On their return from Diagon Alley, they quickly made dinner and then Petunia proceeded with the plans for a movie with Vernon and Dudley. After setting up the perch for his new owl, Harry dove into all the things they had gotten in the Alley and started sorting and stowing it appropriately into his school trunk. He carefully left the box from his mother on his pillow as a reward for doing his work first.
Harry found his new trunk fascinating. It was 32"x18"x 14"on the outside. His robes went into the first compartment which looked and acted like the old fashioned wardrobe steamer trunks but with enough space for his entire wardrobe both wizard and muggle with room to spare. Harry bet himself in fact there would be room for four more wardrobes just like it.
The second compartment had racks, four of them. each rack looked like it was 30"x4"x13" when they were stowed, but when pulled up each rack was actually 30"x 20"x 5'6" with shelves that magically adjusted for the size of the books on it. His books, he carefully sorted. Some books he decided were must read all of before school, some were read the first few chapters, and some were read when there is time. He grimaced as he racked them into his trunk, this was really going to cut into his drawing time. He only left out the books and pamphlets of the muggle born packet to read tonight. He did it for two reasons, one he liked to keep things tidy, and two he doubted his Uncle would appreciate books about magic being left about.
The third compartment was a little different there were straps in the lid that the shop keeper told him were to hold three partly shrunken broomsticks, then there were two trays one shallow that he used for his parchment and one deep enough for his potions kit and the box from his mother. Under that was where he stored his cauldron and the telescope he retrieved from the attic. This compartment's insides like the others exceeded the outside by quite a bit but Harry sensed it only got as large as was required by the contents. Now all he needed was his wand and a few miscellaneous items and he was ready to go to Hogwarts.
Harry tidied his room and got ready for bed. He both longed to and dreaded opening the box from the vault what if… Suck it up he told himself. He touched the latch only to snatch his hand back as it pricked his finger. A moment later the latch fell open. Harry carefully opened the box.
Inside was a photograph and it was moving. It was of a man with messy hair and glasses, a stunningly beautiful red haired woman and a baby with the same dark hair as the man. The two adults cuddled the infant and took turns holding his hands and kissing them. and helping him wave at their observer. Harry traced his fingers over the adults. "Mum? Dad?" He reluctantly put the photo aside after a few minutes. There was a stone amulet of some sort on a silken cord, and a ring that had a coat of arms carved into it's surface, two letters, and a blank parchment. The ring was of a metal Harry hadn't seen before and he could tell it was meant to be used as a seal because it was in reverse. He wished he understood heraldry and the symbology of the seal there was a stag reared up on its hind legs on one side, a griffin in the same position on the other side, the helmet at the top looked to the stag it looked like the might be some sort of crown like object at the base of the helm. There was a bar with something so small he couldn't distinguish it and three five petaled flowers of some sort in the fields either side of the bar. . And across the bottom it read Potter. Harry put the ring aside and looked at the letters. Which to read first?
Harry decided to open the smaller of the two first.
Bambi,
As you open this you are eleven, I hope I'm standing beside you but if not I hope my death had meaning. If I am not there I'm sure Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail are, and I'm sure they have taught you the fine art of pranking. I don't have a lot to say. General life advice, live each day like it's your last and never miss a chance for laughter. Find the woman of your dreams. (As a Potter you'll have that dream tonight, so you'll know her when you meet her, but do stop and smell the roses you meet along the way.) Do whatever it takes to win her to your side, and live a long happy life. Don't take the family motto of Pro Fidelibus (faithful in defense) too seriously. Be generous with those you call friends, and never fail to humiliate your enemies. Hopefully you have grown up in a world without He who must not be named (I don't put much stock in the prophecy Dumbledore insisted we hide because of. Not that you and Neville couldn't kick the snake's butt, but why should you have to? You have us adults to take care of that.) While you're at Hogwarts study hard(I'm sure you're brilliant, like your mum.), play quidditch (You're a natural on a broom but don't ever tell your mum I put you on mine and you flew like a pro at one year old.), and pull pranks. I'm sure you'll be the best lion ever. I love you,
Dad
P.S. I loaned Albus my cloak but it was only a loan if he hasn't given it back get it from him. And the blank Parchment in the box touch it with your wand and say "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good, second generation." Peter lost his copy to Filch fourth year a mere month after we finished it. Sirius' brother burned his fifth year (Regulus didn't know what it was only that Padfoot treasured it), and Moony's got torn to shreds during last month's full moon. but your Marauder map has all the latest and greatest improvements that your godfathers, I, and your mum could think up. Not to mention all the other things we found after we did the first edition map. Details are on the map. Happy pranking!
P.S.2 Put the ring in the box on your right little finger, then you will be properly vested as the Potter heir, you can't take the Lord's ring until I die or you are of age, but the heir's ring will help you socially.
As Harry finished the letter he felt a melancholy pang. His father apparently thought his friends would be there for Harry but they weren't. He got the feeling that his Dad was a very fun person, however based on Aunt Petunia's few words about him, his sense of humor didn't appeal to everyone. He wondered why his father called him Bambi. Then Harry slipped the ring onto his finger and was startled when it re-sized itself to fit. Harry then opened the next letter.
The writing on this letter was smaller, and delicately precise much like his own.
Harry,
Happy birthday my darling boy! Hopefully I'm right there with you, but it is an uncertain world we live in and life doesn't come with guarantees. If I'm not I hope your godfather, Sirius, lived up to his responsibilities, failing that I'm sure your godmother Alice Longbottom stepped forward. However if neither of them is in your life, I'm positive Minerva McGonagall did a fine job raising you.
When I write this we are living in hiding. Before you were born there was a Prophecy given about the one who would defeat Voldemort. While I don't put much stock in prophecy, Voldemort does. So Albus thought it best that we and the Longbottoms go into hiding. Alice and I were great friends at school and she had her son twelve hours before I had you. But of course you know this because you and Neville have grown up together, given I am his godmother as Alice is yours. There are so many things I want to show you and teach you, but if you are reading this without me, I will only be able to warn you and ask that you do your best to learn them on your own.
First I am muggleborn. Many in the magical world hold that against me, never mind that I was headgirl at Hogwarts and I bested many that try to call themselves my better. There are those that will insult you as a halfblood, and many, many more that will insult me to anger you. Tell them talk is cheap and proof is in the actual learning and doing of magic. I know that will shut them up because you have on more than one occasion actually wowed me with your accidental magic. If I raised you, you no doubt know of the muggle world, if not then learn about it. Not From Muggle Studies at Hogwarts , learn about it from a muggleborn and going and experiencing it for yourself. You have family in the muggle world I have a sister Petunia Dursley her husband 's name is Vernon. She has a son a little older than you. They don't like magic but after what your idiot father did at their wedding I can't really blame them. If you contact them be kind even if they are rude. They are quite helpless against magic after all.
Your father is a pureblood. The Potters are an Ancient and Noble house. There are only six such families left in Magical Great Britain. Unlike many of the Ancient and Noble houses once every five or six generations the Potters tend to marry muggleborn witches and, as the portrait of your three greats grandfather puts it, freshen the blood. It is an illustrious bloodline Harry. One day you will be a baron, just as Neville will one day be an earl, and your godfather will one day be a viscount. While James and his father are only children his mother was not, she was a Black. Dorea Black to be exact. Through her you have many cousins sadly only a few are worth claiming. Sirius of course, Andromeda Tonks, and much further away on the family tree are the Weasleys and the Longbottoms most other Blacks are purebloods and followers of Voldemort. Never let someone's blood status influence you Harry. It is just a bunch of bullshit anyway, made up by someone trying to feel superior. If anything it backfires on them, the mental effects of inbreeding are becoming noticeable. Sirius' cousin Bellatrix is certifiable and sometimes his manic behavior pushes that limit. Others are simple minded or almost squibs because of it.
I love your father, and he can be the sweetest and most wonderful man, but he can also be the world's most insensitive idiot. I finally decided that the joys and sweetness he brought outweighed the anger his idiocies most of which stem from his pureblood and spoiled upbringing. Magic has a way of smoothing away the things that would sometimes otherwise keep people apart. Our getting together largely came about after he grew up a little and realized carrying a joke too far isn't funny, and some lines shouldn't be crossed. Some of that came about because his parents died and some of that was because his friends almost got a rival as well as one of his dear friends killed in the name of a prank. He is a loyal friend and a fierce protector of those he loves. He is already done with his letter. I'm sure he encouraged you to play pranks and risk your neck playing quidditch at Hogwarts. I'm also sure he has encouraged you to join Gryffindor. I will not. Not that I was ashamed to be a lion, if anything I was proud to be one; but it's more important to be a good person and do your best than worry about your house. Something I never told your father was that I was considered for all the houses. I love you no matter what you are, be it lion, badger, eagle, or even snake.
In the box there is an amulet, I made it for you. It has three spells. When you go off to Hogwarts I expect you'll be like your father and get into at least a bit of mischief/trouble I wanted a way to locate you, so the first spell is a tracking spell I've keyed it with my blood so I'm the only one to be able to use it. The second is a spell to protect your mind, it is a complex magic, at low level such as someone wanting a general sense of your mood it won't block, but if some one were to be deep scanning you it would block it and heat up to warn you to get away from the person doing it. The third spell is one to wake you if someone sends a stunner at you, it is purely for defense. Your attacker would expect you to be unconscious but you will be awake. The stone I used is Larimar, it's mythology is that it helps us to view events from a different perspective, to soften and enlighten, and to heal the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual body. I find it's sea color calms me. I found this stone during James' and my honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. It is a small piece of us for you to carry with you.
Now about school I've already covered the topic of house. I wish my expectations to be clear Harry you will keep yourself in the top ten of your class at Hogwarts. For your third year electives I recommend Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures. Divination needs a gift, Muggle studies is so far out of touch it's not worth the time. Other magics worth learning are healing, warding, curse breaking and although many people frown about it occlumency. I highly recommend the last because it is the only sure defense against wizards who would read your mind. The earlier you learn it the better and easier it is to learn.
The reason I recommend it is that I had a friend that was a natural legillimence. We grew up together. Severus was a halfblood and his home life left a lot to be desired, but he was very powerful and smart. Your father resented the fact that I was friends with Severus. Their rivalry was the stuff of legends. Sev was in Slytherin, and well, it didn't sit to well with anyone that Sev and I were friends. Sev had one habit that drove me a little crazy he was a natural at mind magic. I learned occlumency by third year because well a girl likes to have her secrets and when you're around a natural legillimence like Sev, there are no secrets without it. Sev blurted stuff I wanted kept private a few too many times. I would say that Sev was another person you could look to for guidance, but for what happened the end of fifth year and after. That rival I mentioned your father's friends almost killing, that was Sev. It happened the evening after your father pulled an exceptionally humiliating prank and I tried to defend Sev. He reacted badly out of pride and called me mudblood. Mudblood is an exceptionally derogatory putdown applied to muggleborns. I got angry and it was the end of our friendship, although it was wrong and immature of me to keep the grudge as long as I did. It was after that that Sev embraced the darkness that exists in Slytherin house and it was too late. I regret that.
That would be my one warning if you are sorted there. Slytherin has a reputation for Darkness and it is poorly regarded by the other houses. It makes it easy for you feel like the weight of expectation is you will be dark. If you're sorted there go against the flow. Slytherin is the house for the ambitious Sev became the youngest Potion Master in three hundred years and he was well on his way to his Defense Mastery when I wrote this. Cunning and ambitious don't have to mean dark.
Lastly I would warn you. You are a Potter that means money, power and prestige. You are also the subject of prophecy, there will be those who seek to control, use and manipulate you. Some will be obvious, some will be very subtle. Trust, but not too deeply. Sometimes I fear we have trusted wrongly, James ploughs ahead as if there is only one course. I stay with my husband and I will stay the course. But if we are not beside you as you read this, chart your own course and don't let seemingly harmless kindly old men steer you.
With all my love and affection,
Lily Elizabeth Potter