Inheritance
Harry was jolted awake just after midnight on his sixteenth birthday by an intense burning pain ravaging its way through his body. The tiny emaciated teen cried out in his agony as two reddish-brown fox ears sprouted from the top of his head. Then his nine tails sprouted out of his tailbone, tearing through his skin. Each tail was a deep rich red color with silky luscious fur. Once the pain had begun to subside the young kitsune fell into a sedation-like deep sleep.
Upon waking the next morning Harry was in shock and awe. His vision was crystal clear, he could see more clearly than he ever remembered. His eyesight was much better than with his cracked taped together ten year old glasses. The raven-haired boy let out a small yawn before stretching out. Once out of bed he made his way across the room, shuffling slowly and wincing in pain with each step. His legs, back, and buttocks were still stiff, sore, and covered in massive deep purple bruises from his uncle’s last beating. He looked in the shaby cracked full-length mirror, gasping in astonishment at his changed appearance. The boy’s green eyes were bright as gemstones, resembling glassy emeralds. They also appeared both larger and rounder than he recalled previously. He had cute fox ears with auburn colored fur atop his head. While his nine tails wagged behind him. His threadbare pajamas were shredded and blood soaked. His hair, which had grown longer and shinier, was caked with dried blood.
He made his way to the bathroom, as silently as possible, roughly scrubbing the blood from his hair, ears, tails, and backside. Once as clean as he could manage Harry changed into his cleanest set of robes, which happen to be his bright red and gold Gryffindor quidditch uniform. The robes were less restrictive around the newly inherited kitsune’s tails than if he had attempted to stuff his tails inside a pair of muggle pants. He decided to forego boxers with the same justification. Once dressed Harry began to pack all his worldly possessions into his shabby battered school trunk, having realized he had no choice but to leave before uncle Vernon saw his new fox features. Harry was certain the big brute would beat him to death, were he to see Harry’s new freakish attributes.
Harry crept down the stairs and out the front door, careful to avoid the creaky bottom step and shut the front door as cautiously as he could manage. Despite keeping as inaudible as humanly possible he heard Aunt Petunia’s shrill voice calling out just as he shut the door. After narrowly escaping his relatives' violent clutches, he snuck into the grimey illit alley behind the park a few blocks from Privet Drive. As soon as he ensured no muggles were about he put out his wand summoning the Night Bus. Before the ramshackle double deckered bus could come to a screeching halt, a large eagle owl dropped an official looking scroll in Harry’s arms. Harry took the scroll, paid Stan the meager fare, and bustled into a seat as the driver set off at a breakneck pace performing several daredevil stunts as it made its way through London. A mere five minutes later the dangerous contraption arrived outside the Leaky Cauldron, a dimly lit pub which appeared condemned to muggles.
Upon entering the rundown establishment, he got a room for the night and ordered a tasteless hot meal, surrendering his trunk to Tom the barman. Once his hunger had been satiated, Harry pulled out the ominous scroll. He unraveled the secure bundle, laying out the thick scroll with its official Gringotts seal.
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Dear Heir Hadrian Rigel Polaris Potter-Black.
We at Gringotts Wizarding Bank wish to congratulate you on your recent creature inheritance and inform you that because of said inheritance you are now considered of age in the Wizarding World. As such you are permitted to use magic outside of school and granted full access to your family vaults. We request you come into the bank at your earliest convenience to take an inheritance test and meet with your account manager regarding suspicious activities over the past fifteen years.
Sincerely,
King Ragnok of the Goblin Nation
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Harry reread the letter several times, ensuring his eyes were not deceiving him. The name on the letter was not the one he knew to be his own and that both concerned and confused him greatly. Not to mention that the letter referred to multiple vaults despite him only being aware of his trust moderately sized trust vault. The most concerning piece though, was the mention of suspicious discrepancies in his accounts. The idea of someone stealing from him infuriated the young kitsune. This was what tipped him over the edge. Despite being in immense pain and feeling beyond exhausted, the possibility that his inheritance had been tampered with enraged him enough to head to Gringotts posthaste.