Hey everyone,
So, as you know the Poll in regards for these stories is now down and I decided to come to a conclusion. These four stories that you see here WILL become part of my regular schedule. I know I said in Rituals that they won't, but they will. However, once they are done, there is going to be a slight change to my schedule.
For now, I will be writing the four stories that were highest on the poll, yet once those are done, I will start putting effort in the challenges I love the most. I know I asked for your opinion, but to be honest, there are just a few previews that I felt more achieved with when I finished them than others and I want to focus on those.
Okay, enjoy,

Venquine1990

A Summer To Remember
Chapter 01
The Wellbower Family

Leaving my Aunt and Uncle was the best thing that I could have ever decided to do. Sure, when I had ran away I had been terrified of being arrested and when the Minister had met me at the Leaky Cauldron, I had been assured that my time as a wizard was over, but the time since has been the best I have lived so far.
I'm currently staying at the Leaky Cauldron, constantly making sure to get back inside before the sun sets and while it's a little unsettling to experience the chance of sleeping to whatever times I like or eating whenever I actually feel hungry, do I still feel very grateful to the Minister for renting me my room and paying for my meals.
Tom, the bartender, is also an amazing person and while his looks sometimes give me the involuntary shivers, does his behavior prove me again and again not to judge a book by its cover as he constantly makes sure I go to sleep early enough that I get enough rest and he also asks me during dinner if I feel like breakfast in bed the next morning.
I had been shocked at hearing this to be a possibility on the second night of my stay here and had been a little sloppy the first time Tom had served me like this two days, but we had set up a schedule of when I would and wouldn't have breakfast and both of us had smiled happily at the end, which was about a week ago now.

I have also constantly made sure to be outside whenever I could, Diagon alley which is stationed behind the Leaky Cauldron, giving me plenty of reasons for doing so and while the cobbled stone path alone is a challenge to walk on – especially during the busier hours of the day – do the shops amaze and intrigue upon sight every time.
I've been planning to get some money out of my vault the entire week now, but for the last few days have I been more motivated to just window shop, have a good look around and enjoy the busy shopping life of Magical England as I – sometimes – seat myself at Florian's Fortescue just to gaze at the wandering public.
It has, over the last few days, happened on and off that people recognized me for my scar, but thanks to my grown fringe does that happen rarely as I constantly make sure to cover it with my hair, having no need for such forms of attention as my fame only reminds me of the fact that I'm an orphan with murdered parents.

I then take a deep breath, having just finished my breakfast down at the bar and Tom seems to have heard me as he asks: "Something on your mind, Harry?" And I smile at the man as I say: "Just my stupid fame, Tom, nothing serious." The man nods and goes back to cleaning a wine glass with one of his white cloths.
I push the near empty plate, that only has one or two scraps of egg and bacon left on the edges, away from me and hide one of my galleons under the plate while keeping my eye on Tom to make sure he doesn't see it. I then slide off my bar-seat and head over to the gateway to Diagon Alley, using my wand to open the enchanted wall.
The wall parts and, like the last few days, does a smile appear on my face as I see the already bustling crowd before me, witches and wizards of all ages, sizes and gender walking around with either shopping bags, business trunks or even their own offspring before a voice behind me startles me out of my gazing as it says:

"Ah thank you lad, that saves us a lot of time." And I look behind me, seeing a well-dressed man with slicked-back black hair and wise dark brown eyes that has one of his hands on the shoulder of a boy that resembles him quite a bit, even if the boy's hair just hangs down his lean shoulders and he has purple specks in his brown eyes.
The man then turns to his son, who I now notice seems about two to three years older than me and says: "Come Jeremy, time for your inheritance check. We can't keep the Goblins waiting." And the boy calmly answers: "Yes father." While his purple-brown eyes actually betray him for being a lot more worried than he shows.
Still it's not his worries that intrigue me as more the words of his father and while I make sure that my pace is as brisk and direct as that of the man, do I turn back to him and ask: "Inheritance test, Sir?" The man smiles at me, his eyes proving how proud he is of this one subject and while his voice raises in tone, does he say:

"Yes, quite right, lad. My son, Jeremy is finally fifteen and that, for a Wellbower, is a very important age as it makes a Wellbower Heir legitimate for becoming Regent of the Family. Well, if the child is the firstborn, of course. Only firstborns are allowed the title of Regent and later Head of the family, as is tradition for all Purebloods."
This, while the word Pureblood reminds me of Draco Malfoy and all the trouble his father caused last year, makes me feel even more curious and I decide to take a huge risk as I ask: "And a Potter? Do you know what age a Potter should be to become Regent?" The man looks curious and I flick my head, showing my scar.
Jeremy gasps as he must have seen it too, but I send a pointed look at his father as I flick my hair back in place before any passing witches or wizards can spot it and the man nods, understanding my gaze and gesture before he says: "I'm not sure, lad. Normally that would be 15, perhaps 17 – but, well, in your case."

"You mean, my fame?" I ask, wondering if showing the man my scar was a bad idea, but the man shakes his head and while he halts us all just in front of the Gringotts, to the left side of the doors, does he mutter: "No, I mean the fact that you are the last of your line, young Potter. That alone should make you eligible to the title of Lord."
This shocks me as I hadn't even thought of it like that and I mutter: "Guess me visiting Gringotts for some school-money just got a whole new reason." And the man nods before Jeremy asks: "Would you mind if we escort you, Harry? The Wellbower line had an alliance with the Potter House back in the 1800's, you know?"
But while I feel shocked at hearing how old my family might actually be, does Mr. Wellbower nod and say: "Quite right, Jeremy, quite right. And it would be an honor to see you receive an inheritance test, Mr. Potter. Your parents would have probably insisted it be done by a family that is aligned with their own, if they had the chance."
But while his tone is fierce and joyful, does a pang of hurt still sting my heart at his words and my mental thought of: "Except they never got that chance." But then I shake my head, remembering how hard I have fought the last two years to do them proud and I look at the man before me, determined to do so again as I say:

"Mr. Wellbower, it would be an honor if you could help me get a chance at receiving an Inheritance test." The man smiles and, like with his son, lies a hand on my shoulder as he says: "Splendid, let's head inside and inform the Goblins at once." And with that does the father of what could possibly be a new friend lead me inside the white building.
A few minutes later we are actually seated in a very simple looking office of marble and wood with an oak desk in front of me and a Goblin behind it while Mr. Wellbower is on my left and Jeremy is on my right and while I am shocked at how quick this all went, do I feel a mix of curiosity, excitement and slight concern inside of me.
The curiosity is for the contents of the will that another Goblin is currently trying to fetch that my parents have actually left me – to my great shock. The excitement is over the fact that my parents did care for my future enough to leave behind a list of wishes for what should happen to me if anything ever happened to them.

Yet the concern is mostly based on three things; one that I may not have done enough to really do my parents proud, another that I may have, unknowingly been doing things they never wanted for me and finally – which I know is most probably not true – the very unlikely chance that my parents wanted me left with Vernon and Petunia.

"No, my aunt hated my mum and my mum lost all contact with Petunia for perfectly good reasons. There is no way they would want that. Dumbledore is the only one who would want that and maybe, once the will has been executed, he will stop insisting on that and I can make my leaving of them a permanent fact."
These are the thought I try to use to calm myself and keep the concern from overwhelming me, yet when the Retrieval Goblin returns, do I instantly know something is heavily wrong as there is a strange sense of magic coming from the three scrolls of parchment that he holds, not in his hands, but on a silver platter.
"That is Goldew magic." I hear Mr. Wellbower mutter and I turn to him as he says: "The Goldew family is known to have some strange feud with House Potter. I'm just surprised that it's on the wills as the last Lord of the family wasn't even a Regent when your parents were killed." And this makes me look at the wills worriedly.
"He may not have been Lord, Lord Wellbower, but if you recall correctly, the boy died only 24 hours after the late Lord and Lady Potter did. It would seem that, with his death, he further empowered the feud by using it to seal the wills; a final strike against the House that always bested them in the one area both Houses held in high regard."

The Goblin in charge says as he lets the Retrieval Goblin set the platter in front of him and I ask: "Is – is there anything we can do? You know, to – to unseal the wills?" But the Goblins shake their heads and the one behind the desk says: "I'm afraid not, Heir Potter. The Goldew Heir used an ancient form of magic for this, a dark one at that."
And this would have made me sit back in defeat and indeed does make the Wellbower Lord and Heir sigh in resignation, but instead I look at the wills with a curious, thoughtful look on my face as I ask: "Could – could you change their positions, please. As in, like a – like a snake?" And the Goblin looks at me curiously.
Yet I keep my gaze at the wills in thought and when the Goblin uses his magic to move the wills – obviously because of the ancient magic affecting them – do I feel as if I can see them slithering across the desk and at this, just like I did a few times just a few months ago, do I speak with a slight hissing edge to my voice and say:

"Unseal." And while it is now much easier to recognize that I am speaking Parsletongue, do I still hold my breath in anticipation as I look at the wills and to my gleeful delight does the word actually manage to do what I wanted it to as the crazy glow that surrounds the wills suddenly shivers before it completely dissolves.
Everyone looks at this shocked and the Goblin asks: "Mr. Potter, you do realize we do not appreciate magic being used around us?" And I instantly say: "It's not magic, Sir, it's Parsletongue." And the Goblin nods, not entirely appeased, but accepting nonetheless and then he turns back to the wills and sternly asks:
"Which will do you wish to have read first, Mr. Potter? Your father's, mother's or grandfather's?" And while I wonder what happened to my grandmother for her not to have a will or if she just didn't have enough wishes that couldn't just be merged with my grandfather's, do I then remember my concerns and quickly say:

"The one that says where I am supposed to go in case of my parents' passing." The Goblin nods and says: "Your father's then." Which instantly makes a warm sense of happiness fill inside me as I always knew that my mum died to save me, yet it's my dad that tried looking out for my future in case of his own death.
The Goblin grabs the middle of the scroll and while part of me actually wants to reach for the other one, do I feel my earlier concern rearing its head again and I think: "Nothing is more important than me never going back to the Muggles; nothing at all." And with that do I accept the opened scroll and start to read.

This is the Official Will of James Charlus Potter.
Signed Saturday 24 October 1981
Recognized by Gringotts Bank
I, James Charlus Potter, hereby acknowledge this as my one and final will and declare all previous wills under my name, whether written by me or others, null and void. I hereby declare to be of sound mind, soul and body and that this is by my own volition and choice.
In light of my death, I wish for one letter with my last thoughts in regards to the recipients to be send to Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Alice and Frank Longbottom, John Wellbower, Amelia Bones, Emmeline Vance, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape and Horace Slughorn as well as four letters be given to my son and Heir, Harry James Potter, upon the ages written on the envelopes in question.
I leave Godric's Hollow to either Lily – were she to succeed me in life – or Harry, once he reaches an age where he can be, by magic, be recognized as old enough to manage both the household and the role of Lord of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. Until then, do I wish for the house to remain in stasis and hidden by a second Fidelius Charm with either Sirius Black or Remus Lupin as the Secret Keeper.
I leave my practice flat, given to me by my late parents, the late Lord Charlus and Lady Dorea, and to be found at the North-Western corner of London, England to Neville Longbottom for him to have once he graduates Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I give the Pottery, located in Welsh, to Remus John Lupin, in the hopes that the large fields there will provide him with enough air and space to satisfy his Furry Little Problem. I also hereby order the Goblin Nation to provide Remus John Lupin with a single vault and a starter income of 13.000 Galleons on a yearly basis to be left to my dear friend and request my accountant to search the Potter Vaults for all books on Ancient Runes and Defense Against Magical Beasts; also to be provided to Remus John Lupin upon my passing.
I leave Leftover Hall in Wales to Sirius Orion Black with the strict order that Harry spends all his years of childhood there under his care, unless there is anything that would prohibit him from doing his chosen duty as my Heir's Godfather. I would leave him a sum of money, but I know that, as Heir to the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, he will not require this. I do, however, hereby state my hope that he will not shy away from using the Potter funds for the care of my Heir and the healthy, safe life I hope for them both.
I hereby leave Alice and Frank Longbottom with a sample of all the flora ever discovered by House Potter as well as unrestricted access to Potter Garden in the Southern Mountains of Scotland and hope they will make this their holiday home in the years to come.
I hereby leave all my notebooks of my Hogwarts days to Hogwarts with the request that they be given to any future generation of Marauders and Mischief Makers and request the Goblin Nation to open up a special fund for inventors of amusement and enjoyable inventions.
Everything else that belongs to House Potter, do I hereby leave to my wife, Lily Rose Potter née Evans and – if she were not to succeed me in life – to my Heir Harry James Potter, to be held in stasis until such time he is recognized by Magic as old enough to take responsibility of his inheritance, title and family fortune.
Am I to pass away before my son reaches his majority, do I hereby name the following people rightful guardians of my son and Heir:
Sirius Black
Frank and Alice Longbottom
Miranda McGonagall
Emmeline Vance
Due to the laws against Magical Beast and Beings, do I hereby voice my displeasure over not being able to set Remus Lupin as part of this list and do I hope that, whoever is chosen as my Heir's guardian – in light of the previous mentioned being unavailable – will accept visiting terms in regards to my oldest and smartest friend.
On request of my wife, Lady Lily Rose Potter née Evans, I hereby wish to ask the Goblin in charge of our Will execution to set down a contract that allows for 3.000 pounds to be transferred from the Potter Vaults to the account of Vernon Dursley in return for him ignoring the existence of myself, my family and my friends, whether we partake action in the Magical or Muggle World. Furthermore, do I hereby voice my displeasure to anyone who thought it right to send my son, Harry James Potter, to the Dursley Household in response to the death of my wife and myself. This is NOT to happen under any circumstances. It is not to be.
As a final note do I hereby want to let it be known to all those who hear this that, since my birth, I have been cursed to be semi-immortal in the sense that only two things can kill me; betrayal and natural causes of health. Were the former to be of effect, then I want it known that the traitor is none other than Peter Pettigrew, the man who is to become my Secret Keeper on the 25th of October in 1981 and who has some of my trust, but only some due to my curse. With that do I wish to express my hope that my curse will only affect me, not my wife or son.
Sincerely in life and death,
James Charlus Potter

Shock. That is the only feeling that goes through me as I finish reading, having halted here and there out of pain over the fact that I didn't even know most of the people put down in this will; both in the letter part and in the guardianship part, yet it is the very final part of the will that makes me feel only one emotion; heartbreaking shock.
"They were betrayed." I whisper, having never known this and hating that, while my friend, Hagrid thought he had the right to keep this fact from me, especially because he was the one who actually helped me find out that my aunt – who I wasn't even supposed to live with – had lied to me about the deaths of my family.

"You didn't have that right, Hagrid. And neither – did you, Headmaster. You both betrayed them – and you will pay." Goes through my mind, but then suddenly I notice a hand hovering above the will and I turn to Mr. Wellbower, who looks at me with a determined look and he says: "We need to take this, Harry."
This makes me glare at him and I hiss: "Why?" And the man instantly takes my mind away from it all; the fact that I only know a quarter to half of the names in the will, the fact that my parents' friends abandoned me after their deaths, the fact that people kept secrets from me as he says: "Your godfather deserves his innocence."

Hey everyone,
So this story is actually one I feel very happy about, but I do think this will be a short one. It will involve Sirius being freed, him and Harry growing a bond, those that just gave up on Harry with the belief that Dumbledore knew best getting their ass handed to them and Harry falling in love with a new OC, but nothing more.
Will that make sure that the story will get through the rest of the year? Probably. Is there a chance that the story will make it through next year? I personally don't think so, I think it will end sometime next year May/June. Am I going to make sure you all had a good reason voting for this preview above the others?
Count on it,

Venquine1990
PS. I know that, by the wiki site, James' parents are named Fleamont and - something - but I prefer Dorea and Charlus, so I hereby invoke the rights of an artistic licence. You got a problem with that? Up on the top left of your screen is the Back Button, go ahead and press it.