled slightly. "They're not going to punish you for going to the Ministry are they? Or for using…that Curse?"

Harry shook his head. He sat on his bed and drew the scroll out of his pocket again.

"He told me that he wasn't completely honest when he told me about the prophecy. He said he told me the truth, but didn't tell me everything." Harry took a deep breath. "He told me that I'm the heir of Godric Gryffindor."

Ron dropped the socks he'd been holding. He stared at Harry in surprise. "He told you that?"

Harry nodded. "He said that that's why I'm able to do wandless magic. I thought everyone could do wandless magic though."
Ron shook his head. "But you can't…I've never…when have you done wandless magic?"

"I have a few times, always when I was angry or…something. I can't do it otherwise."

"I didn't know that," Ron said in surprise. He sat on his own bed. "I can't believe it."

"Yeah," Harry agreed uncomfortably. "I can't either. He gave me this. It's my family tree."

He held it out to Ron. Ron didn't take it.

"I believe you. I better not touch it, my hands are dusty and that looks like it might crumble if somebody so much as breathes on it."

Harry nodded and set the parchment with his school things. He quickly changed into clean robes before moving down to the common room to wait for Ginny and Hermione.

"It will be weird next year," Ron said softly, sitting in the chair beside the fire. "At this same time, we'll be leaving Hogwarts forever."

Harry nodded. He didn't want to think about it. Would he even still be alive at that time? Would Ron? Would Voldemort?

"I just hope we're not still at war," he said quietly. Ron nodded.

"Me too, mate, me too."

*

The Great Hall was draped in black, as it had been the year Cedric Diggory had been murdered. Harry sighed sadly as he made his way to the Gryffindor table. He had known it would be. He couldn't bring himself to look at Hagrid's empty chair.

He sat quickly, Ginny next to him. She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. He returned the squeeze.

The already subdued Great Hall went completely silent when Dumbledore stood. He seemed to look directly at each student with his shining blue eyes.

"The end," he said quietly, "of another year of trials. We have endured plenty this year; the kidnap and murder of the Minister for Magic. The naming of a new Minister. War. The death of one of our own.

"When this school year began we had no idea what sort of year it would be and yet we soldiered on because it's what we do. Here at Hogwarts, we have remained relatively safe. We have been sheltered from what has been going on in the outside world.

"I can not promise that Hogwarts is invincible. Far from it, in fact. We are only as strong as we are united. And I sense that we are not. If we want to find peace and the end of war, we must unite. We must be strong.

"Hagrid's death, though tragic, showed us that there is a choice at all times. Hagrid had a choice to make, and he made one. He chose what he felt was right."

Dumbledore looked directly at Harry when he said this.

"It is this choice that we must remember at all times. I hope, when the time comes, that all of you can choose what is right over what is easy."

Dumbledore sat in his chair. Nobody said anything and nobody moved when the food suddenly appeared on the table.

Finally Ron started spooning potatoes onto his plate. "We might as well eat," he said quietly. "We won't be getting a feast like this until September."

Harry sighed as he helped himself to some roast beef.

"I hope that I don't have to choose between what's right and what's easy," Ron muttered. "What if I chose wrong?"
Harry smiled as he poured himself a goblet of pumpkin juice. Hermione shook her head at Ron.

"You wouldn't," she said softly. "I know you."

Ron said nothing, merely chewed thoughtfully on a roll. Soon the conversation had turned to the trip home the next day.

"Will you be going to London?" Harry asked Ron softly. Ron glanced around before shrugging.

"I think so. I haven't spoken to Mum or Dad yet, but Mum said that she'd like to be…in London."

"Okay," Harry said. "Good, because I'm going to be in London from about the second week of holidays."
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Are you? Is Professor Dumbledore letting you leave-"

"Be quiet, Hermione," Ron hissed. "Someone might hear you."

Hermione glared at Ron and leaned toward Harry. "Are you going to stay with Remus?"
Harry nodded, grinning at Hermione. She smiled at him and turned to Ginny.

Harry glanced up at the head table. Remus was talking to Professor Flitwick. Harry let his gaze move down the line of teachers. He sighed when his gaze fell upon Hagrid's empty chair. He closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Hagrid," he whispered to himself. "But I promise that I will not back down and I will not run away. I will stand and I will fight him, win or lose."

He opened his eyes and looked straight at Dumbledore. The headmaster was looking his way. Harry met Dumbledore's gaze without flinching. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and nodded. He raised his goblet to Harry then went back to his conversation with Professor McGonagall.

*

Harry woke early the next morning, full of anticipation. He packed everything quickly and went to collect Hedwig and Pig from the Owlery. By the time he'd returned, Ron was up and had packed his things as well. Harry bewitched their trunks to make them feather light and they hauled them down to the common room. Harry looked around sadly.

"I always hate leaving for the summer," he admitted.

"It will be better this summer. You've only got to spend a week with your wretched relatives this year."
Harry nodded, staring into the fire. As Dumbledore had said, so many things had happened over the course of the school year.

He sighed as the stillness of the common room was broken by a sharp crack. He stared around, mystified, wondering who had Apparated into the common room.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry grunted as something struck him in the middle. He looked down to find a Hogwarts house elf gripping him tightly.

"You did not come to see Dobby this year! Dobby wanted to say good bye to Harry Potter before he left for the summer."

Harry grinned. "I'm sorry I never got to come see you this year, Dobby. I've been busy with school and other things. I promise I'll come see you as soon as I get back in September."

Dobby stared up at him out of watery green eyes.

"Harry Potter must remember to stay safe over the summer! He is far too great to lose, especially now when…when he is needed more than ever!"

"I will be careful, Dobby, I promise." He grinned at the elf again. "Have a good summer, Dobby."
"And you, Harry Potter!"

And with another crack, the house elf disappeared. Harry shook his head at Ron.

"I bet that elf would pay you if you wanted him to come work for you," Ron said with a grin.

"That's not funny, Ron!" Harry and Ron both turned in time to see Hermione's trunk float into the common room before her. She glared at the two of them.

"Who was making a joke? I was being serious!" Ron objected. Hermione ignored him.

"Ginny won't be ready for a while. She said to go down for breakfast and she'd meet us there."

They left the common room, taking their time to get to the Great Hall. They passed several students along the way, most of whom called for them to have a good summer. Harry waved at Luna Lovegood as she passed, her eyes blank, her wand tucked over her ear. She either didn't see him, or ignored him. He tried calling to her, but she had been swallowed up by the other students. He shrugged and turned back to Hermione and Ron.

*

"So he can't take Fang with him?"

Ron was staring at Harry in surprise. Harry had gone to talk to Remus after breakfast while the others went to wait for the carriages that would take them to the train.

"Nope," he answered. "Professor Dumbledore said that Fang would be alright over the summer. He said that it wouldn't be a good idea to take him away from Hogwarts right now, because it's the only home he's ever known. He's already lost Hagrid, so losing his home as well would be difficult. He said that Fang would be fed and watered and looked after, so not to worry."

"What about next year?" Hermione asked, watching for the carriages. "Can you take him next year?"
"Remus didn't ask."

Ron shook his head. "I guess it makes sense. In some ways. Still it would be - what the heck are those things?"

The carriages had started through the gates while Ron spoke, pulled by the winged Thestrals. Ron was staring straight at them.

"What are what things?" Harry asked, already knowing what Ron meant. He glanced at the girls and found them both staring, transfixed, at the Thestrals. "The Thestrals?"

"Those are Thestrals?" Hermione breathed. "Oh, wow."

"I guess if we ever need to ride them again, it will be easier this time," Ron said dryly.

"We should have realised that we'd be able to see them," Ginny said softly. "We watched Hagrid die." Ron and Hermione both went quiet and lowered their eyes. "I don't think that we're so lucky to see them. I think it sucks."

Harry slipped his arm around Ginny's shoulders and gave her a squeeze. There were tears sparkling at the corner of her eyes. She didn't look at him, but rested her head on his shoulder briefly. Then he took her hand and led the way to one of the carriages.

Neville joined them on the train. They quickly filled him in about what had really happened down at the Ministry the night Hagrid had died. It had been so hectic since that they hadn't had a chance to talk to him.

"So you got your godfather back?" Neville asked, his eyes shining. "Wow, that's incredible."

Harry thought he saw a flash of sadness in Neville's eyes. He wished that there were some way that Neville could get his parents back. They'd been tortured into insanity by Lord Voldemort's faithful supporters, led by the now deceased Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry wondered if Barty Crouch Junior's soul had found its way back to its body. His stomach clenched with the very thought.

It was nice not to have to worry about Malfoy for once, though Harry wished there were some other reason for it. He wasn't sad that Lucius Malfoy was gone, but he couldn't help feeling a tiny bit of pity for Draco Malfoy.

He sighed as he stared out the window of the train, watching the land change as they moved toward London.

"Cheer up, Harry," Hermione said consolingly. "You'll see Remus and Ron and Ginny in a week, and I will be there before the end of summer. We'll be back on this train before you know it!"

"And you can go and visit Sirius as often as you like," Ron reminded him.

"And you can say the name Sirius Black whenever you like!" Ginny added, loudly, grinning. "You don't have to say Snuffles anymore!"

Harry chuckled at that. Sirius was free! It was so amazing to think about.

Too soon, the train was coming to a halt at King's Cross station. Harry picked up Hedwig carefully and dragged his trunk to the gate, the others at his side. They exited in pairs, Harry and Ginny then Ron and Hermione. Mr and Mrs Weasley beamed at them as they came through.

"We were just coming to get you," Mrs Weasley said quietly. She gave Harry a hug. "How are you, Harry dear? How did your visit with Sirius go?"
Harry told her quickly. She sighed sadly when he finished. "He'll be alright, Harry. Don't you fret."

"Are you going to London this year?" he asked softly, so only Mrs Weasley heard. She nodded. "Good, because I'll be there next week. I'm staying with Remus. I guess I have to give Sirius his house back," he added with a grin. Mrs Weasley laughed.

"Let's go, boy, we haven't got all day."

Harry glanced over Mrs Weasley's shoulder. Vernon Dursley stood there, an ugly scowl on his purple face.
"See you in a week," Ron said doubtfully. He glared at Uncle Vernon, who pretended not to notice the two wizards and three witches standing around Harry. Ginny's hand clenched at her side as though she longed to throw her Bat Bogey Hex at him. Harry grinned at her and she smiled back.

Harry gave Mrs Weasley another quick hug and waved good bye to the others before following Uncle Vernon from the station.

***

And that is the end of that story…I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

I don't know if I'll do a sequel to this one, in Harry's POV…Searching for a Saviour is already something of a sequel (In that things that happened in this story have also happened in it), but my sister informs me that I absolutely HAVE TO do a sequel from Harry's POV. If I do one, it probably won't be for a while. I'd like to finish Searching for a Saviour, which I am currently having issues with. I will continue to update it, hopefully on a regular basis.

Anyway, please let me know what you thought of this story. Thanks!!!