Circumstances of Change

Disclaimer: Anything you reconize, not mine. Nor is the title. Thanks to Meagan for that!!
Warnings: Selective Weasley and Dumbledore bashing; Severitus
Beta'd by: Meagan! Thanks so very much!!!!
A/N: Alright, cookies to tom_obsessed for getting Dragoste and Herm's boyfriend right. MightyGryffindor and Jaylynn, you're right about the language but not the guy. Victor is, I believe, Bulgarian. Also, not every chapter will be as long as this one is. I'm not sure why this chapter is as long as it is, actually.

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After recieving Hermione's reply, Harry lay back on his bed. It was Thursday, so he still had a couple days to wait. If he was honest with himself, Harry knew this outward transformation was long overdue. He knew, in his heart, that he should've embraced his true self right after hearing the prophecy.

It was Ron, he decided, that had both held him back and pushed him over the edge. Ron with his talk about how all Slytherins were evil gits. Ron with his jealousy of Harry's unwanted fame and his complaints about his family and lack of sensitivity after Sirius' death and about the prophecy. He was sure now that he shouldn't've ever told Ron about that after all.

"Git." Harry muttered under his breath. "Self-absorbed arse." He sighed and got up off his bed to make himself something to eat.
The next day, Friday, Harry got an offical looking letter from Gringotts.

Mr. Potter,
Your parents had asked that you be given your inheratince a month before your 17th birthday. Though this was an unusual request, your family has always had a fantastic relationship with the bank and so we have granted their request. We ask that you come to the bank today to recieve the deeds and keys to your vaults.
Thank you,
Ragnok Gringotts bank president

Smiling slightly, Harry got up and ready to leave. He packed his trunk with all of his belongings. If that letter was anything to go by, he had houses somewhere else he could live.

He pulled on his trainers and left the house, not answering Petunia when she called after him. Harry flagged the Knight Bus and was soon stepping out in front of the Leaky Cauldron.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. We've been expecting you." A goblin greeted him at the door to Gringotts. After going through a large amount of security checks, Harry was taken to a part of the bank where the offices were.

"Hello, Harry."

"Bill? Well, I wasn't expecting this."

"I wouldn't imagine so. Thank you very much Baylin." Bill offered a smile to the goblin who took his leave of the two wizards. "Apparently, they're enjoying this new higher security thing too much and decided a wizard should tell you about your homes and vaults." Bill grinned.

"It's normally a goblin's job?"

"Oh yes. They're very picky about gold in their care. At any rate, here are all of the deeds and portkeys to and from all four properties. When you portkey away you'll appear at the enterance to Diagon Alley." Bill handed him a large brown envelope in which Harry could feel four pendants.

"I have four properties?"

"Dumbledore never told you any of this?"

"No. I thought I only had the one vault I've been using."

"Right. Well then, I'll show you your other vaults and if you have any questions later just owl me and I'll do what I can. Oh, and a word of advice. Don't tell Ginny about this. She's already named all five little Potters."

"She has not! I told her I'm gay."

"Oh yes, I know. She convinced it's just a phase and you'll soon realize that she's the perfect trophy wife for the Hero of the Wizarding World." Bill rolled his eyes. "And Mum's been encouraging her, I'm afraid."

"And the gold and properties would make it worse, wouldn't they?"

"They would. Now, are you ready to go to your vaults?"

"Yes. But I also hace a question. Why is your mum encouraging Ginny?"

"This way." They stood and Bill began leading Harry to the carts that would take them to the vaults. "She's encouraging Ginny because she grew up in a manor before it was destroyed. Her family was rather well off until her father spent it all in some bet I guess. Don't get me wrong, she loves my dad but would rather they lived in the manor. She's got a greedy streak and not only would you be Ginny's ticket out of near pverty but you'd be Mum's as well."

"Is that why she's always been so kind to me?" Harry asked, slightly afraid of the answer.

"Oh no. You're Ron's friend and you were very young when she met you. Mum loves kids, that's why. The fact that you're Harry Potter is just an added bonus."

"Bill, why are you telling me this? They're your family."

"Just because they're family doesn't mean I like or agree with what they're doing."

"Your father doesn't know, does he?"

"No. Dad's as clueless as ever. He thinks Ginny's just got a school girl crush and he thinks it's cute." Bill stopped the cart outside of vault 687, the one Harry'd been using since he was 11. "Now then, the two vaults to the right and the four to the left of this one are also yours. This one here," he moved to the one directly to the left. "is full of old family heirlooms and such. It might be a good idea, when you get the chance, to explore this one. You know, learn more about you family. With me?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Now, this bag is connected to the vault you've been using. Just reach in and your money will be there. And this bag is the same except it converts to muggle money." Bill handed Harry one blue and one black small pouch-like bag.

"Can we go into the heirlooms vault now please?" Harry asked.
"Of course." Bill took out the key to vault 787 and opened the door. "These are yours as well." He handed Harry a key ring with all seven vault keys on it.

Harry took the ring of keys and put them in his pocket. He then stepped into the vault. Immeaditly, his eyes were drawn to a shelf that only had an old book on it. Stepping around cabniets and furniture, Harry pulled the book off it's shelf. "Ow!" Harry bent to retrieve the ring that had been on top of the book and had hit him in the forehead.

It was soild silver with the Potter family crest on it. Smiling, he slipped it on to his right ring finger. He looked at the book in his hands finally. The Potter Family was all it said by way of a title.

Harry held on to it, and turned to Bill. "Okay, I'm ready to go now."

Harry made it back to the Dursleys' 20 minutes later to find that his aunt, uncle, and cousin weren't at home. He ran upstairs, grabbed his belongings and headed back down. Smirking slightly, he decided to leave a note.

Good news! I have four homes and more money than you could dream of! Isn't that exciting?! Anyway, I'm off to one of my houses. Bye!!
-Harry

Harry grinned and pulled out the large envolpe Bill'd given him at the bank. Looking over the papers, he decided to go to Potter Manor in Ireland.

He pulled out the right portkey, said the password and felt the tug at his navel telling him he was on his way.

"Who's there?" A squeaky, definitely house elf, voice demanded.
"My name's Harry Potter." Harry annouced.

"Master! You is home!" Three elves practically ran out of the, now that Harry looked at it, small castle in front of him.
"Binky maybe that is not master."

"Quiet Ashy! Wards only let Master and Master's friends in! Master Harry," The elves bowed. "I is Binky and is head elf. Ashy and Lee is your elves too, Sir."

Harry was silent for a moment looking up at the small castle. "Can you take me on a tour?" Harry asked, still looking at the castle.
"Of course Master! This way." Harry spent the rest of the day touring the castle and grounds and learning about his family from the three elves.