Dobby woke Harry up at half past four in the morning. Michael had only woken up once during the night, for changing and feeding. Since Harry hadn't unpacked, the small family was ready to leave almost immediately. Harry placed Michael in his carrier, picked it up and grabbed the diaper bag. Dobby made quick work of the locks and they stepped out into the hall where Dobby redid the locks. A fire was quickly started in the fireplace and Dobby withdrew a small pouch of floo powder. Harry grabbed some and yelled "Number 12 Grimmauld Place". The floo pulled them to their destination and Harry stumbled out of the fireplace while Dobby popped into the hall.
"Dobby can you set up some wards and block the floo until I'm of age. I need a new secret keeper and was wondering if you would be it?"
"The great Harry Potter honors Dobby! Dobby would love to protect the Potter family."
"Good. The house is unplotable, but I don't want any Order member here either, at least for now."
Dobby placed his hand on the door and the whole house seemed to glow a bright blue. "The house now has what Harry Potter wants except those that already know of house. They can still see it but cannot get inside without being asked in by Harry Potter."
"That will be fine."
The next morning Harry left Michael in Dobby's care while he went to Diagon Alley. He needed money to get things for Michael. After exchanging galleons for pounds, he then went to muggle London to buy baby things and some new clothes for himself. He also found out from the Department of Education, within the Ministry, that he could take his NEWTS early if he wished
The next three weeks was spent cleaning, painting and changing the entire outlook of the house. Owl's arrived from Ron and Hermione, mostly from Hermione, wanting to know when they were going 'hunting'. Harry knew that this was something that he couldn't do right now since Michael was too young. Harry wanted to spend as much time with him as he could. His entire outlook changed. His son came first before everything else. He learned more patience, understanding, and unconditional love in those three weeks than he had in his entire life. He replied that the 'hunting 'party would not happen anytime soon and that he may return to Hogwarts if it opened.
Harry had received his Hogwarts letter naming him Head Boy and Quidditch captain. Along with a letter from Professor McGonagall asking if he was returning to Hogwarts. Many parents were asking. If he wasn't returning then the school would probably not open. He replied that he would be returning to school and would accept the Head Boy position but would not accept the Quidditch Captaincy and that he would not be playing for the team that year. As head boy he would have his own room and could keep Michael near him, but because of Michael, duties, and school work he knew that he wouldn't have time for Quidditch.
The morning of Harry's seventeenth birthday changed his life forever. He snuck into the Ministry first and passed his apparation test. Then he went to visit Gringotts for a second time. This time it was different. The goblins informed him of Dumbledore's betrayal. Dumbledore had been taking money from his vaults.
"Why wasn't I informed about this earlier?"
"You were not of age then Mr. Potter and Dumbledore was your guardian. He had control of you finances."
"He died, so why wasn't I informed then. I thought the Dursley's were my guardians?"
"As far as I know they never had legal authorization to be your guardians. Many of us assumed that you were placed there for your protection, and that Dumbledore wanted you to know some of your family. As for Dumbledore, we have received reports that he had indeed died, but his will has not activated yet. We are still receiving vouchers to make payments from your vaults with his magical signature. We cannot refuse a magical signature."
"What were the vouchers for?"
"Payments to the Weasleys, Hogwarts, the Order of the Phoenix, and sections of the Ministry."
Harry was stunned. "How much money and what sections of the Ministry?"
"Over the last sixteen years nearly ten million galleons have been diverted to various people and organizations. As for the sections within the Ministry that include the Minister's office, the auror's office, and the department of mysteries."
Now Harry was angry. The interfering son of a bitch! "All payments will stop! As of right now if my signature and family seal is not on the voucher, it will not be paid."
"Certainly Mr. Potter. We will investigate the matter further, with your permission."
"You have my full support . I want a detailed list of whom and how much they received."
"We will have that for you before your return to school. Is there anything else that we can do for you?"
"I need to make a withdrawal and make a will."
"Certainly, whom did you wish to make your main heir?"
Harry described that everything would go to Michael and named Hermione and Neville as his guardians if he died. If they couldn't or wouldn't, then Michael's care would be given to Fred and George Weasley. He trusted them more then the rest of the Weasleys. While he was making out his will, a goblin had gone to his vault and removed the amount of galleons that Harry had requested to make his purchases.
Quickly Harry did his shopping for potion ingredients, quills, ink, and new robes. At Florish and Blotts he got all of his new textbooks and picked up a few extra ones, which included one on wizarding child care. Another stop was made to buy a pensieve. He finished just before noon and apparated to a near by park. As the house came into view Harry saw that there were a few people standing on the stoop trying to get in. As he came closer he saw Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Ginny, Remus, and Professor McGonagall. Harry really wished that they would get the hint and stop trying to get inside. It was really getting annoying. He made his way to the back of the house and entered the kitchen door.
The house was quiet even with the knocking and the occasional spellfire coming from the front door. Harry found Dobby guarding Michael's room with the most determined look on his face that Harry had ever seen.
"How long have they been out there this time?"
"Almost an hour Harry Potter sir. Dobby is glad that Harry Potter is sneaky."
Harry laughed and Dobby helped him put all of his purchases away. The pensieve Harry kept out and began filling it with everything that he could remember about Voldemort and the Horcruxes. Dobby was fascinated. Harry explained that these were his memories and that with the pensieve he could view the memory as if he were there again.
"Is these why Harry Potter and Headmaster left school?"
"Yes Dobby they are." Harry explained the entire situation to the elf and showed him all the memories inside the pensieve.
"Dobby will let the house elves know that Harry Potter is searching for evil wizard things. They will let Dobby know and Dobby can tell Harry Potter."
Harry stared in surprise at the little elf. "I don't want them to get into trouble, but if any of them know anything I would be forever grateful."
Dobby popped away to spread the word while Harry tended to his crying son. Dobby returned an hour later with Winky in tow. Harry was rocking Michael to sleep. Winky looked the same as she did the last time Harry had seen her. Dirty stained clothes and swaying in place as if she was drunk, which she probably was.
"The house elves will let Dobby know if they find anything and Dobby will tell Harry Potter."
"That's great Dobby. Why is Winky here?"
"Dobby thought that Harry Potter might need more help and Dobby wants to help Winky be a good elf again. Harry Potter will be busy at school and Dobby will be busy with the secret. Dobby thought that Winky help with little baby."
"It's a nice thought, but can we trust her?"
Dobby heard the word 'we' and couldn't believe that he was placed as Harry Potter's equal. "Dobby trust Winky with Dobby's life and both Dobby and Winky agree to an oath with Harry Potter."
"Not a bonding oath Dobby. Hermione would have my head."
"Not a bonding. Dobby likes getting paid. A special oath. Winky and Dobby protect the Potter family, home, and their secrets and Harry Potter protects Winky and Dobby."
"I can live with that. Do you agree Winky?'
"Winky accepts but wants no money. She is a good elf."
"I'll have Dobby hold it for you and Winky no more drinking."
"Winky will be on best behavior and takes care of baby Potter, Master Harry."
"His name is Michael. I would appreciate any help you can give me. I've never cared for a baby before. I'm no Master just Harry and no calling Michael Master either or the deals off, understand?"
Both elves nodded. Dobby grabbed Harry's and Winky's hands while Winky grabbed a hold of one of Michael's hands. Dobby closed his eyes and said an incantation, in elvish, which had the four of them glowing blue. Harry then showed Winky where all of Michael's things were. She took over almost immediately, but still allowed Harry to feed and change the baby. She knew that Harry needed to give his son as much care as he could.
That afternoon a howler arrived from Mrs. Weasley demanding Harry's presence at teatime. Harry quickly wrote a response of "Sorry busy" and sent it off so that he could go calm Michael down. The sound of the howler scaring him. He shared a quiet birthday tea with his son and the house elves.
The last few weeks before school started flew by for the Potter household. Dobby had received word on the locket and even brought the item to Harry for his inspection. A simple 'open' in Parseltongue opened it and a Reducto destroyed the fragment of Voldemort's soul.
For the most part Harry finished his over-the-summer school work and practiced for hours on his wandless magic. He was able to do more and more for longer periods of time, day by day. By September 1st he was able to do all the spells that he had learned during his first four years, including his Patronus. The week before term started he took all of his NEWTS, passing with Outstanding in most of his subjects. He even received an Exceeding Expectations in potions. Technically he was now graduated, but felt that for the safety of his class mates and his son, he would return and pretend.
But to Harry, in his eyes anyway, the biggest achievement went to Michael who learned how to crawl, sit up by himself, pull himself up to stand on his feet and feed himself small bites of food. Winky said that he was advanced for his age, making Harry glow with pride.